I have clients ask if it is confusing to their dog to be told to wait some times and other times the command is to stay. There is a difference in the two and any dog can and will learn the difference. The stay command (request) is associated with a position; i.e., sit, down, or even standing. It means they do not move from that position until you return to them and give them a clear release, such as a word like okay.
Wait is very similar to what it is for us two-leggers; i.e., give me a second. It’s not attached or associated to the dog’s position. They are free to move around in the area where they are told to wait. It’s also used for entering and exiting doors or at a curb prior to crossing the street.
The most important thing to remember is that when you are teaching these requests, you need to be consistent. Don’t release your dog from a stay at a distance. In time, that may be something you choose to do; however, initially, other than the dog’s position, your returning to them for their release will differentiate the two commands (or requests as I like to call them).
Let’s say you’ve asked your dog to wait at the door as you open it. The first few times, don’t push it too long. The purpose of having them wait is so you can open the door without them rushing out AND to allow you to go first. I have corrected a dog for starting to walk through the door as they have always done and the expression on their furrowed brow as they look at me is clearly an indicator they have no clue why they just got corrected for something that was normal the last time they went through that door!
So, when you are teaching it, remember that for both “stay” and “wait” they are learning! It is so very clear to us big brains what we are expecting. It’s not so clear to our dogs. For either request, only make them stay or wait for a second. Reward! They will quickly learn what is expected and will wait or stay until given the request for them to move.
If you are having challenges in teaching either command (request), I am happy to provide assistance!
I have witnessed the aging process of many dogs. I personally had a Pitbull that was puppy for so many years that when asked how old she was, I would say, “five.” However, I had her since she was about two, and at least five years had passed. “Oh,” I corrected myself, “she’s seven or eight!” I believe that is because most of us want to deny our dogs are seniors even before they hit their early teens.
From the age of twelve to thirteen, it was evident there is truth to the concept that dogs age approximately seven years to our one. To me, it appeared she literally aged in a few months. Sure, denial played a part, but so did the fact that our dogs are proud creatures. They will rally and pull it together to please us at times when if they were human, they would be curled up in bed making certain we knew how bad they felt!
I have also learned that dog hours are very different than ours. Moby will assure me at 3:00 that it is at least 6:00 or 7:00 in dog-time. He comes to me asking for dinner, as I assure him, “it’s only 3:00 so you’ll have to wait, Bud.” Just to keep things interesting, some days, I will put the food down early. All it means to them is a full belly and nap time. When the real 6:00 rolls around and they look at me like I’m forgetting something, I remind them they already ate dinner according to human time.
It’s ok to honor dog-time. Some would encourage tough love – I say, “pick your battles.” If feeding a dog at 3:00 (actually 6:00, their time), is the most you give in to your dog, you’re doing great!
I know a lot of advocates for the raw food diet for dogs. It makes sense considering what they would eat naturally. Some buy the meat already ground, grind it themselves, or purchase the pre-packaged, pre-mixed, thaw-and-serve portions.
I now know of a much easier way to serve it. Less odor, less time, a lot less preparation. Serve it frozen! Some dogs get excited over chewing on an ice cube. What could be better than a raw meat popsicle? Not much, according to Mac.
While staying at Mac’s other home, he decided to save his human friend a little work. She had left a completely frozen roast in the sink to thaw for later preparation. She left for a short period of time, as the rock-hard frozen roast lay unguarded in the sink. Who needs preparation if you’re a dog?
Mac ate the frozen roast and all evidence was removed less a tiny square of what was the wrapper. I’m sure this particular popsicle also served as a remover of tooth decay! In more ways than one, Mac knew he was on to something. Meat Popsicles! Since he can’t speak in words, he used his own form of sign language – a demonstration of sorts – to communicate his exciting concept. Brilliant idea!
For those of you who contact me because your dog counter surfs, I say, “hmmmm? I don’t know anything about that.” =)
Here’s an interesting article about Gina, a military bomb-sniffing dog, and her experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Having witnessed this in many dogs, I know how long of a process it can be to help the dog be comfortable being a dog again. So, while the article is informative, I am greatly disappointed to read the dog is being rehabilitated so it can go back into service. I don’t know about you, but knowing that would be enough for me to be sure I didn’t heal completely. I wish Gina could make that choice.
No one wants to talk about over eating, yet most of us are guilty of it. We all know what excess calories can do to our bodies. I am not so sure that has translated yet to how we care for our dogs. Maybe there’s more that travels down the leash than our energy.
I’m speaking figuratively. While food doesn’t physically make its way from our hand down the leash, it can and does find its way from our hearts. If we feel sad for an animal that was once starving, we may over compensate by giving them too much food. If they are our dining buddy, we may give them food that would be better left on our plate (or in the garbage.) We “reward” them excessively because they are such good dogs!
When a dog becomes an extension of the human family, it may take on the habits and certainly the behaviors of the humans where it lives. Not all dogs can be free feeders in that if food is left out for them on a constant basis, they will overeat (a lot of humans can relate.) It’s not likely a dog living without human intervention would ever face the diseases and/or illnesses of what they experience from eating the doggy-junk food and from being over weight – even if that weight came from healthy excess calories.
Much like the Mother who tells a child to clean their plate, I witness as humans acknowledge feeling like they need to feed their dog proportions that are excessive because they feel bad that the dog was once starving. If their dog doesn’t eat what is placed in front of them, they add all sorts of goodies to entice the dog to indeed clean their plate. What if they were full? What if that particular day, they just weren’t that hungry. Of course, they will eat when tempted with what to us would be desert!
Below is an excerpt from an article about things our vets may not tell us. Why won’t the veterinarian talk with us about it? Talking about our dog being over weight is as sensitive a subject as speaking about it human to human. If you notice, there are isles in the pet stores dedicated to products that are equivalent to fast food for dogs. Unfortunately, it has the same affect on them as it does on us. Considering they age much faster than we do, the negative affects of a poor diet or excessive consumption shows up exponentially.
1. Your pet isn’t “extra-fluffy” or “big-boned.” According to Bernadine Cruz, DVM, member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council, it is estimated that 40 percent of pets in the U.S. are overweight. Obesity in pets can cause a number of health problems, from heart disease to diabetes to skin inflammation. “I wish that more pet owners monitored their pets’ weight,” says board certified veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser, DVM. To do so, Dr. Moser recommends visiting the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine website to help determine the presence or absence of body fat. Though ideal weights vary within breeds, there are general indicators of an overweight pet, including not being able to feel their ribs, seeing a pooch in their abdomen from the side, and panting and shortness of breath. After noting these factors, consult your vet to figure out if your pet needs to be put on a weight-loss plan.
If you have questions about a dog that is a picky eater or one who eats anything (and does), I am happy to assist in any way I can.
I am writing this post because good things can and do come in little packages. The shelters used to only be filled with large dogs. That’s no longer true. If you are interested in adopting a little dog, the shelters are full of them waiting to make your life a little bit better!
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If you have followed my blog, you know of my little Yorkie named Melody. You may not think there is a need to describe a Yorkie as little; however, she is tiny. I was volunteering at the shelter when she was brought in. Her services as a breeder at a puppy mill were no longer needed. At this age of her life (about 7 years old) had probably never known kindness from a human. She was more than willing to bite if you got too close. Not exactly a spokes-dog for the hold-me-in-your-lap Yorkie someone would be looking for when adopting.
Having enjoyed the company of large breed dogs, I had not intended on adopting Melody. I would take her home to work with her on being a little kinder to her prospective new family. Melody never even attempted to bite me. She knew she was safe. The first time I heard her bark, I did a double-take! It was obvious she had been debarked. In my opinion, it’s a terrible thing to do to a dog. There are other far less invasive tools – not to mention the benefits of training.
She has been with me two years. She may never willingly approach another human other than myself. However, to see who she is now compared to who she was is nothing short of wonderful. Here is a short video clip of Melody and her raspy little voice asking, “where’s my dinner?”
Lately, I have heard this comment from several people. I want to ask…to whom? If you abandon a dog to a crate in some remote place in the home where it isn’t around its new family, perhaps that could be considered cruel. I sense an element of pride when someone assures me their puppy doesn’t need a crate. OK.
I may never hear the sequel to that story, but I can almost guarantee that confinement of some sort is necessary in order to provide a safe place for a puppy while house training, teaching house manners, and letting them move beyond the time of mass destruction commonly referred to as “teething.”
Do I insist on crate training? No. Do I want to do all I can to assist in a newly adopted dog staying in its new home with the least amount of stress and confusion? Yes. It doesn’t matter to me – it’s what works for you and your pup. But, a puppy given too much room, is very difficult to house train. I know some people have the time to take their dog out every hour or so for a potty break, so the need for confinement doesn’t seem necessary. However, this pup will not learn to hold it and to let you know when it needs to go out, and it will also be difficult to get it on a schedule so you can leave the dog when necessary.
Crate training a dog is neither cruel nor the only way to go. From the work I do, I can tell you it has saved many a relationship with man’s best friend.
If you need assistance with house training and/or crate training, get a copy of my ebook “The Truth About Housebreaking” and get a free copy of my crate training ebook.
In an article by Jean Donaldson she addresses the question – are dogs pack animals? Studies show they may not be as pack oriented as we typically profess them to be. She concludes with this:
“If we are to support our contention that dogs are pack animals, we will need to account for these many populations where dogs, in the absence of the glue of human confinement and husbandry, simply do their own thing.”
Guess what? Dogs bark. This isn’t the first time you have heard it from me. This post is another segment in why dogs bark. Here’s the scenario:
You are walking down the street with your dog on a leash and working on having your dog heel. Your dog spots another dog in the distance and starts barking (and barking and barking). What is your dog saying?
Your dog’s bark could be saying:
“Look a dog! Hi dog! I’m a dog! Come here dog. We can play!” Or…
“Oh no a dog! A big dog! A little dog! I don’t like how that dog looks or smells. I need to get that dog – now before he gets me (us)!” Or…
“Look a dog! Get me outta’ here! That dog just said he doesn’t like me and to prepare to defend myself. Run!”
There is so much more than just a bark happening in these moments. Some dogs have more obvious triggers than others, and it takes time in learning those triggers and if your dog is being assertive and dominant, passive and frightened, or just wants to have fun.
To those on the other end of the leash, it appears that when our dog sees a dog it goes crazy for no reason and we either panic or get embarrassed. I have a vocal dog, so I have to tell people, “sorry, he’s vocal.” It seems like common courtesy to apologize for our dogs barking. Seldom do humans apologize for being overly vocal. Granted a barking dog can be annoying but for them it is not without purpose.
Observe and learn from your dog, watch their body language, and while you can’t remove their ability to communicate, you can keep them from escalating into panic mode. You can acknowledge what they are saying and they should trust and respect your request for them to be quiet.
If you are interested in what to do to work with your dog to focus on you while it exercises, learns, gains confidence, and has fun….try an agility class. This video is of my recent graduates from the beginner classes.
