Maybe your dogs are like mine and know the furniture is off limits. Well, unless they are invited. I can step out the door to water the plants or do laundry and return within minutes to this scene:
I, of course, look at them authoritatively as I sincerely ask them to, GET OFF THE COUCH! But, first, let me get the camera. They are so cute when they disobey!
While the disease of hoarding has been around for a very long time, it is now getting more press and there is even a documentary series. I think I caught Mac in the nick of time. This is a true story. I looked down to see the sad faces of a couple of dogs who had “lost” possession of their toys. I couldn’t believe it when I looked over at Mac. Looking somewhat bored and even a little proud, he didn’t yet realize the affect his hoarding was having on the rest of the family. It’s time for an intervention.
If you too think it’s “just a dog,” then you wll probably not understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
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.
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.”
Here’s the complete article: Are Dogs Pack Animals?
Not being married, I would change or add to the title: What Pets Can Teach Us About Marriage and Relationships. I didn’t write the article, but liked it enough to share it.
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.
It is often said by dog lovers and advocates that our dogs just want to please us. All they want is for us to be happy and happy with them. There is a lot more to it than this.
I consider myself to be a practical trainer/behaviorist. I do what I do because of my love for animals with my focus being on the understanding and ever-growing knowledge of canine behavior. Personally, my dogs live a grand life. They have nice beds, they respond to commands, they are all now to a stage of wanting to please me. Why? Because they know me, and I know them. It can take years to create this type of relationship. It is worth it.
Pleasing humans is not inherent in a dog’s psyche. Being a member of a pack is. They don’t walk down the street and see a human and think, “oh, there’s a human being, I want them to be pleased with me.” In fact, the opposite may be true! They may have learned that humans are good and will give them food and affection, or they may have a negative association.
Much as it is with humans, respect of a dog is earned. I like to think the feelings are mutual - they respect me, and I respect them. Gaining a dog’s respect only happens when they know you and what to expect from you (this goes both ways).
Now, back to the question…do dogs really want to please us? Yes. Why? They want food, AND they do enjoy our attention and affection and all of the other experiences we share with them.
You may have a dog that has no interest in pleasing you. Some dogs act as though they just don’t care what we think and there is not an ounce of the need-to-please in their body. You can’t train that into them. You can accept their nature and look for ways to connect with them using their natural drive and instinct.
So, whether your dog appears to only want to please you or it never does; it is important to understand what makes them who they are and to be patient with the process.
There are so many options when it comes to purchasing a collar for your dog. Should you use a harness? What type of harness is best? If using a collar, is the flat nylon style adequate? Some trainers will only train using a prong/pinch (or power steering collar, as I call them). My personal
favorite is the Martingale-style training collar.
Let’s face it, dog training is dog training when it comes to basic commands. It’s what happens when the leash and collar come off that is the true test. A lot of dogs go into their training mode when a specific collar is used for training versus the one used for a walk. They quickly learn what is expected depending on their “jewelry.” Much like a service or search and rescue dog knows it’s working when wearing a vest. Dogs are smart! We train them well (or they train us well). =)
I make certain that any dog I work with knows their commands regardless of their collar or harness. The collar and leash are tools. The end result is not that your dog responds nicely during the 15 - 20 minutes of training, but rather they listen, respect, and want to please you when training is done. Training becomes a way of life. Aren’t we always teaching others how to treat us!
After the basics, I suggest switching to a 15 - 20 foot leash to perfect “stay.” It’s also beneficial for teaching them to “come” and for distance learning. Too often, after puppy class, the leash and training are set aside until the dog does something not so pleasing to the human. I can assure you, the dog is always great at being a dog and not so great at thinking like a human. It takes (a lot) of time and consistency to create a mutually respectful relationship with your dog.
As a side note, I have seen too many dogs who were broken (for lack of a better word) by harsh training using a prong collar. Not every dog is the same, and it’s important to be willing to try different tools to see what works for your dog. If a trainer/behaviorist only does it one way, I’d find another trainer. No two dogs are the same any more than two humans.
I am happy to answer any questions you have, and if you live in the Palm Springs area, I would love the opportunity to work with you and your fur family.
Usually when we think of a dog and its instincts, we don’t think in the context of us (dog) versus them (instinct). A dog may never be truly separated from its instincts, however, it may have to grow into them.
While working with puppies, particularly male puppies, it is interesting to observe their response to their instincts particularly as it pertains to their developing hormones. Until the hormones align with maturity, it is as if their instincts work against them. Some males never lift their leg and others…well, could use a father figure saying something like, “son, never pee into the wind.” In the case of some male pups, it would be, “son, lift the other leg.”
I watched as a six-month-old ALL-MALE pup, sniffed a place where another dog had gone, and rather than lifting the leg next to the targeted rock, lifted the wrong leg. Too funny. I, of course, would never laugh at the dog.
I had him out for socialization, and as he focused on the scent where another dog had marked, he began to mark. What was so entertaining, is he doesn’t yet know to ration his urine so he went freely as he was walking away! Another time, he looked down as he was mid-stream and the urine hit his chin. He jumped with a startled expression as if to ask, “who just sprayed me and why?”
He will get his brain soon and his body will mature and the hormones will stabilize. Until then, I will enjoy the maturing process of this beautiful (when he is sleeping) boy.
