It is 2012! With the start of a new year and the puppy adoptions that have happened and will happen in the coming months of spring, it feels like it is time to do a few posts on life with a puppy. I have a few suggestions, but am starting off with a video that demonstrates one of my favorite suggestions for not only how to train but also how to exhaust a puppy – use an older, well-behaved dog!
If you have a small dog and a much larger one, and particularly if they are the same sex, you have most likely witnessed some form of competition and posturing for the position of “Top Dog”. Sometimes, that positioning is demonstrated physically. In this image Moby shows Mac, “he who is higher wins”. I don’t think Mac knew he was playing that game, so we won’t tell Moby.
In case you think that Mac-Nanny was being a little rough with Pepper, there was a purpose to their “play” and it was supervised. Pepper was being too rough with her older brother who wouldn’t defend himself. I knew Mac-Nanny could demonstrate a few moves that would make Pepper a little less certain of herself! (I miss you Mac. Thanks for always being such a great puppy nanny)
It is always wonderful to witness a dog that is in service to someone. They walk nicely (and honorably) side-by-side with their human providing some form of service, companionship, and/or support. The jacket they wear is an indication to other humans to not touch or pet the dog as it is working. These dogs are bred and trained for years prior to their being put into service.
I don’t have one of those dogs. I don’t need one either; however, my dog does provide a service. The service is to encourage you to smile. Zoe is always smiling. She is a Labradoodle (plus) mix and is always delighted to be out on a walk. When she walks by someone or even sees them approaching, she begins to smile, sometimes speak, and wiggle her body all to get you to smile. Is she begging? Perhaps. As long as she does it without invading someone’s personal space, I don’t get too concerned.
I have decided that dogs like Zoe should have their own jacket or vest. The inscription on it will read, “Exuberant Dog – Please Pet!” Zoe would also like to add, “oh please, oh please, oh please.” This way, if you see a dog wearing the Zoe vest, you won’t have to wonder if they are friendly. You will also know to brace yourself in the likelihood they will make you smile. So, if you are planning on being in a grumpy mood and you see a dog wearing the “Exuberant Dog” vest, you will know to look the other way. They can be real mood changers. Zoe will knead the floor with her paws in an effort to refrain from jumping, but every once in awhile, she can’t contain her enthusiasm.
Let me know if you’d like to have me interview your dog and make certain they are worthy of donning the “Exuberant Dog” vest!
p.s. The trainer in me has to add that rewarding a dog by giving inappropriate affection when it is overly excited is not good practice and can lead to a dog who is overly anxious and bossy (even if it is for affection). The “Exuberant Dog” vest is purely for comic relief and for those dogs that know if their human asks them to settle down or leave it – they will.
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.” =)
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.
The subject of dogs and what it is they feel will forever be a topic of interest to us dog advocates. I don’t think I would treat them any differently if I were to find out they had no “feelings” in the sense that we humans do.
A feeling can be like the weather in Seattle. If you don’t like it, wait an hour and it will be different! This is certainly true if our feelings are based on emotion alone. Living with humans, dogs are exposed to our fickle behaviors and moods whether or not they understand or join us in them.
I know when I have asked a client to confine (crate or kennel or keep a leash on their dog) they wonder if it will hurt their dog’s feelings. On behalf of all the dogs I love, NO! We don’t worry about hurting an infant’s feelings if we don’t let them run free and out of our sight before they are trustworthy.
I do believe dogs have feelings, and the rest is my life study. For instance, I came home from a training session to find that my dogs were frantically going through the phone book looking for a florist so they could send me flowers for my upcoming birthday. You can see their disappointment in my walking in on the surprise. I’d say they have feelings…
How important is the height of a dog’s bowl? I have read a lot of information regarding barrel-chested dogs (Great Danes, Boxers, Standard Poodles, etc) and how they should be fed from an elevated bowl. The school of thought is this would help to prevent bloat. Having known of several dogs who died from bloat even with the use of an elevated feeding bowl, I am not so certain it is necessary.
It may look more comfortable for the dog to not bend over; however, if they were eating in a more natural setting; i.e., a rat, rabbit, squirrel, they would not carry it around in order to find something to put it on so they could be more comfortable as they ate.
I have tried elevated and the eat-like-the-rest-of-the dogs bowl on the floor and Mac (who is very tall and barrel chested) prefers to get very comfortable. Since a contributor to bloat is caused from inhaling too much air as a dog eats quickly, I think Mac may be on to something. There’s no chance of that with him…
