In the 80’s there were some major changes in the thought on how to best raise children. In order to not hurt their spirit and to give them a little personal power, kids were given choices. A lot of choices. Oatmeal or dry cereal or maybe just some fruit? Tennis shoes, sandals, and which color would you like?
Giving kids choices is a good idea when they are of age to comprehend choice and consequence. Until then, the parent may do well to provide guidance and keep the peace by not giving a child so many choices they never get out the door on time.
I am mentioning this because I am finding a lot of this type of four-legged parenting. I hear things like, “my dog doesn’t like being on a leash.” “They are depressed when in their crate.” My dog doesn’t want to poop outside.” As a trainer who wants the best for you and your canine relationship, I have to say something. . . they don’t get a choice!
You are their provider and you are showing them moment by moment what life is like when they live with you. Not the other way around. When someone tells me they haven’t trained their dog, I remind them they have. The question is what have they trained them? Puppy training begins the second they come through your door. A dog can quickly adopt the idea that you have joined their family and they set the rules.
You can do more damage to their psyche by not being a consistent leader (or parent if that fits you better.) They don’t need a lot of choices in order to love and respect us.
Do all dogs need to have their teeth cleaned? Tooth decay is very common in dogs. Some breeds, much like some humans, are prone to plaque and issues with their teeth. Genetics and nutrition play a huge part in it. There aren’t any bones in the soft toys our dogs love to disembowel. Perhaps if there were, the dog would also get a teeth cleaning while they chewed.
Clients often look to me for advice and ask if I clean my dogs’ teeth. I have to say I don’t. Not that I wouldn’t if it were needed, but thus far, it hasn’t been an issue. I’ve been known to be the common sense trainer. So, here’s my advice, if you have a dog that needs preventative care or will face infection, clean their teeth. However, if your dog’s teeth look good and there’s no concern, don’t!
I was in the pet store and a woman was asking if she should buy the peppermint or chicken flavored toothpaste for her pup. I suggested she get the kitty litter flavor and her dog would welcome teeth cleaning.
In a previous post, I wrote about dogs needing other dogs. In the following video, you will watch my two labradoodles play fight. A human can never play with a dog like another dog. Not only are they having fun, they are also communicating with one another (in more ways than depicted by the comic bubbles).
If you have puppies and can’t keep your eye on them constantly, hire a dog nanny. This video is of Mac-Nanny. Mac is a labradoodle that does a great job at keeping two Maltese puppies corralled and in their crate.
Thanks to the Humane Society and other officials in WA State, another puppy mill is closed. Anyone need 397 dogs? That’s how many were rescued. I propose a moratorium on breeding for one year. I know it’s not fair or reasonable for the reputable breeders who not only find good homes for their puppies and make a living from their dogs. It would be punishing the responsible, while the irresponsible continue using and discarding dogs. What can we do?
Don’t act like it’s not happening. Support rescue organizations, and if you are looking to purchase a specific breed, please research (travel to) the breeder to verify they are who they say they are. Don’t buy a puppy from a pet store! I know it’s a well-worn subject for me. . .watch this video and maybe it will be for you.
I can’t answer this question. I know from personal experience that having one dog for many years was wonderful. I only had to focus on our relationship, and I was working non-stop at the time, so she received a lot of guilt-time! The thought of another dog, just didn’t seem fair to either of them.
Dealing with dog obedience and behavior modification on a daily basis has taught me a lot. A lot of the behavior modification training I benefit from is by observing the dogs - my dogs. I have a pack. There’s no way around that. They aren’t wild. They listen and respond to me; however, they are given a lot of opportunity to show me who they are while living together day to day.
We can take our dogs for long walks. They love it. We can take them on car rides and almost everywhere we go. They love it. We put their natural abilities to the test with agility training. They love it. We, however, can’t play like another dog. Ever see a child when they see another child and they light up with a recognition that says - “hey, your a kid too!” Dogs do that. Try though we might (in the privacy of our home) to romp and tease like another dog. We don’t come close. Nor is this a goal I need to fulfill in my lifetime.
I say all of this because for all that we do, dogs love dogs. I know that some are saying emphatically, “my dog doesn’t like other dogs!” That may be the case now, but in the real land of dogs before they were our pets, they liked other dogs or at least worked things out with a nice compromise on who was who in the pack.
Should this be of concern to the one-dog families? Probably not. I just wanted to share this because it’s pure entertainment to watch dogs play. Showing and gnashing of teeth, growling and the puppy bow. . .it’s all a part of who they are and we’ll never train it out of them. Nor, do I want to.
It’s not news that dark chocolate can be toxic to your dog. What to do? If they have ingested the chocolate within an hour or two, you can induce vomiting by giving them hydrogen peroxide. It varies by the size of the dog; however, it doesn’t take much. For small dogs, give them a Tablespoon and follow with another Tablespoon until you get the desired result.
Recently, a Great Dane ate a lot of dark chocolate. It could have been hours since she ate it, so they chose to wait and monitor her behavior. This Dane inherently exhibits some of the behaviors you should watch for when a dog consumes too much chocolate - she’s already restless, exciteable, and at times pants excessively. The point. . .it is to be taken seriously, but don’t panic and attribute their normal behavior to being a reaction to chocolate.
Since it was too late to induce vomiting, the Dane didn’t go to the vet and was monitored at home. Fortunately, she was able to “pass” the chocolate and process the caffeine and theobromine (stimulants) that were absorbed into her system.
I don’t doubt there have been a lot of sick dogs due to chocolate prior to our knowing it’s potential harm; however, I have heard so many dog owners say quietly that they used to give their dogs oreo cookies as treats. Some were even given chocolate kisses! My guess is they weren’t given enough to do harm and we weren’t nervously looking for symptoms.
Information is knowledge and may save you a trip to the vet. My best advice is to eat the dark chocolate and give the dog a dry, nearly tasteless dog biscuit. No wonder they too love chocolate!
Most of us look at a dog’s tail to see if they are receptive to our greeting and approach. What does the wag of a tail tell?
Some tails wag faster based on their level of enthusiasm and excitement. Some tails don’t really wag but are more of a propeller that rotate in a circular motion. Some tails will wag out of nervousness and it may be positioned higher or lower than it is for a receptive greeting. Since you may not have the time to pay attention to those details, especially if you don’t know the dog, wait before reaching to give affection.
The problem comes when we always assume a wagging tail is a sign of affection and acceptance. It isn’t. Unfortunately for those who have been bitten by the other end of a wagging tail, assume they must have done something wrong to make the dog change it’s mind.
A wagging tail is a sign of “joy,” and it can be sign of nervousness and excitement just prior to a lunge that says something other than “Hi, glad to meet you!” Usually, the dogs physiology is shifting in more ways than just the wag of the tail, but more are focused on that end of the dog.
Next time you approach a dog and see it’s tail wagging, be sure to observe the rest of the dog’s body and any signs of aggression or fear. Most likely, the dog wants your affection, but it’s good to make sure!
