Pekingese Afraid of Nylabone

Suki has been staying with me for socialization. She was featured in a previous post with Mac-nanny, the labradoodle. Here she is as a Friday Funny…afraid of a Nylabone?

Puppy Training

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.

Confused By Dog Stereotypes?

If you are visiting shelters in search of a new dog and are confused about which breed is best, I encourage you to do some research, but don’t eliminate a dog based on the stereotype alone. Different breeds definitely have their own unique qualities but these qualities are not exclusive.

As you consider which dog is best for your family, make an informed decision and one definitely based on the dog itself rather than the stereotype of their breed.  Here’s an article on this subject:

Dog Stereotypes

If you have any questions or concerns about a dog you want to adopt, please contact me!

Supervising A Puppy

Puppies need constant supervision.  When left unattended inside, they may chew on anything and everything. If left outside, they may dig or decide to play in the leaves. . .

Ever Had A “Puppy Moment?”

Most things about puppies are adorable. They are always enthusiastic because everything is new and exciting! They also lack the ability to focus and have a very short attention span. AND, it doesn’t bother them a bit.

You may have heard of a “senior moment.” Those moments when you are doing one thing and then forget what you are doing so you start doing something else. Having been around several puppies lately, I realized that rather than a “senior moment,” have a “puppy moment.” It sounds so much better. It almost sounds fun!

Puppies can be walking toward their toy, and mid-step see a moth and head towards it. They can squat to pee and in a nanosecond get distracted and follow a leaf. If they could use words, I’m sure they’d be saying, “hey, look at that, no that, no that!” They look at us confused as we attempt to keep them focused.

The next time you lose a word mid-sentence, forget why you entered a room, or what it is you were going to do next, call it a “puppy moment.” You can also keep an I-don’t-care-if-I-forget-what- I’m-doing attitude and just enjoy the moment. . .whatever that moment is!

Technorati Profile

What’s Next Michael Vick?

I just received the update from the Humane Socieity about the release of Michael Vick from prison.  The HSUS (and other organizations) persisted behind the scene to expose his pit bull fighting ring and to subsequently have him prosecuted and suspended by the NFL.

The only positive side to Michael Vick is that his actions (and getting caught) brought light to the fact that dog fighting is happeneing and needs to stop and those involved prosecuted.  Michael Vick says he’s a changed man and blames the abuse on his lack of respect for animals based on how he was raised as a child.

Michael Vick now has the opportunity, and I believe, obligation to give back to the community and society by assisting in the prevention of the advancement of Pit Bull fighting.

Here’s the HSUS update:  What’s Next For Michael Vick?

Dogs Celebrate Easter!

Dogs don’t look forward to a holiday weekend or a day off.  However, dogs do something similar to our definition of “celebrate.”  They just do it differently than we do.

On this particular holiday, a lot of families see the arrival of the Easter Bunny and hide eggs for the kids to find, and cook a ham for dinner.

Dogs. . .well, they find rabbits who are hiding and have them for dinner.  See, it is similar.

In whatever way you choose to celebrate today, may it be filled with the newness of Spring!

Does Your Dog Bite You?

We can lose all reason when we look into the sweet, adorable eyes of our newly adopted dog.  It’s easy to give lots of affection and allow them to do anything they want because - well, because!  We feel guilty restricting them.  I mean, look at them, they are so cute!

If, a few weeks later, you reach for your adorable dog, and it nips at you, stop right there.  Do not let it go and excuse their behavior or rationalize that they just weren’t ready to leave the dog park, get off the bed, put the leash on, etc.

Your dog needs to have a quick lesson in “do not bite the hand that feeds you.”  This behavior is a clear sign that your dog does not respect you.  Maybe you are willing to tolerate it, but the child who reaches for the dog when the dog doesn’t want them to, won’t be so understanding.

It is possible that with a couple of sessions in behavior modification, your pup will be the dog you first brought home.  Most of the behavior that will shift, is yours.  You can learn how to provide guidance and structure for your dog in a way that will make you both feel better about the relationship.

If you have a question or concern regarding your dog’s behavior, please ask me using the box to the right.

A Dog With Depression

I received an email from a client saying that their Basset Hound looked depressed. Sympathetically, I responded asking, “how can you tell?”

When a Puppy Becomes a “Man?”

This is not about a B-rated sci-fi movie where a dog becomes a man.  Actually, it’s about when a male pup matures into a dog.

All puppies squat to do their business.  At some magical, maturing moment, males typically learn to lift their leg.  Not all do.  They can learn it from being around other males; however, that’s not always necessary.  Why do they lift their leg?

My clients will say, “oh, I hope he never learns to lift his leg.”  What they are mostly referring to is the necessity to lift it on every leaf, twig, or object along their path. The dog is saying to everyone who cares, “I’ve been here, consider yourself warned!”

Female dogs “mark” as well, it just isn’t as compulsive as it is for the males.  At about two years of age, dogs have a shift in their hormones and mature into dogs and begin leaving puppy-hood behind.  So, if your dog doesn’t lift their leg prior to this, they may now.  They may begin to feel the need to mark their territory.  This territory may be in the home or things they had no possessive interest in until now.

You can’t stop their instinct, but you can redirect them and observe their sniffing around just prior to staking their claim.  Along with the hormonal shifts, they are more likely to mark if something in their environment has changed and they feel threatened.  (It’s not good to threaten or question a male’s masculinity - two or four-legged version).  Giving your dog focused attention and being aware of the changes, will go a long way in reducing unwanted marking.