An Apple for the Teacher?

In most relationships – dog with human, human with human, someone is being a teacher and the other a student.  Even when we don’t realize it or choose not to pay attention.

In a lot of instances, the good teacher would receive a dog biscuit rather than an apple.  Our dogs are teachers.  They are constantly showing us who we are – short tempered, easily amused, unconditionally loving, unaware.  Good or bad, they are a great reflection of our emotion and mood.

On one occasion, the Great Dane was acting very unsettled as she paced back and forth from me to the living room.  My patience was running out!   I would ignore her and tell her to go as I focused on my writing.  This continued until I, the student, realized that she was letting me know there was nothing for her to lie on.  As soon as the bed was supplied, she relaxed and so did I.

The “lessons” may be brief and some uncomfortably long!  Get ready for class – recess is over and a new lesson is soon to start.  Apple or dog biscuit?

Things I Learned From A Dog Named Moby

• Get overly excited when an attentive human approaches
• Jumping on the above human is appreciated and adored
• Bark when you think you may have even remotely thought you heard something
• Jump on the furniture and wait to hear “off!” before relocating
• Don’t share
• I am all that matters

Words of wisdom from Melody (foster Yorkie).   Her coach is her “big” brother a Yorkie-mix, Moby.

If Your Name Is Not Melody – Step Away From the Food!

Oh, the dynamics of dogs and their food.  I think if dogs were allowed and capable of snacking throughout the day on whatever was in the refrigerator or pantry, they would be less overtly protective of the one (or perhaps two) meals they are allotted each day.

Melody, the little foster Yorkie in the home, learned quickly which plate is hers and when the chef (that would be me) announces who is being served and where, she promptly goes to her place.  I have been feeding her more often as she could use a little more weight.

Today, she stood up for herself.  As the declaration was made, “Melody, here’s your food” she hurried to her place as the others watched in angst as they were missing out on a small portion of softened kibble.  Try though they might to take a morsel from her plate, she let them know that if their name IS NOT Melody, step away.

I am in charge of the food and make certain that the dogs know who controls their tasty meals.  Just today I traded a small dry dog cookie for a recently killed squirrel.  The power I have amazes me.  I guess I should say – “if your name is not Melody or Gayle – step away from the food!”

Gratitude is for the Dogs

In the midst of the ideal for the perfect dog, it’s good to stop and be thankful for the dog (animals) in our lives for who they are.  The thankfulness may be short-lived as they track in yet more dirt or find the TV remove tasty, or the new leather sofa extremely comfortable.

It’s difficult not to make a comparison with our human family.  They are probably allowed on the couch and aren’t at risk for eating the remote, but our gratitude may be short-lived as soon as they do something we consider annoying.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  Our thanksgiving should exist every day if even for brief seconds as we find humor or enjoyment in our animal and human families and friendships.   So, catch it quick!  Don’t let the opportunity for gratitude be missed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How Many Dogs Do You Own?

My guess. . .you don’t own any.

Maybe it’s just a “pet” peeve of mine, and something worth mentioning (or not).  I don’t believe we own our dogs any more than we own another person, place, or thing.  If we have pets, we are also given the opportunity and responsibility for taking care of them.  That is different than owning them.

It may sound like semantics, however, there is a subtle yet important difference in basing our expectations for our pets on our right as their owners rather than what we owe them.  As soon as we decide to bring them into our families and homes, we also “adopt” a responsibility for their care.

Dogs live in the realm of subtlties.  Our response to them should be in that same realm.  There’s nothing wrong with referencing dog ownership, as long as we know that we don’t truly own anything – our dogs are no exception.

Spa Day for Dogs?

I finally had to submit to the fact that some dogs need or at best should randomly be groomed.  The problem was I couldn’t see taking my dog for a “spa day” while I was in dire need of a little grooming myself.  I don’t know if dogs all over the world are groomed on a regular basis or if I live in an area where it’s more a necessity because of the types of dogs most people have.

I was so hoping to get by without making this sort of a commitment.  Prior to their “spa day,” I wasn’t sure who needed something to relax them more – the dogs or me!  My little guy had never been near a groomer and scissors are his nemisis.  Now, that I am fostering a little yorkie, it was becoming less and less of an option on whether I’d become one of the many who take better care of their dogs than they do of themselves.

The dogs do look and smell great, but I think some of their free-spirited personality was removed along with their free-spirited hair.  Their hair is as much a part of how I saw them as my hair is for me.  Who knew?!?  I guess I’ll have some time as their hair grows to see if their spunk grows back with their hair.  Maybe mine will too!

Don’t Hurt Your Dog’s Feelings!

Attempting to live a life where you don’t feel as though you hurt your dog’s feelings is as likely as living a life where you don’t feel as though you hurt a human’s feelings!

During a training class, a dog was being a bit unruly.  I asked their human to give a quick “correction” to the dog with a tug on the leash.  My corrections are typically gentle compared to some approaches.  So, I wasn’t suggesting hanging the dog or doing anything that would emotionally traumatize the pup.

The dog’s human looked at me with concern in their face prior to taking any action.  Then, they said it – “I don’t want to hurt my dog’s feelings.”  I appreciate that and would rather that than someone being overtly rough with their dog.

I empathized for a second and responded with reassurance that they won’t hurt their dog’s feelings by providing guidance.  I think of it as just a consequence to the dog’s choice.  We wouldn’t wait a second before yelling as a child reached for a hot stove because we didn’t want to hurt their feelings by stopping their action.  Choice = consequence.  That may be a “correction” or it may be praise.

Think of correcting your dog as a means of providing positive guidance which will ultimately keep them from harm even if that harm is not as obvious as a burn from a stove.  It might be keeping them from eating something harmful, bolting away from you and getting hit by a car, or simply not respecting you because you are a weak leader.  Prior to the correction, tell them, “this will hurt me more than it hurts you.”

My Dog Won’t Eat!

One of the most common concerns I receive from clients is that their dog won’t eat. We talk about what they are feeding and when and how much, etc. I personally have a dog that eats and gets distracted and needs encouragement to return to their bowl.

I told her there are a lot of starving dogs in China that would love her food. She took a few more bites; however, I don’t think she grasped the meaning of what I said. So, I added a little roasted chicken to her kibble and that seemed a much better solution. Tough love and “they’ll eat when they are hungry doesn’t always work!”

Think about the times that you are cooking dinner and a piece of meat (or anything) falls to the floor. Most dogs are readily available to help with clean up. They’ll eat – it’s a matter of what. Being pack animals, most dogs eat better and more when either they are with us or other dogs. Dogs will also eat quicker when they think someone else might get their meal.

There are also a lot of gravies that can be added to a dog’s kibble for flavor. It may take a teaspoon to a tablespoon of warm chicken broth in a bowl of kibble before the dog will find it worthy of eating. You can also add some raw ground turkey to their food or add a little graded cheese.

You may be thinking you want your dog to eat kibble and only kibble so that you aren’t catering to their tastes at every meal. Unfortunately, some dogs have allergies to grains and meals or they just don’t like it. It is far removed from what they would naturally eat.

If your dog refuses to eat and misses more than a meal or two, rule out any other health issues and try adding something a little more tasty to their food. After all, the hunt, chase, and kill for their kibble dinner isn’t all that exciting!

Dog’s Instinct Fails When Meeting a Rattlesnake

Think again if you believe that all dogs are respectful of rattlesnakes. Some dogs have an instinct that says “stay away” when they are introduced to a rattlesnake. Other dogs may learn the hard way or not at all. They need to be taught through aversion training to avoid snakes, particularly rattlesnakes.

One of my dogs was alerting me (let’s just say that’s what it was) to a rattlesnake by the door. There was a previous encounter but that snake was “rattling” at an amazing speed as a warning of his presence. This snake either didn’t feel threatened, or after a nice meal wasn’t able to muster the energy to rattle at a barking dog.

Without the rattle, the snake blended nicely with the surroundings. Fortunately, my dog’s excitement and focus let me know there was something more on the ground than I originally saw. My dog was within inches of the snake’s face and for some reason the snake didn’t strike. If it weren’t for the full moon, none of us would have seen the snake. I don’t think the dog needed to “see” it to know it was there. However, my dog didn’t have the natural instinct to just leave the snake. The other two dogs were waiting at the door for my arrival and their place of safety.

Snakes don’t want to waste their venom on something they can’t eat; however, a dog may attempt to unknowingly push that theory and they will get bitten. They can survive it depending on where they are bitten, their immune system, and how quickly they are treated. There are anti-venom shots, but don’t rely on that to save your dog.

The rattlesnakes in this area should be hybernating by now. Due to warm temperatures they are still out and probably a little tired and confused as to why they aren’t tucked away somewhere for a long winter’s nap! I personally wish they were.

My dog responded to my call to “come” and we went inside and watched as the snake made it’s way to some unknown destination. I hope that it’s being here was the result of a wrong turn. She will need to be taught to avoid snakes – I sure can’t rely on instinct!

How to Move Your Dog

Moving can be a little traumatic for our pets.  Don’t underestimate the affects of this experience on your dog. Just because you are there along with their toys and bed doesn’t mean they will feel right at home any more than you will.

Let them get acclimated to their new surroundings.  Go outside with them and explore the yard.  Let them walk through the home.  This isn’t to say they should sleep with you if they don’t normally or that the routine should change to somehow compensate for the change in their lives.  It’s more about them feeling secure and to give that process time.

Keep their routine as “normal” as possible.  Soon, your dog will learn that home is where you are!