As I cleaned out the kitty litter box this morning, I thought of how cat poop is such a wonderful delicacy to most dogs. They would never pass on a serving of “kitty rocca!” Makes me wonder. Maybe I could start a recycling program. I’ll save that for another blog post! For now, I’ll write more about dog food.
This is a common concern among dog people. So many questions. What if I’m not feeding my dog the “right” food? What if they suddenly act as if they don’t like their food?
If they become ill we can wonder and speculate that we contributed to this by not choosing a different dog food. I am not going to minimize that, but I do like to be the or at least a voice of reason. If your dog is eating the food, their coat looks good, they are healthy and active – be grateful and stop questioning.
If your dog has suddenly decided to skip a meal, that doesn’t mean the food is bad or that they are deciding to be picky, they may have other issues. Maybe it’s just too hot to care about food or they ate something in the yard yesterday and they need to let things settle before a meal.
There are things you can add to their food to make it more tasty, but wait on that and see if they don’t return to their food. If they have other symptoms along with not eating, then there might be reason for greater concern. Maybe some won’t relate to this; but, most of us don’t worry and stress if we skip a meal because we just don’t feel like eating.
Remember, as your dog quickly swallows that morsel of “kitty rocca” – they can’t be that picky!
It is never too late for you or your dog to change an unwanted behavior. Some people give up (on themselves and their dog) or surrender to the undesirable behavior. Others wait until the behavior has escalated and considered intolerable before contacting a trainer or behaviorist.
I am here to tell you that it’s never too late! Waiting may not have been the best choice, but you’re here now and so is your dog’s wonderful(?) behavior. It’s never too late. Shifting the behavior slightly and looking for gradual improvement is a good place to start. Don’t expect what was accepted for years (or even months) to disappear.
I have gone to client’s homes to work with their new pup only to find that the senior dog loved the attention and focus of the training as well. As adults, we can still learn (and should be learning) new things all of the time. We shouldn’t expect less of our canine adults. I’ve never sensed that a dog was saying – “I’m too old for this stuff!” Even arthritic, hearing and sight impaired dogs respond to the added attention, energy, and focus of training.
You and your dog are never too old to change an unwanted behavior and to learn a few new tricks!
Here is an excerpt from a great article on the recent closing of Puppy Mills in West Virginia.
“More than 1,000 puppies have a new lease on life following their discovery Saturday in a large puppy mill breeding facility tucked away in the backwoods of West Virginia, just outside of city of Parkersburg.”
Training your dog to respond to you and your commands; i.e., “quiet” when barking, “come” when called, etc., is very important. There are times when you aren’t at home or unable to get to them quick enough if they are extremely distracted. For those times, I found a great product. It is made to use outside.
The product (my personal assistant) is made by Guardian. It is designed to look like a bird house. It is made of plastic and houses an electronic device that triggers a high-pitched tone when a dog barks. In other words – your dog runs outside, barks and the dog will hear a sound at a frequency heard only to them. It distracts them and since they don’t enjoy the sound, they refrain from barking.
Depending on the distraction, it may not work 100% of the time. It’s meant as a tool – as an addition to training. Perhaps you’ll find it useful too.
What is an appropriate amount of affection to give a dog? Here are a few guidelines:
When bringing a puppy into the home, give moderate affection while beginning to establish where they will stay (i.e., crate, kennel, confined area).
DO NOT carry them around thinking it is helping them to bond with you. They will bond more naturally when they are allowed to walk around like dogs do. =) You can create problems with separation if you give too much affection initially (or at any time really).
The first two weeks for a rescued dog are very important. I affectionately refer to them as “coma dogs” during that time when everything is perfect and we are amazed at how calm they are. Don’t mistake this as their full “potential.” Give affection for a reason as in with praise for good behavior. Let them adapt to their new environment slowly and remember that they are joining your family and not the other way around.
Don’t mistake not giving affection with having to speak firmly and ignoring them. Just give balanced affection and attention so that they realize the order of things and where they fit. Changing the rules on them after the newness wears off isn’t fair to either of you.
Those are a few of the basic guidelines to follow. There are definitely other variables, but that’s for another post! For now, enjoy how to hug a Great Dane.
First off, crating or kenneling your dog isn’t cruel. Leaving it in a crate unattended for too long of a time without socialization, exercise, training, and affection is. I recommend crate training in conjunction with housebreaking because it is necessary, beneficial, and safe to keep a puppy confined when you can’t keep your eye on them.
If introduced slowly and properly, your dog will associate their crate/kennel/pen as their safe place and will go there on command and/or on their own. Even when a dog is housebroken, it may not be trustworthy. This goes for not only puppies, but for some dogs who mature late in life, get bored easily, or aren’t exactly thrilled about being left behind.
The crate isn’t to be used as punishment or as a place of solitary confinement. Use the crate responsibly and be sure to socialize, train, and give affection to your pup on a regular basis.
The crate/kennel may also be used temporarily to introduce a new dog to the family. As the dog adapts, or when you feel that your dog is housebroken and responsible, the crate may find it’s home in storage until needed again. Some people always choose to crate their dog. That choice is up to you and what works best.
For more detailed guidance on crate training, you will receive a free copy of my e-book “Crate Training Facts” when you purchase my new e-book “The Truth About Housebreaking.”
I have been asked lately if I can help train a dog to use a litter box. It can be done; however, I don’t believe it’s the best or easiest option. I work a lot with clients on housebreaking. If they request that the dog only learn to eliminate in the house, I recommend using a separate area where they use either a pee pad or artificial turf.
A small litter box is difficult for a dog to use (even a small dog) because most dogs don’t just squat and “go” like a cat. They need to sniff and circle first. While that’s not always the case, if you are having difficulty getting your dog to “use” a litter box, you may need to try something larger or one of the other options (before your dog chooses another option).
If, however, you want to litter box train a cat. . .get a litter box, fill box with litter, show it to the kitten — you’re done! If only dogs were that easy. =)
So many dog food choices, so little time. Have you noticed that there are entire sections of dog food options. When did this happen? I do know, but it’s still amazing, isn’t it?
Should we feed kibble only, kibble mixed with raw, vegetarian, grilled, broiled, low-fat, high-fiber, or dehydrated rare seasonal meat? More and more, dogs are showing food and other allergies much like their human companions. I’m not so sure that “our” stress hasn’t filtered into their life contributing to their dis-ease.
I encountered a man recently who when asked if I could give his Golden Retriever a treat, recoiled quickly when I said the treat was lamb and rice. He responded with “he’s a Vegan.” A Vegan? That was a new one for me.
Dogs are carnivores. Their teeth, jaw, and digestion were designed for it. I don’t feed my dogs a raw diet, but have heard from those who do that any health issues their dog previously experienced disappeared. I can promise you that once it was authorized that lizards, bunnies, and birds are dinner, my dogs would give it a try.
I’d like to tell you about the best dog food. The Best dog food is the one that keeps your dog healthy and happy. My guess is that there are a lot of dogs who are fed strict diets that far exceed the nutritional value of their people.
Remember – healthy and happy for both you and your dog!
You can find everything you need to know about the book on the Sales Page by using the link above. Or, enter your name and email in the boxes to the right under the book cover, confirm in your email that you requested information, and you will be taken to the Order Page.
There are a lot of options for dog toys and chews. Depending on your dog, the stuffed toys can leave a nice layer of white fluff all over the floor and for only a few seconds of enjoyment!
I recommend:
A Natural Beef Bone. These can be purchased at pet stores such as PetSmart. They come in a variety of sizes. They also come filled, but I wouldn’t suggest those unless you’re comfortable with the ingredients. The bone is porous but hard. Most dogs enjoy chewing on them and for added taste, you can soak it in bouillon or spread a dab of peanut butter along the edge.
Nylabone makes a variety of products that last a while and do not typically break off in tiny pieces which can be a choking hazard.
If you have a teething puppy – try soaking a washcloth in water, ringing it out, and freezing it. This feels good on the dog’s gums and they may feel satisfied that they are “allowed” to chew on a cloth. (Don’t remind them that you gave it to them)
Rope toys are good as long as you throw them out when the rope becomes shredded.
Those are some of my top picks. I don’t recommend rawhide as it does not digest. A small piece can get lodged in their throat or if swallowed it sits in their stomach.
Also, rotate their toys. If everything is out all of the time, they get desensitized and may find the chair leg or even their own bed to be a suitable substitute!
