Tips + Blog
This page will be updated regularly with reviews on great products, basic training tips, and general musings about the animal world. It's even possible that Calvin or Lucy may weigh in with their thoughts on occassion!
Check back regularly or join our mail list to receive notice of updates to this page.
Holiday Prep
October 31, 2010
You may be thinking: "It's only Halloween? I'm not ready to think of the holidays yet." However, for your pets' sake, I hope you will.
Each year, training and behavior take a back seat to the hustle and bustle of gift buying, food making, cookie baking, photos and family visits...and everything in between. We rush and rant, desperately seeking a moment of sanity. In the middle of this, our dogs, cats, and other pets get lost and confused, many becoming anxious in the midst of the activity. How can we help our pets survive this time of year?
Create a Safe Space
Begin by creating a safe place for your pet. This may be a separate room in the house or simply a crate or play castle. This area becomes a place where good things always happen. Give your dog a stuffed Kong or other stress relieving chew toy in this location of the house. Allow your cat to indulge in catnip at the top of the kitty castle where no one can reach her. It is important that they start to learn now that there is a safe place to go to when things get hectic. This way, when you pet becomes stressed they can be escorted (many will escort themselves) to this space when down time is needed. Remember, if you are taking your pet to this space, good things always happen. Provide treats or chews so they can work off some of that anxiety.
Learn the Signs
It is always important to learn how to read your pet, but never so much as during a frantic event or time of year. Watch for pets seeking hiding places, turning away from those trying to initiate contact, or carrying themselves low to the ground. If growling or snapping of any sort takes place, you've waited too long. A stressed pet will usually give plenty of warning before they get to that point. Start watching your pet now so you can learn what their individual warning signs are.
Be Your Pet's Advocate
Your pet does not speak human. Never be afraid to say "no, you can't pet my dog. He's stressed right now." We must be our pets' advocate and provide a voice for them. If you take your pet out and about this time of year, be sure to be fully prepared with chew items, a mat to relax on, and plenty of treats. This way, you are always prepared to reward a positive experience, and redirect a negative one.
The Boarding Truth
Often, pets who have never been boarded are suddenly placed in the care of strangers. If you plan on boarding your pet for the holidays, help them prepare with short visits now. This is particularly important as cage free and daycare boarding becomes increasingly popular. Be sure to schedule short visits of 2 hours to a half day first. Work towards a full day, then be sure to schedule at least one overnight visit before you plan to leave town. This is valuable twofold. First, it helps your pet build endurance for the long days of play and interaction. Second, it helps them be assured that you will be back for them. This is especially important for fearful or separation challenged pets.
Most importantly, remember to spend time with your pet over the holidays. They are members of the family, too. Schedule blocks of time to focus on snuggles, play or training, whichever you pet enjoys. Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. If you are concerned about behavior problems or your pets tolerance for the activity, contact a qualified trainer sooner rather than later.
Potty Training, oh, Potty Training
September 3, 2010
You adopted an older dog to avoid the problems of potty training. You looked very specifically for one who's kennel card said "housebroke." So why is he now peeing all over your house?
There are many reasons this may happen. To begin with, dogs are great discriminators. They can tell the difference between their foster home, a kennel, or your home. They can tell the difference between shag and berber carpet, between concrete and grass. However, they are not very good at generalizing. This means, it is extremely possible that they are very well housetrained on grass in the backyard at the foster home. However, if they have never been on carpet before (say, always in a house with stone tile) they now don't know if the carpet in your home is or is not off limits.
It is for this reason that I always recommend going back to Potty Training 101 any time a dog enters a new home...even if you have always had your friend but have moved. It is possible that there is a different connection between the location of the patio door and the carpet. This could confuse a dog who has always found tile by the patio. Be sure to watch your dog for the first few days, taking her outside to the appropriate spot on a regular schedule, and praising like crazy when she goes in the proper place.
Another reason your new adult adoptee may be having a hard time adjusting is the stress of a new home. If your new pup isn't used to children, a second dog, a husband with a beard, or whatever may be different, it is common for their to be some stress. Take time to bond with your new adoptee. Be gentle and understanding and give her time to adjust to the new space. Try to give her plenty of positive experiences so she can begin to relax. And again, go back to Potty Training 101.
If you have adopted a male dog, was he recently neutered at the shelter? Depending on his age, leg lifting may be a strong habit to break. This can be a particular issue in a new home. Do you have another dog that he feels he needs to establish himself with? A cat? I would recommend Potty Training 101 as well as contacting a local trainer for some additional advice. There are plenty of alternative remedies that may help him settle in quickly, easing the need to "mark" his territory.
Finally, before working with potty training issues on any dog over 6 months old, I always recommend a urinalysis be completed by your veterinarian. It is always important to rule out the possibility of a medical cause. This could save you a lot of time and frustration. If your dog is suffering from a urinary infection, medication will be required.
You will notice that I recommend Potty Training 101 frequently here. In most cases, regardless of the cause, how we fix the behavior is the same. Get back to basics on communicating with your dog what is and is not appropriate elimination behavior. Be sure to praise when your dog is successful. Be careful to be gentle and patient, never scolding, hitting, or punishing your dog for going in the wrong place. This could result in a dog who is afraid to eliminate in front of you...making potty training even more difficult.
Who's the Parent?
August 13, 2010
It's important that we establish the role of leader or parent from the beginning. This applies whether we have a new puppy or a rescue who just came home. This does not mean we must physically dominate our dogs, rolling them onto their backs and terrifying them into submission. Instead, think of parenting your dog much like parenting a child. Gentle, loving guidance is necessary to help our them learn to make the right decisions. Our dogs should learn to look to us as the source of all good things, and in turn, they will follow our lead on the right and wrong choices for their actions.
In order to develop the roll as leader, it is important to follow some basic rules within the house. The ultimate idea behind these rules is that good, mannerly behavior will get you good things. And those good things only come from the humans in the house.
Leadership Protocol
In order to help clients understand how to establish this relationship, I ask them to begin with the following leadership protocol. It is a fancy way of saying all good things come from you. I can't say enough how important this rule is. You will never have to dominate, scold, or physically control your dog, as long as they know you are the source of the resources he or she wants.
First, all dogs should be on a feeding schedule. Children are not given free access to the kitchen and for good reason. Neither should our dogs. Food is the ultimate resource, and it should ALWAYS come from you. Puppies should eat three meals per day, until they are approximately six months old. After that, I truly recommend every dog eat two meals per day. This prevents a dog from becoming overly hungry, which can result in vomiting of bile, a yellow, foamy liquid.
Before feeding your pup, they should always being calm, polite, and provide a sit if they know the cue. Pups should never be fed for being pushy, barking, or otherwise demanding food. If this occurs, simply place the food bowl back on the counter and ignore your pup until they settle down. Try again to place the food dish on the floor in front of a nice, calm puppy. Repeat until they can remain calm until you have put the food down.
The first few times you try to feed your pup this way, it may be difficult and take some time. However, I guarantee it will be worth it. Imagine having a dog that will politely sit, waiting for you, his loving parent, to provide his meal. It can be done by practicing the steps above.
This same routine should be done for anything the puppy finds valuable. He wants to go outside for his walk, he needs to sit and wait at the door. If he wants to go in the backyard, he needs to wait patiently while you open the patio door. A little practice with this goes a long way.
If at any point, he tries to barrel past you, use your entire body to block his motion. As humans, we tend to use our hands a lot or rely on the leash. Unfortunately, leashes are meant more for securing our dogs to us, not controlling them. And when we try to use our hands, our pups see playtime more than direction.
To body block your dogs actions, take one step towards your dog. You will notice that he will more likely take a step backwards to give up the space to you. Dogs give and take space based on the location of their torso, so keep this in mind as you use your body with your dog. If you lean your torso forward slightly, you are taking the space and asking the dog to move away. If you lean your torso back slightly, you are giving the space and inviting the dog to you.
This can be used in practice when asking for polite behavior at the door. When you attempt to go out the back door, ask your dog for calm behavior or a sit. Open the door slightly. If he tries to push past to go outside, step in front of him and close the door. Once he steps back and gives you the space, try again. After a few trials, your dog will begin to learn that you will not allow him to push past you at the door. Eventually, he won't even try.
Building the Bond Through Training
July 24, 2010
We have all heard the phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Honestly, that couldn't be further from the truth. Dogs, like humans, are always able to learn. You just need to know how to teach them. This is where a good trainer comes in.
When you add a dog to your home, the first person you should find is a good veterinarian. The second is a good trainer. Whether you have just adopted a puppy that is still a young, mental sponge or an adult rescue with an unknown history, a trainer is an important resource.
Start by getting into basic training whether in a group class or private sessions. Learning or relearning the basics such as "sit," "down," "wait," or leash manners is a great way for you and your new fur friend to bond. Even if you have trained previous family pets, attending a group class or having a "stranger" come to your home may help you identify and prevent social issues down the road.
Practicing these skills will also give you a window to any possible behavior problems that should be addressed. For example, if your dog has problems focusing on the walk, it is possible he is suffering from stress or anxiety. Maybe he was not taken for walks in his previous home. It is possible that he was not properly socialized to parks, making your favorite walking place a difficult and scary location for him to visit. Whatever you may discover, if you have begun attending classes, you will have a valuable resource for brainstorming solutions.
Be sure to choose training methods that take into consideration your pet's individual needs. A fearful dog needs patience and a calm person he can learn to trust. A high energy pup needs to learn tricks and games that will help him burn energy. Either way, remember that your dog does not come pre-programmed knowing English. Like everything else, our language is something we have to teach them with patience and love. A qualified trainer can help you.
Be sure to research your trainer. Are they a member of a professional organization? The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has a great Dog Trainer Search that allows you to locate members in your area. This way, you can be sure you are hiring a trainer that has committed to learning and continued growth.
Dogs, old and young, can begin learning at any point in their life. It should be fun and positive, allowing for the bond to build with your new friend. This is why it is ideal to begin training the day your dog comes home. It will help establish a relationship of trust and respect that will help you through whatever comes your way.
Thoughts on the New Year
2/2/2010
The new year brings us all many ideas and challenges. This is the year that Calvin and I are getting fit!
It is important to be sure to exercise your dogs on a daily basis. The walk is the easiest way to exercise mind and body. Try to make every walk at least 15-20 minutes in length. Make use of the opportunity presented by street corners to practice basic obedience skills like sit and wait. This will work your dog's mind while teaching safety.
The neighbor's garbage also presents a great learning and practice opportunity. What dog doesn't like to sniff and learn what Mr. and Mrs. Jones had for dinner last night! Take the time to practice leave it. Be sure to have a terrific reward of a favored treat or toy to say thank you when your dog decides you are more valuable than the trash.
Finally, we all hear dogs barking in nearby yards on our walk. It is important for your dog to listen to you in any situation. Turn these potentially frustrating occurences into an opportunity to work on testing your dog's focus. Say your dog's name and ask for his attention. Reward for even the smallest amount of attention and continue on your walk. A little practice with this exercise will start to go a long way.
Good luck and be sure to call us with any questions on these and other tips.
