Thursday's Tip: Tackling Leash Aggression

Today's tip comes straight from Dogtime.com and deals with leash aggression...

Leash aggression is an extremely common behavior issue faced by many dog-loving owners.

 

You start on the blissful journey of puppy parenthood, envisioning a future of leisurely strolling with your dog: cup of coffee and newspaper in hand, ready to settle in on a park bench, street café, or just around the neighborhood. Then reality sets in. Lovable Fido often resembles Cujo while on leash.

 

I feel for owners battling leash aggression. I know they scratch their heads in bewilderment, sometimes even resorting to defending sweet Fido by blurting aloud to passersby, "Really, he's very sweet. He only does this on leash!"

 

Here's what is going on. Your dog is probably frustrated and anxious. Very likely, he wanted to run after or gain access to whatever he saw while on the street; it could've been a squirrel, other dogs, skateboards etc.

 

That pesky prohibitive collar and leash however prevented your dog from gaining access to these things and over time, exuberant curiosity was replaced with frustration. Your dog needs to release that frustration and voila, the barking and lunging begins.

 

"I WANT IT! I NEED TO GO INVESTIGATE! I JUST NEED TO SAY HELLO! WHY CAN'T I HAVE IT?"

 

It is very likely that your dog's initial outbursts were met with some form of disapproval from you.

 

"FIDO, NO! HEY! STOP IT!"

 

The cycle then begins and now Fido begins to also feel anxious. He begins to think that not only do these things frustrate him, but they make Mom and Dad angry!

 

"HEY DOG! GET AWAY! MY DAD GETS MAD WHEN YOU ARE NEAR! GO AWAY!"

 

Now that we likely know the why, let's focus on how to manage the behavior.

 

In any case of aggression, I strongly advise working with a gentle and humane professional to guide you through this process and teach you about the importance of your timing and consistency. Seek a trainer whose methods are firming planted in reward-based training.

 

You need to develop a more refined replacement behavior for the lunging and barking. A dog that is quietly trotting along your side, staring into your sparkling eyes is ideal. In order to get this going, you need to be a vigilant owner. It is now your job to scout out other dogs before your dog has the opportunity.

 

You must also be a well prepared owner. You must always be stocked with tasty treats or your dog's favorite tug style toy.

 

Game plan

 

The very second you see a dog (before your dog has the chance to react) you quickly get Fido's attention with a happy voiced, "Fido!" Give him treats or access to his toy as you get close to and continue to pass the other dog. During this time, it's important that you remain calm, happy and refrain from tightening up on the leash. We are teaching Fido that both you and he need to relax in presence of other furry friends. Once the other dog has passed and is at a distance, the treating stops or the toy is put away.

 

Learning that you are the giver of all good things, your dog will become conditioned to look at you automatically when spotting another dog. This conditioning will also help improve Fido's association with other dogs.

 

It is very important, in kicking off this project, to be lavish in your reward giving, distributing treats every second while in sight of another dog. People often immediately retort, "My dog is going to get fat!" Not if you are a good owner and recognize that treats are incorporated into your dog's daily ration of food. Cut back on what is going into the bowl, knowing that tackling this behavior hurdle is top priority for the health and happiness of both you and your dog. It might take a bit of retraining yourself!

 

Over time, as your dog becomes increasingly comfortable looking at you, while ignoring other dogs, you will slowly decrease the number of treats given. If you are a good consistent trainer, by the end of this process you will be flipping one treat to your dog after you've passed the other dog and even sometimes simply offering a "good boy!"

 

Setting yourself up for success

 

1. When you are feeling lazy, avoid routes with dogs! If you aren't going to be a good trainer, don't allow your dog to react--and thus unravel all the work you are doing. (It's like a smoker who picks up a cigarette again!)
2. Practice "Fido, look!" every chance you get, NOT just when faced with other dogs. Your dog must make eye contact with you for everything he wants in life: before you put his food dish on the floor, snap on his leash, open the door for him to go outdoors, between each toss during a game of fetch. This is your batting practice. The more you and your dog get in the batting cage, the more successful you'll be at the big game!
3. Exercise your dog. If you have a backyard, play fetch for fifteen minutes before going on a walk. Your dog will be a bit more tired, a bit more convinced that you are cool (after tossing the ball to him), and likely to be less anxious about those other dogs.

 

Work hard and your training will pay off. Sitting at at outdoor café without worry that your table flies out from under your plate as Fido lunges for another dog IS possible.

 

[NOTE: If your dog is unable to pass another dog--while being treated and without reacting--you will need to consider proximity. Establish a comfort/space threshold: approaching other dogs only to the point where your dog is comfortable, and then crossing the street or creating a visual block as you get by. Over time, you'll increase proximity. This will definitely require working with a professional.]

 

Written by Colleen Safford, of New York Walk & Train and Far Fetched Acres, one of NYC's most recognized dog trainers.

Can't we all just get along?  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Dear Labby -- Petiquette Expert

Have you ever run across something clever and thought, "Boy I sure wish I would have come up with that idea!"  Well today's post is about a very clever pet tip site on pet ettiquette -- or "petiquette".

Similar to Dear Abby or Ann Landers, this site allows you to ask a question and receive an answer -- only this site is for dogs and your questions are answered by...

This clever site is run by Dog Time, and as I said before, Labby will answer your dog related questions.  For example, here is a question submitted about whether it is okay or not to correct someone elses dog...

Dear Labby, My mother-in-law's Golden Retriever is a jumper. She's a friendly dog, and I like her, but she's pretty big and I don't care for the constant, attention-seeking jumping. My mother-in-law and I have not always been on great terms so I don't want to rock the boat by chastising her precious pet. On the other hand, I'd like them both to get the message that this behavior is not appreciated. What's the proper etiquette for correcting someone else's dog?

 Signed: Put Off by Undisciplined, Needy Canine Energy

Dear Put Off, Who doesn't fancy himself a dog expert, P.O.U.N.C.E., and relish the chance to drop pearly liver bits of wisdom on naïfs such as ourselves? So bank some points with your mother-in-law by asking her advice. Something along the lines of: "I'm sure you're teaching Cricket not to jump - how can I help reinforce proper behavior?"


It's not unlikely your mother-in-law will respond with, "Oh I don't mind if she jumps!" In that case, it's up to you to set boundaries. Turn away from the dog as soon as you notice her front paws come off the ground; she's looking for face-to-face contact, but if you quickly turn away from her, she'll eventually learn that jumping does not get her what she wants. At least not with you.


In general, the rule is to leave the correcting to the owner. The exceptions are when safety's at stake. Or when you've got a lemon meringue pie in your hands and the Retriever hasn't eaten since morning.

And so, I encourage you to send Labby your questions.  You can reach her at dearlabby@dogtime.com

Today's parting quote:  "Knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is looking both directions anyway" ~Unknown


Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Beaching It

Ahh, it's spring and the weather on the Central Coast of California is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!  With such nice weather, it is just a matter of time before my hu-mans take me to the beach.  I love, love, love to run on the sand, play in the water and chase the birds (don't worry, I've never caught one!). 

If you are preparing to take your loving sidekick to the beach, Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer) offers these tips for beaching it:

•Know the local laws. Some beaches do not accept dogs. Others require that they be on-leash at all times. Find out before you head out.

•Prepare. You may not be aware that, like humans, dogs need protection from the sun. Talk to your veterinarian about protective goggles and canine sunblock.

•Be confident in your pack leadership. For a dog to get the full benefit of a beach visit, off-leash (where permitted) is ideal. But remember, the beach is full of interesting scents of the sea life there. This can send your dog into a very primal state. If you don't have your leadership skills down pat, you could lose your dog.

•Protect your dog from fleas. This is not an issue most people associate with the beach, but sand fleas are prevalent in some areas. Be aware that a wet flea collar is ineffective and can also irritate your dog's skin. Consult your veterinarian to find the best solution.

•Let your dog dig! This is the perfect spot to let your dog try to make that tunnel to China he's been dreaming of.

•Check conditions. Sea lice, jellyfish, undercurrents, and rip tides all pose just as much of a threat to dogs as they do to humans. Before you let your dog roam, verify with a lifeguard that the environment is safe.

•Keep your dog hydrated. Make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water—and never let your dog drink salt water. It can make him sick.

•Be aware of your dog's physical and emotional state. A trip to the beach isn't the time to punch out. Your dog may be having so much fun that he looses track of how tired, hot, or thirsty he is. It is up to you to watch for signs of dehydration or over-exhaustion. Sand and heat can make a normal exercise routine more strenuous. Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, call your dog back to rest in a shady spot.

•Be respectful of other visitors. Whether canine or human, other visitors to the beach may not appreciate your dog's company. Make sure to keep your dog in check.

•Be vigilant. Remember that many items washed ashore, like fishing lines, litter, plant-life, and dead fish, may not be safe for your dog. When he goes exploring, keep a close eye on the objects he finds.

•Pick up after your dog! Help keep the water clean and the beach pleasant for other visitors.

•Give your dog a bath. If possible, give him a good rinse with fresh water before leaving the beach. When you get home, make sure to wash your dog immediately! Chemicals from sea water can be harmful to your dog's coat and health.

Until next time, enjoy the beauty of today!  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: How To Hire A Dog Walker

About.com offers 6 steps for hiring a dog walker:

1. Determine how often you can and cannot walk your dog. Once you know how often you'll need extra help you'll be able to find a dog walker available to fill in whenever you won't be around.
2. Get recommendations from other dog owners. Ask at your local dog park or speak to all your friends and family about dog walkers they've used in the area.
3. Use an online resource such as Craigslist.org to find dog walker classifieds (see Resources below). You can usually find a number of dog walker advertisements as well as contact information.
4. Call dog walkers in your area and arrange to have meetings with those you are interested in hiring. Be sure to give yourself at least three options in case you have reservations about some that you've spoken with.
5. Ask a lot of questions of the dog walkers you call. For instance, you'll want to ask how much experience they have, what qualifications they have and how they handle disciplining the dogs. Also, you'll want to know how many dogs they walk at once.
6. Introduce your dog to the dog walkers. This gives you a chance to see your dog's temperament around the dog walkers and allows the dog walkers a chance to determine whether or not they would feel comfortable with your dog.

Okay, this is how it SHOULD be done, now let me tell you how it is being done in our house...

1. A little neighbor girl creates a flyer saying she is a "dog walker" -- my hu-mans ignore the flyer.
2. The little girl shows up at our door with another flyer and my hu-man says, "hmmm, let me talk it over with my wife."
3. The little girl shows up at our door with a new flyer, indicating that no one has taken her up on her dog-walking offer, so she is lowering her rates.
4. My hu-mans talk and think this little girl has an entrepreneural spirit and needs to be given a chance, so my hu-mom "interviews" the little girl to find out more about her "experience"...

My hu-mom, "Do you have a dog?"
Little girl, "No."
My hu-mom, "Have you taken dog training classes?"
Little girl, "No."
My hu-mom, "Have you walked dogs before?
Little girl, "No."
My hu-mom, "So, what qualifies you as a dog walker?"
Little girl, "I watch Victoria on TV, you know, 'It's Me or the Dog."

With no experience, my hu-mom was still impressed with this little girl's attitude, so she set up a time to have us all "get acquainted."  The little girl showed up at our door yesterday afternoon and my hu-mom and I went out to meet her.  My hu-mom brought treats and we spent most of the time on the front lawn.  My mom explained about speaking with authority, the importance of letting me know that I was "the dog" and the little girl was "the dog walker".  We reviewed some basic commands, (just so the "dog walker" could get used to me and me to her, then when my hu-mom felt comfortable, we started walking.  My hu-mom held the leash and showed the "dog walker" how to correct me if I started to pull, and how to walk in a straight line, turn me around, etc.  Towards the end of the session, my hu-mom passed the leash to the "dog walker" and walked along side of us, then she eventually dropped back a bit, then stopped altogether.  The "dog walker" shows promise, and my hu-mom and I will continue with training, before my hu-mom relinquishes the leash to her entirely.

So, our methods are not entirely optimal, but we are making a new friend and helping to fulfill the dreams of a little girl...to be a dog walker.  ~Zoe

  

Thursday's Tip: Surviving the Winter Months

Living in sunny (hah!) California, I am used to getting out and getting exercise.  But it has been raining (a lot) lately, and my humans have been challenged about making sure I don't become a couch potato. 

Cesar Milan recently posted an article on how to survive the winter months in certain parts of the country, and gave some excellent advice on "Indoor Exercise".  Essentially he challenges humans to get creative and find ways to keep your canines moving.

Our house has a fairly open format, so my hu-mom and hu-man will play indoor fetch with me.  They will throw the ball from one room to another and I'll run and "get it", then bring it back for them to do it again.  My hu-mom will also take me in one room of the house, ask me to "sit" and "stay", then she will go into another part of the house and yell, "come!"  I always take off on a dead run to find her and as soon as I do, she gives me a big scratch behind my ear, tells me I'm a good girl, and we do it all over again...and again... 

We also play tug (my favorite!) or I'll be asked to perform all of the tricks I have learned.

So, as you can see, snow and rain don't relegate you to the couch -- there is great fun and exercise to be had indoors too! 

How do you keep fit during the winter?  I would love to hear about it.  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Dental Hygiene for Dogs

I am often complimented on my "pretty" teeth.  I have to confess, I have little to do with it, for the real responsibility lies with my hu-mom. 

Thankfully she learned early about the importance of my "dental hygiene" and she brushes my teeth.  True confessions time...she doesn't brush them EVERY day, but that is something she said she needs to get better about, so I have a feeling I'm in for having her hands in my mouth much more often!

So how do you brush a dog's teeth? 

*image courtesy of the www. (sorry no credits were found, so copyright info is unknown)

Click here to watch a video that walks you through the process.

So, does your human brush your teeth?  I'd love to hear your story!  ~Zoe

Thursdays Tip: New Furniture protection

Disclaimer: Not the actual chair = )

My humans got a new chaise lounge for Christmas.  I've seen them reclining on that thing looking EXTREMELY comfortable and thought, "hey, what about me!"  So I tried it...  Needless to say, when I was discovered on the rather comfortable new piece of furniture, I was immediately told, "OFF".  I immediately gave up my place on the comfy new chaise and moved over the sofa (also comfortable AND a piece of furniture that I am allowed on.) 

So, how do you allow your pet on some pieces of furniture and not others?  Training of course.  To keep me off of the chaise (when they are not in the room), my humans will put tin foil on the chair.  As soon as my paws hit the foil, it makes a rather obnoxious noise and I turn tail and move to the acceptable sofa.  Of course when my humans are in the room the chaise will be foil free and if I go near the chaise, they will give me an "ah!" if I even think about getting on that thing.

Oh well, although there is a new temptation in the house, I will continue to enjoy my vantage spot from my ever so comfy sofa.  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Pill Pockets

I shared yesterday about how Kip is on so many medications...taken twice a day.  My humans have tried putting his pills in his food, but Kip manages to eat around the medications.  They have tried a number of ways to get Kip to take his multiple medications, but found that the easiest way is to put them all in/around a "Pill Pocket" and feed it to him just before he eats his morning and evening meal.  No fuss, no muss, no drama.

Pill Pockets are available for dogs and cats and can be purchased at most pet supply stores.  ~Zoe

Thursdays Tip: Keeping Your Pet Safe from Holiday Hazards

I love the Christmas Season -- all the lights, ornaments, bright red flowers, and the smell of pine!  Those ornaments look fun...round and sparkly.  I want my hu-mom or hu-man to throw them so I could go fetch it, but for some reason they keep them up high and away from me... ~Zoe

Zoe's hu-mom here.  The holiday season is filled with trees, lights, decorations and flowers that bring us joy, but they may be dangerous to your pets.  Today I thought I would share a few tips from the Dumb Friends League to be aware of, in order to allow you AND your pet(s) enjoy the holidays.

Christmas Tree Safety:

• If you have a live Christmas tree, there are a couple of things you want to be aware of: 1) keep the water stand covered -- Pine sap mixed with water makes a poisonous drink for your pet.  2) The smell of a live tree may cause your dog to "mark" the tree -- you may want to consider keeping your tree in an isolated room, or on a table top.
• If your tree is on the floor, decorate the bottom third of the tree with non-breakable ornaments.
• Secure your Christmas tree to a wall or ceiling hook with sturdy fishing line.  This will help prevent the tree from toppling over should your pet jump on it or accidently knock it over.
• If you see that an ornament, ornament hook, tinsel, ribbon, etc. has fallen on the floor, please pick it up immediately.  These things can cause serious internal injuries if your pet ingests them.
• Make sure your tree lights don't hang so low that your pet could get entangled in them, and ALWAYS unplug the lights when you are not home and your pet is.

Holiday Treats

• Holiday treats are tempting to our pets too, so please keep holiday treats and candies out of your pet's reach.  Also please be aware that chocolate, onions, raisins and alcohol can be fatal to dogs!

Holiday Plants

• Some holiday plants are poisonious, so please place your poinsettias, mistletoe and other popular holiday plants out of the reach of your pets.  

Enjoy a safe Christmas and holiday season!  ~Deborah (Zoe's hu-mom)

Thursday's Tip: Homemade Dog Biscuits

If you are one who loves to give Gifts from the heart, you may want to consider this for a homemade Christmas or Holiday gift for your favorite dog friends..

Homemade Dog Biscuits

This recipe is straight from Martha Stewart (the original can be found on her website at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/homemade-dog-biscuits.  But if you don't want to click the link, here goes...

Ingredients (Makes about 5 dozen)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, yeast, and salt; set aside
2. In a large bowl, combine oil and garlic. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches, beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.

3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick. Shape biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought dog bone with a butter knife.(Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog's size.)

4. If desired, you can spell out your dog's name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the toothpick first so it won't stick).

5. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

6. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven, leaving door closed. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap as a gift, or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

(From The Martha Stewart Show)

They're GRRRRRRRReat!  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip

Rubber gloves seem to be a staple at the veterinarians office...and according to my hu-mom, they are also used regularly at her doctor's office, dentist, hospital, place of business, etc.

So today's tip is to take something that is readily available and use them to help solve a common problem...dog hair.  I don't know about you, but I'm a shedder.  I leave my hair EVERYWHERE and my hu-mom is always sweeping, vacuuming, and lint-removing, trying to get rid of it all.  Well, did you know that a rubber glove is HIGHLY effective as a dog hair picker upper?  Yes, all you have to do is put on the glove and run it over your sofa, pant leg, etc. and it gathers up all of those stray hairs!

Have a shed free day!  ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Lab Puppy Training Course

Hello! Thank you for checking in for today's tip. Actually, today tip is that there is a wonderful 10 day puppy training course to help you "Have a Happy, content Lab Puppy in 10 Days (or Less) -- starting your new life with your Puppy as stress free as possible.".

Susanne at Lab Puppy Training (http://labpuppytraining.com/) offers a 10 day course for training not just your Lab puppy, but all puppies. The course is FREE and includes positive training methods for:

• Puppy proofing your home
• Things you need to buy for your puppy
• Puppy car safety
• Puppy toilet training
• First night with your puppy
• Puppy crate/cage training
• Stop your puppy from biting
• Puppy leash training
• Puppy bonding
• Puppy recall training
• Puppy Aggression

and a host of other subjects.

My hu-mom and hu-man received a lot of good information from my dog mom and dad's humans, but my hu-mom says Susanne's information is great for anyone just starting out with a new puppy, because "we can always learn."

I would also like to add that you can tell Susanne loves her dogs, because her training methods are humane and make learning fun. So, please check out Susanne's Lab Puppy Training course at http://labpuppytraining.com/ and you will be on the way to enjoying your early days with your puppy. ~Zoe

Thursday's Tip: Traveling with Your Puppy/Dog

Ah, there's nothing like the feel of a puppy or a small dog -- so cute, soft and cuddly.  Yes we are cute and cuddly, but the car is NOT the place to hold and cuddle us.  Just as there are baby seats to protect small babies when traveling in the car, there are ways to keep us safe from airbags, flying objects, or from becoming a flying object.

Today we turn to an article posted by Susanne at http://www.labpuppytraining.com/ to share the proper way to travel with your puppy.  To read the article, please click here, or watch the following video for the Cliff Notes....




Until next time, have fun traveling and living life with your pets!  ~Zoe