Dog Training Related Articles

Puppy Playtime: How to Keep Your Pet Active and Engaged

Dog Activities Articles - Page 2

The First 48 Hours

Welcoming a new puppy can be both exhilarating and chaotic. In the first 48 hours, you can expect to clean up many accidents, but there will also be plenty of opportunities for napping and snuggling with your new furry friend. You will want to contact your veterinarian to schedule a first check-up, where you can discuss your puppy’s nutrition, grooming, parasite prevention, and vaccination requirements. It’s crucial to choose activities that are best suited to your puppy’s needs. Training, exercise, and social stimulation are essential for your puppy’s development, especially since puppies are most receptive to new experiences such as sounds, smells, and other animals, and learning good behaviors before they reach three months old.

Unique Considerations for Puppy Training & Exercise

When creating a training and exercise plan for puppies, consider their unique needs and circumstances such as body condition, health status, breed, environment, and schedule. It’s not surprising that smaller dog breeds generally require less physical activity than larger ones. Indoor exercise can be enough for smaller breeds like poodles, pugs, and Maltese puppies. Still, owners should be careful not to neglect their exercise needs. Overweight issues are common in smaller breeds, so keeping them active is essential. On the other hand, larger dogs and working breeds like Australian Shepherds need more vigorous exercise to stimulate their bodies and brains. When puppies are bored or have excess energy, they may resort to destructive behavior, such as digging or barking incessantly for attention. Providing chew toys like a Nylabone or Kong stuffed with kibble can be a helpful outlet for teething puppies in addition to regular playtime and walks.

Keeping Puppies Engaged and Mentally Stimulated

Because puppies have shorter attention spans than their older counterparts, breaking up their playtime and training sessions into shorter blocks is essential. You can consider 10-15 minute sessions or stop when your puppy becomes distracted. Add variety to your activities to keep your puppy engaged and mentally stimulated. Rotating through their toys and finding new places to play is a good idea. For example, a wooded trail offers new smells and exploration. Likewise, beach play can expose your pup to the texture of sand, some seagulls to chase, and water for splashing.

Indoor Puppy Playtime

If the temperature outside is too hot or cold, consider indoor dog parks and daycares specifically for puppies. Before joining a group, ensure your puppy has a clean bill of health from a veterinarian since puppies are more likely to get transmissible intestinal parasites due to their immature immune systems. Vaccines are essential; dogs are typically fully vaccinated by 4-5 months. While some retail stores are pet-friendly, call ahead before taking your puppy with you. If you have a neighbor with a well-behaved and healthy pet, you can plan fun games like tug-of-war or zoomies with them in your living room.

Protecting Your Puppy’s Growing Bones

As young puppies, especially those of larger breeds, have bones like the femur and radius in a state of rapid growth and development, high-impact exercises performed over a long period can cause orthopedic issues. It would help if you conditioned your puppy to longer hikes and light jogging gradually. While playing ball or running after a friend is acceptable, it is important to let your puppy decide when to rest and respect that. While you may look forward to going for a run with your dog, saving endurance sports for when your pup has completed most of its growth is best. Puppies and young dogs who limp may have overexerted themselves at the dog park or have developmental issues such as hypertrophic osteodystrophy or cartilage defects. If this lasts more than a day after exercise and despite rest, it is time to contact your veterinarian.

Starting Off Right: Puppy Obedience Training

Starting obedience training as soon as you bring your puppy home is crucial. Use training treats sparingly and maintain consistency with commands and cues. Consistent practice is the key. A well-trained pet is safer and more enjoyable. The importance of early training cannot be overstated, as it will help build your puppy’s confidence and strengthen your bond. It also forms the foundation for future training. Once your puppy is old enough for obedience classes, word of mouth, breed clubs, and your veterinarian’s office are great resources for finding a trainer or a class. Group training classes offer an excellent opportunity for your puppy to socialize and learn crucial non-verbal communication skills, such as bite inhibition, in a safe, supervised environment. With these efforts, your furry friend will soon be delightful.

At Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer pet waste removal and other services year-round. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-time clean-up services to work with your schedule and needs.

4 Dog Behavioral Issues and How to Correct Them

Dog Behavior Articles

We are so attached to our beloved canine companions, sharing everything from ice cream cones to our pillows it can be hard to remember that they aren’t just tiny humans. However, watch them welcome each other nose to rear at the dog park or keep busy digging a 4-foot hole in your flower bed. You’ll soon be reminded that some behaviors are specific to the canine species.

Many actions, such as greeting owners at the door carrying a soft toy, are endearing. Others, like digging, barking, counter-surfing or destructive chewing can be a nuisance. We need to understand the origin of these behaviors and how to channel all that furry cuteness into good!

Barking

Understanding Why Your Dog Barks

Dogs vocalize in many ways, from incessant barking to a soft whine. How they “speak” communicate everything from “I’m hurt and scared” to “don’t come in my house.” Hounds are particularly vocal; they were bred to hunt, chase, and keep prey in one place or “at bay” until the hunter arrived. When normal vocalizing behavior becomes an incessant habit, it can wake a sleeping baby, trigger a migraine, or even evict apartment dwellers. It’s important to unearth the cause and motivation for continued barking.

Remedies for Nuisance Barking

• Boredom can trigger nuisance barking; exercise and enrichment are critical to keeping dogs from developing this unwanted behavior.
• Don’t unintentionally reward barking by drawing attention to the undesirable vocalization. Even negative attention (yelling by you) is SOME attention, and dogs seeking human interaction hit the jackpot!
• Dogs triggered by the Amazon delivery person may also have their loud yapping reinforced. As the driver approaches the home, the dog barks, telling the human to “back off my property.” Guess what? The driver gets back in their truck and drives away! The barking worked! A better option is to close the blinds or crate your dog, so barking is never provoked.

Chewing

Understanding Normal vs. Destructive Chewing

Remember the pup who greeted us at the door with a squeaky plush toy? Cute, right? Some breeds, such as the Flat-Coated Retriever, were bred to carry downed game in their mouths. It also makes them desirable service dogs since they can carry a bag of groceries or retrieve a set of fallen keys.

Dogs have a normal and healthy desire to chew and explore things with their mouths, especially during teething. Crossing into the destructive chewing zone is a definite no-no.

Remedies for Destructive Chewing

• The line between encouraged behavior and undesirable behavior is pretty blurry for your pet! As in other unwanted behaviors, don’t set your dog up to fail by leaving precious items within reach.
• Offer many safe chew toys like Nylabones or Kongs stuffed with treats.
• Durable puzzle-type toys can be mentally stimulating if dogs can uncover hidden snacks or other plush toys inside; your dog must use all his senses to extract the treats or concealed squeakers.

Digging

Understanding Why Your Dog Digs

Some dog behaviors, such as digging, may have been bred into a species. For example, Rat Terriers have been genetically selected over the years to eradicate vermin with tenacity. Left to their own devices, they dig holes under fences, deep into fresh, perennial plantings, and just about anywhere else they can put their paws.

Remedies for Digging

• If your dog has a propensity for digging, provide opportunities to dig in appropriate zones and offer positive reinforcement when your pet complies.
• Some owners have plastic sandboxes full of dirt or sand with hidden bones, treats, or soft toy treasures that can be “found” when their pets dig in the right spot.
• Make sure they have plenty of mental and physical stimulation through hide and seek games, walks, and “sniffaris,” and digging options that won’t ruin your yard.

Counter Surfing

Understanding Why Your Dog Counter Surfs

Counter-surfing is one troublesome and unsafe behavior that can be difficult to reverse. Dogs of a certain height, or those with a high vertical jump, learn that yummy things live on kitchen counters and dining tables. How many of us have come home to a torn-up pizza box or cupcake wrappers strewn about the house? A dog’s keen sense of smell can lead them to trouble. In some cases, an upset stomach or even toxic ingestion of items not meant for canine consumption can result.

Remedies for Counter Surfing

• Keep all unattended food off the counter or inaccessible to your pet, and always feed them from their bowl.
• Train your dog to go to their place (a bed or crate) during mealtimes. This alternate behavior is incompatible with counter-surfing.
• Given enough positive reinforcement and eliminating temptation, your dog will eventually stop scouring the kitchen for food.

To remedy unwanted behavior, supervise your pet, offer training on alternate, acceptable behaviors, and reward them for doing the right thing. If the behaviors persist, ask your veterinarian for advice and consider the help of a professional trainer.

Training Options for Your Dog

Dog Behavior Articles

Dogs are intelligent, social creatures and training provides them the tools to lead safe, happy, and enriched lives and deepen bonds with their humans and other animals. No two dogs are identical, so their training instruction should be tailored based on health, age, personality, breed, lifestyle, and specific tasks.

Training Methods

We are constantly learning more about how dogs perceive rewards and punishment, their psychology, and their relationship with their owner and other animals. Consequently, through the years training methods and tools have evolved. Here are some of the most common training methods:

Positive Reinforcement:

This type of training relies on positive reinforcement to increase the probability the desired behavior will occur. Did your dog sit on command? Give a tasty treat! Come when called? Load on the praise!

Some trainers will use a clicker in addition to a reward when a dog performs the behavior. The dog will learn to associate the “click” with the behavior and reward with consistency and practice. Over time, they get the same dopamine release from the click as a food reward, conveniently shaping behaviors for zero calories.

Operant Conditioning:

Operant conditioning utilizes the principles of differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors, negative reinforcement, negative punishment, and positive punishment.

· An example of reinforcing an alternate behavior may be rewarding your dog who stays put on its bed when the doorbell rings. By encouraging that behavior with a treat, you are making the alternate, less desirable behavior of rushing the door less likely to occur.

· A counter-surfing dog who steals food from the table could be negatively reinforced by removing all food, so there is no more motivation to surf.

· One common form of positive punishment is the electronic collar. For example, the dog receives a shock or stimulation when barking. With the hands of a professional trainer and the right dog, e-collars can eliminate unwanted behaviors and train desired ones. They also can tremendously cause psychological and physical harm to a pet if misused and should only be considered if guided by a professional.

Dominance Training:

Dominance-based training has declined in popularity in recent years. This method is based on studies of captive wolf packs, which may not resemble the social structures of domesticated dogs at home. Owners must be the “alpha” of the household – going first through doorways, denying pets access to furniture, and never meeting them at eye level. The philosophy behind this method works to curb bad behavior in some dogs but does little to identify the root cause of the behavior, which can lead to stress and fear in the pet.

The Most Popular Training Method:

The most popular and effective training method combines positive reinforcement with operant conditioning. The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers relies predominantly on this training method. The council determined that dogs respond best to the “most positive, least intrusive” strategy to achieve training goals or alter behaviors. Professional trainers often start with the question, “What do you want the dog to do?” and employ humane tactics in a hierarchy to achieve that goal.

Keys to Successful Training

Age-Appropriate Activities

Puppies have shorter attention spans than older dogs, so the key to their training is to keep it fun and engaging. They typically stay engaged for up to 5-minute periods, interspersed with naps and physical exercise.

Tips for training puppies:

· Use kibble or tiny treats to reward actions.

· Work with your pet 3-4 times daily.

· Use walks to practice skills and commands.

Older pets are just as teachable as young puppies. However, motivation, agility, and endurance may differ due to joint, vision, and hearing changes. Also, remember that an older pet who is new to your home may have had past experiences that impact their behavior and openness to some training methods. For example, a dog that a previous owner loudly scolded might be frightened of loud noises, even if in the form of praise. When working to change the behaviors of an older pet, such as destructive chewing, biting, resource guarding, or jumping, it may be best to work with a professional one-on-one.

Choose the Right Environment

The environment for training should be conducive to successfully teaching a skill by adding or eliminating distractions or cues. In some cases, this may mean bringing your pet to a group class if the skill you’d like to teach is recalled in the presence of other pets.

In other cases, it may mean individualized training to teach tracking and beginning training with a high-value, pungently scented object. Are you trying to stop your dog from barking at the mailman? By closing the blinds, you’ve altered the setting, eliminated the stimulus, and changed behavior in a minimally intrusive way!

Be Consistent

Whether you hire a certified dog trainer, do it yourself, or attend a group class, consistency and follow-through are essential. Have every member of your family involved in training, so your pet receives reliable cues, responses, and outcomes each time they perform a behavior.

Dog Training Advice from Dr. Lisa

At Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer pet waste removal and other services year-round. With 1 gram of dog poop containing 23 million fecal bacteria, scooping your pet’s poop regularly is crucial to your family’s health. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and one-time clean-up services to work with your schedule and needs.

What to Know When Getting a New Puppy

Pet Adoption Articles

Whether this is your first dog or one of many, it’s a thrilling time. As you know, or soon will, dogs and puppies are a lot like human children – the amount of time, expense, and emotion you will invest during the first year of ownership is astounding. They come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and breeds, but the same tenant holds true for all – what you put in is what you will get out of your relationship with your new companion. Remember this the next time your pup chews a favorite pair of shoes because they’re bored, or you forgot to secure the crate and come home to a disaster created by your Tasmanian devil.

Help to ease them into their new setting by providing consistency in routine and among family members with regards to house rules, discipline, and expectations. Gradually allow them to investigate each area of their new home while supervised and when the setting is quiet and controlled. Here are some other tips to get pet ownership off on the right foot:

Nutrition

How Often – Feeding times of a high-quality diet made with real protein and AAFCO tested should be scheduled every 3-8 hours, depending on your dog’s age, and ultimately transitioned to twice daily feeding.

How To – Leave the food in an accessible stainless steel or ceramic bowl for 10-15 minutes; after that time, pick up the bowl until the next scheduled feeding. This can help regulate bowel movements and aid in house training. Feedings can be conducted in the crate to encourage crate acceptance. It’s best to start your new addition on the food to which they are accustomed, gradually transitioning to a new diet over a week’s time to prevent gastrointestinal upset.

A few good resources that will help guide your diet selections include: www.wsava.org for a nutrition toolkit and body condition scoring chart, and www.avma.org for food recall information.

Grooming

Pet grooming encompasses maintenance of hair and skin, ears, nails, and dental health. For most dogs, a mild, preferably soap-free formula works well since accident-prone pups often require frequent bathing. Healthy dogs require no more than monthly baths. It’s best to offer a hungry puppy food and treats during the first few grooming sessions; the goal is to get your dog accustomed to the idea of handling feet, nails, exposure to water and the tools you may use during his life. Make grooming fun, short, and end on a positive note. We don’t want perfection, just progress!

Ears – Ears should be cleaned with a mild drying solution and cotton balls after the bath; moisture accumulated in the ear canals can make a perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to overgrow.

Nails – Consider trimming nails one at a time when your pet is sleepy or hungry and can be bribed with a high value treat (shredded cheese, peanut butter, small bites of chicken breast). It’s best to set the clippers out for a few days near the food bowl and to give your pet time to adjust to the tool.

Teeth – Dental care ideally involves daily tooth and gum brushing with a finger brush or child-sized toothbrush. Choose dog-specific products that have flavors such as chicken or malt. Again, start slowly with a quick, but gentle gum massage and reward with a treat to keep all 42 adult teeth healthy, you need to brush at least twice a week to have any benefit.

Ideally, by the time your pet has his first professional grooming session, he is acclimated and even excited about a massage and spa day.

Socialization & Training

Positive reinforcement of dog-appropriate behavior and redirection are the cornerstones of most successful training programs. Most trainers and veterinarians abide by the principle that “nothing in life is free”, meaning if your dog wants something (a treat, a walk, petting), they need to ask nicely (in a sit-stay position) and without whining.

When to Start & How – Puppies are like sponges; there is a critical window of development that closes around 13 weeks of age. During this window of 2 weeks to 3 months, expose your puppy to multiple surfaces, people, other pets, travel, grooming aids, and sounds while reinforcing interactions with treats and praise. Go slowly and don’t overwhelm your puppy with too many “new” things at once. Introducing a leash and collar (Martingale or gentle leader collars are especially nice) early and taking short, frequent walks, offering scheduled play times, and playing mental games such as hiding kibble for hide and go seek or working on obedience commands are invaluable.

Crate Training

Most vets advocate crate training your pup to stay in the crate calmly when he can’t be supervised. By providing valuable resources (food, a Kong toy stuffed with frozen peanut butter and kibble) and allowing the puppy easy access to the crate for indeterminate, variable blocks of time, including nap and nighttime, we can establish the crate as a safe place where only good things happen. Once they have accepted the crate as a safe place, you can start leaving the puppy alone for longer stretches of time. The crate is also useful to help potty train your pet. Crating the dog in a cozy den with just enough room to turn around and allowing immediate access to the outside “toilet” will aid in housebreaking.

Potty Training

Choose the same location to take your dog to go potty each time, reward immediately (not once inside the house), and choose a phrase to associate with elimination such as “potty-time” to achieve the best results. Pups should be able to “hold it” for their age in months +1 hour. i.e. a 2-month-old puppy can remain in the crate up to 3 hours safely.

Formal socialization and obedience classes are readily available and an important part of a puppy’s first few months.

Preventative Health Care

Vaccines – Most puppies receive an initial vaccine series every 3-4 weeks at their veterinary visit beginning at 6-8 weeks of age until 4-6 months. Thereafter, annual to triannual booster vaccines may be administered at the time of the exam.

Spay/Neuter – An individual vaccine and titer schedule as well as age to spay or neuter is determined based on the pet’s lifestyle, risk of exposure, breed, and health status. When to spay or neuter your pet is a decision that may have already been made for you if you adopted your pet through a rescue group or shelter; understandably, these groups are primarily concerned with pet overpopulation and want to eliminate the possibility of future litters.

Regular Exams – Regular examinations of your dog and possibly their blood and stool allow for evaluation of eyes, ears, nose, throat, body condition and weight, heart, lungs, abdomen, limbs, behavior, parasite status and internal organ function. To get the most out of a veterinary visit, please share any details regarding your pet’s medical history including current diet and bring a fresh stool sample. Since our pets can’t speak for themselves, be aware of any changes in appetite, urination, defecation, energy, appetite, and behavior.

Expense, time commitment, and those sharp puppy teeth can be unexpected surprises to owning a puppy. It’s best to be prepared with a crate, leash and collar, bowls, grooming tools, treats, a resource list including a vet, realistic expectations, and some good chew toys!

Congratulations on the adoption of your new best friend!

Kids and Pet Safety: Teaching Kids How To Interact With Pets

Pet Safety Articles

Did you know that 68% of U.S. households have a pet and 89.7 million dogs live in these pet-loving homes? You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand that is a LOT of dogs!

Children up to age 18 live alongside these pets in many homes and what’s better than watching a child beam holding a newly adopted puppy or kitten? Kids and pet safety is important including a child safely holding their new best friend and learning the basics of how to interact and train the pet so that all family members can reap the benefits of pet ownership.

It’s been shown that kids develop much needed social skills with pet ownership including empathy, responsibility and patience. Because pets are a source of unconditional love, the affection, physical contact, and non-verbal communication between a child and pet can contribute to increased self-esteem.

Kids and Pet Safety Tips

Anyone who has owned a puppy knows that they explore their world, just as children do, and a critical window of development exists between the ages of 4 and 14 weeks. Most puppies are weaned from their moms and introduced to their forever home around 8 weeks of age. You have just a few short months to show your puppy that humans including children are safe, loving, and lots of fun to be around!

Even older dogs can bond with children in the home if they are approached and interacted with carefully and positively. The best people to teach small people how to interact with pets are big people. It’s possible and even likely that your two and four legged beasts can live harmoniously with kids and pet safety practices.

Children Under Four Years Old

Young children under 4 years of age don’t have social maturity, impulse control, and can be erratic in movement and behavior. The best advice for living with pets and preschoolers is to supervise every interaction. Give your pet a safe zone in which to retreat if a child’s hurried movements become overwhelming.

Introductions can be in a controlled, quiet environment while the pet is leashed. Model kindness and gentle, slow movements around pets who appreciate being “asked” if they can be stroked or picked up.

Like children, dogs appreciate predictability and structure. Even young puppies can be reliably taught to sit for a treat or other reward before being offered an outstretched hand to sniff; never reach over the head of the animal or hug a pet, both gestures can be perceived as threatening and lead to a bite.

Elementary School Age

Children can bear some of the responsibility of pet ownership once they have reached elementary school age. Teaching a child how to feed, groom and walk a dog helps establish the social hierarchy within the household.

We live by the adage “nothing in life is free” and children should give the pet a reward such as food, a toy, or attention if the dog sits and stays at their command. Pets can also be taught fun tricks like rolling over or playing dead.

Children should know that some items can be sacred to a pet. A dog may not take kindly to having their food dish taken or a favorite bone grabbed away. An adult should check to see if a dog has problems with food or territorial aggression before allowing the child to feed the pet. If a high-value item prompts an aggressive response in your dog when it is touched, get rid of it.

Startling a sleeping dog can also provoke a negative behavior; teach children to respect the pet’s space, don’t let your pet sleep on the bed, and let them be if they are asleep.

Best Dog Breeds For Kids

Is it possible to predict if a pet will be kid-friendly? In general, confident, not shy, dogs and puppies are best suited to homes with children. Loud noises startle some dogs more easily than others; those that are non-reactive to quick movements and the sound of a baby crying or a child’s high-pitched squeals adapt more easily to the hustle and bustle that accompanies large families.

Certain breeds are touted as being more family-friendly due to their physical sturdiness, patience, trainability, and love of attention. Retrievers, Boxers, lively Boston Terriers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are dog breeds that make excellent family pets.

Does the dog chase a fast-moving child? Growl when he’s approached while eating or lying on the bed? Pets can be desensitized to such actions but if given the choice, don’t set yourself up to fail. Older, arthritic pets may not be the best choice for families with young kids, nor dogs that did not grow up around children.

Puppies with few negative human experiences may be more amenable to positive training and reinforcement around behaviors typical of children. Give your puppy plenty of love, attention, or a food reward if they are calm and well-behaved around kids. Keep these kids and pet safety tips in mind. Pups soon learn to associate children with all the best things in life!

Making Friends: Socializing Your Dog With Humans and Other Dogs

Dog Behavior Articles

According to the ASPCA’s National Pet Rehoming survey conducted in 2015, 47% of the 3.3 million dogs surrendered to shelters are relinquished due to “pet problems” including aggression, undesirable behaviors, and eventual adult size of the pet. So much is known about dog and puppy behavior, training, and optimizing adoption success of a new pet, there is much room for a decrease in these numbers.

Whether it’s a new puppy, an adult dog moving into a home with existing pets, or a senior dog with some behavioral “baggage” to unpack, some items to keep in mind to help socialize your dog with other dogs and humans include:

Preparation
Setting realistic expectations
Consistency
Obedience training
Confidence building in your pet
Seeking expert advice from a veterinarian
Getting a trainer to facilitate formation of the human-animal bond

It is imperative to start your relationship with your dog or puppy off on the right foot; that begins with proper socialization with humans and dogs from day one. While it is possible to correct previous socialization training “wrongs” in an adult pet, the battle can be uphill, frustrating and often limited. Let’s talk about introducing a new puppy or dog into your home with the goal being a well-socialized, agreeable pet.

How to Socialize Your Dog

Understand personality traits. A new puppy is a veritable sponge, just waiting for you to impart knowledge and experiences which will shape future behavior. Dogs, like humans, have a natural tendency toward certain personality traits and selecting a breed or certain temperament of dog to match your lifestyle and expectations is critical. A naturally timid puppy will not do well in a home with young, unpredictable preschoolers, nor will a dominant dog thrive in an environment where other dogs are vying for the same spot on the social ladder.

Prepare the enviroment. Preparing your home for the introduction of a pup involves talking to your veterinarian to ensure proper puppy/breed selection prior to adoption, removing hazards, setting up a quiet retreat such as a covered crate, preventing unsupervised access to other pets and children, investigating puppy classes in your area that encourage socialization, and having a supply of delicious treats and toys on hand. It is ideal to bring any new puppy home around 8 weeks (after weaning) as the period for optimal socialization is about 3-12 weeks of age.

Classical conditioning method. Dogs deprived of human interaction during this time have reduced ability to adjust to new people, animals, and experiences. For psychology buffs, socialization is about classical conditioning: creating a positive association between two stimuli or events. Most puppies see play and food as a positive reward. Realistic interactions with not only the family members, but anyone the puppy may eventually encounter (crying babies, senior citizens with walkers) in a positive way should be immediately rewarded.

Generally, it’s too overwhelming for a new puppy to visit a pet superstore, teaming with too much of the wrong kind of stimulation. Just as important, educate young people interacting with the dog on how to gently play and pet and eliminate teasing or physical punishment.

Dog classes intended to promote socialization and positive interaction between other humans and pets are held in private training facilities, at veterinary clinics, and even at pet stores. Make sure all puppies are healthy and current on vaccinations and deworming prior to attending class.

Introducing Adult Dog in a new home. Introducing an adult dog to a new home, with or without existing pets, should be a gradual transition. By providing a separate, safe space for the new dog, he can become accustomed to routines, smells, and the social hierarchy which may exist among the original pets.

A neutral place, such as a mudroom or den as opposed to a desirable bedroom or kitchen location, is the preferred area to have dogs great each other while leashed and while feeding treats and giving praise. Dogs can also greet each other by sniffing under doorways or from across the room in individual crates if they show signs of agitation or body language indicates stress in closer proximity.

Allow the new dog supervised, gradual exploration of the home and yard. By reinforcing original pets’ social standing by feeding and attending to them first, less conflict arises. Petting dogs in each other’s company, when both are calm and “okay”, also reinforces the idea that good things happen when the other dog is present. Likewise, rewards should come when a new dog is introduced to other dogs on walks, children, or other social situations when behaving calmly.

Training. Training classes for adult dogs not only provide controlled exposure to new stimuli but can help teach you and your dog obedience commands which are necessary to control your dog and reassure them in confusing or scary situations. Though the critical window of socialization has closed for adult dogs, that doesn’t mean that they can’t learn to tolerate and even enjoy new interactions.

Dogs with known aggression issues can often live harmoniously with other dogs and humans. Vigilance and supervision, control, consistency, education, and awareness of body language and cues are keys to integrating a dog with behavioral problems into a home.

A veterinarian and trainer should be consulted when considering adopting or retaining such a dog in your home as they may pose a safety hazard to themselves and others. While some behavioral issues can be mitigated, a dog is still an animal and may respond in unpredictable or instinctual ways. Start smart and socialize responsibly!

Dog vs Yard: Digging Holes, Plant Eating, and Lawn Burn!

Dog Behavior Articles

Many pet owners are frustrated when, despite countless hours of fertilizing, weeding, and seeding, their lawn is riddled with brown spots, holes, and severely “pruned” plants. Unfortunately, many dogs cause destruction just by doing what comes naturally.

Dogs Digging Holes On Lawn

The word terrier comes from Latin and means “earth dog”. A common behavior of this group of dogs is burrowing underground to energetically hunt vermin and rodents. They are tenacious and excellent diggers, and were bred to eliminate mice, rats and other furry pests from farms. Hounds, such as the beagle and dachshund, use their exceptional sense of smell to root for groundhogs, voles, and rodents. When they can’t reach their prey underground, they can track a rabbit above ground, sometimes digging under the fence to catch a rascally critter. While we see their destructive behavior as naughty, digging holes was once a dog’s job; it’s hard to fight the genetic code! Other dog breeds will dig holes to find a cool spot.

Malamutes and huskys are known to dig under the shade of a bush or tree to find the chilled soil underneath. Border collies and other herding dogs are active pups who need alternate “jobs” if they are not out corralling sheep. Without an occupation, they may take it upon themselves to become landscapers. Beware the bored border collie.

Break Bad Yard Dog Behavior and Habits

How can you deter this canine bad habit and inbred behavior? Stop them from digging holes in undesirable locations by burying bricks or chicken wire with the edges well-protected and re-cover the area with soil. After a few unfruitful attempts and scraping of the nails, they will move on to another activity. Mulch beds with pinecones which is an unfavorable substrate for dogs to walk upon. Better yet, reinforce their natural tendency to dig by designating a sand pile or corner of the yard as an appropriate excavation site. Place hidden toys or treats in these locations; training your dog to head to these locations isn’t hard if they are rewarded!

Plant Chewing and Grass Eating

Some dogs chew leaves and grass to relieve nausea, so it’s always best to rule out a medical problem with the vet. Planting thorny bushes such as barberry, holly, or roses will discourage chewing, as will showcasing fast-growing shrubs like viburnum and euonymus Unless you have a water-loving retriever, Havahart Spray Away or Contech ScareCrow are two motion activated sprinklers that may keep pets away from vegetation. By placing them near tender new plants, a dog that attempts to nibble will get a squirt in face. A product sprayed on plants that imparts a bitter flavor such as Liquid Fence or Lambert Kay’s Boundary spray may also eliminate chewing.

Repeated applications may be necessary to “remind” pets that the plant still tastes bad. These same products can be used on rabbit feces to deter dogs eating rabbit poop. You may have more success installing rabbit fencing buried a foot deep near your yard’s perimeter to discourage them from taking up residence.

Dog Urine Lawn Burn

Brown spots of dead grass can be the bane of a dog owner’s existence. Both volume and concentration of pet urine contribute to lawn burn-out. Urine contains high levels of nitrogen, a by-product of protein metabolism. In small amounts, nitrogen can be a great fertilizer, hence the lush green ring of grass that can be found surrounding the brown spot.

Though not exclusively a female dog issue, males do tend to urinate on shrubs or vertically growing plants in smaller bursts, especially if they are marking. So, the problem may be more noticeable if you have a female dog. What does not work to protect your grass? Adding pH modifiers to your dog’s diet such as tomato juice or baking soda has no proven benefit and may even harm your pet’s kidneys or digestive system. Modifying your dog’s body chemistry can have other unintended consequences such as encouraging the production of bladder stones. What does work to eliminate or reduce the dog urine spots? The solution to pollution is dilution! I can’t remember if I learned this gem in chemistry class or when treating contaminated wounds… but it holds true.

Watering your lawn within 8 hours of elimination dilutes the nitrogen in waste products. The market is flooded with sprinklers that can be set on a timer if you don’t have an in-ground programmable sprinkler system. Promote the consumption of clean, fresh water (tap is fine) by refilling your dog’s bowl often and offering ice cubes or watering down kibble. Your dog’s urine won’t be as concentrated, and your lawn will thank you!

Training your dog to eliminate on mulch or pea-gravel will also stop lawn burn. This can be accomplished by repetition using a leash and an immediate reward. Fescue and rye grass are turf types that are more resistant to dog urine lawn burn than Bermuda or bluegrass, and can be used when reseeding bare patches or as part of your overseeding lawn maintenance protocol.

By following these tips, man’s best friend won’t become your yard’s worst enemy!

Living the Apartment Life With a Dog

Dog Behavior Articles

The day that I picked my puppy Rocky, from the shelter, I had a large house with a huge fenced backyard where he was able to run and play all day long. I never thought that I would have to re-train my dog, years later, to be an apartment dog. However, with some helpful research the change went fairly smooth. To tell you the truth: I think I had more difficulty than Rocky did with living in an apartment.

Here are ten tips, reposted from the Porch Potty blog, which have been extremely helpful for me and I want to pass them on to those of you have a furry friend, or are considering bringing a dog, in your apartment:

1) If you run or walk on streets, make sure to always bring a plastic bag. You may opt to choose a common grassy area when he can potty and then clean it by using a plastic bag.

2) Never leave your dog unleashed. Your dogs should always be tied up on their leash, most especially when you intend to go to common spaces of your apartment. Even if your dog is trained, never risk leaving him unleashed.

3) Use a short leash on your dog. Keep him close to you when you go through the pathways and lobby of your condominium.

4) Never let your dog have that chance of running up to someone. A lot of people are still not keen to dogs being around them. If there is a person intending to pet your dog, make him sit first before you let your neighbor touch him. Ensure that your dog is in sitting position during the whole meet. Others may just walk straight to your dog without asking permission. By having a short leash, you can easily control your dog’s actions toward the person.

5) Whatever the size of your dog, never let him jump on strangers. Train your dog to sit before you pet and praise him. Dogs that are rowdy and jump on people may cause a lot of trouble.

6) Train your dog not to growl when you’re in the shared area of your apartment. Dogs are capable of barking very loudly regardless of their size when situated inside any closed building. Unforeseen circumstances may arise causing him to be surprised and bark endlessly.

7) Maintain control in any given situation. If you come across a neighbor inside your condo, make the dog’s leash short and close to you. Have him lie or sit down once the other dog pass through – especially if your dog is larger.

8 ) It is best that you do not initiate introducing your dog to another dog. If unavoidable, make the bigger dog lie or sit down while the smaller dog comes near. Even if both dogs are sanitized, you still have to be very cautious, especially with two male dogs. There will be a lot of barking and roaring if one of them wants to establish dominance.

9) Always stand toward the back when your ride the elevator with your dog. Train your dog to sit next to you and make him keep his eyes on you during the elevator ride. Your dog should only get up and exit the elevator once he gets a signal from you.

(Ten Tips Re-Posted from Porch Potty blog)