I just checked the weather for this Saturday and Sunday — it shows a chance of thunderstorms both days.
How does your dog do in storms?
I’ve heard some horror stories from dog owners about bad storms, everything from dogs who completely freak out and rampage to dogs that will hide under beds or in bathtubs for hours, shaking all the while.
Unfortunately, it seems rather common for dogs to have an intense fear of thunderstorms.
How these fears develop is, I believe, highly circumstantial.
I could see dogs having an innate sense to take cover during storms — that much would make sense to me, as most wild animals tend to do so in some way.
But nature wouldn’t make dogs flip out during storms. That would be of no advantage to them.
So a fear of storms has got to come mostly from their past experiences.
Sensi does not fear storms. For all the mundane things in this world that make him panic, storms just aren’t one of them. He doesn’t like to be rained on, but he’s game for storm watching as long as it’s from a window or deck overhang.
While I don’t have a lot of experience in calming a dog who is scared by a storm, I do have some general advice and calming techniques that may be worth shot.
1. Don’t make the situation worse by freaking out or feeling bad for your dog. Dogs feed off our energy. Continue with life as normal.
2. If your dog is in full-blown panic mode, give it commands like come, sit, and lay down in a very calm but stern tone. This will help assert your leadership over the dog, and encourage the dog to trust your leadership and behave accordingly.
3. If your dog is hiding, shaking or has finally calmed to the point that he or she is sitting or laying, you might want to try some physical calming techniques, such as:
Pet your dog with gentle, long strokes. Don’t scratch or pat or rub. Start at your dog’s neck and run your hand along its back or belly slowly.
Gently massage or knead the dog’s favorite spots, like the neck or along the spine.
Also, massaging the dog’s cheeks where the upper and lower jaw meets encourages the dog to yawn. Yawning is one technique dogs use to calm themselves down.
At this point, you can also talk to your dog in a soothing tone of voice. Please be sure to make the distinction between baby talk and soothing. Baby talk is high-pitched, excitable speech that does not calm dogs. So if you’re going to open your mouth, make sure the voice that comes out is soothing, calming and reassuring.
Last but not least, if your dog truly turns into a terror because he is terrorized by storms, talk to your vet. Your vet can help you determine if drugs that help calm your dog are the right choice for stormy situations.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Proper puppy shopping
If you’re going to get a dog from a rescue organization, kudos. Do it. I applaud it, and so does most of America. Who doesn’t want to see more homeless dogs get forever homes?
Let’s face it, though. Not everyone is going to the pound for a puppy.
A lot of people want a well-bred, purebred puppy. There’s no shame in that. If you’re shopping for a new, purebred puppy, good for you.
But take heed — your puppy shopping comes with extra responsibilities.
First off, I don’t recommend buying a puppy from a pet store. To all the pet stores out there, sorry. I just don’t trust it.
Pet stores are more apt to get their puppies from puppy mills. Health and behavioral problems abound from dogs produced by puppy mills. Most of us also find the conditions of puppy mills downright offensive. Who wants to support such an inhumane operation?
Secondly, be wary of breeders. Take extra precautions with breeders you find in Classified ads. My feeling on classifieds is, you may find a family who decided to breed their pets responsibly, but you have an equal chance of finding irresponsible breeders or worse, people who traffic puppy mill dogs.
Searching the Internet for responsible, established breeders is another option to find that puppy. There are also a lot of local breed groups, many of which have ties with breed-specific rescue groups, that can be great assets in the search for a new puppy as well.
Here’s some rules for proper puppy shopping that won’t lead you astray:
1. Meet the parents. You should be able to visit the puppies in their home so you can evaluate the living conditions, the people breeding the dogs, and most importantly, the parents themselves. The parents should accessible and well-tempered.
2. Ask for documentation of health testing. A good breeder will not breed a dog that has not been tested for health conditions that are prevalent in that breed — for instance, if you’re getting a lab, ask the breeder to show documents that both parents have been tested and cleared of hip dysplasia.
3. Ask about the puppy’s health and veterinary visits. Most breeders require that they keep the puppies long enough to have taken them to the vet a couple times, and your puppy will come equipped with its vaccinations and sometimes, a microchip. Know what health work your puppy comes with, and know what remaining work you will have to get done.
4. Ask whatever questions you can muster — about the breed, about training, anything, no matter how stupid it may seem. Asking questions is a great way to get a feel for how much the breeder knows and cares about the breed.
5. Use some common sense. There are so many conscientious, loving breeders out there who are so very concerned with bettering their breed of choice. They are often quite attached to their dogs, and many work very hard to ensure their puppies land a good home. If you don’t get that “loving environment” feeling when you visit the puppies, perhaps you should look elsewhere.
Let’s face it, though. Not everyone is going to the pound for a puppy.
A lot of people want a well-bred, purebred puppy. There’s no shame in that. If you’re shopping for a new, purebred puppy, good for you.
But take heed — your puppy shopping comes with extra responsibilities.
First off, I don’t recommend buying a puppy from a pet store. To all the pet stores out there, sorry. I just don’t trust it.
Pet stores are more apt to get their puppies from puppy mills. Health and behavioral problems abound from dogs produced by puppy mills. Most of us also find the conditions of puppy mills downright offensive. Who wants to support such an inhumane operation?
Secondly, be wary of breeders. Take extra precautions with breeders you find in Classified ads. My feeling on classifieds is, you may find a family who decided to breed their pets responsibly, but you have an equal chance of finding irresponsible breeders or worse, people who traffic puppy mill dogs.
Searching the Internet for responsible, established breeders is another option to find that puppy. There are also a lot of local breed groups, many of which have ties with breed-specific rescue groups, that can be great assets in the search for a new puppy as well.
Here’s some rules for proper puppy shopping that won’t lead you astray:
1. Meet the parents. You should be able to visit the puppies in their home so you can evaluate the living conditions, the people breeding the dogs, and most importantly, the parents themselves. The parents should accessible and well-tempered.
2. Ask for documentation of health testing. A good breeder will not breed a dog that has not been tested for health conditions that are prevalent in that breed — for instance, if you’re getting a lab, ask the breeder to show documents that both parents have been tested and cleared of hip dysplasia.
3. Ask about the puppy’s health and veterinary visits. Most breeders require that they keep the puppies long enough to have taken them to the vet a couple times, and your puppy will come equipped with its vaccinations and sometimes, a microchip. Know what health work your puppy comes with, and know what remaining work you will have to get done.
4. Ask whatever questions you can muster — about the breed, about training, anything, no matter how stupid it may seem. Asking questions is a great way to get a feel for how much the breeder knows and cares about the breed.
5. Use some common sense. There are so many conscientious, loving breeders out there who are so very concerned with bettering their breed of choice. They are often quite attached to their dogs, and many work very hard to ensure their puppies land a good home. If you don’t get that “loving environment” feeling when you visit the puppies, perhaps you should look elsewhere.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Dirty ol’ dog
Dogs become accustomed to the surfaces they spend the most time on.
As a puppy, Sensi always had a patch of grass to pee on. When Brent moved into a place where construction had caused the lawn to be torn up, it was a little difficult getting him to understand that he could pee on dirt too.
He learned, but he stills prefers grass — and not just for the potty. Sensi loves to lay on the grass, roll around on it, stretch out and sunbathe in it. He just loves a good plush lawn.
Outside our house, Sensi certainly has a couple choices as far as surfaces go. There’s the lawn, the concrete porch and the dirt driveway. We’re used to him choosing the lawn to spend his time on.
During the past weekend, Brent and I began digging up our overgrown and neglected garden beds. They stretch from one end of the house to the other.
Last week, Brent tore out 10-plus dying, browned bushes that I have loathed from the time I first set on eyes on the house. The garden beds were ripped up with mounds of dirt and holes where the roots were. Cleaning and evening out the beds was a lot of work.
As we started working on it, Sensi was passing the time in the usual way — lounging around on the grass. But the sun got hotter and shade disappeared.
I figured he’d go hang out on the cool concrete porch. I was wrong.
For the first time in his life, my dog figured out that dirt — which he doesn’t care much for — can be good for something. As we turned up the soil in the beds, he realized the dirt was nice and cool, and softer than the concrete.
We kept a few burning bushes, and one of them provided a spot of shade. The shade also happened to be covering a spot where another bush’s roots left a big hole.
He curled up in the hole, enjoying the cool dirt and shade. And he stayed there practically all weekend, even after the hole was covered up.
I’ve seen lots of dogs dig themselves out holes in the dirt to keep cool in the summer. I know it’s common. I know I shouldn’t be surprised.
But you don’t my dog. He avoids dirt. He always has — even back when he was a puppy, searching for a spotty patch of grass to pee on.
So I was surprised. After six years, he’s finally discovered that dirt is good for something.
And now I’ve got myself a dirty ol’ dog.
As a puppy, Sensi always had a patch of grass to pee on. When Brent moved into a place where construction had caused the lawn to be torn up, it was a little difficult getting him to understand that he could pee on dirt too.
He learned, but he stills prefers grass — and not just for the potty. Sensi loves to lay on the grass, roll around on it, stretch out and sunbathe in it. He just loves a good plush lawn.
Outside our house, Sensi certainly has a couple choices as far as surfaces go. There’s the lawn, the concrete porch and the dirt driveway. We’re used to him choosing the lawn to spend his time on.
During the past weekend, Brent and I began digging up our overgrown and neglected garden beds. They stretch from one end of the house to the other.
Last week, Brent tore out 10-plus dying, browned bushes that I have loathed from the time I first set on eyes on the house. The garden beds were ripped up with mounds of dirt and holes where the roots were. Cleaning and evening out the beds was a lot of work.
As we started working on it, Sensi was passing the time in the usual way — lounging around on the grass. But the sun got hotter and shade disappeared.
I figured he’d go hang out on the cool concrete porch. I was wrong.
For the first time in his life, my dog figured out that dirt — which he doesn’t care much for — can be good for something. As we turned up the soil in the beds, he realized the dirt was nice and cool, and softer than the concrete.
We kept a few burning bushes, and one of them provided a spot of shade. The shade also happened to be covering a spot where another bush’s roots left a big hole.
He curled up in the hole, enjoying the cool dirt and shade. And he stayed there practically all weekend, even after the hole was covered up.
I’ve seen lots of dogs dig themselves out holes in the dirt to keep cool in the summer. I know it’s common. I know I shouldn’t be surprised.
But you don’t my dog. He avoids dirt. He always has — even back when he was a puppy, searching for a spotty patch of grass to pee on.
So I was surprised. After six years, he’s finally discovered that dirt is good for something.
And now I’ve got myself a dirty ol’ dog.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What was that noise?
I don’t do well with scary movies.
The suspense gets me every time. My heart starts beating a hundred miles a minute, I feel like I’m about to keel over and I just reach that point where I can’t keep my eyes open.
Nowadays, I don’t try to push myself through it. If my husband puts a scary movie on, I’ll grab a book or photo album, maybe do some laundry. Something, anything — even junk mail — to turn to when I can’t take the suspense any more.
But when I was younger, I stuck it out. My friends would get all geeked for a good thriller and I’d plaster a smile on my face and grab a stuffed animal to hold on to for dear life.
Remember Psycho? Oh yeah, I’ve seen it. In fact, I have a complex from it.
That famous scene where the girl gets stabbed in the shower has never left my memory. Every time I shower, if I so much as hear a pin drop, my heart starts racing.
The sound of the shower curtain being ripped away, that horrible scary movie music and the big knife all replay in my mind.
It used to be pretty bad. If I heard a noise, I’d have to jump out of the shower — soapy hair or not — and check out the bathroom, making sure the door was locked. I’d turn off the water and listen closely, trying to pay attention to any noises that might sound like an intruder.
This morning, I heard a loud thump while I was in the shower.
My stomach dropped, my heart raced. My husband was gone for the day. What was that noise?
I reassured myself — if someone was in my house, especially in my bedroom, they’d have to get by Sensi before they could do any damage.
I didn’t hear Sensi bark, so, I told myself, “It was probably just the dog jumping down from the bed.”
Sensi does not normally leave the bed until I’m done getting ready. In fact, he waits until the hairdryer is clicked off before he wakes.
I think he covets those precious morning minutes when he gets the bed all to himself. He stretches out, uses our pillows, rolls around in the blankets.
When I got out of the shower, I looked into the bedroom, expecting to see Sensi laying on the floor. But he wasn’t. No, he was in the bed, as usual.
So what was that noise?
I continued on with my morning routine, putting my contacts in. That’s when I walked to my nightstand to grab my chapstick and there it was. My explanation.
Sensi had gotten off the bed — the thump I heard was most definitely him jumping onto the floor — at which point he puked ALL over the place.
The pile of lumpy, fresh, smelly puke stretched from the bed to the door.
And that, folks, was how my morning started.
Hope the day gets better from here ...
The suspense gets me every time. My heart starts beating a hundred miles a minute, I feel like I’m about to keel over and I just reach that point where I can’t keep my eyes open.
Nowadays, I don’t try to push myself through it. If my husband puts a scary movie on, I’ll grab a book or photo album, maybe do some laundry. Something, anything — even junk mail — to turn to when I can’t take the suspense any more.
But when I was younger, I stuck it out. My friends would get all geeked for a good thriller and I’d plaster a smile on my face and grab a stuffed animal to hold on to for dear life.
Remember Psycho? Oh yeah, I’ve seen it. In fact, I have a complex from it.
That famous scene where the girl gets stabbed in the shower has never left my memory. Every time I shower, if I so much as hear a pin drop, my heart starts racing.
The sound of the shower curtain being ripped away, that horrible scary movie music and the big knife all replay in my mind.
It used to be pretty bad. If I heard a noise, I’d have to jump out of the shower — soapy hair or not — and check out the bathroom, making sure the door was locked. I’d turn off the water and listen closely, trying to pay attention to any noises that might sound like an intruder.
This morning, I heard a loud thump while I was in the shower.
My stomach dropped, my heart raced. My husband was gone for the day. What was that noise?
I reassured myself — if someone was in my house, especially in my bedroom, they’d have to get by Sensi before they could do any damage.
I didn’t hear Sensi bark, so, I told myself, “It was probably just the dog jumping down from the bed.”
Sensi does not normally leave the bed until I’m done getting ready. In fact, he waits until the hairdryer is clicked off before he wakes.
I think he covets those precious morning minutes when he gets the bed all to himself. He stretches out, uses our pillows, rolls around in the blankets.
When I got out of the shower, I looked into the bedroom, expecting to see Sensi laying on the floor. But he wasn’t. No, he was in the bed, as usual.
So what was that noise?
I continued on with my morning routine, putting my contacts in. That’s when I walked to my nightstand to grab my chapstick and there it was. My explanation.
Sensi had gotten off the bed — the thump I heard was most definitely him jumping onto the floor — at which point he puked ALL over the place.
The pile of lumpy, fresh, smelly puke stretched from the bed to the door.
And that, folks, was how my morning started.
Hope the day gets better from here ...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Touch those paws
Got a puppy? A new rescue?
Start holding paws (like holding hands) with them.
Sound goofy? It’s actually a fantastic idea.
A lot of dogs become sensitive about their paws being touched. This makes it extremely difficult to trim their nails.
Some dogs will become uncomfortable, others may squirm and pull away, and still others may completely flip out, screaming as if the act is torture.
To help ensure that your new puppy or rescue dog will behave nicely for nail trims, it’s good to start by touching their paws often.
When they’re laying down, put a hand over their paw. Or just reach out and grab their paws, gently, every now and then. Always praise them when they let their paws be touched.
The more you touch their paws, the more they become desensitized to having their paws touched. They learn that there’s nothing to fear when their paws are touched, and nothing bad happens either.
It’s a small thing, but something that can have a lifelong impact on your dog.
Start introducing them to nail clippers in the same fashion.
Don’t just pull them out one day, grab your dog, hold him down and start clipping away.
Pull out those clippers, set them on the floor and let him sniff them. When he does, give him a treat. Maybe touch the metal part of the clippers to his nail and give him another treat.
Do this several times before you do the first clip.
With Sensi, I used to give him a tiny treat for each nail that was clipped. Nowadays, he gets one after both fronts are done, and another after both backs are done.
For years, his nail clipping behavior has been excellent. Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t like to have his nails trimmed.
However, when I pull out the clippers, he sadly lays down and gets in position. I don’t even have to ask. He waits patiently as I clip his nails, and when I’m all done, he bounces around like a wild dog.
We always play a quick game — fetch or tug or something — after nail trimmings too.
So, while he doesn’t love to have his nails clipped, he behaves beautifully for it and that beautiful behavior never goes without a reward.
And as far as his paws go, anyone can touch them. He thinks it’s as normal as the grass being green.
Start holding paws (like holding hands) with them.
Sound goofy? It’s actually a fantastic idea.
A lot of dogs become sensitive about their paws being touched. This makes it extremely difficult to trim their nails.
Some dogs will become uncomfortable, others may squirm and pull away, and still others may completely flip out, screaming as if the act is torture.
To help ensure that your new puppy or rescue dog will behave nicely for nail trims, it’s good to start by touching their paws often.
When they’re laying down, put a hand over their paw. Or just reach out and grab their paws, gently, every now and then. Always praise them when they let their paws be touched.
The more you touch their paws, the more they become desensitized to having their paws touched. They learn that there’s nothing to fear when their paws are touched, and nothing bad happens either.
It’s a small thing, but something that can have a lifelong impact on your dog.
Start introducing them to nail clippers in the same fashion.
Don’t just pull them out one day, grab your dog, hold him down and start clipping away.
Pull out those clippers, set them on the floor and let him sniff them. When he does, give him a treat. Maybe touch the metal part of the clippers to his nail and give him another treat.
Do this several times before you do the first clip.
With Sensi, I used to give him a tiny treat for each nail that was clipped. Nowadays, he gets one after both fronts are done, and another after both backs are done.
For years, his nail clipping behavior has been excellent. Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t like to have his nails trimmed.
However, when I pull out the clippers, he sadly lays down and gets in position. I don’t even have to ask. He waits patiently as I clip his nails, and when I’m all done, he bounces around like a wild dog.
We always play a quick game — fetch or tug or something — after nail trimmings too.
So, while he doesn’t love to have his nails clipped, he behaves beautifully for it and that beautiful behavior never goes without a reward.
And as far as his paws go, anyone can touch them. He thinks it’s as normal as the grass being green.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Notorious terriers
In my previous blog, What’s better, treats or toys? I wrote about how some dogs are motivated more by their prey drive than their food drive, and how it can be more effective training these dogs by utilizing that prey drive.
Terriers are notorious for their prey drive. Most were bred to be ratters — digging out rats from holes in the ground — or other types of small game hunters.
One terrier breed in particular has quite the reputation for its prey drive making it difficult to handle.
No, it’s not the pit bull.
It’s the jack — that little, wiry-hired dog best known as the Jack Russell Terrier. Recently, the American Kennel Club changed it’s name to the Parson Russell Terrier.
After the sitcom Frasier featured a Jack named Eddie, the popularity of the breed skyrocketed.
Unfortunately, many of these dogs ended up in shelters after their owners discovered their dogs to be high energy, independent, squirrel-chasing little troublemakers.
The prey drive for this breed is very strong. They are well-known to become obsessive over birds, squirrels, rabbits or any other kind of small game that frequents their yards.
Their independent streak makes it even more difficult to get a handle on these dogs.
As barnyard ratters, jacks were used to living an independent life. Because of that history, they have a great propensity to be independent-minded — meaning, of course, their minds aren’t always on what their owners want from them.
They’re also small little bundles of energy. These dogs can be on the go longer than the Energizer Bunny.
So what makes a good home for a jack? Someone who can give them daily exercise and keep their minds stimulated in other ways too.
Training games that incorporate their prey drive and athleticism are great ways to both build a strong, respectful relationship with dogs of this breed, and keep them well-balanced and well-behaved.
I’ve written about one local woman who gets her jacks involved in agility competitions. She reports that all of her jacks have excelled at this sport, and that it gives them all the stimulation and exercise they need.
Terriers are notorious for their prey drive. Most were bred to be ratters — digging out rats from holes in the ground — or other types of small game hunters.
One terrier breed in particular has quite the reputation for its prey drive making it difficult to handle.
No, it’s not the pit bull.
It’s the jack — that little, wiry-hired dog best known as the Jack Russell Terrier. Recently, the American Kennel Club changed it’s name to the Parson Russell Terrier.
After the sitcom Frasier featured a Jack named Eddie, the popularity of the breed skyrocketed.
Unfortunately, many of these dogs ended up in shelters after their owners discovered their dogs to be high energy, independent, squirrel-chasing little troublemakers.
The prey drive for this breed is very strong. They are well-known to become obsessive over birds, squirrels, rabbits or any other kind of small game that frequents their yards.
Their independent streak makes it even more difficult to get a handle on these dogs.
As barnyard ratters, jacks were used to living an independent life. Because of that history, they have a great propensity to be independent-minded — meaning, of course, their minds aren’t always on what their owners want from them.
They’re also small little bundles of energy. These dogs can be on the go longer than the Energizer Bunny.
So what makes a good home for a jack? Someone who can give them daily exercise and keep their minds stimulated in other ways too.
Training games that incorporate their prey drive and athleticism are great ways to both build a strong, respectful relationship with dogs of this breed, and keep them well-balanced and well-behaved.
I’ve written about one local woman who gets her jacks involved in agility competitions. She reports that all of her jacks have excelled at this sport, and that it gives them all the stimulation and exercise they need.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What’s better, treats or toys?
If you offered your dog a tennis ball in one hand and a treat in the other, which one would he choose?
Answer that question, and then think about how the answer affects training.
If your dog would rather have the treat, then use food to train him.
But if he’d rather have the ball, use toys for training.
Dogs have two major drives — prey and food.
In the wild, these were one and the same. But for domestic dogs, they’re different.
There’s no chasing down and catching a food bowl. However, the prey drive is still quite a big part of many dogs.
Realizing what motivates your dog more — their food drive or their prey drive — is a big step is finding the best way to train your dog.
Most dogs are like Sensi. He’s very motivated by food, and also pretty motivated by his prey drive. For the most part, I use treats to train him. Every once in a while, I’ll use a toy as a reward. It doesn’t really matter.
Even more dogs are incredibly food motivated. Golden Retrievers are notorious for it.
But every once in a while, you come across a dog who just can’t get his mind off that squirrel in the backyard.
This is the dog who carries a ball in his mouth at all times. He lives for games of fetch. Birds catch his eye and drive him nuts.
Brent’s former roommate brought home the first dog of this sort that I’d ever met.
The dog has literally dropped treats right out of his mouth when my hand touched his favorite ball. At Christmas, I got him some pig ears and toys. The pig ears — unbelievably irresistible to most dogs — laid untouched on the floor while the dog ran circles with his new toys.
His owner immediately set out to train him some tricks. He used treats, and it worked, but only on one condition — he and the dog had to be in a room with no toys or the dog would pick up a toy and simply lose interest in the training games.
These dogs can be very difficult to train with regard to recalls and commands like drop-it.
The easiest way to teach such a prey driven dog a solid drop-it command? Games of fetch with two or more tennis balls.
Simply throw one ball, and after the dog gets it — whether he returns to you or goes running in circles with his ball — show him you have another.
He’ll return, and usually, will drop the ball in his mouth while he waits for you to throw the other.
Once he’s off chasing the other ball, pick up the one he dropped, and repeat, repeat, repeat.
Answer that question, and then think about how the answer affects training.
If your dog would rather have the treat, then use food to train him.
But if he’d rather have the ball, use toys for training.
Dogs have two major drives — prey and food.
In the wild, these were one and the same. But for domestic dogs, they’re different.
There’s no chasing down and catching a food bowl. However, the prey drive is still quite a big part of many dogs.
Realizing what motivates your dog more — their food drive or their prey drive — is a big step is finding the best way to train your dog.
Most dogs are like Sensi. He’s very motivated by food, and also pretty motivated by his prey drive. For the most part, I use treats to train him. Every once in a while, I’ll use a toy as a reward. It doesn’t really matter.
Even more dogs are incredibly food motivated. Golden Retrievers are notorious for it.
But every once in a while, you come across a dog who just can’t get his mind off that squirrel in the backyard.
This is the dog who carries a ball in his mouth at all times. He lives for games of fetch. Birds catch his eye and drive him nuts.
Brent’s former roommate brought home the first dog of this sort that I’d ever met.
The dog has literally dropped treats right out of his mouth when my hand touched his favorite ball. At Christmas, I got him some pig ears and toys. The pig ears — unbelievably irresistible to most dogs — laid untouched on the floor while the dog ran circles with his new toys.
His owner immediately set out to train him some tricks. He used treats, and it worked, but only on one condition — he and the dog had to be in a room with no toys or the dog would pick up a toy and simply lose interest in the training games.
These dogs can be very difficult to train with regard to recalls and commands like drop-it.
The easiest way to teach such a prey driven dog a solid drop-it command? Games of fetch with two or more tennis balls.
Simply throw one ball, and after the dog gets it — whether he returns to you or goes running in circles with his ball — show him you have another.
He’ll return, and usually, will drop the ball in his mouth while he waits for you to throw the other.
Once he’s off chasing the other ball, pick up the one he dropped, and repeat, repeat, repeat.
Monday, May 11, 2009
A clean bed
It’s common knowledge that dogs don’t like the same scents that we do.
Give them the choice of duck poop or a flowery perfume, you can bet they’ll choose the duck poop.
When it comes to laundry, I’ve always wondered if they prefer things worn and with their scent on it rather than with the clean laundry soap smell.
Yesterday, I’m pretty sure I got my answer.
I don’t wash the cover to Sensi’s dog bed all too often, and he’s got two blankets that he sleeps with as well.
While I was cleaning on Sunday, I thought it was just about that time to give his stuff a good wash.
Meanwhile, Sensi was outside practically all day.
It was a perfect day for a black dog. It wasn’t humid or even hot, yet the sun was out in all its glory.
Sensi alternated his time between helping Brent chop wood and sunbathing.
How does a dog help chop wood?
Well, it’s not much of a help. He steals all the logs and creates his own wood pile, chewing each one for awhile before placing it next to “his” other logs.
By the time evening set in, the sun was hidden behind clouds and the temperature was a little chilly for my dog’s old bones.
At the same time, my mom arrived — I cooked her dinner for Mother’s Day — and Sensi gravitated to her. He knows she’s a pushover when it comes to attention, and he can always get her to play with him.
She left a few hours later and, as I brought the rest of my laundry to the bedroom, Sensi followed me.
He sniffed his bed, wagged his tail, then climbed in and laid down. And he didn’t get up for the rest of the evening.
Granted, he was tired from the sun and being outside all day. But still ...
The order of his favorite places to sleep are: 1) our bed, 2) the couch, and 3) his bed.
Had he spent the rest of the night sleeping on our bed, it wouldn’t be strange. But in his bed? That’s strange.
So I think this settles the question for me.
Would a dog rather have a freshly laundered bed or blanket, or something that smells of his own scent?
Freshly laundered, for sure.
Give them the choice of duck poop or a flowery perfume, you can bet they’ll choose the duck poop.
When it comes to laundry, I’ve always wondered if they prefer things worn and with their scent on it rather than with the clean laundry soap smell.
Yesterday, I’m pretty sure I got my answer.
I don’t wash the cover to Sensi’s dog bed all too often, and he’s got two blankets that he sleeps with as well.
While I was cleaning on Sunday, I thought it was just about that time to give his stuff a good wash.
Meanwhile, Sensi was outside practically all day.
It was a perfect day for a black dog. It wasn’t humid or even hot, yet the sun was out in all its glory.
Sensi alternated his time between helping Brent chop wood and sunbathing.
How does a dog help chop wood?
Well, it’s not much of a help. He steals all the logs and creates his own wood pile, chewing each one for awhile before placing it next to “his” other logs.
By the time evening set in, the sun was hidden behind clouds and the temperature was a little chilly for my dog’s old bones.
At the same time, my mom arrived — I cooked her dinner for Mother’s Day — and Sensi gravitated to her. He knows she’s a pushover when it comes to attention, and he can always get her to play with him.
She left a few hours later and, as I brought the rest of my laundry to the bedroom, Sensi followed me.
He sniffed his bed, wagged his tail, then climbed in and laid down. And he didn’t get up for the rest of the evening.
Granted, he was tired from the sun and being outside all day. But still ...
The order of his favorite places to sleep are: 1) our bed, 2) the couch, and 3) his bed.
Had he spent the rest of the night sleeping on our bed, it wouldn’t be strange. But in his bed? That’s strange.
So I think this settles the question for me.
Would a dog rather have a freshly laundered bed or blanket, or something that smells of his own scent?
Freshly laundered, for sure.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Update on the garden challenge
Last week, in my blog The next training challenge, I wrote of how I’ll be attempting to train my dog to not use the garden as his personal toilet.
I later wrote Catch'em in the act, which details how to stop the unwanted behaviors that your dog engages in when you’re not around.
The two blogs are linked, and here’s how:
Do you think I go outside with my dog every time nature calls?
No way.
So, in order to train him to stay out of the garden, I’m going to have to repeatedly set him up.
Training him not to go in the garden while I’m around is a piece of cake. I just tell him no and ask him to come whenever I see him put a paw in the dirt. Eventually, he learns the garden is off limits ... while I’m around.
Training him that the garden is off limits when I’m not around is the tricky part.
Fortunately, I think it’ll be a lot easier to set him up with this one than with the garbage can, which I described in Catch'em in the act.
This is because the garden runs along the front of the house, and there are windows above it.
All I have to do is set him off on the chain to do his business, then follow him from one window to the next without him catching sight of me.
Every time he heads for the garden, I need to be ready to open the window and shout, “No! Bad dog!”
The downside is, I will have to do this every time he goes outside — no exceptions — until I visibly see him being successful in going out by himself and not going in the garden.
And not once, or twice, but several incidents of success will have to occur before I believe my job is done.
Would you spend the time to do this?
I later wrote Catch'em in the act, which details how to stop the unwanted behaviors that your dog engages in when you’re not around.
The two blogs are linked, and here’s how:
Do you think I go outside with my dog every time nature calls?
No way.
So, in order to train him to stay out of the garden, I’m going to have to repeatedly set him up.
Training him not to go in the garden while I’m around is a piece of cake. I just tell him no and ask him to come whenever I see him put a paw in the dirt. Eventually, he learns the garden is off limits ... while I’m around.
Training him that the garden is off limits when I’m not around is the tricky part.
Fortunately, I think it’ll be a lot easier to set him up with this one than with the garbage can, which I described in Catch'em in the act.
This is because the garden runs along the front of the house, and there are windows above it.
All I have to do is set him off on the chain to do his business, then follow him from one window to the next without him catching sight of me.
Every time he heads for the garden, I need to be ready to open the window and shout, “No! Bad dog!”
The downside is, I will have to do this every time he goes outside — no exceptions — until I visibly see him being successful in going out by himself and not going in the garden.
And not once, or twice, but several incidents of success will have to occur before I believe my job is done.
Would you spend the time to do this?
Monday, May 4, 2009
My canine co-worker
Those of you who read the paper regularly already know who this blog is about — our affable office canine, Norton.
Norton is a service dog, a beautiful yellow lab and golden retriever mix, who helps out Jerry Wolffe, our Voices of Disability columnist and West Oakland reporter.
I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it seems like Norton first came into the picture a few years ago.
It sure is nice to have a dog in the office.
At our morning news meetings, Norton reminds us all of us his presence — by no means intentional, though.
As he lays under the conference room table, he naps and, inevitably, begins dreaming. That’s probably when the noises begin, little grunts and stifled barks.
It’s nice to break from the serious news of the day and laugh at Norton’s rumblings.
One day, I walked into work early in the morning and only Jerry and a couple other people had arrived in the office. No one who sits in the row of desks before mine had arrived, and as I passed the empty aisle, something caught my eye.
“No, Norton, no!” I hollered, a knee-jerk reaction for me. “Bad dog! Drop it!”
The innocent-looking dog froze, staring at me while a staffer’s peanut butter sandwich was sticking half-way out of his mouth. A bit of napkin was hanging from his lip too.
Norton had quietly snuck away from Jerry, and of all the dogs I’ve met who are food motivated, Norton takes the cake.
While Jerry was rather upset at his dog’s antics, I couldn’t stop laughing.
It’s just not something I ever expected to do at work, and it’s a welcome bit of humor in my day.
I couldn’t be happier to have a canine co-worker!
Norton is a service dog, a beautiful yellow lab and golden retriever mix, who helps out Jerry Wolffe, our Voices of Disability columnist and West Oakland reporter.
I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it seems like Norton first came into the picture a few years ago.
It sure is nice to have a dog in the office.At our morning news meetings, Norton reminds us all of us his presence — by no means intentional, though.
As he lays under the conference room table, he naps and, inevitably, begins dreaming. That’s probably when the noises begin, little grunts and stifled barks.
It’s nice to break from the serious news of the day and laugh at Norton’s rumblings.
One day, I walked into work early in the morning and only Jerry and a couple other people had arrived in the office. No one who sits in the row of desks before mine had arrived, and as I passed the empty aisle, something caught my eye.
“No, Norton, no!” I hollered, a knee-jerk reaction for me. “Bad dog! Drop it!”
The innocent-looking dog froze, staring at me while a staffer’s peanut butter sandwich was sticking half-way out of his mouth. A bit of napkin was hanging from his lip too.
Norton had quietly snuck away from Jerry, and of all the dogs I’ve met who are food motivated, Norton takes the cake.
While Jerry was rather upset at his dog’s antics, I couldn’t stop laughing.
It’s just not something I ever expected to do at work, and it’s a welcome bit of humor in my day.
I couldn’t be happier to have a canine co-worker!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pit bulls in the news
Last week, I got on my soapbox to defend pit bulls after the uncle of a boy who was fatally mauled by his parent’s dog said that the breed was “sent by satan.”
Don’t expect me to always be on the pit bull’s side.
I am a reasonable person.
In Waterford Township, where a pit bull ban is in place, a man has been making headlines because he apparently can’t keep his pit bull under control.
First off, I am not in favor of breed bans. But all the same, the law is the law and this man is not following it.
Despite the fact that officials knew he had a pit bull, he was not ordered to get rid of it. That’s kind.
But instead of taking this opportunity to be a breed ambassador, to disprove stereotypes that all pit bulls are bad and all pit bull owners are irresponsible, he chose to reinforce the stereotype.
His pit bull obviously didn’t receive a proper upbringing, as its history of threatening the neighbors shows it has some aggression issues.
And, instead of trying to rehabilitate the aggression issues while keeping the dog safely restrained to its own yard, he let it continue to get loose.
The dog has bitten at least one person and threatened others. Most recently, one neighbor was threatened by the dog twice in one day.
To make a bad situation worse, the man earned himself disorderly conduct charges when he dealt with officers called by the neighbors.
Now it’s a horrible situation, but it gets worse.
This pit bull, who obviously doesn’t have a good temperament, was bred. She has nine puppies.
Why? Why would you breed a dog with a bad temperament?
I am saddened and disappointed by this man’s irresponsible actions.
I can only imagine how his neighbors must view pit bulls and their owners now.
Don’t expect me to always be on the pit bull’s side.
I am a reasonable person.
In Waterford Township, where a pit bull ban is in place, a man has been making headlines because he apparently can’t keep his pit bull under control.
First off, I am not in favor of breed bans. But all the same, the law is the law and this man is not following it.
Despite the fact that officials knew he had a pit bull, he was not ordered to get rid of it. That’s kind.
But instead of taking this opportunity to be a breed ambassador, to disprove stereotypes that all pit bulls are bad and all pit bull owners are irresponsible, he chose to reinforce the stereotype.
His pit bull obviously didn’t receive a proper upbringing, as its history of threatening the neighbors shows it has some aggression issues.
And, instead of trying to rehabilitate the aggression issues while keeping the dog safely restrained to its own yard, he let it continue to get loose.
The dog has bitten at least one person and threatened others. Most recently, one neighbor was threatened by the dog twice in one day.
To make a bad situation worse, the man earned himself disorderly conduct charges when he dealt with officers called by the neighbors.
Now it’s a horrible situation, but it gets worse.
This pit bull, who obviously doesn’t have a good temperament, was bred. She has nine puppies.
Why? Why would you breed a dog with a bad temperament?
I am saddened and disappointed by this man’s irresponsible actions.
I can only imagine how his neighbors must view pit bulls and their owners now.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Catch 'em in the act
Your dog is getting in the garbage when you’re not home. Or maybe he’s peeing on the carpet when you walk out of the room.
Perhaps he’s shredding the toilet paper while you’re away, tearing down the window treatments or chewing on the couch.
You know that yelling at him hours later, when you get home and find the destruction, doesn’t work because you’re not actually catching him in action. Therefore, he can’t make the association between his action and a negative consequence.
So what are you supposed to do?
How do you punish a dog for something he does when you’re not around?
Get creative.
Before you read on, I’ll warn you — most people aren’t willing to put this much time and effort into correcting their dog’s behavior.
You may be one of them, but before you stop reading, think about this: It will take you less time and effort to properly correct a behavior then to spend the entire life of your dog coming home day after day to clean up after him.
When your dog is doing things when you’re not around, there’s only way to correct the problem: set him up.
Sensi had a bout of garbage digging for a while, and there are few other behaviors that are quite as disgusting and create such a wretched mess.
I wasn’t going to allow this to keep happening.
I armed myself with a glass jar full of pennies — a trick I learned from the guy in our office who has a service dog. Shake that jar while charging toward your dog and he’ll think the world is coming to an end.
Then I casually led Sensi into another room, and once he was out of sight, I set up the garbage can. I put a little barbecue sauce on edge of the bag to tantalize him, and hung a few pieces of cheese over the edge.
We let Sensi back in the living area and immediately started preparing to “leave.” We put our shoes on, grabbed our coats, I slung my purse over my shoulder and we gave Sensi our usual goodbye — a couple pats on the head while we said, “We’ll be back, be good boy.”
Brent and I left the house, but we didn’t really leave. While Brent tinkered in the garage, I stealthily hid myself outside the house in a place where I could see through the sliding glass door and watch my dog, but he couldn’t see me.
It took about 20 minutes, and believe me, my patience was wearing thin.
I watched Sensi as he laid down on the couch and thought I might be hiding in the bushes all night.
But in the end, his nose led him to the garbage can. Just as he began licking the barbecue sauce, I burst through the sliding glass door shaking my jar of pennies.
Sensi was so terrified and shocked. Panic stricken, he ran and actually hid in a closet — I’d never seen him do that before.
I had to coax him out of the closet and cuddle him until he stopped shaking. I felt bad, but the set up worked.
Sensi has never again touched the garbage can.
It’s up to you. Be creative, devote some time and test your patience, or just resign yourself to cleaning up garbage strewn across the floor for the rest of the years you spend with your dog.
Perhaps he’s shredding the toilet paper while you’re away, tearing down the window treatments or chewing on the couch.
You know that yelling at him hours later, when you get home and find the destruction, doesn’t work because you’re not actually catching him in action. Therefore, he can’t make the association between his action and a negative consequence.
So what are you supposed to do?
How do you punish a dog for something he does when you’re not around?
Get creative.
Before you read on, I’ll warn you — most people aren’t willing to put this much time and effort into correcting their dog’s behavior.
You may be one of them, but before you stop reading, think about this: It will take you less time and effort to properly correct a behavior then to spend the entire life of your dog coming home day after day to clean up after him.
When your dog is doing things when you’re not around, there’s only way to correct the problem: set him up.
Sensi had a bout of garbage digging for a while, and there are few other behaviors that are quite as disgusting and create such a wretched mess.
I wasn’t going to allow this to keep happening.
I armed myself with a glass jar full of pennies — a trick I learned from the guy in our office who has a service dog. Shake that jar while charging toward your dog and he’ll think the world is coming to an end.
Then I casually led Sensi into another room, and once he was out of sight, I set up the garbage can. I put a little barbecue sauce on edge of the bag to tantalize him, and hung a few pieces of cheese over the edge.
We let Sensi back in the living area and immediately started preparing to “leave.” We put our shoes on, grabbed our coats, I slung my purse over my shoulder and we gave Sensi our usual goodbye — a couple pats on the head while we said, “We’ll be back, be good boy.”
Brent and I left the house, but we didn’t really leave. While Brent tinkered in the garage, I stealthily hid myself outside the house in a place where I could see through the sliding glass door and watch my dog, but he couldn’t see me.
It took about 20 minutes, and believe me, my patience was wearing thin.
I watched Sensi as he laid down on the couch and thought I might be hiding in the bushes all night.
But in the end, his nose led him to the garbage can. Just as he began licking the barbecue sauce, I burst through the sliding glass door shaking my jar of pennies.
Sensi was so terrified and shocked. Panic stricken, he ran and actually hid in a closet — I’d never seen him do that before.
I had to coax him out of the closet and cuddle him until he stopped shaking. I felt bad, but the set up worked.
Sensi has never again touched the garbage can.
It’s up to you. Be creative, devote some time and test your patience, or just resign yourself to cleaning up garbage strewn across the floor for the rest of the years you spend with your dog.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The next training challenge
Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks?
I'm banking on being able to teach my old dog a new trick. It might be the hardest challenge I've had yet.
In the past, Sensi's lived with Brent in rentals often shared with other young men who have no interest in maintaining gardens.
The first house had some ugly bushes, the second one had some ugly bushes and neglected perennials that dutifully struggled upward every spring, through unraked leaves and weeds to bloom a few sickly flowers.
The bushes and perennials faced another challenge too — living through a male dog lifting his leg on them.
And then, because Sensi prefers to hide his poop, they had to live through a dog who developed a habit of backing his rear end into the bushes.
Piles of poop could often be found a foot off the ground, suspended in the branches of the bushes. We found it comical at the time.
But now we have our own house, and a long stretch of garden beds in front of it.
When we moved in late last fall, the homeowners had been living out of state for a year. Grass and weeds were growing two feet tall in the neglected gardens.
Between the long grass to lift his leg on and the many bushes to hide his poop, Sensi immediately saw the area as the perfect doggie toilet.
Now I can't keep him out of the gardens. He thinks it's his designated potty spot.
As the first spring at our new house is coming around, Brent and I have plans to take out many of the neglected and overgrown bushes.
I want big flowers, and it'll probably cost a pretty penny to make the gardens look nice again.
And when they do, I won't have Sensi killing my daylilies.
I expect that teaching him to stay out of the gardens is going to be tough, but it must be done.
Wish me luck, and I'll keep posting about our progress — or lack thereof.
I'm banking on being able to teach my old dog a new trick. It might be the hardest challenge I've had yet.
In the past, Sensi's lived with Brent in rentals often shared with other young men who have no interest in maintaining gardens.
The first house had some ugly bushes, the second one had some ugly bushes and neglected perennials that dutifully struggled upward every spring, through unraked leaves and weeds to bloom a few sickly flowers.
The bushes and perennials faced another challenge too — living through a male dog lifting his leg on them.
And then, because Sensi prefers to hide his poop, they had to live through a dog who developed a habit of backing his rear end into the bushes.
Piles of poop could often be found a foot off the ground, suspended in the branches of the bushes. We found it comical at the time.
But now we have our own house, and a long stretch of garden beds in front of it.
When we moved in late last fall, the homeowners had been living out of state for a year. Grass and weeds were growing two feet tall in the neglected gardens.
Between the long grass to lift his leg on and the many bushes to hide his poop, Sensi immediately saw the area as the perfect doggie toilet.
Now I can't keep him out of the gardens. He thinks it's his designated potty spot.
As the first spring at our new house is coming around, Brent and I have plans to take out many of the neglected and overgrown bushes.
I want big flowers, and it'll probably cost a pretty penny to make the gardens look nice again.
And when they do, I won't have Sensi killing my daylilies.
I expect that teaching him to stay out of the gardens is going to be tough, but it must be done.
Wish me luck, and I'll keep posting about our progress — or lack thereof.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Horse, cow, pig or pit bull?
What animal gallops like a horse, grazes like a cow and when laying down, can be mistaken for a pot bellied pig?
Why, it’s my dog, of course!
As my husband and I discussed our dog’s grazing habits this weekend, it dawned on me that for years we have been comparing him to farm animals.
The dog totally earns these comparisons. Here’s the rundown:
1) How is my dog like a horse? His gait. Sensi’s clumsily-formed body gave him giant paws, a huge chest, and a small little butt. He’s off balance and when he runs, it shows. His front paws hit the ground with a thunderous roar, all the weight of his drooping chest propelling him forward. Indoors, the entire floor quakes beneath him as he lumbers around. Don’t be mistaken — he is not like a thoroughbred. More like an adolescent Clydesdale who hasn’t yet mastered a graceful gait.
2) How is my dog like a cow? He grazes, and the amount of interest he has in grazing has vastly increased each year.
Some people say dogs only eat grass if they ate something bad and need to throw it up, or if they’re lacking a nutrient in their diet. For Sensi, neither of these applies. I am completely convinced he just enjoys having an endless supply of food.
He never throws up from it, and if you hold grass in your hand, he begs for it like it’s a treat. A couple years ago, I started noticing that on our walks, he kept stopping to eat the grass. Over the weekend, he was content to graze on our lawn for about an hour.
Sensi just meandered around, grazing — just like a cow.
3) How is my dog like a pig? He looks like one. Seriously. When Sensi lays down on his side and his big chest bellows out, followed immediately by a jolly tummy, he truly looks like a pig. All he needs are hooves in place of his paws and some minor changes to his face and I’ve got myself a pot-bellied pig. The markings on his stomach, a swirl of white and black with sparse hair, also help create the illusion.
We call him our pot-bellied pit bull.
Brent and I have always wanted a farm, but for the time being, I suppose we can just be glad to have a dog that is like three farm animals in one compact pit bull package.
Why, it’s my dog, of course!
As my husband and I discussed our dog’s grazing habits this weekend, it dawned on me that for years we have been comparing him to farm animals.
The dog totally earns these comparisons. Here’s the rundown:
1) How is my dog like a horse? His gait. Sensi’s clumsily-formed body gave him giant paws, a huge chest, and a small little butt. He’s off balance and when he runs, it shows. His front paws hit the ground with a thunderous roar, all the weight of his drooping chest propelling him forward. Indoors, the entire floor quakes beneath him as he lumbers around. Don’t be mistaken — he is not like a thoroughbred. More like an adolescent Clydesdale who hasn’t yet mastered a graceful gait.
2) How is my dog like a cow? He grazes, and the amount of interest he has in grazing has vastly increased each year.
Some people say dogs only eat grass if they ate something bad and need to throw it up, or if they’re lacking a nutrient in their diet. For Sensi, neither of these applies. I am completely convinced he just enjoys having an endless supply of food.
He never throws up from it, and if you hold grass in your hand, he begs for it like it’s a treat. A couple years ago, I started noticing that on our walks, he kept stopping to eat the grass. Over the weekend, he was content to graze on our lawn for about an hour.
Sensi just meandered around, grazing — just like a cow.
3) How is my dog like a pig? He looks like one. Seriously. When Sensi lays down on his side and his big chest bellows out, followed immediately by a jolly tummy, he truly looks like a pig. All he needs are hooves in place of his paws and some minor changes to his face and I’ve got myself a pot-bellied pig. The markings on his stomach, a swirl of white and black with sparse hair, also help create the illusion.
We call him our pot-bellied pit bull.
Brent and I have always wanted a farm, but for the time being, I suppose we can just be glad to have a dog that is like three farm animals in one compact pit bull package.
Monday, April 27, 2009
An excellent online tool
My husband’s a Michigan fan, and much to his chagrin, I’m a State fan.
I have good, solid reasoning for why I love State. And it’s completely unrelated to sports.
I’m not much of a sports fan at all.
But I am passionate about two things: journalism and dogs.
Michigan State University is, in our state, a true leader in both those areas.
Their journalism program is probably the best in the state, and so is their veterinary program.
Chances are, if your pet has an issue that needs some genius minds to fix it, you’re going to be headed to Lansing.
I was so pleased when one day, years ago, I stumbled across a great canine behavior and training resource online that is hosted by Michigan State University.
The articles are so helpful, insightful, interesting, and dead-on right.
You can read about simple things like how to housebreak a dog, read debates on crate training, browse a plethora of behavior articles and — here’s a big winner — learn about operant and classical conditioning and the use of positive reinforcement and negative punishment in animal training.
Operant and classical conditioning are the two ways in which dogs learn.
If nothing else, we should at least understand how our dogs learn. After all, if you don’t know how your dog learns, how are you supposed to teach him to behave?
Here are quick descriptions of these learning methods:
Classical Conditioning: Think of Pavlov’s salivating dogs — we’ve all heard the story. It is conditioning a dog to respond to a stimuli by teaching it to make associations.
Operant Conditioning: Teaching a dog to form associations between behaviors and consequences.
And for those with fearful dogs (I can commiserate, this is a big issue for Sensi), the Web site offers golden advice.
So whether you’re a Michigan fan or State fan, give this Web site a good look. It’s an excellent resource to begin understanding your dog.
Click here to visit it now.
I have good, solid reasoning for why I love State. And it’s completely unrelated to sports.
I’m not much of a sports fan at all.
But I am passionate about two things: journalism and dogs.
Michigan State University is, in our state, a true leader in both those areas.
Their journalism program is probably the best in the state, and so is their veterinary program.
Chances are, if your pet has an issue that needs some genius minds to fix it, you’re going to be headed to Lansing.
I was so pleased when one day, years ago, I stumbled across a great canine behavior and training resource online that is hosted by Michigan State University.
The articles are so helpful, insightful, interesting, and dead-on right.
You can read about simple things like how to housebreak a dog, read debates on crate training, browse a plethora of behavior articles and — here’s a big winner — learn about operant and classical conditioning and the use of positive reinforcement and negative punishment in animal training.
Operant and classical conditioning are the two ways in which dogs learn.
If nothing else, we should at least understand how our dogs learn. After all, if you don’t know how your dog learns, how are you supposed to teach him to behave?
Here are quick descriptions of these learning methods:
Classical Conditioning: Think of Pavlov’s salivating dogs — we’ve all heard the story. It is conditioning a dog to respond to a stimuli by teaching it to make associations.
Operant Conditioning: Teaching a dog to form associations between behaviors and consequences.
And for those with fearful dogs (I can commiserate, this is a big issue for Sensi), the Web site offers golden advice.
So whether you’re a Michigan fan or State fan, give this Web site a good look. It’s an excellent resource to begin understanding your dog.
Click here to visit it now.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
My mantra
I love dogs. I have a tremendous amount of respect for these animals.
They bring me joy, I find them to make good friends, I love their capacity to learn and their need to be part of a social group.
But let’s get one thing straight: dogs are not intelligent.
Not in the way humans are. They don’t analyze situations. They don’t plan what they’re going to do tomorrow or next week. They don’t dwell on the past. They don’t study the world around them, wondering what makes the grass grow or what type of plants deer eat or why some animals live in groups and others live alone.
This is what separates us.
We do study the world around us. We have all sorts of knowledge about other animals. We know that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, that female lions are the primary hunters in a pride, that a bear mother gets very aggressive when she senses a threat near her cubs.
We know so much about the behavior of the animals we share this planet with.
So my question is, why don’t we know anything about our dogs?
We bring a dog into our family, our household, and we expect “man’s best friend” to learn about us. And sometimes, some of us don’t even give them training, which is the least we can do to help them assimilate into our human packs.
The majority of the dog owners I meet know little to nothing at all about canine behavior. They don’t know how to properly greet a dog, they have no knowledge of body language — which our dogs are constantly using in an attempt to communicate with us.
They can’t see the signs of a dog who is distressed, scared, or seconds away from biting.
Over time, we may learn a little about our dogs as individuals.
“Buddy jumps up and down by the door when he wants to go out,” someone observes of their dog.
That’s great. Your dog has learned a behavior that catches your attention. He is trying so darn hard to communicate with you.
But meanwhile, you still know nothing about how your dog communicates naturally.
I urge everyone to learn a little something about canine behavior.
Start with body language. There are plenty of books. Go to a dog park and observe dogs interacting with eachother. You’d be amazed how quickly you can start understanding your dog.
After all, as the more intelligent species, shouldn’t the onus be on us to learn about the animals we bring into our lives?
They bring me joy, I find them to make good friends, I love their capacity to learn and their need to be part of a social group.
But let’s get one thing straight: dogs are not intelligent.
Not in the way humans are. They don’t analyze situations. They don’t plan what they’re going to do tomorrow or next week. They don’t dwell on the past. They don’t study the world around them, wondering what makes the grass grow or what type of plants deer eat or why some animals live in groups and others live alone.
This is what separates us.
We do study the world around us. We have all sorts of knowledge about other animals. We know that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror, that female lions are the primary hunters in a pride, that a bear mother gets very aggressive when she senses a threat near her cubs.
We know so much about the behavior of the animals we share this planet with.
So my question is, why don’t we know anything about our dogs?
We bring a dog into our family, our household, and we expect “man’s best friend” to learn about us. And sometimes, some of us don’t even give them training, which is the least we can do to help them assimilate into our human packs.
The majority of the dog owners I meet know little to nothing at all about canine behavior. They don’t know how to properly greet a dog, they have no knowledge of body language — which our dogs are constantly using in an attempt to communicate with us.
They can’t see the signs of a dog who is distressed, scared, or seconds away from biting.
Over time, we may learn a little about our dogs as individuals.
“Buddy jumps up and down by the door when he wants to go out,” someone observes of their dog.
That’s great. Your dog has learned a behavior that catches your attention. He is trying so darn hard to communicate with you.
But meanwhile, you still know nothing about how your dog communicates naturally.
I urge everyone to learn a little something about canine behavior.
Start with body language. There are plenty of books. Go to a dog park and observe dogs interacting with eachother. You’d be amazed how quickly you can start understanding your dog.
After all, as the more intelligent species, shouldn’t the onus be on us to learn about the animals we bring into our lives?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pride in dirty tennis balls
Sensi had a fantastic weekend.
With all the rain we’ve had the past few days, it’s almost difficult to remember that Friday and Saturday were absolutely gorgeous days. And I happened to have both of them off work.
I set my sights on cleaning out the basement and also burning some of the brush and leaves we’ve accumulated since the fall. I left the basement door open and, thanks to the beautiful weather, spent more time outside burning than I did inside cleaning.
I hooked Sensi up on a very long chain, giving him access to the better part of the backyard. He had a blast.
Since it got cold so fast after we moved in, he really hadn’t spent much time in our new backyard.
He sniffed around the field grass by the barn, winded his way through thick brush by the swamp, rolled in the green grass and bathed himself in the sun.
The previous homeowners also had a dog, a black lab. And apparently, that dog had some tennis balls.
On Friday, I watched Sensi emerge from the brush prancing, his tail proudly wagging. He was carrying something black in his mouth.
“Whatchya got?” I asked him, and he pranced around me.
I could see a hint of greenish fuzz and realized he had found an old, rotting tennis ball in the woods.
It was definitely gross. Disgusting might be a better word.
But never, NEVER, would I take away from him something that is both harmless and was definitely a dog toy at one time, and something that he was taking so much pride in.
All day long, he played with that tennis ball. Our yard slopes downhill from the house, so every time he dropped it on the ground, it rolled away from him. He loved it, pouncing on it like a cat would. He batted it around, tossed it up in the air, chased after it relentlessly.
Everyone once in a while, he carefully set it down to take a drink of a water.
On Saturday, he found another and even grosser tennis ball. Between the two, he was simply elated.
I thought about bringing some of his not-so-disgusting balls outside, but I knew he would just ignore them in favor of the blackened, rotting tennis balls.
These nasty things were extra special to Sensi because he found them. A toy from his overflowing basket of toys just wouldn’t compare.
By the end of Saturday, Sensi must’ve spent almost 20 hours playing with those tennis balls.
He was so enthralled with them that he didn’t even notice the herd of deer cross the swamp a mere 20 or 30 feet in front of us.
I’ve never seen him so proud of toy.
Leave it to a dog, though, to take that kind of pride in the most disgusting tennis balls I’ve ever cross across.
The tennis ball in the photo is not from this weekend ... Sensi was actually a puppy in that photo.
With all the rain we’ve had the past few days, it’s almost difficult to remember that Friday and Saturday were absolutely gorgeous days. And I happened to have both of them off work.
I set my sights on cleaning out the basement and also burning some of the brush and leaves we’ve accumulated since the fall. I left the basement door open and, thanks to the beautiful weather, spent more time outside burning than I did inside cleaning.
I hooked Sensi up on a very long chain, giving him access to the better part of the backyard. He had a blast.
Since it got cold so fast after we moved in, he really hadn’t spent much time in our new backyard.
He sniffed around the field grass by the barn, winded his way through thick brush by the swamp, rolled in the green grass and bathed himself in the sun.
The previous homeowners also had a dog, a black lab. And apparently, that dog had some tennis balls.
On Friday, I watched Sensi emerge from the brush prancing, his tail proudly wagging. He was carrying something black in his mouth.
“Whatchya got?” I asked him, and he pranced around me.
I could see a hint of greenish fuzz and realized he had found an old, rotting tennis ball in the woods.
It was definitely gross. Disgusting might be a better word.
But never, NEVER, would I take away from him something that is both harmless and was definitely a dog toy at one time, and something that he was taking so much pride in.
All day long, he played with that tennis ball. Our yard slopes downhill from the house, so every time he dropped it on the ground, it rolled away from him. He loved it, pouncing on it like a cat would. He batted it around, tossed it up in the air, chased after it relentlessly.
Everyone once in a while, he carefully set it down to take a drink of a water.
On Saturday, he found another and even grosser tennis ball. Between the two, he was simply elated.
I thought about bringing some of his not-so-disgusting balls outside, but I knew he would just ignore them in favor of the blackened, rotting tennis balls.
These nasty things were extra special to Sensi because he found them. A toy from his overflowing basket of toys just wouldn’t compare.
By the end of Saturday, Sensi must’ve spent almost 20 hours playing with those tennis balls.
He was so enthralled with them that he didn’t even notice the herd of deer cross the swamp a mere 20 or 30 feet in front of us.
I’ve never seen him so proud of toy.
Leave it to a dog, though, to take that kind of pride in the most disgusting tennis balls I’ve ever cross across.
The tennis ball in the photo is not from this weekend ... Sensi was actually a puppy in that photo.
Monday, April 20, 2009
What is a Portuguese Water Dog?
With all eyes on the Obama family’s new pooch, a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo, it’s likely the popularity of the breed will skyrocket.
All prospective dog owners should research the breed they’re thinking of bringing home to determine if it’s the right fit for their family’s lifestyle.
So, what is a Portuguese Water Dog?
One of the most important things to remember is that this breed is classified in the Working Group by the American Kennel Club.
It was originally used along the coast of Portugal to herd fish into nets — yes, I guess that’s possible — and to retrieve lost tackle, broken nets and do other water-related work.
Its coat is curly or wavy and waterproof, and yes, it’s true — the dogs don’t shed and they are nonallergenic.
As with most breeds that are in the working group, these dogs are intelligent, active athletes. The AKC recommends not just daily exercise, but vigorous daily exercise.
“His profuse coat is hypoallergenic, but requires regular maintenance,” reads the AKC’s profile of the breed.
The dogs range in weight from 35 to 60 pounds and its fur can be black, white, brown or combinations of the three colors.
Though the breed is said to respond well to obedience training, the issue of exercise should be forefront on a prospective owner’s mind.
This is not a dog who will be content to lay around for most the day.
Want to learn more? Follow the link to see the American Kennel Club's profile of the breed.
All prospective dog owners should research the breed they’re thinking of bringing home to determine if it’s the right fit for their family’s lifestyle.
So, what is a Portuguese Water Dog?
One of the most important things to remember is that this breed is classified in the Working Group by the American Kennel Club.
It was originally used along the coast of Portugal to herd fish into nets — yes, I guess that’s possible — and to retrieve lost tackle, broken nets and do other water-related work.
Its coat is curly or wavy and waterproof, and yes, it’s true — the dogs don’t shed and they are nonallergenic.
As with most breeds that are in the working group, these dogs are intelligent, active athletes. The AKC recommends not just daily exercise, but vigorous daily exercise.
“His profuse coat is hypoallergenic, but requires regular maintenance,” reads the AKC’s profile of the breed.
The dogs range in weight from 35 to 60 pounds and its fur can be black, white, brown or combinations of the three colors.
Though the breed is said to respond well to obedience training, the issue of exercise should be forefront on a prospective owner’s mind.
This is not a dog who will be content to lay around for most the day.
Want to learn more? Follow the link to see the American Kennel Club's profile of the breed.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Learn a lesson from 101 Dalmations
Remember back in 1996 when the movie 101 Dalmations came out?
So many families rushed out to get their children a Dalmation, not knowing or caring much about what the breed was like. The dogs entered homes that were not prepared to give it proper daily exercise, which is badly needed to keep this athlete of a dog out of trouble.
The same thing has happened to border collies and huskies, two breeds that thrive even less well in the normal family setting than Dalmations.
These two breeds are bred to work, and both are extremely intelligent. Think about it: a border collie can work all day on the farm, happy to herd cattle from dawn to dusk. And huskies can run for miles and miles, hour after hour, on the frozen tundra, pulling dog sleds.
Who in their right mind would think these dogs would be happy to lay around in the living room all day?
These dogs need jobs, a mental and physical workout, or else their energy and intelligence will be funneled into trouble-making and obsessive behaviors.
It’s not something that busy families in suburbia with working parents and little children and small yards can always provide. So the dogs develop bad behaviors and before long, are dumped at the dog pound.
Now the Obama’s have brought home a Portuguese Water Dog, and no doubt, the nation’s attention has been drawn to this uncommon working breed.
I’m sure the President's dog will have its needs met, but I worry about the nation’s reaction.
“I heard they don’t shed, and they’re nonallergenic,” a wife will say to her husband. “Maybe we should get one for little Susie.”
In a matter of a year or so, I foresee news reports telling of how our country’s shelters are being overwhelmed with Portuguese Water Dogs.
Not that the breed isn’t a good one. I’m sure it is.
But just like Dalmations and Border Collies and Huskies and pit bulls too, the dogs require more from their owners than just a food bowl and fenced in yard.
Check this Saturday’s pet section to see a profile of the breed. I’ll include information that will help you determine if the breed is a good match for your household.
I’ll also post the blog online Monday.
So many families rushed out to get their children a Dalmation, not knowing or caring much about what the breed was like. The dogs entered homes that were not prepared to give it proper daily exercise, which is badly needed to keep this athlete of a dog out of trouble.
The same thing has happened to border collies and huskies, two breeds that thrive even less well in the normal family setting than Dalmations.
These two breeds are bred to work, and both are extremely intelligent. Think about it: a border collie can work all day on the farm, happy to herd cattle from dawn to dusk. And huskies can run for miles and miles, hour after hour, on the frozen tundra, pulling dog sleds.
Who in their right mind would think these dogs would be happy to lay around in the living room all day?
These dogs need jobs, a mental and physical workout, or else their energy and intelligence will be funneled into trouble-making and obsessive behaviors.
It’s not something that busy families in suburbia with working parents and little children and small yards can always provide. So the dogs develop bad behaviors and before long, are dumped at the dog pound.
Now the Obama’s have brought home a Portuguese Water Dog, and no doubt, the nation’s attention has been drawn to this uncommon working breed.
I’m sure the President's dog will have its needs met, but I worry about the nation’s reaction.
“I heard they don’t shed, and they’re nonallergenic,” a wife will say to her husband. “Maybe we should get one for little Susie.”
In a matter of a year or so, I foresee news reports telling of how our country’s shelters are being overwhelmed with Portuguese Water Dogs.
Not that the breed isn’t a good one. I’m sure it is.
But just like Dalmations and Border Collies and Huskies and pit bulls too, the dogs require more from their owners than just a food bowl and fenced in yard.
Check this Saturday’s pet section to see a profile of the breed. I’ll include information that will help you determine if the breed is a good match for your household.
I’ll also post the blog online Monday.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Cheap vaccinations this weekend
Michigan has the worst unemployment rate of all the states, and Oakland County isn’t faring much better than the state.
My dog’s annual trip to the vet, to update his vaccinations, usually costs upwards of $120.
If my husband or I were to lose our job, paying that would be a real burden.
On the other hand, taking preventative health measures for your pet is the best way to protect your wallet from vet bills that result from sickness or disease.
Not vaccinating your pet is taking a real risk, both to your pet’s health and to your wallet.
So if you’re down on your luck in the job and cashflow department — which many of us Michiganians obviously are — take advantage of the low-cost vaccination clinics scheduled right here in the county.
One is coming up this weekend, and here’s all the details.
It’s from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Centerstage Rental Hall & QTMC, Inc., 586 N. Perry in Pontiac.
For $10, your dog — so long as it’s older than 6 weeks — can get a distemper/parvo vaccine.
Dogs and cats older than 3 months can also get a 1-year rabies vaccine. That’s the big one, really. You need it to license your pet and it’s protection against one of the nastiest diseases that can hurt both our pets and ourselves.
For the same price, kittens and cats 6 weeks and older will also be given a distemper vaccine.
At $10, that’s a really good deal.
Got a dog or cat that’s recently given birth? Bring the whole litter down and get them all vaccinated for just $25.
The clinic is open to pets from any corner of Oakland County, and Pontiac residents can also pick up 2009 dog licenses.
It’s pretty easy to find Centerstage too. If you’re unfamiliar with Pontiac, here’s some quick directions. Take I-75 to exit 81 for Lapeer Road, or M-24. You want to go south on Lapeer Road, toward Pontiac.
Once you cross Walton, you’ve entered Pontiac and Lapeer Road becomes Perry Street. It’s just a few more miles south to find the rental hall, which will be on the left between Martin Luther Kind and Wide Track.
The clinic is put on by The Animal Care Network, Centerstage & QTMC and the City of Pontiac. Let’s thank all of them for helping us keep our pets healthy!
My dog’s annual trip to the vet, to update his vaccinations, usually costs upwards of $120.
If my husband or I were to lose our job, paying that would be a real burden.
On the other hand, taking preventative health measures for your pet is the best way to protect your wallet from vet bills that result from sickness or disease.
Not vaccinating your pet is taking a real risk, both to your pet’s health and to your wallet.
So if you’re down on your luck in the job and cashflow department — which many of us Michiganians obviously are — take advantage of the low-cost vaccination clinics scheduled right here in the county.
One is coming up this weekend, and here’s all the details.
It’s from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Centerstage Rental Hall & QTMC, Inc., 586 N. Perry in Pontiac.
For $10, your dog — so long as it’s older than 6 weeks — can get a distemper/parvo vaccine.
Dogs and cats older than 3 months can also get a 1-year rabies vaccine. That’s the big one, really. You need it to license your pet and it’s protection against one of the nastiest diseases that can hurt both our pets and ourselves.
For the same price, kittens and cats 6 weeks and older will also be given a distemper vaccine.
At $10, that’s a really good deal.
Got a dog or cat that’s recently given birth? Bring the whole litter down and get them all vaccinated for just $25.
The clinic is open to pets from any corner of Oakland County, and Pontiac residents can also pick up 2009 dog licenses.
It’s pretty easy to find Centerstage too. If you’re unfamiliar with Pontiac, here’s some quick directions. Take I-75 to exit 81 for Lapeer Road, or M-24. You want to go south on Lapeer Road, toward Pontiac.
Once you cross Walton, you’ve entered Pontiac and Lapeer Road becomes Perry Street. It’s just a few more miles south to find the rental hall, which will be on the left between Martin Luther Kind and Wide Track.
The clinic is put on by The Animal Care Network, Centerstage & QTMC and the City of Pontiac. Let’s thank all of them for helping us keep our pets healthy!
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