Just like clear communication is essential between humans, for a healthy relationship with your dog, you must learn to break down communication barriers between you and him. One of the most important steps in removing these barriers is to practice ensuring that a clear message is sent from you to your dog.

Because there is a very distinct language difference between animals and humans, consistency in the way that you communicate with your dog is essential. Make sure you and all of your family members use the same language to speak to your dog and stay consistent in the way that you teach commands, using repetition. For more tips, listen to our new podcast:Getting Dogs to Listen

One of the keys to helping your dog break bad habits is understanding what created those habits in the first place. Behaviors only become habits, good or bad, when dogs are allowed to practice them. If your dog has slipped into some habits you would like to see eliminated, the first step is identifying the root cause of the behavior, since really, the behaviors are just symptoms of the real problem.

Just like humans, pets cannot practice behaviors they have not been taught. To help them break their bad habits, it is up to the humans to teach their dogs a different behavior; the behavior they want to see. Dogs cannot be expected to unlearn bad habits overnight. The amount of time it takes dogs to unlearn bad habits and form good ones will depend on the amount of time spent training your dog, your consistency in training methods, and a focus on identifying and fixing the root cause of the bad behavior.

For more tips, listen to our new podcast: Breaking bad habits

You have finally digested the fact that your dog is having surgery. You have figured out how to pay the bill, have prepared your home to accommodate a post-surgical dog and are ready to care for your dog during recovery.  If you have an active dog, this thought has already occurred to you…how are you going to keep your dog quiet for 8-14 weeks while he recovers?  If you are like most people, your response is “It isn’t possible” or “there’s no way I can do this.  My dog is going to be so bored.”  Your next thought is likely the realization that your dog is going to be expressing that boredom with boredom response behaviors such as barking, licking, jumping, whining, destruction or depression.

The good news is that mental stimulation is just as rewarding to a dog as exercise and you can keep your dog’s mind occupied while he recovers from surgery.  Below are a few things you can do every day to keep your dog busy and out of trouble while he recovers:

1. Replace the food bowl with food release products such as a Kong or Monster Mouth.

These products dispense kibble and soft foods such as yogurt, canned dog food or pumpkin and turns a three-second feeding event into a mentally challenging activity. If your dog has never used these products before, be sure to introduce him to the products first so that he learns how to use them.

2. Give your pet a raw bone if your veterinarian approves of their use.

These can be purchased at many dog boutique stores and will keep your pet busy for hours.  They are messy though and are best given in the crate or X-pen.

3. Teach your dog a new game every few days.

There are hundreds of things you can do with a dog recovering from surgery that require only use of the eyes, the snout or a single paw.  There are 80 such games in the Woof it Up, Play & Train Kit which have been tested and perfected with dogs wearing e-collars and those with limited mobility.  Pick a game and get started! Your dog will appreciate having something to do and you’ll appreciate all the things he is learning.  Available at www.noboreddogs.com

4. If your dog is restricted to his crate, place novel things in the environment that he can look at.

Staring at the same walls through the crate will get boring quickly.  If possible, move the crate every few days to achieve the same purpose.

5. Utilize the dog’s most primal sense; his sense of smell.

It can be quite enriching for some dogs to be exposed to scents.  Place a drop of lemon extract on the floor in the same room as the crate (not in the crate please.)  Change the scent every two or three days by using a drop of lavender, or vanilla.  A dog’s sense of smell is significantly superior to ours so a single drop of scent placed at least ten feet away from the crate will do the trick. You might also consider using a dog appeasing pheromone known as DAP.  This chemically recreates the scent of mother’s milk and many dogs find this calming.  DAP can be purchased in most pet stores.

6. Utilize touch exercises and canine massage.

Both enhance circulation and will relax your dog’s mind and body.  If your dog is depressed after surgery, purposeful touch can help considerably.

7. Rotate toys to keep them interesting.

Consider purchasing five new toys of different shapes and textures.  Introduce them to your dog one at a time.  Remove the first new toy on day two when you introduce the next one and keep rotating them to keep interest high.  There is nothing like a novel toy to lift a dog’s spirits.

Unfortunately we cannot tell our pets that recovery is a process that will not last forever but we can tell them every day through our actions that we understand what they are going through and we can help them get through the boredom. Here’s to a speedy recovery!

Coming into contact with dog waste is a frustrating problem for humans and a health hazard for dogs and humans alike. Dog owners have likely heard that it is important to pick up their pet’s waste but perhaps they do not fully understand why this practice is imperative.  This article addresses the risks to dogs and humans from coming into contact with pet feces.  Dog owners, you and your dog are at risk too!

Internal parasites such as hookworm, roundworm and tapeworm reside in pet feces and they can infect both animals and humans.  When a waste pile is stepped on, the parasites can be transferred to the shoes or feet of an unsuspecting human and through the paw pads of the dog’s feet.  The parasites are then transported with every step you take…including into your home. Left behind, these parasites can also burrow into the ground infecting the soil. This leaves dogs, children and anyone else who walks over or plays in the area exposed to possible infection.

Giaradia, and Coccidia are parasitic infections that are spread dog-to-dog through direct contact with infected pet waste.  These conditions are very serious and can be life threatening for your pet.  Stepping in, sniffing, or eating of infected stool or soil are all transmission opportunities.

A common misconception about pet waste is that it is environmentally friendly and will dissolve as fertilizer.  This is a fallacy.  Pet waste attracts disease-carrying pests such as rats and flies. It can infect the ground and ground water supply and because it is protein based (unlike cow manure), can kill grass and shrubs.  Picking up pet waste is a critical dog owner responsibility.  Leaving it behind exposes you, your dog and everyone else who comes into contact with it to unnecessary risk.  The only way to keep yourself, your dogs and your neighbors safe is by picking up after your dog.

Signs of parasitic infection vary and may include lethargy, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, mucus or blood in the stool or the presence of worms.  If you suspect that you or your dog has contracted a parasitic infection, seek medical attention right away.

For more information on the transmission of diseases through pet waste please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/dogs.htm

Dog Parks- Considerations for Pack Environments

Hear that happy howling?  That is the sound of delighted dogs throughout the Triangle.  The cause of this canine celebration?  They are going to the dog park!

Have you been longing to take your dog to a dog park?  Perhaps you just adopted a dog and are debating whether this experience would be good for him.  Below are some tips to help you decide if the dog park is right for your pet as well as a few tips to make your visit safe and enjoyable.

Will this be good for my dog?   If your dog has experience playing off leash with another dog, that is a wonderful canine experience.  But playing with one or even two, verses playing with the masses are not equivalent.  Before going to a dog park, it is beneficial to test the dog’s response to a pack environment in a controlled, monitored environment such as a dog daycare facility.  These facilities are staffed with professionals who are experienced in dog play and canine body language.  They can tell you if your dog is happy and soliciting new friends, or if the pack makes him uneasy, resulting in Fido not wanting to play.  Some dogs may become frightened or agitated within a large group of their furry peers, resulting in a not so pleasant experience.

Not all dogs are candidates for a dog park.   We have a dog in our pack that loves to socialize and the more dogs the better.  We have another who becomes overwhelmed when confronted by a pack.  There is nothing wrong with either dog.  Knowing your dog’s play preference and pack tolerance can help you make good decisions for your pet.

Good for socialization?  A dog park can be a wonderful place for a fully socialized dog to play with others.  It is not the place to begin socialization or to test if a recently acquired dog has been adequately socialized.   There is a world of difference between the two.  Socialized dogs have already proven themselves comfortable with the world around them and show no fear or aggression in the presence of strangers, crowds or large groups of off-leash dogs.  Equally important, these dogs have already learned through experience how to play with other dogs and respond appropriately to other dog’s signals and body language.  If your dog has not been through a formal socialization program or if you are unsure how your dog feels about being in a pack of dogs, please do not bring them to the park just yet.  Scheduling private play dates or participating in a doggie day care group will provide the answers you seek in an environment that is safe and non-threatening for your dog.  Putting an unsocialized dog into a dog park can be damaging.   Most dogs will not tolerate rude play behavior created by inexperience.  For the novice dog, this lack of understanding can result in escalating levels of corrections from the pack.  Unsocialized dogs are likely to fail in a pack environment and become overwhelmed resulting in fearful or aggressive behavior.

Toy and Treats:  Presenting toys or treats to your dog at the park will create a competitive environment.  To keep peace among the pack, it is best to leave those items at home.

Monitor your dog:  Watch your dog at all times so that you know what he is doing and with whom he is playing.  A dog’s behavior can change in an instant and it only takes the entrance of one dog with a different energy to turn an otherwise peaceful pack into a frenzied one.

Leashing:  In a pack environment where dogs are running free, having yours on leash puts him at a disadvantage and may make him a target.  A dog’s leash should be removed as soon as the gate closes behind you and shouldn’t be reapplied until you are back at the gate, ready to leave. If you are thinking to yourself, there is no way, I have to keep the leash on for control, your dog probably is not ready yet for the park.  Dogs have two ways to deal with stress…fight or flight.  Restraining a dog with the leash removes flight as an option. Even if the dog loves the park and knows everyone there, he has to be able to move away at his discretion.

Four on the floor:  It may be tempting to pick your dog up especially if a larger dog is running toward him.  Despite the best intentions to bring comfort to the dog this act will have the opposite effect if your dog is in a pack environment.   A dog in arms is restrained …even if he is in your arms…arms he loves.   Additionally, elevation is directly related to status in the dog world.  A dog in arms is naturally held higher than the rest of the pack.  The resulting action is that other dogs are likely to run over and start jumping at the restrained dog in an attempt to determine what warrants this coveted position above the rest of the pack.  Your dog is much safer on the ground.

Avoiding human conflict:  In a dog park, you will be in the company of dog enthusiasts, folks who may like to exchange stories and offer tips and advice.  This can be great fun and makes going to the dog park a social event for humans too!  Just keep in mind that dogs are often considered family members and owners may be sensitive to the comments and advice of others.  Criticizing another person’s dog or questioning an owner’s “parenting” skills is one of the fastest ways to create conflict. If you feel obligated to speak to another individual about their pet’s behavior, please be courteous and kind.  Try not to rush to judgment as things are not always as they appear to be and jumping to conclusions may create unnecessary conflict.

Speaking of which, many people are opposed to direct conflict.  Listen carefully to the things people say to you as these friendly strangers may be trying to tell you something about your dog’s behavior.  Very few people will ask another person to remove their dog from the park until there is a fight or a bite.  Often, people will make innocuous comments such as, “Wow, he’s really fired up today!”  “Does he always play like that?” or  “He sure doesn’t take no for an answer, does he?”  People may be trying to tell you that your dog’s behavior is making them or the other dogs uncomfortable.  If this is the case, you may want to take a closer look at your dog’s behavior.  A person swiftly leaving the park is another signal.  Pay close attention to this human behavior especially if the dog that is leaving was just playing with yours.  Many people find it easier to avoid a confrontation.

Body Talk

Dogs communicate with their bodies utilizing body language.  Canine body language is universal in the dog world and socialized dogs understand the language perfectly.  Unfortunately, these subtle cues are often lost on humans because we speak a completely different language!  Understanding canine body language allows you to decipher what your pet is saying to you…and the rest of the world.  And since he is communicating with other dogs at the park, it is in everyone’s best interest if you can eavesdrop on those canine conversations.   An excellent starting point is the article from the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) on Dog Park Body Language, available at http://www.apdt.com/petowners/park/bodylanguage.aspx.

Need more incentive to learn the basics of canine body language?  The next time someone says to you, “that dog’s tail is up, he’s dominant” or  “there’s an aggressive dog…his hackles are raised!” you will know exactly how to respond.  By the way, on a stand-alone basis, neither of these statements is true.  Considering only one characteristic of body language often leads to a faulty conclusion.

Dog parks can be excellent gathering places for socialized dogs and their humans.  Just remember that it is the dog owner’s responsibility to ensure that their dog is suited for this environment and is behaving appropriately while there.  Learning the basics about canine body language and safe play can help you make good decisions for your pet.  Not every dog is suited for an off-leash pack environment and your dog may be one of them.  But if he is suited, you and your dog are in for a great time!

Woof! Who’s up for a romp in the park?