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How to Get Your Dog to Just STOP...
How to Get Your Dog to "Just STOP..." A call I get regularly starts with, “I just want him to stop…” and then begins a list of behaviors. When I ask, for each behavior, what the family has tried to remedy the situation, they tell me they have tried “everything.” When I ask them to share what specifically they tried it boils down to they are trying to stop or punish a behavior and generally they tried 10 things a few times instead of sticking with an answer a bit longer term to see if it works. I am assuming there are some in our audience here who have the same issues, so I am going to give you a look behind the curtain to what dog trainers and behavior pros do. Ready?? Let’s say you and I are having a heated conversation. In the process, I turn away my head, then I roll my eyes, then warn you by saying, “I am going to punch you in the nose,” then I punch you in the nose. You have really, great info, right?!?!? (I don’t punch people in the nose except in this example.) So, now know that all those things happen before I punch you in the nose, you have information that can stop my behavior. The behavior you want to stop is the punch in the nose. So what behavior(s) happen prior to the nose punch? Well, a verbal warning and two stress signals happened prior to the verbal warning. Changing what the punched does at the presentation of any of those signals would likely stop them from being punched. So, if when I said, “I am going to punch you,” you chose to stop and ask how you could help or, even better, expressed gratitude that I was warning you that changes everything too. If you changed what you were doing earlier in the process, then you are even further from even getting a big warning OR a nose punch…. Because you paid attention to the other in the conversation and monitored for stress. Let’s try some dog examples: A puppy is playing fetch. The handler throws the toy, the puppy goes and gets it, jumps around, shakes it vigorously, then drops the toy, and when the handler picks up the toy the puppy and throws the toy and the game begins again. After several repetitions, when the handler picks up the toy, the puppy redirects to the handler’s slipper and won’t let go. Examples of how we might work with the puppy are: 1) End the game prior to the repetition that the behavior shift happens. So, let’s say he redirects on repetition 4, I may say end the game with a toss of the toy for repetition three then walk away before the pup gets back… that way arousal gets managed and the pup doesn’t escalate. Over time, try adding in one repetition at a time and build on success. 2) Play with two toys. The moment your pup starts shaking the toy or jumping around draw attention to the toy you have. Immediately after the puppy drops the toy he has, throw the one you have. 3) Teach the puppy to release the toy then lie down, perhaps on a mat that is a small distance away. This allows the handler to stay out of the redirected mouth zone. This option requires a bit more training skill. 4) Teach the puppy to “drop” separately and build up to getting him to release no matter what with just the word drop. **If anyone wants instruction on this, let me know at tina@sithappens.us and I will send you a video from a great trainer in England who teaches you the whole process. It’s fantastic! Here’s another example: Customer is trying to get the dog from the house to the car to go to the vet. Handler picks up the leash and the dog races around barking and jumping. Handler wrestles the leash onto the dog’s collar. Dog pulls to the door and then all the way to the car to go for a ride. Dog is barking at everything along the way in the car. A lot happens in this scenario. There are a lot of behaviors that lead up to the pulling and barking. For this scenario, my recommendation would be to start with building the behavior you want. Dogs are all about learning sequences, that is, they pick up, notice and attach meaning to patterns in our behavior. So, I would recommend picking up the leash and if the dog dances around, put the leash down. Repeat until when the leash is lifted the dog remains relaxed. Then add attaching the leash to the dog. I wait for the dog to relax and offer sitting or lying down before I try to attach the leash. If the dog starts to get up, I stop and go sit down and wait until the dog settles again and repeat doing so until the dog stays relaxed while I attach the leash. Then I let the dog walk around dragging the leash. When the dog relaxes, I take the leash off and we start over… again, and again and again, until it’s not big deal. Now comes the more frustrating part… because the closer we get to the actual CAR RIDE OF AWESOMENESS the more your dog’s brain is likely to turn to blue cheese. Once we can get the leash on and off with brains still in the skull, then we start moving with the dog on the leash and even waiting at the door, jiggling the doorknob, opening and closing the door, walking to and fro through the door, then walking on a loose leash to the car, get in, get out again, etc. on and on until we are able to over and over again do the entire routine with a dog who’s brain is collected. Happy is awesome. Jacked up over-aroused is not. Now all of this will get an “aw, man, that’ll never work” and it’s because we want it fixed yesterday. Similarly, I want to eat salad one week and suddenly be the size 6 I long for… but alas, Rome was not built in a day. Working 2-3 short (10 min sessions) make HUGE progress in no time… and if you add treats to help focus the dog, it goes even faster. Often, I have a dog doing the entire routine in less than a day working a few minutes at a time. When we intervene early we can accomplish big learning and big change in very short amounts of time. Now… if only that was true for dieting. Tina M. Spring Tina M. Spring is the owner of Sit Happens Dog Training & Behavior, LLC in Athens, GA. She is the creator of the Hounds for the Holidays program to help prepare dogs for the stress of the holiday season and prevent dog bites. She is also the author of 90 Days to the Perfect Puppy which is available as an online course. :|zpendofcontent|:
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How to Have a Garden-Friendly Dog!
How to Have a Garden-Friendly Dog! Can you be a proud gardener and live with a dog? Many might think the two don’t mix but there are lots you can do to ensure owning a dog does not exclude you from beautiful flowerbeds or luscious lawns. Of course, it is inevitable that there will occasionally be accidents and sometimes a little damage, but you can minimise any adverse impact your dog might have: you certainly don’t need to resign yourself to a trashed plot which resembles a prison exercise yard. By combining common sense with a little ingenuity it is perfectly feasible to achieve a harmonious fusion of lovely garden and idyllic dog-space. How you design and manage your garden is of course, ultimately up to you, but you will find life much easier if you garden with your dog, rather than in spite of him! Think of it as a gardening challenge to rise to, rather than a gardening problem. Got a dog who likes to dig? Give him a place of his own where he can excavate to his heart’s content. If he enjoys snoozing out there, then provide somewhere comfortable so he doesn’t have to make his own nest right in the middle of your flower bed. The only hard and fast rule when it comes to what you can include in your garden, is that the welfare of your dog always comes first. Gardens can, after all, be rebuilt and replanted, but your dog is irreplaceable - safety in the garden is paramount. Many common garden plants are poisonous to canines, so make sure you do your research thoroughly before investing in new flowers or scrubs. Many dogs think gardens are for toileting in or charging around. With a little training and some simple changes to management, we can teach a dog to pee and pooh in a dedicated area or do calm activities around the space instead of using it as a racetrack. Try exchanging ball games that trash your tulips for a sedate find it game where you hide treats, or every his dinner around a safe area for him to sniff out. Not only will it be kinder to your plants but will wear him out because he is using his primary sense, smell. Or maybe you can hide a favourite toy or try out some cool, cheap enrichment games like ball pits, snuffle mats or the cup game where you hide food under plastic cups which your dog will nose out and knock over for the tasty morsel underneath. To manage the damage we can teach commands like "leave it, off, give it," and "come." Even teaching your dog to have a quick response of looking at you when he hears his name can be helpful to interrupt a behaviour you want to stop. Try saying your dog’s name and when he looks at you, throw him a treat. He doesn’t have to do anything else, just look at you. Repeat this often and when he responds, instantly every time, you can add in another instruction like, "come here." This positive way of interrupting a behaviour will give you a better chance of saving the snapdragons than shouting at your dog as he digs it up. Encouraging your dog to take it easy in the garden doesn’t have to be a battle. You can best achieve this by first taking your dog for a nice walk and when home, if you are going in the garden, provide a comfy bed or mat to sleep on near his favourite spot. You can pre-train a settle command to encourage him to chill or sit with him for a cuddle, some soothing massage or do some gentle training to promote calmness and to tire out his brain as well as his body. If he can’t settle, maybe provide a containment area like a crate, pen or even tether him, using a lead attached to a harness and tether point. Make sure to provide him with water, a long-lasting tasty chew or stuffed enrichment toy and check on him often to ensure the sun hasn’t moved overhead or that he isn’t too chilly. By returning to him often and rewarding for staying on the bed will reinforce him wanting to be there. Whatever you do in the garden, a dog is a welcome companion so embrace some change to ensure you both love and care for the space and share it harmoniously. For more information have a look at Toni Shelbourne and Karen Bush’s book HELP! My Dog is Destroying the Garden, available in paperback and Kindle. Toni Shelbourne Animal Behaviourist, Tellington TTouch Practitioner, Real Dog Yoga Instructor & Author Toni has worked with domesticated and wild canids since 1989. After a long and successful career with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, she started her own business as a Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner. She is now one of the highest qualified Practitioners in the UK. In 2001 her skills in TTouch took Toni to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust were she meet a pack of socialised wolves. She went on to work with them for over a decade as a Senior Wolf Handler and Education Officer for the organisation. In more recent years, Toni has gone on to become a Real Dog Yoga Instructor, (Visit www.therealdogyoga.co.uk to find out more) and updated her qualifications in behaviour with the International School of Psychology and Behaviour, for which she is also an affiliate. She is now a full member of The Association of INTO Dogs as a certified canine behaviourist. She teaches all over the UK and abroad, works with clients' one to one, and writes. Toni lives in Oxfordshire, England with her husband and their dog MrP. In more recent years, Toni has gone on to become a Real Dog Yoga Instructor, (Visit www.therealdogyoga.co.uk to find out more) and updated her qualifications in behaviour with the International School of Psychology and Behaviour, for which she is also an affiliate. She is now a full member of The Association of INTO Dogs as a certified canine behaviourist. She teaches all over the UK and abroad, works with clients' one to one, and writes. Toni lives in Oxfordshire, England with her husband and their dog MrP. Over the last two decades, Toni has been developing her writing. She spent two years editing and writing features for Wolf Print, the UK Wolf Conservation Trust's international magazine. She went on to write for national dog magazines, rescue society newsletters and blogs. Her first and second book, The Truth about Wolves & Dogs, (Hubble and Hattie 2012) and Among the Wolves (Hubble and Hattie 2015) have been a great success. Her latest writing collaboration with co-author Karen Bush sees a series of books entitled HELP! My Dog is…. Titles include, HELP! My Dog's Scared of Fireworks, HELP! My Dog doesn't Travel Well in the Car, HELP! My Dog is Destroying the Garden and HELP! My Dog has a Canine Compulsive Disorder. All are available in paperback and eBook format on Amazon. Toni and Karen have many more titles planned under the banner of Skinny Dog Books – named as they both own sighthounds and the books are small and concise. Visit www.tonishelbourne.co.uk for more details about Toni, her work and books. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Truth-about-Wolves-Dogs-216136181810393/ Twitter: @tonishelbourne Toni Shelbourne and Karen Bush’s book HELP! My Dog is Destroying the Garden: US paperback link: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Dog-Destroying-Garden/dp/1976563313/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1534250534&sr=8-6&keywords=toni+shelbourne US Kindle link: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Dog-Destroying-Garden-ebook/dp/B07622F3N5/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1534250597&sr=8-7&keywords=toni+shelbourne UK paperback link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Help-My-Dog-Destroying-Garden/dp/1976563313/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1534250633&sr=8-5&keywords=toni+shelbourne UK Kindle link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Help-My-Dog-Destroying-Garden-ebook/dp/B07622F3N5/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1534250633&sr=8-7&keywords=toni+shelbourne :|zpendofcontent|:
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Help! My Dog Killed a Squirrel! What Do I Do?
Help! My Dog Killed a Squirrel! What Do I Do? A good number of client calls each year start with a question along those lines. You could replace squirrel with bird, rat, gopher, lizard, you name it. Many of us are living so far removed from nature, that we have completely forgotten how life works. The idea that the family dog is a killer, comes as a shock to many. But, dogs are apex predators. That means, they sit on top of the food chain and don’t have natural enemies for whom they are a primary food source. Dogs are the hunters, not the hunted. As such, it is entirely normal for a dog to chase and kill smaller animals. That doesn’t mean your dog is aggressive and will proceed to murdering you or your children in your sleep. You are family. The squirrel is prey. It is also irrelevant if your dog is hungry, at the moment the squirrel comes along. Your dog didn’t chase the squirrel because you didn’t feed enough breakfast. Dogs chase squirrels because they are fun to chase. Dogs tend to enjoy things that assure their survival, domestication didn’t change that. All the things dogs enjoy are part of the predatory hunting sequence: searching, stalking, chasing, fighting, celebration, and consumption. If you want to explore this in more detail, I recommend the online presentation: Tug: A Deeper Perspective. So, what do you do? Tell your dog, he is a good boy. Tell her, she’s a good girl. Pet them and give them a treat. They did their job. Have you ever tried catching a squirrel? That is hard work! Let them know you appreciate their work effort. Sounds weird? It shouldn’t! This is the nature of your dog. Domestication didn’t change that. The question behind the question is of course: Is my dog dangerous to my family? Is my dog aggressive? Maybe. Maybe not. The answer depends entirely on your dog but is in no way related to killing a squirrel. Killing other animals is what your dog was born to do. Appreciate their nature. There is no reason to fear it. Aggression is something entirely different. In the canine behavioral world aggression is defined as a forward behavior—assertiveness. But that is not what most people mean when they say their dog is aggressive. People often call aggressive behaviors driven by fear, aggression, or even growling, or showing teeth, and so on. However, none of those indicate aggression. So, what is aggression? Aggression is the intent to cause injury. But that doesn’t mean any injury caused by a dog is due to aggression. A dog that bites when it is scared, is trying to create space, not injury—the injuries are accidental. Such a dog is not aggressive but can still be very dangerous. A super-friendly dog with poor bite control—the lack of ability to control how hard they bite—can also very dangerous and may need be muzzled on certain occasions. Aggression is a behavior, not a personality trait. When we call a dog aggressive, what we often mean is, the dog is prone to use aggressive behaviors. We are not our actions. Aggression is not what dogs are, it is what they sometimes do. We can teach dogs to be more aggressive or less aggressive through how we interact with them. Aggression is not genetically driven either, tolerance for frustration is genetically driven. Genetics determine how quickly a dog becomes frustrated and how the dog reacts to that frustration. All aggression starts with frustration. We can affect dogs’ behaviors by helping them manage their frustration and teach them how to handle conflict. However, some dogs love conflict and desire for conflict is also a personality trait. A dog that doesn’t know how to engage in appropriate conflict, will become aggressive under the right set of circumstances. While we can’t take away the desire for conflict, we can direct it in a way that avoids more aggression. In contrast, reactivity is a visceral response without intent. The dog just doesn’t know what else to do in a given situation. As such, reducing reactivity is about changing reactive (automatic) responses into reflective (deliberate) responses—teaching a dog to make better choices. Leashes are a prime example of this. There is no such thing as “leash-aggression.” Leashes don’t make dogs aggressive. That’s a common myth. However, restraining a dog will frustrate it and that frustration can result in aggressive behaviors. In case of a leash, simply teaching the dog to have a better relationship with the leash will reduce the frustration and in return remove the reactivity. True aggression is very rare. Of course, a dog could bite you under the right set of circumstances. However, it’s only a bite if it breaks the skin. A puncture is a bite, a scratch or nip isn’t. Dogs have a sophisticated set of weaponry in their mouths. Their use has been refined over thousands of years. If a dog puts its teeth on you and you don’t sustain an injury, you didn’t get lucky that you avoided injury. You were lucky, that your dog didn’t mean to injure you. You are unharmed because your dog chose not to injure you. Of course, accidents can happen. If you play tug with your dog and get nipped by a tooth during play, that is an accident, and not intentional. Just like we can accidentally bump into someone by mistake, dogs can accidentally scratch or nip you, especially during high-arousal activities. So, what about dog fights? Dogs may engage in a scuffle to shut a barking dog up, put it in its place, or punish it for its behavior. Those are their goals. There is no intent to cause injury in those scenarios, although injury or death is possible regardless. For an altercation between dogs to be a fight, at least one participant must have intent to cause injury. Fights amongst dogs are rare because, in the canine world, fighting is evolutionarily undesirable for survival. Because of dog’s teeth and claws, serious injuries are likely in a fight and even the victor can still die of the injuries an hour later or simply be too weak to protect itself from an even weaker competitor. Fights exert energy and injuries can lead to death. For this reason, dogs are evolutionarily very good at conflict resolution and conflict avoidance. It’s in their best interest to avoid fights. Dominance is one of the strategies to avoid fights. Dominance is ritualistic displays to settle disputes over resources while avoiding fighting—fighting comes at a huge risk. Therefore, the term “dominance aggression” is technically incorrect. Dominance is a posturing behavior to avoid fighting. Dominance ends the moment a fight starts. Fighting is aggression in action. Dominance behavior between dogs is only a problem if it is not responded to appropriately. If one party backs off during posturing, there will be no fight. Ralf Weber Ralf Weber is a certified dog trainer and behaviorist. A professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), an AKC evaluator for Puppy S.T.A.R., Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine certifications, author of the dog behavioral book: "If Your Dog Could Talk" and owner of the dog training company Happy Dog Training. Ralf works with clients in Southern California and can be contacted through his website at HappyDogTraining.info. :|zpendofcontent|:
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10 Ways Your Dog Shows He Loves You
10 Ways Your Dog Shows He Loves You Dogs are full of love, that is no secret. And they love to show us just how much they have to give. Generally, it's not hard to tell when a dog is showing affection. But sometimes their action can be mistaken for affection, or vice versa - their affection can be mistaken for something completely different. What do I mean? Take tail wagging for instance... We assume that when a dog wags his tail, it means he's happy and showing his love for us. But that is not always the case. Tail wagging can mean different things such as anxiety, stress etc... Today, lets go over 10 ways your dog shows he loves you: 1. Tail Wagging As mentioned above can most definitely be a sign of affection. 2. Shadow Pup Do you notice your dog follows you around sometimes? While this can mean he needs something (a potty break, food, etc.) it can also be him wanting to just be near you. Your dog's need to be close to you is a sure sign of love. 3. Face Licker! While some may find this intolerable... others will accept it on occasion and some even think it's cute when their dog licks their face. Once again with face licking - it doesn't always mean he is showing love for you, but most cases if your pooch is giving you a big wet sloppy kiss... he loves you. 4. Jumping This unwanted behavior - your dog jumping up on you when you come home - may not be accepted, but still good to know the reason behind it. Your dog wants to come up to your level. As a pup, they learn to lick their mama's face. Recognizing you as a parental figure, your dog wants to greet you by jumping up and attempting to get to that face of yours! 5. Ever Notice a Difference in Your Dog When You Are Ill? Your dog might seem to act a bit different when you have come down with the flu, or even a cold. He might get clingy, or even worrisome. This is because he is concerned for you, and feels the need to watch over you. 6. Whether Your Dog Is Allowed on Your Bed or Not It is still good to know that the reason Fido always wants up there, is because he instinctively feels the need to curl up and sleep with his pack. He sees you as part of his pack, and wants to lovingly snuggle you! 7. The Lean Mostly common in medium to large breeds sized dogs, they tend to lean on your legs. Some think this is the dog trying to be dominant. However, dogs will lean on you to show affection. 8. Say Cheese! Dogs do smile, just like we do, although not quite as obvious. If you know your pet well, it is not hard to see from his facial expression when he is upset, feeling playful, or feeling lovey-dovey. 9. Rough Play Undesirable, yes. But... your dog (generally) is not trying to hurt you, or be rough with you. Puppies play very rough with their litter mates as well as their mothers. Your dog is not trying to hurt you, just trying to play with the fam the way a dog knows best. 10. The Stare Down When a dog locks eyes with you, some people still think that means they are challenging you. When in fact, they are showing you an extreme amount of love. Brian Hare, director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center tells us that oxytocin (a chemical released when new mothers and their babies instinctively bond) is also released when dogs stare at you or even simply touch you. Tell us, how does your dog show he loves you? Author: Jenna Drady Hi, I'm Jenna Drady AKA HuskyCrazed - author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters and of course my 3 huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of my life, I was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, I started doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. I am inspired every day by my family, and love to bring my readers valuable information as well as a little laugh while I'm at it. I created my own business partnered with my lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. We currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, we donate a portion of our sales to local shelters throughout Canada.
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Is Your Dog Protecting You or Himself?
Is Your Dog Protecting You or Himself? There is no doubt that some dogs will protect their humans or property. Some of these dogs are trained to protect while others are bred to be protective. However, there are also dogs who appear to be protective of their human, but they are actually afraid for their own safety. To know if your dog is protecting you, your property or himself, you need to understand why dogs are protective. Dogs that are trained to protect are taught to perform a behavior (for example, bite an arm) when they are cued to do so. These dogs have a job and are most commonly seen working with police. These dogs are taught to bite when a specific word is said. These dogs are also taught to release on cue. When these dogs bite, they are responding the same way your dog responds when they hear the word “sit”. “Sit” is the verbal cue to perform the behavior of putting their rear end on the floor. Although these dogs appear aggressive and are great “protectors” they only do it when they are told to do so. Dogs that are bred to be protective typically have a job to protect livestock or land. Commonly Anatolian and Great Pyrenes breeds are used for this. These dogs use intimidation more than aggression to keep the flock safe. They protect the flock by running a predator off the property rather than attacking. These dogs are usually confident and are bonded to the flock that they protect and only protect when there is a true threat. The misunderstood group are the shy, anxious or fearful dogs. These dogs show signs of fear and anxiety when threatened or not. These dogs are often labeled reactive or aggressive when in reality they are afraid. These dogs will commonly bark or lunge at other dogs or people when in public. Many people will think that these dogs are being protective of their human but in reality, they are just afraid for themselves. More often than not, these dogs will have anxieties in their homes, at a veterinarian’s office or when they are in a new place. Common signs of fear and anxiety are tucked tail, ears that are pinned back, panting when they are not hot or tired, yawning when they are not tired and hypervigilance. When a dog feels threatened a natural response will be to fight, flight or freeze. With fight, they cannot yell or hit, so they will bark, lunge or bite. When people don’t understand that these dogs are afraid, they will often mislabel them as “aggressive” or “protective.” These dogs can be the most dangerous because they may bite another dog or person even when there is no real threat. Shannon Coyner Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West. Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a "Registered Veterinary Technician," a "Certified Professional Dog Trainer" (Knowledge Assessed), a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon is currently serving as President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. Shannon's dog training philosophy revolves around force-free, positive reinforcement, however, her ultimate goal is for healthy happy relationship between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal. Shannon is currently the owner of Ventura Pet Wellness and Dog Training Center in Ventura, CA where she works with anxious and fearful dogs privately as well as teaching agility classes (Venturapetwellness.com). Shannon has also started a training website called Truly Force Free Animal Training. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Does Wildlife & Exotic Animals Pose a Threat to Pets?
Does Wildlife & Exotic Animals Pose a Threat to Pets? Although the internet is full of cutesy videos of wild animals interacting with our domesticated pets, these encounters are rare. You seldom see pictures of the damage certain types of wildlife can cause to homes or the potential dangers they often pose to our pets, but both are very real. As a matter of fact, owning a wild animal yourself is becoming more problematic than ever according to a report from Livescience. Since 1990, incidences, injuries and deaths from humans keeping exotic animals as a pet have been rising steadily (over 1,500 attacks and 75 deaths). Some of these creatures also carry potentially dangerous and deadly diseases. When it comes to reptiles, 90% of these seemingly harmless pets carry and shed salmonella in their feces. While most owners are aware of this fact and clean their cages carefully, this doesn’t stop these cold-blooded critters from defecating outside their confines. Other types of exotic pets can carry diseases like monkeypox and herpes. Isolated Incident Kills 50 Wild Animals In a rare, but true story, a depressed and deranged man in Zanesville, Ohio released dozens of wild animals into the streets before killing himself. Police and other officials were forced to shoot and kill almost 50 animals before they injured or killed people or their pets. Among the dead were: 18 tigers 17 lions 6 black bears 2 Grizzly bears 3 mountain lions 2 wolves 1 baboon It was later leaked that at least one of the primates on the loose was “highly likely” to be infected with the Herpes B virus. Not dangerous to monkeys, but humans can suffer brain damage if exposed to this disease. Obviously, the chances of you or your pet having a run-in with a Bengal tiger or Grizzly bear is extremely rare. Pets are more likely to have trouble with some of these more common “nuisance animals” that could be found in your own backyard: Black Widow Spiders Fairly reclusive and non-threatening, pets are often bitten when walking through a web or accidentally disturbing them. Brown Recluse Spiders Another eight-legged threat to pets, their bite isn’t particularly painful, but it leaves behind a nasty wound that is hesitant to heal. Fire Ants These little pests aren’t likely to cause more than irritation to sensitive paws and noses, but the pain caused from their bites is brutal. Raccoons Although they aren’t likely to attack or bite unless provoked, they could be carrying rabies, which is another reason to ensure your animal’s vaccinations are always up-to-date. Rattlesnakes Perhaps the most dangerous and often encountered critter when it comes to dogs and cats that roam around outside. Venom strength and severity varies throughout different species and can range from simple swelling to death from exposure to these sometimes deadly bites. Be sure to keep a close eye on your pets whenever they’re outdoors, and when it comes right down to it, wildlife is simply better off left in the wild, protected in a zoo or located on a preserve rather than in a household. It’s simply much safer for everyone and everything involved that they aren’t allowed to interact. Amber Kingsley Amber Kingsley is a freelance writer whom has donated countless hours supporting her local shelters. With writing, she has spent most of her research on animals with regards to food, health and training. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Dog Resilience: What It Is and Why Is It Important?
Dog Resilience: What It Is and Why Is It Important? What is resilience? The definition of resilience is: "The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties." You may be wondering why this is important to dogs? Resilience is important to dogs because the more resilient they are, the more balanced and happy they will be. In fact, the same is true for humans! Have you ever wondered why one dog can get startled by the vacuum cleaner and determine that all vacuums are evil, but another dog could be startled by the same thing and never has an issue with vacuums? That is because the second dog is more resilient than the first. As humans, we can definitely relate to this too. It is the reason some people can experience a tragedy and move on when other people experience the same tragedy and dwell on it for a long time (sometimes their entire lifetime). Our dog’s resilience can be determined by many factors. A few of those factors include genetics, early socialization (or lack of socialization), fearful events, exposure to many new things and training techniques. If you have ever met a fearful puppy you realize that the fear likely is at least in part genetic, especially if the puppy has not had any negative experiences in its life. Without early intervention and positive life experiences, this puppy it as risk of having little or no resilience. Dogs that have little or no resilience often live a life full of fear and anxiety. When a dog is fearful or anxious they will often go into “survival mode” when they feel threatened. The typical behaviors that are expressed when a dog (or person) is in “survival mode” is fight, flight or freeze. Flight and freeze can be problematic but when a dog exhibits fight, the human-dog bond can be seriously hindered. When dogs go into the fight response they will often bark, lunge, growl or bite whatever they are afraid of. These dogs often get labeled “aggressive” when they are actually afraid and lack resiliency. Although building up a dog’s resiliency can be difficult, it is possible. As with everything in life, prevention is best. All puppies should be socialized early and often, all puppies and dogs should be trained with positive, force-free techniques and if a dog experiences a frightening situation, be sure to help them overcome the fear as soon as possible. When a dog lacks resiliency due to genetics, it can be more difficult and may require medication to help them overcome the extreme fear and anxiety. If your dog or puppy appears to lack resilience, it is important that you seek help from a behaviorist or a trainer who has special training to help with this problem. Lack of resilience is not a “training issue” it is a mental issue; therefore, you need a professional that is similar to a therapist rather than a teacher. If you have little or no resilience in difficult situations you would not go to a teacher, you would seek help from a therapist. By understanding resilience, you will be able to understand your dog better. If you have a dog that never seems bothered by anything (often labeled “bomb proof”) you will understand that they are very resilient in strange or difficult situations. If you have a dog that startles at everything and never seems to “get over it”, you can recognize that your dog is lacking resilience in those situations. Neither dog is good or bad, they just are who they are. As dog parents, it is important to recognize why their dog behaves the way they do so they can have empathy and compassion for them. This awareness also allows you to know when you need to seek help from a professional. Shannon Coyner Shannon has been a pet lover all her life and a dog trainer for over 20 years. She has spent her life observing, caring for and training animals of all kinds. She has worked in the Bird Department at Marine World Africa USA, and worked as a handler and trainer for an African Serval Cat at Safari West, a private zoo in Santa Rosa, California. She has participated in behavior studies including observations of bald eagles and addax antelope through the San Francisco Zoo and Safari West. Her education includes a Biology Degree, specializing in Zoology from Sonoma State. She is a "Registered Veterinary Technician," a "Certified Professional Dog Trainer" (Knowledge Assessed), a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shannon is currently serving as President for the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians. Shannon's dog training philosophy revolves around force-free, positive reinforcement, however, her ultimate goal is for healthy happy relationship between pets and their people. Diet, exercise, environment and training all play a significant role in achieving this goal. Shannon is currently the owner of Ventura Pet Wellness and Dog Training Center in Ventura, CA where she works with anxious and fearful dogs privately as well as teaching agility classes (Venturapetwellness.com). Shannon has also started a training website called Truly Force Free Animal Training. :|zpendofcontent|:
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7 Of The Strangest/Funniest Dog Behaviors – Explained
7 Of The Strangest/Funniest Dog Behaviors – Explained If there is one thing we all know as pet owners, it is that each one of our babies has their own personalities. Their own little quirks, and behaviors that separate them from the rest. But what are some of the most common behaviors? And why on earth do they do some of these things? Today, I have 7 of the strangest/funniest dog behaviors – explained! 1. Dreaming While it is pretty normal to dream, some dogs go above and beyond! There are dogs who run in their sleep, dogs who bark, dogs who howl, whine, and even eat in their sleep! The reason for this is the same as us human folk. Brain activity! 2. The Poop Eaters We have all seen it or at least heard of it. Dogs who eat their own poop, or poop from another dog. Why, oh why do our beloved furries do this habit that is nothing short of disgusting? From my own research, I discovered a few things: Eating poop is a natural instinctive scavenging behavior inherited from ancestors They could be lacking in certain nutrients Pancreas issues Parasites. So if your dog is a poop eater, be sure that it out of habit and not an underlying health issue. 3. Circling Before Laying Down A lot of dogs have this behavior. And a common explanation is they do this to ensure maximum comfort. Another natural instinct coming from ancestors who would do circles to pat down the grass in an area before laying down for a snooze. 4. Licking I mean, they are dogs, so licking is normal right? To a point. But there is such thing as too much licking, or excessive licking. If your dog could literally sit there for hours and lick your leg. Or you notice your dog constantly licking the couch, or floor, he could have anxiety issues. Licking acts as a calming agent for a stressed-out pooch, or one who is dealing with some form of anxiety. 5. Suckling This one is seen mostly in younger dogs, but if the habit isn’t stopped early on, older dogs can carry it on. Dogs who suckle on blanket, pillows, things that… cute as heck right? But there is normally a reason behind it. This dog could have been separated from mom too early. And while it appears to be adorable, there have been several cases of dogs getting a blockage, having surgery or even losing their lives due to a piece of the fabric coming off in their mouth while they are suckling. So if you have a dog who displays this behavior, I recommend putting a stop to it sooner rather than later. Try getting your pup to focus on something else when he starts suckling. 6. Dogs Who Can’t Stand Other Dogs While Out for Walkies Have you ever seen those dogs that can play wonderfully with other dogs indoors, or off leash at a dog park, but that same dog acts like he should be number one on the top ten list of most aggressive dogs while he’s out for a walk on a leash? Reason? This dog may feel like while he is leashed, he is vulnerable… He feels like he has to act big and tough as a warning to other dogs due to him being restrained. Another common reason for this is the feeling of having to protect their owner. 7. Dogs and Mirrors Have you ever put your dog in front of a mirror to see what his reaction is? Some dogs won’t have a care in the world when it comes to mirrors while others will literally go crazy barking at this strange furry figure inside the frame. To them… they are seeing a dog, who has no smell, and is mimicking his behavior. He will go to all lengths to figure it out. We are curious! What are some of the funniest/strangest behaviors your pets display? Jenna Drady Jenna Drady is the author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. She is a mother of two beautiful daughters and 3 Siberian Huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of her life, Jenna was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, she began doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. Jenna is inspired everyday by her family, and loves to bring her readers valuable information as well as a little humor too! Jenna has created her own business partnered with her lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. They currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, they donate a portion of their sales to local shelters throughout Canada. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Why You Need to Teach Your Dog Tricks
When was the last time you taught your dog a new trick? Been a while? Sometimes when we get a new dog/puppy we spend a lot of time teaching tricks and behaviors and once we feel the dog is “trained” we… well stop. Dogs love, love, love to train and learn behaviors. The AKC has launched a new trick dog program and it is just the ticket for some fresh new ideas. Why train tricks? Dogs love to learn new things Mental stimulation and activity helps improve your dog’s overall behavior New tricks prevent boredom (which can lead to bad … Continue reading → The post Why You Need to Teach Your Dog Tricks appeared first on 4Knines Dog Blog.
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What to Do When Your Dog Won’t Listen
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. That dog that was so well trained has now stopped listening, doesn’t come when called and basically does what he wants. It can happen for a lot of reasons: Not practicing Not enough positive reinforcement Changes to your daily routine Not asking enough of your dog I have a multi-dog household, so sometimes if practice or training time is limited on my part, they start to slip and the pack can take over in no time. Sometimes you need to just hit the reset button and re-start your training (and your mindset!). Our … Continue reading →
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