Life with Dogs: Building in Balance

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThngsDogBlog.com
The Napping House!

 As a dog lover, I sometimes catch myself taking it too far. Well, not too far for me, but for the comfort of others. Everyone, even the dog owners who are not as nuts about their passion as I may be, has their limits on things. I'd like to explore that a bit in the spotlight of bonding with your dog.

Rules don't have to be punishments. If you prefer your dog remain off the furniture or out of the living room, simply teach it. Make it a positive experience when he complies and give him plenty of reason to continue to follow the rules: praise, treats, affectionate rewards. You'll be surprised at how quickly your Fido will be eager to please you and remain on the bed you provide for him, beside your furniture or just outside the entrance to that off-limits living room.

Even rules that have variances can be taught and understood. A perfect example is where Tanner sleeps. At 70 lbs. he's not a logical addition to my bed when hubby is home. Besides space, Tanner prefers a quiet bed that doesn't include inhabitants who pitch and roll a lot, while hubby prefers to be able to roll without coming in contact with a furface. :)  That made for an easy decision that Tanner sleeps in his own, very large, dog bed. It's right beside our bed, so he's always with us and keeping watch. We all seem to like it this way.

Fast forward to those nights when hubby is traveling and you'll find that Tanner enjoys sleeping in dad's spot. I'm fairly still in my sleep, so he appears to find me a compatible bedmate, and I rather enjoy the company and security he brings to the mix. With our alert dog, Oliver, snugly warming my feet, I get my pups both snuggling in while hubby is away.

Tanner takes no issue with this rule change from day to day. He understands that when I tell him to go to his own bed, that's that. I mean business, yet it is all said with the affectionate bond that we share. 

Join me next week when I explore the balance in our activities. Do you have any problems with balancing your own time management with that of your dog responsibilities and activities? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing mine next week. I hope you join me again for the Weekly Wag each Saturday, and don't forget to leave your comments.

Happy tails,

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping! 

Dog Park Bonding Activities

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Enjoy Meeting New Friends--Canine and Human

If you've spent much time on All Things Dog Blog, you probably know I'm a big lover of the dog park. We know them all in our area and enjoy a variety of Meetup groups and friendly pups and their people at all the local hangouts. There's nothing like a good run to get you and your dog feeling in tune with one another.

If dog parks are a new adventure for you, here are a few tips to make sure you're safe and have an enjoyable first experience:

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready for Fetch ?

• Most importantly, do not take your dog to a dog park if he is not both dog and human friendly. Find another place to exercise and work at those skills when your dog is plentifully worked out.
• Even your well-socialized dog may have a bad day, so always go to the dog park with the mindset that you'll leave when and if things are not going well. And further, if you can determine this is not "your day" early, it's always better to leave before trouble breaks out. Your dog needs to view the dog park as a fun place if you're to have more positive experiences there in the future. Watch for troubling pups and behaviors and take your leave early.
• Newbies need to test the waters during slower times. By this I mean choose a time when most owners are not at the park. If your Fido has a calm first experience, he'll enter the park with a great attitude the next time you venture in.
• Watch your dog's back. Stay tuned in to his behavior, responses to other dogs, and the attitudes of those dogs toward yours. If you have an especially submissive or anxious dog, the dog park is probably not the best choice for him. He'll need a one-on-one socialization experience to build his confidence.
• If your pup is trained to play games such as Fetch or Frisbee or simply to HEEL alongside you, this is a great time to practice these skills when there are other distractions. Be prepared to lose a ball or a Frisbee, however. Some dogs may choose not to give it up, and you may opt not to argue with that Big Boy if he appears set on keeping your toy. Just sayin!
• Leave the treats at home, even if you're training. This is not the place to find out which dogs are food aggressive. It won't end well.
• Upon arrival and before you leave the dog park, make it a practice to work on your dog's "Come When Called" command. This one is all-important as it could easily save your dog's life one day. Don't leave that to chance. Practice often and praise vigorously!
• Try to end your visit on a high note, just after a particularly fun run or play session. When Fido has had his fill of exercise, friends and fun, call him to you, leash him up and praise him as he follows you out the gate. You'll enjoy some quiet time this afternoon, while he naps off his fun time with you. This is an awesome way to enjoy some Bowser Bonding.

We hope you enjoyed these tips for your Weekly Wag. Won't you share your own thoughts on dog park interactions and tips for great socialization of your dog. Have questions? Spill them here and I'll be happy to address those I am able to assist with. At the end of each quarter, a drawing occurs from the comments at our Weekly Wag posts. We hope you'll join in the conversation. Happy tails!

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping! 

My Golden Retriever is a Shepherd

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Bonded from the Beginning

Who knew? Recently I shared with readers how Tanner watched over Oliver when the little squirt escaped and went on walkabout. Tanner watched over him, knowing all along exactly where he was. Today it was Patches' turn. I swear my Golden Retriever thinks he's a shepherd--not a German Shepherd, but a caretaker that watches over the fur kids. Is this dog bonded to his family members? I'd say so!

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Safe and Sound at Home

Today we had an incident with my kitty, Patches. She's an indoor cat, so never goes out the front door. We have a large screened porch where she gets her outdoor time; she hunts lizards or watches birds. She's safe there and so are the birds.

While carpenters were working in our home today, and on that porch yesterday, Tanner did what he frequently does when the door is unlocked; he opened it. Patches came along and wandered onto the front porch, lingering to watch the commotion outside. Tanner stopped and dropped to a DOWN, keeping tabs on her for quite a while. It was amazing to watch. Obviously Tanner sees himself as the pet sitter for his two smaller housemates. Does anyone else out there have similar behavior with their dogs? I'm just amazed at his intuitive ability to keep watch. He seems to know they need supervision. #blowmeaway

Tell me about your pets' and their interest in or ability to watch out for one another. Is this a dynamic--constantly changing--or does it develop and strengthen over time, never going away? Help me research this topic--spill!

Happy tails,

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping! 

Preparing for a Move with Fido

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Stress Relief!

Maintaining your healthy bond with Fido during a move to a new home can be taxing on both of you. Today's post includes tips for making your move as smooth as possible for your dog. 

After my mother and her rescue pup, Jacque, decided to move to my area, I got to go through this process first hand with her. Watching from the other side helped me see a lot of possibilities for making the whole event transpire without as many headaches. Here's some of what I learned:

Select your new home with your dog’s needs in mind: fenced yard if needed, flooring preferences that work, dog-friendly neighbors, pet-friendly city and county laws, and so on. Leave no stone unturned.


Check out local vets before you take the plunge. Do they take your insurance? Will they accept new patients and treat your pet right away if anything occurs that requires immediate attention? Be ready for the inevitable if you end up being a walk-in.

Know what you need and gather information in advance of your relocation. Seek out groomers, pet sitters, boarding, doggie daycare and dog parks, if you use these. Making all these decisions ahead of time will smooth out the move for both of you.

Don't skip the walks during your pre-move or post-move periods. Your dog needs to burn off his stress that he's soaking up from your anxiety over the transition. Believe me, so do you!

Before the movers or a truck arrive, plan to hand off your dog to a family member, caring friend or trusted boarding facility where your pup can get plenty of fresh air, exercise and sunshine. You'll want to assure that when he rejoins you a couple of days after the move (I recommend shooting for 3-4 days if possible), you can have some of his things placed (Try very hard not to move his bed multiple times. This can disturb many dogs; think it through before you settle on a spot for night-night.), give him a good walk around your new neighborhood, and spend some time bonding with him in your new place. It's important that he associate it with affection and enjoyment, not nerves. Set that aside when he arrives and give him some time to reconnect with you and what your relationship means to both of you.

The transition is not over yet. For most of us, moving involves a long list of decisions and changes over the weeks following a move. Fido won't appreciate the things that are important to him being juggled around too terribly much, particularly his bowls and his bed. Yeah, I know, I already covered the bed. But it's very, very important. Don't neglect considering this carefully.

Make time in your day for a good, long walk each and every day. Walking in the area around your new home will allow your dog to become familiar with it over a period of time, gradually adjusting to its newness and also recognizing new smells and adding them to the familiar list.

If your dog is well-socialized, you're in luck. He'll not only help you meet your neighbors, but also your neighbor's dogs. Shoot for making some new friends quickly. It will help ease the nerves, offer you someone to ask those vital questions (which day is the trash collected?) and find out where the neighborhood dogs enjoy playtime and some off-leash action. Maybe you'll even learn of some neighbors that like to walk their dogs together. This is a wonderful way for you and Fido to bond. Enjoy!

Making friends and walking with your neighbors will bring your new home full circle for both you and Fido. Give it a try; what have you got to lose?

Not moving? What advice can you offer to others who may be facing this upheaval in their own lives? I'd love to hear your ideas. Your comments will also enter you into the first quarter drawing for our Weekly Wag participants on April 1.

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping! 

Weekly Wag: How My Dog Outsmarted Me

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

I have to admit this is a terrible way to begin a New Year with my dog training, but I do love my dog for all that he has learned in order to accomplish his goal. It appears that I must return to basic training in order to get back to Tanner's most important rule at our house: Tanner is not allowed to go in the swimming pool unless given permission. Yes, you read that correctly. He has outsmarted me on this rule.

I thought I had it all under control. And frankly, for 4 years or so he has been very reliable at staying out of the pool until given permission, until recently. One day, while playing with a toy on the pool deck, he accidentally dropped it into the pool. I witnessed this episode, thankfully, and can understand how he easily took this to mean the same thing as 'permission'. 

You see, our "permission to swim" is given when I throw or drop a toy into the pool. Otherwise, he knows he is to stay out. This was a necessary part of training my water-logged Golden who was forever jumping in when the doors to the pool area were open. Which basically is all the time since he can open them. Yes, he can open most anything--Oliver's crate, the dog park gate, our house doors, the porch doors, and the play areas at doggie daycare. He's a Houdini, this dog of mine. But I digress.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
In the Water Again,
Always with a Toy

Once Tanner realized that he wasn't admonished for jumping in that day, it was all over for me. He quickly figured out that toys could fall into the pool with a little help from him and now we've reached the point of no return. He's beginning to add other strategies to the toy-in-the-pool method.

During some recent repairs and construction at our home, Tanner enjoyed several gleeful rolls in the upturned soil outside, after which I banished him to the pool for a swim in order to clean up. That was clearly a mistake. Yep! He figured it out and now he goes outside looking for a spot to roll in--any dirty spot will do--just to get sent to the pool for a clean up swim.

Today he demonstrated another add-on to this learning curve that disturbed me. He lifted his leg to take care of nature's call, managing to aim directly at his front paw. After drenching it I had no recourse but to send him to the pool for--yes, you guessed it--another clean up swim. I suppose I should have bath supplies at the front door, but I'm not a fan of hose baths at the front, especially in my dry clothing. Thus is the error of my ways.

I have to admit, I do love this water crazy dog. But I'm especially impressed with how he has managed to push my buttons to get what he wants. Does he know me well or what?

How well does your dog know you? Do you sometimes find yourself admiring your dog's mischievous side? You can enter our quarterly drawing right here by posting your answer to my question. We'd love to hear your story.

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!