Dog BFF's: Helping Your Pups Bond

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Unlikely Pals Watch Each Other's Back

When choosing a second pup to join your pack, it's always a good idea to get the assistance of a behavior specialist or dog trainer to aid in matching the energy levels of your dogs appropriately. This can be a huge factor in making the relationship get off to a good start and is particularly important if your current dog or dogs have any--yes ANY--behavior issues that concern you, even the tiniest bit. Please protect your new pup by addressing these worries before you adopt another pet.

Introducing your new addition to your established best friend is always a precarious activity. I hope you'll realize this and take the time to set up their first meeting with forethought. Introduce them on neutral ground off your property. Take a walk with them, even if the new member of the family is not up to a long walk. Many young puppies can only last for a brief outing before they collapse in need of a nap. Fortunately you'll be able to carry the youngster home, while the rest of your furry family gains an added understanding that this new pup will be joining you all for the long haul.

Beyond this first meeting and the personality traits of your dogs, what else can you do? My first piece of advice would be to get your dogs out walking together regularly. Walking with you sends a message of unity, that "we're all in this together" sort of feeling that helps bring housemates together on the same ground. The more you walk together, the more your dogs will see themselves as a unit, working together to maintain a happy, harmonious household.

Be aware of any jealousy that may be signaled by your first family members, offering them some one-on-one time to make sure they understand that you still view them as extremely important. Praise them when they behave well with their new housemate and encourage all of your pets to build an amicable relationship that demonstrates teamwork. From alerting you to strangers to maintaining the household rules, you'll soon find each dog takes a special interest in the job that best suits him, balancing the workload to give you peace of mind. Watch for opportunities to build on these acceptable behaviors with praise, affection and treats.

Finally, a note of extreme importance. Dogs that live together can be dangerous to themselves and family members if they develop food aggression or resource guarding. The latter can refer to anything that a dog refuses to give up when asked by you--toys, treats, and even your favorite chair. To assure that these problems do not begin, and never become a problem, please train for this from day one.

Teach your dogs to wait at their bowls until you signal permission to eat. This sends an unspoken message of ownership of the food, helping to make sure the dogs do not ever attempt to take over another's chow. Toys may be dispensed in the same manner. Ask for proper manners and offer the toy as a reward. Be sure to include "Drop it" in your list of skills to train for, to allow you to retrieve items of value or danger before your dog consumes them.

These and many more new companion strategies will help your dogs bond with one another, while building your bond with them as a team.

Happy bonding,

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! 

Who Owns the Dog Food at Your House?

by Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

(c) Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved
Waiting Permission...

At my house the dog food, treats and all edibles are clearly owned by me. Not Tanner. Not Xena. And certainly not Oliver. They know it and we know it.


When friends and family visit, they are always amazed at the dogs' manners during feeding time. Everyone knows where to sit, stay still, be quiet, and wait their turn to be fed.


Just as some families say 'grace' before dinner, our dogs have to give thanks by being patient. When everyone is quiet and calm, the permission to eat is given one by one. Whichever dog is the calmest gets the first go ahead. Usually that is Tanner, but Xena and Oliver get their chance quite often.


Once the dish is set on the floor, this is NOT a signal to eat. And their neighbor's dish is not theirs to sniff, or steal from. Likewise, they understand that what the pack leader giveth, the pack leader can taketh away. I test this every now and then, to assure they remember. I can take a dish, hold it for a count of 10 as the dog looks on, wondering if he gets to finish his dinner. When he proves that he understands this dish is mine, I return it to him and praise him as he continues to eat. I can pet him, kiss him, touch his dish and there is never a hiccup.


The whole gang is well versed in the rules. Sit. Quiet. Wait. When I give permission to chow down, they watch carefully, to be sure I'm speaking to them.

"Tanner. All done. Take it"

'All done' tells Tanner that he does not have to hold his "stay" any longer. Funny thing is that he is not likely to leave his dish and disappear when it is full. No way! So, he waits for the rest of the command. He anticipates it: "Take it" is pretty straight forward to you and me. But Tanner sometimes watches my hands to be sure I'm motioning to him. 

I make a habit of using hand and verbal signals, as Xena's hearing is getting a bit weak. I also speak up when giving commands to Xena, and I tap a spoon on her dish to help her know it is feeding time. 

With her vision and hearing showing signs of age, using all of her senses in my communications helps her to acknowledge my commands to her. Even at 13 1/2 she still knows the rules and does not complain.

Oliver is another story altogether. He is my most observant pupil. No wavering concerns about who I am speaking to with Oliver. The minute I give him the go ahead, he dives in. And that's all good, as he is the slowest eater, with those tiny little teeth of his.

(c) Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

"Take It" Time is Earned

After everyone has eaten, I soften a bit and allow dishwashers to take over. Tanner and Oliver love this job. The two of them will often wash Xena's dish out together, while Xena has wandered off in search of the door--ready to go out and do her business.

Dishes done, we all head out to the yard. Oops! Don't forget the biodegradable poop bag. Okay. We're ready to go now.

All is well when the dogs remember who owns the food. If you have more than one dog in your home, teaching wait or stay, leave it and take it are great skills that will help you set yourself up as the boss, while assuring your dogs are properly behaved during dinner time.

Got questions? Drop our trainer a note and ask. We'll be happy to help, as will I.

Happy tails!

Related Reading:
Disciplining Your Dog Through Feeding (more detail)
Preventing Food Aggression
Sharing Human Food with Your Dog: What is Safe and Nutritious?

Also, Check out my latest guest post at:
Dog Care Journey
Socializing Your Puppy or Dog: It's Never too Late

More Reading:
Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage a Multi-dog Household:

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© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Cesar Millan vs. Positive Reinforcement with Treats: Must it be All or Nothing?

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Is it me, or are all the dog trainers in the country ganging up on Cesar Millan? I really don't get it. We all know treats work. We all know leadership works.  We all know exercise helps our dogs calm down. A calmer dog is better behaved. It's really a no-brainer. Yet the banter continues.

A blend of the best of both methods has always been my most successful way to go with most of my dog training. What do you think? I'd really like to know. After you read this post, take my poll and give me some feedback. We'll see if we can get some dialogue going here.

My opinion? I use treats for training new or undeveloped behaviors. Then I wean them, or as trainers call it--fade the lure. Praise and positive reinforcement of other kinds (petting, playing or other forms of attention they enjoy) are probably my biggest reinforcers for daily activities and behaviors that I want to maintain or build on.

Now comes the tougher stuff. When Tanner developed a bit of excitement when restrained, it took more than treats to get him through that. A couple of wonderful trainers at my agility group assisted me with working him through his over-excitement upon coming into the field on-leash. Off leash, Tanner was a social butterfly. On a leash he became a barking, wildly-excited crazy man. He wanted--needed--to greet every dog in the place. It was easy for people who do not understand dog body language to think that Tanner was being aggressive, when in fact, he was trying to be social. We taught him a better way.

Success in breaking Tanner of this difficult behavior took a combination of a collar with more control for those excitable moments, and treats to reinforce correct behavior. It also took some time and experience in understanding that the behavior was not acceptable--period! That is simply not a lesson a dog can get from treats alone. He must be disciplined in some way to show him when he is "misbehaving".

If your child yells wildly at people in a grocery store, you would have to discipline the child. By this, I do not mean spank or hit; I mean a stern voice and a serious talk about proper behavior. Removal from the location sometimes is necessary. Most of us moms have had to leave a restaurant and a dinner behind when a temper tantrum made our presence unbearable for others. The child learns the lesson when he has to give up dinner, as a result. Sure, it may take a few times of this happening, but the lesson eventually gets through.

As long as the consequence matches the bad behavior, you're probably heading in the right direction. When Tanner jumped up to kiss a visitor this weekend, she appropriately turned her back on him. The behavior stopped after only a few tries. How often do your visitors know this excellent correction that involves no physical harm to either?

Had Tanner been jumping with the intention to bite or attack (yeah, right!! Submissive Tanner?), my discipline would have been entirely different--on his side until he completely relaxed in her presence. That is how I know he is submissive to my visitor. Nothing cruel about it; it simply helps the dog understand what's what.

Enough about behavioral issues; let's touch on Cesar's biggest bandwagon--exercise. The foundation of his soapbox is lots of exercise. He lists this as his number 1 most important technique. Why do you suppose that is?

If you own a dog, you may already know that an under-exercised dog is likely to develop anxieties, hyperactivity, aggressions and other issues. Just like humans, exercise burns off stress that would normally create bad behaviors. My primary strategy with my dogs is to get them plenty of exercise. We use walks, bike rides, fetch games, swimming, and dog park visits. With two daily exercise sessions, my high-energy dogs are able to be calm, happy housemates that I can enjoy and expect relatively good behavior from--most of the time.

I'll skip Cesar's other strategies for this post. I'll also save my opinion on how successful his techniques are for most dog owners. Check back later for more on that topic. For now, just let me know your opinion on training and behavioral corrections. You can comment and/or take the poll above. I'll consider both as I compile your thoughts for a later post. Go on now: get those tongues wagging!

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Should You Get a Dog?

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Write to Dr. Jacki, ASK THE VET

(c) photo copyright Toni Boyko 2008

Oliver's First Days
 at Home with Us

The holidays are coming and many a child is already pressing Mom and Dad to get them a puppy. Puppies, and their resultant dogs, are a big responsibility--much more than any child can comprehend. They have no clue how many thousands of dogs end up in humane societies and pounds across the country, just a few short months after the holidays.

Taking on a dog is akin to adopting a child and should be contemplated with the same concern, research, dedication to quality, and vigor that a couple should decide on the time to start a family.

Children will often beg with many enticing reasons why it is time to bring a puppy into the home. Some of the most common that my kids used are:

1. My kids promised to walk the dog every day. 
2. They assured me they would feed them every morning and every night without fail.
3. My children agreed to attend training classes, along with me, to learn how to properly raise our furry friend.
4. They understood, up-front, that crate training was expected, and no puppies would be sleeping in their beds for a very long time.
5. My kids promised not to give the puppy food from the dinner table, no matter how much the dog seemed to want it.
6. They agreed to follow the rules that I established, based on "best practices" for raising a happy, healthy, well-adjusted dog.
7. My children helped me recruit a few of their more trustworthy friends to act as puppy sitters when we were gone for more than a few hours.
8. They agreed to help keep the yard clean of doggie droppings.
9. They offered to bathe the dog when needed.
10. They assured to me they would be involved in socializing the puppy.

Well, you get the idea. Looking back, I believe we hit pay dirt consistently on 4 of the 9 items I listed, which, I suppose is not bad for children. Let's face it; they just were not mature enough to really understand that they were taking on the needs of another living creature.

What made it work for us was one thing; I knew that their commitment would wane along with the enthusiasm of having a puppy. I was prepared to take on the responsibility myself, but thought it would be a good lesson to get them involved to each of their abilities.

All of that has come full circle now, as the 3 dogs are doted over by my now adult "kids" quite thoroughly. It's a proud day for me when one bathes the dogs, another walks them, and still another feeds them. They request that I bring the dogs along to airport pickups, and enjoy the enthusiastic greetings they get each time we re-enter the house.

Me? I enjoy watching how seemlessly the dogs and the kids fall into family life as if nothing ever changed; no one went off to college or moved away to take on a law practice. We are all a family--committed, caring and looking out for one another.

That is what you must look at when you consider bringing a pet into your home. Are you ready for complete commitment? If not, please wait. The dog deserves a home where her needs are met regularly: exercise, discipline and affection, in that order. It is critical that you be dedicated to these, and that you enjoy them.

Yeah, I know. I sound like Cesar Millan. We're on the same page. Consider your decision carefully, with more thought to the dog's needs than to your own. If you do it this way, you will be much more successful.

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Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Please Play Fetch with Me

After reading a blog post at The Happy Wag, a Roanoke, Virginia pet blog, I learned about Stormy, who hasn't yet mastered the art of Fetch. This post is dedicated to Stormy and all of the rest of his canine cousins out there who would love to learn to retrieve and return a toy to their human best friends.

Fetch is an excellent way to establish your bond and leadership, while building discipline and trust with your dog. A mental challenge is a great way to add to the physical challenge of retrieving the ball or other fetch toy. Learning to bring it back to you, drop it at your feet, and wait patiently for another toss, takes practice. Each of these tasks is a separate skill, and each must be patiently taught separately, before being strung together for a Fetch game. So be patient, Pack Leader, a truly great game of Fetch is well worth the effort of learning it the right way, and much less frustrating for you and your dog.

I highly recommend that all dogs who are able, learn to fetch and return a ball or other toy. The benefits go far beyond the fun factor, not the least of which is that it goes a long way toward establishing you as the Pack Leader. Let's get started:

You may have read the title and wondered how many lessons there can possibly be in a "simple" game of Fetch. Simple for you, maybe. But stringing skills together for a dog requires teaching each one by one, at first. Here are the steps we'll learn in the sequence.

Skills Required for the Ultimate Game of Fetch:

• Sit
• Stay
• Come
• Drop It
• Leave It
• Fetch

These are all basic skills taught in obedience classes. However, they must be exhibited well by your dog in order to play Fetch without you getting mauled or the dog running off with the ball. If your goal is a textbook Fetch game, here are the sequencing skills, in order: (Notice my illustrations are with Tanner in a game of Pool Fetch. There is no difference between pool fetch and fetch in a field of grass. Pick your venue based on your dog's preference, or try both. Tanner's loves them all. Select a toy that your dog is enthusiastic about playing with, and that is suitable for a fetch game. It must have enough weight that you will be able to throw it a fair distance. If, like me, you throw like a girl, invest in a "Chucker" or other, similar throwing aid, which will allow you to throw a ball a good distance. This is especially important if you have a larger dog who needs the distance factor to get some exercise out of this game. Additionally, Fetch toys should be reserved for Fetch games only. Keep them on a shelf, and this will be understood by the dog. The toys belong to you. You decide when the game begins and when it ends. Don't let your dog get obsessive about Fetch.

• Your dog must master a "Sit, Stay". Remember to use plenty of calm verbal praise.


• Step away from your dog and remind him to stay. Don't throw until he is tuned in and attentive to you.


• Maintaining eye contact, the owner throws the toy and gives the Fetch command. The dog usually understands that this means to chase the flying toy. Not much skill involved in this action, except to leap over any obstacles or off the side of the pool:

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Leaps to Fetch

If he runs toward the toy, give verbal praise and encouragement. If he picks up the toy, get even more boisterous with your praise. Begin calling him to you. If this is unsuccessful, extra training in "Come when called" is needed.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Collects His Prize
and Heads Back to Return It

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I'm Almost There...

Can We Do It Again?

• Never, ever discipline a dog when he does not come. Would you come if you were spanked when you came slowly? No, of course not. Always praise your dog when he comes. Use more vigorous praise, petting, treats and other affection when his come is more immediate and successful. Ideally, your dog should come straight to you and sit. This should be your ultimate goal.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Tanner Returns the Fetch Toy
for Another Throw

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Sit, Tanner

The next goal is to get the dog to return the toy and drop it at your feet. Praise and a treat are earned when this occurs. If you are successful in getting the dog to come back to you, try this. Ask him to sit. Step toward him and give the drop it command while looking down over him. This establishes your dominance and will usually be respected, if you are seen by him as the leader of the pack. Be prepared to practice this again and again, as some dogs may have difficultly giving up the toy. If they refuse, do not try to forcibly remove it from their mouths. Turn your back and end the game. When he drops the toy, step on it and ask him to leave it. Put him in a sit and place the toy up on a shelf again. End of game. Lesson: Drop it or I end the game. He'll catch on fast to this, if you are consistent.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko
Drop It. Good Boy, Tanner!

• Eventually, Fetch games can move into advanced mental games like: (1) Start with the "Leave it" command, that asks dog to stay until you give the Fetch command. Throw the toy and have him leave it...a second or two at first, and then with increasing length. As the dog gets better, you can require him to wait longer periods before giving the Fetch command. This is a good mental challenge for him. (2) Give each Fetch toy a name. Practice the game using the name, so the dog learns them. Multiple toys can then be thrown. The dog is asked to Fetch the correct toy by name. This game is lots of fun when your dog has an audience. He gets a chance to show off; He knows the names of his toys! (3) When your dog really gets good at advanced game #2, you can work on this game: Show him 3 toys. Tell him to Leave It when showing 2 of them. Throw all 3 and then ask him to Fetch the last one. This will take lots of practice, but when he gets it, he'll beam with pride. Be sure to use lots of praise, pats and even treats to encourage these skills, until your dog is performing them "for the love of the game". (4) Finally, many dogs enjoy trying to catch the fetch toy before it hits the ground or the water. This is a great challenge and loads of fun for the dog who is motivated to try this. Tanner isn't terribly talented at this game, but occasionally he gets lucky:
  
  

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

I Caught It Mom!

• I often allow Tanner one "Take It" at the end of a Fetch game. I extend the toy in my hand and he proudly takes it from me and basks in the sun with it. This is one of his favorite rewards--being able to be in charge of the toy, even if only for a few minutes.

Tanner Relaxes after a
Game of Fetch with "Red"

Be sure to keep these opportunities short. Ask your dog to drop it and leave it and return the toy to its storage place for the next game. This is ample motivation for him to look forward to it again. You're on the right track.

Toy Joy and Fetching Fun!

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Streaks Through the Kitchen

after Scooping Up a Favorite Toy

Puppies need playtime to burn off their excess energy. Without these activities they tend to get into more mischief and cause more trouble.

We walk or bike most every morning, and afternoons include sporadic times for training, play and swimming. Tanner's favorite game is fetch; fetch in the pool is double fun.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner Fetches "Yellow"

for the 15th Time!

Even Fetch training is a good disciplinary tool, and one which many dogs enjoy. Your dog doesn't have to be a "retriever" to enjoy playing fetch. Teaching your dog to fetch and return a toy to you has many distinct steps, each a skill in its own. Perhaps I'll save that for another post, but suffice it to say, that learning to Fetch is excellent mental and physical activity for an energetic dog to find focus with.

Steps in Teaching Fetch:

1. Pick a toy which your dog is enthusiastic about playing with, and which is suitable for a fetch game. It must have enough weight that you will be able to throw it a fair distance.
2. Dog must master a brief "Sit, Stay". Give verbal praise.
3. Owner throws the toy and with eye contact, gives the "fetch" command.
4. Dog runs to get the toy. If he runs toward the toy, give verbal praise and encouragement. If he picks up the toy, get even more boisterous with your praise.
5. Goal is to get the dog to return the toy and drop it at owners feet. Praise and a treat are earned when this occurs.
6. Eventually, fetch games can move into advanced disciplinary tools like:

• "Leave it" command asks dog to stay until you give fetch command, even after toy is thrown.
• Multiple toys can be learned by name and thrown. Dog is asked to fetch the correct toy by name. This game is lots of fun when your dog has an audience. He gets a chance to show off; He knows the names of his toys!

I'll bring you another post with more detail later. If you want to get started now, write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com and I'll help you out.

Seniors Get More Than Companionship from their Dogs

Joan Enjoys Helping Oliver and Jacque

Learn Socialization Skills

About 6 months ago my mother adopted a Papillon puppy whose owner could no longer take care of him. Never having trained a puppy, she has had her hands full with so many things to learn.
Socialization is at the top of her list, thank goodness, and little Jacque is learning well. She visits the dog park with him regularly and he has proven to be a confident and well-mannered playmate for most of the dogs. He is still working on his vocalization, though. That's a nice way of saying that he needs to bark a bit less.

The many challenges of a new puppy have given mom a new sense of purpose in her life, and she is enjoying this immensely. Many senior citizens who are able to care for a pet, find that this responsibility breathes new life and energy into their days. A host of new tasks and challenges await and each one is a new adventure.

With many dogs available for adoption through shelters, at little cost to the owner, a senior citizen, on a fixed income can often afford to adopt a smaller dog, whose food requirements will be considerably less than my 4-cup-a-day Golden Retriever. A minimum investment of a crate and vaccinations necessary for good health can bring a lonely person a sense of importance in their new job of nurturing a dog.

Adopting a mature dog can often mean that the task of house-training is already accomplished. Even more, that puppy hood trait of chewing everything in sight is often also a thing of the past. With a daily walk, adult dogs can find happiness with a new owner who gives them the appropriate discipline, rules and finally...affection.

The latter is good for both dog and owner, but the whole package is necessary for a dog to become a bonded member of the new family. Take the lead and show your furry friend the boundaries of his new home, and he will become a good companion.

For a bit more information on bringing home a new family member, I like this DVD by Cesar Millan. His approach involves more leadership than training, and is very no-nonsense. Good luck!

Got Easter Bunnies?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Has Big Ears

Like a Rabbit

Carrots are a healthy, vitamin packed snack for dogs. This big organic carrot was meant for Tanner, but Oliver wanted to give it a try. I did not really believe he could eat the whole thing. What do you think?

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Tanner and Oliver Wait

Permission to Eat their

Organic Carrots

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver Ate the Whole Thing!

Okay, so he didn't eat the big one in the first picture. That would have been way too much natural sugar for a little guy like him. At 8 pounds, I give him a smaller carrot, more suitable for his size. Tanner can handle the big one.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Marc and Robby,

Our Family's Easter Bunny

Yes. We do have an Easter bunny. He lived with us for 5 years, until several months ago, while Marc attended college and law school. He belongs to Marc, my oldest son, seen here holding him on Robby's arrival back "home". Robby is enjoying his new digs with Marc. They share a cozy, urban historical home and keep each other company. I'm sure Robby is a great roommate; he is quiet and easy to please. He'll eat any veggie you give him and loves a good ear rub. Happy Easter, Robby. We miss you. (You too, Marc!)

Bad Habits are What Puppy Behaviors Become

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver and Tanner

Watch Alan Eat Patiently,

But They Don't Beg

Think back to when your dog was a tiny puppy--the day your brought him home. Everything, virtually every behavior he exhibited brought joy and laughter. Even when he peed on the floor the first time, you probably laughed, rather than scolding him.

We're only human, and most of us have a tough time disciplining a "newborn". Puppies are no different. We coddle them; we make excuses for them; we give them affection when they're naughty by saying, in that adorable grandmotherly voice, "You naughty puppy, you!" Meanwhile, we're shaking our finger at him and he's thinking it is playtime.

I'm as guilty as most dog owners who have given more affection than discipline. But I am learning. With each new dog comes a few new lessons that sink in, even if too late.

After two large dogs, I finally understand that I should have taught them not to jump up immediately when they were first brought home. Now that Tanner is 2 1/2, I cannot seem to break him of this bad habit. Sure, it was cute when he was 10 weeks old. But now, when he wants to give personal kisses to visitors, he has no problem putting his paws on their shoulders and looking them straight in the eye.

I've talked to lots of trainers. Each have their own methods. Some of their ideas have worked temporarily. The problem is that I cannot instruct a strange visitor to lift their knee or shake a can of pennies or turn their back and ignore him. I really need Cesar to visit and help me to work Tanner through this, but I know that this is not a significant enough issue to get him here. Bummer!

I suppose I will have to make a deal with a friend to be my helper for a couple of hours. I'll help her practice with her dog issues, and she can do the same for me. It may be my only solution.

Today my mother was telling me about her concerns with Jacque's playful biting. Her skin is thin, and his biting is still quite uncomfortable. That's when it hit me that we should have worked with him on this right from the start. Although it is never too late, it is going to be a longer road now that Jacque has learned to love the game of chewing on mom's hands. Perhaps she will be my helper, and then I can assist her with Jacque's hand chewing issues. It's a lightbulb moment.

Preventing Food Aggression

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Food Aggression Starts when

Your Dog Thinks She Owns the Food

I guess this is one of those days when I'm going to get all Cesar Millan on you. You may laugh, but he's got the food thing down. Teaching your dog that the food belongs to you, right from the start, will assure that you will never have a snarling match when you take a table scrap or dog bowl away from your dog.

I may not be an expert, but if my 3 dogs could talk, they would tell you that I own the food. I started with adding my scent to their bowls by rubbing my body oil (from my forehead) onto the outside of the bowl. Then, when I place their food in the bowl, I handle it with my bare hands, making sure my scent is mixed in well.

Asking my dogs to sit or down and then STAY, I place the food in front of them and tell them to leave it. The length of this exercise depends on the age and experience of the dog. Oliver, the youngest, is not quite as patient, yet can still manage 2 minutes when hungry enough. They all know that if they make a move toward the food, the dish goes up on top of the refrigerator. Nothing is worse than that!
When given permission to break their stay with my "All done" command, they understand that they may get up, but still wait and watch for the final grant. Permission to eat comes when I say Take it. Tanner is still tentative about this. He likes a tap on the shoulder, sort of a "go ahead" before he takes it. He will drool all over the floor until I give permission. What a good boy he is.

If I reach for the bowl, he backs up and sits again. When done eating, he remains in his spot until his housemates have finished eating, at which time I probably break the rules. I give him permission to Do the Dishes. He licks out the other bowls, followed by Oliver. Sometimes they do the dishes together. I am still able to take those dishes, though, even when they are still licking. The understanding here is that I am the pack leader, which means I own the food. I like it that way, and they respect it. That is the most important part. No arguments over treats, meals or bones--ever.

Want to know more? This guy is the master. Start with Season I and work your way through.

Tanner is back in the pool at Organic Journey Online, where Woofing Wednesday continues to be a popular post each week. As usual, he is up to his favorite pool game: fetch. Stop in and have a look around. You can subscribe easily, just by typing in your email address at the top right.

Disciplining Your Dog Through Feeding

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Oliver, Xena and Tanner Await

Permission to Eat

Today's post is a requested topic, and one that can be a very good disciplinary tool. What your dog learns from waiting permission to eat is more than it would appear. The myriad lessons include:

• You own the food, the dish, the home
• You are in charge
• You decide when the food is shared
• You choose the place a dog eats
• You establish behavior rules for eating among the pack
• You discipline members of the pack who do not behave properly
• You reward members who are the calmest and most patient
• The dog learns to trust that you WILL feed him eventually, if he exhibits good manners
• You decide who is given permission to eat first, second, etc. based on behavior
• You are a calm and patient teacher for your pack

And all of this leads to the ultimate lesson:

YOU ARE THE PACK LEADER

This must always be your goal, in order to maintain the peaceful, happy home you desire.
People who have seen my dogs being fed have often asked how I taught them to wait patiently, eat only when given permission and eat only their own food, without aggression. I'm no Dog Whisperer, but I guess I am a visual learner. I have all the Dog Whisperer DVDs that are out, and have read Cesar Millan's books. Although my dogs all went through advanced training with traditional methods (sit, stay, down, come, off, drop it, take it, etc.), I have found that combining Cesar's energy techniques with the more traditional methods has made for a good blend. Here's how I taught my pack to eat with good manners:

1. The dogs each learned the sit-stay or down-stay command at an early age and have continued to practice this every day at mealtimes.
2. Adding the Leave It command, when your dog is in a Sit-Stay or Down-Stay is as easy as placing your hand over the food bowl (or other item) for a second or two (at first) and then removing your hand when the dog is holding his stay. This is his reward--food for Stay.
3. At each meal this is practiced until you can gradually build up to 10 seconds, and then the hand is no longer needed over the bowl. Maintain a confident stance facing your dog, engaging his eye contact with yours while he performs Leave it. Build up his time gradually.
4. Any change in body language or a move toward the food is your signal to move forward toward the dog reminding him firmly, yet calmly, to Leave It.
5. Soon, with continued practice, including with treats or favorite toys periodically throughout the day, your dog will not need much more than loose supervision. I once forgot about Tanner waiting permission to eat and found him nearly a half hour later, sitting in a puddle of drool. Poor fella! He is soooo good at Leave It!
6. If you have one well-trained dog and bring a puppy or other new dog into the house, try training him within view of the other dog. It is always good to have an example to follow, as long as the example is a good one. Oliver quickly picked up good meal time manners from his older house mates, merely by following their lead.

© photo copyright Carrie Boyko

Permission Granted

Bringing your pack together to eat:

1. When each of your dogs has a solid understanding of the skills above, you can bring 2 of the calmest, most patient ones together to eat near one another.
2. This is again a time for heightened supervision, as their mere presence may change the dynamics.
3. Your confident stance facing the dogs will help them to understand that you continue to lead this exercise and they are expected to perform as usual. Keep up any hand signals that you normally use, to give further input on the expected behavior.
4. Be sure to reward your dogs for good performance with a simple word of praise or a pat on the head. Keep the praise calm to continue this energy throughout the next step of getting everyone outside for their post-meal "business."

I'll leave you on that note with a simple commercial for Friday's post. I'll be tackling boredom busters for dogs who spend several hours a day in their crates, or simply at home alone. Join me for a few ideas, and feel free to comment with yours. I would love to hear from you at the comment link below, or just email me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

And one final note. Today, at Organic Journey Online, I am presenting a great idea, borrowed from Carmen at Agility class. She makes recycled tug toys with her old clothes, and they are wonderful. With Carmen's permission, I made some and wrote about them there. Feel free to follow the link and check it out. Free Tug Toys!