All Things Dog Blog

Showing posts with label dog owners. Show all posts

Friday, November 16, 2012

Dog Owners and the Behavior Equation

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

I'm diving in here today. Please don't drown me before I resurface. I'm a dog owner too, and I speak for myself just as I refer to all dog owners. Our behavior affects our dogs' behaviors and their reactions to our behavior, even the tiniest of attitude issues, can be reflected in our dog's behavior that follows. We set the stage for the environment and they play it out.

Last night after a particularly distressing event I was clearly unnerved. Tanner and Oliver were not involved, yet both tuned in and made themselves available to be my therapy dogs, my comforters, my non-judgmental best friends. I was home alone with no one to share my emotions with so my dogs stepped up. Does that amaze you as it does me?

My first reaction was, "Oh no, I'm gong to create all sorts of anxieties and issues in them if they have to see me through this emotional upheaval." Looking into their eyes, I noticed that both of them were intent on watching me without looking away. Generally, they will only remain in full eye contact for a brief time before turning away. It's much like humans; the eye contact is very personal and we need to take a break. But here my boys were looking deep into my sad eyes trying to figure out how they could help me.

Teamwork kicked in. My little home team of two (Patches slept through this event) each took their positions, Oliver selecting a spot on top of my feet--very affectionately washing them--and Tanner taking a service dog's position for airline flight--sitting between my knees with his head in my lap. Tanner has never ever sat this way before, except when I taught him the position once, in preparation for therapy training. Sounds strange, right? He's far too tall to have been comfortable, yet he maintained the position for a good 10-15 minutes while I collected myself and spilled the beans to my husband by telephone.

After a hearty sigh, Tanner appeared to realize he could leave my side. Oddly enough, he immediately moved to the location which would next be at my side when I climbed into bed. Yup; there he was, right in my absent hubby's spot, ready to be my comforter for the evening.

Okay, I know you don't all believe that dog's belong in the bed. That's a controversial subject for most dog owners and handlers. I respect both sides and have practiced both methods during various times in my dog-owning life. Currently Oliver is the only regular, taking a spot at my feet as his night time bed of choice these days. He naps in his crate throughout the day, still loving it and knowing it is his safe zone. I'm good with that.

Tanner, never one to enjoy movement in his bed, usually will abandon his position on my bed whenever I roll over the first time. Not last night; he stuck by me for the entire night and did not even budge until I opened the door in the morning for the boys to go outside for nature's call.

I have watched the dogs closely today, now being over last night's upset. They seemed quite normal and enjoyed a houseful of visitors that were in and out and all over the yard, as we're busily repairing and improving our property. Perhaps all this activity was a great distraction from last night's emotional event. Or maybe dogs really do forget what happens within a short period of time. I'm not inclined to buy that latter belief, knowing so many dogs who continue to behave with fear in a situation where they once--only once--were suddenly in a scary event.

The bond between Tanner and Oliver and I was so clear, so incredibly tight last night, that I feel this morning like my home is not just a place I share with my dogs. It is a home we all share together, supporting and encouraging one another whenever the need arises. We're a family.

Bonding is an amazing thing. Please join us for the Weekly Wag each Saturday when I share stories, tips and strategies for your bond with your dogs. You can sign up here to let me know you're following the series, and to be a part of the quarterly drawing for this event. If you'd like to see the Weekly Wag become a more permanent fixture here, let me hear from you. Ideas, thoughts, and more can be left in the comments section. Thanks for joining in!

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!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Ask the Dog Trainer:
Give Me Space (or Else)

by Michael Baugh, CDBC, CPDT-KSA

Hi, I am fortunate that I live within 200 yards from a wood and when I take my Springer Spaniel there she is happy to race around chasing squirrels and sniff around looking for game birds. One thing she hates is when some dog owners allow their dogs to race up to her and she will see them off and be aggressive to them. She is a rescue dog and does not like to play, just enjoys doing her own thing. When other dogs are under control and calm she is fine.

Yesterday an owner let her dog off the lead and it raced straight to where my dog was around 30 yards away in the stream; she was aggressive once more and the owner blamed her and said my dog needed a muzzle and that her dog only wanted to play. I hate this expression as it seems some people think that it is their right to impose their over-excited dog on yours and are surprised that some dogs are not interested. I now feel that I can’t let her off her lead anymore but am angry as my last dog was one who was over-exuberant and if he succeeded in annoying others I apologized and did not expect others to tolerate it. Am I right? Many thanks Annie

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Dear Annie,

I sense your frustration and I definitely feel for you. I can’t help but think of a lesson my Dad taught me when I was a kid. He would hold out one hand and say, “here is the perfect world the way we wish it was.” Then he’d hold out the other hand and smile, “and here’s the world the way it really is.” I didn’t like his little speech much then, and sometimes it still upsets me a bit. Nevertheless, personal responsibility is really just that – personal.

We can’t really account for other people’s responsibilities when it comes to their dogs. I wish we could. So, let’s look at what we can work with. There are good programs available for helping dogs who have issues with personal space around other dogs. That’s what it sounds like you’re dealing with. I don’t get the sense your dog is chasing after dogs she sees at a distance. But when they come to her, she gets upset and even fights. If that’s the case, you should be able to teach your dog to quickly come to you (even move behind you) when another dog runs toward you. It’s a simple enough trick to teach and there are multiple benefits.

1) It’s task-oriented. Teaching a dog a task in the face of perceived danger sometimes takes some of the emotional punch out of their reaction to the stimulus (the other dog).

2) It immediately puts you between your dog and the oncoming dog. This adds a layer of safety for everyone involved. It also gives you the chance to say “no” and hold out your hand like a stop sign to the interloper. Oddly enough, most dogs respond to this even with strangers.

· 3) It buys you time to calmly but audibly inform the other owner that your dog is a potential threat to their dog. Nothing gets people moving quickly more than the thought of their dog being hurt. If it were me I’d say “Sorry, my dog bites dogs who run up like that. Can you help me?” This is immediately disarming and a call for action. I thank my dad for that one too. People usually respond well when you ask for help.

Work with a rock solid reward-based dog trainer to get that move nailed down. I’d also recommend you work on “leave it” and “stay.” Why? Because when the other person gets their dog leashed up, you’ll tell your dog to leave it and stay while you hand the person your trainer’s card. “Thank you, we’ve really been working on this. Here’s my trainer’s card. She’s really good at teaching coming when called.”

Smile when you do this. The other person won’t know she’s being put in her place until well after she’s home. If the other person yells at you, let it go. No one gets to ruin your day unless you let her. (That one is my Dad too).

My dear sweet Juno died three years ago this month. She had doggie friends, but not all dogs were her friends. There is a reason “bitch” is an offensive slang word and there were times when Juno showed all of us why. But I can tell you this with absolutely no elaboration to her storied memory. When I said, “okay, let’s go,” Juno walked away from the fight and I stood between her and the other dog. That was our deal. It didn’t matter who started it or who was at fault. When I said it was over – it was over. Darned if that wasn’t the best trick I ever taught her. Walk away. Let it go. It’s a trick I wish I were better at sometimes.

The truth is my dad is an awesome guy with lots of good sayings. But, he’s a control freak too. Okay, the truth is so am I. I’m a dog trainer for goodness sake; we’re all about exacting control. So maybe for us the real lesson is knowing what we can control and what we simply can’t (no, this is not a 12-step program). There’s the world the way we want it to be, and the world we are able to actually create around us.

The rest, it seems, just tends to run wild sometimes.

used with permission
from Robyn Arouty Photography

Michael Baugh CDBC, CPDT-KSA teaches dog training in Houston and Katy, TX. He specializes in behavior related to canine fear and aggression. You can learn more by "Liking" him on Facebook and following him on Twitter.

Read more of Michael's articles at his Archive Page, or check out his last few here:

Friday, November 5, 2010

Puppies and Senior Citizens. Are they a Good Match?

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

With age comes changes in our approach to life. Some of us mellow and become 'soft touches'. Others become more outspoken and opinionated. I have no psychology training, yet in observing all the senior citizens that have been in my life, I have seen a clear change as they age--one direction or the other.

The point of this article is simply to help you, or a senior in your life, look candidly at their current temperament and consider this when deciding between a mature dog or a bouncy, young puppy, as a new companion.

It seems there are pros and cons to each choice. I'd like to offer a few things to consider to those of you who may be thinking about a dog as an addition to the household of a senior or senior couple.

First and foremost, consider the prospective owner's current, not past, energy, health and exercise needs. Does she enjoy a couple of daily, brisk walks or prefer a slow amble around the cul-de-sac?

Are the rigors of potty training a new puppy likely to be a fun challenge for this new owner, or perhaps a bit more trouble than they need?

Does the prospective owner have the physical ability to pick up and/or restrain the dog being considered?

Is this potential owner a confident and ardent taskmaster with a take-charge attitude, or more of a follow-the-leader type of personality?

Will this owner have strong opinions about the rules his dog is to follow, or does he plan to baby the pup and take an 'anything goes' sort of approach?

Are the prospective owner's finances in good shape to provide a healthy diet, regular medical care, and training classes or sessions to assist with teaching the dog proper manners?

Is the new owner able to access areas that are dog-friendly for potty breaks, within close proximity to her front door during inclement weather?

Does the owner have sufficient area for an indoor romp, laser tag game, or other indoor play, when the weather turns bad for days at a time?

Is the owner able to drive, or does she have access to dog-friendly transportation to pick up pet supplies, make grooming trips and vet visits?

Will the owner be able to adequately socialize the dog during neighborhood walks, pet store visits, dog park trips or other dog-friendly activities?

I'm sure you get the idea by now. A retired adult or senior citizen may find himself lonely and in need an active companion to get him out to have some fun and see the neighbors. The flip side of this is that a lonely widow or widower may simply want a companion to keep him or her company in the home. This, unfortunately, is no life for a young dog. Even a mature dog requires a daily walk with an opportunity for using his nose to explore the world.

Dogs need outdoor play, a chance to take in the sights and sounds of the area, and just as importantly, they need socialization with people and other dogs. Being stuck inside most days will often turn a sweet dog into one with issues, anxieties or even physical health problems, the result of lack of exercise.

Dogs come from thousands of years of history living in packs where one leader runs the show. That leader needs to be its owner. If the dog senses an ongoing weakness in its owner, it may decide to take matters into its own paws. This is when trouble starts.

Before adopting a dog, consider the dog's needs as well as that of the owner. If the energy and ability to train and care for a dog are less than vigorous, consider adopting an adult dog that is already trained, socialized and has learned proper manners. The obvious advantages of this approach are that your only jobs will be to establish yourself as the leader and enjoy the bonding process.

Choosing a medium to small breed with a history of less activity and more submissive behavior would likely be the most successful match. There are many available through rescues and Humane Societies. Try Petfinder and AdoptaPet online, where you can search breeds, size, sex, age, location and other criteria that will help you find the right companion. Take your time to be sure, and don't ever adopt a dog sight unseen. Visit more than once, if possible, to assess the dog's energy and behavior among other humans and dogs.

Most of all, realize that adopting a dog is akin to taking in a new family member. You wouldn't send back an adopted child if he misbehaved, would you? Of course not! You would seek professional help to correct the problem. Keep this in mind when Fido has a rough day now and then. And if one rough day turns into many, be sure to act quickly and get professional assistance to turn your dog's bad-boy attitude around.

Let's use this post to assess how many readers out there have a senior in their life that might enjoy a new companion--or perhaps they themselves are the senior. Comments on this post or at my Facebook page, will be entered in a drawing for a "New Dog Kit": a small dog carrier, 2 bowls, a guidebook to Caring for your Dog, a bottle of enzyme carpet cleaner for "oopsies", sample dog food, 1 Greenie, a starter kit of Toki Poki trading cards (just for fun!), a lanyard key chain for your dog walks, and a dog whistle. Sorry; the Scruffy doggie stays here! He's just our spokesDog for today.

(c) Carrie Boyko

Almost Ready for that New

Family Member?

Good luck with your new best friend, and remember, it's all worth it. Oliver will be sure to have a few thoughts on this topic. Drop in at 5 Minutes for Fido to hear his opinions. Finally, don't miss the opportunity to win big doggie and dog-lover gifts in my MANKINDdog raffle at this link. Happy tails!