When Your Dog Barks

 
    Dogs bark for many different reasons.  They can communicate with you through their vocalization.  Your dog can show surprise, yelp in pain, whine, and sometimes even sound like they are saying words. They can bark at intruders, alert you to dangerous medical problems, call for help (remember Lassie?), and yes, they can bark for hours on end at nothing at all.  How, then, do we eliminate the "problem barking?"

1)  Reward the behavior that you want to keep (the quiet times).
     If your dog starts barking in frenzy when you come home from work, and you greet him with hugs and pats, you have just encouraged him to bark more every time you come home.  By giving him love and attention immediately after he barks, he learns that barking gets attention.
    Instead of rewarding the barking, reward the quiet times.  Ignore your dog's barks when you come inside.  Change clothes, sit down, read the paper.  When he is sitting quietly by your feet, give him one small treat (as small as a single piece of dry dog kibble).
   When you exit your home, and your dog is staying home alone, do not make a big deal out of your leaving.  Get ready for work, sit down, read the paper.  Leave when your dog is quiet and not paying attention.  Do not say goodbye or call any attention to the fact that you are leaving.  Staying home alone is not a big deal.  Don't make it into a big deal by calling attention to it.

 
2)  Extinguish the behavior you want to eliminate.  Decide in advance what you will do when you hear the inappropriate barking. Choose an unpleasant consequence that you deliver immediately upon hearing your dog bark.
a.  Go to your dog instead of calling him to you.
b.  Deliver a stern "NO" in a tone of voice that commands attention.
c.  Follow this with either a two-finger tap on the nose OR a quick spray in his face with a water bottle.
    The idea here is NOT to hurt the dog, but rather to give an unpleasant sensation to teach the meaning of "NO."
d.  Immediately leave the dog's presence.  Do not play with him or give any attention to him.

3)  Let all the people in your dog's life know the new system.  Everyone must be consistent in their training and treatment of your dog if you are to eliminate the unwanted behavior.

What have you tried?  What works for your pet dog who barks too much?  Leave a comment below.

Protect your Pet from Halloween Candy!

Why is chocolate bad for dogs? 

Chocolate can contain methylxanthine, which is a caffeine-like stimulant. If eaten in large amounts, chocolate may cause dogs to vomit and have diarrhea,  pant, have greater thirst and urination, be hyperactive, have abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and even die in severe cases.

The darker the chocolate, the higher chance of problems from methylxanthine poisoning. Baking chocolate contains the highest and white chocolate, the lowest, level of methylxanthine. As few as 20 ounces of milk chocolate (about 13 Hershey's chocolate candy bars)—or only two ounces of baking chocolate—can cause problems in a ten pound dog.

Be sure your Halloween treats are kept up high, out of reach of pets.  You may want to keep your pet confined in a back room on this night of trick or treating.  Children in costumes may be scared of your dog and your dog may be scared of them!

Dogs Love Pumpkin!

It's October and what could be better for your dog than a little pumpkin? Dogs like to eat it and it's good for them! Pumpkin is full of beta-carotene, which aids in cancer prevention, reduces inflammation, and converts to Vitamin A in the body. Dogs need fiber, too! Pumpkin is high in fiber, good for digestive health. Use a  small amount of canned or fresh pumpkin puree for dogs with upset stomachs or motion sickness.  Be sure it is plain canned pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie mix, which is full of sugar and spices.

Dogs are Begging for Food?

Begging is one of the most common behaviors that you will face as a dog owner. We would like to give them everything that they want. When they start begging, it's almost too much for us to bear... and we give in!

With a little fortitude, here's how you can correct this behavior. Follow these simple tips:

1. Do not give food. This may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised how few people consider it when they're looking into the wide, wet eyes of their precious pup. Their whine is an effective tool against you, and your dog knows it. Why? Because it's worked before! Giving food is a form of affection, and giving affection reinforces the behavior. Your dog has learned that if he begs, he gets food! Take a stand and start a new trend. Find the willpower to withhold the food, and your dog will learn that he can't expect rewards for begging.
2. Ignore. Begging is an attention-seeking behavior. Rather than give in to doggy's demands, ignore the behavior and teach your dog that it does not get results! When you talk to your dog, give him affection, or engage in direct eye contact, you are feeding his mental state. Instead, practice no touch, no talk, no eye contact.
3. Don't feel sorry for your dog.. Your dog is well-fed. He is not in danger of going hungry if you don't give him that scrap off the table. Don't feel sorry for him when he flashes you those eyes and places a paw on your leg. If you are worred about how much your dog should be fed, talk to your vet. This can help ease your concerns and allow you to remain calm and assertive!
4. Be consistent. In any kind of training, consistency is the key to success. For your dog to learn that his begging behavior is not allowed, it has to be ineffective ALL of the time. Inconsistent enforcement of the rules leads to a disobedient dog! Make sure that every person in the household understands and enforces the same rules.
5. Be patient. Few dogs change overnight. If you have followed these tips to the letter and your dog continues to beg, don't give up. Your reward will be a better behaved dog!

Hugged Your Pets Today?

Ok, y'all, it has been scientifically proven. Hugging your pets is good for you! Specifically, it raises your oxytocin level. Oxytocin is a hormone that makes us feel good. And, Cortisol (the stress hormone) goes DOWN in humans after spending some time with their pets.

I knew I was enjoying walking the dogs! NOW, I know why!

Labor Day Jaunts

Wow, the summer has really flown by! Labor Day has come and gone. Thankfully, I was booked by lots of pet-loving clients over the holiday weekend. I met some new people and renewed acquaintance with several others.

Hubby and the kids cleaned house while I was out and about walking dogs, feeding cats, and generally having a great time with pets! My 13 year old son LOVES to go with me on petsitting visits. Spending time with dogs and cats is so good for both of us!

Keep your Pets Cool

Summertime is here, and according to Eric and Barbie at WLBT, it's going to be hot for a while longer!  When we get hot, we can get a cool drink, go inside, or set the thermostat a little cooler.  Our dogs and cats can't do that, so it’s up to us to be sure they don’t overheat.

With the dog days of summer before us, pet owners should beware of the dangers of heatstroke in pets.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that results when pets cannot adequately rid themselves of excess body heat. Pets rely on panting to cool down. Although panting is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas with high humidity or low ventilation. The intake of cool, fresh water improves the cooling effects of panting.

Dogs with pug noses are more likely to develop heatstroke because their small nasal passages make it difficult to circulate sufficient air for cooling. Overweight dogs, whose extra layers of fat act as insulation, are also prone to overheating. Age can also be a factor in an animal’s tendency to overheat. Very young pets and elderly pets are more likely to develop heatstroke.

For information on the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars, or in other potentially hazardous situations, see MyDogIsCool.com.