Here is an interesting fact. One female dog is able to have an average liter of 4 puppies and can biologically be bred twice a year. If she able to so for 6 years and if every puppy born from that liter is able to have 4 puppies, then how many possible puppies will have been produced in a six year period?

Answer: If allowed to breed, one female dog can cause a production of 972 puppies within 6 years!

There are roughly 60 million dogs in the Untied States.

Please spay and neuter your pets!

Tips for “apartment barkaholics!”

O.k., so you have the great dog, and finally the apartment that allows you to have a home and a dog. Then you get the knock on the door. Not aware of the apartment police? Some neighbors can have that dual occupation. That said, barking while you’re not home can be annoying. So how do you stop it when you’re not home to correct the behavior?

Dogs respond to triggers. A great trigger is to teach your dog to chill while you’re not home.

1. Keep a clock radio in the kitchen

2. Before you leave, turn it on to a mellow radio station. Classical or Spa music is a great option. This really sets the tone for your dog to relax.

3. Say the word “Wait” as you leave.

This redirects your dog to wait, relax and give up his day job of barking at every noise.

Ahh, perfection. A perfect fall day and a beautiful dog in it’s young adult glory. The American Kennel Club polls rate the Labrador Retriever as the number one dog in the country. Really? What does that mean? Well, today’s tip of the day is to remember that within every breed lies a variety of different temperaments. So when you chose your perfect dog, it doesn’t simply involve the breed of dog. It has to do more with finding the right energy level and personality. Some labs can lead the blind and others are bred for duck hunting with a high energy drive. Same breed, different temperaments. Yes, training plays a part in a dog’s ability to do a job. However, the average dog owner needs to know that not all Labs are mellow or good with children. Always look at your individual circumstance and lifestyle when wanting a particular breed, then assess the  temperament of the puppy or dog. Matching a dog’s individual temperament, energy level and breeding (when possible)  with your  lifestyle that will determine your success. For example, dogs with a high energy and prey drive are not bad dogs. Although, depending on your daily routine, they can be challenging if their exercise and training needs are not met. A responsible breeder or rescue group can properly assess the temperament of the dog and match the needs of the dog with your lifestyle, if you’re honest with yourself!

The key is to do your research and really find the right match for your lifestyle!

I understand. Cute stuff. The truth of the matter is that your dog really just wants to spend time with you.

I know, you get busy and then buy toys, grooming tools, chew bones, training supplies, food, dog walkers, vet bills and wow! Who knew it would cost so much?

Here are ways to SAVE money.

- Include your dog in your workouts. Really! Walk. Make it a 30 minute fast workout- with a mission.

- Bathe your own dog. You will save a lot of money. It really only takes 20 minutes. Here’s a tip: Keep a leash on your dog. That way you can redirect him to sit or stand and not run away. That way you can both remain calm and then you’ll remember to praise him while being bathed. Also dilute the shampoo with water before you put it on your dog and rinse 3 times longer to get shampoo out.

- Check with your local pet store to get low cost shot clinics. This is a good way to save money on vaccinations.

- Instead of expensive chew bones, treats and snacks, try a carrot! Dogs love them. They are crunchy and low cal.  Another healthy treat my dogs love are sweet potatoes. They’re crazy for them. Microwave a sweet potato then cut it up and put it in the fridge.  Always check with your vet first before you try something new.

- Looking for a pure bred puppy? Always check out breed rescues. Every city has one. If not, look in your local city shelter. Yes, they even have puppies.

- Tons of toys? Rotate them. But really, all you need is a tennis ball and a couple of bully sticks and you’re good to go. The trick is to bring them out during playtime. Ball to play/Bully stick to chill and chew.

What does dog food have to do with dog training? The answer is… Everything! I know, it’s a billion dollar industry with an ever expanding menu of options and opinions. It gets very confusing for dog owners to decide which food to buy, and why, when and how to feed it. What does that mean in regards to training your dog? How, when, where and what your dog eats can have direct impacts on peeing and pooping in your house, how your dog gets along with other animals in your house, an array of behavioral issues, health concerns, potential allergies (leading to medical bills) and even how your dog interacts with your children! It all begins with you–the dog owner! No pressure… It’s also a topic I will address often in this blog!

O.k. so let’s get to the meat of it: dog training, dog food, how it correlates and why? In general, most people in my practice are confused when to feed their dogs, how often, and what kind of food. Owners of dogs who are finicky eaters often give too many options of meals and human treats leading them to beg their dogs to eat! Yes of course, there are those dogs I call “hoovers” who have no issues whatsoever as far as what and when to eat. If you fall into that dog owner camp, don’t stop reading because there is something called bloat. This is cause for concern and it has to do with feeding your dog.

What is bloat? Please ask your vet for more information on this topic. According to my research and first-hand experience, it is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. The technical name is “Gastric Dilatation Volvulus” or (GDV). This is where the dog can swallow too much air while eating rapidly. Drinking water or stress can be a significant factor in swallowing air. As the stomach swells, it can twist and obstruct the veins leading to shock, damaging the internal organs and quickly killing your dog. The breeds of dogs this can affect may surprise you. Dogs that are at risk for bloat are usually deep rib caged breeds, big and small. Lucky me… my breed of choice is (of course) number one on this list: the German Shepherd Dog.  Golden Retrievers, Labs, Dachsunds, Pekingese, and even Miniature Poodles can be at risk!

I will cover this topic extensively in a future post, but for now I want you to be aware of this potential risk. The point is that even the dog who has a heathy appetite has some training tips that could save its life. Training your dog to eat slower is a healthier option.  Finicky eaters need to learn to eat in one sitting which will in turn help with housebreaking issues, potty accidents, child safety around dog food bowls, and will ward off potential dog fights in multiple dog households. All around, this is a better option for your dog and you.

Here’s my recipe for success:  Paws For A Minute™… general feeding tips!

1. Choose a brand of dog food that’s right for you, then stick with it. Switching brands constantly is not good for potty training or your dog’s digestion.

2. If you do graduate to adult dog food or feel you need to switch brands, do so gradually. The switching of brands needs to be done over a 3 or 4 day period, gradually adding in the new food.

3. All dogs (even puppies) should be time fed. Meaning: put the food down for 20 minutes. If they don’t finish, “Sorry Charlie!” until the next feeding. Leaving dog food out just creates a finicky eater. Your dog will learn to eat in one sitting if you structure it this way.

4. Occasionally hand feed your dog. Don’t get out of hand with this tip. I do not mean hand feed your dog every day! Once in a while, take a few handfuls of dog food and give it to your dog. This socializes your dog to accept sharing its food and not being territorial over it.

Please note *if your instincts say that you cannot do this tip then please DO NOT. If your dog growls or snaps or is in any way aggressive, that’s YOUR signal that you have a major problem! Do not ignore the problem and seek help with a trainer.

5. Feed your adult dog at the time of day that is convenient for you! Dogs are social animals, often they want company while eating. If you live in a really busy household and have a busy schedule,  feed your dog when you are having a cup of coffee or tea and not rushing around. This will help you time feed. Or baby gate your dog near you and serve the meal. This helps your dog to be a part of things and also not have the need to follow you around. This is specially helpful in teaching puppies who are easily distracted by movement to eat in one sitting.

6. Check to see if your breed of dog is at risk for bloat. If so, feed your dog several small meals a day. If you own multiple dogs: gating or separating the dogs while you feed them will help slow down the competition to finish first. Gulping food is what you want to modify. Also watching rapid water intake before and after feeding is important. No exercise before or directly after meals for one hour. Feeding your dog indoors will also help cut out the gulping urge. Calmer atmospheres will slow down the eating pattern of eating fast.  I will have more on the subject in later posts, but for now, awareness is important.

7. Wet food or dry food? Here is my general rule on that issue: If you want to feed both wet and dry food that’s fine but know that the nutrients are in the kibble. Wet food contains moisture and feeding exclusively wet food can present dental issues down the line, especially for toy breeds. Dog foods are really advanced and use premium ingredients these days. So mix in the wet with the dry if you want, but it’s not necessary.

If pictures speak a thousand words, then most dog owners know these words… “No!” “Quiet!” “Enough!” This is such a great photo of a very common problem. It was taken by my friend and pet photographer Jim Dratfield. I asked to use it to help give some relief to dog owners who love having the three musketeers without the constant sound effects.  Dog owners with multiple dogs know exactly what this picture sounds like live and in living color. Oh, and so do your neighbors!

Photo credit: Jim Dratfield

O.k., so how do you get this behavior of barking at every passer-by and car door slamming to stop?  Obviously, having two or more dogs creates a competition between them and barking in itself is really normal. It is annoying though, if barking and rushing to look out the window becomes their obsession and daily hobby. I have a number of suggestions and solutions.

Usually during the day there are busier times than others on the street. Meaning that you should pay attention to the time of day your dogs bark. Write down the hours. Generally when people go to work and come home is when it becomes a bark-fest. Therefore, you could break up the pack during those times. One option is to create a bone chewing time by using a baby gate. Gate one or two of the dogs in a kitchen or hallway for bone chewing time. Breaking up the pack can stop the trigger of one dog instigating the barking.

Another option is to know when the barking happens is to put music on in advance. Sounds crazy, but this will really break up the pattern of being alert to outside noises. A third option is to correct this barking with a shake of a penny can from out of sight. Take a coffee can, empty it,  then put a handful of pennies in it and the lid back on. As your dogs begin to bark, shake the can once and say “No!” This loud abrupt noise will represent the same boundary as the siren of a police care pulling you over for running a red light. Then back up the sanction by redirecting your dogs in a positive way. Ask them to come to you in a really happy, nice voice. Let them seek you out. Dogs love to please, they just don’t know how unless you guide them.