Friday the 13th scary face? Well you might be familiar with face or know of someone who has a little dog that that will take your face off when going over to their house. Not good! When a dog shows his teeth and growls that’s a clear warning which usually comes before a bite. In other words, the translation from the dog becomes if you take one more step closer, I’ll bite you. Why do some dogs get to this place of protection? Usually dogs who growl or show their teeth in self defense are not trained and socialized. What I mean by that is proper boundaries have not been set. I don’t mean discipline, I mean boundaries. Boundaries can be positive. Training a dog to learn basic obedience ( heel, sit ,stay ,down and come on a leash helps create eye contact and a positive boundary. The process of training also allows you to verbally and physically praise your dog for accomplishing something! These steps create a foundation and teaches your dog that through learning these steps your dog is able to please you. If you own a little dog who is sweet to you and then decides who he/she likes it becomes confusing to your dog that you are not redirecting him. Therefore, he/she will take over the territory (your house) and deem anyone else a threat to his territory, This behavior can happen to many little dogs from over coddling as a form of affection rather than praising your do for accomplishing a command.

Here’s my fun Paws for a Minuteâ„¢ quick tip!

Get a treat and put it in your back pocket. Use your body language to get your dog to come to you. Clap and praise your dog. As your dog approaches you reach into your back pocket, put the treat into your right hand and suddenly stand up! With your right hand ( the hand that’s holding the treat)  gesture the letter “j” or an upside down candy cane and say sit as you motion to your dog. That’s the training hand signal for sit! Your dog will focus on your hand and also smell the treat and drop the ball. When he spit’s out the ball give him the treat as you pick up the object he’s dropped!

* Tip: Fido Fact! Don’t chase your dog to get an object away from him. Hello? By doing that you are only teaching your dog to run away from you!

What type of leash is best for walking a dog? As a dog trainer, I get asked this question all the time. So, I thought I’d give you some tips that may surprise you. Did you know that some leashes, if used improperly, can actually create bad behaviors? Yup. In my practice, many clients complained 0f their dog’s bad behavior while walking on a leash. When solving these lunging, barking, and pulling behaviors, I addressed them in part by recommending the proper leash!

The flat 5 or 6 foot leash that comes in nylon or leather is my personal training favorite.  The retractable leash that allows your dog to reel out and explore and sniff is great for certain dogs and owners, but not all. The retractable leash is great for hikes and walks that are not heavily populated by other dogs and owners. They’re also great for the older or middle-aged dog, rather than the very athletic young pup. Why? Because the retractable leash creates the opposite effect than what dog owners should be trying to achieve: guiding your dog to walk at your heels (Using the “heel” command).

Allowing your dog to lead you and (depending on your dog’s temperament and energy level) can send your dog a mixed signal over time. This mixed signal leads to bossy behaviors from your dog towards other dogs and can become hard to manage when holding the cumbersome plastic handle used for retraction. You end up feeling as though you’re water skiing behind your dog rather than going for a nice stroll. We’ve all witnessed the feisty Jack Russell or the out of control Yorkie on the end of the retractable leash barking it’s head off at other dogs. If your dog is easy, older and manageable on the retractable than great. If not, there are other choices!

Using the flat 5 or 6 foot  nylon or leather leash allows your dog to sniff at times and it’s easier to carry in your hands while teaching your dog to heel on your left hand side while walking. My vote is the flat leash over the retractable kind! Don’t get me wrong, the retractable leash can be great for the mellow older dog or the very non-dominant little dog who just minds their own business while walking.

The choice is yours. Happy walking!

The main thing that the owners of tea cup dog breeds need to know is that these small breed dogs can be housebroken! I will say it again! Absolutely, undoubtedly they can be potty trained. Yes, yes, yes. The main problem is that the owners do not realize this! I know the mistakes are small and relatively easy to clean until your dog becomes older. After about 3 or 4 years of mistakes, however, it does become really problematic. I call this the potted plant syndrome (where you visit someone with a toy breed dog and potted plants cover the pee stains that have accumulated).

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If you’re thinking Labradoodles or Yoshons or Puggles, think again. I have been training dogs and people for many decades in Los Angeles and have seen a rising trend among my celebrity clientele. Years ago the trend in dogs was high priced pedigree pups. Now the pedigree pup can officially move aside and Labradoodles are yesterday’s news. The plain old pound puppy prevails! This is the new recycled cost effective choice of the Hollywood elite. What could you have in common with my clients Mandy Moore, Ryan Adams or Will Ferrell? Well, they all own rescue dogs! They are among many celebrities that would have it no other way.

The dog trends have favored many different breeds over the decades. In the 1950’s the Poodle rocked. The Afghan hound took the 60’s with flower power. The 1970’s hit with an overwhelming number of stray dogs. A serious crisis hit the dog world. In L.A County alone the number of animal euthanasia’s hit 100,000 in 1974 alone. The 80’s popular favorite was the Jack Russell; then came the 90’s which held firm on the Chihuahua as a popular pocket dog breed.

I think the Mutt is here to stay in our hearts.

Many of my celebrity clients over the years have asked me to clear up some myths about crating a puppy. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether this practice of confinement is mean, cruel or just down right old school.
I know, you get this really adorable pup and it just breaks your heart to put it in this box like contraption and then shut the door and have to endure the screaming. Right? Actually, it’s wrong! You should never just put a brand new infant puppy in a crate and shut the door. I have said this before and I will say it again: Crating a dog is a great thing to do if done correctly. All dogs are den animals. They love to sleep in small comfy places. A small cozy crate provides them with a sense of security in a new environment.

Here’s the tip you need to socialize them into this concept slowly over time: The age of your pup has a lot do do with when you can shut the crate door all night long in order to housebreak your dog. Is crating your puppy cruel? No, it is not. However, there is a correct process that all dog owners need to know. There are many reasons to train your puppy to like his crate, so keep reading this blog to find out what they are! In the meantime, here are the 2 major DON’Ts.

Keep reading…

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Name: Daisy

Nicknames: Diz, Bizzy, Poodle, The Scootch

Age: 14 years

Hobbies: Taking long naps in the sunshine, feeding her addiction to Greenie treats.

Partner in crime: Her annoying sidekick, Augie the Doggie.

The original designer dog: Found wandering the streets of South Central Los Angeles.

Shelter Cost: $60.00

Claim to Fame: Featured on numerous television shows, books, magazines and has dined with several “A” list celebrities.

Health for 14 years: Perfect

Meet Daisy, my magical 14 year old mutt who I’ve always called “The Poodle Gone Wrong.” In the 14 years of owning her, countless people have asked the question, “What exactly is she?” to which I’ve never had an answer. As fate would have it, a friend gave me the BioPet Dog DNA Breed Identification as a gift. A simple process, all that is required is a cheek swab from your dog and you drop it in the mail. Two weeks later, the results come!

To my surprise, Daisy turned out to be between 37-74% poodle! The report also stated that she is  20-36% Newfoundland, 10-19% Shih Tzu and less than 10% Yorkshire Terrier. Each test result comes with a certificate showing the percentages of each breed found in your dog’s DNA and a description of the breed’s characteristics. Would you ever think that this dog was part Newfie?  This is a great gift idea!

In my dog training practice in recent years, I have seen a huge influx of designer dogs. You know the Puggle (part Pug and part Beagle), the Schnoodle, Doodle and let’s not forget the Yoshon. After researching puppy stores in NYC the other day, I walked into one selling what they proudly sold as rare mix called a Yoshon. I thought to myself, “Yoshon?” What’s that? So, I asked the lady working in the store to explain the breed and why she was selling a mixed breed puppy. Her answer was that he was a designer dog.

She enthusiastically revealed his true identity and said, “Yorkie-Bischon mix.” I secretly  thought to myself, “Wow, this designer dog explosion is really getting out of hand!” People are going crazy for the names of these mixes, made up names and funny looks. I understand the attraction, but in truth, they are all available at the local shelter! Just as cute, if not more original or shall I say, ‘organic.’ What a concept!

I think the general puppy-loving public is unaware of where these pound puppy look-a-likes are coming from and what a massive, cruel and abusive industry they are feeding. In puppy stores and on the internet, a mixed breed  is being toted as a “pure breed designer dog,” and puppy mills are farming them.

Oh my gosh, can we as a society not see this? Supply and demand will dictate the mass breeding of these mixes to puppy mills/commercial breeders. Don’t believe me? Well, let me tell you–the Yoshon I was looking at was being sold for $1,600.00. Later that day, I went to the ASPCA/NYC adoption center and the same adorable mixes, pure breed pup’s and many adult dogs all shapes and sizes, who were also available at a very reasonable price- $200.00 donation fee!

Paws For A Minuteâ„¢ Quick Tip!

1. If you want a designer dog, go organic! Get the original mutt. Go to the shelter!

2. Want a pure breed puppy? There is nothing wrong with wanting a pure breed puppy, just do your research. Local shelters and breed rescues have pure breed pup’s all the time.

Do you feel guilty wanting to own a pure breed dog? Don’t! There is nothing wrong with wanting to own a pure bred Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever or any other breed. After attending Westminster, I think we should celebrate all dogs–mixed breed and pure–but most importantly, responsible breeders! The best place to research a breeder is to go to a dog show in your local area or ask your vet. Good breeders want to speak to you on the phone, meet you, let you see their kennel and meet their dogs! The AKC website is a good place to start. Professional breeders show their dogs in confirmation at local, regional and national dog shows and take great pride in preserving bloodlines. They care a great deal about their dogs health, psychological well being, socialization and placement. Buying a purebred dog can be an equally rewarding experience as rescuing a pup from the shelter, as long as it is from a reputable and RESPONSIBLE breeder! Pure breed puppies can also be found at rescues and shelters!!

Do your research, visit different kennel’s and ask to speak and meet the breeder before ever purchasing a puppy. Many puppy mills disguise themselves on the internet as beautiful kennels that are actually high volume multi-breed puppy factories. How do you know? Google them. See if they are reputable. Call and ask to see the kennel and meet the dogs. Beware of any high volume breeders or USDA licensed breeders… this is a red flag for a puppy mill. Most importantly do not buy a puppy from a pet store. Pet stores often buy from commercial breeders, who breed dogs in cruel conditions.

You can find registered AKC breeders in your area by clicking here:  http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm