I would like to introduce you to a dog named Jake. He is in what in human terms most psychologist would call passive aggressive. Only in terms of how he displays his affections, though! I don’t mean to make light of this situation because any aggression in a dog is not good. However, what I’m about to share with you is important for dog owners to realize and learn. Sometimes slight gestures and reactions or even non-reactions on the part of the dog owner can contribute to your dogs behavior! What do I mean? Well.. keep reading some of this information may ring a bell for you or someone you know that has a dog with similar issue’s.

In Jake’s case he is never aggressive with food or while going or on trips to the park.. of course! At least those were the words used by Jake’s owner to describe the unwanted behavior he wanted to change in his beloved dog. So after hearing the many stories of how Jakes greets the mailman I decided to delve further into investigation as to how, why and when this behavior happened.

Sweet most of the time, but Jake’s energy range goes from energetic to slug at different intervoles throughout the day and then suddenly when the mailman approaches psycho-dog! Then like clockwork, the mailman approached. Jake was in his usual “lounge lizzard” position draped over his usual chair, and then like a rocket, jumped out of the chair, and fired off his machine ( I’m gonna kill you) bark, upon hearing the rattle of the mailman open the mail box. Needless to say, this was not good.

O.k. so a lot of issues, right? I think many dog owners could use a basic understanding of how these behaviors develop and then that can the cure. Firstly, many (not all) dogs are not so mailman aggressive one would think. Actually, it’s the noise of the chain or opening of the mail slot they are hearing and usually barking at. In Jake’s case, he was not able to see the mailman, he just heard the mail being dropped in slot. So what to do?

Here are a few suggestions that I gave Jake’s owner. Dog’s respond to repetition and consistency in both the positive and the negative sense. Jake’s owner did not correct this behavior. Sure he said no, but after the fact. What was needed was to change the place Jake hung out on a daily basis, at least during the few hours a day that the mailman comes. By using a baby gate and creating a new space in the kitchen or hallway, just for a few hours, creates a positive boundary. Secondly, music would help drown out the alert cues of Jake’s hobby of listening to the mailman coming. A third option was to create a mail basket instead of opening the slot. If a behavior is allowed to be repeated such as daily barking then over time this can get out of hand and a really bad accident can happen. Dog owner awareness is key!

P.s. If you, as a dog owner, find that your dog is “over the top” aggressive toward people approaching your yard or property always seek professional help from a dog trainer in your area.

Is this product safe? Years ago these treats had some issues and unfortunately a few dogs choked and died. The treat is now new and improved with a soft, chewy texture that is easier to digest. They are now so soft that they are even bendable. The gummy texture helps remove tarter from a senior dogs teeth! Older dogs sometimes stop chewing things like chew bones, and dental cleanings are expensive but become necessary. However, like with any treat or dog chew you have to be a mindful dog owner! You really need to know your dog, ask your vet and think about when you give treats.

Seriously, I mean when you buy a treat for your dog, think about your dog and circumstance. Do you have multiple dogs? Does your dog gulp treats? How old is your dog? You are probably thinking, why should I ask myself all of these questions before giving my dog a treat or a chew!? Well, all of these questions have to do with safety and ultimately safety will save you heartache and vet bills. These treats like other treats and dog chews can be great if you read the packaging and get the proper size of treat for your dog. The main thing is that your dog does not gulp or hoard treats. If that’s the case this type of treat may not be right for  your dog. This treat is now new and improved to be chewy and easy to digest helping to clean teeth and has vitamins galore.

Paws for a Minute™ safety tips for treats!

1. If your dog gulps treats, this treat is not the best. Beware of your dogs chewing behaviors. Check with your vet, first.

2. Read the packages and think before you buy a chew bone or treat!

3. If you own multiple dogs don’t give them all a chew bone or chew treat all at the same time. This creates a “shark effect” and frenzy that can cause choking.

Crate training your puppy should happen in phases depending on your dogs age. For example, very young puppies should be socialized into the crate slowly over a period of time, even a few weeks, before the door is shut. Once your dog  can hold the urge to go to the bathroom all night,  you can then shut the crate door for a few hours a day to begin with. Remember, your daily routine is key. You should always give your dog lot’s of walks, exercise and hang time with you, as well as crating time even when your home. This is really important to realize. Many  people crate their dog only when they leave and the crate is associated with abandonment when it really should be thought of as the a plush condo. The length of crate training will depend on your lifestyle, work habits, age of your dog, and training that you have given while raising your dog. Obedience training ( heel, sit , stay , down and come) creates a language and allows you to develop trust. The rest takes time just like any other relationship. How do you know when you can stop crate training your dog? You’ll know. There will be no accidents for months, nothing chewed up during your dogs free time loose in the house and you’ll just know!

Yesterday, I received a call from a former client telling me her dog has begun growling at her outdoors in the evening. Strangely, this new behavior began when she was ready for bed and asking him to come indoors. She wanted me to come over and correct this odd new behavior. I asked her to describe the issue. She said that her dog seemed spooked and would sort of hide in the back of the yard and as she approached him he began to growl. I asked her to describe what she did prior to leaving him in the yard. She confidently said that all she did was give him a bone while she was out and let him outdoors to enjoy the summer evening for a few hours. Bingo! Hello?

Giving a dog a bone outdoors can create problems like digging and territorial behaviors. Some dogs hide the bones and in the evening it can draw other animals to it. Not a good idea!

If leaving your dog in the yard for a few hours, exercise him first, then leave hard rubber toys or a ball to enjoy, instead.

I was at the vets office and a man walked in with his new rescue dog, excited for a new beginning. He asked me about housebreaking his dog, he was planning to keep his new dog outdoors until she became trustworthy. He wondered if that would have any downsides to training his dog that way.

Here is the scoop on leaving your dog outdoors 24/7. Leaving your dog outdoors all day and all night can have a huge downside. Behaviors like excessive barking, destruction, boredom, digging, barking and sometimes (territorial) aggression, can develop overtime. Of course, this depends on where you live, the age of your dog, breed and other factors. Especially with new adopted dogs and puppies the training involved should include housebreak your dog. This means teaching your dog to hold the urge to go to the bathroom you must teach him inside and take him outdoors to go. Not the other way around. All dogs love to spend time out doors, just make sure is not too many hours in length! Just don’t keep them outside in the yard excessively. Know that dogs are very social creatures and will get lonely if left alone in the yard too long. They are den animals and should be thought of as a member of your family!

Here’s my fun Paws for a Minute™ 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!

A common and annoying bad habit for some dogs is to get into the ol’ garbage. Many clients ask me to solve this problem and they say that they yell “No!” at their dogs only when they catch them in the act– but it doesn’t seem to work. The dogs are at it again the next day. Well here’s why yelling “No!” from across the room doesn’t work. Your dog may appear as though he knows what he’s doing wrong, but he’s merely responding to your voice and to your anger. Part of the problem with yelling “No” from across the room is that dogs do not differentiate or isolate what you are mad at! They just know you are mad. Get it? So how do you make it clear? Here are a couple of ways..

Keep reading…

Continued from the June 30th post…

I showed Jill and David gentle guidance of Bro on a leash into the kitchen area, rather than having to beg, coax or grab his collar. Then once in the kitchen area I pulled up on the leash while asking Bro to “Sit” and “Wait.” I slowly put up the baby gate and removed the leash. I then gave Bro a bone to chew on. David watched with skepticism. This gating exercise was not a punishment. It created a positive boundary for Bro, and calmed him down and taught him to “Wait.” It also enabled Jill and David to open the front door without having to wrestle an eighty- pound dog.  Gating Bro in the kitchen and giving him a bone helped reduce his anxiety. Both David and Jill knew when guests were coming over and when gating Bro would be best. So when the doorbell rang he was not able to rush the front door. You are then able to correct him by saying “No!” Additionally, you can shake a penny can. “Penny can?” “Yes. I happen to have an empty coffee can right here.”  I reached in my bag and pulled out a Folgers coffee can.  Put a hand full of pennies in it and the lid back on it. Voila, a penny can. The noise represents a sanction.  I explained the similarity to a police car pulling us over for speeding. Jill and David got the picture. Keep reading…

In my career, I have seen sweet Pitt Bulls and Dobermans, and snappy Poodles and Chihuahuas that could take your face off. Whatever the size of dog, dog owners need to become aware of the warning signs that a dog develops along the way. Sometimes the lack of correction by dog owners in certain seemingly benign situations, like greeting guests at the front door, can contribute and cause a dog to eventually become aggressive or even bite!

Recently, for example, I received a call to help a cute couple, Jill and David, who owned an unruly 18-month-old blonde Labrador Retriever named Bro.  There main concern was that Bro was rambunctious when guests came to the door. That was a complete understatement!  A more accurate depiction was to pass out full body gear for guests and possibly a release form upon entering. I heard Bro barking with the excitement of a bird dog on a hunt, his nails slowly digging into the wood grain as if he were trying to get through the front door. Then David’s voice echoed over the courtyard of the apartment complex, “NO! Bro!” A wrestling match ensued while David attempted to use brute force trying to grab his collar in order to open the front door. “Wow,” I thought. “There has got to be an easier way for them.”

Again, feeling a little like the Feng Shui with Fido™ super hero for dog owners, I entered and squeezed my body through the tiny crack allotted at the front door. Trying not to let Bro escape, I got in.  That moment the apologies began. “It’s Ok.” I chanted, “That’s why I’m here.” “See what my guests have to endure!” Gasped David. “Well, yes I do” I replied.  David continued to reprimand Bro verbally because he was so embarrassed and mad at his behavior while Jill smiled as if to assure me that he was actually a very sweet dog.

We discussed Bro’s exercise routines because they had just recently moved into an apartment from a house.  He was going to the park three times a week and walked everyday, which was good. I suggested that they teach Bro how to “Wait” behind a baby gate. To allow this behavior to continue to happen was crazy. To yell, “NO!” at Bro did absolutely nothing and wrestling him to the ground gave David an aerobic workout—but that was about it.  David nodded in agreement. I explained that they both had to use the same technique because Bro was defiantly getting mixed signals.  Jill was doing nothing at the front door and David was trying to muscle Bro’s bad behavior into submission.

…Want to know how I solved Bro’s bad behavior? Stay tuned!

Dog training is not only to get your dog to listen to you– it’s for you to apply in your daily life! People often say an awful lot but the meaning never becomes quite clear to the dog! Teaching your dog training commands creates a bond and an understanding between your dog and it’s fun for your dog and cool for you. Please! All dogs want to please– they just need you to guide them. Just imagine if you could get all the “people” in your life to have such focus and determination to please you just because you took the time to explain a few steps.

All of the below commands should be taught on a 6 foot leash first — think elementary school. Then over time you can try off leash or Harvard. I thought it would help my readers to get a clearer mental picture of training if I went over my basic obedience terminology:

1. “Heel” or “Let’s go” means walk on my left and at my heel.

2. “Sit” means sit, not stay.

3. “Stay” means do not move. (Not sort of, not kind of. Do not move.)

4. “Down” means lie down. (Not “Do not jump on me,” or “Get off the couch.”)

5. “Wait” means hang out, relax and chill. (Not to be confused with “Stay”)

6. “Come” means come to me and sit and wait for a release command.

7. “OK” is the release command and means the command is over.

Use this as a guide for all of my training techniques!