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Is your dog a DOOR DASHER? How is his recall? Better than our friend FENTON?!

In case you haven't seen the "Fenton" video yet... a dog parent loses his dog who runs off to chase a herd of deer! Wow, he sounds pretty annoyed! Of course now the video has been spoofed and is a big internet joke. But, judging from the sound of the man, I don't think he was laughing at the time.


Here is a a good little article in Whole Dog Journal by Pat Miller, CPDT about what to do when your dog runs out the door... Luckily we are in the country so it is a little less dangerous than being in a high traffic area, but even so a runaway dog is no joking matter. Any number of dangers are out there and a dog who is not listening to his person is more likely to encounter them.

In fact, the advice by given by Pat Miller in this article is useful for anytime your dog escapes and runs off. I watched from my window one day as a guy's dog jumped out of his truck  to chase a squirrel. The dog bounded off without a care in the world with no intention of returning to the vehicle.  Meanwhile his person just yelled at him and chased him which drove the dog farther away. The man finally got in his truck to follow the dog who was now way down the street looking for more squirrels to chase...

A runaway dog reminds us about working on your dog's recall. This skill is one of the most important that you will ever teach your dog.  It takes a little time but well worth the effort. What you want is a positive association that brings the dog back to you.

Here is a brief video from Victoria Stillwell (It's Me or the Dog) showing how to teach recall using a whistle.

Just remember, don't panic! Don't chase! Don't get mad!
Stay calm and carry treats!! :-)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr, what to do when your dog growls at YOU!

DON'T MESS WITH ME!

Growling, it's one of those things dogs do... that really freaks people out. What does growling mean exactly and should one be concerned?  Moreover, how do I handle my own dog growling at me?

Understandably, most people are concerned about dogs growling at them as well they should be. A growl is a form of  dog communication warning that you are doing something that is making the dog uncomfortable. When you don't know a dog well enough to know where his bite threshold is in relation to his growl threshold (the time between the growl and the bite if one is to follow), get yourself safe immediately. For some dogs a growl doesn't necessarily foreshadow a bite but if a strange dog does growl at you, I suggest that you take it seriously.

On the other hand, if one's own dog is growling it is an entirely different issue. You love your dog, you've been very kind to your dog and you think you know your dog very well.  Maybe your feelings are hurt? So what's the problem with this dog anyway?

My bite can hurt too!!!

I often speak to to people who tell me that their dog growls at other people and is even growling at them when they are doing something the dog doesn't like.  I hear this a lot more about smaller dogs than large dogs, partly because people are more likely to tolerate growling and even aggression from little dogs since they are less likely to severely hurt the person. That said, don't kid yourself, a small dog biting you is no joke either!

The first thing I say regarding growling is that it is a necessary part of the dog's vocabulary. What we don't want to do is to correct a dog when he is doing something that is an important element of his communication with us. When we correct a dog for growling, we are basically telling the dog not to warn us that he is unhappy.  That could be a problem if the dog's next choice of communication is a bite!

According to dog behavior expert Pat Miller, the best reaction to your own dog growling at you is to STOP what you are doing.  If the dog's bite threshold is far enough away from his growl, you can stay where you are until your dog relaxes and then move away.  This action is rewarding the calm behavior rather than the growling behavior.

At this point analyze why your dog was growling so that you can understand what is upsetting him.  Once you know the cause, you can work on helping your dog overcome his discomfort through appropriate behavior modification techniques.  It's best to work with a trainer to learn how to use these techniques.

Hopefully after some behavior modification therapy, your dog will get over his anxiety and feel more comfortable with whatever was triggering his growling and then everyone will be happier!

For more info on growling, check out Pat Miller's e-book available through Whole Dog Journal!

Thanks for helping me mom!

New Dog Training Course starting October 5 at L4P!

I am an advocate of training your dog. Not so much for doing tricks and such although that is a lot of fun, but in creating a language that you both understand.  Training gives you control and a form of communication. We are not all dog whisperers unfortunately so learning how to communicate is the best we can do.

My background in training comes mainly from 5 years of training shelter dogs for LA Animal Services in West LA. During that time I studied with Animal Behavior College and I completed their certification course. I am now a mentor trainer for ABC. I continue to take seminars with well-known trainers such as Sue Sternberg and Pia Silvani. I love working with dogs and find them to be wonderful students.

There are many methodologies used in dog training and although I prefer using positive reinforcement for your average dog who doesn't have major issues, that doesn't mean there isn't validity in using other methods.  However, what I like about positive reinforcement methods is that:

• Anyone can do it.
• It won't hurt the dog.
• It's effective in many situations and so easily transferable to new behaviors.
• It's fun for both you and your dog

My new class, that has limited space, starts on Friday, Oct.5 at 9am. It is 4 Friday mornings.  The class is specifically for adult dogs with little or no training. It is also good as a refresher course. 

This is a beginner class teaching "sit," "down," "stay," and loose-leash walking.  The class is an hour and the series of 4 costs $80. This is a bargain if you compare this price with other training classes. I do this because I really want people to train their dog and have a successful relationship that lasts a lifetime.

REMEMBER: The success of each dog is based on the work the person puts into it!

What you will need: 

• Leash & collar/halter,
• High quality soft treats cut into very small pieces (pea size), 
• A treat bag 
• A positive attitude and an open mind

Call me at 242-1886 or email me at lola4dogs@gmail.com if you are interested!  

High anxiety, what can a pet parent do?

Many dogs (and even cats) can suffer from ANXIETY. This is an extremely common problem!

Anxiety can manifest in different ways, everything from fearful behavior, hiding, shaking, whining, barking to neurotic behavior like pacing, licking, tearing up the house, etc.  Probably one of the most common anxiety-related afflictions is separation anxiety which, if you've had a pet with this problem, you know how difficult it can be to treat successfully.

Anxiety can be learned or it can be a temperament issue.  There may have been a trauma in puppyhood and the dog has become sensitized to something in particular. Sometimes it is due to a lack of socialization and exposure to different situations so the dog hasn't had a chance to build confidence. All of this said, whether it is temperament or it is a learned behavior, it is still possible to improve your dog's quality of life..

Although anxiety is a very complex issue, it can be helped through some very basic procedures that can put your pet at ease.

Teaching your pet to be neutral about staying home alone is a good place to start and one that I highly recommend.   Tone down your comings and goings. Downplay your emotions relating to leaving your dog and then being reunited.  Sure, you are sad to leave your baby and happy to see her again, but the less emotion that you display at these critical times will help your dog to feel less emotional  about it as well.  Less is more in this case and a big help to your dog in dealing with being alone.  You are not doing your dog any favors by having dramatic arrivals and departures.

What most people fail realize is that our emotional state directly affects our pets. If you think about it, you can probably come up with several examples where you felt that your pet was responding to your emotional state.  A lot of these emotions can be projected onto your pet including anxiety!

Crate training can also be very helpful to dealing with anxiety because your dog learns to enjoy the crate as a safe haven.  If you crate train you are more likely to have a dog who doesn't mind being alone and quiet.  It's also great for travel and especially in an emergency to have your dog acclimated to the crate.  Crate training is something that needs to be gradually introduced so I will leave that to another post...

Another thing that can keep your dog calm is having a regular schedule.  Dogs are truly creatures of habit. I find that when a routine changes there is usually an adjustment period that needs to take place. Try not to change too many things at once.  Even a food change can cause some mental upset.

Thankfully there are a lot of articles and books on how to deal with anxiety in dogs and I would advise anyone that they should take full advantage of the information that is readily available online. Websites like Dogstardaily.com and Cesarsway.com have dealt with the topic of of anxiety many times. These websites are a great place to start.

In recent years, products have come on the market like Thundershirt which is basically a snug fitting shirt-like wrap that can help the dog feel more secure much like swaddling a baby.  I personally would recommend the Thundershirt before going the medical or herbal remedy route.  If you do try Thundershirt, remember, read the directions first!  Oh and btw, I sell them at Lola 4 Pets! :-)

If you have an anxious dog, come by Lola 4 Pets and I will be happy to help you come up with a solution that works for you and your pet without breaking the bank.

Ciao!