With holidays creeping closer for many walks of life, there comes many potential hazards and problems. Dogs frequently get in to holiday treats, trees, lights, presents, decorations, you name it. It can often land them in trouble, or worse - and require a trip to the vet. Guests and strange people visiting can often send dogs into an anxious tizzy, and sometimes, they're not quite the same after the holidays. How do we prevent these kinds of things?
1) Impulse Control
Heading the top of our list is the number one way to prevent most dog-related holiday problems, and many other non-holiday ones, as well. It is the most under taught and undervalued skill a dog can have. Impulse Control teaches a dog to wait for permission to touch or approach anything at all, even his own food. It teaches a dog that simply because a human is not touching it does not mean that it is open for him to take or play with. Impulse control gives the dog the mindset that everything belongs to the human, and he is occasionally allowed to play with or eat a few things.
2) Leave It and Drop It
When Impulse Control fails (and every dog has their moments), the next best skill they can learn is Leave it (meaning don't touch that thing you're going for) and Drop It (Put that out of your mouth and leave it alone). These skills cover any situation where a dog is going for or has gone for something that could injure them - such as those dark chocolate candy cane bark treats, or the lights on the tree.
3) Kennel Training
In situations like dinners or parties where you just simply don't have the time or resources to monitor your dog, kennel training is an excellent way of mitigating potential disaster. If a dog is properly kennel trained, they enjoy time in their kennel, and don't try and break out or whine. This pretty much eliminates any possibility of holiday injury - but please don't leave your dog in a kennel more than a couple of hours.
4) Ex-Pen
For higher energy dogs where a kennel is just simply too much confinement in such excitement, using an ex-pen is a superb way of safely containing a dog while still leaving room to let your dog have space to play around.
5) Door Manners
The last thing you want is to have your over excited dog bowl some poor guest over at the door because they're so excited, especially if your dog injures themselves or your guest. Teaching a dog proper door manners will avoid all dog related door injuries.
6) Place/Bed Command
The Place or Bed command works like a less strict kennel, where your dog can occupy a space and move around a little, but essentially stay out from underfoot. This is good for small parties where you can keep an eye, but shouldn't be considered a means of safely containing your dog.
7) Not That, But This
A dog getting in to things they're not supposed to is an indication that they are bored, hungry, or both. The dog is trying to communicate that in some way, they feel left out, and need some form of attention, especially if they are chewing on your elf-on-the-shelf or trying to snag a shortbread. Instead of scolding and frustrating the dog that just wants some attention too, make a trade, with an appropriate correction. Our goal here is Correct, Require Behaviour, Redirect. In other words, you're going to issue a command, such as Drop It, Leave It, whathaveyou. Once your dog obeys, acknowledge that, and give them a task, such as sit, or such as paw the treat cupboard, bring a toy - anything that forces the dog to perform a behaviour and sidetrack the mind. Then, once that's done, you're going to give the dog exactly what he wants - just in a more appropriate form, such as a tug toy, game of fetch for a bit, or a meal or treat. Instead of simply correcting and frustrating your already frustrated dog, you're communicating that how they're acting is inappropriate, issuing a proper behaviour, and rewarding it with what they want. Given enough times, your dog will simply pick up a toy to play with you for a moment, or sit by their food bowl. The key here is to notice these signs, and engage your dog properly.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Rehabilitating Your Dog Post Halloween - Blog Thirty Nine
Many families choose to partake in Samhein, Halloween, or simply
trick or treating. Religious debates aside, many people involve their
kids - and pocket books - in one of the biggest financial holiday there
is. There is however a fast rising trend to involve pets. This is a
disaster waiting to happen. Some dogs can handle it, absolutely. We're
not saying all dogs can't handle Halloween celebrations. However, MOST
cannot, and should not - and there are many reasons why they should
simply be left at home.
1) Humanizing dogs is an epidemic that is causing bratty dogs. These animals are animals. They aren't little humans. They're not furry toddlers. They are animals. Treating a dog like a small human is not only unfair to the dog, it creates many problems that trainers all over the world have to repair.
2) Costumes are foreign, frightening, and confusing for dogs. 99.9% of the time, humans don't dress in costume. Dogs get used to specific stereotypes in order to know what a "human" is, beyond scent. Costumes are not only completely different and strange, it can also change how a human looks entirely, and cause a dog to become bewildered. Its a human, but it doesn't look like a human. This smells like my person, but it's not my human. Some dogs even react out, negatively, and with suspicion. Some dogs can even associate your scent with that frightening occurrence, causing huge mistrust and relationship damage.
3) Fireworks are terrifying and loud. Imagine what it would sound and feel like to have your neighborhood blown up. Now imagine you're a dog, who doesn't understand what's going on, be trapped inside (or outside), and be unable to get away, or identify the sounds (which are quite louder for dogs, as a side note).
4) Halloween candy which is everywhere on Halloween is deadly for dogs. Many children often drop candy. One piece is enough to seriously hurt or even kill your dog.
5) Mass crowds and large collections of people is frightening for many dogs. To make it worse, most of them are acting excited and out of character, but are also dressed strangely. Continued exposure to crowds (when not guided by a trainer) can cause a large number of behavioral issues.
6) Stressed dogs are far more likely to bite - even dogs that have never bitten before. This chance increases a lot with dogs that are more fearful, or very assertive. You wouldn't feel happy at all if your dog bit someone's child.
It is always wiser to leave your dog at home, or even better - at a kennel where there will be no fireworks or people in strange clothing.
What if my dog has a reaction to festivities?
Rehabilitating a dog from a fear reaction is difficult. It requires time, patience, and repeated, controlled exposure to the stimulation that frightened them. In the case of fireworks, loud noises, or things such as vehicle engines, jets, ect, we use YouTube! You're going to play the target sounds over and over, as low as it needs to be so your dog doesn't pee or react too strongly, and you're going to initiate some high intensity, high excitement play time. It is far easier to correct excitement at sounds than fear. You will be creeping the volume up until you can play with your dog with these sounds very loudly without fear. The same concept works with other things; if costumes set your dog off, rework this idea so that the costume can be on the floor on the other side of the room, closer, then immediately beside the dog, and finally, either on a human, or stuffed animal. Crowd fears will not be so easy to fix, however you can utilize the same exact concept by entering the core of your city or a busy park while playing with a favorite, high-energy game like tug or fetch.
What if my dog has completely shut down?
If something has set your dog off so badly that they pee, shiver and cower, or run and yelp at the sound or sight of the problem, you will need to get a trainer in right away. This type of reaction warrants an expertly timed hand, and one that knows exactly when to encourage, press/stretch the dog, and when to back off. A misstep here could cause a permanent, lifelong problem, because it could cause your dog to include you in the association. A very big, common Halloween fear is sudden reactivity at door noises, children, or people carrying bags or large hats.
What if my dog has gotten in to Halloween candy but looks fine?
Whether your dog looks fine or not, you need to see a vet immediately. Symptoms will pop up between 4-24 hours after ingestion, and they can deteriorate quickly. Bigger dogs can handle more chocolate than smaller dogs, but this does not mean that they may be okay. Be on the look out for vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness/hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tension, poor coordination, fast heart rate, and seizing. Your dog will have to vomit. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING AT HOME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, unless you already have medication to do so on hand from a vet. Drop what you are doing as soon as you realize your dog has had chocolate, and go immediately to a vet.
My dog is now reacting aggressively to kids, costumes, bags, or something else because of festivities. What do I do?
If you are not experienced in rehabilitating reactive fear, please call a trainer. This is not something that is safe to self-correct. If however you're well versed in corrective training but simply unsure of how to correct this behaviour, typically we do slow, safe, controlled exposure, and only reward calm reactions - never any other kind. If you reward a lesser fear reaction, you're going to INCREASE the problem.
Always leave your dogs out of Halloween. Have a great day everyone!
1) Humanizing dogs is an epidemic that is causing bratty dogs. These animals are animals. They aren't little humans. They're not furry toddlers. They are animals. Treating a dog like a small human is not only unfair to the dog, it creates many problems that trainers all over the world have to repair.
2) Costumes are foreign, frightening, and confusing for dogs. 99.9% of the time, humans don't dress in costume. Dogs get used to specific stereotypes in order to know what a "human" is, beyond scent. Costumes are not only completely different and strange, it can also change how a human looks entirely, and cause a dog to become bewildered. Its a human, but it doesn't look like a human. This smells like my person, but it's not my human. Some dogs even react out, negatively, and with suspicion. Some dogs can even associate your scent with that frightening occurrence, causing huge mistrust and relationship damage.
3) Fireworks are terrifying and loud. Imagine what it would sound and feel like to have your neighborhood blown up. Now imagine you're a dog, who doesn't understand what's going on, be trapped inside (or outside), and be unable to get away, or identify the sounds (which are quite louder for dogs, as a side note).
4) Halloween candy which is everywhere on Halloween is deadly for dogs. Many children often drop candy. One piece is enough to seriously hurt or even kill your dog.
5) Mass crowds and large collections of people is frightening for many dogs. To make it worse, most of them are acting excited and out of character, but are also dressed strangely. Continued exposure to crowds (when not guided by a trainer) can cause a large number of behavioral issues.
6) Stressed dogs are far more likely to bite - even dogs that have never bitten before. This chance increases a lot with dogs that are more fearful, or very assertive. You wouldn't feel happy at all if your dog bit someone's child.
It is always wiser to leave your dog at home, or even better - at a kennel where there will be no fireworks or people in strange clothing.
What if my dog has a reaction to festivities?
Rehabilitating a dog from a fear reaction is difficult. It requires time, patience, and repeated, controlled exposure to the stimulation that frightened them. In the case of fireworks, loud noises, or things such as vehicle engines, jets, ect, we use YouTube! You're going to play the target sounds over and over, as low as it needs to be so your dog doesn't pee or react too strongly, and you're going to initiate some high intensity, high excitement play time. It is far easier to correct excitement at sounds than fear. You will be creeping the volume up until you can play with your dog with these sounds very loudly without fear. The same concept works with other things; if costumes set your dog off, rework this idea so that the costume can be on the floor on the other side of the room, closer, then immediately beside the dog, and finally, either on a human, or stuffed animal. Crowd fears will not be so easy to fix, however you can utilize the same exact concept by entering the core of your city or a busy park while playing with a favorite, high-energy game like tug or fetch.
What if my dog has completely shut down?
If something has set your dog off so badly that they pee, shiver and cower, or run and yelp at the sound or sight of the problem, you will need to get a trainer in right away. This type of reaction warrants an expertly timed hand, and one that knows exactly when to encourage, press/stretch the dog, and when to back off. A misstep here could cause a permanent, lifelong problem, because it could cause your dog to include you in the association. A very big, common Halloween fear is sudden reactivity at door noises, children, or people carrying bags or large hats.
What if my dog has gotten in to Halloween candy but looks fine?
Whether your dog looks fine or not, you need to see a vet immediately. Symptoms will pop up between 4-24 hours after ingestion, and they can deteriorate quickly. Bigger dogs can handle more chocolate than smaller dogs, but this does not mean that they may be okay. Be on the look out for vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness/hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tension, poor coordination, fast heart rate, and seizing. Your dog will have to vomit. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING AT HOME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, unless you already have medication to do so on hand from a vet. Drop what you are doing as soon as you realize your dog has had chocolate, and go immediately to a vet.
My dog is now reacting aggressively to kids, costumes, bags, or something else because of festivities. What do I do?
If you are not experienced in rehabilitating reactive fear, please call a trainer. This is not something that is safe to self-correct. If however you're well versed in corrective training but simply unsure of how to correct this behaviour, typically we do slow, safe, controlled exposure, and only reward calm reactions - never any other kind. If you reward a lesser fear reaction, you're going to INCREASE the problem.
Always leave your dogs out of Halloween. Have a great day everyone!
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