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Saying Goodbye to Your Best Friend

Admittedly, I have had a rough year; my father died a couple of months ago and the day before I was leaving to find a new place to live in Virginia my dog was diagnosed with bone cancer and given 6 weeks to live.  Sometimes it feels like life isn’t fair, however since I can’t hide from the pain and my responsibilities anymore I decided perhaps it would be cathartic to write about my experience to help anyone else struggling through the pain of losing their best friend.

What I have realized these past couple of weeks is that he has had a blessed and charmed life.  Instead of focusing on not having him around soon, I am trying to remember the good days and make sure that these next few weeks are full of cherished memories and joy.  Now is the time to get those professional photographs I have been putting off, to take him to the beach as often as I can and to let him eat a little more than usual!  I am also going to paint his paws and have him walk all over a canvas to create his own masterpiece that I can always cherish.  I even had his paw print tattooed on my arm.

It is helpful to me to prepare and find some old photographs of him throughout the years we have spent together and give them a place of honor in my home.  He is the very first dog that I have had that has earned so many obedience titles and blue ribbons.  He was also my first demonstration dog for my nonprofit and a wonderful Service Dog, he did therapy work for the elderly in nursing homes, for children in a reading therapy program and for adults in hospitals.  Everyone who meets my Mr. Snitch has fallen in love with his kind character and loving attitude toward each person he meets.

One of my favorite stories of him was when he was about a year old; I was training him as a demonstration dog for my Service Dog organization and so I had him out at the theatre with me.   I had left him on a dog stay over by the wall and bathroom area while I got in line to get some popcorn and treats and when I turned around he had flipped upside down on his back, his belly fully exposed and a little girl about 3 was giving him zurberts on his tummy.  I had never had children of my own so he had no real experience with kids getting quite this personal, but the look on his face when I saw them was priceless “MOM!!!!  Can we keep her?”  Thankfully in the past year he has finally gotten the children that he has always wanted in his life!

Memories are a powerful experience and a tool that I use to help ease some of the pain.

Now the reason I am writing this, is because I know from past experiences how hard it is to know when to say goodbye.  Losing an animal is like losing a family member.  They provide us with unconditional love and acceptance in a world that is not usually so kind.  But I believe it is important to give them dignity as their time comes.

First is their quality of life, this is the biggest determination factor in my opinion, are they having more good days than bad days and are they still happy.  When the things that use to make them happy don’t bring them joy anymore, when they are having more bad or painful days than they are having good days, and often when they refuse to eat it is time to seriously consider the quality of their life and giving them the gift of release.

I believe that euthanasia is a gift, it is sad and hard for us and we definitely mourn their loss, however we can end their suffering and pain when it is no longer able to be controlled.  Having worked in a vet clinic and having had to put to sleep several of my own animals in the past due to disease and old age, I know that it can truly be a gift to them.  There is no suffering, an anesthetic is given as an overdose which goes to the brain first so any sounds or movement they make afterwards is not something that is felt by them.  Some veterinarians will do in home euthanasia.

Spend as much time with your pet as you can, making memories and monitoring his/her health and attitude.  When you have concerns, talk to your vet.  Your vet will let you know what services they offer and they can help to give you advice and can even point you in the direction of local support groups.  When pain becomes a factor for your best friend, take him in or give them a call so that a different or more effective drug can be utilized.  Many dogs are euthanized because of pain and there are numerous new protocols that can help lengthen the time your dog can spend living fairly pain free.

The other piece of wisdom is that you will know when it is time to say goodbye.  I feel that each time I have had to make that difficult decision I have made the correct choice. Never second guess yourself that doesn’t do any good.  Just make a pact to not let your pet suffer.

Do not allow him/her to lose so much weight they lose all their muscle mass or to let them go past the point they can get up and move around.  The worst cases I have seen are the dogs that come in that should be 100# and they are around 50#, they are urine scalded and unable to get up, pick their heads up or move on their own…this is past the point of having any quality in their lives.

Give your pet the dignity he/she deserves and I believe, although it is hard, it is best to be there for them.  I always go to McDonalds and order a cheeseburger plain to let them have a last tempting treat and then I hold them and pet them and whisper to them as they go.  I try to give them the comfort they would give to me if they could and honor them in their last moments.

It is always difficult and it never gets easier, but I believe if you focus on the memories and the here and now and do all that you can to control their pain and their quality of life, you can give them the dignity that they deserve at the last moment.  Then it is time to allow yourself the time that you need to mourn their passing.  We all mourn in different ways and that is acceptable and understandable give yourself the time that you need and know that this is a normal part of losing anyone that is close to you.

Exercise the Crucial Element

Probably the second most important facet in dog training is exercise.  Those of you who are getting use to my writing know that I think the number one most important point of good dog training is mental stimulation, but the next most important is exercise!  When I trained police dogs, I often had them run next to my bicycle or scooter until they were exhausted.  They needed the physical exercise to calm their minds and spirits.

Most all dogs and people can benefit to adding to their exercise regimen, unless of course they have a heart condition.  Exercise lowers our blood pressure, can uplift our moods, and can even decrease our chances for developing certain diseases.  These benefits are also obtainable to your dog.

A tired dog is a good dog!!  This is probably my favorite quote, and the truest statement in dealing with your dog.  There are many ways to attain a tired dog, but exercise is a fairly easy way to get what you want.

Almost 100% without a doubt when I do a behavior consult with someone having difficulty with their dog, I recommend increasing the amount of exercise their dog is getting.  Dogs without exercise and mental stimulation begin to rot mentally and that leads to a lot of naughtiness and problem behaviors.  Dogs that have jobs and work all day for their people or those that get a lot of exercise are much less likely to suffer from behavior problems.  Exercise is also helpful for almost all behavior problems, it very rarely increases problems.

Imagine taking a room full of small children locking them up and not giving them any exercise or allowing them to play or to mentally stimulate themselves; they would go insane and they would drive YOU insane.  The more exercise, learning and structure our children get the happier they are and less they likely they are to get into trouble.  Your dog has the same requirements, but most people buy a dog and expect it to take care of its own needs.  Dogs require stimulation and exercise to be happy.

Almost all dogs can benefit from exercise; fat dogs, old dogs, young dogs, skinny dogs, puppies can all benefit from an exercise program.  You may have to cater an exercise program to fit your dog’s needs but in any case most dogs need some way to rid themselves of excess steam.

The joy of exercise is that it comes in all forms; hiking, biking, swimming, walking, running, skijoring, retrieving, games, weight pulling, drafting and numerous others all qualify as good forms of exercise.  If you do it right, you and your dog will never tire of a boring routine.

• Just take caution with puppies and geriatric dogs.  Puppies of medium to large breeds should not exercise on hard ground or pull weights until they are at least 2 years old, extra large breeds like Rottweilers and Great Danes should wait until they are 3 or until their vet says it is safe.  Excessive exercise on growing dogs can cause the breakdown of cartilage and bones and can cause dysplasia and arthritis.  Young dogs and puppies must be exercised on soft ground.  Geriatric dogs should be allowed to lightly exercise to build muscles and flexibility which can also help with arthritis.

The majority of people who have dogs that are suffering from behavior problems have adult dogs between the ages of 1-5 and this is the time when exercise is at its most important!  Adult dogs should be exercised at a minimum of 3 times a day, morning, afternoon and evening.  Adding exercise will help to decrease your dog’s boredom and increase his success of becoming a good pet.

“I don’t have time to exercise my dog!”

“My dog has a big back yard to run in he doesn’t need exercise”

I have heard all of the excuses!  Your dog is an investment not only in money but also in time and companionship.  Your dog has needs and sometimes you have to inconvenience yourself in order to ensure success and happiness for your dog.  Get up early if you have to, or go to bed later but make sure you are devoting the time he needs to his success as a good companion and friend.

Dog’s don’t “run laps” on their own, very rarely do dogs utilize a big back yard as a means to exercise and run out their energy.  Even with the biggest back yard or acres to run he needs someone else to help him and encourage him to exercise.  He is not going to set his own exercise goals, you have to do that for him.

If you sincerely want to give your dog a shot at being a good pet and pleasing you, you need to give him sufficient exercise.  Not only will his body benefit from the payback of exercise, but he will be spending time with you listening to your voice and hopefully working on obedience and your bond as he exercises and becomes weary.

Let him run next to a bike, take him swimming, have him pull a tire; whatever you decide that is appropriate for his breed, age, size and his abilities allow him to blow off steam in a constructive manner and you will see the benefits through his behavior in a few short days!

Want My Personal Help w/Your Dog… Just answer These 3 Questions

If you would like me to personally address your dog training challenges, and help you overcome them… please read the three questions below and answer them by leaving a comment in the comment section of this blog.

Questions:

1) Clearly discribe the problem you want to fix with your dog.

2) Describe the training concepts you’ve tried that HAVE worked.

3) And I need you to describe the training concepts that DON’T seem to be working.

Looking forward to reading your questions!

Chet

Nose Work 2 Continuing Nose Games

Sniffing and following scent is instinctual, natural, and fun for dogs; it is fun to teach them to use their noses appropriately and on command, and it allows them to hone a natural instinct.  This is a game that can be taught and played by puppies and geriatric dogs; there is no age limit for Nose Games!  In Nose Work 1 we discussed getting your dog ready for more nose games and the beginning of teaching him to use his nose.  Next we worked on the Scent Discrimination and the Passive Alert.

Nose Work 2 will teach you how to do intermediate nose games and begin to put this information together at home and away for more fun and games for both of you.   There are two main ways that your dog follows a scent:

• Air scenting: following his nose quickly and through the air
• Tracking or ground scenting: following a scent foot step to foot step,

Nose Work 2 will discuss mostly air scenting although most dogs will also sniff the ground occasionally, their focus is generally following the scent through the air.   In Nose Work 3 we will discuss tracking.

Now you can begin hiding the scent all over the house (use the PVC pipe with holes drilled in it so your dog can’t access the scent rag), and hide it on all levels low, mid and high.  Your dog should be laying down immediately when he finds the scent!  Remember to reward and praise!

It is normal for your dog to have difficulty finding the scent occasionally, and even going back to previous spots you have hidden it, because the scent is still strong there for him.  If he is wrong, or is having trouble finding it, don’t panic or give up!  To help him when he is having trouble, simply walk toward the room or the object, don’t show it to him or say anything just walk in the general vicinity and continue to give him the command and praise him for footsteps in the correct direction.

Never give up or show him where it is hiding!  Be patient, give him a chance to make mistakes and learn, this is all part of the process.  Soon you will be having other people hide the scent without your knowledge of where it is, so you will need to trust in his nose and be patient that he can work out the problem on his own!  Each success will bring confidence!

Next have friends and family hide the scent throughout the house while you distract him, and eventually work with your dog not knowing where the scent is hidden.  When your dog’s nose is reliable and he is passively alerting you can move the game outside.

Start in your own front yard or somewhere familiar and not overly exciting to your dog.  Go back a few steps and make the first few hides easy to find so that your dog can succeed easily and quickly.  Also start by hiding the scent fairly close to the dog, the farther away you hide the scent the more skill it will take for your dog to find the scent.

I always use a long leash and either a buckle collar or a harness.  Scent work is the only time I like to use a harness, but when teaching your dog to use his nose it is important that you allow him to lead you to the scent.  He must be out in front of you and able to dart from side to side sniffing and trying to locate the object, so this is the one time I allow my dogs to lightly pull on the leash, however, I still do not want to be aggressively pulled from one area to another.

If your dog does not have good leash manners you may want to back up and work on those first!  My dogs know exactly how long their leashes are and how vigorously they can pull when we play this game.  I want them to be exuberant about having fun and enjoying themselves but I require respect anytime they are working on a leash.  It is imperative that you don’t lose good obedience skills in order to play these games.  Games are a privilege, obedience and respect is a requirement!

Once you dog has mastered being outside and locating the scent in a fairly easy to find and close proximity, then you can start hiding the pipe and rag in more difficult places and begin placing it further.  Normally I chose to add one difficulty level at a time: stay within a short proximity and hide the object in a more difficult place i.e. “in” bushes and under things like cars, trucks, rocks OR I hide the object further away but in a fairly easy to find place.  Once your dog has continually successfully accomplished one of these tasks then move to the next level of training.

Be sure that you are hiding the scent on variable levels outside too; on top of things, underneath things and even up out of his reach!  There are no rules to this game except to work up slowly with your dog and back up when necessary if he is having trouble.  Be careful and use common sense and do not trespass!  This is a great game to play in the local children’s park, in a field or even along a walk.

Have fun with this game and training!  This is good exercise for you and also good for your dog, for his mind and his body!  This is also something that can be played inside on a rainy day, or a HOT Southern day, and can be taken outside basically anywhere.  You can play this with friends and family and you can also play this with multiple dogs and see whose nose is better.  I love playing this game and adding more distractions and levels of difficulty for my dog.

Once my dog is an expert I can even add another scent to the mix.  Remember, when you add a new scent you, must go back to step one and a new scent box (remember only one scent per box) and work your way through the training list, teaching him that this is a new scent you want him to alert you too.   The more scents you add the more variety and difficulty you can add to this game, but just make sure he is ready!

Teach him to utilize his nose in a manner that pleases you both and you will be in for years of fun and enjoyment, and this is a even great party trick to impress your friends!

Consistency

Consistency or the lack there of, I believe, is the root of all evil when it comes to dog training.  We as humans are often inconsistent, we may be consistently inconsistent or work on a variable consistency; meaning depending on certain variables we are consistent.  Dogs don’t understand inconsistency they need black and white, right and wrong especially when they are learning.

Inconsistency With- in Yourself

I often work with people who care about their dog’s behavior one minute, or in one situation but not another.

• “I usually don’t mind if my dog jumps up on me, but I hate it when he gets muddy paws on my work clothes, or snags my nylons”
• “I don’t mind if my dog gets on the sofa at night with me, but I don’t want him on the couch during the day when I am gone”
• “I don’t want my dog to bark, but I hate getting up in the middle of the night to tell him to be quiet”

Your dog does not understand the differences in these situations he lives for the moment he gets to do what he wants or what comes naturally for him; jumping up on you, laying on the comfortable sofa, and barking.  He does not understand the variable or contingent to the situation, he only remembers he gets to do it sometimes, and that keeps him consistently trying.  If 9 out of 10 times you keep him out of the bed but on that 10^th time you relent, it is that moment of success and enjoyment that he remembers and will make subsequent attempts worse!

Inconsistency With-in the Family Structure

Often the inability of a family or couple to work as a team on dog training aids in the deterioration of the dog’s obedience.  I have even worked with couples who use different commands.  One person can’t say “Come” while the other person says “Get over here!” and have it be as affective for the dog.

I often run into couples who can’t come to some kind of agreement about how to treat the dog:

• “I don’t mind the dog on the sofa with me, but my husband doesn’t want him on the furniture”
• “I don’t feed the dog table scraps but my wife and kids sneak them to him under the table”
• “I don’t want my dog to play rough, but my husband and my oldest son wrestle with him, and now he is tackling my 5 year old”

You need to pick a plan and an ideal that you as a family.  Sit down and come up with consistent commands that mean the same thing to everyone and that everyone will utilize.  Decide whether or not you will allow your dog on the furniture, and what behaviors you will reward and what behaviors you intend to change and come up with a plan for how you will install the changes as a family.  Explain to everyone in the family how inconsistency hurts your dog’s ability to please everyone and therefore leads to him getting in trouble.

Inconsistency With Strangers

This is a big one!  Most people don’t realize how just being inconsistent when they have company over, or when their dog meets a new person undermines the dog’s training in other areas of its life.

• “We don’t mind Sparky jumping on us but we don’t want him to jump on company”
• “Our dog listens great at home, but he does not listen when we have company over or if we take him away from the house”
• “Sparky never runs out the front door until we have people visit”

Once again, inconsistency is to blame for your dog’s confusion.  Dogs are very adept at reading situations, they recognize very quickly when we don’t want to exert the time and effort needed to work on their training and their behavior.

Your dog might never ignore a command given when you are at home alone, but add the distraction of another person or take your dog somewhere and he doesn’t listen.  Part of this is the addition of distractions which have to be added and worked on with training in mind, but another part is inconsistent training.  People often don’t want to embarrass themselves or inconvenience themselves by working with their dogs when other people are around, so the dog learns he doesn’t have to obey when company is present.

The key to dog training is to be consistent, especially in the learning stages, with your dog.  Your dog cannot reason or understand the minute differences.  In order to set your dog up for success, you must make sure that you remain consistent, always.  Make a plan and stick to it, make sure everyone in the household listens and accepts responsibility for training and working with your dog.  And, when you have company or there are distractions let them know that you must devote some time to your furry friend to be consistent so he learns to obey and becomes a good family pet.

Inconsistency is unfair.  One minute your dog gets away with or is rewarded for a bad behavior and the next minute he is chastised and/or punished for the same act.  This type of environment makes it hard, if not impossible to learn.  You must be firm but gentle; have fun and be CONSISTENT.

Scent Discrimination and the Passive Alert

Scent Discrimination is fun for your dog, you are teaching him how to use his nose to please you  and which scent you want him to locate.  This training is exciting for him and should be a fun game for you both.

Passive alerting means that your dog either sits or lays down and waits once it finds the scent.  Grabbing the item, barking or scratching is not an active alert and can pose dangers or problems for some dogs. Read the rest of this entry »

Nose Work 1 an Introduction to Nose Games

Dogs can’t read books, they don’t watch television, (well at least not for very long), they don’t scrap book, or build things but they still need hobbies!  If a dog’s mind is not entertained, he will find his own hobby to engage in, but often dogs choose inappropriate behavior such as; barking, digging, chewing, ripping up carpeting, eating drywall, chasing children, stealing, and other general naughtiness.

Most often when I hear my clients complain about these behaviors I wonder if the dog is truly mentally and physically stimulated at home.  If I was locked in a room with 4 white walls and one sofa with nothing to do for days on end, sooner or later I would shred the sofa too!  You must find ways to entertain your dog’s mind to help him stay well behaved.

A dog’s sense of smell is 2000 greater than that of a human.  I often liken reading a book or watching a movie to a dog following a scent or even digging through layers of ground scents (although we consider this naughty, each layer of ground has a new and different story for your dog’s nose)

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On Top of the Mountain

“Okay, you got me up here, now how do we get back down?”

Singing to Your Dog

Do you sing to your dog?   If not, perhaps you might want to give it a try.   According to Roberta, you might be in for some surprising results!

Singing to your dog has an effect.

by Roberta Baxter, January 15, examiner.com

Yes, you read this correctly! No I am not going off my rocker! The senses for animals are different than human sensory abilities as we know specifically from the sounds the dog hears that we don’t.  It is not just the pitch, but the flow of tones that catch a dog’s attention. Try singing  “Yankee Doodle” to your canine and see what the response is.  Then sing  ”Brahms Lullaby”.  You know the one that mamas sing their little ones to sleep with when they are cranky. Now one must really get into the depth of the meaning of those songs as you are singing, because if you don’t the effect will not be accurate.

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Featured Dog Breed – Pomeranian

Learn more about this cutie.

Pomeranian Temperament

The Pomeranian is a small dog with an outgoing personality and plenty of character. These dogs are alert, energetic, and have lots of spirit. The Pomeranian is an intelligent dog and a quick learner, which makes training easy. The Pomeranian is a loving and affectionate breed, who thrives on the companionship and affections of his owners. He is well suited to those with little or no experience of dog ownership, as well as the more experienced. It is important to be confident and assertive with these dogs, as some can be bossy and a little big headed. However, they are also very amiable and friendly, making them ideal family pets. The Pomeranian will bark to raise the alarm if anything is amiss, and this makes him effective as a watchdog. He is a little on the small size to really have any impact as a guard dog, although his size may not deter him from giving chase to larger animals if necessary.

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