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Making You & Your Dog Happier

Play with your dog!

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What a strange thing to suggest! Playing with your dog is something we all do, isn’t it?

You’d be amazed how many pet dogs sit alone for long periods of the day, then get fed, and sit on a cosy sofa or lap for the evening, and that’s their daily lives. They may get a walk, they may not. ‘They are too old’, people say. ‘They never pick up their toys’.

In fact, a lot of play is social. This means that whilst some dogs when younger might fling their toys about and chew most things around them, this wears off after a while.
The novelty value of items fades, the longer the dog has access to them. Toys get put into the toy basket and lose their interest.

Playing is such a great activity because it’s really useful for teaching lessons. Our dogs learn to be gentle, to calm down after the excitement of the game. Play is mentally stimulating, leaving the dog tired as a result. Not the sort of tired we get from flopping onto the settee after a day at work. The exhilarating tiredness that we might get after playing on a bouncy castle, or winning the latest round of Call of Duty.

Here’s a few tips on how to wake up the play instinct and get a happier dog.

Firstly, pick a toy they enjoy. Hard rubber toys aren’t usually fun but softer ones can be wriggled about and made to ‘come alive’. Of course, if you know your dog is likely to grab and not let go, or shred it and swallow the contents without giving the toy back, then choose a stronger one. Pick a time when your dog is looking for mischief, or is excited about something else such as you coming home.

Keep the toy low to the ground and wiggle it about, moving it away from your dog. Imagine how a running rabbit might dart away, and get the toy to mimic that movement. If you decide to use a squeaky toy, only use the squeak part once or twice. Apart from the sound being annoying to us humans, it tends to switch the dog off rather than on.
To get the toy back if your dog has decided they really want it, have some treats ready. Tiny bits of sausage or chicken (or other meat, as long as your dog isn’t allergic to it). Swap the toy for some of these goodies, and you can continue the game.

Long before your dog gets fed up, swap the toy for a treat and put it away out of reach. This will keep it exciting and new for next playtime!

Children petting your dog?

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We all pat the dog! Please don’t!

Working with owners every day brings lots of stories about their problems with their dogs, but also their experiences in the community, too.

One big worry for dog owners is that children are not asking first if they can stroke their dog. I have even been in situations where parents encourage their kids to come over and pet the dogs in my care. They then become upset when I ask them not to. This is not because I am a mean old lady (and less of the ‘old’, please!). Instead I simply don’t want my dogs to be scared by a child that has been a little clumsy. In the past a child has swooped onto my dog and tried to pick him up. My dog is a good sort and very used to children, but seeing his little shocked face was horrible and told me that he was not enjoying it one bit. If the parents can’t control their children, then I have to. Even if we are nice, we dog owners are still seen to be ‘rude’ when we say, ‘No, please do not touch my dog’!

As a parent myself I know that we want our kids to be friendly and kind. Whilst we want this for our dogs too, there are risks. A child that a dog does not know, going over to ‘pat’ it on the head is NOT friendly, even though the child thinks it is. Few dogs enjoy the attention. I witness dogs simply putting up with it. I also meet owners that are too embarrassed to say no. Imagine if a stranger came up and suddenly put their hands on you?

Our poor dogs don’t talk using words, but their body language speaks for itself. Dogs draw back from unwanted contact – their ears pull back, their heads lower, they try to move away. Remember that being patted on top of the head means reaching out (scary( and touching the dog right over their eyes. Rarely a welcome place to have a stranger place their hand.

The more we take note that children often get bitten when they are being friendly, by a known dog, the sooner we can act positively towards prevention. Let’s be proactive in our community, by learning how we can all work together to teach our kids and dogs the better way to behave.

Why not look at Karen’s new book, ‘Being a Dog’, to learn more about the world of dog behaviour from your dog’s point of view!

Love me, love my dog – positive ways to train your pet

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hugo rosettes ready steady dog

Hugo has learned using positive reinforcement throughout his life and look at all his achievements!

Love is important, for other humans and for our pets. Did you know that petting your best friend (in this case a dog, but I suppose the choice is yours as long as you’ve asked first) increases the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin? Even more incredible is that it releases that same hormone in your dog.

It is fair to say that your dog ‘loves’ you, but why? Does he read your mind? Can he completely understand the blurb that we humans utter all day? Unlikely, but if he did I’m sure he’d listen to Positivity radio. I’ve yet to meet a dog that was unhappy when allowed to do the things that come naturally to them. They are very positive creatures. Even Simon Cowell says his dogs cheer him up. That’s some skill, right there.

The truth is, dogs have co-evolved alongside us humans for many thousands of years. They might not always listen, but they do watch us. All the time.

Dogs like ‘practical’ love – the things you do, not say. Rather like your beloved partner buying you a gift, flowers, taking your hand when you walk together. Making you laugh or fetching a cup of tea. Practical care, the kind that you can see, is what your dog notices most. (By the way, if you do all those things for your dog, can I apply to be your next one?)

So, if dogs can’t read our thoughts but they learn by seeing what we do, how can that help us haphazard owners?

This is what positive training is all about. It’s a means to physically show your dog that he or she made a choice you like. It’s as simple as ‘sit – gets a treat’. Or as complicated as teaching the dog to search for a lost person. Dogs learn by being shown what to do, followed fairly swiftly by being paid well in something they value. They don’t value expensive watches or fast cars. They like eating cat poop, or rolling on dead fish, or hunting for rabbits. We might need to provide alternatives to these (!), but basic dog happiness is formed by food, strong scent, exercise, safety, play with toys, and social contact.

Next time your dog does something you want them to repeat, show them the love. Mostly, a food treat is cheap and easy to give (cupboard love, my mum used to call it – but don’t over feed your dog).

Play gently with the dog and the dog will play gently with you. Act rough, and guess what – you’ll be training up an expert wrecking ball on legs.

Let him pull you on lead, and before you know it you’ll have draft horse or sled dog equivalent. Ouch. Instead, a bit of simple training and a well-designed harness saves the day and buys beautiful walks.

If, as most owners do, you have plans for your dog to sit nicely at the door, not pull on their lead, not bark… The answer is in the practical love. Decide what you want to physically see your dog doing, and reward it. Make that plan. Training is something you do daily when you want to reach your goal. And most of all it has to be fun, for everyone.

It’s as simple as A-B-C

A – Anticipate the situation

B – Behave! – what do you want to see your dog do?

C – Consequence – make it a nice outcome for your dog and he will repeat B over and over when A happens.

Example:

A – Visitor coming to door

B – I want dog to sit so he can’t jump up

C – When he sits, he gets a food treat and he gets petted by the visitor

Result? In future, with practice, he will sit for visitors. He might need guidance and to be put on his lead whilst he is learning but that’s ok. Many folks learn to drive in a dual-controlled car.

Which gives me an idea for my next dog training project. Dog Formula One, anyone?

 

 

 

Karen Wild, CCAB is author of 3 books on dog behaviour and training published by Hamlyn. She is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Dog Trainer based in Peterborough, UK www.karenwild.co.uk

12 Dog Days Of Christmas – dog activities

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dog training activitiesHopefully you have worked through last week’s column of Christmas dog activities and fun. Here’s the last part to the 12 day challenge (remember, you can have Sundays off)!

 

On the seventh day of Christmas…

Seven dogs a-leaping!

Sit on the floor (if you can. If you can’t, put a roll of wrapping paper on the floor). Hold a treat or a toy in one hand and lure your dog over your leg/roll of paper. As your dog jumps over, say ‘jump’ and give the dog the reward. Repeat, using your hand as a signal when you point at the jump so that your dog can see easily to follow your hand. Gradually increase the speed until your dog can jump over quickly rather than just stepping. Repeat seven times then take a break!

 

On the eighth day of Christmas…

Eight little ‘leave it’ exercises

Choose eight things that your dog likes. This can be a toy, a favourite slipper, a glove, a tissue; any dog safe items your dog would normally pick up. Put your dog on a lead, and hold a tasty treat or toy in your hand. Place the chosen items spread out on the floor with plenty of space in between. As your dog goes to sniff at an item, call him back, saying ‘leave’ as you offer him the treat. Praise well and give the dog the treat as he turns away. Repeat for each of the eight items, using the lead to gently steer him away if he ignores you.

 

On the ninth day of Christmas…

Nine lively lamp posts.

On your walk, every time you reach a lamp post, ask your dog to do an activity before allowing him to sniff it. Choose a different task each time. Ask your dog to sit, lie down, give paw, come back to you; anything that means he has to do something for you before he can explore the lamp post for the neighbourhood dog news.

 

On the tenth day of Christmas…

Ten twists and turn dog tricks

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Have a piece of tasty food in each hand. Lure your dog to the side of your leg. Waggle the food and lure your dog into the gap between your feet so that your dog goes from front to back. Swap the luring hand so that he follows your other hand round your other leg. Your dog should be doing a figure eight around your legs before long. Repeat ten times, then rest before you all get dizzy!

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas…

Eleven tummy tickles!

Teach your dog to roll over by asking him to lie down, then holding a treat in one hand near his nose. As he sniffs at the food, hold it close to his neck and move it towards the back of his head, as if you are trying to get him to look over his own shoulder. If he feels relaxed he will start to roll over. As he does so, say ‘roll over’ and praise him well. Allow him to get up, then repeat eleven times.

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas…

Twelve terrific dog tricks.

Do one of each of the twelve day’s dog activities and celebrate the new, happy understanding you have between you and your lovely dog.

Here’s to a great 2015 for you and your dog activities!

Practical Canine Behaviour For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians

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stephanie hedges book cover

An absolute must-have for every practitioner.

Book review:Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians
(CABI (www.cabi.org).

At long last a book that we can use, not only in practice but also to help us to advise our Veterinary colleagues. Stephanie has successfully bridged the gap between what can be done in Veterinary practice, and what supports clients when seeking more indepth assistance from behaviour specialists.

She also deals with a number of community issues to do with dog ownership where Vet practices, particularly nurses and technicians, are on the front line.

Overall the book is divided into four main sections; canine behaviour and communication; how an understanding of these principles can be used to improve handling and interaction of dogs in practice; prevention and how the Vet nurse/technician can help prevent problem behaviours arising with clients; and finally, how they may respond to clients with established problem behaviours.

Sections on handling, puppy guidance and socialisation classes, and managing behaviour in many aspects within Veterinary context are all included. In addition Stephanie includes a number of immediate, practical sections organized into key steps so that they are simple to understand, explain to others and refer to within practice.

Photographs and diagrams clearly illustrate the underlying points made, suiting every kind of reader and learning style. I particularly found the step by step flowcharts for ‘When to refer’ as something my Vet clients can use and will be communicating with them about this in detail.

As a behaviour practitioner this book enables you to approach Veterinary practices for potential referrals with confidence and understanding of how they may wish to support their clients. In a Veterinary context, this would be the ‘go-to’ text for staff requiring support in the very wide range of behaviour-relevant topics covered.

The book is not intended to and absolutely should not replace referral to a registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist as this is a specialist area of its own, requiring very long term experience and practical experience too.

However, I would strongly recommend every behaviour and veterinary practitioner obtain this text as it is clearly and efficiently based in-practice. Furthermore it is built on a solid foundation of Stephanie’s own extensive experience and qualification. It is my opinion that books of this nature simply did not previously exist, and the industry is ready for this book, and more. I hope a feline version will follow rapidly.

Karen Wild BA(Hons) Dip App Psych

Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians

www.pawprintpets.com