Is your dog really trying to take over?

By: www.domesticatedmanners.com

Dominance is such a pop word, used by many owners, vets and trainers alike. It feels so right, yet it's very wrong. It is so believable, yet it’s so deceptive. I would like to give you the ability to hear this word and laugh at the mere concept that our beloved pets are trying to take over! I am also hoping to prevent you from labeling any dog as dominant, and then performing a potentially damaging rank reduction program on him, as a solution to this "problem".

Even though the dogs we keep as pets did evolved from wolves, there was an important intermediate step that many people are unaware of. Wolves 'gave way' to village dogs that gave way to our companion dogs. So when the behavior of wolves was researched the results obtained where automatically applied to dog behavior simply because they shared certain genetic material. The reliability of this method would be the same as saying that by studying chimpanzees you can learn all about human behavior. Even if your were going to study wolves you wouldn’t study them in artificially created environment which would affect their behavior and this is what happened when some of the research was conducted and observations made.

The notion of strict hierarchy has ruled the dog training world. Prominent researchers working with wolves in the wild have found that our concept of a pack is slightly incorrect. Like humans families, a wolf 'pack' or family consist of parents, children and also children from a previous litter, that haven’t left to start their own family. It has also been proven that in the wild it is the wolf cubs who will eat first as they carry the 'genes for the future'. Then the parents and lastly the lazy teenagers or older children who have not left home yet.

So what does all this actually mean in terms of our pet dogs?

It means that if we still use this old outdated idea, we are likely to misinterpret normal doggy behavior like jumping up as an attempt for Rover to gain power! (“As if our dogs haven’t already got enough on their plates; If they have not got enough hours in the day to roll around in fox poo, get extra excited every time they sees us, spend time playing fetch and great games like tug of war, when do you think they have time to worry about taking over our house?)”

When training manuals or behavior books use training as a means to sorting out hierarchies this often leads to the use of server physical punishment and negative psychological effects can occur for our dogs. An example of this is where incorrect comments such; the alpha male would roll a subordinate wolf onto his back, often lead to owner or trainer believing that they need to perform behaviors such as ‘alpha rolls’ on their pets.

This would involve turning the dog onto his back and holding him there to show him that you the owner/trainer are more ‘dominant’. However, this presents a few issues as most handlers that perform such behaviors on larger dogs often get bitten not to mention the deterioration they cause to the dogs psychological state. It has been shown in research that an ‘alpha roll’ preformed by a wolf in the wild is in no way forced, but offered voluntarily for many different reasons. Just imagine what it must be like when your happy pet greets you and in return you perform the roll on him?

 

Dominance has also become a way for trainers, vets and owners to explain much of the normal doggie behavior such as chewing, barking and jumping. People using the dominance theory will probably explain pulling on leash by implying that the dog is being dominant and trying to control the owner however, is it not possible that the dogs is just excited by all the novel smells outside, after all ‘Dogs can sense odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can’.

Lastly, I leave you with the question; Is a dog that pulls on leash, jumps up and barks, a dog that is dominant or a stunning creature that is in need of some basic reward based training?

(Hint, if you haven't figured it out yet, you are meant to answer the above question using the 2nd option!!!)

Loosing a Beloved Pet

Loosing someone we love is one of the hardest things we will ever have to deal with as human beings. It could be a friend, parent, aunt, child, grandparents, or even a pet. It is never easy and I am still struggling through reality myself. On Thursday April 29, 2010 at 5:00pm my Beagle Abbigail breathed her last breath.

Lady Abbigail Cassiopeia was born in June of 2001. She was gorgeous! I first saw Abby when she was just 5 weeks old. She was so small and sweet. She came home at 8 weeks old. Abby and I were the best of friends. She would cuddle up to me all the time and sleep, being so content. She was not your typical Beagle. Abby did bark some but she rarely bayed. In 2003 I left for college for two years. At the end of every quarter I would fly home. The biggest thing I looked forward to was greeting Abby. You know on Peanuts how Snoopy would do the Beagle dance? Well, that is what Abbigail did. She would bay and howl at the top of her lungs and jump around on her hind legs. Honestly, it sounded like someone was killing her. Neighbors would come out of their houses to see if everything was alright. But I loved it!

In September of 2009 Abby started to go downhill. She develops small lumps over her body. We took her to the vet who did blood work and took aspirations of the lumps. She didn't find any cancer which was a great thing and her blood work all came back normal. But something still wasn't right. Those small lumps started to get bigger and bigger and eventually covered her whole body. She started to put on weight from the retained fluid. Abby has always weighed about 30lbs but not anymore. Abby started to show some real signs that she was in pain.

We spent months debating about what to do. In April of 2010 Abby said enough and started giving up on life. She didn't eat with the same enthusiasm, would sleep all day on our couch and wouldn't even move her head when we told her to go outside at night. It was time. So the horrible day came. We took Abbigail to the vet and placed her on a blanket. My parents and I sat on the floor by her and we held her and talked to her and cried. Abby now weights 44lbs. The vet gave her a sedative to keep her calm. I fed her treats galore. Abby laid down next to us and she placed her head on my foot. Our vet came back into the room and administered the euthanasia drug and Abby very peacefully left this earth. It was the worst moment of my life. She was gone and I would NEVER see her again. We cried and pet Abby for a long while. Leaving her was so difficult and I just wanted to keep touching her and not let go.

Abby is gone and I am really struggling with how to grieve. There are times I just cry and cry and then other times that I couldn't cry if I wanted to. Sometimes I forget she is gone and when I see our other Beagle Roxy I think it's her. And then there are times that my mind plays tricks on me and I don't even remember she existed. Before Abby died we made a memorial stone in her honor. That stone is going to sit outside in the spot where Abby always laid in the sun. We will never forget Abby. She was my first dog and best friend.

People grieve in very different ways and there is no right or wrong. It's important to let yourself grieve. Don't try and hide it. There are some who say, "It's just a dog". But they are missing out because my animals are my family and I would do anything for my family. I probably grieve for her more than I do my extended family sorry to say. But I know them inside and out and they know everything about me. So be true to your pet and grieve and let it go. Remember the good times. Make a memorial for them; plant a tree, do a paw print, have your pets ashes returned. Whatever it may be it should be special to you.

Below is a poem called the Rainbow Bridge and it gives me such comfort and sadness at the same time.

This posting is to honor Lady Abbigiail Cassiopeia and all that she gave us in her years on this earth. Goodbye my dear friend.

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Rainbow Bridge

Author Unknown

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Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Crate Training

Being comfortable in a crate is important for every dog. Imagine that your dog is 5 years old and tears a ligament in their knee. Your vet will tell you that they have to be confined 24/7 except potty break for the next 4-8 weeks. Now this would be difficult for any dog but if a dog is familiar to his crate then at least they aren’t fearful of it. Take a dog who has never be confined in a crate and now they are terrified, crying at the top of their lungs and becoming destructive while trying to escape. I recently had to go through this with my Beagle Roxy. Now Roxy has been crate trained since I first got her at 8 weeks of age. January of this year, Roxy slipped a disc in her back. She was in agony. Her vet said that if the disc continues to move she would become paralyzed so she was ordered to strict bed rest. Roxy spent the next four weeks confined and we even had to carry her out to her potty spot. The vet didn’t want her walking at all. This was devastating for me. She is my active dog that loves to run and play and jog by my side as I ride my bike. This is the dog that got her CGC when most people said it wasn’t possible. The dog that was training to be a service dog and doing a great job at it. Now she was this dog that screamed if she moved, was receiving pain injection as well as 3 oral pain pills. By God’s grace Roxy has made an almost full recovery. She will never be a same dog anymore and has to take it easy but she’s not in pain and she’s alive. I can’t imagine what I would have done if she wasn’t crate trained. It could have made her paralyzed because of too much movement. So enough with my story.

Many people tell me that it’s cruel to put a dog in a crate, that dogs are meant to be free and not confined so they don’t crate train their dog. As a puppy your dog will go through different life stages. From about 6 months to 18+ months your dog will be in a rebellious stage. They will challenge everything you say or do, they tend to become very destructive, and run away from home if given the chance. They are teenagers! A dog that has been fine out of a crate up to this point will become your worst nightmare. A crate trained dog will still be in the crate when unsupervised and will not have the opportunity to destroy the house. Dogs in the wild are naturally den animals, they love feeling secure and safe. A crate mimics this for our domesticated dogs. So I don’t find it cruel but a must have for a dog. In my home, if a dog is in their crate other dogs cannot bother them, children are not allowed to touch them or get in their face. It is their sanctuary to get away from the commotion. Ever see your dog sleeping under the table or beds or in closets or corners? They do this because they don’t have a safe place where they are left along.

Alright, so how do you teach a dog to LOVE their crate? State off by first buying the correct size. A crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up, sit, lie down, and turn comfortably. If your dog is fully potty trained go ahead and get them the next size larger. If however they are not potty trained it should not be any bigger because then they create one side for sleeping and the other for potting. Take your dog the PetSmart with you so you can try out different crates. There are two types, wire and plastic. Wire crates at easily folded down when not in use or for transportation and often include a divider so the crate can become bigger as a puppy grows. These crates are drafty which can be solved by a lightweight sheet or blanket on the back half of it. They also are not airline approved because they do collapse down. Plastic crate are much more sturdy and airline approved. But in a hot summer day there are not a whole lot of places for hot air to escape and circulate. They also are not as portable. But they do naturally create that den environment that your dog desires. I personally have used both and love both so it is all a matter of your preference and needs.

To get your dog comfortable with the crate and not terrify them you need to go slowly. Start off with some yummy treats and show them to your dog as you toss them into the crate. As your dog goes in put it to a command such as kennel, crate, or bed and praise your dog gently. Let your dog come out when they want to. Continue to place treats in the crate to get your dog to go in there. After many repetitions see if you can get your dog to stay in there for a little bit by giving them treats while they are inside. Now after a while of that wait for your dog to enter and then close the door quietly for 2 seconds and open it right back up. Do this over and over and very gradually increase the amount of time the door is closed. DO NOT go too fast for your dog. I never want a dog to freak out and be terrified. This should be a pleasant and fun experience.

Now find some yummy chew toys such as a nylabone (the edible or non-edible)
or a Kong with some peanut butter or liverwurst paste and give it to your dog while they are in the crate. Praise them the entire time. After a while you can get up and move away from the crate. Your dog will probably follow you with their new toy. When they do take the toy and place it back in the crate. Do this over and over again. As many times as it takes for your dog tot realize that they only get this toy when they are in their crate. Be in the habit of giving them the nylabone or Kong each time you place them in there.

I have a 5 month old Australian Shepherd, Cali, who loves to hear the word; “Crate” because it means yummy treats. Every time I place her in there without fail she gets a puppy size milkbone and then her Kong. She’ll come racing from anywhere to get into that crate. I even catch her occasionally lying in there when she sleeps during the day with the door open. This is her sanctuary.

Your dog should be in there crate whenever you cannot keep an eye on them, nighttime, when you’re not home, and when you are distracted; helping the kids with homework, washing dishes, intensely reading a book. One this give your dog more opportunity to become comfortable in their crate and two they can’t destroy your house if they are in there.

So remember, choose the right sized crate, go slowly and make it fun!

Feel free to post any comments, opinions, or questions you may have. My blog is here for discussion and I want to hear from you!

Potty Training

Potty training a dog can be possible in a short amount of time, if you know what you're doing. Dogs think very different than us humans and if we use human logic on them we get no where.

One common misconception is that your dog understands why you are punishing them when they potty on the carpet. They Don't! Looking at it your point of view. You walk into the room and see "the mess". You quickly grab your dog and rub their nose into it and scold them. To many this seems correct but let’s look from your dog's point of view... Your dog had to go potty but they didn't know how to tell you this or you're not paying attention and so they just go. You jump up yelling at your dog while rubbing their nose into the mess and continue to scold them. You just told your dog, don't go potty in from of me or let me see it. This leads to dogs’ potting under tables, behind sofas, in baby's room or the basement. You are not teaching your dog, don't potty in the house because they can't think like that.
Dogs live in the moment. They remember most what happened right now not 30 seconds ago. So here is a NEW plan of action.

1.Keep a constant eye on your puppy and if you can't they must be in a crate or confined room. This also prevents unwanted chewing
2.If you see your puppy in the action of potting make a quick loud sound to stop them briefly
3.Pick them up and run outside to the same spot each time and WAIT
4.Once your puppy starts to potty outside say your potty command such as, "go potty, hurry up, or do your business" softly. As soon as they are done, have a huge Puppy Party. This includes your high-pitched voice, animated body and maybe a treat. Your puppy better know that what they did was a good thing.
5.Remember that the past is over, it happened and you can't hold it over your dog's head because they don't know what's wrong.
6.Your untrained dog will need to potty after; a nap, playtime and sometimes during play, drinking water, eating, and everywhere else in-between
7.Puppies do not have the muscle developed to "hold it" until about 3-4 months old so before this time you are laying the foundation
8.NEVER scold your dog including hitting, slapping, rolling up a newspaper, rubbing their face in it, or screaming as this can ruin the relationship between the two of you. Your dog will probably listen to you but not because they love you but because they fear what you might do. This is no relationship I want to have with my pets.
9.Always praise them for doing the right thing
10.Keep an eye on them at all times
11.Use an enzymatic cleaner on all dog messes. This removes the smell for your dog. Many carpet cleaners say, 'for dog stains' but all this means is that you can't trace it anymore. But dogs have 10,000 + scent receptors and they can still smell it and will continue to frequent the same area. I recommend Simple Solution or Nature's Miracle. Anything else doesn't seem to work well.
12. Crate train your dog. I will talk about this in a later blog but every puppy should be crate trained. It gives them a place to get away as adults and aids in potty training and preventing destructive chewing.

Feel free to post any comments, opinions, or questions you may have. My blog is here for discussion and I want to hear from you!

This Blog is for You!

I've created this blog for you. I will post recommendations, tips and comments ALL about the pets we love. Please visit our website for more information about Highland Springs Pet Services.

www.highlandspringspetservices.com
info@highlandspringspetservices.com
719-532-0340