Dog’s Fear of men

In my journeys working with my clients and with NorCal Poodle Rescue, I see way too many dogs that are fearful of men. The problem is not extensive with people who take in a new puppy but grows exponentially with rescue dogs. It is so hard for the new man to see these dogs cower from them. It’s emotionally stressful for everyone in the family pack.

It’s not easy to ask women to back off to allow the men to build a relationship with the dog but I know it helps the situation. After all if we have had experiences with something or someone that frightens us we have to build up our trust. Dogs are no different! They too need time to change how they relate to a situation that frightens them. Going slow and being patient is a great healer. Be gentle and soft with your newly rescued dog. Don’t use your big voice. Stop demanding and allow your dog to find her way to you. Lower your body by crouching rather than hovering over your dogs head. Give him a chance to spend time with you eating, playing and relaxing. As enough time goes by she will be much more open to you.

When I was a little girl my parents would tell me at the door of my grandmothers, “don’t forget to give her a kiss”. The more they said it – the more terrified I got. So when you have male visitors to your home I find it helpful to not ask the dog to connect with him. Your visitor can help by ignoring your dog and just going about their visit with you. In the beginning the less interaction – the better. The goal is to allow your dog to scent and adjust to men in her life without her going into a flight or fight mode.

Once you have bonded with your dog and gained his trust, you can start to move the process to the bigger world. Every new male will be a new situation, so having patience again is key. I have found being chipper and brisk can help a lot. Using happy talk and keeping the movement going helps. Lingering and thinking things will be different at this stage doesn’t seen to help. The key is to keep going and let your dog see – but not have time to react.

Keeping us humans safe!

Keeping you Safe

The other day I was visiting a client who shared a story about her dog that got me thinking. Her pup is about 1.5 years old, very passive , but fearful at board and play or being boarded at the vets office. He was a rescue so who knows what happened to him before he found his forever home. The most recent incident happened at the vets office when being taken out of the kennel. Most of the vet techs had no problem with him but it seems 2 of the techs did not fair so well. The pup actually lunged and made contact with one of the techs. Good for him or her there was no blood drawn, just a bruise. But the bigger question is, why did he have issues with only 2 of the techs. Why not all of them?

So in thinking about how the dog must be feeling (any dog) being confined in a small space, with new people, and in a new place, I can certainly see why a dog must be not in his/her right state of mind. And the question that nags at me is how well do people stop to read a dog before they just reach in and collar them? Or physically grab them and pull them out of the kennel. I was reminded about my dog Trey, who many years ago snapped at a boarding facility employee that  decided to not allow me to leash up my dog by simply calling him to me. The worker just reached in a grabbed him. Of course you can understand how freaked out Trey was and just wanted to get this stranger off of him and get out to me. The worker dropped Trey and decided to just open the one gate so I could leash him up before passing through the final gate to the front area. Did this guy have a clue to read Trey’s body language before reaching in. Does he ever know a dog’s body language? I think not! The signs were all there!

Our founder Sylvia along with her husband Danny, came up with a wonderful chart called MEETME. It stands for Mouth, Ears, Eyes, Tail, Movement and Environment. It charts the various body language stages going from a Green to Yellow to Orange and finally to Red. If you take a moment to look it over it all makes sense and can help keep anyone who deals with a dog(s) in the safe Green/Yellow zones. I can’t speak for the vet tech but I can tell you the guy who picked up Trey had no clue. Trey was showing him all kinds of signals that it was a unsafe situation. So for all you wonderful pet owners and pet lovers in all kinds of capacity feel free to use this chart to keep you safe.

Saying Goodbye to Seamus the 7 month old Irish Wolfhound

Message:

This is a very sad day for my clients. One of their Wolfhound puppies accidentally ate some medicine for psoriasis and is now, two days later, suffering from terminal kidney failure along with a host of other horrible physical symptoms. I write this as a caution to others and to ask for your prayers and good thoughts for my clients and their remaining Wolfhound puppy Gaelyn. A visiting relative left a tube of medicine on a table and left the room (can’t begin to imagine how badly he feels). All Seamus did was bite the tube and enough of the medication got into his system to end his life. The doctor thinks it wasn’t more than a tablespoon that was swallowed. Seamus’ sister Gaelyn was caught in the room with Seamus, but so far (say a prayer) she has not shown any symptoms of poisoning. Apparently the medication has high levels of Vitamin D which is what is causing the kidney and other organ failures. I feel just horrible about this. You would have loved this dog. I was having such a great time working with them (my first wolfhounds) and I am going to miss Seamus terribly. Let us all blog, facebook and remind our clients about the dangers of such innocent things like the medications/vitamins that we take every day. We not only want to protect our dogs, but our friends and family from the trauma of being responsible for something like this. Be safe… Christine   Folks, this came to me from one of our Bark Buster trainers today, it’s a very real problem! And you can prevent this kind of stuff from happening, be aware that pups use their mouths to learn and explore their world, they have no idea dangerous and deadly things are out in the world. Please keep you puppy and dog SAFE!

Why Communication is so critical

Communications and Leadership Key
to Controlling Canine Behavior

According to research from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, many of the pets brought to shelters are surrendered because of behavior problems that their owners believe to be permanent. Approximately 70 percent of these animals end up being “put to sleep,” making death from behavior problems the leading cause of pet mortality, ahead of trauma and disease. This means thousands of dogs are euthanized every year – the vast majority unnecessarily.

Many dog owners buy a dog with the intention that he will be a member of the family, only to discover that the dog becomes the de facto head of the household. A dog’s instinctual behavior is to challenge the pack member above him and in turn be challenged by the dog below. Within the mixed human-dog pack, dogs behave the same. This can lead to undesirable behaviors such as charging the door when the doorbell rings, barking, jumping, pulling on the leash and even biting – which are top reasons dogs are mistreated and euthanized.

With more than one of every three households owning a dog in the U.S., thousands of people are looking for help to solve their dog’s behavior problems. Understanding the keys to pack behavior and following a few simple guidelines can help owners establish leadership and begin controlling a dog’s behavior:

• Because dogs crave strong leadership, if they don’t get it from their owners, they’ll try to take charge. That leads to bad behavior such as barking, jumping, aggression and pulling on the leash—each examples of the dog taking charge. The owner needs to win all challenges to demonstrate leadership.

• There are several ways to establish leadership. First, ignore all requests from the dog, such as nudges to be petted or played with. To do so, break eye contact. Then, when the dog has “given up,” call him back to you to be petted or to play. When he responds to you, versus you to him, he sees you as the leader. If he misbehaves, such as chewing on a child’s toy, correct his behavior with a forceful, low-toned growl (“BAH”). As soon as it stops, offer pleasant, high-toned praise. The dog will understand its mistake and respect you as the pack leader.

• In the wild the leader always leads the pack—literally. Establish your leadership by always leading your dog—up and down stairs, through doorways, and especially on walks. Remember, the leader always leads.

Most dog owners simply accept the disruptive or aggressive behavior of their dogs because they think it’s normal or don’t know how to change it. Learning about pack leadership and canine communication is incredibly interesting for most dog-lovers. Gaining a better understanding of the dog psyche strengthens the human-canine connection, and learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language it understands – voice control and body language – is a critical step in establishing leadership and control, which can eliminate many behavioral issues. Through effective training, many dogs can be saved from being abandoned or unnecessarily euthanized.

Happy client

Below is the kind of email that makes my heart sing.what could be better then a happy client and their dog!

Hello, Gail — my apologies for taking so long to reply to your emails. Lily is WONDERFUL! I followed your suggestions re separation anxiety and while it took a few months, she no longer cries or barks or claws at the door when I leave. I still get a very enthusiastic welcome when I return, thank heavens. I would miss that!

She still barks at unknown bigger dogs, but the big dogs we see frequently on our walks are no longer a problem. I’m still working on the issue but it happens less and less often. She is very friendly with most of the dogs we see on our strolls around the neighborhood.

My Lily is the ideal dog for me. What a sweetie! She is so easy to live with. I have a long list of people who want her if I decide to get rid of her — fat chance!

Thank you for your help in making Lily so perfect!

Halloween costume event on the 29th

Time to dress up your dog

Halloween Tips for your dog

Working from home with your dog!

With the rise of telecommuting and self-employment, many dog owners can work from home and don’t have to routinely leave their furry friends for the day. Some dogs ease into this scenario and are able to be with their owners throughout the day with without exhibiting behavioral issues. For others, however, there are a number of behavioral problems that may arise—such as dogs demanding attention by barking or whining, often at the worst possible times. Read on to find out how to address these common issues.

Why do dogs act up in the home-office environment?
Because of the large amount of time spent together in close proximity, these dogs often have increased opportunities to train their owners! They might nudge for pets or climb in laps. They often nap under the table or desk where their owners are working, but when they wake up, they will request attention—and usually get it.

While seemingly cute and innocent, whenever a dog gets to direct the behavior of his owner, he sees himself as being put in the leadership role. And as the leader, a dog may feel he has the right to demand his owner’s attention—often at inopportune times, such as when the owner is on the phone or involved in an important assignment.

Picture this common scene: You are on an important conference call. A few minutes in, your dog starts to bark or even jump on you. The call is important and you can’t afford the interruption, so your dog gets picked up or petted—and your attention gets divided. You can’t have your dog barking during the call, so you give in. This, however, teaches him that barking and whining is rewarded with attention and affection, which leads to more and more demands at times when you are occupied.

What can I do?
The first thing to do is to separate workspace from dog space. Go to work in another room, separated from your dog. Even though your dog may choose to go elsewhere and nap during the day, if he has free access to you, he will most likely come and find you when he wakes up. It’s important that your work area is off-limits and that your dog is confined (either gated or crated in another room) so he doesn’t have access to you. If he barks for your attention at first, you may want to have at least a couple of closed doors between you as he gets used to the new situation. Make sure to give him something to occupy his attention, such as a treat-rewarding Buster® Cube or KONG® toy.

Do NOT to go to your dog’s space if you hear any barking, whining or pacing. Only return when he’s calm and quiet. If you return when he’s acting out of stress, he will learn that making a fuss is rewarded with your attention.

Practice obedience when you do return. Training your dog engages his brain. This will tire him out and help him become calmer. Try asking him to SIT and STAY before you pet him or toss a toy.

Work on your leadership skills. Be proactive in asking for your dog’s attention and focus. Always begin play on your terms; for instance, if he brings you a certain toy for play, take control of the toy and wait until later to bring it out yourself and initiate play.

Time management is important. If you went off to work without your dog, you would only have certain times when you could interact with him. Work on establishing set times for interactions. For example, take a 10–15 minute break mid-morning and again in the afternoon, or a half hour at lunchtime. Do what works for you and also meets your dog’s physical and mental needs. It’s important that you don’t continuously stop what you are doing and engage with your dog. He’ll quickly get used to the cues you give for your set interactions and will settle down quicker during the in-between times.

As he learns that your world doesn’t necessarily revolve around him, he’ll relax and not be as anxious for your attention. His bad behaviors are simply learned behaviors, because they have worked in the past; your dog will only make a different choice if those strategies no longer result in your attention and what he interprets as praise. Be patient, calm and consistent. If you never separate from your dog, he will have a hard time feeling comfortable by himself when you do have to leave him. Practicing separation while working from home or with your dog at the office will help you both be more relaxed and happy, together or apart.

Walking Lake Merritt in Oakland

So what is it that is interesting and wonderful about walking around in Oakland? After all Oakland is loaded with wonderful neighborhoods, great food, parks that make you feel you are a million miles from the city and tons of trails you can walk with your best Fido friend on. But I have to say some days I just long for walking the Lake with my dog(s).

Lake Merritt is a wonderful place to see lots of people, meet many dogs, and just plain enjoy all the birds that live on and around the Lake. It’s an outstanding walk to help our dog friends find out about the outside world. Of course I would not recommend the lake walk if Fido is completely dog and people reactive and you haven’t found a solution that works for you and your dog yet. Honestly you would be completely exhausted by the time you walked the Lake….but if you are far enough along in getting your pooch to “give it up” or “leave it” when he sees other dogs – you can have a blast together.

I walk a dog for one of my clients and the very idea of walking the Lake seemed daunting last year – but this year she can manage it. We have developed bonding, trust and respect for one another over time. Last year we were working in Joaquin Miller park and she could not handle being within the sounds of the dog park. Over time we practiced together finding what would work for her to let it go. I thought surely the roast beef would do it. Not for this girl! I thought using a toy would do it, nope – didn’t work! What worked was just plain walking together and letting her know I did not like her reactive behavior and to praise the dickens any time she could control herself. I worked in inches with this girl. Finally we were able to walk past the dog park without her flipping out. Quite the miracle! So next step was a street where she could adjust to people, cars, moving objects, children and dogs. The Lake was still way too busy. We walked neighborhoods that had a little of everything and week by week she adjusted. Remember we are talking a year, not days, weeks, or months.

About a month or so ago, I thought well Lake Merritt, here we come! I drove up, parked the car and thought I must be crazy risking the progress we had made. Holding my breath I opened the car door and started out. She was so fascinated by all the activity she really had no time to hone in on any one thing. Of course I did not let her linger. We kept a good pace and walked the entire Lake. Her biggest issue that day was with the cormorants sitting on the rope in the lake. She just about crawled on her belly past them. What a wonderful walk we had and our trust for one another grew by leaps and bounds.

If your fear of walking your reactive dog is holding you back, you are missing out on life. Take the chance, take the time and practice every day you can. Will your dog ever be able to be off leash? Perhaps not! But don’t let that stop you from taking risks. Don’t give up which can only make your dog eve more reactive. Remember Service Dogs are out and about being groomed for 2 years before they go into the Service Dog Training Program. Even then, some will not make it and are adopted out as family dogs. I implore you to get out there and have some fun! Do the work and you can only become a much better team! Just like Lake Merritt in Oakland is for me – your dream place awaits you and your Fido!

The Alameda Shelter

People often tell me, “I could never volunteer at a shelter – it’s too depressing”. “Why”, I think to myself! Well sure, it is not the most cheerful space to be in but…. the animals are safe, warm, fed, groomed, walked and cared for by volunteers and staff that cares about them. City shelters don’t have the money to make their shelter pretty like the humane society’s or the SPCA’s, and they don’t have the money to hire trainers to make the dogs act like little angels when potential adopters come through. This is why the shelters need us to help them. All the dogs,cats, birds, rabbits, etc really need us to work with them. I am a volunteer for the Alameda Shelter. I work with some of the challenged dogs and I run a training class for the new volunteers to learn how to handle and walk the dogs. Every time I leave I feel I have make a difference, maybe not a hugh one, but a difference all the same. Maybe you can put your feelings aside and know the animals you help really need you. Give it a go and see all the love you get in return!