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JUNE 2010 TIPS

JUNE Tip of the Wagg'n Tail 1:

tip1

The Rules and Relating to Your Dog

Dogs look to the pack leader to set rules and boundaries.  People often ask me at what age should they start training a puppy and the answer is immediately.

The mother dog begins training her puppies from birth.  She makes them wait for food; she controls when they play and how far they can travel.  Adult dogs need these same rules and boundaries from you, the pack leader.

Besides all the training another important necessity for dogs is the controlled walk.  In their natural habitat, they earn food and water while traveling, and they get to experience the world.  Walking is not just the physical need but also stimulates their minds.

Position matters; walking in front of a dog allows you to be seen as the pack leader.  Conversely, if your dog controls you on the walk, then they are the pack leader.  Master the walk and your dog will relate to you as the pack leader.

During the walk, you will feel the highest level of connection with your dog.  My clients are often surprised by this, because they think dogs only crave love and affection.  This is not so.  Dogs crave rules and boundaries from their pack leader.  This allows them to relax and accept their role as a follower in your pack.

 

 June Tip of the Wagg'n Tail 2

tip2

I Rescued a Human Today
Author Unknown

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel, I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card, I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.  I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck. She was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to be by her side always. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came to my corridor. So many more that haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

JUNE Tip of the Wagg'n Tail 3

tip 3

The “Be Still” Exercise
The following information is from Brenda Aloff’s book,
Get Connected with Your Dog:

The Be-Still exercise teaches the dog to calm itself and accept the person handling the dog.  On another level Brenda describes the exercise as a means of taking the dog out of an instinctual, reactive, “hindbrain” state into thinking, “frontbrain” state.  This is very useful for dog owners because if the dog is in a fearful or avoidance state, it is impossible to teach the dog anything and hard to get the dog out of the fear state.  Aggression, whether motivated by prey or defensive, is also a hindbrain state, which is why it can be hard for trainers to control or teach control to a dog that is fully aroused.

The Be-Still exercise is used to calm your dog, connect with the dog and to switch the dog from “hindbrain” to “frontbrain”.  It helps to think of the Be-Still exercise as pressing the “reset” button on a piece of machinery.  Using and completing (meaning using it until the dog relaxes) the exercise resets the dog from its arousal state back into a normal, thinking state of mind.

Be-Still Exercise:

    • Hold your dog’s collar with one hand, with your other hand rub your dog all over.  You may say “Be-Still” once or twice then say nothing only the hand contact.
    • Use a FLAT HAND and a FRIM Stroking going both ways down and back against the direction of the hair.
    • Begin with a benign area such as the rib cage and back, DO NOT stop rubbing until TWO things happen: first the dog’s feet stop moving, then one of the following;
      • The dog licks his/her lips
      • Yawning
      • Blinks their eyes
      • Takes a deep cleansing breath
    • Then mark the relax state with a quiet “YES” and stand up to the count of 2, the key is to STOP rubbing when your dog releases stress.  Now your dog is prepared to learn and or the arousal state they were in is now back to concentrating on you. 
 

JUNE Tip of the Wagg'n Tail 4

 

 

tip3

Tips for Toddlers and Young Children on How to React to Dogs

Most dog bites occur to young children that are at eye level to the dog.  It is imperative that adults teach children how to respect and treat dogs.   Praise your children for gentleness and correct them for rough and unkind behaviors toward your dog.  Children should also learn that dogs naturally chase, herd, catch, and fetch.  Playfully grabbing a tail or running in the yard may be a dog’s invitation to chase and jump which is a very natural response for a dog.  Due to the size of children that are much closer to the size of the dog, some dogs may try to be the leader over the child and not respect them as a pack leader.

Tips for Children to Greet Unknown Dogs:

  1. Always ask permission to pet an unknown dog from the owner.
  2. Make sure the owner has control of the dog; on leash.
  3. Never make direct eye contact.  Keep your eye on the dog but do not stare into the eyes of the dog.  In the dog world, eye to eye contact or staring means confrontation.
  4. Let the dog sniff the child’s fist, not an open hand.
  5. When the dog appears comfortable and not nervous, then the child can pet the dog along the back or side.  It is recommended not to pet over the head because again that draws attention to the face; therefore, the eyes.
  6. Never let the child wrap their arms around the neck or head of an unknown dog.
  7. Never let the child pull on the ears, tail, and feet, panting tongue or anything that will create pain or discomfort in the dog.
  8. Teach your child to be calm and not raise their voice or scream at the dog.
  9. Do not try to pet an unknown dog while they are eating or chewing on a toy.
  10. Lastly do not pet an unknown dog while they are sleeping, avoid any startling behaviors.

As owners of dogs it is also our responsibility to socialize our dogs to all people short, tall, man, woman, and even different clothing as in hats etc.  The more that your dog is exposed to all kinds of people in non-threatening environments, the more comfortable your dog will be with children.

 

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