Four Rules Every Dog Owner Needs to Know

What do dog trainers, managers, and parents have in common?  They know that there are four essential ingredients that will lead to success.

Many of you already know that I am a new parent.  My daughter is already going to be ten months old this week, and it amazes me how similar the rules of dog training are to being a good parent.  What many of you may not know is that I run a sales and marketing department for a local/national company.  Again, the rules of dog training apply to the way I conduct my business, and how I manage my employees.  Since I'm such a new parent, I'll stick to what I really know, but if there are some parents out there who would like to share how these rules are similar for their kids- please do!

So, what are the rules?  They're short, sweet, and easy to remember:

1.  Be consistent-  Whether you're a dog, child, or an employee you need to know what the rules are to be able to follow them.  Imagine if the rules you live by were constantly changing.  What if you had no way to know the difference between right and wrong?  You would have no way to avoid punishment, and certainly no understanding how to get rewarded for doing something right.  Make a list of the things that you do and do not want your dog doing.  Then place it somewhere the whole family can view it, and hold each other accountable.  If Fido isn't allowed on the couch, don't let him up there when Dad leaves for work.  Be consistent.

2. Timing is everything- It's important to know when to speak up, and when to let things play out… but even more, you have to have good timing when you give praise or a reprimand.  For a dog, you have <1.3 seconds to catch them doing something right/wrong to be able to affect their future behavior.  Certainly there is a bit more time allowed for an adult, but I wouldn't want to praise someone for a job well done one month later.  I also don't want to let an employee continue to do something wrong for a month without saying something; however, it's not wise to criticize in the moment.  There's a great saying that states:  "Praise publicly.  Critique privately."  When it comes to people, time your praise so you can do just that.  For dogs, catch them doing it right, and catch them before they do it wrong.

3. Provide the right motivation- If my day job employer told me that he would be paying me with Post-It notes from now on, you could count the seconds I would continue my employment with an egg timer.  So why do we think our dogs are going to continue to work for us for a scratch on the head, when what they really want is to get a juicy treat or have a tennis ball thrown for them?  Remember to give your dog what they want, not what you want to give.

4. Give great direction-  Direction is essential during the learning phase of training.  I don't stand in front of my dogs and scream sit until they hopefully get it.  Instead I guide them.  When you start a new job chances are that you are shown how to do things correctly.  Once we are shown we're expected to know how to do it on our own.  Let's not assume our dogs are being stubborn…  Chances are they just don't get what you're trying to ask them to do.  Instead of yelling next time, guide them.  Show them what you've been yelling about.  You'll be surprised by the change you see before your eyes.

Every great leader has been able to accomplish these things, and was respected because of it.  Master these steps with your dog, and you'll be loved for it.

Which one of these steps rings true with you?  Which ones do you disagree with?

-Andrew Wildesen

The CTC, Owner

andrew@k9llc.com

Top 5 things to train your dog

Whether you are bringing a new dog home or currently own a dog.  You will face various challenges throughout his life that will benefit from training.  Out of the many commands that you can teach a dog, these commands are the foundation of every well trained dog.

1. Come (recall)

The come command is one of the most important commands you can train your dog.  It is a life saver.  The come command can be used when your dog accidentally exits the house unleashed or when your dog is about to run up to a strange dog.  A dog with a very good recall is a more trustworthy companion.

2. Sit
The sit command is an essential building block to advanced obedience commands.  You can tell your dog to sit before he eats, sit before a stranger pets him or sit if he is jumping at the window barking.  A dog who has been taught to sit properly, will stay seated until the handler releases him (okay or free).

3. Down
Down is another vital command to know before more complicated obedience commands can be taught.  You can tell your dog to down when traveling in the car or down when you want him to stop pacing around the house.  Like the sit command, a dog with a solid down will stay in the down position until the handler releases him.

 

4. Heel
The heel command is when a dog is paying attention to the handler and walking beside the handler so that the dog's shoulder is parallel to the handler's left leg.  A dog who is in the correct heel position but not paying attention to the handler is not heeling properly.  The heel command is what allows dog and owner to take a peaceful walk together. 

5. Place
"Place" is any mat or defined place that the dog must go and lie down on.  You can tell your dog to place into his crate or place onto a rug.  This command can be used when cooking, eating or when a visitor is at the door.  The dog is to place until you release him.

What is the most important command you've taught your dog? 

*Johanna*   

10 Canine toxins many owners aren't aware of

1. Cherry

The stems, leaves and seeds contain cyanide.

Causes brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock.
 





2. Avocado

The leaves, seeds and bark of the avocado tree contain Persin.

Causes vomiting and diarrhea.






3. Grapes & Raisins

Causes kidney failure.









4. Xylitol

A sugar alcohol found in sugar free gum and mints.

Causes low blood sugar and liver failure.






5. Aloe

While small amounts applied externally is fine, the plant contains Saponins.

Causes vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors and change in urine color.







6. Apple (includes crabapples)

The stems, leaves and seeds of apples contain cyanide.   

Causes brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting and shock.





7. Azalea

This beautiful but deadly plant contains Grayantoxin.  

Causes vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, central nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.  Ingesting just a few leaves can have dangerous consequences.





8. Coffee

Coffee contains methylxanthines a derivative of the cacao seed.  

Causes vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizure and death.




9. Macadamia Nuts

The toxin in this nut is unknown.

Causes depression, weakness, vomiting and tremors.

10. Hops

This commonly known plant is used in the production of beer.  

Causes panting, high body temperature, seizures and even death.

 

Help spread the knowledge, what other toxins should owners be aware of?  

*Johanna*

Source: www.aspca.org

For a complete list of toxins visit the ASPCA poison control website.

Canine Intelligence: Chaser the Border Collie knows the names of 1022 objects

Brand New: We will be introducing an Ask a Vet Q & A feature.  Please post any questions for the veterinarian to this blog or email Andrew@k9llc.com.

Chaser

A Border Collie named Chaser has accomplished the astounding feat of learning the individual names of 1022 toys.  Chaser, known as the dog with the largest vocabulary and owner John Pilley live in Spartanburg, S.C.   

Chaser has undergone four separate experiments to test her language skills:

1. Experiment one showed that Chaser had learned the proper noun names of 1022 toys. 
   
   
2. Experiment two revealed that Chaser was not only able to differentiate between the proper noun names but that she was able to tell the difference between the name of the object and the command given.  Chaser was aware that names referred to objects and that commands referred to what was to be done to those objects (see Chaser Demonstration video below).
   
   
3. Experiment three demonstrated Chasers capacity to learn three common nouns.
   
   
4. Experiment four displayed Chasers ability to learn the names of new objects by excluding objects with known names (see Chaser learns new object name through exclusion video below). 

Chaser learned these words within three years of intensive training.  Her owner explained that "no upper limit is apparent -- they stopped training the dog after three years due to their time constraints, not because the dog could not learn more names." 

Here are some videos I found on Chaser, this dog is amazing!!

Chaser demonstration video

Chaser learns new object name through exclusion video

Learn how John Pilley taught Chaser object names video

How many words does your dog know and how did you teach them?  Please let me know in the comments section below.

*Johanna*

Source: 

John W. Pilley, Alliston K. Reid. Border collie comprehends object names as verbal referents. Behavioural Processes, 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2010.11.007

World of Pets Expo: Chaos well worth it

Held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium MD, the World of Pets Expo showcased the wonderful world of pets within a three day period.  This family event had various activities ranging from AKC Dog Agility Trials to shopping at the assortment of vendors. 

My Experience

Upon arrival, I was greeted at the door by this unusual sight: 

Chihuahua holds Bernese Mountain Dog for Ransom.  Mountain Dog seems unperplexed.

 

An American Pit Bull Terrier watched in horror as the ransom situation unveiled.

 

Critters of all shapes and sizes were brought to this pet friendly extravaganza.

Even the most elaborate of costumes were dished out in grand displays of elegance.

While others mere cuteness was entirely sufficient.

Vendors, Displays and Entertainment Galore: My Top 4

Baltimore Bird Fanciers Club had a large assortment of birds for you to meet and greet.  After cleaning your hands with hand sanitizer, you were encouraged to hold and interact with the many birds on display.

Annie's Pooch Pops All Natural Dog Treats was my tasty but healthy favorite.  A wide arrangement of dog treats and chews for even the most eclectic of tastes.

  

 Owners and canines alike lined up for the mouthwatering buffet.

It wouldn't be winter without canine apparel in which Foggy Mountain Dog Coats scored highest on my list.

Talk about entertainment: these talented pooches were surefire crowd pleasers.

 

How do you think your dog would react to seeing sheep, horses, rabbits and cats at the Pet Expo?

*Johanna*

Brand New: We will be introducing a brand new Ask a Vet Q & A feature.  Please post any questions for the veterinarian to this blog or email Andrew@k9llc.com.

Canine Health Insurance

I knew that my dog would be covered under health insurance before I even brought her home.  My decision was based on the monthly premium, the coverage for unexpected expenses and the fact that dogs have health problems and accidents just like humans.

I pay $37.75 a month for Lola’s VPI health insurance.  It includes benefits for core coverage (heartworm and tick preventative, vaccinations, wellness exam etc.), the main health insurance benefit and a cancer endorsement.  

Last year, Lola’s health insurance plan paid for itself as she had two mammary growths surgically removed and biopsied.

Shopping around is a must before making a final decision on pet health insurance. 

Here are ten questions you should ask:

1. Are there any age restrictions?
   
   
2. Will the premium increase as the pet ages?  Some pet health insurance companies include age related premium increases.
   
   
3. What are the coverage waiting periods (if any)?  A waiting period is the time between the effective date and the date coverage begins.
   
   
4. What is the deductible and is it yearly or per incident?  A deductible is the amount that must be paid out of your pocket prior to benefits being paid.
   
   
5. Can you use any veterinarian or are you limited to a network?  Some pet insurance plans require that you visit their veterinarians only.
   
   
6. Are there any lifetime, yearly or incident maximums?  These maximums would put a cap on benefits and are important to know.
   
   
7. What does the plan cover?
   
   
8. What policy exclusions are there?  Most plans will exclude pre-existing conditions but there are also other exclusions to be aware of.
   
   
9. How are claims processed?  Most pet health insurance plans require that you pay the veterinarians office up front and submit a claim for reimbursement of covered expenses.
   
   
10. How much does the plan cost?

It is not for everyone

So is pet health insurance for you?  Here are some things to consider:

1. Do you have a plan of action if your pet were to get hurt or ill?
   
   
2. Are you prepared to pay the hundreds to thousands of dollars that could be associated with a veterinary bill?

You may have money saved up for a just in case canine situation or you may decide that health insurance is best for your pet.  Whatever decision you make, the most important thing is that you are prepared for the unexpected in a way that works best for you.  

Is your pet covered under health insurance, what carrier did you choose and why?


*Johanna*

10 Dog Myths!!

1.  Dogs only see black, white and gray scale.
Dogs are in fact color blind when it comes to red and green but they do see color.  The colors that dogs see are not as vivid as the human color scale but what their vision lacks they make up in their sense of smell.

Source: http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/DrP4.htm

2.  All of a dog’s senses are more sensitive than that of a human.

A canine’s sense of taste is NOT as sensitive as humans. 

"Most of a dog's taste buds are clustered around the tip of the tongue.  Dogs can detect bitter, sweet, salty, and sour tastes, but their sense of taste is relatively poor and they have only one-sixth the number of taste buds that humans have."

3.  One human year = seven dog years
This one couldn’t be further from the truth because dogs (depending on the breed) are typically considered sexually mature between ages one and 18 months.  The best way to relate dog years to human years is through the following graph:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dog_and_human_year_graph.png

4.  A wagging tail means a dog is happy.

Dogs wag their tails for many reasons and it DOES NOT always mean that they are happy.  

"A friendly dog will communicate his intentions through loosely wagging his tail. But, a wagging tail does not always indicate friendliness. Dominant or aggressive dogs may wag their tail, but the tail is held high and maybe just the tip of the tail is moving rapidly. A playful dog will also hold his tail high, but it will be wagging greatly from side to side. A dog who holds his tail low and wags it stiffly may be indicating he is submissive or afraid."

5.  A warm dry nose means your dog is sick.

A perfectly healthy dog's nose will change from dry to moist and cold to warm throughout the day.  On the other hand, you should take your dog to a veterinarian if he/she is experiencing changes in nasal texture and pigmentation.  

Source: Lola

6.  All dogs like to be petted on their head.

Many dogs tolerate being petting on their head but in the canine world, it can be interpreted as a threatening gesture.  Therefore, it is always safest to NOT pet a strange dog on the head.

7.  A dog eating grass indicates stomach upset.

Grass eating is a normal behavior in dogs and is not always related to illness.  Outside of stomach upset, dogs might eat grass because they enjoy the taste or they're hungry.

8.  All dog food is created equal.

There are many dog foods on the market that are considered to be very unhealthy.  Unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian (due to a certain medical condition), here is a guideline to follow when looking at dog food labels:

1. A meat should be the first ingredient.
2. The guaranteed analysis protein level should be 30% or more.
3. The fat content should be 18% or more.
4. Supplements such as Omega Fatty Acids and Vitamin E are good to have.
5. NO FOOD COLORING!!!!!

9.  Humping is always sexual in nature.

Humping is in fact a sexual position in canines but they also hump for other reasons.  Male and female dogs both hump for dominance, excitement and even play. 

10.  Deaf dogs are more easily startled and therefore are aggressive.

Deaf dogs adapt to their new life without hearing and while they can become startled more easily at times, it does not mean that they are going to become aggressive or bite.

"Owners report that their dogs' responses to being touched unexpectedly range from a "YIKES" response, where the dog may jump, to a "huh?" response, where the dog simply turns and looks. Some may be momentarily disoriented when awakened, but few become aggressive or bite in response."


Which of these myths did you find most interesting?

*Johanna*