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Choosing A Dog Is For Life

I find it fascinating to consider a person’s choice of breed for a family pet.  It seems that with some owners, there has clearly been careful consideration choosing the “right dog.”  With other owners, less thought appears to have gone into choosing their pet than in deciding where to vacation for a weekend. This has always seemed a little strange to me as the latter they will experience for a few days and the former will be a companion for many years.

 

When I am asked for advice on how to choose a breed, I encourage families to carefully choose a dog whose temperament and needs will be compatible with the family’s lifestyles and I caution them not to make the mistake of choosing a dog based on an advertising image or one made popular by Hollywood.  When deciding whether to adopt a dog there are some important points to consider prior to even exploring breed choices. These include:

1. How much time does your family have to commit to raising a well-socialized, happy dog?  Your new family member will need to be cared for and exercised. With busy families, I often advise against bringing a puppy into the home as puppies are a tremendous responsibility initially and need a significant commitment to ensure the pup is properly trained and socialized.  An older more mature dog may already be trained.

 

2. Who is the dog for and what role in the family will the dog play.  General  companion, running partner, recreation, etc.   Into which category does your dog breed choice fall? Is it a sporting dog, a herding dog or a working dog? Dog’s that are bred to perform a specific purpose may need more mental and physical stimulation than your lifestyle permits. In choosing a dog, you want a breed best suited to your family and lifestyle or you may find your new shepherd herding your children around your backyard.

3. Most importantly for me, are all members of the family prepared to welcome a dog as part of the family and is there a genuine commitment to doing right by the dog?

4.  And finally, does the family have the necessary disposable income to care for a dog over its lifespan? One does not have to be extravagant when it comes to caring for a family pet, but there are some basic necessary expenses.

 

Once these questions have been considered, the next important question is whether to buy a dog from a reputable breeder or to rescue a dog.  Also consider whether a puppy or an older dog would be more suitable.   There are pros and cons to each. Buying a puppy from a reputable breeder does give you greater assurance of the dog’s pedigree and you will have more accurate knowledge of the dog’s eventual size and breed characteristics.

However, rescuing a dog can be very rewarding and there is always a wide variety available for adoption from the Humane Society, City and County shelters and private rescue groups. 

Once you have decided between a puppy or adult and whether to use a breeder or a rescue organization, you are ready to choose your dog.  Wherever you decide to get your four-legged friend, do some research on the breed and the individual dog’s history (if possible) to assess the dog’s compatibility and suitability for your family and lifestyle.  Spend some time with the dog to understand its individual personality and characteristics. 

I recommend choosing a breed and then, considering the breed characteristics, needs and attributes, find every reason why the breed would not fit into your lifestyle. It is very easy for us to justify our initial decision after falling in love with a particular dog and then come to regret that decision when your dog begins to exhibit natural breed characteristics that do not fit into your lifestyle.  If, after identifying reasons why your potential pet would be unsuitable, you find your lifestyle and your dog’s needs are still compatible, then it is time to adopt. If not, then keep looking until you find a more suitable breed.  Do not be afraid to enlist the advice of a professional to help guide you in this decision.

Be an informed dog adopter, research, explore and make the right choice for your family and your future dog.

How To Reduce Your Dog’s Barking

Dog barking is a natural behavior and dogs bark for as many reasons as we speak, grumble, scream, and cry. Short of a radical, and dangerous, approach, you will never eliminate a dog’s bark entirely. That would be like you taking a lifelong vow of silence. So our goal is to manage our dog’s barking so that it isn’t a nuisance. In order to properly do this we need to set reasonable goals so rather than try to eliminate all barking let’s start with an achievable goal such as reducing the frequency of the barking or shorten the duration of the barking.

Our first step will be to determine what triggers the undesirable barking. In many cases what triggers a dog’s bark can be quite complex and difficult to determine. In these situations you are far better off consulting with a professional dog trainer who is an accredited behavior analyst. If you suspect the barking is caused by fear or anxiety then you will definitely need the help of a professional. Both fear and anxiety are incredibly complex emotions in a dog which will require a detailed plan to resolve.
But if the cause of your dog’s barking is straightforward (the doorbell, passing pedestrians, other dogs, children etc.) then you may be able to simply manage the situation. If management techniques do resolve the problem and you can easily maintain them then this approach may be the most effective for you.
The first thing you need to do is to make sure your pooch is getting adequate exercise. And however much they may be getting now, increase it. Much like humans, exercise will help the dog’s brain regulate mood and reduce impulsive behavior. Exercise alone will often reduce excessive barking. A dog that is well exercised will be more relaxed and less likely to react to whatever may normally trigger their barking. A tired dog is a happy dog.
The next step is to make sure your dog is getting quality “face” time with you and your family. Dogs often bark out of pure loneliness and boredom. They are pack animals and we are their pack. If it is boredom that you suspect is the primary trigger for your dog’s barking then look into some of the excellent interactive toys now available for pets. You can even use toys that will dispense your dog’s meals keeping it mentally stimulated figuring out how to get its dinner. Consider putting your pooch into daycare or hiring a dog walker. They will greatly benefit from the additional exercise and companionship.
Another very effective ‘management’ technique is to ‘crate-train’ your dog and limit the access your pooch has to certain areas of the house. For example, if your neighbor complains that your dog barks while you are away, you can keep your dog in its crate in a quiet part of your house to minimize the chance of outside noises causing the barking. And a properly crate-trained dog feels safe and secure in its crate (download our free e-book on crate-training).
When problem barking is caused by a specific trigger like a doorbell, then you will need to concentrate on 1) not rewarding them for the barking when the bell rings and 2) replacing the barking with a different behavior when the door bell rings.We often unconsciously reward our dogs for undesirable behavior. For example; if our dog reacts to the doorbell by barking and then jumps on guests we often try to control their behavior by holding them and talking to them. This attention is just what your dog was looking for.Instead, if you teach your dog an alternate behavior, such as finding its favorite toy whenever the doorbell rings, then it will be distracted and physically unable to bark at the doorbell as it holds its favorite toy in its mouth. So first teach your dog to find its favorite toy using plenty of rewards. Once your pooch is reliably and enthusiastically finding its toy when you tell it to “get your toy” then you are ready to practice the new behavior (getting the toy) when the doorbell rings.
Have a friend or family member ring the doorbell. Just when your dog starts to react send it to find its toy. When it returns to you with the toy, reward it generously. Do this repeatedly over a period of days. And don’t forget the rewards. Don’t be surprised if your pooch looks for its favorite toy at the sound of the doorbell without any prompting from you. If you successfully master this behavior you can then apply it to a number of situations where you want your dog to “get your toy” rather than do whatever it is doing. Remember, even after your dog has mastered this behavior you will need to occasionally reward it with treats or lots of love to remind it of the value of “get your toy.”

The Rescue Dog

My Foster Dog
by Unknown Author

My foster dog stinks to high heaven. I don’t know for sure what breed he is. His eyes are blank and hard.
He won’t let me pet him and growls when I reach for him.

He has ragged scars and crusty sores on his skin. His nails are long and his teeth, which he showed me, are stained. I sigh. I drove two hours for this.

I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him in the crate. Then I heft the crate and put it in the car. I am going home with my new foster dog.

At home I leave him in the crate till all the other dogs are in the yard. I get him out of the crate and ask him if he wants “outside.” As I lead him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and shows me his stained teeth again.

When we come in, he goes to the crate because that’s the only safe place he sees. I offer him food but he won’t eat it if I look at him, so I turn my back. When I come back, the food is gone.

I ask again about “outside.” When we come back, I pat him before I let him in the crate; he jerks away and runs into the crate to show me his teeth.

The next day I decide I can’t stand the stink any longer. I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hands. His fear of me is not quite overcome by his longing for the cheese. And well he should fear me, for I will give him a bath.

After an attempt or two to bail out he is defeated and stands there. I have bathed four legged bath critters for more years than he has been alive. His only defense was a show of his stained teeth that did not hold up to a face full of water.

As I wash him, it is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt away but also some of the hardness. His eyes look full of sadness now. And he looks completely pitiful as only a soap covered dog can.

I tell him that he will! feel better when he is cleaned. After the soap, the towels are not too bad, so he lets me rub him dry. I take him outside. He runs for joy . . . the joy of not being in the tub and the joy of being clean.

I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy. He comes to me and lets me pet him.

One week later I have a vet bill. His skin is healing. He likes for me to pet him ( I think). I know what color he will be when his hair grows in. I have found out he is terrified of other dogs, so I carefully introduce
him to my mildest four legged brat. It doesn’t go well.

Two weeks later a new vet bill for an infection that was missed on the first visit. He plays with the other dogs.

Three weeks later his coat shines, he has gained weight. He shows his clean teeth when his tongue lolls out after he plays chase in the yard with the gang.

His eyes are soft and filled with life. He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks, if you have the cheese.

Someone called today and asked about him. They saw the picture I took the first week. They asked about his personality, his history, his breed. They asked if he was pretty. I asked them lots of questions.

I checked up on them. I prayed. I said yes.

When they saw him the first time they said he was the most beautiful dog they had ever seen.

Six months later, I got a call from his new family.  He is wonderful, smart, well behaved, and very loving.

How could someone not want him? I told them I didn’t know. He is beautiful.

They all are.

The DogSmith Guide to Holiday Pet Travel

  The holiday season is almost upon us and many pet owners are starting to make their travel plans. The DogSmith knows how important pet care is — whether you travel with your pets or if you are leaving them home. If you cannot travel with your pet you may want to book your pet into a boarding kennel which can range from high-end luxury boutique style pet hotels and catteries to traditional kennels. If available, many pet owners choose to let their pet stay with their veterinarian. Whichever you choose it is always a good idea to get to know the staff beforehand. Check to see if the facility is a member of the Pet Care Services Association (PCSA, formerly the ABKA – www.petcareservices.org) and if this will be your pet’s first stay away from home, make several practice visits of increasing duration prior to leaving them.

Remember to make these visits a lot of fun for your pet. This will be especially helpful if your pet has never stayed in a kennel facility before. As an option to kennels, you may want to consider a pet-sitter who can either care for your pet in their home or yours. This approach can have huge advantages including more personal attention and reduced stress on your pet by keeping them in their familiar environment. Much like acclimating your pet to a kennel environment, it will help any transition to slowly introduce your pet to the sitter to ensure your four-legged family member is comfortable. Most professional sitters will include this as part of their service. With a pet-sitter, you also get a house sitter who will take in mail, packages and other similar duties. Again, check to see if the sitter you are considering is a member of an accredited organization and is insured and bonded. It is a bonus for your peace of mind if your sitter is also a dog trainer and animal first aid qualified.

When traveling, having your pet “crate-trained” pays big dividends. No matter where you go or what you do, your pet’s crate is its mobile home where they can feel safe and secure. To download a free guide to crate-training your dog visit www.888DogSmith.com. If you will be traveling by air, check with your airline for container specifications, size limits on cabin travel of pets, check-in times and any other information necessary. Though many airlines have stricter rules concerning pet travel you should also review federal regulations at the FAA website www.faa.gov.

Under even the most ideal conditions traveling by air will be stressful for your pet so visit your veterinarian well in advance of traveling to make sure your pet is up to the trip and you have all of the paperwork required by the airline. Your vet can also advise you on available options if your pet is prone to anxiety when traveling by plane. By a huge margin, most family pets will travel this holiday season over our nation’s highways. If your pet is not comfortable traveling by car you can help them acclimate by taking them on local car trips of increasing duration before you set out on your journey. Make your car a safe, fun place for your pet by rewarding them and using the proper restraints. Here again a crate secured inside your car is a valuable tool to keep your pet safe. A variety of specialty seatbelt attachments and harnesses designed for car travel are also available at most pet stores. Stopping every two hours or so for a walk and a rest will help you and your pet stay fresh, alert and comfortable. But never leave your pet in the car alone for any length of time. A car’s interior can become dangerously hot for your pet even when the outside temperature is cool.

Visit www.AAA.com for a list of pet-friendly motels and more information on traveling by car with your pet. However you travel this holiday season, it is important to keep your pet comfortable, safe and secure. Pack favorite toys and treats, food, appropriate leads, collars, harnesses, crates, blankets, beds, waste bags, food bowls, water bowls, required medicines, and plenty of fresh water so you can provide your best friend with a “home away from home.” For your free comprehensive guide to traveling with your pet visit www.888DogSmith.com.

The Challenge: Are You Ready?

Challenge: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – Mark Twain Do you long for a career combining your passion for animals with an independent lifestyle? Would you like to feel the pride and satisfaction of building your own business, a business that can make a difference in your community? Look into the mirror; do you like what you see? Are you tired of telling yourself, “maybe some day?” Well today is the day to invest in yourself. Control your destiny with The DogSmith. Take back ownership of your own life and act now. Don’t regret what might have been.

Call TODAY! Learn more about The DogSmith, Dog Training, Dog Walking Pet Sitting, Pet Nutrition and Pet Waste Cleanup business. FREE consultation and No obligation – 1-888-Dog-Smith

Don’t damage your Dog, your relationship and your friend

Punishing dogs does not work, it deteriorates your relationship with them, and it damages them mentally. Punishment does not achieve the goal of changing or removing a problem behavior. Differential reinforcement is a proven method of changing dogs behavior, it is non aversive and minimally invasive.

Differential Reinforcement is a preferred method to behavior change programs with dogs than using punishment. 

Punishment has sinister and subtle side effects, it drives problem behaviors underground and they tend to then be displayed in the absence of the punisher. Punishment also activates the dogs’ emotional system which has a negative impact on the dogs’ ability to think and learn making it almost impossible to teach the dog new more acceptable behaviors. Because punishment can never be applied consistently and predictability this leads to learned helplessness, a state resistant to rehabilitation, as the dog cannot control nor have confidence in its environment (O’Heare 2004).

 A successful behavior change program must make the problematic target behavior ineffective, irrelevant and inefficient. The program must also establish new behaviors and skills while decreasing the frequency, intensity or duration of problem behaviors.  Since punishment can create many problems, alternative methods of modifying unwanted behavior, such as differential reinforcement, are preferable (Miltenberger 2004)

 Differential reinforcement is an operant conditioning technique that can be used to both increase and decrease behaviors. For many problematic operant behaviors during differential reinforcement, the problematic behavior is targeted for extinction while another behavior is simultaneously positively reinforced. There are several differential reinforcement protocols and each has its application and suitability based on the behavioral problem.

When choosing a differential reinforcement protocol we must first establish whether the target behavior is already present and requires a dimension of the behavior to be reduced, such as barking, or whether the goal is to place the old behavior on extinction and reinforce a new behavior, such as jumping on guests when sitting would be more acceptable.  

 When considering which differential reinforcement protocol to use for teaching new behaviors we need to assess if the preferred behavior is already occurring, can it be captured or lured or will it need to be shaped. We also need to establish if we will use extinction trials or not and whether given the behavior problem they may create frustration or cause an animal to aggress, both causing frustration during training or a trigger of aggression are considered training failures and should be avoided at all costs (O’Heare 2009).

 Differential Reinforcement of an incompatible behavior is best used when we can identify an incompatible behavior, a behavior that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior and one that commonly occurs so it can be captured or prompted easily without exposing the animal to the problem stimulus. We must have access to a reinforcer that can be delivered after the new behavior and the ability to withhold reinforcement for the undesirable behavior.

  The new incompatible behavior is trained in a different context to the problem behavior and then exposed gradually to the problem stimulus to avoid extinction trials as this can result in aggression and extinction bursts. If a dog is jumping all over people as they come in through a door we would first teach a solid sit for greetings away from the door and then gradually move the behavior back to the problem location. If an incompatible behavior cannot be identified then, using the same methods, we can differentially reinforce a specific alternate behavior (O’Heare 2009). 

 When working with an animal that is highly excitable or has a propensity to engage in frustration behaviors, such as nipping or mouthing, then one should adopt the differential reinforcement protocol of “other behavior”. This is a simple procedure where the reinforcer is contingent on the absence of the problem behavior.  Reinforcement is easily accessed by the animal and the procedure is easily carried out by the owner. Because there is no specifically targeted behavior to reinforce the technician must remain cognizant that differential reinforcement of other behaviors can create superstitious behaviors (O’Heare 2009).

 With behavior that cannot be reduced to zero (barking) or some level of the behavior is acceptable and/or it is difficult to train an incompatible or alternate behavior, then using differential reinforcement of low rates is used.  It would first be determined whether the goal of the behavior change program is to reduce the intensity, frequency or duration of the baking behavior and the protocol would then focus on that behavior dimension. Reinforcement would then only be available to the animal if the specific target behavior occurred at a specified rate during a specified period of time (O’Heare 2009). 

 If the goal of the behavior change program is to establish a new replacement behavior and the animal being trained lacks social confidence or offers ridged behaviors as a result of previously harsh or aversive  training protocols then using differential reinforcement of successive approximations to a terminal behavior (shaping) would be most appropriate. 

 Shaping can also be used to develop operant behaviors that are not initially visible, need to be trained in small approximations or the conditions of the training need to support empowering the animal to experiment with new behaviors. Shaping procedures can also be used to teach alternative or incompatible behaviors without the use of extinction trials.  A key benefit to using shaping and differential reinforcement protocols is that they also positively impact the animal’s respondent behavior (O’Heare 2009).

 Differential reinforcement protocols that focus on operant extinction are designed to decrease behaviors by withholding or preventing any reinforcement for the problem behavior. If it is necessary to use protocols that focus on extinction trials because other less invasive or aversive methods have been tried and failed the extinction procedures should always be used with a reinforcement procedure of a desirable behavior

 Operant extinction trials for aggressive behavior should only be used when the behavior is positively reinforced, i.e. the positive reinforcer is no longer delivered after the behavior, most aggression behaviors are negatively reinforced, and the dog exhibits the behavior to remove the stimulus from its environment.

 © Niki Tudge June 2009

Miltenberger (2004) Behavior Modification Principles and Procedures Third Edition, Thompson. USA

O’Heare, J. (2008) Behavior Change Programming and Procedures 2009, CASI Course Notes,  

 O’Heare, J. (2004) Canine Separation Anxiety Workbook 5^th Edition DogPsych Publishing Canada

 

The DogSmith® Palm Beach Launches First Free Puppy Socialization Classes On Florida’s Beaches

Palm Beach FL, November  2009 – The DogSmith announces free puppy socialization classes on Jupiter Beach.

Dog's Should Be Well Socialized and Well Behaved

The DogSmith is dedicated to responsible dog ownership and educating dog owners on the many benefits of positive reinforcement training as the alternative to punishment based techniques. To further this mission each DogSmith offers free monthly puppy classes to help new dog owners establish the foundation for successful lifetime pet dog ownership.

The DogSmith of Palm Beach County will hold its first two sessions at 9 am on Saturday November 21^st and December 5^th.

Rachel Williams, DogSmith owner, said “we have chosen the dog beach as the ideal location for two reasons, to support The Friends of Jupiter Beach and, if we can expose the puppies to the beach environment when they are young it will help encourage owners to include their dogs in their beach outings and this will ensure the dogs receive both physical and mental exercise throughout their lives.”

The Puppy socialization classes will focus on teaching owners, of puppies 24 weeks or younger, the essentials of housetraining, crate training, bite inhibition and responsible dog ownership. The course will also include information for owners on canine communication so they can identify stress indicators and socially rude behaviors.

Each attendee will receive a copy of the DogSmith Socialization booklet and handouts on how to crate and house train your puppy. Register on line at www.888DogSmith.com Fetch a Free Dog Training Class

 

 

About The DogSmith

The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners, support and assist animal shelters and rescue organizations and provide affordable and professional care to family pets. To learn more about The DogSmith visit www.888DogSmith.com or call 1-888-364-7648

Honda Element 2010 A Great Pet Friendly Vehicle

Honda is introducing a pet friendly car in their 2010 line up.  

The Honda company press release stated that the  “The Honda Element lineup expands for the 2010 model year with an all-new “Dog Friendly™” pet accommodation system designed to improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners alike”.

 

The new Dog Friendly Element takes that concept to a whole new level with specially designed features for dogs and their owner.

The Dog Friendly equipment is intended to accommodate the secure transportation of a dog in the cargo area within a nylon-webbed car kennel.

 

In daily operation the car kennel helps prevent a dog from interfering with the driver in traffic by keeping the pet properly restrained and out of reach of the driver. In the event of a frontal collision, the kennel is intended to help restrain the dog behind the rear seats, reducing the chance for the pet to be injured – or to injure human occupants during a crash.

 The Dog Friendly equipment enhances pet comfort by providing a soft floor surface for the dog’s legs and paws along with a dedicated fan and a spill resistant water source.

 Convenience is improved for owners with an integrated ramp, easy to clean surfaces and a full suite of matching Dog Friendly accoutrements.

 The major components of the dog friendly Element include:

• a soft-sided cargo area car kennel made from seat belt-grade netting;
• a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
• a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
• second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
• an extendable ramp (stores under the pet bed platform);
• all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
• a spill-resistant water bowl; and
• Dog Friendly exterior emblems (driver’s side and rear).

 

Features of the Dog friendly Honda element can be found here

http://automobiles.honda.com/element/dog-accessories.aspx

This would be the car of choice for a DogSmith Dog Trainers and Pet Care providers  as not only does the car provide all the amenities to provide comfort for the dog but also features some very important safety aspects. The DogSmith key mission is to always do not harm and we emphasize a ‘holistic’ approach to dog training and pet care by attending to the physical, emotional, and environmental well being of pets in our care. DogSmiths are busy collecting and delivering pet dogs from and to their homes having enjoyed a DogSmith Dog Romp, Canine Slumber Party or a DogSmith dog park romp so this car is a fantastic tool for doing just that.

Lower your Health Care Costs – Bring a Pet into You Home

According to the 2009/2010 National Pet Owners Survey, 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 71.4 million homes, In 1988, the first year the survey was conducted, 56% of U.S. households owned a pet as compared to 62% in 2008. This shows a continual growth in the number of people sharing their lives and homes with pets. It may come as no surprise to learn that there are numerous health benefits to owning a pet so whether owning a pet is a conscious decision or not in terms of owner health it certainly needs to be celebrated (APPA)

 

Dr Karen Allen State University of New York at Buffalo believes that pets help to Lower Blood Pressure. A recent study found that people who owned a dog or cat and suffered from hypertension had lower blood pressure readings when under stress than those in the same situation who were not pet owners. (Dr. Karen Allen, State University of New York at Buffalo)

Dogs are faithful companions and research shows that dogs and cats help owners remain psychologically stable, particularly single men, during stressful times. Pet ownership also helps fight depression and loneliness. The bond between a human and a pet can create a feeling of security and diminish feelings of isolation. Dogs require exercise and dog owners who exercise their pets gain the benefits of regular exercise and exposure to public places where they can meet other dogs and new people (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets).

Now with all this said choosing the right dog or cat is very important, you must consider breed, size, activity level, care requirements and much more. Will you rescue a dog or cat and adopt it through a shelter or will you search for a breeder. However you decide to find your new pet contact your local DogSmith. Your local DogSmith can help you in your choice, talk through with you all your options and even assist you in temperamental testing to ensure you pick a pet that will comfortably assimilate into your home. DogSmith Dog Trainers offer “Pet Dog Selection” consultations. Once your new dog is home your DogSmith can help you in the first sixty days with house training, crate training and socialization prior to you embarking on your dog obedience education goals. This effect is certainly worth it on your part given the years of companionship you will gain from your new family pet and hopefully a reduction in your health care costs!

To find your local DogSmith or if you are interested in becoming a DogSmith Dog Trainer call 1-888-Dog-Smith or visit http://www.888DogSmith.com