Dog Greetings

(Notice the dogs' tail position in the picture. The dominant dog will always have a higher tail)

One thing I do a lot in my job is dog greetings. There is a right way for dogs to greet and a wrong way. The wrong way is something you'll see at the dog park all the time. Two dogs at the end of a tight leash nose to nose. This is a recipe for disaster. To start with, dogs should NEVER meet face to face. And, you should never keep any tension on the leash when two dogs are greeting (this will cause aggression).

When dogs meet it should be nose to butt. If the dogs don't do it on their own you can turn one dog so that the other can sniff its backside, then switch. Before I ever let dogs sniff I like to walk them next to each other first. The walk gives them a chance to be close, pick up on the others smell, but have a focus too. Once the dogs are walking calmly near each other than I do the nose to rear introductions. When dogs great via the backside there will not be a fight. Only face to face introductions cause fighting.

*Remember, when introducing dogs stay calm. Dogs will sense if you are nervous and assume that the other dog is the cause and there for a threat. Keep the leash loose so as not to send signals to your dog that you are stressed. Walk dogs next to each other before allowing them close enough to sniff. When it's time to sniff make sure it is nose to butt not nose to nose.

Weekend Visitor

My husband jokes that our house has a revolving doggy door because so many dogs come through here. It is more truth than joke, and this weekend was no different. Saturday morning I brought home a APBT mix, Moo, who needed a safe harbor for a few nights until a permanent foster was found.

Bringing Moo in brought the house up to 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 chickens. Not to mention the humans! That is a lot of creatures for a small city lot, but it was a good reminder about the importance of set rules in the house. Adding in a new comer goes quite smoothly if the whole pack already follows a good routine and has clear boundaries. What could have been a weekend of headaches and chaos was actually very pleasant and fun because each pack member knew his or her role and what was expected.

Moo is a laid back, easy going guy, who is available for adoption through Boise Bully Breed Rescue. To find out more about him you can contact Cathleen at 208-713-1818.

Door Chargers

We have all been to someone's house who has one or more door chargers. There is nothing worse than being greeted by an overexcited dog who is pushing his head out the door to jump all over you. What comes next is an embarrassed, frustrated owner grabbing the dogs collar, shouting, and engaging in a tug-o-war with their dog. And, it never works.

Believe it or not, this annoying habit is one of the easiest to fix. First of all, the owner has to stop playing the game. That is what it is to your dog. He barks and charges, you pull and yell and eventually a new person comes in and gives lots of loving to the dog...what could be more fun?!

I went to a clients house once who wanted help with their small dog barking like crazy when the door bell rang. When I got their, I of course, had to ring the bell. What I heard on the other side of the door was "MOM! THE DOOR!" Followed by barking, running, feet, and then when the young girl in the house got to the door I heard her shouting (in a cute little girl voice) "NO, NO, NO, NO!" at the barking Bichon. I had to smile.

I told the owner that the problem wasn't her dog...It was her daughter! When the door rang her 7 year old was excited, running to greet who ever it might be, shouting at the top of her lungs. The dog was simply doing what the he thought the pack did when the doorbell rang. And when the little girl would shout NO over and over, he thought to himself "Yes, we all bark at the door"

I taught the family how to learn to freeze when the doorbell rang. Stop, take 3 deep breaths, then slowly walk to the door. Of course by this time their dog was already their barking, that's okay, I said. Just stand in front of the dog, back to the door, calmly make one sound (quiet, or eht, or whatever you want) Hold up your hand and wait for the dog to calm down. The door should never open until your dog is calm! Every time you open it when he is barking you are telling him "good boy, do it again next time"

Own the space around the door and do not allow them in it. My dog will indeed bark when the bell rings. I'm okay with this. She hears better than I and it has become her job to alert us when a guest is there...but, when I get to the door her job is done. I say "Place" and she goes about 5 feet away and sits next to the couch. I greet my guests and when they are in the door I will give Dolly a nod that she can calmly come to greet as well. A dog greeting should never include jumping, and if you wait to introduce until you pooch has calmed down they will be less likely to jump. In my home tail wagging and sniffing is the proper way to say hello. (you may have to remind young visitors of this rule, as children tend to want to get excited and start immediately playing with the dog).

After my visit with the barking Bichon, the dog had figured it out... it took a bit longer for the young girl to remember that calm is how we go to the door.

*Remember, teach everyone in the home not to get excited by the doorbell. Claim your space around the door and don't reward a barking dog by opening it when he's excited. If you need to, put a sign on the door that says, "Dog training, we will be with you shortly" Your guest will thank you, and your home will be much more peaceful.

Teething and Chewing!

Two things that are perfectly natural, but can really annoy a dog owner. Our 10 month old foster dog is getting her very last set of teeth and is in full chew mode. In order to get through this puppy time it is important to remember not to take chewing personally, keep things picked up, and TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!

If you don't give your pup things to chew he'll find them on his own. Variety is the key here. Soft toys, rope toys, plastic toys, even wood dowels can feel good on sore gums. I learned a nice trick when my Border Collie was teething, and that is to cut apples in half and freeze them. Not only do they get to chew, but the cold helps ease discomfort.

*Remember to keep a very close eye on your dog. When those teeth start hurting they will go for the closet thing they can get in their mouth, make sure it's one of their toys and you won't be so stressed. Keep things you want safe picked up, and talk to your vet about gels that can help relieve their gum discomfort. And, if you don't want to deal with the chewing phase...DON'T GET A PUPPY. It's not if your puppy will chew, it's when.

Signs Of Abuse

As many homes and families as there are that love and cherish their pets, there are also homes and families who treat their pets quite badly. It is up to all of us to be on the look out for injured or abused animals. The shelter in your area likely has a number to report cruelty or abuse. I like to have it programed into my phone so that if I am ever out and about and see something, I can quickly call and report it without having to search for the number.



You can also go to ASPCA http://www.fightcruelty.org/ to learn of signs to be on the look out for. Here are a few:



Signs of physical abuse



Collar so tight it has caused neck irritation or wounds


Open wounds, or untreated injuries


Untreated skin conditions (look for loss of hair, scaly skin, large rashes etc.)


Extreme thinness


Fur infested with fleas ticks or other parasites


Weakness, limping, or inability to walk or stand



Environmental Signs


Pets tied up for long periods of time without adequate food or water


Pets kept outside without shelter to escape the elements


Pets kept in an area littered with feces or other harmful elements


Pets over crowded in kennels or homes


*Remember that if you see an animal in a bad situation the only chance he has may be you. Most of the time animals are allowed to be abused because no one wanted to be the one to call. These animals are pets to our neighbors, relatives or friends and it is not always easy to make that call, but you can remain anonymous and you may save a life! Please stand up for those creatures without a voice.

The first 24 hours

I have already written about how important the first 24 hours are when you bring home a new dog. (Please read "Bringing home a new dog" for a refresher) But, I got a call last night about a recently adopted dog. The dog had only been in his new home for three hours and the new owners had already changed their mind about him. Sadly, this is common.

The first 24 hours you have with your dog are arguably the most crucial. Remember, your new dog does not yet know this is his new pack, they do not know the rules, they do not even realize this house is their house. Many times people get a "house trained" dog, and the first thing the dog does is pee on their carpet. It is not that the dog isn't house broke, it is simply that they are not trained to your house.

When you get a new dog you must follow certain steps. 1. The leash! never bring a new dog into your car or house without the leash. It gives them guidance, shows them rules, and makes them feel secure.

2.Do NOT let them have free roam of your house. It is confusing to them. When a new dog comes into a pack they are on high alert to learn the rules and their place. If you do not relay those rules in a way they understand how can you fault them for not knowing? Keep them on leash in the house, and allow them to explore only what you say they can. This teaches them that they are the follower in this new pack and you are the leader. You can show them where the bathroom spot is, what toys are okay to play with, and how much excitement is allowed in the home.

Dogs are a sponge the first 24 hours. They are hard wired to be alert to the rules of the pack they are in. Correct the dog with a sound or a tug on the leash any time they go to do something that is not allowed in your pack. It is not mean or cruel. You are not hitting or yelling at them. You are just saying "This is my pack, follow my rules." This is what makes a dog feel secure.

3. Save the snuggles. This is so important. We all want to love on our new pet, but first your dog has to learn to respect you. While they may respond to lots of petting and attention you aren't helping them transition into your pack. The pack leader DOES NOT give affection first. In the wild when a dog is following the rules, showing respect, and approaching the pack leader, only then will the alpha return with affection. This rule is the hardest to follow but remember it is for the dog's benefit. He needs to know where he fits and what role he plays in your home. Love and affection does not make a dog feel safe. Rules and boundaries do.

4. Don't expect perfection. Even the most well behaved dog on earth will not be perfect 100% of the time. Dogs are not lovely floor statues. You will make mistakes and so will they. Be patient. If your dog has done something you don't like ask yourself "Was I communicating with him in a way he understands? How can I do it differently next time?"

*Remember, a dog is only as strong as the pack it goes into.

Dogs and Allergies

With spring in the air many dogs sufferer from allergies just like we humans do. Here is an article I found that gives some good information about recognizing an allergy in your dog, and what to do about it. Make sure you always check with a vet before doing any kind of home remedy.

www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/canine-allergies.html