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Healthy meal delivery services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Purple Carrot, have exploded in popularity among health conscious families that want an easy way to eat healthy every day. These services take the guess work out of meal planning and purchasing, making them the perfect solution for busy households that want to maintain a healthy diet.

But what about the furry members of your family? Did you know there are fresh meal services for them, too? It is easier than ever to ensure your dog eats a healthy, well-balanced diet without planning, purchasing, and preparing on your part.

Why Choose Fresh Meals

One of the reasons kibble is so compelling is due to its convenience. We like the idea that we can feed our dogs a properly balanced, nutritional diet with a simple scoop. Unfortunately, most kibble just doesn’t deliver on that promise. With fresh meal delivery, you actually get what you’re looking for in a diet for your beloved dog.

• Fewer ingredients – Fresh dog food meals have around half of the ingredients of kibble. Simple is sometimes far better.
• Less artificial ingredients and preservatives – Fresh meals don’t need the artificial ingredients and preservatives that allow dry dog food to stay edible for months.
• Fresh ingredients – With fresh dog food, you can see the raw ingredients that are going into the meal.
• Convenience – Delivery services take the stress out of sourcing the ingredients and creating recipes your dog will actually eat.

NomNomNow Compared to Other Fresh Food Services

We believe that NomNomNow is the best fresh food company for your pet which is why they are the official fresh food partner of iHeartDogs. We are going to take a closer look at how NomNomNow compares to The Farmer’s Dog, FreshPet, and Ollie so you can see for yourself what makes them the best.

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog uses human-grade meats and veggies for their 3 simple recipes. The meals have been “approved” by veterinarians and exceed the AAFCO standards for pet foods. Meals are made in a USDA kitchen, ensuring food safety and they are never frozen.

Meals are portioned for appropriate calorie intake based on the profile you complete for your dog. You answer questions about weight, breed, body condition, and activity level. In filling the information in for a 1 year old 35 pound female mixed breed, weekly cost came to $54.

FreshPet

FreshPet is the pet food company that you see in a fridge case at your local pet food or grocery store. They offer a variety of products from kibble to “slice and serve” tubes of mixed meat, veggies, fruits and grains that can portioned at home for your dog.  Meats are USDA certified and fruits, grains, and veggies are human grade.

The closest offering they have to a fresh meal delivery service is their Homestyle Creations line. You can buy a variety of cooked, packaged proteins and tubs of “mixers” that include fruits, grains, and veggies. With these components you can customize a meal for your dog at home. Estimated weekly cost for Homestyle Creations for a 35 pound dog is $40. It should be noted, however, that the Homestyle Creations line is not widely available.

Ollie

Ollie is a fresh dog food delivery service that uses human grade ingredients to create vet-formulated meals. They include superfoods like chia seeds to increase nutrition. Ollie packages meals based on your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and allergies. Ollie offers four meals: beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb based.

Meals are shipped to your door on a regular schedule and shipping is always free. Meals are portioned out by you from plastic containers that hold a bulk supply. With a 35 pound spayed female, weekly cost for eating Ollie for every meal ranges from $36-$41 depending on which of their four proteins you choose.

NomNomNow

NomNomNow uses whole, restaurant grade ingredients in their 5 meat based recipes as well as offering an egg based recipe for dogs with specific protein sensitivities. Every recipe has been formulated by NomNomNow‘s in-house veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Justin Shmalberg, and exceeds AAFCO standards. In addition to fresh protein, veggies, and fruits, the recipes include important supplements for health and vitality.

Meals are prepared on a weekly basis and portioned specifically for your pet based on Dr. Shmalberg’s recommendation and vacuum sealed for each serving. This makes things super simple at meal time: just open the perforated edge and pour. The profile takes into account your dog’s current and ideal weight to help move the scale for our overnight friends. Weekly cost for a 1 year old 35 pound spayed female is $50. However, the cost scales down by up to 30% by ordering 4 weeks at a time. Shipping is always free.

Better Than the Rest

Based on cost, quality, and convenience, NomNomNow comes in on top. If you want to give your pup the best fresh food, you are in luck. As our partner in fresh food for pets, NomNomNow is offering a super sweet deal to the iHeartDogs community.

The post How Do the Top Fresh Dog Food Companies Compare? appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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Kelly McDuffie and Danny Hartung were not looking for a lost pooch when they set out on their hike, but they recognized the Golden Retriever immediately. Missing dog posters bearing Max’s photo were hung all over Shenandoah National Park.

When they stumbled upon him, Max had been lost in the wilderness for 11 days.

McDuffie told Good Morning America, “Everything just fell into place that day…the stars aligned.”

Max’s misadventure began on July 4 when he escaped from his family’s vacation rental at a nearby resort. Employees and park guests had been searching for him ever since.

The park rangers set up food traps and attempted to to track him with cameras, but after 11 long days Max was still missing. His heartbroken owners feared the worst.

Meanwhile, McDuffie and Hartung made the fateful decision to take a wilderness trail instead of the waterfall hike they had planned. Halfway through, McDuffie was sweating in the July heat when she heard the distinct sound of running water.

As they veered off the trail towards the spring, the pair noticed a patch of fresh blackberries and walked deeper into the brush to pick some. That’s when Hartung spotted Max among the leaves.

Despite her fear of dogs, McDuffie’s maternal instinct kicked in. Max was understandably frightened and growled as McDuffie approached. Luckily she was able to win him over with three boiled eggs, a fig bar, and lots of water!

McDuffie and Hartung were ecstatic to have found the missing dog, but they faced a problem. Poor Max was too weak to walk.

With two miles left in their hike it was too far to carry him so they walked a short distance to a fire road to pick up cell service.

“We called the park rangers to come help,” McDuffie wrote in a Facebook post. “While waiting, Max’s family was given our number and called us crying with joy and so thankful!”

The rangers placed Max on a stretcher and transported him back to civilization while his family headed to the park for a tearful reunion.

Max was taken to the vet that evening. Miraculously, he suffered only minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

“It was a long day, but saving sweet Max made it all worth it!” McDuffie wrote. “He would not have made it out of that spot if not for the water source he so smartly chose to settle near, and the ripe blackberries. All of the stars aligned that day!”

 

H/T  to Good Morning America

Featured Images via Facebook/Kelly McDuffie

The post Hikers Locate Missing Dog With A Little Help From The Stars Above appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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St. Joseph County is a quiet midwestern area in northern Indiana. It’s home to families, farms and great schools, including Notre Dame University. But the biggest news to come out of this town came when the police department in St. Joseph County named a new sheriff. We think you’ll agree, he’s the sweetest looking sheriff in America.

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

His name is Sheriff Bruno, and he’s an American Bulldog mix. He was adopted from a shelter where he was found malnourished and in bad shape. Once he recovered, his personality was able to fully bloom and his gift for connecting with others was fully realized.

Although Bruno is in the K9 unit, he is not a patrol or search and rescue dog. He has a special job perfectly suited to his temperament. He’s a K9 comfort dog. His role is to bring comfort to members of the community in need. He attends fellow officer funeral services to support the bereaved. In fact, since being named to the force he has attended every police officer funeral in the state of Indiana. He also attends public events that connect the police department to their community, one of his primary responsibilities.

In the last week alone Bruno has been spreading a lot of love around St. Joe County. He attended the memorial service of a K9 Officer, visited the Charles Black Center in South Bend, went to see The Lion King with a group of local students and participated in a parade in New Carlisle.

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Bruno’s handler is Special Deputy Joe Hamer. Hamer told WSBT 22, “He will actually gravitate toward people when they are sad. When they cry he goes to them,” says Hamer, “that is not something that we taught him. That is just him. He does all that on his own. He reacts that way.”

Sheriff Bill Redman added, “That is how he is. His demeanor brings joy immediately and that is what we want to encourage as a department to build our relationship with the community.”

It’s so heartwarming to see an outcome as powerful as this. Bruno’s future changed on that fateful day when a local police department went to a shelter looking for the right kind of dog to join their team. They hit the jackpot with Bruno and his unique qualities are helping bridge the gap between the public and the police force. The people of St. Joseph County are lucky to have this sweet, loving dog as their servant. Thankfully, his superiors give him ample time to rest while at the office.

You can follow Sheriff Bruno’s good deeds on his Facebook page.

Featured Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

 

The post The Sweetest Sheriff in America appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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We should preface this article by saying that every dog has unique gifts and challenges. The point of this information is not to bash or discourage ownership of any one breed, but rather to encourage thoughtful ownership. And don’t forget, their are many wonderful mixed breeds waiting in shelters for their forever home!

There are hundreds of dog breeds in the world, each with their own unique look, purpose and personality. While many people think they want a certain breed, they sometimes find out that the dog they thought looked really cool is actually a lot of work to live with. This is why so many trainers and rescues try to advice first time owner to avoid certain breeds. Many breeds are becoming more popular on looks alone, but end up most often in the shelter when their novice owners can’t control them. Here are 12 breeds you think you might want but should probably avoid – unless you’re truly prepared.

 

#1 – Border Collie

The Border Collie is growing in popularity in pet homes because of its popularity out in the working fields. They are intelligent dogs that need a job, so while they’re very good at cool tricks, they also need to be out herding, running agility courses or working on competitive obedience to be happy. They may be small, but their drive and intensity is a lot more dog than the average owner is expecting.

 

#2 – Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is gaining popularity after the media noted it was the breed that helped bring down Osama Bin Laden. While it’s true that the Malinois is the most versatile police and military working dog, it’s also a dog that needs a job. The breed is bred almost exclusively for protection work and its drive, intensity and aggressive tendencies make it a very poor choice for a pet.

 

#3 – Dutch Shepherd

The Dutch Shepherd is also a popular police and military working dog and shares many of the same traits as the Belgian Malinois. These dogs need jobs and will not only become destructive if left under-stimulated, but even somewhat aggressive and difficult to handle.

 

#4 – Patterdale Terrier

Patterdale Terriers are becoming more and more popular among the terrier hunting crowd and although they share some qualities of many other pet terriers, they’re much more intense dogs. Although small, they are bred almost exclusively for work and can become a major liability in the wrong hands.

 

#5 – Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is beautiful, but novice owners typically looking for a pretty dog to sit around all day find themselves way in over their heads with a Sibe. These dogs were bred for endurance running and without a lot of exercise and proper training, they are very difficult dogs to live with.

The post 20 Dog Breeds You Think You Want But Probably Don’t appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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On July 26, 2019 Lennox International, Inc., issued a voluntary recall of their Natural Pig Ears for dogs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

To date, the company is aware of two dogs that have become ill. The affected batches were shipped nationwide between May 1 and July 3, 2019.

According to Dog Food Advisor, “these cases may be related to the ongoing FDA investigation of Salmonella illness associated with what appears to be a multiple source.” However, they did not comment on whether this case is related to the recent string of drug-resistant Salmonella cases identified in humans in 33 states.

What’s Recalled?

The affected pig ears are supplied in an 8-pack branded pouch under UPC 742174 995163 and 742174994166.

They are also available in an individually shrink-wrapped package under UPC 0385384810 and 742174P35107.

All UPC codes are located on the front label of the package.

The following low resolution product image was provided by Lennox International along with the recall announcement:

About Salmonella

Salmonella is a harmful bacteria that can cause illness in people and pets. Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

In rare cases, more serious ailments such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms may occur.

The CDC recommends the following precautions to protect yourself against Salmonella infection:

While Feeding Your Dog

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after handling pet food or treats, including pig ears.
• When possible, store pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from the reach of young children.
• Don’t use your pet’s feeding bowl to scoop food. Use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
• Always follow any storage instructions on pet food bags or containers.

Play Safely

• Don’t let your pet lick your mouth or face after it eats pet food or treats.
• Don’t let your pet lick any open wounds or areas with broken skin.
• If you do play with your pet after it has just eaten, wash your hands and any part of your body it licked with soap and water.

Shop Safely

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching unpackaged pet treats, such as food or treats in bulk bins.

What Should You Do If You Have Affected Products?

If you have purchased Lennox International Natural Pig Ears with the above UPC codes, discontinue giving them to your dog immediately. If you or your dog have symptoms of illness, seek medical attention.

Consumers with proper receipt may return the products to the retailer they purchased them from. Or they may contact the company at 800-538-8980, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 pm, for a refund or additional information.

Consumers may also email the company at usaoffice@lennoxpets.com.

U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to https://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

The post RECALL ALERT: FDA Identifies More Pig Ears Contaminated With Salmonella appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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Puppies are amazing creatures!  I am always filled with joy when I get to meet a new puppy at my veterinary clinic or when I am out training.

Young puppies are filled with wonder and excitement.  Everything is new and exhilarating when you are young and learning.

And, although most puppies come home and seem tethered to us for a period of time; this usually dissipates without some cognizant effort, time and positive recall training on the dog owners’ part!

When You Bring Your Puppy Home

When you get your puppy and you first bring him over the threshold of your home, chances are he has come from a situation where he had brothers and sisters and his mother with him most of the time.  He has never really spent time “alone”!  This means that he is likely to bond to his new human family and begins to follow them around.  This is also the time at which most puppies will pick a person in the family who will become a “favorite”, usually it is the care giver or the person who is spending the most quality time with the new puppy.

Many new puppy owners report to me that their puppies don’t even need a leash (which can still propose frightening situations), but I understand, he is in need of affirmation and companionship he is only beginning to build his independence!  He trusts in you and the bond that you are building.

This is a marvelous time for puppy obedience training and, interestingly enough although it seems that you don’t need it, this is the perfect time for recall training.  If you work with him during this stage he will continue to think that you “Hung the Moon”.  That is one of my favorite Wyoming or cowboy statements that simply means the dog thinks the sun rises and sets on you, that YOU are THE BEST thing in his life.  And, it is so much easier to continue this training and this feeling for your puppy, through rewards, treats, positive reinforcement and puppy obedience training than to change his mind later.

Things Begin to Change

Depending on the puppy and his age and maturity depends on when this dynamic begins to change, but unless you have a fearful puppy (which is NOT a good thing) most puppies will begin to develop independent behaviors after a period of a few weeks.

This means your puppy is exploring more!  Instead of being 5 feet from you in the yard, he wants to go off and discover things at a greater distance from you.  This is a GOOD thing!  We want our puppies to become independent and explore their world (to some degree).  We don’t want them to be fearful if they are not within a certain distance.  But we do want them to be mindful of where we are and the power of food treats, and positive reinforcement through training your puppy and training your dog.

If you are not training, using treats and reinforcing behaviors as he becomes more independent he begins to learn that you in fact ARE NOT the best thing in his life.  Here is how to use treats effectively.

Let’s Face It

A squirrel is probably more exciting than you.

The neighbor kids are probably more exciting than you.

A deer or opossum running through your yard are probably more exciting than you.

You get the idea!

And, the goal is to keep him from discovering this piece of dire information through recall training and simple puppy obedience training.  After all, your puppy needs food or treats!  He likes toys!  Why not use these things to your advantage to keep him from discovering that everything else in his environment might be more exciting than you are ever going to be in real terms.

His attention should always be on you.  Click here to work on eye contact and focus with your puppy.

The Problem

The problem is that training a puppy or teaching your dog takes time, and effort.  Attention training or focus training also takes time and effort but it is certainly worth it!

I understand that most of us are running a little dry on time these days.  I live in a house and neighborhood that was built in the 1950’s.  It is a great little area, but times were different for people back then.  Usually only one adult worked, usually dad, and there was more time for family and chores and pets and most everything.

Modern life leaves us scrambling.  I have 3-4 jobs on any given week, and I have to have them just to survive in my tiny old house.  The days of one parent working are gone like the wind.  Overtime and working a couple of jobs are often necessary for people to make ends meet.  I completely understand!

But any good relationship takes time.  I must make time for puppy training or teaching my dog.  If I want the companionship of a puppy or an adult dog, I must get up earlier.  I must stay up later!  I must stop watching television or playing video games or spending time on social media when I can spend time with my puppy teaching and training him!

You owe it to yourself to devote the time this relationship needs to thrive and for you to have a well behaved canine companion for a lifetime.   Please remember that your dog cannot watch TV, he can’t read a book, he can’t play on social media… he is dependent on you for time and training in order to become a good dog.

Let’s get you set up right from the start so that you can teach your dog the behaviors that will make him a well behaved dog!  Puppy training is easy if you have the right tools and knowledge

Step 1-  Stop Feeding Your Puppy from a Bowl

Puppies are busy people they rarely slow down for some of the finer things in life.  I have definitely worked with puppies that had what seemed like a very low food drive.  They were too busy looking for trouble to get into, to sit still long enough to eat a whole bowl of food.

However, food is a requirement for life!  The puppy is eating enough and then going on about his business.

I work with dog trainer friends (they compete in high level obedience and protection trials) who literally never feed their puppies from a bowl.  All food comes from them for working.  I realize that, that sounds horrible to some people!  How could you just not feed the puppy??  But the truth is that the puppy would prefer to spend time with you, while he is learning and eating.

I liken this to eating at home alone versus going out to dinner with my friends.  I don’t really want to eat alone.  I would much rather eat with people I know and love and can interact with while I am eating.  Your puppy feels the same way!  He would rather interact with you for his food rather than eat out of a sterile bowl.

But, it is acceptable to find a happy balance.  I go back to working 3 jobs.  I admit, sometimes my dogs eat out of bowls.  But I do my best to try and get them to work for their meals and treats not only for the interaction but also so that they are food motivated.

If you just filled your belly at the buffet, you are no longer (probably) motivated by food.  Keep this in mind when you think your puppy is not food motivated.  Chances are he is just getting too much free food without working and learning how fun working can be when he is with you!

Even the AKC recommends feeding your puppy from your hand, read their article here.

Step 2-  Reinforce Good Behaviors

Once your puppy is food and treat motivated, begin rewarding and reinforcing good behaviors.  We call this positive reinforcement.  We spend soooooo much time telling our puppies what not to do… but how often do we really reward them for doing good things (things that we might expect like sit or down or just chilling).  I find that rarely are puppy owners rewarding good behaviors.

This is the wheel that makes the training bus go ‘round.  The puppy will learn that he can control you and his environment with his good behaviors and he will continue thinking that YOU are the best thing in his life (not that dead squirrel).

Also, by capturing behaviors “rewarding them as they happen” we can control them.  You can teach your dog to sit by simply rewarding him as he does so and then telling him what he is doing (adding the cue).  From here I can ask him to sit on command or on cue.  This is a stronger way of training than luring (having him follow that treat with his nose until his rump hits the floor) and certainly stronger than force (pushing his butt down).  Training a puppy takes time and effort.

Always reward your puppy for looking at you and paying attention to you!

Plus, and BONUS this way of training teaches a puppy or even an adult dog to use his brain.  Using his brain also known as mental stimulation is important for allowing his brain to grow and also teaching him impulse control along with the behaviors that we prefer.  Remember we are rewarding what we like and continue to want to see from our puppies.

Did you know?

Mental Stimulation or training, as it is commonly known as, is more physically exhausting than physical exercise?  This means 15 minutes of training is going to lead to a more tired puppy than 15 minutes of walking or running!

Don’t get me wrong, puppies need both physical exercise and mental stimulation, but mental stimulation is always more exhausting because the dog is learning control and using his brain.  I went to a Veterinary conference called “Fetch” last weekend, that offers several days of continuing education on subjects in veterinary medicine.  My co-workers and I were EXHAUSTED after a few hours, then days of learning!  It really is draining!

So, USE THAT PUPPY BRAIN!  Teach your dog or puppy behaviors that you like.  Work on positive potty training and reward that good behavior that you like.

Then, once your puppy has some obedience training, begin adding distractions to his training and environment.

Learn more about positive reinforcement here.

Step 3-  Play Hide and Seek

My very favorite way to teach a puppy a reliable recall is by playing “hide and seek” with him at home!  Learn more about why dogs like hide and seek, here. 

You will learn, that puppies LOVE games!  Games are fun whether you are 5, or 25, or 75.  Games are fun  for dogs too!  And, if you go into it with a light hearted spirit and enjoy the “game” you will teach the puppy to enjoy the “game” as well.

But the truth is that teaching a reliable recall command is hands down, THE most important behavior you can ever teach your dog!  Without a good recall you risk him losing his life from running away or getting hit by a car.  One of the highest scoring protection trained dogs that I have ever met was killed at 4 when he chased a deer and was hit by a car.  The whole community was saddened.  Hypothetically, a good, reliable recall command could have saved his life.  However, like that squirrel we talked about earlier, the deer was more fun than being trained and corrected (his owner used a lot of corrections and shock collar training) by his owner; so he opted to chase the deer.

If the dog ever gets off leash, either on purpose or by accident he must WANT to “come” to you in order for  good recall training to work effectively!

The Game

The biggest rule is to make this as fun as possible!  Remember if you need it.  You want your dog to stop doing WHATEVER he is doing and think “that is my favorite game” and stop showing the current behavior in order to come running to you!

This is best with 2 people.  Make sure that both people have a pocket full of tasty treats.  I like to make sure it is something extra special like chicken breast so that the dog is highly motivated to play.  Also make sure that the puppy is hungry!  A well fed or recently fed puppy is less motivated to play the game.

Use a leash, or at least restraint!

Let’s talk about a few key components:  Opposition Recall and Anticipation of Reward

Opposition Reflex

Opposition Reflex is opposing force, and yes, it is a basic reflex.  If I come up to you in the grocery store and I grab your shirt and pull you toward me, chances are that you are going to back up and pull against and away from me!  You probably don’t want me pulling you or forcing you into me.  It is a reflex.  If I ask you, nicely, with an explanation you would probably come with me.

This is why, when you pull on your dog’s leash he pulls against you!  Remember this when you are walking him.  The harder you pull, often the harder he pulls!

But you can use this to your advantage during this game.  I am going to want you to restrain your dog and keep him from getting what he wants for a few moments.

Anticipation of Reward

This restraint will build his anticipation of the reward!  Have you ever worked really, really hard for something you wanted.  Perhaps it was a new car, or a home, or jewelry or a pair of shoes.  Working overtime, saving your money; it all builds that anticipation of reward and makes attaining it even sweeter.  It is much less rewarding just to have the funds or the means to have everything that you want.  This is why I think people with millions of dollars have less respect for the big ticket items that they own.  They simply never built that love for or anticipation of reward.

This Game works on Both of These Key Components

I want one person to leash and restrain the puppy.

I want the second person to show the puppy a handful of treats, TEASE him or her (yes I really want you to tease the puppy) and get him or her super excited.  Jumping, scratching, barking, whining are all acceptable behaviors!

Then I want that person to RUN, yes run, away and to an easy hiding place.   Don’t make your hiding spot too difficult in the beginning!  Eventually you can hide in tough to find places, but not until your puppy knows and loves this game.  So I just hide around a corner.

Now, the person that is “hiding” should call your puppy and praise until he gets there.   At first, when the first COME is heard the person restraining the puppy should let go.

My dog’s name is Fury; so I would say “Fury COME!  Good girl, good girl, Fury COME!  Good girl, good girl until she gets to me.  Then, I would reward with a few tasty treats.

If at first the puppy is confused or doesn’t move, the person who was just restraining the puppy remains silent and walks toward the hiding person.  This will encourage the puppy to move forward and toward the person who is calling and praising.  But don’t say anything to distract the puppy from the job at hand!  Eventually you can add distractions!

Once the treats are delivered and the puppy has won and found the person, that person takes the puppy by the harness, or collar, or leash and restrains him while the other person shows him a handful of treats and begins to tease him and get him excited!

Then that person darts or runs off and hides and begins to call the puppy as outlined above.

This game is FUN, fun, fun for the puppy!  I it is exciting and he wins a tasty treat each time he comes and it conditions the word “COME” with fun.  It takes any conflict out of the word and makes it a fun game that he always enjoys.

If you play this game, he will enjoy dropping everything that he is doing and will come to you each time.

Play this game often!  And, continue to play this game as your puppy grows up and into a dog!  If you don’t he may revert back to not listening.

You can even use a long line and play this game outside or in the park.

I love this game because it teaches my puppy to find me with his ears and his nose… that way if he is ever lost he will be able to use his other senses to find you.

The post How to Train a Puppy to Come, the Best Method! appeared first on TheDogTrainingSecret.com.

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If you have ever known a French Bulldog you know they are willful, mischievous, and incredibly nosy. A pair of white Frenchies in northern Thailand recently learned the error of their ways when they got into a kitchen cabinet in the dead of night.

In search of snacks, they came across a bag of green food coloring instead.

Their owner, Yada Ornsomjit was understandably perturbed when she discovered her emerald-colored pups the following morning! Not only did Dam-nam and Sai-Aua dye themselves green, they also managed to track food coloring all over the house with the help of their two other Frenchie siblings.

“I forgot to shut the kitchen door the night before. But I couldn’t believe they went inside and made everything green,” Ornsomjit told the Daily Mail. ”My husband and I spent half a day washing them about three times, but some parts of their bodies were still green. We were really tired but they seemed not to know what they had done wrong.”

Aside from their chartreuse coloring, Dam-nam and Sai-Aua suffered no ill effects!

 

H/T & Featured Screenshot via Daily Mail

The post Nosy Frenchies Get Into Food Coloring & Accidentally Dye Themselves Green appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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9-year-old Taka was severely injured in a house fire in October 2018. With deep burns to his head, face, back, and extremities, he needed round-the-clock care. He found it at Care More Animal Hospital in Martinez, Georgia.

One staff member in particular took a shine to Taka. Veterinary technician, Crystal Lesley became his foster mom. There was just one problem: Taka was aggressive towards her other dogs.

Although the thought of giving him up broke her heart, Lesley could not keep a dog with serious behavior problems.

That’s when someone recommended the Canine Training Project. Despite his age and lack of prior training, Taka immediately rose to the challenge.

“[Older dogs] can be trained just like any other dog,” CTP founder, Mandy Foster told WRDW News. “Sometimes it takes a little bit longer, but in Taka’s case he’s nine-years-old and he has flown through his training. He’s brilliant.”

Taka’s performance not only means he can stay with Lesley, it also gave her an idea. Maybe something good could come from his suffering. She decided to begin training Taka as a therapy dog for the local burn center.

“He’s got the right temperament for it,” Foster said. “Of course he has the scars to show for it and he can relate to a lot of the people there so I think it’s going to benefit both him and the patients there.”

Taka goes for his Canine Good Citizen certification this week. After that, he’ll begin specialized therapy dog training. Lesley cannot wait to see what he’s capable of.

 “To see that he could be an encouragement or at least a light at the end of the tunnel for a child or anybody that has gone through what he’s gone through is what all of this is about,” she said.

 

H/T to WRDW News

Featured Image via Facebook/The Canine Training Project

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Some people have never known the joy of loving a dog. They don’t understand how an animal can make us laugh and cry; how they make us better people in a way no human ever could.

When someone tells you “it’s just a dog,” don’t take it personally. They have never known the pain of losing a dog, but they have also never known the life-altering bliss of loving one.

“It’s Just A Dog” by Richard A. Biby

From time to time people tell me “relax, it’s just a dog” or “it’s a lot of money just for a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time invested or the costs incurred by “just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments happened with “just a dog.”

Many hours passed being my only company “just a dog”, but not for a single moment I felt despised. Some of my saddest moments were for “just a dog,” and on those gray days, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me the comfort and reason to spend the day.

If you also think “it’s just a dog,” then you’ll probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Only a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure and unbridled joy. “Only a dog” brings the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

For “just a dog,” I’m getting up early, going for long walks and looking forward to the future. So for me, and for people like me, it is not “just a dog,” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the memories of the past and the absolute joy of the moment. “Only a dog” brings good in me and diverts my thoughts away from me and the daily worries.

I hope one day you can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but what gives me humanity and prevents me from being “just a human”. So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,” you just smile because you “just don’t understand.”

Share this lovely poem with anyone and everyone who needs to hear it!

The post When Someone Tells You “It’s Just A Dog,” Send Them This Poem! appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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Excitement urination in dogs is not a great issue that a pet owner wants to have with man’s best friend. These accidents usually happen when a dog is overly excited, anxious or feeling a need to be completely submissive. Most incidents happen when your dog is greeting you or guests at the front door or while romping around. Ultimately, regardless of the situation where it happens, your pup is unable to contain himself.

Before you can stop excitement urination in your dog, you must determine exactly why he is doing it. There are a variety of reasons your pooch could be having a hard time holding his bladder when he sees or plays with you. Utilize the help of your veterinarian and dog trainers to make sure your pup is able to develop the right tools to stop the unwanted behavior.  

Reasons for Excitement Urination in Dogs

One thing is for certain, dog trainers, animal behaviorists and veterinarians agree that excitement and submissive urination does not happen because your pup is a bad dog. It has nothing to do with potty training and isn’t retaliation for you leaving him at home alone for extended periods of time. Excitement urination is a problem that happens because your dog is so overwhelmed with excitement or is wrought with fear that he can’t hold his bladder any longer. Sometimes the accident might just be a little dribble while other times it might be a full release of his bladder. 

There are three main categories of urination problem causes such as submissive issues, medical issues, and behavioral training/confidence problems. The behavior can happen when they greet you at the door, while you are petting them or as you make eye contact (in the case of submissive urination). Some breeds such as Cocker Spaniels and Retrievers are more prone to excitement urination than others. Pay attention to what is happening right before your dog has an accident with excitement urination. This is the key to resolving the problem.

Recognize Scenarios When Urination Occurs

Most dogs experiencing excitement urination and submissive urination often do so under the same daily circumstances. Pay attention to when it occurs.

Common scenarios that lead to excitement or submissive urination include:

• When a stranger approaches your puppy or dog
• When you enter the house or a room after leaving the puppy alone for a while
• If someone stands over your dog while trying to pet him
• When your puppy hasn’t seen the person he is most attached to for a while
• During really active play with humans or other dogs

Your pup may have an issue with just one type of scenario where he has an accident or it could be more extensive with multiple scenarios leading to urination problems.

Submissive Urination

All dogs are pack animals who have a keen sense of the canine pack order within a moment of meeting other dogs, animals or people. A dog’s behavior changes when demonstrating that he is not a threat to another dog. He will avert his stare and not make direct eye contact. He may then take a submissive posture often with this tail cowering between his legs or completely rolled with his belly up. He could also urinate a bit while in the submissive position.

Submissive urination in the home can mean that your dog has experienced abuse or is overly fearful and intimidated by certain family members. Not all dogs urinated when acting submissively and this is more common with puppies than older dogs, though adult dogs are not immune to developing the issue.

Medical Reasons

There are potential medical reasons that a dog might have episodes of excitement urination. Your dog may have a small bladder or a urinary tract infection. Talk to your veterinarian and have him rule out any medical reasons for the problem behavior. Puppies may have more issues with excitement urination especially if they are in the process of being potty trained and have been holding for extended periods of time waiting for you to return home.  

Behavioral Issues

Excitement urination or submissive issues are not the same types of behavioral issues that occur with poor crate or potty training of your dog. Behavioral issues that lead to submissive urination usually have to do with lack of confidence, abuse or poor socialization. If you notice that your dog urinates when someone makes direct eye contact with him or only when certain people make direct eye contact with him, the issue may have more to do with fear than a small bladder.

Learning the background of an adopted dog is critical to finding the root cause of the submissive urination problem. Was the dog abused or in a home where a dominant male figure was so imposing that your dog was afraid? This could lead to an association with new people in his life that aren’t there to harm him but still evoke the problem response. It could be anything from big men, sunglasses, or hats that trigger submissive urination.

Once you know what the underlying problem is causing submissive urination, then you can address the issue properly. Remember that your pet isn’t doing this because he is mad, he won’t respond to scolding especially if is submissive urination. That will only reinforce the problem causing him to fear you more.

Stopping Excitement Urination in Dogs

Excitement and submissive urination happen because your dog is so excited that he can’t control himself or is simply trying to avoid confrontation. Learn the signs that lead to urination problems and develop a plan to help your dog overcome his issues whether they are related to excitement or submission.

Learn the Body Language Leading to Urination

A dog that is about to have a urination problem shows signs and has easily recognized body language. As a dog owner, this body language will tell you that your pup is either getting overly excited or feeling a need to be submissive.

An overly excited dog or puppy will wag his tail, run up to you jumping and circling unsure what to do. Trying to calm your dog down will help reduce accidental urination problems. It is also worth trying to get him outside for a moment so if he does have an accident, he isn’t doing it in the house leading to other urine removal issues.

A submissive dog will cower and withdraw as a person approaches. This puppy or adult dog will not make direct eye contact with you while he tucks his tail between his legs. If you continue to approach as a perceived confrontation, he will likely roll over with his tail tucked. This is when submissive urination is most likely to occur.

A Trip to the Veterinarian

While the problem may be more likely to happen with a puppy, adult dogs can experience bladder control issues. If it is a new behavior, you will want to have the veterinarian rule out a bladder infection or other urinary tract infection. A round of antibiotics could be all your dog needs to regain bladder control. If it isn’t an existing medical issue but a new behavioral problem, you will need to consider whether your dog is experiencing new separation anxiety or has experienced some abusive incident.

Sometimes your pet is exposed to incidents you aren’t aware of such as a neighbor hitting him with a newspaper over a low fence. If this problem isn’t from medical reasons, you may need the help of a dog trainer or behaviorist to help address the issue. Learning what triggers your dog is a big help in stopping unwanted behavior.

Socialization of Submissive Dogs

Both female and male dogs need proper socialization with other dogs to develop healthy behaviors around other animals and people. A dog that isn’t well socialized may experience separation anxiety, confidence issues, and fear.

If your dog is overly submissive, you can lay on the floor with him and put your head beneath his next. This allows him to be the dominant dog; lay there as he develops confidence that he is not in trouble or danger. A submissive dog won’t try to dominate you but will develop confidence that he is safe around you. You can also allow your dog to stand over you in a dominant position.

In addition to posture work with his best friend at home, take a submissive dog out as much as possible to socialize him. Smelling where other dogs have marked and leaving his own marks will help him learn who is around. As he meets new friends, don’t force the issue and provide him with positive reinforcement.

Allow him to take his time, watching his posture the entire time along with any dog’s posture he encounters. Don’t pull at the leash but instead allow him to feel some freedom as he meets and sniffs new friends in the neighborhood.

Helping Submissive Dogs Build Confidence

Anyone who has ever tried to get a scared stray dog to come to them knows the difficulty of developing a bond with a pet in a submissive scenario. It takes time and patience to help the dog develop positive feelings and overcome a submissive urination problem.

Sitting with your dog, allowing him to come to you while you avoid eye contact is a start. Let your dog come and explore you without feeling he has to submit. Gentle petting and scratching along with slow deep breathing on your part tell your dog you are friendly and non-threatening. Learn what triggers make your dog fearful and take the time to build routines around those to help him build more confidence when facing them. This could be the doorbell ringing or a certain person visiting. Never using scolding but instead offer very calm reassure feedback to your dog.

Dog Obedience Training

Most dogs were bred to do something special: hunting, herding, retrieving, guarding. Getting your dog out and into training programs gives him structure and a purpose. Even basic obedience training can help your dog overcome separation anxiety, submissive or lack of confidence issues. Further agility work and scent training helps stimulate your dog’s mind and builds his confidence.

Beyond basic obedience and fun skills training, using obedience training to help your dog build confidence around things he is afraid of is one of the most useful tools out there. When he is confronted with a known trigger, ask him to sit and hand him a treat. Give your dog the opportunity to relax around things he is afraid of will desensitize him and help remove the trigger. This will help with reducing submissive urination problems.

Incorporate distance work with the treat. If there is someone who can help with this, it will be easier. Ideally, the person who is least threatening is handling the dog. The other person leaves and returns but stays far enough away to not be a threat. If the puppy or adult dog doesn’t have a urination issue, he gets a treat. After his reward, the person takes a step closer.

As long as the dog isn’t urinating while waiting or in a sit position, keep giving him a treat as a reward and then move closer. This positive reinforcement helps him realize that people coming to him usually mean good things like treats and eventually belly rubs. Avoid situations where he gets overly excited and refrain from using punishment when training.  

Puppies Vs Older Dogs

There is a difference between puppies and adult dogs experiencing excitement or submissive urination. Puppies have a few physical and behavioral circumstances that make it more likely for them to urinate under stress. First, they have smaller bladders that are still not potty trained perfectly. They are also easily excitable. Additionally, puppies may be fearful in a new environment if taken away from their littermates and mother too soon. This is especially true for the runt or submissive pup.

Older dogs who are never given the tools to stop submissive urination will continue to have problems. When an adult dog suddenly has an issue, it usually is because of a traumatic event such as losing his caretaker, being taken to the shelter, or attacked by an intruder or stranger. While some breeds are more likely to have excitement and submissive urination issues, it can happen to any dog. As a pet owner, pay attention to your dog’s normal habits, posture, and body language. If his normal behavior changes it is up to you as his owner to figure out why and get the right type of help whether it be medical attention or behavioral/obedience training.

Dealing With Dog Urine and Smells

Most dog owners know that dealing with the excitement or submissive urination is only half the battle. If your puppy or adult dog has urinated in the house, he might become more likely to start marking in the house as well. This is more true with a male dog than a female dog. To prevent a bad urination problem from becoming a secondary marking issue, make sure to properly clean the area of accidents.

Nature’s Miracle is a great product for pet owners who need to disinfect carpets and floors, remove the odor and reduce the chances of repeat issues. Nature’s Miracle is a stain and odor remover specially designed to deal with dog urine and feces. Make sure to test the product out on a small, discreet area of carpet or flooring to be certain it won’t create discoloration.

Nature’s Miracle is applied directly to the dog urine, allowed to soak for 10 minutes and then blotted up with a damp towel. You can also use a wet vac to suck up the extra moisture to get a deeper clean. Take care of all urination accidents immediately when they occur or as soon as you discover the accident. The longer the urine remains, the more likely your dog (or other dogs) will use that spot for marking. Marking might happen long after the submissive urination issue is resolved.

Final Thoughts on Excitement Urination

Remember that excitement urination and submissive urination don’t happen because your dog is being bad. Punishment will not resolve the issues and will make it worse. Learn to calmly approach your dog when he has been separated from you and give him a chance to slowly adapt to the situation. Always rule out whether or not he was developed a medical problem such as a bladder infection.

Starting training when your dog is a pup is the first step to helping him learn to control his bladder. With a lot of positive reinforcement, you will find that your dog feels your approval and is able to keep himself calm until he is released to play in the yard. If your dog is feeling overwhelmed with submission issues, work with a dog trainer to help socialize him and build his confidence in all situations.

Dog training will help with more than excitement or submissive urination issues. It creates a great bond between a pup and his human companion, teaches him what is appropriate behavior and gives him ways to stimulate his mind and release energy.

 

 

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