Ironically, as I write this, it is Christmas day. I know, I lead an exciting life! 
Also, interestingly, the holiday season is one of my busiest times of the year.
People tend to get into a frenzy right after Thanksgiving because their dog acted horribly and they are afraid Christmas will be even worse.
Humility is a wonderful lesson, taught best by our four-legged friends.
I spend my holiday season traveling to people’s houses and frantically trying to impart the wisdom that they need to teach their dogs some basic manners.
I am always a bit surprised that people wait so long and need some kind of humiliating experience to try and overcome their dog’s bad behavior!
So, let’s talk about how to manage your dog’s overexcitement, even in a pinch (like a holiday weekend) because the truth is, just a couple of tricks will help your dog look like an angel.
At it’s pure and basic form, exercise will help take the edge off of any dog’s bad behavior.
Even if you didn’t have time to do a lot of training prior to a family gathering, if you take your dog for a 2+ hour hike through the mountains and hills before your family comes over for dinner, the chances are that your dog’s behavior will be dramatically improved.
If you want a tired toddler, take that kid to the park for an hour or more and let him run and play.
One of the big purposes of exercise is to help our body get tired and sleep better.
You can use this to your advantage if you need to take the edge off of your dog’s overexcitement.
But remember, your dog is an athlete!
A mile or two stroll is not going to get the job done.
Chances are that you are going to have to invest some time and effort into making your dog tired because it is likely that he is in better shape than you!
Training is the other way to deal with overexcitement.
If my dog loses his cool, I like to be able to give him a command and information about how I want him to behave.
If he wants to jump on me, or company, I am going to give him the “place” command.
I can also use commands like “off”, “sit” and “down” to ensure that I am communicating with my dog what my expectations are for him in that moment.
Often times, I think we have these broad expectations of our dogs to “know” what is expected of them without the proper teaching.
And, the truth is that they are a totally different species.
They see no harm in jumping on people they love.
However, this takes time and some effort.
We need to spend at least 5 times a day for at least 5 minutes teaching our dogs commands in a distraction-free environment before we can raise our expectations for their behavior.
After all, it is up to us to teach them.
And, we can’t expect them to learn when there is company over and everyone and everything is already exciting!
The coup de grâce (or what will finish it best) is BOTH!
If I am expecting company, or I need to get a bunch of work done, I am going to exercise my dogs until I know they are exhausted and will nap.
I also want the control to be able to tell them what to do when I start seeing overexcited behavior.
After all, it is up to me to provide them with the ability to understand my communication, and to communicate appropriately with me as well.
I want a tired dog so that my dog is fulfilled and happy.
I want a well-behaved dog, for the same reason!
Training should be fun.
Training should be more fun than exercise if you do it right!
And, both lead to a happy dog!
The other point I would like to make about overexcitement is that your mood can make or break it.
Often times, the dog gets overexcited and starts to behave badly, and the human begins to pitch a fit and yell or chase the dog.
This only leads to worse behavior and rewards the dog’s behavior.
Dogs mirror our behavior.
I have often been told by others in the training world how impressed they are that my dogs are always so calm.
The reason my dogs are calm is that I am always so calm and collected.
I don’t let my dog’s raise my blood pressure and I certainly don’t yell.
I want my dogs to mirror my behavior, and in order for that to be effective, I must remain calm and in control.
Even if your dog is being completely naughty, don’t let him see you lose your cool.
Instead, promptly and calmly deal with his behavior in an effective manner (exercise or training!).
A family in Michigan came home Christmas evening to find their door open and a surprise guest lounging on their couch. They’re not exactly sure how it happened, but the home invader wasn’t the kind worth calling the cops over. It was River, a runaway dog looking for somewhere to get warm.
A week ago, River disappeared from his new family’s home. Jean Strobel, River’s owner, did everything she could to bring her pup back. She organized her entire community to be on the lookout for the wayward hound, and she contacted the local animal recovery program, Lost Paws. Search parties scoured the nearby areas, and missing dog fliers were posted on every message board and light pole.
Pupdate 12/25 RIVER IS HOME, safe and sound! ❤️🐶 Turns out, he nudged the door of someone's house open and went in and…
Posted by Lost Paws, LLC on Thursday, December 21, 2017
River was missing for seven days, but it wasn’t a search party that finally brought the dog back home. After braving the winter weather and scrounging for food, it seemed River was tired of being lost. Instead of waiting to be found, he took matters into his own paws.
When the Sluit family saw the furry bundle on their couch, “raccoon” was their first thought. River had the fur and four legs, but it only took a second for the family to realize the serendipity surrounding the holiday home invasion. They recognized River from the pictures posted in the neighborhood and knew the dog belonged to a good home.
They called Lost Paws and quickly arranged for a Christmas reunion. Despite earlier reports of River being spotted several miles away, he ended up breaking into a house down the road from his own. The Sluit family still isn’t sure how River managed to open the door and get inside, but they’re happy they could help a frantic family and a lost dog find their way back to each other.
River is now safe at home and working on gaining back the weight he lost. He needs rest and some nourishing food, but he’s comfortably recovering from his ordeal. Strobel isn’t letting the wandering pooch out of her sight and is thankful to be able to welcome the new year with her newly adopted dog safe at her side.
Featured image screenshot via Fox17
On Tuesday night, the Atlanta Gladiators minor league hockey team held their first wiener dog race in between periods, and the results were predictably adorable!
An impressive 7,446 lucky fans watched the event. Three dozen Dachshunds ran in 3 different heats before the ultimate winner (wiener?) was declared.
Ruff night on the ice for the Gladiators but not for our furry (and long) friends as our first ever Wiener Dog Race in front of over 7,446 fans tonight was a great success! http://pic.twitter.com/pKu4ckfgFh
— Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) December 28, 2017
While the Atlanta Gladiators are the most recent hockey team to offer wiener dog races, they aren’t the first team to do so. You can catch more clips over on Mashable.
The winner of this particular race was Weagle, whose proud mom is Katie Ford. Way to go Weagle!
Congrats to Weagle and owner Katie Ford for taking home the first every Gladiators Wiener Dog Race! http://pic.twitter.com/KPpV9qrKPz
— Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) December 28, 2017
As much of the country is in a deep freeze right now, it’s the perfect time to talk about how to keep your dog safe this winter. Winter poses a lot of hidden hazards that you may not have considered before, so it’s good to be aware of the extra things you need to pay attention to this time of year. Here are our top 5 tips to keep your furry friends cozy and safe this winter.
Even the most snow-loving dogs will get cold eventually. If your dog is small or has short or thin hair, they may need a coat when they go outside on frigid days. When they’re at the back door ready to come in, don’t hesitate to bring them inside. Make sure there’s a warm spot in the house for them to come into. If it’s really cold out, a dog house is not enough protection for them against the elements. Remember: no dog should “live” outside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Every pup parent should know the symptoms of hypothermia. They include a blue tinge to the skin or lips, lethargy, and a lack of appetite. Shivering is another sign that something may be very wrong with your dog. Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you suspect your dog has become hypothermic, they need to be taken to the vet immediately.
You know how your hands dry out quickly in the winter if you wash them too much? The same goes for your dog’s skin. Washing them too often in the colder months can dry them out. While you don’t want to go the entire winter without washing or grooming your dog, try to limit baths to no more than once a month. When bath time is over, dry them as best as you can afterward.
Just like how a car can turn into an oven on a hot summer day, it can become a refrigerator very quickly on a cold day. Do your dog a favor and leave them in the warmth of your home when you are out running errands.
Salt, snow, and de-icing chemicals can wreak havoc on your dog’s feet in the winter time. It’s extremely important to wipe off your dog’s feet every time they come in from outside in the winter. Salt and other de-icing chemicals can be toxic if your dog licks their feet, and snow stuck between the pads of your dog’s paws can become uncomfortable mats. Wiping your dog’s feet also gives you the opportunity to check for sores or cuts that may be caused by ice or other obstacles. Booties and waxes can also be a great way to help protect your dog’s paws.
Antifreeze is a deadly danger for pets, as it has a sweet taste that is appealing to animals but is highly toxic. If you catch your dog drinking something that might be antifreeze, you should take them to the vet IMMEDIATELY. Antifreeze can be deadly.
It’s always a good idea for pet parents to keep the ASPCA Poison Control number in their phones or somewhere accessible, in case of emergency: (888) 426-4435
(H/T: USA Today)
So recently I was doing a little research on dog treats. There’s a big box super store that sells a tub of what I would call beef jerky. It’s cheap and my dogs loved it. A little too much. So back to my research. I started reading about what companies do to make dog treats. Even worse than how they make them is what they make them with. Preservatives. Chemicals. Fillers. By-products. Yum.
It turns out, the more I read up on this stuff, it could be shortening the lifespan and lessening the quality of life of my fur balls. <insert car screeching to a halt> Oh, no they didn’t! It’s like junk food for your dog. And just like junk food, it’s just about one of the unhealthiest things you could give your dog. So what’s the answer? Well, if you and Martha Stewart have the time, you could make homemade doggy treats. Me? I barely have time to dress myself. So what’s the answer?
You want something that is made with real meat and without all the other nonsense. So really, one ingredient would be the key. Think that’s unlikely to happen? Think again.
Forget the fillers, preservatives, sodium ethyl-methyl bad stuff! There’s a new dog treat in town – Project Paws Treats. They are made from 100% natural ingredients. There is all-white meat chicken breast and savory beef liver. Simple, right? Well, it gets better. These treats are freeze-dried, so the natural ingredients retain all the quality nutrients and flavor. Other treats are dehydrated or processed. Do you see where I’m going here?
And if all that good news wasn’t enough, how about this: Every purchase of treats you make feeds shelter dogs! Each and every pack of treats you purchase provides 14 meals to shelter and rescue dogs all across America. If this isn’t a win-win, then I don’t know what is. So go ahead, love your dog and treat your furry friend to a tastier, healthier treat.
Dogs with springs in their legs can create magic in photographs. Consider this picture of a dog who was clearly not feeling sluggish.
The dog, an adolescent mix of who-knows-what-breeds, is energetic and enthusiastic. I’ve always thought that she looks like she has kangaroo in her, and this picture supports my argument. Meanwhile, the other dog in the household, a super chill male approaching the age of 9 years old, looks on wisely.
Each of their approaches to life is captured in the photo. The young dog is exuberant and bouncy, filled with a coiled-spring-like tension, like Tigger form Winnie-the Pooh. The older dog has his moments of high-spirited fun, but as he gets older, they occur less and less often. He is far more likely to look forward to a restful nap than an intense play session or outing as he enters his golden years.
Some dads are just destined to become legendary grandpas!
Meghan Specksgoor’s father proved his phenomenal gramp-ing skills this holiday season when his daughter traveled to New York City, leaving her beloved pup Chance in his capable hands.
Meghan is exclusively a dog mom at this point, but should she ever want tiny humans, she can rest assured that her dad will be ready!
Like how can one little soul fill my heart with so much love. http://pic.twitter.com/kneLIl5ZfG
— meghan specksgoor (@specksgoor) August 21, 2017
It all started shortly into Meghan’s trip when she received the following text/selfie combo:
It seems the pair had already worked up quite an appetite sharing special bonding experiences together.
Next came this delightful update:
You see, Meghan’s dad is the real deal. He doesn’t just shower his granddog with treats, he teaches Chance the value of earning a reward through good behavior. Kudos gramps!
As you can see, the technique paid off! Chance got his pedicure and earned his ice cream. Look at that smile!
After a full day of fun, Meghan’s dad checked in one final time to say goodnight and remind his daughter how much she is loved. Awwww!
Meghan was so delighted by her father’s meticulous care of Chance that she uploaded his texts to Twitter where they have received more than 170,000 likes and 45,000 re-tweets!
Gramps has rightfully earned his Twitter fame, but Meghan still had to explain the meaning of the term “viral” to him!
Congratulations Meghan’s dad! You are iHeartDogs’ un-official Dog Grandpa of the Year!
H/T to Bored Panda
All Photos via Twitter/Meghan Specksgoor
Prong, choke, shock. Boulder, Colorado dog trainer Mary Angilly does not believe these types of collars have any place in her chosen profession.
While she acknowledges that negative-reinforcement can certainly work, she wants to educate the public that there are more humane and effective ways to train dogs.
She has begun a campaign to impose a citywide ban on fear- or pain-based training collars, and hopes the issue will reach Boulder’s 2018 ballot.
“A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, you don’t like a lot of that equipment, you’re a Boulder hippie who runs in a field of daisies,'” Angilly told The Daily Camera. “It’s not like that at all. My argument, and most trainers who are against the use of this equipment, is not that it doesn’t work. Punishment and using force and fear to train dogs can totally work. The main issue is the many potential fallouts.”
Among these “potential fallouts” are additional stress on the dog; suppressed or unusually high levels of aggression; and stunted emotional growth or complete emotional shut-down.
Angilly and her supporters argue that it is both easier and more effective to use a reward-based training system. Positive methods also strengthen the human-animal bond rather than widen the distance between us.
“I think in the last decade there’s been more evidence to suggest the unnecessary nature of intimidation force imposed upon our pet families. The election to do it in a more gentle, friendlier, more positive way — we believe in the long run that really fosters a more successful relationship between that pet and that parent,” said Bridget Chesne, director of animal behavior and sheltering at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.
Angilly has her work cut out for her if she is to see a “no tolerance policy” on choke, prong and shock collars come to fruition in 2018. She’ll need thousands of petition signatures as well as the fortitude to battle for a cause that as of yet has not succeeded on American soil.
Only a handful of places outside the US – including some areas of Canada and the UK – have managed to ban negative-reinforcement dog collars. If a ban passes, Boulder would be the first city in the country to have such a law.
Where do you fall on the issue of prong, choke and shock collars? Do you support Angilly’s cause or feel that the decision is best left in the hands of each individual dog owner? Share your opinions in the comments!
H/T to The Daily Camera
Best Friends Animal Society is a national leader when it comes to animal welfare. They’re the largest no-kill animal shelter in the country, and they’re working hard to lower the number of animals killed in shelters each year. It’s a long process, but 2017 was another year closer to a better future for America’s companion animals. One of the pets they saved this year is Skully.
Diagnosed with cancer, sweet Skully wouldn’t have had a chance in most shelters. But with Best Friends, he received life-saving treatment. A dedicated team of rescuers and veterinary staff knew Skully’s life was worth saving, and they stood by his side while he battled his disease.
One of his ears had to be removed, but specially-made hoods helped him through the ordeal. He loves his hoods, and he loved it even more when his veterinarian announced he was officially cancer-free.
Ready to celebrate his clean bill of health and new chance at life, Skully received a special holiday treat courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society. Every year, caregivers fill a sleigh with donated toys and treats. On Christmas morning, Skully went on an extra long walk to where Santa’s helpers were waiting. He got to nose his way through bags of presents and picked out the perfect toy. The sweet boy has struggled and suffered, but caregivers were overjoyed to see him happy and healthy in time for the holidays.
Hopefully by next Christmas, Skully will be settled into his forever home with a loving family. But until then, he and his friends at the sanctuary continue to rely on generous donations to keep them fed, housed, healthy, and happy. Give the gift of a second chance this holiday season by donating to Best Friends Animal Society.
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
While winter wouldn’t be complete without a good snowfall, snowy scenes always come with a fair share of headaches. Keeping roads, driveways, and garden paths clear of snow and ice is an important safety measure, but it also poses potential problems for your dog. Many de-icer products contain hazardous chemicals. For your dog, it’s enough to make them seriously ill, injured, and uncomfortable.
The de-icer you depend on each winter does its magic by lowering the freezing point of water. It turns ice and snow into a loose slush that’s easy to clean up. Sodium chloride (salt), potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium carbonate are all chemical substances used as main ingredients in most types of de-icer.
While they’re good to have in the midst of a winter storm, those ingredients can cause external and internal harm both on their own and combined in a de-icer product. Ingesting large quantities of salt is deadly for dogs. Even consuming small amounts of magnesium chloride and potassium chloride can cause gastrointestinal irritation. Your pup will have a serious stomach ache, and the de-icer will also hurt their paws. The chemicals dry out their skin and cause painful cracking and bleeding on their paw pads.
Keeping your dog indoors all winter isn’t an option, but there are ways to protect their paws and keep your walkways clear of ice and snow. If they’re going outside for a quick bathroom break, wipe their paws clean as they come back in. For longer walks and cold-weather adventures, invest in a good pair of dog booties. Make sure they’re waterproof and comfortable for your dog to wear.
There are also pet-safe ice melt options to replace those chemical-based products. Safe Paw is specially manufactured to be safe for animals. You can also spread sand or kitty litter over icy surfaces. It won’t melt the ice or snow, but it’ll create much-needed traction to keep you from slipping.
If you suspect your dog has ingested any amount of de-icer, call your veterinarian. Remember the effects of the poisoning will largely depend on your dog’s size. If a Chihuahua and a Labrador ingest the same amount of chemical, the Labrador might not show any symptoms while the Chihuahua could become extremely ill. If you’re ever in doubt, prioritize pet safety by seeking professional help.
The 2018 Olympics set to be in South Korea may bring about some changes in the country’s dog meat trade.
The controversial practice–which is deeply upsetting to many Western cultures–may have to come to a halt in order for the country to drum up support for this year’s Olympic games. More and more farmers are responding to opposition by agreeing to shut their farms down, a movement that is often funded by advocacy groups who also provide them with a stipend to change their careers.
The thought is that Westerners and dog lovers around the globe will not support this year’s Olympics if South Korea continues to practice dog meat farming. Undoubtedly, people against the practice will not want to be spectators in an arena that is anywhere near a farm, slaughterhouse, or meat market.
We hope that this is a catalyst to eventually stopping the dog meat once and for all!
Nisel the dog is lucky to be alive this Christmas after being pulled out of a half-frozen pond by New Jersey Police Officers Robert Voorhees and George Peterson and Specialist Dave VanDoren.
After Hopewell Township NJ Police received the call that Nisel couldn’t get out of the pond alone, Voorhees offered to be tied to a rope and crawled out onto the ice. When Nisel swam toward Voorhees, he grabbed her collar and Peterson and VanDoren then pulled Voorhees and Nisel to safety.
Nisel was reunited with her owner and warmed up without any lasting ill effects. Watch the body camera footage of the dramatic rescue below!
(H/T: Fox News, Hopewell Township NJ Police)
When Army veteran Geoff Hoffman came home from work on Wednesday, December 20, he was alarmed to see his front gate and front door wide open. While he had been at work, robbers had entered his home, apparently interested in his valuables at first; but in the end, all they took was his 3-year-old pit bull, Bridget. In an interview with KFOR that Hoffman did in his house, he said:
“I just want her back. I put a sign here. Take what you want but bring back my dog. That’s all I want. You can have my TV. I don’t care. Just bring back my dog.”
It took several agonizing days, but Bridget was found on the side of a rural road early in the morning on Christmas Eve. She was injured and cold, but alive.
Hoffman got on social media early and often once he realized that Bridget had been stolen, starting the social media trend #BringBridgetBack to spread information far and wide in the hopes of putting pressure on whoever stole Bridget or getting a tip from somebody who had seen her. The media picked up the story quickly. Here’s the interview Hoffman did with KFOR.
Hoffman’s description of Bridget’s condition when she was found is heartbreaking:
“She was still wearing her big pink flower collar with her name tag, but my phone number had been scratched off. She was also wrapped up in my leash, which means she was definitely stolen from my house. Unfortunately, she was not without injury. Aside from spending at least one night in below freezing conditions, she has several deep lacerations to her front left leg and her eyes were red and swollen. She was very dehydrated, had blood in her stool, and some sort of rash all over her body. The poor thing was exhausted.
She was rushed to the emergency vet clinic and I met them there. The twinkle in her eyes and the typical ever-present smile on her face were gone, but with lots of sleep tucked under the covers of my bed, a few hearty meals, and lots of tender living care, I know she will be good as new in no time. Bridget is a soul full of love and affection. Nothing will hold down her spirit of love. As exhausted, hungry, thirsty, injured, and cold as she was, even at the emergency vet, every time she saw a new person, she wanted to make friends with them.”
As a way of paying it forward to thank all the people who helped spread the word about Bridget’s disappearance, Hoffman plans to share in detail everything he did to find Bridget in the hopes that it will help somebody else if their dog goes missing. That information will be posted on Facebook under #BringBridgetBack.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for Bridget’s vet bills as she recovers from her horrific ordeal.
We all want the best for our pups. From good nutrition to keeping them fit, owners want our dogs as healthy and active as possible. That’s why many of us often wonder how to choose the best dog foods for our pups. Although this depends on a number of factors like food allergies, existing health conditions, activity levels, and stage of life, researching the right brands and products now will keep your dog happy and healthy for years to come.
Below, we will discuss some tips and tricks for separating the “wheat from the chaff” or, in other words, quality dog foods from those filled with fillers and nutrient-sparse ingredients.
With the huge number of options that exist on the market, finding the best dog food can be hard! And unfortunately, we can’t always rely on what the pet food manufacturing companies are saying since they spend millions of dollars a year on advertising and marketing to convince consumers that their products are the healthiest.
Luckily, food companies are required to list their ingredients on their packaging, which is a great start to figuring out whether it’s good for your canine. However, these lists aren’t always the easiest to decipher with ingredients like Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, and Propylene Glycol.
Further, even the basic ingredients we understand – like chicken –can be listed as “chicken meal”, “chicken by-products”, “chicken dinner”, “with chicken”, or “chicken flavor”. These all sound the same but they actually mean very different things. Knowing the difference between them can help save you money while also keeping you from being fooled into buying dog foods that are unhealthy and virtually void of the nutrients that your dogs need to stay healthy!
Below, our friends at Dog Food Genius have put together an extensive guide to answer the above questions and much, much more! Check out their resource to learn what makes the best dog food for your pet.
As we wrap up 2017, we would like to recommend five books that stand-out and grabbed our attention this year. First up is Amy Sutherland’s insightful and engaging Rescuing Penny Jane: One Shelter Volunteer, Countless Dogs, and the Quest to Find Them All Homes (Harper).
As an astute and skilled journalist who has volunteered hundreds of hours at local shelters, Sutherland had a front-row seat on the subject of how shelter life affects both the dogs and the people working to find their “clients” new homes. Her tour of shelters throughout the U.S. also provided her with invaluable lessons about best ideas and strategies. This is a thoroughly engrossing and, yes, entertaining read.
A client who is also a friend returned from a trip to New York with the most wonderful gift—a big box of gourmet chocolates. Just as wonderful as the taste of these confections was their appearance, especially the one shaped like a dog—decorated right down to its little collar.
It’s so reinforcing to receive chocolate as a thank you for dog training, but to have a sweet treat in the form of a little dog charmed me more than I can say. The perfect thing about this gift was that it was chosen thoughtfully based on what I (the receiver) would most enjoy. Choosing what someone else will like is a good skill for dog trainers because when it comes to positive reinforcement, it’s what the dog likes that matters.
So many people struggle with their dog jumping up!
And, interestingly, there is some horribly bad information out there that will tell you how to curb this behavior.
Strange that, in the world we live in, where dogs have more rights than ever before, people are still condoning kicking or kneeing a dog that jumps up.
Will it work?
I suppose….
I suppose that it would work if the pain was so significant that the dog literally thought he never wanted to do that again, but I don’t think it is fair.
After all, you will just end up with a dog that is terrified of YOU.
What a horrible relationship it would be to be terrified of your best friend or your spouse.
There are better ways!
This little piece of advice is along the same lines as the advice above.
Or, you are to hold them until he panics.
Ironically, I have used the “hold them” with some success.
But the truth is, there is nothing positive about this.
It is easier to teach your puppy what to do with an incompatible behavior than to panic him and hope he doesn’t bite.
Ignoring him also won’t work.
Jumping is a self-rewarding behavior.
The dog gets a “high” when he gets into your personal space.
So, ignoring or yelling isn’t going to work.
This is one of my pet peeves – trainers who recommend that you “turn away”.
What does happen is the dog follows you around and your turning is likely to excite him even more.
It is like turning away is playing keep away.
And, keep away is a fun game for your dog.
Unfortunately, jumping can’t be ignored or turned away from.
Jumping actually needs to be corrected.
This is the WORST thing that you could do!
Ironically 95% of people are guilty of doing this with their dog.
The dog jumps up to get closer to your face… and you lean over and pet him and coo.
Puppies learn this behavior early on in their lives.
They dance and scratch at their new owner’s legs and get petted and picked up.
For some reason, we think this behavior is adorable on a puppy but horrifying when the same behavior is shown by an adult dog!
It is sad that our expectations change so quickly.
The truth is that by petting our dogs and puppies, we are teaching them that this behavior is not only acceptable but GOOD.
But then, at some point, the dog jumps on the wrong person, or he rips your clothes and you realize what a bad behavior he is showing.
The problem is, you place the blame on the dog instead of blaming yourself for confusing the dog in the beginning.
And, for dogs, bad habits are hard to break.
So, once you have created the problem, I would ask you to be consistent, but patient, when it comes to change.
Start now, by vowing you won’t let your dog jump up on anyone, anymore!
Can’t wait for Christmas? Neither can Bodie!
In the video, Bodie the dog realizes that his stocking contains some tempting surprises — and begs his mom to let him get his gifts early! The pup almost has a full-blown tantrum as he whines and pleads to get his special holiday treat.
Poor Bodie! With those big eyes and that sweet face, we bet this persistent pup was able to get his paws on at least one of his presents before Christmas morning. Now Mom will have to find a better place to hide his goodies until Santa comes!
(h/t: lex18)
Getting on a dog’s good side might seem as easy as having a pocket full of treats and knowing the trick to a good belly rub, but our four-legged friends aren’t always easy to please. They’re quick to judge a person’s character, and there are some people they simply don’t like.
It could be a specific person in the dog’s family, a friend of their owner’s, or a random person they meet on the street—but dogs know a foe when they see one. They might growl if the person comes close or simply turn tail and disappear. It seems random, but it isn’t as mysterious as you think. Here are a few reasons why your dog doesn’t like certain people.
Dogs might not be fluent in your language, but they’re experts at picking up tone of voice. A scientific study published in 2016 found that dogs’ brains react based on the tone of voice of the person talking to them.
In the study, the reward centers in the dogs’ brains became activated when the person used a high-pitched, happy voice. The dogs were glad to greet the happy-sounding person, but they reacted negatively or ignored people who spoke with deep or angry-sounding voices.
While your dog is assessing a person’s tone of voice, they’re also observing their body language. Dogs depend on body language to help fill in communication gaps. The trouble comes when comparing the way humans perceive specific body movements to how dogs interpret those same signs.
Eye contact, for example, means different things to different species. Between humans, someone who doesn’t make direct eye contact is perceived as shifty, untruthful, or suspicious. In a dog’s world, however, direct eye contact is rude and even threatening. Giving “soft eyes,” or looking slightly to the side, is a sign of respect or deference. Bending over the dog, making wide gestures with your arms, erratic movements, and forcing a dog into a hug are all bad body moves dogs don’t appreciate.
A comparative psychologist at Kyoto University performed a study to determine whether certain animals are capable of making social evaluations in the same way humans do. He wanted to know if dogs could tell when a person was being rude to another person and if that knowledge would affect their opinion of the person.
He did a test where a dog watched their owner struggle to open a container. The owner then asked another person for help. Sometimes the person helped, and sometimes they refused. After each interaction, the dog was given the choice whether to accept attention from the other person or ignore them. On turns when the person refused to help the dog’s owner, the dog was more likely to show signs of not liking the rude person. The study shows if a person in your life is regularly rude to you, your dog will decide for themselves they don’t like them. Dogs are Team Owner all the way!
Everyone knows a dog’s sense of smell is incredibly powerful. Their first move when being introduced to a new dog or person is to give them a good sniff. If they like what they smell and the interaction goes well—BAM, best friends for life. But if they get a whiff of something intimidating, confusing, or downright repugnant, they’ll follow their nose to better smells.
Dogs that dislike other dogs will often avoid people who smell like unknown canines. Other smells dogs typically don’t like include citrus, vinegar, mothballs, and rubbing alcohol.
Rescue dogs with histories of abuse and abandonment don’t forget about their traumatic experiences. Even when they move on and are adopted by loving families, the suffering they went through will often stick with them. In some cases, they develop fears and mistrust toward people who remind them of their difficult pasts.
If a rescue regularly cowers around adult men but turns toward women for comfort, there’s a good chance they once suffered abuse at the hand of a man. Gender, hair color, height, race, general appearance—the dog might respond negatively to anyone who reminds them of past pain.
Army veteran and military contractor Michael Takacs was working overseas in Kuwait when the unthinkable happened.
A friend was watching his dog, Precious, who Takacs said has gotten him through many tough times, including his mother’s passing.
But instead of looking forward to a happy homecoming, the veteran is now fighting to get his companion back. He recently learned that his friend’s new girlfriend dropped the pup off at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay as a “stray.” Precious has since been adopted by another family.
Takacs is so desperate to get Precious back, he’s offered her new adopters $1,000 and is willing to pay the adoption fee for another dog. So far, they have refused his offer.
Pam Backer, who’s with the humane society, points out that a microchip with Takacs’ information would have been proof enough to help him reunite with his beloved companion.
Still, the dog-dad hopes that Precious’ new family will have a change of heart, and he’ll be able to bring her home just in time for Christmas. He said in the ABC Action News story:
“I would ask them to please consider my offer. Christmas isn’t here yet. You still have a chance to use the money to buy some gifts to compensate for what happened,” he said. “I still have hope. I’m very determined to get her back home.”
What do you think should happen in this situation? Let us know in the comments below.
(h/t: ABC Action News)
Dog's name and age: Piper, 4 years old.
Piper's Adoption Story: My boyfriend and I had talked about getting a dog for a long time but we were never quite sure if it was the right time. Then one day, I came home from class and my boyfriend was cleaning the apartment and asked a simple question, "Do you want to go get a dog today?" So, we did! We were walking through the kennels when I stopped to read about her. I squatted down and she looked at me for a little bit from the back. Then she came up to the gate, pressed herself as hard as she could against it so we could pet her through the door, and we knew she was ours.
