Dog Rescue in Japan

Dogs are truly remarkable.  This video shows a dog sticking by his hurt pal.  I researched the dogs and found out that the one moving around is in a shelter and the sick one went to a vet for help after this journalist made this video. 

My dog is mourning the loss of another dog

Other pets in the house can be greatly affected by the loss of a pack mate.  If you can, you should let the other dogs of the house sniff the pack mate that passed away.  This will let them know they are dead and they won't be as likely to look for them everywhere.

If your dog is showing signs of depression, don't love on him while he is in this state.  Get treats or toys out to snap him out of it and when he shows the least bit of interest you reward that!  Give him more attention then usual, like more exercise and playtime.  Cuddling on the couch doesn't count.  It needs to be physical activity where the mind and body is stimulated.

Try changing things up a bit.  Go to new parks and blocks when exercising your dog.  That way there are no memories in that environment associated with the other dog.  You can also do this in the house by getting new dog beds and toys and getting rid of the old ones.  Change the routine more by walking differently, maybe jogging, new treats, and find playmates in the neighborhood.

As far as leaving your dog when you go to work, if he is now alone, it will be very different than he is used to.  Try leaving for short periods of time like around the block.  When you come back in see what his state of mind is.  Is he depressed in the corner?  Is he showing over excitement?  Or is he normal?

If he is showing signs of depression when left alone, higher a dog walker to come and play and walk him in the middle of the day.  If he is over excited it is because he isn't getting any stimulation during the day anymore.  You will need to spend more time with him exercising before you leave as well as when you get home.  Also, you need a dog walker or at least a neighbor to visit with him for a while.  Start working with him on more obedience to stimulate his mind more.  Also, look into getting toys that role and drop treats out, or putting peanut butter in kongs for him to lick out.  This will increase activity while you are gone.

Do not look into getting a new pooch until the family is emotionally stable again.
How to deal with the loss of a dog.

How to deal with the loss of a dog.

Losing a loved one is extremely difficult to deal with.  Dogs become members of our family so it is typical for you to feel intense pain, devastation, and even depression.  You might even be showing signs of guilt and denial.  Just remember, you have a right to feel anger and grief.  You must face your feelings because only then can you work through them.  Talk to people, open up, write about it, do whatever you must to express what you are feeling.

I've been asked, 'should I get another dog right away'?  My first response is no because you need to wait till you have dealt with your feelings before you bring someone else into the family.  What often happens is you think a new dog will 'replace' the old one.  They never do though.  They will have a different personality, different needs, and needs to be treated as a new member of a strong pack-not a new member of a weak, vulnerable, grieving pack.

Dogs often take a significant place in our lives.  They can represent a child, a spouse to come home to, a sibling, etc.  That is often why it is so hard when we lose them.  You will need to understand that everyone will not necessarily understand how you feel.  To you it is no different then losing a human friend, but not everyone feels that way.  Make sure you don't let that make the grieving process harder.  Find that person who feels the same about their pet as you did yours and express yourself to them.


Finally, try to get as much closure as possible.  Don't be afraid to talk to your vet extensively.  They understand because they deal with this on a regular basis so make sure you ask all the questions you can think of so you don't wonder later.  You can even revisit that vet to ask questions after your pet has passed.  They should be happy to pull out their chart and answer everything they can.

The end of Puppy Mills?

I was thrilled the other day when I ran across a news item demonstrating that perhaps when they are truly inspired, Democrats and Republicans are able to actually put their differences aside and work together in a bipartisan manner.
With the huge loophole still remaining in the United States' law concerning the Federal oversight of large-scale commercial dog breeders, puppy mills continue to churn out litter after litter. And even though these facilities selling stock to pet stores and puppy brokers must be inspected by and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, for some unknown reason, unfortunately puppy mills are not required to be licensed to sell puppies directly to the public.
On March 1, to once and for all remedy this senseless inequity, Representatives Sam Farr,(D-CA), Don Young (R-AK), Jim Gerlach,(R-PA) and Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced and sponsored H.R.835, The Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act (PUPS). And while the PUPS Act has been introduced before in prior Congressional sessions, even though the law's intent is crucial to the well being of countless number of innocent dogs, it has never gone anywhere. Fortunately this gives the PUPS Act another chance to finally be put into law.

Bringing all commercial dog breeders in the United States under federal supervision, the PUPS act would require breeders to be licensed and inspected. This includes those who annually sell dogs directly to the public, including dogs sold over the Internet.

Additionally all dog breeders licensed under the Federal Animal Welfare Act would be required to exercise every dog daily, allowing the dogs a chance to run, without the use of a treadmill or any similar mechanical device, which is a much needed humane mandate that PUPS Act provides. Of course, this would greatly improve the quality of the lives of dogs by giving them the opportunity for time out of their cages, in which many of these dogs are kept endlessly in confinement by many commercial dog breeders.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if puppy mills became a thing of the past? But you can help make this dream a reality. Join me by taking action today. Our support is needed to facilitate the passage of the PUPS act. For your convenience, the ASPCA has provided a link to email your representative asking them to support and co-sponsor H.R.835.
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to take immediate action.  It will say email your house representative, but further down the page it actually has the email written for you to support PUPS Act and all you have to do is give your information and press send.  Took me only 60 seconds!

This post is from petside.com  It's a great blog for information and I strongly agree with the PUPS act and was glad I stumbled upon this post.  It is a wonderful goal because I often run into situations where the owners have gotten a pup too young or simply bred wrong and are having many health and behavioral issues.  As HUMANS we must be responsible and do proper research in order to not buy from pet stores and unregistered breeders to help stop puppy mills.  If you want to save a pup go to shelters and take your time choosing a dog for your family, or go to a reputable/registered breeder.  When they give you a list of references-call them.  Do your homework, it will make all the difference in the world!
I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Outside Dog Game

Now this is an easy one your dog will love!  It's a healthy way to stimulate your dog's senses.  Slice up a banana really fine for small dogs, thicker for big dogs and freeze it!  The banana won't freeze solid so it doesn't hurt their teeth.  With your dog watching you and on a stay, hide the chips everywhere in the back yard.  Give your dog permission to 'find it'.  He will be sniffing around for a long time!  The next thing you can do is hide them without your dog seeing and then tell him to 'find it'.  If you have played this game before or the inside game I've talked about, this is more challenging for him.  It's a great way to keep your dog occupied and stimulated for a while-not to mention healthy!

Stop Dog Jumping

Do you love that feeling when you come in the door and your dog jumps up to greet you?  Well, unfortunately you are encouraging bad behavior.  If you are aggravated that your dog jumps on other people or on you when you don’t want him to, this could be a common cause, and it can lead to separation anxiety.  Whether your dog is ten or a hundred pounds, I’m sure you don’t want him to jump up when he wants.  If you love it when you come home but not the rest of the time, your dog gets mixed signals and doesn’t distinguish the difference. 

Here is an idea you can start working with.  Start teaching your dog that if he is calm, then he gets praise.  Don’t reward excitement and you probably are without realizing it.  Even pushing your dog off of you can come off like a fun game to play to him.  You need to claim your space, so start coming in the door ignoring Fido.  Now, he’s still going to jump, maybe even more so at first.  As soon as he does, use a treat and let him smell it.   You then try and force him into a sit position by putting the treat in front of his nose and moving it back along his head.  If he doesn’t know how to sit yet you will probably have to push his rear-end down as well.  When he starts to sit say “sit” and reward him when he is sitting.  Timing is key!  Don’t repeat the sit many times either, one time is enough.  Do not praise him vocally either or get excited when he does it because this will excite him again and defeat the purpose.  He needs to understand that this ‘new thing’ is the norm, not anything special. 

Repeat this about 10 times a day for a few days, coming in the door and having him sit.  He will start to anticipate the treat soon and when he does make him wait for it a little longer, then even longer, then don’t wait at all.  You need to mix it up for a couple of days.  Stay consistent by keeping treats in your car so you can come in from work or the store and do the same thing.  You should then mix it up by not always treating him, just have him sit, pause, then you walk away without a sound.  If he continues to jump when you move away, simply disagree with it.  This should be with a sound that isn’t a human word, a staccato sound like an abrupt ‘ah’ with your hand out to let him know that your body is yours, not his.  Claim your space!  Use whatever sound you like.  The cesar milan sound is popular like a ‘schht’.  If he is relentless, you need to take a deep breath and stand a little more authoritative like your lecturing your kids.  Also, put a leash on him so when he jumps you can do the noise with a slight pop of the leash down and to the side.  Now, it’s important not to turn around right away. 

Tips on Choosing a Dog Trainer

It’s hard to find time for dog training and exercise even though it should be a part of our everyday routine.  Families are often pulled apart because of the behavior of their dog. A trainer not only has to help the dog but also help the family understand what is required to get everyone on the same page.  If you are looking to add a new member to the family, puppy training is a great way to get off to a good start.

A trainer must be able to pull out different training techniques depending on the dog and family.  This is where it can get tricky.  Trainers must identify the personality and drive of the dog to determine the best method.  A good trainer concentrates on success, not a specific approach to teaching your dog.

Things to ask a potential trainer: 

• How long have they been training dogs?
• Are they affiliated with any organizations? 

Now, take this answer with a grain of salt.  Many organizations I've found have you fill out a form, pay a yearly fee, and you are an official certified member.  It looks more reputable and that is why people do it-as well as the fact it helps them out in the search engines when people are looking for 'licensed' trainers.  I know this because I have used many to help build my business.  When people do pay for this though, it shows an obvious interest in the field so don't disregard it, just make sure you understand it doesn't mean they automatically know what they are doing.
My place of choice is the IACP.  They are highly respected in the dog world.  Just make sure you look for 'Professional Members', not an affiliate member when it comes to training.  It's a higher level of experience-over 5 years.

• What issues have they come across that they couldn't fix and what did they do about it?

This happens more then you think and they should say that they contacted someone they knew in the field who could fix it!

• What could you do for me in my situation with Fido
• What methods do you use?-

The trainer needs to be a good fit for you and your family so you need to know there tactics for disciplining animals.

• After the training for 'x' amount of time what kind of relationship will we have?

You want to make sure that they will guide you through any issues you are having after training with them.  Customer service is very important in these situations and you want to make sure they will be there to answer any of your questions after training.

• They should ask you many questions about your pooch too-Habits, incidents, specific situations, triggers, etc.

AND FINALLY

Just remember no trainer can guarantee a dog will behave correctly the rest of his life, but you want someone who will guarantee there ongoing support and advice.  These are just some of the questions you can ask.  A good trainer will understand that often pets are our family and respect the fact you are thorough.

Dog Surfing

http://www.godvine.com/Dog-Changes-Lives-in-a-Way-No-One-Expected-274.html

If you are a dog or person lover this will be worth 5 minutes of your time!

Slip Lead

Today I ran into a man at the groomer picking up his 10 1b very active pooch.  He had a slip lead and wasn't happy about it.  He was trying to find a harness and didn't buy one.  On his way out he was grumbling a little about the slip lead and I said it's my favorite lead to use!  He disagreed saying he was afraid he was choking the dog.   Well, he was honestly.  The dog was pulling and the owner was letting him!  Any leash whether it's attached to a collar, chain, or a slip lead should always remain loose.  If there is tension on the leash it heightens any emotions the dog is feeling, and in this case that feeling was 'GO'.   A leash should be loose except when giving a light correction/pop to redirect the dogs attention and let him know what you want him to do.  In this case the leash needed to be corrected in a back or side motion towards the owner.  Then the dog needs to wait to walk till your ready to walk.  Now this may take several attempts till the dog understands, then many more while your walking to keep the dog beside you and not in front of you.  It's important to correct patiently and calmly.  Any frustration

Dog Games

It's important to have games to play with your dog, especially if there's bad weather outside and you can't exercise them.  This game is great for dogs big and small.  It also teaches obedience, and self control.  First off you need small treats and the biggest room in the house/apartment.  Show Fido the treat but don't give it to him.  Put Fido on a 'stay' or 'wait' command and let him see you put the treat somewhere in the room.  Take one step away and say 'Find It' while encouraging him to come to you and get the treat.  Next time you do this take a couple steps away.  Repeat as many times as needed for the dog to understand 'find it'.  You can then come all the way back to your dog or on the opposite side of the room as the treat and say 'find it'.

Fido will probably need some help at first, but will pick up fast because it involves food!  Make sure you mix it up though, moving around to different places.  Gradually venture into other rooms and eventually hiding the treat where Fido can't see and has to actually find it.  When first trying it in another room though, don't advance too fast.  You should still say 'find it' next to the treat again and working your way through all the rooms!  This is a great command for your dog to learn and a fun indoor activity for stimulation when there's bad weather.  Eventually you can use objects for the find it and go outside where it is really difficult because of all the smells!