I have experienced many friends losing their special dear pets this month and it brings up memories of how we all miss our beloved pets when they transition across the Rainbow Bridge. Each pet leaves special memories in our heart. Some transitions are more expected when a pet has become a senior and the body is failing or unhealthy but when it is because of an accident it is harder for the parent(s) can feel guilt for not protecting the pet from danger. Today I experienced a family’s special friend run through an open door and into the street where he was hit by a car and died instantly. My purpose for writing this blog is to help pet parents understand the importance of some basic training to help prevent situations like this. As pet parents we are responsible for the safety of our pets just like we are responsible for the safety of our children. It is highly recommended for pet parents to have a basic pet training class to teach our beloved best friends to sit at the door and never go through the door before we do. This waiting for us to go through the door first and then inviting our dog to follow us can prevent so many accidents from happening. Pet basic training should be something every dog parent does for the safety of the pet and their wellbeing. Our dogs love to please us and they do love training. It is great bonding time for the pet and parent(s). It also creates mental activity that can drain some extra energy from the younger dogs. Pet Training also makes pets good citizens.
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As a dog trainer, the best thing you can do is walk with your dog. I feel most people assume that we all want what’s best for our dogs, all the time. We make sure they’re properly fed and have enough water. We take them to the vet regularly. We keep them clean and groomed.
All of these things are necessary, but there’s one area where people are sometimes lacking, whether it’s because of time, physical issues, the weather outside, and so on — so the most important thing we can do for our dogs doesn’t get done. That is a walk or some kind of daily exercise with their guardian. This is a shame, because daily exercise with their parent or guardian is one of the most important things for your dog. Take your dog for a walk. If you can’t do it right now, do it as soon as you can, and do it at least two times a day, every day. This is the single most important thing you can do to give your dog the best, which is to keep them balanced. A balanced dog is a happy dog, and humans with happy dogs are happy leaders. I know that some people think that their dogs get enough exercise because they have a big yard to play in, but that isn’t the same for two reasons. First is that playing in the yard is not structured and it can actually make a dog more excitable and hyperactive because they aren’t getting the proper bonding time and exercise. Second is that there’s a lot more to the walk than just exercise. Here are five benefits of walking your dog every day:
Be Balanced in your energy and calm, keep walking for you and your dogs will love it! Sitting/lying down/exposing underside: appeasing/deferent dog lowers body posture, exposing vulnerable parts Turning head away, averting eyes: appeasing/deferent dog avoids eye contact, exposes neck Avoidance Dog turns away; shuts down; evades handler’s touch and treats. Brow Ridges Furrows or muscle ridges in the dog’s forehead and around the eyes. Difficulty Learning Dogs are unable to learn well or easily when under significant stress. Digestive Disturbances Vomiting and diarrhea can be a sign of illness – or of stress; the digestive system reacts strongly to stress. Carsickness is often a stress reaction. Displacement Behaviors These are behaviors performed in an effort to resolve an internal stress conflict for the dog. They may be observed in a dog who is stressed and in isolation – for example a dog left alone in an exam room in a veterinary hospital – differentiating them from behaviors related to relationship. Blinking: Eyes blink at a faster-than normal rate Nose-Licking: Dog’s tongue flicks out once or multiple times Chattering teeth Scratching Shaking off (as if wet, but dog is dry) Yawning Drooling May be an indication of stress – or response to the presence of food, an indication of a mouth injury, or digestive distress. Excessive Grooming Dog may lick or chew paws, legs, flank, tail, and genital areas, even to the point of self-mutilation. Hyperactivity Frantic behavior, pacing, sometimes misinterpreted as ignoring, “fooling around,” or “blowing off” owner. Immune System Disorders Long-term stress weakens the immune system. Immune related problems can improve when overall levels of stress are reduced. Lack of Attention/Focus The brain has difficulty processing information when stressed. Leaning/Clinging The stressed dog seeks contact with human as reassurance. Lowered Body Posture “Slinking,” acting “guilty,” or “sneaky” (all misinterpretations of dog body language) can be indicators of stress. Mouthing Willingness to use mouth on human skin – can be puppy exploration or adult poor manners, but can also be an expression of stress, ranging from gentle nibbling (flea biting) to hard taking of treats, to painfully hard mouthing, snapping, or biting. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders These include compulsive imaginary fly-snapping behavior, light- and shadow-chasing, tail-chasing, pica (eating nonfood objects), flank-sucking, self-mutilation, and more. While OCDs probably have a strong genetic component, the behavior itself is usually triggered by stress. Panting Rapid shallow or heavy breathing is normal if the dog is warm or has been exercising, otherwise can be stress-related. Stress may be external (environment) or internal (pain, other medical issues). Stretching
To relax stress-related tension in muscles. May also occur as a non-stress behavior after sleeping or staying in one place for extended period. Stiff Movement Tension can cause a noticeable stiffness in leg, body, and tail movements. Sweaty Paws Damp footprints can be seen on floors, exam tables, rubber mats. |
Blog CreatorMary DeRoche Archives
March 2023
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