My Dog is Sneezing

A sneeze here and there is a normal event in a dog's life. You and I probably feel like it's a good thing to sneeze once in a while. Repeated sneezing, however, is not normal and may indicate a serious problem. If it goes on for too long, it may even lead to bleeding, and the sneezing will then turn into a bloody spray. If your dog is sneezing more than you think is normal, there are a few things you can do in order to get a better idea how serious it is.

What to Look For

Start your assessment by offering your dog a drink of water. Occasionally a drink alone will clear the oronasal passage of some irritant and resolve the sneezing. Next, look your dog straight in the eye and get an idea if there are any asymmetries of his eyes, face, or muzzle. If you have some sort of protective face- and eyewear, use it to prevent getting oral or ocular exposure to your dog's nasal discharge. Listen carefully to your dog's breathing in between the sneezing episodes. Try blocking first one nostril, then the other, to determine whether there is any form of partial or complete obstruction in either of the nasal passages. Use your flashlight and try to get a look into each of your dog's nasal openings.

What to Do

Ask yourself a few questions to figure out what to do next:

• Does your dog suffer from allergies? Respiratory allergies are often the cause for seasonal bouts of episodic sneezing.

If your dog has allergies to various seasonal plants or pollens, this may explain the sneezing and your dog may respond well to an antihistamine such as Tavist, Claritin, or even Benadryl. In general, check with your vet for dosage and to confirm that your dog has no specific additional health risks that would prevent you from using them safely.

• Has your dog been outside and/or unsupervised for any period of time recently? Inquisitive dogs are prone to sniffing new and interesting plants, objects, and substances, some of them dangerous. Any of these things can be inhaled, resulting in partial or complete obstruction of a nasal passage, pain, inflammation, and the resultant sneezing. Sometimes, even after one of these is evacuated, the irritation it has caused will promote continued sneezing episodes. A bee sting is a perfect example and one that can continue to get worse with time if left untreated. If at any time during your evaluation of your dog's sneezing, the symptoms worsen, get him to your vet immediately.
• Did you see any swelling or asymmetry to your dog's face? Blunt trauma and insect bites or stings are common causes of facial swelling associated with sneezing. If blunt trauma is suspected, get him to your vet. If an insect bite or sting is your suspicion, as long as his breathing is not labored or wheezy, a dose of Benadryl may reduce the swelling and could even solve the problem.
• Does there appear to be any sign of infection? Any yellow to green discharge from the nostrils, eyes, or mouth could explain the sneezing and point you toward your veterinarian for medical treatment.
• Did you see any bleeding from your dog's nostrils? Though it is possible that repeated sneezing will traumatize your dog's nasal passages enough to cause bleeding, any blood from his nostrils is enough to merit a visit with his veterinarian.
• Does the airflow through your dog's nostrils seem difficult or uneven?Nasal inflammation or obstruction will result in difficulty passing air through those openings. If this is the case, and the use of over- the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl, Tavist, or Claritin results in no improvement, seek your veterinarian's help.

How to Make Your Dog Like Your Cat

It's a classic tale that dogs have always hated cats, and vise versa. With lots of training and positive reinforcement you can do get them to like each other.

Steps

1 Basic tricks. Teach your dog "Uh-uh".Whenever they do something bad, wrong, or don't do something you say,say "Uh-uh" and they should stop. Now, teach them "Leave it". Say "Leave it" if your dog is sniffing something they shouldn't, or you drop food on the floor and they try to eat it, etc. They should look or walk away. Also, teach them "Stay". This one should be a bit harder to teach. After you say "Stay", they should stay where they are even if you disappear from view. The last command they need to know is "Come" (if they already come when you say their name, you can skip this part). Your dog should simply walk to you when they hear "Come". Be sure to practice these daily and when they do something correct, give them a treat and lots of love and praise. This is key.

2 Watch your pets. Leave them in the same room alone but still under close eye. Do this every couple days and record results. They should like each other more.Any other results than the following I don't know what to do about. Here are some possible outcomes and what to do about them:

• If the dog goes towards the cat and the cat seems uncomfortable, then say "Leave it" to your dog. If your dog does not walk or look away, say "Uh-uh" until they do. Then say "Come" and give praise/treat. This reaction means that your pets do not really like each other but it is possible to fix.
• If your dog walks up to the cat and the cat seems fine or is ignoring the dog, you may my not even need to read the rest of this. Your pets like each other. Give BOTH pets lots of praise.
• If your dog leaves your cat alone, again, you may not even need to read the rest of this. Your pets do not hate each other and do not like each other either. This is good. Give BOTH pets lots of praise.

3 Talk with your cat. Get your cat alone and make sure the dog, any other people, or any other pets are not around. A good time to talk is during feeding time. Tell your cat it will be okay,that you love them and that you ARE working with the dog and making progress. Reassure them. Love them. Do this weekly and even though it may seem silly, it does work.

4 Don't pick favorites. Whenever you are hugging one pet, make sure the other is not near. Or if they are, when you are done go hug them. Also,when you walk into a room and both pets are there, look at them BOTH, and go to the cat as equally as you go to the dog.This is because when you have one pet and bring a new pet into the family, often the first pet may get jealous. Don't let this happen.

5 Extra help. By now, your cat and dog should be pretty good with each other. If not, there is one more thing I suggest. Put your cat on the floor where they are happy and put the collar on your dog. Put several dog treats in your pocket and have several cat treats nearby.grab hold of the collar and walk slowly past the cat. Keep the animals around 5 or 6 feet apart. If your pets do well, give the dog a treat. If not, say "Uh-uh". Every time they do good, move them a 1/2 foot closer, until they are within a foot. give the cats most of the cat treats and the dog a couple of the leftover dog treats.

Top 3 Dog-Like Cat Breeds

When Dogs Just Aren't Allowed

Cats acting like dogs? It happens, and it most certainly does not mean the end is near. Oh, and by acting like dogs we do not mean barking (that would just be plain silly), but some breeds do have dog-like qualities. Here are three of our most favorite dog-like cat breeds.

#3 The Manx

Famous for being tailless, the Manx, in fact, is not always tailless! It is, however, known to be very affectionate and friendly. Many people call the Manx a "dog-cat” because it wants to be around people. It will even come when you whistle or call his or her name, and will actually respond to the command “no,” unlike other cats that simply sit there and stare.

#2 The Abyssinian

Another water-loving cat, this extremely loyal feline will play fetch and carry its favorite toys around in its mouth, just like a dog. And like dogs, the Abyssinian will follow their humans around, help out (whether you want it to or not), and respond to leash training, too. However, as with dogs, they need a lot of attention and will become depressed if left alone often.

#1 The Burmese

The Burmese is not only a beautiful cat, but one that has decidedly doggy-like qualities. It is great with kids and will play with them happily. The Burmese is also known to sit and wait for food in the same manner that dogs do. Just make sure this kitty has a sitter if you are going away for a few days. The Burmese is extremely dependent on its owners.

Resident develops new breed of dog-like cat - the puppykat

LAKE ELSINORE -- It's not a dog; it's a cat that acts like a dog. Confused? Don't be. It's a "puppykat," a new breed of cat developed by Lake Elsinore resident Dawn Houston.

Houston says she stumbled across the puppykat seven years ago, when two wild cats she had rescued mated. Their offspring were very puppylike, she said, so she gave them the new moniker and began breeding more of them.

Three years ago, she said, she began breeding them full time.

Houston, who said she has rescued animals most of her life, has big plans for the puppykat.

Already, she has registered the breed with the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.

And she plans to continue to breed and sell puppykats -- she guesses she has already sold more than 40 of them in the last seven years for between $275 and $675 -- so that she can raise enough money to fund future cat-rescue efforts. Those efforts include plans for responsible breeding education programs and plans to get lax breeding regulations changed.

The puppykat, Houston said, has become popular with people who like their pets to have certain traits more commonly found in dogs. Like their canine counterparts, puppykats are more social, curious and playful, she said. They'll even come when you call.

Their physical traits -- mainly their folded ears and shorter tails -- are also doglike.

"A lot of people that would have never gotten a cat are now open to owning a cat," Houston said.

Kent Broussard bought two cats from Houston about a year ago. One of them was a Manx, the other was a puppykat.

He said that, while the Manx is standoffish and tends be content on its own, the puppykat craves the attention of humans and is much more playful.

"She just has to be around people," the Laguna Beach resident said. "She loves being petted. She's a little sweetie.

"She definitely follows you in the other room like a puppy. That's a perfect name."

While the results may be adorable and Houston may have found a market for the puppykat, her breeding hasn't been received positively by everybody.

Breeders and cat lovers from across the country have sent dozens of e-mails and letters criticizing her for mixing the Scottish fold, Manx and polydactyl breeds, something they consider dangerous to the health of the cats.

But Houston asserts she's being responsible.

She takes great care to make sure the cats she uses in breeding don't carry the same dominant genes, she said, thus eliminating potential dangerous genetic threats to the cats.

Plus, she isn't doing what many breeders do, Houston said, in overbreeding their cats by inbreeding or by making individual cats have too many litters. Those can each have detrimental effects on generations and generations of cats, she said.

"If you do it wrong, it could be traumatic," Houston said.

Houston also shot back at the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, whose members have heavily criticized her the last several weeks after reading a news report about her breeding. They have sent dozens of e-mails and letters, she said, many of which have been less than pleasant.

PETA researcher Dan Paden said that his organization was contacted by more than 100 people who complained that, through her breeding, Houston is contributing to the overpopulation of cats.

The organization issued an action alert through its Web site, he said, asking people to contact Houston and ask her to stop the breeding. It also urged them to ask her to donate the money she has made through selling puppykats to spaying and neutering programs.

The alert calls Houston's plan of breeding puppykats in an effort to help rescue other cats the "most dim-witted idea ever." It states that breeders like Houston "have created a tremendous overpopulation problem that forces animal shelters across the nation to put millions of dogs and cats to death every year."

Paden said PETA has never before issued an action alert for a breeder like Houston.

"No one before has ever proposed that purposefully breeding animals is a good way to help fight the overpopulation crisis," he said. "It's unique in its irony. It's unique in our response."

But Houston said that those who have accused her of contributing to the overpopulation problem don't know what they're talking about.

There will always be people out there, she said, who prefer to buy cats from professional breeders instead of shelters. That market will always exist, she said.

More importantly, Houston said, every cat she sells is spayed or neutered before it is released to its new owner.

All the fuss raised over her puppykat breeding is much ado about nothing, she said.

"I know what I'm doing," Houston said.

What Dog Breed is Right for Me

Selecting the right breed of dog for your family is simple when you break it down. While almost any dog can be trained to fit into a household, it makes the assimilation process easier if you consider some issues beforehand and choose a breed accordingly.

Several criteria are addressed below and examples of dog breeds given but, remember, choosing a dog is also somewhat of a love affair and if you fell in love with a Chihuahua even though you're a big, husky guy, go for it!

Space

The easiest issue to consider when you're choosing the right breed is space. Do you live in an apartment? Do you have a backyard? Do you have access to outside walks?

If you live in the country or suburbs and have a fenced-in backyard, almost any breed of puppy will work. In a small space, such as an apartment, something like the Bichon is a good choice. But some bigger dogs are excellent for this, too, including the Greyhound.

The main thing for keeping ANY dog healthy is giving them enough exercise.

Activity Level

In conjunction with space limitations, you should consider the activity level of the breed you get. An elderly person would be poorly matched with an Irish Setter, while someone active might be disappointed with a Papillion.

Terriers have that tenacious, speedy gene that keeps them on the move. Many guard dogs, such as the Neapolitan Mastiff are low-key because they're only expected to be "on" in the presence of an intruder.

Temperament

Dogs are as different in personality as people are. Some are extroverted, some are introverts. Some listen well, others prefer to lead.

In general, you'll find that Terriers are tenacious, friendly, trainable, and good with kids. They work well with someone who wants a constant companion who likes to run around in circles.

The Bully dogs, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Pit Bull, also make great companions but their owners should be prepared for dog aggression.

The Northern breeds tend to be loyal, reserved and intelligent. They are fine with children but not usually playful. Guardian dogs are only fairly recently house dogs. Despite that, many are very affectionate toward their family, but are wary with strangers. They tend to be good with kids and ignore all other dogs.

The Border Collie is usually what is thought of first in the Herding group. They are friendly, sweet, intelligent, and highly trainable. Usually good with other dogs, they are also good with children when supervised.

Hounds are laid-back creatures who croon at the moon. They are slow when not in pursuit of something, and are good-natured. They tend to be great with children and other dogs and have a tendency to be goofy.

Companion dogs tend to be small and cuddly. They tend to be sweet and affectionate with people (including children), alert, and stubborn. A few are better off in adult-only households.

Some Dogs That Are NOT Usually Good With Children:

• Chihuahua
• Akita
• Pekinese

Some Dogs That Are Easy-Going And Adaptable:

• Mastiff
• Lab
• Great Dane

Some Dogs That Are Usually Dignified And Reserved:

• Siberian Husky
• Greyhound(though you do occasionally meet a clown of a Greyhound)
• Sharpei

Size

Some people are nervous of big dogs. Some people don't consider little dogs canines at all. Consider a few things when you look at size: can I control this dog out walking if an incident occurs, can this dog handle family rough-housing, and how much space do I have?

Some Little Dogs:

• Parson's Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• French Bulldog

Some Medium Dogs:

• Beagle
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Cocker Spaniel

Some Large Dogs:

• Doberman Pinscher
• Golden Retriever
• Dalmatian

When looking at breeds, look at temperament and activity level first. It's nice if your dog immediately fits into your lifestyle. But, if you find, that you got a Cairn Terrier when a Pug would have been better, don't worry. With training and patience, it's possible to make almost any kind of dog a good member of your family.

Dog Fear of Water

Some dogs, and specific breeds of dogs, love to swim and frolic in the water. Yet other dogs are so terrified of water that any exposure to water causes extreme reactions. Why do dogs fear water? There are a number of different causes that can contribute to a fear of water, and a patient and understanding owner will be able to work with their dog to slowly overcome this fear.

Introduction

Some dogs, and specific breeds of dogs, love to swim and frolic in the water. Yet other dogs are so terrified of water that any exposure to water causes extreme reactions. Why do dogs fear water? There are a number of different causes that can contribute to a fear of water, and a patient and understanding owner will be able to work with their dog to slowly overcome this fear.

Why Some Dogs Fear Water

Many dogs that have an overwhelming fear of water suffer from anxiety and extreme sensitivity. Dogs have a very complex psychological mind, and just like people they can suffer from unreasonable fears due to anxiety. This type of anxiety can be inherited from their parents, it can develop from abuse, or it can just occur as a result of extremely sensitive emotions.

Some dogs develop a fear of water due to a bad experience with water in the past. Perhaps as a puppy they almost drowned; maybe they had a previous owner who used to douse them in water as a punishment, or maybe they found themselves in a situation where they were unable to get out of water. At some point in their lives, these dogs experienced something which made them associate water with something bad; as a result they develop a terrifying fear of water.

Other dogs develop a fear of water because they have lost their trust in people. Perhaps they were abused in the past; even if this abuse did not include water, the abuse was severe enough to make them fear all people. Dogs that have been severely abused are often frightened of water, and they will need time to overcome this fear and learn to trust their owner.

You may never find out why your dog suffers from this fear, but through patience, plenty of praise and encouragement, and developing a strong bond of trust you will be able to help your dog overcome this fear.

Training Tips

The process of helping your dog overcome fear of water needs to be taken in baby steps. Begin by exposing your dog to very small amounts of water. Choose a time when your dog is relaxed and happy. Carry a small bowl of water over to your dog, sit next to your dog, and start rubbing your dog’s stomach and softly saying words of encouragement. Slowly dip one hand into the water, let the dog sniff that hand, and then start to slowly wet the dog with the water. Throughout this process continually dip your hand in the water, let the dog smell your hand, and then run your hand over your dog. Repeat this process once a day for a number of days in a row. When you are finished, give your dog a treat.

Once your dog is use to a small sponge bath, slowly start to drip the water on your dog. Increase the amount of water you put on your dog over time, begin to make splashing noises in the bowl, and keep up the encouragement, praise, and treat rewards.

During bath times try to keep the volume levels down, and make sure you have everything ready before you begin the bath. During your dog’s bath give your dog lots of encouragement, praise, and an occasional favorite treat. Try to turn bath times into a fun game and your dog will slowly begin to associate water with affection, fun, and rewards.

Train a Dog Not to Afraid of Swimming

Most dogs love swimming, especially if they can do it together with their owner. However, quite typical is the story when you come to a lake (or wherever you swim) just to find out your dog is afraid of the water.

Should you accept your dog won’t be a diving champion or should you try to create an interest of swimming in him?

It’s not a simple question to answer in a website as every case must be examined separately.

The levels of stress in dogs vary in a large amplitude. If your dog is afraid a lot, think twice if you need to expose your dog to a large stress for swimming. Maybe it’s not worth it? Do you have a reason for your dog to swim good enough to outweigh the effort? Only you can answer this question, sorry. I won’t help you here.

Don’t push your dog into water
If you take a decision that you should give it a try, number one rule to remember is: “Don’t push!” Throwing a dog into water won’t help. It’ll just make the fear even larger, and your dog might never accept swimming as a pleasant activity.

• Go to a place with shallow water. This will make it possible to play in water without the hardest part – swimming.
• Observe how close to water your dog is willing to come. No matter if he likes to get his feet wet of if he feels safe only on a shore, you must note the border, your dog is not crossing. And most importantly – you should respect this border, for now.
• If your dog feels comfortable on shore, start playing there. Use toys, treats, praises. Run with him without crossing the safe border, perform some training commands. In two words: “Have fun!”
• After some time, you might try to come near the water or even enter it. Do it seamlessly without getting too much attention to your dog.
• If your dog is not following, you may try to encourage him. Show a treat or throw a toy. Splash the water with your hand to create an interest. If your dog is still resistant, step aside. It’s not the time yet, and you need to play more at a safe distance. For how long – it depends on the dog. Might be enough with a short break or might try to take a day off.
• If your dog comes near the water or enters it, praise. Give a treat, play and keep having fun. But carefully observe his behavior. Don’t hold him physically if he wants to go back. Once back in a safety, praise and show how proud you are.
• Now it’s a good to take a short break. Don’t play or run. Let him do whatever he wants.

Following the previous pattern you might be able to enter the water with your dog and slowly move deeper. Of course, remember not to push him. Encourage coming deeper only with having fun. And stop whenever your dog gets tired.

When you get to actual swimming, your dog will probably still feel unsafe. Allow him to swim a small circle and return on shore. May try to lead him with your hands and hold his back, so it does not go down.

Remember to praise your dog constantly. When he starts to swim, when he swims and when he returns back. It will take some time before he’ll feel safe, but if you get this far – it will probably be okay. If you retain patience.

How to Help Your Dog Overcome a Fear of Water

Why are some dogs afraid of water? I have read that some breeds are predisposed to a fear of water, but I don’t agree with that. If a dog is afraid of water, many experts feel it is because they had a bad experience when they were younger. Another reason a dog may be afraid of water is because they don’t know what it is. Water comes in several forms and is found in many places and situations.

A dog growing up in a kennel situation, going outside to go potty in a cement run covered from the weather will have no experience with wet grass on their paws or feeling snow or raindrops on their skin. It makes sense that a dog in that situation would not have any experience with water and may not understand it. I think instinct may have to do with the initial fear of water some dogs have. If a dog is wary of something they don’t understand and keeps their distance, it is less apt to harm them.

Wolves are not afraid of water and they have to hunt to feed their families whether it is raining or snowing. They cover long distances and depending on the season have to cross water, ice and snow to get from one place to another. Our domestic dogs haven’t had to live outdoors for hundreds of years and are no longer as in tune to the changes in weather that their wild counterparts are. Don’t get me wrong, dogs do feel the barometric pressure change when a storm is moving in. However, most are inside where the temperature is constant and they don’t feel the cold or heat of the day; and they don’t sit watching the weather outside change.

How do you get your dog used to water? You can train your dog to be accepting of water gradually, using understanding, patience, praise and dog treats as bait (if you need them). It may take several tries if they have gotten scared by water in the past. Try not to become frustrated if it doesn’t happen the way you want the first time you try it. If your dog is afraid of rain, take their favorite toy outside and play a game with them while it is raining. You can use this method when it is snowing too; just make sure you can see the toy in the snow. Praise them and offer a treat when they bring the toy back. If they have a problem with dewy grass, take them for a walk in the early morning or invite one of their dog friends over for an early morning play session while the grass is still wet. They will be interested in playing and forget about the wet grass.

Maybe your dog is fearful of taking a bath because they fell in the bathtub when they were young, went under and got a mouth full of water. Try getting them used to shallow water using a kiddie pool with a piece of non-skid shelf liner in the bottom so they won’t fall. Fill it with a few inches of water, get in and coax them in with you using a treat. Gently apply water to them and show them it isn’t as scary as they think. If you have a small dog, use a dishpan filled with warm water instead.

If your dog is afraid of water in general, try taking them to a lake with a beach or a gentle sloping bank that allows them to walk in on their own. Plan your trip on a day when the wind is calm, so there will be less wave action that may make them nervous. Attach a six foot lead to their collar and use praise and a treat to coax them into the water. If they don’t want to enter the water don’t force the issue. Return another day and repeat the exercise.

Skye is one of those dogs that isn’t entirely sure about water. She’s not afraid of a bath, though she is glad when it is over. She doesn’t like rain but she loves playing in the snow and has to be cajoled to come back inside. I had to teach Skye about the water in her kiddie pool but she goes charging into the river when we take a walk there. She wasn’t always so accepting of water, but over time she discovered that it isn’t the demon she thought it was. By understand your dog and using patience, praise and treats, you can help a dog who is fearful of water, learn to enjoy getting wet.

Dogs Hate Men

Q: My Chihuahua, Crystal, hates men. This is ruining my chances for romance. What should I do? - Leila, San Jose, CA

A: Dear Leila, It is unlikely that Crystal "hates" men. Hate is an inimitably human foible. More likely, Crystal is fearful of men. Indeed, being afraid of men is very common for dogs living with single women, since the dogs have had little opportunity to interact with men on a daily basis. What Crystal needs now is what she has always needed since puppyhood-the opportunity to socialize with men-lots of them. The resolution to the problem is going to be pretty easy and, of course, man-socialization for Crystal also means man-socialization for you.

Put Crystal's food bowl in the cupboard. No more meals from her food bowl until she loves the company, attention, and affection of men. For two days, handfeed Crystal ALL of her daily ration of kibble. (If you feed her canned food or raw diet, change to feeding kibble for now.)

For another five days, invite a number of female friends to handfeed her. From this, she learns the game she is later going to play with men. Fearful responses are exacerbated by not knowing how to act. You are going to imbue confidence in Crystal by teaching her how to act, first around women, then around men. Practice "come-sit-kibble" over and over. Then add a little variation: "come sit- stay-kibble-kibble-kibble."

Finally, for several weeks, or as long as it takes, invite men to handfeed her. You must not feed her anything. Resist those sweet, pleading eyes. During this time, the only food Crystal eats must come from the hand of a man. We want Crystal to make the association between male guests and a lengthy, yummy dinnertime. We want Crystal to learn to love the presence and presents of men.

When you start this phase, Crystal may not approach right away. Sit the man comfortably in a chair (with a sports program on the telly) and be patient. When Crystal has approached to her safe distance, instruct the man to toss a bit of kibble over her head so that she has to retreat to get it. As Crystal sniffs the kibble, have the man toss three treats between her and him. As Crystal approaches again, she will be rewarded with three tasty treats. Practice this over and over.

Ignore Crystal if she barks or snaps, but be sure to praise her whenever she is brave. Let her know how proud you are when she acts confidently.

Now, I am assuming Crystal currently shies away from men or, at the very most, yips and yaps, snaps and lunges, or maybe nips men. The prognosis is good so long as you act right away. If not, her behaviour towards men will get progressively worse and eventually, Crystal will bite someone. Even though she is a small dog and her bites will be small, biting (puncturing the skin) is a serious problem. If she is already biting, contact a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT) right away

Speedy treatment is also important because, apart from hurting men's feelings and curtailing their (and your) amorous intentions, Crystal is hurting, too. It is simply not pleasant to be scared of something and then have to confront that fear on an irregular basis.

So where do you find male volunteers for this project? Just ask. Ask all your female friends about likely candidates. Ask men from work. Ask a local trainer whether you may recruit men from puppy classes. You only want to recruit trained men, not those who might think it funny to tease Crystal and frighten her. Maybe ask the trainer to help you with the training as well.

It is always a sound plan to invite a bunch of men plus a few female friends at the same time. Not only is this a sensible safety precaution, but also some of your unmarried female friends might find a good man, too. Watching a man working with a small dog (or a large dog, or almost any animal for that matter) is an open window into his heart and soul. You never know, maybe Crystal's fear of men will prompt the ringing of many sets of wedding bells. ■

Pet Information Sheets

Fear of Men

Proper socialization of a puppy is the best solution for preventing and eliminating most fears – including the fear of different types of people, situations and objects.

Unfortunately, you may realize that you have a grown dog that is afraid of children, men, men with beards or people with certain characteristics. The fear may have been caused by just never being exposed before or an event that your dog felt was traumatic. First, you must determine if they are afraid of all men or just men with beards or hats.

Desensitize Training

Planning is imperative to desensitize your dog. First, determine your dog’s favorite treat; hot dogs, cheese, chicken are good choices. Keep the treats small; you do not want a fat dog. No biscuits or large dog bones.

Assuming your dog does not like men in hats, have a man friend (with the treats) enter the room wearing a hat. If your dog appears fearful, have the man turn sideways and look up or away. This is a very non-threatening pose. Have your friend throw a few treats at a distance. Slowly decrease the distance as the dog becomes more confident and less fearful. Be calm.

Don’t Push or Scold

Careful - do not push your dog. If you are afraid of snakes, you do not want one in your lap right away. If you push, someone may get bitten. Most dog bites are fear related. The dog may also become more fearful and react negatively more quickly next time.

Do not reprimand, scold or tell your dog, “No”. Your dog believes their fear is rational and a “No” is only reinforcing their belief. To a dog, the “No” translates to, “No, do not go near that scary person”, not “No, don’t growl at that perfectly nice person with the hat.”

You’re OK, I’m OK

Your dog is very aware of your emotions. So if you are worried that your dog will be afraid, both of you are fearful and your dog knows this. Your dog will assume you fear the same man with the hat; not just worried about them. So be confident, keep your voice calm and add some laughter. Be relaxed and calm; don’t worry. Tell you dog everything is fine with confidence.

Keep the Focus

If you encounter someone or something fearful on a walk, do not focus on the feared person or object. Turn your back on the feared object and keep your dog’s focus. Turning your back tells your dog, you have no fear. Talk to your dog, give it a treat and ignore the object. One trick is put a treat in your hand and let your dog see it or smell it. Take a few moments before you release the treat. Keep your dog’s attention.