Cleaning Dog's Teeth?

Fast, when was the final time a person brushed your own Dog is teeth? Obviously, I understand what you’re most likely thinking: “Oh my personal god, it had been the day time before the other day! I’m a terrible puppy mother or father for getting skipped each day! ” Truly, though, the idea of cleaning a Dog is teeth are actually foreign to numerous people. Just who’re these individuals who actually clean puppy the teeth, anyway? I am talking about, is which not a bit weird? A bit twisted, actually? Eccentric? The notion of the crazy Dog -person will come to a number of your minds if you do not know the particular strong advantages that cleaning your Dog are teeth may have for your own canine’s wellness.


Many people think that a Dog is teeth will remain nice as well as strong so long as they possess their bone fragments to gnaw on. They believe that this may somehow help to make their Dog is teeth brighter. Of program, this is false. Certain Dog bone fragments are formulated to assist a Dog along with cleaning it’s teeth, however, if the actual bone is too large or as well hard-or tooth of the actual Dog gets too decayed-then the bone might be just the matter that leads in order to chips as well as pain-ridden young puppies. The whitening of the Dog is teeth are due to oral cleanliness, and it really is a extremely important part in order to healthy upkeep of any kind of pup.

If you have a Dog who matures without cleaning, you might find yellowing as well as decay close to their the teeth, just as if you would within humans. Obviously, a Dog is diet is actually more restricted than the usual human’s-they eat a horribly little bit of sugar along with other cavity-causing things of this nature, for instance-but that doesn’t mean that the Dog is teeth won’t yellow or even rot. Therefore, that involves the query: What will you do about this?
Well, very first things very first: the natural response to that would be to take the actual Dog to some vet for any clean-up. No Dog will need their the teeth brushed every single day, but a normal and most likely much-needed cleanup might be just what a doctor (or vet, in this particular case) purchased. A clean-up is a simple process by means of the Dog gy dentist eliminates the levels of accumulation that result in staining as well as tooth rot. You might want to go at some point, too, simply because, once the actual Dog is stains exist; it takes a lot more than just a couple trips towards the veterinarian to obtain them away.
When a person picture cleaning your Dog is teeth, you might easily picture the hellish nightmare full of wagging mind and growling barks, because what type of Dog may sit presently there idly by as you rub the bristle down and up its gums as well as teeth? The solution to which, my buddies, is the well-trained Dog. Are you aware that there tend to be special manufacturers of toothpaste made simply for keeping Dog s thinking about keeping their own teeth their own whitest? Alright, it most likely doesn’t really make a difference to the actual Dog exactly what you’re placing around its teeth,

simply because they don’t understand why you’re doing the work, but if it’s a delicious smell into it, that may help things. Ensure that you get the actual Dog accustomed to the thought of sitting still for the entire shebang through training this to sit down and stick with you. Also ensure that it is confident with you close to its the teeth, or you might find yourself uncomfortable using its teeth close to you

more picture so great about dogs

10 dog's Training Tips

Here’s a thought-provoking article, written by Kevin Salem, on the 10 biggest mistakes people – even dog trainers - make during dog training! Do you agree?

1: Training Ruins a Dog’s Personality and Breaks His SpiritDog abuse does that–not proper training combined with dog psychology. When you catch your dog making a mistake, you need to correct it, not punish it. There is a big difference!

2: Train Your Dog with Treats and He Will Eventually Listen to You Just As Well, Even Without Any Tidbits Forever and Ever After Wouldn’t you rather rely on your Love, Leadership, Praise and Technique, instead of Hotdogs, Cheese, Biscuit and Dried Liver? Let’s face it, it doesn’t take much talent OR skill to bribe a dog to death and then confuse it with dog training. Everybody knows that’s simply–”bribery!”

3: Dog Parks Are the Best Place to Get Your Dog SocializedThis is where your dog actually picks up lots of bad habits that aren’t easy to break.

4 Don’t Bother Giving Your Dog ANY Commands, Until You Get His Visual Attention by Saying, “Watch Me!”First Answer this honestly! Would you rather have your dog look at you or actually “listen” to you? I prefer both. But we all know that LISTENING is far more important.

5: Since “NO” Doesn’t Get Your Dog’s Attention Anymore, Change it to “Eh”, “Eh-eh” or “Shht” InsteadYou definitely want your dog to stop whatever it’s doing the second it hears,”NO!” Even if you have been somewhat successful in getting your dog’s attention with strange terms such as: “Eh,” “Eh-eh,” or my favorite of all–”baaaah.”

6: You Can Solve Your Dog’s Bad Habits, Which Mostly Occur in Your Home, by Joining an Obedience ClassHere is the main problem with dog classes: they are structured to teach your dog the “obedience factor” only! Ask yourself AND the trainer conducting that group class, how are you able to solve my dog’s bad habits that mostly occur in my HOME, by joining your group class that is full of ten more unruly dogs?

7: You Can’t Really Teach a Young Pup Under Four Months Old. And If Your Dog Is a Few Years Old, You Are Totally Out of Luck!No dog is ever too young or too old to learn what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is not. It doesn’t really matter whether your dog is an eight week old pup or a stubborn eight year old dog.

8: All Dogs Can Be Trained with the Same Training ToolThere is no magical tool that works on EVERY dog. Some dogs are just too strong, too big, too fast, too stubborn, and too sneaky for their poor owners. So which training tools do top trainers swear by? The answer may surprise you. But they too rely on whatever tool that works best for them and their dogs.

9: Dogs Were Born to PleaseSorry to burst your bubble, but the majority of our dogs would rather please themselves first. It’s obvious that your dog loves you dearly, but don’t confuse that with “respect” or “obedience.”

10: If You Send Your Dog Away to Be Trained, It Will Learn to Listen ONLY to the Trainer and Still Ignore Just Like BeforeHere’s how I will bust this myth once and for all! No dog trainer can argue with the fact that all the best-trained dogs you can think of have been trained by an expert first. Dogs for the blind, dogs for the handicap, hunting dogs, and attack-trained police dogs, are just to name a few.

9 Steps to Training Puppy .

If you are going to be bringing a puppy home that hasn’t been house trained, you can use this step-by-step guide. There are nine steps in the process of house training outlined here. Being consistent and persistent in the house training process are of great importance if you are going to be successful.

The 9 Steps….
1.The right size of dog crate is vital. Make sure you get one before your puppy arrives. This means it should be big enough so your puppy can turn around in it and lay down in it but not much bigger than that. This will become your puppy’s den and his instinct is not to soil it. If he can sleep on one side of the crate and have enough room for a toilet area at the other side, he probably will. Don’t be surprised!

2. Make sure you are free for at least two days, so that you can remain with your puppy. He’s going to need taking outside a lot to begin with – from every half an hour to every hour.

3. You may want to limit the puppy’s access to certain areas of the house until he is house trained.

4. There are particular times when he is very likely to require taking outside, so take him out at these times: when he awakens in morning, when he gets up from a nap, after he’s been exerting himself (for example, playing hard), after eating or drinking and before he retiring to sleep at night.

5. When he arrives he is going to require you to take him outside every thirty to sixty minutes, until you learn to recognise the signals that he wants to poo or pee. The sign may be sniffing, circling or backing up.

6. Once you notice the signal that he wants to relieve himself, you need to take him outside as fast as you can and wait until he does his business.

7. When he does his business, immediately give him lots of praise and attention.

8. You can leave your puppy in the crate for an hour when you cannot watch him for a time. But you must firstly lead him to be content to remain in his crate. The way to achieve this is through giving small tasty treats when he is next to the crate and then gradually tempting him inside with them. Once he’s been in a few times, shut the door very briefly and then open again. The time the door is left closed should be lengthened gradually. You can also put an interactive toy or a dispensing toy in the crate to keep him occupied.

9. If he does have an accident and makes a mess in the house, just ignore him when he does it but be sure to clean it up and clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner or hot biological washing powder solution. If you do not clean it in this way, there will still be a scent detectable by your puppy and he is likely to do his business there again.

Pet Safety

Of pooches and pools: Teaching your dog to swim
Not all dogs can dog-paddle, but you can train them to be safe in the water

There are certain things we assume dogs know by instinct. Sniffing, for instance, sometimes in embarrassing places. Barking, too, and begging for food scraps are also downloaded onto dogs’ internal computers at the factory.

Then there’s swimming. It seems so integral to being a dog that we’ve even named a stroke after them, the dog-paddle — so you’d assume that’s another thing that every dog is born knowing how to do.
It turns out that you’d be wrong. Not every dog knows instinctively how to swim, and some can’t swim at all, Wendy Diamond, the founder and editorial director of Animal Fair magazine, told TODAY. Dogs’ aquatic abilities are so misunderstood, in fact, that she put together a list of water safety tips for dog owners.
She shared them with TODAY’s Maria Celeste on the Plaza at Rockefeller Center on Tuesday, putting a variety of dogs — some tricked out in sporty personal flotation devices — through their splashes.

Diamond confirmed that some dogs are born swimmers. It’s a good bet if the dog’s breed includes the word “water,” as in Portuguese or English water spaniel, it takes to swimming like a nursery-schooler takes to finger-painting. For owners of those breeds, the problem isn’t getting the dog into the water, but keeping it on dry land.

Dogs that don’t paddle
But other breeds aren’t as water-friendly. Some dogs have to be taught to swim, Diamond said, and others, like bulldogs, take to the water like submarines take to the Cross Bronx Expressway. For the former, there is hope. For the latter, there are those bright orange canine flotation devices.

Among the dogs that swim naturally and gladly, she said, are water spaniels, setters, retrievers, Barbets, akitas, Kerry blue terriers, poodles and Hungarian pulis.

Among those that can’t swim at all or swim only with great difficulty are basset hounds, bulldogs, dachshunds, pugs, corgis, Scottish and Boston terriers and greyhounds.

And then there are dogs like the Maltese, which are capable swimmers, but which are also susceptible to rheumatism, arthritis and chills that could be exacerbated by taking them in the pool with you.

Using wading pools set up in Rockefeller Plaza, Diamond gave a quick course on how to introduce a dog to the drink. Most of her rules were similar to those one would use with children, including never leaving a dog unattended at a pool. Even a dog that knows how to swim can jump in a pool and not be able to get out, which could lead to drowning, she said.

Diamond has a checklist for doggy swim lessons:

Avoid excessive noise
“Take them to an area that’s not so crazy and hectic,” she advised. Like children, dogs can become frightened and confused if there’s a lot of noise and activity around them. The object is to keep them calm and focused on the swimming lesson.

Use encouragement
As when teaching a child, keep your voice upbeat and positive, she said. “Using treats and toys to encourage your dog to enter the water also works quite well,” she said.

Never throw them in
Just as you shouldn’t throw a child in the water and expect it to swim to safety, you shouldn’t do that with a dog, Diamond said. “Don’t force the dog. If they don’t want to do it, don’t force them to do it.” Instead, she told Celeste, “Slowly put them in the water and get their paws used to it.”

Support their weight until they paddle 

Even if the dog is wearing a life vest, Diamond said, support its midsection and hindquarters in the water until they start paddling and feel comfortable.

Show them how to get out
Getting a dog in the pool is only half the battle. Diamond reminded pet owners that they also need to be shown where the steps are in the pool so they can easily get out.

Keep an eye on them
Even in the water, dogs can wander off. Dogs that swim naturally and well can jump in the ocean and keep swimming until they’re lost, Diamond said. “You want to make sure, like children, that you watch where they’re going,” she said.

Can All Dogs Swim

Q. Do dogs know how to swim naturally? If not, how can I teach my dog? She's a Border Collie mix, and she gets very hot when I take her to the lake with us.
A. Dogs will naturally start “dog paddling” when they find themselves in water, but that doesn’t mean that they can stay afloat for any length of time, that they like being in the water, or that they can safely swim.

Dogs who can’t swim — though they may try their best — are typically those with large, heavy chests in relation to their hindquarters, and they often have short muzzles. These dogs may swim well enough to splash about a little under supervision while wearing a life vest, but that’s about it. The most extreme example of these breeds, the Bulldog, is so poorly built for water survival that breeders and rescue groups often require a home check to ensure that a pool is safely fenced off, and that an emergency monitor is used to alert those inside the house when something, such as a child or dog, breaks the surface of the water. Bulldogs typically sink like rocks.

How to Teach Your Dog to Swim
There aren't any physical reasons why your Border Collie can’t swim, but she may nonetheless be reluctant to do so. Even in breeds that were bred for swimming — such as Labrador Retrievers — you’ll occasionally find a dog who doesn’t enjoy being in the water. You can try encouraging your dog to swim by going out and seeing if she’ll follow, and rewarding her with praise. Dogs who love to play fetch will often go out after tennis balls or other floating toys. You might get her swimming by letting her get comfortable at a certain depth and then throwing the toy in water that’s progressively deeper. Finally, many dogs will swim just to join in the fun if they are around other dogs who enjoy swimming.

But again, even if your dog comes to love swimming, safety is still up to you. Make sure your dog doesn’t get overly tired, and be aware that puppies and older dogs tire more easily and seem less aware of their fatigue until it’s too late. Stay away from strong currents and areas with underwater debris that can entangle a dog.

Keep Your Non-Swimmer Comfortable
If your dog never comes to enjoy swimming, she can still enjoy going to the lake with you. Make sure she wears a life vest. Booties wouldn't hurt if the sand is sizzling. She also must have nonstop access to cool drinking water and must be able to get into the shade as often as she wants. When she starts to get hot, take a bucket and soak her frequently, especially her belly. Be aware, always, of signs of heat stress.

If you’re able to keep her cool, she’ll be able to enjoy her lake time with you safely, even if she never does learn to like swimming all that much.

Can dogs remember?

Dogs are among the most intelligent animals in the planet. A dog’s brain is only half as large as humans but these animals are certainly very smart… smarter than what most people think they are. But are these animals smart enough to remember? Memory is a vital element of intelligence. Dogs can certainly remember but canine memory is way too different from human memory.

A dog has an extraordinary memory for scent. This ability is what make dogs excel in bomb and narcotics detection. Because of this extraordinary memory for scent, canines were utilized in search and rescue operations. A dog has excellent memory for sounds. Studies have shown that dogs can identify familiar voices or sounds that were not heard for years.

We have heard many stories of how dogs that get lost would find their own way home. A dog that have buried a bone would unerringly find the exact spot where the treasure was buried even though the hole was already overgrown with grasses or covered with trash. Skeptics though would associate this situation to the dog’s ultra sensitive sense of smell and not due to the dog’s memory.

Dog Sad When Owner Sad

Plenty of pet owners are comforted by a pair of puppy-dog eyes or a swipe of the tongue when their dog catches them crying. Now, new research suggests that dogs really do respond uniquely to tears. But whether pets have empathy for human pain is less clear.

In a study published online May 30 in the journal Animal Cognition, University of London researchers found that dogs were more likely to approach a crying person than someone who was humming or talking, and that they normally responded to weeping with submissive behaviors. The results are what you might expect if dogs understand our pain, the researchers wrote, but it's not proof that they do.

"The humming was designed to be a relatively novel behavior, which might be likely to pique the dogs' curiosity," study researcher and psychologist Deborah Custance said in a statement. "The fact that the dogs differentiated between crying and humming indicates that their response to crying was not purely driven by curiosity. Rather, the crying carried greater emotional meaning for the dogs and provoked a stronger overall response than either humming or talking."

Humans domesticated dogs at least 15,000 years ago, and many a pet owner has a tale of their canine offering comfort in tough times. Studies have shown that dogs areexperts at human communication, but scientists haven't been able to show conclusively that dogs feel empathy or truly understand the pain of others. In one 2006 study, researchers had owners fake heart attacks or pretend to be pinned beneath furniture, and learned that pet dogs failed to go for help (so much for Lassie saving Timmy from the well).

But seeking out assistance is a complex task, and Custance and her colleague Jennifer Mayer wanted to keep it simple. They recruited 18 pet dogs and their owners to test whether dogs would respond to crying with empathetic behaviors. The dogs included a mix of mutts, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and a few other common breeds. [What Your Dog's Breed Says About You]

The experiment took place in the owners' living rooms. Mayer would arrive and ignore the dog so that it would have little interest in her. Then she and the owner would take turns talking, fake-crying and humming.

Of the 18 dogs in the study, 15 approached their owner or Mayer during crying fits, while only six approached during humming. That suggests that it's emotional content, not curiosity, that brings the dogs running. Likewise, the dogs always approached the crying person, never the quiet person, as one might expect if the dog was seeking (rather than trying to provide) comfort.

"The dogs approached whoever was crying regardless of their identity. Thus they were responding to the person's emotion, not their own needs, which is suggestive of empathic-like comfort-offering behavior," Mayer said in a statement.

Of the 15 dogs that approached a crying owner or stranger, 13 did so with submissive body language, such as tucked tails and bowed heads, another behavior consistent with empathy (the other two were alert or playful). Still, the researchers aren't dog whisperers, and they can't prove conclusively what the dogs were thinking. It's possible that dogs learn to approach crying people because their owners give them affection when they do, the researchers wrote.

"We in no way claim that the present study provides definitive answers to the question of empathy in dogs," Mayer and Custance wrote. Nevertheless, they said, their experiment opens the door for more study of dogs' emotional lives, from whether different breeds respond to emotional owners differently to whether dogs understand the difference between laughter and tears.

Sad Dogs. A Look at Dog Depression

There is little doubt that dogs can and do suffer from the same emotional problems befalling human beings. Dogs of all types and ages can exhibit characteristics of several of the more common problems. These include anxiety, obsessive compulsive order and phobias. One particular disorder of interest to dog pharmacologists and behavioral psychologists is dog depression. 

Description
Dog depression is, at its simplest, an expression of sadness. The dog is not content or happy. He or she is nervous, anxious and, obviously depressed. The canine loses all bounce. He or she may also lose his or her appetite for food.
A depressed canine does not eat or drink with normal relish. The depressed dog may sleep more and seem lethargic. The animal is “down” and not excited by life as he or she would have yesterday, last week or last month. If this change in behavior often takes place without any sign of a physical problem or health issue, it may be depression.

Causal Factors
There are several reasons why your dog may become depressed. The major causal factors of depression can be divided into 2 categories: physical and environmental.
Physical
There is one major cause of depression in this category. It is a deficit of serotonin. This is a medical reason why your dog may be depressed. An imbalance or decrease in this hormone does cause depression in humans.

Environmental
Several factors in the environment can cause your dog to become depressed. They are listed below.

1. Separation from the owner. A dog attached to their person can become depressed after short or long periods of separation. This is documented throughout history.

2. Loss of a companion animal, frequently another dog. When a dog has bonded with another animal, the ties are strong. If the animal, cat, dog or gerbil, dies, the canine left behind may become depressed.

3. Moving. Moving from one home to anther can disorient the best of humans. Some dogs are often set into a set routine. They are happy with everything remaining the same. It takes them longer to adjust. Moving from a house to an apartment or from the country to the city is enormous. It requires a lot of adjustment. A dog who is set in his or her ways may become depressed until he or she has settled in and accepted the new surroundings.

4. Trauma. A serious trauma can alter your dog’s moods one way or the other.

5. A dog that is tethered and kept socially isolated for extended periods of time, may become depressed. This is particularly true for certain breeds of dogs.


Treatment
There are several ways you can treat your depressed dog. There are medications - antidepressants, which can control the moods. There are also various forms of behavioral treatments. Many of these are simple. They include increasing the amount of exercise or making sure your dog has a greater chance to interact socially with persons and other dogs.

You should play more with your canine companion. You may also want to liven up his or her life with another dog. Before you decide to do the latter, make sure it will be fair to both dogs. Talk to your vet and a behavioral psychologist to see what is the best solution.

In some instances the advice may be directed to you. Dogs are empathic. They feel what you feel. The closer they are to their person, the more likely he or she will react to your own moods. If your dog is depressed because you are depressed, see and talk to your own doctors.

Conclusion
Dog, like humans, fall ill to any number of diseases. The health issues may be social, physical or emotional. One recent concern is dog depression. Dogs can suffer from this emotional ailment. Talk to your vet and a behavioral psychologist to see if your dog is depressed. If this proves true, take the appropriate steps to help him or her return to the vitality that should be their life.

Sound of Dog's 'Laugh' Calms Other Pooches

Researchers at the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service in Washington state say sometimes a bark is just a bark -- but a long, loud panting sound has real meaning.

They say the long, loud pant is the sound of a dog laughing, and it has a direct impact on the behavior of other dogs.

"What we found is that it had a calming or soothing effect on the dogs," said Patricia Simonet, an animal behaviorist in Spokane who has studied everything from hamster culture to elephant self-recognition. "Now, we actually really weren't expecting that."

Nancy Hill, director of Spokane County Animal Protection, admits she was skeptical at first that this noise would affect the other dogs.

 

"I thought: Laughing dogs?" Hill said. "A sound that we're gonna isolate and play in the shelter? I was a real skeptic … until we played the recording here at the shelter."

When they played the sound of a dog panting over the loudspeaker, the gaggle of dogs at the shelter kept right on barking. But when they played the dog version of laughing, all 15 barking dogs went quiet within about a minute.

"It was a night-and-day difference," Hill said. "It was absolutely phenomenal."

Officials say it works every time, and researchers across the country are taking note.

"The laughing sound that they make is something that was not even considered a vocalization until this study was done," Simonet said.

Those who study dog behavior have varying opinions about exactly what Patricia Simonet's "dog laughing" sound really is. What they do agree on, however, is that to other dogs, it is at least a sound worth keeping quiet to listen to.

Dogs Laugh?

For many years psychologists and behavioral biologists agreed that laughter was a unique emotional expression found only in humans. However, as the study of animal emotions expanded this idea was called into question. The Nobel Prize winning ethnologist, Konrad Lorenz suggested that dogs are capable of laughing. He says that it is during play that dogs actually appear to laugh. In his book Man Meets Dog, Lorenz describes it this way:

"...an invitation to play always follows; here the slightly opened jaws which reveal the tongue, and the tilted angle of the mouth which stretches almost from ear to ear give a still stronger impression of laughing. This ‘laughing' is most often seen in dogs playing with an adored master and which become so excited that they soon start panting".

Why do Dogs Cry

There is no exact translation in canine language for the kind of crying we humans do. Dogs don’t secrete hot, salty tears when they’re sad, nor do they wail or sob like people. Which is why interpreting a dog’s cry can be tough. When we’re talking about a whimper or whine, the canine “cry” can mean one of a million things.

As with barking, dogs who whimper or whine are trying to communicate. Excitement, anxiety, frustration, pain, attention seeking, and resource solicitation are all common reasons dogs whine at their people.

Most commonly, these sounds are aimed at conveying the desire for food, water, a potty break, a toy, attention, etc. This is similar to how puppies interact with their mothers, by “asking” for something with a plaintive whimper or whine. So it’s no wonder adult dogs recruit this same vocal impulse when communicating with their people.

Can dogs Cry?

Watching the American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship on TV two nights ago, my husband and I marveled at the beautiful dogs striding and sleeking around the stadium. "Look how happy that guy looks," my husband said of the Siberian husky. "He looks like he's laughing."

The standard poodle looked snooty. The Irish setter looked proud. But were they, really? Were what looked like smiles and smirks just functions of each species' particular anatomy -- or were we actually discerning the dogs' emotions in their eyes?

Not long ago, I interviewed Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson about animal emotions. He used to own dogs. But not anymore. And never again, he said.

In the late ‘90s, this noted ex-psychoanalyst, Sanskrit professor and author of nearly two dozen books adopted three mixed-breeds. He ran with them, took them on vacations, and wrote about them in his book Dogs Never Lie About Love. But in the years since, Masson -- whose 1981 dismissal from the directorship of the Freud Archives sparked volcanic intellectual debate -- has come to view dog ownership as a form of animal cruelty.

 

"I still love dogs," Masson told me. "I think they're amazing."

But we aren't fit to be their companions, because "I don't believe we can give them the ideal life. Living with us, they're not living the life they were meant to live, which among other things would mean our spending the whole day with them." Dogs are too social, too loyal, too energetic, too eager for physical attention and bonding to be confined in solitude for as long as we typically leave them while pursuing our own human priorities. Masson looks just as harshly at keeping cats indoors -- or, as he put it, "confined."

ten reasons not to buy fake indoor grass for dogs

Fake indoor grass for dogs

When I said using indoor grass for dogs is lazy, I learned some people are convinced fake grass for dogs is the world’s greatest invention. I disagree. I still think it’s lazy.

Here are 10 reasons not to buy fake grass for your dog. Some of the ideas came from comments on my last post. For more information, check out my post on 10 reasons to buy fake indoor grass for dogs.

1. Owners of small dogs have enough problems with housebreaking.

We all know at least one person who owns a Yorkie, Maltese, Chihuahua or Pomeranian that pees in the house. I’m not talking about old dogs that can’t hold it. I’m talking about 2-year-old dogs that still aren’t potty trained.

If the owner can’t train her dog to go to the bathroom outside (one of the easiest things to teach a dog), how will she train her dog to pee on fake grass? This will only encourage the dog to pee on carpet, rugs, couches and mattresses. I am a professional pet sitter and I see examples of this every week.

2. What about dogs that lift their legs?

break a dog’s possessiveness

What do you do when your dog becomes possessive of a certain object such as a bone, a toy or a sock?

Here are my suggestions for dealing with a dog’s possessiveness:
First of all, nothing should ever be given to a dog for free. Even if certain objects “belong” to the dog, he should only be allowed to touch them with permission from his owner.

Some people will allow aggressive behavior from a dog when the dog is being possessive of food or toys that “belong” to him. It’s easy to make excuses for the dog, but possessiveness of toys or food or random objects should never be tolerated.

Some dog owners even believe their dog is showing aggression because the dog is “protecting” the toy or believes the toy is his baby. Trust me, dogs do not think their toys or other objects are their babies. Believing so would be humanizing the dog.

What starts out as minor possessiveness of a stuffed toy can easily escalate to much more serious aggression. Dogs that are allowed to show possessiveness of their food and toys often begin to show possessiveness of other objects such as socks, table scraps or even people.

How to prevent a dog’s possessive behavior

These are some tips you can use to work with your puppy or dog to prevent issues with possessiveness from developing. It’s much easier to prevent a problem than correct a problem!

1. A dog should always be given a clear set of rules.
The owner is in charge, not the dog.

My mutt Ace works for his food, works for my attention and works for playtime. If he wants something, I will make him sit or lie down before he can have it. Ace understands I can take his food or toys away at any given time, and I often do. And just because something is in his mouth does not mean it’s off limits to me or any other person. I take things from him all the time just to prove my point. I also give things back to him as a reward or I trade him for something even better!

2. Make sure you “claim” anything you give your dog.
At feeding time, I always require that Ace gives me about five feet of space before he is given permission to approach his bowl. Just because I set the bowl on the ground does not give him permission to come running up and grabbing it. He has to wait. I wish I could teach my cat the same!

It’s also a good idea to take your dog’s food away while he is eating. Have him sit or lie down, and then give the food back. If necessary, step over the bowl and move into your dog’s space the way a dominant dog would do.

With toys, it is the same concept. You own the toys. You can take them away at any time, and you should. Don’t allow the dog to grab toys out of your hand until you say it’s OK.

3. When your dog has a toy, offer him something even better!
Drop random pieces of chicken in your dog’s bowl while he is eating so he learns that good things happen when you approach his bowl! When he’s chewing on a bone, randomly come up to him and sprinkle liver treats or other goodies around him.

4. Teach the dog the command “leave it.”
I use the “leave it” command for any object, and all it means is “Do not touch.”

Teach this command by rewarding the dog with food when he leaves the object alone. Since my dog loves tennis balls, I’ll put a ball on the ground and say “leave it.” When I’m ready for him to pick up the ball I say “OK!” You could also say “Take it!” Ace now understands that “leave it” can be transferred to anything such as food or even nasty things he finds out in the yard.

Preventing possessive behavior is much easier than correcting it, so the most important part is to set clear rules for the dog before any issues come up.

I also want to point out that a dog can be obsessive without being possessive, but neither behavior should be encouraged. My dog is obsessed with retrieving and will bring a ball to someone over and over, but he has no problem allowing any person or dog to take the ball right out of his mouth.

How to stop a dog from showing possessiveness

1. Do not make up excuses for your dog’s possessive or aggressive behavior.
Small problems lead to bigger problems when dog owners do not take a dog’s mild aggression or possessive issues seriously.

Of course, some dogs sound aggressive when they are playing with toys. This is normal as long as the dog is just playing and will allow you to take the toy and end the game at any time. For more information, see my post on why does my dog growl at other dogs?

2. Begin “claiming” everything you give the dog, even if you consider it “his.”
Deliberately place the object on the ground and do not allow the dog to approach or take the object until you give him permission. If the dog tries to take the object too early, correct him instantly and put him in a sit or down position. Stand over the object the way another dog would.

Be careful not to frustrate your dog. Deliberately requiring your dog to wait for an object should be a healthy challenge for him. If he seems stressed out about this process, then give him treats while he waits for the original object. Remember to tell him how good he is. Then, give a command such as “OK” to take the original object.

3. Create situations where the dog is likely to become possessive.

Unfortunately, the only way to break a dog from a certain behavior is to catch him in the act. It does not work to simply take the bone away and hide it. This is like a “time out” and teaches the dog nothing. If the dog is possessive about rawhides, you’re going to have to present rawhides to him every day and correct him the second he becomes possessive.

Put a leash on the dog to give yourself more control and confidence. Then, purposely drop a rawhide and correct him the second he goes for it. The dog must learn to wait until you give him permission to take the rawhide. Practice this multiple times a day. Dogs need a lot of repetitions before a behavior becomes conditioned, so be patient.

Give your dog highly valued treats whenever he drops the object or waits to pick up the object. Make this process fun rather than stressful. You want to be the leader, but you want to be a fun leader.

4. Teach the dog that you can take anything at any time.
In order to practice this, you will have to allow the dog to pick up the object. Make sure to do so once you have claimed it and given him permission to take it. Once he has it in his mouth, take it away again but give it back as a reward. Practice this over and over every day. Taking something, holding it for a few seconds while praising your dog and then giving it back will teach your dog that you’re not necessarily taking the object away for good.

5. When the dog shows aggression, “trade” him for something better.
Do not hesitate to seek help from a professional dog trainer in your area if you are at all hesitant about approaching your aggressive dog. If you are tentative and giving off a weak energy, your dog is more likely to bite you.

If your dog becomes aggressive once he has an object in his mouth, do not allow him to keep the object. If you allow your dog to keep his bone every time he growls at you, then he will be rewarded for growling. The aggression is reinforced.

To get the desired object away from your dog once he is showing aggression, I recommend using the “trade” method. Give him something better than what he has. Practice this over and over again.
What do you do to prevent possessive behavior from your dog?

Stop your dog crying

Stop your dog from barking and crying all day when left alone

Most dogs or puppies will settle down and stop crying or barking within a half-hour after they are left alone. However, some dogs simply cannot relax. They bark or cry for the entire eight hours their owner is at work. Obviously, this can result in some angry neighbors or an apartment eviction. Some people are even faced with giving up their dogs because they feel like they can’t leave the dog alone barking all day. They feel like they have no choice but to find the dog a new home.

There are ways to overcome this problem. Some people will call the problem separation anxiety. You can call it what you want, but in most cases what the dog really needs is more exercise and rules. “Separation anxiety” is an overused term by vets and trainers. Most dogs do not have anything wrong with them, but they are crying or barking because of pent-up energy and boredom.

Stop a dog from barking all day

Here are some tips to help your dog feel more relaxed when left alone.

Run with the dog every single morning.

A lot of dogs are said to have “separation anxiety” when really they are not getting enough exercise. So, run with your dog for an hour in the morning before you go to work. Some people will laugh when I say this, but it’s not a joke. Run her (or at least walk fast) for a minimum of 45 minutes every single day, even if she is a small dog. How can you expect a dog or puppy to sleep all night and then go in her kennel all day while you are at work? Leaving her loose in the house is no different. To a dog, a house is just a big kennel. To stop your dog from crying all night or day, more exercise is a must.

If you are not a runner, then take your dog biking or rollerblading or to the dog park.

Buy a dog backpack.

The dog backpack will help drain even more energy during the dog’s morning run. A dog can carry a small amount of weight in the pack and it will make her physically more tired. It will challenge her mentally by giving her a job to do. This will make it easier for the dog to sleep when you are gone, and you will stop telling people, “My dog cries all the time.”

Buy a kennel.

If you don’t already have a kennel, get one. Don’t use it as a punishment for the dog. Give the dog a treat when she goes in the kennel, and tell her she’s a good dog. Leave her in the kennel for a few minutes at a time, maybe one minute at first, and only let her out if she is not crying. If she throws a tantrum for 20 minutes and is quiet for 30 seconds, let her out during those 30 seconds when she is actually quiet. Work with her until you can leave her in the kennel while you are away. The goal is for your dog to feel safe and secure in her “den” and know it is a place for her to rest quietly. Once you have a dog that can stay quietly in a kennel all day, you can begin to leave her loose in the house.

Ignore a dog that is crying or barking.

The worst thing you can do is return to a dog or let the dog out of her kennel when she cries or barks. Make sure she learns she can only come out if she is calm. If the barking or crying really escalates, then firmly tell her “No!” Yelling at her will not help. It will only increase her anxiousness. Just let her know that the behavior is unwanted. Putting a blanket over my dog Ace’s kennel helped when he was learning to stay quietly in his kennel.

Gradually leave the dog for longer periods.

Once the dog can stay in the kennel for 10 minutes quietly, increase that time to a half-hour. Try this while you are home with the dog. Once she is OK with that, you can act as though you are leaving by just stepping outside for a few seconds. Then leave for five minutes. Slowly increase the time until you can leave for a half-hour or an hour to go shopping. Eventually the dog will be able to be left while you are at work all day. Ideally, you could practice leaving her in the kennel on the weekend or days you are home with her so she is prepared to be left during the work week.

Don’t make a big deal about coming and going.

When you leave, just quietly exit like it is no big deal. Don’t tell your dog she is a good girl over and over. Don’t say “Goodbye, Honey! It’s OK! Mommy will be back soon!” This just gives her a reason to feel anxious because she will pick up on your excited, worried energy. Put your dog in her kennel a few minutes before you go to work, and then leave without saying anything. When you come home, wait a few minutes before you let her out. When you do, just calmly let her out and take her outside. Don’t throw a small party for her every time you come home for work or you will be encouraging your puppy to cry all day. You do not want to “reward” your dog when you return because then she will anticipate your return. You want to “reward” her when you leave so that she actually looks forward to getting a treat when you leave.

Exercise your dog again when you come home from work.

Another hour-walk or run would be ideal for a dog that has been left home all day. If this isn’t possible for you, then at least take your dog on a brisk 20-minute walk and then play with her in the backyard. If you are someone who asks, “Why does my dog cry all the time?” what you should really be asking yourself is “Why don’t I make more time to exercise my dog?”

Use Kong toys to entertain your dog.

Buy three of four Kong toys and stuff them with different goodies like treats, peanut butter or squirt cheese. Then put them in the freezer overnight and give them to your dog before you leave for work. These should keep your dog entertained for at least a little while. The chewing will help her relax and getting the treats out will give her mind something to focus on. Also look for any kind of interactive toys that make the dog work to figure out how to get a treat.

Buy a dog Thundershirt.

There is a product called the Thundershirt that basically fits snuggly around the dog so she feels “swaddled.” I have not tried this with a dog yet, but many people swear the product helps dogs feel much calmer. It’s not going to cure the problem, but it might help.

Did your dog ever have crying/barking issues when left alone? How did you solve the problem?

Examining and Medicating the Ears of a Dog

This information is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Always follow the instructions provided by your veterinarian. 

In the photographs below, unless otherwise noted, the dog is facing with her nose pointing to your right.

Variations on these instructions exist.

Ear cleaning and medicating can be messy so cover good clothes and work on a surface that is easy to clean.

Most dogs do not like having their ears cleaned. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you clean or medicate their ears but many require some form of restraint.

One method to restrain the dog is to place her/him on a table. Stand on the side of the table opposite to the ear you are medicating; in the photograph the right ear is being medicated.

Drape your right arm over the dog's shoulders. Wrap your left arm around the head and neck and use the finger tips of the left hand to push the ear flap back and up to expose the inner surface of the ear.

If the dog tries to stand, lean your upper body over his/her shoulders to prevent him/her from rising.

If your dog is too wiggly, try laying him/her on his/her side. Reach over his/her neck with your left arm and firmly grasp the elbow of the leg closest to the table. Always hold the leg close to the elbow, NOT close to the toes.

Keep your left elbow on his/her neck to prevent him/her from picking up his/her head. Use the fingers of your right hand to pull back the ear flap to expose the inner side of the ear. If the ear flaps are long, you can tuck the ear flap under your left elbow.

Holding the medication bottle in your right hand, place the prescribed number of drops of medication into the ear canal.

It is easier to perform this procedure if you have a helper. See the section on restraining a dog for some additional suggestions.

Anatomy of the normal dog ear

The ear has 3 major parts:

1. outer ear
2. middle ear
3. inner ear

The outer ear consists of the ear flap (also called the pinna) which can be upright (a prick ear) or floppy. The ear flap funnels sound into the ear canal. Unlike humans that have a very short ear canal, dogs have a long narrow ear canal that makes almost a 90 degree bend as it travels to the deeper parts of the ear.

The outer ear cannel is separated from the middle ear by a thin membrane called the eardrum or tympanic membrane. The ear drum is very fragile and can be damaged by ear disease or during ear cleaning. The middle ear consists of 3 small bones, an air filled cavity called the bulla and a thin tube (the eustachian tube) leading from the bulla to the back of the mouth.

The inner ear connects to the brain and contains nerves and centers for balance and hearing. The following picture shows a diagram of the right ear as it appears if you are looking at the dog's head from the front. A CT scan of the head is pictured on the right.

Dogs have many more ear problems than cats. Dogs with heavy floppy ears have the most problems with ear infections. Some breeds have lots of hair in and around the ear canal which causes them to develop ear infections. Dogs that spend lots of time in the water also are prone to developing ear infections.

Dogs with skin allergies may have ear problems as part of the allergy.

Additional Anatomy

The outer ear flap is usually covered with fur.

If the ear is itchy, scratching may result in hair loss on the ear flap or at the base of the ear. Severe scratching may also lead to tears at the edges of the ear. Ear damage may lead to bleeding between the skin and cartilage of the ear flap; a hematoma. The ear flap is swollen, warm and painful.

The inner side of the ear should be a healthy pink color. A small amount of black discharge may be observed.

Ear infections may result in:

redness

discharge

odor

head shaking

ear scratching

rubbing ears on the floor or other surfaces

 

Ear cleaning can be accomplished with the following supplies:

ear wash solution

cotton balls

a tweezers or hemostat to pluck hair

q tips may be used if used properly

Ear cleaning solutions contain various chemicals and may contain drying agents. Check with your veterinarian regarding which product to use and how often to use it. Excessive ear cleaning can be damaging to the ear.

If the "non-furred", inner side of the ear flap contains lots of fur at the opening to the ear canal, a few hairs at a time can be plucked. Lots of hair at the opening to the ear canal reduces air flow into the ear. Good air flow is important to maintaining a healthy ear.

The ear wash solution is squeezed into the ear canal. A few drops of ear wash should be applied to the inside of the ear flap and then the tip of the ear wash bottle should be inserted a few millimeters into the ear canal, to place some of the wash solution down the ear canal. Be careful not to tightly force the tip of the bottle into the ear canal as forceful squeezing of the bottle with the bottle wedged into the ear canal could rupture the ear drum.

The dog will usually shake its head as soon as the wash is inserted into the ear, shaking out much of the solution.

Massage the base of the ear to distribute the wash solution throughout the ear canal. Dogs usually like this part.

Use cotton balls to remove discharge from the inner side of the ear flap.

You can also use q tips to clean the inner side of the ear flap

BUT...

... DON'T stick q tips into the ear any further than you can see.

Deep placement of a q tip can rupture the ear drum or can pack wax and other debris further into the ear canal, preventing medications from getting to the deeper parts of the ear canal.

Ear medications may contain several different drugs and may be ointments (pictured on the left and in insert) or drops (pictured on the right).

Ear medications are most effective when placed in a clear ear. If they are placed on top of ear wax or other debris they will not be as effective. Your veterinarian will give you instructions, if cleaning is needed before ear medications are given.

Sometimes your veterinarian will recommend a thorough ear exam under sedation or anesthesia if:

the dog will not allow cleaning awake

it is suspected that a foreign body such as plant material is inside the ear canal

the veterinarian needs to collect samples from the ear for cytology or culture

If you would like to see an overview of ear cleaning under anesthesia please visit the following web site:

Whether using ointments or drops, place a small amount of medication on the inside of the ear flap and the prescribed number of drops into the ear canal. The tip of the ointment tube or dropper should be placed a few millimeters into the ear canal to assure that the medication goes into the ear canal. If the ear is stretched away from the head, the bend in the ear canal will straighten so that the medication can be deposited over the entire ear canal.

DO NOT place the long neck of the ointment tube as far as it will go down the ear canal as you could puncture the ear drum with it.

Massage the base of the ear to help distribute the medication into the ear canal.

Dogs with chronic ear infections will benefit from anything that increases air flow into the ear canal. Ear flow can be improved by:

plucking hairs from around the opening of the ear canal

tying or taping ears together on top of the head

pictured is a stretchy tubular fabric with holes cut for exposure of the ear canals. A regular sock can be used for smaller dogs. The ears may need to be taped together under the sock.

If the infection is severe or involves the middle and inner ear, oral medications may also be prescribed. Surgery is sometimes necessary if the infection is in the middle ear.

Dog Poems: A Dogs Best Friend

OLord, don't let me once forget

How I love my trusty pet-

Help me learn to disregard

canine craters in my yard

Show me how to be a buddy

even when my sofa's muddy,

Don't allow my pooch to munch

postal carriers for lunch,

Shield my neighbor's cat from view,

guide my steps around the doo,

Train me not to curse and scowl,

when it's puppy's night to howl,

Grant I shan't awake in fear

with a cold nose in my ear,

Give me patience without end-

Help me be "A DOG'S BEST FRIEND."

Dog Poems : Alone Again

I wish someone could tell me

What it is that I've done wrong.

Why I have to stay chained up

And left alone so long.

They seemed so glad to have me

When I came here as a pup.

There were so many things we'd do

While I was growing up.

They couldn't wait to train me

As companion and as friend.

They told me I would never fear

Being left alone again.

The children said they'd feed me,

Said they'd brush me every day.

They'd play with me and walk me,

If only I could stay.

But now the family hasn't time.

They often say I shed.

They wont allow me in the house,

Not even to be fed.

The children never walk me.

They always say, "Not Now!"

I wish that I could please them,

Won't someone tell me how?

All I have is love, you see,

I wish they would explain,

Why they said they wanted me,

Then left me on a chain.

Dog Poems : A Dogs Prayer

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in the world

is more grateful for kindness than my loving heart.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I would lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world¹s sweetest music,

as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail

when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now

a domestic animal and no longer used to bitter elements.

I ask no greater glory than the privilege of

sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Though you had no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water for, although I would not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well to romp and play and do your biding, walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should yours be in danger.

And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to take my health or sight, do not turn me away from you.

Rather, hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was ever safe in your hands.

Dog Poems and Verse for You To Enjoy

These 36 dog poems, about our relationship with our dogs, will help you grieve a loss, or celebrate a friendship.

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My Shelter Days are numbered ten.
Ten more days until my end.

My Shelter Days are numbered eight.
Please adopt me. Change my fate.

My Shelter Days are numbered six.
Adopt a pet week, still no one's pick.

My Shelter Days are numbered four.
Four more days and then no more.

My Shelter Days are numbered two.
Someone will take me, I just don't know who.

My Shelter Days are numbered none.
I know I'm finished, then you come.

My Shelter Days are over, done,
Because you, my master, took me home.

Courtney Bailey, The Final Countdown

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