Ten Things Your Dog Would Like You to Know

1.     Dogs can learn basic obedience commands without any words from a human.

Dogs have no language capacity at all.  Isn’t it amazing that they can learn the meaning of so many words? Words surround our dogs all the time.  Words heard in conversations, television, and radio become white noise to our dogs. They literally tune us out. The more we talk, the less our dogs listen. We are confusing them with all our, “Here, Fido” and “I love You, Fido” and “Wanna go Fido?” Training a dog without words helps limit confusion and speeds up learning.

2.     Dogs do not want to be your furry children. Dogs want to be loved and respected for what they are…..DOGS.

Yes, you can disagree with me here.  It is true, some dogs seem to enjoy the attention, but in my experience, dogs prefer to live like dogs.  Wearing clothes can inhibit their ability to communicate using canine body language.  Riding in a purse takes away the pleasure of being able to sniff the grass and, um….other dogs.  A stroller is for a baby. A leash is for a dog.  Dogs prefer rolling in something stinky over a groomer’s cologne.  If you want to bond with your furry friend, learn to understand him as a dog first.

3.     Flexi-Leashes encourage pulling and are unsafe.

An extendable leash keeps constant tension on your dog’s collar or harness.  Dogs get used to this tension and learn to ignore it.  An extendable leash gives the dog the go ahead to move away from you which discourages listening and cooperative walking.  Flexi-leashes are dangerous! People get wrapped up in them and they can dig into legs.  The dog has too much freedom to roam and can’t be effectively managed by his owner.  If a stray dog or a car comes out of nowhere, and your dog is 10 feet in front of you, he is in danger of being hurt. It could be too late by the time you hit that button to reel him in.  These leashes seem to be user friendly, but don’t be fooled. 

4.     Your dog is not safe riding in your lap in the car.

I know, I know. Your dog loves to sit in your lap and breathe in the fresh air while you drive.  I know, I know. He won’t stay in the backseat, no matter what you do.  I know, I know. You feel bad putting him in a crate just for a car ride. How would you feel if you saw a child in the front seat with his head hanging out the window? Unfortunately, it’s not safe for kids and it’s not safe for your dog either. As a matter of fact, it’s not safe for you or the other people on the road with you.  Your dog can learn to sit happily wherever you tell him to, but YOU have to tell him.  And, if he won’t listen….get a gate and drive safely.

5.     Dogs would like you to learn about them BEFORE you bring them home.

This is a big one.  Dogs seem to develop set-in behavior patterns over night. Do your dog a favor and yourself! Do your homework and pick the right dog at the right time for you.  If you don’t know which dog is right, ask around, read some books or ask me. My favorite place to get a new dog is from a shelter. The price is right and you get lots of variety to choose from, but you must be patient to find the one for you.  If you choose a breeder, check it out thoroughly.  Many puppy mills call themselves breeders. It’s a loose term these days.  Don’t buy a dog on a whim because it is so cute.  Don’t buy a dog to fix the problem of a dog you already own. Don’t buy a Weimaraner because they’re beautiful to look at unless you also enjoy running marathons with your new buddy!  What I’m getting at is, be prepared and you will be happy.  Bringing a dog home is a big commitment.  Be sure you can commit to meet the needs of the dog you choose or you may need to call me for help!

6.     A backyard does not constitute exercise for any dog…..unless there is an agility set out there and you are working with the dog daily.

All dogs need exercise.  Walking your dog is the perfect formula for bonding, socializing and preventing bad behaviors like chewing, digging and barking.  Most dogs enjoy their walks more than eating.  Don’t neglect this important aspect of dog ownership.  There are lots of excuses to not walk your dog, but none of them are any good.

7.     Dogs don’t “know” when they’ve done something wrong and they absolutely don’t feel any remorse.

Then why do they look so guilty when you come home to a mess? The answer is simple, but surprisingly hard for people to believe.  If you speak sternly to a dog or look at him with a look of disgust, the dog recognizes that you are not happy and he shows you signs of appeasement.  He lowers his head, drops his ears and may wag his tail.  He may try to hide from you.  What the dog doesn’t understand is WHAT makes you upset.  In the dog world, dogs behave this way to appease another dog so they won’t get hurt.  Dogs sometimes greet other dogs using this same display.  It’s almost an automatic reaction from the dog to any negative display of emotion and/or behavior (like a rolled up newspaper). The big piece of information here is that the dog does not make any connection between your yelling and his behavior.  They just don’t. They simply don’t have the cognitive ability or a conscience and therefore can’t understand why our belongings are so valuable to us and why we care so much about keeping our carpets clean. To be more effective, teach your dog what you want him to do, instead of telling him what he should not have done.  Remember, dogs live in the moment.

8.     Did you know that you could prevent your dog from jumping and barking at you when you get home by simply changing YOUR behavior?

Make your comings and goings uneventful. Not sometimes, all the time. When you leave the house, skip the baby talk and the sorrowful goodbyes.  When you return home, don’t look at your dog, pet your dog or talk to the dog.  Don’t acknowledge your dog, until all four feet are on the floor and he is calm and quiet.  Then, just say hello with a quick pat on the head.  Show your dog that comings and goings are calm and quiet and your dog will respond in kind. 

9.     There are lots of things in and around your house that could harm your dog.

Here is just a short list of items that are harmful if ingested by a dog: Sago Palms, antifreeze, chocolate, beans, onions, grapes, shampoo, crayons, fabric softener, glue, linoleum, mothballs, mushrooms, sunscreen, wood preservatives, sugarless gum, vitamins and many houseplants. Be careful!

10.  If your dog runs away and doesn’t respond to “Fido, Come!”, it is best to run in the opposite direction and make all kinds of noise.

What does your dog do if he gets hold of a sock and you reach to get it back? Does he run away? Doesn’t he look happy when he gets you to chase him? Dogs love a good game of chase. Use your dog’s natural desire to chase in your favor. Attract his attention with crazy noises and take off in the direction you want him to follow.  Run to safety. When you get your dog, give him a treat and lots of praise and next time, you might find him coming to you without hesitation.