How to Educatre Your Dogs...?

Dogs need guidance and consistent training
from their people if they are going to live in
harmony with humans. All dogs must be taught
acceptable behavior, and one way to do that is to
train your dog or pay a trainer to do it. Dogs are
happiest when they know who’s in charge and
what’s expected of them.
When you are looking for an obedience class or
a trainer, shop around and ask questions. You
will want to find a trainer who uses humane
methods, someone who uses positive reinforcement
rather than punishment. Ask if you can
watch the trainer give a class and speak with
people who are currently taking a class. If the
trainer says or does anything that you are uncomfortable
with, you may want to look elsewhere.
With positive reinforcement – treats, rewards
like ball-playing, and praise – training can be
fun for all involved. If you develop a loving, fun
relationship with your dog, she will enjoy the
time spent learning.
You should be integrally involved in your dog’s
training. The trainer should also be training you,
so that you understand how to practice with
your dog what she has learned. Training your
dog doesn’t end after the class is over; you will
need to practice cues with your dog throughout
her life.
Your dog should be taught helpful cues such as
come, sit, wait, down, stay, leave it, and drop
it. Consistent training can produce a dog who
will walk nicely on lead, which makes outings
a lot more enjoyable. Your dog can learn to give
greetings by politely sitting (instead of jumping
up) when meeting new people.
Though training is a good thing, keep in mind
that dogs still need to behave like dogs. They
need to play, run, dig, and chew. These are
natural behaviors that can happen in appropriate
ways and places:
• Make sure your dog gets plenty of running and
playing outside the house; that way, she will
be less inclined to be rambunctious inside the
house.
• Provide a dirt box out in the backyard for your
dog to dig in. You can bury a variety of toys in
the box to encourage him to dig there (instead
of in your flower beds).
• Supply your dog with a variety of appropriate
things to chew on – some examples are frozen
carrots, Kongs stuffed with peanut butter or
treats, Red Barn bullies, rawhide chips, and
Nylabones.
You also need to socialize your dog – to get him
accustomed to behaving acceptably in public,
and comfortable with meeting new people and
other dogs. If your dog is properly socialized,
he will enjoy meeting other animals and will be
able to safely interact with them. A socialized,
emotionally healthy dog allows handling of every
part of his body, not only by you, but also by
the veterinarian and the groomer.

If at any point, your dog’s training doesn’t seem
to be working or his behavior is problematic,
please seek help before becoming frustrated
with him. Try to remember that he needs continuing
education throughout his life. Some
problems are easy to fix by going back to basic
training and practicing cues consistently. For
more complex issues, you may want to consult
your veterinarian. If the cause is not medical,
your veterinarian may recommend a behaviorist,
who can do an in-depth assessment and develop
a plan for behavior modification and long-term
management of the problem.

Dog Body Language by Sherry

Just like people, dogs communicate using “body
language.” Your dog is communicating with his
entire body, not just his tail or his voice. You’ll
need to learn to read your particular dog’s body
language if you want to know how your dog is
feeling. To get a sense of what your dog is trying
to tell you, spend as much time as you can
observing your dog and his body posture.
Because each dog is an individual and will express
fear, aggression, stress or joy slightly differently,
there are no hard and fast rules for interpreting
dog body language. Tail-wagging, for
instance, can indicate several emotions. The important
thing is to look at the entire body of the
dog. With that said, here are some examples of
dog body language and what they might mean.
Play bow. The
rear end of the dog
is up, while the
front end is down.
The play bow generally
means “I
want to play.”
Tail wagging.
Contrary to popular
belief, tail
wagging can mean
many things:
• A low-hung wagging
tail could
mean “I am
scared or unsure.”
• A high, stiff wag can mean “I am agitated, unsure
or scared, but not submissive. I might bite
you or your dog.” If the dog’s body is stiff,
he is staring, and his ears are up, use caution.
Keep the dog out of trouble – he may be about
to make a bad decision.
• A loose wag – not really high or really low –
normally means “I am comfortable and friendly.”
But, you should keep watching the dog’s
entire body: Some dogs have a large personalspace
requirement. They will tell you if you
get too close.
Freeze. A dog freezes if she is scared or guarding,
or feels cornered. She may bite, so please
slow down.
Rolling over. Rolling over generally means the
dog is being submissive, but look at the whole
dog. If the tail and mouth are loose, the dog is
probably comfortable and asking for a belly rub.
If the tail is tucked and the lips are stiff, the dog
may be scared. Some dogs will solicit attention
and then become fearful and bite, so observe the
whole dog, looking for comfortable, loose body
language.
Ears perked up. When a dog’s ears are forward,
he is alert, interested in something.
Tail between the legs. If the dog’s tail is tucked
between her legs and her ears are back against
her head, she is afraid, uncomfortable with
something.
Signs of Stress
When a dog is stressed, he often shows displacement
behavior – any of a variety of activities
that seem inappropriate in the situation they
are seen in. These behaviors occur most often
during times of emotional conflict. For example,
a dog starts self-grooming when he’s afraid and
faces the decision to fight or run away; grooming
is an odd response to a “flight or fight” situation.
Displacement behavior can be the dog’s
attempt to calm himself.
Here are some typical displacement behaviors:
• Yawning in new or emotional situations
• Panting when it’s not hot
• Scratching himself when he’s not itchy
Far left: If the tail and
mouth are loose, the
dog is probably comfortable
and asking for
a belly rub.
Left: Tail tucked, body
stiff, looking away:
indicates fear and
discomfort.
• Lifting a front paw as someone walks toward
the dog
• Licking his lips, even though the dog hasn’t
been eating or drinking
• Looking away as a person or another animal
walks toward the dog
• Shaking off after someone handles the dog or
another dog plays too roughly
• Stretching out as though doing a play bow,
but not asking for play (sometimes a greeting
when a dog is stressed)
• Making a puff (exhale) of breath, sometimes
whining at the same time, and looking away or
turning away
• Lying down and trying to make whatever is
happening stop by not taking part in it
There is stress along with fear when a dog:
• Starts to drool when she normally doesn’t
• Paces or circles
• Tucks his tail and moves away from
something
• Starts to whine
• Sweats through her feet
• Puts his hackles up, his tail is low or high, and
his body is still
• Starts to growl, and may start to move away,
though not all dogs move away from things
they fear (Many people punish dogs for growling,
which takes away a valuable form of communication)
• Starts to curl her lips (Sometimes this is all the
warning a dog will give before biting)
• Starts to show his teeth (Again, the warning
before biting can be brief, so try to remember
every detail of what triggered the behavior so
you can work on improving or at least managing
it)

Diffusing the Stress-Inducing
Situation
If you notice that a dog appears stressed, stop
whatever you are doing and try to determine
what the dog is reacting to. You want to help the
dog become more comfortable or manage the
behavior in the future so that a bite to a person
or animal doesn’t happen.
Often, if we slow down whatever situation
caused the fear and start exposing the dog in
small amounts at a distance, we can help him to
completely overcome his fear. We can also help
dogs to become more comfortable in general,
in order to keep them safe and to keep us safe.
For more details, see “Managing a Dog with
Behavior Challenges,” in this section, and the
resources in Section 4 of this manual.

What does my new dog need?

To be happy and healthy, your dog will need the
following:
• Constant access to a bowl of fresh, clean
drinking water
• A nutritionally balanced diet
• A safe place to eliminate outside (if she’s not
being litter-trained)
• Some daily exercise
If she hasn’t had any yet, your new dog will also
need some training. Investigate the dog trainers
in your area and pick out one who uses humane
methods. Humane trainers do not use chain or
prong collars, nor do they advocate yanking on
or lifting the dog by the collar. If you haven’t
had any experience with the role of leader (i.e.,
this is your first dog), you will also benefit from
the training classes. Your dog needs you to be
the leader. If you don’t function as the leader,
your dog will start making decisions on her
own, some of which may be inappropriate or
dangerous.

Your dog also needs daily, loving interaction
with you and a social life. Socialize your dog by
bringing him on car rides, letting him be around
children and other dogs, taking him to the
groomer, shopping with him at pet food stores
(some of them let you bring your dog in), and
walking him in public places.
Strive for structure and consistency in your
dog’s daily routine to give him a healthy feeling
of stability as a member of the family. The
relationship between your family and your new
family member can be great if you are patient
and positive.
You should also select a veterinarian with whom
you are comfortable, since you’ll need to bring
your dog in for regular checkups. Finally, find
out what the local dog laws are (such as leash
laws) and what the licensing requirements are
for dogs in your area.

Promises to My Dog By Sherry

Bringing a dog into your family causes great joy
all around. But, making a commitment to a dog
is much like making a commitment to a human
being: Both relationships require daily care and
nurturing in order to flourish. So, as you embark
(no pun intended!) on this new commitment,
here are a dozen promises to consider making to
your dog:
1. I promise to have realistic expectations of
the role my dog will play in my life. I will
remember that she is a dog, not a furry little
human; she cannot satisfy all my emotional
needs.
2. I promise to protect my dog from dangers,
such as traffic and other creatures who
might want to hurt her.
3. I promise to keep her well dressed with a
collar containing up-to-date I.D.
4. I promise to learn kind and gentle training
methods so that she can understand what I
am trying to say.
5. I promise to be consistent with my training,
since dogs feel secure when daily life is
predictable, with fair rules and structure.
6. I promise to match her loyalty and patience
with my own.
7. I promise that my dog will be part of my
family. I will make a commitment to schedule
time every day to interact with her so
that she will feel loved and will not develop
behavior problems from a lack of stimulation
and socialization.
8. I promise to seek professional help if my
dog develops behavior problems that become
unmanageable.
9. I promise that my dog will have opportunities
to exercise and honor some of her instincts.
She’ll have walks and runs outside
of her daily territory, so she can sniff and
explore.
10. I promise to provide veterinary care for her
entire life. I will keep her healthy and watch
her weight.
11. I promise that if I move, marry, have a baby,
or get divorced, she will continue to share
my life, since she is a beloved family member.
12. I promise that if I absolutely must give her
up, I will find an appropriate home for her
that is as good as or better than my home.

How To Choose a Dog? Idea - part2

So, you’ve decided that you’re going to get a
dog. How do you choose a dog who will be a
good fit for you and your lifestyle? First, consider
what you will want this dog to be doing in
daily life. Will the dog be:
• Playing with children?
• Living with cats?
• Living with or playing with other dogs?
• Going to dog parks or doggie daycare?
• Learning to compete in dog sports such as
agility or flyball?
• Going running or hiking with you?
Not every dog can or will be appropriate for all
of these things. Choose a dog whom you will be
ready to learn and grow with.
Before going to meet a potential canine candidate,
read “Dog Body Language” (in this section)
to help you recognize the dog’s comfort
level. When you go to meet the dog, take some
small, soft chicken treats (not dry biscuits) and
a couple of toys. See if the dog takes the treats
gently and wants to play with a toy. If the dog
doesn’t want the treats, he/she may be ill or
fearful. Don’t be alarmed if the dog doesn’t
want to play with the toy. It can take a little time
for a dog to warm up to the idea of playing, or
the dog may not be feeling well.
To find out the dog’s comfort level with handling,
give a quick little exam. Touch his ears,
look at his teeth, lift a paw or two, give him a
hug, lift the dog. If the dog is small, you may
want to see if he is comfortable being carried.
Even large dogs will be lifted if you are helping
the dog onto a grooming table or into a tall
vehicle. Every dog will need grooming and vet
care in the future, and handling by strangers often
happens in any public setting.
When you’re doing the exam, use caution:
Many dogs are fearful about being handled by
strangers. Don’t be shy in asking for help. The
dog’s caregiver or the adoption staff should
know something about each dog’s behavior. If
they can’t help you with introductions or with
handling the dogs, ask if anyone else can help
you. If not, I recommend that you go elsewhere
to adopt.
If possible, take your potential new family
member out to meet dogs, cats, children and
other adults. See how the dog acts on leash.
Watching the dog’s comfort level overall in
public will help you know if this dog is going
to enjoy and be safe doing the things you plan
to share together. One caveat, though, about the
dog’s behavior: It may change some once he is
home and more comfortable.

Idea For How To Choose Dog - part1

Should I get a puppy?

One of the first questions that people ask themselves
is whether to get a puppy. Lots of people
don’t realize that puppies need almost constant
attention. Do you have the time or the inclination
to raise a puppy? If you’re gone for long
periods of time, are you willing to pay for daycare
or a sitter? Do you have the time to properly
train your puppy? All puppies and dogs
need to learn how to be well-behaved family
members.
To grow into emotionally balanced and safe
dogs, puppies must also be socialized. They
must be trained to act appropriately in different
settings – around children and other animals, on
busy city streets, in parks, around people who
are strangers.
Other considerations when getting a puppy:
Think about how big he’ll be and how active
he’ll be when he grows up. If you’re a couch
potato, you may want an older or more sedentary
dog.

Should I get a purebred dog?

The next question people usually ask is whether
they should get a purebred dog. If you decide
that you want a purebred, please investigate the
different breeds carefully before choosing a dog.
Dog breeds vary quite a bit in their temperament,
the amount of exercise they require, and
the amount of care (e.g., grooming) they might
need.
Almost every dog breed was created for a specific
purpose – hunting, herding, and guarding
are examples. Knowing the characteristics of
the breed can help you decide whether a dog
of a particular breed will fit into your family’s
lifestyle. But, keep in mind that some purebred
dogs don’t have the breed characteristics that are
expected in their breed.
Your plain old mutt is actually a much more
adaptable dog for the way that most people live
today, since most people don’t need a dog who
excels at hunting or herding! Also, mutts are often
healthier animals, because of “hybrid vigor”;
many purebred dogs have breed-specific health
problems. For example, Labradors often suffer
from hip and elbow dysplasia, and Chihuahas
can have heart problems and hypoglycemia.

How to Find Good Trainer for Dogs

Anyone can claim to be a trainer, so ask questions
like the following if you’re thinking about
hiring someone:
How were you trained?
Look for someone who has had life experience,
someone who has been around animals, not just
taken classes. Ask about formal training, but
keep in mind that many good trainers are selftaught
through experience. Also, the best trainers
keep themselves well-informed about new
training methods and theories.
What training methods do you use?
You want to find a trainer who uses humane
training methods – someone who will give you
and your pet a positive experience. You don’t
want a trainer who uses punishment or compulsion
training (in which the dog is compelled to
perform a behavior and physically corrected for
noncompliance).
How much experience do you have?
The trainer should have at least six months of
experience. Anything less and the person may
not know how to work with problem behavior in
a calm, confident manner. Animals can sense a
lack of confidence, and the training will be less
successful as a result.
What types of animals have you trained?
Some trainers work with a variety of animals
and some only work with one type. It’s most
desirable for the trainer to have had experience
working with a wide variety of animals, since
you learn something different from training each
type of animal.
Are you certified by the Certification
Council for Professional Dog Trainers?
This is the only national certification for pet dog
trainers.
Can I contact a few of your customers?
Often the most helpful information comes from
those who have used the services of the trainer
you are interested in.
While you’re talking to the trainer, take note of
whether the trainer is patient and clear when explaining
the training process and answering your
questions. After all, your dog isn’t the only one
who will be in training. You will be, too, and
you’ll need to have good communication with
the trainer.