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We are thrilled that Whole Dog Journal has taken notice of The Canine Connection! Recent issues of this national magazine have featured photos of Dr. Sarah and her dogs, and some of her clients and their dogs! And, in Whole Dog Journal’s first ever calendar, Deveron, Dr. Sarah’s “Director of Animal Magnetism”, stole a leading spot. While we love that we’ve been featured in the magazine, the best part of Whole Dog Journal is the wealth of information it provides. This truly is the BEST monthly source of information on holistic health, natural dog care and positive training for your dog. If you subscribe to only one magazine, make it Whole Dog Journal. Your dog will thank you! ^TRAINING ARTICLES INDEXDr. Sarah Writes on “Educating Bowser” for Bay WoofBay Woof, a publication that offers “news with a bite for Bay Area dog lovers”, featured Dr. Sarah’s article, “Educating Bowser” in its October 2007 issue. This article introduced readers to different training needs and options for puppies and dogs. Click here to read this article in this fun, informative magazine.
^TRAINING ARTICLES INDEXIs Your Dog Digging Spring (literally)?This time of year I receive a lot of questions about digging: "Why has my dog started digging in my yard, and what can I do about it?". Two springtime activities often converge so that our dogs "dig" spring: (1) we get out our gardening gloves and start to work in our yards, creating wonderful soft spots for dogs to explore and (2) we start leaving our dogs outside more, unsupervised, with lots of time on their paws and often way too little to do. Guess what happens - dogs start "digging" spring. Digging is one of those behaviors where a dog's view of landscaping, and our human view, collide. So, what are we humans to do? The first step is to understand WHY dogs dig.
What To Do About It1. Do not leave your dog outside unsupervised. You can NOT train your dog to act appropriately if you are not there to guide his behaviors. If your dog must stay outside unsupervised, then put him in a smaller confinement area, like a well-shaded, safe, and comfortable dog run, so he doesn't have full access to the yard. Or fence off your prize plants so your dog can't have access to them! 2. Be sure your dog has PLENTY to do - exercise his mind and body every day.
3. Give your dog his or her own sandbox - a "legal" place to dig!
4. Be sure your dog has a soft, cool place to rest, with plenty of water. Is it Anxiety Related?If digging is part of a package of destructive or unruly behaviors it could be a symptom of separation or other anxieties (like fear of noises, like lawn mowers). Make a record of what other behaviors are present along with digging (barking, chewing on door frames, fence jumping) and when they occur. Seek professional help to address underlying feelings of anxiety through a thorough program of behavior modification. ^TRAINING ARTICLES INDEXVacationing With Your PetPets Are Traveling Too!As pets are becoming more integrated into our families, pet owners are looking for vacation options that include their pets! A recent study by the Travel Industry Association indicated that in the last three years 29.1 million people (about 14% of the U.S. adult population) have traveled with a pet. The most popular pet travel companion is a dog. The Travel and Recreation Industry RespondsTravel with pets is a growing consumer trend to which the travel industry is responding. Many hotels that once tolerated pets, now welcome them with open paws. Indeed, some have rolled out the welcome mat, with pet friendly programs like Starwood's "Love That Dog!" Visiting canines to their Sheraton and Westin properties are treated to special pet beds, bowls, and homemade biscuits and treats. Still other lodging properties are dedicating themselves primarily to the person-and-pet market. And for those who want to not just bring a dog along, but make dog-life the center of a vacation, summer camps for dogs and people abound. An example of this is Camp Winnaribun, which occupies a scout camp when the scouts have gone home. In this rustic setting, dogs and people can enjoy dogs sports like flyball and agility, and take walks in the woods or romp in the lake - all in the presence of other like-minded creatures! Need Help Planning Your Pet Friendly Trip?Numerous websites, and even travel guides for pet-friendly travel abound. Here are but some of the many helpful resources that can help you plan your trip
Should Fido "Come!" or "Stay"Four considerations should dictate whether Fido accompanies you on your next vacation.
What Should I Pack in My Dog's Suitcase?
What Will Ensure a Successful Trip?Plan, plan, plan! Then have a doggone good time!!! ^TRAINING ARTICLES INDEXWhy Dogs Bark? And What Can We Do About It?Why Do Dogs Bark?Barking is a natural way for a dog to communicate. Just as we verbalize in order to communicate with others and about the world around us, so too do dogs vocalize with a host of yips, yaps, howls, growls and bays. Barking serves many functions for dogs and for us. A well-timed yip lets us know when our dog needs to go out or come in. A series of low, resonant "ruuuuuuuff, ruuuuuuuff, ruuuuuuuuuff"s tells us a stranger is approaching, and short, high-pitched "ruff"s and "arf"s mean that our dog is having a howling good time. However, too much barking can become a nuisance to owners, neighbors, visitors, and even other dogs. If you want to understand how to solve a barking problem you must first understand what your dog is trying to communicate since different types of barking require different training responses. There are six common reasons that dogs bark, and a good way to remember these is with the word "BARKER". BORED. Many dogs bark when they are bored, particularly if their bored state is accompanied by opportunities to shout at squirrels, birds, and passers-by. To keep your dog from becoming bored, give your dog plenty of exercise and puzzle toys (such as Kongs) to occupy his attention when you are away. Manage his environment to reduce the bark triggers; that is, don't let barking at external stimuli become your dog's main source of entertainment. This may mean bringing him inside if boredom in the backyard makes him bark throughout the day. ALARM / FEAR. Dog often bark to express fear. Watch your dog's body language to see if it indicates fear - he will be crouched, possibly cowering, and his ears will be back. Alarm/fear barking is best addressed through a sound program of socialization that teaches your dog that new sights and sounds are positive instead of threatening. If your dog already barks out of alarm or fear you must address the underlying emotions through a systematic effort to desensitize and counter-condition him to those things that are frightening and threatening. Click here for a good article on helping your dog become less fearful. REQUEST / ATTENTION. Your dog may have trained you to provide attention, food, or other valued resources at his command (his bark). Some request/attention barking is helpful, such as when your dog lets you know it's time to go out. However, if your dog's attention-seeking barking is getting out of hand - or out of paw :) - then remember that complying with your dog's wishes will guarantee your dog will ask again. If you don't want your dog training you, ignore inappropriate request/attention barking and reward quiet, polite behavior instead. KEEP AWAY / PROTECTION. Many of us appreciate a dog that has a sense of territory and barks protectively. However, it is important that we can gain "quiet" when we want and that invited guests can safely enter our domain. To prevent territorial barking, avoid setting up "look out" places around you home (such as a favorite couch next to a picture window) where your dog will constantly be on surveillance duty. Just think how many times he will reinforced when his barking makes delivery people, the mail person, and passers-by go away (at least in his mind that's what he likely thinks is occurring). Remember, practice makes perfect with all behaviors, including unwanted barking. Practice a positive obedience and socialization program with your dog to ensure that he can quiet and settle down on command, and allow safe passage of welcomed guests. EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM. It's fun to hear our dogs bark with joy But if your dog gets barking and has trouble turning it off, then teach your dog to quiet and settle down on command. An additional strategy can be teaching your dog to grab a favorite toy when he wants to dance with joy (few dogs can bark with a toy in their mouths). As a preventative approach, avoid those situations which are hyper-stimulating and send his barking out of control. RETURN TO ME! This last form of barking is truly distressing, for our dogs and for us. It is barking out of anxiety - even panic - at being left alone. This form of barking is intense and incessant, and typically occurs right after an owner has left a dog alone. If it is accompanied by inappropriate elimination in the house and destruction of doorways, windows, and other areas then it MAY point to separation anxiety. As a preventative measure, gradually teach your dog that it's OK to be alone. If you think your dog has separation anxiety, then consult with an experienced dog behavior specialist who can help you and your dog address this very distressing condition.
Should I Use a Bark Collar or Other Anti-Bark Device?Bark collars, and most other remote anti-bark devices work through punishment. They typically emit an unpleasant shock, odor, spray or sound when a dog barks. While these collars can quiet barking, they can often produce unanticipated side effects. For example, a dog that once barked out of boredom, but has been punished for that, may turn his excess energy to digging instead. A dog that barked because of territoriality may come to associate strangers with pain, thereby replacing natural territoriality with a dislike of certain people. For these and other reasons bark collars and other anti-bark devices that employ punishment should ONLY be used with great care and with the guidance of an experienced behavior professional. If used unwisely, unfairly, or unkindly bark collars and other anti-barking devices can take a simple barking problem and turn it into something much more problematic. For these reasons, bark collars should NOT be used on a dog who barks out of fear, alarm, or anxiety. The key to resolving these barking problems is helping the dog feel more positive and less threatened by fear/anxiety triggers. Punishing barking in these situations will only add MORE negativity to these triggers. You may stop barking, but you will intensify the fear/anxiety which will produce additional, even greater problems. Good News for the Front Door Barker!Thank goodness!! There is one remote-activated product on the market that works by REWARDING calm quiet behavior, rather than punishing noisy, blustery behavior. It is the Treat and Train™, invented by Dr. Sophia Yin in conjunction with the Sharper Image. Along with an extensively researched and documented training protocol, that is fun and easy to learn, the Treat and Train™ teaches dogs to "place" in a specific place by the door and wait there quietly until released. I am very proud to have assisted in a very small way with the development of the Treat and Train professional dog training system by organizing the first set of experiments for it at The Canine Connection. The Treat and Train™ provides a fabulous way to address exuberant barkers/greeters at the front door. I am using it with my dogs, it works great, and we're having a blast training for better front door manners. To learn more about Treat and Train™ at Dr. Sophia Yin's website, click here. To learn more about Treat and Train™ from the Sharper Image, click here. Books About Barking:
^TRAINING ARTICLES INDEXThe Power of Positive Dog-Dog PlayAs we move toward summer, we may find ourselves in a more playful state of mind. Just as play is important for us, so too is it for our dogs! In fact, the opportunity to play is critical to your dog's wellbeing. Dogs are hard-wired to play. For puppies, it's their job description. For older dogs, it tremendously enhances their quality of life. Play helps to:
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I’m a big believer that training your dog is a way of living with your dog. Here are five everyday things you can do to build and maintain your dog’s good behavior:
1. Start and maintain a training fitness program. I am often asked "When will I be finished training my dog?" The answer is NEVER! You have to exercise your dog's training muscle by practicing good manners and skills to keep it toned. Here's the good news. More frequent short training sessions (a few minutes a day is fine for many behaviors) is better than fewer longer training sessions, so resolve to make training a part of daily life.
2. Exercise! There's an old saying "a well-behaved dog is a tired dog". Think of your dog as an exercise machine with fur, and resolve to take a daily walk with your dog.
3. Play with your dog! How often have you laughed and lost a sense of time and worries when playing with your dog? Play is essential to the human and canine spirit, so resolve to unleash the power of play with your dog. Two of my favorite games are hide-and-seek (helps build a great come-when-called) and fetch, which can be easily taught to most dogs.
4. Teach your dog to say "Please". Start waiting for your dog to sit before he or she gets anything he wants - food, toys, attention, access to places he wants to go (like out the back door). Making this simple lifestyle change is the fastest way to teach your dog to be attentive, self-restrained, and respectful of your leadership.
5. Focus on "Do" instead of "Don't". I am often asked "How can I get my dog to stop jumping/barking/stealing/digging/etc.?" The truth is it is much easier to teach your dog to do something than to teach your dog not to do something. For example, instead of focusing on teaching your dog not to jump for attention, put the focus on teaching your dog to sit for attention instead.
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