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Who Should Walk Through The Door First?

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Walking Through Doors With Your Dog

Who Should Walk Through Door First
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As pet owners, it’s our job to keep our beloved dogs safe. One situation that can cause stress in dogs is walking through doors, especially if something scary is on the other side. Opening doors to strangers walking by or to a vet clinic can be scary. Before walking through a door, follow these steps to keep your dog safe and stress-free.

You Should Walk Through the Door First

When something distracting or scary lurks on the other side of a door, it’s vital for you to walk through the door first. This provides plenty of time for you to assess the situation before bringing your dog along with you. When dogs walk through doorways first, especially in apartment complexes, they can easily become startled when encountering strangers, other dogs or children.

Open, Look & Listen

When bringing your dog out for a walk, grab yummy treats and leash your dog before opening the door. Then, crack open the door and peek outside for any close distractions that can scare your dog. If the coast is clear, open the door a bit wider and poke your head out for any distractions approaching or leaving the area. If it’s safe, open the door, so your dog can step out and toss a few treats on the ground. This gives your dog something fun to do while you scan the area for further distractions down the road.

If a distraction approaches that scares your dog, take a step back indoors. Close the door and give your dog several yummy treats. Pairing something good, such as treats, with a scary situation positively changes your dog’s behavior. Plus, it gets your dog back indoors quickly. Wait until the coast is clear again, then head out for a nice walk.

When walking into a veterinarian’s office, look through the glass door or poke your head through the doorway to ensure no dogs are standing nearby. If a dog or person is standing nearby, ask if they could move back, so your dog can enter. Once the doorway is clear, walk quickly to the exam room.

Dispelling Dominance

Walking through doors before your dog has nothing to do with dominance. This is a myth. Of course, dogs should learn polite manners around doorways to prevent them from running out of open doors, but again this has nothing to do with dominance. When someone mentions dominance between dogs and humans, understand they still believe in a myth that was dispelled more than a decade ago.

When pet owners walk through doors first, they’re making sure their dogs are safe.

4 Ways To Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties

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Preparing Your Dog for Holiday Parties and Guests

Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties
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Holiday season is in full swing, and everyone’s preparing their homes for festive gatherings. This week, I’ve been overwhelmed with private dog training lessons focused on teaching Fido polite manners during holiday parties. Before I share my recommended holiday safety tips for pets, it’s important that pet owners understand and set fair expectations for themselves and their dogs.

Having Fido lie leisurely under the dining table is a pipe dream. Yes, everyone wants this picturesque holiday moment, but it’s stressful and unrealistic for pet owners and their dogs. Additionally, holiday parties are noisy and confusing to dogs. And it only takes a second for your dog to run out the door while guests come in and out. Lastly, holiday guests can easily step on or unintentionally feed your dog dangerous foods.

By taking the time to prepare your dog for holiday parties, you can keep your dog safe and relaxed throughout the festivities.

1. Take Your Dog on a Long Walk

About an hour or so before your party guests arrive, take your dog out for a long walk. Ensure your dog has plenty of sniffing opportunities because sniffing is just as exhausting as walking. If the weather is terrible, play Nose Work, tug or fetch with your dog instead.

2. Prepare Pumpkin Stuffed Toys Beforehand

Giving your dog a yummy food stuffed toy will keep your dog’s brain busy during holiday parties. The night before your holiday party, prepare yummy food stuffed toys and freeze them overnight. In keeping with your holiday party theme, stuff bits of lean turkey (white meat with skin removed) and pumpkin into a food stuffed toy and store in your freezer.

If your dog is watching his waistline, mix pumpkin and blackstrap molasses together and stuff inside a toy. Pumpkin is a low calorie option and molasses provides a healthy, yet sweet taste that will keep your dog busy for hours.

3. Keep Your Dog Happily Contained

Place your dog’s crate in your bedroom and place cozy bedding inside. About 30 mins before your guests arrive, crate your dog and leave him with a food stuffed toy and a few treats. Close his crate door and turn on soft music. When leaving your bedroom, firmly close the door behind you. Post a note on the door saying, “Please don’t open.” This will ensure lost guests understand this door doesn’t lead to the bathroom.

4. Meeting Guests

Of course, you should introduce your dog to guests as long as your dog and guests are comfortable meeting each other. Once everyone has sat down with a beverage, bring your dog out on leash to greet everyone. Keep a stash of yummy dog training treats in your bedroom, and grab them as you’re walking your dog out to greet everyone. This is the perfect time to reward your dog for polite choices around guests and show off your dog’s skills. After 10 minutes, grab another frozen food stuffed toy and crate your dog in your bedroom again. Your dog will be exhausted after meeting guests.

Happy Holidays!

Tug Toy Safety Tips For Your Dogs 

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Playing With Dog Tug Toys Safely

Dog Tug Toy
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Dogs loves to play tug. It’s a fast moving game that’s extremely stimulating. This dog game is physically exhausting for dogs and pet owners, so it’s best to follow a few tug toy safety tips to keep everyone safe. Grab your dog’s favorite tug toy and start tugging!

Never Pick Up Your Dog During Tug

When a dog is tugging on a toy, never pick her up off the ground. This tug maneuver wreaks havoc on a dog’s neck, shoulders and teeth, and it can cause permanent damage. Make sure every family member and your friends understand that dogs must keep all four feet on the ground to continue playing tug.

Placement of Dog Tug Toy Matters

Placement of your dog’s tug toy, during a game of tug, matters. While attending a dog training conference, Dr. Christine Zink DVM recommended holding tug toys to work different muscle groups.

For example, she recommends holding a tug toy level with your dog’s shoulders to work her rear end. When dogs are using their rear muscles to pull, you can see their behind and back doing most of the pulling work.

To work your dog’s shoulders and neck, hold a tug toy above her head. When dogs pull downward, their neck and shoulders are getting a workout. If your dog has previous neck or back injuries, use this information to adjust tug playing placement. Of course, if your dog has an injury, ask your veterinarian if your dog is able to play tug first because this game is a workout.

Dog Tug Toy Rules

As with everything, there’s a set of rules pet owners and dogs must follow to keep everyone safe. If, and when, your dog chokes up on the tug toy (i.e. grabs the toy closer to your hand), let go of the toy and end the session.

Playing tug with your dog has nothing to do with dominance; it’s just a game. Dogs learn quickly that tug is only fun when pet owners are pulling on the opposite end. If your dog refuses to let go of the tug toy, just drop your end and walk away. Also, it’s normal for dogs to growl while playing tug. It’s fun! If, at anytime, you become uncomfortable, just drop the toy to end the session.

WATCH: Teach Your Dog The Tug Game

What Is A Dog “Shake Off”?

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The Meaning Behind the Dog “Shake Off”

Dog Shaking
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Dogs communicate through body language every day, but unfortunately many people have a difficult time understanding them. If anyone should take the time to understand canine body language, it should be pet owners. Knowing what your dog wants or needs will keep everyone, including your dog, safe.

Every eye, ear, body or tail twitch means something—and looking at your dog’s entire body will give way to exactly what your dog is saying. “Shake off” is a dog body movement that is easily seen and has a very clear meaning. Let’s discuss exactly what a “shake off” looks like, what it means and why it’s a good thing.

What Does a Dog “Shake Off” Look Like?

It’s common to see a dog shake his entire body from nose to tail. It looks like the dog is shaking off water. Dogs will certainly shake their entire body to remove excess water after a swim or bath, but dogs also shake off when their coats are dry. When polling pet owners about shake offs, many are puzzled why their dogs do this behavior, especially when their coat is dry.

What Does It Mean?

When dry dogs “shake off,” they’re doing a few different things. First and foremost, they are shaking off stress. Humans do the same thing after scary or worrisome encounters; they take deep breaths while saying “phew.”

“Shake off” behavior is your dog’s response to dealing with stress. Instead of freaking out and lunging toward something scary, he shakes it off, which is a good thing. Usually, “shake offs” happen once a dog stops playing roughly with another dog, after meeting or seeing another dog, or during any human interaction.

Reward “Shake Offs”

Since dog “shake offs” are a positive way to deal with stress, they should be rewarded. When your dog shakes off, say “nice shake off.” Then, reward him with a treat, a game of “touch,” tug or something else your dog loves. When dogs aren’t handling their stress well, they become rigid and freeze. If this happens, remove your dog from the situation and reward “shake offs.”

Now, you’ll think of something totally different when listening to Taylor Swift’s song “Shake It Off.” 🙂

5 Meaningful Memorial Dog Tattoo Ideas

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Tattoo Ideas to Honor Your Dog

Dog Tattoo Ideas
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We love our dogs and want to keep them with us forever. As a professional dog trainer and passionate dog lover, my arms are filled with dog tattoos. As my dogs pass away, I have their portrait tattooed onto my skin, so they’re always with me. Now, tattoos are not for everyone, but if you adore permanent skin art and would like to pay tribute to your dog, check out these meaningful dog tattoo ideas.

1. Portrait

Once my dogs have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, my biggest fear is forgetting what their faces look like. Many pet owners choose to have their dog’s portrait tattooed onto their body using different artistic styles. Personally, I’m drawn to realism, but I’ve witnessed stunning watercolor, traditional and new school dog tattoos as well.

Choose your favorite photo of your dog, and find an amazing tattoo artist who specializes in portrait tattoos. You will never regret it.

2. Dog’s Name

Having your dog’s name tattooed across your fingers, arm or back is a wonderful memorial dog tattoo idea. With hundreds of script and font styles, it’s important to find something that reminds you of your dog.

Take your time and choose carefully, then find a tattoo artist who specializes in script. If you’re still stuck, tell your tattoo artist about your dog and he or she will draw up an amazing script to capture your dog’s essence.

3. Paw Print

Paw prints are easily the most versatile dog memorial tattoo idea. You can keep it simple or make it very personal. Some pet owners have their dog’s actual paw print tattooed onto their bodies. They achieve this by placing their dog’s paw into paint and creating a custom paw print stamp. One of my friends collects tiny paw prints after their dog passes away and gets it tattooed with their dog’s initial inside.

4. Quote

For some pet owners, quote tattoos are a meaningful way to mourn their dog’s passing. Choose a beautiful quote that makes your heart sing, and partner with a tattoo artist who specializes in script. A few popular quotes that will bring a tear to your eye include:

  • Forever would not have been enough.
  • I’ll meet you in the light.
  • Until we meet again.
  • Paw prints left on my soul.
  • Paw prints across my heart.
  • Forever in my heart.
  • Your wings were ready, but my heart was not.
  • Always in my heart.

5. Custom

Collect your favorite quotes, photos and paw print tattoo ideas, and bring them to your tattoo artist. It’s important to remember tattoo artists are truly gifted, and can combine your thoughts and ideas into a magnificent custom dog tattoo. Instead of choosing something literal, choose a simple image that reminds you of your dog, such as a rose, color or symbol.

Memorial dog tattoos are deeply personal. They don’t have to be easy to read or easily understandable; they just need to remind you of your dog.

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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