Before Flying With A Dog, Teach These Skills

June 5, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Dog Training Tips for Flying With a Dog

For a safe and stress-free flight with your dog, it’s important to teach your dog a few valuable skills before boarding an airplane. All dogs should know these behaviors before taking off in a jet plane regardless if they’re riding in the cabin or as checked baggage (in belly of the plane).

As a reminder, resist purchasing fake service dog certificates and vests. These “special” permits are not fooling anyone. Plus, airlines are cracking down on fake services dogs, so follow pet airline travel restrictions and teach your dog to enjoy riding in an airplane. 🙂

Crate Training

First, teach your dog that her airline pet carrier is a wonderful place to be, so she happily walks into it on the day of your flight. You’ll also want to train your dog to comfortably rest in her carrier for an extended amount of time. Check out this article for crate training tips.

Introduce Movement

Once your dog enjoys relaxing in her crate, it’s time to introduce movement.

With your dog inside her pet carrier, take a stroll through your neighborhood and reward her for remaining quiet. Vary your walking pace too, as sometimes we’re rushed at airports. Then, slip a few yummy treats inside when she happily remains still.

If you’re traveling with larger dogs, place your large dog’s crate inside your car. Now, load your dog into his crate, close the door and toss a few treats inside. Drive around your neighborhood, on the highway and around curving roads. Start slowly, then add additional distance, so your dog gets used to movement in his crate.

Simulate Airplane Sounds

As if being in an airport isn’t stressful enough, it’s very loud and the sound of jet engines is absolutely ear-piercing. All of this could be very distracting to your dog, so it’s recommended to positively introduce your dog to these weird sounds weeks before a flight.

For small dogs, bring your dog into your laundry room when clothes are drying. While inside the laundry room, play a few games of “touch.” (Of course, your dog should know how to play “touch” prior to this exercise.) Once she’s comfortable with the dryer noise, place her inside her pet carrier in the laundry room. Continue to practice for a few days.

Finally, set your dryer on low without any clothes inside and place your dog inside her carrier on top of the dryer. The bouncing and noise of a running dryer will feel like a plane ride. Reward generously throughout the entire process.

For large dogs, you can simulate the flying experience using this method too, but you might have a little trouble getting your dog into her carrier on top of the dryer. 🙂

Friendly Behavior

The last tip before flying with a dog is to teach your dog to be friendly. This means your dog isn’t barking at people, walks politely on leash, and can be easily picked up and carried.

Security areas are packed with noise and people. If you have a small dog, you’ll be walking through scanners together. Many bystanders might ask to pet your dog, so it’s vital your dog responds appropriately.

While large dogs don’t walk through main security gates, they will walk into the check-in area of an airport. This place is buzzing with people, rolling suitcases and, at times, hot tempers. From there, your dog will get inside her crate and be wheeled off by an airline employee. You’ll want to ensure your large dog is friendly at all times.

Safe Travels!

4 Dog Training Cues Every Dog Should Know

June 2, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Teach Your Dog These Basic Dog Training Cues

All dogs should learn a series of basic dog training cues to keep them safe while having fun. Most puppy group classes teach these important behaviors, but dogs are never too old to learn these training cues either.

Grab your clicker, super yummy treats and your dog. Practice daily for 1-2 minutes to ensure your dog’s behaviors are sharp. In addition, practicing these cues will provide your dog lots of mental enrichment, which is a good thing.

1. Touch

Touch is such a simple dog behavior that can be used anywhere and for anything; it’s my favorite cue for all dogs. Dogs love this behavior too because it’s easy and super fun.

Teach your dog to touch his nose to the palm of your hand when your hand is presented. There’s no verbal cue. Instead, your hand becomes the signal to play the “touch” game. Once your dog understands to purposefully touch his nose to the palm of your hand, move your hand farther away, so your dog walks over and touches.

This dog game can be played quickly or slowly, and can be played at your vet’s office, in the car, at the park or on the sofa. Touch is extremely useful when teaching loose leash walking and coming when called too.

2. Come When Called

Training a dog to return back to you on cue is invaluable. This training cue prevents dogs from running off and getting lost, chasing things, fence fighting, and so much more.

Start by playing this game indoors and use high value rewards. Every time your dog returns back to you, throw a party! Once your dog reliably returns to you indoors, it’s time to take this game outdoors and make it fun.

Try running away from your dog while rapidly repeating high-pitched sounds to prompt your dog to chase you indoors. When your dog returns to you, make treats rain from the sky. If you’re more interesting than the squirrel, your dog will return back every time.

3. Body Handling

All dogs should learn that body handling is super rewarding. Teach your dog that you touching his ears, paws, tail and belly make treats appear. Once your dog is comfortable with body handling, meaning he doesn’t pull away while you’re touching a body part, reward for longer sessions.

Start slow and click your dog when he comfortably allows you to touch and look into his ear for a second. Gradually increase the time by 1-2 second increments. Reward your dog for mouth handling too, which is a great introduction to tooth brushing. Don’t forget your dog’s rear end too! Click and treat when lifting your dog’s tail, touching his belly and touching his rear paws.

4. Leave It

The “leave it” behavior can be used anywhere too. Train your dog to ignore discarded chicken bones during walks, dropped food in the kitchen or another dog in the distance. “Leave it” is an amazing impulse control game too. Your dog will soon learn that his behavior really matters. Reward this behavior heavily and keep it light and fun.

UP NEXT: Does Positive Reinforcement Dog Training Really Work?

3 Common Dog Fears You Should Know About

May 31, 2017 by Fanna Easter

How to Help Your Dog With Common Dog Fears

Nearly everyone has his fears and phobias, including your dog. To change your dog’s behavior around common dog fears, it’s important to pair good things with those scary things. If, at anytime, a dog panics around these stimuli, partner with an experienced dog trainer and/or a veterinary behaviorist.

1. Sounds

Fear of certain sounds is pretty common among dogs, but most dogs recover quickly after their initial startle. Unfortunately, some dogs don’t recover as quickly and become incredibly fearful of sounds.

Sounds that can be scary to your dog may include:

Fireworks
Thunder
Lightning crackles
Sirens
Loud booms
Screaming children
Smoke alarms
Loudly shut doors

Personally, I live with a dog terrified of food sizzling in a pan. Scary sounds can be anything.

Usually, dogs with a noise phobia have underlying anxiety issues, so these issues should be approached from many different directions. Pairing good things with scary things works extremely well, but only if a dog is kept below threshold (i.e. kept calm around the stimulus).

Giving bits of super yummy food when a dog hears a sound, or playing a fun game while food sizzles in the background, will teach your dog that scary sounds make fun happen. If it rained $100 bills when an old house creaked spooky sounds at night (a fear of mine), I would look forward to that sound.

Now, if a dog panics around certain sounds, using medications can certainly help the learning process, but partner with a veterinary behaviorist first.

2. Fast Movement

No one likes fast movements, not even humans, so it’s understandable why this is a common dog fear. While fast moving objects are unsettling, it’s even scarier when fast moving objects are moving toward you.

Examples of fast moving objects include:

Dogs
People
Bicycles
Joggers
Skateboarders
Loud trucks

Most dogs will ignore, or try to ignore, something moving in the background, but they become really stressed when these things move closer. Most dogs learn that approaching people will try to touch them, a strange dog will try to sniff them (or attack them), and bicycles will get too close during walks in the park. Eventually, dogs will start to bark at these fast moving objects to keep them away.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If someone asks to pet your dog, allow your dog to make the decision.[/perfectpullquote]

Teaching dogs that fast moving objects are normal parts of the environment is key. When a dog looks at something moving past, click and treat as she’s looking at it. She will learn that fast moving things make treats appear.

Also, it’s important to keep your dog safe. Never allow strange dogs to approach your dog. Most dogs strongly dislike meeting other dogs. The same applies to humans. If someone asks to pet your dog, allow your dog to make the decision. If your dog moves forward and happily greets that person, that’s great. But if your dog hides behind you, listen to your dog and explain that your dog is just not a big greeter.

RELATED: Dog Socialization Tips

3. New Situations

New situations can be super scary to dogs. People don’t like them either. One place most dogs fear is the vet’s office. Sitting and waiting in a vet’s office can freak most dogs out.

When bringing your dog into a new situation, be prepared. Before leaving, pack lots of super yummy treats, fill Kongs with peanut butter and teach your dog the “touch” cue. In the new environment, play “touch” with your dog and reward with yummy treats or a food stuffed Kong to enjoy. Pairing good things with stressful situations works. Think about it this way: What if it rained $100 bills every time you were in gridlock? You would probably look forward to seeing a sea of red brake lights!

Make it rain $100 bills for you and your dog today!

Help! My Dog Doesn’t Like Me

May 30, 2017 by Fanna Easter

10 Things Humans Do That Dogs Hate

Dogs do speak; they just don’t necessarily verbalize it all of the time. For some, reading dog body language is like solving a puzzle, but it’s not as hard as it seems. Dogs will make it clear when they don’t like something, and it’s our job as responsible dog owners to determine when something is wrong.

Also, if your dog doesn’t like something, please stop doing the behavior. This is how most dog bites occur. Here’s a list of 1o things humans do that dogs hate.

1. Forcing Our Dogs to Meet Strange Dogs

Dogs enjoy greeting strange dogs, right? Wrong. As a dog trainer, I’m called in to pick up the pieces after a dog greeting another dog has gone wrong. Nine out of 10 dogs are completely uncomfortable with dog-to-dog greetings whether you’re at the farmers market, pet store or even dog park.

Unfortunately, many pet owners are too busy chatting on their phones, selecting the best tomatoes or picking out a toy for their dogs to notice. When dogs are uncomfortable meeting other dogs, they:

Shrink back
Flip their ears backwards
Tuck their tail
Growl
Snap
Lunge

Instead, you should maintain at least 6 feet away from other dogs and listen to your dog’s body language. When in doubt, just don’t do it.

2. Skipping Sniffing Opportunities

After polling pet owners about daily dog walks, more than 50% feel powerwalking for a specific distance meets the criteria for a successful dog walk. There’s one huge piece missing though, and that’s allowing their dogs sniffing opportunities.

Dogs perceive the world through their noses, so make sure your dog has plenty of time to sniff blades of grass, tree trunks and bushes. When dogs sniff, they’re reading “pee mail” where squirrels had hunted for nuts, bunny trails and so very much more. Dogs will briefly sniff usually no longer than one minute unless something alive is hiding in that spot, and then they move along to the next sniffing spot.

Bring treats along during each walk to reward your dog for the “leave it” cue, especially when your dog finds chewed up gum or discarded bones. Sniffing provides plenty of mental stimulation for your dog and it exhausts him too, so let him sniff away.

3. Putting Our Faces in Our Dogs’ Face

Dogs enjoy close contact with humans, but they feel most comfortable when they can choose the distance. Humans get close—like really close to their dogs’ face. We enjoy showing affection by putting our face right in our dog’s face to snuggle or give kisses. However, this is way too close for most dogs.

Now, I’m not saying dogs dislike face contact. Some dogs will reach in and kiss our faces, but face contact should be your dog’s choice. You can tell when your dog isn’t comfortable with your face being next to his face when he:

Turns away
Yawns
Pulls away
Flips his ears backwards
Licks his lips
Freezes
Growls
Walks off

Listen to your dog, and remember most dog bites happen to faces because humans like to stick their faces too close. Give your dog the choice to make face contact instead.

4. Staring

It’s the same with humans; staring is one of those things dogs hate and find rude. While humans stare lovingly into their dog’s eyes, dogs hate it. Refrain from staring at your dog, especially during dog training sessions. Instead, focus on your dog’s chin or chest.

Also, spend a few moments teaching your dog that eye contact is rewarding by teaching the “look at me” cue. If you find yourself gazing into your dog’s darling face, and he looks away from you, then understand your dog finds staring very uncomfortable.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]And bringing another dog into the mix, so your lonely outdoor dog has a friend, is still cruel.[/perfectpullquote]

5. Secluding Our Dogs

Permanently banishing dogs to the backyard, another room or garage is cruel. Dogs enjoy lounging next to their humans—either in the same room or right next to their feet. Dogs are domesticated, meaning they need contact from humans and other pets.

Dogs are not lawn ornaments. And bringing another dog into the mix, so your lonely outdoor dog has a friend, is still cruel. Bring your dog indoors, and teach him polite manners, so he’s able to happily co-exist with his people. 🙂

6. Moving Straight Toward Them

Dogs hate when people walk straight toward them. They find it annoying. Instead of making a beeline toward a dog with outstretched hands, bend down and turn sideways. Keep your hands at your side, and ignore the dog. Allow dogs to make choices. Understand that dogs will run toward their pet owners, but they may also choose to ignore strangers and other dogs. Support a dog’s choice.

7. Repeating Cues

“Sit, sit, sit, sit. I said sit, no…SIT.” This is annoying to read. Imagine hearing this sound happening over and over again. When pet owners repeat cues, it sounds like you’re nagging, which never works. Instead, say a cue once. If your dog doesn’t respond instantly, she may not really know the cue (or understand the cue in that situation).

8. Pushing & Pulling

Pushing or pulling a dog into a behavior or giving physical corrections is beyond annoying to dogs. Plus, it can scare dogs, causing them to bite. If we can train zoo animals using force-free methods, we can certainly teach dogs polite behaviors without pushing or pulling. Choose force-free training, please.

9. Assuming Dogs are Guilty

Nope, dogs do not feel guilt nor spite. When pet owners yell at their dogs, it’s important to understand their dogs are not leaving the situation due to guilt. Rather, their dogs are scared.

10. Being Pestered by Children

When children constantly touch, pet, poke, harass or play with a dog, it’s exhausting. All dogs deserve a quiet place to get away from all the hustle and bustle. Children should learn not to pester dogs. Plus, children should never sit, lie down or stand on a dog. The same goes for forcing kisses and hugs. Dogs don’t like it.

Is Your Dog Bored?

May 26, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Bored Dog: Symptoms and Solutions

Signs of a Bored Dog — Patryk Kosmider/Adobe Stock

Most dogs are bored, especially if they’re left home alone while their pet owners work all day. For the most part, dog boredom behavior resembles excessive behaviors because bored dogs are trying to expel excess energy.

Being bored is not a good thing for dogs, and most don’t appreciate it like humans. Think of a bored child; that’s how a bored dog feels. If your dog displays these bored dog behaviors, check out the following boredom busting solutions!

Signs of a Bored Dog

1. Excessive Barking

Easily, excessive barking is the most common behavior of bored dogs. Most pet owners assume dogs bark to protect their property, but that’s not exactly true. Bored dogs look for something to do, and barking is an easy outlet.

Excessive barking can happen anywhere, but it most commonly happens when dogs are left alone in backyards or inside their homes. Bored dogs will bark at anything—even at noises a half-mile away or falling leaves (this is quite common). Dogs left indoors usually sit on windowsills barking at anything and everything that passes by.

Many pet owners assume barking is a good thing; it gives their dogs something to do and keeps intruders out. But excessive barking teaches dogs to bark to make things go away. As a self-enforcing behavior, barking provides some type of satisfaction to a dog. Think about it this way: When a dog barks, it makes a squirrel run away, mail deliverer leave or jogger disappear.

Barking is a slippery slope, and it can become a habit rather quickly. Your dog will eventually learn to bark aggressively to make something scary go away, such as house guests or the veterinary staff, which isn’t a good thing.

2. Destructive Behavior

When dogs are bored, they’re looking for something to do. Your drapes, pillows, bedding, toilet paper, kitchen counters and trash cans are all fair game. So often, pet owners return home to a living room filled with pillow stuffing and an exhausted dog snoozing right next to it. If this happens, just pick up the pillow stuffing and vow to provide boredom busters to your dog daily.

Never get angry. It’s just confusing to your dog, and remember dogs do not feel guilt. Rather, dogs are freaked out by your angry behavior. Channel your dog’s pillow popping energy toward something else. 🙂

RELATED: Is Your Dog Confused?

Boredom Busters for Dogs

Daily physical exercise and mental enrichment are key boredom busters for dogs. Mental enrichment is just as important as physical exercise, so choose three boredom busters from the list below and provide daily. For maximum benefits, rotate between each boredom buster to keep your dog busy while you’re away.

10 Boredom Busters

Feed all meals inside of a Kong (freeze to last longer). Toss food stuffed toys as you leave for work.
Fill puzzle toys with high value treats.
Walk your dog for 30 minutes. Hire a pet sitter if needed.
Play fetch.
Practice dog training skills (e.g. touch, down, sit, loose leash walking, come when called, etc.) once you return home from work.
Grab a few boxes and toss treats inside one. Nose games are exhausting and fun and a great way for dogs to find their dinner.
Once home, play tug for 20 minutes.
Have fun with a flirt pole. A flirt pole mimics a running squirrel. This is a great activity for late afternoons.
Before leaving for work, toss a handful of high value treats in the yard (or high pile rug). Your dog will have to hunt for each kibble.
Take your dog on a car ride.

Give your dog something to do, so he doesn’t find his own boredom busters!