Dog Training Nation

In Dogs We Trust

You are here: Home / Blog

Do Dog Chew Deterrents Really Work?

by

How to Stop a Dog From Chewing

How to Stop a Dog From Chewing
Angela Schmidt/iStock

As you’re walking down the pet store aisle, you can’t help but notice rows of chew deterrents promising “no more chewing.” But does it work for most dogs or, better yet, puppies?

50/50 Chance

After years of polling puppy and adolescent clients about the effectiveness of dog chew deterrents for their pets, I’ve found it’s almost always split down the middle. For some dogs, it works wonders. The other half of dogs love the taste–go figure.

RELATED: Puppy Proofing Your Home

Half of Dogs Will Still Chew

Puppies chew. It’s going to happen so now it’s time to prevent those furry termites from eating your baseboards. Have dogs evolved to enjoy bitter tasting sprays? Maybe, but I think there’s much more to it.

Let’s face it. The urge to chew is powerful for young dogs and puppies so most will push through the nasty taste and sink their little teeth into your soft (and gorgeous) hardwood floors. Plus, constant exposure will dull sensory senses. Have you ever been in a heavily deodorized  room? At first, you gag and then after a few minutes, you don’t smell it any  longer. 🙂  Don’t forget, chewing deterrents have a minimal residual effect, meaning the nasty taste fades over time.

Now, let’s look at our behavior. We don’t normally prevent chewing. Instead, we spray previously chewed areas with deterrents. Oops. We’re reacting instead of being proactive, as our puppies just learned how to chew on our house.

RELATED: Puppy Teething

3 Steps to Get Your Dog to Stop Chewing

A dog safety gate (baby gate) works much better in the long run. By blocking access to unoccupied rooms, you’re preventing dog chewing by supervising puppies and ensuring they have plenty of items to chew on instead.

As with anything, a multi-prong approach is always best. I rarely find a solution that works alone.

  1. Set up a barrier (dog safety gate) to block access. Now, this is not forever. You just have to block access until your dog learns to chew on appropriate items instead.
  1. Get on your hands and knees, and spray chewing deterrents on items you don’t want redecorated with puppy pinholes.
  1. Now, give your dog plenty of chew toys, which work better than chew deterrents. 🙂 Bully sticks, food stuffed toys and interactive food toys will keep your puppy or dog busy for hours, meaning your house is safe for now!

You may also like: My Dog is a Messy Eater

Why Your Dog Is Shaking Or Shivering When Not Cold

by

Shaking Dog

Shaking Dog
W1zzard/iStock

While researching articles, I usually have the TV on for background noise. Today was no different until I noticed a small dog walking into a popular daytime talk show. Well, the movement of four feet instantly causes me to look up and smile. This darling little dog was accompanied by a well-known movie star who picked her up and immediately said, “She’s shaking because she’s cold. I’m not abusing her.”

Well I certainly don’t think the dog is shaking because she’s being abused, as she looks well loved by her pet parent. One thing I want to address: shaking or shivering doesn’t mean a dog is cold, but instead it means he or she is stressed or scared.

Do I feel this darling little dog is abused? No. She willingly walked onto a stage with her pet parent. Her shaking was minor and ended within a few minutes, meaning she settled into her pet parent’s secure arms and watched the crowd. But I do want to address the cold shaking myth because it’s not entirely true.

Dog Shaking Means Stress

Shivering or shaking means a dog is stressed or fearful. Humans react the same way. It’s a natural response to stress. Shaking paired with flattened ears, bulging eyes, tucked tail, closed mouth, or slow walking, looking away, turning head means fear. The dog is trying to walk away and ignore the cause of his fear.

Now, some dogs shake with excitement, but the majority of their body language is different. When dogs are excited, their ears are up, tail wags loosely, eyes soften, body bouncing or jumping around, and engage with whatever is causing their excitement.

Shaking, trembling and shivering can be a medical issue, and usually happens when dogs are hurt, nauseous or sick. If you suspect any of these causes, contact your vet immediately.

RELATED: How to Train Fearful Dogs

Why Dispel This Myth?

Once pet parents understand why their dogs are shaking, they can address it and move on. Now, dogs can shake because they’re cold, but it’s highly unlikely when it’s warm outside. I’ve yet to notice air conditioning causing a short-haired dog to shake. Plus, look at a dog’s entire body language. Choosing one thing to focus on (shaking) is like reading a sentence with missing words—you’re missing the true meaning.

How to Address Shaking and Shivering

If your dog shakes and shivers, take note where this happens. Usually, I witness small dogs shaking at the vet’s office or during the first day of group dog training classes. Now, this is not a small dog problem. I’ve witnessed large dogs shivering too—big dogs get scared too.

If you notice your dog is shaking due to fear or stress, bring super yummy treats with you when visiting these scary places. Ask your worried dog to “touch” while waiting at the vet’s office. This gives your dog something else to do instead of worry. Notice I mentioned dogs shake and shiver during the first day of class? It’s because we keep them busy by rewarding other behavior. Soon, dogs learn scary places mean yummy treats and they’re not as worried. They’ll have had more positive experiences than scary ones, so they learn it’s not that bad.

RELATED: My Dog Refuses to Move

Typical Redirection Session

Assuming fearful dogs will get over it is like assuming your fear of spiders will subside in a room filled of fast-moving spiders. It’s not going to happen, and it will only get worse. Instead, redirect their stress or fear with a simple game.

  • Use a clicker (or say “yes”) and super yummy treats, such as cheese bits, diced baked chicken or cubed lunchmeat. Don’t be stingy with treats. Give them often (every five seconds or so). 🙂
  • Ask dog to “touch” his nose to your hand. This is super easy to do, and it redirects his attention to something else. Refrain from asking “sit” or “down,” as this is tough to do when scared. Your dog is scared and really doesn’t want to draw any further attention to himself.
  • Patience is key. Usually, a stressed dog will reluctantly “touch” your palm, eat his treat slowly and scan the room again. Say “touch” again after he’s had a few seconds to look around in his environment (he’s making sure he’s safe).
  • Don’t repeat the “touch” cue. If your dog isn’t responding, move farther back from the scary thing and try again. Repeating “touch” over and over with ever increasing volume will cause additional stress. Your dog hears you, but he’s too scared to look away.
  • After a few “touches,” you’ll notice your dog rebounds faster, meaning he’ll look back at you quicker and touch your hand with gusto. Good job!

Keep practicing in scary situations and soon dog shaking and shivering will be a thing of the past. If it happens again, you know exactly what to do!

Dog Day Care Interview Questions

by

Interviewing at a Doggy Day Care

Doggy Day Care
Szepy/iStock

Ask dog friends, your veterinarian and, especially, your dog trainer which doggy day care facilities they recommend and why. Then, take a peek at their websites for additional information. Once you’ve selected several locations, set up face-to-face interviews with dog day care staff before bringing your dog. Keep your dog home when interviewing. You need to focus on asking questions and watching play sessions in progress.

Don’t forget to print this article. It provides acceptable answers to questions asked as well as acceptable solutions to common issues during playtime. Lastly, trust your gut. If something seems off, leave. I wish more pet owners trusted their gut. It’s usually always right. 🙂

Remember: dog day cares teach dogs how to play politely with other dogs. This should not be a free-for-all, which teaches dogs to fend for themselves or bully and hurt other dogs. There should be rules and boundaries.

RELATED: Choosing the Best Doggy Daycare

Person-to-Person Interview

  • How are your staff members trained?
    • All staff members must be trained in canine body language, managing groups of dogs, recognizing illnesses, preventing dog fights and so forth.
  • How much experience do they have before managing a play session?
    • Must have at least six months of experience before managing play sessions alone.
  • Is there a limit to the amount of dogs during a play session?
    • Maximum of eight dogs per one staff member.
  • What happens during a pre-screening process?
    • A staff member asks questions about your dog.
    • A staff member meets and assesses your dog’s personality.
    • If all goes well, your dog meets a friendly dog.
    • For the next week, your dog learns to play with a small group of dogs.
    • During screening, don’t allow your dog to jump in and play with eight dogs. That’s scary.
  • Do all dogs pass the pre-screening process?
    • No, only dogs that enjoy playing with other dogs are allowed to play.
  • What vaccinations do you require?
    • Minimum should be rabies.
    • Contact your local veterinarian for required vaccinations in your area. Requirements depend on region.
  • What happens if my dog is injured?
    • Your dog should immediately be driven to a local vet. Ensure the facility doesn’t employ a wait-and-see method. When in doubt, get it checked out.
    • Once a vet examines your dog, then the staff member should contact you. So many dogs have suffered for hours, waiting for a call back from their pet parents. Insist your dog is seen first.
    • The facility must work with a local veterinarian during the day and an emergency vet after hours (after 5pm). Ask for his or her name and location.
    • Will day care reimburse vet bills if caused in their facility? It’s best to find out now.
  • Are staff members certified in pet first aid and CPR?
    • If so, with whom? Red Cross and Pet Tech offer excellent training on pet first aid.
    • If not, why are they not trained?  What happens during an emergency?
  • If my dog is not having fun during playtime, what will happen?
    • Your dog should immediately be removed from the play area.
    • A staff member should call and inform you of the situation (after your dog is removed from the play area).
    • I would highly recommend picking your dog up and not enrolling in play sessions any longer.
    • Ask if there’s a refund if you decide to no longer bring your dog to day care.
  • My dog can be a bully, is he or she allowed to play?
    • No. There should not be any promises of training, socialization or trial periods. Bullies should be removed immediately and not allowed in class.
  • Will my dog have plenty of rest time?
    • Tired dogs get cranky and will squabble so quiet times (naps) should happen at least once per day. Older dogs may require more rest periods.

RELATED: Appropriate Puppy Play

Watching Play Sessions in Progress

When watching play sessions during your selection process, it’s important to observe structure and consequences:

  • What happens when a dog bullies another dog?
    • The bully should be removed from the playgroup.
  • What happens when a dog is tired and lies down for a nap, but other dogs keep pestering him?
    • Place tired dog in a kennel to rest.
  • When play sessions become too rowdy, what happens?
    • A staff member interacts play by walking between dogs or separating them.
  • What happens if a dog yelps?
    • A staff member must thoroughly check out the yelping dog or better yet, remove the dog and have someone check him or her out. Then, let the dog rest before bringing him or her back to playtime.
  • What are staff members doing during playtime?
    • They should be constantly walking around and monitoring dogs playing.
    • They should not be on their phones, only playing with specific dogs or ignoring scared dogs.
    • Honestly, this is not an easy job. They are constantly hustling.
  • Are potty accidents cleaned up immediately?
    • Yes, and all accidents should be cleaned immediately. A mop and bucket should be in the play area.
  • Watch staff members’ hands. They should be gentle and friendly.
    • There should be no hitting, slapping or roughhousing.
    • Staff members should be happy to be there.

Choosing the Best Doggy Day Care

by

How to Choose the Best Doggy Day Care

Doggy Day Care
filrom/iStock

It’s not that hard. It just takes visiting several locations, watching and asking questions. Keep your dog at home when interviewing potential doggy day care locations. You’ll need to be focused and ask lots of questions.

Qualified Staff

This is a must, as qualified staff can spot bullies, scared or shut down dogs and ensure dogs are having a positive play experience. All staff must complete training on canine body language, manage dogs effectively, introduce dogs positively and break up dog fights (unfortunately, it happens). Plus, they must have at least six months to a year of experience before managing playing dogs alone.

Thorough Pre-Screening Exam

Oh, this is important too, but only if exams are completed by qualified staff. Your dog must be screened before being allowed to play with other dogs.

During the screening process:

  • Dog day care staff are gathering information about your dog’s play style, personality and health, which is invaluable in ensuring a fun time by all.
  • If all goes well, an experienced staff member may introduce your dog to another (one) friendly dog and then move along slowly. Dogs should be introduced to a small group of polite dogs (two to three) at first and allowed to play under supervision. After a week or so, your dog can meet and play with a full play group.
  • During a pre-screening test, your dog should never be placed in a room full of dogs as a screening test. Information must be gathered with you and your dog alone first. Before this happens, take your dog and leave.

Doggy Day Care is Not for All Dogs

Dogs that are scared, fearful, anxious, growl, snap, bite or refrain from engaging in play should not attend day care.

Forcing scared or aggressive dogs to meet other dogs will make fears worse. They won’t overcome their fears, but they will learn how to fight instead of play. I know you don’t think this can happen to your dog, but this happens every day, if not several times a day. If your dog doesn’t want to play, don’t make him. Think about it this way: if you’re scared of spiders and someone locks you in a room filled with fast-moving spiders, your fear will only worsen.

If a staff member is hesitant about adding your dog into a play session, listen to his gut reaction and don’t push the issue further. Many dogs are pushed into playgroups because pet owners want to socialize their dogs. Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. Invest in a fabulous pet sitter instead.

Limit Amount of Playing Dogs

One staff member for eight dogs is plenty. Staff members are present to ensure all dogs are having fun, playing politely and removing dogs that are tired and no longer having fun. With too many dogs, this won’t happen and it becomes a free-for-all, meaning your dog learns to threaten other dogs to keep them away.

Pushy Dogs are Not Allowed to Play

Bullies are everywhere: at schools, in our workplace and, yes, even at doggy day cares. Pushy dogs constantly pester (pick on) other dogs by pinning, holding a dog in a corner, chasing and rolling, and/or body slamming. Bullies should not be allowed to practice this behavior during playtime. They will only worsen and it’s not fair to other dogs. Bullies must be removed immediately. And if they continue the behavior, bullies should not be allowed to play again.

RELATED: Stop Bullying Behavior

Health Comes First

Potty accidents should be cleaned immediately with disinfectant and free from any odor. Also, dogs must be vaccinated with regular fecal checks, as disease spreads quickly when large groups of dogs are housed together. Lastly, play areas should be disinfected once all dogs have gone home for the day.

The Difference Between AKC, UKC and CKC

by

AKC, UKC and CKC: What’s the Difference?

Dog Breeder
calero/iStock

By far, this is the most asked question from pet parents searching for a purebred dog or puppy in the U.S. They’re looking for a reputable place to begin their research and choose a breeder. Understand, clubs set standards for events (shows or obedience trails) and keep track of puppy registration paperwork. That’s it. Not all breed registration clubs are alike. You will be shocked.

Good Breeder Checklist

Before discussing purebred dog registration clubs, it’s extremely important to understand the difference between dog breeders. They’re not all the same.  A reputable (good) breeder will:

  • Be a member of a national breed-specific club.
  • Health test all parents, grandparents and great grandparents.
  • Show their dogs in conformation (dog shows prove parents fit the breed standard).
  • Keep puppies until 8-10 weeks of age (leaving the mother earlier will cause behavior problems down the road).
  • Vaccinate puppies before placing (vaccinations and deworming).
  • Provide a contract with a lifetime guarantee for inheritable health conditions.
  • Provide documentation on health testing of parents, grandparents and so forth. Don’t accept verbal promises. Ask for health testing certificates.
  • Take back a puppy or dog regardless of the issue.
  • Microchip or tattoo the puppy or dog to identify before placing in a new home.
  • Provide constant support and information about socialization, feeding, caring for and any other questions for the puppy’s or dog’s entire life.

If someone doesn’t meet the above requirements, keep looking and don’t let price spook you. If you forgo health tested parents, you’ll end up paying for it down the road with health problems. I see it every day.

American Kennel Club (AKC)

In my opinion, this is the best place to start your research, but tread carefully, as all is not what it seems. AKC registration doesn’t guarantee a mentally and physically sound puppy or dog. It just means the sire (father) and dam (mother) are AKC registered. Paperwork is meaningless unless a breeder is committed to bettering her breed by following the above requirements.

National Breed Clubs – Start Here

AKC is the mother ship of breed-specific parent clubs so, basically, each breed-specific club is its own entity. National breed clubs are the heartbeat of any puppy registration kennel club. It ensures healthy and sound dogs.

As an example, American Rottweiler Club (ARC) sets the national breed standard (describing how the ideal Rottweiler should behave and look like) with experienced Rottweiler breeders and club members. Now, ARC reports to AKC, which keeps track and enforces breed standards through dog shows and so forth. While it seems completed, it really isn’t and it’s a good thing seasoned Rottie owners make these decisions. Think of these experts as the boots on the ground for a specific breed.

Click here and search for your breed of dog, then click “more” and learn more about the breed, such as breed standard and breed club. Now, click on “National Breed Club” to locate and interview breeders listed. These are the good folks. 🙂

But Don’t Be Fooled

Many pet owners fall into the black hole of “AKC’s Online Breeder Classifieds” on AKC’s website so click carefully and don’t be swooned by glamorous promises or wording. If you’re browsing through it now, notice how many breeders skip over or leave sections of the Breeder’s Profile blank? Yup, do not buy puppies or dogs from these folks.

United Kennel Club (UKC)

The United Kennel Club is a good place to search too. They are larger and recognize more breeds than AKC, however, they’re not as popular. UKC does a nice job hosting events (e.g. dog shows, obedience trails and so forth) since they focus on conformation and working titles.

National Parent Clubs – Start Here

Just like AKC, they have parent clubs, which create breed standards, which is the perfect place to locate a reputable breeder. Just don’t forget to follow the above guidelines.

Click here to locate a national breed club and learn more about your chosen breed. When browsing on the breed club’s website, search for breeders, begin locating and interview them. These are the good folks, but they must offer the above guidelines.

Don’t Be Fooled

When searching under “Dog Finder” and “Breeder List,” be careful of false promises and fancy wording. Now, each classified lists services, event participation and health screenings, which is a good thing, but ask for documentation before exchanging money.

Continental Kennel Club (CKC)

Continental Kennel Club is a newer puppy registration club, which registers all dogs regardless if pure or mixed breed. Don’t get this club confused with Canadian Kennel Club, also known as CKC. They are totally different. CKC is a tough place to narrow down reputable breeders–it’s equivalent to finding a teeny tiny needle in 20 acres of piled up hay.  

No Quality Control

AKC and UKC have field personnel inspecting breeders unannounced to ensure registered dogs are indeed purebred and kept in clean and sanitary environments. CKC does not offer this type of quality control so it’s bad luck on your puppy’s heritage (which helps with health issues later in life) and temperament.

No National Parent Clubs

No national parent club means there aren’t experienced members (breeders) to create a breed standard (which ensures Rottweilers look like Rottweilers) or identify or require health testing–yikes! Also, no breed standard means no temperament requirements, which as a dog trainer, scares me to death. Anyone can breed anything he wants. There are no restrictions.

Classified Ads

There are lots of pictures and promises of beauty, wonderful temperament, no health issues in their line (every bloodline has health issues!), limited health guarantee (um, they should have a contract for life) and cheap prices–very alluring for a novice pet owner. Don’t forget, a reputable breeder will follow the above guidelines so you better lace up your running shoes. This is a difficult place to find a good breeder.

You may also like: Bully Breeds

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.

Dog Training Nation

Quick Links

Dog Training
Dog Behavior
Dog Training Videos
Become a Dog Trainer
About
Contact Us