Simple Solution To Stop Your Dog From Getting Into Your Trash

September 23, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Stop Your Dog From Getting Into Your Trash

It will eventually happen—your dog will attempt to or actually raid your trash can. While it’s annoying and gross, it makes total sense from your dog’s perspective. It’s a buffet in there! Unfortunately, dogs don’t understand that eating trash can make them really sick. Check out these foolproof and easy tips to stop your dog from getting into your trash.

Purchase a Trash Can With a Heavy Lid

You can certainly spend hours teaching your dog to leave a trash can alone, or you can purchase a trash can with a heavy lid. Honestly, purchasing a lidded trash can is a quick and extremely effective solution. It’s not fancy, but it stops your dog from getting into your trash!

A Little Story About Management

Let me tell you a little story about managing a dog’s environment. Years ago, I arrived at a client’s home for a private lesson. Before I was hired, this client spent thousands of dollars trying to teach his yellow Lab not to chew remote controls, yet it continued to happen. During our first consultation, I sat quietly for 30 minutes while my client explained that nothing was working. Clearly, this client was upset and his poor Lab was totally confused.

Finally, my client asked, “How would you fix my dog?” This was my cue to chime in. I politely and delicately suggested placing all remote controls inside a lidded box and keeping the box on the coffee table.

There was a long pause, and I held my breath. Did I offend my client? He sat down and began to laugh. After another long pause, he said, “Wow, I never thought of that. That would work.” Whew, and from then on, all remote controls were safe and my client’s yellow Lab lived a very happy life. Plus, the issue was solved within an hour!

Choosing a Lidded Trash Can

This is the most important step. I recommend purchasing a trash can with a heavy lid. You can tell when a lid is heavy when there’s a clanging sound upon the closing of the lid. Not all trash can lids are the same. It’s best to choose a smooth-edged heavy lidded trash can. That way the trash can is securely sealed. Even a tiny lip can easily be opened by your dog’s nose.

Put the Trash Can in a Cabinet

Dogs are super smart. When dogs practice a behavior for a long time, they get really good at it. If your dog has learned how to lift a heavy trash can lid, knock it over to open it or bump it just right, then try this tip.

Place your trash can behind a bathroom or kitchen cabinet. If your dog knows how to open your kitchen cabinet, place child locks or straps to ensure cabinet doors remain closed. Now, I’ve only seen this happen a couple of times, and both times these dogs were completely bored and left alone all day.

Will This Really Stop My Dog?

Yes, using a heavy lidded trash can really does stop your dog from getting into your trash. Rarely am I able to make suggestions that work this quickly. By taking these preventative measures, your dog will stop getting into your trash can. Imagine if your ice maker stops producing ice. You’ll keep trying to get ice from it until you learn it’s no longer working. And if you decide not to fix your ice maker, you learn to adapt your life around it. 🙂 It’s that simple!

1 Easy Trick to Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

September 19, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

Standing still while someone pokes, prods and examines your body is tough for most dogs. Honestly, it’s tough for little and big humans too. Instead of forcing a dog to stand still, try this super easy dog training tip that works quickly and rewards your dog too!

Use a Peanut Butter Plate

A peanut butter plate is just as appetizing as it sounds! Smear creamy peanut butter across the entire surface of a plate and hold it up for your dog to lick away. When choosing a plate size, I recommend using a large dinner plate, especially if your dog needs to stand for longer than 3-5 minutes. By increasing the surface area of smeared peanut butter, it takes longer for your dog to lick than if you were to use a small saucer. You also want to make sure the plate doesn’t move around while your dog licks it, so choose a heavy plate. If you don’t have a heavy plate, place it on non-skid surfaces.

RELATED: Understanding Dog Nutrition

Check Ingredients First

Before using peanut butter, it’s important to check its ingredients first. Unfortunately, many companies are adding xylitol, which is a low-calorie sweetener. Xylitol is deadly for dogs—even the tiniest amount.

What If My Dog is Allergic to Peanut Butter?

Some dogs and humans are allergic to peanut butter; it’s actually pretty common. I suggest using a thick and creamy food to replace peanut butter. My Bull Terrier is allergic to peanut butter, so I either use cream cheese, squeeze cheese in a bottle or almond butter. If your dog is restricted to a prescription diet, I recommend purchasing several prescription dog food cans and using those in place of peanut butter.

How to Use a Peanut Butter Plate

Ask a friend to hold up the food-smeared plate, so your dog can comfortably stand and lick the plate without lowering his head. If you live alone, I recommend placing a peanut butter plate on furniture; that way, your dog is comfortable while standing still. For example, I’ve placed food-smeared plates on top of ottomans and sofas for large dogs.

For small dogs, place the plate on top of stacked books or even smear peanut butter on washable walls. For baths, I recommend smearing peanut butter on the wall of your shower. After your dog is bathed, rinse off and voila!

Why Use a Peanut Butter Plate

I highly recommend using a peanut butter plate any and every time your dog needs to stand still. By pairing something good, such as a plate of peanut butter, with standing still, you’re teaching your dog to enjoy standing still. And it doesn’t stop there!

When you pair something good during a certain situation, you’re positively changing your dog’s behavior. I recommend adding something positive (peanut butter plate) during baths, nail trims, brushing, ear cleanings, massages, vet exams and weight checks.

Will You Always Need a Food-Smeared Plate?

Maybe or maybe not; it depends on how your dog reacts during specific situations. You may need to use a peanut butter plate during all nail trims because your dog might always dislike them, and that is OK. It’s easier and much kinder to hold a peanut butter plate than hold your dog down.

Please understand that using a peanut butter plate isn’t bribery. Food-smeared plates are an effective dog training tool for teaching your dog a new behavior. Expecting a dog to do something because he’s told to do it is completely outdated. Instead, teach your dog what to do. I promise, it takes much less time.

Peanut Butter Plate Demos

WATCH: Make Brushing Your Dog MUCH Easier

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WATCH: DIY Comfy Dog Cone

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What You Should Feed Your Dog for Better Health

September 16, 2016 by Fanna Easter

6 Ways to Boost Your Dog’s Health

As pet owners, we make health decisions for our dogs every day by choosing what they eat. We’re also responsible for preventing our dogs from getting sick. Boost your dog’s health with these dog health tips! As always, partner with your veterinarian when giving your dog any type of supplementation, especially if your dog is scheduled to undergo surgery.

Fresh Diet

We know fresh whole foods are better for us than ultra-processed or packaged foods, but did you know this applies to our dogs too? Feeding your dog a raw or home-cooked meal is a pretty important step in improving your dog’s health. Raw and home-cooked meals are made with real food that contain nutrients and fiber as opposed to kibble, which is cooked at high temperatures and loses its valuable nutrients.

Feeding raw or homemade meals will drastically improve your dog’s well-being. Within 30 days, you’ll notice:

Gleaming odorless coat
Supple skin
Odorless breath
Less itching

When feeding your dog, remember that balance is key.

Digestive Enzymes

If your dog has any type of tummy issues, eats dog poop or dirt, or has allergy issues, then you should add digestive enzymes to your dog’s daily meals. Digestive enzymes help your dog digest his food and utilize the nutrients. Just sprinkle digestive enzyme powder on top of your dog’s food, stir and serve. There are hundreds of digestive enzymes for dogs. Check out my favorites here.

Probiotics

This is a big one! Your dog’s gut is a vital part of his immune system, so it’s pretty important to keep it happy and healthy. Probiotics introduce good bacteria into your dog’s gut to keep bad bacteria in check. Plus, many foods need good bacteria to assist in digestion.

Most digestive enzymes already include probiotics because it’s good for digestive health. Select probiotics made for dogs because a dog’s gut needs different strains of good bacteria than that of humans.

Multivitamins

For years, veterinarians and pet owners debated whether or not they should add multivitamins to dog food, and I can totally understand their concern. Vets were worried about over-supplementation, which can be harmful and downright deadly when specific vitamins are supplemented. Since kibble (dry dog food) is processed, many vitamins are added back into kibble to meet a dog’s needs. However, not all dogs are absorbing and utilizing those vitamins.

Many veterinarians are now recommending whole food multivitamins for daily use with meals. As opposed to synthetic versions, these multivitamins are made from real foods, which is better for the body. Think about whole food multivitamins this way: our bodies utilize more vitamin C when consuming it from oranges than tablets. Plus, consuming real foods prevents over-supplementation. By far, my favorite multivitamin for dogs is Standard Process Whole Canine Support.

Fish Oil

Omega-3 and DHA are powerhouses for our dogs’ bodies. Just like the human body, fish oil reduces inflammation in the form of arthritis, allergies and chronic pain. Fish oil is also important for brain function of puppies and senior citizens, and promotes healthy skin and coat too.

When choosing fish oil, look for oils containing wild caught fish in capsule or liquid form. Start adding fish oil slowly to your dog’s daily meals. If you add too much too soon, it will cause your dog’s stool to be loose. My favorite fish oils for dogs are Ascenta Fish Oil and Nordic Naturals Fish Oil.

Vitamin D3

We all know the power of vitamin D, but we incorrectly assume that sun exposure provides our dogs with plenty of this vital vitamin. Our holistic veterinarian had recommended checking our dogs’ vitamin D levels, and both dogs had very low levels. Low vitamin D levels can contribute to congestive heart failure, thyroid dysfunction and many other serious health issues.

We started supplementing our dogs with vitamin D3 twice a day with meals. We noticed they seemed to be more relaxed, yet full of energy. Check out this article on the importance of checking your dog’s vitamin D levels and how supplementation will boost your dog’s health.

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

September 8, 2016 by Fanna Easter

A Guide to Dog Pheromone Collars

Many years ago, I attended a dog training conference where a veterinarian was lecturing about the effects of pheromones on dog behavior. I remember scratching my head and thinking pheromone therapy was some type of woo woo stuff and it didn’t work. Thankfully, I kept digging into the topic. If you’ve never heard of pheromone collars or other products before, allow me to introduce you to the world of calming pheromones for dogs. I’ll also answer whether or not pheromone collars work!

What are Pheromone Collars?

Mammals, and some insects, emit pheromones that affects behavior. When a mother dog gives birth, she releases a calming pheromone that calms herself and her puppies. Since a mother dog’s pheromones are so calming, a synthetic version was created. Pheromones can now be found in dog collars, room sprays and wall plug-ins (Adaptil, 2016).

At first, I wasn’t convinced that a synthetic pheromone would calm a dog, so I purchased the wall plug-in version to give it a try. I’m happy to say, it seemed to calm my dog that suffers from separation anxiety and has helped many of my clients’ dogs too.

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

That’s the magic question, right? Yes, pheromone collars do work—in the sense they reduce your dog’s anxiety and stress. Pheromone therapy won’t change your dog’s behavior though. I’ve heard some pet owners swear that using an Adaptil diffuser (pheromone therapy wall plug-in) stopped a puppy from pottying in the house. That doesn’t seem likely because pheromones won’t teach a dog a new behavior.

I do believe pheromone therapy will reduce worry, stress and anxiety, which will ultimately reduce fear and aggression. Think about it this way: if you’re learning how to drive a car for the first time, pheromone therapy will keep you calm. As a result, you learn better. Pheromones won’t show you how to steer a car. Never underestimate the power of remaining calm; it’s the key to learning in a stressful situation. 🙂

Pheromone Therapy Effects on Dogs and Cats

Over the years, research has been conducted on the effects of pheromone therapy on cats, puppies, fearful dogs and puppy mill dogs. For those who don’t know, puppy mill dogs are puppies purchased from pet stores. Researchers found pheromone therapy reduced stress, which then discouraged fighting between cats as well as prevented inappropriate urination in pets.

Several of my dog training clients swear that pheromone therapy keeps their dogs calm during thunderstorms and stressful car rides. I also know many veterinary practices using pheromone therapy to keep pets calm during veterinary visits. So far, pheromone therapy for dogs looks pretty promising!

It’s Not Magic Though

While pheromone products have proven to work, it shouldn’t be used as a fix-all solution. In my opinion, a combination approach is always best.

Dog pheromone collars should be used in combination with:

Prescribed medications
Anxiety wraps (Thundershirts)
Supplements
Behavior modification (changing your dog’s behavior)

How to Use Pheromone Products

Pheromone therapy has evolved and with that comes a slew of dog calming products.

Diffusers or Wall Plug-Ins

It’s best to place wall diffusers in a commonly used room by family and pets, such as the living room or bedroom. That way, your dog is exposed to the pheromone scent, but it’s not directly in his or her face. One pheromone diffuser lasts about 30 days. What I’ve found super interesting is most clients are reminded to replace empty diffusers because their previously calm dogs begin acting anxious again. When they refill the diffuser, their dogs calm down again.

Spray

Using spray pheromone therapy works well if you travel a lot. You can spray a paper towel and place it inside your car, hotel room, RV, or kennel when going to the vet’s office or groomer. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, so I don’t recommend spraying your dog with it.

Pheromone Collar

This is the newest addition to pheromone therapy, and it’s a dog collar that contains the right amount of pheromones. As your dog wears the collar, his or her body heat warms up the collar, which disperses the pheromones. Dog pheromone collars aren’t overpowering; they’re just effective enough for dogs on the go.

Pheromone therapy products are certainly worth a try for your anxious or stressed dog! You can purchase them online or at your local pet supply store. I would love to hear your comments after using these products, so please comment below. 🙂

4 Tips To Make Working From Home With Dogs Easier

September 7, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Working From Home With Dogs

Working from home is amazing. I’m able to work while my dogs snore happily in the background or share a spot with me in my office chair. I’ve been lucky, as I’ve been working from home for 15 years now. Despite the convenience of a remote job, working from home with dogs can get a bit loud if you know what I mean. Here are four tips that will ensure peace and quiet during calls with the boss and your clients.

Go on a walk before work

For the most part, a tired dog is a good dog. Before your workday begins, take your dogs out for a 30-minute walk. Instead of walking swiftly, take your time and let your dogs sniff and see what “Facebook messages” were left in the grass by other dogs. Sniffing is wonderful mental enrichment, and it’s just as exhausting as walking quickly around your neighborhood or local park. Once home, make sure your dogs have plenty of fresh water available and start up your computer.

Keep your dogs quiet during conference calls

Working from home means you’re on the phone a lot, so it’s important to collaborate with co-workers on projects through individual phone chats and conference calls. During conference calls, I’m pretty good at figuring out which conference call attendees work from home too because I can hear their dogs barking in the background!

Here’s how to keep your dogs quiet while you’re on a conference call. About 5 minutes before a conference call, give each dog a frozen food stuffed toy and separate him or her. This way, they can enjoy their treats without squabbling. Log in to your conference call with confidence that your dogs are happily and quietly licking away at their frozen prizes, which is entertaining and completely exhausting too. Sure, the mute button is a godsend, but food stuffed toys are better! After your call, pick up each toy to refill after work.

Play midday outdoor games

When employees work from home, they usually skip lunch, or worse eat lunch while working. Take it from me, disengage with your computer and phone for 20 minutes and enjoy your lunch. After lunch, take another 10 minutes and sit outside with your dogs, play a game of fetch or even take a short stroll around your neighborhood. Again, a tired dog is a happy and quiet dog.

Toss treats when the doorbell rings

It never fails; the UPS man always happens to ring your doorbell while you’re on an important call with your boss. Be prepared during important calls by keeping a cup of dog kibble, treats or Cheerios on your desk. Bring your dogs inside your office with you and close the door. When the doorbell rings, toss those treats like confetti. It’s tough to bark at the doorbell while devouring scattered treats on the floor. Tossing treats as a distraction also teaches your dogs not to bark at the doorbell.

If solicitors are constantly ringing your doorbell, place a note on top of the doorbell that reads: “Please do not ring the doorbell or knock. I work the night shift.” Believe it or not, a note works very well. My mother was a night-shift nurse, and this little note ensured she slept soundly during the day.

May your workday be swift and filled with dog snores!

UP NEXT: Protecting Your Furniture From Dog Hair and Nails

How to Stop Your Dog From Getting Into Your Trash

Purchase a Trash Can With a Heavy Lid

A Little Story About Management

Choosing a Lidded Trash Can

Put the Trash Can in a Cabinet

Will This Really Stop My Dog?

How to Teach Your Dog to Stand Still

Use a Peanut Butter Plate

Check Ingredients First

What If My Dog is Allergic to Peanut Butter?

How to Use a Peanut Butter Plate

Why Use a Peanut Butter Plate

Will You Always Need a Food-Smeared Plate?

Peanut Butter Plate Demos

6 Ways to Boost Your Dog’s Health

Fresh Diet

Digestive Enzymes

Probiotics

Multivitamins

Fish Oil

Vitamin D3

A Guide to Dog Pheromone Collars

What are Pheromone Collars?

Do Dog Pheromone Collars Work?

Pheromone Therapy Effects on Dogs and Cats

It’s Not Magic Though

How to Use Pheromone Products

Diffusers or Wall Plug-Ins

Spray

Pheromone Collar

Working From Home With Dogs

Go on a walk before work

Keep your dogs quiet during conference calls

Play midday outdoor games

Toss treats when the doorbell rings

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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