4 Ways To Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties

November 17, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Preparing Your Dog for Holiday Parties and Guests

Prepare Your Dog For Holiday Parties — JackF/Adobe Stock

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

November 15, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Playing With Dog Tug Toys Safely

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

5 Meaningful Memorial Dog Tattoo Ideas

November 10, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Tattoo Ideas to Honor Your Dog

Dog Tattoo Ideas — zinkevych/Adobe Stock

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.

Help! My Restless Dog Doesn’t Sleep

November 8, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Why Your Restless Dog Isn’t Sleeping and Solutions

Everyone needs sleep—even our dogs. Being able to sleep soundly is an important part of our health because it’s when our bodies repair and heal. When deep sleep is interrupted, regardless of the reason, it creates sleep deprivation, which is unhealthy. If your restless dog has a hard time falling into a deep sleep, it’s time to contact a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist.

Is Your Dog a Restless Sleeper?

Depending on your dog’s age, dogs sleep between 11-14 hours per day. Senior dogs sleep much more than puppies, but all dogs should sleep deeply at night and during naps. Restless dogs never really sleep soundly. These dogs wake up every 20-30 minutes, stand up and walk around until they find another spot to nap, and repeat this process all day and night long. Some restless dogs sleep for an hour, pace for an hour or longer, and repeat the process.

Many pet owners assume their dogs get too hot or cold, so they wake up to look for another spot. While it’s normal to wake up once or twice a night, dogs that continually wake up or pace at night are not getting enough deep sleep.

Why Can’t My Restless Dog Sleep?

There are many reasons restless dogs have a difficult time falling into a deep sleep. Here are the most common causes for your dog pacing at night as well as solutions.

Sounds

Barking dogs off in the distance, sirens during the night, construction sounds during the day and ringing doorbells are common sounds that cause dogs to wake up.

Solution: Turn on a box fan or sound machine to drown out distracting noises at night and during the day.

Boredom

Dogs need physical and mental enrichment every day. If a dog’s needs are not met each day, he will find something to keep himself occupied. Think about it this way: Dogs are unable to binge-watch Netflix all day while their pet owners are at work.

Solution: Provide multiple food puzzles and 30-minute walks daily.

Health Issues

Dogs have a difficult time sleeping when in pain. These dogs will pace at night and often wake up to reposition themselves.

Solution: When in doubt, schedule a thorough veterinary examination to rule out any health issues.

Anxiety

Anxious dogs have a very hard time sleeping deeply. Sometimes, they may fall asleep due to pure exhaustion, yet wake themselves up with a startle. These dogs have a hard time settling down and sleep mostly on their sternum (chest) instead of flopping over onto their sides. If someone walks nearby, anxious dogs will become startled and jump up. They have multiple spots they rotate through at night, and they never really fall into a deep sleep.

Solution: It’s important to find professional help to reduce your dog’s anxiety.

Getting Help

Drowning out sounds and providing daily enrichment are easy fixes; however, anxiety is an ongoing challenge. If a dog seems anxious, then it’s time to partner with a positive reinforcement dog trainer and veterinary behaviorist to address the issue.

Anxiety won’t get better on its own. The sooner it’s addressed, the better. Never punish an anxious dog; it will only make his anxiety much worse. The same goes for health issues. Follow your vet’s advice, and be your dog’s advocate if his pain does not subside.

Everyone deserves a peaceful night of deep sleep. 🙂

Is Your Dog Trainer A Bully?

November 6, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Signs You Should Find a New Dog Trainer

Good Dog Trainer — michaelheim/Adobe Stock

Yes, you read that correctly. Some dog trainers are capable of bullying pet owners. Bullying behavior is common within all professions, and it happens within the dog training industry too. Some dog trainers can be downright mean to pet owners and dogs while others are sneakier about it. Is your dog trainer a bully?

Expectations of a Dog Trainer

Before discussing bullying behavior, it’s important to understand the expectations of a dog trainer. Dog trainers are hired to teach pet owners how to communicate with their dogs effectively. Of course, dog trainers can teach dogs polite manners quickly, but it’s pretty ineffective unless pet owners learn how to teach and reinforce polite behaviors themselves.

In essence, dog trainers teach people and not dogs. Since dog trainers teach people, they must have excellent communication skills. Professional dog trainers should treat pet owners and dogs with respect and kindness, set everyone up for success, use positive reinforcement training methods, and celebrate wins.

Belittles Pet Owners

When teaching pet owners how to communicate with their dogs, some dog trainers will belittle pet owners throughout the entire process. Dog trainers should not blame pet owners for their dogs’ behavior if pet owners are seeking professional help. Everyone makes mistakes; you do better when you know better. Dog trainers should acknowledge that, and then explain to pet owners what to do instead of focusing on negative behavior. Finger-wagging and blaming halts the learning process and teaches nothing.

Positive reinforcement dog trainers should treat clients with the same kindness and respect they would extend to their canine clients. Additionally, good dog trainers understand pet owners are learners, so they must adjust their communication style to ensure all learners understand the concepts. If your dog trainer is belittling you, then it’s time to find a new dog trainer.

Makes Questionable Choices

There’s no room for physical pain, force, fear or yelling in dog training. These methods do not work. Instead, punishment inhibits behavior and will cause anxiety and fear. Dog trainers should never recommend hurting dogs or putting dogs in a situation that makes their behavior worse. Additionally, dog trainers should not joke about a dog’s breed tendencies or assume all breeds of dogs learn the same because every dog is an individual. Dog trainers should never recommend physical corrections with collars, leashes, shock or force.

As an advocate for your dog, if something feels wrong, don’t do it and leave immediately.

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