How To Save Your Back When Training Small Dogs

October 6, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Training Small Dogs: Reward Without Back Pain

All dogs deserve lots of super yummy treats during dog training practice sessions. However, when training small dogs, a pet owner can certainly strain his back from repeatedly bending down to give his dog a treat. If you share your home with a small dog, give these treat tossing tips a try and give your back a rest.

Feed the Floor

When rewarding your small dog for a good job, try tossing treats on the floor instead of bending over and popping treats into your tiny dog’s mouth. Tossing treats on the floor is an extremely effective reward system, and you’re able to move your small dog around to reset for the next behavior.

If tossing treats on the floor is bothersome, place a plastic container on the floor and toss treats into that. Your small dog can perform a behavior, then walk over to her “treat bucket” to eat her earned treat.

Lightly toss treats about 2-3 feet away from your dog. Tiny bits of cheese work extremely well because there’s minimal bounce factor plus low fat cheese won’t leave a greasy residue behind.

RELATED: How to Clean Food Stuffed Toys

Use a Wooden Spoon

When training your small dog to walk on a loose leash, it’s vital to reward her often. Bending over and popping a treat into a dog’s mouth every few seconds can certainly put unneeded strain on your lower back. Instead of bending over, place a large dollop of peanut butter on a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Hold the spoon behind your back to prevent your small dog from jumping up and trying to mug you for treats.

When rewarding the right behavior, lower the spoon down, so your dog can take a lick or two of peanut butter, then pick it back up. Some dogs will grab the entire dollop of food off the spoon (smart dog), so smear peanut butter across the spoon or spatula surface to prevent this from happening.

Between both tips, see which one works best for you. Using a peanut butter spoon works best when teaching small dogs polite leash manners, and the feeding the floor method is ideal for everything else.

Dog On Dog Aggression In The Home

October 4, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Dog Training: Dog Aggression Between Housemates

Dog On Dog Aggression In The Home — Jne Valokuvaus/Adobe Stock

When two dogs in the same home start fighting, it’s a frightening and extremely urgent situation. The tension between both dogs is pliable, and pet owners are often frustrated, yet hopeful. If your dogs are fighting, follow these steps today. Don’t hesitate because this situation will not get better on its own.

Why Are Your Dogs Fighting?

Many pet owners dwell on the exact cause for the fighting between their dogs. As a professional dog trainer, it’s extremely hard to pinpoint the exact cause for the dog on dog aggression in the home, but it’s evident that tension has been present long before their fighting began.

Dogs protect resources, such as food, toys, treats, beds, space and humans. Additionally, overly anxious dogs will redirect their frustration onto their housemate. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to understand this situation will only get worse until it’s addressed with a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Allowing dogs to fight only makes the situation much worse and is considered torture for both dogs.[/perfectpullquote]

What Should You Do First?

Prevent your dogs from meeting or seeing each other. Never allow dogs to fight it out or work it out for their spot in the pack because this never works. Allowing dogs to fight only makes the situation much worse and is considered torture for both dogs. Plus, it’s not fair to the dog being attacked over and over; his or her life is a living hell.

Separate both dogs to opposite sides of the house. Keep doors firmly closed and place gates to prevent fighting. Bring one dog out to potty at a time, and ensure each dog is securely confined in his or her area before letting the other dog out to potty. Preventing fights stops your dogs from practicing the behavior while keeping each dog safe.

Get Professional Help

Pet owners with squabbling dogs need professional help. It’s impossible to prevent housemates from fighting, even with management, without intense dog behavior modification. Contact a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist immediately, and keep all dogs separated until a professional can help you implement behavior protocols.

While it’s tempting to seek advice online, it’ll be difficult to find specific answers for your case unless a professional has met each fighting dog and the environment. If someone does offer advice without meeting your dogs, that person is doing a disservice to your household.

Find a local professional immediately for best results. Plus, make sure the professional has extensive knowledge with dog aggression and uses positive reinforcement training only. Punishment will only make the problem worse.

Review: Most Cost-Effective Hemp Oil For Dogs

October 2, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Hemp Oil Brands for Dogs of All Sizes

brszattila/Adobe Stock

Hemp oil provides amazing results for many dogs with arthritis, seizures and anxiety. However, with so many brands of hemp oil made specifically for dogs, it’s tough finding a quality product that really works. For pet parents, searching for the best hemp oil for dogs is like finding a tiny needle in a massive haystack.

To help make your search a little easier and narrow down your options, here’s my brand recommendation for dogs of all sizes (even extra large ones).

Hemp Oil Recommendation for Small Dogs

Many holistic veterinarians recommend RX Vitamins For Pets – HempRX due to its effectiveness. HempRX is available by veterinary prescription only, and it’s a bit pricey for larger dogs. One bottle costs $100 and lasts two months for a 25-lb dog. This product is not very cost-effective for large or extra large dogs, but it works great for smaller dogs.

HempRX is available as a liquid. Use the dropper provided to add the recommended dosage to your dog’s meals each day. Ask your holistic vet for a recommended dose for your dog’s size and needs, as dogs with chronic issues usually require higher doses. Regardless of the high price tag, this hemp oil brand really works.

Hemp Oil Recommendation for Large Dogs

Sharing your home with a large dog can get quite expensive quickly. Extra large dogs usually need two different sizes of heartworm medications per month and human size medication prescriptions, which means pet owners are spending twice the amount of money. With hemp oil, costs will add up even faster.

So far, the most cost-effective brand for large dogs is Treatibles. This product offers hemp oil in liquid capsule form. When the pill is punctured, you’ll find that the liquid has a bright yellow color and strong odor. If you opt to open the pills and sprinkle on your dog’s food instead, protect your countertops because this product may stain. Follow dosage directions for your dog’s size and needs, and consult a holistic veterinarian with any questions.

Hemp oil for dogs is certainly worth the price, but make sure you’re choosing products that work!

WATCH: HempRX and Treatibles Hemp Oil For Dogs Review

Fermented Probiotics For Dogs: Benefits & Review

September 29, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Review of Fermented Probiotics for Dogs

Switching to natural products to support health is a hot trend lately because science is showing they work. In the past, I’ve covered several different probiotics for dogs, but most were in pill or powder form. Now, there are fermented probiotics for dogs. It works great and dogs love it!

Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs

About 20 years ago, I remember asking my veterinarian about adding probiotics to my dogs’ meals. During our discussion, she flatly stated that research shows probiotics were useless and did not boost a dog’s overall health. Thankfully, science has caught up and veterinarians are now recommending probiotics, instead of antibiotics, for idiopathic (unknown cause) diarrhea in dogs.

Of course, veterinarians must rule out other causes, such as obstructions, intestinal parasites and disease during an examination, and make recommendations based on that. Usually, veterinarians will recommend metronidazole for diarrhea if no obvious causes are present.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic that calms the gut, and stops loose stool pretty quickly. However, a good dose of probiotics can do the same job as metronidazole. Not only have I witnessed it time and time again with my dogs, but my clients are also raving about probiotics for improving their dogs’ overall health.

Best Naturally Occurring Dog Probiotic

Increased doses of probiotics can certainly halt diarrhea in dogs within a day or two, but adding probiotics to your dog’s daily meals can prevent it from happening in the first place. Probiotics are available in many forms, but it seems naturally occurring versions work best.

Several weeks ago, I added Answers Pet Food Raw Goat’s Milk to my Bull Terrier’s daily meal, and the difference in her breath was noticeable. My BT has chronic acid reflux, so I’m always searching for probiotics that work well. This product exceeded my expectations, and both of my dogs love it poured over their raw meals.

Answers Raw Goat Milk is fermented, which means microorganisms and bacteria have broken down the milk. Once dogs ingest fermented products, “these bacteria go to work pre-digesting the food, making it easier for your pet to assimilate nutrients. (Fermentation) also create(s) new vitamins, enzymes, and organic acids that simply aren’t present in non-fermented foods.” (Answers Pet Food, 2017). Believe it or not, this fermented product is odorless, and you’ll notice a difference quickly.

How to Use

Thaw the fermented food and pour the recommended amount over your dog’s daily meals. Use twice daily for best results. Dogs readily lap up goat’s milk with minimal, if any, digestive issues. Answers Pet Food offers fermented cow’s milk kefir and fish stock for dogs with allergies to goat’s milk. Start adding the food to your dog’s meals slowly, and witness the difference in your dog’s health!

WATCH: Fermented Probiotics for Dogs

How To Stop A Dog From Running Out The Front Door

September 27, 2017 by Fanna Easter

Stop Your Dog From Running Outside

Ding-dong, the pizza man is here! Your dog rushes to the front door while barking loudly. As you carefully crack the front door open, your dog pushes his head through the crack and runs out the front door. The pizza man freaks out and drops your pizza while you go out to chase your dog through the neighborhood. Yikes, how can you stop your dog from running out the front door?

Set Up a Pet Barrier

Prevention is key until a dog learns how to respond to the opening of the front door, so set up a pet barrier to block your dog from the door. While it’s impossible to add a regular gate to the front door, you can place a secure front door dog gate inside your home.

Choose a well-made gate that can be expanded around the front door area and one that your family can easily step over. For large dogs that have a history of gate crashing (knocking over gates), choose a wall-mounted version with a hinged door. Gates that are at least 4 feet high prevent excited dogs from jumping over them when the pizza man arrives.

Keep your front door barrier in place permanently; it’s an added safety piece until your dog learns to wait at the door. Also, it’s a great safety measure if neighborhood children walk in and out of your house. This management tool will keep your dog safely contained inside.

Change Your Dog’s Behavior

Placing a front door barrier is an excellent management tool, but it’s important to teach your dog how to positively react when the front door opens. Grab lots of super yummy treats, put a leash on your dog and crack open the door.

When your dog chooses to back away from the door, click (or say “yes”), close the door and then give your dog a treat. Continue to practice with your dog leashed by slowly opening the front door a bit wider. If your dog tries to rush out the door, wait until she stops and click/treat. For more details, check out how to teach your dog polite door behaviors here.

WATCH: How to Stop Your Dog From Running Out the Front Door

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