Winter Advisory

The Richmond area is currently under a winter weather advisory.  They're calling for 2-5" of snow and some areas could see more.  For some people, this is nothing (and admittedly after living in MN for 4 years, I think people are overreacting), but regardless about how you feel about the weather, your dog may need to take some extra precautions.  So, I'm going to take a break for the Questions series today, and I'm going to give y'all some winter weather pointers.

The Paws
There are many things during winter weather that can affect the paws.  The storm that's being predicted has been preceded by lots of rain.  Rain can freeze and turn to ice.  Ice can cut paws.  Trust me, I've seen it happen, and it's not pretty. 

Another thing that can affect the paws is rock salt.  You know?  The stuff that's put down to help melt the ice on sidewalks and driveways.  Most dogs are actually quite sensitive to this stuff, and if their paws have any sort of cut or abrasion on them, the salt can really hurt.  So, it's important to protect their feet.

When looking at different types of foot protection, really any sort of booty will do.  You don't HAVE to spend lots of money on a luxurious boot, particularly if you're just taking your dog out to pee or out to the car.  However, if you're doing more adventuresome things, or if your dog is one who really wants to play in the snow, it might benefit you to go with something a little more high end.

My favorite form of boot is from RuffWear.  Personally I have a pair of their Grip Trex, and they work great.  They have other options for dogs going through deeper snow, but this is fantastic protection from snow and ice, and the hard Vibram sole helps my dogs to grip and keeps them from slipping.  Bonus: You can use them on more than just snowy days.  They're also great for hiking or even just terrain that's a little harder on the paws.

The Cold
Obviously, cold on these days can be a factor, and cold-weather needs will vary from dog to dog.  My two dogs, Cody and Lollie, have very different needs.  Cody can go outside without any protective gear, but he does need to be monitored.  Then, when he comes in, we have to make sure we dry him off and wrap him in blankets to keep his body temperature from dropping.  Lollie, on the other hand, gets cold just thinking about bad weather, so she needs some extra stuff.

To order a sweater for your dog, follow this link.

For just running around town and keeping warm indoors, Lollie has a simple sweater.  Of course, like people clothes, no two sweaters are created equally.  After trying a few options, I've fallen in love with the sweaters from West Paw Design.  They look nice, they're comfortable on her, and they keep her warm.  Plus, they're eco-friendly, so what more could you ask for?

For more extended periods of time out, we actually have a full-blown coat. There are a variety out there, but the one that works best for Lollie is from Canine Styles.  It's actually a mini horse blanket, so it keeps her warm, it's easy to put on, and it's comfortable.  The only downside is that it's dry clean only, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Small Dogs
Of course, small dogs have one issue that big dogs don't.  The snow is often over their heads!!!  For a small dog, or a dog who doesn't like his belly to hit the cold, you may need to clear a potty space.  This means get out the shovel, and dig a path from your door to your yard.  Make sure this space stay clear for your dog and scoop any think your dog may leave behind.  Also be careful as you scoop.  Continued scooping may cause the snow to pack, leaving it slick and difficult to maneuver.  To add extra grip to this surface (or to human walk ways as well), try pouring some non-clumping kitty litter on top.  The kitty litter is safe for dog's paws, and it won't degrade your walk way like salt will.  Yay!!

Other Hazards
Other things to look out for are things we use to keep us warm and safe.  Think antifreeze, fireplaces, etc.  Keep your dog far away from antifreeze as it apparently tastes sweet, but is extremely toxic.  Fireplaces can be quite a burn hazards, so if your dog likes to warm up next to the fire, make sure there's a grate to keep embers from rolling out and harming your dog.  Of course, also make sure that your dog doesn't try to fetch those sticks you're throwing in the fire!

All in all, by paying attention to your pet and by using a bit of common sense, you should be able to keep your dog safe, happy, and healthy.  By taking a few precautions, both you and your pet can have a lot of fun outside!

Questions: The Breeder

Recently, I've been asked by quite a few people my position on breeders and purebred dogs versus.  And then I received this question:

I recently purchased a Maltese from a local pet shop.  The Maltese is very cute and has great features, and people have mentioned that I should breed him or stud him out.  What do you think?

Well, I have a few questions for you.  Do you know the dog's parents?  Do you know if they had any health issues?  Do you know if they were related?  If your answer to these questions is no, then I'd say don't breed.

If your answer is yes, and the dogs were healthy and unrelated, I have more questions for you.  Do you plan to have both mother and father on site?  Would you breed your dog as a way to promote the breed rather than just as a way to make money?  Are you willing to take a minimum of 8 weeks to care for a litter of puppies?  This means socializing, cleaning up after, vetting, etc.  If your answer to any of these questions is no, then I'd say don't breed.

Here's the thing with breeding: You really have to be dedicated to the cause.  There are so many dogs out there that need a home, bringing more under-socialized, ill-health dogs is not something I'd recommend.  I'm not against breeding dogs, but I do think there are a lot of bad breeders.  Even those with good intentions, even those who don't run puppy mills, can be bad breeders.  These are people who, even though their intentions are good, don't understand the needs of young puppies.  They don't understand the health concerns or the risk to the mother.  They don't understand that a good breeder knows the family history of the pups and what the future health concerns may be.  They don't understand that good breeding is about more than just a cute puppy.  It's also about intelligence and health and attitude.

If you're considering breeding your dog, please keep in mind that you are bringing a living, breathing creature into this world.  This creature has needs, both emotional and physical, and meeting those needs can be difficult.  A good breeder makes breeding a full time job.  The puppies are part of the family, and finding a family requires interviews and a few rejections.

If you're not willing to put that sort of time and commitment into breeding, then it's probably best to steer clear of the whole situation.  If you are willing to put that sort of time, effort, and research into breeding, then you have my blessing.

Remember, if you have a question for Ask The Dog Trainer, feel free to ask on our Facebook page.

Questions: The Picky Eater

Here's another question for Ask The Dog Trainer:

My dog has not been eating.  He doesn't seem sick, and his energy levels are fine, but he will often skip his meals or just have a nibble or two before abandoning it.  My vet says to just leave food down for 20 minutes and then dump it if he has not eaten, but that seems like such a waste.  I've tried warming his food, but that doesn't seem to help either.  What should I do?

This one is actually pretty simple.  Assuming there's nothing physically or psychologically wrong with your dog (and sense you've asked your vet about this, I'm going to assume there's not), your dog is simply not hungry.

Here's the thing, while some dogs may eat every meal like they're starving and this bit of mushed, compressed chicken is the best thing they've ever seen, many dogs are much more discerning.  Plenty of dogs self regulate how much they eat, and if they're not hungry, they will simply ignore their food.  So, how do we handle this?

Well, I hate to tell you this, but your vet was right.  By leaving food down for him for as long as it takes him to eat it, you are, in fact, encouraging him to take his time with his meal.  You're also allowing him to self reward whenever he feels like it, and that can cause some other behavioral issues.  Look at it this way, most people tend to follow a general schedule when we eat.  We have a certain amount of time for breakfast in the morning, we have a lunch break in the afternoon, and, while dinner can sometimes drag on for a while, there's normally a pretty set beginning and end.  The same should hold true for your dog.

To encourage your dog to eat on your schedule, try the following:
- Feed at regular times in the morning and in the evening (younger dogs may also need a midday meal).
- Feed smaller meals.  If your dog is still full from breakfast, he won't want dinner.
- Limit the amount of time your dog has to eat.  Of course, if he's continuously eating, but is just a VERY slow chewer, don't steal his food.  Just pick it up if he's abandoned it.

Over time, your dog may or may not learn to eat his food right when you set it down.  If he does, great!  If he doesn't, don't stress.  He's not going to starve, and as long as he's physically healthy, missing a meal won't hurt him.

Oh, and if you're concerned about the waste of tossing uneaten food, try switching to dry food.  That will last a little longer than canned or wet food.

Good luck!

Questions: The Anxious Dog

We have a dog question today!  Here we go!

Our dog has really bad nightmares and sometimes goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night on the floor when she is really anxious. We got her a thunder shirt - it has really helped but she still has accidents occasionally. Any ideas? We are pretty sure she was abused before we got her- can be very anxious / skittish around new people & loud or sudden sounds.

Poor girl!  Anxiety can be bad for both people and pets.  While people get fidgety and sometimes cranky, pets may urinate, growl, shake, or do any number of things, and it's quite difficult to get to the root of the issue.

The first thing I want to know is what her evening routine is?  When does she eat and drink and when does she fall asleep?  Remember that what goes in must come out, so if she's drinking a lot of water right before bed, that may be contributing to her potty issues.  As far as potty problems go, you may also want to revisit house training 101 to make sure she knows how to ask you to go outside.  These two things combined should go far in helping with the nighttime accidents.

Now, let's address the anxiety.  There are many other products on the market that can help with anxiety.  Lavender-scented products are known to have a calming effect, and there are sprays you could use to spray her bedding.  You could also try playing soothing music at night, and there are even CDs specifically designed to help calm your pup and ease her worries.  Lastly, there are even drops you can put in her water or food to help take the edge off.  Personally, I've used Rescue Remedy, but there are plenty others that will work. 

In addition to all the products on the market, I have to ask about exercise.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Exercise is important!!  Are your dog's exercise needs being met?  Most dogs require a minimum of 30 minutes of structured exercise a day, but plenty need more.  Of my two dogs, Lollie can wear out in 30 minutes or less, but Cody will often require a run of 5 or more miles before he's tired.  He could go farther when he was younger, but at 5 1/2 years old he's starting to calm down.  When a dog does not receive the exercise she needs, she's likely to become more anxious or aggressive and display behaviors that we, as owners, do not like.  Make sure her exercise needs are being met, and don't forget that dogs need both physical AND mental exercise.

If you're really doing all the things above, and you still aren't seeing results, consult your vet.  It may benefit your dog to be put on some medication like Prozac or some other anti-anxiety med.  Also make sure that her issues are not health related as something as simple as a UTI can very much affect your dog.

Lastly, also look at your dog's diet.  While most dogs with food allergies display their allergies through skin issues, some dogs with mild allergies (maybe more of an intolerance) will display their allergies through behavior issues.  You can try switching your dog to a hypoallergenic diet.  This means no wheat, no corn, no soy, no dairy (and possibly no chicken nor beef).  See if that makes a difference, but keep in mind it may take 6-8 weeks to see any sort of improvement.

Keep me updated on how things go!

Remember, if you'd like to have your questions answered, visit our Facebook page and leave a post on our wall.

Questions: Litterbox Issues

In our series of questions, we received a second cat-related question.

My 13+ year old male cat will no longer go in the litter box. I've had him checked at the vet, and no physical reason. Why does he torture me so?

Generally, when I hear about cats and litter box issues, the first thing I think is UTI or some other bladder issue.  Since you've had the vet look at him, though, let's assume that he's a physically healthy pet.

At 13, one thing that comes to mind is a simple case of senility.  Your cat may be suffering from the same thing countless elderly people suffer from.  He may, in fact, be forgetting where his litter box is, or it may be that he knows where it is, but his bladder isn't what it used to be, and he just can't make it.  Make life easier for him by providing another litter box, or by monitoring him a little closer.  Help to remind him where he's supposed to potty.

The next thing that comes to mind is that he's acting out.  Just like dogs, when cats don't have enough stimulation, they can act out in many different ways.  One common way is urination (particularly in male cats).   Make sure your cat gets lots of attention and lots of play throughout the day.  Make sure he's getting what he needs.

Lastly, make sure his litter box is extremely clean.  Most cats don't like to use a dirty litter box and will often choose your furniture or laundry if their litter box is not clean.  Make sure the litter is fairly fresh, all the clumps are scooped out, and the box is cleaned on a regular basis.

Trying all these things may help, but you will also want to make sure you remove the odor from all of his accidents, so he's no longer encouraged to use those same locations.  There are a lot of pet odor removing products on the market, but for simple issues, try using a 50/50 water/vinegar solution.  It helps remove odor, and the vinegar acts as a simple deterrent.

Good luck!

Remember, if you have a question you'd like answered, feel free to visit our Facebook page and post a question.
 

Questions: The Cat and the Tie

Recently, I asked people on my Facebook page what questions they might have about their dogs or cats.  So many people have simple questions, but they don't know who to ask.  I will attempt to answer those questions here.  The first question is:

Why does my cat insist upon wearing my favorite tie?

Well, I have a question for you.  Why are you tying ties on your cat? 

OK, all humor aside, your cat probably loves your favorite tie simply because it smells like you.  Combine that with the wonderfully-soft fabric most ties are made of and the light-weight, easy-to-carry aspect, and you have the perfect cat snuggler.  Personally, my cat prefers my socks.  Note, he'll only carry around my socks...not my husband's nor any others.  Once he has a sock, he meows quite loudly, rolls around on it, and holds it between his paws.  He loves me!

Really, the best way to solve this issue is to put your tie in a place where your cat can't find it or can't get to it.  What can I say?  That's the real reason closets have doors!

You can also do a lot to help by making sure your cat stays well-stimulated.  Cats are super smart, and they need a lot to keep their minds active.  Make sure your cat is getting enough exercise (both mentally and physically), and give your cat an alternative toy to smell with (something with catnip is great).

I hope that helps!

If you have a question about any of the pets in your life, feel free to check out my Facebook page, and post away.  I will answer here the questions here and re-post to Facebook.  Thanks! 

The Morning Walk

At least once a week, Cody and I go for a long morning run.  We often do more, but sometimes Cody is just too tired, so I leave him at home.  Anyway, this morning, like every other week, we headed out for our run.  The plan was 7.5 miles (a 12k in honor of 12-12-12).  Usually, Cody and I drive into the city and meet up with a friend, but this time we were on our own, so we left from the house and ran 2.5 miles to a local park, ran through the park, and then ran home.  One thing that I found a bit shocking was how many dogs were off-leash once we entered the park.

Now, I'm the first person to condone having dogs off leash.  I think dogs need the opportunity to act like dogs.  They need to have the chance to run and sniff and pee on bushes, and I'll admit I had Cody off leash and out of a heel for a portion of the run through the park.  What I don't condone is having ZERO control over your dog.  If your dog cannot allow another dog and jogger to pass without chasing it, don't allow it off leash.  If your dog won't come when called, no matter what the circumstance, don't allow it off leash.  If your dog has ANY sort of aggressive tendencies towards people or other dogs, DON'T ALLOW IT OFF LEASH!!

The reason I'm so upset about this issue this morning is because this is not the first time this has happened.  Just last Saturday I had to stop 3 times in that park because a dog was charging up to me while its owner hollered for it to come back.  I was lucky that all the dogs were friendly, and the owners were lucky that I'm not scared of dogs at all (in fact I kind of enjoy having them run around me), but most people aren't like me. 

Too many people are scared of dogs.  Too many people have dogs that aren't dog friendly.  Too many people are just annoyed at having to stop mid-run because they're being chased by an overly friendly dog!  It's not fair that dog owners think it's OK to let their dogs do whatever they want just because they're dogs are friendly.

What if Cody weren't dog friendly?  What if the multiple dogs that approached us today had sent him over the edge?  Would Cody be held liable for attacking a dog, or would the dog that approached uninvited be at fault?

Anyway, I'll say it again.  If you can't control your dog, please don't let him off leash.  That said, if you want to learn some great off-leash control, give me a call.  I'm more than happy to help.  Cody did wonderfully this morning, and he kept his focus on me even when he was approached by multiple dogs.  I'm very proud of my boy, and I'm glad that he's able to handle such big distractions.  I just worry about other people and other dogs who might not handle such big distractions so well.  Please keep that in mind the next time you take your dog(s) out.  Thanks!