Rainy Days

If you live anywhere near Richmond, VA you're probably up to your knees in water.  Well, maybe not your knees, but at least your ankles.  Your days at work are spent in a near-comatose state where all you want to do is curl up and sleep and maybe read a good book.  When you come home, however, instead of being greeted by your comfy slippers and robe, you're greeted by a furry ball of energy.  Your dog has missed his walk for the past three days due to weather, and he's ready to go insane!  He's starting to exhibit some of his frustration by chewing or jumping or running in circles, and you have no idea what to do.  How can you give your dog some exercise without getting wet?  Well, here are some suggestions:

Training
Sometimes a good training session can exhaust your dog mentally enough that he'll forget the physical stuff for a little while.  So, clear a little space in your living room and get to work!  Practice sits and downs and stays.  Work on your heel.  Really make things difficult by throwing in some distractions.  Take this time to work on your dog's obedience, so once things clear up outside you'll have a star student.

Obedience training isn't the only thing you can work on, though.  Try doing some fun stuff, too.  Can your dog do any tricks?  Run to Barnes & Noble (or your library), get a book (or DVD) on trick training, and try your stuff.  Some easy ones might be shake hands, roll over, or beg, but who knows how far you could go.  You may even be able to teach your dog to army crawl, pray, and roll himself up in a blanket!

Lastly, you could use this time to work on a whole new field of training.  Do you think your dog might be great at agility or tracking or Rally-O?  Well, now's your time to try it out.  Again, go to your local book store or library, see what you can learn, and try a few easy things.  You can makes jumps out of a broom and chairs, you can use your coffee table for a standing table, and you can use that tunnel for your kids as a tunnel for your dogs.  Keep it simple with these, though.  For harder things, you may want to consult an expert.

Play Games
Do you know what my favorite rainy day game is?  Hide and seek!  Generally, Hans will hide with a treat while I hold onto Cody.  Then I'll say, "Where's Daddy?" and laugh at Cody while he tears through the house looking for Hans.  Once he's found Hans, he gets snuggles and a treat, and we do it all over again.  Alternatively, you could just hide a treat and get him to find that.  OR, if you're really motivated you could try to teach him to find your keys, so you have someone helping you when you're in a rush.

Hide and seek isn't the only game out there, though.  There's also indoor fetch (your dog chases a ball down a long hallway) or reverse fetch.  Reverse fetch is a game that Cody created where he hides his ball under a sofa or some other location where he can get it back.  Then he barks at it until I get it for him.  It's not my strongest recommendation, but it can be useful in times of need.

Also, try giving your dog some puzzle toys to play with.  The simplest and most common puzzle toy is a Kong, but there are plenty of others out there.  My dogs like the really hard ones, and have taken to taking their toys to the top of the steps and rolling them down so that treats bounce out along the way.  This kills two birds with one stone, because the dogs get exercise by running up and down the stairs.  So, VICTORY!

Daycare
Are those suggestions just not working for you?  Well, try your local doggy daycare.  A lot of these places have an indoor area for dogs to play, and they're more than happy to help tire out your dog.  Many even have a half day option if you just want to try it out for a few hours.  Bonus: It's a great way for your dog to make new doggy friends.

Get Wet
Of course, there's always one, last option, and that's to simply get wet.  Sometimes a run in the rain can be exhilarating for you and easier on your dog.  Through a normal summer, when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, those rainy days can provide a much-needed respite for the heat.  You an run a little farther and play a little longer because your dog won't overheat.  Just be prepared for a little extra cleanup when you're done.

So, you see?  There's plenty of fun things for you to do with your dog during a rainy day.  Don't let the weather get you down.  Just get creative, and you'll find a plethora of activities!

Deaf Dog Learns Sign Language

I just wanted to take a moment to share this story with y'all.  I think this is so cool!

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20130617/NEWS01/306170024/Dog-learning-sign-language

An Owner's Review: Acupuncture and Chiropractic For Your Pet

Recently, I've been wondering about acupuncture and chiropractic care.  Lollie suffers from severe allergies, and Cody is almost six years old, and his age is showing.  I've had chiropractic care myself, and I thoroughly enjoy it, but acupuncture is a whole new idea to me.  And to be honest, I'd only ever given either a passing thought when it came to my dogs.  I liked the idea, but I really wasn't sure it would be worth it.  I certainly didn't want to spend money on something that didn't work, and I didn't want to put my dogs through the potential stress or pain if something went poorly.

Then one day, one of my clients was telling me how they had started acupuncture and chiropractic care for their dogs.  Really, their dogs' issues were fairly similar to mine, and I was seeing a noticeable improvement in their dogs.  The younger one, without allergy issues, was playing better with the other dogs, and he seemed happier overall.  The one with allergy issues had fewer hot spots, and seemed more content.  So, I asked for their vet's number, and I gave her a call.

Yesterday, the doctor came out to my house, so the dogs were relaxed and comfortable to begin with, and that was nice.  We started with Cody.

Cody has always been a healthy dog.  On his annual visit to the vet, I'm reminded how healthy he is.  Yet, something seemed off.  I couldn't really put my finger on it, but he just wasn't his usual peppy self.  He had a little more trouble waking up in the morning, and he just didn't seem as happy.  Try telling that to your vet!  I can see it now, "Well, he's eating fine and moving fine, but he just doesn't seem as happy."  That's hard to diagnose.  Yet, as we went through the chiropractic adjustments, I could see changes in him taking place.  There were points she hit that obviously hurt him, but when she was done, he seemed relaxed and peaceful.  When she was done with his adjustments, he hopped off the table, did a nice shake, and pranced around a little.  I was already impressed.  Next came the acupuncture.

I'll be honest here.  The acupuncture was more of a bonus thing.  I think what he really needed was the adjustment, but I wanted to whole kit and caboodle.  I watched as the doctor put needles in different spots, and Cody seemed utterly confused.  He flinched in a few spots, but all in all didn't seem to bothered.  When we were done putting the needles in, though, he immediately tried to turn around and bite some.  He was not happy having these weird things sticking in his skin!  I had to tell him to down and to stay, and then I had to feed him watermelon as a treat for staying so calm.  Eventually, though, I watched him relax, and he eventually fell asleep.  When we were done, we removed the needles, and I watched for a reaction.  Oh how happy he seemed!  He was practically giddy.  Well, needless to say, I was pleased, and I couldn't wait to see how things went for Lollie.

Lollie is my nervous Nellie.  She's scared of most people and new surroundings.  On top of that, she has horrible allergies.  Her face is almost constantly red and inflamed, she's fairly regularly develops mild infections, and she's even been known to break out in full-blown hives.  On top of that, even though her diet is the same as Cody's, her stools are softer, lighter in color, and smell worse.  Managing her allergies means a strict diet of no wheat, no corn, no soy, no dairy, no chicken, no beef, and regular bathing when pollen counts are high.  We wash her bedding once a week to help with the buildup of dirt and allergens, and yet she still seems to have issues. 

We did an adjustment on her first.  This nervous gal of mine was, at first, terrified.  I held her head and tried to soothe her, but it was obvious how nervous she was.  It didn't take long, though, for her to start to relax.  After one large adjustment in her tail, she started to rest her head in my hands and fall asleep.  It went extremely well, and, while I was nervous as to how the acupuncture would go, I was gaining confidence. 

Lollie was a super-start during the acupuncture.  She barely flinched as the needles were put in, and she became so very relaxed.  At one point, as she fell asleep standing up and actually fell off the table.  (Don't worry.  It was no higher than a low coffee table.)  I thought, surely she's done for now.  She's going to panic.  I was wrong, though.  She merely looked at me and at the doctor, walked over to her chair, climbed in and fell straight to sleep.  She even started to snore!!  That was impressive enough, but what really struck me was how I was able to watch her face change color.  Her face had been fairly red all morning. It was actually low on the allergy scale, but it certainly wasn't perfect.  I watched as her face lightened to a near perfect white.  She seemed so happy and peaceful, and when we removed the needles she was practically a dead weight.  She just wanted to sleep.

As pleased as what I was, I was still concerned.  How would things be as the day wore on.  What about the next few days?  Well, I can only speak for the past 24 hours, but so far so good.  Lollie's allergies are definitely lessened.  She's seemed happier and more playful too.  On top of that, this morning her stool was completely normal...almost exactly like Cody's.  And what about Cody?  Well, Cody is back to his old, youthful self.  That inexplicable unhappiness must have just been pain, because he's doing great today.  He's playing with the other dogs, he's jumping around.  I can't believe how well he's doing.  On top of that, he woke up with ease this morning.  I didn't have to drag him out of bed.  In fact, he seemed almost happy to wake up (I wish I could say the same).  I'm still watching to see what happens over the next few days, but so far I'm happy.

Lollie has another appointment in two weeks, and Cody has another appointment in a month.  If this continues to go as well as what yesterday did, I will happily keep them on the routine.  I'm so pleased with everything.  If you're debating doing the same for your dog, I highly recommend it.  If you need a recommendation on who to use, give me a call. 

Lollie's too relaxed to stay awake.

Please hold my head up.

The Hungry Puppy

Here we have another Ask A Dog Trainer question.  This one is about food!

Rosie is my 5 month old German Shepherd and I am feeding her puppy kibbles, grain free. I feed her twice a day now but did feed her 3 times a day when she was younger. I noticed when I fed her the amount suggested on the bag she doesn't eat it all and will have left overs over night. When do I switch her to adult dog food? How much do I feed her? How often should I feed, and is it best before or after her walk? 

Deciding how much to feed your dog and when can be confusing for new dog owners.  It's all complicated by the fact that each dog is different with different needs, and when you're dealing with puppies, you're dealing with growing dogs whose needs can vary from week to week.  There are, however, some general guidelines you can follow.

1) Never follow the recommended feeding amount on the dog food bag.  Dog food manufacturers want you to buy more food.  The more food your dog eats, the more you'll have to buy.  The problem is that most dogs don't need as much food as what's recommended, and you'll either end up with an overweight dog or a lot of left over food.  Each dog has different needs and these needs can vary based on age, size, and activity level.  For instance, both my dogs, Cody and Lollie, each weigh about 60 pounds.  Lollie is a 3 1/2 year old boxer / bulldog mix who spends the majority of her day sleeping.  Fifteen minutes of play in the morning, or a long walk, will wipe her out.  She eats about 1 cup twice a day.  Cody, on the other hand, is a 6 year old Labradoodle who is much more active.  On any given morning he will run anywhere from 3 to 13 miles with me, and his food intake adjusts accordingly.  On calmer days, he'll receive 1-1 1/2 cups twice a day, but on the more active days he can eat up to 4 cups twice a day.  Both dogs receive treats fairly generously, but I'm always watching for weight gains or losses and will adjust their food accordingly.

2) The battle over when to switch to adult food has been long fought and there are many different opinions.  Many different breeders will say that once a puppy is on solid food, she can eat whatever the mother is eating, whereas some say to wait until the puppy is officially an adult (about 2 years).  The biggest concern with puppy food and adult food is the amount of protein and fat.  Puppy food generally has more of each to assist your puppy with rapid growth and high energy.  Generally, I recommend waiting until your dog is about a year old before switching to adult food, but I've known dogs who have had to switch earlier or later based on certain needs.  If you think your dog has some abnormal nutritional needs (growing too fast, not putting on weight, not growing fast enough, tired more than usual, etc), consult your vet about it.  The biggest thing here is knowing your dog's individual needs and meeting them.

3) As far as how often you should feed her, I recommend twice a day; once in the morning and once and night.  Alternatively, you could feed 3-4 smaller meals throughout the day, but this is often unrealistic for working parents.  I do NOT recommend feeding one large meal or free feeding.  There are a lot of obedience reasons tied into this, but from a health stand point, I prefer to know how much my dogs are eating and when they're eating.  This way, if they become sick, I can tell the vet what their diet has been recently.

4)  Whether you should feed before your walk or after your walk really depends on your walk.  If your walk is a 20-30 minute leisurely stroll, I recommend feeding about 20 minutes before your walk.  This will allow your dog to digest some of her food and then evacuate her bowels on her walk, as opposed to trying to set up a separate time to do so.  If by "walk," however, you mean "moderately paced run for 30+ minutes (which a young puppy should not be doing anyway)," feed your dog at least 30 min-1 hour after your run.  The idea here is that you do not want your dog to have too much food on the belly as her temperature rises (like it does with strenuous exercise).  If there's too much food on the belly, your dog runs the risk of becoming ill or even developing bloat.  Instead, if you allow your dog a little time to cool off before eating, things will be much safer.  Note, this also applies to giving your dog large amounts of water or water that is too cold.

So, as you can see, there are a lot of factors that go into feeding your dog.  As with most things, there is not one set of rules, as each dog is different in a variety of ways.  By taking the time to learn about your dog's specific needs, you'll be able to determine the best way to feed.

 Remember, if you have a question for the dog trainer, feel free to ask on our Facebook page.

Kennel Cough vs. Bronchitis

We have a new and exciting Ask the Dog Trainer question today.  To be honest, it's more of an Ask the Vet question, seeing as I had to ask a vet to get a clear answer.  Since I was confused at first, I thought it might be a good idea to share with you what I learned.

My dog has had a cough for the past week.  It's fairly productive, and she hasn't been acting herself, so I took her to the vet.  My vet told me she has Bronchitis.  I asked if it was Kennel Cough, but the vet said, "No."  It was simply Bronchitis.  What's the difference?

Yep, this one definitely baffled me.  As far as I knew, Kennel Cough and Bronchitis were one and the same, but apparently I was only partially right.  As it turns out, Kennel Cough is Bronchitis, but Bronchitis is not necessarily Kennel Cough.  Confused?  Let me explain.

Bronchitis describes anything that irritates the trachea.  This could be allergies, kennel cough, a cold, a flu, dust, etc.  Kennel cough, on the other hand, is specifically an infectious virus which happens to effect the trachea as well as other parts of the body.

Now then, with that, I must make one comment.  In the past couple of weeks, I've seen a huge increase in dogs coughing.  Most dog owners and many vets will automatically assume this is kennel cough and will prescribe antibiotics and cough medicine.  The problem is, kennel cough is not always the answer.  I find it no surprise that this huge increase in coughing dogs came at the same time that the weather got warmer, the pollen count rose, and I ended up with an irritated throat and a running nose.  I didn't have a cold.  I had allergies...and most likely so did many of the dogs being treated for kennel cough.

So, before you load your dog up with antibiotics and other meds, make sure you know what's going on.  It may be kennel cough, it may be allergy-induced bronchitis, or it could be some other, more severe bronchitis.  You'll save yourself a lot of time and money, though, if you are aware of all the possibilities.

Remember, if you have any questions, feel free to ask on our Facebook page!

The Allergic Dog

Yes, it's time for another "Ask The Dog Trainer" question.  The question we have today is one that I hear quite often, and it's more common than many might think, so here we go:

I have a Boston Terrier, Max, who is quite sweet.  Recently, though, he's been itching and scratching a lot, and he's developed some irritation in some places (particularly his belly).  My friend mentioned he could have allergies, but he's never shown signs of this before.  Is it possible for dogs to develop  / have allergies?

Well, this is an easy one.  In a short answer: Yes.  Like humans, it is quite possible for a dog to develop allergies over time, and his/her allergies can be to anything from food to pollen.  And the symptoms can range from mild irritation and itchy skin to more severe ear infections and hives.  The real question here, though, is not whether or not a dog can develop allergies, but rather what can we do about them?

So the first thing I ask my clients when dealing with a dog showing signs of allergies is, "When are the symptoms the worst?"  About 90% of the time the response is that the dog is itching in the spring and summer and the feet are particularly itchy at this time too.  Generally, when this is the case keeping your dog clean and free of dust can help.  Also, making sure your dog's bedding is clean will help to relieve symptoms as well.  For severe scratching, try bathing your dog in a mild shampoo with cool water.

So, what if the symptoms are constant?  What if your dog is always itching and always suffering from ear infections?  What if your dog is developing rashes or breaking out in hives?  What then?

Well, generally I'd say this is probably a food allergy.  So, the first thing to do would be to cut out some of the most common allergens: wheat, corn, soy, and dairy.  Finding foods without these ingredients is actually easier than you thin (although you probably won't find them in your local supermarket).  If that doesn't work, focus on the protein.  The two most common sources of allergies in protein are chicken and beef.  I recommend switching to a fish-based diet as the added Omega-3s can sometimes help, but I've known people to switch to a completely unusual diet such as Kangaroo.

For some, though, this still is not enough.  At that point, I might suggest making your dog's food.  This eliminates any preservatives or other possible allergens from the diet.  You know EXACTLY what your dog is eating.  Of course, then it's important to not give your dog any other types of food either.

And, of course, there are dogs who are allergic to all of the above.  The require routine bathing, a strict diet, and tender, loving care.

In addition to all of the above treatments, you may even want to consult your vet about medication.  Sometimes a simple Benadryl can help to relieve symptoms, but other times your vet may prescribe an allergy med to help during the bad times.

If your dog is an allergy sufferer, take heart.  They may require a little more work, but they're worth it.  They're definitely worth it.

How Do I Choose A Groomer?

Today's question is a little different.  No one asked me about it on Facebook.  Rather, it's one that I recently had to ask myself.  Today's question is:

How do I choose a groomer??

When I first got Cody, a Labradoodle, I didn't quite realize how extensive his grooming needs would be.  As he grew older, his hair grew longer, and his curls became much more pronounced.  It didn't take long for his coat to matt, and he was so very uncomfortable.  I realized fairly quickly that I needed a groomer.

Now then, way back when, before I worked with dogs professionally, I didn't understand how much of a difference there could be among groomers.  I went to the first place I knew that offered grooming at a fairly decent rate.  This ended up being one of the big box stores that everyone knows about.  I didn't realize that their groomers only had 2 weeks of formal training, or that they saw at least 15 dogs a day (that's per groomer and that's a lot).  I didn't understand that their prices really weren't that great considering the small amount of time they'd spend with my dog, and I definitely didn't understand how much their lack of skills would show.  When I picked up Cody, however, I knew there was something wrong.  Besides the fact that my motley, crazy dog now looked like a giant, over-fluffed marshmallow, he also seemed very agitated and overwhelmed.  He came careening around the corner and practically climbed up me trying to get away.  I hated the way he looked, and he seemed to hate being there.  So, we began the search for the perfect groomer.

Over the years I tried fancy places, small places with lots of clients, small places with only a few clients.  I tried a lot of places.  In that time, I learned a lot.  Cody really started to HATE grooming.  At one salon that I really liked (they made him look nice), Cody refused to get out of the car.  Considering the fact that Cody is often excited just to enter the vet's office (he doesn't love the vet, but he likes the building), I knew something was wrong.  At another salon, Cody was happy until we entered the building.  Then he proceeded to urinate all over the floor.  At one salon Cody was fine, but he ended up catching an infection because they didn't clean their tools properly.  Yeah, we weren't happy.  Finally, I opened the daycare.  I needed a groomer, and I wanted a good one.  One that dogs would be happy to see.  So, I learned to ask the right questions.  When looking for a groomer, make note of the following:

1) Look at the surroundings.  Are they fairly clean?  Sure, there may be hair, but it should be fairly clean of dust and dirt, and the place should be fairly tidy.

2) How much experience do they have?  Most groomers are not trained at a school, so ask about what education they do have (apprenticeship, self-taught, etc).  On top of that, how long have they been grooming?  Have they won any awards?

3) Do they know obscure grooming things?  When I first started training, I had no idea what hand stripping was (learn more about it here), but when I opened the kennel I actually had quite a few people ask me about it.  What I learned is that there are some groomers who have no idea what I'm talking about, some who have heard of it but never done it, some who have done it but prefer not to do it because it takes so much time, and then there are some who have done it, know what they're doing, and are more than willing to do it again to further the breed's look.  In my experience, this last type is worth their weight in gold.

4) Do you like them?  Chances are, if you don't like your groomer's personality, your dog won't either.  Don't stick around with someone whom you think is rude or mean or rushed.  It won't turn out well.

5) To that note, meet the groomer!  This may seem like a no-brainer, but plenty of places don't have you interact with the groomer.  They simply have the front desk staff help you at all times, and getting in touch with the groomer is a pain in the posterior.  So, at least once, meet the groomer.  Talk about your desires and your dog's needs.  If you decide to try the groomer, see if she/he followed your instructions.  If he/she did not, see if they're willing to try to correct the issue.  You can't regrow hair that's been cut too short, but a groomer can offer a discount on the next grooming to help make up for the error.

6) Find out where the dogs go when they're not being groomed.  A full grooming generally includes: waiting for the groomer to finish other appointments, bath, blow out, trim, waiting to be picked up.  This can last for 2 hours or even up to a full day, depending on how the appointments are scheduled.  Do dogs get a potty break?  Do they get more than one?  Some groomers work with day cares, so your dog can play in the morning and be groomed in the afternoon.  Either way, you want your dog to have ample time to stretch his legs and get a potty break.

Lastly, as with most things, ask around.  If you see a dog on the street who just looks gorgeous, don't be afraid to ask where they groom their dog.  If you have friends with dogs, ask them where they go. 

I hope this answers all your grooming questions.  If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask on our Facebook page.