Ciroq on a WATCH

Dogs Should Be A Part Of The Family

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

Dogs are Angels put on this earth to bring us into the Here & Now. Allow them to do their job! They are social and they are pack animals. We humans have domesticated them and brought them into our world, so they see your family as their pack.

Yes there are some countries that believe dogs should be living outside instead of inside.

I DO NOT AGREE! MY DOGS ARE MY FAMILY!

Please if you are going to keep your dog outside then give them the shelter, the stimulation with toys, and training so they do not go crazy out of boredom, escape from the yard, and bite other dogs or people.

Imagine yourself being stuck in a yard with no shelter when there’s lightning and pouring down rain or dealing with the extreme heat during the summer. It is just not fair! Also, within my 21 years of dog training, I have seen this plenty of times, where the family has a large dog outside (TO PROTECT THE HOUSE) and they have a small dog inside the house.

Most small dogs have the Napoleon complex and they think they are big and bad, so they stand at the window or sliding glass door and tease the big dog outside: “haha, I am inside and you are not!” The frustration and even hatred that the big dog feels about the small dog is allowed because it is totally unfair!

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Bend Your Knees When Dogs Are Running In A Yard

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

Whenever two or more dogs are playing in a yard, always bend your knees because if they lose control and bang into you then your knees can get dislocated or get hurt really bad.

Within my 21 years of working with dogs, this is happened plenty of times and especially a medium to large dog, they can bring you to your knees and make you fall and it HURTS! It happens in a split second. Any aged dog can loose control and bang in to you but it happens more with puppies. They are more clumsy and do not have much spatial boundaries. Do not put your guard down especially if you are outside with your pups in the morning and you are really not fully awake.

Imagine walking straight, and Then getting plowed from the side from your pup and get thrown to the ground on all fours. THAT WILL WAKE YOU UP!! TRUST ME.

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A Dog’s Memory is Amazing!!!

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

Many people don’t know that anything that happens to a dog in between the ages of 4 through 9 weeks of their lives is ingrained into their minds.  Anything their mother does to them, they will remember.  If they are unfortunately abused at an early age, they remember all the details.

For example, if a tall man that always wears a hat abuses a dog, then every time the dog sees a tall man with a hat, they become very submissive and think they will get hurt.  If there is one puppy that is very hyper and is going to get the other litter mates hyper, the mother will grab that puppy by the scruff of the neck with her teeth, give a growl until the puppy submits and calms down, then she will release them.  So, when we grab the scruff of the neck of a puppy or dog, they will remember the feeling and calm down quicker.

Obedience Training:

The earlier that you start training your puppy, the better it is because they are little sponges and they absorb it all.  Obedience training with different commands is so important for the peace in your household.  You gain the dominance of the dog and the dog gets more tired than just running around playing with toys because dog training takes mental stimulation.

Dogs are capable of learning hundreds of one or two word commands but you must say the commands firmly because if you draw out the command (siiiiiiittttttt), then you are asking the dog instead of commanding them to do it.  A dog’s psychology and a child’s psychology are almost exactly alike because if they know that they can get away with just a little bit, they will push it for everything they can.

For example, if you are not watching your dog, they can sneak into the bathroom and make a mess. 

Do not make excuses for your dog and make sure you do not feel bad that you have to reprimand them for doing something wrong.  Try to catch them in the act of doing something that they should not be doing.  Do Not Give Up when giving your dog a command.  Always make them do whatever you want them to do.  Just remember, PATIENCE and PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!!!!

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All Dogs Have A Sixth Sense!

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

As I was saying, the leash is your tool, a dog can sense exactly how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking because your energy goes from you through the leash and to the dog. 

Please be confident that your dog will do a certain command because if you are uncertain and don’t think that your dog will do it, THE DOG KNOWS, so in their minds they think, ” well if you don’t think I can do it, then why should I.”  A dog’s mind and a child’s mind are almost exactly the same, if they know they can get away with something they’re going to push it for everything that they can no matter what!

Dogs know whether a person is a good person or a bad person the second you open your front door.  They know if a person walking 10 – 20 feet away is dangerous and they start barking aggressively to warn them and you.

Although a human brain is ten times larger, the part that controls smell is 40 million times larger in dogs!  Wow!  A dog’s sense of smell is 100,000 times stronger than ours.

Even if a puppy is extremely hyper, they know when you are not feeling well and most of the time they will have the ability to calm their body down and lay next to you just to make you feel better.  

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PLEASE DO NOT BUY A DOG THAT IS LESS THEN 8 WEEKS OLD!

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

Hello everyone,  this is very important news that has been really bothering me lately and has been a very big problem this year especially while I have been training puppies.  Unfortunately, breeders are selling puppies way to young.  There is no reason why puppies should leave their mom and littermates less than 8 weeks old.  They learn so much from their mother and littermates.

Not only are they selling the puppies to young, they put them in a crate and on an airplane in cargo.  Their immune system is not strong.  This is causing major crate anxiety and plenty of fear from noises because it is so loud in cargo and unfortunately the people that get them out are probably not gentle getting the crates to where they need to be.  The puppies are filled with pee and feces.  

Here are your top 10 pet couriers in 2019 – and they’re all IPATA-approved =  Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association .

Imagine being less than 2 months old and being totally traumatized like this.  It is not fair.  It is very difficult to fix crate anxiety and separation anxiety because they pee and defecate from the anxiety as soon as they are put in the crate.  Even if you switch to a playpen, which gives them more space, it has been causing major anxiety.  Granted, every dog is different, just like every person is different.  They can hurt themselves from trying to bite the cage or dig at the bottom.  

10 – 13 weeks is a perfect age to adopt a puppy.  I have trained plenty of puppies that are extremely fearful of noises and just the world around them.  They are shy and it is dangerous to walk them because they can slip out of their collars and go running in the street once they hear a loud truck, motorcycle, or garbage truck.  

Separation anxiety can lead to mass destruction and will only worsen with time.  The most important thing to start with is to choose a confinement for your dog.  It could be a crate, playpen, or certain small room in the house.  Do not see the confinement as a negative thing.  Dogs are like wolves and they see their den or confinement as their safe place.   Your dog will not have the opportunity to bite and destroy furniture. I have seen some horrible destruction of the home caused by one dog.

If you are a stay at home parent or you work from home, DO NOT have the dog with you at all times.  If you have the chance to leave the house for a little bit, even if it is for 15 minutes, please do, so your dog will get used to you leaving and coming home.  When you do leave and come home, do not make a big deal because it raises the dog’s anxiety.

A rescued dog with separation anxiety:

If you rescued a dog with separation anxiety, it will take some time and patience but the problem can be solved.  Please be patient!!!  First, put the crate in an area of the house where the dog can not see you leaving the house.  You might also want to get a plastic covered crate, so the dog does not hurt themselves trying to get out.  

You can set the dog up by putting the dog in the crate, put a deer antler or empty marrow bone with a little bit of peanut butter in the middle to try to get their attention focused on the bone instead of you leaving.  Every dog is different.  Go outside for 3 – 5 minutes then come back in and let him or her out of the crate.  DON’T say anything, just let the dog out, so they realize that they can be comfortable being in the crate.  Also, before you start getting ready to leave, put the dog in the crate, so they can not see you getting ready because that causes the anxiety as soon as you start your daily habit before leaving.  By the time you leave, their anxiety is very high.  That is why people think that the dogs are having an accident on purpose.  They can not hold it. It is like a person with a nervous stomach, who can not help but to throw up or they have to have a bowel movement.

Training will definitely help with separation anxiety:

Obedience training is so important for the peace in your household.  You gain the dominance of the dog and the dog gets more tired than just running around playing with toys because dog training takes mental stimulation.  The best part is that it does not take long on a daily basis.  Even if you work with the dog for 10 – 15 minutes before you leave, that will be perfect.  Take the dog out before you go and remember give them the bone in the crate and walk out without saying anything.

A tired dog is a happy dog!!!!!!

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The Leash Is Your Tool As Well As Being Firm But Loving!

by with No Comment Dog HealthDog owner lifeDog TrainingPet CarePet Products

When the dog does not have the leash on then they are in control. They have to much freedom and think that they can chew on whatever or go to the bathroom throughout the whole house. 

If the dog cannot be trusted in the house without having an accident or chewing on something you need to keep them on a watch or confine.

When the dog is on a watch, you keep the dog on the leash inside the house, so the dog cannot sneak off to have an accident or destroy something.  You can put a belt on and put the loop of a 6 ft. nylon leash or a 4 ft. chain link leash, if they are biters, through the belt, so your hands are free.

You can also wrap the leash around the leg of the couch and put clasp through the loop then attach it to the collar.

When you cannot watch the dog then put the dog in their confinement even if it is just for a short time for you to go to the bathroom because that is when they take advantage and get in trouble.

This may sound strange but if you have a large puppy that is extremely strong, clumsy, and doesn’t know their own strength then please keep the leash on them inside the house even if they’re housebroken.

If you open up the crate door and they literally knock you down because they’re so excited to get out and then they grab everything that they’re not supposed to, then they are just pushing their limits and getting away with way too much.

You can get really hurt if they are hyper and in their puppy Zoomies and banging to you knock you down and hurt your body.

Best thing to do is put the leash on before they get out of the crate.

safe toys for dogs

WHAT TOYS & BONES ARE SAFE FOR DOGS?

by with No Comment Dog HealthPet CareUncategorized

All The Toys That Are Great For Your Dog

When you get a new dog or puppy, there are so many toys to choose from.  Toys and bones are important to keep your dog occupied when you are not home or can not pay attention to them.  Think of certain toys as a pacifier for them.

Stuffed animals are not good to give to plenty of dogs because if they tear the stuffing out of the toys and swallow it, it can get wrapped up in their intestines then they can get bored with that and tear up pillows.  The pillows have the same stuffing in them as the stuffed animals. For teacups and toy dogs, the stuffed animals are probably ok because they can’t tear them apart.

Toys and bones that are safe and unsafe for dogs:

Any rubber toys are great.  A kong toy is wonderful because you put peanut butter on the far top of the toy, so they can smell it but they have to work to get it out.  For the big dogs you can get the black ones, so they do not tear it up so fast. It is supposed to be indestructible but some dogs can destroy them.  

For young puppies, start out with a kong toy because the antlers and marrow bone is to hard for their baby teeth! Antlers from deer or larger are Fabulous because they can bite on them and they do not break. 

Please do not get rawhides.  Even though they are sold everywhere, they are unsafe.  As the dog is chewing on the bone it gets soft and slimy and it doesn’t break off into pieces.  The sliminess can get stuck in the dog’s throat and they can choke.  

Flavored nylabones, bullysticks, pig ears, and pork rolls are great.  Also, marrow bones are safe and they will keep your dog busy for a long time.  They are found in your local supermarket in the refrigerator or freezer section.  Just ask the butcher and they will direct you.  

For large dogs, do not give them small bones because they can get stuck on the top of the mouth or they can swallow them whole and choke.  You can give it to the dogs raw in their crate or outside, so they get all the meat and marrow out, then they can bring it inside and it doesn’t make a mess.  

Dogs have digestive acids in their stomach that break the raw meat and bones with no problem.

Use the kong toy or marrow bones as special treats.  Only give it to your dog when you put them in the crate or certain confinement, so they know they are getting special treats when in the confinement.  Also, it keeps them occupied when you are leaving the house, it does not stress them out, and it helps with separation anxiety.

If your dog is spoiled and has so many toys to choose from, another good idea is to switch the toys around every other day, so if they have a favorite then they are not getting it everyday.  They will be more excited when they do get to play with the toy.

body language in dogs

HOW TO INTERPRET YOUR DOG’S BODY LANGUAGE, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, AND VOCALIZATIONS

by with No Comment Dog owner lifeDog TrainingPet Care

HOW TO INTERPRET YOUR DOG’S BODY LANGUAGE, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND VOCALIZATIONS

There are many different ways to tell how your dog is feeling and what they are communicating to you or another animal. Learning how to differentiate between each stance, expression, and sound will help you understand your dog so much better. Dogs can’t talk, so they communicate through body language, facial expressions, and vocalizations. Here are some examples of dispositions and examples of how the dog might react:

ALERT

Ears: Perked up. Turning like antennas to catch sound

Eyes: Open normally or wide

Mouth/teeth: Mouth closed or slightly open with teeth covered

Body: Normal. Possibly standing on tiptoe. Slightly dominant position

Tail: Up and possibly wagging

Vocalization: None, low whine, or a small bark that is somewhat continuous

AGGRESSION

Ears: Back and close to the head

Eyes: Narrow or staring thepe

Mouth/teeth: Lips open and drawn back to expose teeth bared in a snarl. Possible jaw snapping.

Body: Tense, upright in a complete dominant position. Hackles, which are the hairs that stand up on the back of the neck are up.

Tail: Straight out from the body and it is fluffed up.

Vocalization: Snarl, growl, and a load bark.

ANXIOUS

Ears: Partially back 

Eyes: Slightly narrowed

Mouth/teeth: Mouth closed or slightly open in a grin

Body: Tense and slightly lowered in a submissive position

Tail: Partially lowered

Vocalization: Low whine or moaning-type bark.

CHASE, BEGINNING STAGE

Ears: Perked up and forward pointing

Eyes: Wide opened and very alert

Mouth/teeth: Mouth is slightly opened with an excited panting

Body: Tense, crouched low in a predatory position. Legs bent and poised to run

Tail: Extended straight out from the body.

Vocalization: None

PREDATORY

Ears: Alert and held forward or backward to catch sounds.

Eyes: Wide open, staring and focusing.

Mouth/teeth: Mouth closed

Body: Rigid and low to the ground, ready to spring forward. They are quietly sniffing the air.

Tail: Straight and low.

Vocalization: None, so the prey won’t be alerted.

CURIOUS/EAGER/EXCITED

Ears: Perked up in a forward-pointing

Eyes: Wide open

Mouth/teeth: Mouth open, teeth covered with possible panting

Body: Normal stance with possible wiggling, standing on their back legs, or pacing

Tail: Up and wagging

Vocalization: Excited short barking and whining

DOMINANT

Ears: Up and straight or forward

Eyes: Wide open and staring

Mouth/teeth: Mouth closed or slightly open

Body: Very tall posture and the hackles may be up.

Tail: Stiffened and fluffed. Up or straight out from the body

Vocalization: Low assertive growl or grunt.


SUBORDINATE (SUBMISSIVE)/FEARFUL

Ears: Down and flattened against the head

Eyes: Narrowed to slits or wide open, whites showing.

Mouth/teeth: Lips pulled way back from teeth in a grin. Nuzzling or licking other animals or people on the face.

Body: Lowered to the ground with the front paw raised, lying on their back with their belly up, possibly piddling, which is urine leaking. 

Tail: Down and between the legs.

Vocalization: None or a low worried whining. Possible whining/yelping in fear.

PLAYFUL/FRIENDLY/HAPPY

Ears: Perked up, forward, or relaxed

Eyes: Wide open and alert with a sparkly/merry look

Mouth/teeth: relaxed, slightly opened with some excited panting

Body: Normal posture, relaxed, possibly their butt is wiggling, the front end of their body is lowered, rear end is up in the air in a play-bow. Excited bouncing and jumping up and down. Circling around and running forward in an invitation to play.

Tail: Wagging vigorously

Vocalization: Excited barking, soft play growling, yapping, or a short, high bark.

References by http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Dog-Behave-Solutions/dp/B0027MPM8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307220928&sr=8-1