A Catalyst for Conversations

I received a holiday card and thank you note from a veterinarian friend. In the note she said this about my weekly blog, "Thank you for always being a catalyst for good conversations on pets and their well-being." I love this!  She regularly shares my blog with her clients, both on her hospital's website and in their newsletter, which I appreciate.  The whole point of establishing my blog back in 2017 was to have an entertaining way to provide information on issues related to animal behavior through the sharing of stories and client journeys with their pets.  When COVID-19 hit, my blog provided a much needed communication outlet for me during a time when we were all shut indoors with our pets and feeling anxious.  I feel like many of you became regular readers of my blog at that time and for that, I am eternally grateful.

I plan to continue writing weekly about the pets I see in my practice, as well as my own beloved collies. I will continue to share stories that I hope entertain you as much as they educate you about the fascinating world of animal behavior. I really enjoyed sharing my memoir with you all this year and I am excited to share that my first children's book will be coming out sometime in 2026.  The illustrator is busily working on the whimsical art for the book which I think many of you will enjoy.  I don't want to give too much away ahead of time, but the book features the adventures of a smooth collie.  Given that I've shared my home with several of them, I feel pretty confident that I've captured their essence, brains, and beauty with the story.  Hopefully you will enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed creating it.  More details to come soon.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a very happy and healthy New Year ahead.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Hmm.  Wonder if the kid's book is about me?

Holiday Apple Pie for Dogs!

Every year since he was a little kid, my son has requested Dutch Apple Pie for dessert on Christmas Day. This has always been a big deal given the fact that he's never really liked sweets. On his first birthday when given cake, he wouldn't take more than one bite, so the fact that we discovered he loved my grandmother's Dutch Apple Pie recipe, means that it has become a holiday go-to for family dessert.  Now, you know I love sharing what I eat with my dogs, in moderation of course.  Dutch Apple Pie, however, is not dog friendly (too much sugar!), so I had to find something similar that was dog friendly and that I could quickly whip up for my dogs to enjoy for their holiday dessert.  Here's their favorite Holiday Apple Pie, collie tested, veterinarian approved:

Ingredients for pie crust:

1 & 3/4 cups oats

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

Ingredients for pie filling:

1 apple peeled, cored, and chopped (I use a Granny Smith as they are naturally lower in sugar, but you can use any apple you have on hand as long as you peel, core, and chop it)

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

Greek yogurt for "whipped topping"

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Blend the oats into flour using a blender, food processor, or magic bullet blender.  Dump the ground oats into a bowl and add the applesauce, mixing them together with a rubber spatula (it's kind of sticky)  to create your pie crust.

Spread the pie crust into 4 mini silicon pie shells (these are reusable and easy to pop the pies out of for your dogs, but you can also use the mini aluminum or paper pie dishes if you have those on hand).

Bake the pie crusts for 10 minutes.

While the pie crusts bake, peel, core, and dice the apple and mix with the 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce.

Let the pie crusts cool briefly and then spoon in the filling and top with a dollop of Greek yogurt. Serve immediately!

I hope your dogs enjoy their pies as much as mine do.  Now it's time to make that Dutch Apple Pie as  my son will be home soon!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My kitchen assistants on baking day!

Your Dog's Wishlist for Santa!

There used to be this television ad that ran during the holidays when I was a kid.  It was for the ASPCA and it basically showed sad dogs, shivering in the cold and the voice-over stated that all dogs wanted for the holidays was a warm bed and home to call their own.  That ad always got to me, but when it popped into my head today, I realized how many more things dogs really want.  So, let's have some fun with this.  I'll give you the top five things I think dogs would put on their holiday wish list, if they could write!  Then, you can share in the comments what you think your dog would ask for from Santa.  Here goes:

1.  Walks filled with sniffs and exploring opportunities. Most of the dogs I see aren't getting in enough sniffing time on their walks. Owners and dog walkers seem rushed, eager to get their step count or move on to the next thing on their to-do list.  This rush to get the walk done robs dogs of the chance to sniff and explore.  Given that most dogs only get out for free time when they are on a leash, this means that they are really getting short-changed.  Dogs need time to sniff as it releases tension and stress and allows them to gather information about their surroundings and all the other animals and people there.  Slow down, let them sniff, and don't rush your walks!

2.  A variety of chewing options. Dogs need to chew.  Their mouths are designed for it.  They have strong jaw muscles made for gnawing on tough items.  While many vets caution the use of real bones for dogs for fear that they may splinter, create a blockage, or break teeth, there are plenty of other chewing options available.  There are edible marrow bones, dental chews, bullysticks, collagen bones, yak cheese, etc.  Chewing on bone-like items stimulates the production of saliva, massages a dog's gums, and can even help remove plaque from their teeth.  If you are concerned about the safety of a bone or other hardcore chewing option for your dog, talk to your vet. They can assess your dog's dental health and make recommendations on the best chewing options for your particular canine companion.

3. Puzzles and interactive toys. Every dog needs mental stimulation.  Walks, a game of fetch, and relieving themselves in the yard aren't enough.  Dogs are very smart, capable animals.  They co-evolved with humans who relied on their keen senses to locate and kill prey.  Dogs like to solve problems, especially if that problem helps them find something to eat.  Snuffle mats, snuffle balls, lick mats, and all of the wonderful puzzle toys from Outward Hound (they bought all of Nina Ottosson's designs) and Trixie (they actually make puzzles for cats too!) are good options for your dogs.  Having more than one puzzle means being able to rotate what you give to your dog, increasing their interest in solving the problem.

4.  A job. The job your dog will enjoy most depends on their breed, age, and interests.  Herding dog like to herd, sure, but a lot of them also enjoy agility and flyball.  Retrievers also enjoy agility and flyball, but you can likely add in water sports like dock diving for them as well.  Terriers and Dachshunds like to run and dig and can often be found enjoying nose work as well as faster paced sports like flyball.  Most dogs enjoy rally and that's a great sport for senior dogs too.  Experiment with different classes or sports and figure out what your dog enjoys the most, which might not necessarily be what you enjoy the most, and that's okay.  This is a job for them, not for you!

5.  The ability to enjoy their on-leash time free of fear or pain. When you are choosing the style of collar or harness for your dog, give some real thought to how that device will feel when they are wearing it.  Collars, harnesses, and leashes are all items designed to keep dogs safe.  Pick one that does that without also causing your dog pain in the process.  If your dog pulls on leash, don't immediately think you must need a pinch collar.  Instead, consider whether a harness like those from 2Hounds might better keep your dog from pulling while not using pain to get them to comply.  

I'm looking forward to reading your dog's wish list for Santa!  Ozzie, Henley, and Zelly are all hoping for some new puzzles this year.  Pretty sure I'll be able to help Santa with that.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me. 

Westley loved puzzles.  This one from Trixie was rather difficult, but he persevered until he mastered it.  It was interesting: Ozzie hated this puzzle as it took too long to solve.  He'd get frustrated and walk away.  But Westley? He'd keep at it until he'd found every hidden compartment filled with kibble and treats.

Helpful Holiday Strategies

Hanukkah is fast approaching (beginning on December 14 this year) and Christmas is just two weeks away as well.  A lot of my clients are feeling the pressure already to get everything done and make everything perfect for their friends, families, and loved ones.  I get it.  I like to get my Christmas tree up early and my house decorated so I can enjoy the festivities as long as possible.  But putting up a tree and decorations, and wrapping presents, with big dogs underfoot? Not an easy task.  I like to think my dogs are well-behaved.  They know what they are supposed to be doing and what is off limits.  The holidays, however, bring so many temptations, that even my dogs can get into a little trouble, landing them on Santa's naughty list, on occasion. I have put together some strategies that work for me to keep mishaps and shenanigans to a minimum, thus reducing my holiday stress and ensuring that we all have a good time.

1.  Don't put away those crates, pens, and gates just yet. Just because your puppy is all grown up, or you have adult dogs who've not needed confinement in years, using those options during the holidays can be a game changer. Need your dogs to stay out of the kitchen while you are preparing food?  Put up that gate.  Need your dog to stay away from the tree?  Put up a pen around it.  Need your dog to stop rushing the door as people come and go?  Put them in their crate with something fun to do, or inside that exercise pen. While I agree that gates and pens aren't all that attractive, they get the job done by creating obvious, enforceable boundaries for our dogs. The bottom line is this:  You can absolutely teach your dog to stay out of the kitchen, away from the tree, and not to bolt out the front door, but two weeks before the holidays is not the time to be doing that training. You'll be stressed out, your dog will be anxious about getting it right, and no one will have a good time. Embrace the gates and pens and decorate them with some garland as well!

2.  Plan ahead. Let your dog check out that tree before you add lights and ornaments.  If they get in some good sniffs in advance, they'll be less likely to dive into it when you bring it indoors and start decorating.  Don't put anything but plain water into the tree stand and clean up fallen needles regularly as they can cause stomach upset.  You don't want them drinking from there at all, but best to make sure that if they sneak a sip, it's just water. Only put non-breakable, non-toxic, durable ornaments down low.  You can expect your puppy to pull down at least one ornament, so let's make sure no one gets hurt! 

3.  Limit risk of exposure to poisons and toxins. I love poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, and amaryllis, but if someone brings them to my house as a gift, they immediately get placed strategically somewhere the dogs can't reach them and where any falling petals, needles, leaves, or berries won't land where curiosity might get the best of my dog friends.  If you are wrapping up edible treats like candy, cookies, etc. don't put them under your tree; leave those wrapped gifts up on a table or in a closet and bring them out when it's time for unwrapping.  And if you wrap presents for your dogs like I do, those gifts should stay safely tucked away until Christmas morning!

4.  Don't tempt them unnecessarily. My dogs are great at not touching plates, bowls, glasses, etc. on low tables as it's something we've practiced since they were puppies.  However, I don't tempt fate by walking away from plates piled high with novel holiday goodies and cups filled with yummy smelling beverages.  Dogs can be tethered, crated, penned, or kept behind a gate safe and sound.  Don't relegate your dogs to a part of your house away from all of the fun and activities, however.  Instead, keep them where they can safely see and participate without risk of over-indulging or intoxication.  One exception to this is if  you have a very fearful, aggressive, or overly protective dog.  Dogs who are afraid of new people and new experiences, or those who will aggressively defend and protect their owners or their homes from visitors should be confined away from the holiday activities.  Confinement is not punishment, so don't feel guilty or ashamed about doing so. You are protecting your guests, reducing your liability, and giving your dog some peace of mind.  Check on them regularly, give them bathroom breaks, and make sure you leave them things to do during their necessary confinement.  

5.  Maintain your usual schedule as much as possible. For some of my clients, it's hard enough to maintain a regular schedule during the rest of the year, let alone during the hectic holiday season, however doing so reaps its own rewards. Dogs are creatures of habit, deriving pleasure and satisfaction from eating, walking, playing, and exploring at the same times every day.  If you deviate too far from their normal routine, you risk creating avoidable stress and anxiety.  Instead, make every effort to feed them on time, get those walks in (that exercise is good for you too), and don't forget to play.  Play is nature's stress-buster, so don't skip out on that game of fetch or tug-of-war.

6.  Don't make excuses. You have dogs because you love them.  Having dogs means regularly dealing with water dripped on the floor, hair and fur on the furniture, dirt on the carpets, and occasionally, urine, feces, and vomit in random places as well.  That's life with pets, so don't apologize for it!  If guests in your home "aren't dog people," that's on them.  They are visiting you at your house; you can make minor accommodations as mentioned above with those crates, gates, and pens, but they need to remember that you share your home with dogs whom you love very much.  Loving you means loving (or at the very least tolerating) your dogs.  That doesn't mean you won't still do your best to make sure your canine companions are on their best behavior and looking (and smelling!) their best.  We all like to put our best face and foot forward during the holidays and your dogs want that approval and adoration too.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I've never met a dog who was as methodical about opening his Christmas gifts as Westley was. He absolutely LOVED opening gifts, joyfully pulling off ribbons first and then finding the right spot to loosen tape and then finally removing the wrapping paper.  And just like a little kid, he loved the boxes and paper just as much as the gifts inside them. This was Christmas 2024, his last one here on earth.

Are Dogs Getting Crazier?!

That was the question posed by a new client when he phoned my office for help with his three year old German Shorthaired Pointer.  He'd had dogs his entire life, and this was his fourth GSP, so he couldn't understand why his veterinarian was talking about possible drug therapy and the need for a behaviorist! When he asked me (somewhat jokingly, but not really) if I thought dogs were getting crazier, my response was a serious one: Dogs have always had behavioral issues, we've just gotten better at recognizing the problems and seeking out solutions that benefit those individual dogs than we did in the past. Much as there has been an increase in the diagnosis of children and adults with ADD, ADHD, and autism since the early 1990's, so have we seen an increase in the diagnosis of anxiety-based behavior problems in dogs over the last thirty plus years. It isn't that ADD, ADHD, and autism didn't exist before the 90's, it's just that human doctors and therapists have gotten better at recognizing these conditions and are more aware of how earlier therapeutic intervention results in more productive outcomes for their patients.  It's the same with dogs; veterinarians are recognizing that their canine patients need behavioral intervention and they are pointing those pet owners to trained professionals like myself. Veterinary care just keeps getting better and better and because of that, pets will continue to receive more thorough workups, including questions regarding that pet's behavior.

Obviously, I know a lot of veterinarians. They all collect behavioral information on the pets they see in their practice as part of their intake history during exam appointments.  Why? Because a pet's behavior can tell you an awful lot about how they are feeling, how they are coping, and where they may be struggling. Why might our pets be struggling?  The world is a different place than it was in the 1950's and 60's when oftentimes there was a human home all day long, so dogs didn't face separation anxiety.  Dogs were also often free to roam the neighborhood beyond their backyard, exploring, sniffing, and socializing with other dogs. While dodging cars can certainly be anxiety-provoking in and of itself, for the most part, that free-roaming suited a lot of those dogs. When dog owners began working longer days and with households needing two incomes to stay afloat, dogs were alone more, confined to the house or the yard, with less time to wander, explore, sniff, and socialize. Consequently, dogs became anxious due to lack of experiences or socialization opportunities. Their worlds shrank, making them more dependent on their humans for social interaction and mental stimulation, and that neediness became attention seeking and that attention seeking became boredom and anxiety.  Living in cities and suburbs meant more time on leash and leashes create anxiety for many dogs. Add in over-breeding or poor breeding, and you get dogs with more serious issues like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), aggression, panic attacks, and phobias, to name a few. 

My new client took all of this to mean that it was his fault his dog was anxious!  On the contrary, I was surprised that his three previous GSP's hadn't had any anxiety-based issues given that I've seen quite a few GSP's over my 35 years in business, and all of them had anxiety in one form or another.  I told the client that he was fortunate that this was his first anxious GSP! I firmly believe that his dog was predisposed to anxiety, in this case obsessive compulsive disorder, based on his dog's history and the family tree details he provided.  As a puppy, his dog chased his tail until he fell over or wore himself out. As an adolescent, he snapped at flies that weren't there, and now he routinely chases lights, shadows, and reflections.  Treating these issues means recognizing that this dog is anxious; scolding him, crating him, and keeping him on a pinch collar and tether aren't going to fix the problem.  On the contrary, those things are likely to make the problem worse.  What this dog needed was to have his energy channeled into more appropriate activities.  He needed serious mental stimulation and a breed appropriate outlet for his energy.  He also needed drug therapy as OCD cannot be effectively treated with behavior modification alone once it's gone on this long. Learned behaviors are hard to break.  Just ask anyone who ever had to give up cigarettes how hard it was to break that behavior!

While this wasn't really the news my client wanted to hear, he did have his dog's best interests at heart and agreed to the behavior modification plan I created.  I followed up with his veterinarian and we'll be starting the dog on clomipramine and we will see how it goes over the next few months. Not the easy fix my client was hoping for, but I think we are on the right track to bring relief to his dog.  

Thinking back to when I was a kid, we had a neighbor with a big Irish Setter.  That dog used to spend hours tethered to a tree in front of their house while neighborhood kids (including his own) played in the street.  I can remember that dog chasing his tail and fly snapping when there weren't flies, so clearly that dog had some issues with not enough mental stimulation and physical exercise, and maybe even some compulsive issues like my client's dog.  Was the neighbor's dog treated for any of this?  I don't think so, but then again it was the 1970's and there weren't a lot of behavior resources for dog owners back then beyond Barbara Woodhouse.  Do any of you remember Barbara Woodhouse?  Boy, I really am getting old!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

She was enormously popular, very entertaining, and quite no nonsense!

DIY Puzzles & Games

This has been a rough year for a lot of my clients here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Between the tariffs, skyrocketing grocery prices, and cutbacks at work, many of my clients are worrying about the holidays and gift giving even more than usual.  I'm a big fan of homemade gifts.  I think those lovely, one-of-a-kind items speak volumes about how much we care for the people in our lives receiving those handmade treasures. Even our pets appreciate homemade gifts and they really don't know the difference between an expensive toy, treat, or puzzle bought at the pet store, and one we made for them ourselves.  And this year?  Homemade pet gifts are the way to go.  Here are some of my favorites:

For the dog who loves a good puzzle:  Take an old beach towel, hand towel, or wash cloth (size of the towel depends on the size of the dog) and lay it out flat; add small treats or kibble and roll the towel up tightly.  Once you've got it rolled up, tie it in knots, creating a yummy smelling puzzle for your dog to untangle, roll out, and discover all the fun inside.

For the dog who likes to take stuff apart:  Collect four to six boxes of different sizes that you can nest inside each other.  Cut holes in the boxes of differing sizes to allow treats to drop out.  Place treats inside the boxes and then seal the seams of each box as you nest them one inside the other.  If you are giving this gift right away, you can make it even more fun to destroy by adding a small smear of nut butter to the outside to get your dog started. Yes, they will make a cardboard mess of all of this, so supervise them much as you would supervise a toddler opening gifts!

For the dog who always wants a snack:  Take sweet potatoes, carrots, or zucchini and thinly slice them (I use a mandoline), placing them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Make sure there is space between the pieces so that they'll cook evenly. Bake at the lowest possible over temperature (I do 170 degrees) or use a convection oven to reduce moisture efficiently and evenly. You want the vegetables completely dried and a bit crispy in texture which will take a few hours in a regular oven. I just periodically check on mine, testing for crispness. Once they are dry and crisp, remove from the oven and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container for your dog to snack on. Healthy treats you'll both love!

For the dog who loves soft toys: Look for flannel or fleece fabric remnants at the craft store or simply pick up some flannel sheets or large flannel shirts at the second hand store.  Cut the fabric into strips and tightly braid them together creating a homemade tug rope for your dog (see the photo below for an example).

And if you happen to drive past a yard sale, stop and see if they have any durable kids toys like backyard playhouses, slides, or tunnels.  These are fun for dogs as well, creating obstacles to go over, around, and through.  You can even hide treats in the playhouse or under the slide for your dog to find when they go exploring on their own.

I love making and receiving homemade gifts and I truly believe our dogs appreciate whatever we give them, so why not make their gifts yourself this year?

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me. 

Several years ago, this puppy did a week of boot camp at my house following his neuter surgery in December.  That was the year that my friend, Molly, made rope toys for my dogs for the holidays.  Well, this innocent looking puppy had the audacity to steal this toy from Ozzie and then growl when Ozzie tried to take it back!  Needless to say, that sheepish look on his face was for me when I took the toy away and asked him for a polite sit and stay.  It was boot camp after all!

Attention Seeking & Manipulation

Many of you have heard me say that dogs are terminal toddlers.  Toddlers are smart, agile, and independent, but they are also self absorbed, impulsive, manipulative, and prone to outbursts (tantrums).  For many dog owners, that definitely sounds like familiar territory.  Fortunately, toddlers outgrow this phase (hopefully) becoming successful, productive, compassionate children and adults.  Dogs?  They are stuck in this phase, for better or for worse.  It's our job as dog owners to guide our pups so that they minimize the negative aspects of toddler-hood in favor of those more positive attributes.  If you don't provide your puppies and dogs with structure, rules, schedules, and consistent consequences, however, you may end up with a canine tyrant in your home.  I meet a lot of those dogs.

We all seek out attention for ourselves.  It might be a brightly colored shirt we love to wear as we always get compliments when we do.  Or, it might be giggling and spinning around with your arms wide open as you know when you do, your bestie will do the same and give you a big hug.  Seeking attention in and of itself is not a bad thing.  Where it goes awry is when it becomes disruptive and potentially dangerous. Here's an example.  A smart dog might bark at the backdoor as he's realized that doing so gets your attention and causes you to open the door for him, allowing access to explore his outdoor territory and maybe relieve himself in the process.  Some dogs take this a step further and bark at their owners any time they want something.  Hungry?  Bark at the owner until they cave and give you a snack.  Bored? Bark at the owner until they stop what they are doing and throw the ball.  Frustrated?  Bark at the human for ignoring them and then escalate to pawing, grabbing clothing, biting at hands, and jumping on them snapping teeth in their face.  That sure gets the human's attention, right? Now, if you are like most of my clients this type of negative attention seeking takes you by surprise.  You might jump up and try to calm your dog, or redirect them to something more appropriate.  You might even put them outside to "cool off."  Doing any of these things, however, has the potential to backfire, resulting in your dog persisting in those behaviors that got him the undivided attention he craved.  And that, my friends, is manipulation.

So, what should you do if you think you are being manipulated by your canine housemate?  Respond appropriately.  Don't give them what they are demanding and instead attach a consequence that they won't particularly enjoy but can, begrudgingly, understand.  Barking for no reason?  Time out in your pen, crate, or the laundry room.  Persist in barking?  Stay there until you can calm yourself.  If you can't safely move your dog to the time out, then remove yourself to another room and close the door! Removing yourself serves the same purpose; your dog can't demand attention from you, or escalate their manipulation, if you've removed yourself from that narrative. If your dog, starts grabbing your clothes and snapping at your hands and face the minute you sit down on the couch, then don't let them be near you on the couch.  Tether your dog away from the couch, confine them to an x-pen, or use a crate.  Give them something to do while you are on the couch and they are effectively confined; we aren't punishing them, we are establishing boundaries.  If they bark when tethered or confined, despite having something to do there, remove them to another room for a time out, or remove yourself. 

Now, I know you are tired and you just want to enjoy your evening, but handing a dog a bully stick, a bone, or actually stopping what you are doing (relaxing) and playing with them or trying to bribe them into leaving you alone is only going to backfire.  They always want more and sometimes, just like human toddlers, they don't even really know what they want.  They are frustrated!  You can't reason with a frustrated toddler or dog.  Remove them, let them calm down and rest, and then give them something appropriate to do at that point.  

It is true that I see a lot of bored dogs as well.  Remembering to provide daily challenges for your dog in the form of physical and mental exercise is important.  If you get too busy to walk them or too lazy to fill the food puzzle, then you can expect them to act up and act out later.  Bored dogs are frustrated dogs and boredom and frustration lead to negative attention seeking, manipulation, and in some dogs, escalating aggression.

You are the adult with the thumbs to open the fridge and the back door, the car keys to get them to the park, and the credit card to order their treats, food, and toys. Your dogs KNOW all of this.  They will absolutely try to manipulate you if they think they can or if they've been successful with that strategy in the past.  If your response is always to calmly remove them (or yourself) for a time out, the result is a dog who begins to curb their own behavior to avoid that time out.  Now, this doesn't mean you can ignore those barks to let them outside, delay mealtimes, or forget that you always do two walks a day and play fetch afterward.  Dogs like predictable schedules and too much variation causes undue stress and anxiety.  We all have a responsibility here.  We need to be predictable and trustworthy caretakers and our dogs need to be well-mannered toddlers. 

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

When Zelly was about six months old, she really started boundary testing.  She'd bark at you anytime she didn't get her way; she'd also chase after the other dogs biting at them and barking in their faces as well. My response to this was always the same:  Time out.  Nine times out of ten, she'd fuss for a few minutes and then fall fast asleep.  A reminder of just how important those naps are for puppies and for the rest of us who are living with them!