The Animal Behaviorist Is In
Musings, stories, and advice from a certified animal behaviorist
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Vet Hospital Etiquette for Dog Owners
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Giving Dogs Time to Thrive
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
The Five Love Languages: Canine Edition!
Back in 1992, Gary Chapman wrote this fun book about the five love languages in people. This book allowed human couples to better understand what they wanted from their relationships. I enjoyed the book and if you haven't done the love languages test for yourself recently, it's a fun one to do! In any event, my daughter and I were talking about this book when we realized that dogs, much like humans, also seem to have five love languages. My daughter went so far as to suggest that maybe one of the reasons some dog owners have a difficult time engaging their dog is that they are trying to push their love language onto a dog for whom that love language isn't as important. Her example? People whose love language is physical touch who try to hug, kiss, and lay all over their dogs. While there are indeed some dogs who enjoy very close physical contact with their owners, there are just as many for whom this kind of close contact is anxiety-provoking. What if those dogs whose owners are hanging all over them are themselves a words of affirmation kind of dog? Meaning, dogs who prefer verbal reinforcement to the hugs and kisses? Fascinating, right?
If you aren't familiar with the five love languages, here they are. What I've added for you to think about is what the canine version of this love language might be.
1. Words of affirmation: Telling your dog they did a great job, adding in verbal markers like an enthusiastic "Yes!" when they complete a task, or even just saying something like, "who's a good dog?" This love language is all about praise, encouragement, and compliments.
2. Acts of service: For a dog, acts of service might be taking them for a walk, grooming them if they enjoy being brushed, or taking them for a ride in the car. These are acts that make your dog feel well-cared for.
3. Receiving gifts: Quite obviously, this could be buying your dog a new toy, but it could also be you digging that bone out from under the couch that they thought they'd lost forever!
4. Quality time: Giving your dog your undivided attention. This one is hard for some dog owners I see who are on their phones or listening to ear buds while they are walking or caring for their dogs. Dogs know when they have your focus and you're actively engaged with them.
5. Physical touch: While all dogs enjoy some touch from their favored humans, they usually have their favorite spots to be scratched or rubbed. And then, of course, there are dogs who enjoy being hugged and kissed. There are even dogs who enjoy physical touch from strangers; these dogs make great pet assisted therapists.
Obviously, you can't ask your dog to take the online quiz to determine their most prominent love language. And, yes, most dogs like being given a snack and taken for a walk (receiving gifts and acts of service, respectively), but there are dogs who don't enjoy walks as much or aren't super food motivated. Those dogs might be more motivated by words of affirmation or physical touch. So, to determine your own dog's love language, take a good look at their behavior in response to you supplying love those five different ways outlined about. Which one really seems to describe your dog?
Desi is absolutely a physical touch dog. He loves being petted, hugged, kissed and doted on, both by family and by strangers. He loves attention more than anything else. Ozzie, on the other hand, isn't motivated by touch and will actively seek to avoid it if he thinks someone is going to try to hug or kiss him. He does, however, know when he has my undivided attention and seeks that out and he definitely is an acts of service kind of dog too.
I think my daughter is right. Having a better understanding of what motivates your dog and makes them feel loved is one way to improve your relationship with them. Rather than making them fit into the box for what you thought dog ownership would be like, let your dog show you what works for them. That way, everybody wins!
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Charades: The Canine Version!
It's been hot here in northern California, with many days in the upper 90's to low 100's where we live. We do have air conditioning and Ozzie can frequently be found hogging one of the A/C vents in the house to stay cool. I bought a really quiet, tower fan to have in my office to keep me cooler and circulate the air. Ozzie loves this fan as much as I do! How do I know that? Here's what happened.
I was sitting at my desk with the fan near me, but not turned on. Ozzie came into the room, walked over, tail loosely wagging with a goofy grin on his face. He proceeded to nudge my arm gently, so I obliged with a few pets and lovies. When I moved my hand away, he very pointedly looked at me, then looked at the fan, then looked at me again. I said, "Do you want me to turn the fan on?" He literally huffed and looked at the fan again. I turned the fan on and he immediately plopped down between my chair and the fan, so it would blow cool air on us both. Pretty smart dog, right? I like to think that I'm a pretty observant human as well ;)
So, why am I sharing this anecdote with you? Because this is basically an example of dog charades; Ozzie was using his body, his voice, pointed glances, and contextual cues to get me to turn away from my computer and turn on the fan. While I initially thought he wanted attention, I think that was secondary to his desire to have the fan turned on! I'm not sure what he would have done if I'd ignored his nudge, but my guess is that he would have gone to lay down elsewhere in a huff, waiting for me to look up from my computer so he could try again.
One more fun anecdote: Desi is a very chill dog. He doesn't demand attention, but he is always happy to receive it. There is one exception to Desi's easy-going disposition and that is meal time. If it's 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. and Desi hasn't been fed yet? He'll let you know. If I'm folding laundry at the back of the house, Desi will find me and solicit lovies. As soon as I pet him, however, he starts to bounce around and stare at the door out of the room. If I try to walk anywhere else other than toward the kitchen, he literally herds me in that direction! And if I ask Desi if it's dinnertime when he finds me, he'll wag his tail and bark, trotting off toward the kitchen, looking back to make sure I'm following him. You see, dogs play charades with us ALL THE TIME!
Ever had your dog walk up to you and bow outside of the realm of play? More charades. This is your dog saying, "Hey there human. I'm interested in engaging your attention." I like to think that it's similar to one person walking up to another and getting their attention with a touch to the shoulder or forearm. It's not demanding, but it does indicate an interest in engaging.
I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Dogs are really good at reading our body language and facial expressions, much better than we are at reading theirs. Humans always seem to assume that they are the superior communicators, but I beg to differ. Take away our words and we're back to playing a challenging game of charades as well, trying to make our needs and desires known. Dogs have mastered charades and they are in it to win it. There is one thing, however, that can really throw a wrench in the works and that is when dogs live with people who don't take the time to observe them and learn their language. Owners who ignore the bark or whine in the middle of the night, for example, might be missing out on the fact that a car pulled up out in front of your house, there's a skunk in the yard, or the carbon monoxide detector isn't working, but their noses are. Dogs can only tell you what you are willing and able to hear/see.
Now, I realize observing dogs is a big part of my job. I encourage all of you, however, to spend just a bit more time on it as well. First of all, it's very enjoyable. Second, your dog will appreciate your efforts, much like that person playing charades with you would jump up and down and touch their nose with their finger when you guessed their clue correctly. You may be surprised to discover all the things your dogs have been trying to tell you that you were too busy or distracted to notice. Really is surprising that they don't get more frustrated with us overall. Please share some of your stories with me as I truly enjoy them.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
The Birds and the Bees!
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Surf's Up!
I love the beach. When I lived in San Diego, I went to the beach almost every day, rain or shine, year round. My border collie mix, Shadow, loved the beach as well, trotting along next to me with her nose in the air, sniffing out all the wonderful coastal aromas. I never had to worry about her going in the water as she hated to get wet; rain was fine, but waves were something to be avoided. She was also great about not eating sand and not rolling in any stinky seaweed that washed up on the shoreline. Not every dog, however, has that kind of enviable beach etiquette. I've seen dogs charging mouth first into the surf to retrieve balls, digging in the sand with their mouths wide open, and rolling in seaweed. Ingesting too much seawater can be dangerous and even life threatening, as can the ingestion of large quantities of sand. And those piles of seaweed? Sometimes they mask hidden dangers like jellyfish which can sting or dead fish that can make them sick. Yep, the beach can be a scary place, but with some planning in advance, it can be a safe and enriching excursion for you and your dog.
First off, a life vest. Even if your dog loves to swim and is a good swimmer, a life vest is a must. Tides can change quickly, currents can get rough, and a dog can easily be pulled out to sea. They may panic and start swimming in circles, tiring themselves out before you can safely retrieve them. Plus, those currents can be dangerous for you as well. If your dog is pulled out while wearing a life vest, they'll be easier for you or the lifeguards to find and help back to shore safely.
If your dog is digging and ingesting sand, or continually ingesting sand off of a ball they are retrieving, it's time to redirect them to another activity. Ingesting sand can lead to a condition called sand impaction, basically sand blocking the intestine. This condition is characterized by vomiting, dehydration, and abdominal pain. If your dog can't be redirected from sand-eating activities, it might be worthwhile to train them to wear a basket muzzle at the beach so that they can frolic and explore, but they can't ingest anything toxic. At a minimum, wash off the ball between retrieves so it's not coated in sand.
While you may feel that you are providing your dog with clean water to keep them hydrated and cool at the beach, they may still be ingesting sea water if they are out there in the waves chasing a frisbee or ball.
Acute water intoxication is somewhat rare but most commonly seen in dogs that love to play in water, whether that be fresh water or salt water. It can actually occur anytime an animal ingests a large quantity of water quickly. High risk dogs are those that engage in water play, including those who like to bite at sprinklers or play with the garden hose. Dogs who love to retrieve toys in water, or compete with other dogs to get those water toys are also at risk of ingesting large quantities of water as their mouths are open when retrieving.
The symptoms of water intoxication are loss of coordination, lethargy, bloating, vomiting, glazed eyes, excessive salivation, difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma.
Once a dog begins showing symptoms of water intoxication, it is critical to get them veterinary care immediately if they are to recover. When a dog ingests too much water, this results in a condition called "hyponatremia," which is excessively low sodium levels in the blood. Too much water causes unbalanced electrolytes and dilutes the sodium storage in the fluid around the cells. Cells fill with water which causes swelling that affects the nervous system since sodium helps maintain blood pressure and is important to nerve and muscle function. It is also the case that dogs who play in salt water for extended periods of time may ingest too much salt water leading to hypernatremia.
If you have a water-loving dog, or one who will retrieve a toy tossed in the water over and over, you need to monitor their water activity and insist on breaks. Even if they just love playing in the sprinklers or biting a garden hose, watch them for taking on too much water. Even a dog who quickly empties a water bowl following brisk play or exercise is a risk for water intoxication. Wait to refill that bowl until the dog has cooled down and the water they drank has been properly absorbed.
Prevention is obviously the best course of action with this issue. If your water loving dog does however, show any of the above symptoms, get them to the vet quickly. Remember, too, that while this isn't a breed-specific problem, size of the dog matters; smaller dogs and leaner dogs may exhibit problems faster than their larger canine friends.
While it is fun to let your dog run off leash at the beach, resist doing so if they have poor recall and won't leave it and/or drop it on command. Better to keep them on a long line and under your control than to have them racing off, eating things they shouldn't, charging at other dogs and beach visitors, etc. Even if dogs are allowed off leash on the beach you are visiting, don't let your dog's behavior negatively impact the experience of others that are there enjoying the coastline as well.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
It's That Time of Year...AGAIN!
It happens every year. As we approach the end of June, I start receiving frantic phone calls and emails from clients whose dogs are terrified of loud noises, so they are wondering what to do on the 4th of July. There are certainly no quick fixes for the problem of noise sensitivity, but there are some things you can do to ease your dog's anxiety and discomfort during fireworks.
1. Don't get angry or frustrated. If your dog gets anxious, your frustration will just reinforce their anxiety. Be kind, supportive, and proactive--get them out of the situation as quickly and confidently as possible. They need to see that you aren't anxious or upset as well; you will get them to safety without panicking yourself.2. If you know your dog is noise sensitive, just assume that fireworks displays, even in the distance, will be too much for them. Keep them indoors and use fans, TVs, stereos, white noise machines, etc. to help blot out the booming sounds. Close drapes and windows as well. Your dog will likely still be able to hear the fireworks, but they will be greatly muted by these actions easily taken by you.
3. If your dog is really panicky, get them into a bathroom and close the door. Bathrooms tend to be very well-insulated from sounds. Turn on the bathroom fan and sit with your dog if you like. Bring a book and just hang out.
4. Don't let your dog outside to go to the bathroom without wearing their collar, ID tags, and a leash. If they panic and get away from you, you want that collar and tags on them so that you will be quickly contacted when they are found. I've known more than one dog to panic and jump the fence in their yard without tags on the 4th of July. It goes without saying that having pets chipped is a lifesaver too if your dog gets loose and is picked up and taken to a local shelter or veterinary hospital.
5. While we only have a few days left until the 4th, you can also try some desensitization exercises with your dogs to prepare them, IF their anxiety is mild (desensitization exercises are unlikely to work on the profoundly anxious). This is particularly useful for new dog owners who have not gone through a holiday like the 4th of July with their pet previously and don't know if their animal will be sensitive to the lights/noises. Bring up the sound of fireworks on your computer, phone, or on the TV. Start at a very low volume and gradually increase the volume, helping your dog to see that this is no big deal. Use treats, toys, and fun distracting games to redirect them. Keep in mind that real fireworks are about sound AND lights, so these exercises really only work on the sound component unless you are using your TV and your dog actually pays attention to it!
6. You can certainly try a Thunder Shirt for your dog, although most people find that they have limited success with just using that alone. Same for DAP, dog appeasing pheromone, plug-ins and collars. These tools may be helpful in conjunction with the strategies outlined previously.
8. Probably the most important thing you can do is talk to your neighbors. Let them know that you have an anxious dog and enlist their help. If your immediate neighbors can resist the urge to set off fireworks, that will help your dog immensely. Unfortunately, even in counties where fireworks are illegal, you'll still will have people using them.
9. And finally, many people have had success giving their pets CBD based oils and treats to reduce anxiety and promote calmness. If you'd like to learn more about this holistic alternative, visit www.honestpaws.com.
Ozzie and I will be spending the 4th of July with my daughter and Westley, while Desi will be spending it at home, relaxing with dad. None of our collies care about fireworks; even Westley who doesn't like garbage truck sounds is fine with fireworks! Nonetheless, we will all be home enjoying the day off together.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.