Planning Ahead for the Summer: Five Things to Keep in Mind!

Hard to believe, but summer is on the way and with it, warmer weather. Warmer temperatures often mean trips to the beach, more hiking and other travel adventures, and a lot of family time with the kids out of school. Seems like a good time to go over a few tips to make your pet's summer safer and happier overall. Let's start with these five:

1.  Water Safety: Even if your dog is a good swimmer, I believe a life vest is a must.  Currents and tides can change quickly, exhausting and disorienting even the most accomplished swimmers. Plus, a vest will make it easier for you or a lifeguard to pull your dog to safety. If your dog loves to dig in the sand, or loves chasing a ball that gets coated with sand after each throw, take care to make sure that they aren't ingesting large quantities of sand which can lead to a condition called "sand impaction." Rinse off that sand covered ball between throws and consider using a basket muzzle on your digging dog to prevent the ingestion of excess sand. And most importantly, watch your dog closely for water intoxication during water play and other water-centered activities.  Water intoxication is a risk for any dog, including dogs who just like to attack the sprinklers with wild abandon,  but none more so than dogs who routinely ingest water while retrieving toys or swimming in any body of water. Watch your dogs for signs of water intoxication (loss of coordination, lethargy, bloating, vomiting, glazed eyes, excessive salivation, difficulty breathing, and seizures) and get veterinary care immediately if you suspect they've taken in too much water.  Insist on breaks for any dog who spends time in and around water.

2.  Hikes & Outdoor Exploration: If you and your dog are planning any hikes or extended walking adventures this summer, it's good to begin training ahead of time.  Start by extending the length of your walks now, and include inclines and descents to get your dog (and yourself!) ready for those terrain variations.  Remember you will need a water bottle for yourself, as well as one for your dog, so you both have adequate water to stay hydrated. If you will be walking on rough or uneven surfaces that could damage your dog's foot pads, consider training them to wear booties designed for climbing, or at a minimum, add something like foot wax to their foot pads to increase traction and provide some protection from hot, uneven surfaces.  Training your dog to wear a backpack can also be helpful so that they can carry their own supplies. You will need to have them acclimate to wearing the pack, however, so start with an empty pack on your daily walks, gradually filling it with the supplies they will need when you start hiking with them regularly.  I love the booties, backpacks, hiking harnesses, and life vests available from www.ruffwear.com.  And, no, I'm not getting any kickback for recommending them, but I have used their products for years with my own dogs and their stuff is durable and well-made.  Please make sure your dogs are up to date on their vaccines, as well as their flea and tick preventatives. You will still want to check your dogs for ticks post-hiking, as well as yourself!  Finally, rattlesnakes and other venomous snakes may be found in the areas where you hike.  I've put my own dogs through rattlesnake avoidance training and can't recommend it enough. If you live anywhere within driving distance of the San Francisco Bay area and want information on rattlesnake avoidance training in this area, message me for details on an upcoming clinic I know and trust.  I'm planning on enrolling Henley this time around and Ozzie is a past graduate of this clinic and the best rattlesnake spotter of any dog I've ever had the pleasure of hiking with.

3.  Car travel:  If you will be traveling with your dogs by car or motor home, it's a good idea to be prepared for that as well.  Even if you don't crate your dogs in the car normally, bringing along collapsible/folding crates when you travel is a good idea.  If you have to make unplanned stops, having those crates can be a godsend. I recommended this to a client one time and she thought it was overkill until her car died on the side of the road and it took forever to find a tow truck that would allow her dog to ride along as well.  And then the rental car company didn't want an uncrated dog in any of their vehicles!  She now carries a collapsible crate in her car at all times. She learned her lesson!  Always carry water for your dog on car trips, and snacks if they will be in your car for longer than a 6-8 hour stretch without meal breaks. If your dog gets carsick, or you think they might get carsick on a windy road portion of your trip, remember to bring something with you to prevent nausea.  I like Nabisco Ginger Snaps Cookies as they work for nausea in people and dogs. If you need something stronger than that, consider CBD oil made for dogs, giving them a dose 30 minutes in advance.  And if that still isn't enough, talk to your veterinarian well ahead of your vacation about other alternatives such as Cerenia or Ondansetron.

4. More time with children:  Even if your dog loves your kids or grandkids, a lot of extra time spent with children can be exhausting. Make sure your pets have safe spaces to escape (crates or doghouses for dogs, perches and hiding spaces for cats) and remind those kids to leave dogs and cats who are resting alone.  Encourage your pets to seek out those spaces if they seem overwhelmed and enforce time alone, especially for puppies who need those daily naps in order to behave appropriately. Finally, while it's nice that kids like to share snacks with the pets, make sure those snacks are healthy and safe for your pets. Encourage kids to share healthy snacks like carrots, apples, and zucchini with your pets rather than popsicles, chips, or cheese. 

5.  Fireworks:  The 4th of July will be here before you know it, and most pets would prefer that they didn't have to deal with fireworks every single year.  While there are certainly some pets that seem to ignore fireworks, most are sensitive to them at best, and terrified of them at worst.  If your pet is terrified of fireworks, it may be best to take them somewhere that fireworks are illegal or an area that is so far off the grid that fireworks are a non-issue.  If you plan to be gone on the 4th, but will be leaving your pet home alone, make sure they are indoors and safely confined, before you leave the house.  You don't want them jumping through a window or digging through a door to escape.  Leave music or the TV on, with fans and white noise machines, to blot out some of the sounds, and pull curtains or window blinds to block flashes of light.  If you plan to stay home with your pets, you can still use music, TV, white noise, and fans, but encourage your pets to seek refuge in your bathroom.  Bathrooms are the most soundproof spaces in our homes, particularly inside shower stalls or bathtubs.  These spaces are also cooler and darker and less likely to experience those flashes of light.  Encourage your pets to sit or lay in the tub or shower, or even between the toilet and tub, for best sound and vibration protection from those fireworks.  Check on your pets in the bathroom frequently to make sure that they are okay.  If your pet is mildly disturbed by fireworks, you might be able to get by with CBD oil given throughout the day on the 4th.  If that isn't enough, however, or if your pet is profoundly anxious, talk to your veterinarian about more serious alternatives like Trazodone or Xanax. 

Hopefully, this gives you a head start on making this summer the best one yet for you and your pets. As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Ozzie and Westley love a good hike and both are good at signaling when they see snakes on or off the trail. In this photo, Westley is showing off his hiking pack.  His pack was empty on this hike as he'd just gotten it and we were training him to acclimate to wearing it before adding in any weight. He now carries his own water, snacks, poop bags, and first aid kit!

My Pupsicle Recipe!

A dear friend reached out and asked if I would share my pupsicle recipes again.  She knows I make pupsicles (dog-friendly hot weather treats) for my dogs every summer, and given the hot weather we're starting to have here in the San Francisco Bay Area, she wanted to get a jump on making some for her sweet dogs.  Pupsicles are refreshing for your dog, as well as being mentally stimulating.  With healthy ingredients, these can be given to your dogs frequently without feeling guilty. 

You will want to start with basic popsicle molds.  You can purchase silicon molds, if you like, then you won't need edible "handles" for your frozen dog treats.  I myself have the old-fashioned popsicle molds from when my kids were little, so I just use those! If you have those style too, you will be substituting a piece of bully stick or jerky for the popsicle stick handle making it dog friendly AND easier to get out of the molds.  Pour liquid yogurt or kefir into the molds and add frozen blueberries, strawberries or bananas for texture.  Carefully insert the bully stick or jerky into the filled molds and then put the molds into your freezer to harden.  For a savory pupsicle, use bone broth or low sodium chicken broth, adding diced carrots or zucchini for texture.  Don't forget to add those bully sticks or jerky sticks so you'll be able to get the pupsicles out once they've frozen! Both versions are definitely treats for your dogs to consume outdoors as they are messy, but worth it.

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

Ozzie enjoying a sweet pupsicle, made with liquid strawberry yogurt, 

blueberries and, his favorite, fresh strawberries!

Some More Thoughts on Walking Your Dog

Any time I do a group presentation, it seems like I receive a lot of questions regarding taking dogs for a walk.  Everything from how far, how often, what leash to use, what collar, and whether to use treats or not.  I know I've talked about walking dogs many times, but I thought it might be valuable to revisit this topic from a slightly different point of view.  That is, the point of view of your dog.

While most dogs enjoy being outdoors, leashes aren't their first choice for how they like to explore their world.  For many dogs, being on leash is very stressful.  When a dog is on leash, they are obviously tethered, hindered not only from doing what they want, but kept from being able to adequately protect themselves, and you.  This is why keeping the leash loose when walking helps to reduce the pressure your dog feels on those leashed walks.  Make sure your dog has enough leash to explore and sniff without feeling tension and pulling at their neck, back, or shoulders. And please don't make the mistake of thinking that a retractable leash will make your dog happier because it won't.  Retractable leashes are dangerous for dogs and for their people.  If you want your dog on a longer leash, but with even more room to explore safely, put them on a long line. You can get them in any length from 10 feet right on up.

Dogs who are anxious on leash don't need 5 mile walks or hour long strolls, they need short walks, at off peak times and off peak places, that build their confidence without adding to their stress.  While the average healthy adult dog needs two 30-45 minute walks each day, that's not a hard and fast rule for every dog.  Some dogs do just fine with one walk a day.  Others, it's two walks, but both for just 15-20 minutes each.  And there are also dogs who do quite well with any length/distance walk, as long as they receive ample play time at home with their humans.  And if you have an aggressive dog, that is one who behaves in a reactive manner toward other  dogs, other people, or both, you will want to be very cautious about when, where, and how often you walk your dog.  Yes, you do indeed have the right to walk your dog, but you do need to make sure that doing so doesn't put anyone else at risk.  This might mean walking very early in the morning, late at night, with your dog wearing a muzzle, or all of the above. Just remember that you will want to train your dog to wear a flexible basket-style muzzle for walking which will allow them to pant, bark, sniff, drink water, and take treats.  All you want the muzzle to restrict is their ability to bite someone or another dog.  Plus, dogs who are walked wearing muzzles are automatically given more space by others walking their dogs and that's exactly what your anxiously aggressive dog was looking for.  Remember, too, that you can and should exercise your dog at home, whether that's with yard-approved agility equipment, a chuck-it, a flirt pole, or a swimming pool.  While most dogs won't utilize any of those things on their own, they will be more than happy to run around with you, chasing a ball, following the flirt pole, or maneuvering around agility equipment. 

As to what kind of collar or harness to use, that depends on your dog, their age/life stage, whether they pull or not, and whether they have issues in reactivity.  Seek out and utilize the collar or harness that is the most comfortable for your dog while still doing the job you intended it to do. Right now, for example, I am walking Henley on a Gentle Leader Head Halter.  This has been a game changer for his on-leash pulling and really made maneuvering around the ill-mannered dogs in my neighborhood that much easier. And as far as treats go, everyone should carry treats in their pocket and not just for reinforcing or redirecting your own dog, but to throw by the handful in an emergency situation where you need to distract that off leash dog who just bum-rushed you! Just remember that whether a treat is high value or low value is determined by your dog, not you.  While most might consider their kibble to be low value, I've met dogs who thought kibble was the best thing ever and the owners used chopped up zucchini for their low value treat.  For Henley, it would be just the opposite; kibble would be low value, and he loves zucchini!

I have a copy of a dog training book from the 1970's where they basically said "walk your dog twice a day" without giving any information on what that walk should look like.  We've made so much progress since those days of chain leashes and choke collars.  We now have many more options to choose from and a better idea of what a dog considers a successful, rewarding walk.  I am grateful for those choices.

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

Here's Henley on a walk without his head halter, enjoying an amazing stick 

he discovered in the neighborhood.

Just A Funny Story!

So, a client called me over the weekend to thank me for helping her with her puppy several months back. I thought it was nice of her to follow up and let me know they were doing well together. I love when clients do their follow up as with those who don't, I'm left to wonder...did everything work out?  Did they get frustrated and give up?  Is their pet running the house now and restricting their access to the phone and computer?!  Just kidding.  

Anyway, she somewhat sheepishly told me that they'd really done very little that I had suggested beyond one thing.  They made that puppy take naps four times a day, in her crate, no exceptions.  I laughed because this isn't the first time I've had a puppy client tell me that those enforced naps were a game-changer. But the ONLY thing that I told them that they actually followed through with and did?  Mind boggling!  She said those daily naps basically solved the problems they were having with mouthing, self-control issues, etc.  Well, I'll be darned.  That was easy!

See, here's the thing.  None of us do very well when we are sleep deprived.  While humans vary in the amount of sleep each person needs, dogs are pretty straightforward.  Adult dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day, with elderly or ill dogs needing more sleep. And puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep each day for proper growth and brain development.  Adult dogs will just nod off wherever they are, or will take themselves to another room to rest when they need to.  Puppies, on the other hand, need to be taken to their napping area and confined there for best results.  While a puppy might fall asleep at your feet, on your lap, or on the couch, none of these "catnaps," so to speak, will replace an actual nap in their crate, in a room, alone.  You want them to get deep sleep and REM sleep (the time when dreams occur) and that won't happen when you or other pets are around.  Just like toddlers resist naps, so will your puppies, but you still make them do it for their own good...and your peace of mind and sanity!

So, while I always hope pet owners will follow all of my advice, I guess it's good to know that they follow at least some of it and definitely take to heart the important stuff like sleep for a puppy.  Though now it's got me thinking I need to bullet point what really is critical when I'm working with clients, just in case they aren't going to do it all!

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

Now that Henley is no longer a puppy, I don't have to worry about enforcing his naps, he just takes them on his own.  Though he usually takes a toy with him.

When Your Dog Is Not A Fan

I worked with a client last week who asked that I share her story as she thinks others might benefit (and she loves my blog!), but she did ask that I change a lot of the details to protect the parties involved.  Happy to oblige given that her situation isn't the first (nor the worst!) I've seen in my 33 years in business.  So, here's the situation:

The client reached out because she's a widow and she's recently started dating again.  She's taking it slow, but has finally met someone she's interested enough in to have them over for dinner at her house.  The problem is that dinner was a disaster!  Her dog was openly hostile to this man from the moment he stepped into her house, something he's never done with anyone before.  I've known this owner and this dog for about 5 years, and I knew her husband as well as they both attended puppy class with the dog.  He's a well-socialized, friendly, though sometimes exuberant greeter.  We've worked on that though and he now doesn't try to jump up and lick every visitor, which is why when she said her dog froze, growled, and stared at this new man in her life, I was quite frankly shocked.  I went through the obvious things first:  Does this man like dogs?  Does he have dogs?  Did he act afraid?  Did he try to hug you or touch you when he walked in?  Turns out the man says he loves dogs, has an elderly dog at home, and wasn't a bit afraid. He knew not to touch my client when he came in and he even brought treats for the dog from a local bakery.  Her dog was not having any of it.  He sat down and blocked the guy from coming in AND he ignored the treats.  This dog LOVES treats, so the fact that he ignored them had me utterly gobsmacked. At this point my client was flustered, so she decided to put her dog in his crate and suggested they go out to eat instead, which they did.  When she got home, she emailed me.  

Generally speaking, I listen to dogs.  If one of my dogs had this reaction to someone, I, quite honestly, would try to figure out what it is I missed.  They are very good judges of character and like everyone, though Ozzie can be aloof at times.  If he was openly hostile to someone, that would be a red flag for me, not about him, but about the person!  In my client's case, however, I just couldn't figure out what he was seeing in this man that my client wasn't.  We decided it would be valuable to have me there for the next introduction.  I suggested we meet up with this man at a local park and the three of us walk with her dog together and see how he was off of home turf.  Again, this is a happy, non-aggressive, sociable dog.  We met at the park about 30 minutes before her date was to arrive.  Her dog greeted me, as he always does, with two feet up on me and kisses galore.  We walked around a bit and he let kids pet him, he approached a man on crutches to sniff and say hi, and he wagged his tail at a man who jogged by and told him "Hey there cutie!" So, nothing untoward with strangers at the park.  When her date arrived, he started walking toward us.  His body language was open and he was careful to give the dog space.  I swear, I watched that dog completely change before my eyes.  Gone was the loose body language and lolling tongue. In its place was stiff body language, a lowered head, and a direct stare.  Just in case my client's nerves were triggering her dog, I walked away with the dog and then walked back and he still wasn't having any interaction with this man.  I asked my client to walk the dog for a few minutes while I talked to her date.  We talked about dogs, dating, his elderly dog, etc.  I started to get the feeling that while he loves his dog, his relationship with the dog is very different from my client's relationship with her dog.  And when I commented on the treats he brought to the house for the dog he said, "I knew she'd like that, so that's why I picked them up."  Hmm.  OK.  That was interesting. I asked what he thought about why the dog was acting so weird with him.  His response?  "The dog doesn't like competition from another alpha male."  Sigh. Another red flag.  The concept of alpha male is so outdated in the realm of animal behavior to be laughable.  However, I certainly know there are people who like to think of themselves using that term, and this man was one of them.

I shook his hand and thanked him for coming and told my client we should get back to work, so she said goodbye to her date and that she'd call him later.  He seemed bewildered, but he walked off.  She said to me after he walked away, "I thought we were going to work together with him on this!"  At this point, I told her what I really thought was going on.  Her dog likes men just fine, he just doesn't like this man.  

As I said earlier, this is not the first time I've met a dog with clear preferences.  I've been to many homes where the dog prefers the wife or prefers the husband, listening to one more than the other, openly shunning one in favor of the other.  Often this behavior is based on experience; dogs love the people who feed, walk and play with them, but quite frankly, they also love the people who let them get away with stuff. Dogs, like toddlers, can be manipulative. In homes with two dog guardians, one who is preferred and one who's being snubbed, I advise putting the one who is being snubbed into control over all things the dog loves and relegating the favored person to more menial and less desirable (from the dog's point of view) tasks.  Usually, if the favored person takes a step back, the dog will (sometimes begrudgingly) take a bigger interest in the other human.  Sometimes all it takes is the less favored human creating a situation for the dog that is special and desired and thus creates a new bond; a trip to the beach, a trip to get a pup cup, allowing them to pick a toy at the pet store, etc.  And sometimes it's as simple as personality.  A dog just clicks with one person more than another.  But in some homes, as it was with the client and her new date, it's actually not that simple. 

Dogs are emotional, sentient creatures capable of empathy.  If they sense discord, disharmony, or unrest, they respond.  I've known dogs who, quite literally, choose sides in a divorce. I know, because I've been there to mediate a few divorces and custody battles over the pets. It's also true that dogs can smell fear and anxiety AND they know a belligerent drinker or a bully when they smell one. I think my client's new dating interest is a closet bully.  She hasn't seen his manipulative, controlling side yet as they've only been dating a few weeks, but her dog did, and I glimpsed it as well.  It was time for her to listen to her dog.  There was nothing I could do, nor that I wanted to do, to make this work.  This man wasn't a good match for my client and her dog, plain and simple.  She had chosen to date him because he was very different from her husband, but in choosing someone vastly different, she'd also chosen someone who was not going to be good for her long term.

I tried to lighten the mood by telling her that she now knew she could have her dog be the judge of her dates rather than her friends going forward. It will save her a lot of time! I know she will find someone truly worthy of her time and attention AND someone who her dog will like as well.  He loved chasing the ball and running alongside her husband's bike.  He is sweet and friendly to random male strangers he meets on the street and during pet therapy visits.  There will be someone he loves for his owner as well.  

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

Some dogs are choosier than others, but with very good reason.