Playing Devil's Advocate: A Different Approach to Socialization

So, last week my blog post focused on ways to socialize puppies and keep up with their training while abiding by shelter in place guidelines across the country and around the world. I wanted to present these ideas as so many clients were sending me panicky emails about what to do since they can't attend their previously scheduled puppy classes.  The ideas I shared were things that I present during puppy classes and puppy-related training seminars.  While I love the ideas that I shared and I do think they are a great place to start with a lot of puppies, they aren't the only way to approach socialization.  I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the puppies for whom puppy classes are stressful; those fearful puppies, those hesitant puppies, those puppies who hide during class under chairs or lash out when other puppies approach them.  This post is for those puppies and their owners.

I'm just going to say it.  Puppy class isn't for every puppy.  Are you shocked that I said that?  Well, don't be and here's why.  I know that puppies, like humans, are influenced by the environment and their genetics.  Everything I presented in last week's blog post was about environmental influences, not giving much consideration to how genetics plays a role in the way puppies learn.  Some puppies are born more tentative, timid, and hesitant.  While this might be considered a fault, it is nonetheless true.  I've met hesitant puppies that came from breeders, and hesitant puppies that came from the shelter or a rescue group. A dog's parents' behavior affects them; fearful moms can produce fearful puppies.  While we can certainly look at lineages and the genetics of behavioral traits in purebred dogs from breeders, this becomes much more difficult when puppies and dogs are acquired from shelters and rescues where we don't know the parent dogs, siblings, etc. Where it has been studied, however, we do see direct connections.  Litters of puppies born to shy moms are shy as well.  There may be one or more siblings who are a bit more "outgoing," but the litter as a whole is often described as "self contained" or "thoughtful."  You can use any words you want, but "self contained" and "thoughtful" are often just nice ways of saying shy or timid. And that's okay.  Not every human is outgoing and social either!  It just means that traditional training methods and big puppy classes may not work for every puppy. Not only may they not work, they may actually be harmful. If your puppy is a social butterfly, then those puppy classes and exercises I presented last week will work great. Even if they don't attend class and aren't meeting new people, they will still be social butterflies when SIP is all over because that's who they were born to be. If your puppy is timid, shy, or fearful, however, they likely won't, regardless of what you do in terms of this type of socialization.

For those of you with puppies who are more tentative and fearful, here's what you need to do.  You need to get your puppy focused on you.  You are their lifeline, the source of everything good and safe in the world.  When they are out in public, don't try to cajole them into seeking attention and validation from other people.  They should get their reinforcement from YOU!  If you make yourself the most valuable thing in their environment, they won't go looking to others, they will learn to ignore all of the noise and distractions as those things don't bring them comfort and  joy.  You do. Forcing a shy puppy to be petted, picked up, etc. by strangers can just reinforce their fear and make them trust you less for making them do it.  All that stranger handling can result in a puppy who is afraid to be handled by strangers (vets, groomers, etc.) and behaves aggressively to defend themselves.   Keep the focus on you.  You should be able to handle your dog effectively, and your puppy will learn that routine handling isn't something to be afraid of. And most importantly, play with your puppies!  So much learning happens during play. Play games of fetch, games of find, tracking games with a flirt pole, etc.

Those exercises I suggested with different surfaces, noises, etc.  can still be done with a timid puppy, but they might be done later in development once they've aged a bit and learned to trust that you will keep them safe. Some puppies might be closer to a year old before they can successfully navigate all of those textures without panicking.  Practice confidence building exercises with your puppy that focus on exploring, sniffing, etc. instead. You want learning to be fun for your puppy, timid or not.  Don't push them beyond their comfort level and ALWAYS make sure that they can see that you've got their back.

Training is not "one size fits all." If classes or exercises don't feel right for your puppy, don't do them.  Humans have learning differences and so do dogs.  We are all mammals, after all. You simply must take your puppy's genetics and personality into consideration when you are determining what is best for him.  Don't let other dog owners guilt you into doing things you know will scare your puppy and potentially ruin your bond.  I've seen enough dogs whose owners socialized them like crazy as puppies turn into aggressive dogs to know that pushing dogs to socialize who really don't want to, doesn't make them better at socializing. It can just make them more unpredictable because they don't trust their owners to keep them safe.

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

Ozzie was a timid puppy.  He trusted us, but he was wary of strangers.  While he loved other dogs, their people made him anxious.  We never forced him to socialize, but let him figure it out on his own terms.  To this day, we allow him to choose whether he wants to socialize with people or not. Not everyone gets to pet the "Lassie dog," but they can pet his companion, Desi, who loves all of that attention.  Needless to say, Ozzie is thriving during SIP and Desi is going through socialization withdrawals!

More Help For Your Quarantined Puppies!

A few weeks back I talked about the importance of continuing to get your puppies out for walks and yard exploration during shelter in place.  They need the mental and physical exercise that outdoor exploration provides.  Plus, they still need to hear outdoor noises and see other people, even if those people are across the street from them.  They need to be outside when the trash trucks and street sweepers go by, so those don't scare them in the future, for example. There are lots of other experiences you can create for your growing puppies to help them thrive during these strange times we all find ourselves in.  Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:

1.  Play sounds on your phone and computer.  Traffic sounds, nature sounds, loud booming sounds like thunder, fireworks, backfiring cars.  Music...all kinds of music.  Start with the sounds very low and build them up louder and louder over time.  Play with your puppies while the sounds are on.  Feed them treats. Work on basic behaviors.  You want them to learn that unfamiliar sounds or novel sounds are no big deal.  Once they can handle all sorts of sounds, try using your TV to play fireworks (there's a great fireworks scene in "Meet Joe Black," for example!) or other loud sounds that have visuals as well. So many of us have HDTV's with surround sound that can really help a pup to experience things like fireworks long before July 4th.  If your puppy is a rock for all of this, you can even try banging pots and pans!

2.  Work on textures and surfaces with your puppies by putting bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper, wax paper, foil, etc. on the floor for them to walk across.  If you have weights, stability/balance balls, and yoga mats, have them stand and walk over those items.  Create a platform for your puppy to hop up on and shimmy under using a board on top of cinder blocks.

3.  Break out the bikes, skates, scooters and skateboards and get your puppy used to those things.  Even just moving them around in your yard or on your patio works, no need to head to a park or out in public. Got an old hula hoop?  Start with it on the ground first and have your puppy move around, over it, etc. You can have them eat in the hoop or work on their basic behaviors.  Now stand the hoop up and it's different!  Now they can walk through it or even jump.  Just keep the jumps low so you don't hurt those growing knees and elbows. Twirl the hoop on the ground for them to watch and then spin it on your arm or neck, or around your waist, for them to see it used it all sorts of different ways.  This is good exercise for you too, by the way!

4.  If you have kids, get them to dress up in costumes for your puppy to see.  Emphasis on masks, hats, crunchy fabrics, etc.  If you don't have kids, that's okay too.  You may have a costume laying around that you can use; even a cowboy hat, bike helmet, and sunglasses are good to try.  And we all should have our homemade masks and bandannas that we are using to go out in public!

5.  Look around for other novel items such as brooms, buckets, vacuum cleaners, rolling suitcases, wheelbarrows, etc. that you can introduce to your puppy.  Start with the items just in the room or near where you are working with your puppy. Build up to turning them on or moving them around.

6.  You should be working daily on handling exercises where you touch every part of your puppy's body.  Add in nail clippers or a nail dremmel nearby and work up to turning the dremmel on.  Use all kinds of brushes and combs on your puppy too. Especially make sure that you not only handle their feet, but clean their eyes and ears.  You can't take your puppy to the groomer, so now's the time to introduce baths, blow dryers, teeth brushing, and other grooming basics.

7.  Train every day just as you would do if you were attending puppy classes.  Practice all the basic behaviors. Do some tricks training.  Have your puppy work both on and off leash and with the distractions outlined above. If you have soccer cones, use those to practice your loose leash walking.  No cones?  Set up chairs to move your puppy around on leash obstacles.

While the shelter in place directives are likely to be lifted over the next couple of months, the social distancing guidelines are likely here to stay for the foreseeable future.  Keeping up with your puppy's training and social experiences is going to require a bit of ingenuity, but it can be done.  And all of the activities outlined above can be done for adolescent and adult dogs as well to combat boredom and anxiety with being cooped up indoors.

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

When I first bought the grooming table, I had to introduce it slowly and with treats to get Ozzie used to it.  It's a weird surface to stand on and it's up off the floor. Desi is a retired show dog so he was an old pro at grooming tables.  Ozzie required a bit more convincing. Now they both get up their readily for their weekly grooming sessions. And the snacks!

Some Tips for Dealing with Your Anxiety & Your Pet's!

With everyone sheltering in place, anxiety is running high. People are anxious and consequently, their beloved pets are anxious as well.  Our pets are wonderful observers of our moods and our behavior; with all of us home, they are watching us constantly and trying to process our anxiety and uncertainty. A couple of clients have actually told me that they are embarrassed that their pets seem to move away from them at times during the day, seeking refuge under the bed, in their crates, or simply in other rooms, rather than staying close by.  Most of our pets are used to having more "alone time" during the day than they are getting now.  While this may seem like it should be a dream come true for our pets, that's really not the case at all.  We all need time together and time alone.  And if you are trying to mitigate your own anxiety by holding your pets, stroking their fur, etc., please keep in mind that while they may enjoy that contact for the most part, if we are constantly seeking solace in contact with our pets, we may make them more anxious.  So what can you do to be more mindful while petting your beloved cats and dogs?  How about trying T-Touch!

T-Touch was created by Linda Tellington over 30 years ago.  While she began using the technique with horses, it is now recognized as being therapeutic for other animals (and humans) as well. T-Touch is gentle, mindful, and respectful. It clearly demonstrates how non-habitual movements can bring about changes in behavior patterns.  It builds trust through touch for both the practitioner and the animal. While there are three components to T-Touch, the primary one for pet owners to focus on doing for their pets themselves is "body work." The movements associated with body work help to reduce anxiety and fear while promoting healing throughout the body and mind. Think of body work as a more mindful form of petting your dog or cat.  Here are a couple of easy body work techniques to try with your pets.  Begin with very short sessions, observing your pet for signs that they are enjoying what you are doing.  If they move away, let them.  As they begin to feel the connection with you through the techniques, you will see them relax into the movements which will provide you with positive feedback and decrease your own anxiety.  Try to focus completely on what your hands are doing and breath deeply.  Your relaxation will result in better relaxation for your pets.  So, here goes!

Noah's March:  Run one open hand gently down your pet's body, beginning at the neck and stroking lightly toward their butt.  Use the back of your hand to stroke down their shoulders.

Noah's March with Zig-Zag:  Do as outlined above, but after your open hand reaches the butt, close your hand and move up the dog's body back toward the neck.  You should notice that you have your pet's undivided attention now!

Circular Touch: Gently move the skin in a circular motion using 1/4 turns.  Use just the tips of your fingers at first. Over time, you can build up to doing the circular motion with all of your fingers and then even the palm of your hand. 90% of animals prefer that you do these circular motions in a clockwise direction!

The Abalone:  This is the circular touch using all of your hand moving in a 1/4 turn clockwise fashion.

Spring Bok:  If you are trying to stimulate your pet, say an older pet that you'd like to ease into some exercise, you can try this move.  Move your hand in a pinching up movement, beginning at the shoulders and working toward the butt.

The Lift: Like the Spring Bok, this movement awakens the nervous system.  Take the palm of your hand and move your pet's skin upward until you feel slight resistance, then move your hand downward with gravity to the starting point.

With all of these techniques, you want to begin with very light pressure to see how your pet responds.  You will always use just one hand on your pet; this is your working hand.  Your other hand is your grounding hand that you will keep on yourself, or if need be, keep in place on one spot on your pet.  For example, you might rest your grounding hand on your dog's chest while your working hand does the Noah's March from their neck to their butt.

If you'd like to explore T-Touch further, here are a couple of links to my favorite T-Touch products:

https://ttouch.com/Detailed/Shop/Dogs/Books/Getting_in_TTouch_wi..._2905.html

https://ttouch.com/Detailed/Shop/Cats/Tellington_TTouch_fo..._57.html

Touch is so important for us all.  Being mindful of the ways we touch each other insures that everyone feels safe and cared for.  So important to keep in mind as we are all practicing social distancing.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I've been doing T-Touch with Ozzie since he was a puppy to help with his anxiety.  He now will solicit it on his own and will often lay down and look off in the distance, or close his eyes, while I touch him.  This is a still image while I was doing Noah's March down his foreleg. What I love most about Ozzie is the feedback he gives me while I'm doing this. He will sigh or moan and his breathing becomes deeper. Doggie bliss!

Let's Have Some Fun!

So, last week, I talked about DIY enrichment options for your cats and dogs.  All of these enrichment options rely on the use of your pet's regular food or treats to not only stimulate their interest, but to reward them for their efforts!  While you can certainly purchase treats for your pets, it's also fun, and quite satisfying, to make your own. Here are a few recipes that my collies enjoy:

1.  Kong Filling:  combine 1 cup of cooked, skinless chicken breast with either a 1/4 cup of peanut butter (xylitol free peanut butter only!) or a 1/4 cup of reduced fat cream cheese in a food processor and process until smooth.  Stuff your dog's Kong toys with the homemade filling and place in the freezer to use once they are frozen.

2.  DIY Dog Chews:  Most dogs love sweet potatoes and it's easy to make your own sweet potato chews.  Here is a link to the recipe I use:  https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/easy-diy-sweet-potato-dog-chews/

3.  Frozen treats:  Just as washing an old toy makes it seem like something new and exciting, so does freezing things your dog enjoys eating!  You can freeze strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, for example, and those will make a nice antioxidant-rich treat for your dogs.  In the summer, I make "pupsicles" for my dogs using liquid yogurt and frozen berries in popsicle molds.  You can also do them in ice cube trays.  While messy, dogs really do enjoy the odd texture of frozen treats.  Plus, it has the added benefit of taking them a bit longer to consume in order to avoid brain freeze!  Here's a recipe for a frozen apple treat:  http://irresistiblepets.net/diy-frozen-apple-dog-treat-recipe/

4.  Pumpkin:  It's no secret that most dogs love pumpkin as well as carrots. This recipe combines both and these treats are good for hiding when you are playing foraging games.  https://www.mypawsitivelypets.com/2014/11/holiday-dog-treat-recipe-pumpkin-carrot.html

5.  Cat treats:  while a lot of DIY cat treats will require refrigeration (and cats don't always appreciate cold treat selections!), I like this recipe as it can be kept fresh in an airtight jar. https://www.messforless.net/homemade-cat-treats-recipe

Ozzie loves frozen "pupsicles!"

Mental Exercise: Let's Get Creative!

Expanding on last week's blog post, let's talk about how you can keep your pets mentally stimulated, particularly if they are receiving less physical exercise with the "shelter in place mandate" in effect in your area.  While dogs love new toys, it isn't always easy (or in your budget!) to provide them with new toys all the time.  What you will want to do is to rotate your pet's toys and activities to keep them novel and interesting over time.  And in a pinch, you can revitalize an old toy by washing it to change it's smell! Giving your pets enrichment opportunities throughout their day is ideal, but doing so shouldn't break the bank.  Here are some simple ideas you can apply to create enrichment opportunities for your dogs and cats every day:

1.  Boxes:  both dogs and cats love exploring boxes.  Put out boxes of different sizes and shapes and let them have fun.  For dogs and cats, you can add treats to one of the boxes you are having them sniff out.  If your cat likes catnip, add that to one of the boxes.  And for those of you rolling your eyes and worrying about ripped up boxes?  So what!  That was fun too and better than destroying your couch cushions or eating your TV remote!

2.  Muffin tins:  for your dogs, put treats or their food into the 6 or 8 muffin cups in an old muffin tin.  Cover those spaces with balls.  While it may not seem like much of a challenge to knock the balls out of the way to get to the food, it's still fun!  The next time around, flip the muffin tin over so now there are 6 to 8 little "hills."  Spread their kibble around those hills and let them nose around to get the food.  And, yes, some dogs will just grab the muffin tin and flip food (and balls!) all over the place.  No worries.  They still have to forage around to find every last piece of food that they flipped on the floor!  In a pinch, just spread the food on a cookie sheet for them to forage around.

3.  In your yard:  both dogs and cats like to sniff and explore (see #1 above!), so simply spreading out their food or snacks in your grass or even in a flat of ground cover on your porch, allows them to use their noses as nature intended.

4.  The shell game:  this one is a favorite when I teach classes for kids and their dogs.  Get three cups.  Show your dog (or cat!) that you have a treat and then place it under one of the cups.  Move the cups around and then let your pet use their nose (or a paw) to find the treat.

5.  Which hand is it:  another classroom favorite!  Ask your dog to sit.  Show them that you have a treat.  Move your hands behind your back and switch the treat from hand to hand.  Offer your dog two closed fists and have them bump your fist with their nose or a paw to try to find the treat. If they pick the wrong hand, that's okay, just try it again!

Interactive toys and puzzles can be purchased and added into your enrichment plan as your budget allows, of course, but this should give you a good head start.  Playing with your dogs and cats every day (fetch, lure toys, hide and seek, etc.) is important too as this enhances your bond with them. Finally, if you are out there walking your dogs, please please PLEASE let them sniff.  Sniffing is their favorite activity!  It expends energy, stimulates their brains, and reduces anxiety.  So what if you only get 2 blocks on your walk, your dog got to catch up on all the neighborhood goings on because you let them sniff out the information left behind.

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

Ozzie and Desi like to forage together for treats scattered on the lawn!

When You Need Help, But Can't Leave Your House!

It's been a rough few weeks, right? So much misinformation out there about the spread of Covid-19 (the coronavirus), who is at risk, the symptoms, and even what to do if you think you might have been exposed. I know a lot of folks who are working from home in an effort to isolate themselves from both the virus and the panic. I agree that limiting unnecessary public interactions is likely prudent, I also know that this virus isn't going to go away in a month when the weather warms up; it will be around long term. We have to be in this for the long haul, practicing good hygiene and caring for one another. So, what does this have to do with your pets?

First off, they still need exercise. Please don't restrict them from getting their daily walks. Obviously if you are ill, they will miss the walks (unless someone else walks them for you), but getting them out for walks is low risk and good for your mental health as well as theirs.

Second, if your pet has a behavior problem, either one you've been putting off treating, or a new issue that has arisen, it won't go away on its own. While you may be hesitant to attend classes or seminars as that puts you in close physical contact with people you don't know, you can still get help. Many practitioners, including myself, offer remote assistance for your pets. I have clients around the country and around the world who I would never have had the pleasure of working with had it not been for my ability and desire to conduct both phone and video consultations. There is a lot that can be done via phone and video, believe it or not! If we do a video consultation, for example, I can see you and your pet, and you can see me if I'm demonstrating what I'd like you to do. While it may feel less than optimal, in reality, remote training and consulting can accomplish quite a bit and is by far better than doing nothing or hoping that you and your pet can wait until the world is a safer place.

I talked to a client on Saturday about this exact topic. She said she is still kicking herself for discontinuing puppy classes last year during the canine flu uproar. She attributes her now adolescent dog's fear of new places, new people, and other dogs to the fact that she missed socializing him during that critical period. While I agree that missing those puppy classes was not optimal, I also told her that he wasn't a lost cause. While we can't make up those experiences, we can make sure he has good experiences in the world now. She has to take him for walks and to new places so that he can learn that they are safe. It's really important for her to adjust her own attitude as her dog looks to her for comfort and reassurance. If she's panicking or worried or stressed, so is he! Dogs are much better at reading their human's body language and facial expressions than we are at interpreting theirs, and thus our own anxieties are often reflected in our dogs' behavior. Consequently, she and I will be working remotely on ways to keep her dog engaged when they are home, how to work on her confidence level with him out in public, and where to go to work with him that feels safe/low risk to her.

Our world has changed so much in the almost 30 years I've been a practicing animal behaviorist. Even the ability to have remote consultations with my clients beyond just over the phone is a wonderful development! Being able to help one another and take care of ourselves and our pets is important. Maybe we just need to get a bit more creative in how we get that done.

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

My office assistants are always supportive, even when they are sleeping on the job.

Every Dog Needs a Job!

On Sunday afternoon, I took Desi for his pet assisted therapy visit to a local nursing home.  Desi loves doing his visits!  He wags his tail for every new person he meets, puts his head on laps, lays on feet, and nuzzles the hands of patients who don't move their hands on their own.  I didn't teach Desi to be a good pet assisted therapy dog.  Desi IS good at it intrinsically.  He loves meeting people and never shies away from attention of any kind, in fact, he seeks it out.  Pet therapy is Desi's job and he is excellent at it.  And then there is Ozzie.

Ozzie is, by nature, aloof.  While he is friendly with people he knows, and downright goofy with family, he doesn't seek out the attention of strangers.  He'll surprise me on occasion and walk right up to someone in greeting, but for the most part, he lets Desi do the socializing.  In fact, if kids run up to the pet the dogs, Ozzie will often cross the street!  Thus, pet assisted therapy is not Ozzie's job of choice.  While he will do occasional visits with me in a pinch, I don't take him to very many because I know he doesn't enjoy them and is only doing them because I've asked him to.  So what is Ozzie's job?  Ozzie likes to perform.  No surprise given that he is a direct descendant of Lassie, right?  Ozzie likes to do tricks, learn new behaviors, and basically show off how smart he is, even to an audience of one, namely me.  He'll perform even without treats, if he's really in the mood.  And that's the key with Ozzie. He has to be "in the mood." If he's not feeling it, he'll just make me look stupid as I try to get him to do any one of the behaviors he knows how to do.  Ozzie also likes herding.  I wish we could do it more often for his sake, but I just don't have the time to drive him to herding as frequently as he'd like to go. I've often said we just need goats in the backyard and Ozzie would be happy as a clam moving them around. Ozzie also loves to hike.  He will eagerly run to the car and is always ready for the next hiking adventure. Desi does not like herding or hiking at all.  He looks on livestock with disdain and is more likely to get run over by the sheep than move them anywhere.  If you try to hike with Desi you will be forced to carry him for half the trip.  I know because it's happened before. To each his own.

The whole point of my rambling is this: Every dog needs a job.  It doesn't matter if you have a Chihuahua, Great Dane, or a mutt, all dogs need jobs.  Whether it's a sport like agility or flyball, or an activity you do like pet therapy, dogs need to have something to do.  Activities stimulate their minds and keep them mentally and physically healthy.  Help your dog to find the job that's right for him.  There have been so many times I've turned people away from pet assisted therapy because their pets just weren't suited to it; the humans very much liked it, but their animals really didn't.  And even if the job your dog chooses is playing fetch in the yard with you, or solving puzzle feeder toys, that's okay too.  Every one of us is good at something and the same goes for our pets.  And if you're really lucky, you may have a dog who is good at several jobs, so their choices are limitless.  It's all about giving them choices and trying new things to find out what is a good fit.  And what ends up being a good fit for your young dog, may change when the dog gets older.  Be flexible and help your dog find their job.  The rewards for doing so are profound.

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

A story of two dogs: One who likes to hike steep trails and one who likes to cuddle little kids.