Katherine and I were so excited today to find some dried up horse pooh! Not toooo fresh to be overly tempting (to the dogs) -- but not so old that there was no good smell left to it either!
Why would we be so excited to find dried up equine dung? It was a great training opportunity! That's why! A chance to train our dogs to focus on something and to reinforce the "SNIFF" cue!
If a dog is sniffing then they aren't ________ (fill in the blank: eating, running away, rolling in it, etc.)
The chance to sniff something wonderful can also be used as a life reward. Wuffie come! Good come -- sniff this! Yay! If you are the finder of the good sniff substance then your dog will think they better keep a closer eye on you on the trails 'cause you are the finder of amazing discoveries. Share the experience! (well, okay -- maybe just the excitement of the experience)
Normal dog/dog greeting behaviour is usually initiated by the dogs sniffing each other. For some dogs that need help learning appropriate social skills with other dogs, reiforcing a sniff cue can help the process.
In our STEP ONE workshop we teach how to put sniff on cue. Join us at least once and give us a chance to show you how this seemingly crazy concept can help you and your dog!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Look at Kooper!
No harsh commands, no leash yanking, no choke chains....
Just attention, default behaviour, self control, life rewards, positive reinforcement...
Watch Kooper from the moment I open the front door and greet him -- all the way to the van for doggie field trip time! Like an excited child at the amusement park ... using Grandma's Law to get the behaviours we want ... or in dog training we us the Premack principle.
Get rid of collar and leash corrections. No more yelling commands. Join a STEP ONE Training Workshop to see what it's all about.
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Just attention, default behaviour, self control, life rewards, positive reinforcement...
Watch Kooper from the moment I open the front door and greet him -- all the way to the van for doggie field trip time! Like an excited child at the amusement park ... using Grandma's Law to get the behaviours we want ... or in dog training we us the Premack principle.
Get rid of collar and leash corrections. No more yelling commands. Join a STEP ONE Training Workshop to see what it's all about.
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Thursday, July 22, 2010
CYNOPHILIST
Definition: (noun) A dog lover or fancier
ie: A good many cynophilists are willing to spend hundreds of dollars a year on their canine friends.
How about dogs that spend hundreds of dollars on themselves???
Why do we give so much for our dogs?
A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.
Agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
I can't think of anything that brings me closer to tears than when my old dog — completely exhausted after a hard day in the field — limps away from her nice spot in front of the fire and comes over to where I'm sitting and puts her head in my lap, a paw over my knee, and closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep. I don't know what I've done to deserve that kind of friend.
No one can fully understand the meaning of love unless he's owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes.
SHADOW handling to the rescue!
Guest poster Katherine (happy-houndz.blogspot.com) here!
Shadow handling comes from the agility world but works wonders for us too!
When it comes to off or on leash "HEELING" a few of my mentors are; Silvia Ttrkman, Susan Garrett and even Greg Darrett...I ABSOLUTELY can not tell you HOW much FUN it is for the dog and human to play shadow handling games. BONUS is you end up with a rock solid velcro dog, who LOVES to be close JUST because it's FUN and really rewarding!
Come to think of it, for those who never can find time to carve out for exercise...it's a great way to exercise! Race around, burn calories and SPEND TIME building a bond with your dog. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't LOVE this game! You'd be surprised that even the aloof ones get in on the fun.
You don't need to be goofy all the time, just sneak it in on your walks from time to time and they'll walk politely while keep their one eye on you for the slightest indication that you'll start the fun. Works with the Premack principle as well...walk politely without tension on the leash and...we'll play a few shadow handling games on our walk!
You can sneak this "training' in any time...ANYWHERE...and if you time it right...you can use the environment as a "THANKS" for sticking to me like crazy glue :)
I'll update the steps and take video with my guys sometime this week, but for now...here's a perfecto example from Sylvia Trkman's new puppy vid!
1- following you in the water (how much fun is that on a hot day!)
2- coming to you means cuddles or jumping up into your arms!
3- coming to you means we get to play games and learn tricks w/treats!
4-coming to you means to down in front of you then scoot in beside you
5-start your heeling exercises, rewarding them for backing up, beside you, circles through your legs, tugging playing with their favourite toy as a 'thanks" for sticking so close
6-more tricks! Sneak on your belly, go to your mat
7- play with me! race with me! Then race with other dogs then come back for more fun with me!
All this builds VALUE (Susan Garrett term) for paying attention to you and provides you with the opportunity to be "in tune" with eachother. The end result is there can be other dogs, people, noise, action going on in the distance but FOCUS for you is much more FUN.
SAY goodbye to those problem behaviours of chasing, barking, lunging...the environment becomes white noise...and YOU the APPLE of their eyes. In the end, they don't want to miss out on the fun with you. It gives dogs who worry about other dogs, people, leaves falling, cars, bikes a job to do. Leslie McDevitt also covers this in her work as well!
There are body language cues that help the dog figure out which side to stick close to, how to move around into different positions which keep things interesting for the dog.
I've been doing "shadow handling " for years without knowing that there is a method to it which kicks things up a notch and makes it even more fun for the dog after attending a Susan Garrett Foundation Skills workshop.
I love this video, as you can see Susan's body cues clearly. You should see how amazing her dogs are on an agility course. In person they are a riot.
It's a way to keep your dog focused and learning...and provides mental stimulation! If you watch them play amongst themselves they often play this game as well!
Bonus is it's exhausting to concentrate on a task, we do it all the time. Ever feel tired after reading or when you're learning something new? You'll find it's an ideal way to burn off some steam and take the edge off, when your dog is looking for something to do and racing around is not an option.
Shadow handling comes from the agility world but works wonders for us too!
When it comes to off or on leash "HEELING" a few of my mentors are; Silvia Ttrkman, Susan Garrett and even Greg Darrett...I ABSOLUTELY can not tell you HOW much FUN it is for the dog and human to play shadow handling games. BONUS is you end up with a rock solid velcro dog, who LOVES to be close JUST because it's FUN and really rewarding!
Come to think of it, for those who never can find time to carve out for exercise...it's a great way to exercise! Race around, burn calories and SPEND TIME building a bond with your dog. I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't LOVE this game! You'd be surprised that even the aloof ones get in on the fun.
You don't need to be goofy all the time, just sneak it in on your walks from time to time and they'll walk politely while keep their one eye on you for the slightest indication that you'll start the fun. Works with the Premack principle as well...walk politely without tension on the leash and...we'll play a few shadow handling games on our walk!
You can sneak this "training' in any time...ANYWHERE...and if you time it right...you can use the environment as a "THANKS" for sticking to me like crazy glue :)
I'll update the steps and take video with my guys sometime this week, but for now...here's a perfecto example from Sylvia Trkman's new puppy vid!
1- following you in the water (how much fun is that on a hot day!)
2- coming to you means cuddles or jumping up into your arms!
3- coming to you means we get to play games and learn tricks w/treats!
4-coming to you means to down in front of you then scoot in beside you
5-start your heeling exercises, rewarding them for backing up, beside you, circles through your legs, tugging playing with their favourite toy as a 'thanks" for sticking so close
6-more tricks! Sneak on your belly, go to your mat
7- play with me! race with me! Then race with other dogs then come back for more fun with me!
All this builds VALUE (Susan Garrett term) for paying attention to you and provides you with the opportunity to be "in tune" with eachother. The end result is there can be other dogs, people, noise, action going on in the distance but FOCUS for you is much more FUN.
SAY goodbye to those problem behaviours of chasing, barking, lunging...the environment becomes white noise...and YOU the APPLE of their eyes. In the end, they don't want to miss out on the fun with you. It gives dogs who worry about other dogs, people, leaves falling, cars, bikes a job to do. Leslie McDevitt also covers this in her work as well!
There are body language cues that help the dog figure out which side to stick close to, how to move around into different positions which keep things interesting for the dog.
I've been doing "shadow handling " for years without knowing that there is a method to it which kicks things up a notch and makes it even more fun for the dog after attending a Susan Garrett Foundation Skills workshop.
I love this video, as you can see Susan's body cues clearly. You should see how amazing her dogs are on an agility course. In person they are a riot.
It's a way to keep your dog focused and learning...and provides mental stimulation! If you watch them play amongst themselves they often play this game as well!
Bonus is it's exhausting to concentrate on a task, we do it all the time. Ever feel tired after reading or when you're learning something new? You'll find it's an ideal way to burn off some steam and take the edge off, when your dog is looking for something to do and racing around is not an option.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
That's my incredible dog!
The Winter Purina Incredible Dog Challenge took place in Whistler BC January 9th. Featuring Ski Joring Race, Paw and Pole, Agility Competition, Slalom Racing head-to-head 60-weave pole racing and Freestyle Flying Disc Competition. Nestlé Purina PetCare was the title sponsor of the event held at the Whistler Golf Course.
Yay! See my doggie Opal on the second slide!
Doggies out on a field trip!!!
Cute huh? Indy was adopted from the Vancouver Pound and joined her new family just over a month ago and now she has joined the Paw In Hand family too.
This blog post is not just about Indy though ... it is about any dog that you interact with. It could be any dog that I take out on a doggie field trip for the first time or any time afterward for that matter. It is about trail training and communication and relationship and understanding your dog and having fun together -- all the fun things in life together with YOU.
From the time I first met Indy at her front door I watched her body language and interacted with her according to her responses. I responded by using my body language, reinforcing behaviours that I like and trying to prevent or interrupt behaviours that were undesirable ... and mixing in a few simple foundation training games too!
- My greeting when meeting Indy and her handler on the porch was based on Indy's comfort level. Our body language makes a big difference when approaching dogs. Indy was happy to meet me.
- Putting the leash on Indy and handling her head and shoulder area was combined with happy voice and treats and her body language showed relaxed anticipation at every step.
- Collar grab test was paired with a tasty treat as a safety test as well as a foundation for recall games.
- Walking on leash towards the van: if she pulled I stopped and waited for her to check in with me then we moved forward again. Every step matters if you want your dog to be attentive to you and not learn leash pulling either.
- I ensured that she happily jumped into the van and had a comfortable space without being crowded by other dogs.
- She was close enough to my drivers seat that I could treat her if needed and calm her. She didn't need it though. She was my last pick-up before the walk so she didn't have to wait long before we got to the parking area.
- When we parked I calmly got together my backpack and gear as the dogs all waited patiently. Premack ... wait and be quiet and good things come ... then I got out of the van and walked around to the sliding door.
- Indy was the first to do the reorienting exercises, default wait and sit and that I do at all doorways and of course always out of the van ... No rushing off without the special key (ME!) first!
- We played a few attention and focusing games while the other dogs waited patiently in the van. Indy passed the tests. I then let another dog out of the van to see if Indy would still check in with me -- she passed that too -- and then the field trip began!
During our walks there are many things that I do to keep the dogs attentive to me. Mini training games such as auto attention, treat zen, name game, release cues, recall, stop motion cues, Premack trail rewards, and more! I watch their body language for early signs that could lead to trouble and redirect them to more appropriate outlets. Always easier to get dogs to DO something than to NOT DO something. At worst a dog may get a time out on leash.
Potential new doggie clients are pre-screened. Dogs with aggression, bike chasing, wildlife harassing, or other such issues are not candidate for group off leash field trips.
Of course dogs can always learn new things ... both desirable and not desirable so I try my best to set my doggie clients up for success so that they have many happy years adventuring with me. If owners can do their part in training their dogs some foundation behaviours it helps greatly in problem prevention.
Join us at least once in a STEP ONE Training Workshop to learn about some of these simple yet crucial games that can fit easily into daily life
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Targeting -- just like YOGA?!
"Target training is like meditation and focusing on breathing..."
I don't remember where I heard this but it is a good correlation.
When your dog is doing target training he isn't reacting to the world around him ie: not barking at passing bicycles, etc. Target training is an excellent focusing exercise.
Dogs that are fearful or bark at things in their environment can benefit from incorporating target training into their daily activities.
Target training is also an element of many important obedience type behaviours such as come and heel.
Many of those fun tricks you see dogs do are taught by target training.
Having fun with your dog strengthens your relationship and helps training too!
When a training exercise is simple and fun the owner and dog are more likely to do it too!
Join us in learning how to use target training in daily interactions with your dog.
See STEP ONE Training Workshops http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
I don't remember where I heard this but it is a good correlation.
When your dog is doing target training he isn't reacting to the world around him ie: not barking at passing bicycles, etc. Target training is an excellent focusing exercise.
Dogs that are fearful or bark at things in their environment can benefit from incorporating target training into their daily activities.
Target training is also an element of many important obedience type behaviours such as come and heel.
Many of those fun tricks you see dogs do are taught by target training.
Having fun with your dog strengthens your relationship and helps training too!
When a training exercise is simple and fun the owner and dog are more likely to do it too!
Join us in learning how to use target training in daily interactions with your dog.
See STEP ONE Training Workshops http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick
"Speak softly and carry a big stick"
According to wiki.answers.com Theodore Roosevelt originated this phrase as a description of his foreign policy when he was President of the United States. Roosevelt attributed the proverb to West Africa, but its origin isn't known.
Perhaps you remember this phrase ... "Speak Softly and Carry a Beagle"?
How about "Whisper and carry a big stick"?
Whispering is a popular buzz word in dog training. It is also used in the horse world. True, you don't have to raise your voice, but you don't have to carry a big stick as a means of force either. A big stick is great for playtime with a stick motivated dog though!
I have often been referred to as a "Dog Whisperer". This phrase can have different connotations. If it means that you don't have to shout at your dog then yes, you can call me a dog whisperer.
There is so much more involved than whispering when training your dog.
Often I don't use any verbalizations at all when interacting with my dogs. Dogs are less tuned in to vocal signals than other signs. They don't need to listen to the blah blah blah that comes out of our mouths to be "in tune" with us and follow our lures as we use our bodies to communicate (ie. handsignals)...hence......the whispering myth busted! really nothing has to be said when it comes down to it..
Check out this article on Dog Whispering:
http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm
To develop a truly great relationship with your dog you need to know about their natural behaviours, principles of learning, motivations, reinforcements, environmental stimuli, impulse control, how your body language affects their actions, ... and much more.
Join our STEP ONE Training Workshop to learn to whisper and play and train your dog:
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
According to wiki.answers.com Theodore Roosevelt originated this phrase as a description of his foreign policy when he was President of the United States. Roosevelt attributed the proverb to West Africa, but its origin isn't known.
Perhaps you remember this phrase ... "Speak Softly and Carry a Beagle"?
How about "Whisper and carry a big stick"?
Whispering is a popular buzz word in dog training. It is also used in the horse world. True, you don't have to raise your voice, but you don't have to carry a big stick as a means of force either. A big stick is great for playtime with a stick motivated dog though!
I have often been referred to as a "Dog Whisperer". This phrase can have different connotations. If it means that you don't have to shout at your dog then yes, you can call me a dog whisperer.
There is so much more involved than whispering when training your dog.
Often I don't use any verbalizations at all when interacting with my dogs. Dogs are less tuned in to vocal signals than other signs. They don't need to listen to the blah blah blah that comes out of our mouths to be "in tune" with us and follow our lures as we use our bodies to communicate (ie. handsignals)...hence......the whispering myth busted! really nothing has to be said when it comes down to it..
Check out this article on Dog Whispering:
http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm
To develop a truly great relationship with your dog you need to know about their natural behaviours, principles of learning, motivations, reinforcements, environmental stimuli, impulse control, how your body language affects their actions, ... and much more.
Join our STEP ONE Training Workshop to learn to whisper and play and train your dog:
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Monday, July 19, 2010
Berry Yummy Treats on the Trail!!!
Another opportunity to train your dog that you don't want to miss out on! No drilling obedience exercises and long work sessions ... learn how to use opportunities in daily life to train your dog.
I teach my dogs to check in with me whenever I stop on the trail. We practice this in day to day interactions. It is more a way of communicating and a game than a command. When they check in with me they are thanked or reinforced with some type of reward or game or interaction ... or in this case a chance to pick their own berries!
Through the simple fun training games that my dogs and I play together they learn to be more attentive to me. These games are useful tools to help problems such as bike chasing, rushing at other trails users, devouring yuck on the trails, etc.
Join us in a STEP ONE Training Workshop and then progress to single topic focused workshops and learn how to train your dog the day by day play way... dogs or puppies!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
I teach my dogs to check in with me whenever I stop on the trail. We practice this in day to day interactions. It is more a way of communicating and a game than a command. When they check in with me they are thanked or reinforced with some type of reward or game or interaction ... or in this case a chance to pick their own berries!
Through the simple fun training games that my dogs and I play together they learn to be more attentive to me. These games are useful tools to help problems such as bike chasing, rushing at other trails users, devouring yuck on the trails, etc.
Join us in a STEP ONE Training Workshop and then progress to single topic focused workshops and learn how to train your dog the day by day play way... dogs or puppies!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Particleboard of Meat!
Hot Dogs ... The Particleboard of Meat!
They make for a good quick enticing training treat mind you...
Cut the hot dogs in half lengthwise. Slice them thinly. Spread the slices out on a plate covered with paper towels. Cover with another paper towel and NUKE them until they get blistery and dried around some edges. Blot and squish with more paper towels. Store in a baggie or container in the fridge ... or you might get greasy pockets just like me :0)
This recipe in in honour of a band I love called "The Arrogant Worms". Check them out...
http://www.arrogantworms.com/music/hot-dog-song/
Now if after you hear that song you still are considering feeding hot dogs to your dog (or to your family for that matter) ... do consider it a junk food and use it sparingly. Choose a variety as "healthy" as possible.
See my website for more recipes http://pawinhand.com/pages/sniff/yummy-things.php
or the Paw In Hand Dog Blog under TREAT search for some healthier alternatives! http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/search/label/TREATS
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tricks to work on over the Summer Holidays!
Our family is off on our holiday for a week. Our doggies are coming along too. We are going to do some training at the beach just like the dogs in this video!!!
Practice some targeting games with your dog (nose and paw touches) and you too can train your dog to do fun tricks like on the video!!! Have fun with your training "home-fun" (homework) and when I get back from holidays we'll get together and put on a video similar to this one okay?!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Heat Wave Warning! Please take time out to read...
When I had my group of doggies out on the field trip yesterday I was very conscious of the increased risk of heat stroke, especially so for a few of the dogs. One was a hunting breed that is "go go go go" running through the forest type of dog that doesn't know when to stop. A couple of sessions on leash were necessary to help regulate body temperature. Another large overweight dog and a thick coated dog had to be watched carefully too. Luckily these dogs were all ones that readily dipped their bellies into the cool creek!
I of course chose shaded trails yesterday, decreased my pace and ensured we kept doubling back to the fresh water holes. I carry a first aid kit in my back pack, emergency phone numbers and an extra water bottle too!
I am certified in Canine First Aid. It was a very informative course! If you are interested in taking a Canine First Aid Course with Dog Safe check out: http://www.dogsafe.ca/index.html
Please take a few minutes out to read this so that you are aware of signs to look out for. Prevention is the best of course though!
Dog Heatstroke - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Posted by Clare Bristow
Dog Heat Stroke can strike in minutes on hot, humid days, and may prove fatal if it's not treated promptly.
The good news is that it's preventable and I've listed below the symptoms of heat stroke, how to treat and prevent it, and the dogs most likely to suffer from heatstroke.
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke occurs when your dog is no longer able to maintain his normal body temperature of approximately 101F and it rises to 105F and above.
At temperatures above 106F your dog's internal organs will start to breakdown, and if he's not cooled quickly enough, he will die. Even if you can bring his temperature down, he may well have suffered irreversible internal damage.
Dog's regulate their temperature primarily through panting - on hot, humid days they are unable to cool their bodies effectively, and as a result their body temperature rises rapidly.
If your dog's temperature exceeds 106F, you only have minutes to save his life.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
If your dog has heat stroke he will progressively show these signs:
Excessive panting;
Pale gums, bright red tongue;
Disorientation and your dog doesn't respond to his name;
Increased heart rate;
Thick saliva;
Vomiting;
Breathing difficulties;
Collapse;
Coma;
Death
Treatment
Heat stroke often occurs because a dog is confined, either in a car, kennel or crate; the first thing to do is remove your dog from where he was confined.
Make sure your dog is out of the sun and has access to water but don't let him drink too much.
Cool him with cool/tepid water - either immerse him in a bath, gently hose him or apply cool towels to his body. Importantly do not leave wet towels on your dog and do not use very cold water - both prevent your dog form being able to cool himself.
Move your dog to an area where there is cool air circulating, such as an air conditioned room or stand him in front of a fan. The cool circulating air will help your dog to reduce his temperature.
Keep monitoring your dog's temperature with a rectal thermometer; once it returns to normal stop the cooling process.
Whilst you are cooling your dog down phone your local emergency dog clinic, explain the situation and perform any additional treatment they suggest before taking him to the clinic.
Even if you manage to reduce your dog's temperature at home, take him to your vet for a thorough checkup - internal damage to your dog's organs might have taken place even though he recovered from heat stroke.
Dogs Prone to Heatstroke
Young puppies and older dogs;
Overweight dogs;
Dogs with an existing illness or recovering from illness or surgery;
Dog breeds with short faces - Bulldogs, Shar pei, Boston Terriers, Pugs - have narrow respiratory systems that easily get overwhelmed in hot and humid conditions;
Double coated breeds such as Chow Chows; and
Dogs bred for cold climates such as Malamutes, Huskies and Newfoundlands.
Preventing Heat Stroke
Be aware that the outside temperature can be a lot warmer than that shown on your thermometer -on humid days the relative temperature is much higher;
Dogs really don't know when to stop - try and keep your dog's activity to a minimum particularly on hot and humid days;
Exercise your dog early in the morning and/or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler;
If possible keep your dog indoors during the heat of the day in a well ventilated or air conditioned room; and
If your dog is outside during the day, make sure there is plenty of shady areas for him to lie in and he has access to cold water. If he likes water, put a paddling pool of water for him in a shady part of the garden so he can lie in that to keep cool, otherwise periodically spray him with cool water.
I of course chose shaded trails yesterday, decreased my pace and ensured we kept doubling back to the fresh water holes. I carry a first aid kit in my back pack, emergency phone numbers and an extra water bottle too!
I am certified in Canine First Aid. It was a very informative course! If you are interested in taking a Canine First Aid Course with Dog Safe check out: http://www.dogsafe.ca/index.html
Please take a few minutes out to read this so that you are aware of signs to look out for. Prevention is the best of course though!
Dog Heatstroke - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Posted by Clare Bristow
Dog Heat Stroke can strike in minutes on hot, humid days, and may prove fatal if it's not treated promptly.
The good news is that it's preventable and I've listed below the symptoms of heat stroke, how to treat and prevent it, and the dogs most likely to suffer from heatstroke.
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke occurs when your dog is no longer able to maintain his normal body temperature of approximately 101F and it rises to 105F and above.
At temperatures above 106F your dog's internal organs will start to breakdown, and if he's not cooled quickly enough, he will die. Even if you can bring his temperature down, he may well have suffered irreversible internal damage.
Dog's regulate their temperature primarily through panting - on hot, humid days they are unable to cool their bodies effectively, and as a result their body temperature rises rapidly.
If your dog's temperature exceeds 106F, you only have minutes to save his life.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
If your dog has heat stroke he will progressively show these signs:
Excessive panting;
Pale gums, bright red tongue;
Disorientation and your dog doesn't respond to his name;
Increased heart rate;
Thick saliva;
Vomiting;
Breathing difficulties;
Collapse;
Coma;
Death
Treatment
Heat stroke often occurs because a dog is confined, either in a car, kennel or crate; the first thing to do is remove your dog from where he was confined.
Make sure your dog is out of the sun and has access to water but don't let him drink too much.
Cool him with cool/tepid water - either immerse him in a bath, gently hose him or apply cool towels to his body. Importantly do not leave wet towels on your dog and do not use very cold water - both prevent your dog form being able to cool himself.
Move your dog to an area where there is cool air circulating, such as an air conditioned room or stand him in front of a fan. The cool circulating air will help your dog to reduce his temperature.
Keep monitoring your dog's temperature with a rectal thermometer; once it returns to normal stop the cooling process.
Whilst you are cooling your dog down phone your local emergency dog clinic, explain the situation and perform any additional treatment they suggest before taking him to the clinic.
Even if you manage to reduce your dog's temperature at home, take him to your vet for a thorough checkup - internal damage to your dog's organs might have taken place even though he recovered from heat stroke.
Dogs Prone to Heatstroke
Young puppies and older dogs;
Overweight dogs;
Dogs with an existing illness or recovering from illness or surgery;
Dog breeds with short faces - Bulldogs, Shar pei, Boston Terriers, Pugs - have narrow respiratory systems that easily get overwhelmed in hot and humid conditions;
Double coated breeds such as Chow Chows; and
Dogs bred for cold climates such as Malamutes, Huskies and Newfoundlands.
Preventing Heat Stroke
Be aware that the outside temperature can be a lot warmer than that shown on your thermometer -on humid days the relative temperature is much higher;
Dogs really don't know when to stop - try and keep your dog's activity to a minimum particularly on hot and humid days;
Exercise your dog early in the morning and/or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler;
If possible keep your dog indoors during the heat of the day in a well ventilated or air conditioned room; and
If your dog is outside during the day, make sure there is plenty of shady areas for him to lie in and he has access to cold water. If he likes water, put a paddling pool of water for him in a shady part of the garden so he can lie in that to keep cool, otherwise periodically spray him with cool water.
Monday, July 5, 2010
PUPPY COME!
I have attended a few training clinics with Susan Garrett. Here is an article by her on recall training:
http://www.clickerdogs.com/perfectrecallaccount.htm
We offer a training workshop that teaches you fun games to help you with recall training:
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/you-just-call-out-my-nameand-ill-come.html
Friday, July 2, 2010
My puppy is better behaved than your honour student...
okay ... those bumper stickers that I see with similar phrases are a bit goofy but I wanted to get your attention...
I have a lot of video footage that I want to put together this weekend with some beginner training tips. Check back in the next week or so.
Here is a teaser....
We offer training workshops to help you teach similar behaviours -- dogs or puppies!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
I have a lot of video footage that I want to put together this weekend with some beginner training tips. Check back in the next week or so.
Here is a teaser....
We offer training workshops to help you teach similar behaviours -- dogs or puppies!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Does your dog KNOW it?
What does "knowing" what something means mean anyhow?
Does your dog know to respond to a "command" (certain cue or set of cues)?
Do you know what that sign at the edge of the road with the numbers and the kph letters at the side of the road means?
You know that you should obey traffic laws but do you always abide by them? Sometimes you are distracted and may not have noticed the last sign you passed. You may be in a rush to get somewhere and "misbehave" because it is important to you at that moment. You may not really remember details such as what hours playground speed limits are in effect. Your speedometer may be out of adjustment or you may not have looked at it! Or you may simply choose to break some laws because (choose one) there are never police around anyhow, school is out today, everyone else is speeding, etc.... Even if there is a chance of "punishment" (speeding ticket) you are likely to risk it because it is important to you (getting to work faster and on time) and history has shown that most of the time it is worth continuing with your habits. You only slow down when you know there is a speed trap.
Your dog will continue to get on the couch because it is instantly comfortable and worth the risk ... he only gets off when you are around. What does he know? Different set of cues! Another dog may not find the couch so tempting because they are less motivated by soft and comfy ... not because they know they shouldn't be on there.
Does your dog know what "sit" means when you are holding a cookie? When you have no cookie? When you are standing in front of him? When you are sitting on a chair or lying down on the floor and asking for a sit? When he is in the middle of wrestling with a dog buddy? When he is lying down? When you are wearing your Halloween costume? When you have strong perfume on and are wearing odd high heeled shoes on that make you walk different than usual?
Humans consider themselves to be the intelligent species and yet we seem to expect our dogs to abide by standards stricter that those we set for ourselves! Interesting eh!?!
Whether a dog (or a human) responds to a cue (signal, command, painted line, etc) depends on many things. Cues are often a combination of verbal, visual and environmental signals. Your dog may know "sit" in the kitchen with you standing upright and holding the food bowl but to him it is a completely different cue than when you ask him to sit when he wants to greet your guests. Dogs don't generalize learning very well. If we want them to learn what "sit" means in different contexts we must train them.
Training. That's a whole book in itself but in brief ... repeatedly setting up situations in which your dog will perform a behaviour, reinforcing it and then rinse, lather and repeat. Then behind the ears. Then the backside. In the early stages of acquiring a behaviour use lots of reinforcements. Gradually move to intermittent reinforcements and then to a variable schedule of reinforcement. Always mix it up with praise, toys, games, and life rewards. Practice in different locations and situations until each behaviour is generalized. Slowly add duration and distraction and difficulty one at a time. Over time the dog will respond out of habit because is has proven to be beneficial in the past! It was worth gambling on. It has become a well trained behaviour and then we could say he knows it ... well, maybe in most situations anyhow.
So yes, you do have to put in some time if you want your dog to learn the things that you want him to learn.
And ponder this ... once you really do know something ... you can't "un-know" it. Like when you form a bad habit then it is very hard to change. So make sure your dog doesn't learn some of those undesirable habits that once you know the outcome of them, you can't unlearn or un-know them. Prevent incidental learning by management because once your dog has learned how to knock over the garbage to have a smorgasbord it will be hard to resist that temptation again! So having your garbage secured at ALL times, etc....... but that's for another blog entry...
We offer training workshops -- dogs or puppies!
http://pawinhand.blogspot.com/p/step-one.html
Here is a training chart that Katherine and I made up to help you plan your training in gradual steps (slowly increasing distraction, duration, and difficulty)
* sorry, link coming soon ... will be on my website under "Stuff to Sniff": www.pawinhand.com
Simple but good general training article:
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/DocServer/BT_K9-Secrets_of_Dog_Training.pdf?docID=600
The Other End Of The Leash - by Patricia B. McConnell Ph.D. (available at the Squamish Public Library or from www.dogwise.com
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