I posted information about storm/noise phobias earlier this month. During that post I discussed anxiety wraps such as the "Thundershirt" that has been helpful for many dogs. I am pleased to announce that the Animal Care Center now has Thundershirts available. Keep in mind that anxiety wraps are not a cure. They are a tool to help lower your dog's anxiety. Also remember that what will work for one may not work as well for another. Our goal should be to help decrease the level of anxiety for your pet. If the thundershirt helps you dog go from wanting to chew out of a closed door to merely panting, that is an improvement. The thundershirt has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you do not feel that it helped lower your pet's anxiety (it will not eliminate it) then we will refund your money.
This news report from St. Louis shows you how the shirt is used. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bVRA44ggj8
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
New Favorite Website
As a population, we humans are addicted to this informational age, keeping in touch with the pet world via the internet from our computers, smart phones, ipods, and ipads. In addition to preventing and treating animal disease, I spend a great deal of my time in conversation with owners about a plethora of animal related issues. While I am a walking veterinary and animal encyclopedia (HA!), I admit that I don't always have the time to share my valuable information, nor does this organic hard drive of brain always remember or know all there is to know. Thank God for books and the internet!
I do not discourage my clients from using the internet to keep in the know about their animals. It is my belief that and educated critter lover makes better decisions about their critter and most times that makes my job easier (as long as they don't try to one up me! LOL). I do however, warn my clients about the websites they choose to view regarding their veterinary information. The internet is a great tool, but it is just a tool. Not everything you read there is correct and valuable. It is also most important that nothing can replace the veterinarian's expertise at being about to decipher and process details about your pet through a physical examination. A website cannot listen or feel your pet, ask you pertinent questions about your pet's condition.
That being said, there are lots of websites out there that are great! Today I have added one to my favorites, Healthy Pet. com. You can find the link in my favorites here. This website is posted by the American Animal Hospital Association, and offers not just good pet care information, but also a lot of fun things can be found there. They have a monthly newsletter, PetsMatter, I found interesting not just a veterinarian but as a pet owner. Other things on their menu included; Kids Klub (activities and games), Games (for adults-"Fleas & Desist"), E-cards, Pet Expert Blog and Just for Fun. A particularly interesting menu item was the ability to create a profile for your pet(s) where you can create a pet journal or any other records that you might want to keep track of. You do have to create an account (FREE), which I did easily. You can sign up to receive the PetsMatter monthly newsletter. Enter their Pet Photo Contest (which I did..Meade looks great!)
I will continue to be vigilant in scoping out reliable websites that you may find fun and interesting. Check out my favorites here from time to time. If you find any that you find particularly fun and useful please feel free to let me know.
I do not discourage my clients from using the internet to keep in the know about their animals. It is my belief that and educated critter lover makes better decisions about their critter and most times that makes my job easier (as long as they don't try to one up me! LOL). I do however, warn my clients about the websites they choose to view regarding their veterinary information. The internet is a great tool, but it is just a tool. Not everything you read there is correct and valuable. It is also most important that nothing can replace the veterinarian's expertise at being about to decipher and process details about your pet through a physical examination. A website cannot listen or feel your pet, ask you pertinent questions about your pet's condition.
That being said, there are lots of websites out there that are great! Today I have added one to my favorites, Healthy Pet. com. You can find the link in my favorites here. This website is posted by the American Animal Hospital Association, and offers not just good pet care information, but also a lot of fun things can be found there. They have a monthly newsletter, PetsMatter, I found interesting not just a veterinarian but as a pet owner. Other things on their menu included; Kids Klub (activities and games), Games (for adults-"Fleas & Desist"), E-cards, Pet Expert Blog and Just for Fun. A particularly interesting menu item was the ability to create a profile for your pet(s) where you can create a pet journal or any other records that you might want to keep track of. You do have to create an account (FREE), which I did easily. You can sign up to receive the PetsMatter monthly newsletter. Enter their Pet Photo Contest (which I did..Meade looks great!)
I will continue to be vigilant in scoping out reliable websites that you may find fun and interesting. Check out my favorites here from time to time. If you find any that you find particularly fun and useful please feel free to let me know.
Monday, August 22, 2011
So you think your dog can Sit
As many of you know, I have been a KSDS puppy raiser for over a year now. It has been a delight to work with Meade and to be a critical part of her life and training; preparing her for her journey as a service dog. One of the first command words that Meade learned was to sit. There are lots of advantages to teaching your pet to sit; one of the most important advantages is it gives you a way to redirect your pet from a misbehaving behavior to a positive good one. Example: Your dog wants to bolt out of the door when you open it, instead of yanking on a leash or yelling at your dog, you can ask for it to sit instead and reward them for doing something better than bolting/pulling. In reality, dogs 'misbehave' simply because we haven't taught them what we really would rather have them do in lieu of the 'misbehavior' action.
Daily I see pets come into the clinic jumping up on their owners and everyone else, pulling on leashes and failing to sit quietly and attentively to their owners. Frequently, I demonstrate to owners how they can teach their dog to sit, instead of jumping and pulling. Often, I have owners tell me their pet knows how to sit and listen to them give the command to sit repeatedly, attempting to show me how well their dog knows the word 'sit'. After failure to obey the command, the owner sighs and says, "well she does it at home". I smile and make the excuse that the dog is nervous/distracted/excited about seeing us.
In truth, our dogs really don't understand the command 'sit' unless they will sit reliably in variable environments and situations. Every dog will fail a certain percentage of the time, after all no one is perfect, however to know that you dog truly understand the command, they should follow the command a good percentage of the time (and this means to do so in all sorts of circumstances). Funny thing about dogs and learning what we expect out of them...dogs are very pattern trained and often their understanding/performance of a command will break down with minor variations or distractions. Example: your dog will reliably sit on command at your front door, but he doesn't at the back door or at the door of your neighbor's (different enviornment). Minor changes in routine can produce big decreases in reliability. Your dog sits on command when you are home alone, but when you have company and he is excited he fails the test. In order for you to say that your dog truly understands the command, he must be trained in an infinite number of situations in order to generalize that 'sit' always means sit.
Now are you ready to test your dog on how well it knows the command 'sit'? (I can tell you that even Meade does not always pass these tests!) Try these exercises: After each test answer these questions--did your dog sit? How quickly? (Ideally within about 5 seconds) Did you have to repeat the command more than twice?
1) While walking your dog (dog in a heeling position), say it's name and ask for a sit (without stopping or varying your pace). Does it sit? How quickly? Do you have to repeat the command more than twice?
2) While walking, stop and ask for a sit. How did he do?
3) Put your dog in a stay position (standing and/or sitting) and walk 6 feet away and ask for a sit. Still good?
4) Put your dog in a sit-stay position, walk about 10 yards away, turn and face the dog. Then ask him to come and when he reaches the halfway point, ask for a sit. Tough one! Needs practice?
5) Put your dog in a sit-stay, walk about 10 yards away, turn face and ask for sit again. Does he change position? Does he come? Oops!
6) Another toughy. This one needs two people. Have helper stand with dog on a loose leash. You will be in front of your dog, with your back turned away from him...eyes closed. Ask for a sit. If he sits, helper will praise him! Good Job!
7) I love this one. Have your dog go to down-stay position. Then go about 6 feet away and lie down on your back(face up) with arms crossed over your chest facing the dog (both you and the dog are lying down in a straight line with a few inches between you and the dog's muzzle). Ask for a sit. If he does this one...awesome!
8) Final test. Put your dog in a Stand-stay. Walk about 8 feet behind your dog and lie down as you did before, except have one arm extended and your hand lying palm up between your dog's hind legs. Then ask him to sit. Does he sit on your hand? TRULY FANTASTIC IF HE DID! Your dog really knows what sitting is all about!
These tests are meant to be a learning experience for you (and your dog) and to help show exactly how the dog interprets basic obedience commands. Just put yourself in your dog's paws and the explanation becomes clear. Your dog doesn't really have to be able to do these exercises, put it could be fun playing with them and using them to teach your dog what sitting really means. Be inventive, practice sitting and praising your dog for his good manners.
Daily I see pets come into the clinic jumping up on their owners and everyone else, pulling on leashes and failing to sit quietly and attentively to their owners. Frequently, I demonstrate to owners how they can teach their dog to sit, instead of jumping and pulling. Often, I have owners tell me their pet knows how to sit and listen to them give the command to sit repeatedly, attempting to show me how well their dog knows the word 'sit'. After failure to obey the command, the owner sighs and says, "well she does it at home". I smile and make the excuse that the dog is nervous/distracted/excited about seeing us.
In truth, our dogs really don't understand the command 'sit' unless they will sit reliably in variable environments and situations. Every dog will fail a certain percentage of the time, after all no one is perfect, however to know that you dog truly understand the command, they should follow the command a good percentage of the time (and this means to do so in all sorts of circumstances). Funny thing about dogs and learning what we expect out of them...dogs are very pattern trained and often their understanding/performance of a command will break down with minor variations or distractions. Example: your dog will reliably sit on command at your front door, but he doesn't at the back door or at the door of your neighbor's (different enviornment). Minor changes in routine can produce big decreases in reliability. Your dog sits on command when you are home alone, but when you have company and he is excited he fails the test. In order for you to say that your dog truly understands the command, he must be trained in an infinite number of situations in order to generalize that 'sit' always means sit.
Now are you ready to test your dog on how well it knows the command 'sit'? (I can tell you that even Meade does not always pass these tests!) Try these exercises: After each test answer these questions--did your dog sit? How quickly? (Ideally within about 5 seconds) Did you have to repeat the command more than twice?
1) While walking your dog (dog in a heeling position), say it's name and ask for a sit (without stopping or varying your pace). Does it sit? How quickly? Do you have to repeat the command more than twice?
2) While walking, stop and ask for a sit. How did he do?
3) Put your dog in a stay position (standing and/or sitting) and walk 6 feet away and ask for a sit. Still good?
4) Put your dog in a sit-stay position, walk about 10 yards away, turn and face the dog. Then ask him to come and when he reaches the halfway point, ask for a sit. Tough one! Needs practice?
5) Put your dog in a sit-stay, walk about 10 yards away, turn face and ask for sit again. Does he change position? Does he come? Oops!
6) Another toughy. This one needs two people. Have helper stand with dog on a loose leash. You will be in front of your dog, with your back turned away from him...eyes closed. Ask for a sit. If he sits, helper will praise him! Good Job!
7) I love this one. Have your dog go to down-stay position. Then go about 6 feet away and lie down on your back(face up) with arms crossed over your chest facing the dog (both you and the dog are lying down in a straight line with a few inches between you and the dog's muzzle). Ask for a sit. If he does this one...awesome!
8) Final test. Put your dog in a Stand-stay. Walk about 8 feet behind your dog and lie down as you did before, except have one arm extended and your hand lying palm up between your dog's hind legs. Then ask him to sit. Does he sit on your hand? TRULY FANTASTIC IF HE DID! Your dog really knows what sitting is all about!
These tests are meant to be a learning experience for you (and your dog) and to help show exactly how the dog interprets basic obedience commands. Just put yourself in your dog's paws and the explanation becomes clear. Your dog doesn't really have to be able to do these exercises, put it could be fun playing with them and using them to teach your dog what sitting really means. Be inventive, practice sitting and praising your dog for his good manners.
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