Can you believe your dog is 9 months old?! You may have noticed that they've turned into quite the explorer, mischief-maker, and all-around ball of seemingly unending energy. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't panic — you're not alone.
Be sure to give your dog and yourself a little grace during this often challenging teenage phase. If your pup is being extra rambunctious or struggling with fear of certain things, then make sure to connect with a certified dog trainer or canine behavior consultant. It's always easier to work on these things when a dog is younger before they become ingrained as part of their behavioral repertoire.
This week's focus:
What those certification letters mean after a dog trainer's name
Some new training games
Helping your dog get more comfortable with nail trims
Automatic sit
When NOT to clean your dog's ears
How to break up a dog fight, and more
What's with the Alphabet Soup?
Did you know that anyone can just decide one day to call themselves a "dog trainer" and open up for business? It's a little crazy that the industry is unregulated, considering that you're trusting your dog's physical and mental health to someone who is teaching you.
The first step in vetting a dog trainer is to look for professional certifications from reputable organizations. This proves that a trainer has put in the time and investment to educate themselves in dog learning and behavior. But a certification isn't everything! There's more you'll want to check beyond what certifications they hold to ensure they're right for your dog.
Does your dog bark or get overexcited when they see another dog on a walk? Do they chase squirrels or rabbits? There's a great training game that can help in these and many other scenarios! It's called the Engage-Disengage game.
Your dog is learning that calmly looking at something (dog, rabbit, UFO) is a rewarded behavior, and then subsequently learns that interrupting themselves before they start barking is also a rewarded behavior. This is a wonderful way to teach self-interruption and calm behavior around high distractions.
If your dog is cautious or just downright scared when meeting new people, it's essential not to force it! One of the biggest mistakes that is often made, with the best of intentions, is having people hold a treat and bribing the dog to get closer to them to say hi.
For a food-driven dog, this will get them to approach the person and eat the food. But once the food is gone, now they're really close to the thing they're unsure or scared of! Yikes! This can result in a bite or bolting away again and does nothing for actually decreasing fear and building confidence.
Instead, play the treat retreat game. Have people toss a treat toward or even behind your dog, so your pup learns that people mean good things happen and they don't have to approach.
If your dog runs away when you grab the nail clippers, don't wait to start training a more positive pawdicure experience! It doesn't magically get any easier. It takes time but pays off in the long run!
Being able to trim your dog's nails at home means lots of money and time saved since you don't have to go to and pay the groomer or vet to do it. Plus, your dog learns that nail trimming time means yummy things and their trust in you grows stronger.
Don't ever force nail trims on your dog if possible. Even if you just get one nail done a day, that's a win!
Want to look super cool while out on walks with your dog? Practice the Automatic Sit! This is where your dog sits automatically, without a verbal cue from you, whenever you stop walking.
Not only does it look impressive, but it's a great safety skill as it keeps your dog from meandering into crosswalks or rushing ahead of you in doorways. It's easy to teach, too! The goal is to create a cue if you stop walking = dog sits. It just takes repetition and reinforcement!
Can your dog benefit from taking fish oil? In short, yes. Fish oils are mainly known for their anti-inflammatory benefits and how they help the skin, coat, and joints. But there are many other benefits that fish oil can provide your dog, even from a young age.
Studies show that puppies with increased DHA learn and retain skills faster. It can help the cardiovascular system, slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, and its ability to lower blood triglyceride levels can benefit multiple aspects of your dog's health.
Fish oil benefits are impacted by your dog getting the right formulation from a reputable source and at the correct dose. Consult with your veterinarian to see if fish oil is right for your dog.
Ear infections are among the top 10 common canine medical conditions. Dogs with environmental and food allergies, those that swim frequently, and certain dog breeds are prone to ear infections.
It is not recommended to clean your dog's ears if they are stressed and struggling, as this can make your dog more upset and possibly cause them harm.
Also, don't clean your dog's ears if they are red, inflamed, or painful until you consult a veterinarian. The redness and inflammation could indicate an ear infection. If the ear is cleaned before veterinary evaluation, it can alter the diagnosis because it removes the type of bacteria and/or yeast that dictates what medication is needed.
With an ear infection, there is also always a risk of a ruptured eardrum. Certain ear cleaners can cause toxicity if they are used when the eardrum is broken. Routinely cleaning your dog's ears after bathing, swimming, or any time they get wet can decrease the chances of ear infections.
Have lots of delivery boxes left over? Here's an easy way to build your dog's confidence and work their brain at the same time. Grab an empty cardboard box and some packing paper. You have options when it comes to how hard you want to make this puzzle.
For beginners, just toss their kibble into the box and layer in the packing paper on top. Encourage them to snuffle around to eat their meal. For a harder challenge, ball up the kibble in the paper so they have to work harder to get it out.
As with all enrichment activities, supervise your dog to make sure they aren't ingesting the paper and help them when it's getting too hard so they don't get frustrated.
We hope it never happens, but if it does, knowing what to do can prevent injury and even save lives. Dog fights can be scary, whether between two dogs in the home or if an off-leash dog rushes up to your dog while on a walk. The big thing to remember is that if you stay calm, the better the outcome will be.
You don't want to just stick your hands or legs in the middle of a fight; that's asking to get what's called a redirected bite. Instead, take a breath, look around for help, use what's in the environment to block the dogs from each other, or move into more hands-on techniques.
Just like you shouldn't take your dog's medications, they certainly shouldn't take yours. Dogs metabolize and react differently to medications than we do. Many pets have been given over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications and then suffered toxic and even fatal effects. It's been the #1 poison on the ASCPA toxin list for the past 5 years.
If you suspect your dog is in any discomfort or pain, consult with your veterinarian and do not attempt to treat them with OTC medications. This even applies to 'doggie OTC pain meds.'
