Wordless Woof Wednesday

Meet Graddy the JRT & Sammy the Yorkie.

They have a bit of a..well..barking problem. They bark: in the morning, in the evening, outside, inside, in the hallway, at the doors, at mealtimes, in the windows, at their parents, at all visitors & oh..the Progressive Insurance lady on TV? Yeah, they bark at her too.

They've just signed up for 5 days of Day Training. The bark stops here!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Fun Answer Friday: How can I help my aggressive dog?

Sami asks: My dog is aggressive towards men. It is so embarrassing to even try to walk her, people comment on her behavior all the time. We have just hired a positive dog trainer to help us, but I'm afraid there's no hope. Should we be doing something more? And will my dog always be this way or will training fix her?

Aggression is a hard behavior to deal with. Not only are both the dog and owner frustrated, but there is a liability factor and an overwhelming guilt and/or embarrassment factor on behalf of the owner as well. It seems that society likes to deem owners 'bad' or somehow 'unfit' if they don't have a dog who can romp around a dog park full of inappropriately behaving puppy hooligans & well-meaning, but ill-advised puppy owners (hmmm.. can you tell I'm not a fan of dog parks?).

So first off, let me say this: Good for you! You recognized your dog needed the help of a professional & you hired one.

Why Me?

Many of the aggressive dog owners I meet feel embarrassed. And I'm here to tell you, don't be. Aggression is a natural emotion, and it's used readily in the animal kingdom. Even by human animals! Have you ever gotten road rage...yelled at another driver or maybe even flipped them off?? Have you ever raised your voice to someone when something went wrong...airline made you miss your flight, customer service not so helpful, or a package that arrived broken?? It's completely natural to show aggression...what's not natural is the expectation that your dog is never, ever allowed to show it.

Cool & Collected

Ok great.. aggression is natural, but it's not safe & it's really scary. True. The reason I share this is because I want you to feel differently next time you take your dog out (Your trainer will show you how to manage the situation for now & also set up a behavior modification plan to get you going). When you go out, instead of feeling apologetic or nervous, you should feel confident! Your dog is acting like, well, a dog! And you are already taking action to ensure she becomes a better behaved member of society. There's no shame in crossing a street or turning around to avoid a potential problem. So walk with your shoulders a bit higher & a smile on your face. You are not a bad dog owner...in fact...you are a great dog owner!

Is training enough?

Training is an invaluable tool for any dog, regardless of their background or behavior. And through the help of a positive reinforcement, science-based trainer you can drastically alter behavior and even eliminate the aggression altogether. But this relies very much on behalf of the owner and their dedication. So, is training enough? Sometimes, yes. Is there anything more you can do? Absolutely! There are many alternative therapies that can drastically help a dog with aggression issues!

Supplements: Finding a calming supplement (flower essence, herbs, etc) that can be given before or during training sessions can drastically improve your dog's reactions, comfort level and allow you to work at different thresholds and with more control. I also recommend fish-oil to any dog on a behavior modification plan as it has been shown to improve memory & brain function (opt for a cold-water fish that has been cold-pressed).

Massage: Massage helps create more body awareness for your dog! We use t-touch massage to put 'calm' behavior on cue and also as a nice relaxing bonding session with your dog. For aggressive dog, try this: when alone in a quiet place, take the flat part of two fingertips & rub slow, soft deliberate circles all over your dogs face. Speak in a calm quiet tone and encourage your dog to relax. You might be surprised how much they enjoy it! More about t-touch here.

Aromatherapy: Yes, it smells great, but it helps alter behavior as well! Try a calming blend with oils like Lavender, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile or (our favorite) Neroli. We have our own calming blend that we make or you can find one at a local holistic store (make sure to ask if it is safe for pets). Spritz on beds, collars, or even a bandanna your dog can wear when training, just make sure to let it dry before placing it on your dog. You can also use oils like Clary Sage which can help calm but can also help improve memory for learning dogs!

Food: Last, but certainly not least, food. Make sure your carnivore is on an appropriate diet. The less processed, the better! Inappropriate foods can cause gastrointestinal upset and food-related allergy symptoms (hair loss, scratching, etc), which can all make your dog uncomfortable and add to the aggressive behavior. We will always recommend a species-appropriate raw diet. But if you're not ready to make that leap, look into freeze-dried, frozen & dehydrated foods that are considerably less processed than kibble.

You are your dog's advocate.

Remember: There's a lot of help available to you and ultimately, you know what's best for your dog. Don't feel embarrassed, do feel empowered! Happy Training!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Wordless Woof Wednesday

Why we LOVE Lavender!

Recently we posted on our Facebook page that every dog home should have a bottle of therapeutic grade Lavender essential oil on hand. Why do we love it so much? There are tons of uses for this very versatile oil, not to mention, how good it smells! We received a few questions about uses, so we thought we'd post some of our favorite recipes here & how to use them! Once you try them, we're sure you'll love lavender too! Enjoy!

Clean your act up!

Disinfect & clean will this smell-good combo! Great for spritzing on counters, dog beds, collars (remove from your pup first) and anything else that smells 'doggy'.

6 drops Lemon EO

4 drops Orange EO

4 drops Lavender EO

4 drops Bergamot EO

2oz. distilled water

Combine all ingredients in a small spray bottle (glass or steel preferred). Shake well before every use. Store away from heat & light & never spray on your pup's face.

Chill Pill

This is my Favorite! You can spritz it right on your pup. Even better...spritz on your hands & massage onto your dog. I also use it on myself, sheets & in the air when I'm stressed. Smells absolutely magical.

10 drops Lavender EO

6 drops Neroli EO

4 drops Sandalwood EO

2oz. organic jojoba oil

Combine all ingredients in a small spray bottle (glass preferred) & shake well. Make sure to store away from heat & light.

Bug Repellent

We stole this one from Herbs for Health. But we love it & it's easy to make. This is not only effective & safe for your pup, it's also great for you!

1/2 teaspoon citronella EO

1/2 teaspoon eucalyptus EO

1/2 teaspoon lavender EO

4oz. distilled witch hazel

Mix ingredients in small spray bottle. Shake well. Spray onto exposed skin, avoiding eyes and mucous membranes. Reapply every 2 hours, or as needed. (Note: We love adding a few drops of Lemongrass to this blend! Add as much or as little as you like!)

Experiment with the oils to find a blend that is appealing to you! Here's to a delicious smelling home & chemical-free canine! And don't forget to join us on Facebook if you haven't already so we can hear what you want to know more about!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Fast Answer Friday: How can I lose some weight?

Miss Zoe the black lab (pictured here) asks a great question about weight loss: Can you tell my Mom, on a nutritional level, what she should be doing? It's mid summer and I still am unable to fit into my two-piece. Lots of love and licks, ZoeZoe

Weight management is something many pet owners struggle with. An estimated 43 million dogs in the US are overweight or obese*. That's a staggering amount! Especially when you consider that dogs who keep a healthy weight live 15% longer than their overweight counterparts**,that's nearly two additional years! So, how do we help them keep a healthy weight?

First things first - Get a clean bill of health from the vet. Before starting any weight loss regimen it's important that your pup gets a thorough exam as well as blood, thyroid & urine tests to rule out any medical conditions for the extra weight and ensure your pup is healthy. Often, your vet can give also give you an ideal weight to achieve.

Detox - Detox - Detox - So, you have a clean bill of health, an idea of how much weight your dog needs to lose and you're ready to get started. So, is it all about feeding less? Not quite. To get started on a healthy weight loss regimen we recommend detoxing your pup. A high-quality detox will help flush toxins as well as improve organ function. Both of these things will aid in weight loss, increase metabolism and help your pup feel better overall! The detox can be done in conjunction with food restriction & exercise. One detox we love is:

Animal Essentials Detox Blend

Food Restriction - Keep in mind: your pup needs to lose weight slowly (taking weight off too fast can cause discomfort as well as lead to medical issues). We generally recommend decreasing food by approximately 20% to start. You can slowly take this percentage up to as much as 40% as your pup becomes accustomed to the amounts. Make sure that you are feeding a food that contains high-quality protein to ensure your dog feels full & satisfied.

Sounds simple, right? This is where people struggle the most. Some owners will cut back the amounts at mealtime but give into their dog's pleading looks later or offer high-calorie treats throughout the day. Our best advice: Keep a food journal! Writing down everything your pup eats will help keep you honest about what your pup is really consuming and also give you an idea of where you can cut back. You might notice that your pup is getting treats at the bank, the coffee shop, the pet store, and during a training session. Skipping those extra treats can help cut back on calories as well as choosing a low-calorie training treat (Many people love Zuke's training treats. We recommend cutting each treat in half, that makes them just 1.5 calories each)! As part of a food journal, I recommend tracking weekly weigh-ins at the vet to help you map weight loss progress.

Supplements - There is one supplement we readily recommend for dogs on a diet. It is high in essential vitamins & minerals and can also help restore an active and healthy metabolism in dogs. That supplement is organic kelp. We love this one:

Animal Essentials Organic Kelp

Exercise - Yes, weight loss is the same for pups as it is for humans. Less calories in - more calories out. If your pup is a couch potato, try getting them out & about for just 5 extra minutes a day...then you can take it to ten or even fifteen extra minutes. Play fetch or frisbee, engage in a good game of tug - even better, fetch and tug! Walk around the block an extra time or stay at the park a bit longer. Many cities also offer exercise classes for you and your dog: Hiking groups, walking groups & even Doga. Making small changes will be easier on your pup and you might find that you enjoy those few extra minutes as well!

Ideal weight - A healthy weight for every dog is going to be different. But ideally you should be able to see a 'waist' and easily feel all of their ribs (that's feel.. not see). If you have been keeping a food journal, it will be easy for you to see how much food is required to maintain this ideal weight once you've achieved it.

We've tried it all - From time to time, I hear from a client who has received a clean bill of health from their vet for their pup, limited food intake, increased exercise and still can't get weight off. Now what?

- Be sure to make sure everyone in the house is on board. If your children or spouse are feeding extra treats or food to your pup, this could easily sabotage a weight loss regimen!

- Write it down. I know I've stressed the importance of a food journal already. But our lives are crazy, and we can often forget throughout the day just how many treats/chews/food our dog has consumed. Jot a note on your smartphone if you need to, just keep track!

- Stretching and Massage. Both of these can help increase blood flow throughout the body, making organs function more efficiently as well as just getting things moving!

- Be patient...don't expect instant results! It will take some time, so stick to it!

Okay...we know this wasn't exactly a 'fast answer', but we hope it helps you! Working on a weight loss regimen might require a bit more work on your part, but the results will be worth it!

Good Luck!

(If you have tried everything and your pup is still struggling with weight, consider hiring a nutritionist to help you create a custom weight loss regimen. Contact us for more details!)

*Association of Pet Obesity Prevention

**Purina Pet Institute

Wordless Woof Wednesday

These pretty girls are all in rescue & need a home. Contact ildragoneo@aol.com

Fast answer Friday: Answers to your questions!

Laurie Asks: Is it true that dogs like consistency, such as feeding and walking at the same time each day? Or is it good to mix it up so they don't have expectations?

You often hear that dogs like a 'schedule' and that it important to feed meals at the same time. But really, this depends on your dog! We actually encourage dog owners to 'mix it up'! If you always do the same things at the same time with your dog, they might not be able to adjust if the schedule changes!

A dog that always eats at 8pm will most likely get sick, or even throw up bile, if his meal isn't ready to eat at 8pm.

Dogs that eat meals at the same time everyday start producing bile, acid and digestive enzymes several minutes before a meal in anticipation. If food isn't presented in a timely manner it can cause stomach upset & if it's to acidic the dog will usually throw it up. Dogs that eat meals at slightly different times each day produce these enzymes as they need them.

A dog that always eliminates on a morning walk might not eliminate elsewhere if he misses his morning walk.

Sometimes dogs will hold their urine or bowel movements out of confusion when a routine is changed and sometimes they will hold it until they get back into their routine. A dog that hasn't eliminated properly or is holding it can develop urinary track infections or risk other infections since the body is not properly eliminating waste.

A dog that has a schedule often doesn't want to defer from that schedule.

There is a convenience factor as well to having a dog that doesn't live by a schedule. Having a dog that insists you get up at 6am everyday sounds like a good idea until you stay out late the night before or you want to sleep in on the weekend (we're speaking from experience here. For almost 11yrs our Neapolitan pictured here, Eros, got us up at 6am. Everyday. For 11 years.)

Now some dogs do need a specific schedule, most of the time for medical reasons. But for the most part we like to keep our dog's on their toes - food, walks, play time, training time, down time, chew time and more are all going to come, my dogs just don't know when!

Happy Training!