Coming Full Circle

As a Holistic Animal Practitioner, Canine Nutritionist and Professional Trainer, I wear a lot of hats. I'm okay with that, I love everything about what I do and the dogs I help. I'm in a unique position, as many people fall into one of these categories, not two or even all three. And while each certainly has it's strengths, I'm beginning to notice one common weakness.. the lack of connectivity between these professions and their theories.

I believe that science-based dog training, holistic health care and species appropriate nutrition are absolutely necessary partners. Every one of these affect each other. So, how does the disconnect happen? Most of the time I don't believe it is intentional, I believe that people simply haven't made the connection yet.

I watch people who lovingly train and work their dogs using only the most up-to-date and humane training methods, but feed a poor grade dry dog food. This, in turn will affect behavior & the training process. It may also lead to health issues that will play a role in more behavior issues.

I meet people who are dedicated to feeding their dog a high-quality, freshly prepared diet, but are constantly putting chemicals in and on their dog. Vaccinations, topical treatments and internal treatments can take a major tole on the immune system. This, in turn, can lead to behavior problems and health issues later on.

I see people who work with wonderful holistic veterinarians to help keep their dog healthy & happy, but they are quick to put a prong or choke collar on and offer a 'correction' or even a "shht" in the name of training! This is probably the one that baffles me the most! The basis of most eastern medicine and holistic therapies is the energy of the animal. Nothing can be more damaging to this (and your relationship with your dog) as fear, pain and intimidation. This will certainly lead to health issues in the future as well as more, or slightly different behavior issues.

Sometimes, I think it's helpful to take a step back and look at the big picture, regardless of your goal. 

- Health and nutrition affect behavior

- Behavior will affect overall health 

- Training methods affect subsequent behavior and health

I think it's time to come full circle and realize that everything we do with our dogs is connected. Here's to making more conscious decisions in every aspect of your pup's life!

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Fun Answer Friday: What to do about whining?!

We've all seen the face...and the big eyes...you can almost hear the "Puh-LEAZE" coming through in the whines. You're dog wants something, but you're busy, and the whining is annoying you. Many dog owners have dogs that whine, beg, or instigate games when they want something. But did you know that this behavior has to be reinforced in order to continue?

Many dog owners don't realize that they intermittently or unintentionally reinforce this behavior. Example: You're hanging out, watching TV & lounging when Fluffy brings you a ball and drops it in your lap. She whines a little bit until you notice it, you smile, pick up the ball and play with her. Now you're sitting at your desk, on a deadline to get your task completed, and Fluffy comes up and drops the same ball into your lap, it worked before right? Only this time you tell her no and try to focus...then the dreaded whining begins.

Even if you ignore her, put the toy away, lead her out of the room or raise your voice in frustration, Fluffy still sees that she got your attention. Even got you a little riled up in the process...bonus!

Whine no more
So how to we get rid of the dreaded whining? Here are some tips.

Send clear messages. First things first. If you don't like whining, don't play with Fluffy when she's whines at you while watching TV and not play with Fluffy when she whines at you while working. If she wants to play, she should ask politely by performing an easy task such as sit, down, touch.

Focus on this! If you know that she likes to bother you while working or focusing on a task, give her something else to do instead. Stuff a kong or an interactive food puzzle. Hide a chew for her to find and devour or give her a favorite toy to play with. Do this BEFORE you start on your project, not after she's harassed you, or you will reinforce that, harassing you = fun things.

Work together. Plan a little extra time and use this as a training opportunity. Give her an alternate behavior to perform instead of the whining. A perfect example is 'go to mat'. You can reinforce her for hanging out on her mat and being calm by tossing treats to her or even offering a nice yummy chew once she's on her mat & calm. (Here's a great video by kikopup on teaching 'go to a mat' and 'down on a mat' if you need help learning this).

Not what I wanted. You can also practice ignoring the whining and reinforcing any other alternate behavior Fluffy offers. If she is sitting or lying calmly next to you, offer a yummy treat or a little play time. Anytime Fluffy whines, calmly say Bummer (as in "That's not what I wanted") and ignore her. The hardest part about ignoring this behavior is that we, as humans, are not very good at it. Eventually we either give in or explode...both of which can be very reinforcing to Fluffy and can teach her that persistence is key!

One thing you might also want to consider is practicing when you're not actually working so that you're not as likely to get frustrated. Whining can be obnoxious, but if it's your attention they want or simply something to do, showing them the appropriate way to earn it will be very rewarding to the both of you!

Happy Training!



www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Wordless Woof Wednesday

Riley is a handsome little Cavalier. He's 2.5 years old and has never been house-trained, but he also has some reactivity on leash. Another local training company convinced his family they should attend a training class where they can 'correct' him for these things. They went once & said 'it didn't feel right, or good to be there'. That's a good feeling to follow! Instead, they called me and together we got to see how FUN training can be. 

Listen to your gut - you are your dog's advocate! 

Fun Fact Friday: Stop the Scratch!

It's about this time of the year that I get bombarded with inquiries from people regarding their dogs troubled skin. Fall is in the air...and the fluctuating weather sure can aggravate fur coats & skin conditions. 

There's a variety of skin issues that are fairly common to our four-legged friends. Dry/flaky/scratchy skin, dandruff, hot spots, acne and in more extreme cases psoriasis, & eczema. Vets will often recommend everything from an anti-inflammatory, steroids or medicated shampoos. But there are several steps you can take to help treat the actual cause of these issues and clear up skin for good. 

The Skin Soothing Recipe

- A clean, grain-free, high-quality Diet

- Dairy-free, soy-free, wheat free, refrigerated Probiotic

- Soy-free, cold pressed Fish Oil supplement

- Cleavers Herb supplement (or fresh leaves)

How do these work together? 

Food: well we all know that grains can be the cause of, or at the very least aggravate skin issues, so I always recommend that diet is cleaned up with a dog that suffers with skin issues. 

Probiotics: very important for overall health & immunity, it's important to read the label and ensure there is no ingredients that could cause further agitation, such as wheat, soy & dairy. And does refrigeration matter? Yes! Current studies show that 100% of refrigerated probiotics are still viable at the time of consumption as apposed to 50% of those that were not refrigerated**

Fish Oil: this supplement on it's own can aid greatly in coat & skin health. We recommend a fish oil with an EPA:DHA ratio of 180:120. Dosage: 1000-2000/mg per every 20lbs

Cleavers Herb: This fabulous little herb can work wonders on the body! It is effective at cleansing toxins & waste from the lymphatic system. Skin will feel & look fabulous after Cleavers! If you can, try to find an alcohol-free tincture. Dosage: 3 dropper fulls per 20lbs twice a day.

If you find yourself needing something right away to help soothe skin while you start your new regimen, consider a soothing fur balm like this one from Pal Dog (we love this one because you can share it)!

Here's to your Pup having Happy, Healthy skin all winter long! 

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Holistic Canine Nutrition & Behavior Solutions

** S. Berman & D. Spicer : Safety and Reliability of Lactobacillus Supplements in Seattle, Washington (A Pilot Study) . The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2003 Volume 1 Number 2