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!

Happy Wordless Woof Wednesday!

Our newest client. Cute, little Spike the American Bulldog.

Fast answer Friday: Answers to your questions!

Kathy Asks: If my dog doesn't eat his breakfast until suppertime, do I still give him supper?

Thanks for the question Kathy. Many people are confused about meals for their pets.

One thing you should always keep in mind when feeding your dog is that their digestive system is completely different from ours. We need a few small meals throughout the day to sustain us and keep us from feeling hungry, your dog does not.

Many adult dogs prefer to eat just once during the day, and in fact, this is healthier for them. As a general rule of thumb, I

recommend that puppies up until 6mos of age eat 3 meals, puppies up until 18-24mos of age eat two meals a day and from there adult dogs eat one meal a day. It is okay to feed two meals a day to your adult dog, but I would make one meal smaller than the other.

While timing of the meals is not vitally important, making sure that food is presented to your dog and removed after a certain period of time is. Mealtime for an adult dog should last no longer than 15minutes. After this time frame, pick up whatever portion your dog has not consumed. The next meal does not need to be larger than normal. Keeping to a time fram will ensure your dog values the food that is placed before them.

So, to answer your question Kathy, no, you do not need to feed an additional meal. If he never finished breakfast, you can present his breakfast again for dinner. Happy Feeding!

Fast answer Friday: Answers to your questions!

Shelly asks: We adopted a 3yr old dog from the shelter. We don't really like the name he came with and we're not even sure he knows it. Is he to old to have his name changed?

If there is one thing you can be sure of.. it's this.. It's never to late to teach an old dog new tricks!

Including changing their name! Pictured here is my little girl Dora. She was called Nala for several year

s before I adopted her, and I simply didn't think it fit her, so I changed it. Within just a few days she was happily responding to her new name and did so until she passed away of old age. She loved her new name!

I often work with people who have adopted their canine companion, and I find they are reluctant to change the name their companion came with. Most people assume that changing a name is to confusing and hard for the new dog to learn.

This is simply not true! In fact, I highly encourage a name change! New home, new life... new name!

Here's a simple way to train your new dog to their new name:

- In a quieter area of the house, call the new name & then offer your dog a small, tasty treat. Repeat this often!

- Your dog is now learning that this new name has a positive (and yummy) association!

- Now try calling the name out in the yard, or in an area with a few more distractions, when they respond, reward with a treat!

- Pretty soon your dog will be responding quickly & happily to their new name, once you're sure they have it, you can phase the food reward out if you'd like.

Fast answer Friday: Answers to your questions!

We will be starting a new post every friday that gives quick answers to all your questions!

Whether it's about nutrition, training or holistic therapies. We will give you the straight facts and a fast answer! Our questions this week are regarding nutrition...

Barbi asks: What did dogs eat before bagged kibble?

Great question! Dogs existed as our companions for thousands of years before 'dog food' was invented. And what did they eat? Mostly dogs survived off of our scraps and leftovers. This varied greatly depending on their environment, most dogs received scraps from the butchering of animals for our food, scavenged for whole small animals, eggs, etc. It has also been said that dogs belonging to royalty were prepared very special meals with seasonings and supplements especially for them!

The very first dog food biscuit showed up around 1860, and it's creator mistakingly watched dogs scavenging for animal & grain leftovers in naval shipyards and assumed that these leftovers were a nutritionally sound diet.

His product contained wheat, beet root, vegetables and beef blood. Many more companies followed suit creating a processed food that could easily be fed to your dog. Some of these contained more animal product than others. But as the depression hit and animal products became more expensive, grains, cereals and fillers quickly became the base of many dog foods. After WWII this was an easy way to profit on the leftovers of grain processing and also provided a convenience to dog owners. Because of this, processed dog food soared in popularity, but so did the diseases and ailments that we often see today in our dogs.

In the past decade or so, owners have realized that health and behavior are directly linked to their pet's diets and the industry has been forced to make some drastic changes. Consumers really do have the power to promote change! So, what did dogs eat before dog food? Raw, whole foods. The same thing that is still best for them today!

Laurie asks: What's the best thing we can do for our dog's diet now, while they are still young that will benefit them when they get older?

(Laurie's cute pup Zia is the dog pictured here).

What a great question!! At Happy Healthy Pup, we are all about prevention, not

just treating the problem when it arises!! And Appropriate Nutrition will both play a huge role in the overall health & well-being of your pup!

This going to sound very simple. But, here's my answer: Make informed decisions. And this shouldn't just be limited to nutrition. Let me briefly address these, and then we'll get back to the nutrition issue (sorry this is the trainer in me)!

You have LOTS of decisions to make as a new puppy owner, here are the ones I believe, along with nutrition, are most crucial:

~ Vaccination schedules. All owners should be educated regarding vaccinations, what to give, when to give them and why this is important. Nowadays puppies are extremely over-vaccinated, and putting their tiny, fragile immune systems through this early on can effect their overall health and well-being & behavior later on. This also includes making an informed decision about a puppy preschool facility, as your puppy will be going here before all of their vaccinations are complete.

~ Puppy Preschool. All puppies should attend a puppy preschool regardless of size or potential role in life. An appropriate puppy preschool will set a solid foundation for your puppy, ensuring they understand such things as bite inhibition and appropriate play styles as well as desensitization to handling, noise and strange objects. This is the most important thing you will do in your puppy's life, and you only have a short window to do it in.

So... now back to nutrition!

Being informed does not mean you have to be an expert! But, do you know what your are putting into your dog? Learn to read labels... did you know that the majority of puppy 'training' treats found at grocery stores & big box pet stores are full of corn syrup? Do you really want to be feeding those to your pup at all? Especially in large amounts? Look for ingredients you recognize and natural preservatives such as vitamin e & rosemary. Look for meat based foods & treats and stay away from corn, wheat and soy.

Finally, here are our personal recommendations for creating a Happy Healthy Puppy...

Food: We will always recommended a species appropriate raw diet. For those who are unable to feed raw, we recommend a high-quality grain free food.

Water: Puppies are into anything & everything! And stress, environmental change, training, and vaccinations can take a toll on their bodies. Providing filtered water in a fountain will help encourage them to drink an appropriate amount and also help their bodies filter toxins out. This becomes even more important as they age.

Supplements: A puppy eating a healthy diet shouldn't need a bunch of supplements. But, one supplement we always recommend for puppies is Fish Oil. You should be giving 1000mg per 20lbs of body weight a day of a cold-water, cold pressed fish oil. Fish Oil aids in cellular growth, brain function and an overall feeling of well-being.

So, are there specific things we can do nutrition wise that will have a positive impact throughout your puppy's life. Absolutely! And don't worry.. if you didn't make these choices when your dog was a puppy - it is NEVER to late to start!!

Those are our questions for today - thanks Ladies! Have questions of your own? Comment here or Contact Us on our website to let us know what you would like the answer too!

Anna Bettina

www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Heirarchy of Humane Behavior Practices

So, Fido's a little Fiesty? Or Spot won't Settle?

It's hard sometimes knowing what to do to help your pet. Wish there was a road map to follow? Something to give you specific instructions on modifying behavior for good? You're in luck!
Renowned Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Susan Friedman has published just that. This pyramid tells you exactly what steps to take in order to modify your pet's behavior, and create a happier & healthier pet. Of course, this road map isn't new, educated Animal Trainers and Professional Behaviorists have always followed this hierarchy.

Hierarchy of Behavior-Change Procedures
for Humane and Effective Practice

So, how does it work?
Easy. You start at the top, and follow each step down until the behavior is modified. This means, that each step in itself can help or even modify your pet's behavior altogether.
I.E. A pet that is struggling with aggressive behavior should be looked at for thyroid issues, seizures, eyesight and hearing issues, as well as full blood panels & urine analysis. It is not uncommon to find that an aggressive animal is ill & actually in need medical attention, not behavior modification. When you have an animal in this situation, usually once the health issues has been cleared up, then the aggression subsides as well.

Let's walk through a few of these steps:
Medical, Nutritional, Physical - All of these can affect behavior in a profound way with our animals, yet this is something that is often overlooked when you have a pet struggling with inappropriate behavior. It's always best to ensure that you are feeding a healthy, appropriate diet, as well as having a clean bill of health from your veterinarian before starting any type of behavior modification.

Antecedent Arrangements - I once had a client ask me for help. Every morning, she would put her lunch and briefcase in the car, and then also put her dog in the car to be taken to daycare. The problem she wanted help with was; while she walked back to the house to lock it up, her dog would eat her lunch. The antecedent arrangement here would be that she not put her lunch in the car with her unsupervised dog, she could set it on her car, or even carry it last to the car before leaving. She could also restrain her dog so that her dog was not loose in the car with her lunch. I call this 'setting your dog up for success' - we need to give them every chance possible to do the right thing!

Positive Reinforcement - This is the practice of reinforcing behavior that we want to happen again. Example: Your dog sits calmly, you praise and reward with a treat or toy. Now your dog is learning that if he sits quietly, he will be get something he desires. This encourages him to perform the behavior again.

By now - you should be starting to get the idea - Make sure your dog is healthy and thinking clearly, set them up for success and reward behaviors you want to have happen again. I think it's important to note, that I rarely have to go past these steps. If done correctly, behavior can be easily modified with these first three steps! But let's examine a couple more:


Differential Reinforcement - This is the practice of rewarding one behavior over another. Example: Your dog jumps on you when you get home, instead of saying hi, you ask your dog for a sit, when he does this, you offer praise, attention, a treat or a toy. Now he is learning that it is more desirable to sit instead of jump, earning what he wants sooner.

Extinction - This is the practice of completely ignoring behaviors until they become extinct. This often requires great patience and is good for very persistent dogs. Once the behavior stops working for them altogether, they will move on to trying other behaviors, until one is reinforced. Example: Your dog keeps jumping when you ask him to sit, so you completely ignore him, after awhile he will calm down and sit, then you praise and reward.

There is so much to keep in mind when you are trying to modify your dogs' behavior. Be sure to stay calm and be patient during the process, although training can sometimes take awhile. If done properly, you will have a happy & healthy companion for life!

*Happy Training*