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

Wordless Woof Wednesday

PUPPY CUTENESS!!!

Some of you may have heard me talk about a good friend and client who has been waiting on a Newfie puppy for quite some time and how excited I am for her! The puppies have finally arrived, and she shared some pics with me...they were to cute not to share with you! 

Adopt a Less Adoptable Week

There have been many posts this week about why you should adopt the "less-adoptable dogs" and even some posts on specific dogs looking for homes. What I want to share with you is a happy ending. 


Meet Numan G. Foreman III, but you can call him Numan...the less-adoptable. A big boy who was scheduled to be PTS because he had some serious phobias, and oh yeah, the resource guarding. Who would adopt a dog like that? 


While Numan isn't perfect, the Pagel's weren't looking for perfect. They were looking for goofy, lovable and loyal. Numan was happy to provide that and much more for his new family. And with some guidance and a good measure of positive-reinforcement training, they were able to work through the other issues. You know, the ones that Numan would have died for...


The Pagel's simply can't imagine their life without Numan, and Numan can't imagine life without his non-furry family! He snuggles on the couch to watch movies, opens the back door as he pleases to come & go out of the yard and even goes on outings to Home Depot to lend a helping paw. 


The point of the story is this: Every dog has something to offer. When picking a companion, focus on the traits that really matter to you.. you never know, that dog who doesn't look quite right, or has some quirky traits might just be your missing puzzle piece! 

Numan's favorite non-furries

Numan Helping Out

Numan's Happy Ending

Wordless Woof Wednesday

Saw this on a calendar.. yes I'm biased because he's wrinkly.. but he's got a good point.

Fun Answer Friday: How should I feed my athlete?

Rebecca asks: My dog and I are competing in agility trials almost every weekend. Is there anything I can add to his diet to ensure he is getting the nutrients he needs as a competing athlete?

Dogs are dogs..whether they are lounging on the couch, chasing squirrels or competing in a sport, right? The canine athlete is a special breed, competing professionally requires physical stamina as well as mental acuteness. And, there are steps we can take to ensure they are performing as well as possible!

Tips for feeding the canine athlete:
~ Make sure you are feeding a nutrient dense, highly-digestible diet. I recommend a protein content of 32%  plus. As your athlete ages, make sure to add digestive enzymes as nutrient absorption is an essential foundation.
~ Supplement with a high-grade fish oil supplement. This should be a cold-pressed oil that has an EPA:DHA ratio of 180:120. 2000mg per 20lbs during competition season. Half that during the 'off season'.
~ Fresh, filtered water is essential. There are plenty of water bottle options now that filter water, so there's no reason you can't provide this on the road or at competition.
~ On competition days, feed one small, light meal approximately two hours before an event, and feed the second larger meal in the evening after all events are done for the day.
~ The last supplement that is important for your athlete is a carbohydrate containing supplement for right after a performance. Although protein is often the focus of supplementation for athletes, glucose repletion is essential for muscle repair and necessary to reduce fatigue and maintain mental stability. (We really like Glyco-gen Energy Bones).

While there are many supplements out there for working dogs, these are the essential needs that we like to see addressed for every working dog. Competing with a canine athlete is a rewarding experience that allows you to bond with your companion on a whole new level. Pay them back by ensuring they are getting what they need!


www.HappyHealthyPup.com