Off-Leash Angst

It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and birds are singing. You’re out for a walk with your favorite friend…but out of nowhere, an off-leash dog approaches you and rather quickly. All of a sudden you have that sinking feeling in your stomach…is he friendly? Where is his owner? What do I do??

There are few things that are more frustrating than being approached on a walk by an off-leash dog...for you and for your dog. Allowing your dog to be approached and greeted by an off-leash dog is not only an inappropriate dog-dog greeting, but can be extremely stressful for the leashed dog. So, what do you do?

I recommend that you try to keep the off-leash dog from coming near you or your on-leash dog. Here are some things, in my experience, that both work and don’t work:

- The No, No, Bad Dog. Move your leashed dog behind your body and stand tall in front them, put a hand out towards the oncoming dog and firmly yell, “NO!” or “STOP!” Most dogs have heard these words before and have a context for them. Ensuring that you stand tall in front of your dog and yell firmly might even startle the dog and he’ll choose to go another direction or retreat to his owner. This is the method we use most often, and with great results.

- The Hissing Human. When intimidation doesn’t work. I recommend a small can of spray air (i.e. the Pet Corrector) that you can point at the oncoming dog... Use short, fast blasts of air to startle the on-coming dog; some experts even believe the hissing noise from the spray air is a natural deterrent. I equip all my handlers of reactive dogs with this tool I find it so successful.

- What about pepper spray? Some people will recommend the use of pepper spray or other spray deterrents. I find these a bit dangerous. It is very easy to accidentally spray these the wrong direction (also, you can’t control the wind), or even spray the on-coming dog in such a manner that the dog suffers and could even make you legally responsible for veterinary damages. If you feel that a spray deterrent is a good option, keep a small squirt gun (which shoots a stream) and fill it mostly with water and a teaspoon or so of lemon juice. That should be enough of a deterrent to an on-coming dog without actually causing any significant harm. 

- Tossing your cookies? Some people also recommend that you throw a handful of treats towards the dog and quickly head the other way while the dog searches for them. I know people who have used this method successfully. But, personally, I would be concerned that the dog would come looking for you after all the treats are found and/or remember you if they come across you in the future and approach again in hope of goodies.

Whatever you try, I hope it works well for you and your dog. Here’s to safe, happy walkies in your future, whether you encounter an off-leash dog or not!

- Anna Bettina
  HappyHealthyPup.com

Spring Storm Giveaway!!

It's springtime! The birds are singing...the flowers are blooming...and the thunderstorms are rumbling.

Many dogs struggle with storms as it can be a great source of anxiety. We want to help! We are giving away an awesome goodie bag (worth $65) that's filled with:

- A Thundershirt (you specify the size when you win).

- A bottle of Ark Naturals "Happy Traveler" all-natural calming supplement to help your pup feel at ease.
- 2 all-natural chews to give your pup something to do during the storm (1 bully stick, 1 tendon).

These all-natural products can help calm your pup and provide them a sense of comfort. Even if your pup doesn't struggle with thunderstorms you can use these during vet visits, grooming visits, road trips or any other time you need a happy, calm pup!

To win here's all you have to do:

- "LIKE" Happy Healthy Pup on Facebook.

- Upload a picture to our wall of your dog enjoying Spring!

That's it! You'll be entered to win. You may upload more than one picture if you'd like, but you will not receive more than one entry for picture uploads. Want a better chance of winning? If you have previously attended or if you register to attend any of our ongoing webinars (before April 5th) you will get two additional entries into the giveaway!

So check out our upcoming webinar on the Basics of Canine Nutrition

One winner will be chosen at random on April 5th, 2012, so get to posting and showing us your adorable pup out there enjoying the springtime weather! Good Luck!

Anna Bettina

HappyHealthyPup.com

The Rules

General rules: Open only to U.S. residents, ages 18 and above. No purchase necessary. Only one wall post per person is eligible to be counted. We reserve the right to eliminate any entries that seem to disregard these rules. Contest winners will be picked on midnight EST April 5, 2012 from fans of Happy Healthy Pup on Facebook with picture posts and registrations for Happy Healthy Pup webinars made within the contest start and end date. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Winners are responsible for submitting correct sizing information and street mailing address in order to receive prize. Prizes are nontransferable and may not be redeemed for cash. All decisions are final. We reserves the right to announce entrant’s names and re-use winner's photo(s). We will not sell, trade or give to any other party the e-mail, names and/or addresses gathered in the contest. ONLY the winner should submit mailing addresses, upon request. Winner: chosen by a drawing using random.org. Winner’s name will be announced through Twitter and Facebook on April 5, 2012.

Getting your dog to sit instead of jumping to greet!

Wordless Wednesday

We believe that every dog should be trained without pain. This image is from the Never Shock a Puppy CafePress store, if you'd like your own Learning Shouldn't hurt tee, visit the store: http://www.cafepress.com/nevershockpup

How much faith do you place in your pet food company?

We put so much faith in those pretty bags with the comforting labels...


"70% PURE ANIMAL INGREDIENTS"

"EXCLUSIVE GREEN TEA ANTIOXIDANT COATING"

"...WITH APPLES, CARROTS & PEAS"

We trust these companies to do what's best for our pets, but we often forget that the majority of these pet food companies are big business. They have a bottom line to meet and a product to sell. Nature's Variety is known in most food circles as a higher-quality food and is a pretty substantial player in the pre-packaged raw market. This morning I had a chance to talk candidly with a rep from Nature's Variety. And I had a couple of hard questions to ask him.

You had a venison shortage last year, and are currently in a rabbit shortage. Why are these proteins so hard to get?
"Due to the economy, people in Europe are not eating as much venison & rabbit, which leaves us without product. It's not like we're using rabbit steaks, we're using their leftovers."

Do you still source proteins from China?
It's no secret we source meat from China, it's on our website. It is what it is.

Does this sound like a company who is dedicated to providing your dog with the most wholesome, healthy nutrition available? These are real answers from a real player in the high-end pet food market. And I'm sure that other high-end pet food companies would have similar answers to these questions.


So now I have a question for you...
Are these acceptable answers from a pet food company?

You have the ability to control the quality of food that your dog consumes. Make 2012 the year that you pledge to do more as your dog's advocate.


--
www.HappyHealthyPup.com

Fun Fact Friday: She's not fat..she's fluffy!

We've all seen the photos of fat pets. Dogs that look like ottomans, they can barely walk like a normal dog, let alone run & play like one. We all know that obese & overweight pets are prone to serious health issues & diseases, right? Things such as:

Diabetes

Cardiovascular Disease

Osteoarthritis 

Complications with anesthesia

and a shorter life expectancy (generally two years shorter than that of healthy dogs)

Yet, this is the most common nutritional disorder in the US, with an much as 34% of our canine population suffering from it. How can that be? We love our dogs! Sometimes people refer to this as "loving them to death". But, maybe, we just don't know what constitutes an unhealthy weight for our dog. 

She's not fat...She's fluffy!

When trying to address weight issues with dog owners I have heard several explanations, like..."it's mostly hair". Or..."Yeah, but she's solid!". Or even..."My vet said she looked fine". All of these can be valid points. Unfortunately I am finding, more and more, that veterinarians and pet professionals are not addressing this adequately this with their clients. Perhaps this is because it is a sensitive topic. But it doesn't need to be! Stating that your dog is overweight is not a personal attack on you, but it is a wonderful opportunity to make some changes for the better!

It's a Hand On kinda thing

I am going to tell you exactly what I tell all of my clients. Get hands on with your dog! I recommend regular massage and stretching for every dog. If you are massaging your dog everyday, you'll have a very good idea what their body feels like and be able to watch for changes. 

To determine if your dog is currently at a healthy weight: Stand over her, you should be able to see a waistline and easily feel all of her ribs. Now, regardless of your breed, think of a short coated dog. When standing, I would like to be able to see the last one or two of her ribs, and when she goes around a corner, I want to be able to see all of them. That's an ideal weight for me! (There is a lovely guide from the Pet Obesity Project that details this with illustrations here.)

Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is one of the easiest and most effective measures you can take to keep your companion healthy. They'll look and feel better, and you'll feel great knowing that you are taking a proactive step in their longevity & health! 

**Note: If you currently have a dog who is struggling with weight issues, please check out our previous post on healthy weight loss**

 www.HappyHealthyPup.com

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