FROM THE BOOK
THE TRUTH ABOUT DOGS
STEPHEN BUDIANSKY ISBN 0-670-89272-6

IN A TYPICAL CASE, DOG OWNERS HAVE FOR MONTHS OR YEARS TOLERATED THEIR DOG GROWLING WHEN HE IS DISTURBED WHILE EATING OR RESTING ON THE FLOOR IN HIS FAVOURITE SPOT. OWNERS HAVE RESPONDED WITH PETTING AND ATTENTION AND FOOD TREATS WHENEVER THE DOG HAS DEMANDED THEM.

THEY HAVE ALLOWED THE DOG TO SLEEP IN THEIR BEDROOM AND TO PRECEDE THEM THROUGH DOORS AND DOWN STAIRS. TYPICALLY THE DOG KEEPS UPPING THE ANTE, AND FINALLY,

WHEN THE DOG STARTS BITING PEOPLE THE OWNER IS AT LAST DRIVEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP.

BY THIS POINT THE OWNER HAS ALREADY LOST HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOMINANCE ENCOUNTERS WITH HIS DOG, AND THE DOG HAS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO IS THE ALPHA LEADER.

MISCOMMUNICATION ADDS TO THE PROBLEM. MANY OWNERS OF PROBLEM DOGS DO NOT REALIZE THAT WHEN A DOG JUMPS UP OR ON YOU THAT IT IS NOT AN EMBRACE, HE IS ASSERTING HIS DOMINANCE.

OWNERS WHO DO TAKE IT AS A SIGN OF AFFECTION HAVE LOST ANOTHER DOMINANCE ENCOUNTER.

DOMINANT DOGS ARE PERFECTLY CONTENT TO BE WITH, AND GET ALONG WITH, THE REST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PACK, AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIR OWN WAY.

AN OWNER WHO IS EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO HIS DOG IS MORE LIKELY TO BEHAVE AS IF IT IS A FRIEND AND EQUAL RATHER THAN AS IF IT IS A SUBORDINATE; THERE FORE HE WILL BE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THE DOG’ INITIATIVES AND REQUEST.

IF IT BARKS TO GO OUT THE OWNER WILL OPEN THE DOOR. IF THE DOG BRINGS HIS BALL TO HIM THE OWNER WILL THROW IT.

IF THE DOG IS PREDISPOSED TO DOMINANCE BY VIRTUE OF GENETIC OR HORMONAL FACTORS, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO INTERPRET THIS ACQUIESCENT BEHAVIOUR OR THE OWNER AS CONFIRMATION OF ITS (THE DOGS) DOMINANT STATUS

Scott Conway 905 734 8987
k9aid@yahoo.ca

http://k91st.tripod.com/

IT IS NOW TIME TO BECOME A LEADER TO YOUR DOG.
LEASH ON IN THE HOUSE. WHERE YOU GO THE DOG GOES. IF YOU HAVE A CRATE START USING IT AGAIN OR USE IT MORE OFTEN.

IF YOU HAVE NO CRATE SECTION OFF AN AREA WHERE THE DOG HAS ENOUGH ROOM TO STAND TURN AROUND AND LIE DOWN. IF YOU LET THE DOG ROAM AROUND ON ITS OWN IT WILL TAKE OVER THE TERRITORY. OUR HOMES YARDS VEHICLES, FURNITURE AND SO ON.

WITH THE LEASH ON IN THE HOUSE IT GIVES THE OWNER PHYSICAL CONTROL OF THE DOGS ACTIONS. IF YOU WANT THE DOG WITH YOU THEN GO TO YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR SIT DOWN AND STEP ON THE LEASH SO THE DOG CANNOT JUMP UP.

ANOTHER METHOD IS START HAND FEEDING THE DOG. DRY FOOD OF COURSE, THE DOG DOES NOT GET A KIBBLE UNTIL IT DOES A BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT.USING FOOD IN THIS WAY WILL GET THE DOGS ATTENTION AND MAKE YOU IMPORTANT AGAIN.PUT THE DOG IN A FAMILY BOOT CAMP.
TAKE AWAY ALL PRIVILIGES AND RETURN THEM TO THE DOG AS HE/SHE EARNS THEM.

BUY A LONG LINE AT THE PET FOOD STORE. GET A GOOD COLLAR. CONFINE THE DOG PRIOR TO TRAINING.

GO TO A PARK SCHOOL GROUNDS OR OPEN AREA. MAKE SURE THE DOG IS ATTACHED TO THE LONG LINE AND LET HIM GO. HOLD YOUR END IN BOTH HANDS IN FRONT OF YOU. IF THE DOG GOES FORWARD YOU TURN AND GO THE OPPOSITE WAY. EVERYTIME THE DOG GOES IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION YOU GO THE OPPOSITE. AS THE DOG GIVES YOU SLACK IN THE LONG LINE GATHER IT IN YOUR HANDS. TAKE BREAKS OFTEN.
CHILDREN AND DOGS. CHILDREN AND DOGS SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE OWNER THINKS THE DOG LOVES THE CHILDREN AND THE CHILDREN LOVE THE DOG.

A DOG WILL FIND THE WEAKEST AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
CHILDREN SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN SUPERVISED TRAINING.DOG OWNERSHIP IS AN ADULT RESPONSIBILITY.

IN THE DOGS WORLD IT IS NOT ABOUT LOVE IT IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP. A LEADER THAT IS FIRM FAIR CONSISTANT AND MAKES TRAINING FUN.

TRAINING TODAY FOR TOMORROW

Dental care product







My dogs teeth as of May 14/06

I recently started applying this product to my dogs teeth, I will show before and after pictures.

I will also track my dogs teeth with pictures.

If anyone is interested in trying the product let me know and I can offer a discount.

mailto:dk9aid@yahoo.ca

What’s going on with our dogs?

Why are we having problems with our dogs, regardless of the size and breed of the animal they all have the same common bond. They are dogs’ Canine familiaris, years ago we did not treat the dog as we do now. It seems that we defer to the dog and his or her every need. We allow behaviours to manifest and take no action or the owner lets the dog behave in a negative manner longer than they would tolerate it from a human.

The dog is a pack animal and wants to be with the pack, we are led to believe for various reasons that certain dogs are loners and want to be left alone or can function and be left alone to their own devices. These animals are not cats and they do not think like a solitary animal. The first pack they are involved with is the one they are born to, then they go to the human’s house and have to learn and adapt to this new species. This is the whole families responsibility.

Breeders tell us that certain dogs will fight other dogs, run away from us, not adapt to our families or any other types of negative responses to our environment.

Lets look at this realistically, years ago our ancestors many of our ancestors would not allow dogs to act in any manner other that what was considered appropriate.

Today we go to a dog owner’s home and we have dogs that jump on us, growl at us, snap at us. Owners have to lock the dog in another room or outside. The dog has chew toys strewn all over the area, and the food is left out and gets topped up when needed. Dogs are left outside because the animal is not allowed into the house with the rest of the pack.
The children are allowed to climb all over the dog and or members of the house wrestle with the dog with no regards to the dogs feelings.

We are so busy with our life that we cannot take Dog Owner Training Classes or take the time to learn about our pet and how they think. However we can watch TV. and be amazed at what the dog on TV. is doing. We can afford new clothes, CDs, DVDs, Cars, Fitness equipment, tonnes of toys for the dog but refused to put money aside for the Dogs education.

Then if all else fails we can get rid of the current dog and get another and another until we find one that works for us.

It is surprising at the excuses the dog owners will come up with, this is an adult responsibility and the knowledge learned from proper training is for the life of the dog. Our dogs are learning to not respect our families and us, we need to stop this and teach the dog to respect us and everything in our environment.

Lets not fool us into believing that Dog Trainers never had the same problems as the average dog owners do. They have and they have learned to train various breeds of dogs but the trainer is training you to train your dog.
I find it frustrating and heartbreaking when a dog owner does not want to heed the advice they are given by the professional trainer. If they do not agree with the training then they are to question the methods and work with their trainer to find an agreeable solution. If you went to a dog trainer he would be training your dog not you. So become your dog’s trainer and learn to train your dog.

All Dog Breed
Before we get started, lets define leadership. Leadership is a complex process by which a person influences others to accomplish a mission, task, or objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. A person carries out this process by applying her leadership attributes (belief, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills). Although your position as a manager, supervisor, lead, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization, this power does not make you a leader...it simply makes you the boss. Leadership makes people want to achieve high goals and objectives, while, on the other hand, bosses tell people to accomplish a task or objective.

The Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Cincinnati compiled this list of pet health emergencies. If the animal has any of the following symptoms, call your local emergency care facility and tell the receptionist that you are bringing in a dog or cat that has

Difficulty breathing, noisy respiration, blue tongue, gasping for breath.

Bleeding that does not stop from any part of the body; apply pressure with a clean cloth and go!

Bloated or distended abdomen or swollen or painful abdomen with or without vomiting.

Inability to urinate or move bowels but continues to try or has bloody stool or urine or painful defecation or urination.

Heatstroke heavy panting extreme weakness
body temperature about 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Inability to deliver puppies or kittens, labor contractions for longer than one hour or more than 15 minutes of labor with the fetus or membrane showing.

Loss of balance or consciousness or seizure, including tremors, coma, staggering, convulsions, sudden blindness, tilting of the head,
biting at imaginary objects, sudden changes in disposition such as unusual withdrawal or out-of-character aggressiveness.
Pain, severe or continuous.

Major trauma, injury, or shock from falls, vehicle accidents, wounds, cuts, broken bones shows signs of: weakness, collapse, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, bewildered appearance, dilated pupils.

Ingested poison; bring the container or the commercial or chemical name of the product or a list of ingredients if you have it.

Penetrating wounds anyplace, but especially in the chest or abdomen.

Vomiting or diarrhea with blood or violent episodes.

Lameness and cannot bear any weight on the leg. Any other signs that look serious, such as: eye problems, severe itching with self-mutilation, severe hives

BASIC TRAINING CONCEPTS If you've picked up books on dog training and been utterly overwhelmed, don't fret. Even if you don't know one command from the other, you can learn some basics to make training easier for you and your dog. You've seen that perfect dog around the neighbourhood that seems to know all the tricks and is well behaved. What does that dog owner know that you don't? Follow these tips to train your dog:

Speak your dog's language. Although it's sometimes fun to pretend so, your dog isn't human. Don't talk to him in complete sentences -- use one- or two-word commands. Also, let the tone of your voice and body language do most of the talking.

Be consistent. Your dog doesn't know what the commands mean. You have to show him. If he sits only half way or if he moves while on the 'stay' command, don't reward him. Guide him into doing it right first! Also, have a consistent daily schedule to help your dog feel more comfortable. Feed him and put him to bed at the same time every day.

Be repetitive. Even if you think your dog has a trick down, do a refresher course once in a while. You might find that your dog has forgotten a trick or doesn't do it properly.
Be patient. A trick might take your dog a couple of months to learn -- especially if it's a complicated one. Also, some dogs are slower than others.

Give your dog your complete attention. You can't train your dog during commercial breaks. Work with him for 10 to 20 minutes three times a week or every day. At the beginning of that time, give your dog a sign that it's time for training. Get out his leash and bring him to the same training spot every time. Use the correct reward. Some dogs are food motivated, while others are attention oriented. Find out what your dog likes best, and use that to train him to his best ability.

According to latest DNA testing, Dingoes evolved 135,000 years ago and were the world's first domestic dog, predating the wolf. A 'marker' has been found in the Dingo which is not present in the wolf, making the Dingo a separate species.
It is believed that the Dingo is the ancestor of all dog breeds, the base stock of the 600 true dog breeds.

Lost leadership with the dog
When the dog growls at them and gets away with it;
When they walk around or over the dog because they do not want to disturb the dog;
Allowing the dog to go through doors before the owner does;
Leaving the dog's food in its bowl all day and topping the dish up when it is low or empty;

Allowing the dog to jump up on them or the furniture;Letting the dog have free run of the house, yard and vehicle. These are just some of the issues of lost leadership.

Behaviour Problems
Author Unknown
Most dog owners have a story about a naughty dog, a dog that misbehaves to the detriment of its owner often to the amusement of others. But where does this naughtiness become a behavioural problem? As vets, dog owners who are struggling with their pet’s actions and on enquiring, have dogs with genuine behavioural problems are increasingly consulting us. This isn't a dog, which occasionally digs a hole in the lawn or chews the odd child's toy but dogs that persistently carry out physical actions that are disruptive to the home either physically or emotionally.

The old adage 'there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad owners' is largely but not totally true. I have been aggressively bitten by nine-week-old puppies and so believe that the 'nasty streak' can be inherited. Also behavioural problems can be genetic afflicting one breed or even breed line. A classic example is tail chasing in the English Bull Terrier. These dogs literally chase their tails in a circle. Amusing at first but this can develop into a situation where the dog will tail chase incessantly only stopping when in extreme exhaustion, starting again after a short sleep. No action on the part of the owner will stop this genetic condition. This of course is an extreme example, most behavioural problems are of a learned behavioural type where the dog recognises a series of stimuli and accordingly reacts.

I have a very loving, soft natured but rather stupid English Setter. It learned many years ago that if she barks at visiting people when they come up, what is quite a long drive, to the house that she will be rewarded with a call of 'good girl', a pat or even a biscuit. If everybody had ignored her from the first instance then she wouldn't bark at me when I come home! This is an example of a simple, learned behavioural problem but many of them are more complex and some can be a mixture of genetic (inherited) and learned in nature.

The one area I dislike having to handle is the 'dominant aggressive dog'. Many dogs will nip under adverse situations but this category of dog bites because it believes and wants to be boss. Very often there is a genetic factor, with more males than females and certain breeds and breed lines predisposing to this problem. At the end of the day however there is also, usually, a learned behavioural factor relating to the dog's home and owner(s).

Owners often say that the dog came from a bad home and no doubt a bad start with undisciplined training and inconsistent, rough, handling will drive a dog this way.

However the dominant aggressive dog stays this way because he is allowed to be the boss inside the family unit and when placed outside this unit will sometimes show this aggression because he or she thinks his or her position is under threat and knows no other way to react but to bite. It is easy to blame the owner and it is rare the blame can be levied on a single person but usually on multiple factors working within the dog’s immediate environment.

An increasing area for therapy is the 'anxious dog'. Separation from owners often being the principle problem. You may be asleep upstairs but the dog does not know this and will howl all night or may try and dig through the door. The car keys, the raincoat and the slamming of the garage door may all provoke emotional distress; the dog knows you are going out and he is going to be left behind! New drugs from the human medicine chest are now available which work on nerve endings in the brain and alter the levels of the 'chemicals of emotion' at this level.

However it does not matter how effective drugs are, an improvement will only occur when reinforced with positive, behavioural changes.


So, what can you do to alleviate these behavioural problems?

There is no constant rule with each problem having to be assessed independently and often handled in a different way.

The following advice is just the tip of the iceberg but careful adherence may help a problem or prevent one from developing:
All dog owners would be well advised to read a book on dog behaviour by a well-recognised author. Opinions differ, even among the experts.

Try to be 'boss in your own house'. A dog is a dog and should be at the bottom of the pecking order. General advice is that dogs are fed after humans. Dogs do not sit on top of humans. Dogs go through doors after humans. Dogs do not grab the newspaper and run off!!! This may sound like taking all the fun away but will actually increase orderly contact between you and your dog.

If there is a problem look for the 'trigger factor" which may be a bone, a favourite chair and remove it.

Try not to be confrontational. If a dog is likely to bite if given a bone, don't give him the bone and then try and take it off him, just don't give him the bone in the first place!

Get all the family involved, there is no point one person putting in place behavioural therapy if everybody else in the family continues in their bad old ways.

Before the behavioural condition becomes too deep seated, make an appointment to see your vet. As vets we have to deal with these problems. It is rare for a day to pass when I am not consulted about some behavioural problem and so we have amassed information to help in these areas. A normal consultation period is inadequate and I would advise an initial consultation followed by a longer period with all the family present preferably at a quiet time of the day to discuss all the finer points.

Your vet may suggest certain types of drug therapy. In the old days this usually referred to sedatives and tranquilizers. Do not fear, this is rarely the case now a day with modern drugs being effective and unlikely to cause any ill effects. Behavioural problems are often linked with stress to the animal and these drugs can soothe away the anxiety that can only be a good thing.

Finally, try and see a video on wolves and the wolf pack. Wolf and dog behaviour is synonymous. The wolves have a pack leader, matriarchs and subordinates. They interact and put in place actions that show dominance and submission. We could all learn a lot from their actions as your dog sees their human family as their pack.
I have only just touched on the subject that covers many different areas of behaviour. I can still remember an article in a newspapers a few years ago about a cat that was a compulsive thief of underwear from washing lines. A humorous behavioural problem? Certainly one to stretch the thoughts of the animal behaviourists!

Puppy Behavior Basics
Today's post is from another source and involves development


©2002. Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.


The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially for dogs. The fact is, well-socialized dogs are more likely to have well-socialized puppies. Pups often mirror their mothers' calm or fearful attitude toward people; this is a normal part of their socialization. But you can play a vital role, too, by petting, talking, and playing with puppy to help him develop good "people skills."

Puppies are usually weaned at six to seven weeks, but are still learning important skills as their mother gradually leaves them for longer periods of time. Ideally, puppies should stay with their littermates (or other "role-model" dogs) for at least 12 weeks. Puppies separated from their littermates too early often fail to develop appropriate "social skills," such as learning how to send and receive signals, what an "inhibited bite" (acceptable mouthing pressure) means, how far to go in play-wrestling, and so forth. Play is important for puppies because it increases their physical coordination, social skills, and learning limits. By interacting with their mother and littermates, puppies explore the ranking process ("who's in charge") and also learn "how to be a dog."

Skills not acquired during the first eight weeks may be lost forever. While these stages are important and fairly consistent, a dog's mind remains receptive to new experiences and lessons well beyond puppyhood. Most dogs are still puppies, in mind and body, through the first two years of life. Here are general guidelines for puppies' stages of development:

Birth to Two Weeks: Neonatal Period
Puppy is most influenced by his mother.
Senses of touch and taste are present at birth.

Two to Four Weeks: Transitional Period
Puppy is most influenced by his mother and littermates.
Eyes open, teeth begin to come in, and senses of hearing and smell develop.
Puppy begins to stand, walk a little, wag tail, and bark.

By the fourth or fifth week, eyesight is well-developed.

Three to Twelve Weeks: Socialization Period
During this period, puppy needs opportunities to meet other dogs and people.

By three to five weeks, puppy becomes aware of his surroundings, companions (both canine and human), and relationships, including play.

By four to six weeks, puppy is most influenced by littermates and is learning about being a dog.

From four to twelve weeks, puppy remains influenced by littermates and is also influenced by people. Puppy learns to play, develops social skills, learns the inhibited bite, explores social structure/ranking, and improves physical coordination.

By five to seven weeks, puppy develops curiosity and explores new experiences. Puppy needs positive "people" experiences during this time.

By seven to nine weeks, puppy is refining his physical skills and coordination, and can begin to be housetrained. Puppy has full use of senses.

By eight to ten weeks, puppy experiences real fear involving normal objects and experiences; puppy needs positive training during this time.

By nine to twelve weeks, puppy is refining reactions, developing social skills with littermates (appropriate interactions), and exploring the environment and objects. Puppy begins to focus on people; this is a good time to begin training.

Three to Six Months: Ranking Period
Puppy is most influenced by "playmates," which may now include those of other species.
Puppy begins to see and use ranking (dominance and submission) within the household (the puppy's "pack"), including humans. Puppy begins teething (and associated chewing).

At four months of age, puppy experiences another fear stage.

Six to Eighteen Months: Adolescence
Puppy is most influenced by human and dog "pack" members.

At seven to nine months, puppy goes through a second chewing phase, part of exploring territory. Puppy increases exploration of dominance, including challenging humans.
If not spayed or neutered, puppy experiences beginnings of sexual behavior.

Started training with a new dog owner recently. The dog is a female yellow lab and is about 8 months old. As the weeks go by I will chronical the training. Very smart dog however did have a rough start in life, which will be added later.
We are currently at week three of the training and she is coming along nicely.

Training is for everyday and the keys to success are: be firm. fair, and consitant. Do not expect the dog to know what in advance. If the quality time is not used then quality training can not be expected.

Dogs are here to serve us and they are the owners responsibility. Do not let anyone interact with your dog if they will not adhere to your rules for your dog.

Never leave a child and dog unattended, dog and children do not play together, there are separate rules for each of them.The best play is supervised training, do not expect either the child or the dog to know what to do without formal training.

Dog ownership is an adult responsibility.

Any thing can happen and does not teach children respect of the dog, if they are allowed to do what they like with the dog. Also keep in mind children my confuse what they do with their family dog with someone elses. More people are bitten by dogs they know than dogs they do not know. Take formal lessons, if you do not remember lessons you might have tried to learn they have not been learned.

10 Principles of Learning
By Ron and Susan ZemkeInnovation Abstracts Vol VI, No 8, March 9, 1984

1, We learn to do by doing.
2, We learn to do what we do and not something else.
3, Without readiness, learning is inefficient and may be harmful.
4, Without motivation there can be no learning at all.
5, For effective learning, responses must be immediately reinforced.
6, Meaningful content is better learned and longer retained than less meaningful content.
7, For the greatest amount of transfer learning, responses should be learned in the way they are going to be used.
8, One's response will vary according to how one perceives the situation.
9, An individuals response will vary according to the learning atmosphere.
10, One does the only thing one can do given the physical inheritance, background, and present acting forces

All dog owners would be well advised to read a book on dog behaviour by a well-recognised author. Opinions differ, even among the experts, keep in mind the book was not written about your dog, just dogs in general.

Try to be 'the leader in your own house'. A dog is a dog and should be at the bottom of the pecking order. General advice is that dogs are fed after humans. Dogs do not sit on top of humans. Dogs go through doors after humans. Dogs do not grab the newspaper and run off!!!

This may sound like taking all the fun away but will actually increase orderly contact between you and your dog.

If there is a problem look for the 'trigger factor" which may be a bone, a favourite chair and remove it.

Try not to be confrontational. If a dog is likely to bite if given a bone, don't give him the bone and then try and take it off him, just don't give him the bone in the first place!

Get all the family involved, there is no point one person doing all the behavioural therapy if everybody else in the family continues in their bad old ways.

Socialization of the family dog. All the expert tell us we must socialize our dog, but what does this really mean. The dog owner will take their dog to the local parks and unknowingly allow others to interact with the dog, whether it is other dogs or people. What is meant by unknowingly, the dog is reacting to the surroundings and the owner can be encouraging unwanted behavior. If the dog is nervous and the dog owner praises the dog, this behavior can be reinforced and later on in the dogs life it can escalate.

Behaviors can become so obsesive that the dogs attitude and social aceptance is affected. If you are unable to call your dog to you regardless of the situation do not let the dog off leash. Off leash parks can create problems for the dog owner, when the dogs are interacting with each other they are deciding the rules for their society and it does not include us.

What do we really want to do when it comes to socializing the dog, we want the dog to understand our rules for our lives, family and surroundings. We do not want the dog to think that it can get what it want when it wants. For instance, someone comes to our house, the dog goes to that person and depending on what the dog does and how the person and owner react the stage will be set for future encounters.

Dogs are learning every day and will adapt to our life style, begin training from the day you get the dog and work on the training steps incrementally. Do not rush the training or over do the lessons. All animals learn differently and this includes the dog owner, family and friends.

You can not control your environment, so learn to control your dog.

Identify stress in dogs any or all of these signs

restlessness
overreacting
scratching, biting/biting self
excessive chewing
diarrhea
barking, whining
shaking
licking
panting
fixations
change in behavior
acting differently in any way