Stubborn Dog, Novice Owner

Australian Cattle Dog, Calm Dogs, tips for Dogs and fireworks

Tips to Calm Dogs that are Fearful of Fireworks

June 10, 2024June 7, 2024Diane J.

The Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and other celebrations that culminate in bangs, pops, and booms can send our pups running for cover. In this post, I will give you a variety of suggestions to calm dogs that are fearful of fireworks.

Prepare In Advance

Most veterinarians get phone calls the day before or the day of July 4th asking for medicine to calm dogs’ nerves. Unfortunately, once the dog is shaking, pacing, or panting, it’s too late for most medications to help calm the pooch.

Tip #1 to Calm Dogs – Medication Prescribed by Veterinarian

Speak to your vet a month or so in advance. If your dog was fearful of fireworks last year, contact your vet now. Your vet can prescribe medication to help your pooch. But the medication works best when you give it BEFORE your dog gets nervous.

Understand this is easier said than done. My town begins celebrating earlier every year. We have booms beginning in June. Usually, we can ride out a few of those. By the Fourth of July, it’s too late for Pandora. I have to start giving her medicine three days prior and up to two days afterward.

Tip #2 to Calm Dogs – Begin Desensitization Tactics

If this will be your pup’s first year experiencing fireworks, begin getting them used to the sounds. This is also helpful for dogs who are already not good with fireworks. Begin desensitization tactics months before. Turn on some YouTube videos with fireworks, start with small videos and low volume. As your dog gets comfortable, increase the volume (one notch at a time). I did this with dump truck videos to get Pandora used to loud vehicles.

This method may take weeks of slowly bringing up the volume. If you push it too fast, you may end up making your dog more stressed. For reference, I’m currently doing this method with Pandora and I have the volume set to where I can barely hear it. Remember dog’s ears are more receptive to sound than our ears are, so start the volume much lower than you’d expect. You may be on that same volume level for a few days.

Material Things That May Help

There are supplies for nervous dogs on the market that can help reduce a bit of stress. These should be tested in advance of fireworks. Not all things will work, sometimes only one item will work and sometimes a combination of items will be best to calm dogs.

Tip #3 to Calm Dogs – Wearables.

Thunder Jackets/ Shirts are an item that you put on your dog, akin to a harness. The light pressure and warmth, apparently will make the dog feel calmer.

The Happy Hoodie, is like ear muffs for dogs. A lot of pet groomers use these or something similar when blow-drying dogs after a bath. It just helps soften the sound a bit.

Tip #4 to Calm Dogs – Edibles (not human edibles, not human serving sizes, check with your vet)

You can get CBD oil or CBD treats for dogs. The varieties are endless and I don’t know enough about the market to recommend any particular brand. I have heard some people who have had great success and others who haven’t had much success with CBD oils and treats. As with prescription medication, make sure you are giving the items to the dog well in advance of fireworks.

A Few Words of Caution

Before I give you the last few tips, I want to touch on a few things that you shouldn’t do when your dog is stressed.

First, don’t yell at the dog. Obviously, no animal or human has ever gotten over a fear from being yelled at.

Likewise, don’t molly-coddle the dog. Running and grabbing your pooch, clutching him tight to you while saying things like, “Oh you poor baby!” will not help your dog. That will only reinforce the fear of fireworks because you just reaffirmed that the sound is so horrible you felt the need to grab him and snuggle him.

A Few Unconventional Tips

Drastic moments call for drastic measures. Okay, that may be a bit dramatic. These aren’t drastic, but they may not be convenient for you.

Tip #5 to Calm Dogs – Utilize White Noise

Turn on window AC units. Turn on bathroom fans or any window fans you may have in your house. If you have a white noise machine, turn it on. Anything that offers up some noise to lessen the bluntness of the booms from outside is helpful. It’s not going to completely silence the sounds, but it will take the edge off.

Tip #6 to Calm Dogs – Isolate

Find the most isolated room in your home. By isolated I mean the most inner room of the house, the one with no windows or with the least windows. Maybe you are blessed with a basement and have a nice corner room. Maybe you live in an apartment and the bathroom is pretty much the center of the home with no windows (a family did this for their dog). Ideally, the room will be the dog’s favorite or the one that she feels safest in. Go there. Put down your favorite blankets, crank up a good movie, turn on some fans, and get comfy. You may want to employ a few other tips along with this move like using a Happie Hoodie and some calming medication or treats.

RECAP

Always try to be calm yourself. If you are agitated your dog will be, too. Remember, preparing in advance is going to give you the best outcome. Whether you plan on medicating your dog or trying a new Thunder shirt, it’s best to get your dog used to the item beforehand.

You can medicate with medicine prescribed by your vet or you can try over-the-counter calming treats. Do your research. If you know that your dog has medical issues, always check with your vet first.

Try doggie ear muffs, utilize white noise sounds as much as possible, and curl up in a room where your dog feels safest.

If you aren’t going to be home, set your dog up the best you can. Implement as many tips as safely possible. Turn on a bathroom fan, give a dose of medication, and toss extra pillows and blankets on their favorite dog bed.

Keep Trying

The Fourth of July will pass, but there will be New Year’s Eve, there will be an event that is celebrated with fireworks like a championship sports game, there will be next year. So keep working on the desensitization tactics. Eventually, you will discover the best method for soothing your pooch.

Do you have any calming tips you use? Please share them below in the comments.

Tail still tucked but a little more loose.

Have an Nervous Dog? Keep an eye on the dog’s tail.

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024Diane J.

The Dog’s Tail

Pandora is four years old and we are still working on her anxiety of walking near cars. However, it’s not always easy to see the progress so I rely on the tiniest of cues to show me the teeniest crumbs of progress. One of the newest cues is paying attention to her tail. The dog’s tail, it’s a great gauge to let us know how they feel.

For another method to gauge tiny pockets of success, check out this post and scroll to There’s Always Progress.

One Caveat

Please refer to the title of this blog, specifically the “Novice” part of the title. All I can do is give hints at what we do, I cannot confirm these are the best cues or options for everyone. So please check with your vet and or a trainer who specializes in nervous dogs.

And one other caveat, if your dog has a stumpy tail, I am not sure that this will be a helpful post. My apologies.

The Full Tail Tuck and Wrap

When Pandora is in an area where she can hear, and especially when she can see moving vehicles, her tail wraps down her bottom and tucks up against her underside.

The image above is what Pandora does with her tail when she’s unsure of the situation. In this case, we had walked a few paces beyond our last stopping point to turn around and head home. When she’s in the stroller, we’ll go to a certain point (like a telephone pole, a fence, something to gauge how far we are progressing) for about a week and then we venture a few steps beyond that point.

Pandora was ready to get out of the stroller and she hopped out. But this was new territory, so her tail is fully tucked. I also let her sniff until she’s ready to begin walking.

Partial Tail Tuck – Sign of Progress

Dog's tail tight against rear , but not wrapped under

In this picture (above) we see Pandora release the end of her tail. We’ve moved a few paces back toward home and she knows the area, but she’s still not fully comfortable yet. Again, lots of sniffing. That’s okay, once we get to the point of her being comfortable we can then work on a steady pace.

Here’s another partial tail tuck picture (below). The tail has come up just a smidge more. Again, we’ve moved into even more familiar territory.

The Dog’s Tail is Lifting

At this point, Pandora is beginning to loosen up quite a bit more (picture below). She knows we’re most definitely on the right path toward home, she’s smelled this area frequently enough that she’s feeling better, she’s feeling safer.

Feeling better and safer, the tail is parially up.

Again, she gets to stop and sniff whenever she wants. Sometimes she’ll sniff something that she doesn’t like, I know because her tail will get closer to her rear again.

The High and Happy Tail

Pandora is happiest at home or on a desolate trail. Someday, I hope to reach this level of happiness on one of our stroller walks.

High and happy tail. Bouncy and happy dog

When she’s this happy, it’s hard to capture her still. LOL. This is Pandora on a trail in all her bounding happiness.

Dog’s Tail Cue Recap

~Remember to look for these cues that the dog is getting comfortable with a situation or to see if the dog is getting more fearful of a situation.
~The Full Tail Tuck and Wrap
~The Partial Tuck
~The Slightly Looser Tail Tuck
~The Half-Happy Tail or The Half Not-so-Happy Tail (depends on how you see it)
~The High and Happy Tail.

What are the cues you look for in your dog to see tiny progress reports?

Picture of Australian Cattle Dog in A dog stroller

Nervous Dog Trait – Fear of Walking

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024Diane J.

Pandora’s Fear of Walking

Pandora has always had a fear of walking near vehicles. Or anywhere that she can hear them. Her fear makes exercising her a bit difficult.

In today’s post, I’m going to walk you through what I’ve done to try and help her past this fear, or rather be okay, with her fear. I’ll tell you how bad the fear was, the things I tried, the signs to look for when trying to decide on progress, and where we are now, four years later.

How Bad Pandora’s Fear of Walking Near Vehicles Was Previously

Our home is not level with the road. We sit up about three feet from the road. To park in front of our house, you have to enter at the top of the shared driveway (which is approximately 25/ 30 yards long). We park our vehicles right smack in front of the house. From the front door to the back of a vehicle is approximately 5 yards.

Pandora would not walk to the back of the vehicle. There were times Pandora wouldn’t even step out the front door. The constant training and luring were often soul-crushing events. I first started trying to lure Pandora with tiny nibbles of bacon (no, not the best option, but I needed the big guns of treats). She wouldn’t even take the bacon. That is an example of how difficult this fear has been.

Some days Pandora would get to the back bumper and then fully regress for a few weeks before stepping back out the front door.

One piece of advice I heard regularly was, “Ask your vet.”

So I did. And I asked a second vet. And eventually a third vet. I am not happy to report this, but the whole “ask a vet” is a bust. The vet is only going to rule out any physical issues. Then they’ll recommend you to a dog therapist. If your dog is a nervous wreck about a particular thing, just save yourself the vet visit money.

Call around to dog trainers who specialize in nervous behaviors or extreme fears. Just know, the fee is going to be expensive. The Dog Behaviorist that my vet recommended wanted $450 for a half-hour consultation. If I had that money, I would have taken Pandora for a visit. But that was not in my budget.

What I Tried to Help Pandora with Her Fear

I’m not putting down any dog trainers, therapists, or behaviorists. They may be phenomenal at what they do. And if you have the money, by all means, it may be the best route to go. I can’t say one way or the other because I took on the challenge of a lifetime.

I scoured the internet looking for all the helpful tips I could to help Pandora. And I even got creative and cooked up some ideas myself.

Desensitization

Pandora hated the loud trucks, especially the garbage trucks. So I found YouTube channels with 4 hours of garbage trucks doing their thing. And I played those videos over and over, and each day, I increased the volume until eventually, it sounded like those trucks were hoisting garbage right out of my kitchen. I put on motorcycle and car races. And it worked a bit. She stopped freaking out when the garbage truck came by the house.

Luring with Treats and Frisbees

Again, I used bacon as the first lure. Then I used chicken, cheese, and even her frisbee to get her up the driveway.

Took Her to Places with Minimal Traffic

I would take her to areas where there was traffic and would try to get her to go further and further.

Give Her Breaks

When Pandora was overwhelmed or seemed to be regressing, I’d give her a few weeks before going back into the training.

Take Her to Fun Places

I would take Pandora to pet stores for treats, to dog parks to play, to friends’ homes that she loves. Pandora had to walk on her leash to get into all these places. Friends and pet stores were the main attractions and she never waivered. She was terrified, but she’d do it. Dog parks, sometimes she wanted to, sometimes she didn’t.

We’d Park

I’d park at a park, or the store, and we’d sit in the car just watching everything. Sometimes I’d sit outside the car at the park and I would leave the door open in case she wanted to come out. Spoiler, that was a rare event. She’s good at ignoring me when she doesn’t like my ideas.

Try, Try, Try

I keep trying anything I can think of that may be helpful for Pandora’s fear of walking near vehicles. I’m always asking people with dogs for tips they’ve used when training their dogs. And I still scour the internet looking for new things to try.

There’s Always Progress

One thing that used to discourage me was that it felt like we weren’t making progress. But then I realized that there was progress, I had just missed it.

It starts with one extra step. It’s hard to see one step beyond where Pandora would stop normally. Make sure you have a solid marker to notice those small steps. One day, Pandora made it to the power pole. A whole ten yards further than before. Another day, she may have gotten just her nose beyond the power pole.

One of the biggest indicators of progress was the kind of treats I was using to lure her. Remember, when I started I offered bacon. And she refused. But eventually, she took the bacon. During one particularly frustrating day, when I was feeling like we’d never make any more progress, I realized that I was using dog treats to lure Pandora.

Basic dog treats. Nothing of high value. She was willing to go to this point with the most boring of treats. That is an enormous giveaway that progress is being made.

Where We Are Now with Pandora’s Fear of Walking

Well, we’re still working on the same issue. Pandora just turned four and we are still making small strides.

Our newest method is, well, kind of embarrassing. For a person with an older dog that has difficulty walking or a small dog that can’t walk as far as their owner, a dog stroller is a handy tool. For a cattle dog who is young, healthy, and loaded with energy, it’s a tad embarrassing. And yet, that is our new plan.

I can’t get Pandora to go far from the house. However, I can get her to go back to the house. So, I borrowed my friend’s dog stroller and I now put Pandora in the stroller and walk her about a half mile from home. Then she gets out of the stroller and walks home on her leash. She’s not excited about the situation, but we are making progress.

When we started I had to zip the stroller shut to keep her from going bonzo and trying to escape. Now, I don’t have to zip it up.

NEVER GIVE UP

I can’t stress this enough. Never, ever give up. Dealing with a dog with a major fear is hard. And if you can’t afford to get help, just keep trying. We are making progress. Did I ever think it would take four years? No. Did I want to give up? Yes.

Will we ever get to the point that Pandora will just walk with us anywhere? I don’t know. All I know is that we can do way more than we could four years ago. And I’m okay with that.

Dog Training Update – Three Years

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023Diane J.

Pandora recently celebrated her 3rd birthday, and I decided it was time for a training update.

It doesn’t seem like three years, it seems so much shorter and yet, so much longer since Pandora entered our lives. Short, in that our fluffy little ball of puppyhood has grown into a full-fledged dog. And long in that, she’s so much a part of our routine, it’s felt like she’s always been in our lives.

Training Basics

When we got Pandora, I knew we were getting an intelligent breed that can be stubborn and that we really needed to take dog training seriously. I started as soon as I got her home. I was researching how to train this bundle of energy before we got her home. Let’s be clear, I know nothing about training dogs. Or, I didn’t before we got her. I’ve learned a lot over three years.

Pandora picked up some commands very quickly: Sit, look at me, come around (when playing frisbee), leave it (if a piece of food falls on the floor she’s excellent, if a cat sprints by, not so much).

Some of the things I taught Pandora, we use on a regular basis. Others we rarely use. Look at me, is rarely used. Mostly, because I just don’t have a need for it. Every once in a while, I will use it when I want her to understand something. An example would be, “Dad is coming down the driveway, do not bark.” I’ll tell her to look at me and she’ll give me the side-eye better than any surly teenager whose parent dares to utter a word to them in front of friends.

We also have a few commands that are rarely used, but when randomly used Pandora remembers and I’m in awe. An example would be when I put a treat in my hand and put my hand to the side of Pandora’s snout. She won’t grab the food; she’ll give it a glance and then stare at me waiting for the okay. She remembers no matter how long it’s been since used.

The Big Training Update – Walking on leash near vehicles

Pandora hates walking near vehicles. It has been our most difficult training task. Three years is a long time to work on one task, but we are making major progress. No, we have not succeeded in a full walking session on a sidewalk near a road of vehicles. But, we have made huge steps toward that goal.

The Training recipe that is working (currently)

I’ve tried many tips over these years to get Pandora to walk near vehicles. We’ve worked on leash skills, we’ve worked with “high value” treats, and we’ve worked with many other suggestions from trainers, vets, and random people. Desperation does wonders for breaking a person out of their introvert bubble. And we’ve given each method a good fair shot. At least two solid weeks, usually a full month.

Pandora likes control. So do I. Theoretically, we’re a bad pairing. But at least I get that control factor. So, instead of working with her on leash, I began working with her off leash more. I started training her on “with me.” Which means that she is to be by my side. And she does well.

Now, we have a solid training method. First, I incorporated her frisbee into the mix. She thinks some of the things we’ve been doing are all frisbee related. I get her out by the front of the house, put her in a down/wait position as I walk away, then when I get to the back, I call her. She tears around the house, and I throw the frisbee. She has incredible speed and flies after the disc. This wears her out even quicker, during exercise. After a few rounds of that, she has taken the edge off of her energy.

Then, I have her walk up the driveway “with me”. I put her in a sit and get the mail.

Here’s how that has worked:

1. She’s walked willing up to the top of the driveway. The very top, by the road.
2. She chose to meet me at the mailbox, which is on the road.
3. When we head back from our trail walks, I can now get her on the sidewalk of the new development that’s near the trail head.
4. I got her up the driveway, then I had her walk near me, as I walked down the street next to the rock wall that abuts the driveway, with Pandora walking on the rock wall next to me. AND THEN! I put her leash on and had her come down to the road and walk back up, on the street, to the top of the driveway. About twelve yards? Greatest moment yet!
5. We took her to Lowe’s Hardware – and it wasn’t the parking lot that stressed her out, it was the saws. But we got through the parking lot.

Recap on the Training Front:

Yes, it’s taking a long time to get Pandora comfortable walking on the road and being near vehicles. But, the progress is worth it. We still have setbacks. But we keep trying. And we do get more and more progress toward our ultimate goal of walking around the lake or any other area that is near a road.

REMEMBER: Don’t give up. Whatever training you’re struggling with, know that it will happen. You may need to adjust your training techniques, you may need to take a break for a week, you may need to search out new ideas. Whatever it is, try again today. Look for any sign of improvement, even if it’s just that your dog took one extra step toward the goal.

Christmas Gifts for Cattle Dogs

December 12, 2022December 7, 2022Diane J.

and Other High Energy Dogs

Jingle bells; HoHoHo; Woof, woof, woof: Tis the season of busy errands, festive parties, and unexercised cattle dogs. This year let’s get some gifts for cattle dogs that will burn off extra energy throughout the year.

This year, why not buy some gifts that will burn off that holiday energy?

Basic Christmas Gifts for Dogs

Note: Every dog is different. Not all toys are safe for unsupervised play. Toys with batteries, squeakers, and other entertaining parts need to be supervised. If your dog is the kind that will rip a toy open and eat the squeaker, you may want to look into pet insurance. See warning Heading below.

If you have an active dog, chances are you know the golden stand-by gifts of balls, frisbees, and squeaky plushies.

However, there are a few premium versions of the basic gifts that amp up the fun factor for the pooch. Such as, moving balls and light up balls so the play can continue long after the sun goes down.

A couple of suggestions:

The Night Ize GlowStreak LED Ball

Or try a ball that wobbles and giggles like the Ryandgg Wobble Giggle Ball

Less Common Christmas Gifts for Cattle Dogs

Most of us have heard of herding balls or horse balls (get the cover if you go the horse ball route) to entertain our dogs’ heavy herding desire.

However, here a few suggestions that are equally entertaining.

DOG TETHERBALL SYSTEM – Highly entertaining and wears dogs out. This particular model doesn’t come with a pole but can be hung from a tree or a solidly-planted pole. One reviewer used a Home Depot bucket and cemented a pole within it. Another option is to cement a pole in an old tire (here’s a link to a YouTube video showing hot to do it)

JOLLY PETS TREE TUGGER. Yet another entertaining hanging option.

I had a friend a long time ago whose dad used a dog run to hang a ball for his dog. Let me be clear, the dog wasn’t on the run, the ball was. The dog had a blast running that ball back and forth.

WARNINGS – Because some people need them

I am not a veterinarian so maybe check with them before you buy the toy.

Understand, not all toys are safe. Even tennis balls can be a problem for dogs that chew as the grinds down the teeth over time. Some treats and toys can break teeth, some toys can fall apart and become a choking or intestinal blockage problem. Know your dog, watch your dog, remove an item if the dog is too aggressive or you see signs of wear that can become a problem.

See Favorite Dog Items for recommended everyday dog items like harnesses and leashes.

See Favorite Dog Treats for recommendations on Pandora’s favorite treats.

Thank You to All the Dogs Who Have Served (and to all our human vets).

November 7, 2022October 27, 2022Diane J.

Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/kalhh-86169/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1070437">kalhh</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1070437">Pixabay</a> Thank you Veterans Dogs Who Have Served

Veteran’s Day is this coming Friday and while we always honor our men and women who have served, we’d also like to honor, remember, and thank all the dogs who have served, as well.

Dogs Who Have Served

Dogs have served our country in war, even as far back as the civil war, just as all the men and women have over the years. All of whom we are grateful for and thank immensely for giving us our freedom.

These dogs serve to sniff out bombs, locate wounded or missing soldiers, pass messages on the battlefield, warn of impending attacks, join in the attacks and even capture enemy soldiers, and can even advance into special missions like Cairo, who helped the Navy SEALS, that brought down Osama Bin Laden.

For a few stories of the heroic actions of some dogs who have served visit 6 Historic Military Dogs Who Gave Everything for Their Country at The Veteran’s Site.

Serving Beyond War

Not only do dogs serve our country on the battlefield, but they are a phenomenal resource for our veteran’s back home. Support dogs assist the men and women who have been injured, mentally and/or physically. These dogs serve to help with medical alert and therapy, particularly for PTSD.

Do you have a loved one that served our country and could use a support dog? Try contacting one of these places:

An enormous thank you, to all the dogs who serve to support our men and women!

More Information About Dogs Who Serve

Dogs who have served our country go through just as much training as the men and women who serve. If you’d like to see a peek at what these dogs do, check out the intro video at Four-Legged Fighters.

A heartfelt thank you to all the dogs who have served. And to all the men and women who have served. God Bless You All!

Simple Dog Training Tips

October 31, 2022October 27, 2022Diane J.

Simple Training Tips — Little Miss debating whether or not she wants to listen to me. Spoiler: She did, because I held the Frisbee.

This post is covering a few simple dog training tips I’ve picked up from other dog owners and various dog trainers over the past couple years.

Simple Dog Training Tips? Really?

Obviously, I’m not a trainer. I’m not even a skilled dog owner. However, when we brought Pandora home, I dove into research mode. Technically, I was researching before we even got her home. I’m a bit neurotic about learning. Anyway, I watched way too many dog training YouTube videos, read way too many blogs on training, and cornered anyone who walked by me with a dog for their best tips.

Let’s address the elephant in this blog post: training a dog isn’t easy. However, these tips that I learned made an enormous difference right off the bat. So, when I say “Simple,” I mean they worked really fast.

Training Tip #1 – Step Back

When teaching recall, whenever you are standing and calling your dog, take a step back. You only want to do this while your dog is looking at you otherwise (obviously), they won’t see you do it. When Pandora was younger and debating whether or not she wanted to come back to me, this move made all the difference. I’d call her, she would turn and look at me. If she didn’t head toward me withing a couple seconds, I’d step backward. She would then come to me, without me saying another word.

Side note: Some trainers love the “look at me” command and some hate it. I hold no grudges to one style of dog training or another, nor do I scorn differences of opinions. At the end of the day, I want my dog safe, and I want to do it in the best way that I think will work for me and Pandora.

Simple Training Tip #2 – Walk or Jog Away from Your Dog

I think this one is building off of the first tip. This worked within seconds the first time I ever used it on Pandora. We were in the early stages of recall training, we were out on the trails, and I spotted a person about a quarter mile from us. Since Pandora was off leash, I called her. She didn’t come back to me. She did stop and look back at me, so I turned around and started walking quickly away from her. And ZIP! she was right next to me. I praised her and put her leash on, and we continued our walk.

Now days, I don’t need to do this often, but every once in a great moon she’ll delay coming back to me and I’ll start walking away and she zips right back to me. I’m pretty sure if I could find something to translates her huffs and grumbles, she’d sound like a teenager, “Geez, Mom!”

Training Tip #3 – Use Hand Signals with Commands

Every time I teach Pandora a new command, I add a hand signal with it. After she masters the command, she also understands the hand signal that goes with that command. Now when I’m on the trails and we come across other people, I can put Pandora into a “sit” or “down” and “wait” without having to interrupt the small conversation.

It’s helpful when I’m on the phone (I really need to figure out a hand signal for “no barking”), or when we have visitors. And it took no extra effort to train.

Training Tip #4 – Don’t Yell and Repeat

I’ve learned to use a firm voice (which is a lower version of my normal voice and it’s controlled) and give a command one time. If Pandora doesn’t listen the first time, I use a hand gesture or whistle to get her to look my way before repeating my original command.

I know, I said, “don’t repeat.” What I mean is don’t keep chasing your dog, yelling “get back here, come here, stop, no, come!” I’ve never seen a dog respond to that. When you’re in the midst of training, your dog needs a second or two to process the command. The hardest part of this tip is waiting at least two seconds before you repeat or try a different method.

With Pandora, I still am the one who needs to remember to count to two. When I teach her something new, I tend to give a command like “wait” and if she jumps before I even finish my command, sometimes I will let a “no” slip out. And that is a sure-fire sign she won’t listen.

Training Tip #5 – Ditch the Retractable Leash

The simplest tip, for controlling your dog on leash is to get rid of the retractable leash. And, if you’re using a normal leash, don’t give the dog the full length.

When Pandora was a puppy, her yank on a leash could give a little wobble to my stability. At that time, I held the leash, by the handle provided. The problem is the dog gets a little slack, then runs against it and creates more force than you expect. One day, I took the leash closer to her, and did this little partial wrap near my fingers (Video that shows the grip). That move gave me so much more control over Pandora’s yanking. It’s worked so much better than I expected, I can even control my friend’s pleasantly plump lab when he gets out of hand, just by holding the leash like this.

What is a simple training tip you use often? What kind of a difference did it make for you? Let us know in the comments. I’d be especially grateful to hear tips on barking.

Spaying: What we did, what we wish we knew

October 17, 2022October 10, 2022Diane J.

Spaying Dogs — Drowsy and still loopy from surgery.

When it came to spaying Pandora, I thought we knew it all. Obviously, I knew there were things I didn’t know, but assumed the two hardest parts of spaying were whether or not to spay and the expense.

What I thought I knew about Spaying

The spaying process was quick, it was done on puppies sometime between four months and six months of age. The dog would be a little loopy after surgery and heal quick.

That was my base knowledge.

The Curveball

When Pandora was almost four months old, I called the vet to set an appointment to get Pandora spayed. I would like to interject here; there was a large gap between the dogs in my life. We’re talking decades, okay. I feel you need to know that before I we go to the next paragraph.

The vet casually throws out that they don’t spay until after the dog has her first heat. Say what? I’m pretty certain I had a major brain malfunction. My ability to reason went kaput. The only words I could say were, “I have to process that.”

The vet gave me reasons for why spaying after the first heat was beneficial. I wrote about that early this year in “When to Spay Your Dog.” In that post you can see the reasons for waiting to spay and I link to a helpful chart on deciding when to spay your particular breed of dog.

How the Spaying Went

We were still in the throes of Pandemic restrictions so we couldn’t bring Pandora into the vet. I dropped her off early and they called after the spay to let me know she did well and that she was now in recovery. About four in the afternoon, I was given the go-ahead to go pick her up.

The drugs were still in her system, and she was tired and loopy, and looked pretty miserable, just like anyone right of surgery.

The bet sent us home with what we needed to do for Pandora. Basically, she could eat a little, and drink. Mostly, just rest. Lots and lots of rest. No running or jumping. Calmness. I want to say the no running and jumping requirement was for two weeks. It may have been only for seven to ten days.

Pandora slept on the side of my head each night with her cone pressed firmly into my head. Apparently, she figured if she had to wear it, I was going to know what it felt like, too.

And then, Pandora was fine. Less than 24 hours later, I ran myself ragged trying to keep Little Miss from racing and jumping around. For three days I tried to keep up with her. That dog has never walked upstairs or downstairs in her few years in this world. And stitches and a cone didn’t stop her either.

Three days after surgery, I gave up. I wouldn’t play frisbee with Pandora. But I didn’t know what to do. By the time she decided to run or leap, I was already twelve steps behind.

What I Wish I Had Known

There’s only one thing I wish I had known about the spaying process. I wish I had known I could ask the vet for some medication to keep Pandora calm for a few days.

I did ask the vet, when she did her follow-up phone call the next day, for tips on how to keep a dog calm. At that point, Pandora hadn’t gotten too crazy on her leaps. Since the vet didn’t mention that Pandora could take something to keep her a little sedated, I didn’t ask.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t want to keep Pandora sedated, but I wish I had known it was an option. Because there was a very real chance of Little Miss ripping her stitches out and having to go back to the vet. I’m sure that would have been hard on her.

Thankfully, she healed up well and didn’t rip her stitches out. But for the first day or two home, I would have preferred to have her sedated, because I was a nervous wreck each time she leaped up and sprinted up the stairs or partially ran down a few stairs only to leap over the last five steps.

What do you wish you had known about the spaying process?

Dog Nicknames are Like Scrapbooks of Memories

October 10, 2022October 10, 2022Diane J.

When I was growing up, we never gave our dog nicknames.

Then I met my husband and realized he was the king of animal nicknames. He had a cat named Ernie. I loved Ernie. Ernesto Puh-gwa-lo (that’s a long a sound, and please pardon the Hooked-on-Phonics version of the spelling). I don’t know how spell that name, but it was the coolest name ever, so I thought. It was fun to say because of the way the words rhymed and rolled off the tongue, it was awesome.

Why Do We Give Dog Nicknames?

Somewhere along the way, we deviated from cool nicknames to action-based nicknames. In other words, we called our animals names from the actions they performed. I feel this is how most animals get their nicknames.

Why do we come up with nicknames for our dogs and other pets? Let me give you the un-researched, un-verified, reasons. Otherwise known as personal opinions on why we give our dog nicknames.

We named our pet and as our pet grew the name no longer seemed to fit. An example of this would be a family that picks up a tiny cute fluffy puppy and names her Schnookums. Four years later Schnookums has grown into a lumbering, snarling beast, that is only appeased when food is plunked down in front of her. Eventually, the family gives the dog the nickname, Her Grouchiness.
We used an eleven-syllable name for our dog and then learned that’s much too long to say all day long. An example of this might be that the kids couldn’t agree on a name, so it became a mishmash of names that became, Annabellastasianatashalyn. Clearly the dog isn’t even going to remember her name. Then the family notices that the dog loves princess movies and they give her the nickname Princess.
The dog does something cute, funny, or annoying. And the next thing you know the dog has five new nicknames.

The fun of dog nicknames

The other day we gave Pandora a new nickname. That’s when I realized, some of her nicknames no longer fit her. The names were stages of her life growing up and each one is an easy way for us to remember those moments that she earned the nickname. And that’s when I got emotional, because, you know, that’s what I do when people and pets I love grow into new phases.

If you think back to some of your dog’s nicknames you get visuals clearer and brighter than any scrapbook can capture of those moments. I think that’s why we give our dogs nicknames.

Here are a few nicknames we’ve given Pandora

I’m sure a lot of these are given to many dogs, they aren’t special only to our pup. But the memories we get are special to us and your memories are equally as special to you and your dog(s).

Air Shark – This was the first nickname we gave Pandora. We had called her Land Shark a few times, but this one came after she was in the middle of zoomies and came running to me as I sat on the floor. It was great until she leaped. Thankfully, I quickly dove to the right because as Little Miss flew by my head, all I could hear was the snapping of teeth. We are beyond the Air Shark days. We’re okay with that.
Little Miss – We started using this early on and we still use it. This nickname denotes she has done something like chewing up toilet paper (in the height of the pandemic shortage, I might add), stealing shoes and hiding them in the yard, chewed up pepper plant, you know, stuff that’s not great, but not horrible.
Little Miss Athletic – A different version from above. This is for all her athletic skills. The frisbee leaps, the twists and turns. The leaps we’ve grown accustomed to and miss when others see her do something like leap onto the four-foot-high rock wall. Or her vicious cuts when she’s sprinting. By that I mean, she will have another dog chasing her (playfully) and Pandora will run full speed toward the fence and cut right before she hits it. Usually, the other dog can’t turn as quick and runs into the fence. I’m pretty sure they are playing, but there is a bit of evilness to that move.
Barky McFarty – shortly before she turned one, Pandora was a barking fool. And she went through a horribly gassy phase. Those phases mixed together for a spell; she would bark and then a deadly odor would waft by our noses. We are now past this phase, thank goodness.
Wags – This nickname will last forever, I’m sure. As she gets older, I’m sure the wag will come solely from the tail, but for now, it’s the full body wag. You know the one, it’s like the wag winds up the body and the body is going all over the place. Wag powered.
Grumbles – This one is about six months old now, but it’s definitely fitting. Pandora is very grumbling when the cats or us humans aren’t doing what she expects. And she will grumble and sigh and grumble some more. Of course, it makes us laugh which makes her grumble even more.
Gladys Kravitz – This one is a new nickname for her. And I thought it was a bit original. It’s not. Apparently, it’s a dog thing. Pandora is nosy as all get up. She’s always kept tabs on what is going on at all of our neighbors. However, we just got some new neighbors with little kids and Pandora has become embarrassingly nosy. She will walk right up to the top of the hill and stare down into their yard. Whenever the kids are outside, Pandora has got to see what they are up to. She doesn’t bark, half the time she’s holding her frisbee or her stuffed skunk. But she pays close attention.

What are some dog nicknames you’ve used and what was the moment you started using it?

Dog Training: Revisiting Recall, Wait, Leave-it

September 19, 2022September 10, 2022Diane J.

Dog Training: Revisiting Recall, Wait, and Leave-it — Giving mom the stink eye because mom threw the frisbee and told her to “leave-it.”

When it comes to dog training, it’s important to revisit lessons that aren’t used on a regular basis. Or that are used only within in a familiar setting.

Today’s post is going to cover why you should revisit some training sessions with your dog.

Why You Should Revisit Early Dog Training Lessons

Once we teach our dog a new lesson, we use it frequently. And our dogs love it, they love to learn.

If you’re like me, I focus more on the new lessons than on old ones. Eventually, the old standbys are relegated way down the list. Since I’m a creature of habit, I will use certain commands often in the same area.

An example of this would be, whenever I let in a cat at the slider door, I tell Pandora “Leave it.” Yes, I still use that command in the kitchen and once, every great while, away from home. But it still remains that I use it most in the dining room at the slider door and upon entering the garage, where Pandora feels the need to attack the mower’s tires.

I rarely use this command when we’re on the trails. However, a month or so ago, I did need to use the command out on the trails. Pandora had spotted a rabbit. And she wanted that rabbit. She did not “leave it,” she went after it. And I had to rely on her recall to get her back. If I had continued to work on “leave-it” while out and about, it would be ingrained into her brain by now and I wouldn’t have had to resort to any recall, because she never would have taken off.

Revisiting Recall

I do call Pandora back quite often. I’ll use it when I see people and other dogs on the trails or when she’s extra excitable and bounding into deep grass on the trails. She’s pretty good at recall. Now understand, when I say pretty good, I mean she will listen, she is not police precision trained. Pandora will not stop on a dime and instantly be back at my side. However, she will stop and trot back to me.

Of all the dog training lessons, this one has paid off time and time again. And I took it for granted. I assumed I used it enough that Pandora will always respond.

Until she didn’t.

Over the summer Pandora learned that she loves swimming. Her love for the water may have surpassed her love of the frisbee. Anyway, we were out on a hike, and she saw a body of water, and she bolted for it. My recall did not work. She was gone. And she charged right into the water.

Thankfully, the water is a retention pond. But what if it had been a swift flowing river?

That single thought, that she could race right into a precarious situation is what prompted the need to revisit Recall Training.

This is your reminder to revisit recall training with your own pooch, before he discovers something so phenomenally awesome, that he chooses to not listen.

Dog Training: Revisiting Wait

This is the area I’m most focused on with Pandora right now. I really don’t want to have to rely on recall. I would prefer to keep her near me, so I don’t have to rely on recall.

Now, Pandora is pretty good with “Wait.” However, water play is so darn enticing that nothing computes when she sees a body of water.

First and foremost, Pandora needs to wait when I tell her to. I don’t want her charging into a river and then having to rely on me to rescue her. I used to be a very strong swimmer, but that was years and years ago. Chances that I’ve retained that strength are, well, way less than I’d like to admit.

So, I am pushing “wait,” quite strongly. And Pandora is not thrilled with me. If you look at the picture above, you’ll see a little stink eye in there. I’ve been tossing her frisbee and telling her, “Wait.” Right now, I can only throw the frisbee about five feet away. Anymore, then that and Pandora is all “Nope, not waiting, gotta get that.” With consistent training, I know we’ll get to longer distances.

Revisiting Leave-it

Finally, we are working on “Leave-it.” Again, she knows the command, and is fairly consistent in the most frequently used areas that we employ the command.

However, if I throw the frisbee and tell her to “leave-it” while the disc is mid-air, it won’t happen. She has not once pulled back, mid-run, for a frisbee.

With Fall fast approaching, I need her to listen and respond. I can’t have her bounding off to frigid waters on hikes. Most of our lakes are glacier fed. I don’t want Pandora getting hypothermia. I should probably pack a towel on my winter hikes. Can’t be too careful.

I know if I continue to work on this trifecta of obedience skills, we’ll be fine.

But to get to “fine,” I need to revisit all three lessons and then utilize them frequently in different areas.