Dogs

Training Stalled? Step Back and Refresh

Diane J.
Training Stalled
Pandora at a new trail. Wishing Mom, would put the camera away.

Our training stalled. Or we hit a wall. Whatever you want to call it, we weren’t moving forward. Last week’s post outlined the lowest point yet in our training journey.

(Links may be affiliates. They do not add to the cost of the product, but we receive a miniscule amount from your purchase. Which goes to funding Pandora’s frisbee addiction – we go through those discs like crazy.)

What Happens: Stalled Training

When I hit the wall with training Pandora, I hit the lowest of low – mood wise. And I felt nothing when I went out to train her. That’s the worst position to be in. I don’t want her to think she’s the reason for that attitude. As far as I know, dogs can sense our feelings and I don’t want to put my disappointment on her shoulders.

They are not sensing specific feelings but instead the positivity or negativity of the feeling. Once dogs sense the way you are feeling, the way in which they act will often reflect that same feeling. They will then start acting and even vocalizing in a certain way based on your feelings, body language, and tone.

Can Dogs Sense Feelings? – Wag! (wagwalking.com)

For us, we hit a wall. I went through the motions of training, but my heart wasn’t in it. And I don’t think Pandora’s was either. We both were looking at each other with the “What the hell?” look. Me, at her, for not getting past the fear of the road and her, at me, for not understanding her fear of the road.

We Stepped Back

Then I went back to just taking her outside for frisbee. Mostly because I was bummed, but also because I felt she needed something to let her know I wouldn’t keep trying to drag her up the driveway every single time we stepped outside.

And that put a spring in her step. Or rather an extra spring in her leaps for the frisbee. I hate taking a step back. It makes me feel like we are going to lose every shred of ground we gained, even though sometimes it helps us move forward. I know that it could help us, but I’m so terrified, I keep pushing.

So, I did what I do best. I whined, to every dog person I came across in hopes someone had a suggestion I haven’t tried. Low and behold, Pandora’s groomer (we pay for nail trims – she has the dark nails) gave me a suggestion. She told me to try the Happy Hoodie. Apparently, she uses it for some of the dogs when blow -drying them. The blower is loud, and it helps diminish the noise and makes it more bearable. She also said I could try some cotton first before investing in the Happy Hoodie. I’ve linked to the hood on Amazon. It’s basically like a gator that goes over the dogs’ ears and neck. Pretty sure Pandora is going to look like a surprised seal when we get ours.

We Refreshed

Finally, we refreshed. Instead of trying to coerce her up the driveway, I took her to a trail that the groomer recommended. She said it had a lot of trails and was away from vehicles. I’m sure for most dogs it would be great, but the road was still too close for Pandora’s liking. However, Pandora did get out of the car and start checking out the new area. I can’t say how many miles of trails there are since Pandora only did about a third of a mile. She got nervous after hearing a car and tried to veer back to our vehicle.

I still think the trip was worth it. I put no expectations on Pandora. I let her sniff everything she wanted to and let her choose the direction she wanted to go. Did you see the picture of her at top? That was on the trail. There was a tree that had a long sloping trunk, that I had her hop on to get a picture. I tried to reward her with a piece of steak, she wouldn’t take it. She was still on edge.

And both Saturday and Sunday, I took her to meet my friend who was puppy sitting a super hyper dog and we took them to some trails away from all vehicles. Pandora and Bo ran and leaped and played for a few hours each day. Pandora even went swimming.

And now, Pandora is feeling happier and so am I.

So, when the training stalls, don’t get discouraged (I should follow my own advice), just do something different and bring the joy back into your pup and you with whatever makes your dog happiest.

How to Care for Pup After You have surgery

How to Care for Your Pup After You Have Surgery

Diane J.

Preparation Before Surgery

I recently had major surgery. Thankfully, I had the chance to plan ahead. Which meant getting ahead on household chores, work tasks, and Pandora’s training, some of it anyway.

Even if you don’t have an upcoming surgery, it’s probably a good idea to make sure your dog is trained in a few commands. These are mostly the basics. The stuff they tell us to train our dogs on immediately. The commands that can help us keep our dogs safe, and us too. There is a bonus to having these commands down well. If you have emergency surgery, with no time to pre-train your pup, your home recovery will be easier.

If you are lucky enough to prepare in advance, here are the areas you should focus on:

  1. Training commands, such as “off,” “down,” “gentle,” “wait.”
  2. Changing behaviors such as not jumping on you when you get home, going ahead of you when going up or down stairs.
  3. Investing in some dog puzzles or a dog walker – things that will burn your pup’s energy, calmly.

Training Commands

When my doctor said surgery, this was the training area that I cracked down on for Pandora. She loves to jump on me, my husband, our neighbors, other people, you know, everyone. We couldn’t have that for when I got home so she had to learn not to do it.

The reason Pandora jumped on us so often is because my husband loves that she barrels out the door and jumps to greet him. We’re undecided if she’s trying to jump into his arms or if she’s leaping that high to lick his nose. Since my husband wouldn’t work on the “off” command before, he finally realized we had to now.

The best response we got was semi-ignoring Pandora when she greeted us. We’d say hello to her, and then when she’d jump, we’d say “off” while turning sideways. If she was launching into the jump, we’d put a knee up that prevented her from getting close. She’d bounce off the knee.

Pandora understands “sit,” and “wait,” well enough.

The one thing I wish I had taught her, was “gentle.” She’s not insanely rough, but it would have come in handy when she’d curl up with me if she understood to be a little gentle. You know, don’t walk over the surgery site three times to find where you want to lie down. Here’s a link on how to train “gentle.”

Changing Behavior

The biggest behavior changes you’ll want are for your dog are, jumping on you and not being underfoot on stairs. After surgery, you may be weaker, you may have balance issues, you may be dizzy. The last thing you need is your dog to knock you over and possibly reinjure or cause more injuries to your situation.

I already addressed the training of “Off,” above.

Not having your dog underfoot on stairs, is really nice. I never spent time training Pandora to go ahead of me on the stairs, but she learned it fairly quick. When she was a few months old, she’d bite at my feet when I was near the stairs. One day, I stopped moving and pointed down the stairs. Pandora ran down. From then on all I had to do was gesture (which is the equivalent of a one-handed “you first” gesture) and Pandora goes up or down ahead of me.

I watch a friend’s pup a few days a week and she walks down the stairs with me. Sometimes, she’s in a hurry and shoves by me. Usually, she’s pretty good about staying to the side of me, but every once in a while, she’s tried to shove by me or stopped in front of me.

Invest in Energy Burners

Pandora’s favorite activity is frisbee. Since I knew that I wouldn’t be able to give her that energy outlet for a few weeks, I had to do some planning. Thankfully, I have my husband and a son who can take her out, but she doesn’t play long with them. So, I started preparing by stocking up on items that could be used to entertain her brain and nose. While she doesn’t spend a bunch of physical energy, she tires herself out thinking.

I stocked up on toilet paper rolls, the cardboard piece. I cut them in half and put a tiny treat in each piece, then wrap it up around the treat. A little pocket if you will. I would put Pandora in a room and then hide the packets around the house. Each time I did this, I tried to find new places. I would do about 12 packets, six rolls. If you use treats like Dingos, you can save on the extra calories, by breaking them in half or thirds.

Another thing I did was to take an old blanket and scatter a few treats in it, then roll it up, tie it in a loose knot, and toss it on the floor. She spent a good while trying to get her treats out from the fuzzy depths.

And, I bought a dog puzzle off of Amazon. I was able to sit on the couch and play with her.

A Few Other Suggestions

If you don’t have someone at home, maybe hire a local teen to come play with your dog or to walk your dog. When friends or family come by you can ask them to spend some time playing tug or throwing a ball for your dog.

Lick Mats keep them busy, but calm for a while, so those are handy to have on hand.

Snuffle Mats, are great for nose work that encourages them to work those sniffers to find their food.

Get Pandora’s favorite indoor energy burners (just check with your doctor before anything that requires your physical movement – like throwing a ball).

The prep work takes time

…but it will make your home healing process smoother.

Socialize Your Dog - StubbornDogNoviceOwner.com

Socialize Your Dog

Diane J.

Prior to bringing Pandora home, I’d heard, “You’ve got to socialize your dog.” Then I researched Australian Cattle Dogs. I learned they really need socialization as soon as possible. We had picked out Pandora a week before the nation went into the Covid lockdown. She arrived at our home amidst the lockdown.

All the pet stores had stopped their puppy play days. People avoided each other at dog parks. And I fretted that Pandora was going to turn into a mean, snarling beast around people and animals she didn’t know.

I panicked. How was I going to get her socialized? Does she really need socialization?

Do You Need to Socialize Your Dog?

It depends. If you live on a farm, you will train your dog to do a particular job. As a working dog, she’ll be pooped and ready to chill at the end of the day. You may train her to not jump on people arriving to your house. You may want to help her know it’s not okay to race up in attack mode. But for the most part, a dog that works that hard, will crash hard when off duty. She will know how or learn how to interact with the other dogs that live there and the animals on the farm. It’s rare to see a hard-working dog like this at a dog park. They get plenty of exercise at home.

For dogs you plan on bringing to your dog park, or walking your neighborhood, or bringing with you to places where other people and pets may be, it’s a good idea to socialize them. They need to know they don’t own every area they visit. You don’t want them terrorizing the other dogs at the park and you don’t want them terrorizing little kids.

And when it comes to parents and kids, I don’t care how happy your 140 lb. Boerboel dog is, you can’t let him charge up to a forty-pound child. If someone three times your size barrels up to you, you’re going to jump back. A kid may jump back, scream, cry, and or run.

That’s when problems ensue.

Once a person starts running, especially a smaller person, the dog is all “PLAY TIME! ALRIGHT!” The kid has no clue the dog might be harmless, the parents don’t know the dog is harmless. And even as the owner, you can’t guarantee your dog won’t bite the child willfully or accidentally. The worst dog bite I ever received was from a good dog that I knew. It was one of my friend’s dogs. A bunch of us kids were wrestling around, and the dog was playing with us and bit my knee. Broke the skin. The dog didn’t do it willfully. It was an accident.

That’s why it’s incredibly important to socialize your dog.

You want them to know how to play with other dogs, how to play with kids, how to be gentle.

How Do You Socialize When You’re in Lockdown (or When You’re an Introvert)?

Well, you make the best of what you can. I have a friend that I walked with who had just adopted an elderly one-eyed Chihuahua. We would meet up to go for walks. Sophie (the Chihuahua) didn’t take to Pandora’s puppy antics. Which was okay. Pandora learned that Sophie was fine with her walking near her, but she couldn’t wrestle with Sophie. When to leave another dog alone is an important social lesson for puppies.

When Pandora and I were out walking alone and came across another person, if the person seemed interested in Pandora, I’d asked them (if they were comfortable with it first – because it was during the height of the pandemic) if Pandora could come up to them. I never asked anyone to stop. Only people who happened to stop or show interest in her.

I did the same when we came across people who were out with the dog(s). Pandora met a lot of dogs on our walks. Some were not social. One snapped at her as they passed by us. It was okay. We had reached a tight spot on the trail and the lady mentioned her dog was crabby so we both held our dogs in close. The other dog didn’t touch Pandora. But Pandora learned that not all dogs want to play. She still makes an attempt to meet all dogs, but she knows when to leave the other dog alone.

Once Pandora had all her shots, we would go to dog park so she could meet other dogs and learn the social process. Most times, Pandora doesn’t like being on unfamiliar turf. So, she’s extra cautious meeting dogs in parks. She’s definitely not the aggressor type.

These small meetings with dogs here and there, were very helpful toward her socialization.

Socialize Your Dog with Other People

Once our area let up on pandemic restrictions, I started taking Pandora to the pet stores. This has helped her in more than one way. First, she gets to meet people in the store, and they all give her love. Two, she hates being anywhere near roads with vehicles. Knowing she can get out and go inside a place has helped her a wee bit.

Plus, she’s taken it upon herself to greet all customers as they come in. She’s definitely nervous as she does the wag and drag. That’s what I call the dropping low and scooching up to people with her belly just clearing the floor, her ears half back, and her tail wagging so hard, it’s basically Swiffering the floor behind her.

I would act excited when we met people she knew but hadn’t seen a while. This worked well. However, now we are working on not jumping to shoulder height in excitement when she sees them.

As for little kids, we haven’t had much of a chance to socialize her there. I met one child on a trail that wanted to pet Pandora. Other than that, Pandora has only been around two other sets of kids. One set were my friend’s kids. They were elementary aged at the time.

The other two kids were at the park. And they were hyper and loud. I knew Pandora was not having it and even though she didn’t show any aggression, we left. It was best for her to know that I wouldn’t force her to deal with them.

A Few Other Tips for Socialization

Go slow. Don’t take your dog to the dog park during the peak hours. Slow introductions to a lot of the typical fear areas can be beneficial.

Pandora hates the loud sound of the garbage trucks, so I attempted to desensitize her by playing an hour-long YouTube video of garbage trucks on repeat. In stereo. If your dog is terrified of fireworks, maybe look for videos of fireworks and start at low volume and each day increase the volume a little more.

A few other sites that give great tips on socialization of your dog:

DrMartyPets.com – socialize dogs

Rover.com – Socializing your pup

What were some of the best tips you heard or that you used to help your dog feel comfortable in different situations?
Coming Next week: Basic Dog Health/ Grooming Tips

Dog Play, The Good, The Eh, The Bad

Dog Play – The Good, The Eh, The Bad

Diane J.

Dog play seems simple enough to know what’s good and what’s not. Your dog meets another dog, and they take turns chasing each other. No barking, no growling, and no rough housing. They back off and give each other space, all is well. Clearly, it’s good dog play.

When your dog meets another dog and their hackles raise and they viciously lunge toward each other with jaws snapping and spittle flying, you know it’s bad dog play. I mean at that point, it’s not play.

But what about the other stuff that’s not so obvious? The snarl without raised hackles. The air mouthing and non-verbal teeth-baring. The body slamming. The grunts and huffs. At what point is it not okay?

We’re lucky that I get to puppy sit a friend’s dog a few times a week. Roxie is an Australian Shephard and she’s a few months younger than Pandora. Up until Roxie, the dogs Pandora got to play with were tiny, elderly dogs that had no tolerance for puppy antics and younger, bigger dogs whose size Pandora was unsure about.

Pandora met Roxie once when Roxie was a teeny pup. The first time Roxie came to the house after she’d grown to the same size as Pandora was the best event to witness. Pandora finally had someone her own size that she could rough house with. And rough house they did. They body-slammed each other so hard, I was sure Pandora had taken lessons on throwing hard blocks from the NFL. Then they tore around the yard. They jumped on each other, rolled each other, snarled at each other and then stood in front of me with the biggest, happiest grins of contentment.

Since then, Pandora and Roxie have gone through various stages of acceptable and not-so-acceptable play.

Signs of Good Dog Play

Pandora and Roxie have some of the sweetest moments when they are in calm play. I’m not even sure if they are playing or just politely taking things away from each other. Whatever it is, there is no animosity or anger. They dig out toys from the toy bin and then they decide which is the cool toy. Roxie will go lie down with whatever the cool toy is, and Pandora will walk over and gently pull it away from Roxie. Pandora then goes and lies down with the toy and Roxie goes over and gently takes it away. That’s good play.

Some other signs of dog play that are good:

  1. If your dog is smiling, it’s good. You know your dog’s happy look. If they look happy, chances are good, the play is fine.
  2. The dogs keep going back to each other.
  3. They switch roles: the one that was being chased is now the chaser.
  4. They stop for a drink and go back to playing. Roxie will stop for a drink and Pandora stands next to her impatiently waiting for Roxie to finish so they can tear off together around the yard.
  5. The bodies aren’t tense. The muscles are relaxed.

Signs of “Eh?” Play That Is Actually Okay

This is the stuff that I wasn’t sure was okay. I had to watch a lot of videos to make sure the girls weren’t getting too rough with each other. In case you’re wondering, most of these are actually fine. They get rough. But they are okay.

  1. Blocking/ Body Slamming/ Bumper Bodies – whatever you want to call it. When they run and slam their shoulders into each other, it’s usually fine. Pandora and Roxie will do this and then get into crazed race mode. That’s when they tear around the full yard at warp speed. The only drawback is that Pandora can cut faster than Roxie. Roxie has run into the fence a couple times, when Pandora does a last-minute cut.
  2. Teeth-baring
  3. Air-mouthing
  4. Snarl/snort and huff – this is usually displayed when they are baring teeth and air mouthing at each other.
  5. Cheek/Jowl biting – this looks so painful, but Pandora doesn’t yelp. I haven’t seen Pandora do this to Roxie, only Roxie to Pandora. And apparently, it’s fine. Now, if Pandora were to yelp, that would be a sign Roxie went too far. However, since they are friends, I’m pretty sure Roxie would just take that as a learning lesson.
  6. The Takedown – this is when the girls are on their hind legs and batting or holding each other with their front legs while air-mouthing. Pandora will then wrap her legs around Roxie and take Roxie down. I haven’t seen Roxie do this to Pandora. I guess they each have a signature move. But Roxie doesn’t yelp or run away. And I’m sure if she did, Pandora would back off right quick.

A Few Signs of “Eh?” Dog Play That Need to Be Watched

This is basically, the warning zone. One has done something to the other and it’s not okay. If the dogs are usually friendly with each other, you probably won’t have to intervene.

  1. The “I’m Done” snap – Roxie has to do this to Pandora. Roxie gets tired quicker than Pandora. She needs to go in and rest. Pandora has no concept of rest, unless it’s bedtime. Roxie will lie down, and Pandora will give her roughly, 0.2 seconds before trying to engage her in play again. Roxie will do a high pitch snarl/snap thing to let Pandora know she doesn’t want to play.
  2. If one dog keeps pushing the other too far – maybe the dog has bit the other a little too hard twice now, keep an eye on it. Dogs are pretty good at regulating teeth pressure in play. If one keeps biting too hard, it’s time to step in. The dog may be tired and need a break. Yes, even if the dog is still hyper. Sometimes they need to be brought into a calm situation to turn off the hyper and chill out.
  3. The tail tuck while running – I’m not sure what made Pandora a little skittish, but one day while playing with Roxie, Pandora tucked her tail on a sprint away from her pal. Roxie seemed a little more aggressive, a little more not-so-happy to her snarl. I didn’t see what led to that. But I called the girls in and made them walk with me before giving them a treat and some rest. Pandora usually keeps her tail whipping around while running. The tail tuck was a sign that something wasn’t right.

Signs They aren’t Playing Anymore, or the Play has Turned Bad

Pandora and Roxie know each other too well. They haven’t had a situation that was completely horrible. However, Pandora and I have come across dogs that just aren’t as friendly, usually at the dog park.

I’m not blaming the people whose dog was a little more aggressive than normal. Who knows what set him off? Maybe he just didn’t like Pandora, maybe he was tired, maybe he was feeling a bit overwhelmed with so many dogs at the park. Whatever the reason, he took off after Pandora. He didn’t snar, but there was an edginess. I let Pandora run away from him, I didn’t give chase. Pandora sprinted around, which wore the old pup out. She didn’t come hide behind me. She wasn’t happy, but she wasn’t in a full tail tuck.

The other pooch’s human came and leashed him. Apologized and took him to a different section of the park. I think the situation was handled well. I didn’t jump right to Pandora’s rescue because she wasn’t in total fear, she was uncomfortable, but not terrified. The last thing I want to do is create more fear by running racing over to chase off the other dog.

The situation worked out pretty well. Pandora used her speed and fast cutting ability to wear the other dog down – it only took a minute. And then she maintained a half crouch. She could lie down if the other dog showed a little calm or she could bolt if he continued to approach. No one over-reacted and both dogs seemed okay.

The key sign that something was off, was the tenseness in the other dog’s muscles and the aggressive lurch toward Pandora.

A few other signs that the situation is heading in the wrong direction:

  1. The raised hackles. That’s the scruff of hair that poofs up along mid-neck to the shoulder blade region. I’ve never seen a happy dog do that. It’s almost always a sign of anger, fear, or something not right.
  2. A low growl accompanied with tense muscles. Dogs will growl in play, but there is a difference. The Metro East Humane Society has a post on telling the difference between play and fight postures. It’s a good resource.
  3. Snapping aggressively
  4. A change in the vibe – you know when two people hate each other and a relaxed room gets that edgy feeling? That same feeling accompanies dogs that don’t like each other.

These are things I have noticed. But I’m not an expert, so I’m including a few more links on the subject here:

K9OfMine – Appropriate Dog Play

Hill’s Pet – Dog Aggression or Play

Remember if you have any concerns, remove your dog from the situation.
Coming Next Week: Socialization and Dogs

Other Questions about Dogs and People Food

Other Questions about Dogs and People Food

Diane J.

There are many questions about dogs and people food. A quick Google search and it’s easy to see we want to make our dogs as happy and satisfied as we are with food. But just as we need to watch our diets to keep from clogging our arteries and creating health issues down the road, so must we watch our dog’s diet.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve merely touched the surface of foods and beverages dogs can consume and foods and beverages dogs should not consume.

This post is going to cover a few extra questions. Again, I’m not a veterinarian. Consult with them first, know your pet, and err on the side of caution if you question anything.

Other Questions about Dogs and People Food

I’ve given my dog beer, chocolate, and potato chips and he’s fine. Aren’t you being too cautious?

Maybe. As parents we are told never to give children under one, aspirin. It can cause Reye’s Syndrome. The warning is due to the number of cases that have transpired over the years. We learn and adjust. Have parents given kids under one year of age aspirin? Yes. Have the kids been fine. Some of them. Same thing for the dogs and the “no” foods and beverages. Some will be fine, others won’t. It also depends on the dog’s breed and size.

Will feeding my dog people food make him a picky eater?

Possibly. If your dog gets enough people food, they may snub their own food. If your dog stops eating their food and follows you around beginning for people food, there’s a good chance you may have been feeding them too many nibbles from your plate.

Pandora used to always eat her breakfast. At one point, she stopped eating breakfast. I assumed she might be a one-meal-a-day dog. First, I took note of how many treats I was giving her while training and the snacks my husband would pass her throughout the day. It was more than I realized. We cut way back and now she’s back to eating her breakfast and dinner. I’d like to say she wasn’t picky, but I’d be wrong. She never turned her nose away from a treat or snack. But she’d ignore her dog-food breakfast. In our case, I’m going to say, yes, we were leading her down the path to pickiness.

What are the signs of alcohol poisoning in dogs?

I’m not an expert, so I’ve quoted from Nicole Cosgrove’s piece My Dog Drank Alcohol! Here’s What to do. On www.hepper.com.

Lack of co-ordination

Drooling and /or vomiting (since alcohol is irritating to the gastrointestinal tract)

Diarrhea

Increased thirst

Bad breath (alcohol smell)

Lethargy (reduced activity/ sleepiness)

Tremors

Weakness and/or collapse

Slow heart rate

Slow breathing

Seizures

My Dog Drank Alcohol! Here’s What to Do (Vet Answers) | Hepper

Can I give my dog the bone from my steak or ribs?

There is a difference between raw and cooked bones. Raw bones are considered safer. Cooked bones splinter too easily, and the points of those splinters can perforate your dog’s intestines.

Here’s a piece that covers many more concerns about dogs and beef bones: My Dog Just Ate a Steak Bone

Can’t I ask my friend or neighbor who is a dog lover what’s best?

I mean, you can. Usually, our friends, neighbors, and family members who have dogs give us great advice. But if the person you ask isn’t a veterinarian, double check with your veterinarian. I have a friend who has had dog’s her whole life. She’s incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable about pets and never hesitates to get her pooch to the vet for any concern. I trust her. However, when she was dog-sitting a larger dog, we had made plans to walk. She mentioned she needed to feed the dogs first.

We take our dogs to a wide-open area, and they run around. I mentioned it wasn’t a good idea to feed the dogs first. After eating, it’s possible for a larger breed of dog’s stomach to roll. It is life threatening. The only reason I knew about this is because it had happened to one of my sister’s dogs.

Even though we all know someone who is highly knowledgeable about dogs, unless they are a veterinarian, always check first with your vet. In most cases, a simple phone call will do. Usually, the front-end staff can answer the question, but if they aren’t sure, they’ll double check and call you back.

Do you have insight on something we should all be aware of with our dogs? Let us know in the comments. Sharing is how we learn.

Next Week: We’ll talk about dog play.

The good, the bad, and the in-between.

Beverages Dogs Can and Cannot Drink

Beverages Dogs Can and Cannot Drink

Diane J.

You know there are people foods your dog can and cannot safely eat. But were you aware that there are beverages dogs can and cannot drink?

As a novice dog owner, I was not aware of this. Maybe it’s because I never considered giving my dog anything other than water. Which is a good thought process to have. Water is the best beverage for our dogs. The concern between filtered and tap and fresh water will be addressed in next week’s post.

The subject of what beverages dogs can and cannot drink came up while Pandora watched our alcoholic cat lap up the last dredges of my husband’s beer. Yes, you read that right. We have a cat that has an alcohol problem. He loves campfires, too, which is awesome. But I’m pretty sure if he were human he’d be in the tank after a night of drinking and carousing and barroom brawling. We spoke to the vet about Ollie’s love of beer. Ollie would hop on people’s laps and try to tug their beer away from them. The vet said he’d be okay. He asked if Ollie had a beer preference. And he does, Ollie likes ales, preferably Freemont Interurban.

My husband wondered if Pandora would like a sip. I did my typical, let me check Google. And surprisingly, the answer was “no.” Dogs should not drink beer. So, of course, I went down the rabbit hole to find what other beverages dogs can and cannot drink.

Disclaimer

I’m not a veterinarian. Always consult with your vet first. Likewise, know your dog, know your dog’s health, and if something doesn’t seem like a good idea, don’t do it.

Beverages Dogs Can Drink

Yes, these beverages are okay for dogs to drink. HOWEVER, the safest option when giving any of these beverages to your dog is to do no more than a couple tablespoons. Water is always the best option. Dogs are completely fine without other beverage choices.

  1. Milk – Cow or Goat
  2. Lactose Free Milk
  3. Soy, Coconut, Almond, Oat – Oat milk is supposedly, the safest of all the milk options (double check with your vet, always just a little bit)
  4. Gatorade/Powerade – yes, but not the best, these drinks usually have sugar. Double check the ingredients for added dyes and any sweetener additions that may be toxic to dogs.
  5. Pedialyte – Just a bit, check with your vet.
  6. Sparkling and or Mineral water – Completely unnecessary for your pet, plain water is best. But in a pinch a few tablespoons should be fine.
  7. Decaffeinated Teas – Surprisingly these are okay. Some may offer antioxidants
  8. Along the lines of the above – Herbal Teas, like Rooibos and Camomile
  9. Fruit Juices – Most are okay, if they are fresh. Store bought usually has dyes and extra sugars. NO GRAPE.
  10. Vegetable Juices – Again, fresh juiced. V-8 has way too much sodium. Always read the labels for ingredients that are harmful for dogs.

Oat milk is derived from whole oat grains soaked and mixed in water, sometimes with an added sweetener such as sugar. Oat milk is highly digestible and has practically no toxic components, making it very safe to give to dogs. It also contains higher nutritional components such as vitamin B-complex, calcium, and Vitamin D compared to other plant-based milk products.

The only risk associated with oat milk in dogs is its relatively high fiber content. While fiber is essential in keeping a healthy GI tract, too much of it can lead to various symptoms like constipation and diarrhea. 

Can my dog drink almond, soy, or oat milk? | FirstVet

Beverages Dogs Cannot Drink – some they can, but shouldn’t

I want to point out that for the most part, all the yesses and nos are consistent across the board. However, there are times I see some sites say yes and other sites say no. My thoughts when it comes to differences is to err on the side of caution and go with the No.

  1. Grape juice – just as the regular fruit is highly toxic, so is the juice.
  2. Coconut Water – this is one that I find people saying yes and no about. However, I did hear a vet say “no,” so I’m erring on the side of caution.
  3. Anything with caffeine – coffee, soda, tea
  4. Wine – no, it’s made from grapes
  5. Beer – Varying opinions but see the quote from the AKC at the end of this list (BONUS: They have an Ethanol Concentration Chart at that link.
  6. Hard Alcohol/ Liquor – No.
  7. Egg Nog – Raw Eggs, sugar, and alcohol.

Alcohol toxicity is not as common as you may think, because dogs are not innately drawn to alcoholic beverages. 

Dogs may tend to be more attracted to fruit-based drinks, cocktails, punches, ciders, seltzers, and foods with alcohol as a key ingredient. Another serious consideration is diet alcoholic beverages or other mixers that may contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is highly dangerous, and even fatal, if consumed by a dog. 

How Harmful Is Alcohol To Dogs? What To Do if Your Dog Drinks Alcohol (akc.org)

Bottom Line on the Beverages Dogs Can and Cannot Drink

Err on the side of caution. Talk to your veterinarian. Most of the front-end staff can answer your questions, but if they can’t they’ll ask the doctor and get back to you. Don’t be afraid to call and check.

Keep your veterinarian’s number in your phone as well as the number to your local animal hospital.

Next Week: Other Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs and Food

People Food for Dogs What to Know

People Food for Dogs – What to Know

Diane J.

We all know not to give our dogs too much people food, even if we think the foo d we are feeding them is healthy. If you’re like me, you hit Google on a regular basis to see if a particular people food is safe for your dog. Avocado = NO. Strawberries = YES. It gets tiresome always checking.

For this post I’m including a list of safe-for-dogs food items. Most of them are quite common. However, I throw in a few that might be surprising. Or maybe I was the only one surprised – did you know dogs can eat Mango? Or Pineapple? Yeah, I didn’t know that. I assumed those wouldn’t be good for them. I also assumed avocados would be fine. NO, they’re not. Not at all. No ‘cado for the doggo.

After chatting with lots of dog parents and then researching what I learned, I’ve also discovered that some people food can even be beneficial to dogs.

I’ve created a list of people foods that are safe for dogs (in small quantities) and when appropriate I share a benefit for the dog if eating that particular food. I say “may” because for each “yes, it works” response, there’s always an equal opposite response, “no, it didn’t work for my dog.”

The list is not all-encompassing, fully extensive. Different countries have different tastes, just like different regions within countries have different tastes. I did my best to list the most common people foods.

Disclaimer

I am not a veterinarian. I’m an average, maybe slightly under-average dog owner. You know your dog better than anyone else, so trust your gut. If something sounds off about a recommendation, listen to your gut. Don’t do it until you have consulted with your Vet first.

Fruit Options of People Food for Dogs

Fruits and Vegetables are the categories that hold the safest options of people food for dogs. Not all are safe. If you don’t see it on the list, check Google, ask Siri, hit up Alexa, or contact your veterinarian’s office.

  1. Apples – no seeds or core
  2. Bananas – high in sugar so only give as a treat once in a while
  3. Blueberries
  4. Cantaloupe
  5. Mango
  6. Oranges – no peel
  7. Peaches – no pits, some people have reported diarrhea in their dogs
  8. Pineapple – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: If your dog eats his or other animals’ poop (it’s called Coprophagia) some people have reported that eating pineapple makes the poop taste off-putting to the dog.
  9. Raspberries
  10. Strawberries – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: May whiten dog’s teeth.
  11. Watermelon – no seeds or rind

A little hope for those whose dogs have Coprophagia:

While it can be tough to discourage dogs over one year old that have developed a poop-eating habit, most puppies will grow out of it.

Breaking Your Pup Of A Nasty Habit: Poop Eating & Butt Scootch – DogTime

Vegetable Options

This is a great category for people food options for dogs. You usually don’t have to worry about sugar content.

  1. Beets
  2. Broccoli – Florets, no stalks. HOWEVER: More than one place I’ve researched has mentioned there is a potential for severe gastric irritation. You may want to avoid this veggie or try a super small piece as a treat.
  3. Brusses Sprouts – WARNING: If you have people coming over or you’re going to bed, your pooch may gas you out of the room. However, it might be a great way to get straggling guests out of your house.
  4. Cabbage – Take note of the above gas warning.
  5. Carrots – Cooked or raw. POSSIBLE BENEFIT: Raw carrots are great for dog’s teeth and gums. It helps remove plaque from their teeth.
  6. Cauliflower
  7. Celery – POSSIBLE BENEFIT: May freshen your dog’s breath. If your puppy is currently going through a Coprophagia phase (see #8 in the fruit category) you may want to give this a try.
  8. Cucumbers – And yes, you can give your dog a pickle, but only as a rare treat because of the high sodium content.
  9. Green Beans
  10. Lettuce
  11. Parsnips
  12. Peas – regular green, snow, and sugar snap varieties are fine
  13. Pumpkin – Cooked and mashed or cooked and diced. POTENTIAL BENEFIT: Help relieve diarrhea in dogs.
  14. Radishes – Another gas warning
  15. Spinach – Some listings don’t give warnings; other listings say to avoid large quantities.
  16. Sweet Potatoes – Same preparation as Pumpkin (#13). POTENTIAL BENEFIT: Can help relieve constipation in dogs. I can verify that this has worked for Pandora. Just a tablespoon or two. Not too much or you might end up visiting #13.
  17. Tomatoes – however make sure the tomato is ripe, never give them unripe tomatoes and try to keep them from eating the tomato plant itself.
  18. Turnips
  19. Zucchini

Nut Options

When it comes to nuts, there a lot of yes versus no on whether they are okay or not. If you do decide to give your dog nuts these are the ones that I’ve seen consistently rank in the “okay” category. Always make sure the nuts are out of the shell. Those darn shells can be choking hazards for dogs.

  1. Cashews
  2. Peanuts
  3. Pistachios

The American Kennel Club has this to say about nuts:

Not all nuts are toxic to dogs, but almost all nuts are high in fat. This can lead to obesity and pancreatic issues in dogs. Feeding your dog salted nuts can also lead to water retention and other complications, and some nuts, like almonds, are potential choking hazards. In addition, there are certain types of nuts, such as macadamia nuts, that are very toxic to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Nuts? – American Kennel Club (akc.org)

They recommend avoiding nuts and going for safer alternatives in the fruit and vegetable categories.

Meat and Legume Options of People Food for Dogs

The biggest concerns with meat are the high fat content and the seasonings we use. If you opt to give your dog meat, trim the fat and avoid the seasonings. Pretend you’re cooking for your beloved great-grandparent who has heart issues and diabetes, give it to them lean, bland, and in small chunks.

  1. Alligator – I had to put this in here. I only saw it on one resource. Definitely not something we see in the Pacific NW, but for some regions, this may be good to know. If you live in those regions, you probably already know it’s fine to feed the dog.
  2. Bacon – WARNING: Only as a small chunk and once in a while. The high fat content can lead to pancreatitis in dogs (and cats – as we unfortunately learned. Stan made a full recovery and now hates us for not giving him bacon anymore – he’s very vocal about that hate).
  3. Beef
  4. Beans
  5. Chicken – This is great for a training treat. Boil it and just give tiny bits. It’s a high-value reward during the training stages.
  6. Clams – Cooked and shelled.
  7. Eggs – Must be cooked
  8. Lentils
  9. Salmon – Cooked, watch them bones.
  10. Shrimp – Cooked
  11. Tuna – Yes, even from the can.
  12. Venison

A Couple Other Options and Reminder

One other item safe for dogs is honey. But not raw honey. They can also eat cheese but go easy with it. Peanut Butter is good, too. However, make sure it doesn’t contain Xylitol. That’s toxic to dogs.

Again, I want to remind you to go with your gut, know your dog’s food sensitivities and consult with your vet’s office if you’re unsure. We tell people it’s safe to eat shrimp and most people can without any side effect. But for some it is a major food allergy. Always try a pea-size chunk and wait 24 hours to see if anything is okay.

The best way to see how your dog is reacting to new food is to be diligent on Doo-Duty. This is definitely not the most pleasant task of being a pet parent. However, you can see how your dog is fairing after trying something new when on doo-duty. It’s how I discovered that rawhide was not digesting well in Pandora’s system.

COMING NEXT WEEK: People Food You Should Never Feed Your Dog