Socializing your puppy or older dog

on Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cape-Able Canines
Socializing your puppy or older dog
by: J. Aleita Downer

An essential part of your puppy's early training is exposure to a large variety of enrichment activities - commonly referred to as "socialization." Effective socialization will instill more self-confidence in your puppy, as well as building his trust in you as the "pack leader." Well socialized puppies developed greater problem solving skills and are welcome almost every where.

The key to successul socialization is to start slowly, introducing situations that are non-threatening to the puppy. Watch for signs of stress. Remember, you are not trying to make the puppy endure a situation. While introducing the stimuli gradually, allow your voice and your body language to reassure the pup that the situation is safe. DO NOT CODDLE the puppy, as doing so only confirms the pup's suspicions that the situation is something to fear. Excitement in your voice and a display of curiousilty from you will encourage the pup to explore.

Consider bringing along a motivator, such as a food treat, ball or favorite toy. The pup will associate the new experience with something positive, and will become more resilient when faced with challenging experiences later.

Try as many of the following experiences as possible:

• Exercise your pup in parks or playgrounds, especially while children are present. Check out statues, as dogs are sometimes confused by these inanimate objects. Try out some of the playground equipment to get your puppy used to the feel of different surfaces and moving foundations such as suspension bridges and planks. A brick wall can make a good balance beam. (Be considerate, do not let your dog toilet in play areas or in the appealing sand).
• Walk around shopping centers. Sit on some of the benches near popular shops and encourage people to approach your pup. Some eating places with outdoor seating welcome four-legged guests.
• Spend an afternoon in Balboa Park. Watch the jugglers and street musicians, walk around the fountain, smell the roses in the rose garden.
• Find, or start, a neighborhood "doggie play group" where the dogs can socialize with each other of leash in a safe environment. Observe your pup's personality and ways of interacting with other dogs.
• Become an after school sports fan and attend a local game (e.g. Little League or AYSO). Encourage childre to approach and pet your dog while you are close at hand to ensure that the experience will be a positive one for the pup.
• Invite friends and family to a picnic in the park.
• Visit seasonal lots (e.g. pumpkin patches, Christmas tree lots).
• Take your pup to meet Santa at Cape-Able Canines - a friendly "stranger" with a beard an a weird outfit. As a bonus, your dog might meet an "elf" with bells on his feet..
• Drive to the vet and let the receptionists give your dog a treat. Then leave. Don't always associate the trip to the vet with an exam.
• Have your pup accompany you through a drive through, or a drive through car wash.
• Take walks around the neighborhood. While walking on sidewalks, seek out metal grates and objects such as plastic sheets and cardboard to have your pup walk over. Get your pup accustomed to a variety of surfaces such as gravel, grass, wood chips, tile, linoleum and dirt.
• Expose your dog to sounds around the house, such as the vacuum cleaner, electric blender, dishwasher, garage door opener, hair dryer and lawn mower. If you build your dog's confidence enough, you will be able to vacuum the loose hair off your dog!
• Enjoy parades from the sidelines. Go early enough to walk around the groups while they are lining up to start the parade. There will be clowns, horses, people in funny costumes and noisy cars to observe.
• Attend fire works displays with your puppy. Remember to encourage your pup with a pleasing voice and do not coddle if s/he apprears nervous.
• Introduct your pup to a variety of obstacles. Be creative. How about
  • watching someone ride a bicycle
  • using a cardboard box as a tunnel
  • placing a towel over the puppy's head
  • hiding a favorite toy inside a box
  • weighing your pup on a scale
  • banging a few pots while cooking
  • playing "hide and seek" with your pup
  • listing to nature sounds on a CD
  • attaching a cow bell to a tug toy
  • clapping together wooden blocks
  • throwing a ball in a swimming pool
  • blowing bubbles for the puppy to catch
• Take your pup to a do-it-yourself dog wash. For an added bonus, finish off by drying the pup with the blow drier or in the drying box. A food treat at the end of this adventure will enhance future trips.
• Invite friends to come to your house to play with the pup. Use this time to work on appropriate greetings. Make sure the friend rings the doorbell. As a bonus, have the friend wear different looking hats on each visit.
• Take your pup on short rides in the car. How about a ride through a fast food drive through? Take your pup with you while you run short errands or pick up the kids from school. Remember to be sensitive to warm days and NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED IN THE CAR, even for short periods of time.
• Find a grocery card in the parking lot of some stores and push it around with your pup beside you.

Your pup is constantly evolving and may suddenly appear tentative and cautious in a situation where s/he once appeared confident and precocious. While this is a natural adjustment to the development of full adult sensory capacities, it is your job to ensure that this adjustment be as positive as possible.

If you encounter fear in your dog over any of these socialization experiences, plan out a careful approach to desensitize your puppy. For example, if your pup is fearful of the vacuum cleaner, start out by placing the vacuum in another room but within sight. Later, bring it into the same room as the pup but leave it turned off. Once the pup seems relaxed about this, try pushing it around, without turning it on. Finally place it in another room and turn it on. As soon as your pup becomes accustomed to each new development, take the exercise one step further until s/he realizes that there is nothing to fear.

Every single positive experience you provide your puppy will broaden his comfort zones, strengthen his ability to adjust and change, use his body and senses in new ways, and give your puppy the enjoyment and mental/physical excitement that accompanies learning.

If it is a good experience, the puppy's confidence and self-esteem will grow. With your help, the world will become an exciting and manageable place for your pup.

Go out and have some fun!

Dog Bite Prevention

on Friday, February 08, 2013

The following article on how to prevent dog bites was written by Kay Thompson, RN, BSN, CPEN, CPDT-KA an Emergency Room nurse at Rady Children’s Hospital, a Certified Dog and Puppy Trainer... and a dear friend. It is reprinted here with her gracious permission.

Dog Bite Prevention

We hear the same story way too often from perplexed parents in the Emergency Department at Rady Children’s Hospital. "Our dog has never bitten anyone. The kids and the dog play nicely together all the time. Then today, out of the blue, he bit him." As we prepare for the plastic surgeon to arrive and work his magic on these tiny lacerated faces, we often wonder, "Why do we see so many dog bites?" As a trauma nurse and a dog trainer, I decided a few years ago that I wanted to find out more about dog bites, and my hunch was, that people can prevent nearly all of them. I am now certain that this is the case. With a generous sponsorship from the San Diego Emergency Nurses Association, and in cooperation with an organization called Doggone Safe, I have begun to spread the word. Behind every dog bite there is a person who may have prevented it.

Kay Thompson

Facts About Dog Bites:

• There are an estimated 77.5 million dogs living with families in the United States.
• Emergency Departments across the nation see and treat 1000 dog bites a day.
• Children are most at risk.
• Bites are most often to the face, neck, and head.
• In 2010, Rady Children’s Emergency Department treated 225 dog bites. (that’s about 4 every week)
• Almost 80% of the bites come from our own pets or dogs that we know and interact with regularly.

When to Leave Dogs Alone:
You may already be aware of these situations when we should all be respectful of a dog’s space and body language. When in doubt and if possible, leave dogs alone when:

• They are eating a meal or chewing on a favorite bone or toy.
• They are sleeping.
• They are in their own special place, like their crate or dog bed.
• They are chained up, or live only in their yard.
• They are sick or injured.

Dog Body Language Basics:
Dogs show us with their bodies when they would rather be left alone. Dogs do not bite "out of the blue." Especially around children, we must begin to become aware of and respect these body language basics. These are a dog’s way of saying: "Don’t bother me right now.":

• Tail raised and straight, may even be wagging
• Ears up and forward
• Tail tucked under or entire body crouching, which may indicate fear
• Body leaning forward and still
• Eyes fixed on something in a stare
• Mouth closed
• Whites of the eyes exposed

When a dog becomes uncomfortable, impatient, or anxious, they may use "calming signals" to distract themselves from the situation. These signals say to people, "I’ve had enough.":

• Lip licking
• Sudden scratching or biting
• Turning their head or body in completely away from the situation
• Barking or whining
• Getting up and walking away or walking in circles
• Yawning

What Dog Owners Can Do:
Just as the rewards of having a dog are many, so are the responsibilities. Dog owners can be the foundation of bite prevention when they follow a few basic guidelines:

• Become aware of the behaviors your dog may exhibit from the above list around people and especially children. Use caution and remove your dog from the situation if you are unsure of their response to it.
• It’s OK to say "No." If you know that your dog is distracted or really does not do well with greeting strangers, say so. People will respect and appreciate your honesty and can then make safe decisions around your dog.
• Train your dog. Most all behavior problems can be prevented by your firm leadership. Learn how to be a fair, effective leader by taking your dog to obedience classes from a trainer whom you trust.
• Involve the whole family. Dogs are pack animals and they are happiest when everyone is consistent with expectations and handling.
• Spay or neuter. These simple procedures prevent behavior problems and reduce the risk of aggression and biting. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than those that are.
• Exercise your dog every day. A short walk around the block or a game of fetch is enough to make a difference. A dog that has had some exercise is more relaxed and less likely to become excitable around children.
• Leash your dog. The only way to control your dog in public is on a leash, no matter how well behaved you think your dog is. The leash will keep your dog safe and provide you both with confidence in strange situations.
• Keep your dog healthy. Visit your veterinarian regularly and vaccinate your dog as required by law. A change in behavior or sudden aggression may be masking an illness or pain.

What Parents and Kids Need To Know:
We all love to see kids and dogs playing together. They seem to have a special bond. It is essential to understand, however, that dogs don’t always respect kids. This is true especially for children under five. Remind kids early and often how to be with dogs safely and treat them with respect.

• Kids should get permission three times. Ask their parents first, the dog owner second, and finally, ask the dog. If all of the people say yes, then look at the dog and see if its body is saying "OK." The dog should have an open mouth, relaxed ears, its body at ease, and all four paws on the ground.
• Give the dog some space. Just as humans need some space to feel comfortable around others, so do dogs. Give the family dog a safe, special place where they can go, but children are not allowed. It can be a dog crate, or just a corner of a room with a mat or dog bed.
• If you are approached by a dog off leash, or if your dog becomes too frisky, "Be a Tree." Stay quiet and count to ten slowly in your mind. The dog will probably go away. Do not scream or run. This behavior only excites the dog, and may even provoke a bite. This also works if your own dog gets too frisky.
• If a dog does jump on you and it knocks you over, roll into a ball and cover your neck and face.
• Dogs do not like hugs and kisses from kids, especially kids they don’t know. Remind children that although their family dog may tolerate this behavior, another dog may become agitated and bite.
• Let the dog decide when it wants attention and affection. Encourage children to wait until the dog initiates interaction with them.
• Do not play rough games with your dog, like wrestling or tug-of-war. These games teach your dog to fight against you. Stand up straight and play in a way that encourages your dog to work for you. Good choices are playing fetch the ball, hide-and-seek, or taking a walk on the leash.

Many of the bites we see in the Emergency Department can be avoided if parents begin to pay close attention to interactions between kids and dogs. We can now begin to work together and prevent these unnecessary injuries.

For more information about dog bite prevention visit:
www.doggonesafe.com
www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com