Maintaining a Healthy Pet Weight

                “Ah look how cute it is…” is the typical response when people see a cute chubby little puppy.  Yes, it may be the most common statement but it definitely isn’t the healthiest.   Obesity is a far too common problem among canines.  We believe dogs to be man’s best friend and we want to treat them as such and make them happy.  The only problem is dogs don’t necessarily know what is best for them.  As the owner you need to be conscious and thoughtful with the responsibilities that come with having a pet.

                Obesity in dogs can lead to several major health issues including but not limited to diabetes, heart disease, and bone and joint disorders.   There are numerous factors that are known causes for weight gain in your pet.  The greatest causes for weight gain for your dog are the type of food he eats, the amount of exercise he performs, his age, and his medical history.  All of these causes can easily be dealt with in order to maintain a healthy weight and live a long happy life.

                How you feed your dog is the most preventable cause of weight gain.  Like people, dogs need to maintain a nutritious diet to stay in fit conditions.   The type of food you select for your dog is extremely dependent on all of the other factors that affect the weight of your dog.  There are foods that are designed for all stages of a dog’s life from puppy to senior.  Puppies have a higher energy level accompanied by a faster metabolism and their bodies are growing at a rapid rate while an older dog is reached his full size and his metabolism has slowed.  With that being said puppies need food that contains higher amount of protein for this growth.

                A dog’s level of activity changes greatly though out its life span.  A young dog is inquisitive and can be extremely active.  This high level of activity is known to decrease as the dog’s age increases.  So with the decrease in activity the amount and type of food that your dog receives should also change.  Another helpful is to keep your pet’s mind engaged and active with toys and daily exercise which will help keep the dog’s thoughts away from food and overeating.  Another alternative is dog daycare several days a week.  Not only would dog daycare be an added exercise activity but would also create a social outlet for interaction with other dogs and people. If you have to out of town and are using a dog boarding facility, be sure to bring your own pre-measured food so your pup’s diet does not change.

                The final key is to work closely with your veterinarian and know your pet.  Several medical issues can be the factor that causes your dog to gain weight.  Have your vet check for diseases such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s syndrome.  Both are internal causes for weight gain.  I know you love your dog and want to do what is best for him in order for him to be with you for a very long time.

Leash Training Your Puppy

                “Who wants to go on a walk?!” were the words that made my face cringe. Honestly, I used to dread taking my dog for a walk. Getting my arm ripped off in front of all my neighbors was clearly not on the agenda. The extendable leashes helped me tolerate the tugging, but they were clearly no solution by far. This was five years ago and I can happily say that Ginger now walks better than ever. Follow these effortless leash-training tips to avoid embarrassment, arm pain, and have a happy puppy:

1. The collar is the key. Get your dog used to wearing one as soon as you’re considering a leash. Most puppies don’t like the collar and try to pull it off, simply because it is a foreign object. Don’t take it off because he doesn’t like it – wait until he’s forgotten about the collar to take it off. A helpful tip is to put it on him when he’s eating, so that way he’ll associate the collar with something that he loves. Honestly, he’ll probably not even notice it at first.
2. Once your puppy is happily wearing the collar, the next step is to get him used to the leash itself. Let your puppy run around the house with the leash attached to the collar, hanging freely. This is showing him that the leash is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. When your puppy runs away from you, call him over and reward him when in leash-distance (so he becomes familiar with being close to you).
3. Finally, it is time for a walk! As soon as you step outside, your dog is probably going to be very excited. Tire him out with a few games before beginning, so he’s not distracted by the new surroundings. If your dog pulls on the leash, do not pull him back toward you. Instead, don’t move at all and call him back to you. This teaches him that by tugging on the leash, he doesn’t get anywhere without you. When your puppy comes back, generously reward him.

This may take your dog 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 months to learn. Be patient. The only way he’ll learn is if you teach him. Be sure to keep up this new routine every single time you go on walks to ensure consistency. Before you know it, you and your puppy will be a lean, mean walking machine!

There are three main reasons why your dog jumps on people:

1. To get attention and greet people. Dogs identify each other by smelling scent glands around their face, and so try to do the same with people.

2. In order to assert dominance. When people immediately respond to the dogs jumping, it puts him in power. You MUST assert your alpha leader rank!

3. Because, inadvertently or directly, the family or visitors has rewarded the dog for this behavior before. This could be either because the family greeted the dog when it jumped, OR because the dog associated jumping with positive things, such as being fed or getting attention.

In order to stop your dog from jumping on people, you need to first of all make sure your dog is trained in two essential commands: The SIT command, and the OFF command. To teach your Dog the off command, follow these simple rules:

When the puppy or older dog jumps (whether on a person or furniture), immediately say OFF.

• The best way to do this in the beginning is to have a leash on your pet and introduce him to situations where he would normally jump on someone.
• You must have a slack leash, when he is about to jump,  you  say “OFF” and tug on the leash.
• Repeat this command several times, until your dog doesn’t need to be told twice.
• Praise immediately when he stops himself from jumping.

Make sure other family members and visitors understand this command, as well. It is crucial that your dog understand that all family and visitors are above his rank in the pack. Otherwise, he will lash out and try to assert himself on everyone. While using the Off command may not be appreciated by most visitors, but it is more important that a dog has a good greeting manner with all people. A little effort on everyone’s side makes your dog disciplined and docile.

You’ll also want to ensure your dog is well-versed in the SIT command whenever he looks like he’s about to jump. Look for familiar body language that your dog is about to jump, such as craning his neck, preparing his hind legs, and wagging his tail. Immediately counter this with the Sit command.

If your dog does jump on people, immediately state Off, then ignore the dog until he has calmed down. As the alpha of the pack, you must reprimand him for his actions. Isolating the dog is a very good method that your dog understands through his pack instincts, for teaching your dog that he has acted inappropriately.

Ultimately, prevention is the best strategy in stopping your dog from jumping on people. There are several ways to approach this:

1.            Knowing that dogs like to greet other animals by sniffing around their face, lower yourself to HIS level. This eliminates the need to jump, and makes him feel more comfortable. Whenever you wish to pet your dog or give him a cuddle, bend down and look at him on an even level.

2.            Some people manage to train their dog to wait for love by showing them their hands at knee level, until the dog learns to apply this rule to everyone. Teach them the DOWN or OFF command to make sure it understands. Additionally, make visitors and other family members aware that, should they wish to pet the dog, to show the dog their hands at knee level, or to bend down him or herself. This will discourage your dog from jumping up. Consistency is always key to training your dog out of unacceptable behaviors.

3.            The other method of dissuading dogs from jumping up on people rely more on aversion, giving them an outcome other than the one they desire and expect. Use your body to ward off the dog. Step out of reach, raise a knee, or catch and hold the dogs legs. All these techniques should send a signal to your dog that he cannot go up. However, if he continues to try to jump, try some of the other techniques, and make sure to consistently reprimand and ignore him until he has calmed won.

4.            Finally, if the problem persists, you can try dog training products such as collars that spray water or citrus. While these are generally used for barking or biting, they can also be used to stop your dog from jumping, if the problem becomes severe.

Ultimately, the best way to train your dog is to:

• Clearly and consistently express your expectations,
• Rewarding your dog for a positive outcome, and
• Reprimanding him for a negative outcome.

Make sure to be consistent and vigilant, and your dog will reward you by no longer jumping on you or your guests.