One size does not fit all
Last night in class, I was showing off equipment. While my personal preference is for a buckle collar or harness and simply teach the dogs to walk nicely on the leash, sometimes some of our puppies or people need a little more.
Wonder if she's talking about anyone I know??
So I bring in most of the pieces on hand; head halters, walking harnesses, even pinch collars and choke chains to show how they are used and why I do or don’t like them.
After it was over and we discussed which might be a good fit for each dog, I was asked, “So there isn’t one thing you recommend for every dog?”
No. There isn’t.
My head halter puts me in working mode! Sometimes....
All dog and human pairs are different. What might work for me and an exuberant young lab might not work for someone frail with the same lab. Someone who relies on their dog for service would need a different piece of equipment than someone who uses their dog as a running companion.
Think there is a piece of equipment that can get our minds off each other and back into class?
Training methods are the same way. Pop on Amazon or another book site and gander upon all the offerings on how to train.
If you’ve been on any dog training lists there are endless discussions on how to train a behavior a kazillion different ways. Fascinating stuff.
Is she making up words again? Sigh. What to do with her??
What might work for a frazzled young mom with a young puppy and two young kids, might not work for the retired couple with the same puppy, lots of time, but limited physical abilities.
A method that will make a rat terrier the best companion ever, might just irritate the Weimaraner.
While I might think teaching a dog to crawl across the room is the most fun thing ever, you might consider it totally useless and a waste of time.
And you know what?? That’s Okay.
One size does not fit all.
But….we all knew that, right??
Break That Habit
Dogs crave routine. They like it. They thrive on monotony. And exercise. Just throwing that in. In case you forgot.
Give me enough exercise? Ha ha! I laugh at your pitiful attempts!
In fact, they like it so much, they will create their own routine if they possibly can. Their own habits. These things we do. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not so much.
On the good side- routine helps with the housebreaking. They can make you go for that walk, because its TIME and they know it. They will wait anxiously for the kids to get off the school bus.
My routine? Eat, pee , play and be cute? Its working for me so far.
On the down side. Anytime they do something repeatedly, it can become a habit. What we DO.
So. If we bark when the doorbell rings, consider – do you want that dog to bark when the doorbell rings for the next 18 years?? If you do, that is just fine. But I’ve heard many complaints about it, and very few ‘yes! we need him to bark uncontrollably every time it rings!’
But, but...my big sisters bark and charge the door when the bell rings. Why can't I???
Do you want him to jump on everyone to greet them? Noooo…..you don’t.
So stop it before it gets to be a habit.
Do you want him to bark to greet? No. You don’t. What do you want him to do instead?
Think of these things. Its like stopping on the way home from grandma’s with the kids and buying ice cream. You do it once, and its a tradition. “But we ALWAYS stop for ice cream after Grandma’s!!” And then its a fight every time you don’t want to stop. “But but but….!!!!”
Did someone say Ice Cream??
What is going to be a tradition, a routine, a habit with you and your dog? Is that a good thing or not so much?
Eating
Food! Yum!
Most of our dogs are little piggles. They like to eat. I understand this, I like to eat, too. Much fun!
Most of our dogs don’t have Eating Issues. Most of them gobble their food happily and go on with their day. Some of them, oh yes, some of them do.
Allergies? Oh yes, I have them. Lets talk about how many and what kind!
Just some quick thoughts about eating:
If your dog or puppy gobbles their food so fast it drives you nuts, or makes them throw up after they eat; instead of feeding them in a bowl, spread it out. You can use a baking pan, or even the floor and just spread it out so they have to move, walk to eat. This usually slows them down enough to not puke. You are welcome.
Usually, leave them alone when they eat. We like company to share our dinners with. Dogs, not so much. Leave them be – but occasionally walk over and toss something very yummy – hot dog, great treat, etc – into their food bowl. That way they learn, people come while I eat, great things happen! Yay!
Cheese? Cheese would be good. I like cheese....
Feed them on a schedule. This helps with housebreaking, and helps cure the picky eater syndrome. I had one lady tell me it ‘hurt her heart’ if she couldn’t feed her dog six times a day. I said heaven forbid I should be the cause of anyone’s heart hurting! Feed that dog an appropriate amount six times a day if it helps your heart! There are no food police. Its your dog. I had a guy come in who LITERALLY pre-chewed his dog’s food for him. I don’t make these things up. Feeding six times a day is much less crazy. Just…fyi.
Yes, some dog's folks are a little nuttso. Mine? Not so much.
Feed a high quality diet. There’s lots of information about that out there, but just think. We know we need good nutrition to live long and be our best. So do our puppies. We, and they, are what we eat.
Don’t stress so much about their food and feeding. People worry very much. They try this and that, then the other. Nothing works! Their dog Won’t Eat! Anything! I have a lady who comes in regularly and who tells me her dog has not eaten anything for years. At all. Nothing. I see this magically existing dog and think wow you’re fat for a non eating dog. But….I believe what I’m told. Most generally.
Most of them won’t starve themselves. High quality food on a regular schedule and things should be Just fine.
If not, talk to your vet or dog trainer. They will be glad to give you some information. In fact, I’m sure they are pretty opinionated on the subject. Pretty darn sure.
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