Author: PetGd

Many methods for dog training exist, including using a dog clicker, classical conditioning, positive reinforcement and the Premack principle. Although you may not have heard of the Premack principle, you might already be using it with your dog and even your children. Developed in 1965 by David Premack, who was an Emeritus Professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, the Premack principle works on both humans and dogs. The simplest and most noted example of the Premack principle at work is when you tell your kids, “If you eat your vegetables, then you can have dessert.” This means that the more probable or rewarding behavior (getting dessert) reinforces the less probable or rewarding behavior (eating vegetables), says Megan Stanley, certified professional dog trainer and owner of Dogma Training in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. “This can be a powerful technique in dog training, as you’re rewarding your dog with highly motivating behaviors that you know he enjoys,” says Stanley. “It enables you to use life rewards, which are what your dog wants, and allows you to vary those rewards.” Offering life rewards as reinforcers can create a more responsive and cooperative dog because your dog will think you control the universe, says Bhambree. Applying the Premack Principle to Dog Training To begin, observe what your dog values, says Bobbie Bhambree, certified dog behavior consultant, certified dog trainer and owner of DogCentric Training & Behavior in New Rochelle, New York. Is it playtime with a canine companion, going to the dog park, swimming or playing with a dog toy? Make a list of those fun activities, she says, and you’ll see where you can implement the Premack principle in your dog’s training. Then, decide which behavior you want to instill and which reward you’ll choose. Scenario 1: To illustrate this, Bhambree gives an example of how she trained her dog, Topper, not to bark when she opened his crate door in the morning. “Topper gets excited and expresses that excitement by barking,” says Bhambree. “I taught him that if he remained quiet (a low probability behavior), he could exit the crate and join the other dogs in the bedroom.” Scenario 2: In another scenario, Bhambree uses the Premack principle when training dogs to drop dog ball toys at their owner’s feet. For most dogs, ball chasing is much more reinforcing than returning the ball to you, says Bhambree. However, your dog learns, over time, that there’s a relationship between the two: he must bring the ball to you before you can throw the ball for him. Your dog quickly learns that dropping the ball (a low reward behavior) results in getting to chase the ball (a high reward behavior). Sitting and staying can also be taught by incorporating the Premack principle. Scenario 3: Teaching your dog to sit and wait comes in handy on many occasions. The dog may be anxious to greet a guest who is at the door, excited to say “Hi” to another dog on the street, wiggly when you want to put on a harness, or nervous when a groomer or veterinarian wants to examine him. This can be seen in terms of the Premack principle: calming your dog and putting his harness on (a low probability/reward behavior), so he can ride in the car (a high reward behavior). Stanley demonstrates her own step-by-step method for how to train your dog to relax so you can put the harness on: Stroke your dog’s side with the back of your hand, and if he remains calm, give him a few dog treats. If he seems nervous, hold the treat in front of his nose as a distraction. Pet his back, down his tail, under the belly, and touch his legs and paws. Take plenty of breaks and continue to reward him for staying calm, giving plenty of verbal praise along the way. Increase the pressure and prolong your touch, while continuing to reward him. Stanley explains that dog training is more effective if done in shorter sessions, and it’s ideally taking place throughout the day, whenever the opportunity arises.

5. Can Dogs Sense Illness? Dogs’ ability to smell illnesses has been well documented. Typically, the biggest indicator of illness is through odor. Dogs can detect metabolic changes in our breath and through our skin. Most recently, a test was studied on dogs’ ability to detect COVID-19. Overall, the average rate of successful detection was 94%.,6. Can Dogs Sense When Someone Is Having a Seizure Or About To Have One? Seizures cause changes in a person’s physical appearance and facial expressions, thus alerting their pup that something isn’t right. Pet parents who experience seizures can train their pups to help them. However, not all dogs will alert a person of an impending event even if they can sense it.,Dogs experience the world differently from their human counterparts. They have heightened physical senses and are aware of things we aren’t. Dogs can detect emotion, physiological changes (changes in the functioning of the body), illness, and environmental events, such as weather. This sensitivity is connected to their ability to see, smell, hear, and feel. They see fewer colors because of color blindness, and they see in higher contrast. This provides better night vision and the ability to track movement. A dog’s peripheral vision is wider, but they see less detail. There’s no contest when comparing a dog’s sense of smell to their human’s. A dog has about 300 million scent receptors compared with a human’s 6 million. A pup’s hearing also differs from ours. Dogs’ ears are built for hearing at higher frequencies than a human, but they don’t recognize changes in pitch as well as we do. In fact, there are many other differences between dog and human hearing. A dog’s fur and skin help them feel and process interactions with other animals, including humans. Pressure from a puppy playmate’s teeth can help communicate a need for less intense play. Given all of their incredible senses, dogs possess the ability to sense things about the world that may surprise you. 

By Helen Anne Travis Every year, the Michelson Found Animals Foundation helps thousands of animals in the Los Angeles area find their forever homes. The majority of pets are strays, which means shelter staff and volunteers have to come up with new names for thousands of cats and dogs each year. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? “It is for the first few hundred,” says Aimee Gilbreath, executive director of the rescue organization. “But then it gets a little challenging.” To make the process as easy and fun as possible, the volunteers and staff use shortcuts. They might name a litter of puppies after the characters on Game of Thrones or Star Wars. Sometimes they’ll take their inspiration from the season (there are a lot of white kittens named Snowflake each winter). If the animals have distinct personalities or physical features, those traits might influence their names. The foundation once worked with a local shelter that was trying to find a home for an older pup with only three legs, Gilbreath says. They named her Eileen (get it?). But what if you had a horrible boss named Eileen and don’t want to be reminded of her every time you see your new dog? That is a conundrum faced by almost all prospective pet owners who visit shelters nationwide. Is it OK to rename an adopted pet? And what are some tips for making the new name stick? Why Shelters Name Pets Naming shelter animals helps potential adopters form a bond, says Gilbreath. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with “Snowflake” than “Cat Number 3,298.” “There are so many animals looking for homes,” says Jme Thomas, executive director of the Motley Zoo Animal Rescue in Redmond, Washington. “Anything you can do to better market an animal to an adopter is essential to saving their lives.” At Motley Zoo, most animals are named after musicians or celebrities. Right now Celine Dion, Mario Batali and John Mayer are all looking for forever homes. To further appeal to potential adopters, the animals are sometimes photographed with their celebrity namesakes, like Gin and Juice, two cats who got to meet Snoop Dogg. “It gives the animal an identity,” says Thomas. But what if the animal comes to the shelter already named? Say a dog’s owner died or a cat had to be surrendered because a landlord didn’t allow pets? For the most part, the name stays, says Thomas. Gilbreath agreed that’s standard practice. “At most shelters, if an animal has a name you keep the name unless there’s a good reason not to,” she says. Good reasons to change a pet’s name include instances of past abuse. Shelters will also rename pets whose current name might prevent them from finding a forever home. Gilbreath remembers working with a rescuer who was trying to find a home for a dog named Killer after his owner passed away. The dog was renamed Keller, something that sounded like his original name but was perhaps more appealing to potential adopters.

Not all dog toys are created equal. From their country of origin and the materials they’re made of, to the way dogs interact with them, the dog toy market is overflowing with options that range from phenomenal to potentially harmful. And don’t forget about the toys that look like winners to us that our dogs leave ignored in the toy basket. If you’re investing in quality dog toys, choosing the wrong one can be pretty frustrating. With 18 years of dog training experience and six years as the owner of a dog supply shop, I’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Much like the dogs I work with, I have passionate opinions about dog toys! I care about how the toys stand up to canine abuse, how likely they are to keep pups constructively occupied, and to a lesser degree, how they look scattered on your floor. (The best dog toys marry form and function.)  The following are just some of the USA-made toys that have earned my seal of approval as well as two paws up from my canine customers. I call them “dog-tested, trainer-approved.” Best Dog Interactive Toys My favorite dog interactive toys give dogs a job, and for most dogs, the dream occupation is working for dog treats. Dogs need an outlet for their boundless energy, and toys that encourage them to settle down and focus on getting to the goodies help to channel their drive. Plus, busy toys can provide enrichment, which will help to mentally exhaust dogs of all ages. KONG Classic: KONG started the canine-enrichment revolution 40 years ago. This simple red rubber toy can be stuffed with a variety of goodies, from dog food kibbles to peanut butter, and will keep dogs of all sizes happily un-stuffing for hours. Monster chewers should enjoy the extra-tough KONG Extreme.   West Paw Zogoflex Toppl: These creative dog treat toys are made of Zogoflex, a recyclable, BPA- and phthalate-free, FDA-compliant material that can withstand the toughest chewers. The Toppl comes in two sizes that fit together to create an interlocking puzzle toy that’ll confound and delight your canine genius. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff strawberry: This busy toy combines entertainment and durability in an adorable package. The strawberry can be stuffed with kibble or other small treats so that your dog has to kick it around to dislodge the goodies. Larger dogs can get their veg on with the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff eggplant version.

Myth #5: All the pets in a shelter will be older. Truth: Shelters and rescues have pets of all ages, promises Dr. Benson, including puppies and older pets, which are usually trained and less initial work for the new pet owner and make excellent companions. Something else to consider: The cute and appealing puppy in the window of that pet store came from somewhere, says Dr. Smith-Blackmore. “Unfortunately, more than likely, its birth mother spent the majority of her life in a very small cage having litter after litter. Adopting from a shelter or a well-known breeder can help to eliminate commercial puppy enterprises.” *** At the end of the day, deciding where to get your brand new family member from is a big decision, but with the right information, it can be made a bit easier. When you adopt a pet from the shelter, it is important to immediately establish a relationship with a veterinarian to care for that new addition to your family.  In fact, your pet needs to be examined at least yearly by a vet even if it appears healthy as many diseases are hidden and not apparent.  Remember, it is much cheaper to prevent disease than it is to treat it! Explore More at petMD.com: Ten Things to Consider Before Bringing a New Pet Home 6 Suspicious Pet Food Claims 8 Common Snacks That Will Prompt a Portly Pet,5 Common Myths About Adopting From a Shelter By Cheryl Lock The next time you’re in the market for a new pet and wondering where to buy a cat, dog, or other animal, try setting your sights on your local animal shelter. Despite any negative stereotypes animal shelters may have, they actually provide a ton of healthy, happy pet options for your family to take home and love. Here are 5 things you may have heard in the past about shelter pets, and what the actual truth is. Myth #1: Shelter pets aren’t healthy. Truth: In fact, shelter pets can be quite healthy. Dr. Jules Benson is the VP of Veterinary Services at Petplan Pet Insurance. When he recently analyzed Petplan’s claims data he found something interesting: Contrary to popular opinion, the claims data revealed that pets adopted from shelters or rescue organizations are actually 5% less likely to suffer an unexpected trip to the veterinarian compared to pets purchased through pet stores.  In addition, many shelter pets are spayed and neutered, and some even come with location microchips. Martha Smith-Blackmore, DVM — immediate past president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and interim president and director of Veterinary Medical Services for the Animal Rescue League of Boston — also stipulates that although there is much variety in animal shelters throughout the country, most good shelters almost always provide excellent vet care for their animals. “In well-run shelters,” Dr. Smith-Blackmore says, “animals receive vaccinations upon in-take, and are fed a high quality diet from a single manufacture so they don’t undergo dietary stress caused from a constantly changing variety of donated food on a daily basis.”

By Heather Larson Alternative medicine practices like massage and acupuncture have proven beneficial for canines. However, the jury is still out on reflexology. A type of massage that’s based on the concept that reflex points in the feet, hands (paws), and head are linked to every part of the body, reflexology is used on both humans and canines. By massaging those points, it is said the practitioner releases tension and can alleviate some medical conditions in the patient. So far, no studies exist on how this treatment affects pets. In fact, Dr. Narda Robinson, president and CEO of CuraCore Integrative Medicine & Education Centers in Fort Collins, Colorado, says there’s no evidence that the reflexology “maps” commonly used in human treatment have any validity insofar as relating areas on the bottom of the foot to zones elsewhere in the body. “Transposing a system that is, essentially, invented out of the blue and then applied to the vastly different canine foot, is fanciful at best,” says Robinson. Because of opinions like Robinson’s and a lack of studies, finding a reflexology practitioner for your dog may be difficult. However, you can safely try some reflexology techniques yourself. If nothing else, it’s another good way to connect with your dog. Bonding with Your Dog The most common form of reflexology involves applying pressure to different areas on the bottom of the canine foot. “Not all dogs like their paws touched,” says Alison Zeidler, a registered Canadian reflexology therapist and instructor of canine reflexology. “Slowly gain their trust by applying gentle strokes from their head and shoulders down their leg and past their paw. That usually shows them how relaxing the touch is and then most dogs will allow you to work their legs and paws.” Zeidler offers holistic therapies to both people and their pets, including horses, dogs, and cats. She says reflex points in the paws, ears, and head correspond to every joint, muscle, gland, and organ of the body. By stimulating those points, you or a reflexologist can influence that related body part by bringing it into a more relaxed, balanced state.