What You Know About Your Dog But Dont Want To Talk About!

When you’re certain in getting a dog, Ill bet you dreamt about the countless times youd have with your new best friend. Nonetheless, there are things that you need to deliberate in order to keep your pooch healthy and happy. Things that possibly youd rather not even think about!

 When you visit your veterinarian he may request you to bring a urine sample from your dog. How do you do this? Your dog confidently wont be able to hit a sample bottle. The coolest way to complete this is to tape a polyethylene vial to the end of a yard stick. While your dog is playing, position the container beneath his urine stream.

 This is stress-free to do with male dogs than female dogs but you can habitually get a tester with one or two tries. Your veterinarian will need as fresh a sample as thinkable so if you wont be compiling the sample to the vet right away, keep it chilled until you bring it in. Your veterinarian will be examining the sample for a range of stuffs like bacteria and crystals. If bacteria are found it possibly will mean that your pooch has a urinary tract infection and will most probable necessitate your dog to be put in a sequence of antibiotics. Crystals form in the urine when minerals bind together, there are numerous different kinds of crystals and these are peak often treated with prescription diets.

If your veterinarian requests for a stool sample it might mean that he doubts that intestinal parasites are troubling your dog. They can acquire these by eating fecal matter from carcasses, unsavory things and another affected animal. You will want to get in a fresh sample. The doctor will inspect it under the optical microscope and look for telltale eggs of parasites. Commonest parasites are roundworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Several of today’s regular heartworm treatments also protect against hookworms and roundworms. If you’re living in the country where your dog stays outside for much of the day, he may prerequisite to be cured with a tapeworm wormer on a trimestral basis. Other diseases alike coccidia, can also be seen under the optical microscope from your dog’s stool sample.

So, now you can discuss about those unpleasant things! Its imperative that you are accurately educated and can identify signs and symptoms so that you keep your dog as in fine fettle as he can be.

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SHHHH ! When NOT To Talk To Your Dog

Most people seem to think that dog training amounts to teaching dogs to obey commands like "Sit!" and "Stay!"

Teaching commands is certainly helpful. Commands like "Sit", "Stay", "Come", "Down", "Drop it", and "Heel" can be useful in many situations, help you keep your pup safe and secure, and build his confidence.

There are many times, however, when talking to your dog is ineffective, or even counterproductive - and instead, silence is the best medicine. Often when Im in someones home working with their dog, they remark to me with surprise how few words I use. I actually only noticed this after multiple families pointed it out to me!

Heres my list of some of the main behavior issues with which it is often best to work silently:

1. Aggression (you want to create a peaceful state, not a high-tension, alert one).
2. Dominant behaviors (you want a submissive, cooperative mindset, again not alert/tense).
3. Hyperactivity (you want calmness).
4. Excessive barking (you want quiet, attentiveness).
5. Stress/fear/anxiety (you want calmness, relaxation).

The most obvious example of a time words fail is when treating excessive barking. If you shout "No! Stop it! Bad dog! Hush!" (sound familiar? :) your pup will simply think that youre joining in the fun and barking along with them at the horrible menaces outside!

Although it is possible to eventually condition a dog to stop barking on verbal command (or do anything, for that matter), as with ANY obedience training you must FIRST get the desired behavior; only AFTER that can you "name it" - so the dog can associate the word with the action.

If you talk first, without getting the behavior, you only accomplish one of two things:

1. If pooch doesnt yet know the word, youre wasting your breath.
2. If pooch does know the word but is just ignoring you, youre actually reinforcing his disobedience! Since hes enjoying his the bad behavior, hes getting rewarded for ignoring you.

So what to do in the meantime, in silence, when your dog misbehaves? You must communicate to him the way dogs communicate to one another: primally, physically, with energy, body language, and the other four senses. No one is a better "dog whisperer" than a mother dog with her pups; and she doesnt speak a lick of English!

Heres my list of the most effective alternatives to verbal commands:

• Body blocking
• Herding
• Eye contact
• Leash tug/communication
• Leading/walking
• Pointing
• Touch
• Physical manipulation (e.g. sit, lie down, or turn around)
• Snap
• Clap
• Corrective sounds
• Calming tones
• Rewards (pets, calming tones, approval, praise, clapping, running, playing, treats)

Next time you want to get your dog to behave, try making yourself stay silent while you do it. Youll be surprised what good listeners they are!

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Best Dog Trainer New York Magazine March 2013

Extra! Extra!

For all you literate pups out there whom Ive had the honor of working with, you can now thank your owners and brag to your friends that your trainer was voted "Best Dog Trainer" by NY Magazine, in their recent "Best Of New York 2013" issue!

(A shout-out to my Cavalier client Leo, who already posted on his Facebook page how proud he is. Heck, Im proud that a dog I trained can use Facebook!)

I am honored and humbled by the title "Best Dog Trainer", as there are many excellent trainers in New York. My particular skill and experience lies in helping city dog owners teach their pets be calmer, happier, and more social. I see NY Mags vote as a sign that Ive helped hundreds of dogs and owners live happier lives together over the past several years.

I look forward to spreading even more calm energy in 2014.

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