Search Results for: blog a puppys progress

The Greatest American Dog: The Elvis Episode

There was a new episode of “Greatest American Dog” last night, but thanks to my volleyball schedule, I’m a bit behind watching my DVR recordings. I just finished watching the episode from the week before. I loved it, because David was able to show that Elvis isn’t, as he calls him, a “Jack Russell terrorist.” WARNING: Spoiler Ahead In case you record the shows too and you’re also behind, this is where you should stop reading. I do reveal who was asked to leave Canine Academy. Clearing the Yard “Elvis is off-leash.” ~-David, Elvis’s Dad-~ Poor Elvis. The cute little … Continue reading →

Teach Your Dog to Stay

Stay is a command that is useful in many situations — introducing your dog to new people, keeping your dog away from spilled food, and more. This can be a difficult command for young dogs; puppies often have a very short attention span and are easily distracted! Be patient with your dog and stick with positive reinforcement. If you’ll be using food rewards (most dogs really like food rewards) it might be a good idea to practice your tricks before mealtime — your dog will be hungry and more likely to pay close attention to you and the treats. Here’s … Continue reading →

Puppy Bowl IV Play-by-Play

Did you catch any of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl IV? The last couple of years I’ve usually only been able to watch part of it. But this year Wayne had some work to do, so I planted myself in front of the TV with a project of my own (folding buckets-worth of laundry) and watched even more than usual. Player Introductions Somehow I managed to miss most of this both times I was able to catch the start of the show. I liked how they introduced them by name, breed, age, and with a description of something about them. For … Continue reading →

How Do Dogs Learn?

There are some behaviors that dogs inherit from their wild relatives. Inherited behaviors are strongly influenced by breed; for example, a border collie tends to have strong herding instincts while a greyhound (and other sighthounds) will have a strong desire to chase moving objects. Some dogs have an innate calm; others are innately nervous. My Lally seems to be the nervous type — sudden noises and movements will startle her. Human behavior around animals can help tone down or key up these behaviors. Inherited behaviors can’t be unlearned but you can work around them. When Lally gets excited, she tends … Continue reading →

Teach Your Dog Tricks: The Basics

Teaching your dog to do tricks can be a great bonding experience. It can also help build confidence in your dog! Dogs like having jobs to do, and they like pleasing their people. Time, patience, rewards, and reinforcement will get you through the training process. After the age of twelve weeks, your dog should be read for some basic training. Don’t believe that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” line — dogs of any age can learn. Some breeds and some dogs are faster learners than others. Some dogs are motivated by food; others are motivated by play … Continue reading →

What Fall Means to Your Pet: The Good, the Bad, and the Sniffly

Just like many of us humans, animals rejoice in fall’s coming too. The milder weather lends to more outdoor time, which is good, but it can also be not so good. The Good: Outdoor Time My Murph likes fall because it means more time sitting on the back deck, longer walks, and more frequent trips to the park. It’s easy to both sneak in more exercise and relaxation at this time of year. The cooler weather also often revives Murph, making him a bit more perky and frisky. He’s more inclined to play tugga-tugga with his shaky ball in the … Continue reading →

Showering Puppy with Gifts: Options Galore

Looking for a unique gift to welcome a new pup into your home? Or maybe you’re like me and like to give new puppy shower gifts. In the last year I’ve had three friends get new puppies. The most recent was just a couple of weeks ago when our good friends Lee and Brenda welcomed Mochachino, a Boxer, into their lives. Mochachino Longstreth. Photo provided by her mom, Brenda Longstreth Well, that meant it was time for me to hit the stores and find her just the right gift. Here’s the ones that caught my eye from: The Personalized Pup … Continue reading →

Reducing and Preventing Aggression

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You can reduce and prevent aggression in dogs of all breeds and all ages. If you have a puppy, or a dog under one year old: Socialize your dog to a wide variety of people: different ages, sexes, and body sizes. Socialize your dog to a wide variety of friendly dogs. Teach your dog to bite softly. Attend puppy kindergarten that uses reward methods for training and allows puppy play time. Handle your dog all over to get her used to being touched. Start as early as possible; the best age for socialization is between three and twelve weeks old. … Continue reading →

Dog Aggression

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In light of the recent incident at the dog park, I thought it would be a good time to talk about dog aggression. Aggression isn’t just a random behavior; it is a defense mechanism, a competitive instinct, and a hunting behavior. Domestication and breeding have toned down many aggressive responses in dogs, but they still exist. Aggressive behaviors can include: Barking at other animals or humans Herding Food guarding Fence fighting — when a dog cannot get to an animal on the other side of the fence or window, he may turn on other pets Growling and snarling Snapping and … Continue reading →

Momma Cat Takes In Rottie Puppy

They are not the unlikeliest pairing out there, but they are turning heads. A momma cat named Satin in a Meriden, Connecticut animal shelter has taken in a six day old Rottweiler puppy as part of her litter. Momma cat Satin is a domestic short-haired who recently gave birth to four kittens at the Meriden Humane Society. She was surrendered by an owner who was unable to care for her. Puppy Charlie’s story is equally sad. His mother was found on the side of the road in Meriden, Connecticut a few months ago. Once in the shelter, she gave birth … Continue reading →