Abusive Dog Training: It Is Not Necessary!

 

The myth that puppies need to experience pain, physical discomfort or fear in order to learn persists widely today despite convincing evidence to the contrary. This often leads to ego crushing physical punishment and the trauma of social isolation. The result may be a guilt ridden owner applying such punishments during the pup’s most impressionable age, between 5 and 16 weeks.

 

Clients should be made aware there are so-called “professionals” operating in many communities who still practice archaic correctional techniques. The following case was reported in the July, 1998 issue of Animal Behavior Consultant Newsletter:

 

“An obedience instructor in a training class was demonstrating a correction with a client’s nippy puppy. She stuck her fingers down the pup’s throat when it nipped, causing a gag reflex. She then took the puppy between her hands and shook it. The puppy collapsed. The instructor and owner took the pup to a veterinary hospital, where it died.”

 

Regrettably, this kind of abusive treatment abounds in popular books. Physical punishment can rarely be administered quickly enough to be associated by pups with misbehavior, or with proper consistency. Consequently the owner, who should appear to the pup as a model of consistency, is perceived by the pet as unpredictable. The owner’s homecoming times produce ambivalent behavior as the pup vacillates between joy and hyper submissive “shamed” actions. Most clients are quick to appreciate that their puppy is responding to them, rather than to the fact that a pair of shoes has been chewed up in the bedroom. Interestingly, physical punishment often accompanies the onset of client complaints that their puppy  will not come to them when called; understandable, when one considers that the pup has received punishment inconsistently from hands that also try to express tenderness through petting.

 

Puppies who learn that human hands and actions may be dependably associated with pleasure rather than pain seldom exhibit hand-shyness, submissive urination or defensive aggression. Training systems that use social rewards produce more healthy and stable behavior than those employing punishment. This is especially true in pups with highly excitable or inhibitable nervous systems. Accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative in puppy training requires patience and self-control, but the benefits outweigh the heartbreak of vexing behavior problems.

 

The puppy owners will be better equipped to influence their pet’s behavior if they understand the behavioral effects of health, nervous typology and consistency in handling. Therefore, the veterinarian who spends a few extra minutes to explain these factors will help to prevent early fear imprints and resultant behavior problems that often prompt owners to get rid of their pets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find Out If Your Dog Has Allergies Or Hot Spots

 

Allergies: Unlike humans, the first sign of discomfort usually shown by an allergic dog is itchy, irritated skin. Some dogs also get a runny nose or eyes, sneeze or even suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. Uncovering the source of the allergy can be quite frustrating for owners and veterinarians alike.

 

Some dogs are allergic to components in their diet. A food allergy can emerge early in life; usually the offenders are beef or soy products. The best way to determine if diet is causing an allergic reaction is to feed hypoallergenic food for several weeks and see if the signs regress. To be altogether certain of a food allergy, you’d need to challenge the dog with the prior food and see if the signs recur.

 

Another common allergic condition is known as atopy. Atopy refers to an inhalant allergy or a reaction to environmental components. Molds, plants, dust, even furniture stuffing fall into this category. Signs of atopy may be seasonal. The only practical way to discover what’s bothering this allergic dog is to ask a veterinary dermatologist to conduct an intradermal skin test, much as is done with human allergy sufferers. Then you can try avoiding offensive material, or attempt hyposensitization. These problems are also best discussed with a qualified dermatologist.

 

A few comments about some common dog allergies: many dogs are sensitive to flea collars, flea bites or dyes in plastic food dishes. These things are easily identified and corrected. If a flea collar irritates your dog’s neck, remove it and wash the area thoroughly with a mild shampoo. Switch to another type of product. And if your dog’s red, irritated nose is caused by an allergy to dyed plastic by replacing the plastic dish with metal or glass. If it’s an allergy, the condition should be resolved.

 

Hot Spots: One of the most common summertime complaints seen by veterinarians are hot spots - round hairless patches of tender, red, oozing skin which seem to erupt overnight. They are usually found on the rump, although they may appear anywhere on the body. Hot spots are especially prevalent in heavy-coated breeds and in any dog with skin allergies.

 

Hot spots probably begin as a focus of irritation caused by a flea bite, impacted anal sacs or other small annoyances. However, the more the dog licks and chews at the spot, the worse it feels, so the more the animal licks and chews. A small problem explodes into a large one. These lesions need to be treated promptly before you have a dog in agony.

 

Treatment of a hot spot begins with clipping away the surrounding hair and cleaning the surface of the wound. The area is then covered with a soothing spray, liquid or ointment. The veterinarian will attempt to find and eliminate the source of the complaint. Your dog may need to wear an Elizabethan collar (a plastic contraption similar to a lampshade) around his neck, to prevent it from attacking the area further, until the skin begins to heal. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed as well.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Come Up With A Fun Loving Name For Your Dog

 

Naming a dog has to be one of the most delightful parts of getting one. It seems not a year goes by without a new book of dog names being published, including ones that specialize, such as a book on Irish names. We have no fewer than six books of names on our bookshelves, including two that were meant for the parents of human babies, not canine ones.

 

Do you need to keep anything in mind when naming a dog? Yes. Avoid names that sound like common obedience commands. A friend of mine who had worked in Alaska adopted a beautiful husky mix and wanted to name her Sitka, after a place he’d loved visiting. After I pointed out she’d have a hard time telling the difference between “Sitka” and “sit,” he named her “Bella” instead.

 

Keep names short, one or two syllables, and easy to pronounce. I tend to use “people” names for my own pets, but you don’t have to limit yourself. Name books are a good start, but don’t forget atlases or special dictionaries such as those for foreign words or a book of baseball, railroad, gardening, or music terms, if your interests lie in any of those directions.

 

Make your puppy love his name as much as you do by making sure that it has a positive association. Never scream your puppy’s name at him or use it in punishment. The late dog trainer Job Michael Evans used to recommend making up a song with your dog’s name in it and singing to him. Commercial jingles are wonderful for this, he said, because they’re catchy and you can put the pet’s name in where the product is mentioned. 

 

“You Are My Sunshine” becomes “You Are My Andy” (”you make me happy/because you’re gray”) and Benjamin gets regaled with the Monty Python, “Spam” song, with Ben substituted for Spam — “Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben, Wonderful Ben …”

 

Yes, it’s silly. But try it anyway. You’ll both smile. If you have a purebred dog, he’ll have a registered name, too. You get 28 letters and spaces with the American Kennel Club to come up with a registered name for your pet. If you choose a name someone else has already chosen, the AKC issues it along with a number to distinguish your dog’s name from the others, so unless you want your collie to be the AKC’s 897,042th “Lassie,” use all those spaces to come up with something sure to be unique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What If There Is An Emergency With Your Dog & You Are Not There To Help?

 

If someone besides you had to provide care for your dog if an emergency occurred that kept you from doing so, would he or she be able to? Would the person know what, when, and how much your dog eats? Would the person know how often to walk your dog? Would the temporary caregiver know if your dog has any health problems or even who the dog’s veterinarian is?

 

One of the ways you can help a relative, friend, or neighbor give your dog temporary care when you can’t is to make a doggie folder that tracks your dog’s history. The folder should contain descriptions of your dog, up-to-date health information, personality data, and any other useful information that will ensure that he continues to get proper care if you are incapacitated. A folder is also useful to take along if you and your dog are traveling and must obtain emergency veterinary care on the trip.

 

• Designate a specific individual as your dog’s emergency caregiver. Keep the person’s name and phone number in your wallet to be notified if something happens to you.

 

• Place a photo of your dog inside the folder. Be sure the photo is current.

 

• List important information such as the dog’s date of birth, breed, sex, color, and markings.

 

• List your veterinarian’s name, address, and phone number.

 

• Summarize important medical information and keep it current. If you like, place your veterinarian receipts in the folder.

 

• List the dates of annual checkups and vaccinations.

 

• List the dates of spay/neuter or other surgery.

 

• Indicate any medications your dog is taking and how often.

 

• If your dog is battling a long-term illness, track his symptoms and keep the list in the folder.

 

• Make a list of important feeding information that includes number and times of daily feedings; types, brands, and quantities of food; any food allergies or problems, such as certain types or brands causing diarrhea; and the location in your house where the food is kept.

 

• Make a list of any noteworthy behavioral information, such as the dog not liking men or women or children. Describe any problems with other animals or species. List whether your dog has any idiosyncratic bathroom habits, such as not using the bathroom when on a leash.

 

• Make certain your dog’s backup caregiver knows where the folder is kept in the event of an emergency.

 

 

 

What You May Find When Visiting A Clinical Veterinarian

 

Every veterinary practice has a distinct “personality” that influences its clientèle and their pets. From the first call for an appointment, to the contact with receptionists, technicians and doctors, personal impressions are made that influence the way the client anticipates their dog’s treatment. If the reception staff appears relaxed and friendly, and greets clients warmly, taking a moment to explain the forthcoming treatment, clients tend to relax. On the other hand, when the staff appears rushed and harried, or cool and officious, clients tend to respond in kind.

 

While observing the socio-emotional ambiance of hundreds of veterinary practices, researchers have also noted its effects on clients’ dogs. When the staff has a positive attitude, the pets tend to relax. Conversely, when the staff projects a harried, or worried attitude, clients and dogs appear tense. Whether this tension erupts into problems on the treatment table or on the next visit depends on the dog’s ability to adapt to the stress involved. In other words, the general mood of a veterinary practice can profoundly affect the behavior of dogs under treatment.

 

When an owner purchases a pup or adult dog, the veterinarian is usually the first professional consulted. This affords a prime opportunity to educate clients about the owner’s role in preventing or correcting behavior problems, as well as matters of physical health. Many veterinary practitioners now offer “puppy kindergarten classes,” which bring several owner families and pups together for 6 weekly meetings at the clinic. During these meetings, pups are given the chance to socialize with other dogs, adults and children. A veterinary staff member, knowledgeable in behavioral development, can discuss emerging problems and offer effective remedial advice.

 

Special brochures are available to educate dog owners on various aspects of behavior and behavior problems. These brochures address virtually the entire spectrum of behavior problems encountered in dogs from puppy-hood to old age. Some behavior consultants offer telephone consultations to clients who have no personal access to qualified behavioral assistance. An increasing number of veterinarians find that taking a few additional minutes themselves to speak with clients about behavior problems in their dog pays off in increased goodwill, client retention and referrals. This service allows the practitioner to evaluate the problems holistically.

 

Dog owners rarely mismanage their pets with malicious intent. It is usually due to ignorance of the effects of their own feelings and behavior on the dog. Behavior consultants need not attempt psychotherapy of their human clients, trying to improve self-images and bring about personality changes. Rather, the pet behavior consultant’s role is to understand the client’s situation, properly diagnose the problem, and then educate the client concerning the diagnosis and treatment program. This counseling function may readily be fulfilled by any clinical veterinarian who takes the time to study and practice it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newborn Puppies & Weight Gain

 

A healthy newborn may lose weight in the first few days of life but should start to gain weight by the time she is forty-eight hours old. In fact, she should double her birth weight in eight to ten days. A good indicator of a pup’s potential to put on healthy weight is to see if the mother is gaining weight, as this is a sign that she has the nutritional support available to pass on to her litter.

 

A puppy that loses 10 percent or more of her birth weight in the first two days of life and does not start gaining by three days probably will not survive unless she is hand-fed. Learning how to properly hand-feed your puppies is imperative, as mistakes in feeding can result in trouble. A puppy who at birth weighs about 25 percent less than her litter mates should be placed in an incubator and hand-fed. Many underweight puppies can be saved if quick action is taken and their weakness is not complicated by disease or hereditary defects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What To Do If Your Dog Is Having Convulsions

 

Convulsions are an uncommon occurrence in dogs. An episode is more upsetting and dismaying to the owner than the pet. An episode can be caused by a viral infection that has reached the brain, such as distemper, for example. Ear infections, epilepsy, certain parasitic infestations, in addition to other causal factors, can also initiate an episode of convulsions.

 

If a pet convulses, make sure that it is out of harm’s way, and cannot become entangled in furniture or other objects, and it is not up against a wall. When a dog is out of danger, leave it alone. If, however, the animal is in a dangerous site, do not attempt to handle or move it. Cover the dog with a blanket to restrain it from injury. Be certain to keep your fingers and hands (and other portions of your anatomy) away from the dog’s head: dogs often bite actively as they convulse.

 

Any dog that has convulsed requires veterinary attention to determine the cause. Dogs that have convulsed should never be wormed by the owner; under certain conditions, this may cause another episode. Owner-given treatments such as worming or other over-the-counter remedies can, in certain instances, even cause death to the dog that has previously convulsed.

 

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