Boomer in the Tomatoes
Our family circle expanded recently with the arrival of a kindhearted old gentleman. He’s pushing 80, but still thinks he’s a teenager–until his arthritis reminds him of his limitations. We don’t know anything about his “former life,” but we wanted to make his last years on this earth as happy as possible.
And therein lies the mystery. Most people would probably share stories of their life, opening the door to let us peek into their past. Ah, but Boomer isn’t like most people. In fact, he’s not a people at all. He’s 80 pounds of pure love, in the shape of a Golden Retriever.
What makes us do the things we do? Is it nature versus nurture? Or a combination of both? We’re learning things about Boomer that make us even more curious about his past, but offer few answers.
Our other dog, Shadow (a black Lab/Corgi mix), is happy to be her own doorman, letting herself back inside after a romp in the yard. All we have to do is leave the door closed but not latched, and she pushes open the door. (We’re still working on having her close it behind her.)
The first time we let Boomer outside, he came back to the door well enough—he can see where the door is, after all—and then he just stood there with a happy, expectant look on his face. I opened the door a bit to show him it wasn’t latched, but he still just stood there. I opened it halfway and called to him, but his look replied, “You don’t expect me to push the door open, do you? That would be rude!” Ah yes, he’s too much of a gentleman to intrude without an invitation.
We were in the midst of tomato season when Boomer joined us, and I was shocked to discover that he was a vegetable lover—especially fond of tomatoes. His golden-turned-white face now turned a pale shade of green as he browsed among the tomato plants, picking and eating cherry tomatoes at his leisure. As I fixed supper, he watched me hopefully, and greedily downed the two cherry tomatoes I gave him each night. You’d have thought they were the most delicious liver treats in the whole world!
Always anxious to get in on Treat Time, Shadow showed up the first time she heard Boomer eating something in the kitchen. So, I handed her a cherry tomato to try. She sniffed it eagerly, and then glared at me as if to say, “You’ve got to be kidding. Do dogs actually eat these things?”
The other day, I investigated a noise in the spare bedroom, where I found Boomer happily finishing off a big green tomato that I’d brought inside before the first frost, hoping it would ripen a bit. It had been sitting there long enough, Boomer decided, and he couldn’t stand it any longer. Down the hatch!
We like to eat supper in front of the TV (it’s just the two of us, after all), so after kitchen prep is over, we settle in for some “down time.” Boomer liked to keep me company in the kitchen while I fixed supper, but he just stayed there after I left the room. I figured he’d join us when he felt like it. Awhile later, we were startled by a soft little “yelp” from the kitchen. Worried that Boomer’s back legs weren’t letting him get up, I hurried in to investigate. As soon as I appeared, he scrambled to his feet and happily followed me back to the livingroom.
This scenario went on for several nights until I decided to try something new. The next time Boomer yelped from the kitchen, I called, “Come on out, Boomer! Join the party!” Seconds later, his happy, grinning face appeared beside us. Who knew he just needed an invitation? Somewhere in his past, I guess somebody trained him to stay put, even without the “stay” command. He has a memory like an elephant, and he continues to surprise us with his bag of tricks.
If you ever decide to foster or adopt an older dog, keep in mind that he brings with him a whole lifetime of experiences. Just accept him for who he is, and welcome him into your home with loving arms. You’ll never regret it.
A frequent complaint from clients about their dog is:
"But he KNOWS better..."
While I am always diplomatic in these situations and even sympathetic, the truth is that this type of thinking sets dogs up for failure. We not only expect our dogs to be better than dogs; we expect them to be better than humans!
Here is a short list of things that I have done even though, "I know better..."
Roll a stop sign
Bite my nails
Scream at my dog
Pee in a parking lot or public park
Eat cookie dough with raw egg in it
Go to the beach without sunscreen
Drink beer, wine & champagne in the same evening
Use my cell phone while driving
What I would love to say to my clients (if I didn't think it would seem rude, or hurt their feelings) is: "So, what!"
Lets say your dog does KNOW BETTER. Knowing is still just a small part of the equation. There are other/more important factors. Even without morals behavior is mitigated by:
Motivators: Motivation is HUGE. Even a very moral person might steal or lie if they were starving or under threat. Motivation is at the core of debates on torture because if sufficiently motivated you can drastically alter a beings "normal" behavior.
Consequences: The severity of a consequence, or the absence of any consequences CAN matter...but you can't control what is learned.. I got a $300 ticket for not wearing my seatbelt on a 1/4 mile drive to the corner store. Now I always wear my seat belt in small towns. I say CAN matter because despite fairly serious hangovers from partying too hard at weddings I continue to drink too much with old friends and I pay the price the next day.
Experience: There are technically consequences for driving and talking on a cell phone, but my experiences with this have been good. I have not had an accident, nor have I been ticketed... yet!
Setting: Could you explain to an alien from mars why peeing by a tree when camping is OK, but to do so in a public park could result in arrest for public indecency?
So the next time you find yourself thinking: "She knows better..."
Remind yourself, KNOWING just means that you CAN do something;
it has very little to do with the action you take.
This is true for humans; this is true for dogs.
AND, this is why creating good habits with your dog is far, far more important that teaching them to understand your rules, logic and/or potential consequences for not following them.
Pet Product Review - Pet Botanics Training Rewards
As you may know I have a new puppy, his name is Charlie. And I am very proud to say that Charlie has been housetrained in less than two months. In fact he is not an accident in the house, in over one week there is no secret, my training technique is very frequent walks and always rewarding Charlie with a savory treat. The treat I am using this month is premium pork liver Training Reward by Pet Botanics.
What I like about this product is that it's perfectly shaped and sized for one small treats. So this there is no waste and no unnecessary calories. My dog Charlie just seemed to love the taste. Pet Botanics Training Rewards comes in a very convenient resealable of 3.5 oz. They are made in the USA. Always a plus for me. A super premium liver treat for only $3.49.
Order your bag today at: http://www.crazypetshop.com/store/c/4-Treats.aspx
If you have a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com
With being a pet owner comes many responsibility but pets are great companions. If you are a new dog owner then this post is for you. Here are a few tips to make fur parenting a lot easier for the both you & Fido.
1. Teach your dog manners at a young age. Remember dogs crave boundaries and you desire peace in the household. So take charge and remember you are the pack leader, and your dog will follow the pack leader. Teach your dog that misbehaving, nipping & biting, barking incessantly is not good dog etiquette. You may be thinking but my pups to young, but don't be fooled by that cute face. Even very young puppies can be taught the sit/stay, down, and come commands. You can get a good dog training book, watch the Dog Whisperer or enroll you and your pup in obedience school. If you are a proud parent of an adult dog that will need some retraining don't fret. We will be the first to tell you that its never to late to teach an older dog new tricks & the art of good manners.
2. Find your inner pack leader voice. Use voice commands to correct your dog; never hit your dog. You don't want your dog to become a scaredy-cat, no pun intended. Striking a dog only makes him fearful and distrustful of humans & scared of you. You don't want your dog to immediately hide in the closet upon your home arrival, a loving & nurtured dog will be at the dog waiting with wags & licks. Use a high-pitched voice to praise him when he’s being good, and a low, gruff voice to gently scold (never yell) when your dog is misbehaving.
3. Balanced Diet, Nutrition & Checkups are key. We all want our dogs to grow up big, strong & healthy. The key to many happy dog years with your co-pilot is food. Feeding your dog high-quality, human grade, well balanced, delicious dog food chalked full of vitamins & minerals will keep your dog young, active & happy. Pick a commercial dog food that fits your dog breed, size, age & lifestyle that is both good for optimum growth & a strong immune system. Have him checked out by your vet, and regularly as your vet recommends, to catch any potential health problems early.
4. Socialize your dog. Dogs are by their very nature social butterflies and love a good meet, sniff & playtime. By exposing your dog to variety of people, other animals, sights, and sounds at a young age they are less likely to be fearful of new experiences as they grow older. Every dog owner dreams of having a well rounded fur companion and socializing does just that. Take your dog on car rides to fun places at an early age, so he doesn’t learn to associate a car ride with a trip to the vet!
5. Have patience with potty training. Puppies are like children; some take right to potty-training, and sometimes it seems like it’s never going to happen! You can help your puppy become trained more quickly by confining him to a small space, or a crate, when you are not able to supervise him. Clean up all accidents immediately urine & stain removal. It’s a dog’s nature to go in a spot that has been previously soiled with urine or feces, and stained carpeting can greatly hinder your efforts to house break your dog.
7. Fragile, Handle with care. Rough housing with your puppy could do more harm then good, and can trigger aggression. So make sure you don't allow friends or family members to play roughly with your dog. You don't won't your dog nipping at the hand that feeds him or shy away when you want to cuddle with him. A dog who is shy of being touched will be difficult to handle when getting groomed or checked by a vet.
8. Dog Proof your home. Protect your dog from household hazards. Just like small kids, dogs are curious and can get into anything. Make sure to look around the house & yard for potential hazards. Keep electrical cords tucked away where they can’t be reached & chewed. Place household cleaners and chemicals on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet. Avoid houseplants and landscape plants that may be toxic to your dog. Pick up small toys or other small objects that may be a choking hazard. Your dog’s safety is your responsibility!
We would also like to add that if you and your family are considering getting a new dog don't forget to checkout your local animal shelters & rescues. Pet adoption is the ultimate form of recycling. There are some beautiful & well deserving dogs that need a home. I know what you are thinking, "But we won't a new dog with a clean slate". We can agree that puppies are adorable and with a puppy comes a clean slate. But don't forget to consider leaving out a welcome mat for a sheltered pup & older dog.
twitter.com/PawLuxury
Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member.
Teach your dog to TAKE-A-BOW!
Many of my clients dogs have a hard time playing with and interacting with other dogs. These dogs often play well with well-known, "buddy-dogs" and demonstrates good play-skills in comfortable situations, but do poorly with new dogs or in new places.
With work the dog can learn to meet and greet the novel dogs without being inappropriate, but there is often no play. In these cases the dog-in-training often starts getting jumped by the other dogs (in a not so friendly way). This happens after the Meet-&-Greet, because the dog-in-training sniffs a hello and then just stands there stiffly. This is awkward and invites aggressiion -a sort of preemptive strike against the dog who is standing stiffly and giving everyone the willies.
In these cases teaching a PLAY-BOW can bridge the gap between meeting and becoming friends. It gives the dog-in-training something to do (besides standing awkwardly). Furthermore, despite its trained-awkwardness it gives the other dogs something to do too -they can respond with more playfulness.
How To Teach A Play-Bow
Dog is standing...
1. Take a small treat and place it on your dogs nose.
2. Let your dog smell and lick at the treat, but don't let them eat it.
3. Slowly, very SLOWLY move the treat from your dog's nose in a straight-line down to the floor (right between your dogs front paws).
4. If your dog bends her elbows (even a little) while her tail-end is still in the air (not a down), praise and treat your dog.
If your dog's bottom flops to the ground, pull the treat away, stand-up and move away form your dog. Wait until your dog is standing to begin again.
5. Keep doing this for 5 or 10 minutes everyday until your dog easily goes into the position shown above.
NOW ADD THE COMMAND
a. Call it something cute! I like: "Go play" or "New Friend"
b. Say this new phrase or the word, BOW
c. Then pause.... wait 10-15 seconds.
d. Now give your dog a HINT: lure the trick.
If your dog does it, praise and treat your dog.
e. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
f. When your dog finally does this after the command and BEFORE the hint, JACKPOT your dog with 7 or 8 treats all at once!
g. Repeat some more.
h. Take it on the road; try it outside with no dogs around.
Don't be surprised if your dog needs a review in new places or once dogs are around.
Include a picture of YOUR DOG'S PLAY-BOW.
Comment below & send the pic to: kelley@dogEvolve.com
Nicole's dog CLOVER
