I will remember that my dog comes from a long line of beggars, scroungers, and clever food-finding survivalists.

I will not hold this survival skill (one my ancestors liked and bred to keep) against my dog.

I will not expect my dog to feign a mere casual interest in food.  

I will try to understand that to my dog, walking around with food (aka: holding an ice cream cone or a sandwich) is practically inviting them to share.  If we wanted to keep it to ourselves we would surely behave this way; bring our food to a quiet corner, hunker down, and eat it quickly! 

I will try to remember that putting food down, or leaving food unattended is the same as putting out an all-points-bulletin "UN-NEEDED, UN-WANTED FOOD!"

Take Home Message: Dogs like food.  Dog's like food a lot.  Dog's don't beg; they ask with their eyes!

This question came as a comment from the following post.

DECEMBER 27, 2008, 8:57 AM

My rescue dog is a large German Shepherd surrendered to a shelter by her owner in California. She is a good dog and smart but has never been trained. She had a computer name only so does not know her new name. I want her to come when I call her. She has never had treats. She takes them then drops them. I take her and my other rescue dog on walks on a leash but can not trust either to come back if they were loose. Any ideas. Thanks.

For your rescue GS I would recommend the following:

Pet Products Review - Jet Blue - Jet Paws Pet Airline Travel Program

If you've been reading my blog, you will have figured out by now my two passions in life are my pets and traveling.  I swear every single last dollar goes to either the pets or travel.  To combine the two is wonderful.  That's why I applaud Jet Blue.  They're making it easy, safe and rewarding to travel with your pet.

JetBlue Airways just today announced the Jet Paws program as an "in-cabin", yes "in cabin" program that lets you and your jetset small cat or dog travel in style. 

Best of all, your pet earns travel points.  So, now when my friend Soo Jin brings her Yorkie named Chanel to visit me in New York, both Soo Jin and Chanel earn points.  Who can pass up double miles???? Not me, it just makes dog-gone sense.  After all earning more points was the driving factor in which Jet Paws was built on.

Go to http://jetblue.com/jetpaws  for more information.  There you will find a comprehensive Pet Travel Guide along with a Pet Travel Checklist.  Read both! And while you're there, up load a picture of your pet for the JetBlue Pet Look-Alike photo contest. 

To complete the ensemble of travel, and luxury, Jet Blue is working with famous New York Post celebrity columnist Cindy Adams to design the Jet Paws travel carrier and ammenities kit. 

Please keep in mind that inorder for a program like Jet Paws to work Jet Blue has to set up some rules to make the experience for all travelers a smooth ride.

Here are some of the JetBlue limitations:

• JetBlue accepts up to four small cats or dogs in the cabin of the aircraft on both domestic and international flights.
• The combined weight of the pet and carrier may not exceed 20 pounds.
• Only one pet is allowed per customer and the pet carrier does count as one personal carry-on item.
• For the safety and comfort of all customers, pets must remain in the closed carrier at the airport and in-flight for the entire duration of the trip.
• To book a pet, customers must call the reservations team at 1-800-JETBLUE.

Happy travels!  Send me comments on how your trip went!  Pictures too!

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Before your puppy reaches 4-months of age they should be comfortable having food, toys, and food items (bones, kongs, bowls) taken away.  This training is most successful when started early.  Ideally the puppy’s owner’s/guardian’s will encourage a wide variety of people to participate in these exercises daily until the puppy is 6-months to 1-year of age.

Sleep-Startle:  Letting your dog sleep on the couch, bed, or chairs does not make your dog a location-guarder.  Dog's who are genetically or behaviorally prone to guarding can and will learn to guard whatever they have access to, such as their dog bed.  Preventing guarding is not possible using management only (i.e. never letting your dog on the couch).  

I am especially prone to do these exercises with dog breeds that sleep deeply and get dug-into locations.  Hounds are notorious for liking warm, snugly locations and for disliking being disturbed while sleeping.  To prevent your dog from guarding locations you will need to complete several exercises including teaching your dog to LOVE being startled awake.

• Wait until your dog is sleeping soundly.
• Toss a pillow, sock, or other soft object at your dog's body.
• As soon as it hits your dog, cheer wildly.
• While cheering begin making your way to the cookie jar.
• Give your dog (or toss a treat if they did not move).  Make sure the treat is something really, really special.  I suggest dried meat, cheese, or a very, very large tasty dog treat that is soft and stinky.
• Repeat this often until your dog practically wags his tail and charges to the cookie jar once startled awake.
• Try loud noises next.
• Try petting your dog while it sleeps.
• Never punish growling.  If your dog ever growls, stiffens, snarls, or stares at you, contact a trainer immediately.

Bowl-Approach:  Teach your dog that people, hands, and faces (especially if you have kids) that approach their bowl are a good thing!  Dogs GUARD valuable things.  All dogs are natural guarders unless they have been deliberately bred to have less guarding.  Even with careful breeding genetic variations are a natural occurrence and it would not be impossible for two non-guarding dogs to produce some puppies that have a higher propensity to guard.  Punishment a dog for guarding will VERY LIKELY make the guarding worse.  Instead, plan ahead and begin some prevention exercises when your puppy is still young.

• When your puppy is eating, approach the food bowl and drop a tasty treat into the bowl.
• Then walk away.
• Repeat 2-3 times during the same meal.
• Repeat this until your dog wags her tail as she sees you approach.  This may take 10-20 feedings.
• Make sure your puppy is giving you a loose, wiggly, wag!
• When you are confident that your puppy likes this game, change the rules.
• Approach the bowl and add nothing.
• Approach again, touch your puppy, Feed!
• Approach again, and DO NOT TOUCH your puppy, non food.
• Repeat this every time you feed your puppy, until your pup only gets excited when you pet her.
• Change the rules again.  Push your puppy's head away from the bowl, FEED!
• Approach again, but only pet your puppy's back.  No Food!
• Approach again, push and feed.

Object-exchange:  When your dog has a toy, they should be willing to let you take their toy.  Growling is OK in play, but should not be accompanied by a stiff body, hard stare or any snarling (teeth show).  One great way to teach your dog to drop an item on request is by playing tug!  In addition to playing tug, teach your dog to LOVE having objects taken away.

• When your dog has a toy or bone approach your dog with a treat or another favorite toy.
• Temp your dog with the food or the "live" ball that you have.
• As soon as your dog drops their bone or toy, praise them.
• Reward your dog with a short game of tug or with the food treat immediately.
• Repeat often.
• When your dog catches on to this game, add a command.  Drop, Leave, Out are all common names for this command.  Say the command then tempt your dog.  If they get it right, praise and reward.
• If they do not drop the toy, walk away.  Try again.

Bone/Kong Swap: Feeding a dog with a Kong is a great way to make food-time into a energy burner.  I like to stuff all of my dogs daily calories into Kongs and to feed several Kongs each day.  Kongs are a great way to keep my puppies, busy, quiet and out of trouble.  Because the Kong is a valuable toy & a food-delivery device, dogs can become possessive over theirs Kongs.  Teach your dog that when you take the Kong, it is worth it!

• While your puppy is eating her kong, take the Kong away.
• Go to your kitchen and add something extra tasty to the top of the Kong -cream cheese, chicken baby food, peanut butter...
• Return the improved Kong to your pup.

Couch-Removal:  I like to teach dogs to LOVE being grabbed by the collar.  This is especially important for a dogs safety and for good relations in the home.  I do allow my dogs on my bed, couch, and other furniture.  The only rule is that they must get off if asked and they must tolerate my pushing and pulling them around and out of my way.

• Grab your puppy's collar and lead them 1-2 steps in any direction.
• Praise your pup the entire time.
• Then give your puppy a yummy treat.
• Repeat over and over again.
• Gently nudge your puppy with your feet, praise & treat!
• Say, "Off!" then grab your pup's collar.
• Guide them gently off the couch and praise them.
• Give your dog a treat.
• Never punish your dog if they growl!
• Contact a certified trainer immediately if your puppy growls or snaps at you.

Pet Products Review - The William Wegman Collection Dog Bed - Exclusively at Hilton Hotels

Every receive a package in the mail, a big luxury gift that you simply adore, and is perfect for your home and lifestyle.  Well, I received exactly this kind of gift from Hilton Hotels. 

You may remember a few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about the new pet friendly policies at Hilton Hotels.  I was impressed at the fact this team of busy executives really understood the importance we pet lovers place on the comfort of our pets while we travel.  Well they asked if I would test out their new and exclusive dog bed that is used in the hotels.  Well, I certainly can not call this a sample, it was a gift, and one that is thoroughly enjoyed.  What a bed!  Its gorgeous!

But what can you say, the bed and the entire pet collection was designed for Hilton Hotels by famed photographer William Wegman.  The William Wegman Collection uses Crypton Fabrics features a pattern of the cutest little doggies.  My photos do not do it justice.  Crypton fabric is super easy-to-clean and permanently resist spills, stains, moisture and odors. Bed fabrics Turquoise and Walnut and you can choose from three pillow sizes (small, medium and large). Each cover is removable and machine washable (line dry only).  Hilton Hotels sent me the Walnut color, and I have to tell you, I feel like a professional decorator selected the bed because it matches perfectly with my walnut bedroom furniture and blue Tibetan area rug.  

As for comfort, Champ climbs into the bed every night enthusiastically for a content night's sleep.  And during the day, the bad is taken over by Stinky my cat, who loves the luxurious William Wegman Dog Bed for hours.

Go to www.hiltontohome.com to see the entire collection for pets and home.  At $140 per bed, not only is it supremely stylish, its very reasonably prices.

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