Archive: August 30, 2022

Woman sues dog Whisperer Cesar Millan after dog attack

“Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan is being sued by a woman who claims she was attacked by a dog released from Millan’s training center, according to the L.A. Times.

Alison Bitney claims she suffered “disfiguring open wounds, deep muscle and tendon lacerations” and bone fractures from the attack that happened in September, six days after the dog was released from Millan’s dog Psychology Center, according to the article.

My thought was, why doesn’t she sue the dog’s owner?

From the L.A. Times:

Attorneys for Alison Bitney said in the complaint that she permanently lost feeling and function in her left hand after the attack at the dog owner’s home in Santa Clarita. She is seeking punitive damages.

Jen Woodard, the director of the dog Psychology Center, said in a statement that Millan never had contact with the dog and never trained the animal.

She said the dog’s owner had removed the pit bull “against the strong advice and objection of his trainer.” After the attack, the pit bull was returned to this center where it was placed in quarantine, Woodard said.

Full story

Image from Cesar Millan’s public Facebook page (not the same dog from the story).

ADAPTIL® for Dogs afraid of Fireworks

I hope your pet dog isn’t terrified of fireworks or thunderstorms, but regrettably this is a common problem this time of year.

If your pet dog has a concern of fireworks or thunder, one product that can help is called ADAPTIL® for Dogs.

ADAPTIL® is created to minimize a dog’s anxiety using pet dog appeasing pheromones. The product can help your pet dog feel safe in stressful or scary situations.

This post is sponsored by Ceva animal Health. Ceva is the maker of ADAPTIL®.

My pet dog Remy the weimaraner

I’m thankful my weimaraner Remy does not seem to be afraid of fireworks or other loud noises, but I also know the fourth of July and other holidays cause a lot of anxiety and anxiety for some dogs and as a result their owners!

ADAPTIL® pet dog appeasing pheromones – how it works

ADAPTIL® mimics the natural pet dog appeasing pheromone dogs know from birth. It can help them feel safe and safe in their environment during stressful situations.

These odorless messages are only perceived by dogs. They work outside the body and can affect the behavior of others of its species.

*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.

ADAPTIL Calm home Diffuser

It is available in several easy-to-use formats including:

• ADAPTIL® travel Spray – can be applied to your dog’s bedding or a bandana (like Remy is wearing in the pics)• ADAPTIL® Calm On-the-Go Collar – good for travel• ADAPTIL® Calm home Diffuser – for at home during storms, fireworks, etc. (shown above)

It is available through various veterinarians’ offices, PetSmart and Amazon (aff links above). A prescription is not required.

Signs your pet dog is afraid of fireworks

Remy looking afraid … but he’s not really

ADAPTIL® is created to help dogs feel a lot more safe and must minimize or stop stress-related behaviors.

If your pet dog is terrified of thunder or fireworks, some of the behaviors you might see include:

Panting
Whining, barking or howling
Pacing
Yawning or “flicking” their tongue
Pawing at you
Digging” or clawing at the floor
Trying to hide
More drooling than normal
Shaking/trembling
Having accidents
Refusing to eat
Destroying property

Every pet dog is different and some dogs show a lot more extreme signs of concern or anxiety than others.

Besides helping a pet dog feel safe during fireworks, ADAPTIL® can also help a pet dog with other issues such as:

Separation anxiety
Visiting the vet
Adjusting to a new home
Stress around visitors in the home
Travel anxiety

What to do if your pet dog is afraid of fireworks

If your pet dog is afraid of fireworks, I suggest the following:

ADAPTIL®: try the ADAPTIL® travel Spray (pictured below) or the ADAPTIL® Calm home Diffuser for your dog. The spray can be applied directly to their bedding or to a bandana. The diffuser can be set up in a room where your pet dog usually spends his time such as next to his pet dog bed or a kennel/crate.

Plenty of exercise. This is not going to remove your dog’s concern but the less pent-up energy he has, the much easier it will be for him to relax. See my post: pet dog exercise tips.

Food-dispensing toys. give your pet dog a high-value chew toy or bone such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and frozen or a large bully stick. Some dogs will not accept these kinds of treats if they are afraid but for others it can be a good distraction.

Safe/secure place to hide. I recommend you stay home with your pet dog if you know there will be fireworks. supply him with a safe, safe place to hide out such as a pet dog bed in the corner of a central room or a kennel/crate if he usually feels safe there.

Background noise: often it can help to supply some background noise or “white noise” such as an air conditioner or a loud fan, music or a TV.

*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.

We often hear about dogs showing a concern of fireworks, but cats can also be afraid of the noise.

See our post: What to do if your pet dog is afraid of fireworks

FELIWAY® for Cats – concern of fireworks or thunder

You do not hear of cats being terrified of fireworks nearly as often as dogs, and that’s probably because cats don’t show such evident signs. They might hide out in a quiet corner of the house vs. running around barking and panting.

My cat Scout is a sensitive guy!

FELIWAY® helps sensitive cats who are afraid of loud noises. The product mimics the natural cat facial pheromone used by cats to mark their territory as safe, according to Ceva. For this reason, it can help cats feel a lot more safe when taking care of stress.

Some cat owners use FELIWAY® classic when traveling or moving with their cats or if they add a second cat to the family (See FELIWAY® MultiCat).

FELIWAY® is available in the following formats:

• FELIWAY® classic Spray – Can be applied to your cat’s bedding• FELIWAY® classic Diffuser – for in the home• FELIWAY® MultiCat Diffuser – helps to minimize tension and conflict between household cats or foster cats• FELISCRATCH by FELIWAY® – for re-directing scratching to the scratching post

A picture of Beamer because we miss him!

Do you have any questions about ADAPTIL® or FELIWAY®?

Let me know in the comments!

Please share this post with any individual who could benefit from ADAPTIL®. thank you!

Here is a short video we made about ADAPTIL®:

*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.

Related posts:

Our first post about ADAPTIL®

Helping a pet dog with separation anxiety

Medications for dogs during fireworks

Does Benadryl help a dog’s anxiety?

10 ways to get your pet dog to come when called

Does your pet dog come when called, only to run right up to you as well as dart away again? Or does she come to you as well as run by you? Or perhaps she just totally ignores you, or comes if she feels like it. right here are 10 things to think about while training your pet dog to come when called:

1. teach your pet dog that come means “come as well as sit in front of me.”

It’s not great sufficient if Ace runs to me when I call him, as well as then promptly runs away again. In a controlled recall, the pet dog will come when called as well as then sit. It is simple to teach a pet dog to do this. When you call your dog, don’t praise her until she is sitting in front of you. (2019 update: Ace has passed away.)

2. only call your pet dog when you are 90 percent sure she will come.

I don’t call Ace unless I understand he will obey. If I let him get away with ignoring me, he will discover that listening to me is optional. Don’t provide your pet dog this option. only call her when you understand she will respond, or if you can enforce it immediately. She may have to be on a leash or a long rope, or inside the home when you practice the recall, however that’s much better than trying to teach a pet dog that already thinks she can do whatever she wants.

3. only call your pet dog when she will get something positive.

Ace usually doesn’t like going in his kennel, so when it’s time for him to go in it, I don’t call him first. Don’t call your pet dog just since you want her to come to you. If she hates having her nails trimmed, don’t call her first. just go as well as get her. save practicing the recall for things your pet dog loves, like a walk, food, a cars and truck ride or your attention.

Also see my post: exactly how to get your pet dog to come when called

4. never call your pet dog as well as then punish her if she doesn’t come to you instantly.

I am guilty of scolding my pet dog when he lastly ran to me after I’d called him five or six times. I was so upset at him for not coming quick enough. However, it was my own error in the very first place for calling him at a time when I might not enforce the recall. It sounds obvious, however never show rage or irritation when a pet dog isn’t responding quick enough. Not doing anything at all is much better than yelling at a dog.

5. keep pet dog treats in your pockets at all times.

My mommy nearly always has pet dog treats in her pocket, as well as her springer comes when called 95 percent of the time or better. If you can provide your pet dog a treat every time she comes, she will be a lot more likely to always listen to you.

6. discover that one thing your pet dog loves as well as use that when you teach him to come when called.

If your pet dog is obsessed with a tennis sphere like my mutt, then use that when you are practicing the recall. use whatever it is that your pet dog will come for no matter what, whether it’s food, a toy, your attention, going for a walk or a cars and truck ride.

7. never chase your pet dog after you call him.

No matter what, do not chase your dog, even when you aren’t practicing the recall. If you chase your dog, she will discover that running away is fun! If anything, run in the opposite direction as well as she will most likely end up chasing you. until your pet dog will come reliably, just keep her on a long rope.

8. Make calling your pet dog a game.

If I call Ace as well as then run in the other direction screaming “Wooo hoooooo!!” he is guaranteed to come running after me, drool flying as well as tail wagging. It’s not that I have to do this every time, however playing this game now as well as then means Ace will associate the recall with fun as well as games.

Try something like this with your dog. get her to chase you, or call her name as well as then hide in one more room. really make a huge offer when she comes to you. My husband and I will play catch as well as call Ace back as well as forth between us. try this with your dog, whether you use a sphere or not. call her back as well as forth between yourself as well as a household member or friend. She will love all the attention.

9. think about your tone of voice when you call your dog.

With Ace, I have to either use a firm, serious voice or a really excited voice to get the best response for the recall. people often make the error of calling their pet dog too softly or with a high-pitched voice.

Does this sound familiar? “Come right here baby! Come here! Come to Mommy!” Others sound too mean. just be conscious of your voice. Usually, a relaxed, serious voice is best, however every pet dog is different.10. Don’t stop practicing the recall.

Even once your pet dog comes 95 percent of the time, keep practicing.

How do you practice teaching your pet dog to come when called?

Let us understand in the comments!

How to stop a canine From Barking in the morning

how to stop a canine from barking in the morning.

Many dogs and puppies are thrilled to get out of their kennels in the mornings. They bark or scratch anxiously at their kennel doors.

My former foster canine Barkley was a good example of a canine who didn’t make a peep until he knew I was awake.

The problem was, once he knew I was awake he got really thrilled and started whining. I’m sure he anticipated seeing my canine Ace and going for our morning walk. This anticipation put him into an anxious frenzy.

I had a strict guideline where I did not let Barkley out of his kennel unless he was quiet. but the longer I waited for Barkley to calm down, the much more anxious he became. He didn’t know how to calm himself. He just whined much more and more. His anxiety increased until he was panting heavily, shaking and getting much more worked up.

Plus, his whining frustrated me. A lot. I like my mornings to be relaxing.

So what ought to a canine owner do to stop a canine from barking in the morning?

We all know it’s best to disregard a canine when he barks. It’s not a behavior we want to reward.

I wanted to disregard Barkley’s whining in the morning, but he needed to get outside, eat and opt for a walk.

Here’s the trick:

Quietly get up and let the canine out of his kennel before he starts whining. That way you reward him for being quiet.

Barkley’s whining was triggered by the sound of me walking around when I woke up. I needed to remove that trigger.

Some dogs start barking at a certain time every morning, regardless of hearing their owners or not. If that is the case with your dog, you can still get up a few minutes earlier and let him out before he barks. That’s better than letting him out once he’s already barking.

Once you let the canine out for a potty break, it’s up to you whether you want to put him back in his kennel or let him be loose.

I chose to put Barkley back in his kennel while I went about my morning routine. He whined, but that was fine. I ignored him until he shut up. There was no urgency to get him out because he had already gone to the bathroom. He used to whine for 20 minutes but that decreased over time.

I recommend giving your canine a treat like a Kong filled with peanut butter when you put him back in his kennel. That is a good habit, especially if you plan on going back to bed on a Saturday morning.

Reward the puppy when he is quiet!

When Barkley whined in his kennel throughout the day, I completely ignored him. He did not have to get outside just because I got home or just because I wanted to walk my own canine Ace. Barkley could wait.

The challenging part is identifying how long to wait before you let the canine out. You want the canine to be quiet, but for how long?

It depends on the dog, his level of anxiety and the exact situation.

My idea is to pre-determine the amount of time your canine has to be quiet before you let him out. Stick with that for a day or two, and slowly increase the time.

If you are handling a very anxious dog, then start small. require him to be quiet for five seconds. Yes, seconds! literally count in your head slowly to five. If the canine whines while you are counting, start over. If the canine can’t calm down, then you may need to shorten the time to three seconds.

Barkley could be a very anxious guy, but he did calm down if I ignored him and did other things. Ideally, I waited until he was completely calm and I hadn’t heard any panting or whining for at least five minutes. in some cases the whining started again as soon as he heard me get a leash or put on my coat. So then I ignored him until he calmed down again.

I am fortunate to have a flexible schedule where I come and go throughout the day. I could plan Barkley’s schedule accordingly. I understand when you are pressed for time you can’t wait forever for a canine to stop yapping. In those cases it’s best if you can still wait for a pause in the whining, even if it’s just a few seconds.

With an anxious dog, you really do have to work in small steps. If your puppy was quiet today for five seconds, then try for 10 seconds tomorrow and 15 seconds the next day.

It’s frustrating, and it takes a lot of patience. count on me, I know.

Unfortunately, getting upset and yelling “No!” at the canine is not going to do much good. many dogs whine because they want your attention. If you return and tell them “No!” that’s typically enough of a reward to encourage the behavior.

So take a deep breath, stay calm and ignore!

What if the canine never stops whining?

I met with a trainer to get some ideas on Barkley’s issues. I asked her what to do when the canine won’t stop crying.

I liked her suggestion:

If you have to get the canine out of the kennel and he’s been whining nonstop for several minutes, go to him and have him “watch” or “sit” on command. even if he’s been whining for 10 minutes, he will associate the reward for what he just did (eye contact or sit).

Barkley and I also attended a training class with Abby Cline of Pawsitive Vybe. She said if the canine doesn’t know the command for “watch” or “sit” quite yet, wait for him to do the behavior on his own. mark the behavior with “yes!’ and reward.

Following these suggestions, Barkley learned that nothing happens when he scratches at his kennel door. nothing happens when he whines, either. Instead, he learned to sit in the back of his kennel politely and wait for me to open the door.

Barkley made lots of progress. Although he’s one of those dogs who believes he is the center of the universe, he learned the rest of us think otherwise.

Check out my ebook on how to stop your canine from crying

I wrote an ebook on how to stop your canine from crying and barking when left alone. check it out here. The price is $4.

What suggestions do the rest of you have for teaching a canine not to cry or whine in his kennel?

Let me know in the comments!

Check out this post if you think your canine has separation anxiety as well as my post on how to stop a dog’s barking.

*This post includes affiliate links.

10 things to look for when selecting a vet

When moving to a new location, I like to discover a vet who satisfies the needs of my pets the best. When I transferred to Fargo, I selected a vet however then changed to one more since I was dissatisfied with the first. right here are some things I think about when selecting a vet.

1. exactly how far am I willing to drive?The vet I take Ace to is less than a mile from my apartment. We might walk there if we wanted. distance is important to me since with a hectic routine I don’t want to squander a half-hour driving to an appointment. I’d rather spend five minutes getting there. This is likewise practical when spur-of-the-moment needs come up such as swinging in to buy ear cleaner or getting Ace in that morning for an visit before work.

2. Is it open on weekends?Ace’s vet is open every other Saturday as well as closed on Sundays. This has been an inconvenience when or twice, however luckily they were nonemergencies. most vets in our area are closed on weekends, with the exception of the ER. So for me, this didn’t rule out Ace’s present vet. However, being open on weekends would be a plus. If your vet is closed on weekends or at night, make sure you understand where to take your dog during an emergency.

3. What breeds/animals does the vet specialize in?
Some vets treat all domestic animals such as horses as well as sheep. Others only treat dogs as well as cats. Although all dogs share the exact same fundamental health and wellness needs, specific breeds have unique issues. It would be suitable to have a vet who has a great deal of experience with your specific breed. For example, if you have bulldogs, it would be perfect to have a vet who has bulldogs since she would be more experienced dealing with the health and wellness problems bulldogs deal with such as respiratory issues or overheating.

4. exactly how does the vet interact with my dog? exactly how about with me?
Ace’s vet gets down on the floor to examine him, so Ace never has to sit on the steel table. She pets him, talks calmly to him as well as offers him treats. He likes going to the vet since he has never had a bad experience there. Of course, most vets like animals, however some interact with them much better than others. I look for a calm vet who doesn’t get excessively excited, therefore making my dog excessively excited or nervous. The character of my dog’s vet should be compatible with my dog. If I had an assertive otter hound, a small, timid vet would not work well. however this exact same vet may be perfect if I had a fearful silky terrier.

A vet should likewise have people skills, no matter exactly how great she is with animals. The number one reason I have changed vets is since of their disinterest in me. The very first vet I dealt with in Fargo acted as though she did not have more than five minutes of spare time, which she most likely didn’t. She never paused to ask if I had questions, as well as when I asked anyway, she offered short, unhelpful responses. I appreciate when a vet really explains my dog’s issues as well as provides time for me to ask questions. When Ace went in this winter for reoccurring ear infections, his vet talked with me about all the possible triggers such as rolling as well as sticking his head in the snow, food allergies or me not cleaning his ears commonly enough. She did not make me feel like an idiot, as well as she made me feel like my dog as well as I mattered to her.

5. exactly how clean is the facility?A building that holds a great deal of dogs is not always going to odor pretty, however the vet as well as personnel should make some effort to keep the building as clean as possible. A clean, comfortable waiting area shows the vet cares about very first impressions as well as a great reputation. The examination spaces should likewise be clean.

6. exactly how will the vet be at the end of my dog’s life?
The time will come when I will have to choose if it’s right to end Ace’s life. This is when having a vet I trust will be the most important. I will be crying as well as second guessing my choices. A great vet will calmly go over all options, eventually letting the dog owner make the decision. When my golden retriever, Brittni, was euthanized, her vet made my household as well as I extremely comfortable with our choice. She was there to response all our concerns as well as offered to find to our house to care for Brittni when she was the sickest. She made herself offered by phone 24 hours a day as well as explained the whole process of euthanizing a dog before it happened. She provided us hugs as well as showed my household true empathy. I keep in mind as well as admire this vet more than any type of of the others I’ve worked with.

7. request recommendations.
Kennels, breeders, humane societies as well as fellow dog owners will provide you their honest opinions on regional vets if you just ask. people are happy to promote services they like. They are likewise quick to let you understand of a poor experience. Take advantage of this. chatting at the dog park is a excellent location to start.

8. What other services does the vet offer?
It’s practical to be able to take care of vaccinations, board your dog or have it groomed all in one facility. Plus, sometimes you can get a discount rate for utilizing more than one service.

9. exactly how big is the facility?
Part of the issue with the very first vet I utilized was the vet’s disinterest in my pets as well as I. She just had as well many clients as well as understood nothing about us. Plus, we had to make visits weeks ahead of time. Now, at a smaller facility, Ace’s vet keeps in mind us (or at least evaluations all our info beforehand) as well as understands what is unique about Ace. As a result, he gets much better care.

10. inspect the prices.Certain vets in the exact same area will fee more. In Fargo alone, when my boyfriend was trying to discover a vet to neuter his cat, costs for the procedure ranged from about $60 to $150. For me, costs are not the choosing factor, however there is no reason to pay twice as much if I don’t have to. Ace’s present vet charges less than his last, mainly since of the location. His very first vet was in a busier area of town as well as turned new clients away daily. The business was able to fee more since people would pay more.

Ultimately, my dog’s vet should not be somebody I settle for. It should be somebody I can have a connection with over my dog’s life. If you are not completely happy with your dog’s vet, look into other options. A vet’s task is to provide us with excellent service. There are a great deal of excellent vets out there, as well as your dog deserves the best.

What do you believe makes a great vet?