Archive: August 16, 2022

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?

Is garlic good for dogs?

Is garlic safe for dogs?

I started adding raw garlic to my dogs’ raw meals a few times per week when I learned about its lots of benefits. My dogs eat a raw meat diet, but you can add garlic to your dog’s cooked meals as well, including dry pet dog food.

I always thought garlic was a food that must never be offered to dogs. After all, the lists of foods that are poisonous to dogs on Pinterest say so!

So what made me reconsider garlic for my dogs?

I admit it never occurred to me to question the Internet hype, much like I didn’t question feeding highly processed pet dog food for over 3 years.

But then I saw a tweet by raw pet food brand Darwin’s natural Pet that shared an post about the benefits of raw garlic for dogs. It was written by Dr. Deva Khalsa, a holistic veterinarian who has over 30 years of experience in her field.

Here is a video where Khalsa talks about the details:

That theoretic “aha” moment was followed by a a lot more functional one when I noticed garlic on the ingredient list of a dehydrated bag of pet dog food I bought for the pups (Sojo’s pre-mix).

I figured if a holistic veterinarian and two respectable brands of species-appropriate pet dog food were on the same page as far as garlic for dogs, it would be safe to start giving some to my pups on a regular basis.

Can dogs eat garlic?

Yes, and it’s actually healthy for dogs! here are some of the benefits of feeding garlic to your dog.

Benefits:

According to Khalsa, garlic is healthy for your pet dog because garlic contains:

Anti-cancer properties
Anti-microbial properties
Anti-bacterial properties
Anti-fungal properties
Anti-parasitic properties

It’s crucial to understand that the natural compound Allicin is responsible for all of these benefits, Khalsa said in her video (above). Allicin, however, is only released in chopped or minced garlic and does not occur in whole cloves of garlic.

Yes, garlic is safe for dogs!

How to serve raw garlic to your dog:

How to feed your pet dog garlic if you feed raw pet dog food:

Khalsa recommends cutting or chopping the garlic up finely or mincing it with a garlic press. Then, let the garlic sit for 10 to 20 minutes before feeding it to your dog. You can just mix it ideal in with your dog’s normal food. letting the garlic sit for 20 mins first allows the Allicin to reach its full health potential.

I like to just mix in the garlic with my dog’s raw food. If your pup is incredibly picky and eats around the garlic, try wrapping the garlic in a piece of raw liver, some cheese or whatever else your pet dog loves.

If he’s still not eating the garlic, throw it in a blender with some raw food and mix it into a purée. That must do the trick!

Adding garlic to your dog’s homemade cooked food:

If you cook your dog’s meals, you could go ahead and sauté his food in garlic and some olive oil (or whichever oil you cook with) and then serve his food the way you usually would.

How to add garlic to a dog’s dry food:

If you feed a dry pet dog food kibble diet, your pet dog will probably not eat the garlic you sprinkle on top of his food, but it’s always worth a shot. I would try mixing it in with his food first. If he refuses to eat it that way, you could wrap his garlic in a slice of turkey breast or cheese, or any other treat he usually gobbles up quickly!

You can also add some chopped garlic to a batch of homemade bone broth for your dog!

How much raw garlic is safe for dogs?

Dogs can eat 1-3 cloves of garlic per day, depending on body weight

Dogs can eat roughly 1 clove of raw (or cooked) garlic per 20 lb of pet dog weight per day.

I got this information from Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a veterinarian and author of the book, “Complete guide to natural health for Dogs & Cats.”

Pitcairn says it’s ok to give a 1/2 clove of garlic for every 10 pounds. I think it’s simpler to say 1 clove for every 20 pounds (same math).

Safe garlic dosage for dogs per day:

20 pound dog: 1 clove of garlic per day
40 pound dog: 2 cloves of garlic per day
60 pound: 3 cloves of garlic per day

If you’re not sure about whether or not to give your pet dog garlic, I recommend you talk with your dog’s vet or look into Pitcairn’s book.

My pet dog Missy weighed around 50 lbs and so I gave her about 2.5 cloves of garlic per day. I will say that I didn’t feed her garlic every single day simply because I didn’t always have fresh garlic in my pantry. I tried to feed it several times per week.

Is garlic bad for dogs?

No, garlic is not bad for dogs. However, make sure not to feed a lot more than the recommended amount of garlic.

If garlic is fed in excessive amounts, it can cause anemia, which is a drop in red blood cells. However, according to Khalsa (she mentions this in her video on garlic above), these amounts would genuinely have to be excessive in order to be able to have this effect on a dog’s red blood cells.

She said you would have to feed a 75-pound golden retriever 75 to 150 cloves of garlic in one sitting to see these negative effects of garlic in a dog! Now, undoubtedly none of us are doing that!

Can dogs eat garlic seasoning or powdered garlic?

Garlic seasoning will not harm a pet dog but it does not have the same health benefits as raw garlic.

Remember that the natural compound found in garlic, Allicin, is responsible for the plethora of health benefits. It only occurs when the garlic clove has been crushed or cut up.

So, powdered and cooked garlic is a lot less efficient than raw garlic. In order to reap the full benefits, it’s recommended to feed garlic raw.

Garlic for flea prevention in dogs

I’ve used raw garlic in my pups’ meals considering that mid 2015.

While it wasn’t able to keep Missy in remission from cancer, it seemed to have helped in keeping parasites away from her and her brother Buzz. Neither of them have (ever) had to deal with fleas. That is even after I stopped using all topical & oral pest preventatives when making healthier lifestyle choices after Missy’s first cancer diagnosis.

Depending on where you live, your pet dog might still need a topical or oral flea prevention. However, often garlic alone seems to do enough to keep fleas and other parasites away. Garlic is not known to kill fleas or other parasites, but it seems to help in keeping fleas away to begin with.

In the comments, let me know your experience with garlic and flea prevention for your dog.

Do you have any questions?

Let us know in the comments!

Note, I’m so sorry to write that my boxer mix Missy passed away from cancer. Missy was such a sweet, sweet girl. We wanted to share this picture of her because it shows the enthusiasm she had for food! Rest in peace, Missy girl.

Barbara Rivers writes frequently for That Mutt. She is certified in raw pet dog food nutrition from Dogs naturally magazine and the author of three ebooks about balanced raw pet dog food. She is a blogger at K9s Over Coffee.

Related posts:

When your picky pet dog won’t eat
How to make dehydrated treats for your dog
Easy raw pet dog food recipes

See all of our raw feeding articles HERE.

Poo vault – product for Holding Smelly pet dog Poop Bags On Walks

Note: This post is sponsored by Poo Vault.

I can’t tell you how lots of times I’ve been out running with multiple dogs and they wait until we’re 2 miles from the nearest trash can to do their “business.”

Ugh! Dogs! Why couldn’t you “go” when we stopped by that Dumpster for five minutes?

So then you’ll see me running with two dogs and often up to three used bags!

Add wintertime weather to the mix and it’s even worse. Icy roads. Mittens. A facemask. trash bins buried in the snow. At least I don’t have to deal with that anymore!

I’ve absolutely cursed the City of Fargo under my breath while running.

Is it so freaking hard to put up a lot more trash bins?

So what in the world is the Poo Vault?

The Poo vault is a brand new product that allows you to carry your dog’s used poop bags hands complimentary and without the odor.

You simply drop the used poop bag into the “vault” (which is about 5” large 3.5” tall) and clasp the seal. The odor is “trapped” in the vault, according to the product’s creator.

The Poo vault is currently on Kickstarter seeking $14,500 to cover its manufacturing costs. There is currently a functioning prototype version of the Poo Vault, and the money raised in the Kickstarter campaign will go towards making the real deal.

I was asked by the designer of the Poo vault if I would share info about the Kickstarter campaign with my readers. I have not actually used the Poo Vault.

My thoughts on the Poo Vault:

This product absolutely solves a real problem for suburban and urban pet dog owners, responsible ones anyway!

Since people are already carrying around poop bag dispensers and treat pouches, some of those same pet dog owners might carry a Poo vault too.

My question would be, does it really consist of the odor? The designer of the Poo vault says it does.

What is the cost of a Poo Vault?

The Poo vault is not available yet. It is seeking $14,500 on Kickstarter to cover the manufacturing costs.

You can pre-order a vault when you back the Kickstarter campaign by $12 or more. any individual who backs the campaign with $12+ will receive a Poo vault in early 2017 (free shipping in the U.S.).

What’s special about the Poo Vault?

This is the first time I’ve heard about a product created for carrying used poop bags. Plus, it apparently has the ability to trap in the odor.

I’m embarrassed to admit I have “double bagged” my dog’s poop and then carried it in my backpack. This product would be a much a lot more sanitary and less embarrassing solution, especially if it genuinely hides the odor.

Pros of the Poo Vault:

Solves the problem of having to carry a smelly poop bag!

Allows you to have both hands available for pet dog walking

Comes with a carabineer so it can clip to a leash or running belt

3 sizes are planned

The seal locks in the odor so you can’t smell the poo!

Helpful if you’re walking multiple dogs or strong puller and need both hands available

Cons:

I’m not a fan of carrying around extra items on walks (poop bag dispensers, Flexi leash handles, treat pouches, running belts). In a way, the Poo vault complicates things.

It’s not available yet

Might be too large or too small for some dogs, but three sizes are eventually planned.

Would I get this product?

No, this is not a product I would get or use. It’s just a personal preference. I like to be as lightweight as possible on walks and can’t stand having extra items bouncing around such as a Flexi leash manage or a running belt. (I’m picky!)

I could possibly see myself using this for when I’m carrying a backpack in a lot more rural areas. When there are no trash cans available, I could use the Poo vault for my dog’s used bag and then put the Poo vault in my backpack until we come across a trash area.

Would I recommend the product to others?

Yes, I would recommend this product for people who can’t stand carrying a smelly poop bag and don’t mind having extra items like treat pouches, poop-bag dispensers, etc.

We all have different routines when walking our dogs, and I think this product would fix a lot of problems for the ideal pet dog owners. professional pet dog walkers might want to consider using it.

Some Poo vault facts:

What do the rest of you think of the Poo Vault?

The designer of the product is in the stage where she needs to learn whether or not people genuinely want a Poo Vault. I imagine your feedback would be helpful to her at this stage.

In the comments, let me know what you think of the Poo vault idea and if you would use something like this or know someone who wouldbe interested (think, people who live in cities).

Please share this post to let other pet dog owners know about the campaign.

What do you think of the Poo Vault?

Let me know in the comments!

Why Consistency is important in canine training

There are no sidewalks where we live. Our country roads have narrow gravel shoulders and, most of the time, drivers going much faster than the speed limit. one of our important commands for Baxter is “over.”

Baxter prefers walking on the road—maybe he finds the gravel uncomfortable on his feet—and he doesn’t comprehend that people will not yield to him (although many drivers do swing around us).

When a automobile is coming, “over” is how we tell Baxter to move out of the traffic and stay safe.

However, I realize I’ve not set Baxter up for success with this command.

At its most basic, “over” means move onto the gravel as close to the grass and the ditch as you can.

In my ideal scenario, “over” also means stay in front of me (Baxter’s usual walking position) and maintain your pace.

Baxter will do this usually for the first two times I give the “over” command during a walk. but after that, his “over” is unreliable. As I force him into the position that I want, I step in front of him and use the leash to tug him behind me and over. (With a speeding automobile bearing down on us, there’s not a lot of time to wait him out or negotiate.)

We’ve gotten to the point that now when I say “over” Baxter’s reaction is often to stop walking or slow down and wait to be tucked behind me. once he’s there, we walk very slowly, sometimes engaging in tug o’ war with the leash as he tries to step back out onto the road.

This is very annoying—not to mention unsafe. I feel like Bax knows the command because he does it sometimes, but he’s too lazy or obstinate to obey all the time.

And maybe that’s true. but I also feel like I’m not being fair to Bax.

I can’t be frustrated that he’s not doing the behaviour that I want because I am not being consistent when I ask him to move “over.” sometimes I move in front of him. sometimes I don’t. My behaviour is not the same, so how can I expect his to be?

To teach my ideal “over,” I have to break down the steps that I want, find a calm safe spot to practice, and slowly build until Bax does it reliably. Or, I accept that “over” means I shorten the leash, move in front of Bax, tuck him behind me, and we slow our pace.

Most important, I have to be consistent in my actions when I give the command.

I’ve decided that the best way to achieve that consistency and set Baxter up for success is to go with the second scenario for “over.” I’m prioritizing a loose leash once Baxter is behind me—no more tug o’ war—and he stays in the over position until I say “okay.”

Being thoughtful about the command and the behaviour I want has helped to decrease my frustration. I also think it’s helping with Baxter’s confusion (or obstinacy, if I’m being cynical).

Does anybody else have problems with consistency in commands? how do you guarantee you’re getting the response you want from your dog?

Julia Thomson is a blogger at Home on 129 Acres where she writes about her adventures of country living and diy renovating. She and her family live on a 129-acre farm in Ontario, Canada. follow Julia on Instagram here.

Study: Rabies booster can secure family pets with out-of-date vaccines

Is your dog’s rabies vaccination overdue?

You don’t requirement to be worried (not that you were).

If you’re like me, you most likely haven’t vaccinated your indoor cats in years. Oops, did I just admit that?

A new research study by the Kansas specify university discovered that family pets with overdue rabies vaccinations are very unlikely to establish the illness even if subjected to the virus as long as they are provided a rabies booster promptly afterwards, according to an post in science Daily.

Plus, it’s not like lots of of our family pets are at danger of contacting rabies to begin with. At least, not if you’re in an metropolitan or suburban area like I am.

But I don’t indicate to put this so lightly.

Unfortunately, family pets with out-of-date vaccinations in the united states that are subjected to the rabies virus are needed to either stay in observed quarantine for six months or be killed, according to science Daily. The quarantine can expense an owner as much as $7,000, which some people undoubtedly just can’t pay.

The great news is this research study provides pet owners as well as veterinarians new choices when dealt with with what to make with a pet that has been subjected to the rabies virus, as well as ideally it assists modification a few of the legislations that need rabies vaccinations so often (annually, in some areas).

Read the full post here.

Do you ever get “behind” on your pet’s vaccinations?

Related blog posts:

Dog vaccinations: What not to do

Are as well lots of vaccines poor for adult dogs?

Should you walk your puppy before he’s had his vaccines?