Category: Pets

How to show Your pet dog to wear a Halloween costume

Does your pet dog freeze, shut down or totally lose it over wearing, God forbid, a joyful Halloween bandanna? In this post, we’ll discuss exactly how to show your pet dog to wear a Halloween costume or other clothes.

Maybe you’re lucky sufficient to have a pet dog who might care less if you plop him into, say, one of those huge spider costumes?

Most dogs are somewhere in the middle, of course, so I believed I’d share a few ideas for exactly how to show your pet dog to wear a Halloween costume (or your food-motivated cat). This is presuming you are one of those people who take pleasure in humiliating their pets.

My designs today are Ace the rufferee as well as Beamer the bee.

The treats I utilized in these pictures were called Pup-Peronis as well as Milk-Bones. however if you truly want to inspire bribe your pets, today I normally utilize a high-valued treat called Zuke’s minis. Cheese or pieces of genuine meat would likewise work!

For a lot more tips, see our publish on Halloween security as well as pets.

5 ideas to show your pet dog to wear a Halloween costume

If you are a clicker trainer, a clicker works excellent for assisting a pup make positive associations with a costume, pet dog sweater or even a harness. This marks the precise moment your pet dog does the ideal behavior, complied with by a treat. A clicker is definitely not needed however may assist speed up the process.

Remember, dogs as well as cats normally feel uneasy using clothes. They already have fur coats as well as using something over them can make them feel vulnerable.

My own pet dog trembles (as though frightened) when I put his wintertime vest on him. He doesn’t act this way, however, while using a Halloween costume since I’ve made positive associations with the costume. Go figure.

1. let the pet dog sniff the Halloween costume without using it.

If the costume is brand new, your pet dog will most likely be curious. Praise him for approaching or sniffing the costume, as well as provide him a treat.

The “rufferee” costume was brand new, so Ace was thinking about it. I rewarded him with treats just for inspecting it out. The Zuke’s minis are best for this type of training. They have a strong jerky scent as well as are soft as well as breakable. I likewise utilize them for bribing my pet dog to cooperate during a bath or nail trim.

If your pet dog normally freaks out over using a coat, sweatshirt or costume, repeat the above step a number of times over a number of days.

2. set the costume over your pet dog as well as reward.

Don’t put the costume completely on your dog. just carefully drape it over his back. If he accepts this, tell him what a great kid he is as well as provide a treat!

Repeat a number of times. Make this FUN and GOOFY so your pet dog is secretly making fun of you.

3. put the primary part of the costume on your dog.

Give a treat each time you put a paw through an arm hole as well as when you pull the costume completely over your dog’s body.

Then, provide even a lot more treats when the costume is completely on. What a great boy!

Take the costume off your pet dog ideal away, as well as if he is not stressed out, repeat.

4. Repeat the above step, keeping the costume on longer.

Try for 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, up until it’s no huge deal.

But come on, what pet dog wishes to wear a costume all the time or for a lot more than an hour, really?

You may try heading out for a walk with the costume on or playing with a toy. Do something fun to get your pet dog to fail to remember about using the costume.

5. show your pet dog to wear other pieces of the Halloween costume.

If the costume has a head piece or boots or anything else like that, repeat the above steps with each piece of the costume.

Most dogs don’t like having something over their head or on their feet, for evident reasons, however if you introduce the pieces slowly your pet dog may discover to tolerate it for a day just to humor you.

Such a great sport!

Again, some dogs truly might care less about costumes while others will not have it!

The crucial is to slowly introduce your pet to his costume a few days or weeks before you plan to “force” him to wear it.

Is putting clothes on a pet dog cruel?

No, it’s not cruel to put clothes or a costume on a pet. It may be a bit absurd sometimes, as well as it’s absolutely a method we “humanize” animals. We requirement to be conscious of what we’re doing, as well as that it may make them a bit uncomfortable.

If your pet dog is particularly stressed out from a specific sweatshirt or costume, or if she’s going to rip it up as well as try to eat it, then it’s not worth dressing her up.

Do dogs like using costumes?

I would state a lot of dogs as well as cats do not like using costumes or clothes. however a great deal depends upon the private pet dog or cat. Some don’t truly care either way. Some just put up with it since they like us. Others may really take pleasure in feeling warmer in a sweatshirt or vest! Others partner fun as well as treats with the clothes. as well as others really, truly dislike using anything. everything depends!

Does your pet dog like using a costume?

Let us understand in the comments!

*This publish consists of affiliate links.

Related posts:

Dog treats made with pumpkin! (Puppy Leaks blog)

5 question Friday: Puppy in training

five questions with a service dog puppy raiser

Hi everybody, “5 question Friday” is a new feature I’m planning on that Mutt where I feature people who work with dogs in different ways.

Today we have Colby Morita, the blogger from the site Puppy In Training. Colby has been raising and training service dog puppies since October 2006.

I had five questions for Colby:

That Mutt: What’s the worst puppy raising advice you’ve heard?

Colby Morita: Back in the 90s, several of my college roommates brought home puppies. I’m not sure what they were thinking because raising and training a puppy should not be taken lightly.

Unfortunately, they did not do much to get their puppies acclimated to their new home.

Back then I knew nothing about raising a puppy, but I took it upon myself to get these two little pups, affectionately known as Stinky and Pepper, used to their new lives. I was able to teach them some basic obedience like “sit” and “down,” but potty training them was a beast!

Looking back, I know why potty training was so difficult. I was advised to rub our puppys’ noses in their accidents. Needless to say, this archaic method of training never worked for either Stinky or Pepper. This advice has sat with me for so long I even included it as advice to avoid when potty training your puppy.

TM: What’s something you do frequently that other people think is crazy?

Colby: most people think raising a puppy for 18 months then giving him away is crazy.

In fact, anytime I try to recruit new puppy raisers the #1 reason they say they would not puppy raise is because they think giving the puppy back would be too difficult.

Yes, I admit it’s difficult to give a puppy back, but watching the puppy you raised give someone back their independence is life changing:

– watching Dublin swiftly navigate through a crowd with his blind partner.

– Seeing Archer’s 4-year-old partner with a TBI who was considered non-verbal call him by name and give commands “sit,” “down,” and “stay.”

– Observing the bond between Apache and his partner suffering from PTSD.

Experiencing these moments and watching the puppy you raised change a person’s life is priceless. 

TM: Do your dogs sleep in your bed?

Colby: I allow my personal dogs to sleep in the bed, but not until they have learned the rules of the house.

Basically, my personal dogs are not allowed on the bed until they are potty trained, crate trained and understand basic obedience.

Puppies In training sleep in the crate beside my bed. I basically have two crates on both sides of my bed that act as my night stands. We actually tackled this question in detail on the blog.

TM: What’s one of your top puppy-raising tips?

Colby: two of the most important things you need to practice when raising a puppy are patience and consistency.

Be patient. Puppies don’t get trained overnight. It can take weeks, months, years, to accomplish your training goals.

Guide dog puppies aren’t fully trained until they are about 2 to 2 1/2 years old. Be consistent, stick to routines. Your puppy will learn new behaviors, good and bad, much quicker if you’re consistent and stick to routines.

TM: Is there anything you want to say to That Mutt’s readers?

Colby: In the near future we plan on starting our own Puppy In Training Puppy Raiser Program to help individuals with disabilities regain their independence.

If any That Mutt readers are interested in raising a service dog puppy, please let me know by leaving a comment below or send us a message through the contact form on the Puppy In training blog.

Thank you, Colby!
If anyone has any questions about raising or training a service dog puppy, leave them in the comments!

For more from Puppy in Training:

Blog: PuppyInTraining.com

Facebook: PuppyInTraining

Instagram: PuppyInTraining

YouTube: PuppyInTraining

If you would like to be featured in a future “5 question Friday” interview, please email Lindsay@ThatMutt.com.

Related posts:

“5 question Friday” with Kimberly, a raw dog food blogger

How to be a guide dog puppy raiser

Can Dogs eat Raw Pork?

due to hysteria, some people are terrified to feed their dogs raw pork or any raw meat at all.

My pet dog Remy eats a diet of mostly raw chicken, but to add variety I also feed him raw pork, turkey and beef.

Pork is less expensive than lots of other meats so it’s a great option to keep in his rotation of raw pet dog food recipes.

The following are some common questions pet dog owners ask about raw pork.

Does raw pork carry a parasite that will kill dogs?

No. Not if you’re feeding your pet dog commercial raw pork from a grocery store or credible raw pet dog food company.

I would personally avoid feeding a pet dog wild pork/boar, however.

This is because wild boars may carry a parasite called Trichinella spiralisis which was once a lot more common in pork. The parasite causes the disease trichinosis.

“Many people associate pork with trichinosis,” wrote Dr. Laura Duclos for the raw pet dog food company Nature’s Variety, which uses raw pork in some of its products.

Trichinella in commercial pork products is virtually zero, she wrote. Human cases of trichinosis are rare, with less than 12 cases per year. a lot of of these cases occurred when people ate undercooked wild animals such as boar, bear or mountain lion.

For this reason, I suggest you avoid feeding your pet dog any wild boar unless it is cooked.

*Get our three complimentary raw pet dog food recipes now! Click here

The reason pork obtained a bad track record was because in the early 20th century, pigs in the united states were fed garbage consisting of scraps of pork from slaughter houses, wrote Duclos.

This garbage also attracted rats, which the pigs also ate, wrote Duclos. Rats were the primary animals that spread infections to the pigs. considering that then, the government has banned pig farms from feeding raw meat and garbage to pigs.

Just to be on the safe side, I always freeze raw pork for two weeks before feeding it to my pet dog as part of his raw pet dog food diet.

Freezing the meat will kill any trichinella parasites, according to Dr. Karen Becker on the web site HealthyPets.Mercola.com. She says to freeze all pork for three weeks, but I typically only freeze it for two.

There is generally no chance of U.S. supermarket pork consisting of parasites. Plus, a lot of pork is frozen before it’s sold, anyway. I’m just a worrier, so I freeze it again to be on the safe side.

Raw feeding is a work in progress and we all do the best we can.

Will my pet dog get sick from raw pork?

Most likely not. Dogs can eat raw pork.

A pet dog could get sick from eating raw meat of any kind, but the chances are low. A pet dog could also get sick from eating dry pet dog food. As long as your pet dog is healthy and the raw meat is fresh and introduced slowly, he must be fine. There are small risks to feeding a raw food diet for dogs, but I believe the benefits outweigh those risks for a lot of dogs.

I can’t believe how lots of searches my site gets for questions like “Can dogs eat raw meat?” Are we forgetting that dogs and cats are created for eating meat?

If you would like a lot more info on feeding your pet dog raw, I’ve written an ebook to help. The cost is $9 and it discusses everything you need to know about raw feeding.

ORDER NOW

Can dogs have raw pork bones?

You must never feed cooked bones of any kind to a dog, because cooked bones become hard and sharp.

As for raw pork bones, it’s all about knowing your particular dog.

Yes, it is possible for a pet dog to attempt swallowing a piece of bone that is too large, and this could be a choking hazard. because of this, I do not feed my pet dog raw pork bones. Your pet dog may be different, which is why it’s crucial to supervise your pet dog whenever he is eating bones of any kind.

Will pork bones break my dog’s teeth?

They could. Again, it’s about knowing your particular dog.

I do not feed my pet dog pork bones because I do worry about him breaking his teeth. The only bones I feed him are raw chicken and turkey bones. considering that chicken and turkey bones are softer, he has no trouble digesting them, even if he swallows large pieces.

Why can’t I just feed my pet dog cooked pork?

You certainly can, but never feed cooked bones.

Although raw meat is normally a lot more nutritious for dogs than cooked meat, cooking the food is the next best thing.

How about you? Do you feed your pet dog pork?

Let us know in the comments below!

*Get our three complimentary raw pet dog food recipes now! Click here

Related articles:

Raw chicken necks for dogs

Will dogs get sick from raw meat?

Lindsay Stordahl is the founder of That Mutt. She writes about pet dog training, pet dog exercise and feeding a healthy raw diet.

Dog Bike Leash

*Note: My mutt Ace and I evaluated the WalkyDog canine bike leash from The canine Outdoors. The company sent us the leash at no cost in exchange for a review.

This canine bike leash is great for the best human and canine pair, especially if you have an active canine that can’t seem to get enough exercise.

When I say “hands totally free bike leash” or “bike leash for dogs,” I am referring to the WalkyDog bike leash. I have not evaluated other brands of bike leashes such as the Springer bike leash or the K-9 Bike Jogger.

The WalkyDog is a bike leash developed so people can keep both hands on the bike without holding or tying the leash. One side of the WalkyDog bike leash attaches to the bar below the bike’s seat. The other side clips to the dog’s collar, holding the canine securely and safely in place.

The WalkyDog bike leash has a quick release ability so in an emergency or if I want to walk Ace, I can rapidly detach the leash section from my bike without unscrewing the entire tool. This also came in useful when I first installed the bike leash attachment. I did not have to attach Ace to the bike until seconds before I was ready to ride.

Biking with your dog

Taking your canine biking is a great way to have fun and get some exercise, but it is harmful if the canine is not under control. A hands totally free bike leash makes sure the human is the leader, not the dog.

Even if you already bike with your dog, it will take some time to get used to the canine biking leash. Don’t rush it.

Ace and I have been biking together for two years, but I went back to the basics with him the first time I tried the WalkyDog. I kept him on the left side of the bike while I wheeled it between us. You can set up the bike attachment so your canine is on the best or left. once on the bike, I made sure not to go too fast at first.

Who ought to use a hands totally free canine bike leash?

Dogs with good leash manners

The WalkyDog is ideal for dogs that have good leash manners and respect for a loose leash. because the WalkyDog is a hands totally free leash, the human can’t appropriate the canine with leash pops. There are other ways to communicate with the canine while biking such as verbally or simply stopping whenever the canine pulls.

People who bike in heavy traffic or in the wilderness

The WalkyDog bike leash is good for people who want to do some major biking with their dogs out on trails or through traffic. These are times when having both hands on the bars is very essential for safety reasons.

Athletic, shorthaired dogs

The WalkyDog bike leash is great for tall, active dogs. Let’s face it, even when we run with our dogs, we can’t always run for as long as they would like. Biking is a great way to make up for it. With a bike leash, you can go the speed your canine wants – fast!

Tall and fit shorthaired dogs will typically do the best with a bike leash, but I’m not out to dissuade anybody from using this product. any canine could potentially label along on bike rides. If you have a small or short dog, check out the low-rider attachment sold at The canine Outdoors.

I have the WalkyDog on hand to use with foster dogs, and I like having a hands totally free bike leash for my Fargo canine running clients that want to pick up the pace a bit.

People who need both hands on the bike

The bike leash is a good tool for people who are not comfortable biking with one hand. It’s also a good tool for someone who needs to focus on riding rather than controlling the dog. It takes time to be comfortable biking with a dog, and the WalkyDog bike leash is a good way to hold the canine in place while the rider focuses on not falling!

Someone biking with her canine for the first time

If you have never biked with your dog, then a hands totally free bike leash like the WalkyDog is a good way to start. It will help instruct your canine to remain at your side.

Who ought to not use a hands totally free canine bike leash?

Untrained dogs

It is not safe to use a hands totally free canine bike leash with dogs that do not know how to walk on a loose leash. It might be ok with a canine under 40 pounds or so, but a large canine is capable of causing the biker to loose control. If your canine has no leash manners, then practice some obedience and loose-leash walking before biking with him.

Bikers who want to give leash corrections

Since a bike leash like the WalkyDog is hands free, it is not possible to give the canine corrections when he pulls. As a result, the canine is able to pull and pull and pull. The WalkyDog bike leash is developed with springs and a bungee to decrease the force discovered by the biker, but this does not make up for the canine getting used to a tight leash.

Dogs that have already been trained to bike without a special leash

My mutt Ace is trained to walk nicely on a leash. because of this, a bike attachment is not required for us. I am kind of an old man and set in my ways, so it took me awhile to admit I like the WalkyDog. now that I have one, I use it practically every day! Whether you and your canine ought to use a bike leash is completely up to you.

Ace is used to walking with his head even more forward than the WalkyDog bike leash allows. because of this, it took us some time to get used to a bike leash. He had a tendency to pull while trying to get closer to my front tire where he typically runs. It took two or three biking sessions for him to realize if he stays back he will be much more comfortable. You can see us in the video below.

What collar is best while biking with my dog?

The type of collar your canine wears while biking is up to you. There is not one collar that will work best with every dog.

The canine Outdoors recommends a harness with the WalkyDog canine bike leash and sells one specifically developed for comfort and control while biking. I’m skeptical of harnesses because a harness makes pulling simpler for the dog. Pulling is the last thing I want to encourage.

A training collar such as a pinch collar will give you the most control over your dog, but a pinch collar can’t be used correctly when attached to a bike leash. The canine will likely keep the collar tight the whole time, defeating the purpose of a “training” collar.

Ace wore his regular nylon collar while attached to the WalkyDog. You’ll have to experiment and find what collar works best for you. A head collar like the gentle Leader did not work well because of Ace’s height in relation to the WalkyDog. This won’t be the case for all dogs.

Other hands totally free bike leashes

There are other hands totally free bike leashes out there such as the Springer canine bike leash and the K-9 Bike Jogger bike leash. These are different than the WalkyDog, and I have not evaluated them.

Bike leash or not, I am a big fan of biking with dogs. It is a great way to get in some much-needed exercise. If you are into outdoor recreation with your dog, make sure to check out the WalkyDog and other products from The canine Outdoors.

Don’t forget your helmet!

Do you bike with your dog? Do you use a hands totally free bike leash?

How much resource guarding should I allow from my dog?

most dogs guard something, whether it’s food, a rawhide or a bed.

But should we let them?

There are a lot of articles on my blog about resource guarding and possessiveness and how to stop this behavior in dogs.

But aren’t there some situations where resource guarding is reasonable?

I think it depends on the dog, his personality and his relationship to people and to other pets.

I came up with this topic thanks to your thoughtful comments on my post, should I correct my dog for growling?

We were all questioning what is and isn’t acceptable as far as “guarding” things like personal space when the dog is tired.

For example:

– Is it reasonable for an older dog to growl when he’s eating and another dog tries to take his food?

– Is it ok for a dog to growl when she’s trying to sleep and the cat tries to steal her bed?

– What if a person is petting the dog and another dog comes over for attention, causing the first dog to growl?

I don’t have the answers, but I’m curious how the rest of you would handle these situations. (I’d say the first two are reasonable, not the third.)

Resource guarding between my own pets

I have a dog and two cats, and they are constantly “fighting” over beds, attention and who gets to sit where.

Usually my cat Beamer “wins” by taking what he wants from the other two. He’s actually kind of an asshole, but his behavior is often subtle enough that my husband and I don’t notice.

And my other pets just go along with it.

But every now and then Ace the dog will stand up to Beamer the cat and growl.

And isn’t it justified?

Ace is not really being “possessive” in this scenario. He’s standing up for himself. (So maybe the question is how much bullying to allow from your pets? I don’t know.)

[quote_right]Ace is not really being “possessive” in this scenario. He’s standing up for himself.[/quote_right]I mean, let’s say you’re a dog and you’re trying to sleep on your own dog bed. and then this cat comes over and tries to take your bed even though there are two empty beds available.

Isn’t a growl reasonable? and if he persists, maybe even a snarl?

This scenario happens pretty often at our house, and I don’t know how to respond.

I mostly let my pets work it out, which of course is not a safe option if your pets might get into a real fight and harm one another.

My three have lived together for 8 years, and they pretty much know how to deal with one another.

Here’s how it usually goes down:

Where I draw the line – guarding items from humans

One thing is clear to me.

Dogs should not be allowed to guard food, toys or space from people.

I’m not saying it’s easy to break a dog’s possessiveness of food or anything else. It’s hard.

But I do think it should be a goal, and if the habit can’t be broken then it at least needs to be managed so no one gets hurt.

I’ve written several posts on stopping a dog’s possessiveness if anyone needs some ideas. They’re all located under one category here.

But now I want to hear from you.

How much resource guarding do you allow between your pets?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Sign up for That Mutt’s email updates here.

Before the Puppy shows up

I want to give Ace lots of attention this week before we pick up puppy Remy on Saturday.

What must Ace and I do?

Start a pet sitting service (and quit your job)

how to quit your job to start a pet sitting business

I quit my job at a newspaper in 2008 to start a pet sitting business. now I offer pet dog walking in Solana Beach, Calif.

Quitting my job was scary, and it’s not the ideal choice for everyone. If you are thinking of leaving your job to pursue full-time pet sitting or pet dog walking, I’m so ecstatic for you! here are my ideas to make the process easier:

How to quit your job to start a pet sitting business

1. establish some pet sitting clients first.

Establish at least two or three regular pet dog walking customers or five or six pet sitting customers before you quit your job. You’ll want a lot more clients for pet sitting because these clients will be a lot more sporadic for scheduling. some of your pet dog walking customers will likely be each day or several times per week. here are some ideas for how to get a lot more pet sitting customers. give yourself at least three months to start getting some customers while still working your full-time job.

2. start saving money.

If you can save up at least two months of normal living expenses before quitting your job, you will be a lot a lot more confident about leaving your job. I understand this is much harder if you’re supporting a family. I only had to worry about myself, but one thing I told myself when I quit my job was this: If you need to pick up a part-time job, you can. You’re an intelligent person, and you’ll figure out a way to make it work.

I did end up taking a part-time job a few months after I quit my job, but it didn’t last long. I realized swiftly my time was valuable, and I was much better off spending it promoting my pet sitting business. This paid off in the long run.

3. look into COBRA continuation health coverage.

COBRA supplies some former employees, spouses and dependent children with the ideal to temporarily continue health insurance coverage under the group rates the employer offers. For me, that indicated I could quit my job and still receive the group health insurance rates for the next 18 months which happened to include vision and dental coverage. even though I had to pay out of pocket, this was an amazing benefit because it was much more affordable than seeking out new coverage on my own, which I chose to do once the 18 months was up.

I also made sure to quit my job on the first of the month so that COBRA did not kick in until the following month. This was a trick the great human resources employee told me about. (I was going to quit July 31 but she encouraged me to work through Aug. 1). This was a big deal at the time because it gave me one a lot more month before I had to pay out of pocket for health insurance coverage.

4. walk dogs on the weekends.

Schedule as lots of appointments as you can for the weekends or your other days off. create a waiting list for all other times. You could offer pet sitting check outs on the weekends such as Friday evening through Sunday night.

5. keep a waiting list.

It’s crucial to keep a pet dog walking/pet sitting waiting list while you still have your full-time job. once you’re ready to quit your job, you can contact the people on your list and tell them you will have pet sitting or pet dog walking openings available starting on a certain date. For example, if someone requests pet dog walking on Wednesdays but you currently work Wednesdays, you would add the person to your Wednesday waiting list.

You don’t even have to specify why you have a waiting list. maybe you have a waiting list because you are that busy. This will happen eventually!

6. start calling yourself a pet sitter.

When people ask what you do, tell them you own a pet sitting business. This is crucial for believing in yourself and getting in the mindset that you are a successful service owner. I had a hard time with this at first because I did not believe I could actually make it as a service owner. I had to get rid of the mental obstacle of believing in myself.

7. Don’t give complimentary pet sitting to pals and family.

You’ve probably been supplying your pals and family with complimentary pet sitting. once you’re committed to starting your own pet sitting business, I recommend you start charging your pals and family at least a little. If you spend all your time using complimentary care for pals and family, it will take away your time and energy from your paying customers. Paying customers are crucial to have when you’re thinking of quitting your job!

8. Network within your community.

You need to get your service name out there. Do this as soon as possible while you are still working, because it takes a few months to build up some solid customers. To advertise your pet sitting service through word of mouth, get involved in your community, particularly with pet-related events. introduce yourself to other service owners, set up booths at pet-related festivals and fundraisers, hang fliers at the pet dog park and coffee shops. get your name out there!

9. get your web site and social media sites ready.

Sometimes people use the excuse that they can’t start their service until their web site is perfect. That is a mistake. but you do want to get something on your web site. If you have a respectable web site, people will take you seriously. WordPress has tons of professional-looking designs you can choose from.

In addition to your pet sitting web site, you must create social media accounts for your business. You don’t have to go crazy and use every single social media site, but at least get a Facebook fan page and Twitter account set up. I also provided my Solana beach pet sitting service on Google +. once you have these accounts set up, start genuinely interacting with people and services within your community.

10. Leave your job on good terms.

Put in your two-week’s notice and tell your boss your plans to start your full-time pet sitting business. No matter how your employer responds to this, remain positive about your experience with the company. tell your employer and supervisors you are grateful for everything you have learned while working for them (even if it wasn’t much). It’s crucial to remain on good terms. who knows, maybe they’ll recommend your pet sitting services to all the other employees.

Best of luck to you with your business!

Want to learn a lot more about starting a pet sitting business?

Read my ebook on how to start a pet sitting business. It is the best resource available for starting a pet sitting business!

Sign up for my pet dog walking and pet sitting email list and get professional ideas from me once a month.

Survey: What is your rescue group doing well?

What is one thing your rescue group is doing well that you wish every group could do?

Many of you volunteer with shelters or rescue groups, and we can all learn something from each other.

So here’s my question:

What is one thing your shelter or rescue group is doing well that you wish every group could do?

Maybe it has an awesome program to thank all the volunteers. maybe it hosts a dog friendly 5K run. maybe it has some sort of free cat promotion.

Whatever it is, I’d love to hear it. then we can all “steal” one another’s ideas, and imagine what we could accomplish. I’ll ask the question on Facebook and Twitter too and compile all the answers for you.

So … I’ll leave you with one example. then I’ll get out of the way so you can share yours.

In my community of Fargo, N.D., I love how CATS Cradle shelter has found a way to provide cage-free housing for all its cats. The cats get to live in open, “community style” rooms, and I would love if every shelter had this possibility. It’s so much better for the cats than living in small, dirty cages.

What’s one thing your rescue group is doing well that you wish others could do?

Good dogs, poor owners: October 2011

The very first edition of great dogs, poor owners

Note: I see a great deal of fascinating dog owners. I may try to showcase my favorites each month. 

At an adoption event at a PetSmart. Some dude approaches me as well as my foster dog Cosmo. The guy tells me he is looking for an outside watchdog. Cosmo would have full flexibility outside – no fence – with gain access to to the garage as well as the kitchen. He tells me the home is on a hectic frontage road as well as their previous watchdog got hit by a vehicle as well as “probably wandered off as well as died.”

At a store called natural Pet Center. A guy is available in with a frantic, overweight retriever on a prong collar. “Are you prepared to see the kitties?” the guy says. He repeats this a number of times. The guy glances around, seeking attention. His retriever pulls him to the cats that are up for adoption. The cats are extremely uneasy. “Look at the kitties! look at the kitties!” the guy keeps repeating. Each time he states this, his dog barks.

At obedience training class. One bit dog’s owner is having an off night. The dog is full of energy, as well as the owner can’t get her to stay on command. He can’t get the dog to even look at him. At the end of class, the owner tells the dog she won’t be getting dinner that night or breakfast the next day or dinner the next day. “Maybe she’ll listen then,” he tells his wife. I wait to see if he’s joking, however I don’t believe he is.

At one more adoption event. A couple walks in with two big dogs that are not up for adoption. The dogs are pulling as well as out of control, panting heavily. One dog goes with the slow, squatting motions as though he’s prepared to take a dump. He’s clearly extremely excited as well as nervous. He proceeds to leave a nice stack in the middle of the floor. The owners stand there for at least five minutes before somebody lastly cleans it up.

On a walk. I see a lady park her vehicle at a stop sign. She leaves her vehicle running. gets out. leaves her excessively excited Yorkie loose in the car. She puts up a yard-sale sign. Her vehicle is blocking all type of traffic, not to mention illegally parked. Meanwhile, her dog is yapping as well as scratching at the windows as well as doors as well as bouncing around the place.

What’s a dog to do, Ace?

If you have a story to share, keep it concise (less than 100 words) as well as send to Lindsay@ThatMutt.com with the subject “Good dogs, poor owners.” Or add it to the comments below.

5 Socialization mistakes That could Screw Up Your pet dog

The following are some pet dog socialization mistakes to avoid.

My lab mix Ace was a laid-back, well-socialized guy. I didn’t train him to be that way. It’s just how he was. I took him lots of places after I adopted him, but he was already a year old by then and normally calm. 

Because Ace was born on a farm, he must’ve been around plenty of animals, noises and different people. Genetics were also a factor, of course.

Regardless, he wasn’t fazed by anything, which was really convenient.

I believe in ongoing socialization for all dogs – taking them out as much as possible to areas where they can be successful.

That’s different for every dog, obviously.

Visiting a pet dog friendly café was no big deal to Ace. It would’ve been a bit much for my previous dog. just walking around the neighborhood is challenging enough for others.

You want to challenge your pet dog a little, but not too much.

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5 puppy and pet dog socialization mistakes to avoid

1. Forcing the pet dog into stressful or scary situations is not ‘socializing’ him

Socialization must be about introducing the pet dog to something new in a positive way.

We hear about the value of bringing our dogs to new areas, so we think of “big picture” events like pet dog parks.

Really, we must be focusing on less-exciting examples.

New pet dog owners are told to socialize their dogs around other dogs, so they might think it’s a good idea to check out the pet dog park.

Obviously you wouldn’t want to take a pet dog with no dog-park experience and throw him into a fenced area with 25 other dogs on a lively Saturday afternoon. This would set a lot of dogs up for failure, right? The pet dog may be overwhelmed at best. a lot more than likely, he could act out aggressively.

See my post: policies at the pet dog park.

But, a walk with one other pet dog followed by a little off-leash play? This is a best way for lots of dogs to socialize until they get a lot more comfortable.

Another example: Bringing a puppy to a busy, noisy event like enjoying a marathon could be too scary. but a walk where you know you’ll be exposed to a small crowd – like walking by a kid’s soccer game – might be perfect. It’s less chaotic, and you can always step away calmly.

I recommend you wear a pet dog treat bag around your waist when out and about with your dog. That way you can always have quick access to high-valued treats to reward your pet dog for checking out something new. This keeps new experiences fun and positive for your dog.

*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Click Here

2. pet dog socialization mistake: Not investing in training

One of my favorite writers, Jon Katz, wrote that pet dog owners will typically spend hundreds of dollars getting an exotic purebred or designer dog, but then they won’t spend a dollar on training that dog.

People will also pay $400 to adopt a “rescue dog,” but are a lot of of them ready to spend money on training? probably not.

I’m not saying you have to invest a bunch of money into pet dog training, but you do need to invest your time. My favorite way to train my pet dog is to do it myself. I normally train my pet dog on walks around the neighborhood.

Still, I do find group obedience classes valuable, even to those who “know everything” about training a dog. classes are an easy way to work with your pet dog around other dogs. There are few scenarios in the “real world” that allow you to do this in a controlled way.

I know training classes can get expensive, but if you can swing even one six-week session of weekly classes per year, it is well worth it. They’re not for all dogs, of course. Hiring a private trainer for one-on-one instruction can also be very helpful.

My pet dog walking buddies, Ruby and Mack

3. Not having an exit plan when trying to socialize your dog

Some situations are just too stressful for certain dogs, and it’s up to the owner to always have a plan for what to do if it’s not going well. This is true no matter how well socialized the pet dog is.

Often, we humans set unrealistic goals and expectations for our dogs. maybe someone makes a decision to take his pet dog to a street fair, for example, because he’s seen other people walking their calm, easygoing dogs through the fair in the past.

This is fine, but if it’s not going well and the pet dog is lunging and barking at people or so afraid that his tail is tucked between his legs, you need to be ready to walk away or get in the automobile and go home.

As a less extreme example, I always had the goal of taking Ace to coffee shops on a regular, flat collar (vs. a training collar). often this went OK, but normally it was an unrealistic expectation and he pulled too much.

As a backup, I always brought his gentle Leader along in my bag so I had it just in case. another good option is a martingale collar.

See my post: easy socialization ideas for dogs and puppies

*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Click Here

4. ‘Correcting’ a fearful dog

One of the most common pet dog socialization mistakes is correcting a fearful dog.

It’s only natural for pet dog owners to want to tell a pet dog “no” or to jerk on the leash when the pet dog is barking or growling out of fear.

I’ve done this plenty of times. It’s nearly like it’s a way to acknowledge the other person. Like, a way to signal, “I’m sorry about my dog. I disapprove of the behavior. See?” At least that is the case for me.

Some will alert that correcting a fearful pet dog will make the pet dog a lot more fearful because he will associate the “pain” with the other dog. What I find is that it simply adds unnecessary tension, which might add a lot more fuel to your dog’s “outbursts.”

Either way, correcting him is unlikely to help him get over his fears.

When I’m working with fearful, reactive dogs, I like to define the point at which the pet dog tends to react. maybe he has no reaction when another pet dog is 40 feet away but starts to breathe heavily and stare when the pet dog is 30 feet away and then really starts to lose it within 20 feet. (There are other variables, besides distance, of course.)

With this example, I would start working with the pet dog on calming commands (sit, “watch me”) using highly valued treats from a distance of about 30 feet from other dogs whenever possible. The goal would be to gradually change his action to other dogs over time.

A professional trainer would be able to help you discuss a certain training plan for your pet dog if you need it.

A terrific book to help with this is “Feisty Fido” by Dr. Patricia McConnell.

See my post: Can you “reward” a dog’s fear?

5. forgetting the little things, like walking in new areas

One of the easiest ways to socialize a pet dog is to simply take him for a walk every day. I know we come up with all sorts of excuses not to walk our dogs, but it really is such a basic and useful way to supply daily socialization.

You can even have your pet dog on a long 15- or 30-foot leash to give him a lot more freedom to sniff explore new things at his own pace.

Dogs are exposed to so lots of new people, dogs, sights, sounds and smells on a walk. So if you want to expose your pet dog to something new, simply walk him down a different street than he’s used to or even walk him at a different time of day.

I know you all work very hard to socialize your own dogs.

*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Click Here

What are some other pet dog socialization mistakes you can think of?

Let me know in the comments!

Related articles:

Don’t judge people who have reactive dogs
Stop your pet dog from barking/lunging on walks
See all my training ideas here

Lindsay Stordahl is the founder of That Mutt. She writes about pet dog training, pet dog exercise and feeding a healthy raw diet.