Doggone Dog Parks

Some trainers say outright that dog parks are just bad, period. They can be doggone awful. But the right dogs in the right park with the right people in the right situation can be dog heaven.

I recently visited a dog park with a client again for the first time in several months, and for me it's bliss to see all these amazing dogs of all breeds running around. This park is one of the largest dog parks around, so we see LOTS of dogs there. There's also a small-dog area, which is crucial. I was reminded again of the pros and cons of bringing a dog to a dog park.

1. Dogs are really meant to play in groups of two or even three at a time. Dog parks almost always surpass this number by far. Best is bringing your dog to visit dogs he's friends with or becomes friends with. No unknowns, if possible.
2. Small dogs are often in the large-dog area--often because there aren't enough dogs for socializing in the lil-dog area. A LARGE DOG RECENTLY MAULED A TINY DOG in this same park. She should have been in the lil-dog area ALWAYS.
3. Exercise with another dog is some of the most rigorous a dog can have. People must moderate the level their dog can handle.
4. Germs. My client's dog now has conjunctivitis--from the park? Almost definitely.
5. Everyone says his/her dog is "fine" with other dogs. Who is fine with every other dog? Or every other person?
6. Children sometimes walk around with sandwiches in dog parks! Really!
7. Dogs need BREAKS! I watched several small skirmishes that could have quickly escalated to fights. The dog guardians rarely seemed to intervene until things were getting VERY out of hand. You need to have time-outs before the dogs are too aroused.
8. After entering the park, people let the dog run off, and the people socialize until it's time to go home. They keep a vague eye on the dog sometimes (mostly not), but they need to be there FOR the dog the entire time. You need to keep your eye on the dog.
9. Call your dog! Don't stand in the same spot for the entire visit. Why should your pup pay attention to you when you stand and chat in the same place every day? Make her look for you once in a while. When she does, call her and exclaim over her brilliance when she comes! Call her at least six times during your dog park visit--and when it's time to go home, she'll come then, too. Who would come when called if it only happened when it was time for the fun to end??
10. Be sure your dog also gets regular walks, too. Dog parks are completely different exercise; walks bond you with your pup.
11. Know what to do if a dog fight happens. Don't grab dogs by collars but by their hindquarters.
12. Take a pet first-aid course.

This young dog client needed to be around other dogs; the dog park has worked out very well for her. It's not for everyone. It's not even for me. Just be careful out there, okay? You're in charge of very precious cargo!

How to Keep from Driving Your Dog Crazy

People love their dogs, right? So they shouldn't give them access to completely open car windows in moving vehicles. I have been seeing so many dogs with their SHOULDERS out the passenger window--on the FREEWAY! I am going to have a heart attack, I swear. I was walking Tommy on a major street today and was rather hoping the fluffy yellow retriever mix would take advantage of being parked at a traffic light and make the plunge to visit Tommy and me. Perhaps his person would have learned a huge lesson--one a previous neighbor learned the hard way when her maltese mix jumped out and was run down. Awful. Preventable. Stupid.

The intelligence of dogs has been compared to that of a two- or three-year-old human; you wouldn't trust a toddler to know enough not to jump out. Did you know that dogs suffer eye injuries from debris? No heads out windows, please.

Don't forget about the force of your passenger airbag. Fluffy should ride in the backseat where it's safer--and less of a distraction. And if you are in an accident, your dog, esp. a small dog, becomes a projectile. Tethering is essential. Use a crate or a dog seatbelt or a doggie booster chair or even just slam the end of the leash in the car door so the dog doesn't hop from the back to front seat while you're trying to focus on driving. Easy breezy.

And while we're at it: if your dog doesn't enjoy the car, it's time to make it nicer. Build gradually on getting the dog used to the car (starting by just sitting in the vehicle and not moving). Treats can improve many scary things!

We have to protect our fur friends; we're all they have.

Cats and Dogs

Just a reminder to keep your cats' nails short! You never know what might happen and it's better to be prepared.

We have three cats, but only one has any sort of aggressive moments. Baxter grew up in the Bronx and was found living under a car, so we excuse his rough side. Mostly he's great.

BUT I asked him to move so I could make the bed finally (it was 4:30, after all!). He meowled his displeasure--which was enough to make Tommy the Chihuahua go on alert in my defense--which was enough to make Baxter jump off the bed--which made Tommy corner him--which led me to break up a fight.

It's all Baxter's fault; he's much tougher (and TWICE the size of Tom!), but I'm the only one of the three with bite and scratch marks. I guess that means I did my job as a fur parent. Otherwise everyone always gets along.

I had JUST cut most of Baxter's claws, too--but not all. Not all.

Knock on wood, I've never been bitten but a dog, but you sure don't want to be bitten by a cat, either!

Front and Center!

There's not much prettier than a dog who races to get to you! How adorable is it when I call a furry client and he runs over twenty-five feet in what looks like three bounds and he sits almost on my toes, looking way up at my eyes? "Yes, miss. You rang? Are we going to do something fun now? Got cheese? Let's do that again!" One of the most important cues to teach, of course, and one of my favorites when the pup does it with such glee.

A client and I played hide-and-seek in her yard this week. She sat and stayed while I hid. I called and she found me in one second flat. What more could anyone want from a dog?

There are lots of ways to get that reliable recall--but most important? Be inviting! Be interesting! Be unpredictable!

Good human, good! :-)

You know who loved hide-and-seek more than almost anything? Tucker. Still missing you every minute, little man.

Training After Loss

As many of you know, we recently lost our fifteen-year-old dog, Tucker, to liver cancer. It came from nowhere and hit hard (he had full tests done in January after he ate a cat toy and there was no cancer then).

He was my heart--and for so long. It took me two years to get over the loss of his brother, Kelsey, and I don't expect this grief will go away much sooner. He was Perfect in Every Way. He never did anything wrong in his life. Truly. He chewed on kitchen molding once as a four-month-old puppy. That is IT. Hard act for nutty Tommy the Cheech to follow.

We're all managing to keep distracted, which seems to be the only way to survive.

What shocks me is how fine I am training other people's dogs. With the exception of a short session meeting three rescue dogs, I canceled all my training appointments for a week. Now I'm back with my furry clients and loving every minute as usual. I would have expected to have strong reactions to being around other dogs, but it's business as usual.

They're not Tucker. They're all individuals, too, and full of love and joy and friskiness.

It's a great life. Though it was better with Tucker in it.

Good-bye, dearest, sweetest, gentlest, most patient friend. No one ever loved a dog the way I loved you.

No Unwanted Puppies

Guess who's having PUPPIES? The Chihuahua from across the hall! Not the hysterical one--but he's the dad.

How is it possible that people are SO irresponsible? I'm flabbergasted. "I thought I had them separated, but he got to her," I was told. There are enough Chihuahua puppies in Southern California, believe me. The last thing we need is unintentional litters.

Supposedly Lucy will be spayed after this. That's something.

And the noisy dog/father is living somewhere else now. Probably still barking.

People make me sad sometimes. They often don't appreciate the phenomenal beings that are DOGS. We're lucky dogs put up with us.

A Few Dog Toys and Equipment I Like