Tips To Keep Your Dog Happy & Safe Over the 4th of July

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. My family of nine 2-legged members and seven 4-legged members pack into my parent's cozy, little lake house for a weekend of cookouts, canoeing, swimming, and water skiing. But nothing beats The Big Event, when my hubby, brother, and brother-in-law put on their annual I-don't-even-want-to-know-how-much-money-you-spent fireworks show! Shooting right off the dock and over the lake, we're astounded every year by a remarkable display.

And while everyone fully enjoys the fun packed weekend, not every family member is happy about the fireworks show. Especially my girl Elsa! Not a fan of thunderstorms either, she becomes a very unhappy pup as soon as the sparklers are lit. And this isn't uncommon. While we oooo and ahhh over the big bangs and bright flashes created by fireworks, many dogs will hide, run, or escape in fear. Shelters and veterinarians report an increase in dogs after the holiday and owners will have found that their dog has broken through fences, screens, and even windows at the sound of a firework.

There are a couple of training methods that you can use to help teach your dog not to fear fireworks, but they require a lot of patience and time. So with the holiday approaching quickly, I've listed a couple of quick tips to help keep you dog safe and happy during the 4th of July celebrations:

• Make sure your dog is wearing a properly fitted collar with an up to date license and rabies tag. Talk to your vet about having your dog micro-chipped if he hasn't already. Or simply run down to your local pet store and get a tag made with your dog's name and your phone number on it so that if he gets lost, someone can contact you quickly when he's found.
• During a fireworks show, keep your dog in a safe, secure, familiar place such as a crate or a bedroom. Close all windows and doors to lessen the sound and to ensure that there are no possible ways for him to escape.
  
• Play music, a TV, run the air conditioner, or turn on a fan on to muffle out the sound of the fireworks.
• Try using a calming treatment such as Comfort Zone. Comfort Zone plugs into any outlet and releases the same pheromones that a mother dog releases to calm her puppies, and may help your dog relax.
• Give your dog an article of clothing or blanket that has your scent on it. The smell of you can be soothing and comforting to him. It's one of Elsa's favorite comforts when she gets scared.
  
• Don't leave your dog outside if you know there may be fireworks. Even if you have a fenced in yard, tether, or invisible fence, if he gets scared he may try to escape and can injure himself.
  
• Stay calm and relaxed around your nervous dog. Your dog reacts to your mental state, so try not to get worried about him, but instead stay upbeat and positive.
• Distract your dog with a game of fetch or ask him to do some tricks to keep him busy and stimulated while you can hear fireworks. Or try giving him a treat-stuffed toy to enjoy and work at.
  
• If your dog's anxiety tends to be severe over the 4th of July, call you vet and discuss possible medications that will help calm him.
• And lastly, as wonderful as it is to spend family time with your dog, avoid bringing him to a firework show. Neither of you will enjoy the show if he gets scared and it's not worth the risk of him trying to run away!
  

If your dog has any fear or phobia such as that of fireworks or thunderstorms, feel free to contact me at Kimberly@BlueDogPetCareMA.com to discuss how we can help him!

I Wish I Didn't Have a Job

I know, it's a crazy thing to say. How could someone who spends every single day training and walking dogs ever wish she didn't have a job? I should love my job!

Well, I'll let you in on a little something. I do love my job! I love every moment of it. But I still wish I didn't have a job.

Here, let me explain myself.

I wish I didn't have a job because if I didn't have a job, it would mean that no dog ever needed training. I wish I didn't have a job because it would mean that no dog ever needed a daily walk. I wish I didn't have a job because it would mean that every dog owner had enough time, enough knowledge, and enough understanding to provide the proper exercise, companionship, structure, and training for their dog. That every dog would live a life of health, happiness, and satisfaction.

But, I have a job.

It really came into focus for me this morning when I met with a four month old puppy and his family of two parents and three siblings (I'm talking about the two-legged kind) for a training consult. This dog had had everyone on his side since the day he was born. His mother was rescued as a stray while she was pregnant with him and his littermates. He was born at a foster house and raised by a loving, caring family. At 8 weeks he was adopted by yet another wonderful family, who were thrilled to be bringing a dog into their lives for the very first time. He has since spent the past two months living with them in a warm, comfortable home. His life was seemingly perfect.

I could get into the details about what I saw when I met this puppy; the biting, the barking, the jumping. But let's just say that this puppy, despite all of the good intentions, was in serious need of training, restructure, and some stability in his life.

The thing is, the puppy had done nothing wrong. And his family had done nothing wrong either. So then, what went wrong?

It's a time like this, when I meet a dog and its family in need of training, that I take a deep breath, and remind myself; we all have good intentions for our dogs, but it just doesn't come naturally to us.

I'll use myself as an example. I'm a dog person, but I'm no car person. Say the "check engine" light was on in my car, and it was up to me to figure out what was wrong. Sure, I'd read the manual, google a couple things, maybe even call my hubby for advice. And after lifting the hood, I could possibly figure out at least where the washer fluid goes, how to recharge the battery, maybe screw around with a couple of things, but that's probably as far as I'd get. Hey, I never claimed to be a mechanic, right?

Well, it's the exact same thing when we bring a puppy home for the very first time. We read the books, we watch the shows, and sure, we've met plenty of dogs on the street. So we could possibly figure out a thing or two on how to properly raise the dog. Probably not all of it though.

And here's the catch. With a car, the check engine light turns back on, smoke comes out of the hood, or the darn thing just won't turn on. Time to head to the mechanic's.

A puppy, though, isn't as black and white. They don't have any "check engine" lights. So while an owner may take what they've learned and try all the right things, they still don't always know when they're doing something wrong. Or at least not until it really becomes a real problem. Or maybe it doesn't even become a problem, and the dog just lives his life unsure about how to connect with his owner. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to act, doesn't know how to make them understand. This isn't just a car we're talking about, this is a living, breathing member of our family.

We aren't born with the ability to read our dogs' minds. All we can do is learn as we go, ask for advice, and hope for the best. It would be wonderful if we came into this world with the innate ability to communicate with 100% accuracy with our four-legged friends. How happy and satisfied they would all be!

When I see a pup like the one I met today, it makes me wish I didn't have to do this. It makes me wish that all dogs and people could just naturally figure each other out.

I would do anything to provide that for every dog out there. Happiness, completeness, understanding. But unfortunately, I'm no doggie Oprah. I'm just a small time dog trainer and walker in North Andover. So on days like today, I have to remind myself to take it one step at a time. One dog at a time. I will improve this puppy's life. Just like I've improve the lives of the dogs that I walk. My walkers and I only get a half hour each day with each dog, but we make that the very best half hour we possibly can. It's the least we can do.

So as much as I absolutely love my job, I wish I didn't have it. I wish there were no need for it. But then again, a girl's got to make a living. And even more so, she's got to be realistic. I do have a job. I do my very best at my job. And that improves the lives of the dogs that I meet. People may not be born with the innate ability to understand their dog, but I sure as heck can try to teach them!

The Invisible Leash

Throughout the years, as I've worked with people and their dogs, I've found that we've become increasingly dependent on the leash. The latest and greatest collars, harnesses, and head halters are making us even more hooked on that six foot piece of fabric that connects us to our pups. I watch daily as people walk with a tight leash, pulling this way and that, without ever consulting their dog.

And it makes me wonder, have we taken away from the potential relationship we could have with our dogs by becoming so dependent on the leash?

My leash of choice is the thinnest, four foot lead I can find. The flimsier the better! Because I don't rely on my leash. Sure, it's got to be there. They keep our dogs safe and secure; no matter how reliable your dog is, he should always be on a leash. However, I like my leash to be invisible, as if it weren't even there, with every dog that I walk.

How does a leash become invisible? Well, rather than using it to direct your dog where you want to go, you simply tell your dog where you're going. If you're taking a walk with a friend, are you holding their hand, pulling and tugging them this way and that without notice? Of course not. If you decide to take a left, you tell them "let's go this way." If you want to stop, you say "wait one second." So what's the difference between your friend and your dog? There shouldn't be one!

When I walk my dogs, I tell them where I want to go. If I'm changing directions, I say "this way." Then I take a left or a right or wherever it is that I'd like to go. Originally, if I said "this way" and changed directions, my dogs would continue walking straight until they reached the end of the leash, feel a tug and realize I had changed directions, and then follow me. Within no time, they learned that when I say "this way," it meant I was changing directions, so they'd look at me to figure out where I was going to avoid being tugged by the leash.

I also tell them when I'm stopping. I say "wait," and then stop. Once ready to move forward, I say "let's go." If I want them to catch up to me or slow down, I say "with me." And of course, I always throw in an occasional "good puppy!"

Some dogs pick up on this quickly, others less so. However, if you remain consistent, talking to your dog every time you go for a walk, these commands will eventually have a meaning to him. And the key to doing this is keeping a loose leash. Because remember, it's invisible! If you can't use your leash, you'll have to use your voice. I'll admit, it isn't easy at first, but once you turn it into a habit, you'll never want to use your leash again.

To test your dependence on your leash, you can try tying it around your waist, so that you can't hold onto it. Then take your dog for a walk! You may see how often you rely on the leash, and perhaps how little direction you actually give your pup!

Consider your walks with your dog the same as a walk with a friend. You go for a walk to reconnect, chat, and enhance your relationship. If you take the same approach with your dog, your walks will be much more enjoyable for the both of you!

Am I a Boring Dog Walker?

On a daily basis, I have the privilege of spending time with four dogs who make up a lovely pack; Dexter, Bogart, Bruno, and Doobie. Each one of them is a sufficient watch dog, so to say there's a lot of commotion and excitement upon my arrival is an understatement! However, amongst all of the barking, there's a sound that I've just recently begun to notice. After a couple of barks, Dexter will yawn. And yawn. And yawn! At first I thought it was a fluke. But sure enough, I’m greeted daily with a whole bunch of barks and a couple of yawns.

Am I really that boring of a dog walker??

In hopes that no one else felt that way, today I decided to make note of any yawning upon my arrival. My day began with Kelsey the poodle. As usual, when I picked up her leash she acted silly, bouncing up and down. And as I patiently waited for her to settle, to my surprise, she let out a big, loud yawn! Ah-ha! Apparently Dexter isn't the only one!

And it didn't stop there. Next I visited Gracie and Petunia. As soon as I went towards Gracie's crate, she yawned. When I stopped by Solo’s house for a walk, he greeted me with a big, loud yawn. And sure enough when I returned home, my two dogs greeted me at the door. Tails wagging and mouths open wide…yawning!

Well I might as well hang up my leash now, because apparently I’m a boring dog walker!

Fortunately, that's not actually the case. Dogs don't yawn for the same reasons that we do. For dogs, yawning is referred to as a calming signal and in many cases, is used to cope with excitement. A yawn fills their lungs with air and boosts their brain with oxygen and increases their heart rate. When I walk through the door, all of these dogs are excited and anticipate a walk and a good time. To get ready for action, they yawn! So it turns out I’m not a boring dog walker after all… I’m actually quite fun!

Studies also suggest that yawning is contagious and can be used as a way to calm your dog down. In theory, you can yawn at your dog and he'll yawn back, making him more relaxed. Well, I just yawned about 15 times in front of my dog Elsa and she just stared at me as if I were crazy. So apparently my yawns aren't contagious...but at least I'm not a boring dog walker!