Training Your Dog - Body Language

Image you and your dog are out on a walk and another individual with a dog is coming towards you. The other dog starts barking and jumping around the closer they get to you. The owner assures you that the dog is friendly and only wants to play. The other dog’s body language is playful and sociable. However, your dog doesn’t understand that the other dog is playing when the other dog slams into him and starts slobbering all over his neck. Your dog will most likely start to snap and snarl at the dog and then won’t understand why he is getting yelled at.

In many households, dogs learn they get whatever they want whenever they want it, without seeking permission or first offering an appropriate behavior (such as sitting). Train your dog to ask permission before they are allowed to play or get what they want. Proper social interaction deals with the use of space, the speed of entering a space, and the cues that say contact is or isn’t okay. There is a misconception among dog owners that believe every dog will get along given enough time and will work out any problems. Dogs are like people, there are some dogs they like and get along with and there are some they don’t like and will never get along with.

Always ask permission before allowing your dog to approach another. This is easier if the following training is in place:

• Train your dog to approach other dogs only with permission.
• Train your dog to sit calmly as other dogs pass by, feeding them many small treats quickly so that your dog focuses on you.
• Honor dog body language, and decline of break off any matchups if either dog appears uncomfortable or responds badly.

Body language that shows dogs are interacting appropriately when they first meet are:

• Relaxed bodies and faces on approach
• Wiggly bottoms or at least neutral tail positions (not too high, not tucked to their belly)
• Curved body motion as the dogs get close
• Brief face-to-face greeting that quickly becomes an investigation of the head and rear
• Continual movement by both dogs during investigation

After the dogs have started to play, here is some body language to look for to make sure everything is going well:

• Activity shifts, where dogs move from one type of play (boxing, jaw wrestling, chasing, tug) to another
• Role reversal, where dogs take turns being on the bottom or being chased
• Atmosphere cues, where dogs use play bows, happy play faces, and bouncy or inefficient movement to indicate “whatever I do next, I’m only playing”.

Feline Heartworm Disease

Many people do not realize that cats can get heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is not just a canine disease. Cats are getting heartworm far more often than was previously believed. During a recent study, it was found that 26% of the cats tested had been infected with heartworm larvae at some point in their lives.

Indoor cats are not impervious to heartworm infection. A North Carolina study found that 27% of cats diagnosed with heartworm were indoor-only cats. It only takes one mosquito to cause an infection, and because mosquitoes can get indoors, both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk.

The name “heartworm disease” is a misnomer for cats, as it mostly affects their lungs, not their heart. Because cats are unique in their respiratory reaction to heartworms, a new title has been given to this particular set of symptoms: heartworm-associated respiratory disease, or HARD. Cats that suffer from HARD can have difficulty breathing and can die from the disease. However, even in the late stages animals often exhibit no symptoms.

Unlike dogs, cats do not need an adult heartworm to exhibit clinical signs; in fact, larvae are a main cause of the problems. Studies show that 50% of cats infected with heartworm larvae have significant damage of the small arteries that supply blood to the lungs.

Diagnosis is much more difficult for cats than it is for dogs. If your cat is exhibiting signs of heartworm disease (ie., coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting), talk to your veterinarian.

Dog Training - Do's and Don'ts

When you start training your furry friend, he or she has no clue on earth what you are saying. Animal obedience training begins with the owner. Pet training can be taught by an obedience instructor, or you can do the friend training yourself. Dog training with an obedience instructor can vary in price and it usually takes place in a class. If you decide to do the puppy training yourself, it is free and you can do it from your own home.

It is really important to make a shy laid back animal feel super great during training sessions as this can only improve your chances of continuing successful training. Pet training - basic obedience, house and potty training are essential and imperative to a animal's education.

• Don't nag your dog by constantly giving them orders; you will probably only confuse them and then both of you become frustrated.
• Don't punish your pet with the lead or any instrument of training or anything he should associate with duty or pleasure.
• Don't lose patience with a puppy younger than six months.
• Don't grab your dog or reach for him quickly.
• Don't chase your pet to catch him; he must come to you or run after you.
• Don't jump to the conclusion that your animal is dumb.
• Don't permit everyone to give commands to your pup.
• Don't punish a pup be stepping on his paws needlessly.
• Don't punish your pup while you are angry or lack control of yourself.
  

Always use praise instead of punishment with pet training. Your furry friend will recognize your moods and associate them to their behavior by your tone of voice. In my opinion, the best way of rewarding good behavior is through offering toys or treats.

Obedient dogs make the best companions. Remember keep the sessions short but do not sacrifice content. Like people, pets have unique personalities none of which are the same, and it is a good trainer that will take the time to figure out the friend before trying to figure out how to best approach introducing basic obedience.

Positive attention is best, but if negative attention is all they can get from you, they'll try to obtain that. Others may disagree with this statement, but through my experience with my own pup and others around me, I have found that rewarding good behavior can only aid in maintaining that behavior.

Consistency is a chief virtue in dog training. A poorly trained dog can embarrass its owner and offend other people - or even make them feel threatened.