Dealing with Dog's Barking Problem

Dogs bark for many reasons. They bark to express themselves verbally. So it's unreasonable to expect your dog not to bark. What we want to control is excessive and uncontrollable barking from your dog.

One point to remember is that for some dog, excessive barking is a sign of aggressive behavior, which is a very serious and dangerous problem. The method mentioned here does NOT attempt to correct this problem. If there is any possibility that your dog is displaying aggressive behavior, seek help from a professional dog trainer early.

Generally, there are three types of barking:

1. Excited play alert barking
2. Learned barking
3. Boredom barking

Excited Play Alert Barking

This is caused by your dog seeing something but unable to get it, eg. his toys, other dogs, people, other small animals like cats, squirrels, etc.

When a dog displays this type of barking, he is playful and excited, and normally includes play bowing or bouncing around. When play bowing, he puts his head toward the ground and sticks his bottom in the air, his tail wagging, looking cute, wiggly and bouncy.

To deal with this type of barking:

1. Avoid getting your dog too excited. When playing with him, stop the game for a few minutes if he starts to get too excited
2. Resumes the game only after he calms down and stops barking
3. Re-direct his attention to his favorite toy if his barking is stimulated by other types of things like other small animals such as cats, squirrels, etc.
4. Praise him enthusiastically when he does not bark when he is around his distractions

By physically punishing your dog for play alert barking may initially suppress his barking but may run the risk of your dog developing negative associations to whatever he is barking at, increasing the likelihood of developing aggressive behavior.

Learned Barking

Examples of learned barking include barking at you or other people for attention, barking at door to be let in or out, barking at a toy so that you will throw it to him, barking at you or a cabinet for food.

Once your dog achieves his intention by barking, it is highly likely that he will repeat this behavior in the future.

To eliminate this problem, several things need to happen:

1. You must identify the cause of your dog's barking. Stop the cause immediately, eg. stop giving the food to him when he barks at you, etc.
2. Start an obedience program with your dog so that he learns to obey basic commands like "sit", "stay", "come", etc
3. Teach alternative behavior to your dog instead of barking for which he will be rewarded. For example, if he barks to go outside the house:
4. Say "No" to him
5. Gently tag at his leash to stop the barking
6. Tell him "Good Boy" when he stops barking
7. Have your dog "come" and lie down by your side
8. As soon as he does this, praise him and take him outside
9. After several months of training, your dog will learn to come and lie down by your side whenever he wants to go outside

A word of caution: the above training may initially result in increase barking from your dog since in the past he is able to achieve his intention by barking. Remember persistency and consistency will give the result you want.

Boredom Barking

Some dogs tend to bark and whine when they are bored and can go on for hours.

If your dog is showing such behavior, give him plenty of mental and physical stimulation.

Also, consider giving him another dog for company or engaging a dog walker for him.

Proper and regular exercise program and toys, like hunting for hidden treats are all effective remedies.

Recording and playing your voice and your family's member voices whenever you are not around.



And remember to praise your dog abundantly when he does the right thing!

How to Handle a Shy Dog

As loving dog owner, do you know that we can inadvertently train our dogs to be shy and fearful? Remember those moments we would instinctively reassure our dogs by talking soothingly, petting or even picking them up for a hug when they are shy or afraid of strangers, etc.

These actions flagrantly reward the dog for his fearful behavior.

Is Shyness a Problem or Not?

It is natural for some dogs to be shy of things that are new and unfamiliar. During development, a dog becomes socialized with familiar people, animals, objects and situations. But they will still tend to shy away from the unfamiliar. Shyness in itself is not a problem. It is only a problem if the dog's shyness inhibits your lifestyle or if the dog develops other problems related to shyness such as fear biting. Shy dogs often bolt when frightened, endangering themselves by running blindly into danger, such as traffic.

Unintentionally Training Your Dog or Puppy to be Shy

In a well meaning attempt to calm their dog's fears, many people end up actually reinforcing the dog's shy behavior.

In effect, the owner inadvertently trains the dog to be more fearful. Be careful not to reinforce your dog's fearfulness by offering reassurance. When our timid dog hides, barks defensively, whines, screams or snaps, our response is only natural. Our protective instincts cause us to reassure the dog by talking soothingly, petting or even picking up the dog for a hug. These actions flagrantly reward the dog for his fearful behavior.

It is best to just completely ignore your dog when he acts fearful. Let him learn by his own experience that there is nothing to be afraid of.

Save your praise and reassurance for times when your dog acts with confidence.

Shyness, Fear and Socialization

Many people try to rehabilitate their dog too quickly, forcing him to socialize with other dogs and people. This usually reinforces the dog's view that other dogs and people are frightening.

On the one hand, the dog needs to be socialized as quickly as possible, but on the other hand, he should not be forced into it. If you push your dog to do too much too soon, your dog will only become more fearful and may be forced into a situation where he feels he must defend himself.

Socializing a dog and helping him build his confidence is a time consuming task. Thrusting him into the arms of every visitor and dragging him out to socialize with many other dogs can be counter-productive.

Strangers should never be allowed to approach your dog to pet him. It should always be left to your dog to make the first contact. If your dog does not want to approach, that is OK. Just give him plenty of time to 'hide and peek' and eventually he will come out of hiding. It's up to you to provide ample opportunity for socialization, but it is up to the dog to proceed at his own pace. Don't verbally try to encourage him out of hiding. He will probably interpret your encouragement as praise for hiding. Don't try to force him to come out - this will only frighten him even more.

Fearful Snapping, Growling and Aggression

Shy or fearful dogs can react defensively when approached by unfamiliar people. They may try to keep strangers away by growling, snarling or snapping. These behaviors must not be ignored.

No dog should be allowed to get away with acting aggressively towards humans. The fact that your dog is shy is no excuse to condone growling or biting. You must instantly and effectively reprimand such behavior.

As soon as your dog stops acting aggressive, it is essential that you praise him. We do not want your dog to think that the presence of the stranger brings on the reprimand, but that his own obnoxious behavior causes you to get angry. If it is ever necessary for you to reprimand aggressive tendencies in your shy dog, you have probably been trying to push him along too quickly.

Avoid similar threatening situations until your dog has developed sufficient confidence to deal with them without resorting to aggression. Do not allow strangers to reprimand your fearful or shy dog.

And remember to praise your dog abundantly when he does the right thing!

We all like humorous dog pictures.

Don't we enjoy those funny shots of the dog? The pooch probably does not understand why we think those shots are making us laugh at him. Still, a good-natured dog will probably enjoy our evidence of joy.

Look at this video of funny dogs, please. Let me know your favorite parts of the movie.

"Bo" Obama, Portuguese Water Dog

He's a Portuguese Water Dog by breed. His name has been assigned as "Bo", named by the Obama daughters.

What about portuguese water dogs? Their breed title is often shortened to "Portie". It is actually a breed of hunting dogs, a type of water spaniel. Their thick hair is more like that of a poodle although it does not shed much so is somewhat hypoallergenic. This breed of dog is rare when compared to most other breeds.

Normally, their weight as full-grown dogs is no more than sixty pounds. The males often are as much as 23 inches in height. Their appearance is usually black with some white markings. Their brown eyes are alert. Their ears are drooping rather than alert-looking. Some of the dogs have wavy hair while others have tightly curled hair. Often groomers give these dogs a 'lion cut' and do not dock their tails.

These dogs generally tend to want human companionship so are good dogs for lonely people. They are generally friendly if well-trained. Many of these dogs are favorites for handicapped people.

Would you like a Portuguese Water Dog key chain?
Keychain: Portuguese Water Dog

?Doggie on the Couch?

This is what you want? Not me!!

As a dog owner, are you perplexed with the problem of your dog always jumping on furniture, taking your own place on the couch? Think of the possibility of fleas. Think about visitors who may want to sit down but Pooch has the only comfortable seat.

How To Deal With Your Dog Jumping On Furniture

This is a common problem and the method of dealing with this behaviour is very similar to that of jumping and stealing food from the counters.

Three approaches are used:

	Consistency Your dog should never be allowed to jump on the furniture
	Counter-conditioning Create a spot for your spot near your furniture (couch), which can be a blanket or doggie bed. Put his favourite toys or special treats at the spot For the first two months, whenever you sit at your furniture, leash him to the spot to avoid him from wondering off After two months, walk your dog (on leash) to the furniture. When he does not jump up to the furniture, praise and reward him. If he jumps up to the furniture, immediately say �No� and pull him away from the furniture Repeat this exercise several times a day.
	Correction By the fourth month, your dog should learn not to jump on the furniture If he still persists in this behaviour, it�s time to apply the booby trap to correct the behaviour:

i. Put a motion-sensitive sound alarm near the furniture so that alarm will trigger and sound when your dog jumps onto the furniture

ii. Make sure the alarm does not sound when he is near the furniture; only when he jumps onto the furniture

iii. Bring your dog near to the furniture and leave the room immediately

iv. If he jumps onto the furniture, alarm will sound and you should return to the room immediately and say �No� to him followed by pulling him on his leash away from the furniture

3. If your dog is not deterred by this booby trap, it�s time to put a Scat Mat on the furniture. This device will send out a very small electrical shock upon touching it. No dog will want to repeat this behaviour after experiencing such an unpleasant zap. Rest assured that the electrical shock experience is harmless to both human and animal.

And remember to praise your dog abundantly when he does the right thing!

"Sand Skin" Dog-Shar Pei

Sher Pei does not refer to the extra, loose skin on the puppies of this dog breed. It does not refer to the blue or black tongue, either. It refers to the texture of the coat of this old Chinese breed of dog.

As puppies, these dogs have lots of wrinkles, but as they mature, the wrinkles disappear as they "grow into their skin". The American Kennel Club did not recognize the breed until 1991.

The Shar Pei breed come in many colors but have the same characteristic blue-black tongue of the Chow Chow. Superabundant loose skin and wrinkles cover the neck, head, and body of puppies, but adult Shar Pei dog should grow into their skin so that these features are limited to the head, neck and withers. Improper breeding (detrimental to the health of the Shar Pei) produces adult dogs with wrinkles all over the body. Small ears, a muzzle shaped like that of a hippopotamus, and a high set tail also give the Shar Pei a unique look.

Shar Pei is a strong, agile and compact-bodied dog. This coarse coat is a heritage from the Shar pei's dog fighting ancestry that was purposely selected to offer greater resistance to its opponents during fights.

The Shar-Pei is dignified, calm, and confident, aloof with strangers, and a bit arrogant. He can also be a clown with his family.

These characteristics can make the Shar-Pei difficult to train unless he is well-socialized as a pup and taught early that the human word is law in the household. Once convinced of your superiority, the Shar-Pei will accept his place in the order and be a dependable, devoted companion and child's playmate.

Although he is considered a consummate watchdog, the Shar-Pei should never be aggressive to people or other dogs.

This is a people-oriented breed, so when looking for a pup, make sure the breeder gives her dogs plenty of human contact.

A book about Shar Pei: click below

The Complete Chinese Shar-Pei

Aging in Your Dog

The friendship of a dog is something marvelous. Logically, we all wish to enjoy it as much time as possible. Although we know dogs will eventually age, we are scared when they enter old age. As he enters this phase, he will do things at a slower pace. He will not get up immediately, but think if it's worth the effort. His energy and strength decreases, he will rest more often and sleep more. As opposed to humans, a dog does not become senile. Dogs are not afraid to age. So why are we afraid when our dog becomes old?

Back in earlier days, owners tried to keep their dogs from aging. An old dog's incompetence toward work, a decrease in its ability to react quickly or the deterioration of its health was a death sentence. Nowadays, we mostly own dogs for their company. We have a strong connection and an affectionate relationship with our dogs. For any owner, it would be unimaginable to sacrifice a dog simply because he has become old. Now that we have embraced our dogs as our companions, we consider them human.

Our worry about our dog's old age comes from the attitude we take towards our own aging. Our modern view toward aging is difficult, and concern over physical illness or the diminishing of our mental capacity afflicts us. It is uncommon to see old age as something beautiful, significant or interesting. All these feelings are transmitted to our old canine friend due to the strong connection we share with him. As human beings we have the advantage of preparing ourselves by taking precautions and measures to make our dogs feel great about aging.

Some questions about dogs' aging:

How many years can a dog live? Nobody can predict a dog's age or how long it can live. We do know that small dogs in general live more years than big dogs. In addition, female dogs tend to live longer than male dogs, and dogs that live outside live shorter lives than dogs that are at home with us. These are just generalizations. There exists the possibility that dogs can live above or below their average mortality. Veterinarians believe that dogs live longer nowadays due to the knowledge their owners have about them and the advances in veterinarian science.

What is my dog's age? I'm sure you're familiar with the old belief that for every year a dog lives, it is equivalent to 7 human years. Nowadays, this comparison is no longer considered valid. At any given moment, your dog can find himself in a determinant phase of development that is only applicable to him and does not correspond to any aging statistics or charts. If we observe dogs at canine expositions, we can notice enormous differences in vitality among them.

When will my dog be of old age?
Similar to human beings, white hairs are a symptom of growing old in dogs, but there are several dogs that develop white hairs when they are still relatively young. The first white hairs appear by the whiskers, and then it spreads throughout the whole nose. Particularly on dogs that have brown, red or golden hair, the color of their heads can turn white. In general, the skin of most dogs loses elasticity and becomes greasier. The eyes become more opaque, and the dog can lose his hearing, but his sense of smell tends not to diminish. Since the dog is an animal guided by smell, having his hearing or vision malfunction does not matter as much to him.

The dog will probably jump less on the sofa, not play as much with the ball and avoid going up the stairs unless it's necessary. In addition, he will stretch more often. Since the dog will not do as much exercise as he did before, his meals should be reduced or he will gain unnecessary weight. The denture of your dog might start having problems—some teeth might be loose. His nails will grow longer, but not be as strong. In terms of reflexes, they will most likely become slower. It might be hard to notice these differences in your dog, but it is important to always be alert in order to take the right precautions.

Studies have shown that dogs between the age of nine and twelve tend to suffer from heart problems. The liver and the pancreas might cause several problems, and the incidence of diabetes increases in dogs older than eight years. A dog's immune system will become weaker, and it will increase the risk of tumors.

Several of these changes might not be as visible on certain dogs because all dogs age differently. Owners cannot predict what type of illnesses their dogs might get, but they can help them live their old age with dignity, care, respect and friendship.

Worried about your aged canine friend? Try this:

Pet Naturals of Vermont Dog Daily Senior