A widely debated topic about dogs/dog training is whether or not to let your dog sleep on your bed with you.
Here at Fort Fido, we tell folks, simply, "Don't do it!". It has the potential of opening a whole can of worms.
Many folks do let there pooch on the bed and I understand it fully, the kid in me does as well... Let's face it, it's fun to get cozy and cuddle with your pet who is obviously a loving member of the family (pack). Yet, multiple problems can arise from allowing your fuzzy buddy to snooze with you.
For us, it isn't about hygiene or allergies, although, after reading several articles, that could be a problem for some. Nobody wants to get sick, albeit, I think that's rare. Our problem is when folks let their dog "Rule the bed" (or other furniture).
Letting the dog decide when and where they can sleep is the issue. Over the years we've heard several horror stories of dogs growling/snapping at their owners/owners guests when they attempt to remove the dog from the bed or off of the furniture. Now that is a major problem! We here at The Fort strongly believe in being the leader of our pack/dog(s) and making the decisions. When people begin to let their pet decide things (like being on the bed whenever the y please), it can become a roller-coaster of disaster, with many behavioral problems surfacing, due to seemingly harmless and unconscious actions.
Don't want to beat a dead horse here lol. I think most everyone grasps what I'm saying. However, apparently, many pet behaviorists and scientist have debunked the whole "Be the pack leader" style of training. Who knows, we only know what works for us and plenty of others... Ever heard of Cesar Millan? Hahaha, not many can debate him and we certainly wouldn't. Maybe a happy medium is in order? Here is an example, truthfully, it's exactly what I do and what works for my "Pack Family".
Gibson is allowed on the bed when we want him to be on the bed, simple! First and foremost, we choose the time, then call him up... Our bed is pretty high but he must jump up to be in it. Nobody is going to pick him up and set him in lol. After that, he may cuddle with us in the bed until we are ready to fall asleep. This is the part that's no fun haha... We get up and put him in his crate (that is next to the bed, on the ground) for the night. This works because my wife and I decide, Gibby doesn't have carte blanche, problems don't arise.
We use the "No free lunch" and "You don't decide" methods exclusively. Believe me, my dog and I still have our quirks and issues but for the most part, things are wonderful when we stick to these practices. One thing I can attest to, is that Gibson has absolutely no Separation Anxiety. I was adamant in enacting a plan that would prevent that common and darn right annoying behavioral problem. It's the scourge of many a dog and human relationship. Too many owners out there send mix messages to their pets. Before they know it, the animals believes they are on the same level as them and become ready to make "doggy decisions". Not good!
Agree or disagree, that's my .02 ¢.
;)
Good luck to you and your pack members! Here are some other articles about "The dog on the bed". Not all of them are my style, research and see what works for you. As long as you and your pet are happy and there are no considerable behavioral problems, good on you guys!
Letting your dog sleep on your bed with you
Pets in your bed
Sleeping on the bed
Take care,
-Grant
P.S. Whoa! Can't forget our clips.
Showing posts with label separation anxiety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label separation anxiety. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Anxiety & Face Wraps are in!
The Anxiety Wraps I talked about last week are in along with another product called a Face Wrap. We believe the Face Wrap will prove to be a very valuable training aid (if used correctly) for any type of "mouthing" specifically, barking! If you are interested in any of these products or how they work but don't have time to read more, let me know and I'll tell you in person. :)
Firefighters rescue dog and sheep from cliff
Dog sniffs out bowel cancer
Ryan Anderson wins Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Keeping pets safe and warm in the winter cold
Cheers,
-Grant
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
More S.A. Stuff
Separation Anxiety seems to be the topic of discussion around here at The Fort. I'm sure you've already read my take on it as it pertains to daycare dogs (If not, here you go 1, 2, 3)...
I thought you may be interested in checking out some other views on the topic. These articles are very good, thorough and somewhat similar to mine. Take a look!
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/separationanxiety.htm
http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/separation_anxiety.html
Something I just learned (from the 1st article) is that S.A. is the second most common reason why dogs are euthanized or given up by their owners. Sad but true!
Maybe I'll be done talking about S.A. for awhile it's giving me symptoms, hahaha just kidding!
Take care,
-Grant
I thought you may be interested in checking out some other views on the topic. These articles are very good, thorough and somewhat similar to mine. Take a look!
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/separationanxiety.htm
http://www.wagntrain.com/SeparationAnx.htm
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/separation_anxiety.html
Something I just learned (from the 1st article) is that S.A. is the second most common reason why dogs are euthanized or given up by their owners. Sad but true!
Maybe I'll be done talking about S.A. for awhile it's giving me symptoms, hahaha just kidding!
Take care,
-Grant
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Separation Anxiety Part 3
Today is the conclusion of my little ditty on S.A. you can view Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Create a schedule for your dog and stick to it!
This will really pay off if you can do it (it will also help solve many other common issues like potty training). Although dog's are resilient, they thrive on routine. To me, the more rigid, the better.
For Example: Fido get's woken up out of his crate at 7:00am, he sits at the door and goes outside to potty, once his owner gives the command. He get's called back in for breakfast and sits before being allowed access to his morning grub. After breakfast, he goes for a half hour walk around the neighborhood at 8:00am. From 8:30am to 9:30am he may hang out in the living room with his favorite chew toy. At 9:30am he goes to Daycare at The Fort (sitting before he comes in the door of course) and get's picked up at 5:00pm. He get's fed his dinner at 5:30pm, sitting before being given the OK to chow down. From 6:00pm to 9:30pm Fido hangs out with the family. At 9:30pm he get's one last potty break and or romp in the yard before bedtime at 10:00pm.
Please note, this is just a rough example however I'm pretty sure you get my drift. It's a sample routine that makes dealing with Fido easier... It takes out the guess work. If you would like to go a bit more in depth with working out a schedule for your dog, talk to one of the Fort Fido staff members in person.
Pertaining to daycare, we have customers who bring their dog as little as one half day every other week but you know what? It's the same day, same time and the dog knows that he/she is going to The Fort and can't wait to play. This type of daycare schedule AKA consistency, assists the dog in finding it's groove with the pack. The opposite style, popping in randomly can have quite a different effect on a dog. Especially one prone to S.A. or combined with other bad owner habits. The dog never knows whether it's coming or going and can't relax because it's constantly worried about it's owner.
No rewards for bad behavior!
Let's make this one quite a bit more condensed and to the point. Here I sound like a broken record but BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ACTIONS WITH YOUR DOG AT ALL TIMES. It is all about choice, do not allow yourself to "act a fool" or subconsciously reward a behavior that you swear you don't want your dog to do hahaha... I get that one all the time. Many times we do not realize we are doing anything wrong. That's fine for a moment but stop yourself, think and realize. Dog's take things literally! Everyone is smart enough to figure this stuff out. I've seen small children do better with their dog than their parents do!
Example: Fido jumps up on the counter, near the treat bowl, at doggie daycare. You scold him then give him a treat because he obviously wanted one.
Fido now thinks that if he jumps up on the counter he will get a treat after a scolding that basically means nothing, doh!
Example: Fido doesn't jump on the counter but you want to give him a treat. You make him sit and stay calmly, then hand him a treat.
Nice job, Fido now thinks that if he sits and wait's patiently he will get a treat. You've rewarded behavior that you want, good job owner! It is so very simple!
That about wraps it up for now. Please, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask a Fort Fido staff member. We can get very busy but try our best to answer any questions that you have, do not be embarrassed to ask! When working with your pet, be confident, don't allows others to make fun of you or question your methods. If you have other people in your household make sure to get them on the same page. Don't let them undo your efforts.
The proof of success will be in your dog's ability to stay under your command in any and all situations regardless of others actions or behavior. This is the goal, total control at all times and a happy healthy pet! Also, remember to see the baby steps or little improvements along the way and have fun! Don't stress yourself out, just promise to do better and better each day for you and your dog! We can still get our human emotional needs met, we just need to better understand the differences of the K9 brain. Make your interactions with your dog on your terms, not theirs!
Brrr! See you around,
-Grant
P.S. Our friend Hope summed S.A. up nicely, "An independent dog is a happy dog. I suppose it feels nice to "feel needed" but not when being needed eats your couch!". Hahaha, awesome!
Create a schedule for your dog and stick to it!
This will really pay off if you can do it (it will also help solve many other common issues like potty training). Although dog's are resilient, they thrive on routine. To me, the more rigid, the better.
For Example: Fido get's woken up out of his crate at 7:00am, he sits at the door and goes outside to potty, once his owner gives the command. He get's called back in for breakfast and sits before being allowed access to his morning grub. After breakfast, he goes for a half hour walk around the neighborhood at 8:00am. From 8:30am to 9:30am he may hang out in the living room with his favorite chew toy. At 9:30am he goes to Daycare at The Fort (sitting before he comes in the door of course) and get's picked up at 5:00pm. He get's fed his dinner at 5:30pm, sitting before being given the OK to chow down. From 6:00pm to 9:30pm Fido hangs out with the family. At 9:30pm he get's one last potty break and or romp in the yard before bedtime at 10:00pm.
Please note, this is just a rough example however I'm pretty sure you get my drift. It's a sample routine that makes dealing with Fido easier... It takes out the guess work. If you would like to go a bit more in depth with working out a schedule for your dog, talk to one of the Fort Fido staff members in person.
Pertaining to daycare, we have customers who bring their dog as little as one half day every other week but you know what? It's the same day, same time and the dog knows that he/she is going to The Fort and can't wait to play. This type of daycare schedule AKA consistency, assists the dog in finding it's groove with the pack. The opposite style, popping in randomly can have quite a different effect on a dog. Especially one prone to S.A. or combined with other bad owner habits. The dog never knows whether it's coming or going and can't relax because it's constantly worried about it's owner.
No rewards for bad behavior!
Let's make this one quite a bit more condensed and to the point. Here I sound like a broken record but BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ACTIONS WITH YOUR DOG AT ALL TIMES. It is all about choice, do not allow yourself to "act a fool" or subconsciously reward a behavior that you swear you don't want your dog to do hahaha... I get that one all the time. Many times we do not realize we are doing anything wrong. That's fine for a moment but stop yourself, think and realize. Dog's take things literally! Everyone is smart enough to figure this stuff out. I've seen small children do better with their dog than their parents do!
Example: Fido jumps up on the counter, near the treat bowl, at doggie daycare. You scold him then give him a treat because he obviously wanted one.
Fido now thinks that if he jumps up on the counter he will get a treat after a scolding that basically means nothing, doh!
Example: Fido doesn't jump on the counter but you want to give him a treat. You make him sit and stay calmly, then hand him a treat.
Nice job, Fido now thinks that if he sits and wait's patiently he will get a treat. You've rewarded behavior that you want, good job owner! It is so very simple!
That about wraps it up for now. Please, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask a Fort Fido staff member. We can get very busy but try our best to answer any questions that you have, do not be embarrassed to ask! When working with your pet, be confident, don't allows others to make fun of you or question your methods. If you have other people in your household make sure to get them on the same page. Don't let them undo your efforts.
The proof of success will be in your dog's ability to stay under your command in any and all situations regardless of others actions or behavior. This is the goal, total control at all times and a happy healthy pet! Also, remember to see the baby steps or little improvements along the way and have fun! Don't stress yourself out, just promise to do better and better each day for you and your dog! We can still get our human emotional needs met, we just need to better understand the differences of the K9 brain. Make your interactions with your dog on your terms, not theirs!
Brrr! See you around,
-Grant
P.S. Our friend Hope summed S.A. up nicely, "An independent dog is a happy dog. I suppose it feels nice to "feel needed" but not when being needed eats your couch!". Hahaha, awesome!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Separation Anxiety PART 2
On yesterday's blog post, I explained a bit about Separation Anxiety in dogs, particularly daycare dogs. Today I wanted to begin discussing the subject more by offering you some tips that will help you and your pet overcome this disorder. In my opinion, these tips are so easy and the key to successfully ridding your dog (heck, maybe even your kid lol) of S.A. However they can be most difficult for us humans to do. :) Let's hop to it!
Be EXTREMELY conscious of your "Comings & Goings"
When you leave your dog ANYWHERE (home, work, it's crate/kennel, the car for a minute, DOGGIE DAYCARE or the groomer) DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT butter them up with affection. No kisses, cuddles or long good byes... Spin on your heels and leave, don't make eye contact with them or say anything! In doing this, you will portray to the K9 mind that your "Comings & Goings" mean nothing. You leaving shall not affect their mood or behavior.
When we do the opposite of this (by baby talking them, hugging them, whimpering and telling them everything is going to be OK, generally making a scene...) our dogs are literally thinking, "Holy cow, they are not OK right now, I need to worry about them!". Most of us tend to think that a dog's anxiety is them missing us and not wanting to be alone, it couldn't be further from the truth. They are worried about us because we act so wacky every time we leave them! They think we are having major issues that they need to try and resolve.
Coming home or picking your dog up from ANYWHERE should be no different. DO NOT greet them or acknowledge them right away! It is all about timing, anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. Wait until your dog is displaying some behavior that you want (like sitting calmly) then go in for the hug and cuddles. Doing the opposite of this, you are basically rewarding your dog for acting like a maniac (jumping, howling, fidgeting, etc...) when you pick them up.
Make them do something for you! All the time!
This is quite simple, for example: Before you let your dog outside or through any type of doorway, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. Before you give your dog a meal, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. There are many positive things you can make your dog do for you. Those two things are a great start that will get you on the right track. Doing so will help your dog be more patient and attentive to you and your commands. They want to please!
Socialize them early
If you have a young puppy or are planning on getting one please socialize them early (before six months is key). Get them into doggie daycare, take them to the dog park and on walks frequently. Have them meet many different people (young, old, tall, short, etc...) with a goal of having them sit and stay calmly while being pet.
Dogs are pack animals and the K9 brain is very different from our own. Dogs thrive off of strong leadership. If they aren't getting it they will try their best to be the leader. Unfortunately this will lead to circumstances that we will not enjoy.
Some may think this is all a bit harsh but the opposite is what is harsh, fulfilling our needy little needs and not our dogs'. I'm not saying we can't love our pets, we need to love them more and strive to be in tune with them.
Be on the lookout for the conclusion, Separation Anxiety Part 3. It will give more insight and include even more helpful tips.
Have a great weekend!
-Grant
*Edit* Separation Anxiety PART 3
Be EXTREMELY conscious of your "Comings & Goings"
When you leave your dog ANYWHERE (home, work, it's crate/kennel, the car for a minute, DOGGIE DAYCARE or the groomer) DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT butter them up with affection. No kisses, cuddles or long good byes... Spin on your heels and leave, don't make eye contact with them or say anything! In doing this, you will portray to the K9 mind that your "Comings & Goings" mean nothing. You leaving shall not affect their mood or behavior.
When we do the opposite of this (by baby talking them, hugging them, whimpering and telling them everything is going to be OK, generally making a scene...) our dogs are literally thinking, "Holy cow, they are not OK right now, I need to worry about them!". Most of us tend to think that a dog's anxiety is them missing us and not wanting to be alone, it couldn't be further from the truth. They are worried about us because we act so wacky every time we leave them! They think we are having major issues that they need to try and resolve.
Coming home or picking your dog up from ANYWHERE should be no different. DO NOT greet them or acknowledge them right away! It is all about timing, anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. Wait until your dog is displaying some behavior that you want (like sitting calmly) then go in for the hug and cuddles. Doing the opposite of this, you are basically rewarding your dog for acting like a maniac (jumping, howling, fidgeting, etc...) when you pick them up.
Make them do something for you! All the time!
This is quite simple, for example: Before you let your dog outside or through any type of doorway, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. Before you give your dog a meal, make them sit and wait until you say it's OK. There are many positive things you can make your dog do for you. Those two things are a great start that will get you on the right track. Doing so will help your dog be more patient and attentive to you and your commands. They want to please!
Socialize them early
If you have a young puppy or are planning on getting one please socialize them early (before six months is key). Get them into doggie daycare, take them to the dog park and on walks frequently. Have them meet many different people (young, old, tall, short, etc...) with a goal of having them sit and stay calmly while being pet.
Dogs are pack animals and the K9 brain is very different from our own. Dogs thrive off of strong leadership. If they aren't getting it they will try their best to be the leader. Unfortunately this will lead to circumstances that we will not enjoy.
Some may think this is all a bit harsh but the opposite is what is harsh, fulfilling our needy little needs and not our dogs'. I'm not saying we can't love our pets, we need to love them more and strive to be in tune with them.
Be on the lookout for the conclusion, Separation Anxiety Part 3. It will give more insight and include even more helpful tips.
Have a great weekend!
-Grant
*Edit* Separation Anxiety PART 3
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