Choose training over frustration!

While out walking this morning, I watched something happen that I’ve seen at least a hundred times before. The woman walking her little terrier about twenty paces in front of me was becoming more and more frustrated with her dog every second. She wanted her dog to walk on her right side. The dog had other ideas, and kept crossing behind her to be on her left side, closer to the grass. It became a battle of wills, the woman roughly yanking the dog’s leash, the dog lunging and pulling the opposite way. The woman’s frustration was palpable.

All too often I see people with good intentions floundering in the land of doggy disobedience; people who want to give their dogs the exercise and playtime they deserve but who don’t have the tools to keep it controlled and enjoyable for both dog AND human. I think sometimes people are overwhelmed by the thought of training. I’m not sure if they think the dog incapable of being trained, themselves incapable of training a dog, or a little bit of both, but it is time to dispel those notions.

Training your dog can be a hugely beneficial activity on top of being an enjoyable way to bond with him. Most dogs love to please their owners. Most dogs love spending time with their owners. Most dogs, no matter age or breed, are capable of learning a new skill, new command, or a new trick. Unfortunately, sometimes they don’t know what you want. If you have no idea where to begin, training with your dog can become a daunting task. However, it really can be both fun and fruitful if you have the right information and some hands on training of your own. Luckily, there are lots of trainers willing to help.

There are a couple of ways to find a trainer to work with. One of the best ways is to talk to your friends, co-workers, and family members to see if anyone has a recommendation. Another option is to go to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website. They have a Dog Trainer Search that allows you to enter your zip code and see all of the trainers in your area. They even break it down by certified trainers vs. non-certified trainers if that is important to you. Then go to that trainer’s website, read their mission statement, investigate their training methods, look at how their lessons are structured. Do you want to take a group class? Or would you prefer private lessons in your home? Where did she do her training to become a trainer? Then I would advise calling the trainer and either scheduling a time to meet and discuss your needs or just chat over the phone. Any good trainer will be more than willing to do either or both of those things with you.

If you find yourself becoming more and more often frustrated with your dog, please don’t throw your arms up in the air. You have options. You can train your dog. Your dog can learn to behave on a walk and in your home. Seek out a trainer that you really like and enjoy working with. If after a couple of sessions you don’t like the way things are progressing, start looking for someone else. You will find just the right person for you and your pooch if you look around. Believe me, it will make a world of difference in both your life and your dog’s life.

The Plumpy Predicament

When is it okay to tell someone that their dog is fat? Is it ever okay? Is it not a big deal at all? Is it the same as telling someone that their child is fat? As I think about this, I remember one time, on a walk with Wyatt and Maverick (my second dog at the time), a man was walking towards us and made a comment about Wyatt's weight. Though I can't remember it verbatim, it was something to do with him not going hungry and ended with "plumpy." Plumpy? Now, admittedly, at the time, Wyatt was plumpy. He is technically a pit bull - American bulldog mix and was kind of a rolly-polly fellow. I fed him high-quality food, never fed him "people food" or excessive snacks, he got at least two hours of exercise EVERY day, either walking or running, and played ball like a mad man, so I truly thought that the bulldog in him lent that "sausage" shape. What could I have been doing wrong - he was the fittest dog I knew? Well, when he was 5 or so, he started coming up lame on his hind leg. I had just lost my lab Maverick to osteosarcoma (bone cancer) which had presented in the same fashion, so I was quick get Wyatt's issue diagnosed and treated. Thankfully, it wasn't cancer, but it did turn out that he has severe hip dysplasia. One of the first things the vet, who was new to me, told me was that Wyatt needed to lose at least 10 pounds so as to relieve his hips of the extra weight. 10 POUNDS?? I couldn't believe it. I plead my case, explaining that he was just a plumpy sausage by nature and that there was NO WAY I'd be able to shave ten pounds off of him. At the time, Wyatt was about 76 pounds and the vet was telling me that his ideal weight was more somewhere in the range of 63-65 lbs. He asked me how much I fed him: I was feeding him a total of three cups a day. He told me that I was over-feeding; that a good rule of thumb is to feed 1 cup for every 30 pounds of dog - IDEAL weight, that is. According to this new information, I was feeding for a 90-pound dog, when I should have been feeding for a 65 lb dog (give or take a pound). So, I cut back from 3 cups a day to two (and he told me that those cups could be heaping since he didn't need to be right at 60 lbs.) Who would have thought that one measly cup of food (less actually, since I went ahead and fed heaping cups) would make that big of a difference?? In less than three months, he weighed 64 lbs. The vet had been right - he HAD been fat! I couldn't believe how much extra weight Wyatt had been carrying around. It's three years later and Wyatt is still under 70 pounds, usually coming in around 67 pounds or so. I am so thankful for that vet's advice - between dog-trainers, doggie websites, and feeding guides on the backs of food bags (PLEASE DO NOT EVER FOLLOW the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag without consulting your veterinarian as they are almost always way off), it is almost impossible to figure out the right amount to feed. The 1 cup for every 30 pounds of ideal weight is a rule I will follow with every dog of mine in the future.

So, back to my original question.. is it okay to tell someone that their dog is fat? In my case, it came from a vet so it didn't upset me. It was, in fact, information that was critical to my dog's health so I was fortunate to hear it; no previous vet had made mention of Wyatt's weight. The guy on the street telling me my dog was plumpy? Actually, that didn't bother me either. Truth be told, it made me laugh - my friends and I referred to Wyatt as Plumpy from there on out. I know, however, that this can be a touchy subject for some. Tonight, I told my brother and his wife that their 10-month-old puppy was fat. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I felt bad because I know how defensive this can make people. Yet, I felt it important to discuss; she is a large breed dog, which makes her more susceptible to joint problems, so keeping her weight in check is important. My brother and his wife took it in stride, laughed a bit and had a couple of questions, and I know that they trust me and trust that I know what I am talking about. However, I worry that as they drive home tonight, they may talk about what a bitch I am for calling their dog fat... Is it okay to tell someone that their dog is fat? I don't know...

December Blues

It is just the start of December and already I am prepared to crawl into my bed, pull the covers up over my head, and wait until Spring. I know that when I do this, my 70 lb pit bull, Wyatt, will be right on my heels, nudging me to lift the covers for him, too, burrowing into my abdomen, and falling fast asleep. If you are anything like me, this sounds simply dreamy. However, my logical brain tells me that this is not reality; that my dog, however content he may appear to be to snuggle the days away with me, would be much happier with a romp in the great outdoors. Funny thing is, although I may be longing for the warmth and comfort of said bed, I, too, am happier once I've had that romp with him. It is easy to come up with an excuse, especially this time of year, to forgo the donning of layers, the bundling of scarves, and the chattering of teeth, but the truth of the matter is that once we are out there, coffee in hand (mine), nose to the ground (his), I realize that this is the best part of my day. Of OUR day. In the midst of the daily grind, this is an hour of freedom, of peace, of enjoyment. We are all so busy, so tasked with daily to-do items, that in the face of 20 degrees, walking the dog can feel like one more task at the end of the day. As a full-time graduate student, I am particularly appreciative of a moment's rest, but I am keenly aware that I, and my dog, would rather a few moments' peace. This peace, for me, truly is found in the great outdoors with Wyatt. Sitting down at the end of the day "for just a moment" before beginning to study often leads to an hour, or two, after which I have accomplished nothing and really have less energy than I did when I first arrived home. Getting out for a walk with with the pooch not only provides me with the time with him that I long for all day, but also revitalizes me. And Saturday and Sunday mornings? I wait all week for them! Even though it's freezing outside, even though when my alarm goes off Monday through Friday I dream of nothing more than to stay in bed until I'm good and ready to get up, I can't deny the pleasure I get from throwing on my warmest clothes, hopping in the jeep, stopping for a coffee from the local cafe, and hitting the trails in one of the many wooded areas in my city. Besides, I can't think of a better way to repay my pal for being such a good boy, waiting patiently for me each and every day, and keeping me warm when it IS time to crawl under the covers. Can you?