Unleashed Unlimited » Tips for Owning and Training Dogs

Submissive Grinning in Dogs

Paul — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:43:17 +0000

Growing up, most of us were probably taught that you should not approach a dog if he his snarling at you and showing his teeth; that’s a pretty clear body language cue not to approach. But when is teeth bearing not an indicator to back off? Although it’s commonly confused with a snarl, submissive grinning is is not a signal to back off!

Submissive grinning, sometimes called smiling, is when a dog pulls up their front lips to expose their teeth (check out a video here and a photo here) and it often occurs during an initial greeting (dog to human, dog to dog). If you have never seen a dog do this before, it can be quite confusing and it’s often misread by people because we are so conditioned to back off when we see teeth.

Although the bearing of the teeth during submissive grinning can often closely resemble other teeth bearing situations (like resource guarding), it is important to look at more then just the teeth. When a dog smiles or grins submissively, there is usually motion in the dog, often fast-paced over-exaggerated movements, squinty eyes, and overall excitement.

On the other hand, teeth bearing during resource guarding will often appear when the dog is in proximity to an item (bone, food, etc) and the dog is usually still and hunched over and showing teeth (video here – don’t try this at home).

Not all dogs grin submissively but keep your eyes out for those that do, it can be very fun!

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Should You Allow Your Dog on the Furniture?

Paul — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:08:42 +0000

Absolutely! Although I say that without hesitation, there are some exceptions and conditions that must be met if you’re going to allow your dog on the furniture.

Make sure they are only allowed onto the couch or bed when invited. There are going to be times when you don’t want them automatically jumping onto the couch and snuggling right up against your friend who is scared of dogs or getting hair all over your Sunday best. If your dog jumps up without permission, have them get off of the couch, sit, and then invite them back up. The consistent enforcement of this structure will lead to your dog “asking” for permission.
Make sure they know how to get off the couch. A dog should yield to you and the family, that includes removing themselves from the couch or bed when told to do so. Make sure that you fully teach your dog a skill (such as “get off” or something similar) that will clearly communicate that you want your dog to get off of the furniture.
Make sure your dog is not guarding the furniture. If your dog is one the bed and growls at you every time you enter the room, do not allow them to remain on the furniture. If your dog growls, nips, or bites you when you reposition yourself in bed or on the couch or when you try to remove them from the bed, it’s time to go.
Make sure there is balance is your relationship. Those dogs lacking a strong leadership presence do not need access to the furniture right now. I would also implement a no couch or bed rule for puppies and new dogs coming into the home (for a few weeks). As the relationship between you and your dog gets further established or when things start to improve, you can revisit the issue but the furniture is something that I feel needs to be earned.

If your dog meets these conditions, go ahead and take that well-deserved nap on the couch with your pup! If not, contact an Austin Dog Trainer to help create some structure, boundaries, and improved communication with your dog!

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The Retractable Leash

Paul — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:16:04 +0000

Retractable leashes, sometimes referred to as flexileads, are pretty common to find in a dog owner’s stash of dog items. Leashes play a very important role in training your dog and sure, they may sound like a good idea as you can control the length of your dog’s leash from moment to moment, but just like any training tool, proper usage is key. Listed below are some potential hazards that are associated with these types of leashes.

Severe rope burn can occur if the leash gets caught around your ankle or if you try to grab the chord using your hand as your dog bolts away. Yes, this can happen with any type of leash but due to the thin and rounded construction of many of these types of chords, the potential severity of rope burn is increased, both for you and your dog.
Retractable leashes don’t really allow for a structured walk. Too much leash (as well as tension in the leash) allows the dog too much freedom during their walks which can contribute to leash reactivity when seeing another dog or animal. Yes, you sure can give the dog a shorter amount of leash if you choose to, but how many owners actually do this?
As responsible dog owners, it’s important to be considerate of others when out with your dog. I have seen countless owners on many of Austin’s Dog Trails who give their dog about 15 feet of leash on a trail that is only 10 feet wide which means there is a leash that spanns the entire trail width and joggers, bikers, and other dog owners have to figure out how to avoid your dog’s leash.

Alright so clearly I’m not a fan of using a retractable leash, so what should you use? I prefer a simple nylon leash that is anywhere from 4′ to 6′ in length, about 3/4″ wide, and unless you have a dog that is a champion weight puller, a single-ply leash should be just fine. Regardless of what type of leash you are using, going for a walk with your dog should involve keeping your dog next to you in a control position, there should be slack in your dog’s leash, and he should generally be looking in the direction you are traveling. Just like most things we do with our dogs, structure is key! If you would like to learn more about how to add structure to your dog’s walk, please contact an Austin Dog Trainer to show you how!

Tips for Surviving the Mighty Texas Dog Walk

Paul — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:22:23 +0000

The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is coming to Austin this weekend and it should be a great event! While everyone is out to have a good time and enjoy the day, here are a few tips to help make the day safe, happy, and fun for you and your dog.

It is going to be packed! The Mighty Texas Dog Walk usually has around 10,000 dogs and they will all be converging in a relatively small space. This can be very stressful for some dogs and this environment is not always the best place to introduce dogs to each other. It’s hard enough to introduce dogs while on leash in a normal social situation, it may be better to just spread out here.
Not all dogs are friendly! This goes along with the statement above about spreading out, but keep an eye on your dog and don’t assume every dog out there is going want to play with your dog.
Clean up after your dog! Do yourself a favor and grab a bag for your dog and while you’re at it, grab another one for someone else.
Expect some dogs to be stressed! Large events like this can be very stressful for even the most well-socialized and adjusted dogs. If you see your dog showing signs of stress or panic, make an adjustment. So instead of walking in the middle of 10,000 dogs, it may be better for your dog if you fall near the back of the pack and walk with more space between you and the other participants.
Don’t let others feed your dog! This is very important if your dog has any food allergies or cannot have certain types of treats. There will be a lot of vendors with treats, food, and other delicious items for your dog to sample, but make sure to keep an extra eye out if your dog has dietary restrictions.
Be aware of weather conditions! The weather in Texas is usually great in April, but it can still be a concern. There will be watering stations along the walk, but consider bringing your own water if your dog doen’t share well with others or if they need to be watered frequently. Also be sure to reach down and feel the temperature of the street; if the sun is intense the pavement will heat up and cause the dog to potentially burn their pads.
Enjoy the walk! The Mighty Texas Dog Walk is a fun event that benefits a great cause. Please consider donating to the Texas Hearing and Service Dogs to help them out!

What’s the Deal with Humping?

Paul — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:21:09 +0000

Whether it was one of your own dogs being the guilty party or another dog doing it to yours, we’ve all seen two dogs hump each other at some point. Yes, it’s embarrassing and obnoxious, and it’s not something you want to encourage, but what does it all mean?

There are a lot of theories floating around out there about mounting and humping, some think that it’s sexual, humping is dominance, or it’s mainly done by intact males. While some of these and other theories can be correct in some cases, the most common type of humping/mounting that I see on a daily basis is redirected excitement that usually ends up in play.

While mounting and humping may be a way to start a nice game of chase, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t obnoxious or shouldn’t be interrupted out in public. You definitely don’t want to be the owner of that dog that is constantly mounting and going to town on every dog at the park, telling them to come would be an important management skill to have in this case. It’s extra important in situations like these to be able to interrupt it because some dogs will instantly turn and correct a dog for mounting them. But around a group of well-socialized dogs with no behavior issues – why not let them go?

Start to observe your dog a little closer when it comes to their humping. You may see them do it in times of high excitement or as a way to get another dog to play with them. While it isn’t appropriate in all situations, humping is not a sign of a bad dog.

5 Steps to Ruining a Dog

Paul — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:34:15 +0000

Last year at this time we made a post about Improving Your Relationship with Your Dog. This year we thought that we would take a different approach and tell you how to ruin your dog. Although there are MANY more that could have been added to this list, here are just a few.

Ignore Every Warning Sign of Behavior Issues - This is a good one if you’re trying to screw up your dog. Fido bit the kids, he growls when you approach his food bowl, he appears fearful when strangers enter the home, and pins dogs to the ground upon meeting them – ahh, that’s nothing! It’s probably just a phase, he’ll grow out of it automatically on his own, just ignore it!

Why this can ruin a dog - Behavioral issues usually start to present themselves long before an actual “event” occurs. So whether you realize it or not, that weird little character flaw that you are seeing from your dog can quickly escalate into a full blown problem, and often times it’s a lot harder or sometimes impossible to fix. Many dogs end up in shelters because warning signs were missed and now the responsibility falls to the shelter and the future owner(s). It’s hard enough to adopt out dogs, let alone those with serious behavior issues. If you see something you’re not sure of, ask a trainer!!

Avoid Crate Training Like the Plague - OMG, crate training – NEVER! How dare you! Fido doesn’t need a crate, he’s about 1.5 years old now and he only pees and poops in the house a few times while you’re at work. He can be trusted inside the home while everyone is out, the couch he tore up was old and you were thinking about replacing your kitchen table and chairs anyway, right?! Perfect!

Why this can ruin a dog - You may not need to crate your dog for their entire lives, but it’s a great aid in potty training, it’s a fantastic aid in controlling space, it make traveling with your pet a lot easier, and I have never heard anyone regret crate training their dog! At some point in your dog’s life they are going to have to be crated – there is not getting around this. Whether it’s at the vet’s office, the groomer, a boarding facility, or at a friends home, the time will come to crate your dog. If you never expose your dog to a crate and teach them the correct way to behave in the crate, they are going to nervous, anxious, they may panic, and it will be extremely stressful for them, and injury is possible if they try hard enough to escape.

Encourage and Reward Whining and Other Signs of Anxiety - This seems to be one of the more popular items on the list. Fido cries in the crate, he runs over to you and shakes when the garbage truck drives past, he has also started to hide behind your legs when men enter the home, and he barks at the window to let you know that someone has just walked past the house. Make sure you let Fido knows that he’s doing a great job at being afraid, be sure to teach him that his crying is the best way to get your attention, and make sure you constantly touch him and tell him “it’s okay” when he’s fearful and hiding. That’ll learn ‘em!

Why this can ruin a dog - Barking, fearfulness, whining, and other anxious behaviors are NOT desirable traits in dogs. So why do so many owners pet, praise, and verbally mark such behaviors? From my experience, dog owners may be attempting to send the correct message in these instances, but they are using human emotion to deal with a canine problem. If your child was nervous of thunder and lightening, you are going to give her a hug and tell her that it’s okay, there is nothing to worry about. When you do the same for a dog, your’re basically encouraging them to be more fearful by implementing physical touch and verbal praise. Marking and encouraging behaviors is training. It’s up to us to make sure that we are marking and encouraging the correct behaviors in our dogs.

Expect Them to Fill a Void in Your Life – Did you just go through a hard break up, are you lonely, dealing with depression, or having a hard time dealing with all that life is throwing at you lately? Let’s get a dog!!!!! Fido will be a great listener, it will be his job to love you, Fido will fill in where your life was lacking. No need to get to the root of the problem or deal with people in a social manner, that fuzzy little BFF will make it all better!

Why this can ruin a dog - If you expect a dog to fill a certain void in your life, you will put unrealistic pressures and responsibilities on your dog. You’re not going to be providing your dog with what he/she needs from you, but instead you’ll be expecting things from your dog that falls outside their umbrella; this quickly creates an unhealthy relationship and behavior issues ensue.

Avoid Training and Discipline as to Not Make Them Unhappy – This is a good one. Your last dog never had any training or rules and he was the happiest dog ever – ask anyone, they’ll tell you! Sure you had to chase him around the neighborhood on a weekly basis when he bolted out of the front door, he was anxious in the house and was always pacing around, he panicked and drooled profusely whenever we took him to the vet, and he was constantly barking at people who walked by the front of the home; but it’s cool, he liked it! Yeah, he may have had some issues, but at least you never made him do anything that he didn’t want to do.

Why this can ruin a dog - Some people tend to believe that happiness or spirit is demonstrated by the complete lack of self-restraint and boundaries. This couldn’t be further from the truth for a dog. The bottom line is a dog that is unbalanced, anxious, and neurotic is not a happy dog. They need discipline, structure, and rules in order to thrive in their environment. They need to be taught to relax and shut off at times, they need to learn to think, they need to know what is expected of them, and they need to be taught skills in order to handle daily life. All of this is accomplished through training and leads to a balanced and happy dog.

Dangerous Human Foods for Dogs

Paul — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 07:58:53 +0000

Each year the Animal Control Poison Center receives a few hundred thousand calls relating to dogs consuming dangerous human foods, plants, and other poisons. While some dangerous items like pesticides, non-food items, human medications, and household cleaners are clearly hazardous to our dogs, some other items that are commonly found in our homes can also be harmful. While we are all aware of the dangers related to our dogs eating chocolate, here is a list of some other dangerous human foods for dogs.

Avocados - The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
Macadamia nuts - These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.
Grapes and raisins - Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.
Xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many items) - Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbency and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.
Onions, garlic, and chives - These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed.
Milk - Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Our dogs are constantly surrounded by these items on a daily basis, that’s why it’s extra important not to leave your dog outside while unattended, crate your dog when you leave the home, and supervise them when you are at home. If you miss your training moment and you find yourself in an emergency situation, be sure to have the phone number and address of the closest 24-hour vet and/or the Animal Control Poison Center phone number (888-426-4435) in a place of easy reference.

How Long Should Your Dog be Placed?

Paul — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:54:16 +0000

As most of you know, the place command is such an important skill to teach your dog. Not only is it extremely useful in a variety of situations like answering the doorbell, keeping your dog out of the kitchen during dinner, managing window barking, but it also teaches your dog to calm down!

Take a look at the video below, it was shot a few years ago and is a time lapse video of placeboard duration with some distractions.

While this is a good way to proof your dog’s ability to stay on a placeboard, it doesn’t necessarily help to teach the dog to calm down and settle. It’s also important to place your dog while you are eating dinner, working on the computer, or watching tv; this is where the real self-c0ntrol comes in.

All of us should be placing our dogs multiple times a day for long periods of time. We often get asked, “How long should I keep my dog on a place?” There is one simple answer to this question – until he/she falls asleep. This may take hours for some dogs, it may take shorter periods of time for others, but the bottom line is if your dog hasn’t fallen asleep while doing a duration drill on a placeboard, you’re not doing it long enough.

Try this tonight when you sit down and relax for the night, you’ll be amazed at how extending your placeboard duration drills will help in so many facets of your dog’s life!

Realistic Expectations in Dog Training

Paul — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:38:25 +0000

You might be reading our dog training blog because you are currently involved in a training program or you are researching different training options for your dog. Either way, it’s important to figure out what you would like your dog to start doing, what things you want your dog to stop doing, and what you hope to accomplish.

The beauty about some training issues is that they are pretty straight forward and when they are approached the right way, these things can be eliminated or improved rather quickly. Meanwhile, other more serious or complex behaviors and habits in dogs can sometimes take longer periods of time to get under control and to the point where progress can be seen. Longer periods of time without seeing the payoff of your efforts can be very frustrating; especially when we’re used to getting a lot of what we want RIGHT NOW!! It’s also extremely important to realize that not everything is “fixable”. There may be issues that are just always going to be present in your dog, but it doesn’t mean you can’t see great improvement and use your dog’s newly found skills to manage these behaviors.

Sure, a good training program can teach your dog some functional skills like coming when called, proper greetings for people, how to go to their bed and stay there, how to walk nicely on a leash, and much more. But, a good training program will not let you off the hook for any type of redirection, guidance, interaction, supervision, and other ownership skills. Like I mentioned above, a good dog training program can teach skills, but it’s then up to you to use those skills to properly manage your dog throughout daily life.

Here’s an example of what I mean: We can teach your dog to come when called in any situation (including real-world distractions) regardless of whether they’re on a leash or not. But, this does not mean you can let you dog in the front yard unattended and expect them not to roam off of your property. You can absolutely hang out in the front yard with your dog and call them back to you if they get too close to the street or if they start chasing a squirrel, but your supervision and interraction are still required.

Here’s another example: We can teach an un-socilaized, dog aggressive dog some self-control (no barking, lunging, or biting) when in the presence of other dogs. This does not necessarily mean that you should go to an off-leash dog park (check out some Austin area dog parks here) and expect your dog to get along with every dog at the park. The reality is that not all dogs belong at a dog park, especially those with limited or poor social skills. With that being said, it doesn’t mean you can’t take your dog for a nice walk around the neighborhood or on-leash trail and have them walk calmly at your side and not fire up when passing other dogs on your walk; you just have to be there to manage your dogs behavior through redirection.

Through consistent communication and management, dog training can make a huge improvement in the level of enjoyment you have together. Staying consistent over time will make your dog’s new behaviors permanent and almost automatic, but until then – keep your training expectations realistic!