Who Would Your Dog Vote for in 2016?

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Who Would Your Dog Vote for in 2016?It’s President’s Day and what better day to reflect on the past as well as where we’re headed as a nation, especially during the height of this campaign season. The candidate who wins the election this November certainly has some big shoes to fill. While analyzing and comparing the candidates, sometimes it’s good to take a break from the craziness of the election process for a little humor, so today I have a random and somewhat quirky question for you. Who would your dog vote for if they could choose our next president?

Who Would Your Dog Vote For?

  • If your dog’s a female, would she choose Hillary Clinton? Girls gotta stick together, right?
  • Would your dog choose Bernie Sanders in hopes of getting included in the dispensing of lots of free stuff? Those treats and bones aren’t cheap, you know.
  • What’s this about Ted Cruz and dirty tricks? That sounds an awful lot like getting rewarded for rolling in the mud. Fun!
  • If your dog doesn’t listen to commands the first time, maybe Marco Rubio is their guy. He does repeat himself a lot.
  • Perhaps your dog might like the calm, low-energy personality of someone like Jeb Bush or Ben Carson.
  • A high-energy, boisterous dog might prefer Donald Trump, who’s also not afraid to call out cats in his own unique way.
  • Then there’s John Kasich who would want all dogs and cats to just get along and play nice. It’s a lovely thought, but not likely to happen.

I have to admit, Haley and I probably don’t see eye to eye on politics because she would vote for anyone promising free bones or treats. All kidding aside, this may be one of the most important elections in our lifetimes because of the difficult challenges our country is currently facing. I hope you take the time to get to know all of the candidates before voting in your state’s primary and later this fall in the general election.

Don’t just rely on sound bites, headlines or superficial reasons when making your decision. Take time to visit each candidate’s website to learn more about their ideas and plans, watch the debates, watch some of their interviews (most can be found on YouTube) and use a variety of sources to gather information so you can make an informed decision before voting for the candidate that best represents your values and vision for the country.

Dog with Abraham Lincoln
Dog with Abraham Lincoln
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - attrib. Abraham Lincoln

How about celebrating President’s Day by learning more about the candidates? If you’ve already made up your mind, have some fun and share your answer to “Who would your dog vote for?”.

Is Your Dog Always Pulling on the Leash?

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Is Your Dog Always Pulling on the Leash?If you struggle with your dog pulling on the leash every time you take a walk, you’re not alone. It’s probably the most common problem dog owners complain about, especially for those people with larger dogs. I have to admit, I’ve been postponing writing this article for quite a while because it’s an issue that I’ve struggled with myself. But knowing what a huge problem this is for so many people, I thought I would share my experience, mistakes and lessons learned along the way.

Yes, I was one of “those” people you pass occasionally on your walks. The one with the dog that’s straining at the leash and hacking away while dragging their human along for the ride as they try to smile when people ask the dreaded “Who’s walking who?” question. It was so frustrating to see people with perfectly behaved dogs walking politely at their sides because we had tried so many different loose leash walking (LLW) techniques without a lot of success. I didn’t expect Haley to heel perfectly at my side, I just didn’t want to be dragged down the street. Here are a few of the techniques I tried.

Loose Leash Walking Techniques I Tried

  • Use high value treats – This is all about rewarding your dog to stay at your side rather than pulling ahead. I could have had strips of filet mignon hot off the grill and it wouldn’t have mattered to Haley. Besides, some dogs might not be motivated by treats.
  • Become a tree – The idea is to stop when the leash becomes tight, then don’t move again until your dog creates some slack in the leash. We tried this for a few weeks, but as soon as I would move again, the pulling continued.
  • Reverse direction – With this technique, you change directions while calling your dog to you when they begin to pull on the leash. This worked slightly better than becoming a tree, but it still wasn’t very effective in the long term. I’m sure plenty of people got a good laugh while watching me do this for a few weeks though.
  • Walk faster, but slow down if your dog pulls ahead – The idea with this strategy is that dogs like to walk a faster pace than us humans so they’ll be rewarded for staying closer. Haley would pull less at the faster pace but she was still pulling.
  • Make sure your dog walks behind you – This is related to the dominance theory of keeping your dog slightly behind you so you are perceived as the pack leader. I never bought into this theory but I did try keeping her close to me on a short leash. It didn’t help with the pulling issue.

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since those early days and I’ve managed to figure out a few things through trial and error. I also discovered why some of the techniques I mentioned didn’t work very well with Haley. Before I get into the mistakes I made, it’s important to understand why dogs pull in the first place.

Pulling Dogs

Why Dogs Pull on the Leash

  • The biggest reason dogs pull on the leash is to get to where they want to go. Pretty simple, huh? The problem with letting them pull ahead to investigate an alluring scent is they quickly learn that pulling is rewarding.
  • Dogs often pull because of opposition reflex from the tension on the leash.
  • A dog’s natural pace is much faster than our walking pace. Dogs normally like to trot rather than walk slowly, so it takes some training to keep them beside us while walking.
  • We normally walk in a straight line and at a steady pace which isn’t natural for dogs. Dogs enjoy exploring their surroundings by chasing things or following interesting scents with their noses.
  • Fearful dogs may pull to get back home because it’s where they feel safe.

Even though Haley’s much better at walking nicely with me, even when passing other dogs on the trail, there are still times when she’ll pull a lot, like when she unexpectedly sees someone she knows and wants to greet them. She’s not perfect but she’s good 90% of the time and I can live with that. Looking back now, I realize some of the mistakes I made when she was younger and I thought I would share them with you.

4 Leash Training Mistakes I Made

Mistake #1 – Distractions
As a puppy, Haley walked nicely beside me when we practiced inside the house, but walking outside was a completely different story. I didn’t realize that she needed to be trained gradually in different environments with increasing distractions. After working in the house, I should have moved to the yard, then to a quiet park with very few people, etc. You get the picture. I was expecting too much from her to go from a quiet home environment to a busy street with many people and dogs.
Mistake #2 – Energy
I underestimated how much energy Haley had. She’s a very high-energy dog and it’s nearly impossible for a dog with excess energy to focus on training. I should have exercised her or played with her before going outside for leash training. A tired dog is less likely to pull hard on the leash and more likely to be interested in those yummy treats in your pocket.
Mistake #3 – Excitement
I didn’t fully understand the role of excitement in training. Not only is Haley high energy, but she’s also a very excitable dog. Even after strenuous exercise, the anticipation of experiencing all the sights, sounds and scents of the great outdoors caused her to pull on the leash with a lot of force. It’s almost impossible to train an overly-excited dog because you simply can’t get or keep their attention. I should have taken the extra time to train good door manners and to make sure she was calm before heading out the door or getting out of the car and I should have waited for her to relax more before trying to train her to walk nicely on the leash.
Mistake #4 – Persistence
Even though I tried many different loose leash walking techniques, because I didn’t fully understand all the factors that caused Haley to pull, frustration set in and I eventually gave up. I settled for less pulling instead of no pulling. It takes a lot of patience to train a dog to not pull on the leash, especially with a high-energy, excitable dog, but I gave up too early and settled for pretty good behavior.

Had I realized and remedied these four issues, I’m sure it would have been much easier to train Haley with any of the techniques I mentioned earlier. It’s not that the techniques don’t work, it’s just that there were things I wasn’t doing that made those techniques much harder. I should have exercised her first, made sure she was calm before beginning our walk, worked slowly to increase the distractions in areas while training, and I should have been more persistent instead of giving up so soon.

Happy DogDespite my mistakes, Haley’s a pretty good walker. She still walks out in front of me which is fine, but usually on a slack leash. She’ll occasionally come to my side and look up at me with a grin to see if she’s earned a treat. If she gets one, she takes it nicely then moves back out in front but not pulling. She also knows that the command, “This Way!” means we’re changing directions and she’s learned to yield to light pressure on the leash instead of reacting with opposition reflex.

Ideally, we all would have perfectly trained dogs that listen well and never pull but sometimes we need a little help. If you’re still struggling with walking your dog, here are a few tips and tools that might help.

Tips and Tools!

  • Ditch the retractable leash for a regular six foot leash. Unless a retractable leash is locked, it always has tension which works against a dog’s opposition reflex and the ability for them to know what a loose leash feels like.
  • Consider buying a treat pouch that attaches to your waist so you can easily give rewards at the right time while walking.
  • Avoid using choke or prong collars which can be dangerous for dogs that pull hard.
  • Head collars are helpful for dogs that pull hard because they cause the dog’s head to turn towards you if they pull. However, many dogs don’t like to wear them and they’re not recommended for short-nosed dogs.
  • A front-attaching chest harness is a great alternative which uses the same principle as the head collar. When the dog tries to pull forward, the harness causes their body to turn sideways towards you instead. A harness has the added benefit of taking the pressure off the dog’s neck.
Dog Head Collar
Dog Head Collar

If you have a dog that’s always pulling on the leash, I hope these tips and tools are helpful and hopefully you can avoid some of the mistakes I made with Haley when she was a young pup. Now, I’d love to hear your experience with loose leash walking and any tips you might have!

What is Opposition Reflex and Why Should I Care?

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What is Opposition Reflex?Have you ever heard of opposition reflex? Maybe you’ve heard of the term but you don’t really understand how it affects dog training in a practical sense. I’ll give you a hint, you might experience it every time you take your dog for a walk.

What is Opposition Reflex?

Opposition reflex was discovered by Ivan Pavlov, the physiologist who also discovered classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs. It’s a reflex that occurs when a dog feels some type of physical pressure and it stems from their predatory instinct to fight, flight or freeze. To put it simpler, when a dog feels physical pressure, they oppose the pressure with counter pressure. You may not realize it, but you’re already very familiar with opposition reflex because us humans have it too. If someone were to lean on you, you’re likely to lean or push back or if someone pulled you towards them, you would likely pull away. That’s opposition reflex and our dogs react the very same way.

Examples of Opposition Reflex

  • One of the most common examples of opposition reflex is when a dog pulls on the leash while walking. Although there could be a few other factors involved with why dogs pull, if you pull back on the leash, they will generally pull even harder in the opposite direction. This is truly a battle of opposition reflex between dog and human.
  • If you’ve ever tried to push your dog into a down position by putting pressure on their shoulders, you probably noticed how difficult it is as they resist against the pressure and refuse to lower themselves to the ground.
  • Does your dog lean against you sometimes? When you try to push back, they normally lean even harder.
  • Pushing a dog from behind rarely works. For example, if I try to push Haley outside for a potty break when she hesitates at the door, she always backs up instead of moving forward.
  • If you’ve ever tried pulling your dog towards something, they usually resist by pulling away. Think bath time on this one. 🙂

Why Should You Care About Opposition Reflex?

First, it’s beneficial to understand the reflex so you know why your dog might be resisting you at times or pulling on the leash. When we physically force a dog to do something while they’re resisting (rather than using an incentive), it may break the trust and bond we have with our dog and it can cause them to oppose us more often. That can make training even more challenging and frustrating.

Another reason to care about opposition reflex is that it’s possible to reduce the level of the reflex in dogs. This would be nearly impossible with most wild animals as they have very strong opposition reflexes, but domesticated dogs can often be conditioned to respond or yield to light pressure through positive reinforcement training. Here’s an example. I’ve trained Haley to turn or change directions while walking on the leash by giving her very light pressure on the leash combined with the command “This Way!”. She’s learned to yield to the pressure instead of pulling against it.

Dog ShadowFinally, opposition reflex can be put to use in positives ways, such as training service dogs to open or pull things. Sledding, cart-pulling and skijoring dogs rely on the reflex to do their jobs. Even a spirited game of tug-of-war with your pup is a positive way to use their opposition reflex.

“By understanding opposition reflex, we can find ways to work with our dog’s nature and instincts to make training easier and promote a stronger bond.”

One of the most frustrating issues dog owners complain about is they can’t stop their dogs from pulling on the leash. Yep, that’s definitely something I can relate to with Haley, so I’ll be tackling that topic in my next post, Is Your Dog Always Pulling on the Leash?

What examples of opposition reflex can you relate to with your dog? Share your thoughts and ideas with us!

Do You Hate Walking Your Dog in the Winter?

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Do You Hate Walking Your Dog in the Winter?It’s okay, I’ll be the first one to answer that question. Yes! Sometimes I do hate going for walks with Haley when it’s bitterly cold and miserable outside. When the weather’s really nasty, we find other ways to exercise like some of the ideas I wrote about in my article, 12 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog in the Winter. The problem is, it’s all too easy to get into the habit of skipping the walk and relying more on indoor exercise, rather than braving the elements.

I have to admit, I feel a little guilty when we opt for indoor exercise because I know Haley would much rather go for a walk outdoors where she can get more of a workout and have the joy of relishing all the sights, sounds and smells along the way. If you hate walking your dog in the winter too, check out these solutions to the most common complaints and excuses we use to stay inside on cold winter days.

7 Complaints About Walking Your Dog in the Winter (and the Solutions!)

1. I’m just not motivated.
Cold weather can put a damper on your motivation to go outside. Use your dog’s excitement about going for a walk to help you get into the spirit or focus on how rejuvenated you feel when you return home from an invigorating walk. Instead of taking the same boring walk around the block, go for a hike in the woods or explore a new area of town. You already have one walking buddy, why not recruit a few more. Ask a friend, family member or neighbor to join you on daily walks.
2. It’s too cold.
Yep, I can’t deny it feels warmer sitting on the couch inside your home, but with the right clothes and accessories you can stay comfortable on your wintertime walk. Invest in a good pair of boots, some wool socks, insulted gloves, a hat and how about a colorful scarf too? Layer your clothing to retain body heat and you’ll be all set to head outside for some fun with your pup. On days when it’s dangerously cold outside, use common sense and stay safe and warm indoors.
3. It’s too cold for my dog.
Most dogs are fine when walking outside in the wintertime but you’ll want to limit the amount of time for puppies, senior dogs and dogs with illnesses. There are several types of dogs that can benefit from wearing a sweater or jacket when it’s cold outside. Read Do Dogs Need Sweaters in the Winter? to find out if your dog would benefit from the extra insulation. Keep an eye on your pup for warning signs that they might be cold or uncomfortable. If your dog’s shivering, whining, looking anxious, picking up their feet or they hesitant to keep walking, it’s time to head back indoors.
4. My dog’s paws get cold or form ice balls.
Snow can cling to the hair between your dog’s toes and form painful ice balls. Prevent the ice balls from forming by trimming the hair between your dog’s paw pads. Also consider using booties or applying a wax such as Musher’s Secret to your dog’s paws before your walk. If your dog doesn’t wear booties, be sure to wipe their paws with a wet washcloth when you arrive back home to remove any residue from salt or chemical de-icers which may be dangerous if ingested.
Dog on Ice Puddle
5. It’s slippery outside and my dog pulls on the leash.
Ice and a pulling dog usually results with you ending up on your butt or worse. Here are a couple of things that will help keep you on your feet. First, buy a pair of ice cleats that fit over your boots, such as the Yaktrax Walk, to give you better traction. Next, prevent your dog from pulling by using a front clipping harness combined with a non-retractable leash for more control. Remember, every walk is also an opportunity to train your dog not to pull on the leash.
6. It’s hard to hold the leash and pick up poop while wearing gloves.
Besides juggling a leash and poop bags, you’re probably also dealing with treats, a cellphone and maybe even tissues for a runny nose. Don’t bother with gloves or mittens that you have to take off over and over again. Instead, buy a pair of fingerless gloves with an attached mitten flap that easily pulls over your exposed fingers. I have a pair of gloves similar to these that I absolutely love.
7. I don’t like walking in the dark.
The shorter days of winter mean some people might not be able to walk their dogs during daylight hours. A couple of items can help keep you and your pup safe. A headlamp rather than a flashlight will leave your hands free to manage the leash and other things and an LED collar or clip-on collar light will help make your pup visible in the dark.

Those are some of the most common complaints about walking your dog in the winter but there are plenty of benefits and reasons to love those wintertime walks too. Here are just a few!

Reasons to Love Walking Your Dog in the Winter

  • There’s something very special about a quiet walk through fresh fallen snow.
  • Winter walks are more peaceful because fewer people are outside. This is especially nice if you have a reactive dog.
  • Fresh air and a chance to absorb a little sunlight does wonders for your attitude during the winter months.
  • You and your pup will stay in great shape and avoid winter weight gain.
  • The mental stimulation and exercise of a walk will help prevent destructive dog behavior caused by boredom.
  • You won’t feel guilty. 🙂

Snow Hike with Dog

While I’m on the topic of winter walks, I want to throw in a couple of safety tips.
Always use a leash if you’re walking or hiking near frozen ponds or lakes. It’s not worth taking the risk of your dog falling through a partially frozen body of water.
Be careful about letting your dog walk in snow that has an icy crust over the top of it. Haley once ripped her dew claw because it got snagged on the ice as her paw broke through the crusted over snow.

Since January is National Walk Your Dog Month, I’m going to challenge myself to maintain the same walking schedule as we have during the warm summer months. If you hate walking your dog in the winter too, why not join me in the challenge and use the tips here to make cold weather walking more enjoyable. For you hardcore winter walkers, I’d love to hear your tips on how you make winter walks more comfortable and fun! Do You Hate Walking Your Dog in the Winter?

The Psychology of Giving Your Dog a Pill

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The Psychology of Giving Your Dog a PillDo you have trouble giving your dog a pill? Unless it’s one of the chewable, beef-flavored pills, a lot of dogs will separate the tasty food from the pill with Houdini-like skill, swallow the food and eject the pill onto the floor. And, good luck trying to fool your dog a second time, right?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably already tried the common methods of getting your dog to take a pill, like hiding it inside food or one of those nifty pill pockets or crushing the pill and mixing it in with your dog’s food. Heck, maybe you’ve even tried pushing the pill into the back of your dog’s mouth or used a pill shooter device. Some of these methods can be stressful for you and your dog.

Recently I had one of those “Aha” moments when Haley was outwitting me with her pill flicking routine. I realized that I wasn’t working with her nature, so I decided to try something different. I turned the tables on her with a little dog psychology in order to trick her into wanting to take her medicine. Yes, she may be a canine Houdini in the way she spits out those pills, but she’s not the only one that has a few tricks up her sleeve.

A quick note before we jump into the psychology tricks: Food is a great motivator for most dogs so most of these ideas involve food or treats. Check with your vet first to make sure your dog’s medication can be given with food or if there are any dietary restrictions.

10 Ways to Use Psychology When Giving Your Dog a Pill

1. Attitude is everything
Dogs are masters of reading our body language and emotions. If you get tense or frustrated when you’re about to give your pup medication, they will quickly pick up on your feelings and become suspicious. Try to adopt a positive and relaxed attitude.
2. Vary your routine
In the same way dogs read our body language, they are keenly aware of our routines. Try giving the pills in different settings or at slightly different times of the day if possible. Also try preparing the pill with food ahead of time or while your dog’s outside so she doesn’t notice what you’re doing.
3. Work with your dog’s appetite
Your dog is much more likely to gobble down the treat and pill if she’s hungry rather than offering it after she’s eaten a meal.
4. Make your dog an offer she can’t refuse
Tap into your dog’s favorite tasty treats or food to hide the pill. For Haley, that would be cheese or pieces of hot dogs. Peanut butter is also a great option.

Hiding Your Dog's Pill in Food

5. Walk away
It’s never a good idea to chase your dog down in order to give them their medication. Walk away from your dog with the good smelling treat and they’ll likely follow you in hopes of getting a bite.
6. Pretend to be selfish
Put your dog’s begging to good use and pretend you’re eating the food. If you’re hiding the pill in food that you also happen to like, prepare a few bites for yourself and eat them first before giving your dog the one with the pill.
7. Turn it into a game
If your pup’s good at catching treats in her mouth, toss her a few treats, then the one with the pill, followed by another treat. She’ll probably be so fixated on the game and the next treat that she’ll easily swallow the one with the pill. Another method is to have your dog perform a trick or speak before giving the treat. She’s more likely to eat it if she’s excited and thinks she’s earned it.
8. The value of teamwork
If you have multiple dogs, take advantage of their competitive nature by giving both of them treats while working in the treat with the pill. You’ll only want to use this method if you can ensure the right dog gets the treat with the pill.
9. Sometimes greed is good
Give your dog a piece of food, then the food with the pill inside, followed quickly by an even larger piece of food. Your dog will be anxious to get the larger piece and should quickly swallow the piece containing the pill.
10. Let them lick the spoon
This uses the same principle as #9 above. Once your dog licks the bulk of the food containing the pill off of the spoon, continue holding it in place so they’ll likely swallow the pill and continue licking the spoon.

The two methods that work best with Haley are #9 and #10. I used to give her a cheese-covered pill and then stand back to watch that she swallowed it, or should I say, I waited to see if she would spit it out. Now, I always make sure she has something yummy to eat right after giving the pill so she swallows it quickly in order to get more, whether it’s another treat or the fact that she gets to lick the knife or spoon.

Giving Your Dog a Pill

Giving Your Dog a Pill

Giving Your Dog a Pill

Still No Luck?

If none of these methods work for your dog or your dog isn’t particularly food motivated, giving your dog a pill can be more challenging. Other options include talking to your vet to see if the medication comes in a flavored version or if the drug(s) can be custom made into a flavored compound or liquid. If the medication has a very bitter taste, ask if it can be put inside an empty gelcap to conceal the taste.

Whether it’s psychology or just the basic nature of dogs, I find it a lot easier to work with their nature when trying to accomplish difficult tasks such as giving medication.
Does your dog willingly take pills and medications? What tricks or tips have you discovered to outwit your Houdini hound?