You know what I mean, it’s the thing that turns your normally sweet, obedient dog into a crazed lunatic. It’s the thing that renders your Sit and Stay commands totally useless. It’s the thing that triggers the “Game On!” mode inside your dog’s brain. For some dogs it’s squirrels, for others it may be laser pointers but usually there’s something that temporarily sends most Rovers off their rockers.
For Haley, there’s not just one thing that drives her crazy. She goes into overdrive with bugs, balloons, bubbles and beach balls. No, it’s not that she can’t control herself around objects that start with the letter “B”, it’s objects that fly through the air that send her into a frenzy.
Here are the latest flying objects that challenge her self-control. Quadcopter Drones!
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of drones either, especially the large drones that some intellectually challenged people fly around airports or others use to invade people’s privacy. The small quadcopter drones are kind of fun but dogs tend to chase them because they look, sound and move like bugs and after reading the articles below, I can see why dogs might have a few more reasons to hate drones.
More Reasons Why Dogs Might Hate Drones
Will Drones Replace Dogs Down on the Farm?
Why We Stand Against Drone Dog Walking
Drones, Dogs and the Future of Privacy
Drones: The New Dogs
Drones are the new dogs? Really? Okay, that last article was a more humorous take on drones and dogs. The truth is, it’s not all bad news when it comes to the relationship between canines and those hovering UAVs. Here are a few positive ways they work well together.
Positive Ways Dogs and Drones Are Working Together
Dogs Working With Drones to Save Avocados
Drones Being Used to Track Houston’s Stray Dogs
Same Day Puppy Drone Delivery From Trusted Breeders
If you watched the video in the last link, be sure to visit samedaypups.com and click around a little. You might be surprised what you find there.
I guess drones can be both good and bad for dogs, but since Haley gets so obsessed with the nano and mini versions, she’s going to have to be satisfied with limiting her chasing skills to the occasional housefly that manages to make it through the backdoor. Surely Haley’s not the only dog that gets a little nutty sometimes. What drives your dog crazy?
Tone is important for politicians, but it’s even more important when communicating with our pups. They rely on our tone of voice just as much as our words when trying to understand us. Using the correct tone, intonation and volume can make a huge difference in how well we communicate with them. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this article by 
This ball is good for getting your dog active and moving. Just drop some treats or kibble into the hole in the ball and your pup will roll it around or pick it up and drop it until the treats come out. The ball has a lip around the hole to prevent the food from coming out to easily, so it makes your dog work a little longer to remove all the treats. The ball is made from a somewhat soft vinyl with molded craters on the outside, so it’s easy for your pup to pick it up and it’s easy on wood floors if it’s dropped. The ball comes in different sizes and can hold a large quantity of food or treats.
As a treat dispenser, it can be rolled along the floor but Haley normally settles down and chews on it instead. The ball is soft and pliable yet it holds up amazingly well to strong chewing. You push the treats through the tabs on either side of the ball then your pup will work on getting them out. You can use a variety of treats with this ball and you can also trim the tabs with scissors if you want to create a bigger opening. The ball comes in different sizes and it’s pretty easy to clean the inside with your finger since it’s pliable.
We’ve all heard about the benefits of meditation and how it can have a positive and sometimes profound effect on your physical and emotional health. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of articles and books on topics like doga (yoga with dogs), 
I suppose I could wait until Haley’s in a calm mood before trying to meditate with her but I know as soon as I would start to relax, she would probably hear something outside or the UPS man would decide to show up on my doorstep. Have you ever been resting quietly next to your dog when someone rings your doorbell? I don’t know about your dog, but Haley suddenly turns into some kind of superhero dog which includes leaping from the bed in a single bound after barking directly in my ear! That’s not the most peaceful way of concluding a meditation session and I’m sure something like that would happen or perhaps she would get bored and perform her whining crescendo routine.
Another way we meditate with our dogs is by just sitting together in a nice spot and enjoying each other’s company and calm energy. It’s like being with someone you’re very comfortable with, you don’t have to speak or interact, you can just quietly “be” together. Do you find it soothing to watch your dog quietly play with a toy or chew on a bone? You might realize that you’re not even thinking about your dog or really even “watching” them but your mind is quiet and you have a very peaceful feeling. That’s also a form of meditation, similar to watching fish swim in a tank. These are all different types of meditation, but if you want to take things to the next level and try an actual meditation session with your dog, try the steps below!
Sharing calm energy with a dog is an excellent way to build trust and create a strong bond, especially with dogs that are fearful or anxious. Some people claim that our dogs are a mirror of ourselves and maybe there’s some truth to that. I believe that dogs sense our energy and find it easier to relax when we’re relaxed. I also think they prefer to be around people that are calm in nature rather than people that are nervous or overly excited by nature. If you’re one of those anxious types that would like to learn to be more relaxed, give meditation a try. If you need more convincing, check out these 
Do you wish your dog would lie down and relax on command? Whether your dog is begging for food, obnoxiously sniffing or jumping on guests when they walk through the door or getting under your feet while you’re trying to cook dinner, sometimes you just want them to lie down and calm down for a little while. Once you 
