Wonder why he’s not eating?

I work with a lot of different animals in my pet sitting business and I own a lot of animals.  An issue that often arises with older or sickly pets is the need to ensure proper nutrition when their systems are at their weakest.  When I am working with a pet and he turns his nose up at the dinner he normally consumes in the bat of an eye, I might be a little concerned.  Is he just testing me?  Is he sick?  Is he not interested in eating? Is there some other explanation for this change of heart?  It is important to look at a lot of variables.  If my dog or cat were to turn away perfectly good food, my thought would be ” Okay, fine.  You can go hungry”  Could be I got that from my mother, it was her classic response when one of us kids said we wouldn’t eat dinner!!  I typically don’t worry if my pet misses one meal, but if the refusal goes on to the next feeding time I might want to try some new tactics. Especially if he is sick. Here are some of my thoughts.

As your pet ages, his sense of smell can diminish. If your pet has an upper respiratory infection or is prone to allergies, his nose becomes blocked.  These two factors effect his sense of smell.  Believe it or not, we all taste our food with our sense of smell as well as our taste buds.  If the nose isn’t working properly, food doesn’t taste as good.  You may need to enhance the taste of the food in some other way in order to get your pet to eat.  Some pet foods have a stronger aroma due to a higher ratio of protein in that particular brand. A simple change here could be the answer.  If  your pet regularly consumes canned food that is at room temperature or kept in the fridge, simply warming it up could be the answer. Of course, you would want to test the temperature before feeding.  You have to admit, it really pumps up the aroma. There are even special toppings you can put on your pet food that are similar to putting gravy on mashed potatoes.  In fact it is called Vita Gravy.  No surprise there.  You put the gravy on top of his kibble and “presto” it’s haute cuisine!  There are several varieties of the gravy available.  There is one that helps to condition the coat and another that benefits the bones and joints.  You would be supplementing their diet as well as ensuring they are getting a good meal.

There are other ways to tempt your dog to dive into his kibble.  I had a client that was older and he had simply gone off his kibble.  I became concerned when he refused his next meal.  I checked the pantry and found some beef broth.  I added that to his kibble and he gobbled it up.  You could also use vegetable or chicken broth, but be careful to watch the sodium levels.  Another trick that is also helpful for your pup is to add some garlic to his food bowl.  You can use powdered or fresh chopped.  They love the flavor and it has the added benefit of repelling fleas when the aroma exits the dog through his skin.  We love double-duty products.

If you have a finicky feline that usually is quite happy with his kibble, you might try adding wet food to his diet.  If he is already on wet food, then try the warming up technique.  Another strategy I use is to sprinkle catnip on top of the wet food.  While we all know cats love to roll around in catnip, not everyone is aware of the fact that it is a digestive aid.  It will draw your cat to his bowl and there he will enjoy the added flavor.

I hope you have found these suggestions to be helpful.  Feel free to drop me a note if you have a concern about your pet that I could research for you.

As responsible dog owners, we are obligated to teach our pets how to behave properly.  But when you think about it, anyone can get a dog and there is no requirement for obtaining one. You don’t have to understand dog behavior, you don’t have to have knowledge of training techniques and you don’t have to pass a test to get a license for one either. It is “Open Season”, so to speak, for anyone to own a dog.  As a pet sitter, I can attest to the fact that many dog owners do not have the tools or they do not have the time to spend training their dogs.  Sometimes this is no problem.  There are many dogs that seem to come with this behavior all plugged in to their hardware.  Call it luck or call it past life experience, but I have worked with dogs that appear to know the rules and only need a little direction to get them on the right track. And I have others that seem to be completely unaware that they are misbehaving.  In either case, the owner still has to take responsibility for their dogs behavior. Behavioral problems in dogs are created by the way their owners interact with them and arrange their situations.

Dogs bark for a number of reasons.  Loneliness can trigger the barking behavior in a dog because he is starved for attention.  It should be part of the dog’s day that he gets undivided attention from his owner.  Some scheduled play time, a good long walk or a vigorous workout with a frisbee, may be all the dog needs to calm his fear of being alone. Another factor could be separation anxiety. Puppies that are adopted should be crate-trained to teach them how to be calm when they are alone. I have written about crate-training and feel it is the best option for any dog that comes into a family.  Finally, there is territorial barking. Territorial barking may be the hardest behavior to modify.  The reason for that is territorial barking has a built in reinforcer.  As the “intruder” leaves the yard, your dog’s behavior is rewarded. The best way to reduce or eliminate this behavior is to introduce your dog to the people who most often come into your yard or socialize him with more strangers. As with any aspect of behavior training, consistency is the key to success. Enlisting the cooperation of every family member is important in controlling your dog’s barking, and in all other aspects of training. Verbal commands and expectations for your dog’s behavior must be consistent if you are to be effective.

Of the seven to eight million dogs that pass through the nation’s system of animal shelters each year, 85 percent of them are there because of behavioral problems. That’s a telling number.  It would seem that millions of people are acquiring dogs who lack the knowledge, skills, or commitment necessary to properly socialize and care for the animals. They are not taking responsibility for their dog’s behavior. Refusing to take responsibility for that which one should be responsible, is by definition, irresponsible behavior. We see the result not only in the wholesale killing of dogs in the death chambers of our overflowing animal shelters, but in the chronic barking epidemic.

My point is this: when faced with a bothersome barking dog , what is the real reason the dog is barking?  Whether this problem pup is yours or the neighbor’s, what can be done?  The information noted in this post suggests that most problem barking is caused by a behavior problem.  Solve the behavior- solve the barking.  So simple and yet so unattainable for many.  We cannot control who gets a dog and we cannot control the manner in which they chose to train it.  We can only be responsible for our own actions.  And we can be ambassadors of dog training and good dog behavior.  When you get a puppy, commit to training him, give him play time and structured activities.  Keep him busy so he won’t be bored and have a need to voice his opinion.  There are a multitude of training methods and tools available to you at your veterinarian’s office, the library and even online.  I prefer the teachings of Cesar Millan and have used many of his methods with my dogs and the dogs I care for. This is a great offer from Cesar on his training guide:  Buy the Complete 6-Disc Set – SAVE $30 + Get Free Shipping. Expires Feb 28.  For games that stimulate your pup’s brain- this wears them out faster than a good run- this book will give you and your pup hours of fun and loads of time for bonding.  He’ll be too tired to bark!
50 Games To Play With Your Dog (128 Pages)

Workout your pup’s brain and have a contented pet.

My first thought was that I needed to purchase a better quality cat food.  The old standard from the feed store was not going to cut it.    However, these are the same cats that will kill a rodent and consume the entire animal except the skull and intestines.  What?  Special Kitty isn’t good enough for you?  I reluctantly purchased kibble that actually had some kind of meat as the first ingredient listed on the contents.  I was very clever indeed.  My kitties loved the new food.  They just couldn’t get enough of it.  A couple days later, I hear that old familiar sound.  Not the retching again, I cried.  That’s right folks, kitty had lost everything he had eaten.  This time I was throwing away a lot more money.  What to do?  What to do?  So, I started thinking.  It is suggested that tall dogs be fed in bowls that are raised off the floor in order to make eating more comfortable for them.  Maybe I could use this information to my benefit (and my cat’s, as well).  Watching my cats eat I realized that they couldn’t get more comfortable.  They were crouched down on the floor, their little heads planted squarely in front of the food bowl, just munching away.   They don’t even have to move to completely fill their tummies.  And then it hit me-BAM!!  Could it be that little kitty was eating so much food that his stomach was full to overflowing?  Can you take that one step further and imagine that since the tummy and the throat are on a parallel line while in a crouched position, kitty really was overflowing?  They don’t know any better, so when they stand up after eating, there is that pesky full to the throat feeling which triggers the gag response and …. retching. A quick visit to my nearby pet supply store and I had a really pretty stand that would allow me to raise the food bowl and help my cats to eat in an upright position.  It worked!!  Joy of joys, my pricey kibble is going in and staying down.  I was thrilled.

Many of you might think, huh, I guess she got to switch back to the cheap chow?  No such luck.  Once you realize the kind of garbage they can slip into you pet’s food bowl, you start finding ways to afford the pricey stuff.  Now I will share a bit of knowledge that will save you loads of money.  Many of your larger pet supply stores will place the “good stuff” on sale when it is close to the “use by” date.  Can you believe that?  Pet food has an expiration date!!!  Really? What could be in that stuff that would actually go bad?  Whatever, their loss is our gain.  So now you need to find out when your pet supply store has their mark-downs or just do what I do and go to the store, scour the shelves and find the ones with the sale tag on them.  Easy-peasy.  I purchase the high-end food at half price.  I buy whatever is on sale and just keep it all mixed together.  The cats are happy, I’m happy and I know I’m not throwing my money away.  And it’s pretty, too!  See……

Grooming is a cat’s natural instinct.

What does your cat do when he is not sleeping?  Groom, groom, groom.  Mine seem to enjoy “tasting” their environment and will clean themselves for hours.  Admit it, cats love to lick!  They will groom themselves the entire time they are awake.  This not only keeps them clean but removes dead hair that could become matted and is often used as a means of calming a possible violent interaction.  You will often see cats involved in the typical kitty play that gets a little rough.  Watch closely and you will notice one cat will suddenly stop playing and start grooming himself.  In kitty language that’s like a time-out.  All play ceases until the grooming is complete and all parties are ready to resume the fun.  Sounds really effective to me.  And when your cat gets injured, it is his natural instinct to lick and clean the affected area.  This helps reduce irritation and lessen the pain of injury.  However, excessive licking often leads to infection and can actually slow down the healing process,unless you can limit the amount of licking your cat can do.  There are measures you can take to reduce licking that are simple and non-intrusive.  Some would include the use of lemon juice, Chew Guard, hot sauce or hot pepper flakes.  However, you should always consult your veterinarian before using any of these applications.  There are products that can be used to prevent your cat from reaching the wound such as an E-collar, Elizabethan collar, or an inflatable collar.  The E-collar is effective but takes the cat quite a while to become accustomed to.  Without peripheral vision, your cat may bump into walls or furniture and the disruption in his daily routine may reduce his desire to eat.  The inflatable collars limit the cat’s ability to turn his neck far enough to reach the wound but gives him the ability to eat and drink as normal and will not effect his peripheral vision.  Just be sure you purchase one that is sturdy enough to withstand kitty’s nails.

Suffice it to say that cats use grooming for many different reasons.  Always watch your cat for signs of excessive licking.  If he is not hurt and is not just tired of playing, there could be a deeper meaning that you should look in to.  Your cat may simply be bored or have some kind of behavior disorder.  Have you changed anything in your cat’s environment?  This could include a change of food, a rearrangement of furniture in the home, a new location for the litter box, a new roommate or new pet.  Cats are notorious for becoming stressed following changes in the house and that stress can easily become chronic licking.  Be sensitive to changes in your cat and approach the changes proactively.  Use the suggestions in this article to rule out simple reasons for the chronic licking and when you have exhausted those, it may be time to see the vet.  But always remember that your cat’s grooming is a natural instinct.  So, be sure you are grooming him at regular intervals. Order the following book for tips on grooming and the health of your cat:

What I’m getting to is using clothing to protect our pets.  We have used coats and sweaters fashioned for our dogs for centuries.  The history of dog clothing goes back to the days when King Arthur ruled over Great Britain in 520 A.D. They used dogs in the military and in law enforcement.  Protective clothing was intended to keep them safe in the event of an attack or if they were facing the risk of harm from the environment.  Far be it for the chic-minded of our century to keep our dogs from experiencing  the thrill of fashion!!  While I know my Chelsea would scoff at the idea of wearing a coat, hers is glorious all by itself, I know that Thunder would probably welcome a nice cozy sweater to warm his old bones.  And I imagine Lucy, a typically self-absorbed herding dog, would view a snugly wrap as a mantle of honor.  Rocky appears to be completely unaffected by the cold and I believe he would be unaffected by a coat, i.e. he would not notice.  He’s a little silly that way!!

I have several dogs that I care for that are provided with protective wear by their owners.  The first that comes to mind is little Coco, a West Highland terrier whose Mom dresses her in Halloween costumes.  What could be more confusing than a dog dressed as a bumble bee?  In her defense, Coco also has an extensive wardrobe of winter coats and rain gear was well as her own life jacket.  Humorous at least!  Then I have a very goofy Basset Hound/ Beagle mix who has a raincoat that his Dad insisted he wear whenever it is wet outside.  What really cracks me up is the duck-shaped buttons sewn on the raincoat as an accessory.  I also have a client that has rescued two retired greyhounds.  They are wonderful dogs and I give them a lot of respect having been athletes.  Imagine my reaction when she showed me the fleece coats she had made for them, they even had long-necked hoodies to keep their ears warm.  When I had them dressed in these coats I had to turn my back to the dogs so I wouldn’t be giggling right at them.  Don’t get me wrong; those dogs loved their coats.  They were used to performing on the tracks in Florida and the cold up North was a bit much.

There are times when your pet would probably enjoy and even be thankful for some protective wear.  Be a good judge of what your dog needs.  Just because they have their own coat doesn’t mean that they couldn’t use a little haute couture of their own.

We , Lucy, Tyson and myself, had taken a good long walk.  Both pups had stretched their legs, had a good run, sniffed all the yummy smells in the neighborhood and taken care of their business.  We were back in the house and it was time to be crated.  Tyson went in straight away.  Lucy was leery and ready to put up a fight.  I didn’t give up.  Over and over I gave the command.  Consistently I let her sniff the treat and then tossed it into the crate.  As if on cue, Lucy would dart her head in and grab the treat.  On this particular day, I was able to waft the aroma of the treat under her nose, toss it to the back of the crate and wonder of wonders she went all the way inside the crate to retrieve her reward.  I was speechless.  I gently closed the door and proceeded to lavish praise on Lucy and I gave her a few more treats as I was repeating, ” Good girl, In The Crate”!  What an awesome feeling.  Lucy was understanding that her crate was a good thing and it could bring her nice treats.  Consistency and patience will go a long way with your pup.  Repeating the command over and over and rewarding the smallest of successes reinforces accomplishment for your pup.  It gives them confidence,too.  Always keep in mind that a puppy has  short attention span.  You don’t want to completely frustrate him or make him feel that he isn’t making progress.  When he gets tired, take a break.   Do your best to end any training session on a positive note.  And remember, all dogs learn at different rates.  The reward comes to both of you.

I am one amazing dog!

This post is a topic I have covered before, however it begs to be revisited.  In the last three years, I have worked with many pets at varying stages of life.  I get to experience so many pet moments in a short period of time.  I could have a pup in the middle of potty training, a cat dealing with adjusting to a new kitten in the house and a newly adopted dog learning about it’s new home and that’s just one day! My clients depend on me for daily walks  and vacation coverage, as well as advice on pet care and health.  Dignity and respect for the animals form the foundation of my perspective on what’s best for your pet.  When a client wants my opinion on the course of care for their pet, I always come back to these two principles in aiding the client’s decision-making.   Do you treat the symptoms of an illness simply to keep the pet with you or do you opt for the more difficult course which may include a drastic surgery?  It is such an emotional decision and several of my clients have depended on me to walk them through the process.  For me, deciding  pet care options comes down to the pet’s quality of life and the dignity that we must respect for our best friend.

Most recently, I had a client, Kim, call me regarding the state of her dog, Molly’s health.  She was sobbing when she called me and I knew it was going to be a tough conversation.  You see, Molly is a yellow lab mix about nine years old who has lived with Addison’s disease her whole life.  Medication has treated her symptoms and Molly is simply a joy to be around.  Early in the progress of the disease, Molly lost an eye.  It started with the bulging of her eye.  The vet explained to Kim that the swelling was caused by optic pressure.  They could treat her for pain, but after a few days Kim realized that Molly’s quality of life was being jeopardized.  Granted she was out of pain, but she was also straight-up “out of it”.  Kim knew this was not the direction she wanted Molly’s life to go.  The other option was to stop the pain at the source.  This would mean that Molly would lose sight in that eye.  Kim made the decision and Molly adapted to her new vision. So back to the phone call; Kim had come home from work to find that Molly’s good eye was bulging.  She knew what this meant.  What a tough spot to be in!  She was torn about her next step.  She could treat the pain and have a heavily sedated dog living with her or she could have the optic nerve killed and relieve Molly of her pain.  As in the first instance, the procedure would render Molly blind,this time totally blind.  Kim was also dealing with the news that her mother had just been diagnosed with leukemia and she would soon have to leave Molly in my care when she traveled to see her mom.  Distraught is hardly the word for it.  Kim needed to make a decision soon.  If Molly was to lose her sight, Kim had to schedule the procedure to allow time for Molly to adapt to her “new normal”.  Being in this kind of situation, I knew I couldn’t make the decision for Kim.  However, I could talk her through the choices that she had and help her find her own answers.  The issue I kept coming back to was how would Kim’s decision effect Molly’s quality of life and did it allow Molly to retain her dignity?  Very often the emotions we experience when faced with a life changing decision will cloud our ability to come to a logical and seemingly simple solution.  I have to say that I have learned a lot about human behavior and the emotions that surround a decision that will leave our pet with less than full use of it’s senses.  We see it through our eyes, not the pet’s.  We see it as a disability, a handicap.  Your pet doesn’t see it that way.  I can assure you that the pets I know that have lost part or all of one of their senses have adapted and done so quicker than you could imagine.  That was the hard part for Kim.  How would sweet Molly be able to live a normal life?  What major adjustments had to be made to preserve her quality of life and ensure her dignity?  After some time discussing the impact of this decision, I told Kim that it sounded like she had made her decision and she just needed to put all her cards on the table. Sobbing, she agreed with me and we said our goodbyes. Kim had the procedure done the following week and kept me posted on Molly’s progress.  She was so happy when within the week Molly was sure of her surroundings and trusted Kim to help guide her on their walks.  One day she emailed me to say, ” I had to run to keep up with Molly today. I’ve been smiling ever since.” As it turns out, Molly quickly adapted to the loss of her vision.  Yes, she had to learn new cues about how to get around and she did .  Kim had to learn a new way to communicate with Molly on walks and around the house and she did.  My hope is that those of you who read this and have a pet, please keep in mind that part of your responsibility to your pet is to make these tough decisions with the most love and compassion you can find.  They depend on you to help them through the difficult times just as they have helped you through difficult times.  There is no greater reward than the love and devotion of your pet.  It will be returned a hundred times over.

If it’s not safe outside for you, it’s not safe for your pet!

You are probably not aware of the fact that I grew up and now reside in Tennessee.  I have always loved the very distinct four seasons that we have here.  I spent one year in California and I have to tell you that the weather was BORING!!  I know it sounds peculiar and maybe I am just that, but I like to see and experience the changing of the seasons.  For me, they mark time and I can associate most seasonal changes with some memory from childhood.  I’m so nostalgic!  However, there are two seasons that I both love and loathe- Spring and Fall.  Why?  You might ask.  In Tennessee those seasons are synonymous with tornadoes.  They call this region “Tornado Alley” for a reason. Tornado situations will often produce anxiety, fear and a need to escape for many of our pets. Most animals can sense the storm long before the Doppler radar is even aware of a problem.  My own dog, Thunder, is my barometer of inclement weather.  He hates storms and becomes anxious hours before there is a problem.  It turns out that is  blessing for me; I am able to dose him with Rescue Remedy far in advance of the really scary part of the storm or tornado and avoid the full-on panic he feels.  Because we Tennesseans view tornadoes as a common occurrence, it would follow that we are always prepared in case of The Big One.  Here are a few tips that will make it easier for you and your pets to weather the storm and an added bonus of steps to take after the storm system has passed.

Preparing Pets for Tornadoes

You should first determine where in your house will provide you with the best protection- your “safe place”. The “safe place” should be a space or room that has the most walls between you and the outside and it should be far away from any window.  Then create an emergency supply kit for your pet.  If you have a room that is best suited for shelter, keep the emergency kit in that room.  Otherwise, it should be close by and all family members should know where it is.  Suggested items include but are not limited to:

•   A 3-5 day supply of food and water for your pet, bowls and a manual can opener.
• Sanitation items, such as a litter box or puppy pads, and  disposal equipment.
• Crates to provide the animal with a secure and safe hiding spot; make sure that the crate is clearly labeled.
•  Leash and collar should you need to transport your pet and/or a carrier for cats.
•  Any medications for pets.

Identification.

•  All animals should have some sort of identification; collar with tag, microchip, tattoo.  I prefer the microchip simply because it is a means of i.d. that is permanent.
• Include a photo of your pet, whether that is a picture in a frame or one on your phone.

Prepare to seek shelter.

•  Practice getting the entire family, including pets, to the “safe place” during calm weather.  This will help to make it an automatic response and you can avoid the last minute hysterics.  Your pet will pick up on your fear and that will be even more stressful for them.
• Train your dog to go to the area on command or to come  to you on command regardless of distractions.  Yes, this is a tough one.  If you keep your dog collared simply grab the leash from the emergency kit and direct the dog in that manner.
• Cats present us with a bit harder task.  They will often head straight for their favorite hiding place once the storm gets close.  Know where that is and gather them up into one room.  I usually get my cats inside the bedroom and can easily crate them when the time comes.
• If an evacuation is called, take the emergency kit with you.

After the Storm

• Your home, yard and entire neighborhood will be very different when the storm has passed.  This will prove to be stressful for your pets.  Keep your cat crated and your dog on a leash.  Familiar landmarks and the usual smells will be replaced with chaos.  This is disorienting for everyone and the confusion may lead to a lost pet. Keep them close.
• Be patient with your pets after a disaster.  If your pet is especially sensitive to storm stress, remember that Rescue Remedy can be used on a regular basis for up to 7 days.  Try to get them back into their normal routines as soon as possible.

Ready for a Night Out

It’s that time of year again.  The nights are getting cooler, the trees have just a hint of yellow gold to them and pumpkins are showing up at the market.  Fall,one of my favorite seasons.  It is the harbinger of Holidays, the start of all the seasonal insanity that we love to hate.  I have to say that Halloween has to be the most special to me.  Maybe it’s because I remember going out Trick-or-treating with my five brothers and sisters and getting extra candy because we would switch costumes after our first round and hit the neighbors again.  I bet they knew it was us!  Now when Halloween comes around I get just as excited because I have my own tradition that makes it special.  You see I live at the end of a cul-de-sac and all the neighbors put their camping chairs out at the end of their driveways and wait for the kids to start coming around. Groups of Power Rangers and Princesses and Snow Whites come marching up to us and they love that we are right out there with them.  No scary doorbells to ring.  No barking dogs to dodge and there’s candy all over the place.   There are a few of us who will move our fire pits to the end of the driveway just to keep the chill off on that cold night.  Some folks have taken it a step further and will put out a whole buffet of food.  It’s an awful lot of fun. We have become known as one of the streets to be sure to trick-or-treat on because everyone is outside and it’s like a big block party. I like to dress up for Halloween and spend a good part of the year getting my costume together.  I’ve even had my sister join me and we had the best time.  I love seeing all the kids in their cute little costumes, some really shy and others just as bold as you please; approaching me and yelling out “Trick or Treat”.  I search the stores for the creepiest candy I can find; eyeballs, brains, bloody fingers, severed ears and always some kind of toy. I think what scares the kids the most is that I have a bunch of cats and they like to get involved too.  My tuxedo cat, Sarafina, will sit on my lap all night and let kids pat her.  I have an old scrawny yellow cat that only has one eye and he likes to greet people as they come down the street.  Lots of kids are sure that I must be some kind of witch to have that many cats and how scary is it that one of them only has one eye??  It doesn’t hurt that I wear a witch costume almost every year.   However, the best costumes are the ones on other people’s pets.  I am amazed at how many people dress up their precious pups as ballerinas or pirates or hot dogs!!  I’m not kidding you, there was a daschund in a costume that basically looked like a hot dog bun with ketchup on it.  And that little pup was so proud to be strutting his stuff with all the little kids.  This year I’ll have to remember my camera and post all those crazy canines on the internet.  Be sure to look for them on November 1st!

Nowadays, we are surrounded by dogs wherever we go.  Pet supply stores welcome them with open arms.  If you want to learn about a specific breed, just go to your local PetCo and wait a while.  Any number of breeds will cross your path.  Restaurants often have a dog water bowl strategically placed on their patio.  I think it’s the new universal sign for “Dogs Welcome”.  They even have dog walks/runs for the canine-inclined health nut.  I LOVE it!!  Dogs are more a part of our families than ever before.

The following statistics were compiled from the American Pet Products Association 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey.

There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States

Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog

Most owners (60 percent) own one dog

Twenty-eight percent of owners own two dogs

Twelve percent of owners own three or more dogs

On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.69 percent)

The proportion of male to female dogs is even

Twenty-one percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter

On average, dog owners spent $248 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually

Seventy-eight percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered

So, you would think that people would be pretty well-versed in the proper etiquette of meeting a dog.  There are so many different dog experts out there and they typically have  their own style of greeting.  One thing I have found to be consistent is that you should give the dog the cold shoulder.  I know it’s hard to resist the sweet puppy dog eyes, however, you do want to establish yourself as high ranking in the pack  right from the get go.  When I meet a new client, I explain to the owner that I am going to ignore their dog for the first few minutes of the session.  I do not make eye contact, I do not speak to the dog and I do not touch the dog.  I tell you, it’s not easy.  I have found that this kind of interaction allows the dog to “check me out” with no face-to-face confrontation.  I do not invade his space by reaching for him or trying to make a connection.  It puts the dog at ease and gives him permission to observe me.  I stress to the owner that the meet and greet appointment is mostly for the dog.  I want to establish that I am not a threat and that I am an equal to his owner.  I make it a point to speak only to the owner and to make eye contact with him, shake his hand.  The dog should see me as having a greater status than he does.  This makes it easier for me to come into his home, his territory and care for him.  Is this rocket science?  No.  Is this a common practice for people who are meeting a dog for the first time?  No.  Is this more comfortable for the dog?  Yes!!  This little gesture on my part allows the dog to learn the sound of my voice, how I move , what smells I bring with me.  This is the same behavior an alpha dog would exhibit when meeting a new dog or when a new dog approaches to join the pack.  The alpha is held in high esteem by the pack members and he must maintain that superiority at all times.  You wouldn’t see him fawning all over a new dog.  He would behave as if the new dog did not exist.  The new dog must earn his attention.  This applies to our domesticated dogs just as much as it does to the wild wolves.  When we work with dogs in a manner that they find instinctive, they learn to trust us all the sooner.  This practice has served me well.  I first used it when I was just starting to build up my clientele.  I had a meet and greet with a man and his three male pit bulls.  The first meeting didn’t go so well, at least not for me.  I did my research and called the owner and arranged for another meeting.    We needed to get our pack positions realigned.  I had read a lot of Cesar Millan’s work and felt that his approach would be good for me to adopt.  BINGO!!  It worked.  I have been using it for years.

Ignoring a cute pup is difficult.