Guidelines to Manage Leash Reactivity
Use the most effective tools: I suggest a Gentle Leader and standard 5-6’ leash. Teach alternative behaviors: Distract your dog by having them focus on you, heel quickly or sit and stay. Anticipate the behavior and be ready to get your dog refocused on something else....
Local Rescue Organizations
Short 'n Sweet Dog Rescue Jack Creek Road Templeton, CA 93465 Debby@shortnsweetdogrescue.org http://www.shortnsweetdogrescue.org Foxy Doxy Dachshund Rescue (805) 461-5403 http://www.foxydoxydachshundrescue.com Meade Canine Rescue Foundation P.O. Box 252 Creston,...
Body Talk
Puppies are taught communication skills by their mother and littermates at an early age. In addition to vocalizing, they learn communication via body language. Just as we humans use body language to emphasize or reinforce what we're saying, so do dogs. For...
One Size Fits All
I see this tag in department stores, boutiques and clothing tents on Venice boardwalk. Yes, one size fits all, unless your hips are too big, or if they would just put a teensy more elastic in the waistband. But what, you ask, does this have to do with dogs? What is my...
How Dogs Learn
Although a litter is borne from one mother, it is possible there are multiple fathers involved. This means that the genetic predisposition of each puppy in terms of behavior, illness, colorings and all things biological may be difficult, if not impossible, to...
Christmas In July
Many of you will consider bringing a puppy or dog into the family at some point, and often this happens around Christmas time. I would like to suggest that you think about bringing the newcomer in now, during the summer. I suggest this for a fundamental reason. There...
Pick Up, My Dog!
I need to discuss an urgent issue. I read a letter recently in the paper from woman (A) who wanted to make a "public apology" to a driver, woman (B), for "strongly" voicing an opinion about B letting her dog ride in the bed of a pick up truck. It seems B's dog...
Beaches And Leashes
I admit it, I'm guilty of breaking the law. I'm one of those people that let my dogs off leash at the beach. My Border collie mix is so fixated on the tennis ball launcher that it is now a virtual leash. And although my little Corgi mix loves to wander off, he is...
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
I often see the results of people acquiring a dog based on emotion instead of reason. Why is it that we sometimes spend weeks researching appliances or cars to find the best fit but often pick a dog (that may spend 14 years with us) spontaneously? Remember the box...
The Little Gray Dog
Animal Control picked up the little gray dog from the woman's house about 11am. She and I both knew what they would do. Humans had failed him, he would be euthanized. Only 24 hours earlier I sat in her living room, the little gray dog barking at me so ferociously I...