Main Topics -- Notes from the Editor -- How Do You Pet a Dog Properly? -- Fun in the Sun
Sidebar -- In the News! -- Did You Know? -- Great Doggie Products -- Breed This!—Labrador Retriever -- Dog Tip to Make Note of -----------------
Notes from the Editor: Stacy Greer
Hello! I hope you are having a cool summer—indoors, I sure know you aren’t having one outdoors! This issue will cover several summer topics & other doggie tips. Please let us know if you have a topic you’d like covered, we are always open to ideas for our newsletter. You can email me directly with any ideas stacy@aictdfw.com
Obviously you’ve noticed that I haven’t sent a newsletter monthly. It looks like they will be quarterly as of right now. I’m so swamped with balancing all the things on my plate so we’ll have to space them out for now. Hopefully we’ll be able to get them back once a month at some point.
Other notes: those who Facebook, Twitter & Blog—so do we! Join us on all of those! Here are our links to each of those:
How Do You Pet a Dog?: Do You Know How to Pet a Dog Properly? taken from 4Paws University Dog Training, modified by Stacy Greer
This article was featured in our June 2008 newsletter but it is well worth publishing again and again. . . .
I wonder how many people will see the title of this article and skip over it, thinking "I already know how to pet a dog!" In reality, many people know how to reach out and touch a dog, but few are aware of how to pet a dog so that the dog actually enjoys it.
I see person after person reach out to pet dogs on the head. And even when a dog pulls away and avoids the person, they continue to try and pet him, or worse they try to coddle them and make friends, "It's ok. I'm a dog lover . . . come here . . ." Dogs are social animals and domestication has made them very dependent on us, but that doesn't mean that every dog loves to be patted and pet by strangers any more than we want every stranger on the street to give us a hug and a kiss.
If you really want to impress a new dog and convince him that you are a really great human, follow these basic rules:
RULE #1 - Never approach a dog first. Always let the dog approach you, no matter how friendly it looks. Why? Because this allows the dog to interact with you on his terms, which is going to put you high on his list of cool humans. Many dog owners are amazed at how quickly their shy dog takes to me. The only trick is that I sit back and let the dog decide when and how to interact with me.
RULE #2 - Don't crowd his space. We love dogs so much that we have a tendency to want to get really close when we're petting...as close as possible. But imagine meeting a new person and they immediately bent over the top of you, put their hand on your head and brought their face right up to yours. Would you feel at ease with that person?
No reaching over the head. Reaching over their head is intimidating. Dogs much prefer when pets come from underneath, such as a soft rub under the chin or on their cheek.
Stay out of their face. What is it that makes us think that dogs love having a stranger get really close to their face? Do we like it? No! A simple rhyme for children holds just as true for adults: Two feet of space can save your face.
Don't bend over the dog or approach head-on. It is much better to kneel down and turn your body slightly sideways to a dog. You would be amazed at how many dogs turn to mush when you offer them this polite greeting.
Do not offer your hand. The dog will come to you if they want. A hand can be seen as threatening. It is an old myth that letting a dog sniff you is a way to make fast friends.
Letting the dog decide how and when to approach you can make all the difference.
RULE #3 - Don't stick your hand in their face. I know that somewhere along the line the advice was given to present your hand to a dog so they can sniff it. Considering dogs have 250 million scent receptors compared to our 5 million, they can smell your hand just as easily if it remains at your side. Dogs much prefer to sniff our pant legs and, yes, even our groin area much more than our hands, and they certainly can be put off by a hand thrust into their face. This is the equivalent of your friend shoving a carton of milk under your nose and saying, "Does this smell bad?"
RULE #4 - Don't try to convince a shy dog that you are friendly. How many times have you seen a human pursue a shy dog, while repeating "It's okay, don't be shy"? Well-meaning dog lovers have a hard time with this one. Our fragile human egos just can't seem to take it when man's best friend doesn't immediately fall in love with us. The truth is, the more you pursue a shy dog, the more it convinces them that you are scary...and quite rude. Back off and give him a chance to get to know you on his terms.
RULE #5 - Just because he's sniffing you, doesn't mean he wants to be pet. And for that matter, just because a dog doesn't bite you doesn't mean he likes you! Again, let the dog sniff you and then see where he goes from there. Does he sniff you and then back away or does he sniff you and then start with the whole body wiggle?
Dogs who really love to be pet by strange humans don't keep it a secret. They come in very close, lean into you, wiggling their whole body with their tail. Their eyes look "soft" and even a little squinty, and you may just see that sweet little grin.
Finally, if you are the owner of a dog who is shy or just a little reserved with strangers, it is up to you to help him by running interference from over-zealous dog lovers. Don't be afraid to stop people from accosting your dog. The more negative interactions your dog has with people, the closer you get to having a real behavior problem on your hands, shy dogs can turn to fear-aggressive dogs fast. And if they think you are rude for not letting them pet their dog, who cares? You and your dog are just fine without them!
Seems that this summer is going to be a real scorcher! Ugh! There are several things you want to keep in mind for summer safety for your pets, but there are also several fun things you can do with your pooch to keep both of you happy!
SAFETY Keep your dog cool. Do not leave your dog outside during the daytime. It’s just too hot, even with shade. Dogs need their water replenished with cool, clean water every 3 hours during the hot summer months. Warm or hot water can quickly build up bacteria and cause health concerns. Also, warm water doesn’t cool Fido off. Remember dogs don’t and cannot sweat. They only cool off by panting so it is vital to help them stay cool.
Know how to watch for signs of heat stroke. Dogs die every year from heat stroke due to the fact that they cannot cool off rapidly. A dog suffering from heatstroke will display several signs. Look for these signs: rapid panting, bright red tongue, red or pale gums, thick sticky saliva, depression, weakness, dizziness, vomiting - sometimes with blood, diarrhea, shock, and coma.
Remove the dog from the hot area immediately. Prior to taking him to your veterinarian, lower his temperature by wetting him thoroughly with cool water (for very small dogs, use lukewarm water), then increase air movement around him with a fan. CAUTION: Using very cold water can actually be counterproductive. Cooling too quickly and especially allowing his body temperature to become too low can cause other life-threatening medical conditions. The rectal temperature should be checked every 5 minutes. Once the body temperature is 103ºF, the cooling measures should be stopped and the dog should be dried thoroughly and covered so he does not continue to lose heat. Even if the dog appears to be recovering—take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible. He should still be examined since he may be dehydrated or have other complications.
Allow free access to water or a children's rehydrating solution if the dog can drink on his own. Do not try to force-feed cold water; the dog may inhale it or choke.
ACTIVITIES It may be hot but there are a few activities you can do with your canine buddy to put boredom to rest. Remember to always watch your dog when doing outdoor activities and never allow them to overheat.
Dock Diving Do you want to cool off quickly with Fido? Take a look at this fun sport (featured every year on ESPN) known as Dock Diving. This sport can be fun for just about every dog, water-lovers or not! Take a look at this sport closely here: www.dockdogs.com
Kongsicle Nothing like a frozen food-filled Kong® to keep your dog busy and cool at the same time! Fill your dog’s Kong® with half his ration of dog food, smush some bananas and add some chicken broth. Freeze overnight. The next day you have a Kongsicle! You can be creative with your recipes. Add food, yogurt, fruits, canned food or even raw eggs. I advise to mix all ingredients in a bowl and then stuff inside the Kong® prior to freezing.
Biking Own a bicycle? If you have a bicycle you could get Fido’s exercise in a shorter amount of time and where it’s a bit cooler for you. Ride a bike with Fido along side! The best way to keep Fido next to the bike so that a leash doesn’t get tangled up in the wheels or he is able to go in front and cause a crash is to purchase a bike spring designed for dogs. There are a couple of brands that are made. There is the Springer found here: www.springerusa.com and also the Walky Dog found here: www.walkydogusa.com
Last but not least . . . In Texas it’s hard to find something that isn’t too hot and exhausting for both dog and human. However some of these can work much better than the alternative of your dog not getting any activity at all! Be sure to never, ever leave your dog in a car in the summer. A car parked in the shade when outside temp is at 78ºF can heat to over 90ºF and reach up to 160ºF in the sun within 10 minutes time! Be safe, stay cool and have fun!
>> We’ve got indoor classes!—Join one of our indoor classes to beat the heat but still be able to do something fun & rewarding for you & Fido! Visit our class schedule online here: www.aictdfw.com/indoor-class-schedule.html
>> Dog Camp—We have the best solution you could ever find for dog training, fun & vacation—Dog Camp. Just like it sounds it’s a weekend of activities for you & Fido to enjoy & learn together. The camp isnt’ until fall but we suggest you enroll now. It takes place in Wimberly Texas, south of Austin, on the Blanco River. We really cannot tell you how absolutely amazing this camp is & how it will change your life—details here: www.lmccb.com/DogCamp.htm
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DID YOU KNOW?
>> About Bloat—Do you know if your dog is at risk? If your dog begins to bloat he can die within an hour. Dogs easily susceptible to this condition are those larger dogs with deep chests: Great Danes, Dobermans, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, & several others. It is a medical emergency so you need to know the facts. The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a significant contributing factor also. Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog. Read the full article on how to try & prevent it from happening to your dog by clicking here.
>> Dogs cannot sweat? Cooling in a dog, since they cannot sweat through their skin, is through sweating through nose and foot pads. They also pant to cool their bodies down. Having their body temperature rise without being able to cool themselves properly can result in heat stroke and lead to damage and death.
>> Not all dogs can swim? Several breeds either cannot swim at all or find it very difficult. Bulldogs namely are usually not good swimmers or cannot do it at all. Basset hounds are also a breed that is not built for water fun. It is advised that all pets own & wear a floatation device, or jacket, when near and around water. Statistics show that 1 out of 1027 pets drown each year in America. Try the Premier Fido Float for your dog, they have all sizes! Get yours here.
>> There is no such thing as an indestructible dog toy? Several toys may taut that they are indestructible but folks I’m here to say that you own a canine. Does anyone ever see the inside of their dog’s mouth? It’s full of canines—those are teeth designed to shred animals. Our dogs are carnivores by design & therefore those teeth can shred anything if they really want to. I’ve actually seen a dog eat thru sheetrock & metal. So any toy should be supervised & I actually don’t recommend any soft/plush toy unless it’s for a short time with 100% supervision!
---- GREAT DOGGIE PRODUCTS
>>Tazlab portable bowl. This bowl isn’t like most portable bowls. It’s actually a bowl just like one from home but that folds up! You gotta see it to believe it! Check it out here.
>>KoolDogz Ice Treat Maker. This one, I must admit is a bit cheesy but it appears to be rather cool. If your dog loves ice then this would definitely be a huge hit! It’s like an ice piñata! Check it out here.
>>Water Wubba. This is still one of my faves. All Wubbas are some great toys. But for summer fun you can get a Water Wubba that floats! You can get them anywhere online or at a petstore. Here is the full line of Wubba products here.
>>Life Jacket. This is a must if you are going to do anything water-related this summer with Fido! A life jacket needs to be worn by all dogs. We already mentioned in this issue that not all dogs can swim! You can get this water gear here.
>>Stay-Cool Jacket. This is great if you want to do things with Fid but are concerned with all that heat! This jacket cools your dog down so he can have more enjoyable time with you & stay safely cool! Check it out here. ----
BREED THIS! The Labrador Retriever
We wanted to cover this popular breed of dog because they are so widely owned by many American families. The Labrador Retriever is a remarkable dog but there are things you need to know before getting this favorite breed. Originally bred in Newfoundland they were always used for hunting purposes. Labs are great companions, hunters, loyal, affectionate & crave human attention.
Labs have thick dense coats that almost repel water but that also shed like a new rug—if you own a Lab you know that Labs shed all year round & heavily. They are easy to care for, requiring only a bath when necessary.
They can develop hip dysplasia & it is recommended that you research the lineage (if purchasing your Lab) to check for hip problems in the parents, grandparents & great-grandparents. They can be quite destructible as puppies if not trained early-on & require responsible, positive training techniques.
Labs are high-energy, active, dogs. They require mental & physical stimulation to be the well-trained, family dog that everyone so desires them to be. English Labs are a bit more laid back than the American Labs. The English are blockier, thicker & stockier, while the American are longer, taller, & more lean.
If you are seeking a family pet do not get one from field trial backgrounds/lines as they will be quite active & harder to manage in everyday, low-energy settings.
Labs are indeed easily trained but do require training as puppies & throughout their lives. Labs are very wonderful dogs!
---- DOG TIP TO MAKE NOTE OF
Put Toys Away. If you don’t leave every single toy available to your dog they will hold more value. Toys that are free access at all times become boring; they can get to them anytime after all. Spice things up by only leaving chew bones out for free access & bring out toys for play when you want to play. Your dog will always want to play with you (not just the toy) & will also think that toy is the best thing in the world! back to top
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Chronicles of a Dog Trainer Blog
Tazlab portable bowl. 
KoolDogz Ice Treat Maker. 
Water Wubba. 
Life Jacket. 
Stay-Cool Jacket. 
We wanted to cover this popular breed of dog because they are so widely owned by many American families. The Labrador Retriever is a remarkable dog but there are things you need to know before getting this favorite breed. Originally bred in Newfoundland they were always used for hunting purposes. Labs are great companions, hunters, loyal, affectionate & crave human attention. 
