Wag Reflex

Space Games Make Dogs Safer

In My Smart Puppy we teach Space Games. These are games you play with your dog that teach him or her what to do in certain situations. In "Mine!" you teach your dog that when a human being gets near something, you back off, sit and something wonderful will happen. Here is a perfect example of why this is such a darn good game to play:

"My husband and I had a moment of miscommunication-I thought he was keeping our son upstairs. He thought I wanted him downstairs. He brought him down and set him in the LR by his toys. I was making coffee and got Lily's food ready not realizing he was there.

I set her bowl down and released her to eat. I never saw my boy come scooting into the kitchen from the DR door behind me. I turned around and saw him lunge toward Lily's bowl. Before I could even move he grabbed a large chunk of her food.

And what did Lily do you might ask? Why she immediately backed away from her food bowl and sat down. Her tail beat gently on the floor and her ears and face were soft and relaxed. I was so proud of her."

YEAH Lily!

This points out why we don't say, "Leave it" during "Mine!" "Leave It" is great, we teach that too, but guests and children won't always say the word at all, never mind correctly. Exactly the case here.

Luckily, dogs don't need words. Dogs need practice, praise and clarity. This wonderful mother and dog-woman took the time to teach Lily that backing away from anything was always well worth doing. It wasn’t optional, but Lily clearly understands by her wagging tail and relaxed face that this is a task she is more than happy to do.

And the only place these games exist is My Smart Puppy. Good news, each book comes with a DVD in the back, so you'll get lots of help learning just what to do. Or, you can come find us at MySmartPuppy.com - we have a free, moderated message board – and we will help you with all your dog (and cat) questions.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Good Owners, Great Dogs", all available now.

Joy on the Beach

From the time I step out of the house, Pip suggests the beach by racing toward the path, then turning to stare into my face, You coming? Huh? Huh? You coming?” When I step in that direction, she races to the top of the stairs down to the water. She spins toward me  again, open mouthed and eager, "We're going, right? We're going?" And when I say "Yes" she disappears down those stairs so quickly that by the time I reach the top with my comparatively, she is already at the water's edge, willing me to join her.

As I make my way down the many steps, I laugh. I often laugh at Pip's unadulterated life glee. It can be exhausting, especially in her youth, but now after four years together, we are in synch. Maybe she has calmed a bit (or I have perked up a bit) - either way, we enjoy each other.

Finding a suitable stick, I crunch over the large round stones that make up a version of Maine beach. It's no place to go barefoot. Pip vibrates with anticipation as I approach. I’ve waited for high tide so the rough-edged barnacles are now well under water, out of reach of Pip‘s suburban-soft paw pads. All I need to do is move my hand infinitesimally and she starts bouncing in place. “Throw it, throw it, throw it NOW!” They launch together, my stick and my dog, heading out at the same instant.

There is something oddly peaceful about chunking a stick for a water-loving dog. She explodes into action with each toss, acting as if it were the first, the last and the best throw ever. Something calming about watching her bee-line out so fast that she leaves a wake behind her, and something that puts a smile on my face again when I see her turn, coming back to me.

After fifteen minutes or so, I call it quits. If she were a child, Pip would stand shivering, lips blue from cold, earnestly pleading, "But I'm not cold, why do I have to come out ?" It's a call I make for her. Our dogs are so much to us, we need to be common sense for them. I’d always rather quit too early than be too late. But not Pip, she’d rather never quit. That makes me smile, too, even as we head back toward the house.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Good Owners, Great Dogs", all available now.

This Stinks!

On the last "outs" of the evening, when our three dogs go for a last pee before we all head to bed, I saw PJ bolt into the bushes. She sprang out instantaneously, shaking her head. Foaming at the mouth, she clacked her jaws rapidly. I didn't have to open the door to know what had happened; she'd been skunked head on.

I happen to rather enjoy a light whiff of distant skunk but fresh and in large quantities it is vile - seeping through closed doors and windows, filling the house with a stench that lingers.

How do you cope?

First: Bathe your dog. Anything that cuts grease works because the skunk spray is oil-based, so break up that oil and you break up the stink. I grabbed the grease-fighting dish washing soap in our kitchen, girded my olfactory loins, then stepped outside.

If a smell can hit you like an oncoming car, that smell did. I gagged. PJ gagged. Wyatt and Pip stayed far away. I took PJ to the faucet and bathed her, making sure to avoid getting soap in her eyes, then I rinsed, rinsed, rinsed. Both she and I stopped gagging but we were nowhere near done.

Now, reasonably destinky, I took her in a direct line to our upstairs bathtub with a handheld sprayer to do a second bath with warmer water and better lighting. For this one I used shampoo designed to remove skunk stink. There are also liquids, sprays and powders. I've had good luck with a variety of products--here's a selection: Skunk Odor Removers

If you live in a skunky area, having one of these on hand is right up there with having flashlights and Band-Aids in the house.

After that, I Febrezed the house, washed my clothing, and opened the windows. Then I went to bed, waking up in the wee hours to repeat the Febrezing. (Febreze has the ASPCA Seal of Approval as safe to use around dogs and cats.) By dawn, it was bearable again.

If you don't have any pre-made product, here is a DIY option:

• 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap or dish washing liquid
• Mix these together and soak the victim thoroughly. (This may lighten the hair of dark dogs a bit.)
• Be sure to use this mixture immediately after it is created, as it is unstable.
• Rinse with tap water afterward, and repeat if necessary.
• For spray in the eyes, flush with water as soon as possible.

The old standby: Tomato juice was probably chosen because it is acidic and acid does impact oil. But it isn't very strong and so isn't very effective.

With the endless rain here in New Hampshire, the smell lingers--on our back stoop, by the bushes, on the dog. It will fade, with time. And yes, PJ will, no doubt, do this again. Dogs are no more deterred by a bad experience that follows a fun one than say, people are by hangovers. Both species have a tendency to go out and do it again.

Here is another dog getting skunked. The skunk shows great restraint, IMO.

Photo from Sweet-N-Sassy's photostream.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Good Owners, Great Dogs", all available now.

Training on the Fly

The Sunset Cruise headed out of Little Dix Bay and our group was on it. As we turned toward “Bitter End” the resort at the north end of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, a colony of Laughing Gulls tagged along behind.

Some find these raucous, back-headed birds beautiful; others consider them “sea rats;” as a trainer, I saw them as an unusual (and unusually noisy) training opportunity.

Side note: I do not encourage wild animals to interact with me unless doing so poses no potential harm to them or to me. In this case, despite Hitchcock’s brilliantly terrifying movie “The Birds,” the only risk these gulls pose is pilfering from your plate if you leave it untended. This being the case, and because the gulls were already well aware of what goodies the boat carried, I decided to see what we could accomplish.

Grabbing a handful of leftover crackers, I started tossing bits – arcing them up and back, away from the boat. The birds dove and spun but, more often than not, had to land in the water to grab their prize. Entertaining as this was, it slowed down the process -- how could I do rapid repetitions if the birds had to land, eat, and then take off?

So, I decided to add in a simple cue that told the gulls that a treat was about to be launched. Stretching my arm out parallel to the water, I then dropped my hand suddenly toward my body, paused for a second, and then tossed.

The birds quickly figured out that a rapid hand drop meant food was forthcoming, just as Pavlov’s dogs had learned that a bell meant dinner was on its way. When I dropped my hand, the birds lined up in formation – anticipating my next toss.

From that position, I could easily toss treats that were grabbed “on the fly.” Perfect. Now I could move to rapid fire rewarding which allowed me to start shortening my tosses. Instead of arcing back and away from the boat, I tossed them just a few feet back. Some gulls hung back but a few were willing to trade proximity for food.

Seeing that I had lost a few, I upped the ante by tossing out bits of spring roll. The gulls noticeably intensified their efforts – as we all do when something we value is offered.

Getting them taking a treat from my hand (back to crackers because they were a larger and more obvious target) was just a matter of tossing treats progressively closer to me and then holding one big one out while I stood very still - waiting. And that worked, as you can see.

The principles of training apply whether you are training a Laughing Gull or your grinning Golden: give clear signals, reward frequently, start slow then work toward your goal in small steps, have fun. These gulls reminded me to do all of this and gave me a special vacation memory, as well.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Good Owners, Great Dogs", all available now.

Heel to Heal

In October, PJ, my beloved terrier mix and dead ringer for Tramp in Disney’s classic, Lady and the Tramp, tore a ligament in her knee, which we had surgically repaired. Recovery and then rehabilitating a dog’s leg is slow work, but it is made much faster and safer because of the communication she and I share. Here are a few commands/skills that are a gift to an injured dog and to a worried caretaker:

Calm Crating
Safely resting an injured dog is key, and a crate is a great way to do that. Even though it had been years since PJ has been regularly crated, she did not forget. This is a skill every dog should have because you never know when you will need it.

Loose Leash
PJ needed to be walked on lead for many weeks after surgery and, once winter settled in and ice arrived, those weeks stretched into months. If she were wild, spinning, or dragging, she could have easily reinjured herself. She wasn’t perfect every moment, but she was calm most of the time and I could easily calm her when it was needed.

Handling Handling
Stretching, icing, heat packs, passive range of motion exercises are all part of her rehab. If I had to fight with her to help her, I would risk her leg and our relationship. Because handling exercises are a part of my life with all my dogs, I could help her to the best of my ability. Handling exercises, as taught in My Smart Puppy, are a life necessity.

Solid Wait
Often around the house, I had to stop her in her tracks as I tried to prevent sliding around corners, climbing stairs, going out the door, or hopping up on the couch. “Wait” means pause a second. Her responsiveness to this useful command allowed her as much freedom as possible in a time when she could have very little.

Thank goodness she knew all this before her ligament tore, so I could support her with relative ease. It was all worth it. This spring she is racing up hills and hunting in the dead winter grasses as she always has. It makes me smile.

So do your pets a favor and put these four things on your “to-do” list. If you never need them--great! But if you do, you (and your dog) will be glad you did the work now.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Rough and Tumble--Balls That Last

Toys get hard use in my home and balls in particular get thoroughly tested. Not only are the toys Lab tested, but they are also terrier tested, German Shepherd Dog tested and Jaws-of-Death Doodle tested. You want to know what toys go the distance? These do:

Orbee Balls
Sure, they are cute, but they are tough, too. Left outside through a long, cold New Hampshire winter, mowed with our lawn tractor and abused by numerous dogs our Orbees still just fine. Not usually a favorite toy, Pip has recently taken a shine to their “Snowball,” adding it to this week’s golluming pile.

Everlasting Fun Balls
Add these to the list of great food dispensing toys. Soft yet hard wearing, ours have seen daily use here for many months with no noticeable wear. We’ll always have a few of these around. My only criticism is that opening where the food comes out is the same in all three sizes, meaning that toy-breed sized mini kibble simply falls out.

Fantastic Foam Balls
These make no sense to me at all. When I got my first one, I laughed. This will last a few minutes, I thought as I tossed it to PJ, an experienced toy destroyer. But it has lasted for nine or so months now with only one small nick out of it. Amazing.

Jolly Ball Tug-n-Toss
Okay, Jolly balls aren’t durable but they are, apparently, just as fun flattened, chewed, and handle-less as they are fresh out of the box. We have one “Jolly Chunk” that’s been around for several years now. It is no longer even remotely “ball” shaped but it remains a favorite toy among our gang.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Train with Less Gain

Need some training treats? Concerned about your dog’s weight? Try these. Both products are small (relative to most dog) and the dogs I have consulted ate them eagerly. If your dog won’t train for just a few bits of his dry food or if you really like giving your dog something a little special but want to keep him a healthy size, consider these:

Zuke’s Mini Naturals

• Available in chicken, salmon and peanut butter flavor
• 2 calories per treat

Grizzly Nu-Treats for Dogs

• No strong fishy smell
• Simple ingredients, so a good bet for dogs with food sensitivities
• Grain-free

I’d let you try some of mine but I am all out at the moment--again.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Race Ya! Playing for Play’s Sake

Pip and Bacchus love to stampede up and around the hill in our back fenced area. Pip is always in the lead, Bacchus is always in hot pursuit. Watching them play this favorite game reminds me how dogs--how we all--adapt our behavior in order to play.

Pip is fast--blisteringly fast. She can outrun Bacchus any day, any way. But she doesn’t. She knows that if she gets too far ahead, he’ll give up, and she doesn’t want him to give up. She loves to be play/chased. If you watch the video here, you can see how she slows down a bit as they reach the top of the climb. She slows because he has slowed. If he looks like he might quit, she slows even more. When she is close, he kicks it back into high gear, giving his best effort to try and catch up.

We all make such choices in play. When we are in connection with our play partner rather than in competition, we adapt our skills so we can all play together. If a child “tackles” you, you might fall over dramatically which will probably cause serious giggling from both of you.

If you’re teaching a friend to play a sport you know, such as tennis, you don’t blast your forehand at him. Instead, you lob one in his direction, trying to make it easy for him to hit it back.

This sort of behavior--termed: self-handicapping--is common in all social animal play. When you and your dog wrestle, he may sound fierce while being gentle and you may be dramatic while making sure you do not hurt your friend.

So it goes, as it has from the beginning of social bonding until today. My suggestion? Watch animals play and notice all the ways their choices promote shared fun. It’s really pretty amazing.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Warning: Big Shed Ahead

As the days lengthen and warm, the fur starts to fly. And like the spring melt, what starts off as a trickle quickly becomes a deluge. Some dogs shed a little, dogs with thick, double coats--any Nordic, Spitz or Herding breed/mix--shed in epic amounts. Here are some good ideas for this old problem:

Brushing

The Furminator
If you don't have one, get one. I was skeptical initially because how much better could it really be? Turns out, a lot better. Not only does it take the undercoat out in fistfuls, but Benny, our cat, even likes it. Now that’s a testimonial!

The ShedAway
New to the pet home arsenal is Bissell's ShedAway vacuum attachment. I looked at this quizzically-- what would the dogs think? They didn’t mind a bit. At first, we kept things short and sweet, selling them on this fabulous new idea with warm words and a few treats. Big advantage? You can do it indoors without creating a mess.

Boosting

Diet can affect shedding. Nothing stops shedding, but when I improved my dogs’ diets years ago, my Shepherds went from shedding 24/7/365 to dropping coat for a few weeks twice a year. Big improvement. I would probably begin with a good Fatty Acid Supplement. Not sure? Speak to your veterinarian.

Bathing

Bathing loosens undercoat, which also means it comes out in bigger amounts in shorter time – so brace yourself. While some people send their dogs off to the groomer, others of you will want to do it at home. If you do, massage in the shampoo well then rinse, rinse, rinse. And after they dry, be prepared to brush (or vacuum!)

A product worth considering is the HydroSurge RapidBath System. Used with their shampoo cartridges, this tool makes short work of bathing thick-coated dogs who can be hard to wet down and even harder to rinse well.

When you have the right equipment and the right attitude, shedding becomes less of a hassle for all concerned, but, if I don’t answer the phone when you call in the next few weeks, I am probably vacuuming. Again.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

To Gollum

Gollum: verb
To obsessively and compulsively covet without the ability to enjoy that which you covet.
Derived from: Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings

Pip gollums toys in her crate. Every week or so, whenever I notice that her private stash in the back of her plastic kennel has grown so large that she is forced to sleep pressed up against the gate, I get down on my hands and knees to unload her wares. Here is a list of her most recent collection:

3 stainless steel bowls
3 Kongs
1 Kong-like toy
1 Twist and Treat
1 Everlasting Fun Ball
1 Bad Cuz toy (dehorned)
1 fleece off a small Wubba Toy
1 hard Nylabone (only sort we use)
1 marrow bone
1 Everlasting Fire Plug (with a thin ring of treat still left)

Note that food (something Pip enjoys at all times, in all forms, in any amount) remains in the fire plug. That proves golluming. If this was out in the livingroom, she would make short work of any deliciousness available, but once it is in her hide away, she cannot. All she can then do is watch over it, lie in front of it, ward it from imagined dangers.

Note also how many toys can be AWOL without us noticing, which means we have a lot of dog paraphernalia around. It’s an occupational hazard. So golluming is not a response to scarcity, nor is it because there is household tension over stuff. Around here there is always something for a dog to play with. My other dogs could care less about who has what. Only Pip cares. And she cares all the time. If I allowed it, it would take up her entire day.

And that’s the thing about golluming anything: it’s an inside job. The succinct definition is, anytime the item owns the owner you have golluming. Pip gollums.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Happy Valentine’s Day

On this holiday honoring the love we are all lucky enough to have in this life, we honor the love we share with our animals. Here are a few of the ways mine add to my life:

Purring
What is it about a cat’s purr that can calm the human heart? Ben’s loud purr has lost nothing with age. He can be heard purring happily to himself as he strolls by. But his purr is never more perfect than when it is delivered on my lap, where I can both hear and feel his delight. Thank you, Ben, for reminding me of the perfection possible in restful communion.

Play
Sometimes my life seems to be more about rushing than much else. As a friend once said: If you wait to get everything in your life done before you have fun, you’ll never have any fun. Wise words, but words I can forget. Pip does not allow for forgetting. She can make a toy out of anything. Thank you, my sweet, for impishly flipping a sock at me this morning, “forcing” me into a laughter-filled game of fetch.

Perspective
PJ is her own dog, always has been, always will be. While other dogs trust people without question, PJ chooses to trust me. It is a gift, like a chickadee eating from your hand. She also gives me a glimpse back in time to when our two species stood across from each other and thought, “Maybe…”

Positivity
If ever the world invented an optimist it is Bacchus. He’s a German Shepherd Dog with a retriever’s world view. His tee-shirt would read: Wanna be friends? Everything is a good idea: A walk? Great! A swim? Let’s! A couch cuddle? Fabulous idea! On days when I am dwelling on the roads not taken in my life, time spent with him is curative.

Forget being the person my dogs think I am, I’d like to be the person my animals are. Happy Valentine’s Day to my motley crew and to yours; our lives would be less without you.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Beyond Patience

“I could never have that much patience” commented the woman watching me work a lovely young Poodle at a local store.

“Not really,” I replied with a smile, “We’re just having fun.” Then I thought for a moment: “Patience” is really the difference between our expectations and the dog’s current understanding. When those two things are aligned, there is no “patience” involved. It’s just learning and having the pleasure of helping another being figure something out. It feels alive and connected, not “patient” at all.

Not that patience is a bad thing, certainly not, we all need it at times. But when you are in the moment with an animal you’re working with, “patience” isn’t even present, you’re someplace beyond it.

It is the same whenever we are involved with what we love. If you’re a musician, artist, writer or athlete lost in the love of your craft or sport, you aren’t “patient,” you are simply doing and being at the same moment. Being lost in the process feels so profoundly good, so deeply nourishing that you are not outside of it, judging it or tapping your toes for it to hurry up. You’re just in it and happy to be there.

To help you get there, here is my recipe:

1. Accept that your dog is doing exactly what he understands to do. Which means, if he’s doing something different than you expect, try thinking, “He is confused”.

2. Accept that your dog is trying his hardest, and if he isn’t doing things the way you’d like them done, think “I need to help him,” not that he is stubborn or defiant.

3. Ask yourself, “How can I help him understand what I want?” And then make things easier until you find out where he is confused. Reward his best choices and you will get better ones in the future.

Do those three things and I bet you’ll be “beyond patience” in no time!

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Night Walk

This time of year, it gets dark early, so winter walks are often sunless walks. Tonight was no exception. Out the door my friend Melissa and I went, she with her Australian Shepherd female, Petra, and me with Pip and Bacchus. Once we turned toward the road where off leash romps happen, their pace quickened. They know what is coming!

At 18 degrees Fahrenheit, we gear up for these treks. First into our pockets is a fully charged cell phone that we know gets good reception in our neck of these woods. When weather is cold, do not play! While injury is unlikely, it is the unlikely that can get you into trouble.

Next into the pockets are some air activated eight-hour hand warmers. More caution against the unexpected. These pack a lot of heat in a few ounces and are standard glove compartment clutter for us here in the Northeast.

On goes my headlamp, which allows both hands to be free and has little risk of suddenly falling off without me noticing. The only caveat: Keep your head slightly tilted away when you chat with friends lest you blind them with the glare. If it was slippery out, we’d get on our ice cleats but this night, it was dry.

The dogs get either a belled or lighted collar. If you like a silent walk, go for the glowing ones. Watching your dog move through the woods, following his soft glow, is magical. If you have a coated dog (whose ruff would cover the collar) you can use a clip on light or a bell.

I happen to love the soft ring of the bell as Pip trots about her business. Listening to it go still as she pauses, then bounce against her chest as she runs, or chink along rhythmically to her business-like trot. I feel both connected and intrigued listening to her making her way through the cold night woodland.

And so, well-outfitted, we took a ninety-minute stroll down to the local sandpit mostly by light of the half moon. The dogs, all well versed in off lead walking, stayed close – playing with each other, exploring their world, checking in with us as we chatted about the day or the moment.

In the deep quiet of winter woods at night, it felt as if we were alone in the world but, being prepared, we knew we were not. Enjoy being out with your dogs, but this time of year, enjoy it safely.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Smart Gifts for Smart Pets

About 65% of us dog and cat lovers will buy presents for our four-footed friends (and come on you other 35%, join the rest of us!) The question always is what to get? This year, how about wrapping a few things that will amuse your pet (and consequently you)? Here are a few fun options:

How about a puzzle game?

For squeaky loving dogs who are new to puzzle toys, consider the Hide A Squirrel Plush Puzzle Toy For Dogs (wisely, this company offers replacement squirrels as at least around our house it can be a race to see what goes first – the squeaker or the stuffing.) If your dog is ready for something more complicated (and therefore demanding) consider investing in Nina Ottosson's Puzzle Toys for Dogs - The Brick. These toys are for supervised play, not for home alone entertainment.

If you’d like a fun toy you can leave with your dog, consider either the JW Pet Amaze-a-Ball or the Everlasting Fun Ball both of which are easy to fill with goodies, quiet when used and seem to last forever, even when terrier tested, as they are here.

For playful cats, a hand-held Miracle Beam Laser Pet Toy is always a huge hit. You can exercise your cat and your laughing muscles at the same time. I do not recommend this for dogs because this is a hobby that can all too easily become an intrusive canine obsession. And, of course, don’t shine it in anyone’s eyes.

For catnip-loving felines, try the Kong Cats with Attitude Squirrel Toy. This toy sports a pouch for catnip so it can be refilled at will.

And what cat doesn’t like to get up high to look down on all us mere mortals? An elaborate and well-priced set up is the Cat Tree Condo which appears sturdy and fun (if you’re a cat). Place it by a sunlit window, sprinkle with a bit of catnip and expect full use quickly.

Smart cats need to be entertained and either find ways to do it themselves (our orange tabby, Lucy, used to reach a paw under the bedroom door and shake the whole thing hard at 3 AM then be gone like a ghost when we opened it) or we can provide them healthy outlets.

And anyway since nothing is quite as good for a human heart as a pet at play, these are really gifts we give to ourselves as well.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out now.

Common Quagmires of the Cookie Rookie

Quagmire #1: Where’s the Treat?

The Problem: You say “Sit” but no treat, no sit.

Your dog is being stubborn! Defiant! Sassy!
Nope. Your dog is just trained. Chances are you taught him sit with a treat clearly visible so he thinks, “Treat means time to sit!”

Think of it this way: You play football. On the football field, in your gear, you know what “hike” means. But if someone walks up to you in the kitchen and says “hike” you might be confused. For you, football playing behavior is cued more by the field and the gear than the word.  Your dog is exactly the same.

This “proves” your dog will only work for treats!
Not at all. This proves you need some way to cause your dog to sit that doesn’t involve a visible treat. One way is placement where gentle touch causes the sit. Another method, the Simple Sit, uses slight upward pressure on the collar. These are “pretrained” meaning you teach them separately until your dog understands and then you can use them to help your dog respond to the word, rather than the treat. Both the placement and the Simple Sit are explained in more detail My Smart Puppy.

Why not just wait for him to want to do it?
Because then you have a dog who does things when he wants to and that won’t keep him safe. Safety is critical for me. If my dogs are running toward danger and I call out “Come!” I want them to come right away, as fast as possible, not in a minute and not when they feel like it. 

This Common Quagmire is easily avoided/changed once you understand how to help your dog move from responding to a treat to responding to the word. Give it a try!

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out now.

What Treat Is That?

People watching me train frequently ask, ”What treat are you using”?

Want to know the secret? There is no secret. I just use what works at that moment for that dog.

That’s it.

There is absolutely nothing magical about the treats. I give everything from dry dog food to plain broiled meat, but if you’re curious about some of the prepackaged treats I like and why, here are a few:

Simon & Huey's Kickin' Chicken
These little nuggets have a delightfully short and recognizable ingredient list. A nice sized training treat for most dogs.

Jones Natural Chews All Natural Lamb Lung Puffs
Oh, many dogs adore this! Break into small pieces for training. A good choice for dogs on a limited diet.

Liver Biscotti Original Flavor
Small treats that dog’s love. Like Simon and Huey products, one bag of these contains hundreds of treats--what a deal!

If you have a picky dog but are not too picky yourself, two completely stinky but apparently dog irresistible options are Dr. Harvey's Power Patties Dog Treats (tripe) and Alaskan Bear Treats Wild-Alaskan Salmon Dog-Treat Nuggets. Don’t complain to me when you open the bag, you’ve been warned.

Here are two treat tips to keep in mind:

Keep Things Simple
If your dog likes his dry dog food, then use that. He doesn’t know the difference and he’s just as happy! Measure out his food for the day; then use a handful from that as treats. That way he can have his yummy without risk of excess tummy.

Keep Things Small
A few weeks back, I watched an obviously devoted man give his obviously obese Border Collie one huge whole big dog cookie after another for good behavior! Eek! Stop! For that size dog, a “treat” is about the size of a dime, or smaller! For a toy breed dog, it might be the size of pencil eraser or smaller.

Now that you are armed with excellent quality treats, look for my next blog: Common Quagmires of the Cookie Rookie (or Tricks of Training with Treats).

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out October 28th!

Why Train?

Today, Pip rode with me over to a friend's property where our horses, Nick and Stoney, are happily grazing until the weather turns colder.  Once she and I had rattled up the long gravel driveway and I had parked at the very top, where the view over the distant hills is particularly nice, we hopped on out. Calling “hello,” we walked into the house. Pip went ahead and, in moments, I could hear my friend speaking warmly to her. They were in the basement where both the cat box and the enormous bowl of cat kibble resided, but a calm “Pip, leave it, come,” averted a near certain digestive disaster and brought her back to me at Pip speed: Mach 2.

Greetings over, I grabbed the halters and headed to the field. Pip raced before me, running figure eights in the tall, wet grass. A quiet “Wait,” halted her - mouth open, eyes bright - while I turned off the electric fence charger. “Okay,” released her to more exploration. As we walked to the horses, she came up a little fast. “Pip, back,” turned her away. She stood patiently while I "dressed" the boys.

And so it went. “Come,” called her away from shards of broken glass in the kitchen; “Leave it,” stopped her from raiding a tomato vine; “Down,” settled her at my feet as we humans enjoyed our breakfast.

And that is why training is worth it. It allows me to include Pip in what I do. And my friend? I’m pretty sure she would send me right back home if I dared to arrive without my tri-colored sprite.

Incorporating self-control games into your daily life adds only a few seconds to each interaction, but adds immeasurably to your dog's understanding. Increasing your dog’s safety in seconds? What a great deal. Once you start seeing how much fun your dog can have, training will become something you do with, not to, your dog.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

The Dark Room

Bracken became seriously ill just after writing that last blog. What Brian and I thought was an age-related limp and then maybe an injury turned out to be rapidly growing cancer with an excruciating autoimmune component.

Through large amounts steroids and pain medication, she worsened. Then, when her pain moved beyond both control and hope, I did what no one wants to do, I kept her loving company as my veterinarian helped her gently leave this world. Knowing it is the right thing and being grateful I could spare her what was to come, doesn’t make the loss of my companion any easier.

You know when the power goes out in your house? You were there when the lights went out and you are fully aware that there is no power but you still flip the switch when you enter a dark room?

That’s where I am.

I pull out five food bowls instead of four, I look toward her bed as I climb into my own, I start to speak her name as I head out for a walk--until I catch myself. It’s that daily jarring of hard reality against more than a decade of tender habit that defines these first few days.

Having walked this road before, I know what to expect. I know I won’t be able to concentrate, that my usually creative mind will paddle in lazy circles, that deadlines will have none of their usual power to focus or motivate me until grief has run its course.

As I move through my day I find myself waiting for Bracken. Expecting her to be there - ball in her mouth, tail in the air. And the tears come again because I will have entered the dark room and flipped the switch, expecting her light to come on - even though I was there when it went out, even though intellectually, I know better. Intellect has nothing to do with this.

Bracken, my fine dog, I thank you, I miss you. Go in peace.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Mornings Are The Best

Quiet mornings are the best, the ones where no schedule pops into my brain upon waking, where I can loll in bed remembering my sleeping dreams and planning my waking ones.

They are made more delicious by our dogs. Before I open my eyes, I feel a nose rest on the bed. So polite, this has to be Bracken, my nearly eleven-year-old German Shepherd. I reach a lazy hand out. The skull, becoming bonier with age, the long, slightly arched nose, the short coat on her head that runs to plush on her neck--yup, that’s my girl.

If I drop my hand a few inches, I’ll find Pip’s broad who-knows-what-breed-exactly skull, muscular from design and from youth, her small, tipped ears, her sleek coat. She presses into my touch, greeting me back.

They guarantee that the first thing I do on such days is smile. And I keep smiling as I pad around the room, trying not to wake my husband. Inevitably Pip gives big long stretch with a wide-mouthed, tongue-curling, shockingly loud yawn while Bracken walks behind me, nudging her nose lightly into my hand, urging me to stop and stroke her. When I do (and I almost always do) her ears go back, her eyes narrow and her tail waves in blissful delight.

Once dressed, I head for the door, past PJ, our shaggy terrier mix, who is always curled into a tight ball often with one paw over her eyes.  The very tip of her tail wags as I whisper her good morning – she is a late riser. She’ll be out when she’s ready.

Wyatt, another of our Shepherd, lies next to Brian’s side of the bed. He greets me with a single tight tail thump, which I know means “Good Morning, I’d like to stay right here if that’s okay with you.” And it is. I’ll know Brian is coming out for his first cup of coffee when Wyatt appears at the arm of my chair, singing his true morning greetings. (He’s a “talker”.)

Such are some of the joys of dogs. Those millions of shared moments where their joy in our company and our joy in theirs adds to our lives in ways no one and nothing else does or even can.

What are some of your favorite morning moments?

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Multi-dog Question: Brats on the Run!

"Am very interested to also learn how to stop my Chihuahuas from RUNNING up/down the stairs. I have tried to walk up the stairs first, blocking them on every third step or so. Sometimes it works, other times, the three little brats run past me. And believe it or not, these brats do not respond to treats."

It’s great that you are asking for new ideas when what you are doing isn’t getting you the results you want. Having lived with three or more dogs at a time for the last twenty years so I know the situation well. Try this:

One by One
Put two pups away safely and work one at a time. When each understands what you want, then work two at a time in all combinations. When that is working well, go for all three. It’s hard to teach new things to multiple dogs, so stack the deck for success and give each one special time with you.

Find a Treat They Like
Are you free feeding? If so, I’d stop that (unless this goes against your veterinarian’s advice) and go to meals. Giving measured amounts and saving a bit for training treats generally works well. If they need an extra incentive, tiny bits of plain chicken or pork (half the size of an average pencil eraser for your little ones) should get your Chihuahuas’ attention.

Go Slow
Leave a lead on your dog, tell her to wait and block her, go up one step and right back down – smile, praise, give a treat. Repeat. If she follows you, bring her back down calmly and try again.  As things progress, either return and treat or go up a few steps and call her up (no treats and minimal praise for that one, release is the reward.) Play the same game in hallways and doorways around the house.

Dogs frequently race forward because we forget to reward them for staying. Make staying special by rewarding them for it and you’ll soon have three tiny statues waiting patiently for your return or for your permission to come on up! And then you’ll have created fabulous “brats” (Brilliant, Responsive, Attentive, Toy-breed Smarties).

If you have any questions, come ask at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free).

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.