While I haven’t seen as much of it lately, I do still see dogs chained in yards. It is a worrisome sight. Even a dog that will wag its tail, approach people with loose body muscles, and lower its head for head scratches in other situations can…and more than likely will become reactive to stimulus in its environment when constrained on a tether, alone outside. For a reactive dog that already barks, growls, or lunges at stimulus in other circumstances, it is likely to exhibit those behavior at even heightened levels. Here are some of the dangers of chaining your dog. [Read more…] about Dangers Of Chaining Your Dog
dog bite prevention
Parents, Please Teach Kids, Do Not Hug Your Family Dog
Often kids mean well with their interactions with your dog (or other dogs) but they can do things – like hugging – that can cause dogs to feel uncomfortable. A lesson for parents of a kids and a dog: please teach your children this important relationship building lesson – DO NOT HUG YOUR FAMILY DOG. It is not only about dog bite prevention, but also about helping to strengthen your dog’s relationship with your children in the long term. [Read more…] about Parents, Please Teach Kids, Do Not Hug Your Family Dog
Dog Stress Around Kids: Proximity Matters
Dog Bite Prevention Myth About Dogs And Kids: A child has to be directly interacting with a dog before a potential problem can occur. This past fall/early winter, I completed a 13-week program to be certified as a Family Paws parent educator. This topic was a discussion point in one of our group calls. [Read more…] about Dog Stress Around Kids: Proximity Matters
How To Greet An Unknown Dog
There has been a lot published about the subject of how to greet an unknown dog. Many written with kids and dogs in mind, and dog bite prevention. Ask permission from the handler. Ask permission from the dog. Allow the dog to approach you. Stand sideways, present your fist or palm, and let the dog sniff you first. These are all generally good tips. I wanted to delve into this further to share more information. [Read more…] about How To Greet An Unknown Dog
Tight Spaces Can Cause Dogs To Growl
Tight spaces can cause dogs to growl. Just ask Ginger. The other night she was resting in the darkened, narrow hallway just outside her human mom’s closed bedroom door. During the day when she is resting in the open, first floor living space and her young human brother approaches, her body language clearly shows she wants his attention but not on this occasion. When her brother approached, she growled and air snapped at him when he came closer. [Read more…] about Tight Spaces Can Cause Dogs To Growl
How I Kept My Dog Safe From Off Leash Dogs
When you have a little dog that takes anti-anxiety medication and has a fear of many large dogs, you tend to be careful about where and how you walk him. At least I am. Last week we had a very scary incident that could have led to dog aggression just as we were finishing a relaxing, leisurely walk along a beautiful, rolling residential street. We were maybe 500 feet or so from my car when we passed a home with two large dogs behind the fence in their yard. I was feeling really good as I looked down to see Dawson having a relaxed body, no tension on the leash, as we moved toward my car. Suddenly, those two dogs were upon us. They had jumped their fence. This story could very well have ended much, much worse than it did had I responded differently. I want to share this with you in hopes that it may be helpful to you, if, on a walk, you encounter large, off-leash dogs whose arousal is raising as they are laser focused on your reacting dog. [Read more…] about How I Kept My Dog Safe From Off Leash Dogs