Family, Fun & Festivities with the Furries

Family, Fun, & Festivities with the Furries

The holiday season is upon us, and your furry friend is feeling a bit anxious. As much as you are distracted by visiting guests or family, and the stress of holiday shopping, your pet will need a little more supervision and attention. Not what you wanted to hear? Here are a few tips to keep your canine anxieties at bay, and help to ensure a happy healthy pet during the season.

1. Your tree and decor. Remember it is natural for your dog to want to chew. Be careful and mindful of what holiday ornaments you use on your tree. Lights, breakable ornaments, a tree holder with a fresh oasis of water each day, candles, and poisonous plants can attract your pups. Keep a watchful eye, and place these items high and out of reach for your canine friend.

2. Training. Unwanted behaviors like barking, jumping, and stealing food are common and natural for dogs. Training is essential to keep these behaviors at an acceptable level or rid them completely. New guests in the house tend to not enforce your same rules, and will not apply discipline. Keep training fresh in your dog's mind by using each arrival of guests as a training opportunity. A trained well balanced pet is a happy pet.

3 . Avoid temptation. Let's be honest, you have a food motivated dog. If you leave the food on the counter, with no supervision, the temptation is clear. Avoid putting your dog in the position of choice. Yes, on a normal occasion, they know better, but in an anxious state, all is fair game. Block off areas of the house that may increase your pet's temptation. Crate, or baby gate your pet during times he can not be supervised. Keep guests from giving table scraps, it may even be better to remove your pet from the area all together to keep the rules in check.

4. Exercise. Snowing? Ice? Too much to do? No excuse, your pet does not understand. The winter season is the prime time for stressed under exercised pets. You wonder why they are destroying the garbage, marking the house, tearing down the ornaments or the tree. Boredom and excitability. It is essential to keep your pet well exercised and tired during this time, mentally and physically. Use mental puzzles and games to keep them occupied and entertained during festivities, but don't forget they need their walk before you shop!

5. Accept me, accept my dog. Let's not go by this motto, this season. Some of your guests are not use to the 3 German Shepherds on your lap. It can be overwhelming for a dog to get use to all the guests in their home. Avoid forcing them to do so, and avoid forcing guests to accept them. That can lead to an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Watch for visible signs of stress, heavy panting, licking of lips, yawning, or hiding. Give your pet a safe spot away from the commotion. I know you want everyone to love your pet, but love him first.

Remember to keep your emergency vet's number handy in case of unexpected events.
Following these tips will help to keep your season bright and manageable, at least with your dog, I can't guarantee the family! Holidays are meant to be a time of family and festivities, but don't forget to keep your pet's mental health in mind, it will make everything easier along the way.
DJF

Please enjoy the link to our holiday card:

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Back in the Pack

Too Fat Fido

Obesity in dogs is sadly a steadily rising health risk amongst our family pets. Studies have shown over the past 20 years obesity’s ever gaining hold on America to the point of the Presidential attention. So if we as can’t control our own diet and exercise, how can anyone expect our dogs not to suffer. Affection and attention has been replaced with treats, table scraps, and an increase in meals. A romp in the back yard is considered adequate exercise. It’s just not enough. We feed our pets too much for the amount of exercise we give them. Dogs that are overweight may experience difficulty breathing or walking or they may be unable to tolerate heat or exercise. Obesity is an important health issue because it may contribute to shorter lifespan and increased risk of arthritis, cancer, diabetes and a need for surgery.

What to Look For:

Overweight dogs have heavy fat deposits over the rib cage and no prominent “tuck-up” or waist line. In normal dogs there is a thin layer of fat. You can feel the ribs easily, although you won't see them. If your dog is overweight, you will not be able to readily feel the ribs, and the tissue over the ribs may feel smooth and wavy.

Common Causes of Obesity:

Too Much Food/Low -Calorie Diet. There are many inexpensive brands that include poor ingredients in order to lower production cost. They also deliver less nutrition, therefore your dog will consume more to receive the nutrients he needs.

Spayed/Neutered. Your pets metabolism usually drops once he has been altered. Owners continue to feed the same diet as before they were altered, therefore overfeeding.

Lack of Exercise. If the dog consumes more calories than it can burn then the result is weight gain. Conversely if you increase the exercise, with the same intake of calories the dog will lose weight, burn more calories.

Medical Conditions. Your pet may have a health condition that results in weight gain, such as diabetes, an abnormality of the pituitary gland, or hypothyroidism. Consult your veterinarian to determine if a medical condition is the cause for your dog’s weight increase.

Stress. Some dogs will pace or pant when anxious or bored. Some drink extra water some eat. If your dog is leaving his food for later, than he is probably receiving too much. Dogs tend to self regulate when possible. Considering removing the excess to avoid them coming back to eat and scavenging.

What to Do?

Take your pet to the vet to determine if your dog is obese. Lower you pet’s food intake. And get them on a normal exercise regimen or increased activity. Try swimming with your dog, or a water treadmill. If you pet is asking for more food, try adding green beans, carrots, or another low-calorie vegetable to the meal to fill them. Watch the calorie content of the kibble your pet eats. Keep Fido away from the table at meal times, and away from snacking children. Remember dogs are scavengers, an empty bowl is an opportunity to look for food, don’t mistake that for a starving dog.

Obesity is not an overnight occurrence, so it will not go away overnight. There is a lot one can do to prevent obesity in your pet. Monitoring the caloric intake, investing in a premium dog food, and regular exercise and physical activity. Stay away from fatty and high sugar treats, and table scraps, and DON'T GIVE IN TO THOSE PUPPY EYES!

Aggression in your Dog?

Aggression is probably the most common behavioral problem reported to me in dogs. It can be quite terrifying to most people to see their beloved pet turn into an out-of-control “mad dog”. There are many types of aggression (dominance-related, fear-related, territorial aggression, maternal aggression, etc.) and the most important thing is figuring out the root cause. Whether people or intraspecies aggression (dog-on-dog), there are steps to manage and control this in order to create a well-balanced dog.

Lets remember aggression is not breed specific. This week I have scheduled at least 6 appointments with "aggression" cases from a variety of breeds ranging from Yorkies to GSD's. I have spoken to many about Pit Bulls and GSDs since I own both. Many have told me they have heard power breeds like these can turn on you at any moment or once they have reached a certain age. This simply is not true. There is always a trigger, whether it be environmental, physical or neurological. Many factors can come into play when dealing with "aggressive behavior." Responsible owners must become fully aware of their dog's normal behaviors so they can sense a change in them. Resolving these behaviors early can save owners stress, time, and money. We can all develop a trusting relationship with our dogs.

Calm socializing can lead to healthy play!

3 of the dogs in this video were once under socialized, 1 of the dogs in the video is deaf, and 1 is perfectly normal and well socialized. Can you pick them out? Socializing at an early age can lead to a well-balanced healthy and friendly dog. When under-socialized the excitement levels can rise very fast resulting in aggression, fear, anxiety and a array of other problem behaviors. Being able to regulate play in an over-excited dogs is also very important to establishing a leader-follower relationship with your pet. Socializing an adult dog or correcting problem behaviors such as dog aggression or excitement can be a long and stressful road for an owner. Many pups will go without it. Can you imagine yourself forced to be alone?

DJF

Boot Camp/Boarding with Bitp

Spring break boarding and pet sitting is here. Please let us know if we can assist you during you you time away. Your dogs will feel at home, and treated just as if you were home with them. If training is needed while you are away, lets us know and at an additional charge we can work Basic Manners or behavior training while you are away!!!

Fenix is ready for her new home!

We have been working with this young lady for about 3 weeks now. She has gradually come out of her shell each week, getting more and more use to strangers. The job is not yet complete, but she has made such an improvement that she has met with a few potential adopters. If you are interested in this little lady please let us know! She is a special needs girl. She partially deaf, so her hearing is limited to loud noises and high pitches. But she has adapted very well. She is great with other dogs, in fact another dog helps her a great deal to learn her role in the family. She is extremely affectionate, and a wonderful companion dog.

Pup in Crisis!!

Today was a good day.

We were able to save a pup from euthanasia.

It was a stressful and tiresome road to get here, but we made it and she is safe and sound, and on the mend. This little gal's story started a month ago when her owner gave her up to a rescue. No time, too much work, the typical reasons. She has a fear of strangers and an obsession for light-chasing. (Side note: Please don't use laser lights on your animals.) Trust is huge within the canine world, you must trust your dogs and they must trust you to protect them, to provide for them, to give them rules. Unfortunately the foster she was with didn't quite work out. She needs a person with patience and time to help her overcome her OCD and socialize her with humans to overcome fear and anxiety. Her road led her back to a vet's office after she allegedly snapped at her foster. To make a long story short, the vet deemed her a dangerous dog, unfit for human contact and she was scheduled for euthanasia. I knew this girl had more love to give, so I fought to have her saved, and by the grace of God, we won! Here is a pic of the little lady on her way to our place, her new home with her newly adoptive family.

Winter Crazies!!

This is the "Cabin Fever" time of year for most of our pups. "It's too cold", you say..."Too much ice or snow, no place to walk them", "My dogs hate the snow, and won't go outside!" Believe me I've heard it all, but the dogs don't care for them, I promise.

Each time you leave the house they wish they were going with you, and that anxiety builds and builds, until finally your shoes are eaten, they've torn the pillows on the couch, ransacked the garbage, ate your houseplants, soiled the carpets, and start taking out their frustration on each other. Even longtime canine siblings seem to be having problems with each other and you have to separate them. The excuses just don't matter to the dogs.

FYI folks. Whatever you do in the Spring and Summer do in the Fall and Winter, it's a year-round commitment. Consistency is key!! Check out some of the activities you can do in the winter with your pup. Stay tuned for more tips and pics!