BlogForPups

Is your dog always anxious or high-strung?  Chances are, you are, too.  When dogs misbehave, many dog owners can get easily frustrated and show tense behavior (clenched teeth or fists, speaking loudly or yelling, quicker and shallow breathing).  Believe it or not these types of body language translate into anxiety, and excitement can also be a very contagious emotion in dogs.  Anxious or excited pups can  show fearful or aggressive behavior.  The good news is, calm energy is also contagious, and learning how to stay relaxed can highly influence the training and managing of your dog’s emotional state.

When your dog is feeling anxious or excited, the first step is for you to  take a look at your own emotional condition.  If you feel excited, tense, angry, or frustrated, try to calm yourself down.  Things you can do:

• Breathe slowly.
• Loosen up your muscles (relax your posture, stretch your arms, legs, and neck).
• Speak quietly and in a low voice when addressing your dog.
• Yawning can also signal to your dog that you are calm or even bored.
• When your dog has gone from an excited state to a calm state, show affection to reinforce this.

Barking:

Dogs bark.  It’s what they do.  But most barking are caused by excitement.  Your dog may be alerting you to a potential danger, or is barking to attempt to drive it away.  Dogs can bark out of fear because they are insecure.  You, the master, need to show them you are calm, that there is no danger, and that being quiet will get them rewards.  Here is a good article on the “Quiet” Command to get your dog to stop barking.

Jumping:

Does your dog get super excited when you walk in the door?  Does he or she constantly jump on you when they want something?  Jumping is considered aggressive behavior and should not be tolerated.  Chances are, every time your dog has jumped on you, you have responded in some way (talking, petting them or giving them treats).  This only reinforces the behavior.  To stop your dog from jumping on people, you need to ignore the behavior.  Do not talk, do not touch, do not make eye contact.  This is especially important when you first come home after a long day at work.  It’s very hard not to get excited when you are so happy to see your dog, and they are absolutely jumping for joy that you are home, but, you need to stay calm!  I guarantee after just a few days of doing this, your dog will stop jumping on you.  Stay calm and ignore the behavior, and your dog will eventually realize that jumping does not result in any response from you.

Pacing, Shallow Breathing, Salivating, Pulling on the Leash:

These are obvious signs your dog is feeling nervous, anxious, or excited.  These types of behavior can sometimes lead to aggression, so paying attention to them can nip potentially dangerous situations in the bud.  If your dog has bitten someone before, chances are they did one or all these things before it escalated to that event.  You, as the master, must not forget at all times that your dog is an animal and you need to pay attention to his body language.  Immediate correction of the behavior by being calm and leading your dog away from a tense situation is the best way to get your dog in a relaxed state.  Ask them to come to you, to sit and/or lay down, and give them as long as they need to relax.  You may need to get them to stop paying attention to whatever it was that was causing the excitement (A neighbor walking by? The garbage truck making noises outside? Another dog barking?) so they can focus on you and your calm energy.  Once they have stopped being excited, show affection.  This will tell your dog that being relaxed equals getting love and affection from his master.

There are countless situations where a dog and his owner can be anxious and excited.  Learning to pay attention to your and your dog’s body language can immediately get you to relax and stay calm.  As a dog owner, learn how to not show frustration by staying calm and being patient when training your dog.  Keeping your pup from being anxious or excited can prevent aggressive behavior and make your dog a happy, balanced dog.

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Did you know that February is the National Pet Dental Health Month?  The American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) say that an astounding 70% of cats and 80% of dogs show signs of oral disease by the age of three.

ASK YOUR VET IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY IF THEY ARE OFFERING DISCOUNTS FOR DENTAL CLEANING!

What you need to know about poor doggie dental health:

• Bacteria combined with saliva and food debris between the tooth and gum can cause tartar formulations that accumulate on the teeth.
• If tartar is not removed from the teeth, pockets of pus may appear along the gum line and further separate the teeth from the gum.
• Without proper treatment, this tartar buildup will cause periodontal disease, which affects the tissue and structure supporting teeth.
• The infection around the gums and teeth can lead to infections of the heart, lung, kidney, skin and prostate.

For more info on canine dental health, including tips on care, here’s a great resource:

The Importance of Dental Care For Pets

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Got these from another forwarded e-mail…enjoy!

The reason a dog has so many friends Is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous

There is no psychiatrist in the world Like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth That loves you more Than he loves himself. -Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person Than the average person. -Andy Rooney

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, Quite unlike people, Who are incapable of pure love and Always have to mix love & hate. -Anonymous

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like Never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones

If your dog is fat, You aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy Because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein

Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax And get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous He will not bite you. That is the principal difference Between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain

Dogs are not our whole life, But they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, Try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket And then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

Note: If you or someone you know created any of these photos, please e-mail admin@thingsforpups.com so we may properly credit the work. Thanks.

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Thanksgiving Week Sale

Enter TURKEY15 at checkout

(Coupon valid thru 11/30/08)

~PLUS~

FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50

FREE GIFT WRAPPING for the holidays!

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Got this from a forwarded e-mail:

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets,  be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space
This is their home, this is their place.

You will find dog hair on the floor,
They will alert when you’re at the door.
They may request a little pat,
A simple ‘no’ will settle that.

It gripes me when I hear you say
“just how is it you live this way?
“They smell, they shed, they’re in the way..”
WHO ASKED YOU? Is all I can say.

They love me more than anyone
My voice is like the rising sun
They merely have to hear me say
‘C’mon, it’s time to go and play’.

Then tails wag and faces grin,
They bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say ‘no time for you,’
They’re always thereto GO and DO.

And if I’m sad? They’re by my side;
And if I’m mad? They circle wide;
And if I laugh, they laugh with me;
They understand, they always see.

So once again I say to you,
Come visit me, but know this, too..

My dogs live here, they’re here to stay.
You don’t like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space;
This is their home, this is their place..

- Author Unknown

Note: If you or someone you know created this poem and/or photo, please e-mail admin@thingsforpups.com so we may properly credit the work. Thanks.

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