Great Indoor Games To Play With Your Dog

 There’s no reason to allow your dog to be completely bored on a snowy or rainy day. You can share a tug on a rope toy or wrestle a bit on the floor. But why not try a few games to challenge your dog?

 

HIDDEN TREASURE

 Here are a few games that will exercise your dog’s mind and body:

 Dogs have a terrific sense of smell. So why not make a game of it? Gather a bunch of small boxes or containers and arrange them upside down. Place a prize, such as a treat or a favorite treat, under one of the containers. Encourage your dog to sniff around the boxes to see whether he can indicate that one contains the hidden treasure. Congratulate him when he discovers the hidden treasure—or give him the treat. Add boxes and space them farther apart. He’ll get the idea.

 

HIDE AND SEEK

 This is the same game you played with your friends many years ago. Lead your dog into the kitchen and tell him to stay. This only works if you’ve trained him to obey the command, of course. Hide. Call your dog. This only works if you’ve trained your dog to come to you, of course. If you happen to have a baby monitor in the house, you might consider using it to your advantage when calling your dog.

 

OBSTACLE COURSE

 Use your imagination. Create an obstacle course for your dog using such items as an open-ended box to crawl through, a chair to crawl under, a series of hardcover books to jump over. You get the idea. Train your dog to follow the course.

 

PLAY DATE

 Asking a friend or neighbor to visit with their dog for a play date isn’t the same as actively playing with your dog. But you will be involved because you must supervise the play date. Don’t allow the dogs to become aggressive or fight over toys. Recognize when one dog wants to take a break.

 

-AKC.org

Puppy Senses: How Your Puppy Sees, Hears, Smells, and Tastes the World

  Puppies come stumbling into our lives full of exuberance, energy, and a wholehearted enthusiasm for life. It is natural that we wonder how they perceive the world, and if they see, hear, and smell differently than we do. We want to share their experiences. First, though, we need to understand how puppy senses work.

 

How Well Can Puppies See?

Humans rely heavily on sight, so of course we want to know if our dogs do, too. You may have heard the popularly held belief that dogs are color blind. This is not entirely true. Dogs’ eyes do not have as many cones responsible for color vision in their retinas as humans do, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Your puppy can see color, but we can safely conclude that he cannot see the same spectrum as we do.

Don’t worry, though. Your puppy is not missing out. Puppies might not see the same range of color as we do, but they certainly see better in the dark. Puppies have more rods in their eyes, which means that they see much better in dim light than we do. When it comes to detail, though, we still have the upper hand. Ever wonder why your puppy can’t always see the treat right in front of him, but can usually track a treat or toy you throw? This is because dogs are natural hunters. Their eyes have developed to detect movement, not fine details.

 

How Well Can Puppies Hear? 

Puppies are born deaf, and they can’t hear until they’re about three weeks old. Once their hearing kicks in, though, they hear four times better than most people, making your dog’s hearing much more reliable than yours. You’ve probably noticed that your puppy can hear things that you can’t. You’ve seen her cock her head to one side and look off in the distance, long before the object or person comes into sight.

Dogs’ ears have much deeper canals than ours, which creates a better funnel for sound to carry down to their eardrums. Dogs with upright ears, like German Shepherd Dogs, use their ears almost like radar antennas, thanks to the 18 muscles they have in their ears that allow them to control the ear’s position and essentially “turn up the volume” on their hearing.

 

 How Well Can Puppies Smell? 

Puppies might hear only four times better than humans, and their color vision might not be up to par, but when it comes to sense of smell, your puppy’s is far superior to yours. Your puppy’s sense of smell is approximately one million times more sensitive than yours. It is no wonder that we use dogs to sniff out explosives, drugs, and missing people, and this also explains why your puppy is able to smell where you hid the treats.

Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born, when their eyes are closed and their hearing has not developed. Your puppy even has a special organ on the roof of his mouth that allows him to “taste” certain smells. This is convenient, since dogs only have one-sixth of the taste buds that we do. So dogs use their sense of smell, rather than taste, to learn about their food.

 

Your puppy sees, hears, and smells the world differently than you do. This is part of what makes raising a puppy so exciting, and why humans have developed such a special relationship with our canine companions. Some breeds have more developed senses than others. Bloodhounds, for instance, have exceptionally powerful noses, while sight hounds like Greyhounds are better at spotting game. Learning as much as you can about your puppy’s senses is a great way to understand his needs and will help you become a more informed and responsible dog owner.

 

-AKC.org

Beggars Can’t Be Choosers: How to Stop Your Dog from Begging at the Table

 

When you sit down to eat dinner, does your dog try to get in on the action?  It’s hard to resist sharing your meal with your dog when he looks up at you with those eyes, but begging can quickly become a problem.  To help owners teach their dog to kick the bad habit, the AKC offers tips on how to stop begging at the table before it becomes a nuisance.

 

Be consistent.  Do not give in when your dog begs you.  You need to ignore the begging all the time, and make sure friends and family members do the same.  Consistency is key to changing your dog’s behavior.

Feed your dog before yourself.  You should feed your dog before you sit down to eat.  That way, you’ll have a dog who is not hungry and is more apt to settle down.

Teach basic skills.  Another way to manage your dog during meal times is to have taught basic skills such as a reliable down-stay.  This alternative behavior can be used to deter begging.

Reward good behavior.  Don’t forget to reward your pooch for a job well done.  If your dog has been well-behaved throughout the meal then take one of his favorite treats and put it in his dish. Your dog will learn this routine and might start to wait by his dish for a treat.

 

-AKC.org

AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer Erin Rakosky tells us how to get any dog interested in picking up and retrieving toys – a great game to play with your dog and also a good way to exercise your pet!

Playing fetch with your dog is a great way to burn off extra energy and bond with your pet.  Some dogs naturally pick up fetch while others may have no interest.  Some dogs like the act of chasing the ball but then, won’t bring it back.  This article will help you teach your dog how to play fetch.  We will also discuss how to help prevent your dog from chasing the ball but not returning.

For training fetch, the tools you will need are an appropriate amount of tasty treats a clicker or marker word, and plenty of fun toys.  For teaching fetch we are going to use what trainers call “shaping,” that is, allowing your dog to figure out how to perform a behavior with minimal help from you.

 

Shaping Fetch

First you want to initially pick a toy that your dog is willing to put in their mouth. Some dogs have preferences for plush toys while others like balls. After they learn the behavior, you will be able to ask them to retrieve anything you ask.

For the purpose of teaching, we will use the case in which your dog has no interest in playing with toys. For now, place the toy on the ground. Initially, you will be marking any sort of interaction with the toy. This may be your dog just looking at the toy. When I talk about marking, I am referring to using a clicker or marker word to mark the exact behavior you want and rewarding after with a treat. So, you will wait for your dog to look at the toy. As soon as they do, click and reward. Make sure to use a treat your dog will love.

Continue doing this until your dog is reliably looking at the toy for a reward. Once they have this down, it is time to hold out and ask them to do something else with the toy. This usually comes from the dog getting frustrated that their reward is not coming. Most dogs at this stage will nose the toy or touch the toy with their paw. When this occurs, mark it and reward. This is now what you require before they are rewarded.

Now I hold the toy in my hand and place it near their face. If they weren’t previously touching their nose to the toy, this is when you will require it. Wait until the dog sniffs the toy and then mark and reward.

For the next steps you are going to continue to grow from here. Again, once your dog is nose touching the toy hold out on the reward. Your dog will then get frustrated and try and mouth the toy. Immediately mark and reward this.

Once they are mouthing the toy, I will put it back on the ground in front of me. I will ask them to pick the toy up and then I will place my hand under the toy and mark and reward when they place it in my hand. From here you are ready to start increasing the distance that you place the toy from you. Remember to do this gradually and keep your requirements for getting the reward. Eventually, your dog will be willing to pick up anything you ask and place it in your hand for their reward.

Returning with the Toy

The main goal of this exercise is to show your dog that fun comes from playing with you with the toy – no matter what type of toy!

Get four to five toys that your dog enjoys playing with and set them in a circle.  Outside, in a fenced area is best for this. But if you don’t have access to an enclosed outside area, then a large space inside will work too.

Start playing with your dog with one of the toys. Act very excited, like this is the best game in the world.  When your dog is really into the play, you should take off running to the next toy.

If your dog follows you, start playing with the new toy with them, again remembering to be super excited.  If your dog stays playing with the first toy, then you should start playing with the new toy by yourself.  This is when it is really important to act like you are having the best time playing with this toy.

Eventually, your dog won’t be able to stand it and will come join in the fun.  Continue this exercise, running from toy to toy.   If you do this exercise a couple times a week, your dog will learn that you bring the fun and not the toy!

For more training tips and advice, subscribe to the AKC GoodDog! Helpline. Experienced trainers man a phone line seven days a week to help our clients with all their training and behavioral questions.

 

–AKC.org

Any dog lover will say that life just seems better with a dog. Dogs keep us company, entertain us, comfort us, protect us, and seem to make life fuller and more complete. Who else is as happy to see you when you come home or is willing to binge-watch TV with you on a Saturday night? We have anecdotal evidence of how dogs enrich our lives, and science backs up the evidence that owning a dog is good for us, psychologically and physically. Here are just a few of the ways dogs take care of their humans!

1. Dogs relieve stress. According to a study conducted more than 30 years ago, playing with a dog or even just petting a familiar dog lowers blood pressure and heart rate, slows breathing, and relaxes muscle tension almost immediately. That study is backed up by more recent ones that show a reduced level of stress hormones in blood chemistry, even in people who are candidates for blood pressure medication.

 

2. Dogs are good for your heart. Literally. The “American Journal of Cardiology” published research about a study of 369 heart attack patients one year after they were released from the hospital. One year later, pet owners had a much higher rate of survival than non-pet owners. The research concluded that the bond between humans and dogs reduces stress, which is a major cause of cardiovascular problems.

 

3. Dogs make us happy. In fact, even just looking at a dog can make you happier. A study found that just staring into your dog’s eyes raises your level of oxytocin. Other studies have shown that owning a dog can alleviate depression, and this is especially true for older adults. As social ties loosen and family members live farther apart from each other, seniors are at risk of becoming isolated and lonely, which is a cause of depression. Research studied people 60 years and older who didn’t live with a human companion, but had a pet. Their likelihood of being diagnosed with depression was one-quarter as likely as non-pet owners.

 

4. Dogs increase our social interactions with other people. Think about how often you stop to talk to other people when out with your dog, whether it’s neighbors on a walk or new friends you make at the dog park. A study concluded that people who have a strong attachment to a pet report that they feel more connected in their human relationships and their communities. The study also concluded that teenagers and young adults who grow up with a dog become more confident and empathetic.

 

5. Dogs keep you physically active. A Canadian study shows that dog owners are more likely to engage in moderate physical activity than non-dog owners. In fact, dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week, while non-dog owners walk an average of 168 minutes a week. Those walks around the block are good for you!

 

6. A dog’s sense of smell can keep you healthy. Dogs can be trained to detect prostate cancer, according to a recent study. They can also help you avoid foods you’re allergic to. Several places in the United States train dogs to sniff out the slightest trace of peanuts in the room. With so many children suffering from severe peanut allergies, this can be a godsend to their families. Dogs can also be trained to alert diabetics to a low blood sugar level.

 

7. Dogs make us want to take care of them. There must be a reason so many people become virtually addicted to dog videos, and why puppies are so irresistible. A dog’s facial features are known as social releasers and bring out an innate caregiver response in humans.

 

8. A dog can make you more attractive to potential love interests. Singles, listen up. A study conducted in the United Kingdom surveyed 700 people: 60 percent said that owning a dog can make a person seem more attractive, and 85 percent said that people seem more approachable when they’re with a dog.

The human-canine attachment is centuries old. Dogs depend on us to take care of them and form strong bonds with their humans. We thrive on their devotion to us. But in their own way, they are taking care of us, as well. The next time someone accuses you of loving the dog more than you love people, you’ll have science to back up the reasons why you do.

 

-AKC.org

The Benefits of AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Training Classes

 

You’ve brought your new puppy home, purchased the right food, a leash and collar, and all other the essentials you’ve been told you need. But what’s next? You’ve heard that it’s important to get your new dog off to a good start, but you’re not exactly sure what that means. Experienced dog owners can tell you that early training is one of the best ways to socialize your puppy (or older dog) during this important time of adjustment and development.

Training can typically start as soon as soon as your puppy has completed the first round of vaccines(with the approval of your veterinarian), which can be as early as eight weeks. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy(Socialization, Training, Activity, and Responsibility) is the perfect place to start. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy training classes teach the foundation for basic functional skills such as sit, down and come and provide the opportunity to socialize with other puppies and people.

A positive reinforcement approach is used to teach young puppies the basics of skills such as using a food lure to guide the puppy into a sit, or having the dog owner kneel and clap her hands to encourage the puppy to come. When puppies are older, or near the end of a 6-weeks class, they will be able to perform S.T.A.R. behaviors more independently.

At the end of the six-week class, your trainer will test you and your puppy on these basic skills to see how much you both have learned. Before you know it, you’ll be receiving your puppy’s AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate and beautiful gold medal.

At the AKC, we know that a well-trained dog is a joy to own. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy classes provide a starting point for a lifetime of training and learning with your dog. S.T.A.R. graduates go on to Canine Good Citizen training and earn AKC Therapy Dog titles, as well as start competing in canine sportssuch as obedience and agility.

To find an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class near you, you can search for a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator here. We hope that you will make your puppy a STAR soon!

 

 

 

 

Getting Started In Obedience

 

WHY TRAIN YOUR DOG?

Dogs, by nature, are pack animals with a well-defined social order. As you and your family become your dog’s pack, your new dog will look to you – the leader of the pack – for guidance. Leadership can be established in a firm but friendly manner. Keep in mind that it is unrealistic to expect the dog to abide by the rules of the household without the leader teaching appropriate behavior!

Much like people, every dog is different. Some are hyperactive. Some are laid-back. Some are serious. Others are silly. Some are shy, and yet others have too much confidence. Regardless of these differences, training is necessary for all dogs and beneficial to your entire family.

TRAINING WILL

• Help correct nuisance behaviors such as jumping on people, digging, barking, and chewing, while providing mental and physical activities for your dog.
• Deepen the bond between you and your dog, and to increase the enjoyment, companionship and satisfaction of your relationship with your dog.
• Ensure your dog’s safety and happiness.
• Nurture good canine companionship for the benefit of your family, neighborhood and community.
• Allow you to enjoy the fun and excitement of competing in AKC events. You and your dog can earn certificates and titles while you continue to strengthen your communication and teamwork.

TYPES OF TRAINING CLASSES

• Puppy Class — A developmental training course for the 3-to-5-month-old puppy. A puppy class emphasizes socialization with people and other puppies. Instructors usually offer information on growth, nutrition, grooming, housebreaking and problem-solving and teach basic household commands.
• Basic Class — A basic training course for dogs 5-to-6 months and older, aimed at training you to train your dog. The basic class emphasizes the essential training commands needed to make a dog a good companion: heel on a loose leash, sit, stand, down, stay in position, and come when called. Instructors also usually provide information on nutrition, grooming and problem-solving. This basic training is important in keeping your dog safe.
• Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Class — May be a separate class or a part of a beginner class at AKC clubs and other organizations. CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs that have good manners at home and in the community. Your dog will need to know the commands and exercises taught in a basic training class to qualify for a passing score on the CGC test. Dogs that pass the CGC test receive a certificate from the AKC and are recorded in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Archive.
• Training Classes for Companion Events — A variety of classes that prepare students and their dogs for competition in obedience, agility, tracking and other AKC events. You will be instructed in the levels of competition and titles available, how to teach your dog the required exercises, and the regulations that apply when you are competing.

HOW DO I GET STARTED IN OBEDIENCE?

The best advice is to START TRAINING EARLY! Training a puppy is easier than training an adult dog because a puppy is more open to new ideas and has not yet developed “bad habits.”

While it’s best to start young, the old saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is only partially true. It is never too late to train your dog, although it may take longer to retrain it to eliminate undesirable habits.

Most AKC clubs conduct a variety of classes instructed by trainers who have won awards in obedience competition with their own dogs, and they make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest training techniques. They have experience training all breeds of dogs and can help solve behavior problems. Most clubs accept all types of dogs, mixed breeds and purebreds, and prospective students are usually welcome to observe a class before signing up for a training course.

When you attend classes with your dog, instructors will show you how to teach it and will expect you to practice at home. The younger the dog, the shorter the practice sessions should be. For the best results, both you and your dog should enjoy frequent short sessions, combined with some play and rewards.

To find AKC clubs in your area that offer training, please visit our Training Resources section.

 

-AKC.org

Everything You Need to Know About How Dogs Sleep

There are few things more smile-inducing and “awww”-inspiring than seeing a cute pup sprawled out and snoozing away. But dogs don’t just sleep because it’s adorable. Just like in people, sleep for dogs is a critical aspect of their health.

When you start thinking about a dog dozing off, it raises a handful of questions: how is dog sleep like human sleep? How much do dogs need to sleep? Can they sleep too much? And do they dream like we do?

This guide helps answer these questions and more so that you can better understand your dog’s sleep and promote the sleep that they need to continue being a healthy and happy part of your family.

 

How Much Do Dogs Sleep?

If you have owned a dog, you’ve probably noticed that sleeping is one of their best abilities. Whether it’s safely sprawled out in the shade on a hot day or curled up at the foot of your bed at night, you’ve seen how a dog can get comfortable and doze off in all sorts of places and at all times of day. But you may not have ever tallied or noticed exactly how much your dog slept in total through the day, especially if you spend part of your day at work or otherwise away from home.

It turns out that dogs need a lot of sleep. In general, dogs spend about half of the day or a little bit more, ranging from 12-14 hours, asleep. However, several factors affect exactly how much a dog is likely to sleep on an average day:

• Age: puppies and older dogs both spend more time asleep than dogs that are in middle age. To support their growth, puppies may spend up to 20 hours asleep. And senior dogs naturally have a lower energy level and get exhausted more easily, requiring more sleep on a daily basis.
• Breed and Size: though not universally true, bigger dogs will sleep for more hours per day than smaller dogs. Larger breeds of dogs tend to need more sleep and can sometimes sleep up to 18 hours a day even in middle age.
• Activity: it may seem counterintuitive, but dogs that are very active, especially working dogs, usually need less sleep than dogs that are less active and are sedentary for most of the day.

Too Much Sleep?

It’s clear that dogs log a lot of time snoozing, and that’s totally normal. But some dog owners may worry that their dog is sleeping too much. It can be hard to know when your dog’s sleep crosses a line from normal to too much, but here are some signs to watch out for:

• Excessive lethargy: if your dog is sleeping more than normal and also seems to lack energy even during the hours when it’s awake, this may be a sign of a bigger issue.
• Breathing problems: if it seems as though your dog is having issues breathing when sleeping, such as apneas (brief lapses in breathing) for smaller, short-snouted dogs, that may be an indication of a larger concern.
• Accompanies other changes: what seems like increased or excessive sleeping may be more worrying if it happens at the same time as other changes in your pet’s daily habits or health. For example, if you notice that your dog’s appetite or bowel habits have changed at the same time as their sleeping habits, it can be a sign of a potential problem.
• If excessive sleepiness is persistent: just as in people, it’s not uncommon for a dog to have some variance in how much it sleeps on any given day. But if it seems to be persistent and ongoing that your dog is sleeping more than normal, it may be something to bring up with a vet.

If your dog’s sleeping habits have changed — by sleeping more or less — it is important to raise your concerns with a vet. A vet can help review what’s normal and conduct any tests that might be needed to determine if your dog has any pressing health issues.

If it is determined that a dog is sleeping more than is normal, there are many potential causes.

• Change to routine: if you’ve recently moved or changed your work hours and daily schedule, this can affect a dog’s sleep patterns since dogs prefer regular routines.
• Depression: like humans, dogs can become depressed, and this can lead to lethargy and withdrawal.
• Lack of food or water: if your dog isn’t getting the proper amount of hydration or nutrition, it can affect energy levels.
• Hypothyroidism: in this condition, your dog is not getting enough of a hormone made by the thyroid gland. This can happen with all breeds of dogs and can lead to sluggishness. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms.
• Other health problems: excessive sleepiness in dogs can also be related to other issues like Lyme disease, diabetes, parvovirus, and many other conditions.

The Science of Canine Sleep

You may have looked at a sleeping dog and sighed in response to such cuteness, but you may have also wondered about what’s really going on in your dog’s brain and body when snoozing so peacefully. In many ways, the science of canine sleep is similar to the science of human sleep. We’re both mammals, and even though the human brain is obviously more advanced, there is considerable overlap with regard to the physiology of sleep.

Stages of Canine Sleep

Research has identified that the brain waves of dogs during sleep are reminiscent of those of humans. Like people, dogs go through different stages of sleep including short-wave sleep (SWS) and deep sleep (often referred to as rapid-eye movement, or REM, sleep). SWS is the period after first falling asleep as the mind and body start to relax. In REM sleep, though, there is more brain activity, and though researchers still don’t fully understand all of the ins-and-outs of deep sleep even in people, this sleep is thought to play a major role in getting the full amount of needed rest and recovery.

In humans, the sleep cycle — going from SWS to REM — is long and drawn out. In dogs, though, this cycle takes place much more rapidly. Though it can depend on the breed, some dogs can enter REM sleep in under 20 minutes. It’s normally pretty clear that your dog has entered REM sleep because this is when you will observe involuntary eye or muscle twitching. Some dogs also make noises, like whimpers or quiet barks, when they are in a deep sleep part of their sleep cycle.

Length of Sleep Cycles

The fact that your dog enters deep sleep much more quickly also means that its overall sleep cycle is much shorter. As a result, dogs don’t need the kind of long blocks of uninterrupted slumber that humans do. While fragmented sleep can be a major cause of drowsiness in people, it’s not really an issue for your canine family member. They can accumulate the sleep that they need in smaller chunks throughout the day.

Another consequence of the shorter sleep cycle for dogs is that they are generally more easily awoken. Dogs are more easily awoken during short-wave sleep, but even during deep sleep, it’s not uncommon for a dog to wake up at light sounds. This may be even more common in certain breeds that have historically been guard dogs or protectors.

Should I Wake My Dog Up?

Some experts advise against waking a dog that’s in deep sleep whenever it can be avoided. While this is a good policy — after all, let sleeping dogs lie — know that the consequences of disrupted sleep for a dog are not the same as for people. Even if a dog wakes up in the middle of a sleep cycle, they can usually just recoup that lost time with sleep later on in the day.

Dog Dreams

If you’re like most pet owners, you’ve occasionally wondered what exactly is going on inside your dog’s head when they are asleep. In particular, if you’ve seen your dog appear to be running or pawing at something while sleeping, it’s natural to have asked yourself, “do dogs have dreams?”

The short answer to that question is yes. Without the ability to talk with our four-legged friends about exactly what’s going on in their heads, we have to draw conclusions from the best-available scientific research, and that research points to dogs having dreams along the lines of those that humans have.

Dream-Like State Mirrors Humans

In people, dreaming occurs during the REM stage of sleep when brain activity is ramping up during a deep slumber. Because dogs have similar patterns of brain waves and similar stages of sleep, most researchers extrapolate that dogs likely have dreams. Dream-like brain waves have also been detected in other mammals like rats, and this further supports the hypothesis that what’s going on in a dog’s brain during REM sleep is akin to what we think of as dreams.

Of course, human dreams can be detailed and intense, and this is largely a product of the sheer power and complexity of the human brain. There is a great deal that is still unknown about dreaming, but most experts believe it is part of the brain’s way of processing and cleaning up information that has been gathered over time. That’s why we may dream about something that happened recently or that we’ve been ruminating on of late.

 

What’s He Dreaming About? Squirrels, Tennis Balls, Puppy Chow…

In dogs, it’s unlikely they are dreaming at quite this same level, but the best guess is that they are also dreaming about things that are “front of mind” — protecting you from dangers, chasing birds or squirrels, or romping around with other pups at the dog park. When you see your dog’s legs churning during deep sleep, it certainly seems to support the idea that they are dreaming about the type of daily activities that they are used to.

In addition, dogs shouldn’t be expected to have the same kind of extended and involved dreams that we do. This is primarily because of the shorter nature of their sleep cycle. Dreaming happens in deep sleep, and because they sleep in more compact blocks of time, they probably don’t have the kind of encompassing dreams that some people do.

Ultimately, we don’t know with certainty that dogs are dreaming, but the best evidence available supports the idea. And if they are in fact dreaming, we’ll never know for sure what they are dreaming about. Nevertheless, we can watch a sleeping dog and simply imagine, and that just adds to the cuteness.

Common Sleeping Positions for Dogs

You might have noticed that your dog tends to have certain routines when it comes to sleep. These routines can relate to the time of day or to a favorite part to lie down for a nap. Another routine can revolve around a dog’s sleeping position.

As with people, the primary sleeping positions for dogs can be identified by which part of the body they are lying on. Each of these positions can have small modifications and can tell you about your dog’s mood and comfort.

If you dog is sleeping on its back with all four paws in the air, it usually indicates a level of comfort and security. In this position, your dog is at its most vulnerable, which means it wouldn’t fall asleep like that unless it felt safe and at home. Sleeping in this position can also mean that your dog wants to cool down since exposing the full belly to air helps with temperature regulation.

 

If your dog is sleeping on its side with its legs outstretched, it also indicates that your pup is comfortable and tired out. This is a very relaxing position for your dog and can also help with cooling by allowing plenty of airflow around the belly.

 

If your dog is sleeping on its stomach, it may not be in a deep state of sleep. This is usually because the legs and other muscles are not able to relax sufficiently to allow your dog to slide into deep sleep. However, some dogs may be able to fully stretch out and really doze off in this position. In other cases, this may be a restful position but one that your dog can easily jump up from, allowing your dog to relax without entering a full sleep cycle.

In general, regardless of which part of the body your dog is lying on, the more curled they are, the less likely that they are in deep sleep. This is because curling up can keep your dog’s muscles more prone and less relaxed. This isn’t a problem, it just means that your dog is probably waiting for another time to get the really restorative shut-eye that it needs. It may also just mean that your dog wants to retain warmth, which it can most easily accomplish by curling itself up.

The way your dog positions itself relative to you or to other dogs or animals can also be telling about how comfortable and calm your dog feels. Sleeping back-to-back is often a sign of affinity, so if your dog lies down with its back to you or to another pet in your home, it is usually an indication that it has a feeling of warmth and trust toward you or that pet.

How Can You Help Your Dog Get Better Sleep?

Most dog owners want to do everything that they can to help make sure that their pup is safe, happy, and healthy. Getting quality sleep every day can be a key component of that, and there are some strategies that you can put in place to help your dog get better sleep.

• Develop routines: as we mentioned earlier, dogs benefit from regular routines. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the same exact schedule every day, but whenever possible, try to have continuity in terms of certain activities (walks, play, eating, sleeping) each day.
• Give them plenty of play: getting exercise and activity can promote your dog’s overall health and can also contribute to better sleep habits, too. A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise is needed for all breeds, but more active dogs may need much, much more. Play and activity can also involve mental stimulation for your dog and not just physical exertion.
• Give proper nourishment: make sure that your dog is eating a balanced diet and getting all the nutrients that they need. If you have any questions about the optimal food for your dog, check with your vet.
• Create an inviting sleep space: just like you want a comfy mattress, your dog can get better sleep with a welcoming dog bed or other well-cushioned den.
• Follow a regular schedule for check-ups: even if all seems well, don’t skip your normal check-ups at the vet. These check-ups can help nip problems in the bud and give you an opportunity to ask questions about how to best support your dog’s health.

 

-Brought to us by The Sleep Help Institute https://www.sleephelp.org/dogs-sleep/

Tips for Communicating and Bonding With Your Pup

 

It’s important for dog owners to establish a human-canine relationship built on a strong foundation of mutual trust, patience, understanding, fairness, consistency, and love. So where do you begin?

 

Spend Time With Him

Aside from feeding and providing health care, the most important thing you can do for your puppy is to spend time with him. When you get a new puppy, regularly snuggle and talk to him, brush him, get on the floor and roll around with him, and play fun games with him.

If you give a dog a lot of positive attention, you can’t help but build a strong bond. As a result, your puppy will think you are fun, and the more fun he thinks you are, the harder he will work to please you.

A great way to spend time with your dog and create a strong bond is through training. Teach your dog the basics as well as some fun tricks. And don’t forget to give lots of positive reinforcement. Training treats are great for showing your dog he’s done a good job. Then, when you’ve got all your stuff down, sign up to take the Canine Good Citizen test!

 

Find Your Inner Dog

In order to enhance your bond, you must interact and be involved in your puppy’s world. Watching your puppy chase bugs in the backyard while you chat on the telephone is not interactive. He must be a valued member of your family, and you must be the center of his universe. He should look to you for all of his fun and games.

 

Be Consistent

Equally important, a human-canine relationship must be built on mutual trust, and you must be consistent with your training and expectations. A puppy (or adult dog) should not be worried about how his owner is going to react from day to day. It is unfair to allow an adorable 8-week-old puppy on the furniture today but scold him when he is a 60-pound adult dog trying to sleep in your lap.

 

-AKC.org

How To Curb Unwanted Dog Behaviors

 

When trying to change a dog’s behavior, owners often give up after the first unsuccessful attempt.

 Changing behaviors, such as jumping on people, tugging on walks, barking for attention or counter surfing, can take weeks to months, depending on how self-rewarding the behavior has been to your dog.

 To get your puppy or dog used to wearing a collar, for example, introduce it slowly. If she fusses or tries to get it off, don’t give up. Associate it with good things by giving high-value treats while wearing the leash or collar around the house, and after she calms down for a few minutes, take it off. Add time each day and in a week or two, she will be happy about wearing that collar.

 If the unwanted behavior is jumping on people, remember that any attention, good or bad, is still attention. After a couple of weeks of being completely ignored by you, your dog will figure out that it isn’t getting him what he wants – your attention.

 To stop bad behaviors like this, it’s important to consider how you respond to the bad behavior. If you yell at your dog when he jumps on people, you are letting him know his bad behavior paid off.

 Think about what your dog is trying to accomplish when he’s misbehaving and don’t allow him to be rewarded for it. Instead, give him an opportunity to succeed (for example, tell the begging dog to go to his place and lie down, and give him a treat when he does).

 Behaviors like counter surfing may take longer to stop, and honestly, you may never achieve complete trustworthiness. Because dogs can easily smell that food has been on the counter, they will try for a very long time, just in case a crumb is left up there.

 If you can make sure that they never, ever find anything good there, then maybe they will give up. This is not easy to do, especially if you have a family. Sooner or later, someone will leave something within reach, and this will give the dog reason to keep checking. Try to make sure your counter is kept as clean as possible – and put your dog in her crate or in the fenced backyard when you are preparing food.

 Remember that you are communicating with an animal that speaks a different language. To help improve your dog’s behavior, training is key. Try to introduce a new command a week, and practice old ones with him. Besides being able to understand what you want him to do, the mental work involved in him learning commands will tire him out, making him less likely to misbehave.

 Exercise is another important factor in dog behavior. If you’re gone 12 hours a day, and your dog’s walk consists of a quick dash into the backyard, you’re not providing your pet with adequate opportunities to use up all his energy. Instead, the excess will go into chewing your shoes, stealing your food, or scratching your walls. As the old saying goes, “A tired dog is a good dog.”

 In the end, your dog wants to understand what you want him to do, but it will take some time and patience to make your objectives clear to your canine companion.

 Be fair to him by giving him plenty of time to understand what you expect from him. Be consistent and persistently patient!

 

-AKC.org

What Is Aggression?  Reactivity vs. Aggression

 

Aggression is one of the most common reasons pet owners seek professional help. But what really is aggression? Aggression is typically viewed as any threat to harm an individual, whether this individual is human or another animal. There are many different forms of aggression, and it is important to determine the cause in order to appropriately deal with the issue at hand. Aggression can be due to guarding territory or protecting a family member, resource guarding, fear, frustration, prey drive, and/or pain.

 

Reactivity: Reactivity is commonly confused with aggression. Dogs that are reactive are those that overreact to certain things or situations. Genetics, lack of proper socialization, or a combination of the two can cause reactivity, and fear is typically the driving force. Reactive dogs may have certain triggers, such as men with beards or hats, small children, or situations when the dog feels trapped by being on a leash.

 

Fight or Flight: Fear is the most common cause for aggression. Normally when a dog is scared, it chooses to run from what it’s afraid of. In situations where a dog is trapped and cannot flee from the inciting cause, he will decide to fight to preserve himself. Fearful dogs may not give any additional warnings other than their body language. The bites themselves are typically quick snaps and may occur when the person is leaving and has his back turned.

 

There are many behaviors that look a lot like aggression but are not.

Listed below are some of the behaviors commonly confused with aggression:

 

Mouthing/Nipping Puppies – Puppies interact with their world through their mouth. When puppies play, either with other dogs or with their owners, they can become mouthy. Commonly they may become over-stimulated and nip harder than they should when playing. This nipping is not coming from a puppy that is being aggressive, but rather he is just having too much fun playing and needs a break.

 

Rough Play – Dog-to-dog play is a normal part of canine interaction. Dog play is mock fighting. Puppies learn how to do this appropriately from their peers. Dog play can become intense, get loud, and appear aggressive, but as long as both dogs are having fun and respecting their body language, it can be a great activity for socialization and exercise.

 

Resource Guarding – Dogs will tend to guard things that they believe hold great worth. These items can be toys, food, bones, sleeping areas, and even people. This tendency comes from the fact that our dogs descended from ancestors that were wild and had to protect their resources in order to survive. Teaching dogs behaviors such as “leave it” and “out” can help curb this behavior. Another good way to deal with resource guarding is to trade with your dog, exchanging the forbidden object that he is guarding for a treat.

 

Leash Reactivity – Leash-reactive dogs tend to growl, bark, and/or lunge toward things that make them nervous or fearful. These triggers may be other dogs and/or people and can be narrowed to specifics such as children, men, people wearing hats, or male/female dogs. Dogs that display these behaviors are not acting aggressive, they are trying to prevent a fight. They are trying to make the threat go away or increase the distance between themselves and the threat. If a reactive dog approaches you, the best thing you can do is give him space. Do not approach in an attempt to greet him. The owner is likely trying to train through the behavior, and by keeping your distance you will help in this training.

 

Body Language

Since dogs cannot talk, they must rely on their body language to tell other dogs and humans how they are feeling about different situations. Below are some common body language signals that everyone who interacts with dogs should know:

 

Signs of a Happy Dog:

Relaxed body

Happy expression

Wagging tail

Play bow

 

Signs of anxiety:

Yawning when not tired

Lip licking

Sudden scratching

Sniffing

 

Signs of arousal:

Ears forward, mouth closed

Eyes intense

Body forward and tense

Tail high and slowly wagging

 

Signs prior to a bite:

Signs of anxiety or arousal

Direct eye contact

Showing whites of eyes

Growling

Showing teeth

 

If you believe your dog is truly aggressive, then it is best to seek professional help. You can start by asking your veterinarian for a reference for a behaviorist in your area. Other resources are the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC); the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT); and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

-AKC.org