Reading Dog Behavior
Watch the tail
The tail tells you how the dog is feeling. Here are a few ways to read it.
Tail Wagging freely- Very happy and open to being pet or played with
Tail Slowly Wagging- Friendly but not quite sure of what’s going on so they’re reserving judgement until something happens. Often a shy dog that needs assurance you’re not going to hurt them. Talk sweetly to them and the wag might go faster.
Tail Straight Out and Still- On alert, cautious, playful. Combined with ears forward or twitching they hear something but can’t see it yet. Combined with ears back they aren’t sure what of the person or animal in front of them is going to do. This usually results in a burst of running or playing with another dog.
Tail Between Legs-Scared, nervous, wants to hide. May lead to biting so to be on the safe side, crouch down and invite them to come to you.
Tail Not Moving- Look at the eyes and ears. Ears down , head down, eyes looking up at you sad means “I had an accident on the carpet and I’m sorry.” Eyes looking at you and away with ears back, listen for the growl. Do. Not. Pet.
Never go up to a dog that isn’t freely wagging it’s tail to welcome you. When dogs want you to pet them they can do a few different things to show you. They might walk over and sit near you, jump up on you, roll over and show belly, and even bark then pant with a big open mouth to get your attention.
Whenever a dog enters my shop I immediately crouch down and kneel at their level a few feet away and put a hand out to them. Not close enough to touch them but enough for them to sniff and walk over to me. The worst thing you can do is charge up to a dog that isn’t sure of what’s happening. I always let them come to me. Another protocol I do when an owner drops their dog off is to take the lead and let the owner leave with the dog still in the front room of the shop. Once the owner is out of eye shot I say “OK” and gently tug the lead. They hop up and go anywhere I ask. I never drag a dog out back against it’s will. If they have any worries I pick them up and cuddle them for a few minutes before starting their grooming. This usually happens on their first appointment because they have no frame of reference as to what’s about to happen. They only remember their last vet appointment and we all know how much dogs love going to the vet.
Socializing your dog at a very young age is the key to curb territorial behaviour and hopefully ensure you’re dog won’t bite other dogs and, God forbid, children. Bringing them to play groups, dog parks, or even a doggie daycare is a great way to socialize them in neutral territory. Once they’ve established a healthy behaviour outside of the home, invite friends and family over with their dogs and train them into sharing their space with other animals. Their natural instinct is to protect their home, and pack, but a domesticated pet should be trained into allowing people into the home when invited. A new puppy should meet 100 new people and have 100 new experiences in a short period of time. They need to be stimulated and taught how to act in any circumstance.
Dogs act completely different when their humans aren’t around. I’ve had people drop their dogs off to be groomed and been told ‘they might bite’. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. The owner only knows how their dog acts when they’re around but when the dog is alone with a stranger, its often a very different story. They act out when their owner is around because they feel they need to protect them. This all boils down to a lack of discipline, or a traumatic experience previously, and their owner not establishing their ‘alpha’ status in the pack. If your dog needs to be corrected around other people the best person to do that is the owner. If a stranger tries to discipline when the owner is around that’s when they bite or attack.
I remember one dog that came for a grooming. The owner wanted to stay just in case the dog bit so she could take him home immediately. Sure enough the dog went for me 3 times while she was there. We ended that session and a few weeks later she came back with the dog. I took the lead and told her she could leave and I would ring when the dog was finished. I was able to completely groom her dog with very little argument from him. He kept looking at me as if to say ‘I’m not sure about this’ but my assertive stance and no fear policy put the dog at ease and I was able to do anything I needed to. The owner was shocked but delighted nonetheless. No one was ever able to groom the dog entirely because they were afraid of him. Working with animals since I was 12 has taught me how to read dog behaviour.
This doesn't always mean every dog can be groomed. Some have been so badly traumatized from either another groomer or even a vet visit that they can't be rehabilitated without a lot of time and effort if at all. I have had to send some home either incomplete or not even started and that saddens me. Do the best thing for your dog and research any professional you leave them with. Get referrals from friends or family who have had good experiences in the past with their pets to ensure they are not traumatized because that one bad experience will last them a lifetime.
I recently had someone call into my shop with a dilemma. Her new puppy had severe separation anxiety and was scratching the door relentlessly. To the point of causing itself injury. We recommended some calming herbs and essential oils and even a plug-in the vet carries that gives off a scent to calm dogs.
Then we suggested getting a crate and making it their little ‘doggy den’ with toys and a bed. Even covering it with a blanket so it didn’t look like a crate. Just a little place they could call their own, a bedroom of sorts. We even suggested keeping the door open for them to go in and out of while they’re home so the dog knows it’s not a bad place. We told them what dogs do in nature. They don’t leave themselves exposed to the elements in case a predator was on the rise. Leaving a dog in an open room no matter how small we think it is, to them it might as well be a football stadium. Putting a dog in a room where the ceiling is 10 feet above their heads is like putting a person in a room with a ceiling 3 stories high. And for a den animal that is just plain scary.
The reply to this last suggestion was a firm ‘No! It’s cruel to cage and animal.’ Under no circumstances do what we suggest be, in any way, cruel or inhumane. We know dogs. We know it’s their natural instinct to protect themselves and no matter how much we try, we can not breed that out of them. To try to do so has only been met with aggravation and disappointment for the outcome always turns out the same. Instinct is instinct and it cannot be changed.
Now, that being said some dogs are extremely afraid of the crate because it is not being introduced to them properly. In my experience this is one of the best ways to crate train your dog.
Step 1. Purchase a crate that is big enough for your pet to stand in but not be able to get away from any messes they make in there. Most dogs don’t want to lay in their own droppings but the occasional accident might happen.
Step 2. Place a bed or blanket with an article of your clothing in the crate along with a chew toy or two. Kong toys lined with peanut butter are great for keeping your puppy busy. Try not to put too much in as it can be fattening or cause overnight accidents in the crate.
Step 3. Place a blanket over the crate so it doesn’t look scary or too open. Remember we’re trying for a ‘den-like’ feel. Some people keep the crate in the living room and use it as an end table. That way the dog isn’t banished to the utility to be alone and scared. So when it’s bed time, the telly goes off, Fido gets in his bed, and the door is shut. Good night.
Step 4. Encourage puppy to go in and out of the crate while you’re home. Even shut the door while you’re home to get them used to it. Giving a small treat or rawhide after you shut the door will distract them from wanting to get out and makes it a more positive experience.
For the first night or two they will resist and cry but do not back down. That will only prolong the training process and we need to get Fido feeling calm and at home as quickly as possible. If they start barking and carrying on, clap your hands and say ‘No!’ firmly. They need to know you’re the alpha and in control. Dogs act out mostly when they don’t understand their place in the pack. And, by the way, you’re ALWAYS the alpha.
Don’t let them train you. If they’re doing something that’s against the rules, reinforce them. Place them in the crate for a time out. Be consistent, they’ll get the picture. Training a dog is sometimes a constant effort. Some catch on quickly while others are a true test of our patience. If you’re not sure how to train your dog ask a professional. Ask several professionals. Get all the information on dogs, breeds, training, and their instincts before you bring home your pet. Trust me, it will be worth the effort to ensure a smooth training process.
Ever wonder why Fido acts up when you’re stressed, even though you’re not physically showing you’re stressed? Call it ‘Doggy 6th Sense’. (I see stressed people) Dogs pick up on our feelings no matter what they are. Happy, sad, worried, angry, dogs will react to everything. You may even notice that when you’re ill your dog will lay near you a lot or demand more of your attention. This is their way of showing they know you’re sick and they want to help you feel better and guard you until you’re well.
To ensure you have a calm dog, calm yourself. Do Yoga or meditate with your dog in the room. Meditation has been proven to be the best way to calm ourselves so why wouldn’t it work for your dog? They may start off wanting to lick the face off of you but eventually they will calm and meet your pace. If you make this your daily ritual you may even, over time, calm hyperactivity in a pet that correctional training or nutritional supplementation doesn’t fix. Dogs can’t communicate verbally so they show their feelings by acting out. Use meditation to your advantage and try to connect more with your pet on a mental level. Create a ‘Zen Doggy’. It may even help you train or calm them in other environments like the dog park or the vet. When you take them into those environments take a deep breath and feel only a sense of calm. Make eye contact with them and send that calm feeling to them without speaking. Keep doing this the entire time you’re out.
A Zen Doggy may feel more comforted when left alone at home for many hours. Dogs with separation anxiety are usually that way because of an over attachment to the owner and a sense of being in an unstable environment. They were possibly moved around a lot, or had a trauma of some kind, shaking their stability. They crave attention at all times leaving you drained and afraid to leave them alone. Some people ban a dog from certain rooms or put them in a kennel. Your dog should feel that his/her home is their palace and can roam freely without problems. And, if you desire, you should be able to give them that freedom (once housebroken of course). Bring them into different rooms to meditate with them in there. Tell them mentally what you expect of them in that room. Visualize them calmly entering the room and napping while staying off furniture you don’t want them on. Also see them chewing only their toys. Send these mental images to your pet and at the end make eye contact. See if you notice anything. Is Fido calm or napping? Are they chewing their own toys or rawhide?
You can even connect with your dog mentally when you’re not even there. A Zen Doggy can pick up on things you’re thinking or feeling while you’re at work or even on holiday if you meditate. Try it. While you’re away from home meditate and try to send messages to your dog. It may even be the best way to calm their separation anxiety. See if you come home to a happy and relaxed dog with the house left intact.
You never know, you just might get to the bottom of all your problems when you create a Zen Doggy. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if you could get your dog to do tricks by just thinking them? That’s one parlor trick I’d love to see.
Reiki, a form of energy healing, is also a great way to open meridians and heal your dog of any emotional baggage they could be storing. Opening meridians clears any blockages that may be causing physical problems like digestive issues or even allergies. I’m Level II Reiki Certified and I’ve experienced some amazing physical and emotional transformations just by doing 10 minutes of Reiki on my 4-legged clients. I’ve cleared gastrointestinal blockages and even calmed an entire room of dogs.
Sometimes healing needs to be done on all levels; physical, emotional, and mental. You can give all the nutritional supplements and change the diet of a dog all you want but if they are a nervous wreck it will undo all the good you’ve done. Getting them to a state of Zen is one of the best ways to heal them. Once you’ve ticked that box move on to physical remedies (if needs be) and you’ll have one healthy hound.
We’re opening a new boutique in Oranmore, County Galway where we will carry all the great pet products we have in Kilcolgan, plus our new ‘Chic Boutique’ collection. Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday April 2nd from 10-6pm. There will be a raffle basket full of great stuff for your pet and a coupon for a free grooming in our salon in Kilcolgan (just 10 minutes away from Oranmore). Plus grab bags and Justin from Petpics.ie will be there to capture all the great moments of the day. Planning more great surprises too! Don’t miss your chance at winning the raffle and we’d love to see you there.
CHECK IT OUT!!! I’m in the Nature’s Menu contest video. Sadly now I can’t enter but it’s just an honor being nominated haha! Good luck to all the contest entries!
A few weeks ago a customer brought her two King Charles Spaniels in for their grooming appointment. I noticed they were scratching the second they stood still so I asked her about it. She told me they did that all the time and didn’t know why. A few questions later I realized it was their food causing it. Throughout the entire grooming session the dogs were scratching non-stop. I applied aloe to the skin to see if that would offer any relief but to no avail. When she returned to pick them up I advised her to change to Luath’s, the hypoallergic brand of food I carry, and to also give them a supplement that should cure the itching quickly. The supplement I recommended was called Quercetin.
Quercetin is a phytochemical that is part of the coloring found in the skins of apples and red onions. It has been isolated and is sold as a dietary supplement. It contains natural anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects.
I recommended she give each dog 1 capsule twice daily with food and to come back in 3 weeks for a follow up. When the dogs returned they didn’t itch once the whole time they were there. Their skin even looked better with no signs of dermatitis or dander. Needless to say my customer was very relieved and thankful.
Standard procedure from a vet is to inject the dogs with a steroid to alleviate the symptom. Not only are these injections are dangerous but they can lead to other health problems in the future and don’t actually cure the pet. It’s impossible to know all of your animals allergies so keeping a supply of Quercetin on hand is highly recommended. Give them 2 per day until symptoms reverse. Quercetin can be found at your local health food store.
This is the latest press release for Petchums, The Community for Pet Lovers. And this is Barbara, the Managing Director of the website. Read below about her fantastic social networking website for pet lovers everywhere. Visit the site and become a member to share your funny pet stories and add us as friends!
‘’ Fun loving, friendly and fully vaccinated Golden Retriever seeks playmate for walks in the park, chasing games and lazy afternoons on the sofa’’.
Lonely pets everywhere are logging into www.petchums.com, a website created to allow pet owners co-ordinate meetings with other pets in their local area for dog walks, pet sitting and even play dates! ‘’Play dates are very important for the social development of dogs and cats’’ explains Barbara. ‘’Besides it being fun for your pets, it is a great way for people to connect’’. Founded by Barbara Hanly, petchums.com was launched to connect pet-lovers and provide them with a sense of community. Whether you’re away on holiday and need someone to mind Fido or seeking a play buddy for Fluffy, check out Petchums.com for a helping paw.
Petchums.com is free to use and members can create profiles for their pets, upload photos, videos. Other additional pawsome features include groups, expert advice, park descriptions, and discussion forums. Since its launch last October, the site has grown from a young puppy into a thriving online community with over 800 members from the UK & Ireland. Join now today, you’re one click away from a new network of pet adoring friends!
Dogathon is a fundraising fun walk in aid of COPE Galway, for dogs and dog lovers along the prom in Salthill in Galway City and is taking place on Sunday 18th April 2010 at 12pm. Visit their website for more information like…
We had a fantastic time at the Claregalway Market on Sunday. Hundreds of people came and loads of them got free samples of Luath’s Holistic Pet Food from me. Next weekend we’re having a raffle for a Doggie Bag filled with lots of fun stuff for your beloved pet. Stop by the table at the Claregalway Market on Sunday November 22 and enter to win. Also, any bookings I take for a grooming appointment will be 10% off!!
