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.
When you go to the doctor or bring your furry friends to the vet with an infection, you’re given an anti-biotic that is very specific to certain strains of bacteria. That means it’s essentially useless unless that specific bacteria is present. Plus, anti-biotics cause yeast (thrush) infections so you must always follow anti-biotics with probiotics (found in yogurt). And if you or your pet is misdiagnosed as having a bacterial infection, when in fact it’s a yeast or virus, you or your pet will only get sicker from the anti-biotic treatment. So now you’re saying, “Jessi, how do we fight these horrible bugs if we’re not sure what they are?” I have two words for you...Colloidal Silver.
What is Colloidal Silver? I took this easy description from a website.
“Colloidal Silver, a liquid solution of charged silver particles of monovalent silver, is used as an effective treatment for many health conditions in dogs...Colloidal Silver acts as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and is effective against over 650 disease organisms found in humans and pets. It kills bacteria, fungi and viruses without disturbing the surrounding healthy cells or contributing to resistant strains...”
How it works is basically suffocates the offending fungus, virus, or bacteria by disabling enzymes needed by these pathogens for proper oxygen metabolism. I know that sounds like a lot of medical mumbo jumbo but it’s important to know that even though it does this, it never effects healthy cells in the body. It essentially kills the bad and leaves the good alone. What other anti-biotic can do that?
The medical community are now using Colloidal Silver to disinfect equipment to prevent staph infections. Colloidal Silver is so safe it can be taken repeatedly unlike regular anti-biotics and bacteria cannot mutate to become immune to it. It builds your immunity for future infections, doesn’t interact with other medications, and doesn’t sting the eyes or cause upset stomach. You can administer Colloidal Silver internally by mouth, spray directly into your eyes, or apply topically to cuts and abrasions. I also recommend spraying it into dogs and cats ears that are infected and spraying on your dog’s teeth to help with gum infections and prevent tooth decay. Most ear infections are misdiagnosed as either being mites or a bacterial infection when in fact it’s usually a fungal infection brought on by food allergies or additives. The recommended dose for dogs is roughly what you would give a child. About a teaspoon to a tablespoon for small to large breeds once daily until the infection clears and symptoms ease. I don’t recommend taking silver indefinitely because it can get costly. Usually 2 weeks is the longest an infection should take to clear. Pets age rapidly so they also heal rapidly as well. For what would normally take a human 2 weeks to get over an animal can be cured of in just a few days. Keep an eye on your pet’s symptoms and once they have reversed you can discontinue treatment.
Now you’re asking yourself, “Where on earth do I find this wonderful remedy?” Believe it or not this amazing product is sold at your friendly neighborhood health food store. You might even find it at a chemist that sells holistic products. It’s FDA approved to be sold over the counter because it’s so safe.
There is also another product on the market that contains Colloidal Silver made specifically for pets. Happy Tails, an amazing holistic pet product company, has a two-part ear cleaning product. The first step are the cleaning pads infused with silver and the second are drops to put inside the ear once it is cleaned out. They both contain healing herbs to soothe inflammation but the silver in the cleaning pads is where the real disinfection begins.
With holistic remedies being more main stream many pet retailers are jumping on the band wagon and supplying great remedies for pets. But keep in mind that sometimes when it’s ‘pet grade’ it could be loaded with fillers or yeast to make it more tasty. So do your research and read the list of ingredients. Find out how much of the actual remedy is in there. Other than Happy Tails, I also like to use human-grade products on my furry clients. I just lower the dosage of course.
For more information on pet health visit my blog at www.tailwaggers.ie.
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.
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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.
It’s the question on many people’s minds as to whether they should neuter their pets or not. Some say it’s ‘unnatural’ or mean while others have their appointment booked the day their pet is ready. Here are a few reassuring reason why you should neuter your pet.
1. Health-Spayed or Neutered pets have a lowered chance of developing cancers of the reproductive organs and mammary glands. Hormones cause cancers to grow and spread rapidly and not having them present can prevent that.
2. Safety-Un-neutered males have a tendency to wander out of the garden searching for a mate. This could lead to them getting hit by a car, stolen, or cause a disturbance to neighboring dogs. They tend to be more aggressive and will get into a fight and get hurt or even impregnate a dog you, and their owner, wouldn’t want to of had puppies with. (Diluting pure bred bloodlines)
3. Domestication- If you neuter an animal it changes their thought process from the instinct to reproduce to that of being your pet. Taking away reproductive hormones does absolutely no damage whatsoever. It actually calms them and could lead to easier housebreaking as most un-neutered males have a tendency to mark their territory and that includes your entire house.
4. Over-population- There is a growing problem in Ireland, and most countries, of over-population in domesticated pets. People are breeding to make money but in a recession not all puppies are being bought so there is a surplus of dogs on the market. Plus the overflow problem in charitable organizations like MADRA and Galway SPCA are ever increasing. They can’t keep up with the demands of sheltering unwanted animals that get abandoned every day.
It is not cruel to want to neuter your animal. It simply means you’re looking out for their best interest and keeping them safe and home. If you have any questions or concerns about neutering your pet, contact your local veterinarian and they should be able to put your mind at ease.
For over 15 years I’ve been telling people that they should only use dog shampoos on their dogs and never human. Recently I watched a video put out by Pet Head products clearly explaining what I’ve been saying for years. Here are a few reasons why human, even baby, shampoos can be very harmful to your pets.
- The Ingredients: Dog shampoos have ingredients that are safe and beneficial to their skin and coat. They have a formula for conditioning and gently cleansing to protect your dogs skin from over drying. Some even contain ingredients that help with fleas, ticks, and hot spots (skin abrasions or ulcers) while human shampoos do not and can even cause skin irritation.
- pH Balance: Human pH is 5.5 while dog pH is 7.5 making human skin over 100 times more acidic than your dogs. Due to the acidity of human shampoo it can overly dry out your dogs skin and open it up to potential problems.
- Skin Layers: Humans have 10-15 layers of skin while dogs only have 3-5. The more layers of skin you have the more protection. Using human shampoo strips off these protective layers of skin and can open your pet up to potential bacterial and viral infections.
A few shampoo brand I recommend (and carry) are Tropiclean, Happy Tails, and Pet Head. All perfect to fluff and buff your pampered pooch.
Just one note I’d like to add to dogs having fewer layers of skin is the harm of fur getting matted. ‘Dread Locks’, while less painful on a human, are extremely painful and dangerous to your pets skin. This includes cats as well. Knots and matting on just a few layers of skin will be massively more problematic than on our thicker skin. If skin cannot breathe it will retain moisture under the coat and lead to the build up of harmful bacteria and viruses. These pathogens will eventually destroy layers of skin causing painful infections and a possible trip to the Vet. Regular grooming at home, and in a salon, is the only way to prevent dangerous matting and keeps health related costs down. In a recession, we need all the prevention we can get.
BARF Bone and Raw Food
So, say in an alternate universe, humans aren’t top of the food chain. There’s a higher life form than us and we are their pets. We used to roam free and eat meats, fruits, vegetables, and the occasional grain. Over time we were domesticated by these ‘higher beings’ and forced to eat a dried, over cooked, highly processed food that, in most cases, has ingredients we couldn’t even identify. And if that’s not bad enough, now think about all the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies we come out with and go to a ‘doctor’ just to get a shot that rids us of the symptoms for a few months only to have them return because the source of the problem was never pinpointed and remedied. Sounds familiar? It should. It’s what we do to our pets every day.
Ever researched what your dogs’ oldest ancestor, the wolf, eats? Wild dogs and wolves hunt their prey (herbivores like rabbit, chicken, lamb, fish and even deer) and eat them raw. They eat the intestines first as they contain the digestive plant matter the herbivore would consume which provides them with vitamins and minerals. Then they eat the muscle meat, organs, and lastly the bones for calcium. Dogs have stomach acid which is four times stronger than humans so they can digest bones and raw egg shells. This also means they are not affected by the bacteria people have to cook out of their food. Oh, and you can also squash the myth of them getting ‘a taste for the blood’. First, there is no blood present in any raw meats you get from raw food distributors and, second, they have to be taught how to hunt and kill. They watch you go to the kitchen and get their food out of that cold box and think of it as a food dispenser. They have no idea how it got there and they don’t care either.
Feeding raw food is your pets best chance at optimum health. Food allergy symptoms can be reversed in a matter of days. If you think your pet may be suffering from food allergy symptoms like dull dry coat, itching, ear infections, eye drainage, wind, and even impacted anal glands, try a food change to raw. Consult your local raw food retailer for more information and suggestions on how to introduce raw food. Also know that dogs can be allergic to certain raw meats or grains as well so, if symptoms don’t reverse, change the source of protein (meat) until they do.
Recently a friend of mine sadly lost her puppy. The reason for the puppy’s death were ‘unknown’ but what the vet said had me thinking. They didn’t do a tox screen to see if she was poisoned due to the cost, but my guess was it was a toxin, just not one from a meddling neighbor. It was her food. Her belly was very hard and bloated suggesting to me some kind of impaction from poor digestion. My friend’s dog was put on a ‘leading brand’ dog food recommended by the vet. One that I’m totally against and will preach openly about(at my shop). In a matter of months of being on this food the puppy died. If people are being told by a vet to go on a food that will do more harm than good, who are we to trust?
I’ve worked at vet offices both in Ireland and in America and I can say there is no difference in what they are being taught about nutrition. Zilch! One book I read several years ago, Dr Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, stated specifically that when he was attending veterinary college there was only one class on pet nutrition and the rest were about drugs and surgery. Can you see the bias towards medicines even in animals? The incentives for vets to carry certain brands of pet foods are why we’re being told to buy them. Human doctors have the same amount of education on the matter as veterinarians and given incentives to push drugs as well, so it’s no wonder people are dying of drug toxicities and malnutrition. Instead of being told “eat this apple” they hear “take this pill”. Humans and pets need the same array of vitamins, minerals, fats, fiber, and proteins. Pets portions may be different to ours but the base nutrition is exactly the same.
If you look at the digestive tract of a dog it’s almost identical to ours. Their stomach acid is 4X stronger so they can digest raw bones and egg shells for calcium. We need ours from plant sources. The bottom line is we BOTH need calcium. We don’t eat cereal for every meal so why should animals. Dry nuts (kibble) are supposed to be a complete meal for a dog? Would you want to eat a dry bland over processed cereal everyday? I can understand for ease of feeding and lack of freezer space using a dry nut, but at least put some raw meat on top to give them what they desperately need for proper digestion. Real food raw like they would get in nature. And please do your research on the brands you come across. There are so many well-known brands that have indigestible ingredients in them that only do more harm than good.
Brands I recommend:
Nature’s Menu-Raw Food
Prize Choice-Raw Food
Luath’s-Holistic Dry Food
Robbie’s-Holistic Dehydrated Food
In 2011 Tail Waggers will be expanding it’s product lines and services. With a new year comes new growth. We want to know what you’re interested in.
Products and Services already offered at Tail Waggers are:
- Dog Grooming
- Pet Wellness Consultations
- Holistic Foods, Treats, and Supplies
- Toys, beds, travel accessories, bowls,
- and not to mention BLING and an array of dog clothing
Now we want to know what YOU want. What products or services are missing from Tail Waggers that you’d like to see offered? We’re currently sourcing more Chic Boutique accessories like diamante crystal collars, leads, and accessories as well as new clothing lines and styles. Plus we’re looking to expand to a new location and offer products in our sister store ‘Tail Waggers Boutique’. (Coming Soon-location TBA).
Give us your feedback and receive 15% Off any product or service. Post comments below and we will email you a coupon to be used at your convenience. And as always have a great day!
