COME, SIT, STAY Canine Etiquette

09/19/2025

DOES YOUR DOG DO "TEETH CHATTERING...TEETH CLACKING"?? This is one of the very best articles I have read about the causes of "teeth chattering" or I like the term "teeth clacking" even more. I have read many articles regarding this behavior & this is the best one. [NOTE: One cause of this behavior is a result of a very uncommon cause...White Shaker's Syndrome (WSS). The white refers to this most commonly occurring in "small white breeds"...like the Westies, Bichons, Malteses, & several others. That said, it can occasionally show up in other breeds.

This is the link to the article from the AKC (American Kennel Club):

Dog teeth chattering doesn't only happen when your pet is cold. Veterinarians explain the reasons for teeth chattering in dogs and how to handle them.

09/11/2025

SEPT. 11, 2001... WELCOME AT RAINBOW BRIDGE
by Alexander Theodore, Bouvier, Fourth Year Resident

On the morning of September 11, 2001, there was an unprecedented amount of activity at the Rainbow Bridge. Decisions had to be made. They had to be made quickly. And, they were.

An issue, not often addressed here, is the fact that many residents really have no loved one for whom to wait. Think of the pups who lived and died in hideous puppy mills. No one on earth loved or protected them. What about the many who spent unhappy lives tied in backyards? And, the ones who were abused. Who are they to wait for?

We don't talk about that much up here. We share our loved ones as they arrive, happy to do so. But we all know there is nothing like having your very own person who thinks you are the most special pup in the Heavens.

Last Tuesday morning a request rang out for pups not waiting for specific persons to volunteer for special assignment.. An eager, curious crowd surged excitedly forward, each pup wondering what the assignment would be.

They were told by a solemn voice that unexpectedly, all at once, over 2,977 loving people had left Earth long before they were ready.

All the pups, as all pups do, felt the humans' pain deep in their own hearts. Without hearing more, there was a clamoring among them - "May I have one to comfort?" "I'll take two, I have a big heart." "I have been saving kisses forever."

One after another they came forward begging for assignment. One cozy-looking fluffy pup hesitantly asked, "Are there any children coming? I would be very comforting for a child 'cause I'm soft and squishy and I always wanted to be hugged." A group of Dalmatians came forward asking to meet the Firemen and be their friends. The larger working breeds offered to greet the Police Officers and make them feel at home.

Little dogs volunteered to do what they do best, cuddle and kiss.

Dogs who on Earth had never had a kind word or a pat on the head, stepped forward and said, "I will love any human who needs love."

Then all the dogs, wherever on Earth they originally came from, rushed to the Rainbow Bridge and stood waiting, overflowing with love to share - each tail wagging an American Flag.

09/11/2025

I PRAY WE NEVER, EVER FORGET...those we lost on 9/11 & those who have died from diseases, medical conditions as a result of their tireless work at Ground Zero. And, may we always give thanks for the men & women who joined the Military immediately following & since 9/11!!!

09/09/2025

INFO REGARDING EAR ISSUES...I wanted to share some info you may not be aware of regarding ear issues that can occur with our dogs. When a dog is itchy for whatever reason, chances are the dog will develop an ear issue (what I call an "earbo"). Even when a dog gets itchier than is normal like when we first turn on our A/C or our heat, or being outside more (rolling in the grass more), or Spring sprouting & pollen, maybe a flea bite (a single flea bite will cause a dog with flea dermatitis to have an itchy allergic reaction to the flea's saliva for 7-10 days)...anyway...any time a dog is itchier than normal, I tell people to keep a close eye on the ears, because chances are an ear issue will occur in relatively short order.

The earlier you catch an ear flare-up, the easier they are to knock out. If caught at the very beginning, before anything really gets hold of the ear...using an otic cleaning/drying product or homemade mixture like I use will often knock it out & they may not even need ear meds. However, when there is an ear flare-up just starting up...it will not get better on its own. It will continue to propagate into a full blown ear issue.

Some things to help you catch the ear things at the very beginning & beyond are:
** When your dog is scratching their ear...usually, just one to start, but sometimes the second will later become involved.
** When your dog is rubbing the side of their head on the floor or furniture...this can also indicate something with their teeth or something around their mouth. But, usually you can tell if they are rubbing to scratch or soother the ear area.
** When your dog is "gingerly...sort of like slow motion" scratching at their ear with their back paw or a front paw...this is an absolute that there is an ear issue! Note: This particular type of ear scratching is almost always accompanied by the dog making some low tone sounds....that fit with what you are seeing. When this happens the ear issue may likely need actual ear med., not just a cleaning/drying thing.
** When the dog does a quick/sharp head shake. You may get a couple of these fairly close together, but the actual shake is a quick/sharp type motion...not like when see a normal head shake where they shake, shake their head.
** When your dog has one ear even slightly cocked to the side of the head, off center from their normal ear set...YEP, you already have an ear issue, not just at the very start of it.
** When the inside of the ear upright ear flap looks even slightly dirty, even if the color of this ear area is not red...this is exudate from the interior portions of the ear. This becomes visible because the head shake brings up some of the ear flare-up stuff. When you have this, if it is at a very low level...not much at all, then the cleaning/drying thing may take care of it. The dirty looking stuff (exudate) will be brownish to reddish brown to rust color. [Note: if reddish or rust colored, your dog will likely need an ear medication along with the cleaning agent.

I have always cleaned my dogs' ears once a week without fail because it allows me to catch things before they have a chance to really get started. Also, it keeps their ear environment healthier. However, if I get any of the signs described above...depending on which it is, I will go to daily cleaning or every other day cleaning until the issue resolves.

BUT, if I get one of the more significant circumstances described above...I use the ear meds along with the cleaning/drying solution that I always keep on hand.

Interesting side note: A**l glands can flare up when a dog is having an allergy flare-up. This isn't a super common thing, but common enough to mention.

Anytime your dog is "messing" with an area of the body, if scratching or rubbing with a lot for force & fervor &/or licking that area...try to do something to divert them from that action because it doesn't take much time at all (as we have all experienced at one time or another) for a dog to have rubbed, scratched, or licked an the area & caused a raw or inflamed area or worse, a hot spot.

For the cleaning solution, you can buy a commercial product. I have used a commercial product (Chlorhexiderm). BUT, I have gotten better results with a homemade solution. Years ago, this is what they used to use for kids to prevent "swimmer's ear". The homemade solution is 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 alcohol. The alcohol is the drying agent & the vinegar works wonders on the yeast factor that is the primary culprit when there is an ear flare-up.

NOW, if your dog's ear or ears are severe, you would not use this solution because the alcohol would burn any raw or inflamed parts of the ear. Please note that you should always consult your Vet for any issue of consequence or that does not clear up. And, remember...any ear issue that occurs will NOT improve without help. It will only get worse. (www.thedogspeaks.com)

09/06/2025

HELP FOR EXCESSIVE PAW LICKING...MAGIC PAW!! This is the time of year when the dogs are licking their paws excessively because it is wet outside so often. The dogs will always lick their paws when they come inside & their paws are wet. They do this to clean their paws. Licking perpetuates the "wet" environment of the paws, which in turn creates a perfect "environment" for yeast, bacteria, & fungus to propagate!!!

Granted, there are many reasons dogs lick their paws. However, all dogs lick their paws when they are wet as part of their "cleaning" process. Once they start licking to clean their wet paws & this scenario happens so frequently, paw issues abound!!!! Between the toes, paw pads, & often the sides & tops of the paws are places where many problems develop. Your dog can develop red & inflamed areas, hot spots, bacterial &/or fungal infections. So, you want to help head off these issues.

My program is: when your dog comes in with wet paws, I gently towel dry each paw. Then, I "lightly spritz" each paw with Bitter Apple. [Note: if the dog already has raw or inflamed paws, you would NOT want to use the Bitter Apple because it contain alcohol & it will sting.] If you cannot use Bitter Apple (or like product) you can dab some Campho Phenique (or camphor spirits) on & around the paws. The smell of camphor is what deters the licking. All products like this do have to be regularly "refreshed".

Even when you towel dry their paws...the moisture is still there between the toes & paw pads! This is why I use a homemade solution that does work wonders. I promise this DOES WORK!! When there is an issue, I use the Magic Paw solution every single day. Once the issue is resolved, I continue to use the Magic Paw solution 2-3 times per week...without fail!! This is a very successful "maintenance program"!

MAGIC PAW solution: 1/3 water...1/3 Listerine (original, not flavored)...1/3 Witch Hazel. Spray this between the toes & paw pads. Don't forget the spritzing with the Bitter Apple to help the dog to not lick wet paws, even those that have been towel dried. I do this as a matter of course each & every time my dog comes inside with wet paws!!

NOTE: If your dog licks for reasons other than "wet paws", spritz Bitter Apple when they are licking & if you are going to leave the house...spritz before you leave. And, regular apply the MAGIC PAW solution, it will help!!

08/27/2025

POP...R.I.P. (08-26-2017). I know you & Mom are together in Heaven. We all miss you more than words can describe. Thank you for your love & care all the years you were a "treasure" part of our family. And, even today...you are a "treasure" part of our lives & "memories". All our love.

08/26/2025

UNDERSTANDING GROWL SOUNDS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS...EVALUATING OTHER GROWLS...Growling is often misinterpreted. Many people consider that any & all growls are aggressive & inappropriate. This is not the case. The dogs have a myriad of growl communications. Their communications are not one dimensional. Here are the links to BOTH of my "growls" Chapters from my E-book. These will help you to understand your dog's growls sounds & to identify which are of concern & which are basic communications. PLEASE read both Chapters (click links)!!

UNDERSTANDING GROWL SOUNDS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS...https://www.thedogspeaks.com/artgrowlsounds.htm

EVALUATING OTHER GROWLS:
https://www.thedogspeaks.com/artgrowlother.htm

08/23/2025

FRUITS & VEGETABLES DOGS "CAN & CANNOT" EAT SAFELY...This is a great info article by the AKC. It provides a list of fruits & vegetables. Below the listing, the article gives a "yes or no" for each of the items listed (keep scrolling to after the "list").

Do you know which fruits and vegetables dogs are safe for dogs to eat? Fresh, frozen, or canned, learn which fruits and veggies to feed and which to avoid.

08/21/2025

NOT ALL BARKS ARE CREATED EQUAL! Can you distinguish between your dog/s' various reactive barks & a "bark cycle"?? There is a difference. If we train our "hearing" to the nuances of our dog/s' barking & other vocalizations, we can learn to recognize the differences between our dog/s' alert for a person, a dog, a squirrel, another animal, a vehicle, mailman, UPS or trash truck, etc. Do not take your dog/s' barking & vocalizations for granted. Learn the nuances because they can tell you so much that can serve many important purposes.

Once you have "fine tuned" your hearing to these aspects of your dog/s' vocalizations, there is one more variance that requires a bit more "fine tuning". This is what I call the "bark cycle". This is different from barking in response to an "active" external catalyst like squirrels playing, a tree trimmer across the street, a neighbor loading or unloading their car or working in their yard...something that continues to "stimulate" your dog to bark in response to what is occurring.

The "bark cycle" occurs when the catalyst is or becomes "static". This can be a different truck parked across the street, a piece of cardboard that has blown against the fence, the neighbor's trash cans at the curb, another dog or cat "sunning" in your dog/s' line of sight . When your dog notices something NEW in their environment, they bark. This is to alert you/their pack & also to try to get the intrusive whatever to leave.

When the dogs are barking at something static...after the first barks, their barking takes on an almost "sing song" pattern. Once your dog gets into this pattern, it is hard for them to stop without help from you to "break" their bark cycle!! The longer this cycle continues the more the dog can become entranced/trapped in the behavior. Remember, barking is self reinforcing.

You know your dog/s' regular/active barking that is "responsive" to an "active" catalyst by changing the tone, volume, intensity, etc. to match the active/changing catalyst. Most people need to train themselves to recognize their dog/s' "bark cycle" that is sort of a rhythmic/sing song "repetitive" pattern. Take a moment to disrupt it & it will end. Here is the link to my BARKING article/chapter: http://www.thedogspeaks.com/artbarking.htm (www.thedogspeaks.com)

08/20/2025

EXCESSIVE BARKING: Barking is a self reinforcing behavior. The hardest thing for an owner is to "not" yell NO BARK! This is essential because when yelling we sound like another barking dog. What happens when one dog barks?? All dogs in the area start barking or increase their barking. So, yelling at your barking dog actually INCITES/fuels their barking. Make a sharp EHHH sound or use some other sudden noise/sound like a metal can with some small metal objects in it. Only shake it ONCE. The sound will cause a "startle/stop" reaction. The sudden sharp sound "startles" the dog and they "stop", momentarily. You have 2-3 seconds to REDIRECT your dog to you, some other activity & away from the catalyst for their barking or they "will" start barking again.

If your dog does not have a reaction to your initial startle/stop noise, try something else that has a different "tone, pitch" that your dog's hearing will react to. Do not "overuse" whatever sound or noise your dog has the "startle/stop" response. If you do, your dog will desensitize to that sound & it becomes no more than "regular noise" in their environment. Whatever your dog's "startle/stop" sound is, use it ONLY once for each episode. Avoid our human tendency to really do it over & over to really "make our point" because it will have the opposite effect!!

Your dog's own barking INFUSES their barking so it feeds itself. The sooner you can startle/stop the bark cycle, the easier it is to divert them to another behavior. The further into the bark cycle your dog gets, the harder it is for them to stop without help from us. This also means it is more difficult for us to help them stop barking. When one dog barks, it will start a cacophony of barking from any dog within earshot! NOTE: Dogs can hear certain sounds up to 7 miles away. SO, when you think your dog is barking for no reason...think again!

When your dog goes out first thing in the morning, they bark to beat the band! Watch their "ritual". You will see what I mean as they alert any dogs & other animals that your dog has arrived & their "turf" is actively being patrolled! This same thing occurs when you let the dogs out when you come home from work. It is especially fervent when the dogs are let out in the evening! Let your dog/s do what they instinctually need to do to keep their pack safe. Let them have their say. Then, calmly get their attention using the sharp EHHH sound or some sound to cause the "startle/stop" reaction & very quickly DIVERT their attention/focus from their barking cycle.

When your dog is barking & reacting to a specific catalyst, DO NOT yell to "no bark" Their hearing is so acute that when you raise your voice, it is like turning the TV up so loud you cannot make out the words. All they will know is their Pack Leader is upset. The dog barks & alerts their pack to an intruder &/or possible danger. Then, the pack leader reacts to the alert & becomes very agitated. The dog does not see this as you being upset at them. They see this as the pack leader is validating that YES, this is something to be dealt with & it is even more serious than you realized! This is a perfect example of thinking you are communicating one thing when you are communicating something reverse!

When working on a barking issue (or any issue), you must be consistent. Once you start a good "no bark" program, when you are not home or available to respond consistently to whatever the external catalyst is, BLOCK the visual. Why? Because every time the dog engages in whatever behavior you seek to stop or modify, that behavior is reinforced by the sheer nature of the behavior having occurred!!

For more "in depth" information, here are links to two Chapters from my E-book that go hand in hand to address barking issues: BARKING: http://www.thedogspeaks.com/artbarking.htm SHAKE CAN: http://www.thedogspeaks.com/artshakecan.htm For other interesting & helpful information, visit my website (www.thedogspeaks.com)

08/16/2025

THE DON'Ts & THE DOS OF MEETING/GREETING A DOG!!! Below is a great infographic of the proper & improper ways to meet/greet a dog. This is so easy to follow & understand. You will notice that some things most people do are a NO NO.

For example, most people know to "let the dog sniff the back of your hand". Problem with that is, the person invariably pushes their hand "toward" the dog's face. This is NOT good. Rather, keep your hand by your side & let the dog come to you on their on time & comfort level & sniff your hand when comfortable. This is when you can gently pet them under their chin or side of the face IF the dog stays there & indicates a level of comfort. Sort of asks you to pet them. If they pull back or away after a short sniff...just wait & give them more time to get comfortable. That is just one example...BUT, all of these the things shown & explained in the infographic are EXCELLENT and spot on!!

08/16/2025

IS YOUR DOG "MARKING" OR "URINATING"...Here is a short excerpt from my E-Book that explains how to determine which behavior your dog is exhibiting:
"First, I need to explain the difference between marking (house soiling issue) and urinating (housetraining issue). When a dog urinates, there is large amount of urine indicating a full
bladder release. If your dog releases their bladder, this is normal urination and indicates your dog is NOT housetrained or there is a medical issue. If there is a small amount of urine emitted, this is marking. The small amount I refer to can be anything from sprinkles to quarter size to half dollar size urine spots. Just because a dog “hikes” on your furniture does not mean they are “marking”. They may well be engaging in normal urination. You would need to determine which behavior your dog is exhibiting and deal with it
accordingly. (Note: Some bi***es lift their leg to urinate!)"

There is a major difference between the two behaviors. Here is an excellent article (AKC) that discusses the marking versus urination behaviors. I think you will find this most informative! Here is the link:

Dogs p*e in the house for many reasons, but they also urine mark. Learn to tell the difference between these behaviors and how to reduce marking.