The Devoted Dog

11/23/2024

I post this a few times a year.
Education -
EVER noticed those slits at the sides of a dog’s nose? Why do dogs have them?
Once again, nature( evolution )proves her elegance in the design of our dogs. I started looking more into evolution a while back, after reading a scientific journal, about a black Dog introduced to work in very cold temperatures, which slowly changed to white. White patches slowly formed. I know it had to do with the blood temperatures. I’m still looking for where I filed it away?? I found it amazing! I recently stumbled across something similar change watching a Killer whale documentary.

When we humans inhale and exhale, air comes in the same way it goes out. Any smells that come in through our mouths are forced out as we exhale. Any alternating of this, is affecting the Dogs naturally ability that evolution has improved on over years. It’s very important that when breed dogs, we work with evolution and not against. They should be fully functional and healthy, as there ancestors.

When a dog exhales through his nose, however, the exhaled air is released through those slits and off to the side so that nice, smelly air going into the dog’s nostrils doesn’t get diluted with the outgoing air. Put another way, the slits allow the dog to avoid smelling what he just exhaled.

The slits help the dog hold scent particles in the nostrils even as exhaled air passing out the slits creates a swirling air turbulence allowing interesting odors to be inhaled directly into the centre of each nostril. Since dogs breathe faster when trying to sniff a certain smell, they widen their nostrils to pull in more air which makes it possible for a dog searching for smells to have a steady stream of air coming in for up to 40 seconds, maybe even longer.

The slits also allow dogs to wiggle each nostril independently which gives them the ability to know which nostril a smell entered. This is how a dog can pinpoint where a smell is coming from, and why a dog searching for smells on the ground will weave back and forth as he follows a trail.

We all know the superb smelling abilities of dogs, but let’s use an analogy between scent and sight to really put it into perspective: What we as humans can see at a third of a mile, our dog can see more than 3,000 miles away and still see as well.
Vetscene

11/17/2024

We have finally settled into life here in Tennessee. We love it! The room to run and the freedom to do so! Please let me know if you're local and have dog training needs. 🧡🐾🧡

11/04/2024

This is my frontyard. We are blessed. Thank you friends and clients you mean more to me than you know.

10/03/2024

I am often asked what is the most difficult breed to train?
My answer is humans but they are my favorite. 🤟

Credit K9 Command

10/01/2024

PSA

PLEASE READ THIS.

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
It may be really disappointing and frustrating when our dogs are not the social beings we expected them to be.

Many believe dogs should just naturally get along with other dogs, after all they’re the same species.

Some believe the “unsociable” dog has a behaviour problem that needs to be “fixed”.

Early, appropriately timed and correct socialisation is vitally important, but sometimes despite all of this, some dogs are just not that sociable.

Sometimes this can be improved, especially if the cause is from a negative experience, but genetics, breed tendencies, individual personalities, health and age all contribute to tolerance and sociability, which also change throughout life.

If we, as a human species, don’t get along with everyone we meet, how can we expect our dogs to?

Do we label every person that has an argument, doesn’t make friends with everyone they meet, doesn’t like every other person, prefers not to socialise - as having a problem that needs to be fixed?

Why is it so easy to accept that every individual person is different than to accept that every individual dog is different?

When we have done what we can to improve our dogs’ social skills, we need to accept and acknowledge our dogs for the individuals they are, allow and respect their choice of whether to be sociable or not and never force interactions that a dog is not comfortable with.

09/25/2024

This is a good infograph.

DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS

The distracted dog walker is commonly seen chatting on their cell phone, wearing headphones or socializing with other people while oblivious to what their dog is doing, how their dog is feeling or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem to some, but it is something that many people have a problem with, even more so if you have a reactive dog.

I compare walking a dog to driving a car. It’s not so much about our driving skills, but having to constantly be aware of the driving skills of others – trying to predict what they will do, which rules of the road they will ignore and how distracted they are. This is especially true in the country I live in, where driving can be a stressful experience.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking our dogs should not be one of these times.

Some people might say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that.

But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, are not sociable, are recovering from an illness, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher etc.

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs. Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of relationship, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing and teaching wanted behaviours, of keeping them safe and protected from the unknown.

Our dogs need us to be focused, to pay attention, to be aware and attentive.

Our dogs depend on us to advocate for them.

09/21/2024

Shop Bully Bunches Today.

09/20/2024

I love all my clients and am available for zoom appointments.

❤️Jacky

09/20/2024

As of Friday, September 20, 2024, The Devoted Dog is no longer accepting new clients on Cape Cod. We’re excited to announce our relocation to Eastern Tennessee! Stay tuned for updates and availability in our new location. Thank you for your support!

09/11/2024

I love nose work!

08/19/2024

You want results, we guarantee them. Tried dog training that didn't work? We do what others can't.

08/18/2024

Yesterday I was at a groomers business. We are friends and often discuss dogs. I witnessed a few of her clients that were less than pleased to be touched by anyone other than the owner, especially in a grooming situation (I can only imagine a vets office). Ever wonder why it costs so much to get your dog groomed?

The arms in the pictures were bit many times last week because owners have failed the dogs they own. We need to prepare our pets to be touched by vets, groomers, or any other person that may not be you. If that's not possible then you should think about muzzle training or grooming your own dog.

This is why many groomers stop doing what they do.

Happy Tails Self Serve Dog Wash, Inc.