DoggyPlan Club

12/10/2022

What to Do if Your Dog Pulls Towards Other Dogs?

How can you stop this lunging behavior once and for all? Thankfully, there are some effective strategies, but ultimately, there are no shortcuts. Following are some strategies to stop all the excited lunging.

Strategy #1: Work Under the Threshold

What is the threshold? Dog trainers use this term to depict that fine line where your dog is no longer capable of obeying your commands and appears to no longer have a brain. When your dog reaches this point of no return, you can try to pull, yank, shout and even dangle a juicy piece of steak as much as you can, but it does not seem to make its way to your dog's brain. It almost looks like all the circuits are off and the brain is unplugged. In order to resume some reasoning, therefore you need to work under the threshold.

Strategy #2: Take a Step Back

If your dog is too revved up to listen to your commands, you are exposing her too close to the other dogs. You really need to step back a bit to regain some control. Keeping her too close to other dogs creates three different problems:

1. By walking your dog very close to other dogs, your dog feels more compelled to fulfill his desire. This means that the likelihood of your being pulled and dragged is much higher and the other dogs are more likely to come closer. The more your dog gets to pull or the more other dogs come closer, the more your dog will be rewarded.
2. Walking your dog too close to other dogs will ultimately put up your dog to fail, while you really want to put your dog up for success. Working your dog over the threshold, will not help your dog learn anything other than bad behaviors.

3. Walking your dog too close to other dogs may make you feel compelled to increase your level of authority to make your point across. This means you will feel the need to take bigger steps than usual to stop your dog from misbehaving.

Strategy #3: Teach ''Watch Me''

"Watch me" can be easily taught using high-value treats. The treats need to be significant enough to beat the distractions. These can be sliced hot dogs, slices of ham, cheese, freeze-dried liver, parts of steak, or grilled chicken.

Professional analysis of your dog's problems with easy and fun solutions

30/09/2022

5 Steps to Train a Dog to Avoid Cars

Yes, you can teach your dog to avoid streets, traffic, and cars. Dogs are afraid of a lot of things; however, most of them are not afraid of cars initially—it simply isn't an instinctual fear for them and hasn’t made it into their DNA. Training a dog to be fearful of cars is very difficult, but there are a few things you can do to get the sense of "danger" to stick.

There are different methods to teach a dog to avoid cars:

1. The Sit-and-Wait Method: Each time you reach a road, whether or not there is traffic, have your dog sit by your side and only release him to cross after giving him the "okay" command.
2. "Down" From a Distance Method: Teach your dog basic obedience—this includes the ability to obey the “down” command from a distance.
3. The "Touch-and-Treat" Command: Train your dog to respond to the “touch” command.
4. The Free-Roam Method: Allow your dog to walk around traffic and expose them to just how scary car-filled streets can be. (In the unsupervised dog's lifetime, some learn to fear cars, some never learn — so be proactive about training them.)

Professional analysis of your dog's problems with easy and fun solutions

29/09/2022

Do Dogs Behave Badly Out of Spite?

Whether dogs act out of spite is something many dog owners may be wondering about. The answer to this query is that this is a tricky question.

While it's true that dogs lack the necessary hardware to mimic the vast array of human emotions, this doesn't mean they have no morals!

Can a dog be spiteful?

Have you ever felt that your dog is behaving badly just to spite you? You find p*e on the floor or the bed after you have recently taken them outside, they are barking at you, or taking objects that are off limits. Although it may feel this way, dogs are not spiteful creatures.

Do dogs p*e on things out of spite?

Do dogs p*e out of spite? Dogs do not p*e to spite you, or when they are mad or for attention and revenge. Instead they will p*e in the house to communicate anxiety, fear, health problems, territorial markings, or simply because they have no other option but to urinate indoors.

Do dogs act out for attention?

Fortunately, attention-seeking behaviors are relatively easy to change. Dogs are highly social creatures, and all dogs want some attention and interaction with their people every day. Some dogs—especially clever, energetic dogs—crave attention and will get it by any means possible.

Do dogs do bad things on purpose?

Two of the most common negative assumptions people make about dog behavior are that dogs know when they’ve done something wrong, and dogs sometimes do bad things on purpose to get back at their owner. In fact, the human emotions guilt and spite are not part of the canine repertoire.

Can a dog be vindictive?

Dogs are instinctual creatures that react to the stimuli in front of them. Dog brains don’t have the ability to understand or communicate spite or vindictive behavior. Dogs are incapable of these complicated, human emotions.

28/09/2022

It doesn't take much to make your dog happy. Simply entering the room is often enough to get your pooch excited. But there's happy and then there's absolutely, circle-spinning elated. That's when you know you've gone above and beyond to brighten your dog's day. Do any of these signs of a happy dog ring a bell?

1. Your dog falls asleep early

Playing games of fetch and other fun activities, your dog may be so happy and satisfied that he doesn't have any energy left. Instead of pacing around the house like normal, he may be passed out on the bed—or couch or the middle of the kitchen floor—snoring contentedly.

2. He always looks into your eyes

Eye contact is a major sign of trust in dogs, so those loving looks the two of you share while sitting together after a long day of hanging out are sure signs of a happy doggo. Dogs also make eye contact as a way to check in with you and make sure you’re feeling as happy as they are. Expect some extra snuggles if you’ve had a rough day!

3. Your dog always comes back to you when called

The world is full of a bunch of stuff that dogs find really cool—mailmen, squirrels, a weird smell that’s just begging to be investigated, you name it! Sometimes they need to follow their doggy hearts (and noses) to run after whatever catches their attention. If your dog always comes back to you the moment you call his name, it means that he finds you way cooler than whatever he was after—and that’s a sign of a very happy dog.

4. Your dog tries extra hard to obey the rules

Dogs can be mischievous. But when your pup's feeling particularly grateful, he may do everything you ask without question. You might suddenly make it through a whole meal without any begging at the table. When you please your doggie, he works extra hard to please you.

5. He dances around in a wriggling mass of joy and excitement

Little actions can make your dog's day, but some owners go the extra mile. Expect to be showered in joy when you do the unexpected.

6. He always waits for you to catch up

How to tell if a dog is happy, especially with you, is if he always looks to you or waits for you to catch up while you’re out exploring together. If not even other people, pups or woodland critters can make your dog leave your side, it means he’s happier with you than anywhere else—and that whatever adventure lies over the next hill, it’ll be more fun if you’re together.

7. Your dog surrenders his favorite chew toy—to you

Have you ever been typing away on your computer, only to suddenly feel a furry presence nearby? There's your dog with his favorite chew toy, smashing it into the back of your hand while you're trying to work. Your dog might normally never want to relinquish his favorite toy, so giving it over to you is a sure sign of gratitude.

8. Your dog is constantly smiling

You can see it not just in the shape of her mouth, but in the way his eyes beam and his ears perk up when you enter a room. Even during the most mundane of activities, like when you're just sitting on the couch reading a book or talking on the phone, he's "all smiles" in your direction.

9. He’s always inviting you to play

Dogs have all sorts of funny ways to initiate play with other pups and, of course, their favorite people. The “playbow” is a common move that you’re probably familiar with—front legs and head down on the floor, butt and wagging tail up in the air. If you see this move every day (or several times a day), you can rest assured that you have one happy doggo!

10. Your dog snuggles up close at night

A grateful dog may cuddle as close as possible while you sleep. And in the morning, instead of jumping up early for food, he may delay eating to get a little extra snuggle time. No complaints there!

28/09/2022