DogWoodDogsChicago

28/11/2024

How the Pug got chosen over that stunning Giant Schnauzer in the 2024 National Dog Show for Best in Show, is beyond me. Sigh.

26/11/2024

PLEASE SHARE: LOOKING FOR A LAP FOR KEEPS.
Meet WYATT OREO EARP, a name born of his coloring and outlaw handlebar mustache.

Wyatt wants to be part of the in-crowd, but doesn't know how. You've got your active playful cats and then you have your all-day lap cat. The latter is Wyatt.

Wyatt is a failed TNR cat who tricked me. Hyde Park Cats trapped, neutered, and returned him outside, since at the time he didn't seem to want to be an indoor cat. Apparently, Wyatt's changed his mind.

Early this summer, Wyatt frequented my back porch feeding station, but he never showed up when other cats were around. Alone, he'd stare through our glass door, plaintively and sadly, as if to say, "I don't think I like being out here anymore?" Finally, in November, he just walked into the cat carrier with food and I shut the door; he quietly ate his food without a trace of panic. Wyatt was ready.

Wyatt's Likes: Head pets. Warm laps. Warm chairs. Warm beds. Warm couches. Canned cat food. Looking deeply into your eyes. Thinking and considering. Giving love nibbles. Following you around. Supervising.

Wyatt's Dislikes: People carrying large objects. Strangers who don't have food. High-sided cat litters. Other cats. Fish.

Wyatt's whatevers: vacuum cleaners, brooms, music, mirrors, televisions, cat toys, guinea pigs, water bowls, and computer keyboards.

Wyatt was abused by other outside cats. With the right introductions over a long period of time, he might learn not to be stressed by other cats/dogs. When Wyatt is stressed, you only know by the fact that he breathes very heavily. He quietly panics inside and looks vacuous. Every once in awhile he will hiss once, but it's almost silent, like he doesn't want to offend anyone.

Wyatt is a laid-back. He doesn't rip or claw anything. He doesn't eat strange things. He doesn't pull stuff apart. He doesn't wake you up at 3:00. a.m.. Wyatt looks out the window at interesting things, shadows you, and bumps you to pet him. Wyatt will greet you when you come home, insist upon being fed immediately, and then follow you around, obliging you to let him sit in your presence or on your presence.

Wyatt lives in my office with the Guinea Pigs until someone claims him for Christmas.

Wyatt is Neutered, FIV/FLV/Heartworm Negative; Rabies Vaccinated; Microchipped. He's about two years old and needs some more weight. Contact Elizabeth Emelene Jefferis at (773) 234-2894 for more info.

09/11/2024

01/11/2024

Just saying...

24/09/2024

Every client who has an unknown breed should get an Embark DNA test WITH health markers.

Heck, even if you have a purebred dog you should get one.

It's hard to know what type of enrichment to offer your dog without knowing the breed. Enrichment is the first line of defense against a dog behaving poorly. Bored Dogs create behavior problems and reactivity. I'm going to develop a different enrichment plan for a dogwood terrier versus hound versus retriever blood.

Also, I've had clients find out that their dogs have mild to serious health concerns even when they are purebred. A reputable breeder has already done DNA testing, but you should do your own. Once or twice, Doodles have not turned out to be the combo the breeder claimed!

What breed is your dog? Learn their breed mix and screen for health risks with an Embark Dog DNA Test. Knowledge is key to giving your dog a happy, healthy life.

23/09/2024

You can even see it in the photos advertising the training business. The dogs' expressions are clearly showing stress and the dogs are leaning AWAY from the person holding the leash. If you feel apprehensive about the trainer or you don't feel good about what they're asking you to do to your dog, then perhaps listen to your gut.

05/06/2024

The comment is from a friend of mine, Cheryl Goede. I couldn't say it better. Why vets aren't trained in sterilization methods that DON'T remove s*x organs is beyond me.

"Dear vets.... I LOVE you guys. I am one of your biggest supporters out there. But. PLEASE stop 👏 pushing 👏 early 👏 spay and neuter. 👏 It is BAD for the dogs and bad for the GSD breed. Every single litter I get a buyer telling me "my vet suggested I spay/neuter my puppy by 6 months" or "after first heat" etc. The information is outdated. The benefits of pediatric spay/neuter do not outweigh the risks for the health of the dogs."

EXCELLENT CHART BE BREED AND BY FEMALE/MALE.
https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/1322276/fvets-11-1322276-HTML-r2/image_m/fvets-11-1322276-t001.jpg?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2V9llpCS5w3RVnLw07grVr2rEFtFPiNqvl2h7Xr5gY5N961YyZNNA5RJE_aem_AUbldmbsJpGPMu--nF4ub0z4O0d1x_a6AbKYMLYQK_CvBaI1NpqWNMNMJrIQtm_ucgNN3ER4USwlRqBCNEWYpccD

Here is the short version of the peer-reviewed research article.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-or-spay-your-dog

03/05/2024

Ok the things I could do with your little overachiever.

27/04/2024

Catch more of what they're doing right and you'll see less of what they're doing wrong.

I provide in-home dog training from Chicago's South Loop down to Calumet.

08/04/2024

What do you use? We use our own plates for food and wash them after every use, like we would for ourselves. We use stainless steel bowls for water. What do you use?

27/02/2024

Are you getting a puppy or do you have a puppy that picks up and puts everything in the mouth parts? This is my puppy. Desi (Please excuse the name on the bed that she stole, after stealing a pill bottle). Desi is now five. I leave bags of food and treats at ground level and it's never a problem. There are ways you can make the mouthing-of-all-items behavior worse or better. And that way is counterintuitive! It's against your instinct! You let them grab it. There. I said it. He'll let them grab it. You do not chase them or yell at them, in short, you don't give them the attention and teach them that grabbing particular things will get your undivided focus. There's a lot more to it than this, but that's a start.

24/02/2024

Everyone in bed Saturday at 9:30 am. Guess I should get them out to potty... In 28°.

I provide in-home dog training from Chicago's South Loop down to Calumet.

17/02/2024

Welcome to having a puppy....And their world of biting.

From Valleys Dog Behaviour And Training

THIS IS A PSA

Puppies bite. They bite a lot. They bite hard. Their teeth are sharp. You might bleed. It might seem relentless.

Scaring the pants off them by yelling, pinning, shoving or shouting will not only do precisely zero, it will potentially create a fearful adult dog.

Puppies bite more when;
They are tired
They are hungry
They are bored
They are overstimulated
They are teething

Read that again. They bite MORE when they are the above. They will also bite when they are absolutely fine. They are dogs not dolls.

Be compassionate not scary. They will grow out of it but only if you teach them a good alternative. Trade for toys. Use a pen or a crate. Teach calmness. Reward gentle interactions. Grit your own teeth and ride it out while reinforcing good stuff and proactively managing bad stuff.

Be proactive when you know biting happens like after some play, when excitement goes up, when they are overtired (7-9pm witching hour anyone?) and give them a good chew or help them settle, or channel that energy into some training.

It does get better basically. Don’t panic. Most puppy biting isn’t aggression. Be CONSISTENT and PROACTIVE and expect more than a few bites along the way.

Signed,
Aalto the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (aka the ginger shark)