Speaking Dog: Puppy Playtime

You don't have to be a dog person to get a kick out of watching puppies or dogs play. It's just so cute, and it's a guaranteed method of eliciting a few chuckles--that is, unless you're soulless of course. ;) Thus, with exception to those who have been captured by dementors, you're likely to enjoy and devote time to A LOT of puppy playdates. :) Playtime is invaluable for puppies to learn appropriate social behavior in the canine world. Good playing enhances bite inhibition, develops communication skills, and maintains friendly responses to other dogs. However, keep an eye out for bad play behavior that can lead to adolescent aggression or serious injury. To start, here are a few basic facts:

1. Puppy play is a wonderful means of socialization. If marathons of the Dog Whisperer or the stacks of Puppy How-to's have taught us anything, it's that socialization is key. During the formative months of his life, socialization will develop Fido's character, temperament, and behavior towards other dogs and other humans. Socialization will affect how your dog will relate not only to you and your family, but also to strangers, other dogs, and his environment.

2. For dogs, the objective of their play is to give and receive as many intermittent bites and nips as possible. Weird right? For us humans, the objective of our playing is to win. We strive to assert superiority over our "playmates" when we participate in sports, board games, video games, etc. It's hard to grasp the idea that the goal of puppy play is actually give-and-take!

3. Puppies are rude. Rude, rude, rude. They are still learning the most basic of social skills. You may see them attempting to goad other dogs into play by persistently nipping at the neck and/or ears, reaching their paws over the neck of another dog, or excessively barking at another dog. Some adults are less tolerant of rudeness and may correct your puppy. Corrective action is a quick snap to the nose, where the adult bites down on the muzzle of the puppy. It's probably one of the least pleasant things you'll see or hear, so try to keep your puppy from getting into trouble by watching out for him and telling him "no" when he's getting too impertinent. If he persists, remove him from the situation. :)

4. After reaching maturity (usually 2 years), dogs tend to be less inclined to play. Not all dogs are the same, but after reaching this point, they are less likely to befriend new dogs and instead prefer to socialize among their established friends. Sounds like us humans, right? :)

Geroff me!

Good play consists of:

Balanced play where both dogs are participating and obviously having fun (as opposed to one dog attempting to force another to interact).

Mutual inviting play gestures such as bowing, tail wagging, and play pouncing.

A sense of carefree inhibition exhibited by relaxed/loose bodies that look inefficient and silly. :)

Chase! This is Leo's favorite game. Chasing is a manifestation of sharing and give-and-take play so long as one of the dogs isn't running scared or into hiding. If the latter occurs, interrupt the play.

Inappropriate play consists of:

Ganging up on another dog






Neck biting/collar grabbing

Mounting another dog. This is the easiest way to start a fight.

Body slamming





Pinning

Placing the head over the shoulders of another dog. This is a direct challenge to fight.

Possessiveness or aggression during tug-of-war. Otherwise, this is completely appropriate and fun!

If your dog is showing signs of inappropriate play behavior, interrupt play by rapping him on the head and saying "no" firmly. If he doesn't get the point after four or five times, remove him from the situation to avoid any potential conflict.

Have fun! If you have any cute pictures of your dog playing that you would like to share, please send them to me at ruffandtumbleblog@gmail.com! I'll be sure to include them in another post! :)

The Dog Days of Summer

Summer's finally upon us! While you're busy dusting off the barbecue and breaking out the bathing suits, don't forget that summer is also the best time for your dog to learn to swim! Swimming is the easiest and most effective way for Fido to beat the heat, so he'll be a lot more willing to get into the water. Many people (including myself initially) mistakenly assume that all dogs are naturally predispositioned to swim and that once they get in the water, they'll do it and enjoy it. Unfortunately, that's not always the case, and simply tossing your dog into a pool or a lake will likely make him hate the water forever. It took Leo almost a month to discover that he really really loves to swim. We hope this post will help your dog discover his love for the water, too!

Can I get in yet?

For this post, we documented one of Leo's friends, Amadeus, in his quest to conquer the water. Deus (day-us) is a scrappy 3.5 month old Siberian Husky male who is always keeping Leo on his toes. :)

Deus

Hi, friend!

QUICK TIPS:

• It's much easier to get Fido into the water when he sees other dogs swimming around. Dogs don't like to be left out of fun, either!
• If your dog is nervous, wading into the water with him will make him feel less frightened. You're his security blanket, after all! But whether you elect to join him is entirely up to you. 
• Some dogs take to the water REALLY quickly. Others take a lot longer. Your dog's breed combined with the level of his desire to cool off in the water will dictate how long it takes him to get comfortable with the idea of swimming...so don't give up too soon! :)

The following steps most likely aren't all necessary for your pooch. Leo was pretty nervous at first, which is why it took him so long. The following summarizes the month it took to teach him to swim...but it only took Deus a day!!

1. It's easiest to start at a lake or a pond, where there is an incline into the water so that your dog can gradually wade in. Be sure your dog has had all his shots before getting into the water. Stairs leading down to water (like a pool), are much more intimidating, and you'll be less likely to achieve your goal: a happy filthy wet dog.

Zoolander's got nothin' on me!

2. Initially, your dog might shy away from the water, or gingerly stretch his head to take a drink while ensuring that his paws stay dry (the coward!). At this point, you should already be in the water facing him. Say his name, pet him...anything to make him feel like you being in the water is normal and that him being near the water with you is no cause for concern.

3. If he is still really anxious, don't force it. Tell him what a good boy he is, get out of the water, and continue on your way. You can come back another day!

4. Only when you see him start pacing back and forth along the edge of the water (maybe whining) should you consider getting your dog into the water. Keep in mind, there's a difference between fear and nervousness. If his ears are pulled back and his tail is tucked, do NOT force your dog into the water. If he is standing by the edge of the water, and he seems like he wants to get in, then that's your cue to help him out.



5. Gently take his front two paws and place them into the water. He'll immediately back away, but if he doesn't run away and comes back to the edge, try it again. If he does run away, chalk it up to a good effort, and come back some other time! :)

6. After he gets comfortable with standing in water, you can start encouraging him to venture into deeper areas. Do so by finding a stick that's lying around somewhere. As mean as it sounds, start taunting him with it until he really really wants it. Toss the stick a couple of feet from the edge of the water. If he goes to it, he'll likely bring it back so he can chew on it. Take the stick and throw it a little further than before. If he doesn't go after it, no problem! Just find another one and don't throw it as far.

7.  Keep throwing the stick out further and further until he it reaches a point in the lake where he cannot stand, and he has to start paddling. Once he comes back to shore, toss the stick again...and hopefully he'll know to swim after it! :)

Swim buddies

Getting wet is a really great way to keep your dog from overheating in the summer. Deus and Leo both have double coats, which makes them incredibly heat sensitive and far more prone to heat stroke. On hot days, always be sure your dog has access to water to drink (and swim in!) and shade to chill under.

Weird phenomenon: Almost always after dogs get wet, you'll notice that they will have a sudden burst of energy...and playtime is on!

Swimming Pools

A lot of people wonder whether swimming pools are safe for their dogs to splash around in. The answer is...YES! So long as the chlorine levels of the pool are regulated and you hose off your dog thoroughly after his swim, pools are GREAT alternatives to lakes. Chlorine can cause itchiness that can lead to hot spots (skin infections) only if you fail to rinse off your dog. As for ingesting the water, do not worry about chlorine poisoning. The amount of chemical in the pool will not make your dog ill. But don't just take my word for it! We've asked a couple of vets and other dog owners. Check with your vet, too!

Good luck! Doggie swimming is SO MUCH FUN! We hope you have a blast this summer with your pooch. :)

Speaking Dog: The Basics Pt. 3

Mochi
"The Gangsta"

Dogs have different personalities. Okay, so you got a purebred, and the standard description for his breed indicates that he will be friendly, playful, eager to please, quiet, and love children. Dogs are bred for certain personality traits, but that doesn't mean there isn't variation among them (thank you Mr. Darwin). Expecting your dog to live up to that kind of standard is unrealistic and unfair to him, not to mention disappointing for you. Embrace his quirks and/or flaws! 

Moreover, not every dog can be trained the same way because his unique personality may have him respond differently to a particular disciplinary action. Dogs who are more sensitive or skittish (like Leo) might do better with a time-out rather than physical correction. Learning about who your dog is, not just as a pet, but as another soul is one of the most rewarding parts of being an owner. Applying his little personality nuances to your interactions with him will make it that much more fun! :)

Basil
"The Snugglebug"



Lexi
"Miss Independent"

Wallie
"The Rebel"






Mocha
"Gramma"



Leo
"Socrates"





 

Momo
"The Princess"

Speaking Dog: The Basics Pt. 1

Let me be the first to say that I'm no dog behaviorist or expert when it comes to dog talk. Let's just say though, that it's a language you'll most definitely pick up as you spend more and more time with your dog(s). Supplement the awkward confusing "conversations" you've had with Fido with a couple of books written by PhDs, and swap stories with fellow dog lovers and you'll find your English-Dog Translation Dictionary a whole lot bigger. For now, suffice it to say that your dog is never intentionally trying to tick you off---and if he's being cute...well that's not too intentional either. They're trying to learn our language just as much as we're trying to learn theirs. To get a head start, here are a few basics that will hopefully save you and your dog some frustrating initial training sessions and/or future headaches.

Brotherly Love
Basil & Leo

1. Dogs are pack animals. It's one of the reasons we love them so much. They love giving and receiving attention as much as we do. The key difference is how we humans have structured our societal/cultural norms and mistakenly expect the same of our dogs. Where we tout egalitarianism and strive for equality, dogs still work (and thrive) within the medieval norms of hierarchy. Dogs are most content when they know where exactly they stand in the pack order. Discipline and consistency will help him learn that you are his alpha. Even when your heart breaks a little each time you discipline him, just keep in mind that he's going to be happier in the long run. When the pack order is ambiguous and uncertain, it'll be exhausting for your dog to constantly try to figure out where his place is in your home. This can also lead to behavioral problems later when you're attempting to train a dog who doesn't respect you.

Say Uncle!
Wallie & Leo

No, Really...Say UNCLE!
Wallie & Lexi

Chillin' with the gang
Leo, Mocha, Lexi, Basil, & Wallie