I can certainly relate. I've gone thru this exact thing with the last 2 puppies i introduced into the pack. The male top dog of the pack wouldn't have anything to do with the new pup for a couple of months. He would growl and snap at them and come to me and pout. I just left them alone and the puppy learned to stay away from the "meanie." But in time they became best of friends. I just ignored their interaction. I would not scold Jackson for trying to establish the rules with the new puppy, unless you really fear that Jackson will truly injure Clancy.But i'm assuming Jackson has been properly socialized and in general gets along with other dogs. Allowing Jackson to establish the dog-to-dog rules is something that must be done before he'll accept the new puppy. Don't dote over Clancy in front of Jackson. I would have my husband take the older dog out for a walk which he loved and made him feel special because the puppy couldn't go. Then when he wasn't home, i could dote over the new puppy as much as i wanted because he wasn't there to watch. You might try that with Jackson and Clancy too.
There's a chapter in my book, "Help! My Dog has an Attitude" that specifically addresses this issue as well as other issues that may arise between them as Clancy gets a little older.
 

Gwen-
We have a 3 yr-old Boston Terrier. He is a dream and has been crate trained all along. Lately he is becoming very pensive about going into his crate. He shudders and sometimes hides. Our schedule and routine have remained the same. I cleaned and washed all of his bedding. This doesn't happen every time it's time for him to go in the crate but often enough for it to be a problem. Any advice? I am worried since this is unusual. Thanks, Megan
 

It sounds like he just needs a reminder or refresher that the crate is a rewarding, secure and wonderfully exciting place for him.
For a week or so, I would feed him every meal in his crate. All treats and toys are dispensed from the crate. Have him go all the way to the back to get the treat and make him turn around to exit. As soon as he turns around give him several more treats. Lavish him with attention and praise and goodies when he is in the crate and ignore him when he is out of the crate. Once he's back to "normal" it's a good idea to remind him of this now and then so his aversion doesn't return. I'm assuming that on those occasions when he doesn't want to go into his crate, that everything else about him is normal - ie: he isn't sick or anything like that.
 

Dear Gwen,

I have a very friendly border collie mix who is so sweet to everyone, and very gentle. I think she'd make a great therapy dog, but I live in a smallish town and I don't think there are any clubs or groups around here that do that sort of thing. What I want to know is, how does one get started in therapy dog training, and is there special certification needed? I think Bella would be fantastic to go to nursing homes and hospitals, but how do I get started, and what special areas should I focus on with her training? Thanks
-Josh
 

Josh
Google "Delta Society Therapy Dogs" and that should at least help you find the home page of one of the organizations who can help you.
 

I am having the same sort of issues that Clancy & Jackson's owners are having, but another questions about it. I am a single parent with a 12 year old female dog. My male dog passed away in September. The male dog was the dominant dog, but the female was always trying to test him. So when it came down to just her and I wanted to get another puppy, I thought I would get one that was young so she could be dominant. Now that I have the puppy, I don't think she knows how and is not stepping up to the plate like I thought she would. It's only been 5 days. Will it come or is she just going to be the non-dominant type?

Thanks, Joan
 

Hi Joan,
It will either come on it's own or perhaps she is realizing that she really isn't the dominant type. This isn't something you can force or often even predict. Let us know what eventually happens. It's fairly normal for an older dog to be extremely tolerant of a new puppy and it looks like they are not being dominant. But once the puppy settles in and gets a little more mature, then the older resident dog takes a stronger dominant position.
 

Hi Gwen,
I have an 8-month old miniature schnauzer, Biko, and am experiencing two problems with him:
1. When one of my friends visits he urinates, every single time. He never does it with me or anyone else. I'm not sure whether it's submissive urination or excitement. He gets extremely excited when certain people visit but doesn't urinate. On the other hand he wags his tail and jumps up to say hello, so I wouldn't have thought it was submission. Your thoughts would be appreciated in the interests of keeping my friend's shoes clean!
2. Biko used to love his food, wolfing it down in less than a minute. However for the past week or so he's been extremely disinterested in his food. I've been putting it down for 15 minutes each morning and evening and taking it away if he doesn't eat it in that time. He's not too interested in treats either, although he'll eat a bone. The funny thing is that although he's eating less than half of what he used to, he hasn't lost any weight. The vet nurse says this is his way of being a rebellious teenager - do you agree?

Thanks very much for taking the time to help out inexperienced pet owners like myself - it is very generous of you.

Sam
 

Hi Sam,
Maybe your friend with the "wet" shoes is somehow intentionally feeding into Biko's excitement. He could just be really really happy to see this individual. I'd ask your friend to ignore Biko and see if that helps calm him down some.
You could also put Biko on leash when you know your friend is about to arrive, then hold him back just a few feet away from your friend's shoes and ask your friend to tell Biko to "sit" and then give him a treat. (Biko, not your friend, altho perhaps they both could use a treat. (smile) Maybe by giving them a different greeting ritual, eventually the over-stimulation will go away and Biko will calmly sit to say hello to his special friend. Be sure to have treats ready to hand to your friend so he/she can give it to Biko when Biko sits. #2: First make sure there is no health issue and that his teeth are fine. Sometimes if a tooth was having trouble coming in (and he's the right age for that) it could be causing pain and making him not want to eat. Another possibility is that he is hitting adolscence, but i don't think it's rebellious behavior, i think it may be more a change in his metabolism. At this age for his breed, there are appetite changes as he is not growing like a weed anymore. So he's burning less energy and requiring less food. If he isn't sick and his teeth are fine, then i'd just cut back on his food. However, if you are feeding him steak and lobster when he isn't eating his regular chow, then maybe he is manipulating you. However, i doubt that is the problem. Another thing i just thought of - One time my dog refused to eat and she was a chow hound. she'd eat styrofoam if i put it in her bowl. Apparently something was wrong with that particular bag of food. When i smelled it, it had just a very fine hint of an unusual odor - it didn't smell spoiled, just had a strange scent and my dog must've known something was "wrong" with it. I tossed the food out and bought another bag. She ate just fine.
 

Hi Gwen,
Thanks so much for the advice - I'll definitely try it out when Natasha next visits. She drove me to pick up Biko when I first got him and I actually think he saw her before me, so perhaps that's why she has a special place in his heart.

Regarding the food, no he definitely isn't getting any steak or lobster - if he doesn't eat he just gets offered the same thing at the next mealtime. What you said about the bag of food is very interesting - the problem started around the time I got a new bag. I'll try him on another one and see what happens - looks like there goes 33lb of expensive food! If it isn't that, the metabolism thing makes a lot of sense in light of how he's been behaving - it just doesn't seem like rebellion, especially as he's continuing the behaviour despite getting no 'reaction' from me in the form of special food or treats.

If I'm not pushing my luck I have one more question - Biko barks when he's on leash and sees another dog he can't get to. He's definitely being friendly and just wants to go over and say hello, but most people think he's being aggressive and give me dirty looks while herding their dogs and children away. I always tell him off when he does it but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I've also told him to sit in the hope that he'd stop barking and I could give him a treat for the positive behaviour, but he keeps on barking while sitting. Your advice would be much appreciated - we live in a very dog-friendly neighbourhood (I'm in Melbourne, Australia) where I can take him into the bookstore, drugstore, post office, etc - but I don't like to do so if he's going to bark at other dogs (and sometimes small children - he doesn't seem to know the difference!).

Thanks again for taking the time to share your doggie wisdom with total strangers. I'm sure hundreds if not thousands of pooches have a better life because of your generosity.

You must be getting really excited about your new puppy being born next week - look forward to seeing pics and hearing all about her.

Cheers
Sam
 

Hello Sam and Biko,
thank you for your kind words. and yes i am beside myself with anticipation of my new puppy! Does Biko have any doggie friends that you can go for a walk with? Perhaps the presence of another doggie friend will reduce the excitement of seeing other dogs while on walks. I know what you mean about his behavior scaring people. For some reason dogs on leash or behind barriers like fences just display behavior that is often misinterpreted as aggression, but usually it's just excitement. If he could have contact with the other dog, most likely they'll both sniff each other in doggie fashion, perhaps play for a few seconds and then be ready to move on. But finding someone who will want to cooperate is the problem. I was thinking that if you could meet one of his doggy friends at one of these public locations, people could observe his behavior when he sees his friend, and then note that he's friendly once they make contact. That would increase their confidence and perhaps won't be so leary to let Biko approach and say hello to their dog. But of course the draw back is that then Biko is rewarded for barking by getting to play with the other dog. So with that thought, maybe it's best to work on teaching him to "be quiet." Of course if you practice at 5 ft away from the other dog, you will most likely not succeed. So you'll have to start working with him at a great enough of a distance that you can get his attention. (that's when you use the steak and lobster) Then gradually work closer and closer to the distraction. I'm sure you must've already read the Barking article on my website so you know the procedure.
And remember, he is a mini schnauzer and they do typically bark alot. Being so tiny and adorable, I can't imagine people being fearful of him. What happens if you pick him up and continue to approach the other dogs or children? Maybe that would help make the people less afraid. When my dog is small enough to pick up, i usually pick her up and hold her so that children can pet her and not be afraid. Eventually when she's too big, i just squat down on the ground with her and sort of body wrap her with my arms (like i'm hugging her from the back while she's sitting). This alleviates peoples fear as well and then they''ll allow their kids or dog to approach. But if he's wiggling and worming and squirming in your arms, that might just frustrate him as well and people might now think that not only is Biko aggressive, but he's uncontrollable. Gee, i guess that isn't very encouraging is it? sorry. I think with repetition and training, he'll get better. Maybe a dog training class would be helpful because at least it'll give you the environment to work with him around other dogs. Those owners will not be so judgemental because they're probably also there because their own dog has some issues. And once he behaves you can reward him with allowing him to play with the other dog. And you'll also have the instructor right there to assist you.
Schnauzers may be known for their barking, but they are also extremely intelligent.
 

Hi Gwen,

You are right - as soon as Biko gets to say hello to the other dog he wags his tail, sniffs their butt etc - in other words his bark is just to signal that he's excited to see them and wants to say hello. I do take him to obedience school and he barks when he sees the dogs from afar but then is quiet the rest of the class. We also go to a dog park almost everyday and he doesn't bark at all there, because he's off leash and can go say hello. I'll try your suggestions and see what works, meanwhile there's always the hope that he'll grow a little less excitable as he grows older. He is pretty good with the "enough" command when he barks when the doorbell rings and overall hardly barks at home.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the "off" bag of dog food - that was exactly it. I gave Biko some other food that I had and he ate it just fine. To confirm the 'diagnosis' at the next meal I offered him his usual food and he wouldn't eat it, then I gave him the other food and he wolfed it down. Poor little guy, I've been giving him spoiled food and he's had to eat it if he's hungry enough - shame! Thanks again for enlightening me - if I listened to the vet I'd be continuing with the same food thinking Biko is being rebellious :o(

The incident has taught me two important lessons - (a) to listen to my instinct (I was so sure Biko wasn't acting up) and (b) to seek help from an expert dog lover and trainer such as yourself. Bless you again for making that possible.

Best regards
Sam

PS I had a good laugh when you said your chowhound would eat anything including styrofoam - the other day the zipper broke on a beanbag and the styrofoam spilled out everywhere - the next day when cleaning up Biko's poop I thought he had some weird disease, till I realised all those white bits were pieces of styrofoam!
 

Hi Sam and Biko,
thank you again for your kind words and for sharing this latest post with us. I got a big smile and laugh from your styrofoam experience. Keep us posted on how you're both doing and never hestitate to ask a question or just share your stories. I may or may not know the answer, but i'll always share what i've learned from my experiences and i'll always be honest. Soon i'll be yakking on and on about my new puppy. thanks again. gwen
 

Hi Paula and Gypsy,
yes, let us all know your blog address and let me know what service you use. Maybe i just need to find the time to sit down and figure out how to post pictures, because as soon as my pup arrives, i'm sure i'll have tons of them. And i would be honored if you put a link to my site on yours. Thank you.
Sounds like all is progressing well with your training. I also do the flat hand over the muzzle and it works really well.
When my pup pops, i'll definitely post it as a new topic, but then i have to wait 7 weeks before i can bring her home. But i'm busy planning an outdoor grassy area for her. I have to have a fence built and install probably artificial turf. There are several really good products available these days. And i have to get more baby gates, etc. And i'm going to plan several puppy parties for her so i can introduce her to many people and hopefully children too. And then there's all the visits to my friends homes with dogs. So much to do..... especially the first few months. I'll never get that window of oppt with her again, so i have to do alot during that short period of time.
 

Hi Gwen,
Mommie to be…. v..v
Oh yeahs, I know how I have scrambled around to set up for my little squirt. I Still probably should do more but just figuring it all out… is my problem. Tho, Thank God, I have felt some of my natural instinct kick in. Boy still don’t know what I am doing half the time lol.

Yes, 7 weeks will really go by faster then you think... Oh, Maybe that is where I just getting older... time does fly by to fast for me now. hahaha You will have to get busy... But, I know you will have so much fun... it is just like getting a nursery ready.

I was a foster parent maybe that is why I figure out how to make acommendations FAST.
I will post on my blog the pictures of my puppy-stop-gates… ok wow I thought for sure my site would come in as a highlight link… it is ok. I am with the same service you’re using… I got curious and was checking out blogging… You definitely can tell this ole’ gal isn’t ever at a loss for words… hehehe So thought I would see about it and would be fun to do for gypsy a lil site, have a lot of family and friends whom live so far away that they could be shared her progress and pics… Thanks for giving me the idea… I have figured out how to post pictures… (let me know if you want me to help you on how to post pictures… ok I will help you on what I have figured out ) ck my site out it is in the early stages but guess now as good as time to show you… it I am kinda wadding into this blind but here it is will add more as I go on the other details and stuff. Ok… Thank you for allowing me to add your site as favorites.
(It might have the link this time up there where it says
"xxxxxxxxxx said...."
we will see ok.
Here is the site address…
http://littlemsgypsy.blogspot.com/

That is a wonderful idea to set her up with artificial turf inside.… I never thought of that… but as I admit, It has been a very very long time since having a puppy ( or even grown dog)

Today Gypsy figured out where her water comes from… and maybe her food… She was telling me she is ready… while in kitchen… she kept looking at sink and counter and raising and barking… She has been watching me apparently seeing what Id be doing. Then get her food and water. I was picking up a couple things before starting preparing her meal… I was surprised she was telling me she was ready…

I have a question… I hope you don’t mind so many questions from me. My one cat the youngest kinda acts like he really wants to play but still is really afraid of her… I don’t know how to get them to play… with out her overwhelming him… I tried to use a string but she moves so fast around him he spooks and beats all to get out of there then .. ( kitchen… ) I hope I am not creating a problem by allowing him to come into the kitchen, to observe… but he keeps on getting up on the table and counters… Which is a normal “No No.” When he is on the floor she does do the playful bounce to him .. But he is taking that as a threat. Then wants to swat her. He does still have all his claws… He isn’t hissing as much… but do I let them work it out themselves or what? I have told him “No No… Easy Hobie” when She yelped… Don’t know if this is as easy as mixing 2 cats together. lol
I will close for now…
Please Keep Us Posted on your Bundle of Joy…
Did you pick out a name yet?
Paula and Gypsy.
 

Gwen,

We have a 14 month old Sheltie that has started to "shut down" during walks. Suddenly, he will just stop walking and sit or lay down. If I give a quick tug on the leash and say, "Come on Tucker." He will continue walking. This happens several times on a 20 min walk. I think that he got a scare last fall on a walk when there was some construction going on and it scared him. He didn't do it before then and has done it every time since. We know he loves walks - we have taken him on several hikes (up to 8 miles) and he just loves them. What do you recommend?

Mark
 

Hi Mark,
Distraction, distraction, distraction. Use distraction to help Tucker forget what happened that scared him. Shelties are
very sensitive as you know. I would try squeeky toys, a tennis ball, or whatever is his favorite toy and treat. Not just a little dry dog biscuit. I'd wave an entire piece of lunch meat or a hot dog in front of him - not that you're going to give it to him - just break off a very tiny piece to reward him, but just the site of such a huge treat will often help them forget their fear. Also use a happy and exciting tone of voice. If you sound irritated, annoyed or angry, that will only increase his fear. Try avoiding the area where the trauma occurred and going for walks in different areas even if you have to start off by driving just a few blocks away. In addition, the other key to helping Tucker thru this is patience, which i'm sure you have.
 

Hi Gwen. Thanks so much for your site, its been so much help to a first time dog owner! We have a 3 month old sheltie/parson russell mix (we think). Everything is going very well, and she's super sweet. We ran into a neighbor who told us about a dog park close by. When do you think is a good age to let them run around with no leash? I know the experience will be very good for her, and socialize her, but i'm scared of other dog's behavior.
 

Hi Steph,
There are several criteria i would use. First make sure the park is fenced in so she can't escape, second: check it out without her just to see what kind of people and dogs frequent the park. Be sure the owners are responsible in that they are watching their dogs and not just letting them run amok and that they pick up and dispose of their dog's feces. If you see that they aren't paying attention, so if dogs get too rowdy or aggressive they aren't doing anything about it or the park is filthy because no one cleans up, then i wouldn't take my own puppy there. Check the park at different times of day, especially the time of day you think you would be going there as different crowds probably show up at different times. I think you'll be able to find a compatible group. Hang out there for an hour or so without your puppy and ask questions as if you really need answers (you are a first time owner, right?) but in reality you're investigating the people there. Find out if the dogs are all healthy and vaccinated and if the dogs ever get in fights. Ask them what veterinarians, trainers, groomers, etc they use as a way of finding out whether they even take their dogs in for shots and such. That way you won't offend them by outright asking if there dogs are vaccinated. (By the way, i'm assuming your own vet has given the OK for your pup to be out in public areas)
After talking to the people and watching their dogs play i think you will have a better feel for whether your pup will fit in or not. I'm curious and hope you will report back because if your pup is as you guess, the 2 breeds are very different and i'm curious how she will interact with the group. Shelties tend to be shy and the parson very outgoing; should make a wonderful mix. And believe it or not i've actually written a short article called When Should I Let my Dog Offleash that sorta deals with this same issue. You can read it at www.perfectpaws.com/offleash.html. I'm happy that my website is helping you. Thank you.
 

Hi Doug,
Thank you so much for bringing this important issue to my attention. If you return to the article and hit your refresh button you will see that i've rectified the sentence. I need people like you out there to help keep me on my toes. Thank you again. gwen
 

Thanks so much for the advice about the dog park, it seems like a great idea. My neighbor who suggested the park already told me he's never had problems, and all the dogs there are pretty well behaved, and play together well (he has a 5 mo. french bulldog) but I will definitely check it out for myself. And yes, my vet (who happens to be a friend) gave the ok after the next round of shots, which will be this week.
So far I seem to have the best of both breeds! She's real outgoing like a parson. She must run up to anyone and immediately start playing with any dog she sees... which is kind of why i worry. She has no problem running up to dogs that out weigh her by 50 lbs. Even though shes been batted around a bit by bigger dogs, that doesn't keep her down! There are tons of dogs in my building, so everytime we take her out she sees 1 or 2. She also seems very willing to please, as shelties are known for, not stubborn like a parson. I really couldn't ask for more!
 

Hi Gwen
I had to tell you she just loved the electrician that came the other day… He is definitely an animal lover. He couldn’t believe how big she is getting. He thinks really going to get big too. I am so Thankful I am a homeowner and do not have to worry about a landlord suddenly saying that she would tilt the limit on size lol hahaha Speaking of her size. I wonder just how big she will get… Is there a formula to figure out the calculations?

I also forgot to tell you I think it is great you will be able to have time off for when your little fur ball comes home. I am a big believer the more time with our babies is the best all around. For their behavior yes, but their personalities too, for botoh children and pets... but who are we kidding pets are our kids too.

I have been trying to find dog friendly places I can take Gypsy too… I already decided I am not thrilled with the idea of walking her in the neighborhood… Because of the stray dogs… I am afraid one of them may hurt her. Am I understanding this correctly…She needs all her shots to be fully vaccinated before taking her on casual outings and such for her own protection… That her booster shot isn’t enough protection yet?

I also am looking for early puppy classes in my area. Some I have found are quite costly… But still looking. I know, I am teaching her what I can, but feel like Gypsy would benefit from if I could learn more. I don’t want to take to her to a class that they train her. I want to go to a group setting and each of the pet owners train their own dogs with an handler to guide the owners. Or am I imagining there are classes like that?
What age is best if I would be able to find a like ~class that I am looking for?
Yesterday was her 2nd dose of the worming medicine. Next week is her 2nd 5 in 1 shot and Rabies Then late next month will be her 3rd 5 in 1 shot and then spaying) Would that interfere ??? I just don’t want to put to much on her at one time…
She does get a little side tracked but for 12 weeks I think she is doing very well.
I do have an area in the yard I think I am going to block off with a fence to keep her from going back into and keep her more in the main back yard… I have never been able to get grass to grow back there and it is kinda muddy back there… I just can’t seem to keep her from going back there when I do let her off her leash in fenced yard… Wants to Bee ~ Line right towards it. I have tried working with her by using “OFF” but I am not getting it through to her. Hahaha I thinking she may still be to young to let her off her leash… maybe… ???

Well, I know it is about time for me to go take Gypsy out, so I will close for now…
Paula & Gypsy
 

Hi Paula and Gypsy,
I don't know any way to figure out size except usually big puppy paws means a big dog.
but then there are some small dogs with big paws, so that's a tough one.
Seems that everyone has a different idea on when the pup is protected. I suppose the only way to know for sure is to get an antibody titer done. (i was a microbiologist before i became a professional dog behaviorist/trainer) But that's kinda pricey and vaccinations are much more cost effective. When i did puppy classes, the vets let the pups come to class with 2 sets of shots at 10 weeks of age, but my classes were indoors, in a very controlled setting and almost sterile environment and i was very strict about who i accepted into my program. (we were the puppy training snobs, LOL!!!) But 3 sets minimum were required to take the pup to public areas. So..... see what your vet has to say.
I agree that the best kind of class is a group setting where you and the dog go together and the trainer/instructor assists you but basically trains you to train your own dog. Try to find a class where all the dogs in class are in the same age group. For Gypsy, a puppy kindergarten class would be best if anyone offers it.
And don't let her off leash until you read my article and then decide if you should.
it's at www.perfectpaws.com/offleash.html
 

Dear Gwen,

My husband and I recently adopted a 1 year old dog. We already had two others and the alpha dog, Blondie, is getting along fine with one minor exception. The bag of dog food is becoming a point of contention. I have moved it so that neither of them are able to get to it. The other dog, Little One, is clearly jealous of Santos. I have done some reading and incorporated feeding Little One first, petting her first, but she will get aggressive with Santos when I am playing fetch with Santos even when Little One is sitting by my feet with my hand petting her. What am I missing? Will walking her alone help? Thank you. Kristy
 

Hi Kristy,
It sounds like pretty normal adjusting/maintaining of the social structure. I've been thru this it seems like a thousand times, but it's always upsetting nonetheless. If Little One is not actually biting down on Santos or causing the 2 of them to get into an all out fight, I might just leave them alone to work it out. Eventually LO should see that Santos is no threat to her position in the pack and once she feels secure she won't have to keep reminding Santos of it. You could try walking her alone, but i don't think that will change anything, but it's worth a try if it's not too inconvenient. Perhaps LO might interpret your petting her while playing fetch with Santos as a reward for her aggressive behavior. There's a fine line between reinforcing her dominant place in the pack and rewarding her for aggressively acting out her position. So just try to be aware of any intentional and unintentional feedback you might be giving her. gwen
 

Hi GWEN & lil Kaylee girlie
I do have a question, Yesterday morning I fed her nearly a hour before we left. She got car sick... do you have any suggestions to help her?

I know she will be to big for me to carry when she is an adult dog ... If not I would be suprized... I don't like the idea of leash walking her into the vets office... I will have to take a blankie for her to lay on while we wait.
Or put her carrier on rollers ! lol Now that may be a good idea...
I know I must sound silly... I know I probably sound like one of those germ freaks... but guess you can't be to careful. The vet office is very clean... but you know being a microboilogist... how easy something can get passed.

This is why I may have her go ahead and get the shot that is for kennel cough. Because she will be exposed to other dogs from time to time.. not necessarily for the main reason of when she maybe boarded, if I have to go out of town unable to take her with me. Or do you think it is necessary? And if she were to be boarded how long should she have the shot in her system to be effective? Are those a yearly shot? ( There I go again picking your brain :)

Well I best close for now.

Paula & Gypsy
 

Hi there!
I use ginger to prevent car sickness. But it's also good not to feed before a long car ride.
and i'm with you on worrying about going to the vet's office for shots. When i lived in the big city, i arranged house calls. But there are no vets here that will make house calls, except for horses and such.
I'll carry her and hold her in my lap for her entire set of puppy shots.
Then she'll be fine for the annual boosters.
I never give the kennel cough vx and hopefully i'll never have to board her. I suppose you have to ask the kennel what their requirements are and ask plenty of time ahead.
 

I agree with you. I should hasve gotten her fed much earlier before I left. It was kinda of a spur of moment trip... Next time I need to plan better too. OK I wonder how do you give it to her and is it in tablet form or do I get the kitchen type of Ginger. I am all for natural remadies :) I made a note on my blog, doctor said she may grow out of it ( car ~ sickniss... Have you ever heard of that? I hope so *..* That would be great. Because I definately would love for GYPSY to join me on outings. And would be sad if she couldn't go on spur of the moment trips...
( I will ck out the new listed site http://www.tortuerouge.co.uk/v4/site/news/foryourpet.php?NV=3
see if any listed there, later this evening)

I know my neighbor has her vet come out to her house. If I hwould have to resort to this answer, I hope not.
Want to try the ginger first.

lol would ginger ~snaps be a no no. treat size was what I was thinking. but no sure of all the other ingredients that would be in it. I could make some myself that would be healthy lol

I will add It had been 4 hurs since she ate when we went to the vet and she still got car sick :( going, and coming home... I hope we can find a nswer for her...
Thank you for your suggestions, a millionn puppy kisses from Gypsy girlie.
Paula & Gypsy
 

Hi Paula and Gypsy,
i use candied ginger.
you know i have an article on carsickness on my website. It's at www.perfectpaws.com/car.html.
 

Hi Gwen

How is your lil bundle of joy doing? I am hoping you are able to go visit lil Kaylee. Know you must be counting the days down one by one.
I read your article on car sickness. I will definately work with her. Because I want her outings to be enjoyable for her. Poor lil girlie.

I have a silly question... Her first 4 or 5 rides she didn't get sick... Now these last 3 rides she did? The ride she had before she got sick was a play date. She had not gotten sick then...

Thanks for all your help Gwen You are so kind.

Paula & Gypsy
 

Paula and Gypsy,
sometimes it just takes one trip of getting car sick and it becomes habitual problem. And like your vet said, sometimes it just goes away when they get older. One of my pups was car sick for about a year. The ginger helped a lot, but i knew it was the association and not the car motion itself because she would start drooling and shaking before i even started the motor. So we spent many hours just sitting in the car going nowhere until she got over it. And she loved the destination as it was almost always the beach where she would run and swim and play with all her doggy friends.
 

I have a two year old border collie who came from the humane society when he was 7 months. He is a great dog in every way, amazingly docile and quiet in the house,and full of energy when I take him out for a run. He is rather fearful when I walk him near traffic on a city block (hard to avoid as i live downtown). But the real problem with the dog is that he is terrified of getting into the car. I have a big empty space for him in the back of my SUV, which i outfitted with an old sofa cushion, but the dog shakes with fear whenever I want to put him in the car. He should associate the car mostly with happy things...going to the park, going to the cottage, etc so I can't understand why he is so terrified. Any ideas about how I can handle this? Incidentally, he does not respond to food treats when he is feeling nervous so I can't use that as a training mechanism. Thanks. Eva
 

Hi Eva,
you might try sitting in the car with him and not going anywhere. Just sit and bring a book to read or letters to write or bring your laptop. The idea is that you have something to do so that you won't get bored while going thru the tedious process of trying to desensitize him to the car. If it works, he should get the idea that sitting in the car is about as frightening as sitting in your living room. Once calm there, then you can add the next stage and so on. We could speculate all day on why he's nervous but i don't know if we can or need to know why. He just needs to experience the car in a non stressful way and it can take a very long time. You might try the calming Bach Flower Remedy. Give it to him 15 minutes or so before getting in the car.
 

we think our dog has allergies. It is that time of year and for the past three weeks his eyes have been bloodshot. Now you can hear the runny nose he has when he is sleeping. What can we do for him? We are unsure, from where he is getting these allergies but we would like to help him if we could. Thanks Gwen
 

Could be allergies. I had a dog once that had them. the vet put her on doggie antihistamines!! She outgrew them fortunately. Anyway, check with your vet. It seemed pretty easy to treat.
 

Hi Gwen & Kaylee
I wondered how everything is going with you two... Hoping all is ok...

Tonight was Gypsys 2 nd class in puppy class. It is going really well. I am learning some very helpful skills.

I did a update on how her class is going...

I am still working with Gypsy on the car sickness... but is doing better... it isn't a 100% gone. but don't think tonights was as bad. Not getting gross... she did hold down her treats from class.

I believe the candied ginger helped... Thank you again for your terriffic suggestions you have given me.

I am hoping to be taking some more pictures soon... I too and hoping it will dry out and worm up so we can take these outside again. I have noticed the grass is getting some new in it and actually looks like it is startiing to grow!
HAPPY SPRING TIME IS SNEAKING IN... I HOPE... :)
Let us know how lil Kaylee is doing... Oh I have a question... have you been able to pick her out yet? Or are you waiting until you see how they respond and etc confirmation and etc...? I was just wondering...

I can't remember if I told you I was able to get Gypsy a crate of her own. The trainer suggested I get a 36" for her. It has a divider in it to use, until she grows into the right size.

Well I best close for now It is getting lil late.
Paula & Gypsy
 

we are the owners of a 1.4 year old German Shepard male and a 15 week old Border Collie female. These two have gotten along great.
Today we inherited a 8-12 year old Rottie from a deceased relative, as no one else wanted her. Things were hesitantly calm at first. After dinner, however, Beta (the Rottie) went after Taz (the Shepard). While she didn't hurt him and is extremely tolerant of Princess (the collie), we're concerned this is not a good fit. We're her third family in the last 2years; both previous owners died and both were single males who spoiled her to the extent of excessive weight, due to meatball grinders. We have very little knowledge of her actual age or her background, such as socializing with other dogs and children. As we have five children in addition to the two puppies, we're concerned if Beta is too old to adjust to our household. As of right now she appears to be indifferent towards the kids. We don't want to give her up as the only other solution is putting her down or in a shelter but the welfare of the other dogs and kids come first. She doesn't respond to me, only to my husband, which I expected. Our question is, is Beta too old to adjust to our household? Both Beta and Taz are dominant, will they learn to co-exist? Taz doesn't seem to be willing to share his home with an older woman who wants to dominate and Beta thinks she is Queen Bee? How long should we give it before looking for another solution?
 

This is a difficult one. It may be that it will work out just fine once Taz and Beta work out their heirarchy. It's very good news that Beta went after Taz already and inflicted no damage. That's a sign that she has been properly socialized and knows bite inhibition. This is a good indicator that the dogs will all learn to coexist.
Her indifference to the kids is also a good sign in that she's not showing any apprehension or discomfort or unease around them.
In general, Rotties are pretty mellow and dog friendly. Because she is older, hopefully she'll find her place and just settle in. Most dogs at this age sleep most of the time anyway. But i would be very cautious and keep her separated when you can't be mentally or physically present to watch her. Also tell the kids to leave her alone so they don't provoke or annoy her in anyway. She may have some older dog aches and pains.
Since her past has been in households with a single person she will probably prefer a quieter environment. So when there's a lot of commotion and activity and noise in your home, you might just want to keep her in a back bedroom and see if she'll be happier there. She may even seek out a quieter place on her own.
How is Beta's appetite? One way to try to bond with her and get her to listen to you is for you to be the one who feeds her.
Remember that a dog in a new home is always on their best behavior and as they acclimate, their true personalities begin to emerge. So keep a look out for that.
It's difficult to know how long you should give it. If it were me, i'd give it as long as i could emotionally and physically handle it. If the kids are unhappy about her, then they come first, but if they are willing to cooperate, then you have more time. If this were my situation, my concern would be more the kids and i would be pretty confident that things will work out with Taz and Princess.
 

Hey Gwen,
our question now is... how to we go about integrating them into getting used to each other. Right now we have them living on seperate floors or we put one outside and let the other have run of the house. You are right, she hasn't broken any skin and she also hasn't bit down and put her teeth on Taz. I think that Taz is a little bit of a baby and is somewhat scared of Beta because she is really big. She is good with the kids to a point. If you have any other tips on how we can get them used to each other, then we have an open mind/ear to anything. Thanks for all your help and support.
 

oh, i didn't realize you were keeping them separated. I think the biggest issue when we're introducing dogs to one another is OUR comfort level, not theirs. And they pick up on our emotions, so they detect our apprehension, which in turn makes them apprehensive as well. When i'm not sure about how a new dog is going to interact with mine, we start off having them get together on neutral territory so no one has anything to prove from the start. We'll go for a walk (on leash) to a fun area where they can have a good time in each other's presence. Usually they'll associate each other with the fun outing. Then we go back to the house and i always let them off leash together outside just because my dogs would tend to be less territorial outside than inside. If you're still uncertain, then perhaps when you return from the walk, keep Beta on leash with your husband sort of trailing her, so if you feel they need to be separated, he can just grab the end of her leash and pull her out of the situation. If you feel Taz might be the instigator, then you might want to trail him with his leash on. I think Princess will stay out of way.
I'm curious what you mean by ..."to a point" in reference to the kids.
I guess i'm still more concerned about the kids than the dogs. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of cases of dogs integrating nicely and only very rarely have i seen dogs who fight and should not live together. And each of these cases were with 2 young male dogs of the same age and breed. But the story with kids is much different and i worry about them much more.
 

Hi Gwen, My name is Debbie and I have a 6 month old dalmatian. He counter surfs A Lot when we are in the kitchen, preparing, eating or cleaning up after a meal. Is spraying him with a spray bottle the best wayt o break this habit? He is wonderful and sweet otherwise. We just adore him. Thanks for any help.
 

Hi Debbie,
If it works, why not? It's best to try not to let him see you otherwise he'll associate being sprayed with water with you and when you're not looking he may resort to his surfing again. When i'm in the kitchen preparing food or eating, i usually will put my dog in a down-stay so she is not underfoot.
 

My 7 month old lab/retrevier mix, Denali is so afraid of people. I know it has something to do with the fact that when we got him in sept 2005 until feb 2006 he was pretty much cooped up in an apartment. We recently moved into a house but when we had the apartment he had very little interaction with people besides my boyfriends parents and mine. We would take him with us whenever we would visit them. So now whenever people come over or we take him somewhere people that he doesnt know he gets freaked out and hides. He will bark up them but he will still hide and shake with fear. How do we get him to get over his fear of people?
Monica in MI
 

Monica,
Try to have him associate all wonderful things in his life with people. If you act uptight or fearful, he will notice that and also feel on guard. Also be careful that you don't unintentionally reward his fearful behavior.
Training will work faster if he is very hungry and the treats you use are extremely tasty. So i wouldn't use a milkbone, i would use steak, sausage, chicken, cheese, liver, bacon. There should be no doubt in his mind that people are "good luck charms." Whenever they are around, suddenly all these yummy treats and fun toys appear. If he has any favorite toys, try to with hold them until you are outside and people are passing or for when company comes over. If you haven't read my article already it's at www.perfectpaws.com/shy.html.
 

Gwen,
I love your website, I think I've read almost all the posts in all your catergories. Lots of information. I have a 15 month old Shih Tzu, Heidi, and we brought home one week ago, an 11 week old Shih Tzu puppy, Zoey (both females). Everything is going great. Zoey has taken to housetraining at amazing speeds for just being in our house 7 days. And both get along great. My question is this, could you recommend any books that discuss in detail the dynamics of raising multiple dogs? All I have read via the internet and in bookstores is just the introduction of the newest canine family member. That's where the information ends. What about feeding, sleeping arrangements, playtime, training, etc. I would appreciate any suggestions of books or interent pages?
Also, as a footnote, I would like to add what has been sucessful for me to have housetrained one dog, and in the process of housetraining another, I will post a blog in the proper catergory of crate training. Thank you for your time Gwen. Your efforts are appreciated.

Regards,
Danielle Schuman
 

Danielle,
Thank you for you kind words about my website. I haven't read recently anything i could recommend on raising multiple dogs. But keep searching and maybe you can let us know if and when you find it. I have several chapters in my "Help!...." book on bringing a new dog home etc that deals with the behavioral aspects and not just the mechanics. It also deals with fighting and how to prevent it, etc. It may be useful to you .... or not. But at least it is on topic. I also look forward to your posts on your housetraining process. thank you.
 

I have a 41/2 month old lab/golden retriever/collie mix and i'm just wondering when to expect his teeth to fall out? The vet says at 4 months they will come out, but so far, all the puppy teeth remain! Is this normal? Maybe he's a late bloomer.
 

That schedule is sort of a rule of thumb and not an exact science. All my pups have lost their teeth between 4 and 5 months. And it's often difficult to know the exact age of mixed breeds since we often don't know their exact DOB. I also notice that many novice dog owners have a difficult time distinguishing puppy teeth from adult teeth. Often an owner has told me their puppy hasn't lost any teeth and when i look, i see that the adult teeth are already in and they didn't even know it.I always watch the two upper front teeth first as they are the easiest to notice and perhaps the first to change. Sometimes you will notice bloody spots on their chewtoys and this will let you know their teeth are coming out. Also when 2 pups play they leave a bloody mess on each other. People are often alarmed thinking the pups are biting so hard and hurting each other but it's just the bleeding gums from where the teeth have fallen out. Sometimes you can find the teeth on the floor or stuck in the fur of the other pup. I love hunting for puppy teeth. In my classes when i cleaned the floor at the end of the day, i would find several teeth. I saved them in a jar and literally had thousands of them. My jewelry box at home has no jewelry in it but it's filled with teeth from my own pups.
 

German Shepherd Dog Rescue

Please visit their website and join the Discussion Forum at http:/www.torontogsdrescue.org
 

I am a new owner of an 8 week goldendoodle puppy. I am a single mother of three children and one new puppy. I am wondering, before I go out and spend the money, if a pet yard would benefit me. I am crate training her and she is doing well. With the children around, I don't think she needs to have the main floor (hardwoods)to roam. I have been looking into the exercise pens to use indoors when I cannot be supervising her directly. I would still use the crate for house training, sleeping and when we are not at home. When I first brought her home (at 7 weeks), before I had a crate for her, I put her in my bath tub. It is a very large tub but she managed to jump (ie: climb) out. If I were to consider an exercise pen, do you know what kind (ie: mesh, plastic, wire) and at what height it would need to be? Thanks for any help you are able to give me.
Diane
 

i like the xpens made of wire with panels that can be joined together so you can make it as large as you'd like. I usually use one or two walls that are already existing (like the side of the house or garage outdoors and just a plain wall if used indoors) and then use the panels as the other 2 sides of the confinement area. I always use a 6 foot fence outdoors. Some people think it's excessive, but when safety is an issue, i'd rather err on the safe side than take any risks.
 

hey gwen,
do you have any idea about painting dogs nails? Is there a special kind i can buy or can a use my own?
love your site,
Jenny
 

Those that i know who paint their dog's toenails have always used their own polish. I've painted my dogs nails for some occasions like Halloween, and i always used the same polish i use on my nails.
 

We recently brought home our two pride and joys. 2 male Shistzu. We read everything we could find about the breed and decided that this was the breed for us. They are only 7 weeks old but their housebreaking is moving along wonderfully and so far are as well behaved as any puppy could be at their age. The concern we have is we discovered by reading some online articles, (after the fact)that it is a bad idea to get two puppies at the same time. We were so caught up in finding the right breed and learning as much as we could about the breed that we neglected to read up on raising multiple puppies. All of the articles we have found on this topic seem negative to the fact and we would love some feed back either positive or negative.
Please help us understand better the best for our puppies.
 

I'm assuming the article you read online must have told you the reasons for not getting 2 puppies at the same time so i won't repeat that information. While generally it's not a good idea to do so, especially getting 2 males puppies, hundreds of people do it and have no problems. And there are also some advantages. So let's just go in that direction. First you have Shihtzus. They are an extremely gentle and non aggressive breed so the chances of intermale aggression as they get older is much lower than for someone who gets 2 male puppies of a different breed. Second, try to spend time with each of them alone and separate them frequently so that they don't become overly dependent on each other. Let them establish who between them is "top dog," and allow that hierarchy to exist. We often think that dogs in the pack need to be treated exactly the same out of "fairness." But this concept is not normal for dogs and forcing it can often lead to problems. They are still very young so you can start immediately with preventing problems rather than waiting for a problem to arise and then try to solve it. If you have my book "Help! My Dog has an Attitude" there are several chapters dealing with dog to dog interactions that would be relevant and hopefully help you understand natural canine behavior.
 

Hi Gwen:
We have a bit of a situation we hope you can help us with.
We have a 14 1/2 month old King Charles Cavalier.Just before we had her spayed at exactly 6 mths, she started humping her toys(if they were bigger than her).This stopped after she was spayed but at around 11 mths it started again in a different manner. Now she actually does herself!!(haven't seen her use her toys that way in some time now) They tell us it's a dominance thing but why would she dominate herself and how do we make her stop?(We've seen her lay half on her back while at it) Not only can it get embarassing but she putting out a discharge with it on furniture, blankets, whatever she's on at the time.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Thank you!
Nikita's frustraed "Mom & Dad"
 

It would be a good idea to make sure there is no source of
irritation, including a urinary tract infection, that
might provoke the compulsive reaction. A check of
hormone levels can indicate whether both ovaries have
been removed in their entirety.