Fear of Nail Cutting

Swimming, particularly in warm water, can help your dog relax and also drain her energy. If you have a small dog, you don’t even need a pool. You can use a small tub of water. Simply hold the dog by the sides and let her paddle. If your dog is uncertain about the water, start by holding her on an incline, just let her bottom half touch the water. Wait until your dog begins to paddle with his front legs, and then you can slowly lower her front half into the water. If the dog begins to splash around and panic, calmly return the dog to the inclined position again – with the back half of the dog touching the water. Then once the dog relaxes and begins paddling with the front legs again, send her back in! Continue this until she becomes comfortable with the water.

Once your dog has reached the lowest level of energy, begin by holding a paw and presenting the nail clipper to it without cutting anything. Then send her right back into the water to drain even more energy. At the same time, you are softening her nails, so they will actually be easier to trim. Then, after another round of swimming, you present the nail clippers again. This time cut a little bit, just to let her experience it and see her reaction. If she panics, send her right back in for more water therapy, but if the dog remains calm, do the whole foot – and then send her back into the water! This way, you’re not giving the dog time to focus on the nail clipping, instead she is focusing on the water. We are exchanging one challenge for another! Your dog can learn to associate the nail trimmings with the time in between swims that she gets to relax and collect herself.

Keep repeating this process – allow your dog to swim, trim the nails, and put her right back in – until you’ve trimmed all four paws.

I encourage you to visualize the scenario going well before attempting it. Don’t panic or feel sorry if your dog is stressed. Instead, make your dog feel safe by maintaining the calm and assertive energy of a pack leader.

How to Keep Your Dog Busy and Happy

Most pet owners know that dogs need exercise. “A tired dog is a happy dog,” is a common theme among trainers and other professionals. Keeping your dog occupied, however, is more than just a physical requirement. Mental stimulation is just as important for a majority of dogs. Lacking proper physical and mental exercise, a dog is more likely to engage in problem behaviors such as digging, chewing and barking. You have several options for keeping your dog busy, whether you are together or away from your dog

Instructions

               Alone

1. • Fill a toy with treats for your dog. Some toys require the dog to work to get the items out while others dispense them as they roll around. These toys come in various shapes and sizes, and some can even be frozen to make your dog work harder.

   • Place treats throughout the house before you leave your dog alone. In the beginning, let it see where you are putting the items and when it approaches the food, say “Find it!” Soon, you can truly hide the treats and say “Find it” as you walk out, sending the dog on a scavenger hunt while you are gone

   • Rotate the toys that your dog has access to while you are away. Dogs get bored with the same options everyday, just as people do. Have one or two different toys for each day that you work. Your dog learns that it only has a short amount of time to play with it and is therefore more interested in it.

   • Fill a child’s pool with an inch or two of water if your dog remains outside while you are gone. Dogs enjoy playing in water and this can also keep them cool during hot weather.

     Together

     • Train your dog for 10 to 15 minutes each day. In addition to the mental stimulation, it provides a good opportunity to bond while you reinforce good behavior.

     • Teach your dog to shake or roll over. Any type of trick requires mental and sometimes physical exertion on your dog’s part.

     • Play a name game with your dog’s toys. Toss one of its toys just beyond reach and ask your dog to get it by name. Once it knows the name of the toy, add a second toy but still ask for the first. Reward your dog for fetching the proper one; then begin to ask for the other by name. Build this exercise up until you can use all of the toys at once.

     • Create an obstacle course in your yard. Use everyday items, such as tables, chairs, hula hoops and plant stakes, or purchase cones and play tunnels. Guide your dog on leash through the tunnels and cones and over or under the table and chairs until it understands the course on its own.

       Tips & Warnings

       •  Keep an eye on your dog’s toys to make sure they are still safe for chewing. Aggressive chewers should not have toys with small pieces that can be broken off and swallowed.

How to Keep Your Dog Busy and Happy

Most pet owners know that dogs need exercise. “A tired dog is a happy dog,” is a common theme among trainers and other professionals. Keeping your dog occupied, however, is more than just a physical requirement. Mental stimulation is just as important for a majority of dogs. Lacking proper physical and mental exercise, a dog is more likely to engage in problem behaviors such as digging, chewing and barking. You have several options for keeping your dog busy, whether you are together or away from your dog

Instructions

               Alone

1. • Fill a toy with treats for your dog. Some toys require the dog to work to get the items out while others dispense them as they roll around. These toys come in various shapes and sizes, and some can even be frozen to make your dog work harder.

   • Place treats throughout the house before you leave your dog alone. In the beginning, let it see where you are putting the items and when it approaches the food, say “Find it!” Soon, you can truly hide the treats and say “Find it” as you walk out, sending the dog on a scavenger hunt while you are gone

   • Rotate the toys that your dog has access to while you are away. Dogs get bored with the same options everyday, just as people do. Have one or two different toys for each day that you work. Your dog learns that it only has a short amount of time to play with it and is therefore more interested in it.

   • Fill a child’s pool with an inch or two of water if your dog remains outside while you are gone. Dogs enjoy playing in water and this can also keep them cool during hot weather.

     Together

     • Train your dog for 10 to 15 minutes each day. In addition to the mental stimulation, it provides a good opportunity to bond while you reinforce good behavior.

     • Teach your dog to shake or roll over. Any type of trick requires mental and sometimes physical exertion on your dog’s part.

     • Play a name game with your dog’s toys. Toss one of its toys just beyond reach and ask your dog to get it by name. Once it knows the name of the toy, add a second toy but still ask for the first. Reward your dog for fetching the proper one; then begin to ask for the other by name. Build this exercise up until you can use all of the toys at once.

     • Create an obstacle course in your yard. Use everyday items, such as tables, chairs, hula hoops and plant stakes, or purchase cones and play tunnels. Guide your dog on leash through the tunnels and cones and over or under the table and chairs until it understands the course on its own.

       Tips & Warnings

       •  Keep an eye on your dog’s toys to make sure they are still safe for chewing. Aggressive chewers should not have toys with small pieces that can be broken off and swallowed.

TEACHING YOUR DOGS ABOUT POOLS

Well, first things first,   Don’t teach a dog how to get in — teach a dog how to get out!!  That’s the first thing a dog wants to know. A pool is unnatural to a dog. You don’t have to teach a dog how to get into a lake. He knows. It’s gravity. It’s nature, like the beach. He knows, right? But when it comes to a pool, they don’t comprehend the depth in it. The first thing you have to teach him is to put him in the water — you know, hold him in the water.

They’re going to do a lot of splashing, and once they finish the splashing, they’re going to relax, and once they relax, then you let them go so they can go towards the stairs. Then they say, “OK,  no panic voice, just relaxation: then simply say ” Let’s go out.” And so that’s the emotion you want to create, Calm, firm and confident.  Do it two or three times, then leave him alone. That creates the understanding that nothing bad happens in there, and that you and him did it together.

Hope this helps you guys, I have seen a lot of people try to teach their dogs to swim. For the most part dogs come by this naturally ( not all dogs ) so we don’t really need to teach them to swim but simply to understand the pools. Please if you have a pool remember that dogs naturally are afraid of them because they can see the bottom and don’t understand what they see, if your dog shows interest in the pool, by all means teach him, if they don’t then like our children don’t push the issue or you will create a fear of water. Keep it simple and enjoy the summer.

FUNNY AS HELL

Mom while you please just get my ball!!!!!

Dammit, still can’t reach!

Nope, waves didn’t help!

I….Almost…….got…it!!

If only my tongue was a bit longer!!

So today I was out on the deck and was playing with the dogs and dropped the ball in the pool and my bulldog Misses went crazy trying to get it out of the water, she spent a good 45 minutes trying her damnedest but was far from successful. Although she was upset that she could not get the ball I found it funny as hell watching her try, and try. Gotta find your amusement  where you can!