Teaching Our Cairns to Relax

Lowcountry Dog Magazine
by Cindy Carter 9/29/11

It is our job to be advocates for our dogs health; physical, mental and emotional.  Learning what causes stress and teaching our dog the skills needed to cope and relax is our job as their caretakers.

You are lying on a comfy bed taking deep, relaxing breaths, receiving a gentle massage and the cares of the world are receding into the background.  Does this sound like a wonderful spa, where you are pampered and your every wish is indulged?  No, this is the world of a dog that is learning to relax.

Okay, that image may be a little over the top, but dogs, just like humans, need to learn to relax.  We humans tend to over-react and to not think clearly or reasonably when stressed or out of sorts.  Why should our dogs be any different?  While we don’t know exactly how dogs process or feel emotions, there is no doubt that they do have emotions and respond to them.  Stress can play a major role in the lives of our dogs just as in our own, it affects the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our pals.  Unfortunately, they don’t have the verbal language skills to communicate with us, so it’s our job to learn to recognize the canine signals of stress.

Our dogs give us so much, while asking very little in return.  It is our responsibility to learn to communicate with our dogs, providing them with a safe environment in which to live, work and thrive.  Many of us, unless we have a very high strung, possibly reactive dog, never consider that relaxation is important.  After all, what do dogs really have to be stressed about?  They take naps, go for walks, eat well, maybe play agility, rally or flyball, it’s a dogs life, right?  We see our dog hanging out on his bed and think, what a great life.  But is it really, if every time he hears a noise or senses a change in the environment, he feels compelled to jump up and investigate.  Maybe the missing piece in this dog’s life is the ability to relax.

What about the normally well behaved, well trained dog whose skills take a turn for the worse when he is in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, human and/or canine?  Is this a dog that just refuses to do what is asked of him or is it possible that he cannot respond because he is worried or stressed?  Maybe your dog reacts to fast moving objects, the UPS truck or even the vacuum cleaner, by barking or chasing the object.  Or your dog is at the other end of the spectrum, when something or someone new is introduced, he shuts down, unable to interact with others.  In many cases, it is stress that makes a dog unable to respond promptly or correctly when the environment is highly charged or confronted with changes.

So what can you, as a devoted and loving caretaker do to help your dog learn better coping skills?  A good place to start is learning to recognize signs of stress and helping your dog learn to relax.

These are some of the more common stress indicators, but you always need to see the behavior in context, after all a yawn can simply be a yawn.

• Lip licking

• Yawning

• Look away ( head turns)

• Sniffing

• Stiff body

• Dilated pupils

• Drooling

• Sweaty paws

• Tail and ear carriage

There are many other signals but these are fairly easy to spot.

Now, what to do when you see your dog offering these behaviors in a way that is indicative of stress.

1) Remove your dog from the situation

2) Teach your dog to relax

3) Teach your dog a different response

4) Change the emotions behind the response

One excellent tool for changing the emotion and easing stress is this Rocking Dental Chew from Benebone, made in the USA.  Cairns love it and will both quietly lay and chew it or carry it around and toss and shake it.  Either way, a good session with the Benebone Rocking Dental Chew is generally prelude to a peaceful nap!

We can’t discuss everything on the list now, but removing your dog from a stressful situation is important, regardless of where you are in your training plan.  If your dog is stressed by children, bikes, strangers, other dogs, or loud noises forcing him to remain around these triggers only does harm.  It is rarely a good idea to “let the dog get over it”.  Constant exposure to a scary thing typically results in a dog becoming more stressed and fearful, possibly even aggressive when he feels trapped.  If you are afraid of snakes, would being locked in a room with several snakes make you feel better or more afraid?  Of course, there are ways to help our dogs be more comfortable in certain situations, but that discussion is for another time.

Always start in a quiet, low distraction area

Take a deep breath and learn some great techniques to help your dog relax.

Always start working in a quiet, low distraction area, preferably a place that your dog is comfortable and work for a very short time.  Have him sit or lie down on a mat or doggie bed, don’t force him to lie down unless he wants to, remember this is about relaxing.  I am NOT a Tellington TTouch practitioner nor a doggie massage therapist, but I do use some of their techniques to help dogs learn to relax.  Using slow, light touches, begin to massage your dog.  It is best to use only your fingertips, little or no pressure and keep both hands in contact with your dog.  If you are touching your dogs back, be sure to go the entire length of his back, including the tail (even if it is not there).  The ears and muzzle are very important areas as well. If your dog is reactive or barks a great deal, TTouch tells us to use a counter-clockwise motion.  Be aware of your dog, if he is uncomfortable with your touch, stop.  Our purpose is to help your dog associate gentle, calming touch with his bed or mat.  In that way, the mat, eventually, will become a cue to relax.

Now, the actually work of teaching relaxation.  Dr. Karen Overall, a respected behavioral veterinarian developed both the Protocol for Relaxation and Protocol for Deference, designed to teach dogs that being relaxed and calm is what earns them rewards.

Many dog owners have been taught to have their dogs sit or down for everything, work to earn.  Dr. Overall has carried this a step further.  In the Deference Protocol she teaches dogs that being calm while in a sit or down is the behavior that earns a reward. So instead of having your Border Collie sit for the ball to be thrown, he must sit and relax to get the ball tossed again.  Hard to teach, yes and no, it depends on the dog and the thing they are trying to earn.  Do you start with the ball, no, you start with something of low value so the dog is successful.  Is it worth the effort, yes, definitely.  Once he has begun to associate being calm with getting what he wants, he will learn to calm himself as he starts to get over aroused.

The Protocol for Relaxation has changed many dogs lives for the better.  It is a series of exercises designed to be used over a period of time, gradually increasing the distractions around the dog while he remains calm.  After each step, the dog is rewarded with a small, maybe not terribly exciting treat.  The mat used for relaxing touch is the perfect place to do these exercises, again creating an association between the mat and relaxed, calm behavior.  The exercises start out very simply and increase in difficulty, at any time the dog becomes anxious or excited, you stop the exercise and start over, at a different time, at a point your dog was still able to relax.  The protocol begins with having the dog simply sit while you count to 3 and give a treat, count to 5 and treat, count to 10 and treat.  As you progress through the exercises, you may be hopping from foot to foot, going outside the door, ringing the doorbell, the whole time Rover is calmly processing things happening without reacting.  Can you see how these exercise will be useful in daily life?

I hear many clients say that their dog knows how to hold a sit or down/stay with things going on.  But -- this is not proofing a stay, in fact, Rover has never once been told to stay.  This is all about helping your dog relax in the face of distractions.  It also teaches great self control.

Another technique for teaching relaxation is to teach a dog to take a breath or hold his tail still.  We capture these behaviors when the dog offers them, then put them on cue.  Teaching a dog to take a breath works exactly the same way that it does for us.  The intake of a deep breath gives both species a chance to take in oxygen and pause long enough for our brains to begin to work instead of react.

You may wonder why it makes any difference if your dog is relaxed. If your dog is over threshold, reacting to something in the environment, he is not thinking or even hearing you. At this point, he is using the instinctual part of his brain, not the thinking part, which is where we need him to be.  Being in a constant state of stress or anxiety is bad for your dogs health, as well.  How do you feel after a particularly stressful day?  Imagine living with that stress constantly, with no way to relieve it or even let someone know that you need help.

It is our job to be advocates for our dogs health; physical, mental and emotional.  Learning what causes stress and teaching our dog the skills needed to cope and relax is our job as their caretakers.

Cindy Carter, CPDT-KA
Mindful Manners Dog Training
www.mindfulmanners.net
843-906-9997

Benebone Rocking Dental Chew on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Dental-Chew/dp/B014JXJ2S4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467973280&sr=1-1&keywords=benebone+dental+chew

 

The Importance of Relaxation for our Cairns

Lowcountry Dog Magazine
by Cindy Carter 9/29/11

It is our job to be advocates for our dogs health; physical, mental and emotional.  Learning what causes stress and teaching our dog the skills needed to cope and relax is our job as their caretakers.

You are lying on a comfy bed taking deep, relaxing breaths, receiving a gentle massage and the cares of the world are receding into the background.  Does this sound like a wonderful spa, where you are pampered and your every wish is indulged?  No, this is the world of a dog that is learning to relax.

Okay, that image may be a little over the top, but dogs, just like humans, need to learn to relax.  We humans tend to over-react and to not think clearly or reasonably when stressed or out of sorts.  Why should our dogs be any different?  While we don’t know exactly how dogs process or feel emotions, there is no doubt that they do have emotions and respond to them.  Stress can play a major role in the lives of our dogs just as in our own, it affects the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our pals.  Unfortunately, they don’t have the verbal language skills to communicate with us, so it’s our job to learn to recognize the canine signals of stress.

Our dogs give us so much, while asking very little in return.  It is our responsibility to learn to communicate with our dogs, providing them with a safe environment in which to live, work and thrive.  Many of us, unless we have a very high strung, possibly reactive dog, never consider that relaxation is important.  After all, what do dogs really have to be stressed about?  They take naps, go for walks, eat well, maybe play agility, rally or flyball, it’s a dogs life, right?  We see our dog hanging out on his bed and think, what a great life.  But is it really, if every time he hears a noise or senses a change in the environment, he feels compelled to jump up and investigate.  Maybe the missing piece in this dog’s life is the ability to relax.

What about the normally well behaved, well trained dog whose skills take a turn for the worse when he is in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, human and/or canine?  Is this a dog that just refuses to do what is asked of him or is it possible that he cannot respond because he is worried or stressed?  Maybe your dog reacts to fast moving objects, the UPS truck or even the vacuum cleaner, by barking or chasing the object.  Or your dog is at the other end of the spectrum, when something or someone new is introduced, he shuts down, unable to interact with others.  In many cases, it is stress that makes a dog unable to respond promptly or correctly when the environment is highly charged or confronted with changes.

So what can you, as a devoted and loving caretaker do to help your dog learn better coping skills?  A good place to start is learning to recognize signs of stress and helping your dog learn to relax.

These are some of the more common stress indicators, but you always need to see the behavior in context, after all a yawn can simply be a yawn.

• Lip licking

• Yawning

• Look away ( head turns)

• Sniffing

• Stiff body

• Dilated pupils

• Drooling

• Sweaty paws

• Tail and ear carriage

There are many other signals but these are fairly easy to spot.

Now, what to do when you see your dog offering these behaviors in a way that is indicative of stress.

1) Remove your dog from the situation

2) Teach your dog to relax

3) Teach your dog a different response

4) Change the emotions behind the response

We can’t discuss everything on the list now, but removing your dog from a stressful situation is important, regardless of where you are in your training plan.  If your dog is stressed by children, bikes, strangers, other dogs, or loud noises forcing him to remain around these triggers only does harm.  It is rarely a good idea to “let the dog get over it”.  Constant exposure to a scary thing typically results in a dog becoming more stressed and fearful, possibly even aggressive when he feels trapped.  If you are afraid of snakes, would being locked in a room with several snakes make you feel better or more afraid?  Of course, there are ways to help our dogs be more comfortable in certain situations, but that discussion is for another time.

Always start in a quiet, low distraction area

Take a deep breath and learn some great techniques to help your dog relax.

Always start working in a quiet, low distraction area, preferably a place that your dog is comfortable and work for a very short time.  Have him sit or lie down on a mat or doggie bed, don’t force him to lie down unless he wants to, remember this is about relaxing.  I am NOT a Tellington TTouch practitioner nor a doggie massage therapist, but I do use some of their techniques to help dogs learn to relax.  Using slow, light touches, begin to massage your dog.  It is best to use only your fingertips, little or no pressure and keep both hands in contact with your dog.  If you are touching your dogs back, be sure to go the entire length of his back, including the tail (even if it is not there).  The ears and muzzle are very important areas as well. If your dog is reactive or barks a great deal, TTouch tells us to use a counter-clockwise motion.  Be aware of your dog, if he is uncomfortable with your touch, stop.  Our purpose is to help your dog associate gentle, calming touch with his bed or mat.  In that way, the mat, eventually, will become a cue to relax.

Now, the actually work of teaching relaxation.  Dr. Karen Overall, a respected behavioral veterinarian developed both the Protocol for Relaxation and Protocol for Deference, designed to teach dogs that being relaxed and calm is what earns them rewards.

Many dog owners have been taught to have their dogs sit or down for everything, work to earn.  Dr. Overall has carried this a step further.  In the Deference Protocol she teaches dogs that being calm while in a sit or down is the behavior that earns a reward. So instead of having your Border Collie sit for the ball to be thrown, he must sit and relax to get the ball tossed again.  Hard to teach, yes and no, it depends on the dog and the thing they are trying to earn.  Do you start with the ball, no, you start with something of low value so the dog is successful.  Is it worth the effort, yes, definitely.  Once he has begun to associate being calm with getting what he wants, he will learn to calm himself as he starts to get over aroused.

The Protocol for Relaxation has changed many dogs lives for the better.  It is a series of exercises designed to be used over a period of time, gradually increasing the distractions around the dog while he remains calm.  After each step, the dog is rewarded with a small, maybe not terribly exciting treat.  The mat used for relaxing touch is the perfect place to do these exercises, again creating an association between the mat and relaxed, calm behavior.  The exercises start out very simply and increase in difficulty, at any time the dog becomes anxious or excited, you stop the exercise and start over, at a different time, at a point your dog was still able to relax.  The protocol begins with having the dog simply sit while you count to 3 and give a treat, count to 5 and treat, count to 10 and treat.  As you progress through the exercises, you may be hopping from foot to foot, going outside the door, ringing the doorbell, the whole time Rover is calmly processing things happening without reacting.  Can you see how these exercise will be useful in daily life?

I hear many clients say that their dog knows how to hold a sit or down/stay with things going on.  But -- this is not proofing a stay, in fact, Rover has never once been told to stay.  This is all about helping your dog relax in the face of distractions.  It also teaches great self control.

Another technique for teaching relaxation is to teach a dog to take a breath or hold his tail still.  We capture these behaviors when the dog offers them, then put them on cue.  Teaching a dog to take a breath works exactly the same way that it does for us.  The intake of a deep breath gives both species a chance to take in oxygen and pause long enough for our brains to begin to work instead of react.

You may wonder why it makes any difference if your dog is relaxed. If your dog is over threshold, reacting to something in the environment, he is not thinking or even hearing you. At this point, he is using the instinctual part of his brain, not the thinking part, which is where we need him to be.  Being in a constant state of stress or anxiety is bad for your dogs health, as well.  How do you feel after a particularly stressful day?  Imagine living with that stress constantly, with no way to relieve it or even let someone know that you need help.

It is our job to be advocates for our dogs health; physical, mental and emotional.  Learning what causes stress and teaching our dog the skills needed to cope and relax is our job as their caretakers.

Cindy Carter, CPDT-KA
Mindful Manners Dog Training
www.mindfulmanners.net
843-906-9997

Diamond Foods Pet Food Recall

Lowcountry Dog Magazine 

by Leah England on Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 1:20pm | filed in Health and Wellness Local News National News 

Last week, Diamond Foods issued a voluntary recall of several lines of dry kibble product distributed throughout several states, including South Carolina. The recalled product was manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 and is being pulled due to potential Salmonella contamination at a Gaston, SC plant. Affected brands include:

 Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul

Country Value

Diamond

Diamond Naturals

Premium Edge

Professional

4Health

Taste of the Wild

Canidae

Natural Balance

Wellness

Apex

Kirkland Signature

To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production code on their bag. If the code has a "2" or "3" in the 9th position AND an "X" in the 10th or 11th position, the product is affected by the recall. The best-before dates for the recalled products are December 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013.

Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any issues this may cause consumers and their pets. Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST. Consumers may also go to a special website, www.diamondpetrecall.com, for more information and for specific codes for which line of each brand is being recalled. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.

*Note -- We aren't sure why Wellness isn't listed on the Diamond Foods site. Perhaps they have not updated yet, as LCDM only received the email from Wellness regarding the pulled product on Sunday, May 6th 2012. Wellness told us that the voluntary recalled product from their line is: Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy, 15 and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. samples with best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013. No other recipes, sizes or WellPet brands of food are impacted by this voluntary recall.

Tummy Aches in Your Pet

Lowcountry Dog Magazine

by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 at 11:55pm | filed in

• Health and Wellness

A tummy ache is never fun for people, but it can be life threatening
for your pet.

“It's not uncommon for most animals to have upset stomachs and vomit
 from time to time, but there's usually a simple reason,” says Dr. Deb
Zoran, associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary
 Medicine; Biomedical Sciences.

Vomiting may be caused by a hairball in the stomach or small intestine
 or by other foreign material, such as plants, rocks or bones. Diet could
 also be a cause.

"If a dog or cat has had a change of diet or if it has eaten spoiled food,
 it can result in nausea or vomiting," adds Zoran. "Just like when humans
get food poisoning, the symptoms usually go away within 24 hours.
The digestive tract is cleared and whatever was causing the problem is
 gone. However, if the animal hasrepeated vomiting, won't eat, or the
 symptoms continue for more than24 hours, the animal needs to see a
veterinarian immediately."

Zoran says frequent pet vomiting can be a difficult problem to pinpoint.

"The causes are numerous - food allergies, infection or inflammation in the
intestinal tract, foreign objects that obstruct the bowel, ulcers, liver or
 kidney failure, diabetes, cancer - the list can go on and on," says Zoran.

If the animal has been vomiting for more than 24 hours, the most serious
problems are dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The animal has lost
 body fluids and they need to be replaced right away, then the source of the
problem can be examined.

X-rays can often detect the source of the vomiting, and as with humans,
 barium liquid can be administered to the pet to outline the digestive
tract.

Other tests that may be necessary include ultrasound, blood work, and
an endoscopic examination to determine the problem.

"One key question is, does the cause of the vomiting come from inside
the G.I. (gastrointestinal) tract or is it hidden elsewhere in the animal?"
 Zoran adds. "If the problem is not in the G.I. tract, it can be harder to detect."

If the pet owner detects blood in any food the animal has vomited, that
should be a warning sign that something is not right.

"If blood is present, it's a serious problem and possibly a life-threatening
 problem," says Zoran.

"Unfortunately, it may not look like blood because the stomach acids will
 digest any blood present and the blood may look something like coffee
grounds. The best answer is, if you don't think it looks like food, the
 animal needs medical attention as soon as possible," says Zoran.

Other signs that should alarm pet owners: if the animal vomits every
time it eats, vomits multiple times per day, or if the animal won't eat at
all and appears to be weak and depressed.

"All of these are warning signs that something serious is wrong and the
pet needs medical help immediately," says Zoran.

Frequent or persistent vomiting in any animal is not normal. If the animal
 has been vomiting excessively, it's essential that it sees a veterinarian.

ABOUT PET TALK Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.
 Stories can be viewed on the Web at http://vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.

Pet Burns

Lowountry Dog Magazine

by Gillian Nichol


Accidents happen, and pets can get burned for one reason or another just like their owners can. When this happens, it is best to have a hands-off policy and leave the treatments to the professionals.

“The best thing an owner can do in the case of a burn is get the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible; burns are considered to be emergencies in just about all situations, and the sooner they are brought in, the better,” says Dr. Alison Diesel, lecturer specializing in dermatology, at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Sometimes pet owners will not notice the burned area for days or even weeks after the burn has occurred. One thing to keep in mind with burns is that sometimes what is seen initially is only the tip of the iceberg.

“What may look like only a red spot of skin on a pet's side following a burn incident can quickly become devitalized, dead tissue, which is not only painful but also more at risk for infections over the next couple of days,” explains Diesel.

Infection in the animal is a big concern when dealing with burns, especially if the burn goes deeper into the lower layers of the skin.

“If the skin barrier is not intact and normal, bacteria can quickly enter the wound causing not only local infection but also potentially it can get into the blood stream. This puts the animal at risk for serious illness and potentially death,” says Diesel.

Diesel explains that very serious burns require hospitalization and care for several days to weeks at a time to monitor and control for any side effects of the burn.

Cars are often one of the causes for accidents resulting in pet burns. On a hot day, the shade underneath a car or truck might seem very appealing to an animal outside. Even on a cold day, the heat of a car engine can be comforting for a kitty out in the cold. If the animal comes in contact with a hot muffler or catalytic converter even for a split second, a serious burn can occur.

There are many other scenarios as well that could be the cause of pet burns, such as: barbeque grills, space heaters, spilling hot liquids or food when cooking, objects laying in the yard that conduct heat such as hoses or tools, or puppies or cats chewing on plugged in electrical cords.

“Different types of burns require a bit different treatments,” explains Diesel, “Chemical burns for example, might become much worse when water is applied to them, so the nature of the burn helps the veterinarian know how best to treat it.”

Sometimes owners do not witness the animal getting burned, so it is important to be able to try and distinguish if a mark that is found on a pet is actually a burn.

“Burns have a variable appearance based on the extent and severity on an animal,” says Diesel, “Initially, it may start as the skin itself just looks a little red or inflamed, while more severe burns can cause burning or singeing of the coat.”

Diesel explains that the pet’s hair may become dry, brittle, curled, or even lost completely.

“Severe burns may show up as large areas of exposed deeper skin; this would look like a scraped knee for example, which could be moist, oozing, and often very painful,” says Diesel.

Even what looks like only a mild burn can become much worse over time. This is particularly true for thermal burns, which may be caused by heat lamps, water blankets, or even hot water from a garden hose that was used for bathing.

“The skin may look red initially, but then may turn black, crusty, and become quite painful with these burns,” says Diesel.

It is natural for an owner who witnesses a pet getting burned to want to try to help the animal and ease their pain, but again, the best thing to do is to get the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

“If it is not a chemical burn, removing some of the burning material can be helpful,” explains Diesel, “For example, if the owner trips over a dog or cat and ends up spilling a hot casserole on the pet, or spills candle wax on the pet, then removing the hot material would be good in that case.”

This is the extent to which an owner should try to help a pet with a burn. A veterinarian will be best able to provide and recommend pain control given the pet's other medical conditions and extent of injuries.

Owners can sometimes unintentionally burn a pet when drying them off with a hairdryer after a bath. Hair dryers can be helpful for drying off a pet, however owners need to be careful so as the hair dryer does not get too hot.

“If the owner wants to use a hair dryer, it should be done on a cool setting ONLY,” says Diesel.

Less harmful ways of drying off a pet would include thorough towel drying or allowing the animal to dry outside in the sun when the weather is not too warm. Diesel recommends this as a good option to consider, especially during the milder seasons such as fall. Long hours in the sun however can be too much for some animals, particularly when it is still rather hot outside.

Sometimes more serious situations can occur such as house or barn fires. In this case, the owner should closely monitor the pet not only for burns but also for signs of smoke inhalation.

“Smoke inhalation can be a big problem for dogs and cats, especially if that animal already has any sort of respiratory condition such as asthma,” says Diesel.

Signs of smoke inhalation can include coughing, sneezing, or even turning blue, gasping for air, or losing consciousness.

“Smoke inhalation is often treated with oxygen and possibly fluid supportive care,” says Diesel, “Radiographs (x-rays) of the chest may also be helpful to evaluate the lungs.”

When it comes to pet burns, time becomes crucial. The best thing an owner can do for their pet is to get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible to be evaluated and monitored. This is the best way to ensure getting fluffy friends back to their playful and loving selves!

ABOUT PET TALK Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at http://vetmed.tamu.edu/pettalk.

The Considerate Canine: Relaxation

Lowcountry Dog Magazine
by Cindy Carter

You are lying on a comfy bed taking deep, relaxing breaths, receiving a gentle massage and the cares of the world are receding into the background. Does this sound like a wonderful spa, where you are pampered and your every wish is indulged? No, this is the world of a dog that is learning to relax.

Okay, that image may be a little over the top, but dogs, just like humans, need to learn to relax. We humans tend to over-react and to not think clearly or reasonably when stressed or out of sorts. Why should our dogs be any different? While we don’t know exactly how dogs process or feel emotions, there is no doubt that they do have emotions and respond to them. Stress can play a major role in the lives of our dogs just as in our own, it affects the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our pals. Unfortunately, they don’t have the verbal language skills to communicate with us, so it’s our job to learn to recognize the canine signals of stress.

Our dogs give us so much, while asking very little in return. It is our responsibility to learn to communicate with our dogs, providing them with a safe environment in which to live, work and thrive. Many of us, unless we have a very high strung, possibly reactive dog, never consider that relaxation is important. After all, what do dogs really have to be stressed about? They take naps, go for walks, eat well, maybe play agility, rally or flyball, it’s a dogs life, right? We see our dog hanging out on his bed and think, what a great life. But is it really, if every time he hears a noise or senses a change in the environment, he feels compelled to jump up and investigate. Maybe the missing piece in this dog’s life is the ability to relax.

What about the normally well behaved, well trained dog whose skills take a turn for the worse when he is in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers, human and/or canine? Is this a dog that just refuses to do what is asked of him or is it possible that he cannot respond because he is worried or stressed? Maybe your dog reacts to fast moving objects, the UPS truck or even the vacuum cleaner, by barking or chasing the object. Or your dog is at the other end of the spectrum, when something or someone new is introduced, he shuts down, unable to interact with others. In many cases, it is stress that makes a dog unable to respond promptly or correctly when the environment is highly charged or confronted with changes.

So what can you, as a devoted and loving caretaker do to help your dog learn better coping skills? A good place to start is learning to recognize signs of stress and helping your dog learn to relax.

These are some of the more common stress indicators, but you always need to see the behavior in context, after all a yawn can simply be a yawn.

lip licking
yawning
look away ( head turns)
sniffing
stiff body
dilated pupils
drooling
sweaty paws
tail and ear carriage
There are many other signals but these are fairly easy to spot.

Now, what to do when you see your dog offering these behaviors in a way that is indicative of stress.

1) Remove your dog from the situation

2) Teach your dog to relax

3) Teach your dog a different response

4) Change the emotions behind the response

We can’t discuss everything on the list now, but removing your dog from a stressful situation is important, regardless of where you are in your training plan. If your dog is stressed by children, bikes, strangers, other dogs, or loud noises forcing him to remain around these triggers only does harm. It is rarely a good idea to “let the dog get over it”. Constant exposure to a scary thing typically results in a dog becoming more stressed and fearful, possibly even aggressive when he feels trapped. If you are afraid of snakes, would being locked in a room with several snakes make you feel better or more afraid? Of course, there are ways to help our dogs be more comfortable in certain situations, but that discussion is for another time.

Take a deep breath and learn some great techniques to help your dog relax.

Always start working in a quiet, low distraction area, preferably a place that your dog is comfortable and work for a very short time. Have him sit or lie down on a mat or doggie bed, don’t force him to lie down unless he wants to, remember this is about relaxing. I am NOT a Tellington TTouch practitioner nor a doggie massage therapist, but I do use some of their techniques to help dogs learn to relax. Using slow, light touches, begin to massage your dog. It is best to use only your fingertips, little or no pressure and keep both hands in contact with your dog. If you are touching your dogs back, be sure to go the entire length of his back, including the tail (even if it is not there). The ears and muzzle are very important areas as well. If your dog is reactive or barks a great deal, TTouch tells us to use a counter-clockwise motion. Be aware of your dog, if he is uncomfortable with your touch, stop. Our purpose is to help your dog associate gentle, calming touch with his bed or mat. In that way, the mat, eventually, will become a cue to relax.

Now, the actually work of teaching relaxation. Dr. Karen Overall, a respected behavioral veterinarian developed both the Protocol for Relaxation and Protocol for Deference, designed to teach dogs that being relaxed and calm is what earns them rewards.

Many dog owners have been taught to have their dogs sit or down for everything, work to earn. Dr. Overall has carried this a step further. In the Deference Protocol she teaches dogs that being calm while in a sit or down is the behavior that earns a reward. So instead of having your Border Collie sit for the ball to be thrown, he must sit and relax to get the ball tossed again. Hard to teach, yes and no, it depends on the dog and the thing they are trying to earn. Do you start with the ball, no, you start with something of low value so the dog is successful. Is it worth the effort, yes, definitely. Once he has begun to associate being calm with getting what he wants, he will learn to calm himself as he starts to get over aroused.

The Protocol for Relaxation has changed many dogs lives for the better. It is a series of exercises designed to be used over a period of time, gradually increasing the distractions around the dog while he remains calm. After each step, the dog is rewarded with a small, maybe not terribly exciting treat. The mat used for relaxing touch is the perfect place to do these exercises, again creating an association between the mat and relaxed, calm behavior. The exercises start out very simply and increase in difficulty, at any time the dog becomes anxious or excited, you stop the exercise and start over, at a different time, at a point your dog was still able to relax. The protocol begins with having the dog simply sit while you count to 3 and give a treat, count to 5 and treat, count to 10 and treat. As you progress through the exercises, you may be hopping from foot to foot, going outside the door, ringing the doorbell, the whole time Rover is calmly processing things happening without reacting. Can you see how these exercise will be useful in daily life?

I hear many clients say that their dog knows how to hold a sit or down/stay with things going on. But -- this in not proofing a stay, in fact, Rover has never once been told to stay. This is all about helping your dog relax in the face of distractions. It also teaches great self control.

Another technique for teaching relaxation is to teach a dog to take a breath or hold his tail still. We capture these behaviors when the dog offers them, then put them on cue. Teaching a dog to take a breath works exactly the same way that it does for us. The intake of a deep breath gives both species a chance to take in oxygen and pause long enough for our brains to begin to work instead of react.

You may wonder why it makes any difference if your dog is relaxed. If your dog is over threshold, reacting to something in the environment, he is not thinking or even hearing you. At this point, he is using the instinctual part of his brain, not the thinking part, which is where we need him to be. Being in a constant state of stress or anxiety is bad for your dogs health, as well. How do you feel after a particularly stressful day? Imagine living with that stress constantly, with no way to relieve it or even let someone know that you need help.

It is our job to be advocates for our dogs health; physical, mental and emotional. Learning what causes stress and teaching our dog the skills needed to cope and relax is our job as their caretakers.

Cindy Carter, CPDT-KA
Mindful Manners Dog Training
www.mindfulmanners.net
843-906-9997

Know the Nose...of Your Pet

Lowcountry Dog Magazine
by Gillian Nicol



A gentle nudge … an inquisitive sniff — your dog or cat’s nose can be used to communicate as well as inquire. But what other telltale signs can your pet’s nose convey?

“Some cat caregivers worry about black spots on the nose of their cat,” notes Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

“The concern is if these black spots are cancerous, but in reality the spots are a normal finding in young orange cats,” explains Patterson. “These black spots can appear on your cat’s nose as well as lips, eye margins, gums and mouth.”

“Usually orange tabbies are more prone to these black spots which is a condition known as lentigo simplex,” notes Patterson. “These spots are somewhat comparable to freckles in humans and are not itchy or painful.”

”However, there should be concern if you find raised or inflamed spots that cause soreness and pain,” says Patterson. “Always have these types of spots examined by your veterinarian.”

Dogs can lose pigment on their nose, explains Patterson. This is not much of a concern as long as the surface of the nose retains its cobblestone appearance. If the nose begins to crack, scab or smooth over, then veterinary assistance should be sought. Nutritional disorders, autoimmune diseases and cancer cause these types of signs and often warrant a biopsy of the nose to make a diagnosis.

“Cats and dogs are prone to sunburn and subsequent skin cancer on noses, ears and around the eyes,” notes Patterson. “Fair-skinned animals with light-colored hair coats are at the most risk. Limiting sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the summertime here in Texas can reduce the risk for solar damage.”

Your pet’s runny nose may indicate other medical conditions are lingering, states Patterson. Respiratory infections may manifest themselves as nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing and difficult breathing. Foreign bodies or tumors in the nasal passages may cause these same signs. If your pet exhibits any of these health problems, it should be seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

“Remember that wet or dry noses are not a sign of illness per se,” explains Patterson. “Whether your pet’s nose is dry or wet is largely related to the temperature and humidity in their environment. Lethargy, little or no appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea and inappropriate urination are some signs that better reflect illness.”

So … know the nose of your pet … it can be a messenger as to the health of your cat or dog in addition to a wet and warm greeting.

ABOUT PET TALK Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at http://tamunews.tamu.edu.

The Considerate Canine: Barking - Post 2

Lowcountry Dog Magazine

by cindy carter on Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at 11:55pm | filed in The Considerate Canine Training

The Problem: My Pug Sugar barks at any sound outside. How can we get her to hush when we command her to?

The Solution:

Barking is a tough behavior to get under control, after all, dogs do bark. It is also a very self-rewarding behavior: she barks at a passing dog and the dog goes away, or she barks at a noise and you pay attention to her. Continually telling her to hush or shouting is really perceived as attention, therefore encouraging her to bark even more. Barking, like any behavior, only gets stronger if allowed to continue or is rewarded.

Your first goal is to truly define the trigger and manage the situation. Is she actually barking at a noise or is she seeing something that alerts her, priming her to bark? Does she bark at specific times of day, when lots of people and dogs are on the street or the garbage trucks are making their rounds?

If she is responding to visual stimulation, block her view of the street by closing curtains, or moving furniture to deny her access to vantage spots where she can see outside. When you are away, leave a radio or television on to help mask the outside noise, hide stuffed Kongs or other treats around the house to keep her busy.

Make sure that she is getting plenty of exercise. If necessary hire a dog walker to get her out during the day, so she is getting plenty of physical and mental stimulation.

Now for training.

Teach yourself to notice when she is being quiet and reward her, after all this is what you want. You can praise her or give her a tiny treat, just be consistent in letting her know when she gets it right. If there are other people in the house, get them on board, the more consistent you are the easier it will be.

Pay attention to her. When you are with Sugar, practice calling her away from what she is barking at and reward her for a different behavior: coming when called, sit, down, etc. Therefore, she is engaging with you and not the other thing.

If Sugar is barking so much she barely pauses to catch a breath, do something to momentarily distract her: clap you hands, lightly stamp your foot, or make some kind of mild distracting noise. For this to work, you need to be close to her, so you can reward her quickly. Mark the instant she stops barking with a clicker or yes, then give her a treat for being quiet. At first, you may only get a second or two, but the more you practice this, the longer you can stretch the interval of quiet.

You could also teach a variation on the Control Unleashed exercise of Look at That -- into Did you hear that? You would actually cue her to notice the noise and immediately turn her attention to you for a reward.

In this situation, the noise actually becomes the environmental cue to pay attention to and interact with you.

Regardless of the method that you choose. Be consistent, set her up for rewardable successes, make sure to reward even the smallest correct response and be patient. The problem didn’t develop overnight and will not be corrected in a few days.

Happy and quiet training!

If you have a question for Cindy Carter of Mindful Manners Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: The Considerate Canine.

Cindy Carter has been training dogs in the Charleston area for the past 4 years, the last year as owner of Mindful Manners Dog Training. Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CGC evaluator for the AKC, and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has written articles for local publications and been featured in several publications focusing on local business owners.

As the owner of two dogs with “issues” she is uniquely qualified to help owners develop and implement management and training plans. She brings commitment and empathy to owners struggling to help their dogs have better lives.

For more information about our training programs visit us at www.mindfulmanners.net