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Get Your Dog’s Prey Drive Under Control

By Alina Jumabhoy

Get Your Dog’s Prey Drive Under Control

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Prey drive varies hugely in individual dogs. While some dogs naturally have a low prey drive, others simply cannot resist chasing every moving thing around them.

It goes without saying that this can be extremely difficult to deal with...

Fortunately, you don't need to worry too much. By putting some time and effort into training your pooch, you will soon be able to get that prey drive under control.

KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH

It may be tempting to un-clip that leash so that your dog can have a good run, but this is something that you need to avoid doing until you have managed to gain some control over your dog's prey drive.

Keeping your dog on a leash gives you much more control to begin with. You should also make sure that your dog does not have any access at all to prey animals.

Each time your dog chases an animal, this reinforces the behavior. This means that your dog will be even more likely to do the same thing again in the future.

By putting a stop to this right away, you will notice results from your training much faster.

REDIRECTION

Redirecting your dog's attention is one of the most important strategies to learn when trying to control prey drive.

What exactly is redirection?

It means being able to shift your dog's attention away from the prey and onto yourself. It is much easier to do this before your dog fixates on the prey, or very soon after. If you wait too long, it will be difficult to break your dog's focus.

So, how do you redirect?

Each time you notice a prey animal in the distance, simply go in the other direction. Keep things positive, rewarding your dog for following you.

What happens if you have no choice but to go in the same direction as the prey animal?

Make sure you have a squeaky toy or a high value treat to hand. Use this to distract your dog, making sure that you only pass by the animal once your dog is fully focused on you. Once you have made it past, you can then reward your dog with the treat or toy.

Ideally, you should work on redirecting from a distance. Once your dog understands that it is more rewarding to stay focused on you rather than the prey animal, you can then shorten this distance and practice this at a closer range.

A clicker can help your dog to pick this up even faster. Simply click and treat each time your dog focuses on you rather than on the distractions around him.

BE AWARE OF YOUR DOG'S BODY LANGUAGE

As mentioned above, you will have much more success at controlling that prey drive if you catch it in its early stages.

There are five main stages to prey drive:

  • Searching for the animal

  • Stalking the animal with the eyes

  • Chasing the animal

  • Grabbing the animal

  • Biting to kill the animal

Ideally, you want to get yourself involved at the very first stage, before your dog manages to latch his eyes onto the prey. This means that you will need to continuously be looking around you, so that you can spot any prey animals before your dog does.

You will notice your dog's eyes scanning the environment when the two of you are out. Keep interrupting this, encouraging your dog to focus on you instead. Make sure that you reward him heavily each time he does.

If your dog's ears have pricked up, and his eyes are focused on something in the distance, then this means he has moved on to the eye stalking stage. You will need to tighten your hold on your dog's leash and work even harder on redirection.

WORK ON IMPULSE CONTROL

Prey drive is an impulsive behavior.

Fortunately, impulse control is something that dogs pick up on quite quickly.

There are certain commands out there that are really useful for this, such as:

  • Leave it

  • Look at me

  • Place

  • Come

  • Drop it

These are vital commands to teach to a dog with high prey drive.

You will need to begin by working on these commands in a calm and controlled environment. Slowly introduce distractions, such as balls and frisbees. Dogs with a high prey drive will want to chase these just as much as they will want to chase a prey animal.

Once your dog has mastered the above commands, you can then move on to practicing them around a wider range of distractions.

One thing to keep in mind...

Make sure that you remain calm throughout your dog's prey drive training.

If you end up shouting a command or getting too excited, your dog will quickly pick up on this energy. It will likely lead to over-excitement and hyperactivity in your dog, which will only slow down his progress.

KEEP YOUR DOG MENTALLY STIMULATED

Many people think that if they exercise their dog enough, then prey drive will be reduced.

However, physical activity alone is not enough to help with this...

Instead, you need a good mix of both physical and mental stimulation.

When it comes to mental stimulation, nose work is always beneficial. Even hiding treats around your house or garden, or providing a sandbox for your pooch to dig in, can help to tire that brain out. There are plenty of other mental games out there too, especially if you get creative. 

You should also be opting for plenty of variety when it comes to the physical, in addition to walks. Try taking your dog swimming or hiking uphill, as these are great forms of exercise. Keeping the physical activities varied will mean that your dog gains mental benefits from them too.

If you do not do anything about your dog's prey drive, it will not be long before this gets out of control. Make sure that you start managing these behaviors as soon as you notice them, because this will give you a much happier and more well-balanced dog in the long run.

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How to Choose a Dog Breed That Suits Your Lifestyle

By Alina Jumabhoy

How to Choose a Dog Breed That Suits Your Lifestyle

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Thinking of adding another pooch to your family?

While every dog is individual when it comes to their personality, different breeds usually have distinct traits that are unique to them. It is always a good idea to keep this in mind when choosing a dog breed, so that you can ensure that the dog you pick is one that will easily fit into your life.

What Sort of Home Do You Have?

This should be one of the first questions you ask yourself when choosing a dog breed...

If you live in a small apartment, then it goes without saying that giant breeds, from the Great Dane to the Great Pyrenees, would not be a good choice. You would be much better off with a smaller breed.

Having said that, terriers are popular small breed dogs, but they are also known for being quite noisy. If you live in a crowded area, you would be best off with a dog that doesn't have that same predisposition to excessive barking.

Yes, many giant breeds can actually be quite sedentary in nature, but they do still need space to move around. Think about when they get excited – you don't want a giant dog racing in circles around your small apartment!

Do you live in a rural area?

This does give you more choice when it comes to choosing a dog breed. However, keep in mind that you may find it harder to keep your dog clean. From dirt to bugs to sticky plants, a long-haired dog can sometimes be a nightmare to care for in a rural environment.

How Big is Your Family?

If you live on your own, and know that your family is not going to be expanding in the future, then this gives you quite a big choice of breeds.

However, if you have a large or growing family, then you need to take this into consideration.

Certain breeds are known for being better with kids than others. Labradors and Golden Retrievers are known for being fantastic family pets, but they do also have quite a bit of energy...

You may want to choose a dog breed that does not require an excessive amount of daily exercise, since your human family will be keeping you pretty busy too. However, if you know that your entire family will be chipping in when it comes to looking after the dog, then you may want a more energetic breed to be able to cope with all of those walks and games!

How Active Are You?

Are you generally quite active?

If so, you need to choose a dog breed that can keep up with this. Border Collies are known for having an endless amount of energy. The same applies to Spaniels, Huskies and Australian Shepherds.

However, even if you are quite active on a daily basis, you do still need quite a large home and garden for a high-energy breed. They require this space through the day to burn off excess energy.

If you are not very active but have enough space at home for a giant breed to roam around, then this may be the dog for you. Breeds such as Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds are surprisingly low-energy. Greyhounds are similar in a way – many require a speedy ten minute run before happily curling up on the sofa for the rest of the day.

How Often Do You Travel?

Do you travel frequently?

If you plan on leaving your pooch at a boarding facility, you need a breed that would be happy with this.

Some breeds, such as the Bichon Frise, are more prone to separation anxiety than others.

Alternatively, if you plan on taking your dog with you while you travel, you need to choose a dog breed suitable for this.

Are you and your pooch going to be flying quite regularly?

Make sure that the size and weight of your chosen breed fits in with airline regulations.

How Much Time Do You Have for Grooming?

Those long-haired and ultra-fluffy dogs may look adorable, but they do require quite a lot of upkeep.

Certain breeds, such as Poodles, the Bichon Frise and Cocker Spaniels require daily maintenance when it comes to their coat. You will need to keep them well-brushed to avoid mattes. They also require regular grooming sessions, which is an extra financial investment.

How Much Money Are You Willing to Spend on Your Dog?

Let's face it, health issues can affect just about any dog out there, no matter their breed.

However, some breeds do tend to have more health issues than others.

Fallen in love with a flat-faced breed?

Keep in mind that these breeds often have breathing problems, as well as skin and ear issues.

Other popular breeds, from Boxers to Labrador Retrievers, are also known for their health problems.

If you have an endless amount of funds to put towards veterinary care, then this may not matter. However, if your budget is limited, then look into some of the healthier breeds out there.

Are you willing to spend money on grooming?

As mentioned earlier, grooming costs can quickly mount up over a dog's lifetime.

If you are not willing to spend money on this, then choose a dog with a low-maintenance coat. Alternatively, you could also look into grooming your dog yourself. You will need to invest in some initial supplies, but these should more than pay for themselves over time.

Make a List

As you work your way through these questions, write your answers down in list-form.

You will then have a list of requirements and specifications to help you to choose a dog breed that will suit your lifestyle. You will need to spend quite a bit of time researching various breeds, and also speaking to owners that own dogs of those breeds.

However, all that effort will be worth it, as this is what will ensure you choose the perfect breed for you.

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8 Ways to Keep a Dog Cool in the Summer

By Alina Jumabhoy

8 Ways to Keep a Dog Cool in the Summer

Photo by Show 131/ CC

While some dogs take the summer heat in their stride, others really struggle with this.

Wondering how you can keep a dog cool in the summer?

Here are 8 ideas to try:

1. Cooling Mats and Damp Towels

You want your pooch to be able to comfortably relax in the summer, which is where a cooling mat comes in.

These mats contain a special self-cooling gel that draw heat away from a dog's body, helping to keep their body temperature down.

Don't want to splurge on a cooling mat that your dog may not use?

Try placing a damp towel down instead. If your dog gravitates towards this and seems to enjoy lying on it, then, chances are, a cooling mat will go down well too.

Of course, you can skip the cooling mat altogether and just use damp towels. However, keep in mind that you will need to continuously dampen the towel in order to keep it cool throughout the day.

2. Provide Some Shade

When trying to keep a dog cool in the summer, it is essential that you provide plenty of shade.

An outdoor thermometer can help you to identify the coolest spots around your house, and you can then work on adding a bit more shade to these areas.

Natural shade, such as trees and shrubs, are great. However, if you don't have any of this in your garden, it may be worth investing in a collapsible shading tent, or even an umbrella, for your hot pooch to lie under. Bonus points if you also place a cooling mat or a damp towel in this area too!

3. Icy Treats

You probably love cooling off with an ice cream in the summer heat...

Well, your dog would enjoy something similar too!

Yes, there are many ice cream brands out there designed just for dogs. However, if you want to save some money but still treat your dog to an ice cream on a regular basis, you could make your own instead.

Try freezing some blended bananas, mixing this in with a dollop of peanut butter for extra flavor. You could also make icy treats with meat, kibble, or anything else you have to hand. Simply place these into a mold, add some water, and then freeze.

Don't have time to whip up some icy treats for your pooch?

Try adding a handful of ice cubes to your dog's water instead. Many dogs also like playing with ice cubes, making this another great way to keep a dog cool in the summer.

4. Cold Water

Speaking of ice cubes in water...

Make sure that your dog always has cold water available in the summer.

It is so much easier for a dog to dehydrate in the heat, meaning that your pooch will need plenty to drink to keep his hydration levels up.

If the two of you are out and about, make sure that you bring a few bottles of water with you so that you can keep your pup cool on-the-go.

5. A Cooling Dip

Many people think that the best way to keep a dog cool in the summer is by putting that dog into some cold water, whether this may be a pool, a pond or a lake.

This does work quite well, but, it can also be dangerous if your dog is too hot...

How?

Because this will lower your dog's surface temperature very rapidly. This may sound like a good thing, but it is actually your dog's core body temperature you want to lower, not the surface temperature. Lowering the surface temperature too quickly only causes the internal organs to heat up even more, which is where the danger comes in.

If you think your dog may be over-heating, allow him to stand in cool water for a couple of minutes, rather than placing his whole body into it.

Wading pools designed for children are great for this. They will help your dog to regulate his temperature safely, without the chance of over-heating.

You could also try creating a mist for your dog to lie in. This can easily be done if you have a hose pipe – misting attachments are readily available and reasonably priced.

6. A Light Breeze

If the air around you is extremely still and muggy, then chances are that your dog would benefit from a light breeze.

Wondering how to create that breeze?

All you need is a fan!

This will help to keep your dog cool, and can be used both indoors as well as outdoors.

7. Shave Them Down

If your dog's coat could do with a trim, this is a great way to keep a dog cool in the summer.

However, not every dog should be shaved...

Does your dog have a double coat?

This means that there is a dense and woolly coat close to the skin, with a longer coat above this.

If your answer is yes...

Then shaving isn't the answer for your dog. That double coat helps your dog to regulate his body temperature, keeping him warm in the winter but cool in the summer. If you shave it off, you interfere with this process, and your dog may end up feeling hotter than ever.

If your dog has a single coat...

Go ahead and get those clippers out! Your pooch will likely thank you big time once all of that extra hair is off.

8. Don't Over-Exercise

Yes, exercise is so important for a dog, but, if you are trying to keep a dog cool in the summer, you need to make sure that you don't overdo this.

Save the exercising for early in the morning or later in the evening, once the sun isn't quite as strong. Make sure that you also allow for plenty of breaks to prevent your pooch from over-heating.

Want to do a quick dog walk in the middle of the day?

Make sure that you check the pavement first.

How?

Simply place the palm of your hand down onto the pavement and hold it there for a while.

Does it feel too hot to handle?

If so, then it will be too hot for your dog's paws too.

Don't worry if your dog seems to really be struggling with the heat – it really doesn't take much at all to keep a dog cool in the summer. Simply give some of these eight tips a try, and you will soon find that your dog is looking and feeling much more comfortable!

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6 Top Tips to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

By Alina Jumabhoy

6 Top Tips to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Is your dog overweight? If so, it is extremely important to take the steps necessary to help your dog lose weight. This will prevent a number of weight-related health conditions from arising, whether this may be arthritis and heart disease or high blood pressure and cancer.

Want to know how to help your dog lose weight?

Here are 6 tips to get you started:

1. Measure Out Your Dog's Meals

Do you often “guesstimate” when it comes to filling your dog's bowl with food? Or perhaps you choose to free feed, allowing your pooch to help himself to a full bowl whenever he feels hungry?

Well, while both of these methods of feeding may be convenient, they need to stop.

If your pooch is overweight, the very first step to take to help your dog lose weight is to measure out his meals.

How Much Should Your Dog Be Eating?

Prepared to measure, but no idea what the ideal measurement should be?

This depends on a number of factors, such as:

  • Your dog's age

  • Your dog's size

  • Your dog's energy levels

  • The food being fed

Most commercial foods will have guidelines on the back of the box to tell you how much to feed. If you have been over-feeding your dog, drop this down to the recommended amount. If the amount you have been feeding has been about right, cut back on this slightly until your dog has reached an ideal weight.

Alternatively, ask your veterinarian to calculate how many calories your dog needs each day. You can then use this to work out a more specific daily food measurement.

2. Make Sure That You Are Feeding a Quality Dog Food

Have you ever taken a look at the ingredients list of your dog's food?

If not, do it now, as you are likely to be surprised...

So many commercial dog foods containing a surprisingly high amount of carbohydrates, and this is something that dogs definitely do not need.

Raw diets are great for having better control over your dog's weight. If you would prefer to feed a commercial food, look for one that has more protein than carbohydrates.

3. Increase Exercise 

In addition to controlling your dog's food intake, upping the amount of exercise your pooch gets is another key way to help your dog lose weight.

If your dog naturally has quite an active personality, this shouldn't be too difficult...

Simply increase the frequency of your walks, or even just the length of your walks. Allowing your dog to run around off the leash will really help him to get his muscles moving, but only do this when it is safe. Try adding in some varied terrain too – running uphill on sand, rather than running on flat grass, will give your dog even more of a workout.

You could also try playing some active games at home. From flirt poles to bouncy balls, there are so many dog toys out there that will help to convince your dog to get moving.

Of course, make sure that you start off slow with all of this! This is especially important if your dog is in his senior years. You don't want all of the extra exercise to be too much for your dog, so begin gradually to give your dog's body and muscles some time to grow accustomed to all of the new activity.

4. Healthy Treats

A dalmation snacking on fresh fruit to lose weight
Photo by Show 131/ CC

Treats aren't an essential part of owning a dog, especially if your dog is already overweight.

However, if you have been working on training your dog, then treats will usually be required.

Biscuits, small chunks of cheese, and other calorie-laden bites are usually what most owners turn to. Of course, in order to help your dog lose weight, you need to avoid all of these.

So, what are some healthy treats that you can feed instead?

Try some of the following:

  • Raw fruit, such as sliced apples and bananas

  • Raw vegetables, such as carrot, cucumber and broccoli chunks

  • Dehydrated sprats or sardines

  • Dehydrated meat, without any filler ingredients

These may not sound very tempting to you, but dogs tend to love the crunchy texture that all of those snacks provide, making them a fantastic training treat.

Of course, when feeding your dog treats, don't forget to deduct those calories from your dog's daily allowance. Extra treats mean that you will likely need to feed your dog less food at meal times.

5. Find a Mentally-Stimulating Edible Chew

Looking for a way to keep your dog entertained for a few hours, without involving high-calorie foods?

There are many edible chews out there that you could look into. These are usually low in fat and long-lasting, giving your dog a taste of food without actually piling on the calories.

Antlers, dried tendons, raw bones and steer sticks are all great options.

Make sure that you stay away from rawhide, as these chews contain so many dangerous chemicals that you definitely don't want your dog consuming.

6. Keep Weighing Your Dog

It is important to keep your motivation up when trying to help your dog lose weight.

This is why it can be helpful to keep weighing your dog at regular intervals.

How much weight should your dog be losing?

This all depends on how overweight your dog was to begin with. Generally, aim for around 1% of your dog's body weight per week, which should work out to between 3% and 5% a month.

You can either take your pooch in to your local veterinary clinic to have him weighed, or do this yourself at home.

Are your scales too small?

Weigh yourself first. Then, pick your dog up and stand on the scales. Simply subtract your own weight from the weight of the two of you combined, and that will give you your dog's weight.

More than 50% of the dogs in the USA are overweight, making it no surprise that dogs are now facing such an array of different health problems. If you want to keep your dog as healthy as possible, make sure that you are always keeping track of your dog's weight, and that you know how to help your dog lose weight if you ever need to.

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