Last night, Rodrigo bit me.  It was my fault.  He was focused on a bowl of ice cream Johan was holding and I tried to sneak around him and he reacted and bit me in the face.  It wasn’t hard and I’m not hurt, but did three things immediately…

• I backed away, but not too quickly, because I didn’t want to startle him again.
• I made eye contact with Johan and shook my head, because I didn’t want him to punish Rodrigo.
• I stood up and walked out of the room.

I have no idea if that was the right or wrong thing to do, but I had to remove myself from the situation to get a hold of myself, because I was having a human moment, when all I could think was “My baby bit me!” and then I just cried, but only for a moment.  I pulled myself together and became pack leader again.

When I returned to the room, Rodrigo was so nervous and wouldn’t look me in the eye.  It broke my heart, but at least he didn’t take my place as pack leader while I was pulling myself together. I hugged him and told him it was okay, he licked my face and then we all turned in for the night.

When Your Dog Bites You

What really disturbed me about getting bit by my dog is that I was able to quickly assess the situation.  I understood what happened; my boyfriend did too.  My heart breaks for dogs who were kicked out of the house, abused, or surrendered to the shelter, because of a similar situation.  In fact, someone I know encouraged a friend to have her dog put down, because he was nipping at her.  Why not call a dog trainer first?

I did a little Google research and found that there are 5 reasons dogs bite…

1. Possessiveness – guarding property, toys, and food can be common with some dogs.  Rodrigo has shown possessiveness with toys, which is why we taught him “leave it.”  This simple command prevents him from stealing toys, bones and chews from Sydney and Blue.
2. Fear – if a dog is afraid, he’s going to lash out to protect himself.  This is a perfect reason why we should take care when approaching a dog we don’t know, because we’re unfamiliar with their history or their triggers.  Rodrigo is afraid of loud noises and tends to come crawling in my lap when a loud boom happens.
3. Pain – I’ve actually heard of this happening and I’ve been nipped at before.  Sydney has done it when I clipped her nails (never use a guillotine style nail clipper on your dog) and Rodrigo did it to me when I found a bur lodged into his skin and was trying to get it out.
4. Maternal – I’ve never experienced this, but I’ve heard of people being warned not to approach a dog when she’s with her litter, because she’s very protective.  All of our dogs are altered so the other maternal instinct going on was Rodrigo looking to give birth to an ice cream baby.
5. Prey Drive – Since I wasn’t moving quickly, I doubt that Rodrigo’s prey drive was triggered.  This is usually what happens when cyclists and joggers go by, which is why our dogs are back on the leash.  They wouldn’t hurt anyone, but their prey drive is strong and I wouldn’t want someone to be scared or hurt, because our dogs couldn’t help but give chase.

Looking back, it’s obvious that Rodrigo was resource guarding and nipped at me to keep me from getting the ice cream that he claimed as his own.  He didn’t get any ice cream, but he did get a tub of forgiveness, understanding and love.

Dog Bite Warnings

Yes, there were warnings.  Rodrigo bared his teeth to his sister.  Looking back, I should have removed him from the room in that moment, but I didn’t see him doing it.  I’ll pay closer attention next time.

Other warnings (that we didn’t experience) that dog parents should look for are ears back against the head, hackles (hair along the back, rear and/or spine) raised, excessive yawning, and intense eye contact.

How to Prevent Dog Bites

• Know your dog’s body language so that you can ward off aggression or stress before it gets that far.
• Train your dog commands like “leave it” so that they know that whatever their want isn’t for them.
• If your dog tends towards regular aggression, you might want to curb aggressive games like tug-of-war.
• Don’t put your dog in stressful situations – I will only walk the dogs on trails first thing in the morning so that we encounter fewer cyclists and joggers.  I no longer take our dogs to the dog park.
• Socialize socialize socialize – and not just with other dogs; we need to socialize our pups with people too so that they understand what is expected of them and can learn not to fear people outside the family (postal carrier, veterinarian).
• Keep your dog close to the family; as the dogs have gotten older and more comfortable, we’ve had to stop allowing them outside in the main yard (unfenced) alone, because they’ll run to a neighbor’s house or along the Centennial Trail, and are at a risk of being in situations that may lead to aggression.

My chin hurts, but I’m over being bitten by my dog.  I hope that it never happens again.  And I hope someone who was just bitten reads this and instead of taking their dog to the shelter, takes a step back and learns more about dog behavior.

If you’re having a difficult time with your dog, reach out to a professional dog trainer for help.

Have you been bitten by your dog?  What advice do you have for someone who was bitten and confused on the next steps?

The post Rodrigo Bit Me | What To Do When Your Dog Bites You appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

This is a sponsored post

We live in a multi dog home.  We have three gorgeous dogs and I adore them.  They’re my babies.  I love that we rescued all three of them.  Rodrigo and Sydney’s mom was rescued from a property where the owners had over 100 dogs.  I won’t go into details, but I’m sure you can imagine the life she led.  Her puppies haven’t had a moment of unhappiness if you don’t count “time out” or their parents leaving for work in the morning.  Blue was a stray that was turned into a shelter and found his way into our happy home (thanks to Riley holding open the door for him).

Three Black Dogs, Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue

Adopting 2 puppies at the same time…

When we were considering (when I say we, I mean me) adopting two puppies at the same time, many people said it was a bad idea, because they would bond to each other and not us, they would be difficult to train, and they would fight and hurt each other.  We didn’t experience any of this, but we were also prepared (thanks to all the warnings).

Adopting a third dog…

When I was considering adding a third dog, a coworker told me one thing that made me slow down – “Sydney will never forgive you.”  I’m happy to say that Sydney has forgiven me, but the addition of a third dog does change the dynamic of our home.

I’m “mommy.”  I’m the person who cuddles them when they need attention, they they’re scared, or when they’re hurt.  They love my boyfriend too, but I’m the one who they follow around the house.  It’s sweet and it’s a burden; especially when a puppy is howling outside the bathroom door.  Jeez!

Three Black Dogs, Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue

How adopting a third dog changed the dynamics of our family

We expected changes, but we didn’t expect what we got…

• More cleaning, more laundry.  That’s a no brainer, right?  But what we didn’t expect was that Blue would be a water dog and dives into all bodies of water, including our Koi pond (the fish LOVE him).  So we have to clean more, because he’s always wet and muddy.
• More food.  Blue’s a puppy so he sometimes eats more than the other dogs and we had to find the balance of feeding two 70 pound dogs and feeding one 50 pound dog.  On the suggested feeding charts, our dogs fall into two categories.
• More accidents.  Rodrigo weighs 70 pounds, when Blue joined our family, he weighed about 10 pounds and was determined to play with Rodrigo.  There was a lot of supervised play, but accidents happen and for the first time we considered pet insurance and invested in Trupanion.
• More competition.  Our dogs have never been food possessive, but they are very much Mommy possessive.  There are days when I walk into a room and Rodrigo is getting worked up to bark at me, Sydney is growling at Blue and Rodrigo, and Blue immediately jumps into my space demanding love.  There’s one of me and three of them and I’ve had to set rules on who gets attention and when; this is new in our home.  It’s easy to divide attention between two dogs, but three (when one is a puppy) is a complicated dance.
• More energy.  With a puppy in the house, we’ve been trying to remember when Rodrigo and Sydney settled down.  Regardless of that magic date, I somehow think Blue will be different.  What’s interesting is the Blue’s seemingly bottomless pit of energy is spurring on the other two.  Rodrigo wakes up, kisses Mommy, then goes after Blue for a rumble/tumble play session.  Even Sydney has jumped in with loud barking and growling.  This starts at 4:45 in the morning.  Yayyyy.
• More money.  I told myself that we’re just adding a dog; we already have to buy the toys and food.  Sounds a little like a kid promising to walk the dog every single day no matter what – please can I have a puppy?  Although I’ve become adept at finding an affordable budget for our pets, I’ve had to get creative and found that saving money on pet accessories is easy through our Petco Pet Pals membership, coupons, and trying to find pet vouchers on Amazon.

Do you live in a multi dog home?  What changes did you experience that you didn’t anticipate?

Disclosure: The company My Voucher Codes sponsored this  article.  My Voucher Codes offers pet owners a way to save money on pet supplies and the more money we save, the better quality we can provide for our fur kids.  This article was written from my perspective of a dog parent to share dog care tips with this audience.  Although My Voucher Codes sponsored this article, I and Keep the Tail Wagging are not endorsing their company or website.

The post A Multi Dog Home | How Adding a Dog Changed the Dynamics of our Family appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

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When we were doing our homework about adopting a dog my entire focus was on long walks, dog parks, and puppy kisses.  Although I knew adopting a dog was a lot of responsibility, I was entirely focused on the fun stuff and not a lot on dog care.  I still am most of the time.  The other day, I read an article that listed 50 things the author wish he knew when he was younger.  That article inspired this one of 50 things I wish I knew about dog care when we adopted dogs.

Dogs and Their Personality

• It takes a while for two people to come up with a dog name they’re happy with; it took us a couple of hours to name Blue (his name was Edgar Frog) and two days to name Sydney (I wanted to name her Princess or Ava).
• Yawning doesn’t always mean “I’m sleepy.”  Dogs have so many ways of telling us how they feel and what they’re thinking.  We just have to pay attention.
• Dogs will steal your heart in seconds.  I fell in love with Riley on the way home from picking her up.  We were fostering her, but I couldn’t let her go.  I love watching videos of her playing with Rodrigo and Sydney even though I cry every time.
• Dogs bark.  Sometimes for a very good reason.  Sometimes just for fun.  And it’s loud.
• Dogs don’t know what coyotes or skunks are; so it’s up to use to keep them safe.
• Dogs hate baths and think they smell just perfectly; it’s the humans who think they stink.
• No matter how big a dog is, they can always be a lap dog.
• Dogs read our energy; if we’re stressed, they’re stressed.  If we’re comfy and happy, so are they.  If you make “night night time” fun, they’ll be excited.  And sometimes they’ll put themselves to bed.
• Dogs will cringe away from you as if you abuse them in front of strangers.  Blue!  The UPS guy thinks I beat you now!  Stop barking at him.  I’m just trying to leash up your harness.
• You will laugh every single day.
• Crunches, sit ups, lunges, and jumping jacks look like a fun game to dogs.  Work out when they’re outside.  You can also do lunges and squats while walking the dogs.  When they stop to smell something; knocked out a set of 15.
• Taking pictures with dogs is like trying to collect raindrops in your hands.
• Not all dogs like other dogs.
• Every package that comes into the house is something for them; carry it high.
• Dogs are smarter than you think; one of your dogs will know how to open doors.
• Get used to poo and muddy paw prints and don’t become too attached to those shoes.

Dog Training

• Confidence and consistency is key.  If you freak out, you’re just giving your dog the cue that he or she needs to step up, because the human is out of control; plus it’s scary.
• Even our dog trainer’s dog sometimes doesn’t come when he’s call, so it’s pointless to get frustrated when our dogs misbehave.  I choose to go with the 90%/10% rule – if our dogs are well behaved 90% of the time, then I’m winning!
• Dogs don’t understand English, they understand some words and they mostly read our body language and energy.  Check all of the negative emotions at the door and bask in the love of all things canine when you get home.
• Cesar Milan is evil.  It doesn’t matter what he’s done for dog rescue or rehabilitating un-adoptable dogs, he’s evil and if you plan to say anything positive about him, prepare for the attack.  I have been attacked many times for saying something positive about Cesar Milan.
• People will judge you harshly for the smallest mistake or for simply doing something that they wouldn’t do.  For some, crate training is imperative, while others think it’s abusive.
• Some dogs aren’t able to greet one another on a leash; it can be stressful and a play session can quickly morph into a fight.

Dog Health

• I will call the vet at least once a month or two.  Something is always going on and we’ve learned that if the dogs aren’t displaying a drastic change in personality or crying out in pain, we need to give it a day so that we know what we’re calling the vet about.  Having three dogs gives us 3x the opportunity for an injury or allergy.
• Everything is dangerous – their food, their environment, the dog park, other dogs.  After reading some blogs and following Dr. Becker, sometimes I wonder if I should put my babies in a bubble.  Dog parents have to educate themselves about dog care.
• There are old school veterinarians and new age veterinarians and vets who have a foot in both worlds.  If your vet makes you feel like an idiot for asking a question or doing your own homework, run and find a new vet!
• You can use social media to connect with holistic veterinarians across the country who will make dog parenting a lot easier and open your eyes to new dog care methods.
• Pet insurance isn’t cheap and researching for the best pet insurance carrier pretty much sucks.  Oh and they don’t offer discounts; if you come across one that does; run.
• Dogs get car sick; pumpkin and frozen yogurt (for dogs) is great for car sickness.
• Hiding pills in peanut butter doesn’t work forever; shake it up and use marshmallows or turkey hot dogs.
• Just like with humans, stress exhausts dogs.  Prepare for thunderstorms and fireworks with long walks and play sessions before the noise starts.
• You’ll need a first aid kit for the house and each car.

Dog Food

• There is a dog food recall every single month and even the premium brands can experience a dog food recall.  The FDA may not act fast enough so (once again) dog parents need to be educated.  And don’t toss the packaging; you’ll need to be able to match up the UPC code should a recall be announced.
• Premium kibble isn’t enough.  Grain free isn’t enough.   Even a raw food diet may not be enough.  There are so many options and everyone is only too happy to tell you what’s best.
• Cooking for your dogs is fun, but time consuming.  You will not keep it up even though you have the best of intentions.  And buying the food in bulk at Costco doesn’t save any money.
• Dogs can be allergic to chicken; but that doesn’t mean they’re allergic to turkey – go figure.
• Many pet food companies will talk to you about nutrition and their food; especially if you’re a blogger with a big mouth who can help them promote their product.

Dog People

• Unsolicited advice will fly at you regularly.  Everyone means well.  They’re advising you based on their experience with dogs and other dog parents.  There will be days when you want to scream, but pause, count to ten, take a deep breath, smile and say thank you.  By the way, if you do this in front of someone, they’ll notice.
• If someone touches your dog (or acts like they plan to), flip the hell out; show people how you and your dogs expect to be treated.
• If someone makes a false claim about your dog (they’re aggressive, violent, have caused injury), flip the hell out, but politely.  There’s nothing more satisfying than throwing logic back into the face of a liar.  Especially when they threaten to call the police and you can point to your boyfriend and say “he can take your report, the’s a deputy.”  Booo-yow!
• Not everyone is a dog lover.
• Not everyone wants to look at new pictures of the puppies or hear new, cute stories about their antics. Shocking, I know.
• Not everyone thinks walking dogs off leash is a great idea and loads of fun.
• Not everyone thinks it’s adorable with your dogs bark and lunge at them.  They’re on the leash.

Dog Rescue

• Dog breeders are greedy, selfish, evil animal abusers.  If you even hint that there is such a thing as a “reputable breeder” then prepared to be called several not so nice names from people who have only interacted with people who run puppy mills.  I’ve been personally attacked for believing reputable breeders exist.
• Dog rescue workers are a very passionate group of people, it’s fantastic to support dog rescue, but set boundaries on what you’ll take into your experience.  If you can’t handle the pictures, don’t allow someone to make you feel like you’re not really as supporter.
• You can set up a recurring donation to your favorite dog rescue group.

Dogs and Finances

• Two dogs are way more than twice the work and twice the expense; three dogs are expensive.
• If you’re dog parents, then recognize that raising dogs is a partnership and you’re not alone.  Talk about finances, training, chores, nutrition, and health regularly.  Make sure everyone is on the same page.
• Sick time doesn’t cover when you stay home with a sick dog.
• Vacation plans include the dogs; either you take them with or you hire a pet sitter.

Now it’s your turn – what are a few things you wish you would have known before you adopted a dog (or two, or three).

The post 50 Things I Wish I Knew About Dog Care When We Adopted Our Dogs appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

I’m a dog mom.

We have three dogs, all rescues, at home.  I get a kick out of the fact that we’re an interracial couple and we have three black and white dogs.  That wasn’t the plan, but I’m happy with how it worked out.

My first year Dog Parenting Mistakes

Our first year of having dogs was amazing.  It was my idea to adopt two puppies from the same litter, it was Johan’s big heart that helped him go along with a terrible idea.  Because we’re both stubborn and curious, we did a lot of research and were 90% prepared, which made that first year a lot easier.  But I still made mistakes…

• I got impatient when they wouldn’t listen.
• I didn’t do enough research on dog food.
• I almost fed them grapes and I let Rodrigo lick a little champagne on New Years.
• I allowed myself to be intimidated by our veterinarian.
• I didn’t clip their nails often enough.

What I learned during my second year of Dog Parenting

• Blogging gives you courage, a community, and a ton of information.
• Every dog parent makes mistakes.
• Losing a dog is the most painful experience in my life to date.
• We had room and time for a third dog.
• The dog park isn’t a great place for our pack.
• And dog parents have a right to an opinion.

What gives me the right to write about raising dogs?

Well, I’ll tell you.  Host Gator, WordPress, and being a dog mom to four dogs.  There are three dogs sleeping all around me as I type and one sweet puppy who isn’t far from my thoughts every day.  I didn’t start Keep the Tail Wagging to tell people how they should raise their dogs; I started it, because I wanted to be part of a community of dog lovers who shared their successes and failures in dog parenting.  And that’s what I found.

I love blogging, I love dogs, I love photography and I love that I’m part of a community where I can have an opinion.  Where I can say that I like Cesar Milan even though I don’t follow his training methods.   I love that the idea of me celebrating our dogs birthdays is normal.  And I love that when I’m worried about one of our dogs – my readers and this amazing dog community doesn’t go to that dark place and terrify me – instead, they’re warm, supportive, and great friends.

I have no idea what I’m doing most days, but I know I’m not doing it alone.

Dog lovers rock!  And I want to say thank you so very much for allowing me to be a part of this community.  And if you’re visiting for the first time – welcome!

So what are your thoughts – this is your chance to say anything you want (as long as it’s not cruel or inhumane) about dog parenting without judgment.  Let’s do this!

Need some inspiration?  What are your thoughts on dog parks?  TV dog trainers?  Dog breeding?  The raw food diet for dogs?  Or annual vaccinations?  The links you see – are my thoughts. LOL

The post All Dog Parents Have a Right to An Opinion, What’s Yours? #UBP13 appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Monday, I shared Gayle’s list of tips 1 through 5 about living with a blind dog; below are tips 6 through 10.

photo: ~ggvic~

6.  Consider using a flowing fountain for your dog’s water bowl. The sound of running water will help your blind dog find its drinking dish, and the sound can be appealing to both people and pets in the house. Circulating water maintains its freshness longer as well, offering greater appeal than a stagnant pool.

7.  Various toys that stimulate your blind dog’s other, more acute, senses engage it in play.  Squeaky toys or products that you can put treats inside positively impact playtime. KONG© makes a variety of toys into which biscuits and other treats can be placed; these offer aromas that a blind dog can “seek and find” and be rewarded.

Some blind dogs may react negatively to squeaky toys because their sense of hearing becomes much more acute when blindness sets in; that was the case with Sage, so we substituted toys with fragrance for toys that squeak. She also enjoyed tug-of-war, and that engaged us, as Sage’s owners, in her playtime.

8.  Stay connected with your blind dog through voice and touch. Dogs enjoy gentle strokes and pats on the head; many dogs also respond positively to belly rubs and massage. Dogs also love to hear their human’s voice. All this is especially true for blind dogs.  Affectionate voice and tender touch are calming and provide the sense of security your blind pet needs.  Sage was a very tactile dog – she enjoyed gentle, massaging touch, and she often curled near my feet, reassured of where she was … near me.

9.  Sense of security is important, and having a quiet place at which your blind dog can spend time is also beneficial. A peaceful room, such as a corner of your bedroom or home office, can serve as that special place.  An indoor dog kennel, with the door opened so that your blind dog can come and go as it pleases, can also serve as the “safe spot”.  If your household is busy with children, parties, and/or other dogs, your blind dog will need that safe, quiet place to which it can retreat.

When Sage first became blind, she used a large crate that we purchased and set up in the spare bedroom.  As she adjusted to her blindness, she simply retreated to the room and either lay on the floor or in the crate. As time passed, she stopped using the crate but still occasionally retreated to the bedroom

10.  Consider a second dog if you don’t already have one. Some blind dogs do well with others of their kind, and some sighted canines actually become “seeing eye dogs” for blind ones (don’t expect your sighted dog to be your blind dog’s guide, but don’t be surprised if that takes place). Dogs are social creatures, and a another dog can be a very good companion for a blind one, especially in a household in which both adults are absent for many hours.

Putting these ideas into practice and continuing to encourage, train and spend time with your blind dog will help both of you live more effectively with the disability of blindness.  Remember that blindness is not fatal; this fact will help you cope better with the news and therefore, assist you in helping your beloved dog.  Although Sage and I did not expect the journey of blindness, we accepted and faced the challenges. We enjoyed 11 years of blessed companionship, including traveling, and exploring. You and your blind dog can also create and share a rewarding life together – using the tips provided above, I believe you will!

Gayle M. Irwin is a Wyoming author, writer and speaker. She has published three children’s books and an adult nonfiction with her dogs as main characters. Her latest work, Walking In Trust : Lessons Learned with my Blind Dog, is a devotional-style book that that parallels lessons learned from her blind dog Sage with her faith walk with God.  Mrs. Irwin is also a contributing writer to four Chicken Soup for the Soul compilations and has produced an ebook for blind dog owners. A former conservation and humane educator, she volunteers for various animal welfare
organizations. Learn more at www.gaylemirwin.com.

• Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That!: 101 Stories about the Crazy Antics of Our Canine Companions
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog: 101 Stories about Life, Love, and Lessons

If you’re living with a blind dog or a deaf dog, I’d love to learn more about what tips you have for me!

The post 10 Tips for Dog Parents About Living with a Blind Dog, Part Two appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

When Keep the Tail Wagging is a full time gig, I would love to adopt a blind or deaf dog.    When Gayle Irwin contacted me and offered to share what she knows about living with a blind dog, I was so excited, because it is such a great compliment to an earlier article about living with a deaf dog.

photo: Andrew Morrell Photography

When my husband and I heard the startling words from our veterinarian, “I have bad news – your dog is going blind”, we truly did not know what to do… or what to expect. Sharing nearly 12 years with our Springer Spaniel, Sage, taught us how to cope with her disability and also how to help her adjust. Sage became blind before she was three years old due to a genetic disease called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA); there is no cure for PRA. She lived more than nine years without sight, yet she lived with joy and courage.

Tips for Blind Dog Owners

There are many important ways to adjust to the disability of canine blindness; consistency, creativity and courage are three important keys for you and your blind dog to live happily, successfully, and safely together.

1.  Acknowledge your feelings of shock and sorrow at the news your dog is going blind. It’s okay to grieve – you and your dog are experiencing a loss – but don’t get stuck there. Blindness is a disability, and disabilities can be compensated for, especially in dogs. Remember that disability is NOT inability – dogs can and do acclimate, and so can you.

2.  Teach your dog additional commands to the standard “sit”, “stay”, “come”. We taught Sage “step-up”, “step-down” and “stop”, all very useful for navigating stairs and taking walks. Training not only keeps your dog’s mind alert, but also provides extra security for you and your blind friend. Giving the command to “stop” when you come to a street corner, for example, keeps your dog from stepping out into traffic, providing you the time to ensure it’s safe to cross the street.  Some dog owners implement clicker training, using a small, simple device that creates a distinct metallic sound, pairing the clicker with treats while saying the command.

3.  Don’t move the household furniture. Blind dogs learn quickly where items are placed, and they use that memory to get around.  “Cognitive mapping” refers to the mental representation a dog has of its physical environment as a result of repetition and spatial learning.  Therefore, by keeping the recliner, sofa and end tables in the same place, your dog will learn and remember where that furniture is located.

On the other hand, having the sofa in one spot for several months and then relocating it to another will cause confusion; the dog will bump into that piece of furniture more readily after it’s moved.  The same concept applies for taking walks outdoors: repeating the route over and over again will help your dog better navigate the neighborhood because of its “cognitive mapping”. We witnessed this with Sage, and though we may have gotten bored walking the same route, we chose a location which included a park – that place stimulated her sense of smell, for squirrels, birds, and other creatures used the park, and she could smell and hear these animals during our walks. Those creatures delighted our days, too!

4.  Accentuating your blind dog’s more acute senses, like hearing and smell, keeps your furry friend engaged. Therefore, not only try to include a park or woodland on your daily stroll, but also use bells when you walk so your blind dog can hear and follow your footsteps. Also, place jingling tags on your other pets so your blind dog is not startled when those companions come near. You can also use wind chimes in the backyard to help your blind dog navigate outside.

5.  Texture is also helpful for a blind dog’s navigation. We placed wood chips along fence lines in our backyard to help Sage understand she was near the metal fence; that helped prevent collisions. Throw rugs were used in our living and dining rooms near the recliners and table chairs to let Sage know she was near those furniture pieces. She also used those rugs for naps.

Stay tuned for part two, that is sharing tips 6 through 10 abut living with a blind dog…

Gayle M. Irwin is a Wyoming author, writer and speaker. She has published three children’s books and an adult nonfiction with her dogs as main characters. Her latest work, Walking In Trust : Lessons Learned with my Blind Dog, is a devotional-style book that that parallels lessons learned from her blind dog Sage with her faith walk with God.  Mrs. Irwin is also a contributing writer to four Chicken Soup for the Soul compilations and has produced an ebook for blind dog owners. A former conservation and humane educator, she volunteers for various animal welfare
organizations. Learn more at www.gaylemirwin.com.

• Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That!: 101 Stories about the Crazy Antics of Our Canine Companions
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog: 101 Stories about Life, Love, and Lessons

If you’re living with a blind dog or a deaf dog, I’d love to learn more about what tips you have for me!

The post 10 Tips for Dog Parents About Living with a Blind Dog, Part One appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Author and Dog Parent | Alycia Neighbours

We recently completed a home improvement project of increasing our home by four feet. Four really big fuzzy feet belonging to a 10 month old English Mastiff. When you are an animal person this is the best home improvement project ever, but it can have some very tense moments.

First I would like to thank Kimberly Gauthier for walking me through some of the early moments and Joan Mayer, of Inquisitive Canine, for invaluable advice to help us during the transition period.

photo: ocean yamaha

Considering your new kid

The very first thing my family did when considering the new kid was to look at the breed. Yes, I know that we can’t judge a dog by the breed alone, but it helps to know some of the inherent qualities and personality traits. I will usually avoid dogs in the hunter class and the pastoral class. For my personality they tend to be a little more high maintenance. Mastiffs are a perfect fit for my family because the only “job” they will do is to be a guard/companion.

Secondly, I was very honest with the original owner about our family (both human and fur children) and its weaknesses. I made her aware that I had a large fenced yard and other animals. It would have been very unfair to the dog to bring her into a living situation that was not honest. I told her that I have a moderately aggressive lead male and a hyper second-in-command. She was also aware that I have many small children (which can quickly translate to negative stimuli for an unprepared dog.) The owner felt it was a good fit (since she is the one who knows the new kid), so it was settled.

Introducing the kids

I waited to pick up the dog until all the children were in school. This gives me time to get the house prepared and allows for less stimulation for the new dog. I put the other dogs outside in their normal routine. I removed all toys, food/water bowls and closed off my bedroom (which is the choice sleeping and retreat place for our lead dog)

We came in the front door so the other dogs wouldn’t see her and I gave her time to explore the house so she could be familiar with the layout. Then came time for the great meet and greet event.

I went outside and put the leash on my lead dog. This is his sign for my need for him to be on his best behavior. I had plenty of treats in my pocket and gave him a couple. I also put on his training collar which emits an audible beep controlled by a remote. He knows that if he hears the beep he is to heel immediately (Please consult your vet or trainer before using a training collar in any fashion).

I allowed the meet to happen in the back yard because it is more of a neutral ground for our dogs. Immediately seeing the new kid, our dogs went into investigation and protection mode. This can be stressful to watch, but it is normal behavior for dogs. I made it clear in my posture that I was going to protect the new kid, but I also have to let the dogs be dogs.

I then brought my lead dog inside and gave him a food bowl. This sends a message to him that his position is not being threatened by the new kid. After he finished eating, I brought in the new kid and this is where the real games begin.

Lead dog felt the need to establish his position immediately and in no time postured and growled until she lay down in submission. Second-in-command began to be a problem as he wasn’t content with her submission and began to pick on the new kid. This is where I cried out for help, because it’s hard to speak in doggy language and I hated seeing the submission game carried out to where the new kid was being picked on.

I received wonderful advice and began implementing it…

• Multi-dog Household
• How to Play Mutt Matchmaker
• Sibling Rivalry

Now almost a week later, we have a workable three dog household. The boundaries have been established between the three dogs and our home improvement project is a success. They understand they don’t have to fight for resources and are content in their sibling type relationship. We still monitor interactions, just as we have to with our human children and continue to enforce and reward acceptable behavior.

How many dogs do you live with?  Any tips you can share about adding a third dog to a home?

The post Being Neighbours-ly | New Kid on the Block, Adding a Third Dog appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Sometimes we walk our dogs on the Centennial Trail.  Rodrigo and Blue love seeing people, especially the cyclists and joggers and cry and bark when they go by us; and I’m ashamed to say that sometimes they lunge at people too – there is a 10 feet distance and they’re on leashes, but to someone who isn’t used to dogs, it’s got to be disconcerting.

Sydney, on the other hand, just wants to introduce herself to everyone and we’re teaching her that she can’t just go up to every stranger and expect attention; by the way, she’s off leash, because she walks besides us with the exception of when something fascinating captures her nose.

Training requires consistency, confidence, and we’re getting exercise.  Because our dogs aren’t great on the leash, we go out on the Trail at first light (right after dawn) and we walk for a mile or two and come across very few people.  When we do make people nervous, I want to shout ”My dogs aren’t aggressive, they’re just having fun!!!”  But I get that they don’t want to take a chance.

So I decided to learn more about the signs of dog aggression and dog trainers from the BarkZone in Hillsboro, Oregon, Eric Simpson and Roxanne McCredie, shared the following great information that taught me about dog aggression…

Here are some things that can create an aggressive dog:

• Lack of proper socialization
• Excessive physical punishment
• An attack or scare from another aggressive dog
• Isolation from human contact
• Frequent teasing, taunting, or other harassment from children or adults
• Aggravation from strangers or other passersby

Types of dog aggression are:

• Fear or defensive aggression - caused by the dog being fearful of something, in pain, feels threatened or punished
• Dominant aggression - demands attention, exerts their will, possessive, does not obey commands
• Territorial aggression - aggressive when someone comes to your home or becomes aggressive when someone walks by you while your dog is on leash
• Sex-specific aggression - either aggressive towards male dogs or just female dogs
• Predatory aggression - harasses or attacks dogs smaller than them
• Parental aggression - nursing moms or when with pups

Signs and symptoms of dog aggression and a dog that is becoming aggressive:

What I find interesting about this list is that our dogs do many of these without being aggressive, but now I see how their behavior can be seen as aggression by others who don’t know them.

• Growling
• Curling lips
• Lunging – our dogs do this when they get over excited and are on the leash
• Blocking your path – Sydney does this with joggers and cyclists to say “hello”
• Barking aggressively – I call it “barking excessively” and our dogs do this when they see joggers, cyclists, and other dogs
• Snarling
• Biting – doesn’t have to break the skin
• Mounting people
• Snapping
• Over-protective of things

An Aggressive Dog’s Posture:

Aggressive attack:

• hackles up
• tail stiff and raised
• ears erect and tilted forward
• eyes staring
• lips curled
• teeth bared, snarling
• charging and weight forward

Defensive dog aggression:

• hackles up
• ears back, pupils dilated
• tail down and tensed
• posture mildly crouched, weight over rear legs
• muzzle tense, wrinkled and snarling, teeth exposed

The post A Dog Parent Learns About the Signs of Dog Aggression appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

One of the things that I love about living in the Pacific Northwest are how pet friendly most events are; as the summer months approach (yes, they’ll be here before you know it), I’ll be planning which street fairs and dog festivals I’ll be attending with our dogs.

Cheryl, a librarian and dog lover, shared street fair etiquette for dog parents who will be attending dog friendly fairs and festivals.  For more etiquette posts, check out my article about dog park etiquette.

Most street fair attendees are only thinking of the curly fries and the fabulous handmade early Christmas presents they can score, but responsible pet owners know there is more to attending a street fair than shopping and eating.

Dog Distractions

Street fairs are a great exposure for my Southeastern guide dog puppy in training.  Because I know I will be walking a working dog through the fair, I try to pick smaller fairs that won’t overwhelm my puppy.  Smaller fairs will attract a smaller crowd, resulting in fewer dogs to meet.  Here are some things pet parents might want to keep in mind when you are taking your pet to a street fair:

1. Pay Attention.  It’s not ok to forget the you have your pet with you.  Keep them by your side, with a loose leash, ready to pull them back harm if something or someone approaches.  If you are attracted by jewelry or baked goods, settle your furbaby into a down stay in front of you, and then lean over them to inspect the goods.  That way they are taken care of, you can take your time looking and no one gets a stray nose in the crotch.
2. Not everyone is as thoughtful as you. There is always one person whose dog is on a leash that extends 90 feet as he is looking at some hideous art in wonderment.  Of course that dog will be coming over and bothering your furbaby.  Of course that man will not notice or be concerned about it.  These people tend to stick out in the crowd.  They are huge annoyances and are best avoided. Do not engage them.  Smile and go around them.
3. Trouble comes from behind. Yep.  Always be aware of what is coming up from the rear because it might be a big doberman.  I speak from experience here. Just as you teach your child to look both ways before crossing the street, teach yourself to check all compass points for what is coming your way.

Food Distractions

While it may seem that people and their pets are the biggest worry you will have at the street fair, it isn’t.  You will also need to be aware of where you are walking and what is on the ground.

1. Food Court.  The dining area is always a danger area for several reasons: overflowing trashcans, picnic tables laden with food and people eating, people walking to and fro carrying food and the inevitable spills.  If your furbaby is a lunger, be especially careful around this area or avoid it completely.  You might want to get something to go and eat someplace else.
2. Dropped Food.  Many people will order food and eat on the run as they peruse the stands.  That means that there will be lots of dropped food on the ground for your dog to gobble up along the way.  If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you might want to reconsider bringing him to the street fair.  One of our pups would get explosive diarrhea at the slightest bite of any people food.  Any street fair exposure was fraught with nervousness and hyper-vigilance.
3. Smells.  Your pet may be less inclined to behave the nearer you get to Indian Fry Bread stand.  I know I have a hard time keeping it together around fry bread!  Be aware of where you are and adjust your expectations.  You may want to walk quickly past the booth to a less smelly area.

Bring a friend

Street fairs are fun.  There are lots of things to see, eat and do.  Taking along a friend will ensure that you will be better able to navigate the fair.  Your pet will have a better time if you and your friend are able to tag team and share the responsibilities of shopping and watching out for dog and food distractions.
Good luck!

Cheryl Mclean’s Bio: I am a high school librarian.  I thought raising guide dog puppies for Southeastern Guide Dogs for the blind would fill that empty place when having children was not an option.  Having a guide dog puppy with us at all times changed our lives. When we got our first puppy I started the blog The McLean Puppy Chronicles, which tells the story of how sometimes when you start a project where you think you will be giving back, you end up receiving so much more in return. 

Do you attend dog friendly street fairs and festivals?  Which ones do you attend in your town and do you bring your dog?

The post How to Have Fun When Attending Dog Friendly Fairs and Festivals appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

If you’re like me, you respond to each bark, growl, and whine your dog elicits.  Yes, Johan, they can understand me and I understand them.  I know each of my dogs by their bark and I’m familiar with their different barks.  I bet most dog owners can say the same, but that doesn’t mean we’re right.

Here’s a list of the reason behind 10 different barks from K9 Magazine and what they mean along with my person experience.  Enjoy!

What Does My Dog’s Bark Mean?

a dog bark translation guide

Continuous rapid barking, midrange pitch: “Call the pack! There is a potential problem! Someone is coming into our territory!” Continuous barking but a bit slower and pitched lower: “The intruder [or danger] is very close. Get ready to defend yourself!”

We can see two neighbors from our property and our dogs will engage in this barking when one of them has the audacity to exit their home.  I’m pretty sure Diane (not her real name) is convinced our dogs hate her.  They’re just letting her know not to come over (not that she has in the 3 years we’ve lived here).

Barking in rapid strings of three or four with pauses in between, midrange pitch: “I suspect that there may be a problem or an intruder near our territory. I think that the leader of the pack should look into it.”

Coyote (or dog or deer) alert.  Something it walking along the perimeter in the middle of the night (our dogs have access to their yard 24/7) and the dogs have decided to investigate vocally.

Prolonged or incessant barking, with moderate to long intervals between each utterance: “Is there anybody there? I’m lonely and need companionship.” This is most often the response to confinement or being left alone for long periods of time.

At our house, this bark is a Rodrigo trademark and translates to “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.”  The dogs just want to be in the house with us and Rodrigo only does this when he knows that I’m home.  The dogs know that Johan isn’t such a pushover.

I get this bark along with lots of running and three happy faces; you know, the typical You Finally Made it Home parade dogs throw us every day.

Single sharp short bark, lower midrange pitch: “Stop that!” This is often given by a mother dog when disciplining her puppies but may also indicate annoyance in any dog, such as when disturbed from sleep or if hair is pulled during grooming and so forth.

Rodrigo and Sydney shares this vocal when Blue won’t stop biting her ankles or pulling her tail and she’s not in the mood to play.  Blue barks this way when Rodrigo is threatening to take a way a loved toy.

Single sharp short bark, higher midrange: “What’s this?” or “Huh?” This is a startled or surprised sound. If it is repeated two or three times its meaning changes to “Come look at this!” alerting the pack to a novel event. This same type of bark, but not quite as short and sharp, is used to mean “Come here!”

Many dogs will use this kind of bark at the door to indicate that they want to go out. Lowering the pitch to a relaxed midrange means “Terrific!” or some other similar expletive, such as “Oh, great!”

In our house, this is Rodrigo’s way of letting us know that he has to go out.  Maybe he’s saying “oh, great, I have to pee again.”  Once he’s reached a point of barking, he’s ready to go.  Sydney and Blue go to the door when they need to go out.

Single yelp or very short high-pitched bark: “Ouch!” This is in response to a sudden, unexpected pain.

This one breaks my heart and when Rodrigo and Sydney were puppies, this yelp was soon followed by “come to Mommy” and now they look for me when they get hurt.  We heard this after bee stings, pulled muscles, and play that was too rough.  We investigate, examine, hug and then go to the house or to the vet depending on what we find.

Series of yelps: “I’m hurting!” “I’m really scared” This is in response to severe fear and pain.

Sydney did this one when she pulled a muscle and it broke everyone’s heart.  Even the veterinarian apologized to her many times after making her walk.  We used to hear this one when our dogs were puppies (someone stole my toy, I want Mommy, etc), but now it only comes up when they’re injured.

In our house, this bark is another Rodrigo trademark.  He was taught not to bark in the house, so if he needs to tell us something (Blue has my toy, I can’t reach a toy, I want a toy) then he’ll do this bark.  Enough to get our attention, but not enough to end up in Time Out.

Rising bark: This is a bit hard to describe, although once you’ve heard it, it is unmistakable. It is usually a series of barks, each of which starts in the middle range but rises sharply in pitch – almost a bark-yelp, though not quite that high. It is a play bark, used during rough-and- tumble games, that shows excitement and translates as “This is fun!”

In our house, this is the “we’re going for a walk” or “we’re going bye-bye” bark and we usually only hear it with the boys.  Sydney is pretty mellow and just runs from door to door with her tail wagging.

Now it’s your turn.  Can you interpret each of your dog’s barks?

The post What Does My Dog’s Bark Mean? A Dog Bark Translation Guide appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.