Keep pets away from mistletoe, 8 tips for if your dog runs away & reading moods

Keep your pets away from the mistletoe

Choosing your Christmas decorations carefully is one of the 3 tips for pet safety this Christmas.  Mistletoe and holly are toxic if ingested by your pet as is tinsel.  This feature on petbusiness.com also reminds us to keep rich festive food out of reach of pets – some of it is toxic for them and it’s generally just not suitable for them.  Also ensure to advise any guests not to give in to the pleading eyes and feed them titbits!  Finally, it is recommended that, no matter how sociable your pet is, to create a safe space for them away from guests, in a busy home which can be full of people over the festive period.

http://bit.ly/2BDUMFw

(photo: CollegeTimes.com)

  

What to do if your dog runs away

I love the really practical articles on ThatMutt.com and this one gives 8 great tips on what to do if your dog runs away:

If you see your dog heading off, try and capture his attention including making an unusual sound or you running in the opposite direction; Leave something of yours e.g. a jacket where you last saw your dog; If you’re with a group of people, spread out and search; Wait where you are; Ensure the dog has id on his collar and is microchipped; Trust your dog; If he/she is missing for a while, contact all local shelters and pounds and finally, ensure you have an up to date photo.

http://bit.ly/2jyPYtq

Dogs much better at reading moods than we are!

Dogs are good at reading our moods but we’re terrible at reading theirs according to research!  They have proved that dogs have better social skills than their human owners and also they have a much greater emotional intelligence than we give them credit for.

An example of how bad we are at mood reading was the reaction to a recent study earlier this year which revealed that dogs hate being cuddled and show signs of distress.  Yet many dog owners responded by saying, “oh, that doesn’t apply to my dog, (s)he loves a hug!”

The findings form part of the upcoming Royal Institute Christmas Lectures being given by Sophie Scott, a professor of neuroscience at University College London which will be shown on BBC 4 on 26^th, 27^th and 28^th December at 8pm.  Worth checking out!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/science/dogs-good-reading-moods-were-11674963

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Heavy Metal? Not for Dogs!

Heavy Metal?  Not for Dogs!

I think we all know that having music on in the background can affect our dogs’ behaviour – but did you know that the kind of music makes a difference?!  Recent research saw dogs video-ed while different genres were played to them including a compilation of popular music (e.g.Britney Spears and Robbie Williams), classical music (including Grieg's “Morning,” Vivaldi's “Four Seasons,” and Beethoven's “Ode to Joy”) or heavy metal rock bands such as Metallica.

According to this article in Modern Dog Magazine, heavy metal music is “not their thing because the dogs became quite nervous and restless and began to bark when it was played. Classical music, on the other hand, seemed to have the most calming effect on the dogs. While listening to it, their level of barking was significantly reduced and the dogs often lay down and settled in place.”

But the latest research went further - as well as monitoring behaviour, they fitted heart rate monitors to the dogs and also took regular urine samples to check the level of stress hormones.  The dogs were exposed to a different style of music each day and interestingly, they found that

stress reduction effects didn't disappear over time, the way it had been shown to do when one category of music was played all of the time.

University of Glasgow professor Neil Evans noted that not all dogs responded to the music to the same degree.  “Overall, the response to different genres was mixed, highlighting the possibility that, like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences. That being said, reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behaviour.”

But I heard years ago that dogs prefer talk radio in the background while cats prefer classical music?!

http://bit.ly/2grDPFm            

Does your dog bark all day?

Most dogs settle down after a few minutes once left alone but some continue to bark all day long – leading to irate neighbours.  This has been called ‘separation anxiety’ but in reality, it’s pent-up energy and boredom.  This common sense article on ThatMutt.com suggests 9 great practical tips to alleviate this including: Run, Bike or Rollerblade with your dog first thing in the morning; Buy a dog backpack; Buy a kennel (not as a punishment, as a treat); Ignore a dog that cries or barks (difficult, I know) and Don’t make a big deal of leaving or arriving home.  See the article for details on each of these and for the remaining tips.

http://bit.ly/2ypjqYj

Could your dog be a blood donor?

Unlike the UK, Ireland doesn’t have a blood donation and storage facility for dogs so we rely on our local vet who has to source blood for his or her canine patients.  According to Pete the Vet, many vets keep a list of patients whose owners have offered their pets as blood donors.  So, next time you visit your vet, why not discuss your dog being a blood donor?

https://www.petethevet.com/could-your-dog-be-a-blood-donor-pete-the-vet-on-ireland-am-discusses-blood-transfusions-in-dogs/

(Photo: Bark Post)

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Your dog's zodiac sign; 4 dogs > Instagram followers than u!

Instagram tips from 4 dogs with more followers than you!

Instagram and social media generally is full of photos of cute dogs and animals.   This feature on entrepreneur.com features 4 short videos from dogs who have more followers than you and me!  In fairness, the owners give the tips!  They don’t just post spur of the moment photos of cuteness – they talk about the importance of authenticity, consistency and connecting with audiences.

For example, Glee’s owner advises that you must be consistent in the number and timing of your posts.  He says people tend to log on to their favourite social media channels at the same time each day and will expect you to be there. @goldens-glee has a very impressive 304k followers!

The owner of Mochi - @MochiAndTheCity who has 90.7k followers – reminds us that we are posting content for people and that we must know our audience.  Mochi’s audience are female millennials who live in urban areas and love Taylor Swift – so her content is focused there. @ChloeTheMiniFrenchie, who has 176k followers, focuses on travel and pet-friendly destinations in particular while the owner of another Chloe - @ChloeKardoggian (great name, eh?!!) says it’s vital that the dog enjoys being on camera and the content-generation process.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/299276

What does your dog’s star sign say about them?!

I’m a Scorpio – the sign most astrologers seem to hate or at least, like the least – but I’m not bitter, oh no, not me.  It’s not about me – or is it?!  I decided to see what this article on dogtime.com said about Scorpio dogs.  Dogs born under this illustrious sign are intense and have no chill button, they say.  They have a fierce loyalty to those they love – but this can quickly turn to envy or jealousy.  (See what I mean?)  But apparently despite their somewhat intimidating personas, a Scorpio dog is so worth it as its owner will benefit from its undying love.  So does astrologers’ discrimination extends to dogs??!!  Check out your dog’s zodiac sign here and also check out your own!

http://bit.ly/2wV2et3

How to teach your dog that playtime is over

Dogs can over heat or over exert themselves while playing as they’re so fixated on catching a ball or whatever the game is, that they don’t even pant to show you they’re tiring.  So if this sounds like your dog, you may have to teach him/her the ‘off’ switch. This is another good and concise article from ThatMutt.com featuring a few practical effective tips. These include deciding on a word or phrase you will use e.g. “that’s enough” or “done”.  Then, once you’ve said it – truly ignore your dog to show play is really over.  Lindsay Stordahl owner of ThatMutt.com says you may need to give your dog a toy or something to chew on while he is on his own.  You may also need to put him in a crate or kennel for a while for down time – not as a punishment.

http://bit.ly/2h2pjzR

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Dogs go thru stroppy teenage phase, DogTV & how to stop your dog jumping up on people

Dogs go through stroppy teenage phase!

Don’t say you weren’t warned – but dogs exhibit adolescent behaviour at around 8 months!  Research amongst potential guide dogs found that at 8 months, puppies can forget previously learned commands, become very impulsive, are easily distracted and their behaviour is a bit erratic!  The researchers also found that how a dog is treated when young is more important in determining how it will socialise with humans than its breed or DNA.  The socialisation period for puppies is between 3-12 weeks and this is when they learn what is ‘normal’ and what they should perceive as a threat.   As with humans, the good news is that the stroppy teenage phase doesn’t last! 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4724174/Dogs-stroppy-teenage-phase.html

DOGTV

With 57% of US dog owners leaving their TV on all day for their dogs, Ron Levi decided ten years ago to create DOGTV and it’s now available in 14 countries and 120 million homes worldwide!  This article in Modern Dog magazine features a Q&A with Ron Levi and it’s a great insight.  They produce 3 different kinds of programmes – for Relaxation, for Stimulation and Exposure – the latter is science-based programming featuring sounds and visuals to desensitise dogs to situations and stimuli that they’re afraid of.  Dogs don’t see red or green so they don’t use those colours and content is filmed from a dog’s point of view.  As dogs have a short attention span, programmes are between 2 and 5 minutes long.  DOGTV is available as an App on iOS and Android.  Kind of a no-brainer to keep your dog entertained?!

http://bit.ly/2uJmqe3

How to stop your dog jumping up on people

Dogs jump up on us to get our attention – and it usually works!  The ThatMutt.com website has excellent training tips with plenty of details so you know how to implement them.  This particular article recommends a few ways of stopping your dog jumping up on you or other people.  Ignoring your dog is the answer – but the author say, you have to ignore the dog completely – no eye contact, nothing.  If ignoring does not stop the problem, she suggests a number of things including: Have a Plan – know what you want the dog to do instead; Instruct other people to ignore your dog; Stand on the lead to limit movement and/or use a pet corrector.  Have a read…..

http://bit.ly/2ver8Dw

Image: TheBark.com

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7 remedies to help an anxious dog - & off-lead training

7 remedies to help an anxious dog?

We all know anxious dogs and would love to know how to help relieve that anxiety.  Here are two different articles on the topic.  The first on MotherNatureNetwork.com says that anxiety can be personality or situation-based and the author suggests 7 natural remedies to help anxious dogs.  She states that training is still essential but recommends trying one or more of these remedies to calm the dog.  She details the 7 remedies which include dog calming music, distraction, exercise and something called a Thundershirt. 

In the second piece – a short 2 minute video on PetMD.com – a vet says that phobias usually develop between 12 and 24 months. Usually there is a specific stimulus.  Signs of anxiety include panting, ears back, pacing back and forth, trembling, urinating and being destructive.  Separation Anxiety is extremely common and she says there are a number of options including building up the time that you spend away from your dog – don’t just disappear for 8 hours having had the dog in your company 24/7.  She suggests hiring a pet sitter, using doggie day care or keeping your dog in a crate while you are out to stop him/her being destructive.  She also recommends working with vet and dog trainer to sort out behavioural issues.

https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/7-natural-remedies-for-anxious-dogs

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_fears_phobia_anxiety

Training your dog to be off the lead

This is a really good, if long, article on ThatMutt.com about training your dog to be off the lead – do read through to the end as there are great practical tips and a very honest account of the training process!  Lindsay’s tips include – you must have a strong bond with your dog before you start this training, start in a smart, controlled area and drag the lead (make it longer by attaching a training lead).  She recounts how her trainer used different techniques including doing all the training outdoors – this meant that the dogs were more alert and had to pay attention.  The trainer was also very definite about not treat-training!

http://bit.ly/2tjEXjz

Some truths about dog owners!

While the English are known as a nation of dog lovers, we in the Republic of Ireland actually leave them in the halfpenny place!  25% of adults in the UK own at least one dog, with 35% of adults in Northern Ireland doing so – but 40% (or 1.5 million) of RoI adults are proud owners of at least one mutt.  These weekly insight articles from Irish Marketing Journal/adworld.ie always throw up interesting facts and stats.  For example, this article tells us that people who own 2 or more dogs are more likely to say they won’t buy toiletries or cosmetics tested on animals and dog owners are also more likely than the average adult to trust homeopathy.   Interestingly, dog owners are less likely to be vegetarian and families with older children are more likely to own a dog than families with younger children.

http://www.adworld.ie/2017/07/14/insight-week-truth-cats-dogs/

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10 questions to ask before boarding your dog

10 Questions to ask before boarding your dog

Dog owners often feel anxious about boarding their dogs but there are plenty of excellent boarding places and kennels out there.  You just need to know what to ask and what to look for.  This article on ThatMutt.com suggests 10 key questions including - How are the dogs identified? Ask to see the play area, how often the dogs are let out and for how long?  What is the ratio of staff to dogs – the article recommends one person to every 10 dogs.  You should also check if the rate quoted includes everything or if there are extras?

Remember there are different options available for your dog – kennels, boarding with another dog owner who takes dogs into their own family home and pet sitting where a sitter will mind your dog in its own home.

http://bit.ly/2rXkJaq

(image: GandyAnimalHospital.com)

Don’t feed your dog fish oil

This is a really informative and detailed article, using a traffic light system, explaining which seafood you can feed your dog (Green), which you shouldn’t (Red) and which you should be cautious about (Yellow).  Getting the green light are Seaweed, Small Oily Fish (whole, preferably), Kelp, Green-lipped Mussels and Phytoplankton (algae).  Caution should be applied with Salmon, Shrimp and Spirulina while Fish Oil, Krill and Large Fish are no-nos.  Fish Oil oxidises as soon as it’s opened apparently so if you do want to give it to your dog, ensure it has a Certificate of Analysis (COA), that you store it in a dark bottle in the fridge and use it as quickly as possible.  I imagine that advice holds good for us humans too?

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-dogs-eat-seafood/

Ice Cream recipe for your dog!

Okay the summery weather might have left us (temporarily, of course!) but you can still give your four legged pal a tasty treat – ice cream.  This recipe in Modern Dog magazine is my kind of recipe – having only 4 ingredients and the challenge will be not to eat it yourself!  All you need is natural yoghurt, peanut butter, banana and honey.  Yummy!  They also list safe ice cream toppings for your dog!

http://bit.ly/2tg9rlL

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Raising the perfect puppy, Leaving your dog home alone for 1st time & Benefits of bringing your dog to work

How to raise the perfect puppy!

This excellent article in Modern Dog magazine gives 6 detailed and very practical tips on how to get off to the best start with your gorgeous new puppy!  It covers: Housetraining (including using a crate); Socialising your puppy; Exercise (how much is needed); Grooming (great way of the two of you bonding); Feeding (interestingly, the author suggests switching to adult food at 6-8 months as puppy food is higher calorie and can mean too fast growth) and how to raise a confident and well-adjusted puppy (all about generating positive experiences)

The importance of establishing – and sticking to – a routine for both you and your puppy, is emphasised.  From an exercise perspective, going easy on vigorous exercise for the first 4 to 6 months is encouraged – especially for larger breeds as fast-growing bones can be damaged.  For any puppy owner, this is a must-read.

http://bit.ly/2soS8yR

Benefits of bringing your dog to work

Friday, 23^rd June is “Bring Your Dog to Work Day” but many companies (unfortunately not in Ireland, it has to be said) allow employees to bring their dogs to work every day.  At Amazon HQ in Seattle, for example, 2,000 employees are registered to bring their dogs to work.  Amongst the perks are a company dog park which can also be used by the public and their dogs.

Benefits of having dogs at work include helping staff to bond, increasing morale, reducing stress and generally making work a friendlier place, according to this Guardian article.  With people working such long hours, it absolutely makes sense.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/06/pet-dogs-are-the-new-must-have-accessory-at-the-smarter-office

How to leave your dog home alone successfully

The first time you leave your dog at home can be very stressful for you both so here are some great tips on how to ensure both you and your dog adjust and are happy, from ThatMutt.com.  Firstly, take lots of exercise beforehand – this helping bonding as well as expending energy for the dog.  If adopting a dog, the author recommends taking a couple of days off work – Pawternity Leave, as this is now called.  Start by leaving the dog alone for short periods – working up from 5 minutes to 8 hours or whatever you require. Leave the dog in a crate or small boxed-off area of your house or apartment.  Finally, make finding their food a challenge – hide it in Kongs or similar puzzle toys.

http://bit.ly/2sklTzX

Photo: DailyDoseOfPuppies

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