The Dog Bowl Pet Supply and BARF Raw Food Blog

As we experience on a daily basis here at The Dog Bowl, not everyone has the same "house rules" for their dog(s).

Whatever your house rules/training rules are for your dog one thing is certain - your dog will not succeed unless you (and the whole family) are consistent.

We are currently helping out a friend and client of The Dog Bowl with the training of her Jack Russell Terrier named Dylan (shown on the left with Jennifer). He was a rescued pup and she adopted him approximately 3 years ago... We think he is around 5-6 years old. If you have come into our retail storefront recently you have had the "pleasure" of having us beg you to pet him. (He will be staying with us until tomorrow, Saturday.)

Dylan has A LOT of anxiety... Which many of you know is usually expressed as aggression. In Dylan's case he always needs a "job" and a place to just "be". Many dogs are like this - large or small! So even if you think a smaller dog breed is "easier" guess again! Dylan, for example, has proven to be a challenge, but we are working through it. Every day brings an opportunity to train and work with him (and his visitors/friends). To quote Cesar Millan "Rehabilitate dogs.... train people." Because dogs do behave the way we want them to - this includes the good or the bad.

In our quest to assist Dylan we had to first learn how to best communicate with him and react in an appropriate manner with any negative or inappropriate behaviors "in our pack" we came across Training DVD's as well as Breed Specific DVD's (now offered at The Dog Bowl Online Storefront). These were very helpful in his rehab!

We also took in a few of Cesar Millan's videos & would like to share a few of our favorite points from his show on National Geographic:

• Don't let them climb on you.... You tell them where to be.
• One of the most important things Cesar wants to get across is that dogs are dogs—not humans! (So they communicate differently than we do.)
• Often the solution we would use for a human is totally wrong for solving a dog’s issues.
  
• Nose/Eyes - claim your space If you reward dominance YOU become a part of HIS pack. His tail is up - checking you out with dominance.
• Discipline is not about being mean it is about being a great dog owner, the greatest.
• Discipline vs. releasing frustration on an animal is not good. It is not good with being angry and then touching anybody (much less your dog). Being calm & assertive to protect yourself.
• When a naturally submissive dogs lives with a human that does not lead, he or she will attempt to right the pack balance by filling what they see as a vacant pack leader role. This is how behavior problems develop.
  
• If dog is aggressive - Do not touch, no talk, no eye contact with dog. Agression is NOT a breed thing. Aggression is a state of mind.
• No one has ever challenged him - he has gone to "the red zone". Dominant needs to challenge him in the red zone. Challenge in a calm & assertive state.
• 2 dogs - 1 touch the other 1 touches.... 1 is going to win.
• Aggression is a result of 1 or 2 things: (1) Animal that is controlling the situation. (2) Animal that is the pack leader.
• If the animal that is the pack leader. Aggression is NOT what happens right away the OUTCOME (behavior) of insecurity, frustration, anxiety, tension... We don't know what the exact source is.
• Dog is more powerful in their own environment - neurotic behaviors come out in that environment.
• Once they feel how good it feels to be a balanced dog they feel good & say "hey let's do this more".
• Improve your relationship with your dog! Learn how to achieve balance and establish pack leadership with practical tips and techniques.
  
• Easier to influence calm submissive mind than excited submissive mind. Practice NO talk, can touch & can look at him, but sound brings excitement.
• Consistent with expectations of the dog & consistent with behaviors that we allow & with what we do not allow.
• The more you learn about dog psychology, the better you will be able to connect with your canine companion!
• Remember, there are no quick fixes; pack leadership is a year-round 24/7 commitment.
• Prioritize what is best for the dog.

Labels: Behavior and Training, Breeds of Dogs, Dog Leash, Traveling with your dog

This is very heartbreaking but very true and I believe that EVERYONE should adopt a pet. I adopted mine and he is the best friend I will ever have!

A Letter from a Shelter Manager: "I think our society needs a huge 'Wake-up' call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the 'back' of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know. That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses are:

• 'We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat).' "Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets and why did you choose that place instead of a pet friendly home?"
• Or they say 'The dog got bigger than we thought it would.' How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?"
• 'We don't have time for her.' "Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!"
• 'She' s tearing up our yard'. "How about making her a part of your family?"
• They always tell me: 'We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog.'

"Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose."

"If your dog is big, black or any of the 'Bully' breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment."

"If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment." "Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being 'put-down'.... First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails. Until, they get to 'The Room', every one of them freak out and put the brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the 'pink stuff'. Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just 'go to sleep', sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?"

"I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work."

"I hate my job (as a shelter manager), I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much further than the pets you dump at a shelter."

"Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes."

My point to all of this: DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog.

I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say 'I saw this and it made me want to adopt.' THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!"

Labels: Behavior and Training, Breeds of Dogs, Energy and Environment

Picking The Perfect Pooch DVD - research is one of the best things you can do before adopting or buying a dog!

• Why you want a dog


• Your activity level and lifestyle


• Sizing and space needs


• Grooming and health requirements


• Male or Female Dogs?


• Mixed Breeds or Purebred?

How to pick a dog that perfectly matches your home and lifestyle! Click here to buy the Picking The Perfect Pooch Video DVD - This makes a great gift for anyone who wants a new dog!

Labels: Behavior and Training, Breeds of Dogs