Well, I'm
STILL here in FL staying with my parents while my husband is fixing up (or
should I say rebuilding) our house in NC, and my mom recently approached me
with a question which I'm sure is a very common one and something I thought was
worth devoting this blog too.
They say that dogs are like potato chips...it's
hard for people to have just one. There
are plenty of arguments to be made for having more than one dog. The most obvious argument against having multiple
dogs is the amount of work that will increase by double when you add that
second furry companion. It adds up to
twice the amount of walking and twice the cleanup. Then of course there's the financial factor to
be considered. Having more than one dog
equals double the vet bills. But
overall, there are more arguments for having multiple dogs than there are
against it.
For one thing, dogs are pack animals and they
thrive in social situations. When there
are no other dogs around, their human family becomes their pack, but then that
pack must leave them each day for school or work obligations which can often be
very stressful for the dog. When the dog
has a canine companion, however, they become their own pack and keep each other
company when their human family is not with them. They're usually much calmer and better
adjusted in the presence of another dog than they are as the only dog. While humans and dogs make excellent
companions, there really is no substitute for canine-to-canine companionship. When dogs have another dog to keep them
company, they're less stressed out by the fact that their human family must
leave them each day. They suffer from
less separation anxiety and consequently get in to less trouble which is ALWAYS
a good thing!
Because dogs in multiple-dog homes are
less stressed, they're typically healthier dogs in general. They suffer from less of the stress-related
conditions like skin problems and ear infections that plague dogs.
While the financial concerns are certainly
valid, the additional exercise and work are not quite as worrisome. Dogs that have each other to keep company
often need less outside exercise in addition to playing with each other during
the day. Yes, you will need to pick up
after two dogs instead of one, but the additional work is minor compared to the
benefits.
So, if
you’re considering adding a new dog to your pack, how do you go about making
this introduction a safe and happy one for all?
The number
one rule when bringing a new dog into a home that already has dogs is to do it
gradually. The worst mistake people can
make is to just bring the new dog into the house. To the dogs that were already there, this is
an intrusion on their territory by a stranger.
To the new dog, being thrown into an unknown environment leaves it without
any rules to follow or boundaries to respect.
This method of introduction is a formula for disaster. Do it this way and you’ll end up with dogs
that fight, compete over everything, and are generally not fun to deal with. Here are a few tips to help you avoid such problems.
Introduce on neutral territory.
It’s best to let the dogs get to know each other on
neutral territory - preferably somewhere
outdoors and a place that neither dog is familiar with. Each dog should be walked separately on a
leash, and each walker should have a bag of high-value treats or food broken
into small pieces. At first, walk the
dogs at a distance where they can see each other but are not too provoked by
each other’s presence. If the dogs are
not showing any negative behaviors, reward them with treats just for seeing
each other. For example, when the dog
you’re walking looks at the other dog, you can say “Good boy!” in a happy,
friendly voice and give him a treat. Repeat often.
Pay attention to each dog's body language.
Watch carefully for body postures that indicate a defensive or wary
response, including hair standing up on the dog's back, teeth baring, growling,
a stiff-legged gait or a prolonged stare. If you see such postures, either when the dogs
are at a distance or near each other, immediately and calmly interrupt the
interaction by interesting the dog in something else. If the dogs seem relaxed and comfortable, you
can gradually begin to shorten the distance between them. Again, offer treats to the dogs any time they
look at each other in a relaxed manner.
Let the dog's determine the pace of the introduction.
It’s possible that the dogs will just want to play with
each other by the middle of the walk. It’s also possible that it will take more time
before the dogs are comfortable enough to walk side by side. The most important thing is to take this
introduction slowly. The more patient
you are, the better your chance of success. Do not force the dogs to interact before
they're ready.
Once the dogs are able to view each other at a close
proximity, allow one dog to walk behind the other and sniff the other out, then
switch. If the dogs remain comfortable,
allow them to walk side by side. Finally,
let the dogs interact under close supervision. If one or both dogs show any signs of stress
or agitation, proceed more slowly with the introduction.
When they are in a calm state and
interacting without incident, then it’s time to bring them into the house. The key step here is to have your
original dog enter the home first with you, and then bring the new dog in. This allows your original dog to “invite” the
new pack member into the territory.
Monitor closely in the home.
When first introducing the dogs in the home, use a
sturdy, tall baby gate or something similar to separate them. Observe how they interact through the barrier and
reinforce positive behavior by providing high-value treats to the dogs for
positive interactions. Make sure that
there are no toys, food, or treats left around the house that could potentially
cause the dogs to fight. Also, be aware
of situations that could lead to conflict; for example, when the dogs get
overly excited. Closely monitor the dogs
when they are together and reward them with treats for good behavior. DO NOT leave them home alone until you're 100%
confident the dogs are comfortable and safe with each other.
It's crucial to handle the first meeting between dogs
with plenty of patience and care as it will set the tone for their entire
relationship which will hopefully be a long, healthy, and very happy one!
Happy tails to you until we meet again!
With the spirit of the Olympics
in the air these days, I thought it would be fun to learn about competitive
sports for our favorite four-legged friends.
Yes, there are actually competitive games designed just for dogs, and
these events can be every bit as intense as the Olympic games we all look
forward to.
1. Agility
Canine agility is a competitive
dog sport that takes place within an obstacle course. Dogs are trained to make jumps, travel
through tunnels, and navigate various walkways - all in a specific order. Each step of the way, the dogs are directed
by their owners. Agility is an excellent
form of exercise and mental stimulation, making it ideal for high energy
dogs. However, with proper training,
just about any dog can participate in agility.
Teamwork between dog and human is the cornerstone of this sport.
2. Canine freestyle
Canine Freestyle is a
choreographed musical performance by a dog/handler team. Like it sounds, this activity is like dancing
with a dog! As implied by its name, in
canine freestyle almost anything goes.
Basically, any move is allowed unless it puts the dog or handler in
danger. Routines typically involve the
dog performing twists & turns, weaving through the handler's legs, walking
backwards, jumping, and moving in sync with the handler. Canine Freestyle requires a deep bond between
handler and dog as well as a mastery of basic commands, especially
"heel". Before putting a
routine together, the dog must first learn each individual
"move." A little creativity,
plenty of patience, and a positive attitude will go a long way.
3. Confirmation
Conformation is a
competitive dog sport in which purebred dogs are presented in dog shows and
judged for congruity with their respective breed standards. Conformation trials, or dog shows, are
designed to display purebred dogs with ideal characteristics of their
respective breeds as determined by a purebred dog association such as the
American Kennel Club. Ultimately, the
goal is to maintain the highest standards of the dog breed so that future lines
remain of the highest quality and inherited health issues are minimized. During conformation, show dogs are judged by knowledgeable
and experienced purebred experts who assess the dogs' physical characteristics,
gait, and temperament.
4. Disc dogs
During disc dog competitions,
dog/handler teams are judged in disc-throwing events like distance/accuracy
catching and freestyle routines. To
become a successful disc dog team, the handler must be able to properly throw a
disc. The dog can then be trained to
chase and catch the disc. During
distance competition, the field is broken into zones by yard. Scoring is based on the zone in which the
disc is caught. Freestyle events are
judged and scored based on a predetermined point system. Rules and scoring vary with each disc dog
group, club, or association.
5. Dock jumping
Also called dock diving, dock
jumping is a competition where dogs jump from a dock into a body of water in an
attempt to achieve great distance or height.
Dock jumping is much like the human long jump or high jump, but with
water. In distance jumping, the handler
throws a toy off of the dock in an attempt to get the dog to jump as far away
as possible. Distance is measured at the
place where the tail base meets the water.
Jumps are usually recorded digitally for accuracy.
6. Flyball
The sport of
flyball is a type of relay race that involves teams of four dogs. One dog from each team runs down a course,
jumping hurdles, towards the "flyball box." The dog steps on a panel and triggers the
flyball box to release a tennis ball.
The dog then brings the ball back over the hurdles to its handler. Once a dog has completed the course, the next
dog is released from the starting line.
The first team to have all four dogs complete the course wins. The game is played in several heats. Flyball is a great way for dogs to enjoy time
with other dogs, and a nice way for their handlers to meet other dog owners too.
7. Herding trials
Herding is an instinct for dogs
in the herding group; it is the way they were bred. Sometimes, even some non-herding dog breeds
or mixes will show an instinct for herding.
Most dogs that possess the instinct to herd absolutely love it. Training and trials are great ways to let
them act out on instinct and have the time of their lives. Trials involve the dog, a group of animals
(often sheep), handlers and judges. The
handlers give commands and the dogs work their magic.
8. Lure coursing
Lure coursing is
a fast-paced chase sport that was developed as an alternative to hare
coursing. Rather than chasing a live
animal, dogs chase an artificial lure across a field, competing for the best
time. Sometimes obstacles are also
involved in the race. While
traditionally limited to sighthounds, all-breed lure coursing groups are
becoming more common. Lure coursing is
an ideal activity to allow your dog to act upon his chasing instinct in a safe,
humane way.
9. Rally obedience
In Rally Obedience, dog/handler
teams must complete a course made up of signs describing specific obedience
exercises to perform. Judges design the
course and observe as the teams swiftly navigate the course. Rally Obedience rules tend to be less strict
than traditional obedience competitions.
Typically, Rally competition is open to all breeds. Trials usually have several levels, and teams
compete for titles and championships.
10. Tracking
Most dogs want to follow their
noses, so why not turn this talent into a fun and challenging activity? A tracking trial is a type of test that
requires a dog to follow a scent trail.
These events mimic search-and-rescue missions, assessing the dog's
natural ability and willingness to follow a trail left by human footsteps. Dogs and their handlers often enjoy this
work, and success can open doors to pursue real-life search and rescue work.
These are just a few of the top
events in dog sports and recreation, but the choices are nearly endless. Competitive sports can help keep active
dogs healthy. All dogs need some degree
of exercise but most will thrive with extra stimulation. Very active dogs are ideal candidates for
high-performance sports like agility and flyball, though almost any healthy dog
can participate. In many cases, the
intensity and difficulty of the activity can also be altered to accommodate
dogs with health complications or special needs. Of course all dogs will need to be thoroughly
evaluated by a veterinarian prior to starting any sport. Once cleared by the vet, these activities can
challenge dogs both physically and mentally while reinforcing the bond between
dogs and their humans.
So, let the doggy games
begin!
Happy tails to you until we meet
again!
