Dogs get spring fever too
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
This has been a long winter; and with the recent “tease” of spring, many pets are wanting out more than ever. So to keep my pups happy, I have tried to get them snowshoeing and take them with us sliding whenever possible.
A tired dog is a happy dog! But when temperatures fall and being outside isn’t any fun anymore, what are your options? Keep your dog’s mind occupied with a fun game of hide and seek by hiding snacks around your house and letting your dog find them. Or how about teaching your dog a new trick like balancing a treat on his nose, or playing dead, speaking or rolling over. Finding a happy medium between an active body and an active mind is a must, especially during cold weather. Treats like busy bones, or Kong toys are also helpful to pass the time. Bored dogs start to think for themselves, they may become destructive or depressed.
The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” can also be true for pets (although I prefer not to think of pets as trash). My point is that a pet may not work for one family but fit in nicely with another. Many times dogs and cats are brought to us because they are just not the right fit — too active, not active enough, bark too much, don’t bark enough. I know of one dog that was returned because he wouldn’t jump up on the bed and snuggle with his owner or others returned because they pooped on the floor. When you bring a “recycled” pet into your home, they come with baggage. We all have baggage — things in our past that shape us to be who we are now. some of it is good and some of it not so good; but the job of the adopter is to help shape that animal into being the pet they want. It is also very important to spend time with the dog or cat before you adopt them, take them out of their cage, go for a walk or play with a string. It is important to match an animal’s activity level to that of your home.
I hardly dare say this out loud, but we have empty cages at the shelter. Our February sale has worked, helping us to move animals out of the shelter and into loving homes. It is an amazing feeling; of course kitten season is right around the corner, but we are enjoying it while we can. We have placed many cats that have been with us for months and that makes us all very happy!
One of the most common behavioral questions people ask me to help them with is “how do I get my dog to stop jumping.” This is a huge issue; nobody wants to be jumped on, no matter what the size of the dog. So what are you to do?
Petfinder.com gives us some possible solutions. Since a dog jumps to get our attention and to get closer to your face, when you see him rev up to leap, say “No, off” and turn away from the him. Removing your attention (a reward to the dog) is a gentle, effective way to correct the dog. As soon as he has settled either with four feet on the floor or in a sit/down-stay, turn back around, drop to your knees and quietly praise the dog.
Give the jumping behavior a name, so you can turn it on and off. At my house, it’s called “leapin’ lizards” but “paws up” or “feet up” can suffice. Teach your dog how to jump up on command, then add “no” as in “no paws up” to let the dog know when you don’t want him to jump up. More importantly, give the dog something else to do.
Obedience training is a strong plus when trying to get a jumping problem under control. To aid the dog in holding his sit or down when visitors arrive, put him on a leash before opening the door; this way, you have a means of control at your fingertips. For an unfocused, bouncing maniac, give him just enough leash to do a sit or down-stay and step on the rest. When the dog attempts to move, he will correct himself. These are all great tips; most importantly, be consistent, firm but fair.
If you are looking for a friend for life, stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society at 26 Cross St. in Presque Isle. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. You can visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org or look for us on Facebook.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
