Is dog psychotherapy just plain crazy?

Americans spent more than $100 billion on their anxieties last year. In the past five years there were more prescriptions written for emotional problems than for any other category of medicine. In a culture quick to project human conditions upon animals, and treat them with human cures, I have to wonder whether more and more family dogs will wind up on psychiatrist’s couches and anti-depressant drugs.

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A recent survey by the American Psychiatric Association showed 91% of Americans willing to seek counseling for themselves or a close friend following a crisis. This is not a bad thing for humans. It is a bad thing for dogs, however, because dog psychotherapy ignores the very reason humans and animals come together in the first place.

It ignores the relationship.

Ten thousand years ago when dog and man decided to become best friends, no doubt there was an equitable exchange of value. Doggy got free food and companionship, and man got an early warning system against approaching danger, a hunting buddy, and companionship.

But another benefit came with the bargain, at least for the dog. No doubt the dog reasoned, "I’m a pack animal by nature and I’ve decided to make you my leader. Now lead the way, oh brave Alpha Dog!"

This is precisely where we fail our furry friends. Leadership.

Here’s the problem.

A retired client of mine called the other day to ask if I could recommend a good psychotherapist for his Old English Sheep Dog, Higgins. My client and his wife recently sent their youngest son off to college, and Higgins now showed signs of separation anxiety.

His veterinarian recommended an ongoing regimen of mood elevating drugs and follow up visits. Fees would run indefinitely and range between $300 and $400 a month. Yikes!

"What does Higgins do all day?" I asked my client.

"He just mopes around and sleeps," he replied.

"And what do you do all day?"

"Pretty much the same thing," he said with a slight suspicion of where my questions were heading.

I think he got my drift because the conversation quickly turned from dog psychotherapy to his investment portfolio, which is usually the reason people tell me they call, at least initially.

Fact is, in my decades of caring for animals, I have yet to see an emotional problem in a dog that wasn’t inflicted by a human, and usually by the most significant human in the dog’s life.

Implicit in our contract for animal guardianship is our responsibility to fulfill needs both physical and emotional. This includes our most important roll of being the pack leader. We must always be the Alpha Dog - fearless, resolute, steadfast - calmly and consistently asserting the correct instructions to our furry friends.

What to do?

Some dogs really do suffer from phobias, and suffering of any kind needs to be relieved. If you think your best friend needs dog psychotherapy, before calling the dog shrink try these three practical procedures instead.

First, get active. Walking is by far the best exercise for dogs and people. With 20 to 30 minutes of sustained walking, circulation springs to life, joints and muscles regain their vitality, and the brain gets soaked in a sea of feel-good endorphins.

Second, get social. Take your dog to a doggy park to hang out with the relatives. Dogs are social animals and crave the interaction of the pack, plus a few good butt sniffs. In dog society there is no room for depression. Dogs have more important things to do, you know.

Finally, get fortified. Don’t get me started on the worthless and downright harmful junk the commercial dog food industry throws off as "dog food." Suffice it to say, your dog is almost certainly not getting proper nutrition, which can also lead to depression. Dogs, people and all living things need adequate vitamins, minerals and life-giving nutrients to maintain a happy, healthy and balanced life.

If you will let me, I would like to recommend a top quality, full spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement for dogs (and cats too). It’s called DailySure. Click on the link below for more information. I would appreciate your support of this fine product.

Give these three alternatives to dog psychotherapy a try. Before long you’ll see definite improvement not only in your dog, but also in that Alpha Dog smiling back at you in the mirror.

http://www.Natural-Wonder-Pets.com Gary Le Mon’s day job is in the insured financial services industry, but his evenings and weekends are spent crusading for animal rights and making the Earth a greener, friendlier place to live. See also http://www.TripleSure.com

Perhaps you already have a loving canine companion and everything is great except one little thing - your dog’s digging behavior. I can see you nodding your head in agreement. Maybe you’d like to get a dog but the picture of a dog digging up the backyard you’ve worked so hard on makes you think twice. You might have heard the saying, "You can have a yard, or you can have a dog."

Photo: JupiterImages

It’s true that dogs like to dig, but all is not lost. It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. Here are a few tips to help keep your yard intact:

• If you don’t already have a dog, consider the breed you would like to get and do research to see if they are known diggers. Huskies, Malamutes, and Terriers are breeds that have a tendency to dig. However, remember each dog has its own personality and you won’t be absolutely sure your dog likes to dig until you get him home (and after you’ve fallen in love with him.)
• If your dog just has to dig, designate a digging area. Maybe you have an unfinished section on the side of the house where it’s okay to dig. If you don’t, put an open-bottom sandbox filled with dirt somewhere in your yard and make that the dig spot. You will have to train your dog to only dig in that area. Hide a few dog biscuits in the sandbox and start digging to give him the idea. Praise him when he digs in the right spot and correct him when he digs outside the designated area. If you’re watching your dog closely and diligently, it shouldn’t take him long to figure it out.
• If there is a particular area that your dog likes to dig, you can shovel some of his own poop onto the spot. Dogs won’t dig there for obvious reasons.
• If you like your flower garden and your pooch likes your flower garden, change the type of flowers you plant. A prickly rose garden will keep the dog out and still give you pretty flowers to look at.
• Change your dog’s outside boundaries. If your dog is allowed to freely roam the entire backyard all day long, you’re just asking for some casual digging to happen. Think about restricting him with a gated area or shortening his time outside.

These are just some ways to stop a dog from digging; using a designated area for the dog who must dig, restricting your dog’s access to the yard, planting hardier, thorny plants, and using a deterrent. Try these strategies to save your yard while still keeping your beloved dog.

Do you have dog behavioral issues such as digging, biting, chewing, and aggression? Then visit http://dogintraining.info
 

You bring home a new puppy, and you’re excited with your new family pet. You cuddle him, play with him, and love him all day long. Then bedtime comes. You put him in a crate or in a room that is blocked off and head to bed. Four hours later, the whining and howling are driving you insane, and you wonder what possessed you to get a puppy in the first place.

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Dogs are pack animals, and they do not take well to separation, especially in the evening. When you’ve spent all day playing with your puppy and then leave him alone for the night, he gets confused. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should bring your dog to bed with you. On the contrary, bringing your dog into bed can cause a whole host of problems. Instead, you need to help your dog learn how to cope when you are not there.

First remember that a puppy has a small bladder, so it is advisable to cut off his water after six o’clock every evening. Also, you will want to put some paper down for him to use or will want to bring him out at least once a night to have him go to the bathroom.

Dogs who are dealing with anxiety lick as a way to help themselves feel more comfortable. One way to make the time pass easier for your puppy is to utilize a Kong. Many pet owners put peanut butter or treats in the Kong, but you can make them last all night if you freeze them. Simply put a bit of peanut butter on the end to cap it, and then put some dog food or some small treats inside of it. Fill it with water and freeze it. Only give your puppy this treat when it is time for bed, and sooner than you know he’ll actually be happy when it is time to go to sleep.

To learn exactly how I trained my puppy, visit http://www.rapiddogtraining.com/ where you’ll find everything you need to know about dog training, types of dog breeds, and much more.

When most people hear the words Foster Parent, they think of temporary homes for children. But what about all those dogs in animals shelters looking for homes? Many shelters are overcrowded and unfortunately they have to make the decision to euthanize some of the dogs who have been there a long time. There is a way you can help though. If you have enough room in your home and in your heart you can become a foster parent for dogs. Being placed in a foster home can be better for dogs than being in a shelter because they are being exposed to other dogs, children, and in general a normal home life.

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Foster parents play a big role in helping make a dog adoptable to a good home as well as finding the right home. They can spend time training their foster dogs not to dig, bark, and generally to have good manners. They also get to know a dogs personality and can be very instrumental in choosing the right home based on the dogs personality, whether or not they are good with kids and other dogs, and if they prefer to be indoors, outdoors, or both. Living in a shelter, even temporarily, can be very hard on a dog. They can go, what is known as, kennel crazy and can develop habits that are unwanted in a home. Dogs are social animals that thrive on human contact and attention. As hard as kennels try, they don’t have the time or resources to give every dog the attention they might need. As a foster parent, you have that time. The dog is in your home, learning to follow the rules and get along with everyone else in the house.

The hardest part of fostering a dog, is letting them go when a new home is found for them. This time can be heart wrenching as well as heart warming. Have the time, the room, and the heart to take care of a dog or two in your home? Talk to your local animal shelter about fostering. They might just be able to get you started.

Christy Tuller is an expert on several topics and loves dogs. For more tips and ideas and to see listings of adoptable dogs, check out my blog, Dogs Are Family Too! at http://dogs-are-family.blogspot.com
 

It’s a lot of fun having a dog, but it can be a lot of work, too. You need to be responsible for his basic needs, such as food, on a daily basis. You also need to make time for exercising him each day in order to keep him healthy and fit. He’s depending on you for the things he’s unable to do for himself. Keep in mind though, when grumbling about taking time to exercise your dog, you’re also keeping yourself in shape, too.

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Your dog loves you, but he really doesn’t understand when you don’t make time for going for a walk or playing with him. He wants to go out and run no matter what the weather is like out there, and you need to see that it happens. Being able to run and exercise every day is vital to his overall well-being.

With all the new technology we see constantly, is it any wonder that they now actually make doggie treadmills. Buy your pooch his own treadmill, and you won’t have to worry about going out in bad weather to walk him ever again. He’ll be able to run and exercise every day and won’t have to wait for you to make time in your busy schedule to take him out. You’ll find that it’s a perfect answer to the problem of giving him enough exercise, and he’s absolutely going to love it.

Of course, once you buy a treadmill, you’ll have to take the time to train him how to use it. After all, he can’t read the directions. You’ll find that it won’t take long though. When you try for the first time, it’s likely your dog is going to act nervous. He may even be afraid of this new gadget. Keep petting him and offering reassuring words. When he calms down, try turning the treadmill on low and placing him on it. Once again he’s not going to understand what’s happening, and most likely he’ll just jump back off. Be patient!

You can try walking next to the treadmill in order to demonstrate for him what you want him to do. Keep reassuring him that there’s nothing to be afraid of, but also be firm with him and don’t just give in. Dogs are smart. He will soon figure out what you’re asking of him and comply.

It will take him a number of tries before he’s able to stay on his treadmill. Once he gets the hang of it, though, he’s going to start loving it. After awhile you’ll even find him going to his treadmill on his own. It’s just that you’ll need to have a lot of patience with him while helping him learn. Getting angry won’t serve any purpose at all.

You’ll still want to take him outside when you are able to. The treadmill is not the whole answer to his exercising needs. He needs fresh air and sunshine in order to thrive. Plus, he needs the quality time the two of you spend together while you’re out exercising, and, face it, you need it, too!

Visit us for more information on top treadmill ratings, how to get a good treadmill workout and treadmills for dogs

Like humans, dogs can also experience motion sickness. Motion sickness can be caused by a number of factors, but mainly it is by movement in the inner ear. First and foremost, it is important your dog associates car journeys with positive and good things. To do this, you need to adapt them slowly.

Photo: savvy-dog-lovers.com

Stress is another major factor in car sickness, since many dogs come to associate car travel with a trip to the vet or a kennel. Also, if a dog’s been in a car accident, the trauma could hang on. For the vast majority of dogs, car sickness is related to stress rather than the motion of your car. Some say that your dog’s most powerful memory is of the car journey that took it away from all it ever knew to be safe and secure, namely its litter mates and mother. So from a very young age, car journeys are often associated with bad things.

First, get your dog used to just being in the car, without it going anywhere. Everyday leave them in a well ventilated car for up to 30 minutes. Ensure they are comfortable and have a bed in which to sleep during this period. Repeat this for a week and then start to do very short journey’s (5-10 minutes) with a really positive experience at the end of it - usually this would be a nice walk or a ball game in the park.

At the end of the return journey, create just as much fuss and play a short game. Gradually build up the length of the journeys up to about 30 minutes. If your dog is sick during a journey, reduce the length of the journey such that it ends before they are sick. Build the journeys up again. When your dog is able to do 30 minute journeys without stress, anxiety or sickness, you are pretty much there

If your dog’s only exposure to riding in a car is an occasional trip to the veterinarian’s, don’t be surprised if he’s not the most easy of riders. Try to build up his passion by increasing his time in the car and praising him for his good behavior. The first short trips should be to pleasant locations, such as parks.

Dramamine avoids car-sickness in dogs as well as people, but other medications are also available (talk to your veterinarian). A dog-show trick: Your dog should travel on little or no food and should get a jelly bean — or any other piece of sugar candy, except chocolate — before hitting the road. The sugar seems to help suppress vomiting.

Because most of the problems come from fear, not motion sickness, building up your pet’s tolerance for riding in a car is a better long-term cure than anything you could give him.

The prospect of a new puppy in the house is an exciting thing. Everyone loves these adorable little creatures. They are cute, cuddly, and even funny. Who could resist? What is not especially appealing is the fact that all new puppies who are brought into the home will, at some point, empty their bladders wherever they see fit. This could be your bed, your beautiful area rug, or your new sofa. Cleaning up these messes is definitely not what you had in mind when you brought your new puppy home. A process every new puppy owner must go through in order to save all of their niceties is housebreaking. This can be a relatively simple process if it is done right, and if you have some help and ideas on how to get it done effectively.

Photo: quailcreekvet.com

As humans, we have an instinctive nature within ourselves to relieve our bodies of normal functions within the confines of privacy, and we are taught that there is a proper place to do this. Dogs, however, do not come with any built-in mechanisms which teach them when and where to relieve themselves. It is up to the owners of these pups to basically "potty train" them, and this is what we call "housebreaking."

There are some basic facts that you must keep in mind before you begin this process. First of all, puppies are not able to keep themselves from relieving their bladders until about twelve weeks of age; however, it is wise to begin housebreaking as early as possible. Secondly, most puppies will probably, on average, need to relieve themselves about six to seven times per day. Thirdly, watch for signs that your puppy needs to go out, such as following his tail a bit slowly, or sniffing and circling a particular area. These are sure signs that he is about to do his business. Finally, because food puts pressure on a dog’s bladder and colon, you should always take your puppy out immediately after he eats.

The first housebreaking lesson to be learned is to let your dog know that it is not okay to relieve himself inside the home. If you can catch him in the act, this is the best way to let him know. You do not need to spank or otherwise hit your dog to let him know. Simply use a loud and commanding voice, and a very strong "no" to get your message across. If you do not catch him in the act, you can always bring your dog to the location of the "accident", show it to him, and then use your forceful "no".

Another important lesson is to watch your puppy very carefully. If you see any signs that your puppy needs to relieve himself, you should immediately take him outside to a designated area to do his "business". As soon as he completes his task, make sure you reward him. You can do this several ways ‘ a treat, a pat on the head, a rub behind the ears, and always lots of praise.

Dogs are always eager to please their owners, so when your puppy sees that you are happy with his doing his business in the proper place, and that you are very upset when he relieves himself on the rug, it won’t take him long to catch on. Therefore, you should always make sure your puppy knows you are happy with him when he does the right thing. You still need to do your part. Watch your puppy carefully, and you should be able to pick up on some regularity in his bladder routine. Once you do this, you can take him out accordingly and avoid accidents altogether.

Remember that communication, reward, and praise are the key to housebreaking your new puppy with great results, and very little mess.

A Labrador Retriever makes a good candidate for therapy dog because the breed is known as well-balanced and versatile breed. A Labrador Retriever has exceptional and working abilities making good working dogs and very friendly and mellow disposition making excellent family dog.

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Therapy dogs, also called therapy pets or visiting pets refer to a dog that helps people by just visiting them. They are trained to provide affection, comfort, entertainment as well as therapy to people in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, prison, mental institutions, schools especially to special education students and stressful situations such as disaster areas. Dog of any size, color or breed can be a therapy dog but Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are often used because of their friendliness to strangers in addition to their versatility and mellow disposition.

A therapy dog must be:

Social. The main purpose of therapy dogs are to interact with other people they are visiting. They must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted, hugged and handled. The dog should also get along well with other dogs since others will probably be there at the same time. The dog should love all the people and children and should be accustomed to people on crutches, canes and wheelchairs. If the dog does not enjoy interacting with other people and other dogs, the visit will be no use and may only hurt the patient and will make them feel rejected.

Immunized. A therapy dog must be protected with vaccine against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, para-influenza and parvovirus. A yearly physical and stool check as well as heartworm tests are also necessary. Ask for exam certificates or the papers to prove the vaccinations and that your pet has been tested.

Properly trained. The dog must be at least one year of age and have his Canine Good Citizen Certificate. Some organizations for registering therapy dogs require AKC obedience title or have passed a training club graduation class. A dog must also learn to handle sudden loud and strange noises and must learn some simple tricks to entertain the patients or the audience.

Therapy dogs should not be mistaken as service or assistance dogs. Service dogs directly assist humans and have a legal right to accompany their owners. On the other hand, therapy dogs do not provide direct assistance and institutions may invite, limit or prohibit therapy dogs. However, if you have a Labrador Retriever, you can have both therapy and assistance dog in one.