Tag: games

  • 10 tips that will help calm your dog during a storm

    10 tips that will help calm your dog during a storm

    Does your dog have a fear of storms? Do you find yourself stressed out by storms because you know how your dog is going to react? Many dogs suffer from a fear of storms and that can present itself in multiple ways including pacing, barking, whining, or even becoming destructive. So, how do you deal with this? How do you calm your dog during a storm and ease fears to help them relax, even when the wind and thunder are loud enough to shake your home?

    If we are being honest, you can open up your computer and find countless how-tos, tips, tricks, pills, and magic potions that will help your pup weather the storm, but the truth is, what it takes to calm your dog during a storm may be more simple than you realize. It’s just a matter of taking the time to help them.

    Dylan is fear aggressive and scared of storms. So, if he hears thunder he tends to want to run outside and “chase” the noise. He once crashed through a screened door trying to chase off some thunder. He also redirects, so if Rainey is too close to him, he may lash out at her. So, I know the stress and how important it is to keep your dog calm during a storm.

     

    10 Tips That Will Help Calm Your Dog During a Storm

    keep dogs calm

    Bring Them Inside

    Being outside in a storm is scary, loud, and miserable. That’s true for people or dogs. Once you know that a storm is heading your way, be sure to bring your dog in and keep them inside during the storm. This will help them feel more secure. Plus, being indoors tends to mute the sounds from the storm a bit, which helps calm dogs.

    Also remember to close the blinds/curtains so that it hides any lightning. If you have black-out curtains, that would is even better. 

     

    Keep Them in Their Own Space

    If your dog has a special place in your home, be sure that they can be there during a storm. Dogs are very similar to humans in that they love familiarity, it comforts them. Be sure that their special place is available for their comfort.

    Another great way to calm your dog is to find the most soundproof room in your house and place their crate or bed there for them to ride out the storm. Dylan doesn’t need to be crated but he loves it, so I never put it away. I keep it open and when he gets scared he will go inside. It’s his “den” and it helps to make him feel more secure. 

    calm your dog during a storm

    Be Home With Them

    If your dog already fears thunderstorms, leaving them to deal with that fear all alone can only worsen the situation. If you can’t be there with them, try to arrange for someone to be there. Leaving a dog alone during a storm is not only a scary thing for them, but you may just find yourself coming home to damage done by the dog while they were afraid.

     

    Create a Calm Environment

    When a dog is feeling fearful and anxious, it is important that they not have a lot of other stimulating things happening in their environment. Make sure that there is no unnecessary noise (no loud music, yelling, etc). Next, if you can, sit down and give your dog comfort. Massage her, snuggle with her. Fear isn’t a negative behavior. You won’t be “rewarding negative behavior” by trying to calm your dog with a comforting touch.

     

    Distract Them

    Try distracting your dog with their favorite toy or treat to see if that helps to get their mind off of the storm happening outside. You could even play a game of fetch or other indoor activity that they enjoy.

     

    Try White Noise

    While it is important to not add other stimulating sounds, a little “white noise” might help to calm your dog during a storm. Some calm sounds like music or a movie in the background might help to counteract the scary storm sounds that are happening outside. Just having the TV on with the volume a little higher than normal can help. 

    How to Help an Anxious Dog

    Use a Thunder Jacket

    Many dog owners swear by the use of a Thundershirt. These are dog shirts that apply a constant, yet gentle pressure. Kind of like a hug. This is to help calm anxieties and fear.

    Dylan has a Thundershirt it seems to only work if we get it on him prior to the storm starting. Once he’s all riled up, it doesn’t always help. You can buy one online or there are tutorials online to make your own wraps. A weighted blanket could potentially work as well. 

     

    Natural Remedies

    There are many natural products marketed for calming dogs during these stressful times. Dog pheromones, lavender oil, Bach flower extracts, and CBD oils have been used by dog owners for easing anxieties related to storm fears. 

    We diffuse some calming essential oils and give Bach Rescue Remedy (we use the original but there is a pet-friendly version too). Dylan actually comes running over when we say, “Do you want your medicine?” during storms. For bad storms, we will also give him some CBD oil. 

     

    Preparation and Practice

    We all deal with storms in some fashion or another so it makes sense for us all to be prepared. If you have a dog that is prone to anxiety and storm fears, you can prepare by having practice “storms.” Find storm sounds on your streaming device and listen to them with your pet. During the storm noises, offer your dog treats, praise, and positive attention. Continue this over the next couple of weeks, increasing the volume of the sounds each time. This desensitization will help to relieve or potentially alleviate your dog’s storm fears.

     

    Head to the Vet 

    If you have tried all of the above tips and you still aren’t seeing any changes in your dog’s storm fears, it may be time to take them to the veterinarian. Your vet may be able to offer a different alternative, or medication, if necessary.

    Storms can wreak havoc with our dogs, but don’t lose hope! Do you use any tips not mentioned here to calm your dog during a storm?

     

  • Dog training: Should you use treats?

    Dog training: Should you use treats?

    Food can be extremely effective when it comes to dog training, because it is a powerful motivator for dogs. The fact is that food is a very primal force for dogs and it makes sense to use it to help to encourage dogs in their training. Whether or not it is a good idea though, is an entirely different question. So, let’s have the discussion here, shall we? 

     

    Dog Training: Should You Use Treats?

    Trying to decide whether or not you should use treats in dog training is a personal decision, but there are some pros and cons that we can discuss here to help you decide which decision is right for you. 

     

    Treats are a Powerful Motivator

    Food often makes dogs happy. A happy dog is easier to train, there is no question about this. Many trainers have found dogs to be more willing to work with them because they are excited to get those treats. Yes, dogs do like getting praise from their people, but they also really, really like food. 

    Food is very recognizable to a dog. That means that after the first training treat it is easy for the dog to recognize what he will be getting next time. To reinforce good behavior with treats will increase the likelihood that your dog will continue to follow the requests that you make to them.

    Dogs are a primal animal. Food, to dogs, is a primal motivation for them. Without question, you automatically know that dogs are going to like food. It is very unlikely that they will turn their nose up at this offering. 

     

    Food treats are easy to use, easy to store, and cheap to buy

    You can keep packs of food treats in your home, in your car, in your handbag, just about anywhere. This makes it easier to train your dog and reward him no matter where you are. 

     

    dog training

    Tips for Using Treats in Dog Training

    When you begin to train your dog, it is important to keep in mind these tips for using treats in dog training to help your training become more successful. 

     

    Use small treats

    Training dogs often involves constant praise and rewards, which can easily become lots and lots of treats. It is very easy to overdo it when it comes to giving your dog treats. You don’t want to give your dog an unhealthy amount of treats, so be sure to always use small treats in your dog training. 

    Alternatively, if you feed your dog kibble, you could portion out their food for the day and use mealtimes as training sessions. I did this with Dylan when I first started training him myself. He used to attack the vacuum. So I would throw handfuls of his kibble first around the vacuum (while it was turned off). Then I would turn it on (but not move it) and throw kibble. Then slowly I would move it and throw kibble.

    Of course this took a matter of weeks to increase the stages. But it worked. And thankfully because of this technique, he didn’t get excessive amount of calories. 

     

    Wait until the trick or behavior is done before rewarding your dog

    Make sure to wait until your dog has already completed the command before you offer him the treats. It’s important to not give them a treat at the wrong time or when they are in the wrong frame of mind. Making sure to offer rewards at the right time will help them understand what it is that they are being rewarded for.

     

    Reward with each step of the command

    Many people often assume that the dog should perform an entire task before they get their reward. However, it is difficult for dogs to understand this. You will be more successful in your training if you reward the progress as it goes as opposed to waiting until the end.

    Trust me, you will likely become frustrated with training if you decide to wait until the end to offer rewards. You need to break down what you are training for into smaller steps/milestones and reward for each of those. 

     

    Give praise 

    Once your dog completes the task, first give verbal praise and pet him. Then, with your other hand, offer the treat. As the training goes on, offer less treats, but still lots of praise. 

     

    Remove any distractions

    If your pup struggles to pay attention, make sure to remove any distractions. Complete the training in a place free of anything that would typically distract your dog. As they learn, you can move into areas with more distractions and retrain those tasks. 

     

    Use different treats

    Using the same treat over and over can create a very unmotivated dog, especially if this treat isn’t one tasty enough to excite your pup. Using different, delicious, and healthy treats is a great way to keep your dog motivated and keep his attention. There are so many different treat types, your dog is sure to love some of them!

    If you are training in an area of high distraction or perhaps a difficult task, you want a high-reward treat. High-reward treats can be something extra special like pieces of hot dogs or cheese. It’s something that your dog loves but doesn’t get regularly. 

     

    Offer treats where you want the dog to be

    During training, it is important to not confuse your dog. If you want the dog to lay down, then offer the reward once they are laying down. If you want him to sit, offer him the reward in sitting position. Having the dog stand back up to give him the treat will prove to be confusing. 

     

    Here are some of our favorite treats that our dogs love

    Remember you are only giving your dog small treats when training. So these training treats are the perfect size. They are tiny so great for training sessions. 

    These freeze-dried salmon filet treats are a great choice for dog training. They are pungent so they would be a good choice if you are looking for something that’s a high reward. And they are good if you are practicing “nose work.” Also, they are in small chunks which make them easy to carry and use.  

    These bison treats are great because they are really small yet unique and high-value pieces which your dog should love. And they aren’t messy so makes carrying them around easy.  

     

    Do not bribe your dog

    Bribing is not the same as training. Yes, you can use treats to help teach the dogs the proper behaviors, however, you should make it a habit to use them less and less in your training so that your dog knows that food is not the only reason that they are following commands. As your training goes on, replace small treats with praise and affection. 

    The goal when using treats for dog training is to not have to use them indefinitely. Eventually you will reach a point where you no longer have to use treats in order to coax the behavior out of your dog. 

     

    Do recognize that not all dogs are the same

    It is important to realize that not all dogs are food oriented. Dog treats simply won’t work for all dogs during their training. If your dog seems to be not very interested in the food treats when it comes to training, you can try toys. Dylan is very food motivated so that made life a bit easier.

    Rainey, however, when I first got her, was very nervous and scared of the world around her. And therefore, she was at times too anxious for treats. What I finally figured out that just going super slow and giving her lots of praise and encouragement helped more than treats. She used to be too scared to walk passed the storm drains on the street. Treats wouldn’t help with this. But baby steps and lots of praise did. But fun “games”—like sit, place, come—she loves doing for treats.   

     

    Did you train your own dog? What reward did you choose when you were training your dog? What would you do differently?

  • Keep your dog healthy with these exercise tips

    Keep your dog healthy with these exercise tips

    I have heard it said often, and any dog lover knows that a well exercised dog is a happy dog. And a tired dog is a good dog. If you are wondering how you can best keep your dog active, look no further! We are going to chat here about how you can keep your dog healthy with these exercise tips!

    Dogs are creatures that need to be active often. Expending energy is the best way for them to maintain the best health possible. Exercise is vital to their healthy weight management, disease prevention, mental stimulation, and more. 

     

    Keep Your Dog Healthy With These Exercise Tips

    Before starting an exercise routine with your dog, it is important to get the answers to a couple of questions. These answers will help you to determine the activity levels that your dog should have.

     

    What types of dogs need the most exercise?

    When trying to decide how to work exercise into your dog’s life, you need to first consider what kind of dog that you have. Many people mistakenly believe that the bigger the dog breed is, the more exercise they need.

    That is simply not true. Different dog breeds have different exercise needs. A little bit of research can go far into determining what kind of activities and how much is right for your dog.

     

    What age dogs need the most exercise?

    Alternatively, the age of your dog makes a big difference in activity needs as well. Many people often think of puppies having endless energy and needing more exercise when this is not always the case.

    Many times puppies need less exercise than a bigger dog. They are very busy growing and need to allow their bodies time to rest and catch up!

     

    These tips will help you incorporate more exercise into your dog’s life

    Always keep a leash on hand

    It’s always a good idea to have multiple leashes for your dog. I recommend keeping at least one at home and one in your vehicle (if your dog rides in the car with you). That way you and your pup can head out for a walk at a moment’s notice. I love this simple paracord leash or this slip leash in the event that you don’t have a collar on your dog. 

     

    paracord dog leash

     

    Start out gently

    If you have a puppy, or if your dog simply isn’t currently exercised much, you don’t want to overdo it. Start an exercise routine gently with shorter walks or short bursts of playtime.

     

    Join in

    Whether you are going for a walk with your dog, playing Frisbee, playing fetch, or getting down on the floor to have some fun with him, joining in on your pet’s exercise is a great idea. Not only will you be able to make sure that your dog is getting exercise, but you will be too! Plus, much needed bonding time happens when you join in these activities too.

     

    Keep Your Dog Healthy With These Exercise Tips

     

    Head to the dog park

    Dog parks can be a good place to take your dog. But it’s important to assess the park and dogs at the park before you let your dog go in and play. Some dog owners don’t monitor their dogs to ensure they are playing nicely. Some dogs don’t do well in unstructured settings like this.

    Rainey does great in the dog park and is just a social butterfly. However, Dylan has never had a good experience. He gets nervous when surrounded with groups of strange dogs. But it can be refreshing to have an open space to take your pup to where they can run and burn off energy, while socializing with other dogs at the same time! 

     

    Take your dog to daycare

    Doggy daycare is one of my favorite places to take the pups when they need to socialize and burn some extra energy. Or, let’s face it, if they are driving me nuts and I need a little break. It’s so refreshing to have a safe place where I can drop off the dogs and know that they are playing but in a structured way. A good daycare will put dogs in smaller groups with matched playing styles.

    So, it’s great. Rainey gets to be her crazy self and play with any group. Meanwhile, Dylan can play within a smaller group. Scheduling a daycare trip even a couple of times per month is a great way to keep your dog healthy and active.

     

    Schedule it

    You probably schedule exercise into your own routine, am I right? You should do the same thing with your dog. If you have the time set aside for it, you are more likely to follow through and make it happen. Additionally, routines are good for dogs!

     

    Use safe toys for activity time

    Many people incorporate dog toys into their activity routine which is great! Playing with toys is very enjoyable for dogs, but be sure to use the right kind of toys. You need to make sure that the toys you choose are safe and not harmful to your dogs.

    For example, playing fetch with sticks can cause your dog to get splinters and intestinal upset from swallowing the wooden pieces, so instead use something like these wool balls for fetch instead. 

     

    safe dog toys

     

    Choose the right surfaces

    If your dog is new to exercise, don’t just head out to the sidewalk and go for a long walk. Their paws are going to be sensitive to the hard surface. It’s better to get them started on dirt or grass. 

     

    Make sure to monitor your dog to avoid injury

    Last summer Dylan gave himself heatstroke while playing with the lawn sprinkler. It then ended up with him getting hotspots and gastrointestinal issues. And off to the vet he went. I assumed because he was playing in water, he would be okay even though it was hot outside. You wouldn’t think that it would be possible, but indeed it happened.

    So, we learned a valuable lesson, that you really need to monitor your dog. And if the weather is really hot (or cold) you need to watch to make sure they don’t overexert themselves. And if it’s too cold outside, don’t let your dog stay outside for too long, as they can get frostbite. 

     

    Head to the vet

    Everything we know tells us to visit our doctor before starting a new exercise program. The same goes for your pet. It’s a good idea to take them to the vet to get a complete physical to make sure they are healthy enough for the exercise you have chosen. Also, if you have a puppy, the vet will tell you the right exercises and how long to exercise for. A good vet will have lots of good exercise tips to help your dog stay healthy.

     

    Mix up your exercises

    If you take the same walk each and every day, your dog will get bored. Go for a variety of different walks, mix up your normal route by going down different streets. Or reverse the route you normally take. Or even, hop in the car to go explore a new area. Giving your dog a variety of activities will keep your dog engaged with his exercises.

     

    Feed your dog a healthy diet

    A healthy diet is imperative to maintaining a healthy and active dog. If they are eating too much, it will be difficult for them to maintain the activity levels needed. If they are eating foods that aren’t nutritionally beneficial to them, it will be difficult for them to maintain enough energy to exercise to optimal health.

     

    Make sure your dog stays well hydrated

    Just like with humans, hydration is imperative for optimal dog health. Make sure your dog always has clean filtered water to drink, even if you are on the road. Keep a portable dog dish ready for wherever your pup needs a drink.  

     

    hydrate dog

     

    Do you maintain an exercise routine with your dog? What exercise tips would you share to keep your dog healthy?

    Do you want to incorporate more activity into your dog’s life? What questions do you have for doing this?

  • Five ways to keep your dog entertained

    Five ways to keep your dog entertained

    And ripping up pillows shouldn’t be one of the ways to keep your dog entertained!!

    Dogs, especially puppies, get into trouble. They explore their world and often put everything in their mouths. Dogs love to dig and chew and tear things up. It’s fun!! Of course, it’s not so much fun when you come home to find your favorite pillow and a dog bed ripped to shreds. It’s important to know some games to play with your dog and ways to keep your dog entertained

    dog vs bed

    I am lucky, I work from home, so monitoring the dogs is fairly easy (in theory). But, you cannot watch them constantly and it only takes a few minutes for major destruction to occur. When I came home one day to find my hallway carpet pulled up, I knew that I had to find things to keep my dog entertained and mentally stimulated.

    Please note: It’s really important to crate train your dog. It’s not a punishment. In the wild, dogs have dens. It’s a place to sleep and where they can find comfort and solitude while you know they are safe and secure. Dylan is 5 years old and still loves going into his crate. So, while it’s an eyesore in the living room, I would not dream of removing it.

    But let’s face it, I did not always use the crate. And often, when you work from home, you have to work (SHOCKING I know) and watching young dogs isn’t possible. So what do you do?!?

    A tired dog is a good dog!! And that doesn’t just mean physically tired. Keeping your dog mentally stimulated is important as well.

     

    Five ways to keep your dog entertained  

     

    COCONUTS

    dog eats coconuts

    That is correct!! You can go to the store and buy a whole coconut and it will give your dogs hours of cheap entertainment—I know it keeps my dog entertained. Depending where you buy the coconut, it may still have the long fibers/hairs attached to it. These probably can cause digestive upset, so just try and remove them. The shells are hard, if your dog is an obsessive chewer, just keep an eye out as you don’t want them damaging their teeth.

    Dylan loves playing chase with whole coconuts and nibbling on the outside shells. After a few days, you can crack the coconut open and assuming the coconut milk is still good, you can give some to your dog (you can have some as well). You can share the pulp with your dog as well. Whenever introducing a new food, start slowly otherwise you may be dealing with some diarrhea.  

     

    PUZZLE GAME: SODA BOTTLE WITH KIBBLE

    If your dog is a fast eater, you can buy a slow feeder. OR, you can create your own. Take a clean plastic bottle—make sure to remove the label if possible and the plastic ring on top—and fill with your dog’s kibble (what you would normally feed in one sitting) or some treats. Your dog will have to figure out how to get out the kibble if he/she wants to eat. This will force your dog to slow down and it will keep them entertained.

    When I first started using this technique, it would take Dylan at least 30 minutes to eat all his food. As he got better at it, he got faster at finishing but anything is better than the 30 seconds without the soda bottle.

    I prefer to make my slow feeders as I find that a lot of similar puzzle slow feeders are hard to clean. At least with this, I can easily clean it and then pop it in the recycling when we are done.

     

    PUZZLE GAME: MUFFIN TIN & TENNIS BALL

    This is another fun interactive game you can play with your dog. All you need is a muffin tin, a couple of balls of some sort, and some kibble (or treats). Don’t let your dog see. Now, put some treats in a couple of different muffin compartments and cover them. Cover some empty compartments as well. Put it down and let your dog figure out where the treats are and how to get them out. DON’T CHEAT & HELP!!

    Dylan eventually ruined the game because he would use his big paws and just flip over the whole tin. But, it was fun while it lasted.     

     

    BASIC COMMANDS/TRAINING

    One of the best things that you can do for you and your dog is to train some basic commands. Finding a good trainer and consistency are the keys to success. Some of the most important commands to learn: stay, come, leave it, drop it, and place. I could go on and on about training. But in the context of keeping your dog entertained, or at least out of trouble in the house—leave it and place are the best.

    PLACE: This one is great because if done correctly, your dog will go somewhere comfortable and just chill out. They will just stay there until you give the “release” command. While on place, they can have a toy to play with or something to chew on. The only rule is that they can’t come off place. This is a lifesaver in our house especially when people come over and I don’t want them being mauled by two excited dogs. Or if I have to take an important phone call and I don’t want to be chased around the house with a squeaky toy.   

    LEAVE IT: This one is more interactive. Once your dog learns this command, you will be able to drop food around them and they will leave it alone. Leave it is good to practice especially if you want your dog to calm down a little bit. It’s a great way to practice self-control as well.  

     

    GIVE YOUR DOG A SPECIAL DIGGING PLACE

    Dogs love to dig. Sometimes, it’s easier to just give in and let them have their way. If your dog likes to dig, you may find that like me, you end up with holes everywhere in the yard. Seeing the pure joy in their faces makes it hard to reprimand them, but I also want to be able to walk in my yard without breaking my ankle in a hole. The solution—create an area they can destroy. Training your dog to dig in one particular area will give them a place to have fun and it will keep you from being mad. Just make sure they stay in that area. You can do that by creating a fence around an area or building an elevated garden bed.

     

    Hope this helps to give you some ideas on ways to keep your dog entertained

    Keeping your dog stimulated both mentally and physically can be a full-time job but it’s very important for their (and your) well-being. Playing with your dog is a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog. Like people, dogs benefit from learning new things. And hopefully, by playing with them and teaching them new skills, it will help to stop them from destroying your house.