If You Want Your Dog to Change.

Sometimes dogs behave in a way that's not okay.

 Since I'm deaf, I appreciate dogs who get rowdy and bark when someone comes to the door.  The thing is, I want them to stop once I know the "why",  otherwise a bigger commotion would ensue when the door was opened.     

The solution was simple.  Tell the dogs to "sit".  Of course, then I had to learn to how make dogs sit, and wait for one minute.  I had to practice sit and wait and release repeatedly, pushing out on waiting time.  Finally I rehearsed for opening night by combining the doorbell, the rowdiness along with the sit/long wait, release.  

After a few weeks we had unexpected company.  Doorbell rings..., imagine a golden retriever and standard poodle going wild with glee.  

"Sit!"  They sat.  They waited.  We had company.  

The moral of the story is, "If you want your dog to change, you have to participate."

You Gotta Walk The Dog!!!

In my early twenties I finally learned to maintain a daily habit of brushing & flossing my teeth, accompanied by regular dental visits.   My failure to make this commitment earlier had brought on tooth decay.  I ignored the decay which eventually resulted in bad breath, teeth fracture, pain, time off from work, and big bucks.

Same with dog walks.  Skipping the dog's walk spells eventual disaster.   A broad spectrum of problems ranging from obsessive compulsive behavior, destruction of personal property to fear biting & civil liability.  Activity keeps oxygen and other nutrients like blood sugar (glucose) at the right levels for the brain.  This results in improved brain function and definitely a happier dog.

Dogs need their walks.  Daily.  They are pack animals.  Dogs thrive on being on the move with their pack.  If a dog is part of a human family, his humans becomes his pack.  Dogs learn their rightful place within the family and society as a whole when they are exercised daily.

Some people are high energy; bike, hike, and run.  Without fail.  For years.  These people are likely to be successful with breeds (or a mixed combination of breeds) which need TWICE DAILY 90 minute HIKE recommended by the ASPCA.  Those are:

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd Dog
Border Collie
Bull mastiff
Doberman
English Sheepdog
Gordon Setter
Husky
Irish Setter
Newfoundland
Shetland Sheepdog
Springer Spaniel

Whether you're a recovering couch potato, scheduling a vacation or your work schedule bites into your personal time, In-HomePetSitting. com or 585-506-6270.  We'll help keep your dog in tip-top shape for quiet evenings at home, with you.