Bully Sticks

Super Intelligent Dogs

My dog, Bonkers is not the brightest of animals… in reality, he’s as dumb as toast. But, I love him anyway.

Like humans, dogs come in a variety of gray matter. Some breeds tend to produce smarter dogs than others, and even within the breeds themselves, some lineages seem to produce smarter dogs.

There have been lots of studies on the intelligence of dogs with differing conclusions. My guess is that the reason it’s so difficult to determine the intelligence of dogs is that each individual dog is unique. It could also be that some dogs are smart enough not to “perform” for the researchers.  Other dogs will only “perform” on cue for dog bones.
I’ve seen a lot of smart dogs and a lot of performing dogs but the dog in this video, Skidboot seems to be way smarter then the average dog. You can almost see him thinking as he waits for the proper word.

I also think it’s interesting that in the beginning his owner was considering getting rid of him because he got into so much mischief. Smart dogs, like smart kids, do tend to find their way into trouble when they get bored.

Drug Sniffing Dogs invade Teens Bedrooms

Yes, it’s true.   Our faithful companions are at it again.  Dogs are proving once again they are not “man’s best friend”…. at least not for some drug using teens.

A small company in New Jersey is now offering to bring Specially trained dogs and their handlers to your home to “sniff out” the drugs.  For a fee of $200, parents can have their teens’ room searched.

The dogs are trained to sniff out marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Xanax and ecstasy.

Some have said this is an invasion of privacy and recommend drug testing your children instead.   Duh!  Isn’t a drug test more of an invasion?

Parents are legally responsible for any illegal substance found in their home and have every right to insure that drugs are not being stashed.  For most Parents this is a last resort in their attempts to keep their kids drug free.

The firm has five Labradors trained to sniff out marijuana from 15 feet away.  Each dog is assigned a Handler.  According the company co-owner, Debra Stone, Sniff Dogs has received inquiries from nearly every state.

PS:  Hey kids, don’t try confusing these hot sniffing pooches with hidden bully sticks, these dogs can’t be tempted.

Puppy Piddle Pads

Most of us have seen those Puppy housebreaking pads in our local Walmart or Pet store for years now.  They’re those special square pads that are treated with God knows what to attract a puppy to “piddle” on the pad.  Much easier and less messy than using newspaper.

They are great for training but can sometimes confuse a dog into believing that “going” in the house is the place to go.

It took extra time and not a few all natural dog treats to get my Shih Tzu, Bonkers to agree to “go” outside.  We would walk, and walk, and walk….. he would sniff and sniff and sniff and then as soon as we walked in the door…. off to the piddle pad he’d go.  We even had to take a piddle pad with us when he went to the groomers.

Having a dog trained to only go on a piddle pad does have it’s advantages.  My 75 year old Mom has hip problems and is unable to take her tiny little Baby for a walk and leaving Baby outside alone could be dangerous, so with a little encouragement we trained Baby to use the piddle pad.   Makes for a much happier Mom and Baby…

Because of the “scent” of the pads, it’s very easy to train your pooch to be attracted to the pad as their new “Go to” area.  I found that placing the pad in a quiet area of the laundry room or near the back door, gives dogs the privacy they need.  Also, by confining a new puppy to a small area with a piddle pad until they have better bladder control they will quickly associate that area as the proper place to “do their business”.

Whether you use Piddle pads as a first step training method or as a more permanent solution, remember that your dog does need fresh air and time to play outside.

If learning to “Come” when called is the first thing you need to teach your dog, then it would logically follow that learning to “Stay” would be the second.

I like to break this command into two sections, the Stay as in the stay where you are, and the AAATTT, as in freeze buster… don’t move a muscle. Both are equally important.

The Stay command takes patience and repetition to perfect and you need to take your dog’s attention span into consideration.

• Place your dog on the floor directly in front of you….make sure you have his attention.
• Hold your hand up in the stop position and say sternly…”staaaay”.
• Take a step backwards… If your pet moves, place him in the same spot and repeat the command
• Once you can take several steps backwards without your pet moving, use the “come” command and give him a treat.
• Increase the distance daily until you can leave the room without your puppy moving off the spot.

The AAATTT command is similar to the growl that momma dog gives her pups to keep them in line. It should sound like a growl and will get your pups immediate attention. Use it to set boundaries and to keep you dog from harm. A dog trained to respond to this command can be saved from running into oncoming traffic or eating something dangerous. Once you have your dogs attention then you can use the “Come” or “Stay” commands.
Using a combination of praise, attention, all natural dog treats and voice tone is an excellent way to communicate your requests to your pet.

3 Common Dog Training Mistakes

Training your dog is the only way to help him develop into a valuable member of your family while eliminating unfavorable behavioral issues. Unfortunately, many dog owners either neglect to train their dogs or do so irresponsibly. Some owners follow systems that are ineffective while others try to train their dogs on their own without a true understanding regarding what they’re doing. In this article, we’ll describe 3 common mistakes that dog owners make.

Mistake #1: Lack Of Patience

This is more important than many owners realize and it can have a significant impact on how well your dog learns. A lot of owners expect their dogs to understand their commands quickly. Dogs absorb and learn by routine, persistence, and repetition. They may require several tries before they respond with the proper action (i.e. sitting, barking, etc.). Realize before you begin that training your dog requires substantial patience. Though some breeds will need less time than others, all dogs need learn in the same manner: routine, persistence, and repetition.

Mistake #2: Lack Of Consistency

Dogs relish consistency. Even mature dogs that are fully trained thrive in environments that provide a high level of predictability. When training your dog, consistency is critical. They need to experience and understand the causal relationship between their response to your commands and your reaction. For example, if you command your dog to sit and he does so without hesitation, a treat rewards your dog’s response. But, in order to truly train your dog to respond with the same action, you need to consistently provide the treat whenever he successfully does so. That cements the concept in the dog’s brain that his response was the desired one.

Mistake #3: Calling For Punishment

Many owners make this mistake and in doing so, they damage their long-term effectiveness. Dogs are similar to children with regard to how they react to someone calling them. If you punish your dog whenever he comes to you, you train that expectation in him. Over time, your dog will learn that when you call for him to come, he can expect to be punished.

Remember, your dog is most happy when he is treated as a loyal companion and family member. Punishing him disrupts that relationship and can have a lasting effect. If your dog responds poorly to your command, walk to him. If you must punish him (dogs learn best by positive reinforcement), do so after you have approached him.

Building The Relationship

Training your dog properly not only helps him to develop into a valued companion, but it also eliminates errant behaviors that may be characteristic of the breed. The key is to have patience, be consistent in how you react to your dog’s responses, and avoid calling your dog to punish him. Over time, a training system that emphasizes positive reinforcement will typically produce remarkable results.

Make sure to also give your dogs plenty of rewards like dog chews or bully sticks for a job well done…after all they do deserve it!

Dogs And Kids: Keeping The Peace

Most dogs are peaceful and friendly, unless they’re raised to be otherwise. However, despite their natural affability, they will occasionally bite children. Many canine behavioral experts estimate that at least 30% of children have been bitten - or nearly so - by the time they reach their teenage years. Not only can this result in physical harm for the child, but it can establish and reinforce a child’s fear of dogs.

While many owners will punish their dog for biting a child, they often do so without understanding what prompted the response. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of why dogs bite. Plus, we’ll describe how to identify the signs that your dog is agitated around kids and ultimately, how to prevent him from biting them in the future.

Why Your Dog Bites

There are many reasons why your dog may become agitated. And children seem to be habitually oblivious to most of them. First, dogs are naturally territorial, even as domestic pets. For example, a child may not understand a dog’s instinct to protect its food. If he grabs the food away from the dog, there is a risk of being bitten. Second, loud, disruptive noises cause dogs to become anxious. Children, by nature, can be loud, making a dog nervous around them.

Third, kids often don’t realize that dogs have a natural aversion to being handled in certain ways. For example, many children will grab a dog’s paws. This can quickly frustrate a dog, leading him to bite or snap at the child (often, more as a warning than a sign of aggression).

Identifying The Warning Signs

Dogs are not mysterious. If they’re agitated or angry, it’s usually easy to tell. They’ll raise their tail and bare their teeth. Under extreme agitation, a dog will raise the hair on his back. On the other hand, if your dog is frightened, you’ll notice his ears are plastered back and his tail loops under his hind legs. But, it’s important to remember that he’s just as likely to bite when he’s scared as when he’s angry. Your child should be taught to identify the signs.

Curbing The Biting Behavior

Curbing a dog’s tendency to bite a child when he’s agitated or frightened shouldn’t be focused on eliminating the behavior. After all, it is an instinctive response. Instead, children should be educated regarding what actions are inappropriate in a dog’s company. They should not handle a dog while he’s eating. Nor should they surprise him when he’s sleeping. Also, kids should be taught to recognize the signs that a dog is anxious or frightened. When he is, they should back off.  Another idea to curb the biting behavior is to help with your dog’s urge to chew by giving them bully sticks and other dog chews on a regular basis.

Assuming your dog is naturally friendly and sociable, keeping the peace between he and your children is a matter of educating them. In time, they’ll realize what sort of behavior is unacceptable, and thereby avoid being bitten.

I use to watch in absolute bewilderment at the stupidity of a former neighbor as he often bellowed and screamed at his lovable lab. It was almost a daily ritual with the bouncy lab zooming out the front door heading down the street, tail between his legs with his Master cursing behind him. This would continue for half a block before the owner would finally give up and stomp home, leaving the lab to his mischief. When the lab picked up the nasty habit of chasing cars, it was no longer a laughing matter.

In my opinion, every dog owner should be required to ensure that their pet has the “Come” and “Stay” commands drilled into them until it is automatic to immediately obey. A dog’s life could be a stake.

Teaching the “Come” command is one of the quickest and easiest ways to build communication between you and your dog. All it takes is a friendly voice and an all natural dog treat, like bully sticks. Note: be sure to offer age and size appropriate all natural dog treats. You should begin the training the first day you bring your new puppy home.

• Let the puppy see and smell the treat - give him a small taste so he will want more
• Each time the puppy wonders away from you, call him by name in a friendly voice
• When he comes to you, offer the treat and lots of praise and affection

If you do this over a period of a few days, the puppy will learn to associate coming to you with reward. Continue reinforcing the training and before long it will become part of his nature to happily respond to your call.

Never scold or hit your dog for coming to you, even if they didn’t immediately obey. Dog’s are not stupid, if someone is screaming at them and acting in a threatening manner then they are going to run. Wouldn’t you?

Many dog breeds show a natural proclivity to digging. While the gradually spreading destruction is frustrating to owners, there is a tendency to neglect understanding the reasons why dogs dig. Unfortunately, millions of owners punish their dogs for doing what is instinctive to their nature. A more appropriate response is to address the motivations that lead to digging. In this article, we’ll describe a few of the reasons why your dog may be digging holes. In so doing, you’ll discover how to curb the behavior without applying negative reinforcement.

Provide Entertainment

Dogs can become bored easily. They enjoy interacting with others, whether that involves people or other animals. When left alone, the lack of interaction will drive your dog to seek stimulation in any way that is easily achieved, including digging. You can eliminate this behavior by broadening the level of exposure your dog has to other people and stimuli. Rather than leaving your dog alone in the backyard, take it to a dog park, so that it can enjoy interacting with other dogs and people. The easiest way to entertain a dog when you are away from home is with bully sticks , as they last a long time and will provide entertainment whilst you are away.

Create A Comfortable Environment

Owners often forget how susceptible their dogs are to the weather. On intensely hot days, dogs will dig holes in the soil in order to expose cool dirt in which to lay. On cold or windy days, a dog will dig a hole to create a shelter that can provide a level of protection. If your dog is digging holes in order to escape the weather, build a doghouse for him. Even better, insulate it so that it stays cool during hot days and provides warmth during colder, or windy days.

Exercise Your Dog

Left to their own devices for long periods of time, dogs will store a reserve of energy. This pent up energy, combined with boredom, will motivate him to seek an outlet. This outlet is often in the form of digging holes. Addressing the behavior is simple. You must provide your dog with an opportunity to exercise daily. Not only does doing so help him release the stored energy, but it also breaks the monotony of being confined in a limited space (i.e. backyard).

Recommendation Against Punishment

If you’re frustrated by your dog’s fondness for digging holes, avoid punishing him for the behavior. Instead, try to determine why your dog is digging. Then, address those reasons in order to remove his motivations to dig. In most cases, owners can reduce or eliminate the behavior by providing their dogs with a source of entertainment, a comfortable environment, and plenty of opportunity to exercise.