Thunder Storms and Dogs
It was another 2am thunder storm and another 2am barking session from Bonkers, and it wasn’t long before I heard him scratching at my bedroom door.
I’m really not sure if its the sound of thunder or the change in air pressure during a storm that sets a dog on edge, but Bonkers is not the only dog that feels the need to bark out a warning when a storm is on the way. Fortunately, Bonkers has been taught to use his “inside” bark which sounds kinda like a whisper bark. It’s enough to wake me up without waking up the neighbors.
So what do I do to calm down a concerned sentry? I first get my patootie up out of bed, let him know that “momma dog” has gotten the message and will take over, and then I give him a bully stick to keep him occupied. Nothing like a bully stick to take a dog’s mind off a problem.
There is no sense in yelling at a dog that is only doing his job. In our pack, I’m the alpha dog and it’s Bonkers job to alert the alpha dog of any impending danger. Once I have acknowledged that I’m on it, he can relax and wait for my instructions. I give him the bully stick to let him know there is no danger and it’s safe to chill out.
Do dogs Sleepwalk?
What do dogs dream about? Nobody really knows for sure, but my guess is tht Bizkit, the dog in this video was protecting his favorite dog chew in his dreams.
My advice to his owners would be to put padding on all the walls.
Dog Socialization
Bringing home a new puppy can be very exciting for every member of the family, however it can be a bit TOO exciting for the puppy. So when is the proper time to introduce your new puppy to your friends and the neighborhood?
Give your puppy a few days to relax and feel at home, don’t over stimulate him with too much activity or attention. Once your puppy has gotten use to his new environment, then you may want to take him out and introduce him to other dogs in the neighborhood.
It is very important your puppy is properly socialized at this young age.
Don’t overdo it and be sure to reward your puppy with a nice dog bone for his good behavior.
More Dog Training Videos at 5min.com
The Dog New Year’s Resolutions
This year my dog, Bonkers has made a list of New Years Resolutions that unlike past years he actually intends to keep. As a good “Dog Mom” I’m going to do my best to help him accomplish his goals.
Bonkers 2009 New Year’s Resolutions:
- Start eating Healthier - More all Natural Dog Treats
- Exercise - More brisk walking less sniffing bushes
- Better Dental Hygiene - Brushing teeth daily and more Bully sticks (Bonkers likes the Bully sticks…teeth brushing not so much.)
- More patience and tolerance of the cat - “Can’t we all just get along”.
- Stop licking the micro suede couch - (Please!)
- Take better care of appearance - (Can you say - BATH!)
- Dress Better (The torn up orange T-shirt has got to go)
- Use my “quiet” voice inside
- Stop eating Legos
- Give more hugs and kisses - Wag my tail more and be content with life.
Mean ole cat wins
A spoiled dog is an unhappy dog…
Dogs are happiest when they feel safe and secure with a dominant pack leader. That pack leader needs to be Y.O.U! It’s fine to show your dog attention and dole out the toys and dog chews, but only in the proper timing and environment.
This video shows what happens when a nervous insecure dog is in control.
Man’s best friend is now Dog’s best friend
Dog’s are one of the most forgiving and loving creatures on this Earth. They are also one of the most loyal and courageous, as this video shows.
Dogs have proven time and time again that they will risk their own lives in service to others, not for the reward of a dog bone or two, but out of fierce loyalty, love and the incredible giving nature bestowed upon them by their Creature.
This video will both shock you and inspire you.
And just so you know…. Both dogs survived:-)
Why you want your puppy to meet the neighbor’s cat….
Why you want your puppy to meet the neighbor’s cat…
The battle between dogs and cats is as old as time. We all know that dogs hate cats….right?
Wrong! Dogs that are introduced to cats at a young age will learn quickly how to not just tolerate cats but to accept them as part of their family/pack.
It’s well known that a child brought up in a household that is bi-lingual will easily pick up both languages. A dog brought up in a household with cats will just as easily pick up a cat’s body language. Your puppy will learn “cat” long before he learns “human”.
The sooner you expose your puppy to cats the better. If you don’t own a cat then be sure to visit a friend or neighbor that has both cats and dogs. You want to expose your dog to a cat that is already used to being around dogs. This is also a good time to expose your pup to other dogs.
Studies have shown that dogs who are not acclaimated to other dogs and/or cats when they are puppies tend to be much more aggressive toward other animals when they are older.
If your older dog shows this aggressive behavior toward other animals you can, through patience, restraint and training with positive methods using rewards like dog bones convince your dog to accept cats as part of their pack.
Pet Peeves - Dogs gone Wild
Roxy was a cross between a German Shepard and a Pit Bull. Every morning she would wait with the kids at the bus stop making sure each child was safely off to school, then she would trot on down to my house where the lone home schooled child slept.
She arrive on the front porch, rap on the door and wait for me to bring her dog bones. Most of the time she would hang around my house all day waiting for Billy to come out and play, then off she would go to the bus stop waiting for the other kids.
The entire neighborhood was her territory and every child her pup. I loved Roxy and always kept a bowl of water on porch just for her, but when our town finally adopted a leash law…. I rejoiced.
Although Roxy was kind and loving to children and the adults that were kind to her, Roxy also had killed one small dog and seriously injured two others. She terrorized the cats and squirrels and chased cars. She was extremely over protective of her territory and could be dangerous. She would even attack smaller dogs that were being walked on a leash and frighten their owners.
I can’t blame Roxy….. She was only doing what came naturally. This was natural dog behavior. She was Alpha female and guarding her hood. Her owners, were responsible for allowing her to roam and not setting boundaries and when the town finally started enacting fines they finally began keeping Roxy safely at home.
I missed Roxy stopping by every day but knowing she was no longer running wild was much nicer.
The Greatest Dog Escape Artists
Dogs are known for being very resourceful when it comes to finding their freedom, especially when there is food or fun on the other side of that fence. Most of the time it entails digging their way out, but the dogs in this video were forced to try a different route.
Had these pooches known they were being watched, they probably wouldn’t have attempted their phenomenal feats.
The moral is… Never underestimate the power and determination of a dog to get to those bully sticks.
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