Newsletter
Shady Mountain Howl
Issue #4, October 2024
|
Pet of the MonthSampson is a 2-year-old, huge, Great Dane. He never had the opportunity to learn right from wrong and arrived here for a 4 week training program so that his peeps could better understand and handle him. As he's huge, he merely throws his head or body around and it affects every move you make around him. Luckily, he has a great personality. He's been relatively easy to teach as he enjoys the process.
We have been using the Comfort Trainer head halter, along with the Freedom Harness. This gives us the leverage to handle such a large dog who liked to pull. In 2 weeks, he no longer pulls on the leash. In fact, he performs sit and down stays, heels, comes and no longer jumps up. He merely needed some guidance. To follow his activities, view our Current Guest page or check out our Facebook page. |
Howling On This Month
October has been very wet the first week. We couldn't do much training outdoors. But, this second week of October, the weather outlook is promising for enjoying the incoming Autumn colors and temperatures.
We currently have Cooper visiting, so this means daily off leash hikes on the mountain. Layla, a young Yellow Lab is learning to work with a dropped leash and has started hiking. She checks in a LOT. Our newest K9 student is Tucker, a 5 month old Golden Retriever. He started out a bit rough around the edges, but after only a week, he's heeling, performs sit/stays with some movement and we're working on down/stay duration.
We have a nice month ahead of regular guests and a few new students. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy all of them.
We currently have Cooper visiting, so this means daily off leash hikes on the mountain. Layla, a young Yellow Lab is learning to work with a dropped leash and has started hiking. She checks in a LOT. Our newest K9 student is Tucker, a 5 month old Golden Retriever. He started out a bit rough around the edges, but after only a week, he's heeling, performs sit/stays with some movement and we're working on down/stay duration.
We have a nice month ahead of regular guests and a few new students. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy all of them.
|
|
List of features in this month's Shady Mountain Howl:
Training Senior DogsSenior Dogs Can Learn New Tricks
List of Local Pet Rescue OrganizationsAre you looking for a new pet? Are you needing help with an animal that you found? There are several local organizations that can help.
|
|
Training Senior Dogs
Training Senior Dogs
While most dogs are exposed to training at an early age, there are some who have not been given the opportunity to learn about their world and those in it. They may develop an understanding, over time, of a routine, but must keep guessing along the way which can lead to anxiety. This anxiety has the potential to land the dog in a shelter or out on the street as their pet parents don’t understand how to approach the situation.
There are also many dogs who have enjoyed years with a family, but their pet parents are no longer able to care for them due to personal health or family financial concerns. These dogs often end up surrendered to shelters and humane societies. Few potential adopters choose these dogs as they may come with health issues and create an immediate financial burden. A dog with a gray face, even if they have a great personality, is often passed up for a younger dog.
Potential pet adopters should certainly consider bringing home a senior dog. These dogs are in their golden years and have a lot of love to offer. They prefer to remain nearby, lay at your feet and give comfort to their new pet parents. Senior dogs are usually already housetrained, don’t chew the furniture, or bark at you for attention.
Adopting an older dog can cause some concern, especially if you are unaware of their previous living conditions. Were they kept outdoors? Were they a beloved family companion? Do they have anxiety due to their sudden life changes?
You can be certain about the anxiety. They’ve suddenly been removed from a place they had spent many years, and attachments to the people they had lived with.
Dogs enjoy learning at any age, if properly motivated.
Using positive reinforcement, any dog of any age can learn. Senior dogs are just as excited about learning new concepts or reviewing past knowledge as young dogs. In fact, they often haven’t had the opportunities to engage in training activities for a long time. The moment you show them some rewards, such as treats or special toys, they form smiley faces and become light on their feet.
No dog is too old to learn. They may have become set in the way they respond to the world, but they are still open to learning new concepts, provided the concepts are presented in a positive manner. Engaging in training sessions offers them something to look forward to, and a means of communicating with their family in their new environment.
Old Dogs May Have Physical Considerations
While any dog of any age enjoys learning, senior dogs may have physical issues that can make the process challenging. For example, a dog with arthritis can have difficulty sitting and getting up. Or a dog whose eyesight is fading may not be able to see visual cues very well. There are ways to adjust the training approach to concede these issues, without damaging the entire process.
For dogs who have a physical ailment, adjust your criteria to account for the problem. Sensory deficiencies may require you to use cues that your senior dog is more able to respond to.
You will need to spend some time observing your new senior dog to discover exactly what these issues may be. Once understood, you can adjust your approach. Here’s a list of suggestions that can help you adjust your approach:
If you do not have a good idea of how to approach the challenges of training a senior dog, hire a professional dog trainer. A positive, consistent approach will help create a better relationship, ensuring years of enjoyable companionship with your senior.
While most dogs are exposed to training at an early age, there are some who have not been given the opportunity to learn about their world and those in it. They may develop an understanding, over time, of a routine, but must keep guessing along the way which can lead to anxiety. This anxiety has the potential to land the dog in a shelter or out on the street as their pet parents don’t understand how to approach the situation.
There are also many dogs who have enjoyed years with a family, but their pet parents are no longer able to care for them due to personal health or family financial concerns. These dogs often end up surrendered to shelters and humane societies. Few potential adopters choose these dogs as they may come with health issues and create an immediate financial burden. A dog with a gray face, even if they have a great personality, is often passed up for a younger dog.
Potential pet adopters should certainly consider bringing home a senior dog. These dogs are in their golden years and have a lot of love to offer. They prefer to remain nearby, lay at your feet and give comfort to their new pet parents. Senior dogs are usually already housetrained, don’t chew the furniture, or bark at you for attention.
Adopting an older dog can cause some concern, especially if you are unaware of their previous living conditions. Were they kept outdoors? Were they a beloved family companion? Do they have anxiety due to their sudden life changes?
You can be certain about the anxiety. They’ve suddenly been removed from a place they had spent many years, and attachments to the people they had lived with.
Dogs enjoy learning at any age, if properly motivated.
Using positive reinforcement, any dog of any age can learn. Senior dogs are just as excited about learning new concepts or reviewing past knowledge as young dogs. In fact, they often haven’t had the opportunities to engage in training activities for a long time. The moment you show them some rewards, such as treats or special toys, they form smiley faces and become light on their feet.
No dog is too old to learn. They may have become set in the way they respond to the world, but they are still open to learning new concepts, provided the concepts are presented in a positive manner. Engaging in training sessions offers them something to look forward to, and a means of communicating with their family in their new environment.
Old Dogs May Have Physical Considerations
While any dog of any age enjoys learning, senior dogs may have physical issues that can make the process challenging. For example, a dog with arthritis can have difficulty sitting and getting up. Or a dog whose eyesight is fading may not be able to see visual cues very well. There are ways to adjust the training approach to concede these issues, without damaging the entire process.
For dogs who have a physical ailment, adjust your criteria to account for the problem. Sensory deficiencies may require you to use cues that your senior dog is more able to respond to.
You will need to spend some time observing your new senior dog to discover exactly what these issues may be. Once understood, you can adjust your approach. Here’s a list of suggestions that can help you adjust your approach:
- Dog has sensory issues – Old dogs tend to develop cataracts or have difficulty hearing. Using visual and verbal cues may prove challenging. Instead, use touch cues paired with the smell of a treat. Dogs rarely lose their ability to smell and use their noses in every stage of life.
- Dog has arthritis of the hips and/or legs – Don’t require your senior dog to sit as much as you might a younger dog. Older dogs can learn to perform stand stays instead of a sit stay. Going down on cue may take longer. Give your dog the time to get into position as you slowly lower the target (treat in your hand).
- Dog has high reactivity – Many dogs go through life unable to explore environmental triggers. This builds frustration and fear. A fearful senior dog may react to the trigger by barking or lunging at it. They haven’t learned how to react to it. This dog will require desensitization as well as a lot of redirections. It can take a long time to teach a senior dog that these triggers are not anything to respond to. It will require a lot of patience and persistence to solve this issue.
- The senior dog has learned that pulling on the leash is the only way to go for a walk – This happens in many senior dogs, as well as adult dogs, as they’ve never had the benefit of training. This makes going for a walk very unpleasant and many pet parents give up, no longer taking their dog out for exercise. Moreover, the dog has learned to pull against pressure instead of giving in to it. This dog may require the use of a head halter, such as the Comfort Trainer, www.comforttrainer.net. Using a front connecting harness with the use of a Comfort Trainer, your senior dog can easily be redirected, reducing reactivity. Within a few weeks, you’ll be able to go on relaxing walks with your golden years dog.
If you do not have a good idea of how to approach the challenges of training a senior dog, hire a professional dog trainer. A positive, consistent approach will help create a better relationship, ensuring years of enjoyable companionship with your senior.
Feline Aggression
Cats may live in our homes, but they are not far removed from their wild cousins. In fact, felines have been domesticated for a mere 6,000 years. Moreover, their differentiation into different breed groups has only occurred relatively recently in modern civilization. This means that, felines don’t naturally have bite inhibition and can become aggressive or afraid with little notice.
Being fluent in feline communication is helpful in avoiding and solving aggression issues.
Types of Feline Aggression
Cats can easily change their mood if they believe their safety has been compromised. There are, however, specific situations that can be identified in which your feline might lash out with tooth and claw.
Here's two types of feline aggression:
- Play aggression – is most commonly experienced with kittens and cats who have not learned to manage their rough play.
- Petting aggression – the cat becomes overly stimulated and suddenly lashes out, or might have overall ambivalence about the experience, i.e., unsure if she really wants the attention, or not.
While it’s fun to watch kittens play rough with each other, or toys, it is not as pleasant when our hands and other body parts end up injured. Kittens are merely acting out instinctive prey behavior, and they don’t realize you are to be respected and not eaten.
Even older cats tend to get carried away when they play, and with stronger jaw power and longer nails than kittens, you can receive bad injuries.
It’s tough to teach kittens to stop the rough stuff when playing with you, but through consistent redirection and presenting your kitten with interactive toys you both can enjoy, she will eventually get the message.
Great types of toys that help you avoid being injured:
- Dangling toys, where you can hold one end, and your killer kitten can attack the other end.
- Track ball toys
- Gloves that have long finger ends with pompoms or feathers
- Food dispensing toys
A trained kitten is far easier to redirect into appropriate behavior than one who has not learned how to earn rewards. Therefore, begin training your kitten the very day she arrives in your home.
Petting Aggression
While there are some cats that want nothing more than to be stroked and cuddle there are others who are ambivalent about it. They may want some petting but not much. The amount of attention tolerance varies from cat to cat. And there are signs that your kitty has had enough and will lash out if you continue. Not heeding these signs can destroy your relationship with your cat as you will become afraid of giving her any attention and she will not appreciate you not respecting her boundaries. If this has ever happened while cuddling with your kitty be aware of these behaviors:
- Tail twitching or pounding
- Restlessness, shifting of her body
- Her body suddenly stiffens
- Ears turning back
- Moving her head toward your hand
- Vocalizations such as low growl, hiss or sharp meow
- Some cats will touch lightly with their teeth if the above behaviors are not heeded.
You can teach your cat to become more tolerant of being touched through training. When she is near you, give her food rewards and soft praise. With each session, gradually add a few more seconds of time prior to stopping the stroking and offering her a reward. This will build up her tolerance to being touched and gain trust in you.
Should this behavior happen suddenly, it would be a good idea to have your veterinarian do a thorough check up in case your kitty has a health problem. Cats might suddenly become aggressive if in pain or discomfort.
List of Local Pet Rescue Organizations
|
If you have decided to adopt a pet please check out the below links. To the left is Layla, who was rescued by one of these organizations and adopted by Stephanie Carter. Layla spent a lot of time at SMPR and enjoyed her training hikes. She also enjoyed socializing with some of our other guests. She passed away this past May and we'll miss her terribly. But, she is proof that you can find a forever companion at a humane society or rescue organization.
|
Are you looking for the perfect indoor/outdoor bed for your pet? Try a Kuranda bed! These beds withstand the most rugged dogs. They come in a large variety of sizes and neutral colors.
Click link below to order one for your dog.
Pet Product Review
Comfort Trainer Head Halter
Comfort Trainer Head Halters are designed by professional dog trainer Miriam Fields-Babineau, author of Dog Training with a Head Halter and Click and Easy: Clicker Training for Dogs. They were created as an alternative to the head halters that were on the market that cause distress to dogs, namely the Gentle Leader, Snoot Loop and Halti. Since the release of the Comfort Trainers and their subsequent success with professional dog trainers, service dog trainers and pet owners, other head halters have entered the market but none have surpassed the Comfort Trainer in comfort and quality.
Head Halter Structures
There are two basic structures of canine head halter: The figure 8 and the conventional. The figure 8 has two straps. One goes around the muzzle the other behind the ears. It must be worn fairly snug or the nose band will move around irritating the dog's eyes and muzzle, as is the case with Gentle Leader head halters. In order to remain snug there is a clip under the jaw. This strap around the muzzle is constantly applying pressure on the dog. To a dog this pressure is synonymous with correction. Many dogs will object to this constant pressure, trying very hard to remove the head collar. Some constantly attempt to remove it, others totally shut down, depressed.
Conventional head halters are designed much like a horse halter. It fits loose, with no pressure anywhere unless applied by the handler. The Comfort Trainer is a conventional head halter, based on the K9 Kumalong design by Alice DeGroot, DVM, who was the original inventor of head halters for dogs. There are other head halters available of this type such as the Halti, Holt and Snoot Loop, but all of these conventional head halters fail to offer the dog both comfort and stability. The Halti and Holt tends to slip off the dog, hence the need for the connector tab that comes with them. The Snoot Loop utilizes the concept of a knot under the jaw to keep the noseband in place, applying pressure to the muzzle in the same manner as the Gentle Leader.
The Comfort Trainer Difference
The Comfort Trainer is made of soft, hollow, nylon braid, the type of material in which puppy collars are manufactured. Other head halters are made of flat, nylon straps. There are no inside seams that might cause discomfort. The four rings on the sides allow the head halter to adjust to any facial structure, even that of brachiocephalic dogs, such as Boston Terriers, Boxers, Shi Tsu and others. As the nose band is soft and rounded there is no muzzle abrasion. It is designed to be worn fairly loosely, so that there is no pressure on the dog's face at any time other than when utilized to redirect his attention.
Comfort Trainer head halters come in six colors: red, green, blue, black, tan and purple. All Comfort Trainers have tan nosebands to aid in appropriate application on your dog’s face. They also feature more than 6 sizes, offering a size for every dog according to weight.
Head Halter Structures
There are two basic structures of canine head halter: The figure 8 and the conventional. The figure 8 has two straps. One goes around the muzzle the other behind the ears. It must be worn fairly snug or the nose band will move around irritating the dog's eyes and muzzle, as is the case with Gentle Leader head halters. In order to remain snug there is a clip under the jaw. This strap around the muzzle is constantly applying pressure on the dog. To a dog this pressure is synonymous with correction. Many dogs will object to this constant pressure, trying very hard to remove the head collar. Some constantly attempt to remove it, others totally shut down, depressed.
Conventional head halters are designed much like a horse halter. It fits loose, with no pressure anywhere unless applied by the handler. The Comfort Trainer is a conventional head halter, based on the K9 Kumalong design by Alice DeGroot, DVM, who was the original inventor of head halters for dogs. There are other head halters available of this type such as the Halti, Holt and Snoot Loop, but all of these conventional head halters fail to offer the dog both comfort and stability. The Halti and Holt tends to slip off the dog, hence the need for the connector tab that comes with them. The Snoot Loop utilizes the concept of a knot under the jaw to keep the noseband in place, applying pressure to the muzzle in the same manner as the Gentle Leader.
The Comfort Trainer Difference
The Comfort Trainer is made of soft, hollow, nylon braid, the type of material in which puppy collars are manufactured. Other head halters are made of flat, nylon straps. There are no inside seams that might cause discomfort. The four rings on the sides allow the head halter to adjust to any facial structure, even that of brachiocephalic dogs, such as Boston Terriers, Boxers, Shi Tsu and others. As the nose band is soft and rounded there is no muzzle abrasion. It is designed to be worn fairly loosely, so that there is no pressure on the dog's face at any time other than when utilized to redirect his attention.
Comfort Trainer head halters come in six colors: red, green, blue, black, tan and purple. All Comfort Trainers have tan nosebands to aid in appropriate application on your dog’s face. They also feature more than 6 sizes, offering a size for every dog according to weight.