Posts in Category: For The Dogs

It’s that time of day again…the coffee is in your travel mug, the lights are off, and your perfect, angelic dog is waiting for your inevitable departure. You assure them it’s going to be okay and that you’ll be home soon. As you leave, you imagine your dog quietly drifting off to sleep for a day-long nap…

While this paints a pretty picture, and it’s not unreasonable to think your dog is pretty quiet when you’re gone, it’s also not accurate to assume they don’t get into some kind of trouble as they wait for you to get home. In neighborhoods around the world, barking dogs have the potential to disturb the peace. The result? Angry (or even hostile) neighbors who can make life very difficult for you and your best friend – but not when you have a back-up plan!  

If you’re just starting to train your pet, you probably have encountered the term “clicker training”. Positive dog training owes much of its success over the years to clicker training, but what is this popular method, and how does it work?

Clicker training is one of the fastest ways to develop a shared language with your dog. Not only is it a rapid way of training your dog, it’s one of the best training methods for fearful or hypersensitive dogs. Basic obedience is important to keep your dog safe, protect him from injuries, and prevent him from getting lost. It’s also a fun way to bond with your dog, give him some exercise, and keep his mind sharp which prevents boredom and unwanted behaviors.

Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital explores this popular training method so you can learn the basics.

All dog owners know their pups are smart and, for many, it seems like their dog really can understand what they’re saying. Although this idea isn’t accurate, animals can associate certain words with behaviors and/or consequences (e.g., “sit,” “walk,” and “no”).

Because of their unique understanding of certain aspects of human speech, body language, and even facial expressions, it’s possible to train your dog to “speak” in a different language. Using foreign language dog commands can be fun and may even be beneficial to your dog’s training and comprehension.

While it is ideal for people (and pets, too) to be equipped with all of their senses, we are perfectly capable of functioning without one of them. There are many misconceptions surrounding pets that lack full function, in particular deaf dogs. At Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital, though, we know that deaf dogs are perfectly capable of living wonderful lives.

Understanding Deaf Dogs

Dogs may become deaf in several manners. It may evolve slowly over a long period of time, or happen quite acutely. Sometimes both ears are affected, other times just one ear is involved.

If cats and dogs aged at the same rate that humans do, we’d be able to live with our best friends for much longer. Unfortunately, they age about 7 times faster than us, or approximately 7 years for every one of ours.

The good news is that with routine preventive care and early screening of age-related diseases, senior pets over the age of 7 years old are living longer, more complete lives. Growing older is a natural part of life, and with a proactive approach to senior pet health, special pets can live far into their golden years.

As with most things in life, once a decision is made you have to do your best to stand by it. There’s just no room to be wishy-washy. In the case of pondering the good ‘ole pets on furniture conundrum, it’s absolutely required to either allow it – or not. To avoid confusion and potential behavioral problems, there must not be a grey area. Now that that’s out of the way, is it bad if you allow your pet on the couch?

It’s Just Nice

Snuggling with your pet on the couch is one of the best moments in life. Both of you get the maximum chill time out of the opportunity, and your pet likely relishes in the closeness. Plus, they get the added benefit of hanging out in your favorite spot when you aren’t at home which, conveniently, smells like you. It’s also way more comfortable than their bed on the floor. Continue…

Dogs love to be with us, and they usually have boundless energy. In fact, they could be the perfect exercise partner—as long as you pay attention to some basic do’s and don’ts of running with your dog.

The Do’s of Running with Your Dog

Do check with your veterinarian. Before starting any new exercise program, be sure to bring your dog in for a preventive care exam. It’s important to assess your dog’s fitness level and know how to avoid any joint or muscle injuries. Continue…

If you’ve never seen a dog being walked on a retractable leash you might very well be living in a cave or under a rock. These wildly popular leashes aren’t really leashes at all, rather they consist of a cord which is wrapped around a spring loaded device and contained inside a plastic handle. A button on the handle allows the walker to control the amount of leash that extends out, allowing a dog to walk as far or as close as their human chooses.

While this may sound like great fun and freedom for both dog and walker, retractable leashes pose significant risk to the health and safety of both the dog and human who uses it.

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No bones about it: dogs are really smart animals. They’ve managed to live and work with us for centuries, in part because of their brains. By constantly reading body language and tones of voice, dogs understand us pretty well. Wouldn’t it be great if we could return the favor? Consider these 5 things your dog wishes you knew.

1. I Want What You Want

As a pack animal, your dog finds value in group dynamics – even if it’s just the two of you. They want to do whatever you’re doing, go wherever you’re going, and, if left alone, stress or anxiety might creep in. Destructive behavior can be a result of temporary separation, as your dog wishes they were otherwise occupied.

Keep your pup’s mind active with basic training techniques (it really does boost health and happiness!) and increase opportunities for exercise and enrichment. Continue…

They don’t call dogs “man’s/woman’s best friend” for nothing. Sharing your life with a dog can be an incredibly meaningful experience, but when that dog jumps up on all your guests, runs away at a moment’s notice, or destroys your brand new couch and favorite pair of shoes, that special bond can experience some strain.

That’s where dog training basics come in!

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