Is My Dog the Right Weight?

This is a topic I had covered a while back, but I think it's timely to cover it again. I find more dogs these days that are overweight, than I do underweight. Part of this is due to activity level, but it's also because the dog may not have the proper diet.

So, what is the proper weight? I have attached a diagram so you can see it but here's a good guideline.

If you can see all of your dogs ribs, their hip bones and even their shoulders, they are underweight. Keep in mind, some breeds run leaner than others. For example, it's harder to keep a good layer of fat on a boxer, than it is a Husky. If your dog looks like this it could be as simple as feeding them more. But, wait, what if they eat until they are full and they still don't add enough weight. This happens all the time. Consider supplementing the dog's food with something high in protein and a little higher in fat. DO NOT USE OIL OR HOTDOGS. That's a huge no no. Hotdogs cause Pancreatitis in dogs, and it is very unpleasant. Having an underweight dog can cause a host of medical issues, such as organ problems, muscular atrophy and skeletal and structure problems. Again I don't see this often, unless the dog has been abused or in a neglected relationship.

Keep in mind, your puppies when you first get them will be a little fatter, then they will lost their weight, and then they will level out.

On the other hand, how can you tell if your dog is overweight. If you can't feel each of their ribs individually, with a moderate or heavy level of fat covering them, they are too heavy, and they need to drop weight. This is the most common thing I personally see, is dogs who are overweight.

This is a huge problem and is caused by over-eating, not enough exercise and or/poor diet. You will find most heavy dogs have lower energy, even though they have more food. Everyone, IT'S TIME TO CUT THE CRAP AND CUT THE FAT (yes, I am coining this phrase) smile emoticon)

Much like being underweight, being overweight is the cause of a lot of medical issues. It can cause heart disease, hip problems, muscular and skeletal problems. Both of these will cut years off the life of your dog.

For some, it's simple laziness by free feeding the dog. For others, it's a cheaper food and a bad diet, whether that be from a financial standpoint or the owner doesn't really know any better. Then for the rest, it's because they feel bad so they feed their dog more than they need because they don't want them to be hungry, or they simply don't know how much to feed their dog.

Dog owners. You are doing MORE harm than good by overfeeding and underfeeding your dog. Your dog does not need to have every rib visible to be the athlete you want them to be. Likewise, your dog doesn't need to be a walking blowup river tube to be happy and healthy.

Make their weight ideal, as seen in the diagram I have attached. You will find your dog is much much much happier if they are at the ideal weight. A good way to know if your dog is ideal, is if you can't necessarily see their ribs, but you can feel them each, individually, with a thin layer of fat covering them. Some of your more athletic breeds (Malinois) I keep a slightly thinner than that, where the only ribs you can see are their back two at max. But these dogs need to be in peak physical condition.

So in conclusion, let's either get our dogs better food, more food, or lets help them drop their weight if needed. I like food where the protein content at the low end is 21 percent. My first ingredient is ALWAYS meat product. Dogs are not vegetarian. Take one look at their teeth and tell me that's a vegetarian. I feed my dogs a very cost friendly food; Kirtland from Costco.

Kirtland has a high protein content (26 %), first ingredient is meat, and it's about 27 dollars for a 40 LB adult size bag. They have puppy food as well, as well as small breed. I will NEVER recommend something I don't personally believe in, and I believe in this brand of food.

I hope this helps everyone and I hope you found it worth your time to read.

Thanks all

Is My Dog Just Untrainable?

“My dog doesn't listen. I've tried and tried and tried, and my dog just doesn't get it. Is my dog stupid? Is my dog not able to learn something as simple as sit, down, or potty training?”

At one time or another, we've all likely asked ourselves this very question. “Why doesn't my dog get it?” I want you to take a moment, if you will, and think of this. Maybe it's not the dog. Maybe it's you. The owner, the trainer, the pack leader.

There is a lot of truth to how "trainable" a dog is. Certain dogs are more trainable than others. This can be based on breed, genetics, the dog’s personality, etc. Some dogs just pick up on things more quickly than others, and it may have nothing to do with your ability.

Having said that, a lot of time it's not the dog’s fault. It’s the owner/handlers fault the dog isn’t getting it.

I'm going to touch on a few sensitive topics of conversation.

I'm a dog trainer. I LOVE dogs. I've been around thousands of dogs throughout my dog training career. There has only been one dog in my entire life I haven't liked, and it was for good reason. If I come to your home or a class and I pet and interact with your dog, it's because I love them, and I love the interaction.

However, let’s pretend for a moment I'm a friend of yours, not your dog trainer. You've invited me over for a game of poker, or a movie night. I like dogs, but I don't care to have one. I knock on your door and hear your dog barking up a storm. I hear what sounds like a thunderstorm behind the door as you try to gain control.

You open the door, your hair in disarray, your face flushed, and I can hear your spouse or significant other still trying to put the dog in a back room. Your dog isn't aggressive, he's just over-friendly and likes to jump on people, or bark at them, or run around in excitement.

As your friend, I might laugh and brush it off. As your dog trainer, I'm going to tell you everything about that scenario is wrong. It's not cute or cuddly, even in small breeds. It's not okay to allow the dog to do it either. It isn't something you say "oh it's just the way my dog is" or "it's okay, it's in his breed to bark and play." It's a big word. This is UNACCEPTABLE.

But, as your dog trainer, I'm going to tell you it's not the dog’s fault. It's your fault. You have failed the dog. I know that sounds harsh, and I don't mean it to. But how can we expect a dog to act with manners and appropriately, if we aren't willing to take the time to teach them what's acceptable?

Now, I'm not saying you're a failure. I'm simply saying you have failed to teach your dog what's okay behavior. You have avoided the problem either because you don't care, you think people should understand or, most likely, you don't really know how to fix it. That's why I'm here. I fail my own dogs on a daily basis. Whether it's praising them at the wrong time, or not praising them when I should, or letting them get away with something and then being angry when they don't listen, it's my fault. I'm trying to be better and I'm trying to be the best pack leader I can for my dog.

I know this is what you want, too. I can see it in the care you show for your dogs and how badly you want to learn. It's not your fault you don't know how to teach the dog something. It's only your fault if you know how to teach them, or you know it should be fixed, and you fail to do so.

I want you to know, your dog is not stupid and neither are you. Dogs learn in different ways. They learn at different paces, and what works so well for one dog may not work the same or as well for your dog. However, with most dogs there is hope. You just have to find out what motivates your dog and use that to your advantage. Whether the motivation be to get a pat on the head, or a treat or simply to avoid getting a correction, they need to be motivated in order to do the task.

Your dog CAN be trained to be polite, and to be obedient to your command. It doesn't matter the dog, the age, the sex, the breed, or even their living conditions. You just have to be consistent with your training and simply do the best you can.

We at Maligator Kennels are here to help you with nearly every dog training need. We will never abandon you in your quest with your dog, unless you were to employ harsh or illegal measures to try and get your dog to behave a certain way. Your dog is trainable, as are you as the owner. That's why we are here. To give you quality training, for a fair price, in a personal yet professional atmosphere.

We encourage everyone, even if your dog is a master at simple obedience, to attend basic obedience or behavioral classes. My dogs go through some rigorous training and certification. However, every single week, I spend time doing some form of simple obedience, and they still don't always get it right. I would come to all the classes you can, based on your circumstances. What’s the best way to make sure the pack is healthy and the house doesn't fall? By keeping a safe, sound, well-maintained foundation.

Thanks everyone.

How To Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks

Well it's here. The time for fireworks is upon us. I've seen a few posts lately about how to get your dog through fireworks.

Do not. I repeat. Do not, buy a thunder shirt to get your dog through it. This is just like anything else. Make it a positive experience and a calming, soothing experience. Do not praise the dog for being afraid or timid. Instead, keep them calm, without offering any praise. Once your dog settles down, then you can praise and mark that behavior.

Make your dog work through it, without pushing them to their crisis point. Your dog needs to figure out the fireworks, noises and things do not hurt them, and it should be no big deal. If you have a dog which is in "freak out" mode, ease them into it slowly, making it positive.

There is no reason to walk the dog right up to the firework. Instead, start at a distance and work towards getting closer and closer, praising them as long as they are calm.

Thanks everyone.

Happy 4th of July weekend.

Wash The Dane

(photo credit: Kyra Prause Photography)

When Maligator Kennels first opened in November, 2014, we obviously had only a few clients (you could count them on one hand). I got a call from Brian and Heather Allred of Spanish Fork. Briefly, they told me they saw my ad online, and told me about their dog Wash. They both explained Wash was a Great Dane, only a few months old, and he was already over 100 LBS. They explained Wash was a great dog, he was well-mannered and respectful, but he got out of control when he saw another dog. Heather told me it normally wouldn't be as big of a problem, except Wash was a big dog and would drag her around, and she was helpless to stop it. 

I met both Brian and Heather at a park in Spanish Fork, Utah. As a way to assist them with training, I brought my dog, Sumo, along to recreate Wash's excitement when he saw another dog. I saw firsthand that a dog who's that young, getting as excited as he did, could be a problem. I told Heather of a corrective collar I wanted her to try, so we could teach Wash his boundaries, and teach him to be calm and collected around dogs and people. 

After a short few training sessions, we had Wash better behaved and walking with a calm, collected mind. 

Since all this, Brian and Heather have come to countless classes. Brian and Heather always work very hard with their dog, and they follow my and our other trainer's advice. Wash has now become Maligator Kennels' first ever CGC (Canine Good Citizen), and he passed the test flawlessly. I remember Heather telling me one day her goal was to be able to bring Wash to see troubled or sick children, as a source of comfort and entertainment. It's not every day you see a Great Dane, and they are fun to have around. 

Recently, Brian and Heather sent me this picture. They were both at a local car wash and they brought Wash with them. As you can see in the picture, Wash is a perfect gentleman, as this sweet little girl came to see him. This little girl and two of her siblings were feeding Wash popcorn and then the little girl pulled her baby brother's car seat over and introduced her baby brother to Wash. Wash was well behaved, was not rough, and was perfectly obedient.

This is a HUGE success story, and I am owed very little credit. I gave Brian and Heather some guidelines, training tips, and helped them along the way, but they are the ones who worked with Wash and got him to where he is today. Wash brings a lot of joy to my classes and he brought a ton of joy, as you can see, to this little girl. 

Good job, Brian and Heather. You guys represent yourselves well, and you're making a positive impact on the community with Wash. 

Russ

Maligator Kennels

Quick Tip: Patience is Key

A little training tip. Never expect your dog to be a quick fix, or suddenly be a master of obedience. All obedience and behavioral training takes time. Some dogs take longer than others.

I've set up my trainings and my classes to help "reprogram" your dog, for the long haul, not the quick fix.

So as you attend classes, your looking for your dog to make improvement. That's all we ask, is the dog be better when they leave, then they were when they came. We try our very best to make sure dogs leave on a good, positive note, and never a negative one.

Also know, I stick around after classes to answer questions for everyone and to give you my professional opinion on what issues your dog has and what we can do to better the dog.

Thanks everyone

Fostering a Shelter Dog

Alright friends. Maligator Kennels has been given a great opportunity in the community, and we wanted to invite you to help, if it's something that sounds interesting to you.

I was personally contacted by a local animal shelter regarding a dog. I'm not sure how they heard about us, but I'm glad someone spread the word. Thank you for that.

Anyway they have a 2 to 3 year old mix breed, who has been with them for a while. The dog has some severe aggression issues with other dogs.

They put the dog through a tempermant test and she failed. Due to this the next step was to put the dog down. However, they heard about my company and contacted me.

They asked if I would be interested in taking the dog in and working with her to see if I could rehabilitate her. It was no question. My answer was yes.

So I'm taking this dog in, going to be working with her extensively, and trying to get her tempermant suitable for a new shot at life, with a new family.

My hope is that I can get her to where she is ready for a new lease on life. I also hope this forms and fortifies a trusted relationship between the shelter and I so we can give EVERY dog a chance at a new loving home.

If you'd like to participate in her rehabilitation, please let me know. My thought is, she could go to a different client as often as available for a day, or a few hours and get to see a ton of new things, and have a lot of new positive experiences. If you're not interested, that's fine. We will still be taking her in, and working with her.

Let me know if you'd like to help with her rehabilitation. If would be a nice thing for all of us to work together.

Russ

SUNDAY TRAINING TIP: Barking

Why does my dog bark? What can I do to stop him/her from barking?

This was the topic I chose to write about today, because it seemed this was what most people wanted to learn about and/or were concerned about. There are plenty of reasons a dog barks. Let's cover them, and learn what we can do as handlers to fix excessive barking.

First let me start with this. No one should expect a dog to NEVER bark. This is a completely unreasonable request. It would be like expecting a child not to talk. Having said that, there are dogs whether by conditioning, or certain breed, which bark excessively. The first step in figuring out how to fix excessive barking, would be to figure out WHY they are barking in the first place. Remember. I personally believe in finding the problem, and fixing it at the root, rather than just dealing with the symptom.

Barking is one of many ways a dog communicates to you. It's one type of vocal communication and it can mean a variety of different things. Here is a list of some reasons dogs bark.

TERRITORIAL/PROTECTIVE: When a person or an animal comes into an area, your dog considers his/her territory, it often triggers excessive barking. As the threat, or stimulation gets closer, the barking can get louder and more frequent. You can tell this type of barking by the dogs body language. They will look alert and aggressive.

FEAR: Some dogs will bark at any noise of object because it catches their attention and startles them. This can happen anywhere, not just in their home territory.

BOREDOM/LONELINESS:

Dogs ARE pack animals, despite what some trainers will tell you. Dogs which are left along for long periods of time, regardless of where, can be come bored, and will bark because they are bored.

PLAY: Dogs often bark when greeting people, and even other animals. It's usually a happy bark, accompanied with tail wagging and the occasional jumping.

SEPARATION ANXIETY: Dogs with separation anxiety are some of the worst excessive barking dogs you will ever find. They simply bark because you are not right next to them, and this is a huge problem. The dog will show sings of depression, destructive behavior and pacing, along with barking excessively to get your attention.

So ask yourself this question, knowing your dog. Why does my dog bark? Is it because my dog has separation anxiety? Are they afraid of something? Are they alerting me to danger? What is the real problem.

Read those descriptions above and try to figure out WHY your dog is barking. Let me cover some of the most common ways to fix them problem.

Lets talk about separation anxiety. This is absolutely crucial to cover because I am seeing this type of barking more and more as the years pass. This probably more than most is what I see.

You need to let your dog be a dog. It's okay for a dog to lay on the carpet or the floor, and not your lap or couch. It's okay to leave your dog outside ALL BY THEMSELVES for hours and hours and hours, provided there is safety and adequate access to water. They will find their own shade.They will be okay. When dealing with this, it's absolutely crucial you NEVER EVER EVER EVER respond to their whining or barking. Don't try avoiding the problem with things like a Thunder Shirt. Those are a waste of time, and a waste of money.

Remember, timing is everything. So, if the dog has been whining or barking for a while, and as soon as they are done, you go and open the door or show them attention, they will thing they have been rewarded for barking and whining. So make them wait for a few minutes. 3 to 5 for their first time. Then let them out. Praise them briefly, but do not be over excited to see them. This will simply create a bigger need to be with you, and a feeling of "you saved me from that horrible experience."

Now lets talk about barking out of fear, or sudden stimulation. Another one of largest excessive barking problems I see. You're sitting out front on your lawn, and as every vehicle passes by, every loud truck, every dog, every sound of an engine starting, ETC. Each time this happens, you notice your dog barks. Maybe once of twice, or maybe they just will not stop.

Some of the ways you can fix this problem is by over exposing your dog to it. So while they eat, when they are really hungry, put a stereo right next to their dish. While they are training, clap your hands frequently, drop your keys, drag your feet. This is a problem of lack of stimulation training. They haven't been exposed to enough noises, and realized it's nothing to bark at or alert you too. Once they are calm, and have been, then reward them. When they are eating, if you need too, make them really really hungry, have the vacuum right next to their head and make them listen to it running, while they eat.

What I've talked about are obviously COERCIVE methods of fixing a few issues. There are compulsive methods as well, but as many of you know personally, if I can fix a problem by the coercive method, I will every time. I only use a compulsive method, if that's the way the dog is going to respond the best. You can, if you wish, always give your dog a verbal correction for barking, but be sure you know why they are barking first. If they are barking because of anxiety, all you've done is in a way, if not done properly, shown them attention, which does not help.

There would be no way for me to cover each different scenario, or each different type of bark, in a simply Sunday training tip. But I hope for most of you, this gives you some direction on how to help your dog.

Thanks

Russ