DogZenergy

Begging for Attention

2012-02-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

Dogs and humans love attention. Dogs love to be loved, looked at, played with and praised. Some dogs require more attention than others and some have been conditioned and trained to beg for attention. When I was a kid, I had a golden retriever named Sarah who would push her snout under my hand and insist that I pet her. She would stop at nothing to have me touching her, petting her, loving her and adoring her. I would always give in and pet her all the time, so the snout nudging continued and naturally the behavior increased. Oftentimes, a lot of 'bad behavior' is a result of a dog seeking attention. Instead of a casual, cute nudge of the nose, attention-seeking behavior might be displayed in ways that are often incorrectly interpreted as 'dominant' behavior. Pawing, jumping up, mouthing, barking etc., have been coined as being aggressive displays of dogs trying to be 'alpha dogs'. However, this is simply not the case.

Dogs are constantly being affected by their environment and also operating on it. The first time that a puppy jumps up onto someone's lap they are usually met with a cute, loving gaze and a happy smile from someone that thinks the behavior is adorable. The puppy learns that jumping up gets him attention and adoration. Something that is good and pleasurable, so the behavior is being rewarded meaning that it will increase. Eventually the puppy grows up into a 70 lb. exuberant 10 month old youngster and the jumping up in someone's lap is considered bad, dominant behavior that should be harshly corrected with a jerk on a leash. The punishment doesn't often work however, because one person may harshly punish the puppy, but then the next person might still think it's cute, so the puppy becomes confused and anxiety may set in. It's the owner's responsibility to realize that the puppy was taught one thing and now there are new expectations. The owner must start training himself to only pet the puppy when he is sitting. Something I like to call Sit-for-Pets. If the puppy jumps it's important to turn your back to your puppy and not look at him until he is calm enough for you to ask him to sit. As soon as he's sitting, then you can turn around and pet him while telling him, "Good sit!". If your dog is capable of bowling over people and scratching their legs up, it's important to manage the first part of the training by stepping on a leash and asking people to not give your giant, lovable, jumping pup any attention until he calms down and sits. As soon as he sits, they can give him all the love and attention in the world. Then the puppy will be rewarded with good positive attention instead of the puppy turning into giant jumping bean who is begging for attention regardless if it's positive or negative attention.

Pawing, mouthing, barking, whining and other behaviors along these lines, are all inventive ways that dogs have used to elicit attention from their owners. People who push their dog away and say their dog's name followed by a no all the time, are all giving in to what their dog wants- attention! Even if it's negative attention they are happy. Just looking at them makes them happy. Just saying their name is attention. As a result, the behavior will continue and sometimes even get worse.

So, how do you extinguish unwanted attention seeking behaviors? Simply by ignoring it altogether. I know, I know this can be very, very difficult. It's no fun to have a giant great dane pawing you with his big ol' paw or a whiny poodle sit there crying at you. But you have to stick to your guns and be consistent. The other very important part of the equation is to identify and understand what your dog needs. Does your dog need to go outside to go potty, is he hungry, is he not well-exercised, is he not feeling well, etc.? Before the attention seeking behaviors start happening, make sure that all of your dog's basic needs have been met. Then it's very important to ask yourself, "How can I show my dog what I want him to do instead?". For example, if your dog chews on anything in sight or jumps in your lap when you're trying to watch TV, make sure that your dog has been well-exercised and mentally stimulated that day, and then teach your dog to go to his spot, 'settle', and reward him with praise, treats or a bully stick for staying on his bed. You can also click and treat your dog anytime that your dog is just laying there. Imagine that! Treating your dog for just relaxing! Too often we forget to reward calm behavior and instead we give too much attention to bad behavior. Humans have a 'bad' habit of having a negative bias, meaning we tend to give too much attention to negative things and we often overlook positive, good or comfortable things.

The other day, I realized that I was being an 'attention-seeking dog'. The waves had been really good all weekend and as a result, I didn't see much of my boyfriend. He was either surfing or working all weekend, so poor little needy me got a little grouchy. I put on a pouty face and decided to not be very pleasant when my boyfriend needed me to do him a favor. He had no idea why I was upset and responded with negative attention, "What's the matter with you?". I realized that I was almost happy because of the negative attention! "No wonder so many couples get into arguments", I thought to myself. It's simply another way of getting attention. Realizing that I was being an attention-seeking dog (aka a bitch), I decided to communicate my frustration and turn it into a positive experience instead. "I'm sorry, I just realized that I've missed you this weekend, and I would love to go on a date with you tonight when you have some time, " I told him. All of a sudden, the whole mood changed and my loving boyfriend said, "Of course!", and we ended up going out that night and had a wonderful conversation over a yummy dinner. I got the positive attention that I was begging for and my boyfriend got a pleasant girlfriend rather than a bitchy one. Problem solved due to positive, effective communication! You can train yourself, your boyfriend and your dog with positive reinforcement training!

Happy training!

Zen Dog of the Month- Luca!

2012-02-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

Labrador retrievers are known for their amazing good looks, lovability, sweetness, happiness and exuberance for life. They are #1 on the AKC's most popular dog list for a reason. Labs have not only been our loyal companion and family dogs for a very long time, but they have also been bred to be bird retrievers that are made to hunt, run and swim all day by their owner's side. The old English lab has been bred to be a little more on the mellow side, but the American field lab has been bred to be very athletic and full of energy with longer legs. Labs make such wonderful pets, but it's very important to understand that they need a lot of exercise, off-leash fun and play time with other doggy pals.

This month's Zen Dog Award goes to Luca! Luca is a very lovable, sweet, exuberant, happy lab with a lot of energy that needed to be redirected into zenergy! Luca's dedicated owners, Sal and Chris, called us to help him out with Luca's hyperactivity, pulling on the leash, chewing and destructive behaviors. One of the first sessions that we had together, Sal asked me, "Is Luca one of the most out of control dogs that you've ever worked with?". "Not at all, he's not a bad dog in the least bit," I responded.

Luca is a very big, ten month old puppy who has been very loved, but has been cooped up in the house a little too much. Like any lab, he just needed outlets for his built up energy. Chewing up his beds, towels, glasses and anything else that he could get a hold of was a fun way to keep himself entertained and to get a lot of attention. A well-exercised puppy learns that outside time is a chance to get out all of his or her crazy energy, and that inside time is for laying around and chilling. Off-leash play, playing fetch, wrestling with other puppies and lots of walks and jogs are perfect for unleashing your pup's pent up energy. If your puppy grows up without these activities, they are being 'trained' to be hyperactive, antsy, impulsive and destructive because they are not getting conditioned to being lazy and mellow in the house. It's like a pot of boiling water with a lid on it, the steam will eventually put pressure on the lid and everything will boil over. The energy has to go somewhere, and if you let a puppy decide how they want to expend it, they will most likely do it in a way that you don't approve of- eating furniture, shredding paper, ruining window blinds, etc.

Luca needed to let off steam, but in order to do this, we had to teach him all of the basic commands and capture his attention and focus so that we would be able to take him off-leash to really run. His owners had already done a good job of teaching him 'sit', 'watch' and 'leave it', so we expanded upon these commands by adding in distractions and working on these commands outside. We also taught him what the clicker means and used it to teach him 'down', 'stay', 'go to your bed', 'heel' and 'back'. Doing lots and lots of 'down-stays', 'leave it', and long 'watches' have turned the bouncy, impulsive Luca into a dog who is learning to look to us for permission to be given access to things that he wants instead of just lunging for it and pulling with all of his might to get to it. With lots of patience and counter-conditioning, Luca has learned that pulling gets him nowhere and that if he pulls we will stop and 'be a tree', until he calms down, heels by our side and looks up at us. With his owners' dedication, his walking has improved tremendously, however, we are still working on keeping calm when he sees other dogs. The first time that we ever walked him towards the park he was a wild fish on the end of a line. Now he's understanding that keeping calm will get him to the park gate faster. Now that he's going to the park and running around with other dogs, his desire to interact with them and play is being granted, if he stays calm when walking to the dog park gate etc. After he runs around the park for a bit, we do heel work in the field right outside of the park. We started out about 100 ft. away from the dog park because that's as far as he could tolerate and still give us attention. After four sessions, he's able to walk in a heel along the side walk with all of the other dogs on the other side of the fence. For Mr. Luca, this is a very big accomplishment. It's so fun to watch his progress and to see his owner really put in the effort. Luca absolutely loves going to the park and running huge circles with his nose to the ground looking for tennis balls. Even though he hasn't had a ton of socialization with other pups, he avoids confrontation and enjoys their company. He doesn't really know how to play with other dogs, but we have been encouraging the behavior anytime he shows interest in another dog. He loves doing what labs do best- playing a good game of fetch! However, instead of just chasing the ball and bringing it back over and over, he has to work for the ball by doing a sit-stay, down-stay, heel, watch etc., before we throw the ball for him. Our next goal is to take Luca to dog beach so that he can really be a lab and jump around in the water!

The most rewarding part of the whole positive reinforcement training experience is watching dogs and their owners create a fun, trusting, positive relationship with one another. Sal and Luca are best buddies and now instead of Sal getting frustrated with him, he's able to communicate with him and resolve unwanted behaviors with understanding and patience. It's so wonderful working with dog owners who really want to learn and be trained so that they can give their dogs their best effort. Sal and his wife, Chris, love Luca so very much and they have been so great to work with. It makes me love my job even more than I already do!

Keep up the great work Sal, Chris and Luca! Just remember, a tired dog (mentally and physically) is a good dog and a good is a Zen dog. Happy training! : )

How to say "No!" to your dog by saying "Yes!"

2012-01-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's our egos and our top of the food chain attitude, but sometimes people forget that we are in fact animals. Humans have a very top to bottom approach to viewing life, people, success and growth. We are hierarchical in the way that we view relationships throughout our life in the way that we judge people to be better, worse, smarter, dumber, older, younger etc. This linear way at looking at relationships can be very detrimental and abusive to the way that we treat other animals and people. For example, the submission and dominance approach to dog training believes that force and intimidation, mentally and physically, must be used to "prove" that you are better, stronger and higher up on the ranks than the animal that you are working with. However, what if you are training a killer whale or a two thousand pound elephant? How do you expect to physically manipulate one of these animals? In the words of the 14th Dalai Lama, "Through violence, you may 'solve' one problem, but you sow the seeds for another." Yes, I can put a shock collar on a dog and I am fully capable of pushing, kicking and prodding an animal, and yes, I may get the animal to "stop" doing what they are doing at that moment, however, I choose to respect other living creatures and their right to feel pain and emotions. I'd like to see someone put a shock collar on a killer whale or to see someone put a prong collar on a big cat, without the animal turning around and eating them. I respect animals for having minds that are more than capable of learning, loving, and appreciating a relationship formed out of respect, mutual understanding, and clear communication. I choose to lead with patience and knowledge to truly connect with animals through positive reinforcement techniques, dedication and consistency. We can all learn a lot from working with animals with positive reinforcement methods. We can learn to approach life in a less linear, hierarchical way that is more fluid, interchangeable, open minded and loving. Relationships, not just with your dog, but also with other people can be looked at with different eyes that yield a whole new way of approaching conflicts, problems and discomfort.

Oftentimes, people ask me, "How do I say, "No!" to my dog?" or they'll ask, "How do I punish my dog for bad behavior?" I love the quizzical, shocked look that they give me when I say, "You don't have to say no, you just have to show." Take the time to ask yourself what 'no' really means. One of the many Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions is- "used to express negation, dissent, denial, or dismal." There is not a single definition having to do with how to communicate a different behavioral outcome instead. Does no mean to stop doing something, to look the other way, to stop barking, to stop pulling, to stop doing whatever, otherwise a harsh and horrible punishment will happen? For many trainers, yes. The word 'no' means that the dog must stop what they are doing or else they will suffer a terrible consequence. I say terrible because in order for a punishment to "work" it must be delivered with such intensity and force so that the animal never ever wants to do it again. Ok, so the animal stops doing what they are doing, but what about showing the animal what you want him to do instead? Forceful trainers will keep using punishment for every little move that the animal makes until they happen to get it right. For example, with shock collar training, the shock is delivered on a high intensity until the dog figures out how to sit by simultaneously hanging the dog up by his collar and leash. The shock stops once the dog is sitting. Punishment and intimidation is used to get the dog to submit. Yikes! Could you imagine if someone was pinching you as hard as they could until you figured out an algebra problem? What if they were screaming "No!" at you and slapping you in the back of the head until you figured out to solve the problem? You would experience a high level of stress and a negative association to algebra. You definitely wouldn't be excited to work with that person again.

Now take a big sigh of relief! There is another way to say, 'no' and there is another way to train you dog in a way that is enjoyable and highly rewarding for both you and your dog. First off, you must learn how to train yourself to be highly observant and attuned to your dog's behaviors. For example, if you know that your puppy likes to sneak off to chew on a certain table leg, be aware of your puppy heading off in the direction with that yummy leg in mind. If your dog has a habit of lunging at other dogs on leash, be observant of your surroundings and anticipate your dog's behavior at certain distances. If your puppy pees when you come in the door when he first sees you, take note and decide to stay calm and ignore him until he calms down. So many behaviors can be prevented and avoided if only humans were a little more mindful of their actions, environment and their dog's basic psychology. Again, in the words of the Dalai Lama, "First one must change. I first watch myself, check myself, then expect changes from others."

Secondly, teach your puppy or dog to give you attention when you give an interrupter signal. An interrupter signal is a noise that gets your dog's attention. The kissy noise or a clucking noise with your tongue is a universal attention grabbing noise for dogs. Try it. I guarantee you your dog will look up at you. As soon as he does, say, "Good!" and toss him a treat on the floor. Before you dog has time to look back up at you for another treat, kiss or cluck again and as soon as he looks at you say, "Good look!" and drop another treat. Do this several times and then start attaching a cue, "Look!" and then reward again. You can also do this same exercise with a a quick clap of your hands. Don't do it too loud. You don't want to scare your dog. Now, the next time that your puppy starts heading over to chew on your furniture, bust out your super duper kissy noise! As soon as your puppy stops and looks at you say, "Good look!" and then walk in the opposite direction of the one that your puppy was heading in. Encourage him to follow you and then say, "Where's your toy?" and encourage him to pick up a chew toy in his mouth that's his. The idea is to not just blabber "No!" all the time, but to teach your dog that he is more than welcome to chew on all things that are his.

So what if you do catch your puppy with your favorite shoe in his mouth? Exercise your Zen buddhist meditations and take a deep breath. Sorry, but you were the one who left your fav Ferragamo on the floor. There is another universal interrupter noise that people use with other humans and animals all the time, "Uh-uh!". It kind of sounds like a dolphin noise. Your puppy will stop chewing on your shoe for a moment, then grab a chew toy and ask him to "drop it". As soon as your puppy drops it, say "Good drop it!" and then give it the toy to your dog. Take your favorite shoe away and put it away where your teething puppy can't get a hold of it. Once you've taught your puppy the command for "leave it", you can proof your shoes and other personal items to ensure that your puppy knows that human things are off limits.

It's all about taking the time and energy to teach and show your dog or puppy how you want him to live your human environment. It's only fair to realize that we are asking a lot out of these wonderful companion animals to live a fairly unnatural lifestyle by living in apartments and/or small yards with no freedom to run and play at will. Following your puppy around and barking "No!" at him will only turn you into a blabbering Peanuts character. You'll start to sound something like this... "Wawawhahah...No!...wawa wa wa...Bruno! No!...wa wawa" etc. Your dog will not take you seriously and will not be learning what to do instead. Use your brain to train and exercise patience and control. People that use physical intimidation in response to bad behavior are usually delivering it at all the wrong times and are using knee-jerk neanderthal moves to force their dogs into "submission" or in other words, into a dog that is too scared to move for fear that something bad will happen to them.

Using positive reinforcement techniques, you can train anything! Chickens, whales, horses, cheetahs, dogs, etc. Right now I'm training my bunny Bob using a clicker and carrots. The beautiful part about it is that it builds trust, communication and respect between you and your pet. Say "Yes!" to your dog and let the journey of positive reinforcement begin!

Daisy and Bob

Living Free, Happily and Naturally

2012-01-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

Laying in the grass with my dog is one of my most fondest and itchiest childhood memories. I remember being a little girl who loved to lay in the sun, gazing into my beloved golden retriever's eyes. We would lay there for what seemed like hours with our paws together stretched out on our sides. I wished so badly that we could have had a conversation together, but at the same time, I felt like she knew exactly what I was thinking and that I knew exactly what she was thinking- that life is very good laying in the sun together. Sarah and I were inseparable. Everywhere I went she was by my side like a little guardian angel. My best friend Stephanie and I would play all day outside, and we would have our dogs only a few yards away at all times. Whether they were snacking on avocados from the grove or digging in the dirt or sleeping in the shade, Duchess and Sarah always had one eye on us at all times. We would dress them up in cowgirl clothes, we would jump them over our homemade agility jumps, and we would go swimming in the creek. Our favorite thing to do was run full speed back and forth across Stephanie's field with the dogs racing to keep up with us.

Our dogs lived freely on our family's little ranches and they never had any fences or leashes to keep them restricted. They lived naturally, doing what dogs do best, playing, sleeping, running, rolling, eating, running, exploring, running, walking, swimming, napping, loving and watching. Our dogs never had any "behavioral problems" because they were not confined and were able to be real live dogs. Sarah, Stephanie and Duchess, were my best friends and taught me so much about how to play, laugh and be free. The four of us were so happy running all day together and taking naps on the grass in the sun. We had so much fun together and enjoyed each other's company without any stresses, time constraints, worries or fears.

Fast forward twenty years, and I'm still best friends with Stephanie, but now I have my own dogs, Daisy and Taj, who do not live quite as naturally as lucky Sarah did. Not to say that Daisy and Taj have bad doggy lives, in fact, they are very happy dogs who get to run and play off leash all the time at the beach, however, they live in a two bedroom apartment and don't have much of a yard to play in. That's why I take my dogs everywhere with me. They've been to the movie theaters, they've been to restaurants, coffee shops, Home Depot, bookstores, and anywhere else that I can get away with taking them in with me. They love car rides, they love any new place, and they love having their brains engaged. They are also highly street trained and can be off-leash pretty much anywhere (except for around squirrels at the Cove, that's asking a lot!). They have been socialized to death and I truly enjoy my dogs so much that I want them to go everywhere and anywhere with me. When they were puppies it took a lot time, training and patience to get them to the point where I trust them to go everywhere with me, but it's so worth it.

It takes a lot more responsibility and time to create happy dogs when you don't live on a 5-acre ranch with no fences. The more training and effort that you put in to teaching your dog how to live in your 'human' life will allow your dog to have more freedom despite being more confined. For example, teaching your dog street smarts so that they don't go into the street until they are cued, is extremely important and necessary for any dog living in a city. Also, by trusting your dog around streets and by teaching your dog a reliable recall, you'll be more inclined to take your dog off-leash to really run and play. It's practically animal cruelty to never ever let your dog run off-leash and play. The reason why most dogs have behavioral problems in the first place is because of having too much pent up energy. Dogs naturally need to run, sniff, smell and be FREE. Besides, isn't the point of having a dog is have more fun out in the great outdoors? Living unnaturally, for dogs as well as humans, creates anxiety, destruction, hyperactivity, and much more. A vast majority of 'bad dogs' are just dogs in need of space, freedom, attention and more fun!

Going for a walk on the beach with my dogs is probably one of my most favorite things to do. I love watching my dogs run huge circles all around me as they use their noses to track smells on the beach. I love watching them jump over the waves and crash into the water. I love watching them dig holes to China. I really love how my dogs remind me to have fun, play, and live in the moment. My dogs remind me to be free! To smell the ocean and to take a deep breath. Sometimes I'll run with my dogs as fast as I can pretending to be racing them like I did with Sarah, Duchess and Stephanie. And then I'll laugh and smile and enjoy every ounce of having fun with my dogs.

In fact, I'm going to go take them to the beach right now. I feel like being happy with my dogs in this very moment.

Body Language is the Key to Successful Communication

2012-01-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

"A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker." ~ Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C

Actions speak much louder than words, especially for dogs. Just remember, you can say more to your dog by using clear body language and being consistent than you can by using a lot of words over and over again with no actions. Train your dog to be a good Zen dog by learning how to use your own body language clearly and by being consistent with your intentions. One study shows that 90% of human communication is made up entirely of body language, with the rest being oral language. For dogs, 99% of communication is through body language and a mere 1% is oral.

Before people start training their dogs, they need to learn how to convey the messages that they want their dogs to learn in the first place. A dear friend of mine who was a key part of our DogZenergy team, followed her heart and decided to go teach English to children in China. A lot of her friends were shocked to learn that she was going to go do this without knowing any Mandarin. Right before her trip, Lisa and I were having a conversation and arrived at the conclusion that working with dogs for the last year prepared her so much for traveling and working in a country where she will not know the language. Even though our dogs that we take care of don't "speak" English, we "talk" to them all day long and a massive amount of communication, understanding and information is shared between ourselves and the dogs. Through body language, gestures, hand signals, nods, looks, smiles, shakes of the head and knowledge about cultures other than our own, we can all share so much with one another without even speaking the same "language". It's such a beautiful thing. Relationships can be created without words. Love, respect and understanding can all be created by conveying the thoughts that we have in our head through our body as vehicles for interpretation.

One exercise to try with your dog, is to run your dog through all of his commands without uttering a single word. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that your dog will know exactly what you're "talking" about. Take your dog for a silent walk with the intention to observe his body language with you and with other dogs, then make the conscious effort to "watch" your own. Do you shift your weight, tilt your head, use your hands, rest on your hip, crouch down or step towards your dog when you ask him to do different things? What works and what doesn't? Are you smiling, nodding, making eye contact, petting, or acting happy? Does your dog look at you more when you are happy? Your dog is an expert in reading your body language, therefore it is extremely important that you are conscious of the way that you are using it.

Oftentimes, in training sessions, I have to remind the dog's human to watch my body language rather than just staring at their dog. It's not that I have a big ego and I want people to stare at me (awkward!), but if the owner is not watching to see what I am doing to get his or her dog to respond the way that I want them to, they will be missing out on the key component of the training process. Little kids are much easier to teach when it comes to dog training, because they are much more used to watching and mimicking adults' body language.

Be mindful of the information that your body language is portraying and change it if you are not getting the results that you want. Be mindful of the thoughts that you have because they will be read all over your body language. For example, if you are trying to work on your dog's negative reaction to other dogs while on leash, be very careful about how you think about seeing other dogs, otherwise your body language will follow- sucking in your breath, clutching the leash, pulling your dog back- which all contribute to an increased stress response for your dog.

In the words of Buddha, "The wise have mastered the Body, words and mind. They are the true masters."

Zen Dog Art

2012-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

There is nothing better than a paintbrush in my hand, the smell of oil paint and the relationship that I create with each and every dog that I paint. After staring at these beautiful faces of Zen dogs for hours and hours, it's hard to get them out of my head. I wake up in the morning thinking about all of the different colors and shapes and shades that dance around in my brain. How wonderful is it that a painting of a dog or a human or an apple or whatever is, is just layers of different pigments that create the images, feelings, and thoughts that our eyes absorb? How fun is it that our hands can create something so 'real' on such a flat surface? I find painting to be so fascinating, challenging and so entirely engrossing that it makes me so completely happy! The best part about an afternoon painting with my good friend, artist and teacher, Becky Robbins, is having our dogs lay by our feet in Becky's amazing studio. My dog Daisy is such a happy girl when her dog mom is happily painting. It's so much fun to do something that you love to do with your dog right next to you. Becky and her dog Murphy meditate together every morning. Murphy stretches out on his side completely relaxed, happy and at peace. Enjoy each other and enjoy what you do because every moment is so precious!

Snap, crackle, pop! Why is my dog scared of certain noises?

2012-01-10T23:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Zen Dog Girl,

This is Danielle (Wally's mom) we were in your puppy class almost a year ago now. We are close to moving into a house and once we do we would love to schedule individual training sessions. I really want to teach Wally that the street is a bad place. He is very good about staying close to me, but if he were to ever get out for any reason I am very scared he would go in the street. My brother in law lost his puppy about 6 months ago in the street because the landscaper opened the gate. We will definitely be extremely careful, but as a part of that I want to spend more time doing training with Wally.

However, the reason I am emailing you tonight is because Wally has developed a new fear. Any time we make a crackling noise he runs like the wind into the closet and hides in the hanging clothes. When we cook something on the stove, open a bag, or crack our knuckles he runs in there. He also does it when we put his food in his bowl, even if we try to do it quietly.

I am not sure what has spurred this behavior because we have only seen it for a week or two. Several months ago (about August or September) I roasted vegetables in a glass Pyrex dish, but I accidentally placed it on a hot burner, and it exploded all over the kitchen. We are thinking that may have scared him- but he has not been so scared of these little noises until recently. He is terrified of fireworks and thunder, which is understandable and we keep him away as best as possible. I am just baffled by this fear of opening a chip bag or his food bag, or cracking knuckles. Some noises, like opening a soda can he is not scared of. I hope you have an idea of what we can do to help him because he runs into the closet more than 10 times a day, just by us doing our normal things.

Thank You!

Danielle, Steve, and Wally

Hi Danielle, Steve and Wally!

So good to hear from you! Sounds like poor little Wally does need some therapy! We can set up a training session for whenever you like. In the meantime, here are a few things that you can start doing immediately. Begin by desensitizing and conditioning him to very "quiet" noises. It takes a lot of patience and time to desensitize dogs to scary, stressful stimuli, but Wally is still young and you are the perfect owner to work with him because you are patient and willing to do what it takes to make him confident and happy. Follow these three steps and Wally will be loving snap, crackle, pop noises before you know it!

Step 1: Even though it may be tough, resist all urges to coddle, cradle, pet and/or coo, "It's okay Wally!". It's our natural reaction to want to comfort our dogs when they are scared, but doing so gives them lots of attention for the behavior that they are displaying. When Wally is scared, he finds comfort by escaping into the closet and then probably waits for you to follow him there and tell him that 'it's okay' to act that way. His behavior will be positively reinforced if he gets attention for this. You want to make sure that you don't give any attention to his scaredy cat behaviors and you never ever want to follow him to the closet so that he can learn that tiny little noises aren't going to kill him. Also, make sure to observe your own reaction to a noise. By this time you have also probably been trained to hear a certain noise and then unconsciously look over at Wally worried that he will have a bad reaction to it. This small act may even be cuing him to react fearfully. Make sure that you always smile, be calm and be confident. When Wally doesn't display any fearful behavior to a noise, you can give him all of the love and attention in the world!

Step 2: Learn to recognize his threshold or tolerance levels to certain noises and then set up situations to work with him slowly by using clicker training. For instance, take a piece of paper, crinkle it a little bit and see what his reaction is to it. If he isn't startled, this is a good thing. You don't want to stress him out at all at this point. You want to start with a noise that he is very tolerant of and then build up the loudness based on his progress. If the piece of paper crinkling doesn't set him off, crinkle it, set it on the floor, and if he steps forward to investigate, you will click the second he takes his first step and then treat him by dropping the treat away from the paper so that he has to turn away from it. When he returns to investigate it again, click and treat away from the paper. Then crinkle the paper again and drop it on the ground. When he steps forward towards it, click and treat again. Keep doing this until he is able to walk all the way up the paper. Attach a cue to this, by saying, "check it out". Then you will be able to slowly increase the intensity of the noise by doing this type of exercise with other items that make noise. Make sure that you do not 'up the ante' too quickly and that you only proceed if Wally's body language is calm and happy. Look for good eye contact with you, tail held low and wagging, ears forward and not back. There should be no wincing, backing away, tail tucking or nervous signs like excessive panting, salivating or yawning. Set him up for success and just do a few repetitions a couple of times a day. You will have more success with several 5-10 minute training sessions spaced out throughout the day than you will with an hour long one once a day.

Step 3: Once Wally is feeling comfortable and confident with the slightest noises, start walking around your house making small noises like a small snap of your fingers, lightly setting a book on the table, touching a plastic bag etc. and randomly make the noise and happily say, "check it out!". Then nonchalantly drop several high value rewards (pieces of chicken, cheese, or any type of super smelly, yummy, soft treats) at your feet. Keep your treat pouch on you at all times around the house or place treat jars strategically around your house where you can easily grab some. Also, whenever you hear a noise that you know Wally is comfortable with, praise him and give him lots of attention for not reacting to the noise. Also, practice your basic commands (sit, down, look, touch, stay, leave it, go to bed, crawl, back etc.) with him everyday for at least 15 minutes. Get creative and play games with him or teach him a new trick everyday. Ask Steve to make a few quiet noises in the background while Wally is preoccupied with you playing the games. Build up his confidence all around and pretty soon Wally will be running towards noises!

It's great that you want to street train Wally and we will easily be able to teach him this during our session together. Go ahead and check out my article "Doggy Street Smarts in 7 Steps" for some helpful tips in the meantime. Looking forward to working with you more and I can't wait to see Wally's progress! Happy training!

Peace, Paws, and Love,

Zen Dog Girl : )

Update:

Thank you so much!!! We have been working with him the last few days and Wally is doing much better. Still nervous but he hasn't run into the closet at all! Thank you very much for responding! We will hopefully schedule a time with you very shortly!!!

Happy new year!!

Can bunnies and dogs get along? Can you clicker train a rabbit? Yes and yes!

2012-01-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

Living with two golden retrievers and a big orange cat is a recipe for lots of dust bunnies living in every nook and cranny of our house, so making the decision to bring a real live bunny into it seemed only natural. Last week we brought home Bob the bunny and now our lives are enriched with lots of cuteness, bunny poops, laughs and constant entertainment.

I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous at first about introducing Bob to my dog Daisy. Daisy has a high prey drive and has been known to chase a squirrel or two. However, with clicker training, the proper setup and a few positive training sessions, it's more than possible to have a peaceful, multi-species household. The first step to introducing new animals into a household is to "manage" the situation safely. Your bunny (or cat), should always have they're very own space that your dog cannot get into that is dog-proof. Bunnies can stress out very easily so it's important to have a place for them where it's quiet and free of other animals. Next, make sure that you have an exercise pen so that you can have an area where you can sit with your bunny with your dog on the other side. You must also have a clicker and a pouch full of carrot shavings. Luckily, my dog Daisy loves carrots as much as Bob the bunny does.

The first part of the training process is to teach your bunny what the clicker means. My goal is to teach Bob how to come when called, put two feet on my leg when I'm sitting, jump up into my lap, stand on his back legs, and go to a book and sit on it. These tricks are easy for bunnies to learn if you're using a clicker. I first taught him how to follow my finger, by clicking every time he hopped towards my finger to investigate it. Then I would take a piece of carrot out from behind my back and offer him a nibble. After one nibble, I'd put it back behind my back and then repeat the process. As soon as he started to reliably follow my finger and recognize that the click means he gets a nibble of carrot, I was able to attach the cue, "Come Bob!". In the meantime, as I was clicking and treating Bob, I had Daisy in a down/stay by my side on the other side of the cage. Every time that Daisy seemed disinterested in Bob, I would drop a piece of carrot between her two front paws. This was not as easy to do as it sounds, because Daisy was so obsessed with Bob that she would whine non-stop. It took a good fifteen to twenty minutes of down stays before she stopped whining and intensely staring at little Bob. For three days, the three of us sat on the floor a couple of times a day getting to know each other very well. Bob LOVES carrots and will do anything for clicks and nibbles. Daisy has learned to LOVE Bob because Bob means carrot time. It's a case of classical conditioning at it's best.

Once your dog has learned to "lose interest" in the bunny and once your bunny seems more comfortable with your dog, you can hold your bunny in front of your dog's nose and let your dog smell the front and back of him. Make sure that you tell your dog to sit and stay before you do this. You must always be in control of the situation byconstantly telling your dog what to do. If not, your dog will do what he naturally wants to do, which might be to eat the bunny. Tell your dog, "gentle" and if your dog gets too aroused simply take the bunny away and go back to working with your dog and bunny with the safety of the exercise pen. If your dog stays calm, let him investigate the bunny more. It's important to not let your bunny down at this point, because if your bunny runs away, your dog's natural instinct will be to run after him. Also, make sure that you do not restrain your dog by the collar and/or with a leash. Restraining your dog will only create more frustration toward the bunny. Keep your training sessions calm, happy and stress free.

After a couple days of desensitizing Daisy and teaching Bob what the clicker means, I was able to put Bob on the floor in a small room with Daisy and I. You can use your bathroom or a blocked off kitchen. Have lots of carrots and/or high value dog treats on hand for this big moment. Ask your dog to sit and stay and treat your dog profusely for staying put and for not intensely staring at the bunny. If your dog can't take his eyes off of him, you're definitely not ready for this step yet. You should be able to get your dog's attention easily and he should be happily staring at you waiting for his treat. It's okay if your dog casually glances at the bunny, but no staring allowed. Also, if your dog is food aggressive at all, it's very important not to do these exercises with your dog and the bunny without a fence to keep the two of them safely apart. After a few 15 minute sessions each day for two days, Daisy was completely bored of Bob and now lets Bob run and poop all over the house. Once I figure out how to potty train a bunny, I'll get back to you on that!

Today, we were all cooking dinner in the kitchen and Daisy, Taj and Bob were all laying at my feet patiently waiting for their scraps of carrots and broccoli. I couldn't believe my eyes when Bob hopped up onto Daisy's back and just sat there. Daisy just looked at me with her head on the floor probably thinking, "Seriously? A bunny? On my back? I better be getting two carrots for this."

Happy training!

How to workout with your pooch and get rid of your own belly pooch in just 46 minutes!

2012-01-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! Time to dust off the old sneakers and hit the gym again. Oh wait! What about your pup? If you're like most busy working people, you've probably been gone all day from 9 to 5 and your dog has been waiting at home patiently waiting for you to have some fun with him. It's a dog owner's dilemma- hit the gym or walk the dog?

Now you can do both! Instead of going to the gym (cancel that expensive membership now! You probably don't get your money's worth anyway, if you're anything like me) grab two leashes, one for your dog and one for yourself (instant jump rope!) and take your dog out for a workout. It's best to use a leash that snaps around your waist or around a pole while you do sit ups and pushups. That's all you need! Two leashes, your dog, and sneakers.

The best part about working out with your dog is that at least one of you will be having a good time. So even if you don't like working out, your workout partner will and you'll be happy because at least he's having fun. Plus, an added motivation is a more well behaved dog on top of losing all of those ghastly extra holiday pounds. Dogs also make you run faster because there's no holding back for a dog on the run. So many smells! Excitement around every corner! Try to race your dog for 10 minutes and the L-Bs will melt off your body.

A lot of dogs like to run super fast, and then conk out for a break by stretching out on some cool grass in the shade. Before you even think about taking a siesta yourself, get your booty in gear and attach your dog's leash to a tree or pole by your side. Then push yourself

to do some sit ups, push ups, squats, whatever makes your muscles squeal for at least 5 minutes! If your pup is ready to get back at it, attach his leash to your waist, and do some lunges for 5 minutes as your dog sniffs along by your side and checks his neighborhood pee-mail. Lunges are a whole new ball game when your dog is trying to pull you off balance.

Now that your thighs are burning from all of those lunges, now kick it up a few notches by doing some back and forth sprints with your dog. Just give him a heads up before you switch directions really fast to avoid yanking on his leash. I like to say, "This way!" before changing directions with my dog. After 5 minutes of back and forth sprints your dog will be walking on the leash really well by your side because he'll be watching your every move and he'll be thinking that you're really fun and exciting!

After your sprints, go for a brisk walk and find a wall to lean up against to do a chair squat. Ask your dog to do a down stay. Your dog will be happy to stay after so many sprints, which means that it's a perfect time to train your dog to stay for a longer period of time. Try to time the both of you at the same time. Try doing a chair squat for 1 minute while your dog stays for 1 minute.

Next, put that second leash to good use and do 5 minutes of extreme jump roping while your dog is tied next to you on a pole or tree. Your dog will learn to patiently wait for you while being tied up even if something exciting is going on. Then find a bench or low wall that you can use to do some planks and dips for 5 minutes. Then do 5 more minutes of jump roping.

Cool down after your workout by walking your dog back home. Now is the fun "Zen" part! Get your yoga mat out or a blanket and stretch for at least 10 minutes. Your happy, well exercised dog will end up laying by your side as you both relax on the floor and decompress after a long, crazy day at work. You can be happy that you just killed two birds with one stone by exercising yourself and your dog at the same time! And you avoided all of the smelly, sweaty gym rats and awkward mirrors at the gym. Yay! Your dog will reward you with good behavior and a big kiss even if he is just licking the sweat off of your face!

HAPPY New Year! Resolution: Get happier with your dog

2012-01-04T12:20:00.001-08:00

As a dog trainer, I find myself having to say, "Get happy!" to my clients and they'll look at me quizzically and then suddenly break out in a big smile. Immediately their dog will start to pay attention to them and dance in front of them ready to work with them more.
What does it mean to "get happy" and why is it that dogs love it when we are happy?

Dogs are incredibly intuitive when it comes to reading our minds, moods and body language. They have been bred for thousands of years to be our loyal companions, protectors and best friend. They are protectors of our hearts and happiness above all else and lov

e it when we laugh and smile because it's a sign that we are having as much fun as they always have. We can learn so much about being happy just by appreciating our dogs happiness in every moment, smell, activity and interaction. I just wish that I could be as happy as my dogs are when it's time to play ball, go for a walk, eat dinner, greet someone new, play with a pal, cuddle in b

ed, roll in the grass, smell the flowers, run on the beach, etc. I really wish sometimes that I had a tail, so that I could wag a happiness flag for all to see!

What really makes me smile is when my dog Daisy is playing

on her back, rolling around with a toy held above her head with her two front paws, kicking her legs out every time she squeaks it. The harder that I laugh when she's kicking her legs, the more that she wags her tail and kicks

her legs out harder. Maybe our laughs are equivalent to tail wags? Whatever it is, her behaviors that are cute and silly are reinforced by my laughing, so she continues to do lots more leg kicking. She loves to be happy and I love it when she's happy. All animals and people feed off of each other's happiness and respond to it with increased happiness.

Positive reinforcement training means that animals or people operate on their environment and get a response that increases or decreases a behavior based on whether or not the response is pleasurable or not. We reward good behavior with anything that the person or animal likes or makes them feel good- attention, praise, food, play or access to anything good. Just like animals we operate on our environment too. If you smile at someone, chances are your efforts will be rewarded by a smile back, which will make you feel happy or connected with that person, which means that you will be more likely to smile at more people. You can train yourself just like you can train your dog.

Dogs have been trained to recognize smiles and laughs because they are usually attached to a reward- i.e pets, attention, a toss of a toy. When training your dog with the positive reinforcement method, you are enjoying the time spent working and playing with your dog, which releases good 'happy' chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that flood both of your systems and is read all over each other's body language. It is very rare to see an owner/dog duo using positive reinforcement methods who are not smiling and tail wagging. You will know that you've hit the nail on the head with your training when the both of you are smiling, laughing and being happy!

So start this new year off right, by getting happy with your dog and teaching each other a few tricks or two about being happy together!

Why does my dog smell bad? - 7 Reasons why

2011-11-30T17:43:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself calling your dog "Stinky" more often than not? Have you recently bathed your dog and he still clears the room with a malodorous odor? Here are 7 reasons why your beloved dog may smell funny...

1) A poor diet can result in not only a lack luster coat, but also a smelly oily one. A healthy, high quality, fresh, whole diet that is free of by-products, corn, soy, artificial flavors, and fillers will keep your dog in tip top shape. The Honest Kitchen is a human-grade, raw dehydrated food that is full of veggies, fruits and meat. It will dramatically change your dog's health and improve his smelliness.

2) Ear infections are a very significant source of stinkiness. Dogs with long, flap-like ears are more prone to bacterial and yeast infections due to moisture getting trapped in the ear canal. If you are going to take your dog for a swim or if you're giving him a bath, be sure to use an ear cleansing solution with a drying agent and towel off the area around your dog's ears and neck as good as possible. It's also beneficial to get into a habit of cleaning your dog's ears once a week to flush out smelly ear gunk and keep your dog's ears free and clean of stinky bacteria waste.

3) Old, stinky collars are all too often a main source of smelliness. To keep your dog's collar odor free, take it off when you bathe your dog and use a collar that's just for baths. If you do keep your dog's collar on when your dog gets wet, be sure to take it off so that it can air dry otherwise it will smell really ripe and will make your clean dog smell gross. Leather dog collars get especially smelly if you keep it on when your dog goes swimming. Clean your dog's leather dog collar with leather soap and let it dry before you put it back on your dog. For nylon collars, scrub with dish soap and hot water, and then air dry.

4) Anal glands are the usual suspect for a very stinky situation. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to anal gland problems than others. You can detect a rear end problem by watching for bottom scooting, and excessive chewing and itching around your dog's tail. Groomers and veterinarians offer anal gland expressions and can usually relieve your dog's uncomfortable problem. A healthy diet will help prevent anal gland impactions and keep your dog free and clear of a smelly situation.

5) Another common source of doggy odor is bad teeth and unhealthy gums. Oftentimes, dog owners don't even realize that their dog may be suffering from fractured or rotten teeth and it may be causing a lot more damage than just bad breath. Infected teeth and gums can affect your dog's overall health and may spread to the rest of your dog's body, not to mention cause a lot of pain and suffering. To keep your dog's teeth squeaky clean, give your dog plenty of toys and chews to chomp on to prevent plaque build up. You can brush your dog's teeth regularly and have your dog's teeth examined and cleaned by your veterinarian. For older dogs or for dog's that are prone to teeth problems such as Yorkies and Pomeranians, a non-anaesthetic pet dental specialist will be able to regularly clean your dog's teeth without putting them under anesthesia.

6) Don't forget about your dog's dirty dog bed. Remember to regularly wash your dog's bed to keep it free of smelly bacteria and fleas. Make sure that you purchase a bed that has a removable cover so that you can toss it in the washing machine. Molly Mutt dog duvet beds are perfect for keeping your dog odor free because you can fill your dog's duvet with old clothes and blankets. This way, your dog will love that his bed smells like you, but you'll also be able to throw the whole bed in the wash. Other dogs beds have fillers that can never be washed and may be harboring all kinds of bugs. As an extra bonus, Molly Mutt beds are super stylish and your clean smelling pooch will love it!

7) Your dog may also be rolling in smelly smells. There are a lot of predictions about why dogs love to roll in the grossest things. It could be that dogs are trying to disguise their dog smell with another animals scent to ward off other predator animals. Others say that dogs are trying to "keep" the smell with them as they track the scent. My guess is that while we think dead seagull smell is the grossest thing we've ever experienced, a dog may think that it's a lovely perfume that smells amazing. The number one thing to remember is that dogs will be dogs and you'll never have a dog that smells like roses. However, there are certain things that you can do to keep your dog healthy and somewhat odor free. My friends think I'm crazy because I think my dog Daisy is the best smelling creature in the world. I just love smelling her muzzle and cuddling up with her. She is my seagull smell.

To give your dog the most amazing bath, complete with all natural lavender shampoo, all of the supplies you need, a raised bathtub and warm water, head over to Noah's Natural Pet Market and Wash. Your dog will love the fun spa day and extra treats, and you'll love the fact that you don't have to clean up when you're done. Noah's also carries the best dog food around and their knowledgeable, friendly staff will be more than happy to help you find the perfect diet for your dog.

Follow these tips and you'll absolutely love cuddling up to your healthy, clean, happy, good smelling pup!

Doggy Street Smarts in 7 Steps - Teach your dog to stay safe and out of the street!

2011-10-17T16:46:00.001-07:00

You know the feeling- absolute dread, panic, sheer terror- as your dog runs across the street chasing a ball right into oncoming traffic. Chances are your dog will be completely unfazed as the cars whizz by him, narrowly missing him. As you recover from the near death experience, you start to think that there must be some way to teach your dog to never ever step off the curb again...

The good news is that there is a way to train your dog to stay out of the street without the use of shock collars and other methods of punishment! With consistency, follow through and a lot of repetition you can train your dog to stay out of the street and waiting on a curb until he hears a cue to step off of the curb.

There is more human training involved in the process than there is dog training. The first step is to teach yourself to stop at every curb, wait for your dog to sit and look at you, and then to always give the cue to your dog when it's time to step off of the curb. From this point forward, you and your dog will always be aware of curbs, pausing at them and giving signals to continue walking. You will know that you have trained yourself well when you are going for a stroll with your boyfriend and accidentally stop at the curb and give the cue to your bf that he's now allowed to step off the curb. ; ) But, man training is a whole other story! Back to curb training...

The second step is to 'show' your dog what you expect him to do at the curb. By this time you have probably already taught your dog to "sit", "look" and "wait", so now it's time to put these cues to good use. It's best to start with a curb in front of your house. Walk Snoopy up to the curb and ask him to sit. Turn around and then approach the curb again. Ask Snoopy to sit again. Repeat this several times and give your dog lots and lots of praise for stopping and sitting at the curb. Repeat this exercise until your dog starts to automatically sit when you approach and wait at the curb.

Once your dog sits automatically, say "Good sit!" and get really, really happy! Why? Because your dog's brilliant brain is right on track for learning to stay out of the street! Sounds easy enough right? But not so fast, there are a few more steps...

Once your dog is starting to reliably and automatically approach a curb and will sit without you cuing him to, with a flat hand out towards your dog, tell him to "wait" and as you step off the curb tell Snoopy, "Good wait!" and give him a treat for not following you. Step back up onto the curb and give Snoopy another treat for not stepping off the curb with you. This is the time to get very happy again! Why? Because curb training is fun!

If your dog steps off the curb with you, you may have to back up a bit and work more on "wait" without stepping off the curb. Or you may have to just briefly step off the curb and return very quickly to give your dog a "Good wait!" and a treat. But wait! What do you do if your dog does step off the curb with you? You can mark the unwanted behavior with a "Uh uh!", withhold a treat and herd your dog back out of the street and up onto the curb. As soon as your dog is back up on the curb return to his side and tell him, "Good sit!". Then try again and remember that dog training is all about breaking behaviors down into small steps that can be linked together through proper timing and lots of positive feedback. If your dog "messes up" it's more likely that you messed up so swat yourself on your bum.

Ok! So once your dog is happily sitting and waiting on the curb while you slowly step off, you can now move onto step three. Step three is to simply reward Snoopy with lots of "Good wait!" and lots of treats for staying out of the street and for staying up on the curb. Give your dog at least three treats (a jackpot!) and then extend the time that you stay in the street, then return to your dog's side and give him another treat. (Just as a disclaimer, there are no excuses anymore for the I-don't-want-my-dog-to-get-fat people. You can now use a Lickety Stik by PetSafe that is only 1 calorie per 10 licks or you can use the tiniest piece of treat (freeze dried liver, cheese, deli meat, chicken) as long as it is soft and smells good/bad depending on who you are asking.) By this time your dog should be extremely happy to stay out of the street and is happily waiting for lots of praise on the curb. You should be able to walk back and forth along the curb without your dog stepping into the street.

Step 4 is very exciting! Once your dog is automatically sitting, waiting and looking at you whenever he approaches the curb, with Snoopy right by your side eagerly say, "Let's go!" and make a grand gesture of inviting him to step off the curb with you. You can make your cue and your hand signal whatever you like. If you want to say, "Elephant!" and do spirit fingers you are more than welcome to do that as long as you promise to do this for the rest of your dog's life at every single curb that you two will ever come across no matter where you are. I like to say, "Let's go!" and point across the street because even when

I'm not walking with my dogs and I'm walking with a group of people, I don't get as many weird looks when I automatically accidentally do it whenever I cross the street. It's good to point across the street because it has been scientifically proven that dogs are very adept to pointing gestures and will follow your point and move in that direction. Praise your dog when he steps off the curb, but never ever give your dog a treat while he is in the street. After all, the street is a very bad place where no dog should ever linger, so good things like treats and playing in the street should never take place there. Once your dog is out of the street, you can turn around and approach the curb again, wait for your dog to sit automatically, wait and look up at you for his cue. Once these things happen, you can very happily say, "Good wait! Let's go!" and cross the street again.

Step 5 is to continue proofing your dog to stay out of the street using a long line of at least 12 ft and a few distractions like a ball or a toy. Walk your dog up to different parts of the curb and continue practicing the approach with an automatic sit and automatic wait as you step off the curb. Continue to praise and treat your dog profusely for choosing to stay out of the street. Then randomly drop your dog's toy in the street. If your dog decides to stay on the curb, give your dog a treat and tell him "Good wait!". If he goes a

fter the toy, tell him "Uh uh!" and herd him out of the street and take the toy out of the equation. Try again once your dog has calmed down and is ready to try again. Keep working on this until you are able to roll a ball into the street, have another dog walk by, throw hot dog in the street, dance in the street, and just about do anything crazy and distracting, with your dog happily waiting on the curb.

Step 6 is to wean your dog off of treats, which happens naturally because just the act of moving in forward motion is a reward for a dog because they are so excited to keep moving ahead in life to smell new things! Wait patiently for Snoopy to sit and wait at the curb and as soon as your dog does, praise him profusely and happily say, "Let's go!". You can even add in some running steps and run out of the street, which your dog will think is really fun and will teach your dog to get out of the street quickly. You can reward your dog just by telling him, "Ok, go ahead and allowing him to stop and check his pee-mail on the other side of the street.

Step 7 is vow to always wait at all of the curbs with your dog and to always tell him when it is safe to leave the curb with a "Let's go!". This means that anyone who ever walks your d

og must also know that you are dedicated to keeping your dog safe and that Snoopy must keep his street smarts in tact by always waiting and sitting at the curb for a "Let's go!".

See?! Curb training is fun and keeping your dog safe around streets is not a joke! But this is...

"Why did the dog cross the road?"

"He didn't cross the road because his owner trained him not to!" : )

Help us find Zeek to win free DogZenergy Services!

2011-09-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Our new DogZenergy dog, Zeek, is lost and we need your help! Zeek loves to run around La Jolla looking for his next big adventure. Zeek is about 5' 9" tall, looks like a goofy golden retriever, and is very hairy and smelly. If you or anyone you know has seen Zeek, take a picture and post it to our DogZenergy facebook page! The first person to post Zeek's picture will collect our lost dog reward. Zeek has been missing for several days, but someone just informed us that they saw him hanging out around La Jolla Elementary. Check our facebook page for more clues and you may just win a free one hour private training session with Brittany!

DogZenergy: Understanding Leash Aggression- Part I

2011-05-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

DogZenergy: Understanding Leash Aggression- Part I: "Are you stressed out about taking your dog out for a walk? Do you dread seeing other dogs on the sidewalk? Does your sweet dog turn into a c..."

Fun New Game to Play with Your Ball Loving Pup - Hide-and-Go-Fetch!

2011-05-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

This game is inspired by my own goldens, Daisy and Taj who would choose a tennis ball over a treat any day! They are truly masters of fetch and will do anything and everything to have a gross, slobbery ball in their mouths. They are so good at playing fetch that they have created all sorts of games to play with a tennis ball. Their new favorite is dropping a ball down a hill into the street so that a human will fetch it because they know that they must never ever stop foot off the curb in front of our house. It's pretty funny to watch a human chase after a ball with the dog waiting for him to bring it back! They have also invented a game called Hide-and-Go-Fetch that will mentally wear them out instead of just tossing a ball over and over. Daisy and Taj love playing this even more than running for the ball because they get to use their mighty sniffers to hunt for the ball. It's amazing how fast their tails whip around in helicopter circles when they are on the prowl for their most prized possession.

To play Hide-and-Go-Fetch your dog must know how to do a very reliable sit-stay so that you can disappear around a corner to go hide the ball somewhere. If your dog doesn't yet know how to sit-stay, begin by teaching him to sit and then slowly bring the ball to the ground. If your dog's bottom goes up, the ball goes up. It might look something like a seesaw when you first start. Your dog will quickly realize that if his bottom stays on the floor, the ball will be put down on the floor and you will release him to get it with a happy, "Ok!".

Once your dog begins to understand the game, add in the verbal cue, "Stay," with a flat hand held up. Continue to work on this impulse control exercise until you can put the ball farther away from your dog by taking a few steps backwards. Don't move to quickly and make it too hard for your dog because he will break from a sit-stay if he is too excited. If he does break from it, be patient and put him right back into a sit where he started. Be sure not to give him to ball if he breaks it, otherwise you are rewarding him. The ball is the reward for sitting and staying until you go to him and release him to go find it.

Once your dog is doing a sit-stay very reliably, start out by hiding the ball in an easy hiding spot behind a table leg for example. Then return to your dog and say, "Ok! Find it!". Your dog may need a little help from you pointing it out the first time, but the second time he will catch on and really start to use his nose. When your dog does find it, say, "Good!", have a puppy party and play a little game of catch. Then you can have him sit-stay and then go hide it again. This time make it a little bit harder.

Your dog's nose will love the scent work and you can play Hide-and-Go-Fetch inside and outside. It's a fun game to play inside on a rainy day because the stimulating mental activity will tire out a busy pup and mellow him out. Daisy and Taj are so good at playing the game inside that I have to hide it under blankets or behind tough to reach spots. Playing it outside in bushes and tall grass is a much more fun and and difficult challenge for them now. You can also use the same principles of the game to teach your dog to locate shoes or keys that have been lost around the house. Get creative and have fun with your dog! They'll love you for it!

Understanding Leash Aggression- Part I

2011-04-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

Are you stressed out about taking your dog out for a walk? Do you dread seeing other dogs on the sidewalk? Does your sweet dog turn into a crazy, maniacal, barking, lunging, snarling dog when he catches wind of another dog in the distance? Do you feel nervous, anxious, scared and frustrated on the other end of the leash? You are not alone. Your dog is feeling this way too.

Most leash "aggression" is your dog's response to his natural animal instincts. Animals have a fight or flight response to stressful situations. If a dog is in his natural state of mind- off-leash in a wide open space with the freedom to run and play to his heart's content- he will have the freedom to escape from something that makes him nervous. When dogs are on-leash, they no longer have the freedom to "flee" from a stressful stimulus so instead they have to "fight" and become defensive. Most people say that their dog is a different dog off leash and is well behaved around other dogs. Most likely, your dog is not mean and aggressive, your dog is stressed because he has no way to avoid a confrontation with another dog or person because he is stuck on a leash. For this reason, it's important that you do not label your dog as "aggressive". Instead, think of your dog as being "leash reactive", meaning your dog is reacting to an unnatural stressful situation.

Leashes and sidewalks force dogs to approach each other straight on, which can be read as a challenging, aggressive approach. In a natural setting, if two dogs do not want to interact with one another, they would give each other lots of space by passing each other in a wide arc. Off leash, watch your dog interacting with other dogs and be aware of the distance that dogs give each other in passing. You'll notice that when dogs want to engage, challenge or play with another dog they will hold eye contact and approach each other head on in a straight line. In a park this is normal behavior, but on a sidewalk with leashes, dogs can not continue their interaction normally and they may become stressed. Stressed by not being able to run away, stressed by being choked as they lunge toward the other dog, stressed by your displeasure on the other end of the leash, and stressed by the inevitable tangle of leashes that can make dogs panic. For this reason, it's important to give dogs space and be very aware of body language.

Follow these 10 steps to start walking your dog with happiness and ease:

1) Start at home with limited distractions and make sure that your dog knows all of the basic communication commands- sit, down, stay, touch, and heel

2) Teach your dog the command, "look" so that your dog is comfortable with giving you a lot of eye contact. "Look" should be used to break your dog's fixation and to teach him to look to you as his protector when he is feeling distressed.

3) Really work on heel and loose leash walking so that your dog walks nicely on leash without any pulling or lunging to minimize tension. Choking caused by the collar and leash exacerbates the frustration and distress.

4) Outfit your dog in the appropriate apparatus, either a Gentle Leader or Easy Walk harness depending on the severity of your dog's pulling and barking.

5) Make sure that you have a hands free leash that snaps around your waist. This small change can make all of the difference because you won't be able to give your dog any cues by tightening up the leash when you see a dog.

6) Load up a treat pouch with two types of high reward treats like soft dog treats like dried liver, chopped chicken or string cheese that can be fed to your dog quickly and in tiny pieces.

7) Be very aware of your surroundings, your dog's body language and the distance that your dog can tolerate other dogs before a freak out.

8) Practice sit/stays and "look" with your dog on all of your walks together. It's important for your dog to be in tune with you and mentally stimulated. The sit/stays will increase your dog's focus on you and will teach him to stay calm even with distractions around. You want to be able to tell your dog what you want him to do instead of leaving it up to him to react in the way that he naturally wants to.

9) Train your own brain to stay positive and happy whenever you see another dog. Lose all of the negative, frustrated, embarrassed, stressful feelings because your dog will read it all over your body. Force yourself to smile and use a happy voice with your dog. Shower your dog with praise and rewards whenever your dog is around another dog and behaves really nicely.

10) Be your dog's protector and build up your dog's confidence around other dogs. If you react negatively to the situation, you will only fuel the fire because your dog will think that the sight of another dog makes you angry with him. Your job is to create a very positive association for your dog with other dogs. Instead of thinking, "Oh no a dog!", you and your dog want to start thinking, "Oh good a dog!". By rewarding your dog for good calm behavior and keeping his focus on you, he will start to associate other dogs with goodies. Your goal is for your dog to look at another dog and to look at you with a wag of his tail. Wouldn't that be nice?!

Stay tuned for Part II of "Understanding Leash Aggression". We've just gotten started!

Dog of the Month - Ziggy!

2011-04-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

It's a plane, it's a bird, it's a lightening bolt- it's Ziggy! Ziggy is such a fast mover at the park that all you see is a black streak running across the park. Ziggy loves, loves, loves to run and is happiest when he's in motion. He has been chosen as our Dog of the Month because of his much improved behavior. He has been such a good boy and is one of the best listeners in the pack now. We are so proud of his improvement and we are so in love with his awesome personality!

About two years ago, I received a call from Ziggy's owner, Leslie about her impossible six month old flat-coated retriever rescue. Leslie fell in love with Ziggy's bright brown eyes and agreed to take him home. At home, Ziggy was a maniac. Ziggy was wound up like a spinning top and would literally spin and chase his tail like a crazy pup. He was constantly barking at everything, jumping on people, lunging and pulling on the leash, terrorizing her other two dogs, and only knew how to sit. Leslie was in tears the first time that we met because she loved Ziggy so much, but had no idea how to control the dizzying energy of Ziggy.

Our first few sessions we worked on introducing Ziggy to several self-control impulse exercises. We worked on leave it, sit/stay, down/stay, and wait. We also worked on attention and focus commands, like "Look!" and "Touch!". Ziggy was very distracted by anything that moved- people, squirrels, skateboards, birds etc., so teaching him "Look!" really helped Leslie and Ziggy with making eye contact and breaking his fixation with certain distractions. We also worked on loose leash walking to make the walks more relaxed and to prevent leash reactivity. We fitted Ziggy with a Gentle Leader and a leash that snapped around Leslie's waist, and then we worked on 'heel' and 'wait'.

Leslie has always been extremely dedicated and consistent with working with Ziggy and he began to improve because of lots of patience and love. Leslie is also very diligent about giving Ziggy a lot of exercise and making sure that they practice all of the tools and techniques that they were taught. Ziggy also joins the midday play group once a week for socialization and fun while she is at work. Ziggy has improved tremendously with Leslie and in our play group in the last year and we are so proud of them!

Ziggy responds to me so well at the park and he is one of the first to come running when I call of the dogs. He happily sits and does 'down' when I ask him to even if there are a lot of other dogs around and he no longer gets leash reactive on the leash when he walks with the other dogs. He also used to panic and mouth me when I grabbed his collar, but now he nicely accepts a collar grab. He walks very nicely on the leash now without a Gentle Leader and he makes a lot of eye contact. When I used to walk in to the house to pick up Ziggy for the play group, he used to jump all over me, but now I've redirected his energy into doing "spins" on command instead of putting his paws on me. No dog is perfect and Ziggy is still working on a few things, but overall, we are so very proud of the leaps and bounds that Leslie and Ziggy have made together! Keep up the great work!

Puppy Socialization Scavenger Hunt

2011-03-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

From 0-6 months of age, puppies are like little sponges that are willing to absorb as much information as they can about their environment. It is crucial that you and your puppy take full advantage of this window of time and socialize your puppy to all kinds of new places, people, pets, things, noises, sights, sounds and experiences. Your puppy should meet at least five new people, four loud noises, three new dogs, and two new places everyday in order to be one calm puppy. Your puppy should meet people who are round, tall, short, young, old, loud, happy, wearinga hat, carrying a large object, wearing a backpack, carrying a child, rolling on the ground, doing jumping jacks, walking another dog, jogging, biking, etc.!

The more positive experiences and exposure that your puppy has early on in his life the better. The puppies that turn out to be the calmest and most balanced are the ones that have been taken everywhere and anywhere that they were allowed to go. A lot of vets tell new puppy owners that they shouldn't take their puppy anywhere until he has his full set of shots. Unfortunately, this process can take anywhere from 2-5 months, which means the window of socialization is about to shut. Here are several rules that you should follow to safely socialize your puppy:

1) Put your puppy in a large beach bag or red wagon and take him on all sorts of fun outings.

2) Sit outside on a bench or at an outdoor coffee shop with your puppy in his bag so that he can take in all of the people and action.

3) Avoid walking your puppy in high dog traffic areas and common paths.

4) Don't let your puppy go to the bathroom where several other dogs might be going too.

5) Never take your puppy to a dog park unless he has all of his shots and is confident enough around other dogs to "hang with the big boys". Instead ask your friends and family to bring over their well

socialized dogs or young puppies that are healthy and friendly for a fun play date.

6) Avoid baby talking and giving affection to your puppy when he's scare

d. If you do, you'll be reinforcing his scared reaction to the person or object. Wait until your puppy calms down and takes a step towards the scary object. Then you can give him tons of praise, love and rewards.

7) Allow your puppy to explore at his own pace. Never force your puppy or drag him into a situation that he's not comfortable with. Be patient and stop to smell the roses!

8) Whenever safely possible allow your puppy to follow you around off-leash. Never do this around busy streets or where there may be other possible dangers. At a young age your puppy will follow you around just like he would his mama dog, so take advantage of this dependent age and your puppy will learn to follow you everywhere as he grows up.

9) Take treats and/or kibble with you everywhere you go so that you can reward your puppy for good behavior. Remember to 'show' your puppy what you want him to do instead of yelling at him for accidentally doing his own puppy idea of what he should do.

10) Ask all of your friends, family, neighbors, strangers etc. to help you train your puppy by having t

hem ask your puppy to sit and reward him with a treat. Your puppy will learn to love all kinds of people and to sit politely in front of people instead of jumping on them for attention.

Puppy Scavenger Hunt

Rules: Have fun and expose your puppy to lots of positive, fun experiences, places and people!

1) Ask the mailman or UPS man to give your puppy a treat for sitting nicely.

2) Find a gardener carrying a large object like a blower or a rake and see if he'll give your puppy a treat.

3) Take a car ride to the vet or groomer and give your puppy a special treat there without having an actual appointment.

4) Take your puppy to a dog friendly store like Home Depot or anywhere else you can think of that allows dogs.

5) Ask your puppy to do sit, down, and leave it with at least three othe

r people around you in a place that has a lot of action and noises.

6) Drop a magazine or book while your puppy is in the room with you and then say, "good!" and drop a treat right next to the object that made all of the noise.

7) With your puppy on a leash ask a child to have your puppy sit and then have him drop a treat on the ground for your puppy.

8) Roll a skateboard near your puppy and ask him to sit. Give your puppy lots of treats of choosing to sit nicely and look at you instead of running or lunging towards the skateboard.

9) Carry a large cardboard box or something like it into the room and praise your puppy if he doesn't act scared of it. If he is scared set the box on the floor and wait till he approaches it. If he takes a step forward say "good!" and give him a treat.

10) Find a tall man wearing a large hat and ask him to give your puppy a treat.

Invite some friends that have puppies or even adult dogs to join your scavenger hunt. At the end of the hunt throw a Puppy Party and invite your friends over to meet your puppy. Make sure your puppy has a great time, but that he doesn't get overwhelmed. If your puppy is tired make sure that there's a quiet safe place for him to take a nap without being disturbed. Overall, make sure that your puppy is going everywhere and anywhere with you and meeting all kinds of people and dogs that are nice and friendly. Have fun!

Helping Your Pudgy Pooch Slim Down

2011-03-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

You're finally ready to admit it. Good for you! Fido is fat. Now what do you do?

Are you ready? It's just two itsy bitsy teeny weeny simple steps:

Cut Down on Calories & Increase Exercise

That's it! Really? Yes, a pet weight loss plan is as simple as that. It takes some planning, work, and determination. But everything you put into it is an act of love towards your dog. You are quite possibly saving their life. According to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, between 60 & 70% of owners of fat dogs don't think their pet is fat. Just by reading this article, you are already ahead of the pack!

How Much Weight Should They Lose? Dogs should ideally lose 0.5%-2% of their body fat per week. See the following examples:

Dog Weight	Safe Weekly Weight Loss Range
25 lbs	1/8 lb. to 1/4 lb.
50 lbs	1/4 lb. to 1 lb.
100 lbs	1/2 lb. to 2 lbs.

Tips for Cutting Down on Calories....

o Check the Bag: Always look at the food packaging. Remember that the recommended serving size is for the WHOLE day. Not for each time you serve the dog food.

o Reduce Serving Size or Change Foods: If you chose to reduce the amount served, start with a 20-30% reduction. If you are looking for lower calorie food, be careful. Many "low-cal" foods just substitute in lower calorie carbohydrates. To safely loose weight, dogs need food that is high in protein. Look for "active weight loss" formulas. The first ingredient should ALWAYS be meat. Not soy, or corn, or wheat.

o Cut Back on Treats & Table Scraps: Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's total caloric intake. Yes, giving treats is fun. We all love that waggly tail happy dance around the biscuit jar. But there are other ways to show love and elicit excitement. Try rewarding with exercise, new toys, or extra affection. Try to only give treats when they are earned, not just randomly through the day. Try switching to lower-calorie snacks or start breaking them in half. Handing out table scraps can encourage begging, and human food is often too high calorie for dogs. It's best to break the hand-out habit.

o Small, Frequent Meals: Feeding your pet small meals throughout the day can keep hunger at bay. Try breaking the daily serving into 2-4 smaller meals. If you are leaving out a giant bowl of food for dogs to "graze" on all day, stop this altogether.

o Stop the Theif: Make sure your pooch isn't stealing food from the other pets in the house. Feed them separately, or closely monitor all pets during meal time

o Don't Guess - MEASURE!

Tips for Increasing Exercise....

o Start Gradually: Over-exercising an out of shape pet can be very dangerous. Start slowly and work your way up to your goals. Make sure to take your dog's current condition into account. A good place to start is with daily on-leash walks 5 days a week. Start with 20 minutes per walk and gradually increase by 5 minutes every other week. You'll be up to an hour in no time!

oLook for Fatigue: Make sure to keep a close eye on your dog. Heavy panting is a sign of possible fatigue or over-heating. On warm days, try walking in the mornings or evenings. Make sure to have water on-hand if you are far from home.

o Add In Alternative Exercises: Swimming is a great activity for old or very obese dogs because it's easier on the joints. Take your dogs along for hikes or walks on the beach. Schedule in daily games of fetch. Attend Doggie & Me Bootcamps. Arrange for play dates with other friendly pups. Hit up the local dog park. Anything to get those paws moving!

o More Muscle Tone = More Fat Burned

o Consider a Using a Dog Walker: If your own health or schedule are not conducive to regular brisk walks, consider hiring a professional. If you're concerned with the extra cost, just plan to use them until the extra pounds come off. In the long run, a healthier dog will save you money at the vet's office.

Should I consult my vet? It's always a good idea to consult your veterinarian before starting a weight loss program. They may want to test your dog for underlying medical causes of the weight gain such as hypothyroidism or gastrointestinal problems. They can also help you set a reasonable goal weight and recommend specific foods that are best for your dog.

It's up to you to stick with it! We know you can do it!

Is My Dog Overweight?

2011-03-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

You look in the mirror. You notice a little extra jiggle - a bit of dreaded pudge. There it is - that thought: "Oh, no! Am I getting fat?!"

What do you do? Ignore it...deny it...swear to cut out the cream on the morning latte...sweat it off at the gym?

Our happy go lucky canine friends are lucky enough to avoid these dreaded moments of self-awareness. Unfortunately, they cannot take control of the situation themselves. Humans (should) control the food and the exercise level of their pets. It's up to us as responsible pet owners to realistically look at our dogs and ask:

"Is My Dog Fat?"

Yep, fat dogs are cute. But carrying extra pounds can have extremely detrimental health effects and can lead to premature death. High blood pressure, joint pain, and increased risk of injury and heart attack are just a few of the consequences of ignoring those few extra pounds on your adorable pooch.

It's Important to Be Realistic

FromStopCanineObesity.com: “The numbers are startling. Recent studies show that while veterinarians estimate 47% of their canine clients are overweight, only 17% of dog owners believe their dogs fit that description.”

How do I determine if my dog is overweight?

Here are a few simple test:

Feel the pet's ribs. You should be able to easily feel individual ribs. There should be a slight amount of fat over them, but each rib should be distinct. If you can see the ribs, the pet is too thin. If you can't distinctly feel the ribs, the pet is overweight. If you can't feel the ribs at all, your pet is obese.
Look at your pet from above. Your dog should have a definite waist behind its ribs. If the waist is extremely narrow or if bones protrude, the animal is too thin. If there is no waist, the dog is overweight. If the waist area is wider than the hips or ribs, the dog is grossly overweight.

Pet owners are often shocked and embarrassed to learn that their pet is overweight. It's hard for people to admit that their pet has a problem. We see our pet's health as a reflection of our love for them. But becoming aware of your pet's health risks and taking control of it is the most important thing. Changing their diet and exercise routine is a great way to show your best friend that you care.

Stay tuned for our next post: How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight

Dog Beer for St. PAWtrick's Day!

2011-03-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, March 17th we'll kick up our heels (and paws!) in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. A little corned beef, some cabbage, and perhaps a nice cold beer. But what about your favorite four-leeged party animal...he can't have a beer- right?

Actually, several companies have created non-carbonated, non-alcoholic brews with pooches in mind. He'll be dancing an Irish jig when you break out one of the doggie beers listed below. Lucky Boy!

Specially formulated for the health and safety of dogs:

Bowser Beer: http://bowserbeer.com/
Happy Tail Ale: http://www.discountpetmedicines.com/happy-tail-ale-beer.htm

Just a few of the many brews out there for dog-loving humans:

Laughing Dog Brewing: http://www.laughingdogbrewing.com/
Flying Dog Ales: http://www.flyingdogales.com/
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company: http://thirstydog.com/
Sea Dog Microbrewery: http://www.seadogbrewing.com/

Make sure you're only serving Fido a specially formulated non-alcoholic versions! Or your best friend will be sick as a dog the next day.

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A true party animal never misses the chance to dress for the occasion. Have any St. PAWtrick's Day outfits in mind?

Do Dogs Chase Cats?

2011-03-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

I think we all know the answer to that question!

You have to check out this hilarious Geico commercial!

Of course, we know not all dogs chase cats. And many felines and canines are the best of friends. But there is no denying that some pooches live for the chase. Seriously, this is just too funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzFLWYF5hQU

Who's on Top? 2010's Top 10 American Dog Breeds

2011-03-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

The American Kennel Club recently published it's 2010 ranking of the most popular American dog breeds. And the Labradour Retreiver is holding strong as the most popular breed- for the 20th consecutive year! Labs are also the favorite breed of Canada and the United Kingdom. They've earned their top spot with their friendly demeanor, athleticism, brains, loyalty, and big hearts.

Check out the Top 10 American Breeds:

Labrador Retrievers
German Shepherds
Yorkshire Terriers
Beagles
Golden Retrievers
Bulldogs
Boxers
Dachshunds
Poodles
Shih Tzus

How does your pooch measure up?

For a complete rankings list go to http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss... A Fellow Animal Lover from La Jolla!

2011-03-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

Famous American writer and cartoonist Theodore Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, would have celebrated his 107th birthday today!

What does this have to do with DogZenergy? Quite a bit actually. Dr. Seuss not only lived in our neighborhood, but he was a devoted animal lover just like us!

Although originally from Massachusetts, Dr. Seuss moved to La Jolla after World War II and lived in San Diego county until his death in September of 1991. The UCSD library was named the Geisel Library in his honor.

During his time in California, almost all his works featured animals as main characters or trusty side-kicks. Horton the devoted elephant in Horton Hatches and Egg. The endearingly mischievous feline in The Cat in the Hat. The loyal pooch Max in How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The menagerie of real and imaginary creatures in If I Ran the Zoo. The aquatic cuties in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. It's clear how much Dr. Seuss loved animals. He celebrated their unique characteristics and showed how animals can bring out the best in us.

Thanks for the lesson, Dr. Seuss. And Happy Birthday!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

-Dr. Seuss

Daily Good Dog Training Habits

2011-02-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Training your dog doesn't mean setting aside two hours a day to put your dog through military style drills. Instead, think about how you can communicate with your dog throughout the day to teach him and show him how you want to spend your time with one another. Here are a few simple habits that you can start getting into with your dog that will make a big difference in your best friend's behavior:

1) Feeding your dog is the perfect opportunity to reinforce desired behaviors. For example, ask your dog to "sit" and tell him to "leave it" as you slowly put his bowl of food on the ground. If your dog's bottom comes up off the ground, lift the bowl up. His bottom should swiftly return back to the ground. If not ask him to sit again. Then slowly put the bowl down. If his bottom goes up the bowl goes up. Your dog will quickly realize that sitting patiently for his food will allow him to eat it faster. It will also reinforce your "leave it" command. Once the bowl is on the ground release your dog by saying, "Ok, have it!". Your dog will happily gobble his food down. Once your dog learns to sit patiently for his food, you can also skip the bowl entirely and hide little piles of his food all over the kitchen and/or house. Return to your dog and tell him, "Ok, find it!" and watch him race around the house using his sniffer to look for his food. Your dog will be happy to turn his feeding time into game time.

2) Apply the similar feeding technique to going outside for a walk. Life rewards are very important in training your dog because you do not want your dog to become food reward dependent. Anything that your dog desires can be used as a reward. For instance, if your dog wants to go outside for a walk, he must sit nicely and calmly before his leash is put on. Putting on the leash is a reward. Then ask your dog to "sit" and "wait" at the door. Slowly open the door. If your dog's bottom comes up off the floor, simply close the door. Then ask your dog to "sit" and "wait" again. If your dog is especially excited and crazy to go for a walk, you can use treats at first to teach him this concept by rewarding your dog for sitting and waiting. If you are very consistent with closing the door when your dog's bottom leaves the floor, he will quickly learn that his 'reward' of going out the door will happen more quickly if he calmly waits for your cue. Once the door is all the way open you can release your dog by saying, "Ok, let's go!". Practicing the "sit" and "wait" at the door consistently will teach your dog to be calm and well behaved near the door, which can also be applied to greeting guests that visit your home.

3) Teach your dog "up" and "off" if you allow your dog on your furniture. It's ok to allow your furry cuddle bug on the furniture, as long as you are able to tell your dog when he is invited and when he must jump off. By consistently telling your dog when his allowed and when he's not, you can also control when and where he can jump up for a cuddle. This is also useful when you're at a friend's house who doesn't necessarily want your slobbery best friend on the furniture.

4) Consistently teaching your dog to sit at all curbs is a very smart and safe habit to get into with your dog. It may save your dog from a devastating accident and will teach your dog to stay out of the street even if he gets away from you off leash. The life reward for sitting at the curb is hearing your release command, "Ok let's go!" and being able to move forward in motion again. Always say the same release command and always make sure your dog sits at the curb so that it becomes a habit for both of you. Your dog should begin to sit at the curb automatically and wait for your cue. This daily habit may just save your dog's life one day.

5) Along with your daily walks and off leash runs, dedicate 15 minutes a day to training games with your dog. Mental stimulation is so important for your dog's brain and happiness. It will also strengthen your bond and your dog will think you're the best human in the world. Play a controlled game of Tug-o-War, a fun game of Hide-and-Go-Seek, or a nose engaging game of Find It. Make it a daily habit to have fun with your dog!

These few daily habits will communicate with your dog throughout the day and make him a calmer, more zen dog who is happy to follow your consistent, fair rules. Dogs live for life rewards and to be able to do fun things so use them to reinforce your desired behaviors. You want to show your dog how to live in our human world and you want to teach him boundaries and rules for his safety and happiness.

Using Music to Create a Zen Dog

2011-02-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

We all know that music can change our frame of mind and elicit feelings of joy and calmness. But can it work for dogs?

YES! Extensive research has proven that calming music promotes relaxation and subdues anxious behaviors in dogs. It can also be used as a tool to re-condition associations and triggers to anxiety.

A dog's spectrum for music appreciation is different from that of a human. Dogs need simpler sounds. Classical music with slow, soothing, and simple patterns in lower frequencies are perfect. Try a music featuring solo piano, cello, oboe, or English horn. Make sure the composition is simple and requires minimal neurological processing. Pick out some of your own favorite songs. Or try one of the many canine specific collections available on-line or at local pet and music stores.

Follow these steps for introducing sound as calming therapy:

Introduce the music when your dog is calm state of mind.
Create associations with the music that are calming such as a light massage or belly rub.
Begin to use the music and relaxing touch as a reward for a calm state of mind.
Eventually use the music as a lead-in to moments of potential anxiety. For example, turn on the music and help your dog relax before a trip to the vet or on a long car ride.

Your own relaxed state of mind and body during the music therapy sessions are key to it's success. A zen dog needs a zen owner. Kick back, relax, and enjoy some tunes with your favorite pooch by your side. Ahhh.... I'm relaxed just thinking about it.

How Can I Get The Magic T-Touch?

2011-02-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

What is the Magic T-Touch?

This simple training technique (T-Touch or Tellington Touch) is based on simple circular finger and hand movements over your animal's body. Just a little time a day can help release tension and increase your animal's body awareness while building self-confidence and intensifying their bond with you.

Magic...Really?

Check out all the things T-Touch training has proven to help and decide for yourself.

anxiety, excessive barking and chewing, jumping, aggressive behavior, fear, shyness, resistance to grooming, nervousness, excitability, car sickness, problems associated with aging, recovery from injury and illness, relieving muscle soreness, stress, circulation, lameness

How Do I Do It?

Check out this short video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TellingtonTTouch

Follow these 4 simple steps:

1. Curve your fingers

2. Rest your hand gently on the animal's body

3. Use your fingers to lightly push the skin in one and a quarter circles, leading with the middle finger.

4. Slide hand to a new spot, repeat.

Tips:

Keep your wrist soft and your breath steady.

Make sure you are moving the skin, not just rubbing over hair.

If your dog seems uncomfortable, just lighten the pressure.

A Little Bit Extra

2011-02-14T18:35:00.000-08:00

Ways to Give Your Pooch a Little Extra Love Tonight....

Go out for an extra long evening stroll
Head out to the back yard for a ball game
Give an extra long belly rubbing, ear scratching session
Practice your dog's favorite tricks together
Snuggle time on the couch
Extra after dinner treats
Family game of hide and seek in the house

No matter how you do it, make sure your pooch knows they are your special furry Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day from DogZenergy!

Lovin' From The Oven

2011-02-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

1 cup dry oats

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup water

1/3 cup oil

1 egg

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Roll dough into a ½ "- ¾" sheet. Cut out dough using dog- themed cookie cutters (bones, fire hydrants, be creative!) or whatever you have around the kitchen.

Place on a non-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes or until Golden Retriever brown. Give them a "Roll Over" halfway through and bake for 12-15 more minutes.

DogZenergy Tested. Pooch Approved.

Kisses Guaranteed!

5 Steps to a Cuddly Puppy

2011-02-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

Some dogs are cuddlier than others and can't get enough of being hugged, kissed and held. Believe it or not, but you can and should train your puppy to be the ultimate cuddle bug so that your dog is very relaxed with being handled and loved. Dogs do not give each other hugs and they also like to have their own personal space. In other words it's very unnatural for a dog to be held and squeezed and kissed and even petted. Getting your puppy to love being loved is a matter of handling them often when they are a puppy and teaching them that relaxed, calm behavior will result in goodies, play and attention.

Here are some puppy handling exercises that you should do daily and often with your puppy:

1. Instead of feeding your puppy in his bowl, hand feed your puppy with one hand and gently pet your puppy with the other hand. Softly touch his ears and slowly pet his back, top of the head and chest. If your puppy is very uncomfortable with being held or is showing signs of being food aggressive, start out just by hand feeding him and then after a few times of doing this exercise, briefly incorporate lightly petting your puppy.

2. When your puppy is in a mellow mood, gently roll him onto his side or on his back and rub his belly in slow circles. If you have a puppy that

tends to play bite, put a chewy or toy in his mouth before rolling him over. If he wiggles and squirms, gently hold him there until he relaxes and then say, "good relax," and then take your hand away and say, "ok".

3. While sitting on the floor with your puppy, put your hands around his shoulders as he is sitting and lightly hold him. If he tries to wiggle away, just keep holding him until he calms down. When he relaxes, tell him, "good relax" and then say "ok" and let him go. This exercise is good for teaching dogs to relax and chill out, before they are able to go play with another puppy or greet a person. They soon learn that self-control allows them to get what they want sooner.

4. With some treats or puppy kibble on hand, briefly touch different parts of your puppy and if he does not try to mouth your hand, tell him "good!" and give him a treat. Touch his paws, tail, and ears very gently and reward calm behavior with lots of treats and praise. This should be done everyday. Incorporate brushes and nail clippers, by holding them out for your puppy to investigate and reward your puppy with a "good!" and a treat for not trying to put them in his mouth. Then gently touch your puppy with the items and tell him "good!" every time he gets touched and stays calm.

5. When your puppy is mellow after playing or going for a walk, pick your puppy up in your lap and gently hug him. Only hug him for a brief second, tell him, "good!" and then release him. Slowly you can build up the amount of time that you hug your puppy. The idea is to build up a positive association with being handled and lightly squeezed, instead of feeling trapped and nervous. If your puppy wiggles and squirms to get out of your arms, keep gently holding him until he relaxes. As soon as he relaxes, say, "good relax" and then release him.

Train your puppy to mellow, calm and happy about being handled by doing these exercises a couple of times a day. Avoid doing these exercises when your puppy has the "puppy crazies" and is biting and running all over the place. Place a toy or a chew toy in your puppy's mouth if he is going for your hands or clothes. Never play with your hands with your puppy because your puppy will want to play bite your hands even more while doing these exercises. Use slow, calm strokes when petting your puppy and avoid fast, scratching, or pulling type of strokes. The best time is handle your puppy a lot when he is the most calm. Have fun loving your puppy and make sure he gets lots of exercise before having cuddle time. Pretty soon your puppy will be the cuddliest, cuddle bug ever!

Puppy Love!

2011-02-08T22:10:00.000-08:00

Such a precious puppy!

2011-02-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Right in the Kisser!

2011-02-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

This is the art of kissing your best friend

Here's to wishing that this never ends

Kisses like promises that will always be...

This is the art of kissing-BEST FRIENDS!

-In Dire Need (lyrics)

How to Teach Your Best Friend to Give You A Smooch!

1.) Sit down in front of your dog or place them on your lap.

2.) Put a little peanut butter on your cheek (or lips, if you so chose).

3.) Point to the peanut butter, give the verbal cue "Kisses!" and demonstrate the hand signal, them let them lick it off.

4.) Hold a treat behind your back. Point to your cheek, say "Kisses", and give the hand signal. When they kiss or nose you, instantly mark it with "Good" and reward them with a treat.

Eventually, you can phase out the peanut butter and treats. Most dogs will learn this trick in just a few days. If you have a really shy dog, it may take a little more time.

DogZenergy is in Love....

2011-02-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

...with our dogs and yours! In February we will be totally devoted to you and shamelessly sharing our love. Stay tuned for all sorts of tales of puppy love, our favorite doggie Valentine's Day gifts, adorable pooch pics, and enough swoon-worthy tips and information to make your heart go pitter-patter.

And feel free to share the love! Pass along our posts to your fellow dog-lovers. The more the merrier in the DogZenergy family.

Turn Your Dog's Energy Into Zenergy

2011-01-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

DogZenergy is a portmanteau. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, portmanteau is defined as 1: a large suitcase and 2: a word or morpheme whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms. DogZenergy is not a large suitcase, but it is a word that I made up a few years ago to describe my training method. The DogZenergy Method revolves around the key notion that dogs have a lot of energy that must be released in positive and constructive ways so that they may live a more zen, calm and natural life. By releasing your dog's physical, mental and chewing energy, you will turn your dog'senergy into zenergy. Zenergy, meaning good, positive, calm, happy energy that is mutually shared between you and your dog so that you may fully enjoy your peaceful existence with one another.

No dog is a bad dog. A "bad" dog is a dog that lives in an unnatural and confining human environment and is a victim of a person who is either misinformed regarding his dog's basic needs or intentionally neglectful of his dog's natural functions in life. So often, people forget that their dogs are animals that were not made to live indoors confined to crates, leashes, gates, doors and windows. Dogs are made to romp, roll, play, run, breathe and experience the great outdoors. They were made to chase their noses, wag their tails and run happily along with their playmates and working humans. Deny a dog of his natural desires, instincts and needs, and your dog's natural, pure energy will build inside of him until it bursts out of h

im in ways that are not conducive to your brand new shoes and your custom ma

de furniture. Dogs that are anxious, hyper, stressed out, intense and reactive are most often products of their unnatural environments, victims of traumatic experiences, and/or deprived of their natural needs and instincts. Your dog's energy can be turned into zenergy by identifying your dog's needs and allowing him to expel is built up energy so that his mind can open and relax.

There are three different types of dogs' energy:

1. Physical energy is built up in every animal and creature. It allows us to move and feel, and talk and breathe and experience life to it's fullest. There are reactions within our bodies that are fueling our muscles and our brain so that we may move about life

and appreciate everything that it has to offer. Dogs are so full of positive energy that stretching their legs and running full speed ahead on an open expanse is one of their greatest pleasures. Watching a dog leap through a field of tall grass with his tongue hanging out the side of his big, goofy grin is so fun to watch and you can just see the positive, happy endorphins being released into his body. You can't help but smile watching dogs play chase and roll around with each other in a big puddle of mud. Allowing your dog to run off leash and follow his amazing sense of smell is one of the greatest gifts that you can give your dog. A thirty minute walk around the neighborhood twice a day on leash is not enough to fully unleash your dog's energy and happiness. Try this experiment at home... lock yourself in your dog's crate for four hours inside your house, then walk around your block and then lock yourself in your house again. Are you tired? Nope. Do you have cabin fever and feel like you are going to explode if you don't receive any sensory stimulation? Yup. Being stuck on the couch in front of t

he television all day can leave a person feeling antsy, weird and full of energy. A lack of physical stimulation is directly linked to the state of one's mind. Taking your dog for a little walk is like going out and doing errands. You're not that tired and your mind hasn't been relaxed. However, if you go for an hour hike or a bike ride, your whole mood can be lifted and your whole being can be energized in a happy, calm way. It's very important to get your dog not only running off leash and romping around with doggy pals, but also to engage with your dog so that you're both experiencing the great outdoors together. Playing fetch with your dog and sharing a mental and physical game together will bond the two of you so that you feel like your are working together. Play your own game of search and rescue by having your dog sit and stay on the trail while you track your dog's favorite toy into the brush. Then release your dog and encourage him to use his nose and his brain to release all of his physical and mental energy. Get involved with a nose work group or join a search and rescue team in your area. Take your dog hunting, herding, swimming, dock diving, or tunneling. Our dogs have so many working talents and are so energized by experiencing a fun outdoor activity with their favorite human in the world. Whatever you do with your dog, make sure that you are appreciating each other in each and every moment and live in the Now together.

2. Mental energy is stored up in your dog's brain and has to be stimulated and released otherwise it will be demonstrated in ways that humans don't always approve of. Excessive barking, digging, chewing, mind games, running away, and attention seeking behaviors are usually the result of a dog trying to find their own type of fun, mental activity. It's important to engage your dog mentally in ways that show him how you want him to experience and live in your world. For example, taking the time to teach your dog basic commands, words, tricks and name-object recognition will enhance your dog's intelligence and mentally exhaust a lot of his built up energy. Getting out your dog's mental energy will sometimes tire a dog out even more than letting him run around at the dog park for thirty minutes. Have your dog work for his food by trying to figure out how to get his breakfast out of a puzzle toy. Make it even harder by hiding the toy somewhere in your house while your dog is in a down/stay. Teach your dog what different objects and people around the house are called. Build up your dog's confidence by teaching him some silly party tricks that you can show off to your dog adoring friends. Engage with your dog throughout the day by giving him attention for good behaviors that he's exhibiting and for doing the little things in life, like lying peacefully on his bed or warming your feet by lying quietly by your side. Mentally stimulate and encourage your dog to connect with you on a level where clear communication and consistency builds the trust and respect that you have for one another.

3. Chewing energy is energy that builds up in your dog's powerful jaws. Your dog is an animal that has animal instincts to gnaw on raw bones and tear apart his dead squirrel squeaky toy. Wild dogs depend on their jaws to survive and use their jaws to carry their food, their young and their objects that they play with. Domestic dogs that do not have an ample amount of chews and toys to gnaw on will exert their energy onto Jimmy Choos, dry wall, table legs and human hands. Provide your dog with good, positive options and he will happily chew to his heart's content. Antlers, bully sticks, himalayan chews, and frozen raw marrow bones are some of the best options. Chewing also cleans your dog's teeth for a bedazzling doggy smile.

Keeping the three types of dog energy in mind- physical, mental and chewing- will allow you to fulfill your dog's basic needs so that he may live a natural, happy and positive life. Getting out your dog's physical energy will release the built up stress in his body and open his mind to learning new things that will build your relationship. Giving your dog a bone will make you his best friend and will help him fully relax his body, mind and jaws. So now, go take your dog on a good long hike, play a game of hide and go seek, give your dog a frozen raw marrow bone and then you will experience the happiest, most zen dog in the whole world. A tired dog is a good dog and a zen dog. And remember to always enjoy every beautiful minute with your amazing animal.

Smart Dog Toys = Busy Dogs

2010-10-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

Keeping your puppy busy and out of trouble isn't always an easy job! Even after an hour long jog and a rousing game of tug, some dogs aren't even panting let alone ready to lay down for a nap (if you own a vizsla or a german short hair you know what I mean). It's extremely important to get all of the different types of pent up energy out of your dog- physical energy, mental energy and chewing energy. The best combo is to take your dog out for an off-leash romp with other dogs for at least an hour, play a training game with him, and give him something to chew on. You will finally have a tired dog that will want to take a long snooze. However, sometimes this just isn't realistic in our busy hectic human lives so to cut a few corners and to add some extra fun and entertainment to your dog's existence you can get some smart dog toys. Smart dog toys combine chewing with thinking, which knocks off two of the energies that dogs need to get out in one punch. All of the following smart toys are available at Noah's Natural Pet Market. Here's a product review of several smart dog toys that passed Daisy and Taj's lab tests...

#1- Bob-a-Lot by Starmark

This toy rock and rolls literally! Daisy and Taj had so much fun playing with this new cylindrical toy that babbles and waddles around as they pushed it with their noses. Pieces of kibble fall out of the little hole on the side of the container and it can be adjusted to make it harder or easier for the dogs to get it out. This is the only toy that

actually keeps dogs entertained for longer than ten minutes. The food not only comes out, which reinforces the dogs desire to keep playing with it, but it also moves around a lot and keeps them chasing after it. This toy is great for keeping your dog busy, and it's also good for dogs that inhale their food. You can load up the Bob-a-Lot with your dog's breakfast and the food will fall out little by little. It's a little pricey, but worth every penny. It also passed Taj's chew test. This toy gets five paws!

#2- Genius by Kong

This Genius toy is very similar to the traditional kong, but it's more of a long tube and it's bigger so you can fit more

food in it. This was Daisy's first choice because she could easily carry it around and

she liked the softer rubber. Kibble comes out of it f

airly easily so she was able to quickly figure out how to get her goodies. She learned very fast how to tilt the toy up and her food would fall out. Not quite as fun as the Bob-a-Lot, but it still kept her entertained for as long as there was food still in it.

#3- Tug-a-Jug by Premier

The Tug-a-Jug is a lot of fun especially for dogs that like to carry things around with them. It looks like a jug that has a rope sticking out of it an

d it can be filled with kibble. As your dog rolls it

around and chews on the rope, the food slowly falls out. It's not quite as satisfying for some dogs as the Bob-a-Lot because the reward is not as frequent and there's a frustration factor involved. However, overall it's a clever idea and will keep your puppy safely preoccupied so that you can take your eyes off of him for a little bit.

#4- Busy Buddy by Premier

The Busy Buddy is a ton of fun too, but it's not as sturdy as the first two toys mentioned. Daisy was able to chew it up into little pieces. However, if you don't have a voracious chewer, the Busy Buddy is much more convenient than the traditional round Kong because it can be unscrewed and placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. It's great for little pupp

ies and can keep them

busy for a long time.

#5- Traditional Kong

The traditional round, red Kong is a good standby smart dog toy because it's safe and hardly any dogs can chew it up. You can load a Kong up with all kinds of goodies, like kibble, wet dog food, treats, pieces of chicken etc. and freeze it to keep

it on hand for giving it to your dog before you leave for work or for a long period of time. It's a good way to keep your dog preoccupied without worrying about them choking on anything. The Kong is always a great option for keeping your dog busy and is the perfect thing to leave with a dog that has separation anxiety, chewing, or barking problems. Instead of having a panic attack and unleashing their frustration on your house, your dog will be more than happy to see you leave because he'll be excited to chew on his yummy Kong.

Good Wine and Good Dogs

2010-09-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Good wine, good dogs, great art and good company, what more could you ask for? The La Jolla Art and Wine Festival is back! October 9th and 10th from 11:00-6:00, you can now walk your dog to the event and DogZenergy will take care of your pup while you walk among the beautiful art and taste some wonderful wines from local wineries. Your dog will be able to play and mingle, and you'll have the peace of mind that he is also having a great time and sampling some tasty treats and bringing in the sights and smells of all kinds of doggie pals. Be sure to check out DogZenergy's new Behavioral Problem Solving Table, where you can pick up dog training products that will change your life. Check out our Chilly Bones that are designed for teething, chewing puppies and pick up an Easy Walk Harness for a more enjoyable walk with your most enthusiastic canine. We also have fun interactive toys and treat pouches and clickers. All the tools, treats and tricks of the trade are now available for you and your pooch to begin your training journey together. You can also pick up a one-of-a-kind hand painted canine couture wine glass made specially by Brittany. Super cute and guaranteed to be a wine party convo starter! We hope to see you and your dog!

Welcome to the DogZenergy Training Center and Farmer's Pet Market

2010-08-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

After years of dreaming of a training space to call our own, DogZenergy has finally found the perfect place! Located at 7430 Girard in La Jolla, the DogZenergy Training Center is a 4,000 sq. ft. fenced in grassy area that is perfect for our Doggy & Me Boot Camp, Pawsitive Puppy Class and Basic Manners Class. We are also offering dog sitting for all of the dogs that join their owners for a walk to the human Farmer's Market, but are not allowed in due to health codes. In the past, Farmer's Market patrons had to turn around and go home, or risk tying up their dogs on the fence to be left unattended. Instead people can now drop off their dog-friendly, quiet dogs with us and be rest assured that their dog will be taken good care of. From 9am-1pm we will be supervising the dogs as they play, walk and enjoy tons of water and treats. Classes are held before and after the Farmer's Market dog sitting times. Please contact us for more info and to sign up for our Basic Manners and Pawsitive Puppy Classes beginning on September 12. Stop by this Sunday and check us out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivnLJ-gYMmo

Little Spike Goes to the Big Dog Park

2010-07-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's truly amazing how many different types of dogs there are in the world. There's 160 lb. Great Danes and then there's 16 oz. Chihuahuas. Some dogs have dreadlocks and other dogs have no hair at all. Even though they're all dogs, it's important to take safety precautions when large dogs and small dogs mingle at dog parks. A precocious and brave little yorkie might wander up to a big playful lab and get squashed accidentally. Make sure that you are aware of the body language of other dogs and keep your little dog away from dogs that are especially play aggressive. A pomeranian can look a lot like the fuzzy squeeker toy at home. Also, some dogs have a higher prey drive than others and may take off running after a little dog that looks like a bunny. If you do take your small dog to a dog park that has all different kinds and sizes of dogs, you can put a spike collar or even a spike harness on him to give him a little protection. Not only will your dog look really hardcore and cool, but a big dog that clamps down on his neck will release his grip when he gets poked. DogZenergy also offers a Little Zen Dog Walk just for dogs under 20 lbs. Little dogs need to get their energy out too. Have fun and be safe!

Doggie and Me Boot Camp!

2010-05-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Drop down on all four paws and give me fifty! Introducing DogZenergy's Doggie and Me Boot Camp!

After years of feeling guilty for going to the gym and leaving my dog Daisy at home, I realized that dog owners need a workout that they can do that will give them a challenge and exercise their dog all at the same time. I attended a human boot camp and asked if I could bring Daisy to the workouts. The trainer, Ray Wetterlund (best trainer in LJ!) agreed to let me try it out with her. Daisy loved it! I ended up getting my booty kicked and Daisy loved all of the action. Dog training in motion is much more effective because dogs love to be on the move. While I was doing crunches and pushups, Daisy had to be in a down/stay. As we were doing lunges and crab walks, Daisy had to do loose leash walking. Daisy most enjoyed the part where we had to jog and pass a tennis ball back and forth! The boot camp was not only tough, but really, really fun for both me and Daisy. We were more bonded after our workouts together and the best part was that we were both completely exhausted, balanced and zen.

DogZenergy has now designed a workout and training regime for both dog and human. It combines fitness with physical and mental training, as well as team work and clear communication with body language. For most dogs, behavioral problems are the result of not enough exercise. It's important to get dogs on the move and do training at the same time so that the energy is released and the mind can be opened to learning new positive behaviors. Exercise also increases human and canine natural endorphins, which makes for a happy, zen dog and human combo! By releasing all of the stress and tension, it allows for a much more enjoyable and successful training session.

So be prepared to sweat, power walk and get down and dirty! We will be starting at Windansea Veterinary and then power walking a mile long circuit from the vet, to the bike path and around down by beautiful Windansea beach. Along the way we will be doing a combined human and canine exercise circuit. Expect to do some push ups, sit ups, lunges, squats- you name it! All the while we will be training our dogs to do down/stays, sit/stays, watch me, loose leash walking and impulse control exercises. It's perfect for excitable pups and dogs with lots of energy that need to learn how to control themselves around other dogs and people. It's a great socialization experience in a controlled setting and it will teach your dog to walk nicely with other dogs. Don't worry if your dog doesn't know how to do the above mentioned commands, because we will be covering all of the basics and building on already learned behaviors. It's all about having fun and getting all of the energy out of our dogs while getting a good workout in for ourselves!

Please join us every Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the parking lot of Windansea Veterinary. Bring sneakers, water for you and your dog, and a towel. Don't forget your smile, a clip on treat pouch with delicious treats and a six foot leash that can be tied around your waist. Contact me, Brittany for more info and to sign up at (951) 538-5200 or dogzenergy@gmail.com. Can't wait to see you there!

Fiesta Island Puppy Party

2010-05-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

Five days a week, I drive around La Jolla and Pacific Beach and pick up some happy, excited dogs for a morning adventure. Most days we go to Dusty Rhodes dog park and other days we do an hour and a half walk along the coast. Lately we've been going to Fiesta Island because the daisies are in full bloom and are as tall as most of the dogs. It has been so cute watching all of the dogs leap for joy in the daisies as they bounce around in all of the flowers. They crouch down and then chase each other all over like crazy little hooligans! It's hard not to smile and laugh as they run all over! I love my job!! Here's a few photos from the last few weeks of my morning adventure group in action....

Daisy in the daisies
Ale, Soley, Nini, Willow and Taro
Handsome Taro
Cute little Ale with a big smile!
Little Rascal!

10 Fun Things to Do With Your Dog

2010-04-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

The key to a happy, zen, relaxed dog is exercise, exercise, exercise! Training is futile if a dog is not properly exercised. Most dogs suffer from cabin fever and are trapped for hours upon hours indoors with hardly anything to do, yet their owners expect them to be perfect and sleep all day. A fifteen minute walk around the block on leash is not exercise and is just a potty break. Dogs need to run and play off leash to burn off all of their energy. Dog parks are great for dogs that love all other dogs and love to wrestle, but your dog will be in dog world and will not be focused on you. To keep your exercise sessions fun and your dog physically and mentally tired, get creative and do more than a walk around the neighborhood or a trip to the dog park. Here are ten things that you can do with your dog and have a lot of fun doing!

Skateboarding with your dog is a great workout for dogs that have a lot of excess energy and need a job. Some dogs love to pull and will happily pull you around town, but others that have been trained to not pull on leash may need extra encouragement. If your dog loves tennis balls, throw the ball a few feet ahead of you and say the cue word “Go!” as you throw it. Keep throwing the ball farther and saying the word, “Go!”, till your dog catches on. Also, be sure to teach him the word, “Wait” so that you can slow him down by stopping the board, saying “wait” and then giving him a treat. Pretty soon you and your dog will be zipping all around town and your dog will be so happy to have a job. This dog sport is perfect for working breed dogs that love to pull like pit bulls, huskies and german shepherds. Of course skateboarding can be dangerous so be sure to wear a helmet and make sure that you don’t over exert your dog. Any sort of heavy exercise and long distance running should be limited to dogs over 8 months of age.

Surfing is a ton of fun for dogs that love the water! To teach your dog how to surf, start out with a huge longboard or paddle board. Start out on the beach and teach your dog to get on the board by luring him onto the board and then treating him as he is standing on it. Keep rewarding him so that he learns to love the board and doesn’t want to get off of it. Then start out in water that barely has any breaking waves and gently set him on the board and hop on the board right behind your dog. Use lots of praise and encouragement. It’s good to put a doggie life vest on your dog so that you can easily pick him up out of the water if you have to. Practice a lot with your dog and you maybe ready for the next doggie surf competition at Del Mar Dog Beach

Agility is a great dog sport for dogs that have a lot of energy and love to work with their owner. It teaches your dog to focus on you rather than distractions and his surrounding environment. Agililty is a timed event that requires you and your dog to run through an obstacle course that has jumps, weave poles, A-frames, boxes, tunnels and tires. Your dog has to learn how to go through, over and top of all of these obstacles in the fastest and most effective way. It’s competitive, fun, and requires your dog to use his noggin.

Doggie Freestyle is a form of dancing with your dog to a choreographed routine with music. It builds a great relationship with your dog as you both learn to effective communicate with one another through body language and highly stylized cues and tricks.

Hiking and playing a game of Hide and Go Seek behind trees and boulders is a great game to play with your pup out in the wilderness. Tell your dog to sit and stay or have a friend hold onto him. Then run away from your dog a few yards and hide behind a tree. Then call your dog and have him come and find you. When your dog finds you give him tons of praise and a treat. This will reinforce your dog’s recall tremendously and it’s a ton of fun for both of you.

Search and rescue training is another fun thing to do with your dog when you’re out on a hike. Take an old shoe with you and have your dog sit and stay. Toss the shoe a few feet away and release your dog by saying, “ok, go find it!”. When your dog approaches the shoe and smells it, click and treat. Repeat this exercise a few times. Then have your dog sit and stay or have a friend hold your dog. Then go a few yards away and hide the shoe behind a bush or a rock. Then tell your dog “ok, go find it!”. When your dog finds it give him tons of praise and give him a puppy party. Pretty soon you’ll be able hike ahead of your friend and dog, plant an article of clothing, and then run back to them. Your dog will have a ton of fun locating the hidden object on your walk and he’ll be exhausting his mental energy.

Dock diving is a dog sport that is gaining a lot more popularity. Dog diving measure how far and high your dog dives off a dock after a thrown object. It’s amazing how far some dogs can jump and they really get into it. Dock diving is a perfect sport for dogs that love the water and retrieving.

Kayakking with your dog is another fun water sport for dogs that can’t get enough of the water. For dogs that really love water, you can tie your kayak to your dog’s life vest and have him tow you around. Of course, this is only for the really strong swimmers and don’t overdue it.

Taking your dog herding is a ton of fun because you’ll be surprised by how instinctual it is for some breeds. There’s several herding clubs that you can join to work your dog in the field.

Biking with your dog can burn off a ton of steam for hyperactive dogs. Just make sure that you have an easy walk harness on your dog for extra control and be careful when you’re biking in the street. Make sure that you don’t over exert your dog and ride with caution. Dogs that need to run, but don’t have access to a wide open field for off-leash running, love to run by your side on a nice bike trail.

Have fun, be safe and get creative! Life is all about having fun and sharing those times with people and animals that you love! And remember, a good dog is a tired dog and a zen dog.

Saving Table Legs and Shoes Everywhere... the Best Dog Chews Ever!

2010-04-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

Chewing is one of the most natural things that a dog does and it can be highly destructive, annoying and expensive. The key to keeping your shoes in one piece and your furniture looking nice is to dog proof your house and offer lots of yummy irresistible chews for your dog. Giving your dog yummy chews also releases all of the natural energy built up in your dog's jaws and can keep them busy for a few hours. Take your dog for an hour long dog jog and then give him a frozen raw bone and he'll sleep the whole day (this does not apply to GSPs or GSDs, if you have one of these dogs, you know what I mean).

Dog proofing is easy. Just get down on all fours and pretend that you're seeing your dog's environment from his eyes and nose. That stinky running shoe sitting right there in front of you has lots of chewy textures and pieces to rip apart and tastes like salty, smelly feet. Yummy! So take that off the ground along with your socks because those can la

nd you in the animal ER with a $2000 surgery bill. Also, get rid of any books, magazines, wires

, rugs or anything else that look like a potentially life-threatening, but super fun play toy. If you have the ultimate chewing champion dog and really expensive furniture (bad mix),

you can puppy proof your furniture with table and chair leg rubber covers. You can also mix up a nasty concoction of water, vinegar and cayenne powder and spray it on an especially irresistible baseboard or cabinet door. One lick of this and your dog will be over it.

And now what you've been waiting for... the best dog chew list ever! Go ahead and print this out and head on over to Noah's Natural Pet Market on Cass St. in Pacific Beach and your dog will love you forever.

The numero uno of dog chews is by far the antler! Antlers are naturally shed by deer and elk and they are the "gobstopper" of all dog chews. They last forever and I usually have to buy my dogs a new one just because we've had it for so long that it got lost. Antlers do not splinter or crack because they are ground down gradually. They also don't have any gross residue that can be left behind on your carpet and they're organic and odorless. Also, you don't have to worry about your dog getting an upset stomach. With any chew, it's always best to supervise your dog's chewing habits and make sure that the piece isn't too small to swallow. The picture to the right is of Sadie, the malinois mix who's an ultimate chewer, gnawing on a raw marrow bone and an antler. That exact antler has been chewed on by two goldens and Sadie for the last two months.
Frozen raw marrow bones are the second best dog chew ever. The raw marrow in the beef bone is rich in nutrients and protein. Dogs love the taste and will work at it for at least two hours if it's frozen. Marrow bones also act like a natural dog toothbrush. Your dog will have whiter teeth, which equals better breath. The only bummer is that it's best to keep these bones outside because of the residue that they can leave behind. They're also raw so you have to practice good handling and wash your hands.
Bully sticks are great for dogs too, but they don't last as long as antlers and marrow bones. Bully sticks are far better for dogs than rawhide because they're digestible. I never recommend or feed rawhide. It's made of condensed starch and it's not digestible so it can clog up your dog's intestines. Make sure that you get a good quality bully stick that has not been processed with any chemicals. Dogs love bully sticks, mostly because they're a little bit stinky.
Kong. The best chew that you can give to your dog unattended is the Kong. The cylindrical rubber toy can be filled with all kinds of goodies for your dog to keep him busy. My favorite is filling a kong with your dog's wet dog food and kibble and then sealing the ends with peanut butter. Then stick it in the freezer. Your dog will work at this for a long time and it's a great way for your dog to work for his meal. You can leave the kong in your dog's crate or in your kitchen when you leave for work and you won't have to worry about your dog choking on anything. Keeping your dog busy, happy and healthy is the goal!
Tracheas and flossies are like candy for your dog. They last for maybe fifteen minutes, but they're yummy, crunchy and healthy for your pup!
Carrots. My dog Daisy loves eating a whole carrot. It's like a big orange stick that she can chew up into a ton of pieces and it's good for her. It's a great low fat option for chubby dogs and it has vitamin A, which is essential for healthy eyes and beta carotene is an anti-oxidant that fights the free radicals that cause heart disease and cancer. Some dogs don't like the taste and others may get an upset tummy so just try giving your dog a small piece before you give them a whole carrot stick.

DogZenergy Dog of the Month... Isabella!

2010-02-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

Not a day goes by that I think to myself that I am a very lucky person. I'm lucky because I get to hang out with a lot of wonderful dogs all day long! My friends and family always hear about all of the great dogs that I train and take care of so I thought that it would be fun to showcase the DogZenergy pack on my blog. Every month a very special dog will be chosen and you'll be able to learn about the dog's life and characteristics about the dog's breed.

February DogZenergy Dog of the Month goes to..... Isabella!

Isabella is a beautiful German Shepherd owned by Nancy and Bob Kronemeyer. She has been part of the DogZenergy pack since she was nine months old and

now she's a grown up three year old. Five days a week, every morning I pick up Isabella for her two hour morning adventure. Whether it's going for a hike, walking along the coast, visiting Dusty Rhodes dog park or walking around Kate Sessions, Isabella loves it all! I call Isabella my little shadow because she's always following me around, literally in my shadow. She does so well with all of my dogs and I count on her to show the new dogs the way. She's so smart and always coming up with new games to play with me and the other dogs. I'm so proud of her and I love her as though she were my own dog!

When Isabella was a puppy, a trainer recommended that her owners find a dog walker because Isabella had taken up the sport of barking at everyone and anyone who approached her property. German Shepherds are wonderful dogs that have been bred for years to loyally guard their territory and family. Neighbors don't always appreciate a german shepherd's job given that barking is part of the job description. Isabella could've won employee of the month with how much barking she was doing, so instead of resorting to shock collars or other negative devices, Nancy and Bob gave me a call. Ever since then I've been picking Isabella up for a morning full of fun to get all of her energy out so that instead of releasing her energy through barking she's now able to run to her heart's content and play with all of her doggie friends. When she gets dropped off back at home, she's so tired that she's able to peacefully eat her lunch and take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.

It's so important for a german shepherd to run off leash and be mentally stimulated. So many shepherds are relinquished for barking or other bad behaviors just because they were not given the time, space and energy outlets that they need. Make sure that you can dedicate the time and exercise for a GSD and you'll have the best dog ever. GSDs are so loyal, smart and sweet, and Isabella is all of the above. I'm so thankful to have Isabella as part of the pack and she has truly been with me from the beginning. She has a very special place in my heart! : )

Ezmerelda the Bearded Dragon!

2009-12-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

So this doesn't have anything to do with dogs, but I just had to share about my new bearded dragon named Ezmerelda that I got myself for Christmas! She's a Kandy bearded dragon that becomes very orange with purple markings as she gets older. Right now she's about four months old and 8 inches long and she can get up to 2 feet long when she's full grown. Beardies are such great reptiles because they're so mellow, friendly and they have a lot of personality. Compared to some of the other reptiles that I've had over my lifetime, Ezmerelda has the most personality and seems to enjoy being handled. She eats butternut squash from my hand and eats crickets like there's no tomorrow. I've been doing a lot of research on these little guys and there's some really cute stories about other people's beardies playing with balls, sleeping rolled up in a blanket, enjoying baths and cuddling up with their owners. Whoever thought that there are reptiles out there that like to be handled? I love my blue bar ambilobe panther chameleons, Aphrodite and Archimedes, but they're a lot more fragile and can stress out easily if they are handled a lot. They're a lot of fun to look at and watch their colors change. With beardies, the enthusiasts say that you have to handle them everyday and they begin to expect it and will scratch on the side of their cage till you come over to pick them up. So far, Ezmerelda is awesome and I'm so excited to learn new things about the bearded dragons. I'm going to see if reptiles can be clicker trained! She eats squash from my hand and she's sensitive to noise, so maybe it's possible! If you've ever had any experience with them or have some tips for me, please feel free to comment! : )

2009 La Jolla Christmas Parade with the Golden Retriever Meetup Group of San Diego

2009-12-20T22:58:00.001-08:00

Tis the season to celebrate with our loved ones, including our furry family members! To get into the Christmas spirit, Matt, Daisy, Taj, Bindi, Jazz and I all participated in the 2009 La Jolla Christmas parade. We walked with 60 other golden retrievers and we brought lots of smiles to the families that lined the sidewalks with our happy dogs and their crazy costumes! It was so cute to see all of the goldens walk together and wag their tails in a frenzy of golden happiness. There were puppies of all ages and old dogs that have been around the block or two. Everyone was beaming from ear to ear and sharing stories about their beloved canines. Daisy, Taj, Bindi and Jazz were a little startled by the marching bands, but loved all of the horses and kids! They got so much love from everyone and they were so tired and happy by the end of the day. It was truly a wonderful way to spend the afternoon! Check out the dogzenergy channel on youtube for videos!

Jumpy Puppy = Unhappy House Guest

2009-12-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

The first step to teaching your dog to greet guests nicely at the door is to teach your dog not only how to 'sit', but how to automatically sit whenever he approaches you or anyone else. If you ask your dog to sit every time he comes to you, you can start to phase out the verbal command and only use a hand signal. Dogs learn hand signals way before they learn verbal signals so this will be easy for him to learn. As soon as your dog sits without you saying anything, click and treat. Pretty soon your dog will be automatically sitting every time he comes to you.

Next step is to move by the door and designate a 'spot' where your dog should go and sit whenever you open the door to leave or to let people in. This exercise is also good for dogs that bolt out of doors and don't recognize boundaries. It's best if this spot can be an actual mat or dog bed. Lead your dog over to the mat and ask him to sit. Click and treat when all four paws are on the mat and he's sitting on it. Start to add the cue, 'Go to spot' with an emphasis on 'spot', when your dog is eagerly going over and sitting on his spot. This exercise is also much more effective if your dog already knows the 'stay' command. Once your dog is on his spot, ask him to 'stay' and very slowly open the door. If his bottom lifts up from the mat, quickly shut the door. Ask your dog to sit and stay again, and then open the door slowly again. Once you are able to completely open the door, click and treat. Repeat the exercise until your dog can calmly sit and stay with the door wide open (safety tip- keep a loose 6 ft. leash on your dog and hold on to it, especially if you don't have an enclosed front yard).

Once your dog can sit and stay calmly on his mat with the door open. You can start to bring a person into the mix. It's best to have someone in the family help out who the dog has seen a million times so that he doesn't get too excited. Have your accomplice ring the doorbell or knock. When you hear it, ask your dog to go to his spot. If your dog is especially crazy when people come into your house, make sure to have a leash on him. Ask him to stay and then very slowly open the door. If he gets up, slam the door in your accomplice's face! So that your actual guests don't think you are super rude you can explain to them that your dog is in training or you can put a note on the door. Once your dog is sitting and staying with the door open, you can click and treat and then say 'Ok!'. This will signal your dog that he may get up and say hi to the person in a calm way. If he does not calmly greet your guest, put yourself between your dog and the other person and ask him to sit. Once his energy level visibly goes down, calmly say 'ok'.

You can also give your dog lover guest a treat and have them ask your dog to sit. Once he's seated nicely, ask him to go down to your dog's level to say hi. If your dog tries to jump on your guest, ask him to turn around and ignore him until he's seated nicely again. It's always best to practice all of this a million times with a family member or person that the dog knows really well like your neighbor. Then make sure that you ask your dog loving house guests to get in on the action. If you have someone coming over who isn't too thrilled about dogs in general it's best to keep your dog safely behind a baby gate or in a room. Then there's the people who say, "Oh, it's ok!'" when your dog is jumping all over them. These people usually let the dog continue to jump and give them lots of pets and positive feedback. This reinforces your dogs jumping behavior more than anything. Nicely tell the person that your dog is in training and that you want him to be the best dog he can be. Your guest will be happy to join into the training fun!

Especially with jumpy behavior, you have to be very consistent. This means that your dog can't jump on anyone. Otherwise it's just too difficult to differentiate. It's not fair to let your dog jump on you, but then get upset if he jumps on your house guests. Also remember to keep calm. We have a tendency to get really excited when a friend comes over and it's hard not to, but dogs can hear the excitement in your voice and they can't help but get energetic too. Dogs don't jump up on people because they are 'dominant' or completely out of control, it's usually because they are just so happy to see a new person and they want to be able to smell the person's face to find out who they are and where they've been. So it's up to us as humans to show them how we want them to greet new people, rather yelling at them and punishing them. You and your dog can do it!

Tiny Furry Sharks Disguised as Cute Puppies

2009-12-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Biting and Chewing

Chewing

Just like human babies, little puppies love to put everything and anything in their mouths. Not necessarily because it tastes good, but because they are trying to figure out their surroundings through taste, texture and smell. Instead of denying your puppy his natural instinct, it’s important to let him explore, but also give him plenty of his own toys and chews so that you can teach him what you want him to put in his mouth. Make sure to puppy proof your home and get everything valuable and yummy up off the floor and give your puppy lots of other positive chewy options.

When you catch your beloved little furball eating your brand new pair of favorite shoes, exercise extreme patience and remind yourself that your puppy has no idea that those are Jimmy Choos and not his own chew. Never yell, “No, BAD dog!” because your puppy has no idea what that means and will just think that you are scary and not one to be trusted. Instead, slap your own hand for leaving your favorite shoes on the floor in his reach and then calmly go get a puppy squeaky toy. Squeak the toy above your puppy’s head and as soon as he drops the shoe, say “Good drop it!” and immediately give him the squeaker toy. Later on, you can teach him what ‘leave it’ means and practice that with a shoe. It’s basically up to you to keep things out of your puppy’s way and constantly reinforce that he should only play with his own toys.

Whenever your puppy is chewing on something that you don’t want him to chew on, like a plant or piece of furniture, distract him away from it and then say, “Where’s your toy?” and try to lead him over to his own toy and start playing with it. That way you are using simple diversion tactics and teaching him that he should only play with his own toys. It also teaches your puppy to play independently by himself and keep himself occupied so that you don’t always have to be constantly entertaining him. If you have an avid chewer and some very expensive furniture, it’s also good to get some bitter apple spray to keep your puppy away from desirable human chewies.

Biting

It’s very natural for dogs to bite. However, our human world requires dogs to not bite, therefore it’s our responsibility to teach dogs bite inhibition. Puppies love to bite with their razor sharp teeth and they’ve been learning to bite and play with their littermates for the first 8 weeks of their lives. So your puppy is naturally going to want to play with and bite your hands. With their littermates, they have taught each other that a sharp ‘Yiiip!!” and cry tells the other puppies that they are biting too hard and that it hurts. When your puppy bites your hand too hard give a sharp, high-pitched “Ouch!!” and then get up and leave the room. That will quickly tell your puppy that too much is too much and that the play will end if they get too rough. Never ever rough house with your hands! This is a big no-no, but you can play with a stuffed animal or rope toy. Just make sure that you control the game and teach your puppy to ‘drop it’. To teach ‘drop it’, play with two toys of equal value. Hold one toy out of reach while playing tug with the other toy. When you want your puppy to drop it, stop tugging and become still with that toy, then wiggle the other toy in front of them. As soon as they drop the other toy, say, “Good drop it!” and immediately give them the other toy or quickly return the same toy to his mouth. During the game of tug, if your puppy ever bites skin, say “Ouch!” in a high-pitched voice.

Biting is natural, we just have to teach our dogs that biting human skin is not natural in our human world. Just make sure that you give your puppy plenty of good chews and toys so that he can release his natural jaw chewing energy in a positive way.

These are just a few puppy tips that can be put to good use right away. Please feel free to call me with any questions!

The Zen Dog Retreat

2009-11-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to announce that DogZenergy is becoming a family business! Here's a little bit about my mom's new pet sitting facility, The Zen Dog Retreat...

Located in the serene hills of Temecula Valley, California, Zen Dog Retreat provides the most exceptional care and love for your dog while you’re away. Your dog will experience life as a ranch dog and will be able to run and play on five acres in the countryside. A

typical day would include a morning hike and play time in the pasture, a nap in the late morning, a swim in the natural pool midday, followed by a meditative session on the lawn, and then an evening romp in the avocado grove. Your dog will be able to pick his own avocado and chew on any stick he happens to find. It’s life as it should be for your best friend. Your dog will experience a vacation as good as yours, if not better. At the Zen Dog Retreat your dog will experience nature, serenity, play and peace. And you will have the peace of mind that your dog will be safe, comfortable and absolutely happy.

The Zen Dog Retreat is owned and operated by Karen Alwerud, an avid dog and animal lover. For years the Alwerud family has had more than a few animals running around the ranch. At one point they had six dogs, two horses, two birds, a hamster, two lizards and a fish. Now, Karen has opened her home to other people’s beloved pets and enjoys every minute of it. Karen has been riding horses for seventeen years and has a passion for working with animals. Currently Karen has a ten year old Yorkshire Terrier named Chloe and a Senegal parrot named Riley. She will treat your dog with the same love and care that she does her own. Karen welcomes you and your dog to come take a tour of the Zen Dog Retreat and while you’re at it we recommend you stop by the local Temecula Wineries!

Don't leave me!! ~ Relieving Separation Anxiety

2009-11-17T21:28:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest concerns that I hear from dog owners is how to relieve their dog's separation anxiety. I'm not talking about a few whines and whimpers when you leave, I'm talking about full blown anxiety that leads to destruction, serious noise complaints and physical exhaustion. I've heard of dogs' nails and teeth bleeding from trying to escape from their crates and houses. I've seen door knobs chewed, curtains ripped down, door frames eaten, glass laying everywhere and couches mauled. While getting ready for work in the morning or going out for a quick errand may seem like a boring old routine for you, it can be the most stressful chain of events for some dogs suffering from separation anxiety. Sadly, many dogs with severe separation anxiety are given up on and cast away to the shelters. Other dog owners become prisoners of their own homes and dogs, and will literally never leave their dogs alone. While there is no quick fix for curing your dog's anxiety, there are several ways to relieve your dog's stress in a positively reinforced way. If you have a puppy, take the time and energy to really work on these issues before the behaviors become even more engrained as an adult dog. Old dogs can learn new tricks, but it may take longer to recondition an older dog who has learned for years to panic whenever a car key jingles. It takes time, patience, commitment, love and a few angry notes from the neighbors, but it can be done. Don't give up and definitely don't get angry. Getting mad at your dog when you come home and find your house wrecked will only intensify your dog's anxiety. Keep calm and zen.

When you bring home your puppy or dog for the first time, be sure to stick to your regular routine. We have a tendency to stay home and coddle our puppies all day with a 'fear' of leaving them alone by themselves. Your dog will pick up on this 'fear' and internalize it. Don't be afraid to leave for 15 minutes or a half hour. Gradually increase the time that you are away and try your best to stick to your normal routine. Remember... alone time is good time for your dog in the long run. Usually it's the human that has the most separation anxiety. Trust me, I know how hard it is to leave those sad puppy eyes!
Whenever you leave your dog, try not to make a big fuss about it. Don't 'whine' to your dog in a baby voice expressing sympathy or sadness. Keep it light, cheery, but not a big deal. Or just don't say anything at all.
When you leave try to associate your absence with wonderful things. It's great for dad to go to work because I get a yummy raw bone to gnaw on! Woohoo! You can also wait to put down your dog's food bowl when you are about to leave. Some dogs have such bad anxiety that they will hunger strike till you are back and then they'll wolf down their food. Work on getting your dog comfortable with eating without you being in the room. Make his food the most pleasant, irresistible food in the whole world and disappear around a corner when he's eating it, then pop back in the kitchen while he's still eating. Keep doing this until you're able to wait a few minutes before coming back. Associate you being out of sight as a really good thing.
A lot of dogs will freak out the second you shut the door. Most puppies and dogs learn from an early age how to communicate with us through barking and whining. If you leave your puppy and they start howling, chances are you'll come running back and scoop the puppy up in your arms. Thus, howling means human comes back. When you leave your dog for the first time ever and he starts howling and you open the door back up to him, he's being positively reinforced for his behavior. You've created a pattern and your dog has learned to voice his needs to get a reaction. Essentially, your dog has trained you! Smart doggie! Keep this in mind when reacting to your dog's vocalizations.
So if your dog has already trained you, how do you re-train him? The best thing to do is break it down into the tiniest little steps. If your dog is terrified of you disappearing around a corner without him, you may have to start inside your house. Working on the basic commands like sit, stay and leave it, will build your dog's confidence and help work on the disappearing act. You can start by playing hide and go seek in the house. Teach your dog to sit and stay until they are so good at it that you can step behind a corner, but then quickly reappear and come back to him before he thinks about whining or moving. You might have to use treats in a ring around your dog to help him focus on 'leave it' instead of you leaving. Just before you are about to step around the corner say 'ok have it!' and your dog will associate you leaving with the goodness of treats. You might have to do this three times or three hundred times before your dog is comfortable with being left alone.
Once your dog is good at playing hide and go seek in the house, move it over to the door and repeat the same exercises. Tell your dog to sit and leave it, and then scatter a whole handful of treats between him and the door. Just before you are about to step out of the door say, "Ok, have it!" and close the door. Open the door after a few seconds while your dog is still vacuuming up the treats. It's pretty hard for Fido to bark while he's eating. And, oh my goodness, human has already returned and all that doggie had to do was be quiet. Do this a ton of times until you are able to gradually increase the time. You may only be able to be behind the door for 3 seconds or 10 seconds, but gradually you can add time that your dog is comfortable with. ONLY reappear when your dog has been quiet for at least five whole seconds. ONLY when your dog is quiet should you reappear. ONLY do what your dog can barely handle.
If you have to leave your dog and can't be doing the yo-yo door training, try to leave him with a friend or another dog who is calm and confident. For dogs that have been raised in a crate it's also safer to put him in there than it is to let him destroy the house. Make sure to puppy/dog proof your house and be sure to lock all windows and doors.
There are also some herbal remedies such as Rescue Remedy and Bach's essential flower oils that can calm your dog in a natural way. Put a few drops on a treat before you start getting ready to leave or put a few drops in your dog's water bowl.
Try to vary the order of your routine and don't make your dog's schedule too rigid. Maybe leave your car keys hidden in the garage where your dog won't be able to ever see them. Have someone distract your dog in another room so that your dog doesn't see you leave. Also, block window doors so that your dog can't see you walk off into the distance.
Also, remember to throughly exercise your dog before you leave. A tired dog is a good dog and a zen dog.
Frozen raw marrow bones and frozen stuffed Kongs can provide hours of lasting entertainment. Get your dog's mind off of you leaving by leaving him with something really wonderful.
When you return to your dog, try to come into the house when your dog is quiet. Even if you have to make a loud disrupter noise like clapping your hands or anything that will get your dog to be quiet for a second and listen. Then calmly enter the house and ignore your dog until his energy level has visibly dropped. Reward your dogs quiet calm energy by giving him quiet, calm attention. In a low, nice voice say your hello and then give your dog all of the love in the world.

These are just a few helpful hints and some things work with some dogs and not others. It's all about timing and comfort zones. Try your best to keep zen even though a barking frenetic dog can be the most stressful thing in the world. If you have any questions please feel free to comment or contact me. Good luck!

Puppy Necessities

2009-11-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

New Puppy Necessities

Here is a list of all of the things that you may need for your new little furball and where you can find them around town.

Pet Stores in the Area:

Noah’s Ark Holistic Nutrition (Cass st. and Grand in PB) - Perfect for starting your puppy off on the right healthy, yummy food. They are growing so fast and need highly nutritious food for proper health and brain development. You can also find puppy friendly toys and chews like Kongs and Bully sticks.

Muttropolis (on Girard in La Jolla Village) – They have good food, plenty of puppy toys and cute collars.

Pet Stop or Petco/Petsmart – You can find collapsible exercise pens and crates.

Craigslist.com – a great resource for finding crates or exercise pens that have been outgrown by other puppies. Just make sure you wash them well.

Puppy Essentials:

Puppy food- It’s best to get the food that they have been eating while with their litter.

Dog Bowls- Try to find the kind that don’t tip over easily. Usually they are wider around the bottom.

Crate- A large collapsible wire crate with a divider is the best so that the puppy can grow into it, but you can still make it smaller.

Exercise pen- It usually consists of a few panels so that you can make it larger or smaller.

Toys- Kongs are an essential puppy toy so that you can stuff them with goodies to keep your puppy busy. Rubber toys are great because they can’t chew pieces off unlike plastic toys. Ropes are perfect because they can’t chew them apart. Stuffed animal toys are ok as long as your puppy isn’t tearing pieces off and eating them. When playing with a stuffed toy it’s always good to supervise your puppy. Make sure they don’t have plastic eyes that can be choked on.

Chews- Bully sticks, flossies, and raw bones are good, but only in moderation, They can really upset your puppy’s tummy if allowed too much of it. Puppies will chew on their other toys happily and then chews can be introduced when they get a little bit bigger.

Collar with ID tag- It’s always good to have ID on your puppy in case they escape, but make sure it’s taken off when he is in his crate by himself.

Harness and leash- It’s good to walk your puppy on a harness when they are really little so that you aren’t pulling on his neck accidentally.

Treat pouch- It’s never to early to start positive reinforcement training with your puppy! Fill up a training treat pouch with your puppy’s kibble right away and start having fun!

Puppy House Training Quick Tips

2009-11-15T10:18:00.000-08:00

House Training Quick Tips:

Manage your puppy’s time and space consistently and effectively
Create a small, safe puppy space where they have room to only sleep and turn around
Provide your puppy with good safe chew toys like a stuffed Kong, rope toy or chew resistant rubber
Don’t buy an expensive bed right away because it might get chewed up. Just use some comfy towels
Take young puppies out consistently every two to three hours.
Throw a puppy potty party when your puppy relieves himself. Tell him ‘Good potty!’ in a happy, excited voice and then play with him.
Make sure that you give your puppy plenty of time to eliminate himself completely before bringing him inside.
Allow your puppy time, 10-30 minutes to play and run around in a larger puppy proofed, gated off space while you are watching him.
Always keep your eyes on your puppy so that he doesn’t eat something bad or make a potty mistake.
You can connect him to your waist with a leash to keep him out of harm’s way.
If you can’t watch your puppy closely—if you’re busy or if you need to leave the house—place him in his safe, small puppy place.
As you gain more confidence in your puppy’s ability to hold it, you can lengthen the amount of time that your puppy is let out into the larger puppy proofed space and you can start to leave the crate door open at night.
Make sure all wires, rugs, books, shoes, plants etc. are kept far away from your puppy’s exploring teeth.
When your puppy is about four months you can expect him to hold it for sure for about four hours. At four months, if he is 95% potty trained you can start leaving him in a larger puppy proofed area of the house while you are away.
Gradually expand areas of access throughout the house as you become more and more confident with your puppy.
Remember, it’s usually human error—you expanded the time and space to quickly, didn’t throw enough puppy potty parties, didn’t have enough patience, etc.—that caused your puppy to mess up.
Please don’t ever, ever smack or yell at your puppy. Otherwise you may damage your puppy’s trust and confidence in you.
It’s a gradual process, but very successful, positive, stress-free experience in the end!

Clear Communication + Ample Exercise + Natural Diet + Time + Positive Play + Lots of Love = A Balanced, Good, Zen Dog

Meet Bugsy!

2009-11-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Working with horses has taught me how to listen and communicate with animals in a very quiet, positive way. My trainer growing up used 'traditional methods' of 'breaking' horses, but I always felt that there was another way. Even though my trainer's horses were extremely good safe horses, I knew that there were other methods that were less harsh. I read everything I could about horses and found Monty Robert's natural horsemanship style of training. It involves the round pen and intuition of horse body language. Later on I discovered clicker training and positive reinforcement techniques through dog training that could be modified for horse training. Now my training style includes natural horsemanship principles of Roberts and Parelli, as well as clicker training.

About three months ago, one of my dog training clients told me that she has horses and of course I had to ask if I could go riding with her. I had been dying to go riding because I grew up training horses and my life just isn't the same without horses in it. Not only did my client say that I could go ride with her, she said that I could have one of her horses! I couldn't even believe it at first! Then she informed me that her horse Bugsy, aka Naughty All Night, was psycho and had recently bucked off another trainer five times. She had also panicked on the trail and busted open her foreleg and had also thrown herself into the wall of a round pen. Everyone on the ranch thought that she was crazy. When I told my client that I would take her, everyone on the ranch thought that I was crazy too. Well, two crazies make a right and Bugsy and I are doing so well together!

I introduced her to clicker training and lots of round pen work, and it's given her a way to communicate with me. She has learned to target a ball on a stick, which was the first step to our clicker training. Now she can target anything that spooks her and once she touches something with her nose and it doesn't bite her back she gets over it much faster. She was also pretty head shy and now she has learned to place her head in my hand. Clicker training has also made her so much better with her feet and now she is picking her feet up easily for the farrier. Before she was kicking the farrier and he had to dope her to get near her. After a couple of weeks with lots of positive reinforcement ground work, I climbed up on her and we've been riding together ever since. She only needed someone to gently explain to her what was asked of her. She's such a sweet and willing horse that she would get extremely agitated and scared when a human would get frustrated with her and push her limits. Slow and steady wins the race and we are slowly pulling ahead. We are working together and communicating with each other in a way that I didn't even know was possible. It's so exciting to see Bugsy become such a wonderful horse and friend! She makes me laugh everyday because she's such a goofy girl and I can never have a bad day when I'm around her. However, she probably will be 'Naughty All Night' the rest of her life because I think she's night blind, which is a common trait in Appaloosas. Oh well, she was free! : )

Last Day of Puppy Class

2009-07-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

What a bittersweet day today! It was the last day of my Pawsitive Puppies Program and it was so sad to see all of their wagging tails go off into the distance! The six week program wrapped up today and each puppy was awarded a diploma for all of their hard work and play. The best part of the session was doing Loose Leash Walking Rally (say that three times fast) where all of the dog/owner teams started out with equal amounts of water that they had to carry in a very small one ounce glass to a cone and back in order to dump it into the empty glass. The team that was able to get the most water into the empty glass without splashing a lot was the winner. The catch is that the owner must hold the leash and the one ounce glass in the same hand while walking their puppy on a very loose leash. I wish that I had gotten video of the game because it was too cute when the puppies tried to drink the water out of the glass! We also played follow the leader and simon says because training and playing go hand in hand. Especially when working with puppies, training should always be fun and rewarding, not demanding and militant. The key is to bring out the best in your puppy through positive reinforcement and fun!

All of the puppies and their owners were introduced to the basics of positive reinforcement training and were taught the 'tools' that humans need to communicate with their puppies. Every puppy was taught how to do sit, down, stay, leave it, come touch, look and heel. Now it's up to the owners to enhance these behaviors through training games and practice so that these tools may be used when undesirable behaviors pop up throughout the puppy's adolescence. For instance, instead of screaming and yelling, "No bad dog!" when your puppy lunges for another dog on a walk, you can calmly ask your dog to sit from a reasonable distance away from the approaching dog and tell them to wait. With plenty of praise and rewards, your dog will learn that you want him to sit and wait calmly when another dog approaches instead of doing his usual high energy, overly excited greeting.

Just remember that "No!" means nothing and that dogs must be shown how we want them to live in our human world. The key is to interrupt a behavior with a disruptive noise like a kissy or clicky noise and then immediately redirect the behavior into something more desirable like a down stay or playing with a toy. Be positive, happy and consistent with your puppy and he will begin to respect you and love you for being his friend and leader.

Dog Tip of the Day - Playing Fetch!

2009-07-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

Five days a week I take a group of dogs to the dog park for high energy exercise and play. Playing fetch is a great way to burn of excess energy and have a great time with your dog. You can also use a ball as a reward for doing commands like sit, down, stay, leave it, roll over etc. Just make sure that you have your dog work for the ball and as soon as they do the command, throw it right away as a reward.

Dog Tip of the Day #1

2009-07-08T00:58:00.001-07:00

Dog Tip of the Day in video format! Enjoy! : )

How to Train Your Dog and Your Man At the Same Time

2009-07-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years, I can't help but notice the quirky parallels between dog training and man training. I'm not a bra blazing feminist or an over bearing girlfriend and I'm not a yank-and-crank dog trainer. In fact, I don't even believe in 'training' any sort of animal or man. What I do firmly believe in is learning to live with positive energy and live in the Now, so that I can better communicate with all people and animals in my life. Communication, through oral language and body language is a vital part of our life that allows us to live in social groups and also live harmoniously with different species of the animal world. Sometimes those species may be dogs, or even men. Both men and dogs are hairier, smellier and often more simple than women yet we manage fall very deeply in love with them. We love dogs for their loyalty, companionship and playful personalities, and we love men for similar characteristics.

Sometimes however, the communication between women and these other species goes awry causing major culture clash, emotional stress and sometimes abandonment. The culture clash refers to the two different worlds that dogs and people live in, as well as the two different worlds that men and women often live in. These worlds and ways of life all intersect and are often very fluid, however they often clash. For instance, dogs are expected to live under a human's roof, but we often forget that dogs are animals and would naturally sleep under the stars or in a den under ground if they were living as wild dogs. Instead we invite our dogs to sleep and live in our houses, but oftentimes instead of showing our dogs how we want them to live in our culture, we yell and scream at dogs for peeing on the floor. In dog culture, there is no difference between the outside and inside of a house, and carpet may seem like very soft grass. It's up to us as humans to learn how to communicate as clearly as possible cross-species so that we may live harmoniously with positive energy.

As for men and women, our human culture has been made to be very gender specific and since birth we are socially constructed to be Man or Woman. Girls wear pink, boys don't cry. Parent's communicate these 'differences' from the start, but then when girls and boys become women and men in the dating world, these differences in way of life sometimes collide. For example, women often complain that their spouse should just know what they are thinking, but men are not psychics and are often not as analytical as women. Instead of flying off the handle and bitching and yelling at our significant others, there are more positive and effective ways of communicating our thoughts and wants. For instance, if your man always says that he will be home from work at six, but then doesn't get home till seven and you yell at him the minute he steps through the door, he's not going to want to come home any faster. Instead, sincerely and happily be excited when he comes home, especially when he gets home somewhat earlier than before. Give him a big smack on the lips, lots of hugs and whatever else, and then let him have his space and veg. He'll start wanting to come home faster and earlier. I'm not so much a traditionalist, but more so a purist who believes in effective communication and positive reinforcement to live more stress free.

There are no written answers about how to know when you've found the 'One', or whether or not you are in a good relationship because every relationship is different and every relationship has it's benefits and downfalls. There's countless books written about how men and women are different and how to date, how to get married, how to have kids and how to get a divorce. However, there needs to be a manual about how to live harmoniously through clear communication between different species. How to 'train' yourself to communicate your desires, needs and expectations in the most positive and succinct way. So instead of yelling at your man and your dog, you can start to work on yourself to be a more balanced, effective and happy individual who knows how to clearly communicate to your furry animal or man what you expect out of them. That way everyone can live happily, respectfully and peacefully under one roof.

Facebook Dog Tips of the Day

2009-07-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I've started to post Dog Tips of the Day on Facebook and the positive feedback has been grrrreat! However, Facebook only allows me a couple of lines and there's so much more to share about doggie behaviors, facts, tips, events, exercises, jokes, videos etc., so I'm very excited to start a Dog Tip of the Day blog to share my love and passion for dogs and positive energy. Here's a couple of my earlier FB posts that I'll be expanding upon...

Dog Training Tip of the Day: When calling your dog to come to you take a few running steps backward and wave your hand over your head. No matter how long it takes your dog to come to you always give them a happy puppy party

Dog Training Tip of the Day: Think about this... "You can't spank a killer whale" so if you can't spank them how do you get them to not eat you and do jumps and tricks in the air? Answer: Positive Reinforcement Training! It applies to whales, dogs, chickens, people, etc...

Dog Tip of the Day: We 'see' the world and dogs 'smell' the world. Bloodhounds have 100 million olfactory cells in their nose compared to our 10 million.

Dog Tip of the Day: It's completely natural and healthy for dogs to chew! However, to prevent your pup from chewing on your Jimmy Choos, make sure you provide him with plenty of his own chewies. Frozen raw marrow bones are great for cleaning your dog's teeth and keeping his coat healthy. Not into the raw thing? Try stuffing a rubber Kong toy with kibble and wet food and then freeze it for endless chewing fun! : )

Dog Tip of the Day: A tired dog is a good dog! Exercise, excercise, excercise!! A ten minute walk in the morning and at night isn't going to do it. Run, bike, skateboard, hike, segway (yes I said segway), swim or play ball. Get excited and go play with your dog. He will thank you for it by being a much more balanced, happy dog!

Dog Tip of the Day: Is your puppy digging and you don't dig it? It could be that your dog is bored and trying to release extra energy so make sure to give him enough exercise and good things to do like chewing a yummy bone. Still digging? Try spraying vinegar in the area that they are digging or just manage the situation by putting up little garden fences.

Dog Tip of the Day: People always ask, "How come my dog doesn't know what NO! means?". Then again, do people even know what no means? It's such a general, abstract idea. No means nothing to a dog, so instead of being scary and screaming, "NO! Bad dog!" just set aside the negative energy and communicate clearly what you want your dog to do instead. Ignore or interrupt a behavior and then positively redirect your dog.

Dog Tip of the Day: Is your dog dragging you down the street and taking you for a walk? For a quick and easy management approach you can put a Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness on your dog. The leash attaches to a D-ring on the front of your dog's chest so that anytime your dog pulls ahead his shoulders will turn back towards you. Remember that you still need to teach your dog to heel. : )

A Little Bit About DogZenergy...

2009-07-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Brittany (what a cliche way to start a blog!) and I am a dog trainer here in beautiful, dog-friendly La Jolla. The name of my business is DogZenergy and my mantra is that dogs and humans need to learn to understand each other in order to lead more balanced, healthy, loving lives of mutual respect and peace. All creatures share, experience and exchange not only life sources such as oxygen, food and water, but also symbiotically share, experience and exchange energy. It flows around us without our even realizing it. Too many people are unaware of it, and I believe that if more people realize the power of feeling and seeing this energy for what it is, the more love and respect can be spread around the world.

With animals, and in our case dogs, they are so pure and so full of love that they can show us what real, raw, positive (paw-sitive) energy is and they can help us balance ourselves in our psychotic modern society in which we live. Dogs that are balanced and healthy live in a zen-like state, because they live in the present and understand what it means to live in the Now. Too many people rush around in gridlock traffic and exchange menacing looks and extremely negative energy. The problem is that we pass our negative energy onto our dogs, creating unbalanced dogs and creating vicious cycles.

All too many times I am asked to come in and 'fix' a dog, when really my work is cut out to be a human therapist. I do what I need to do to give the dog everything that he needs- ample exercise, holistic diet, a means of communication and structure- but the most work is done on the human or the family. For instance, something as simple as learning voice control or learning to channel a relaxed energy towards the dog not only helps the dog, but helps parents communicate better with their kids or helps a couple work through their problems with clearer communication. Sometimes I'm supposed take the dog for a walk, but the owner will ask to walk with me and he or she will end up telling me about all of their hopes, fears, and secrets.

The problem isn't in the dogs who chew our shoes and attack our cats, the problem lies in the enormous amount of negative energy that needs to be expelled from our everyday lives. If people can just learn to realize their own body language and tones, and learn to walk around the world in the Now, they can learn to live as a dog does and then learn how to better communicate with their dog. For instance, all too many times I am asked, "How do I say no to my dog?". The answer is that 'no' means nothing to a dog and the only way to 'teach' them is through negative aversion, which only makes your dog not trust you and be scared of you. Instead, we need to change our 'human' way of thinking and learn to communicate with our animals (and other people) with respect and clarity. Instead of yelling "No! Bad dog!", we need to expel the negative energy and show our dogs how to live in our human world.

Despite my young age and what some may think of as a lack of experience, my whole life as been learning to live as purely as animals do. I got my first pet bunny when I was three and took the bunny everywhere, even to church and restaurants, in a little pouch that I wore around my neck. When I was four I started riding horses, and by eight I was training horses. I grew up on a little mini ranch where I had about twelve animals and seven of those were dogs. I would spend hours training my dogs to jump over obstacle courses and to do all kinds of tricks. Then I started to train the neighbor's dogs and I would put on dog shows for the whole street to come watch. I have always had a deep connection with animals and I would spend hours laying on the grass with my beloved golden retriever and would stare into her eyes wishing so badly that I could understand her. I would also sit bareback on my horse in the paddock just listening to all of the peaceful sounds that horses make as they slowly chew their food and swish their tails. My whole life has been animals and they have taught me so much. Most importantly they have taught me to strive to live in the Now and that I still have so much more to learn.