HelpYour Dog Beat the Heat

Summer can be a great time for you and your dog, but keep in mind that your dog may need a little extra help from you in order to stay hydrated.

As you may know, dogs don't sweat as humans do to dissipate heat from their bodies.  They pant.  If you notice that your dog is lethargic, has dry gums, sunken, dark eyes, or his tongue is more bright red than usual and is hanging way out of his mouth; he may be dehydrated.  This can be serious and needs immediate attention from the veterinarian. 

To prevent dehydration, here are some tips to keep in mind.

• Remember that certain medications, extreme heat, and increased exercise will all increase your dog's need for water.
• Leave out more than one large water bowl with more than enough clean, potable water inside for your dog.  (Dogs generally need 1oz. of water per pound of body weight, more if they exercise or if it's really warm weather).
• Clean water bowls daily with dish soap.  If bowls aren't clean, bacteria will develop which could make your dog sick, and make her not want to drink the water.
• A weighted, sturdy bowl with a wide base is best.
• Your dog needs to be able to reach all the way to the bottom of the bowl. (There are special bowls made just for dogs with long ears like Spaniels, which prevent ear infections).
• No dogs on chains-the chain gets caught and they can't reach, or the chain knocks over the water bowl!
• No toilet drinking!
• Take a port-a-bowl with you my ebay store to buy one!
• Short nosed breeds like Pugs and Bulldogs are more sensitive to heat and dehydration.

If you keep some of these things in mind, you and your dogs can have a fun, safe, summer this year, and for many years to come.

As a professional barker, I can tell you that are many tips to the trade. My humans had a heck of a time getting me to retire, but we finally agreed that it would be in my best interest to end my career. Don't worry, I have plenty of other pursuits to keep me busy! Here is an article from one of my humans with some tips on helping your doggie friend to retire from the biz. Best wishes, Farley T. Barker

There are many different reasons that a dog will bark, most of them are natural, many of them are encouraged by the people that hate the barking! You read correctly. You might actually be encouraging your dog to bark without realizing it! Your dog will bark for several reasons including:

• Boredom-your dog is bored and trying to amuse herself.
• Stress/frustration-your dog is confused or stressed about something.
• Defensive/on the alert-your dog is scared of something and wants it to leave, or something out of the ordinary is happening and your dog wants to know what the heck is going on.
• Attention-your dog is seeking attention.  Are you giving it at the wrong time thus encouraging the bad behavior? Hmmm?

In this newsletter we'll talk about the attention seeking and boredom types of barking.  First of all you need to make sure to get plenty of exercise with your dog.  Sending your dog outside in the fenced yard is not exercising her.  Left alone in the yard, she'll get bored and start barking.  Then you'll start yelling from the house to "be quiet" and she'll congratulate herself for getting you to join in on the barking game by continuing to bark.  So, make sure first of all that you are taking your dog for walks, taking them to the park (especially the dog park if you have one) or wherever else you and your dog enjoy going to get some exercise.  Another thing you can do to occupy your dog while they are in the yard is to provide plenty of toys for him or her.  Kong toys are fabulous-they are durable, and you can put treats inside to make your dog work and concentrate on a task.  They are rewarded for their good behavior by getting the treat out of the toy.  You can keep these in the house and hide them everywhere while you are gone.

Now, to stop the barking.

There are many different methods, we'll talk about some here, with more to follow in upcoming issues. 

First of all start your training in a situation where the dog would usually bark.  Have treats and a spray or squeeze bottle containing water handy.  Stand next to the dog.  When he barks give him a spray or a squirt on the top of his snout.  A gentle spray or squeeze, no fire-hose type pressure, and don't shoot it into his eyes or nostrils.  You're just trying to startle him.  Say nothing.  When the dog barks again repeat the process.  You could also quietly and calmly repeat a phrase such as "no barking" or "be quiet" when he gets the spray, so that he associates your phrase with getting an annoying spray in the face.  After many repetitions your dog will start to get it.  When the same situation that would cause barking occurs, and the dog doesn't bark it's treat time and praise city for the dog. 

During the course of your training there are times when you might not be there to address the barking.  There are humane bark collars containing citronella which sprays the dog, or collars that emit a sound which startles the dog.  There are also sonic devices you can put in your house or even in your yard that emit a sound every time your dog barks, which can encourage them to stop.

The main keys are to realize why your dog is barking, then address the behavior, implement training with your dog, and reward the desired behavior immediately.