Urban Dog Living - Dog Crates

Condos are small spaces.   Does your dog have a place to call its own inside that small space?  I'm not talking about a fluffy cushion to lay on.   I'm talking about a dog crate.  Dog crates come in all styles, shapes and colors.  Most people will opt for a wire dog crate to allow airflow and be able to see the dog. 

Dog crates have two benefits; first they give your dog a place to call its own and second they give you a place to feed, and contain your dog.  Dog crates are also the second most important part of house breaking (the first being keeping the dog on a time-table).   Dogs don't want to go to the bathroom in a place they are sleeping. 

Tip for the day:
Choose a dog crate that is 4" longer (from nose to butt) and 4" taller than your dog.  Anything larger will be too big.  Don't use the "This Crate is recommended for" breed listings because they are usually incorrect.

Urban Dog Living - Why do other dogs not like my dog?

Living in the city can be stressful for people and dogs.   If you notice that other dogs constantly lunge and bark at your dog you should stop looking at the other dogs and look at yours.   Is your dog's head and tail going very high and stiff upon approach to the other dog?  Is your dog staring at the other dog?  If so you may have a dominate dog on your hands.  This can escalate to an aggressive dog if you don't take proper steps to re-train your dog.   

You need to follow the other training steps outlined on this blog.  Don't allow your dog to go through doors first.  Don't allow your dog to stare at other dogs, use the 'watch' command to keep them from intimidating other dogs.  What ever you do - do not take your dog to a high traffic area (lobby, dog park, elevator) and hang out.  This only stresses all the other dogs and owners out having to walk past your dog.  Not to mention how much stress this causes your dog.   You may think that you are 'desensitizing' the other dogs to your dog, but you are actually causing more problems for yourself.

Tip for the Day:

If your dog isn't neutered you may want to consider it.  Neutered male dogs can be much calmer and have less testosterone.

Urban Dog Living - Reading a Book (and walking the dog)

Everyone loves to sit in their favorite big chair with a book in hand and lose themselves in a good story.  Recently, I've noticed more people reading books while walking.  Whether they are walking to the metro, store, or their car they usually can't keep a straight line.   Even worse than just walking and reading now I've seen 3 different people out walking their dog too!  Yes, reading, walking, and taking the dog on said walk.

One woman (walking and reading) had an overly friendly Bernese Mountain Dog who would bound up to every hapless jogger and walker that happened to cross their path.  The woman didn't notice the other people until the dog jerked the book out of her line of site. 

Tip for the day:

Don't read and walk the dog. Don't read and walk at all.  Not only is it extremely hazardous, but when you add a dog into the mix you don't have any control.   Enjoy the time you have out with your dog.  Give yourself time to enjoy the scenery and the companionship of an animal who has waited all day to be with you.

Urban Dog Living - How Rude! - Buck and Gus

Let me introduce Jane.  Jane is a responsible dog owner and participates in obedience classes and agility with her 3 year old golden retriver Buck.   Buck has received many awards and ribbons for his excellent behavior and obedience.

Now let me introduce Bob.  Bob is a dog owner.  His labrador retriever Gus stopped going to puppy classes because Bob was frustrated that Gus wouldn't listen and was embarrassing him in class.  Gus is now 15 months old and doesn't have very good manners.

Jane and Bob have never met, but on a sunny morning their walks crossed paths.  Bob complimented Jane on how well behaved Buck was.   Jane put Buck in a sit stay next to her to tell Bob about the new dog store that was opening up in the next week.  Halfway through Jane's first sentence Bob allowed Gus to walk straight up to Buck and invaded his space.  Buck snapped his teeth together one time (like an alligator) to warn Gus that his behavior was unacceptable.   Bob let out an audible "whoa!" in surprise to Buck's reaction to Gus.  Bob pulled Gus back and then allowed him to approach Buck again.   Jane then pointed out that Gus had a very rude/direct approach for a dog.  Bob just turned and dragged Gus away mumbling about "dangerous golden retrievers"

Tip for the Day:
Obedience classes are a must for all dog owners.  They teach you how to teach your dog.  You can learn loads about dog behavior.  If Bob and Gus had stuck it out in their puppy class, Bob would have known that he shouldn't have allowed Gus to invade Buck's space.
Always Remember - The owner of the dog is responsible for the behavior of the dog.   In this case Buck's alligator snap in Gus's face was justifiable dog behavior.  Jane did not correct Buck for his behavior because Buck was telling Gus in dog-terms "do not do that"

Urban Dog Living - Police/Military/Working Dogs and your pet dog

"Common Sense is not so Common" - Voltaire

This is a topic that is a no brainer.  NEVER, EVER allow your dog to approach, interfere, socialize or even 'say hi' to any form of K9 working dog.   Unfortunately like Voltaire said not everyone exercises or even appears to have common sense.  I watched a woman allow her american bulldog to walk/wander (on leash) right up to a Secret Service K9 and it's handler.  If it wasn't for the fast handling and reaction of the K9 handler the bulldog would have had a chunk of it's side removed.  Luckily there was a whole inch and a half between the K9's teeth and the bulldog.   To make the interloper seem that much more intolerable she was on the phone during this entire encounter. 

Now this doesn't mean you cross the street or avoid every German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever or Giant Schnauzer.   The large police car or vehicle with "CAUTION K9" emblazoned on it should be enough of a clue.  The person accompanying the dog will usually be dressed like an officer (that's another clue).   These K9s are highly trained working animals.  They don't have to get along with anyone other than their handler.  Yes, there are some K9s that are social, but they are few and far between. 

Tip for the Day:
Always give a working dog a wide berth when out with your dog.  If you can't cross the street turn around and go the other way.  You can get a ticket for interfering with a working dog.  You can get a ticket if an officer doesn't like the way you are behaving around a K9.  They are considered law enforcement officers.

Urban Dog Living - Getting to the Dog Park

Dog parks, as mentioned in the last post are great places to exercise your dog.  Many dogs get very, very excited when they realize they are headed in the direction of the dog park.  Some are so excited that it can be painful and or difficult for the owner to keep a hold on the leash. 

If your dog drags you:
 a. out the door
b. toward the dog park
c. on you face through the gate into the dog park

You probably need to work on your "dog park approach walk".  This is a similar, but different approach than the loose leash walking and will require a lot of time and patience.   When your dog goes to take off like he has a rocket on his butt you need to have some salmon or other super stinky treat in hand.  Stop walking and wait for your dog to come back to you.  He has to come back to you on his own, don't call him back.  If you have been working on your loose leash walking your dog will probably come back to you faster.  
Keep in mind that his focus is on getting to the park, the treat would be nice, but the park is what he really, really wants.  Getting his attention to focus on you could take a little longer than normal.  This needs to be repeated for every instance the dog takes off.  Doing this on a weekend or day off is a good idea.   The idea is for the dog to learn: "If I want to get to the park I need to walk politely."
If your dog only gets excited when you are close to entering the gate you can practice your sit-stay at the gate while you open the gate and walk through first.  If the dog breaks the stay, take him back to where he got up and tell him to sit again. 

Tip for the Day:

Practicing walking like a sane, obedient dog towards the dog park is a great goal to aim for.   Keep in mind that once you start training the 'dog park approach walk' you need to keep the training ongoing.  That means every time you go to the park you need to be consistent in the training and behavior you expect from your dog.

Urban Dog Living - Canine Good Citizen Certification

The American Kennel Club has a certification program where you can have your dog tested to see if they are a Canine Good Citizen.  The minimum amount of obedience required for an urban dog is all covered in training for a CGC. 

Your dog will have to pass 10 tests which include:
Accepting a Friendly Stranger
Sitting Politely for Petting
Appearance and Grooming
Walking on a Loose Leash
Walking through a crowd
Sit/Down/Stay on Command
Coming when called
Reaction to another dog
Reaction to Distractions
Supervised Separation

The test is on a pass/fail basis.  If your dog fails any of the 10 elements they fail the whole test.  Jumping on people, growling, mouthing or pulling on the leash will result in a fail. 

This is a great goal for any pet-dog owner to aspire to because the AKC lets all dogs (regardless of their breed) participate.  Many training centers have CGC classes which help you train the basic obedience behaviors.   A good training center will offer a CGC test several times a year to its members.

Tip for the Day:
Run your dog through the tests listed above.   Can your dog successfully perform everything listed?  What do you need to work on?  Practice and get professional help if you need it.   Soon your dog too could be a Canine Good Citizen.

Urban Dog Living - Loose Leash Walking

One thing you can do as a dog owner is learn how to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash.  Not only will this make the walk more pleasant for you, but also for your dog.  A dog that can walk on a loose leash is more likely to be paying attention to its handler and less distracted by the crowded city around him.  A dog that is on a loose leash is easier to control. 

Tip for the Day:
Make sure you start with a hungry dog.  Depending on your dog's learning ability this could take a few minutes to a few days for them to figure out the 'game'.  The game you want them to learn is that when you pat your leg, and they come toward you.  They get a treat.  Simple as that.  First associate the leg patting with a treat while you are indoors.  Once the dog understands that when you pat your leg and he comes toward you he gets a treat then you can move outdoors.  Don't get frustrated if your dog doesn't understand or want to play the game outdoors.  Step back a few steps and start in a quiet park so the dog pays attention to you.  Once the dog realizes that you are playing the leg patting game start walking forward.  Let your dog go to the end of the leash, if they start to pull - stop walking and pat your leg.  If you did your base training correctly then the dog should turn and come toward you for a treat.  As you practice, the leg pat will become more of a warning to the dog that he is reaching the end of the line and shouldn't go much further.  This goes without saying, but all of this training should be done on a six foot leash.   You can substitute a noise or other gesture but the leg pat is the most obvious to the dog. 

Urban Dog Living - Gross stuff on the sidewalk

Americans create 4.5 pounds of solid waste/trash a day.   Put a lot of Americans in a city and you will find that there is a lot of that trash that doesn't make it into a trashcan.   To your dog's superb nose this smells like a feast.   Rib bones, left over greasy containers, bits of lo mein - these are easy pickings.   Your dog doesn't understand that eating this gross stuff will give him a tummy ache or a costly trip to the vet.  You, as the owner, need to be vigilant and steer your dog away from these temptations.  If you don't pay attention you could find your dog munching on someone's pile of vomit, and that would be disgusting.

Tip for the Day
Teach your dog the leave-it command.  The leave-it command can be used for everything from garbage to dogs to people.   It indicates to your dog that they should not be getting any closer to the item that is interesting him.   Start with your dog on leash, and indoors.   Put some hotdogs on a plate on the floor - out of reach of your dog.  Tell your dog to heel and walk past the hotdogs.  If your dog looks or tries to get the hotdogs, tell him 'leave-it' and give him a piece of cheese or other high value treat (while he is turned away from the hot dogs)   Repeat several times a day for a few weeks and then go out and try it in the real world. 

Urban Dog Living - Outdoor Dining and your Dog

Living in the city affords you and your dog many opportunities to dine outdoors at restaurants when the weather is nice.   Be sure to call ahead to make sure your chosen restaurant allows dogs on their patio for outdoor dining.  When you are seated at your table make sure your dog is out of the way.  Under the table or under your chair is a good place.  If the waiter trips over your dog you might be paying for more meals than you ordered!  On the table or on a chair are not acceptable no matter the size of your dog.  

Make sure your dog understands that this is not a place to beg or bother other patrons.  Not everyone wants to share their meal or space with your dog, be respectful of others.  If your dog bothers people you could be asked to leave.   Practice your down stays while eating dinner at home.  Have a mat or small blanket and teach your dog that during dinner time, that is where the dog will lay.  After you eat dinner then feed your dog.  He will learn that he won't get his dinner until you are finished.  This will come in handy when you are out dining and have to wait until you get home to feed your dog. 

Tip of the Day
Take a mat and put it on the floor.   When your dog comes to investigate the mat give them a treat and pat the mat to get them to lay down.   Start by just getting the dog to lay on the mat.   Gradually increase the duration and distance until your dog can lay quietly on his mat for the duration of your meal.   Once your dog can make it through a meal at home, then you can take him out for a meal at an outdoor restaurant or cafe.

Urban Dog Living - Exercise and your dog

Living in a city can present a unique challenge when exercising your dog.  People, cars, multiple street crossings; your dog will encounter more of these in one walk than any suburban dog would in a week.   You need to make sure you are exercising your dog enough too.   Herding, hunting, terriers, hound breeds will require much more exercise to keep them physically and mentally fit than others.   Again this is just a short list.  You need to base your exercise regime on your dog's personal energy level.  Older dogs or dogs with medical problems will require less outdoor exercise and might be more stimulated by a treat dispensing ball.

In any urban environment it is tempting to use the church yard, ball park or other open field to let your dog run off leash.   Unfortunately most cities have laws and ordinances requiring dogs to remain on leash.  This is done for everyone's safety.   If your dog rushes into a group of children on the playground, not only have you made all dog owners look bad, you probably have scarred most of those children for a good long time.   Use common sense.  Don't use school yards when school is in session or there are children around. 

Tip for the Day:

Train your dog to sit when you stop at every curb.  In an urban environment there is no shortage of opportunities to practice this behavior.   Not only could it save your dog's life in a pinch, but you dog's good manners will be noticed and appreciated by the entire neighborhood.

Urban Dog Living - Passing People and other dogs indoors

Living in an urban environment means sharing indoor common areas.  Whether these are hallways, entryways or lobbies there are a lot of areas that you will have to take your dog through to get to the outside.   Unless you work a swing shift chances are pretty good that you will run into other dog owners and people.  The same rules apply for passing people and dogs inside as they do outside.  The difference is that you might not be able to turn around and go the other way.  

Make sure your dog is always on the outside (on the side away from people and other dogs).   Don't allow your dog to stare, focus on, sniff or otherwise acknowledge the people or dogs you are trying to pass.  Nothing is more intimidating in dog-language than the stare.  How comfortable are you (as a human) when somebody stares you down and doesn't look away?   If you dog is focused on you they won't be able to get into trouble.

Respect other people's schedules and that other dog owner might not have time for a greeting nor want their dog to interact with yours.  Keep your dog close to you while traveling through crowded common areas.  The person heading to work will not care how friendly your dog is if Poochy is jumping on their new suit with muddy paws.

Tip for the day:

Work on the "watch" command with your dog.  When at home without distractions, take a treat and wait for your dog to look you in the eyes.  Say "yes" or use a clicker to mark the behavior.   Once the dog understands that "watch" means to look at you, you can increase the duration of their behavior and eventually effectively use the "watch" command to get your dog to focus on you while moving throughout the shared areas of your community.

Urban Dog Living - Service Dogs and your Pet Dog

Living in an urban area means that your dog not only will see a lot of pet dogs, but you may also encounter a service dog.   Lots of cities are home to people with disabilities who have a service dog to assist them.  The most important thing you need to remember is that a service dog is working when with it's handler.  It is not a pet, and you should not let your dog approach, distract, or otherwise interfere with the service dog.  Most states have laws that protect service dogs.  If your pet dog does anything that hurts or otherwise impedes a service dog's work you could face fines or even a lawsuit depending on the damage. 

Keep in mind that it can cost upwards of $50,000 and 2-3 years to fully raise and train a service dog.  That is thousands of hours to create a very specific helper for a disabled person.  A service dog can open up huge opportunities for a disabled person.  Do you really want your friendly/exuberant dog to ruin a service dog's training? As a result the handler could then lose their independence and freedom because your pet dog "just wanted to say hi".

Tip for the day:

If you are out walking your pet dog and see a service dog approaching with its handler either cross to the other side of the street or have your dog sit/stay on the side of the sidewalk (if he is capable of doing so) - give the working team ample space.    Don't allow your dog to stare at the service dog.  Service dogs can look very different than average pet dogs.  They wear harnesses and capes and can sometimes look bigger or weird to a pet dog. 

Urban Dog Living - Passing dogs and people on the sidewalk

Cities are crowded.  People, cars, trucks, and for dog owners - lots of dogs.   In the urban environment you should assume that no one wants their dog to interact with your dog.   As rude as this sounds; how many times have you been on the bus or subway and someone has tried to strike up a conversation with you, but you don't feel like chatting?   Similar to people, dogs don't chat with every dog they see.  You don't walk down the street and say hello to everyone you see do you?  Your dog shouldn't have to either.

If you have to pass another dog make sure you put your dog on the outside of the sidewalk, away from the other dog.  Also keep your leash short.   A good "leave-it" command can be enough to encourage your dog to ignore the other dog. 

When you have people coming down the sidewalk toward you, again call your dog to you and have them heel next to you.   Make sure they are not on the side that the person will pass you on.   This can help prevent the dog from sniffing or jumping on the stranger.   Not only does it show that you have control over your dog, but also that you care about giving everyone a chance to not have to interact with your dog.

There are dog owners out there who believe that Poochy can be free to roam off leash or at the end of a 1508' leash.   If you see these people coming simply cross to the other side of the street, or turn around and walk the other direction.  Don't let their shameful behavior ruin your dog's training.

Tip for the day:
Practice calling your dog back to you while out on a walk.   Let them wander to the end of the 6' leash, then at random intervals call their name with whatever recall command you use.   Use treats profusely.  This could save your dogs life should a bus turn in front of you or if he were to dart after a squirrel into traffic.

Urban Dog Living - Elevators

Elevators are used everyday by urban dogs around the world.  Most owners don't think twice about entering the elevator with their dog.   Have you ever looked at the occupants or asked if they were comfortable with having a dog in that confined space with them?   Unlike the TARDIS from Dr. Who, an elevator isn't larger on the inside.  Believe it or not, there are people who would rather not have Poochy jumping on their business suit right before their presentation.

Tip for the day:
 When the elevator arrives at your floor and already has occupants, ask them if they are comfortable sharing the elevator.   Make sure that you (the person) are the first one entering the elevator.  This is the following through doorways rule from the first post.   Have your dog sit by your side.   Even if it takes the entire ride to get your dog to sit, you must persevere.  Bring treats for bribery.   The work that you are doing will pay off in the end and you will have a calm, welcome, canine elevator traveling companion.

Urban Dog Living - Leashes, Collars, and Harnesses

There are many choices out there when it comes to collars and harnesses for your dog.   Leashes, on the other hand, should only come in one length - 6 feet.   The reason for this is simple; when you train your dog the one thing you want is consistency.   When the length of the leash is never fixed (Flexi-Leash) how does the dog know when he is going to hit the end of the line?  He never can be sure, he only knows that he needs to get as far away from you as fast as possible to get the most freedom.  This doesn't bode well for having a well mannered urban dog.

When choosing which tool (collar or harness) you need to know how to use it.  A tool is only as good as its operator.  Read the internet, talk to experts and learn the correct fit for which ever collar you decide to use.  I'm not going to suggest that any collar or harness is superior to the other.  You need to choose which tool will be most effective to control your dog.

The following collars and harnesses are designed to be used with a 6 foot leash and should never be used with a flexi-leash.

• A front walk harness (harness that attached to the leash in the front of the dog's chest)
• Head Halter (Gentle Leader, Halti)
• Prong Collar (How to Properly Fit a Prong Collar)
• Slip Collar (also incorrectly called a choke chain)
• Scruffy Guider (scruffyguider.com)

The reason for this is simple: all of these specialty products are designed to prevent the dog from pulling by making it awkward or uncomfortable.  If the dog becomes desensitized to the sensations that are supposed to discourage him from pulling you will have a much harder time training and controlling your dog. 

If you have to use a flexi-leash use it with a flat buckle collar or a normal harness and don't use it in any urban area. 

One more thought: the last six foot leather leash I purchased didn't come with a warning label that talked about finger amputation, abrasions, severe cuts, serious injuries to eyes or face.  Such as this warning that comes with a flexi leash (and is also posted on their website):

 This is an improvement over the 2 pages that they used to put in with every leash.