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 - 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 - The Ever Exciting Car Ride!

Going for a car ride can be an exciting event for any dog.  Whether you have a car or not it helps to have a well mannered dog in your vehicle.  If you have a car (or a friend who can let you practice with theirs) you can teach your dog to enter and exit the car in a controlled manner.  Teach your dog to sit before the door opens.  If he jumps up while you are opening the door, simply close the door and get him to sit again.  He will quickly learn that if his but stays on the ground he gets to go in the car!  Repeat for the exit.  Poochie needs to wait for a release command before he can exit the car.   This will come in handy when you are parked in a tight spot with traffic buzzing by.

When traveling with Poochie remember to buckle him in!  A dog seatbelt or dog crate are the best options.  I have read many stories of dogs surviving car accidents because they were in crates and not loose in the car.   Think of how many times you have to stop abruptly when out driving in the city.  Taxis and tourists are the main culprit.   Now imaging Poochie flying through the front of the windshield because you failed to secure him.  That is a horrible visual, but let it be a reminder to buckle Poochie up or put him a secure crate or carrier everytime.

Tip for the Day:
There are many soft sided crates that are lightweight and easy to transport even for the normal sized Labrador sized dog.  They also come in handy when using a car sharing service such as Zipcar which require pets to be in carriers.

Urban Dog Living - Wild Animals and Your Dog

Even in the big cities wildlife finds a way to sneak in.   Last week in Washington D.C. alone there was a Bear and a Red Panda running wild.  Foxes, Raccoons, Possums, and Squirrels are some of the wildlife that are more common in the city.  These are also the creatures that can carry rabies.   Be on the lookout for nocturnal animals that are still out and about when the sun is out. 

Tip for the Day:
Always make sure your dog is current on his vaccines.  Also teach your dog the leave it command.  A crazy wild animal running toward your dog is not the time you want to start teaching your dog that he needs to get away.  The shots for a Human who has been exposed to rabies are not cheap and they are very painful.

Urban Dog Living - Housebreaking in a Highrise

Teaching a new puppy to go to the bathroom outdoors is almost a right of passage for new puppy parents.   In the city urban puppies have to be trained to hold their pees and poos a little longer than their suburban cousins. 

As a general rule of thumb your puppy can hold their bladders about 1 hour for each month of their age.   An 8 week old puppy shouldn't go more than 2 hours without a potty break.   If you have a job that allows you to work from home this makes the training a little easier.  If you work for 9 hours a day you will have to hire someone or ask a neighbor to take your dog out for you.

If your puppy is small enough you can carry them quickly outside to get to the designated bathroom location.   Once they go to the bathroom praise them and give them a treat.   If they have an accident in the house calmly ignore them and clean it up quickly.   Do not yell or hit the dog.  This only confuses the dog and makes training more difficult.

Tip for the Day:
Make sure you keep your puppy on a schedule.   Take your puppy out at the same time (or as close to the same time as you can) every day.  This will allow the puppy to know how long he needs to hold it in.

Additional Tip:
Adult dogs (dogs over 18 months of age) should never be left for more than 9 hours without a break.

Urban Dog Living - The Door Bolter

City dogs can get really excited when it comes time for walkies.   How many times have you opened the door and Poochy has bolted through and is in the hallway or out on the front porch?   Not only is this a problem of safety, it can be a huge headache if you were trying to leave without Poochy.

Teach your dog to sit before entering or exiting your front door.   All doors for that matter.  Once your dog learns that he has to sit politely for the door to open you will have a more sane start to your walk.

Tip for the day:
If you have trouble getting your dog to sit back from the door you can install a gate.   This works if you have a hallway toward your front door.   Otherwise you can train your dog to wait in his crate until you are ready to go.   This can help tame the Houdini in your pooch.

Urban Dog Living - Running Errands with your Dog

In the city it seems like a good idea to combine your dog walk and grocery run.   In reality this is a horrible idea.   Most of the dogs you see tied outside of the grocery store are nice, docile dogs that wouldn't give anyone trouble if they came up and took them away.  

In June of 2009 Tyler Newby and his daughter left their dog Molly, a vizsla, tied up outside of a Whole Foods.  When they came out only her leash was left.  This led them on a month and a half search to try to find their dog.   In the end it turned out that  a mentally ill woman walked by and unclipped Molly.  Molly followed the woman.   The police were involved and eventually Molly was reunited with her family.  This is a very uncommon ending, most dogs are either sold for research or fighting or killed.   According to the AKC, dog thefts were up 32% in 2011 and up 70% in 2012. 

So to make a long story short; make a dog walk time and a grocery time.   Your best friend isn't worth the risk.  It is also is against the law in most states to leave a dog unattended.

Tip for the Day:
If you must take Poochy to the store with you there is an innovative leash that securely locks your dog to a solid object.  It is called the StayBoyTM   Lock.   They are available on stayboylock.com  

 

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 Owner's Commitment

When you take the Canine Good Citizen certification test you, the owner, sign a pledge.   I believe it is something that every owner should live by whether or not they aspire to pass the CGC.

I have reposted it here for everyone to read, understand and embrace.
*****

Canine Good Citizen Owner's Commitment to Responsible Dog Ownership

I  understand that to truly be a Canine Good Citizen, my dog needs a responsible owner.  I agree to maintain my dog's health, safety, and quality of life.  By Participating in the Canine Good Citizen test, I agree:

I will be responsible for my dog's health needs.  These include:

• routine veterinary care including check-ups and vaccines
• adequate nutrition through proper diet, clean water at all times
• daily exercise and regular bathing and grooming

I will be responsible for my dog's safety.

• I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, not letting my dog run loose, and using a leash in public
•  I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip ID)

I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.

• I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood
• I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.
• I will pickup and properly dispose of my dog's waste in all public areas such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, parks, etc.

• I will pickup and properly dispose of my dog's waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, campgrounds and off-leash parks. 

I will be responsible for my dog's quality of life.

• I understand the basic training is beneficial to all dogs
• I will give my dog attention and playtime
• I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring
  
  
  Tip for the day:
  Are you living up to the pledge listed above?   What can you change in your daily habits to have a healthier and happier dog?  Don't just think about that change!  Implement it!

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 - Jumping on People

Image you are waiting to cross the street, you are running late, and you are focused on getting to the subway station to catch the next train which leaves in 4 minutes.   You look to your right and see a little boy and his mom waiting to cross the street.   Quicker than you can say 'oh crap' the little boy jumps off the curb into a muddy puddle, splashing your new work outfit with muck.   You shout in surprise, but the boy's mother doesn't even acknowledge you.  When you get her attention and let her know that her son has caused a problem, she looks at you and says something along the lines of "Well it's just a little dirt, you'll be fine."   You would consider this person exceptionally rude, even a little mean hearted.   

Yet, across cities around the world - people are jumped on by dogs, clean or otherwise.   Why does society accept a dog jumping up on them?  In short, they don't.  People are just too nice to point out that your dog has just muddied their best work pants.   As a responsible dog owner you need to teach your dog that jumping on people is unacceptable.  This is an easy trick to train.   Every time you enter the room make the dog sit before you pet him.   Before you give the dog his food or a treat make the dog sit.   If the dog keeps jumping, turn your back on him with your arms folded.  This sends a strong message to the dog that jumping will not get your attention. 

Tip for the Day:
Practice having your dog sit instead of jumping.   If your dog tends to jump after he sits, stand on the leash so he will not have an opportunity to jump.   Practice sits before everything that excites the dog.  If you have a neighbor that can excite your dog by just screaming his name, kindly inform them you are working on training and would prefer if they didn't get your dog revved up.   With practice your dog will sit when approached by people - anticipating a treat for their good behavior.

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 - Children and Dogs

Children are naturally curious.  They see a fluffy dog and want to go and touch it and play!  That might be well and good if the child is yours and the dog is also yours.   Dogs and children can get along just fine when supervised.

If you have children make sure they know to never approach a strange dog.  Alternatively, teach them how to behave if the strange dog approaches them.  In general when dealing children and dogs it is best to err on the side of caution and not have them interact.

As a dog owner in an urban environment you need to know how your dog will react to children.  They are not seen as "little humans" by a dog, they are seen as a fast moving, high pitched screeching, little things to either a) chase or b) tackle or c) insert horrible thought here.  If your dog has been properly socialized to ignore or otherwise be aloof to children you don't need to be as vigilant.  If your dog isn't as polite you need to let the parent of the child know to keep their child away.

Tip of the Day
Practice observing your dog's behavior when he is near children.   Not while you are 3 feet away, but while you are across the street.  If his tail and ears are standing up very high and he shows too much interest in the children, distract him with a treat.   You want him to associate children with paying attention to you (and treats).   Once your dog is 100% focused on you around children that are far away you can reduce the distance.   Your goal is to have your dog be able to pass through a group of children and only be focused on you.  Keep in mind that this could take months of work, but if you persevere you can have a well behaved dog around the worst behaved child!

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 - Technology and your Dog

In this super connected world we live in it can be hard to put the smart phone away.   Email, text, and phone calls are now almost as addicting as nicotine.  As tempting as it is to talk on the phone, text or compose an email - resist the urge when walking your dog.  

Cities are crowded, busy, and (potentially) dangerous places for people (and dogs) who are not paying attention.   People get hit by cars while running and listening to music.   Now imagine you are writing an email and your dog wanders into the street - but you don't see it - yes that is not a pretty picture. Paying attention to your dog means that you both will enjoy the walk.  Your neighbors will also enjoy that you are aware of what dog is doing is while you are out.

Tip for the Day
Put away your phone, ipod, and other distractions and enjoy your walk with your dog.   Practice obedience during your walk instead.   2 - 45 minute walks a day training your dog rather than texting adds up to be 10.5 hours worth of free training time a week!   If you were to attend a 7 week dog training course you would only get 7 hours of training over the course of 7 weeks.   Most dog training classes run anywhere from $100 - $350 for a 7 week course.  In that same 7 weeks (if you practice only 90 minutes a day with your dog) you could have trained your dog for 73.5 hours! 

Urban Dog Living - Fire Safety and your Dog

High density urban housing can be dangerous in the event of a fire or emergency.   Just like you would practice a fire drill with your children, practice evacuating your condo or apartment with your dog.   Make sure you can get your dog's leash and your dog out in a timely manner when the fire alarms are not blaring. 

If you are unlucky enough to live in a condo where most people can't cook you will have more opportunities to practice evacuating with your dog while the sirens are blaring.  Remember that dog's hearing is much more acute than our own.   Try to get your dog out of the building as fast as you safely can.  If your dog is smaller pick it up and carry it out of the building.

Keep your dog's leash easily accessible by the front door and always make sure you return it there after your walk.   In an emergency you want to be able to grab your dog, his leash and get out.

Tip for the Day:

Practice calling your dog to you when you are standing at the door.  Once he is coming reliably have a friend or spouse test the fire alarm.   This may frighten your dog.  Call them to you while you are standing by the front door.  Repeat this over several weeks.   They will learn that while that the alarm is blaring they should come to you and not run and hide.

Urban Dog Living - Off leash dogs and you or How to break up a dog fight

Living in urban areas doesn't lend itself to let your dog off leash frequently.   Most people will walk their dogs on leash.  If you and your dog are approached by an loose dog you should position yourself between your dog and the other dog.   Hold out your hand like a crossing guard and shout "NO!" at the loose dog.   This will usually startle the loose dog enough to discourage them from approaching closer (or allow the owner of the loose dog a chance to come and collect their dog).

If the loose dog doesn't have friendly intentions then you will have a problem.   If the loose dog charges your dog and starts to fight your dog - drop your leash.   Your dog is at a disadvantage if you are yanking on the leash.   DO NOT grab at the collars of the dogs to separate them, you will be putting yourself in the middle of the melee.   Grab one of the dogs by the back legs, lift the legs in the air like a wheelbarrow and back away quickly and swing the dog away from the fight.   This is done easiest by 2 people, one for each dog in the fight.   By grabbing the back legs you will make it nearly impossible for the dog to swing around and chomp you.   This is the worst case scenario, but it can happen.   Being prepared can save you and your dog.

Tip for the Day:

Again! Practice your recall with your dog on leash.   There are hundreds of opportunities to practice this on a walk.  Let your dog walk to the end of the 6' leash and then call "Poochy come!"  while running backwards.   Make it fun and bring lots of treats!   If you are the most exciting thing - your dog will come running!   Once your dog is 110% on coming every time you call -then you can go to the dog park and practice around distractions.  

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.