Tips on Moving with Your Pet

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Tips for Moving with Your Dog Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com/ (801) 910-1700 When it's time to move into your new house, whether it's across town or across the country, your moving day checklist includes packing up your four-legged family members. And while moving with pets is a stressful time for you...it's undoubtedly just as stressful for your pets. Here are some tips to make moving into your new home as stress-free as possible for everyone in your family especially your pets! First of all, start by looking at the move from your pet's point of view. Their current home is more than their home; it's their territory. Dogs tend to adjust much more easily to moves than cats. That's because new puppy owners are encouraged to socialize their puppy to get him used to new people, new smells and other dogs. So, from the time they're young, dogs are out and about. For both cats and dogs, sticking to the routine after the move is very important. Maintaining the same schedule for treats, grooming and bedtime will help your pet acclimate even more quickly. And walking your dog at the same time each day will also help him transition into his new home. Before The Move: Preparing Your Pets Consider taking your dog to your new neighborhood for walks before you move in. Walk by your new house and let your dog familiarize himself with the scents of the neighborhood. Go inside the new house if possible. Or try to bring something from the new house to your dog so he can familiarize himself with its unique smell. While you're packing, try not to isolate your dog in a dog crate. Instead, include him while you pack and move boxes, allowing him to investigate the activity. If your dog is crated or isolated in a room by himself while the rest of the family packs and prepares to move, he'll likely feel nervous which could lead to stress-related behaviors such as hyperactivity, jumping or barking. It's Moving Day: What Should I Do with My Pets? One option is to assign a responsible family member to be the dedicated dog sitter (choose someone who won't be responsible for packing or moving on moving day). But it might be less stressful for your family and your dog if you have a dog-loving friend watch your dog for the day. Planning for A Long-Distance Move with Your Pets If your move is long-distance, your pets will need to be crate-trained well before your move. On the day of your move, your pets should be wearing collars including up-to-date rabies tags and your new address and phone number. If you're driving, plan stops along the way to ensure you'll find pet friendly hotels. If your trip involves air travel, be sure to ask the airline about their pet travel requirements. You'll need to keep a copy of your pet's veterinarian records in your carry-on luggage. How Dogs Adjust to a New Home Your dog will most likely want a VIP tour of his new home. Once the movers have left and you and your dog have the house to yourself, let him make the rounds inside and outside. Walk him on a leash during this initial introduction so he feels safe and secure by your side. The sooner he gets used to the new smells of his new environment, the sooner he'll feel at home. Because a dog needs space and room to exercise, your dog might take more time to adjust if you're moving from a larger house to a smaller house or apartment. But just like cats, dogs will appreciate getting back to the established routine as soon as possible. Taking walks at your usual time and sticking to the same route for several days will help your dog adjust. If possible, allow yourself a few extra days to spend at home with your pet after the move and before returning to work. During this period of adjustment, you can begin to stay away from home for short periods of time to get your pets used to being alone in their new space. Do not leave your dog unattended outside during this adjustment period. Dogs have been known to jump fences in an attempt to return to their old, familiar territory. Veterinarian Advice and Moving with Your Pets If you've moved a long distance, now is the perfect time to ask your new neighbors to recommend a new veterinarian for your pets. Schedule a "get to know you" visit for your pets as soon as possible so you have a vet in the event of a veterinary emergency. Just like people, every pet is unique and has a personality all their own. Because you know your pet better than anyone, you can probably predict how smoothly the transition will go. If you know that your pet is extremely skittish, talk to your veterinarian well beforehand about your concerns. He or she can recommend medication to help sedate your pet during this stressful time, if it's absolutely necessary.

The Groundwork to Establishing Pack Structure with Dogs

The Groundwork to Establishing Pack Structure with Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com/ (801) 910-1700 This is especially important with dogs that are predisposed to becoming dominant or aggressive. Becoming a pack leader involves adopting the attitude of a pack leader. It does not involve aggression towards a dog, it doesn’t involve rolling him on his back, hard leash corrections or even raising your voice to the dog. It involves adopting a leader's attitude. This is something that new dog owners must learn how to do. Every dog knows a leader when he is in the presence of one. They can sense a leader. They don’t need leash corrections to consider their owner a pack leader. In fact, inappropriate corrections often result in a dog looking at the offender with contempt rather than respect. When we bring a new dog into our home the decision we make on how we live with that dog and the methods used to train that dog have long term implications on what kind of relationship we develop with the dog. I tell people “they may not think of themselves as a dog trainer, but the fact is every time we are around our dog we are teaching the dog something. The question is “are we teaching it something good or something bad?” T he Solutions to Most Behavioral Problems The solution to almost all behavioral problems lies within changes owners need to make in the way they live with their dogs. Unlike humans, dogs live in the present. Human psychologists almost all focus on the past to find answers to current problems. This is fine for a human but it's a mistake to think that this is how to fix a pack animal. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that modifications to training don’t need to be made for a dog that was truly abused. The fact is the term "abuse" is used far too often when trying to explain behavioral problems. I always tell pet owners that I never change my philosophy of how to live with or train a dog just because it had a bad experience in the past. It's Never Too Late I want to make a point here and that is if you currently have a problem with your dog, it’s never too late to consider making changes on how you live with your dog. In fact, if you have a problem, it’s imperative that YOU DO MAKE CHANGES because the way you have been living with your dog has allowed these problems to develop. So, it’s never too late to turn things around. It’s never too late to start to do things correctly. You just need the patience and confidence in what you are doing to fix your problems. The First Weeks When I bring a new adult into our home, I socially isolate the dog for a period of time. With some dogs this may only be for 3 or 4 days. With dominant dogs it can be weeks. Social isolation means that I take care of the dog's basic needs: feeding, water, walking and providing a clean place to sleep, but nothing else. I don’t pet the dog, I don’t play with the dog, I don’t talk sweet to the dog. I act like it is not there. I act aloof to the dog. During this social isolation period the only time the dog is out of the crate while in the house is when it is on its way outside. Now I need to say that this is not what we do with our puppies. We use dog crates and ex-pens but the fact is puppies are treated a little differently. Always On a Leash The instant I let the dog out of the crate I hook a leash to him so he is always under complete control. During this period, I never have the dog off leash-- not even when I walk him from the crate to the door. When the time comes that I do allow him more time out of the crate, he is always on a leash. If I watch TV he is on leash and laying by my feet. If I work on the computer, he is on leash tethered to my desk. He does not have free run of the house for weeks. In fact, when a house dog starts to misbehave in the house (chew or mark) it needs to go back in the crate and stay on leash when it's in the house. Being loose in the house is an earned privilege. Pet owners often forget this. It becomes crystal clear to the dog that I am in total control of its life and its environment. I can’t over emphasize how important that is to a pack animal. While formal training on an adult dog may not start for several weeks or even a month there is a lot that the dog can learn while you wait. The dog needs to learn that this is his new home and I am his new pack leader. I want to begin the bonding process before I take it out and expect it to do formal obedience work. Keeping the dog on leash and controlling every aspect of its life allows for the opportunity to show that I am fair and that I don’t issue unwarranted corrections. Learning to be consistent and fair goes a long way towards fruitful 2-way relationship.

How to Calm Your Dog During Storms

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity How to Calm Your Dog During Storms Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com/ (801) 910-1700

There are several strategies for calming a dog during a storm. • Stay Calm: The best thing to do is to remain calm around your dog during a thunderstorm. Making a big fuss around the dog only proves to him that there is a good reason to panic. Dogs look to us for reassurance. So, showing them we are calm and relaxed is likely to help the dog understand there is no real danger. • . • Create a Safe Space: Give your dog a safe indoor space to go when he’s scared. If your dog is crate-trained, he may feel most secure in his crate with a nice chew toy to occupy his time. Cover wire crates with a blanket to help absorb the sound and leave the door open so he doesn’t feel trapped. If your dog doesn’t have a crate or isn’t used to it, try creating a safe place elsewhere. Scope out a calm place in your home where you can set up your dog’s bed during the thunderstorm. Consider giving him a treat-stuffed toy to make the occasion positive. Close the blinds or curtains of any windows so he can’t see outside. • • Distract Him: If your dog is afraid of thunder, turn on the TV or calming music to drown out the noise. If he’s feeling playful, grab his toys and have some fun with him. Be sure to reward him with his favorite treats, too. Really, do what you can to create positive associations with the sound of thunder • • Prepare for the Next Storm: Try desensitizing your dog to the sounds of thunder. Play those sounds quietly in the background as you play games or give treats. Do this around the time when good things happen, like dinner, play time or going for a walk If your dog is reacting in a positive manner, then you can gradually increase the volume of the noises at a pace that your dog is comfortable with. Over the course of a few weeks to months, this can help him associate the sounds of thunderstorms with happy times. • • Talk to Your Veterinarian: Your veterinarian is the best person to talk to when it comes to dogs and thunder. They may recommend a vest, shirt or wrap that applies light, constant compression. This can help alleviate anxiety (similar to calming a baby with swaddling). If your dog’s storm anxiety is severe, ask your veterinarian for alternative remedies to help him feel calmer. They may recommend a product like Calming Care, particularly if you live in an area prone to thunderstorms. Remember to practice positive reinforcement with your dog. Don’t scold or punish him for his thunder phobia—his behavior is the result of fear, not disobedience. Teaching your dog new and pleasant associations is the best way to calm a dog during a storm.