Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

January is National Train Your Dog Month and to celebrate, Paws and Prayers is giving its blog readers a treat. Have you recently adopted a dog? Would you like to learn more about what makes your 4-legged kid tick? How to improve the bond between you and your furry friend? Look no further—we have compiled a list of “DOs” and “DON'Ts” to help give you the tools to make you a perfect pet parent!

DO develop and keep a consistent routine in your household. Involve everyone in your family when working on obedience training. Dogs need everyone to be on the same page (kids included, as much as they are able) when learning, as dogs need to generalize behavior across a variety of settings. For example: if you have been training your dog to stay off the furniture and someone allows the dog up on the sofa to nap, the dog will begin to assume she can always nap on the sofa. If you are attending obedience classes, make sure everyone in your family attends when they’re able—that way, everyone gets a chance to bond with the dog and learn what she’s learning. A consistent routine will also help your dog acclimate to her new home and allow her to learn when she may expect to be walked, pottied, fed, or given play time.

DO use positive reinforcements. Remember the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?” It’s true! Dogs learn best by operant and classical conditioning: perform a behavior, get a reward; lather, rinse, repeat! Positive reinforcers include yummy treats (use high value treats like pieces of chicken, liver, or hot dogs for “important” behaviors or to make sure your dog is paying attention to the best of his ability). They also include affection and excited, high-pitched praise (“GOOD BOY!”).
Once this behavior is well learned, the food reinforcements may be able to be weaned; however, verbal praise and affection is always valuable! You CANNOT reward good behavior enough!

DO practice obedience training in short bursts of time. Just like children, dogs have short attention spans and can be easily frustrated when presented with difficult or repetitive tasks over a long period of time. It is more helpful to practice basic commands, for example, several times per day in 10 minute increments.

DON’T become angry at your dog for something you didn’t see them do. Dogs are not able to deduce WHY they are getting in trouble for chewing the furniture when they were home alone; rather, they do figure out that when their human comes home, they are yelled at. The dog therefore learns to fear their human, which can lead to other undesirable behaviors. Dogs do not possess the same human powers of reasoning, morality, or the ability to do things “out of spite.”

DON’T use physical punishment to modify your dog’s behavior. This includes “dominance theory.” Such approaches have been proven by research to be ineffective and is very likely to escalate unwanted behaviors. Remember, we want the dog to associate WONDERFUL things with behaving properly! The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) strongly recommends against any trainer who:

• Advocates the owner to assert himself as “alpha” or to make the dog “submit”
• Focuses training on the use of choke, prong, or shock collars
• Recommends “alpha rolls,” “scruffing,” “helicoptering,” “choking,” or any other painful or physical methods of “training” or modifying behavior
• Instructs owners to yell at their dog, knee him in the chest/abdomen, yanking the collar constantly, or hitting the dog

DON’T give your dog more responsibility than she’s ready to handle. Set her up for success! Some puppies and dogs do best in smaller spaces, especially when left alone. Especially while your dog is going through the familiarization process with her new home and learning what is expected of her, it is helpful to utilize crate training or baby gates to contain the dog to a smaller area. When you are home, it can be helpful to utilize an “umbilical cord” approach: leash the dog inside the house and keep her with you as you go about your day. She will always be within your eyesight and can be immediately stopped from undesirable behaviors and redirected to expected, “proper” behavior. This approach is also very useful for potty training. As the dog becomes more successful, you can then modify the size of the contained area and length of time you are away. You can also incorporate this with positive reinforcements by using VERY special treats such as stuffed Kongs for when you go away for the day.

Training your dog is one of the most important steps you can take to have a happy, healthy, and well-socialized dog. Obedience classes, whether private or in a group, can be a wonderful way to bond with your dog as you learn and grow together. Asking your vet for a recommendation or going to www.apdt.com can assist you in finding a qualified trainer in your area.

To help you accomplish your training goals, we’ve included some helpful resources to arm you with the knowledge you need. We hope your 2013 will be a happy one for you and your furry friend!

Donaldson, Jean (1996). The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs.

McConnell, Patricia (2007). For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend.

McConnell, Patricia and London, Karen (2011). Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog Into Your Home.

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB): www.dacvb.org

Rugaas, Turid (2006). On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, 2nd ed.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT): www.apdt.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1 2 3 4

Uh, hi.  He-hello there.  I am Yama.  Pa-Pa-Paws and Prayers is featuring me this month so you can learn more about me.  I, uh, I'm not too sure what all to tell ya.  They, they told me you might like to know what my favorite things are and what my typical day is like.  I hope you like my story.  My foster mom says we're, uh, we're working on my conf-confidence.  Well here goes . . .

So, well, I'm with my Pa-Paws and Prayers foster family - a great family with th-three kids and two d-dogs of their own.  I LOVE my foster mom.  I hear her alarm clock go off  and I'm up, I'm up and ready to start the day.  I help my foster mom get up and ready for the day, too.  She'll reach for her snooze button as I nuzzle her neck.  She ends up mumbling something about me not having a snooze button and gets up to let me outside on my tie out.

I love to be outside and like my tie out.  A fenced yard would be great and all, but uh, well, I uh jump four-foot fences like it's no big deal.  Well it isn't a big deal for me, I can jump it real good.  But as mom says, the tie out is safest for me.  And I'm fine with it, I can still play with the other dogs.  I LOVE playing with other dogs so much.  We either take the play back inside or I wear myself out and take a break on the love seat.
Now after all that play I've worked up my appetite.

While I may not be confident and as sure of myself as I should be, there's one thing I know for sure - I cannot have my breakfast without warm water.  If my foster mom forgets to put warm water on my food I won't eat it until there is.  After 3 months so far with her, I've uh, I've got her trained pretty well, she almost never forgets anymore.

When I've finished my breakfast, it's back outside before everyone heads off to work and school for the day.  This is def-definitely my least favorite part of the day.  Because I have some uh, some separation anxiety I do need to go in a, a crate.  When left out I get into stuff I know I'm not supposed to, chew on things that are not supposed to be chewed on . . . Well, I don't let a crate stop me from trying to relieve my stress like that.  I am very crafty and am able to move my crate to get into stuff.  My foster family has outsmarted me now though and keeps my crate on carpet so I can't move it.

Everyone eventually d-does come back home and I get to go back outside!  I play and play the night away with the other dogs.  Sometimes I'll rest on the love seat but usually I'm playing!  With everyone running around doing the evening things they do, I typically stay out of the way and keep to myself when I'm not playing with my dog friends.

Things start settling down as the night goes and once the kids go to bed I get some one-on-one time with my foster mom.  I get to cuddle up and lay beside on her the couch.  I'm, uh, I'm not too sure about my f-foster d-dad still.  For the first couple months, I avoided him at all costs and would run the other way if I saw him coming.  I'm a lover not a fighter.  I do not show any signs of aggression when I'm afraid.  No s-snarls, growls, or c-curled lips.  N-nothing like that.  I'll just work to avoid whatever it is.  I don't know why I'm scared around my f-foster dad, I just am.  N-now, I'm a little more comfortable being around him but still not comfortable enough to approach him.

My lover not a fighter take on things makes me a good watch dog too.  If I hear someone at the door, I bark to let you know.  But my job ends there.  If they come in, I hide.

Well, anyway, after a day of playing and eating and then cuddling with my foster mom, it's time for bed.  I get to sleep in my foster parents bedroom.  S-sometimes I'll try to squeeze into bed with them but I have a bed of my own in there that I love.

This, this h-helping you learn more about me isn't as hard as I th-thought.  What else . . . Um oh, my favorite toy is, uh, another dog . . . I uh I really, really like to play with other dogs.  Usually dogs say their favorite toy is a ball or a bone.  I uh, I do like to chew on Nyla bones from time to time, but that's uh p-pretty much it.

I do like to go for walks.  I get very excited.  But loud t-t-trucks and cars p-passing by or, uh, a stranger walking by frighten me some.  My foster mom is always giving the reassurance I need to know that everything's okay, that I'm allowed to be there and so is everyone else and everything will be alright.

My mom says I have p-po-potential for the right family.  We'll keep working on my confidence but I, uh, I need a family with patience.  As you've learned I do, uh, I take a while to warm up.  So at first you may not find me to be cuddly and loving.  But as I settle in and you work with me on my terms, you'll earn a best friend for life.

If you would like know more about and/or meet Yama please see his listing on Paws & Prayers Adoptable Dogs and fill out an adoption application for Yama today!

Livin' the cage life.

So, where to start?  Well, let's just start with my name.  I get questions about it all the time.  My name is Ndnd.  Yes, that's right Ndnd (Nnnnnda nnnnnnda), like the queen alien from Futurama!  And that's just what I am, a queen! I'm smart and loving although I do prefer it to be on my terms.  

It's Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month and when Paws & Prayers asked if they could feature me on their blog, I was flattered!  Why of course!  I'm not one to shy away from the spotlight.  And as you can see from my recent photo shoot, the camera just loves me!  Don't you agree?

At 8-9 years young, I'm a very confident, friendly and happy Pomeranian princess.  It's been said that I'm more independent than the average Pomeranian.  I guess I'm just not one to conform to the norm!

You may be inclined to think that with a name like Princess and classified as 'senior' I'm a typical pampered Pomeranian.  Well, yes, I do prefer my coat to stay clean and soft, ready for a good snuggle with you.  But I'm energetic and ready for a nice game of fetch just as much as the next pup.  If I get a little dirty, so be it!

I'm very upbeat and outgoing.  I make friends with just about everyone I meet.  I get along with everybody - other dogs and cats, too.

 I'm settling in with my foster family quite nicely and quickly, too!  In the morning I like to wake up and jump in bed with my foster family for some cuddle time.  Then as the day goes on you'll most likely find me sitting and observing the chaos in the house from the couch.  And when you reach for my leash for a walk, I get so excited I can hardly contain my fluffy self!  I do love a good, shorter walk in the neighborhood!  I trot as quickly as my little legs will carry me as the wind runs through my coat.  As evening settles in I'm ready to find a nice lap to curl up in.  By nighttime I'm ready for bed and love to settle into my crate for a good night's sleep.

It's me, Happy! Don't my quirky eyes add to my charm?!

It's Adopt a Senior Pet Month and what better way to celebrate than with me, Happy, Paws & Prayers most senior pet available for adoption right now, as the Pet of the Month!

I'm a mature, 9 years young.  Really, you wouldn't know my age without my file.  I'm active, affectionate and love your attention.  With my easy going attitude I know I'll make a great addition to your home and in return I promise a lifetime of love and friendship! 

Look how cute I am!

I've been at Paws & Prayers since mid-September.  My typical day starts off with a morning feeding and loving pets and attention from the Paws & Prayers staff and volunteers.  Then I go through the typical routine of grooming and settling in for a nap.  Then I start all over when dinner time rolls around.  I have toys to play with and blankets to cuddle in.  But my cage is too small to really run out my silly energy bursts I get.  I can't wait to have a furever home to run around in and call my own.

Hey, come here and love on me some more!

I almost found my furever home about a month ago at a Petsmart adoption event but it was noticed that I seemed to be sick with a cold.  I was checked out and diagnosed with a chronic upper respiratory infection.  Upper respiratory infections are very common in rescue cats and are brought on by stress.  Just like a common cold in humans, most kitties are back to feeling like themselves in a week or two.

I however will always experience symptoms that will never 100% go away.  But don't worry, it's manageable with basic, cost effective medicine, a healthy diet and lots of love!  It's not contagious to humans or other animals, only between cats.  So I will have to be the only kitty in my new furever home.

I love to roll around and be silly!

I don't even know I'm supposed to be feeling sick though.  I just want to soak up all of your love and attention.  I love to roll around and cuddle with you.  I purr up a storm, too!  And I get along with everyone!  Won't you please give me the loving furever home I long for?  I will be forever grateful. My adoption fee is $40 which includes my spay and up-to-date routine shots and vaccines.   Please  fill out an application for me today at www.pawsandprayers.org! 

PS - For more reasons why Happy and other senior pets like her are awesome to adopt LIKE us on Facebook!  We'll be sharing countless reasons and more on senior pets all throughout the month of November!

Senior Rescue Pets Rock!

Resources:

http://www.mypeted.com/cat-health-articles/health-problems/feline-upper-respiratory-infection-in-cats.php
http://www.catsexclusive.com/handouts/upperrespiratory.pdf

Continued from Pet of the Month:  Petunia, Part 1

So, why am I still here after all these months?  Let’s be frank here - I’m a big girl.  Those little dogs get adopted much faster as do the medium sized dogs.  They get away with much more than the bigger ones do too.

I’m a proud curvy and very muscular 80-something pound diva-tomboy.  I’m compact!  I’m actually shorter in height and length than my very lean 69 pound foster brother (width not so much).

Secondly, I have a blocky head.  Some folks hold some reservations about us blocky head dogs- I can’t help how I look!

I also need to be the only furkid in the house.  Yep, I live with a super laid back male dog but I’d prefer not .  And that factors into why I don’t like to be at adoption events.  There is a lot of chaos going on and frankly, some humans let their dogs run up to me and I get nervous.

The tomboy in me!  I love being silly!

Lastly, I came into foster care when I was about 1½ years old - those are the juvenile/teenage years in dogs when even a well- raised puppy struggles with impulse control and pushes the envelope.  Mom suspects that I never had the puppyhood that I should have had nor did I learn many manners either. She also suspects I must’ve made the humans I once lived with mad because it’s obvious I’m frightened if you yell at or punish me harshly.  This kind of negative reinforcement will only damage our relationship and bond.  All that coupled with my size made me a very misunderstood girl.  Have you ever been misunderstood?

Luckily, all those super-sized kisses I gave my mom the evening she picked me up from the pound really showed her how big my heart really is.  How was I supposed to learn what to do if no one taught me?  If I was only scolded when I did something wrong, how was I supposed to know the right thing to do?

Not having rules or boundaries is kinda stressful for us dogs.  We actually like to know what to do and how to do it. Anything else leaves a world of uncertainty and can create anxiety. I was fairly anxious as I was learning to live with rules and boundaries, even though I knew that’s ultimately what I wanted. What a relief to have someone taking care of things!

What can I say? I LOVE pink and I definitely love a good cause!

It was obvious I wasn't exposed to very much before.  I didn't know how to walk on a leash - I tried to chase the cars and bark at the large mailboxes on the street.  It didn't take long to understand the walking thing.  When I was in the house, I would hear the slightest noise outside and bark and get myself so worked up I couldn't stop barking even though I couldn't remember what I was barking at.

During the transition to my foster home, it took a few days to trust my foster mom wouldn't put me in dangerous situations.  But soon, I felt safe that she was leading me in the right direction.  Through it all, I've always been very loving and have slobbered Mom with kisses while taking in this new way of living.  She even lugged me out of town to her family’s house a few times and I exuberantly loved everyone there.  And, as always, they loved me too even though they proclaim not to be dog-people and I’m a lotta dog!

I was even adopted out to a family with four kids and they loved me and I loved them but they did not have the time to dedicate to me so I came back to my very dedicated foster mom.

Being adorable, playing with my toy outside

A few months ago, I heard this sound that I used to be afraid of, The Clicker.   Mom has amped up my training.  Now I’m always eager to hear The Clicker.  If you’re not familiar, The Clicker reinforces the good things that I do at the very moment I do them.  Sometimes when I’m out in the yard, I start to bark as strangers walk their dogs by, but Mom calls me back and I know if I go it’s a good thing and I love to do good things.  One day, I even heard a couple say “that is amazing” when I ran back to mom as they passed with their dog.  Sometimes I don’t bark at all. I don’t bark at dogs on walks or care too much about them, even when the pack of little barkers are walking too!  If I get distracted by something, that’s when the “let’s go” command is important.  Ya know how I said I use to bark all the time at things outside?  Well, now I know I have better things to do.  Even the tree trimmers were here today with saws and the chipper and I thought napping was more important.  I still bark at the UPS guy and some other pertinent things so you can feel safe but then I stop!  Yep, it’s true!

I've been in foster care for a long time but I’m ready for my new home.  Transitioning to my new furever home is going to be great!  Mom can teach you all the words I know so you can jump right in.  I really just want a human or few to hang to spend time with.

There are still some areas I haven’t had the opportunity to practice as much as we’d like but I’m a good learner.  I still have times when I act like a puppy, mostly when I get excited and that’s why I need someone who will understand that.

You might think 'Well it sounds like your foster mom does?  You seem to have it made at your foster home!  Why would you want to leave?'

Being adorable again.  Posing in 'my chair.'

My mom loves me so much but my foster home is really not the best place for me to be and I'll tell you why.  I've done so well here and it’s quite impressive because it’s really not the best place.  You see, because I prefer my space with dogs, I only have a small area of the house where I’m allowed when my foster brother is here.  Some days I don’t see much of Mom, aside from walks or playing ball and some training. I sit all alone cuddled up in chair (that she gave me permission to use); it makes me sad and makes her feel bad because I just want to be with my people.  On busy days when I don't get to see as much of her, she makes it a point to lay down with me at night. I love that!

It’s amazing I’ve accomplished as much as I have given the circumstances.  When my foster brother is not home, I get the run of the house, and I get to pretend what it’s like to be in a forever home where I can check to see what my humans are up to, give them some love, and just be around.

Do you know anyone that would love to have a dog like me?  I really need to start learning in my new home soon. I know my foster brother is having some health issues and Mom really needs to focus on getting him
healthy. I also heard she has some travel coming up and if I don’t have a home, I don’t know where I’ll go.

I’m a sweet baby girl and I know my furever home is out there somewhere . . . can you help me find it?



If you would like to know more about and/or meet Petunia please see her listing on Paws and Prayers Adoptable Dogs and fill out an adoption application for Petunia today!