Month: January 2016

7 Things You Can Do to Prevent Dog Bites

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Some sobering facts:

  • Each year 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by dogs and 1 in 5 of those bites require medical attention.
  • Of the 800,000+ people bitten who need medical attention, at least half of them are children.
  • Children are the most common victims of dog bites, and are more likely to be severely injured, and about 75% of them are bitten by dogs they are familiar with .
  • As the number of dogs in the home increases, so does the likelihood of being bitten. Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs at home.

Dog bites are preventable. Set up your family and your dog for success by following these 7 tips.

Set your family up for success:

1. Adopt the right dog

Research dog breeds before select your new dog or puppy. Be realistic about the needs of the breed and breed traits – are you active enough to satisfy a border collies need for mental and physical stimulation? Would a senior dog be more your speed?

Do you have the time the dog will need to be adequately exercised & trained? If you don’t have the time to exercise your dog every day, is dog daycare something that will fit into your budget?

Sociability – is the dog you are considering friendly & politely soliciting attention? Does he seem reluctant to be petted? Is she bouncing off of you with excitement? Is a shy dog or an over-exuberant dog a good fit for you? (i.e. are you up to the task of lots of socialization time and effort to help the shy dog feel more confident and exuberant dog to learn how to be calm?)

What can you find out about the dog’s history? Things like multiple re-homings, abusive situations, or a dog with a bite history can all be a lot for a new dog owner to take own. If you aren’t sure what you are in for with dogs like these, ask a trainer to help you evaluate the dog before you sign on the adoption contract dotted line.

Considering bringing home 2 dogs at the same time? If so, be ready to take on three times the work for training, exercise. A better idea is to adopt one dog, train, and get used to one dog. Then, if you still want a 2nd dog, you are better positioned for success in bringing home #2.

2. Learn how to read dog body language. Understanding and being able to read dog body language is essential to preventing dog bites.

  • Do you recognize the signs of fear and stress in dogs?
  • Do you know that a wagging tail doesn’t always mean a dog is friendly?
  • Doggonesafe has great resources on reading body language and keeping kids safe.

3. Teach your children how to safely and appropriately interact with dogs

  • Hugging, ear pulling, tail pulling, climbing on the dog all put your child at risk for a dog bite.
  • Even if your dog is tolerate of your kids doing these things, teach you kids they are not appropriate behavior – not all dogs will tolerate children behaving like this.
  • Teach your children respect for strange dogs – ask before petting, appropriate petting, and knowing when they should get away and how to safely do it will all help keep your children safe around dogs.
  • Always actively supervise kids and dogs – the ASPCA recommends that kids younger than 10 should never be left alone with a dog – even their own dog.

How to Set your dog up for success:

4. Socialization is key for puppies – take a puppy class that includes supervised off leash play & encourages kids to come to class

  • Puppy classes can help prevent puppies from developing fear issues as adolescents and adults
  • They teach puppies to be more comfortable with new dogs and people.

5. Training

  • Plan to do it – even if you adopt older dog. Dedicating 1 hour per week for 6 weeks (the length of a typical basic manners class) and doing the homework for class is a great way to get your new dog’s training career started with you – and the accountability of going to class will help ensure you do the work each week!
  • Have kids take part in training once you know the basics (it’s easier to coach/teach kids to do something you already know rather than have them learn from you while you are learning – and supervise them while they train the dog.
  • Use positive reinforcement training techniques– they can be safer for kids and less stress on dogs and people.
  • Don’t punish growling – this just tells your dog it isn’t safe to growl when he feels afraid or threatened – and can him more likely to bite. Instead, work to understand why the dog is growling and solve the behavior issue at the root rather than just suppressing the expression of it.

6. Get to know your dog

  • What does your dog like? Not like? Men? Loud noises? Children? By knowing what your dog doesn’t like, you can prevent him from feeling threatened, and with the help of a trainer, help him learn to more comfortable with previously scary things.
  • If you don’t know if your dog likes other dogs don’t take him to a dog park to find out. Ask a trainer for help in determining how your dog feels about other dos.
  • If your dog was in pain, would you recognize it? Vet check ups are important to maintain your dog’s health – and also reduce the risk of pain or injury related aggressive incidents.
  • Use daycare, do walkers/you walking, play time to tire your dog out before high activity times in your home or times when you know you won’t be able to pay attention to your dog.
  • Crate train your dog – and teach kids that crates are dogs safe places so no kids allowed in or on crates.
  • Learn ways to occupy your dog – food puzzles, stuffed kongs, and safe chew toys can all be great ways to keep your dog busy.

7. When you think (or know) you have a problem with your dog, get help BEFORE your dog bites

  • Trust your gut – if you think some of your dog’s behavior to be dangerous or threatening, you are probably right.
  • Does your dog growl when you come near his toys or food bowl? Growl at strangers? Get help before he bites
  • Is your dog fearful, skittish, or untrusting of strangers? A good trainer can help your dog learn to be more comfortable and teach you how to recognize when your dog needs help.

It is impossible to say that your dog will never bite someone. The better your understand canine body language, know your dog, and set your dog and your family up for success, the more you reduce your risk of dog bites.

 

Pepper’s Paws, LLC provides in home dog training in Chester County, PA. We also teach Basic to Advanced Manners classes and offer in house dog training at Dogtopia of Chester Springs.

Head trainer Deb Murray, CPDT-KA is certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, an AKC Evaluator, a Doggone Safe Be a Tree Presenter, and a Distinguished Graduate and Mentor Trainer for the Catch Canine Academy.

 

How is it going with that puppy from Santa? 5 things you can do to survive the first few months with your new puppy

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Christmas morning, 3 weeks ago almost to the day, there under the Christmas tree was the puppy that Santa left for the kids.

No doubt the morning was thrilled with hugs and kisses and squeals of joy. How are things going now? Has the reality set in that, on behalf of kids, mom and dad have made a 10-15 year commitment to another mouth to feed? Have you had buyer’s remorse? Has the thought of getting Santa to take the puppy back crossed your mind? It’s OK to answer “yes!” to both of these questions. Really, it is. Moments are regret, buyer’s remorse, mouthing “this was your idea! Why did I say yes to a puppy?!?!” to your spouse over a pool of puppy pee – the 5 th pool of puppy pee you have cleaned up today – are all normal responses to the stress that adding a puppy to your already busy home can do to an otherwise caring and loving parent. Relax, you can handle this. Don’t give up. You can do this.

This time of year rescues start getting calls from newly minted puppy owners at their wits end. Or the call doesn’t come and the puppy shows up on the breeder or shelter’s doorstep. By March the surrendering is in full force. But it doesn’t have to end this way.

5 things you can do to survive the first few months with your new puppy

  1. Sign up for a puppy class. Well run, safe puppy classes can be a great way to learn to communicate with and understand your new puppy. Teaching your puppy to sit, lie down, and walk on a leash will make living with your puppy much more pleasant and manageable. Puppy classes are also a great place to ask questions – lots of questions about housebreaking, crate training, barking, nipping, and jumping – all the things you are dealing with right now – and you can do it for the low price of puppy class admission!
  2. Put your puppy on a schedule – for potty breaks, meals, exercise and play. Dogs do much better when they have a routine and a schedule – and you will find you do too!
  3. Daycare – once your vet says your puppy has enough vaccinations on board, a safe, well-run daycare can be a great place for your puppy to get tired out (and learn great dog social skills) and you get a much-deserved break!
  4. Help your puppy get used to being left alone in his or her crate. One of the worst calls to get as a trainer is “my dog goes bananas when I leave him alone”. Separation anxiety, where your dog cannot tolerate you leaving him alone to the extent that he will hurt himself to get out of a crate to follow you, can be heartbreaking and frustrating for owners. The good news is almost all cases are preventable. It is not only OK to leave your puppy alone in the crate for short periods of time – it is a great thing to do! The sooner your puppy learns that you leaving is no big deal because you always come back the better!
  5. Have your puppy meet lots and lots of people! The more happy and positive encounters your dog has with people of all shapes and sizes as a puppy the more likely he or she will be to meet strangers throughout his or her life. Socializing your puppy is key to his or her – and your – long-term happiness together.

Now you have 5 things you can do to move past feelings of remorse for getting a puppy – get started on them today! The trainer you hire – either via a class or a private in home lesson – can mean the difference between 15 years of happiness with your dog and sad little faces in March when the puppy goes away. Please, ask for help.

Pepper’s Paws, LLC provides in home dog training in Chester County, PA. We also teach Basic to Advanced Manners classes and offer in house dog training at Dogtopia of Chester Springs.

Head trainer Deb Murray, CPDT-KA is certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, an AKC Evaluator, a Distinguished Graduate and Mentor Trainer of the Catch Canine Academy, and APDT C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator and Instructor.

Pepper’s Paws New Year’s Resolutions

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2016 is here – what are your New Year’s Resolutions? What do you have planned for your dog?

Every year many of us make New Year’s Resolutions – to lose weight, exercise more, read more, watch less TV – the list is endless! As you make Resolutions for yourself, how about some for your dog? Training goals, one-on-one sessions, getting involved with dog sports, taking a group obedience class (or getting to the next level) are all great ways to get you and your dog moving and enjoying each other’s company like never before! We at Pepper’s Paws have some dog related goals and plans we’d like to share with you – and perhaps even inspire you too!

My family has 4 great dogs – and they don’t know it yet, but I have big plans for them in 2016!  We just added an Agility for Fun 1 class – click here for more info.  All 4 dogs will start to learn some basics of Agility.

Pepper
Pepper

Pepper:  Pepper is ball crazy and loves to play. Pepper started learning the Agility jumps today and had a blast!  She is about 10 years old but don’t let her age fool you – this year in addition to starting Agility and my goal is for her to finally get her Intermediate Trick Dog Title from DoMoreWithYourDog.com  (Stay tuned for more on Trick classes this year).

Shadow
Shadow

Shadow: Shadow isn’t quite as nimble as Pepper, but he will do anything for food.  We are going to work to improve his excitement when he sees other dogs and increase his overall activity level through Agility! Shadow already has his Intermediate Trick Dog Title and he’ll start on his Advanced title this year!

Bear
Bear

Bear: Bear is going to learn to do Agility as well as Nosework (Pepper’s Paws is planning to offer a Nosework class this year – look for more info on this soon!) And Bear will be helping me with private lessons – he is a calming influence and is great at not reacting to reactive dogs.

Sammy
Sammy

Sammy: Ah Sammy, my fearful, reactive, unsure little guy!  He is going to do Agility in private sessions with me as well as Nosework, and you may even see him attend a group class with us too! Sammy is already working on his Intermediate Trick Title.

Pepper’s Paws has new series of Agility for Fun classes and programs to kick off 2016.  We have tricks classes, dog sports training classes, advanced obedience and K9 Fit Club (for people and their dogs to work out together) planned for later this year. Click here to see our complete list of our next round classes. Will any of these classes and programs help you and your pup achieve your New Year’s resolutions? We hope so. What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Tell us in the comments below!

Pepper’s Paws, LLC provides in home dog training in Chester County, PA. We also teach Basic to Advanced Manners classes and offer in house dog training at Dogtopia of Chester Springs.

Head trainer Deb Murray, CPDT-KA is certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, an AKC Evaluator, a Distinguished Graduate and Mentor Trainer of the Catch Canine Academy, and APDT C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator and Instructor.