With every animal, you have to build its confidence around people because people do some crazy and stupid things. ~ Dr.Ian Dunbar
The Bark on Dog Parks
- Are off-leash dog parks and dog runs good for your dog? Learn how to pick a dog park and use it safely.
- Dog Park People
- "Predatory Drift" ~ What you need to know:
What's the alternative to dog park mayhem? You have a few:
- Find people you trust (that have dogs you trust) and set up playdates. You may even be lucky enough to set these dates up at the dog park at off-peak times.
- Find a trustworthy doggie daycare run by skilled people who behavior test all the dogs, separate dogs into appropriate playgroups, and who also allow you to watch your dog interact with the others.
- Learn more about how to safely navigate dog parks here!
- Check out the Dog Park Safety App!
Behavior Bite: Pup Playtime Truths
In groups of 3 or more (sometimes even with only 2), dogs will often pack up and harass one of the dogs in the group. If your dog is spending all of his/her time running, instead of alternating with play-bowing and chasing the other dogs, s/he is probably not playing.
One way to check whether your dog is playing or being harassed is to call him/her over (or rescue them from the other dog) and wait a few seconds. Let go and see where your dog goes. If s/he heads back to the other dog, and the other dog also heads toward your dog, life is good; they both want to play. Otherwise, one of them was not playing and it’s time to move on. If you’re unsure, move on!
~ Grisha Stewart, Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: Problem Solving and Training
What to Do If Your Dog Growls or Snaps
When a dog growls or snaps at us it's normal for us to feel frightened, and maybe even betrayed. It’s hard to know what to do. This link discusses the canine warnings and how we can respond to them productively. Many people think that we should punish our dog for showing any aggression. Learn why that’s counterproductive, and what to do instead here.
It is never safe for children to sit on dogs. Most dogs will tolerate this but they do not enjoy it. Many dogs politely ask with their body language for this to stop. Sometimes when we don't see the signals, and when their cries for assistance go unheeded, bites can happen. It's vital that you teach your child to never climb on, sit on, or pull on a dog. No matter how cute it seems, or how "good" your dog is being, it's never a safe decision for the dog and child.
New study sheds light on serious to fatal dog bites
This is NOT a safe interaction between a child a dog.
FACT: Nearly 50% of all children are bitten before the age of 12.
Children have one out of two chances of being bitten by a dog. The majority of these bites are minor and generally go unreported, but they point out the fact that there is an urgent need for better information to parents and kids. Unrealistic expectations such as the dog should tolerate the child’s way of playing, coupled with lack of knowledge of a dog’s stress signals can lead to catastrophic results. The information is out there, but if parents feel that they know enough about dogs to keep everyone safe, they won’t look for ways to better educate themselves. Since the vast majority of dog bites are from a dog the child knows, whether the family pet, the neighbor’s or friend’s, a false sense of security can develop. Dogs never bite without a reason so the majority of bites are preventable.
Read more about this study and learn how to prevent dog bites here.
Children have one out of two chances of being bitten by a dog. The majority of these bites are minor and generally go unreported, but they point out the fact that there is an urgent need for better information to parents and kids. Unrealistic expectations such as the dog should tolerate the child’s way of playing, coupled with lack of knowledge of a dog’s stress signals can lead to catastrophic results. The information is out there, but if parents feel that they know enough about dogs to keep everyone safe, they won’t look for ways to better educate themselves. Since the vast majority of dog bites are from a dog the child knows, whether the family pet, the neighbor’s or friend’s, a false sense of security can develop. Dogs never bite without a reason so the majority of bites are preventable.
Read more about this study and learn how to prevent dog bites here.
Safety Tip: Make sure you are practicing PARENTvision vs. supervision!
"Although babysitters, nannies, and even wonderful relatives may love dogs and feel comfortable, I do not recommend that they are responsible for supervising both kids and dogs." ~ Jennifer Shryock, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), owner of Family Paws™ LLC
"Although babysitters, nannies, and even wonderful relatives may love dogs and feel comfortable, I do not recommend that they are responsible for supervising both kids and dogs." ~ Jennifer Shryock, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), owner of Family Paws™ LLC
How to Love Your Dog - It's Not What You Think!
"Hugs are not a natural form of canine interaction to show affection. To show your dog that you love him, learn to give him the things that he really does like and teach your kids to do the same." ~Doggone Safe Learn why here.
To Hug or Not to Hug?
"If you spend any time on the internet you’re going to see the pictures – people hugging their dogs, kissing their dogs, lounging on their dogs, even kids riding dogs. The human faces are all aglow with rapturous bliss. More often than not, however, the dog looks like he just wants to get the heck out of there. Of course, most of us are oblivious. Let’s not forget that ignorance is part of what makes the bliss so wonderful. I mean that in the nice way. We love our dogs. We just don’t seem to know what they like and don’t like.
Dogs and humans don’t exactly show affection the same way. We drape our arms around the shoulders of people we like. To a primate (including human primates) nothing says you’re special like a hug. To a dog, it can feel like a threat. Watch what happens when a dog drapes his head over the shoulders of another dog. Trouble. That’s not to say dogs don’t learn to tolerate our hugs; they do. But it doesn’t come naturally to them." ~ PetTalk Magazine Read the rest of the article here.
Dogs and humans don’t exactly show affection the same way. We drape our arms around the shoulders of people we like. To a primate (including human primates) nothing says you’re special like a hug. To a dog, it can feel like a threat. Watch what happens when a dog drapes his head over the shoulders of another dog. Trouble. That’s not to say dogs don’t learn to tolerate our hugs; they do. But it doesn’t come naturally to them." ~ PetTalk Magazine Read the rest of the article here.
Pet, Pause, RESPECT!
The hard thing for most people is to recognize when the dog has had enough. A dog may want several pets and then may choose to walk away and be left alone. We often put our desire to pet the dog over the need of that particular dog. This can backfire! Learn why here.
Teach Kids to Invite the Dog to Come to Them.
Teach kids that they should invite the dog to come to them, and if the dog declines the invitation, then they leave the dog alone.
Learn why here.
Learn why here.
Supervision: What's your style?
One of the tips that I give to parents with dogs in the house, is that they should always supervise their dogs and children.
But supervision means different things to different people. To some parents, supervision means just being home, to others it means watching out the window while the kids play with the dog outside, while to others it means having hands on and being part of the interaction between the child and the dog. The type of supervision we practice matters!
Learn why I always recommend "Full Awake Adult Supervision" here.
"In dog training, jerk is a noun, not a verb." - Dr. Dennis Fetko
