Dogs & Emotions

Almost every dog owner has found out that when they are really sad, their dog acts differently toward them. A dog may approach its disturbed owner with a concerned look and, quite out of character, hunker down next to them as if to provide some emotional support. It is as if they are saying, I know there is something wrong, I do not know what it is but I am here for you, anyway.


Are there other explanations? Of course, there are, but none make as much sense. You could argue that the dog observes your posture and appearance as submissive and, almost reflexively, approaches to investigate or respond to the new situation. Perhaps, seeing you in a submissive posture, the dog feels it has to grovel to remain below you in rank.

All dog owners like to think that their pet can sense their mood and emotions. Although researchers now accept that dogs, and other non-human animals, can experience primary emotions such as anxiety, fear, and anger, they still do not accept that "animals" have a sense of self and are capable of sophisticated secondary emotions. Instead, the scientists believe that non-human animals are incapable of understanding the feelings of others around them. Without a sense of self, they say, secondary emotions are impossible.

This is a complicated argument, and not everyone agrees with the scientists. I think animals should be given the benefit of the doubt. Let's assume that higher animals, like dogs, are sensitive creatures with feelings and emotions that can and do project beyond the blatantly obvious.

How about the time you came home to find your dog destroyed something? Did you find the guilty party hiding, or perhaps with a hangdog look? Many believe their dog is feeling guilty about what he has done. If you accept the guilt explanation, you must also accept that the dog is able to project about your feelings of disappointment or anger. Hard line behaviorists disagree with this interpretation, preferring to believe that the dog simply associates his owner, the damage, and his own presence with past punishment and acts submissively. But, what about the first time this happens? Maybe the dog "read" their owner's disappointment from their expression, because they sure were not responding to punishment.

Examples of dogs seemingly picking up on our emotions are endless but still the scientific proof is not there. I suppose it would be very difficult for some folks to accept that dogs, or any animals, might have minds that work in ways similar to our own. I suppose the believers still have a long way to go to convince the skeptics.

From an evolutionary point of view, it would be very strange if dogs did not have the ability to sense mood. It does not make sense to have a pack animal like a dog unequipped to realize when he was getting into trouble with another dog or when his behavior was having the desired effect. If dogs feel what we feel, they should be happy when we are happy, sad when we are sad, and hiding or hangdog when we are angry. All of the above does occur, on an almost daily basis, in our homes.

916 Marathons

916 marathons or about 916 miles is the distance an average owner walks with her dog during the dog's 12.8 years, according to a British study of 3,000 dog owners.

The average dog in this study was walked three times a day, totaling 107 minutes. That amounts to almost 6,000 hours of her life spent walking.

Do you think Americans walk their dogs as much?

Ebony and I have logged several hundred marathons already!

Second Chance

Beneful® brand dog food has announced its second Dream Dog Park Contest. Dog owners are invited to share ideas for the ultimate dog park for their community.

The contest challenges dog owners to dream big and get creative. What if you had $500,000 to spend to create the ultimate dream dog park, what would you do? It can be functional or just plain fun. The lucky Grand Prize Winner’s idea will help serve as inspiration for a half-million dollar makeover of a dog park for the whole community to enjoy.

Dog owners can enter the contest from now through June 21.

Watch this video with Jason Cameron to learn more.

Dog Etiquette

Wherever you go with your dog, remember you are a doggie ambassador. How you act with your dog not only affects others around you, but also how people think of dogs and dog owners in general.

Put your best foot and paw forward with dog etiquette:

1. Always clean up after your dog and abide by licensing and
leash laws.

2. Make sure your pet is a welcome guest. Call ahead to discuss
pet policies.

3. When visiting family and friends, if your dog ruins something in their home, offer to pay the repair fee or cleaning charge.

4. Only bring well-behaved, quiet dogs to outdoor restaurants. Dogs should be out of the way, such as lying underneath the table, so the wait staff and others can easily walk past.

5. When a repairman or other service provider makes a house call, crate your dog or put her in a room and shut the door. Some people are afraid of dogs or allergic to them.

6. Be a considerate neighbor by curtailing barking. Even hardened dog lovers are annoyed by constant yipping and yowling.

7. Do not allow your dog to roam freely. It is dangerous for you pet, plus it is disrespectful of other people who might be walking in your neighborhood.

8. Always ask permission before allowing your dog to greet another dog.

Being a doggie ambassador consists of combining dog training skills with common sense and basic good manners. Pet etiquette is practicing good behavior at both ends of the leash.

Last Four Mistakes Dog Owners Make

In conclusion of the top TEN mistakes dog owners make, here are the remaining four mistakes. If you missed the others, please check the previous two blogs.

Mistake 7: Neglecting to Keep Your Pet Mentally Active
Why this is a mistake? Bored pets are more likely to get into trouble.

How to avoid it: Give your pets something to do. For a dog, that can mean having him hunt for food. Place a meal or treats in spots around the house for him to sniff out, or “feed him out of a food-dispensing puzzle toy instead of his bowl,” says Andrea Arden, author of Dog-Friendly Dog Training.

Mistake 8: Leaving a Pet Alone for Too Long

Why this is a mistake? A lack of proper companionship can lead to separation anxiety and destructive behaviors.

How to avoid it: “Don’t leave a puppy alone for eight hours.” Hire someone to watch him or drop him off at a doggie day-care center. Your puppy will need to learn how to be alone for a few hours each day, however, so “teach him to self-pacify almost immediately,” says Andrea Arden. Put him in a crate (or leash him to a stable object) a foot or two away from you, then gradually increase the distance over the course of a week. Then make sure that he spends escalating amounts of time alone in his crate or confined to a room. Break up the day for dogs of any age with a visit from a dog walker or a neighbor, and give your pet access to toys and visual stimuli.

Mistake 9: Failing to Make Your Home Pet-Friendly

Why this is a mistake? A dog without a cozy bed will end up on the couch.



How to avoid it: Dogs need spots where they can cuddle up and feel safe. “A dog needs a crate like a teenager needs a room,” says Arden. Provide a crate or a cozy bed, and make it taboo for your family to pester the dog while he’s in it.

Mistake 10: Punishing Your Pet

Why this is a mistake? You might think Bowser knows you are screaming at him because he ate the loaf of bread on the counter, but he will not connect your behavior with his action.

How to avoid it: Never physically punish your pet; he will just learn to fear you. It is OK to startle a pet out of a behavior, but only if you catch him in the act. Command him with a firm “No!” or “Down!” and he will connect the reaction with what he is doing and learn that it is not OK. Otherwise, the punishment should come from the environment. Teach a dog to stay away from the counter, by arranging sheet pans in a pile that will clatter to the floor. The counter, not you, will become the thing to fear.

I hope you have found some helpful information from reading the series of blogs relating to the common mistakes dog owners make.

First Three Mistakes A Dog Owner Makes

I will be doing a series of blogs highlighting the
top TEN mistakes a dog owner makes.
Today, the top three...

Mistake 1: Buying a Pet Spontaneously

Why this is a mistake? That doggie in the window may be darling, but he might not be the right fit for your family or lifestyle.

How to avoid it: Fully inform yourself before you bring home a pet. Every dog has its own needs, some of which are specific to the breed. Terriers tend to dig; Abyssinians explore and climb. If there’s a breed that interests you, read up on it (try the website of the American Kennel Club), talk to owners, and get to know someone else’s Border collie or Persian. That said, not every dog or cat is typical of its breed, so “ask about the pet’s history, health, and temperament,” says Stephanie Shain, a director at the Humane Society of the United States. When dealing with a breeder, you should be shown where the pet was raised and meet his parents.

Mistake 2: Skipping Obedience Training

Why this is a mistake? Bad habits can be difficult to train out of a pet. So unless you have the know-how to school an animal, you need the help of a pro.

How to avoid it: Even before a puppy starts formal training, teach him simple commands, such as sit and stay. A puppy can begin formal training at eight weeks (and ideally before 12 weeks), after he has had his shots. “Between the ages of 8 and 16 weeks, puppies readily absorb information about the world around them,” says Andrea Arden, author of Dog-Friendly Dog Training. To help a dog stick with good behaviors, every few years take him for a refresher course.

Mistake 3: Being Inconsistent With the Rules


Why this is a mistake? If one child lets Fifi on the bed and another punishes her for it, the animal will be confused. Bad behavior is inevitable.

How to avoid it: Make sure everyone in your household knows―and follows―the rules, says Arden. “You want your dog to sit before eating a treat? Then figure out a system that will help your pet succeed.” Pets thrive with a sense of order, so discuss with your family when yours should be fed, exercised, and even given a treat.

Next time, I will post mistakes number 4,5,and 6

Videos on Puppy Training

What is the worst thing about owning a puppy? Well, for many new dog owners the answer is "training"

Some dogs can be difficult to train. It is really important for a dog to learn basic discipline early on. This will make the dog happy (because he needs to understand the rules). And it will make you, the pet owner, happy as your dog follows the rules that are so important to you.

Eukanuba has some very simple videos that will help you train your puppy. There is a very good episode called "basic discipline" that you should see. Go here and click on Tune in and Train.

All of the "courses" are short, friendly and informative. Check it out. They only take a few minutes.

There is also a segment on crate training and one on basic commands. Both of these are also worth watching.

Really, dogs and puppies are like kids. You need to provide love, good nutrition, a safe environment and establish some basic rules that both you and the dog can understand and consistently reinforce.

Dog Fur Clothes

I came across a very interesting article this week that talked about a growing trend among dog owners ... wearing clothing made from their dog's fur! I was astonished to see just how many dog owners have had sweaters and coats spun like lamb's wool from their dogs!

The trend is called Canine Couture. Two women in Germany and England have made a business out of using fur and hair from very posh pets to create equally posh sweaters, scarves, gloves, coats, hats and wraps for their owners!

It turns out that dog fur has been used in clothing for quite some time now, often times without people even knowing it. In fact, an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States a few years ago revealed that some of the biggest names in fashion sold garments made of dog fur over the Internet and mislabeled it as "faux" or from another species. This furry fashion trend has been, without a doubt, a very controversial issue - particularly among animal activists. In fact, a new fur labeling law was introduced into Congress because of it.



So what do you think? Do you see it as a harmless fashion trend where owners just want to look like their dogs, or is it unethical? Would you wear clothing made from your dog's fur?