Dog Blog

Tucker is a King Charles Spaniel that has been visiting us for a year and a half now.  Not many people know that these spaniels were bred with Pugs to create a smaller dog.  Tucker is a regular of "Tiny Dog Tuesdays", and he has a ton of experience with other dogs.  He has all the right manners with new dogs, regular dogs, and old dogs. 

If you had the chance to watch Tucker day in and day out, you would realize that he is a "cool customer".  He's not the kind of dog that is going to play chase with everyone here, but he isn't afraid to pick and choose his playing partners.  As I mentioned in the blog about Otis and Madeline, Tucker helped Otis come back out of his shell with playing.  These days, Tucker gets here before Otis on Tuesdays, but is always at the gate with his tail wagging to greet Otis.  It's fun to see them say their "hellos" and start their day together. 

As much as Tucker helped Otis, Shiloh helped Tucker learn how to use the treadmill.  Because Shiloh is a pro on the treadmill, I had Tucker watch him do it for a little while and then put him on the 2nd treadmill next to Shiloh.  It didn't take him long to learn what to do, and he just goes with the flow.  The more I think about it, Tucker pretty much goes with the flow no matter who is here on a given day.  Sometimes you can't even tell when he is here because he's so laid back, and that's why he is such a "cool customer".    

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Shiloh is a Beagle/Walker Hound mix who is about 35 pounds.  I'm sure when you hear someone talk about a Beagle, you think non-stop barking.  However with Shiloh, it's the complete opposite.  He has been visiting us for the past 3 years, and I have never heard him bark once!  He has been known to play with every dog that comes here, no matter size, shape, or color.  Shiloh loves to play chase, and has helped me on many occasions with other dogs that come here with a ton of energy.   In the past month he has welcomed in 2 new dogs that needed some socializing and play time.

When Shiloh first came to us, he was about a year old and FULL of energy.  When he arrived into the play area, there was a complete change in the pack.  He was zipping around like a rocket ship trying to get rid of some energy.  Some dogs would want to play, while others were trying to settle him down.  Then I introduced him to the treadmill to help get rid of the extra energy.  He understood in less than a minute how it worked and he is such a pro now that he can walk on the treadmill without a leash.

Besides my dog Maddie, Shiloh is one of the first dogs to meet a new dog when it arrives for the first time.  His social skills with other dogs are beautiful to watch, he's very quiet with the new dogs, he stands there and lets them sniff him all over.  I think back to when he first came here and how he caused a ripple effect in the pack.  He wouldn't slow down for a second for the other dogs to sniff and learn about him.  Now when he gets here, you can here him whining softly just before I open the gate into the play area because he's so excited.  Once inside, everyone says their "hellos" and then they are off.  Any new dogs that come to VT Dog B'n'B have to meet Shiloh and spend the day with him.  Whether it's time for the treadmill, to meet a new dog, or help me with an energetic dog, Shiloh is a PRO!

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                 Otis                                                 Madeline

Otis and Madeline are 2 dogs that have been coming to VT Dog B'n'B for the past 4 years.  They live together and are quite the pair.  Otis is a Jack Russell Terrier mix who is about 10-15 pounds and Madeline is a mixed breed, about 35-40 pounds. 

When they both started coming here, there was another dog named Rocky who was a Yorkie mix that was coming here too.  Rocky was one of the cutest dogs you would ever meet, and turned out to be best friends with Otis.  I wasn't a big fan of small dogs growing up until I observed Otis and Rocky playing.  They were both about the same size and loved to chase, play, and wrestle each other.  While they were playing, you would never hear a sound from either one of them.  And when it was winter outside, they would leave a cloud of snow in their wake as they ran around.  After Rocky stopped coming, Otis never played with any other dogs that came here, big or small.  He was still social with the other dogs, but there wasn't any horsing around like there was with Rocky.  That all changed about 4 months ago when he started playing with Tucker, a King Cavalier Spaniel(profile coming soon).  Tucker has been coming here for about a year, but something has changed in Otis that has him excited to play again.  I don't know what it is, but I know I can thank Tucker for being able to bring it out of him. 

Madeline has helped me learn about body language in dogs.  She has some of the most expressive changes in her body with how she holds herself.  Besides my own dogs, Madeline is probably the easiest dog for me to read.  When she is happy, her tail is whipping 100mph back and forth with her ears laid back, head low, and I swear she is smiling at the same time.  On the other hand when she raises her head in the air, ears forward and tail up, she doesn't even look like the same dog.  The majority of the dogs I come across don't have these qualities.  Madeline educated me in the beginning of my career about body language and I am grateful for that. 

These days, Otis and Madeline are the happiest when they get here and they go to say "good morning" to our dog Maddie.  Madeline is VERY submissive when she approaches Maddie, and Otis is quite comfortable just to be in Maddie's presence.  Madeline and our dog Lula aren't the best of friends, but they put up with one another without any issues.  During the down times, you will never see 2 dogs cuddle up with each other as much as Otis and Madeline which is a wonderful sight.   

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Maddie is a Black and Tan Coonhound/Shepherd mix who is 5 years old.  We got Maddie so Lula would have someone to play with.  They used to play a lot together when Maddie was a puppy, but Maddie kept growing and didn't stop until she hit 110 pounds. 

When VT Dog B'n'B first opened, we nick-named Maddie "The Ambassador".  She would play bow to all the new dogs coming in, no doubt trying to make them feel welcome.  I have seen Maddie play with a Mastiff, and with an 8 pound dog. I believe Maddie has a different role now that she has gotten older.  She us usually the first to meet a brand new dog, and by reading her body language, it helps me understand how the new dog is feeling.  She won't try to play with them as soon as they get here, but you can see how gentle and courteous she is when she sniffs them, and when she is done, she let's them sniff her.  When you think about it, this is the first dog-dog experience the new dog has when it arrives at VT Dog B'n'B, and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Now, when a lot of the regulars get here, they approach Maddie with their heads low, and ears laid back which is a submissive approach.  She holds herself very confidently and welcomes them in with a sniff and a tail wag.  She doesn't have as much energy as she used to, but that doesn't stop her from being our Ambassador.   

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Lula is our black lab/beagle mix that is 7 years old and about 38 pounds.  (She was my wife's dog when when we first met in Florida). However, when I first met Lula I knew there was something different about her.  She wasn't social, and was nervous of new people, new dogs, and especially little kids.  If you met Lula when I did (she was almost a year old) you wouldn't believe how far she has come.  She used to chew through my wife's jeans, pillows, blankets, and carpeting.  Even when my wife came home from work, Lula would be so excited that she would pee everywhere, especially while she was running inside the house.  And forget about touching her ears, if she doesn't know you and you touch her ear, she cries like she is in a ton of pain.  None of our dogs growing up displayed this behavior. The more I would visit my wife, the more I was starting to develop a relationship with her.  Before Lula, I think I had officially walked 1 dog on a leash in my life.  I remember the first time I walked her on a leash we met a white pit bull off leash that was approaching  us....if I said neither one of us was a little nervous, I would be lying  But with a firm tug on the leash she refocused and has literally been following me ever since. 

Somewhere in the grand scheme of moving and opening a dog business, she has felt that it's been up to her to be the four legged law enforcement, but in a good way.  She has never really "played" with other dogs, but I believe she feels that her job is to help keep the peace, or to alert us when someone is here.  I have only seen her avoid one dog out of the hundreds that she has come across.  Some dogs have tried to play with her and she will politely decline, until recently.  A mini dachshund puppy named Addie(profile coming soon) has started to visit us on a regular basis.  Addie is maybe 10 pounds and she is the only dog that Lula has started to play with.  Addie can't reach Lula's face while they are both standing(quite comical), but she jumps all over Lula, and biting onto her ears when she jumps.  I know dogs know how to play bite, but I also know that puppy teeth are quite sharp and the fact that Lula doesn't "correct" Addie or doesn't cry while pulling on her ears is wonderful to me.  Lula is so patient with Addie, and has really started to take on the "mother role" and it's beautiful to watch.

I don't know where Lula would be without all of this exposure, I don't really think about it.  The fact that she is willing to accept all dogs into "our" environment on a daily basis is a testament to how dogs can change.  Lula sparked something in me when I met her, I guess you can call it a fascination with dogs.  And for that reason, I opened VT Dog B'n'B 4 years ago, all thanks to Lula, my four legged law enforcement    

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The Pack

A relative of mine wrote something on her facebook page that said, "Thinking the pack leader is only as strong as the weakest pack member."  This statement is very true, however a true pack leader will provide the most balance as possible.  In nature, weak energy is eliminated as it is a threat to the pack.  But if the Pack Leader can get the rest of the pack to accept weaker energy, the Pack Leader gains more respect. 

Many people think the Pack Leader is the most aggressive dog within the pack and will win every fight.  On the contrary, the best Pack Leader will provide balance and harmony within the pack without any fighting.  They will not be the biggest dog in the pack, but will command the most space and respect.  The "Alpha" dog can be male or female and will decide when to hunt, when to rest, and when corrections are needed.  There are many positions within the pack that make is successful, much like any business.  Once there is an opening within the pack, the most qualified member of the pack takes it over without hesitation!

Thanks for the inspiration Cindy!

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Corrections

Many people believe that the only way to correct their dogs when they are doing something wrong is to raise your voice and say "NO" or even slap the dog on the nose.  What they don't realize is that the slap actually represents aggression to dogs.  After thousands of hours observing dogs, it's amazing to me how they correct each other with eye contact,body language, or a bark.  If play between 2 dogs gets too rough, you will hear the dominant of the 2 dogs let out a bark that is just loud enough to stop the behavior.  What we have to understand is that the bark is a normal sound for dogs to make, a loud "NO" is not a normal sound for us to make when addressing our dogs.  We usually address our dogs with either a normal voice or a high pitched voice(which I don't recommend).  In no way does the loud "NO" mean the same thing as a bark.  Following the bark from that same dog you will see body language that is very confident, firm, and they are standing their ground.  At the same time, that dog is making eye contact or looking in the direction of the other dog. 

Instead of saying words when you are correcting your dog the next time, try snapping your fingers or clapping(once).  When you get your dogs attention just stand your ground with confidence, make eye contact, and watch the behavior go away. 

Tell us your experiences of correcting your dog and we will discuss it more in depth in our upcoming blogs.

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Walking

   Yesterday I talked about the importance of exercise for dogs, and walking is a primal activity for them.  I get asked many times, "what is the proper way to walk my dog"?  Let's use the analogy of walking a horse to help you understand.  Whenever you see someone walking a horse, you don't ever see the handler hold the saddle, or let the horse lead the way.  The handler always has a hold of the horse's head and that helps control the rest of the body.  The same goes for dogs, it's important to walk your dog with the leash around the head of the dog, right behind the ears.  This will help control your dog by controlling their head.  Harnesses are used to tracking or pulling purposes so I don't recommend them. 
   I actually watched someone walking 2 dogs the other day and the dogs were 20 feet out in front of the owner with a tight leash.  The dogs were pulling so much that the owner was actually leaning backwards during the walk.  How does your back not hurt after a walk like that?

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Exercise

     If a doctor tells us that we need to start exercising, we think it's time to use a treadmill, or start running.  Whatever we choose, it has to include structure and discipline.  Many people think that exercise for their dogs is running around outside the house while they are inside.  Can you imagine what our doctor's would think if they saw us running around outside our house because they told us we needed exercise? 
   Exercise for our dogs should have structure and discipline, the same way humans need structure and discipline.  A 30 minute structured walk with your dog is going to challenge them more than a 15 minute "romp" running outside of the house.  It will challenge them mentally because they should be next to you, not out in front of you.  It also challenges them physically because of the time you are spending walking.  After that 30 minute walk, your dog will be more fatigued than the time they spend outside running around. 
   Besides the exercise, the time you are spending with your dog on the walk will build the bond between you and your dog, and isn't that one of the reasons you have a dog in the first place?

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Barking
     Did you know there are many different kinds of barking and it's one of the ways dogs communicate?  The sound of the bark can depend on the size of the dog....most German Shepherds have a deeper bark, while a smaller dog like a Chihuahua will have a higher pitch bark.  But when they bark, they are telling us how they feel.

Anxiety - The anxious bark will have a higher pitch than usual, almost with a squeak at the end of the bark.  Let's use the German Shepherd for example:  From this dog you would hear more of an "Arf", rather than a "Woof".  This dog tells you that it has some anxiety and that it really needs a good run or exercise.

Anxiety(2) - The 2nd anxious bark will have a small "howl" mixed into the bark somewhere.  You may hear "wooowooowoooof" instead of the normal "Woof".  There is some frustration in this dog, but more anxiety.  This dog is literally "crying" for something to do other than sit in the house, or be hooked outside all day.

Frustrated - The frustrated bark will have a rhythm to it, or a beat.  From this dog you will hear a "woof....woof....woof....woof....woof".  This dog tells us that he has A LOT of pent up energy, and the only access to get rid of it is to bark.  Many owners will get upset at all the barking, but regular exercise would decrease the frustration.

Territorial - The territorial bark will have a much deeper sound than normal.  Even a Chihuahua has the capability to have a deeper bark than normal.  This will sound like a much deeper toned "WOOF" than normal.  This dog tells us "I can see you, and you are in MY territory."  This dog is not to be approached under any circumstances.

The next time you hear a dog bark, sit and listen to it for a minute.  You will be able to tell exactly how that dog is feeling probably without ever seeing it.  When you go to a friends house that has a dog and you hear that dog bark from inside the house, listen to what he is trying to communicate with you. 

Let us know if there is something you would like is to cover in a future blog and we will do our best to expand on the subject!

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