IS YOUR DOG HUNGRY OR LOOKING FOR ATTENTION

If your dog is always hanging about you looking for food, whining for food, begging for food you might wonder is my dog really that hungry? Should I be concerned?

Well to figure out if your dog is truly hungry or just using food to get attention take a look at your dog…if they look to be a good weight - not to thin (no bones protruding, etc.) and not to heavy (they have a nice waist line) then you know that the demands are just that - demands. Check the chart below to assess your dog’s weight.

IF YOUR DOG IS OVERWEIGHT

Being overweight is as bad for a dog as it is for a human. Dogs can have joint problems, diabetes, heart problems and so on just as humans do from carrying excess weight. Just as obesity can seriously shorten a human’s life - it can also shorten a dog’s life. A dog that is overweight certainly lives a lesser quality of life!

Once again we have to be fair to the dog first and foremost - if you are feeding your dog a commercially manufactured dog kibble that contains grains the diet you are feeding your dog is causing spiked hunger pains - read this and then get your dog on a grain-free, toxin-free, carcinogen-free dog kibble, or you can make homemade dog food, or feed raw species appropriate food. Dogs require species appropriate diets to be healthy - mentally and physically.

There are several things you should do. First make sure that there is no medical reason for the excess weight, such as a thyroid issue - your veterinarian can do a simple blood test to ensure weight gain is not due to any medical issue.

If you are certain that your dog’s health is good, then you really need to take a look at your dog’s daily regimen…

A - Does your dog get enough exercise on a daily basis? When it comes to exercise, all dogs need exercise - small breed, medium and large breed dogs. For some dogs a daily brisk 30 minute walk might be ok, while other dogs may require two 40 minute to 60 minute walks a day…just like people, every dog is different.

B - Do you feed your dog too much food? Do you feed your dog the wrong foods?

And you really need to take a look at your habits - sorry, but this is often the root of the problem with your dog's weight. I can't help you and your dog if I do not push you to see how we affect our dogs!

C - Many people use food to show affection and love to their dogs...this can lead to significant weight gain, deterioration of health and quality of life as well as behavioral problems;

D - Many people also use treats as their primary or even sole method of 'training' their dog - I do not recommend this! 

First of all dogs do not use treats as their primary method of instructing each other, they use body language and state-of-being as a primary teaching tool - we should too! 

Using treats only - the human never learns to be aware of the more effective, more natural ways in which to communicate with and coach/mentor our dogs - this is a great opportunity lost. When we learn to use other means more natural to a dog we open up a whole new world of awareness and connectivity in ourselves - we enable the best in ourselves and our dogs. I recommend that you read these articles to learn more...

    On Dogs and Opportunism
    Affection and Your Dog
    How Dogs Communicate
    Leadership

About 50% of Dogs in North America are overweight. When my client’s dogs are overweight I usually ask them a serious of questions and then provide them with information and advice on how to regain control of their dog’s weight.

One of the most common issues I see is that people leave food in their dog’s bowl 24/7. This is even more of an issue if you have multiple dogs - as some dogs have a built in sensor that tells them when to stop eating, other dogs will keep eating until there is nothing left to eat. Much like people!

Dogs are not grazers like rabbits, horses and cows. Dogs are hunters and are biologically evolved to eat their meal and then fast until the next meal. When we leave food out for them on a constant basis we create an unnatural condition. It is far better to feed your dog twice or three times a day. If your dog does not eat all of the food in their bowl within a matter of minutes lift the bowl up and offer a little less food next time.

To reduce your dog’s weight - don’t do anything drastic, just cut back their regular portions by a small amount and allow your dog to lose weight slowly. Once your dog has lost the desired amount of weight you can increase the food a tiny bit and maintain from there.

IF YOUR DOG IS UNDERWEIGHT

Again, make sure that there is no medical condition at the root of your dog’s inability to gain weight. 

Also make sure that your dog is not suffering from an infestation of parasites such as round worm. When my Boxer Robbie arrived at 8 months old his back at the waist was about 7cm / 3 inches across - he was infested with round worms! Once you are sure there is no medical reason and no infestation then you know your dog requires either more food or better quality food.

Just like people, some dogs have a faster metabolism than other dogs and require more food to maintain a healthy weight. You need to increase your dog’s intake of nutrient rich food stuffs - just make sure that you don’t over do it overtime. When you see your dog has gained enough weight make sure that you do not start to overfeed - you want to maintain a good weight!

UNDERSTAND WHAT GOOD NUTRITION CONSISTS OF

To understand more about what comprises good nutrition in a dog kibble, and some alternate food stuffs that are rich in nutrients, antioxidants, good quality omega fatty acids and healthy soluble fibre for your dogs you can read this short article.
Coconut oil can be an aid in helping your dog loose weight as can turmeric / curcumin - all three have many other health benefits as well.

OK, so now we need to fix the whining and begging for food issue…

SO YOUR DOG WHINES OR BARKS AT YOU WHEN IT WANTS FOOD...

Did you teach it to do this as a little trick? Did your dog just start this own its own? Or perhaps the dog is a rescue and this is a behaviour that the dog already had. Or maybe your dog is a rescue and has been traumatized in the past by not receiving food on a regular basis.

No matter what the reason, you might find this behaviour to be kind of cute and endearing at first. But, unless you have also taught your dog the threshold - the limit, when to stop…this behaviour can be:

A - Habit forming;

B - May escalate to dominating, reactivity, anxious, neurotic behaviour;

If this happens, it can really get you irritated, which will make the dog more anxious = psychological damage to your dog and to you.

Yeap, not so good and definitely not cute any more!

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO STOP THE BEHAVIOUR?

FIRST LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE OF THINGS.

When your dog demands attention and rewards (whether food, affection, toys, etc.) your dog is taking control of the situation - this is not good, as you have just surrendered control of the situation to your dog and in so doing have lost some of his respect for you as a leader. Please take note this is not the same as when your dog looks at you for direction…in this case your dog is not asking he is telling!

If your dog is a rescue, underweight or overweight and you feel sorry for him, you are adding and abetting this bad habit. Stop feeling bad for your dog - this undermines his self confidence and can make him anxious and if your lack of leadership continues your dog can become aggressive reactive…pushiness can grow exponentially.

If you are starting to feel annoyed or frustrated with your dog, you are only going to increase his will to bark. Your lack of control of your emotions reinforces his understanding that you are not in control of the situation. More reason for him to take over! If you yell at your dog to stop barking - you are barking too, and that is leading by the wrong example.

Please do not say to your dog ‘would you just stop that!’ or I wish you would stop doing that’, or ‘you are bothering me, quite it!’ If you do this you are not providing direction, nor are you embracing the role of leader. You are whining and complaining not providing direction! When we whine instead of direct, we give our dog a choice - you can listen to me or not. Just like humans, most will choose the ‘not’ option.

Before you read any further - read these two articles if you have not already. They will only take you a few minutes to read - but will really improve your understanding of how dogs assign respect to their humans and how our state of being can either work for us or against us in our endeavor to direct our dogs.

How Dogs Assign Respect to Humans

The Sensitivity of Dogs


SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Train yourself, coach and mentor your dog. If you ask the right way your dog will listen - he does not need to be trained…but you do! Get your emotional state under control, engage your working mode on and let’s go.


Before you attempt to direct your dog…set your expectations…

First - remember that your dog has been doing this for awhile - I have the experience to make change immediate, you probably do not so be patient. Be calm, be deliberately confident, be assertive but fair, and have the expectation in your mind that your dog will listen. You need to be consistent, persistent and100% committed to the direction you provide (your dog knows when your are not!). Your will must be stronger than your dogs.

Be prepared to give a full instruction. A full instruction consists of:
1 - Getting your dogs attention;

2 - Telling him what you do not what him to do;

3 -  Telling him what you do want him to do instead, and;

4 - Following through to correct him if he backslides into the unwanted behaviour. 

The leadership role is one of coaching and mentoring with fair, firm, clear direction. Never match your dog’s state but you do have to match the intensity of his behaviour. I see a lot of people doing only step 2. Then the poor dog gets in trouble as it goes back to doing the unwanted behaviour as its human has not provided a full set of instructions! Blame yourself, not your dog! 

Firstly, if you dog barks you have to disagree right away. If you wait and then address your dog he will not understand what you are disagreeing with. To disagree with the bark you can:

A - Say ‘shh’ or ‘no’;

B - Snap your fingers;

C - Or give your dog a ‘nip’ (take your fingers and form a claw like shape, quickly tap your fingers once against your dog’s waist or neck and say ‘no’ or ‘shh’

Remember that the energy behind the direction is everything. Your emotions must be disengaged, you must be calm, assertive-confident, never angry, frustrated etc.

Secondly, your dog should not be in your food prep space. When your dog learns to sit and relax quietly you can relax the rule, but for know he needs to exit stage left! The approach you take to communicate to your dog should depend on the sensitivity level of your dog. Some dogs see touch as an engagement to converse, be excited. Other dogs see voice as engagement. Engagement gives the dog the opportunity to argue and debate the situation with you - that is not what you want. You want to disengage and direct.

If your dog is very sensitive pointing your finger and calmly saying ‘out’ may be enough. If your dog is less sensitive and fully committed to perusing his course of action you need to intensify your direction to him.

The best method is to simply use your body to herd your dog out of the space and then show him where you want him to sit/lie down. This is using dog language rather than human language - a very clear and effective way to communicate. If your dog gets up simply herd him back to the desired location. It is better not to talk, touch or look - just herd.

If your dog begs for food, you can use the same technique to discourage the begging.

Remember that when we develop a habit it takes time, effort and commitment to get rid of the habit...affecting change may take hours, days, weeks or more. So to with dogs.

Further, your strength as a leader and affective communicator will determine how quickly the behaviour can be turned around. I can affect change immediately because I have trained myself to be aware, I use instinct and intuition and have a lot of experience working with dogs in all states of being. You will have to be patient and fair with yourself and your dog to achieve success as your experience is less comprehensive. Not to worry, just boost your commitment to achieving your goal and you will move along at a good pace.


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

• Training;
• Behaviour Modification;
• Rehabilitation;
• Nutrition;
• Health

Whether you are experiencing dog behavior problems and would like assistance, or just want to bring your dog up to be a well-balanced canine -  I offer both a local and international service for people with one or multiple dogs. 

I work with all breeds - from small (i.e. Yorkie, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, etc.), medium breeds size (including Pit Bulls) and large breed dogs...

 

International e-Consultation 

Sessions, Advice via email for National and International Clients - Dog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Nutrition, Health 

In-person SessionsDog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Rehabilitation – Ottawa, Ottawa Area, Outaouais, Ottawa Valley

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

Notes:

Please note - this article is for information purposes and is not a substitute for an in-person Session with me. When working with dogs I use many techniques - it is important to note that this article may touch on one or several techniques but not all. I select the technique that I use for a particular dog based on my observations of the dog and an intuitive, instinctive assessment of that dog's and its human's individual requirements. For example when I am working with a dog that is hyper sensitive and very physically reactive I will not use voice or touch. I use a lot of therapeutic touch on some dogs, others require the use of herding techniques and so on. Each and every technique must be combined with:

• an understanding of the real intelligence, sensitivity and capability of dogs;
• an understanding of how to read a dog's face and a dog's overall body language;
• an understanding of the full spectrum of ways that humans communicate and dogs communicate; 
• understanding and recognition of the individual that is each dog - no two dogs are the same...taking a 'cookie cutter' approach to techniques is not the way to work with a dog;
• a complete recognition and understanding of all the elements that feed a behaviour and create an issue:
•  the vast majority of people can only identify one or two elements...which vastly inhibits the ability to resolve behavior issues;
• behaviours do not exist in isolation - there are always many elements that feed a single behaviour, there all always multiple behaviours that create a behavioral issue;
• self-restraint and discipline on the part of the human who is directing the dog;
• sensitivity, awareness, intuition, instinct and timing on the part of the human who is directing the dog;
• to understand, connect with and adapt quickly and effectively to a dog's learning requirements you must be able to employ the same tools a dog uses - acute sensitivity, awareness, instinct, intuition and timing;
• kindness, endurance, consideration, patience, persistence, perspective, the ability and know how to let the past go, the ability to set realistic expectations at any one point in time;
• the creation of structure, rules, boundaries and limitations for each situation at the macro and micro level;
• understanding of all the elements that make up an instruction and direction to a dog...there are multiple steps involved in an instruction - not just one!
• absolute honesty - if you cannot be honest with yourself you will not be able to communicate clearly with a dog.

These are just some of the techniques that I teach my clients - it is a holistic, all-encompassing approach. If you are missing any one element of the above mentioned your success rate will be affected to one degree or another in implementing the techniques offered in the article presented above.

BE YOUR DOG’S PACK LEADER

As a Dog Whisperer, I believe the key to ‘dog training’ is teaching people about dogs themselves, how to effectively communicate with their dogs and how to be pack leaders. Once these concepts have been grasped and moved from theory to practice it is the human who has received the training required to communicate in a manner thattheir dogs can understand. 

A PACK LEADER IS…

A Pack Leader is a person who uses calm, considered, patient, directive energyto direct their dog(s) and ifthe need arises, provides direction to other dogs that come into contact with their dog(s) by using this same energy.  When the unexpected occurs thePack Leader is in a position to have the presence of mind to react in a calm, positive, supportive manner.

A Pack Leader leads by winning the respect of their dog(s)by having the self-discipline, the awareness and actual ability to lead in a positive and consistent fashion. A true pack leader never assumes the position of leader simply for the sake of having power over another. They take the position of leader for the betterment of the entire pack.

A Pack Leader's strength is determined by their ability to be aware and in control of their emotions, while using patience, determination and persistence to lead by example. 

What is it that humans love so much about dogs? A dog's selfless nature. A true pack leader understands and is able to act from a self-less place of being rather than from a place of selfishness.

I believe that a Pack Leader's goal is to empower themselves and their dog to live a happy, healthy life.

What can you do to become a Pack Leader? Empower yourself. You know that saying 'knowledge is power'? Well it is true. 

Just because you don't know how to be a pack leader now does not mean that you don't havethe ability to be one - you just need some help to get there. The elation that you feel when you master your first calm, assertive direction to your dog is amazing. This experience infuses you with the confidence and motivation to do more. As you become more confident, your dog will pay more of the right kind of attention to you.

This process builds a stronger bond of trust between yourself and your canine companion. So start by understanding what Leadership really is.

LEADERSHIP IS…

Leadership is coaching and mentoring - leading by example from a calm, confident, firm, patient, fair and aware state of being. This is how well balanced dogs instruct each other - this is also how well balanced humans instruct each other!

If you observe a dog interacting with another dog (dogs who are psychologically well balanced dogs - not anxious, reactive, fearful etc.); the dogs rarely resort to intense physical or verbal communication to teach or correct another dog. Most of what occurs is posturing primarily conveyed through body language, although there may be verbalization at times. Have you ever watched dogs playing and observed what happens when one dog is too pushy with the other dog. The dog who objects to the pushy behaviour disengages from the play by calmly ceasing physical contact and turning their head away from the other dog…this is leading by example. Calm, patient instructive, but not dominating.

LEADERSHIP IS NOT… 

Leadership is not domination and has nothing to do with being an ‘Alpha’. Before we go any further it is very important to understand that the ‘alpha’ myth is false…please read this short article to gain a better understanding De-bunking The Alpha Dog Myth.

SO HOW CAN YOU BECOME A LEADER TO YOUR DOG?

The starting point, the very core of teaching a dog to be a good dog is not about habituating a dog to sit, stay or lie down. Teaching a dog to be a good dog starts with educating the human about the true nature and requirements of the dog. Dogs in their natural state are generally 'good'. It is when we humans break the cycle of normal social education of a dog by other dogs that we then need to take over the responsibility of teaching and socializing the dog. Without intention,many humans take away the dog's ability to fulfill themselves as a dog. This sets the stage for 'bad' dog behaviour. When the human understands the basic principles of how to fulfill the 'dog in the dog', the human is in a better position to enable the best in their dog and themselves.

STEP ONE - TRAIN YOURSELF

a)  Be aware of what and how you communicate;

b)  Have a basic understanding of how dogs communicate;

c)  Take the information from a) and b) and train yourself to be a better communicator.

To prepare you to successfully in navigate through a), b) and c) take a quick read of this article How Dogs Communicate and How Dogs Assign Respect

Now you are ready to lead by example while you coach and mentor your dog.

 

STEP TWO - MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE YOUR DOG WITH FULL INSTRUCTIONS

The biggest mistake I see people make, one of the first things I teach my clients to be aware of…

a) Not controlling your own emotions;

b) Not engaging in a working, logical mode.
c) Engaging in emotive mode;
d) Not providing full direction. 
Providing comprehensive direction = attention, direction, correction and follow through;
e) Whinning and complaining
Don't whine and complain to your dog ('I wish you wouldn't do that', 'Oh, stop that' etc.). There is a vast difference between complaining and instructing!
f) Not stopping. 
If your dog is not behaving, not listening, stop what you are doing, don’t keep moving forward; stop and address - then continue.

Remember…

Most dogs, will instinctively know what they are being asked to do if they are communicated with & shown in the right way at the right time & provided with the right tools to navigate safely & confidently through situations.

STEP THREE - PROVIDE STRUCTURE, FRAMEWORKS and GATEWAYS for YOUR DOG

Providing rules are one of the keys to enabling a happy, healthy, well-balanced dog. Guiding your dog in the right manner, incorporating structure, including rules and boundaries is a fundamental part of fulfilling the role of Pack Leader and provides you with an opportunity to create a closer bond with your dog. So lets first understand what is meant by the terms ‘rules’ and ‘boundaries’…

Humans require structure in their lives - so do dogs. Dogs are evolved to work physcially and psychologically, much as humans are. In the absence of work, a hobby, something productive to focus on, a goal(s) to keep wits sharp and mind fulfilled a human becomes aimless, anxious, depressed...and so it is for a dog. 

Why do humans have so many rules and laws within their societies? To provide consistent, clear direction for the mass of humanity. Why is this necessary - well because most humans are not born leaders - they look to specific individuals to 'light and pave' the way. Well, just as with humans most dogs are not born leaders - they are by natural disposition followers. While some dogs are natural leaders, most are not and as such they look to their humans for leadership.

The way I see it a dog requires:

• An overarching structure in his/her life. Within that broad structure there should exist;
• A framework for each and every typical daily situation, i.e. 
• Entering and exiting a door, room, etc.
• The use of couches and beds;
• How to take treats;
• How to wait for food and respect others food;
• How to share toys and treats;
• How to get ready for a walk;
• How to great a human or another dog;
• How to play;
• etc.

And within each framework there must be a series of gateways (rules, boundaries and limitations) which the dog must work with and within, in order to gain access to the desired goal, i.e

• To exit from the house out the door and into the backyard...
• The dog must go through a series of steps - psychological and physical to 'ask' permission and in this way the dog learns to connect and work with its human by navigating through a series of what I call 'gateways'. In so doing the dog knows that it will be provided with direction, that it will not be permitted to escalate to intense behaviour, that it must stop and think...
• The dog should not be pressed up against the door, but instead should yield the space by the door and wait several feet away from the door;
• The dog should make eye-contact with its human;
• The dog should wait for the human to yield the space in-front of the door and/or wait for a gesture or signal that it may proceed out the door;
• The dog should be calm and attentive throughout this entire process, and;
• In order for this process to be both fair and successful the human must direct in a kind, fair, intelligent, aware and self-disciplined manner.

Rule (noun)…rules:

Commonly defined as an authoritative principle set forth to guide behaviour or action.

Boundary (noun)...boundaries:
1. Border the invisible line that divides one physical area from another
    (for example respect for another's space, yielding; waiting for
    permission to go through and out a door, down the stairs etc.)

2. Limit the point at which something (i.e. a specific behaviour) ends or beyond which it
    becomes something else. For instance, when a behaviour is within the realm of
    normal and then escalates beyond that limit into the realm of chaos (unbalanced,
    creating over excitement, anxiety, aggression, etc.).

  

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN TEACHING RULES & BOUNDARIES TO YOUR DOG

FIRST, Be calm-directive
1.  Be aware and in control of your emotions;
2.  While using  patience and confidence;
3.  As well as determination and persistence.

Calm (adjective)Not anxious, without anxiety or strong emotion.

Confident directive...Acting confidently, confident in  stating a position or claim.

SECOND...provide direction by effectively communicating with your dog in a clear, consistent manner. Keep in mind that dogs receive communication from us in various forms; they watch how we human's position our bodies, they look at the expressions on our face, they use their sense of smell, they note how we are breathing, they sense our general state-of being.

Remember, if you are directing your dog to 'calm down' and you are not calm yourself - you are leading by example, the wrong example. If, instead your state-of-being is the polar opposite (you are calm); you are leading by the right example...asking for calm by being calm. You are clearly and consistently supporting the message you want your dog to receive.

By mastering these concepts you take on the leadership role and become your dog’s pack leader!



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

• Training;
• Behaviour Modification;
• Rehabilitation;
• Nutrition;
• Health

Whether you are experiencing dog behavior problems and would like assistance, or just want to bring your dog up to be a well-balanced canine -  I offer both a local and international service for people with one or multiple dogs. 

I work with all breeds - from small (i.e. Yorkie, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, etc.), medium breeds size (including Pit Bulls) and large breed dogs...

 

International e-Consultation 

Sessions, Advice via email for National and International Clients - Dog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Nutrition, Health 

In-person SessionsDog Training, Puppy Training, Behaviour Modification, Rehabilitation – Ottawa, Ottawa Area, Outaouais, Ottawa Valley

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

Notes:

Please note - this article is for information purposes and is not a substitute for an in-person Session with me. When working with dogs I use many techniques - it is important to note that this article may touch on one or several techniques but not all. I select the technique that I use for a particular dog based on my observations of the dog and an intuitive, instinctive assessment of that dog's and its human's individual requirements. For example when I am working with a dog that is hyper sensitive and very physically reactive I will not use voice or touch. I use a lot of therapeutic touch on some dogs, others require the use of herding techniques and so on. Each and every technique must be combined with:

• an understanding of the real intelligence, sensitivity and capability of dogs;
• an understanding of how to read a dog's face and a dog's overall body language;
• an understanding of the full spectrum of ways that humans communicate and dogs communicate; 
• understanding and recognition of the individual that is each dog - no two dogs are the same...taking a 'cookie cutter' approach to techniques is not the way to work with a dog;
• a complete recognition and understanding of all the elements that feed a behaviour and create an issue:
•  the vast majority of people can only identify one or two elements...which vastly inhibits the ability to resolve behavior issues;
• behaviours do not exist in isolation - there are always many elements that feed a single behaviour, there all always multiple behaviours that create a behavioral issue;
• self-restraint and discipline on the part of the human who is directing the dog;
• sensitivity, awareness, intuition, instinct and timing on the part of the human who is directing the dog;
• to understand, connect with and adapt quickly and effectively to a dog's learning requirements you must be able to employ the same tools a dog uses - acute sensitivity, awareness, instinct, intuition and timing;
• kindness, endurance, consideration, patience, persistence, perspective, the ability and know how to let the past go, the ability to set realistic expectations at any one point in time;
• the creation of structure, rules, boundaries and limitations for each situation at the macro and micro level;
• understanding of all the elements that make up an instruction and direction to a dog...there are multiple steps involved in an instruction - not just one!
• absolute honesty - if you cannot be honest with yourself you will not be able to communicate clearly with a dog.

These are just some of the techniques that I teach my clients - it is a holistic, all-encompassing approach. If you are missing any one element of the above mentioned your success rate will be affected to one degree or another in implementing the techniques offered in the article presented above.