If you have multiple dogs, Online Dog Coach recommends that you establish a feeding routine.  This ensures that each dog gets his or her fair share and can helpful making feeding time less crazy.  In this video, 3 year old Chase shows you how feeding multiple dogs works at our house.  Please note that these dogs have had an established feeding routine for multiple years and we do not recommend that a young child try this without proper training and supervision.

Check out the video on our Facebook page.

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Don’t Lick the Dog – Making Friends with Dogs by Wendy Wahman is a wonderful children’s book that teaches children how to interact with dogs.  I read this book regularly with my 3 year old son. The books illustrations encourage my son to ask questions about what the dogs are doing and feeling.  This is a must have for families with dogs and young children. 

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Griffin is smart enough and active enough that I have been giving him puzzles, toys, and “scavenger hunts” each day before I leave the house. Tonight I didn’t set anything up. After all, we had been to an hour long agility training class, and I was only gone for a short time! Guess I was wrong…

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When you have both children and dogs, the little ones can get snappy. And I’m not just talking about the dogs! Read the July 24, 2011 For Better or Worse comic, and you may get a new perspective!

This is a tolerant dog who loves his boy! Most dogs don't like this level of closeness - think of the appropriateness of hugging a stranger.

Teach your child to behave appropriately, and not only will your dog thank you, but your child will become safer around other people’s pets. Some tips for your child are:

1. Use walking feet and inside voices. Dogs see a running screaming child as a playmate, and dog play sometimes involves jumping and nipping.
2. Always ask an adult before approaching someone’s pet.
3. Approach dogs from the front so they see you coming.
4. Let the dog sniff you first, then pet him on the neck – not the head.

Learn how to read dog emotions so you can help your child meet and interact with family dogs. For more information on reading dog body language, see our blog entry What is Your Dog Telling You? Read His Lips…

Still having nipping problems? Find a trainer who specializes in aggression issues. Be prepared that good trainers teach people as well as train dogs, and you and your family will need to do some homework. If training with a professional doesn’t work, your dog may not be suited for a household with children. To find a new home, go through a no-kill organization to guarantee your dog is adopted rather than euthanized.

Your dog (and everyone else’s) will thank you!

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The 4th of July — a summertime holiday filled with fun, picnics, and fireworks for the family.  However, many of our canine family members are not overly enthusiatic for the fireworks.  Fireworks often cause a stress/fear response in our dogs which may be exhibited by excessive drooling, whining, digging, destructive behavior, etc.   

If your dog is stressed by fireworks, here are a few tips that may make the 4th of July more pleasurable for all:

1. State of Mind — remember that your dog is responding to a fear (i.e. destroying things) and it’s your job to help alleviate the situation. If you respond by getting upset you will only reinforce that fireworks cause bad things to happen (i.e. mom yells at me).
2. Plan, Plan, Plan — Make sure you have a plan for the 4th of July as well as the week leading up to the 4th
   • As the 4th of July approaches you will likely hear bottle rockets and other fireworks throughout the neighborhood, use this as an opportunity to desensitize — keep your dog’s favorite treats or toys handy and reward your dog for remaining calm when he/she hears a firework.
   • On the 4th of July, keep your dog inside with the TV or radio volume high enough to drown out firework noises and close the curtains if your dog has associated the lights with fireworks.
   • If you are home reward, reward, reward for calm behavior.
   • If you won’t be at home, keep your dog in a confined and safe place like a crate or kennel.

Start thinking about next year — try desensitizing your dog to loud noises through increased exposure with rewards. For example, you could purchase a CD with firework noises, play it softly and reward for a calm response. Gradually increase the volume and reward until your dog is confident

Safety Tip — Even if your dog is not afraid of fireworks, it is a good practice to keep your dog away from firework shows to prevent damage to their hearing.

For additional tips surrounding this holiday and it’s festivities, see ASPCA’s Fourth of July Safety Tips.

Have a fun and safe 4th of July — The Trainers of Online Dog Coach

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