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    • Home with Cruiser!

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    We are all in this pandemic together, including our dogs!  Living with a high energy dog when we are staying home to prevent the further spread of the Covid-19 Virus can be incredibly challenging!  However, there are ways to enrich our relationship with our dog in easy, fun ways! First, educate yourself.  Right now is a perfect time to take an online course in dog behavior, dog enrichment ideas, teaching Cruiser new tricks or just making new friends with online groups related to dogs.

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    The Higher You Are, the Higher You Are!

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    I just finished looking at an online magazine about beautiful homes and dogs.  Almost every photo showed a dog sleeping on the sofa, on the bed or other furniture.  It’s lovely to think we love our dogs so much that their comfort becomes an unselfish concern!  However, with all things there are two sides.   What could possibly be wrong with our beloved dogs and their comfort?  Dogs are literalists.  That means that they look at everything literally.

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    “He’s Friendly!” = “I don’t train my dog, and he won’t come.”

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    So many of my clients, if not all, have asked me what to do about other dogs that will “mug” their dog while out recreating. What is mugging?  It is when a loose dog runs up to another dog, full speed and gets into the first dog’s space.  Yes, dogs do have spatial needs just like people.  This is especially true of herding dogs such as Aussies, Border Collies, German Shepherds and many others since they use their space to push livestock in the correct direction.

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    A “Go Bag” For Your Dog

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    NO! It’s not a carry along poop bag although having poop bags is a MUST!   A “Go Bag” for your dog is a bag that you can put all of your dog related training and first aid equipment in.  It should be monitored regularly to be sure you have what you need so you are never anxiously looking for something AFTER you have left the house.

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    Gateway Behaviors

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    What is a gateway behavior?  It is any behavior that leads to more destructive behaviors and even aggression.  What might seem like a simple or even cute dog behavior may, in fact, be leading to more very undesirable behaviors in the future.  It can be very difficult for anyone to anticipate where a behavior might go - unless they have had years and years of experience with a multitude of dogs.

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    My Fur Baby!

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    I love my dog so much, she is my Fur Baby!  This is anthropomorphism. What is anthropomorphism?  It is humanizing dogs.  Dogs are NOT furry humans. The media and pet suppliers, the dog training community and dog care specialist have begun to refer to dogs as “fur babies”, or “fur children”.  Not a day goes by that we don’t see dogs in clothes that make them look like little children.  I posted a photo on the Positive Puppy FaceBook page that had a Weimaraner with painted toenails and a bracelet on her leg.

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    Love Your Dog to FOUR!

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    So often, we take our puppy to a puppy class that lasts from 4 to 8 weeks, and then feel we have done what we need to do to teach our pup skills for a life time.  While that class or private instruction is imperative to having a well behaved dog, it is only part of the equation. There are essentially four phases of training to a fully trained dog. Some of these phases are short in duration, others must continue for the lifetime of the dog.

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    FOUR Steps in Dog Training

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    So often, we take our puppy to a puppy class that lasts from 4 to 8 weeks, and then feel we have done what we need to do to teach our pup skills for a life time.  While that class or private instruction is imperative to having a well behaved dog, it is only part of the equation. There are essentially four phases of training to a fully trained dog. Some of these phases are short in duration, others must continue for the lifetime of the dog.

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    Forever Leashed?

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    Since our recent mountain lion attacks upon dogs in the valley, I go out with my dogs every time they are outside.  Even during the day, a few weeks ago, there was a mountain lion spotted and captured on video just 2 blocks from my home!  Even though I own big dogs, I am very cautious and so are most all dog owners throughout the valley.

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    First Things First!

    Fran Jewell
    Wood River Weekly A-M

    We all know how incredibly important early baby experiences are for human children. We have wonderful mobiles for them to watch while in their cradle.  We leave beautiful lights twirling around the room at night, play music for them to listen to when they sleep and read to them every chance we get. Puppies are exactly the same in that they are sponges of learning even the second or third day after birth.

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