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    • New Client Questionnaire
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A blog for all things dog-related: training, behavior, fun new doggie items, veterinary information and, of course, ways to enhance your relationship with your best four-legged friend!

Lady's Best Friend

Superheroes Among Us:  The Service Dog Enigma

2/28/2018

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You see him lying there on the café floor, taking a nap under the table.  A family with two small children walks by – one child points to the dog as he passes.  The dog lifts his head up to gaze at them - then, without a sound, gently rests it back on the floor.  The café barista “pings” the service bell and calls out your name – your order is ready.  You see the dog’s ear twitches at the sound of the bell but it doesn’t change his demeanor.  He doesn’t even leave his position under the table.  That’s when you notice the dog’s harness.
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Five minutes later, you watch as the dog’s person calls the dog out of his slumber to come to her side.  The woman leans on the big dog to get out of her chair – that’s when you notice the woman shaking as she struggles to stand.  She rises with the dog as her brace, then together, slowly, you watch them walk out of the café.  A man holds the door open for the woman and her dog – he even comments on how handsome her dog is.  The dog catches the man’s gaze with a little wag of his tail and then it’s right back to business – he must help his woman walk out to the bus stop safely.  After all, he is a service dog – and he has a very important job to do…
The Making of a Superhero
A service dog’s job is not an easy job to fill.  Many dogs do not have the level of confidence, self-control, patience, problem-solving skills, or healthy level of independence required to handle the day-to-day human operations of office buildings, travel systems, public forums, restaurants and malls – no matter how much we try to make them have these skills.  Teaching a dog a specific task associated with a disability is often the easiest part; it’s building the lifestyle skills that lead to superb behavior in public venues that takes much longer.   

"With great power comes great responsibility."
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~ Uncle Ben to Peter Parker in Spiderman
Service dogs are really like superheroes among us!  Being a service dog is a job most dogs are just not cut out to do and not every dog that starts the path to becoming a service dog can finish it.  It’s like why most of us humans are not brain surgeons or rocket scientists.   Let’s dig a little deeper…

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Solving the Assistance Dogs Puzzle:  Service Dogs, ESA's and Therapy Dogs

2/3/2018

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Service dogs, emotional support animals, therapy dogs… there’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about their differences, what purpose these dogs serve, their rights to access public spaces, and what kind of training they must complete to become capable of performing their jobs.  Many people have disabilities that can be aided by a use of a service dog but they don’t know where to start in terms of their training.  Alternately, there are many people who take advantage of the loopholes in the current system just so they can take their pet dogs into stores or on airplanes with them.
I proudly worked at a guide dog organization for nine years (and still volunteer with another one today).  I witnessed first-hand the tremendously important and often difficult job service dogs have to fulfill.  It is my intention to provide some clarity on this often cloudy subject.
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What Does a Service Dog Do?
Service dogs are task-trained to assist a person with a mental or physical disability to perform certain tasks they cannot do on their own, such as guide a blind person around obstacles, serve as a brace or open drawers for a person with mobility issues, or interrupt a panic attack for a person with debilitating anxiety or PTSD.  While they do also provide companionship, this is not their primary job.

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Bark-Humbug!  Helping Your Dog Deal with Doggy Visitors Over the Holidays

12/13/2017

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​​When we get together with friends and family over the holiday season, sometimes our dogs get to join us.  But if your friends and family also have dogs, and your dog is either going over to their house or they are coming to yours, sometimes it can be a lot for dogs to take in.  Another canine in their space, with their people, all the change from routine and bustling that ensues as part of the holiday trend.  Don’t let your dog be a Scrooge this holiday season!  Instead, use these tips to make the introduction between resident dog and visitor dog a smooth one…
1.  Have dogs meet for the first time outside of the home, on neutral territory, so as to avoid any territoriality or spatial “comfort bubble” issues.  If you can’t meet in a truly neutral space, like a park, going for a walk up and down your street together can still do the trick. 

Begin with some distance and let the dogs see and smell each other without getting right up in each other’s space.  This may look a bit messy at first, as they may be pulling to try to get to one another, but if you just keep walking they will soon settle in.  Praise your dog highly if he moves forward or checks in with you rather than trying to pull to or lunge at the other dog.  And as they continue to walk and do well, you can gradually decrease distance.  See my article Introducing Fido to Rufus: Dog-to-Dog Greetings, Pressure Free! for more tips on executing this.

Multiple dog caveat: it’s more difficult and intimidating for a single dog to integrate into a multiple dog situation, since dogs that typically live together can develop a “pack” and are already comfortable with one another and the hierarchy they have set.  Bringing a new dog into this situation can stir things up.  So when introducing one dog to a multiple of dogs, it is best to do the introductions each individually at first (starting with the most laid-back dog in the multiple-dog group and working your way up to the most “intense” dog of the group).  This will give each dog the chance to get to know one another a bit without the “strength in numbers” tactics.  If each of the individual greetings goes OK, you can start adding one more dog at a time to the situation as all dogs are comfortable.** (see body language signals to watch for below)

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A Doggy Holiday – Picking the Right Sitter or Boarding Facility for Your Pup’s Staycation

12/11/2017

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The holiday season can be hustling and bustling, full of parties, shopping, and for some – travel!  Many of us go to visit family near and far over the holidays and while we wish we could take our furry family members with us, sometimes we just can’t.  When our dogs must stay behind, how do we help make their staycation holiday the best it can be?

​When your dog sees that you are preparing to leave him, the world that he knows is already turning upside down a bit.  Unless you are a frequent traveler and he is used to you coming and going, your packing up and leaving him behind can cause him some concern.  He may display a lot more anxiety, seem “on edge”, and show some “side effect” behaviors (that you don’t typically see) as a result of his heightened emotional state.  So it’s important to make your holiday travel as casual and seemingly innocuous to your dog as possible.  This means who you choose to care for your dog while you are away, and where you are selecting for him to spend his time away from you, is key to making his doggy holiday staycation a positive one.

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Respecting Service Dogs - Please Don't "Fake It"

8/31/2017

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​Having worked in the service dog field for many years, I have an immense respect for their work and CANNOT stress enough how important it is that dog owners and animal lovers know their facts about the critical importance of a legit service dog to people with disabilities, and do NOT just buy a "service dog" vest or "service dog registration" online just so they can take their beloved pets into stores, on planes, etc.   Unless you know someone with a disability and a real service dog, you may not know the many months of training that go into making a dog into a service dog - not every dog is cut out for such a job. In fact, most are not. I was pretty appalled recently when I was told there's a local board and train facility that claims your dog can be a service dog after completing a 6-week obedience course 😡
I have had the privilege of meeting Randy Pierce, who speaks in the below article about the legitimacy of service dogs, and hundreds of other people with disabilities who need their service dog partners to help them navigate through life 😊. Please, if you are an animal-lover like me, and you have respect for those who have disabilities (and want to see them succeed), please do not pretend your dog is a service dog if he is not (or condone others who take advantage of the flaws in the system). We're only going to become a more dog-friendly society if we make the RIGHT choices to show we are responsible pet parents - not by faking a service dog.

​Read STOP FAKING SERVICE DOGS - Loving your pet too much is putting people with real disabilities at risk

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Making a Move – Life Transitions and Your Dog

8/12/2017

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​Moving is rarely easy – whether you’re just moving across town or across the country.  I would know; I’ve moved a lot in my adult life, the biggest of which was just this year (939 miles to be exact!).  And as of late, I’ve had several clients preparing to be in the same boat.
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We all go through a major transition with a move, but our pets are often more affected by these changes than we are.  Many dogs (especially those with some underlying anxiety and insecurity) prefer patterns and routines that are predictable.  Preparing for a move and then actually making that move can really rock their proverbial world!  So how can you make a move easier on your dog?  By following these steps to make this transition as gradual and positive for them as possible…
BEFORE THE MOVE:
Make packing a fun event.  When your living space starts turning to shambles with boxes everywhere, your dog is going to know something is going on.  Instead of allowing this to cause your dog some turmoil, you can make packing fun by playing packing games!  As you roll your glasses in bubble wrap, practice your dog’s “sit” or “down” or “go place”, and then praise and reinforce him for maintaining his position as you wrap the glass and place it in the box.  Throw in some tasty treats with that reinforcement and he’ll love this game!  Instead of pacing in the corner or wearily watching what you’re doing and wondering if there’s a cause for concern, he’ll think it’s great that you’re packing and asking him to be a part of it!  You can even accomplish two things at once by using your dog’s dinner kibble as his treats for playing this game – dinner and packing can happen at the same time!​

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The Pressures of Separation – Some Tips on Working Through Separation Anxiety in Your Dog

8/2/2017

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The vocalization and panting, uncontrollable drooling, destruction of property – all common symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs, and none of them pleasant.  Not to mention that nobody likes to see their little furry love getting so worked up over something that is a natural part of life.   We humans have places to go and things to do that can’t always involve our fur-kids!
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Sometimes dogs develop separation anxiety because they haven’t had many opportunities to be alone (like in a household where someone works from home or doesn’t work and has much more time to spend with them).   And so they are afraid and stressed by the thought of being independent because they don’t know how to be.   Some dogs develop separation anxiety because they’ve built up a negative association to being left alone (for too long of a time, without proper stimulation, etc).  And some dogs are just generally anxious to begin with so the anxiety of separation is an extension of that.
I’ve done some recent presentations and have been working with several people lately whose dogs exhibit pretty severe separation anxiety.  Working through separation anxiety is a process – there usually isn’t a “quick fix” – but sometimes there are small tweaks we can make to adjust the lifestyle approach to being left alone that makes all the difference for our dogs.  Perhaps you’ve already seen my article NO, Don’t Leave Me! Dealing With Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety.  Here are a few more things to consider and try to build your dog’s feelings of independence and decrease his separation anxiety…

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SUPERSTAR SPOTLIGHT:  Angelica & Langston!

7/26/2017

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I first met Angelica and Langston in August 2016.  Angelica had never had a dog before (cats had always been her thing!) but she couldn't turn down this adorable hound mix that needed a home.  She decided to give doggy parenting a try!  When she reached out to me for help with Langston's reactivity with other dogs, we quickly discovered that much of his reactivity was a result of general anxiety - he just wasn't really confident in his own skin. 
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Looking at this, you wouldn't know Langston's anxiety - he's just chillin' with is best kitty friend, Oliver! Two peas in a pod :-)
I see this concern often actually - it's much more common in today's age than you might think, especially with our fast-paced lifestyles and societal pressures.  Dogs can be even more sensitive to these pressures than some people - and plenty of us struggle with it as well!  Luckily, with Angelica's dedication (and a little guidance from me), Langston was able to become much more comfortable out in public (though they were still working through some reactive moments with other dogs in certain situations).
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Fast forward almost a year to July 2017.  I was so excited to receive an update from Angelica about Langston's progress.  Though they had some changes in their lives recently, Angelica and Langston were happier than ever in their relationship.  She had introduced him to the sport of dock-diving and it turns out they both LOVED it, and Langston thrived - he was more confident and much less reactive with the other dogs!  Here's what Angelica had to share...

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Protecting Your Dog From Deadly Toxins in Your Food, Home and Yard

5/26/2017

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Take a moment to think about this… at any given point in time, we are exposed to some estimated tens of thousands of chemical toxins in our environment.  In our cleaning solutions, household items, beauty products, lawn care regimens, gardens, even in the foods we eat.  Many of them we don’t even realize we are being exposed to on a regular basis, yet they can cause quite adverse health effects.  Our dogs’ systems are even more sensitive to many of these substances than ours are, however, and what you don’t know about these items in your home environment, could mean serious trouble or death for your dog!​
​I’ve consulted with my veterinarian friend, Dr. Alisha Selzner of Companion Pet Hospital in Fishkill, NY, for her insight on some of these deadly substances…

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Got Toys?  Puzzles and Chews That Provide a Good Outlet for Dogs

4/14/2017

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You can walk into nearly any pet store and get bombarded with a plethora of dog toys.  While some are merely for money-making and marketing purposes (does your dog really need a stuffed Easter Bunny that he is going to destroy in 3.2 seconds flat or a squeaky ball with your favorite sports team on it?), the good toy-making companies understand the logical need for a dog to have opportunities for the right kind of enrichment, mental stimulation, and outlet for his energy.  This means having a durable item that engages your dog’s mind, that he can chew without destruction or that encourages him to interact with other social beings in the proper way, and which he can enjoy time and time again.
You may find that you already have some toys for your dog and he doesn’t seem interested in them.  This could be because they are the wrong kind to fill his particular needs, he doesn’t know how to engage with a particular toy, or he just doesn’t have a preference towards the ones that he has.  Every dog is different and what some dogs love, others could care less for.  Have you ever met a child that has 20 toys sitting in her toy chest yet she swears she has nothing to play with and wants what her friend has?  I often advise my clients that while having a number of great toys to choose from can give you a better chance at success, the number of toys doesn’t mean as much as the quality of the toys and what the dog gets out of playing with them.  So to save money, I recommend steering clear of the cute ones that are easily destroyed (and then you have to replace them) or that don’t really serve a purpose for your dog, and instead spend the money to get the good stuff that will more likely engage your dog in the appropriate ways.
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This is a list of some of my favorite dog toys and chews, collected over the years through use with a variety of different dogs.  These items tend to hold up well, even to strong chewers (though if your dog has a strong propensity for chewing, you will want to monitor him with some of the puzzle toys at first to ensure he doesn’t abuse what the toy should be used for).  You should be able to find many of these items either in a local pet store (some of the smaller boutique stores tend to carry this caliber over some of the larger chain stores), as well as online on such sites as Amazon and Chewy.

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    Maria Huntoon, CBCC-KA
    ​Certified Canine Behavior Consultant
    ​Maria G. Huntoon Canine Consulting Services

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