​Chews.  

• Dogs take a lot of their emotional energy out through their mouths and the act of chewing releases dopamine in a dog’s brain – which is why even when he doesn’t have the right items on which to chew a dog will find something to chew regardless.  Not all chews are created equal however – there are many items available in our pet stores but some are smarter and healthier choices than others.  Some are long-lasting and extremely durable (like femur or knuckle bones, antlers, goat horns or Nylabones - Durachew variety) and some are edible chews that your dog will eventually consume (such as bully sticks, cow ears, beef tendons and back strap).  Both can serve a productive purpose and your dog will likely have preferences – what one dog likes another may not.  I always recommend natural animal products that are dried without chemicals versus items like rawhide (which is made with bleach and formaldehyde) or dental chews (which typically include a lot of artificial ingredients and crumble up easily because of how they are formed). 
• It’s always important to supervise your dog with any new item so you can witness his chewing pattern.  Any item can pose a choking hazard at any time (just like how an 80-year-old could be eating for all his life and still choke on a piece of food), but if you watch you can make sure your dog is chewing the item methodically and not just trying to swallow it.

Puzzle Toys. 

• The point of these toys is to stimulate your dog’s mind by offering him a problem to solve – i.e. how do I get this food out of this ball?  By rolling it, tossing it, picking it up and dropping it, etc.  There are many puzzle toys on the market – some more practical for dogs than others.  I prefer puzzles that can be adjustable, so you can start out easier when first introducing it to your dog and then make it more complicated as your dog becomes proficient. 
• You want to challenge your dog and get his mental juices flowing, but you don’t want to frustrate him – which means he has to be able to get the treats out of the toy using his mouth and paws.  If the only way to get the treats out of the toy is to use your fingers, your dog will have one heck of a time (since he obviously doesn’t have fingers) and he may give up or try chewing the toy to bits out of frustration.  
• Most puzzle toys are meant to be interactive only and are not built to withstand strong chewing (as some are made of hard plastic that can crack and shard if chewed on too much) so it’ll be important to supervise your dog when you first give him a puzzle toy – maybe have him closed in the room with you so you can still keep an eye on him while you’re doing your work, and then you can notice when he empties the toy whether or not he leaves it alone (preferred) or tries to chew it up (in which it must then be taken away after it’s empty). 
• Warning: you may become distracted by watching your dog play and problem-solve!

Stuffed Kongs: 

• The KONG Classic toy can be a very versatile toy – you can put a few treats in it if you just want to occupy your dog for a few seconds while you bring the garbage out, OR you can stuff it full of healthy tasty stuff, freeze it, and then let your dog lick away at it for a while as he waits for all the yummy contents to thaw so he can enjoy them!  The action of licking is a pacification for dogs so laying down in his crate or dog bed and working away at a stuffed frozen Kong can help your dog settle on his own without needing any attention from you.  For ideas on how to stuff the Kong, see The Amazing Frozen Kong! Recipes for Relaxation.

Stick to a schedule. 
When working from home it’s easy to let your dog out in the yard or take your dog for a quick walk on breaks between meetings or during your lunch hour.  But these opportunities are going to go away when you go back to the office. When routines and schedules change, it can often result in urinary indiscretions on the dog’s part – either due to lack of opportunity, or the stress or frustration that comes with the timing change or being left alone. 

Make those walks/outings a regular thing. 
We’ve all seen the various memes about how many walks dogs are getting by every member of the family right now because it’s all we can do to get out and about.  But unfortunately too many of us will slide right back into the old pattern once we go back to work/school and those 3 walks a day will turn back into 1 – or none.  And the fastest way to a dog's behavior problems is the lack of mental and physical stimulation and productive outlets for emotional energy.  So if you’re giving your dog regular walks now, or taking him on car rides or visits to the park, be sure to continue that new tradition once the pandemic is over. 

Give your dog adequate down time.  
There may be much more activity going on in your home right now on a daily basis than usual, but don’t forget – dogs spend much of the day sleeping (usually 12-14 hours for healthy adult dogs in their prime and as many as 18 to 20 hours for puppies and older dogs).  If there’s a lot of stimulation at home between you and the kids, your dog may not be getting the amount of down time that he needs to stay emotionally balanced. 

Make sure your dog has time away from the kids to just relax and decompress without interruption.  If your dog is sleeping, take that as an opportunity to get more work done or complete some chores around the house rather than waking the dog up to play or walk. Maybe even take this as an opportunity for YOU to just lounge with your dog and do nothing for a bit – like meditate to practice gratitude or snooze with your dog in the sun on your screened porch.

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​​Last Thursday, I said goodbye to my beloved kitty Chloe.  I have lost many loved ones in my life, both through illness and tragedy. I have also lost many childhood pets which will always remain special to me. But this time is different. It's different to grieve over someone I'd been sharing my home with and her memories surround me no matter where I look or what I hear or what I feel.  My space was her space and every shared space has meaning.  I was responsible for giving her the love and life she deserved, and she depended on me.

​

​It all started when my bosses at the ad agency where I worked immediately after college knew that I wanted a pet. I finally had my own apartment and so for my Christmas bonus they gave me a check to cover the adoption fee at the SPCA. I went that Friday but left without a pet because I couldn't decide. Then I went back the following morning, December 11th 2004, and fate had stepped in.

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​Chloe loved following me into the shower, curling up on my pillow at night, and when I held her upside down and drummed on her belly.  Her favorite spot was in my arms and she just had to be close enough to lick my nose or hug her arms around my shoulder and snuggle into my neck or she just wasn't close enough ❤ 

​We'd been through so much in 14 1/2 years together... 4 jobs, 11 homes, 2 marriages, 1 divorce, the arrival of her puppy brother Scout and the merging of a home with her kitty sister Abby. She'd been there as I mourned the loss of many loved ones who had passed.  And now I'm mourning for her.

​Items you will need:

• Medium mixing bowl and spoon
• ​Small saucepan
• Small food processor
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutter

The same is true if we are on the floor with the pup - if we are down on their level, they take that as an invitation to play.  Pups play by mouthing at other pups so that's what they will try to do to us - but it HURTS us (we don't have fur to protect our delicate skin).  So then we scream or push them away.  However, this often confuses the pup - first we were telling them we wanted to play but then we got mad at them for playing!  This confusion and frustration with our mixed signals will often increase arousal, and therefore result in the pup biting harder or more frequently.​

Instead, communicate clearly that you are no longer appreciative of this interaction by calmly and matter-of-factly disengaging from the pup and "turning off".  It could also mean getting up and walking away, and if necessary putting a barrier between you and the pup until the pup can calm down.  By doing this you are ensuring that you are not feeding energy into a behavior that you do not want to reinforce (and not adding fuel to an already burning emotional fire).  Instead, you are giving the pup a chance to learn to calm down, rather than keeping the pup's arousal level high (in which the biting pressure and intent can increase involuntarily). 

I really enjoy this SAFE game graphic by Good Dog in a Box and it's also an easy way to teach kids how to act around excited or strange dogs... ​

So making sure your pup has a segmented schedule as much as possible - maybe 45 minutes to an hour of activity, followed by 1.5 hours or so of relax time - will help make sure we are not pushing a pup past its mental capacity and lending itself to overtired/overwhelmed mouthing tantrums.  This downtime could be in the crate or on a leash/tie down, even with a food-stuffed toy or chew to help the pup settle if necessary at first.​

​Physical exercise comes in the form of activity that uses a pup's large muscle groups - romping, jumping/climbing over things, playing fetch or tug, etc - but sometimes those activities are not particularly mentally stimulating.  Some training games, puzzle-type toys and proper socialization/exposure to novelties (done in the right way) can use up a pup's mental energy productively.  Often times productive mental stimulation goes further than unproductive physical stimulation - much like the difference between a child who runs around like a chicken with his head cut off for an hour, versus a child who plays a game of soccer for an hour.

In many cases, the art of making a service dog starts shortly after birth.  Potential service dogs are handled by humans from the time before they can see so they get used to human companionship – even this early task prepares a dog for his future role.  As soon as they can walk and explore on their own, around the age of 4 weeks, they are passively exposed to various noises, surfaces, novel objects and more.  Within their first several months of life, they are repeatedly exposed to other dogs and people to develop appropriate social skills and to prevent the development of fear and aggression.

This exposure continues into adolescence, since a dog goes through several developmental phases during his first year.  A service dog in training learns strong obedience skills – such as the basic sit, down, stay, come, etc. as well as some commands that are more specific to that service dog’s field – but just as importantly, the dog learns to build confidence in public situations and good behavior.  This includes impulse control, patience, and the ability to remain responsive around a plethora of distractions.  These are all skills that require a LOT of time and practice to build in a lifestyle training approach, so for most service dogs these lessons start from the “puppy raiser” or owner who is training their own service dog under the supervision of a qualified service dog trainer. ​

A Lifestyle Approach
It’s practically impossible to put a specific number on the amount of hours spent on a service dog in training.  As Nicole will tell you, “Dogs are learning all the time even if I am not specifically working on a training task.”  This concept is as true with dogs as it is with children.  We hopefully do not only teach our children manners sometimes, but rather whenever the opportunity pops up in life so they can learn the right thing.  Training a future service dog really is a lifestyle approach as well.

Everyday activities that we often take for granted can actually provide invaluable lessons to a service dog in training.  “An activity as simple as loading the puppy into the car involves a multitude of training opportunities - the puppy should sit politely while I put on his leash and remain calm while I put on my coat, get my purse, etc.  As we leave the house, the puppy learns to walk calmly through the doorways, rather than pulling me through. The puppy learns to walk politely on leash to the car and to calmly wait outside of the car until he is given the command to get inside. Once inside, the puppy needs to learn to ride calmly.  Getting into the car is a 5 minute task but during that brief 5 minutes, the puppy learns many skills that he will be able to apply to his work as a service dog.”

“I have taken my dogs to places like the Coney Island boardwalk, an aquarium, and the most exciting one was The Today Show, when Wrangler (a Guiding Eyes pup) was being raised on the show.  A group of puppy raisers went down to The Today Show for International Guide Dog Day.  We were out on the plaza with our dogs - I felt like my dog and I were celebrities because all the fans wanted to say hello and pet her!”  It was a good experience for the pups because it was done correctly and it set a good example for viewers to understand the work that goes behind making a service dog.

Respecting Service Dogs – Their Process and Their Rights
As Nicole describes above, the lifestyle skills required to make a good service dog are not just skills that can be proofed strong enough in a 6- or 8-week training course.  Especially when, for some service dogs, having these skills and making the right decision could be the difference between life or death for its disabled partner.

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.

Due to specific temperament needs, there are some dog breeds that are more commonly suited to service dog work over others (although all dogs are individuals).  For example, some herding breeds tend to have a lot of drive and initiative but they may not settle well or may get easily overstimulated in cities or large crowds.  Some breeds have such a high prey drive around other animals or moving objects that it is difficult to build the reliable impulse control required by a service dog.   And some hound breeds are naturally more aloof and more motivated by following their noses than by the desire to please and respond to their person.  The most common breeds used by many service dog organizations are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, a mix of those two breeds, or German Shepherds.

Let’s face it – the majority of humans are not brain surgeons.  A career like that requires an enormous amount of training.  Those people have put in countless hours of study, hands-on practice, they have spent years honing their skills and achieving the right licenses and certifications – they didn’t just turn into a brain surgeon after a 6-week online course.  And if they did, how many of us would feel comfortable on their operating table?! ​

Dogs take a lot of their emotional energy out through their mouths, so it will be helpful during this “decompression time” to give your dog a bone that he can really go to town on, or an edible chew that won’t last as long but will give him a great reward and motivation for settling.  Perhaps having a puzzle toy stuffed with some kibble or some of his favorite treats will also give him something else to focus on other than who and what is in the other room (and he won’t feel like he’s missing out on anything).  For some of my favorite recommendations, visit my SUPPLY SHOP.​

Blissful Buddha Pet Services, based out of Savannah, offers several options for in-home pet-sitting to meet your dog’s needs while having their own little staycation.  Owner Tess Amick prides her company on giving clients total peace of mind while they are away.  “Our goal is to make sure your pet is safe, comfortable, happy and loved while you are away.  Your pet will be in his own home and excited to play with an old friend.” 

An in-home pet sitter will allow your dog to feel some semblance of normal routine even when you’re away.  For example, if your dog is used to daily walks around his community (and has his favorite spots to visit), enjoys relaxing on the sunporch while you clean, or loves laying on the couch with you and getting his belly scratched, the staff at Blissful Buddha is happy to do all of that!  Prior to sitting your pets, staff from Blissful Buddha will do an in-home visit with you and your pets to get to know their preferences and needs.  Clients LOVE knowing their pets are getting this individualized attention (I know I do)! 

You will receive sitting reports via text or email (whichever preferred) after every visit, complete with photos and a recap of what transpired during their time with your pet.  They don’t shy away from special needs or requests (like a dog’s needs for a special diet or supplementation) but make sure everything is done exactly as asked.  But they don’t just take care of your pets while you are away; they will also collect the mail, water the plants, and do some light cleaning so you come back to not only a happy pet but a happy home as well!  And to top it all off, Blissful Buddha also offers transportation to taxi pets to/from the vet office or to pick up medications/food/etc. as needed.  They really are a full-service pet care company!

Blissful Buddha Pet Services is bonded and insured, and only employs people with animal care backgrounds (some even have veterinary technician certifications).  Sitters undergo a national criminal background check, work history and reference check, and must complete a fairly rigorous training program (including passing a test that indicates they are suitable for animal care).  They will care for pets across Savannah, Pooler, Bloomingdale, and the Islands (Wilmington, Talahi, Whitemarsh) and for a travel charge will also visit Port Wentworth and Tybee Island. 

Sitters from Blissful Buddha will come to your home at the intervals you choose and which are most suitable for your pet’s situation.  For example, they can come two or three times a day for either half hour or hour visits, or they can stay overnight (10pm to 8am) - like for geriatric or sick animals that need some extra care.  An overnight on its own is $75, two 1-hour visits during the day plus an overnight is $110 and three 1-hour visits plus an overnight is $130.  To find out more about Blissful Buddha Pet Services, visit their website at www.blissfulbuddhapetservices.com.

Some of my clients recently had a wonderful experience with Betsy Weathers of A Loving Heart Pet Care and I’ve had the ability to meet Betsy.  Her passion for caring for peoples’ pets really shines through!  Betsy offers a personalized, detail-oriented pet service that includes pet-sitting in your home, daily dog walking or mid-day visits, geriatric care, overnights and more!  And she doesn’t just sit dogs.  “Whether you have dogs, cats, birds, livestock or any other kind of pet we are here to make your life easier so you can travel worry free. Our goal is to make your pets feel secure and comfortable, and we'll always tailor our schedule to their needs — they'll never miss any scheduled feeding, playtime, medicine or potty breaks. Whether you go on vacation, a business trip, need a midday visit to walk, feed, cuddle, or medicate your pet, A Loving Heart Pet Care Sitting offers loving pet care, when you’re not there!” says Betsy.

On a recent visit to Catnip N Biscuits, a boarding and daycare facility (also in Savannah), I had the privilege of sitting in on a couple of their new dog evaluations and witnessed first-hand how they determine whether or not a dog is comfortable with group play and how they facilitate introductions.  I was happy to see that their staff was well-versed in reading canine body language (they go through a special training program) and understood the importance to introducing one dog at a time so as not to overwhelm the new dog.

​Cathi wants the pets who stay at Catnip N Biscuits to have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable time during their time away from home.  Each of the dog suites are equipped with easily washable dog beds so your dog can curl up and relax when he’s not out playing with his doggy friends.  You are welcome to bring your dog’s favorite toys, chews, and even his favorite blanket that smells like you to remind him of home!  And Cathi wants peace of mind for the owners too – they can watch their dogs on webcams from their smartphones or tablets while they are away!