The Basics of Dog Psychology

Dog psychology is learning to understand why a dog behaves and acts in the way that he does. It is truly fascinating to think about how the dog-a descendant of the wolf-has adapted itself to the human social organization.

It is necessary that the dogs of today learn to live and understand that it is us, not them who are the superior breed. Dogs must learn, through training, a sense of trust and bonding with us. In this way they will realize that the two of you have a strong bond and that when he pleases you, he will be rewarded. This doesn’t always have to involve food!

A Wolf Descendant

To understand dogs, you should first understand wolves. They live in the wild in packs and the hierarchy is strictly defined.

The largest and most dominant male in a pack of wolves is called the Alpha Leader. It is expected that the other wolves will dutifully follow and obey the alpha dog and pay him respect.

Dogs have been able to adapt to human society over the years simply because we have many social values that are the same. We have similar social organization and instinctive psychological structures with dogs which make us perfect companions for each other. Wolves share chores within the pack especially when it comes to food. For example, one wolf may scout out good hunting grounds, another may do the actual killing and another may be the one to keep guard. And, just like us humans, the alpha dog gets the high end cuts while the rest make do with leftovers! (Sound familiar?)

Part of the Pack – The Hierarchy System

Think of your family as a wolf pack, this is how your dog will first see you. He will be watching your pack carefully to find out who is the “alpha dog” and try to figure out just where he fits in to this new pack.

He will be watching for clues such as the physical size of each family member as well as the tone of voice that each person speaks with. He will also notice how everyone interacts with one another throughout the day.

You’ll Want To Make Sure That You Are The Leader Of The Pack

When you decide who is going to be the alpha leader, you’ll want to enforce this in front of your dog. The alpha leader will be the one responsible for the majority of your dog’s needs. Like eating, walking, training and exercise. The soon your dog knows who is boss, the less problems you’ll have with training.

But, not only do you have to teach who the alpha dog is, you also have to show him the rest of the hierarchy of the family, including children. He must have no confusion as to where he stands in his new pack, which is at the bottom!

If your dog sees that no hierarchy system is in place, he will create one and put himself in charge. This is when a lot of dogs can become overly dominant and destructive. It needs to be very obvious to your dog that he is subordinate to everyone-including children.

It is often difficult for dogs to understand that they are below the rank of children. It’s no wonder with their small size, dependency on adults and lack of cohesive thought. This can sometimes lead them to be quite aggressive towards children to the point of the occasional nip or bite.

It will only be through consistent, disciplined dog training that you will help your dog realize his lowly position in life. This, despite the fact that he is spoiled rotten!

Alex is a freelance graphic designer with a passion for writing and dogs. She has a long and personal history with dogs and knows what works and what doesn’t when teaching them. If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy some of her others; Are You Making Your Dog Overweight? or Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety?.

This issue is known as separation anxiety and there are ways to effectively cope with it and make it easier for your dog to deal with those times when you must be away.

What are the signs of Separation Anxiety?

Digging, chewing and scratching are pretty good indicators of Separation Anxiety and they show the effects of trying to escape. Pooping, peeing,drooling and barking are signs of fear and anxiety they feel when you’re gone.

What causes Separation Anxiety?

Often this behavior started early and is often the result of improper training. Or it could be due to former mistreatment by another owner or even too much socializing and bonding. The good news is that you should be able to control it.

Treatment of Separation Anxiety

There are things that you can do to prevent separation anxiety. When you put your dog in his crate, don’t have a long, emotional good-bye. Simply, walk away. It is even a good idea to ignore your dog 5 minutes before you leave. If you draw attention to your departure, your dog will worry when the love and emotion is suddenly stopped.

Try and change your leaving routines somewhat. My dogs have caught on to the fact that when I put makeup on, it means I’m probably going somewhere so they hang around and keep an eye on me.

Try changing your dog’s negative associations to your behaviors to positive ones. For example, on a weekend, dress for work, pick up the car keys and go outside for a few minutes only, then come back inside and give your dog a treat. You dog will eventually begin to associate you getting ready for work as a positive association rather than a negative one.

Make sure you have plenty of treats and toys in your dog’s crate to keep him entertained while you are away. If your dog always knows that he’ll have treats when you leave, it won’t be as traumatic for him. There are many interactive treat dispensers on the market, which will keep him busy and rewarded at the same time. Before you leave, turn on a radio or television so your dog has some noise. A talk station is more effective than music, because the sound of human voices could comfort him. You could even tape your own voice.

When you come home, try not to make a big deal out of being home until you let him outside to do his business. If he’s in a crate, just let him out, don’t go all gaga on him. If you make it a home coming party, he’s going to learn that it’s much more fun when you’re home.

Separation anxiety is something that should improve over time. However, if it does not, or if your dog shows signs of extreme aggression when he is let out, seek a professional trainer and/or see you Vet for further assistance. In extreme causes a calmative type medication may be prescribed for you dog by your Vet.

It’s up to you to pay attention to your dogs behaviors and seek out training methods that will help him overcome his problems. All he really wants is your love and affection.

Alex is an avid pet lover who has had more than her fair share of pets throughout her life. She has taken her knowledge of pets and her passion for writing and published Henri’s Online Dog Obedience School where you can subscribe to her pet tips and tricks e-newsletter or visit Henri the Hound, the place to go when you’re looking for awesome gifts for your furry friends.

Grooming your dog has benefits for both the dog and for yourself and your family. Here are some of the top reasons why you should groom on a regular basis.

Brushing is great for the health of their coats. Just like us, brushing increases the blood circulation underneath the fur which helps the cells get what the nutrition they need. And again, like us, they need to be washed in order to rid their coats of toxins that build up over time just from being outside.

Brushing your pup will improve his overall health by stimulating his blood circulation which in turn will boost his immune system, promote muscle mass and help fight off infections. It also makes them feel happy, loved and comfortable, which will turn them into even better dogs.

As I mentioned, dogs can do the basics, but really, they don’t seem to care if they smell! The longer or thicker your dog’s coat is, the more grooming they are going to require because their fur is going to capture and hold all the smelly places that they get into. Grooming them will help eliminate smells, and you could add natural oil scents when brushing or bathing them to make them smell even better.

Grooming gives you a chance to check out your dog’s body on a regular basis. Often our pet can hurt himself, or have a lump or swelling that we knew nothing about. The sooner you know these things, the better, and the quicker you can have them looked at it need be.

Regular grooming can save you money on professional dog grooming. Even if you go to a professional for cuts and styling, if their fur is in good shape to begin with, the job will be made much easier and therefore cheaper. Your dog will probably love you even more, since often professional dog groomers are not their favorite people!

One of the best reasons for groom your dog is that it provides you both with a sense of bonding. Your pet will love all the extra attention you give him and the two of you will grower even closer.

Any one of these reasons alone should be enough to get you into regular grooming. It is an essential part of the responsibility of having a dog and should be integrated into your routine as soon as possible.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a love of writing and dogs. She has a long and personal history with dogs and has studied what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out a couple of her others, like Are Table Scraps OK For Your Dog? or Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety?.

First impressions are very important when you have your baby and puppy meet. Whatever goes on in this initial meet will set the tone for the upcoming years and months for everyone involved.

Many things could happen, but if you follow these steps you’ll make the first meet go as planned.

* Since you have been away from home bringing new children into the world and having fun with labor, your dog is going to be missing you. For this reason have someone else carry the baby inside the home while you give your pup love and pay attention only to him. This is very important.

* Bring home a new dog toy or special treat and spend some time playing before the big introduction. Wait until your dog’s excitement from your homecoming calms down before the introduction.

* It might be a good idea to use a leash to restrain your dog, just in case. Show him the baby, all the while talking to him and let him sniff your baby’s hands and feet. Never force him to get close and let him investigate at his own speed.

* Just to state the obvious, never leave them together unattended. Dogs can easily smother a young baby accidentally just by loving them. And you never know when a baby might make a quick or unexpected move that could scare your pup and cause him to nip or bite out of fear. If your dog ever acts the least bit aggressive, remove him from the room immediately. Keep them apart and try another introduction when the dog is calm.

* After everything seems to be calm and going well, try sitting on the couch with the baby on one side and your dog on the other. Talk to them both as equals and show your pup that you love them both. While your dog is nice and relaxed, pop him a treat to show that good things happen when he sits nicely with the baby.

* Your life has now changed for ever and you will have many things to learn and adjust to, but always remember that your pup needs your love too. Try to keep to as regular schedule as possible and you’ll find that in no time at all, baby and dog will be the best of friends and bring much joy to your life.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist with a passion for writing and dogs. She has a long and personal background with dogs and has noted what works and what doesn’t when training our dogs. If you enjoyed this article, check out a few of her others, like Tips On Socializing Your Puppy or Preparing Your Dog For The Baby’s Arrival.

Not always. A dog’s digestive system is different than ours. Many of the foods we normally eat can kill a dog, such as chocolate or grapes. They can not digest rich foods like we can which can result in diarrhea and vomiting. My rule is that a little bit of “good” table scraps are OK once in a while, just don’t over do it.

If you have a “fussy” dog that will only eat table scraps, that’s only because you made him that way. Who wouldn’t want to eat a fancy diet like this, I’m sure he’s every happy at dinner time. But he, and you will pay the price of this behavior in the long run. You have to remember who is the boss here and do the proper thing.

Some table scraps are good for dogs when given in moderation. “Good scraps” could be small piece of steak(with fat trimmed off), roast beef, chicken and turkey. Plain pasta and rice are also “good scraps”. These scraps can be given as a treat or mixed in with their regular meal.

Don’t overfeed scraps on a continuous basis. Your doing so will expose your pet to a diet loaded with fat and you’ll end up with a pet prone to stomach upsets, diarrhea and other potentially serious gastrointestinal disorders such as pancreatitis, which is life threatening. Even if your dog’s digestive tract can handle a diet full of table scraps, the chances of him or her gaining weight will increase enormously in proportion to the amount of scraps you’re feeding.

Some say that dogs should not get any human food, but I don’t agree with that. Of course there are all sorts of commercial products that will provide your pet with all the nutrients they need, an occasional “good” table scrap is great as a special treat. Just be responsible about it.

Check into this a bit further thought. Find out what is and what is not good for your dog. Point in fact, pasta may be good for them, but macaroni and cheese is not because dogs are usually lactose intolerant. Just as a nice piece of chicken is something good, given with the bone could cause all sorts of problems. You should never give a dog any type of a cooked bone, as the cooking makes them softer and they can easily splinter and cut the roof of his mouth or cause obstructions in his digestive tract if swallowed.

No leftover sushi as raw fish can cause a thiamine deficiency which can lead to seizures and even death. Stew is good, but leave out the onions as they usually upset their tummy. Stick to bland, easily digestible foods, much like what you might feed an infant.

Easily digestible foods such as cooked rice or chicken and turkey (boneless) will be fine to feed your dog. Even some fruits and vegetables are well received by dogs, though there are some types to avoid such as grapes. Feeding your dog grapes causes severe kidney damage. While some fruits are acceptable to feed your pet, avoid grapes at all times.

Sometimes it’s not easy to resist those begging faces your dog can give you, but you have to be the strong one and not give always give in. Never ever feed them at the table unless you enjoy eating with them staring and whining at you. And never try to save money on dog food by letting them eat yours. If you want to feed them a non-commercial diet, like a raw diet, learn how to do it properly.

Like the saying goes, don’t kill them with kindness. We know that you love them and that they love eating, but really, you’re not doing them any favors if you make them sick. Feed all treats in moderation!

Alex is a freelance graphic designer with a passion for writing and dogs. She has a long and personal background with dogs and has studied what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you liked this article, check out a few of her others, likeBenefits Of Crate Training Your Puppy or A New Baby Coming? Time To Get Your Dog Ready!.

There is no room for error with dogs and babies so you must start to prepare your dog as early as possible. Like all training, it takes time and patience to see results, so prepare in advance.

Your dog is used to your attention and pampering and some jealousy will naturally happen when it’s the baby and not the dog who is the center of attention. Take some time, love and a few precautions and treats and everything should be fine.

* Take your dog to the Vet for a complete checkup a few months before the baby arrives to check for worms and parasites that may be harmful to your baby. This also a good time to get your dog spayed or neutered if you haven’t already done so.

* Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all pet and infant interactions.

* Allow your dog to explore the baby’s sleeping, diaper changing areas, and related items such as baby powder, lotions, and diapers to become familiar with the new smells and objects. Apply baby lotion or powder to your hands, for example, and allow your dog to sniff the new smell. Dogs rely on their sense of smell, so familiarity with the new baby smells will help him or her recognize the baby as a part of the family. If possible, allow your dog to smell clothing that your baby has used before you bring the baby home.

* Get your dog used to baby related sounds as well, such as the infant swing, rocking chairs or rattles. Another good idea is to play recordings of baby noises, yes, they actually sell these, or make a recording of a friends baby. When you introduce your dog to these sounds, have him associate them with pleasurable things by giving them love and treats.

* Never allow your dog to jump on or sleep on anything that belongs to the baby, such as her bed, change table or play area. You have to let the dog know that this furniture is not for him. Also don’t let him play with any of the baby’s toys as he may think they belong to him and try to take them away from the baby. Don’t buy any toys for the dog that resemble the babies toys either.

* If you have decided that the baby’s room is off limits to your dog, you have to devise a way for your dog to know what’s going on without actually coming into the room. There are a variety of different types of baby/dog gates available on the market.

* Use a baby doll to help your pet get used to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll, take the doll in the stroller when you walk your dog, and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing and diaper changing.

* The most important thing to instill in your dog is to make sure he knows who is the boss. He must understand that you and your family are the alphas in this relationship. Keep your eye on the dog at all times and be sure to reprimand him whenever he shows and signs of jealously towards the baby.

In my next article, I’ll cover all the things I recommend for the actual meeting of your new baby. Stay tuned or sign up for Henri’s Pet Tips and Tricks e-newsletter on my website.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a love of writing and dogs. She has a long and personal history with dogs and knows what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out a few of her others, like Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety? or Reasons Why You Should Groom Your Dog.