Pet Blog By Bocci @ Bocci's Beefs: Cesar Millan

Showing posts with label Cesar Millan. Show all posts

Monday, October 03, 2016

National Walk Your Dog Week!

Are ya followin' me, Parental Unit?

Yes, you heard that right, it's National Walk Your Dog Week! And what better time than fall, with it's cool, crisp sunny days, crunchy leaves underfoot and the smell of cider in the air to take long, leisurely walks with your pup? (You do have cool, crisp sunny days, don't you...unlike the warm-ish, humid and dank days we're having here.) Regardless of your weather, check out some special ways to celebrate with your dog this week.

You know we've always advocated twice daily, as-long-as-you-can-muster walks with your four-legged best friend—you know it's great physical and mental exercise for both of you!

And before you go, check out these tips for getting the most out of walking with your dog from Cesar Millan, the "king" of the dog walk! You can even learn the basics of meditation on your walks, by trying to "experience what is around you without thinking it about it in words." Parental Unit says she's going to try that on our next walk tomorrow morning—along with some strong coffee...

Let us know how you plan to celebrate this special week with your pooch—we'd love to hear the stories of your walks!

How To Integrate A New Pet Into Your Home

Well, this is certainly a "yuge" topic with lots of different and valid opinions, isn't it?

Let's start with an article from one of our favorite holistic veterinarians, Dr. Karen Becker, that describes the thinking process that should precede adding a new family member to your home, and then the best strategies to follow as the little rascal is settling in. We love writing about this topic because there are so many things we Parental Unit didn't do!

With hindsight, we think that emotions get in the way of clear thinking, and you know, there's really nothing wrong with that. It's just helpful to remember some of the basics, or in Parental Unit's case, learn some of the basics before bringing your new pet home. She was still grieving the loss of her beloved Wire Fox fella, Carson, when she went searching at the shelter four or five weeks later. She was beside herself without a dog, she claims! (Parental Unit also might have had just a few hormones left at that time).

Here are a few of the behaviors (hers) that Parental Unit regrets when she introduced me to my new home (most of these ideas are taken from Cesar's Way and involve setting "rules, boundaries and limitations" from day one:

1. Not taking me for a long-ish walk in the neighborhood before bringing me in the house for the first time;

2. Not walking me through each room and letting me explore while still on a leash (rather than on my own!); and

3. Not understanding that it takes a pretty long time—not usually days, but weeks or even months or longer, for a dog or cat to really feel safe and comfortable in their new home. She was shocked, shocked, I tell you, that I still tried to "run away" on several occasions during the first few months in my new residence—she ran screaming after me through the streets more than once! And she distinctly recalls that I tried to raid garbage cans during our walks—like I was still scavenging for food... Hoo boy, she had a lot to learn!

Here are some additional ideas for the first 30 days of dog adoption from Petfinder.com that should help you successfully add a new furry family member.

Let us know your best strategies for integrating a new pet into your home—including any mistakes or smart moves you might have made. We'd love to hear them!

Why Is Your Dog's Tail Wagging?

Can you see the blur of my tail wagging in this photo? Parental Unit was just trying to take my picture, but I thought we were playing!

It may not be what you think! Most of us generally believe that a doggie with a wagging tail means a happy, eager-to-play dog, but...a wagging tail doesn't always indicate happiness and can be a sign of other emotions, too. This article from Cesar's Way does a great job explaining the various tail positions and wags and what they all mean—so you can learn to better discern your dogs' state of mind.

Just a few examples: a slowly wagging tail going mostly to the right indicates a curious, approachable dog, whereas a tail that is higher than normal, wagging very fast and predominately to the left usually indicates negative emotions like anxiety, fear or aggression.

The main takeaway is that just because you see a dog's tail moving, don't automatically assume they're "happy and friendly". You have pay closer attention to the tail position and direction of the wag, then take into account the entire situation before you can make an accurate assumption about any dog's state of mind.

Let us know if you pay attention to your dog's "body language", including their tail wagging, and what you've learned about your pooch and his or her interactions with other dogs and humans. We'd love to hear about your experiences!

Winter Activities For Your Dog...And You!

Raise your paw if you'd rather hide under the covers than go outside in winter weather...

Truthfully, I love going outside in cold, snowy weather, but Parental Unit...not so much. She manages to faithfully take me for at least one walk each day, no matter the weather. Take today for example. We went for our usual length walk despite the single digit temperatures and a few inches of snow and ice on the ground.

But there are lots of ways you can exercise with your dog in the winter, both indoors and out. Check out these tips from PetMD (complete with invigorating slide show) to get some ideas for winter fun with your pooch. What we like about these top ten winter exercises is that they vary in intensity from a stroll around the block and the usual game of indoor or outdoor fetch, to interval training and "Skijor" a combination of cross-country skiing and mushing. Thanks, but we'll just stick with a walk and some fetch!

Here are six more excellent winter exercise tips for you and your canine companion from Cesar's Way. These focus a bit more on mental engagement which can be as stimulating for your pooch as that Skijor thing.

Depending on the temps and wind chill factors, and your dog's age and type of fur, he or she may need to wear a coat and/or booties. And don't forget to thoroughly wipe your dogs' paws after each walk to remove salt and other ice melting agents before they lick them.

You hoo, Parental Unit!

Let us know how you and your dog get your exercise during the winter months—we'd love to hear your tips for staying fit when it's cold outside!

Does Your Dog Share Your Bed?

By "share", I mean "take over completely".

What I find hard to believe is that Parental Unit insists there was a time when a dog (or a cat) did not share her bed. She was much too clean for that, and didn't want to be forced to cover up her pretty quilts and duvet covers.

My have times changed! I started out sleeping underneath the bed (a spot soon to be turned into my private man cave). Within a few weeks of my arrival, I was making myself comfortable at the foot of the bed— I didn't want to appear greedy so early in my tenure at my new home. And things just progressed (upward) from there...I soon learned those pillows that Parental Unit rested her head on are mighty comfy, and the blankets quite warm

I now hear Parental Unit wondering aloud if she should sleep elsewhere.

Given our current sleeping arrangements, Parental Unit and I loved this New York Times piece that discussed the merits (and sometimes dangers) of sharing a bed with your dog. And if you also have a human companion that you'd like to share your bed and you don't agree on the dog's sleeping arrangements, that can really make for an interesting "discussion".

How many of you share your Parental Units' bed...or completely take it over, as the case may be?

Professional Dog Walkers Have A Secret Language

Did you ever wonder what professional dog walkers said about their clients—both the dogs and the dog's owners? Well, neither did we...until we saw this clever "Walkie Talkie" chart in today's New York Times. The author divides his "secret language chart" into the following categories: Types of Dog, Equipment, Technique, The Biz, and Clients, with examples of dog walkers' code language for each category. For example, an "N.D.F." is a "Not Dog Friendly" dog, "Belly Rub Tax", describes "The extensive petting a dog demands before it is prepared to get up and walk", and to describe clients who are fans of the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, the code word is "Cesaritis".

I've never had a dog walker, professional or otherwise (just Parental Unit and one friend), but I have no doubt these folks have lots to chat about...in code, of course!

Hmmm. I think I'd be called a "Puller" or "Marker". What about you?

Sweet photo of me by John Clark.

"LIving With Your Pet" Tips: Finding The Right Veterinarian

Me and my vet, Dr. Mike

Since we've written just recently about the importance of regular vet checkups, we thought it was important to share these strategies for choosing the right veterinarian for you and your family, courtesy of Cesar's Way. We think they really hit the mark!

Let's put it this way: While convenience (proximity to your home and extended office hours), along with pricing are important, you should also consider several more substantive factors. For example, why not schedule a brief consultation prior to a full-blown office visit, so you can see how your pets react to the office atmosphere, the vet techs and staff and the veterinarian. Bring a short list of questions so you can get an idea of the vet's philosophies on wellness care and disease treatment.

And here's our special recommendation: Ask what the office policy is for emergencies that occur during regular office hours. It's important to know whether you'll be able to rush your pet in for a minor emergency and be treated promptly.

You might also want to get recommendations from friends, local breeders or shelters and rescues, and interview several veterinarians. While you can always change vets, you don't want to have to do so because of a spat or a lack of comfortable rapport between you. So it's best to choose carefully the first time around.

Let us know how you chose your pets' veterinarian and any tips you might add to our list. We'd love to hear your stories!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: The Myths Surrounding Spay/ Neuter

Do I look fat or unhappy? Fabulous photo of me by Rachel Lauren Photography

It's hard to believe that many of us in the U.S. and around the world, still believe that spaying or neutering your dog will make your dog feel bad about himself in someway (no longer a stud/can't have babies) or cause weight gain. Many also believe that it's expensive. None of these statements is true!

What is factual is that millions of dogs worldwide are killed because they can't find homes, which directly ties to overpopulation caused by failure to spay or neuter companion animals. In honor of Spay/Neuter Awareness Month—World Spay Day in this Tuesday, February 25—Cesar Millan has tackled the problem of pet overpopulation by dispelling the top four myths surrounding spay/neuter.

These myths seem to spring from humans' projection of their feelings onto their dogs. As Cesar says, "Dogs don't raise a puppy for 18 years or dream of their puppy's wedding," so they're probably not mourning their inability to bear offspring, for example. Whatever the basis for these myths, education is the best antidote.

What will you do to celebrate World Spay Day?

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: The Canine Bill Of Rights

Photo of Cesar Millan with the copy of the U.S. Constitution he received when he became a U.S. citizen.

Did you know that today is officially, by Presidential Proclamation, the Bill of Rights Day? And Cesar Millan has chosen today to issue his own Canine Bill of Rights, 10 "freedoms" for dogs of all nationalities. How about "The Right To Be Respected As a Living Being" or "The Right To Never Be Abandoned" or even, "The Right To Be A Dog", among others? Do you think these are "rights" that every dog in the world should have? We do!

And spend a few minutes to take a closer look at how Mr. Millan explains these rights. For example, when you buy or adopt a puppy or dog, it's for life. This means that if a dog has behavioral issues, you, the owner, owe it to your dog to help him or her work through those issues, rather than, say, return them to the shelter or dump them on the road. Even though this advice seems pretty obvious, it probably happens thousands of times a day in this country alone. One of our favorites is "The Right To Be A Dog". As Millan says: "We don't do our dogs any favors by treating them like human children. They neither expect nor can handle such responsibility."

Although the words of this Canine Bill of Rights are fairly clear on their face, how they play out in practical application and how intertwined each of them are is what's most interesting to us. It takes a lot of time and patience to properly train and socialize a dog (granted, some dogs are easier than others!). But the more time you devote to creating a "balanced" dog, through exercise discipline and affection, the more time you spend making sure that your dog is free of anxiety and unacceptable behaviors, the more places you and your dog can enjoy together—see Right #9, The Right To Take Part In Our World.

Let us know what you think of Cesar's Canine Bill of Rights!

National Pit Bull Awareness Month!

You know how we're always announcing that it's "this national something month" or "that national something month"? In fact, we just wrote that October is National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Well, people keep creating perfectly good reasons to dub a month for their favorite cause, and we've only got 12 months!

But this gorgeous month of October is a perfect overlap of two causes dear to our hearts: the plight of both shelter animals and the maligned breed of the moment, the Pit Bull. And yes, October is Pit Bull Awareness Month! Unfortunately, these two issues, shelter dogs and Pit Bulls, overlap so nicely because shelters across the country are filled with Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes, and so many of these beautiful dogs are euthanized each year. In fact, the statistics from our local shelter show that Pit Bulls and Pit mixes have the highest euthanasia rate of any breeds taken in by the shelter.

We're guessing that to fix this problem, we'll have to figure out why so many Pitties end up in shelters, and then work to educate the public about the "facts versus fiction" surrounding this breed. And that's what National Pit Bull Awareness Day (October 26th) and National Pit Bull Awareness Month (going on right now) aims to help us do.

As you know, Cesar Millan is a longtime Pit Bull owner and aficionado, and writes eloquently about the breed, and what can be done to combat its bad rap and breed specific legislation that has followed. He also writes about one very special Pit Bull, Elle, who won this year's American Humane Association Dog Hero Awards!

We hope you enjoy reading this information about the Pit Bull and what you can do in your community to help this beautiful breed regain its good standing.

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Why Daily Walks With Your Dog Are So Important

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We're going to court a little controversy here, because we realize that the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, is not everyone's cup of tea. But as you've read here before, we believe that he's brought paradigm change to the dog world. In other words (and this is from Parental Unit's perspective), he's given us an entirely new approach to dealing with our dogs: "exercise, discipline and affection, in that order". And he also emphasizes the need to set "rules, boundaries and limitations" with your dogs, so they have some structure. But it's not always easy to understand what those words mean in practice, unless you've read his books and listened to him explain his philosophies-and then try them out to the best of your abilities with your own dog.

One of the reasons his message has resonated so deeply with Parental Unit is that she realized (pretty much after the fact) that it was her inaction that led her beloved dog, Carson, to such orneriness-and that led to, shall we say, unwanted behaviors, like him scarfing down indigestible objects resulting in four (or five) surgeries. Yes, she took him for daily walks, but they were too short-he simply was confined to the house too much to drain off his energy-and that energy went elsewhere. And at that point in her life, she didn't take the time to give him those "rules boundaries and limitations" that ironically, would have made his life much more expansive. Although she can't change the past and give Carson a better life, she can, and has, taken the time to give me lots of physical and mental exercise each day...but entrenched behaviors are difficult to change and she's still working on it!

We think this explanation from Cesar about why the daily walks with your dog are so important (he calls it: "The Need To Keep Moving") will help to motivate you to make nice long walks at least a once or twice a day ritual. Have fun!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: The First 30 Days After Adoption

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

Parental Unit wishes she'd read these strategies from our friends at Petfinder before she brought me home from our local shelter. Believe it or not, the woman who has become fanatical about promoting pet adoption and rescue had never adopted until she brought me home in 2008! Although she was prepared with the usual suspects like a crate, food, collar and leash, and even a few new toys, she really didn't know how to introduce an (almost) adult dog into a new home.

Petfinder's recommendations hit the mark, and they're expounded on with links to additional information, like crate training your dog and introducing dogs and children. But we'd like to add two from Cesar Millan's first book that we believe (with hindsight) would have been helpful: before you even bring your new pooch into your home, tire him out a bit and let him use the outdoor toilet facilities by taking a walk around the new neighborhood.Then walk him though each room in your home while still on his leash, rather than immediately giving him free rein like Parental unit did.

And perhaps most importantly, be very careful when you open doors, at least for the first few weeks. Within a day or two of my arrival, I ran through the front door when Parental Unit opened it to get the mail-I didn't even have my new name yet! I promptly slipped through a narrow opening in the fence and dashed across the street. Needless to say, I could have been hit by a car right then and there. For some reason,when Parental Unit screamed and ran after me I chose to stop and let her bring me safely back indoors -whew!

That's the last time I tried to run away from my happy home...

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Be A Good Pet "Parent"

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

On Father's Day, we thought we'd share ideas (rather than tips) from a guy who's both a human parent and a pack leader: Cesar Millan. If you receive his newsletters like we do, you'll notice that while his focus is always dogs, his message extends beyond canines to both humans and our larger world. In today's newsletter, he discusses the differences between the role fathers play in human and canine packs-and those roles are significantly different.

He also reminds us that as much as we love our dogs and have made them part of our families, we're still two very different species, and you're really not doing your beloved pooch any favors by treating them like a human child. "Let dogs be dogs," Cesar says. And we couldn't agree more.

So what are you dogs and cats doing to help your humans celebrate Father's Day (while still being true to your species, of course)? Let us know!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Cesar Millan's Best Ways To Choose The Right Dog For Your Family

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

When we saw this message from Cesar Millan today, we immediately decided to scrap our chosen pet health care tips slated for today's post, and bring you these powerful ideas instead. The main idea of this advice from Cesar, as we see it, is that you'll have a lot fewer problems with your dog,, training and otherwise, if you take the time beforehand to choose the right canine for you. And if family members are involved, they must be included in the initial decision and the lifetime commitment that follows. And it's much more about you and your family and what you can handle rather than any particular dog or breed.

Oftentimes, bringing a new canine family member into your home is an emotional decision: you just lost your aging pooch and you're grieving and lonely, your child wants a dog, you just broke up with your partner and you're...grieving and lonely-the list goes on. But the best thing you can do for yourself, your human pack and your future four-legged family member is to (at least temporarily!) replace emotion with logic, and ask yourself and your pack the substantive questions posed in this article before you head to the shelter or reputable breeder.

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Traveling And Exercising With Your Pet In Winter

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

Today, we're bringing you two different pet care tips that have a lot in common: Both involve winter weather (hello Mid-West blizzard!) and making sure that both you and your pet stay happy and healthy, despite the wintry chill.

First up are winter travel tips from our friends at Dog Fancy, that run the gamut from protecting Fido's sensitive paws from the elements to packing a winter survival pack. And we believe that travel and exercise go together-if you're bound for a long drive to Grandma's (and then plan to eat copious amounts of her delicious food, it's a good idea to exercise at least a few of those calories away. But daily exercise isn't just about weight maintenance for either you or your furry friend-it's about using that excess energy in a positive way, clearing your mind, strengthening your resolve and helping both you and your dog feel more invigorated. So here are some tips from Cesar's Way to exercise both the canine mind and body, indoors. Sign up your dog for an indoor fly ball class, or play hide and seek, for example. One of the many things Parental Unit has learned from Cesar Millan is that dogs appreciate and need mental as well as physical exercise, and mental games that challenge your dog can be just as physically draining as a long walk. Good to know when you don't feel like trudging through mounds of snow or risking your vertebrae on icy sidewalks!

Now that you're armed with these tips for traveling and exercising with your pooch in winter weather, we hope you'll use them to have a safe and fun trip and holiday.

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips": Housebreaking A Puppymill Dog

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We think these strategies from Cesar's Way, specifically designed for housebreaking a dog rescued from a puppy mill, are thoughtful, and with a lot of patience, seem (fairly) easy to accomplish. Sheri Lucas, who wrote these tips, is a dog trainer and rehabilitation expert and operates a humane society called "Second Chance at Love". She also has trained with Cesar Millan for many years.

And it seems that strategies like "closely supervising your dog" and taking him or her outside as soon as you see sniffing and circling behavior, rewarding your pooch after eliminating outside, and maintaining calm, assertive energy throughout the process would work for any puppy or adult dog new to your home, regardless of their past. The article also includes several links with related training tips that we think round out the basics for bringing a new dog into your home.

We hope you find this information helpful...and always remember to have patience with your pets. You know, not all dogs can read and write like I can, so they may need a little extra help to learn even basic commands, especially those with a puppy mill background. Whoever said "patience is a virtue" sure was right!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips": When Your Aging Dog Loses His Eyesight Or Hearing...

Actually, it doesn't have to be an aging dog who lose his or her sight or hearing, it's just more common-and more expected-just like it is with humans. Take Parental Unit for example: She's already wearing reading glasses over her bifocal contacts and can't hear a word her students say in class...but I digress from the important tips offered in this article from Cesar's Way.

It not only lays out the typical symptoms of both eyesight and hearing loss in canines, it also provides numerous thoughtful, gentle ways to help your pooch cope as these senses diminish. It fact, with the proper care and help transitioning, most dogs with even significant eyesight and hearing loss can enjoy their normal routines...with a bit of help and caring from their Parental Units.

We hope you enjoy these tips and your Sunday!

Sunday/Monday, "Living With Your Pet Tips": How to Choose Pet Health Insurance

It turns out that to wisely choose pet insurance, you have to do "due diligence", including research among the policies, reading the fine print and finding out information the old fashioned way, by asking direct questions of the insurance company representatives-just like you do when choosing among human health insurance policies.

But it sure helps to know what to look for at the start, and this detailed discussion from Cesar's Way provides what you need to know to start your search. And the good news: it doesn't seem to be nearly as expensive as human health insurance. According to this piece, "dog owners can expect to pay between $15 a month for a basic plan to about $75 for the most comprehensive coverage. [And] Most policies will reimburse 80-90 percent of a claim."

Now that doesn't sound too bad to us, considering that Parental Unit paid $12,000 total for five surgeries and one mini dialysis for my predecessor, the ornery wire fox terrier, Carson. As soon as she can afford her own health insurance or obtains a full-time job that provides it, she vows to cover me and Bella!

Sweet Carson, pre surgeries...

How about you? We'd love to know how many of our pet owning friends have either invested in pet health insurance or wish they had!

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Lennox

Photo of Lennox as a puppy, courtesy of his Facebook page

The fight to save Lennox is unfortunately over-apparently, Belfast City council confirmed earlier this morning that they "humanely" put the long-suffering dog to death, despite pleas from both Cesar Millan and Victoria Stillwell to pay all expenses to transport him out of Ireland.

Sunday "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Your Dog's Itchy-Why And What To Do About It.

Spring, summer and fall seem to give both humans and their companion animals the "itchies", whether it's being stung by a bee or plain ole' allergies to pollen, everything burns or itches! What's worse with a canine is that those itches can turn into "hot spots" requiring medication like antibiotics and steroids to stop us from licking those itchy spots raw.

So why do we get these itchy spots and how do pet parents help us out with prevention and treatment? Think big-it's not just fleas and ticks! Find out all the answers in this article written by veterinarian Henry Cerny for Cesar's Way.

We hope you find this article as enlightening as we did!