5 BENEFITS OF PLAY EVERY PUPPY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

The short answer – play is fun!  But that would make a pretty short blog post…

I could write volumes about the benefits of play – but don’t worry, I’ll keep it short-ish.  

Play lets dogs practice behaviors without risk.  As puppies, they tumble and climb all over their littermates, learn how hard or how gently to bite one another, and how to find their social place in their group.  Play lets them practice being adults without huge adult life consequences.  

When puppies come home to us, they lose their litter playmates!  But they don’t lose their need to play.  They’ll use all their old tactics – jumping, nipping, biting – to invite us to play**.  Since we are now their new playmates, it’s our responsibility to keep all that play-learning going!  

**Puppy nipping is a topic for another day, but it’s worth mentioning that they often nip us to initiate play.  

Play Builds Trust – Think back on when you were a kid playing with your classmates.
There were always a few kids who played too rough or didn’t share their toys.  You learned to avoid playing with them and found other kids that had better play manners.  Playing wihth dogs teaches them play manners.  If I say OUT and my dog releases the toy, the reward for her is that the game restarts and we keep playing.  There is give and take to our game, a natural ebb & flow.  Your puppy learns that by giving up the toy, you’ll give it right back to him!  This sounds a bit like sneaky obedience drills, doesn’t it? 

Play Teaches Bite Inhibition – When your puppy bites the wrong things – your hands, your legs, pants – all play stops.  Biting like that is a violiation of the rules!  Your puppy soon learns what is okay to bite and what is off limits.  Guess who’ll stop biting the wrong things faster?

Play Teaches Cause & Effect – Your dog can play with you as long as he follows the rules.  If he breaks them (which happens often in puppies – remember, they’re learning!), play stops.  It can stop for 30 seconds, or it stops completely until later in the day.  Regardless, your dog will learn quickly that violating the rules stops play.  This isn’t only a playtime lesson – your dog is learning that when he breaks rules, you’ll give consequences and you’re not a push-over!  

This has the added bonus of:

  • teaching your dog how to regulate his own behaviors.  Impulse control!
  • teaching your dog that he has some say in what happens.  Confidence building!

Play Builds Your Bond – Just like sports teammates learning to rely on one another and sharing the camraderie of the game, you and your dog will become closer.  What will this mean for you next time you need to recall your dog to you, or tell him to stop doing something?  He’ll be far more interested in doing what you ask.  And he’ll do so happily – because you have a great relationship!

Play is Fun – Yup, it’s just fun.  Play is a special dance you share with your dog.  Play makes us laugh, be more active, and share a few concentrated moments of joy.  All the background noise of our lives falls away.  It’s just you and your dog, having a good time.  And we can all use more joy in our lives.  I’m pretty sure that’s why you brought that dog home, right?

If your dog destroys all the toys you bring home, check out this blog post to learn which toys are best and when to use them.  If you’d like my  tried & true toy recommends, check out my Shop page.  And as always, reach out to me if you’d like more information on best play practices.  I can also do in-person play lessons with you and your dog.  I’m looking at you, people who play “fetch” with dogs that won’t bring the ball back!  And yes, lessons can even be done via Zoom if you’re not in the Central Florida area.  

Bye for now, Friends! 

HEATSTROKE IN DOGS

We’re getting into the hottest time of the year, especially here in Central Florida.  When I was a Veterinary Technician, a single year didn’t go by without a client bringing us a dog experiencing heat-related distress.  Heatstroke can sneak up on even the most well-intentioned dog owners so let’s find out what it is, and how to prevent it.

Heatstroke is defined as “a state of extreme hyperthermia with internal body temperatures of 106°F that results in thermal injury to the tissues. Heatstroke occurs when heat generation exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate or remove the heat”.  

Basically, the dog can’t get rid of the heat in its body naturally (by panting, drooling, sweating from paw pads), fast enough to cool down his internal temperature.  NOT good. 

Dogs that are especially at risk of suffering from heatstroke:

  • Dogs that live in hot, humid climates
  • Dogs left in parked cars
  • Puppies & Senior dogs
  • Short-muzzled dogs – Pugs, Bulldogs, Frenchies, Pekingese, Boston Terriers, etc.
  • Dogs with thick coats – Huskies, German Shepherds, Akitas, Malamutes, etc.
  • Overweight dogs
  • Dogs with underlying medical issues – arthritis, heart disease, collapsed trachea, and respiratory & endocrine disorders, etc.)

Some signs of heatstroke:

  • Heavy panting, and/or difficulty breathing
  • Excessive drooling
  • Increased heart rate with a bounding pulse
  • Tongue that is a deep red, purplish color
  • Lethargy and/or loss of coordination
  • If the condition worsens, dogs can collapse, have seizures and abnormal mental states.  They may increase urination and have bloody diarrhea and/or vomit blood due to intestinal and stomach blood vessel damage.  

Dogs can die as a result of heatstroke so it’s worth knowing the signs, as awful as they are to describe.   

What to do if your dog shows signs of heatstroke:

  • Cooling efforts need to start ASAP, but prepare to go to a vet immediately.
  • Move the dog indoors, ideally onto a cool surface like tile floor & direct a fan over them. 
  • Place cool but not ice-cold wet towels over neck, groin and arm/leg pits.
  • Wet the dog’s ear flaps & paw pads with cool water.  
  • Wipe paw pads with isopropyl alcohol covered cotton balls.  Isopropyl alcohol has a lower boiling point than water & evaporates fast leading to a cooling sensation!
  • Use a rectal thermometer to monitor the dog’s temp – 103 temp in dogs is a low fever temp, so you should continue to try and cool the dog until the temp reaches 103.  Continue cooling your dog as you’re headed to the vet.  Hopefully, you’re almost there by this time!
  • DON’T OVER-COOL YOUR DOG BY USING ICE WATER ON HIM – THIS CAN ACTUALLY WORSEN THE CONDITION BY TRAPPING IN THE HEAT.   
  • DON’T FORCING HIM TO DRINK ICE WATER.  COOL WATER IS FINE IF HE WANTS TO DRINK ON HIS OWN. 
  • DON’T WAIT AND SEE – YOUR DOG NEEDS PROFESSIONAL HELP ASAP!  ASIDE FROM THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE COOLING, YOUR DOG MAY HAVE ORGAN DAMAGE.

The best news is heatstroke is preventable:

  • Don’t leave dogs in parked cars – temps can go up 20 degrees even with windows cracked!
  • Never leave dogs alone outdoors in the heat – they can easily get distracted and overheat before realizing they’re in trouble.  It’s our job to protect them.  
  • Heat advisories for people apply to dogs, too. Dog temps run warmer than people temps, so they’ll be affected by the heat faster.
  • Watch the heat index as it accounts for heat + humidity.  If you’re uncomfortable, so are they.    
  • Avoid the hottest parts of the day for outdoor activities, walks and play.
  • Hot pavement can burn paw pads AND lessen a dog’s ability to cool themselves.  Take walks in the mornings or evenings when pavement is cooler.  

Yikes!  Heatstroke is awful, but if you know what to look for and how to prevent it, you and your dog will never have to experience it.  Share this with your family & friends so they can prevent heatstroke in their dogs, too.  

Bye for now, Friends! 

BABY, IT’S HOT OUTSIDE!

With humidity & temps soaring, here are a few of my tips to keep those hot dogs cool:

1) Hide and Sniff – Hide treats around the house for your bored puppy to find.  This stimulates your dog’s brain and brings out his love of foraging.  It’s pretty amazing to watch their noses work and find the hidden treats.  Bonus points for treats hidden at heights – like on the edge of lower kitchen cabinets, just above your dog’s normal “sniff range”.  Let me know if you’d like to learn the “Find It” cue.  This is a fun 2 lesson class with me!  Message me for details.

2) Doggy Parkour – Is your dog full of energy?  Make a parkour course in the shade or even indoors!  He can jump over obstacles, balance on a bench, or even run under a tunnel made from a blanket draped between 2 chairs.  Encourage him through the course with delicious treats or his favorite toy.  Dogs are athletes and love showing off their skills.   Of course, be sure whatever you use is sturdy and can’t fall or tip onto your dog.

3) Frozen Treatsicles DIY – Take a muffin pan and fill each well with water and a couple of treats each.  Freeze until solid.  The result should be muffin-sized ice block treats with tasty treats inside.  Perfect for hot days!  If you’ll be outside and your dog wants to join you, this is a great hot weather treat for them.  Prepare ahead of time so they can stay entertained poolside or during the barbecue.

4) Summer School – Remember when your dog was a puppy and learned to sit, come, stay, during training?  Maybe his skills have become sloppy?  Grab your training pouch and get back to basics.  Take one exercise per day and work with your dog to nail it perfectly.  Make it look great!  

Bonus points – video yourself and share it on the Grace With Dogs Facebook Page!  

5) Puppy Search – Practice recall exercises from room to room with your dog.  If you have a partner or child at home, go into separate rooms of the house and call your dog.  When you hear him coming, MARK that behavior, then reward him when he reaches you.  This fun game will have your dog running back and forth between you and your husband, wife, child, etc to get the tasty treats!  To make his return to you even stronger, run a couple of steps backward while facing him as he approaches.  This helps eliminate the sloppy & distracted slow return.  A reliable recall can be a life-saver!

6) Pool Time – What better way to cool off than with a swim!  You can even do this if you don’t have your own pool.  Kiddie pools are cheap and chances are, you may even have one in the garage.  Many dogs don’t feel brave enough to get into a human pool but may really enjoy getting their feet wet or even lounging in a kiddie pool.  You can even make it more fun by tossing in some water-safe toys or even treats to motivate your dog into the water.  You can substitute a plastic, flat under-bed storage container instead of a kiddie pool.  

7) King Kong – If you’ve never heard of a Kong, you’re missing out.  Even worse, your dog is missing out!  Kongs are beehive-shaped rubber toys that are hollow inside.  The standard red color Kong is for medium chewers, while the blue is for tougher chewers and the black colored Kong is for super chewers.  The sky’s the limit for these toys – you can stuff them with wet food, peanut butter, tuna, chicken, cream cheese, whatever your dog can safely eat.  They’re perfect for summer – you can put them in the freezer to give your pup a longer-lasting, hot-weather treat!  You can even feed your dog’s whole meal in his Kong to create a fun brain-teasing meal puzzle.  The benefits for you – a  quiet, entertained pup busy with a dishwasher-safe (top rack) toy!  You can purchase Kongs and other puzzle toys I recommend HERE. (When you make Amazon purchases via my link, Amazon rewards me with a small percentage of your purchase and it costs you nothing extra – Thank you!)

WHY DOES MY DOG DESTROY ALL THE TOYS?

Simply put, not all dog toys are created equal.  Some of them are really never meant to stand up to the rigors of a super-chewer like my German Shepherds.  I used to walk through the aisles of the pet store with my husband and we’d take bets on how many minutes our dogs would take to destroy them.  

“Two minutes…Thirty seconds…That one won’t even make it out of the package!”

So why waste the money?  

Because your dog needs to see and do new things to keep that big ‘ol brain from getting into mischief.  Because having specific things to chew on, keeps “our stuff” safe, and because your dog needs to have a chance to play with YOU!  So what are the best dog toys? 

My Three Dog Toy Categories:

1. Self-Soothing/ Quiet Time Toys – these are the toys you give your dog when you need a break.  Your dog should take breaks from the action, too.  It’s okay to need some peace & quiet and your dog should be able to self-soothe without demanding your constant attention.  Dogs need to chew – yes, need – so they need toys are super rugged and can withstand super-chewers.  I recommend Kongs, Benebones, Nylabones and GoNuts.  Even though they’re tough, no toys are indestructible so you should still keep an eye on them while they’re chewing.  

2. Puzzle Toys – These interactive dog toys are the ones that make your dog do something to get a reward.  They involve some sort of a challenge – pushing something, rolling something around, knocking something over – to get treats.  Nina Ottosson is a creator of good dog puzzles, but there are many different types of puzzle toys for different skill levels.  Snuffle Mats are another great type of puzzle toy that stimulates a dog’s natural foraging instincts.  The puzzle should be tough enough to provide a challenge but not so hard that your dog loses interest.  You can make your own puzzle game by tossing treats into a box filled with empty water bottles and have your dog root through the bottles to find the treats.  

3. Interactive Toys – These are the toys that help YOU play with your dog.  Some examples are tugs, flying discs and balls.  These toys should only be made available to your dog when you’re available to play and they’re put away until your next play session.  Anyone who has trained with me knows how important play is for creating trust, building your bond with your dog, and making training fun.  This is a core aspect to Grace With Dogs training Dogs need to play and so do we!  Learning the right way to play with your dog is a total game-changer.  

Stop wasting money on dog toys and start buying the right toys that work best for your dog.   Don’t be discouraged by the pile of toys in the basket your dog won’t play with.  Did you notice that all the toys are linked to things dogs do naturally – chewing, seeking, foraging, playing with pack/family members?  Since we’re not going to let our dogs chew our stuff or run off to hunt and scavenge for their food, we need to provide substitute behaviors for their natural behaviors. And now that you’ve reached the end of this post, get up and go play with your dog.  

YOU are the ultimate toy for your dog!

7 DOG BOREDOM BUSTERS WHILE YOU’RE STUCK AT HOME

With most of us spending way more time at home lately, you and your dog may be having boredom-induced staring contests.  I’ve recently seen the meme on social media about how we’re all becoming like our dogs – stuck at home, sleeping more and wandering around the house looking for things to eat.  While you could settle into that meh routine, here are a few activities for bored dogs to liven things up a little and make the most of your time at home with your dog.

1) Hide and Sniff – Hide treats around the house for your bored puppy to find.  This stimulates your dog’s brain and brings out his love of foraging.  It’s pretty amazing to watch their noses work and find the hidden treats.  Bonus points for treats hidden at heights – like on the edge of lower kitchen cabinets, just above your dog’s normal “sniff range”.  

2) Doggy Parkour – Is your dog full of energy and in great shape?  Make a parkour course in your backyard.  He can jump over obstacles, balance along a log or bench, or even run under a tunnel made from a blanket draped between 2 lawn chairs.  Encourage him through the course with delicious treats.  Dogs are athletes and love showing off their skills.   Of course, be sure whatever you use is sturdy and can’t fall or tip onto your dog, and don’t let him try anything dangerous.  

3) Make Your own Puzzle Toy – Take an old dish towel and tie it in knots.  Hide treats in the knots for your dog to find.  What’s better than snuffling around trying to find delicious hidden surprises?  

4) A+ Student – Remember when your dog was a puppy and he learned sit, down, stay, etc during formal training?  Maybe his skills have become sloppy?  Grab your training pouch and get back to basics.  Take one exercise per day and work with your dog to nail it perfectly.  Why not make it look great!  Bonus points – video yourself and share it on your social media pages.  

5) Puppy Pong – If you’re lucky enough to be holed-up with someone you like, practice recall exercises with your dog running back and forth between you.  Be sure and have plenty of great treats in hand to reward your dog for flying back to you when you call his name.  To make his return to you even stronger, run a couple of steps backwards while facing him as he approaches.  This helps eliminate the sloppy, distracted and slow return.  A great recall can be a life-saver!

6) Dog Pool Time – Yes, supervised swimming is nice, but you may not have a pool or watering hole nearby.  Kiddie pools are cheap and chances are, you have one in the garage.  Take some empty plastic bottles and toss them into a kiddie pool.  Throw some treats into the pool and let your dog crash around searching for the treats. It’s a fun way to reward your dog’s confidence for smashing through the noisy bottles.   If your dog is shy, start slowly with treat & encouragement into the pool and add the bottles as he becomes more comfortable.  You can substitute a flat under-bed storage container instead of a kiddie pool.  

7) King Kong – If you’ve never heard of a Kong, you’re missing out.  Even worse, your dog is missing out!  Kongs are beehive-shaped rubber toys that are hollow inside.  The standard red color Kong is for medium chewers, while the blue is for tougher chewers and the black colored Kong is for super chewers.  The sky’s the limit for these toys – you can stuff them  with wet food, peanut butter, tuna, chicken, cream cheese, whatever your dog can safely eat.  You can even put them in the freezer to give your pup a longer-lasting, hot-weather treat your dog will love.  You can even feed your dog’s whole meal in his Kong for a longer-lasting, puzzle meal.  The benefits for you – a  quiet, entertained pup busy with a top-rack, dishwasher safe toy!  

So there you have it, try one or all of these with your dog and make today better than yesterday.