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Hey, Katie K-9!KatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Hey, Katie K-9!
When I play fetch with my dog, he is great at going out to get it and bringing it back, but getting him to release it is something else. Any ideas?
Thank you.
Travis
Hey, Travis!
Think of it from your dog's point of view. He runs 200 feet out to get the ball and 200 feet back: then, you try to rip it out of his mouth the second he returns.
Wow, what a fun game! Until he gets better at releasing what is in his mouth, do not use balls or small objects so you have to dig in his mouth to get the object. Use a budda rope or the leg of an old pair of jeans, cut off and knotted, or a stick - anything that will hang out of his mouth so you can easily grab it.
When he brings it back, let him hold on to his trophy for a bit while you give him a finger massage on his ribs and rump. Only use a small amount of pressure with your fingers - similar to what you would use to gently close your eyelid. Do this for 15 seconds.
Now, work your way up to what he has in his mouth. Do not pull on the object! Your dog's first instinct is to pull away from you.
Now the tug-o-war starts and another game begins.
Instead, gently grab the object and say - "Drop it" or "Give." If he tries to pull back, say "AHHH" in a deep, slow voice, then repeat "drop it."
"AHHH, drop it."
If you still have no luck, take your free hand and give him a clomp under his chin and say "drop it," as you clomp him. He cannot see that it was your hand administering the clomp, his nose and the toy are in the way.
The second he releases it, quickly put the object behind your back, so he does not leap for it again and nip your hand. Until he gets better at releasing, only play fetch a couple of rounds at a time and then stop. Always leave him wanting more.
Have fun!
Katie K-9
Hey, Katie K-9!
This past summer I became a first-time dog owner. I am loving every minute of it! But I want to do things right and healthy for my Gus. For Christmas, my friends loaded him up on treats and toys. I started reading the ingredients on the bags of treats and they vary so much. I am very health-conscious for myself and want to be for Gus, but I am not sure what is good or bad for a dog. Can you enlighten me?
Happy New Year!
Alice
Hey, Alice and Gus!
Thank you for reading the labels and asking questions. There are more bad treats than good ones. Generally, the simpler or fewer the ingredients, the better the treat.
If you can understand all the ingredients and do not need a dictionary to look up the ones you do not understand, it's a good treat.
It should read like a cookie recipe without the sugar. Many semimoist treats have corn syrup or fructose in them which is bad for us and our pets. Treat manufacturers put those in to make them more palatable to our pets.
The best treats that most pets love - including cats - are dried chicken or beef livers. They cost more, but are better for our pets.
Be sure to read the labels of these, too: some manufacturers put in "extra" ingredients.
The best overall treats for dogs are raw - NOT cooked - dog bones you get at a meat shop, like Grundhofer's Old Fashion Meats in Hugo. If your dog has never had a raw dog bone, start them out chewing for only 15-20 minutes, once or twice a week. These are very rich but are great for your dog's health and keeping those teeth pearly white!
Happy, healthy treats!
Katie K-9
Send in your dog questions to "Hey, Katie K-9!" by mailing them to The Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN 55038 or e-mailing them to Katie at KatieK-9@ReadTh eCitizen.com. Visit Katie's dog obedience school web site at www.ktk9.com.