Medlock Place Historic District The more I see of men, the better I like dogs . - attr. Thorold Rogers   E Features Helpful stuff you didn't know you might want to know. Other stories:   Turning up the heat on Hatha yoga Who's The Leader of Your Pack, You or Your Dog? by Karen Young, CPDT • Undrstanding Your Dog's Language • Preventing Dog Bites • Pool Safety Dogs need clear and consistent leadership to feel safe and happy, whether within their packs or with their human families. Allowing your dog to assume a higher position within your family than his temperament is able to deal with is a great stress for him, just like a person who is promoted in their job to a position which is above their ability. However, a dog's need for a strong leader is instinctual, and if in his mind a human companion is not up to the task, he will constantly challenge for leadership. Learning about pack leadership and canine communication is incredibly interesting for most dog-lovers. Gaining a better understanding of the dog psyche strengthens the human-canine connection, and learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language he understands is a critical step in establishing leadership and control, which will also provide your canine companion with the safe and secure feelings he needs. After all, it's a lot of fun to learn how to ‘speak' your dog's language. Understand Your Dog's Body Language Just like humans, dogs use a body language all their own to communicate with one another. They use that language to communicate with us, too; it's just that most of us aren't tuned in to it. In fact, much of their behavior may seem extremely odd to us unless we have the key to unlock their meaning. Learning how to interpret various instinctual actions of your dog is critical to establishing authority, respect and control over our canine friends. Learning how to “listen” to your dog doesn't require a degree in Dr. Doolittle's Advanced School of Canine Communications. You simply have to know what to look for. For example, does your dog stare at you demanding that you do something, or does he look down when you look at him? Does he carry his head up high or down low? Are his ears forward or back against his head? What about his mouth? Is it open or closed? Is his tongue inside his mouth or outside? When you correct your dog, does its tongue dart in and out? In order to understand a dog's body language we need to focus on certain body parts, especially its eyes, ears, mouth, tongue and tail. Because of a dog's pack mentality, he will either follow the leader or be the leader. Your ultimate goal is to assume the leadership role with your dog, and a key to understanding your progress in this area is by observing the actions of his eyes and ears. Notice your dog's eyes. If he is staring at you, he may be demanding something from you or seeking confrontation. If his eyes are looking down, he feels respectful toward you and understands that you are the pack leader. If your dog's ears are forward, he may be listening to you or listening for noises. If his ears are back, he is showing respect for your leadership. His mouth can also hold clues to his disposition. If it is closed, it could mean he is fearful of the situation he is in presently or merely that something has caught his attention. If his tongue is darting in and out while you correct him, he is showing you a sign of submission and respect. If his tail is up and wagging slowly, he is feeling dominant over you. When his tail is down and between the legs, he could be showing you that he is fearful or submissive. Expressive body language can also be seen when your dog moves around the house. For example, walk to your back door. What does your dog do? 1. Did he run to the door to beat you there? 2. Did he follow you there? 3. Did he just lie down? If you answered yes to #1, your dog feels he is the leader of the pack. If you answered yes to #2, your dog sees you as the leader. If you answered yes to #3, your dog may have separation anxiety, or he may be fearful of being left outside. Learning how to understand your dog's body language can be both fun and instructive. It is very rewarding when you begin to feel a closer connection with your pet, and this only comes by speaking to him on his own terms. How to Prevent Dog Bites Nationwide statistics underscore the need to raise awareness around the dangerous problem of dog bites, and to educate the public about what can be done in the way of prevention. According to the American Veterinary Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4.7 million Americans suffer from dog bites each year. The severity of the bites obviously varies, but 800,000 people are injured seriously enough each year to require medical attention. Twelve people die due to mortal wounds. While these numbers are both staggering and alarming, some of the most surprising facts may be that 61 percent of dog bites occur within pet owners' homes, and 43 percent of all dog bites involve children being bitten by the family dog. As such, parents can take a large “bite” out of these high incidence rates simply by learning some basic guidelines that will help their children avoid getting bit by their own dogs. "Many of the tips we give our clients are pretty straightforward and appeal to one's common sense, but they have proven very successful and are based on what we have experienced and learned over our 15 years of training dogs,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters' COO and master trainer. “For example, under no circumstances should a baby be left alone with a dog, and young children should never walk or feed the dog unsupervised. Parents should never allow a young child to discipline their dog, pull on the dog's collar or play aggressive games with them. What parents should do is teach their dog to be submissive and respond to verbal commands." Of course, dog bites are not restricted to children. The following tips can help reduce the chances of adults being attacked by an approaching dog: • Don't try to make friends with a dog you are not familiar with • Stand still, stand tall and don't move a muscle until the dog loses interest in you - don't try to run awa; • Allow the dog to smell you but don't put your hand out - let the dog come close to you on its own terms • Face the dog at all times but don't make eye contact with the dog or stare - it can be perceived as a sign of aggression • Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye • If the dog knocks you down, roll up into a fetal position with your arms covering your head and neck and play dead; don't fight back Dogs can be wonderful, loving companions. To keep yourself and your dog happy and safe, act responsibly. By following the above tips, you can help reduce the risk of your dog biting others, or getting bitten by an unfamiliar dog yourself. Pool Safety If your dog falls into a river or lake, his instinct will tell him to turn around and try to get out from the point he fell in. This may work well in nature, a lake or a river, but in a suburban swimming pool, your dog may drown if he adopts this instinctive action. Therefore, dog must be taught to exit a pool. To teach a dog how to exit a pool, first attach a recall leash to his collar. Gently place the dog into the pool from the steps. The dog will instinctively turn around and get out from the point of entry – the steps. Place the dog in the pool from the steps several times. Once he realizes that he can scramble out via the steps, move to the other sides of the pool and again gently place the dog into the pool. Use the recall leash to guide the dog to the step area giving him as little help as possible. Once the dog has oriented himself to the steps in relation to the house and he understands how to use the steps to exit the pool, the danger of drowning in the pool will be reduced. Practice as much as possible with your dog, especially with pups. When the pool's water level is full, your dog has a greater chance of being able to get out. Make certain your dog does not become exhausted. Practice three or four entries and exits at any one time. If your dog has year-round access to the pool area, for your dog's safety, conduct pool safety in all types of weather, hot and cold.