Author Archives: Bark Busters Home Dog Training

Playing Fetch With Your Dog? be Careful!

Posted on April 28, 2013 | Leave a comment

Ah the joys of Spring and Summer, when you can be outside with your dog enjoying the fresh air! You’re hiking along a trail and your dog picks up a stick. Your instinct is to throw it. Although many dog owners like to play fetch with their dog, there are some perils you need to be aware of.

If you’re using to picking up a stick for your dog, think carefully. A stick can cause scratches to the lining of your dog’s mouth in addition to esophageal punctures, blood loss and acute and chronic infections.

Because dogs like to chew, they often bite off parts of the stick. This can lead to both injury and an infection.  Small parts of the stick can lodge in your dog’s throat and cause choking. Additionally, sticks are riddled with bacteria, fungus and yeast, leading to infections that can prove to be fatal.

Just as we tell kids not to run with scissors (do you sound like your mother or what?) dogs can puncture their eye when scouting a good stick from a dangling limb or adjacent branch. This can lead to conditions ranging from blindness to a corneal abrasion that can turn into an ocular ulceration.

Unfortunately, stick-chasing can be a very hazardous activity. According to the RoyalVeterinaryCollegeHospital, some of the most common dog injuries, often lethal, are caused by sticks thrown by their owners. Be on the safe side and buy tennis balls or Frisbees!

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Working Out With Your Dog

Posted on April 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Fortunately, dogs don’t have to worry about getting into a bathing suit or the flab around their arm muscles or “muffin tops.” However, it is good for both you and your dog to stay in shape and at a healthy weight. A recent survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats were considered overweight or obese by their veterinarian. Estimates on adults are not much better: 66 percent of people are overweight in America.

The good news is that dog owners are more likely to be fitter and healthier than their pooch-free peers. New research from Michigan State University reports that people with canine companions are 34 percent more likely to get the recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week than are folks with other pets (sorry, kitties) or none at all.

Dogs are not only your best friends, but can be your best fitness friends as well! Think about it ,,, they won’t cancel on you like some of your friends will. And working out with your dog doesn’t have to be limited to just running or throwing a ball or frisbee. The great thing about exercising with a pet is that you don’t need a gym and you don’t need expensive equipment. All you need is a good pair of shoes, a leash and you’re off!

Here’s some tips for a great exercise program for you and your dog:

  1. Start out slow.  It’s a misconception that dogs are born to run. Just like humans, they can suffer sprains and muscle aches. Start out slow and work your way up to more challenging or longer workouts as you build your stamina. For the first 2 weeks,  your goal can be to walk 5 to 10 minutes twice a day, working up to 30 minutes at a time. Start with stretches (for both of you) and end with a cool-down period of slower walking.
  2. Go For A Swim. Most dogs love to swim and being in a pool or lake can be refreshing.  Swimming is especially good for dogs that need a low-impact option, such as dogs that are overweight. However, remember that some dogs can’t swim … greyhounds sink because of their low body weight!
  3. Be creative. Dogs don’t necessarily need an exercise regime. They will love to chase bubbles, play hide and seek or even “fetch”.  Remember that many dogs crave adventure, and many breeds are perfect hiking, biking, or in-line skating buddies. Train your dog to stay to one side of you versus darting in front causing both of you to trip.
  4. Put safety first. It’s important to remember that as the temperature increases, so does the risk of heat stroke, or dehydration. Some common symptoms to look for are excessive panting, and increased salvation. Make sure you always carry water with you in case none is available where you are exercising.

Finally, although regular physical exercise will help keep your dog calmer, don’t forget that mental exercise is just as important. Boredom is a huge contributor to many of the behavioral problems that we Bark Buster dog trainers see on a daily basis.

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Black Dog Syndrome

Posted on April 8, 2013 | Leave a comment

black-dog1At Bark Busters Home Dog Training, we have trained hundreds of thousands of dogs from around the block and around the world! We have taught dogs that are black, white and red – and every color in between! As our motto says … any breed, any age, any size.

That is why when we continuously see a situation called “black dog syndrome” in the news, we are utterly amazed. Apparently there is a prejudice against black dogs, and most animal shelters have twice as many black dogs up for adoption versus any other color. In fact, black dogs are commonly the last, if at all, to be adopted. This phenomenon is known as black dog bias, or black dog prejudice or BBD (big black dog).  Somehow, potential dog owners associate black dogs with misfortune, similar to the superstition surrounding black cats.

Maybe the media has tainted potential dog owners against black dogs, often portraying them as aggressive on TV or in popular fiction. For instance, a big, frightening black dog can be seen in The Hound of the Baskervilles, the Harry Potter series, both movie versions of The Omen, and even on the common “Beware of Dog” sign.

But at BarkBusters, we’d like to speak out in favor of beautiful black dogs who can be just as loving or well-behaved as their white or lighter colored counterparts.

We are here to tell you that the Black Dog Syndrome is a myth.  Having worked on dog obedience issues with dogs of all colors, to say that black dogs are more hostile or less friendly  is just not true.

“It’s not a dog’s color that makes him/her aggressive” says Sylvia Wilson, founder of Bark Busters International. “Generally, what makes a dog aggressive or prone to bite other dogs is improper dog training or unscrupulous breeders who deliberately or unknowingly breed unsound temperaments to another unstable temperament. Dogs like babies are born innocent and their personalities are more a product of their environment than a genetic component.

“I have come across some black pit bulls that are teddy bears,” added Wilson.  “The fact that people judge dogs solely based on their color is a mistake.”

At Bark Busters, we encourage you to adopt pets that are harder to adopt – dogs that are black, deaf, old or handicapped in some way to save them from being euthanized. Want to see some adorable black dogs? Pick up a copy of Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs, a photographic tribute to America’s least appreciated canines by writer and photographer Pam Townsend!

Black is beautiful! If you have any problems with your dog – black or otherwise, feel free to call the Bark Buster dog trainer nearest you.

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Is Your Dog A Genius?

Posted on March 23, 2013 | Leave a comment

Like all proud parents, we want to think our dog is the smartest dog ever. After all, the neighbor’s dog doesn’t bring his owner the morning paper like my dog does. He can’t even catch a Frisbee … I definitely have bragging rights.

There’s a new mobile app recently launched called Dognition, which is essentially an I.Q. test for dogs. It was developed by Brian Hare, an anthropology professor at the Canine Cognition Center at prestigious Duke University. It consists of a series of assessment questions and a series of science-based games involving cups, treats, paper and sticky notes.

It then reveals your dog’s canine IQ when it comes to empathy, communication, cunning, memory and reasoning. By entering your data, it creates a foundation by which more focused tests will be developed. You’ll receive a 15-page report on your dog’s cognitive style.

The purpose? To create a stronger connection with your dog — a connection that can help you be the best owner you can be for your furry friend! According to the website: “Dognition is not about ranking dog IQ scores. It’s about discovering which skills your own dog relies on to navigate the world — the ones your dog excels at as well as the challenges. Knowing your dog’s “cognitive style” can help shed light on where your best friend is coming from — and the new places your relationship can go.”

The downside? The price is $60. A steep price to pay to find out behaviors you may already know about your dog.

At BarkBusters Home Dog Training, we may not be able to tell you if your dog is a budding Einstein, but we can tell you if your dog has behavioral issues that may present a problem. Answer 20 simple questions and your dog will get scored A – F. And if your dog gets an “F”, you’ll definitely want to contact your nearest BarkBusters behavioral therapist for some help!
And the price tag for the BarkBusters Behavioral quiz? It’s free.

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Cosmetic Surgery for Dogs?

Posted on March 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

Just when I thought I had heard of everything as a BarkBusters dog trainer, I just read an article in The Baltimore Insider about cosmetic surgery for dogs. Before you totally discredit the idea as I did, some of the dog surgeries have a medical benefit.

Sure there are cosmetic procedures for dogs that just involve a little nip here, a little tuck there. Believe it or not there are thousands of dogs who have face lifts and nose jobs.

“We call it cosmetic surgery just because it’s altering an animal’s facial features,” says Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of veterinary services at Petplan, a pet insurance provider. “It changes the look of an animal, but you are doing it to prevent further disease and to better the health of the animal.”

It makes sense if your dog has entropion, causing his lashes to constantly brush the surface of his eyes. It’s painful and, if untreated, could lead to permanent eye damage. An eye lift may be a solution. Or a dog whose breathing problems are so bad, rhinoplasty would help clear his nasal passages. But pet owners who use liposuction for overweight dogs or steroid injections for droopy ears? Botox for bull dogs? Or synthetic dog testicles for pets who’ve been neutered called neuticals? C’mon!

Fortunately, the American Kennel Club forbids cosmetically enhancing a show dog except in cases of breed standards — like tail docking. The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association campaigns against tail docking, ear cropping, debarking, declawing and any operation an animal doesn’t medically need.

Please remember that anytime you put a dog under general anesthesia, take him for surgery or have foreign objects (such as neuticals) put in his body, there are risks. Unless the plastic surgery procedure will dramatically improve the quality of his life (versus just hide his imperfections) don’t take a chance at an adverse reaction.

I’ve got a better idea for dog owners who have plastic surgery on their dogs for procedures that are not medically necessitated … donate the money you would spend to an animal shelter or rescue organization!

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