...the part of a dog's brain that discerns what the smells are is about 40 times larger than a human's, relatively speaking. It was Mark Twain who said, "If dogs could talk, no one would own them." So when you come home and your dog smells your pants, he knows where you were, who you touched and what you ate.…
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The Dog Charmer
Most dogs will exhibit some degree of predatory aggression. The 10-week-old puppy that jumps after the blowing leaf is an example. The movement of the leaf elicits the prey drive in the puppy.…
The Dog Charmer Not Taking My Own Advice as Jeffrey Joins the Shelby Household I recently heard a cute tip, or recommendation, for older people when it comes to travel: “In your 60s, go-go; in your 70s, slow-go; in your 80s, no-go.” Well, considering myself, I’d change the formula to go-go in your 70s, slow-go in your 80s and no-go in your 90s. When it comes to dogs, though, I have to revert back to 60s, 70s, and 80s for…
The Dog Charmer Tackling One Dog’s Need for Attention, Another’s Need To Explore Dear Tom When you look at the picture, it’s hard to believe that this dog can be so frustrating for me. He is good when we are here alone, but when guests come, he becomes so hard to manage. He wants to be the center of attention and won’t leave people alone. I filled a hollow bone with meat today when a friend stopped by and that…
The Dog Charmer Leash Aggression, Zoomies and Finding Your Dog’s ‘Off’ or ‘Pause’ Buttons Dear Tom:How best do we introduce our daughter’s new pup into our home when we already have two adult French bulldogs, Stella (10) and Louie (3), one of whom defaults to an aggressive posture (Louie) when we are out and about on walks? We previously tried to introduce our dog to another family member’s dog which resulted in our dog attacking and injuring the other. What…
The Dog Charmer No Bad dog Hi Tom,I am sure my dog Toby thinks his name is “Toby No!” How can I change the grumpy mad woman that I have become in Toby’s eyes? He is always doing something that I have to stop! El…
The Dog Charmer Adopted Girlie has separation anxiety Dear Tom, I got my dog, Girlie, from the Susquehanna SPCA last December. She is a Rottweiler/Australian Shepherd mix, about 7 years old. She has separation anxiety that has worsened in the past few months. Fortunately, she does accept being in a crate when I am gone. She is afraid of the sounds of strong wind, gunshots, or any sudden, loud noise, and tries to hide around my legs or under furniture.…
The Dog Charmer Dodging Doggie Nips Hi Tom We have a 2-year-old 17 lb. Cavapoo with a bad owner: ME.Since she was a pup, we have played rough, wrestling and playing “dodge the nips” with my sleeves and forearms. We both have had a blast. Due to social distancing during the worst of the pandemic, this aggressive play at home was not a problem. But predictably, as our socializing has increased she wants to play dodge the nips with friends…
The Dog Charmer When is a good time to start training your pup? Dear Dog Charmer, At what age should Truffle start obedience training? Thanks again! Paul & Jared Dear Paul and Jared, In the 1960s many thought the optimal time to start obedience training was when the dog was no longer a puppy and considered old enough to retain commands. Well, even though I often refer to young puppies as “egg for brains”, the reality is training begins as…
The Dog Charmer Use upbeat attitude to treat attacked dog Hello I have a situation you might be able to help me with. My dog was attacked by a large pit bull. I’m wondering if he’ll ever get over it. Mary Ann Dear Mary Ann, I was sorry to hear about how your dog was ambushed. Unfortunately, I’ve lost count of all the dogs I have been asked to help that were traumatized by an unprovoked attack from another dog.…