Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks

Many people believe that once a dog learns or does not learn a particular behavior that it cannot be changed.  Old dogs can learn new tricks though. 

If you have a particular behavior that develops in your dog that you do not like, you can change it.  It may take some hard work, patience, and time but it can be done.  Treats are your best friend just like they are when training a puppy.

We have a dog in our family that is about six years old and begs for food.  This is something that he has been doing since he was a puppy.  He barks and begs until he gets exactly what he wants.  This is a behavior that can be changed.  Dogs have the ability to learn at any age.  They are creatures of habit.  Something they do today is something that they want to do tomorrow. 

You want to start re-enforcing the behavior that you want and not rewarding the old habit that you do not want.  It is going to be much harder to change a habit rather than teach a habit. This is the reason why it is important to decide what behaviors you would like your dog to have when they are a puppy and train them early so you don’t have to go back and change a habit later. 

The key with a dog is to reward the positive and ignore the negative!

Dog Introductions

If you live in an area where there are other dogs you will have to deal with dog introductions.  Dog introductions can have many different outcomes.  It can be a pleasant, embarrassing, aggressive or uncomfortable experience.

My terrier, Lizzie, is very good with small dogs but will bark at a large dog even if it is a few blocks away.  We all like to call this the “Napoleon complex.”  Although our small dogs appear aggressive when they are barking at larger dogs it is really a reaction to fear.  They think that if they bark and appear aggressive that the larger dog may not feel as powerful.  This can be a very embarrassing experience when the larger dog is walking by nice and calm while your terrier is barking away.

Most Yorkshire Terriers, Cavachons and Yorkie mixes behave well with other small dogs, but there is always the exception.  The most important thing that you can do to protect your dog and other dogs is to ask the owner of the other dog if it is okay if both of your dogs interact.  Most owners will say, “Oh yes, my dog is friendly” or “Oh no, my dog doesn’t do well with others.”  Once you have permission to have your dog interact with another make sure that you keep your leash taught and are able to react quickly if there is a problem.  You never want to get into a situation where the leashes become crossed or you have to yank on your dog’s neck.  If you have to yank on your dog’s neck an injury could occur.

Whenever you dog is interacting with another dog you want to remain vigilant.  Your dogs may be getting along one minute and be in a serious fight the next minute.  Dogs can have very good friends; you just want to make sure that they have time to get to know each other!

Doggy Daycare

I never expected to be taking a dog to daycare but that is exactly what I do.

Doggy Daycare can be a great option for dogs that would otherwise spend their day cooped up in a house or a cage.  Doggy Daycare can be expensive, but if you have the ability to afford the expense it can be great for both you and your dog. 

The daycare that I take my dog to costs $25 per day.  It is the same price whether your dog is there for two hours or eleven hours.  Each dog goes through a “trial” Saturday to make sure that they are non-aggressive with the other dogs.  If they pass this “test” they are free to go to daycare as many as six days per week.  All dogs must be up to date on all of their shots and be on a flea preventative, such as Frontline.

When you drop your dog off they spend the day with their female or male counterparts.  The genders are kept separated even though all dogs are required to be spayed or neutered to attend daycare.

The dogs have water at all times, heaters in the winter and sprinklers in the summer.  The dogs can run all day long or relax with their friends in the sunshine.  When I pick up my dog, Lizzie, at the end of the day she lies on the seat in my car and relaxes in our house for the rest of the evening like I’m sure 99.5% of the dogs do.  Our dog is nicknamed “Dizzy Lizzie” because she does not stop running except for a few quick drinks throughout the day.

Another benefit to Doggy Daycare is that they offer boarding.  If you have a vacation or a business trip to attend your dog will be able to spend the day outside playing with their friends and have someone to feed them and a place to sleep at night.

Again, Doggy Daycare is not for everyone because it can be relatively expensive but it is a great option to be able to have.  Even if your dog only goes once or twice a week, like mine, it gives them to ability to run freely and socialize with other dogs for a few hours.  There are new Doggy Daycare’s popping up all over and it is worth exploring if you would like to have another option for your dog during the day!

Cavachon: A Bundle of Love and Affection

A Cavachon is what is known as a “designer” breed.  This breed is a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise.  When you mix two breeds you end up with a mixture of looks and personality.

A Cavachon can range in size from 10 to 20 pounds.  Their coat can be silky and slightly wavy or loosely curled.  Their coat comes in a variety of colors which are;

• Peach
• Peach and White
• Buff and White
• Sable and White
• Black and tan; OR
• Tri-colored

Their coat is a medium length and they shed very little which makes them perfect for individuals suffering from allergies.  You do want to make sure that they are brushed regularly or professionally groomed.

Just like a Yorkie the Cavachon is a perfect apartment dog.  They require regular exercise but most of this can be accomplished indoors.

Cavachons are friendly, intelligent, gentle, playful and social.  They do not like to be alone for long periods of time since they are very family oriented.  They are very non-aggressive but they will let you know if they see a stranger or hear an unfamiliar sound.

Overall, the Cavachon has a cheerful attitude which is gained from the Cavalier and the Bichon.

Yorkshire Terrier: Large Personality in a Small Package

If you have ever been interested in having a small dog as your companion the Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie, may be the perfect pet for you.

A Yorkshire Terrier ranges in size from about 4-7 pounds and is part of the Toy Group.  There is actually no such thing as a “Teacup Yorkie” or “Miniature Yorkie.”  Of course you may end up with a Yorkie who is a little bit less than 4 pounds or a little bit more than 7 pounds, but it is just a variation in size, not a “teacup” or “mini.”

Since a Yorkshire Terrier is such a small dog they make great companions for people who live in apartments or small dwellings.  A Yorkie does not need much outdoor exercise because they can release most of their energy romping around indoors.  You do want to make sure that you give your Yorkie lots of love and human interaction though!

If you are introducing a Yorkie puppy into a home with small children you want to make sure that you show your children early on how to handle their new friend.  Although Yorkies are very resilient, you have to make sure that they are handled properly or they can be injured.

Even though a Yorkshire Terrier is so small, they are very good watch dogs.  Their terrier spirit will shine through when someone that they are not familiar with is around.

Yorkshire Terriers have lots of energy, spirit, and affection to give and may just be the perfect pet for you!

Skunk Visit

As we all know, our dogs can be very curious.  Terriers tend to be especially curious as most of them have hunting in their genes.

My terrier, Lizzie, had a backyard visitor this past Saturday night.  A smelly, black & white animal that we all hope our dogs do not encounter.  A skunk.

After spending the evening with friends, we came home and let Lizzie out into the backyard of our borough row home.  I knew that we had a skunk after Lizzie had a barking fit months back and the neighbors came running and screaming, “SKUNK,” a few weeks ago.

As we were watching the evening news the awful skunk smell started filtering into our house.  I knew right then that we were in trouble.  I ran outside, grabbed Lizzie and committed the biggest mistake of the evening by bringing her inside.

• Tip #1: Leave your dog outside if possible.
• Tip #2: If your dog was sprayed directly in the face and seems to be having trouble breathing or with their eyes make sure to call your veterinarian.

I brought Lizzie into the bathroom tub and hopped on the internet while my boyfriend made sure she stayed in the tub.  My parent’s two terriers had been sprayed months back and I knew that the tomato juice myth wasn’t the best way to go.

• Tip #3: Mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of strong dishwashing soap.  Mix this in an OPEN container as the mixture would have pressure if it was covered due to the fizzing.
• Tip #4: Change into old clothes before you attempt to clean your dog.  The odor that the skunk sprays is very oily and can stain and saturate your clothing.

I washed Lizzie with this mixture and followed it by two more washing with regular puppy shampoo which was mistake #2.

• Tip #5:  You should wash your dog with the hydrogen peroxide mixture and then follow this by using a solution such as “Nature’s Miracle” on the areas that were DIRECTLY sprayed BEFORE washing the entire dog.  Since the spray is oily you can actually spread the smell throughout the entire dog unnecessarily if you wash them with regular shampoo too early.

It is now four days later and the smell lingers on her, her collar and throughout our home.

• Tip #6: Make sure you apply the hydrogen solution or “Nature’s Miracle” to any collar or clothing that was on your dog right away.  Once the oil soaks into to the material and dries it is very difficult to remove the smell.

I stopped by the local pet store yesterday and picked up a bottle of “Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover.”

• Tip #7:  Saturate your dog with “Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Remover” and let the solution dry on their hair or fur.  Make sure you avoid their eyes, nose and mouth.  If this area was spayed you may use a saturated wash cloth around these areas.

Yorkshire terrier owners actually have it a little bit easier than others when it comes to an encounter with a skunk.  Since a Yorkshire terrier has hair, instead of fur, it is easier to get the oil and smell off of a Yorkie than other dogs with fur and undercoats.

Lizzie and I have grown used to the smell but as it fades away I hope that I can help others avoid the mistakes that I made and avoid that pesky black and white animal, the skunk.