Do you remember the old Saturday Night Live skit about Toonces the driving cat? He would always take the family on a nice trip…right over the edge of a cliff. Turns out his four-legged friend, the dog, can drive, too.
Continue reading Toonces, the driving cat…er…dog
Category Archives: Behavior and Psychology
Note to men: Don’t pee on your girlfriend’s dog
From the weird, wacky world of dog news:
A man in Manitowoc, Wisconsin was arrested last month for urinating on his roommate’s dog after she refused to have sex with him.
The 35-year old man was drunk when he asked his roommate to have sex with him. She refused, so he went to the basement and peed on both the dog and the floor. (I hate when that happens!)
He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct related to domestic violence.
Stay classy, dude!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Has Your Dog Ever Cheated On You?
You love your dog. Your dog loves you…until someone better comes along. Has your dog ever, well, dogged you? Mine sure has! Kayla absolutely LOVES my friend Wendy. Probably because Wendy lets her kiss her right on the mouth, which I don’t, but it’s amazing to see the effect this woman has on Kayla! I’ve even seen Kayla walk away from her food dish when she sees Wendy’s truck pull up outside.
Any other time, I am Kayla’s favorite. She spends most of her time on my lap, or at least right next to me. But when Wendy shows up, she acts as if she’s never seen me before.
Animal behaviorists say it’s really not all that uncommon, nor is it hard to figure out. This is kind of the dog’s version of “the grass is always greener”. Some dogs are looking for a home with only 1 pet, rather than their current home which may have many pets and children competing for your attention. Others prefer the neighbor’s treats, food selection, or even toys.
So what can you do? In my case, I just content myself with the cat that can’t do without me, and wait until Wendy leaves so Kayla will be mine again. But, if you are really worried about it, try taking the time to bond more closely with your dog.
Veterinarian and applied animal behaviorist Sophia Yin from San Francisco Veterinary Specialists recommends the following exercise: Put the leash on your dog and show him that he can get anything he wants, but only if he sits and focuses on you. When he does so, pet him and praise him for abour five seconds, then stop. Next time he sits and focuses on you, throw a frisbee or a tennis ball for him a few times. Teach him how much fun you are to be around.
Once he figures out the game, invite your rival over. When the dog sits and focuses on you, he gets your attention. When he doesn’t, he is still on the leash, so you can keep him from going to see the other person. When he becomes consistent in coming to you to fulfill his needs, then you can allow him to see his other person again.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Is Your Dog Mentally Ill?
Most of us are pretty quick to realize when our dogs need medical care when the cause is physical such as a cut or a difficult birth. But have you ever stopped to consider your dog’s mental health? At my house, the biggest mental health issue we have is my Golden’s fear of thunderstorms. I always know when a storm is brewing because she lands dead center on my back while I am sleeping. (All 75 pounds of her, flying through the air and landing with a WHUMP! on top of me, making me very glad we got her.)
Puppy Playtime
A new study discussed on the Discovery Channel documents that male puppies often put themselves in submissive positions, allowing their girl friends to win the game, all in the interest of keeping the playtime going.
Origins of the Domestic Dog
A little science lesson for you today, and pay attention, as this will be the subject of tomorrow’s Survey Saturday.
I think most of us would agree that dogs evolved from wolves, but have you ever wondered how that happened? Turns out there are four competing theories.
Second Chances for Jailbirds and Jail Dogs
Innovative prison program teaches dogs and men
At Wakulla Correctional Institute in Florida, an inmate reaches into his pocket and finds a dog biscuit for Pooh, a Husky-Labrador Retriever-Chow mix. Pooh gobbles the treat too enthusiastically and the inmate pushes him gently and firmly to the floor to calm him. Settled down, Pooh licks his hand.
Not too long ago, things looked bleak for Pooh. He was big and unruly and no one wanted to adopt him. Then Pooh got lucky and became part of a new program, Paws in Prison. Working with “dog whisperer” Jay King, inmates are taught how to train a dog, giving them useful skills and providing pound pooches a second chance.
The dogs move in with the inmates for two months, sleeping in kennels pushed right up against the bunks. King teaches them that it isn’t rocket science to train a dog–to teach them stability you have to be stable. He teaches them to train with kindness and treats, never harshness or punishment.
The end goal is to give the prisoners valuable skills that they can use outside prison (some dream of one day opening their own dog training schools), and to rehabilitate otherwise un-adoptable dogs to help them find forever homes.
Survey Saturday: Dogs dialing 911?
We featured a story this week about a dog who had been trained to call 911, and did so when his guardian had a seizure. I’m not so sure any of my dogs would be capable of this – how about you?
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
Pooch Plunge
There’s nothing like a big, cold swimming pool on a hot September day. Especially if you’re a dog! The Lawrence (KS) Outdoor Aquatic Center recognizes that many dogs just can’t get enough pool time. Before draining the pool at the end of each summer, they allow dog owners to bring their dogs in for a swim.
September 2, 2008 was the date for the sixth annual Pooch Plunge, a fundraiser for the Aquatic Center. The pool charges $5 admission for each dog, and raises about $1,500 to pay for pool maintenance, which we would imagine involves cleaning lots of fur out of the filters!
Observers are allowed in for free to watch the dogs playing in the water. Apparently, it’s just a hoot! The three hour event draws as many as 400 dogs, and an untold number of their 2-legged friends. People are not allowed in the pool during the pooch plunge, but as one lifeguard notes, “I really don’t want to get in the water because it’s pretty filthy by now.” Lifeguard Vinny Gonzalez of McLouth states he and his fellow guards are there simply to prevent human participation in the event, not to rescue any dogs whose swimming skills are rusty. He notes, “I haven’t quite had that course.”
Pet-related vendors are also on hand, serving dog treats and displaying their wares to the participating dogs and their guardians.
This event sounds like a lot of fun! Wish the pools in my area would follow suit.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!
China, the hero dog
Have you heard about China, the hero dog from Argentina? Apparently, she is a better mom than her 14-year old human neighbor. Check out this story from the small town of La Plata, about 40 miles south of Buenos Aires.