I'm Trapped and I Can't Get Out-What to do when you and your dog are in a confined area

Every dog needs a certain amount of space. This means you need to assess what your dog needs in the moment and take into account any prior history.

When taking your dog in public it’s easy to run into situations where your dog can feel confined and trapped. Whether it be in the waiting room at the vets office or in the lobby of your dogs training school, knowing how to properly deal with the situation is important.

Removing your pooch from the confined situation is always the recommended first option. When in a confined situation, make sure you know where the exits are located to make sure that you are not trapping your dog. It’s your job to provide your dog with the proper space before the problem arises.

Both dogs pictured are wearing Freedom No-Pull Harnesses and short leashes providing more control for their handlers.  While both dogs are alert and aware of each other this situation is going well.

If you know that a certain situation, like waiting in your vet’s office lobby for your appointment or waiting for a daycare attendant to escort your dog into the playroom may cause an issue, prepare and have a plan before you and your dog enter. The proper equipment is an essential tool to help manage this circumstance.  A standard 4 to 6 foot leash will help you better control your dog in a confined situation, so it is better to leave the Flexi leash at home. Do you use a No-Pull Harness or Gentle Leader for training class or walks through the neighborhood?  Then you should absolutely be using them in a situation where you would need more control.  How about treats?  If you can do some focus work before stepping foot in the environment you are on the road to a successful visit.  Are you more worried about other animals versus your own or your dog gets stressed when other dogs are barking?  Use your treats and play some obedience game to get them to focus on you rather than what is causing them discomfort.

A waiting area can be a scary place for a dog and owner

Another important aspect if you see a negative situation forming would be to make sure you do not translate to them through your body language that there is a cause for concern rather communicate to the lobby receptionist that you’ll wait outside until it is your turn or leave your dog in the car (assuming the temperature allows) until the lobby is clear.

It’s important to remember that you are responsible for your dog’s well-being and should not be setting your dog up by putting them in a scary situation. Becoming educated about your dog’s body language and reactions are important as we always want to set up our dogs for success.  If you are not sure what to do or cannot interpret what you are seeing consult a professional for help from your educated Morris K9 Campus staff. Visit our website www.morrisk9campus.com or call us at 973-252-5100 to find out what we can do for you and your pet. 

How Do I House-Train My Newly Adopted Dog?

Unfortunately dogs typically don’t come from shelters or breeders house-trained, and it is important to immediately begin working on the behavior once you get your new dog home. It is also unreasonable to think that a dog coming from rescue, that is stated as house-trained, will immediately come into your home knowing what to do. The sooner you can put your pooch on a potty schedule the higher the success rate will be.

A dog that is not house-trained is the number one reason why dogs are returned or end up in shelters. However, house-training is something with a little structure can usually be solved; it is up to the owner to implement the right tools. When potty training your dog, it is important to keep long term goals in mind, whether your goal is to train your dog to make it a few hours or longer period of time while at work. Once you have a specific goal in mind, you can then put a plan in place to obtain it.

Creating and following a schedule will help them be successful. Dogs tend to do things routinely so a schedule is essential. This means feeding your dog at the same time every day, as well as potty them at the same time every day. When you begin potty training it’s important to notice trends, so for example if your dog eats at the same time every day, chances are they will use the bathroom at the same time as well. It’s important to also realize that puppies will not be able to hold it as long as adult dogs, and no adult dog should be expected to hold it longer than six hours.

Remember that the crate is your friend; a crate can be a great tool that can help facilitate potty training. It gives the dog the capacity to physically and reasonably build their ability to “hold” their urges. However, dog doors are not your friend; they are not the solution to your house-training problem, they might be the reason for it. Dog doors give no structure to your dog’s potty plan and it can be an unsafe situation when a dog is outside unsupervised.

Your dog counts on you to set them up for success. Be realistic about your expectations and understand that adjusting to a new home, new routine, and new lifestyle takes time. Plus, Morris K9 Campus is always here to help!

Doga (Yoga class for Humans and Dogs)

Looking for a rewarding new activity for both you and your dog? Morris K9 Campus is pleased to introduce Doga (Yoga class for human and dog). This specialized class is aimed to incorporate your dog into Beginners Yoga, which will include gentle stretching, basic Yoga Poses (Asanas), breathing exercises/techniques (Pranayama’s) and relaxation. The class will be taught by a certified Yoga instructor Karin Kolsky, in conjunction with the assistance of our certified pet trainer Robin Lash, CPDT-KA.

Who should attend Doga?

People who:

• want to have fun with their dog

• want to get into shape

• would like to decrease their stress

• love yoga and would like to incorporate their dog

Dogs who:

• need stimulation

• are out of shape

• have a hard time settling down

• are anxious and fearful dogs

The goal of Yoga is to balance the Mind, Body, and Heart. The added benefits are improved health, emotional well-being, mental clarity, joy in living, and a stronger and more flexible body. Plus having your canine friend next to you will help to achieve relaxation faster and create a stronger bond for both of you.

Doga is a four week session and runs Wednesday nights at 8:30pm, starting November 14.

Because a calm environment is necessary for the success of this class, we must ask that dogs with a strong tendency to bark or that are aggressive towards people or other dogs do not attend. Please contact our staff for a recommendation for other programs Morris K9 Campus offers.

Register online at MorrisK9Campus.com.