EnvironMental Monday: Dog Hair, Dog Teeth, Dog Poo (Squared). Reclaiming Your Space in a Multi-Dog Home

When I was working (and living) at Clean Slate Animal Rescue, we had anywhere from ten to forty dogs living with us at any given time. Granted, those dogs weren't all in the same room at the same time, but I don't believe there were ever less than five dogs with us wherever we roamed. While I don't necessarily advise that everyone live with that many pups underfoot, my time at Clean Slate did teach me a great deal about how to maintain sanity (and a semblance of order) in a multi-dog home. Here are a few tips to keep your own home running smoothly, whether you have two dogs or (yikes!) twenty.

(1) Define your boundaries. Some people love dogs anywhere, all the time - on the bed, on the couch, under the table, nothing is off limits. Others prefer their pups off the furniture or out of the kitchen, and may get downright squeamish at excess dog hair. Either way is okay - as long as you know which you are, and convey that to your pooches. If you don't want your dogs on the couch, then they should NEVER be on the couch; they have no way of knowing when the sight of their muddy paws will send you into a tailspin or when you'll just shrug it off. So, to keep things simple, figure out early what's off limits. Be consistent, and don't feel badly if your best friend lets her dog trounce all over the leather sofa and you don't (or vice versa). You love your pup, or you wouldn't be reading this post... But we all deserve our space. Claim yours, be firm and consistent, and your pups will (eventually) respect that.

(2) Socialize your dogs! Unless you want to be that crazy lady (or guy) with all the dogs whose friends avoid them like the plague, you'll want pups who don't go wild every time someone comes to call. To prevent this from happening, expose your dogs to as many people as possible, as early and often as you can. Make a point of having people over, and let your dogs (and your guests) know what is expected of them. Start by teaching your dogs a firm sit-stay, and work on this everytime a visitor arrives. Reinforce with lots of yummy treats, but make sure to keep things lowkey to keep your pooch from picking up on any of your excitement or anxiety. Be mellow. Give treats and pets. Be consistent. You'll be amazed at how many people gravitate toward a balanced home with balanced pets, and your pups will love making all those new friends.

(3) Have at least one dog-friendly zone. If you'd rather not have your pups treading on your furniture and scratching on your favorite sheets and you have the space, create one room to use as a puppy playroom. Get creative with the space - paint it a funky color, make a doggie border, or just put up some of your favorite photos of your pooches. Buy or make a little puppy toy box, and have lots of chew toys and other treats available. If you don't want to crate your dogs, this is a great way to keep them safe and contained while you're away from home. Add a corner where you can comfortably hang out as well, and before long you'll catch yourself spending more time in your puppy playroom than your own living room!

Having multiple dogs doesn't have to mean an out-of-control world, for you or your pups. As with anything where dogs are concerned, just remember to define your boundaries and be consistent, and you and your pooches can happily co-exist for years to come!

EnvironMental Monday: Is Nothing Sacred? A Pit Bull Guardian's Guide to Puppy Proofing Your Home

If you've ever had a puppy, you've probably learned one thing quite well: dogs chew. And if you've ever had a pit bull puppy, you've REALLY gotten that lesson down. There are three reasons why your pit bull will chew you out of house and home - they are high energy, have extremely strong teeth and jaws, and are very social, so prone to separation anxiety (which they cope with by chewing). Each one of those reasons is powerful enough on its own, but when you combine the three? Suddenly, you have a chewing monster and nothing in your home is safe. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the rocky road of pit bull chewing.

(1) Exercise, exercise, exercise. Like the Energizer bunny, terriers were designed to keep going and going and going. Pit bulls are definitely no exception - these energized pups thrive on activity, and must have rigorous exercise daily to stay sane. Teach your pit puppy to fetch early on in life, so that on days when you're unable to go for a long walk, you can throw the ball around for twenty minutes and wear him out that way. Bullies also love to work - check out this site for tips on buying a doggie backpack for your pooch, and watch how his entire manner changes. Giving your bully a job while you're out and about boosts his confidence, increases his focus, and makes him work just a little bit harder during your daily constitutional. At Clean Slate, we even adopted a pit bull named Pinkerton out to someone who taught her how to tow him on his skateboard! Bullies are smart, strong, and eager to please - be creative and upbeat, and there's no end to the ways you can expend your pup's limitless energy!

(2) Life at home begins with supervision. If you have a pit bull puppy or even an older bully who's new to your rules, set him up for success by keeping him in a confined area with lots of tough toys like Kongs and Nylabones while you are away. A word of warning: For pit bulls, this is occasionally easier said than done, particularly with one who has acute separation anxiety. Begin by using a crate or enclosure only after your pup has been well-exercised, include lots of highly desirable chew toys (like a Kong stuffed with treats and sealed with peanut butter), and go away for only a few minutes at a time. Remember to be casual about leaving and returning - long goodbyes and heightened hellos only add to your sensitive pup's anxiety.

(3) Keep shoes, children's toys, and other taboo items out of your pup's reach. Remember to never give your pooch an old shoe to chew on - he can't distinguish between shoes you love and those you've outgrown, so in his mind every shoe is a-okay. Likewise with toys you're kids have grown tired of; your dog's toys should be distinctly dog-like, to avoid confusion as training progresses.

(4) Be positive! If your pup has a slip-up - even if that slip-up involves the TV remote, your favorite ottoman, or a $100 pair of shoes - try to stay calm. Pit bulls have a notoriously high physical pain threshold, but they are incredibly sensitive to emotional stressors. If you catch him in the act, say "No chew," or "Unh-uh" firmly and remove the item, replacing it with an acceptable chew toy. Reward your pooch with lots of praise when he does show interest in his dog toys, and never physically reprimand your pit bull for chewing - it simply heightens his confusion, anxiety, and agitation.

Follow these simple steps and before long, your house will begin to resemble a chew-free home once more. You'll be happier, your pit bull will be happier, and your furniture will thank you for it.

EnvironMental Monday: Say Goodbye to Eau de Dog

I love almost everything about my dogs: the way they greet me when I come home from a long day, Adie's sweet little head-tilt when she hears something funny, the way Killian paws my leg when he wants a belly rub. The one thing I don't love about my dogs?

The smell.

Most of the time, my pups aren't stinky creatures - that's one of the benefits of a good, homemade diet. However, the healthiest diet in the world won't diminish the unmistakable smell of a wet dog. Yesterday, our trio - Adie, Killian, and I - were caught in a downpour on the way home from our walk, and the house hasn't been the same since. The musty smell of damp dawg has seeped into blankets, corners, and seemingly the very fabric of the building itself. What's a girl to do?

I went to the grocery store with just that question in mind, and came home armed with six different remedies that seemed sure to restore my olfactory health. Here's what I tried, and here's what I found.

(1) Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer. This is a plastic device that you plug into a standard outlet. You can choose a number of differently scented oils sold separately, plug the warmer into the outlet, and voila. Instant fragrance. Nice, huh? Actually... Not so much, at least to me. I chose a fragrance called "Relaxation," a blend of lavender and chamomile that sounded promising. This may not be typical of all of the blends, but this particular scent was anything but relaxing - definitely overpowering, and not for anyone with any kind of sinus or allergy issues.

(2) Glade Peaches and Petals Scented Candle. As scented candles go, this one is not bad - though again, anyone with sinus or allergy problems should beware. The fragrance was not overpowering, diffused well throughout the house, and left a pleasant, subtly peachy scent long after the candle itself had gone out.

(3) B&D Potpourri: Carpet and Room Deodorizer. I chose the mulberry scented powder, as this seemed to be the least floral-smelling of the multitude of fragrances available. Though I have no carpets, I used the powder on my sofa and chairs, vacuuming them off after a few minutes. Not at all overwhelming, and I have to say that for the first time in quite some time, my living room doesn't smell like a kennel. Which is a very nice change of pace, to say the least.

(4) Lilacs. Picked from bushes in the backyard, these fragrant flowers are some of my very favorites. If you have fresh flowers available, either by choosing a bouquet from your local store or simply by picking them yourself, there really is no substitute. Fresh flowers not only change the smell of a place, they can brighten a room and lighten your mood. Forget the cheap imitation powders, candles, and sprays... When in doubt, pick up a bouquet and let the healing begin.

(5) Lemons. Want an inexpensive way to make your kitchen smell fresh and clean all the livelong day? Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice into a vinegar solution for a "green" cleaner that smells great, or grind lemon rind into your garbage disposal to freshen things up a bit. You can also use lemon juice to freshen your toilet and shower - just beware of leaving undiluted lemon juice too long on fixtures, as it does have some surprising power.

(6) Essential oils. As much as I would love to say that a $4 Air Wick is just as good as a $30 bottle of essential chamomile oil, it's just not true. At the end of the day, there is no substitute for quality, and a quality essential oil can revivify your abused nostrils like nothing else. While many oils are expensive, others - like lavender and eucalyptus - are usually not more than $10 to $15. All are super-concentrated, so a small vial can last a good long time. Pick up a diffuser, put two to three drops of the essence of your choice in water, and the world will be your lavender-scented oyster. Your pup will likewise enjoy the calming effects, and your home will smell like heaven.

Whatever path you choose to keep your home smelling fresh and clean, remember to keep cleaning agents away from curious pups. When choosing flowers, be sure to stay away from any that might be hazardous to your dog's health, and take note if he (or you) seems to be sneezing, wheezing, or having other respiratory difficulties. And finally, if you notice that your pooch seems to have a perpetually unpleasant body odor, don't just accept it as a matter of course. Chemical imbalances, food allergies, skin conditions, and other physical ailments all may manifest initially as a foul or unnatural smell. Consult your veterinarian to see what can be done to make you and your pup more comfortable, and restore your house to the sweet-smelling haven it should be.

EnvironMental Monday. The Case of the Mad Pooper

In Dog Star Daily recently, there was a great article about how to properly dispose of your pooch's hazardous waste. And while EnvironMental Monday is typically about your home and immediate environs, it seems to me that there's nothing more pertinent to the world around us than the waste we put in it.

There is no dog park where I live, however there is a fairly extensive cemetery where many of the neighborhood pups go for their daily constitutional. I've always tried to be a considerate dog owner, cleaning up after my pups whenever we hit the mean streets or the quiet side lanes. After a bit of research, I've learned that such clean-up is about more than simply keeping the sidewalks clean. According to the Dog Star Daily article and some supplemental research I've been doing, canine feces has a wealth of micro-bacteria that are downright dangerous for the environment, and can pose serious health concerns if the poo leaches into groundwater. Check out the aforementioned article for some great tips on how to dispose properly of your dog's waste; I've actually just ordered a Doggie Dooley Pet Waste Digester myself, and I don't think I've been this excited about mail-order since my last Patricia McConnell shopping spree.

Unfortunately, however, not everyone reads Dog Star Daily. Despite having plastic baggies at our disposal, there are a few negligent dog owners sharing cemetery space here in Thomaston. One of my dog-walking neighbors has a ten-year-old daughter who has become slightly obsessed with the subject - she's a little like the Harriet the Spy of junior dog owners. She has nicknamed the worst offender the Mad Pooper, and apparently stalked me for some time before we actually met, convinced that it was I. Once she realized that I was not, in fact, the Mad Pooper, she turned her attention to others who frequent the "park." I have actually seen a few people there who turn a blind eye when their pups are squatting - one who even walked away while his dog defecated ON a gravestone! While I typically have a hard time making waves and don't want to upset anyone, even I feel that something has to be done. A woman whose young son is buried in the cemetery often writes letters to the editor of our local paper, pleading with dog owners to clean up after their pooping pooches.

So, how is it in this day and age that dog owners who otherwise appear very intelligent, can be so ignorant when it comes to a matter affecting not merely aesthetics, but the physical health of others? Are they really that callous, or merely uninformed? Now that I understand more about the potential health consequences of a poo-infested public space, I feel more equipped to talk to others when I see them walking without that all-important plastic baggie. With a little effort and some much-needed education, maybe we can eradicate the Mad Poopers among us.

EnvironMental Monday. Spring Cleaning With Dogs

For the past couple of weeks, coming home has been a little less of a pleasure than it once was. I find myself taking the pups and staying over at my mom's place far later than before; morning walks have gotten longer, and I tend to get to work just a little earlier than usual. The reason?

It's shedding season, and my apartment is a scene of true carnage. I have hardwood floors, which technically should make things easier, but my oh my... how the fur does fly. Both Adie and Killian are long-haired dogs, with an uncertain lineage that likely includes Newfoundlands, golden retrievers, and border collies. Killie's hair comes out in great, thick clods, while Adie's is fine and wispy and tends to accumulate behind doors and in darkened corners. This past weekend I decided I couldn't take it anymore, and laid waste to every stray hair, every errant furball I could find. Here's what I learned about de-shedding a shed-upon house:

(1) The Swiffer is a brilliant invention. I've had vacuum cleaners that were supposedly made specifically for pets, but I have yet to find one that's actually all that effective. In my experience, the most thorough way to go is to do a clean sweep first, and then follow up with a Swiffer. I honestly didn't think my floors would ever be that clean again.

(2) I'm not sure what it is about glass that makes it so appealing to pups, but my dogs have licked every single window, mirror, and picture frame within reach. I have no easy fix for this, even though this is supposed to be all about me being an expert in this stuff. Honestly, I'm at a loss. Windex, paper towels, and lots of elbow grease are the only recipe I have to help the sun shine through once more.

(3) Dog beds are your friend. There's something about having a fresh, clean dog bed in the room that - to me - just makes things nicer. It also helps ensure that your pups aren't shedding all over the couch, and makes the atmosphere more pleasant when you just want to hang out. I recommend having a bed in every room you spend time in - I splurged and bought five this weekend, which was pricey. Though I would love to say I go high-end on this stuff, I just don't have the money. If you have a Costco or Sam's Club nearby, that's the way to go. You can get a good bed for about $20 at either place; the covers are removable for easy cleaning, and they last a good, long time (provided, of course, your pup doesn't chew them to pieces).

(4) De-clutter your dog's toy box. For some inexplicable reason, I have a really hard time throwing out my dogs' old toys. It's not as though I have any sentimental attachment to them, but they do pull out that old, decapitated stuffed bear now and again for a game of tug... As a consequence, headless Charlie stays in the toy box, along with a whole slew of other, equally maimed puppy toys. This weekend, I started fresh. I threw out everything but the high-end toys (specifically the Kongs, which we still stuff and use on a daily basis), and paid a visit to the local Goodwill to restock. I picked up a canister of tennis balls for $2 and a whole pile of stuffed toys (no beaded stuffing, and I remove the eyes as soon as I get home to avoid a choking hazard) for $10.

I'm always amazed at how much more content I am in a clean house. My entire outlook changes - making dinner is a pleasure without a sink full of dishes, and bedtime feels almost luxurious with fresh sheets and fluffed pillows. I don't know whether my pups are merely responding to my change of mind, or whether they genuinely prefer things tidy themselves, but either way they seem more at ease at the end of the day. So, if dog fur and window streaks have you feeling down and out, take a day to regain control. A few hours of cleaning can make a world of difference to your state of mind - and that's great news for you and your pup!

EnvironMental Monday: Separation Anxiety and the World Around You

As I've mentioned in previous EnvironMental Monday posts, the goal of my EDEN philosophy is to create a tranquil home in which you and your canine companion are balanced, healthy, and happy together. This week, we'll talk ab out one of the most challenging behavioral issues animal guardians face: separation anxiety.

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety - a condition in which a dog separated from its guardian exhibits extreme behavior as a result of intense anxiety - may dig, chew, bark, break windows, or exhibit self-harming behaviors, all in a desperate attempt to reunite with the person or people they love.

In this post, I won't talk a lot about training techniques to modify or change this behavior - there are many great articles out there on just that topic, including this one by the Humane Society of the United States. What I will talk about here are ways that you can modify your environment to create a setting that eases your dog's anxiety. These ways include aromatherapy, white noise and sound therapy, and the creation of visual stimuli to help relax your panicked pooch. These tools should be used in conjunction with the many excellent techniques espoused by the aforementioned Humane Society article.

Dogs have a much more keen sense of smell than do humans; it follows, then, that dogs are much more sensitive to scents of any kind - good or bad. This makes your pooch a great candidate for aromatherapy. And, aromatherapy has the added benefit of soothing you and helping to establish that tranquil setting to which we aspire. To begin using aromatherapy as a viable way to modify your dog's separation anxiety, it's best to start by trying a few different essential oils while you are at home to observe the effect (if any) they have on your pup. Dr. Edward Bach, creator of Rescue Remedy, has an entire line of natural essences geared toward pets - during my internship, we used many of these essences regularly, with excellent results. These formulas are typically administered either internally or externally, directly on the canine. Results are impressive, and happen quickly - the drawback is most certainly the price. If you're interested in blending your own essential oils, this article from Dog First Aid 101 will give you all the information you'll need to do so inexpensively and with minimal effort.

Another avenue you may try with your pooch is having music on in the background while you are away. While this alone will not get rid of the separation anxiety entirely, studies have shown that dogs are more relaxed and are less prone to frequent pacing or listless behavior when classical music is playing. There are now a whole host of specialized CDs created just for pets - you can find them on Amazon, or simply pick up a few classical CDs in the discount bin (percussion has been shown to be less popular with the pups, and Bach was the hands-down favorite), or tune your radio to a local classical station. You can read more about the findings from this very interesting study here.

And finally, we have stimuli for the more visually oriented pups out there. If you have a dog who likes to watch TV with you, this may be just the thing: videos for your dog. You can try tuning to Animal Planet and just leaving it on the station for the day, but I have found that actually creating your own videos are more fun and get better results. If your pooch is prone to severe separation anxiety, keep the content of your video low-key... collect footage of your pup playing, of you and your family, or simply of you talking quietly to your favorite pooch. Rigorous play sessions or you speaking in a high-pitched, excited voice should be avoided - the last thing you want is to stir your already anxious canine to a frenzy. If you can fill a six-hour tape with a combination of some soothing Animal Planet or National Geographic specials interspersed with snippets featuring you and your pup, the day will go that much faster for your four-legged friend.

Don't forget to include lots of hard chew toys - treat-filled Kongs or Nylabones are great, and try to keep absences short as you begin the process of retraining your pup. Thanks, as ever, for reading, and drop a line with any questions.

EnvironMental Monday: Putting an End to Unwanted Chewing

I got my first dog as an adult when I was twenty-three. Moonshadow, as I soon named her, was six months old at the time - already lean, lanky, and full of life. Over time, she became one of those dogs people remember for years afterward: sweet, mellow, and fun-loving. For the first six months of our time together, however, our relationship was hardly ideal. In fact, there were many days when I genuinely debated sending my sweet Moon right back to the shelter where she'd come from.

The major issue? Chewing, hands down.

Before you can set up your personal paradise, in which you and your dog and your family and friends all peacefully cohabitate, there may be some obstacles. One of those obstacles is most definitely chewing. It's hard to make your place the ideal when you have no books lower than the fourth shelf on your bookcase, and all of your plants have to be suspended from the ceiling. Is it possible to have a great house and still have dogs? Absolutely. But it does take some work.

There are three common reasons dogs chew your stuff: Lack of exercise, separation anxiety, or - particularly in the case of teething puppies - simply because it feels good. In my girl Moon's case, it was a combination of all three things; I solved the problem by hiring a neighbor to come in during the afternoon to walk her, thus breaking up the day. In addition, we did a more rigorous walk in the mornings, and I set her up on the porch while I was at work, with all sorts of things that she was allowed to chew up and nothing that she wasn't.

The first thing you should do is determine which of these three issues is most likely to blame for your dog's chewing issues. If it's a lack of exercise, you need to prepare yourself for a harsh reality - dogs need to move. High energy dogs like terriers, especially young ones, may need a couple of long walks a day and a rigorous play session besides, while larger dogs or less active breeds may do just fine with a single long walk each day. Check out this Wednesday's blog for some ideas on how to make sure your pup is getting the exercise he or she needs, without either of you overdoing it. In the meantime, though, simply make a mental note as to whether your dog's chewing problems are related to exercise or some other problem.

Now that you've determined the root of your dog's problems, it's time to go about solving the issue. The first thing you need to know: You won't stop a dog who loves to chew, from chewing. So rather than trying to stop them from a natural behavior that is instantly gratifying, you need to find something that they love to chew more than your favorite shoes. There are a lot of alternatives out there. Those I have had the most success with are Kong toys stuffed with cheese or frozen peanut butter, marrow bones, and assorted stuffed toys. Provide a few alternatives, and give plenty of praise every time your pooch shows the slightest bit of interest in them.

The second thing you need to do is set your dog up for success. This means that, at least initially, you'll have to do a little puppy-proofing - they should have zero access to whatever you don't want eaten. If your dog is used to being crated, that's an easy solution. If he's not, you'll need to set up a space that's distinctly dog-friendly whenever you're out of sight. Provide plenty of chewy toys, lots of encouragement, and keep a close eye out whenever your pup is back in the great wide open.

Remember in all of this that accidents will invariably happen. If you find a shoe that's been chewed and your dog is nowhere in sight, don't bother any kind of reprimand. Dogs live in the moment - if you come up to them with shoe in hand and tell them they're a bad, bad dog, they will associate whatever they are doing in that instant with the reprimand. They will not, however, have the slightest idea why you're yelling at them and waving your shoe around. If you actually come upon your dog while chewing your shoe, go to them, gently remove the shoe, and then provide a firm "No. Bad dog." Screaming and, particularly, physically reprimanding your dog are counter-productive to training of any kind. Immediately after reprimanding your pooch, provide him with an acceptable chewing alternative and give lots of praise.

Try this approach, along with a longer, more rigorous walk in the morning before work, and you'll be amazed at how many shoes you're able to save. If you do find no change in the behavior, then you just may be looking at a pup with some severe separation anxiety. If that's the case, read next EnvironMental Monday's post, when I address the issue of canine separation anxiety and provide a few tips for dealing with the issue. As always, drop a line if you have any questions, and thanks for reading.

EnvironMental Monday: Is Your House Making You (And Your Dog) Crazy?

When you think about caring for your canine companion, the first things that likely come to mind are the basics: Food, water, the daily walk... But what about where you hang your hat? We all know that, as humans, we are sensitive to things like limited sunlight, cramped spaces, and clutter. But do the same things have an effect on our pets?
The answer is a resounding yes, for a couple of reasons that we'll explore in this article. The first of these reasons has to do with the physiological make-up of animals themselves, while the second has more to do with something scientists are still trying to understand: The human-animal bond. To make things simple, we'll start with the most concrete answer first - the physical.
The canine sense of smell is thousands of times stronger than that of human beings. This is no surprise - dogs are now regularly employed in the task of sniffing out drugs, bodies, tumors, stress... The list goes on. Likewise, dogs can hear significantly higher frequencies than we can, and may actually feel physical pain at certain decibel levels. While their taste buds are less sophisticated than ours and their eyesight is typically not as keen, their extraordinary olfactory and auditory capabilities make it clear: Dogs are sensitive animals. If you use strong perfumes or detergents, or live in a neighborhood where sirens are sounding on a regular basis or there is ongoing construction, your pooch may be paying the price.
The second reason your environment may be adversely affecting your pup is not quite so widely understood, but may well have to do with that extraordinary sense of smell I spoke of earlier. Dogs can actually smell changes in your mood - the scent you give off as a result of pheromones changes when you're under stress; even a subtle shift can make your sensitive pal lift his muzzle in your direction. So, if you're coming home to a place that you don't like - the color doesn't appeal, the place is a mess, or you just plain don't feel right there... Well, chances are good that your canine companion is tuning into your discontent.

So, what's the answer? Do you sound-proof his crate, stop using deodorant, move to a low-crime area and hope no one has to re-pave the streets below in the near future? Or, go deep into debt making it the place of your dreams, just to make sure you aren't stressing poochie? Not at all. In the coming weeks, I'll devote each Monday to exploring simple, affordable ways that you can make your house a place both you and your dog love to come home to. In the meantime... Start looking at the place you call home. How do you feel about it? How does your dog react to it? Are you coming home to chewed furniture, accidents on the carpet, a pup that bowls you over in a frantic, out-of-control reception? If so, it may be time to take on a little subtle interior design. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out how, and be sure to send along any questions you have to thedog_ma@yahoo.com.