Most Asked Dog Questions at Cad-Re

1. Do you have a different collar or harness that will keep the dog on a chain?
   Not to single out any particular breed, but this question is asked almost always in relation to Labs and Rottweilers. Both breeds feel resopnsible for their people and feel the need to be close. The Labs seem to want the company while the Rotts have their protection instinct at work. They simply have a hard time being (in their minds) ostracized out in the yard. Both breeds also have a large neck in relation to the size of their head which makes the collar slip off easily. The solution we offer most often is a sturdy harness, or even better, a fenced area.
2. How can I stop him from chewing?
   Most of the time this question comes up, the culprit is a puppy. Our answer is that it is a puppy's job to chew during two phases of it's puppyhood. The first phase is around the six month age, and the second one comes about a year. Teehing causes the urge to knaw. It is the responsibility of the dog owner to understand and provide appropriate chewable items. Chew Hooves, knuckle bones, dental bones such as the Hurculese, cotton ropes, Kongs, chipped rawhides, and other chewies help with the unstoppable urge to relieve the feelings of teething. In most cases, the puppy grows out of the phase in a few months.
3. The dog is barking too much. Do you have a muzzle to keep him quiet?
   We have a muzzle, but it probably won't keep him quiet.
4. What is a good wormer?
   Most wormers take care of large and small strongiles, roundworms, and pinworms, but not all wormers have the ingredient to rid the dog of tapeworms. Tapeworms usually look like grains of rice clinging to the hair around the tail. Read the lable to learn if the wormer will eliminate tapeworms. Other Frequently Mentioned Problems
5. Bad breath ?
   There can be three main causes of bad breath: teeth with plaque, undigestible food, abcessed teeth. Dental cleaning via bones, and the like will help prevent plaque, as will brushing the teeth. Undigestible food causes breath odor to emanate from the stomach. If this is the cause, change the food, and use a chlorophyll prduct till the system is clean. Abcessed teeth are sometimes accompanied by uncontrollable sneezing. The dog should be seen by a veterinarian.
   
6. Itchy skin and yeast infection in ears?
   Corn in the diet is a common cause. Wheat and soybean allergies also cause itching of skin, and chewing on the feet. Many owners report changing to a no corn/no wheat/no soy diet makes a big difference.. While the body is cleaning out, consider ear cleaners containing either novlasan, tea tree oil, or grapefruit seed extract, and also a dose of Probiotic on the food.
7. And the number one question asked at Cad-Re: Will this collar fit my dog?
   Well, this is a tough one. There is absolutely no way we can answer that unless there is mention of what breed of dog will wear the collar.
8. How do I stop the dog from biting?
   Use a technique called Bite Inhibition. This involves removing your attention from the dog, rather than removing the dog from the scene.
   Be very, very, very consistant. and if she continues to harass you after you turn or move away from her, go in a room and close the door and wait for a while before you go back out - keeping a magazine handy can help the time pass if you end up being in there for a while. at first you can count to 10 and go back out, but remember that if she starts grabbing when you come out of the room, you go right back in the room and close the door and stay in there a little longer - dogs are very good at duration - she'll know that you're in there longer and longer. it's critical that you turn or go away from her, putting her in her crate is not part of this process - that's fine for other things, but not for bite inhibition. Bite inhibition is not like a 'time out', it's a withdrawing of attention (which is what she wants) when she exhibits a behavior (biting) that you don't like. She'll learn that biting gets her nothing and if she offers another behavior, like sitting instead of grabbing, it's party time! Praise her and give her lots of treats, do something fun with her. Heavily reinforce the behavior you want, like sitting or standing quietly and turn or go away (withdraw all attention from her) when she grabs. (Note: This information came from a Mastiff breeder.)
   
9. Nail Trimming- My dog growls and pulls his foot away when I try to trim his nails. How do I change this?
   Sounds like your dog is being protective of herself. Some dogs have less tolerance by nature than others for certain procedures. Other possibility is that it hurts, or has hurt before: I would wonder if someone (vet? groomer?) may have trimmed a nail too short, cutting into the quick - very painful. Who usually does her nails if you don't? Has anyone else done them recently? Dogs that have "nail phobia" or "vet phobia" sometimes have it for a good reason. In any case, as a behaviorist, I can tell you the correct approach at this point is to gradually desensitize her to the process all over again, starting with baby steps. Handle her paws, touch her nails, but no clipping. Do this minimally every day for a week or two, being careful to only spend a few seconds and avoid upsetting her. Talk sweet and give treats to create positive association to paws handled. Then do same with clippers in hand, not using them, just holding them. Then proceed to clipping the air while holding a paw, etc. After about a month, she should be back to normal. Whatever you do, don't get mad at her. The process takes time and patience, but it works. It worked for one of my own dogs many years ago, and I can do anything to her now. I recommend it a lot to other people having trouble. Good luck. Yody Blass Leesburg, VA