Iggy Pup died today. We found out he had bone cancer in his jaw about three weeks ago, and that it had metastasized into his lungs. We have been hand-feeding him little pieces of roast beef, stewed chicken, hot dogs, apple fritters, mashed potatoes, and cheeseburgers, but he was losing weight rapidly, and yesterday he wouldn’t eat at all. We had his chest drained of fluid on Tuesday by a veterinary oncologist in Seattle, but it filled again on Wednesday, and last night he couldn’t breathe if he lay down.  He spent the night standing while Pia and I took turns comforting him. When he drank from the water dish, the water turn red from the blood in his mouth.

This morning we brought him to our vet’s office and she ended his suffering while Pia and I held him. Iggy was, as usual, calm and peaceful. Our other dog Frankie was in the room, and he provided comfort to all three of us. I think being there will help Frank to understand what has happened.

My relationship with Iggy changed many things in my life – what I do for a living, how I think and feel about animals in general and dogs in particular, and even how I think and feel about people. Yes, he was a dog, and I am a human, yet I try to emulate him in many ways. I would be a better man if I could be as calm as he was, or as predictable, or as reliable.  I feel very lucky to have known Iggy, and to have shared many wonderful adventures with him. Though he died at only seven, I knew him less than half of his life. I will remember him the rest of mine.

The nice folks who own the petStop sometimes ask Tails-A-Wagging to test a product by having the day care or obedience dogs try it. In this instance, Tails asked me to test the Natural Pet Pantry Yardbird Dried Chicken as a training reward. Iggy and Frankie looooooved it. I love the idea of a high-value reward produced in Burien (just 90 miles south of my house).

The most challenging part of making this video was getting the dogs to look lackadaisical in the beginning. What I did was give them confusing hand signals — notice my sit cue for Iggy is very imprecise and lethargic, and my swing cue is almost flailing; Iggy goes to his platform because he doesn’t know what else to do. Frankie was so disgusted he just walked away. The lesson here is that our dogs crave, and reward, consistency from their people. Once I became clear in my verbal requests, and precise in my gestures, they responded in kind. The chicken helped, too!

petStop is located in Shome Village, just a few doors down from REI.

Crates, when used constructively and lovingly, are a place of peace and refuge for our dogs. The most common obstacles I encounter with clients are over-crating (a good guideline is a few hours at a time during the day, with a 4-hour maximum on occasion; more than this and dogs often resent it ) and crate shock, caused by keeping dogs in crates too long too fast, without actual crate training. Build up slowly over the course of a week. Certainly, sleeping all night in the crate is a wonderful thing; just don’t force it to happen right away.  Try taking off the top, if your crate comes apart in middle, and feeding them in just the bottom. Take off the door so the dog can go in and out as he or she chooses at first, and so the door doesn’t accidentally hit them and cause fear. Make the crate so attractive, your dog doesn’t want to leave it. When your dog enters on his or her own, and rests in it nonchalantly — only then close the door and leave them along for a short amount of time, perhaps 5-10 minutes at first. Build up slowly over the course of days or weeks.  Avoid the temptation to let them out just because they whine, but don’t let not-letting-them-out-when-they-whine be your whole crate-training strategy. Crate training should mean teaching our dogs that their crate is a place of safety and shelter, not a place to fear or something from which to escape. Build up slowly and don’t overuse it!

Frozen Kongs can be an occasional treat for dog and human (the treat for the human is the quiet, peaceful dog, though I suppose a Kong for might be fun for some people, too…) or, as more and more folks are discovering, can even be the primary source of meals. Dogs expend a great deal of physical and mental energy working their way through a frozen Kong – it can help keep them calm and busy for hours. For dogs prone to gas caused by eating too fast, Kongs can be a great help, too. Jason and Angela Lenz, of Tails-A-Wagging, don’t even use bowls for feeding their dogs at all anymore. Mealtime in the Lenz household means Kong time – which means several hours of busy, contented dogs. This means several Kongs per dog, so some can be in the freezer while others are being used by the dogs, and others still are in the dishwasher, etc. Ingredients for frozen Kongs can be as simple as kibble mized with canned food and a little peanut butter, but when time allows, it can be fun to prepare a mixture of rice, carrots, sweet potatoes, carrots and broth. Some dogs like fruit! Try being creative!

Safety is a very important consideration when biking with dogs. While many dogs have the ability to run fast for long periods, it isn’t necessarily good for them. A brisk walk is a much more reasonable pace — just a little faster than is comfortable for most humans; this is my approach to biking — it allows the dog to go at his or her pace, which is faster than mine. We go a little faster in short bursts (think how long they would run flat out to catch game and do a little less than that), but most of the time we go at a pace that is just a brisk walk for the dog. Before doing this, make sure your dog’s joints and foot pads are in good shape.
I prefer to have the dog on my right, so I can place myself between the dog I am working with and any potential problems coming the other way. Mostly this means other dogs or bicycles. As in all things, I recommend going slowly in the process of teaching dogs to bike. I also recommend some sort of device which controls the dog’s distance from the bicycle, in order to avoid collisions. I use the WalkyDog, and I am happy with it. There are other reasonable choices, also.

It is usually best to take a short walk before beginning the bicycling, so the dog has a chance to relieve him or her self. I make sure to stop often and give them a chance, as well — sniffing, peeing and defecating are important parts of exercise for dogs.

I start by attaching the WalkyDog to the dog’s harness, and walking them around a running track, to get them used to how that feels without the distractions of people or traffic. Then I walk them next to the bicycle while holding the WalkyDog in one hand, and the bike with the other, just help him or her be comforable. I offer lots of praise and treats for a confident stride.  If they show fear, then we stop, back up in our steps and acclimatize to bike and WalkyDog from the beginning. Actual fear has only been a problem once, and that was simply a matter of teaching the about the bike from the beginning.

Once the dog is comfortable walking next to me while I hold their harness with the Walky Dog in one hand and push the bike with the other, I attach the WalkyDog to the bike and simply push the bike, which is now attached to the dog. When they are used to that (again, food and praise for confidence, while ignoring any lack of confidence — don’t praise a fear response, or it can get worse), I swing a leg over the bike, and just kind of push it long with one foot on the ground and one foot on a pedal. By now the dog is ready and usually starts to pull the bike a little — that is our cue to go. I keep the bike in its lowest gear almost always. It is essential to not go too fast — dogs can and will run themselves to death if we are not careful. This is all about exercising our dogs in a safe and appropriate manner, and that means their safety, and ours, are vitally important.

The Boss                                                                                                                                      Imagine that when you were having an off day, or made a mistake at this job, your boss’s reaction was to laugh and ask you to try again, and when you were having a really bad day, your boss just said, “take the day off, and let’s try again tomorrow. “ Imagine a boss who never threatened to give your job to someone else. Imagine a boss who gives you new and challenging projects when you are ready for them, but who recognizes and rewards the hard work you do in the more mundane aspects of your career. Imagine a boss who is supportive and understanding, and whose only goal is to help you learn to be better at your work — a teacher more than a supervisor — who spends their time making sure your benefits are in order, your pay is appropriate, and that you are happy and fulfilled. Would you work hard for this boss? Would you respect her? Would you try your best to fulfill his expectations of you?

The Pay                                                                                                                                                The job I am describing is the job every dog can have if you give it to them, and the boss I am describing is the person you can become in your dog’s life. The compensation may change according to the dog, but almost all dogs like food as much or more than any other currency. Currencies include but are not limited to:

Meals                                                                                                                                                 Treats                                                                                                                                                  Access through doors (houses, schools, cars, etc.)                                                                        Leash on, Leash off                                                                                                                        Furniture                                                                                                                                               Toys                                                                                                                                                     Affection

All of these currencies are of value to most dogs, and all of them should be earned, every time. It is this relationship between work (sit, down, shake, rollover, spin, side, around, and front are all quick behaviors that can count as work) and currency (anything on the list) that helps the dog to understand they are working. Working at a job that is fulfilling, for a boss who is compassionate, allows dogs to be content and happy. Content and happy dogs make for content and happy people.

I do not let Iggy hunt, so it is rare I get to see him stalk prey like this. It is fascinating to watch him notice the snow bunny from 100 yards away, and then circle around so he comes up next to it instead of from the front. Frankie only approaches once Iggy has counted his coup and ensured it is safe.

Some few exceptional children (and I realize your child is one of these few, and clearly exceptional) can make responsible pet guardians, but only at the expense of other interests – and the responsibility is a burden which can hobble and haunt the child for years. Dogs require, at a minimum, an hour of walking a day. They require obedience training classes and lots of practice. They require attention, playtime, feeding, watering, veterinary care, and lots of time. During winter months, if a child has an after school activity, this means walking in the dark – is it appropriate to send a child out in the dark with a dog? When it comes time to decide if your child is going to participate in sports, or drama, or glee club, or get a part-time job, or have after school visits with friends, the responsible answer must be, “No, my child must attend to the needs of the dog or puppy I game them as a gift, so he or she may not do any of those things.”

When your child goes to college, will they live at home, where the dog is? If they are going to live elsewhere, where will that be, and will that place allow dogs? Once your child finds a place that even allows dogs, will it be affordable, and appropriate for your child and their dog? Not everyone lives in the dorms when they first go to college, but it is nice to have that option.  Who will pay for the dog’s expenses once your child moves out? An average cost of $2,000/year is not an unreasonable expectation.  This is if the dog does not have an injury or illness. Were you planning on buying your child a car when they graduate from high school? Many young adults live happily with public transportation and bicycles, but not dog owners. Dog owners must be able to transport their dog, so they need a car. Most young adults struggle to support themselves without the gift of this added expense; will you pay for the dog’s expenses after your child moves away?

If the plan is to leave the dog behind when your child moves out, then the dog isn’t really theirs, it is yours; and it should be from the beginning. Include your child in the raising, feeding, exercising, and training of your dog – it can be a wondrous and magical experience and a great bonding experience for parent and child. The dog you bring into your home, however, is your dog, and to encumber a child with such a huge responsibility is not fair to the child, and inhumane to the dog.

Estimated Costs of Dog Ownership

Be confident. Channel someone who is completely confident, and walk with presence, determination, and purpose: chin up, shoulders back, chest out. One foot in front of the other, and remember – leaders lead.

Consider allowing the dog to walk on either side, as appropriate given traffic, pedestrians, other dogs, and the physical environment.

Start off on the left foot every time, and end on the right foot every time, regardless of which side the dog is walking on. They will adjust.

If the dog goes ahead, gently change direction, and speak to them so they know you are moving in a new direction.

Don’t get into a tugging contest with the dog –avoid Opposition Reflex!!! If the dog pulls, move laterally and then in the other direction, so the dog moves sideways and then around the way you want them to go.

Be gentle and calm, but firm and unrelenting. Allot a certain amount of time, and if you only get one block in that amount of time, so be it. It takes practice and time to get it right.

Remember, this is a cooperative effort between two different species. That is a remarkable thing! Don’t allow it to become a contest of will or strength. Think of it as a team sport.

Talk to your dog constantly at first. Use a steady, calm voice. What you say for this part is irrelevant. It is the tone that matters.

Stop and reward often. You can and should be more interesting than whatever is going on around the dog.

Walking a dog is a skill that is developed over time with practice, effort, and attention. Think about what you are doing, and make efforts toward improving.

Bring a cell phone for emergencies, but turn it off – keep your attention on your dog.

Avoid iPods, dark sunglasses, or anything else that makes it hard for your dog to communicate with you. If they don’t have your attention, why should they behave the way you want them to?