Does your dog make new year's resolutions?
Probably not, but that doesn't mean you can't make them for both of you.
The tradition of New Year's resolutions goes back to ancient Rome, when Julius Caesar proclaimed January 1st the beginning of the new year. Romans dedicated this day to Janus, (hence the name "January") the god with two faces - one looking forward and one looking back.
January 1st became the day to look to the past to learn from it, and anticipate the future. This symbolic meaning has survived centuries.
No matter how it got its start, the new year is a great time to resolve to make our lives -- and our dogs lives --healthier, more productive and happier.
So what do you resolve for 2011?
Here's my list of resolutions for my dog and me.
1. More walks
You'll both be happier and healthier with more frequent walks. Dogs thrive on routine, so a standard time every day for a good walk is a great way to train your dog.
Dog expert Cesar Millan says that walking your dog is one of the best ways to bond with him, and to teach him that you are the master or alpha dog of the pack. It's also the best way to control unwanted behavior, because a well-exercised dog is a well-behaved dog. I've found this consistently; my dogs are calm, quiet and more fun when they've had good walks.
How many walks and how long? You'll both benefit from two 20 minute walks a day, morning and evening, or a longer 45 minute walk once a day.
2. Get dog's nails cut every 6 weeks without fail
Unless your dogs are walking on concrete or other hard surfaces, they'll need their nails cut every 6 weeks or so. Their high protein diet keeps nails and the quick, or flesh under the nails, growing quite fast.
If nails aren't cut often enough, both the quick and the nail gets too long and cannot be cut back to the right length all at once, since the quick will bleed profusely.
Since I hate cutting dogs' nails (that bleeding quick!) I tend to avoid it, and so admitted long ago it's easier and less stress for me, to take the dogs out to a local groomer I trust and get it done (PetSmart is great, no appointment needed and quite reasonable).
3. Learn more about vaccines so I can make a considered opinion.
How come people don't need an annual 'booster' shot against disease, but dogs and cats do? When you think about vaccines, remember that:
a vaccine is a diluted form of the disease it's "fighting"
this small amount is supposed to help your dog develop antibodies to fight the disease
then if he ever gets the disease, it's these antibodies that help him
it's a major assault on the animal's immune system to give annual vaccinations
Vaccinations, driven by large pharmaceutical profit plans, can cause more problems than they're meant to avert. Some are not necessary at all and others are given too often according to critics of the system. For example, the scientific reality is that a single rabies vaccine, like other viral vaccines, is good for many years and probably for life.
It's worthwhile to read up more on the two points of view about vaccinations and come to your own decision.
4. Secure my dog while we're in the car.
It's not a pretty picture.
If a window breaks or a door flies open in a car accident, your terrified dog will escape and run into traffic, only to be run over or be the cause another accident.
Even in a minor collision, an unrestrained dog can be thrown into the dashboard or the windshield. Like any other projectile, the dog will fly forward with tremendous speed and force and go through the windshield and/or seriously injure you and your passengers. (In an auto accident a 60 pound dog in a car traveling 30 mph will hit an object ten inches in front of him at 1,200 pounds per square inch.)
And a small dog held on your lap in the front seat will almost certainly be killed by the air bag deployment. Sorry to be graphic but it's something to think about.
So what's the best way to restrain your dog while you're driving?
The safest place for dogs is in the back seat - properly restrained. There are 4 main ways to safely restrain your dog:
keep the dog in a crate, that itself is safely attached to the seat belt system
a proper-fitting harness that holds the dog in via a strap attached to the seat belt mechanism
one of the new booster seats for small dogs, with built-in seat belt or harness restraint
use a barrier for the back of SUVs - which do hold the dog away from the passenger area but don't do much to protect the dog, who could still get out the back door in the case of an accident
There are also restraints available if you carry your dog in the bed of a pick up truck (illegal in many areas); but this restraint will secure the dog safely. Your dog will likely object quite a bit at first, but in this case, safety comes first.
(And the dog's head out the window, although a romantic image is dangerous too - think of flying stones, insects and cigarettes thrown from the vehicle ahead of you to name just a few hazards).
5. Explore holistic veterinarian care.
Holistic or alternative health care is becoming popular for ourselves and our animals. Basically there are two kinds of veterinary services:
allopathic - based on drugs, medications and chemicals and
holistic - which focuses on the whole dog and emphasizing building a strong immune system that resists disease.
Holistic is wellness from within. That wellness is built with medicinal herbs, nutritional supplements, common sense supportive care and more. Holistic vets will use drugs, medications and chemicals but only when no other route will work.
Since holistic veterinarians are also allopathic vets - because all practicing veterinarians must graduate from a traditional university - the holistic route gives you more choice in your animal's care and are less reliant on giant pharmaceutical pressure. You can read more at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website, ahvma.org.
6. Enjoy your dog; attend a local fun-meet or all-breed dog show.
You can find local fun-meets for your dog through several sources:
rescue associations, humane society and animal shelters - who often stage these as fundraisers
breed clubs if you have a purebred dog
check the national kennel clubs - Canadian Kennel Club or American Kennel Club
watch for notices on bulletin boards at your veterinarian's, local pet food stores and groomer's
look for notices in your local newspaper
Not only are these fun meets a great way for your dog to be even more socialized, they're a lot of fun and you get to talk to other dog lovers like you.
7. Teach my dog a good trick.
Mental stimulation is important for your dog and what better way to get his mind working than by learning a fun new trick. You can search online for "easy dog tricks" (don't forget YouTube), pick up a training book or buy an online course on dog tricks.
8. Fewer treats = better weight.
Just like us humans, dogs are suffering from a major outbreak in obesity.
Did you know that the popular treat, "Bonz" for small and medium dogs is 70 calories each! Milk Bone biscuits for small breeds are 40 calories each. As a very general rule of thumb, a very small dog (5 lbs.) requires only 400 calories a day, so these treats can really add up.
9. Bone up on discipline training.
If you still think a whack on the head with a rolled up newspaper is good doggie discipline, you need to read up about more up-to-date techniques.
Dog training today is based on positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement... positive means something is added to the dog's routine to change his behavior; and negative, something is taken away from the dog's environment to change his behaviour.
An example of positive reinforcement: your dog does something you tell him, like "sit." He immediately gets praise and/or a treat from you. The reward needs to be immediate and you need to be consistent until the behavior is really embedded. Even then, there's nothing wrong with a bit of verbal encouragement.
An example of negative reinforcement: your dog is barking furiously. You say "no" in a firm voice, but the barking continues. Remove the dog from your presence; I do this by putting my dog in the garage for a "time out." Since my presence and attention is what the dog was striving for with all the racket, this works very well in curtailing the bad behavior. Negative reinforcement is never hitting the dog, coercing or shaming him. Those old school tactics simply turn your dog against you and break his spirit. Not to mention they're inhumane and callous.
10. Stop and smell the roses... and the trees.. and the bushes...
The thing I love most about dogs is how they live in the minute. No matter what a dog is doing, he's giving it 100%, and it's right here, right now, in the moment. Dogs also tend to live with unbounded enthusiasm and joy... qualities we could all use more of too.
Deb Gray is a self-taught expert and confessed lover of Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and their crossbreed, Morkies. Read about making these dogs your perfect animal companions at Deb's site Yorkie Info. And, click to read more details about Resolutions for you and your dog.
