Living With Dogs – A to Z Dog Training

Dog Park Etiquette

After a busy day at work it’s time to toss our work clothes aside, throw on the casual wear, grab our dog’s leash, load up Fido, and head to the dog park! For many of us, this trip is not just about socializing with our four-legged friend; it’s about catching up with our two-legged friends as well. While it’s easy to see the benefits of a dog park, sometimes we might fail to take note of things that could turn a great social occasion into a small disaster. I want to take the opportunity to raise your awareness and, hopefully, give you a few tips to make the most of your dog park adventures. What should you be looking for while taking part in the fun and games to ensure your dog and others are having fun at the dog park? 3 Things you need to be aware of… Owners

Tammy Nunes July 26, 2021 No Comments

Recognizing Stress In Your Dog

Do you understand what your dog is telling you through their body language? I feel it is a great disservice to our dogs if we only expect them to learn what we want through training, but not look deeper at what our dogs need through their body language. Keep in mind, behaviorally, anything our dog does is information to us. For example, if your dog barks and lunges on their leash, they may be telling you they are scared of something in the environment or frustrated they cannot be free to say hi to another dog friend that they see. To understand if your dog is scared or frustrated in this situation, you can look at their body language. When I teach classes, I train students to recognize stress in their dogs. If your dog is stressed, it’s very hard for them to learn in that state of mind. If a dog

Tammy Nunes July 13, 2021 No Comments

Recognizing Signs Of Stress In Your Dog

Tammy Nunes July 10, 2021 No Comments

How To Recognize Signs Of Heat Exhaustion In Dogs

The warmest months in Hawaii are vastly upon us with temperatures reaching over 80F degrees and over 50 percent humidity. Humans have the ability to regulate their body temperature by sweat glands located throughout our bodies. When we sweat, the evaporation of our sweat cools our body. Unlike humans, dogs do not have sweat glands located throughout their body. A dog’s sweat glands are mainly located between the pads of their feet. A dog’s primary way of cooling themselves is by panting and breathing. Ways to beat the heat this summer: Always provide shade and fresh cool water for your dogs. Provide a small plastic pool for your dog to wade or lay in during the day. Keep the pool in the shade so the sun does not heat the water. Remember to rinse the pool daily to keep clean. You can find cooling products for dogs such as bandanas, vests, or

Tammy Nunes June 28, 2021 No Comments

Stop Your Dog From Barking!

With any problem behavior, it is important to figure out why your dog is doing that particular behavior. Once you can figure out why they are doing what they are doing, you can address the problem behavior. I find that many problem behaviors can be eliminated by making sure dogs receive enough exercise and you are consistent with redirecting their problem behavior, all while setting their environment and your dog up for success. Why do dogs bark? Separation anxiety Protection or alert Fun or attention seeking Fear Boredom Over-stimulated Separation Anxiety If your dog is barking due to separation anxiety, you will want to address the separation anxiety issue itself, as that is a bigger issue than just barking alone. I am here to help. Protection If your dog is barking at people or other dogs passing by the house, ‘turn off their tv’ by blocking their view from

Tammy Nunes June 15, 2021 No Comments

Helpful Tips For Your Recalls

Is your dog not responding to their recalls like you would like? Do they look at you when you call them to ‘come’ but continue to turn and run the other way? If you find you are having a hard time with your dog coming when called, apply these helpful tips. When applied you will see results immediately! 1. First and foremost, set your dog up for success. Do not give your dog freedom until they are coming to you reliably– unless you are in a situation where you do not need them to come when called. The reason for this is because every time you call your dogs to ‘come’ and they do not, they are learning to ignore your requests. People hate to hear ‘keep your dog on leash’ until they know better. They envision their dogs running free and coming back to them at

Jen Chapman December 1, 2020 No Comments

Why Do Dogs Love To Roll In Stinky Stuff & Grooming Tips

Few dogs don’t have this habit to some extent—whether it’s a good shoulder-first roll in fresh grass with all its hidden secrets or a nosedive into a freshly manured field. The behaviour is called scent rolling and researchers speculate that it originated as a way to bring information back to the pack. Of course, dogs have had much time and adaptation to make the behaviour their own, so it’s likely dogs roll in grass and other interesting materials for a number of reasons. One is to get rid of unwanted smells, for example that doggie shampoo you enjoy but that Fido does not appreciate. Itchy skin can be another cause for frequent and vigorous rolling, so look out for fleas, tick bites, or tell-tale signs of skin conditions such as scabs, redness, rashes, or bald patches. Rolling in grass is not dangerous in itself. Just be sure your dog has

Jen Chapman October 6, 2020 No Comments

3 Keys To Successful Dog Training

Setting boundaries/ guideline/ expectations/ rules, however you want to look at it can help dogs, adults, kids, animals thrive with knowing what is expected of them. Knowing that there are rules, keeps pure and utter chaos from ensuing. Boundaries/ guidelines/ expectations/ rules takes the guess work out of what needs to happen in various situations and in order to get attention. For example, I have found training your dog to ‘sit’ to get attention instead of them jumping can be life changing for both the dog and their owner. The best part of that? It’s not that hard as long as your consistent and follow through. In my son’s Taekwondo dog class their Black Belt Success Cycle is something I have always followed and implement with my students. I feel these are the 3 keys to successful training, setting boundaries, and obtaining goals in life. The key steps are: Know

Jen Chapman September 21, 2020 No Comments

Taming The Tooth Monster

Some dogs take treats too hard. As in, they manage to scrape your hands painfully when they grab the goody. Usually these dogs weren’t taught as puppies what is an acceptable amount of pressure for big pearly canines on human skin. They are not trying to hurt us; they just never learned to regulate jaw pressure. Sometimes this tendency is exacerbated by excitement (Ooh! My favorite treat!) or stress (Yikes, another dog is close by and she might also be interested in my favorite treat). What to do about it Stop letting go. Get a good hold on a treat before you offer it and only release the treat if your dog uses a soft mouth, i.e. light pressure or, preferably, all lips and no teeth. If your dog grabs too hard, say, “Too bad” or “Bummer” in an oh-what-a-shame tone of voice and pull the treat away. As long

Jen Chapman June 27, 2016 No Comments

Cavities in Dogs

Teeth are important. Both when it comes to functioning well on a daily basis and for long-term health, dental hygiene is as crucial to dogs as it is to humans. Yet many dogs show signs of tooth decay by the age of four. Good mouth care can’t start too early and when it comes to preventing cavities, that means feeding your dog a healthy diet, providing tooth-strengthening chew toys and treats, and brushing your dog’s teeth regularly. Also check your dog’s mouth for lesions, loose teeth, or inflamed gums weekly. If your dog is prone to plaque or tartar—and chew toys aren’t alleviating the problem sufficiently—ask your veterinarian for advice on preventing buildup. Finally, be sure to get a tooth brushing kit made for dogs as human toothpaste can irritate a dog’s stomach. Then look up brushing techniques online to ensure this ritual becomes an enjoyable one for both of

Jen Chapman August 20, 2015 No Comments

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