| answered a question | does the dog owner provide the food for the sitter? Jayce is right. It's best if you bring food for your dog to keep them on a steady diet. When your dog is getting used to new surroundings with a sitter, this causes them some stress. They may eat less or skip a few meals entirely. Sometimes that stress can mean they digest their food differently than how they do when they're home with you. As for toys, definitely refer to the sitter. If they have dogs that get aggressive about their toys, like Jayce said, you might want to leave all the toys at home. I like to tell clients to bring familiar bedding/crates/toys if their dogs are prone to anxiety or even separation anxiety. Hope this helps! All the best, Cori |
| answered a question | Does my dog have cancer? Many dogs get fat deposits that appear as lumps, but if you want to know for sure, you will have to consult with your veterinarian. You can have it biopsied at your vet, and then they will be able to tell you what the lump is. However, getting a biopsy done on a lump is not a thorough cancer screening. You will need to review what other methods are used to check your dog for cancer as well. Hope this helps! All the best, Cori |
| answered a question | Why does my dog roll in the dirt? There are many reasons your dog rolls. It's fun, they're happy or excited, it scratches their back, or even because there's a dreadful smelly thing they want to smell like. Dry dirt might be scratching their back or cooling them off if they're hot. Rolling in smelly things is thought to be an instinctual way they mask their scent for hunting. If you think your dog rolls due to scratching, and you think it's too often, maybe they have a skin sensitivity or allergy you should speak to the vet about. Hope this helps! All the best, Cori |
| answered a question | Why does my dog run away every time she goes outside? Think of your favorite dessert ever. Now, multiply that by x100. That's what going outside is like for your dog. To your dog, everything outside is more interesting than you. Whether it's noises, smells, small animals to chase, or anything else you can think of - your dog is choosing those things over spending time with you. You will need to really work on reinforcement training with your dog in order to build up trust, respect and authority between you and your pet. If you don't, your dog could get hurt or become a liability saying hello to the wrong neighbor. YOU are going to have to work hard for your dog's attention before they listen to you when they're surrounded by distractions. You'll find many ways to train your dog to come when called on the internet, but think of HOW you want to train your dog and pick a method your dog will be most responsive to. For some dogs, that's positive reinforcement training which could include play, treats, activity or anything else that encourages your dog to stay with you because they'll have more fun (or treats) if they are engaged with you. For other dogs it might mean correctional training, or negative reinforcement training (i.e. remote training collars, fences). I've personally had to use this method with my dog, because there was no way I could make our time outside more fun than chasing rabbits and ultimately I needed a correction tool to distract him from a chase and possibly being hit by a car. Now he's excited every time he sees the collar because it means he gets to go outside without a leash and he can RUN! ;) All dogs need a healthy amount of exercise to burn off their energy, otherwise they're more difficult to train or become anxious - which brings on many other behavioral problems. After you find out what type of training to begin with your dog, be consistent and calm, and you should have some success! If not, you may want to consider a fence to keep your dog safely at home. All the best, Cori |