Happy Life Dogs

10/24/2025

WHEN NOT TO USE FOOD AS A REWARD FOR YOUR DOG
How to reward your dog? Almost all of us use praise, toys or food. However, when we rely on treats, we are often unaware of when they SHOULDN'T be used. Following are a few useful ideas.
1) Don't use food when your dog has just finished doing a behavior you don't like. or completed a command after numerous requests or actual intervention on your part. If you ask your dog to "Sit" four times and finally push his rear end down, don't reward failed obedience. Dogs look for patterns and they repeat behaviors that result in food.
2) Don't use food if your dog gets over-excited. Some dogs start jumping, whining, barking and basically turning off their brains. Use treats minimally with these dogs or not at all.
3) Don't use food when your dog is afraid. This does not reassure - it reinforces the fearful behavior and you'll see more fear, not less. Many scared pups won't even accept food, so don't force the issue. 4) Don't show the dog food and then give a command. This is a bribe. Keep the food in your pocket or out of sight until the command has been obeyed. In the earliest stages of teaching, you can use a treat to maneuver your dog into the right position but once he understands, you should phase out the treats.
You can start now to progress from constant treats(every time the dog performs) to variable treats (every other time, every third time) to random treats (only occasionally). This will save you money, prevent your pup from becoming a "treat hound" and prevent chubbiness in later years.

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10/07/2025

HAPPY NOSE DOGS
Did you know that many household cleaning products contain citrus scents such as lemon, orange and grapefruit? Did you also know that over 80% of dogs dislike the smell of citrus? Here's an opportunity to make your dog's nose happy. If your dog is citrus-averse, don't buy cleaning products with a citrus scent. To test your dog's ability to deal with unpleasant smells, rub an orange on your hands, then peel it and offer your hands to your pup. If he/she ducks away from your hand or even leaves the room, then you have one of the 80% "NOT citrus" companions. If your dog licks your hand, you have one of the rare ones that tolerates citrus well. It's quite simple to change cleaning product scents as most popular brands offer lavender and vanilla scents that work just as well and will make your dog's nose MUCH happier. Please remember your dog has a nose 200% more sensitive than a human. Try to keep scents(tobacco, perfume, air fresheners, heavy spices) in your home to a minimum. Your canine companion(s) will thank you.

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09/01/2025

MORE ABOUT DOG PARKS
I know we've covered a lot about dog parks but most of the parks are still open so I thought I'd pass along a few more valuable tips for getting the most out of your visit. Once you've determined your dog(s) is ready to enter the park, pick out a group of dogs (two or more) you think are optimal for play with your pup. These dogs should be running without much barking and taking turns chasing one another. They should not be running at single dogs nor plowing through groups of people nor barking at dogs outside the fenced area. When you have your group in sight, enter the park confidently and walk towards them. Your dog(s) should follow you and engage your choice of pack. Continue walking. This is very important as it keeps the energy flowing and prevents your dogs from "freezing" during the meet and greet stage. Watch the interaction for signs of tension. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable, walk away from the group. If your dog(s) do not follow, call them. Never leave your dog(s) in the park unattended. If you need something from the car, take the dog with you. Try to remember to bring water for your dog as some parks do not provide any. Always let your dog(s) drink before getting back in the car to go home. If you bring treats to the park, keep them in a scent-proof bag and use sparingly. Try to remember that even if a strange dog approaches you in a friendly manner, it is NOT necessary to touch/pet them. A cheerful "hello" is really enough. Some people cannot evaluate their dogs and are unaware they may be head-shy or have a sore ear. You may be unaware your hands smell like treats or your own dogs. Smart safety protects us all. And last of all, I know we will all pick up after our pets. It's the right thing to do. Enjoy the parks. There is a good one called Esperance just off Highway 99 at 7830 222nd Street SW, Edmonds. Excellent grassy area and water provided. Also a separate area for shy dogs. Hooray!

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08/23/2025

CAR SAFETY FOR DOGS
Do you love your dog? Of course you do! We want the best for our pets and the simplest, best way to keep your companion safe is to provide safety in the car, on the street and in your home. Today, we'll talk about car safety. How many times do you see drivers with small (or not so small) dogs on their laps, dogs in the passenger seat or dogs sticking their entire head out the window. Looks like they're having fun, right? Maybe so, but they most surely are not safe. Neither are their drivers. The answer is simple - seat belts for dogs. Put your pet in a harness, clip the harness to the dog seat belt located in the back seat. Dog seat belts are very inexpensive, ranging from $6.00 for fabric to $11.00 for solid chain "belts" that can't be chewed through and might outlast your car. Available on Amazon, Chewy.com, e-bay and many other on-line sales outlets. Make sure your harness is sturdy, fits the dog well and is in good repair. It's OK to open the window a bit (2" to 4"). Just make sure the dog's head stays inside the car. Flying debris, dirt, bugs, rocks, low hanging branches can all be very dangerous for a dog's eyes, not to mention the rest of the head. A dog's sense of smell is so good, they don't need their whole head outside a window to sniff the world.
If you secure your dog, you will stay safe and your pet will stay safe. This makes any car trip a much more enjoyable time for you both.
Also remember to walk your dogs, even if our weather isn't always the best.

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08/13/2025

SOCIALIZING DOGS AND HUMANS
How often do you see people reacting to your dog? "Oooh, he's SO CUTE! I want to pet him" OR "Oooh he's so BIG, keep him away from me!" As a dog behaviorist, I understand how access to many environments and being ignored by strangers creates success for dogs and their people. When strangers frequently offer treats and attention, or allow their dogs to rush into another dog’s space, it produces specific emotional responses, which will arise each time a new person or a strange dog approaches. Sometimes, this emotion is pleasure, but more often, anxiety, over-exuberance or defensive behavior is manifested.
There is no need to ask a dog to sit if someone is approaching and some humans might see it as an invitation to approach. Nor is there a reason a dog would pull toward strangers who have typically ignored him. If being taken to new places were a regular occurrence, it would not excite a dog into lunging through doorways. If barking and pulling were consistently ignored or corrected in young dogs, those behaviors could never become a game or a way to get attention.
If a dog receives no reinforcement from strangers, the owner will never have to calm an excited dog or manage a fearful one. It gives dogs freedom to focus on their owners because nothing interesting is coming at them from another source. People have the freedom to work or relax with their dogs in a variety of environments without needing to fend off a strange person or dog and their dogs gain confidence from knowing exactly what to expect.
• Create a neutral experience for your dog in a variety of places. The simplest way is to kindly ask that no one pet your dog while he is on a six-foot leash. The dog will begin to recognize that being on a short leash means ignoring others, and that being let off-leash is a chance to interact and play. (For those without access to safe off-leash areas, putting the dog on a 30-foot training lead works just as well.)
• Reward your dog with praise and attention when he notices other dogs, people, loud noises or things that are new to him, but encourage him to focus on you and maintain a relaxed and calm demeanor. Too much interaction and exuberance can lead the puppy or dog to distraction in the future.
• Keep high-value rewards with you in the event a person or dog rushes in. If walking, continue to walk, and offer your dog a treat once the excitement has passed and your dog begins to look up at you. If sitting, wait for the other dog to leave and reward your dog for refocusing on you.
• Use food toys to your advantage. Practice going to a busy place, sit down, place a food-stuffed toy at your feet and do not let anyone pet your dog. In a few sessions, most dogs will lie down and settle almost immediately when their owner sits.
Simply put, IGNORE dogs not your own. If you want to address a dog handler, do so in a pleasant voice. "What a beautiful dog!" or "I would prefer you and your dog not approach me right now"
If we all extend this courtesy to other dogs and practice a relaxed attitude, we will always give our friends the opportunity to succeed.

07/21/2025

For all you who appreciate Cesar Millan, he has his own channel on Xfinity TV (4271) I have always admired his training techniques.

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