Pets & Kids.....Establishing, building and maintaining relationships through respect and education.

2009-12-24T12:44:00.001-05:00

A Dog's Eye View On Dog Bite Prevention

2009-05-22T07:56:00.001-05:00

Every day should be filled with respect and love for our 4 legged companions but in honor of Dog bite prevention week here is the Press release from the National canine research council.
Enjoy and love your furry friends....they really do well in our chaotic human world!

Economical choice of education for expecting families with dogs.

2009-03-26T06:21:00.001-05:00

Dogs & Storks™ … New DVD is an Economical Choice for Expectant Families Preparing Ahead for Baby

Irreplaceable bonds of love

2009-03-23T12:56:00.006-05:00

I love the bond dogs, cats and kids share! So special when there is respect, trust and limits. Windsor is a rescue dog who we adopted a year ago. He has an extra special bond with Kayleigh and has since day one. With supervision, and structure kids and dogs can gain comfort and respect along with a deep understnading between them. There is nothing more special then the relationship and child and dog share!

Good story

2009-01-29T21:27:00.001-05:00

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6625698
We must learn to accept each dog based on their individual behavior not a label and misinformation. Generalizing breeds, people or anything never gets us in a good place.

Your dog and baby.

2009-01-26T20:27:00.002-05:00

Purchase yours today!

2008

2009-01-08T09:31:00.001-05:00

"Dog Bite Fatalities Plummet 33%"

A doggy Christmas surprise

2008-12-24T14:05:00.001-05:00

Happy holidays

fostertales.blogspot.com

2008-12-23T13:09:00.001-05:00

Where are you Christmas- Pet safety for the holidays

2008-12-19T09:22:00.001-05:00

Very powerful and beautiful

Holiday Peace & Joy with the Family Dog

2008-11-21T13:14:00.001-05:00

Holiday Peace & Joy with the Family Dog
by Bette Yip, CPDT of Picture Perfect Pets

It’s that time of year again! Families are bustling about preparing for the holidays, leaving the family dog wondering why the humans of the house are suddenly less attentive.

This sometimes causes our dogs to seek out new and more creative ways to get our attention and amuse themselves, and sometimes, we humans don’t appreciate our dog’s choice of activities. To avoid potential problems this season, be proactive—start preparing your dog for the holidays now!

Each year this time, we trainers dole out the usual tips on management and training to help your dog be a welcome part of your holiday festivities, with maximum safety for all. You can find more of these tips in the Dog Training Tips section at www.BetteYip.com .

Here, I’ll focus instead on the usefulness of getting your dog hooked on a few great puzzle toys to help her stay self-entertained when you need time to yourself for holiday activities. Teaching your dog to play with puzzle toys also provides your pooch mental stimulation and a little extra exercise, which will help her to relax better during naptimes. She may learn to enjoy these new puzzle toys so much that you’ll even decide to add a few extras to your doggie holiday gift list!

So, what is a “puzzle toy” for dogs. Most people are familiar with the classic Kong toy, which is a hollowed out piece of rubber meant to be baited with food filling so that a dog has to really work to get the goodies out. Since its introduction, the market has been flooded with innovative new canine puzzle toys. Brilliantly simple, and a favorite of every dog I’ve introduced it to, is Nina Ottoson’s Dog Pyramid, a self-righting fillable toy. As your dog nose-pushes it and swats at it to knock the goodies out, it pops itself back up. Feed your dog meals out of such a toy, and mealtime becomes a wonderfully tiring and enriching event in itself!

Another of my recent favorites is Premier’s Tug-a-Jug, made of a tug rope tied into a bullet-proof plastic jug with a removable bottom. The toy also has a nubby rubber hollowed out ball around the opening of the jug, for additional chewing entertainment. Put some small dog food pieces or treats in the body of the jug, along with a hunk that’s too big to come out, and with a little training, you can teach your dog how to grab the rope, fling the toy, paw the toy, chew on the toy—and eventually, empty out the small bits of food. Again, this makes for a creative way to feed dogs their meals while keeping them out of your hair for a while, too.

Some dogs figure out how to entertain themselves with puzzle toys easily without much human guidance. With each one they conquer, their problem solving skills grow, making the next puzzle toy that much more fun. Other dogs need a little more coaching to figure out a new toy. Learn how to get your dog hooked on puzzle toys in the Dog Training Tips section at www.BetteYip.com .

Riding Rudy (youtube) Exactly what NOT to do

2008-11-12T19:48:00.001-05:00

There is so much wrong about this. Dogs are incredibly tolerant and sometimes I wonder who is the smarter species. Here is a great example of exactly how to teach kids to be bitten. Ride the back of dogs and grab them while they eat. It never fails to imaze me what people do. I fear people not dogs!

A hairy Presidential decision of the 4 legged kind.

2008-11-08T17:00:00.005-05:00

Tuesday night we all listened as President-elect Obama presented his victory speech with great confidence. It was clear how ready he is to lead us towards change and how dedicated he is to promises even when it comes to the puppy for his daughters Malia and Sasha. Just like any family considering a pup the President has many things to take into consideration as their puppy will be a fifteen year long (or longer) commitment. Taking your time to find the right fit is important! Here are a few tips that may be of interest for the Obamas as well as anyone else considering a new family member.
The decision to get a puppy immediately invites a flood of warm fuzzy images. Who can resist that intoxicating puppy smell or the eyes that melt even those resistant to puppy love. As a, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), I encourage the Obamas and all families to prioritize temperament and personality traits instead of looks. Cuteness wears off quickly especially for kids once the puppy demonstrates normal teething behavior and destroys a favorite toy or two. The temperament of the pup is the key to a long-term match. Enlisting the help of a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) is a great way to get off on the right foot. A CDBC can guide you through the many options of pet selection and help point out the pros and cons of each based on your families needs and desires. It is terrific that many families want to adopt from a shelter or breed rescue as there are many wonderful dogs in need. Sometimes, however, this may not be the best choice due to the needs of the family. Another option is working closely with a reputable breeder so that you are able to visit the puppy and become familiar with its environment prior to bringing it home.
Puppy socialization is serious business and crucial for stability throughout life. A qualified reputable breeder will be certain to do their best to ensure that their pups are socialized appropriately and achieve developmental milestones with experiences that will set them up for a successful and long happy life. This is extremely important for the White House dog as they are exposed to all types of people and situations. Just this past week First Pooch Barney snapped at a reporter who reached for him. Dogs that are around people must be socially appropriate and comfortable. It is equally important that the handlers become familiar with the likes and dislikes of their dog and recognize subtle signs of stress and know when to remove the dog from a situation when they might not be successful.
When it comes to breed rescue and shelter dogs I have had wonderful experiences placing adult dogs in homes with children. As a mother of three, CDBC and active rescue foster home provider I know first hand the importance of observations in a foster home. Foster home providers live with and determine the temperament and social capabilities based on observation in the home and surrounding environment. Often what we see is a mature dog with an established personality and temperament. This is a great benefit for many families.
There are many pros to adopting an adult dog but it is ideal to work with a professional experienced with temperament assessment. The Obama family will have their challenges looking for a dog that will not create an allergic reaction for Malia. Allergies vary and it can take time to find the right type of dog to fit this need. Fur and hair varies in all breeds and sometimes it can take time to sort out which will create a reaction and which will not. A great deal will depend on grooming habits and management of the environment as well.
The keys for a match made in heaven are these: identifying, as a family, the characteristics you want and need in a dog for your lifestyle, hiring a professional to assist in dog selection and temperament assessment, and carefully selecting a positive trainer for ongoing success that lasts a lifetime!

Barney bites reporter (from youtube)

2008-11-07T10:00:00.001-05:00

Watch as the reporter approaches. Barney stiffens his shoulders turning away and avoiding the reporter who was squatting down facing him. Barney chose to NOT face the reporter but staff positioned him to face the reporter and this was the final straw. Listen as the staff did not appear surprised that he bit. Then they tell the reporter that you can't put your hand in his face.
Now....what if Barney were a rottweiler? A pit mix? A german shepherd? What then? Due to the fact that Barney is a small dog...this is taken as a joke. All dogs should be respected and all people need to observe them for signs if they want interaction or not. Barney...clearly did not.

Spooky safety

2008-10-31T08:17:00.001-05:00

Halloween is "fright night" for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened.
Halloween costumes are fun and are meant to disguise our normal appearance. Dogs do not understand this change in appearance and may become frightened. Costumes that change the way a person walks, stands, or their general appearance may cause a dog to react differently than usual even with those they know.
Keep in mind that children on Halloween night are excited and doing their best to be scary. This is not a fair or safe situation to put even the best of dogs in. Even the normally terrific tolerant family dog can find this night hard to handle.
Along with costumes being frightening to a dog there are some that may become interesting too. Swords, tails and dangling things may be fun for an excited dog to chase and toddlers certainly won’t appreciate that. Click here to see a photo of a costume with very enticing antennae.
Every child and every costume is a new opportunity for different reactions from the same dog.
I recommend setting up your dog with their own private Halloween bash in a safe quiet spot with a yummy treat of their own. Here are some tips to help make this safe haven most comfortable.
Stuff a food dispensing toy with yummy mush and freeze it until it is "Halloween" time.
Use a fan or radio for white noise. Something consistent is best.
Be sure the blinds are down or the dog is not watching kids coming and going by the window. This will only frustrate him and allow him to practice barking and carrying on at the window.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Put candy in a safe spot.
Sometimes dogs are stolen, poisoned or injured by Halloween pranks. Keep your dog safe and sound inside your home.
Be safe and aware and have fun!
For more information on kid and dog safety on Halloween check out http://www.familypaws.com

The world's most patient dog ...(from youtube)

2008-10-29T17:51:00.001-05:00

As Halloween approaches keep in mind that dogs may not like to be dressed up but may "tolerate" it. What else can they do? Be respectful and remember that we all have our limits. This gentle golden some day may not be in the mood for dress up. Know your dog and protect they and your child.

Halloween and dogs

2008-10-25T15:26:00.001-05:00

As halloween approaches keep in mind that some dogs do not handle changes in appearance even with their familiar people. It is important to know your dog and how they respond. Halloween is a good time to allow your dog a quiet place where they can relax aware from the spooky characters.

Dog vs baby toys. Avoid the confusion!

2008-09-27T16:57:00.006-05:00

Every family asks me how to avoid toy confusion once a baby arrives. There are many ways to do this.
1. Provide your dog with a very limited number of toys that are available at any given time to them and name them. Ex. My shepherd only had his ball. I could always say Moose....go get your ball and he would be hunt for that one ball. This is a huge benefit as nothing else was an option...only his ball.
2. You can use a scent to identify the baby toys from the dog's. Reward the dog for choosing their toy vs. the baby's toy. This is good in theory but....I have not found it as practical as it sounds. This requires a great deal of consistency, patience and time to build the association with the scent.
3. Identify and know what textures your dog likes and plan accordingly when you purchase your baby toys. Choose toys that do not have the same high value textures.
4. Management.....Keep high value textures and interesting new items out of reach. it will be awhile before baby will be exploring on the floor. This will allow the items to be in the home and to not smell so new to your dog once they do hit floor level.
5. Get only toys that are nothing like kid toys.
This brings me to a neat toy I found today created locally. I believe in promoting other neat creative ideas and this is one of them. The Dog Nasty Dog toy My female shepherd/husky mix loves stuffed toys but they don't last long! So, needless to say we do not purchase them often for this very reason. Why bother. We also stopped purchasing them prior to the arrival of our daughter being born in an effort to decrease her interest in stuffed animals in anticipation of the confusion. The texture and durability of this toy is very good as well as the overall concept being quite unique. I love the fact that this toy can be washed and reused and stuffed within itself to create new shapes and sizes for your dog to enjoy. You can make a more compact toy or a loose toy they can shake like crazy and toss about. My 4 dogs enjoy the challenge of getting their kibble out and believe it or not it has survived! So, if you are the proud parent of a dog that enjoys a soft plush toy....I highly recommend checking this one out as it is not quite like the others and does not look like a kids toy! It truly is a dog toy and one with a great history behind it.

NEW Dogs & Storks blog!

2008-09-12T11:14:00.002-05:00

Come and visit http://www.dogsandstorks.blogspot.com the place for helpful tips based on the Dogs & Storks program. Free and helpful information!

Are they unpredicatable?

2008-09-09T10:19:00.005-05:00

"Jennifer Shryock, a dog behavior consultant from dogsandstorks.com, a program that prepares families with dogs for life with a baby, said infants should never be left alone -- even for a moment -- with a dog, due to the animals' unpredictability. "
This is a quote from the Star Ledger article. I wanted to expand on this.
There is some truth to this, when we are not there, they are more likely to be unpredictable BUT......there is more truth to the fact that Dogs will PREDICTABLY behave as dogs.

That said we must predict that they will caretake, nurture, discipline, & respond based on the natural instincts of the dogs that they are. That is predictable.

Without a person present for guidance and direction dogs predictably will act like dogs. There are many variations of dog behavior that are considered acceptable and unacceptable in our in our human world but... still are part of our dogs. We must be aware of these behavior so that we can predict and therefore proactively prevent.

If we believe our dogs are unpredictable we become helpless. Victims. This creates fear and is no help to our dogs or anyone.

Knowing that dogs will behave as dogs and becoming familiar with dog body language and behavior through such programs as www.doggonesafe.com empowers adults and children to make safer choices and set themselves up for success. Dogs need our direction, supervision and guidance to be the most successful.

We love dogs for many reasons. When we choose to include them in our home we must also choose to be informed and educated about their behavior so that we can help them be successful in our very unpredictable hectic human world.

A dog, a baby ......the unimaginable.

2008-09-09T07:47:00.008-05:00

My heart goes out to the Hennessy family at this time. As a Mother, dog lover, one being a husky, I am so so sorry for all that this family is going through. This is beyond tragic. I am dedicated to preventing this type of news from hitting our headlines through education before and after baby arrives.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-11/122093492596820.xml&coll=1
This is why I began the Dogs & Storks program. Recently some of our team of presenters were reviewing what has been taught routinely over the years as nursery rules by dog trainers. We decided to make changes to our program and new recommendations based on the availability of monitors and safety considerations. Here is what we now recommend.
Nursery rules.....
1. If a parent is not in the room where a baby is in a crib or bassinet the wooden door should be securely closed locking the dog out.
2. We do not suggest a gate or screen door be used as a barrier.
3. We recommed that parents take full advantage of the baby monitors on the market to monitor their baby.
*****If there is a need to keep the nursery door ajar then an alternative option to secure the dog is to crate the dog or lock then in a room or have the dog on leash attached to an adult.

AT NO TIME

should the dog have

access to the baby without adult supervision.

This also means that if the new parents are sleeping the dog should be secured or the baby's room door is closed. Sleeping parents are not alert and can not be aware of their dog's actions.
PLEASE NOTE! these tips are general and are intended to increase safety and prevent another possible tragedy, not point blame or make a judgement of the Hennessy family. I have learned a great deal from my own mistakes in raising kids and dogs together and this could have been me or any one of us who have left the room for a moment. I am counting my blessings today and sending prayers to family.
http://www.dogsandstorks.com/
I hope that you find the information helpful.
http://www.doggonesafe.com/ has a dog bite victim support board for families who have experienced severe dog attacks. This too may be helpful.

baby playing with dog (youtube)

2008-09-02T11:49:00.001-05:00

The dog is indicating discomfort and stress. Each attempt is met by displeasure by his person. Overtime he will not give subtle signs of stress as they did not work. The dog here attempts to get away from the child several times only to be corrected. Why do we expect our dogs to put up with hair pulling, climbing and the very things we ourselves do not like? Then when they communicate with us discomfort we correct them. This is very dangerous and unfair.

Cutest baby in the world plays catch with Amazing Puppy Dog (from you tube)

2008-09-02T11:24:00.001-05:00

This is great. I love that the dog rolls the ball to the child and then backs away or lies down. This dog is not extra jumpy and keeps the excitment low. This is a great example of nice interaction. Again, with supervision, this is a wonderful game!

Baby Bites Dog! (from youtube)

2008-08-18T15:47:00.001-05:00

This baby is adorable and has a contagious giggle. The mouthing and trying to taste doggie is so age appropriate and something I remmber clearly with my children. It is clear though that this is confusing to the dog and although this dog is QUITE tolerant and seems to enjoy this baby very much....mouthing doggie should be avoided. Seriously. This stage and age is very challenging for dogs as babies motions are unstable and unpredictable. This is a time when an adult should be assisting in petting and putting their hand over the baby's hand to encourage a gentle pat vs. pull of the dog. Good thing the dog has the ball to chomp on! ;)

Baby and Puppy Love (youtube)

2008-08-18T15:39:00.001-05:00

This is great! Dad holding and supporting baby while dogs visit and interact. All is controlled and predictable and supervised. When babies are this young it is best to have an adult holding or hands on the baby while interacting with dogs. This way the baby and dog are both successful and respected.