Pets

So my dog is a little fat. Why do I feel like my vet is judging me?

Dog's weight matters: Focus on health, not judgment

Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I think that's beyond the point. Judgment comes from our own baggage. Sometimes veterinarians or even dog professionals have been frustrated by the lack of seriousness that clients would take when we say that weight is an issue for dogs for very good health reasons. Remember your dog is standing with a heavy body on four really skinny legs. A lot of weight on those joints can be really hard for their life long term. Besides a bunch of other health reasons why they would be asking you to focus on getting your dog to lose weight. But the judgment isn't important. What's important is to really ask questions on how you can help your dog lose weight and what are the things that you can do along with exercise which is what probably everybody is going to suggest. Sorry that's my dog. He is not happy that I am in his weight. Some of the ways that you may be able to help your dog lose some weight is changing the amount of food you are giving them on a day to day basis. So instead of giving them the exact same quantity every single day, you are going to adapt based on how active they are on that given day. So if they have had a more physically daunting day then they may need a little more food on that particular day. But if they have slept all day then they wouldn't need as much food on that particular day. So kind of adjusting depending on their activity level. There are definitely more experts on this subject and you can always reach out to them to get a healthy routine for your dog. But focus less on the judgment and more on getting your dog at a healthy weight.

Veterinarians or other pet professionals may get frustrated when their clients don't take weight loss seriously. The important thing is to ask questions on how to help your dog lose weight and what you can do in addition to exercise. Adjust the amount of food based on activity level, and seek out expert advice to create a healthy routine for your dog.

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Whether or not your vet is judging you for your dog's weight is not the most important thing to focus on. Judgment often stems from our own personal baggage. Veterinarians and dog professionals may have experienced frustration when clients don't take weight issues seriously, as excess weight can have negative long-term effects on a dog's health, including strain on their joints.

Instead of dwelling on judgment, it's more important to ask questions about how you can help your dog lose weight and improve their overall health. Exercise is typically recommended, but there are other ways to assist in weight loss. One approach is adjusting the amount of food you give your dog based on their daily activity level. If they have been more active, they may require a bit more food, while a day of rest may warrant less food.

There are experts who specialize in this subject and can provide guidance on establishing a healthy routine for your dog. Remember to shift your focus away from judgment and prioritize getting your dog to a healthy weight.

What does it mean when trainers say a dog determines the value of a reward?

Dogs determine reward value: Understanding their preferences and distractions

It means that a dog is as unique as every single human being is. They have their own likes and dislikes. They have their own preferences. And we can't put a quantifiable determination without doing a number of experiments on what it is that our dog prefers. So in that sentiment, it's important to understand that not only does each type of food have a different value in a dog's preference, but also that food is not necessarily the only thing that a dog would want to value in a particular situation. So in some scenarios, you may have noticed that no matter how delicious the treat is, your dog refuses to take it and is laser focused on something else. And that's because in that moment, your food isn't as valuable to that dog as the squirrel that he's looking at. And so it's important to understand that in a given scenario, the value of a certain reward can change. Because if that reward isn't more valuable to the dog, then it doesn't matter that it was valuable yesterday or in a different scenario. And in such a scenario, you will probably need more distance from that particular distraction in order to make that value come back up. Or you could let your dog interact with that thing that they are distracted by. Of course, if it's a squirrel, I wouldn't want you to let him hunt the squirrel. Yeah, it is simply to say that the value of a reward can change in a given scenario in comparison to other rewards. And also that the value of every single food is also different. And it's all decided by the dog because the dog is an individual with its own unique personality.

Every dog is unique and each one values different rewards in different scenarios. The value of a reward can change depending on what the dog finds more valuable in that particular situation.

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When trainers say that a dog determines the value of a reward, it means that each dog is unique, just like every human being. Dogs have their own preferences, likes, and dislikes. We cannot assign a fixed value to a reward without understanding what the dog truly prefers. It's important to recognize that not only does the type of food impact a dog's preference, but there are also other factors at play.

In certain situations, you may notice that no matter how delicious a treat is, your dog may refuse it and remain focused on something else, like a squirrel. This happens because, in that moment, the food reward is not as valuable to the dog as the distraction they are fixated on. The value of a reward can change depending on the scenario. What was valuable yesterday or in a different situation may not hold the same value in the current context.

To address this, you may need to create more distance from the distraction or allow your dog to interact with it in a controlled manner. However, it's important to note that certain distractions, like squirrels, should not be encouraged for safety reasons.

Ultimately, the value of a reward is determined by the dog itself. Each dog has its own unique personality and preferences, and it's essential to understand and respect their individuality when training and rewarding them.

My dog takes my stuff and then thinks we're playing when I try and get it back. How can I tell her this isn't a game?

Teach your dog the 'Can I have it?' game for safe object exchange

Here's a different question you can ask in this situation. How do I teach my dog it is safe to bring me an object that they don't usually get in order to get something even better in return? When our dogs pick up something to investigate it or to play with it, they are really invested in that particular object. It's a valuable resource to them. So if historically we've chased them, grabbed it out of their mouth or yelled at them, and they have learned that it gets taken away, we're now teaching a pattern of behavior that whenever this happens, my object is taken away from me. Not only is this dangerous because some dogs could develop resource guarding because of this pattern of behavior, but it's also not useful because you're going to be chasing around and trying and struggling to get this object. So instead, we're going to play a different game. Can I have it? And anytime they bring it to you, you're going to offer them amazing, delicious treats that are so good that it's worth it to trade. But in order to do this and for it to work, you're going to need to practice the skill when things are less stressful and there are objects in their mouth that are not dangerous or even their own objects. So do this with their toys, with sticks outside, leaves, things that they're allowed to have in their mouth and trade them for those objects with amazing food. So it becomes a sort of a cue. Can I have it? And your dog brings it to you and you're able to trade it. If your dog is already showing signs of resource guarding, like stiffening, hard stares, stopping movement or growling at you, please do not approach them when they have these objects. Try to throw some treats at a distance, slightly away and see if they're willing to trade in that sense. And please work with a behavior consultant instead of looking at a video online and learning how to deal with it.

When teaching your dog to bring you objects, it's important to remember not to chase them or take away the object. Instead, practice trading with their toys, sticks, and leaves with delicious treats to incentivize them. If your dog is already showing signs of resource guarding, do not approach them and call a behavior consultant for help.

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Instead of trying to tell your dog that it's not a game when they take your stuff, let's focus on teaching them a different behavior. The goal is to teach your dog that it's safe to bring you an object they don't usually get, in exchange for something even better.

When dogs pick up an object, it becomes valuable to them. If in the past, you've chased them, grabbed the object, or yelled at them, they may have learned that their objects get taken away. This can be dangerous and lead to resource guarding behavior.

Instead, we're going to play a different game called Can I have it? Whenever your dog brings you an object, offer them amazing, delicious treats as a trade. Make the treats so enticing that your dog finds it worth giving up the object.

To practice this, start with less stressful situations and objects that are safe for your dog to have. Use their toys, sticks outside, or even leaves. Offer the trade with amazing food, creating a cue of Can I have it? Your dog will learn to bring you the object in exchange for the tasty treat.

If your dog already shows signs of resource guarding, such as stiffening, hard stares, or growling, do not approach them when they have these objects. Instead, try throwing treats at a distance and see if they are willing to trade.

If you're struggling with resource guarding or need further assistance, it's best to work with a professional behavior consultant who can provide personalized guidance. Avoid relying solely on online videos for solutions.

Do you like the term "owner" or do you prefer to use another term for a person who cares for an animal as a pet?

Redefining Pet Relationships: From Owner to Guardian

a parent, a guardian, a mom or dad. These are the preferable terms that I use because our dogs are our companions and we have to start using a language that defines that rather than using them as a possession. And so owner is something that I don't prefer because it puts a sense of attitude in our minds that we have some sort of an ownership over these animals who have their own unique personalities and are sentient beings. So that's my preference and I hope to change more people's approach at this so that they start referring to themselves as guardians instead of owners when they're referring to their pets.

I prefer the terms parent or guardian over owner when referring to my pet because it defines our relationship better, and is more respectful of their unique personalities and sentient nature.

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I prefer to use terms like parent, guardian, or mom or dad when referring to a person who cares for an animal as a pet. These terms reflect the companionship and relationship we have with our pets, rather than treating them as mere possessions. Using the term owner implies a sense of ownership and possession, which doesn't acknowledge the unique personalities and sentience of animals. My preference is to change the approach and encourage others to refer to themselves as guardians instead of owners when talking about their pets.

Where is a good place to practice recalling?

Mastering Recall: From Home to the Great Outdoors

Okay, this totally depends on where you are at your recall training stage. But if we're going to start from scratch, or if we want to do this really well, we want to start at home, we're going to start in one room. And I like to start by pairing the word that I'm going to use with food several times to the point that that food becomes synonymous with that sound. So if it's going to be here, I'm going to say here, then feed my dog here, feed my dog. And then going to add some movement. And my dogs always know what a marker word is. A marker word is a sound that tells them that food is about to be presented next. I've already paired yes and food every single time. So when I say the cue, come over here, and then I start moving as soon as my dog moves towards me, I say yes, which tells my dog they're going to get a treat. So they come to me to get that treat. Now I'm going to practice this in some different rooms as well as different distances in the same room. Eventually, I'm going to add calling from a different room. And then I'm going to start taking this outside to either a backyard or a front yard, but preferably with a visual barrier like a fence so that it's not too distracting to see people and cars already. If you don't have a visual barrier, you can use a parkade that isn't busy at this time, or a parking lot that isn't being used frequently at the time that you're practicing. And then you want to always increase distractions very gradually. So each time you're choosing a new location, first start at a... So if you're starting for street, start with a quiet street, then gradually to a medium traffic street, and then a busy street. Similarly with parks, quiet park, slightly busy park, and then busy park. There's so much more to learn on this topic, so let me know if you have more questions.

Start training your dog to come when called by pairing the word with food, and then adding movement. Practice in different rooms and at varying distances. Gradually increase distractions by taking training outside to quiet, medium-traffic, and busy areas.

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The best place to practice recalling depends on your current stage of recall training. If you're starting from scratch or want to train effectively, begin at home in one room. Start by associating a specific word with food, repeating it until the word becomes synonymous with that sound. For example, say here and then feed your dog. Add movement to the training by using a marker word, like yes, to signal that a treat is coming. Move as soon as your dog starts moving towards you and say yes to reinforce the behavior.

Once you've practiced in one room, gradually expand to different rooms and distances within the same room. Eventually, you can try calling your dog from a different room. When you're ready to take the training outside, choose a backyard or front yard with a visual barrier like a fence to minimize distractions. If a visual barrier is not available, find a quiet parkade or a less frequently used parking lot.

Always increase distractions gradually. For example, start with a quiet street before progressing to a medium traffic street and then a busy street. Apply the same approach to parks, starting with a quiet park and gradually moving to slightly busier and then busy parks.

Remember, there is much more to learn on this topic, so feel free to ask if you have more questions.

If my dog can't learn verbal commands, is he dumb?

Teach your dog with body language, not just verbal commands

In our culture, it's pretty common to blame the learner for what happens, but sometimes it is the teacher that isn't using the most effective method to teach the learner what they're trying to teach. So if your dog is struggling with verbal commands, there may be a chance that there are a few things going wrong in the order of things when we're teaching them that can create some sort of confusion. So it's important to remember that our dogs are more attuned to our body language signals. So where our hands are, what they're doing, we're moving, the way we're talking, but more about what our body is doing rather than what we're saying. It's always going to prioritize over the words that we're speaking. Most of what we're speaking sounds like gibberish to them. They only make a connection between what happens after we say something and that's how they learn these words. So it's important to understand that if we talk and move at the same time, we may be confusing the communication in that moment. So whenever you're teaching your dog a new skill, you want to wait until your dog has learned the skill in order to use the verbal cue. The biggest and the most common example of this is how people teach their dogs down. They usually start with a treat and they lure the dog into a down, but at the same time, they're going to say down. And what this does is the dog's not listening to down and the dog isn't understanding which part of all of this is down. Is it down when my hands are like that? Is it down when I have to go all the way down? So instead, what I do is I'm going to teach down quietly like this until the dog gets it right every single time and then I'm going to say down followed by my hand gesture and as soon as they do it, they get a treat. That's how they learn the word.

In our culture, it's common to blame the learner, but sometimes it is the teacher who isn't using the most effective method to teach. Dogs are more tuned to body language than verbal commands, so when teaching a new skill, wait until they've learned it before using the verbal cue. Use body language as well as verbal cues, and reward them with treats when they get it right.

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If your dog is struggling to learn verbal commands, it doesn't necessarily mean they are dumb. In our culture, we often blame the learner, but sometimes it's the teaching method that needs adjustment.

Dogs are more attuned to our body language signals rather than the words we speak. They prioritize what our body is doing over the words we say. To avoid confusion, it's important to understand that talking and moving simultaneously can muddle communication.

When teaching a new skill, wait until your dog has learned it before introducing the verbal cue. For example, when teaching down, avoid saying the word while luring the dog into the position. Instead, teach the behavior quietly until the dog consistently gets it right. Then, introduce the verbal cue along with the hand gesture, rewarding them when they respond correctly.

Remember, dogs learn through associations and repetition. By adjusting your teaching approach and focusing on body language signals, you can help your dog better understand and respond to verbal commands.

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Namita DigheShetty is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and the Manager of DogPlay in Vancouver. As a dog trainer, her goal is to help pet owners learn how to effectively communicate with their dog and how to understand how their dog learns. She tackles the root cause of behaviors rather than suppressing them. All skills her clients  learn are backed by science and focused on building a positive trusted relationship with their dogs. 

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.