Puppy Love

Many of us bring home a second puppy without making plans for introducing a new puppy to dogs that already live there. Adult dogs often welcome a new canine pal but it’s important to try to choose compatible pet matches. Sometimes, resident dogs may feel naturally protective of its turf. Proper introductions are very important to start them both off on the right foot.

Mama, carry me too!

Recently, Sisi had a pug puppy stay with her for a few weeks. Her own Lucy isn’t the most sociable dog, so making sure all the correct steps were taken to introducing them was quite vital. Here are some the things that Sisi did (with helpful advice from trainer Vivien of Rao Canine).

1. Introduce the dogs on neutral ground.

When you bring another dog home, your dog might feel threatened and protect his territory. Meeting somewhere neutral helps ensure that your dog does not view the puppy as an intruder. Both dogs should be on a leash and allowed to meet and greet. After that, they ideally should take a walk together.

Lucy and Hugo met at the car park on neutral turf. They were both on leashes, allowed to sniff and get comfortable with each other, and then Sisi brought them up to the house. Initally, Hugo was placed in a play pen so he could get used to all the scents in the house without being overwhelmed. Later on, he was allowed to explore.

You mean this is not my house?

2. Personal space or timeouts.

Both dogs should have their own personal space where they’re not forced to interact if they do not want to.

Dogs get overstimulated when they play and sometimes fights break out. Any growling from Lucy meant she was immediately put into a time out. Whenever Hugo was overly jumpy and didn’t listen, he was put back into his play pen to calm down.  Knowing your dog is important so whenever Sisi felt that Lucy was tensed, she separated them both for a short while before letting them be together again.

How’s jail treating you, Hugo?

3. Supervised play time.

As with any two dogs playing, supervision is always a necessity. Puppies need to learn how to play, how to read other dogs’ body language and follow instructions from their owners.

Lucy and Hugo played. They liked chasing each other and Lucy was gentle with him. But he also annoyed Lucy  by jumping up in her face repeatedly, biting her ear and trying to pounce on her while she was sleeping. Although Lucy was tolerant and didn’t growl or snap, she was uncomfortable – each time Hugo jumped at her, she froze and looked away. So Sisi would call Hugo away and praise Lucy for not reacting.

A common problem with the new puppy is that they don’t yet understand many commands, and when Sisi tried to call him away, he either wouldn’t respond, or he would run away and then come running back in full force. Which would frustrate Lucy further. To solve this, Hugo was kept on a leash during play time, so Sisi could teach him how to play appropriately and also to reassure Lucy that she was safe. Hugo got lots of praise for not jumping, and Lucy got lots of praise whenever Hugo was beside her. On good days, they lay side by side for a few minutes.

Stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine k?

4. Be careful around food, treats and toys.

Food, treats and toys are often triggers for aggressive or possessive behavior. It is important to supervise the puppy around these items and up to the owners to teach them boundaries, especially if the resident dog has resource guarding issues.

Lucy and Hugo were fed separately the first few days but within sight of each other. Sisi also made sure Hugo learnt right from the beginning that his bowl would only be placed on the ground if he was seated and calm. Once he could do that, Sisi started feeding them side by side, and she made sure Hugo learnt not to go near Lucy’s bowl (she has mild food aggression).

Calmest dog gets fed first.

Lucy wasn’t aggressive or possessive about her toys, but there were a few incidences where Sisi felt she was being very mean! When Sisi threw a ball for Hugo, even if Lucy was far away or sleeping, she’d sprint to get the toy and run away with it. Once, she even carried her toys from her toy box one by one up onto the sofa where she knew Hugo wouldn’t be able to reach them!

5. Individual love and attention.

Sometimes, we focus so much on the new dog that we forget about our first love. Both dogs will need some individual time and attention from us. It is also important the the new puppy bonds with the owners and not prefer its canine sibling, so that training will be easier.

Sisi made sure to give Lucy enough time and attention even though there was a new puppy in the house. That way, nobody felt neglected.

Can I please borrow your ball Lucy?

Truly Pawsitive Boarding!

Contributed by Sisi Soh
Last month, I was away in Japan for over two weeks and got Alan from Pawsitive Mind to look after Lucy. Alan specializes in home boarding (boarding at the dog’s own home) because he believes they cope and do better when they are in a familiar environment. Lucy and I both suffer from separation anxiety. She had run away from my friend’s house once while I was away and I was petrified she’d do it again. So I was pleased about leaving her in the comfort of home. Alan also had his two border collies with him so Lucy had lots of canine companions to play with as well.

Lucy chilling with Alan’s two dogs, Hyper and Junior

Most of my previous trips were spent checking my phone for updates, or talking to her picture (hey, I know you do it too, stop judging!). Alan was so efficient in his Lucy updates that I hardly worried about her. He sent me videos and photos of her almost every day and it looked like she was having a good time. I had also left him strict instructions on her million and one allergies, and to shower her with extra TLC. Lucy got lots of cuddles and love when I was away.

My happy girl being carried by Alan.

Lucy also has skin problems that require daily care and Alan went the extra mile by sending me pictures and videos of her having medication applied, and updated me frequently on the condition of her skin.

Mama, you should go away more often!

The best part about Lucy boarding with Alan was the “boot camp” she got as a result. Positive dog trainer Alan was familiar with Lucy’s behavioral problems (barking at the door and growling at over-excited dogs) and he worked with her extensively on these issues while I was away. When I got back, he told me how to continue with the training. It’s still a work in progress but it was good to see the improvements she made. Lucy usually growls a little bit during the initial greeting with her friends because she doesn’t like it when dogs get excited, but Alan worked with her on this, so when I took Lucy to meet the TFT crew after I returned, I was surprised to hear no growls at all! Awesome work!

With Alan, I also didn’t worry about Lucy getting lax in her manners. Usually, when it’s just me that leaves the country and she is left behind with my boyfriend, I come home to a naughty Lucy that has forgotten her rules and boundaries, such as not rushing out the door, waiting for he food and walks calmly, etc. Alan is strict with his own dogs about these basic rules so I knew Lucy would be in excellent hands.

Only seated and calm dogs get to have their leashes put on to go for a walk.

Calmest dog gets fed first.

Pawsitive Minds is also good about returning your home to you in the same condition as you left it. The house was vacuumed and mopped and sheets and towels were laundered.

I highly recommend Alan from Pawsitive if you’re ever away and in need of boarding for your pooch. It is the first time I have traveled with such peace of mind since having Lucy.

If you make your booking with Alan by end of September 2015 and quote “TheFurryTales”, you enjoy 10% off boarding and dog walking services! You won’t regret it!

Alan mobile: 94897602
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pawsitivemindsg
Email: pawsitivemind@gmail.com

The More the Merrier?

One of the perks of having a crazy dog group is having the assurance that your dog is well-taken care of when you go for a holiday. Dog sitting can be a lot of work, but it can also be really fun. The Furry Tales dogs often have sleepovers at each others’ houses, and because we have a bigger circle of (dog crazy) friends outside of The Furry Tales, there is usually someone overseas at any one point who will need help with their dogs.

Twinkle the Golden Retriever went to stay with Sisi and Lucy recently. Lucy is quite intimidated by dogs that are significantly bigger than her and won’t play with them. But she loves Twinkle. So when Twinkle had her sleepover, Lucy was ready with her best toys and PJs. Some days, Lucy’s neighbor, a cocker spaniel named Mochi, also joined in the sleepover…which meant that Sisi had no space to sleep on her bed.

Having an extra dog in the house can be pretty chaotic if you do not set strict boundaries. Especially if the house is small and the dog is big. Twinkle and Lucy can play 24/7 if they are allowed. But for the human’s sanity, they are not.

Two blondes and a Lucy.

Olive and Leto resting

Here are some things we like to know before we take care of another dog, and tips we’ve all compiled to get through a week or more of dogs taking over your house (and life).

BEFORE BOARDING

1) Do the dogs get along?
We avoid taking care of dogs that do not get along with others. It can be stressful for the dogs as well as for the humans.

Excuse me, you’re interrupting our HTHT.

Olive loves Kafka

2) Is the dog toilet-trained?
The first thing we ask is if the dog is toilet trained. It’s no fun to have to mop and clean up after a dog that pees and poos around the house. When a dog is not toilet trained, we have to make the extra effort to take it out every few hours. It will also need to be confined in a smaller section of the apartment, e.g. the kitchen, and be supervised during all of its free time.

Beau poops where he’s supposed to poop

3) Does the dog chew up things?
The second thing we want to know is if the dog chews up things while the humans are out. To save our furniture and belongings from being destroyed, again, the dog has to be either confined in a room or a crate. Crate training is essential if we were to put the dog in the crate. Vivien teaches the dogs that board at her home to go into the crate and relax in there if they are puppies or known to exercise its mouth indiscriminately.

         Olive shows us what not to do

4) Does the dog have separation anxiety?
If the dog barks excessively, the neighbours will not be happy. We will have to teach the dog to be quiet when it is alone. Usually, the visiting dog will have a companion and that helps to reduce the anxiety. Again, crate training helps to deal with separation anxiety. Giving your dog food only in the crate or when you are not around teaches it to like being in the crate.

Want to come in for tea?

5) Does the dog have any special dietary requirements?
Occasionally, the dog may have to take medication or supplements. To help with the process of giving your dog medication, provide soft treats like cheese to coat the tablet with.

Hi! It’s time for my vitamins please!

DURING BOARDING

1) Tire them out with walks.
Twinkle is a big dog and Sisi lives in a small apartment, so the dogs don’t actually have a lot of space to play in without knocking something over. When you want well-behaved dogs at home, they need to be tired so they’ll be more likely to rest or play with lower energy at home. Bring them on a long walk or let them run off leash in a park so they’ll expend their energy before you take them home. Recently, Tanya boarded a young Beagle named Watson, who was raring to go 24/7 and full of curiosity and excitement. Her own dog, Muddy, on the other hand, is quite the opposite – super calm with low energy levels. Exercising them on walks helps significantly if you encounter such a situation.

    Watson says “Calm? What’s that?”

Watson, far right, learns to relax and have a coffee at Toby’s Estate

2) Dogs pick up bad/good habits from each other.
We should always be mindful of what the dogs do so we can encourage good behavior and discourage the bad. Twinkle has an adorable habit of getting super excited when she greets you at the door. She will grab whatever she sees around her in her mouth and walk around the house with it, butt shaking and tail wagging with excitement. After a couple of days, Lucy started doing that too. So Sisi would come home to two excited dogs at the door, greeting her with shoes and socks in their mouths!  Lucy also used to have a mild issue of resource guarding. She couldn’t share a water bowl with other dogs and would growl if they came near. Eating together with Twinkle (who has a mild and even temperament) gave her confidence that her food wouldn’t be stolen, and she now doesn’t have any problems drinking or eating with other dogs.

Twinkle and Lucy greeting Sisi with toys in their mouths

3) Have a time-out area.
Our dogs can play non-stop if you let them, and it can sometimes get rowdy. When it does, it can help to separate them for a little while. Even if they are not going overboard with the play, it is also good to separate them so they can get some rest. Just like children, dogs sometimes need to be told when to stop and take a break.

We’ll be good.. we promise

4) Get to your bed first!
Sisi is one of those owners that let dogs sleep on their bed. If you’re like her, and you’re pet sitting a BIG dog, it is best to strategize and get to your bed first! There was one particular night, Sisi’s boyfriend got to bed late, and he found his usual spot taken. So he slept on the couch. Of course, the other crazy dog ladies do not have this issue because their dogs are not allowed onto the bed.

No space for humans on the bed

5) Be strict and set boundaries.
Your dog will obviously be very aware of the boundaries you would have set for him/her since puppyhood. But your furry guest won’t be. As mentioned, dogs learn from each other and you don’t want your own dog to start forgetting your rules. So we choose to impose the same boundaries and limitations on the other dog(s).

One of the rules all of us practice is that during mealtime, dogs are not allowed to be excited. The calmest dog gets to eat first. Same goes for not rushing out of/into open doors – calmest dog gets to leave and enter the house first.

Another useful tip is to establish that the dog that lives there is the leader. For Tanya, Muddy’s bed was off limits to Watson and when Muddy gave warning signals that the guest dog was invading his space, he was allowed to do so. Although at the end of the day, you are the leader and you have the right to determine what is allowed in the house.

Having more than one dog in the house is definitely more work, but it can be double the joy and fun as well. It will also build your confidence and skill as a dog owner (especially as you figure out how to scoop poop with one hand and hold two or more dogs with the other hand, and prevent them from playing!).

Olive and Leto fell asleep while respecting boundaries

Vanilla chocolate side by side.

6) Get the dogs to help with chores.

Having an extra dog in the house can mean more housework. Get your dog to help you load or fold the laundry!

       Lucy’s laundromat

I was trying to fold this blanket but it ended up on my head

Let us know if you have more tips for dog sitting and how your experience has been!