Learning to train your dogs can be a very frustrating and arduous tasks. One of the most frequent complaints I get from my pet sitting clients about their dog is that they can’t seem to stop them from jumping up on people. Nobody likes a jumping dog! If you have a cute little Shih Tzu it might be tolerable, but if you have an 80lb Lab, it’s not so nice especially if they jump on children. If they are continually jumping, it might be that you are inadvertently reinforcing the behavior.

Pat Miller, the training editor with The Whole Dog Journal, has 5 suggestions to help curb a jumping dog.

1. Interrupt. If your dog starts jumping on people, simply remove him from the situation. Just as you would put a child in “time out”. You could use a 4-6 inch tab on his collar (or cut up an old leash) for these situations.

What a good dog!

2. If you have a situation that you know will trigger his jumping, such as people coming over, put a leash on him before they come over. If you see that he’s going to jump, hold him back to prevent him getting the reinforcement he likes before the initial contact. You may also want to use gates, pens or crates. Be creative.

3. Educate your friends on how you would like them to behave to the dog jumping.

6 things for friends to know:

• Tell them to greet the dog before he jumps,
• turn and step away until he sits or has four paws on the ground, once this happens, you may greet the dog,
• Ask the dog to sit and pet him a lot so he knows that it’s better to sit and get some love, rather than jumping and getting scolded,
• If your dog is on a leash, back away until he sits and give him some love. If he keeps jumping up, stop the love and take another step back. Start the love again only if he sits.
• If you see that he’s going to jump, throw a toy in another direction before he jumps.
• Finally, walk away through a door or gate and keep your dog on the other side. You can bet he’s going to hate being away from you.

4. Train your dog when other people aren’t around. Reinforce the practices with your family members even if you have to use the leash to hold him back.

5. Finally apologize for your dog jumping on your friends. Sometimes when my clients pick their dog up right after work, they might have nylons or a nice suit on. You don’t want them jumping up and damaging or soiling someone’s clothes. Offer to pay for any damage if that happens to your friends.

Training your dog takes a lot of patience, but if you are consistent and reinforce good manners every time, your hard work will pay off.

Good luck and let me know how this works for you.

Chris Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

http://www.waggysecopetproducts.com
http://www.waggyspetsitting.com

Beeeeep, Beeeeep your alarm clock goes on.  You slip out of bed, put on your clothes, brush your teeth, grab something to eat and head out the door to start your day.  You’re first stop is with Fred the cutest Cocker Spaniel you’ve ever seen.  You let him out to go potty, give him a smooch and a hug.  Feed him and your off on your walk.  It’s a beautiful spring morning – the birds are singing and the sky is bright blue without a cloud in the sky.  You put your headphones on and listen to your favorite songs.  Finish up with Fred and you’re off to another home.  This time it’s with Oscar the Cat who hisses at you when you try to come close.  You keep trying until he finally lets you give him a quick rub behind the ears.  Clean the litter box, feed him, water the plants in the back yard and your off again.

This is the life of a professional pet sitter. Of course the weather may not be as clear and the cat may never let you touch him, but essentially, that’s how it goes.

Since I started Waggy’s Pet Sitting a few years ago, I’ve discovered three things:

1. Dogs will always go potty on my rugs instead of the tile

2. Dog bring out the absolute best in me, and

3. Pet owners will go to any length to make sure their pets are happy and healthy

So many people tell me I have the best job in the world. I get to play with dogs and cats all day. Well, it is fantastic, but it’s like anything else; it’s definitely a business too. Actually, it’s one of the fastest growing industries in the United States despite the recession.

So, do you think you have what it takes to be a pet sitter?

I’ve had my own pet sitting business for over 4 years and I can tell you from experience that it can be one of the most rewarding careers you can have.  Over the course of this series, you’ll not only know if you still want to be a pet sitter, but you’ll know what direction you want to take your business in.

We’ll explore the different services you can offer and get a real life pros and cons of each.  From in home pet sitting, daycare for dogs to boarding services in your own home.

Being a pet sitter can have its challenges, so it’s important that you have the right qualities to make your business flourish.

Now go give your dog, cat or lizard a big kiss and we’ll talk later

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting

Imagine you’re walking in to a beautiful day spa and what’s the first thing that hits you?  That wonderful smell of  Essential Oils.  Immediately that sense of calm surrounds you and you can just feel the tension leave your body.

Over the course of thousands of years even before Man knew how to cook or make fire, they knew which plants were poisonous and which would help in the aid of certain physical ailments such as digestion and diarrhea.  From there, they gradually discovered the healing effects of plants and flowers.

Lavender Farm with Doggies

These plant and flower oils, or better known as essential oils, are the main ingredient in aromatherapy products today.  Essential oils are tiny droplets in many plants that are most commonly used for medicine and cooking.  They’re highly odorous, very volatile and actually have the consistency of water rather than oil.  Nowadays, manufacturers extract the oils by distillation.

How does this relate to your pets?  The same essential oils that have been helping Man all these years can help your dog too.

As a pet sitter, I have heard about many conditions that plague pets such as motion sickness and hyperactivity.  I’ve listed 4 common ailments and how aromatherapy oils can help to make your precious pup feel better.

1. Motion Sickness: Among their many uses peppermint and ginger can help in the aid of  nausea and vomiting.  Ever wonder why they say to drink ginger ale if you feel nauseous?  A few years ago, my family and I went to Hawaii and boarded a boat to go snorkeling.  I forgot to take my motion sickness pill and needless to say, got very sick.  They actually gave me fresh ginger and hot water.  I have to say that it did help a lot.

2.  Doggie Bad Breath:  What else but pure peppermint oil.  Much like your own tooth paste, this oil mixed with organic sweet almond oil will make Fido’s breath smell minty fresh!

3.  Horney Dog Syndrome: How many times have you been embarrassed by your dog at the dog park when he tries to mount every dog in sight?  I see it happen all the time.  A blend of organic sweet almond oil with essential oils of sweet marjoram, lavender, and lemongrass  will have a calming effect on your dogs body and mind.

4.  Calm Down and Chill: A blend of Lavender, green mandarin, clary sage, and ylang ylang help to promote feeling of love and security and calming at the same time.  It’s great for training to keep them focused and help rescue dogs feel a little less lost and insecure.

I hope this helps and for a more complete list  of  oils and their uses, please check out Natural Essential Oils List.

Be well

Chris L Wagner

www.waggysecopetproducts.com

In the years that I’ve been a pet sitter, I’ve seen many kinds of dogs, but there are always those dogs that look like it’s been sewn together like a quilt.  The head is from a Lab, and the legs are from a Bassett Hound.  Don’t laugh, I’ve seen a lab/basset mix and it was very cute!

My clients and I have had many discussions on what kind of dog they have.  As you may know, there is a Dog DNA Test that can be performed to find out where your mixed breed dog comes from.

Emma is one of my furry friends that stays with us.  Can you guess what she is?  After she did a DNA test, she found out that she was primarily a German Shepherd, next was Boxer and Bulldog!!  I guess I can see a little boxer??

Emma

How the DNA Tests Work

In 2004 there was a public research project that unlocked the sequencing of the canine genome.  They were trying to eliminate inherited canine diseases, but from that research, they  discovered that they can find out what breed your dog came from.

By using genetic “markers” known as SNP’s (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and micro satellites they were able to test hundreds of different DNA markers in over 100 purebred dogs to get a unique profile for each breed.  Using a cheek swab of skin cell DNA from your dog, they plug that into their  database of markers and by using algorithms, come up with the best match for your dog.  That’s it in a very teeny, tiny nutshell!

3 Reasons to take the Dog DNA Test

1.  To find out with a high degree of accuracy the closest match for your dog.  Usually stated by Primary Breed which has 50% or more of the matched markers for that particular breed.  The secondary breed(s) might have a 20% to 50% match to your dogs DNA, and a 3rd category might have a 10% to 20% match.  Each company has their own      variations and uses their own percentages.

2.   To determine dog behavior characteristics.  If your dog is always chasing after rats, you might find that they have some terrier in them.  Or your dog is always patrolling your back yard  and making sure it’s secure, he may have some German Shepherd in him.  It’s a useful tool to figure out a training and behavior plan for your dog.

3.  There are always those inherited dog diseases that come with certain dog breeds.  This   will best help you to manage their nutritional and exercise needs and live a longer, healthier life.

3 places to go to find out more information

1.  Wisdompanel.com by Mars Veterinary.  They are a division of the MARS corporation that make pet and consumer foods.  Yes, it’s the candy people.  Their test are the most comprehensive with about 170 breeds in their data base.  The cost is $79.99.

2.  Canine Hertitage.com a division of MMI Genomics Inc which provides identity and parentage verification services for the AKC, UKC (United Kennel Club) and the PKC (Professional Kennel Club), uses over 100 breeds in their tests.  In 2001, they participated in the most advanced genomic research in the world  which lead to the   sequencing of the canine genome.  Their price is $119.95

3.  BioPetVetLab.com. Their philosophy is that 92.5% of mixed breeds are covered by 62 breeds, which means that if your dog is outside their breed list, it won’t necessarily recognize them.  Their cost is around $59.95

All of these sites are very informative and tell you which breeds they test for and where to get their kits.

I hope this was helpful to you and although no test is 100% accurate, it sure is fun to find out what your patchwork quilt is make out of!

Chris L Wagner

Reflections of a Dog Lover and Mompreneur

http://waggyspettipsandtales.com