Tips On Avoiding Doggie CCL Injuries

It's officially summer and that means lots of outdoor time with our pups! Recently, I've noticed a rise in CCL injuries in dogs. The CCL, or Cranial Cruciate Ligament, is responsible for stabilizing the knees in the back leg. This injury is very much akin to an ACL tear in humans. If you're not an athlete yourself, you're still probably familiar with this injury if you watch football or basketball on t.v. These knee ligaments are incredibly important and when a dog injures one, it can mean surgery and total bed rest for up to a month.

Some breeds are naturally predisposed to these injuries (Retrievers, Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc) and sometimes these injuries happen because a dog is out of shape. Overweight dogs are more prone, as are dogs that only get strenuous exercise occasionally. The best way to combat CCL injuries is to keep your dog at a healthy weight and use caution when exercising. 

Vets are very good about telling owners that their dogs are carrying too many pounds. If it's been awhile since you've taken Rusty to the vet, one of the ways you can check your dog's weight is by squeezing his sides a little. You should be able to feel the outline of his ribs when you press down. If you have a fluffy dog, make sure to dig your fingers underneath the fur to check. If you can't make out any ribs, chances are that your pup needs to lose a few. 

Other important ways to prevent this injury are to warm up your dog before exercise and to exercise your pup often. It's quite common for us as owners to try and squeeze in all of our dog's play time on the weekends. This can be a bit rough on our pups. It's kind of like a football player being in the Sunday game without practicing all week or warming up. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise on a regular basis. Start with a daily walk and build up to a walk plus a few minutes of fetch or hide-n-seek. When you take him for a long Saturday hike, let him walk on even ground for a good ten minutes or so. Also, be careful when going from your air conditioned car or home straight into vigorous activity in the summer heat. Warm muscles and ligaments perform better than cold ones. Try a short walk before a raucous doggie playdate. And be sure he stops for water! Some dogs get so excited for their weekend activities that they overdo it and forget to drink enough. 

If your pup does succumb to a ligament injury, there is a good website that has a lot of information on the subject... check out www.dogkneeinjury.com

Be careful this summer and don't forget to have a blast with your furry pals!

How To Adopt The Right Dog For You

Spring is rapidly approaching and that means our animal shelters are about to be overloaded with new litters of dogs and kitties.  If you're thinking about adopting a new pet, this is the perfect time of year!

There are lots of things to consider when choosing your new pet though, especially if you want to adopt a dog. According to the ASPCA, about half of the dogs that enter shelters are owner surrenders. That means lots of people chose the wrong pup or they weren't prepared for what owning a dog entailed. Here is a quick list to help you choose and keep the right dog for you:

1.) How big is your living environment?

If you live in an apartment, you'll want to choose a small to medium pup. Likewise, if you live in a house without a backyard, you'll also want to choose a smaller dog. Big guys need space to stretch their legs. If you absolutely love big dogs but live in a small space, feel free to adopt one but be prepared to exercise your dog in multiple lengthy sessions outdoors each day. Senior dogs also make good apartment pets as they don't require as much exercise or get into as much mischief.

2.) What climate do you live in and where will your dog be kept? Keep in mind that thick coated dogs do not manage well in hot climates. While Siberian Huskies are beautiful, they wilt in hot weather and can actually become ill in the heat. If you live in Arizona or Florida and are planning on keeping your dog primarily in a back yard during the day, choose a short coated dog like a Bully breed or a Dalmatian. They will thank you for it. 

3.) How much time do you have to devote to your new pet? This is a big consideration. Puppies are adorable but they require a lot of time. If a member of your family stays or works at home during the day, puppies may be a good choice as they need to go outside every couple of hours. If you work a 10 hour day however, you should probably consider a dog that is at least 5 months old. Your dog can hold his urine an hour for every month he is old. So, a three month old pup needs to go out every three hours and dogs of all ages need to go outside to relieve themselves at least every five or six hours maximum. That means that you or a dog walker will need to come to your home midday to take your dog out. Puppies also require lots of attention. They chew on things and get into the garbage, etc. They also need lots of training and boundaries to be set for them. All in all, LOTS of time is involved. If you have a very busy schedule, choose an adult dog.

4.) How much money do you have to spend on a pet? This is something that not a lot of people talk about, but dog food isn't cheap and neither are vet bills. Pet expenses tend to vary from city to city. Before getting a dog, ask a friend to estimate how much they spend on their dog a year. Also keep in mind that your dog may need some training in the beginning, so check what doggie classes or a trainer might cost you. I hate to even bring this issue up but in the last couple of years shelters have reported people surrendering dogs because they couldn't pay the vet bills. There is no shame in making sure that you can provide for a dog before adopting one. 

5.) How energetic are you? You'll want to choose a dog whose energy level matches your own. If you are walking through the shelter and you see a dog who is jumping up and down repeatedly against his crate, this guy is probably high energy.  That means he'll require lots of walks or hikes and maybe even some running to keep him from going stir crazy or causing trouble at home. You'll want to be honest with yourself here. If you love to exercise then a high energy dog will make an awesome companion! If you are a couch potato, he is going to annoy the heck out of you. 

Also, keep in mind that a dog may not show his regular energy level if he's been in the shelter awhile. Many dogs tend to get kennel cough once admitted to the shelter. Kennel cough and other minor bugs from the shelter are easily curable but tend to make dogs lethargic.  I've had quite a few people tell me that their dog changed his energy level once he came out of the shelter because he healed from whatever little illness he caught inside. The shelter is also overwhelming for dogs mentally and they tend to become more introverted over time.  It's best to ask the shelter volunteer what the dog was like when he was admitted or how he behaves when he's taken outside, etc. Is he bouncy and jumpy, moderately wiggly, or mellow and calm? For the seniors among us or those with disabilities, I highly recommend calm dogs. Also, please don't overlook older dogs. They make fantastic companions! They love to snuggle and nap, they are usually housebroken, and they generally know all the basic rules of living in a home. You also get the piece of mind of knowing you saved a dog that many people would overlook.

Most importantly, if you are ready to adopt an animal, please check out your local shelters and rescues. They have all different types of dogs, from purebreds to the smartest and most lovable mutts. You might even check with your local dog trainers to see if they offer discounts for those who have adopted their dogs from shelters. I do and I'm willing to bet others do as well.  Every year 2.7 million healthy pets are euthanized in the U.S. shelter system. By adopting, you are saving a life!







(Love For Paws offers 50% off your first dog training session if you've adopted your dog from a shelter or rescue.)

Stealing Moments To Train Your Pup

We all lead busy lives and sometimes it’s difficult to steal some time to work with our beloved pups. We are great at giving snuggles and making sure all the basic needs are met. However, when our lives become hectic, training our dogs is the first thing to fall by the wayside. Here are a few quick ideas to offer your pup the mental stimulation she needs.

1.)  Before You Leave In The Morning– This is one of the most hectic parts of the day but you can do a couple things for your pup before you leave the house. You can take a minute and hide treats around the house for your pup to find after you leave. You can also leave your dog with an interactive toy such as a food-dispensing ball. These neat contraptions allow you to put your dog’s kibble inside. She then has to push it around so the food falls out one bite at a time. If you use this, you will want to test it first at dinner time to make sure your doggie can figure it out. Both of these activities are great at providing a little mind work while you’re away.

2.)When You Get Home – Most of us here in the city take our pups out for a walk when we get home. The next time you go out, bring a clicker and some treats and work on a few commands. You can practice “Sit”, “Stay” and “Watch Me” easily on leash. You can also throw a treat a few steps ahead and say “Find It”. Now, you are turning the afternoon walk into an easy training session! If you’re unfamiliar with the clicker, the point of it is to bridge the gap between your dog performing a command and when you treat her. In training, timing is really important. If you are a second late, you might be rewarding another behavior entirely.

3.)While Relaxing In The Evening – If you are like most Americans, you probably spend a little time in front of the old boob tube in the evening. Commercial breaks are a great opportunity for bonding with your pup. Take those two or three minutes and practice more trick training. Before you start your show, bring your bag of treats to the coffee table. When the commercials start, use the “Come” command to call your dog over and start practicing all sorts of tricks. Besides the ones mentioned above, "Shake", "Rollover", "Around", "Down" are all good ones to try. Remember, trick training isn’t just for show. It flexes the muscle of communication between you and your dog. The more you use it, the more your dog will pay attention to you when you need her to do so. The mental stimulation provided by these exercises also makes your dog less bored and less likely to strike out in mischievous behaviors. Always be sure to end your little training sessions with a command your dog has mastered. This builds her self confidence and puts a positive spin on the whole experience!