More About Barking

Previously, we talked about teaching your dog to stop barking on command by using his pattern or melody. This method works best for barking that is frequent and consistant, such as barking at the Mail Carrier.

Now let's explore other barking factors.  For example. Does your dog bark when he's in his own backyard?  To figure out how to control the barking you need to determine why he's barking. 



If he's sitting at the backdoor barking, he probably wants to be let inside.  As long as you are OK with that and let him in under these circumstances, his barking is purposeful and he is a good dog! 

If he is barking at a squirrel he just treed, he is having fun.  Tell him what an awesome predator he is!  As long as he doesn't keep barking and barking and barking, this has simply been an enjoyable episode.  But, if he keeps barking, you may want to to use the previously discussed melody system to teach the stop barking command.

What if he's barking willy nilly?  No neighbor dogs are barking, there is no stranger standing in the driveway, there doesn't even seem to be any birds flying by, in short, he appears to be barking just to bark.  Then you may be dealing with boredom.  Maybe he's got nothing else to do to amuse himself, so he barks.  Give him a Kong filled with peanut butter, take him for a walk or ride.  Play with him.  A dog who is bored is likely to get in trouble.  Today it may be barking.  Tomorrow he may dig a hole in your flower bed.  Next week he may dig under the fence, leave the yard and be hit by a truck. What a terrible way to solve a barking problem.

If he's barking at you and does so habitually, let me give it to you straight:  your dog is a brat.  If you are charmed by bratty dogs, you'll be happy together.  If you would rather not be pushed around by your dog, obedience training is in order.  After he begins to obey you instead of trying to boss you around, that barking problem will likely be gone.  If a barking problem does develop- teach him a stop barking command with the melody system.

What if he only barks at dogs when he is outside or on the leash or in the car or where ever, you ask?  Recognize that he is noticing dogs.  Try to figure out why.  He may simply be protecting his territory.  If so, the melody system can reduce the barking.  Maybe he is lonely.  He's sees another dog and wants to visit.  Consider taking him to a dog park or arranging a play date with a friend's dog and see what happens.  Your dog may be gregarious, that's all.  Of course, if your dog behaves aggressively when close to another dog, clearly he is not looking to visit.  It is best that such dogs remain loners. 


Sometimes you can't quite figure why a dog barks at another dog, especially when on a leash.  Some will say it's your fault.  Your nervousness, or whatever, is being transmitted to the dog through the leash.  (Surprise!  I have an opinion on that and will no doubt share it one of these days!) Meanwhile, you can get the dog to stop barking by distracting him.  Making him sit and pay attention to you works well.  While he is busy sitting and waiting for you to whip out a treat the other dog has walked on, and/or your dog has forgotten about that dog because he is focused on you.  Repeatedly distracting him when he barks under those conditions usually extinguishes that habit.

Fluffy and the Kitten

FLUFFY THE DOGWALKER   by Lynn Benoit

 

 

Leaders Don't Bark

                                                                                                                                                                In a previous post, we talked about barking- specifically how to get your dog to stop barking.  The topic of barking is a noisy one.  Most of the noise is misconceptions regarding what barking tells us about the relationship between people and their dogs.

Let's talk about the notion that when you yell at your dog while he's barking that makes him think you are barking too. 

True   if you are just another pack member
False   if you are a leader


This difference is important.  And this is why some dogs don't listen to their people.  You can read all the advice you want on how to train your dog but if he doesn't see you as the boss, he isn't likely to do what you say.

Not sure how your dog sees you?  Hint.  When a stranger approaches the front door and your dog barks and barks at the door, he figures he has to take care of this situation himself.  If your dogs barks then looks at you, he anticipates your leadership.

Worried that you aren't a leader?  It's not too late to exert leadership even if you haven't before.  You'll have to boss your dog around.  Trust me, he'll still be your pal when you are the boss.

How do you lead?  Start simply.  Make him sit before he gets a treat.  If he doesn't sit, no treat.  Keep that up and he'll get the message.  When a leader gives a command it is obeyed.

 

Unnecessary Noises Dedux

Mr. Miles was my fifth grade teacher.  He was a tall slim man with long fingers and hair like the brunette Ken doll.  He was also one of my all time favorite teachers, probably because he was not boring even when you already understood the lesson, he explained things clearly when you didn't understand, and he had a sense of humor.

If I remember correctly, the noise I made on the day I learned to spell unnecessary was a snort.  Yes, the snort of a pig. 

Mr. Miles heard the snort.  His response: write one hundred times, "I will not make unnecessary noises in class".

Lesson learned.  Truly, I stopped making unnecessary noises in Mr. Miles' class.  Alas, twenty years later, old enough to know better,  I sat in a tiny cubicle making unnecessary noises.  This time it was Guinea Pig squeals.  You might say I expanded my repertoire.   My boss didn't have a sense of humor but his boss did.  (It seems my boss's boss found my Barney imitations amusing too.)  My boss was not amused and let me know in so many ways both direct and indirect.

As I graduated from the fifth grade, eventually, I graduated from the cubicle.  (Something for which I thank God everyday.)  Now, back to unnecessary noises.  This little tale ends happily in one of the happiest rooms in my house:  the aviary (also known as the dining room).

You guessed it. Bird calls. And I am once again expanding my repertoire, thanks to two exciting newcomers. 


Stay tuned for news about the Java Finches!

Fluffy and the Autumn Lawn

 

 

FLUFFY THE DOGWALKER by Lynn Benoit

 

Earthworms

Earthworms are the largest member of the class Oligochaeta.  Also known as Night Crawlers, the earthworm lives in the ground and seldom emerges during daylight.  This is because if the worm dries out, which is likely to happen under the force of sun light, death occurs.  The worm breathes through the skin and is best able to do so when moist. 

When the ground is flooded by heavy rain, worms come to the surface because now they are too moist.  The water surrounding the worm blocks (breathing) the emission of carbon dioxide through the worm's skin.  The worm's body retains this gas.  Thus the worms surfaces to release that gas by breathing. 

Worms live in burrows underground.  The burrows are created as the worm moves its muscular mucus coated body through the soil.  Worms eat leaves, both decayed and fresh, and assorted plant material.  They ingest soil too. 


Digestion

The gut, or food tube, runs from the mouth to the anus.  The mouth of the worm has no teeth or jaws, it sucks in food and dirt.  The material goes through the esophagus to the crop.  Next stop is the gizzard where tiny stones in the soil work to grind the food.  Then the material goes to the intestine where digested food goes into the blood stream and non digested material exits via the anus.

Worm poop, or castings, is beneficial to the soil thanks to minerals and improved texture brought about by worm processing.




The pointed end of the worm is the beginning, or head (left, in photo below).  The thick band about 1/3 of the way down the worm is the saddle, or clitellum.  The end of the worm (right, in photo below) is where the anus is located.

 

 

The outer body is made up of segments, or rings.  Muscles run all along the worm under the segments.  Outside of each segment are bristles made of chitin (the same stuff that makes up the exoskeleton of insects).  These bristles are like little appendages.  Indeed, if you have ever tried to pull a worm out of the ground and found it hard to do, it's because the worm was gripping the earth with those bristles.  Sometimes worms get pulled apart during these battles.  The worm can survive and regrow part of its body if not too much is lost.

 

The worm is a red blooded creature.  Five sets of blood vessels are each run by a simple heart.

 

 

Sex

 

Worms are hermaphrodites.  They exchange sperm to fertilize their eggs.  Two worms lie side by side their seminal vesicles (located near the head) pressed against their clitellums.  The sperm fertilizes the eggs stored in the clitellum.  The fertilized eggs are cocooned and left in the warm soil.  The baby worms hatch in 60-90 days.   

 

The life span of a wild earthworm is about 2 years. 



A Fluffy Halloween

Pop Rocks and the Aging Dog Walker

Over the years, my dog walking customers have given me some nice surprises.  Zucchini bread.  A fancy dog brush.  Freshly picked tomatoes.  Halloween candy.

Yes, Halloween candy.  Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I held a packet of Pop Rocks in my hand.  Hey!  This is the stuff that explodes when you drink it with Coke!  I've got some Coke at home.  I'm gonna try it!

Later, standing in my kitchen gripping a bottle of Coke, my middle-aged Sweet Tart generation mind spoke up.  Well now, since I'll be foaming at the mouth, I better eat my Pop Rocks and Coke over the sink. 





What a difference 40 years makes

Oh.  My tongue feels weird.  I think I'm too old for Pop Rocks.  Pass the Sweet Tarts.