Dane Doings | January 2021 |
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Swisher
Male 18 Months Old
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Maxine
Female 7 Years Old
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Here's To Another Successful Year |
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It is so easy to focus on the less-than-good that occurred over the past year, but that's not what pet rescues do. We see the silver lining in every storm cloud and use it as inspiration.
To that effect, despite being unable to attend any events for the majority of the year in 2020, 59 Great Danes found their way to forever homes through our rescue. Several of those dogs overcame illness or injury to thrive again with their new families.
It is because of tireless work of our volunteers and donations from supporters like you that our Organization is able to make an impact in the lives of these dogs and the families that adopt them. We are so incredibly thankful to have you on our team.
To Contribute, Click One of the Tiles Below
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For everyone following our brave boy's arduous journey, we've got some exciting updates since his returning from his trip to Cornell University Veterinary School of Medicine. If you're not familiar with Diego's inspiring story, feel free to learn all about him by clicking Here to View His Sponsor Page.
1-1-2021
It Diego is 13 days seizure-free. He had a total of 12 seizures in 2020. The goal for 2021 is to have even less.
Since receiving the diagnosis of Polymicrogyria ( & Ventriculomegaly), his neurology specialist removed the use
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of Levetiracetam from his daily drug arsenal. At first, we were reluctant to accept such a bold change. Since it's removal, we've seen a number of changes with Diego. The biggest change has been solid poops! Through 2020, Diego was receiving tylan powder twice a day with his meals to help manage his bowel movements. The poor guy was incapable of having a solid stool on his own, but not anymore!
Another big difference is the nature of seizures. While Diego has experienced 5 total seizures post - MRI, these seizures have affected him very differently. And have been very minor compared to previous ones. I also think he's more aware of himself, and can tell when he's about to experience one.
He had bloodwork taken last week (results pending) and Dr. H was blown away with the behavioral changes that he noticed right away. Diego trotted into the room and jumped onto the treatment counter in pursuit of the treat jar! All things Diego has never done before.
Setting the medical aside, he continues to be the Diego everyone has come to love or hear about. He recently visited an adult home and the residents were amazed at his size and were impressed by his low-key demeanor. What's not to love?!
If you would like to support Diego in his journey to wellness, please visit his sponsor page HERE.
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It's been a long year with a significant lack of social interaction and the same goes for our canine companions. So, as the vaccines are distributed and we are forced to readjust to the fact that sweatpants are no longer business attire, our dogs may need a refresher on how to properly greet new & familiar faces. For some assistance, check out the article included below from the American Kennel Club. |
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Why Dogs Greet by Jumping
Dogs repeat behaviors that earn them rewards. And few things are more rewarding to your pet than your attention. Similarly, other family members, visitors, and strangers can all reinforce the behavior too. Even negative reactions like yelling at your dog or grabbing their paws are still attention and can reinforce the behavior. For many dogs, pushing them away is simply part of a wrestling game.
To eliminate jumping from your dog’s greeting repertoire, you need to eliminate the associated rewards. That means managing your dog so they don’t get the chance to practice jumping while you teach them an alternative and more appropriate way to greet people.
How to Train an Alternative Greeting Behavior
If you ignore your dog when they jump, theoretically their jumping behavior should eventually stop. After all, it’s no longer being rewarded. However, every person you encounter in your home or on the street isn’t going to know those rules. And even worse, that’s incredibly frustrating for your dog. They need to be taught what to do instead.
How you want your dog to greet people is up to you. You might simply want all four paws on the floor, or you might want your dog to sit or lie down. But remember, you need to tell them what TO do, not just what NOT to do. For example, sit for greetings is an easier rule than don’t jump.
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How to Train
Four on the Floor
You can teach your dog to keep all four paws on the floor when they greet people by placing treats on the floor during greetings. The idea is to prevent your dog from jumping by rewarding them before they can even think about leaving the ground. The following steps will teach four on the floor:
- With your dog on leash, have somebody approach your dog.
- Before the person gets to your dog, toss several treats on the floor.
- While your dog is eating off the floor, have the person pet and greet them.
- Before your dog is finished eating, have the person back away again.
- After several repetitions, repeat the steps above but this time extend the greeting, continuing to toss treats on the floor the entire time.
- Once your dog can keep all four feet on the ground, let them greet the person before you place the first treat on the ground.
- As your dog begins to understand the rules, you can feed fewer and fewer treats until the greeting is the only reward.
The trick to this technique is being fast with the treats. You need to anticipate your dog’s jumping behavior and provide the goodies before it can occur. If you’re too late and the dog jumps, have the person turn and walk away as you stop feeding the dog. In time, your dog will come to realize that four on the floor brings attention and treats while jumping brings nothing.
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How to Train Sit for Greetings
Another appropriate greeting behavior is sitting for pets and hellos. Like the training method above, your dog will learn that when their bum is on the floor, attention comes their way, but when they get up, it all stops. The following steps will teach sit for greetings:
- Tether your dog to a doorknob or piece of furniture.
- From several feet away, ask your dog to sit. When they do, calmly approach. If they stand up, turn and walk back to your starting point and ask for the sit again. If they stay sitting, go up to them and quietly praise and pet them. If they stay sitting, keep greeting. As soon as they stand up, turn and walk away.
- As your dog begins to understand they need to sit to get your greeting, you can make your approaches more and more exciting.
- Once your dog has mastered sit for greetings with you, go back to step one using friends and family members.
Remember, the more your dog practices sit, the easier this exercise will be for them. There’s no point in teaching sit for greetings if your dog is still struggling to sit without distractions. Sit should be your dog’s way of saying please. Having them sit before going outside, getting their dinner, and so on makes sit for greetings easier to train.
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How to Prevent Jumping While You Train
While you’re teaching your dog an appropriate greeting behavior, you need to manage their behavior so they don’t get the chance to practice jumping. For example, if your dog has a strong “Go to Your Place” cue, you can send your dog to their mat or crate anytime the doorbell rings. Alternatively, you can place a baby gate at your entranceway so your dog can’t get to visitors. Putting your dog on leash whenever guests arrive can also help you prevent jumping.
Another management trick is keeping toys and treats at the front door. You can throw the reward away from the doorway to occupy your dog’s time while your visitor enters. Or your guest can use the treat or toy to reward your dog for greeting appropriately.
It can be particularly hard to prevent jumping when you’re walking your dog. You can’t expect strangers to know or abide by your rules. Until your dog understands appropriate greetings with friends and family, avoid greeting strangers. Instead, get your dog’s attention with a “Watch Me” cue or by squeaking a toy and let the stranger walk past. When your dog is ready to try greeting people on the street, be sure to tell people the procedure. Ask them to ignore your dog if your dog doesn’t follow the rules. In no time, your dog will understand how to say hello politely whether at your front door or out on the sidewalk.
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Tails of Success
December Adoptions
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