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The art of polite leash walking
Dirty dozen
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features your manners 44 Cancer support 22 Mind The art of polite How stone massage leash walking
Spot spooked? 26 Is5 steps to easing your dog’s fears
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recap 28 Recall What’s changed…and what hasn’t?
our 32 Enter Amazing Animals Photo Contest
Send us your best shots and you could win!
re-treats and 40 Canine spaws get your dog back in shape
animal wellness
Fitness centers and spas offer more than rehab
can help
cancer 46 The cooking challenge Healthy and tempting cuisine for animal patients
for 54 Searching missing links
The connection between cancer, genetics and the environment
support for 60 Holistic chemo and radiation How to make cancer treatment easier on your companion
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46 Click on this icon to visit featured links steps to 62 4choosing a joint
health supplement
It’s all in the ingredients
and silver 64 Gold More than precious metals
signs of cancer in 68 10 dogs and cats What to watch out for
70 Teaching Tess
How clicker training can work for cats
dirty dozen 72 The 12 toxic chemicals to avoid
on wheels 74 Dogs How two dogs have
transformed lives with their "disabilities"
bone to pick 81 AChoosing the right
raw bones for your animal companion
gift 86 Mali’s One dog’s inspiring battle with cancer
stuff! 90 Cool Take a look at what we
found at the Backer’s show
attack! 94 Rear Cats that bite their tails
animal wellness
Mind your manners
The art of polite leash walking by Anne C. Watkins
O
h boy, it’s time for a walk! If your dog is leash trained
Motivations for good behavior
and well mannered, you’re in for loads of fun. But what
Visualizing the behavior you want from your dog is crucial, says Pat Miller, Certified Pet Dog Trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. “Know what behavior you want,” says Pat, who also authored The Power of Positive Dog Training and owns Peaceable Paws Dog and Puppy Training. “Have a good solid image in your mind of how you define polite leash walking.”
if she hates the leash? Nothing brings a walk to an
unpleasant end faster than a struggling, choking dog. Fortunately, there’s good news. You can teach that unruly pooch to mind her manners by following the suggestions in this article.
Understanding what motivates your dog is another key to teaching successful leash behavior, says Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Amy Shojai. The author of 21 dog and cat care books, including PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems, Amy suggests using a clicker in conjunction with motivational incentives. Treats “Dogs need to have an incentive,” Amy says. “For many, it’s a treat; a really, really scrumptious-smelling something
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that they get no other time. You make it exclusive so that if your dog is lunging ahead or pulling on the leash, every time he checks in, every time he looks at you, you click and give him that really wonderful, wonderful treat.” Toys and scents While the treat method works well for some dogs, others have different motivators. “Some are not as treat-motivated, so you have to find other things, like a particular toy,” adds Amy. “Border collies are notorious for single-mindedness as to balls or Frisbees. For some of the scent-oriented dogs, a scent will work better.” Verbal praise Dr. Suzanne Hetts, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and the owner of Animal Behavior Associates, suggests you use another motivating tool along with the treats – a happy, encouraging voice. “When you are first training a puppy, the generous use of treats as well as your voice encourages him to stay on a loose leash,” she says. Stopping or backing up According to Pat, some dogs reward themselves by dragging on the leash. “Her reward for pulling is that she gets to go where she wants to go. To prevent her from being reinforced, animal wellness
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