Even people with little to no experience with dogs can recognize the qualities of a “good dog.” They rarely bark or jump up on people, stay off of the furniture, and remember when it’s time to go outside for their bathroom needs. Likewise, “good dogs” don’t run away, chase after wildlife, and do not attack people and other animals. 

We’d love to think that dogs are simply born this way, but the truth is, well-mannered dogs have been trained to behave in certain ways around very specific stimuli. Don’t worry—the keys to effective dog training and proper socialization are within reach. 

Plays Well With Others

It’s not their fault that dogs are sort of, well, clueless when it comes to the rules of humans. They have to be taught the right ways of doing things. Once they understand the expectations of their people, they can claim their rightful place in the household hierarchy (which may or may not include a spot on the couch!).

More Than Commands

Basic obedience is critical to establishing your dog’s manners. Understanding and demonstrating a mastery of basics, such as sit, stay, down, heel, come, and more, give dogs and their owners a powerful sense of safety and security.

Reward-based or positive reinforcement dog training gives dogs significant pieces of the puzzle. While older training methods relied on punishing bad or unwanted dog behavior, positive reinforcement training offers dogs valuable opportunities to learn the right ways to please their owners. When they behave well, they are given small, but very tasty, treats.

Don’t Waffle

The single most effective way to train a dog is through an unwavering, consistent approach. Owners are tasked with constant awareness and observation of their dog’s behaviors. If you want them to understand that good behaviors equal rewards/treats, it is essential to monitor what they’re doing.

Finally, dog owners must ignore “bad” dog behavior. If they pick up any reaction, including negative attention, the action that you’re not pleased with could inadvertently become reinforced.

Can You Handle It?

Dogs that are handled from a very early age have the capacity to understand various types of interactions. Thus, it’s really important to their social skills to be experienced with human touch, exposure to other animals, certain noises, and various environments (once they’re fully vaccinated, that is!).

Cool, Confident, Comfortable

Dog behavior can sometimes hinge upon how stimuli is framed. If they hear a siren, for example, it may be jarring at first, but they look to their owners for cues. If the owner is calm, they learn that the sound is okay. It may take some soothing and reassurance at first (and fear from specific stimuli may never go away entirely), but dogs have the potential to react in the ways their owners do. 

What This Means for Dog Behavior

A dog that receives regular opportunities to learn and show their skills is a happy dog. Generally speaking, dogs that have been trained and socialized are well-adjusted, calm, open, and flexible. Others may be prone to separation anxiety, stress, and discomfort in the presence of strangers.

At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital we are always happy to talk about promising or puzzling dog behavior traits. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

The post How Training and Socialization Lead to Good Dog Behavior appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Responsible pet owners know that their furry, feathered, and scaled friends need to be seen by the veterinarian regularly – after all, those vaccinations are pretty important! 

Pet wellness examinations are about so much more than shots, however. Getting to know your pet through a detailed health history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing is an essential part of keeping your pet’s healthy for years to come.

The Basics

Establishing good habits early on in your pet’s life makes it easier to keep up with their well being for the long term. This is true for all pets, including exotics. 

Pets age much more quickly than humans, which is why adhering to your pet’s scheduled wellness visits is so important. We recommend bringing your pet in for a wellness exam once per year until they reach about age 6 or 7, after which twice per year is advised.

In a pet wellness exam, the following areas of pet health are assessed:

• Nose-to-tail physical exam – Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s ears, mouth, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system at each visit. 

• Dental health – The majority of pets have some form of dental disease by the time they reach age 3. Untreated dental disease can have serious health consequences for your pet, which is why your pet’s oral health is assessed and discussed at each wellness visit.

• Nutrition/weight management – Maintaining an ideal weight for your pet through proper nutrition and exercise is an important part of pet wellness. Sudden weight changes can also indicate underlying health problems.

• Disease prevention – Vaccinations and parasite prevention are crucial to your pet’s long term health. Your veterinarian may also recommend certain diagnostic disease testing, such as fecal testing, bloodwork, or urinalysis.

• Behavioral concerns – Your pet’s wellness exam is the perfect time to bring up any issues or areas of concern you have regarding your pet’s behavior or personality. Nipping problems in the bud will reduce stress for both you and your pet, and lead to a happier, healthier life.

• General monitoring – Age, size, and breed all predispose pets to certain health problems. Seeing your pet regularly will enable your veterinarian to catch and treat these problems as they arise.

Pet Wellness at Home

Your daily, weekly, and monthly pet care routines are the backbone of pet wellness. You know your pet best, and your careful observations of any “off” behaviors, personality changes, lumps, bumps, or anything else out-of-the-ordinary can give us a head start in diagnosing a problem.

At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, we care deeply about all of our pet patients. If you need help getting into a pet wellness routine, please contact us. We are here for you!

The post Building an Incredible Foundation with Pet Wellness Care appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.