Talk About Barking Up the Right Tree

This is one of my latest Noozhawk advice columns. Mom and I really enjoy receiving all of your questions. So feel free to write in if you need suggestions about you and your dog. Sometimes all it takes is an unbiased ear...especially when it comes to barking! 

Dear Poncho,

I get so excited that I bark enthusiastically, very very loudly, over and over. I do it at many different times: in the morning when my owner comes to take me out, when she comes home from being away, or when we are getting home from a car ride. I bark very loudly, and sometimes in the car, right in her ear!

I really don’t like the habit, and my owner doesn’t know how to stop me. She tells me “No,” but I generally give it at least two to four more loud barks.
Do you have any suggestions other than muzzling me?

–– TJ

Dear TJ,

You are totally barking up the right tree! Barking is one of my very own favorite activities –– you can ask my mom, who’s a dog trainer. She’s probably heard every type of barking out there and says that my barks could “crack plaster.’’ I’m not sure what that means, but I’ll take it as a compliment.

It sounds like you bark for a variety of reasons –– like all of us dogs. It’s similar to humans talking, yelling and screaming for a variety of reasons. Personally, I appreciate your enthusiasm and zest for life.

I think we need to remind our humans what barking is: Want to read more? Click here to get directly to the rest of my answer...

I wonder if mom will ever stop barking when she's driving? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

House-training issues: Where's The Potty?

This was one of my latest from the Noozhawk advice column mom and I write for... 

Dear Poncho,

Could you tell me why my 13-year-old lab, who has never had an accident in the house, will sometimes pee when my parents watch her. They have a female lab and so she likes to stay there, I just don’t know why she discreetly pees when she’s there. It has happened only four or five times over many years, but it is four or five times too many!

Cheers!
Deena

I'm glad Deena wrote in about this, as it is a subject I'm familiar with.  Mom does too since she is the one that taught me where the best places to go are. We just got back from a trip where we stayed at a hotel. As soon as we arrived mom took me where she wanted me to go - and I did... then she gave me yummies, followed by going into our fancy room. Two rewards, just for fulfilling a biological urge! How cool is that!? 

Anyway, if you're interested in the advice I gave Miss. Deena, you can read it here on the Noozhawk site...just click here. 

I wonder when we're going to get to go to another hotel? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

This Dog Thinks Marathons Are Rewarding Too!

Here I am in Austin Texas with mom and dad. We're having lots of fun. Mom loves running... I do too, but for a different reason. I'm still kinda unclear why you humans spend so much time running when you're not actually chasing anything...although, mom says you have food and beverages all along the way...sounds like a fun time. I'd still rather be chasing prey, but hey, whatever makes your toys squeak...

As you can see I was helping mom out. Andrew is her number one coach and I am the trusty assistant. I make sure she's following the plan, and heading out the door...I don't allow her to sit at the computer working when I know she has to go out for a run. 

I went out on a few runs with her while she was training (that's why I'm napping). We both understand if you want to do well at something you need to practice. She trains hard with running, like her class students do when they practice with their dogs. She says that if you want to succeed at something, you have to practice. If you want to reach a goal, you need to prepare and practice to get there successfully. 

I'm off to go walk all over moms legs...she says it feels like a massage...I'm happy to oblige. I wonder when her next race is? I wonder if we'll get to go on an airplane again? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder. 

Counter Surfing: a great sport for dogs

I've received lots of questions from owners of inquisitive canines about "stealing" stuff off of counters and table tops... Hello? We're dogs! These are some of our normal traits, and what makes us dogs in the first place...If you wanted a pet that didn't do this, you should have considered getting a turtle or a fish... But, I'm glad to hear you adopted a dog...and I'm more than happy to provide some help. 

I've posted the full answer to my friend Baraboo's question on the advice column my mom and I write for Noozhawk, but I thought I'd provide a little info here too... You know, as my web marketing therapist girlfriend Lorrie says: "tell them once, tell them again, then tell them again"... so, here's a few tips on dealing with us inquisitive canines and the sport of counter-surfing: 

• What dogs are: our doggy DNA says for us to scavenge, hunt, sniff, explore ... That’s what we were born to do! Please remember this. The saying is "Release the hounds!" not "release the humans"!
• Management: “Lead us not into temptation.” If you don’t want us to get to something, then put it away! After all, if it’s within reach, and appears interesting, we’re going to investigate! Us canines have been known to be impulsive and lack self-control. Please refrain from leaving things out, especially if you’re not going to keep an eye on us. And if you do, kindly have the integrity to take responsibility for it! (Maybe mom will blog about her latest visit to the Sees candy shop in Santa Barbara).
• Play the exchange game, not the chase game: if we have something "illegal", exchange it for something better - this way we'll be happy to give it up, and not develop that other doggy hard-wired behavior of guarding our stuff! You don't really like that one either... And for goodness sake, does chasing us really help matters? Or just turn it into a different game? A game most inquisitive canines love. 
• Provide Legal Outlets: make sure they're items we like, not ones you think we should like. (Have you ever wanted to return a gift someone gave you?) As a bonus, reward us for making the right choice, this way, we’ll want to do that more often.
• Teach us a special behavior: "Drop” comes in handy. You say “drop”, your dog lets go of the item, and you give them a treat ... pretty simple. It's just the reverse action of picking things up with our mouth...instead of retrieving we're dropping something. 

I used to counter-surf too...but mom and dad quickly figured out how to solve their problem. Bummer for me...I guess I trained them to pay attention. I wonder if the surf will ever be up for me again? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder...