Have you ever trained your dog to come when called, and then when you call him, he completely ignores you?  You are not alone!  There are many reasons why your pup is not responding to your command.

AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® Director and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Mary Burch, Ph.D., breaks down why this might be happening and what you can do to fix it.

• More training is needed.  Your dog might not be ready to be off the leash in wide, open spaces and needs more systematic training.  Go back to the basics and try again.

• Competing reinforcers. Your dog might be perfectly well-trained to come to you when you call him, but if your sporting dog is in a field where there are birds, or you have a sight hound in the woods where there are rabbits, you probably lost the competition for your dog’s attention.  It is important for you to know your dog, and that includes knowing when you need to leave the leash on.

• No reinforcement. When you call your dog and he comes to you, it is important to praise or reward him.  No reinforcement leads your dog to not wanting to come to you.  You can reinforce your dog with a food treat or plenty of praise.

• Not understanding the dog’s needs. Sometimes your dog will not come when called because you are rushing him.  He may need to run, sniff around a bit, or search longer for a good bathroom break spot.

Based on information supplied by The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Just like humans, it is unhealthy for a dog to be overweight.  Excess weight endangers the heart, lungs and joints and makes a dog more susceptible to other ailments.  The AKC offers the following feeding rules every dog owner should keep in mind.

• Keep in mind the three stages of development when preparing a diet and exercise plan for your dog:  puppies eat more and are highly active, adult dogs have normal routines and food intake, and older dogs might require special diets and limited exercise.
• Feed a quality puppy/dog food.  Quality foods have good protein sources and are limited on fillers. Quality foods cost more but your will feed less because your dog will get more nutrition for the food. This is not only healthier for your dog but also will decrease your daily pickup chores.

• Set Regular Mealtimes.  An irregular eating schedule can affect your dog’s digestive system and ultimately cause chronic digestive disorders.  Digestive problems can usually be improved by a change in diet.

• Dogs don’t easily adjust to a time zone change or to daylight savings time.  To prepare your dog for a time change, gradually adjust her eating schedule over a few weeks.

• It is important that your dog’s water and food bowls are kept in the same place every day.  If you have more than one dog, make sure each dog has its own food and water bowl.

• Don’t worry about your dog getting hunger pangs between meals.  Your dog only needs one or two meals daily if it is fed on a regimented schedule and receives a balanced diet.

• Set a 15 minute rule.  If your dog has walked away from its bowl, it has probably had enough to eat.  Discard the remaining food, since exposed dog food is unsanitary.

• Resist giving your dog people food.  A begging pooch can be hard to resist, but your dog doesn’t know how dangerous the mal you’re eating can be.  Grapes, raisins, chocolate, onions are among some of the foods that can be toxic to your dog in large enough quantities.  Sometimes excessive fat in meats or dairy products can cause digestive distress.

• Don’t over-treat or over-supplement your dog.  Too many treats will lead to unhealthy excess pounds.  Too many vitamins can also have unintended consequences.  Ask your vet about whether your dog needs any extras before starting it on a regimen of supplements.

Based on information supplied by The American Kennel Club, Inc.

On a dark and stormy night as the thunder rolls in, do you find your dog cowering under the table? You’re not alone!

Fear of loud noises, including thunder, is a common issue with dogs. Your puppy can develop sound sensitivities between the ages of two and four, and they tend to get worse with age. Dogs that are afraid of thunder usually are triggered by some external force. They can sense that a storm is coming by the increasing wind or even the darkening sky. Here are some tips on how to calm your dog’s fears.

• Try a desensitization program. Get a tape recording of the sound of thunder and introduce the noise at a very low level, gradually increasing the volume and giving praise when your pooch does not run and hide from the noise. This does require a great deal of time and patience on your part.
• Divert your dog’s attention from the noise by playing a fun game with her at the right moments to turn the bad triggers into positive ones.
• See if your pup will eat her favorite treats during the storm. If she does, then giving her one will help keep her engaged when the thunder strikes.
• Your veterinarian may suggest treating your dog with tranquilizers or herbal mixtures before a storm approaches. Sometimes these work, but they are not guaranteed.

Based on information supplied by The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Whether you choose to get a puppy from a responsible breeder or adopt a German Shepherd dog from a rescue group, the first two weeks for you and your new dog are a critical period of adjustment.

If your dog had a previous owner, this time could be particularly stressful for him or her. Here are some tips for a smoother transition for new dog owners.

• Introduce kids and other pets separately. It may be too overwhelming if you introduce your new dog to your home, children and other pets all at once.
• Watch the diet. To avoid stomach upset, keep him on the same food his previous caretaker was using and slowly transition him to the food you want to use. If you can’t get the same food, mix rice into his new food for the first few days.
• Keep a close eye on him or her. Do not be surprised if there are accidents. Housebroken dogs can still have accidents in a new home due to stress and confusion. Help them learn where to go by taking them outside often and watching them when they are inside to avoid accidents or other unwanted behaviors.
• Permanently identify your dog with a microchip. If your dog came with a microchip, you must update the owner information with the microchip registry. It will take time for the new dog to recognize his new surroundings as his home and you as his new best friend. If he gets loose during this critical time, capture may be very difficult.
• Enroll in training classes and have fun! After about two weeks, your new dog’s personality will really start to shine and it’s a good time to start exploring activities that you and your dog can enjoy together. Training classes are valuable not only for teaching dogs basic manners and problem solving, but they will teach you how to communicate with your dog and help you bond.

Based on information supplied by The American Kennel Club, Inc.