All Things Dog Blog

Woofing Out Our Weekly Grab Bag Giveaway

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 09:15 AM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Weekly Surprise Grab Bag
Treats and a Toy for Your Best Friend

The warehouse is getting overstocked AGAIN. Odds and ends of dog toys and dog treats seems to have piled up. Finally last night I had an AHA moment. I have a big box of giveaway entries, the names on which all mean something to me. A promise. I promised each and every one of those people that entered my giveaways that their turn would come--someday.

Now, with extreme and unexpected growth, I find myself in need of using a more mechanized method for handling prize entries. The names written on slips of paper and drawn by hand each week simply isn't an option for me any longer. Yet the promise still lingers.

And so does the AHA! Here's what I plan to do with "The Box". Each week, for a limited time, I will select a toy and a treat or chewie for one winner. We'll call this the Weekly Surprise Grab Bag. When you receive one, you'll be surprised because you won't know what's inside. Hopefully Fido will enjoy the surprise too. What's not to like about treats and a toy, right?

So, there's no entry required. These prizes will go to readers who entered giveaways prior to June 23, 2011. Each toy and treat selected will be suitable for most any dog--Chihuahuas to Great Danes. Although the treats may occasionally specify "for seniors" or "for puppies", your Fido will still be able to enjoy the yummies, even if in smaller nibbles to control calories. Feel free to pass the grab bag along to a local rescue if you win and choose not to keep your prize.

The weekly Surprise Grab Bag Drawing will be done on Fido's Freebie Friday each week, until it ends. I will draw a name and announce it in the post, so be sure to check in each week to see if you may have won from previous entries. I'll begin this week, so mark your calendars!

If I am unable to contact or hear back from the announced winner by next week's Fido's Freebie Friday event, a new winner will be drawn. So don't let any grass grow under your feet. Be sure to get in touch at AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com and let me know you won the grab bag.

I'll need your address, and if you share your pup's size and age, I'll do what I can to assure the prize is suitable for your best friend. I'm looking forward to sharing some great goodies with my readers' dogs. Don't miss it!

Occasionally, I may substitute a "Dog Lover Surprise Grab Bag." Any comments on that idea? Hope to see you Friday when the "shopping mall of freebies" is busy adding to its inventory. Have a great week!

Ask the Dog Trainer: Controlling Barking in the Car

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 09:38 PM PDT

by Terry Lynn Cuyler, APDT, CPDT-KA

Dear Terry-

Why do my dogs bark at other dogs from the car? When we get out of the car, my dogs are friendly and enthusiastic about meeting other dogs and people. Can you help me stop the behavior that occurs every time we pass other dogs along the road or in a parking lot? It does seem to be more of a problem when the dogs are larger. Why???

Confused owner

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Dear Confused,

I sure understand how annoying it can be when your dog barks at passing dogs, especially if you have more than one. I am thrilled that they are friendly with dogs they meet once they are out of the car. We may not know exactly what they are attempting to communicate but listen to the pitch and number of barks and it may give you a clue. Are they frightened or wanting to play?

Minimize the visual stimulation and then teach them a Quiet command to regain peace in your vehicle. A Calming Cap by Premier can be worn to cut down on what they can see. Think of it like the blinders they put on racehorses. The Cap won't blind them, just cut down on the stimulation and have a calming effect. Get them used to it by putting it on and giving them treats.

Train a QUIET separately with each dog at home first, and then in the car – then train together. Do something you know will make the dog bark like knock on the wall, then say QUIET in a quiet voice and put a smelly treat right on his nose. Don't give it to him right away. He'll quiet to sniff and THEN give it to him. Say 'YES' as soon as he quiets and then treat.

Dogs can't bark and sniff at the same time. The timing of your "YES" marker tells him it's being QUIET that earns the treat. When you've got each one responding to QUIET by himself, then try together. That's harder because they egg each other on.

Now try it separately in the car and then together. This may require driving around the block a few times looking for dogs. This method doesn't use punishment to correct the barking, but teaches an alternative behavior. If they don't fight over toys or food, you could also try distracting them with food toys in the car.

A word about safety: Dogs and people are safer when dogs are secured in either crates or crash-tested seat belt harnesses. They don't interrupt the driver and they will be more secure in an accident. You can visit this link to see the crash-tested model that Tanner is wearing in the photo above. With adapters, it works with your seat belt connection, luggage tie downs in the cargo area, or other secure hardware under your seat. Safe travels!

Terry, Paws Prof