Teach your dog safe canoe skills
Q: We adopted a 10-year-old yellow lab and are going camping this year. We’d like to go canoeing. We don’t want to leave her locked up in the car or chained to a campsite while we’re out on the water. How can we train her to stay in a canoe with us? We don’t want her becoming scared or jumping out in the middle of a lake.
A: You absolutely should not leave a dog in a car or chained to a tree. Cars become deadly furnaces even on moderately warm days. Chaining isn’t a much better option. Your dog might spend the time barking and annoying other campers. There’s also the real risk of theft. It happens more than people realize.
This leaves three options. Train the dog to behave in a canoe. If that is not possible, take turns having a family member stay with the pet, or use a boarding kennel.
Boating skills aren’t difficult to teach if you start easy. Establish new routines by practising on dry land well before the trip. Steady the canoe and give the dog an opportunity to practise safely. Teach it to get in, sit in a designated spot and get back out in an orderly fashion.
Next, develop the dog’s sea legs. The bobbing of a boat throws off their sense of balance and frightens some animals. Take walks out onto floating docks to begin this part of the training process. Docks can often be found near camp- grounds and waterways. Encourage the dog to walk out onto the dock. Use food treats to ensure your dog has a positive experience.
Only when the dog is ready should you take to the water. Take short canoe trips along the shore and keep dog training as the only item on the agenda.
Finally, remember to wear safety gear, even during training sessions. Life jackets keep both pets and their people safe.
Q: When I go to work, the dog has free run of the house. But she sometimes misbehaves — chewing things she shouldn’t and having the occasional accident. She knows she is being bad, and even gives me guilty looks. Why does she insist on doing things she knows are wrong?
A: Dogs can certainly look guilty but that does not mean they feel guilty or were bad. Several clever research studies have looked at this situation. In these studies, owners exit the house after telling a pet to leave forbidden food alone. Some dogs eat the food while others do not. When the owners return, they are advised if the dog behaved or mis- behaved. But they are not necessarily told the truth. Innocent dogs are labelled as guilty and vice versa. The results came back quite clear. Dogs grovelled when owners scolded the dog or looked disappointed. Guilt had nothing to do with the animal’s reaction. Innocent dogs grovel if their owners look upset. Don’t jump to conclusions where your dog’s motives are concerned. You can’t read minds. Fix the problem instead. Give the dog plenty of physical and mental stimulation before heading to work. Tired dogs sleep away the time. Get your dog on an eating and bathroom schedule so it doesn’t have to go midday. Hire a dog walker if you’ll be gone for a prolonged period of time.
Use a crate if necessary. They keep dogs safe and out of trouble if used appropriately. Finally, remember that bored dogs get into trouble. Give your pet something to do. Treat-dispensing toys that keep dogs busy can help them pass the time in an appropriate manner.