Does Your Dog Lack Confidence?

Friends of mine rescued a Boston Terrier named Bridgett. She had a number of health issues that had to be treated and a broken leg as a puppy had left her with very little self confidence.
A good holistic diet helped her behavior, as did Bach Rescue Remedy. But she still preferred to hide under furniture, never really participating in the wonderful things her new life had to offer.
Bridgett was 'conditioned' by the people caring for her while her broken leg mended to believe she should remain hidden and protected.
She needed confidence building and one of my recommendations is my favorite confidence building game which I call 'Find It'.
Take a favorite treat, set it a few inches away from the dog and ask him/her to 'find it'. Praise him when he goes to it and reward him with the treat. Each time, move the treat farther away until finally it can be hidden out of sight (under a table or a pillow for example) and the dog has to really work for his reward.
This develops confidence as it is the urban equivalent of hunting down and securing a food kill, it appeals to his basic instincts and makes him feel like a viable member of the family pack unit and not a passive pup meant to stay at all times hidden from sight in his den.
I have used this successfully with a number of dogs and one of the keys to success with this game is a lot of praise when the treat is found.
My Standard Poodle so loved this excercise that in time I could hide a treat really well and keep him occupied looking for it in the house for as long as 30 minutes!

Canine 4th of July Safety

You can see from this pic that Puff is ready to party! So am I, and both of us could use a little recreation.
Every 4th, I think about an abandoned dog named Sammie who used to come to my home to be let in because she feared firecrackers. And every 4th, I would let her in to spend the night...

She had been thrown from a speeding car across from my place, yet she remained hopeful that the previous owners would come back.
Dogs are funny that way....
I put food and water out for her while she held a vigil on the corner she was dumped on. Each time she heard an approaching car she jumped up eagerly, but it was never the owners she so sadly missed...
After several weeks of this, my neighbor began to care for her. She wasn't fenced in because it was of the utmost importance to her to keep watch on that corner. Gradually she became a neighborhood fixture, escorting nannies and children down the street, and each time a car approached she would move from the persons' left side to the right, coming between them and the vehicle.No one knew exactly why she did that but I had my suspicions..
One morning at 5 a.m. Sammie threw herself at my front door, raising a huge ruckus. I opened the door to find a very frantic Sammie and a neighbors Lab/Setter mix writhing on the ground, pawing furiously at his face. I went to the dog and pulled a chicken bone out of his throat, then returned him to the neighbor from whose yard he had escaped. He thanked me profusely but I told him, it was Sammie he needed to thank.

Sammie passed away, she was old when she was abandoned and died of age related issues. The owners she so badly hoped would come for her never did... I miss her so much every 4th of July. She knew she could count on me for Bach Rescue Remedy which helped her fear of firecrackers. Brave little dog that she was, firecrackers were just too much for her.
Fireworks aren't pleasant for any dog. Make sure yours is in a safe place when the firecrackers are lit. And when they aren't lit, make sure your dog can't reach them as they are deadly if ingested. Putting your dog in a crate with a favorite chew toy is best if you are going to be gone or outdoors shooting fireworks. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July Celebration.

Save Money on Rescue Remedy

Everyone knows that I am adamant that we all need Bachs' Rescue Remedy at close hand for our canine companions...well now you have no excuse not to buy some, click here for 2 dollar off coupons at Mambo Sprouts http://coupons.mambosprouts.com/online_coupons/offer/FN39DL

and if you haven't already, read my post from way back on my Canine Emergency Kit. http://dogsdollarssense.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-canine-emergency-kit.html