Luvk9s April monthly newsletter

Volume 16 | Number 04

Spring is upon us - as is pollen season here in the south. Many of us suffer from pollen allergies this time of year, but what about our dogs? Can they be affected by pollen as well? The answer is yes, but their symptoms tend to be different from ours. While humans start sneezing and end up with a runny nose, itchy watery eyes and swollen eyelids, in dogs it usually affects their skin, Certain breeds also seem to be more sensitive to pollen than other breeds.

Click here to read more about how to recognize a pollen allergy and what to do about it.

CLICK HERE to see - adoption is a beautiful thing

Socialize your dog

Photo by Kay Malsbury

Most dog owners are aware of the importance of socializing your puppy, but it's also important to continue socializing your adult dog. And what better way to do that then to take your dog shopping with you!

You'd be surprised at how many stores welcome well-behaved pets. The list includes Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, The Apple Store, Bass Pro Shops, Harbor Freight and Tool, Cabela's, Orvis, Barnes & Noble, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Pottery Barn and even some Macy's stores. Dogs are always welcome in most pet stores.

Click here for more info and details about pet friendly shopping. It's always best to check and call before you go!

Capture and reward desirable behaviors

Clicker versus verbal markers

Photo by Doris Dressler

Training a puppy or newly adopted adult dog can be challenging. The reason dogs don’t do what we ask is because they may not understand what we want. We don’t “speak” dog and our canines don’t understand English.

To improve communication, we need a way to clearly let our dog know when he is doing the right thing - or when he isn’t and needs to try something else. This is where reward (and no-reward) markers come into play.

What are reward and no-reward markers?

Click here to continue.