Each week on "It’s A Dog’s Life," we address a topic that’s relevant in the world of dogs. More often than not however, the best shows are those where listeners participate and call in for help with their specific doggie dilemmas.
Here are a few from last week:
Mariann from Brooklyn: My Maltese Max seems to be suffering from 'seasonal depression' due to the all of the grey weather and snow-- should I take him to the vet?
I agree that whenever your dog is not acting ‘normal,’ you should consider a trip to the vet to rule out medical or health issues. However, since Max is eating and toileting regularly, I’m sure his doldrums are merely a case of boredom and a little ‘cabin fever.’ Mariann can help Max out of his shell with simple, fun indoor games that will give him exercise and mental stimulation. If your dog is like Max, play follow the leader through the house or hide-and-seek, spend time doing basic obedience training, and consider teaching your dog some new tricks, or to fetch his toys by name.
Sharon from California: Can you offer some tips for how I can get my lab to stay on a paddle board? He has a tendency to want to jump off in the middle of the ride.
Water and dogs can be a fun mix, but always practice safety first. Even good swimmers should wear a floatation device. Most of these come with a top handle, which I suggested might help Sharon keep hold of her lab and steady him on the paddle board. If you want your dog to participate in activities with you, always create no-pressure, positive associations. Rewarding your dog with his favorite treats while you patiently desensitize your dog to new situations works great to do just that!
To keep her dog on the paddle board, I also suggested that Sharon smear peanut butter, cream cheese, or something equally pasty (and tasty!) on the board to keep her dog interested, busy and focused on staying on top, rather than diving in for a swim!
Chris from Syracuse: My pug jumps up on the couch and barks through the window at anyone walking past the property-- how do I make her stop?
I asked Chris to look at that scenario from the dog’s perspective. The dog sees someone walking by, the dog creates a huge commotion, and the passerby walks away from the property. In the dog’s mind, he says “that worked – I’m good at this – I’ll do it again tomorrow!” The dog’s behavior is inadvertently reinforced day after day. If your dog is a nuisance barker, you must break that cycle of reinforced behavior. Management is key-- if you can’t be present to re-direct your dog when he reacts to someone passing by the property, take away his opportunity to exhibit the behavior. In Chris’ case, I suggested she take away her Pug’s opportunity to look out the window. In other words, move furniture away from the window or close the curtains so the Pug can’t jump up to see out the window. You can also use baby gates to cut off the dog’s access to the rooms where the problem occurs.
Have a question for Greg? Tune in to "It's a Dog's Life" every Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and call 866-675-6675 with your questions. You can also email Greg.
From: mariann tepedino | 2/1/11 at 5:02 pm
yes , im maxs mama and i really enjoy your show, the few days the sun was out max seemed his usual self, but today its dark out and dreary so i thinks its the snow blues, hes just like me, and yes we are both eating,lol greg i love tuning in every week to hear all the information and the other callers problems,i look foward to reading the blog.max has one orange toy we named ''the pumpkey''get the pumkey max we can play that, it never gets old and he likes catching on the fly, thanks max and mariann from brooklyn
From: Molly Keane | 2/1/11 at 8:17 pm
Greg is so cute and knows so much about the dogs. He should have his own show on tv.
From: Karen from South Louisiana | 3/29/11 at 4:20 pm
How can I get my mixed breed dog to stop digging, digging and digging everywhere in my yard. He is a medium sized mixed (terrier/spaniel/lab/whatever elase) that is a year old. He's destroying my yard.
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[...] notable runway walkers included Greg Kleva (Host of It’s a Dog’s Life on Sirius XM 110 – Martha Stewart Radio) and Nikki Moustaki (award winning writer and founder [...]
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[...] dominate the animal-care fields, I’m compelled to share tips from “one of the guys.” Greg Kleva is the host of It’s A Dog’s Life on the Martha Stewart Radio Blog, a Pet Travel Safety [...]
From: Carol | 4/7/12 at 1:11 am
Greg - I love listening to your show. Can you please help with a little Maltese that barks a high pitched bark at every sound she hears. From a neighbor's car door to a drawer closing in another room. If the door bell rings or someone comes in the door she goes crazy barking. We now have a new granddaughter that is startled and cries when the dog barks. We got a "Thunder Coat" for her which calms her some but she still barks at everything. She is sweet little dog other than her barking. Help!
From: Puppy Training Tips From 5 Celebrity Pet Training Experts | Animal Fair | Wendy Diamond | Pet lifestyle Expert | Animal Rescue Advocate | 4/17/12 at 3:58 pm
[...] dominate the animal-care fields, I’m compelled to share tips from “one of the guys.” Greg Kleva is the host of It’s A Dog’s Life on the Martha Stewart Radio Blog, a Pet Travel Safety [...]