Keeping Dogs Outside: A Recipe for Behavioral Issues

Many times I am asked the question, “Why should my dog not live out side?” The question should be, “Why is it important for my dog to live inside?” Over time, most dog professionals have evolved the school of thought on this subject. The key is understanding that dogs are social, pack animals. They require adequate social interaction with other pack members, their human partners, to properly function as a cohesive unit with psychological stability.

When dogs don’t live inside, they have a much greater tendency to function as an extended pack member; more often they are their own pack and behave in a manner more like their counter part the wolf. With limited contact with humans, setting expectations of normal social interaction and function becomes unfair. Your dog will develop his own patterns of behavior based on his natural system of communication, that does not align with yours, because he’s never been taught. Then when placed in seemingly normal circumstances of interaction like with kids, friendly strangers, unfamiliar friends, new family members, or other animals, they are so stressed and under skilled that they make mistakes in judgment and bad decisions. At best these mistakes are little accidents or awkward situations, but often they result in injury to people, other animals, or the dog itself. They may bolt; only to be hit and killed by a moving vehicle, or ultimately this behavior will get them discarded, sent to a shelter because they seemingly can no longer be lived with.

Given the fact that they are social animals, they require social interaction and leadership to prevent behavior issues from being learned. When dogs live inside a home with their human partners, they have opportunity for proper rules, structure, and boundaries to become better companions and family members. When dogs don’t live outside, their risk for social alienation that creates unwanted behavior is greatly reduced and then can be effectively taught the needed skills for functioning as the family’s companion. These skills are needed not only for reliable associations but also a good quality of life for your pet.

The list of reasons of why it is important for your dog to live inside could go on and on. The bottom line is, you chose to bring a dog into your life and with that decision you made a commitment to enter into a relationship and fulfill the other party’s needs beyond food, water and shelter. If you love this entity, and if the dog is actually going to have an opportunity for a decent quality of life beyond your back yard, living in the house is a necessity. Otherwise the dog is merely living to exist.

Dean Miller
Professional Obedience Specialist & Behavior Therapist
http://www.dogscalifornia.com
(281) 380-8175

Free Feeding vs Scheduled Feeding

Feeding schedules for dogs vary from household to household and many owners struggle with making the decision that works for them.  At LSBR, we encourage feeding dogs on a schedule, as free feeding can introduce behavior issues, and will mask potential health issues.

Reasons why free-feeding is not encouraged:

• Dogs that normally get along fine and without issue may fight over food, edible treats, etc.
• Overweight/underweight dogs – difficult to monitor food intake
• You have no idea who ate and what and how much (if a dog is not feeling well, you will know sooner rather than later because he’s off his food)
• Food is fresh
• You won’t encourage pesky insects to come to dinner
• House training is much easier (for those that don’t appreciate unexpected surprises).  Dogs that eat at regular intervals have bowel movements at regular intervals.

How do I change our routine?  What if my dog doesn’t eat his breakfast?

Its’ doubtful your dog will miss more than a couple of meals unless he’s ill.  Your dog will learn to eat when food is provided.  Offer a good-quality dog food (cheap dog foods create more waste and can cause other health issues) at regularly scheduled times.  Give the dog 10 to 20 minutes to eat, and then remove the food.  Offer another meal at the next scheduled time.  Don’t offer in-between snacks/meals.

To teach a dog to eat at meals and not expect free-feeding, you have to take away the free food and feed only at mealtimes. You have to be completely consistent about it, so that the dog doesn’t think it’s “just for today.”

Food is a huge motivator to use in training. Pieces of the dog’s regular food are easiest on the stomach for this purpose.

Remember that food used as treats still counts in the dog’s daily intake, and adjust meals to allow for it. You might even decide to feed some meals as treats. When a dog is in need of physical or mental exercise, hiding the food for the dog to find can be just the ticket.

You can also use a toy such as a Kong or hollow raw bone to make mealtime more fun. Anytime you put your dog into a crate is a good time for a treat, whether it’s just a small piece or a food-stuffed Kong/raw bone.

A good time for a treat reward is when a dog is doing something you like and want to see the dog do more often…..such has going in to his crate.

Building a No Kill Community

On February 2, we told you about No Kill Houston’s efforts to convert the now high-kill Houston shelter into a No Kill shelter. No Kill Houston is happy to announce their upcoming seminar, Building a No Kill Community, featuring Nathan Winogard, Director of The No Kill Advocacy Center.

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, Mr. Winogard will teach us methods which have been proven to lower kill rates in shelters. Our goal is to save over 80,000 animals each year in Houston. With your help, it is an attainable goal.

The seminar will last from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm at the South Texas College of Law in Houston. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.geocities.com/nokillhouston/Seminar.html. If purchased before March 27, tickets are $14.99. The day of the event, it is $20 at the door.

Please join us for this educational event and help us in our venture to save thousands of animals in the Houston area each year.

Nursery Update

As some of you may know, LSBR was recently blessed and happy to welcome 12 baby boxers into our family. The beautiful Brenna gave birth to the pups about one month ago. Brenna was brought into the LSBR program with heartworms and her foster family wasn’t aware she was pregnant. Imagine the surprise when their family grew by 12 more!

The healthy little pups will be ready for adoption starting March 15. At this time, there are only 3 left that aren’t spoken for: Shemp, Skittle and Reese. These little boys are praying everyday that when March 15 comes, they have forever homes to go to like their brothers and sisters. They don’t want to be left behind.

If you have room in your heart and your home to give these little guys the life they deserve, please visit http://www.lsbr.org/info/display?PageID=6230. There you will find pictures of their adorable little faces along with an adoption application so you can begin the process of adding a new love to your life and another heart to your home.

Be a Boxer Valentine

We’d like to thank all the sponsors, participants and volunteers who helped to make this year’s Poker Tournament a great success. We had a great time and thanks to all your help, we were able to raise funds to continue our mission to help our Boxer friends find forever homes.

We have many dogs in foster homes right now that are searching for the perfect owner. If you’ve been thinking it’s time to add to your family, please look to rescue groups first. Our dogs are current on all their vaccinations and have been spayed or neutered. They are waiting patiently for someone to show them that even though they’ve been previously rejected by their owners, they still have a long life of love and happiness waiting for them. If you open your heart and home, they will fill it with love and happiness for all their years.

Please join us for this month’s Mobile Adoption on Saturday, February 14. We will be at Willowbrook PetsMart, 17723 Tomball Parkway in Houston from noon until 3pm. Come see Bonnie, Clarabelle, Frenchy, Lupe, Mardi, Teddy and Willie, who are all anxiously awaiting a loving family. You can learn about all of them ahead of time at our website, www.lsbr.org. Our next Mobile Adoption won’t be held until March 14, so make plans to attend this Saturday and be one of these beautiful dogs’ Valentines.

No Kill Houston

No Kill Houston is a group of volunteers on a mission to reform The City of Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (B.A.R.C.), also known as the Houston City pound. Animal shelters in the City of Houston kill approximately 80,000 healthy and treatable animals (i.e. those with minor illnesses, such as ringworm) EVERY YEAR. The Houston Chronicle has been running stories on the atrocities at B.A.R.C. including the hiring of an unlicensed veterinarian, allowing animals to suffer in pain for hours, etc.

One of the goals of No Kill Houston is for the city to meet with No Kill expert, Nathan Winograd. Mr. Winograd has integrated this program in many other cities and has an abundance of ways the city can save more adoptable animals at B.A.R.C. through volunteers with no cost to the city. In October 2008, the City of Houston agreed to hire Mr. Winograd to perform an assessment of B.A.R.C. and citizens of Houston raised the money to pay for Mr. Winograd’s fees.  However, the assessment contract has been stalled since that time and is still waiting to be signed.

We are asking that you and your friends PLEASE send an email to Ms. Austin, Arturo Michel, the Mayor and City Council today asking them to sign the contract immediately. A form letter has been created for you to use, if you wish. Further information and the form letter can be found at www.nokillhouston.com.

Also, LSBR urgently needs your support. As of last week, there were almost 20 boxers and 50+ other breeds that need rescued. Without financial support and fosters, we cannot save them.  Please consider donating today to help us save these animals in need.  The average cost to LSBR to rescue a boxer is $600 and that doesn’t include food, toys, crate, etc.  No amount is too small.

Please go to www.lsbr.org today to donate on-line.  You can also send a check to:

LSBR

P.O. Box 541286

Houston, TX  77254

Finally, please support the LSBR Poker Challenge Fundraiser on Feb. 6th.  You do not have to know how to play poker to participate and there are many other activities available that night of the event.  Please join us! You can register to play, sponsor or make a donation at www.signmeup.com/62013.

LSBR’s 2nd Annual Poker Tournament

Lone Star Boxer Rescue’s 2nd Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament is fast approaching. This year’s event will be Friday, February 6 at SPJST Hall – 1435 Beall Street, Houston, TX.

The annual poker tournament is one of LSBR’s biggest fundraisers of the year. The proceeds help us rescue, rehabilitate and rehome boxers in need. Our first Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Challenge was held on September 29, 2007. It was a huge success. Over 200 people attended and enjoyed poker, raffles, a silent auction, music and great food donated by Escalantes. The funds raised at the event allowed LSBR to continue to rescue boxers well into 2008.

This year’s event will also include poker and blackjack tables, a raffle, silent auction, great food and a ton of fun. The night will begin at 7pm with player check-in, a buffet dinner and silent auction. We have a lot of great items being auctioned off this year that you won’t want to miss. The Poker Tournament will begin at 8:00.

Seats are limited to 200 players. Last year’s event sold out early and we are well on our way to doing the same this year, so be sure to register early https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=XM2V8K7. As with all of LSBR’s events, you won’t want to miss it. We bring in a great crowd and fun will be had by all.

Remember: You save lives when you bet on a boxer. Visit our website today, www.lsbr.org, to register for the event, see our current dogs in need, or make a donation to help us continue our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming our furry friends.

LSBR Welcomes 2009!

Welcome to the Lone Star Boxer Rescue blog. Lone Star Boxer Rescue is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to the health and well-being of the boxer breed. LSBR is run and managed by volunteers. Our main objective is to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home boxers that come to us from many sources including local animal shelters, owner surrenders, and strays.

In 2008, LSBR found loving homes for 281 dogs in need. That’s right, 281! Just short of one dog in a new home per day. With the continued support of our volunteers, donors and you, we know we can do even better in 2009. We started the year with 8 adoptions already, so we are well on our way.

We have a few exciting upcoming events we’d like to share. First, on Saturday, January 17, 2009 from noon until 3:00 pm, we will be holding our Mobile Adoption at the Willowbrook PetsMart located at 17723 Tomball Parkway in Houston, TX. Check our website, www.lsbr.org, for animals that will be attending the adoption.

Next, please join us for our 2nd Annual Bet on a Boxer Texas Hold ‘Em PokerFest. This year the event will be held on Friday, February 6^th from 6:00pm to 12:00pm. It will be held at SPJST Hall, 1435 Beall St, Houston, TX. It is a five-hour tournament and we’ll also have Blackjack Tables available. Dinner will be provided along with a cash bar, raffle and silent auction. Limited seats are available and last year we sold out, so be sure to register early at https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=XM2V8K7. Remember, you save lives when you bet on a boxer.

Please subscribe to our blog and sign up for our mailing list on our website, www.lsbr.org. We’ll keep you informed of all of our events and news of our successes and needs in the New Year.