K9aggression.com

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Why is my dog acting like that?

There are two reasons to discover what is causing your dog to behave aggressively. One reason is If you can predict when it might happen it’s easier to keep other around you safer. The knowledge that your dog reacts badly when people come into the house allows you to handle the situation differently, by putting your dog into another room for example.

But there is another good reasons to get to the bottom of why your dog behaves aggressively.

Without knowing the cause(s) of your dog’s aggression, you can’t do much to try to improve the behavior and in most cases it’s possible to improve aggressive behavior in dogs. Whatever is happening in the environment most certainly plays a role, but in many cases there can be additional underlying causes. It may be anxiety, frustration or fear, or it may be a health problem. Dog aggression can even be influenced by medication. Learn more about the causes of dog aggression.

Do I need help for my dog?

Aggressive behavior in dogs occurs on a continuum. It can range from being completely normal and appropriate for the situation to abnormal and inappropriate. A problem can evolve slowly over time or it can seem to appear suddenly and without warning. It may occur with other behavior issues such as anxiety, or it may be influenced by health factors.

When your dog first shows aggression it can be upsetting. Typically people are either quite alarmed, or they downplay the seriousness of it, or they go into denial and just hope that whatever happened was a one-time occurance.

There are a number of interventions that can help your dog’s behavior. But first learn more about the signs that suggest your dog’s aggressive behavior may need treatment.

Using a Dog Treadmill

This shows a dog using the dogPACER.
Photo Credit: Roxanne Ready

There are many reasons to use a dog treadmill: poor mobility in dog owners, physical rehabilitation for dogs, humidity and heat, cold, ice and painful salt on sidewalks. Or perhaps your dog just has an abundance of energy. A treadmill may be just the thing to add to daily outdoor walks.

But there is probably no greater need for a dog treadmill than by an owner who owns a reactive, anxious or aggressive dog.

We know that exercise promotes not only physical well being but also mental well being.

Respected animal behaviorist and scientist James Serpell suggests that because dogs cannot get time off leash, the amount of exercise dogs get is limited to two off leash walks a day. He believes this is a contributing factor as to why so many dogs develop behavior problems. (1)

Dogs also like to get a tremendous amount of exercise. They’re very active animals. And in my community here in the US it’s actually illegal to let your dog off the leash unless it’s in a confined space, in a dog park essentially, and most people don’t have access to that, which means that your average dog gets walked around the block on a leash twice a day. And that’s really inadequate in terms of exercise. And I think this is the explanation, or at least a partial explanation, for why so many of these dogs develop behavioural problems. They’re just simply not exercised enough.

James Serpell on the Domestic Dog

A lack of exercise can contribute to stress and this is a key concern for any dog owner who has a dog that suffers from any kind of anxiety, fear or aggression.

But depending on where you are walking your dog a dog walk may even make things worse, if you are unable to avoid the triggers that may set off anxiety or aggression on walks such as loud traffic, strange people or other dogs.

So we are set with a dilemma. Do we avoid exercising our dog to avoid contributing to their (and often ours when we run into bad encounters with others)? Or do we take the chance, hope that we have an incident free walk and hope that the exercise will have a benefit in lowering stress levels.

How to exercise a dog and minimize stress contributing to behavior problems?

Generally we recommend that before we start a treatment program for chronically stressed dogs, we do everything we can to lower stress in general. If that includes walks, that we recommend eliminating them – but only temporarily. Only until a dog’s – and dog owner’s – equilibrium can be returned as much as possible back to stable levels.

However by doing so we are not taking advantage of all of the benefits that exercise can provide are in terms of reducing them reducing stress and helping them cope.  A variety of studies across species have shown that exercise can reduce anxiety and stress.

One solution may be to exercise your dog in your home. A treadmill is not the only way to do this. There are exercises you can do to get your dog moving up and down stairs and from room to room such as using targets, or playing hide and seek. You can use “flirt poles” in the back yards as well. But with particularly active dogs, or with dogs that may be restricted from walking outside for a number of days, using a dog treadmill in the short term by be a solution.

Exercise is not the only benefit of a dog walk

It should be noted that a key benefit of taking your dog outside for a walk, are the many benefits they get from novelty and being able to interact with their environment with their nose. This is so important and of value dto dogs that research has indicated that dogs tend to favour those that walk them moer than anyone else that interacts with them (including those that feed them).

Now obviously if going for a walk causes more stress than anything else the dogs are gaining very little by being outside on their walk. We can’t forget that we can’t see how unpleasant it is to be anxious.

However that doesn’t mean that dogs don’t need and benefit environmental enrichment. Spending all day in a confined area with little to do is day in and day out flat-out boring!

So, if you are considering using a treadmill to exercise your dog (even if you are not), you should also consider other ways to enrichment their worlds, such as scent training that encourages your dog to work use their nose.  You will also find that when their minds are actively engaged the need for exercise is reduced a little.

What kind of treadmill is best for dogs?

Treadmills are not cheap and can run upwards as much as $2000. You might want to decide if you you will be using it as well. If not, finding one suitable for dogs might be the best choice and you can likely find a new and reliable one especially designed for dogs for $600 or less.

The kind of treadmill you choose partly depends on how you want to train them, the size of your dog.

The most important aspect (other than noise) is using a treadmill that accommodates the natural gait of your dog.

Human treadmills may be acceptable for smaller dogs provided they are on the quiet side and that they can go slow enough. You just want to watch out for any gaps, or caps where toe nails could get caught and make sure that you keep the motors free of dog hair. There are a variety of treadmills on treadmills on Amazon you could review just to get a sense of what is available.

If you have a larger dog, you probably want to go with the dogPACER for larger dogs (see on Amazon – this is an affiliate link but we only include it for viewing only – please find a treadmill that suits your dog). There are dogPACERS for smaller dogs. They are included here as they are relatively well reviewed, can be purchased through Amazon and they are fairly quiet, and their motors are protected against dog hair. They tend to run between $500-$600 at the time of writing.

Human treadmills are often not recommended for pets by the manufacturer and may void your warranty. But if you already have one that you want to make sure that it is long enough to accommodate the natural walking or trotting speed and gait of the dog (and ideally stops slowly). As dogs tend to “float” from side to side as well and forward and backward as they get used to the treadmill so many humans treadmill are too short and too narrow for larger dogs.

You also may want to look into picking up a used one. Be sure to make sure it’s long enough for your dog, it can support the weight of your dog and is relatively quiet.

Training a dog to use a treadmill

A treadmill is not a natural apparatus for a dog to use. Many dogs are afraid of just the sound of a treadmill never mind getting on one. And almost every dog will need some time to learn how balance on it and learn to walk on it.

Your first step is getting your dog comfortable around it.

Emily is pretty relaxed around this treadmill. Photo Credit: Normannack

How you teach a dog to use a treadmill is of particular importance especially when it comes to reactive, anxious or aggressive dogs. You should only use positive methods, no corrections, it should not be rushed and it should only be a positive experience.

The following video shows one method of getting your dog to use a treadmill that i completely voluntary and force free. Note how comfortable and willing the dog is. They key here is moving only at the dog’s pace and keep the treats coming!

In the following video the dog looks a little less comfortable based on the position of the ears. However, this dog has been injured and this may be a factor.

Because of the side bars of this particular treadmill, the dog does not get the benefit of being able to place just a few paws on the moving belt the way the dog gets to in the previous video. The more you can break down a process into smaller chunks the easier it is on the dog.

Tips and Warnings

A couple of warnings here. You are not going to be able to flip on the TV while your dog is exercising in the background.

  • Never leave unattended
  • Should not be substituted for mental enrichment
  • Keep your dog interested
  • Train for only short periods of time
  • Do not use leashes or harnesses to force your dog on or to keep your dog on the treadmill
  • Do not over-exercise young dogs under the age of two as they can do long term damage to their joints
  • Dogs are better off walking or trotting than running
  • Do not exercise for more than 30 minutes (may be less depending on the dog)

Do not use a leash or a harness when training a dog to use a treadmill

Why is this important?

You will see a number of videos teaching your dog to use a treadmill through using force, leashes, etc.  But this is not a good choice for reactive, anxious or aggressive dogs. Dogs should feel in control and comfortable that they can get off the treadmill at any time.

Value and enjoy the process!

Dog owners are often guilty of rushing their dogs through a learning process. But remember, the key here is to improve your dog’s well-being as well as getting exercise. Enjoy the process!

There may be even more benefits in this learning process for your dog than actually using the treadmill.

That’s because there is novelty, there is engagement with their human(s), and if you use only positive methods and allow them some control in how fast they learn and whether they want to get on or off the treadmill, the learning experience can be very enriching.

Be patient. Keep your expectations in check and this will keep your frustration low or non-existent. Use this time to observe how your dog learns and deals with novel experiences. Dog should never be rushed into handling more than they can handle. No one enjoys that. But you will find by using positive only techniques can make the experience positive and interesting for both you and your dog.

Teach your dog to relax

Finally a key component in treating anxiety is to teach our dogs to relax. We can to teach them what it feels like to relax and then how to relax on cue. Without being able to relax, our work using desensitization and operant conditioning is unlikely to succeed.

Keep in mind that if our dog are chronically stress, are dogs may have difficulty with this. It may require time away from their stressors (like a vacation for us), or they may need medication if stress and anxiety is a deeper problem.

NEXT

Listen to James Serpell on the Domestic Dog

For more

Reference:

(1)

James Serpell: dogs as the animal kingdom’s ambassadors

The difference between the interest in shock collars vs dog aggression and muzzles by country

We thought it might be interesting to look at Google Trends for the search data of the term “shock collar” vs “dog aggression” and “dog muzzle” by different English-speaking countries from 2004 to 2018.  We thought that potentially they might indicate general interest.

We don’t know why these searches were made. For example, someone might be looking for a shock collar to find out what they do and does not necessarily express an interest in using one.

However we still thought it would be interesting to look to see if there were more interest in one over the other, or whether there might be a difference by country.

Searches for “shock collar” vs “dog aggression”

Are people more interested in a so-called “quick fix’ that the “why”?  The data doesn’t tell us this.  But what is interesting is the difference between countries.

The search volume for shock collar in all countries went up over time and were greater than the search interest in “dog aggression”. However in Australia and in Canada the search volume on average was more or less even with an increase in shock collars and a decrease in dog aggression over the last couple of years.  However in the UK, search volume was greater for dog aggression than shock collars, while the United States the search for shock collars was more than the interest in searching for dog aggression.

Australia: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

 

In Australia we can see that there was a bigger search volume for dog aggression. In 2011 there were several restrictions in Australia around the importation and use of shock collars in many areas of Australia as early as 2008.  Late in 2013 is when the trend toward shock collars starts to average to be greater than the searches for “dog aggression”.

Canada: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

In Canada we see a change around 2012 – 2013 possibly. in 2014 Quebec issues a ban on shock collars.

United Kingdom: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

In the United Kingdom, searches for “dog aggression” are close to searches for”shock collars” with interest in “dog aggression” always being slightly greater but change more or less similarly over time.

 

United States: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

In the United States we see searches potentially starting off more or less the same back in 2004, but with a marked change heavily favouring an interest in search for “shock collars” over “dog aggression” over time.

Searches for “shock collar” vs “dog muzzle”

The difference between searching for shock collars vs dog aggression might be greater than he difference between shock collars vs dog muzzles which may be considered both a quick fix solutions to the problem.  This could be argued however as theoretically using a shock collar may indicate more of a commitment to changing the problem than a dog muzzle might. But it’s still worth having a look.

Again, we don’t know if people are looking for solutions for dog aggression or dog barking.  But what we see if that Australia, the trends are fairly even.  In Canada there is a slight favor of shock collars over dog muzzles. In the United Kingdom, the trend is reversed in a greater degree – more people start searching for muzzles over shock collars.  Wales banned shock collars back in 2010 and it is approximately at this time that the search trend started to change.  One could presume that this decision would have a roll out effect in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

However in the United States, the search in clearly in favor of shock collars over dog muzzles in marked contrast to the other three regions, and has been since 2004.

Australia: Search data for shock collar vs dog muzzle since 2004

As with the previous search data, Australia is more even than the rest of the countries.  In regards to these two search terms they are even closer linked.

Canada: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

Canada still favours searching for “shock collars” over dog muzzles, but the difference is not nearly as great as it is for the United States.

United Kingdom: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

The interest in dog muzzles is greater earlier than the date in which wales banned shock collars, bu may reflect and growing uneasiness in using shock collars.

 

United States: Search data for shock collar vs dog aggression since 2004

In the United States, searches have favored “shock collar” over “dog muzzle” since the beginning and again by more than half.

Camera Treat Dispenser Comparison

Ever wonder what your dog does when you’re not home?

Petchatz treat dispenser for dogs

Fairly new to the market, treat dispenser cameras are providing dog owners with ways to interact and see their pets when they are away from home. The huge benefit is obviously dog owners can reassured that their dogs are not in distress.

But there may be other benefits, too. The devices might be used as part of a separation anxiety treatment program. Also, they may help to enrich the environment just a little bit more when you are out. See the benefits of environmental enrichment here for all dogs including aggressive dogs.

We looked into the features and benefits of what we consider are the four best camera treat dispensers for dogs on the market as of writing. Note that these are not “smart feeders” which automatically feed meals, nor are they straight forward security cams (which you can view the varieties of security camera systems currently selling on Amazon).

Review Criteria

You can get overwhelmed with the variety of products on the market so it helps to think about how you will use it. If you just want to see what your dog is up to when you are out, a security camera might be best for you. If you need to feed your dog a meal for an occasional evening when you are out, a “smart feeder” might be best.

For our purposes, we researched the treat dispensers with these main questions to be addressed:

  1. Could the treat dispensers provide some novel environmental enrichment for while your dog is alone?
  2. Could they be used to help behavior modification for aggression or separation anxiety?
  3. Can they be used in a way that help alleviate worry for dog owners while they’re out?

Our top considerations were those devices that allowed you to:

  • Give a dog a treat when you decided
  • Make some kind of noise to attract your dog (voice was ideal)
  • See and hear what your dog is up to
  • Although these change over time, quality of customer reviews from actual buyers (we used Amazon’s verified purchases for this analysis)
  • Cost – also changes over time as products might be discounted

Note: Might be possible to get free shipping for all of these through Amazon if you are in the US.

Review Summary

As a disclaimer, we link to all the products to Amazon in this article. It allows you to look at real buyers reviews, the questions they asked, the ratings and so on (plus they often have free shipping, their costs are often lower than anywhere else and they’re the largest trusted online retailer out there). But if you were to buy anything on Amazon we would get a small commission at no cost to you (Amazon takes the hit) and this helps pay for site hosting and maintenance. But this site is about helping dog owners help their dogs. Please don’t buy anything that you feel would not help you.

With that said, we found the top four treat dispencing cameras that have been rated well by verified buyers.

Number One Pick: PetChatz

PetChatz was our first choice because of some important options but at $380, the cost was a real stumbling block when the rest of them were under $250. (Prices can be changed by the suppliers. Amazon also discounts products at their own discretion from time to time). Now keep in mind our review criteria, so one of the other ones might be just what you are looking for at a lower cost.

However there were four features that made this one difficult to pass over.

  • PetChatz’s ability to check in on your dog over a desk top computer was a tough one to give up. Streaming video over your phone can quickly chew up data.
  • PetChatz will send alerts with it’s motion and sound sensing capabilities.
  • PetChatz can deliver the most treats (100) over all the other ones (best for behavior modifiction)
  • Scent dispenser which has the potential to help relax your dog

If we were to rule out PetChatz, deciding on which of the remaining three was a little more difficult. Here it really depends on what features each product has that delivers the most important benefit you are looking for.

Furbo ranks second over Petzi

We chose Furbo next because of the barking notifications, although we realize this could quickly become annoying for some dog owners!

It has the ability to deliver 30 treats which is half of the number that Petzi can deliver at 60, but you are unable to hear your dog with the Petzi. If you want to be able to hear if your dog is in distress, the Petzi might not work because you might not see that they are whining. If all you need to see if what they are doing and deliver treats, then the Petzi might be fine.

Both the Furbo and Petzi have night vision which may be a factor for you. Although leaving a light on might work just as well. On the cost front, if you can give up being able to hear your dog, then the Petzi is cheaper than the Furbo  ($249 vs $169 for the Petzi as of the time of writing).

Pawbo

We quickly ruled out Pawbo being for behavior modification for the simple reason that it only delivers enough 9 treats before it needs to be refilled. Behavior modification works best when able to delivered a frequent number of small treats. However in combination with its laser toy, it may be good for environmental enrichment which is another review criteria we were looking at.

Some dogs become obsessed by lasers and some dogs ignore lasers so you’ll need to determine if this is a good thing for your dog. If they like it and don’t get to frustrated trying to find it after it stops, it gains a point on environmental enrichment because it offers more than one way to engage your dog.

Regardless, at only $30 more that the Petzi, it still is a contender for these reasons: The Pawbo  gives you two way audio, it can be wall mounted and has a good wide camera view. So if being able to hear your dog is more important than delivering treats and cost is a consideration, you might think about the Pawbo over the Petzi. If delivering treats is more important, at more or less the same cost, the Petzi might be a better choice over the Pawbo.

Technological considerations

If you have an old iphone, you might want to consider the Pawbo or PetChatz, as the Furbo requires IOS9, and the Petzi requires iOS9, whereas the PetChatz requires IOS 6.1 and Pawbo only requires IOS 6. We don’t have an android, so we’re not sure how they fare up there. (Anyone want to send us an Android?)

If you are looking to record video for a veterinary behaviorist video (or your dog is a YouTube sensation??), or to record behavior changes over time, all except the Petzi give you that capability. Petzi does allow you to take photos though.

Two way audio allows you to monitor if your dog is in distress

Not only does two way audio allow you to speak and try to get your dog’s attention (though you will likely have to train them to respond before hand). But more importantly it will allow you to hear if your dog is in distress. If we are to consider our criteria of alleviating anxiety in dog owners this is a significant benefit. All devices accept the Petzi have some form of two-way audio.

Comparison At a Glance

Treat Dispenser CameraCost (prices keep changing, may be discounted, please check!)How many treats can be loadedAverage stars on AmazonNight visionTwo-way Video or AudioPhone / desktop abilities
PetChatz HD Pet Camera Two-Way Audio/Video System that Dispenses Treats, Scents and Provides Motion/Noise Sensing.$3791004.2NoYesYes
Furbo Dog Camera$249304.0YesYes - audio onlyiOS(iOS 9) and Android OS(Android 4.4 Kitkat)
Petzi Treat Cam: Wi-Fi Pet Camera & Treat Dispenser$16960 "milk bones"4.1YesNoIOS & Android, looking to add computer next year
Pawbo Wi-Fi Pet Camera, Interactive Wireless Pet Treat Cam & Treat Dispenser$19994.1NoYesIOS 6, android 4

Buying Considerations

Before you buy a treat dispencer camera for your dog, you might want to consider these options in regards to your own needs:

  • Angle of view (the wider angle, the more you’ll see)
  • Is your dog likely to chew through cords?
  • Number of treats to dispense at one time or over the course of a day?
  • Does your dog require a special diet?
  • Training your dog to like the device
  • How important is it that you hear your dog?
  • Video recording to show a trainer or behaviorist or to monitor typical behavior over time
  • Cost

PetChatz

The following features made the PetChatz the most desirable for the following reasons:

PetChatz

Pros

  • You can view the video in a browser
  • Can deliver the greatest number of treats compared to the others
  • Has a motion detector up to eight feet in front of the camera
  • Sound detection
  • Two way audio and video
  • Scent dispenser (more on that below)

Cons

  • Cost
  • Narrower field of view compared to the others
  • Requires you to use their treats or you risk voiding the warranty (although are high quality treats)
  • No night vision (could just use a motion activated LED or lamp however)
  • Currently US only

You can view the video in a browser.

PetChatz can be sued both with a mobile device on on a computer. But PetChatz’s ability to check in on your dog over a desk top computer was a tough one to give up. While all of them have apps for smart phones allowing you to check in on your dog from anywhere you have your phone, any kind of streaming video will eat up data faster than almost any other kind of media. Being able to connect in on a desktop from work was a real plus in our eyes! Of course, if you can connect via wifi with your phone covered, then this is not such an important issue.

PetChatz can deliver the greatest number of treats as compared to the other treat dispensers

We felt it had the most potential of all the others because of the capability of delivering up to a 100 treats and they can dispense one at a time. Rapid and frequent delivery of teats can be useful in behavior modification.  If your dog suffers from separation anxiety it can be possible to train your dog to associate getting a treat when you move away from him or her, and eventually leave the room for example (more on that below).

Unfortunately, you can only use the treats they supply or you void the warranty. However the treats ingredients look healthy and contain no grain, corn, wheat, soy and have no added fat, artificial flavours or bi-products.

PetChatz’s scent dispenser

This was not something we were looking for in a treat dispenser. But was this something that could have some benefit? We looked into.

PetChatz uses a diluted form of essential oils (remember that dogs smelling abilities are far greater than our own). The ingredients are Jojoba, Marjoram, Orange, Lavender, Petitgrain, Vetiver, Chamomile Roman essential oils.

Research suggests that certain kinds of olfactory stimulation such as the use of lavender can help encourage more relaxing behavior.

In a study of 55 shelter dogs they discovered that dogs spent more time resting. Lavender and chamomile appeared to be particularly associated with those in behaviors we associate with relaxation in dogs. http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(04)00197-2/abstract

Here is another study looking at the positive effect of scents in relation to dogs who have travel induced excitement. Not completely related, but still may talk tot he calming influences some scents have. http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.229.6.964 (travel induced excitement).

PetChatz has a motion sensor that can detect motion up to eight feet of the device

Another plus was that PetChatz will send alerts with it’s motion and sound sensing capabilities. There are some limitations on these, since the motion sensor senses at about 8 feet from the device at about an angle of 54 degrees. But it will send alerts to you and this allows you to interact when the dog is moving around and near by.

It also has a sound sensing capabilities so you will know if your dog is barking. This can be helpful for behavior modification using Classical Conditioning if your dog gets activated be people approaching the door or walking by windows.

The PetChatz can deliver the most treats (100) over all the other ones, so this makes the PetChatz stand out for this kind of behavior modification. It would require that you are tuned into the app most of the time, however, and that just may not be practical. By the time you get an alert, you might not be able to deliver the teat quickly enough. However, if you pre-trained your dog, it’s possible that your dog will learn to anticipate the treat even if there is a slight delay.

For separation anxiety

Any treat dispensing device that allows you to treat your dog when you choose, and one that has the ability to see and hear your dog (this rules out Petzi for its one way audio capabilities) can be used to help treat separation anxiety when done properly.

Keep in mind this is a process done in baby steps.  For example you move a way only a few steps, and then give a treat, return. Move away a little more, deliver a treat, return. Repeat until out of the room, repeat extending the time, and so on.

The advantage of the camera and being able to hear your dog is you know if your dog is actually staying calm or not.

Our treat dispencer camera runners up

Furbo

The Furbo tosses treats which makes this one kind of fun. The added benefit is that this feature may attract your dog more than voice alone would. As with all the devices, allowing your dog to get used to it is important. Mid range in cost. Furbo may be good for those dogs with special diet needs.

Furbo

Pros

  • 120° wide-angle view
  • Barking Alert: Delivers push notifications to your smartphone when your dogs bark
  • Video recording
  • Can use your own treats
  • Good customer service
  • Good audio
  • Night vision

Cons

  • No desktop abilities
  • Doesn’t wall mount easily
  • Like all of them, can jam occasionally. May depend on the kind of treat used.

Petzi

Maybe be preferable for multiple dogs.

Pros

  • Cost
  • Up to 60 treat dispensed (less than PetChatz, but better than the others)
  • Night vision
  • Can we wall mounted
  • Treats are tossed which can be helpful for multiple dogs

Cons

  • One way audio only – Can’t hear your dog
  • No video recording
  • No desktop capabilities yet
  • Quality of the camera is reported to not be as good as the others
  • Like others may be prone to jamming occasionally

If you tend to worry about your dog and want to interact with them, this is probably not the treat dispenser for you. On the other hand if you simply want to provide treats to your dog from time to time and don’t want to fork out the high cost forth PetChatz, Petzi offers the advantage of providing up to 60 treats over the course of the day.

Pawbo

May be better for those focused on relieving boredom for their pet than anything else, assuming the laser toy works for your dog the way you want it to.

Pawbo

Pros

  • Two way audio
  • Video recording
  • Cost
  • Can we wall mounted
  • Laser toy
  • Wide angle of view (110° degrees)

Cons

  • Only 9 small treats can be dispensed
  • Sound quality isn’t great

 

Training your dog to like whatever device you choose

The Furbo

You might think that your dog is going to like anything to shoots out food, but you may be unprepared for the possibility that the sound and the behavior of it may cause suspicion and even fear in some dogs. So make sure you properly prepare your dog and help them get comfortable with it first.

Fill it up with treats and allow your dog to investigate it before using it.

All of these treat dispensers will make sound. Give your dog a chance to acclimatize to both the sound of the treat dispensing and any tones or sound your voice makes through the device.

First think about making the sound as least threatening as possible, by using the dispenser when your dog is relatively far away from it, (for example in another room). When the dog hears the sound, act happy and offer your dog a treat – ideally a slightly less desirable treat than he or she will be getting from the dispenser itself.

If your dog is ls sensitive, simply using it will you are here and rewarding them immediately may be all that your dog needs.

Use a positive upbeat voice when you hear it. We want your dog to think you think it’s great. They often take their cues from you.

As with all dog training, slow gradual steps are the key. Bit by bit allow your dog to get used to the sound and as they do get a little closer. If he or she is apprehensive, don’t rush them. Before you know it, your dog will predict the sounds means the arrival of treats!