With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, love is in the air, and many of our readers may find themselves in a new relationship. For some pet owners, introducing your dog and your new partner may be dicey; for others, it goes surprisingly well (I mean, who wouldn’t love your dog?).

While your new partner may be a pet owner or an animal lover, introductions may need some finessing, especially in a new home. Even the most chill dog can get a little possessive or unruly when they’re introduced to another home with new sights, smells, and experiences.

The team at West Park Animal Hospital is happy to play Cupid by giving you some pointers on how to successfully take your pet to your new significant other’s home — without all the drama (we hope!).

5 Tips for Successfully Taking Your Dog to Your Partner’s Home

1. Establish the rules. Sit down with your partner and discuss the rules of his or her house. At your place, it may be fine to let pets on the sofa, but not everyone welcomes this. Ask about the rules regarding furniture and places that are off-limits. Also do a thorough sweep of the place, eliminating any possible toxic plants, substances, and other items that could be of interest to your dog.
2. Keep it simple at first. Instead of an overnight stay, introduce your pet to your partner’s new home for a quick playdate. Keep the experience friendly, upbeat, and focused on a game in the backyard or a meal together. Allow your pet to explore while on a leash and walk with them throughout areas of the home that are pet-friendly.
3. Supervise and recognize. It might be tempting to pay total attention to your new significant other, but while you’re doing that, your pup may be doing something else…like getting into the trash or peeing on the curtains. Keep close watch over your dog and note any sort of issues that may arise, like resource guarding over you, food, or other items.
4. Stay consistent. Just like you do in your own home, dogs rely on consistency in schedule, routine, and rules, so stick as closely as possible to your daily routine. If your pet isn’t normally allowed on the couch or the bed, stay firm. Helping your pet understand the expectations in a new home and rewarding good behavior can go a long way to successful sleepovers.
5. Compromise. Compromise is the key to any relationship and that extends to how your partner interacts with your pet. Not everyone will have the same rules about dogs in the home, but it’s important that your best friend also feels safe and welcome. Don’t forget to pay attention to your pet and do activities together, like take a walk with you, your dog, and your new partner.

Your Dog and Your New Partner: Trouble in Paradise?

Sometimes, a compromise between your dog and your new partner cannot be reached without some help from the professionals. If your dog is displaying aggression or anxiety, please call us so we can help resolve the problem. It may require some adjustments and possible behavioral training, but with a little effort and patience, love conquers all!

The post They Call it Puppy Love: Your Dog and Your New Partner appeared first on West Park Animal Hospital Blog.

Chances are you’ve been out at a restaurant, hotel, or grocery store and have seen dogs in service animal vests accompanying their owners. You may have even considered getting your dog one of those vests so readily obtained on Amazon (advertising that you can “take your dog anywhere”), and passing them off as therapy dogs.

Many people are now doing this, and what’s the harm?

Most pet owners would love to spend more time with our dogs, and bringing them along wherever we go sounds pretty good. But, at West Park Animal Hospital, we are here with a plea: Don’t pretend your dog is a service animal. Here’s why!

First, Some Definitions

First, let us clarify some of the definitions.

Service Dog – A service dog has received extensive training (up to 2 years) to be able to perform tasks and work that ease their handler’s disability. These tasks can include but are not limited to:

• Pulling a wheelchair
• Reminding their handler to take medication
• Picking up objects for people whose spinal injuries prevent them from doing so
• Recognizing an oncoming diabetic episode or epileptic seizure
• Assisting a blind person in moving safely

Service dogs s are permitted access to all public facilities and accommodations under the Americans with DIsabilities Act. They are therefore allowed into public areas, such as hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores, that otherwise prohibit dogs.

People are generally discouraged from interacting with service dogs while they are working, as not to distract them from their work. They wear special vests that identify them as working service dogs, and they are specifically trained to be unobtrusive, non-reactive, and well behaved.

Therapy Dog – Therapy dogs also receive training and provide people with therapeutic contact, usually in a clinical setting like schools, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. They are generally easy going and friendly dogs who like human interaction. They do not receive any special access, however, unless agreed to in advance by the facility.

Emotional Support Animals – Although emotional support animals are sometimes a part of a medical treatment plan, they are not considered service animals under the ADA. These animals may relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but they do not receive any special training.

The nuances of the difference between service and support animals are not well understood, and it is tricky to question someone on the validity of the need for a service animal. There are no special certification papers or even a certifying body for these animals. The combination of these facts have made faking a service animal more and more common.

The Sad Truth About Fake Therapy Dogs

The sad truth is that faking a service animal or therapy dog diminishes their recognition. Service dogs are so highly trained that they don’t eat off of restaurant tables, don’t greet other dogs or people, and, in general, are unobtrusive to the point that you might not even know they’re there. Sadly, some of the imposters have service dog vests, confusing business owners and giving true service dogs a bad name.

Unless your dog is trained as a service animal, it’s wrong and may have legal ramifications to pretend otherwise. People who depend on a service dog to live a functional life are falling under unfair suspicion because of an epidemic of fakes. Of course, we all would like to be able to take our beloved pets with us everywhere we go, but not at the risk of making life more challenging for someone with a true disability.

With so many beaches, cafes, restaurants, and hiking trails in our fair city that welcome dogs, there are many opportunities to take your dog with you and still play by the rules. For more information on service and therapy dogs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The post Don’t Fake It: Service and Therapy Dogs appeared first on West Park Animal Hospital Blog.

Humans and dogs have been working alongside each other for thousands of years. Throughout history, humans have bred dogs to perform specific tasks, and our shared history includes hunting, herding, and guarding. Although dogs are still performing many of the same tasks they were bred for, jobs for working dogs has changed in exciting and fascinating ways over the years.

Jobs for Working Dogs

Our modern society has opened up a world of new jobs for working dogs. These four-legged heroes perform critical functions for humans, including:

• Detection – The amazing noses and ears of military, police, and customs K9s are put to good use when it comes to detecting explosives, drugs, chemicals, cadavers, money, electronics, food and plant material, and more.
• Search and rescue – Search and rescue dogs work to find missing people, including lost hikers, drowning victims, and victims of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The dogs may work with an official unit, such as police or military, or may be part of a volunteer search and rescue organization.
• Service – Service dogs are essential to the independence of adults and children with disabilities. They live with and perform duties, such as assisting the visually and hearing impaired with daily tasks, detecting a rise in blood sugar in a diabetic handler, predicting an oncoming seizure, and protecting those they assist from harm during a medical event.
• Therapy – Therapy dogs are specifically trained to comfort and support individuals who grapple with a wide variety of debilitating mental or emotional conditions, including PTSD, domestic violence, severe depression, and more. Therapy dogs can also be trained to visit and enjoy positive interactions with sick and elderly patients in hospitals and homes.

Your Working Dog

Whether you have a purebred dog or a Heinz 57 mix, there’s a good chance they still experience the drive to do whatever jobs their ancestry was bred for. Since most of us no longer need the assistance of dogs to provide us with food or protection, it’s important to find other ways to keep their brains and bodies busy. Try out a few of these jobs with your pup to provide exercise and mental stimulation:

• Nosework – Many dogs can be easily trained to find a hidden treat, object, or even person for a thrilling game of hide-and-seek.
• Tug – Even if your dog wasn’t specifically bred for pulling, they still may enjoy a good round of tug-of-war.
• Retrieving/chasing – There’s nothing wrong with a plain old game of fetch, but you can spice it up for your dog in a variety of ways. Try slowly dragging a toy or stuffed animal tied to a string to stimulate your dog’s prey drive, or play a game of “keep away”.
• Puzzle fun – DIY treat puzzles and homemade agility courses are wonderful ways to challenge an active breed.
• Obedience – Practicing simple commands or moving on to more complex training is mentally stimulating for all dog breeds.

Questions or concerns about your best pal or jobs for working dogs? Your team at West Park Animal Hospital is only a phone call away!

The post Modern Jobs for Working Dogs appeared first on West Park Animal Hospital Blog.