Holidays Smells Are in the Air! Linda Michaels, M.A., — Del Mar Dog Training


Check out Linda’s book, Do No Harm™ Dog Training and Behavior Manual, available to download here.

BY LINDA MICHAELS, DEL MAR DOG TRAINER – FOR THE UT SAN DIEGO

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Photo Courtesy of Fetchlight.com
The aromatic heralds of the holiday season are coming to your home soon; roasted chestnuts, eggnog lattes, cranberry sauce, hot pumpkin-spice pie, gingerbread cookies and turkey, scented candles and pine trees. Yum!

Pet parents often believe dogs can learn to see things from the human point of view. However, although dogs are extraordinarily teachable and adaptable they are also utterly unique. Understanding how your dog perceives the world can deeper your relationship. Dogs live in a subterranean world full of information we are entirely unaware of — a world where the nose leads.

Puppies are born with a fully functioning sense of smell. Dogs get most of their information about the world from sniffing a continuous stream of scents that travel directly to the brain. The dog brain is dominated by olfactory structures larger than the area of the brain devoted to vision in humans. Their sense of smell is anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than a human’s! Dogs help detect cancer, locate disaster victims, find illegal drugs and find other lost pets. The intensity of their sniffing experiences is beyond our imagination. Be careful not to subject your dog to powerful scents that may be mild to us but overwhelming to your dog, such as citronella collars, cleaning products and air fresheners.

Research shows that odors are strongly tied to emotional memories, so leaving your dog with a “comfort item” such as a work out t-shirt can help with separation anxiety during the holiday or any season. Nose work classes are very popular and fun.

Patton&Jade
Photo Courtesy of Patton and Jade

If you’re cooking a turkey dinner this holiday, rest assured your dog can easily identify each ingredient individually in your carefully executed recipe. Your dog is your most ardent admirer. Expecting your dog to ignore, not become excited or worst of all, be left out of the festivities just isn’t fair! Merrick’s® Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Dinners are big favorites. Or why not cook up a special canine plate for your furry member of the family and celebrate together. Bon Appetit!

 

 

Learn more about pet parent problem-solving, teaching classes, and private consultations in the Do No Harm Dog Training Manual.

Do No Harm Dog Training Manual Linda MichaelsThe Do No Harm™ Dog Training Manual was designed as my own personal guide for teaching basic manners classes, and evolved into a reference manual for my private behavior consultations. Created as a practical guide for either or both training formats, it is also helpful for pet parents who want an inside look at dog training and behavior, as well as for those who seek force-free solutions for specific problems. Written with love for the “heartbeats at our feet”. You can purchase and download the PDF ebook dog training manual here.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” M.A./Psychology a Top Ten Rated U.S. Dog Trainer — Del Mar Dog Training, may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaPositively@gmail.com for private manners/obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com  All rights reserved.

Originally published in the U~T San Diego, Scratch n’ Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor.