Cesar'sWay: An Absolutely Staggering Number

Six hundred million is a huge number, and there’s a reason I want you to understand the magnitude of it, because this is the number of abandoned, homeless, and abused dogs in the world. That’s nearly two dogs per every person living in the United States; nearly ten for every citizen of the UK.

Unfortunately, a huge number of these dogs will be destroyed in shelters or killed in the streets. I have seen places where dogs are routinely abused, tortured, hanged, or shot. These dogs will never know what it means to be part of a human pack and will never have a loving home — but there is a way to reduce the problem and, I hope one day, to eliminate it.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/newsandevents/cesarsblog/An-Absolutely-Staggering-Number?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apr14NL_4#ixzz30CoVvhUj

Cesar'sWay: Ten Tips for Choosing the Right Veterinarian

Here are some helpful tips for choosing the right vet for you and your dog:

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/dog-health/finding-the-right-vet?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apr14NL_4#ixzz30CnOmCVZ

Cesar'sWay Newletter: Five Freedoms

Freedom four, to express normal behavior, might be a bit puzzling. At first glance, it sounds like just letting your dog do whatever she wants — barking at everything, chewing up the house, chasing bicycles and skateboards. Those are all dog-like behaviors, right?

The key word in this freedom is “normal,” and the key to normalcy is discipline. Dogs want to work for their food and affection, and they want to please their pack leaders. You can also use discipline to reinforce the calm energy state you achieve after exercise. And remember, “discipline” does not mean “punish.” In the dog sense, it just means teaching a dog to follow the rules.

For example, if you train your dog that she must sit calmly while you prepare her food and not approach it until you give permission, you’re letting her earn that food as well as building her self-esteem by allowing her to do something for you.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/cesars-blog/Five-Freedoms?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apr14NL_4#ixzz30CZC2Qc3

Happy Easter! Remember to move forward!

"Humans have a tendency to hold onto the past, though, so a lot of times when they adopt a dog from a shelter, the dog comes along with the story of how it got there. The human way is to latch onto that story, and it becomes part of the dog — 'This is Betty. She was thrown out of a moving car and was just terrified when we got her. Now she’s our baby and we don’t want anything to scare her ever again.'

"Because people hang onto the story, they become overly aware of things that humans would call triggers. For example, Betty’s humans may never take her in the car because they worry that it will remind her of what happened. Or, if they do take her in the car, they’re the ones thinking about that experience and that nervous energy goes right to the dog and makes her afraid to be in the car.

"It’s a vicious cycle but there’s an easy way to end it. Let go of the story and live in the moment. It’s what your dog does, and it’s how so many dogs are successfully rehabilitated. What happened to the dog before it got to that shelter doesn’t matter. Everything that happens between you and that dog once you take on the responsibility for rescue and rehabilitation does.

"We don’t have to teach dogs how to let go of the past because they already know how, and this is one of the greatest lessons they can teach us. It is only when we can stop clinging to our own pasts that we can fully engage in that constant process of renewal called life."

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/cesars-blog/Renewal?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apr14NL_3#ixzz2zXqqZTwc

Stress Free Vet Visits

"Remember: dogs think through their noses. Lavender and some other natural scents are known to have a calming effect. Spray some in the back of the car or on a cushion or towel to take with you. It doesn’t hurt to have some on your hands too."

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/features/The-Secret-to-Stress-Free-Vet-Visits?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Apr9#ixzz2yWpfCnRm

Cesar911 Episode 5

Episode 5 RECAP: "Exercise, discipline then affection" is the recipe for success. "When Cesar arrived, it soon became clear that there were bigger issues in the relationship than just the dog."

"A dog doesn’t really know what it wants to do, other than to take care of its basic needs, and avoid unpleasant, scary, or dangerous things. If we don’t offer leadership, then a dog will try to figure out how to do all of those things but, since they live in our world, what they figure out may not always be so pleasant for the humans.

"A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise may take care of that basic need by bouncing off the walls or tearing up the house when no humans are home. A dog that hasn’t been properly socialized may greet every strange dog (or person) with fearful aggression. And a dog that gets nothing but affection will take on the role of Pack Leader to the humans and become uncontrollable.

"When you’re having trouble getting your dog to behave, just remember: Yes, it can be done. You have to learn to understand what your dog is saying as well as what you’re saying to your dog, then learn how to provide protection and direction in a calm, assertive manner as the Pack Leader."

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/cesars-blog/Yes-You-Can?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Mar14NL_5#ixzz2xqDY5xHx

Establish yourself as the pack leader

A pack leader doesn't project emotional or nervous energy...In the wild, the pack leader uses calm-assertive energy to influence how the dog interacts with his surroundings.

• Ownership of territory
• Waiting/earning affection (including food)

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/basics/rules-boundaries-and-limitations?utm_source=BlueHornet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Mar14NL_5#ixzz2xq91vDbk