Cleopatra
Just as regal and exotic as her namesake implies, Cleopatra is a 2-year-old German Shepherd whose characteristic loyalty and lovability make her a must-adopt for large dog lovers. Found wandering the streets, the fine folks at Paws 4 You have nothing but glowing things to say about this pup who just needs a forever home to lighten up her life; Paws4You.org.
Moses
One half of a petite pair of Shih Tzu mixes looking hopefully for a home together, Moses and his brother Judah are an excellent pair of walk and play-loving pooches whose greatest delight is each other. Neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, these pups are primed and ready to integrate themselves into the tender embrace of one of our city’s homes; 100PlusDogs.org.
Big Matt
Just one look into this lovable Lummox’s face and one thing is immediately apparent: If you’re looking for a lifelong companion who will fulfill that age-old role of man’s best friend and accompany you on the journey of life, look no further than this adorably titanic addition to any condo, apartment or house; RedlandRockPit.org.
Elevator Anxiety
When we stop to think about what experiencing an elevator for the first time might be like for our furry friends, it shouldn’t surprise us that some dogs are fearful of elevator rides. If you’re a dog, one second you’re facing a solid shiny wall and then you have to go into a small space, followed by the feeling of falling but you can’t see out of the box. Scary! Luckily, most dogs get over their fear of elevators pretty quickly because they realize fun things await after the ride. If your dog is a pup whose first ride was traumatic, you can imagine that just the sight of those elevator doors opening might trigger an unpleasant association. So what’s a high-rise doggie owner to do? If you have a secure balcony, you can create a temporary potty with either real sod or a synthetic grass patch. This way, your dog doesn’t have to go down the elevator every time he needs to relieve himself and you can begin working on overcoming his fear of the elevator independent of needing to take him down the lift. Then, at least one time a day, you should take your dog into the elevator and feed a high-value treat (like boiled chicken) without actually going anywhere. That’s right, you’re going to get in, feed him a treat, and then get out and go home. Make sure to praise your dog and get excited once you’re out if he successfully rode the elevator with confidence. It won’t take very long before your dog gets excited to get in. Remember, it’s your job to protect your pup, so be his trusted partner and always help him work through fears in a positive way!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› Dee Hoult, CPDT, CDBC, is the CEO of Applause Your Paws, South Florida’s largest privately owned pet dog-training company, and Miami’s top user-rated dog-training company on Yelp.com.
