YIPPEE for me, it’s Dear Doodlebug day! Thanks for all the Very Interesting questions as usual, friends! I do feel that I have to remind you though: I am NOT authorized to answer serious behavioral questions over the interwebs. I am not a dog trainer, and even if I were, it would be reckless to answer your serious questions on the interwebs. Don’t more of you need love advice, fashion advice, or ideas about which TV show you should watch next? Those kind of questions are the reasons I really got into this business.

As always, please send any requests for advices to my secretary at info [at] loveandaleash [dot] com, and we will answer them as soon as we can!

On to it:

Hi Dude, My name is Huck and I am addicted to my mom.  I mean I love my mom so much that I will hold my bladder for a really, really long time to avoid going outside with my dad. I’m getting better with this and I mean my dad is a pretty good petter and I’ll take my belly rubs from anyone with a hand attached to an arm but I LOVE my mom.  I love her so much I only close my eyes and get my nap on only when she is in a reclined position or staying in one spot (like cooking dinner or reading her stories).  If she moves (rolls over in bed in the morning, adjusts on the couch, smiles at me, breathes, sighs, moves her hands) I am up off my bed to assit wherever I am needed.  It’s exhausting and, just between you and me, I think mom feels guilty that she doesn’t always need my services.  Any suggestions on helping me know when she really needs me?Thank you for your service to our dog community, Mr. Huck “Reporting for Duty” Spanner

Dear Huck,

I have no experiences with this first-paw, to be honest. My mama calls me a first-class whore (I wonder what that means) because I will go for a walk with anybody anytime, whether I know them or not and whether they have treats or not. My harness and leash are my biggest addiction, and whoever can deliver them to my body and then delivery me out into the world is A-okay with me!

BUT, my brother the Chick says that many moons ago, he had a foster sister named Stevie Wonder (above), and she was a little bit similar. She would only go out with our mama, and would go into a full-out panic attack when dad tried to take her anywhere. The girl was obviously quite confused! Mama didn’t know what to do, and she ended up making a blogging about it and asking our friends for their advices. You can read all about Stevie’s problem and our friends’ ideas here.

In the end, here’s how my mama and dad solved it with Stevie. Dad started being the Producer of All Funs and Other Goodies (PAFOG). Mama had been the primary PAFOG in our family before that, and once things changed and dad was the one bringing all the walks, all the dinners, all the pettings, all the trainings, and all the praise, things started to get better. At the same time — this was the really hard one for mama — mama had to quit being a PAFOG. For a week or two, mama had to cold-heartedly ignore Stevie’s requests for pettings, attentions, treats, and other forms of loving. It was heartbreaking for mama at first, but she knew it was for the best for Stevie. And you know what? It worked! 

Best of luck to you,

Your Doodlewhore

Dear Doodlebug, I am writing for some very important advice… I need help with my modelings.  I can’t help but notice your awesome snaggle tooth pose, and your brother’s perfect pouty face.  What is your secret?  The reason I ask is, my mama has plans to take some family portraits this year.  You see, my rude parents went off and got married last year and didn’t even invite me for one picture!  So, to make it up to me, we are going to take some snappies with the 3 of us around town.  I am a pro when it comes to modeling for Instagram, but I’ve never been ‘on location’ for a photo shoot.  Any advice for a first time dog model? Ringo

Dear Aspiring Dog-Model,

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good-looking? Well it turns out that there is — even if you are ridiculously good-looking, it takes more to be a dog model. Most of the magic tricks simply take practice, so you’ll have to learn as you go.

But there are two tricks that will be absolutely essential for your preparings for your shoot-about-town. First, make sure your photographer is comfortable with dogs and willing to make friends with you, handle treats, etc. You will be able to tell if the person is not that impressed with your handsome, handsome self, and it will make you not want to work it for the camera.  A tragedy!

And second, practice, practice, practice! In the days leading up to your shoot, have your people bring you to the exact spot where they plan to do their photodogging, and let you explore. Make sure they don’t have an agenda and that they can let you sniff, sniff, sniff to your heart’s content. Do this multiple times. On another visit, have them practice some basic skills with you in the same place — sits, downs, recalls, tricks, leash walking — whatever they’d like. The goal is to get you used to being in the place but not being totally distracted by everything going on. Once you can both easily focus and easily relax at your photo shoot location, you know you’re ready.

Good luck!

Doodle Zoolander

Hi Doodlebug!  My Mama also takes me to the Canine Center for help with my re activeness and I’m getting better ~ I passed the Vet visit this year with flying colors per my Mama…..but I got a problem with my older brother Merlin…see if loves those flying disks (frizz bees) to the point he won’t share…he’ll hog them and thinks he’s gotta hoard them…..Mama tell him to drop them, but when he doesn’t she just walks away….then I don’t play with those flying disks….but when I get the chance oh boy ~ I have fun….Mama used to put my big brother in the house and just play with me…..guess I gotta remind her to do that again.  But is there any other way for Mama to teach my big brother to let loose those flying disks? -Fun and Sassy in the back yard

Dear Fun and Sassy,

Next time you’re out at the Center, ask your trainer for their best advices. Guarding of objects is one of those things that seems so simple, but it can actually have a lot of different causes and motivations. I could offer you my guessings, but what if I guessed wrong? I wouldn’t want to set you and your brother Merlin down the wrong path.

Your mama’s instinks to put your brother in the house and JUST play with you are good ones, though, and can’t hurt. Tell her that you should each have individual playtime with those frisbees, and while one of you is playing, the other one can be inside working on some kind of fun puzzle.

Be sure to say hello to us and our mama next time you’re out at the Center!

Love, Your Doodle

Sounds like your cousin needs to learn some impulse control! If your uncle will listen, tell him to enroll Finn in some private lessons or a class where a major component is relaxation and control-based exercises. Practice is the best way for a dog to learn that he can’t *always* do exactly what he wants! And as far as the humpty dance, Finn is going to need a consequence to his actions when he breaks a rule. If humping is against the rules, why should Finn care? What happens if he breaks the rule? In our house, rule-breaking earns us a time out, which we think is just terrible, because it takes us away from the action. It works for us. You’ll have to find something in your house that works for you — and for Finn!

Rock it, DB