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Dr. Marty

How to Earn the Trust of Fearful Dogs (and my foolproof treat)

July 18, 2019 12 Comments

Understanding the fight or flight response of fearful dogs is very important when trying to gain their trust. Here are some tips plus my foolproof treat.

Dogs have two ways to deal with fear: fight or flight. When I first met Kaani, he was leashed—he chose fight because he couldn’t get away. He never hurt me, but wanted me to know he meant business.

Once I got him into a larger area, he chose flight. He would run away and cower in a corner somewhere. His favorite place was his crate—his safe place.

When I opened his crate to take him on potty breaks, he varied between the two. Sometimes, he would squish to the back of the crate, and other times he’d lunge toward the door.

Interestingly, he always let me hold his leash without a problem. I just had to leave the crate door open for 5–10 minutes while I waited for him to come out into the room. I think that once we got outside, I was less terrifying than his surroundings.

How to identify a scared dog

Nervous Great Pyrenees puppy wearing a vest. "I'm nervous. Please ignore me." - It's Dog or Nothing

There are a lot of very obvious signs that a dog is uncomfortable—like tail tucking or flat ears and ducking away. But then there are some less obvious signs:

  • whale eyes (the whites of their eyes shows)
  • stiffened or tense posture
  • raised hackles
  • large pupils
  • exaggerated yawning

Tips for gaining trust

I can’t say this enough—take it slow. Everything needs to be done on the dog’s time. Assume everything is new to the dog. Something so simple, like a large hat, could spook the dog because he wasn’t socialized to it. We’re always eager to show the dog we’re safe, and sometimes the best way to do that is by giving them plenty of space.

Related: How to Muzzle Train Your Dog

Give the dog a safe place

Great Pyrenees puppy | It's Dog or Nothing

I’m a big fan of crates, especially for nervous dogs (check out my favorite giant breed crate here). Before bringing Kaani home, I put a crate in the corner of our bedroom. This way, he was away from the bed and had his own area.

Then, I put some towels over the crate to block out stimuli so that he could get as relaxed as possible. I left the front of the crate uncovered because I still wanted him to see me at times. I wasn’t in his normal view, but if I walked in or out of the room he could see me, and I wouldn’t surprise him.

Some dogs will need the entire crate covered, but this worked really well for him. A little fan, some music or a white noise machine, and a stuffed Kong made it his favorite place to go.

After potty breaks, he’d sprint back upstairs and crawl into his crate to relax.

Ignore the dog

This is so, so important. Eye contact can be seen as threatening for any dog, but especially a fearful one. Pretend like he’s not around and let him come to you.

Even when we took potty breaks, I wouldn’t look at or acknowledge Kaani for the first few days. He would occasionally sniff my leg or rub against me, but I let him figure me out on his own.

Remember, the crate is a no touch, no eye contact place for your fearful dog. You don’t want him to feel threatened in any way while he’s crated.

At this point, Kaani doesn’t mind me reaching into his crate when he’s in there (to refill his water bowl or something similar), but he cowers if Nick tries to. So Nick makes sure to give him plenty of space.

Keep things positive

Silly Great Pyrenees puppy napping comfortably after once being extremely fearful. | It's Dog or Nothing

Never, ever punish a dog for growling. Growling is a dog’s warning sign before a more serious warning or potential bite. If you punish growling, the dog will eventually skip that step and go straight to a more severe fear response.

Talk in soft, happy tones—this is typically easier for women than men—and try to keep the environment as relaxed as possible.

Treats, treats, and more treats

To gain Kaani’s trust, I started by casually walking by Kaani’s crate a tossing a few treats in. Every time I was going to be near his crate, he got a treat. Don’t stick your fingers in (especially if you’re worried about a fight fear response). With slow, swift movements, gently toss the treat and keep walking.

After a day, he would come out of his crate to check me out while I was sitting on the bed.

Same thing. Toss treats his way without making eye contact. The next day, he was taking treats from my hand, again without eye contact (I may have lured him with cheesy fries and bacon).

Obviously, I couldn’t make cheesy fries and bacon the main treat I offered Kaani to work on trust. But no regular treat was going to do the trick. He snubbed his nose at every training treat I had in the house.

Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend

Great Pyrenees try Dr. Marty's freeze-dried raw dog food, Nature's Blend.

Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend is technically a balanced meal, but I prefer to use it as a topper or high-value treat. The floofs go absolutely crazy for this freeze-dried raw food! I love that it can go either way, depending on your dog’s needs and your budget.

Related: Dr. Marty & Freedom Service Dogs: Why I’m Obsessed

Quick facts about Nature’s Blend:

  • made with 77% raw beef, raw turkey, raw game, and raw organ meats
  • free of artificial preservatives and fillers
  • supports higher energy levels, easier digestion, joint and coat support, and strong brain health
  • contains high levels of EPA/DHA for optimum canine health

Try Nature’s Blend for a pretty great discount here!

Don’t forget gut health

The Great Pyrenees at It's Dog or Nothing love Dr. Marty's ProPower Plus for optimal gut health.

Kaani had a lot of stomach issues when we first got him. There were two nights that he suddenly pooped all over his crate and needed a backyard hose down. Poor guy just started softly whimpering after it happened.

Dr. Marty sent us some ProPower Plus—a blend of 14 different health and digestive ingredients designed to optimize your dog’s body.

This instantly made a difference in his gut health (no more runny poops!), and I’ve started using it for Atka as well—who also has tummy issues sometimes.

Remember to snag this great deal on Nature’s Blend!

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: Dr. Marty, Nature's Blend

Dr. Marty & Freedom Service Dogs: Why I’m Obsessed

March 25, 2019 4 Comments

I love the food from Dr. Marty, but the company they sponsor, Freedom Service Dogs, makes me adore the company even more. And there's a very special reason why.

Kiska came to me as a foster.

She was covered in fleas and required more baths than I can remember to remove them all. And there were so many around her eyes. Removing them was a seemingly endless process.

We’d put her in the bath and turn on the water to find the fleas. Then wash her down and use a fine tooth comb to remove all the fleas from her. There were so many that we had to have a “dipping bucket.”

Our dipping bucket was a big water cup where we’d put the fleas we removed to keep them from jumping—there were too many to get down the drain each time.

Once we got as many as we could find, we’d take her outside to dry off, continuing to search for and remove fleas. During that time, we’d change clothes and start a load of laundry to make sure they didn’t end up in the house.

Then, back in the tub she’d go.

Rinse and repeat. It was an exhausting process.

The transition to a service dog

The longer I had Kiska and the more we bonded, I realized her potential to help me in ways I had never considered.

I have a lot of physical and mental health issues, but Kiska first showed her potential at helping me with fainting due to POTS. If my blood pressure or heart rate started to drop, she’d be all over me and getting me to sit down.

The first time it happened, I thought it was a coincidence.

Then it happened again. And again. And again.

At only a few months old, she was already changing my life, and I knew she had found her forever home with us (even though I had been adamant about not having more than one female).

Related: What’s Next for Kiska?

Kiska had gotten most of my POTS symptoms under control, but I was still struggling with gluten cross contamination (I have Celiac disease).

I started hearing about gluten detection dogs and wondered if she could learn. I figured we’d give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen?

Check out these gluten detection dogs in action (Kiska is featured in the video as well)!

I couldn’t believe how quickly she was learning and how willing she was to work for me—especially for a Great Pyrenees! Anytime I asked, “Do you want to work?” she’d come running over to me.

Related: 10 Tips for Training Great Pyrenees

Kiska helps me stay safe and eat well, and I always want to do the same for her.

When I was contacted by Dr. Marty about collaborating, I first had to make sure their food was up to my standards. Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend is:

  • freeze-dried raw dog food
  • all-natural
  • developed by America’s foremost integrative veterinarian, Dr. Marty
  • free from chemicals and fillers
  • made in the USA and Canada
  • backed by a 90-day money back guarantee

Nature’s Blend ingredients: Turkey, Beef, Salmon, Duck, Flax, Beef Liver, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Liver, Sweet Potato, Eggs, Pea Flour, Carrots, Apples, Blueberries, Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Spinach, Ginger, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols

Related: Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food from Dr. Marty

As I was perusing the site, I noticed something that made me love the company even more—they are a sponsor for Freedom Service Dogs of America.

Freedom Service Dogs of America

Freedom Service Dogs unlocks the potential of shelter dogs. They deliberately work to do something I stumbled upon with Kiska. She had more potential than I knew—and so do other rescue dogs.

At Freedom Service Dogs, we unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need. The clients we serve live with disabilities like autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and more. We also serve veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

– Freedom Service Dogs

Since being founded, Freedom Service Dogs of America has rescued over 1,000 shelter dogs.

Not every shelter dog is going to make a good service dog, but don’t worry—Freedom Service Dogs will adopt out the pups that are more the “just hang out on the couch” type to loving families.

These hero dog deserve to be fed the best, so I love that Dr. Marty is helping provide that for them.

Kiska had potential beyond what I ever thought possible. Freedom Service Dogs and Dr. Marty are helping find that potential in the dogs that are too often overlooked.

Give your hero dog the chance to try Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend today.

I love the food from Dr. Marty, but the company they sponsor, Freedom Service Dogs, makes me adore the company even more. And there's a very special reason why.

Disclaimer: We were compensated to share Dr. Marty on It’s Dog or Nothing. Don’t worry–we only share products we use and believe in.

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: Dr. Marty, great pyrenees, Nature's Blend

Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food from Dr. Marty

January 28, 2019 36 Comments

Great Pyrenees try Dr. Marty's freeze-dried raw dog food, Nature's Blend.

Recently, we added a new food to the floofs’ meal rotation, and it’s been a huge hit. If you have a Great Pyrenees, I’m sure you know the pain of trying to keep your dog interested in their food. We have a few standard go-tos that the floofs will eat consistenty, and I’m thrilled to add Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend to the list.

Dr. Marty is a brand of pet food and nutritional supplements formulated by renowned vet, Dr. Marty, and a team of pet experts with the same mission in mind:

To deliver high-level nutrition to your pets in the most delicious way possible.

– Dr. Marty

Together, they created several products for dogs and cats—full of nutrients and great flavor—that leave your pets begging for more. All Dr. Marty ingredients are ethically sourced and of the highest grade.

The Man Behind the Meal

For four decades, Dr. Martin Goldstein has been a leading voice in the veterinary community. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University, specializing in integrative canine medicine to help prevent and treat many diseases.

Many experts–—and thousands of satisfied clients—consider him to be America’s foremost integrative veterinarian. Dr. Marty knows what your dog needs to stay its healthiest—and creates products to help.

Related: Nutrition Variation with a Rotation Diet

Nature’s Blend

Nature’s Blend, Dr. Marty’s Premium Freeze-Dried Dog Food, is a nutrition-packed formula designed to give your dog a healthier, happier life.

We blend a variety of meats, fish, ranch-raised beef and duck, and other protein sources with fruits and vegetables for the balanced, complete nutrition your dog needs. We receive all our ingredients fresh, then gently freeze dry them so they’re bursting with flavor and nutrition.

– Dr. Marty

Nature’s Blend Quick Facts

Nature’s Blend is:

  • gently freeze-dried
  • made from a variety of meats, fish, ranch-raised beef and duck, and other protein sources with fruits and vegetables
  • all-natural
  • free from chemicals and fillers
  • suitable for most dog breeds and ages

The Floof Test

Great Pyrenees try Dr. Marty's freeze-dried raw dog food, Nature's Blend.

I can think a food is great, but if Mauja, Atka, and Kiska won’t eat it, it’s pointless. I always try to refrain from getting too excited about a food until the floofs give it a taste test (and eat it for more than two days in a row).

First step, prepare the food—it’s super simple. Just add water, wait three minutes, and serve. The floofs will tell you that the three minute wait is torture 😉

When I make their food, I always add a little extra water and let it sit for a few minutes longer, turning the water into a nice “broth” for them. They love it and think it’s an added treat! It also enhances the flavor of dry food nicely.

The results are in.

Nature’s Blend is a HUGE hit for my three. I was worried because Kiska can be sensitive to turkey, but she’s been eating the food without an issue for a few months now. I think the blend of protein sources makes all the difference.

If you have a picky eater and are worried about spending the money, only to have your dog not eat it, don’t worry. Dr. Marty offers a 90-day money back guarantee—no questions asked.

Dr. Marty also has a few supplements that I’m interested in testing. First is a digestive supplement called ProPower Plus. All three have always had sensitive stomachs, and I’ve been looking for a good digestive supplement for her.

Related: How to Help Your Dog Gain Weight

The other supplement we’re interested in trying is a joint supplement called Free & Active. Having giant breeds, I’m always concerned about joint issues, and start all my dogs on a joint supplement immediately. Since Mauja has had TPLO surgery and showed mild arthritis in her other knee, keeping her joints healthy is extremely important to me.

Have cats? No problem. Dr. Marty also has a freeze-dried cat food called Nature’s Feast. I’ve been so thrilled with the dog food, that I’m thinking of trying this for Indie.

Stay tuned to hear more about Dr. Marty. They support Freedom Service Dogs of America, an organization that trains rescue pups to be service dogs. If you’ve been around awhile, you know Kiska was a rescue and is now my service dog in training. I can’t wait to tell you more about this amazing partnership!

In the meantime, treat your pup and give Nature’s Blend a try. I have a feeling you’ll want to add it to your normal food rotation. We have a special offer for new customers!

Try Nature’s Blend today! Your dog will thank you.

Great Pyrenees try Dr. Marty's freeze-dried raw dog food, Nature's Blend.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Dr. Marty. Don’t worry—our opinions aren’t influenced by any sort of compensation. We only care what the floofs think 😉

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: dog food, Dr. Marty, Nature's Blend

12 Days of Giveaways | Day 7

December 9, 2018 18 Comments

Feeding your floof can be difficult. We have a food we're sure your dog will love. Enter the giveaway on It's Dog or Nothing!

We’re officially halfway through our 12 Days of Giveaways! We’ve had a blast so far, and I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing all of the amazing products. If you missed a day, be sure to go back and enter the giveaways here.

Today, we’re hosting a giveaway for a new floof favorite, and I guarantee your dog will love it. We’re going to give you a brief overview, but stay tuned—we’ll be talking more about this product over the next few months (that’s how much we like it).

 

Dr. Marty Pets

A leader in integrative medicine, Dr. Martin Goldstein (Dr. Marty), aims to combine both traditional medicine and alternative therapies to help your pet, be its healthiest, happiest self.

After going through his own health issues and learning how to heal them, he knew he could make the lives better of our furry friends.

 

The Food

Because the bottom line is: Your lucky pet can live a healthier, happier, more vibrant life… starting today. – Dr. Marty Pets


A few months ago, we were given the opportunity to try the dog food from Dr. Marty, Nature’s Blend. I was a bit apprehensive about trying it because the floofs are insanely picky, but I figured we’d give it a try—never hurts to try.

They. Were. Obsessed.

Color me impressed.

Nature’s Blend is a premium freeze-dried dog food formulated to give your dog a healthier life. It combines proteins (including meats, fish, beef, and duck) for variation, and includes fruits and vegetables for balanced nutrition. It is also all-natural and free from chemicals and fillers.

 

Giving Back

My favorite thing about Dr. Marty’s is the fact that they partner with Freedom Service Dogs of America.

Freedom Service Dogs of America rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs for the people who need them most. This is a cause close to my heart since Miss Kiska was a rescue and is well on her way to become a service dog for me.

 

Stay Tuned

We have so much more to tell you about Dr. Marty and his products, so keep your eye out over the next several months. In the meantime, enter below to win two (2) bags of Nature’s Blend from Dr. Marty! Five (5) lucky winners will be randomly selected.

If you just can’t wait to get your paws on Dr. Marty’s food, you can try some at a GREAT discount. Click here to give it a try!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you miss any of the other giveaways? Find them all here!

Feeding your floof can be difficult. We have a food we're sure your dog will love. Enter the giveaway on It's Dog or Nothing!

Filed Under: What's New Tagged With: 12 days of giveaways, dog food, Dr. Marty, healthy dog, Nature's Blend

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