Hello friends, and friends that I haven’t yet met. I wanted to share my story with you, a little piece of my journey that will hopefully help dogs like me.

Like many dogs that experience anxiety, my life was once ruled by fear. My human called it my sixth sense; I called it “the scaries.” Big sky changes triggered it. I could’t help it, and I felt out of control. Blue, clear skies, sunshine… and I’m a wreck because all I feel is fear for what’s to come: a sky crash with bright zaps and what feels like the End of the World! And don’t get me started on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. All the booming and flashing sent me into a tailspin. Definitely not zen.

I wanted to be the Best Friend to my Human that I could be (and usually was), but during these storms, and on holidays that we were supposed to be having fun, I would hide and cry for hours instead. My human would sit with me sometimes. That helped, but I felt sad that he felt sad for me. All I wanted to do was be a cool, chill companion for better or worse (weather).

One day that all changed. My human brought home a ZenCrate. When he saw me getting anxious, he told me to try it. I went inside and listened to the soothing music. I didn’t notice all the loud noises anymore and the scaries slowly faded away. Inside, I felt like a mossy green rock in a stream: peaceful and still, content to let the universe flow over me.

While the ZenCrate helped, I realized then that zen was a state of being. Today I’m a different dog, and so is my human. ZenCrate taught me how to treat my scaries on my own. I am the Master of my fear and joy. I can pick security and fun over fear. I can be a rock in the stream. I now know that no one is in charge of my happiness, but me. And sometimes my human.

Now I want to dedicate my spare time to sharing what I’ve learned. You too can achieve inner peace and become the zen dog you’ve always wanted to be. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite #Zenisms and would love to hear from you along the way. And if the scaries creep up on you, just remember…no one is perfect, and we’re all on this journey together.

Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful.

Namaste,
 

Charger

(Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zencrate for more ZENISMS!)

“Are you walking him or is he walking you?” Many dog owners have been on the receiving end of this quip while struggling to restrain a wayward dog. Failure to maintain control of your dog on a leash is dangerous for you, your pet, and other dogs or people you may encounter on a walk. The goal of leash training is to achieve “loose leash” while walking, which means your dog stays close enough to you to keep slack in the lead. Leash training a dog takes patience, but the results – a safer, more enjoyable walk and a happy, obedient dog – are well worth the effort.

Choose the Best Leash Option When Leash Training

There are many types and styles of leashes, harnesses, and halters these days making it the decision overwhelming. There is no one-size-fits-all setup for leash training, so you may have to experiment to find the combination that’s right for your dog. In most cases, it’s fine to start with a regular collar and clip-on leash, four to six feet in length.

Caution: Most professional dog trainers warn that you should not use retractable leashes, especially while training. They can actually encourage pulling and lunging by teaching the dog that if he charges ahead, he gets a longer leash. In addition, they pose serious hazards:

• Your dog can get far enough away from you to get himself in real trouble – some retractable leashes are up to 26 feet long.
• The sudden stop when the slack runs out can damage the dog’s neck or spine.
• The leash can break if your dog lunges, or it can slip out of your hands easily.
• You or your dog can become tangled in the line – several people have experienced broken bones or other serious injuries.

Patience Is Key in Leash Training a Dog

Start by introducing the dog to the collar. Let him wear it around the house, especially during play time and mealtime, so he associates the collar with love and tasty food. After a few days of this, clip the leash to the collar and let him wear it inside while you continue this positive reinforcement. For safety reasons, do not let the dog drag the leash around unattended.

Next, it’s time to attach yourself to the leash. Put your hand through the wrist strap and maintain a firm but gentle grip on the leash, and remember to always stay calm but authoritative. Don’t scream at your dog or yank him to heel. Scaring or hurting him creates a negative association with the leash and undermines your efforts.

Start with short, easily attainable goals, like walking 100 yards. When your dog walks with slack in the leash, reward him (see below) and say, “Heel!” or use whatever verbal command you want to associate with the behavior. When he pulls ahead, stop and wait for him to calm down and return to your side. Increase the length of your walks as your dog makes progress.

Your first few sessions should be in a familiar place, like your yard if you have one. This way, you aren’t springing too many new experiences on him at one time, which can over-stimulate your dog and make him less receptive to training. After a few days, you can move the lessons to a park or to your normal walking route.

Rewards Get Results – How To Leash Train a Dog Properly

While walking with your dog, pay very close attention to the tension in the leash. It will be slack when your dog is relaxed and walking beside you, so reward this behavior to encourage it! Here are some ways to reward your dog:

• Treats –Keep some treats in your pocket while walking. You can use them to lure your dog to walk at your side as well as to reward him when your dog is showing proper behavior.
• Praise – Speak to your dog in a positive, enthusiastic way. Think of yourself as a leash-training cheerleader.
• Slack – When your dog is right beside you (also called walking at heel), always reward him by releasing all tension in the leash. This teaches him that walking correctly is not just what you want, but is also more comfortable for him.
• Sniff Breaks – Periodically, give your dog a minute or two to sniff around and explore, letting him go where he wants (within reason). This is enjoyable for dogs and helps create positive associations with the leash walking experience.

Note that, when starting out, you should reward your dog every single time he comes to heel. As his training progresses, you can scale back the rewards and give them only occasionally.

Learning How to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Leash Can Be Fun

Learning how to train your dog to walk on a leash can actually be fun if you turn it into a game. Here’s a variation on the “Red Light, Green Light” game that gives your dog a tangible goal to work toward. Mark a starting point, then place a tempting treat within the dog’s line of sight. Lead him toward it on the leash. As long as there’s slack in the lead, he gets the “green light” to keep walking, but if he starts to pull – red light! – he has to go back to the starting point. He will eventually realize that pulling does not get him closer to what he wants, and that it only takes him farther away from his goal.

Know when to Call in the Pros

In very rare cases, a dog will not respond to even the most patient and persistent leash training. This is more likely to be the case if you’ve adopted an adult dog who was previously abused or otherwise traumatized. They may have very negative, fearful associations with the leash. If your dog barks or lunges excessively, behaves aggressively, or otherwise seems to hate the leash after four to six weeks of training, consider seeking help from a professional dog trainer. A pro may be able to pinpoint the cause of and solution to your dog’s problematic behavior.

Time to Relax

Finally, after a leash training session, allowing your dog to relax is the ultimate reward. This enhances the lesson by cementing the positive reinforcement you want to associate with training. It’s in a dog’s DNA to crave a soothing, den-like environment. The ZENCRATE is the perfect way to fill this need by creating a blissful, safe space for your dog. ZENCRATE gives your dog freedom to enter and leave his “den” at will, all while using multi-sensory elements to help your dog feel peaceful and secure.

Do you have a dog that is high strung and always on edge? Does the dog pace back and forth in your absence? Does he bark incessantly when you leave home or when there is even the slightest noise? Perhaps he exhibits some other negative behaviors like being destructive or urinating in inappropriate places. These may all be signs of dog anxiety.

Dog anxiety is a problem affecting 20 to 40 million dogs in America. There is separation anxiety that is common in adopted dogs and dogs who have experienced abuse in the past. Dog anxiety can be spurred by loud sounds like fireworks, thunder, loud cars or even by a knock on the door. Dog anxiety can be a mild to moderate problem or it may be a time consuming and frustrating issue for both pet and owner.

If owners confuse dog anxiety with misbehavior, it can make some issues worse. You see, the symptoms of dog anxiety are an expression of distress. They are not necessarily a disciplinary problem. It can be well worth an owner’s time and effort to explore solutions that can better relax a dog. A relaxed dog after all, is a happier, friendlier animal who will exhibit better behavior.

How to Calm a Dog Down When You are not Home

A thunderstorm, loud noise or knock at the door can trigger stress and anxiety in your dog at any time. That’s why one of the most critical aspects in choosing ways to calm your dog is selecting solutions that are available to your pet while you are not at home. Drug-related solutions or stress-vests may sound appealing, but if you are not there to help implement the solution, it is useless to your pet in your absence. If you really want to know how to calm down a dog, make sure solutions are available when you are not at home. The holistic solutions below can easily be put into use even when a guardian is not present.

Create a Den to Help Calm Your Dog Down

You shouldn’t underestimate how important a dog’s natural instincts are. One of these instincts is to seek a den-like atmosphere. If you’ve ever witnessed your dog hiding under the bed or in a closet during a thunderstorm, they are exhibiting this den-seeking behavior. You can help create a den for him that is comfortable, even in a crate. Make sure it has padding, a chew or other favorite toy, has ample room, and is insulated from stress-inducing outside sounds. Pillows, curtains, or sheets can create this den-like environment. Keep in mind, your dog is going to want his den near his “pack”, which, in this situation, is your family. Your dog’s den should be in a family or living room area where your family spends most of their time.

How to Calm an Anxious Dog

Many guides on how to calm an anxious dog include tips on including a fan and soft music to a dog’s favorite area. If you’ve ever seen the joy on a face of a dog sticking his head out a moving car window you can appreciate how moving air pleases most dogs. Make sure the fan is secure and the dog can’t harm itself with its moving blades. Relaxing music can also help sooth an anxious dog when used in combination with other holistic approaches. While a radio may provide sound, make sure it is calming.

How to Calm Down a Dog Using Technology

Today, technology can play a role in calming a dog down holistically. One example is the innovative ZenCrate. This is a furniture-quality dog crate that combines the holistic features above with smart technology. Proximity sensors activate features when the dog enters ZenCrate. These include a motion-activated fan and soothing motion activated music that has been researched to provide a calming effect. An add-on camera takes advantage of ZenCrate’s WiFi capabilities and keeps owners visually connected with their pet. Owners even get an email making them aware of the dog’s activity. A battery back-up is included to keep ZenCrate’s calming features functioning even in the event of a power failure during a thunderstorm. But it’s not just technology that makes ZenCrate so effective.

Engineer’s have built den-like qualities right into the ZenCrate including comfortable orthopedic memory foam padding, sound absorbing acoustics, and vibration-dampening feet. The ZenCrate’s door insert can easily be removed to provide easy access for your pet. The product was specifically designed to provide calming benefits even if the owner or guardian is not present.

The ZenCrate is simple to assemble without tools and can quickly be put to use in your efforts to calm your dog…with one caveat. ZenCrate is not quite available for sale…yet. However, if you would like to be kept informed on when ZenCrate does become available and get a special invitation to be one of the first to own one, now is the time to act. Get the value of multiple holistic solutions to dog anxiety in one creative product. Visit the ZenCrate website and sign-up today!