I am Casey Lomonaco, resident behavior nerd/Chief Belly Scratcher (a.k.a. Behavior and Training Manager) here at the Chemung County SPCA and Humane Society.

This is my best friend Mokie, a rescued "mutt" and she has been my best friend and teacher for 8 years now.

Mokie has taught me a lot about what dogs need to be happy. Here are some tricks I used in helping her grow to be the BDE (Best Dog Ever).

Your veterinarian is one of the best resources available to you and your dog. A good vet not only maintains your dog's health, but can provide important referrals to other local allied professionals like good trainers, boarding facilities, dog walkers, pet sitters, and groomers.

While any area may offer many vets to choose from, it's worth doing your homework to find a vet you love.

If you are a first-time pet owner, pet owning friends or your local Humane Society may be able to steer you in the right direction.

The right dog food can make a huge difference! Poor diet can contribute to hyperactivity, other behavior problems, and health issues. Feeding a high quality food can help calm a hyper dog and add years to any dog's life.

To learn more about selecting a good food for your dog, check out www.dogfoodanalysis.com or consider subscribing to The Whole Dog Journal, a great resource on dog health and behavior.

All dogs benefit from a safe environment where owners provide guidance and protection from things which may be scary.

Dogs who are frightened of loud noises or unpredictable movement, for example, may be overwhelmed by life in a home with a small toddler.

Dogs who are afraid of strangers, children, or other animals may struggle in homes with electronic containment systems or on tie outs where they feel unprotected from or unpredictably exposed to these threats.

Dogs who fear thunderstorms will need a quiet, safe space in which they can relax during the storm, as opposed to being left in the yard and exposed to the elements.

All dogs will be happiest in homes where they can count on their people to keep them safe.

Your dog's exercise needs will depend on a number of factor including age, health, and breed, amongst other things.

Leash walks are only one form of exercise, and highly active dogs may need more exercise than most owners can provide.

Exercise may include:

tug
fetch
play with other dogs
running off leash in safely contained areas
swimming
biking
hiking
backpacking
rollerblading
agility
jogging
...Anything else you and your dog enjoy together, like agility or lure coursing!

Unmet exercise needs are a common cause of boredom-related behavior problems.

Talk with your vet to find out which types of exercise are acceptable for your dog, and at what frequency and intensity. Dogs with health problems like arthritis or obesity need carefully constructed exercise plans to build strength while avoiding injury.

Your dog will only know what is expected of him if you teach him! Positive training techniques including clicker training and lure reward training are quickly becoming industry standard in teaching basic manners and solving complex behavior problems.

There are a number of great training resources online including:

* www.clickertraining.com
* www.dogstardaily.com
* www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles

Visual learners should definitely check out www.youtube.com/kikopup for a wide selection of some of the web's best free training videos!

Many behavior problems are caused by boredom. If you don't give your dog's brain suitable outlets, he will give himself "jobs" that you won't like, such as raiding your garbage can, counter surfing, chasing the cat, or digging holes in your yard.

Try to find new ways to challenge your dog's brain as often as possible. Variety is the spice of life, so feel free to rotate activities.

Suggested activities may include:

* Walking a different route or in a new location
* Play with other appropriate dogs
* Food dispensing toys (like Kongs or Kong Wobblers)
* Teaching new tricks or other training sessions
* Games like nose work, tug, fetch
* "kibble hunt": instead of feeding dinner in a bowl, try hiding piles of food in your house or yard and releasing your dog to find it...it is very natural for dogs to "hunt" for food with their noses and this game can turn a boring meal into a fun adventure!

As you can see, many of the enrichment options also provide training and physical exercise. Good job, multi-tasking pet owner!

Some dogs enjoy the company of other canines, and others would prefer not to share their home and special person with other pets.

But every dog, more than anything, deserves love; a special person (or family) to cuddle, who will include the dog in the family's life, scratch a belly, toss a tennis ball, and otherwise ensure their needs are well-met.

In short, a dog needs and deserves a best friend; a person who loves them and is committed to meeting their basic needs. In return, a dog will offer you a lifetime of loyalty and laughs, a shoulder to cry on, a belly to scratch, and a million great memories.

If you are looking for your new best friend, stop down to the Chemung County SPCA; he may be waiting for you here. Our staff and adoption counselors are ready to help you meet your perfect match!

At the Chemung County Humane Society and SPCA, we put families together, hopefully for a lifetime. We try very hard to make perfect matches between the dogs in our care and the great people that enter our shelter in search of our new best friends.

Here is Stevie and his new special person, John. Stevie came in as a very matted stray but is now handsomely groomed and enjoying a great life with his owners John and Sheree and his new doggy "brother," Xeno, a three-legged Miniature Schnauzer.

May they all live happily ever after!

We are open 5 days a week

Tuesday through Saturday
11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Extended Evening Hours until 7 p.m. on Fridays

www.chemungspca.org

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