From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com. She is  she is the owner of K-9 Divine and a professional dog trainer,

Plenty of room for everyone. (Rachel Jones)

Living with multiple dogs can be both rewarding and challenging. Here are some suggestions to make your multi-dog household run as smoothly as possible.

When making a decision to get a second dog, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. If your first dog has a behavior problem, the addition of a second dog will not make it go away. In other words, get a second dog because you want one, not because you think your dog wants a friend. Try to work on your first dog’s issues before the arrival of the second dog.

It is also very important to choose the right second dog for your household. Generally, it is best to get a dog of the opposite sex and one that is not the same age as your first dog.

Dogs that have too much in common tend to fight more, as they see each other as competition. If you are getting a dog from a rescue group or shelter, bring your first dog along to make sure they like each other before you bring the new dog home.

Once you have all the dogs at home, set them up for success to minimize fighting. All dogs need some space from each other, even if they are best friends. Make sure you separate the dogs at some point during the day so they can have a break. That might be a good time to spend quality time with each dog by cuddling, grooming or training while the other one is elsewhere.

Feed the dogs separately or at least on opposite sides of the room and supervise them during meals. Even if they are not fighting over the food, one might be eating the other’s share. You don’t want either dog to feel anxious about mealtimes, or to go hungry while the other one gets fat.

Lastly, the dogs have their own social system in the house. It is normal to have some squabbles and some attempts to establish dominance. Let them work it out unless they are making each other bleed. If they are fighting to a degree where one or both dogs are getting injured, keep them separated until you can work with a trainer to resolve the issues.

Dogs enjoy the companionship of other canine friends in the house. Careful planning and management can ensure a peaceful and happy group at home.

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Good public relations are very important as we raise our dogs in the city. (Rachel Jones)

From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com. A professional dog trainer, she is the owner of K-9 Divine.

As a trainer, I get called in to help in many situations that are less about dog behavior than about good public relations between dog owners and their neighbors. Washingtonians live in a small, crowded city that is not very dog-friendly. As dog owners, we need to do our part to change the perception of dogs and owners that is held by many residents and members of the city government.

• Apartment dwellers can save themselves a lot of trouble by pre-empting complaints about barking and dog noise from their neighbors. For example, before you bring your new dog home, send around a note or go around personally to the neighbors and let them know that you are getting a new dog and you want to make sure the dog isn’t making too much noise. People are likely to be forgiving if your new dog is noisy for a few weeks if you warned them in advance. Spend an hour with a trainer to work on nice, quiet behavior in the apartment and the elevator and your neighbors will be very grateful.
• Pick up your dog’s poop! We might be allowed to use schoolyards and parks to exercise our dogs if everyone cleaned up after their own dog. If you see a pile of poop that doesn’t belong to your dog and you have an extra bag, pick that up too!
• When you are out walking your dog, don’t allow him to approach strangers. Not everyone wants your dog to sniff them. Even if your dog has no training, you should be able to use the leash to keep her away from people. Parents of small children, people who fear dogs and people who are eating at outdoor restaurants will appreciate your efforts to keep your dog a good distance away from them.

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Don’t be fool by the tail. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Rachel Jones. Email her at rjones[AT]borderstan.com.

As a dog trainer, clients frequently tell me: “I was so shocked when my dog bit the other dog — he was wagging his tail.” Most people believe that tail wagging is a sign of happiness, but that is not the case. Tail wagging is an indication of arousal. A dog could be aroused because he is happy, anxious or hostile. If you want to understand your dog’s mental state, look at the position of her tail and the type of wagging.

• Tail parallel to the body, wagging slowly from side to side or around in a circle = happy and relaxed.
• Tail held below the body or between the legs with tip wagging rapidly = anxiety or fear.
• Tail held straight up, perpendicular to the body, with tip wagging rapidly = extremely aroused, possibly aggressive.
• Dogs with docked tails (Boxers, Dobermans, etc.) or dogs with very curly tails like Pugs cannot use their tails to communicate, which is one reason they tend to get picked on by other dogs.

If your dog or another dog is holding her tail in either of the second two positions, they are not in a happy mental state and are more likely to bolt, get in a fight or bite someone. It is very important to be aware of your dog’s body language so that you can get him out of a bad situation before it is too late.

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From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

Rachel Jones joins the Borderstan team of columnist.s (Courtesy Rachel Jones)

Borderstan is happy to introduce a new columnist to the team, Rachel Jones.

Jones will help us to better understand our pets in order to have a healthier and more relaxed relationship with them. Jones owns K9 Divine, an obedience training and behavior consultation service that not only trains dogs in the neighborhood, but also offers the option of taking your pets to a farm where they can spend the day running and playing with their mates.

Recently, we sat down with Jones to get to know her and her businesses.

Borderstan: Tell us a little bit about yourself? How long have you been in DC? and how did you end up here?

Jones: I came to DC in 1994 to attend Georgetown University and never left.

Borderstan: How long have you been in Borderstan?

Jones: I bought my house in Borderstan five-and-a-half years ago.

Borderstan: You have an education that does not normally lead to becoming a dog trainer? Fill us in on that!

Jones: I was a Spanish major and spent my first six years as a Spanish-to-English translator. I was terribly bored and depressed in the job, and I noticed that every evening when I came home and saw my dogs that I would instantly feel happy. So I decided to quit my job and become a dog trainer.

Borderstan: How did you become a dog trainer?

Jones: I went to an internship program in New York to learn how to train dogs, did a lot of independent study and volunteered at the Washington Humane Society.

Borderstan: Why is important to have a dog trainer?

Jones: It is important to learn how to communicate effectively with your dog so that you can have a happy and relaxing relationship together.

Borderstan: Tell us about your farm? What do the dogs do there?

Jones: Our farm is located in Harwood, Maryland, which is close to Annapolis. It is a former horse farm and has 13 acres of fully fenced pastures. We pick up dogs in DC and drive them out to the farm to play all day, then drive them home in the evening. There is a house on the property with a full-time staff person, so the dogs can board there as well.

Borderstan: What have we missed… what would you like to add?

Jones: It is so important for dogs to be able to run outside, off leash. It really improves their temperament to be able to get out of the city and act like dogs all day.

Look for Jones’ columns in the following weeks.

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From Candida Mannozzi. You can reach her at candida[AT]borderstan.com.

Pets: We see them grow and become a part of our lives. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Borderstan, just this week a dear friend of mine lost her beloved pet, a dog she’d had for 14 years. Witnessing the grief and pain she’s been going through has made me reflect.

Pets are a wonderful thing to have in one’s life. The typical experience for most of us is that they become another full-fledged member of the family or household. We watch them grow, enjoy their affection, marvel at the many different expressions of their singular personalities and, yes, are occasionally irked by naughty behavior.

I am sure the reverse is true for them too; they learn to work around our preferences, time their biorhythms around our schedules, adapt to our personalities and carve out a life in our homes, with our families and friends, occasionally having to put up with a rowdy party, or a baby crying through the night.

In the case of dogs or pets we take outside the house, we may even make new acquaintances. How often have you heard people refer to neighbors as “So-and-so’s Mommy” or “XYZ’s walker,” etc. I’ve enjoyed occasionally dog-sitting for traveling friends, because I like the excuse to take longer exploratory walks, sometimes into areas I would feel more self-conscious just wandering around in aimlessly by myself.

With an animal on a leash, your presence is much less surprising, no matter where you end up. I also really enjoy observing what a dog picks up on or observes, in contrast to what I notice when we’re both in unfamiliar territory.

I’ve yet to meet anyone who can’t remember every single pet they’ve ever had. Even some of our friends’ and co-workers’ pets become memorable to us. They really do become a big part of our lives and our pasts, so it’s always sad to see them go. I still fondly recall the dog that used to accompany one of her owners on his evening shifts at my former bookstore. I remember the gentleman who, at times, walked around Corcoran Street and that vicinity with a parakeet on his shoulder (and bird droppings down the back of his shirt!).

Pets can sometimes even become a testing ground for our ethics or morals. If they get very ill, or are lingering in a terminal state, we have to face complex decisions about care, support, whether and when to terminate a life… They can teach and test us in ways we may not anticipate, spurring us to growth or added insight.

As I empathize with my friend’s fresh loss, I am reminded of the pets I had and the many friends who’ve been through this. The bookstore “guard dog” is no longer, but boy do we still love to reminisce about her; the parakeet owner posted desperately worded signs some years ago, after his bird was lost; we all share joy and grief as pets come into and eventually leave our lives. If we happily shared love and companionship with them while they were with us, hopefully that knowledge and those many good memories will do a little to help us get through those especially raw and difficult first days after they’re gone.

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A happy cat in the Logan Circle neighborhood. (Photo by Luis Gomez, One Photograph A Day.)

Borderstanians, if you are thinking about adopting a cat or dog in the new year, please consider a rescue animal. From Metroferals via the Dupont Circle listserv:

Lots of cats and kittens will be available for adoption at these events. These cats were rescued by Metroferals and other local, nonprofit groups that seek to humanely control the outdoor cat population. Feral cats are trapped, neutered, and returned to their supervised colonies. Only tame animals are offered for adoption.

• When: Saturday, January 3, and Saturday, January 10; noon to 3 p.m.
• Where: PETCO, across from Cleveland Park Metro at 3505 Connecticut Ave NW (Park ‘N Shop Center) about one block north of the Cleveland Park Metro Stop (Red Line)
• Information: Questions? Call 202-633-9232 or email: metroferals@…

Your chance to adopt a cat—TOMORROW, Saturday, October 18.

This dog is not at WARL — but she is really cute.

The Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) is a wonderful organization that rescues and boards cats and dogs. (Full disclosure: Our old dog, Rosie, came from WARL and we have donated money to them.) WARL just took in 100 puppies from a West Virginia puppy mill who need homes. Most are Dachsunds, but there are also Yorkshire Terriers, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos.

You can also donate to WARL to help them cover the cost of caring for these 100 new puppies. It is important to note that WARL is a no-kill shelter. All animals remain at WARL until they find homes. WARL is located in D.C. at 71 Ogelthorpe Street NW.

Excerpts from the WARL news release:

August 27, 2008) Washington, DC – The Washington Animal Rescue League is rescuing over 100 dogs who were removed from a Parkersburg, West Virginia puppy mill. A total of 1,000 dogs, nearly all of them dachshunds, were rescued — an operation that is the largest puppy mill raid in West Virginia history and one of the largest in the nation.

The dogs are mostly dachsunds, but also include Yorkshire terriers, King Charles Cavalier spaniels, shih tzus and Lhasa apsos. Authorities removing the dogs noted multiple signs of neglect — matted fur, dehydration, and eye and ear problems — and expressed doubts that anyone could provide adequate care for so many dogs.

The League estimates that these dogs may become available for adoption as early as Wednesday, September 3. (Emphasis mine.)

More information here.

From the Dupont Forum on Yahoo Groups:

“Come And Adopt A New Feline Friend — Lots of cats and kittens will be available for adoption at this event. These cats were rescued by Metroferals and other local, nonprofit groups that seek to humanely control the outdoor cat population. Feral cats are trapped, neutered, and returned to their supervised colonies. Only tame animals are offered for adoption.”

When: Saturday, August 16th, 12:00PM – 3:00PM
Where: PETCO, across from Cleveland Park Metro at 3505 Connecticut Ave NW (Park `N Shop Center)

Questions? Call 202-633-9232 or email: metroferals@gmail.com