We Survived!

For some people, surviving a visit from your in-laws is all about putting up with their personalities and sharing space with them in your home.  As I thought about my in-laws upcoming visit I was stressed.  It wasn't about what they would think of our home, them staying in our guest bedroom or any human personality conflicts.  It was all about mixing their 2 puppies and our 4 adult dogs into one house for 4 full days.

Incoming! ~ Lexie & Annie (Left) with Franky & Curly (Right)

Years ago, when we were fostering Rat Terriers, I didn't really think too much about how our dogs would feel about the new addition(s).  We fostered over 20 dogs over a 2-yr period.  They ranged in size, age, personality, behavior/training challenges and health.  At one time we even fostered an entire family (mom + 6 puppies)!  Some of the fosters stayed a month or two and on a rare occasion 6 months before being adopted.  It was like operating a Rat Terrier Bed and Breakfast during that time.  

Sadly, we had to make a tough decision to stop fostering.  The unexpected toll it took on our own dogs was causing behavior issues including dog-to-dog relationship issues.  I'm still amazed that with the amount of stress we put on them there weren't more fights on a regular basis.  The last 2-yrs of not fostering have been spent rebuilding confidence, relationships and trust.  Thankfully, I can say we've all come a long way!

The fact is bringing together dogs needs careful consideration.  The dog's stress level needs to be taken into consideration at all times.  The stress isn't good for their health and it can lead to ugly fights that can be challenging for us humans to recover from, too.

I can happily say all 6 dogs survived the lovely family visit this past weekend.  There were zero fights, no injuries and stress levels seemed to be in a safe range based on the results.  I'll share in my next blog what we did to keep it this way and why such care was taken this time.

  "Did somebody say tacos?" ~ Annie, Curly and Padme

Hint: The previous visit wasn't so stress free.

Who's that in my bed?

"Do you let your dogs sleep with you?"  I get that question from time to time.  People are seeking an answer from me because they want to know if it's "okay" to allow your dog to sleep with you.  I answer the question honestly "No, my dogs don't sleep with me."  This isn't because I think they would be come "dominate" over me or cause a conflict.  

Honestly, I prefer they not sleep with my husband and I because I like my sleep!  We have a queen size bed for 2 people that doesn't allow much room for 4 dogs, or even a few of them.  From time to time we allow one to sleep with us, but it's not every night.

I think each person/family need to make the decision to allow dogs in the bed or not.  Some questions to ask:

   1. Would the dog(s) like to sleep in the bed?

   2. Is there really enough space for the dog(s) and people?

   3. Do the people that will potentially be sharing the bed want the dog(s) in the bed?

   4. If there are multiple dogs to consider, would each of these dogs be comfortable sharing the bed with each other?

   5. Will the dog(s) be okay with the people in the bed moving around while they sleep?

   6. Will the dog(s) be able to safely get on and off the bed on their own?

If you answered "No" to any of the above it might not be a good idea for that dog or dogs to join you in bed.  When kids are involved there are more things to consider since their safety is the most important.

Does your dog(s) sleep with you?  What helped you to come to that decision?  

They are each special...

I have 4 Rat Terriers.  They are all different sizes, ages, personalities and have unique interests.  I'd imagine it's much like people who have multiple human children.  I'll admit they each have a different place in my heart, too.

That being said, finding what each dog's interest or strength is has changed that place in my heart.  It has also strengthened our relationship.  When you have multiple dogs (or kids) I think it's of high importance to discover what these special activities are for each of them.

Curly, my heart dog, really enjoys working on tricks, Rally Obedience and just getting out and going somewhere.  I found it easy to discover his "hobbies" since I am naturally more drawn to him.  There is just something about him that connects us to each other.  Curly also really enjoys lots of physical contact from me like petting, hugs, kisses and snuggling on the couch.  

Franky, my husbands heart dog, is crazy smart and loves to learn whatever you are willing to teach him.  If you don't spend the time teaching him something he will find something to learn on his own.  Ha!  He was the first Rat Terrier for my husband and I, so we had a little extra one on one time together initially.  His favorite things include K9 Fun Nose Work (R), going for long walks, going for a car ride and learning new skills.  

Padme, our eldest at 13yrs of youth, was an acquired taste for me.  I'll be honest in that I didn't really want to adopt her initially.  At the time we had 4 other dogs, fostered Rat Terriers and our personal dogs were much younger and bigger than her.  My husband couldn't stand the thought of her living with someone else.  She also got along really well with Franky.  Padme really isn't into snuggling, finds it challenging to learn new skills and can be cranky.  She grew on me over time and is now a great office assistant.  Her main job is to keep me at my desk.  Ha!  While it takes her awhile to learn new things, she's a foodie and knows it might require some work on her part to get the food.

Molly, the Nose Work Queen, was not always a queen in my eyes.  She had a nasty attitude at times that was a turn off for me.  For a time, she seemed to cause fights among our other dogs.  Then I learned she wasn't a confident dog.  We started working on her confidence and our relationship through group classes.  The key to success ended up being K9 Nose Work (R).  It's her thing!  Molly turns into Ms. Confident when she knows she gets to do Nose Work.  Our relationship went from almost non-existent to strong in about a year. Finding her interest really changed everything!

My purpose in writing this blog entry today was to inspire those with dogs (or kids) to really look for the individuals interest or strength to better the relationship.  Dogs need more than just love, food, medical care and a place to live.  They need physical and mental exercise, too. But they also need individual attention doing something they find enjoyable.  As I drove to Nose Work class tonight, with Molly, I smiled realizing this is our special time.  It's just her and I doing what she loves (I love it too!).  

Why Fire Drills?

I've been partaking in fire drills since I was in grade school up to last year when I worked full-time in an office building.  These drills were almost always a surprise to simulate what it would be like if there were an actual fire.  In school and at the office they timed us.  They wanted to know how quickly we could exit during the drill and provide feedback on how we could improve the next time.  Have I ever been in a building that was really on fire?  No.  So why keep on practicing fire drills?

This thought came to me as I was walking 2 of my dogs.  I'm regularly practicing recall while out on our walks in different places while on leash, at the dog park, in the house and at the dog training facility.  The skill of coming when called, to me, is the most important behavior of all.  Let me say that again.  The skill of coming when called, to me, is the most important behavior of ALL.  

To me it's a life or death skill.  It could mean your dog crossing a busy street or coming back safely to you.  It could mean getting in a dog fight at a busy dog park or coming to you and staying out of trouble.  It's not about IF your dog will get away from you, but WHEN.  They will sneak out the door, slip their collar or exit the car before leashed up.  If you have a dog, it will more than likely happen to you, if it hasn't already and could happen again.

This has happened to me recently and it really got my blood pumping.  Out on a walk with friends and their dogs at a nice park my dog Curly got away from me.  I'm not exactly sure what happened, but the leash was out of my hand and he was running at full throttle away from me.  Inside I was freaking out!!  A young person in the group started running after him not realizing that a dog can consider this scary or fun (depending on the dog) and isn't a reliable way to get the dog back.  Once she stopped running after him and I got Curly's attention I recalled him "Curly, come!" he shot back to me.  I picked up his leash, paid him a few treats, told him how awesome he was and kept walking.  Whew!  

Why was he so good at coming back quickly?  I'd practiced with him often.  The practice was always fun.  It was also very rewarding.  As I always encourage students to do.  You never ever want to punish a dog for coming back.  They should always see coming back to you as a really great game that pays well.  

This is exactly why we have fire drills in schools and office buildings.  You never know when a fire could occur.  It could mean life or death for everyone in the building to exit quickly, in an orderly fashion and follow further direction.  The same is true of recall.  You never know when your dog(s) will get away from you.  They will need lots of practice to come quickly to you no matter the situation they are put in.

It really hurts

If you are someone like me who is rarely in pain or gets a cold it's hard to believe there are people who live their daily life in pain or sickness and can still be pleasant to be around.  I can honestly say I don't know how they do it.  I'm pretty much a happy-go-lucky person who loves life.  But when I am in pain you better watch out because you might not recognize me!

The behavior changes you might notice: less talking, less laughter, slower movements and declining a social interaction.  If I were a dog you might notice: less chasing after squirrels, less of an appetite for my favorite meal, growling when you come close and keeping my distance.  Our dogs cannot do as I can and let my friends and family know I'm not feeling myself through our common language.  Dogs can only do so through body language.  The challenge is their body language can sometimes come across as harsh.  So much so the human might take it as a true threat rather than communication.  When we don't listen we get even bigger communication.  For example, they might go from a hard look to a growl to a bite when we don't listen or understand.  If you don't listen to me I might yell at you or say things I don't really mean.

It is important we listen to each other's communication and as best we can our dogs all the time, but even more importantly when their behavior changes.  Our dogs cannot drive themselves to the vet to get that shoulder that's been bugging them the last few days looked at.  They can't even point to the spot that hurts!  What they can do is communicate via their behavior so as to clue us in.

A parallel example is with my own Rock Star dog Curly.  He's pretty social with people and a variety of dogs, but I had noticed he would yelp if people would pet his chest when he was first meeting them and overly excited.  I also noticed that when a new dog would come sniff his butt (I call it getting a business card) he would turn quickly to get them to stop.  This went on for some time, but I just thought he was excited or less friendly in those scenarios   It turns out he needed a major chiropractic adjustment!  Curly's rib cage and shoulder were out of place.  The transformation after he'd been adjusted was amazing.  He's more willing to let a  new dog take their time "getting a business card" and doesn't yelp when petted on the chest.  It made me sad to think all that time I thought his behavior was just his personality, when it really was in relation to his pain or discomfort.

Waiting for his chiropractic adjustment at Georgia Vet Rehab

As I sit typing this, in mild pain, I think about how many dogs get a label for being "bad", when in reality they just aren't feeling themselves for whatever reason.  I encourage you to ask your dog how they feel when they display behaviors that are out of character or are not the typical happy-go-lucky dog.  Their behavior could be telling you more than meets the eye.

Paw Lickin' Good Baking

I love to bake!  I found a healthy dog cookie recipe that my dogs and dogs who've been gifted these snacks love, too!  It's super simple, healthy and inexpensive.

Slightly Cheesy Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons dry milk

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

                2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2-1/2 cups brown rice flour

1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth.  Stir in dry milk, sea salt, Parmesan and dried parsley (if using, optional).  Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 - 1/2" depending if you want a crisp or slightly chewy cookie.  Use biscuit or other shape cookie cutter to punch shapes gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go.  Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary.  If desired, press fork pattern on biscuit before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough.

Bake 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.  Allow to cool completely before sharing with your pup.  

The pumpkin will be great for your dog's tummie should they need a little extra fiber in their diet.

Walk the Dog

Taking your dog(s) on regular walks is important to their physical and mental health.  They learn so much about their world through their nose that getting out and smelling the world on walks helps their all behavior, too.  It's also a great bonding experience with the person walking them.  That is of course if you work on the relationship on the walk.  That's a whole other story...

Many people find it a challenge to find time to walk their dog(s) or don't find it enjoyable because of their pulling or other bad behavior.  For me personally, I find making time the challenge.  I go through phases of good walking schedules, but I'm never consistent.  What to do?

Well, knowing I am a social creature who enjoys spending time with my own dogs, people and their dogs I decided asking others to join me was a possible solution to consistency.  That's exactly what it's become!  Since my schedule is pretty crazy I've set aside 3pm on Sunday afternoons to walk my own dogs with folks I've invited with their dogs.  We meet at different parks and just enjoy ourselves walking, talking and letting our dogs make some new friends (human and dog).  It's really been a blessing to all of us!

What are you afraid of?

A question I tend to ask people who need help understanding their fearful dog's perspective is the title of this blog.  There are many folks out there who have little to no regard to how an animal experiences fear even when they themselves are afraid of certain things.  Common human fears like heights, bugs (spiders/roaches), flying and snakes are like dog fears of new environments, new people, sounds and other dogs.  Regardless of why they have that fear both species are entitled to those fears.  Both species should also be given the respect to work through those fears at their own pace and without force.

For example, pretend you are afraid of snakes.  Would it be okay with you for me to find a large non-poisonous snake and sit it on the floor about a foot from you?  What about if we go to the local zoo and go into the snake house while I hold your hand?  If you were really fearful of snakes neither of these options would be welcomed.  You might have already changed your phone number, moved 2 states away and gone into witness protection.  

The shocking part is that we do this to dogs on a regular basis.  They shouldn't be afraid of new people so we make them hang out with new people, get pet by them and even take food from them.  That's like asking you to hold a snake, pet it and then feed it.  Ack!  Crazy, right?

So how can you really help them?  A fantastic resource to really understand what CAN be done to help fearful dogs is a newly released DVD by Suzanne Clothier.  The DVD offers a unique perspective into how our fearful dogs may feel about scary things in their life.  It will also give you techniques and tools to help them, but also help you set better expectations as to what the dog is capable of overcoming.

Website

My biggest take home was a phrase used over and over again.  "How is this for you?"  That simple question will be something I ask over and over again of each individual (humans and all animals) I come in contact with to ensure they are comfortable in that moment.  

Trick Addiction

I Love Dog Tricks!  I love teaching them, I love watching them and I love learning how to do them!  It's a passion!  Honestly, I much prefer teach a trick to my own dogs than what some would consider "manners" or "obedience" behaviors.  They are just fun.  My dogs also seem to enjoy them, too.  

This is Curly showing off some of his tricks.

In reality, all behaviors can be thought of as tricks because the dog doesn't know the difference.  The only way they'll be able to tell is if you take all of the fun out of it.  You can do that by using harsh verbal cues, punishing training methods or doing too much of things they don't really enjoy and not adding in some of their preferences.

The benefit of teaching your dogs tricks is that you are doing something with them in a positive way, which will build a solid relationship with them.  Who wouldn't want that?  It also increases their desire to learn more, be creative and build confidence.  Bonus!

There are several people with trickster dogs who perform for small events and large events. These folks inspire me to do more with my dogs in the area of tricks and cool behaviors.

30 Dog Stunt Tricks in 90 Seconds!

Never underestimate the power of training tricks!!  It's so much fun when you just let loose and see where it takes you and your Rock Star Dog!

He's not a bad dog

During the Wolf Park seminar Suzanne Clothier spoke about how to evaluate dogs to find the best match for service dogs.  She also spoke about dogs from breeders, shelters and rescues and how important it was to match them up with the right owner, too.

We watched video's of dogs interacting with environmental enrichment such as moving kids toys, sheet metal surface, statues and more.  How these dogs interacted with their environment indicated their strengths and possible weaknesses.  The BIG take home was that none of the dogs evaluated were "bad".  They might not be the best fit for a specific job like a seeing eye dog, but if that was the case maybe they would be a better therapy dog or just a companion dog.  

For the shelter dog video, the potential adopter was very hands on.  He wanted a lot of close contact including petting of this one shelter dog.  The dog on the other hand wasn't as interested in all of the closeness.  During the video the dog displayed calming signals when pet, moved away from the man and tried to make a lot of space (as much as he could on leash).  Would this be the right pairing?  Should the man just learn to stop being so close and hands on?  Are either parties bad?

No, it wasn't that either party were bad.  They just weren't the best fit.  The man needed a dog who really enjoyed all of the closeness and affection.  The dog needed someone who wanted to have more space in between each other.  While it's possible to train the dog or human to change their behavior it's not their natural response.  Ideally, finding both of them a natural fit would be key to success!

Prong Collar on a Whale?

I still find myself in shock when I see "experienced" dog trainers using equipment like prong collars, choke chains or even remote collars (shocking) to train a wide range of behaviors.  These pieces of equipment are not needed to train whales, hyena or elephants.  Oddly enough those wild animals respond nicely to clicker training and positive reinforcement.  Huh?  You mean to tell me animals that are not domesticated don't need punishing equipment to learn new things, but our domesticated dogs do.  That just doesn't make sense.

At Wolf Park it was refreshing to hear and see that the wolves are taught through positive reinforcement.  The staff want to make sure that the wolves always have a positive experience when interacting with people.  They even took great care when the seminar attendees entered the enclosures so as not to stress the wolves during our visit.  Wow!  When they have to groom or vet the wolves they also try to make it a fun positive experience.  

Isn't it amazing to look at how wild animals can be trained and handled in a positive way and yet people still depend on punishing equipment to train "man's best friend".  There are still many trainers and dog lover's alike who don't know how wonderful positive reinforcement can work.  My hope is that more and more people will learn about other methods/equipment that build a solid relationship on trust.  If we can train wild animals through gentle methods we can certainly do so with our rock star dogs!  My rock star dogs: Padme, Molly, Franky and Curly would certainly agree with that statement.

Observation, observation, observation...

Rising before the sun comes up while on a vacation/seminar long weekend isn't my cup of tea, normally.  I'd much prefer stay in my warm bed and get a few extra Zzz's.  In this case, I would have missed valuable learning through observation.  Early each morning at Wolf Park we were given the opportunity to observe the wolves doing what they do that early in the day.

Observation is a very important tool in learning more about any animal's behavior.  This tool can unlock more subtle communication signals, provide additional information about how an animal uses it's space and in turn help the trainer determine how to approach training or changing behavior.  It's something that can easily be taken for granted.  

At Wolf Park we had the opportunity to observer the wolves interact with each other.  We saw how the lower ranking members greeted higher levels, how the puppies shared space while snoozing and then how a somewhat physically challenged wolf used his skills to remain out of trouble with the alpha male.  It was interesting to just sit and watch their world unfold before your eyes.  Each day that we spent with them we learned more and more about their behaviors as wolves, their pack structure and their individual personalities.

What this taught and reinforced in me as an animal loving, dog owning, dog training person is how important this tool really is on a daily basis.  It's a key that can be overlooked with the pressure of time to just get in there and resolve an issue or to just train a specific behavior.  Observation is time well spent!  There is much that can be learned from taking the time to look at the overall picture of the animal and then make decisions based on what is observed.

How to Pet A Wolf

Have you ever thought about how you would pet a wolf, if given the chance?  Think about that for a moment.  You've been told the wolves within the enclosure are familiar with human contact and were raised by humans.  The wolves you are about to meet have met several other people (who survived the interaction, ha!), too.  

Now, you are about to meet your friends Labrador.  Think about how you would interact with that Lab.  Your friend told you he is good with people of all sizes, he's met many of your friends in the past and you heard no issue with their interactions.

Would you interact with each wolf vs. dog in different ways?  If so, what would that look like?  Why?

My first time in the wolf enclosure was pretty laid back.  The two wolves in the enclosure had already met one group of about 6 people, who all survived, some were able to pet one of the wolves, all while I watched from outside of the enclosure.  I was given proper procedure to meet these beautiful animals and also knew the staff at Wolf Park would instruct me and keep me safe during the visit.  

The second meeting was the next day with the main pack in a large enclosure.  I wasn't sure if I'd get to touch a wolf, but knew what to do if given the opportunity.  First, it was the wolves choice to invite petting.  It was not up to the humans to reach out and pet any of them including the pups.  Second, if they did approach it wasn't automatically assumed that they wanted to be touched.  They might have been interested in sniffing us up and down to learn more about us.  Third, if they did invite petting we were instructed to keep it to 3 seconds.  There were specific areas of their bodies that we were permitted to touch.  How did I know when to start petting?  I wasn't entirely sure since this was all new to me and their personalities were all different.  Personally, I waited for the staff to give direction.  That direction came when one of the pups, Kanti, approached and offered the side of his neck and head.  I 3 second neck petting took place, he left and came back for some more.  It was thrilling for those few moments to be asked to interact.  Did I want more?  Of course, but it all had to be on his terms.

Why is it then we force ourselves upon our domestic dogs?  Do they really enjoy us approaching them and petting for long periods of time?  How do you know they are enjoying it?  

This experience really helped me understand more about how we as a society should take a step back and wait to be asked for this type of interaction by all animals.  The next time you are about to reach to pet think about how you'd pet a wolf.

What I learned at Wolf Park

It's been on my wish list for a few years to visit Wolf Park in Battle Ground, IN.  This park was created about 40yrs ago by a researcher who wanted to research wolf behavior up close.  Wolves in the wild aren't easy to study since they aren't keen on being close to people naturally.  At the park they have a variety of wolves and one main pack.

My purpose in learning more about wolves and wolf behavior is to better understand our domestic dogs that live in our homes.  These are their ancestor's that passed along certain traits, too.  This trip had a bonus in that Suzanne Clothier was a co-speaker at the seminar.  She knows a lot about behavior, training and observation of both wolves and dogs.  I highly recommend reading her book and watching her educational DVD's.  All of the educators at this seminar were fantastic and filled my head with knowledge.

Pat Goodman, Me and Suzanne Clothier

The knowledge I gained has already made me look at my own dogs a little differently.  I also have a better understanding of how animals use space and see the world.  This information will not only help me, but those I come in contact with in group classes, private consults and anyone who has an animal!  I thought I would share a nugget that I took away from this 3 day seminar on my blog throughout the rest of this week.  I hope you enjoy!

A life long need to chew.

When Curly was a young pup he had a strong desire to chew.  No shoe in our house was safe left unattended.  It was really challenging at times to deal with this unwanted behavior.  It's a common theme among puppy owners who's dog want to chew taboo items like clothing, furniture and even arms!  Redirecting them to something you'd prefer chew on such as a bully stick or marrow bone is most helpful.

Curly at little under 3 months old.

Little did I know back then that chewing is a life long need for dogs.  Their need to chew can very by age and chew preference, but it's an outlet they really need.  It's a great stress reliever (think about how we eat salty or sweet food to ease our stress sometimes), good jaw exercise, cleans their teeth (depending on the chew) and gives them some mental stimulation/exercise.

One of my favorite chews right now are beef trachea's.  They are very good at cleaning teeth, have glucosamine in them which is good for the joints and my dogs prefer them over bully sticks.  A favorite chew can help a lot of behavior problems, too.  In group class they are great when there is talking time or observation time.  At home they are useful for crate time, during times the dogs need attention but their human is busy and for redirecting them from barking at things outside they find bothersome.

When it comes to chew items like bully sticks, trachea's, etc always, ALWAYS supervise your dog.  Our darling Franky once choked on a bully stick nub and had to get the doggie heimlich.      He's an expert chewer, but once it got a little slimy it got away from him.

A great resource to have awesome chews delivered to your home is Best Bully Sticks.  They offer a wide variety of chews including the trachea.  The majority of our dogs could benefit from their products regardless of their age.  Chewing isn't just for the puppies!

My Own Rock Star Dog - Molly

My very own rock star dog, Molly demonstrated her sniffing talent today at a Bassett Bash event.  The event was organized by Bassett Hound Rescue of Georgia to raise money for their organization and get foster hounds adopted.  It was a fun event held at a beautiful park.  It was certainly a site to see so many Bassett Hound dogs in one place!

We had the opportunity to demonstrate K9 Fun Nose Work on the main stage of the event.  The weather was great with mid to high 70's with a light breeze.  Molly isn't in favor of being around that many dogs, but she got right to work during the demonstration regardless of the distractions all around.

There were 2 hides: one on the stage under a rock and the other under the stage ramp.  Molly quickly got to work as we approached the stage smelling birch in the air and found both hides in under 1 and a half minutes! 

Our Molly wasn't always known as a rock star.  Two years ago she had major confidence issues that caused her and another dog in our home to fight, she was fearful of being in a group class on leash and would not allow me to pet her.  Now she searches for birch at a public event like a pro, meets new people much better and allows me to touch her and enjoys it.  The power of Nose Work has made her the rock star she is today!

Calm On the Go

My dogs and I enjoy going to new places together for dog training classes, demonstrations, park walks or competitions.  It's always an adventure for the both of us.  I've noticed the more places we go and have good times the less stressed they are about taking on something new.  That's all about socialization in a positive way!

For dogs who are more unsure of new places they may not have received a lot of positive social experiences at a young age or have had bad experiences at some point in their lives.  That makes me very sad because there are so many fun things for them out in the BIG world.  Granted not all dogs need to be socialites, but for those who might enjoy it and need some help doing so there are lots of good ideas and products available to help them overcome some of those fears.

One way I like to help dogs with this is through K9 Nose Work® classes.  The dogs learn so much from this positive experience where nothing bad happens, they get to use their awesome nose and learn something new.  A challenge some have though is sitting in a crate or car without their owner with them.  They've never had to be put in that situation.  Even dogs who LOVE searching, the down time alone can be stressful.  

Then the thought came to me "What if those dogs could be helped by listening to calming music?"  There are great CD's made by Through a Dog's Ear that I highly recommend, but for those sitting in a car it might be a burden to have the car running just to play a CD.  So I started thinking and researching of a way to solve that challenge.  

Here is what I came up with: 

       1. Dig old Walkman out of the closet.

       2. Purchase a portable speaker system (iLuv makes a cool one)

       3. Purchase a Through a Dog's Ear CD for calming

                *4 AA batteries are needed, too.

Voila!  Now you can play music for your dog without using the car battery and could tuck the CD player and speakers under a seat so Fido doesn't think they are for chewing!  This could also go with you at a hotel, in a crating area at a training or trial facility or wherever your dog needs some calming music.  

Note: Do try to use it at other times than just in times of stress so it doesn't become a cue to being stressed, crated or left alone, etc.