PET OF THE WEEK: Migos is an adorable 3-year-old tan Chihuahua/terrier mix who cleans up nicely, don’t you think? He loves to make friends and is very people oriented. Migos has been doing well with other dogs, but if you’re looking to add to your pack, a dog intro is required. He’s a good size for apartment living. Ask for Migos, ID# A822573. Adoptable pets are available at Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion, 1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame. For information, call 650-340-7022 or visit www.phs-spca.org. (Chuck Pitkofsky / Peninsula Humane Society)
Dear Miss Behavin’: Our two Labradors play really rough. They never fight, but they run around the house and yard like bandits, crashing into furniture, and seem to have no self-control. How do we slow them down?
Reply: If play is their only form of exercise, you’ll need to give them access to a field, park, or other enclosed area instead of your living room. If they have other outlets for exercise, such as walks, fetch, hiking, etc. then you can follow a few of these tips to soften their play style.
First, figure out when they typically play. Is it before bedtime? After breakfast? If you’re able to hone in on when it usually happens, you can stop it before it starts or choose to take them for a walk during that time instead.
If the rough play is sporadic, or it happens after the dogs have gone on a hike and had exercise, you’ll need to step in and be the referee. Decide on a cue like “easy” or “enough” that you will use consistently. Before the play becomes too rough, calmly give your cue and separate the dogs from playing. If they can quickly settle down in close proximity to one another, you can release them to continue playing.
If the dogs can’t settle down when separated, put a barrier between them such as a gate or a door. As soon as they settle, release them. Using your cue consistently is important. Any added yelling or shouting in an attempt to get the dogs to stop will only increase the room’s energy level. Keep your voice under control and only use the word once.
If you commit to supervising their play for two to three weeks, you should notice that your interruptions are helping to prevent them from getting out of control. If the dogs are able to break the habit of overly rough play, you should see a decrease in the over-the-top play over a few months.