Sleep, behavior and pain are often entwined. Here are some ways to recognize how sleep can affect dogs and signal underlying problems

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

William Shakespeare wrote of “sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care.” While our pets might not have cares such as paying the mortgage or staying safe during a pandemic, sleep is as important to their mental and physical well-being as it is to us. Amount and quality of sleep affect memory, learning and activity level.

Dog trainer Denise Nord in Rogers, Minnesota, sees it in her puppy classes, including an increase in behavior problems in the past year. With people spending more time at home, puppies aren’t getting enough sleep.

“People are home, so puppies are awake,” she says. “Or they just crash wherever and aren’t getting quality sleep. When I convince people to get their puppy quality sleep for 16 to 18 hours out of every 24, so many behavior issues ‘magically’ disappear.”

Like toddlers, puppies need a lot of sleep to fuel their growth. Nord says teaching puppies to be quiet and comfortable in crates and exercise pens is a skill they will benefit from throughout their lives. “Without exception, everyone who has taken the suggestion of more sleep for their puppy has had great improvement in behavior issues and are much happier with their puppies,” she says.

Our dogs seem to recognize a need for sleep as well -- or at least for a regular sleep schedule. Most dogs have a regular bedtime and ritual that they either come to on their own or adopt depending on their owner’s schedule.

Sharon Hawkins’ cavalier King Charles spaniel Daisy has set times that she sleeps and plays, and she uses different dog beds at different times of the day. Adam Conn’s Bernese mountain dog, Digit, who gets a biscuit at bedtime, usually starts to remind Conn about the treat an hour or so before his normal bedtime. “He really wants that cookie!” Conn says.

Besides napping beneath my desk throughout the day, my dog Harper has set 10 p.m. as her desired bedtime. Her predecessor, Bella, put herself to bed even earlier. But Harper nags me for her bedtime treat first.

Sleep is also a balm to pets in pain.

“In acute pain, there are many studies showing that rest can improve rates of healing,” says Michael Petty, DVM, an expert in pet pain management and owner of Arbor Pointe Veterinary Hospital and Animal Pain Center in Canton, Michigan.

When pets don’t seem to be sleeping well, veterinarians and owners should ask themselves whether pain may be at the root of disruptions in sleep patterns, he says. Other issues can cause sleep disruptions, but pain should always be ruled out as a potential cause.

Pain and sleep are related in other ways. For instance, pain may be more noticeable upon waking. Many of us have experienced how the body stiffens during the night after lying in one position for several hours. It’s another way that pain can affect a pet’s sleep pattern. They have to get up and move to find a more comfortable position.

Circling before lying down and going to sleep is a common and normal behavior in dogs and cats, but it looks different in pets who are in pain. For instance, you may see the circling behavior with several false starts before the pet lies down. And arthritic dogs often just fall into a down position because it hurts too much to ease themselves down, Dr. Petty says.

Finally, you may notice the mental effects of chronic pain on sleep behavior. Pain can affect cognition and make pets in pain seem befuddled.

“I see this as an additional problem as night approaches,” Dr. Petty says. “These patients often seem confused and want to wander the house. Pain can exacerbate this ‘sundown’ syndrome, and treating pain can help improve the severity of signs.”

As the Bard wrote, sleep is the “chief nourisher in life’s feast.” Make sure your pet gets enough.

Q&A

How to cue

dogs to turn

Q: Sometimes when walking my dog, I see things ahead that I want to avoid, like a chatty neighbor or a kid on a skateboard. It’s not always easy to get my dog on board with the change in direction, though. Do you have any tips?

A: One practical trick I like to teach dogs is to turn on cue, for just such situations. To teach your dog to turn, use a favorite treat or toy as a lure. Whether he’s walking on the left or right, hold it near your dog’s nose. (For small dogs, smear peanut butter or squeeze cheese on the end of a long wooden spoon or bird perch so you don’t have to crouch.)

Say “turn,” and as you do so, move the lure in the direction you want to go. At the same time, move into the turn yourself so the dog stays at your side.

At first, reward your dog for each small movement of the turn. As he starts to understand what you’re asking, increase the amount of time between rewards. Eventually, you’ll reward him only when he completes the turn.

Practice left, right and 180-degree turns separately, because they’re each different logistically. For instance, if you’re turning left with a dog who heels on the left, use the lure to guide your dog to pivot in place as you move around him to make the turn. If you’re turning right with a dog who heels left, reverse this process: As you pivot in place, use the lure to lead your dog through the turn.

Gradually fade the lure until your dog responds only to the word “turn.” Practice indoors first, then outdoors with distractions until he’s reliable. Reinforce with treats occasionally so that he’ll always be working for that reward. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

“Indoguration”

raises $200,000

-- More than 7,400 virtual attendees helped raise more than $200,000 for the Delaware Humane Association during the “Indoguration” celebration featuring first shelter dog Major Biden, who went from being housed at the Delaware Humane Association to being a resident of the White House, along with German shepherd sibling Champ. Entertainment included performance of an original dog-themed song by Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor and dog lover Josh Groban. The funds will go to aid financially struggling pet parents as well as help more shelter animals find homes.

-- If you adopted a pet last year and are now struggling with behavior or training issues, don’t feel as if returning your pet to the shelter is the only option. Many shelters have trainers on staff or intervention programs that can help. You can also ask your veterinarian to recommend a reputable trainer or behaviorist who can provide guidance. And FearFreeHappyHomes.com has articles and videos as well as a search option for veterinarians, trainers and other pet professionals who are trained to manage pets who are fearful, anxious or stressed.

-- Birds use their beaks in myriad ways, including biting, yawning, and jousting -- playing with other birds by slapping or grabbing beaks. Among the sounds they make with their beaks are clicking, sneezing and grinding, the latter characterized by side-to-side sliding of one jaw over the other. Birds who make grinding noises are indicating satisfaction and security. You may hear it after your bird has had a delicious meal or when he’s in the cozy state of still being half-asleep. And then there’s beaking, the habit of young birds putting things in their mouths to test them out. If your baby bird gently does this with your finger, don’t pull away; he’s not biting, but getting to know you. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Finding the right breeder and puppy takes footwork. Here’s what to know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A few months ago, Rebecca Barocas drove from California to Idaho to pick up her new German shepherd puppy. She met the breeder through a friend on Facebook who also has German shepherds and got to know the breeder and her dogs personally a couple of years ago. She put down a deposit for a dog in 2018 and “met” the litter in 2020 through Facebook photos and videos of the pups from the time they were born. Through lots of phone conversations about the pups’ emerging temperaments and an extensive buyer questionnaire, she and the breeder were able to determine the right pet for her.

Buying a puppy is, at its core, an old-fashioned endeavor. Unlike books and dishwashers and socks, purchasing one is best done in person, not online. It’s important to be able to meet their mother, see pups interacting with siblings, and evaluate the environment in which they’re raised and the family or person raising them.

These days, Zoom meetings can take the place of some of those things, and likely will for the near future, but simply searching for a pup online and ordering the first cute one you see to be shipped to you is often a recipe for heartbreak. (Read our recent column about pet scams for more information -- uexpress.com/pet-connection/2020/12/28/pet-scams.) Here’s what to know about finding and buying a puppy.

But first, let’s debunk the notion that it’s wrong to buy a puppy from a breeder. “Adopt, don’t shop,” is a catchy slogan, but people have different needs and wants for dogs. The right dog is not always to be found in a shelter or through a rescue group, especially now, when many shelters across the country don’t have animals available because so many have been adopted in the past year. There’s nothing wrong with acquiring a puppy from a dedicated breeder who health-tests parents; provides great nutrition, socialization and veterinary care; and offers a one- to two-year guarantee against genetic health problems. Finding that great breeder is the crucial first step.

A good breeder should:

-- Give you the straight dope about what the dogs are like to live with, what health problems affect the breed and what he does to avoid those problems. He should ask about your home and personality to see if you’ll be a good fit.

-- Be more interested in making sure you’re the right home than in getting pups off her hands and your dollars into her pocket.

-- Provide a sales contract that spells out specific health guarantees and any special financial terms related to congenital defects, pet insurance or spaying/neutering; an arbitration clause; spay/neuter recommendations or requirements; return and refund policy; specified monetary damages if either party violates contract terms; and a requirement that the dog be returned to the breeder at any time during the dog’s life if you can’t keep him. In other words, you can’t sell or give the dog to anyone else without the breeder’s permission.

Your part:

-- Do your homework so you know what questions to ask and understand the responses you get. Books and breed club websites can get you started.

-- Use the internet to verify information you get from the breeder, including how long she has been at her current address, whether she’s really a member of the national breed club and whether she has any complaints lodged against her. Don’t just ask for references to her veterinarian and previous buyers; call and get their input.

-- Email some info about yourself and thoughtful preliminary questions (not just “How much are your puppies?”). If the breeder responds promptly and forthrightly, ask for a phone interview. Ask the breeder to send photos or videos of puppies, parents and other adult dogs on the premises.

Today, Barocas’ new pup, Deckard, is 20 weeks old, and she’s in love.

“I’m 110% satisfied,” she says. “He’s amazing.”

Q&A

Does my cat

like me?

Q: I have a cat for the first time, and I’m not sure if she likes me or just the bowls of food I set down. How do people know if their cat really likes them?

A: Cats are subtle. If you’re not familiar with them -- or if you’re more used to a dog’s “let it all hang out” love -- they may seem aloof or uncaring, but when you learn to read their signals, you may be surprised to find that your cat is fond of you indeed. Here are five ways to tell.

1. Your cat rubs her face on your legs head-butts you. Glands on the head secrete oils that cats rub onto objects and humans to claim them as their own.

2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you -- maybe next to your keyboard -- is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK.

3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a fight. With humans they know and trust, though, they will hold eye contact and give a slow blink. Try making eye contact with your cat and giving her a slow blink. She might give you one back -- the feline equivalent of a kiss.

4. One signal of feline love you might not appreciate so much is delivery of a gift, such as a dead mouse or the body of a grasshopper left on your pillow. They might not seem appealing to you, but they show that your cat cares about your well-being!

5. Finally, cats purr for many reasons, but when you hear a deep, full-bodied rumble, you’ll know for sure your cat is saying “I love you.” -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Virtual “paw-ty”

for first dogs

-- An “indoguration” party celebrated Major Biden’s move to the White House. The event for the former shelter pup, now living the high life as one of two first German shepherds, helped to raise funds for other shelter animals looking for homes. Held last week by Pumpkin Pet Insurance and Delaware Humane Association, which sheltered Major until he found his new home with the president and first lady, the virtual party celebrated the canine achievement of the American dream by Major and Champ, the Bidens’ other German shepherd. Host for the Zoom event was Jill Martin of the “Today” show, with special guest Sir Darius Brown, a 14-year-old entrepreneur, philanthropist and animal advocate. He founded Beaux & Paws to create handmade bowties for shelter dogs to help them stand out to potential adopters.

-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conditionally approved Laverdia-CA1 to treat lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancers seen in dogs. It attacks the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. Conditional approval allows veterinarians to access needed treatments while the drug company collects additional effectiveness data, such as thorough trials with client-owned dogs. The company then has up to five years to complete effectiveness studies to support a full approval. “Lymphoma is a devastating cancer in dogs, with few FDA-approved treatments available. This conditional approval provides a much-needed option to treat dogs with lymphoma,” said Steven M. Solomon, D.V.M., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “We are encouraged to see drug companies bring forward applications for products to treat serious diseases, even if they affect relatively small populations.”

-- Leopard geckos are popular reptile pets. Their name comes from their spotted skin, which is seen in a wide range of colors and patterns. Cool fact: Their thick tails can regenerate when lost. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Round and cute, Pomeranians resemble fluffy animated stuffed toys, but their loving, intelligent companionship is what draws people to them

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

You may still be watching it, but I binged the new Netflix show “Bridgerton” on Christmas Day. All eight episodes. And one of the things I loved best was the tuft of Pomeranians -- yes, that’s a real phrase describing a group of three or more Poms -- accompanying the character Queen Charlotte, sitting in her lap or being held by her ladies-in-waiting.

While the show’s writers took liberties with the social conventions of the time (Britain’s Regency period, which lasted from 1811 to 1820), Queen Charlotte’s love of Pomeranians was the real deal. As a 17-year-old princess from the German duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was about to become queen of England through her marriage to George III in 1761, she traveled to her new country with a pair of Pomeranians, Phoebe and Mercury. Cheerful and lively herself, the young princess may have appreciated Pomeranians for the same characteristics.

Not much is known about Charlotte’s dogs, but clearly they were special to her. A 1779 portrait of her by Benjamin West includes a white Pomeranian at her feet. And when she and George moved into Buckingham House (now better known as Buckingham Palace), the furnishings included a “square deal tub” for bathing her dogs.

The queen is said to have given Poms as gifts to her ladies, and artist Thomas Gainsborough painted a pair of Pomeranians belonging to musician Carl Friedrich Abel in 1777 (“Pomeranian Bitch and Puppy,” now at London’s Tate). Gainsborough also depicted the foxy looking dogs in his paintings “The Morning Walk,” in the National Gallery, and “Perdita (Mrs. Robinson),” in the Wallace Collection. Gainsborough himself had a pair of the dogs, Tristram and Fox, whom he painted as well.

The canine actors in “Bridgerton” are smaller than they would have been in Queen Charlotte’s time. The Poms of the 18th century were larger, weighing up to 30 pounds. Pomeranians take their name from a region of northern Europe on the Baltic Sea and are members of the Spitz, or Nordic, family of dogs: the ones with prick ears, thick double coats and tails that curl over their backs.

Poms were gradually bred down in size, moving from the 30-pound range to 20 pounds to the current breed standard calling for dogs of 3 to 7 pounds. Although you won’t see them prancing in the show ring, it’s not out of the question for modern Poms to produce pups that grow to be on the larger side: 12 to 14 pounds. Poms of this size may be good choices for families, but little Poms and little kids aren’t a good mix. Children should be old enough to know the difference between a toy-size dog and a toy, says breed expert Charlotte Creed.

Whatever their size, Pomeranians have a big-dog demeanor. Golda Rosheuvel, who played Queen Charlotte, said in interviews that the dogs on the set were feisty and rowdy.

Creed admires their glorious coat, smiling foxy face and vivacious personality. Speaking of that glorious coat, it comes in an array of colors and patterns. In real life, Queen Charlotte’s dogs were typically white or cream, but these days orange and orange sable are the most popular colors. Pomeranians can also be black, cream, blue, brown, black and white, brindle, merle, black and tan, and tricolor, to name just a few of the many colors and patterns that make up their palette.

Whether “Bridgerton” will have an effect on the Pomeranian’s popularity is yet to be seen. In 2019, the Pom was the 23rd most popular breed registered by the American Kennel Club and the fourth most popular toy breed. It wouldn’t take much to bring these former royal favorites back into the spotlight.

Q&A

How to make

brushing fun

Q: Our puppy hates being brushed; he runs and hides when he sees the brush come out. How can we get him to welcome being groomed?

A: Puppies have a good memory for experiences that are painful or scary. If you accidentally pulled his fur during previous grooming sessions, he may want nothing more to do with it. The secret to getting him back into the grooming groove is to pair brushing with positive and enjoyable experiences. Before you do that, though, schedule a veterinary visit to make sure he doesn’t have a painful condition, such as an ear infection, that is causing him to balk at being touched. Once that is ruled out, you can start teaching him to love being groomed.

First, make sure the grooming tools you’re using don’t have hard metal bristles that pull at his fur, or bristles that have lost their protective ends, causing them to poke into his skin. Try a soft, flexible detangling brush and a dog-specific detangling product to help make tangle removal less painful. Work out tangles slowly and gently.

Start to associate the brush with good things. Place it on the floor and surround it with treats. Let him investigate it at his own pace -- and snarf up the snacks. Once he’s comfortable around it, sit on the floor and hold it. Let him approach it, and give treats and praise when he does, even if all he does is look at it.

When you start brushing, keep it brief. Continue only as long as he remains in place without struggling. Offer a plentiful stream of treats to hold his interest. You can gradually increase the amount of time you spend brushing before you hand out a reward. You can find more Fear Free care tips at FearFreeHappyHomes.com. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pets gain weight

during lockdown

-- Has your pet joined you in putting on pandemic pounds? A recent study by Hill’s Pet Nutrition found that 33% of pet owners say their pets have become overweight during the pandemic. And it’s not just because of the holidays. With people spending most of their time at home, showing love to pets in the form of treats has become a full-time occupation. More than half of the survey respondents reported giving their pets treats for no reason. “Ironically, too much ‘treat love’ during these difficult times is the main culprit,” officials said in a statement.

-- Dogs with extremely short muzzles and rounded heads are called brachycephalic, from the Greek words for “short” and “head.” Those features give them an adorable, almost-human expression, but they also bring with them a host of related health challenges. Bulldogs, boxers, pugs and other brachycephalic breeds often have difficulty breathing after even slight exertion. They drool and snore from one end and produce stinky, gaseous emissions from the other end. Brachycephalic dogs are notoriously heat intolerant, and their teeth are crammed into a mouth that’s too small, causing dental issues. And those large, round eyes with the endearing expression? They have a tendency to pop out in response to rough play or other head trauma. Facial wrinkles commonly develop infections. If you have one of these dogs, talk to your veterinarian about ways to help relieve these problems.

-- Cats like to watch the world go by, but they also want to keep themselves safe from predators. That’s why you’ll often find them curled up in a small space or checking things out from on high. A tall perch or the sides of a box, basket or drawer provide protection -- a little cat-size fortress -- and a safe place to sleep. What could be better? -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.