Thursday Barks And Bytes - How to Weigh your Dog

Happy Thursday everyone! Now, we all know, us pet owners, that weighing our dogs and keeping them at the healthy weight can sometimes be an issue. The more you check your dog's weight, as long as not obsessively… the better we can keep our dogs in tip top body conditions, and feeling and looking their best, inside and out.

So today we are going to be sharing our top tips, with pictures of course, on how to accustom your dog - and yourself of course! - to those scales.

So. What about the frantic statement - My dog is scared of the scales, and/or refuses to get one them!

That's probably because you haven't taught your dog to get on them in small steps, with positive reinforcement, motivational rewards, and no stress. 

So how do you accustom your dog to the scales so that weighing him regularly to keep check on his weight is an easy experience for the both of you - owner, and dog!

When buying scales, make sure that your scales suit the size of your dog so that he can happily sit on them, not hanging off the end!

TIP - Whenever you see the following photo, this is when you must treat your dog. You can use any reward that motivates your dog. If this photo isn't there when necessary, its because I have stated it clearly in a sentence.

Step 1 - Set up the scales. Some scales, like our's, don't pick up the weight of small dogs that aren't in the same position bearing the same weight as human feet, which is physically impossible for a small dog, but possible for a bigger dog. So get the scales to the measurement you want to weigh your dog at (in your situation, kilograms) and step on the scales yourself. Let the scales reset after stepping off and having your own weight calculated, and then you can progress to sitting your dog on the already-awoken-scales.

Step 2 - Feed your dog treats around the scales. You can then progress slowly to placing treats ON the scales for your dog to eat off of them. This will help your dog become more confident with touching the scales, and also act as a positive association with treats being the scales.

If your dog already puts a paw to the scales in a hope to scrape off the treat, then you've almost cracked the next step - just add a command now to this motion.

Step 3 - Ask your dog to place a paw on the scales. You could use your 'paw' command for this if you have one, and if not, hold your treat in a closed fist and let your dog see but not get it before you close it. Your dog may paw at it to try and release it.

Just one paw...

If he does...

Treat!

Once you have taught this behaviour, you can use it on the scales. Say your command for the paw touch action, and point to the scales, holding a treat. 

EARL'S TOP TRICK - Woof! Try and avoid asking your dog for a paw and then moving your hand away in a bid to get your dog to touch the scales, as your dog could end up hitting the scales with his paw. This could startle him/her, because of the sharp feel and the noise it could make. No dawg wants that - NO!!

Step 4 - Now try using a motivation reward to get your dog's front two feet onto the scales. If you have a command for 'right paw' and 'left paw', use these one at a time at first, and then progress to asking for a 'right paw' and then a 'stay'/'wait', and then asking for a 'left paw' whilst your dog's right paw is still on the scales. This should bring both of your dog's front paws on the scales. 

If this happens...

Treat!

Remember, this is bound to take a few tries, so be persistent!

If your dog does not know these commands for step 4, then hold a treat the opposite side of the scales to where your dog is standing. Try using 'come' - if your dog goes around the scales, then next time, position 2 objects or maybe more that your dog cannot walk over the two sides of the scales where your dog was walking around. This blocks your dog's path, so he has to go onto the scales to cross. You could also put the scales against a wall or bush and just put one object the other side. No treat until your dog has set paws on the scales! Reward for each touch.

Treat!

Step 5 - Now you have got your dog to put his front feet on the scales, now you can try his hind feet on the scales! WARNING - this can pose hard!! Start out with the scales behind your dog. Get your dog focussing on you, with a 'watch me', flick of your tongue sound, and/or a rattle of a treat packet etc. If your dog knows the 'back' command, try backing him a little onto the scales. Make sure he knows the scales are there first though. Every single touch with his back feet earns a reward. Even one foot is a fantastic start!

If your dog doesn't know the 'back' command, use a wall, bush, or a tall(ish) object by the side of the scale, stand up tall, and walk slowly into your dog. He should move out the way, and the only way is back! Do this SLOWLY, or risk moving back a step or possibly even 2 due to confidence downer. This downer could be shock of touch on scales, tripping over the scales as he walks back unaware, or anything else that your dog dislikes the experience of.

EARL'S TOP TRICK - Woofs! Ya'll, some barks for youz - Us sensitive dogs, a little like me, or even those not as sensitive, get become startled at sudden movement, touch, or noise. So try and avoid anything that could cause us to jump.

Step 5 continued - Dogs don't naturally use their back feet to touch objects, or to 'get at' objects, like they do their mouths and front feet, so there are only certain ways to do this exercise. Its all about confidence building. 

Step 6 - Now do the same thing as described in step 5, but aim for both back paws stood on the scales. Praise, praise, and more praise for every correct behaviour. Use verbal motivation as well - show you're happy with your dog's behaviour.

Remember, every touch deserves a goooood...

Treat!

Step 7 - Next, try and back your dog further onto the scales. You could even add a command for the back paw(s) touch to make it easier for you. Commands already learnt make new, everyday behaviours easier! Another reason to get the most out of training your dog!! 

Treat every time your dog backs further onto the scales. When your dog has backed a suitable distance away on the scales, ask for a 'down'/'lie down' command. Any lowering of the body needs rewarding. This builds a great deal of confidence when it comes to contact with the scales - don't expect a full, perfect, and flat down straight away!

If your dog doesn't want to lie down, use a treat and place it on the floor to help him. This way, buy going down to get the treat, he is getting the reward as soon as he does go down! Clever, eh?

Whenever he lowers his body, give him a nice…

Treat!

Step 8 - Now, remove him from the scales and use all what you have put into practice for the final move. Your dog must remain still and calm. So this step-by-step confidence building should work a treat.

REMEMBER, this was trained on a dog that has never done it before. The photos were taken throughout first training on Earl. So it shows that it can be done with time and effort!

Get your treat and tell him to 'come'. When he steps onto the scales possibly put in another cute word such as 'scales' to mark the behaviour with a specific command. Sort of use it like its a bed. So when you say 'bed', your dog goes on his bed. Same here with the weighing scales, but with a different object and command word of course.

A handy tip from me is to get your dog to walk across the scales and when his back feet are on, and his front feet are off and in front, tell your dog to 'sit'. This action will push him back so that he is in the centre of the scales, thus causing a more accurate calculation of his weight...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Treats and praise are vital in this part, to let your dog know he's doing really well.

If your scales are bigger than ours (in comparison to your dog), then you may just ask for an easier 'stand' or even a 'down' on the scales. But sitting, for dogs with slightly smaller scales, compacts their body in more so that it fits.

Step 9 - Once your dog is happily sat still on the scales, put your weight on one of your feet, standing carefully in the middle of the scales, between your dog's two front (sitting) paws. This way, human-made scales will pick up the weight more. When the weight comes through, slowly lift your foot off, and the weight should go down to your dog's weight. 

Step 10 - The final step is to take your dog's weight and then gently praise him off the scales using an 'off' command. Then, ideally after the first few weighings, go and have a fun, free game with your dog! 

Well done! And wala!!

Soon enough, you'll see love hearts in the air at weighing sessions…

We're delighted to be participating in the Thursday Barks And Bytes Blog Hop, very kindly hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like A Dog - thanks again, guys!