A spin on paws and dogs

Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Regarding “Muddy paws and dirty dogs” (Auburn Reporter, Sept. 27). It reminded me of a patient of mine telling me that he taught his dog to wipe his paws at the door. He placed a mat at the door and as soon as the dog came into the house, he started turning him in a circle, saying, “Radar wipe.” He would praise the dog and reward him with a treat.

In a very short time, Radar began literally spinning on the mat. Now the owner reinforces this with a hand signal that looks like stirring, with his index finger pointed down, then a hand signal to sit, and another hand signal to stay. Radar stays there while his owner walks around the house for about a minute, gets a treat, and then invites Radar to come with another hand signal.

He says the entire process took less than a week, and this is the third dog he’s taught to do this.

I would also like to thank the Auburn Reporter for including me in your 2014 Best of Auburn chiropractors. Humbled

– William G. Dedge, DC, CCSP, EMT-B