BECOME A ‘DOG WHISPERER’ TRAIN AS A PACK FOR BETTER RESULTS
Your whole family adores your dog — but not the barking. This issue can lead to feelings of frustration, and the more frustrated you get, the more your dog barks. It’s their only way of communicating, and they’re telling you, “My needs are not being met.” As Cesar Millan, the original “dog whisperer,” explains, “A barking dog needs exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order.” EXERCISE Part of the barking issue may be due to pent-up energy. According to the humane society, “A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.” If you already take your pup on a morning walk, try adding in an evening walk. You could add it to your child’s chore list and help get out some of the kid’s pent-up energy, too. It may also be beneficial to practice obedience exercises and games that challenge your dog. DISCIPLINE To put a stop to the behavior, you’ll first need to change any of your behavior that’s reinforcing it. Any attention your dog gets when he’s
barking — even yelling, “Rover, stop!” — teaches him to keep going, because you’re rewarding him with attention. Wait until your dog has stopped barking to give him any sort of attention, including looking at them. “To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking,” advises the Humane Society. AFFECTION
Of course, your dog needs love and attention to thrive — a lack of it could contribute to barking behavior. Reinforce silence by giving your dog a treat and an encouraging pat when she demonstrates good behavior, like not barking. “Our pups want to work for our attention,” Cesar Millan reminds us. “Allowing her to do that and to see your happiness is, to your dog, the biggest reward of all.”
To make your training program successful, consistency is key. Enlist the help of the whole family to stick to the principles. Together, you can foster a calm, peaceful home where you and your dog happily coexist.
THE DIFFICULT TALKS ARE USUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
Health Care Proxies, Life Insurance, and Assets
Health and Life Insurance
No matter their age, no child wants to think about having to take his or her parent to the hospital, but an unfortunate fact of life is that sickness, accidents, and injuries are often unavoidable and occur without warning. Here at the Law Offices of DuPont and Blumenstiel, we know that having conversations with your adult children about medical and financial information may feel unnecessary, but making them aware of the location of necessary documents containing instructions regarding health insurance, assets, and end-of-life care is critical in case they need to take action on your behalf. We have compiled three of the most essential materials to share with your family.
preferences involving life-sustaining medical treatment and which medical procedures can be administered, withheld, or withdrawn. Because these decisions can be traumatic for a proxy, especially when they’re under emotional distress, your choice to keep these documents in a safe and accessible place is of the utmost importance. Similar to a health care proxy, a durable power of attorney will help your family members know the best ways to manage your financial affairs. Drawing up a will can help everyone rest assured that your assets will be competently allocated. As your children reach adulthood, we recommend you consider selecting a responsible child as the trustee overseeing your will. You don’t have to divulge all the contents of your will to your trustee; just be sure they are aware of the document’s location. Durable Power of Attorney
If you are age 65 or over, please be sure to let your adult children know about any health insurance policies, as well as Medicare. There may be “Medigap” policies that go beyond the basic care coverage provided by disability income insurance policies. People typically purchase life insurance to provide cash to help cover mortgages, liabilities, and expenses, all of which will benefit your family members. Although discussions with your adult children about health-related issues may be burdensome to navigate, taking the time to have them can help you and your family avoid potential financial and medical problems in the future. If you have any other questions on how to acquaint your family with your financial affairs, please reach out to us at the Law Offices of Dupont and Blumenstiel.
Health Care Proxy and LivingWill
When you designate another individual as your health care proxy, you give them specific directions regarding your medical decisions should you become incapacitated or unable to advocate for yourself. A living will specifies your
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