Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services
A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results
604-868-0341
Alix Balfour - Trainer
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Auntie Al’s Dog Training Services A Gentle Touch - Outstanding Results 604-868-0341 Alix Balfour - Trainer
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Hello Folks. I'm going to use this column to write about dog behaviors and methods I have used to deal with them. If humans fail their dogs it's usually through lack of knowledge, not lack of caring, so I want to share what I know with the hopes it can help you. I use positive reinforcement to train, and under that umbrella come many methods to achieve the same goal: Praise, body language, cookies, massages, off-leash reward for a job well done. For equipment I only use a flat buckle collar and a six or twenty-foot leash. The trick here is to have properly weighted equipment. Many people use leashes and collars that are too narrow and too light. Some people use halties, body harnesses and the like, all non-threatening tools when used properly but I prefer to go right to the most important tool of all: clear communication. Some people also like to use tools such as clickers - great - if it works for you and your dog, go for it. Actual techniques can vary trainer to trainer but if positive reinforcement is used the ultimate result is the same: A dog that responds to you at any given moment and in return, the dog gets everything it ever wanted. You, your companionship, your love. These stories will involve dogs of relative good health, behaviors due to typical dog instinct as opposed to rage due to injury, etc. Although I once worked for a vet and have participated in a pet first aid seminar, I am not schooled in the veterinary field. Anyone dealing with an ongoing problem with no reasonable cause should consult with their vet to ensure the dog is all right. Communication Skills Dogs use "calming signals" when communicating with all others. Translated, it generally means "Don't bother me, I won't bother you. Keep moving.", or "You're exhibiting too much excitement/over-stimulation, calm down." Most commonly, it is a turning away of the head, a swinging away from. It often looks as though the dog has suddenly gained interest in something else: a fence post, a tree trunk, a blade of grass. Let's say a person is approaching with their dog on leash. Your dog suddenly swings off to the right to sniff the grass at the base of the mailbox. As soon as the other has passed by, your dog goes back to walking down the sidewalk. Your dog has just communicated to the other dog that hellos are not necessary. The other dog has complied. Now let's say you're walking down a sidewalk alone, just a human, no dog. A person approaches from the other direction, also solo. As you near, you realize the person is looking toward you. Your eyesight suddenly focuses on whatever is to your left or right: displays in a storefront window, a bed of flowers blooming, a distant view. You have just given the approaching person a calming signal, indicating that you would rather not interact. Calming signals can be used when training your dog. If your dog is jumping on you, do not talk other than to say the word "Off" (and "Good off" if the dog complies.). If the dog is in a highly stimulated state and is jumping repeatedly, don't talk at all. Stand up straight and turn away from your dog. Look straight ahead, regardless of your direction, keep your sightline and jawbone parallel to the floor. Every time your dog attempts to jump, turn away calmly in your upright position. Do not step forward or indicate a new direction, merely turn away. Wait the dog out, no matter how long it takes. If you absolutely need to take charge, put the leash on the dog, allow the length of the leash to fall to the floor/ground and stand on it at the point of contact, keeping the loop of the leash on your hand. This allows the dog to stand, sit or lie down, but completely inhibits the dog's ability to jump. Stand up straight, do not look at or talk to your dog. Breath calmly, remove all frustration, anger, reactive emotion from your work. Be calm. All dogs will eventually sit. This allows for quiet praise and forward movement. Praising your dog is the most important aspect to all training exercises. "Good off. Good dog." Each time the dog over-stimulates, go back to square one. Consistent communication will help the dog see the pattern, put action to consequence, and the lesson will start to take hold. The dog will be less and less likely to jump because the outcome is always the same. You don't talk, you don't interact, you ignore. That's no fun! Oh, but what's that? Every time I sit quietly you tell me what a good boy I am. I'm a good boy? That's right, I am a good boy. See? Here I am, sitting. "Good sit. Good boy." __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
As Grows the Dog, So Should the Boundaries... But the Rules Remain the Same Dogs are pack animals. In the wild they live in packs, each pack with its own territory and leader, and the leader makes all the rules. The leader is called the alpha. The role of the alpha is to protect the pack, to always be on the lookout for danger, to ensure the safety of the group as a whole. To accomplish this the alpha has to have very strict rules. Roughhousing and roaming amongst pack members are allowed only after the all-clear has been given. Roughhousing is an important, necessary part of a pup's education, it teaches fighting skills, self-defense, submission signals, bite inhibition, etc. But if the roughhousing gets out of hand, an elder will step in and put an end to it. If a pup wanders too far from the group, the pup is picked up by the scruff of the neck and returned. Pups are given a very specific area to play in and only as they begin to prove themselves able to follow the rules are they allowed to roam further. But the rules remain the same no matter how far from home the dogs roam. When the alpha says "Quiet", the pack is quiet. When the alpha says "You may move about", the pack moves about. As time goes on, the pup comes to learn that it has to do what the alpha says, all the time. But the pup does so willingly because the pup understands its livelihood is being looked out for, food and security will be provided, that the only thing the pup has to concern itself with is relaxing; eating, playing, sleeping. In time the pup becomes a full grown working member of the pack with an established place and rank. But it still has to follow the rules of the alpha. If a dog wants to rule its own world badly enough, it either fights the current alpha for the position or it leaves the pack, hopefully encouraging a couple of pack mates to go along. This is the way of the dog pack, all dogs know it. When you get your dog, regardless of its age, when first introducing it to the neighborhood, don't go far from your front door. By walking back and forth over the same territory you accomplish a few things:
Remember - Very Important A dog is a dog. That is a specific species unto itself, just like humans are their own species. A human would never send its child to school to be educated by a giraffe because a human is not a giraffe. A human is not going to expect a giraffe to be able to teach a human the things he will need to know in order to get through life. No, the child is taught by another human, we would never consider otherwise. Please remember this when communicating with your dog. Although your dog recognizes that there is communication happening between you and that there is some familiarity to it, the dog will not naturally look to you as its teacher because you are not a dog. It will take time and proper leadership on your part for the dog to come to look to you as the alpha. In the meantime, if the humans in charge are not adequately proving that they are in charge, a dog will assume the role of rule-maker and the next thing you know you have a dog that won't come when you call, chases cats, gets into the garbage and pees on the bed. A dog is a dog. Time and proper leadership will blend your lives together beautifully but you will still be a human. Do your dog a huge favor and make sure it has multiples of dog friends. This is called socialization and is crucial to the emotional, intellectual growth of your dog. Choose your dog friends wisely. Watch people with their dogs, the body language. Is the person in charge (in a positive way, not yelling or threatening) or is the dog ignoring the human, doing whatever it wants? Listen to the tones of voice. Does this person sound connected to their dog? Dogs learn from dogs. If you make friends with people whose dogs are well-mannered, your dog will learn those mannerisms more easily. If you pay attention you can actually see your dog watching the other dog, learning to emulate those good behaviors. When you do, praise your dog. "Good dog." It's so simple and so effective.
Remember - Very, Very Important The role of the alpha is to protect the pack. When you hit your dog, or aggress in any violent manner, whether physical or vocal, you are acting in a manner contradictory to the techniques of a leader - an alpha is always in control. If you're busy losing your mind, yelling, yanking on the leash, unable to properly "speak dog", your dog is less likely to trust in your ability to lead, an opinion that is further enhanced by your obvious inability to "read dog". You can be sure the dog has been throwing you calming signals; looking away, yawning, yet your aggressive behavior continues. Your dog has to be able to trust you. Remain calm. Learn to communicate using body language and praise your dog. "Good leave it, good dog." "Good this way, good dog." "Good dog." __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ From "Sit" to "Sensational!"
A person once asked me how to stop a golden retriever from trying to swim across the river. I went on to describe various steps that I would use, starting with very basic training that would teach the dog to follow my leadership. Consider this: When a child enters grade one he learns 1+1=2. Generally speaking it takes a child eight years to get through primary school during which time he learns not to run around during class, pick on the kid next to him, steal from his classmates. When the child enters four years of high school he delves into advanced math during which time he also struggles through the roller coaster ride that is the teenage years, learning to get along with others as a more mature person. Then it's off to college and university, perhaps some post-grad work. Schooling can last a really long time and a person can use the learned knowledge to achieve great things. And it's all built on the same, simple foundation. 1+1=2. No matter how big the numbers in a person's life get, it all starts with 1+1=2. No matter what you want to teach your dog, no matter "who" you want your dog to be, the one simple command that is the foundation to all things is "sit". As a dog grows from puppy to mature adult, he will experience many things. Your dog could become a search and rescue dog, or a whiz at the agility course; your dog may become just the greatest, best dog a person could ever hope to own just for being them. Just remember that no matter what they're learning, it all starts with the same, simple foundation. "Sit". As your dog matures, he will be exposed to new things, new adventures. Stick to your basic commands. The dog will learn that "sit" means the same whether it's "sit" to have his leash put on or because you've suddenly found yourself in a crowd of people and you need the dog to be quiet and still. Training is a learning process for both sides, do not despair. Like all things, the more you practice, the better you get. Of course you're going to make mistakes, but if your overall approach is one of love and understanding, your dog will forgive you your mistakes just as you need to forgive the dog his mistakes. Like the golden retriever who wishes to swim across the river, start with basic training in non-disruptive surroundings and gradually increase your demands and expectations. A dog is a dog and as a dog will act like a dog. To modify those behaviors you must educate your dog to a different way of thinking. Know what you want and take responsibility for delivering that information in as simple and encouraging a manner as possible. Anticipate and be prepared. Relax. Have faith. Enjoy.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Tools of Training - The Collar and the 6' Leash When a pup strays from home, the mother dog will pick the pup up by the scruff of the neck and carry it back to the nest. Her grip is very firm; she does not want to drop the pup and she does not want the pup to wriggle, making the carrying process difficult. Yet even though she is gripping the dog so firmly, she is not harming him. She is using a steady pressure with her jaws to hold the pup tight, she is not biting him. Using a flat buckle or flat snap collar allows you to most closely copy the maneuvers of the mother. A flat collar is basically a belt for your dogs neck, the buckle or snap is how it opens and closes. There are no chains - which can be a) very painful on the fingers, b) nearly useless on dogs with dense neck muscle and c) positively frightening to a naturally submissive personality type. Fit the collar to the dog so that you can slip your fore and middle fingers in between the collar and the dogs neck. This sizing should be properly secure without risk of the dog slipping the collar or being too tight. All leashes, regardless of width, should be six feet long. This allows distance which gives the dog the opportunity to think for himself and make decisions while still being in close enough range that you can stop the dog from doing things he shouldn't. It would be lovely if our dogs could just be good but the reality is they have to make mistakes in order to learn how to make the right decisions. In a structured setting allow for the mistakes to happen. Praise the proper choices, calmly but firmly redirect from improper choices. Choosing the right size collar and leash Many people purchase collars that are too narrow for the size of their dog. A too narrow collar can lessen the ability to control the dog properly and can be very uncomfortable for the dog as it tends to create more of a choking, garroting effect. A wider collar is comfier and easier to handle. Recommended: (leash and collar) 1/2"-5/8” wide for dogs up to 20 pounds 1” wide for dogs 20-50 pounds 1” wide, 2-ply for dogs 50 pounds and heavier 20’ long line for outdoor work (The width is not as critical here. The long line is used to teach boundaries as opposed to behaviors which need the nuance and control of the six foot leash.) Equipment narrower than 1/2" is good only for companion dogs that will always be tiny but remember, size isn't everything. If you find you have a wrangly brute on your hands, try the 1/2". If the collar is too long, cut the excess length and use a heated pin or nail to poke a hole where you need it most.
Lots of people say, "My dog can't wear a collar. It makes him choke and I don't want to hurt his throat." When you have a very young puppy, yes, you want to be careful using anything that's going to create pressure on the throat. Dogs bodies are in a huge growth spurt from the day they're born to the six month mark, the limbs, the organs, the muscles, bones and cartilage. Use a body harness until the pup firms up enough to switch to the collar for leash use. But still put a collar on your pup. Dogs have an imprinting period during this six month stretch. The more things you can introduce to your pup in a day-to-day setting, the more the dog will become socialized and accepting of their presence. Socializing is the most important thing you can do for your dog, regardless of its age but especially when you have a pup. Allow the dog to have as many experiences in a safe environment as possible: Dog friends, people friends, parades, parties, trains, planes and automobiles. Get your pooch out there and socialize. With the really young pups, remove the collars before you put them in a kennel and go to bed so they can't get themselves strung up on something during the night. If you're having a party, keep the dog in another room, away from the noise, the food, the front door and out from under foot. Dogs have fear cycles at the eight week and twenty week mark of their lives, they'll appreciate the safety and solitude during this time. Have you ever witnessed a child that doesn't like something? Hoo-wee but there's a lot of hollering, screaming, object-throwing, foot-stomping action going on. But that doesn't mean the child is going to die if he eats his broccoli. Dogs have only body language and vocal tones to tell you they don't like something. It's not surprising a dog does not wish to wear a collar and will sometimes put on quite the show to convince you. Remember you're in charge. Put the collar on the dog. Be soothing. Praise the dog, maybe give him a cookie, definitely give him a massage, especially around the collar. "What a good dog you are. You're a good boy."
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Dogs and Training The Big Picture and Why Training Often Fails
Many times when first working with a client, I often hear “I’ve already taken a training course”. The clients are having the same problems with their dogs as they had before taking the course and frequently are of the opinion that the trainer failed them. As a trainer, I would be in agreement that we do fail some clients but it is not because we didn’t properly teach them what to do. It is because we failed to find the right words to express to the clients how training works for dogs; we didn’t paint the big picture. Dogs are all about context. If training takes place in a specific room or building, a dog will learn that the rules apply to that room, that building. If the dog is taught in a group class, the dog will learn to respect and get along with those dogs. But once outside of that classroom, if not given consistent leadership with the same rules being applied to all life’s experiences, the dog will immediately revert back to regular ways. I see it all the time. For instance, when teaching, I ask that the loop of the leash be held properly at all times. When teaching, I instruct that humans are to walk through doors before their dogs. During the lesson, a client will do exactly as asked and is pleased at the seemingly immediate results. And yet once that lesson ends, the client holds the leash at “half-mast”, opens the door without giving proper instruction to the dog or using the body language that I had just taught and the dog flies out the door, dragging the human behind. It’s not about practicing technique once a week for six weeks. It’s about practicing the lessons in all places at all times until the dog proves itself to know and respect his boundaries. Training is not teaching your dog tricks. Training is educating your dog to the human world, that there are rules to be followed, that life is a series of give and get. The dog is regularly asked to sit (good sit!) and in return regularly gets to play with other dogs. Training is information that you, the leader, have to provide. Training is teaching your dog to trust you. Once your dog understands to look to you for all things and to go along with your requests, teaching becomes simple. The dog does what you want. Depending on the nature, age and history of your dog, it can sometimes take a long time. It took me two years to get my Chico turned around from the mess he was when I adopted him. Two years of constantly overseeing his behavior, two years of anticipating his behavior so I could intercept and redirect him, two years of “Uh-uh, Chico, leave it, this way.” “Good leave it, Chico, good this way.” “Good boy!”
At the age of 10, Chico learned to ride in a bike basket. He did it on his very first try. "Good boy, Chico." ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
If You Don’t Keep Going, You’re Not Going To Get Anywhere
If there is one thing that I see time and time again, it is owners who do not keep going with the training process. Sometimes owners become overwhelmed with the reality of how much work it is to train a dog. Because group classes are usually done in a six or eight week structure, people become misguided thinking that their dogs will be trained when the course is over. This is not the case. Lessons are not about trainers training the dogs. The trainers are training the owners to train the dogs. If you want the trainer to do the work, you are probably looking at a long, expensive process and if you, the owner, do not learn how to communicate, the training will be all for naught anyway. A dog responds to those who communicate properly. I've had clients with pups who took my six week course. We would have instruction and practice once a week. After three or four weeks the clients said they felt they had learned what they needed to know, that the dog was responding beautifully and that they wanted to take it from there. “Don’t worry about the fact we paid for six lessons”, they would say. “Keep the difference, you’ve earned it.” The dogs, as happens with consistent training, had shown excellent improvement and if the training remained consistent, there was no reason to believe they would not be shining stars. But there was a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. I thought the owners showed reticence and frustration upon realizing that training is every moment of every day, that it is work. Think of it this way. You have a ten year old child and you want the child to grow up to have social graces. At the dinner table you tell your child, “Please take your elbows off the table.” “Good boy.” “Please don’t eat with your mouth full, chew and swallow, then speak.” “Thank you.” “Please stop picking your nose and leave your sister alone.” “Who wants ice cream?” Are you going to only have to ask these favors of your child for six weeks, a child who speaks English and understands what you’re saying, in order for the behaviors to stop? Of course not, he’s a child with childish tendencies and you have to commit to the fact that you’re going to have to provide leadership and instruction until such time as the child shows that he, indeed, has learned his social graces. And like all children under varying parental influences, some will mature beautifully, some never seem to grow up at all. If you want your dog to learn not to jump on people, you have to have all the guidelines in place all the time in order for the dog to get the message. Note that I mentioned four things going on at the table with the child. One scenario; the dinner table, but multiple issues arise. It’s the same with dog training, a multiple of scenarios can relate to a single moment. To be a really good owner, you need to recognize possible scenarios and be responsible. Be prepared to deal with all of them. Folks, if you own a dog, you owe the dog a full and happy life. You and you alone are responsible to make sure that happens. For the dog’s sake, please train your dog every day. Communicate, instruct, praise. Go the distance and you will be rewarded. "What a nice dog you have." "Thank you." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once Upon a Time, In a Land Far, Far Away When I was a young girl growing up in Maine, I rode my bicycle everywhere. To go to my friend’s house required me to ride past a house where a beagle lived. This beagle, like all other dogs living in a small town in the 60’s, had no fences, no leash, no owner on hand to be held accountable in the event of trouble. And this beagle was trouble. True to his territorial and prey drive nature, anyone who dared bicycle past his house received his come-uppance – a mad dash straight for your ankles, teeth bared to a drooling drip. He scared me very much. I didn’t know which I feared more, his frightening approach or the likelihood that one of these days I was going to take a header on my bike in an effort to steer clear of him. Every time I went past his house, it was the same and every time I found myself thinking, “This has to stop!” I would wonder why he was that way, it went against the nature of all the other dogs in my life and I couldn’t understand what drove him to such extremes. All I knew was that if the routine was going to change, I was going to have to change it. One day when Beagle came charging toward me, I stopped my bike and spoke to him. “Hello, Beagle.” Had he been a car, the air would have been filled with the sound of rubber screeching, he came to such an abrupt halt. This was not how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to scurry along, re-enforcing his abilities to guard and protect. What did happen was that he tucked tail, lowered his head and slunk away. That made me even more upset than being charged at. I was every animal’s best friend; for me, being feared was to not be known, understood and loved. What I didn’t know then but know now is that it was Beagle who was not known, understood and loved. He was in fact sharing with me but could only give me what he knew and what he had; a distrust of humans. After that, every time I rode past his house, he would come charging out and I would stop, letting my feet go to the ground and I would say, “Hello Beagle.” And every time he would tuck his tail and turn away. As time passed, the tucking and turning away lessened. I always made a point to not look directly at him, and would speak to him in a loving, you are my absolute best friend and I am so glad to see you voice. I was using calming signals, the most common of dog communications, but I did not know that. I was just going on instinct, calling up the knowledge that all of my animal friends had taught me. I took to lying on my back, on the ground of his front lawn, and I would reach my arm up past my head to full extension and let it just lie there. Oh and look at that, a little piece of cheese was in my hand. But there was no talking and there was no attempt to touch, I just lay there. I would wait maybe five minutes and if Beagle did not come for the cheese, I would sit up, eat it, get up and get back on my bicycle. “’Bye Beagle! See you tomorrow!” I would call out as I rode away. One day, as I knew he would, I mean, he is a beagle for heaven’s sake, he took the cheese. “Good boy!” I said softly. “You are such a good boy!” And I got on my bike and rode away. “’Bye Beagle! See you tomorrow!” It wasn’t long after that before Beagle was eagerly anticipating my drive-bys and we would spend five to ten minutes together snuggling, I would scratch him, tell stories and sing songs. Occasionally I might have a piece of cheese for him but not usually. It wasn’t about the cheese and anyway, it’s hard to ride a bike and hold cheese at the same time. It probably explains why I refuse to wear pants that don’t have pockets but that’s a different story for a different time and probably for a different website. “You are such a good boy, Beagle.” “’Bye Beagle, I love you. See you tomorrow.” _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Give ‘Em an Inch, They’ll Take the Fox Fur After our Cocker Spaniel, Brandy, died, my parents bought my sister a Miniature Schnauzer, Pepper. Pepper was a very clever, loving girl who, in retrospect, suffered from a lack of proper training. For instance, she was a garbage hound, knocking over the cans of the neighbors, leaving a messy trail behind her. As we lived in a world of no fences or leashes, it was a habit unappreciated but accepted and lived with by all affected humans, much like my pet rabbit getting into the neighbor’s garden. (Curiously, Trigger never touched our own garden. Smart bunny.) The one law my mother laid down was that the dog was not allowed in the main part of the house. The casual entrance to our home was through the den, a room that had served as a woodshed for the farmer who owned the house before us, a room that connected the garage to the main house. From the den you entered into our kitchen, through a door that was left open more often than not, a wooden threshold marked the divide. Pepper would plant herself on the threshold and watch us at the kitchen table, throughout many meals and games of canasta. We wanted to breed Pepper, we attempted to breed Pepper, she was having nothing to do with it. Owners of the studs would call us, asking us to please come get her as she made such a racket, barking and snarling, what attempts we made all failed. One day our yard was filled with hopeful candidates. Pepper’s odor had filled the neighborhood and all the dogs had come calling. Pepper got out of the house and mated with a Poodle named Frenchy, eventually giving birth to five very cute puppies. My other sister got to keep one, a motley-colored mutt whom she named Treacle. Pepper and Treacle were inseparable, looking like bookends as they sat side by side at the kitchen threshold. We noticed while having our meals that Pepper and Treacle were having very subtle, slow-moving races, inching forward on their bums while in a sitting position, seeing who could get closer to the kitchen table before being caught and sent back to the threshold. It was amusing but we could not laugh or show any pleasure in their movements as that would reward the dogs for their behavior. Instead just a stern “Out!” to send them back. For the most part, the dogs were obliging and even though that kitchen door stood open, in the den they would stay. Past the kitchen was the living room. This was the formal room of the house with wall to wall carpeting and a large picture window looking out over the fields behind our home. My father had shot a fox in those fields, a fox that had been terrorizing all the local hen houses, a fox whose beautiful red coat now lay tanned and spread on the floor in front of the living room fireplace. One evening the family returned home from choir practice. Walking into the den was to find the two dogs, quiet, sleeping, glad to have us home. Walking into the kitchen was to enter command central and everything was as it should be. Walking into the living room was to find mayhem and destruction. I would give my eye teeth to know the back story, which dog it was who took it upon herself to encourage an unauthorized touring of the house while we were gone, which one it was who discovered the fox fur. I would love to have witnessed the ensuing result, a complete and total shredding of that fox fur. There wasn’t an inch of carpeting that didn’t have fox fur on it, you’d be hard pressed to find a square inch of the fur itself, the dogs had completely and totally torn it apart. They must have had so much fun. We were unable to contain ourselves. We laughed a shrieking laughter, tears rolling down our faces with the imagined picture of what had taken place. But the damage was done and our lesson was learned. After that, anytime we left home, the door to the den was closed and the dogs were shut in. Containing your dog is the simplest way to avoid problems when you’re not at home to supervise. Whether given his own room, a kennel or baby’s playpen, use something that will contain the dog and keep him from getting into things he shouldn’t while you’re away.
Treacle and Pepper ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You're the Alpha For Your Dog's Sake - Act Like It If you were to observe a pack of dogs in the wild, you would see a constant guarding, dogs on the lookout for predators. If predators were known to be in the area, at no time would you see a pack member be allowed to happily wander off on a stroll of personal interest. All pack members would be required to stay within a defined area until the danger had passed. In the human world where dogs are honorary pack members, predators abound that the dog is unable to identify. Automobiles are vicious, leaving carnage in their wake, animals either badly maimed or dead. No dog can ever know the danger a car represents until the worst happens. You do. Please, please, please, keep your dog on a leash when out and about in public settings. Please do not open your door to an unfenced area and let the dog walk outside unattended to do his business. As a professional in the pet business, I personally field approximately half a dozen phone calls a year from clients and friends, grief-stricken because their animals were dead or injured. One person recently had this choice. Shell out $5,000.00 or put the dog to sleep. Originally, the choice was, fix the fence or don't bother to fix the fence. Today on the news comes the story of a man angry because his dog was hit and the driver chose to keep going. "Who would hit and run someone's dog?" he asked. "It's not right!" No, it's not right. But it's also not right that the dog was in the road in the first place. It is the owner's fault that the dog was hit. My heart goes out to him, and all owners who have to experience this tragic lesson, it's very sad and I don't wish it on anybody. Please keep your dog on leash when in a traffic area. Be the alpha. Be safe. ___________________________________________________________________________
Arrow Makes a Point I once had a neighbor in Maine who owned a black lab, Arrow. Like all dogs in my town, Arrow had no leash, no fence, no confining boundaries. Unlike most dogs in my town, Arrow was not content with hanging around the homestead, large and freewheeling tho it was. Where Ginger, Pepper and Treacle, Lucy, Snoopy et al would (for the most part) stay in their yards or be out in the fields working with their masters, Arrow was a wanderer. He lived for adventure and could be gone for days at a time. His owner fretted at first, wondering if he'd ever see his dog again, but the fret never materialized into control of Arrow's actions. The owner continued to allow Arrow to wander. One day the owner was driving home from work; coming from a neighboring town (or as we locals colloquially called it, "the big city"). A pickup truck drove by in the opposite direction and there was Arrow, riding in the back, head up and into the wind, tongue and drool rushing alongside his head. "He looked like he was laughing!" said the owner. In a large, urban setting such as Vancouver, dogs cannot run free like this. Too many dangers, too many conflicting interests. But Arrow makes a point. If you let a dog do what it wants, it will do what it wants. Recognize and accept the possible outcomes, take responsibility. Be safe. Enjoy a long, happy life with your best friend. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Speaking of Dogs Running Free When Pepper was in heat and drawing all the local dogs to the yard, one dog in particular stood out for me. Of questionable heritage, he looked like a Finnish Spitz with a short coat. A neutered male, he posed no threat where Pepper was concerned and did not join the melee of dogs who postured and scrapped in the driveway. Instead he would sit off to the side and watch the goings on. At first, he would not allow me to come near. Any attempt on my part immediately sent him scurrying further out of reach, I couldn't even show interest without causing him worry. I named him 'Friend'. If I could get within range I would quietly say, "Hello Friend" but I would not look at him, my body would always be turned away. Pepper's heat came and went and her pregnancy produced five pups. No longer did neighborhood dogs hang out in the driveway with the exception of one. Friend. He still hung back but we had conversations now. Well, okay, I was doing the actual talking but he was giving me his rapt attention and often a smile would gather in the corners of his eyes. Finally, finally, one day he let me touch him. I had been accepted and the bond was made. Friend remained a fixture in our yard. My mother was the only other family member he would have anything to do with, he ignored my two sisters who generally ignored him right back and my dad, for all intents and purposes where Friend was concerned, was just a vehicle that pulled in and out of the garage. One day dad came home, said he had been in the neighboring town approximately five miles away and had seen Friend trotting along in his lone wolf way. He said "Friend looked up as I passed and looked at me. Do you know, when I pulled into the driveway just now, Friend was already here? He knew it was my car and he took a direct route that got him here faster than I could!" Dogs are special. Dogs are great. "Hello Friend." ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On When dogs are meeting for the first time or don’t know each other well, it is always good to try to have initial introductions in neutral territory. The stakes aren’t as high; neither dog is trying to defend anything other than itself. Dogs are territorial and if introduced on home land; if one dog feels an intruder has arrived, a “conversation” will take place. When dogs do meet it can sometimes be quite the fireworks display, snarling, lunging, hackles are up, teeth are bared and gnashing. This happened to Chico the other night. We had been invited to another person’s home but when we arrived, the owner and her dog were out. I put Chico’s bed down in a corner near where I was sitting and he lay down. A few moments later the house dog, a black lab, came through the back door. She came into the room and the hackles were up immediately. Now, she and Chico have met before and been in this house together before but she had been home the first time we visited; she had been there to accept and receive. This time there had been an intrusion; a dog had entered her home without her say-so. For Chico, whom I have spent extensive time training to be gentle and accepting, in his own home and elsewhere, he had innocently gotten up to say hello only to discover that his presence was considered suspicious and possibly unwanted. The lab lunged at Chico and the “conversation” was on. She picked Chico up in her jaws and started shaking him. Both dogs were making screaming noises in their throats; their bodies thrashed. I was behind the lab and I heard myself scream sharp and high. I reached out and grabbed the dog by the loose folds of flesh on her neck and lower back, picking her up off the floor. My friend extracted Chico from her mouth then led the lab to another room where the dog stayed for the rest of the evening. I have never seen Chico tremble as badly as he did then. His eyes were wide with fright and he held himself low to the floor. I immediately sat on his bed encouraging him to join me. He snuggled up tight to my side and shook and shook and shook. I placed calm hands on his body. I did not pat him, instead I let my hands act like a warm heavy blanket, weighing him down with comfort and serenity. “You are such a good boy, Chico.” I said quietly with a smile on my face. “I am so proud of you, what a good dog.” My hands now started to explore his body, looking for any wounds. I massage Chico regularly; my hands know his body well and would immediately spot anything out of place. There was nothing. Nothing bitten, broken or slashed, he was fine. I continued to tell him what a good boy he is. I would never ask in a concerned voice “Are you okay?” Dogs communicate using vocal tones. To ask a worried “Are you okay?” is to use a whiney, worried sounding vocal tone. With dogs, the tone can be interpreted as submission and weakness, a sound made by pups when frightened. If an upsetting moment has occurred and you’re using a whining voice, you are communicating your fear and insecurity. If you’re supposed to be the “alpha” and you’re communicating fear and insecurity, the dog will be unsure of his own safety. No matter how upset you may be, you have to remain calm for your dog. You have to let your dog know that the danger has passed, that you’re in charge, you’ll take care of everything and life goes on. So I sat with Chico, inspecting his body and telling him with a happy voice what a good dog he is. Five minutes later I was back in my seat at the table and dinner was served. The owner of the lab looked at Chico resting comfortably on his bed. He was not shaking or anxiously looking about, his head was down and his eyes were closed. “Wow” she said. “Look how calm he is!” That's my boy. “Good boy, Chico.”
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Rip it Up Speaking of dogs attacking one another, let’s travel back to the day that all the dogs were in the yard hoping to get some one-on-one time with Pepper. As stated previously, Pepper mated with a Poodle named Frenchy. It was during their act that another dog, a German Shepherd, attacked Frenchy, trying to draw him off of Pepper but it was too late, Frenchy was otherwise engaged and there was nothing the Shepherd could do about it. In the attack, the Shepherd tore a huge gash in Frenchy’s side, easily three inches long; it bled as Frenchy went about his business. When Frenchy and Pepper were finished, Pepper immediately ran for the house. She had had enough excitement for one day, thank you! The remaining assortment of dogs continued to argue and bluster, seemingly unaware that Pepper had left the yard and their chances were over. Except for two. Frenchy and the Shepherd. Much to my surprise, Frenchy and Shepherd ran to the top of the hill of the road that led to our driveway and sat, side by side, watching the continuing mayhem in our yard. It was as though the attack had never taken place, as though they were best buds taking in a film at a drive-in movie. Dogs are like that. Very ‘of the moment’. Just because your dog has had a disagreement with another dog doesn’t mean they can’t get along. And not all flesh wounds imply a vicious attack. Dogs only have their teeth when it comes to defense and employment. Dogs are incapable of standing on their hind legs and throwing punches as a human would and dogs do not have opposable thumbs, allowing them to grab another dog; pinning it to the ground. Dogs have to use their teeth. If two normally well-behaved dogs are snarling and thrashing, the likelihood is high that at least one is going to be wounded in some manner but it’s more likely to result in a deal maker as opposed to a deal breaker; the point of the scuffle in the first place. It’s always about rank establishment, who’s the top dog. Once that’s been established, the dogs are capable of becoming best friends. As the owner, you need to do what you can to teach your dog to accept or ignore other dogs. See situations coming and redirect or supervise to a calm solution. “Uh-uh, leave it, this way.” “Good leave it, good this way.” or “Gentle.” “Uh-uh, gentle.” “Good gentle, good dogs!” _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Reigning Cats and Dogs Anyone with a multiple-pet household can tell you that a friendship between species is as common as toast. This was true with my childhood pets, the family cats and dogs spent a lot of time together, playing and hunting. My father spent a year building a cabin in the woods behind our house. He felled the trees, skinned and shaped the logs; it was all very Paul Bunyan. The family cat and dogs at the time, Noah, Pepper and Treacle, went with him every day, striking out behind my dad as he made his way along the path that cut through the fields. While dad went to work on the cabin the animals would take off to search for small game. One day dad looked up to see the three of them run by. In their mouths hung equally divided pieces of rabbit - head, middle and butt. I don't have acreage nor do I currently own multiple pets. I do, however, have the responsibility of providing my dog with opportunities to socialize with species other than his own. We say hello to the neighborhood cats, I take care to keep Chico calm and accepting. Occasionally we take a stroll down “Rodentville Ave”, walking along a walled display of hamsters, gerbils, white mice, etc available for sale at a local pet store. When I first started working with Chico, he could not see a cat or caged critter without shrieking in excitement, standing on his hind legs, struggling mightily to “get!” Back then, there was no stopping to say hello, no attempt to socialize. I first had to teach Chico that his behavior was not acceptable. It required months of “Uh-uh, leave it, this way.” “Good leave it, good this way, good boy Chico.” As time went on Chico’s ability to stay calm improved and bit by bit we’ve started making feline friends. There’s a tuxedo kitty that lives in our building who understands there is a process taking place, he knows I won’t let anything happen to him so he has allowed Chico to come nose to nose. The first time was accompanied with a soft swat to Chico’s nose, no claws, just a little reminder to him to keep his boundaries even if they are that close. Chico is so thrilled to have the opportunity; he tries very hard to be good and sings a siren song to the kitty trying to convince him to play. My goal is to one day post a picture of the two of them together. Stay tuned. “Good kisses, Chico, good boy.” ____________________________________________________________________________________
How To Train Your Dog In 10 Easy Steps
1) Know what you want. 2) Know what you don’t want. 3) Educate the dog to what you do want. Every day. Have fun. 4) Redirect your dog away from what you don’t want and educate him to what you do want so that you can 5) Praise 6) Praise 7) Praise 8) Praise 9) Praise 10) Praise
“Good
dog!” ________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What's That Lassie? Little Billy Has Fallen in a Hole?" When I was a child I spent my days watching the animals around me. The farm animals, the family pets, the wild animals that skirted through our property. My sole purpose was to learn their ways, to understand them and in a way, learn how to be like them. I used to practice walking through the woods as quietly as possible, to not snap a twig, to be silent like my cat, Snowball. My practice was rewarded by Snowball showing me his “dining room”, a gorgeous opening in the woods flooded with fern, the fern creating a canopy under which Snowball ate his catches. The ground was littered with bird down and larger feathers, layered on top of a thick bed of pine needles. That moment is very special to me. There was no question Snowball was sharing his world with me. He had led the way, looking back over his shoulder at me as we made our way through the trees. We knew that we understood each other. My dog, Chico, and I have this communication now. I can tell by the way he comes to me whether he means "I'm hungry" or "I have to go to the bathroom" and, thanks to some of his past problems, "Hurry up, I'm gonna puke!" When we're out for a walk, I can tell if there is an attention-getter nearby by the way Chico's direction goes from relaxed and relatively straightforward to dawdling and using subtle peripheral vision. Animals do not speak human language but they do speak and to study them is to find that we're all on the same page. They, like us, don't like being abused. They, like us, become very frustrated when they feel they're not being heard. They, like us, have their own pace, their own speed of learning. I was reading an on-line pet forum one day. Someone had asked how to get a dog to stop pulling on leash. Another person wrote in and said, "Okay, I know this sounds cruel, but yank on the leash as hard as you can. It works." It kills me to have to admit this, but before I took training, I used to do that with some dogs that I used to take for walks. I would become so frustrated with the constant pull on the leash, the feeling that my shoulder socket was going to separate, feeling like the dog was purposefully ignoring me. During my childhood days, we never had leashes. Working on leash was something I didn't experience until I was an adult and the innocence and connection I had had with animals as a youth was shrouded with adult worries and distractions. Working with dogs in a professional manner and once again having pets in my life brought me back to that woodsy moment with Snowball. Why do dogs pull on leash? Sometimes it's because they want to get to something. Sometimes it's because they're just giddy with excitement and glad to be alive. And sometimes it's because they're trying to communicate to the human on the other end of the leash that the the human is being an insensitive jerk. Yanking on the leash brings an assortment of responses because dogs are not alike. Some dogs will submit, some will become obstinate, some will have you spending the rest of your days chasing them just to get them on leash in the first place. It is not the way to train or handle a dog. Handled properly, the leash is an excellent tool for communicating and if you do it right, you'll have the dog responding beautifully. You, too, will be able to walk through the woods without "snapping a twig". Take your time. Pay attention. Question your methods and never stop learning. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Separation Anxiety Steps That You Can Take To Help Your Pet 1) Create a specific area in your home that your dog is to stay in. Kennels, baby gates and closed doors all work to contain. Remember, dogs are den animals by nature. Containment, when presented in a non-threatening manner, works as a calming device. 2) Within the created area, give the dog a comfortable bed to lie on. The bed should be large enough to allow the dog full extension and preferably provide at least one support wall. Some commercially-made beds have built-in walls, if not; place the dog’s bed against something that will provide support. Do not place the bed at your feet as this allows the dog to dominate you. The dog needs to learn to be physically separated from you. Close by is okay to start; eventually the distance should increase. 3) Do not allow the dog free rein of the house. Only the alpha gets to roam freely. (That’s you!) Allowing the dog total freedom creates confusion regarding rank status. Be clear at all times about who’s in charge. This does not mean you are bossy but that you are the boss. 4) Give the dog a structured daily schedule for every day of the week. This will include walks, feeding, grooming, training, playing and time-outs. The seven days of the week don’t have to be identical, ie, Saturday vs Tuesday, but do make each day identical unto itself; ie, every Tuesday is the same, every Saturday is the same. Dogs are more relaxed when they know what to expect. As time goes by, if you stick to your schedule, the dog will noticeably calm down. 5) Practice leaving and coming home every day. Without looking at or talking to the dog, go through your routine; putting on your coat, keys in pocket, etc. Ignore the dog regardless of how anxious he becomes. Once ready to go, sit down in the room that the dog will be staying in. Continue to completely ignore the dog. (Reading is a good past-time!) Once the dog seems to settle, which in the beginning can take some time, quietly get up and leave, shutting and locking the door behind you. Moments later, which in the beginning can be as short as two seconds, walk back in. (As the days go by, increase the amount of time you stay outside.) Continue to ignore the dog. Go through your usual coming-home routine; place your keys on the table, take your coat off, etc. Return to your seat and return to reading (or whatever activity you choose). In a couple of minutes, stand up and call the dog to you, “Come, Sit”. If the dog is already at your feet, just ask the dog to “Sit”. Give the dog a cookie if you wish but use the moment to be just about the dog. Massage, cuddle. Do not allow the dog to jump on you. Turn away and ignore. Wait for the dog to calm and again ask for the “sit”. Praise quietly with love in your voice, “Good sit”. When the dog is stressed, refrain from using the words “It’s okay” to try to make the dog feel better. First, humans use the word “Okay” to show our pleasure – “Okay, good dog”, “Okay, let’s go.” If you tell the dog “It’s okay”, you’ll confuse the dog thinking you’re happy he’s upset. Secondly, when trying to make another feel better, humans have a tendency to say the words with a whiny tone to the voice. This is a submissive sound such as a puppy would make and robs you of your alpha status. Alphas are calm and secure. Your voice needs to project that. At any time that your dog shows fear, the best way to make it feel better is to put a smile on your face and say “Good dog”. “What a good dog you are.” This will help the dog separate fear from reality. You, the alpha, are showing no fear, therefore there is nothing to fear. 6) Encourage the dog to lie on his bed. Use this area for giving massages. Hide the occasional cookie when the dog is not looking. Make his bed a pleasant place to be. At any time that the dog lies down on the bed, whether by command or choice, praise with quiet love. “Good dog.” _______________________________________________________________________________________
What’s Cute and Clever to Some… Do you like teaching your dog tricks? Good for you if you do. Dogs are clever, thoughtful creatures with instinctual behaviors linked to breed type. Dogs also possess lovely senses of humor; they appreciate a good joke as much as you and I and like you and I, will use humor to try to deflect a tense moment. But I’ll save that discussion for another time. For now, let’s talk about the tricks we teach. When I first adopted Chico, he had not been taught anything special nor could he master simple commands. I used a ball that holds treats to teach him to fetch and the game itself required that he also learn to sit and stay. He scored high both in aptitude and willingness, he loves to learn new things; Chico loves figuring things out. Once he could fetch, I then taught him to find. Using Chico’s favorite stuffed frog, I would have him sit, stay while I wandered down the halls of my building, leaning frog up against any given wall. Initially, frog was placed just outside the door but as time went on the distance and direction became more challenging. Chico adores this game and carries frog with head held high with the pride that achievement brings. It is a game that satisfies his mental acuity as well as his desire for interaction with me. Games or tricks that I avoid are games that ultimately allow Chico to act in a more dominant manner toward me. For instance, I once knew someone who taught her dog to remove the covered elastic that tied back her boyfriend’s long hair. She thought this trick to be highly amusing and praised her dog every time she did it. Unfortunately, the dog saw it as a trick to be performed regardless of whose hair was tied back and when I would visit, the dog, who had also been allowed up on all of the furniture, would immediately attack the back of my head, trying to remove my hair ties. I was not amused. Nor am I amused when dogs place their paws on my knees or jump on me, whether in an attempt to attract attention or with hopes of a cookie. I have no interest in being pawed or jumped on. As dogs have no concept of clean paw, dirty paw, my interest wanes further when I find my clothing stained with muddy paw prints. When you choose the tricks and games to teach your dog, make them interactive and challenging but be mindful of the consequences. Teaching a dog to remove hair ties can be a positive thing if taught gently with the idea that the dog is assisting someone in need. Teaching a dog to ravage the back of someone's head is not. Teaching your dog to find a toy can be the start of training a dog for search and rescue. “Good sit, Chico, good stay.” “Good find, Chico. Good boy!” _______________________________________________________________________________________
Who’s The Boss? A question came up recently during my training sessions regarding dogs, rules and the confusion that arises in a household where people cannot remain consistent with those rules. In one case, there are active children who all try to command the dog at once, making understanding difficult for the dog. In another, a person of poor health is unable to be in charge and the dog takes advantage. In both households, there is a person who is in charge and/or taking care. Where the dog is concerned, this person is the boss. This person will be responsible for the formal training of the dog and will be responsible for looking out for the dog’s welfare. Common sense will have to prevail. It is wonderful that the children want to be involved; that they practice the commands. It’s important that the dog learns to answer to children. It will be up to “the boss” to ensure that the children take turns; that they remain calm and do the commands properly. In the other household it will be necessary for proper boundaries to be in place. If the dog is to share a room and the dog is unable to control its behavior, the dog needs to be contained to an area of the room, not have full run, until the dog understands the rules. Training will need to take place in that room so that the dog can learn the invisible boundaries, the abstracts required by humans. “Yes, you may approach me to say hello as I lie on the couch but you’re not allowed to jump on me, pull on my clothing or behave in any manner other than with calm and respect.” When I first adopted Chico he came with seven years of learned behaviors. In his old household he had always been allowed on the furniture, he had always been allowed to growl at and intimidate people, he had been taught to dominate everything. It took me two years to really get that turned around. He still has the occasional failure and I have to accept that this may be so forever; I will always have to be watchful for signs of inappropriate behavior. I accepted responsibility for Chico when I adopted him; that responsibility is for life. For the most part, Chico is a star and frequently fills me with pride. As time has gone on, the better he understands what is expected of him, the more I can introduce nuances, “cheats” to the rules that apply only in specific situations. For instance, my father isn’t as mobile as he once was. He loves Chico and wants to pat him and snuggle but is unable to get down to Chico’s level. Chico has learned that in dad’s house, the rules are bent. Chico is allowed to jump up onto my father’s lap while dad sits in his favorite chair. “Chico, up, up!” says dad. Chico is to be still and accepting; he sits quietly while dad strokes Chico’s fur and scratches his ears. Chico loves this and drinks it in. When dad has had enough, Chico jumps down and returns to the bed I provide for him whenever we visit someone. That is the consistent rule. “On your bed, Chico.” Unless something specific is happening that involves Chico he knows that he is to be on his bed, whether we are home or away. I could be cooking, cleaning or watching TV. I could be at a friend’s birthday dinner party. No matter. “On your bed.” “Good on your bed, Chico, good boy.” __________________________________________________________________________________________
Dogs Want to Hang with Dogs doing What Dogs Love to Do
Seamus and Abby spend an afternoon at the beach. _________________________________________________________________________________________
Quit Hogging the Blanket! When I take Chico to visit in other people’s homes, I usually take his portable dog bed. The bed is placed in an area where Chico will be out of the way but he can still see the goings-on and not feel like he’s being left out. I attended a gathering recently knowing that a very large Golden Doodle would be there. The Doodle is a youngster, full of energy and interest. He and Chico know each other and even though the Doodle could squash Chico easily, the dog respects both Chico’s position and my authority and says hello politely then lets us be. I saw the gathering as an opportunity to teach both dogs to share close quarters. Rather than take Chico’s bed, I took his blanket which spreads out to cover a much larger area. When I first put it on the floor, Chico took his place on it. I invited Zizou (Zee Zoo) to join him. Zizou took one look at Chico and politely declined. To the untrained eye, nothing would seem amiss but to look at Chico was to see a veiled “Oh yeah, I dare ya”. Although Chico was lying down, the down wasn’t fully committed. Instead, Chico demonstrated stiff body posturing; a line of light showed beneath his belly, he held himself up on his elbows and forelegs. Keeping the mood light, I gently laughed at his posturing and asked him to get off the blanket. Once cleared, Zizou was willing to lie down but also did not fully commit. Rather than take up the whole blanket, which he could have easily, he instead lay with his chest and forelegs on, his belly and back end off. I then commanded Chico, “On your bed.” Chico had no problem with hogging the blanket!
1) Both dogs are displaying calming signals. They are pulling their chests and heads back and away from each other. Chico is tense. Tail held flat, back leg stiff, eyes squinty; he looks like he'd rather not, thank you. 2) In this photo, Chico brings his head up and relaxes a little, causing Zizou to pull back further. Zizou is also reacting to my having come closer with the camera. Zizou is the more uncomfortable of the two. 3) Now that I am no longer in Zizou's face, he relaxes. Chico too but not yet completely. His hind leg is now tucked in and he puts his attention fully on Zizou. Both dogs are feeling more safe and secure. This is the first time Chico and Zizou have shared a blanket. Given time and opportunity, they will lie together comfortably in brotherhood. “Good on your bed. Good boys.” _______________________________________________________________________________________
HIGH MAINTENANCE I’ve worked with some high maintenance dogs in my life. For some owners, the dogs seem scary, troublesome and untrustworthy; quick to assert, furtive of action and not likely to stick around. They can be pretty difficult. Of the difficult dogs I’ve worked with, they’ve come in all shapes and sizes, ranging in personality from ‘velcro dog’, the dog who is constantly jumping on you, seeking attention, to ‘m.i.a. dog’, the dog who, once given his freedom, is gone from view. There have been dogs that lunge, dogs that cringe, dogs that growl and snarl, steal and slink. The reason generally comes down to three causes*: The dog is not exercised properly, the dog is not socialized properly and the owner is not providing proper leadership, resulting in extreme boredom and frustration for the dog. This is not to say the owner does not mean well. I’ve never met anyone that meant to cause harm to their dog. Some people are just unaware how much their actions or lack thereof are responsible for the problems they’re experiencing. Taking into account your dog’s breed and body size, be sure to create a schedule that gets him out for daily walks that fulfill his needs. Make life fun for your dog; provide doggy friends. Choose dog friends that are trained so that your dog can learn good manners by example. Use the collar and leash, kennel and baby gate as tools of communication, not punishment. Train every day. But mostly, get your dog out there. If you feel at a loss, if you feel you have a difficult dog, ask for help and keep asking until you find the right help. There is always an answer*. You and your dog will both be glad you did. *Inappropriate behaviors can be health-related. See your veterinarian if necessary. _______________________________________________________________________________
You, Me and My Dog Here are a couple of things to think about when you see someone with their dog: Unless you are close to them, whether in actual proximity or personally, it would be helpful if you did not interact with the dog. Let's picture a meeting between the Queen of England and President Barack Obama. It's an official gathering with their families so grandparents, children and grandchildren are in attendance. When it is time for first greet, President Obama's girls would not break rank and run over to say hello to the Princes William and Harry. They would wait their turn. The Queen and President would greet first. Let's picture a meeting from days gone by between a tribe of Indians and an approaching army troop. The army bugler would not ride forth to say hello to a tribe member riding a painted pony that had caught the bugler's eye. The Captain of the army would ride forward and greet the Indian chief. Dogs, like humans, are pack animals and have a very distinctive pecking order. One of them is in charge, and only that one is in charge. The one in charge is the one that leads the way and also is the one who, by authority and respect to position, is the one who is communicated to first. If two wild dog packs crossed paths, the alphas would step forward and engage, the other pack members would respond accordingly. When you see someone with their dog and you communicate to the dog, ignoring the human, you undermine the human's authority and inadvertently elevate the dog's status. You make life difficult for the human. Story #1) I was working with a dog that easily weighs 90 pounds. We were in his neighborhood, on leash, practicing the heel. A woman at the far end of the block saw him and started calling out to him, yelling "Yoo-hoo! Come say hello!", all the while patting her thighs, encouraging him to run down the sidewalk. Keeping the dog under control became very difficult. As the woman approached she asked if it would be okay to say hello to the dog. I said yes, by all means. But in the future, please come within my range and ask me first before you speak to the dog. He is on leash. When you call out to him like that, you immediately create a huge strain on me physically. Further, he is on leash in a public area, he needs to behave and stay safe. He cannot go running down the street. You need to recognize the difficulties and dangers you create for him and me by calling out to him. Then, because she had over-stimulated him with all her yoo-hooing and was now giving her attention to me instead, he body-slammed her and almost knocked her over in his attempt to regain his status in her eyes. "Oomph! He is heavy!" she said. "He is very strong! I'm sorry, I didn't even think about that when I called out to him." Story #2) I was walking a dog off-leash at a dog park. The dog has a nose for treats and identified an oncoming person as a cookie supply. "He knows I have cookies" she said. As he nosed her and pressed ever closer, she started patting him. This is a reward for dogs. Patting him when he is acting inappropriately only encourages him to continue which he did and with increasing determination. I called for him to come away, but she continued to pat him, ignoring my commands to him. He pushed her to her soft center, breaking her down and she said, "Perhaps I should give him some cookies." "NO!" I said, admittedly annoyed so not in the friendliest of manners. One of my pet peeves are people who tune out the owners of dogs. I had very clearly been giving commands, she couldn't have cared less. "My dog is not to receive food from strangers, it teaches him to beg." She was offended by my tone and disappointed she could not further bond with my dog. She gave the classic "Humph!" and turned away. I'm not thrilled about ticking people off but I definitely do not want my dog to accept food from strangers. Not only does it teach him to beg but it also increases the possibility of the dog being stolen or poisoned. But to the point of this article, it undermines my leadership and teaches the dog to ignore me. Respect dog owners when you cross paths. If there is going to be interaction, say hello to the human first and keep your attention to the dog to a minimum. Do not speak to the dog and pat if it is going to result in the dog's attention and behavior deteriorating. If you don't know them personally, keep walking, saying hello as you pass. Do not stop to engage with the dog unless indications are such that the other person is also willing to stop. And a note to dog owners: Just because another person has a dog doesn't necessarily mean they wish to engage. Some people are dog people but not so much people people. Some people are on a schedule and don't have time to dilly-dally. Some people have other things on their mind and would prefer to just walk quietly with their dog. As a dog owner, you need to learn your dog's body language in order to anticipate behaviors and actions. Do the same with humans. When approaching another dog owner, is the person looking at you or not? Are they walking on the other side of the path, staying away from you? The way they hold their bodies, their breath, their dog's leash, these will all be indications of their willingness to interact. One final note: If your dog is off-leash and the approaching person has their dog on-leash, do not allow your dog to go running over to say hello. The person and dog on-leash are immediately put at a physical disadvantage and your encroaching dog can cause a multiple of problems. Respect them and keep your dog at your side, under control. If you know your dog cannot mind his manners, put him on leash, hold him by the collar or change your direction, away from the oncoming person. Know your dog and respect the rights of others. ______________________________________________________________________________
Up, Up and Away One day when out for a group walk; I suggested to my clients that they encourage their dogs to jump up and sit on benches, boulders and the like. One client hesitated, said he was more interested in training his dog to not jump on things, like the couch, although he acknowledged that the dog only got on the couch if he wasn't around but others were. And I said: You're correct; we don't want dogs learning to jump up on inappropriate things. But as you said, it's not really that your dog doesn't understand the rules of the couch. If anything, he understands all too well. It's not about being on the couch, it's about being on the couch when others are around. It's not about the couch but what the couch represents. And that's a different matter. We do want them to "Up-up" because we tell them to. "Up-up" is merely another command used to teach dogs to pay attention to us and learn. "Up-up" works because we're inviting dogs to interact in manners that interest them. "Here, get up on this log, let's sit side by side and watch the world go by." You can best get a dog's attention using invitation and interaction in a manner that is fun and harbors a sense of adventure. Once a dog makes the connection, "Ohhh!", once a dog understands that you are teaching him things, the dog will accept you as Alpha, watch you for direction and do just about anything you ask. Voila, the trained dog. Commands are tools used to break into the dog's cognizance of us. That's the true purpose of training; to enable communication. From a health and developmental standpoint, dogs can benefit from the activity of jumping up and down. The physical and mental exercise of getting up, sitting on, and getting off of uneven, differing surfaces helps with balance, provides a tactile experience and requires the dog to think. Also, dogs come to recognize daily commands in a fuller, broader implication. "Off". This command retains its meaning whether at home, at the beach, in the car, wherever. He's being told when to "Up-up" and when to "Off". His every step is being directed, he is expected to comply, and he receives warm, loving praise for a job well done; calm patience when he's making mistakes. "Up-up." "Good up-up, good boy." "Sit/stay". (beat...........beat........beat - practice increasing lengths of time*) "Good sit/stay, good boy." "Off." "Good off, good boy." "This way." *An exercise that I recommend is practicing activities such as jumping jacks while having the dog remain in a sit/stay. A well-trained dog would be able to ignore the over-stimulated energy from people suddenly jumping up and down. Can you imagine what it must be like from the dog's point of view? What an unnatural body movement, similar to someone having a seizure. When I first owned Chico, he would try to lie on me and pin me to the floor if I attempted floor exercises. He became quite distressed and would nervously lick my face. For this I calmly but consistently requested he remain on his bed. In the beginning I kept my exercising to a minimum, gradually increasing the activity, giving Chico a chance to become accustomed to it. Use your basic commands coupled with clear hand gestures to communicate with your dog. Remember, you need those hand signals when you’re distance training. Be consistent, stay calm, push gently and steadily toward new accomplishments. Never ask for more than the dog can handle, praise what you do get, be very supportive. Can your dog sit/stay for a minute? That’s good. Can your dog sit/stay for a minute while you walk around him in a circle? Very good! How about a minute while you walk around the dog full circle, leave the room and come back, only to put a prized item on the floor five feet away from the dog. Is the dog still in a sit/stay? Excellent! Steadily work at the three D’s throughout the dog’s life: Distance, Duration and Distraction. Use a consistent training technique; practice known exercises in new environments, this will help promote the idea that although surroundings may change, the dog’s relationship and expected interaction with you remains the same. Train, train, train. Praise, praise, praise. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Take a Shot Finally! The photo I promised so many months ago (Where's my camera when I need it?). Chico, the dog, who, when I first adopted him, couldn't see a cat without losing his mind, shows that he can now sit and behave when in close proximity. And the cat, Ninja, shows his trust (and his opinion!) by turning his back to Chico and walking toward me.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Hot! Hot! Hot! Are you experiencing a heat wave? Is your dog clearly uncomfortable in the heat? Here's an excellent tip that works like a charm. Lightly dampen a towel and put it in the freezer. You could use a plant mister to get a nice overall dampening without making the towel truly wet. Whenever your dog is hot, stretch the towel out over the dog's body. The cold towel cools the air around the dog as well as cooling the dog himself and in no time you have a comfortable, relaxed dog. And don't forget to freeze a towel for yourself! Enjoy!
Chico gets a towel. Within two minutes he's feeling better. Within five minutes it's "Oh. yeah..........." __________________________________________________________________________________________ BTW Re: the story "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". If we were to use the argument between the two dogs as an opportunity for a training session, the lab would not have been removed from the room. Instead, both dogs would have been kept in the room, in a down position and instructed to leave well enough alone. They needed the chance to calm down and accept each other's presence. I ran into the owner and dog at a later date when I was walking in an off-leash dog park. The dog immediately assumed it's dominant posturing behavior and again, the owner's response was to remove the dog. I said no, stay and walk with us, give the dogs a chance. Sure enough, within minutes, everything was fine and the dogs walked together without incident. If you have a problem with your dog, face it, figure it out and make it better. It almost always boils down to miscommunication and that's a pretty easy thing to fix. Just takes practice. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ A Different Kind of Wallflower It is remarkable to me that a year has gone by since I began my website. When I first started I was writing every day, wanting my readers to have something to read, something to look forward to. At the same time I was busy training and running other facets of my life. My days were full and my resolve to write regularly gradually slipped away from me; stories started now sit unfinished on my desktop. At mid-November I closed my training practices for the remainder of the year thinking it would give me opportunity to tie up loose ends. Didn’t matter. The phone continues to ring and puppies can’t wait so I’m still training. I wanted to get stuff done but had to admit I had hit a wall and was stalling. I devised a method to spur me along. On a sheet of paper I titled projects/chores currently in progress and jotted down a completion date for each project. This paper will hang on my wall, a chart of inspiration, a daily reminder/encouragement to do something or a source of a reward for a job done with the crossing off of an entry. Of nine entries, one is already crossed off and another will go by day’s end (this post!). Some are completion-dated for spring of 2010. As my mind busied itself with the organization of this latest project to oversee all projects I got to thinking about my dog Chico. When I adopted him four years ago it was necessary to train him from square one. As well as learning to be responsive to commands he had to overcome separation anxiety and aggression. It was a grueling process. Initially helped with the aid of anxiety medication, Chico was weaned and clean after six months. What filled his days during that time was a consistent presentation of his new world, sometimes in formal training settings, sometimes using playtime to encourage good behavior. He experienced new surroundings, new social contacts, all the while being guided by me, his every step accepted or redirected. The first corner that Chico and I turned together involved his medication. I was about to break his final anxiety pill into four quarter servings when Chico came and gazed steadily at me. He always does this when he wants me to understand something about him. Just stands there and burns holes through me with his eyes. And this communiqué was “I don’t need the pills anymore and I don’t want the pills anymore. I’m okay, I’m ready to learn.” So the final pill remains as a memento, Chico has been medication-free since that day. An area I have concentrated on was teaching Chico how to play with toys and dogs, one-on-one and in a group. I used simple techniques to stretch and open his mind. The more he ‘survived’ these outside-the-box moments, the more he trusted and looked to me to show him new things. This summer we successfully conquered swimming. Four years ago he wouldn’t touch water at all, this summer he willingly walked into the Fraser River and let go of terra firma so he could swim out to me. I couldn’t have been more proud. So there I was today, shifting paradigms, when my little voice said, “What about Chico? What plans have you for him this year?” Because of course he’s always wanting to learn new things, it’s only fair that my projects include new horizons for him too. And that’s when I realized that like my unfinished writings I had also hit a wall with Chico’s training. Yes, his training is consistent and daily but lately not so new. He worked as hard as I did this year. (He makes an excellent trainer’s assistant!) He deserves to continue having his world expanded. So, what goal for Chico? He is now able to be home alone for hours at a time but separation is still hard for him. If we are anywhere else, some of Chico’s anxious behaviors occasionally present, most notably excessive licking or, if in the car, barking. So I’ve decided to further tackle his separation anxiety issues, help him reach new strengths and capabilities. I’ll be using the assistance of friends and familiar surroundings, patience and praise. So there went another project up on the wall, nine becoming ten. And suddenly, instead of feeling like I was hitting a wall, my wall came to life with promise, each goal a budding flower of possibility. I could see my hard work coming to fruition. Helping Chico further means that he and I can travel further a-field, our world can expand together. That's my kind of wallflower! ___________________________________________________________________________________________
info@auntiealsdogtrainingservices.com If you have any questions, please feel free to write. I look forward to hearing from you. Alix |
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