The One And Only Dog Trainers Bible

An untrained pooch can feel a lot more like your worst enemy, although dogs may be regarded as mans closest friend. In case your dog isnt trained, neither of you will certainly be happy, and its vital that you take the time to train your furry friend properly.Here are a few puppy training ideas to help get you started.

When you find yourself training your dog or puppy that might be living indoors a very important thing to perform will be the crate training. The dogs first impressions of your crate are the most important. Try putting some dog treats around the crate and leading in it so that they can walk around and inside the crate. Make certain you are upbeat and positive so they know its a good thing.

Make use of your pets name whenever you want to have his attention. Try to do this at the very least 10 times each day, and not call the family pet to you personally by name to punish him. This will help you to gain better power over your dog and create a strong relationship.

It is very important go on a leadership role while training your pet. This does not mean you need to make an attempt to force your animal to bend to the will. Acting like a teacher and showing him what you wish him to do by rewarding his actions will help your pet succeed.

Consider hiring someone to help you train your pet. Just like playing a sports activity, pet training is really a skill that takes time and energy to develop. People have their own personal style, and it can be that how you will are interacting with your furry friend will not be quite working. Another person can help you find out how to tweak your training sessions so they are a much better fit for your so you pet.

When working on teaching your dog a command, keep training sessions short. It is much better to exercise your dog for 5 minutes, 3 times every day, than all-in-one 15 minute session. This may keep your dog focused. End the session, before your dog gets bored. This will keep him interested and wanting more.

You dont want to make your exercise sessions go on for days on end. At first do not talk about quarter-hour. For dogs who happen to be accustomed to training, you dont would like to look at about twenty or so minutes for basic training. When you notice your pet starting to get bored, stop the session for a day. In the event you try and push it. youll arrive at get irritated and things will go down hill. Its preferable to quite while youre ahead.

Associate hand gestures with individual commands to assist your pet remember what you can do. Even though the command words themselves might be enough of an idea to tell the canine what you can do - using a visual cue - supplies a method for your dog to not forget easier the best way to perform.

Never use human shampoo on the dog. While it can be tempting to have your pet smelling like your favorite shampoo, most hair products for humans are excessively harsh for a dogs sensitive skin. If you are in the pinch and should utilize a human shampoo, use one formulated being gentle enough to get a baby.

Dogs similar to people all their very own own personality. Some dogs can simply be harder to exercise than the others for reasons unknown. When someone features a dog like this that is not replying to training or otherwise acting difficult sometimes the best choice would be to seek an expert dog trainer for help and knowledge.

Allowing everyone in the family to tell your dog different things will completely defeat the goal of training him. Have got a family meeting or keep a long list of training your dog rules about the refrigerator to remind everybody that connect to the animal to be consistent with punishments, rewards and commands. Otherwise your dog are usually in a continuing state of confusion and each and every relative is going to be completely frustrated.

When you are training your pet on the certain behavior, search for a quiet spot to train him. Dogs can be simply distracted by everything around them. So, so as to keep your dogs attention around the task, perform initial learning a quiet room. Your pet dog will learn quicker this way.

Stay consistent when you are trying to train your pet. Use certain commands with the dog, and be sure that all of your current members of the family know and make use of them. Always reward an effective behavior and not a bad behavior. Once the people across the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

Its vital that you understand any signals that your particular dog has got to make use of the restroom. Many dogs have certain behavior patterns that express a will need to go the lavatory. When you know their work before hand you will recognize that they need to go outside. Understand the dogs routines and habits to produce this process easier.

The results tend to be more than worth every penny, though training a pet dog might take lots of effort and time. The guidelines outlined in this article should help simplify the training process, and will assist you to see some results straight away. When others view your well-behaved dog, theyll be asking for you to pass the recommendation on the way.

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Halloween Cometh! And Kikopup is working on a new video

We are shooting Kiko, Splash, Tug and Trisch while they act in "Halloween 3" today. Im really excited to start getting it edited!

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The good and the bad an update

So many things, so little blogging. I know I have been lax about blogging. It is what it is I suppose. I am better at keeping my FB page updated if you want real time info for the record. This cutie is Dora. She just finished her stint on the K-9 Corrections program and headed to her new home today. They are a very lucky family. She is very smart and was a lot of fun to work with. Cute no?

The tug was a donation from the Loyal Biscuit Tug ME Toy Co. Tug is one of my Jacks favorite games and one that can really help build a relationship with a dog. Check out this great article on playing tug with your dog: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_9/features/Fun-Games-To-Play-With-Your-Dog_16059-1.html?s=FB12412

I am taking a bit of a hiatus from K-9 Corrections until spring. I need some time to recharge my batteries and figured this was a good time of year to do it. I have never been a fan of driving in the snow. Plus they are going through some changes at the facility so this will give them time to settle in to their own new routine.

On a sad note the french mastiff I told you about before that got adopted passed away unexpectedly. He had been having some behavior episodes that wasnt like him so we think perhaps he had something neurological happen. He was found curled up in his bed like he was asleep in the morning so we believe it wasnt painful. I am just grateful he had the opportunity to have a great home for awhile first. R.I.P sweet Brutus.

Zola is still doing ok. She has had a few mornings of not eating her breakfast. I think it might be because eating takes a long time for her now. Some days I have to puree her food. Her mouth only opens about 3/4 to 1/2 an inch. She is still very happy and is as spastic as always. Even the days she hasnt eaten well she still loves her stuffed Kong and chewing on her antler. She gets medications 4 times a day (for her liver shunt) and is still good about taking them all too. (luckily for me)

Nom, Nom, Nom.

It is an odd thing to live with a dog you know has a short time left. In some ways it is good that you know it is coming. In theory it gives you time to prepare and you live in the moment. In other ways it sucks. I try to focus on the fact she didnt have much time left when we took her in and yet she surpassed that time. We have had her over a year when we expected to have her for only a few weeks or months. Her second birthday is in February. My fingers are crossed. We are getting a new digital x-ray machine at work soon so I am hoping to take her in to get a better look at what is going on. Maybe we can also try stretching her jaw while she is under for the x-rays. We shall see. I dont want to do anything that will bother her or put her at risk either.

Regardless what happens I am happy I took her in. She is the personification of joy. She has no idea what the future holds and she is happy and having fun. That is all that really matters. Ignorance is bliss.We should all be so lucky if you think about it. Live in the moment and have fun while you can.

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Animal Rescue Groups Great Options for Gifts and Recognition

Whether it be a holiday celebration that unites the entire planet, or one in which we celebrate an individual person gifts are something we think about year long. Whats another option for giving when youve run out of ideas, or you just want to do something different? How about donating to a special non-profit group?

For my complimentary webinars I ask attendees if they want to give back in some way that a donation to one of the above charities,or one of their own choice, is always welcomed and appreciated. Similar to paying it forward.

Some of mine and Ponchos personal favorites for dogs and other non-human animals are:

1. The Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) This is Venturas local non-profit dog rescue group.
2. Dog Adoption and Welfare Group (D.A.W.G.) A non-profit dog rescue in Santa Barbara (I see them at some of my running events - they have great teams!)
3. Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. What an awesome group!
4. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
5. The Humane of the United States

For human charities both my husband and I support the American Cancer Society. We both lost parents to cancer and like to support those who have supported us.

Thanks to all who spend the time thinking of others, and giving back in some way or another.

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Cool new stuff and some updates

Check out the awesome new bed I picked up at the Loyal Biscuit for Jenny.

It is actually a Molly Mutt dog duvet. You buy the cover and stuff it with whatever you have lying around, old clothes ripped blankets, whatever works for you. Then zip it up and Ta Da! A new bed.

I love it.

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On another note Jennys skin is in a holding pattern. We are using some homeopathic remedies to keep the itching at bay. (Topically: colloidal oatmeal rinses, and a lavender and olive oil rub) We are still working on the right blend of her other remedy. I started a blog of her skin photos to make it easier for me to remember what we are doing each day and to keep more accurate track of her progress. My memory isnt always the best so this works well. It is also helpful for her homeopathic vet to be able to see what is happening with her. Anyone interested can check it out here, Jennys Skin Blog.
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Ive also started the trainers discussion group on facebook I mentioned before. It is called The Positive K9 Network. It is open for all dog trainers who are interested in learning more about positive training methods, even those who are currently using traditional training methods. I felt there was a gap for people looking to crossover into positive training and I wanted to do something to fill that gap. Yes it is a group to promote positive methods, but it is also a group to help educate trainers without judgement. We all started somewhere and we always have more to learn. The groups motto is "Evolution through Education". It is open to professional trainers and dog owners who compete in dog sports/obedience. If you are an average owner with questions about basic training or behavior this isnt the group for you. (but keep looking because there are groups for that out there) To join simply look us up and put in a request. My goal is for the group to be a resource for all trainers looking to improve their training skills (myself included!) and to help interested traditional trainers cross over out of force training methods. So far we have a great group of people in the team. Fingers crossed for our continued success.

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Natural Dog Dog Fancy Flip Issue Splash and Emily

One of Splashs prizes for winning Canine Runway finally came about! She was to be on the cover of Dog Fancy, but I think cause she is not part of the American Kennel Club or for whatever reason, they decided to have her on the back cover. So I am very grateful for Splash and I being on the Flip Side of Dog Fancy- Natural Dog... but being a photographer myself, I cant believe they did the biggest error that even casual photographers avoid-  making your subjects stare directly into the sun...  I am so picky! I am a control freak!  I actually sent them pics that I thought would be good for the cover (just of Splash of course!).

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Going forward and more about saying goodbye sort of

As most everyone knows, I have moved to our new home in lovely Manteno, Illinois:

Here, surrounded by family, nature, and my many animal friends, I am working hard to establish the latest aspect of my long career, training service dogs for wounded United States Marines through the Semper Fi Fund.

Before this, since I was 15 years old, I have focused my efforts on teaching human family members to better understand and communicate with their companion dogs. I spent the last 18 years in Lemont, Illinois, where I enthusiastically raised my children, enjoyed my life, and trained many dogs and their people, to the irritation of my neighbors, who grudgingly tolerated me running my business from my home.

Now, we have accepted an offer on that home, and will be closing the doors on that chapter of our lives in mid to late spring, 2015 (Ill be occupying the house and will continue to offer some classes and lessons there until that time).

In keeping with all of these changes, I want to let you know about the training services I will (and will no longer) be offering to my existing and new clients, going forward.

First, the "no longer", and this is where saying goodbye comes into play; as of this past Sunday, I have ended my long-standing "501" class, which has been meeting on Sunday mornings at 9:30 for many years. We had lots of great discussions specific to matters pertaining to both canine and human behavior, and it was loads of fun. All of the classmates were good friends, and I am sorry to say goodbye.

That being said, anyone who wants to evolve and transition forward with me is invited to participate in the programs I am adding and/ or continuing to offer. These include:

• Spring/ Summer/Fall field trips in the Lemont/ Downers Grove area. These will be enrolled classes, rather than drop-in, with preregistration required, and will be offered on Sundays at 9:30, weather permitting. They can be signed up for one at a time, rather than committing to a series of lessons, and Ill create an online enrollment form on my website.

• Half-day training and play workshops, offered in two blocks (morning and afternoon) on Saturdays, weather permitting, at my new place. Again, preregistration, up until an hour before class, will be required and available online. These will replace current 201 and play classes.

• 101 level group training, taught in a concentrated, three-lesson curriculum, meeting every other week over a five week period, in Manteno. 

• 101 level group training, taught in a concentrated two-lesson seminar curriculum, meeting every other week over a three week period.

         (Both 101 classes can be repeated at no charge, and crossover attendance between either                       curriculum is permitted.)

• Topic-specific clinics, including: sniffer dog, canine disc, agility, musical freestyle, herding, carting, and competitive obedience.

Going forward, Monica will continue to offer in-home training, and also in-home care and training for people who prefer not to board their dogs.

I look forward to an exciting, fun future with you and your dogs!

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Bringing clarity to clickers and positive reinforcement

You hear the words "Clicker training", "Clickers", "Positive Reinforcement" etc... but whats it all mean? Let me try to help clarify some points:

1. Using a "Clicker" doesnt mean a person doesnt use "punishment" (hopefully not at the same time)... 
2. Positive Reinforcement doesnt mean a person doesnt use punishment.
3. Positive reinforcement doesnt mean a person doesnt use physical force to get what they want! 
4. Using "punishment" doesnt mean a person uses physical force or inhumane methods to teach. 
5. There are two types of "punishment":

• "Negative Punishment": Taking the good thing away
• "Positive Punishment": adding something the animal wants to avoid - a smack, shock, choke, prong in the neck, citronella spray, loud noise, being pinned, etc...

Why do I bring this up? A couple of reasons. There are some trainers out there that say theyre somewhere between "A clicker trainer" and a famous trainer who uses physical force, flooding, fear tactics, and downright "old fashioned" training methods. (Sorry, name withheld to protect privacy and CMA)...

I wanted to say to this person: "What does being a clicker trainer mean to you?" It certainly isnt exclusive to causing no harm to an animal - its just another tool in your trainers toolbox, as it is mine. It "marks" the behavior you wanted your dog (or any animal) to perform...not much more. 

I use a clicker as one of my training tools. I also use "punishment". As a matter of fact I spoke about it today in my Manners Class at the Inquisitive Canine studio. However, the type of punishment I use and teach has to do with "reward removal" -  not hitting, beating, shocking, spraying, coercing, forcing, or bullying! 

No animal learns that way without resulting in some nasty (usually "emotional") side-effects. Do animals learn through beating and force techniques? Sure they do - or should I say, "we" do... But what else are they "learning" besides what the owner/parent wants? - which is usually not the first or main thing they learn... 

My final example: I was coming home from a run, heading in the opposite direction of a man and his dog. Im sure I looked "weird" to the dog...hat, sunglasses, water bottle belt, running right towards it. This can be perceived by dogs as "threatening", right? Something weird running at it... So the dog did the most logical thing it could do in its little canine brain - it started barking at me - I didnt blame it at all. Unfortunately the owner did - and proceeded to smack it repeatedly on the head! The dog looked at me, barked, got smacked and yelled at. I cringed! I think I yelped myself! Then screamed at him to please not hit the dog!!! Why is he hitting him! it doesnt teach him what you want! 

I know, that can be pretty punishing to someone - being yelled at it public. As for "positive punishment" towards humans - of course Im against it (unless its self defense) - However, I did have a secret desire to smack the owner and take the dog... Hopefully they will end up in one of my classes - either at the studio or Ventura College, so I can supply an education in positive reinforcement, learning by both association and consequence, proper ways to get rid of unwanted behaviors, and clickers (or not). 

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Im back! and a K 9 Corrections update

I went with my family on a little vacation. The photo may give away where. I big shout out to Perry Greene Kennel  and Kendra Hubbard who took care of all my dogs while I was away. Jack and Jenny go to the kennel and Zola went to stay with Kendra, her former foster mom since she needs extra care with all of her medications. It is much easier to relax when you know your dogs are being well taken care of.
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The two new dogs on the K-9 Corrections program did fine during the hiatus. Since they are learning the basics and to be around people not much changed in their routine with me gone for a couple sessions. (and I had people checking in on them) Dixie is still very shy. We are trying a thundershirt but she still has a ways to go in learning how to relax. She does seem to really like other dogs and prefers the company of women given the choice. Luckily her handlers are both very patient with her.

Hatfield is much more social with people. (we have been calling him Buddy) He is also a bit oral and likes to grab clothing in his mouth to invite you to play with him. I wish I had a better photo. If I had to guess I think that he is a cattle dog/chow mix based on his body shape. They are also siblings. His tongue is all black while hers just has some black spotting. She has the red coloring of a chow but is taller than him.

I am always amazed at how different siblings can be from one another. Both in behavior and in looks. The funny part is that Dixie was picked because she seemed overly attached to her brother. Once they settled in we saw the complete opposite. He wants to play and be with her more than she wants to be with him. Interesting. He also seems to love other dogs. I have taken my own dogs over and they were both very socially appropriate in their body language with each dog. (I took them separately of course.)
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They have a few more weeks to go before they are ready for a new home. It took them awhile to settle in and get comfortable to learn new things. Some dogs take longer than others to acclimate.  You can read more updates about them, and learn more about the program, on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/K9Corrections Anyone interested in the dogs can apply to adopt them at The Humane Society Of Knox County.
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A reminder, I am more active on my facebook page than here these days. So if you want to keep current on all my "doings" make sure to like my page. http://www.facebook.com/K9SolutionsDogTraining Thank you!!

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The adventures of Splasherpup and Keeks

The faces of innocence! 

Until....

Grrrrrrr!...............

Keeks- How DARE you compete with my cuteness!

Splasherpup- "Take THAT to your cuteness!"

Keeks- "Im warning you!"

Splasherpup- "Ok! Ok! You win!

"Phew! That was exhausting!"

Kikopup- "Ha ha! I have this pup wrapped around my little paw!"

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Making an escape proof x pen and toilet training ideas for crates

If you have a Precision exercise pen, doesnt matter what the hight, and you buy one of the size of 24 inches in hight, you can take apart the 24 inch pen- so that you have two segments consisting of 2 panels. Then if you zip tie the two segments together so they form a square of 4 segments, you can then zip tie this roof to the top of your original x-pen when it is in the shape of a square-  you will leave one segment free of zip ties to be used as a door.  Once you have completed zip-tying, remember to cut off the hanging bits.  You can use the fasteners that came with the x-pen to lock the door when you leave the dog alone.  

If your dog is not yet house trained you can try this method of preparing the base of the crate, this particular method is for a dog that doesnt like chewing and tugging.  For a dog that might eat the base, you could use a piece of linoleum.   AND for dogs that are strong and learn how to lift the crates up and squeeze uder, you can create a secure base in the same way you created the roof- making sure to line it so the dogs feet arent on the metal grate.  You can buy tops to the pens, but they are 50$ a cover, and the medium size 24 inch pen is 63$- which you can make 2 tops (or a top and a bottom from), so is a better deal.

If you need to leave your puppy in a safe environment but are unable to return to let the puppy out to use the bathroom, you can put a square of grass sod in one corner of the pen (preferably in front of the door, as that is were they will be most likely to go, bed to the back), or a pee pad in a litter box.  Grass is way better to use than pee pads as pee pads can actually train your dog to pee on anything that resembles a pee pad- for instance white t-shirts on the floor of your bed room, your pillows, your sheets,  your bed etc. 

Here you can see an example of what do with a little dog with extreme toilet issues. You can create a crate that only has a bed and a toilet.  You can also create a exercise pen that consists of one small bed and the rest of the pen- pee pads.  Then all you have to do is reduce the pads to just being in one of the corners of the crate. 

P.s. Crates are a training tool. The goal is to train your dog to be calm and loose in your house.  The more choices a dog has during the day, the less hyperactive and frantic the dog will be when you return home.  Crates are useful when you dont yet trust the dog to not destroy your house, or your dog is not house trained.  It is essential to teach your dog to love crates regardless of if they need one at home so that they are comfortable when they have to stay at the vet or in an emergency situation- like Hurricane Katrina. 

My dogs are both loose in the house now that they are trusted. 

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Catching up and Alpha Idiocy

Some of this is a catching up post. I havent been motivated to write much this last week. It was an emotionally draining week at work. Add to that my neighbor got a german shepherd puppy. Great, because yelling at his kids wasnt enough. Jenny is also having an itch fest flare up so Ive been bathing her trying to keep her comfortable. I have decided to try eliminating peanut butter to see if that may be part of her issue. I bought a bunch of wellness canned chicken meat to stuff their kongs with instead of the peanut butter. So you can see why I needed to use a happy photo today. (taken a few weeks ago hence her relatively clear skin)
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The other reason for this post is that I read an article last night in my Pug Talk magazine called: "Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position". Interestingly it had no author credit. It was a mistake to read this just before I went to bed. It made sleep difficult. Why are people still passing this outdated nonsense on? Our dogs are NOT trying to "dominate" us "because thats what dogs do". To many people are still looking at wolf behavior, some of it MISINTERPRETED wolf behavior, as a guide to how to treat our dogs. The article is to long to go through point by point but here are a few highlights.
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Dogs should never be allowed to walk in front of you because this tells them in their mind they are the leader of the pack. They should also never go through a door first. Um no, this only means you havent trained them to do otherwise. If they pull on leash and you follow them they learn that pulling works. If they go through the door without permission it is because you let them. They just want to get outside, not show you that they are your leader.
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You should not lay on the floor to watch television with the dog is around as a human should never put himself in an equal or lesser height position than the dog. OK Yes height can equal status to the dog but context is important. It is more common for height to be a problem between dogs in a social group IF any of them have status issues. Im pretty sure dogs dont see us as other dogs though so this one is silly if you dont have a true dominant aggressive dog. (which 95 plus % of dogs arent)
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During the time you are establishing your higher pack position, no hugs should be given to the dog by you, as a dominant dog may consider this a challenge of power. Wrong answer. Many dogs do not like to be hugged because it can make a dog feel trapped or our arm over the dog is body language they do not like and they can respond by trying to get away from it or growling a warning. Teach your kids to never hug dogs. Yes dogs in your own family can learn to relax when we do it and some dogs do love the attention. This is about the situation, the individual and is NOT a challenge of power play.
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If you establish eye contact with the dog, the dog must avert his gaze first. If the human averts his gaze first this reinforces the dogs higher power position. Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!! Wow am I glad this was in a pug magazine and not an akita one! Staring at a dog, in dog language, can be a threat or a challenge. This is a perfect example of why some dogs bite people in the face. Dogs are fight or flight and when you stare at them they are forced into a decision. If they cant get away they may lash out. Dogs do not stare at each other for this reason and why we need to teach them to have good eye contact for obedience work. If you stare at a dog that doesnt know you well you can create a lot of anxiety. NEVER do this exercise! It will freak out most dogs.
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This article goes on but you get the picture. Bad information abounds. Yes dogs are a social animal. Yes within their social group should be a clear leader so they arent confused. Good leaders (like parents) are ones who communicate clearly, set rules and boundaries, and discipline fairly. It isnt about preventing a hostile takeover. Are there dogs out there who care about status and try to exert it over people? The short answer is yes. However those dogs are few and far between. They are the exception and not the rule. For those dogs a Nothing in Life is Free program is usually recommended. (also known as NILF) This is a non-confrontational method that is basicly teaching a dog to "say please". They need to earn everything they get and this teaches them they have to listen to you to get anything they need or want. If you need more guidence on leadership in dogs check out Patricia McConnells booklet called How to be leader of the pack. Again more non-confrontational methods that are based in science, not assumptions, of dog behavior.
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To be fair to Pug Talk they have many other good articles including one on breeding vs rescue I will share some thoughts on here soon.
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For more information regarding the "Alpha Myth" in dogs check out my past posts here:

http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2008/07/debunking-dominance-myth-in-training.html

http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2010/11/alpha-rolling-in-wolves-and-dogs.html

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Puppy and Dog Problem Behaviors Whose PROBLEM is it

A friend and colleague writes: "I need pet experts to offer me their top tips on treating the common problems of cats and dogs at home for a chapter in a pet problems book being revised. Care to submit something?" Well shoot! Of course I do... Im always willing to offer up my opinion, especially if it can help others.

The following are some of the more common issues that come my way, regarding dog behavior:

• House-training: Dogs come with a pre-wired, instinctual set of elimination behaviors. Its up to us to teach them where and when to go in our human world. A few key things are:

1. Consistency! Teaching them to "go potty" in a multitude of areas can be confusing. Stick with one general place (outside) and reward them for it!
2. Timing! Reward them when they go it the desired place!
3. Refrain from punishment of any kind. This doesnt teach your dog what you want - it only teaches them to be afraid of you and to not eliminate in front of you. Or if its after the fact, then they dont put it together. You may end up punishing something completely unrelated - like coming to you.

• "My dog is afraid of ": Socialization is key. Whatever you want your dog doing as an adult, begin to get them used to it as a puppy - small, baby steps. New smells, sights, sounds, textures, and situations. This doesnt mean you should be taking them to places that could cause harm, but you can still get them used to, and exposed to "novel" things when theyre young.
• Note: Dogs learn the same way we learn. So for adult dogs, even if youve missed the prime socialization period (6 - 13 weeks), you can still teach them to love or hate almost anything. Pairing something they already love (or hate) with anything else, will teach (condition) them to love or hate the "anything" else. Think Pavlov.

• "My dog chews up/destroys anything and everything." Lets recap what dogs are: predators, omnivores, scavengers. They chew for a variety of reasons. Theyre also "individuals" in that they have their particulars about what they like to chew. Experiment with different "legal" chew items. Determine which one(s) your dog likes the best. Then, when s/he makes the right choice, reward extra for making that choice!

• "My dog barks all the time!" Okay, first off theyre dogs. Remember "Old MacDonald"? Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, just like we humans talk/yell/scream (dare I say whisper) for a variety of reasons... First determine "why" your dog is barking, then figure out what to do about it. Fear and separation anxiety is a completely different path of learning than play or attention seeking, as well as alert/predatory/play/territory barking. In a very tiny nutshell:

1. Fear-based: longer process to teach your dog that being alone is "fun", and that they can trust its going to be okay. Be boring coming and going, short absences working up to longer periods, exercise beforehand so theyre tired and want to rest, pet sitters, day care, play-dates, enrichment.
2. Boredom: Enrichment! Give them something to do! Exercise them so theyre tired.
3. Attention seeking: Ask them to do something else. Interactive games (enrichment). Reward when theyre quiet! Time-out if necessary.
4. Alert!: If there is a burglar on the premises you better thank them for doing their job! If its a friend visiting, or the delivery person, thank your dog for letting you know, then ask them for another behavior (instead of continuous barking). Reward for quiet, time-out for making the wrong choice.

I think one of the more important steps any dog guardian should take is learning what they can about dogs in general. Know your animal! What makes them dogs? Why do they do what they do? Understanding them better can help set yourself and the dog up for success, while avoiding those "problems" people complain about.

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The Private Life of Love and Death

                My dog, Princess Tiger Lily, a boxer, is presently fighting for her life. She is lying in my bed on a pile of towels, blankets, and layers of absorbent plastic-backed pads. Her head is on Dave’s pillow, and she is presently sleeping, breathing hard and fast, probably due to her high fever. She has cellulitis—a deep tissue infection, in her upper thigh. This has caused a number of eruptive lesions, from which vile, putrid drainage has been coursing. She is on two antibiotics, pain medication, and a stomach medication. She has been getting hot baths in order to soak her in wounds in Epsom salt-laden water, to help them drain. She has lost a lot of weight, and had none to spare in the first place. 

                I have spent the last three days literally tending to her around the clock, with Dave’s help. I carry her outdoors, and she is such a good girl, despite feeling awful, and cold, and weak—she eliminates outside. I then pick her up and carry her in for her soak, which helps offset the chill. We then do some disgusting postural draining, and then change all of her bedding and clean and dry her wounds. We give her water in bed, and then feed her a serving of boiled rice and ground beef. I wrap her wounds loosely, cover her with a blanket, pet, cuddle and encourage her, and tell her how sorry I am she is feeling so bad. I remind her she is a strong “working dog” breed, and she is brave and courageous. She is a boxer, a fighter—a 14 rounder. I remind her we have all sorts of things weve still not done together. I tell her I love her, and lay my head against hers. She looks at me with big, sad eyes. Sometimes she offers me her paw, and today she wagged her little stub (docking is evil!) of a tail. Tomorrow Lynn, the vet, is paying a house call to help clean and debride her wounds (gross.)  I am hopeful she may pull through this, but her history of health troubles and her challenges with maintaining her weight are concerning. Lily is a young-ish dog, and I hope we get more time together.

                This all reminds me of Nefers downhill decline, last year, and her eventual—though not untimely, considering she broke the record for Pharaoh hound life expectancy—death. Nefers death was not a highly publicized event outside of my immediate family. Ive been thinking about the stories I share—and those I do not share—with my students. This has come up in reaction to comments made just this week by a past, somewhat challenging, client of mine who is presently working with my daughter, as a house sitter/ dog trainer. Apparently while still attending my classes, this man asked me “how’s Nefer?” to which I purportedly replied “dead.” I did not elaborate, or share any emotion, or publicly perform my grief, and I guess this didn’t set well with him. He has mentioned my “coldness” and “lack of emotion” to my embarrassed daughter more than once, shaking his head with disgust that I could be “so insensitive and uncaring” regarding the loss of my pet.

                During this time of tending to Lily, Ive mulled a bit on this man’s opinion regarding my failure to share a proper performance of a very private grief, and it comes around to that very point. My grief is private, not a flag to wave, and the death of my dog was a huge and profoundly personal loss. It isnt for display, or for good advertising. I will say this: her death came tenderly, with her head in my arms, and she died at home, helped out of this world by my caring veterinarian friend, Lynn. Tomorrow Lynn will come again, to help me with another struggle, this time in efforts to save Lily’s life. I really hope I can share a joyful announcement, in a few days time, that Lily is on the healing side of her battle.

                As I am writing/ venting about all of this, I am wondering: will my writing about my desire to have my privacy respected, and to have the benefit of the doubt if I choose not to share deeply, make you hesitate to ask me how Lily is doing? I hope not;  if you happen to read this and then see me some time after, please do ask. I am not unwilling to share what is going on in my life, with my pets, to the level I am comfortable. If she survives, the grueling nature of our struggle will be worth talking about—probably way more than you want to hear--for having resolved happily. If, on the other hand, Lily does die—though I desperately hope she doesnt—and if I seem terse speaking of it, please understand the depth of my sadness is something I’ll again keep private. I appreciate empathy, care, and commiseration, and believe the sharing of personal stories regarding love, life, and even loss can be healing. However some things are very private, and some loss transcends simple explanation, in passing, to casually interested persons. Nefers life was bigger than this little story, as is Lilys. 

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Impulse Control and Dogs if dogs had any they wouldnt be dogs would they

Today was session number four of my dog training Manners Class at the inquisitive canine studio. Its one of my favorite to teach, but also one of the most intense and informative. Why? Because this session starts to bring all of the previously learned elements together, along with learning all about impulse control, and how to teach your dog to have a little!

We started with puppy push-ups, practicing the separation of verbal and visual cues (two separate languages you know), then loose leash walking part one exercises. This was a nice way for everyone - dogs and humans - to warm up their mechanical skills, and their brains. One we were all warmed up, it was time for teaching the technique of "reward removal", or, punishment!!! Yep, just because Im a positive reinforcement, non-coercion, and non-aversive dog trainer, doesnt mean I dont use punishment. Sure I do - but its the type that shouldnt cause the nasty side-effects the other old fashioned nasty methods do. 

Okay, so now it was time for the impulse control specific exercises:

• Greeting nicely
  
• Waiting at doors
• Taking treats gently

The first step of any new behavior: reward what you want. I had the humans practice their first visualization exercise: paint your Norman Rockwell picture - thats what you reward! For many it was:

• Sitting for greeting others (or four-on-the-floor) while others approach, dog gets up or lunges forward, dog doesnt get to say hello. 
• Butt on ground makes door open, dog gets up and door closes.
• Treat presented to dog, not dog snatching treat out of hand.

I saw many people practicing perfect skills! You can see Riley here in this photo - he learned very quickly if you sit, your own guardians give lots of treats, plus other humans say hello too. 

Jacob learned to take treats gently, and Esi figured out that sitting at the door made it open more quickly. 

As for the myth busting, we had some of that too. Not sure who came up with dogs wanting to be dominant or aggressive by going through doorways first - how silly is that? I believe its just theyre a lot more excited than we are about getting to the other side first. However, having them sit first, or at the very least waiting until you give them an "okay," is appropriate. 

Maybe we could learn a little something from our exuberant pooches. Life would be much more exciting if we humans were that happy about every little thing that happened in our daily lives...

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Stop talking and communicate!

I noticed something recently that I thought it might be useful to point out. Some people talk to much. Now this isnt exactly news. There are all kinds of people on the planet, some talk alot and some rarely speak at all. What I actually mean is that we talk to our dogs to much. Why is that a problem? Well let me tell you.
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Talking to a dog while they are learning needs to be done with clear communication in mind. Typically we teach them what we want, either by luring (using a treat to get the dog in a specific position) or operant conditioning, (clicker/verbal marker) and then we put a verbal cue of our choosing to it. However if we are always making noise, then how is our dog supposed to figure out which noise means something important? Dogs mainly communicate with each other with body language remember, so tuning all of our "noise" out is easy for them.
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Example: Handler and dog are working on loose leash walking. As the handler walks he is speaking to the dog saying "No dont pull on the leash, lets go over here Fido. Good, nope! Fido come on. Good. No I said lets go here. OK come on. Are you looking at the kitty?" What do you suppose the verbal cue is for this dog? At this point nothing. The dog has no idea what words WE want to be important. How could she? We have had the equivalent of verbal diarrhea. It is like when the grownups speak in the Charlie Brown cartoons. (whaa wha whaa) Can you pick out the important words from that? No because it all sounds the same.
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So what we need to do is use only the words we want the dog to respond to. Either we click (then treat) when the dog moves in the right direction with us, or we verbally praise the dog for moving with us the very moment the dog does it. "Yes!" (verbal marker/treat) "Good dog!" Thats it. No running commentary. The exception to this would be if a dog becomes afraid of something when on our walk. I might say "Oh its just a silly garbage can!" in a HAPPY tone of voice as we move away from the scary item. Tone of voice is important however and we dont continue talking aside from marking behavior we want (yes!/treat) or using our verbal cues. (lets go, sit, stay, down, etc.) We teach the dog what we want before we attach a verbal cue to the behavior.
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For simply walking along with a loose leash I use the verbal cue "Lets go". Come means come to me and sit, not come along with me. "Heel" means to walk in a specific spot with me, not to just walk along with a loose leash. It is important to have different verbal cues so we dont confuse the dog. This is one of the more challenging parts of dog training, training ourselves to have specific terms and words for different behaviors.
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When problem solving you need to ask yourself a few questions:
Do I have my dogs attention? If the dog doesnt know you are talking to him/her than the game is already over. This is why focus work is important.
Does my dog know what I am asking for? If they dont know how to sit then asking for it multiple times will not help you accomplish the task.
What is in it for them? Have we established a positive relationship with our dogs and paid them for the work they do? You wouldnt work at your job for free would you? So why should our dogs??
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Finding out what motivates your dog is very important to the equation. This is why many times I can get other peoples dogs to work for me when they are having difficulties. I have learned how to get good focus and I pay them for their work. I am also very clear in my communication so the dog isnt confused. To much talking is counter productive to our task. If you want a sit, say it once and then wait. Be sure to PAY them the moment they do what you ask. (more about using food, and other things as pay can be found in this post: http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2011/05/bribery-in-dog-training.html )
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So I hope that helps explain why how much you talk to your dog is important. They arent trying to ignore you or push your buttons. They just dont always know what it is that you want from them. Good luck and happy training!

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Playing detective and grasping at straws

I need to rename this blog: "Things that are wrong with my dogs". Seriously. Im adding current skin photos so I have them handy when I take Jenny to the specialist. My phone has internet now so I can pull up the blog if needed. (my camera takes better photos than my phone or I would just use that) Because with my luck her skin will be back to normal by the time we have our appointment. I found out a few things today that might also be helpful. Fingers crossed. The top photo is from today. The two below are from Sunday evening.

Slightly better than her last photos but not by much. She was also super itchy that day and left some bloody spots on her chest.

I decided to look up some things using the blog to backtrack. Jenny came to us in September of 2007. Her skin looked great when we got her and there was no itching at all. She had her first breakout 2 months later. It was mild in comparison but she went on antibiotics and Temeril-P. She was also itching in January of 2008. (I blogged about looking for a food that could help.) I wont bore you will all the details of everything I found, but looking back I saw that she had a good itch free few months in spring of 2009. So I asked the store I buy her food from what she was on at the time. It turns out she was eating HealthWise Lamb and Oatmeal formula for one meal and Primal Pheasant for the other. So tonight I picked up a bag of the HW to switch her over to. I hate feeling helpless so this is at least something to try. I find it interesting that she was doing well on a food with grains in it. But like I read on a friends website, all dogs are individuals and you need to find what works for your dog. Even if it flys in the face of popular opinion. (Or in this case my own beliefs!)

Ive also taken her off everything except the cipro and added Temeril-P again. (and some pro-biotics) I HAVE to get her comfortable. She is itching herself raw regardless of the antihistamines and other stuff I have tried. If anything she looks worse. Can you imagine having your whole body feel like a mosquito bite? It doesnt sound fun. (Nor is it fun to watch either.) I have also e-mailed her foster home and asked a few questions about her past and the food she was previously on. Yeah its a long shot but again it is doing something. It is aggravating to know she has had times that she is completely itch free and it has progressed to now being so awful.

I am also considering acupuncture and Reiki at this point. There is a vet nearby that does some acupuncture and I know a person who does the Reiki. I also came across some suggestions in the comments section of a post I havent tried yet either. (CoQ10 and Grapeseed extract - Thanks Amy.) So Ill see how the recent adjustments go once I taper her Temeril-P down. Wish us luck.

Jack had his follow up appointment today. He did great and didnt need to be sedated to be poked. Thankfully the abscess is draining well on its own. Yay for at least that bit of luck!

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Semper Fi Fund Service Dog Team In Training Patrick and Zeus!

Im so proud of these guys!

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Abby and Splash play date at the beach

Splash taught Abby to swim! Now Abby can swim fearlessly like a true retriever!  Abby taught Splash (not previously a fan) that tennis balls are pretty cool!

Abby is very photogenic! 

Dirty dirty dog... 

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CANINE RUNWAY First level Finalist AND runner up!

Splash! was picked as one of the two finalists in Canine Runway from San Diego.  The next level is in Los Angeles and finally Los Vegas!  Guess who was one of the two runners up? KIKO! 

Keep paws crossed for Splash!

Kiko sucks up to one of the judges after the prizes! 
My friends Pom Libby should have one if it was based mainly on Fashion (which it should have been according to the rules), as she is awesome at making dog leashes and harnesses... Not to mention how ADORABLE Libby is being only 2 pounds.

A fellow youtube clicker trainer and friend Nan Arthur filmed the event, check out the videos-

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