I have recently mentioned my resurgence into the dog obedience and trialing world.

The first time I trialed and showed, I was egged on by my client who challenged me and my dog to an “obedience dare” to see who could title their dog first.  I REALLY, REALLY didn’t want to, but I had help to get her ready for her competitions and she wanted company IN and around the show ring.

I never wanted to trial my dog or get titles, I never cared and was terrified of competition and getting up in front of people.  But the irony of the situation is that the trainer she left me for fashioned herself as a competition training aficionado.

I happily admit I took her up on her dare and not only did I title first, I beat her former trainer   But, for me its not about the competition it is about spending time not only training with my dog but also the short time spent in the ring together!

I intend to get as many titles on my little girl “Fury” as I can!  It is my challenge to myself!

And, my favorite obedience sport, you ask?

Rally Obedience!

Some of the Signs Used

I am proud to admit she got #1 blue ribbon her first time out of the gate with a score of 99 pts!  I let the leash get tight once!  Above is our first place run!

For those of you who aren’t familiar, let me educate you!

Rally Obedience was created by Charles Kramer.

Unlike regular obedience where you must wait for the judge to call out instructions you proceed around a course of designated stations with the dog in heel position.  The course consists of 10-20 signs (depending on the level of advancement) and the signs instruct the team as to what directive to complete.

And, distinct from other obedience sports are allowed and even encouraged to praise and talk to their dogs throughout the course!

THAT is my #1 reason for loving Rally!  Most obedience sports are very cold and absent in the relationship between the dog and the owner/handler.  I personally like to at least be able to praise my dog when he/she does something phenomenal and to keep him/her motivated and happy.

I understand that you should not be able to use training collars, issue corrections, or give treats but I emphatically admit that dogs deserve praise for a job well done!  And, in Rally you can praise, talk to and even clap for your dog when he does something right!

Since I don’t have a judge barking directions at me, I can also relax and stumble about the course on my own without having to worry about listening to someone else.  This allows me to block out everything else that is going on around me.

Fun had by All

And, IT’S FUN!

Even if you don’t compete…Rally obedience is just fun!  And the obedience behind it is functional!  I love the fact that by working on the simple commands on the signs like: Stop (dog should sit) Take one step halt (dog sits) Two steps halt (dog sits) Three steps halt (dog sits) and  Call Dog Front Finish Left halt (dog should come and sit in front then go to heel position and sit on the left side).

And, it’s FAST you are usually in the ring for less than 2-3 minutes!

This is a great sport to get started in with your dog!  It is my favorite way to start!

Look it up online.  Many organizations offer Rally Obedience AKC, APDT, UKC and several others!  You don’t even have to have a pure breed to get out there and have some fun!  You can find more information here.

If you are “on the fence” about competing go to a show and watch, it is so much fun!

A Word of Caution

To those of you who may end up being “die-hard” obedience competitors; be careful about getting use to lots of praise and using your hands and hand signals.  Even if though these are allowed in Rally you don’t want to get into too many bad habits that will be hard to drop when you eventually work your way up or onto another obedience sport!  Do as little and as quiet as possible!

I truly believe that this will strengthen the bond between you and your dog, even if you don’t want to compete, check out the signs and train like you are a competitor!

My Favorite Dog Obedience Sport is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Thank you to fortunate K9 for the picture

I do my very best to write for the masses.  I try to keep up on comments on my blog and the problems that plague dog owners around the world.

I write articles on basic commands like teaching your dog about the leash to finding your dog’s  motivator.  I also write intermediate articles for those looking for more of a challenge and advanced obedience.  We even talk about games and aggression.   Occasionally I even direct my articles to others in my field or those aspiring for such a career.

I even shoot short informative videos to show you how to train your own dog in your own time in the Dog Training Secrets Video Vault here www.dogtrainingvideovault.com

But I suppose I don’t hit all the questions that everyone needs answered.

However I get  A LOT of duplicate questions about the same behavior.

Utilize Our Resources!

Did you know I have almost 20 years experience working with animals?  I have worked with everything from police dogs, to service dogs from the disabled to large cats!  I have a glowing career I am quite proud of!

So, first I am here to encourage you to use our resources for yourself and the well being of your dog and to help those you know friends and family having questions.

• Read our blog!  There are articles posted twice weekly and these articles are also posted to Facebook and Twitter.
  

  Our Training is built on Play and Games to make it More Fun for you Both!

• When you click on the highlighted words in the body of the article it will take you to related articles!
• Search our blog.  If you have questions or problems or are suffering from a doggy behavior problem do a search in the search box in the upper left hand side of our blog.  You can search for anything from barking to nose games.  This is a great and free resource.
• We are constantly doing research to improve our techniques and keep up with the latest information in the field, which we often publish for you!
• We are honest and our training is simple, based on play, and always positive and fun!
• Join us on Facebook!  If you like our page at TheDogTrainingSecret.com it will automatically load not only the new training articles for each week, it will also post to your page interesting articles about dog’s health, dogs in the news and free dog offers!
• Share our posts to your wall so that your friends and family can get the free help that might help them improve their relationship with their dog and keep them from relinquishing ownership.  You never know when one article of hope can change lives!
• I also recommend that you join us in the Video Vault.  As with our dog training blog new videos are uploaded each week and can help you with everything from nail trims and just how to do them to leash training, barking and digging!  Watching a video can clear up any question on how-to and you can always go back and review!

The Obedience we All Aspire to!

So, here is my challenge to you.  Join us on Facebook and request an article or video to be shot reviewing a problem you and your dog are having that you don’t see already discussed and I will do my best to tackle your questions!

I write many articles and shoot many videos in advance that are waiting in the wings to be published so, please give me time and keep your eyes posted on your wall to look for the articles you have requested!

Go to Facebook, like our page, and bring on the work load!

Interactive Dog Training is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

I LOVE old Dogs!

Lately I have gotten a lot of questions as to when a dog is too old to learn something new; the answer NEVER!

Not only is your old dog capable of learning, it is crucial for his mind and body to continue to learn.

As our dogs get old, we fall into a rut.  We begin to exercise them less because they can’t keep up and their bodies are arthritic and creaky.  Instead of getting up early and getting ready for a walk, our dogs are happy sleeping in and wandering about the house.

Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Lore Haug says “A lot of old dogs get what I call, “shrinking world” syndrome. Their owners get into a rut with them; they start walking the dog less, they don’t train the dog or teach him tricks.  The dog doesn’t get as much stimulation and enrichment-maybe they stop taking the dog to the dog park-and there is a significant decline in mental and physical challenges.

Sometimes I think our old dogs get depressed and senile simply because we are not providing them with enough stimulation.

My oldest dog is almost 12, has meningitis and has seemed to age several years in the past 6 months. 

In August we went on our last big hike together.  We hiked 2 miles up a mountain with an elevation of 4524 and almost 3 miles straight up when his little body just

Swimming is Great for Joints

gave out.  For many months I had started hiking slower and slower with him, but this time he just couldn’t finish.

He stopped on the hiking trail, laid down lateral (on his side) and refused to get up.  I knew he wasn’t in distress, just old and tired and unable to continue so I sat with him as my husband and my other two dogs finished their hike.   We sat together for over an hour.  I knew if I had petered out he would have sat with me!

But, it was devastating for me, because I knew our days of big, long hikes were over.  I shed some tears with him that day as I rubbed his feet and we reminisced over old times.  In his younger years, he could clear a six foot fence with no problem!

It is my job now, to keep him stimulated!  He may not be able to hike straight up a mountain, but I can still teach him new tricks (yes he can still learn at 12) and I can spruce up some of his old tricks!

Whether you have a puppy or a geriatric dog, it is important to keep them stimulated.  Dogs, like people, need to use their brains in order to keep sharp.

Like puppies, an older dog may have a shorter attention span and take a little longer to learn a new command, but it is never too late for your dog to learn.

Last I heard, some of the agility organizations were going to lower the jumps for senior dogs so that they could continue to compete and do what they love without jarring their joint!

Senior dogs need to learn and get involved in mental stimulation!

Imagine an 80 year old person who never gets out, reads, or really has anything to do but sit or sleep all day.  Humans that are the most active physically and mentally age the best.  Dogs that are physically and mentally stimulated also age with dignity and grace.

Nose Games are Great Fun!

How You Can Help!

• Remember no dog is ever too old to learn!  If your dog’s learning seems a little slower, understand that his attention span may be a little slower.  Get a book on teaching your dog tricks and get started!
• Swimming is one of the best exercises for aging bodies and joints.  If your dog likes to swim, frequent the water and let your dog get some exercise.
• Even if your dog can’t walk very far; take him for a daily walk to stimulate his mind and keep his muscles stimulated.  Muscles atrophy if not used regularly, so help your dog stay as strong as possible for as long as possible.
• Use mentally stimulating toys.  I love putting my senior dog’s food in a Buster Cube and let him wiggle and wobble the toy around to get his food out at night.   This “play” is a lot more stimulating than eating from a sterile bowl.
• Old dogs also like to utilize their noses with games.  Senior dogs often lose some hearing, and their keen sight, but their noses are often still quite capable of finding hidden toys and treats.  So I play lots of nose games to keep them busy during the day read my articles about scent discrimination and more nose games by clicking on the word links.

It doesn’t matter how old your dog is 4 months, 1 year, 3 years, 8 years, or 15 years old he still needs exercise and mental stimulation!  The older he gets the better he gets (like a fine wine) and the more he needs your love and compassion to help him (his body and his mind) age gracefully!

Can Old Dogs Learn New Tricks? is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Is Your Dog Bored at Dinner?

So I’ve done it, I have gone and crossed over into the dark side; I entered a competition with my dog Fury the other day!

Now, you first need to understand ME to understand my thinking and why this is extraordinary and a problem for me.

I am clearly not normal.  I hate competition.  Hate may not be a strong enough word; I loathe competition!

I vividly remember being in kindergarten and running my first “real” race.  Apparently I was “super fast” for my age because I was going to cross the line first (this is not a trait that lasted for me) but I hesitated, slowed down and looked back for my friends.  There was a part of me that didn’t want to cross first.

That trait stuck.  Whenever I talk about competing I always share how much I loathe it.  Some of you must wonder; if I despise it so much WHY do I do it?  Because competition bonds me to my dog!

Even though I hated it and I still hate it some of the best times I had were spent training for competitions with my former dog “Mr. Snitch”.  Not necessarily competing, although I have some great memories of our competitions together as well, the training was spectacular time spent together.   We enjoyed every moment of it together because, of course, I worked him with positive reinforcement training and in drive.

I never cared whether he won the biggest blue ribbon, whether we barely passed or the few times we didn’t even qualify!

I wanted the same relationship with my 18 month old Dutch Shepherd.  I went through some major depression after my father died and then Mr. Snitch died of cancer and my Nix was then diagnosed with meningitis.  Fury, the little beast, was unintentionally put on the back burner.

Recently I have been spending an incredible amount of time working with her and shooting some videos and our bond has certainly strengthened.  And, a few weeks ago when I was at a client’s house working with his biting puppy, I recommended that he work his puppy for each of his meals.

Take Your Dog to Dinner...by Working on Obedience Together of Course!

A lot of times I hear people gasp when I recommend this, like working for his or her food is a despicable idea!  And, I tell my clients it’s like taking your kid to dinner and enjoying his or her company versus tossing his bowl on the table and making him eat alone.

Really how often do you “interact” with your dog while he is eating?  Most of the time the bowl barely touches the floor before the food is gobbled up and gone, ready to be filled yet again at another meal time.

If you work with your dog while you feed him his meal, you are actually interacting with him and that lessens the treats and fatty foods you are giving him while you train.

As long as you are using positive reinforcement, games, drive and fun this is a win-win situation whether you have a Lab puppy, a German Shepherd puppy or a Golden puppy!

I almost always recommend this type of training if you have a dog that is food aggressive, because this gives you all the control and makes your dog realize that food actually comes from YOU and so he should listen to you and respect you.

But I got to thinking…why not incorporate this into my already busy training regimen?  Now that we have our eye on the prize (or at least some basic goals together) I have been working with her “highness” several times per day.

We go outside and work 5-20 minutes a few times a day but I have also started putting her food in my pocket and having her do some basic stuff for it.  This isn’t as barbaric as it sounds and I guarantee if you were to ask her, her opinion she would much rather play games and interact with me than eat alone from a cold sterile bowl.

She has a great time working with me for her food, and sometimes, when the day is busy this helps me ensure we are getting at least 2 good training sessions in for the day.

You don’t have to make your dog work for every piece of kibble.  I often jackpot and give her a handful of food so that she is satiated!

How to Implement This Training Schedule

• Decide what you want to work on before starting!  Does your dog need help with his basic obedience?  Does he come when called?  Do you want to do more challenging advanced obedience?  Or would you like to teach him some tricks?
• I don’t care what you work even a multitude of the things above on as long as you are working and spending time together!
• This requires meal feeding, I don’t like free feeding dogs anyway!
• Measure the regular food you are giving your dog and put it into a bag, a tool belt or a fanny pack.
• Get your clicker
• Begin working on whatever skill you desire.
• Don’t just have your dog do ONE thing like laying down and waiting to be fed.  Interact with him and make it fun!
• Utilize lots of jackpots to keep it fun and keep your dog motivated.
  

  Work Together! You'll be Happy You Did!

• Calling your dog:  I back up and call my dogs to come; when they sit in front of me I feed them.   I may even dash into another room while calling my dogs to come, then having them sit in front.
• Have your dog find heel position.
• Work on sit and/or down stays.
• Teach your dog to shake.
• Or, take your dog outside and work on more advanced obedience.  I am working on out of motion down stays, so I toss some food down in the grass as I tell her to down.
• Most importantly HAVE FUN TOGETHER!

This is all about bonding with your dog and working on your obedience together.  Using their food simply give you a set time and an outlet and keeps your dog a bit slimmer than using treats!  You will see your bond deepen and your dog listen to you more readily just by implementing this simple plan.

So make a pledge to your dog to “go out to dinner” together if not once or twice a day at least 3 times a week!  And you will see his obedience and commitment shine!

Working for a Living in Dog Training is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

All Dogs are Motivated by Food

This is another one of those back to basics posts, but it is really crucial to understand!

In order to use positive reinforcement, you have to find your dog’s motivator or motivators.

You must motivate your dog to listen to you.

If you can’t motivate you are, sadly, left with force and coercion.

Motivation is a term that refers to a process that elicits, controls and sustains certain behaviors.   For instance, if you have not eaten and you are hungry; food may be a motivator.

Coercion is the practice of forcing someone or something to behave in a certain manner by the use of threats or some other form of pressure or force.

Typically in dog training these are the types of training we utilize.  You can motivate your dog to listen by building a relationship and finding his motivators or you can use your physicality and force your dog to comply.

I personally like motivating my dog.  Someday, I may be unable due to illness or injury to force my dog to comply and what would happen then if our relationship was based on force?  Even if I am physically able, I just don’t like force or compulsion.  I think that we “thinking” animals should use our minds to control our animals not our physical force.

You need to find your dog’s motivators if you expect to use your mind (and not your body) to control him!

What motivates YOU?  Money? Foods like chocolate, cookies, coffee?  Video games?  Books?  TV?  Exercise or Games?  Shoes?  What do you reward yourself with?

What if your work decided it would no longer pay you; from now on they would force you to come to work and stay all day working for free?  I am assuming you would be miserable at the very least, not to mention angry and defiant!

Many people respond to my articles by saying their dog doesn’t like toys, treats or food, but you HAVE to find SOMETHING unless you expect to use force!

Just like you need to get to know the child, or the person to find out what motivates them and what to take away should they make a mistake you also need to find out what motivates YOUR particular dog.

Some Common Motivators

• Food
• Treats
• Toys
• Praise
• Affection
• Games

Food

All dogs are motivated by food at some point.  Food is an essential element of life; it is something that is needed by everything that is living.  So at some point food is a motivator.  If you have a fat dog that is totally satiated and not hungry, then food possibly isn’t as much of a motivator as food is for a hungry dog.

So if you have a dog that is difficult to motivate with food, then meal feed your dog cut out all the treats and extras that you give him for no reason and my guess is he will be hungry before its time for breakfast or dinner.

When I have a dog that isn’t particularly food motivated I both use his food for training and make him work for his dinner, or I use really great treats and train before breakfast or dinner!  If your dog is still not hungry, wait until he is!

Treats

Liverwurst

Usually there is some kind of treat that will motivate a hard to treat dog; you just have to find it!

I am not motivated by chocolate (unlike many people) for me, it’s all about Mountain Dew or Cheetos if you know me you would know that.  Get to know your dog and find different types of treats that he likes!

When I use to run agility classes I would make liver treats (first I boil them, then I bake them or dehydrate them until crispy) and the dogs would go NUTS for them.  Even the nervous dog or finicky dog liked my homemade liver treats!

Liverwurst (make sure there is no nutmeg) was another favorite that could get most dogs moving!

Smaller treats make better motivators.  If you are using large amounts, big dog cookies or half a hot dog, your dog will get full and uninterested in treats.  But if you use pea sized or smaller treats your dog stays motivated.  When I trained Service Dogs and had them out at a mall all day, I could make one piece of string cheese last the duration!  Keep it small!

Do some cooking!  Boil or dry some chicken breast and see if that is a good treat!  As of lately for safety and in fear of recalls, I have been making my own dog treats.

But think about it…would you want to work for a stale biscuit or processed dog treat OR would you rather have 100% pure chicken, beef, or liver?

If you are using these things for his food or treats already, then no wonder they are not working to motivate him!

So Many Toys to Choose From!

Toys

My dogs are certainly toy motivated, but that is because I play with them, with their toys!  The first time I ever threw a ball for Fury, my little girl, she looked at me like I was CRAZY.  Even if she wanted to chase it she didn’t know what to do with it!

Tossing a toy, or a ball might not cut it!  You may have to actually TEACH your dog to play!  You will actually have to get involved and play with him also!  Get animated, run with him, keep the toy away from him (this builds his desire for it) and teach him that playing with you is where it is at!

YOU in to be fun and exciting for your dog!  If you do this right YOU become is motivator!

If it’s not working, try harder or try another toy.  A ball might not be exciting for one dog but a squeaky toy might be incredibly fun!

Most dogs will play if you are fun enough to play with and you find what he likes to play with!

Praise

Praise is Crucial to Your Relationship

For most dogs, praise is not enough!  There are very few dogs that simply want to please their owner so much that praise is enough of a motivator.  We all wish we had this dog, but most dogs want to please themselves and must be taught that praise alone is enough to motivate them.

Usually if you pair praise with a treat or a game, the praise eventually becomes more rewarding and reinforcing and eventually enough that you can wean the treats and the games out of the equation.

Dogs should always be praised for a job well done, but rarely is it enough to get them to do something they don’t want, or keep them from doing something they want.

Affection

Again, affection is rarely enough to keep a dog from pulling on the leash or trying to do something he desires.  When you pair it with praise and another motivator affection can become a very strong motivator.

I often pet, kiss and even hug my dogs when they do something I want.  I want them eventually to learn to work for my praise and affection and I want to pair fun games, toys, treats with this affection.  I also want to ask them to do something for me before I give affection.

Games

Games are my dogs’ favorite motivators.  They like their treats, their food, their toys, praise and affection but they LIVE for the games I play with them.

Games have to involve YOU.  And I am not talking about just tossing a toy mundanely every time your dog brings it.  I am talking about running, biting, tugging, intermixed with obedience goofiness and fun!

I might ask my dog to do 3 things or more for me before I run with him and throw his toy.  I tug it, I throw it, I make him release it on command, I praise him and pet him all while we are playing these games together, and sometimes I even add a few food treats to keep it even more interesting.

Making him work for his toys make these games more fun!

Remember when your kids took advantage or you and your stuff.  They may have scratched your car, or flung their dirty shoes all over the house but when THEY WORK for their OWN car or home…things are different.  Working for something gives you a sense of pride when you get it.  I remember my first paycheck and how careful I was spending my own money.

Making your dog work for his games and his rewards makes it more rewarding.

Find your dog’s motivator!!!  Don’t use excuses, set out and find something that works for you and your dog.  If you are lucky and you are a really good trainer you can use all of these things and many more to motivate your dog to do what you want!

Finding Your Dog’s Motivator is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Are you using tooooo many treats?

Recently, in the dog training world, there have been questions brought up regarding the use of treats in today’s dog training.

It seems as though the tide has turned from choke chains, prong collars and compulsion, to positive reinforcement and the introduction of treats, to the misuse of treats which has turned into bribing our dogs to comply.

Bribery is never pretty and almost never works on a long term basis.  Bribery is defined as a form of corruption, an act implying money or a gift that alters the behavior of an individual.

How Do You Know When Good Dog Training Turns to the Not So Pretty Bribery?

Once your dog has truly learned a behavior, and you no longer need to help him by luring him to successfully complete the behavior… but he only listens to you IF he knows you have and will use a treat you are crossing into the bounds of bribery!

If you have to SHOW your dog the treat in order to try to convince him to comply you are bribing him!

I thought for a long time before writing this article because I guess I would rather see people bribe their dogs before I would want to see people choke or use physical corrections and the last thing I want to do is convince people that using treats is the wrong way to train their dog.  However, I know that people get frustrated when they realize they have to bribe their dogs to listen. 

The first comment I usually get when I want to teach people about positive reinforcement and how to work effectively with their dog is “I don’t want to use food in dog training because that is bribery”.

Next, I have to try and educate them about the difference of using treats to their and their dog’s advantage and letting that use of treats backslide into bribery.

Why Do People End Up Bribing Their Dogs?

The number one reason people misuse treats is because they simply don’t know when or how to wean their dogs off of the treats they used to teach their dogs the behavior in the beginning of the learning stage.

The other reason I think that treat usage falls into the realm of bribery, is because people get lazy in their dog training.

How Do You Utilize Treats Without Bribing Your Dog?

Understanding How Learning Works

Luring is only for the beginning steps of Learning

The first thing to understand is about learning and knowing when it is time to stop treating and rely on the “Jack Pot Theory” or Intermittent Reinforcement in dog training.

When you are learning a new behavior you need almost constant reinforcement.  When someone is teaching you a new computer program, you need to be taught how to utilize the program.  Success gives you what you want and failure teaches you what not to do.

Your dog is the same.  In the beginning, you need to TEACH your dog what to do by luring him with the treat.  By luring I mean sticking the treat near the dog’s nose or mouth and then enticing him to do the behavior I desire.

If I am trying to teach my new puppy to sit; I put a treat near his nose and then mouth and slowly bring the treat upward.  As his nose goes up his rump goes down and his butt hits the ground at that moment I release the treat; this enforces the behavior of sitting.  Before the sit the treat simply is used to “lure” the dog into the behavior.

I may have to do this several times in order to teach my dog what I want and then pair it with the command.

Once my dog has learned what I desire (the sit behavior) and the command and he truly understands in a number of situations (inside, outside, when he is distracted) I no longer need the treat to entice him.  I should only need to give him the command and praise him to have him comply.

However, in many obedience classes around the world you still see owners “luring” their dogs to sit at week 4 or even week 8.  At this point, since the dog knows the command the treat becomes bribery and is completely being over and misused.

Instead, the dog should be showing more and more challenging and difficult behaviors in order to get the treat.

For example: I would rarely give my puppy a treat after he has learned “sit” unless he delivers the command in an extraordinary way; if another dog sniffed my pup while I gave the command but my pup still sat he should get a treat.

If my puppy ignored a squirrel and sat when I asked him to he should get a treat, however he should almost rarely get a treat for a regular, boring or normal sit.

I say “rarely” because I still want to reward on occasion so my puppy learns to listen and he never truly knows when he is in for a small treat or a jackpot.  This idea of intermittent reinforcement it what builds the reliability for a behavior for a lifetime.

If I NEVER reward my puppy for a “sit” again, after he has learned the behavior, he will be less and less likely to carry out the command when I give it.  The key is to only reward rarely for behavior that is already learned and to sometimes “jackpot” your pup by giving him a bigger or better reward.  This jackpot is what keeps him interested and motivated to perform for you!

If you are really, really good at this type of training and you build a very strong foundation of praise WHILE you are treating and jackpotting your dog both in the learning stages and the post stages your praise will become almost equal to the reward that a food treat gives!  But you have to be consistent and happily give your puppy praise, games and excitement when you reward him!

For example: the dolphins and whales at SeaWorld are not constantly lured or rewarded they have to complete more and more advanced skills and only are rewarded after several difficult and chained behaviors have been preformed!

When used correctly Treats are a Wonderful aid in Dog Training

Don’t Get Lazy!

“Up the ante” when working with your dog make him perform more and more difficult behavior for his rewards!

It is much easier to constantly lure your dog and reward him for the same behavior over and over and over again even if he KNOWS the behavior.  People get stuck in a rut and they don’t want to expect their dog to do something more difficult or they don’t want to see their dog fail.

Your 8^th grader should not be doing 4^th grade math!  As your children learn the subjects get more and more difficult in order for them to be successful at learning and moving on.  Sometimes tests are aced and sometimes tests are failed however school continues to get more and more challenging to stimulate, entertain, and challenge the student.  Imagine how boring it would be to stay at a 4^th grade math level.  You would probably refuse to comply to do the same thing over and over for the same reward too!

Likewise it would be ridiculous to reward yourself for adding 2+2 but it would be a great idea to reward yourself or if your spouse rewarded you with jewelry or a new car for passing your college statistics class or getting your doctorate! Rewards can be a wonderful tool when used appropriately!

Your dog will excel, he will also fail occasionally.  You will have to back up in your training and sometimes you will need to raise your expectations in him and what he is capable of.   He will frustrate you and sometimes he will simply amaze you!!

The KEY is to be constantly changing! 

Expect more and more but occasionally give him a bonus for a job well done and this will keep you from falling into the pitfalls of bribery and a dog that only listens when he can see or smell a treat on your body you will become EXCITING!

Are You Misusing Treats in Your Dog Training? is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

This couple’s problem is probably one of the most common problems I encounter in dog training.

They work 10 hours a day.  Now I realize that most of you are probably hackling in anger at the thought of a dog being left alone for 10 hours a day, but the truth of the matter is that this is a very common scenario.

I wish that you had to get a license, pass an ethical, knowledge and skills test, and promise to be able to spend a certain amount of time with your dog in order to own a dog; but the truth is that there are too many dogs and not enough good homes to involve such sanctions.  If requirements to own animals were stricter there would be an even higher and more astronomical rate of euthanasia.

Not all people who work are unfit owners; even those that have to work crazy long hours can make sure their dogs live fulfilling lives if they are willing to make some sacrifices!

I have had jobs where I had to work long hours in order to pay the bills and with the economy plummeting most dog owners are faced with long work hours and lots of commitments on their days off!

So What Can You Do If You Find Yourself Facing the Same Problems?

You Must Find Happiness at Work and at Home with Your Best Friend!

First:

Acknowledge that you have a problem and you need to make a change!  As difficult as it sounds if you want to keep your dog, not be abusive and ensure you are both happy you need to make some significant changes in you and your dog’s life.

Next:

Get up earlier!  I empathize with those of you who want or think you NEED to get as much sleep as possible, but your dog needs exercise and positive interaction with you as much or, dare I say it, MORE than you need your sleep!

In order to make sure your dog is ready for his day of solitary, you MUST wear him out and spend time bonding with him!  So, start running or biking or playing ball in the mornings until he is sincerely tired out.  That means that 5 minutes of ball playing probably isn’t going to cut it; you need to leave him exhausted!

The good news is this is just as good for you as it is for him and after about a week your body won’t feel as groggy anymore!

Then:

Make some efforts to make your dog’s day alone as happy and exciting as possible!

• Hide and leave treats for him to discover throughout the day.
• Make sure he has things to chew on and play with while you are gone.
• Stuff bones with peanut butter and give him novel things to chew on occasionally.
• Leave the radio or TV on to keep him from being overwhelmed by outside noises.

And Then:

If you are gone 8 hours or more get someone to come over and let your dog out to walk or even to play with him.

Neighborhood kids often love making a little extra cash and you can pay them to come and play with your dog afterschool.

If those are not options take your dog to a doggy day care!  Doggy day care, especially those that will walk your dog or let him play in play groups, are wonderful because when you pick your dog up he is already tired and ready for a nap when you get home!

But:

If you can’t do doggy day care and return home with an exhausted dog; it is your responsibility to exercise again him when you get home!

Remember your dog has been alone for the last 8 hours and he has probably spent most of his time sleeping, so when you get home he is filled with enthusiasm and full of energy!  In order to insure his life is fulfilling, you must spend time with and exercise him when you get home from work, too!

If you exercise him and wear him out immediately when you get home, then #1:  you won’t procrastinate taking him out and #2:  you can then cook dinner or spend time doing whatever you need to do to unwind after your hard day at work.

Don’t Forget:

Not only does your dog need exercise, he also needs mental stimulation and training!  You must spend time teaching him and working with him and the good news is that mental stimulation and training can be tiring to your dog so you “hit two birds with one stone” analogy!

You don’t have to spend an hour training, just spend a few minutes during commercials from your favorite show to get your clicker out and teach your dog a trick, or work on his down stay, or his attention and focus.  Any time you spend training will help solidify your relationship and will help him to listen to you throughout the day.

On Your Day Off:

Spend time together.  Go hiking or biking and include your dog in your plans if possible!  There  is no sense in having a dog if you don’t spend time enjoying one another and spending time together!

The reason my clients were having problems was because they were spending all of their time working but no one was really devoting time to Duke, neither before nor after work.  When they did spend time with him, they were yelling at him for jumping up on them and because he was not listening to their commands; but in truth they had never taught him obedience or even manners.

If they got up early and exercised him, left him with games to play during the day, had someone let him out then came home and took him for a walk or a run and then taught him a trick after dinner, I guarantee they would all be happier together!

I realize it is difficult to get up early and spend time working with your dog but if you want a dog and the companionship, love and devotion that goes with dog ownership you must make it a priority in your life!  You can have a demanding job and still be a kind and successful dog owner!

The Working Man’s (or Woman’s) Conundrum in Today’s Dog Ownership is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Not All Dogs want to Wear Wings and Shades at Mardis Gras!

I hate to admit it, but all dogs have limitations.  I would like to tell you that ALL dogs can do ALL things, but it’s just not true!!   Just like I will never be a professional dancer (I trip over my own feet sometimes…  often… ) some dogs just don’t have the genetics to do what we want them to.

Limitations come in all shapes and sizes, first there are the limitations that specific breeds bring.

All breeds of dog have been purposely bred for a purpose and most of them fit within a certain category.  The AKC has numerous categories that I usually use:   Herding, Working, Toy, Non- sporting, Hound, Terrier, and Sporting breeds.  Wikipedia breaks them down even further.

Certain breeds are bred for specific jobs: i.e. herding dogs have been bred to help farmers and ranchers herd their stock.  Their instincts for controlled chasing and herding have been modified and tailored to help farmers and ranchers.  Generalization due to breed is usually fairly acceptable and reliable; it would be difficult if not impossible to convince a Bassett Hound or a Chihuahua to safely herd a group of stock. It’s just not a reasonable expectation.

When looking for a dog it is superlative to do some research before you add a new dog as a member of your family!  Breed generalizations and their instincts will assist you in picking “your” perfect dog!

Just like there are breed specific limitations, sometimes there are individual limitations.  Not all Border Collies are capable of herding, not all Greyhounds want to race, and not all Sporting Dogs are capable of hunting.  I once worked with a Labrador Retriever that loved and performed fantastic protection work, but certainly not all Labs have a desire to do bite-work.

Likewise I have seen herding dogs that can hunt, and terriers that herd.  Some individual dogs show an incredible ability to break all the rules and stereotypes.  However one dog’s abilities should not promote the breed toward a certain task.  Similarly one or a few dog’s disabilities should not condemn them or their breed.

I believe that each dog should first be assessed taking into account their breed, the breed standards (what task that breed has been bred for hundreds of years to execute) but should also be treated as an individual for the specific behaviors that he shows.

So many times, as a dog trainer, I counsel with owners who got a puppy for a specific purpose that he is unable to fulfill.  This unfulfillment  leads to feelings of defeat and sometimes anger and sometimes the relinquishment of the dog to a shelter or another home.

Most of us don’t need true “working dogs” and thankfully those that do, know how to find them and select them.   And, if a person truly needs a working dog I advocate finding another home for the one they are unhappy with to ensure that both the person and the dog’s needs are met.

But, in most cases I think we need to celebrate our dog’s individuality and find their strengths!

I currently have 3 dogs at my house, each selected for different jobs or aspirations I had prior to getting them as puppies but so far none has met their purpose.

I have always told myself that if the pup did not reach its potential for what I was looking for I would send it back and find another, but I guess I am a sucker or I have a big heart, whichever you like, because the moment I lay eyes on my new pup I can’t imagine getting rid of it.  Some tell me this is a weakness, but I am not so sure.

I knew within moments of meeting my oldest and youngest dog that their personality was not correct for the job, but I was in love!  If I had sent back my 11 and a half year old Malinois, I would likely have lost the greatest furry love of my life!  No matter what I did I couldn’t change his personality and some of his feelings about life (and I certainly tried), but I did learn to love him for who he is and not who I wanted him to be.

I suppose it is like having children; you may want them to grow up and be doctors but they might have different ideas on what they want to be!

Sociability with My Family is All that Really Matters to Me!

I work in a world full of dogs and peers and peers who buy dogs to compete, show and breed, and although I sometimes envy their ability to know what they want and not concede to have anything less, ultimately I feel sorry for anyone who is too superficial to get to know love and respect the animal they have and find other strengths and activities to share together.

Now, don’t misunderstand me I know that not all dogs are right for all families or situations and those dogs should be given happiness in a good and safe environment.  I also know that some people’s business revolves around having the right dogs, and their dogs are not pets, and I can respect that.

It is my weakness, or my heart that will undoubtedly keep me from the annals of national dog training competitions, but on the flipside I get to know and experience my furry family members for who they are!   It also stretches me to find out what THEY desire to do.  I can push them within their limitations through positive reinforcement, socialization and training,  but I cannot change who they are and what their genetics tell them to do.

My oldest dog “Nix” had no desire to be the Service Dog  I had wanted him to be; he has always been leery of people  and years of socialization, obedience and prayers could not change him into the social dog I had dreamed of.  However, he had a marvelous aptitude for socializing and temperament testing dogs for play groups, and playing with dogs with disabilities, and rehabilitating dogs with dog aggression.  He also is a phenomenal herder and has raised a number of abandoned animals from kittens to squirrels to raccoons.  I love him now for who he is and not who I desperately wanted him to be.

My other two are too young to know for sure what is in their future.  One has terrible allergies that inhibit her from Service Dog work and also hamper her ability to do strong, deep grip work.  Right now we are considering some obedience and/or agility titles if we can learn to keep her allergies at bay.  But we also allow her to work on her grip, even though she will probably never attain a title.

And, my youngest who was purchased to do competition PSA work is a bit spooky and skittish and has been from the day we took him home.  He undoubtedly will not develop into the strong nerved dog we had hoped for; although he is still maturing and there is a small chance he will totally mature out of this phase!  We will continue to allow him to do the work he enjoys and try and discover what his natural talents are.

I will not love either of them less if they never bring home blue ribbons and titles!

Dogs are like people, we don’t all flourish at the same tasks, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t good at other things!

Get to know your dog, you can stretch and extend his limitations through socialization and training but allow him or her to be an individual.  Be kind and be caring and encourage the development of confidence in your dog during his journey and you just may discover some new challenges and pleasure together along the way!

Recognizing Your Dog’s Limits is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

We, as professional dog trainers, are often really dull and BORING!  I know we don’t like to admit it (and some of you may be offended that I even suggest you are boring) but let’s face it, it is difficult if not impossible to not fall prey to getting tiresome after years of training.

We drone on about heel position and perfect sits and our methods and basic curriculum hardly ever changes!  I admit, I have been there; and I know how hard it is to be a dog obedience trainer and realize week after week hardly anyone is heeding your advice or doing their homework.

We have a very limited amount of time to make a real impact on the lives of our clients and their dogs.  Most people will only take ONE obedience class with their dog and so we have a lot of stuff to pack into a 6 to 8 week period.  I also know that you are treated like a celebrity after class and everyone wants a piece of your time and advice!

It’s a complex job at best and sometimes it is downright disheartening depending on your classroom dynamics!

I'm already a little bored....

But, I am hoping to be able to help in a slightly unconventional way.  With some simple implementation of pure FUN and camaraderie, you may just be able to increase your return clients and the quality of obedience you are seeing within your class.

This is not the time to discuss dog aggression and other problems in classes.  If you want more advice on those problems please leave comments and I will write more articles.  I recognize that all curriculums cannot be utilized with all groups of people and dogs.

From my experience: my most popular classes were my most fun classes!

Everyone wanted to participate in Agility, Rally Obedience, Clicker, and my Trick and Game classes.

So that posed the question to me; would I allow people who hadn’t already taken one of my obedience classes to participate in one of my more fun classes?

Cons

• I might end up with a totally out of control class
• Someone or someone’s dog might get hurt
• My clients might be disappointed they are not getting “acute obedience”, after the fact
• What do I do with dogs with behavior problems including aggression

Pros

This looks like FUN!

• Everyone would be having fun
• There is always a chance of injury
• People are probably more likely to do homework when they are having fun
• Dogs are more likely to learn when they are having fun
• I take dogs with behavior problems on a case by case basis and handle aggression with extreme care

Agility and Trick and Game were “Da Bomb!” and I became known as the FUN dog trainer in town.  I like that title and hope I still adhere to what it means.  Although there are definite times of seriousness in dog training, I try to avoid total seriousness most of the time!

FUN leads to huge class numbers (which by the way means a total increase in profit) and it leads to significant adherence to training and homework done at home.  No one wants to have to miss out on the advanced fun other people in the class are having, so they are more likely to do a little basic obedience stuff at home in order to participate in the more fun things that I had going on!

And, I am teaching people that interaction with their dog does not have to be antagonistic and stressful.  It is really hard to get mad at your dog when he is wearing socks and you are wearing flippers and a snorkel.

In my trick and game class, we met weekly and switched up which week we preformed which skill set.  One week we would focus on teaching your dog a few tricks (even if they related more toward the basics of obedience for some) and the tricks were catered to the person and the specific dog.

Each dog was split from the pack and was given a precise working area where no other dogs would come and bother them or their owner.  I came up with a few new tricks that could be picked from each week.

As I borrowed dogs and showed how to implement the teaching of each trick, I allowed the owners to decide what trick they wanted to teach their dogs and then followed behind to help with any problems that arose.  Again, it is hard to get mad at your dog when you are trying to teach them to skate board, balance on a ball, or say their prayers on command.  Frustration and the inability to complete the task just to the fervor of more understanding and teaching!

The following week I would split my class into groups and we would square dance or play silly games.  One of my client’s and probably their dog’s favorite games was to run down to a designated area with their dog find two sets of matching socks amongst a pile of unmatched socks pull them up on their dog’s legs; next they had to put flippers and a snorkel on and race back toward the start line.  The fastest dog that crosses the line with all 4 socks on, wins!

If I had an advanced class, I could add some obedience like sits or downs at certain designated spots and when I added chocolates as a reward for the winning owners and dog treats for the winning dog, I was loved even more!

There are all kinds of doggy board games and books that detail how to teach a dog certain tricks and with a little imagination you can come up with dances and games of your own that fit your specific class.

The moral of the story is, that it is a win win situation most of the time.  As an instructor you will know the limitations of certain classes, and can even instrument some of these tricks and games into your regular obedience and even puppy curriculum.  There is no reason you can’t add some much needed fun to a strenuous training schedule!

Does it really matter whether the dog is listening to the strict obedience of “sit” “down” and “stay” or if they are learning, tolerance, impulse control, and tricks?  Either way, they are learning to listen to and hopefully building a strong bond of love with their owner!

So I issue you a challenge, look through your current training regiment and consider adding some down, right fun to your classes and if you are inspired add a drop in trick and game or other fun class!!  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed and the dogs and their people will be better for building a foundation of fun and trust together!

Calling All Dog Obedience Trainers is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog

Some of our World's Finest

Today I want to discuss a working dog theory and get everyone’s opinion on the idea and why people are so adamant that it works.  Although I really won’t weigh in on what I think, only giving the facts and the pros and cons, those who know me and my writing will probably know where I stand!  I am fascinated by the fact that this particular theory seems to work so well for so many.

Let me clarify, for today’s article working dog=police/military/competition dog.  This theory would not work for Guide/Service/Hearing working dogs.

As the theory goes; working dogs should not be treated as pets and are not pets.  Working dogs should be kept outside in a kennel and not live inside with their handler or owner.  The dog should be taken out a few times a day to work and some work related play is allowed.  It is believed that this aloofness creates a better working dog.

Let me be clear, I am not talking about people who leave their dogs in a kennel constantly and rarely if ever take them out at all; this type of treatment is abusive there is no question about it.

I am talking about police officers, military trainers and handlers and those that run kennels and some who train at a national or world level.   In order to have a quality working dog, they must devote the time to taking the dog out and engaging the dog in training, which is usually done several times per day.  And then they take the dog to work with them for 8 hours or more; these are not dogs rotting in a kennel 24/7.

Some police departments don’t allow their officers to bring their police dogs in the home and treat them as pets.  Military dogs are NEVER taken home to live, they only live on base in a kennel.

Why It Works

The dog LIVES to come out and do his work!  This is in fact the only time the dog really gets to come out so he is intent on listening and obeying each command.  He pays attention with fervor and he wants to please his partner.  His whole life revolves around his training, playing control games and his work.

When he comes out of his kennel he is happy and animated and ready to work!

Not working well and ignoring commands often gets him remanded back to his kennel until he is more prepared and eager to work.  Mistakes are not ignored, and commands are expected to be executed immediately!  Commands are also never repeated, but behaviors are often repeated until they are accomplished with precision and only then are they rewarded.

He is given positive reinforcement, affection, praise, sometimes a yummy treat and a good game to play when he works well.

He normally gets to be involved in a large number of fun activities like; agility, retrieve games, detection work (sniffing), bite-work and all kinds of other behaviors the dog enjoys.

Defiance is rare because he wants to stay out and continue the training and playing as much as possible.  He is more than willing to refine his behavior and performance to perfection to get his rewards.

He doesn’t know where his handlers “buttons” are and probably wouldn’t push them anyway because he has only a working relationship with him.

Why it is More Difficult Once he becomes a Pet

Affection is lavished on our pets for just being…our pets.  We stroke them we talk to them and we coo to them, almost constantly.  We rarely ask them to perform tasks before petting them or showing them affection.

Living with someone allows you to find their weaknesses and exploit them (pushing their buttons) for your own needs, this isn’t just dog behavior this is mammal behavior!  Once you have found someone’s weakness, you can use it to your advantage when you don’t want to comply with commands or whatever you don’t find convenient!

Admit it; your dog has a certain “look” or behavior that you LOVE and think is totally adorable and when he does it, you allow him to get out of or away with certain things.

I use to have a Rottweiler that would jump in the bathtub whenever he thought he was in trouble or didn’t want to do something.  When he was young it was like pulling teeth to bathe him, so by jumping in the tub he was showing us he was still willing to please us in some way!

Living with a dog (or a person), means you are almost constantly asking them to do something for you but when they don’t immediately comply most of us don’t jump straight to enforcement.  Dogs get use to ignoring us because we drone on constantly and because we give so many commands and directions that we don’t enforce; we simply all get sloppy.

Precision and perfection are lost.  And dogs are rarely worked multiple times a day, some dogs are lucky to get worked weekly.

I think it is like a new relationship:   when you first begin dating you do everything right away to make sure things are going well and everything is successful; or perfect.  You listen to your partner, romance is almost constant and positive reinforcement is abundant!

Just don't get toooooo comfortable!

But once we have been with that person for months or years, we begin to slack and set up expectations that haven’t been reinforced and therefore are unrealistic!   Praise is rarely given and the relationship sometimes is strained and contentious.

I think, we as dog owners, spouses or significant others can keep the magic alive…if we are willing to do the work, invest the time and not get sloppy!  But, not getting too comfortable is definitely the key!

What do you think?

Working Dog Theory is a post from: Dog Obedience Training Blog