Canine College Graduates Too!

We had another graduation this summer! This time it was the "Canine College" class I teach with Ventura College Community Education program. What a great group - so much fun! Wonderful students that worked so hard...both the humans and the canines. Check out some the well-mannered pooches and their companions! 

Sammy walking so nicely on his loose leash... 

Jake posing for his photo-op. 

Duke checkin out his new certificate!

Beijing and Largo practicing their perfect down-stays...

Miss. Lola and her proud mama showing off her certificate!

Great job everyone! Youve done an excellent job ~ cant wait to see you out and about showing off all the skills youve learned! 

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Shaping Your Dogs Behavior Stop Look Listen and Maybe Change Your Own Behavior First

When it comes to getting our dogs to change their behavior, sometimes its best to change our own behavior first. As a certified professional dog trainer, and loving dog mom to Poncho the dog, one element of communication that Ive learned is more important than many others is the art of listening. And with our pet dogs, listening also means observing since body language is a dogs first language.

One of our latest Dear Inquisitive Canine advice questions came from a woman who mentioned her dog Colby developed behavior issues after a family vacation. To read the entire column, you can click on the Noozhawk Dog Behavior Advice Column link. In addition to the information in the advice column Id also like to address two other topics of canine body language and what they might be communicating.

• Dog Communication and Warning Signals: Our beloved canines have a wonderful way of communicating with body language. It’s their first language and one us humans need to pay better attention to. There’s an old joke: “What do you say to a growling dog?” Answer: “Thank you!” They’ve just told you they aren’t happy about something.
• Growling Leading to Biting: The “I’m upset” escalation scale for dogs is: freeze-growl-snarl-snap-bite, bite harder, bite even harder - bite harder again… Dogs will continue to progress up this ladder if 1) they feel they are being ignored (“No one is listening to me! Next time I better speak up louder by biting!”), and 2) What they are “saying” is being punished out (“The last time I told my humans I was upset by snapping at them I got in trouble. I guess I’ll have to “‘speak up” louder the next time, which means I’ll need to bite! Maybe then they’ll listen.”)

Remember my dear human (and maybe canine) friends out there: the art of being a good communicator is not just talking - its also about listening, or in the case of listening to our dogs, the art of good observational skills.

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Crate Training Your Dog Creating a Home Sweet Home atmosphere

Ive been working with many new puppy parents, as well as families that have recently adopted adult dogs. From each and every one, Ive received the proverbial crate question: "What do you think about me crate training my dog?" Fortunately I have an answer: I think you should. Why? For a few reasons.

1. Bedroom: Just like us humans, our domestic dogs need a place to call their own. A safe, comfortable, warm, cozy environment where they can be by themselves. 
2. Retreat: A crate can also be that safe-haven "den" (or bedroom or crib) where they can retreat in times of stress. For instance, if youre having lots of company, and your dog is overwhelmed, they can go off on their own, with a yummy chew toy, and chew until they fall fast asleep. 
   
3. Management: Those times when you dont have time to train your dog, or supervise and monitor their behavior, a crate can act as confinement to help set them up for success. If theyre in their crate, theyre not roaming about eliminating on the new rug or chewing up furniture. 
4. Pet Preparedness: You never know when you might need to put your dog in a crate. Crate training is a huge part of Pet Preparedness. If you even need to evacuate because of disaster, many places will require that your pet be in a crate. As I mention in all of my dog training classes, dog training workshops, and private dog training clients, you want train it before you need it! 

So, what are some of the best ways for you to get your dog used to their "sanctuary"? The training steps are pretty simple actually, but just like any new behavior, you need to teach them slowly, helping them create a positive association. 

Creating a Home Sweet Home For Your Pooch: Crate Training Overview

• How to make the crate the best place to be: The "Dos"
• Take the time to teach your puppy or newly adopted adult dog that their crate is a fun, safe, relaxing place to be. Make it comfortable with bedding the individual dog finds comfortable (not what we humans think is)
• Make sure the crate is large enough for your pup to be able to stand up turn around, and get comfortable. 
• Teach your pup to associate their crate with all good things. 
• Start slow and easy - treats for looking at the crate, going into the crate, then staying in the crate - for only a few seconds at a time. While youre still there with them. 
• Keep the door open until your pup is going in their on his own. Once your pup is going in on their own, you can begin closing the door, feed treats through the door. Let your pup out, then all treats stop. Hell soon learn that being in the crate is much more fun than being outside of it. 
• Feed him his meals in the crate 
• Chew bones in the crate 
• Food toys in the crate
• Crates can still be used for a "Time Out" since the punishment is more about losing out on something the dog wanted, like freedom or playing with a family member or friend. A Time Out for a dog should only be for about 20 seconds. And, if they already have a positive association with their crate, and 99% of the time good things happen in their crate, then they shouldnt end up hating their crate. Just like when children are sent to their room, its not the room they hate but the fact that they lost out on participating in some other activity. 

• How to teach your puppy or newly adopted dog to hate their crate: "The Do NOTs" 
• Refrain from shoving your pup into the crate and slamming the door, and walking away. 
• Refrain from pushing your dog into the crate and leaving them there on their own, after never being left alone before. 
• Refrain from leaving them in the crate for so long that they soil their crate. 
• Refrain from using the crate for punishment only. 
• Refrain from using the crate as a "Time Out" because of house soiling or some sort of house destruction. The crate can and should be used for confinement when house-training. But, if a dog soils the carpet, its the humans fault, not the dogs. You dont want to inadvertently punish your dog for greeting you when you get home. 

With time, patience, and consistency you too can get your dog to love their crate. You might create such a wonderful environment youll want to crawl in there too! 

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Interactive Dog Training Game That’s Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog A Pawsitive Solution for Dog Training!

Im off to a trade show in Las Vegas today, but I first had to share my latest press release. Ive been blogging about my new interactive dog training game and how its great for dogs of all ages and skill levels - not to mention its fun for both you and your dog

So please check out my our new press release and feel free to pass it along to anyone you think might be interested in this positive solution to dog training!

Inquisitive Canine’s Interactive Dog Training Game is Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog

Developed by distinguished dog trainer Joan Mayer, the Out of the Box Dog Training Game is an easy, simple and enjoyable way for you and your dog to play your way to canine good manners!

Ventura, CA - With 39% of U.S. households owning at least one dog, the common reality for many people today is that they just don’t have the time, money, or energy to invest in dog training or coaching their dogs to develop and maintain good manners.

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game was developed by acclaimed dog trainer and behavior coach Joan Mayer as a practical and affordable way for pet owners to positively reinforce real-world manners in their dogs while helping them create stronger bonds with their dogs for life.

This positive dog training solution was designed to go beyond traditional dog obedience training by emphasizing the importance of understanding canine behavior so that dog owners can successfully reinforce the behaviors they want, while limiting and preventing inappropriate habits.

“This interactive dog training game is highly effective because it employs established dog training techniques that reward and motivate both owner and dog,” said Mayer, founder of The Inquisitive Canine in Ventura. “I’ve created this pawsitive dog training solution as an easy, simple, and enjoyable way for dog lovers to raise a healthy and happy pet. By making dog training fun, you and your dog are learning - and you don’t even know it!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game includes:

• 56 activity cards that address real world manners such as loose leash walking, doorbell etiquette, techniques for building confidence and enhancing socialization, and activities that fulfill a dog’s innate needs while helping them adapt to our human environment
• An 18-page Guide Booklet that includes everything from dog training technique instructions to tips on which rewards will best motivate your dog to learn
• Scorecard to help you and your dog play your way to canine good manners

“The game is designed for dogs of all ages and can be played just about anywhere and at anytime that works in your daily routine - making dog training less overwhelming and more enjoyable,“ said Mayer, who also authors the dog advice column Dear Inquisitive Canine. "Since each dog training activity can be customized for specific needs and adapted to different learner levels to help advance your dog’s skills, the game is different every time you play!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game can be purchased online at http://www.inquisitivecanine.com/dog-training-game.php

The Inquisitive Canine is dedicated to empowering dog owners with a rewarding education that will help them further develop and enhance their everyday relationships with their dogs. The Inquisitive Canine specializes in dog training methods that focus on understanding canine behavior and teaching dogs through techniques that reward and motivate. For more information on private dog training, group classes, virtual dog training or the Out of the Box Dog Training Game, please visit http://www.Inquisitivecanine.com/ or call (805) 650-8500.

Also, please visit our web site to check out more news from the Inquisitive Canine.

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Correlate the relationship

Training a dog really first requires the owner be trained as well. This can be said because before an owner can effectively train a dog, they must first train themselves on how. Dog training is not an innate skill people are born with, so do they need to do the research to train the dog properly. There is some solid advice in this article about how to do that.

If your dog possesses specific triggers associated to bad behavior, try to keep him busy while the temptation passes. For instance, if your dog reacts negatively to other dogs, you need to keep his focus on you as you come into contact with them. This will help him correlate the relationship between that stimuli and the positive things that come from it.



 Understanding the underlying motivations to your dogs behavior is crucial to successful training. It might take a little while to really get to know your dogs likes, but dont get discouraged. Positive reinforcement, while being put through a lot of different experiences and in different environments can help in the success of teaching obedience to your dog. The happier and more satisfied your dog is, the more successful your training will be.

 You should not take your problems out on your pet. If your dog has not misbehaved, you should treat him warmly.

 Many people are bitten by dogs because of their fears of that exact thing happening. A dog will bite if it feels unsafe or trapped. Force is not necessary to train a dog, and should never be used. Your dog might snap and bite you. By doing this, pleasing you will be one of your dogs life goals as it will see you as the pack leader.

 The first thing to do when training a dog is to establish that you are in control. Otherwise, the dog will think that he is in charge and will not respond to your training tactics. When you walk your dog, walk in front of him to establish leadership.

 Set the stage for success so that your dog will have little trouble learning what to chew and what not to chew. Excessive chewing is not only damaging to your precious objects, but dangerous to your dog. Things like brushes, small toys and nylons are common things around the house that pose a choking hazard.

 Giving your dog the favorite treat can assist you in training your dog. By giving your dog this food, they will want to follow whatever you teach them. Make sure you pay attention to how he responds when you offer him this reward.

 Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. Too many table scraps can unbalance your dogs diet. A poor diet can affect their behavior as well as their health. Improving your dogs diet can make training him easier.

 Introductions to new dogs or any other animals should occur slowly and carefully. Consider your pet at home before adopting a new one. In order to maximize bonding, a new pet will need a personality which complements the personality of the pet you already have.

 Keeping your dog active is an important part of successful dog training and is also good for their health. Dogs are designed to keep busy and active. They need to get plenty of good exercise to be happy and fit. Look for a local agility class, go for a run with your dog or teach him to play catch with a Frisbee. Keep your dog well entertained and you will eliminate many of the common problems, such as chewing on shoes.

 Its a good idea to keep in mind the number of treats you are giving your dog throughout the day. Giving him too many will add unneeded calories to his diet and cause him to become overweight. Many people overlook treats when considering the animals diet, but they certainly add up, especially during active training.

 Understand when you cant handle your dog on your own, and use that knowledge to know when you need to call in a professional to help you. Training you dog can be tough, and sometimes you need a dog trainer if your dog is too hard to handle. Your trainer will pinpoint the problem areas and point you in the right direction.

 Consistency is very important when training your dog. Make a list of all your commands, and ensure that anyone who might have to control your dog has this list. Reward your dog for following commands. Do not reward your dog if he doesnt obey. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Try to use the same words or actions when you are training your dog. A dog will respond to this positively, as they will start to associate that action or word with each kind of behavior. Remember to be consistent about what commands you use and what behaviors you expect in every training session. The more consistent you are, the more likely you are to successfully train your dog to obey your commands.

 Make sure training has an element of fun incorporated into it. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Training is fun for the dog, but you should set aside some real "play time" as well.

 A dog needs to be trained from the outset. The sooner you start training the dog the better, because they have not learned bad habits that you will have to correct. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 Use dog treats that are tasty for your dog, and are of high value in order to obtain great results. Since these treats will be handed out sparingly, it should not matter too much if they are usually off limit items.

 Just as a human likes to stretch out and lay on their backs, so do dogs. Therefore, it is essential to have a dog bed big enough for your furry friend. There are big, long dog beds around for larger dogs, or you could look for a mattress taken from a crib. This is a convenient and fun alternative because you have the opportunity to change the appearance of the bed and keep it clean by simply putting a new crib sheet on it every few days. The crib mattresses are also waterproof which means they are highly durable.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for mans best friend..

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Counter conditioning and desensitization

These two techniques are often used to change unwanted behaviour in dogs and cats. Just as the term implies, counter conditioning means conditioning (training) an animal to display a behaviour that is counter to (mutually exclusive of) an unacceptable behaviour in response to a particular stimulus. For example, a dog cannot be trying to bite the post lady and at the same time greeting them in a friendly, excited manner.

Desensitization involves gradually exposing a pet to the situation, without provoking the unwanted reaction. If an animal is highly motivated to perform an undesirable behaviour, and if that behaviour is easily and quickly displayed, competing behaviours may be difficult to elicit. That’s where the desensitization part of the process comes into play.

Desensitization is the process of exposing an animal to a stimulus beginning at a very low intensity. So low that it does not result in the undesired behaviour. For example, if a dog becomes fearful and barks at visitors, then the first step would be to find a distance at which the dog does not bark, growl, attempt to flee, or show other signs of fear. The stimulus intensity is then increased gradually (bringing the dog closer to people in the example), without eliciting the unwanted behaviour.

Performed simultaneously, these techniques provide a way in which an animal can be gradually taught to show acceptable behaviour in the face of a stimulus that used to elicit reactive behaviour.

Counter conditioning and desensitization must be implemented very systematically. If the incremental increases are too large, or occur too quickly, the techniques will either not be effective, or may even make the problem worse. Implementing a counter conditioning and desensitization program requires some thought and planning.

Define the starting point. Ideally, a behaviour modification program of this sort should be designed and carried out in such small steps that the problem behaviour never occurs. This means all the stimuli that elicit the behaviour must be identified and ways found to lower their intensity until your pet doesn’t react to them. For example, if a dog becomes afraid if someone approaches closer than 6 feet, then the starting point would be a distance significantly greater than 6 feet. In order for these techniques to be most successful, your pet should not be put in any situation that triggers the problem behaviour.

Define the dimensions or characteristics of the stimulus that influence your pet’s response. For example, if we are working with a dog who is afraid of people, we need to know which aspects of that process influence the dog’s fear:

Is she more afraid of adults than children?
Is she more afraid of men than women?
Is she more afraid of a family member or someone she doesn’t know?
Is she more afraid when someone moves fast or slow?
Is she more afraid in a particular room?
Is she more afraid if the person speaks to her or is silent?
Is she more afraid if someone is sitting or standing?

Some common factors to consider include location, loudness, distance, speed of movement, length of time near the other animal or person, response of the other animal or person or body postures of an animal who induces fear or aggression.

Arrange these characteristics in order from least to most likely to produce a negative response. A counter conditioning and desensitization program needs to begin by using combinations of stimuli that are least likely to cause a fearful reaction. In our dog example above, perhaps the dog is least afraid of being handled by a familiar adult female who approaches slowly and speaks softly to her, while she’s lying on the bed in the bedroom. She is most afraid of a nephew who runs up to her yelling while she’s in the kitchen.

Always begin with the characteristics or dimensions that are least likely to elicit the problem behaviour. We would begin with the easiest combination of characteristics of the situation, and gradually work up to the most difficult. If we find that this cat will be less afraid of a male child approaching slowly than an adult female approaching fast, then we know speed of approach is more critical than type of person. Thus, the working order on these two characteristics, from easiest to hardest, would be:

Adult female, slow approach

Male child, slow approach

Adult female, fast approach

Male child, fast approach

If necessary, devise ways to make each dimension less intense. If a dog is afraid of the sound of the hair dryer, the sound must be presented to the dog at a low (sub-threshold) intensity, one that does not provoke the fearful behaviour. This could be done by turning the dryer on and off quickly before the dog showed fear, turning the hair dryer on in another room, covering the dryer with towels, etc.

Pair each level of each characteristic with a positive consequence, as long as the problem behaviour is not displayed. At these sub-threshold intensities, the stimulus must be paired with something positive for your pet. In this way, the animal comes to associate good things happening in the situation rather than bad things. Alternative behaviours such as calmness and friendliness are then reinforced instead of fear, aggression, etc. being elicited. The reinforcement must be powerful. Good choices are food, especially favoured treats, toys, or social reinforcements such as petting, attention, or praise. If food is used (and it’s almost invariably helpful), it should be in very small pieces and be highly desired by your pet (cheese, hot dogs, or canned tuna often work well). You may need to experiment a little to see what food is the best motivator for your pet.

Do not progress to the next level until your pet is clearly anticipating the reinforcement. People commonly want to know how long they need to repeat each intensity level. This will depend entirely on your pet, who should be demonstrating that he is indeed expecting good things to happen. Perhaps he looks to you for a tidbit, or looks around for his toy. This should be in contrast to his previous reactions such as trembling, tensing up, or other fearful or aggressive responses.

Don’t make all dimensions more intense at the same time. In our dog example above, notice that we increased the intensity with type of person, and subsequently increased the speed of approach. We did not try to do both at once by shifting from a slowly moving adult to a fast child.

Progress slowly. It is common for people to tell me, “I tried some of those ideas and they didn’t work.” Usually what has happened is that they tried to progress too fast, didn’t take small incremental steps, or didn’t use highly motivating rewards. Counter conditioning and desensitization take time and must be done very gradually. You will need to think through the steps you need to take. Rather than expecting progress in terms of leaps and bounds, look for small, incremental change. It can be very helpful to keep a log or record of your results, since day to day changes will not be very big.

An example of a somewhat simplified counter conditioning and desensitization program for a dog who displays fear-motivated aggression toward men could be:

• Identify the point at which fearful or aggressive behaviour is first elicited (e.g., when the man is 6 feet away and is approaching to pet the dog).

• Begin the program with a situation the dog will tolerate without becoming aggressive or fearful (e.g., the man walks by at a distance of 7 feet, with non-threatening body postures, paying no attention to the dog).    

• Encourage the dog to assume a confident posture on a leash such as standing, walking, or sitting.

• Offer a small food reward and/or toy to generate expectant, excited, non-fearful behaviour.

• Respond in an up-beat manner, petting, praising, and talking “happy talk” to the dog.

• Conduct several sessions of a few minutes before making it any more difficult for the dog.

• Instruct the man to stand 7 feet away and make a small arm motion as though he was beginning to reach out and pet the dog.

• Give the dog food and praise for non-aggressive, non-fearful behavioural this happens, also conducting a set of short sessions.

• Practice this scenario until the dog is anticipating the food reward or the toy.

• Slowly decrease the distance between the man and the dog, adding to the arm motion on such a gradual basis that fear or aggression is never elicited.

• Many repetitions with more than one individual may be required. A new step should not be taken until the dog is clearly anticipating the reward.

You may need to supplement the behaviour modification program with other approaches, such as avoiding situations that provoke the problem, using a head collar like the Gentle Leader collar, or treating your pet with anti-anxiety medication. Ask your Sussex County Dog Training instructor or Vet for futher information on this.

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Homecoming Day 1 of Puppy Days

     First of all congrats on your new pup. Im sure that you will have a great time with your new family member. Before you bring her home you should make sure that nothing is out that could hurt her. Check counters for food, knives or anything else that if she managed to get up there could get her into trouble. Make sure there is a room that she can just relax in block it off and put her bed and food and water bowl.

When you are at the rescue pick the dog not by its looks but its personality. A dogs look will change as it gets older its personality is what you will fall in love with and can determine how you teach it. Personally I dont think that one dog is born smarter than another. I believe that one is more willing to learn than another. I also do agree that a dog can be born bad. If people arent born bad than why could a dog.

Anyway, before you bring your dog home make sure that you are ready. That you have all of the training stuff and a crate for her to sleep in and dont stress the dog out to much with training just remember dogs learn more off of repetition and consistency to anything else. Also if a dog does something willingly it is likely want to do it again.

Dogs will be dogs. 
Dont expect to much.

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Disobedience is annoying

Aggressive behaviors, excessive barking and general disobedience are annoying to a dog owner. These bad habits can be changed. While it might not be possible to completely eliminate these behaviors, applying the advice in this article will still train the dog to a large degree. With dedicated effort, it is possible to transform any dog into a perfect pet.

To have success in dog training, you need to be able to control it with commands. Put yourself in an authoritative position, so that your dog knows to obey you. For example, when you walk your dog you must be in front and you should insist your dog follows behind you.



 Ideally, training should begin during a dogs puppy years. This isnt always true, but the younger the animal, the more responsive to training he is. If you train your dog when he is young, then he will grow up behaving well.

 Do not let the pressures of your day or life influence how you speak to your dog when you are training. Start the training session with good feelings and expectations. Only correct your dog after he has done something you dont want him to.

 When training your dog, always remember to have fun. Playing with your dog helps build a stronger bond between dog and human, which encourages the dog to respond positively during training. Although dog training can be fun, you dont really want to spend all your time in training mode.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Some household items can be harmful to your dog if they are chewed upon.

 Whenever you are teaching a dog a multi-step task, reduce it to a series of smaller tasks. For instance, maybe you are training your dog to fetch the morning paper. You first need to teach him exactly what a newspaper is and then how to hold it. He needs to associate the object with a name. From there, proceed to teach him how to pick the paper up without damaging it. Finally, he should learn to bring the object to you. Splitting a complex task into individual tasks is a good strategy, because the smaller tasks are easier to learn. Afterwards, the dog simply needs to learn to do them in the correct order.

 Dogs can concentrate on one thing intensely and you will have to learn to break his attention. If you keep up with his training, your dog will look to you more often for direction rather than looking to the environment.

 Using a crate is an effective way to house train your dog. Let the dog out on a regular schedule to make the crate training most effective. A dog trained in a create will have less accidents with time.

 Consistency is key during your training sessions. Pick a single word or gesture for each command, action or behavior and use it exclusively. Dogs are able to associate repeated words or actions with the requested response. Consistency is essential to training. Establish a short list of vocabulary associated with communicating with your dog.

 Any behavioral issues that suddenly occur should be checked by a vet to make sure there are no health conditions causing it. Certain health conditions, or even pain, can completely change an animals demeanor. It could even be to the point that the dog may become more aggressive and lash out at people. This behavior is an indicator to humans that there is something wrong.

 Consistency is very important when training your dog. Have a set list of commands that everyone in the household knows. Also, make sure to be on the same page regarding rewarding good behavior and never rewarding bad behavior. Different training methods will only confuse your dog and delay training.

 Although a harness is more comfortable for dogs, it does not offer as much control as a cinch-type collar. Using a collar and harness combo and only tugging on his collar when needed can teach your canine that he has to listen while harnessed, too.

 Make sure that your dog has enough sleeping space, especially when the dog is a big one that likes to sprawl. Think about getting your dog an actual dog bed that fits its larger size; crib mattresses work great, too. There are several advantages to doing this since you are able to change the cover with frequency and ease when using fitted sheets. This is also good because mattresses for cribs are waterproof.

 It is vitally important that your dog is treated in the same manner, given the same commands and rewarded similarly by every member of your family. This is the only way to ensure the training sticks. Consistency is the best method for training a dog. If you train your dog in a certain way while another family member encourages a different behavior, your dog will not know what to do.

 There are many different approaches that can be used to crate train a new puppy. Many dogs are intimidated by the crate. To cure this, place something they enjoy in it and shut the door. If a dog sees something in the crate that they want, they will desire to enter it. Praise your dog once he gets into the crate.

 Do not tie more than one dog in the same area. It is possible for the chains to become intertwined, and the animals can be hurt as they try to get free. If a large dog becomes tangled with a smaller one they could wrap up to the point the airway of the latter is closed off and the dog would die.

 When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Simply start by calling his name as often as possible. Once he learns his name, you can encourage him to come to you when called. Your dog should learn these items before any others as theyre the most important. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.

 Just as a human likes to stretch out and lay on their backs, so do dogs. Therefore, it is essential to have a dog bed big enough for your furry friend. There are big, long dog beds around for larger dogs, or you could look for a mattress taken from a crib. This is a convenient and fun alternative because you have the opportunity to change the appearance of the bed and keep it clean by simply putting a new crib sheet on it every few days. The crib mattresses are also waterproof which means they are highly durable.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dog owners should now realize how easy the battle to train a dog can be when approached correctly. If the owner has the right mindset and good knowledge, they should be able to train a dog with no problem. It is possible for any dog to fulfill its potential and flourish under the tutelage of its master..

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Two New Dog Training Workshops added to our calendar!

Just Added: Two New Workshops!

• The Inquisitive Owner: A dog "parenting" class.
  

Friday January 30th, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. $10.00 per person ~ your lunch hour will be fun AND productive!

In this workshop, you will learn important techniques that will prepare you to successfully coach your dog in everyday situations-whether you are at home or in a public setting.

This monthly workshop is designed just for people (no dogs allowed please). We want your undivided attention to help you better understand how your dog learns and communicates so that you can successfully coach and motivate your dog to develop good manners.

You are also encouraged to use this dedicated "people" time to really focus on addressing your concerns-without any canine interruptions or disturbances! You come in with your questions, and go home with an actual training plan to help get the behaviors you want your dog to have!

• Enrichment for Your Dog: Preventing "Boredom Blues"

Sunday January 4th, 3:30 - 4:00 PM (following our Manners class orientation) $5.00 per person (*FREE for those currently enrolled in our Manners class).

Learn about fun activities, new toys, and training aids that really do work to prevent boredom. Well answer that burning question: "What do I do with this Kong toy???" You can either bring your own, or purchase one from us. Bring your dogs favorite foods, and whatever leftovers youre willing to share with them. *20% off Kong stuffing toys for attendees!

For additional information and to register, you may visit our
Web site, or contact us via email or phone.

805.650.8500

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APDT Announces January 2010 as Official Dog Training Month!

The Association of Professional Dog Trainers has recently announced that January is "National train your dog month!" Perfect timing! What better way to begin the new year? This is one new years resolution that should be at the top of your list. For those adopting a new puppy or adult dog you might want to sign up for a dog training class or even private dog training sessions.

For those seasoned dog guardians wanting to do something different with your dog you could certainly take a fun dog training class or play the Out of the Box Dog Training Game. Either way, working with your dog in a fun and productive way will help build the behaviors you want while reaching your goals!

The holiday season is a popular adoption month for puppies and adult dogs. This could be one reason the APDT decided on January. This is certainly why I have my own dog training classes beginning on January 9th. There is the 3-session puppy class through Ventura College Community Education, and my Good Manners dog training class (the old fashioned name for this would be "dog obedience class", but I prefer "manners") at the Inquisitive Canine dog training studio here in Ventura.

For those whose schedules dont allow for dog training classes, my Out of the Box Dog Training Game is a perfect and "pawsitive" solution for working training into your busy life - whether its in the official "National train your dog month", or anytime you and your dog want to have fun and rewarding times together.

Poncho and I wish you all the best for a rewarding 2010, and may January kick your dog training skills off on the right paw!

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Obedience and loyalty in your dog

Dog training can be one of the most important investments that you make in your dog. If you can instill obedience and loyalty in your dog as a puppy, you will have a family friend for life. You can learn more about how important training your dog is.

Everyone should treat your dog in the same way so as not to confuse him. Consistency is the best way to get your dog trained quickly. If people who are involved with the dog each have different methods of treating the dog, it will become confused.



 Have your dog learn to just hold one of his toys in his mouth, instead of chewing on it immediately. Every time he does it, give him a snack and use the clicker. After your dog succeeds in mouthing an object a few times, move on to rewarding the dog for picking it up with his mouth. When he does respond, click and provide a reward. Also, rewards should only be given if the toy remains in the dogs mouth.

 Always keep the atmosphere positive and motivational when conducting a training session with your dog. If your dog performs a task you ask him to, reward him. Negative reinforcement will only confuse your dog early in its training and is likely to make your dog afraid of you.

 You always want to make certain your dog has good leash manners. This helps keep both you and your dog safe when going on walks.

 A crate can come in handy when housebreaking a dog. To make crate training work, make sure you take your dog out often and on a stable schedule. If youre patient you will find a dog who has been crate trained will make less messes inside.

 If you want to be successful in house training an animal, make sure that you stick to a strict schedule for feeding times and elimination times. This gives both you and the dog a heads up as to when they need to go outside, and you can make sure that happens before they make a mess indoors. Having a regular schedule will help your dog know that a potty break will be coming, and he will hold learn to hold his bathroom urges until that time.

 Depending on the personalities of your dogs, it may not be possible to train them at the same time. Dogs have the tendency to distract each other. If you find this happening it is likely best to separate them.

 To teach or reinforce good behavior, you might try to introduce them to clicker training. In order to begin, simply create a happy mental link between the clickers sound and something the dog enjoys. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Soon, your dog will associate the click with reward or other positive actions, which can be very helpful in shaping the desirable behaviors you hope to achieve.

 Learning how to show authority is the foundation of all dog training. He needs to know that you are the authority before he will let you train him. Never allow your dog pull on the leash while you are on a walk.

 Take small steps when crate training your dog. Once your dog seems to have acclimated to the crate itself, close the gate and feeding him through it. Begin with small intervals, and work your way up to longer times. If the dog becomes upset, then you need to take a step back and slow down the training.

 Tell your house guests how to interact with your pooch. These things can lead to your dog trying to establish dominance, or he may jump on a guest.

 It is important to use a wide spectrum of treats when training your dog. Dont use your dogs everyday treats for training. You want to place special emphasis on their improvement in training.

 When your dog reaches six months, make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. This should coincide with the beginning of obedience classes. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.

 Try to ensure that your animal feels safe. If dogs feel unsafe, they will likely lash out in some type of bad behavior. To prevent any aggressive behaviors, ensure you dog is in surroundings and situations where he feels safe.

 Crate training is very beneficial, but there can be difficulties that the following tips can help with. If your pet is nervous about the crate, consider putting a toy or treat inside to motivate them to go in. Temptation wins with this exercise; your dog will be eager to enter the crate when a treat is waiting for him. Give your dog some praise when he gets inside, so that he further associates being in the crate with good behavior.

 Mentally stimulate your dog if you want it to be healthy and happy. Among some of the best things for your dog are plenty of strolls in the neighborhood, chew toys and rawhide bones. If your dog gets bored, chances are he will find a way to stay busy, and you probably wont like what he chooses.

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. Teaching your dog the appropriate place to go from the start is always the more practical idea.

 When training a dog it should always be done in a positive, motivated environment. Remember to reward desired behavior achieved by your dog while training, especially in response to specific requests. Using training techniques that are negative and based upon punishments will likely make your dog afraid, disobedient, and unhappy.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 As this article has demonstrated, dog training is a very wise use of your time and energy. A badly behaved dog can destroy your house and stress everyone in the family; soon no one will want him around. By applying the information found in this article, youll be making a wise choice and helping your dog to be an enjoyable member of your family..

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Body Language of Fear in Dogs

This poster is a resource from Dr. Sophia Yins website www.drsophiayin.com

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Tricks for dog to perform better

If you have never tried to train an animal, the idea may be rather intimidating. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

Your dog should enjoy being trained by you. Keep in mind that your dog does not have an attention span that goes beyond fifteen minutes. Keep your rewards coming and vary what you give them. Your dog should enjoy lots of praise for a job well-done. Your dog will be more receptive if you make training time fun!



 When you can learn what will motivate your dog, you will have more success in your training. Spend some time to learn what all about your dog - what will work for him, what he likes, and which training techniques will be a waste of time. Offer your dog a lot of positive reinforcement and an array of training techniques. When the dog is happy, he will want to perform better.

 If your dog has separation anxiety, its important that it learns to connect with more than one person. The dogs relationships to other people serve to dilute its unhealthy level of dependence and fixation on you that causes it so much grief.

 Do not take out your other frustrations on your dog by speaking to it sternly for no reason. Keep in mind that unless your dog has misbehaved immediately before your interaction, your behavior toward the dog should be positive in nature.

 Positively encourage your dog without using treats. Offering treats as rewards for learning new tricks or behavior can be effective. However, its unlikely that you will carry treats around every single day for the rest of your dogs life. Petting and hugging dogs as positive reinforcement while training is better than giving them treats.

 Modify and update your dogs training as necessary, so he remains in compliance with the rules. A lot of owners will train their dogs once and not conduct any refreshers. Like their human owners, pets truly are creatures of habit. Therefore, it is vital that your dog follows an established rule system at all times.

 Dogs can learn a multi-step behavior by stepwise refinement just like humans can. One example might be to teach him to fetch your daily newspaper. You will need to teach him or her how to hold something first. Next, your dog will need to learn the objects name. After that, he needs to learn how to lift up the object. Finally, he should learn to bring the object to you. If you break it down, your dog will understand the linear relationship of the behavior.

 Limit the time of your training sessions with your dog so he doesnt lose focus. Dogs can only handle a short amount of training at a time, so dont overdo it. Try limiting training sessions to 10 minutes or less.

 Dogs learn by repetitive technique and reward. Repetition and reward are the best ways to train a dog. However, you should limit your training sessions to a certain time frame otherwise you may both become frustrated. This is the most effective way to modify a dogs behavior or teach him a trick. You have to show them with plenty of repetition and rewards.

 You wont get anywhere in your dog training routine if your dog feels unsafe. If they do not feel safe, they may show bad behavior. Make your dogs surroundings comfortable and safe in order for this not to happen.

 Do not give your dog any punishments when you are in the process of training. Try to prevent bad behavior, but if it does happen, show your dog what he should have done. Training is about teaching your dog, and building a good relationship with him.

 Never try to train a dog while youre short on patience. If youve had a bad day or are unusually short-tempered for some other reason today, its better to put off training until another day. Your patience is vital for encouraging the focused attention your dog needs to get the full benefits of training.

 Your tone of voice is very important when you discipline your dog. Dogs tend to be well in tune with how their trainers are feeling. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.

 Do not wear out your new puppy with an excessive training regiment. A puppys attention span is short and their energy is limited, so your sessions should be short and positive. If you push too hard, your puppy will remember it as a negative experience, and the next time you work to train him, it will be far more difficult.

 If you know that your dog will react negatively in response to certain triggers, distract him until the moment is over. If your dog is antisocial around other dogs, distract him with something interesting if you get near other neighborhood dogs. This will allow him to make the relation between the positive stimuli and positive things happening.

 Using a clicker can help them behave better. Using a clicker is simple. Use it to make a good association between the noise and when something good occurs. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Crate training is an effective way to house train a dog. Always take your dog out consistently if you want to be effective at crate training. If youre patient you will find a dog who has been crate trained will make less messes inside.

 When looking at dog trainers, do a lot of research. Check user reviews on the Internet and learn their training methods. Make sure that the specialist has ideas in line with yours.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Utilizing the fore-mentioned tips can enable you to curb common training problems and misconceptions. If you keep these tips in the back of your mind when its time to train your dog, it will kick-start your training into an ultra-efficient routine..

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Dog Play Behavior Are they fighting or playing

"What is dog play all about?" This is one of those comments I hear from various folks...and often get questions about. Both in and out of the studio classroom - especially when folks first start bringing their dogs to our dog socials at my studio - The Inquisitive Canine here in Ventura.
Humans commonly assume that dogs that "hump" or "mount" just want to have sex with them, or that the dog is attracted to them etc... Ugh... really? Do you really think youre that charming, and that maybe all of the spoiling has lead your dog to want to return the favor in a way they think you might like? Come on... heres a quickie lesson on dogs humping and dog play:

Dog play is practicing of "the four Fs" - meaning, if they had to survive out in the wild so they could pass on their genes - surviving, hunting for food, creating more of themselves in order to pass on their genetics (cause thats what its all about, right) - survival of the fittest so you can pass along your DNA... This is the list of the four Fs:

• "Fight" - dog play can get really rough - think two young human male children playing and wrestling about - With dogs its: I mouth you (practice biting but inhibited bites in play), you mouth me, I pin you, you pin me etc...
• "Flight" - I chase you, you chase me
• "Feed" - meaning all the steps of the predatory sequence, including the "grab-shake-kill" - chasing, stalking etc...
• "Fun!" (fornicating etc...) - I mount you, you mount me... Unless both dogs (one male one female) are actually intending to breed in order to make more of themselves, then the whole humping action is just play! Thats why you see males humping males, females humping females, females on males, dogs on humans etc...and humping in positions that are not related at all to actually "doing the deed"...

Its important that dogs learn what proper dog socialization play is, and what is appropriate - that is what dog social time is for!!! Yes, we can give the dog a "time out" if we dont like something... but dogs (really important for puppies especially) are learning about what play is - and doggy DNA is telling them to "hump" - most likely trying to get the other "animal" to play... If humans dont like it, the best thing to do is completely walk away and ignore the dog completely, but throw a party and play like crazy when he is playing the way they want... Older, well socialized dogs, who have great play skills can help "guide" younger pups...the older one will "tell him" (growl or a snap) to knock it off if he or she has gone 

too far...

*A BIG note of importance: DOG PLAY SHOULD BE: RECIPROCAL and CONSENSUAL! Sure, for some dogs theyd rather be the chasee vs the chaser. How to tell? Look at the one being chased - are they running off and trying to hide the entire time? Cowering under things? Trying to find their guardian? Or are they egging the chaser on? "Come on! Chase me!!" 

As for consensual: look at this picture of Freddie (the one mounting) and Jazz (the one in the red harness). Jazzs face is relaxed, focused on something else at the moment, doesnt appear to care. If it werent consensual, Jazz would have turned around and growled or snapped "Knock it off!!!" 

Providing opportunities for our dogs to socialize and play is very important for their well being, and development as well-mannered canines - dog training classes and dog socials can help provide them. You just want to keep an eye on the situation, making sure that play-time is safe and fun. 

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Train your dog for agility

Dog training often ends up looking more akin to human training. This can be said because before an owner can effectively train a dog, they must first train themselves on how. You need to learn how to properly train your animal first, and then start training your dog. The tips in this article can help you get started.

It takes small steps to crate train your puppy; they must become accustomed to it. Once he is comfortable walking in and out of the crate, try quietly closing the door and offering him a biscuit through the wires. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If they become upset, you are moving too fast.



 For optimal dog training results, you must make sure that your dog is active at all times. Dogs are not meant to just lay around. To have an enjoyable life, they need to be able to get out and run and work. Train your dog for agility, jog with it or take it to the park. If you stay active with him, he is not likely to get bored.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Your dog will not remember his training if you are not there to constantly remind him of what you expect. In the same way that nourishing your dog with food and a safe place to live is a daily commitment, so is teaching and encouraging good behavior.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Clear commands and consistency are necessary when you work with your dog. Your verbal commands and body language, along with the rewards you give out, should all be consistent. Pay attention to any cues that your dog gives you, as well. By watching and understanding the way your dog communicates, you can discover if your dog is getting fatigued, restless, or is happy.

 Stop your puppy immediately if he is chewing on something he shouldnt. This will help your puppy to learn what things he is allowed to chew and what he is not. He will then be less likely to chew on your belongings and instead will turn to his toys when he wants to chew.

 If you are training more than one dog, remember that some breeds of dogs can be trained together, but some breeds cannot. If your dogs cannot focus during training, you may need to start with one-on-one before training them together.

 For a happier and more content dog, be sure to provide it with things to do that will stimulate its thinking and keep its mind active. Some great activities to provide this mental stimulation could be a long outside walk, a favorite bone, or even a peanut butter-filled toy! If you dont keep your dog entertained, they will make their own fun by wreaking havoc on your belongings.

 When training a dog, you need everyone who takes care of the dog to treat him the same way. Consistency is important in your training method, as dogs respond the best when their training is consistent. If someone is training the dog one way and someone else tries something different, the dog will become confused on how to behave properly.

 Try to get your dog on a regular feeding schedule. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Sticking to a schedule will teach your dog how to control himself until his next scheduled potty break.

 Try to teach your dog good habits right away. It is far simpler to teach a dog to do something the right way than to break bad habits. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 Keep count of the number of treats you feed your dog because you do not want him or her to get fat. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Get your dog ready early for his trips to the veterinarian. Move your hands across his head, back, stomach and legs, and give him reinforcement when he responds appropriately. Work with him so he is tolerant of having his paws touched and teeth examined. You could ask the assistance of your friends, too.

 Using a crate is an effective way to house train your dog. For crate training to be effective, you must make sure to let the dog out frequently. Dogs who are crate trained are often the best trained, having less accidents.

 Your dog needs to get plenty of exercise. Dogs can get bored very easily. Dogs that lose interest are hard to train. Dogs are more inclined to obey when they are regularly taken out for exercise and happily accepted as a member of your family. It is a great idea to take your dog out on runs or walks through the neighborhood.

 Do not tie up several dogs in close proximity to each other. One dogs chain might become entangled with the other, which could lead to serious injuries. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dogs neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.

 If you want to train your dog, avoid playing any sort of control games like tug of war. Aggressive games promote aggressive behaviors, such as biting. Tug-of-war can be played once you have trained your puppy; however, it should not be played before the dog is completely trained.

 You should not initiate a training session unless you are in a calm and patient mood. Be patient when training your puppy, so you can both stay focused.

 When looking at dog trainers, do a lot of research. Check user reviews on the Internet and learn their training methods. Make sure that the specialist has ideas in line with yours.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for mans best friend..

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Are We Breeding Shelter Dogs

Ive been up in Oakland at the APDT annual conference for the past few days. Yesterdays Fear and Anxiety in Dogs symposium had some good information, but one topic Im quite passionate about is the issues with dogs ending up in shelters. Whose fault is it? In my professional certified dog trainer opinion, its certainly not the dogs.

I dont believe its anyones intention for dogs to end up in shelters, even breeders. Just like when parents have children, Im sure its never their intention to breed criminals - but it happens. Unlike humans though, dogs often arent provided an environment where they can make choices we want them to make. Theyre left to fend for themselves, then get blamed and in trouble for acting like a dog - humans get frustrated, then they take the dog to the shelter attaching labels like "My dog it aggressive and dominant, I cant deal with him (or her) any more."

What can be done? Prevention and Socialization!!! Sure, puppy training classes and basic dog training classes are great, but it needs to go beyond the basic 6-session dog obedience class. Just like humans go through a multitude of developmental stages, so do our dogs. It doesnt stop at just one class.

• Teach dogs behaviors they need to exist in our human world. And continue reinforcing those skills learned.
• What items to chew on and when.
• How to be alone and entertain themselves through enrichment programs designed for dogs.
• Meet and greet hundreds of humans while theyre young pups, and again continue allowing them to meet new people, in different places and in different situations.
• CONTINUE socialization during adolescence so they can continue learning and adapting to their environment.
• Understand what normal behaviors are for dogs.

For many of these dogs its the environment they are born into, and are raised in, that is often the cause for the issues that land them in the shelters - so again this falls back onto the shoulders of the humans that have the most influence over them and their quality of life. I only wish that some day there are universal training protocols, "Gold Standards" if you will, for dog training. Until then its wise to be critical thinkers, use common sense, and plan for how to raise a healthy and happy dog in order to keep them out of the shelter.

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Water Balloons Squirt Bottles NEVER a good option for dog training!

My new round of Canine College just started this past week over at Ventura College Community Education. As much as I hate to brag, it is truly a great group!!! Wait wait wait, let me clarify. So have all the other groups. I just get SO excited each time a new group starts at VC or at my inquisitive canine studio. Its like its the first time, each and every time. I guess Im just like a dog myself in this respect - isnt that the way our pet dogs act whenever we come home after being gone for a long time? 

Anyway, one reason I was just SO thrilled was because of the human students paying attention to what I was saying - I could tell learning was taking place because their behavior changed! HA! And so did their dogs behavior! Learning going on all around - just lovely!

At first people were telling their dogs multiple times to be quiet - but the dogs continued to bark, and the humans got frustrated. Then I went through what the class was about, what I wanted from them - my "What This Class Is" list, which included:

• Having students focus on what all they wanted from their dogs!
• Rewarding behaviors they like using food, petting, praise, play - anything to acknowledge what their dog did was what they wanted. 
• Realistic expectations! 
• What their dogs knew at this time versus what theyll know by the end of the class. 
• And the ever important "Barking Protocol" that I have as part of all of my dog training classes and workshops... not the dog socials though, because that is more like a playground...

Once everyone was "rewarding quiet", and the dogs were minding their manners, the humans started to engage and ask questions!!! I LOVE questions! I mean, that is one reason I love writing my Noozhawk advice column, right? Not because I want to sit at a computer all day, or hear myself "speak" - I want to help empower dog owners to create better relationships with their dogs!

Okay, so one of these great questions was about a certain training technique that this person had heard about, and was wondering what my thoughts were about it. Ive heard about it too. As a matter of fact it was one of the old fashioned training techniques I had learned as a new dog owner. It never made sense to me then, and it certainly doesnt make sense now. Ive gone as far as to have it in my policies that it is not allowed - we dont use this coercive training technique at the inquisitive canine. What am I talking about you ask? Squirt bottles!

This great student was brave enough to ask: "Joan, what are your feelings about using squirt bottles to train dogs?" She hadnt done it herself, but she had heard about it from another trainer - along with a few other aversive methods. 

After establishing how the squirt bottle was intended to be used, this is what I said.

• First I encouraged her to answer her own question: "How would the dog learn what you wanted him to do?"
• If I were teaching you how to knit, and every time you did something "wrong" I was to squirt you with water, would you learn what to do? Or would you just end up being afraid of knitting and afraid of me? 
• Would you ever be able to figure out what behavior I wanted? Or would you just learn to avoid doing anything, for fear of "doing something wrong" or being squirt in the face? 

She knew in her heart it was the wrong thing to do - she just wanted to reassure herself. Plus she helped clear matters up for others as well - this is a very popular technique still used today, so Im sure other students were wondering the same thing. 

Another disturbing technique was just mentioned on one of my "group" lists. They were talking about how a franchise group of dog training "professionals" is now recommending throwing water balloons at dogs who are "misbehaving"! Wow, there are just so many things wrong with that. Talk about aversive! This is not fun and games for a dog - they cant throw one back, right? And isnt the humans own underlying motivation out of anger and frustration? Talk about poor coping skills! 

Again, I ask, shouldnt we just stick with teaching dogs what we want in a way they understand and enjoy? And then acknowledge them in a happy, healthy, fun way when they do? Lets leave the water balloon fights to us humans on a hot summer day...shall we? 

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“Look at That” or LAT Training

The key with “look at that” training is keeping your dog below threshold (i.e. quiet and calm) while teaching them to look at a stimulus they do not normally like and rewarding them for looking at it. To train LAT, use your Clicker Leash to click and reward your dog the second they look at a trigger as long there is no reaction. If your dog is too intense with the triggers being used, start with a neutral target like a piece of paper or other item your dog has no association with and again click as soon as they look at it. When your dog is offering a quick glance towards the target, name it “look.” Your dog will quickly start to look at their triggers and turn back to you for a reward. If your dog does not turn quickly, it is likely because they are over threshold. You should increase the distance between you and the trigger and try again.

Begin playing LAT with a different neutral distraction for about 30 seconds, as often as you can each day. Gradually progress to more challenging distractions such as favourite toys, the mailman, squirrels and approaching people. Once your dog has mastered the game with various distractions, you can progress to using dogs they like and then strange dogs. Remember, the key here is to keep your dog calm during this game. If they begin to growl, bark or lunge, they have gone over threshold and you need to start again with more distance between you and the object.

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A Dogsitter for Christmas

This Christmas we have the good fortune to be returning "home" to Maine.  We will have a chance to visit my sister and her husband, my parents and, especially exciting, my 92-year-old grandmother.  This leaves the dogs to fend for themselves.  Im working on teaching Pistol to scoop the right amount of dog food for meals each night, but he is having trouble reaching the tap on the kitchen sink to fill up the water bowl.

Okay, we wont really leave the dogs to fend for themselves.  But it does bring up a great doggy-dilemma.  How do you travel when you have pets?  Previously Ive always had so many wonderful connections "in the business" that Ive been able to have someone look after the dogs without too much trouble.  But were new to Oregon, so that puts us in the same boat as many people: what do we do with the dogs?

There are limited options, and the right solution is different for each family.  Boarding is one possibility, but that takes our dogs out of their comfortable, familiar environment, and honestly, with three dogs it costs a fortune.  Of course if one were looking to get the great benefit of training while boarding, a board & train program can be a great option (okay, shameless plug admitted and done with).  For us the best option is a pet sitter, a professional who stays at our house and takes care of the dogs (not to mention the fish, the house plants, the mail, etc.).

But the question I always get is "How do you find a pet sitter??!!"  Referrals are a great way to find any service provider - ask your veterinarian, the groomer, or, yeah, the dog trainer.  But there is another way.  Pet Sitters International certifies pet sitters across the country who commit to education, bonding and insuring and more.  Its nice to have a resource, a searchable site, where you can find pet sitters committed to their profession.  Of course, like anything, do your due diligence.  Like dog trainers, certified doesnt mean a professional is good.  But its a nice place to start.

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