dig by dog

This is a follow up to my post about dogs as pack animals. Check out the very well written post over at DogStarDaily by Nicole Wilde that has the proven science behind my previous post.

http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/man-who-cried-alpha

The post also includes the following link to this article: "Whatever happened to the term Alpha Wolf?"

http://www.wolf.org/wolves/news/iwmag/2008/winter/alphawolf.pdf

In other news I am very excited that Patricia McConnell PhD is coming to Maine for a seminar on dog to dog aggression in June. Nicole Wilde is also on the slate for an upcoming date. I will be attending both. FMI go to http://www.happytailsportland.com Click on the links for higher education and seminars.

I almost hate to post this on a beautiful Sunday morning. But there is never really a good time to expose truths such as these.


Today I share a post from a favorite blog of mine, Frogdog Blog. WARNING!!!! It has a very graphic and disturbing video with undercover footage from a puppymill. It is probably one of the worst I have ever seen. While no one wants to see this sort of thing I think it is important for us to watch. Why? because we HUMANS are allowing it to happen!! You will see in the news story how that is possible.

It is: Where does your puppy come from??

If your puppy came from a pet store it probably came from this type of breeder. No good breeder would EVER let their puppies be sold by a third party. EVER!!!! Nor does a reputable breeder hawk their puppies online with a "click to buy it now" option. EVER!!!! Now as a trainer it shouldnt matter where my clients get their dogs. If anything puppymill dogs come with a host of behavior problems that are a potential source of income to me. (and veterinarians as well) However as a human being who LOVES animals this disturbs me greatly. Can you imagine being one of those dogs and living that kind of life so a human can make money off selling your babies? It is clearly a living hell. And if you are not part of the solution by supporting reputable breeders, rescue groups or shelters then you are part of the problem. Period. Until we can break the supply and demand for puppies to be purchased like a product than this will keep happening. This woman is still in business remember. Personally I think being able to "order" a dog off the internet with a credit card is ridiculous. It is a living breathing being, not a pair of shoes.

And if that isnt enough info for you check out this blog post from Ruffly Speaking: How to kill a shelter dog.

I operate on the principle that when you know better you do better. So here is the information for someone to possibly learn the lesson. I dont think is is enough to be horrified by the photos and video of puppymills. I believe we need to spread the word every chance we get. No matter how that may cause people to feel. If you bought a puppy from a pet store or back yard breeder and didnt know better than you can claim ignorance. If you do it after learning about the existence of puppymills and bad breeders then shame on you. If we dont educate people on the issue of puppymills and internet puppy sellers then those uneducated people will still buy from them. I cant remember where I read it but someone mentioned maybe we need to give a stigma to buying from pet stores. If it becomes an unpopular choice would that help at all? I dunno but clearly something needs to be done if these kinds of kennels can still exist and stay in business. SOMEONE is buying these puppies after all. So who is it?

I am so happy to be finally be offering ONLINE OBEDIENCE PROGRAMS on my webpage.

This was a huge challenge for me for the past year with wanting to expand PRTs methods and ethics to anyone that would listen, soon people were trying it, loving it and wanting to know more.Not long after I was being asked on a regular basis if people who lived in Europe, Thailand, Brazil, USA and even across Canada could somehow purchase my 6 session obedience program, of course I had to say no but it really got to me that there were people wanting to train their dog with PRT and I had to say no just because of miles or ocean inbetween, the best I could do was refer them to books and online reading but this didnt help them as much as they wanted.
So after months of perfecting the programs with successful clients, I present to you......

(click the picture to be transferred to my Online Obedience Program page).

I was looking through my computer and I finally found a "happy face" photo of Jenny. Although I gotta say, she looks a little crazy to me. I think its the eyes. Cute though!

Saturday I went to Woofstock 2011 with Jenny and a couple friends and their dogs. Angelica and Leo (above) and Ashley and Prudence. (below) I had a blast even tho I admit I almost didnt go. Im not always a fan of these events. Let me explain. Going where there will be a lot of pet dog people and their dogs can stress me out. Mainly because pet dog people sometimes do things that they don’t realize can cause problems in a crowd of dogs. For instance: not keeping a close eye on their dog so they tangle people up in their dog’s retractable leash. Or they let their dog get to into another dogs face that isn’t appreciative of an unknown dog (to them) getting into that space. Or maybe they don’t realize their dog is too stressed out to relax and being on edge can cause them to lash out. I’ve seen a lot of things at some of these events that make me nervous. This is one example of a time ignorance is bliss. It is less of a problem at dog shows or trials where most of the people in attendance (show dog people and sport dog people) understand canine body language and don’t typically let their dogs get into another dogs space without permission.

But I did go and I had a great time. I also rarely take my dogs to these events. Mainly because I am usually working at them in some capacity. The last time I went to Woofstock I had one of the K-9 Corrections dogs with me at the shelters booth so he could be seen by potential adopters. There were lots of great vendors and many rescue groups as well as the POM Project. They also had some great demos of stuff like Agility and Frisbee and even Freestyle. I got asked to participate in the Freestyle class with Jenny by my friend Nancy of Gooddogz Training. Jenny LOVED it. Any chance to earn some treats is a good time for her. I have to admit she did well and I might need to consider trying out some Freestyle training in the future. This is her looking for crumbs between tricks.

Jenny ate A LOT of freebies from vendors. She also got to snarf up crumbs as she found them. I’m sure it was her idea of Heaven. In the future however I need to remind people that she is a SMALL dog and so therefore a small treat is more appropriate for her. I thought for sure she might have some bowel issues in her future. (the ride home was shall we say, odiferous) When she started asking to go out frequently the next day I wasn’t surprised. It turned out that she ended up with a urinary tract infection instead. (poor girl!) So she is currently on an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory.


Aside from hanging out with her doggy friends Leo and Prudence she also got to meet a bunch of other dogs, including a super cute pug puppy. She was so small I could have fit her in a pocket! Tho I suspect her family wouldn’t have been as excited by that as I was. There were all kinds of dogs in attendance in all sizes from Great Danes to Chihuahuas.


The event is put on by Aubry Martin of The Animal House. She does a fantastic job! The layout was super easy to navigate this year and I loved that the demo ring was smack in the middle. I can’t begin to remember all of the vendors but here are a few that I loved: Classic Hound had some fabulous martingale collars but I managed to control myself. (Tho they may be at the Fur and Foliage event this weekend and if so I may succumb to their charms. Yes I am a collar hoarder.) Zeldas Biscuit Bakery had some fabulous new flavors to try. Jenny gave them 4 paws up! Tripoms Chews is always a favorite of Jennys. Mmmm chicken! Uncommon Paws had my favorite Olly Dog treat pouches and the tiniest doggles Ive ever seen! I also got to speak with Dr. Kjersten Morrison DVM of Mid-Coast Veterinary Acupuncture about Traditional Chinese medicine and Acupuncture for Jenny’s skin issues. I may be exploring that option down the road.

Of course there were also many pet food reps including one for my favorite, The Honest Kitchen. Speaking of which reminds me to brag about my awesome lawn sale find. At the event they have what they call a lawn sale area. It is all pet stuff that is donated by people and the proceeds go towards all the rescues that are attending. (all the proceeds from the event including tickets go towards all the rescues as well) Well I found not one but TWO cans of this! Guess how much I paid?? Now this is originally a $16.99 item. Go on, guess.

WRONG!!!

I got them for only ONE DOLLAR each!!!!! I felt like I had won the lottery. I was very excited. (you can probably tell) It is a supplement made by the Honest Kitchen that I was planning on getting at my local store to try. It is used to help support their immune system. Since Jenny has such chronic skin issues I thought this was a good one to try. I have also switched her to the Keen formula from Zeal. I read a very good article about how some dogs do need grains in their diet to thrive and thought I would try it for awhile. I do plan on switching her a couple more times to try some more formulas they offer as well. (Because I love that company!) Embark, Force and Thrive all seem like they are appropriate to try in the future. I want to get away from fish for awhile and see what happens. I have noticed that she seems to be getting a little hair growth in her neck area. (fingers crossed) I also have started her on this supplement:


It is supposed to be good for their skin and coat. We shall see. It smells good and she seems to love it. I am going to be getting a couple more supplements soon to add as well. Ive been reading the book on allergies I picked up at Planet Dog awhile back and it is very good. It has given me a few other ideas of things to try for her. Suddenly I dont feel so overwhelmed by it all. Of course I may be changing my tune at any moment so think good thoughts for her. Here she is practicing a new trick we are working on mastering. (Excure the poor lighting. It was my phone camera.)


The ball is from The Smiling Frog Pets shop. Go check it out!

Special thanks to Ashley Bickford for the use of her Woofstock 2011 photos. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I need to get a new camera.

This video shows an owner who has used a clicker to train her puppy many different commands and tricks with a clicker! Its so nice to watch how much FUN both are having.

After watching the DVD, Patient like the Chipmunks, about Bob & Marion Bailey and hearing them refer to their work as behavior technicians, it clicked that what I was doing as a “dog trainer” or even as a “behavior consultant” was not aptly described by either of those terms as much as the job of working with dogs and owners dictates.

Since seeing Bob Bailey present a two day seminar on animal training it is even more cemented in my mind that what I am doing is not simply “training dogs”. I am entering into the world of changing human behavior and demonstrating how to change dog behavior effectively, reliably and safely.

Dog training is just one aspect of what I do. Surely I can train dogs and build reliable behaviors. However that is only one part of the process. To say that I am simply a “dog trainer” is no longer accurate.

The letters after my name CTC stand for Certificate in Training and Counseling. This certification was obtained at The Academy For Dog Trainers at the SFSPCA.

I consult on behavior in sessions and through email support however there is component to consulting that extends beyond simply explaining what the potential outcomes will be for dogs and humans.

Obtaining reliable dog behavior based on following protocols would be more accurate.

That extra component of criteria based plans is where the technician side of things resides. It is also in many cases more important to address the human’s behavior first as that will in turn change the dog’s behavior.

The main function of the behavior technician is to educate the dog owner and advise on protocols that will reduce stress and increase success. The environment and the dogs’ history are the main factors in determining how to proceed with training.

The majority of the time once a dog’s environment changes for the better in regards to increasing desired behaviors and stopping the harsh stuff, the dynamic is much easier for all involved.

Humans by and large dictate the dog’s environment and the human’s mechanics & timing of rewards and humane consequences create the dog’s history.

By having proper legitimate information about dog behavior based in science, ethology, math and humane behavior modification we can then better understand human behavior as it relates to dog behavior.

This legitimate understanding is a foundation for a truly harmonious relationship with dogs. Plus as I said it is a whole lot less stressful and safe.

Once we fully understand both dog behavior and how human behavior effects dogs we can then proceed with assurance that we are doing right by our dogs and not simply getting results or “breaking” dogs of habits. Many of these “bad habits” are in fact intrinsic to a dog’s truest nature, scavenging, pulling to greet, barking or alerting to sudden environmental contrasts. All this has billions of years of genetic foundation and we’d better learn to work with it and use it to our advantage.

Once we have the legitimate information we are learning and then we are teaching dogs based on the environment, and then dogs are learning not just “obeying”.

Sure, I train dogs and of course I consult on behavior as it relates to the dog human dynamic, but “behavior is both a science and a technology” as Bob Bailey says.

There is science, mechanics, timing, sequences, and of course moods and emotions for both dogs and humans. All this needs to be taken into account and then addressed in a way to reduce stress and increase success.

The companion dog paradigm is a bond unlike any other. The variables are vast and many times unavoidable, it is not a perfect world. Despite that millions of dogs do relatively ok, work it out and maintain a level of profound dignity that us humans would do well modeling for ourselves.

By coming into someone’s life that is seeking help with their dog, the kids, the extended family & friends etc… I consider it an incredible honor and a huge amount of trust placed in me.

So I give the cases I take my all and I make sure that I am not simply training the dog. I make sure I am educating the whole dynamic to have success for the rest of the dog’s life. After all there is no guarantee they’ll call me again, so I strive to set up the dog for the rest of their life with enough proper safe info so that...


1. The people and the dog start having success.
2. So I can sleep well at night.
3. That is how I was educated.

When I say that my job is to first reduce stress and then train dogs it is mainly due to the fact that people are usually not contacting me because all is well and there are no issues.

Usually there is some type of concern ranging from basic manners issues all the way to a proven aggression incident. These issues reside squarely with the humans and how they behave, how they gave behaved and how they will behave in the future.

Reducing stress and having success with dogs is predicated on humans having the proper information for their dynamic, their life style and of course the environments that the dog will be in.

All these aspects are facilitated by human behavior. This is why even though there have been many amazing books written, DVD’s made and TV’s shows, none of these can compare to having a legitimate assessment of dog & human behavior backed by a written plan tailored to you and your dog’s life. That is what you are paying for.

Along the way even when it is serious or may be challenging I encourage fun and patience along with empathy and understanding.

This makes a real difference in the way we view our dog’s behavior or how we react to our dogs and how we interact with them (and other dogs).

By learning how to deal with situations that arise so reliability is achieved and stress is reduced and not perfection or “robot dogs” we truly create bonds and not binds.

Dogs are sentient beings and as our best friends they certainly tolerate many things in life that go against their very nature. It is my goal to help each dog and each owner better understand each other so the bond is never broken and only strengthened, so that the dog human dynamic can live up to it’s full potential.

Dogs are capable of amazing things as long the humans in their life are willing to be open and empathetic to the dog’s intrinsic nature, be patient, learn and make decisions based on humane and non violent approaches.

As Bob Bailey says, “Empower don’t over power”.

This is why I am not simply a “dog trainer”. I am a behavior technician.

Or A.K.A. ....... yes I am still alive.

Please excuse the short hiatus. When I get behind the blog is the first thing to go, followed closely by e-mail. (so if you havent heard from me....) I am behind on my blog reading as well if that makes anyone feel any better.

The answer sadly is apparently not.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a trainer about dog behavior.  The topic of dog corrections came up, and she said that she does not allow her dog to correct another dog because she does not want her dog to think that the behavior involved in a correction is appropriate.  This is something Ive heard a lot from trainers over the years.  Here are some of the arguments:

- Never wrestle with your dog.  This will teach him to play rough and to fight.

- Never tug with your dog.  This will teach him to not return things to you.

- Never allow your dog to correct another dog.  This will teach him that inappropriate behavior such as growling, barking, or showing teeth is OK at any time.

The first question I must ask you is this: Would you ever tell a young boy or girl that it is never appropriate to wrestle, play tug of war, or acknowledge his/her displeasure with something?  I certainly hope not, or else I would have missed out on a world of fun as a child.

As a young girl, I learned that when I was in my play clothes, I could wrestle with other kids, I could climb trees, I could play tug, and I most certainly could say when I wasnt happy with something.  However, I was also taught that there were times when playing was inappropriate.  There were times when I was at school or church and I had to sit still.  There were times when I could display my displeasure and Mom and Dad would tell me I was acting inappropriately (and occasionally punish me if I continued to display my displeasure).  I learned what was appropriate and when it was appropriate, and I believe it is important to teach our dogs the same.

As a puppy, Cody had very bad manners.  He nipped, he chewed, he growled, he stole toys.  He was a puppy, though, so I knew hed grow out of it.  In the mean time, I worked on teaching him manners.  I taught him to play, but when things got too rough for me I taught him how to stop.  I taught him that chewing on his toys or on bones was fine, but that chewing on furniture was bad.  I taught him that growling at one thing or another was fine, but there would be trouble if he ever laid teeth on or growled at me (when he was not playing).  I worked hard to let him know what was appropriate and what was not, and I was rewarded with a dog who can play rough but who knows when to quit too.

The next argument I usually hear in this is, "Well, hes fine with you, but what if he was with a young child or an elderly person?  How would he do then?"  I used to wonder about that myself.  Ive always played rough with my dogs, but not all children like that.  Would Cody be OK? 

Cody was only 9 months old the first time I saw him around young children.  We were at the local childrens theatre (where Hans works), and there was a semi-large group of children ranging in age from 3 years old to 10 years old.  I watched carefully as the children started to play with Cody.  They made all the same movements that I would make when playing rough with Cody, but Cody was different with them.  He was obviously happy, and he was playing "rough," but it wasnt his usual level of rough.  He very much held back for the kids.  He ran around them instead of jumping on them.  He gave them kisses instead of grabbing at their sleeves.  I knew then that Cody was smarter than what most people would give him credit for.

Similar things like that have happened over the years, both with elderly and young, and its made me realize just how smart dogs are.  They are capable of discerning between situations.  They are capable of making choices and making the right one.  Yes, there are some dogs that take a little longer to learn than others.  There are some dogs that you wouldnt want to rile up as much because they just havent learned how to calm down.  However, with a little love and attention and a lot of time, any dog can learn how to play rough, or tug, or even correct another dog without taking things too far.  I think its important to teach them how to make the right choices rather than not allowing them to make decisions at all.  It helps their minds grow, and it helps our bonds with them flourish.

WHY TRICKS? A question I get asked a lot!

1- Dogs need not only physical exercise but mental exercise as well, a tired dog is a good dog!
2- It builds communication skills. The dog is learning how to learn. Great if you want to do obedience
3- You are building your relationship with your animal. So your dog actually WANTS to do what you ask them to do.
4-It actually makes your dog smarter!
5- It is a fun way to interact with your dog, besides sitting on the couch together. If your dog isnt a fan of the rain, you could do a trick training session inside instead of a walk.

Not dog training related, but just finished painting my friends bulldogs!

http://www.berrywood.de/

Chasing games are a great way to play and interact with your dog and build your reinforcement value to your dog. However, the easiest game to play is to have your dog chase you, rather than you chase your dog. Some dogs can find chasing so reinforcing that they might start offering running away whenever you approach them. If you put rules on the game where you chase your dog, you can make sure your dog will not run away from you every time you run towards your dog. One way of doing this is to have a cue to mean "run away, we are playing the chase game". Another option is only play the chase game in one particular place- like around a sofa in your house, or in a certain place in your house, and never encourage the game anywhere else.

I am very excited to have signed up for a two day seminar in June with Pamela Dennison at Wag It on "Positive reinforcement training for the obedience and rally ring". http://www.wagitcamp.com/Seminars.html I am fortunate to have such a great seminar coming to my own area. No long distance travel and no hotel fees! Im also excited because it is a "hands on work with my dog" seminar. Something I rarely get to attend.

I have dabbled in obedience showing in the past and I have to admit it isnt my favorite activity. I am not very competitive and never saw the point if it wasnt fun for both me and my dogs. I have however started some training in Rally O and think this might be much more challenging (the course changes every time!) and interesting for us. I also think it is much more realistic in day to day life and training since you get to talk to your dogs during the course. The dogs are expected to be dogs in Rally.

This means I have to get Jennys PAL/ILP from AKC since she came from rescue with no pedigree if I want to ever compete with her in any AKC events. I already have Jacks paperwork since he came from a breeder. (a fabulous breeder that is) I filled out her paperwork last night. I also need to send in her spay certificate and two good photos of her, side and front view. I tried getting a couple tonight with my daughters help. As you can see it didnt all go quite as planned.

It looks like Ill be trying again for those photos tomorrow. I know, shes so abused!

Jenny says, "I aint wearing no stinkin bow!" How about a photo in front of the tree instead?

Dogs are worshiped, but not protected.

For a few good years those of us that needed to point out the harsh realities of pain training all had the comfort knowing that we could point to a number of respected groups for back up when discussing it with client’s or friends and family. Recently during a discussion with a high school teacher I realized I could not suggest American Humane as a source for why the DW show is harmful. This then rests in the opinion paradigm, even though it’s not, and there are other sources, American Human is the oldest and they have a TV & Film division. So the impact of their position statement is much stronger.

I was given a cordial dismissal via email by the VP of American Humane a few weeks ago. There was no argument, no disagreements. Essentially all conversations were productive and we shared the same concerns. However, I asked too many difficult questions. I kept getting the circular logic double talk, and standard issue answers, but I kept asking questions. I found it funny, because I was told by Karen Rosa of AH’s TV & Film Div, that she admired my “sustained passion”.

Herein lays the problem with not only this AH symposium but much of dog training. If you ask too many questions either people get mad, or they fall silent, or in CM’s case they get the lawyers to scare you. In the case of dog training on TV that celebrates causing dogs fear and pain and falsely claiming it’s not a problem, but a man’s “gift” is out right negligence. Nat Geo knows full well what is happening. CM and his thugs know there are different ways to train, and they also know it’s a matter of time before they get caught, that’s right caught. American Humane is sincere in their efforts; I am not saying they are shady. However they are playing with one slippery fish, and they’re out matched in the PR game. After all, that is what TV stars do, they reshape themselves into whatever sells and work at avoiding the wrong kind of controversy. If CM and his people wanted him to get an education legitimately they would have him take some time off, go on the down low and study, jeeze if he’s so gifted it should take no time at all.

Instead they are attempting to take a short cut, co op some new language and use some legit terms to make it appear as though hes humane.

The following is the last Q&A I had with American Humane

• American Humane has not retracted our 2006 statement that is critical of Cesar Millan training methods.
Yet it is not on your website. Which sends the wrong message to the entire community of positive reward based dog trainers and concerned dog owners. So in essence you did retract it. Once you put it back on your website it will be a public statement for us to point to when we need back up during counseling and training sessions. How helpful is your statement unless the public can see it?

• The decision to remove our 2006 statement from our website was made in consideration of moving forward with the planning of our Summit.
I get that, it was undoubtedly a condition placed upon you by Millan Inc. You should not have acquiesced to it. It has sent the wrong message to the very people that are out here working towards a more humane profession. You let us down.

• We are not partnering with Cesar Millan in hosting the American Humane National Dog Training Summit.
You keep saying that, and I believe you, however Millan or his people keep pushing the notion you are. There is a PowerPoint floating around the web stating you are “partnered” with him, and his website announcing the symposium conjures up the image that he has been invited and that you are in support of him. When I asked if you were going to move towards getting it taken down, you said that “freedom of speech would protect them”, yet your freedom of speech is not exercised by leaving your statement on your website?

• Neither Cesar Millan nor his affiliates are giving us any funding nor are they influencing the planning of our Summit.
Again I believe you that he and his people are not funding the event, but you cannot expect me to believe that they are not influencing the event, they got you to take down the statement against his show, so they are influencing the event, Millan has a statement at his website making it seem he & AH are copasetic. My question is what Hollywood star has their high powered lawyer behind the scenes making everyone dance to Millan’s tune? That is my question.


• Cesar Millan’s representatives reached out to open a dialogue with us a few weeks ago and we accepted an invitation to that dialogue.
Again, I understand the sequence of events that took place for the meeting and the symposium, yet Millan’s PR team has it twisted that you asked him to be part of the event, when in fact it was them that came to you. I also know that at first you said no thanks, and then went back with the notion of a broader educational possibility. Education for whom? Millan hopefully. You cannot seriously think that Millan will be teaching anyone at the symposium anything, unless you count how to hoodwink and hack train as educational for other people. Hes had plenty of opportunity to become educated. Its not AHs job to educate Millan, nor is it anyone elses job, its his job to educate himself. That is also a slap in the face to every person that has taken it upon themselves to become educated in dog behavior and positive training. We have to work for it, while he gets a private audience with the best and brightest?

• Mr. Millan has expressed interest in attending our Humane Dog Training Summit and has stated that he is open to evolving his training methods and learning from other trainers.
He may have stated that to you in private, however in public and on his website he does not say that he is interested in learning from anyone, he paints a picture of himself being asked to participate, casting himself alongside other humane trainers/behaviorists et al…as an equal, as being accepted, and American Humane’s bungling of the roll out of this event is mainly to blame. You placed no conditions on him or his people about announcing the event on his website until it was all confirmed and set?!?

• Mr. Millan has not yet been invited to our summit, as the date and location have not been determined.
Look at his website it is quite obvious that he is going to the event and again making it look like he has already been invited.
http://www.cesarsway.com/news/humane-dog-training-symposium

• Any formal invitation to Mr. Millan will be issued at the same time that we issue such invitations to all of our other Summit guests.
Yet he is touting that he has been invited. This is like your once public statement that is now private. Looks like he is dictating the way the event will be perceived. After all, his entire PR team is better than yours. In the end that is what you’re dealing with, like it or not. Why else would they jump so readily to announce he’s part of the event? It gets them much needed validation from critics. They did not waste a second did they?

• As yet we have not determined a date, location, venue or final guest list for the Summit and we are only in the very early stages of planning for the event.
In these early stages you have already caused him to be aligned with people who are opposed to him, given the impression that you no longer have a position statement against his show, methods or ideology and let down a vast majority of the humane and positive dog training community.
Why should I or anyone else believe that this event will not be twisted into a photo op for Millan and his people to just use it for a re make of his image? That is already taking shape. Where is the assurance that he will in fact learn anything, other than he can get away with his shenanigans? You have not even confirmed the event or the other guests and he is touting he’s invited. Can you not see what his people are doing and it’s not even a reality yet. They are so desperate for anything resembling an affiliation or an acceptance from the humane legit crowd that they’ll even take the promise of it.

End of Q&A with American Humane.


Some of the people reading this will be asked to attend this event, and may have already. Some of the people reading this will not be asked. Some will just go back and hang their heads and sigh. The last reaction is what Milan Inc. counts on and what has largely been the reason he’s been able to bully his way through dog training culture, oh sorry dog psychology, or is it now that he modifies behavior?

Whatever side you fall on, know this; the reason why this is important is simple. Dogs deserve not just our worship, dogs deserve our protection.

You might ask why the hell I am so adamant about this topic. CM & I share one very singular distinction, dogs are the reason we’ve got anything in life. I would venture a guess that a good majority of the dog trainers reading this would have to agree they too are secure in life due to dogs. The massive difference is that those of us who train humanely, that have dogs as companions and do not cause them fear or pain, are being high jacked by a charlatan. The culture of dog training is in danger, and dogs everywhere are now in jeopardy of being mis diagnosed and then jabbed, kicked, choked and shocked into submission as a way to “train” them. Personally I’m tired of cleaning up this behavioral mess, and I know many others are as well.

Two recent personal events that illustrate this decline in the desire for people to find out the humane way of doing things when it comes to training dogs.

1 - On a recent dog training session my wife Vyolet Michaels CTC was working with a couple that tried CM’s methods based on watching him on TV, and made the dog so fearful, that the dog was a “shaking bag of bones” to quote my wife. After she explained the fall outs of pain and fear based methods the people said they would have “never done that stuff” if they knew the "truth about what could happen". The operative word here is the truth. The good news is that the dog is now on a legit and humane path towards recovery. The warning on CM’s show does not say why not to copy him, it just says don’t do it.

2 – A few weeks ago I was in a meeting with some people discussing a nationwide dog training program for volunteers and employees in shelters. Some guy who claims to be a dog trainer refused to have a conversation about dog training and behavior. He flat out said “I’m not working with you you’re not working with me”.

I had 14 questions that I needed to discuss before I would I feel comfortable getting involved. The guy folded the paper I’d handed him with the questions and stuck it in his pocket. Then chimed in with how he had “no use for science” because his “clients would not understand it anyway, and they had “no use for it”.

I went on to explain that we’d need a common language if we were going to converse about dog behavior for dogs in a shelter, and that there are numerous ways to turn science info into everyday understandable and digestible language.

Plus never assume your audience is dumb.

You might ask, where do I get the nerve to ask someone to discuss their knowledge base? Well I’d ask why I should work with someone claiming to be a dog trainer with zero legit credentials, after all the dogs in the balance here are shelter dogs and dogs in homes that if not dealt with in humane way, may end up in shelters. If I had been able to find any proof that guy claiming to be a dog trainer had some education, some type of credentials in relation to dog training, I would have felt much more comfortable. He had none, and he was not even interested in a dialog.

A week after I met with these folks, I heard through a volunteer at the local shelter this guy in the meeting claiming to be a dog trainer did a play session and a dog killed another dog. One of the questions I wanted to ask and speak to him about is the protocols for dog - dog intros and potential subsequent play sessions.

Ignorance does kill. Education saves lives.

This resistance to learn, this self credentialed validation and the ever popular
“I‘m good with dogs” street degree or “I’ve been doing it for x number of years” is weak. Now bear in mind I have no PhD, no degree from a university, nope. I also know there are brilliant people that simply figured it out and train dogs humanely. I am the poster boy for if I can do it you can too. I freely admit I have no magic, but I do have legit knowledge and I do have solid mechanical/timing skills when it comes to training dogs.

I’m sure there are far too many stories of people trying things on dogs based on faulty info. More stories should be written about dogs that have been subjected to fear and pain based “training”, and the results of these methods, for it needs be exposed. This way perhaps people will learn it is not the way to go. Where you bloggers at? Personally I have tons of files of clients that have tried CMs nonsense and it did not work out for the better.


While re reading the Cass Sunstein paper The Rights of Animals I was reminded about an excerpt from the California Animal Cruelty Laws that I find to be the essence of CM’s show and the way of the pain trainers everywhere.

…imposes criminal liability on negligent as well as intentional overworking, overdriving,or torturing of animals. “Torture” is defined not in its ordinary language sense, but to include any act or omission “whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted.”

This depicts many of the segments on the DW show is it not? CM has a licensed business in California does he not? Just saying…

I am imploring anyone that says they care about dogs that has benefited from them financially through dog training, or media such as books and DVD’s. Please demand justice for dogs, demand the truth from organizations that say they protect dogs, be it your local SPCA or some conglomerate of professionals and experts. Far too many people that have highly credentialed knowledge stay silent, are “too busy” or simply do not have the gumption to confront the lack of enforcement when it comes to dog abuse in the paradigm of training. Please step up and speak up, your voice is needed. We owe it to dogs.

Here are some suggestions for questions and conditions that should be met before this humane dog training symposium takes place. It’s also a good check list for people that claim they have a gift, are a whisperer or some other form of self credentialed “title”.

These questions need to be asked of CM and the conditions based on his answers should be whether or not he can even have a discussion about dogs in a legitimate way with the legit crowd. If he is supposedly attending a symposium on humane dog training and he is touting that he has been invited, as well as he now modifies behavior, that he is an equal; then he should have no problem with these questions. He can post his answers via You Tube without edits, without reading off cue cards just the answers to the questions.



1 – How do dogs learn?
2 – What are the quadrants of operant conditioning? How are they used?
3 – By and large how do dogs view the world?
4 – What do dogs generalize very well?
5 – What are the three D’s of dog training?
6 – In behavior modification what are the four steps that need to be executed?
7 – What is barrier frustration and why does it occur?
8 – In resource guarding tests at what point should the evaluator stop the test?
9 – What is aggression and what is the purpose of aggression for dogs?
10 – What are the levels of the Dunbar bite scale?
11- When doing on leash greetings with two dogs for the first time what is the protocol and what are the variables?
12 – Leash reactivity can be reduced by what human behaviors?
13 – What are the fallouts of using aversive methods such as pain, force, shock, startle & choking?
14 – When introducing dogs for off leash play, what are the three main things we’d like to know?
15 – Define learned helplessness, flooding and conditioned emotional response.
Puppy development pop quiz!
• When should bite inhibition be worked on and what are the protocols
• When does the critical development period end for puppies?
• What are the three main things to work on with puppies?

ANY dog trainer worth a damn should be able to discuss these topics without any effort. This is especially important when these “trainers” are taking money from people or if they have some type of audience or worldwide platform. This is equally important when working in a shelter as a volunteer or paid employee.

I’d also suggest, invited or not to this symposium, all those who care about the future of the profession of pet dog training should simply show up at this event, and respectfully demand they are allowed to witness this event. If CM can say he’s going, even though he’s not officially been invited, then well why can’t we just show up without an invite? I’m not talking about anything in the way of force or violence, please understand this is about asking questions and obtaining answers. Far too many people are being duped into thinking violence against dogs under the guise of training is ok. Training a dog should not act as a loophole to cause dogs fear or pain. In any other context it would be considered abuse.

We have to admit that humans are the greatest variable in a dogs training and behavior; we have the most influence period. So why would anyone claiming to know dogs not be able to answer these questions, or at the very least want to know as much as they could about dogs before they started working with them professionally on the world stage or otherwise.

If people would start hitting the books and stop hitting the dogs we’d have this whole thing cleared up by now.

Until there is a standardized educational system in place for dog training professionals as well as dog owners, dogs might be worshiped but they are not fully protected.




Cass Sunstein’s paper The Rights of Animals
http://d.scribd.com/docs/cc67d04frp7scr59jka.pdf


Mythologies and co modifications of dominion in the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan
http://www.criticalanimalstudies.org/JCAS/Journal_Articles_download/issue_9/JCAS%20VII%20Issue%201%20MAY%20ISSUE%20Mythologies%20and%20Commodifications%20pgs%20137-161.pdf

Whitewashing the Whisperer
http://www.dogspelledforward.com/the-blog/

Links to information about what is really happening with Milan

http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=253
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/31/opinion/31derr.html?_r=2
http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm
http://www.4pawsu.com/cesarfans.htm
http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1006-ESQ100_20-21.FINAL.rev_1
http://www.urbandawgs.com/divided_profession.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-belzer/first-do-no-harm_b_61755.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/15/CMGPHL9D1N1.DTL
http://www.stevedalepetworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=71
http://www.stevedalepetworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=71http://www.dogwhispererdvd.com/faq-national_geographic_dog_whisperer.html
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-05-05-dog-whisperer_x.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/15/CMGPHL9D1N1.DTL
http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37440019.html?video=pop&t=a
http://www.livescience.com/animals/091112-dog-training.html
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/sample/Dog_Whisperer_Cesar_Millan.html
http://www.apbc.org.uk/cesar_milan_tour_concerns

Yesterday I went with my sister and her boyfriend to look at a litter of bulldog puppies. Those who have been followers of the blog may remember she lost her last one back in May. (Here is his story for those interested: http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/story-journey )

The breeder we found that met our criteria (health testing being number 1) had requirements of her own. Yesterday was their two hour scheduled meeting to see if they met her expectations. (of course I tagged along to help) I am happy to report that the meeting went well and my sister will be getting her bulldog puppy. (Its a boy!)

Alot has happened to get to this point. Finding the breeder was only one step. The biggest one was educating my sisters boyfriend on the process. He had almost fallen prey to the website puppy shopping syndrome. I have to admit there were times I totally understood the urge. Finding a breeder of healthy bulldogs was a huge challenge. And where there are people out there selling them online, like inanimate objects, it can be tough to resist the urge to take the easy road. (Click this button to Buy Now!!! Credit cards accepted.)

Here is why you need to resist that urge however: Reputable breeders do health testing. The puppy you buy online is being produced simply as a product to make someone money. Health testing cuts into their bottom line so they dont bother. They also dont care about good temperment. Many times they will even ship a puppy out to young because it is still cute even though this can mean serious behavior problems for the puppy down the road. (8 weeks is minimum for good behavioral health) In the long run, while the reputable breeders puppy may cost more initially, you are saving money in vet bills down the road. Cant afford it? Would rather be able to use the credit card? Save your pennies one at a time in a special account. It might take time but so will finding a good breeder.

By buying a puppy off the Internet you are adding to the supply and demand of puppies as a product and helping to keep puppymills and their ilk in operation. By purchasing that puppy you have added another nail in the coffin of the dogs that helped produce him. Most of those parents have horrible lives kept in cages and are bred like livestock to continue churning out puppies as product. Do NOT become part of an industry that continues thinking of puppies as a product!!!

Getting a puppy from a reputable breeder gives you a support system. If you have any trouble with your new puppy they will help by answering questions you have for the lifetime of the puppy. If a worst case scenario happens they will even take the puppy (or by then adult dog) back. This ensures that your puppy will never end up in a shelter situation.

Some of those Internet sellers are scams. They can use the bait and switch and send you a different puppy than the one whos photo you saw. Many times because the photo you saw was one they stole off a good breeders website because their puppies dont look as good. Breeders looking to produce a product dont care if their dogs meet the standard for their breed after all. Sometimes the puppy you get is sick. Good luck trying to enforce any health guarantees long distance. (And a health guarantee in most cases is written in such a way no one would ever use it. Who is going to send a puppy back they have already bonded to for another one from a clearly inferior breeder?) Another scam can be that they take your money and you never get a puppy at all. Good luck trying to find them to pursue legal action. Websites can be hosted from anywhere, including other countries. These breeders are taking advantage of the ignorance of first time puppy buyers. I dont know ANYONE who bought from a pet store or off the Internet that repeated that mistake.

The Internet can be a helpful tool when looking for a puppy. But as with any tool there is a right and wrong way to use it. Educate yourself before jumping in with both feet. TAKE YOUR TIME!! To many people succumb to the "I want it now" syndrome and settle for less than what they really want. In many cases that turns out to be a healthy pet.

Expect to travel. It is unreasonable to expect to find an excellent breeder in your back yard that has what you are looking for. I had to fly to Ohio to pick up our frenchie and 2 of my akitas were shipped to me. (from a breeder I knew personally very well)

A good breeder is going to ask you questions. They want to make sure you are the right home for one of their puppies. I know some people are put off by that but consider why they are asking. The ones asking care about their dogs. The ones that dont ask are simply selling you a product. How sad that a puppy is only a product to some people. In some cases you might not be allowed to pick out your puppy either. This is also normal practice for a reputable breeder. Because the breeders know the puppies very well they might prefer to match what they believe is the best puppy for your situation. Some may also let you chose out of a few they think might work for you. And of course they will have kept the pick of the litter for themselves and their breeding program. Of the 3 akita puppies I have had in my life I never actually chose any of them out of a litter. And in all cases they were the best match for me at that time.

**Sidenote: Reputable breeders breed a litter so THEY can have a puppy to continue their lines to show or for them to have a new performance dog. The rest of the puppies are extras because dogs rarely have just one puppy litters. This is why you may need to get on a waiting list. They arent breeding continually to have puppies for sale to the general public.

A good way to find a reputable breeder is to ask the rescue group for that breed for a breeder list. Many reputable breeders are also involved in rescue for their breed as well. Rescues WANT people to go to reputable breeders because their dogs dont end up as a drain on rescues resources.

We are all very excited to be adding a puppy to the family. Yesterday was incredible and I am very impressed with the breeder we found. We got incredibly lucky to find her only 4 hours away from us. The momma dog was super sweet and happy and we look forward to seeing that in this little guy. He wont be coming home until he is old enough to leave him mom and siblings. (ten weeks for optimal behavioral health) Im sure I will have many more pics in the future to share. For now here is a photo of my sister with her new boy. It isnt a great photo of the pup because I didnt want it stolen by the above mentioned B*%&#%*s to be used on a crappy website somewhere.


Here it is, the beginning of the next journey.

First I have to give a HUGE thank you to Jean Donaldson and Gail Tamases Fisher. Both are fabulous dog trainers and authors of some really ground breaking and wonderful dog training books. They, along with Kristy and Charlene of http://www.dogwise.com, are responsible for donating some amazing books to the K-9 Corrections program. I am overwhelmed by their generosity. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! A small program like ours can use all the help and support we can get. Those books will join our growing training library.

And now on to the photo portion of my post. Check out the new ears on our pups.



They are still teething so the ears are doing all sorts of interesting things. One minute they are up, the next down, and sometimes even off to the sides. Its very cute. They both now weigh 13 pounds.

What a difference a few weeks make. Patty is gone to her new home and Jack goes on Saturday. They will be missed but we hope they both have a fabulous life. The transition should be pretty smooth considering they are already crate trained and housebroken on top of their great start in basic training. I wish my puppies came that way!

I put together an extra set of APDT rally signs and notebooks with rules and guidelines for the handlers. I am hoping to have the next dog and handler teams on the K-9 Corrections program pass a level 1 rally course as their graduation. I think this will be a fun and challenging addition to our training. With the signs in their possession they can practice more on their own time as well as during our formal training sessions. I also ordered the APDT Rally DVD. (since I am also a beginner at APDT rally we will be learning some of this at the same time) I chose APDT over the AKC rally because there are local APDT certified judges in the area that have agreed to test the handlers for their graduation. (Thank you Wag It!)

Ill be sure to keep you posted on our progress. Good luck to Patty and Jack!!

I have a confession to make, sometimes I am cheap and sometimes I am lazy. This means I occasionally work to figure out a way to save myself money and time. This idea does both. Here is my secret to a super easy do-it-yourself dog toy. First nab a piece of cloth. I think the one shown was about 3 1/2 feet x 1 foot. It literally was a scrap in a bunch of fleece someone gave me. I didnt even need to pre-cut it. Next cut it into 3 strips, leaving one end piece connected.