dig by dog

I think we are about two weeks in on the new raw food and one week for the dehydrated. Here is a photo of the Primal chopped and ready to go. I am adding some fish oil to Jacks portion as he is having some skin and coat issues. We had blood drawn last week for a thyroid test just to cover all of our bases since it can be an issue in akitas. Plus the fur is growing back really slow from his healing hotspot. Doesnt this look yummy?

And this is the dehydrated mixed and ready to go. They get this for breakfast and the primal patties for dinner. The Primal smells terrible to me, the dogs however seem to love it. The dehydrated doesnt have much smell and compared to the Primal is it a regular rose garden. But again I am super sensitive to smells. The dogs seem to like it all immensely so I will keep on with it. I will probably add some other raw foods as we go but for now the pre-mixed works great for my schedule. Even though Jenny HATES waiting for her breakfast in the mornings. The dehydrated needs to set for a few minutes so there is a wait time involved.

So today Jack went to his groomer Yankee Clipper. He loves his spa days and they all love him there too. The owner of the shop, Liz Czak, used to raise and show akitas herself so I have always felt very comfortable leaving him in their hands. I started taking him when he was just a pup so he got used to it gradually. (short visits initially) He goes for a bath and brush out regularly now and I have to admit I feel no guilt about not doing it myself. Being a longcoated akita makes for much more to groom. I did my other two akitas myself but it was never something I looked forward to. My poor back was always out of whack for days afterwards. Even when I used the humane societies raised tub. Bathing an akita is no picnic for me. It is well worth the cabbage it costs in my book. While I was there I also told her about Chloie so she could keep an eye open for a potential suitable home.

While Jack is away getting beautified my bath day routine consists of washing all the dog bedding and vacuuming the whole house, and mopping floors. No sense sending him out to get clean to come home and lay in dog fur dust bunnies. I made a busy day of it by also washing all the bowls, stuffed toys, chew toys, bones and even his collar too.

The girls had their spa day at home on Thursday night. The one best tip I have for anyone to bathe a dog at home is to invest in a shower hose long enough to use in their tub. It does wonders. Especially because rinsing out the soap is the most important part of any pet bath. If you dont, you risk having an itchy dog and the possibility of impending hot spots. (which can equal an unwelcome vet bill) The hose is so much more effective and faster than the old cup method. Baths, nail trims and even ear cleaning was all accomplished.

Even though grooming day still means work for me I love it. Jack comes home all pretty and fresh smelling and I have a clean house by the end of the day as well. Im certainly no clean freak by anyones definition but a clean house gives a certain satisfaction. Even for the domestically challenged such as myself.

When I went in my bedroom to put away some clothes and Jack followed me and put himself to bed. I guess bath day is a long one for him too.

I got booted off the facebook group of positive dog trainers recently. I made the mistake of defending a friend, calling someone out for being rude, and making a negative comment about the actions of some of the members of the "Truly Dog Friendly" contingent. I think it was that last thing that pushed them over the edge. ~sigh~ Note to self, do not comment on facebook when angry. Sadly I didnt get a timeout or warning about my behavior before the punishment was levied.

For those that dont already know there are many different factions in dog training circles. The 3 basic ones are Traditional, Positive, and the newer guy on the block called Balanced. Traditional is also known as "yank and jerk" to the Positive camp. Positive is also known as "cookie pushers" to the Traditional camp. Balanced is a combination of both methods. They havent gotten a cute nickname yet. I admit I dislike the term balanced because it makes it sound like both of the other methods are "unbalanced". Ive long said positive isnt about being permissive. It is a great marketing gimmick tho. People see the word "balanced" and think it is a better option than the others out there. But I have to also wonder if it isnt about trying to distance themselves from the "purely positive" camp of trainers a little. Someone mentioned in a conversation recently about how some positive trainers make dog owners feel bad because they point out all the things they have been doing wrong with their dog instead of making them feel training is going to be fun for them both and that they will be learning a kinder way to work with their dogs. I have to admit, I can see that happening with some trainers. Not all positive trainers seem to be good with people. Certainly in my recent experience! Maybe the balanced contingent are just crossover trainers in the making. But only if the positive trainers stop beating up on them and just lead by example instead.

I really dont like to argue. Ive been there and done that. A, it doesnt work. Nobody ever gave up their position based on being yelled at and B, it takes to much time and effort. Being angry is draining! I dont have the time or energy for that! So I do what I do and rarely enter into into conversations with the other camp about the why this is better than that technique. Instead I use my own dogs training as an example, and teach my clients why this will work better than that one on one. That is where it is more useful and certainly less confrontational.

Sadly when a group of dog trainers get together, unless they are all of the exact same mindset there will be crankiness at some point. I dislike this but it is a fact of life. Someone always gets upset and angry. Anger tends to make us say and do things we might not do otherwise. Today I am exhibit A. This is why not being upset when training your dog is important. Anger changes our responses to things. Pretty simple right?

So the bomb that set of this particular incident was a discussion on electric collars. Specifically e-fences. For those that dont know most positive trainers dislike the e-collar. We do not see it as a positive training tool because it causes pain for the dog. (even if you call the shocks a "tap") A friend of mine was accused of promoting them on the group because of her questions. In reality I saw it as an opportunity to help trainers know how to answer the questions a client might have about their use or help other trainers who have questions about them. You can see why this might be a hot button topic. In a "force free" trainer setting there is only one appropriate answer. Nodontdoittheyareallbadendofstory. Their answer was do not discuss because we are against it. I am of the mind that without discussion there can be no education however. The trick is to stay calm and rational, not easy when peoples hot buttons are being pushed. Mine included.

So for the record here are my thoughts on e-collars. For basic training I say never. There is no reason to have to shock your dog to teach him something that can be taught without it. I do not train dogs with them and never will. E-fencing - This one is a big fat "it depends but probably not" for me. Most people use it incorrectly, (they think its ok to leave dogs unsupervised in them) use it in unsuitable areas, (neighborhoods with people walking by) or have dogs it isnt suited for. (some dogs will take a hit to get out but not come back in) You can also cause anxiety or aggression in a dog with misuse of e-fencing. I see this fallout ALOT with clients. That said there are very specific times where an e-fence may be the only option. I know of a certain terrier that needs one INSIDE a physical fence because she is the worlds fastest digger and can be gone quicker than you can say "Stop digging that hole!" For her it is a safety issue. (ah the joy of earth dogs!) All dogs are indivuals remember as are all situations.

I very rarely train dogs to e-fences myself because most times they just arent the best option for the dog, even if the owner thinks otherwise. I just will not take on the liability of its likely failure, nor put a dog through it when I know it wont work to solve their problem. I think in the last 10 years I have only done it twice. Once because the people moved the fence to many times and the dog became afraid of the grass. The other time was because an owner had installed a home version and wanted me to drag the dog through it to make sure he knew where the boundary was. I refused. Worried he was going to do it incorrectly after I left, I taught him how to do it properly so it was fair for the dog. (I had been called there for basic training.) I do try to warn clients of mine that already have the fencing of the negatives they may not have thought of. Animals can still come into the yard so install some night lighting so you can watch out for skunks and porcupines. Dogs can still come into the yard and attack your dog. You dog may become motivated enough to run through for some reason but not want to run back. So while I do not promote the e-fence, I do not think banning them is an answer either. I wouldnt mind seeing electronic collars banned for everything but fence training. Banning tools is a slippery slope however. There are people out there who would ban the head collar for dogs as to aversive as well. Once we start with bans they can quickly get out of hand. Just ask anyone in BSL.

The Truly Dog Friendly contingent is not a bad group. They were created because in the realm of positive training there was disagreement about who was positive enough to be considered a real positive trainer. Even the factions have factions! Its enough to make your head spin! I actually admire them for their stance. They want to to what is best for all dogs. I get that. Who doesnt want that? Its why people unknowingly join PETA. I mean who isnt for the ethical treatment of animals? I even have friends who are members of the TDF group. Unfortunately I find some other of their members bullying in their tactics to spread their "gospel" of training. I also do not qualify to be a member because of my occasional training work with police dogs who wear and use pinch or prong collars. (Sidebar: Traditional training should ONLY be done on working dogs in my opinion. And even then with the least force to be effective possible and lots of praise as a reward. Thankfully some jobs are trained using positive methods, i.e. drug search, tracking and cadaver work. And you can RUIN a good dog with piss poor timing using traditional methods by the way. End of rant.)

I am thinking about starting my own group for trainers on facebook. Or look for another one more suited to what I believe in. One where trainers can talk about cases, get info from other trainers, share commiserations of tough cases and learn more about positive training. We cant do better until we know better after all. My friend Gina coined the term for this as, "evolution through education". I love that! Ive heard some complaints about APDT allowing traditional trainers into the group but I think its a good idea. If we dont share our knowledge in a civil manner with other trainers looking for that knowledge then how is that helping ALL dogs? I know being a member helped me during my crossover period. They cant become crossover trainers if no one shows them the bridge after all.

So that is my take on the minefield of training methods and their people. I dunno, my husband calls me an optimist. Perhaps I am expecting to much in thinking we should try to all just get along. The good news is that I know I am not alone. There is a faction out there for me too. I just need to find it.

(I will not comment when I am angry, I will not comment when I am angry, I will not comment when I am angry, I will not comment when I am angry, I will not comment.......)

For a great book on crossover training check out "The thinking dog ~ Crossover to clicker training" by Gail Fisher.

At least once a week, Cody and I go for a long morning run.  We often do more, but sometimes Cody is just too tired, so I leave him at home.  Anyway, this morning, like every other week, we headed out for our run.  The plan was 7.5 miles (a 12k in honor of 12-12-12).  Usually, Cody and I drive into the city and meet up with a friend, but this time we were on our own, so we left from the house and ran 2.5 miles to a local park, ran through the park, and then ran home.  One thing that I found a bit shocking was how many dogs were off-leash once we entered the park.

Now, Im the first person to condone having dogs off leash.  I think dogs need the opportunity to act like dogs.  They need to have the chance to run and sniff and pee on bushes, and Ill admit I had Cody off leash and out of a heel for a portion of the run through the park.  What I dont condone is having ZERO control over your dog.  If your dog cannot allow another dog and jogger to pass without chasing it, dont allow it off leash.  If your dog wont come when called, no matter what the circumstance, dont allow it off leash.  If your dog has ANY sort of aggressive tendencies towards people or other dogs, DONT ALLOW IT OFF LEASH!!

The reason Im so upset about this issue this morning is because this is not the first time this has happened.  Just last Saturday I had to stop 3 times in that park because a dog was charging up to me while its owner hollered for it to come back.  I was lucky that all the dogs were friendly, and the owners were lucky that Im not scared of dogs at all (in fact I kind of enjoy having them run around me), but most people arent like me. 

Too many people are scared of dogs.  Too many people have dogs that arent dog friendly.  Too many people are just annoyed at having to stop mid-run because theyre being chased by an overly friendly dog!  Its not fair that dog owners think its OK to let their dogs do whatever they want just because theyre dogs are friendly.

What if Cody werent dog friendly?  What if the multiple dogs that approached us today had sent him over the edge?  Would Cody be held liable for attacking a dog, or would the dog that approached uninvited be at fault?

Anyway, Ill say it again.  If you cant control your dog, please dont let him off leash.  That said, if you want to learn some great off-leash control, give me a call.  Im more than happy to help.  Cody did wonderfully this morning, and he kept his focus on me even when he was approached by multiple dogs.  Im very proud of my boy, and Im glad that hes able to handle such big distractions.  I just worry about other people and other dogs who might not handle such big distractions so well.  Please keep that in mind the next time you take your dog(s) out.  Thanks!

Saturday was the Humane Society of Knox Countys annual Fur and Foliage fundraiser event. I am happy to say it went off without a hitch. The weather was fabulous and we had very good attendance. I was in charge of the "Try-your-luck" agility course and answered training and behavior questions for free. It is always fun watching kids (and adults) trying to get their dogs to co-operate on the course. The rules are: no pulling or pushing your dog to get them to go, and we want to see you having fun! I help whoever needs it on the course with lots of motivation in the form of cheese. Everyone gets some sort of prize at the end and a certificate. Our biggest competitor this year was a mastiff and our smallest was a dachshund. It was a hoot to watch.

We tried to add more vendors this year. Unfortunately some couldnt make it but we did have more than we had last year. My friends at The Smiling Frog Pets came and did very well. They donated some of the prizes for the agility contest too. CW studios glass work, Barefoot Books, and The Loyal Biscuit Co. were some of the others that made it. Thanks also to Tri Pom Chews for donating to our raffle even though they couldnt attend. We had a balloon artist that was amazing and a caricaturist too. We also had some live music this year which was new. I have to admit I was worried about that addition but it was fabulous.

We also had photos with Santa and this year added a fall scene area for photos as well. I thought it looked great. I only wish I had my own dogs there to take advantage of it. The Maine POM project was also in attendance and we had other fun stuff like face painting for the kids who were there. I saw lots of cat faces so I assume it was a hit. Lots of money was raised thanks to all of the walkers collecting donations. Congrats to Missy Parkerton and Joette Adams for being the top 2! These ladies have been in the top for about 3 years in a row now. How awesome are they?!!


Sadie from the K-9 Corrections program got to attend since she is currently looking for her new home. She is seen here wearing her "Adopt Me" vest. Extra thanks to Kim Grinell for making that for her at the last minute. She looked great!  I also got to see Mason at the event. He is one of the former K-9 Corrections dogs. His new name is Ollie and he is doing fabulous. I bought a few raffle tickets myself and this year even won a couple items! It was very surprising as I rarely win stuff. Especially stuff I really want. One was a bag of delicious Made in Maine chicken jerky from Tri-Pom Chews (I know it is delicious because Jack told me so!) and the other was a gift basket donated by the Loyal Biscuit. Nice! Before you say I am being selfish by keeping my prizes let me assure you that at least half of the stuff is headed to the prison for the K-9 Corrections dogs. I have always been good at sharing. :-)
Im sure I am forgetting something important but those are the highlights as my brain has remembered them. I look forward to next year as we plan in it being even bigger and more fun. Stay tuned! Many more photos of the event can be seen on my facebook page. They arent the best though since all I have for a camera at the moment is on my phone. As they say, something is sometimes better than nothing!

Originally this was going to be a post about goals in training but I finally read all of my e-mail from the week and found a nugget of pure gold to share that took top priority.

As a trainer I get different catalogs, magazines and e-newsletters from various sources. My top 3 favorites at the moment are The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, Off Lead & Animal Behavior, and an e-newsletter from Leerburg. As a trainer that has worked with police dogs, knowing about Leerburg is practically a requirement. They also have a ton of knowledge and some awesome stuff. Not to mention I have a huge soft spot and great respect for all working dogs. I just love to watch dogs doing what they were bred to do. This is also one reason I love tracking so much, it is using a dogs natural ability to do something they enjoy.

I was reading their newsletter and came across an article that made me giddy with excitement. (literally giddy I tell you, I may have even made happy sounds while reading it) Prepare yourselves, it is long and very in depth: The Power of Training Dogs with Markers

Since this is how I do the majority of my training, coupled with luring, I am very pleased to see such a well written and FREE article sharing the information. My only major disagreement with the article is his recommendation of using electronic collars for extinguishing self rewarding behaviors. E-collars for obedience training are best left to professionals ONLY if at all in my opinion. Timing is just to critical with them.

It looks like this will be my next DVD purchase for the prison program. I shall probably also add this link to the blog permanently as well.

Speaking of working dogs, I stumbled across a website surfing the other night with some fabulously beautiful photos. It is a doberman site but they also have a rottie and a boxer rescue. Dont forget to check out the blog for more great photos as well. (click though the older posts) Link here: VanLayne

On a sad note it seems the Law Dog program is shutting down. I for one am extremely upset to see it go. It was a fabulous program that gave some great positive PR for pitbulls. There is more information on their homepage.

(The stained glass piece is one a friend made for me of my own akita logo design. Yes, I have very cool friends.)

I have been reading quite a few posts lately about kids and dogs, and seeing photos of kids and dogs, and videos of kids and dogs that are being shown as proof of how scary watching kids and dogs together can be. Whew, that was even hard to type!

It is interesting how many opinions there are on what is considered "safe" when it comes to the pairing of kids and dogs. There are a few things to consider when viewing kids and dogs together in photos or even in video. The problem with snapshots is that they only show one moment in time. Reading body language is contextual and can change in an instant with dogs or in between the frames of a few photos. Is the dogs ear really back as body language or did they flick a fly off the ear in the moment before the photo was taken? In video do we know the normal body language of the dog in question? What is normal for that particular dog? Does the dog already know the kid they are being videoed with? Is there audio in the video or are background sounds masking a potential problem? A low warning growl from a dog may not be audible enough for us to hear or may be unrecognised as a warning signal by an owner as such.

I think as dog trainers we are programed to sometimes see all the potential dangers and pitfalls of kids and dogs together because of what we do and the things we see. Not all interactions of kids and dogs have happy endings after all. We would hope that a parent would never do anything that would intentionally hurt their child, but there are so many dog owners who simply misread their dogs cues. Being a parent, or even a dog owner, doesnt automatically give you the skills needed to keep everyone safe. Just like owning a car doesnt give me the skills needed to fix it when it breaks down. Having something and knowing what makes it tick are two separate things.

There are just a few rules that can help keep everyone safe when it comes to children and dogs.

1) Teach your children to always ask to pet a dog they do not live with and wait for permission to do so. Not all dogs are good with people and some are even afraid of children if they havent been exposed to them in a positive way.

2) Teach children to never bother a dog that is eating or chewing a bone. Possessive aggression is very common in dogs and can result in a bite if the child does not see/hear and heed the dogs warning. Many adults miss the cues to resource guarding so we cant expect a child to recognise them. Teach them a growl from a dog means "Go Away!

3) Teach children to never bother a dog that is asleep. Startling a dog awake is another thing that can result in a bite. Desensitize your dogs to being startled awake if that may be a potential problem in a busy household.

4) Teach children to never bother a dog in a crate (sticking fingers in or poking) or approach any dog that is tied or chained out. Some dogs are territorial or can become overstimulated if left out on a tether. Many dogs tied out dont get alot of attention so they become a little wild if given an opportunity for some.

5) Train your dogs to greet people politely. Sometimes children get hurt by over exuberant dogs trying to say hello. When in doubt of your dogs skills simply say no to the greeting and walk away. Protect your dog! Some dogs need to be counter conditioned to the presence of children. Not all dogs grow up with kids after all. (or may have had negative experiences with kids in the past) And some children may not be appropriate with your dog either. If the child looks hard to control avoid the interaction.

6) Teach children how to pat a dog appropriately. Pounding them on the head isnt most dogs favorite. Nice gentle strokes along the back is the best spot to teach kids to touch them.

7) Supervise all interactions with kids and dogs. Unfortunately this will not prevent all bites if you are unaware of warning signals. If a dog stiffens its body when a child comes near or growls that means " I am uncomfortable" or "Go away". Remove the dog from the situation and contact a trainer that can help you remedy the situation. Do NOT teach the dog not to growl. If you do this you are only taking away the warning communication and can end up with a dog that bites without warning in the future.

Bites can happen in an instant. For some dogs that bite results in its death. I dont think it is fair to put a dog down if no one witnessed the incident. Sometimes kids do things to dogs that provokes a bite in self defense and if it is the kids word against a dog with no other witness the dog may lose. Kids will lie if they think they are going to get into trouble. Thinking a dog needs to tolerate all things from all people just isnt fair nor realistic.

My favorite tool in a home with dogs and really young children is baby gates. They help give both the dog and the kids a safe zone when close supervision isnt possible. I also highly recommend parents to be find out how to acclimate their dog to the coming arrival. Check out this post with some tips by my trainer friend Nancy on ways to begin doing that:
http://mainepets.mainetoday.com/blogentry.html?id=11756


Moment of truth: Some of the online photos and videos of kids with dogs do make my heart leap into my throat sometimes. It is the downside to dealing with some of the fallout of my job as a trainer. I want to prevent ALL bites to children. Aside from the physical damage a bite can cause, it can also cause long term psychological damage as well. Ask most people that dont like dogs why that is and most will tell you it was because they were either bitten as a child, or scared by a dog as a child. I prefer to live in a dog friendly world. Keeping kids safe is just one of the ways we can ALL make that possible.

A couple months ago I submitted some photos of Jenny to the Owned by Pugs calendar contest. I am slightly addicted to their blog and saw that the calendar raises money for pug rescue. The photo shown here got chosen! She is just one of many cute pugs seen in "September". Go check it out! http://www.ownedbypugs.com/index.php/CalendarContest/calendar Oh and while you are there BUY A CALENDAR!!! You even get to chose which pug rescue group, or memorial fund, you want your donation to go to. Talk about a win/win!

Before I went to sleep last night I was reading Gail Tamases Fishers book "The Thinking Dog" as part of my New Year plan to catch up on said dog related reading. Of course this sparked a dream involving training and left me with some interesting thoughts when I woke up. Funny how that sometimes works.

OK Im sure I am probably one of the last people to try this, and everyone will laugh at how silly this post is because of that fact. But I have to share one of my favorite dog related Christmas gifts this year. It is............drumroll please..........a head lamp. Yup one of those dorky flashlights you wear on your head. As shown on this lovely model here:


My sister uses one and got me my very own as a gift. I have to say I really love it. Since I refuse to put up flood lights at our temporary home this is a far less expensive way to get the same results. I can see my dogs no matter where they are in my yard at night and I have my hands free while doing it. I know, it isnt exactly inventing the wheel but what can I say? When I find a useful product I like to pass the info along. Anything to make life easier with dogs is always nice to have.


This is Missy Moo outside in the light of the lamp with NO flash on the camera. Pretty good huh? I believe mine came from L.L.Bean. (where else?) It can be found in the camping and outdoor section. I hope someone else out there thinks this is as great an idea that I did. Even if I was a little slow in finding it. (My other helpful tip is to keep it near the door so you dont forget to use it.)

Sunday- Had a blast down in Mexico with my friend Omar and his Mal girl- Diva!.  We were working on go outs - building her speed on going to the mat, where she would offer a default down, unless asked to do another behavior.

Jenny and I took a trip to our favorite local dog store to show the harness off and hint that she might want to carry them there. (She looks good in pink no?) I will definitely be recommending them to clients and friends in the future. Aside from the harness the company also makes some drool worthy collars and leashes too. (leashes with my favorite scissor clips and my favorite collar type: the double loop also known as a martingale) Go check them out and see for yourself. I will totally be ordering one in the near future. The harness also comes in different types as well as other colors and patterns. Its nice to have choices.

So I report that Jenny and I give this product a 4 paws up. I love it. Happy walking!!

(P.S. The Weiss Walkie and Easy Walk are also good products that I have used and recommended in the past. I just really like the flexability that this product offers and the ease in which it can be used by the average owner. )

I have been super busy on all fronts. The vet clinic has been busy which means I come home exhausted and I am seeing clients left and right on top of that. (I saw my first ever Keeshond pup in the flesh this week! Cute!) I am also getting ready for the local shelters Fur and Foliage dog walk and hope to attend Woofstock  in Damariscotta this week as well. Last weekend was the local AKC dog show in Union to check out and I got to have lunch with Jen of Inu-Baka blog. (I even met Buckley!) If she lived closer wed totally be BFFs. Squeeze in me attempting to get some knitting projects finished in my "spare time" before winter hits. (That makes me laugh just typing it!) ~sigh~

There needs to be more hours in the day for me, seriously. I promise I will post something of substance soon. I have a new leash to show off, news about the K-9 Corrections program, (Look for one of my handlers letters in the recent issue of Bark magazine!) and will be participating in a 7 blog post challenge. I just need a little more time to get some of that written up. One would think having a 4 day weekend for labor day would have helped. Nope! Those hours got sucked away in a vortex of "what happened to my day off ?" whirlwind of chores. I do post more on my facebook page for those that like to keep up with my outings and such. Using FB is much less time consuming than blogging. (at least for me)

Thanks for your patience and stay tuned!

This morning I drafted my sister to help get some video of Jenny and I tracking. Difficulties with the good camera unfortunatly means we had to use mine which isnt nearly as nice. We did a really short track with one turn. I have added sits when she finds articles because she tends to work so fast. (A huge change from Jack who is very slow.) I am unsure if I would see them otherwise. Perhaps I will change that to a fetch or a down later. In this video she did miss two articles (or I missed her finding them) and she overshot the corner abit. But she made the turn and got back on track. The video is 3 minutes long with sound tho it is mostly of the wind.

While there we ran into this cutie, a portugese water dog puppy named Spot. They had a few moments together. (which is one reason we go to the store on tuesdays, socialization)

Then auntie Marie bought him a flossie. For anyone with bulldogs this spiral shape is awesome for their big mouths. It slows them down enough to make it a chewie and not a quick snack. (it also worked great for my Jenny who tends to try inhaling things) They key is supervision so if they get a length all mushy you can simply cut it off before they suck it down their throat and choke.

While there I also picked up more training treats (Zukes!) and a new treat bag made by Olly Dog. I chose the one on the left. (I love pink!) My current bag has a snap shut feature but it squeaks which I dont like. For my own dogs I typically try to use my pockets, but when I am with a client it is much easier most times to snap one of these on. After I left there I went and bought a new raincoat. After a couple of days of the sun (finally!) we are back in another rainy period. If this keeps up I going to begin construction on an ark.

There seems to be two trains of thought running concurrently through dog training. There is the positive and the well, the not so positive. As with anything that gets called into question, these old fashioned methods now have to explain themselves. At least the trainers who choose these methods should be able to detail how it will affect the dog’s behavior past the momentary squelching.

There is no shortage of studies on how electronic shock causes pain and elicits fear in dogs. That is well documented in humans, monkeys, rats and dogs. The trouble is there are few too people who know better speaking up. Which leads to unaware dog owners, i.e.; consumers paying for devices that harm and often times on the ill conceived advice from a dog “trainer”?
This leaves quite a few people in the dark about what goes on with not only shock, but other forms of fear eliciting methods to “train” a dog. I always remind people that whether your pro dog anti dog, or somewhere in the middle, we all want safe dogs that have less aggression, less fear and owners attached to dogs that have legitimate skills and an understanding of at least their own dogs. You do not need to know as much about your car as the mechanic, it’ll help but you can do fine driving safe, changing the oil and filling it with the proper fuel. However if you call yourself a dog trainer you’d better be able to back it up with something more than the “good with dogs” credential., which is usually self - credentialed.

I am always amazed when certain people challenge me on training ideas/advice and even become offended, or feel I’m a “know it all”. Wouldn’t you want the most well informed and best credentialed person you could find for yourself in any capacity? Indeed we do, however some people feel as those it is an effrontery to their very self worth if someone else knows more about their dog.

Dogs require and deserve quite a bit more than folk wisdom or the advice from un- credentialed self professed experts. Dog owners in these highly media driven, litigious times with financial down turn concerns would do well by getting the most humane understanding of dogs they can. Why? It’s the right thing to do for you and your dog, it is the most cost effective way to address dog issues, and pretty soon it will be against the law to make your dog feel fear and pain in the name of training. With addition of a third CTC dog trainer my business is on a trend towards working with 800 – 1,000 dogs a year by 2010. In 2008 the dogs we worked with are part of group classes, private training sessions, board and train programs, plus a variety of volunteer work. Every dog that we’ve worked with that has been the recipient of harsh aversives has displayed some kind of fear based behaviors.

In many cases it is fear over seemingly innocuous interactions with people or dogs or a generalized sense of fear to the world. Hand shyness, hesitation of doorways, stairs, approaching strangers, fear of other dogs, and fear of losing resources, i.e. resource guarding, such as food, toys or sleeping locations. Fear is the precursor to aggression.

One large part of legitimate dog training and behavior modification/study is normalizing behaviors for dog owners. When I am speaking with perspective clients I remind them if a “trainer” cannot explain it how they can train it? The days of “I’m great with dogs, they all love me” are coming to a close. The reason being is there is no more room to run for these types.
It really has become a game of either figure it out or get out of the business. Media and the internet have changed the game. Verifiable scientific facts on how animals learn, and learn best are available. The fallouts from using aversive methods are easily obtained. Now it’s just up to those of us who are not afraid to speak up, too speak up.

In email exchanges with Corporal Al Peterson head investigator for the NJ SPCA cruelty division, I found out that the courts do not take an animal’s emotional state into account in cruelty cases. This is dumbfounding. Science proves that animals do have emotional states both positive and negative, called Conditioned Emotional Response. However in the court of law slick defense attorney’s can charge “prove it”. Well we can, the trouble is there are not enough educated people to go around in defense of animals. If a dog “trainer” applies shock or aversives to a dog and there was no sign of aggression prior to that person applying the aversives, is that not a direct correlation to how the dog developed the new aggressive behavior? It sure is. I have seen it many times in varying degrees. In order to claim abuse the dog has to be severely injured or killed. The court will not enter a dog’s emotional state into evidence.

Recently I read about a way to “use punishments and not feel guilty”. Hmm guilt? Is that not an intellectual emotion based on the morality and inner consciousness of one’s self? Isn’t guilt contextual/cultural/religious? Some people feel guilt over things that are harmless, like eating chocolate cake, while others look the other way in the face of elephant sized atrocities grazing in the room. If you’re not doing anything harmful, why should you have to intellectually stuff down or avert guilt?

When a very matter of fact without incrimination time out is issued to a dog for barking after giving a warning cue such as “that’s enough”, it’s not damaging to the dog to lose freedom. P- for those following at home. It’s frustrating, the equivalent to a bummer for us humans. We’re talking parking ticket level bummer. What has happened here is a chain of events, and we know that dogs pick up on sequences really well, especially when they are consistent. If done right you can ask many dogs “That’s enough” or incorporate other basic conversational verbal cues to quite or calm. You have to for a bit get off your duff and do some leg - work and not frighten the dog. Any dog “trainer” who does not clue you into the “secret” that dog training is mechanics and timing and understanding or interpreting dog behavior correctly as well as being kind, is a snake oil salesman.

Let’s flip the script, the person uses some form of violence, hey let’s call it what it is, the dog stops the behavior, and the human feels empowered. Instant success so it seems. The problem is, what do you do when the dog is outside the home in a new context? Once the human ramps up the fear or the pain level the dog will kick into high gear survival mode, this means the dog is not doing well. This is all happening at the hands of in many cases the dog’s owner.
One can always reward the dog for correct responses, and the good behavior we ask for. Not just constantly hammering the dog for all the things people do not want the dog to do. Many of these behaviors dogs display that people don’t want to tolerate are behaviors intrinsic to being a canine! Unfortunately quite a few people only punish or squelch the behaviors they don’t want and rarely reward the good behaviors beyond praise. In addition if you are not consistent and you do not train your dog to increase the probability of the behaviors you want, then what are you doing? You’re busting your dogs chops quite a bit is what you’re doing. Not a fun way to live for dogs or humans.

Trust is essential for dogs and humans to coexist. Once that trust is compromised dogs become fearful, hesitant and possibly aggressive. The worse the pain the worse the fallout, it’s a real easy flow chart. The sad part is people interact with their dogs in fear based ways as a mode of “communicating” quite a bit without any knowledge of how it effects the dogs overall behavior; sounds quite selfish.

I was speaking with Kris Crawford who has trained search & rescue dogs for 20 years. She told me that during the training for S&R dogs, which takes 2 – 3 years, the dogs have to learn to jump from 10 – 12 feet into the handlers arms. That takes trust. Dogs ultimately view the world as safe or unsafe, no matter what you think or want to believe this how quite a few decisions are made by dogs, if not all.

Creating bonds are the goal, not building binds. So make sure that all interactions with a dog are kind, conversational and consistent. One day you’re going to need your dog to trust you, if they don’t it may cost them their lives.

Our society is fascinated with quick fixes and instant gratification. Dogs provide that in the form of being happy to see us, needing little more than some food, water and companionship. However what dogs also teach us if we’re willing to learn, is to slow down for a second and not be self absorbed, dogs will teach us patience, dogs will teach us selflessness, dogs can teach us valuable skills in science and math; If we’re willing to learn from them.
I remember Janis Bradley reminding us upon graduation from the SFSPC’s Academy for dog Trainers, to at least once a day just “be with your dog, don’t require it to do anything, just be with it and be kind”. We demand quite a bit from dogs, and in many cases they are really going against their instincts to please us. Its part of life and it’s not the worst thing as long as we’re being gentle and respectful about it. Results in behavior happen whether you want them or not, so being humane at least ups the odds your dog will be padded somewhat through these frustrating or even fearful circumstances.

I saw a piece recently on Current TV about a program that teaches female inmates in upstate NY to care for and train dogs from 8 weeks to 12 months. The dogs go on to become detection dogs in law enforcement. All the women were literally transformed by the experience. I don’t doubt it. In order to be a really good person “with dogs” you have to remove ego and personal baggage. It’s essential you focus on the dog, not all your feelings about all that is “happening to ME”! Get over yourself and get into your dog.

At the end of an advanced basic training three class two clients were discussing their dogs and one man said to another that he was not sure if he’d ever own this breed gain (pit-bull) , they’re “allot of work” “ allot of “responsibility”, when he asked the other man if he’d own a pit bull again, he said no matter what dog he might have in the future he “learned so much about dogs from his Pit Bull” that he would be prepared for “any type of dog”, and then he gleefully admitted “ yea I would own a Pit Bull again, they’re really great fun dogs”.

Having the perspective that dogs are a gift and a way to enrich your life can really change your daily interactions with dogs. Dogs unlike anything else I’ve seen can unite and connect people from the most varied backgrounds. Dogs however are also caught in the midst of a division. There are factions out there in and out of “dogs” who just don’t understand them. Who are using them for their own ends and in some cases ignoring the intrinsic way dogs learn and how human behavior affects them.

So it boils down to people having to take stock in themselves. The legalities and abuses of dog training methods are not going unnoticed. Each time someone gets busted for abuse in the name of dog training, it just mounts the case that the use of these methods for training dogs are not effective or well liked by the majority of the general public. I have only met one or two people in the past 10 years who actually want to hurt dogs and enjoy being aversive. The rest are willing to give up their archaic ways once they have found a more humane and effective way to address their dog.

Remember squelching behavior with harsh aversive methods in dogs comes with a behavioral price. The momentary short burst of human anger and the resulting canine fear has a cumulative effect, especially with daily repeats. It may also only take one time for your dog to become really undone by it. Is that worth the risks? One day all these pain trainers and dog owners that gravitate towards harsh methods could wake up to law suits or jail time for animal abuse? At least the dogs will be safer and the public more aware and educated. Is that not the point of all this?










References
http://www.goodnewsforpets.com:80/Articles.asp?ID=147
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29180079/
http://d.scribd.com/docs/cc67d04frp7scr59jka.pdf
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/dominance%20statement.pdf
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/Combined_Punishment_Statements.pdf
http://www.ust.is/media/ljosmyndir/dyralif/Trainingdogswithshockcollar.pdf
http://www.komonews.com/home/video/37440019.html?video=pop&t=a
THE DOG WHISPERER, CESAR MILLAN, on THE OREILLY FACTOR
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.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/06-dog-whisperer.html
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.dailyrecord.com/article/20081129/COMMUNITIES11/811290326/1005/NEWS01#)
http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/abuseclaimsquestiondogtrainers-1164
http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/dogtraining/
UPenn Study
http://www.livescience.com/animals/090217-dog-training.html

Jo Jacques CPDT, CPCT & Sandy Myers CDBC
http://www.4pawsu.com/IAABC_Ecollar.pdf

Dr. Karen Overall
http://www.pitbullguru.com/shock.html

Australia SPCA Links about humane training for dogs
http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/science8.pdf
http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/science9.pdf
http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/science14.pdf
http://www.rspca.org.au/resource/science16.pdf

http://www.endofmyleash.com/
http://www.slice.ca/Shows/AtTheEndOfMyLeash/QAndA.aspx?Title_ID=105200
http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/brad-pattison-gets-annoyed/14534450

I finally whipped my scanner into submission so I could share some of the pug photos from a couple of ebay finds. The following photos are from "The complete pug" by Milo G. Denlinger second edition 1958, copyright 1947. I am facinated with breed histories and love looking at old photos. It is interesting to see them before we changed them so much.

The 4 photos above are originally from Watsons dog book - 1910 stated by author.