Dog Training Blog
When you live with multiple dogs, in a suburban area where walks are done, it's important to keep in mind the different personalities of each dog.
I hate to say it but.....winter is coming. If you are someone who wants to use a coat or boots on their dog, now is the time to make a really good positive association with these new items. It takes time to get your dog used to having them put on along with walking in them.
The developmental period of adolescence can be a very challenging time for both human and dog.
It begins at 6 months of age and continues until the dog reaches physical maturity at approximately 2 – 3 years of age (depending on breed). Six to twelve months are often the most challenging. Every dog is different.
Challenging phases will come and go. Some will be more challenging than others.
Training new skills, teaching new behaviour to a different species is not easy but it’s one of the most important things to do when you bring an animal into your home.
For reasons unknown to me, I see unwillingness in many dog guardians to understand this very basic concept.
Teaching is a skill. Learning takes time.
Puppies NEED to chew. They need to chew as young pups as well as when their adult teeth begin coming in at 5/6 months.
Exploring with their mouths is a normal part of development.
Some of the most common complaints I hear are: the puppy won’t leave the resident dog alone, he is always jumping on him, one dog finishes eating before the other and goes to take the food, one or the other is grabbing toys and running off, the older one is growling at the younger one, it’s difficult to walk them, and so on.
Behaviour = Consequence. Period.
We all perform behaviour to achieve a particular consequence. The consequence sometimes can be unintended.
Think back to the good old days, when we enjoyed a meal in a crowded, noisy restaurant with many different conversations, laughter, and loud voices surrounding us.
How did we manage to have a conversation with our table mates? Sometimes our brain might pick up a conversation or two from nearby or loud tables, but eventually they faded into the background again.
That is where I see the biggest mistake consistently being made.
Before you even step out the door, high arousal begins. Fido!! Fido!! Wanna go for a walk??!!! Let's go for a walk!!!! Yea!! Let's go, let's go!!
This is often accompanied by a high pitch, excited voice, and fast movements. Perhaps it becomes a struggle to get the leash and harness on as well.
When training your new puppy or older dog it’s important to have an end goal in mind. Depending on that goal there will be a different number of steps to go through until you get to the final result.
Testing at each level is a step I believe is often overlooked for many people.
The biggest struggle I come across is a client who is willing to do the work but is dealing with friends, family members, and strangers trying to sabotage or unwilling to do as you ask because they disagree.
One of the most widely held beliefs when meeting a new dog is to hold your hand out for the dog to sniff.
But should you?
Barking. It's probably the one behaviour I can't tolerate. It drives me crazy.
Step one: determine the cause and there are many: boredom, fear, excitement, demand, frustration, separation anxiety, and alarm barking. Each one requiring a different plan. Each plan takes time to work. Be patient. Be consistent.
I am not looking for my dog to blindly obey me. The word obedience carries with it the concept of a superior and subservient relationship. Once you start using language such as obedient, disobey, and punishment, the manner in which you handle mistakes is formed.
There is some confusion about reinforcing fear when your dog is scared or unsure. Some people will suggest ignoring the dog during a thunderstorm or when encountering something frightening. They are told not to pet or interact if the dog runs to them because fear will be reinforced.
These are some very challenging times. whether you have a puppy, a dog, or neither. Life, as we have been used to living it, has changed.
I see this scenario on a fairly regular basis. Two dogs are running, one chasing the other. The owners are thrilled the dogs are having a great time! They are running around and burning off energy. It’s great!
Not necessarily so. Is only one dog being chased? Is the play mutual? Is the dog in front enjoying being chased and having fun or is he trying to stay away?
It’s not a comfortable or popular conversation but it needs to be had.
Having that discussion with family and friends while you still can, is vital to ensuring your beloved family pet does not end up in a shelter or left behind to fend for himself.
It's been my experience that most people don't have as much success as they think they do when using cues (commands) because they begin by assuming their dog understands the meaning and behaviour associated with the cue (command) they are using from the moment the puppy or dog enters their home.
Ask most dog owners one thing they'd like to change in their dog? Jumping at the door - on them and on guests. This can be a challenging behaviour to change if your dog has been doing it for a long time but it can be done.
So many families bring a dog into the home for their kids because it's a wonderful experience - it can be. It can also be a bad experience for both parties.
Good relationships between children and dogs don't just happen. They develop over time. Each participant needs to learn what to do and what not to do.
Come! It's something everyone wants their dog to do and yet it’s something most people don't fully train. They stop training once the dog responds in their home and get angry when the dog doesn’t respond in the park or in a different location.
You may notice your perfect puppy seems to have forgotten all he once knew. Does he seem to have selective hearing? Does he tilt his head in that cute way when you ask him to sit? Does he take off in the opposite direction when you call him? Is he barking at the world?
Everyone wants his or her new puppy to sit when asked or come running when called the first day the pup enters the home.
Think about this for a moment.
What language does your dog speak? English, French, Italian, Hebrew, Cantonese? The answer is, none of the above.
I often come across people who get angry and frustrated with their dogs because, from their point of view, the dog is “being stubborn” or “not listening”. So I thought I would write this blog about how dogs learn.
When looking to change unwanted behaviour, whether jumping on guests or barking at other dogs. taking steps to eliminate the opportunity to continue to practice those behaviours is an important part of the process.
Just because your dog is not displaying outward signs of discomfort such as growling, barking lunging, jumping, to name a few, does not mean he's handling the situation well.
Before we bring a dog into our home most of us have an idea or picture of what life will be with our dog. Some get a small dog so it's easy to take along everywhere, others want to do therapy visits or scenting work or competitive sports or simply be able to do daily walks around the neighbourhood.
We don't always get the dog we expect.
Belly up can be interpreted as I mean you no harm or to pacify you if you appear angry as well as indicating fear. Offering an unprotected belly is similar to showing your empty hands in the air. You are vulnerable. Nothing hidden.
Belly up with trusted family members is different from belly up with an unfamiliar person.
One of the physiological changes that occurs when stressed is the body releases cortisol. This stress hormone shuts down any bodily functions which will interfere with the flight or fight survival response. Adrenaline increases and blood pressure increases to prepare for a fast response. The digestive system slows.
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