What do YOU expect?

I read an article recently over at Ruffly Speaking that has been percolating in my head awhile. That happens alot. I read something and it gets stuck in my head and drifts around gathering other thoughts to go along with it. Then I need to regurgitate it so I can be free again. Lucky you gets to read the result. It was about our expectations of dogs. What do we now consider a well trained dog? With the face of training having changed so much in the last few years has this affected our expectations at all? Do we expect more or less from our dogs? I thought I would go through the questions from the post and answer them here. A) Because they are great questions and B) Because I couldn't seem to get my comments to post there. (which was frustrating)

1) Is it in fact normal for dogs to endlessly tolerate everything? No. That is not normal behavior and I do think some people expect dogs to tolerate far to much. They are not stuffed animals for kids to poke and prod as they like. They are living creatures with their own language, which humans ignore far to often out of ignorance. Growling is good! It means the dog is uncomfortable so get away from it. People need to STOP punishing this behavior in dogs! I raised both of my kids with the sentence "If the dog bites you it's your fault, so leave them alone." I also used baby gates to give the dogs an area away from the kids when I felt it was needed. (and taught the dog to jump it to get away when they wanted to as well)


2) Are we insisting that dogs be perfect when they’re not in fact perfect? Where is the place for the dog who’s just plain grouchy, and it’s not a training error but personality? I think some people are expecting that perfection, yes. I think there is a place for grouchy dogs but hopefully it is in a home where the owner knows the dogs personality so they can keep them safe. Grumpy dogs don't want to be social so don't force them to be.


3) Are we doing justice to owners by implying that this new expectation of behavior is valid for all dogs? (To use a specific example, saying that we can “help” their terrier not chase cats, or “help” their chow not react to other dogs.) I think a trainers job is to explain to owners how dogs communicate and teach them why dogs do what they do so they understand their dog better. That is more helpful to the dog in the long run. Giving the dog some skills can help make living with their issues easier OR teach the owners some management skills. No, we are not doing anyone justice with a blanket statement about what we can teach all dogs. It is a case by case issue because all dogs are individuals. Every owner has certain expectations. Sometimes we as trainers need to readjust them slightly to meet with the reality of the dog they actually have.

4) Why exposure and not avoidance? That is, if you have a dog who lunges at other dogs, why is the answer to “helping” that dog (and yes, I do keep putting helping in quotes because that’s how I ALWAYS hear it used now – it’s not training, it’s “helping,” implying that the dog WANTS this help and is incomplete without this help) going out and finding 40 other dogs to expose the dog to (whether in a class or in a park or whatever) and not avoiding other dogs? Why is one right and one wrong? I think this depends on the dog and owner. Does the owner need or want to be able to walk their dog without the lunging at other dogs issue? Management with avoidance is fine if that is what the owner wants to do. I also think some owners do use avoidance. Is it right or wrong? I dunno, to bad we can't ask the dogs. I think it's referred to as helping because in many cases its a fearful reaction which is stressful. If we can teach the dog they have noting to fear then there is less stress. We want to help our dogs by not being stressed. It also isn't training as much as behavior modification. Training to me means teaching specifics like sit, down, come, and stay. Specific body positions or maybe tricks. Things that are on a verbal cue. To teach a dog not to lunge (if its fear for instance) is done by changing the emotion of the event. (but in reality it might not be fear so figuring out the "why" for the lunging can be important)


5) Do we need a revival in an understanding of “dogginess”? (A celebration of Jungian dog archetypes, if you want to get fancy-dancy?) Can we re-find the validity of the warrior dog, messenger dog, defender dog, hunting dog in our own backyards? Yes to the first part. We need to educate people in what is normal dog behavior. That is tough tho given there is SO many myths and wives tales still kicking around and moving faster these days over the internet. Not to mention the questionable trainers and slick methods for sale out there. There are no magic wands. (Sometimes it takes time to change a dogs behavior.) Some of us are TRYING hence the many blogs and websites about dog behavior. Sadly only those who want to learn more are looking for the info, and not all of the average pet owners. I can't count how many times I have heard "Well my friend said....." or "My hairdresser did this....." and "I saw it on this show......." When our car breaks down we don't ask our hairdresser to fix it, so why are we listening to them for dog behavior advice???

The second part of this is trickier. I think yes we have need for some of the breeds to retain their original design and job description. However, we can't regulate who owns those working breeds and that's why they end up in inappropriate homes so often. So do we water down all breeds to make dogs easier for the average owner to own for that reason? I dunno. When I mentioned (years ago on an e-mail list back when those were popular) changing akitas so they weren't so tough on other dogs (aggressive to other dogs is written IN their breed standard) I was told if I wanted a Golden Retriever temperament I should get a GR. But does out society have a place for dogs who want to kill other dogs on sight? Shouldn't we breed away from that? Is there any reason to keep that particular trait? Would it really change the breed for the negative to take that one thing out of the breed? You would be surprised at how many people say don't change the breed. (I am not one of them for the record hence the reason Jack is probably my last akita after almost 20 years in the breed.) Sadly many people tend to choose dogs based on looks and don't look for a dog that fits their lifestyle. Maybe we need a new search engine for dog adopters. Example: Do you want a couch potato or hiking companion?
What is a well trained dog to me? That is easier. I think depends on what you want to live with. For me it is some of the following:
No jumping on visitors.
No yanking me around on leash when walking.
One that can be in public and be calm.
No darting through the door. 
Coming when called.
Leaving something alone when I tell them to.
Staying when told to.
House and crate trained.

Those are things I prefer my dogs to do to make my life easier. But I also expect my dogs to act like dogs. If they are meeting a strange dog and they get snarky because the other dog gets in their face to quick that is ok. They are being a normal dog. If Jack chases a bike down his fence and barks that is ok. He is being a dog. If they don't do something the first time I ask, that is ok too. They are dogs! They don't always jump to our whim just because we want them to! Motivation is key and distractions come into play.

What defines "well trained" is a matter of personal opinion. I know there are other trainers who don't think my dogs are well trained because I don't compete in traditional obedience to show off those specific skills. Jack doesn't know a proper heel position for instance. Yet I can walk him without being dragged down the road. To me he is well trained, to others not so much.

Here is another question: When is well trained a detriment? Is there such a thing? For example, the photo above is Jenny and her friend Prudence from a beach walk earlier this evening. Walking on the beach is a new thing for me and Jenny. I have walked my dogs off leash in the past sporadically. It is usually somewhere private and only with other dogs I know are good in groups. I am very careful for my dogs safety. It has been awhile since Jenny has had this sort of off leash outing however. It was very apparent because once the leash was unhooked she heeled along with me alot. It took encouragement and lots of running by of Prudence before she would venture away from me at all. It made me a little sad that she wouldn't run and play like a normal dog. But it is my fault for taking her for walks and reinforcing her heeling so much. It has become her default position. The good news is that she will get the hang of running away with practice. (How ironic of a sentence is that?) By the end of the outing she was wading in the scary ocean (why is the water chasing me??) and sniffing lots of seaweed.

So what is your defination of a well trained dog? Do you think our expectations of dog behavior has changed over the years? Is the average owner to intolerant as a whole of normal dog behavior? What do you see?

My new logo is HERE!!

It is located on the top right on the sidebar. Isn't it fabulous?? It was designed by me and created by Rebecca Aube of http://www.pawsink.com/ My original used the akita outline (that I drew) but was plain. I wanted a puzzle effect and she did a great job with my concept. I am very excited at how it turned out! Now I just need to order new cards, new window decals, and get some shirts made up. I am planning on using this company: http://www.seastreetgraphics.com/ They are earth friendly AND local. I will be sure to keep you posted on my progress. Now I have to decide how I want the shirt to look! Do I want the logo on the back or front? Color of the shirt? Color of the logo on the shirt? Decisions, decisions!!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Border Collie edition

An interview with ............

This blog is also what I use for my training business website. I forget that sometimes. I write about dogs because I am obsessed with my own dogs and I do alot with dogs. And I like to share info with everyone, not just potential clients. Besides my info is all there in the sidebar for anyone looking. I admit I'm not the best at self selling. I give a lot of advicee away and don't do much in the way of marketing. I am working on getting my logo re-vamped however because I want to have some t-shirts to celebrate my 10 year anniversary coming up.

I was reading my APDT Chronicle recently and had this idea. Every month they profile a different member trainer to spotlight them. So I thought that I might do the same thing with their interview questions to post a little bit of info about me. Hopefully this isn't to cheesy. I will keep it simple and use the questions they used this month:

What services do you provide? I offer private in home training and behavior counseling. I also do phone consults for some of the rescue groups I am involved with.

How did you get started? The kennel club I was a member of needed to find a trainer to teach their group classes. I knew I didn't know quite enough to teach other peoples dogs so I found a trainer to apprentice with. It was a year long hands on course of work. I was fortunate in that I found a trainer who was one of the first of his kind (traditional trainers) to work with Dr. Ian Dunbar in this country. I came from a purely traditional background so positive training was new for me. While I learned how to properly use traditional methods (timing is everything in order to be fair to the dog) we worked mainly with the positive lure reward methods. I will always be grateful for that fabulous start in my training journey.

Are you involved with any dog sports or activities? I do AKC tracking for fun mostly with my pug. I think about trying for a title on occasion but haven't put in the time to be really serious about it. I have shown a couple times in traditional obedience with our frenchie but got bitten by the Rally O bug more recently. I find it much more relaxed, realistic and fun for me. I also have a new interest in Treibball that I plan on pursuing.

How do you get your business, and what is your relationship like with the veterinarians in your community? Well I currently work for 1 vet full time so I have a great relationship with them! LOL Most of the area vets know me pretty well since I have worked for 2 others in the past and am very involved with my local shelter. I get lots of great referrals from them. Most of my business is word of mouth or they see me on the local cable access channel. I appear on occasion answering training and behavior questions on the humane societies show "Reigning Cats and Dogs".

Do you belong to a networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to trainers in your area? Yes to both. I actually started a group on facebook for dog trainers of ALL methods as a way to share information in a positive setting. It is a group dedicated to promoting positive methods but in a way that isn't condescending or negative. I think trainers need to be able to share information and help educate others AND continue their own education. None of us knows everything after all. I have no problem referring to other trainers in the area. I don't offer group classes so I like to know where to best send those people looking for that service. I also know what sports other trainers teach and their methods. Because I specialize in serious behavior problems and do private training only I do not feel I am in direct competition with the other trainers. We are different in what we offer which I think is very helpful.

What is your community's perspective in regard to positive training? I find most people who call are looking for a positive method trainer. I think we have the TV shows "It's me or the dog" with Victoria Stilwell and  "The Greatest American Dog" to thank for that. They really put the spotlight on the different methods and helped teach people that they do have a choice! It's not all choking and alpha rolls out there.

What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog? This is sort of a trick question because every dog needs different skills to live peacefully in it's own home. A 100lb dog who jumps on people would need to learn "off" while the 5lb dog could get away with that for instance. But in general it would be: Leave it, wait (going out the door, jumping out of car, etc) and the recall.

What cases do you find most challenging? What techniques or philosophies have you found helpful in dealing with them? The cases where people feel at their wits end. They have tried everything and want me to come in and fix everything in one quick session. I find that simply teaching them how to communicate effectively with their dog, and how dogs learn, is a huge help. Once they understand that part of the lesson it is much smoother sailing.

What advice would you give other trainers about working with dogs and their owners? Be patient! We make things look easy because we have been doing it for years. We understand how timing works. The client needs time to learn it and practice it. And, never ask a client to do something with their dog you wouldn't do with/to your own dog.

Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners? My favorite trick to show clients is to teach a dog how to ring a desk bell. I find this is the best way to show how marker training works. It is also a great thing to teach a dog of an owner who wants their dog to have a clear signal for potty time. Win/Win!

What was your scariest moment with a dog? It was a second session with an aggressive shepherd. For some reason the clients did not have the dog on a leash when I arrived (tho they usually did) and he grabbed my arm as I came in the door. Fortunately he released me quickly and did not break the skin. I always remember to remind clients of aggressive dogs to leash them before my arrival now.

What are the top three things you have learned as a trainer? Never be afraid to ask for help if you are stumped. Always admit if you don't have an answer and then get the answer for the client. You need to take time for yourself or you will burn out.

What was the last training-related seminar you have attended?  Self Control and Focus Games with Dee Ganley CPDT/CABC/CDBC 

Are there any specific books, authors, DVD's, or seminars that have influenced you as a trainer?  There are SO MANY great books and videos out there now! For books: "The other end of the leash" by Patricia McConnell Phd is a top fav. "The thinking dog" by Gail Fisher is a brilliant explanation of clicker training and has great historical info on traditional training. "How to teach a new dog old tricks" by Dr. Ian Dunbar is great. I love his lure reward training for deaf dogs too. "Aggression in dogs" By Brenda Aloff has alot of great info. For videos: I love "The power of marker training" by Leerburg. One of my favorite parts though is Ed Frawly admitting he was wrong about clicker training. "The language of dogs" by Sarah Kalnajs is a must have for anyone who works with dogs. Nowadays you also have websites and youtube videos that are excellent. My favorite website is http://www.dogstardaily.com/ and for youtube training videos none are better than the Kikopup channel.

I think everything you read and watch influences you as a trainer in some way. And I have been to some fabulous seminars over the years, all of which has helped me in my training journey. I say read as much as you can and watch as many training videos as you can and attend as many seminars as you can. I think it all helps when it comes to becoming a better trainer. No matter how many years someone has been working with dogs, there is always more to learn!!

Any other questions??

EASY homemade dog cookies!

OK it's no secret that I don't cook much. I'm not very good at it when I do, and it isn't something I particularly enjoy. Thankfully I married a man who can cook and IS good at it. But here is a super easy dog cookie recipe I made up on my own. I decided to experiment abit with the honest kitchen Zeal formula. I hydrated 1/2 cup of the dry Zeal with just under a half cup of warm water. After letting it set (to properly hydrate) I stirred it and realized it needed a little more to hold it together so I added 1 egg. (shell included ~ they are great for the calcium but wash the egg first) Spoon onto a cookie sheet in the size you want them to be. (they did not change size other than to flatten slightly) Then I baked them for about 30 minutes on 350, til the edges started turning brown. I used a no-burn cookie sheet and did not grease it. Once they were done I let them cool on the sheet. Ta da!!

That small amount made 6 good size cookies. (about 2 and 1/2 to 3 inches across) I figure they can be broken up into smaller pieces easier than trying to make them small to begin with. You do not want the mix to be to soupy so if you think you've added to much water just add a little more of the food to even it back out and make it thicker. Refrigerate (or freeze) after baking to keep fresh. You can probably use something other than an egg to thicken the mix for baking as well. The egg was just the thing that I thought of at that moment.

I think that this is a great idea for anyone who wants to try keeping their dog in a limited diet for any reason. Just use the food your dog eats (if it's an Honest Kitchen formula) to make their treats as well! They even passed Jack's test and he is my fussy eater! I can't wait to try this with some of the other formulas too. I'm sure you could add meat if you wanted as well. Your imagination is the limit.

Happy baking!!

Things that bring out my inner sniper.

Check out this disturbing story I saw over at Raised by Wolves. I have no words. Well actually I have a few choice words for those supposedly "educated" professionals. Go sign the petition and spread the word. I think if we can share the story maybe enough pressure will be put on the idiots to reconsider their "finding". Or at least give the dog a retest that might actually be FAIR for the dog. Say in a quiet room and by the actual rules of the SAFER test. Of course if you are trying to find an excuse to kill a dog then by all means write down what you WANT to see, not the reality. (shoving a fake hand into the dogs mouth so she chews it isn't biting FYI)

I have one word for those asshats, it is Karma.

My dog related adventures in Montreal

Everyone needs some time off now and then to regroup and recharge their batteries. I was lucky enough to get a great vacation for a whole week in Montreal with my husband recently. My dogs were taken fabulous care of, as always, during their stay at Perry Greene Kennel. So it was a dog and kid free week, which is a rarity for me. I even read a whole book WITHOUT dogs in it! A minor miracle in itself. Of course I had to visit some dog stores while I was there. The first was Bark and Fitz. They had moved so it was a bit of an adventure for my cab driver and me to find, but we made it.

It turned out they are disenfranchising from B&F and will be The Doghause soon. It was a great store. 

I bought a leash holder because my leash and collar addiction is getting out of hand.

                 Jane Goodall has a toy line. Who knew??

They were kind enough to humor me and let me take lots of photos. They also told me how Quebec isn't the most animal friendly province. It turns out beagles are considered livestock so are ok to use for animal testing. Yikes! While pitbulls aren't banned in Montreal, there are a few neighborhoods that they are banned along with some mastiff breeds. They were also VERY kind to let me know about two more dog stores down the road. Thank you Claire and Lynn!! I certainly appreciated the hospitality! The next store wasn't worth mentioning. Not only was it smelly, but the THREE clerks all ignored me. Hmmm I guess bigger isn't always better! It was more of a basic pet supply store anyhow. To bad tho because the space had real potential.

Next was this super cute boutique, Bailey Blu.

And this is Blu, the dog (I assume) the store is named for!!

Sorry I didn't get a better photo to share. Such a beauty and super sweet to boot! And he has the softest ears!

These were just some of the cool tags they had displayed. I LOVE the "Hello my name is" one. (middle bottom)

Nom Nom Nom treats!

OK I got a little carried away with the photos I know.

I love this feature so much I want it in my house!

Look, they have Molly Mutt beds!!!

How funny are these leashes! Guess which one I bought??

Two Dogs Raw is made BY them right there! How cool is that? I wish I had thought to get photos of the fabulous clerks and me in front of the stores! Yeesh! Huge thanks to Viki at Bailey Blu. She was also super awesome and accommodating in my "I'll probably blog this" insanity. Oh and Bailey Blu has a website AND facebook page. Go LIKE it!!! So now if you are ever in Montreal you know where to go for fabulous dog stuff. Tell'em Marie sent you!!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Bulldog edition

The last day...

Blogger has been a pain in the neck lately and isn't always letting me upload photos. Hence the lack of posts. I hope to remedy that this week. I know I still have to report on my vacation to Montreal and the fabulous dog stores I visited while there. (You didn't know I was gone didja?) This is Jenny on our last full day of vacation (saturday) at the beach with our friend Prudence.

(Here is her website, Blogger isn't letting me link it properly either. Grrrr ~ http://ofcowstailsandchewtoys.com/)

I know, I suck. I didn't get ANY good photos of them together. That's ok. They both had fun smelling everything (and wheedling treats out of their humans) and that was the important part of the outing.

A Dog Whisperer Fiasco in South Africa

If you haven't already heard about this story on the news I'm sure you will soon. I'm a little surprised it isn't popping up on more blogs. The video is disturbing but thankfully available as there can be no question of how the dog actually behaved since the "whisperer" in question tried to blame the child for stepping on the dog. Here is the original story:

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/2011/07/17/dog-mauls-girl-4-in-mall

And one trainers take on it:

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2011/07/africas-dog-whisperers-dog-attacks-4-year-old-girl-at-mall/?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150316047254134_18622004_10150316235874134#f17cceccedf04

I agree with the trainers comments that no dog is simply "cured" of aggression. So much of it is about context for the dog. Like I said before, aggression is complicated. There are many types and therefore different ways to address it. It may be that this dog had completely different issues before. Aggression with other dogs perhaps. One wonders if he took away the dogs communication of growling a warning with that silly "shhht" sound. Either way the handler (self proclaimed shaman/whisperer/whatever) made his biggest mistake by NOT keeping his eye on the dog, especially since the dog was in a public place. Clearly the dog targets the little girl when she left her table the first time. And certainly a service dog would need to be ok with people/children/other dogs running past them in close proximity. The little girl did nothing wrong.
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This is also a disturbing look at service dogs who aren't properly trained. I see and hear of FAR to many people using service dog vests just so they can bring their dogs with them everywhere. We have a client at our clinic who passes his golden off as one so he can fly in the cabin. Sadly there is no one to turn him in to for this!! He has a "note from his doctor" that allows it as he has bragged to us. The dog has NO basic training that I can see. Thankfully it is at least a friendly dog. We used to have another client with a small dog they said was a service dog as well. He was on medication for seizures. Not sure how that works exactly since the dog wasn't medically fit. They switched vets so I no longer have to see them thankfully. I also had someone want to work with me with a dog that had severe dog to dog aggression who wanted to use him as a service dog. She was already taking him in public in a vest! While she actually had a need for a service dog, he wasn't appropriate for the work. I shudder to imagine the damage he could have done to a REAL service dog! (because one assumes a service dog is ok with other dogs a real service dog might get to close to him in a store for instance) Sadly I have more stories than this on the subject. While there IS a hefty fine for passing off an untrained and uncertified dog as a service dog, there isn't anyone to turn these people in to. So the threat of the fine isn't really much of a deterant.
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It is one of those things that gets under my skin because people are taking advantage of something because they feel like it. Heaven forbid they ever really need a service dog someday. (And catch a clue, if your dog is acting like an idiot in public people will KNOW it probably isn't a real service dog!) Note to business owners, you CAN ask a poorly behaved service dog and their handler to leave your business IF the dog is actually causing a problem. (Barking at other customers, lunging at other dogs, urinating on items in your store, and the like.)
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Sadly I must admit when I see a dog in a service dog vest these days, unless the persons disability is apparent, I am suspicious of it. Is it real or a fake for the owners whims? Ignorance is bliss I suppose. I wish there was some sort of governing body to address the issues of fake service dogs. If it were regulated, and I know that would come with its own set of problems, at least there would be a way to keep it from happening as much as it does. At least one hopes.
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It is an awful story. Thankfully the girl will be ok tho possibly afraid of dogs the rest of her life. Oh and the "Whisperer"? He is a Harvard graduate of a business program, and a self taught "Whisperer". Another example of why you should be careful who you are hiring to train your dogs. Slick websites and good marketing doesn't always mean the trainer is someone who really understands dog behavior. Anyone can hang a "I am a dog trainer/shaman/whisperer/whatever shingle and take your money for services rendered. Do yourself a favor and ask a few questions about how qualified they actually are before you hire them.
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I am so sick of this whisperering bunk. How many times do we have to point out why this "alpha pack method theory" is flawed? (FMI on that check out this link: http://www.4pawsu.com/dogpsychology.htm ) And how sad that the term "whisperer" was hijacked from Paul Owens who happened to be a positive method trainer. (http://www.dogwhispererdvd.com/index.shtml)
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Enough of my rant, what are your thoughts on the subject?

Is your dog aggressive?

Aggression in dogs is a serious problem because it can be a safety issue for people, other pets in a home, and the dog with the issue. Nothing gets a dog euthanized faster than a bite history after all. Here are a few things to consider if you have a dog with aggression issues.

First it is important to rule out medical problems. I usually recommend at least doing Lyme testing and Thyroid testing before some consults. Both of those can cause a previously nice dog to be unusually cranky and less tolerant. Thankfully these are easy to check and also easy to treat if this is a contributing problem. If you don't rule out medical issues you may be painting yourself in a corner. All the behavior modification in the world won't help you if an underlying medical condition is interfering.

(FMI on Lyme Disease in dogs: http://sites.google.com/site/blackgsd/lymedisease.
For a thyroid test relating to a behavior issue I recommend the full thyroid panel sent out instead of the in house t4 test that most vets do. This gives you the full picture of the thyroid at work. FMI : http://www.akitarescue.com/Aggression%20and%20Thyroid.htm )

There is an awful video going around of a dog biting its’ own foot while it is trying to chew on a bone. I've seen it featured on funny video shows now and then as well. That dog is actually having a seizure so I don't find it funny at all. This is aggression yet it is the result of a medical issue.

Physical health is important in many ways. Is your dog overweight? This can put unnecessary stress on the body and also cause a dog to not feel well. Thankfully this can usually be changed by adding some exercise and perhaps changing your dogs’ diet. I've recently mentioned high protein levels in food being a possible problem for some dogs. Again something that is easy to change to see if the behavior improves. Older dogs can also be less tolerant due to arthritis or dysplasia.

If you have a dog that is aggressive to people management is going to be part of your life with that dog. Get used to this idea. Yes the behavior may improve with a b-mod program but until then you MUST keep everyone safe. This may be as simple as putting the dog away when guests come to the house (EVERY SINGLE TIME) or as complicated as teaching the dog to accept the wearing of a basket muzzle. It depends upon the dog and the situation. (and what you are capable of doing within your lifestyle) Training a dog that bites to walk on a head collar is a great way to manage the dog when it is on leash.

Dealing with aggression gets complicated because there are many different types of aggression in dogs. Fear aggression, (which is considered the most frequently seen) resource guarding, inter-dog aggression, pain induced aggression (pinch collar users take note) dominance aggression (which can be triggered by trying to force a dog to do something they do not want to do-CM method fans take note) predatory aggression, on leash aggression and so on. It is important to figure out your dogs’ trigger and type of aggression to best know how to address it. Different types of aggression have different treatments!

A note about protection aggression: Most "protection" aggression is actually resource guarding of the dogs person. If I go to shake your hand or sit next to you and your dog bites me it is being possessive. "Get away from MY valuable resource!" If I can shake your hand with no problem, but then I go to hit you and your dog bites me that may be actual protection. The difference is that protection must mean there is a real threat to their person. I find people get disappointed when I point out the difference. Everyone wants to think their dog is protective of them. In reality most of us will never really know if our dog will protect us because we will never be in a situation where they have to make that decision. And that is a GOOD thing!

Knowing how to read a dogs’ body language is also very important in management of an aggressive dog. Knowing your dog well and watching body language can tip you off to a change in the dogs’ emotion and a potential incident about to happen. A dog leaning forward can indicate an upcoming lunge for instance. Knowing that growling is a good thing can also help. This is a dogs’ way of communicating their discomfort to us so we never want to take away that communication. FMI on growling: http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-growling-is-good.html

If your dog is leash reactive you can try the Behavior Adjustment Training program, also known as B.A.T. Check out the details here at: http://functionalrewards.com/ It is a great positive method way to teach your dog that we are listening to them and teach them more acceptable reactions to other dogs. Again another example of why communication is critical in dog behavior modification and training.

There are also other options if the cost of behavior modification is unaffordable for you. The following books are all a great start: “Click to Calm by Emma Parsons, and “Bringing Light to Shadow” by Pamela Dennison. There is also “Help for your fearful dog” by Nicole Wilde, “Scardy Dog!” By Ali Brown, and “A guide to living with and training a fearful dog” by Debbie Jacobs. The book “Aggression in Dogs” By Brenda Aloff covers many types of aggression with behavior modification plans as well.

There are some trainers who abhor the idea of the need for medication in dog training and behavior. I believe that SOME dogs can be helped with the use of medication but there is alot that needs to be done to figure out if that is nessasary. It is also NOT to replace behavior modification work. Medication alone will NOT change a dogs behavior problem long term! It is only to help the dog who has a chemistry problem (usually with things such as the absorbsion of seretonin levels in the brain) be more normal so they are capable of relaxing to be able to learn during the behavior modification process. Again, if there is an underlying medical condition, such as a chemistry imbalance, then all the behavior modification in the world will NOT help that dog get better. For dogs who have serious anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorders and the like I recommend the behavior program at Tufts university (http://www.tufts.edu/vet/behavior/) or working with a trainer that is familiar with the proper medications to use in conjunction with a B-Mod program. This also needs to be done under the supervision of a behavior knowledgeable veterinarian. (Sadly some vets still prescribe Acepromazine for noise phobias when that is actually counter-indicated: http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/AcepromazineChlorpromazine.pdf and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-GsmrFYHKk )

Tip: Did you know that an easy way to raise the seretonin levels in the dogs brain, which makes dogs feel less anxious, is to increase their exercise?

I hope this post is helpful for anyone having aggression issues with their dog. While a certain TV personality would have you believe it is all about being calm and assertive and a “claw bite to the neck” and "Sssst" sound is it much more complicated than that. It is also important to understand the distinction between suppression of behavior, which means management 100% of the time, and changing the emotion of the event so that the behavior changes for the long term without the possible need for management.

As you can see aggression issues have many facets to consider. Find a trainer that understands this if you have a dog with aggression so you addess it in the most appropriate way. Positive non-confrontational methods are the safest way to accomplish this as well. Remember, a bite history is what we want to avoid to keep them safe. Here is the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position on using punishment in behavior modificaiton: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/Combined_Punishment_Statements.pdf
I am very careful about taking on aggression cases. For one thing liability is a concern. Dogs that bite people can be dangerous and we live in a litigious society. This is why I decide what clients to take on a case by case basis. People like to blame others if something goes wrong and client compliance is critical. If I think someone isn't going to do what I tell them I won't take their case. End of story. There needs to be a certain amount of trust between me and a client if I am going to stick my neck out for them. I can however refer the cases to other trainers, if approprate, who do see aggression cases as needed. Contact me with any questions.

Note: The photo above is my Jack giving a visiting puppy a warning. It looks dramatic but is a normal and clear communication between them. Some would label this as aggression however it is completely appropriate behavior. Context of actions is important!

A post in which I share a few great links

First an update for a reader. The photo above is Liam, one of our K-9 Corrections puppies. He and Levi are doing very well and are getting neutered next week. This means they will be available for adoption soon. FMI contact the Humane Society of Knox County at 207-594-2200. Note: I am NOT in charge of the adoption process.

Now here are some interesting or informative links: This is why you should learn to read pet food labels: EPA Document proves euthanised pets may be in pet food. Yes this is pretty awful. Aren't our pets worth a few extra dollars to buy food that is at least free of contaminants? At the very least don't we respect our passed on pets more than using them as dog food? I could see it if we had no choice but we do. It is shades of Soylent Green for sure. (I may be dating myself with this reference.) FMI on this subject check out the book "Food pets die for" by Ann Martin. While I disagree with that authors thoughts on raw diets, the info on how to read pet food labels is excellent. And this is not new info, it has been discussed in the past on other blogs as well.

Then a fabulous article by fellow trainer and friend about how we communicate to our dogs through unintentional cues.

Here is a story about a wildlife attack on 2 people. This is exactly why we need to be careful of all wildlife acting strangely. (and get our pets vaccinated for rabies to keep them safe)

A shout out and congrats to Heidi and Joel on opening their SECOND LOCATION of the Loyal Biscuit in Belfast. (Squeeee!!) And thanks to Prudence for blogging about it for me to be able to share here.

And for something completely different, for fun I give you this: http://youtu.be/i9iq9gdeIE4

Enjoy!!

Happy 4th of July!!

Dash says "I rock this look!"

My busy & fluffy weekend

Puppies are adorable but exhausting. This is why I wonder if I'll ever sign up to have one of my own again. I had an 8 week old Chow Chow here for some socialization for a few days. (a relative of Batu) He was super cute for sure but SUPER active! Can we say busy bee? But he was also Mr. Charisma. He will be a fun pup for someone for sure. They'll just need to keep him engaged so he doesn't get bored and destructive. I got him started on some house training, crate training and leash walking. He did great!

Many more photos of him can be seen on my facebook page for anyone in need of a puppy fix. He went home this morning so I can relax again. It is a little stressful being in charge of other peoples dogs.

This is Jenny breaking in her spot on the new love seat. Hurray for discount furniture stores! I love how perfectly the pet steps fit. I am hoping this helps cut down on the dust mites which should (in theory) help with some of her allergy issues. (That is if I can trust Greer about THAT allergy panel!) She is currently having a flare up but I expected that with all the dust that was stirred up getting the old couches out.

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She is loving her Zeal food. I signed up for The Honest Kitchen's newsletter and read their free 20 page nutrition booklet. It had a lot of great info and I highly recommend it if you are considering a diet change. Or even if you just want to learn more about pet food in general. The only part Jenny doesn't like about it is the wait while it hydrates. She thinks is it quite torturous actually. That's me, dog torturer extraordinaire. Yet another thing I wish we could explain to our dogs. Put that on the list along with "why we need to trim their nails" and "why it would be better if they just sit still for that process".

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What do you wish you could explain to your dogs?