Never before has there been more information and resources available to help pet parents live harmoniously with their canine companions. If you surf the net you will discover thousands of training Web sites; the dog training section in bookstores and libraries is inundated with new titles every month; and dog training is a regular weekly feature on some television channels. However, you know what they say about a little knowledge. It’s dangerous, and incomplete and inaccurate information is even worse.
Where has all this abundance of conflicting and misleading information taken us? On one hand it has prompted many people to make more out of things that are really just normal dog behavior in certain circumstances. I receive many calls from concerned puppy parents about their aggressive 12-week-old puppy, only to determine the puppy is just exhibiting normal puppy behavior on its way to learning bite inhibition. And then there are the pet parents who feel their dog is showing dominance by jumping up on them to greet them, and they want to show him they’re the pack leaders like Cesar says. Uggggh. If I had a nickel for every time that term is over or incorrectly used I’d be rich! Well, okay, at least these pet parents are trying to be proactive and prevent issues before they become serious problems, and that’s certainly a good thing.
Unfortunately I also get calls from people whose dogs are struggling with very serious behavior issues like severe aggression but have unrealistic expectations of fixing those problems. Why? Well, they saw a dog with the exact same issue on TV and that dog was fixed in one episode! Make no mistake about it, behavior modification takes time, patience and consistency. There is no quick fix or magic to it, only the magic of television. Having been on the boob tube myself, let me state unequivocally right here and now that you can’t always believe what you see on television, and reality television is anything but real, it’s meant to be entertainment. Even if the genre is supposed to be public education, make no mistake about it, the show still needs to be entertaining. After all, if no one is watching, the show won’t get any sponsors to pay for it! Additionally, everything you see may not have happened in exactly the way it’s been presented, or in the same sequence, or even on the same day!
And what about follow up? Did the owners continue with the behavior modification? Has the dog continued to improve or has he reverted back to old habits? Rarely, if ever, are any of those questions answered on any of the television training shows. We’re presented with quick glimpses that end with the trainer closing up his or her computer or getting in his or her car and driving away. Happy ending? Maybe. Hopefully. But those profound and quick changes we’re presented can be extinguished just as quickly if there is no consistency in the training and behavior modification to follow.
And then there’s the subject of dog training methods. Even if the show instructs the viewers “not to try this at home,” overzealous owners will do so anyway, which can have disastrous and downright dangerous results. I know more than a few people who’ve been bitten when attempting to physically overpower or dominate their dog, like they saw the trainer do on TV. I am always hopeful that most will listen to the part of the disclaimer that tells the viewer to “contact a professional” first.
That’s where I come in.
While I may not agree with or use the same methods a television dog trainer uses, if his or her show helps make people aware of their dog’s behavior and gets them interested in training, that’s a good thing. If it prompts someone to pick up the phone and call me, all the better! Once I get them in the door, I’ll get my chance to show them how real dog training and behavior modification works.
What do you think about TV dog training shows?
What’s your favorite or least favorite show?
Who’s your favorite or least favorite TV dog trainer and why?
What kind of TV dog training show would you like to see?
Two Dogster pup pals finally had the chance to meet and play agility together at the Pup ‘N Iron TDAA (Teacup Dog Agility Association) agility trials held on June 13 & 14, 2009. TDAA agility offers competition for dogs 17″ tall and under. It features smaller, more size appropriate equipment, and tighter courses within a smaller area, providing a level playing field and much safer environment for the small dogs to play. Remy, a Toy Poodle, and Andrew, a Maltese, have been pup pals ever since Greatest American Dog aired last summer. And now, not only are they pup pals, they’re agility pals too! The two pups (and their moms) have corresponded regularly since they discovered they both shared a passion for dog sports!
Remy has been competing in agility for the past 3 years and also has competed in rally obedience as well. His mom Pam is an agility instructor and teaches classes at Town and Country Animal Care Center in Apex, NC. Remy and his family traveled all the way from their home in Raleigh, NC to participate in the TDAA agility trials at Pup ‘N Iron Canine Fitness & Learning Center in Fredericksburg, VA. Along with Remy, dozens of diminutive dynamos came from all over the east coast to participate in the event, making it a huge (no pun intended) event! Even though the equipment is down-sized, the courses are just as challenging, if not moreso, than the other agility venues. Even still, both Remy and Andrew scored big!
Remy earned a 1st place and 3rd place gamers score, giving him two legs toward his TG1 title! Andrew earned one 1st and three 3rd placements and both his TBAD and TG1 titles! But in addition to his ribbons, Remy also took home a Limited Edition Andrew Doll. According to his mom’s blog, it was the best prize he received all weekend! Has your small dog ever participated in dog agility?
This week (May 17-23) has been National Dog Bite Prevention Week, a time when we’re presented with sobering statistics such as:
The CDC estimates that 4.5 million dog bites occur each year.
The odds that a dog bite victim will be a child are 3 to 1.
3/4 of dogs involved in bite incidents belong to the victim’s family or friend.
61% of dog attacks (61 percent) happen at home or in a familiar place.
And we get countless articles, blogs (like this one), PSA’s, and multiple soundbites on radio and TV. But then the week ends, and everything goes back to business as usual and we hear very little about dog bites unless, that is, it involves a famous dog. Yes, unfortunately it seems we just don’t take dog bites seriously enough.
Well this week I was bitten twice by one dog, and almost bitten by another. Fortunately the thick jacket and jeans I was wearing protected me from bodily harm by the first dog, who gave absolutely no warning. The second dog was kind enough to growl first, giving me time to get safely out of his reach. Granted, I am a dog trainer and behavior modification specialist and specifically deal with dog behavior problems, so naturally there’s a much higher probability that I would come in contact with an aggressive dog than anyone else. But still, encountering two aggressive dogs, during National Bite Prevention Week no less, warrants some serious attention. Despite all the information readily available in books and on the internet about the benefits of proper training and early socialization, dog aggression seems to be on the rise.
In addition to the two dog bite incidents this week, I was also contacted by several potential clients seeking help for their aggressive dog. This is a good thing. However, by and large, many pet parents tend to ignore the onset of aggressive behavior. We love our dogs so much and consider them our “fur kids,” so naturally it’s hard to accept that they could be aggressive. Often growls are considered “just talking back,” and small bites are “just nips.” However, these displays of aggression are usually warnings, and foreshadowing to much worse things to come. That’s why the very first sign, whether it’s a low growl, a sneer, a lip wrinkle, or even an air snap, should be addressed immediately without hesitation.
Rarely does aggression just pop up out of nowhere. When it does, the dog should be taken to his veterinarian for a complete medical workup. Changes in body chemistry and illness can manifest in aggressive and inappropriate behavior. Once all medical reasons have been ruled out, behavior modification should be explored as soon as possible.
An aggressive dog is not only a risk to others, but a risk to himself as well. Our society has become increasingly less tolerant with dogs that bite, and a dangerous dog’s own life is at risk. Additionally, the liability of managing a dog that could hurt others is extremely high. When a dog injures, maims, or kills, the owner is responsible and can face lawsuits, stiff fines and even jail time. Because dogs are social animals meant to live in “packs” or family groups, I personally believe that no dog really wants to be aggressive. In fact, I consider an aggressive dog to be a dog in constant turmoil and mental anguish, and owners should treat the situation just as they would any other life threatening illness.
Have you ever been bitten by a dog? Do you think people take dog aggression seriously enough? Do you have friends and neighbors with aggressive dogs? How do you handle when you dog growls, nips, or snaps at you or strangers?
Ever since its formation in 1884, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has banned mixed breed dogs from being registered and competing in any of its performance events. Last week, after several years of contemplation, the non profit organization finally announced its plans to implement a Mixed Breed program allowing mixed, hybrid, and breeds not recognized by its registry to become registered and compete in obedience, agility and rally events. Mixed breeds will not be able to compete in conformation events, the “beauty pageant” type shows you see most often on television.
Well, it took 125 years, but I guess as they say, better late than never. Or maybe not. The proposed program is receiving mixed reviews and at best has garnered a cool reception by many mixed breed dog parents. While mixed breeds will be able to compete, they will be entered in a different class, separate from the purebred AKC breeds and will only be competing against other mixed breed entries. Additionally, the mixed breeds will earn different titles, identified by a -M suffix. In other words, the AKC Companion Dog (CD) title will be designated CD-M when a mixed breed dog earns it. This has become a major bone of contention for some. Says one mixed breed owner, “the AKC has always been elitist. They just don’t want some mixed breed showing up their precious dog with the champion bloodlines.”
Adds another, “They still want to treat our dogs like second class citizens. I can just imagine how they’ll treat us.” But there are others who are looking forward to the chance to finally enter their dog in an AKC trial.
One owner beamed, “I have both a Labrador and a Heinz 57. I can’t wait to enter them both in the same trial.”
There are other venues that have been welcoming mixed breeds in their performance events for quite a while, like the APDT, UKC, USDAA, and ASCA, but because of its size and prevalence, the AKC offers many more trials throughout remote areas of the country, making it the only game in town for some.
Registration opens up in October, and the registered dogs will be invited to start competing in April 2010. Time will tell whether or not mixed breed owners embrace this program. I know if I had a mixed breed I’d be one of the first to sign up! Although they’ll be in a different class, the mixed breed dogs will still be judged in the same ring, under the same judge and criteria. And when it comes to performance events, it’s all about the scores. How cool would it be for the mixed breeds to outscore the purebreds? I say, GAME ON!
I’d love to hear from mixed breed dog owners out there. What do you think about the AKC implementing this program? Will you register your dog and compete in its events? Do you think putting the mixed breeds in a different class is a slap in the face?
Now that all the hulaballoo and clamoring about where and how Bo made his way to the White House is over, it’s time to focus on what’s really important. As a trainer and human/canine relationship counselor, for me that means focusing on what kind of life Bo will now have and what kind of pet parents the Obamas will be. Bo has received some initial training via the Kennedy’s trainer, but now that he’s living at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue, his care and upbringing is in the hands of the Obamas. Or at least I hope so. Dogs are relationship-based animals, and its important for the people the dog interacts with the most to fully participate in his or her training. After watching the brief clips on the news of the family interacting with him, I must say that it appears the family, Sasha and Malia in particular are off to a great start! Rather than buying into the whole “be the alpha, stand over, poke, scruff, hold down and intimidate your dog” method that unfortunately has had a resurgence of popularity during the past 5 years, the family appears to have opted for the much more progressive, scientifically proven and American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior approved positive reinforcement training! I applaud the Obamas for going this route.
Do you think the Obamas will make good pet parents? Do you favor positive training or more dominant-based, “alpha” training? Do you think Bo will be a well behaved, well adjusted pet or a puppy delinquent?
When I was a participant on the television show “Greatest American Dog,” I compared the relationship with a dog to a marriage of sorts. I know that some may have been a bit taken aback by that comparison, but when examining the two relationships closely, there are many similarities.
For one, both relationships involve commitment and each party has needs and expectations. Both relationships have a honeymoon stage and evolve over time.
But most importantly, both relationships can (or at least should) last for each other’s lifetime. Therefore when we bring a pet into our lives, we really should be asking ourselves the same questions we’d ask before entering into a marriage.
1) Why am I getting a dog? This may seem like a silly question to some, but it is actually quite profound. In fact, there are some people with dogs who probably can’t even answer this basic question. Throughout my career I’ve found that people get dogs for all sorts of reasons. Some people want a dog for love and companionship. Some want a dog to perform some sort of work or job, and unfortunately some want a dog merely as a novelty or fashion accessory. If we examine why we’re getting a dog in the first place, we can have more realistic expectations.
2) How will my life change once I bring my dog home? We all have expectations of what kind of dog we want our dog to be, and which needs we want our dog to fulfill. Problems can arise when things don’t quite live up to our expectations and the feelings of disappointment can drive a wedge in the relationship. We are the responsible party in the relationship with our dog. They’re just animals. It’s entirely up to us to teach and show our dog what we expect of him or her. Dogs do not come with a moral code or concept of right or wrong. Most of the things they do that we don’t like are completely normal and reasonable for them.
3) Do I have the finances to support and provide for a dog? Taking care of a dog is a financial responsibility for the life of that dog. Barring anything out of the ordinary, yearly expenses for preventative medical care (vaccinations, flea/heartworm preventative) and food can easily reach four figures. If the dog becomes ill or gets injured, needs kenneling or pet sitting, or professional grooming, that number can increase greatly. Emergencies can and do happen, so your commitment needs to be strong enough to weather the storms.
4) Can I accept my dog “as is?” This pertains mostly to adding a rescue or shelter dog to your family. Many dogs end up in rescue because of various behavior issues. Many of those issues are the result of improper attention and training and can be helped when attended to. However, just like we shouldn’t enter a marriage expecting to be able to change our spouse, we shouldn’t necessarily expect to change our dog, either. If the behavior issue improves, great, it’s a win/win, however if it doesn’t, will you still be committed to that dog?
5) How much time do I have to devote to the relationship? Just like any relationship, your dog needs your time and attention. Dogs are social animals and contrary to popular belief, really don’t like being by themselves. Those with severe time constraints should consider a different pet like a cat, bird or fish.
Just imagine what could happen if we approached our relationships with our dogs with the same level of commitment we do with our relationships with humans. There’d be fewer dogs in shelters, fewer dogs euthanized every year, and most importantly we’d all experience the beauty and richness of a true love affair of the furry kind for the life of our dogs.
How seriously do you take your relationship with your dog? Do you feel too many people don’t take their relationships with their dogs seriously enough? What kinds of ways do you work on your relationship with your dog? Let me know in the comments below.
If you’re looking for a way to rev up your training program and get your dog excited about learning, let me introduce you to clicker training. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this method of training, here’s a quick primer.
For starters, what exactly is a clicker? The clicker is a small plastic box with a metal strip that makes a “click” sound when you press it. We use it in dog training as part of a learning theory called operant conditioning, first identified and developed by renowned American psychologist B.F. Skinner while he was a graduate student at Harvard University in the 1930’s. Operant conditioning describes an animal’s ability to learn to repeat behaviors that are rewarded with positive consequences and to stop repeating behaviors that have negative consequences. In other words, if you give your child an allowance every time he makes his bed, he’ll likely make his bed as often as possible. On the other hand, if you take away your child’s TV watching privileges every time he runs inside the house, he’ll likely try his best to never run in the house. Smart kid!
Well, dogs are smart like that too. They have the ability to figure out which behaviors bring pleasurable outcomes and which behaviors bring negative outcomes fairly quickly when we humans communicate effectively. And that’s where the clicker comes in. Because dogs don’t speak our language, we have to connect their behavior with the reward as quickly and precisely as possible. Clickers help us mark desired behaviors with a specific sound, otherwise called a conditioned reinforcer, with the primary reinforcer, or the reward.
Simply put, a clicker is just a sound that marks the behavior, similar to saying “yes,” “good boy,” or “that’s it” when your dog performs the correct behavior, but unlike talking, the clicker is quick, concise, and always sounds the same. I used a clicker with Andrew quite a lot during Greatest American Dog challenges. In fact, most animals in TV and film are clicker-trained, and that means dogs, cats, horses and even chickens!
Are you ready to implement the clicker intoto your training program? If so, here are some quick tips to get you started:
Be sure to click precisely as soon as the behavior happens, not before and not afterwards.
Only click once, press and release. If you want to emphasize how pleased you are, give more rewards, not more clicks.
Never use a click to mark bad behaviors. Clickers were meant for positive reinforcement, not as a punishment.
Load up a clicker by clicking behaviors your dog already knows, like “sit,” “down,” etc. This helps reinforce what the sound of the click means and makes introducing new behaviors much more exciting and clear.
Keep clicker training sessions short and sweet. When you get out the clicker, you want your dog chomping at the bit every time!
Does your dog chase his tail, cover his eyes, place his head on your knee? Keep your clicker handy so you can “catch” interesting and fun behaviors like these and let him know you like them. Then you can add a word cue to it later and add it to his repertoire of tricks!
Remember, clicker training is fun and is not only a great way to add enthusiasm to your training program, but it’s a great relationship building skill as well.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with a clicker. Have you ever used a clicker to teach your dog something new?
The fast-paced sport of dog agility is open to all breeds, but typically when you watch a high profile agility competition, especially one on television, you’re most likely to see herding breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Shelties, or sporting breeds like Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Weimeraners and Vizslas mastering a course. Those breeds were built and bred for speed and agility, so there’s no wonder they excel at the sport. However, how cool would it be to watch Chihuahuas, Maltese, Shih Tzus and Yorkies flying around an agility course, some almost small enough to hide in your purse? Well that’s exactly what you’ll see when you attend a Teacup Dog Agility Association (TDAA) trial. All the dogs are under 17″ tall, many much shorter, and they are given the opportunity to have fun and compete with each other on a much more level playing field.
Now some might say, wait, hold on a minute, the other agility venues (AKC, NADAC, USDAA) also separate dogs by height, but TDAA takes it a step further. Recognizing the anatomical differences in smaller, shorter and longer backed breeds, TDAA offers scaled down versions of the agility equipment and shortens the size of the course.
Boy Andrew and I sure could have used this on Greatest American Dog! Even though Andrew stands only 8″ tall, he was required to climb the exact same height ramps, jump onto the same height platforms, and had to run the same size couse as the dogs that were 3 and 4 times his height and size! My biggest concern was always his safety. I knew that at 8 pounds he was much more likely to suffer an injury if falling from the equipment as the dogs that were 60 pounds or more. Well with TDAA, not only is the equipment more equally sized, but it’s a lot safer for the little ones too. The 2009 TDAA Petit Prix National Agility Trial will be held in Racine, WA Oct. 9-11, but you can catch local events this spring and summer all over the country. Go check out these little dynamos!
Do you think little dogs can be just as athletic as big dogs? Do you feel there should be size modifications when it comes to dog sports?
I have to be honest and admit I’m not a huge fan of dog parks, in general. In theory the concept started out as a very good idea. Who wouldn’t want to give dogs an opportunity to run, play and interact with each other? However, in practice the concept hasn’t always translated quite so well. But on my most recent trip to New York City with Andrew, our good friends David and Elvis convinced us to accompany them to their favorite dog run, as they are called in the Big Apple.
If New York is a city with a million stories, I’d be willing to bet at least half of those stories are about dogs! You can’t get more than a block without passing someone with one, two or more dogs in tow. The day we arrived at the dog run, it was packed. And though the Westminster Dog Show was a few blocks away at Madison Square Garden, you’d have thought it was going on right there in Stuyvesant Square Park. There were Frenchies, Aussies, Goldens, Labs, Shepherds, Terriers, Poodles, Bichons, and lots of good old Heinz 57’s too. Large, small, and in between, all thrown in together, oh my!
Andrew was his usual independent self, sniffed around, and then found a group of other little dogs to hang out and trade butt sniffs with. After he’d had his fill, I sat him on the bench with me and sat back and observed. What I witnessed was some of the dogs having a lot of fun, some dogs behaving completely inappropriately, some dogs practically holding up neon signs declaring they didn’t want to be there, and some dogs barely avoiding physical injury at every turn. But what I saw the most was a bunch of owners who were completely uninvolved and oblivious to anything their dogs were doing or trying to tell them. And therein lies the problem with dog parks – the humans!
The dogs that do the best in an off leash environment are the ones with humans who remain involved and supervise all interactions. The dog park shouldn’t be a place where your dog learns how to ignore you, but rather a place where the two of you can share in the experience of dog and human play! A dog that interacts appropriately with other dogs and remains aware and attentive to his human will have the best dog park experience ever!
Let’s hear about your dog park experiences, good and bad. How do you rate your local dog park?
Okay, we were just visiting, but still, there is something very daunting about hearing a gate lock behind you.
To Andrew it was probably like going into a really big crate, but for me it really brought the reality of the situation home in a big way. It’s a strange feeling being locked in, even if you know all you have do do is ask and they’ll let you out.
Since starring on Greatest American Dog, Andrew and I have received thousands of emails and letters from fans from all around the world, but one of the letters that caught us completely off guard was from an inmate at the James River Correctional Center near Richmond, VA. He congratulated us on our performance and told me about the prison shelter dog training program he was was involved with.
SOS (Save our Shelters) Pen Pals pairs inmate “pen pals” with homeless dogs to train and make more adoptable. The dogs live with the inmates who train them and provide for their every need. This program not only helps give shelter dogs a second chance and new beginning, but does the same for the inmate pen pals as well. Any dog lover knows that dogs make us more human and bring out the best in us. Further, taking care of a dog promotes responsibility and a sense of purpose. These guys aren’t just doing time, they’re giving something back. Since its inception, the program has successfully place thousands of dogs in forever homes.
He told me that all his fellow pen pals were big fans of Andrew and me, and asked if we could come to the prison and teach them some of my training and relationship building techniques. After reading about the great service to the community these gentlemen do, I eagerly agreed. So off to prison we went! While there we watched some clips of GAD, I answered questions about the show (even shared some inside scoop), but most of all I talked about how developing a strong bond and relationship with a dog is the key to a well behaved pet.
The inmates go through extensive training with professional dog trainers who I am happy to say teach them only positive, dog friendly techniques. They use clickers, praise and rewards, not choke chains, prong or shock collars. And that only makes perfect sense. How can we encourage kindness and compassion for our fellow man while inflicting fear and dominance on our dogs? I found the pen pals to be thoughtful and very well versed in their craft. They were so gentle and loving towards Andrew and of course he ate it up!
Andrew and I have been to many red carpet, high profile celebrity events, but spending time with the SOS-Pen Pals was an incredible experience that neither of us will soon forget. Never thought I’d say this, but I look forward to going back to prison again soon!
Is there a prison shelter dog training program in your area? If so, please tell us about it.
Never before has there been more information and resources available to help pet parents live harmoniously with their canine companions. If you surf the net you will discover thousands of training Web sites; the dog training section in bookstores and libraries is inundated with new titles every month; and dog training is a regular weekly feature on some television channels. However, you know what they say about a little knowledge. It’s dangerous, and incomplete and inaccurate information is even worse. 
Two Dogster pup pals finally had the chance to meet and play agility together at the Pup ‘N Iron 
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