Are Doodles Overpriced Mutts?

A Doodle is a cross-bred dog created by breeding a Poodle with another purebred dog. But, some people don’t like them, calling them overpriced mutts. What’s the truth?

Dog Training Because... Feelings

Is it possible to train dogs and never hurt anyone's feelings? I really don't believe so, if you are being honest with others and yourself.

I try as best as possible to be a good person and treat others well. However, telling the truth always risks hurting someone's feelings. People don't like bad news, don't like changing their ways, don't like losing face in front of others, don't like being told their dog needs changing, and so on. No adult really wants to be told they (or their dogs) need to change.

I know from personal experience, if I want to get the most out of a learning situation, I have to be prepared to be a rookie, to be wrong, to be confronted, to... gasp... change. Yeah, it can rub me the wrong way, but that doesn't mean I quit or blame the teacher. I accept the bad feelings that often come when you have to improve or change.

Not everyone can accept change or being told that things aren't perfect. Feelings will get hurt, even with the best teachers. No teacher wants their students to be upset, but it is going to happen.

What Is Your Dog Handling Demeanor?

What is your dog handling demeanor, and does it matter? Your demeanor is your look, manner, bearing, attitude, expression and presence when managing, directing and leading your dog. It matters because dogs will pick up on your demeanor, and the demeanor of those around you, and that will affect how they will behave…

Therapy Dog Training Working With Children

I have spent a considerable amount of time and brainpower regarding the problem of youth violence, especially the so-called school shooters. What is going on here and what can be done to prevent these incidents? And can therapy dog teams play an important role?

First, many troubled kids can be identified at a very young age, even before 4 years old. These kids have trouble coping with the obstacles of life and are on a path to becoming outcasts. They are growing up faster, and are experiencing earlier adolescence.  Frustration, depression, rage and anti-social behaviors begin to be seen, even at a very early age. These kids are not resilient and develop disturbing emotional responses, to people and animals.

Next, the school shooting phenomenon is relatively new. Twenty years ago, these incidents were barely on our radar. The social dynamics of family, peer groups, society, and schools have changed in ways that many of us still are having a hard time grasping. One of the common factors is a troubled family, and missed clues which would predict that a child is going to violently explode.

Lastly, it looks to me, these children are disconnected from healthy real world stimuli. Without prosocial purpose and motivation, they find an antisocial purpose and motivation. They are often secretively buried in their own electronic media. It is common for these kids to be consuming and ruminating on violent and seriously inappropriate content, without proper supervision or care, especially from their parents. They are also detached from school, given insufficient input and responses to their difficulties, and not identified and treated as having serious difficulties including having issues regarding harassment and bullying. And schools have not applied sufficient multidisciplinary resources to having a system in place to identify and treat these students long before they develop into violent offenders.

What can be done about all of this?

I believe in this mechanized world we are creating, kids are losing touch with the real world. They are lost souls, looking for answers and a purpose. Instead of finding those answers in all the healthy places where they should be found, they immerse themselves in a fantasy world of anger, revenge and perversions, and they find their final mission in life is to eventually violently tear it all down.

I also believe that you have to intercept these children very early on. If we want to address these horrific outcomes, we have to identify and lead these children towards a different future at a very young age.

In the short run, as we have seen, government will try to do this with rules and legislation, buildings and police and metal detectors. We see schools being redesigned and rebuilt and hardened to confine these murderers on the day of the attack. We see politicians pushing for innocent citizens to give up their civil rights and freedoms. But what we are not seeing is much in the way of getting to the children before they go down this destructive path. Buildings and rules, gun bans and metal detectors and speech codes aren’t going to stop future incidents. New technologies will allow future school murderers to circumvent all of these efforts, and they will still find ways to commit mass murder (I won’t mention what things might be done, but anyone with any sense can figure out what is probably going to be the next generation of violent methods to accomplish these evil deeds).

In the long run, however, we need to get to these kids upstream, and I’m saying at kindergarten age on up. I think the real battleground is in the grade schools. We might not be able to fix what is going on in their families, or outside the schools, but we can influence what is happening to these kids in school. We can do a better job of identifying and intercepting these troubled kids. We can implement systems to track kids that are socially failing. And we can interject healthy stimuli in their lives to help them find ways to not escape into the dark underworld.

A properly designed and implemented school therapy dog program could play an essential role. Dogs are real and have positive real world impacts on children; cell phones and computers and such are just not adequate substitutes. We all know 100 years ago, when kids were raised with intact families, good friends, fresh air, nature and animals, these violent incidents didn’t happen.

I was a co-founder of a therapy dog program for the Chandler School District in Arizona. I implemented a scale-able program to assist teachers, counselors and administrators in finding and working with grade school children. Dog teams were used in all aspects of the curriculum, from the very first moments children arrived on campus the first day of the school year, to motivating classroom behavior and academics, to counseling with students thaving difficulties in life, especially in the school environment, using properly managed and trained therapy dog teams. We are currently seeking to pilot such a program with a local school district.

Should you wish therapy dog consulting, please contact me.

Dog Training Mistakes

Dog Training Mistakes: Everyone makes handler errors. From novice to expert, everyone makes mistakes… (MORE)

The Pit Bull Debate Is Over

The pit bull debate is over. The bans have failed. Pit bulls have proven to be good family dogs. Untold numbers of innocent dogs killed. How could we have ever let that happen? How did the dog haters get so much power? It must never happen again. 

Dog Training And Conscientiousness

What is probably the most important aspect of dog training that I want all my students to understand? Conscientiousness… (MORE)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Dog Training, Animal Welfare, And Taking Credit

If you are committed to a noble cause, you dedicate your life to finding solutions. That is the way of life: you see many needs, one in particular gets your attention, you make a decision, and then you act. Animal welfare can be one of those causes... (MORE)

Dogs: The Foxfire Book

“Many had at least one “plantation dog” whose whole job was to keep the hogs and cows out of the corn… Lots of times cows would push over th’ rail fences and turn th’ whole herd into your corn. Or hogs would slip in. Dogs would gram’im, and he’d squeal like he’d not come back for a year after they turned them loose, and then he’d be back th’ next day… Since cows and hogs were grazed on open range, mountain families often trained “ketch dogs” also. Their job was to help round up the stock when the time came to bring it in for slaughter or sale. And then there were hunting dogs – the pride of many families… Blue ticks, black and tans, and redbones, for example, were popular coon dogs. Plots, curs, and Airedales made fine bear dogs. Feists were used by many for both squirrel and deer, bulldogs for boar, treein’ walkers for fox, beagles for rabbit, and so on… The most important rule was to goa with him on a hunt, stay with him, and get what you were after If he got on a track, treed the animal, and couldn’t find where the coon had gone, the hunter / trainer would point up in the tree, show him, and then shoot it out. Once they got one coon, the dog would see what he was after, and he would be a coon dog for life.”

- The Foxfire Book

Can A Dog Be Made Childproof?

Can a dog be trained to be 100% safe around all children, no matter what the child does around or to the dog? I get these inquires in some form or fashion about once a year... (MORE)

Is Your Dog Any Good?

Is your dog any good at...

Coming when called?
Greeting guests?
Meeting strangers and strange dogs?
Not destroying your home?

If not, why not? Yes, I know training takes time. Training takes money. Training takes effort. We all have limited amounts of resources.

What are your priorities? Do you want to solve this stuff, or keep passing the blame onto the dog? People spend stupid amounts of time and money on hobbies, but often don't spend anything on their dogs, but then complain or are rough on their dogs as a result.

Makes no sense to me.

Dog Training The One Thing

What one thing could you do, starting today, to improve your dog’s behavior? Consider this… (MORE)

Dog Training When Teasing Becomes Aggression

It is never a good idea to tease a dog. Teasing is different than play… (MORE)

Dog Training When...

I find that I often am a better trainer / coach when I'm tired. My work is smoother with the dogs and the people. I had a long day yesterday, and today I was tired all day. However, each lesson went well, each dog and owner got a great lesson. Something to think about.

Another thought: I see too many people in animal rescue get too complacent when working with troubled dogs, and eventually get bitten. Maybe the fatigue goes the other way for them, I don't know. You have to keep your wits about you and trust your gut more when dealing with potentially dangerous dogs. Fatigue can result in a trip to the ER. Just sayin'

Dog Training Breaking Points

Every dog has breaking points, physically and mentally. Thus, it is wise to set limits as to what stimuli your dog has to deal with… (MORE)

Dog Training Turning Points

Life has turning points. These are key events, or milestones, in your life that change you forever. Dogs also have turning points. The question is always whether they will turn out for the good or bad… (MORE)

Therapy Dog

Scooter Pie, one of my students, scored 109 percent on his Pet Partners recertification last week!

Maintaining A Proper Mental Attitude During Your Dog Training Lessons

If you don’t learn and practice the proper mental attitude during your dog training lessons, you will not get the most out of the lessons, nor will you be prepared to use the training in real life situations. Similarly, if you don’t help your dog to learn and practice with the proper mental attitude, your dog will not get the most out of the lessons, and will not be prepared to properly respond to real life situations. Dog training is a lot more than teaching Sit, Down, Come and Heel… (MORE)

Help, My Dog Is Broken!

You are making breakfast. Without looking, your sleeve brushes your plate off the edge of the counter, it falls to the floor, and shatters. For some dogs, after being attacked by another dog, being abused, or having to defend themselves against a human, the dog changes. What was once a social dog is now wary or aggressive to other dogs or people. I’ve seen it many times. What should be done? (MORE)

Should I Get A Second Dog?

I am a big believer in having extras... I don’t just buy one tube of toothpaste, I buy 2. Two milks, two pairs of shoes, etc. You will always find things run smoother in your life if you have extras on hand. I also think it is a good idea, for most people, to have two dogs, here is why… (MORE)

What Is The Difference Between Good and Great Dog Training?

I have three levels of dog training classes: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Most students just do Basic, primarily because they feel this program is sufficient for their needs, and also because that is all that their budget will allow. Here’s more on how I see these classes. There are three common elements of each level… (MORE)

Is It OK To Take A Dog Training Break?

I have 4 students taking a dog training “break”? Here is my view on training breaks… (MORE)

Why Do We Train Our Dogs?

Because you and your dog are not going to learn new skills during an emergency. I play a bit of “What If” with all my students so they can translate what we are doing in class to what they are going to potentially face in the real world. What if the leash came off? What if your dog was attacked by a crazy stranger? What if a child comes up to pet your dog without permission? What if your dog escaped the front door and is running down the street? What if your dog gets lost? I start with training in the home... (MORE) 

Dog Training Exercises

When I first started out training dogs professionally, I used the same exercises that I learned from the classes I took. I then added exercises I learned from others, including those I found in books and videos. However, over time, these changed, and what I do today bears little resemblance to what I did years ago… (MORE)

Dog Training: Believe What You See

A major human behavioral error is believing what isn’t true instead of what is true. I regularly see this in dog training. Here is what I mean…

Most dog owners “know” some things about dog training. They’ve taken a few classes, watched a TV show, gotten advice from their best friend, read a post online, heard something from some authority (veterinarian, animal control officer, rescue volunteer, etc.), or they “grew up” around animals. Unfortunately, a lot of information is wrong.

Even when what they are seeing contradicts what they think they know, they will try to fit the dog to what they “know” rather than seeing what is actually happening with their dog, right before their own eyes.

Case in point… I was working a puppy and an adult dog alongside one another. Suddenly, the adult dog shut down in the middle of the lesson. The owner said she was being stubborn, seeking attention, and spiteful.

In fact, the older dog is still not settled with having this new dog in the home. Some adult dogs aren’t comfortable around puppies, and she is that kind of dog. She isn’t being stubborn. She isn’t seeking attention. She isn’t being spiteful. She was in avoidance, seeking to get away from the situation. She wouldn’t take a treat, ran into the home, wouldn’t come near the other dog.

By misreading the situation, the owner could have done something stupid with the adult dog. Instead, I had to help her understand what was happening, and how to relax and encourage the older dog to feel safe again. After a few minutes, I had the older dog working again, and then we ended the lesson. We will have to work on this over the coming weeks to get things to work out.

Most of what the public gets about dog training is both outdated and wrong. Even so, if they put aside what they “know” and really looked at what their dogs were doing, they could get a better result. However, that isn’t typical human behavior. Thus, people need experienced coaches and teachers, who are good at seeing what is actually going on, to lead them to the right answers and solutions. Unfortunately, many professionals are also trapped by what they think they “know” instead of seeing what is going on. The dogs suffer, and wrong solutions are applied.

Dogs need our understanding. Understanding means using comprehension, perception, and kind, approachable methods to train dogs correctly. My advice? Step back, don’t apply a reflexive response to what your dog is doing. Try to see what is actually happening. And if you can’t do that, find someone to help you figure out what’s going on. Then the right solution will develop.

Dog Training: Flustered?

It is normal to feel flustered when learning something new, or when increasing your skills to the next level. It is also normal for your dog… (MORE)

Dog Training: Skin In The Game

I teach and practice that good dog training requires students to have some skin in the game. That means they have to be involved in, and committed to, the training, and the more difficult the issue, the more I need them to invest in the process.

For example, I received a call the other day about an older dog that isn’t good with cats. It hasn’t been good with cats its entire life. The owner has the dog living with relatives right now, has moved in with her boyfriend, they have 2 cats. One of the cats isn’t good with dogs. So, she is shopping around for a trainer to “socialize” her dog. The problem is much more, and much worse, than this.

I first asked a lot of questions regarding the situation. I need to know who is involved, something about the dogs, the living situation, and what kind of time frame we have to work with.

From the nature of the answers, I recommended a solution. Part of that was explaining the time it was going to take, and the risks that might be involved for the dog, the cats and the owners. An aggressive fight can injure everyone. I also quoted the price. It wasn’t going to be cheap. I let her know that this wasn’t going to be one of those things that can be solved in 3 to 5 lessons, the standard answer given by what I sometimes call, “quick fix trainers.”

She thanked me, and moved on. I don’t expect a return call to set up lessons. I just don’t think she wants to put the necessary skin in the game. The dog will probably end up in a bad situation. She only has a few months to work this out before she either decides to keep the dog or give it away to a shelter (and most likely a certain death sentence).

If an owner wants me to put skin in the game, then they also have to put skin in the game.

Dog Training: The Learning Curve

Dog Training: The Learning Curve: The Learning Curve (LC) is a graphical representation of how learning increases over time. As a general rule, the more experience, knowledge and wisdom you have regarding a specific skill or topic, the greater the learning, and the greater the proficiency you develop over time. The vertical axis of the graph is the amount you have learned. The horizontal axis is the time elapsed. The curve starts at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal axes. The slope of the curve varies over time. The assumption is the steeper the slope, the harder the task is to learn, but also the faster the subject is progressing with the learning. I have many thoughts regarding using the LC concept when it comes to dog training. Here are two, of many, that I teach… (MORE)

Dog Training: New Dog, Old Dog

Right now, I'm training a new dog alongside an old dog I trained years ago. The owners are friends, but this is also business, and they get the same level of service as any student. And homework...

The first issue when getting a new dog is getting the right dog. After another of their dogs died of old age recently, we started this discussion. Since I knew that dog, knew the other dog they had, and knew them, I could give good advice. They started looking for a match, and eventually found a good prospect, paid for the dog, and had it transported to the Phoenix area.

I was there within 2 hours after the pup arrived. My first concern was that the dog had a low stress introduction to the new family, and that he did his first potty in the yard instead of the home. I then spent the afternoon with them, helping introduce him to the resident older dog.

The next day, I returned, spent more time there, and before I left, I wrote up a list of observations and training goals. Top priorities were getting the dog to bond to the family, getting the resident older dog to accept him, getting him house trained, and setting a training schedule.

The resident dog didn't like him at first. He is super friendly with dogs, but she wasn't having any of it. She wasn't the type to attack, but she bared her teeth and snapped at him a few times. We got to work on their relationship right off the bat. On the other hand, he had not been heavily socialized with strangers, so he was very tentative in meeting other people (he accepted the new family immediately). So, we implemented a plan for guests. That has worked out well.

We then began my Basic Obedience I program, plus a Tune Up for the older dog. He came as a "blank slate": a good dog, just didn't really know anything. Didn't know how to walk on a leash, any commands, how to get into a car, and so on. The good thing, he is a very adaptable and gentle dog, so he is moving along quite well with the lessons. He now loads up into the SUV perfectly. He is good in his crate. He now is fine on a leash without balking. He has a beginning understanding of Sit, Down, Heel and Come. We are also working on a number of other skills, such as Drop It, and laying a foundation for swim lessons this coming summer.

We are also beginning the Tune Up for the older dog. She has gotten rusty on her commands, and she needs to obey alongside him, as well. She knows a lot, but her response rates aren't up to my standards, so we are going to fix that. You have to keep a dog tuned up over the years, and if you don't regularly practice the obedience, it can get sluggish. That needs fixing now. She is now accepting of the new dog, but they are not yet playing together. No more snarls, no more avoidance, but I'm waiting for the day they start to play. We will get there.

New dogs added to old dogs is a project. Do it thoughtfully, and it is lots of fun. This dog has added new life to their home, and was a good decision. They are retired, and it isn't good to not have new challenges in your life. This dog is going easily because they involved me from the start, and they have trained with me before. We will do Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Obedience with him, and he will be quite the dog in a year. He is stunning to look at (a totally white Standard Poodle), carries himself well, social, confident, mild mannered, and playful. When we combine that with proper training, he is going to be like "power steering"... easy. Very easy to look at and live with.

Dog Training: What Happens In The Home Doesn’t Stay In The Home

I watch a number of reality TV shows… business rescue shows, for example… The Profit, Bar Rescue, Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back. I also watch Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and New York. Plus, Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef and Masterchef Junior. There are parallels between what you see in those TV shows and what I see in dog training… (MORE)

Dog Aggression

This morning, my first lesson of the day was continuing work with a female pit bull that wasn't good with other dogs. We are mostly past that problem now, and putting finishing touches on the training.

The current issues are reactions to seeing stray cats (which are many in their neighborhood) and bicycles/ scoooters/ skateboards.

This dog has come a long way. Today, we passed by several dogs, including some idiot with 2 small dogs on retractable leashes who feeds out the line to let his dogs growl and bark, face to face, at every passing dog. Fortunately, no reaction from my student's dog any more.

Next lesson was cancelled. My student is still sick with something like the flu. The other lesson after was rescheduled. Now I'm killing time until my first afternoon lesson, a doodle puppy starting Basic Obedience. And then my last lesson is another pit bull, which is good with other dogs, but not so with strangers.

Happy Training! Get out there, it is a beautiful day

Do Dogs Get PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder generally considered a result of real or perceived threat(s) to life, serious bodily injury, witnessed threat to others, destruction or loss of a home or community. Similarly, dogs can develop PTSD from these same situations. I’ve seen dogs after such events. The jolt, the pain, of experiencing one or more traumas were beyond what the dog was capable of handling. There are some very recognizable behaviors in a dog with PTSD. They can be grouped into two categories: fight or flight. Some examples… (HERE)

Dog Training A Cavachon

I am currently training two Cavachons, which are a cross between a Bichon Frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Cavachons are one of the newer "designer dogs". Similar crosses are the "doodles"... Goldendoodles, Schauzerdoodles, Labradoodles, Australian Labradoodles, etc.

One of the main reasons people get these dogs is to get a dog that doesn't shed. I understand the urge! There are a lot of breeds that I really like, such as German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, etc... but... they shed. A lot.

A dog's coat is selected because of a function. The coat has a purpose for the function. However, for pet dogs, who are mainly for companionship, there is less need for specialized coat types to deal with the elements. In a home, the excess hair, the shedding type of coat, isn't necessary or desired for most people, thus the rise of these designer dogs. People want a pet with many of the desired traits of the traditional pure breds, but the public wants dogs that are easier to care for in the home.

The tradeoff, however, is a dog that requires grooming, which is an expense that not everyone can afford. You might ask why they don't just adopt a short haired dog. It is partly because many people like the look of a fluffy "doodle" type dog. The other is because lifestyles don't always work out for a short haired dog, such as climate. Short haired dogs don't have as much "insulation" as longer haired dogs. I remember years ago... my Doberman shivering in the fall when I lived in Seattle. Winter was a hardship for him. I was assured by the breeder they would be fine in the cool Northwest climate. Not so. I learned, the hard way, that a short haired dog needed more protection than a longer haired dog. Living in the Phoenix area now, a short haired dog is much more feasible, such as getting a pit bull or Chihuahua. But, since I like to hike, I prefer a dog that has a coat for those cold mornings in the mountains, and to protect the dog from the burrs and needles that are part of the Southwest. It is desirable to have a longer coat to protect a dog if you are an outdoors person. You'd much rather have to brush burrs from your dog's coat rather than treating scrapes and cuts on a short haired dog.

So, back to the Cavachons. They are sweet small dogs, having the soft natured traits of their parent breeds. Expect the need to be more diligent in the house training. Be educated in how to work with sensitive dogs, because any training that is harsh will cow these dogs. They need a family life, they are gently social with their family, and are good with the kids. Also, set expectations higher for the amount of obedience training required. Many people never train their small dogs, so they pee and poop everywhere, and won't obey commands if they get loose in public. These are trainable dogs, and to get the most out of them, or any small dog: train them! Train them well, put in the time and investment early, so you get years of enjoyment.

I like these pups. They are very sweet and gentle. We are doing 3 lessons a week, and we started the lessons early on, at 10 weeks of age. I'll see them again on Wednesday, and I'm looking forward to it.

Happy Training!

Don't Quit Dog Training

Are you about to give up on your dog? Why?

Dog training works. Get a good trainer, do your homework, dig in and work it out.

That is today's advice

Friday Humor

Dog Rescue Donations

Over the years, I have regularly donated my services, money and dog supplies to dog rescue efforts. Animal rescue typically operates at a loss, or break even, thus relying on donations to do their services...

Right now, I have a student that has some extra dog food she wants given away. I've located a rescue organization that can use the food, so I'll be picking it up this week and delivering it.

There are many ways you can help out, too. Look around, see what you or your business might donate, and find reputable animal rescue organizations that need help. It's as simple as that!

Dog Training Rescue Friends

Most of my friends are in some capacity involved in dog rescue. Today, I went to breakfast with a long time friend who got me actively involved in dog rescue almost 2 decades ago. She lives in Seattle, and was in Phoenix for a few days, so we were able to spend some time together this morning...

I first met her at the annual Seattle Kennel Club dog show at the Seattle Center. She bred Mastiffs, and as the dog I had then was becoming a senior, I spoke to her about the breed. Her dogs were well mannered, looked great, did well in crowds and around all that chaos.

Later, at some point, I can't remember how, she hired me to train one of her dogs. From there, we became friends, she saw I was interested in rescue, and she was already heavily involved, and things went from there. We rescued a lot of dogs, and we became good friends.

I have met a lot of quality people along the way. Parallel with the dog training I do, I have also donated countless hours working to rescue dogs. My contribution has been to offer my training and behavioral services to them for free.

As I look back on the beginning of all of this, rescue volunteering started with me looking for a new dog. You never know what the future will bring you. You just do life and opportunities to make a difference come along. You also will meet a lot of good people in the journey, and some will be on your same path.

Dog Training Scammers

I've been around dog training for a long time. I've seen a lot of things, met a lot of dogs, trained a lot of people. There is one type of person that I have come to understand very well... the dog training scammer...

These are they types that call me to an appointment, then say that they are not yet ready to start training but have a few more questions. OK...

How would you do this? How would you train my dog to do that? And so on.

They aren't interviewing me, they are looking to get free training. They are scammers. They never end up hiring me.

I think there are people out there that are brought up to be thieves. Somehow in their upbringing, they are taught that it is OK to steal, to scam people. It is actually a very strange phenomenon if you are someone who never steals.

Anyway, no harm no foul. I had one of these a few days ago, spotted it right away, and got out of there after a minimal amount of minutes. In the old days, I would try to get the appointment, thinking they were real students. But, it didn't take long to figure out the game. And it is a game. You can see it in their questions, their faces, everything. It is a scam.

If anything, I feel sorry for the dog that won't get trained. And I am not happy that my time was wasted on them instead of someone who really cared more about their dog than saving a few bucks.

Dog Training And Feelings

I train a lot of dogs. I see a lot of dogs. Every once in a while, however, I come across a dog that I know would be “mine” if I was looking for a new dog…

I think dogs and owners select each other. You somehow connect with a dog, and the dog with you, and it just works. I can’t explain it all that well, but you know what I’m talking about if it has ever happened.

In your gut, you know that would be the perfect dog for you. Of course, when I’m training dogs for my students, I’m not actually looking to take their dog from them. It is just that I get a connection every once in a while with a dog, and I know that dog would be a great dog for me if I was looking to adopt a dog.

I think when you are looking to get a dog, you’ll also get that gut feeling when it is right. When all the traits line up, but also that special feeling inside is there, that is the dog. Get that one. That is the Pearl of Great Price.

Dog Training Enthusiasm

I love seeing motivated students. They get the most out of their dog training lessons: lessons are scheduled; appointments are kept; homework is diligently applied; supplies are obtained; attitude is excellent. Sometimes I see students who try to get ahead of the homework. That is usually a mistake. Proper technique has to go hand-in-hand with enthusiasm to get the best results…

I saw this yesterday. We are early into the lessons. They were trying to do more than we have worked on so far, and it wasn’t working. Fortunately, I don’t teach harsh methods, so the things they tried produced no harm. That could be, however, a disaster if working with a trainer who uses harsh methods. I see this sometimes with people who work with dog trainers who specialize in using electric collars. These homemade approaches make things worse, and we have to fix what they have damaged.

In my lesson yesterday, I showed them the proper techniques, worked on them together, and now the dogs are doing more than they were the previous day… correctly. The owner was surprised how easy it was for me, and when they started doing it correctly, it started working for them, as well.

Enthusiasm is great energy. It just has to be channeled properly.

Dog Training A Chow Chow

I’m currently training a 3 year old rescued male Chow Chow. When I first met him, he first came and checked me out in the yard, no aggression, just sniffed me, and then went away. I then went inside the home and went over his training goal and the dog’s history. We then went to work.

First issue was that the dog was quite dirty. But he didn’t want to be brushed or bathed. Chow Chows will bite people they don’t know and trust. I needed to get the dog to trust and bond to his new owner. Next issue was getting a leash and collar on the dog. He didn’t want that, either.

We are now several lessons into this dog, and things are turning out well. The dog will now allow the owner to brush and handle him. We can get a leash and collar on him. He is a happy dog, smiling all the time, comes up to give you kisses on your hands, and a happy tail when you interact with him. We are also working on Basic Obedience. He has been introduced to Heel, Sit, Down, and Come.

In order to get the best results from a Chow Chow, you have to gain their trust and affection. Everything else flows from there. We are well on our way. I like this dog, and I like the owner. They are a good match. I have a game plan for them, and it is all going quite well. Today we had a great lesson, and I see them again this weekend. I’m looking forward to it!

Happy Training!

Dog Training Husbands and Wives

A few years ago, I was hired to help with a male Vizsla that was fearful of strangers. When I first evaluated the dog, yes, he would react when he saw someone he didn’t know. His defensive zone was approximately 30 yards. Within that zone, he would start barking. The dog was also afraid of the husband, and would bark at him in the home. What was the cause? Let me explain…

Dog Training On Dangerous Turf

I train dogs throughout Maricopa County. I have been in most neighborhoods and train all types of dogs. Yesterday, I had and evaluation and lesson set up for an aggressive pit bull near Sky Harbor airport. Not a safe dog. Not a safe neighborhood. Lots of people wish they had my job, but they are not aware of some of the situations I encounter. In this case, the owner’s mom said she was afraid of her son’s dog, and proceeded to set up an evaluation and lessons...

My Yorkie Needs Training

I have trained many small dogs throughout my career. One of my favorites are the Yorkies. “Yorkies”, or more properly, Yorkshire Terriers, are enjoyable small intelligent companions.

My first impression of a dog is always whether it is fearful or social. Most Yorkies I have encountered have been social, right from the start, especially if I sit down at a sofa. Immediately, they are coming over to me, climbing up on my lap, getting their noses near my face, and boom… I get a few, or a lot of kisses. They will then go about their business, yet come back several times to engage me.

In almost all cases, the first issue that comes up is house training. Most Yorkies are pottying in the home when I meet them. These are smart little doggies that just need some proper guidance, and the owners need a solid potty training program, to sort this out. It takes a bit of effort, but if the owners are diligent in implementing the program I give them, we stop the accidents in the home.

The second issue is, of course, obedience. Surprisingly, most tiny dog owners don’t do a lot of obedience training with their dogs. Yorkies are highly trainable dogs, being able to work up to advanced obedience, if you just put in the time. Some of the problem is that the owners don’t have very high expectations of their dogs. I think they figure obedience is for big dogs, and they expect their little dogs to not listen to them.

A trained dog is a happy dog. A trained dog is a joy to live with. A trained dog is a safe dog, because you can call them back if they get away from you. The owners that decide to finish the training are much better off than the ones that only dabble in the training.

At first, Yorkies are going to be like most terriers, distracted with everything around them… the blowing leaf, that man over there, a dog walking by, scents on the ground, and such. Maybe owners just figure that their dogs are not trainable when they see this, and don’t realize the positive effects that proper obedience training will have on their dogs. With a proper program, and full follow through on the part of the owner, these dogs can be peppy and obedient companions.

I like Yorkies. Super nice dogs. I like training them, and every owner I have met has been a very nice and caring person for their dog. I did a house training lesson for a Yorkie yesterday. We are going to do his first obedience lesson in 2 weeks. I hope we get to finish the entire program together. He is a very funny, intelligent, social dog.

Training Happens

Learning happens all the time. Your body and brain learn every moment you are alive. Every experience modifies us. The same is true of your dog. Learning is much more than Sit, Down, Come and Heel. Your dog’s entire body is learning all the time. Your dog is affected by its sleep, exercise, nutrition, levels of stress, environment, past learning and experiences, lessons, interactions with other animals and people, weather, and so on...

Today’s Project – PATCHES Animal Shelter Proposal

For the past 5 years, I have been working to turn Phoenix, including Maricopa County, into a no kill community. Our town kills thousands of adoptable cats and dogs every year because of our terrible rescue system. I set out to change that in 2013, and continue to pursue change. I started talking about this with rescue friends. Others have had similar ideas, but they needed to be coordinated into a working group.

The first meeting, we were sitting at an outside restaurant table at Tempe Marketplace, discussing this as a concept. That led to numerous private meetings at libraries to dissect the problem and to gather information. Citizens Animal Welfare Society was established in 2015 to attempt to privatize Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. That project has melded into the PATCHES Project, a shared workspace/ shelter project to take in the overflow animals of the County and to support all the good animal rescue organizations in our community.

This afternoon, we have a meeting with our development team. We are preparing to build and operate our own private animal shelter, called PATCHES. You can learn more about it by going to PatchesAZ.org. We have assembled a fine team of professionals. We are here to help. PATCHES is not an adversarial organization. It is here to open several private non-profit shelters throughout Maricopa County.

Many fine people have come and gone along the way. Lives change, people have other ideas, relationships change. What hasn’t changed is that innocent adoptable pets are being killed. That still is my passion, and the passion of our team.

Dog Training vs Practice

Most people don’t know the difference between dog training, and practice. Training is what you do with me, practice is what I want you to work on from that lesson.

Today's Lesson - Separation Anxiety

I'm heading out to do a lesson for a 1 year old pit bull with bad separation anxiety. The family can't leave the dog alone at home, can't leave him in a crate, either. He is destructive, and will chew and destroy his way out of a crate. They have tried CBD oil, but that isn't a solution. He needs behavior modification.

I'm very familiar with this kind of dog issue. Drugs, without behavior work, are a waste. They won't solve the problem. That's where I come in...

Happy New Year!!

I recommend setting training and socialization goals for each of your dogs for 2019.

First, it is time to clean up any behavioral and emotional issues. Afraid of fireworks? Fearful of strangers? Reactive to other dogs? Separation anxiety? Jumping on guests?

Second, if your dog hasn't completed Basic Obedience, then let's get that accomplished in 2019. If you've already done that, then consider Intermediate Obedience. After that, how about Advanced Obedience.

Third, how about other things that can use work... such as... teaching your dog to swim. Getting your dog ready for hiking. Getting your dog ready for your vacation.

Lastly, maybe it is time to consider training your dog to be a therapy dog. Your dog is social with people and other animals? That is the foundation, and we'll work from there.

You can have a lot more enjoyment... and so can your dog... if you plan on it being that way in 2019!