Northglenn CO To Seize Pets If More Than Four

"A Colorado city plans to seize residents' pet cats and dogs in a bid to limit the number of animals allowed in households. On August 1, pet owners in Northglenn - about 40 minutes outside of Denver - will not be allowed to have more than four cats, dogs, or a combination of the two 'totaling no more than four.'"

What a bag of idiots. Colorado is going the route of animal bans again; just like Denver rounded up pitbulls 20 something years ago and slaughtered many innocent dogs. 

I'd move. 

Plan accordingly. 

The Backyard Dog

It is shameful to have a backyard dog that is never played with, socialized, trained, given a toy, given a chance at a normal life. Many lack adequate shelter, medical care, cleanliness and grooming. 

Most likely, there is at least one in your neighborhood. Usually this situation isn't illegal, but it is immoral. 

Something is wrong with the owners of such dogs. 

I would not be friends with such a person.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Training And Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Twenty something years ago, I joined a Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy (dojo). It was a bit intimidating that first time, not knowing what to expect... (MORE) 

Being Your Dog's Leader

In my opinion, the "be your dog's leader/ alpha" thing in dog training has done more to hold back pet dog training than any other recent phenomenon over the past 20 years or so. 

Instead of figuring out the dog, the mantras just were implemented to bully dogs into inaction. 

The second worst thing is the germination of all these internet dog gurus, promoting discredited theories, and inventing their own, just to mass market their programs for money. 

Plan accordingly. 

Does Dog Breed Matter?

One of the latest claims is that there are few differences that matter between breeds.

Clearly, this is said by people who don't train dogs of various breeds. 

It is just another ignorant assertion floating around the internet. 

Dog differences are more than just physical. 

Note the people who say this and the types of dogs they own, and their background in working with dogs of the various breeds. We could test their assertions by putting them with each of the various breed types and see how things went... but we know they would never take up that challenge. 

Don't be fooled and don't spread this nonsense. It harms dogs by matching innocent dogs with the wrong owners. Dog ownership is more than a beauty contest.

Plan accordingly.

Is It OK To Play Fetch With Your Dog Every Day?

Is Fetch a harmful activity for a dog? 

No. 

Prey runs away (the stimulus), dog chases, and "kills" it. That is what predators do, every day, all over the world. When we use a dummy, such as a ball, to many dogs they perceive that just as if it was a prey animal trying to escape. 

Prey drive stimulation, and the obtaining of that prey by the dog, is the basis for most of what is done when training hunting, competition, scent detection, police and military dogs. It should also be the basis for companion dog obedience. These dogs don't become neurotic as a result. In fact, the propensity to Fetch is one of the criteria many breeders enhance in their lines to make their dogs even more useful for their owners. 

When might Fetch be harmful, or maybe a nuisance? 

It could be harmful if you do it in such a way that your dog is injured. I had a dog that ran so fast to get the ball I had to be careful how far I tossed the toy so that he didn't slip and fall on wet grass. That wasn't the fault of Fetch, it was a physical safety thing. Same with tossing him a Frisbee. Dogs look amazing when they jump high in the air to get it, but they can torque their backs if they land in a twisted manner. Again, that isn't a Fetch problem, it is a physical safety thing. Other issues can be what you use as a Fetch object. Sticks are dangerous. Dirty tennis balls can wear the teeth down over time. Very hard toys can chip a tooth. 

The nuisance part happens this way. I can relate. Years ago, I had a student with a Golden Retriever. He would sit in his chair with a Chuck It and toss a ball out the back door all day while he sat in a chair. If he stopped, the dog wouldn't stop because that was the only thing they did together. All the toys on the floor were balls. I had him pick up the balls and had him get some chew toys for when the Fetch was over. He had made the dog a total pest. All he had to do is create a clear break between activities: this is Fetch time, then, Fetch time is over, I'm putting away that toy, and I have to do something else. Simple. This wasn't a Fetch problem, it was that the dog didn't do anything else with his owner except Fetch.

So... go ahead and Fetch with your dog. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Training Days Off

I believe it is healthy and good to train dogs regularly. Correctly work some objectives several days a week. But also, take one or two days off per week. 

Even the best training transmits some mental and physical stress into the dog and owner. Too much stress, even good stress, can cross over and become bad stress. Mental stress can create physical problems. Physical problems can develop with too much stress and cause mental problems. The mind-body connection should always be considered. Repetitive micro injuries also need to be healed regularly with training rest. 

So, do your homework. I teach students how to properly use their time to work with their dogs. I also encourage them to take strategic breaks during lessons and between lessons. A day or two off each week is a good idea. 

Obviously, most people don't even train their dogs. That isn't the type of students I work with. For them, the bigger question is what is going to be best for their dogs. 

I'd advise the same for you and your dog.

Plan accordingly. 

Lazy Dog Training

Many teachers, regardless of the field, are lazy. It is easier to get students to memorize material than to figure out how to use that material in the real world.

This is a serious problem in dog training, which in most cases is formulaic and doesn't prepare the owner or dog to solve the real world problems they will face outside of class. This is the problem with the debate over "purely positive" and "balanced training" programs. They teach a set of memorized rules. The dogs are subjected to a "method". That is lazy. 

Life isn't always going to be that predictable, my friend. 

Plan accordingly. 

 

Can You Fix An Aggressive Dog In One Lesson?

Scientific experiments on dogs, about 100 years ago, discovered how to "break" a dog. These experimental neuroses were described by Pavlov, and he defined specific ways cause them. 

Is the trainer you admire doing this to dogs? You had better figure that out.

Plan accordingly. 

Dangerous Dog Risk Management

You want to fix your problem dog. It doesn't work that way.

Dog training and behavior modification can only attempt to reduce the risks and probabilities of a future incident. 

Bad past experiences are never forgotten, various dogs have various propensities, medical conditions (known and unknown) can cause unpredictable results, and the dog has a say in what will happen in the future.

The owner has their part to play, especially regarding training maintenance and situational awareness supervision, and they will have a say in what will happen in the future. The dog trainer isn't moving in with you.

Society, the environment, and unexpected situations will have a say in what will happen in the future. 

Contrary to what you are being "sold" by online dog training gurus, there are no magic, quick fix solutions. Many of these people couldn't train a stuffed animal. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Heatstroke

Summer is on its way. It might not be the hottest time of the year yet, but even now, your dog is at risk of heatstroke. 

Keep an eye on your dog when playing, especially when playing with another dog in the yard. Heatstroke can come on very quickly.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs That Are Bored

Many dogs live boring lives. Is that a fair and humane life for a dog? 

Training can be a fun activity for dogs. I have countless training ideas that most dogs can do. I have had students that continued on with their dog's training, well beyond what was "needed", just to give them something to do with their dogs. 

And, trained dogs can go and do more things with you. Too many dogs are left at home because they aren't trained. Because of training, many of my students have been able to take their dogs to work, on errands, to visit friends and family, go camping, on road trips, eat at restaurants, and such.

Does your dog lead a boring life?

Do something about it.

Plan accordingly.

I Loved Hearing Your Dog Bark All Night

It is foolish, to say the least, to allow your dog to bark through the night. 

Not only is it rude, you are...

Making enemies. 

Some people will eventually go after you and your dog. At some point, you will have an encounter with law enforcement. 

I have followed the dog news for too many years and seen some very tragic outcomes. 

Get a clue.

Bring your dog inside. If your dog has issues being inside (potty training, destructive, separation anxiety, etc.), that is what dog trainers are for.

Plan accordingly.

Don't Train Your Dog When You Are Having A Bad Day

STOP! If you are having a bad day, don't train your dog that day. It isn't going to be a productive use of that time, and you are probably going to do it all wrong, and do wrong to your dog. 

Is It Right To Treat Your Dog Like A Slave?

One of the advantages of social media is that it gives everyone the opportunity to have an opinion on just about any topic.

The one that strikes me today are the videos being posted by dog trainers who treat their dogs like slaves on a galley ship. These dogs are bullied, scolded, ordered around, given no freedom, and severely punished unless they do or don’t do anything these trainers say. They even implement group punishment: if one dog doesn’t do what is demanded, they are all punished together. 

Who dreams up this garbage? What is in someone’s head to treat a dog like this?

This isn’t good dog training. It is abuse. 

You KNOW that's not right. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Consent

I just read a post by a social media self-proclaimed dog trainer who claims that dogs should “consent” to whatever we ask of or do with them. The claim is to do otherwise is cruelty. 

Consent has a definition, meaning permission or agreement. Dogs are incapable of either. Humans can give permission. Humans can enter into an agreement. Dogs can’t. 

The claim is that if a dog is made to do something, that is cruelty. If that was the case, then should we take and shelter all young animals after they are born, because letting that youngster be around another animal, even their parents, might violate their right to consent? Do you think that prey consents to being eaten? Do you think predators ask for consent before they hunt? Do you think that male and female dogs should obtain consent from the others, dogs and people, before they breed? Do you think a dog feels happy when a stranger knocks on the door? Should we close our doors and gates, or should we get the consent of our dogs before we do so? Should our dogs consent to us entering a room, or holding hands with someone, or talking? Should they consent to where they sleep in a room, or where the food bowl goes, or the materials used in the making of a dog bed? What about whether we should have a dog go into a crate, car, vet office, wait at the curb as we wait for the light to change, or come away from that rattlesnake near that bush?

No species, not even humans, do everything by consent in this manner. Pick any species, and find any social system that is governed by consent. It does not exist, and would be unnatural.

This consent business isn’t science. It isn’t natural. It isn’t good dog training.

I sometimes wonder if such ideas are a product of some kind of psychological disturbance: possibly a personality disorder?

Plan accordingly.

Sean Lowe: Was This A Case Of Dog PTSD?

Was this a case of dog PTSD?...

From the NY Post:

“‘Bachelor’ alum Sean Lowe attacked by his dog twice in 12-hour span: ‘I was fighting for my life’”

The smoke alarm goes off. Mr. Lowe says, he started waving a cloth to clear the smoke in the room…

‘“He went on, “At this point again, there’s so much chaos going on with the alarm going off, I give him like a very stern like, ‘Moose. No. No.’ And it was right about that moment where he shows his teeth at me and just attacks me, and I don’t mean like bite and run off like a lot of dogs do when they’re scared or defensive. I mean, attacks me, and I feel him just kind of ripping into the flesh of my arm. And at this point, I am doing everything I possibly can just to fend this dog off.”’

He goes to the ER. The next day, the dog gets out of the back yard, and attacks him again. 

“Lowe added, “I’m just saying, ‘No, no, no.’ And then my dad is in the front yard too, and I’m like, ‘Help, help!’ Just again, feeling ripping into my flesh. And again, I’m not trying to exaggerate, I certainly don’t want to come across as, like, a victim or anything like that. I’m just telling you how it happened.”

“And so I’m able to wrestle him to the ground,” he recounted. “And this dog is so strong, he’s so explosive, but I’m able to wrestle him to the ground. I’ve got a hold of his collar, but I know that he’s ripped my arm open, and I just know, like I’m fighting for my life here, like I feel like if this dog gets up, he is going to kill me.”’

So this dog never cooled down, even after a day. The dog was unforgiving of the previous fight. 

Was this canine PTSD? What was the background of the dog? The article isn’t clear as to what was or wasn’t known.

Do I think it normal for a dog to attack a family member, as described in the article? In my opinion, the attack was well beyond anything that would normally be considered self defense for the dog. Why would waving a cloth in the kitchen trigger this kind of episode over a 2 day period? My suspicion is dog PTSD.

If this dog had a history that indicated the above, then the dog should not have been adopted by this family, in my opinion. 

You can never know the full story of something like this by just reading an internet news story. There may be details that further explain what happened. So, my viewpoint here is just my interpretation of what the article is saying, not a finding of fact. If you want more details, then you’ll have to do your own research. Maybe other information comes out from other sources to explain further what happened and more about this dog’s history. Who knows, maybe the dog has a medical problem that was going on that no one knew about. Boxers are known to have a predisposed tendency to have tumors and cancer, and that could explain this incident. My surface impression is PTSD, just to make the following point…

Always research the background of any dog you are planning on adopting, and do a deeper dig than the typical paperwork that you are provided. Furthermore, always do a full medical check on the dog, including a full blood panel, especially for adult dogs, and certain breeds that are prone to known disease risks. What was the trigger here? The waving of the cloth? The verbal corrections? The chaos going on and how the dog “interpreted” all of that as a threat? We will probably never know. What we can do, we should do: get a full background on every dog; don’t believe all you hear, and dig deeper; do a medical evaluation; train the dog from the first day in preparation for emergencies. Even if all this had been done, and even if the dog didn’t have PTSD or some medical cause, this might have still happened. The idea with dog ownership is to always lessen the risks from a variety of angles. We can't make a judgment of what happened here, or what could have been done to prevent it, without more knowledge, as well.

I hope this family recovers. My guess is that the dog will be put down due to this incident. 

Dogs And The Place Command

Here is an example how I teach my students to do the Place command. The Place command has a variety of uses in dog training if you do it right. Note this Chihuahua has excellent motivation to perform this. 

The reason I posted this is because, in my observation and opinion, many dog trainers are making the Place a virtual prison for dogs. The dogs are forced on there and kept on there. They crush the motivation with negative reinforcement and punishment. They say they are teaching "impulse control". No, they are not. They are teaching helplessness. The dogs are put there until they give up.

Not even one correction was used in the making of this dog's Place command. This dog wants to be there, and the next step will be helping the dog to understand that they don't have to keep getting up there. In other words, there are times to get up there (and something very good is going to happen), and other times when there are other fun things to do, so the dog has a clear break and knows the difference. 

The Place command has a wide variety of uses in dog training, and that includes with working dogs. Since I train all dogs as if they are working dogs, everything is about motivation, getting dogs to clearly understand and want to do the things we are asking of them. The Place, therefore, isn't a prison.

What you are seeing here is the second formal lesson this dog had on this command. The first introduction was a long time ago, just getting the dog to understand that his bed was a temporary place to go or to rest. The owners then explained recently that they are going to have a baby, so they wanted some ideas on making that easier. So, lesson number two. The video you are seeing is them practicing lesson number two. They had several needs for this command, so that is why I came back and showed them this. They will use it in a variety of ways, not just when the baby is being fed or when the diaper is being changed. Like I said, there are many other uses. 

Can your dog do this, and can you teach it without negative reinforcement and punishment? 

Plan accordingly.

Cane Corso Dogs

Don't get a Cane Corso unless you are going to do it right. It is unfair to the dog to not raise them right, only to abandon them to a shelter when things go sour... I've met properly raised ones that were great, and improperly raised ones that became a mess. 

Plan accordingly. 

Pit Bull Dogs

What is the way to enjoy, and properly own and train, a pit bull dog? 

How Do You Have A Well Trained Dog?

What is the biggest mistake dog owners make with their dogs? They pursue a finite result on a timeline. Here’s more of what I mean by that... (MORE)

Dogs And Cats

How do you get dogs and cats to get along? Raise them together when they are very young. 

Dogs And Barking (Part 2)

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. To punish a dog for barking usually causes the dog confusion. They don't "know" you are punishing them for the noise, they just know you are threatening them in situations that, often, they already feel threatened. Owners put them in impossible binds this way. In a dog's world, they might think they are in trouble when they are at the front door, or in the kitchen, or when playing, or when there is an intruder. They don't "know" it is the noise that is bothering you. In reality, you are being unfair and a bad owner.

Diagnose the barking before attempting a behaviorally correct solution.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Workouts

Is your dog out of shape? If so... not good. Talk to your vet if your dog is waaaay out of shape to figure out a plan. Fitness is important to have a healthy and happy dog. It is also the humane way to raise a dog. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Summer Vacation

NOW is the time to get your dog ready for your summer vacation. Whenever I travel with a dog, I prepare my dog long in advance in preparation for whatever activities we are going to do. 

It's now mid-March. The year is moving along very quickly and summer will be here faster than you might think.

Plan accordingly. 

Puppy Parties

I recommend Puppy Parties to all of my students with new puppies. 

Case in point: I had a student with a Chow Chow puppy. She followed my recommendation with her 8 week old puppy. The second day the pup was home, she invited all her friends and their friendly, healthy,  vaccinated leashed dogs to her home. She did this once per week, after the second visit, one dog at a time was allowed off leash to play with the puppy. When that puppy was 16 weeks of age, that puppy was as friendly with everyone and every dog as if it was a Golden Retriever. Usually Chows are much more reserved regarding strangers and strange dogs. Not this pup. She also did this with a second Chow puppy... same result. 

So long as she avoids any harsh social interactions with her dogs into the future, her dogs are going to be friendly and safe with strangers. We blunted the suspicious nature of her dogs. The long term will be a well balanced set of dogs that will be all a Chow Chow should be when an adult. 

Got a pup? This is what I do.

Plan accordingly.

Puppies Vs Adult Dogs

I am disturbed by the number of people who want their young puppies to act like old, sedentary dogs... and pay dog trainers to make them that way. I think that is a cruel fate for any dog.

Dogs And The Silent Treatment

 Is it a good training idea to ignore a dog for several weeks with the goal of forcing them pay attention to you? (MORE)

Dogs And Leadership

Does being your dog's leader mean they shouldn't do anything unless you tell them to? 

Who came up with that dumb idea? 

Dogs And Barking At The Front Door

If your dog barks a lot when guests arrive, does that indicate you are not your dogs "leader"? 

No.

You are misdiagnosing the problem, and you are going to waste time and effort doing the wrong things.

Dogs And Kids Getting Along

One of the best ways to make kids and dogs get along peaceably is to set some fair rules for both...

Dogs And Traffic

Could you save your dogs life if it ran into traffic or across the street? If not, then maybe you and your dog need some additional training.

Dog Training Old And New Ways

Do you think dogs should be trained the same way today as they were in the “old days” (and I’m referring to decades ago)? (MORE)

Dogs And Internet Lice

Sometimes I’ll give away a free bit of good dog training advice on the internet. Especially if I think a dog is being harmed by whatever the current owner is doing that isn’t working.

But good advice always comes with the risk of attracting lice… parasites that want to suck the blood out of the situation. 

They have no skills other than to bleed the situation to fatten up their psychological needs.

Pesky things, lice. After ingesting people's valuable time, they leave behind their little dark feces everywhere. 

There is no cure, unfortunately. They reside in every corner of the internet. 

You can try picking out the lice if you run a forum. Good luck with that. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Trump Speech To Congress

So, President Trump gave a speech to Congress last night.

What did you think?

Everyone wants to know.

In fact, start arguing with everyone on social media about it.

In the meantime, dogs don't care about political speeches.

Plan accordingly. 

Not So Lucky Dogs

Not every dog was raised properly. We know that. Many a dog suffers from a lack of socialization to outright abuse. 

What to do?

Look for clues. You must assume an unknown dog has a variety of fears. Figuring those out is the first step to helping them out. 

You would be better off getting a mentor / coach to help you do this. Otherwise, you are already drowning with this dog. That’s what good dog trainers are for.

Plan accordingly. 

Wolf Hunting, Bears, Dogs, And Drones

After a lot of thought, I am not convinced that wolf hunting is a good practice anywhere at this point. I do not believe there are too many wolves or that hunting them is going to properly improve the welfare of their preferred prey species. What I do believe is that there should be more attention to providing good habitat for the wild prey animals that they hunt. Bear hunting is a bit different, since old male bears put a lot of pressure on younger bears, including killing and eating other bears. There isn't the same social structure for bears as there is for wolves. The destruction of a wolf pack can take many years to recover, if at all. Wolves have to learn what to hunt, and we want the adults teaching their offspring to hunt wild prey.

Humans are predators. There is a place for hunting and ranching. What do hunters hunt? Prey animals.  Humans eat prey animals, mostly in the form of domestic prey: cattle, sheep, and poultry.  That is different than going out and wiping out a wolf pack through intensive hunting, which invariably will result in the deaths of the older wolves who are there to instruct and feed the younger wolves. Bears should be subject to hunting, but not eliminated. People also eat bear meat. Wolves aren't typically hunted for their meat. Human hunters should harvest prey animals, too, to balance out their populations and also consume domestic prey so as to not overly burden the wild species. 

I do believe ranchers have the right to defend their livestock: firearms, flock guarding dogs, and possibly drones.

Wolves are predators. What do wild predators hunt? Prey animals, usually wild prey. Wild predators tend to harvest the weak and the old, food that humans don't want anyway. Seasonally, they get a chance at larger game during the winter, and find and eat animals that died during the winter and are buried under ice and snow. There are other smaller predators that also should be left alone, such as the mustelids... they do an amazing job of eliminating disease carrying rodents. That benefits everyone.

My recommendation: Put the planning, money and effort into improving prey animal populations and their habitats for the benefit of humans and wild predators. Prey is the food: make more wild food for the wild predators to take the pressure off the ranchers and their domestic livestock. Give ranchers the tools to protect and defend the herds they manage without having to hunt predators. 

There is no perfect solution. But I do think that wolf hunting is going to backfire. 

Dogs And Training Treats

What is an important test of a dog trainer? I think a simple test is to ask them if they use training treats. 

You should want to know if they use positive reinforcement when training skills. 

If you get back a macho answer, like "I'm a real dog trainer, I don't do that", or something along those lines... my experience is that type of person is going to bully your dog. And owners who insist on training their dogs without positive reinforcement are not the type of students I work with. 

I don't use treats to train everything. That isn't the point. The question is to find out what is going to happen to your dog during the lessons. You don't want your dog to endure discomfort and be forced into being a robot.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Psychology

Before you train a dog, it would be ideal that you understood the psychology of the dog.

There are differences between a child and a dog. A cat and a dog. A horse and a dog. A fish and a dog. And a cartoon dog and a real dog.

Generally, novices try to coerce a dog into doing or not doing and feeling whatever they envision. It is more about them and their idealized version of “dogs” rather than what is going on with the dog right in front of them... (MORE)

Dogs And Clarity

I think the biggest mistake people make when training dogs is punishing the wrong things and not rewarding the right things. The dog gives you what you are unintentionally training, but that result is contrary to your intentions. Dogs learn by what you do with them, not what you intend for them to do.

My recommendation: don’t double down on what you are currently doing, you can see that your dog isn’t getting it. Instead, provide clarity to your dog, and then it will be amazing how everything will start to work out. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And The HSUS

Did you know that Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has renamed itself as Humane World for Animals?

Hmm... Interesting.

Dogs And Old Lady Shoes

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.

She gave them some broth without any bread;

And whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.”

I sometimes work with students who have too many dogs, either for the space they live in, or not matching their physical and financial capabilities. Most of the time, they don’t have the time, resources or grit to work it out with every single one of their dogs. Their overconfidence is risking the entire enterprise.

Once the training gets going, they give up, but the problems don’t give up. 

As Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry) once said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

Don’t get yourself into this bind in the first place. And if you are there, do you have the grit to see it through? And if not, then what is your plan for providing a humane and loving situation for all your dogs?

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Cockalorums

Over the years, being part of many online forums, covering many topics, you come to realize that many people aren’t honest debaters. They are in whatever cult of their minds, and no rational discussion will get through. Many argue to argue, some are fools, some are fanatics, some are knaves, and some are trolls. You are expending your life energy on these people. I remember debating dog issues on a Yahoo forum and getting nowhere. There is nothing new under the sun. It doesn’t matter the topic… it is… 

A total waste of time. 

Do what you want, but in my case, my goal is that if I am going to say anything on any topic it is going to be in the form of a personal conversation or private message. If you get those from me, then you can be sure that I hold you in higher esteem that most others. Real people that I know as real friends are the only ones deserving of my brainpower and opinions on any topic. They have skin in the game. I might slip up from time to time, but I always end up realizing it was a mistake and then I get back to doing what I do best: real dogs with real people.

Don’t debate a cockalorum. They will do more harm to themselves and their opinions than anything you’ll try saying to educate them.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Uniforms

If you look at my photos and videos, you’ll notice I don’t wear a uniform when training dogs.

I used to. I used to have shirts and other items with my logo on it. But not anymore.

Here’s why... (MORE)

Dogs And Contagious Memes

Why are so many goofy, and sometimes cruel, dog training ideas spread all over the internet? It is even worse when these bad ideas are enforced by sanctioning authorities and committees, such as breeding, competition, evaluation, media, law enforcement, military, or governmental organizations... (MORE)

Patient Dog Training

Today's dog training concept... PATIENCE! When you have set up the perfect lesson, and the dog is doing a good job of trying to figure something out, don't do their homework for them. 

I was working on a breakthrough with a dog this morning. By giving him the opportunity to puzzle out the right answer, we did him a greater favor than if we had just made it too easy. 

The challenge was just right. He figured it out. Now he gets it. 

That's gold when training a dog.

Plan accordingly. 

Pit Bull Training - First Steps

Whenever I am starting first lessons with a pit bull, I recognize that most are very sensitive dogs. 

Contrary to their image, boisterous energy, muscular build... they are sensitive dogs. 

Often before I start, the owners have already been searching ways of controlling their dogs, and most of the internet advice involves some way of shutting the dogs down. 

I hate seeing a pit that has been put through that. I'm thinking of a black, male pit I worked with several years ago. Super nice dog... but when the owner called him to Come, his tail curled and tucked up between  his rear legs, his head lowered, and he slunk over like a dog that had been beaten. 

Ugh.

That's not the picture I want to see. Ug-ly.

We worked through that, but whoever had first worked with that dog had taken the spirit out of him.

So unfair.

Don't do that to your pit bull dog.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Today's Feelings

If you work enough dogs for long enough, you'll notice that they don't perform exactly the same every day. Just like some days you feel better than others, same thing happens with dogs.

I read dogs, I don't just plow ahead without observing them.

I recommend you do the same.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Bad Play

I’m all in favor of playing with your dog. It is good. But… 

What I’m not in favor of is play that escalates into more than play. For example, rough play that escalates to a contest of win-lose where someone or another dog gets hurt. I have had students that thought it was fun to get their dog to do this or that. Until it wasn’t so fun or safe anymore. It wasn’t play anymore. In some cases, the fun becomes too rough and someone gets hurt in the competition. In other cases, the fun becomes scary and the dog now doesn’t trust some individuals or types of people (such as new guests), and then the dog becomes scared or scary.

Then I am asked to come in and try and unravel all of that.

Don’t mess with dogs beyond normal play. Don’t let others mess with your dog and take your dog to levels that can easily backfire. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs From Top To Bottom

Behavioral disturbances can occur within any of the behavioral systems of a dog.

You must study the entirety of the dog to find, diagnose, treat or prevent them in individual dogs.

What is within a normal range of behavior within that system?

The body of required knowledge is vast, well beyond just training a dog to Sit instead of jumping on guests coming in the front door. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Dopamine Gimmicks

Ooh… a dog trainer just told you about their dopamine dog training method or tool. Must be some kind of Jedi Master dog training guru stuff, right? (MORE)

Dogs And The Cult Of Positive Reinforcement

Do I think there is anything wrong with using clickers and positive reinforcement? No way. I probably have a clicker in my pocket right now. However, there is a lot more to training a real-world dog than just this. You’ve got to understand dogs. Positive reinforcement is easy to learn. Understanding dogs takes a lifetime, and that is hard to learn... (MORE)

Dogs, Egypt, And Anubis

Archeological studies indicate there were at least 12 dog breeds in ancient Egypt. 

Much of the history of dogs isn’t written down, and we can only surmise how dogs were domesticated. There are various theories, but no way to prove them one way or another. 

Dogs and people fit together. That is clear. Across the world, humans have had some kind of relationship with dogs. You even find buried pets, sometimes alongside a human. 

Dogs are intensely interested in what we do, what we do with them, and any opportunities to learn. A good portion of the wolf has been taken out of our dogs. That isn’t a bad thing. You wouldn’t want to own a wolf. 

I’m reminded of something my grandfather taught me. He had a pet raccoon as a kid. He said they made great pets, until they got about a year old. Then they became nasty. Having a wild animal as a pet isn’t the same as owning a domesticated animal for any purpose. 

I also am now thinking of the ongoing Russian domestication experiment on foxes. They interbred the most social foxes over decades. They now mostly look like a Border Collie and act mostly like a pet dog. Unfortunately, all that inbreeding has resulted in numerous health problems, something that isn’t talked about all that much. It is worth reading the National Geographic magazine article. 

To me, dogs are endlessly fascinating. And in many ways, there is nothing new under the sun. Ancient Egyptians liked and used their dogs, and even worshipped Anubis, a man with the head of a Jackal. Just 60 years ago, before genetic testing, scientists were speculating the origin of the dog, whether it was from a wolf or jackal heritage, or a combination of both. It is possible that jackals were interbred along the way to create the domestic dog. 

We like dogs. Hopefully no one worships them. 

Do you like to read? Go down the rabbit hole that is about the history of dogs. You’ll find it an interesting adventure. 

Dogs: What's The Beef With Doodles?

What is the beef with Doodles?

The main arguments are:

1. They aren't "purebred". Well every breed at one point wasn't "purebred". Someone mixed two or more dogs, over and over again, until a type of dog was created and standardized.

2. Adopt Don't Shop. I get the idea that animal shelters are overflowing with dogs and many are killing for space. But most of the dogs in shelters are a.) not Doodles; and b.) are not purebred dogs. Breeders are not the problem. The problem is that municipal shelters are poorly managed and are not meeting the needs of the public. They have no business being in business. We all knew the economy was in trouble. How many reports do you need to know that? There are lots of things that could be done. Slamming Doodles isn't going to make a hill of beans difference. 

3. They are crazy dogs. No, they aren't. Raise and train any dog correctly and a magical thing happens: they turn out well.

4. They are medical basket cases. No, they aren't. 

Squeaky wheels always get the grease. For some reason, the anti-Doodle trolls have become visible critics. In the meantime, shelters need reforming. That would be a better cause to pursue. 

Plan accordingly. 

Is Your Dog Bored?

I feel sorry for most dogs. They live boring lives. Some worse than others.

They are loved. Good health. Nice home. 

Bored.

Dogs are intelligent animals. They love to learn and love to figure you out. The limited activities of daily life are not a challenge. Give a dog some novelty, you'll see their head tilt, and they will be compelled to check it out.

I think training is much more than teaching fundamental life saving skills. It is a healthy activity for an intelligent animal like a dog. 

Most people will never enter some kind of competition with their dog. Besides, a lot of that work is a grind. Most people neither have the time or the inclination to get a ribbon of some sort. Most won't want to turn their dog into some kind of working dog either. But, they still want to do something with their dog.

I've had students who took their dogs from the very basics to advanced, for no other reason than to give their dog an enriched life. Enrichment isn't licking peanut butter out of a Kong toy. It isn't giving them a food puzzle. It is the provision of a full life for a dog. Dogs in shelters are especially bored; no wonder they break after several weeks.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Training Guardrails

If you have worked with me, you know I use a light touch on all dogs. I try to be smarter, not harsher. I’ve spent over 25 years coming up with and testing more non-aversive tools than you could probably ever dream up. Yet, as every good highway has guardrails against danger, sometimes you need to install some guardrails, in the form of course corrections, for the safety of your dog and others. Having guardrails isn’t the same as condoning animal abuse... (MORE)

What Is Wrong With Dog Competitions?

Almost all the handlers I see, from beginning to advanced, regardless of the type of event, look like toy soldiers out on the field.

That is the current culture and tradition. 

It never seems like they’re just enjoying working with their dog and vice versa. 

It never seems loose in a good way and teamwork.

It looks insincere, artificial, unnatural, uncomfortable, insecure.

The dogs all look the same: it reminds me of all those fake, filtered, enhanced models on social media these days.

I often don’t like watching.

It is also not a good guide as to how to relate to your dog in the real world.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs, E-Collars And Opponent- Process Theory

Can a dog trainer “addict” a dog to an e-collar, meaning causing a dog to want to repeatedly receive an aversive stimulus (of any kind)?

Those making those claims are most likely trying to apply Opponent- Processing Theory, postulated by Solomon and Corbit (1974), which generally makes the following argument... (MORE)

Dog Training Or The School Of Hard Knocks

Every species on the planet is corrected in some form throughout its life. Those corrections don't harm the species. Adults correct the young. Physical obstacles are always out there to correct mistakes, often painfully. Others in their species, as well as encounters with other species, will involve corrections. Those corrections assist proper learning for the survival of that species. Even amoeba avoid some stimuli in various concentrations (pH, gravity, heat, cold, vibration, electricity, sound, etc.), and if they don't avoid those stimuli, they might perish and not reproduce. It isn't abuse for an animal to live in the real world. Our job as dog owners might be, at times, providing substitute corrections to prevent the dog from experiencing the real thing, thus saving their lives.

There is a cult of internet dog warrior trolls who are all into saying that dogs never need corrections in order to be trained. They also don't prepare their dogs for the real world. The weird thing about cults... they all seem to feel entitled to correct YOU if you don't join up. Hmm... What's that all about? This is especially an important topic when it comes to rescuing dogs in shelters. This cult has infected these institutions, and it has become accepted that it is better to kill a dog with problems rather than properly correcting those problems instead. Is that humane?

Plan accordingly.

Disrespectful Dogs

Is it disrespectful for a dog to follow you around the house or lean on you? No. Who gave you that dumb idea? 

STOP with all these dumb rules. Do social wild animals fret about these things? No.

Plan accordingly.  

Happy, Animated Dogs

There is nothing wrong with a happy, animated dog, regardless of size, age or breed. 

I don’t condone the idea of forcing “calmness” on all dogs or diagnosing the above as some kind of behavioral problem and calling it “anxiety”. 

Ever see a group of small kids playing, running around, having a good time? Do we force “calmness” on them? Is all that fun a sign of a behavioral disturbance, such as “anxiety”? 

And what of the parent that forces immobility on a child, or a forced run, every time that child is happy and excited? 

No wild animal does to their offspring what some advocate for your puppies or dogs. The problem isn’t a problem with the dogs, that is for sure.

No one needs you to be the Fun Police.

Re-think all this stuff.

Why would a trainer promote a program that emphasized "calmness"? BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OTHER THAN SHUT THE DOG DOWN.

Plan accordingly. 

Tired Of The Positive Reinforcement Arguments?

How many boring and harmful trolling posts do we need to see, from internet warrior dog experts, proclaiming to the world that the only necessary tool for training dogs is positive reinforcement? The Breland and Breland study (1961) on raccoons proved the invalidity of these of these claims about training animals. It is like they can’t see or do or accept what the Kwisatz Haderachs, the high-level real-world dog trainers, are doing every day. (If you haven’t read “Dune” by Herbert, then you won’t understand this reference.)

They have no clue about dog behavior. More is going on when working with a dog than what was written about in the positive reinforcement experiments on rats and pigeons in cages and boxes, pushing or pecking on levers. No one puts a rat or pigeon in the same kinds of social and physical situations and dangers as we do with our dogs. Dogs are not rats or pigeons, so they train differently, as well. They are also moved by forces that have nothing to do with positive reinforcement. 

The trolls are novices, stirring up dust clouds to gain your attention and make money, regardless of the effects on dogs and owners. Novices shouldn’t be teaching others. White belts don’t teach the black belts. 

The trolls are still clinging onto the 4 Quadrants terminology (1. positive reinforcement; 2. negative reinforcement, 3. positive punishment, 4. negative punishment) with their cold dead fingers. They are stuck there. Despite ample proof to the contrary, the 4 Quadrants were never proven to be a tool, as claimed by others, to control human society or the “be all and end all” for training dogs. In fact, the raccoon experiments proved that.

I’m not ranting here against positive reinforcement. I heavily use it every day with every dog. 

That’s not the point. I’m talking about the indispensable understanding of the mechanisms of behavior that make a dog a dog. Dogs are complex, higher order mammals. It’s better to not be about 65 years out of date.

Riddle Me This Batman: What are the mechanisms of training dogs other than the 4 Quadrants?

Figure that out. Stop following novices.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Gooey Cakes

Have you ever baked a cake? Pulled it out of the oven thinking it was done. Only to find out later as you see the center of the cake has slumped, and the inner core is still gooey? Either you took it out at the wrong time, or you mixed the ingredients in the wrong proportion.

You rushed it along. Now it is impossible to fix it.

When I train a dog, I don't want to end up with a gooey cake. But many training programs are out there selling gooey cakes. 

Good performance takes time for a dog to master. Same with a handler. Unfortunately, some think they can rush the process by punishing the dog. It might look like properly baked cake on the outside, but when you look closely, it has slumped, and it is gooey on the inside. Sometimes that can be fixed with a dog or handler. Sometimes the dog will never quite be as good as it could have been, or the handler still is doing things wrong and perpetuating the problems with that dog and all future dogs. 

My advice? Don't take the cake out of the oven until it is finished. Don't think you can make shortcuts by leaving out important steps along the way.

Plan accordingly. 

Rescued Dog Training

What is the difference when choosing a training program for a rescued dog versus a dog that you purchased from a breeder? (MORE)

What To Do When A Bonded Dog Dies?

There are times when the passing away of one bonded dog causes the other dog so much distress that it can cause the second dog to pass away. I have heard of these cases, and believe them to be true.

 

I understand the grief when a pet passes away. It is heartbreaking, and many times people aren’t ready to welcome a new pet into the home. However, if the second dog is truly suffering, I believe it is wise to introduce a younger, opposite sex, social dog into your home right away. 

 

Plan accordingly.

Smart Dogs

Sometimes smart dogs can be problem dogs.

The good thing is that if you know how to work with smart dogs, the problems go away even faster.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Teaching The Place Command With A Clicker

Here is an example of using a clicker to teach the Place command (or some would say "cue"). This is just a first step (MORE) 

There is a lot more to be learned from clicker training than what you see. I can use this task, as demonstrated, as an object lesson to teach my students much bigger and more profound concepts. Can you guess the bigger picture? 

Clicker training advocates have typically overpromised and underdelivered. They refer to laboratory experiments since that is most of what is written on these topics. They are missing the bigger picture. While the above exercise is interesting, to get to advanced level handling, and high level performance from dogs, students need to master many concepts and be able to apply them with their dogs. It isn't just a rat or pigeon in a box.

Teaching individual tasks with a clicker is small potatoes. If that is where you are at, that is a good beginning, but there is more for you to figure out. Mechanical understanding of Operant Conditioning is for beginners, but is not a demonstration of your mastery of the bigger concepts.

Homework for this week: puzzle and ruminate upon all I explained and what you saw today with your dog. Watch that video about 100 times. Can you figure out more than the obvious of the dog being clicked for being on the dog bed?

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Weightlifting

What is more important when lifting weights, the volume (weight X repetitions) or proper form? 

What is more important when training a dog, the volume of work, or proper form?

For both, proper form is most important. Best results follow proper form.

I work with owners and dogs to establish proper form. While that can sometimes be a grind, the clarity over time actually speeds up the ultimate results. 

Plan accordingly.

Bully Kutta... The New Scapegoat Dog of the UK?

Well, now another dog breed ban on the way for the UK? The Bully Kutta. Look it up yourself. 

What a pathetic country it has become. Can't field an army, can't tolerate free speech, can't handle a dog, either. 

(MORE)

Navigating Puppyhood

It is normal for puppies to be puppies. 

You wouldn’t think that I would need to say that, but I do. 

I sometimes hear from people who have a very young puppy, under 16 weeks of age, that are frustrated with their puppy’s “neediness”, persistent and annoying ways of getting into everything. Over the years, and sometimes to make peace in the family, they ship the young puppy off to a “bootcamp” … to take the puppy out of the puppy and turn it into a carpet that they only have to feed. 

Don’t play (except on your own with some dirty old toy), don’t be curious, no sniffing, no happy greeting, don’t run around, no barking, no whining, don’t be afraid of anything, don’t be too close to me, don’t follow me around the house, don’t make mistakes, don’t make me have to train you, don’t make me supervise you, don’t complain while you are behind a baby gate or barrier, don’t pull on a leash, don’t be the breed you were created to be, don’t make me angry, don’t do ANYTHING. Be. A. Drone. AND STOP BEING A PUPPY!

Is that fair? Is that humane? 

Puppies do best when puppies are allowed to be puppies. You should encourage all their talents, build their confidence, engage their brains, develop a close relationship, engage in play, and guide them along the way to grow up and be a great adult dog.

Plan accordingly. 

Cookbook Dog Training Programs

An alarming trend in the dog training industry is the marketing of these online “become a dog trainer” franchises and systems. The dogs are going to suffer the consequences... (MORE)

Should I Crate Train My Dog?

Games People Play (With Their Dogs)

Play is an essential part of being a dog. No one needs to create a dog that plays. It is already in them. Some dogs don’t play... (MORE) 

Are Dog Beds Or Crates “Dens”? (Part 2)

Putting a puppy or dog in a crate and “letting them cry it out” is the wrong approach. It is cruel and unnecessary... (MORE)

Should All Dogs Be Friendly To All People And Other Dogs?

The big internet topic these days is dog “reactivity”, primarily regarding dogs that aren’t friendly with other dogs or people.

Not all dogs were created to be friendly with strangers or strange dogs. You know that.

Forcing such a dog to interact in a way that goes against what they are is going to require some kind of cruelty to that dog. Are there some training and management things that can and should be done? Yes. Will that magically change your current breed into a different breed? No.

If you didn't properly socialize your dog as a puppy, then expect the blowback that strange people and strange dogs aren't going to be trusted. If you allowed your dog to be traumatized by someone or some animal, then they also might not be trusting of strangers and strange dogs going forward. You know that, right? Are there some training, behavior modification, and management things that can and should be done? Yes. 

Programs that promise otherwise… well… I’d stay away from those.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Dominance Theory Debunked?

Has “dominance theory”, extrapolated from the study of wolves, been debunked for both wolves and dogs? (MORE)

Dogs And Treats For Training Purposes

The Typical Claims About Using Dog Treats For Training... (MORE)

Dogs And The Gym

Are Dog Beds Or Crates “Dens”?

Don’t over-romanticize dog beds and crates. Beds and crates have useful purposes, but they are not “dens”. They should be used as a place that you begin in a way to help them learn is a good place to rest. That is not the same as a wolf “den” (usually a dug out earthen tunnel system that is repeatedly used, seasonally, by wolves to care for their young) or a home dog “whelping box”, which a mother dog will need to care for the newly born pups. Momma dog won't be around to help you.

Crates and beds can BECOME a den substitute if you work with a dog's natural instinct for cozy spots to rest and sleep. It is up to you how the crate is perceived. It should be a place of comfort. A proper introduction will mean the dog loves the crate or bed, and their instinct for a cozy and safe place will facilitate that perception.

Plan accordingly. 

Puppies And Play Biting

Is puppy play biting a “learned”, in other words, acquired behavior through experience?

No.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs, Aggression And Motivation

Is it true that aggressive dogs

Don’t vocalize

Dogs that “want” to kill have become predators

No.

Do police dogs vocalize? Yes.

Is your dog protecting your home a predator? No.

Are police dogs human predators? No.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Fear "Reactivity"

Is dog fear "reactivity" a result of... 

Lack of discipline

Lack of clarity

Owners haven’t given clear guidelines, especially on greetings

Owner appears to the dog to not know what they are doing

?

No. This is internet dog training gibberish.

What is fear? Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived threat. 

"Reactivity" is not a behavioral term. It is meaningless in the real world of behavior science. It is a catch-all term, ranging from an aroused and happy puppy to dealing with Godzilla. 

Plan accordingly.

R+ Dog Training Explained And Demystified

Let’s say your requirement for hiring a dog trainer is that you only want to use positive reinforcement (R+) training. What does that mean for your dog? (MORE)

Giving Dogs Too Much Affection?

If your dog... 

Runs ahead of you down the stairs...

Doesn't come when called...

Gets on the bed and doesn't get off when you tell them...

Runs off when you say Come...

Avoids eye contact... 

Seeks your attention...

Is all that an indication that you are giving your dog too much affection? 

Seriously? You can't be that... uh... 

No. You are listening to too much internet dog training gibberish.

What to do? 

Train your dog. And keep giving your dog affection. Be nice to your untrained dog. 

Plan accordingly.

Unfair Dog Training

There are training programs that aren’t fair to dogs. 

For example, what would you say about a training program lesson series that made a dog do a Sit/ Stay for an hour and a Down / Stay for several hours?

To me, that is abusive. There is no purpose in that kind of program, and the result isn’t going to be good for the dog.

If you are uncertain regarding reasonable limits to what a dog can do, consider the standards of most competition sports (obedience, rally, agility, herding, hunting, Schutzhund, Ring Sport, KNPV, etc.)  rules for distance, speed, attitude, and such. While sports are just a show, the durations, types of exercises, distances, precision and such are more realistic as to what can reasonably be expected to demonstrate competence. Or consider the published standards of the nationally recognized disability or therapy dog organizations. None of them have a requirement like this.

Plan accordingly.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog? (Part 2)

 

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog?

How many lessons does it take to train a dog?

I understand why this question comes up: budget, setting expectations, maybe shopping around for answers and programs, who can do it fastest, etc.

Here’s my viewpoint.

How long does it take to create a dog that does real work? (MORE) 

Collaborative Dog Training

“Collaboration” means to work together to produce or create something. 

 

I teach my students that the best method for training dogs is collaborative. Here’s what I mean. 

 

How can you collaborate to produce or create something? I show students how to work with their dogs, instead of working against them. Let’s start with the nature of dogs, then the breed you chose, then your dog. What talents does your dog have and how best can we work with them? Can you help your dog discover the right solutions?

 

Dog training should not be focused on how to stop a dog doing this or that. 

 

Dog training should not be something you do to a dog. It is better if it is done with a dog. That is the challenge I give all my students and dogs. It is a better way.

 

Plan accordingly.

Do You Have An Adventurous Dog?

Do You Have An Adventurous Dog?

Some dogs are just full of energy, very playful and inquisitive. They can either be fun or a serious hassle. Sometimes people think this type of dog needs more exercise, maybe more puzzles and toys. But that doesn't make it better. Your entire home has become a playground of puzzles and toys, except those toys are your things, your kids, you, every guest, and the other pets in the home. Non-stop. 

You don't want to crush these dogs. You already know that wouldn't be right. But many trainers are going to walk through the door trying to sell you their electric collar program. Please, don't do that.

Working dogs are just as playful, just as inquisitive, just as energetic, and just as adventurous. Maybe even more so. The good trainers work with all of this rather than trying to suppress it all. What seems like a hassle today is actually a very valuable asset if properly worked with. 

Plan accordingly. 

You Should Follow My Dog Blog On X

By the way, you should follow me on X... I also post unique dog posts there you will find interesting... @SamTheDogTrainr 

Puppy Lessons

Are you unhappy with how your dog is behaving? 

Dog Training And Brevity

Most dog trainers confuse dogs. Many repetitions cause some dogs to figure out a pattern but are not well trained: when the context changes, expected skills don't materialize.

Training by mistake isn't the same thing as intelligible communication.

Brevity is the soul of wit. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Fear

Should dogs ever be put in situations that might or do scare them?

Yes.

Should dogs purposely be terrorized?

No.

The Real World: There is no world or era that ever existed in which something wasn’t going to scare a dog. That is true for all higher animal species. We cannot, and should not, put dogs in a bubble to prevent all stress and fear: even putting them in a bubble would scare and stress them. If you are wanting to be a bubble-maker, then don’t get a dog. 

Some things are innately scary to a puppy. For example, going down or up stairs for the first time. That challenge is going to be scary. Puppies instinctively fear falling. Human babies do, as well. Experiments have been done with both. Put a glass plate over a “cliff” and let the puppy walk forward or baby crawl forward to the perceived “edge”. They will both stop before “falling”. They will experience a feeling of fear and appropriate learning and actions will take place. This is partly why it is hard to load a dog, or even a horse, in or out of a vehicle.

There are other stimuli in the environment that are prone to cause fear in animals. For rats, it can be the presence of cat hairs. For birds, something big and dark, shaped like a predatory bird,  “flying” overhead. For dogs, a bigger dog hovering over them is scary. You will see puppies get scared, for example, when first being socialized with other strange dogs. Even you sometimes will scare your own puppy such as standing over them, picking them up, trimming nails, baths, setting them down, familiarizing them with your home and yard, and doing normal household chores. 

Since you know some things can be scary, you need to know which scary experiences you want your dog to deal with, and others that would be a setback, and have a plan for both.

Collars are often scary the first time they are put on. Same with leashes. Same with the presentation of a new treat, food bowl, water bowl, brush, comb, scissors, new toy, crate, location, drive in a vehicle, meeting with your friends and family, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, air conditioners, and on and on. So, let’s stop with the no fear thing. It isn’t real.

When I train dogs and owners, I don’t prevent puppies from experiencing normal things that might appear scary at first. I help them familiarize and adapt to those animals, people, locations, objects and situations. That is your secondary job regarding fear. Your primary job is preventing fearful experiences that won’t improve your dog’s welfare. 

What about training? 

Well, puppies are going to be afraid of pottying the first time in your yard. I am not going to avoid helping a dog learn about their new territory, since I don’t want them to just potty in the home for the rest of their lives. 

Puppies are going to be afraid of all the tools and things we do in training. Just because you don’t think it should be scary, that doesn’t mean the puppy perceives it that way. Even with treats, they are typically suspicious of a new food until they have seen it isn’t going to grab them, is sniffed and tasted successfully. That is a natural defense from being poisoned. You would do the same if you lived off the land. Have you ever researched how to tell if it is safe to eat something in the wild in case you were lost? You don’t just eat a tasty looking berry or mushroom, or touch some plant or animal, like you would from the grocery or pet store.

Even older dogs are going to get scared of objects, animals and people. Look folks, they are living beings. They are going to protect themselves naturally regardless of your good intentions. Your job is to supervise these encounters to promote your dog’s welfare.

What about “dominance”? What is it and how is it established? Rank is taken by force in the animal world, either psychologically or by physical action. That’s why dogs are always alert to their relationship status and rank relative to other dogs and people.

“Top dog”, human or canine, is threatening by mood, physical size, scent and other natural factors. All dogs notice the mood of the other person or animal. Size of others is also factored into how they are going to perceive that other animal or person. Loud and low vocalizations by people, as well as other animals, convey a larger size. Raise your voice? You are adding threat to the situation. Lower your voice? Same thing. Posture and proximity matter: get closer and stand taller? Same thing, it is intimidating. Hate to tell you, while dogs aren’t wolves, and it is rare that a pet dog gets in a purely offensive violent fight with a human over status or rank as would a wild or tamed wolf, your dog still perceives your status and rank and responds accordingly. However, it isn’t so rare for dogs to perceive status and rank and fight with another dog in the home. Those are often those fights where people say they didn’t see it coming and they can’t figure out what the dogs were fighting over.

Some of what you perceive as affection are submissive gestures in response to your worrying presence, meant to convey that all is good, I’ll accept you, please accept me, and I don’t want a fight. 

What about training methods? There is this huge, stupid debate over R+ vs Balanced Training. It’s like two cults arguing about the best way to get to paradise. 

Yes, I find it best to use positive reinforcement (R+) to teach skills and then clean up the mistakes with either positive or negative punishment. 

Let’s talk real world: You can only go so far with positive reinforcement before you run up against naturally occurring, and sometimes biologically more important, positive reinforcements in the environment and situation that will successfully compete against all your dogs’ R+ trained actions. You then have the choice whether to never let your dog get near those things, animals, people or situations, or you must finish the job to cause them to avoid those encounters… walk away, keep them on leash, never leave the home, only be free in a fenced yard, etc. Basically make them a prisoner in a gilded cage.

Example: I have heard R+ trainers claim they can teach dogs to leave rattlesnake alone purely with R+ training. Smell/ See Rattlesnake => Run to Handler => Get a Treat.

That isn’t going to work. Even dogs that have been trained with e-collars to leave rattlesnakes, Kiwi, ungulates, crocodiles, alligators, rodents, and birds sometimes are still too tempted and will go after those animals. It is well established that skill learning from bad experiences is harder to forget than those learned by good experiences. The brain and body are hardwired to try and not repeat mistakes that were unpleasant. That is why I never sweat it if a student accidentally drops a treat during a lesson and the dog gets it. Food training is very forgiving. But I am very cautious before I instruct students on ideas about how to correct unwanted actions. For some novices, once you give them a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. I want the dog to know what to do before we clean up the part about what not to do. None of this is about instilling fear in the dog as a way of terrorizing them. But by the nature of corrections, the brain is going to process every known mistake and consequence as something emotionally unpleasant. 

What about R+ Only? Even if someone claims to be a purely R+ trainer, every time they withhold a reward, that is negative punishment and distressing to the dog. Otherwise it wouldn’t work. Even when free shaping, every mistake is not rewarded and is a negative punishment. So, let’s not say that “purely positive” trainers don’t use punishment. They do. Even studies on the physiological effects of negative punishment show increases in stress and hormone markers roughly equivalent as those found when using typical dog training corrections. So, we are more dealing with a marketing strategy than a discussion of animal welfare. 

Competitors are trolling other dog trainers, purposely provoking fights, to gain attention to make money. How can you know? Many of the so-called “all positive” trainers will not debate, or demonstrate their skills, alongside the people who train dogs to do real things in the real world. Petulant trolling isn’t making it better for the dog world. 

What About The Abusers? There are dog owners, trainers and advocates that do want to make dogs afraid, crushing them on purpose. They glory in it like Caligula in ancient Rome. Normal dog training isn’t abuse. However, it would be easy for some so-called “balanced trainers” which are abusers hiding in the midst of others that are not abusers. 

Fear: Is fear a normal response in real life? Yes. Does it need to be managed when training dogs? Yes. Can it be avoided completely? No. Should it be avoided completely? No. 

Isolation experiments on animals always result in the emotional destruction of the test subjects. You should not train dogs like you are playing with some Hot Wheels in your living room, and then put them away in a cabinet when you want to do something else. It is just as abusive to purposely terrorize a dog as it is to do some kind of isolation experiment on your dog. There is a balance. Find that balance.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Pack Walks

Remember a few years ago there were all these dog trainers filming themselves doing “pack walks” with groups of dogs? The trainer was in the lead, and a group of off leash dogs were following them, as if the trainer was some kind of Pied Piper or “Alpha” wolf pack leader on a hunt... (MORE)

How Well Is Your Dog Trained?

How do you assess your dog’s level of training? Here’s how I do it... (MORE)

Aggressive Dogs And Money

I regularly see people get on social media platforms, join specific dog groups, and then ask them for advice regarding their aggressive dog. 

First mistake.

They also tend to say, I can’t afford a dog trainer, so can you give me any advice on this or that.

Second mistake.

You are not going to get good advice about safely dealing with dog aggression this way, for free, from novices, trolls, and well-meaning but unqualified people in social media dog groups. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Space/ Proximity

Is it wrong to allow a dog to be at your feet in the kitchen when you are preparing their food bowl?

Some trainers would say, “yes” … based upon… what exactly? 

(MORE)

Dogs And Squeaky Toys

Is it OK to let dogs play with squeaky toys? Do squeaky toys teach dogs to kill? You see a lot of weird made-up stuff on the internet about dogs. Every. Day. Let’s compare the facts vs. the made-up feces… (MORE)

My Dog Is Reactive Around Other Dogs

Really? Should you make your dog meet strange dogs? On walks? At dog parks? In your neighborhood? In your home? We can impose either reasonable or unreasonable expectations on our dogs. You should learn the difference... (MORE)

Dogs And Gambling With Your Life

If you have been around dogs long enough, you will see these “dominance” focused trainers, owners, and rescue volunteers end up seriously injured. These stories sometimes make the news. All it takes is one dog that decides it is time to do a rank attack, being from a lower status and deciding that it doesn’t want to be bullied. Especially dogs that have, or are developing, the canine version of PTSD. Then it is clobbering time... (MORE)

Gentle Dog Training

Do you have a gentle dog? I have worked with a lot of very gentle dogs. You better know what kind of dog you have before you implement a training program, otherwise your dog is going to fail, and you are going to fail...(MORE)

Is Your Dog Ahead Of You, On Or Off Leash?

If a dog is pulling ahead of you whether on leash or off leash, does that mean you are not your dog’s “leader”, that you aren’t the “alpha”, that you are doing something wrong?

Ok, riddle me this, Batman… (MORE)

Dogs, Muzzles And Nooses

I think if your plan to fix your fearful / reactive/ aggressive dog is to muzzle your dog, put on a leash, and hang your dog into helplessness... 

Well... you can figure out the rest.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs and Gas

Have you ever noticed whenever you are flatulent (the polite word), that it is a result of some type of carbohydrate you have eaten? (i.e. beans)

 

Here’s the way I see it… 

 

If your dog is gassy, then something isn’t digesting properly, and it is most likely one of the carbohydrates in the food. My belief is that dog food manufacturers have captured the organizations that test dog foods and have manipulated the labeling requirements of the government in ways to disguise poor quality ingredients. 

 

For example… let’s take a human example. Milk. What is the difference between skim, 2% and whole? You can’t really tell by the label. However, most milk is highly processed and manipulated in a factory, and the milk you drink isn’t really “milk” in many ways. They are extracting and manipulating the chemistry of the original milk to turn it into a product that isn’t really milk. 

 

Thus, dog food. Read the label. It may list these or those ingredients. But if your dog is gassy, then I think one of those ingredients isn’t settling with your dog. It is probably one of the carbohydrates, or some manufactured or artificial carbohydrate analog, that isn’t fermenting properly in your dog’s gut. You are paying for an ingredient that might technically contribute X amount of this or that nutrient, but the food isn’t highly digestible and a portion of that is either ending up on your beautiful yard or in the form of that wonderful aroma, instead of building new and good tissue in your dog’s body. 

 

Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not a dog nutritionist. I’d love to hear your opinion or any other evidence.

 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Thumping

I find it disturbing that I see so many posts by social media dog trainers advocating giving your dog some kind of thumping if your dog is doing something that you don't like.

 

I mean, seriously, that is your first suggestion for everything? 

Another one I hate... the trainers that suggest using a series of bared teeth displays, growls, hisses, grunts, glares and such to correct your dog to have good manners in the home. Or the one that thinks they need to do everything before the dog gets to do it... eat, sleep, go out a door, sit down, move about, play, give affection, etc. Do you think that any top trainer in the world uses that "method"? 

Plan accordingly.

 

 

 

Dominance And Being Your Dog’s Leader

There is ongoing confusion regarding the idea of being a dog’s “leader”, being the “alpha”, and controlling a dog’s dominance. Thus… the “Dog Whisperer” phenomenon, or all those new social media trainers who are telling you that the beginning of fixing your dog’s dominance problems is to sign up for their e-collar program. Let me give you a simplified way of diagnosing if you are having a dominance problem with your dog... (MORE)

High Drive Service Breed Dog Ownership vs Pet Ownership

There is a fundamental difference between training pet service dog breeds (Malinois, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Airedale, Dutch Shepherd, etc.) versus those which have been selectively bred for competition or professional work. The top dogs look spectacular when they do the higher-level work. However, if you have a pet version of these dogs, don’t despair. You probably would find these high drive dogs too much to handle and not so much fun. You can get great performance out of pet bred dogs, I know because I do that kind of work every day... (MORE)

Should We Get A Dog?

Before you bring a dog into the home, it would be wise to observe or test to see if the dog will be welcomed by everyone in the family. If someone strongly objects, put it on hold until that is sorted out. 

There are several clues you can look for to predict whether things are going to work out or not. Let’s assume we are questioning whether one person in the family is going to reject the new dog. Go meet some dogs together observe the following:

Does that person

1. Want to keep the dogs out of their personal space?

2. Avoid touching the dogs?

3. Does the person perceive dogs as being “dirty” and “smelly”?

4. Are they suspicious or afraid of dogs?

5. Do they tolerate the behavior and presence of the dogs?

6. Do the dogs elicit affection and care taking behaviors from that person?

7. Do they act in a threatening manner?

8. Do they seek to play with the dogs?

9. Are they overly concerned about the mannerliness of all dogs in their presence?

10. Do the dogs stress them out?

11. Do they have past bad experiences with dogs that make them not want the dogs near them?

12. Are they actively asking “buying signal” questions from the people who own or are fostering those dogs?

13. Are they overly concerned about limiting and suppressing the freedom of movement and friendly gestures of the dogs, especially if the dogs are puppies which are jumping up, pulling on their shoelaces and biting at their hands?

14. Are all the comments of a negative variety? 

15. When you get home, do they show any signs of being allergic to those dogs?

16. Where do they expect the dogs to live in the home? Any rooms excluded? Are they to be banished to the back yard?

17. Do the dogs accept and like that person?

Try this out. It is better to not get a dog at all than to get a dog and then make that dog’s life miserable.

Plan accordingly.

URGENT: NJ Proposes Law To Regulate Dog Training Methods

On Monday, February 10, 2025, the New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to establish the “Dog Training Licensing Board” to license and regulate dog trainers.  In addition, the board will establish a training philosophy that must be used for every trainer in the state.

This type of legislation is dangerous. This will NOT turn out well. This has already been tried in Europe and is causing considerable damage. Politicians have NO idea how to train dogs, and the result will be the enforcement of the worst type of methods.

SHARE THIS WIDELY AND OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION. 

Fixing Problem Behaviors: Jumping Upon Greeting

Why do dogs tend to jump up on people during greetings? 

I get why people don't like it. But do you get why dogs do it? 

Before you try to fix a problem, it is best to understand why it happens. Otherwise your fix either won't work or you'll create a new problem.

I'll let you ponder on this one (I don't reward the dog trainers reading this for not putting in any effort and instead doing some research on their own). Hint: it isn't all learned.

There are plenty of suggested solutions, especially on the internet. Many will backfire. 

Plan accordingly.