Dogs And Overcrowded Shelters

J. Calhoun (1962) did an interesting experiment on brown rats. 

Apparently rats like to eat alone. They take a bite of something and then they go over in a corner somewhere and eat it. So instead, they created some kind of rat cafeteria. All the rats of the colony had to go to this one location, and they could nibble or lick at the food, but they had to do it next to one another, and it was not possible to take a piece of food and eat it in private. And eventually all the rats died of stress.

There have been numerous studies of various mammals in artificial, overcrowded, abnormal social situations. 

Guess what happens to a lot of dogs in animal shelters. The story doesn’t have a happy ending. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs In Movies

I generally don't watch movies that feature dogs. 

First, because most of them are dumb.

Second, because if someone kills the dog, then you know that person is going to end up dead. Too predictable... My one exception is Hondo. Love John Wayne movies. But I still hate that the dog dies.

Third, if the dog dies for any reason, I'll probably never watch it again, and not watch it if I know the dog is going to die. 

So, if we are going to watch a movie... 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Unique Events

Science can't predict or explain creativity or unique events. 

Every once in a while I will witness, or hear from a student about, a dog doing something that can't be explained by the dog's previous experience or training. 

First example.

It's bed time. The owner opens the backdoor and tells the dogs to go outside and potty. Both dogs go outside and eliminate. The first dog, the older dog, is a well trained male adult Portuguese Water Dog. The second dog is about a year old female Standard Poodle, less trained. She calls the dogs inside. The older dog comes in. The Poodle decides to romp and run around, just for the sake of running around. After several times calling her, the owner is irritated. She tells the older dog to "get her". He runs back outside, and literally forces (chases) the Poodle back into the home. We had never trained this dog to do anything of this nature. 

Second example.

Adult male Australian Shepherd/ Border collie mix. We had mostly finished the first round of Basic Obedience. The owner also had sheep. As she was loading up the sheep into her vehicle (you can guess the destination), one of them hops out of the vehicle and starts running down the alley. She tells the dog to "get her." The dog takes off, practically tackles the sheep, and drives it all the way back to, and into, the car. We never trained that dog to do that.

Third example.

Past student. Adult female Australian Cattle Dog. "It absolutely amazes me how much my dog understands. She “tells” me when she needs help finding her ball. We just checked my room. I told her to look under the bed and pointed so she got down and peeked underneath the bed, sniffing the whole time. It wasn’t there, so we checked the bathroom. It wasn’t there either so I said, “It must be outside.” She ran to the back door. I let her out and she immediately spotted it, grabbed it and ran back inside." We never formerly worked on this, but this owner has an excellent relationship with her dogs.

I can give other examples, but you get the point. What I can say is that I spend a lot of time helping owners develop a working relationship, and proper communication, with their dogs. I can only guess that this type of work was the necessary condition to cause these incidents. If we were to try and do these things again, let's say as a test, I'm betting that they wouldn't just happen. The owner or dog had an urgent need, the dog picked up on it, they communicated with each other, and boom, the intentions turned into useful but unique responses.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Discovering Potential Talent

I am not an “old school” dog trainer. Here’s what I mean by that. Old School: You might have worked with the dog a bit to understand Sit, Down, Heel, and Come. OK, that is a good start. But then there is the switch. The mentality changes and then if the owner gives a command, that dog better well do that command or else. And then some kind of punishment is used... (MORE)

Does Your Puppy Have Separation Anxiety?

There is a lot of dumb stuff on the internet. It seems that the internet is a magnet for fools to say foolish things. I saw a post about puppies and separation anxiety. In this case, the young puppy vocalizes a distress call and tries to be wherever the owner is. The so-called dog trainer said, yep, that is separation anxiety, and the owners are at fault. Then, this person wants you to start being aloof, distancing your relationship standing tall and confident, and disciplining the puppy.

Buzzer. Ding, Ding, Ding. Wrong answer... (MORE)

Dogs And Forced Calmness

Forcing a dog to lay on a dog Place (bed, cot, mat) isn't the same thing as teaching a dog calmness. Calm, as in: no activity, no emotions, no goals, no interest in social interactions, no desire to play, no motivation to do anything at all when you tell the dog to stop. Just lay there like a carpet for as long as you tell them to.

In fact, you can't teach a dog calmness. 

You can calm dogs by exercising them until they are restful.

You will see dogs be calmer when they are no longer puppies.

Dogs will relax if there isn't something they want to do. 

You can avoid stimulating dogs in some circumstances so as to not trigger behaviors or feed expectations of activity. 

Do not buy into the idea that it is a good idea to force calmness in a dog. Learned helplessness isn't the same as calmness. You will find training programs that promise you can calm a dog on command.

Let's try this in a different context. Do you think you can force a 2 year old kid to be calm without causing harm? Try searching Google for "the terrible two's"... see what you find out. Do you think you can make 2 year old kid to be calm at your command?  

Plan accordingly.

Dog Training Should Be Fun

Often dog training is just too serious, and the dogs pick up on that and that interferes with motivation and adds stress... (MORE)

Do You Want A Calm And Submissive Dog?

Have you ever considered what these terms mean? ... (MORE)

Dogs And Preventing Food Guarding

Leave your puppy, or dog, alone when they are eating.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Multi-Level Marketing

Years ago, I was invited by some friends to have dinner at their house. When I arrived, there were a lot of other “friends”, and the entire living room was set up with rows of chairs, a podium and speaker system up front, and a viewscreen against a wall. Once everyone arrived, the presentation was made. And then the hard sell. The social proof, the swaying effects of the cheering crowd (and the “plants: in the crowd to influence the mood and emotions), was part of the way used to persuade people into buying.

At about the same time, I was getting calls offering lavish vacations for free. So, you showed up at the travel office, and they were hard selling timeshares. You had to agree to listen to a 4-hour presentation to get the free trip. 

Eventually, when I got invites over to friends’ homes, I would ask if it was just us or were they doing a multi-level marketing system. My so-called friends were using me, buttering me and others up to get us to sign up. It spread through the churches, especially, you thought you’d made a friend, instead you were fresh meat. 

These things were more about making the people rich than the quality of the products or services they were offering. Sometimes the products and services were good, many times they were not. You had to do your due diligence and not rely just on the power of their marketing materials and the relationships they had with you.

I’m warning you here that it might happen in the dog world. The difference here is that if a system isn’t good for the dogs, then dogs will break. Is that “Method” such a program, or is that Method just a well-designed program to train dogs in an orderly manner? Most trainers have a method, but I’m referring to something else. Ask yourself this: does this system serve the wellbeing of the dogs?

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And The Problem With Science

It’s about Utopian ideas of control. But you can’t control life.

Here’s what I mean. 

About a century ago, attempts were made by Hull and others to discover the ultimate formula, an algorithm, to explain all behavior. Psychologist/ scientists spent decades trying to find this Holy Grail. They proposed if they could find that secret formula, they could control society.

B. F. Skinner, beyond all the good he did, took society on a similar ride by taking his operant conditioning theory too far. Without any direct scientific experiments to back up his proposals, he took what experiments he had done… and proposed his ideas about Utopia… ranging from politics, to religion, to parenting, crime, biology and so forth. His goal also was to control society, and many were all too willing to try it out.

Others, in the past few decades, then took his work even further. Their proposal was that humans can’t ever know the truth because all we know and do is a result of reinforcement and punishment, and that those in power control those processes, so those not in control are just victims of that control. The “truth” is therefore not truth, but a facsimile of truth because of conditioning. Like Hull and Skinner, these Utopian goals are what is driving this movement. This extrapolation of operant conditioning by critical theorists has been used to attempt to tear down society and replace it with another system of control. We are living in that mess right now. 

I ask myself if there is any need to put more lab rats in puzzles. I don’t think so. The studies of this type have pretty much exhausted the possibilities of gaining anything new and useful. What is left are novelties that aren’t going to cause any serious breakthroughs. Similarly, the quest for a chemical/ neural answer isn’t going to find a Holy Grail, either. The quest for societal control, using medical experimentation, has never turned out well. Yes, there might be some medical cures along the way, but the variability of life can’t be put into a Cartesian graph, or some new life predicting/ controlling formula.

The more I study, the more I ask why these scientists aren’t now in the field, spending more time and money working with live animals and people, rather than going down these rabbit holes. These various schools of behavior/ learning/ psychology are still stuck in their silos. Besides, it is now almost impossible to do animal experiments, other than farming them out to corrupt third world countries where there is no oversight of what they are attempting. Furthermore, they are diving headlong into control experiments that we only saw when reading science fiction books. It’s not about the betterment of animals or society; it is about control. 

What does this have to do with dogs? Well, maybe it is time to “ask” the dogs what they need rather than trying to count how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. Might it be better to go into nature and discover what it has to say or get a dog and see what develops. Variability, random and purposeful, is a fundamental property of life: it can’t be fully discovered or controlled, either in a test tube or in the real world.

Just sayin’… 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Landscaping

The new year is here, and it is time to evaluate if your yard is safe and useful. 

1.) Remove excess rubbish and junk.

2.) Which nuisance and toxic plants need to go?

3.) Is there sufficient shade?

4.) What is the condition of the lawn?

5.) Time to look at that sprinkler system, making repairs.

6.) What about lawn furniture? Has your dog damaged them, or do you need to add more? For some dogs, it is a good idea to plan a Place for them to lay when outside.

7.) How is the condition of your fencing, walls, gates and locks? You don't want an escape or an intrusion.

8.) How about some security cameras? Motion detection and other security systems?

9.) Let's take a look at that swimming pool. Is it safe for your dog? Do you need to add better steps? How about a cover? Shade? Solar heater? Is it clean, or is it a toxic green mess? How about a motion detector so you can be alerted in case your dog falls in? Pump and tools: are they inaccessible to your dog? How about installing a pool fence that is dog and kid proof?

10.) Screen doors. Time to fix those?

11.) Does your dog need a digging mound?

12.) What about your dog's potty area? Does that need replacing? Do you even have a designated area? Will your dog like going there? Artificial turf can be too hot for some dogs to step on, do you have a shady area? Many dogs won't potty on artificial turf, what are you replacing that with? 

13.) Do you have an outdoor kennel? If so, is it well made (I do have an article on that)

14.) Is your hose protected and rolled up to keep it away from your dog? What about any exposed electrical wiring and systems?

15.) What about lighting? Some homes that back up to wildlife passageways can be visited by predators; they are more likely at night to run off if you turn on the lights and go out there with your dog when it is potty time. 

16.) Have you considered predator defenses in your yard? Ask your fish and game department as to what is advisable and legal in your area. 

17.) Are your planters in good repair? I've seen dogs that were injured jumping up and off of crumbly or poorly designed planters. 

18.) Do you have a shop? Can the dog get in there and mess with things it shouldn't?

19.) Garage. How is that working and do you need to make any changes?

And ...

20.) Does your yard provide space for training and exercise for your dog? 

Summer isn't that far away... 

Plan accordingly.

Aversive Tools In Dog Training

There are many stimuli that are perceived by a dog as aversive. It can range from something startling, a danger clue in the environment, the behavior of another, or some sensation.

The latest garbage by online dog training gurus is that an e-collar isn't aversive. It is. There is no honest way to claim otherwise.

If it isn't aversive, then why use it at all?

If I run a city and hire a police officer to give out tickets to speeders, those penalties dished out are aversive. They aren't pleasant. If I was to use an e-collar to teach a dog to avoid a snake, alligator, boa constrictor or Kiwi bird, the sensation from the collar is unpleasant. That is the entire purpose of using aversives in any type of training, whether animal or human. 

On one hand, you see so-called "all positive" trainers say they don't use aversives in training. But they do, they just use ones that aren't typically used in their dog training lectures, whether they recognize it or not. If they really did believe in their rhetoric, they wouldn't talk like Karens, with scorn laced voices, to virtue signal to the world. 

On the other hand, online dog training gurus who claim that aversives (pick your flavor... voice, exposure, e-collars, tables for bite work, leash and collar, touch, boundaries ... including doors and gates, or even negative punishment) are not unpleasant, they are selling a lie. It is a marketing gimmick.

Let's all have a little honesty here. 

There is a place for aversives in all training. Everyone uses them, regardless of their rhetoric. They are used because they have a place in trial-and-error learning. Even failure is aversive, so even if you are free shaping a dog with a clicker and treats, each time the dog tries something and it doesn't get the click and treat, that is aversive. 

Plan accordingly.

Do Competition Titles Prove You Are A Master Dog Trainer?

Yes and no.

Yes, because you have some kind of results to demonstrate. It is inspiring to see these dogs!

No, because the competition field is not a full demonstration of skill level. Imagine a dog that grows up in the Truman Show. Or those dogs that are developed to demonstrate artificial abilities? What isn't seen is these dogs outside the staged events. You wouldn't do to your dog what they do to their dogs.

Let's use a human example. Let's remember some great athletes in history who ended up destroyed outside the sport, Use your imagination.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Dopamine

There is a lot of talk about dopamine. Let’s break it down a bit... (MORE)

Dogs And Resource Guarding (Part 2)

If your dog is "resource guarding" you, does that mean that your dog sees you as an object, and that you are not being your dog's leader? (I'm not referring to a grumpy dog that just would rather be left alone, I'm referring to a dog that is full on going to stand up to a confrontation regardless of the person who is approaching.)

No.

That's a ridiculous diagnosis. 

First, dogs aren't so dumb as to think you are the same as a bone or a tennis ball. How could anyone think otherwise? Second, if a dog is "resource guarding" you or any other thing or living being, to the dog the loss of that thing or being is an existential threat to them. Bullying the dog at this point will only increase their insecurity regarding that situation and can escalate, with some dogs, into a dangerous confrontation that was unnecessary. It will also be ineffective. 

You can't let others fix it for you. Unless you are willing to have that other person (whom the dog wants to stay away when your dog is with you) break the animal abuse laws and fight your dog, even to the death, to get that dog to permanently relate to them in a submissive manner (and believe me, you wouldn't like how that looks), then don't go down that rabbit hole. Even a 50 lb. dog, in a full fight with a 200 lb. man, has a good chance of permanently disabling or killing him. Is that the fight you want? Do you want the law involved if someone finds out what happened? Do you want to go down that rabbit hole? Furthermore, you should assume a male dog will never submit to a female human, so figure that one out, too. Do you not understand the male/ female hierarchy in dogs? And now each additional person that approaches you will have to defeat your dog, as well. 

Second, bullying your dog and being aloof isn't going to fix your problem. Driving the dog away from you isn't going to fix this, either. And if you bully your own dog, that doesn't mean your dog is now comfortable with this other person coming towards the both of you. "Being your dog's leader" has nothing to do with the root problem here. 

There is so much garbage on the internet these days about dog training. Don't believe everything you see. 

There are better ways of diagnosing what is happening and better ways of dealing with that. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Marriage (Part 1)

More than a few times, I have found out on a first lesson that a spouse got a dog without the full acceptance of the other spouse. 

What I mean by full acceptance is that the other spouse may have agreed, but didn't want the dog in the first place, and now that the dog is there, resents that the dog is there. And the conversation often veers into "why can't we make the dog an outside dog"? 

Let's take these in backwards order.

First, pet dogs are not outside dogs. They are not wolves or coyotes, they do not have the physical characteristics, support of a pack to protect and socialize and feed them, and they will not be provided sufficient resources to safely survive outdoors. In AZ, the wildlife present a very real fatal risk to any outdoor dog: Africanized bees, rattlesnakes, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, black bear, mountain lions, bobcats, jaguar, hawks, owls: just to name a few. Dogs are also completely vulnerable to a human invader, and they will not survive in these circumstances. This "outdoor dog" business is a roundabout way of beginning the process of getting rid of the dog.

Second, not always is an agreement an agreement. If someone feels coerced into an agreement, then you didn't ever really have an agreement. Yes, when people give their word, especially to the other spouse, they should follow through. However... how many people give vows at the marriage ceremony only later to say they didn't mean it? And then someone eventually hands paperwork over to the other spouse saying they have filed for divorce? Agreements are dependent upon the people involved, not just the paperwork or verbal agreement they entered into. Some people are great salespeople and can bully or deceive others into an agreement. Some people agree too quickly. Some people don't see an agreement as an agreement. These things should not be rushed.

Third... "I only agreed to have this dog because of ______, but I never wanted the dog in the first place." If you can't get past that point before the agreement is made, you aren't going to have a lasting agreement in most cases. The dog is doomed. Unless there is a change in heart.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Thorndike

Edward L. Thorndike (1874 – 1949), a member of the philosophy department at Harvard, made his mark by doing experiments with animals. His most famous experiments were those involving cats and dogs in trapped in puzzle boxes... (MORE)

Dogs, Kids and Prey Drive

If your dog chases your kid while running around in the backyard, is the chasing an indication of prey drive? Same question regarding your dog chasing your other dog at the park, is that prey drive?

No.

What are the behaviors exhibited when prey drive is triggered? Well, let’s consult an actual expert:

“Actions such as chasing, scare-tactics, pointing, carrying, or retrieving, tracking, trailing, and a typical shaking-to-death that dogs do while playing with a rag-as well as pouncing upon, biting, and pulling down towards them-fall into the category known as prey drive behavior. In order to gain insight into what triggers this behavior, one must observe the actions and movements of a hunted prey animal. Prey always moves away from the dog; fleeing from him in panic; and it is always on the move. The instinctive reactions which have been triggered by the prey's behavior, are as follows: he hunts the prey down, pounces on it, bites into it, and pulls it down.” Helmut Raiser, Der Schutzhund

Is THAT what your dog is doing to your kid or that dog?

Dogs aren’t cannibals. They don’t hunt other dogs, and because they are domesticated and adopted by humans, they don’t hunt people as prey. Your other dog and kid aren’t on the menu tonight.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Fetch And Tug

Should you play fetch or tug with your dog? What if the dog has problems with chasing other animals?

Of course you should be playing fetch and tug with your dog. Those activities are used to train hunting dogs, primarily the use of these tools playing fetch. 

What is a Labrador Retriever or German Shorthaired Pointer doing when with the hunter? Basically a well trained version of fetch. Tug is also used, if you know what you are doing, to teach the dog to deliver to hand and not destroy the game. Are these dogs in the fields and forests causing havoc? Are they coming home and hunting your children? No. In fact, the entire sequence of training these breeds is all about these activities.

Fetch and tug will NOT make your dog worse around prey animals. Instead, when taught properly, they will make your dog more controllable around prey animals.

Furthermore, contrary to the claims of novices who really shouldn't be pontificating about dog behavior, neither fetch nor tug will make your dog neurotic. There is a large body of experimental research into the artificial creation of neurosis in dogs. Not one involved using object play. Are hunting dogs neurotic after hunting birds or rodents, or any game? No. Furthermore, playing fetch or tug does not increase your dog's propensity to kill and eat prey animals. Prey drive stops when the prey is dead, whether with a rubber ball or the killing of a rodent. Silly uneducated claims like that make life worse for dog owners, not better.

Go play with your dog. It will make your dog a better dog. If you don't know how to do it properly and your dog is doing it in away that concerns you, stop and get some help. Furthermore, if you have a working dog, or even a pet that needs enhanced off leash obedience abilities, fetch and tug are invaluable activities.

Plan accordingly. 

Scotland Rejects Bid To Bring In Ban On Shock Collars

The Scottish Government’s Animal Welfare Commission concluded in 2023 that the use of shock collars should be banned, saying: “Whatever the skill of the user, e-collars have the potential to cause harm and that that risk is disproportionate to the perceived training benefit.”

 Away an bile yer heid. 

 

This is more harmful garbage from virtue signaling politicians. Any time a "commission" like this makes a policy like this about dogs, it almost always goes against the welfare of the dogs. These clowns are the ones to "have the potential to cause harm and that risk is disproportionate to the perceived" benefit The pushback is coming from the working dog community that DOES know how to properly use e-collars and are warning that the banning of these devices will materially harm police and military K9 readiness. (Do you want police and military K9’s to stop being K9’s? Then go forward with this ban.) These politically correct trends to control people are bad for everyone, all of society will be harmed.

 

There is a role in dog training for e-collars: snake training, wildlife avoidance training, Out training for service breeds, distance control with hunting and police dogs, and a whole lot more. 

 

Should novices get them? No. I would never, and have never, recommend any novice (owner or dog trainer), get one. Neither would I recommend anyone getting a motorcycle without sufficient lessons. Nor would I ban people from having cooking knives, various self-defense weapons, martial arts, gas powered chain saws, gas powered cars, eating chocolate ice cream, soft drinks, supplements, politically incorrect comedy, air conditioners, free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, right to petition the government for redress… or e-collars. 

 

Leave people alone. Especially people who know what they are doing. Stop the Nanny State meddling.

 

Plan accordingly.

 

Scotland's Code Of Practice For Dog Ownership

A code of practice for getting a dog is to be drawn up in Scotland under a new law passed by MSPs. The Welfare of Dogs Bill aims to promote responsible ownership by making sure people understand the commitment required before they take on a pet. Within 12 months the government will need to draw up a code, effectively a checklist of questions about whether the new owner has considered whether they have the time, space and money needed

This Nanny State garbage never works. It is just virtue signaling.

Doesn’t Scotland has a lot bigger, more pressing problems than this?

Plan accordingly.

 

Dogs And Resource Guarding

When a dog guards a resource, animate or inanimate, they are responding to a perceived existential threat. We get offended when a dog guards a food bowl, toy, location, person or other animal and we make the situation worse by escalating the threat. Adding any kind of pain stimulation, or threat of pain or injury, can make the situation even more dangerous... (MORE)

Dogs And Whining

What should you do if your dog whines? (MORE) 

Do Fearful Dogs Need More Structure And Discipline?

One of the false claims about fearful dogs is that the cause and treatment is about the need for more structure and discipline. You will hear the claims that the owners are babying their dogs too much.

That is garbage.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And William MacDougall

One of William MacDougall’s famous and enduring quotes: “The healthy animal is up and doing.” Erich von Holst agreed.

In contrast, the behaviorist school contends that the animal is a machine: an input/ output mechanism of reflexes and conditioning. Unless you can understand the depth of the differences between those two positions, you can’t be a good student or teacher of animal behavior. 

A dog is more than a coin operated machine dependent upon what coin you put in it, and especially more than what can be made to happen in a scientific experiment.

Plan accordingly. 

My Phone Call With John D. Johnson About His American Bulldogs

Back in the late 90's, I spoke with John D. Johnson about getting one of his American Bulldogs. He was very forthcoming and interesting. I can still hear him saying his dogs are "the finest guard dogs on the planet." 

I asked a lot of questions, and most of what he told me is reflected in an interview of him that can be found on Google (type in: "john johnson American bulldog interview"). There were some important tidbits that should be noted. He stated: 1.) You could only have two in the home, a male and a female. Not two males. Not two females. Any other formula was a setup for a fight. I have found this to be true of all of the original lines of American bulldogs; they didn't like other dogs, but could tolerate another bulldog of the opposite sex in the home. 2.) At the time, another line was becoming popular. He said that line was bred more for fighting, and his were more bred to be home companions and guardians. I didn't verify those claims, just giving you here what he told me. 3.) I wanted to meet his dogs. He said he had sold some breeding dogs to a woman in Port Townsend, WA. Since I lived in the Seattle area, I arranged to meet with her. I really liked her dog. I think her dog was from Dick The Bruiser. But she confirmed that the dog attacked one of her Neapolitan Mastiffs, so she had to make sure that she kept them separate. That also gave me an opportunity to meet some Neos and some Dogue de Bordeaux's, since she bred all three. They were all nice dogs. 

The American Bulldogs of today are different dogs than his foundation stock. Other breeds have been mixed in.

The Norwegian Lundehund Dog

About 20 plus years ago, I had the chance to meet a Norwegian Lundehund, the small, puffin hunting dog with six toes and extra bendy neck. The issue? House training problems. 

Interestingly, one of the noted behavioral issues of the breed is… house training issues.

I never got to work with the dog, however. I think the owners were looking to glean free dog training advice by inviting trainers to their homes and asking leading questions in such a way to try and get ideas without paying (which is how I learned to not do “meet and greets” like this). 

It is important to research the breed before you adopt or shop. If an obvious issue presents itself, decide how you plan on resolving it or if it is something you will have to accept. Also, if you can’t afford the necessary training, don’t be a cheapskate, don’t get a dog.

Plan accordingly.

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog

Many years ago, I was shopping for a new dog. One of the dogs that caught my eye was the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. I remember talking with Lana Lou Lane over the phone about her dogs. She had a number of interesting things to say about this breed. It was one of the few remaining lines of original American bulldog breeds from the Old South, in Georgia. I remember her telling me that her dogs were naturally obedient, and also how she could bring her dog into a bar, leave the dog with her stuff (purse and drink), and come back knowing that her dog wouldn't let someone else touch her stuff when she was away. I had no way of verifying what she was saying, but I also wasn't going to claim she wasn't accurate because I've seen some interesting things that some dogs do. 

A number of years later, I met a woman who had an Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Thus, I got to meet one after all. If I recall, the dog had issues with strangers coming into the home. So long as she was there to do the introductions, the dog would accept the guest. I also remember she was having some dog to dog fighting issues in the home, which was not a surprise. Many of these old bulldog breeds were such that you could only have two of them, a male and a female. Not two females. Not two males. Otherwise, there would be fights. 

I don't know the current status of the breed. Being comprised of a small gene pool, my concern would be overall health and longevity. Also, that the owner really wanted a territorial breed like this and knew how to manage it properly. 

Can "Hanging" A Dog Fix Dog Aggression?

You may have seen dog trainers on the internet hanging dogs by a leash to "fix" dog aggression. Does that work? 

No.

Plan accordingly. 

The Molosser Dog Breeds (Part 1)

There are a number of breeds that are not sturdy enough for continuing physical work. Of those, the Molosser (mastiff type) breeds top the list. We are talking about Boerboel, Bulldog (and many of the bull breeds), Bullmastiff, Cane Corso (recent versions vs. the ones 20 plus years ago), Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasiliero, Great Dane, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler (non-working lines), St. Bernard, Tosa, etc.

While some of these dogs might have the temperament characteristics of the working breeds used for professional work (German Shepherd, Malinois, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Dutch Shepherd, etc.), they don't have the physical abilities to do this physically punishing work day after day. They break down, such as getting ACL tears and other joint injuries, anywhere from head to tail. 

It isn't their size. A 160 lb. Canadian Arctic wolf is a big canine, but they don't break like this, and they do hard physical work every day of their lives. The big working flock guards are also sturdy (assuming we are talking about lines that are professionally doing livestock work, not the show dog imitations).

I bring this up because if you plan on using these big dogs for actual work, you can expect a very expensive major surgery bill sometime in the future that will put your dog out of work.

You will see videos of trainers giving you lists of the ultimate guard dogs, usually picking from this list, and maybe tossing in a couple of the real working dogs, too. But look at what the professionals use. Not only do they confine themselves to the second list, they are even pickier among the dogs within that list. Just because you have a German Shepherd Dog doesn't mean it would be suitable for the rigorous physical tasks that are required for professional work.

I love all breeds. In one way or another, I have trained at least 75% of the purebred specimens that would be listed by the AKC, from common (like a Labrador Retriever) to very uncommon (such as a Pharaoh Hound). So, this isn't about my bias against whatever breed you own or like. But, what I don't want people to do is physically hurt their dogs by putting them into situations that will damage them permanently. 

Get the dog you want... but...

Plan accordingly.

Christmas Puppy: Housetraining

Today is January 20th. If you got a puppy in November or December, by now your puppy's house training should be on track. Except for taking your puppy out at the regular times, you shouldn't be having any more accidents in the home, or at least very few per week. 

If not, your puppy potty training is off track. Don't get angry with your puppy. You need help.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And The Scientists Of Behavior

My criticism of behavior, learning and psychology scientists/ theorists: they presume a known physiological process correlates and explain these phenomena. Yet, the correlation between "Behavior X" and that "Neuron Z" is not yet understood, and these “just so stories” mislead the reader (and ultimately dog trainers) into thinking these scientists know more than they really do. 

 

I noticed this several years ago reading a college level biology book. At some point, I exclaimed, “you don’t know that!” It was explaining the operation of the cell as if the processes were known. If they knew what they implied, then we’d have a cure for cancer and every other disease. Yet, this was how the topic was being taught.

 

I see this even in current lectures, books and studies on behavior, learning, and psychology: it is a lot of speculation. They present a veneer of legitimacy to these unproven connections. This leads to medical behavioral diagnoses and drug treatments, even as the drug manufacturers admit they don’t know why certain drugs do this or that.

 

Pavlov was trying to link the two, because it is reasonable to believe that physiology will someday explain behavior. But that someday isn’t to-day. 

 

There is no science of dog training. It is too soon to call it science. That doesn't mean there aren't effective ways to train dogs, just don't call it "science". 

 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Dating (Part 1)

She has a dog. He has a dog. Is that going to become an issue if they decide to get married?

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. 

I see it kind of like marrying someone who has kids. You aren't just marrying them, the kids are part of a package deal. How that is done can either make or break whether things work out. With kids, it is disastrous if they hate the significant other. The marriage will be full of turmoil. Same with marrying someone where their dog hates your dog. 

First step is attempting to build a relationship between the dogs. Just like you would need to build an acceptable relationship with their kids. If a successful relationship can be established, then the outcome has a better chance of succeeding. 

One big mistake is to blame the dogs for their behavior. They are dogs. They need training and behavior modification in many cases. It is also a mistake to denigrate the other person because their dog doesn't like your dog. Just because you think they should be doing this are that... you aren't a dog trainer. You don't know what you are talking about. 

I've seen some weird dynamics when the other person has issues with their intended's dog. It can stir up a lot of hurt feelings that never needed to happen. 

With children, the issues are even more complicated. You should assume there is trauma, even if the other person says their kids are fine. Any broken home has kids with some kind of trauma. So, slow things down. You don't need to get married tomorrow or even next year. Don't put it on a timeline, instead measure it based upon whether the relationships are going to be healthy. 

What about kids and dogs? Hoo boy, any problems are going to be multiplied if no one is getting along. Even if you love the other person and they love you, if their parallel relationships with your kids and dog aren't working out, that is a red flag you shouldn't ignore. The last thing anyone needs is a divorce or unhappy home. I've been brought into some very complicated dog-family situations; some fraught with hurt feelings, anger, and even worse. Sometimes I can settle the dog problems if I can get everyone on board. Sometimes I can get the dogs to get along. And it is above my pay grade to give them help in terms of family issues; that requires other experts, including the advice of close family members, friends, clergy, and possible family or individual therapists. No therapist, psychiatrist or psychologist would ever guarantee that they can fix your marriage problems. No dog trainer should likewise guarantee they can fix all dog problems in a family. 

Thus, before things go too far, how about seeing how the relationships are going? Dating is a test drive, mainly of the character of the other person. What's on the outside isn't always what is going on inside. It also takes time for a good assessment to determine if dogs can get along, can be managed together safely, and if the two people see eye to eye on how to own a dog. If you have kids, slow things down until you are sure. Same if you both have dogs.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Affection (Part 1)

Have you ever considered why we relate to dogs, and dogs to us?

We are very similar in many ways emotionally. We can develop a relationship.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Donald Trump's Presidential Inauguration

Regardless of how you voted... don't get so glued to the TV and being on the internet that you neglect to make sure your dog has a good day today.

Dogs don't vote.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Back Up Planning

Let's say you had to fly clear across the country to deal with a family emergency. Do you have a plan to leave behind your dogs for a few days in the event you had to leave town on an emergency? 

What if you were hospitalized, or someone in your family was hospitalized, who would take care of your dogs?

What if you were to pass away? Do you have someone designated to take care of your dogs so they don't end up being dropped off at the county shelter and killed?

You can help by preparing your dogs in advance of an emergency. Are they adoptable? Can they safely and easily be handled by someone other than you? Do you have money set aside in case of an emergency? Do you have a contact list of those who have agreed to help you in case of an emergency (and have you walked them through what to do; have spare keys; money set aside; written authorization with your veterinarian to allow them to treat your dogs)? And are you prepared? Finances? Detailed plan? Made all your contacts? 

Dogs don't do well just being abruptly dropped off at a kennel while you are gone for several days or weeks. They can seriously deteriorate. 

Plan accordingly.

Las Vegas Law: Licensed Breeders Limited To One Dog A Year To Individual Households

I think this is wrong. 

What is going to happen? People are going to buy dogs outside of Las Vegas. This will not solve their pet shelter warehousing problems. This will not reduce abandonment or euthanasia numbers.

What a dumb idea. Shelters are full because the economy stinks and shelters are still operating like it is the 1970's. Those are the real issues and point to the real solutions.

The city of Las Vegas is limiting how many animals pet stores and licensed breeders can sell to individual households to one a year.

Dogs And California Wildfires, Part 7

More on the California wildfires... 

First, fire officials are saying that they will be doing blackouts in LA this coming week as the winds pick up, so charge your phones and e-cars in advance. If you live in LA, I wouldn't want to rely on a functional electric grid in an emergency. Gas powered cars are the solution in emergencies. And let your car charge your phone as you get out.

Second, maybe you should own a gas powered chain saw... However, her grandfather got hurt in the process and they had to leave their cars behind. "When they were trying to leave, my grandpa had fallen, broke three of his ribs," Elias said.  "They were trying to get out with their cars, but trees had fallen blocking their way to get out." 

Oh, that's right. California BANNED gas powered chain saws on January 2024. Too bad, so sad... says those in charge. Save the environment by burning down the town and releasing more toxics than the entire state produces in a year. Makes perfect sense.

If you had to evacuate with your dog, could you get out? 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Separation Anxiety

Today, I saw a video dog trainer who claimed that the reason that dogs develop separation anxiety is because the owners won't give their dogs the cold shoulder and make them leave them alone most of the time in the home.

That isn't the solution. 

Whoever came up with that idea should not be working with this issue. If that is what you are being told to do, stop that. Find the right answer.

Plan accordingly.

The Dog And The Psychic

An elderly man’s Husky died of old age. So, he adopted a Husky puppy. He then found a psychic in Southern California that said that he could transfer the spirit of his old dog into the puppy so that the puppy would become the old dog. He paid a lot of money to that psychic for that service.

 

I wonder why the psychic also didn’t warn him that the puppy was going to develop severe hip dysplasia before 6 months of age.

 

Hmm…

 

Plan accordingly.

Sometimes It is Better To Stop A Dog Lesson

There are times when I stop a dog lesson. 

I remember a dog I used to have. He would be one dog one day, and another on another day. On his good days, I would make progress in the training. On other days, he was just not into it, and it was like we had gone backwards. 

Same location. Same setup. Same everything as far as I could tell, but on some days he was just off. 

When I encounter a lesson in which the dog is just off that day... I discontinue the lesson: go take the dog or a walk or go play with the dog and not worry about it.

People have off days, too. Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you are the bug. Sometimes you are into the learning or the workout or the movie you are watching, and sometimes it's better to take a break and go do something else.

Dogs are not machines. If you train enough dogs, you will see this effect with some dogs. 

There are variables that we can sometimes detect, some that we can't. Maybe the dog is carrying some kind of worry that is inhibiting the dog that day. Maybe the dog isn't feeling well, but the outward signs aren't obvious. 

For example, let's say you got in an argument with someone over the color of a blanket. You say it is red; the other person says it is blue. It becomes personal and feelings get hurt. When you get home, you see that the blanket in question really was blue, not red. So, you apologize, and the fight is over. Yet, you might take a few hours to let go of the negative emotions that were stirred up and to recuperate from the energy you expended. Right after the fight isn't the time to study your calculus homework. You'll find yourself re-reading the material repeatedly, but it just isn't registering. You need to put down the calculus book and go recover, maybe take nap, turn on a movie and zone out, or go take a car ride. 

This same thing happens with dogs. Something can stress them, we won't know what it was, but we can see it in the lesson and the lack of response. 

The worst thing is for the owner to lose his cool, to start bossing the dog around. However, that is what some people do. Several years ago, I overheard an account of someone trying to load up a horse into a trailer. That day, the horse didn't want to go in. That angered the owner, he lost his cool with the horse and dished out something harsh (I don't know what was done, I wasn't there, I only heard about the incident). The stress was so great, the horse physically collapsed on the ground and couldn't get up. They had to call a veterinarian to get the horse back on its feet using a winch and body harness. 

What was going on with that horse that day? I don't know. But the horse was having an off day, and that had shut down what normally would have worked. 

Dog training is not a science. You can do a very controlled experiment in a laboratory to try and find "laws" of behavior. In the real world, there are too many factors to observe or control. The responses you see from your dog right now might have been influenced by unknown events yesterday or even 4 years ago. It can even be that the dog isn't feeling medically well but looks well on the outside. 

Thus, if your dog is having an off day... my recommendation is to stop the lesson and come back to it tomorrow or another day. Obviously look to see if the dog is feeling well, and confirm there are no signs of a medical condition. Also, investigate what has been happening over the past week to detect if some unknown factor made today's lesson a bust. With my dog, I now suspect that his intermittent bouts had an underlying medical cause. At 5 years of age, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and died of a heart attack 7 months later. My guess is that had been percolating all along, but undetected by me and his veterinarians. 

Plan accordingly.

Puppies And End Pictures

What is your End Picture for your new Christmas puppy?

Let's put it this way...

I snap my fingers, it is 2 years into the future, and we have built your dog to be perfectly well trained. The weather is perfect. You have free time. 

What are you doing with your dog? 

Vacations?

Hikes?

Visitors?

Going to a restaurant?

Road trips?

Visiting friends on walks?

Visiting friends homes and they have dogs, too?

Therapy dog?

Going to the beach?

Taking your dog to work with you?

Having friends over to your home?

Having friends come over to your home with their dogs?

Swimming in the pool?

Camping?

Many dog owners have no idea regarding what they want out of their dogs. They don't know the End Picture. So they get caught up in the hassles of the young puppy and have no plan, no vision, and no purpose to fix any of that puppy stuff. 

Don't be like that.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Tug Of War

Is it OK to play tug of war with your puppy? 

Yes, it is ok. In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, there are a lot of great things that can later grow out of tug... Fetch, Search, Drop It, and a whole lot more. 

Many working dogs are rewarded with tug, starting as little puppies. 

(Armin Winkler doing tug work with a jute bite sleeve cover with my dog, Dillon, back around 2000)

I recommend laying the foundation early. Many things can enhance a dog's ultimate talent if you start them early and properly. 

You can also hurt a puppy if you play it roughly or in the wrong way. Yanking it away can cause the loss of a tooth or dislocation of a jaw. I've seen both. It's a game, keep it that way.

Does a play game of tug make a dog aggressive? No. Is the growling of a puppy a sign of aggression? No. It is a sign of play. But, if you aren't sure, then get someone to show you what is the right way and wrong way. 

Plan accordingly.

Don't Let Your Dog Watch

Dogs And Fire Sprinkler Systems

I had a thought... why not install a sprinkler system on the roof of your home in the event of a fire? And if your dog has a kennel, set up something similar. It shouldn't be too hard.

Dogs And Disaster Evacuations

Let’s say you had to bug out with your dog because you were subject to an emergency…

You know what you’d take for yourself: wallet, keys, family photos, portable food, cell phone and charger, spare cash, a bug out bag (first aid, lawn and leaf bags, flip flops, pen and paper, soap and shampoo, toothbrush and floss, umbrella, soft wool shirt, walkie talkies and batteries, Vaseline, whistle water purifier, gloves, hat, sunscreen, rain tarp, paracord, underwear, socks, wind jacket, jeans, pocket knife, some snack bars, pepper spray, space blanket, water, fire starter, etc… same stuff you’d take on an overnight hike), spare eye glasses, spare sun glasses, flashlight, durable shoes, important contacts list in waterproof container, some durable clothes if you have enough time, valuables, computer and charger, and important papers.

But, what about your dog? Yes, take your dog… but what else? Do you maintain a bug out bag for your dog? You probably should: food and water bowls, first aid book, first aid kit, pre-packaged dry food (weighs less than canned), water, extra leashes and collars, a couple of toys, brush, medicines, thumb drive with photos and pre-prepared flyer in Word format in case your dog gets lost, licenses, possibly a citronella spray to keep other dogs away as you run away. And is your dog microchipped? 

Plan accordingly. 

Should Your Dog Get Annual Veterinary Checkups?

Yes.

Plan accordingly.

What Is The Biggest Problem In Dog Training Today?

 

Confused About Dog Training?

Why is there so much confusion in the dog training world? 

A big part of the confusion is that the study of the mind/ body relationship is still not understood by science. 

If they don’t understand it, and if they can’t even get in agreement with what they are talking about, then that filters down into the dog training world. 

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some things that have been generally figured out. Of those things that are known, the fault then lies with dog trainers who haven’t attempted to figure those things out. 

There are four viewpoints that are still arguing with each other: 1.) Attempts to make sense of consciousness, including the idea of sensation and perception; 2.). Attempts in the laboratory to explain behavior and the assumption that consciousness is irrelevant; 3.) Attempts to explain behavior in terms of the theory of evolution and the effects of adaptation, some of which is done in field studies; and 4.) Another version of laboratory research focusing on biology, chemistry, physics, and medical experimentation. 

While all four types of science are looking at the same thing, they are like the proverbial story of the six blind men who come across an elephant: one feels a leg and thinks it is a tree, another touches its side and thinks it is a wall; another touches the trunk and thinks it is a snake, another touches the tail and thinks it is a rope, another touches a tusk and thinks it is a spear, another touches an ear and thinks it is a fan. 

In the dog training world, too much focus is on the perspective of trial-and-error learning. Give a pleasant reward, and you’ll get more of that behavior. Give an unpleasant consequence, and you’ll get less of that behavior. That may sound reasonable to explain everything and to do anything. Unfortunately, that isn’t how the entire “elephant” works. Yes, some toss in a little folklore about what they think wolves do in the wild, a dash of the psychic occult, and a willfully unaware approach that ignores most of the thinking that has gone on before them by some very smart people. The secondary approach that most are relying upon is the medical viewpoint of behavior, with a fleeting nod to behavior and a focus on giving a dog a pill. Furthermore, people are making up their own words that have no basis. If the scientists are still struggling with defining what they see, then how does it help to come up with an entirely different vocabulary, or to use what little is known in the wrong ways? 

So, here we are. And what is to be done about it? There is no unified field of psychology and behavior. There is no “science” of dog training yet. Looks like the blinders need to come off, eh?

Plan accordingly. 

Are Your Dogs Fighting?

 

Dogs And Monkeys On Typewriters

The obvious conclusion is that if millions of monkeys working gazillions of years cannot produce Shakespeare, the man himself could not produce Shakespeare picking words “randomly”. Intelligence is required. Both to write and comprehend. “Random” molecules bumping into one another isn’t enough to produce this.

How many monkeys, typing random letters, over how many years, would it take for them to write Shakespeare’s plays? 

Let’s put that in simple terms. Take all the monkeys that have ever existed on earth, and it would take more time than the entire existence of the universe.

This is why you can only take animal examples so far when drawing inferences about human behavior. The distance is so large as to be impossible to leap. This is also why it is unfair to hold dogs to human standards of behavior, intelligence, or understanding, and why many punishments dogs receive are unjustified and ineffective.

(HINT: DNA is even more complex than Shakespeare… just sayin’)

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And California Wildfires (Part 6)

Do you really think it will be safe for you and your dog to be hanging around the devastation after these fires are put out in LA? Ground water, air, dust, building waste... all contaminated. Construction workers will be exposed, too. And where does all that toxic waste go? Do the surrounding communities want that dust floating over their homes during the cleanup? 

The entire area is a hazardous waste pit. Remember what happened to the victims and first responders after the Twin Towers fell on 9/11... lots died young because of hazardous waste exposure. 

Those search dogs and teams scouring the remains there aren't safe. They are doing valuable work, but we will hear later of the cost. Same thing happened to the dog teams after 9/11.

Look at what people are facing there…

“Tragically, lives have been changed forever in just a matter of minutes. Many families may not be able to afford to rebuild or repair and return. Businesses may not be able to recover, and jobs will be permanently lost. Thousands of people are in desperate need of help, initially the basic and life-sustaining needs of food, water and shelter, as this tragedy unfolds," Porter said. "Many families will face significant unexpected costs to relocate to another area in Southern California. The recovery process will be extremely expensive and emotionally challenging in the months and years to come.”

So, do you stay or do you go? And where is the rescue money going to go? To the residents? Or to special interests? Knowing California, it won’t be to the residents. Knowing the politics, the preening politicians will keep fiddling as Rome burns. Citizens are going to be left dangling. $250 billion in losses so far, and still counting… 

If you have relatives in CA, you might just want to discuss an escape plan for them. The worst is yet to come. I predict social unrest, and long term health and psychological problems: that is no place to be with your dog. And if you are part of those search and rescue teams, I respect the work you are doing... 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Conditioning

Fitness is important for dog and handler. 

If I was a fitness coach, I'd want to know what you are training to do. Football player? Pickleball? Ballet? Olympic lifter? I'd then assess your current fitness with a wide range of tests. From there, we would start with some kind of foundation training to put your entire system in balance. 

If I was a fitness coach for dogs, I would do the same. What kind of job is this dog expected to perform? What kind of stress is this doing going to have to deal with? I'd want to look at the dog's body shape (conformation) and I'd want to see it move. From there, a plan could be developed. 

Most dogs are pets, and most owners aren't going to do athletic events with their pets. However, life can provide surprises to both and then it is game on: your dog falls in a lake; you have to run after your dog as she is chasing a rabbit that has run across the street; your hike has taken a bad turn, you are on a cliffside and you both have to crawl out of a bad situation. 

Or maybe it is just something much more... supposedly... bland, like you are going to play fetch or tug with your dog. 

Dogs get sports injuries all the time. Jumping off a couch and going splat. Sliding into a wall playing with the other dog in the home. Tripping and falling while jogging alongside someone. Ever had to take a dog to the vet because they came up limping from some kind of spill? I have. Last thing you want to hear is your dog has a permanent injury or needs expensive surgery, or both.

The better shape the dog is in, meaning all systems are running efficiently, the less likely that dog will be injured, and if injured, the faster the healing. Same with the owner. 

For many working dogs, the side effect of the work is that they get into shape. However, their vitals need to be monitored. For couch potato dogs, none of that is happening, and an owner can put their dog in a situation that the dog isn't prepared for, and something is going to break. Or the situation has become an emergency, and both the dog and owner aren't in great shape and the outcome isn't so pleasant.

Do you have a fitness plan for yourself and your dog? 

Plan accordingly. 

The How And Why Of Dog Behavior

When I am observing or diagnosing a dog behavior, I will inevitably try to answer two questions: 

1.) How does this behavior happen?

2.) Why does this behavior happen? 

The first question is about the immediate, or “proximate”, causes. What is the most direct information that leads to a conclusion as to how this incident happened. That is the Sherlock Holmes part of the job.

The second question is more philosophical, as in the philosophy of science. This is about why dogs do behaviors like that. What biological function does that behavior fulfill? 

The answers to these questions can be combined to diagnose the problem, as well as lead to a logical remedy. 

Having one question answered without the other isn’t going to be very fruitful. Just thinking that you can STOP the dog doing that behavior doesn’t mean your solution is going to work. 

While this two step concept sounds easy to apply, it takes many years to get good at it.

Plan accordingly. 

 

Should You Punish A Dog For Pottying In The House?

No.

You aren't teaching the dog to not potty in the house, you are teaching the dog to not potty in front of YOU. 

That will backfire.

Plan accordingly. 

Owner Saves Dog From Icy Lake

Video shows owner risk life to save dog from icy lake in Massachusetts

Well, that's a good way for both of you to die. 

If you live near icy lakes... do you have preventative measures, and a way to save your dog if this happens? 

Plan accordingly 

Dogs And California Wildfires, Part 5

I'm guessing it isn't good for your dog to be breathing in all that cancer air from the fires in LA. 

Interesting... drive an electric car to save the planet, burn down the city to save the planet. 

What kind of idiots are running that place?

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And California Wildfires, Part 4

As if things couldn’t get worse, as people are going back to see the charred remnants of their California homes, they will be facing two new challenges. 

First, even if their homes have been burned to a crisp, they still owe the full amount on their mortgage loans. They can’t just walk from the deal and let the lender foreclose. They will owe whatever the loan amount was plus any loan penalties and legal costs the bank assesses.

What does that have to do with having a dog? I would investigate bankruptcy protection to at least stall the foreclosure and costs. I don’t know bankruptcy law, but you still must live, and you still must feed your family… and your dog and find a new place to live. But, with your credit destroyed, and possibly your livelihood, you are in for a rough ride. Can you preserve enough income and cash to save your family?

Second… and this one is so repulsive it is hard to even imagine… the next challenge will be… squatters. Yep, these scavengers are about to descend on these vacant lots to claim them as their own. Now you owe on the mortgage loan, and you are either going to be treated as a landlord (and not paid any rent) or NOT the owner. You will be required by law to demolish the remaining structure. Good luck with that if someone is claiming they are a tenant or the rightful owner. I bet in CA you are required to provide alternative housing for tenants after a fire: how would you like to pay a squatter to rent somewhere else?  So, you’ll have the law on your tail for not letting them live in the lap of luxury for free. Then, these people are going to loot whatever is left of the remains. And lastly, you might lose your home completely because of the financial and legal mountains you are going to have to climb. What does this have to do with your dog? Once again, you will be financially destroyed if you don’t come up with a strategy. Maybe you should sign a lease with yourself to become your own squatter. Seriously. Ask your attorney how to stake your claim to you own home. Look into any government assistance; hire an attorney; contact your insurers; get identity theft protection. Furthermore, many pets were left behind. You had better get the permission to inspect your property before your pet is dead. I’ve seen a few videos of pets that were still alive, and the last thing you want is for some squatter to release them into that wasteland. Go save your property rights and your dog.

Those are my thoughts for today.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Associative Learning

What is the main difference between how I view puppy lessons and adult dog lessons? Here is my condensed version... (MORE)

Dogs And The Confidence Man

As I have mentioned, I read a lot of dog books when I started training dogs. I started with the local library (who does that anymore?). 

Looking back on it, quite a few of these authors were phonies. They never did see their promised results from the recommendations they made.

I am seeing the same symptoms as I look at the online programs offered by some of these social media dog training gurus. There’s no way that works, there's no way they understand what they are saying (it is Dog Gibberish and Dog Nonsense) and there is no way they are doing that stuff in their lessons in the real world for professional working dogs and getting results like the good trainers. It is just junk candy to sell to the masses. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Guitars (Update)

 It arrived... (see previous post)

Dogs And Infrastructure Disasters

Is it any surprise the collapse of the façade that was California? Still clinging to their past image of sunshine, surf, fun, prosperity and innovation, they were able to allow everything to crumble into disrepair. Residents lived under the illusion that nothing was wrong, not seeing and doing anything about rampant crime, gridlock, woke social engineering on this and that, crumbling roads and bridges, gridlocking regulations, petty and intrusive laws on every little detail, homelessness, violence, abandoned businesses and buildings, closing restaurants and mom and pops, preening celebrities and politicians, smog, wildfires, floods, destruction of forests and national parks, petty fees, nothing works in government except to serve itself, high taxes but always running bigger and bigger deficits, and infiltration of society by criminal gangs. 

Now, nature has had a say. You can’t deny reality forever. Rome has fallen as Nero plays his fiddle. 

What does this have to do with dogs? Well, since this is a dog blog, I pay attention to what all this does to dogs. I wonder how many pets died screaming in pain as they were left behind as the fires raced through the LA neighborhoods. We know that rescues in the area are putting out appeals and shipping LA strays to other cities around the US. We also see that horses were left to die. And we know that wildlife was also either burnt to a crisp or had to flee in any way they could.

So, here’s my suggestion. IF you see these same signs where you live, it’s time to get out. Now. Slap yourself out of your delusions and go. Don’t be like Lot’s wife. Don’t end up like the people in LA… and I’m referring to all those non-celebrities whose lives are now destroyed and who don’t have any savings to fall back on. Your dog can’t do it for you. What city do I think is heading for the next giant disaster in the news?

Prediction: Seattle.

Prediction 2: San Francisco

Prediction 3: Chicago

QUIZ: What is a Potemkin Village?

Plan accordingly.

Would You Get A Robot Dog?

So, the AI thing is humming along. We are seeing articles about these fake rubber women (UGH)... and now the robot dog. 

Pardon moi, there are plenty of real dogs, rescue dogs, lingering in shelters and foster homes that need a new family. Opinion: a robot dog will never be a substitute for a real dog, ever, in my world. I don't get the purpose of this Frankendog. Ever read the study of the Rhesus monkeys, one group with the fake wire mother and the other group with the fuzzy mother? What was the outcome; what were the conclusions? (HINT: It didn't go so well for the monkeys with the wire mother)

Read the article and let me know if you agree with me:  Robotic puppy, shown at electronics trade show, seen as boon for mental health

Training Hunting/ Sporting Dogs in Drive

I enjoy training the “sporting” hunting breeds, such as Spaniels, Setters, Retrievers, and Pointers. If the dog has any kind of prey drive, and is otherwise healthy and properly socialized, they are tremendous.

My primary approach, when training any dog, is to discover their best expression of prey and pack drives. I can then use motivation and those drives to make the most of that dog. I use very little correction in training any dog, and especially with dogs that have some talent.

I will stretch a dog as far as their talent allows… and as far as the owner will allow. What I mean by that is some owners carry baggage from previous training and are often too quick to resort to old methods of influence to crush the dogs. I counsel patience, however. The good dogs shine when you let them grow up normally and allow them to develop their talents. 

While I am not specifically a hunting dog trainer, I have laid the foundation for hunting dogs. For example, a few years ago I worked with a French pointer. The owner’s buddies wanted him to get an e-collar; I advised against that, and my recommendation paid off. We also never did work with birds, only hunting dummies. But when the owner took her hunting, she was spectacular. The work we did at home, which hunting dog trainers typically call “yard training”, was sufficient for her to work in a real hunting situation. The goal of the training wasn’t to make her into a hunting dog, but since I knew the husband wanted a dual use dog, we put in the necessary foundation.

I think the most underappreciated pet dogs are the Retrievers. They often get too much ham-handed pet dog training and never get to develop what they are capable of. Same with most of the pet Spaniels. Same with the Setters. I especially like Labs, great dogs. Goldens make excellent dogs, too. The Spaniels need an especially gentle hand, and same with the Setters. The talent can be there, but it has to be carefully curated. 

I wonder if many people realize what they have when they get one of the sporting breeds. If they were lucky enough, or purposeful enough, to get one with a good temperament, then so much can be done. They can be a joy to work with.

Dog Training Theory vs Real World

There are some big leaps that must be accomplished to take a concept and turn it into a real-world application for your dog. Here are the basic steps... (MORE)

Is An Electric Collar A Communication Tool For Dog Training?

No, an electric collar is not a communication device for dog training. It has no such value, any more than if a dog has an itch. An itch isn't a communication. Nor is a burp. Nor is passing gas. Neither is a leash or collar of any type. Nor is a harness, a dog bed, or the wind blowing. 

Stop using this way of describing how dog tools work. 

What is “Communication”? Here is the Merriam-Webster’s definition: “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior; exchange of information.”

The difference matters.

If you still aren’t understanding: time to do some studying.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And LA Fire Evacuations

As CA Governor, Caesar Flickerman, watches as LA burns, rescue organizations are already networking to get dogs out of LA into other shelters. 

Seattle Humane taking in 60 LA-area shelter pets due to 'unprecedented' wildfires

While I support and applaud these efforts, the rest of the US can’t save LA or California’s rescue dog problems. And Seattle is it’s own special kind of hell, so that isn’t going to be a long term solution, either. 

Municipal shelters are still operating like it was the 1980’s. They haven’t the type of business plan to deal with emergencies. Heaven forbid the Big One had happened in LA instead of these fires. There is no planning, no competent leadership in these cities, driven more by virtue signalling than competence. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And California Wildfires, Part 3

If there was an emergency, do you have a "bug out" plan for you and your dog? 

Plan accordingly.

Dog Zoos

A trend I’ve been seeing over the past few years is the development of what I refer to as dog zoos. 

What started out as kennels with playgrounds turned into doggie daycares. Doggie daycares are now morphing into these zoos.

The first ones I heard about were overseas. They consist of giant facilities, almost like a dog Disneyland, with dogs running around and the people walking around getting services almost like they are on a cruise ship.

I understand that people want their dogs to have a full and good life, but these kinds of environments are not natural for the dogs. I don’t recommend doing things that are abnormal, and almost impossible, for most dogs to process. These will come to the US; maybe they are already here...

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And California Wildfires, Part 2

California fires: Think of the billions of cost… 1) not only the real estate, but cars, valuables… but also intangibles such as business projects that will never now happen; 2) people who lost jobs: gardeners, real estate agents, plumbers, gas station attendants, chefs, auto repair mechanics, etc.; 3) Lost property and income taxes to fund repairs; 4) Looting, and the empowerment of the gangs; 5) Loss of first responders and police who decide they don’t want any more of this. CA doesn’t have the money and surely won’t reimburse “the rich”. FEMA messed up in NC with Helene, so don’t expect a lot of help there any time soon. The preening politicians have promoted the illusion that since everything was going fine in the rich areas, they could ignore the squalor and broken-down infrastructure they caused. Is California coming to reality? They voted for this mess. There isn't enough money in the entire wealth of the US to fix stupid.

An exodus is coming. That will drive up housing and other costs wherever these people land. And there must be an immediate need for dog rescue in LA. I see articles showing horses left behind, too. Hopefully they don’t bring “California” to your town, or you’ll suffer the same fate one day.

Plan accordingly.

Dog Trainer X Has Trained Over 10,000 Dogs

These claims are everywhere and are to be found in new media and even in old publications (there's nothing new under the sun, eh?): online websites, blogs, videos, social media, newspaper articles, interviews, magazines, and in books (have I left anything out?). I had an old dog training book I purchased about 30 years ago that claimed the author had trained something like 40,000 dogs.

Online Trainers: If someone sells a video, or posts stuff online for free like a podcast, can they then honestly claim that THEY trained thousands of dogs because someone purchased or watched their stuff? I guess the truth is in the eye of the beholder. 

Alternate Scenarios: group classes (usually at least a year to get a meaningful AKC title ribbon); disability /service dogs (5 to 6 months for just one dog); police dogs (4 to 6 months for just one dog); competition dogs (usually at least a year); hunting dogs (usually at least 6 months); etc... crunch the numbers. Is that 10,000 (or you pick the number) dogs trained over X number of years a real number? I just don't think I've met anyone who has trained that many dogs, personally, to any competent level. 

When I see someone claim they are the world's best, top, wonder, master trainer guru who has trained 10,000 dogs (or whatever giant number is in their sales materials)... well, those kinds of claims put me on guard, at the very least.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And California Wildfires

Horrible, just horrible. These wildfires are just devastating for everyone involved. 

Could you efficiently evacuate your dogs from your property in case of a disaster, like a wild fire?

If not...

Plan accordingly. 

What Do You Do With Your Dog During Your Free Time?

The flip side of less dining out is more eating alone. The share of U.S. adults having dinner or drinks with friends on any given night has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 20 years. “There’s an isolationist dynamic that’s taking place in the restaurant business,” the Washington, D.C., restaurateur Steve Salis told me. “I think people feel uncomfortable in the world today. They’ve decided that their home is their sanctuary. It’s not easy to get them to leave.” Even when Americans eat at restaurants, they are much more likely to do so by themselves. According to data gathered by the online reservations platform OpenTable, solo dining has increased by 29 percent in just the past two years. The No. 1 reason is the need for more “me time.”

 

That is a LOT more alone time. I can verify that more of my students report that they don’t have many, or any, guests. They also report they aren’t going out, and some no longer are taking vacations, going to movies or the theater, shopping malls, public concerts and mass gatherings, or going to see friends or family. 

 

That puts a bigger burden on the home dog. That dog needs to be better behaved and adapted to this kind of homebody lifestyle. I also do all I can to encourage people to get their dogs out of the home. All that isolation isn’t good for most dogs.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And The Bourne Identity

The government just declassified 20 more documents regarding their MKUltra Program. This type of experimentation is the basis for the Bourne Identity movie concept, that you could split a person into two, with one personality not knowing what the other was doing. In other words, creating a method that was analogous to someone with split personality disorder. But on purpose. Then you could aim one of the personalities to do clandestine work, or break someone and destroy them as an individual, or create the super spy or super soldier. While the MKUltra program was officially dismantled after the Watergate era, there is no way this work was discontinued. It was just buried. There are still efforts being made to get the same results. Hint: it won't be long before they put a computer "chip" in soldier's brains.

What does this have to do with dogs? A lot of fundamental research on these concepts has come out of experiments on dogs. The early work on breaking down a dog led later to this kind of research, and then torture, on humans. It is hard to read these old experiments on dogs and what it did to them. It is also not all that hard to extrapolate how it could be applied, or has been applied, to humans.

We are already in the Brave New World.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Verbal Judo

Not every person needs to pet your dog. Not every dog needs to meet your dog. Not every kid needs to hug your dog. 

Not everyone has good intentions. Not everyone is good with dogs. Not every dog is going to be good with your dog. 

Do you have an idea how to de-escalate or get out of such encounters? 

Plan accordingly. 

Letting Your Dogs Run Loose In The Neighborhood

It is pretty foolish to let your dogs run loose in the neighborhood. You are still responsible for what your dogs do, even if you aren't there when it happens. It is also pretty foolish to meddle in affairs that are not your own. These cases often end the life of the dogs when it is all finished.

If you have a neighbor who does this, it is a mistake to go and confront them yourself. You are unqualified to deal with this, and it could all backfire on you. Call the appropriate authority for your area. 

I remember a similar story, but in a different context. A man and woman were fighting. An observer went in to break it up. The man and woman then attacked the observer, the observer killed the other man, and so the observer went to prison and the dead man went to the grave. The fight was wrong and out of control. The observer got in between a fight that wasn't his. It sounds great to go and be a hero, but the reality is you might end up a zero. No one wins.

I heard of another case. A woman was running away from a man, screaming. An observer, assuming the man who was chasing her was going to significantly harm her (use your imagination; I don't use the actual terminology to avoid being censored by this platform). So, he terminated the chasing man. Turned out the woman was a prostitute. The chasing man was an undercover police officer. The observer went to prison. The police officer went to the grave. I don't know what happened to the woman. 

Letting your dogs run loose is a set up for a life changing type of trouble. If someone is seriously harmed, you might not only pay a lot of money, but pay with your freedom or even your life. If you are the observer, you might also get in so deep that you can never get out of what happens, maybe for the rest of your life. If it gets really bad, the dogs won't ever see the light of day again. Lots of money will go to the victims, if they survive, but money can't reverse whatever happened. 

Obey the laws. Call the authorities. Stay out of trouble.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs: Karen Pryor Has Died

Karen Pryor died on January 4, 2025, at the age of 92

 

I first came across Karen Pryor in the late 1990’s. I purchased clickers and her book, “Don’t Shoot The Dog”, received her monthly newsletter, and even had a phone conversation. Maybe I will write about that conversation in the future.

 

Her influence on the dog and animal training community cannot be denied. She popularized clicker training and many principles of Operant Conditioning. Her influence is still felt today. 

 

I have mixed feelings about her teaching. While I still use much of what she taught, there are flaws in a radical behaviorism approach to dog training. No point going over the downsides today.

 

She deserves credit for the good things she accomplished. May you have as much positive influence on the dog training community one day.

 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Carjacking

Have you ever considered that how you manage your dog in and out of your car could affect your risk of being carjacked?

Here are some things to consider...

About 20% of carjackings happen in parking lots. Many people park in dark channelized areas, trapping themselves in pockets of barriers and other cars, that would make it hard to get away. It takes time to load and unload a dog into and out of a car. While you are managing your dog, most people are oblivious to what might be going on around them, especially from behind. Many people use ear devices, while blabbering away on their phones, while loading and unloading. All of this makes you a target, and even more so if you have a valuable dog that a criminal might want. Many criminals are carjacking in groups, to distract and then swarm a victim. I find most people aren't looking around, making quick scans, when managing their dogs and have no pre-planning in case something bad starts to develop. Lastly, most dogs will NOT protect you or your car in an emergency, and most people have no skills and are not in good enough physical shape to either defend themselves or to get away safely with their dogs.

I have been confronted by a stranger in a lonely parking lot before. Interesting story, but I got away safely. I have been followed going back to my car. By being aware, I deterred a group of men once they realized I was on to them. Many times, that is all it is going to take to foil an attack. But, they had a say in all of that, and it could have been nasty. Yes, I later called the police, but what good is that if they arrive after the fact? 

The walk from one safe area to another is called a "transitional space". Many crimes happen in transitional spaces. So long as you are lingering around your car, especially with the door or trunk open, as you load and unload, your situation intensifies the interest of a criminal looking for a victim. Most people act as though they are just as safe in transitional spaces as they are in safe spaces, not taking into account that that is an illusion. They are off guard, not in a safe situation, trapped. Ripe for the plucking.

Some people go along with the attitude: it will never happen to me. And they are probably right. That mindset also is an open invitation to a criminal who has learned to profile the foolish and vulnerable. There have been many stories of carjackings in which the outcome wasn't so nice for the dog, either.

Plan accordingly.