Dogs Maul Kid, Dogs Are Innocent

A 10 year old boy climbed into a neighbor's yard and was mauled by 3 bull mastiffs. He was badly hurt. Seattle police reported: "This is a learning situation for everyone," Witt said. "You just don't go into other people's yards, especially when there are dogs."

Exactly. A tragedy for sure. But, not the dog's fault. Not the owner of the dog's fault. It doesn't matter that it was a kid, he was intruding and that provoked the attack. This is ultimately the fault of the adults responsible for supervising that kidk, and the fault of the kid for doing something stupid.

Prevention is Training

Preventing dog problems is better than fixing them. This article describes my philosophy on using prevention in your dog training program.

Wrong Dog?

Police dog chasing suspect is killed after he throws it into the middle of oncoming traffic.

Looking at the pictures of this dog, it appears to be a pretty small dog. There has been a tendency to use Malinois as police dogs for quite a while, but a lot of these dogs aren't very big, and the cops have always preferred a bigger dog. This appears to be a German Shepherd, but a small one. If this had been a Rottweiler, this probably wouldn't have happened.

Do You Have A Stupid Dog?

I have encountered and trained a lot of dogs over the past decade and a half. I’ve trained some extremely intelligent dogs, and I’ve trained some that were just not very intelligent.

The smartest dog I ever encountered was a female Border Collie I worked with in 2007. It only took a couple of repetitions of showing her something, and she not only understood, but retained what I had shown her on the next lesson. She also would look to see what new thing I was going to show her after I taught her something; she was curious and liked to work. Yet, she was a very sensitive dog and was easily worried by people and dogs she didn’t know, so she didn’t adapt well to some social situations in public. The dumbest dog I ever encountered was a 1 year old, 100 pound, yellow Labrador Retriever I trained back around 2002. Nothing went into that thick skull of his, and we had to go over and over the same things for him to get what I was teaching. The training took forever, he also was defiant, and really only cared to look around at things in his environment. He also wasn’t all that personable.

I do remember, however, a dog that a customer had given up on. They said he was stupid, so they put him in the back yard and neglected him. And got another dog. I trained the second dog first. When I was almost finished with the second dog, I noticed they had a small dog in the back yard, and asked what was up with that dog. So, I asked permission to train him and see if I could fix what was wrong. The dog wasn’t stupid at all. He just was defiant, and needed patience and proper training. I remember demonstrating him to them when I was finished. They were shocked that it was the same dog. He actually was better behaved when I was finished with him than their first dog. The problem was... they still viewed him as a throw away dog, and eventually they started neglecting him again, started just leaving him in the back yard unattended, and he reverted back to the way he was.

It’s pretty rare that I run across a stupid dog. It’s usually a dog that is untrained and an owner that hasn’t put in the necessary time to get to know their dog. It’s really the owner who is stupid. They’ve concluded something based on faulty reasoning, emotions, and the result of bad training or no training at all. These so-called stupid dogs suffer as a result.

If you think you have a stupid dog, you probably don’t have a stupid dog. It’s probably that you are doing stupid training, or no training at all, and not giving your dog a chance to show you what s/he is capable of.

How Many Dogs Is Too Many?

I know of a woman who is a hoarder. She hoards garbage, and has done so for several decades, much to the dismay of her family. People hoard a wide variety of things, including animals such as dogs and cats. So, how many dogs is too many? I really don’t have a definitive answer.

I know of a puppy mill where 250 dogs were discovered, found in filth, and half of the dogs in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized. I used to know of a Doberman breeder who had 25 adult breeding dogs, with only 2 of those dogs living in the home and the rest living in kennels. I know of a show dog breeder who had so many dogs that they nearly wrecked the entire breed, their dogs were pretty but with poor temperament (stupid, defiant, aggressive, and not very trainable). I know of a past customer who had 8 dogs, ranging from Chihuahuas to French Bulldogs, to an English Bulldog. I know of rescue volunteers who take in way too many dogs for them to handle properly. For me, the most dogs I’ve ever had in my home was two. Some cities ban owners from having more than 3 dogs at a time. Landlords and homeowners associations regularly limit how many dogs a person can own.

In nature, most wolf packs have 6 to 7 members, with a single breeding pair (male and female), however it’s not unusual for packs to be more than double that amount.

The more dogs you own, the more potential you are going to have of dog fights, urination problems, unmannerly dogs, disobedient dogs, clean up problems, and smell. On the other hand, I’m more and more convinced, if you are equipped to handle it, dogs are better off if there are at least two dogs in the home than being an only dog, since dogs are social animals.

I really don’t like the government telling business people or individuals how many dogs they can own. However, we all know that too many dogs in one place eventually means that there are probably going to be problems.

I have generally found that homes with 4 or more dogs to be more chaotic, and the dogs not very well behaved. Usually because of the cost and effort it takes to supervise, feed, train, and entertain that many dogs, things start getting where the controlling factor is how well the dogs mix with one another, not how well the owner is with dogs. If the mix works, then everyone is happy. If the mix doesn’t work, then the whole thing becomes a mess.

I can’t really understand the idea of bringing more dogs into your home than you can personally attend to, train, feed, exercise, etc. Maybe when it gets past that point, we have to start wondering if the owner has personal issues. Maybe we are wrong about that, but it starts looking that way. We start to wonder if we are looking at a compulsive hoarder. If it’s a breeder, we start wondering about the quality of their breeding program, and whether they are just in it for the money. Really good breeders can manage a lot of dogs, but they also will either have a family operation or hired staff to ensure things are done humanely and professionally. The good ones that do volume also are doing sport related things with the dogs, not just pumping dogs out the door to just anyone who will send them some money.

I guess my viewpoint would be: if you are going to add additional dogs to your home or breeding operation, are all the dogs you own and breed going to be better off because of that decision or not? If not, then you already have enough dogs... and it’s time to stop acquiring more.

Sick

When I die, so does my dog: Some pet owners take animals to their graves. Some simply don't want to be buried alone, while others fear no one will take care of the critters

Happy Thanksgiving! Watch your dog today with guests. Domestic violence is higher on holidays because of alcohol consumption, dogs get in the way and get abused

Three significant factors contributing to dog attacks: lack of prudent management of a dog; substance abuse; & dogs with underlying unresolved medical problems

I'm at a public event today. Saw WAY too many untrained dogs dragging their owners along. They need training: http://www.samthedogtrainer.com

Hero Dog, Target, Killed By Animal Control

A dog, named Target, credited with saving the lives of 50 US soldiers in Iraq has been killed by a Pinal County, AZ employee. The employee has been put on administrative leave.

I am no fan of animal control. I have seen plenty of abuses over the years. Animal Control is the rump end of the police force of a city, with all the police powers of a cop but without the training, skills, aptitude or organization in place to ensure the Constitutional rights of dog owner. I've seen animal control fight for inhumane dog laws, such as in Seattle, causing the deaths of untold dogs for frivilous reasons, just to raise more funds for the city in terms of fees and increasing the power base of petty city managers and increasing the number of employees who are now beholden to the city for their jobs. I've seen animal control fight in the courts to put a dog to death, even after the dog's owner was deemed innocent of any legal violation, just to prove a point that animal control should have the right to do whatever they damn well please with the dogs they seize. I've seen dogs seized off owner's property without a warrant, to be put down for doing nothing that would cause any harm to anyone. I've seen dogs in animal control left to lay in their own feces, and covered in flies. And you can bet this isn't the only dog that has been "accidentally" put to death like this at an animal control facility.

There are some accidents that are the result of the randomness of nature. Those are forgiveable. Then there are accidents that are the result of people doing things they know, or should know, they shouldn't be doing. Those second kind are what I feel happened here, by all accounts I've read over the past day. In my opinion, in private industry, that kind of foolishness should be a firing offense, both for the employees who did it, and for the head of animal control. But, this isn't private industry. There should be an investigation. Procedures should be rewritten. A board of outside supervisors should be established to prevent this kind of thing from happening. Employees re-evaluated for competence and training. And heads should roll. I'm pissed.

Pulling On A Leash?

If your dog pulls so hard on a leash that it continually coughs... YOUR DOG IS NOT TRAINED! Go get some lessons from a good dog trainer. I just hate seeing this kind of thing. And there's no need for it. And it isn't good for the dog's neck.

Border Collie

I'm currently training a Border Collie in Advanced Obedience. It's really quite enjoyable working with this breed and seeing them just "get" what you are teaching. It's a no brainer. That doesn't mean this is the ideal breed for everyone, and you really need to get to know this breed before you get one to be sure this is what you want. Every breed has strengths and weaknesses, and that's true of Border Collies.

How To Spoil A Dog

Read my latest article on this common dog behavior problem: Spoiling

Dog Training In Phoenix, AZ

Here are the locations in which I do most of my dog training. It has been quite a switch, moving from Seattle several years ago to here. I love training dogs here, but there are some significant differences in how I now operate. Take a look at the following articles:

Locations Serviced: Ahwatukee, Anthem, Avondale, Buckeye, Cave Creek, Chandler, Chandler Heights, DC Ranch, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun Lakes, Surprise, Tempe, Tolleson

10 Foolish Things People Do With Dogs

1.) Foolish Training: Wrong trainer, wrong class, unscientific training, no reasonable goals, no maintenance training, not training at all, method bias, not taking obedience to off leash control.
2.) Foolish Dog Selection: Wrong breed, not considering all the factors of ownership, not enough research, purchase more on looks than traits, wrong pup from litter or shelter or breeder.
3.) Foolish Feeding: table scraps, obesity, fad diets, improper puppy feeding, improper elderly feeding, not using medical diets when prescribed by vet, let dog eat garbage, give chocolate (poisonous) to dog, allowing dog to eat or lick things off the ground.
4.) Foolish Situations: bought a dog, but should own a dog; kids don’t treat dog properly, bought dog as a gift for someone else; don’t have enough time for the dog; got a dog just before having a baby and don’t have time for dog; not physically capable of managing dog; dog doesn’t match your living situation (your apartment doesn’t allow dog ownership); person you live with doesn’t like dogs; marry someone who doesn’t like dogs; dog can’t act mannerly in situation so gets in trouble or bites someone
5.) Foolish Leadership: bought a dog for a kid (kids are not mature enough to manage a dog); “master” isn’t the master; different commands for every person; unfair demands of dog; no set rules for household; dog doesn’t have a master at all
6.) Foolish Supervision: peeing and pooping problems in the home; chewing problems; not on lead in public; not having a fenced yard; not in crate when not supervised as a pup; dog overheats in summer and freezes in winter because of inadequate housing and supervision; not being careful of goofy neighbors.
7.) Foolish Breeder/ Breeding: stupid place to buy your dog (pet store, puppy mill breeder, backyard breeder); breed own dog when you don’t know what you are doing (and produce unwanted, unhealthy or unstable dogs); no reasonable health care of pups and parents; breeding just for looks and not working ability and stability as a pet; no temperament testing of breeding stock; breeding younger dogs instead of older dogs (should collect semen and breed dogs if still healthy after 10 years old to eliminate many genetic diseases)
8.) Foolish Safety: dog in back of pickup truck; play with children unsupervised; tied out to pole; not vaccinated; let run loose in neighborhood; rough play; letting strangers hurt your dog; tying dog outside of store unsupervised; not knowing natural hazards around you
9.) Foolish Aggression: no proper training and supervision; not knowing what causes dogs to bite; not knowing the law; not knowing enough about the breed you own; not knowing enough about other dogs you meet; teasing a dog; messing with a dog you don’t know; rough play; rough treatment; bad breeding.
10.) Foolish Politics: animal rights folks want to ban domesticated dog ownership; “claw and bite” laws; unfair “menacing” laws; opposing tail docking and ear cropping in some breeds; breed bans; pit bull and other breed biases; poorly written “vicious dog” ordinances and insurance prohibitions; hiking bans; travel bans; unfair self protection laws for humans and dogs; overly restrictive leash laws; uninformed candidates running for office or in office; unreasonable animal control policies; not caring when you see an injustice concerning dogs; reactionary laws and actions after dog biting incidents that don’t relate to the average dog owner; being uninvolved in dog issues

UPDATED: Buying A Dog / Choosing A Breeder

Every once in a while, I do an update on one of my articles. If you are looking to buy or adopt a dog, you should read this first.

Today is a good day to train your dog!

Training Owners to Train Dogs

If I can't understand a dog owner's personal situation, and get to know them, I can't get their dogs to behave them properly.

Animal Neglect

Case study of two dogs that are neglected by their owners... and there's nothing we can do about it.

Anger Has No Place In Dog Training

This article is a case study regarding anger. Dog training doesn't go so well if you get angry with your dog.

Another Dog Attack That Didn't Have To Happen

A man was handing out fliers, door to door, for a restaurant. Instead of leaving them at the gate of one house, he entered the gate and was attacked by the owner's pit bulls and severely injured. The owner had a Beware of Dog sign, which the man couldn't read. Here's my opinion...

Look, I hate it that this man was injured. I'm not a violent person. I don't ever want someone to be hurt. But, it's just stupid to enter into someone's property, past a gate, without permission. You can be shot. You can be attacked by their dogs. That's life. It sucks, but people and dogs do things to protect themselves from intruders, such as install gates, post warning signs, and getting dogs. Everyone knows this. Thus, this guy did something stupid and paid the price of his stupidity. And so did the owner since one of the attacking dogs died in the custody of animal control.

My only suggestions for the owner in the future would be to put a lock on your gate (though I've posted stories of people climbing fences and being attacked by dogs, so even that isn't fool proof), and posting a No Trespassing sign, to increase the legal cost to the intruder for entering without permission. My suggestions to those who would pass out fliers... stay on public property, and don't enter private property without permission. Sorry this guy got hurt, but there's no way to legislate IQ or wisdom. Do stupid things, pay the price.

Antisocial Dogs

Not all dogs are safe to pet. I am amazed at the number of people who get bitten when petting dogs they don't know. I never do this. I take time to get to know a dog, and for the dog to get to know me, before I start petting any dog. Dogs don't just bite out of fear. Some are socially aggressive. Here are more thoughts on this topic.

Do You Need A Personal Protection Or Guard Dog?

Are you buying a dog to protect you from criminals? Better read this article!

So, You Want To Be A Dog Whisperer?

A lot of people want to know what a "dog whisperer" is, and how you become one. This article explains what it means and what it takes.

Cancer Propensity By Breed Of Dog

Is your dog at high risk for getting cancer? Trupanion pet insurance released a study today that might help answer that question. Cancer-related pet insurance claims were most common in German shepherds, golden retrievers, rottweilers and doberman pinschers

Strange. There doesn't seem to be a common thread here regarding which dogs get cancer and which ones don't, except maybe based on the past popularity of the breed.

I ALWAYS recommend putting dogs away when having a large party at your home. Too much risk the dogs will get in trouble or guest do something stupid

If you haven't trained your dog in a while, I'm sure you & your dog need a tune up. If you live in the Phoenix / Scottsdale AZ area give me a call

Its important to be able to keep your cool and stay positive and clear headed when trainin or handling a dog

I'm more determined than even the most willful and stubborn dog

A dog is a daily obligation. If you are responsible don't get a dog

These upcoming elections on the local level will directly affect your dog. Vote Pro Dog! (Pro-dog activists listed on sidebar)

I know of dog trainers that fake their credentials. There are crooks in every field of human endeavor

Even trained dogs need tune ups

I see way too many fat dogs doing hard hikes. Hey, its not safe to overwork an unfit dog!

Your emotional wellbeing directly affects your dog's behavior

A lot of the worst dog laws are the product of a bunch of attention seeking politicians.

If I can't get an owners thinking straight, I can't get their dog to behave them properly

Ever consider that the reason your dog doesn't obey is because YOU don't know what you are doing?

I was *accused* of being a bookworm today by a good friend. Maybe I am ;) its one reason I know so much about dogs & dog ownerw

Most dog breeds need genetic help, outcrossing to related breeds to freshen their gene pools. Check out the LUA Dalmatian

A Catahoula Leopard Dog is more complex than the average pet.

If your dog is a year or older and still peeing and/ or pooping in the house it is time to hire a professional dog trainer. your dog isn't trained!

There's something wrong in your beliefs if you believe that doing evil acts will earn you a place in heaven.

Just bcuz some people treat their religion like a cult doesn't mean there is no God or that He approves of their evil acts

Never forget 9/11 bcuz 20 yrs from now there will be people who will deny it ever happened

Most people don't know how to pet a dog

The longer you postpone dealing w your dogs serious behavior problems the more likely the remedy will be harsh for everyone

Can't tell you how many dog owners I meet w untrained dogs who also are devoted Cesar Millan fans. Watching isn't doing folks

I really get fed up with lazy dog owners, esp those who blame the dog for things that are really the fault of the owner being lazy

Its important to make your yard safe BEFORE you get a dog.

Nobody likes your bratty dog. Get off your lazy ass and do some training

All dogs can be house trained. Its no fun, I'm sure, to live in filth and your friends are grossed out by it too. Don't be lazy or cheap, get it done

Dog rescue is a great thing, helping many dogs. Downside is that there never seems to be enough homes for the dogs you help

I'm working today to find a home for a rescued pup found wandering the streets

Folks who complain about you always wanting to be right just want to justify why they can treat you or your dog wrong

If you've owned enough dogs over enough years, one of your dogs will get loose. Proper training might be the only way to call them home

I have hiked many miles with dogs. I pre-plan for their safety. I see way too many people hike unprepared w their dogs.

Here is an example of the abuse of police powers when it comes to your dog.http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/09/your_dogs_papers_and_your_mone.html

A dog trained primarily with treats will never be well trained

Just got another great referral from one of my dog training students. Gives meaning to what I do

You have accomplished a lot when a dog will precisely & happily obey commands just to get your affection

Have you ever noticed how pit bulls often have almost cat-like agility?

Ever consider building a lap / exercise pool for your dog? Here is where to find a contractor: http://www.poolinfosite.com

There are some important safety precautions you should take before going camping with your dog

Old dogs need diets high in anti- oxidants

Fall and winter holidays are here. Train your dogs to be well mannered so nothing tragic happens

Good dog training is an art, operant conditioning isn't (which is why it is a limited theory of behavior)

Iran is implementing a new crackdown on dog owners. Muslims aren't anti-dog, just the cultists in positions of police power

If you are a terrible driver don't put your dog in your car

You should get seat belts for your dog or they will die in an accident

How well a person cares for their do, or yours, says a lot about their character, so pay attention

ALL dogs need periodic dog training tune ups

It often seems logical to treat pets like children, except they aren't. They're dogs

Dog Bite Insurance?

Here is an excellent and perceptive analysis of the dog bite scam by insurance companies. Hat Tip: KC Dog Blog

Give your dog a command. If s/he does it well, give verbal praise. If your dog doesn't wag a happy tail, you don't have a trained dog yet

Some things in dog training require personal style and artistry - things that can't be taught, only coached

It looks effortless when I work with your dog because I train dogs all the time. Skill takes coaching, effort and time

I have a lot of "tools" in my dog training "toolbox". No one method is always the *best* in all circumstances

Going Nuts Over Barking Dogs

I have written of this before, neighbors who go absolute nuts when they hear a barking dog. I know of actual cases. In this case, the story says that this goofy neighbor PURPOSELY antagonized the dogs next door in order to get them barking and in trouble. Read the whole thing here

Every dog has a story

I hate it when people let their dogs drink out of the toilet. Isn't it obvious why?

Want a cool giant dog? Check out the Leonberger

Not all dog foods are that good for your dog

Cats and dogs can live together peacefully, but normally only if they were introduced to living that way when very young. Sometimes it doesn't work out though

I'm not opposed to most dogs being allowed on furniture, but with some dogs it isn't a good idea

I always appreciate watching a well trained dog

If you are a dog hater, there's something wrong with you. Go get counseling

Lots of dogs die because they escape the premises. What have you done to prevent this happening to your dog?

One of the major reasons dogs end up in shelters is because of behavioral problems. Dog training is a life saver.

Every dog you see in any movie made at least 10 years ago is now dead. Dogs lives are very fragile, so treat them with respect and kindness

Question: did you make thos a good day for your dog?

Its a lot easier to prevent behavior problems in your dog than to fix them when they have become a long term habit; but you can

Family problems can often result in dog problems

There are good ways and bad ways to introduce a new dog into your home

A well trained dog doesn't look well trained in the hands of an untrained owner

Being a good dog owner is recognizing when you are in over your head. And then hiring a professional dog trainer

Akita Mauls Girl

Horrific. However, this goes to prove that ANY breed can attack, not just "pit bulls". Breed bans won't fix this. Sometimes animals act like animals.

Read My Favorite Dog Blog

I read a lot of dog news, pretty much on a daily basis. My favorite dog blog is KC Dog Blog. Check it out

Do You Read My Twitters?

I have a dog Twitter page. I often post to it more than once per day. You can check it out HERE.

Lame Excuses

There are a lot of (lame) excuses for not training your dog on a daily basis. C'mon guys, it's not fair to not train your dog and then expect your dog to be well mannered or obedient.