Splash and Tug train some GSD pups

09.56 in a, and, are, behaviors, Dog, gsd, like, notes, on, piano, pups, some, splash, train, tug

Splash and Tug teach Bella and Bear that hanging out with other dogs can not only be fun but also relaxing

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Interactive Dog Training Game That’s Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog A Pawsitive Solution for Dog Training!

03.39 in a, and, both, Dog, for, fun, game, interactive, owner, pawsitive, rewarding, solution, that’s, training

Im off to a trade show in Las Vegas today, but I first had to share my latest press release. Ive been blogging about my new interactive dog training game and how its great for dogs of all ages and skill levels - not to mention its fun for both you and your dog

So please check out my our new press release and feel free to pass it along to anyone you think might be interested in this positive solution to dog training!

Inquisitive Canine’s Interactive Dog Training Game is Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog

Developed by distinguished dog trainer Joan Mayer, the Out of the Box Dog Training Game is an easy, simple and enjoyable way for you and your dog to play your way to canine good manners!

Ventura, CA - With 39% of U.S. households owning at least one dog, the common reality for many people today is that they just don’t have the time, money, or energy to invest in dog training or coaching their dogs to develop and maintain good manners.

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game was developed by acclaimed dog trainer and behavior coach Joan Mayer as a practical and affordable way for pet owners to positively reinforce real-world manners in their dogs while helping them create stronger bonds with their dogs for life.

This positive dog training solution was designed to go beyond traditional dog obedience training by emphasizing the importance of understanding canine behavior so that dog owners can successfully reinforce the behaviors they want, while limiting and preventing inappropriate habits.

“This interactive dog training game is highly effective because it employs established dog training techniques that reward and motivate both owner and dog,” said Mayer, founder of The Inquisitive Canine in Ventura. “I’ve created this pawsitive dog training solution as an easy, simple, and enjoyable way for dog lovers to raise a healthy and happy pet. By making dog training fun, you and your dog are learning - and you don’t even know it!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game includes:

• 56 activity cards that address real world manners such as loose leash walking, doorbell etiquette, techniques for building confidence and enhancing socialization, and activities that fulfill a dog’s innate needs while helping them adapt to our human environment
• An 18-page Guide Booklet that includes everything from dog training technique instructions to tips on which rewards will best motivate your dog to learn
• Scorecard to help you and your dog play your way to canine good manners

“The game is designed for dogs of all ages and can be played just about anywhere and at anytime that works in your daily routine - making dog training less overwhelming and more enjoyable,“ said Mayer, who also authors the dog advice column Dear Inquisitive Canine. "Since each dog training activity can be customized for specific needs and adapted to different learner levels to help advance your dog’s skills, the game is different every time you play!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game can be purchased online at http://www.inquisitivecanine.com/dog-training-game.php

The Inquisitive Canine is dedicated to empowering dog owners with a rewarding education that will help them further develop and enhance their everyday relationships with their dogs. The Inquisitive Canine specializes in dog training methods that focus on understanding canine behavior and teaching dogs through techniques that reward and motivate. For more information on private dog training, group classes, virtual dog training or the Out of the Box Dog Training Game, please visit http://www.Inquisitivecanine.com/ or call (805) 650-8500.

Also, please visit our web site to check out more news from the Inquisitive Canine.

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Puppy Habits and Dog Training

00.30 in and, Dog, habits, puppy, training

Ive had the pleasure the past couple of weeks to be working with an adolescent Boxer/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix that was adopted by a very patient senior woman. This boisterous boy was rescued from a shelter and is now adjusting to his new home.  He is very sweet, and very friendly with people, but he has a bit of a social issue.  When he gets excited and wants attention, he behaves just the way a 3-month-old puppy would, though hes now about 18 months old and 75 pounds of lean muscle. He jumps up, humps, paws, mouths and nips and tugs at clothing.

Which brings up a common misconception about behavior: "Oh, hell grow out of it."  In some cases puppy behaviors do get less severe as they get older, even without intervention or training. But for most behaviors, owners need to take some kind of action to prevent their puppy from growing into a larger version with the same issues. Puppy classes, private lessons or other forms of training can help puppy parents learn the best ways to mold their puppies into good canine citizens.

There is good hope for this rescue dog. He now has a wonderful home with an owner who has the time and dedication to help him learn the manners he missed out on when he was younger. The training will involve some positive redirection, clear boundary setting and appropriate outlets (such as exercise and interactive toys) for his enthusiasm. I cant wait to see what a charming young man hell turn into!

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Ethical Puppy Training and Positive Reinforcement

21.45 in and, Dog, ethical, positive, puppy, reinforcement, training

So you got a new puppy and couldnt be happier with your new little bundle of joy when they chew your favorite shoes, piddle on your rug, and jump all over your visiting in-laws. Oh no! Just like baby humans, puppies love to cause trouble and make messes! Also like baby humans, new puppies need to be taught how to behave properly.

When adding a new puppy to your family, good training is vital to ensure a happy relationship with your pet. There are so many ways to train a puppy, but your cute and fuzzy new friend deserves ethical puppy training. 
Ethical puppy training means using positive reinforcement for desired behaviors and avoiding punishing bad behaviors. Your job as an ethical puppy trainer is to make the desired behavior as attractive as possible to the puppy and distract them from unwanted behaviors. For example, if your puppy loves to chew, provide plenty of chew toys and praise them when they chew the toy. When you catch your puppy chewing furniture, calmly redirect their attention to the toy. You will have to repeat this often before it sticks!

Your puppy needs you to work with it to learn how to behave properly. Starting as young as possible, practice walking on a leash without pulling. If your puppy likes to jump on guests, ask someone to help you practice by going through the visitor scenario over and over again, rewarding your puppy when they remain calm.
Reward-based training will not only improve the behavior of your pet, it will improve your relationship with your pet. You will enjoy your pet much more when they are well behaved, and your pet will trust you and see you as a source of treats and love. 

If you are busy, search for a pet trainer who specializes in ethical puppy training to assist you in giving your puppy the best possible start in life. If your once well-trained pet is suddenly exhibiting unwanted behaviors, get them to a vet for a checkup - a health problem may be causing the pet to act up.

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The adventures of Splasherpup and Keeks

21.22 in adventures, and, Dog, keeks, of, splasherpup, the

The faces of innocence! 

Until....

Grrrrrrr!...............

Keeks- How DARE you compete with my cuteness!

Splasherpup- "Take THAT to your cuteness!"

Keeks- "Im warning you!"

Splasherpup- "Ok! Ok! You win!

"Phew! That was exhausting!"

Kikopup- "Ha ha! I have this pup wrapped around my little paw!"

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Dog Behavior and Exercise a look at before and after

11.52 in a, after, and, at, before, behavior, Dog, exercise, look

My friend Emilia just emailed me a great photo of her dog Nellie. They were in my Manners Class this last Autumn, along with Nellies dad Nick. Nellie is an absolute sweetheart! Friendly as can be, totally outgoing, motivated to learn, pays attention in class! Her mom and dad have always said she has lots of energy, and that sometimes its hard to deal with, as you can see from this picture... You can also check out her energy level on my "chewing illegal items" post. 

Well they went on a little getaway where Nellie was able to run like the wind forever and a day... and when she got home she could barely chew her dinner let alone get into mischief. This is living proof why our domestic dogs need more exercise than they often receive. As I often say in my classes and privates: A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happier owner! A pictures worth a thousand words... and proof of how good a run-around session really is!  

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Dog Behavior and Discrimination how come my dog listens to my husband but not me

16.55 in and, behavior, but, come, discrimination, Dog, how, husband, listens, me, my, not, to

I know, nowadays the word "discrimination" can be a negative thing. As socially conscious humans were not supposed to discriminate - at least when were talking about certain human characteristics. But trust me, we discriminate all the time - and its a good thing, as youll see below. How does discrimination relate to dog training? First a general definition of discrimination: 

• the recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another: discrimination between right and wrong | young children have difficulties in making fine discriminations.
• the ability to distinguish between different stimuli : [as adj. ] discrimination learning.

With consistency, and precise timing, we can actively teach dogs to discriminate. Check out the video of me and Poncho the dog. Im teaching him to discriminate when to jump through my legs. Turning my right leg out is the cue for him to jump through. Turning my left leg out, he isnt supposed to. He got his reward for staying put. 

Poncho learned pretty quickly that: right leg turned out = jump through = gets rewarded. Left leg turned out = stay = gets rewarded. If he didnt jump when he was supposed to, or jumped when I didnt want him to, then Id give him a "too bad", which is the cue for "no reward". The punishment is he doesnt get a food reward, and he has to wait to try again. 

Another human world example:

• Green light = "go", Red light = Stop, Yellow light = "slow down in preparation of stopping" (although some folks define the yellow as "speed up and get through the intersection"). 

In this example we, as humans, discriminate between the different colors of the traffic signal, and based on what weve learned, we know what to do for each one. I dont know about you, but when I was a child, I quickly learned which parent to go to for what, and when to ask. This is example of "discriminative learning".

As a certified pet dog trainer, I often hear comments or get questions, either from my manners class students or my Noozhawk advice column about "Why does a dog do one thing for one person and not another? Why does my dog pull on leash with me, but not my spouse?" Well, the simple explanation is: One person is more consistent with teaching and rewarding what they want and/or punishing out what they dont want. In a case like this, the dog in question has been able to discriminate which parent to go to for what! 

Dogs, just like small children, dont have the mental capacity to distinguish between right and wrong. They arent born with the section of the brain that is wired for it, and they never really develop it. However, they are very good at differentiating between safe and dangerous. Along with discriminating between safe or dangerous stimuli, they are masters at discriminating between finite cues - provided passively or actively. For example:

• Passive cue: sneakers = going for walkies, dress shoes = dog stays home while human goes to work. 
• Active cue: human places specific blanket (environmental cue) on couch = dog gets to hang out on couch. No blanky on couch, doggy isnt allowed on couch.

So, if your dog is behaving differently for you than they are for someone else, ask yourself: 

• What am I rewarding or not rewarding my dog for?
• Am I being consistent?
• What cues am I giving my dog?
  

Then, once youve answered yourself, you can then fix the problem, if there is one. 

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Dog Training and Behavior Terms Defined What do you mean by that

13.43 in and, behavior, by, defined, do, Dog, mean, terms, that, training, what, you

If you know about me, this lil ol certified pet dog trainer of The Inquisitive Canine here in Ventura, then you know I prefer to sit in the "science camp" of dog training. Im usually pretty cautious when throwing around the science jargon, but if youve ever taken my dog training classes, dog training workshops, or have had me consult with you for private dog training, then a few of the behavior specific expressions may have come out. 

The waters can get muddy sometimes. So what Id like to do is define some of the widely used, more popular, dog training language that is currently being heard more frequently, but in laymans terms. Along with the definition, if appropriate, Ill throw in a human analogy as well. I have found that this helps us humans relate better to our pet dogs. 

• Aversive: Anything an animal considers ‘bad’ - anything unpleasant, painful, annoying, uncomfortable. A strong dislike or disinclination; tending to avoid or causing avoidance of a noxious or punishing stimulus. e.g: Shouting, hitting, ignoring, jerking with the leash, squirt bottles, applying pain intentionally, grabbing, restraining, noxious sprays, and electric shock. 

• Behavior: the way in which one acts or conducts oneself. Any action performed that can be observed and measured. e.g: Your dog resting in their bed. 

• Bridge: AKA ‘bridging stimulus’ or ‘marker’ A stimulus (something an animal sees, hears, feels) that pinpoints the exact moment in time an action of a desired behavior was performed - bridging the gap between the time the signal was given and the delivery of a reward is provided. e.g: The ‘click’ of a clicker, the sound of a whistle. 

• Classical Conditioning: AKA: ‘ Respondent Conditioning’, ‘Pavlovian Conditioning’ 

1. A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone. 
2. Conditioning in which the conditioned stimulus (as the sound of a bell) is paired with and precedes the unconditioned stimulus (as the sight of food) until the conditioned stimulus alone is sufficient to elicit the response (as salivation in a dog) 

• Conditioning: Learning. *Observe your dogs behavior. If their behavior changes, learning is taking place. 

• Consequence: An action or event that occurs after a behavior. It can affect how often that behavior will occur again in the future. 

• Counter-conditioning: Taking a fear-provoking event, which is associated with an unpleasant situation, and changing (countering or reversing) the association to one that predicts something pleasant. Reversal the learned response. Often used in conjunction with desensitization. 

• Cue: A signal which will elicit a specific behavior or reflex. e.g: Saying "sit" or using hand signal for "sit". 

• Desensitization: Process where normal defense reactions elicited by an aversive stimulus, such as shock, are modified by creating pleasant associations with a positive reinforcer. This is achieved by presenting the fear-provoking event (stimulus) at levels low enough not to cause a reaction, but enough for the animal to notice, while pairing this event (stimulus) with something the animal loves causing the feelings to be reversed. Levels of intensity are gradually increased, as long as the animal stays below the fear-provoking level of intensity. Used in conjunction with counter-conditioning. 

• Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between to similar competing stimuli. The ability to perceive differences in various aspects of the environment. 

• Flooding: AKA: Exposure "Response Prevention." An extinction process used to treat anxiety and fear-related disorders. Animal is exposed to specific anxiety producing stimulus at levels high enough until the animal no longer reacts. Intention of this treatment is for animal to relearn coping skills when exposed to stimulus, however this is considered amongst many to be cruel and unethical, and often doesnt work, depending upon the animal, and what the anxiety producing stimulus is. 

• Generalization: The process of comparing events, consequences or objects which have some trait in common and recognizing those commonalities between them. The tendency to respond to a class of stimuli rather than only to the one to which the animal was originally conditioned to. Make for wide general use or application. e.g: Dog can perform the same behavior in any setting when asked to do so without having to relearn.

• Habituation: the diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequently repeated stimulus. The relatively persistent fading of a response as a result of repeated stimulation which is not followed by any specific reinforcement. AKA: Passive Desensitization.

• Instinct: An inborn predisposition to behave in a specific way when appropriately stimulated. Instincts are species specific complex behaviors. They are natural and unconditioned qualities shared by all members of a species. e.g. dogs chasing things, guarding their bones, digging, chewing, jumping up to greet. 

• Learned Helplessness: A condition created by exposure to inescapable aversive events. This can lead to delayed or prevention of learning in subsequent situations in which escape or avoidance is possible. When a human or animal ‘gives up’, and stops trying due to multiple failed attempts at trying to control a situation. e.g. dog sits politely at all times because the alternate might risk "getting in trouble" by owner. 

• Learning: the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice, or study, or by being taught. The process in which relatively permanent changes in behavior are produced through experience and memories.

• Lure: Something that motivates or is used to motivate a person or animal to do something.

• Motivation: A general term referring to the forces regulating behavior that is undertaken because of instinctual drives, needs, desires, and is directed towards a goal. One factor that can influence whether or not a learned behavior will be performed. Animal needs to be motivated in some way to perform a specific behavior - either from others, or from within. e.g. for dogs: petting, praise, attention, toys, games, tug, food playing with other dogs. 

• Negative punishment: In operant conditioning, the removal of something an animal wants.  e.g. Dog jumps on person to say ‘hello’ - person turns their back and ignores dog.

• Negative reinforcement: In operant conditioning, the removal of something an animal finds unpleasant, as an immediate result of the desired behavior performed. e.g. Pull up on choke collar until dog sits butt on ground, choke collar released. Pinning dog on back until dog relaxes and "submits." In both examples its the release of the choke chain, or allowing the dog to get up after pinning. 

• Operant Conditioning: AKA ‘Instrumental Conditioning’, ‘Skinnerian Conditioning’. The fundamental principle of operant conditioning is: behavior is determined by its consequences. A form of learning in which something the animal finds pleasant or unpleasant is presented or removed, thus altering the rate at which the behavior is performed. 

• Positive Punishment: In operant conditioning, the addition of an aversive stimulus, or something an animal seeks to avoid, that is found within the animals environment, following a behavior, with the intention of decreasing the frequency of that behavior. e.g. dog eliminates on carpet, dog get smacked. Owner pinning dog in order to "take control." 

• Positive Reinforcement: In operant conditioning, an event or stimulus provided following a specific behavior with the intention of increasing the frequency of that behavior. A positive reinforcer is something the animal desires or finds pleasant. e.g. dog sits, get treat for sitting, dog continues to sit because it predict treats. 

• Reinforce: Strengthen or support an existing feeling, idea, or habit. 

• Reinforcer: Anything that increases the frequency of the behavior it immediately follows. 

• Reinforcement: The event which increases the frequency of the behavior it follows. 

• Reward: Anything the dog considers ‘good’- stimulates at least one of the five senses - sight, smell, taste, touch, sound. Anything the dog finds motivating and reinforcing - can be: food, toys, praise, touch, freedom. e.g. belly-rub, rousing game of fetch, comfy bed, something stinky to roll in, kissy-face with family members, liver treat. A return that is obtained upon the successful performance of a task. 

• Reward-based training program: Using anything an animal finds appealing and ‘rewarding’ to elicit, reinforce, or inhibit behaviors. 

• Sensitization: Intensifying of an animals response to stimuli that did not originally produce such strong feelings. 

• Shaping: A method of modifying behavior. The entire process of selectively reinforcing responses in successive steps towards the goal of a desired response. Based on principles of operant conditioning in which an animals behavior is gradually molded to specific desired patterns through the delivery of positive reinforcement at distinct moments. 

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Splash and Emilys Dog Party B day party

08.29 in and, b, day, Dog, emilys, party, splash

Mickey the Mal watches over the Pupcake table to make sure no one takes one to many. 

Kiko and Splash share a Pupcake before the guests arrive.

Splash and Kiko got to see their best doggie buds.

Splash hangs out with her wise mentors, who trained her how to be a real Border Collie! SOMEONE THROW THE FRISBEEEEE!!!!!

Kikos most favorite friend in the world Einstein shows off his tricks! 

Bark Magazine Pupcake Recipe:

by Diane Porter

Whip up three dozen bite-sized carob mini-cupcakes in less than an hour with this original recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup honey

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar-free applesauce

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons carob powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon vanilla

-----------------------------

There was no icing on the Bark Mag cupcakes so I made the icing from a mixture of low fat cream cheese, with a little bit of flour to thicken it. And put non-sweetened carob chips on top to decorate the cakes. 

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To Training Your Dog With Effective Tips And Strategies

01.26 in and, Dog, effective, strategies, tips, to, training, with, your

Every dog requires training to some extent in order to learn what to do and of course, what not to do. These tips should help you train your dog.

Teach your puppy his or her name before you start to train him or her, as this creates a bond. Use his name frequently, and make clear that you want him to respond by coming to you when you call his name. There is no other word your puppy should be taught first. Make sure to spend time with your dog in order for him to learn and trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.



 Training is a great way to help your dog with separation anxiety. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. You need to take the time to train your dog to not engage in these undesirable behaviors while youre not home. A great way to ease your dogs anxiety is through love and compassion.

 Use the dogs name often when training to ensure that you have their attention. By using his name all the time in the first month of having our dog, he should associate his name with focusing on you. Choose a short name that is easily recognizable from other words.

 A wise tip in canine training is to always call the dog by his rightful name, rather than using any nickname or other deviation. To maintain control of your dog, you must be able to encourage a favorable response. Try this with your dog at least ten to twenty times. Avoid confusion by not calling your dog to you for punishment.

 Use the appropriate tone of voice when you are correcting your pet. Dogs tend to be well in tune with how their trainers are feeling. An appropriately stern tone can reinforce discipline.

 When training your dog never punish him; doing so will only make him be resistant to any further training. You should make every effort to prevent the behavior in the first place, but if your pet does misbehave, show him what he should have done instead. You should make training a time to interact with your dog, you want to build a positive relationship with him.

 You need to let your dog be a dog, so give him some time to burn off that energy. Your dog requires a healthy diet, room to exercise, and plenty of activities and toys to keep him or her busy.

 Communication is the basis for dog training. As you train and interact with your dog, you must be consistent and straightforward. This applies to corrections and rewards, as well as your body language, when training. Remember to always pay attention to the communication signals from your dog. The animal will usually let you know what he or she is feeling.

 In order to get your dog to obey you, it may be wise to take obedience classes. The obedience instructors can teach you a variety of ways to deal with issues such as your dog not listening, excessive barking, or disobedience toward commands.

 Ensure that your dog understands the rules. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. This will quickly undo all of your hard work and training.

 Dont bog your puppy down with more information than he can process. You need to keep your training sessions short so that your puppy pays attention. If training sessions are too long, the puppy wont remember the specifics of the training session, just that is was grueling and exhausting. This will make it harder to train him next time.

 When house-breaking your puppy, choose a specific phrase to use when its time to go outdoors. When you take your dog out, repeat this command. This will help him form an association between being taken outside and doing his business.

 It is vital to train your dog when its still a puppy. Younger dogs learn more quickly and easier than older canines. Beginning your dogs training when he is still young will help him to be a well-behaved dog as he ages.

 Training your dog can be much easier if you use a crate. Use a consistent schedule for proper crate training of your dog. Over time, a dog that is properly crated trained is less prone to having accidents inside the home.

 Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered at six months. You should do this at the same time you first take the dog to obedience training. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. By spaying or neutering a dog he will have a longer happier life.

 A dog needs to be trained from the outset. The sooner you start training the dog the better, because they have not learned bad habits that you will have to correct. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Simply start by calling his name as often as possible. Once he learns his name, you can encourage him to come to you when called. Your dog should learn these items before any others as theyre the most important. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Make sure you are clear and consistent when you are working with your dog. This means to be consistent not only with words, but with corrections and rewards. Be well aware that your dog is telling you something too. They will inform you of whether or not they are overworked, anxious, or having a great day.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dogs that have received no training are likely to destroy your possessions and try your patience. If you use the advice in this article, you will be ready to teach your dog that skills will help the owner-pet relationship..

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Bringing clarity to clickers and positive reinforcement

02.47 in and, bringing, clarity, clickers, Dog, positive, reinforcement, to

You hear the words "Clicker training", "Clickers", "Positive Reinforcement" etc... but whats it all mean? Let me try to help clarify some points:

1. Using a "Clicker" doesnt mean a person doesnt use "punishment" (hopefully not at the same time)... 
2. Positive Reinforcement doesnt mean a person doesnt use punishment.
3. Positive reinforcement doesnt mean a person doesnt use physical force to get what they want! 
4. Using "punishment" doesnt mean a person uses physical force or inhumane methods to teach. 
5. There are two types of "punishment":

• "Negative Punishment": Taking the good thing away
• "Positive Punishment": adding something the animal wants to avoid - a smack, shock, choke, prong in the neck, citronella spray, loud noise, being pinned, etc...

Why do I bring this up? A couple of reasons. There are some trainers out there that say theyre somewhere between "A clicker trainer" and a famous trainer who uses physical force, flooding, fear tactics, and downright "old fashioned" training methods. (Sorry, name withheld to protect privacy and CMA)...

I wanted to say to this person: "What does being a clicker trainer mean to you?" It certainly isnt exclusive to causing no harm to an animal - its just another tool in your trainers toolbox, as it is mine. It "marks" the behavior you wanted your dog (or any animal) to perform...not much more. 

I use a clicker as one of my training tools. I also use "punishment". As a matter of fact I spoke about it today in my Manners Class at the Inquisitive Canine studio. However, the type of punishment I use and teach has to do with "reward removal" -  not hitting, beating, shocking, spraying, coercing, forcing, or bullying! 

No animal learns that way without resulting in some nasty (usually "emotional") side-effects. Do animals learn through beating and force techniques? Sure they do - or should I say, "we" do... But what else are they "learning" besides what the owner/parent wants? - which is usually not the first or main thing they learn... 

My final example: I was coming home from a run, heading in the opposite direction of a man and his dog. Im sure I looked "weird" to the dog...hat, sunglasses, water bottle belt, running right towards it. This can be perceived by dogs as "threatening", right? Something weird running at it... So the dog did the most logical thing it could do in its little canine brain - it started barking at me - I didnt blame it at all. Unfortunately the owner did - and proceeded to smack it repeatedly on the head! The dog looked at me, barked, got smacked and yelled at. I cringed! I think I yelped myself! Then screamed at him to please not hit the dog!!! Why is he hitting him! it doesnt teach him what you want! 

I know, that can be pretty punishing to someone - being yelled at it public. As for "positive punishment" towards humans - of course Im against it (unless its self defense) - However, I did have a secret desire to smack the owner and take the dog... Hopefully they will end up in one of my classes - either at the studio or Ventura College, so I can supply an education in positive reinforcement, learning by both association and consequence, proper ways to get rid of unwanted behaviors, and clickers (or not). 

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Halloween Cometh! And Kikopup is working on a new video

15.12 in a, and, cometh, decorations, Dog, halloween, is, kikopup, new, of, on, scared, video, working, your

We are shooting Kiko, Splash, Tug and Trisch while they act in "Halloween 3" today. Im really excited to start getting it edited!

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Doug Duncan and Doggy Business

02.48 in and, business, Dog, doggy, doug, duncan

This past week I met with Doug Duncan, owner of a local dog walking, training, boarding & daycare facility, "Doggy Business".  My thanks to Gay Robson, longtime client and friend, for introducing us.  Doug is on the Northeast side of Portland in a 3,000 sq/ft building.  He runs a busy operation with 11 employees.  I may go teach some intermediate and advanced level classes for him after I recover from my surgery - probably some Rally Obedience and other fun things for owners who have already taught their dogs the basics.  Doug uses positive motivation and clicker training, so it should be a good match.  Check back later on to see what exciting courses are set up! 

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Double Trouble Dori and Apple

21.25 in and, apple, Dog, dori, double, trouble

We have a visitor, Dori, a one-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier (shes the one in the red collar).  In between training and sleeping has been playing - lots and lots of playing!  Dori gets along well with all our dogs (and Ethan), but it is especially cute to see her playing with Apple.  They are quite a sight together!  Here are some of the moments Ive captured. (For larger, higher quality images click on a photo.)

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Abby and Splash play date at the beach

23.52 in abby, and, at, beach, date, Dog, play, splash, the

Splash taught Abby to swim! Now Abby can swim fearlessly like a true retriever!  Abby taught Splash (not previously a fan) that tennis balls are pretty cool!

Abby is very photogenic! 

Dirty dirty dog... 

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This Dog Trainer Can Trust Her Own Dog and the Dog Training

13.23 in and, can, Dog, her, own, the, this, trainer, training, trust

We had a little incident at our home this evening. Yep, I admit, this dog trainer isnt perfect and neither are the rest of the humans in the household. However, Poncho, my inquisitive canine and trusty dog behavior advice column sidekick seemed to be spot on tonight, (although I admit my fast twitch muscle fibers were working well).

What was the issue? We had a cookie malfunction: my darling husband was carrying a cookie and half of it fell out of his hand and flew across the slippery hardwood floor like a hockey puck on the way to the goal. Needless to say, Poncho McQuikie pants was right on its tail!

I was in the other room, watching the whole thing go down, envisioning Poncho consume his entire caloric intake for the week in one bite, but before his soft warm fuzzy lips wrapped themselves around the delectable molasses chew from Trader Joes, I yelled out "Leave it!" as I was flying out of the chair and across the room, while reaching in and grabbing the mouthwatering morsel up off the floor...AND BY GOLLY PONCHO THE DOG DID IT! Poncho actually backed away from it even BEFORE my hand was near it! I was so shocked I did the happy dance, said he was a good boy, then broke off a tiny, Poncho-sized piece for his reward of leaving it alone!

The "Leave it!" behavior is one of the basic cues I teach in many of my dog training classes here in Ventura. And I guess all the practice with him as my demo dog has paid off! During this more emotional time, I allowed all the training practice to kick in and lo and behold it worked! One of my dog training class mantras is "Train it before you need it!" or "Dont wait to need a behavior to train a behavior!" I always hope I never have to use this type of cue (usually indicates danger), but its nice to know I have it in my arsenal just in case there is a cookie incident.

Another point I make in my dog training classes is the concept of "trust". The use of food in dog training helps dogs develop trust between themselves and whomever is working with them, or with other humans. For owners, they need to trust that their dogs are actually going to perform the behaviors they are being taught. I guess Im the prime example of that!

Thank you my darling inquisitive canine Poncho! I hope I wont need to use that cue again, but its nice to know youre paying attention and that I can trust you know youre stuff - and the cues! What a good boy you are!

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