Being a Politically Correct Responsible Dog Trainer Has a Price Humiliation

02.14 in a, being, correct, Dog, has, humiliation, politically, price, responsible, trainer

What a lovely weekend its been here in Ventura. Just got home from an ocean swim with my friends Terri and Mary, along with the other great folks of the Rincon Tri Club. Nice way to start a Sunday...I thought it would be even more fun if Nolan and Poncho came down so we could practice some loose leash walking along the promenade together. Unfortunately it ended with a stranger, poor communication, and me being the target of unintended hurt feelings. 

I know my dog. I know Poncho; what triggers cause which effects. Trucks = increase predatory drive. Loud noises (e.g. fireworks) = barking. Even with the socialization exercises Ive done with him, just like the ones I have my private dog training clients and puppy and adult dog training class students do, it seems sometimes tall men wearing hats and sunglasses approaching head on or "sneaking" in from behind to steal a quick pet can sometimes result in a redirected snark... But hey, if someone did this to me, Id snark too! 

So here I was, with Poncho, standing on the bike path. Poncho was doing his doggy thing, sniffing around some grass and pole. A gentleman wearing sunglasses and a hat came walking by to cross the street and asked "Is that a Chihuahua?" "Yes, he is part Chihuahua." This stranger then started to reach out to touch Poncho, without asking first, while Poncho was still sniffing. 

Poncho didnt see this person, or at least didnt take notice of him. I mentioned that sometimes Poncho will turn around and snark if he isnt expecting it, and doesnt know the person. "So, please dont touch him. I wouldnt want you to get bitten." To me I was being very responsible, concerned with the welfare of the public, and politically correct. I even apologized for not allowing him to pet him. I certainly didnt mean to insult him. 

So off we went, while this other person went on his way. Well, the next thing you know this stranger is driving by, and yells out a phrase that was quite rude, insulting, and too offensive to post in this G-rated family friendly dog training blog. Needless to say, I was quite exasperated and downright hurt. 

By this time Ive gotten over it. I do understand its not me, but the other person. Insecurity? Poor coping skills? Would I have done anything differently? Hmm, maybe would have managed my environment by walking faster - but I didnt want to ruin Ponchos sniffing time! Obviously this person hadnt learned to ask before doing. This is one reason I include the following statement in my class policies at the inquisitive canine dog training studio:

• Approaching and petting dogs: Some dogs are not friendly toward or comfortable around people they do not know. Please do not approach or pet any other dogs in class. If your child wants to meet another dog, they may do so after obtaining permission from the dogs owner and only during non-classroom teaching time.

I always ask dog guardians if I may pet their dog BEFORE actually doing it! Not while Im reaching out. Its always best to ask first. You never know what might trigger a dog. Its also important to read a dogs body language, and what they might be communicating. They may be "saying" please dont touch me, or "Yes, please come say hello to me." 

Dogs are living breathing creatures that have their own likes and dislikes. As individuals we dont like strangers coming up to us and touching us without asking...and even if they do ask, we might not want them to. Parents of human children dont allow strangers to just reach out and touch their kids, why do we treat our dogs differently? Is it just because theyre dogs they should like it? I think not. 

Situational awareness, being politically correct, respecting the safety and welfare of the public, and respecting the safety and welfare of your own dog all add up to being a responsible pet guardian! Too bad there are those times when it doesnt go over well...but thats human behavior for ya. 

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Fun being a dog owner

19.39 in a, being, Dog, fun, owner

You have made a wonderful decision! Training should begin immediately after you have gotten home with your new pet. If your dog has good training, you will find that you have a happier pet, and you will have more fun being a dog owner. These guidelines offer helpful insight into the art and science of training your pet.

Just as a human likes to stretch out and lay on their backs, so do dogs. Therefore, it is essential to have a dog bed big enough for your furry friend. Plenty of pet brands make dog beds sized for larger breeds. A crib mattress is also a viable alternative. The perks of these are that you can change out the sheets on crib mattresses as often as you like without too much effort. Theyre waterproof, too!



 Always get your dogs attention by using his name. Your dog must respond when its name is called before you move onto more advanced training. You should aim to call your dogs name out around ten times a day. Dont punish your dog if it comes when you call.

 When training a dog, make sure to stay consistent. Keep a list of commands to use, and make sure everyone who might need to command the dog knows them. Make sure everyone knows what to do in terms of rewarding the dog when it does well and not reinforcing poor behavior. If everyone is on the same page, the dog will better understand what is expected of him.

 Make sure your dog feels safe to train them properly. If a dog feels unsafe, they are likely to show bad behavior. To prevent this from happening, always make sure your dog is in a comfortable, safe area.

 Communication is one essential thing to consider when training your dog. You must give consistent and clear signals when you training your dog. This includes not only using the same commands, but also maintaining consistent body language and keeping rewards and corrections the same. Pay attention to your dogs communication towards you, too. Pay attention to these signals because hes trying to tell you that everything is either going well or not so well.

 Call your pooch by his name to keep his attention focused on you. You puppy will develop the association between his name being called, and him needing to pay attention to what you are telling him. Pick a name that is distinguished and no longer than two syllables.

 When you are trying to break your dog from chewing, do it the right way. Also, be sure to keep a chewer out of hazardous situations. Many household items can be dangerous choking hazards, and some are even poisonous when chewed.

 If your dog suddenly starts misbehaving out of the blue, it is best to bring him to the vet so any health problems can be ruled out. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. Since they cannot tell us what is wrong, this is their way of letting us know that they need extra attention.

 A consistent schedule of feeding and potty-time is very important when house training your dog. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Conversely, this also teaches your dog that he may need to wait to go to the bathroom.

 Use good treats that are irresistible to your dog. This is one time you can use something you would not usually give them, like meat.

 If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. The dogs chains could get tangled up and cause harm to the dogs as they struggle to get free. In the worst case, a large dog might be able to strangle or crush a smaller one, entirely by accident, while trying to free itself.

 To have success in dog training, you need to be able to control it with commands. You have to show your dog that you are in control or he will not obey or respect you. When walking with your dog, always walk first, never let your dog lead, as this is the leadership position.

 Dogs have tunnel vision and will focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.

 Be consistent with your cues when training a dog. Your dog can learn to associate a command with a particular behavior, but if you keep changing the command associated with a behavior, youll confuse him and he wont do what you want him to do. It is absolutely critical to remain consistent throughout. If you strive for this, you and your pet will get more out of the training.

 If dogs have similar personalities, you may be able to train them simultaneously. If your dogs fight or goof off instead of paying attention, it may be wise to do a bit of one-on-one training before training them together.

 Dont start a training session if you dont think youll be calm and patient throughout. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 If its possible, start training your dog when it is a puppy. Its not absolutely necessary, but young dogs do better with training. If you train your dog when he is a puppy, then he will continue to be a good dog for the remainder of his life.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 With the proper training, both you and your dog can be happy. These tips can give you the info you will need to get on the right track to train your dog..

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Not All Domestic Dogs Enjoy Being Bathing Beauties

16.01 in all, bathing, beauties, being, Dog, dogs, domestic, enjoy, not

Throughout the summer, and even heading into our warm-weathered Fall, Poncho and I have received a few questions through our Dear Inquisitive Canine dog behavior advice column from dog guardians regarding their dogs "freaking out" when it came to swimming pools. The dogs either didnt want to go anywhere near it, or would bark and patrol the area when their human family members splashed about in the water. Even if the dog would jump in and out of the pool on their own, playing and going after toys, their reaction would often change when people would all of a sudden "disappear" underneath the water.

Being a dog mom myself I can surely attest to this. Poncho is definitely not a water dog. Hes

really not into going into any body of water. (Although, he does seem to enjoy bath-time; probably has more to do with the snackies).

Ive also witnessed my friends lab Chief jumping in and out of the water, playing and fetching his tennis ball. But as soon as his human family members dive under water, he begins barking and patrolling. Whats he thinking? Who knows. Im not a mind reader. Why is he doing what hes doing? Hmm, my best guess is that pools are just weird to dogs. And some dogs adapt more easily than others.

Whats the solution? Simple. Condition (teach) these dogs to adapt to these bizarre surroundings, watch for the behaviors you do like, even the smallest ones, and reward him or her for their "bravery" of being around pools. Keep in mind that it is always important to gauge a dogs comfort level, which you can do by reading their body language. And always take care in not pushing him or her beyond their “threshold.” Meaning, small steps to help get them used to being around a pool. Making it enjoyable for them, so they can build their confidence. Just like the old fashioned way of teaching us humans to swim by throwing us into the deep end has taken a long walk off a short pier, its not the best approach to teaching our dogs either.

For the complete article on the german shepherd being afraid of the swimming pool, please see our Noozhawk Dear Inquisitive Canine column. The following are additional training tips for helping your dog in stressful situations. In addition to the above suggestions, youll want to:

• Gauge your dogs comfort level by seeing how easily s/he engages in the play activities, and if s/he is taking food rewards. Few animals eat when they’re scared and stressed. If they are eating tidbits of steak or chicken then use these items to reward him or her being near the pool. No pool, no high value treats. In this case its not punishment. Your dog is clearing letting you know theyre uncomfortable.
• If s/he is not staying focused on you when near the pool, and not eating, this can be interpreted as being beyond his or her level of comfort, also known as his “threshold”. We all have a breaking point. It’s best to keep your dog below his or her level of stress so they can build their confidence and comfort level around the pool.
• To help the process move along even more rapidly, you can begin the “pool = good stuff for your dog" training plan by introducing him/her to it slowly. Start out with just the two of you, sitting poolside, enjoying the sunshine. Play, have snacks, cuddle, then go inside - stop all rewards and attention. Do this a few times before making it more difficult for him or her. You can then sit with your feet in the pool, but not go all the way in. Those times when s/he chooses on their own to go lie in the water to cool off, go in with them, but wade in the area s/he is in, again providing all rewards that your dog responds well to.

So, if Poncho isnt a water dog, why did I go to the trouble of trying to get him in? Well, I wanted him to practice getting out of the pool. In case there was ever a time that he fell in a pool (we dont have one, but we have friends that do), he might be less scared. Yes I was hoping that he would enjoy it. But nope, even steak, chicken, and his tennis ball didnt change his mind. Sure I could take the time to condition him to love the pool. But since we dont have a pool, and its not a huge concern for us, and not a big priority, Id rather spend my time teaching him things that are more important for our lifestyle such as discrimination and agility. If I want to go swimming with dogs I have plenty of my friends dogs to choose from.

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Being a new dog owner

10.07 in a, being, Dog, new, owner

Training your dog is beneficial to both you and your pet. The following tips will tell you the inside scoop on how to get your pup trained properly.

One of the ways to make a dog more easy to train is to have the dog fixed at six months. This should go hand in hand with the start of obedience classes. A newly neutered or spayed dog is more obedient. You will be able to better enjoy the time you have with your dog and they will be happy and healthy.



 Limit the duration of training sessions. Dogs can only handle a short amount of training at a time, so dont overdo it. Ten minutes is about the length of time a dog can handle.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Get your dogs attention this way ten times every day. Also, on no occasion punish your dog if he comes running to you whenever you say his name.

 Six months is the recommended age at which a dog should be spayed or neutered. This is also a good time to begin obedience training classes. You dont want hormones to interfere with the learning process. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.

 Reward your dog with high-quality treats when you are training him. A treat that is normally forbidden, such as table scraps or cheese, is a great choice.

 Make sure food and outside time are scheduled to help break your dog into being an inside dog. This can train your dog to whine or come get you when he feels the urge, so you can let him out and prevent him from doing his business inside. Having a regular schedule will help your dog know that a potty break will be coming, and he will hold learn to hold his bathroom urges until that time.

 The more active your dog is, the healthier it will be. Dogs get bored just as easily as children. Dogs that are bored are not easy to train. A dog that is happy, and gets the attention that they crave, will be a better behaved and attentive dog. Go on runs or long walks together.

 Give your dog a regular elimination and feeding schedule, so you can house train them. Your dog will adjust to the schedule and he will quickly learn that his outside time is when he should go to the bathroom. Using this schedule can teach your dog how to hold their piddle until the upcoming potty break.

 Stop your pup from chewing on an object that they shouldnt be if you catch them doing that. By doing this your puppy will learn which items he can and cannot chew then, when he is unsupervised, he will be less likely to chew your belongings.

 Your whole family should be involved with training the dog. The house rules and specific expectations will be more apparent to the new dog if everyone, not just the primary trainer, follows the same training procedures.

 Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. If you keep him in a crate and give him toys that are safe for him to chew on, your dog and your house will stay safe.

 Anxious dogs are prone to chewing on things they shouldnt. Dogs like to den up. Giving him a crate to lie in and a toy to chew on will make your dog feel secure and keep him occupied.

 Try training your dog to grab a toy and keep it in his mouth. When you see him mouth a toy, give him a reward or treat and use a clicker. After a few tries you should allow the dog to pick up the toy on his own. When he does, just click and then give a reward. After this, you should only reward your dog after he holds the toy in his mouth.

 Dog learn by doing the same thing over and over, and also by being rewarded. First, you must completely walk the dog through what you want to accomplish, and then set up a daily routine around the behavior that includes rewards. This is the right way in teaching a dog a new trick. Show your pet the right way through rewards and repetition.

 Keep your dog outside if you are not there. It will reduce the headache you get from the dogs uncontrollable chewing. If you dont have a safe place for your puppy outside, consider closing him in a room that doesnt have tempting things for him to get into.

 A new dog requires teaching proper obedience training right from the beginning. It is much easier to get a dog to learn the right way rather than making it unlearn its bad habits. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 The easiest way to keep your dog or new puppy from chewing up everything in the house while you are out is to keep him outdoors while you are gone. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

 Feed your dog a healthy diet. If your dog isnt getting what he needs from his diet, he will have a hard time concentrating during training. Poor nutrition adversely affects your dogs health and can cause uncharacteristic behavior. A proper diet can affect how well they react to training.

 The best time to start training a dog is when its a puppy. While it isnt essential, a young dog will be easier to train. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 When you get your puppy, be sure to create a bond to him by helping him learn his name. Repeat his name regularly, so he will learn to come to you when he hears it. These should be the primary words your dog needs to learn. Spending a lot of time interacting and playing with your puppy is the best way to establish a bond of love and trust. This will make him easier to train later.

 Understanding a dogs mentality and psyche are crucial to train a dog. When you know and understand this principle, you will be more successful in your efforts. Once someone knows a bit more about dogs, training becomes easier and more likely to work.

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