Recipe for dog training success!

When it comes to dog training, I've noticed that most humans focus on the final product, and not how to get there. Similar to going out to eat a meal - we focus on the finished yummy meal brought to our table, not how it was prepared. Why should we when someone else is doing the work? We may inquire how something is made in order to give us a better idea of what the meal might taste like - but do we really care how hot the grill was? If the meat was marinated first? The actual steps of the recipe? Not really - unless it was so great we'd want to duplicate it at home... but even then, it's usually somewhat different. 

So why is it most dog folks tend to focus intently on the final product of what they want their dogs behavior to be? As opposed to figuring out the simplest way to get there...with little strain and stress on themselves and their dogs. 

It's high time we as humans take the time to learn a "recipe for success" for educating and training our dogs. That is what I like to focus on in the classes I offer at The Inquisitive Canine - the "how to get the behaviors", not just the behaviors themselves. Sure, the dogs learn the behaviors that owners want, but that's just the side effect of actually learning how to get the behaviors in the first place... As the chinese proverb goes: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Or in this case: Push the dogs butt to the ground and he sits for that moment - teach the human to teach the dog to sit, and he sits when you ask. 

So, come join us at the inquisitive canine to learn about, and develop the tools and techniques to create your own recipe for success for getting the behaviors you want out of your dog.

Dog Trainer in Ventura Hits YouTube!

Well folks I've made onto YouTube! Thanks to Nathan Weiner and Tree in a Box Productions (gotta love the name!) I am on film! very exciting indeed...just click on the link and check it out for yourself!

 

Dog Trainers Dream Team!

What a great day! Michelle, Lorrie, Anne, Amber, & Nathan...thanks to you all for heading south on a Sunday afternoon to "play" at the inquisitive canine. And thank you to family and friends for hanging out too! I know this dog trainer had a great time! My DREAM TEAM came for a visit! Who you ask? Well, I'll tell you. The folks that make up the team that is going to send my business soaring to new heights!

There was the wonderful and talented Michelle Shapiro of Ipso Facto Creative Group - owner, founder, website designer extraordinaire. She has been taking care of me since I opened the studio last year - so patient, so caring, and oh so skillful! The ever so fabulous Lorrie Thomas (who actually organized the whole dream team road trip) of Lorrie Thomas Website Marketing was there with her hubby Will...kind, considerate, and a great supportive hubby (like mine!) Lorrie has taken the inquisitive canine on an adventurous trip through the world of web marketing... She doesn't call herself a business coach, but to me she is that too... Watching out for me, guiding this dog trainer down the right path, and on the road to success! --- The gracious and cheerful Anne Ofilia, who works with Lorrie, was there as well - Anne took to the idea of clicker training immediately! She "got it" and is all ready to try it on her own family...hey, it works with all animals right? Not just dogs... Between playing with the clicker, Anne is going to help me get some of the surveys and evaluations out - teaching me to use specific website marketing tools...Maybe if I play my cards right, Anne will give me a "click-treat" --- Amber Wallace of Dowitcher Designs and her friend Jill (also of Dowitcher Designs) were also at the puppy party! Amber is another fantastic website designer and builder! (all that confusing html stuff is so easy for her...) Plus, Amber is a great tutor...very patient, and a great communicator...I know because I was one of her students :-) She is going to take charge of building some additional elements to my great site! Nathan, Michelle's son was there working today - he is a fabulous videographer - on the road to being a director - and will soon get some great dog play video up on You Tube for me! (how exciting!)

Then of course there was the Puppy Social itself! Lots of wonderful visitors - canine and human alike. There was Nancy with Kona- a lovely owner, and darling blonde lab pup! Then some new folks stopped in...Brenda and her daughter Maureen, with their newly adopted pooch Lulu! Lulu was a bit shy at first, but she warmed up pretty quickly, and within a few minutes into play both were romping about...So much fun to watch...learning how to socialize, communicate in their own doggy language and play style, teaching each other how to "just be dogs" in our crazy human world...all while building self-confidence! Plus, for the rest of the day they'll nap because they're so tired! And you know, a tired dog is a happy dog...and happy owner :-)

My friends the Lopiano's stopped in as well - mom and dad (Bridgette and Phil) brought their kids Sophia and Charles - they all love puppies, but aren't able to have one themselves at this time - so they get their "puppy fix" here at the inquisitive canine studio - how great for everyone! Kids get puppy time, plus the puppies learn how to be well-mannered around the little ones...a win-win for all!

It wrapped up with my own hubby and pooch Poncho stopping in to say "hello"... So supportive and caring...both real troopers! Thanks to everyone for making this dog trainers day! 

How long does it take to train my dog?

A FAQ I receive is: "How long will it take for my dog to be trained?" I hate to say it, but there is no simple answer...or magic wand. Every persons situation and dog is different. Whether it be a puppy that has been brought into a first time dog owners home, or a intra-familial dog-dog aggression case - all depend upon the humans that are taking care of the dog(s), and the dogs themselves. Some factors to consider are:

• Type of training - general manners, aggression/fear, guarding/predatory issues. 
• Human involvement - keeping up with the training plan, setting the dog up for success.

For "good manners" courses I currently offer 4-session "intensives" as opposed to the traditional 6 week+  classes. Why? I found that most people are more likely to commit to a shorter time frame if they are receiving the information they want. And that for those that are into keeping up with their dogs behavior modification, will return for additional class time (my ongoing classes provide this type of training plan). 

For the more difficult behaviorial issues, again it really depends upon the humans and dogs. But I would place more emphasis on the "humans" and their involvement. Think about how long it takes a human to change something about their own behavior? Something like smoking cessation takes quite some time to get over the "initial hump". Afterwards, the person will need to help maintain this behavior by setting themselves up for success - spend time around non-smokers, go to places that don't allow smoking etc... But it's a lifelong process. With our dogs, there would be the "initial hump" - meaning more training. Once the dog is behaving in a way you want, you will still need to set the dog up for success, and help "maintain" the behavior by practicing elements of the initial training plan... Some of the dog-dog cases I've worked took many many months - with multiple training sessions every day, for extended periods of time. 

So when I hear people asking me "how long will it take to train my dog?" I will ask "How much time, energy, and in some cases money, are you willing to put in?" and "How badly do you want it?" 

Puppy Socialization - Risky Business?

Behavior issue risk vs health risk - always a touchy subject amongst veterinarians, dog trainers, and dog owners...IMO, education - where classes are specifically designed and geared towards puppy socialization and prevention of behavior issues in a safe, controlled, and managed environment should be a priority with our domesticated dogs...Unfortunately, keeping new pups tucked away at home until they are well past the “prime period” is still more of the norm in our society than not.
Why you ask, is it so important? After all, it’s only a manner of of couple of weeks, right? Behaviors - desired and undesired are formed immediately out of the womb. Pups soon learn what works and what doesn’t work with their mother and littermate’s, as well as the human(s) handling them. After they are taken into their new homes many of these important learning opportunities are left up to the family members to continue teaching - including proper use of mouth (bite inhibition), communication (in specific doggy language), what is appropriate play and what isn’t (again, in doggy world). Yes, we humans do as much as we can to help - but because we are a different species, with our own species specific language, play styles, greeting behaviors, and innate behaviors, it is probably best to leave it up to dogs themselves to teach one another - similar to children on a playground - but with responsible humans monitoring their actions in order to help them build confidence, and form those social graces we all want our dogs to have. 

Changing behavior...Who me?

behavior modification |noun
the alteration of behavioral patterns through the use of such learning techniques as biofeedback and positive or negative reinforcement.

Why does training your dog have to be such a difficult process? Why why why? Hmmm, well, it doesn’t really. I think as humans we just make it as such...that is our innate behavior, no? ~ Let’s see. Behavior = the way in which one acts or conducts oneself. Just being alive is performing a behavior right? Sleeping in front of the TV is a “behavior”. Okay, that’s a simple one... It’s the whole “modification” process that sends us into a tizzy. After all, if we want to change someone else’s behavior we have to start with changing our own... Yikes! That’s too much work! Nah, it really doesn’t have to be...you just need a plan. Once you have a plan, consisting of a just a few small steps that you can fit into everyday life, then it too becomes part of your regular schedule... And therefore, a simple approach to reaching your goals...

Just go and experiment yourself... Pick one thing you love your dog doing. Then, be aware of when your dog is performing this behavior, and make sure you reward him or her with something that motivate them. Either a “treat”, praise, petting, playing a game. Something they find rewarding... This tells them “thank you”, “I appreciate that”. After all, don’t we all appreciate someone appreciating us.

Simple yes? Good. See? You’ve already modified your own behavior. Now, it’s time to go modify your dogs.

Party For Puppies on Feb 24th!

Calling all puppies and young small dogs!!! Come and play over at The Inquisitive Canine on February 24th from 1 - 2 PM. Bring your owners - let them hang out and talk while you run wild, socialize, play, build self-confidence, burn energy all while in a safe - indoor environment. Socials are for pups 10 - 24 weeks, and small dogs up to 25 pounds and one year. Please have your owners bring copies of current vaccinations with them for us to keep on record. Fun! Rewarding! Educational! How great is that??? 2159 Palma Drive Suite D (as in "dog)... just south of McGrath and east of Telephone Road, in beautiful Ventura California... Oh, and while you're there, you can ask about upcoming classes and other events we offer for you and your pup. See you all there!