Shaping Your Dogs Behavior: Stop, Look, Listen, and Maybe Change Your Own Behavior First

When it comes to getting our dogs to change their behavior, sometimes it's best to change our own behavior first. As a certified professional dog trainer, and loving dog mom to Poncho the dog, one element of communication that I've learned is more important than many others is the art of listening. And with our pet dogs, listening also means observing since body language is a dogs first language.

One of our latest Dear Inquisitive Canine advice questions came from a woman who mentioned her dog Colby developed behavior issues after a family vacation. To read the entire column, you can click on the Noozhawk Dog Behavior Advice Column link. In addition to the information in the advice column I'd also like to address two other topics of canine body language and what they might be communicating.

• Dog Communication and Warning Signals: Our beloved canines have a wonderful way of communicating with body language. It’s their first language and one us humans need to pay better attention to. There’s an old joke: “What do you say to a growling dog?” Answer: “Thank you!” They’ve just told you they aren’t happy about something.
• Growling Leading to Biting: The “I’m upset” escalation scale for dogs is: freeze-growl-snarl-snap-bite, bite harder, bite even harder - bite harder again… Dogs will continue to progress up this ladder if 1) they feel they are being ignored (“No one is listening to me! Next time I better speak up louder by biting!”), and 2) What they are “saying” is being punished out (“The last time I told my humans I was upset by snapping at them I got in trouble. I guess I’ll have to “‘speak up” louder the next time, which means I’ll need to bite! Maybe then they’ll listen.”)

Remember my dear human (and maybe canine) friends out there: the art of being a good communicator is not just talking - it's also about listening, or in the case of listening to our dogs, the art of good observational skills.

Controversy in Management Route For Dog Aggression

The July 24th 2009 L.A. Times story about a dog named Cotton whose guardian treated his aggression situation with a medical procedure called "Canine Disarming" (filing down of teeth to help prevent bite damage). She had initially tried some behavior modification, even went to the self-proclaimed Dog Whisperer. But it was the dental procedure that stirred up a lot of controversy, at least according to Craig Nakano, the journalist whose follow-up article in today's L.A. Times Home and Garden section has stated. 

When the article first came out, of course I had my two cents to add. This treatment is used as a "management tool", as opposed to behavior modification. (As a certified professional dog trainer I would have used a plastic basket muzzle and behavior mod that Cotton's guardians could easily follow). 

I wrote to the editor not expecting to hear anything back. But what do ya know, Craig contacted me yesterday. He said out of all of the emails they received, mine was one that stood out from the others because I remained more "neutral". I think "neutral" in the sense that I didn't completely berate Cotton's guardian. Hey folks, isn't this similar to castrating a rapist? Ruh-roh, now I'm gonna stir up my own controversy. 

Anyway, although I do not agree with this treatment, and I would have completely gone a different route had she contacted me for private dog training services, I think berating her would have been too punishing, and that is not in my nature. I also believe that:

1. They still love Cotton.
2. The family probably felt this was their last resort.
3. They wanted to protect the public at all costs.
4. They didn't want to unload Cotton's issues onto anyone else - which seems to be more the norm in our society, and I commend them for that. (I received three emails alone this week of people looking to get rid of their dogs because they didn't want to deal with them any longer...including one situation where one person in the household wanted for the dog to sleep outside, and the other said inside, so instead they're going to re-home the dog! UGH, but that's a whole different post...)

I'm hoping a situation like this will prompt the powers in charge to develop laws and protocols that protect our domestic pets, not only for situations if a dog end up like this, but in hopes of preventing these behavior issues from happening in the first place. Hmm, how about making it mandatory that:

• Breeding dogs MUST be an actual professional legitimate business. Not breeding out of their backyard just because the dog is cute or they need the money.
• Breeders pay a higher fee for breeding since they are contributing to the increased pet population. What, you don't think purebred dogs get dumped at shelters? HA! 
• Breeder and dog guardians MUST BE required to socialize dogs properly to our human environment so they can adapt more easily and reduce the risk of developing aggressive tendencies in the first place!!!
• Dog guardians MUST BE required to enroll their young dogs into dog training classes that adhere to humane methods of teaching. And, they must continue their dogs education (and their own, right?) with dog training classes, workshops, sports like agility or Rally-O so everyone can keep up their skills - especially their socialization skills. 
• And finally, if I may so bold: mandatory spay/neuter... Ruh-roh, more controversy! 

It would also be nice to have more dog-friendly places to take our dogs. Instead of having to either take them to the same places over and over again, or resorting to leave them at home all of the time, and not allowing them to be exposed to people and situations that we all of a sudden want them to be used to. 

Okay, now that I've stirred up my own controversy I'm gonna take Poncho out for some socialization, then have him help me set up for our Canine Circuit Training class tomorrow, while you write in with your comments. 

Making Dog Walking Outings More Fun For Your Dog & You

As Poncho and I were on our evening stroll today here in Ventura, we played our "let's say hi to our neighbor dogs as we walk by" game, which made it a lot more fun - for the both of us!  

Every time we walked by a house where the dogs started barking, I'd say *Hi!*, mention their names (there's Mookie, Zorro, Nick, Guinness and Waylon, red house dog, blue and white house dog, and Heather), and give Poncho a little piece of leftover chicken.  

This is a fun game - Poncho loves it! And of course now, thanks to learning by association, he loves when other dogs bark too...

This is a really simple and fun activity - it's actually one of the activity cards found in my Out of the Box Dog Training Game.

What are you doing to make your dog walk outings more fun? For your dog and for yourself?

Violence Begets Violence in Pet Dogs Too - Yippee For Dog Behavior Studies!

"Do unto others" I say - especially when it comes to teaching my dog training classes and private dog training clients. The last thing I would ever want when learning a knew skill or being taught how to "behave" is to be yelled at or smacked! So why is this acceptable with our pets? In the dog training classes and other dog training services I offer, it's not! That's one reason people come to me in the first place.

It seems that there are some provocative dog training methods out there that have become quite popular due to the media and television. Unlike the Food Network and all of the cooking shows, some of the dog training methods being shown don't seem to be as "user friendly" - for both dogs and the humans...unless of course you're the star of the show. 

Yes, there is more than one way to train a dog, just like there is more than one way to make a meatloaf. But using physical force, coercive methods, and a "it's my way or the highway" attitude often doesn't get you as far as teaching an animal what you want in a way they understand. By taking a "I hold myself accountable" friendly, understanding and "have patience" approach, you can not only teach your dog the behavior you want, but you teach it in such a way they end up thinking for themselves, wanting to make the better choice because it:

1. Works for them 
2. They develop positive associations with whatever is happening at the time 
3. They're not afraid of being hurt or getting in trouble! 
   

I came across this great study on how Aggression Begets Aggression in our pet dogs from the Applied Animal Behavior Science completed by Herron, Shofer and Reisner. They talk about the use of these popularized dog training methods and how they often lead to an increase of the behavioral issue. Same as humans being raised in a hostile violent environment often end up behaving the same way ~ violence begets violence. 

Thank goodness for those who take the time to study and publish this wonderful doggy data! THERE'S a television show I'd watch! Hmm, how about it Science Channel??? 

Out of the Box Dog Training Game: All About Skill Level

The following is a most excellent question from one of my wonderful inquisitive canine students - thought I'd share it with everyone, just in case you have the same question.

Hi Joan - I have a question regarding your new Out of the Box Dog Training Game. 

When practicing with my dogs Ady & Ashley, I'll want to take them from beginner to intermediate (and eventually to advanced) for certain behaviors, BUT I can't remember what differentiated one level to the next, like the descriptions on the canine circuit training class posters. Are the cards detailed like the circuit posters? Thanks - Ady and Ashley's mom. 

This is a great question, as I'm sure there are other inquisitive canine folks out there wondering the same thing. I'd be more than happy to answer this, and describe how I teach my inquisitive canine students in the various dog training classes I offer, as well as private dog training clients to make the behaviors easier or more difficult for his or her dog(s). 

The concept I teach and often refer to is "3-D Training" - Distance, Duration and Distractions. Adjusting each element on it's own will make a behavior easier or more difficult for your dog to perform. 

When teaching your dog a new behavior, you'll want to make it easier and increase only one "D" at a time. You'll then either lower the other two ''D's" or keep them the same level. To make it more difficult, or to advance your dogs skills, increase one "D" at a time. For those truly advanced dogs out there you can increase two "D's" at a time while lowering or keeping the third one the same.  

I describe each "D" in the following way:

• Distance: the distance between you and your dog, or your dog and the object/person you want them to go to or target. 
• Duration: the amount of time you want your dog to hold a position. 
• Distractions: anything, and I mean ANYTHING in the environment that your dog can be triggered or motivated by - this includes anything that can stimulate at least one of his or her senses in some way. 

A few examples related to skill level would include:

• Distance using Recall (coming when called): Beginner level: Inside your home, no distractions, no other behaviors like sit-stay, from 5 feet away. Advanced level: 30 yards away outside at off leash dog park with a mid-way "stop and stay". 
• Duration using Waiting At Doors: Beginner level: Have your dog sit before being let outside, give release cue then immediately open door to let him or her outside. Advanced level, ask for sit-stay at door, open door, dog has to wait 5-10 seconds before release cue is given, allowing them to go outside. 
• Distractions using walking on Loose Leash: Beginner level: inside home. Advanced level is walking outside with every distraction in the world. 

As a gentle reminder, remember to reward everything you want, and to increase the value of the motivator when you're advancing those skill levels. (Motivation is another topic I bring up in the Guide Booklet" and throughout my dog training classes and private dog training sessions). 

This information can be found in the Guide Booklet of my newly developed Out of the Box Dog Training Game. It's also part of my various dog training class welcome packets and workbooks. The great thing about understanding this concept is it makes it easy for anyone to play the game, plus you'll be able to play it over and over, all you have to do is to adjust the skill level as you go. 

Happy training to you and your dogs, and thanks again for the question! I love when people are as inquisitive as their canines. 

Dog Breeding: DIY or a Real Profession

As many of you know, this dog lover and certified professional dog trainer is a huge supporter of all things animal rescue. However, I know that many folks, even some of my great inquisitive canine students prefer purebred dogs and would rather buy their four-legged friend from a breeder rather than adopt from a rescue or shelter. Check out the photo - there are mutts, mixed breeds from shelters, from private rescues, and top dollar dogs from breeders....can you tell the difference? I didn't think so...unless you know them personally.

Well, I say that's fine, as the choice is yours, but please make sure the breeder is reputable, professional, respects the profession and has clear-cut meaningful intentions for their contributing to the increased pet population. I came across a disturbing story in the local Ventura County Star newspaper about a local breeding kennel here in Ventura County. The allegations included they had over 100 animals and were using aversive training techniques. This is quite upsetting as it seems these folks do not have the animals welfare as top priority. 

The American Kennel Club has posted some guidelines on their website about choosing a breeder. As a professional certified dog trainer, who works with all sorts of dogs from all sorts of backgrounds, the following are some of the highlights I'd like to touch on, based on what I think are important when forming this dog-human relationship. 

Responsible Dog Breeders: 

• Make the dogs welfare their top priority. 
• Produce healthy, well-socialized puppies.
  
• Consider physical health and the mental well-being of the animal.
• Are aware of overall health issues, temperament and genetic screening. 
• Examine the home of which the puppy will be placed. 
• ABide by the federal Animal Welfare Act, including state and local regulations.

As a human, I would be allowed to carry another persons child for monetary compensation. But wait, I'd have to do this legally, otherwise I'd be in big trouble. (Don't worry, I have no intention of doing this - I just wanted to use it as an example). There is paperwork, fees, money changing hands etc...and not everyone is allowed to do this, right? And who knows what the child would turn out like? I'm a nice person but I'm certainly not perfect, and who knows what kind of DNA misfiring could occur. 

So why is it okay for anyone to breed a dogs and sell them! Is it because dogs are "owned"? Is it because the government is too busy running this country into a deeper deficit to care? Purebred dogs certainly end up in shelters - but does the attitude then change? Would someone wanting to purchase a purebred dog feel comfortable "buying" one from a shelter or rescue group? 

Allow me to bring up one other topic of breeding. The AKC mentions they want breeders to breed to preserve the breeds characteristics. This to me is a slippery slope. Why? Because our domestic dogs were initially bred for behaviors that many humans now complain about - including watchdog behaviors (barking, fear and aggression towards strangers), hunting (including the "grab-shake-kill" sequence of predatory behavior), water dogs (can't keep 'em out of bodies of water including the pool), retrievers (put everything they can find in their mouths)...and the list goes on. 

So what SHOULD we be breeding for? Well, I look at the human-canine relationship as more of an emotional relationship - similar to how we choose our friends and mates. Meaning, if I were to play "mutt-matchmaker" I would set someone up with a dog that fit his or her personality, versus looks or nondescript subjective breed characteristics. I love helping people find their true canine match. As a matter of fact I offer a complimentary monthly public talk on "Before and After You Adopt". The "before" part is helping folks decided on which animal is best for them. The next session at the inquisitive canine studio is August 23, 2009.

Dogs are animals. They are individuals. They each have their own personality, likes, dislikes etc... I've said this many times, including this post on dog breed discrimination. Isn't time we ask that the breeder profession be taken more seriously? I would think those that follow the rules would prefer there be more rules, including laws and regulation of the instituted laws. 

If I'm not legally allowed to manufacture and sell anything I want, then why are humans allowed to breed animals and sell them whenever, wherever, and to whomever they want? 

The 12th Annual Pooch Parade: Doggone Fun Outing This Sunday!

Summer is in full swing and what better way to get those tails waggin’ than enjoying a fun-filled day of activities and treats for the whole family to support a good cause and celebrate all things dog. This Sunday, July 19, the Ventura County non-profit group Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) is hosting the Annual Fundraising Dog Walk and Pet Expo at San Buenaventura State Beach Park  in beautiful Ventura, California.

We hope you will join us this weekend for some doggone fun – Poncho and I would love it if you’d stop by our Inquisitive Canine booth so we could personally thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. Plus it’s the paw-sitively perfect way to spend the day with your canine (and human) family and friends. 

This Sunday will be the BIG unveiling of my new PAWsitively rewarding dog training card game! It's called "Out of the Box Dog Training Game" and I have to admit, it is a fun way to train with your dog! 

This years theme is: “Wags For Wellness: Protect, Prevent, Provide” and I have to say, the C.A.R.L. group has stood by their word. For over 12 years the volunteer-run non-profit organization has placed over 3,000 abandoned, relinquished and homeless dogs in pre-screened loving and secure homes.

At this dog-friendly festival, you can dress your dog up (you know you want to!) and then enter him or her in one or more of the many contests and competitions! Don’t feel like being part of the show? Then you can sit back and watch others partake in the competitions or watch those participating in doggy demonstrations such as Agility and Flying Frisbees. 

After showing off your dog’s loose leash walking skills in the parade, be sure to reward him/her with a tour around the Pet Expo  You and your dog will have an array of pet-related exhibits and vendors to choose from, as well as the silent auction that will have many items to tempt you (which may not be such a bad thing since proceeds go to a good cause!).

Love dogs but don’t have one of your own right now? Thinking about adopting or fostering a dog? C.A.R.L., as well as other rescue groups, will be on hand to introduce you to shelter dogs looking for loving homes.

Event Details:

• Registration begins 8:30 - 10:00 AM
• Hours: 9:00 AM - 4 PM
• Warm-up stretch starts 9:30 AM
• 3-mile Walk begins at 10:00 AM!
• Cost: $40.00 to enter Parade, Walk, Contests, Competitions.
• FREE: to observe, walk around, visit vendors and shop, and have fun!

For additional information, please check the Canine Adoption and Rescue League Pooch Parade website!

For all of you dog lovers out there that aren’t in this area, this is the perfect time to check your own community for pet-related fundraising events. Maybe your own local shelter is having it’s own Pooch (or kitty) event where you can go with your own dog, adopt a new dog, or volunteer to help animals in need. 

We had such a great time last year, and are looking forward to enjoying ourselves again this year!