Sensory Deprivation and Puppy Mill Rescue Dogs

From time to time someone asks me what type of dog takes the longest to train. They expect the answer to be a specific breed. But the truth is that the most difficult dog to train is not a breed, but a group.

That group is breeding dogs that have been rescued from puppy mills.
Puppy mills are the equivalent of the sweat shops of the early industrial age.

Their goal is to turn out lots of puppies at the lowest possible cost. The way they do it is appalling.

Breeding dogs are selected and kept until they are about five years old. Then they are discarded and either destroyed or rescued by one of the rescue organizations.

A lot of people think that all these dogs need is love and occasionally it is just that simple. But most of the time it is not.

These dogs are normally kept in very small cages. They have had no meaningful contact with humans and minimal contact with other dogs. As a result they simply have no idea how to live or even survive outside of the crate or cage.

All dogs come in for an assessment before I train them. The primary reason is so that my client understands what I do and how I do it. But by looking at the dog before the owners decide to train with me, can figure out what the greatest needs are. We start by having you drop the dog’s leash as soon as you walk in the door.

What I want to see is a dog with enough confidence to leave your side, enough curiosity to explore the center, and a little bit of caution since the dog does not know who or what may be in here. With the puppy mill rescue what I usually see is a dog that just stands there with its head and back lowered.

The dog not only cannot make a decision, it literally does not know how to gather information to make decisions. It has had so little sensory input, that even an empty center with only its owners and I in the room, it does not know how to find out what it needs to know to do anything.

And so begins a very long period of working the dog to just get ready to train. I know that with time we can have a confident dog, but the problem is going to be the owner’s expectations. If they are going to train with me they will need to invest a lot of time and effort before they see much improvement.

The first thing we must do is give the dog time to learn to watch and figure out how this new world works. At the same time we cannot put any pressure on the dog. So I put the dog on a line attached to the wall. The line is a form of security and often dogs will lean against the wall to reassure themselves. Then I put a calming collar on the dog knowing that the collar puts pressure on the pressure points in its neck, calming and reassuring the dog. Finally since the dog has spent its whole life watching through a cage, I put an exercise pen in a large semi circle around the dog.

Then we just let the dog be there while I work with other dogs. Other than an occasional “you’re fine” told to the dog by its owners and myself, there is no inter action with the dog.

I ask the owner to come in with the dog whenever we have our Neighborhood Pack Sessions or on weekends when I have lots of trainings. I can never predict how long it will take to stimulate interest.

The first sign of interest in what is going on is when the puppy mill dog starts watching the other dogs and people. At first it is only an occasional glance, but gradually it begins to take an interest in what is going on. Maybe for the first time in its life, the dog is gathering information.

I know we are getting close when the dog sits and watches the entire time it is here. The dog is learning how to learn.

We wait for the magic moment when the dog barks. It is the first step into the world. Now the training can begin.

The dog is worked in short periods. All we are looking for is just a little progress. There are still weeks if not months to go, but the dog is now on its way to being normal.

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Your Children and the Family Dog Playing Together

My kids like to play with our dog, but he gets a little too aggressive and the kids get scared.  What can I do?

We all want our kids to have a great experience with the family dog.  That is one of the “great family experiences” that follow all of us from being kids ourselves to being parents.  The trick is to balance the freedom and exuberance with safety and well-being.  We don’t want to completely hinder the play.  We also don’t want to have the kids scared whenever they see the dog.  Here are some tips that you should consider:

• If your kids are under the age of eight, there should always be an adult supervising the play activity or any activity between the kids and your family dog.
• Never “play rough” in the house.  Kids playing rough with the dog is never a good idea and we don’t want to introduce rough play and crazy canine excitement as the norm inside the house.
• Have your dog on a leash when he is playing with the kids.  This allows you to easily separate them if you feel anything is getting out of hand.
• Teach your kids not to push and poke the dog as a part of playtime.  This quickly heightens adrenaline and emulates a “tag, you’re it” environment.  Your dog will respond by nipping and jumping.  This is normally a frightening experience for the kids.
• Never play “tug-of-war”.  Your kids’ hands will get too close to your dog’s mouth.  As your dog tries to reacquire the “tug-of-war”, he might mistakenly bit your kid.  Again, this is not a good experience for your child.
• Play games like “chase the ball”.  Get four or five tennis balls and have your kids throw one out for your dog.  As he gets the first ball, throw the second and have your dog chase after the second.  Continue this process while you are picking up the discarded tennis balls and throw them.
• Hide toys and goodies around the yard and then have the kids encourage your dog (by pointing and calling him) to find them.  Praise him when he does.
• Practice obedience commands with your dog.  Have the kids call him to them with the “come” command.  Walk him on a leash in a circle around the yard.  Teach him to sit.

Tell your kids that if they ever feel afraid while playing with your family dog, stop what they are doing immediately and slowly stand up.  Stand still for about 30 seconds.  You can tell them that you want them to play like they are pretending to be a statue.  After that, slowly back up until they are away from your dog. 

During this time, you should also intervene, if you feel that it is necessary.  If your child can complete this by themselves, it will help build their confidence around dogs and minimize any potential of “fear of dogs” in the future. 

Our goal is to have a great time as a family and to instill a love of dogs in our kids.  Try some of these techniques and I am sure that you will experience some great results.  As always, please contact us if you have any questions at The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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Dog Training Tips to Eliminate Your Dog’s Boredom and Bad Behavior

Minimize your dog’s bad behavior because he is bored

I was at a training session in Plantation yesterday and they were telling me that their dog just can’t sit still and is always bugging them.  I asked my client what was going on before this bad behavior began and he said, “Nothing, I might be working on my computer for a while and my dog is over in the corner.  He seems fine, just staring at me or looking out the window.  All of a sudden, he gets up and starts nudging me and whining.”

The reason that I am bringing this up in my blog today is because it is a situation that I have heard many times over my years of dog training.  Let’s not focus on the obvious issue of bad behavior, but why your dog started that bad behavior.  He was sitting by himself with nothing to do for a long time and finally said, “This is enough”.  Without anything else to engage, he comes to you to break his boredom.

If you are busy, you don’t have the time to work on that bond.  You must think of another way to eliminate that boredom that eventually causes the inappropriate situation requiring action that you cannot supply at the time.  You must set up a scenario where the boredom does not have a chance to become established.

Here are some suggestions for keeping your canine companion entertained and out of mischief.

•  Empty 12 Oz. Water Bottle:  These are the greatest.  The next time you finish with some bottled water, don’t throw the bottle away.  Take off the cap, the ring around the cap, and the paper.  Give it your dog.  They love the tactile feel of crunching the bottle and the sound that it makes.  The sound isn’t that loud, so it won’t bother you and it isn’t heavy, so it won’t hurt the walls if your dog bounces it off a wall or window.  Most dogs will play with the water bottle for yours.  When it starts to get a little worn out, simply switch bottles.  Free, quick, and easy!
• Scatter Feeding: Turn feeding into a treasure hunt. Scatter a variety of foods (such as whole carrots, peas, broccoli, beans, celery, and apples) around an area. This gives your dog something to forage for as well as some nutritious food to chew on (rather than your furniture. Please remember that you shouldn’t use raisins or grapes because these are very harmful to your dog.  Please check out our Dog Poisons for more information.
• Buster Cube: This award-winning dog toy is a great distraction. Fill the toy with dry kibble or other goodies. As your dog rolls it around on the ground, the kibble falls out from multiple compartments. This motivates your dog work for his food, keeping a brain-active dog busy for hours.
• Kong Toys: This durable rubber toy has a hollow center that can be stuffed with goodies such as kibble, dried liver, cheese, or peanut butter. I recommend that you use unsalted peanut butter.  Cover the Kong Toy hole without filling the entire toy.  Your dog won’t be able to get the food all the way in the back and may become frustrated.  Now, freeze the toy. Your dog now has a “Kongsicle”.  Get several Kongs so you can simply rotate them from your dog to the freezer.  One more note, Kong Toys are all made in the USA.  No part from any of their toys is made in China.

All you have done here is to proactively give your dog something to do to eliminate or extend the time before he becomes bored.  This allows you to get the things you need to accomplish in peace and quiet.  Please remember that this is not a replacement for play time with you.  To maintain your relationship, interactive play time is very important also.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact us at The Best Dog Trainers in Plantation and South Florida.

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Pit Bull Surprise

Well, its been proven now that Jades training, learning how to be less defensive with other dogs, has paid off, in a big way!  Yesterday, we had a pit bull surprise.  Jade and I were walking from the car into a grocery store, when suddenly from under the porch of the grocery store, a pit comes running toward us, and stops short to give Jade a good sniffing.  I couldnt believe my eyes! A pit bull, without a leash, hanging out in front of the grocery store, coming up to bother a working dog, a service dog!!! What the hell has this town come to!?  Where the hell was the owner of this beast!?

Jades training has definitely paid off, as she performed exactly as a service dog should in such an unwelcome situation. She stopped and let the beast sniff her, taking her away from her job and her attention off of me. This kind of thing makes me SICK! I am so sick and tired of these irresponsible pit bull owners and they just continue to show that they cannot be trusted to be responsible with their beasts!!!  Nevertheless, Jade stood there and let the dog sniff, and I kept trying to pull her forward, thinking if we just kept moving that the darn pit bull would just give up the sniff and walk away....and I didnt know when the beast would suddenly decide that Jade would taste better than she smells, and its DNA would kick in, and it would perform its best gripping behavior on my girl! But the more I tried to pull her away and keep moving, the more she planted her feet and wouldnt move.  I think she thought it was best to stay still for the moment.

I thought that Jade might turn to her defensive behavior and start growling and defending herself, and then the beast would attempt to kill her....at which point I would have had to brutally kill the damn thing right there in front of the grocery store, in front of about 30 people! But she didnt.  Jade behaved like a perfect service dog.  Standing there, letting it sniff, while I was yelling, "Whos damn dog is this!? Get your damned dog! My dog is working here!" I began reaching in my purse for my weapon, as I was afraid, and didnt know what would happen, when suddenly a lady came out of the story with a shopping cart and aimed for the pit bull.  She acted like she was going to hit the pit bull with the shopping cart and shouted, "Hey, get outta here!" And the pit bull went back to his place under the porch of the store! So we moved along and went into the store.

When we went into the store, I got on one of the shopping cart buggies, with Jade at my side, and realized I was shaking so hard I could barely function.  Jade stood there looking at me, and I had to sit down and just stop, and breathe.  I really couldnt do anything because I was just too upset.  Im really sick and tired of running into loose dogs in this town, with my working, service dog, especially pit bulls, the most inherently dangerous and vicious types of dogs out there! I am afraid of pit bulls and I have a damn good reason to be! If youre not afraid of pit bulls, then your lacking information on them! My dogs been attacked by a pit bull, pets, service dogs, and children and adults have been attacked and killed by pit bulls, and that, if you ask me, is a damn good reason to fear them! Theyve attacked, injured, and killed many a service dog in situations as these.

This town really needs to do something about the pit bull problem.  There are way too many of them, they are over populated, over bred, and overly vicious! The shelters in this town are full of those dogs, which I dont get! If these pit bull lovers love these dogs as much as they claim, then why are there so many of them in the shelters!? Why are they always roaming the streets with no owners? Why isnt this problem getting taken care of?!

Anyway...I have to say that I was VERY proud of my girl, Jade for doing exactly what she was trained to do....be a GREAT SERVICE DOG! It took me a while to calm down, and luckily I have a great group of supportive, encouraging, empathic friends to talk to about these things, which helps me immensely! And I have my amazing service dog to help me with anxiety, depression, and my physical disabilities.

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Jade and the Firemen

So, I was very excited about getting to take Jade to the firehouse to do some training with the firemen there, but wasnt sure how the firemen would respond to this request.  The trainer and I werent sure how they would respond to our request to assist Jade with her training, or whether they would at all.

So yesterday came the day.  My trainer met Jade and I at the firehouse, station 13, to be precise. Its a very small station, and didnt seem too busy; and its right down the street from my house! So Jade and I decided since it was such a nice day that we would ride my scooter down there to meet the trainer.  It was a very nice day and the sun was blazing, but I think had we realized  how hot it really was, we wouldve taken the car.  Whew! I got sunburned.

We met the trainer there in the parking lot and briefly went over how we could present this request to the firemen, excuse me, fire people, inside.  (Women are fire people too). My trainer would introduce us and talk about what we are doing, and we would take it from there.  I have to say we were both pleasantly surprised at how well the firemen/women responded to our request, and felt VERY welcomed!

Before ringing the doorbell to the firehouse, my trainer said, "We better let Jade stay out here with you while I talk to them because she might get fearful at just going right in too quickly.  We dont want her to get over threshold and then she wont respond to training."  Good point! Jade was on the scooter with me (she loves to ride on that thing with me!) and we waiting while the trainer rang the doorbell.

A couple of firemen came to the door and opened it.  The trainer began telling them why we were there.  They nodded their heads, and one of them said, "wow, ok!"  They invited us in, and were so extremely nice and very responsive! We explained that Jade was very fearful of men in uniform and I was very uncomfortable with this because there may come another time that I need help and need the paramedics/firemen/police to respond to my residence, and they wont be able to get passed Jade to help me, due to her fear.  So we want to help Jade get over her fear of people in uniform, specifically men, so that when I need help, I can receive it. As of now, I told them, if I start to spasm and fall, and cant get up, Jade will run to get the phone for me, and come lay next to me until help arrives.  The problem is, that when help arrives, she wont let them get to me.  NO good! We explained that we were from a training organization here in town and also would like them to come to the organization and give a class on how they respond to calls for help, and how they handle dogs at the residence, precisely service dogs.  They were very responsive to that as well.

I was very pleased how they handled Jade.  As soon as we went into the firehouse, Jade became nervous.  She stared at the firemen/women, with her ears up high and her body tense, and started to growl and bark a little bit.  We quickly stopped her by handing my bag of treats to one of the firemen, who took them and tossed Jade a treat.  They asked us, "Would you like us to put on our complete gear or are these uniforms good enough?" We asked them if they could maybe put their helmets on too. They said, "Sure, absolutely," and went to fetch their helmets and some of their gear.  I was so happy! I had to coax Jade off of the scooter, and the fireman tossed treats and Jade came closer to him and got them off the floor.  In seconds, Jade was eating out of the firemans hand.  The firemen/women were all standing around talking about Jade, and calling her over to smell them, and squatting down so she could smell their helmets. They took Jade around the firehouse and showed her all of their gear and uniforms and boots, and Jade sniffed liked crazy.  She ran happily around the firehouse with them, following the treats, and stopping to sniff different things, then she would circle around and run back to me, making sure I was ok, and then run back to them. She relaxed, her tail started wagging and she had a smile on her face! The firemen/women petted her, and ran with her around the firehouse, they played with her, and she gave them kisses! I was amazed!

This went on for about 25-30 minutes, then one of the firemen said, "Shes really doing great now!" We agreed! Then he said, "The tough part is gonna be when we show up at your house for a call, because thats when they get really territorial." We agreed! So then my trainer asked, "We were wondering if one of you, or a few of you would actually be willing to come by her house and practice a little with this, just to get her used to having you respond to a call?" I cringed, thinking theres no way their gonna do that. Then one of them said, "No ones ever asked us that before, but I dont see why not." Wow! The firemen/women looked at each other and said, "Yeah, sure we can come by," and asked where I lived.  They asked for my address and phone number and I happily gave it to them. They said, "Lets make an appointment, were usually not too busy in the afternoon, at this time...unless we get a call, but its usually slow." They made an appointment with me, to come by my house next week, same time, and I was ecstatic!!! I couldnt believe how helpful these people were!!!! This is GREAT, I was thinking! My trainer was very pleased. She also asked them about coming to the training organization and doing a brief training there with the trainees and their dogs, letting the dogs get used to their smell and their gear. They thought that was a great idea! I think we started something wonderful!

So we decided on a date and time, and they seemed happy to do this! They took down my address and phone number, and the fireman said, "I have your phone number just in case we do get a call, I will call you and let you know."  I was truly amazed that they were so helpful and willing to come by my house even to help with this.  I asked them if they have a lot of trouble with dogs when they go on a call, and they all nodded.  I think they see this training as a way of helping them too; a way to help them learn how to deal with dogs when responding to a call. One of the firemen explained how they deal with dogs, saying, "Well, some of them are scared and do a lot of barking, but they dont approach us, so we just carry on....others are just plain aggressive and we just put our bags in front of us and go for it....we gotta do our jobs....we sometimes have one of the guys catch the dog and put it in a room or outside....whatever we have to do to help someone.  We sometimes have to save dogs from fires and sometimes theyre not easy to save...we have to just throw blankets over them and grab them." While he was talking he was squatted down and giving Jade a scratch on the head and back, and she was loving it! She was sniffing his helmet and giving him kisses!  I was so glad to be having this conversation with the firemen/women!

One of the firemen said, "Lets do some work on you and see how Jade reacts." So they pulled out the blood pressure machine and the pulse machine and started taking my blood pressure and my pulse, with their helmets on.  Jade came over and sniffed their hands while they worked, and she watched me to see if I was okay.  Her ears were up again, but she was fine! She watched, and then the trainer gave her a few treats. The fireman said, "Your pulse is high, take a few deep breaths, and he laughed." I was so happy, thats probably why! We all laughed a little, and the fireman told us about their dog that they have working with them sometimes.  "Hes a sniffing dog," they explained.  "He doesnt get food unless he sniffs something out for us." We talked a little more, then suddenly a lady came over the loud speaker and they all started scrambling about.  "We gotta go, got a call, but well see you next week at your house!" I put Jade back on the scooter as the large garage door started going up and they jumped in the truck.  They pulled away and the sirens came on.  Jades ears were up and she watched intently, but she did great!

My trainer and I stayed outside talking a bit about the experience after they left, and we were both SO pleased about how it went! We were very grateful for their willingness to help, and could hardly believe their willingness to come by my house and practice some more training! This was great!!! We talked more about having them come to the class and do some training there.  My trainer will be here as well when the firemen/women come over next week and well see how that goes! Im so excited about this! This is great stuff!

Stupid me! I didnt think to take any photos! I want some photos of Jade with the firemen! Im so glad Ill have another chance to do that when they come to my house next week.  I hope it works out and they dont get a call they have to go to instead.  Im hoping that even if they do, they will still be able to come by afterward.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Another thing the firemen told me is that its a good idea to post a little sign, or sticker on your door, or window stating that there is a Service Dog Inside the house.  The firemen, and police really take heed to those stickers, and if you write that its a service dog, even though the dog may act frightened or even aggressive, they are MUCH less likely to shoot it. The police sometimes will shoot your dog if they cant get to you and the dog is aggressive and not letting them do their job. We discussed this. So, whether you have a service dog or not, its a good idea to post something like that where the officers responding to your residence can easily read it. Itll keep you and your animals safer.  Itll also give them a heads up if you have a house fire; they will try to save your animals as well.

Im really glad to be able to share this on my blog and very grateful for the experience! God bless the firemen/women! Never forget 9/11.  Firemen/women are some of the most courageous, and brave people on this planet!  Also, God bless the dogs that worked those days on 9/11 at that site!

I should have some pictures for you all next week after the firemen/women come by the house.  But for now....

Pretty cool video about the dogs at 9/11

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/rescuer-lauds-dogs-work-after-9-11

A Story of the Service Dog, Roselle, who walked her blind handler down the 78 floors of the South Tower on 9/11 right before the building collapsed (photo)
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/06/blind-man-his-guide-dog-and-lessons-learned-on-11/

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Dog Training Tips to Have Your Dog Listen in the Back Yard

What Happens When Your Dog Wont Come to Me in The Back Yard?

We were at a dog training session in Coral Springs yesterday and our client had a great question that we wanted to share with everyone.  “It always happens that whenever I need to get my dog in from the back yard, he never comes.  I really think he sees it as a game and finds it fun to run and have me chase him…”

See my dog way back there?  There is no way that I am getting him in the house any time soon...

The best solution is really simple.  What you must do is to teach (or re-teach) your dog to “come”.  This, like any learned action, will take about five weeks of continual work.  This is great, but you need something to get him back in the house between now and then.

Lets first understand what is really happening with you and your dog and then find a temporary solution.  

Right now, I bet here is what you are doing.  You walk outside and yell "come".  He doesnt understand what that means, but you have gained his attention.  You yell "come" again and become more animated.  He still stares at you, finding you an amusing distraction.  By now you are really mad.  You start yelling at him and walk towards him (thinking he will stay still for you to get him). Your dog sees that we are in a game of "follow the leader".  He starts running, you chase him, and he runs faster.

As you can see, this is a losing battle that you just cant win.  So what do you need to do to get him in the house if he doesnt understand "come"?  You must find a way where you will remain calm, disengaging, and not directly approaching nim.  If you do this, you will not be "telling" Wolfie that you want to play.

Here is what you do:  (I really love this little trick!)

• Put a long leash or rope on your dog when he is outside.  Let him run around with it so that he becomes used to it.  You want him to think it is normal and not pay attention to it.
• When you want to get him in the house, be very calm and slowly approach the end of the leash or rope.  The point here is that you are moving towards a point that is not near him. 
• You are not directly approaching him so you are not sending the "play" signal to him.
• If he begins to run, do not get crazy and chase him.  Continue to calmly follow the end of the leash or rope..
• If you need to, stand still for a moment.  Since your dog is in a “play more”, he might approach you to encourage you to join in the chase.  When he does this, he will bring the leash to you.
• Once you are at the end of the leash or rope, simply put your foot on it.  Now you have him.
• Pick it up (keeping your foot on it until you have it firmly in your hand).
• Give your dog the "come" command and give the leash a little tug until he is at your side.
• Give him the "walkies" command and calmly walk him back to the house.

Give it a try and I am sure you will love it.  For more information, please contact us at The Best Dog Trainers in Coral Springs Florida and South Florida.

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PIT BULLS AND OTHER DANGEROUS DOGS KEEP ON KILLING

http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/top/news-com-au/guide-dog-killed-in-pit-bull-attack/750059

ANOTHER innocent Guide dog killed in yet ANOTHER vicious pit bull attack.  When are pit bull owners finally going to understand that their dogs are dangerous; they pose a huge danger to society!

Pit bulls are mauling, maiming and killing people, pets, and service/guide dogs at a rate UNMATCHED by any other type of dog, and WE ARE SICK OF IT!!!!

I dont really care whos at fault, whether its the dogs or the owners; it makes no difference to me. The fact is that pit bulls are dangerous, and a lot of times, so are their owners. So dont bother with your comments about who is at fault, and comment about that "its the owners fault."  I DONT CARE!!!! The FACT is, PIT BULLS CONTINUE TO MAUL, MAIM AND KILL AND IT NEEDS TO STOP, by whatever means necessary! If the damn dogs have to be removed as pets, then so be it.  This guide dog, and NO guide or service dogs, or family pets, or children, or adults deserve to be mauled to death or eaten alive by some aggressive dog, just because its owner thinks he/she has the RIGHT to own whatever dog they want.  Well, guess what....WE HAVE RIGHTS TOO!!!! WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL AND TO BE SAFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS! 
And were DAMNED TIRED of your vicious dogs harassing, threatening, mauling and attacking, and even KILLING our family members, our pets, and our service and guide dogs! 

It used to be easy for you who own pit bulls, but not anymore! We are going to FIGHT you! And we WILL NOT STOP until these vicious dogs are off of our city streets and are NO longer in homes as pets.  WE WILL FIGHT until its done; until we can live safer, and in more peace in our neighborhoods and can walk down the street with our children, or our dogs and guide/service dogs, without the fear of being mauled to death by your inherently vicious pit bull type dog! 

If you dont want the fight, THEN CONTROL YOUR VICIOUS ANIMALS! Put up an adequate fence, get a stronger leash, train your dogs, put them in a locked pen....do whatever you have to do to MAKE THIS STOP, or youre going to have the fight of your life on your hands! We are gathering an army of support, most of them victims, and we WILL fight you! 


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html

"In the UK it is illegal to breed or own Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazilieros. They were bred as aggressive fighting dogs.

It is also an offence for an owner to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

The Government has recognised that dog attacks is a growing problem. In 2011 police seized 1,512 illegal dogs – up from just 27 five years earlier. Meanwhile attacks on guide dogs were now running at the rate of seven a month."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html#ixzz23AkD4Eoa

You CANNOT argue the FACT that pit bulls and their mixes, were bred to fight and kill, EVERYONE seems to know that except the owners of these dogs! 

These attacks are inexcusable! Unacceptable! And completely PREVENTABLE! 

You wonder why people like us want BSL?   THIS IS WHY! Because YOU pit bull owners, and owners of DANGEROUS DOGS cant seem to keep your damn killing machines under control! 

Have you ANY idea what it takes to train a service or guide dog? Have you any idea how much it costs? Do you know what kind of a bond a handler has with his/her service/guide dog?  DO YOU EVEN GIVE A DAMN?????


We Will be quiet NO MORE!!!!!!!

Join us to Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

October 27th, 2012

12 noon- 7pm

Lincoln Park, Tucson, AZ 

ITS TIME FOR THE VOICES OF THE VICTIMS TO BE HEARD!!!

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How To Help Wolfies Fear of Storms

I thought that Wolfie was fine with our summer storms, but he is whining, panting, pacing, and just driving me crazy!  I try and comfort him, but it just seems to get worse!

Remember that I am always saying that we should not treat our dogs like humans?  Remember that I am always saying that we should treat our dogs like dogs?  Guess what!  You are treating him like a human, again.  

We have to understand that the sights, sounds, and even the drop in barometric pressure could be very strong negative stimuli on Wolfie.  This will cause him to become unsure and scared of what he thought was his safe environment.  Naturally, he comes to us to reassure his safety.  Here is where the problem begins.

When Wolfie comes to us, whining and getting under our feet, we instinctively go down and pet him and talk to him in a high, "baby voice" tone trying to sooth and console him.  If Wolfie would be our young son or daughter, that might work.  But Wolfie is a dog and he needs to reassured of his safety in a manner consistent by a strong, canine Alpha Leader.

Here is what you do in order to reassure Wolfie of his safety in a manner he requires:

When Wolfie comes to you, stand up, face him, and ask him to sit or lie down.   Give him a "good boy" when he does.  Continue with your work.  If he starts to whine again, stand up, face him, and give him a firm, low toned "No".  Ask him to sit again, praise him, and go on with your work.  

If Wolfie starts to whine again (what a persistent little guy!), take your leash, hook it on his collar, and briskly walk him around the room or the house.  Return to where you started, have him sit, and return to your work.  What you are doing is to correct and redirect Wolfie away from his perceived fear and to have him focus on you.

You are the boss and your appropriate presence should be all the reassurance he needs to maintain his safety.  As you are communicating with Wolfie, you are standing and facing him.  In the canine world, this is a sign of assertion and leadership.  

Give this a try and see how it works for you.  I have used this technique with our dogs for years and it works like a charm!  For more information, please contact The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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Wolfie is Protective of His Food and a Little Aggressive

It is kind of strange.  Wolfie is normally a great dog, but sometimes he gets protective and aggressive with his food.  I dont want this to continue because I dont want anyone go get hurt by mistake.  What can I do to help Wolfie over this?

Aggression with any animal is not a great thing.  The good news that we can offer with canine food aggression is that we have a clear set of actions that can be taken to minimize or eliminate this issue.  We first have to think about the reasons Wolfie might be food aggressive and/or possessive.  

If Wolfie was a stray or a rescue, that could naturally cause possessive aggressive actions regarding food.  In this case, his food was a limited resource that was critical to his safety and health.  Naturally, he would act in such a manner to protect such an asset.  If Wolfie was starved intentionally or through neglect, that could also be a cause for his aggressive and/or possessive attitude towards food.  In this instance, the root cause could stem from poor nutrition.  

So what can we do to alleviate Wolfies food aggression?  There are several actions that you can immediately perform.  Lets discuss some of them now:

• Be sure you are the one who decides when mealtime will take place.  If Wolfie can boss you into feeding him when he wants, he will not see you as the sole provider of the food.  He will not recognize that you are not the one responsible for his well being.
• Try scatter-feeding Wolfie.  Take his food and scatter it on the ground or in the yard.  He now is focused on grazing across a large area and not protecting an exact spot.  Hide some food behind a chair or under a plant so that it will take extra time to find it.
• Teach Wolfie basic obedience such as "leave it", "stay", and "wait".  Exercise these commands during feeding time or even when giving him a little treat.  This will direct Wolfies focus to you as the provider of food.  It will also direct him to wait until you allow him to take the treat or have his dinner.
• If you need Wolfie to move away from his food, never directly approach him and his food bowl.  This is a naturally aggressive act and might trigger Wolfie to respond. Call Wolfie to you.  You are redirecting his attention to you and when Wolfie responds, you are enforcing that you are his care giver.  The food is not as important as obeying you.
• If needed, use the leash when feeding.  This will help you redirect him away from the food, if needed, without becoming physical.
• Never feed Wolfie in a corner.  This limits his options if anyone approaches him and also heightens any aggressive or protective tendencies he still may have.
• If you have multiple dogs, feed them separately until you can resolve the food issue.  Introduce them back together one at a time.  Always be present and between them to assure them that you are the provider and you will guarantee that they all have the nutrition they need.

When there is an issue with any form of canine aggressive/possessive behavior, the important point is to take it slow.  You are setting the scene to allow Wolfie to come to the conclusion that everything is fine and he is safe.  He needs to learn this at his own pace and in an environment where he has the ability to learn.  This is not set on a specific time table.

If you need additional information on anything we have discussed, please feel free to go to our web site for more information or to gain our direct contact information: South Florida Dog Trainers. 

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Aggressive Dog Behavior Putting Your Dog In His Place and You In Your Place

Does your dog have aggressive dog behavior? Is he dominant? Is he demanding? Does he want his way all the time? Is his behavior annoying and embarrassing? Does he stress you out?

Aggressive dog behavior can take many forms. Of course, there are some dogs that are so aggressive that they are a real danger. I have known big dogs that have attacked even their owner and killed them, because of untreated dog aggression. This was not a dog that had ever attacked his owner before, but he did show some signs of aggression.

Aggressive dog behavior will escalate over time. So what can be seen as insignificant signs of aggression should not be overlooked. You should put an end to it the sooner the better. Don’t wait until it gets worse, or until there is a terrible accident.

Always be aware of signs of aggression, so you can do something about it. Here are some signs of aggression, which are pretty common:

• Barking and growling
• Fighting with other dogs
• Whining and “talking” to get their way
• Nudging you so you will do something, like petting them
• Pulling you when you are walking them, and walking ahead of you
• Being demanding and willful
  
  

When a dog thinks he can get away with his demands, he thinks he is the leader. And as a leader, he is the one who does what he wants. His behavior can grow more and more aggressive and he can become dangerous.

In order to change his aggressive dog behavior you need help. You need help for the dog and for yourself, as you will also need to be trained to be a leader and take charge. You will have to learn how to effectively establish yourself as the leader of the pack.

You can hire a dog trainer, but besides being expensive, they only train the dog. You need a method which will help both you and your dog. Your dog has to learn to become submissive and you have to learn to become a leader. So each one has to take their rightful place in this relationship, and this way you will have a much more rewarding relationship which you will be able to enjoy much more.

Here is the #1 recommended method of dog training which has helped hundreds of thousands with their dog’s aggressive behavior.

This method is guaranteed to help you and your dog with his aggressive dog behavior.

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When Your Dog Comes Inside and Potties on the Carpet

My dog is normally pretty good about pottying, but sometimes he doesnt potty outside and as soon as we come inside, he will potty.  This is just weird.  What can I do to fix this and keep my carpet from being an over-glorified wee-wee pad?

This is a frequent question posed by many of our clients.  Their dog normally doesnt potty in the house, there are just some timing issues that need to be addressed.  If this is truly the case, we have some simple suggestions to help you out:

• When you take your dog outside to potty, actively engage him in high energy play.  Throw the ball for him.  Hide a few toys around the yard and encourage him to actively find them.  Play fetch.  Whatever you do, make sure it is high energy so that you are speeding up your dog’s metabolism.  This encourages “potty”.
• Stop your active play and simply stand back.  Let your dog calm down and begin to focus on the smells of the yard.  This encourages the potty process.  You will normally see him still romp around for a bit and then begin to intensely sniff an area.  This is a sign that he is ready to potty.
• Once he performs his #1 and #2, do not bring him in right away.  Let him “hang out” for a few more minutes.  Sometimes dogs need to potty more than once.  If we bring him in too soon, we have moved the bathroom inside.
• If your dog didn’t potty after fifteen or twenty minutes, take him inside but keep him on a leash and next to you.  Wait five minutes and take him out again.  If coming inside somehow stimulates his need to potty, as stated in our original issue, we have started the process.  The difference is that we will only be inside for a few minutes and we will constantly be with our dog.  Note:  Dogs normally don’t want to go to the bathroom right next to you.

Having your dog outside for potty and then bringing them in only to mess on your carpet is annoying and smelly.  We hope that these suggestions will help you eliminate that problem.  As always, please contact us if you have any questions at The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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The Best Kept Dog Training Secrets

2. Treats at reward time should be integrated in your training workouts. As opposed to human beings, dogs cant remove their clothes or add layers, so they have to appear up with other methods to get relief from the weather conditions problems.

This will enable your dog to melt away up some surplus power, and he will most likely be a lot more willing to be engaged in your training session. Therefore, your principal goal need to not be to get your dog to stop barking , but rather to prepare him how to handle his increased barking. When your dog digs a hole and lies in it, his temperature can be self-regulated. The booklet is much far more than just an additional dog training manual, even though I would purchase it for that area alone. If you continue to keep on repeating this procedure, he will commence to associate optimistic reinforcement with the correct pattern.

one. One particular suggestion is water sprayed with bitter apple, which is available in puppy stores.

Periodically, the dirt or sand in your dogs chosen digging place need to be changed. My advised dog training information to stop your dog from barking is Secrets to Dog Training, the top promoting instruct for the 4th 12 months in a row!?!More Recommended links Review of secrets to dog training,.Also, obedience training ought to not happen right right after a meal. A premium edition of this top notch information is also obtainable. Click Here to Go to secrets to dog training.

It is offered by Dave Johnson, the really well-known dog care specialist, who makes it all appear so simple!Review of secrets to dog training- My Conclusions

SitStayFetch has been the top marketing dog training study course for more than four years, and it has been bought by above 217,000 dog masters planet-broad. Barking in the evening might retain owners awake, and territorial barking can make others who live nearby experience very miserable.

I have to say that 3 Secrets to Dog Training - Fast Success has not disappointed me - in simple fact, Im amazed at the top quality and quantity of the details presented for this kind of a reduced cost. If you have previously scolded him for digging, you might have to have to give him added encouragement. If you presently personal a dog or pup, or are contemplating about possessing one, I clearly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of Secrets to Dog Training.

They also offer you indefinite consultations with their specialists to make positive you fix your dogs habits troubles speedily.

secrets to dog training (formerly named SitStayFetch) has been revamped and was officially released on February a couple of, 2009. Observe. Place an unpleasant "present" in the hole dug by your dog. Secrets to Dog Training offers a 60-evening dollars back again ensure so you cant possibly drop.
Boredom may possibly be another purpose for your dog digging. The publication supplies overviews and recommendations for a number of distinct training techniques such as dog whispering, clicker training, head collar training, and crate training, to name just a few. Place rocks, sticks, mulch, and dead leaves in the hole and cover it with a light layer of soil. An additional way to stop dog digging is by filling the holes with waste found in your garden. Extra patience will be required with these breeds in purchase to stop their digging pursuits.

Training your dog to search just in that place may possibly take time but it is achievable. If you make a fuss of him whilst he is even now barking, he will reckon that barking is an correct conduct.

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When I Correct Wolfie and He Cowers What Then

I know that I need to tell Wolfie that he is doing something wrong and I am not hitting him or using those shock collars on him, but he is still cowering and hiding in the corner.  I dont want to scare my dog every time he is doing something wrong, but what can I do?

We have faced this situation many times where the Wolfie is overly fearful or has experienced a traumatic experience in his past were a straight correction, even slight, can cause a fearful reaction.  As dog trainers, we are not trying to scare a dog into obedience, we are trying to teach them what is the right thing to do and to build a positive relationship between Wolfie and his owner.

So, lets clean the slate of all those other correction methods and figure out what we can do with Wolfie.  Remember, we still need to show him what is right and wrong...

The bottom line is that we want to use an alternative method than the standard correction to let Wolfie know he is doing something wrong and we will teach him what is right.  As opposed to a correction which we know isnt working on Wolfie, we suggest an alternative method known as a redirection.  We still want to tell Wolfie he is doing something wrong and to teach him what is right, but we will use a more passive method.

First, you need to get a leash and click it on Wolfie during the day.  Take the leash off him and put it back on at random times so Wolfie doesnt associate the leash with a particular event or time of day.  You dont need to hold the leash, let him drag it around with him.  This will eliminate the leash as a special event and turn it into "simple white noise".  Please remember, you can only have the leash on him when someone is home and within earshot of Wolfie.  If he gets it caught on a chair leg, you must be able to release it quickly to no harm will come to Wolfie.

After a few days, Wolfie will be wandering around with the leash and will pay no attention to it.  Now you are ready to begin to use the leash as a tool of behavior modification through redirection.

Here is an example of how this works:

If Wolfie starts to act up such as running around the house like a crazy boy, dont chase him or yell and scream.  Simply approach the end of the leash which is six feet away from him.  Since you are not directly approaching him, you will not be adding to the adrenaline of the moment.  Calmly put your foot on the leash.

Wolfie will stop and look back to see what happened.  He thought he was in control of the room and could do whatever he wanted (run and go nuts).  For some reason, he lost control.  He sees you and you are calm & still, not approaching him, and standing tall.  This is what Wolfie expects in a good leader and teacher.  You passively told Wolfie that he couldnt run and go nuts and he needs to obey you because you are his leader and teacher.

I want to make it clear that you still told Wolfie "no", but you allowed him to come to that conclusion  by defusing the situation in a direction of your choosing.  You broke his focus on doing the wrong thing and drained his adrenaline fueling his inappropriate actions.  The end result is he is now doing what you want him to do.

There are many other nuances to this technique and we would be more than happy to review your specific issues to determine if this educational process would be most appropriate in your situation. For more information, please contact us at The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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Jade Gets Certified!!

Today, my Jade took her Certification Exam with the field trainer and the Head Trainer.  SHE PASSED!!! I knew she would; shes a great dog, and has come such a long way since beginning training!  She skipped the Level 1 beginning class, went into the Level II class, and acquired her Canine Good Citizen Certificate.





Soon after we started training; after her first class, she then skipped a class and went straight into service dog training. Once she got her CGC and headed off to service dog training she got her Blue Vest.  She began going everywhere with me in order to expose her to all kinds of environments, people, noises, sights, smells, etc.  She did great, but at this point still had an issue with loud noises making her very anxious and still was somewhat reactive when other dogs got in her face to sniff her.  I was discouraged about these two issues, as they were really her only issues.  Other than that, she was becoming a wonderful service dog and learning her tasks very well. If youve read my blog, you know how hard we worked on these two issues to get her where she is today.

She completed one service dog training class, skipped the Level II Service Dog class, and went straight into Field Training.   Thats when she got her Red Vest.  This meant "Service Dog In Training" and stated so on the vest. We worked hard together, getting her past her issues with loud noises and getting her past her reactivity to other dogs who got in her face.  Its noteworthy to add here, that we soon learned that Jades reactivity had a lot to do with her being viciously attacked by a roaming pit bull at the park, which she found very hard to get passed. We also learned that once she was passed it, I was not. Her reactivity was then a result of MY reaction when another dog got close to her or got in her face.  Once we had that down, it was a green light.  I began to change MY behavior in these situations, and hers followed.   Its also noteworthy to mention here that when a service dog is working (on duty) other dogs SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET IN HER FACE!! Nevertheless, there will ALWAYS be irresponsible and ignorant dog owners out there, who just either dont know what a service dog is, dont understand that letting their dog get in your service dogs face while its working is a complete and total distraction for the service dog, or simply dont care. I know this to be a FACT, because in the short amount of time that Jades been a service dog, MANY dog owners have let their dogs approach her and get in her face, sniff her, etc.  I now use this as an opportunity to educate people, if I have time; otherwise, we turn around and leave.

My field trainer and I worked hard on her reactivity issue and mine as well, and soon she was working alongside another service dog, and with the field trainers Rottweiler. Once this was going well, the field trainer informed me that she felt Jade was ready to take her certification exam.  A week later, thats what we did.  That was today.

 The test was pretty easy for Jade at this point, just because wed worked so hard and pushed her far beyond what the test requires.  I thanked the field trainer for that, because it got her through today with flying colors! So Jade has now acquired her Teal/Green Vest, which states that shes now a Certified Service Dog.









The Head trainer accompanied us once we reached the exam destination, and the field trainer came along as well. The Head trainer carried her clipboard, and marked things off as we did them. Just the fact that the dog is able to maneuver through the establishment with the appropriate service dog etiquette is a major requirement. This means, the dog has to be next to the handler at all times, no sniffing merchandise or people, no soliciting pets from people, and the dogs focus must always be on the handler. This requirement is first and foremost. Then we went through the checklist, which included things like coping well with loud noises and being able to recover quickly, performing down/stay with handler in sight and out of sight, tolerating a step-over by a stranger, petting by children, sit/stay with other dogs walking past/getting close, handler recall off leash, performing a front/wait at the cash register, performing leave it when food is left on the floor, or dropped, performing a follow the handler (walking behind the handler when necessary in tight spaces), performing an under (quietly lying under the table while the handler sits/eats/talks, etc for at least 15 min), proper bathroom etiquette (sit and wait quietly) and of course performing her tasks when cued, or when not cued. There were some other things that I cant think of right now, as its been a long day and Im wiped out.  The entire exam took about 2 and 1/2 hours, but it was mentally exhausting, and for someone that is disabled and finds it difficult just to get out and around, its tiring.

Jade was a SUPERSTAR!!! I am SO VERY proud of her for accomplishing what she has, and yeah, Ill say it....Im proud of myself too for working so hard on this, and for training her so well.

Jade is completely Certified now, but the training doesnt stop. It never stops.  A service dog must always be up to the standard that it can always pass the Certification exam.  So, her certification will expire in one year and at that time, she will take the test again. AFter that, it will expire after 2 years, and at that time, she will take the test once again.  This is done to ensure that the service dog team doesnt start slacking on the dogs requirements, and behavior/etiquette, etc.  I think this is great! Its important to make sure that the service dog teams out there are always being monitored.

The agency we Certified with told me that the ADA requirements may change soon, and that Certification by a professional trainer or agency may soon be a requirement for all service dogs. Frankly, I hope thats the case, because in my opinion, there are far too many service dogs out there that are NOT up to par, and could never pass the public access test, even though theyre out there in the public all the time.

Jade now has her Teal/Green Vest, is a completely Certified Service Dog, and will also soon be issued an I.D. card with our photo and names on it.  I couldnt be happier, or more proud of her!

GREAT JOB, JADE!!!!

Jade at 11 weeks, when I first brought her home. 

Jade at work in her Blue Vest
                                                                          

Pretty girl!

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