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.

Read More..

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.

Read More..

BSL and Service Dogs

I have a really bad feeling that any city, county, state or country that has enacted, or will enact BSL  (Breed Specific Legislation) in the future, will start seeing a huge increase in "service dogs," and theyre gonna be pit bulls! Besides being morally corrupt, and completely disgraceful, its also against the law and a HUGE federal violation to impersonate a disabled person for the purpose of having a service dog; nevertheless, I think I can speak for many, many people in saying that there are A LOT of people in this country, and others, that fit this description.  Many more cities, and counties are learning more and more about pit bulls.  Not to mention the fact that they continue to maul, maim and kill more people and other animals than all other dog breeds combined.  Legislators are learning, and the people are getting tired of it.   More and more places are starting to discuss and enact BSL, which is leading those morally corrupt and disgraceful people to look for new ways to get around the law.  Yup, the perfect way to keep your pit bull, is to impersonate a disabled person and try to get your dog certified as a "service dog." Cmon pit bull owners, we know what youre doing. We may be disabled, but were NOT stupid!!!  Be advised, you morally corrupt and disgraceful people, the ADA and the Federal Government are also not stupid and are well aware of it....and there will SOON come a time when you all will be outed.  There will soon be a Federal Law enacted that will prohibit you from doing what youre doing! As it stands, the ADA is there for the purpose of protecting the disabled, and you, who try to FAKE your dogs certification as a "service dog" will soon pay the price.  Make no mistake!

Heres a quote I found online in regards to this topic. Frightening, isnt it?!

"As far as Im concerned, this is a loophole! Im planning on having all the BSL breeds in our rescue CGC and TDI certified. By federal law, no one is allowed to ask you for proof that the dog you have it a therapy dog. If they do you can sue them under ADA law. And all you need is a doctor willing to say you get stressed in public and need your dog to help you relax. That makes your dog a therapy dog. Done.


And now according to federal law, no city or state is allowed to ban your dog, regardless of breed, if its a therapy dog!!   Take that you brainless BSL supporting morons!!"


I wont go into why this person is a complete idiot, and totally ignorant of the law....well keep that between us.  If you know the law, you know why this will NOT work for this person.  She eventually decides to actually read the ADA regs and figures out why this wont work, but rest assured, there are many morally corrupt, disgraceful scumbags out there impersonating the disabled for this very reason. Watch out for them, and when you see them, REPORT THEM!!!

Read More..

Dog Training Advice You Can Change Your Dog’s Behavior and Stop Being Embarrassed

Are you the proud owner of a new dog? Looking for some helpful dog training advice to get you started?

Getting a dog is an experience that can change your life. It’s much like welcoming a new (and rather rowdy) member into the family, really; a period of adjustment and change. For people who live alone, it can be a lesson in responsibility, in learning to take care of the needs of another creature. For those with families, the experience can be a lesson in patience, getting along (“Ma, the dog ate my sandwich again!”) and friendship. They’re not called “man’s best friend” for nothing, after all.

Having a dog is a much greater experience for both of you when the dog is disciplined. Dog training advice is essential in order to have a well behaved dog who is pleasant to be around. Starting with house training as well as behavioral training, make your dog one that you will be happy to take anywhere.

Nobody wants a dog who jumps on people all the time, or a dog who barks or growls continually. It can get very frustrating and annoying for you and others. These are all signs of aggression which are not healthy for your dog, and can be very embarrassing for you. Some small dogs get away with a lot more aggressive behavior because of their size.

I adore my two wiener dogs, and wouldn’t change them for anything. However, I realized that they had dominant behavior which was causing trouble at the dog park, as well as when I had people over and they would jump all over them.

One day I decided to take charge and address these problems. A trainer would have been very expensive, so that was out of the question. I was able to find the excellent dog training advice that I much needed and today I can enjoy my pups a lot more and don’t have to worry that they will cause trouble and embarrassment.

It is very important to address your dog’s habits. Here is the dog training advice that I found that will easily teach you how to effectively change your dog’s behavior. For more information, feel free to use this great resource on dog training advice.

Read More..

Todays Lesson Featuring Sheldon How to Teach Your Dog to Sit or Lay Down

Hello Leapers,

A few days ago we worked with this cute, adorable, and very intelligent 7-month old Bulldog, Sheldon. Sheldons curriculum will be based on AKCs S.T.A.R. Puppy to create a positive and reliable training experience with Sheldons family. On todays lesson, Sheldon learned "sit" and "down".

How to teach a dog to sit.

Yes, all dogs know how to "sit," but do they know how to do it when commanded or asked? To get Sheldon to "sit" we shaped, rewarded, and conditioned the wanted behavior; in this case, butt on the ground with front shoulders at an upright position. A marker, such as a "yes," clicker, or "good" was used as soon as his bottom touched the ground to let Sheldon know that he had done exactly what we had asked from him. This marker was previously conditioned with a reward (food/toy) to help Sheldon make the association between the wanted behavior and our cues (such as the word "sit" or our hand gestures to signal the behavior). This way whenever he hears his marker he will know that everyone is extremely pleased with him and he is getting something fun, yummy, and exciting for being such a good doggy thus helping the dog repeat the behavior again when the cue for "sit"is given. 

The sequence of behavior should be as follows: “Spot, (wait 2 seconds) sit”; this means: stop whatever you are doing, look at me, and then sit. Note: dogs should maintain their “sit” until otherwise told they are released. This exercise will be repeated each time by increasing the wait time between the "sit" position and the release (2 seconds, 5 seconds, 15, 30, 45 seconds and so on…). Dogs should leave their “sit” only when told “OK” “ALL DONE” or “Release." 

Teaching a dog to "sit" on command can be a quick and easy way to redirect a dogs attention and get their focus back on you. It is a simple command that can go along way. For instance, maybe youre talking with a friend and instead of having your dog pull, move, jump you ask the dog to sit. Surprisingly enough, teaching a dog "sit" can make your dog look like a well-mannered gentleman or lady while out in public. 


How to teach a dog to lay-down.

Same as with teaching a dog to "sit," all dogs know how to lay down. I mean, they lay down on the bed, carpet, floor, grass, and of course on our couches even when we dont necessarily want them to be there. However, we want to teach our dogs to lay-down on our cue because it helps dogs calm down, relax, or even get petted by a small child.

To mark and reward the wanted position, you should wait for the dogs chest and hind to be completely on the ground before marking and rewarding. Difficulty will be increased by increasing time (2 seconds, 5seconds, 10, 20 seconds, 50 seconds and so on…).  The chain will go as follows: “Spot, (wait 3 seconds) down”. This means: stop whatever you are doing, look at me, lay down, and still look at me and nothing else.  The dog must maintain their position until release cue is given: “OK” “ALL DONE” or “Released."

When to use "sit" and "lay-down."



Once the dog has learned these behaviors, do not be afraid to ask them to perform them at any time for any reason even if the dog just wants to sniff the grass. Other ideas of when to practice "sit" and "lay-down": before crossing a sidewalk, before feeding, before walking out the door, before entering a room, before being petted, before greeting another dog (if your dog is dog friendly), before entering a car or exiting a car, and before getting hugs from you. 


Overall, teaching the basic commands are fun, and easy. However, getting the reliability with distance, distractions and durations can be stressful.  If you would like for a trainer to visit your home and help with your dogs basic obedience needs please visit Leap Dog Training. 

Love,

www.leapdogtraining.com
leapdogtraining@gmail.com 

Read More..

Training a Bear

Sometimes you get a dog that is a perfect match for his or her name. And as you can see, Bear matches his name.

Bear was in last weekend for his first Manner in Minutes training, and he was a delight. His owner brought him in the week before for an evaluation. I could tell right away he would be fun to train.

I had to talk to Pat Muller, the wonderful trainer who came up with the Manners in Minutes training system a couple of days earlier. I mentioned Bear and told her he was a Golden Retriever/ Chow mix. I had not seen that combination before but told her I thought it would be a great one to work with. Pat, who has worked that mix before, confirmed that those two breeds make a delightful dog.

Now the Chow Chow is a “serious” breed. They are a nice dog if well socialized and under control, but dangerous if they are not. Golden’s on the other hand are all about fun and attention.

So Bear was very serious about fun and attention.

He left here with all the basics in place. He will be back next weekend for follow up. I am looking forward to the session

Doug

Read More..

I dont like shock collars

Last weekend we went to a home and garden show. The last time we went I was surprised to see one of our local dog trainers had a booth. As he has a lousy reputation and is known as a hustler, I wasnt surprised to see him there.

This show had a local trainer of one of the chains. I haven’t paid much attention to them other than to note that two of my customers had “thrown them out” of their homes when they came to do a presentation. They do advertise extensively and have a great logo.

I saw the trainer with a dog that I would describe as way too worried. But we had flooring to look for so we walked past. Later when they walked by I was amazed to see the dog wearing a shock collar.

A little bit of research found that this chain does train with shock collars. I just cannot find a way to rationalize that. I could see, in an extreme case, where you might use a shock collar. I have never had to use one, but I was a cop too long to say that I would never use it. But if I did, I guarantee that when the dog left my center, it would never wear it again. To send people out with a permanently attached shock collar is just beyond belief.

It is one thing to correct a dog. But it is another to punish it. To send someone home and rely on their experience, which is limited if they are using a dog trainer, to be firm, fair and consistent isn’t realistic. We have all seen those college psychology experiments where the student is allowed to shock the test subject.

And the bottom line: I barely understand electricity. I don’t think I ever meet a dog that did. Why would you subject a dog to discomfort at best, and outright cruelty in some situations?

I’m not sure what I would call this, but it definitely isn’t dog training.

Doug

Read More..

Dog Training Tips for Bad Behavior At The Door and Guests

Quick things you can do every time someone comes to the door and your dog displays bad behavior.

I was at a dog training session in Cooper City last week and we were just finishing up the session.  We had covered everything the client had on his wish list for that day and everything was just great.  As I got up to leave, a friend came to the front door and rang the door bell.  His dog went completely nuts.  He ran to the front door before we could even stand up, barking and jumping at the door like a crazy person.  I told the client that we had something else to work on…

What we first must understand is that just about all dogs are excited when new people are coming into the house.  This is not always a bad thing because our dog’s action can also act as a defensive/protective mechanism to an unwanted situation. What is important is that we are not embarrassed when anyone enters our house because they are jumped on, licked, and generally harassed the unruly dog. The best way to accomplish this is to nip it at the bud. Here are some tips that I have given my clients over the years:

• Put your dog on a leash. As your guests’ arrival time approaches, make sure that your dog fully engaged with toys or other distractions.
• Play with your dog outside for 30 to 45 minutes before your guests arrive.  This will help get the “excitement out of him”.
• As soon as you hear the doorbell or you get a call from the front gate, grab your dog’s leash by first putting you foot on the handle.  Then, calmly reach down and pick up the handle.  Have your dog sit next to you.
• Once you hear your guests at the front door, make sure your dog is still in a sit position.  Calmly command him to walk with you and go to the front door.  Have him sit again.
• Open the door and greet your guests. If your dog starts to become unruly or leaves the sit position, correct him and place him in the sit position.
• If your dog is still unruly, ask your guests to stay at the door for a moment.  Walk your dog around the room and have him focus on you.  Once he is calm, walk back to your guest and place your dog in a sit position.
• Have a short conversation with your guests while maintaining a close watch on your dog.
• Walk with your guests and dog into the house and to the area where you will be spending your time.  If the dog does not show signs of excitement or misplaced focus, calmly drop the leash.
• If your dog begins to go crazy again, pick up the leash (method described about), walk around for a moment or two until he is calm, and drop the leash.

You are teaching your dog is to be calm when you are meeting guests. The leash serves as a simple, non-physical training aid for you to direct your dog to make the right decision. It also allows you to be consistent in your management of him.  This is how your dog learns and how he associates leadership.

For more information on this subject or any dog training issue, please contact The Best Dog Trainers in Cooper City and South Florida.

Read More..

Puppy Training 1 How Soon Can I Begin

How early can you begin to train a puppy? Even though you may not deliberately set out to train your puppy as early as seven or eight weeks, you can be guaranteed that he is learning how to best interact in your world as soon as you bring him home. He is learning from every interaction with you, and as your dogs owner, its your job to make sure that he is learning the right things!

As a dog trainer, the most common training questions that I hear from puppy owners are about house training, jumping up on people, and puppy biting. Usually the question is framed in this way: "How can I teach my puppy NOT to jump on people, bite me, or soil in the house?" These problems can definitely be solved, but we must first learn to rephrase our question: "What can I teach my puppy to do INSTEAD of jumping up, biting me, or soiling in the house?"

As you begin to identify positive behaviors that the puppy can perform that PREVENT the unwanted behaviors, you have taken the first step toward teaching your puppy to be the best family companion that he can be.

Read More..

Puppy Training 3 Management Routines as a Training Tool

Dogs thrive on routine. Sometimes unwanted behaviors can be prevented by adopting regular routines that dogs become accustomed to. While training specific behaviors is important in molding a young dog into a great companion, management also plays a major role.

Roscoe, a 17-week old chocolate Labrador Retriever, arrives at TLC Dog Training Puppy Boot Camp for an intensive two-week training adventure. Roscoe is a sweet puppy, but he is very rowdy, and he must touch everyone that he meets with his BIG paws. Roscoe lives with a family with two boys, ages 7 and 10. The adults in Roscoes family have had Labradors before, and they are committed to teaching Roscoe how to be great family companion, but sometimes lack the time and the expertise to deal with rowdy Roscoes less than stellar behavior.

At TLC Dog Training, Roscoe lives in a crate in the house. When he comes into the main living area, he is on leash and closely supervised so that he doesnt have an opportunity to have a potty accident. He also has a large 10 x 10 outdoor pen, complete with a cot for sunning. Mornings begin around 7:00 a.m., when Roscoe and as many as two other dogs also in for training are turned outside for their morning bathroom break.

While the dogs are outside, trainer Leslie Carpenter prepares the dogs training treats for the morning training sessions. Leslie returns the dogs to their crates after 20 minutes, and she then takes each dog from his or her crate and works each dog. Puppies like Roscoe train for about 10 - 15 minutes, while dogs older than 6 months may train for 20-30 minutes.

Morning training sessions include walks along a country lane with many distractions such as horses, other dogs, slow moving cars, and scents of wildlife. Roscoe will learn to sit quietly before he may leave his crate or pen, to sit quietly for greeting, and to sit quietly before proceeding through a gate. At first he doesnt know enough to wait in a doorway while Leslie walks through first, but over the two-week training period, he will gradually learn that "SIT" means sit and stay until he is told to do something else like "LETS GO" through the gate, and "DOWN" means down and stay until he is released or asked to do something else. Roscoe will also learn to come when called and to walk on a loose leash.

After the training sessions, Roscoe and the other dogs return to their crates to cogitate on what they have learned while Leslie prepares their breakfast. Fifteen to twenty minutes after the dogs return to their crates following training, Leslie feeds them in their crates and gives them about 20 minutes to eat. Then she picks up their bowls and takes them to their outside runs to enjoy the remainder of the morning.

Young puppies like Roscoe need to be fed three times per day, so about 12:00 p.m., Leslie returns the puppies to their crates and feeds them their noon meal. Older dogs receive a biscuit and remain outdoors to enjoy the Carolina sun. About twenty minutes after eating, the puppies return to their outdoor runs.

Around 4:00 p.m. Leslie prepares the afternoon training treats. Roscoe and the other dogs return to their crates and are then worked one-by-one in their afternoon training sessions. As each dog completes his afternoong training session, he returns to his crate to reflect on his training session. About 20-30 minutes after training, Leslie feeds each dog his evening ration.

The dogs then go outside for an individual romp in the paddock, followed by lounging time on the cot in their individual pens. Since Roscoes owners have indicated that they would like for him to have interactive playtime with other dogs, he and a compatible canine companion are given about 30 minutes for interactive playtime in the paddock.

Roscoe and his friend come into the house around 9:00 p.m. for final biscuits and bedtime.

Read More..

Meet Our New Students Featuring Pit Bull Rescue San Diego

David: available at pbrsd.org

Blossom: available at pbrsd.org

Good Day Leapers,

Leap Dog Training began their quarterly basic obedience group class for the adorable, adoptable dogs from Pit Bull Rescue San Diego [PBRSD]. This marks the first time that the dogs from PBRSD will experience the Associations of Pet Dog Trainers "My Dog has C.L.A.S.S." curriculum.

The curriculum will be tailored to help these dogs personalities and needs in order to achieve the ultimate success: adoption!

Bonita: available at pbrsd.org

Leaps goal is to create more than just an obedience class. The dogs will learn to properly socialize with other dogs, people, and good table manners. All key components to have a well-adjusted, adoptable dog that is ready to be accepted by society as more than just a pit bull. They will be well-trained, lovable doggies who have worked very hard to get educated. Wouldnt you love to adopt one of our students?

Please visit Leap Dog Training on Facebook and Instagram for more awesomely cute pictures of these adoptable, adorable doggies like David.

Are you and your dog doing anything fun and special to help other dogs in need? We would love to hear from you!

Give me a kiss! David: pbrsd.org 

Love,

LEAP!

Photo Gallery: CLICK HERE. 

Whos your favorite dog? 

If you would like for your dog to get the PBRSD basic obedience treatment at your home do not hesitate contact us. 

Read More..

Home From Vacation

     Well, we made it back home from our vacation out of state and I have to say, Jade was an absolute CHAMP! We had almost no problems whatsoever, except for one small one that was resolved easily and quickly.  We drove for 8 long hours to get to Santa Fe, and Jade laid in the back seat, without a peep the whole way! She didnt complain one time! I was very proud of her.  We stopped every hour and a half to two hours, and let her out to potty, get some gas, eat lunch, etc.  She was always happy to get out of the car, and we could tell she wasnt too happy to get back in when the break was over, but she did it, without complaint.  What a great dog! We came home the same way; an 8 hour car ride, and Jade didnt make a whimper.  So Ill tell you about a few of our experiences along the way....
     We stopped in Lordsburg to have lunch, a couple of hours into our trip. We all went into the restaurant, and Jade went straight under the table and did an immediate down/stay, as always.  A few people talked to us about her, as per usual, saying that "shes such a good looking dog....where did you get her trained," etc.  One couple were just going on and on about her, asking about her training and saying what a well-behaved dog she is, etc.  I always welcome questions about her training, and Im always happy about educating others on the use and training of service dogs.  I tell what I know.  When the waitress came over to our table, she said that she was amazed at how well-behaved Jade was.  I said, "Well, shes a service dog, and is supposed to be well-behaved." She responded, "Oh you should see some of the other dogs that come in here; theyre terrible, they wont sit, they bark and act terrible." I couldnt believe that, so I asked her if they were service dogs, and she said they were! Wow!  A service dog is always supposed to be well-behaved and follow commands immediately, so I couldnt believe what I was hearing.  I was proud of Jade though.  I thought to myself that I must be a perfectionist then, because there are times that I dont think Jade is doing the best that she can do; but, she has bad days too. So having heard what the waitress said, I was amazed that someone would bring a "service dog" into a restaurant that wont even sit, or barks! Hard to believe. It also made me wonder if those were some of the dogs that people are passing as "service dogs" in order to take them everywhere with them, even though they havent been properly trained per ADA regs.
     We checked into the hotel without a hitch, and the girl behind the check-in counter just smiled at Jade, and didnt say a word. I wondered if she would, but Jade was wearing her service dog vest, and I was prepared if she said anything or asked any questions, but she didnt.  Jade never barked once inside the hotel.  She did, I confess, sleep on the bed with us the whole time, but we put a sleeping bag on the bed, so as not to get it too hairy. The only time anyone at the hotel said anything was the first morning we were there, and had come out to the lobby to have breakfast.  The manager came out and said, "Im sorry, maam, I cant allow your dog in the food area." So I simply responded, "Its ok, shes a service dog and is with me always for medical reasons."  The manager just looked for a minute, put her hand to her chin, and said, "Hmmm, service dog....ok." Then walked away.  No more problems after that.  I dont think she saw Jades vest, because Jade was lying quietly under the table.
     There was one time that Jade became protective and barked and snarled at some people outside of the hotel.  We were just outside the side door, and I was waiting for her to do her "potty," when a couple and their grown son came rushing out of the door, and startled the both of us pretty good.  Jade whipped around and barked and growled a bit, but got hold of herself pretty quick. I apologized to the couple.  I chalked it up as Jade being a bit nervous in a strange environment and getting startled as they came rushing out of the door pretty quickly, and loudly.  Other than that, as far as the hotel goes, no incidents, no barking, just a well-behaved service dog, doing her job.
     The one thing that frustrates me most is that Jade has a very difficult time with other dogs.  Shes not dog aggressive, but she is defensive.  Ive talked to my trainer about this, and weve worked on it many times in class, and sometimes it seems shes getting better, and other times, not so much.  I know its from the pit bull attack that she suffered, because she was never that way prior to the attack, and hasnt been the same since.  A lot of times, an attack by another dog can easily put your service dog out of work for these reasons, and others.  My trainer says that shes going to be fine because as a service dog, she doesnt need to play with, or really get along with other dogs, she just needs to be able to walk past them, and sit in the same room with them, without freaking out, which she does fine.  She just cannot handle another dog coming  up and sniffing her, especially in her face.  When that happens, Jade loses it, and I swear she becomes another dog.  She becomes so defensive, and it scares me.  She doesnt ever bite, but she makes a lot of noise, snarling, growling and barking, and goes after the other dog.  I hate this! I hate that that damned pit bull ruined my dog!!!! When it happens, I become very sad, depressed, discouraged, and needless to say, embarrassed for my dogs behavior.  My trainer says that no one is supposed to let their dog come into your dogs face anyway, its very rude behavior, but it does happen. It happens a lot actually, and then I always end up having to be the one to apologize and feel embarrassed, but they were the rude ones for letting their dog in Jades face.  Anyway, I digress....We went to visit a friend, at his recording studio, and he always has his dog with him.  Its a very innocent, and friendly dog.  We walked in, and the dog ran right up and got right in Jades face for a sniff...you can guess how it went from that point.  Yup, Jade lost it....and I ended up apologizing and feeling very embarrassed.  Jade was fine afterwards, just a bit excited.  The other dog, poor thing, ran with his tail between his legs and was put in another room.  I felt so bad, and kept apologizing, but the owner blew it off as no big deal.  I wish there was some way to fix Jade, but I cant take away what happened to her.
     That was the worst of the whole entire trip.  The rest was a breeze.  Jade was great, and was very helpful, bracing when I needed, picking up my cane several times, and anything I dropped, including my credit card off the tile floor.  (Not an easy feat).  She even did a great "visit" when I was feeling stressed.  She "visits" by putting her head in my lap when Im feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. It really helps to ground me, and she makes me pet her, which helps bring me back to reality.  So, overall, it was a great trip, Jade did a great job for being in a totally different and strange environment, and were all happy to be home.  Thanks for listening.

Read More..

Field Training At The Mall

     Jade and I had a field outing with the trainer yesterday and today we are attending the training class again. Since we went out of town, we missed a class and a field outing, so now we are making up for lost time.  No buggy though, I love spending this quality time with Jade, and she has a great time too.  Weve actually missed two weeks, since Jade was sick the week before and last week we were out of town. Jade had come down with an upper respiratory thing, which I believe she contracted from me, since Id been sick as well.  Who knows? The Vet said although there have been studies done on whether dogs contract our illnesses, they are not conclusive, so its still questionable.  Anyway, we are making up for lost time, and Jade is doing great.  Yesterday the field trainer met us at the mall, and we did some different things to see how Jade would do.  We got on and off a couple of elevators, and Jade was great.  Its just funny the way she looks at the floor when the elevator starts or stops moving.  :)  She just looks down at the floor, like shes thinking "why is the floor moving?" Its pretty funny.  She wore her harness yesterday and is doing great with it.  She knows the purpose of the harness now, and she understands it is for supporting me, bracing and  helping me with balance.  I can tell she understands this because of the way she uses the harness.  Shes such a champ! The trainer was impressed at how well she did at the mall, which is actually a pretty strange environment for her, as shes only been inside one other time.  
     People are usually pretty friendly when they see us together, and a lot of people ask questions about how she is being trained, how she helps me, etc.  Most people are good about it accepting us into their stores and restaurants, but there are some places that are not as service dog friendly, although they dont have a choice, really. I did talk to the trainer about the episode we had while on vacation, with the other dog that approached Jade nose to nose while she was working. We talked about Jades defensiveness with other dogs that get too close; although Jade is not always like that.  It really depends on the circumstances under which she is approached by other dogs.  The trainer and I agree that it has a lot to do with how I am reacting in that situation.  When that incident happened in Santa Fe, I remember the dog coming up to Jade and sniffing her nose, and me thinking "Oh my God, NO! Here we go again!" and tightening up on her leash.  That is most of the problem.  I know because weve had other instances just like this one, where I relaxed the leash, took a deep breath, and thought "Itll be ok," and it was! It really is amazing how much our dogs react to how we feel! The trainer really didnt issue any homework for Jade on this subject, but for me.  She told me to think of something that really helps me to relax, a happy thought, to use when this sort of thing happens, and to relax the leash.  Im sure shes right, and Ill have to work on that. 
     Otherwise, Jade did wonderfully at the mall, on the elevators, and with the trainer rolling suitcases in front of her, and dropping food on the floor in front of her (which she didnt touch).  It took a while for Jade to get that one.  :)  Jade is definitely motivated by food, as most Labs are. She learned not to touch any food that falls on the floor, and not eat anything unless its given to her by hand, and I okay it.  The training on this isnt over yet, though, were still working on it, but shes doing well.  I really want Jade to be a bomb proof service dog, but I do know that no dog is perfect, and they all have bad days.  She will have her certification test out in the public somewhere and I want her prepared to pass it with flying colors.
     The trainer and I also discussed those websites that are selling vests and such, in order for people to put on their dogs, and call them "service dogs," for the purpose of getting around the law.  My trainer expressed her disgust with these websites and the people who impersonate the disabled and have their dogs impersonate a service dog, for this purpose.  It really is a disgraceful act! A lot of studies have been done in the past about lawbreakers and criminals, and it turns out that most people do in fact, try their very best to obey the laws.  The people who do these sorts of things fit the definition of criminals, and definitely fit the definition of disgraceful! The laws on this are full of holes, and are very vague, and basically dont stop people who do this disgraceful practice, but the ADA regs are written that way for a reason...to protect the disabled.  Its hard to say what needs to be done in this case. 
     Jade did great at the mall, and the trainer was happy with her, as am I.  We will attend class today and catch her up on anything she missed.  Im betting that they want to work on Jades responses to loud noises again today.  Although Jade is definitely getting better with that, she still has some anxiety with a lot of prolonged loud noise.  She will get it though, I have faith.  She will get to the point that none of that bothers her anymore.  Lets hope it happens quickly. Thanks for listening.  


Here are some links below, that are great reads for anyone who just loves dogs in general.  Check them out!






If you love dogs, all kinds of dogs, and want to see what theyre doing for their people....check out this link below.

https://www.facebook.com/exploredogs?sk=wall

The story of Danny, A Service Dog Who Saved A Life

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/service-dog-saves-life-arizona-bethe-benne_n_1248293.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D132236

Read More..

Aggressive Dog Behavior Don’t Even Think of Letting Your Dog Get Away With It

Aggressive dog behavior is not always recognized. Many people only recognize the major aggression problems, but some smaller aggression in dogs goes by unnoticed or at least accepted. But dominant and alpha behavior in dogs should be corrected.

Dogs depend on humans for their food and to open doors for them, etc. But if the dog becomes demanding, then he feels he is the dominant one, and this is where dog aggression starts. If he is not stopped he will continue developing aggressive behavior over time, which can become a very serious problem.

Not all aggressive dogs bite or growl. They can have more subtle aggressive behavior, such as being stubborn and demanding. They might refuse to obey you and insist on getting their way. They might jump on your lap without being called, or nudge you to play with them. They might whine or bark at you when they want something. All these are signs of aggressive behavior.

Aggressive dog behavior, if left untreated, will develop over time. Your dog will become more and more dominant, and he might start acting out more aggressively. We all know that this is not only stressful, but dangerous as well. Dog attacks are not uncommon, and are known to happen with family dogs that have been in the family for years.

Dogs are supposed to obey your command and follow you, not the other way around. When a dog is making you do what he wants, there is something wrong with that picture. You have to become the leader again and put a stop to his aggressive dog behavior in order to avoid a major catastrophe. We love our dogs, and I cannot think of a worse scenario than if one of my dogs injured someone and I would have to give him up.

A dog trainer is very expensive. Also, the dog trainer will train your dog, but you need as much training as the dog, so you can learn how to become the dominant one. You need to learn how to regain the command of your dog, so he will recognize you as the leader.

Here is the #1 method I recommend that will really help you put an end to your dog’s aggressive behavior.

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

Read More..

Aggressive Dog Behavior You Better Take Charge of Your Dog if You Rather Be Safe Than Sorry

Aggressive dog behavior can be very dangerous. It should never be taken lightly. An aggressive dog is a dog that has become dominant and will continue to act out until he is properly trained to change his behavior.

Dog aggression does not happen overnight. Usually aggressive dogs become more aggressive with time. Aggressive dogs do not necessarily bite or growl, but they may exhibit other signs that demonstrate that the dog has become a dominant, alpha dog.

What are some common signs of aggressive dog behavior to watch out for?

1. A dog who is willful and stubborn. If a dog wants to get his way and doesn’t listen to you, he has become the leader.
   
   
2. A dog who runs ahead of you out the door and walks ahead of you on the leash. Humans should always be leading the way, if they are the leader in the relationship.
   
   

3. A dog that begs, nudges or barks for you to do what they want. This indicates that the dog believes you should do what he wants, instead of the other way around. Again, he has established himself as the leader.
   
   

4. A dog that jumps on your lap without being invited. The dog has taken possession of you; he believes he owns you and can do as he pleases with you. Even though a lot of people don’t believe this is aggression, a submissive dog will not jump on your lap until he is invited.
   
   

So how do you go about stopping aggressive dog behavior?

Besides being expensive, a dog trainer would train the dog, but would not help you to make the changes you need to make. In all the above situations, you can see that the dog has taken on the role of the leader, and you have become the submissive one. These role have to be reversed. The fact is that you need as much training as the dog. You will have to learn how to assume the role as his leader, and teach him that you are in charge.

Take action to correct aggressive dog behavior. Don’t wait until it is too late. Not only will your dog become more aggressive with time, but you can prevent a bad accident from happening. Don’t run the risk of having an aggressive dog injure you or someone else.

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.

Read More..

Dog behavior training

Welcome to Dog behavior training blog. You will be able to learn the Basics of Dog behavior training as we introduce you to the new tips and tricks of Dog behavior training.

Read More..