Testing Dogs DNA

In the last year or so, the cost of DNA tests for mixed breed dogs has gone down to the point where I am seeing more and more clients test their dogs. The results are almost always surprising.

I’ve found out that more often than not, a mixed breed dog is not what the owner was told. The exception of course, is a dog that you get from someone who owned both the parents. But almost every other mixed breed is not what the client was told.

Shelters and rescue groups often make an educated guess. They base the guess on the dog’s looks and sometimes its behavior. But on those dogs where my client has done a DNA test, the rule of thumb is that the guess only accurately gets one of the breeds.

Such groups also tend not to guess any of the breeds who are generally (and inaccurately) described as difficult or mean. I don’t think I’ve ever had a guesstimate mention bull terrier, even though the head shape gives that away.

But for the record, I don’t do much better. I rarely get more than one foundation breed right. And I tend to balance looks with behavior to make my guess.

I’ll give you some good examples. (Names have been changed to protect the innocent but these are dogs I have worked with.) The first is Kirby. He is obviously German Sheppard. His coat texture, coloring, and head give that away. But he is also very, very verbal. He tends to be grumpy and standoffish. And his torso is low slung. His bark is more of a baying than the sharp bark of a GSD. So I guessed he was part beagle,

I got that one wrong. He is German Sheppard, Labrador Retriever, Border Collie and at least five ancestors whose lineage is mixed to the point it cannot be determined by that type of DNA testing. That DNA test goes back three generations, the parents (2 dogs), the grandparents (4 dogs) and the great grandparents (8 dogs). Most of the DNA tests I have seen go that far back.

Another was Franklin. His owners bought him from a trainer and puppy seller notorious for selling dogs that are aggressive. He seems to make them that way to get you to keep coming back for more training until you run out of time, money, patience, or all three. When they got Franklin they were told he was a terrier mix.

Based on his color, his coat, and his size, I thought he was a Blue Kerry mix. However behaviorally he just was not right for a terrier. His aggression was always a bluff. And terriers rarely bluff.

When his DNA came in there was no terrier dominant. He was Schipperke, Papillion, Labrador along with the usual number of unknowns. The Schipperke explained the tough guy image. Schipperke is a non sporting breed that is a ratter on European river barges. This explains the terrier like traits. The Papillion, a toy, explains the worry about safety behavior. And the Lab explained the poor impulse decisions.

While its not necessary for you or the trainer to know what breeds are in your mix, it is a nice to have piece of information. At least you can get an idea where the behaviors come from.

By the way, when someone tells me they have their DNA results I don’t let them tell me what they are. Instead I have them bring it to the next Neighborhood Pack (my group) session so all of us can guess before we find out for sure.

So far no one had gotten more than one breed right.

Doug

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Dog Training Myths Debunked by Top Dog Trainer

When dog obedience training techniques prove to be stumbling blocks in your dog human relationship, it can be helpful to put the dog training truck in reverse.



Good dog obedience training programs will not only offer dog training tips, but will reject combative dog training techniques that break down trust and consistency. A dog obedience training system is only as good as its resulting dog human relationship.

On that note, I’d like to offer a sampling of some dog training myths. These are ideas perpetuated by foolish dog training techniques.

Myth: Crates are for punishment. Fact: When a dog is banished to his cage as punishment, he will begin to believe that every time you ask him to go into it, he’s being reprimanded. This misplaced crate training punishment can be especially harmful when training puppy.

Myth: Grooming puppies will always be difficult. Fact: Puppy care doesn’t have to be a struggle if you teach your little guy that nail trimming, tooth brushing, and ear cleaning are fun. When you call your puppy, grab him, hold him down, and perform scary and unfamiliar procedures on him, he’ll never forget this negative puppy training.

Myth: Pee and poop punishment works. Fact: Dog house training is successful when approached with a positive attitude. Reward for good puppy potty training responses, rather than punishing when accidents occur. Housetraining is complicated by nose-rubbing and yelling. Training your dog in this area will never be accomplished with a combative attitude.

Myth: Some dogs love to bark. Fact: Incessant dog barking is not natural. To stop your dog from barking persistently, you must identify the cause of the barking and then adjust the dog’s environment. There are plenty of positive ways to train your dog to control his barking.

Myth: Training is unnecessary for smart dogs. Fact: Often, dog owners shun adopting any dog training program if they believe their dog is highly intelligent. All dogs crave leadership, say top dog training schools . Labrador training, terrier training, and training German shepherd may differ slightly, but dog obedience training is largely universal for all breeds.

Myth: Puppy biting is aggressive behavior. Fact: Actually, puppy biting is an unavoidable part of your dog’s adolescence. But puppy biting must be controlled, and puppies must also be taught to control their bite strength when playing.

Myth: All dogs dig and chew. Fact: Dog owners have the power to stop digging and chewing behaviors of their dogs. Often, it’s simply a matter of replacing bad habits with good ones.

Myth: Dog walking comes naturally. Fact: Asking a dog to walk on a leash rarely goes smoothly from the start. Yanking on your dog’s neck, or employing other types of punishment, will never contribute to peaceful dog walking. Proper k9 training is the only route to dog walking success.

Myth: Dogs understand spontaneity. Fact: Dog training works best when it’s used with consistency, even after a dog training program is completed. Assuming that a dog will be able to recall good behaviors, without them being practiced with predictability, can be detrimental to dog obedience training results.

Myth: Training without food is effective. Fact: Immediate rewards of food are essential in dog obedience training. Food is what your dog desires the most. That means you will get the biggest return from your dog training efforts when you offer food rewards. Praise is great, but assuming it’s enough, especially when training puppy, can have a backpedal effect.

Myth: Dogs remember mistakes. Fact: If your dog runs away, and you scold him upon his return, you’re teaching him that it’s bad to come back to you. When training a dog, it’s important to understand that he associates rewards and punishments with the action performed immediately preceding your reaction.



Regardless of your dog’s breed, your dog obedience training success hinges upon your understanding of the effects of a positive, proactive attitude.

Increase dog training dividends by investing wisely in words and actions that speak to your dog’s sense of fun and need for quality time. Remember, the dog obedience training battle shouldn’t be a battle at all.

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Is the trainer always right or always wrong

Is the trainer always right or always wrong?

Although this was originally written regarding sheepdog training it applies to any given task.

Generally when a trainer gives advice to a handler it is for that split second only. Thereafter if the sheep move, dog moves you move, the weather changes, other sheep come into play the original advice no longer applies to the same extent.
Training regimes need to be flexible to allow for the state of a dogs mind.
If eg you try and get a dog to flank square and it keeps cutting in, the chances are that you are failing. The more you fail the more you will upset your dog and cause confusion. Once your dog enters a confused state of mind following the same tact as before will only lead to further confusion. Being flexible allows for an empathetic approach. By looking at the eyes, ears, tail carraige as well as the whole you are better placed to make the changes that are necessary.

The advice that a trainer gives is usually for that second only based on his/her perceptions. My concept of opposites provides a big clue in how to solve problems.
It is normal to work towards a goal however the moment your actions cause an adverse reaction in your dog the goal has to be achieved in a different way. Constant pressure without release causes a breakdown in communication and a willingness for the dog to want to work.

A trainer will normally focus on the whole as well as the individual parts whereas a handler may only focus on the dog.

In many cases advice/actions that succeeds also

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Finding a Dog Trainer

FOREWORD

The original purpose of this blog was to give people considering training with me some insight to how I do things. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was also a good way to blow off some steam.

What I also did not realize was how many people outside Colorado Springs would read this blog. A few weeks ago I got a request to print a blog article from New Zealand. Unfortunately I did not take a picture of how much my head swelled up on that day.

So for those of you in Colorado Springs thinking about training here at Pikes Peak Manners In Minutes read this and apply it to me too. For those of you elsewhere, I hope this helps you pick a trainer.

THE DOG DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT.

If you look at it analytically, training is getting a dog to do something they already know how to do and can physically perform, when you want them to do it. They know how to sit. You first teach them the word for it and then you teach them that sit is a command to be obeyed. On the other hand since a dog doesn’t have thumbs, you probably can’t teach them to drive.

The key is consistency. If the trainer is not consistent with your dog, or the trainer does not have the time or ability to make you consistent, the training never goes well.

THE OWNER DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO DO IT.

The trainer has taught every command, and made it reliable, hundreds or thousands of times. The owner hasn’t. Since the average trainer sees more dogs in a week than the client will own in a lifetime, the trainer is not going to have a problem. But it the trainer fails to teach the owner the what and how of the training system, then the dog will not become reliable.

Some people can train dogs but not people. And I suppose some can train people but not dogs. Find a trainer who trains both.

THE PACE OF THE TRAINING DOESN’T ADAPT TO THE DOG’S NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES.

Dogs can’t be turned out like cookies with a cookie cutter. Different ages, different breeds and different events shape how the dog learns. A six month old retriever who was obtained at six weeks is going to train differently from an eight year old terrier that is at its third home.

If the training system or the trainer cannot adjust the training to meet the dog’s needs, then it will not work.

THE OWNER NEVER LEARNS THE BASICS OF PACK LEADERSHIP.

The pack leader is fair, firm and consistent. If the trainer or the training method fails to teach that to the owner, then the dog will not respect the owner. Without respect, no training method will work reliably.

If the trainer is not fair, firm, and consistent, you will have a hard time being fair, firm and consistent. Both of you may be alpha, but that bullying, not leadership.

THE TRAINING METHOD DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO THE DOG AND/OR TO THE OWNER.

If doesn’t make sense to one or the other, then it just is not going to work. Some methods make sense to the dog but not the owner. That is the fault of the trainer. Some methods do not make sense to the dog, that is the fault of the system the trainer uses

The trainer has to make a commitment that the dog and the owner will not fail. The training method has to give the owner the ablity to keep that commitment.

YOU AREN’T COMFORTABLE WITH THE TRAINER.

Sometimes people pick trainers because of really good advertising. You call because of the size of the ad or the wording of a website. But all advertising (including mine) is designed to get you in the door. That doesn’t guarantee that what is inside the door is what you want, what you or the dog can do, and most importantly what you feel comfortable with.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there were over 41000 people who listed themselves as full time animal trainers (all animals, not just dogs) in 2008.

Of course if there was a reliable way of grading them you would have a bell curve distribution. Only a very few will be really, really bad, and only a very few would be very, very good. The greatest number will be okay.

So find someone you are comfortable with. Do your research. Look at everything you can find on them. Take everything, especially testimonials on their website and reviews on lists that don’t have everybody, with a grain of salt.

Go and meet with them. Most aren’t so rich and so famous that they do not have time to spend on you before they sign you up. See their training center. If they have an evaluation, watch how your dog reacts to them and how they react to your dog. Ask if you can sit in on a class. And don’t rely on how their dog acts. It won’t be an average dog.

If you are comfortable with the system and the trainer, you probably found the right match.

Doug

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Dogs Vs Bitches

It is worth bearing in mind when you sometimes notice your bitches being of colour, going of their food or  being indifferent in response to training exercises that their change in mood may be due to pre-seasonal behaviour. Sometimes this can occur up to two months prior to their season and despite many bitches coming into season on average 6 monthly it is no unusual for their first season to be around 8/9 months.

Similarly dog behaviour will change as they approach 6 months of age and they can become more aloof and ignorant.

I have found it useful to keep a diary of their mood and behaviour changes so that you are able to predict them in the future as well as a record of when they start and finish their season.

If you work your dog you may find that bitches may not change during work but around the home they will be different. You will have to be sensitive to their moods and look to deflect their behaviour rather than get drawn in and be frustrated or angry.

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