. The following is borrowed from Phillip Humbert's Newsletter. If you enjoy self improvement and positive messages it's a great read. He often includes a little humor like the bits below.
If dogs were the teachers, you would learn stuff like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Let fresh air and the wind in your face be pure ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your whole body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt
thing and never hold a grudge! Run right back and make
friends.
Delight in the joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had
enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by
and nuzzle them gently.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
"..........shame on me."
My days always start before the sun gets up and by dawn I've had my second cuppa, laced up the boots, and headed out to start working with dogs.
Today was the same and by ten o'clock Shep and I were mid way through four miles of exercise and schooling and the coffee kicked in and the old trainer was hunting for a bush or a tree. You see we don't have "public potties" or Starbucks on every corner so a fella has to improvise.
Not to worry, I remember a culvert/bridge arrangement not far down the road so we hustle along and duck under the road to relieve ourself. Well I'm standing under the bridge doing my business and gazing off yonder as men are want to do in times like this, and I sense my left boot and sock is feeling a little wet and warm. I glance down and Shep is standing along side looking off yonder in the same direction as I and has his leg cocked and he is peeing on my leg and in my boot.
Well I can promise you that if someone could have caught a video of that plus the squaw dance that followed, and posted it on You Tube, it would 'a gone viral in less time than it took for my boot to dry.
Today was the same and by ten o'clock Shep and I were mid way through four miles of exercise and schooling and the coffee kicked in and the old trainer was hunting for a bush or a tree. You see we don't have "public potties" or Starbucks on every corner so a fella has to improvise.
Not to worry, I remember a culvert/bridge arrangement not far down the road so we hustle along and duck under the road to relieve ourself. Well I'm standing under the bridge doing my business and gazing off yonder as men are want to do in times like this, and I sense my left boot and sock is feeling a little wet and warm. I glance down and Shep is standing along side looking off yonder in the same direction as I and has his leg cocked and he is peeing on my leg and in my boot.
Well I can promise you that if someone could have caught a video of that plus the squaw dance that followed, and posted it on You Tube, it would 'a gone viral in less time than it took for my boot to dry.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
NEW TWIST ON AN OLD METHOD
One system to assist in potty training your dog has been to take him on leash to a designated or chosen spot which you prefer he will use and stand and wait until he goes. Obviously it's best to do this first thing in the morning, 45 minutes after meals, and last thing in the evening before bed. You should also include 2 hour intervals during the day when the pup is younger and these can be stretched a little as he gets a little older.
Okay, here's and additional twist from Eric Letendre who writes great dog training ideas. When you are at the "spot" use a separate expression but not one you use for other encouragements. For example, we often say "Hurry up, or let's go, get on with it", when we want the dog to get in a vehicle, come inside or whatever.
The point is much of our training is teaching the dog a new language so we should try, whenever ,to not confuse the stydent. Eric's suggestion is to pick an expression you will nor ever use in another situation therefore it exclusively means go to the bathroom. Eric uses "Do your business". Only those three words and when the dog starts to do his business you shut up entirely until he is finished at which time you then praise him, thank him, and offer a small reward.
I shared this with a student recently and it seems to be working like a damn.
Okay, here's and additional twist from Eric Letendre who writes great dog training ideas. When you are at the "spot" use a separate expression but not one you use for other encouragements. For example, we often say "Hurry up, or let's go, get on with it", when we want the dog to get in a vehicle, come inside or whatever.
The point is much of our training is teaching the dog a new language so we should try, whenever ,to not confuse the stydent. Eric's suggestion is to pick an expression you will nor ever use in another situation therefore it exclusively means go to the bathroom. Eric uses "Do your business". Only those three words and when the dog starts to do his business you shut up entirely until he is finished at which time you then praise him, thank him, and offer a small reward.
I shared this with a student recently and it seems to be working like a damn.
Friday, November 18, 2011
FEAR OF LOUD NOISES
Where I live all of the towns and villages have a Patron Saint and once a year the town celebrates their saint with a fiesta which is nine days long and includes the usual parades and bands and all the community type festivities. One exception we have is "cohetes". A cohete is a cigar sized firecrack on steroids which is attached to the end of meter long slender stick and when ignited "swooshes" skyward and at about 100 feet explodes with the power and noise of a stick of dynamite. The noise has been referred to as like a mortar going off or some newcomers are told it's blasting in the mines in the hills. (They've been dead for 100 years). They are very loud and are detonated for an hour in the morning from 6 am and again at noon and at 10 pm. Each day of the fiesta is sponsored by a different group who try to outdo the others so there will be mornings with over 4,000 of these boogers by 7 am. Needless to say they scare the crap out of dogs not native to this immediate are, hence the following article which I wrote for one of the local monthlys..
FEAR OF LOUD NOISES
With the onset of Fiesta Patronales and the other various and sundry occasions that bring out the dreaded “cohetes” or “Boom Booms” in gringo talk, it’s timely to address your dog’s anxieties over loud noises
Instead of resorting to drugs or Superman capes over Buddy’s shoulders, let’s teach him to enjoy and actually look forward to the noises. As we do in so many other exercises we set out to trade an experience or treat of such a high value that it replaces the anxiety of the noise.
If you could visualize your most favorite treat or meal in portions that were unlimited there are most likely very few distractions that would stop you from enjoying this experience. This is what we are going to do with Buddy but in small steps and small distractions (loud noises) and gradually build up to where you can literally fire off a shotgun beside the dog without him having a negative reaction.
This is the same system I was taught many years ago when we trained our hunting dogs.
With Buddy’s case we’re going to start with a loud noise like dropping a pot and lid on a tile floor. Get and old one or Mom is likely to drop you on the tile floor. You need a helper who can drop the pan on signal.
We start with a very “high value” treat like cheese or meat. This is jackpot time because we aren’t doing the “lure reward” system here, we are creating a new emotional experience.
Okay let’s get started. With Buddy on a leash so he won’t leave the training environment we say his name and when he looks at us we give him a juicy treat and praise him for his response. We now look over and nod to our helper who is at least fifty feet away and he drops the pot from about knee height. As soon as Buddy acknowledges the noise we give him a big treat and praise. This is a feel good time so put your heart into this. Take a few minutes and repeat the exercise. Buddy will soon ignore the noise and you can have the helper come a little closer and the pot is dropped from a little higher and you continue to heap on the treats and praise.
If you take your time, and I’m talking days to practice this not hours, it won’t be long ‘til Buddy is completely ignoring the noise and you will get to where you can literally drop the pot and lid right beside him and he’ll just look up for the reward.
Next comes the cohetes. As soon as you hear the first rocket you get all excited and tell Buddy “Boy oh boy, here comes the boom booms”, and you get ready to heap on the hugs and pile on the goodies.
We don’t sympathize and do the “Poor Buddy” routine , we get all excited about Buddy having a great experience when the rockets go off. Keep it up until they stop. Admittedly it can be a little harder when they start at 6 am but think of it as a positive training experience for Buddy and at our age most of us were already up for the early pee break anyway.
As with all training that is altering the emotions, don’t go too fast. If your dog is nervous and freaking, back up and go more slowly. It will work but the results are entirely dependent upon your efforts.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
FIVE STEPS TO A GREAT DOG
FIVE STEPS TO A GREAT DOG
My wife often tells me “not everyone wants to be a dog trainer”, and for the most part I have to agree but I still feel that if people would commit just a little more regular effort they would avoid a lot of problems and enjoy their dog a whole lot more. One step for the handler and four for your dog is all it takes.
Step 1, BE A LEADER. Don’t worry about ‘pack leader’ or ‘alpha dog’ or whatever the flavor of the week happens to be. Simply learn to be a leader. Whenever and wherever we get two or more dogs, people, or whatever, together one has to be a leader. That’s a simple law of nature. If the herd is “playing lemming” and heading over the cliff, either figuratively or literally, someone has to come to the fore and take control and lead. It’s the same with our relationship with our dogs. We either lead or they do. Just as when you are a parent, it’s your responsibility to establish rules, regulations, and limitations, and to lead and offer guidance. Additionally, this job must be performed consistently and with persistence. You can’t be a dog leader and guide one day and ignore the job, or worse yet become a baby talking kissy face the next day.
Step 2, TEACH THE DOG HIS NAME. This sounds so obvious but most people think that using the dog’s name a lot will teach him his name. This results in a dog that knows and acknowledges his name when he wants to but not always. If you say “There’s my Buddy, come over here and stay down and be a good dog.” Yes, you have used the dog’s name but you used thirteen other words. Which word did you expect him to learn? And you also used three other words which are specific commands leading to a task, i.e. come, stay, and down. Use imprint and reward motivation to teach your dog his name. If your dog will always respond to his name and look at you for the next direction you will be better able to avoid unwanted situations.
Step 3, TEACH THE DOG TO SIT. Sit and come are the two most important tasks for your dog to master. If your dog has his butt on the floor he can’t jump up on people, he can’t lunge at cars, bikes, skateboards, kids, bouncing balls, other dogs, or whatever. If he has a proper Sit, you don’t even have to teach him to Stay because if he is in a sit he stays in that position until he is released or directed to do something else. Use “lure and reward” to teach a proper sit and practice regularly in varying environments with different distractions.
Step 4, TEACH THE DOG TO COME. Come is a “never compromise” task. Failure to come when called can lead to lots of problems. I don’t have to tell any of you about the adverse effects of the dog that ignores the come command because if you’re reading this you have already had first hand experience with a dog that runs off and doesn’t respond when called. Use the lure and reward method and start small and always be generous with the reward until the dog responds ten out of ten times at ever increasing distances. Don’t attempt longer distances or environments where you are setting the dog up for failure until you have mastered the basics. Remember, the job you do now just might save your dog’s life in the future.
Step 5, TEACH THE DOG TO WALK ON A LOOSE LEASH. If a dog is in front of the handler and pulling on the leash he is announcing to the world that at this time and in this situation he doesn’t respect the other end of the leash because the handler is not being a leader and the dog is assuming that role. Recognize that a dog that is in front and pulling is not in your control. He is a risk to others and a danger to you. Learn how to teach your dog to walk beside you on a loose leash in the proper heel position whenever he is on a walk.
So there you have it. Five easy steps to a great dog and a companion that is a pleasure to have around.
Monday, November 7, 2011
LOOK AT ME
"Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anotole France
I often encounter people poking their dogs in the neck and saying "Look at Me, Look at Me" while they point at their eyes. Need less to say this occurs when the dog is being less than attentive.
My personal feeling is that this "Look at Me" process is redundant, superfluous, and entirely unnecessary, if you had simply used the proper procedure to teach the dog his name. What is it you want the dog to do when you command him to Look at Me? Presumably you want him to look toward you and since you are pointing at your face I have to assume you want him to look there.
Excuse me, but isn't that precisely what we teach the dog to do when we are teaching him his name?
Remember the part where we hold a treat about a foot in front of our face and say a single word. The Dog's name. If he looks toward us, that is a positive reaction and we reciprocate with a like positive reaction. We reach down and open our hand and offer a reward which at this stage is usually a small food treat about the size of the end of our little finger. We repeat this simple task four or five times and take a break and then repeat the training process for an additional four or five times. We do this in repetitions of five times every day. The behaviorists tell us to do this daily for six weeks so we "imprint" the name. It also helps if you keep a few treats handy and do a few "reps" throughout the day.
I have done and taught this for a very long time and the result is that when you speak the dog's name he looks directly at you for direction. Now isn't the same result the "Look at Me" folks are trying to achieve? Of course it is, so why bother to teach two systems. Seems to me, we make our dog's learning process confusing enough for him without bothering to duplicate an exercise by simply changing the ground rules.
I'm reminded of a story I read a while back about a very accomplished Scottish trainer who was a master at everything from detection dogs to herding dogs and he didn't teach the Stay. His contention was that when he said Sit, he meant Sit and there was no reason for an addition command. The dog should sit until he was directed to go on to something else, therefore the Stay command was unnecessary. He felt the same about Stay when in a Down. When you think about it, it makes good sense. I tried it but after all these years I seem to be programmed to use the Stay command but I do accept the wisdom of his concept.
So with the same thought why not give thought to doing a good job teaching the dog his name and you won't have to do the "Look at Me" thing.
I often encounter people poking their dogs in the neck and saying "Look at Me, Look at Me" while they point at their eyes. Need less to say this occurs when the dog is being less than attentive.
My personal feeling is that this "Look at Me" process is redundant, superfluous, and entirely unnecessary, if you had simply used the proper procedure to teach the dog his name. What is it you want the dog to do when you command him to Look at Me? Presumably you want him to look toward you and since you are pointing at your face I have to assume you want him to look there.
Excuse me, but isn't that precisely what we teach the dog to do when we are teaching him his name?
Remember the part where we hold a treat about a foot in front of our face and say a single word. The Dog's name. If he looks toward us, that is a positive reaction and we reciprocate with a like positive reaction. We reach down and open our hand and offer a reward which at this stage is usually a small food treat about the size of the end of our little finger. We repeat this simple task four or five times and take a break and then repeat the training process for an additional four or five times. We do this in repetitions of five times every day. The behaviorists tell us to do this daily for six weeks so we "imprint" the name. It also helps if you keep a few treats handy and do a few "reps" throughout the day.
I have done and taught this for a very long time and the result is that when you speak the dog's name he looks directly at you for direction. Now isn't the same result the "Look at Me" folks are trying to achieve? Of course it is, so why bother to teach two systems. Seems to me, we make our dog's learning process confusing enough for him without bothering to duplicate an exercise by simply changing the ground rules.
I'm reminded of a story I read a while back about a very accomplished Scottish trainer who was a master at everything from detection dogs to herding dogs and he didn't teach the Stay. His contention was that when he said Sit, he meant Sit and there was no reason for an addition command. The dog should sit until he was directed to go on to something else, therefore the Stay command was unnecessary. He felt the same about Stay when in a Down. When you think about it, it makes good sense. I tried it but after all these years I seem to be programmed to use the Stay command but I do accept the wisdom of his concept.
So with the same thought why not give thought to doing a good job teaching the dog his name and you won't have to do the "Look at Me" thing.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Don't Chase your Dog Mr.
I was recently working with a student and his ten month old Springer Spaniel. We were practicing long stays near a large lake where we had a new environment and a few distractions but this dog is well past the basics so it was a good opportunity to work on long stays off leash.
We had done a couple of shorter (1 minute) stays so I upped the ante a bit and asked for 3 minutes with the handler in front of and about ten feet from the dog. At about the 2 minute point there was a distraction near the shoreline and the hunter part of the springer kicked in and he headed for the lake.
At first this was like a casual dog pace until his handler did the panic routine. Next thing I know the handler is running toward the dog shouting NO, DOWN and COME and the faster this man ran the louder and fast and frantic he yelled.
Well needless to say Mr. Springer, realizing he was being pursued by a raving lunatic, did a "u-boat special" and headed for deep water. I walked toward the lake calmly saying "Don't chase your dog sir and don't yell at your dog." As the dog is swimming about 10 feet off but parallel to shore the man is still acting like a Jack Russel on steroids when he looks up and sees a sea wall jutting out into the lake so there's no more shore line and Springer looks like he's in training for the big Channel Swim. By now I'm beginning to find this quite entertaining. Mr. Handler is still admonishing his dog except he's now up to his knees and water and it's not getting any shallower. About three more leaps and he realizes he's not going to catch the dog so he turns and wades back to shore and behold the dog looks back and says "Hey, aren't you coming along?" I whistle and the dog heads back full of enthusiasm runs up to me, shakes water all over and sits down and waits for his master to get the water out of his $130 runners and designer shorts.
The lesson is DON'T CHASE YOUR DOG and especially cool it with the yelling routine. All the shouting does is make the dog go faster. Remember high pitched , loud, and fast vocalizing means speed up and get out of town. Low and slow mean whoa.
We had done a couple of shorter (1 minute) stays so I upped the ante a bit and asked for 3 minutes with the handler in front of and about ten feet from the dog. At about the 2 minute point there was a distraction near the shoreline and the hunter part of the springer kicked in and he headed for the lake.
At first this was like a casual dog pace until his handler did the panic routine. Next thing I know the handler is running toward the dog shouting NO, DOWN and COME and the faster this man ran the louder and fast and frantic he yelled.
Well needless to say Mr. Springer, realizing he was being pursued by a raving lunatic, did a "u-boat special" and headed for deep water. I walked toward the lake calmly saying "Don't chase your dog sir and don't yell at your dog." As the dog is swimming about 10 feet off but parallel to shore the man is still acting like a Jack Russel on steroids when he looks up and sees a sea wall jutting out into the lake so there's no more shore line and Springer looks like he's in training for the big Channel Swim. By now I'm beginning to find this quite entertaining. Mr. Handler is still admonishing his dog except he's now up to his knees and water and it's not getting any shallower. About three more leaps and he realizes he's not going to catch the dog so he turns and wades back to shore and behold the dog looks back and says "Hey, aren't you coming along?" I whistle and the dog heads back full of enthusiasm runs up to me, shakes water all over and sits down and waits for his master to get the water out of his $130 runners and designer shorts.
The lesson is DON'T CHASE YOUR DOG and especially cool it with the yelling routine. All the shouting does is make the dog go faster. Remember high pitched , loud, and fast vocalizing means speed up and get out of town. Low and slow mean whoa.
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