Puppy Love

     What do you envision when you hear the word "Puppies"? Cute little balls of fluff? Adorable yawns? Endless energy? Possibly all these things and more!

     Nothing seems to hit the "Awww" button, or make us want to reach out and touch more than a cute puppy. The first potty outside, "Sit", come when called, and "Lay Down" make us cheer and bubble over with treats and good humor!

     So why is it that in just a few weeks, most people forget to cheer at the perfect "Sit"? We get flustered at the steaming pile of poo by the back door, we even forget to give a treat or a pat for "Lay Down". Apparently our attention spans may be shorter than that of our pups!

     Riley has been staying with me routinely for a few days at a time since her Mommy and Daddy brought her home. Even though she already has demonstrated a firm grasp of some basic commands (Sit, Down, Come, Shake, Roll-over, and Play Dead) we still review each one daily before applying it to a distracting situation (I often use Brutus and Grace as distractions). This can greatly reduce the stress in Riley as she learns to apply the commands to new situations. It also makes it more fair to the dog, by setting her up for success, not only challenging her.

     Does anyone remember how long it took to learn how to tie your shoes perfectly? (That attractive, symmetrical bow made with pink sparkly laces made me so proud!) How about learning to brush your teeth? Driving? The simpler tasks can be taught and retained within days. The last one, if I recall correctly, one must be chaperoned when driving for an entire year before driving solo.

     It is much easier to perform tasks in a structured setting with guidance. Tying a shoe quickly to catch the bus adds more difficulty to the task, like when you ask your puppy to do all those new tricks in front of all your friends, around other dogs, or in a new place. New surroundings can be distracting, even intimidating!

     Slow and steady wins the race. It also makes training more reliable and consistent. Reviewing simple commands and praising can boost confidence and performance in a dog. In brand new busy places I will often stand to the side and have my dogs Sit for a moment to take in everything calmly, this helps avoid leash pulling once we begin to walk.

     At the age of 13 weeks, Riley can now consistently down and stay for about 20 minutes with both Brutus and Grace. It is how she earns her play time.

     But in order for her to keep this skill, it must be practiced! Puberty is just around the corner, and that means more adaptive trials from Riley to see if my rules change!

     I'm looking forward to it!

A Little Clarity, Titles for Dogs and What They Are

Brutus Paul RA has been conditioned to work under vest as a Therapy Dog

    In the dog world, there is a diverse array of options when choosing training goals.  Many of us can clearly articulate the skills we want to build in our companions, but do not necessarily use AKC recognized Titles (or their acronyms) when describing them.  I am not competitive in nature, but I have chosen to be tested for some awards and titles so I have a standardized gauge to measure my progress.

     Here is a brief rundown of the most commonly used (and mis-used) titles I hear on a daily basis.

    CGC: Canine Good Citizen award. It is earned through a basic 10 step test.  This is an award offered through the AKC to reward responsible owners, and well behaved dogs.  It does NOT grant access or privileges not available to the general public.  For more information about this reward, click here.  If you are in the Charlotte NC area and would like to be tested, you may contact me.

     Therapy Dog: This is a title for a dog who has been certified by either TDI (Therapy Dogs International) or Delta Pet Partners.  Dog and handler teams with these titles have been tested,  evaluated, and deemed safe to participate in a wide variety to helpful programs.  Even Certified Therapy Dogs may have rules their handler prefers them observe.  Always be sure to ask before petting, even though it is most likely very welcome!  Click on either one of the names to learn more about the organization. 



     Service Dog:  This is an animal that is specifically conditioned to do work, or perform tasks for a person with a disability.  The disability can be physical or mental.  It is quite rude to approach and ask a person what their Service Animal is for (it is asking them to share personal medical details), they may choose to share that information, or not. The animal is almost always identified properly with a clearly marked vest.  It has access to any place the handler does by law.  Your attention could inhibit it's ability to do it's job (ie. you could be putting some one's life in danger by trying to distract it).

Grace is a service dog

     Working Dog:  A dog that has been specially trained for a specific task.  There are many different types of Working dogs: Service Dogs, Therapy dogs, Scent Detection (Narcotics, Explosives etc.), Personal Protection Dogs, and Herding Dogs (just to name a few).  If you are not sure, and particularly, if a dog is wearing a vest, best ask to pet, it may be working!

     AKC Titles :  (Click on the link to the left) The American Kennel Club has a vast array of accomplishments you can earn!  There are over 80.  I cannot list them all (I don't even know them all!) so I have provided you a link to look them over.  They cover skills from agility, obedience, herding, hunting, and more!  Check them out and you may find a new activity you and your pup will love!

*Check out the facebook page

War Dogs

*All photos are courtesy of Corporal Jesse Makela*

     I was expecting an average conversation to gather material for my blog.  I got mentally thrown into a different world. 

     Corporal Jesse Makela would like to consider himself an "Average Joe".  His job just happens to involve being overseas for months at a time, training fierce canines and marines to handle them, and leading other troops into combat zones.  I say, not so average!

     Ready for some acronyms?  Here we go! 

     Cpl. Makela does MP dog work. (Military Police)

     He also trains PPDs. (Personal Protection Dogs)

     Belgian Malinois and occasionally Labrador Retrievers are trained and certified PEDs and PNDs (Patrol Explosive Dog, Patrol Narcotics Dogs)   Many dogs are certified in more than one specialty.

     That should be enough letters to start us out! On to the good stuff.    

     Even though Cpl. Makela exudes a "Laissez-faire" attitude, his work should not be taken lightly!  The intensity of the occupation blew my civilian mind.  One of the first things he flippantly mentioned after detailing the basic obedience patterns, was that "It's not IF a bite happens, it's WHEN."  Cpl. Makela himself has been bitten several times in the course of training PPDs and considers it part of what he does. 

      Choosing handlers is an incredibly selective process.  A Marine cannot just sign up and be trained.  Cpl. Makela looks for a balanced, confident person who has the genuine desire to learn the skills necessary for assignment.  Integrity is vital as well.  The handler will be matched with a dog that best compliments their personality.

     Once a team has been matched, they have 90 days to certify.  The team must be practiced in combat situations. Practice scenarios are designed to build endurance, introduce the dog to explosives and gunfire.  Tracking is considered a basic skill that all working dogs must be capable of. 

     Even though the Searchdog Handlers may be deployed as a group, each pair (handler and dog team) must be able to function independently.  They may be assigned to completely different areas locally, in combat zones.  The teams move in front of a patrol.  The detection of any explosives in the area saves countless lives of the soldiers following. 

     The huge contribution of these Military Dogs is not only their heroic searches.  They are their soldier's best friend.  They are constant companions.  When a handler lays down to sleep, his (or HER, there are only about 4 women handlers out of approximately 80) dog is by his side. 

Cpl Makela and his working dog Rocky

     If you would like to learn more about the four legged Heroes serving our country, please visit the War Dog Association site.

Weathering Stormi

     A topic I have seen frequently discussed is fearfulness.  It is heartbreaking to see a dog trembling and hiding, groveling and showing it's belly.  It can be terrifying to watch a sweet friend turn into a snarling beast.  All too often, posts which began to discuss this problem turn into a free-for-all bash on whomever caused the poor animal to behave this way.  None of this verbal abuse against the abuser actually helps the dog (Although it helps humans feel better).  Sometimes it is nothing that anyone has done intentionally, simply a natural tendency that the animal was born with, but had never been addressed.

     Regardless of the cause, there are ways to help correct, or at least help a dog cope with fearfulness, and prevent or manage the aggression that may result from it. 

     One case that comes to mind is an American Pit Bull Terrier named Stormi.  The details of her life before her owners saved her are mostly unknown, but there are a few things the new owners were told.  The first 6 months of Stormi's life were spent in a garage, where she had minimal contact with anyone- human or animal.  Stormi was a "leftover" from a litter bred by an amateur.  She was given to a friend, who passed her along..... until Stormi was fortunate enough to find her furever home.  

     Stormi's new people, we shall call them "Z" and "L", had a lot of work ahead of them.  "Z" laughed as she recounted the tale to me, saying "We were told she (Stormie) was already kennel trained.... we didn't realize they meant she used the bathroom IN her crate!"  It has been a wonderfully rewarding experience to watch "Z" and "L" bond with Stormi, and allow her to blossom into a sweet and affectionate compainion.

     I remember the first time I met Stormi (I already knew "Z" and "L", I helped them with their first dog) in the entrance of a petstore.  She was a wiggly blur, emanating stress and nervous energy with her hyperactive circles, lunging, and jumping. 

     Any loud noises would cause her to flatten.  She would wiggle and whine and drool excessively when offered attention or affection, often jumping up and scratching or nipping the person touching.  Sudden movements (especially from men) or new people cause a bark and lunge/dart and hide response that is so frantic "Z" does not trust herself to hold the leash.  Stormi's prey drive towards other animals put her collar buckles in danger of snapping open.

     Stormi has been through intense and consistent counter-conditioning to: fix her potty misconception (and I will be the first to nominate "Z" and "L" for sainthood for their legendary patience and consistency on this issue!), basic obedience, help socialize her safely, and most importantly, allow Stormi to trust, so she can relax and enjoy life.  Stormi's training has covered all four quadrants of Operant Conditioning and relies heavily on structure (ie. routine) within the household.  Since the day "Z" and "L" were generous enough to open their home to Stormi, they work diligently to manage Stormi's behavior, and keep her safe and comfortable.

     It is a life-long commitment.  Stormi is now an adult.  At this point, the chances that she could be successfully re-homed are slim.  She has bonded and trusts "Z" and "L", and that took quite a lot of consistency, patience, and love to accomplish.  Stormi is a part of their family. 

(Stormi can now hang out around other dogs with supervision)

Diva Grace

     Hi there readers! Another photographer showed up the other day, of course he wanted pictures of me.  So I decided to allow it.  Here are some of them!
    
     And I would just like to point out, I am prettier and much faster than my brother Brutus.  I think the photos speak for themselves!

*All photos are courtesy of Thomas Brown.*

"Are you guys ready for me? Let me just check my fur one last time..."

"When I stare off into the distance my head shots look fabulous!"

"If I tilt like this, is it a better angle?"

"Hey Cameraman, I can stick out my tongue too."

"Okay people! Ready to be amazed?"

"And.... GO!"

"I am so fast I amaze myself!"

"I run behind trees! I'm so stealthy!"

"Let me get that for you!"

"I am so fierce!"

"Full extension. I Float."

"This is my bunny-hop!"

"I look good from behind too."

     Thank you, thank you, thank you folks!  Oh shucks, I don't need roses, really..... extra treats? Well.... I am sure I could use them......

Brutus Paul's Photo Shoot

     Hey readers!  It's Brutus Paul.  My Mommy had a guy stop by with a contraption that he kept pointing at me.  This is what it made!  ( Photos courtesy of Thomas Brown) 



"Okay, what do you want me to do Mom?"



"You want me to run around aimlessly? Can I just follow you?"



"Oooh! A bug!"

"Look at me! I'm floating!"

"He's following me, this is embarrassing."

"I'll just stick my tongue out."

"This is my Serious Face.  I mean, it really really looks like I'm having a thought!"

"I am THIS tall!"

"Oooh! A bug!"

"This is my Innocent Face.  It means Grace did it."

"I think I saw a bug!"

"I am a mighty hunter!"

"I'm done. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

     And that's what we did folks!  Hope you enjoy!

The Best Listeners

     In my head, things usually seem pretty simple.  Everything makes sense, and follows a (mostly) linear path.  Out loud sometimes it may not make as much sense to others. I discovered years ago ("I like those pants" leads to "Purple dragons are my favorite" in my little mind) that some of my statement sequences can seem to defy logic.

     As you can imagine, my communication attempts can result in pretty disjointed but entertaining conversations, and sometimes outright confusion unless I concentrate on putting my thoughts in chronological order (I have found this technique to be the most effective).  My family and friends have either embraced or learned to tolerate my penchant for seemingly random subject changes. 

     My most devout listeners, who will never critique me are Grace and Brutus. 

     No matter what I am talking about, they are keenly attentive.  Even when I skip words in my sentences, they never complain.  With their patience and love, I know I am never being judged.  I know I am heard, regardless of what I am actually saying. 

Non-Perfection

     Everyone always assumes that the trainer's dogs are perfect.  Such a dangerous thought!  My dogs have simply been exposed to a lot of structure consistantly enough to adapt to MY needs.  That means ME personally.  It does not mean that anyone at any time can do anything to them, especially outlandish or harmful things.  Before I developed a spine, I would have people I was not acquainted with walk up to me and my dogs and begin talking inches from their faces in weird gibberish voices, rough-housing, or poking them.  Their excuse?  "Oh, well if you're a dog trainer your dogs like this, right?"  I am still a person who has the same expectation of privacy and personal space and I insist on the same rights for my canine companions.

     My dogs have achieved great things.  They do not pee or poop in the house.  They allow me to constantly touch and play with their nose and toes (my two favorite doggy parts!).  They never complain when I sing (quite badly) to them.  Brutus Paul got his Canine Good Citizen award years ago, was a Delta certified Therapy Dog, earned Rally Novice and Rally Advanced titles.  Grace qualified for her Canine Good Citizen award and Delta Therapy Dog certification, but the paperwork was never submitted (she was simply tested to gauge her training progress).  She went through intense conditioning with another trainer before I adopted her to prepare for Service Animal work, so had been socialized and desensitized to a multitude of environments. 

     When Brutus and Grace accompany me anywhere, there are not permitted to pull on the leash, use the restroom on inappropriate places, bark, or jump up on people.  Brutus has some cute tricks he likes to show off- "Bang!" (Play Dead), "Wave Hello", and "Get Low" (lie flat with your head down).  In public, Grace will lie so quietly for so long where I place her, that many people do not even realize she is present unless they see us enter or exit. 

     At home, my fur babies are my companions while my Matthew is at work.  Whether cuddling on the couch, playing fetch, taking a walk, or any other activity we choose Brutus and Grace are willing to accommodate my ever-changing whims. 

     If you choose to visit me at my house, Brutus will bark to let me know you have arrived, and Grace will whine.  When Matthew arrives home from work the dogs like to dance around him in circles and whine slightly, which annoys him to no end (I personally, think it's adorable!).  You may notice I never allow Brutus off-leash unless he is in a fenced in, safe place.  This is because his recall is still not completely trustworthy- when we are harnessed up properly he will track an animal for several miles, and I do not enjoy taking hours-long hikes unexpectedly.  Grace can handle petting with guidance, but if a stranger was to walk up to her and just start rubbing all over her, she would likely try to nibble and jostle them. 

     My personal training style relies mostly on accurate handling, which allows canines to learn multiple skills more quickly (as opposed to styles that rely heavily on muscle memory, for example.) My pups are not machines.  Behavioral Conditioning to the extent my dogs have been exposed to through me makes them more adept problem solvers.  Brutus's sweet sense of mischief and Grace's stealthy sense of humor means I am very selective about who I will let even hold their leashes, or deliver commands.   If I was to give my pups to someone who would not follow through and be sure their behavior was consistent, they would quickly adapt to suit their own purposes. 

     Dogs become "Good Dogs" with structure and guidance.  They are not magically "Perfect" just because they happen to be standing with a trainer.  I love to have a conversations with anyone I meet, whether it is about dogs or even just the weather!  It is exponentially more enjoyable when I am treated like a normal human being, and my dogs are too.

Mighty Bug Killer!

     I have a strong aversion to insects in general (arachnids in particular). Bugs tend to enjoy crawling on, flying into (beetles get stuck in my hair this time of year), stinging, sucking on (some days I have more mosquito saliva than blood coursing through my veins), and terrifying me. The sight, sound or touch of these creatures can render me an instant screaming ninja!

     As I was enjoying the season finale of a favorite TV show, something was CRAWLING on the wall beside the television! Eeeeek! If you have more than four legs you are not welcome in my home! I shrieked and tried to become one with the couch. My big bad German Shepherd looked up at me and yawned. A big, wide, gaping yawn that was timed to perfectly coincide with her dramatic stretch that flopped her onto her other side, facing away from me. So much for heroics there.

     I would like to consider myself a peaceful person. I really would be an awful contract killer. Luckily, Brutus Paul is a Stripey Superhero! His main superpower is holding down the couch (I mean really, if he didn't lay on it ALL DAY, it might just fly away or get stolen or something...). But luckily for me, he is also a systematic bug destroyer. The sound of Mommy's squeals or sight of me darting away brings Brutus running to the rescue!

     Alas, tonight my Striped Assassin was unavailable. He had already gone to bed and was closed in another room (doorknobs are tricky without thumbs I hear). My sweet Matthew stumbled out of bed and dispatched the horrifying monstrosity! I am not sure if it was a centipede or a millipede, but it's gone now!

     Whew! Safe! Puppy cuddle time! (and a big hug and kiss for my fiance of course)

Go Fetch!

     Every day my dogs and I have fun, bond, and learn.  Training is a regular occurrence at my house, as it should be in every dog owner's household!  I have found that many people get turned off by the notion of training every day, so I thought it was worth writing about.

     In an earlier blog, I mentioned that dogs are constantly learning, regardless of what environment they are in.  When I use the term "Training", it simply means I am taking care to be certain they are absorbing the information I want them to.  I don't drive across town to a facility.  I don't spend oodles of money on equipment, treats, toys or other trainers (yes, trainers need trainers too!).  I simply have a concept or two that I make sure to control the consequence of in order to encourage a particular behavior pattern.

     This may be more easily explained in an example.  Grace enjoys retrieving.  I will often take her outside alone, without Brutus, to train while playing fetch.  Fetch is not just a game, it can be used to solidify concepts that are critical to your household.  In Grace's case, I have structured our fetch game to re-enforce her impulse control, mouth control (we have conditioned for holding and bite control), recall, and recall options (front, heel, finish, drop on recall).  She heels with me (off-leash), and must sit when I stop.  I throw the bumper.  Grace must hold the sit position until I release her, then go straight for the bumper.  Once she picks it up, I expect her to come straight back to me, ready to down, come sit in front of me, return to heel on my left, or circle behind me from my right on command.  She must hold the bumper until I tell her to release it to me (hand deliver) regardless of which or how many commands I give her.  There are many other options I use to make the game more challenging for her.

     Grace has a blast retrieving her bumper (that thing she is holding in the picture is a bumper).  I love seeing her run full speed and turn on a dime (and sometimes wipe out!) while thinking and responding to my commands.  Lots of fun (or "play", or "burning energy") does NOT have to mean out-of-control and frenzied.

Input = Output

 

     One of the joys of pet ownership is disposal of said pet's waste. What's this you say? You don't enjoy scooping poop? Whew! Guess that makes me normal! Poop patrol is not my favorite task, although a necessary one.

     What I do is minimize the amount coming OUT to make the scooping process a bit less of a pain. It's not magic or torture, it's a simple matter of nutrition. 

     The substances consumed will always effect substance excreted. Even more- what is eaten can also have an effect on physical and mental performance (think about how YOU function on junk food alone!). If your pet is on a high quality food, they will be absorbing much of the volume they consume, thus: excreting less waste.

     Without getting into too much detail (a fine line we are walking here)... do you realize that stool is meant to be firm?  Loose or runny bowel movements can be caused by not only a change in diet, but also a diet that is not compatible with the system ingesting it.  The waste needs to be firm enough to express the anal glands as it is excreted, or they can get painfully full and your vet or groomer will have to empty them for your poor dog (an extremely smelly and uncomfortable ordeal, for the dog and human alike).

     If you've ever heard "You get what you pay for", it applies in this case.  One will have to spend higher amounts for more nutritious foods. What offsets this cost is the fact that an animal will have to consume less of a higher quality food to maintain a healthy weight than they would of a poor quality food. I believe healthier animals live longer, and one way to contribute to good health is proper nutrition.

   For me, what makes it worth spending extra money is not only the difference I see in the comfort and health of my furbabies, it's also having less poop to scoop!

     If you are in the Mooreville, NC area, check out Village Paws and Claws!  Rick, the owner, and his dog Diesel will be there to welcome you at the door and can help you choose a healthy food for your best friend.  He carries my favorites that I feed to my babies at home.

"No Dogs on the Bed!"

     When I first started dating my Fiance, I could not figure out why he always wanted to spend time at his house, not mine. After a few months, I finally just asked him (funny how this works!) and he answered me "I do not let my dog on the bed".

     At the time, I only had one dog, Brutus Paul and he slept with me every night. I love him and could not imagine sleeping without his fuzzy warmth beside me. When I was reading, watching TV, crocheting or talking on the phone, he was right there beside me. My knee-jerk reaction was thinking "I should probably end it now with this Dog-Hater! Obviously Matthew and I were not meant to be!"

     Thank goodness I didn't do that.

(Yes folks, I am READING, not napping...)

     I came to realize that not allowing his dog Zander in the bed did not mean he loved him any less than I loved Brutus. Zander was much larger- at that time, he was about 145lbs, Brutus was only about 62lbs. A full-sized bed with a full-sized man would be overcrowded if also accommodating a full-sized Rottweiler! Zander went everywhere Matthew could bring him (and some places he couldn't), was well-fed, clean and up to date on his shots. I watched them interact and saw a healthy relationship built on a firm trusting foundation (Zander was also a rescue with a tough past, but that story is for another post).


     Matthew and I will be getting married in September. I have moved in with him, and together we adopted another dog (Grace) approximately 8 months after Zander passed away. There is still a standing rule that no dogs are allowed in Matthew's bed.

     We are fortunate enough to have two spare bedrooms in our house. In one of them, we have another full-sized bed for the pups. It is also my reading room, so I can still surround myself with warmth and softness while I read in comfort.

Learning Curve

     Did you realize that every experience your dog has, it is learning from? Like humans, dogs are constantly learning throughout their lives, not just when they are young (although it is easier for dogs and humans to learn new skills at a young age). Anything new can trigger a new behavior pattern.

     If you take a moment to reflect, you will see it. Take for example, a dog that will not allow you to touch it's feet. Sometimes, it is simply life experience that has taught it that "If I make those grumbly noises and show my teeth, people will just leave me alone." Another example, have you ever bragged about how smart your dog is when they learned picking up the leash meant going for a walk? It is not something you went out of your way to show them, the dog has the ability to connect one action with a specific consequence whether or not you are taking the time to emphasize the connection. It has nothing to do with intelligence (most dogs actually have similiar IQs according to studies) but with motivation for the consequence.

("If I sit up like THIS, people notice me!)

     Canines have long amazed us and made stellar companions mainly due to this ability of adaptive learning. Where sometimes it may go awry, is when we as humans forget that training never ends. A dog that has been exposed to a set of undesirable behaviors can try them out a few days, weeks, or months later at home. Even a highly motivated dog who has an impressive vocabulary can forget terms that are not consistently used and rewarded.

     Through our daily interactions, dogs learn the crucial elements for harmony in their given household. If you ever wonder why your dog is an angel when you are home alone with it, and an absolute hooligan whenever guests arrive, consider how much time you spend practicing when there are other people in your home. Actions and occurrences that do not happen with as much frequency can make it more difficult for your dog to determine what behavior is correct. Couple this confusion with the fact that your actions most likely change at least slightly when another person or distraction is present, and it makes perfect sense that your canine's behavior would deviate from the norm.

     So next time you notice your dog doing something you may not particularly be fond of, consider where they may have learned this behavior from.....

Some Training Vocabulary

     With dogs in general, not just training, there are many different approaches, styles and opinions.  Many of the ideas and methods utilized are based on Classical Conditioning or Operant Conditioning.  This post is not to push you towards one particular method over another, but to provide education about some commonly mis-used terms in training. 

     So, let's clear the air and try to minimize the confusion!

     There was a famous scientist.  His name was B.F. Skinner.  Skinner started the ball rolling on the idea of Behaviorism.  He took another look at another scientist's work (Thorndike's Law of Effect) and coined these awesome terms (like "Operant conditioning", "reinforcers") and clarified many concepts using animals in controlled experiments. 

     Fast forward to today.  Many many people have continued to develop and use the awesome information uncovered by Skinner.  There are Four Quadrants of Operant Conditioning.  These four sections have names based on two variables:  "Positive" versus "Negative", and "Reinforcement" versus "Punishment".

     When one is referring to Operant Conditioning "Positive" means adding something, "Negative" means taking something away.  It does not mean good or bad.  A "Reinforcement" is intended to make a behavior occur more frequently.  A "Punishment" is intended to discourage a behavior.  (In addition, it is worth mentioning a "Consequence" is neither good nor bad by definition either, simply a result of an action.)

     If you put them together and apply them to dog training that means you have four main categories.  No matter what you do, one of these four Quadrants are in use.  "Positive Reinforcement" would be giving your dog something (probably a treat and/or praise) to encourage the dog to do the behavior again.  In contrast, taking something away to make your dog continue to do a behavior is "Negative Reinforcement".  If you have ever taken a formal training class, you may notice the area is usually closed off or partitioned in some way.  Whomever is conducting the class is taking away extraneous stimulus to encourage you (and your dog) to give them your full attention.  If you have ever told your dog "No!", or "Eh-Eh!" you have used "Positive Punishment"- you added your voice to discourage a behavior.  Putting your shoes in the closet is using "Negative Punishment" because you do not want your puppy chewing them.

     The other type of conditioning is much more simple to summarize.  Classical Conditioning was first described by Pavlov.  In his famous experiment, he rang a bell while feeding dogs until the sound of the bell itself made the dogs salivate.  Classical Conditioning focuses on associating different stimuli (such as the word "Sit", or a hand gesture) with a single reaction (the dog sitting).  The original experiments were desined around involuntary reactions. 

     No matter what methods and techniques you use, the main factor is the consistency of the consequences  for the selected behaviors.  In short, a dog is as consistent as it's handler! 

Capri

(Photos courtesy of Duane Watson, owner, breeder, handler)

   
 When I originally spoke to Duane about Capri, his almost 11 month old Rottweiler, he informed me that she was getting "out of control".  I quickly followed up with a series of questions designed to help outline our problem areas (specifically when or where Capri is having trouble performing consistantly), clearly define our goals, and prioritize the goals.  Capri had an extenuating circumstance directly related to her behavioral issues: she had been diagnosed with Panosteitis several months ago, and thus had been on a strict schedule of crate rest. 

     Together Duane and I chose to focus on Capri's leash walking as our first goal.  We agreed that by teaching her to walk calmly she had a much better chance to continue healing, and to feel better in general.  In addition, we would then have the option of taking her more places to continue her socialization.  At close to 80lbs, Capri was even getting difficult for Duane to handle on leash. 

  

  In our very first session, we had dramatic results.  Because Duane is a savvy owner, he made sure to continue 

bonding with Capri, even though she could not have as much physical exersize during her prescribed rest period.  He made sure she was polite in her crate, and that she would allow him to touch her all over her body.  With a solid bond, and with step by step instruction from me, we had Capri walking smoothly on leash, not pulling, and stopping when Duane stopped.  He was very pleased, and just as important- Capri was also content with the results.  Each week we meet to continue conditioning Capri for more consistent behavior on-leash.