Finding my Husband: A Tracking Tale

     The past few months have been a busy time at my house, as it is every year from late October to mid January.    It is deer hunting season! My husband and many of his friends and family participate zealously, so there are usually plenty of deer to be processed- yum!

     Sadly, sometimes even a perfect shot can go awry, leaving an injured deer that must be found.  This leaves the hunter with a long walk through the woods, putting their tracking skills to the ultimate test.  At times, even the most dedicated human cannot find the deer, who either survived and got out of range, or died without being found.

     One day this scenario happened, and Brutus and I happened to be close enough that we were called to help find the deer.  I had absolutely no tracking experience and neither did Brutus, but the general consensus was that we should have a better chance with a canine nose.  I always have an extra harness and long line with me when I travel with the dogs, so I dressed my dog up and went into the woods.

     Immediately, Brutus zeroed in on the spot where the deer was shot.  I had no idea- I was just hanging on to the line being dragged along!  The hunters were excited and more confident than I was.  There were a few drops of blood on the ground, and a spot where even I could tell the deer had fallen down.  After a few frantic seconds of sniffing and circling, we were off!

     Running through the woods may not sound too tough if you do not do it often.  IT IS.  As Brutus trotted determinedly with his nose to the ground he was completely nonplussed by the myriad of branches, spiderwebs and tree roots that seemed to reach out to slap me in the face and tangle my feet.  Instead of going around thick patches of briars, he plunged through or underneath them.  I was wearing short sleeves but luckily had donned jean pants, or my legs would have been just as scratched as my arms were.  My sweet cuddle-bug Brutus did not notice any of my discomfort however, he kept on trucking through those woods.

     After some time, maybe 10 minutes of so, he aruptly stopped and not only his nubby tail, but his whole body was vibrating at a high speed!  I caught up to him, and there were a few drops of blood on some leaves!  We cheered and petted him and Bru was so overwhelmed that he was hopping like a maniac... until a chipmunk startled by our noise darted about 20 yards away from us.  I was jerked off my feet as he took off after it, baying like the hound he is.  I can laugh now, but my posterior was sore for a few days!  We reeled him back in with the long line, and showed him the deer blood again after a few minutes, when he was calmer.

     Brutus was on the trail again!  Nose down, tracking like he was born for it!  I was tired but it seemed effortless for everyone else.  We went all over- unexpected turns, across a creek twice, over a large pile of rocks, and through spiderwebs that brought out the ninja in me (I waved my arms but still ended up with spider silk in my hair).  Gradually I realized we were gaining speed- I was almost at a flat out run trying to keep pace with Brutus!  We all got excited and began encouraging Brutus "Go on boy!"  "Good nose! Find 'im!"

     I ended up having to hand off the long line to someone who could keep up better with Brutus.  I fell a bit behind, but was keeping them in sight, when a loud chorus of shouts went up.  I sprinted as best I could to see what all the fuss was about.

    Brutus had found....... my husband.  Brutus danced! And pranced!  He gave kisses!  He hopped and wuffed and generally looked extremely pleased with himself.  He ran from my husband and back to me a few times.

     My husband had been the first person out to track the injured deer.  After a lengthy conversation, we were able to determine with a fair amount of certainty that we had taken the same path my husband had.  The path began at the place where the deer had been shot, so we all assumed the dog was following the deer track.

     We never did find that deer.  I had a good laugh though.

     We did find out that my stripey rescue dog has one great nose!  It has inspired me to do a lot more research to help learn more about how to teach Brutus to isolate a particular scent to follow.  Ignorant handling and lack of a tracking training foundation doomed us from the start on our first hunt, but now we are discovering a lot!  I just went yesterday to watch a tracking test in Huntersville.  Hopefully by next year we will be ready to help.  Wish us luck!  :)

Four Easy Ways to Help Save Dogs

     The majority of us feel sympathy for unwanted dogs.  The multitude of rescues and shelters tug our heartstrings with soulful pictures, horrify us with evidence of abuses, sadden us with statistics, and only occasionally can we see the "Happy Ending" for the furry creature in need.  So why do animals in need still exist if there are so many feelings of goodwill toward rescue work?  Because there are a lot of misconceptions floating about!

Photo by PawsThenPlay at Gaston County Animal Control

     I wanted to share simple things you can do to help homeless animals.  I think you may be surprised how effortless it can be!


4 Easy Ways You Can Help

1.  Next time you are at the store to buy some treats or a new toy for your fur baby, buy two and donate one to less fortunate animals.  Many stores have options on location to donate as you check out, in amounts as little as $1.  Some agencies will even take donations of gently used items (such as extra blankets for winter, or toys that your pet wouldn't touch)

2.  When you see a post online with an animal in need- share it!  It only takes mere seconds of your time.  Even though you may not be able to do anything, some one you know may be able to.

3.  If you do have some spare time, consider volunteering as a "holder" at local rescue/adoption events.  So many organizations have lots of puppies they would love to bring, but no one to hold the leashes or keep an eye on the puppy pens so must leave them at the facility or foster home, which means they are less likely to be adopted because they are not seen.

4.  Spay and/or neuter your pet.  The vast majority of animals at shelters are the results of unintentional or poorly planned breeding.  Almost every major city has low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

Foster Photo from The Greater Charlotte SPCA

     See?  No millionaire funding needed (although donations can help).  You don't need to quit your job to have enough time to help.  And you don't need to feel obligated to foster if your home situation does not allow.

     For those of you in the Charlotte NC area, I have the information to two local rescue organizations if you would like to help.  The links are provided below.  Just click on the name of the rescue, and it will take you to their website.  There are many many more, these are just the two I know people personally within the organization. :)   Anyone else who works with an organization, please feel free to add the link in a comment below so people can find you.

Greater Charlotte SPCA

Rescued Me

     Happy Training, and thank you for remembering those less fortunate than our own fur-kids!

Potty Basics: To Go or Not To Go

*** Please see below for photo credits

    Did you know some responsible breeders start potty training exercises with their pups at as early as 3 weeks of age?  By the time their dogs are sent to new loving homes, they already have grasped the basic principles of eliminating outside!

     Most of us are not so fortunate.  We arrive home with our furry bundle of joy, and have to clean up not so pleasant puddles or smelly surprises a few times before our four-footed family members learn where to "go".

     Here are a few tips to help with potty training your new (or slightly confused) companion!


~Remember the times when a dog will naturally need to eliminate: when first waking up (even from a short nap), when full of food or water, after vigorous play or exercise, and additional times depending on age and bladder size.

~ Clean for Real.   You can't smell a thing?  The stain is out of the carpet? Great, but Fido has a much more sensitive sniffer!  If you are not using an enzymatic cleanser (one that lists "enzymes" in the ingredients), you are not killing the pheromones, which are the scent markers that tell your dog that this is an appealing place to go because it has been used before.

*** Please see below for photo credits

~Know when they are full.  When is the last time your dog ate?  How about the last time they drank  water?  By having assigned feeding times, and putting the water dish where you can easily see when they drink will help you know when your dog is full, and needs to be emptied.

~Learn your dog's cues.  Almost every dog gives signals when they have to eliminate.  Some dogs discreetly sniff, some circle, some pace, some just get really anxious and jittery.  You will need to learn what your dog does so you can get them outside to where they are supposed to do it, or they will not be able to learn that is what you want.  Once the pattern of going outside to potty has started, then you can add your own cue (such as bells at the door).  If you try to add your own cue too early, you have a very good possibility of simply training your dog that the cue means going outside to play (and nothing to do with potty).

~Don't spend too long outside waiting.  Go directly to one area in your yard where you would like them to eliminate and stand quietly.  No talking to them, no playing.  You probably want to have them on a leash at first even if you have a fenced in yard, or you will have no way to keep them from turning "potty time" into "game time".  If your pup does not use the bathroom after a few minutes, it's not the end of the world.  Just go back inside and continue life as normal while watching for your dog's cues.

~REWARD!!!  As soon as they begin to eliminate, quietly praise (who likes to be shouted at while using the toilet?) and be sure to follow up that praise with a yummy treat!  After your treat, then you can have that great walk, fun game of fetch, or other rewarding activity!  Never punish for a potty mistake.  This is not only unfair to the dog (YOU were supposed to get them outside), but can set your potty training backwards- since they probably won't want to go potty in front of you again!

*** Please see below for photo credits

~Minimize opportunity for accidents.  If your dog is still having accidents, WATCH THEM.  If you cannot keep your eyes on them, they need to be in a safe place, such as a crate, or puppy safe room or pen.

~If you are having trouble with one particular area (they always "Oops" in the same spot), after you have properly cleaned it with an enzymatic cleanser, feed them there for several days.  It is unnatural for an animal to want to eliminate where it habitually eats (do you know anyone with a toilet on their dining room table?).



     These are just a few basics.  If you would like help setting specific goals for your puppy or dog, please feel free to contact me.

     Happy training!



*** All photos used in this entry are courtesy of the Greater Charlotte SPCA.  Please feel free to check out their website!   www.charlotteSPCA.org 

Back to Basics: Luring, Catching and Shaping

     Every dog needs a solid foundation to understand what it is that humans want it to do.  All too often, I see how basic skill sets are glossed over.  The process of learning is rushed to achieve an end result that is not as consistent because of the lack of understanding on the human side of the leash.  By fully understanding not only how to train for a specific command, but why it works, a handler can strengthen their own handling skills and improve the communication overall with their dog.  This paves the way for future successful learning, which we know happens throughout entire lifetimes.

Grace, Brutus and Riley

     Three of the most basic training methods in the positive reinforcement category (and every dog should start in this quadrant of Operant Conditioning) are Luring, Catching, and Shaping.  If you have taught your dog any basic commands (such as "sit", "down" or "come") you have had to use at least one of these!  If your timing is consistent with the reward, your dog can perform the behaviors.

     Luring is exactly what it sounds like.  You are presenting a tasty (and hopefully healthy) reward and using it to guide the dog to where you would like them to be, or where you would like the body to be (such as bringing the food above the nose for "sit").  When the dog is in the correct place/position, the treat and praise are earned!  Seems simple, yes?  It can be, if it is repeated often enough for the dog to associate the correct result- otherwise, the dog has simply learned to follow food held in your hands (which is also a helpful skill, but not always the desired result).  If your handling skills are not fully developed, you may have difficulty getting your dog to the correct position consistently.  Practice makes perfect, but this is one instance where there is a definite advantage to having an experienced handler to help you.

     Catching a behavior is solely dependent on the handler's attention and timing.  Any behavior your pet performs naturally can become a command using this method, if you can "catch" and reward them doing it often enough.  I always train for a default "Down" in my dogs.  When I do not tell them to do anything, I would prefer for them to lie down and relax.  To train for this, every time I see them lying down, I give a treat (in my case, it is kibble, but they think of their food as treats), name the behavior, and praise.  When Brutus was young and we were just beginning with the "Default Down", as he began to understand the behavior I was rewarding, he would follow me from room to room and lie down and pretend to sleep to get a piece of food.  Now it is less obvious (he no longer collapses in front of my feet), but he still will lie quietly inside until I tell him otherwise (he is now 7 and 1/2 years old)

     Shaping is considered the most difficult by some because it requires more patience.  To shape a behavior is to reward something that is close to what you want, and then gradually change when you are rewarding to encourage different elements in the behavior originally rewarded for.  Often, luring and catching are used while shaping a behavior.  An example would be to teach your dog "Paw" or "High Five", you may initially reward for the dog just having the paw in the air and allowing you to touch the foot, but you gradually make the dog put the paw in/on your hand by withholding the reward for slightly longer periods of time.

     For the last two methods (Catching and Shaping) many people use a "Clicker".  A clicker is a small box with a thin sheet of metal that makes a soft popping noise (or click) when pressed.  I personally choose to use my voice.  Not only is it one less thing to hold, but I can change the tone, volume or emphasis in my word of praise to really communicate how happy I am to the dog I am working with.

     The clip above is me with a rescue dog "Peanut", who did very very learning the basics!  I used catching to teach the "sit", and added a hand signal.  The "Down" is still being learned, and I lured to get him in the position.  And lastly, I was shaping the "Wait" command to add more distance away from him.

     The most common pitfall I see students struggle with is thinking they are "done" teaching a command too soon.  After a few repetitions, the human adds another command or two.  The next day, another few commands.  The handler is so excited that they fail to realize they are still having to lure entirely, and the dog is probably mixing the commands up and randomly guessing what position may hold a reward each time.  If the foundation of your training experience with your pup consists of almost constant confusion on the dog's part, it makes more forward progress much less likely.

     Please take time to build a solid foundation with your fur-friend!  For additional help, leave a comment and I would be glad to assist you.

     Happy Training!

The "Tuck" Dog Training

     One of my students and I have been playing a "new" game!  Don't tell Stormi, but it's really the same thing, just asking her to adapt, and rewarding slightly different behaviors.  This method is called "shaping".  Any behavior whether it is desirable or not, can be shaped by rewarding the changes you like, if you time your rewards correctly and consistently.

     Stormi has already mastered her basic commands.  I chose to build on her "Lie Down" command, since I want to encourage her to relax.  She naturally will choose to tuck one front foot, or another when she is lying comfortably.  I rewarded (I used her kibble from meals since she is very food motivated) her for lying down when I looked at her first, so there was a default behavior to start with.  Her entire first session was simply rewarding her for lying down and staying down.  No words, since I would be adding the commands later, when she was performing the actions I wanted.


     The next time I worked with her, she automatically lay down as soon as I brought out the food.  I began to reward her when she shifted her front feet, either one.  Over the next two sessions, she was very willing to move her feet, it almost looked like she was swimming backwards!  Very cute.  I began to label her right and left as she moved them, rewarding each time.  If I stared at one foot, she would move it automatically to tuck.  Many dogs are much more observant than we give them credit for, it helps them to tie in a visual cue along with the verbal.

     The next session, I began asking for "Right" or "Left", looking at the paw I wished her to move.  At this point, she was comfortable with the exercise, and would sometimes just guess, and swing a paw back without paying attention to which one I asked for.  I never rewarded her for moving the wrong paw, simply waiting, staring at the one I asked her to move until she performed correctly.


     Soon I decided I wanted both paws to "Tuck".  Since Stormi is very responsive to my eye movement, I knew she could figure it out!  And she certainly did not disappoint.  We began the session easily, I called a "Right", "Left", "Left" (and rewarded one kibble for each) and then just waited.  I stared at the paw that was closest to me, which she tucked.  But instead of rewarding, I shifted my gaze to her other paw.  She switched, and tucked it.  I shifted my gaze again.  Stormi was confused, and stood up and walked in a circle.  I simply waited.  We went through the same motions again.  After she lay down again with a sigh, she tucked the first paw, I shifted my gaze again... she huffed, and shifted her weight awkwardly.... then moved her other foot!  I quickly dropped several pieces of food and praised!

     From there she proceeded quickly to moving both feet back immediately but they were still not fully tucked.  I "jackpotted" (gave several pieces as reward) many times in a row to encourage her.  Then I began to wean back on the reward until we were at just one piece at a time again.  What had been holding Stormi back is that she had been startling herself by tapping her back foot with her front foot when she "swam" her second paw backwards, because of the way she was laying.  Once she figured out how to maneuver her body to where she could tuck both paws comfortably, she had it!

     The next session, I labeled "Tuck" when both paws were folded.  After that session, it was just a matter of putting it all together- going back to review and strengthen the labels I had already set in place for "Right" and "Left".

     For this particular dog, I like this position because it takes a bit longer for her to jump up should she be startled.  Stormi and her people are still working diligently on her impulse control.  Teaching this position makes her more aware of what her body is doing, and shows her that she can control each part.  And of course, any training that requires thinking, and strengthens the bond between her and her people is not only fun, but a benefit for the dog!

     As always, if you have any questions of comments, please feel free to contact me!

     Happy Training!

Off-Leash Versus On-Leash

     So many of us are very impressed with dogs that are off leash.  We see advertisements for "Off-Leash Training", or envy the person we drive by with their dog walking freely by their side.  Many of us even set a goal to be free of our tethers too!  While it is a worthy goal, please people, take it with a grain of salt- not all that glitters is gold.

     It can be an advantage to have a leash on a dog.  Some public areas require a leash by law.  Other places may be inherently dangerous without one- such as heavy traffic areas, to help protect a dog from sniffing or eating hazardous materials, or to keep your pet safe from other outside influences.

     One of the side effects of being off-leash the majority of the time, is the dog will not react favorably to being on leash when it must be.  The dog may sulk and show it's non-acceptance by walking with it's head down low, laying down and refusing to move, or darting (back and forth, up and down, or all directions!).  I often see this non-acceptance in puppies who have been allowed to roam off-leash for several weeks while they are young.

     Walking on a leash without darting or tangling is one of the most valuable and underrated skills dogs can master.  It involves many layers.  The dog must accept that the human is in charge of where they are going, and how quickly they will arrive.  The dog must have the muscle control and understanding of where to place it's feet to avoid tangles.  Both of these are part of a recipe for successful long lasting training.  To skimp on this conditioning is to make life more difficult and stressful for the pet and the owner.  A dog who fully accepts a handler's role will look to the handler in a brand new situation, or default to a position that training has re-enforced as opposed to barking, growling, lunging forward, or hiding.

     As always, happy training!

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Home-body Dog Training

Diana Jordan's girl "Sophie" 

     I met a very nice woman the other day.  I was walking a student's therapy dog to practice for her upcoming re-certification.  The lady I spoke with had two Golden Retrievers at home.  She was quite surprised to learn how young Sophie was, and very impressed at how calm and gentle the greetings were.  I was proud to tell her that Diana worked with Sophie consistently since she first took her in to her home, and brought her with her everywhere she could.

     The nice lady looked sad as she explained that she simply did not have the time to work with her dogs.  She felt guilty that she saw they had so much energy, and she felt incapable of doing much to fix it.  My reply was to explain that high energy can mean a healthy dog,  and there is no need to travel every day with your dog if your schedule (or your energy level) will not allow.  You can challenge your dog mentally at home to help burn off some of the energy.  I told her I have a young German Shepherd who has oodles of energy, and am mostly a "Home-body" myself.  I have written in detail about one game I like to play with my dogs in a previous post, click HERE to read it.  But there are tons of things you can do with your dog to help wear them out.

     Here are a few things that you can do with your dog at home, for those rainy days, or when you just don't feel like getting in the car.

     1. Get a puzzle-type game.  There are tons of great interactive toys available that can be shipped to your front door!  Some are fairly simple- the dog must roll around an irregularly shaped object to dispense treats (I use regular dog food from their meal though).  Others are complex- boards that must be manipulated or shifted to earn a reward.  Heck, I even found 2 neat dog puzzles at a drug store once!  Some are plastic, some are rubber, some are wood.  The ones I found were in the $10-$20 range, and have lasted literally for years!  Just remember: these are INTERACTIVE toys! You need to be there to ensure they don't become expensive chew items!
   

Brain teaser toy by Nina Ottosson

Here are some links:
     Nina Ottosson treat maze (this brilliant designer has lots to choose from!)
     "Babble Ball" (does not use food/treats, just funny noises)
     "Everlasting Fun Ball" (holds treats/food)
   
     I listed a few of the more affordable options here, just search "Interactive dog toys" and you will find dozens of sites with hundreds of toys!

     2. Hide Something: Do you have a dog that you swear can find a speck of cheese you dropped two days ago in the kitchen?  Prove it!(- although not necessarily with the old cheese please)  Let them use that sniffer, in a way that you get to choose.  Pick an object that your dog is allowed to put in their mouth.  (It can be one of their toys, or a completely new object.  Just be sure it is dog-safe!)  To teach your dog the game, have a reward ready!  When you put the object down, your dog will most likely sniff it. As soon as the dog touches it (nose or paw, doesn't matter)- praise and give them a treat!  Next, move the object a bit farther away (6-10 feet).  You can toss it, or have your dog sit and wait, but stay with in sight!  As your dog races forward to find the object, tell them "Find it!"  When your dog touches it, praise and treat again!  After a few repetitions, if your dog is moving confidently to the object and looking expectantly for the reward start hiding the object out of sight.  Eventually, you can expand the distance to make them have to sniff and search the entire house!

     3. Stair Master: One of my personal favorites!  I think this trick helped me survive my first dog's puppyhood energy.  Take a favorite toy that your dog likes to chase and chuck it down the stairs.  When your dog brings it back, do it again. Yup, it's fetch for those of us without a fenced in yard, with extra cardio to boot!  I sat in a comfy chair sipping hot cocoa and surfing the web, and my boy Brutus ran his fanny off.  Bliss.

     These are just the first three things that popped in my head! Please feel free to give me some feedback, and share the ideas that you use at home!

     Happy Training!

*Visit the main website at www.pawsthenplay.com