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

Dog Training: Past and Present

"Lassie's son, Lassie, gets $100,000 a year" ('60's article)

   I read an interesting article the other day.  It was about how much the dog world has changed in the past two decades.  The writer describes many valid points, the last one telling how we as a society now humanize dogs.  I feel more can be said about this anthropomorphism, and how misleading it could be.

     I have heard it many times before- "Dogs are the new kids!"  We call them "furbabies" and always want to hug and kiss and cuddle with them.  But have we as owners, or "pet parents" considered what we ask of our beloved pups?  Such as: "Go make out with this stranger! I don't care if she startled you!"  We say we want companions that feel and think, but then we sometimes insist that they do things which are counter-intuitive.  For example, "Leave this tasty food on the counter alone!" instead of "I should put this food away, so the dog doesn't get tempted."

     There was a time in the past when things were drastically different.  There were more open spaces, and farm houses with acres of land for livestock to roam.  As more houses were built closer and closer, a dog's spaces were gradually limited.  Many dogs were no longer used as hunting partners, or guardians of livestock.  Now, very few dogs are used for the purposes they were originally bred for.

     When I was a child, like many others we had a family dog.  Jody was a Brittany Spaniel that my father took bird hunting.  I don't recall all of the details, but I do remember that there were very different expectations.  Certainly no one wants an animal that will harm their children.  However, the response to "Mommy! That dog bit at me!" or "Daddy, she growled at me!" were dramatically different than what I often hear today.  "Well honey, what did you do to the dog?" was what I heard.  We learned to control ourselves around the dog.  When I have my dogs out in public today, I have had children run up to kiss them, hug them, or even hit them (although I do my best to prevent it- thank goodness I have patient dogs!). One girl I used to work with had a child sit on the ground and give her male dog a very close inspection of his er- man part.  Talk about an awkward moment.....

     Of course there are many dogs who will tolerate a bit of rough-housing with children in their household, but I feel like there was also more opportunity made for the dog to be able to walk away, and distance themselves when they had all they could handle.  With so many awesome dog-friendly places springing up, some owners are confused as to why their dogs seem to have a harder time adjusting to the social scene.  More care needs to be taken to properly introduce the animal to new places and people, and it must be balanced with quiet time as well. Like humans, not all dogs have a desire to be social butterflies.

Another old advertisement I found, from 1960s also.

     I was raised to respect an animal's space, just like I would a human's personal space.  It was not considered "normal" or "okay" to run or walk up to a strange dog and pet, hug or kiss it.  Friendly dogs approached you and allowed themselves to be petted.  When the dog wanted to leave, it left.  If Mr. and Mrs. X had a mean dog, all of the neighborhood kids just knew to avoid it (has anyone else ever seen "Sandlot"?).  It seemed quite simple to me.

     I suppose my point is, I feel like there was a lot less pressure on dogs back then, and much less was expected of them socially.  If the animal was bonded to the family and gentle with those they knew, that was all that was necessary.  If it was sweet to others, it was just an added bonus.  If not, other people had the sense not to put themselves in harm's way.  In today's society, there is often not enough space to give anyone!

     With this background, maybe that is why I am so impressed with what dogs CAN do, and have accomplished.  One day the general public sees Lassie being hugged (1942 was the original Lassie Come Home), then 101 Dalmations stole our hearts and suddenly Fido must be cute, friendly and huggable to all while outwitting the criminals and saving Timmy every day!  Even breeds that are not bred for certain tasks are asked to perform and the overwhelming majority DO.

     Think about all we are asking our dogs to respond to! Be patient.  As a species, their record is stellar.  The name "Man's best friend" is well deserved.



*As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments! pawsthenplay@gmail.com 

For more information, visit the main website at www.pawsthenplay.com

Protection Dog?

     A young woman was telling me a story about how wonderful her dog is to her.  She proudly stated that "[the dog] is so protective of me, he almost wouldn't let my husband in the house the other night!"  She went on to explain that her husband had gone out earlier that evening with some friends and the friends dropped him off later that night in a different vehicle.  Her dog started "...going crazy!" she explained.  "He was barking loud and running around the house.  I tried to tell him 'It's okay, Daddy's home!' but when I went to the door, he darted out and then looped around and jumped up on me to push me back into the house!"

     In working with dogs for years, I often come across people who are absurdly proud of a dog they view as "protective" who is actually displaying overt tendencies of possession, fear, or inverted dominance.  It makes me believe that there is an overall misconception of terms as they apply to canine behavior.  The reason this concerns me is that the behaviors encouraged and elicited as "protective" are often the cause for the dog to display tendencies that are unwanted or can even be dangerous to the owner or other people and animals present.

     Dogs who carry an actual title of "Protection Dog" have had years of training with experienced handlers.  In the right hands, these dogs are the least likely to "go crazy" and panic at the sight or sound of new stimuli.

     One way to distinguish if a dog is actually being "protective" is to determine if the owner was truly frightened or angry.  If so, then there was a huge chemical surge that the dog could detect, and would know was out of the ordinary.  Another point to examine is if the owner gave a command for the dog to vocalize and/or move forward towards the perceived threat.  If the dog was acting at the behest of the handler, the motions would not appear frenzied and panicked.  Obviously if the dog is physically causing any harm to the owner it is not a desirable behavior, and should not be labeled as "protective".

     I do agree that a dog can be a deterrent to a would-be burglar or robber, but there are other ways to achieve this without allowing the dog to reach a state of panic.  Teaching a dog to bark or growl on command can be useful for this.  Simply using basic obedience to send a dog several yards out (towards the threat) and sit/stay facing the stranger can be very intimidating also to a would-be aggressor.

     For more information about YOUR dog's behavior, please feel free to contact me!  pawsthenplay@gmail.com

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Vacation Notes Part I

     Some of you may know that I have recently returned from my honeymoon.  My wonderful husband and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas.  Our pups stayed with a close friend and colleague.  A few people have asked why we did not allow our dogs to travel with us.  Instead I made plans for them to have a "Doggie Vacation" with someone I trust.

     The drive to Charleston, SC was not too long.  Only about three and a half hours with one stop mid-way to stretch our legs.  We arrived a few minutes early to the dock to board our cruise ship, but there were already dozens of cars in line ahead of us.  We had to sit for almost an hour before pulling up to have our luggage loaded onto the ship, then wait again to park in the parking deck.  There were multiple stops along our winding mile long wait- to check our licenses and birth certificate (or in my case, naturalization certificate), to ask for our confirmation code, get our cabin number (to write on our luggage tags), to pay for our week long parking, to have our luggage taken, to get color coded stickers on our windshield, to get a piece of paper to place on our dash while our car was parked.  I know my dogs would have wanted to sniff and greet each and every one.

     Once we were safely parked, we walked with the amassing crowd to be crammed into a large bus to be taken to the waters edge.  I could not believe how large the cruise ship was!  I was astounded that so many people could possibly be boarding the same ship as us.  Over 2,200 passengers were aboard I learned later.  The buses dropped us off at a large building where lines snaked over almost every available inch of space.  Conveyors to place our personal items waited patiently to x-ray our belongings.  Security personnel ushered us one at a time through the metal detectors and reminded us that if we had over $10,000 on our persons, we would need to fill out a separate form.  It was load, crowded, and disorienting to my dull human senses, I was grateful my pups were somewhere relaxed!  Another hour passed before we were herded to another line of chattering passengers zig-zagging up a series of ramps onto the ship.

     At the top of the ramp, we were halted yet again, to have our documents checked over one last time.  Lunch was being served and our cabins would be ready in about an hour.  As we walked farther away from the door we entered the crowd thinned slightly, but more and more people continued to flood in.  I secretly wondered if having four paws to stand on would make it harder or easier to adjust to the barely perceptibly motion of the boat below our feet.  I fervently hoped it stayed this gentle the entire time we were at sea!

The view from one of the balconies inside the ship

   We made our way up one set of elevators, down some corridors, across an open deck with a pool, hot tubs, dance floor, and bars and then into the large dining area.  It was set up like a cafeteria, with several types of food available at each station.  Salads, cold cuts for sandwiches, TWO dessert bars, a sandwich bar, pizza, grill, stir fry station- all types of food were at our fingertips!  Enticing smells wafted our way from all directions, and just as exciting- the tables were set indoors, or out so we might enjoy the ocean view with our meals!  If I lingered too long, my pups would salivate with a whiff of my shirt when I got home, in just under a week.

     My sweet husband was not at all distracted by the cuisine.  We wound in and about the gaggle of sightseers oogling the buffet.  Stairways were hidden sporadically on the decks.  We chose those to avoid the multiple sets of crowded elevators.  We walked by dance clubs, teen clubs, bars, several lounges, an auditorium, two restaurants, a store, a casino and a spa.  All on our ship.  Until the intercom system sounded tones remniscent of those I heard in grade school, I hadn't realized how long we had been exploring.  Bong-bing-booo!  A smooth alto voice addressed us in surround sound.  She informed us that we could not leave until the safety drill had been practiced.  Every passenger must know where to go in the event of an emergency.

    That drill is on the top 10 Worst Experiences of my Life list.  Meeting in the auditorium was crowded, but tolerable.  Squeezing out single file and being lined up shoulder to shoulder and nose to back four rows deep for many minutes was sheer torture!  I was the second row from the wall.  At my height (for those of you whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting, I am 5'1") I could not see above many people's shoulders.  I was trapped in never-ending rows of flesh.  The humid, stagnant air did not help.  I was close enough to watch the perspiration blossom in the shirt's armpits of the man in front of me.  If I had my dogs with me would they be folded in this press also?  I was grateful to not have to find out!


     Finally, the exercise ended.  Bong-bing-booo! We were kindly thanked for our co-operation by the same velvety alto voice.  I could feel the large engines rumbling somewhere beneath us.  How exciting!  We were on our way!  Tomorrow we would be at sea, and the next day, wake in the port of Nassau!


....to be continued

Random Raw Rant

Grace, in all her 70lb splendor

     Today I went to see my Veterinarian.  Grace needed to have blood drawn for her annual heartworm and blood parasites test, phenobarbital blood level check and T4 measurement.  She weighs in at a petite 70.6 pounds, and is oh so patient with the assistant who coos and musses her face and ears.  

     I allow the large woman to bend over, fuss, pet and talk "baby-talk" to my sweet Shepherd because last time I asked her to stop, she was so offended, it almost effected Grace's visit by making the dog uncomfortable.  The woman seems oblivious to my body language too.  Thank goodness Grace has a very consistent work schedule to keep her tolerant of such overly invasive interactions!

     Grace quickly winds up until she is dancing frantically back and forth across the employee's feet.  As I put a hand on Grace's nose and tell her to "Settle" so the Vet can draw blood, I informed the helper quietly "She is much easier to handle if you don't amp her up in your initial greeting.  All that excited petting raises her energy level."   I still got a dirty look, but I made my point as politely as I could.

     As we pay our tab and prepare to leave, I comment on our recent dietary changes.  "Almost three months on kibble now, instead of their raw food... their coats are doing poorly, Grace's skin remains constantly irritated, and she has had her first seizure since coming to live with me."  The last time, I had conversed with my Vet, and he gave me the scripted answer "Raw food carries bacteria, it is dangerous" et cetera et cetera.  I eat meat myself, and certainly know how to be careful when preparing it.  That part I completely disregard.  What I do consider a valid point however, is that it is possible that with a raw diet they could be missing some needed nutrients.  

     At this point, I am not satisfied with the results.  I am going to continue with the kibble however, for approximately 6 more months in order to give it a fair trial.  Since I am exploring other brand options, the dogs will need time to adjust to their new diet.  I adore my veterinarian, and take his opinions seriously enough that I am willing to try another route on his advice.  Ultimately, the decision will be based on the health and performance of the pups though, not what anyone says.  

     What really made my blood boil, and prompted this peckish entry, was the comment the assistant made next.  "Well I won't feed my dogs the canned food at all."  At this point I was vaguely annoyed- I agree heartily, but what does canned food have to do with raw diet?  

     "I completely agree.  Canned food is garbage."  I stated.

     Then it dawned on me.  She believed this whole time that when I was speaking of my dogs' raw diet, that I was giving them canned food.  I saw the good Doctor turn to leave the room.  I smiled tightly and left also.

     People, please be careful who you ask advice of.  Just because someone works in a Veterinary Hospital, does not mean they are well informed, or pay a lot of attention to what is going on around them.

*     Massive amounts of information are available, both for and against raw food diets. Advertisements largely target things that appeal to a human consumer, not the dog's actual dietary needs.  (for a recent article on AVMA new policy concerning raw diet, click here)  Since I have been feeding my dogs raw food for quite a long time, I thought it only fair to give kibble a real trial.  I am willing to learn new things if they will help my pups!  After sifting through large quantities of information, I decided to switch Brutus and Grace to a high protein Canadian brand who use homeopathic veterinarians for their formulas. (for more information on this particular brand click here.)  

A Dog Training Game

A healthy treat and random object for the game.

    In a previous post, I mentioned making training into a game (One Step Forward, Two Steps Back published July 9, 2012. Click here to read it.).

     One of my students and two of you wonderful readers have taken the time to inquire about some examples of games to play to train your dogs.  Here is a versatile exercise that can be tailored to any dog that is food motivated.

     Regardless of your dog's training background, you can have a training session in this style.  You will need a yummy, high-value treat, and a dog-safe object.  I choose objects that are non-toxic, with no sharp edges, that are durable, not too big or too small, cheap/readily available to me, but not something my dog is familiar with.  For the exercise today I chose a metal ring that is a lid to a mason jar, and freeze-dried liver treats.

     Toby is a 10 year old Cocker Spaniel that was a conformation show Champion in his youth!  Although he was socialized very well, is an angel for grooming and still auto-stacks (goes into his "Show Pose"); not a lot of time was spent on his basic obedience.  After he was retired from the show circuit, he was taught to sit, and lie down several years ago.

No initial interest. I had to wait a few seconds.

     The first step is to introduce the object, and make it inviting for your dog to investigate it.  At this point, very few  words are used.  I placed food inside the ring, which led Toby to sniff it.  Every time he sniffed at it, I said "Yes!" and fed him.  I was teaching him "Yes!" equals food, and the action of sniffing the ring made me say "Yes!".   I would let him sniff, say "Yes!" and feed 3-5 times in a row, and then take the ring back and put it on the table while I broke up some more treats into tiny pieces.  Then I placed the ring back on the ground and repeated the exercise until as soon as I put the ring down, he was immediately sniffing it.

     Once Toby was very interested in the ring, I placed it on the ground, and let him sniff it, but remained silent.  At first he just stared at me expecting the "Yes" and food.  I kept staring at the ring.  He appeared to lose interest, so I put the ring away for a few minutes, and we took a potty break.

     When we came back inside, I placed the ring on the ground.  Toby went forward immediately!  He sniffed, and looked at me, then kicked it with his foot!  I said "Yes!" and rewarded with 2 pieces of food!  The significance is not what he did, it is the fact that he is adapting, and trying to problem-solve!  Some dogs use their paws to manipulate the object, some their mouths. (Grace is a mouther- she prefers to carry it)

Toby is definitely interested now!

     I let Toby cycle through several rounds of touching the ring with his foot, and being rewarded.  He soon evolved to rushing forward with both feet ending up on the ring.  Now I just needed to decide which motion I like the best, and feed only for that one.  To start with, since he seemed to always move the ring towards him by pouncing on it with both feet, I decided to only reward for a softer motion, putting both paws on the ring, but not pouncing.

     It took a few sessions to accomplish this because at first he just ignored the ring if he did not get rewarded immediately for pouncing.  It ended up as a slower motion for each paw, almost like swimming, and then just some soft "pats" with his paws.  It was inconsistent, but settled into a right-left-right pattern.  The more confident he became that the answer was correct, the more times he would "pat".

Toby with his foot in the ring!

     It is perfectly normal and okay for a dog to need to take a break!  This is set up like a logic puzzle, but with less structure.  There is always more than one correct answer, so the odds are in the favor of your dog.  I love playing these types of "Games" with dogs because it gives such insight to their behavior.  Poor Toby can give up easily sometimes (his sessions are only about 2-4 minutes at a time), but rebounds very quickly! He is very eager to please, and if he gets a short rest is very willing to pick up just where he left off!  We have already done 5 sessions this morning.

     Now Toby can consistently touch the ring with gentle pats.  I thought it looked very cute, like he was doing little dance steps!  I decided to name it "Fancy Feet".  To label the action, I wait for him to perform it and said the words "Fancy Feet!" and fed.  We did this several times, it was adorable! After a few sessions of labeling, I took out the ring, and told him "Fancy Feet"! Results so far are below!  I think I may tie this in with a foot motion from the handler, so it looks like we are dancing together!  Wish us luck!



     Happy Training my friends! And as always, please feel free to contact me and/or leave a comment!  I love hearing your feedback!

   

Additional Tips and Facts:
- Be patient! Do not talk to your dog too much during this or you will confuse them (and make little, or no progress).
- Dogs will retain the information at different rates, and according to the skill and timing you as a handler possess.
- Instead of the word "Yes!" another word or a clicker can be substituted.
- If your dog is staring at your hand and ignoring the object, try rubbing the object with the food (to make it smell more appealing), and then throwing the bits of treat down to the object when your dog sniffs it, instead of hand feeding.
- If you are not sure what objects would be good, it's ok to start with one of your dog's toys.
- Any motion that your dog gives can be eventually labeled, and then performed on command.
- The more often you play "guessing games" like this, the more creative your dog's responses will become!
- Some dogs do not prefer the taste or texture of metal, or wood, or paper products, or plastics.  You will have to experiment a bit to see what material to start with for your dog.
- If you prefer to shape for a tap with the foot, the object you choose shouldn't matter, but if you would like your dog to carry the item, you will want to start with an object they are comfortable with.

     To read about Grace's experience with this game, click here.