Proactive versus Reactive Dog Training

     Have you ever wondered how to correct or punish an undesirable behavior in your dog?  I see dozens of people posting on websites daily to vent their frustrations.  Almost every dog owner has had to deal with issues before, so here is one option that may help.

Photo courtesy of the Greater Charlotte SPCA

     Change how you are thinking about the problem.  A question I see posed very often is "How do I correct my dog for  ________?"  That means you have already acknowledged that the undesired event will occur again.  The Oxford Dictionary defines "Reactive" as "acting in response to a situation instead of creating or controlling it."    If you do not have control over the situation or environment that created the undesirable behavior, then you need to consider removing the dog (and possibly yourself) from it altogether.

     If instead we focus on what can be done to prevent a repetition of the behavior, not only does this course of action yield more consistent results, but the bond between human and canine remains unclouded by misused or misunderstood gestures of "punishment" or "correction".

     If your 4 month old puppy suddenly begins chewing on your couch cushions instead of his/her own toys, a "correction" should not be what you first seek.  At that age, the dog does not yet know what is or is not allowed.  It has not been alive long enough to establish consistent patterns, and is (hopefully) learning new behaviors every day for which it is getting praised.  Punishment should not be the first choice of responses.

     Consider instead what else can be done to prevent the situation, or to change it if it is occurring.  A new rule of "No puppies on the couch" may be all that is needed to remedy the rouge chewing.  The couch as a resting place can always be introduced later as a reward.  I find leaving a leash on if the pup is loose in the house is an easy way to help restrict them from choice areas.  Spend more time praising your dog for behaviors that you like seeing.

Maple and Morgan hanging out in the sun

     Knowing that chewing is another way for dogs to release energy, increasing exercise should be another option.  Add an extra training session during the day.  Play fetch.  Record a movie of your dog performing all the tricks it knows and send it to your friends.  Go for a walk.  Visit a pet store.  Learn a new skill.  The options are endless.  A tired dog will chew significantly less.

     If cuddling on the couch always leads to a cushion in the mouth, and you just don't want to sacrifice the warm fuzzy feeling of your pup on the couch, consider keeping a stash of toys within reach.  As soon as Fido's nose goes toward the cushion, put a toy under that nose!  If you were not paying attention, missed your timing, and are still unwilling to put the pup on the ground, you need to be willing to have some drool and missing pieces of couch cushion.

     For help with proactive thinking and training, please feel free to contact me directly at pawsthenplay@gmail.com

     Happy Training!

   

Come When Called? Dog Training in Action

     My pups have about half an acre fenced in behind our house which my husband has generously donated for all things dog related.  Early on I took the time to train boundaries as the fence is only four feet high, so barely a hop for my long-legged kiddos.  I also conditioned for potty on the exterior, so I can use the center open area for training when weather permits.  On pleasant days like today, I will often allow one or both of the pups some free time in the yard to simply relax and enjoy themselves, since I can see the area from my kitchen window.  Overall, it is space we all have enjoyed.

     Today the gate was left open.

     For Grace, my German Shepherd Dog, it is no issue.  She will romp around the center open area, hopping like a bunny, always glancing back to me as if to say "Did you see that Mom?".  For my hound mix Brutus, it is another story....

     Some of you may have read about my tracking adventures with Brutus.  He has performed spectacularly through woods or field on tracks up to 250 yards (we are gradually building the distance).  When he is harnessed, he will even completely disregard squirrels and other small woodland creatures fleeing his approach while he is on the trail I assigned.  When left to his own devices in the yard, he will sniff indiscriminately the myriad rabbit, squirrel, human, opossum or rare raccoon tracks in the yard.

     Today, Brutus was outside enjoying the sun, and his nose led him to the open gate.  Meanwhile, I had stepped away from the window to add some cream to my coffee.  Once I returned and saw the empty yard
I stepped out onto the back stoop and called for Brutus.  I heard a single bark in answer from the other side of the fence!

     I called again to be sure my ears were not playing tricks on me.  This time, I got a double bark, and then my silly hound hopped straight up in the air to show me where he was.  I live on a fairly busy street, but the last thing I wanted to do was encourage him to jump over the fence (at this point I did not know how he got out), even if it was towards me because I do not want fence jumping to become a habit.  I paused for a moment to see what Brutus was doing.  He was pointing at a game trail on the outside of the fence line, and then glancing to me to be sure I was watching him.

     I called for him to "Come Inside!" and gave a special command that I only use when a reward is absolutely guaranteed.  I left the back door open so he had access to the house, and hustled to the front window in time to see him fly across the front yard towards the side where the gate was.  By the time I grabbed a treat (it's just his normal dog food- but don't tell HIM that!) and headed back to the kitchen, he was scrambling into a beautiful "Front" position (sitting squarely in front of me).  I fed and praised him, and put him on a Base (a special mat for "Lie Down and Stay") while I darted outside to walk the fence line to see where he could have gotten out.

     I walked the entire perimeter and saw no flaws.  I stopped at the gate (which appeared to be closed) and  put my hand on it to lean and ponder.  The gate wobbled under my touch.  It had not been latched!  I feel like anyone who may have seen me at that exact moment may have seen a light bulb above my head like in the cartoons.  I returned to my patient hound and put a slip lead on him.  We walked out to the gate together.

     Even though the gate opens inward, it proved no challenge to my curious Brutus.  He bumped it casually with his nose and waited for it to swing open.   He strutted through the opening like a model on a catwalk and then sat on the other side waiting for me to join him.  I could not help but laugh.  Basic obedience really pays off!  I called him back to me and we went in to cuddle on the couch before our afternoon walk.  Mystery solved.

     Thank goodness he knows "Come When Called"!

Buy now! Because I say so!

   
     I just watched a short commercial with an adorable French Bulldog trotting around a bright and cheery home and then munching a bowl of the advertised kibble.  The company began with a picture of plain brown "competitor kibble" in a dull bowl on a blank background and then showed its bright and colorful kibble cascading merrily across the screen while a friendly voice told viewers that dogs preferred color to boring plain kibble.  It ended with the aforementioned pup chomping the red, beige and brown mixed kibble.

Cute faces and bright colors make us want to buy things!

     No mention of nutrition.  And of course we all know the colors listed above would all be shades of grey to a pooch anyways...... (dogs see in a blue and yellow spectrum, this link explains in greater detail)  So the company assumes that we are silly enough consumers that we will just say "Ooooh! Pretty colors!" and skip to the nearest grocery store to pick up those lovely bits.   The sad part is, some do.

     Some dog food companies are better at telling us nothing.  They have quaint stories telling consumers how much they love their pets and only want to feed them the best.  They complain about how no other companies exist that can give their babies the proper nutrition and so they had to create their own, dedicated to bringing you only the best, etc. etc.  All these things sound very nice, but for me, there is no direct correlation to good intentions and actually producing the best product.

     There are always such lovely pictures of dogs and cats, some running, jumping, rolling, being hugged or just sitting prettily.  Once again, while it hit's the internal "awwwww" button nicely, it provides no factual evidence of why their brand is optimal, other than because they say so.  My pets are important to me, as are their nutritional needs.  I want more proof.

    My personal favorites on the craftiness scale are those sites who will partially "educate" the general public in order to make their brand the most attractive and only logical choice.  I went to the website of a well-known dog food to see what their "spin" was.  They have some good basic facts sprinkled in with information that is misleading or just plain wrong.

     One site says "For example, real chicken meat is a higher quality protein source than chicken or poultry by-product meals; chicken fat is considered a higher quality source of essential fatty acids than generic 'animal fats.' Subtle differences like these may determine whether a pet food brand’s ingredients are as healthy as they claim to be."  Sounds legit, right?  

An older ad from the 70s

     
     Let's examine that more closely.  
     
     The first part states that real chicken meat is a higher quality protein source than meals.  Other companies use fake chicken?  Oh no!  That's not what they said, is it?  Of course not.  They simply implied it.   Okay so we agree real chickens are better than fake chickens, so do we agree that the :"real chicken" is a higher quality protein source than meals?  I do not.  Raw chicken is about 70% moisture (water) and 18% protein.  A "meal" in this case is a rendering of a whole chicken (or by products) where most of the water has been cooked away, and then baked to form a super concentrated result (meal) with about four times more protein per pound  than raw chicken (read more here ).  Surprised yet?


     The next part says that chicken fat is better than generic "animal fats".  Well duh.  Of course we don't trust "mystery meats" (or "mystery fats" in this case)!   Another way to highlight what this brand does right- awesome job so far advertising team!  A general statement to be wary of those evil "other guys" at the end to hopefully keep you from snooping around other dog food companies, and BAM: profits soar!

     It does not mention the fact that with the 70% moisture in raw (real) chicken, it must be cooked down in order to be made in to kibble.  After processing, it probably accounts for much less than you think in the finished product!

     Of all the advertisements I have been nosing through lately (and it is more than you think!) I notice the vast majority of content pertaining to dog food is designed to appeal to the human sensibilities.  It is impossible to find any facts supporting one particular food or diet or another.  Certain elements and ingredients have proven track records, but there have not been enough conclusive studies done on canine nutrition over a long period of time.  There are too many variables to render results that are accurate.  

     This is not to say all dog kibbles are bad.  There are some great options out there!  Just be careful to really find out more about what companies are actually promising.  Depending on the activity level of your dog, age, breed, general health and budget, a different food may work for your dog than your friend's dog.  That's perfectly okay.  Just make the decision based on facts, not on clever advertising.  

     I hope you enjoy the video clip below of one of my favorite advertisements from "101 Dalmations"!

     *If you want to hear more about dog foods, or have other questions please leave a comment below.

Please visit our main site at www.pawsthenplay.com 

Ride Along

    The ice had all melted away, leaving muddy puddles and miniature streams covering the fields by my house.  The solid sheet of sleet that had frozen on my back stoop was twice as slick.  Grace and I slowly slid down the two steps as carefully as we could to the brick patio which had slightly more traction.   We made our way safely to the car, which was nice and toasty thanks to a sweet husband who started it a few minutes earlier.

     The roads were clear thankfully.  Sunlight glittered off of the millions of drops of dissolving icicles plopping merrily from the trees and power lines.  I actually think ice is prettier than snow, it makes things so shiny... until it melts!  I was glad I remembered my sunglasses, but took them off when we drove under the awning at the drive through.

     Grace had made herself comfortable for our trip.  The pups have two towels in the back that always begin the journey neatly spread to cover the back seat.  We pretend that this will protect the seats from getting covered with dog hair.  Brutus likes to use his front feet to flip the towels into a wad that he will circle, circle, circle on top of until it feels "right" for him to nestle down onto.  Grace just kind of flops gracelessly in a "whoomph".

     At each drive through window, she likes to pop her head up and put her nose just behind my left ear.  Perhaps she likes to get a whiff of the voices coming from the windows.  It could also be that she enjoys the varied reactions of the people who see her.  Places we stop by frequently know her and Brutus by name, and greet them more enthusiastically than they do me.  I am not offended- my dogs ARE pretty awesome!

     Finally, the errands are done.  We turn towards home.  I notice a business parking lot that is mostly empty.  That will do just fine for today.  I pull in cautiously, since it doesn't appear to have been salted.  It is important that there is no salt down as it could irritate puppy paws!  I park and pull out a collar and leash.

     Grace sits quietly while I fuss with the collar and leash, switching twice as I changed my mind.  I decided on the "string things"- my thinnest lead and collar.  They are so light they can simulate being off leash, without having to actually have her off lead (leash laws).  I call her out with me and we practice a few heeling patterns.  I tighten up my turns using the foot pattern that was shown to me by a seasoned exhibitor.   Grace plays a statue on command through three different positions of "stay".  Recalls are not perfect, but that is what practice is for!

     Nine minutes later, and we are back in the car.  The heat coming out of the vents is still nice and toasty.  A short while later we are home and cuddling by the fire.

     I try to bring my dogs with me whenever I can.  A training session does not have to be long to be beneficial, and any chance to bond more with my pups, I gladly take!

Resource Guarding

     One of the most common problems I am asked about is resource guarding.  I can not solve your dog's issues from a blog entry.  What I can do, is arm you with enough information to reduce risk to your self, others in your household, and your dog.  I can provide some tips that hopefully prevent further escalation until a professional can be contacted.

  Sometimes guarding is obvious.

     Guarding resources is a basic instinct.  That does not mean it should be permitted when your dog displays discomfort or aggression towards a human or another animal in the household, but understanding that it is a natural reaction is important to keep in mind.  It does not mean your dog is "Aggressive", "Dominant", or needs to be "put in it's place".  I find labels one of the most dangerous things in dealing safely and proactively with dogs who have issues.

     In a perfect world, we would call a behaviorist that we already know and trust, and quickly "solve" the problem behavior.  Reality often deals a different hand- we may have scheduling or funding restrictions, or not be willing to admit that professional help is needed.  Also, the fastest solution is often not a long term one.

     If you have seen behavior in your home that you suspect is resource guarding DO NOT attempt to re-create the situation. As humans, when we are uncertain or unwilling to accept information we ask again.  If you heard a growl when you walked by Fido's food bowl, walking up and sticking your hand in it is an invitation to get bitten.  Repeating something and expecting a different result is one of the definitions of insanity, and can cause escalation in a behavior.

     Call a behaviorist when you first notice the problem.  Asking people on the internet is not the same as consulting with a behaviorist.  Even a dog trainer is often not equipped with enough information for successful behavior modification.  If you do not have the money to invest in a solution immediately, you may be surprised how many professionals are willing to talk to you anyways, and help you stay safe until you can come in.

Body language can display a variety of ways on different dogs.      

     Until a professional has met your dog, the solutions may not be clear.  Every household and dog is different, so different techniques will have greater efficacy per dog, per household.  There is not an easy 1,2,3 step "fix" that I am aware of.

     Your goal is to change something to prevent the behavior from occurring again.  If your dog has already growled, lunged or bitten another dog, separating the dog unless supervised is the first step.  This does not mean total isolation!  Please do not simply put them in their crate or room and hide from them until a professional arrives.

     Remember what resource appears to be triggering the behavior, and ensure that it will not be available to them in the presence of other animals or people.  It is not always easy to identify- it can be a place or person.  If it is a toy, bone or treat,  that is very easy- simply put it away behind a closed door where the dog cannot access it.  If it is meals be sure to feed when you and the dog are the only ones around, and put small amounts of food down at a time, allowing the dog to finish before you add more.  If you have children, it is recommended that any interaction between them and the dog is minimized and closely supervised.  The key is to be SAFE, not sorry!

     If you think you may have a resource guarding issue in your home, please feel free to contact me, and I will help you.

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!