Preparing Your Gun Dog for Gunfire

Gun dog training, specifically, is something I have never really gotten into, being the animal advocate that I am, am not really into hunting (although I am not here to pass judgment on hunters)!  However, I have spent many years working with police and protection dogs so I am not new to desensitizing dogs to gun fire.

It is critical to teach your dog or your puppy correctly when it comes to desensitizing him to noise, especially gunfire.

Dog hearing is much, much better than human hearing!  Did you know the ears of dogs are controlled by at least 18 muscles?  And, upright and curved ears amplify sound.  Humans often use ear protection when they shoot a gun, can you imagine how loud that same sound is for the dog ?

Police dogs and gun dogs are often right beside the gun when it fires and in order to be successful I believe it is best to slowly incorporate gunfire into his life.

I have personally seen and worked with dogs that were traumatized by gunfire or loud sounds and although these dogs can be desensitized to a point, some of them will never be effective working dogs.  It is much better to prevent a problem than it is to set your dog up for failure and then deal with a problem later.

I once worked with a police dog that was purchased due to his high drives sociability and workability; however the police department did not test his gunfire readiness.  Turns out that he detested gunfire!  Gunfire or loud noises sent him running for the car.  As you can imagine no officer wanted a dog they couldn’t trust in a shootout!  Turns out his first owner’s husband had gotten drunk one night and shot a goat right next to him.  The sound of the gun plus the bleating of the goat traumatized him for life. Read the rest of this entry »

Weaning Yourself and Your Dog from Compulsion Dog Training Collars

I was recently approached by a former client (I would still be her dogs’ trainer if I lived close enough!  I really miss her pack of dogs!) to help some of her rescue friends find an alternative to some of the training collars they have been taught to use.

I don’t like training collars, except the gentle leader, because not only do most rely on compulsion and punishment they are rarely used for “training” like they were intended or as their name implies.

A training collar if utilized should be just that; only used to train or teach a dog something.

BUT, how many times do you see a 4 or 9 year old dog still using a prong collar?

One of the biggest problems is that dog owners have been taught to utilize these collars but instead of just teaching their dogs, they rely on these products constantly to get their dogs to comply with certain behaviors.  AND, the dog knows when the collar is and is not on!

Even though many of these people have been taught by a dog trainer HOW to use these items they are never taught how to wean their dog off of them or how to teach them a different way!

Did I mention I don’t like these collars?  I want to make SURE that everyone knows I NEVER recommend them!  After all, we are a “hands off” dog training system and nothing is more “hands on” than choke chains and prong collars!  So don’t send hate mail!! Read the rest of this entry »

Cooking For Your Dog

I have been a dog trainer and a vet tech for what seems like forever!  I have never “catered” to my dogs’ food choices.  If I were to let them choose, my 12 year old dog would opt for Reese’s Pieces and Peanut Butter Cookies for all of his meals!  He is a dog after my own heart!

I haven’t jumped on the raw diet bandwagon and I don’t have the time or effort to cook all of my dog’s meals for them.  I don’t believe in spoiling them when it comes to their meals either.  You surely know someone who’s dog will only eat homemade meals.

Personally I don’t believe that most homemade dog food recipes and raw diets get the dogs all the vitamins and nutrients they need in all the right amounts.  I know that most try, but I don’t believe that they have been around long enough to provide my dogs with all that they need.

I understand that there are many of my readers that make their own dog food or feed the raw diet and do a great job and have wonderful results, but for now it is just not for me.  I believe in the research and nutritional components of some of the large dog food companies.  I am not here to discourage anyone from making their own dog food.

However, I recently had a scare when it comes to dog treats.

I use to give my dogs a third of a piece of chicken jerky at night when we all went to bed.   And, my dogs started begging to go to bed around 7 p.m. each night so that they could enjoy their nightly ritual!  I didn’t realize that the FDA had been cautioning pet owners about chicken jerky products made in China since 2007!  YIKES!!!

It got me thinking; perhaps it would be safer for me to make my own dog treats!

For years I have been telling my obedience clients to use human food for treats (in moderation of course) because if lots of small children get sick from string cheese we will know a lot faster than if dogs get sick and the process it takes to diagnose and relate it back to a food or treat item.

But, my dogs LOVED chicken jerky!

So I am going to start cooking for them, at least in moderation!  And, I am going to share some recipes with you so that you can do the same!

When cooking for your dog, remember that simplicity is best!  Dogs don’t need added salt or onion or garlic flavorings.  Actually onions and garlic can be toxic for your dog, and salt is hard on his kidneys so when I cook for them I decrease or leave out any salt, garlic, onion or other spice.  My dogs don’t care about spices!  They just want treats that taste good to them, and we all know that dogs eat unimaginably gross things!  Keep it simple, they also don’t need sprinkles or anything that “looks” like chocolate!

Chicken Jerky Oven

• 1 cooked chicken breast cut into thin strips
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees
• Place strips on baking sheets and bake 2-3 hours (depending on thickness) to remove moisture.
• Allow to cool in oven as oven cools to continue dehydrating
• Freeze to preserve freshness

Chicken Jerky Dehydrator

• Raw chicken breast (as much as you desire or have room for) cut into thin pieces
• Dehydrate for 8-10 hours depending on thickness
• Freeze to preserve freshness

I assume you could dehydrate almost any kind of meat this way!

Liver Biscuits

• 1 lb Liver
• 1 box of corn muffin mix
• Liquefy liver in food processor or blender, mix with muffin mix, knead until doughy, spread on a nonstick cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Cool, cut and put in fridge or freezer.

Are You Misusing Treats in Your Dog Training?

Recently, in the dog training world, there have been questions brought up regarding the use of treats in today’s dog training.

It seems as though the tide has turned from choke chains, prong collars and compulsion, to positive reinforcement and the introduction of treats, to the misuse of treats which has turned into bribing our dogs to comply.

Bribery is never pretty and almost never works on a long term basis.  Bribery is defined as a form of corruption, an act implying money or a gift that alters the behavior of an individual.

How Do You Know When Good Dog Training Turns to the Not So Pretty Bribery?

Once your dog has truly learned a behavior, and you no longer need to help him by luring him to successfully complete the behavior… but he only listens to you IF he knows you have and will use a treat you are crossing into the bounds of bribery!

If you have to SHOW your dog the treat in order to try to convince him to comply you are bribing him!

I thought for a long time before writing this article because I guess I would rather see people bribe their dogs before I would want to see people choke or use physical corrections and the last thing I want to do is convince people that using treats is the wrong way to train their dog.  However, I know that people get frustrated when they realize they have to bribe their dogs to listen.  Read the rest of this entry »

When Does Puppy Nipping Cross the Line Into Biting?

I recently worked with a client who had gotten a puppy 2 weeks prior to our meeting.  The puppy was 6 weeks old when he brought him home and immediately he had concerns that his new family member’s biting was not normal.

Within a week, he had called me for emergency help.

It is hard to imagine an 8 week old puppy having “aggression issues” but unfortunately some of them do.  These are the puppies and the clients I worry about the most as these puppies age.  Without a sincere and dedicated change in their lifestyle these puppies are hardwired for aggression issues and problems that could lead them to shelters, to biting someone, and toward ultimate euthanasia.

I am sure I will get some backlash for publically admitting that tiny puppies can have “aggression issues” because most people think that “puppies are puppies and if you just RAISE THEM RIGHT” you will never have to worry about aggression in your dog.

However, as much as I would like to adhere to that philosophy it just isn’t true, and it isn’t fair for the owners that inadvertently end up with these pups.  Some puppies have an abnormal amount of aggression, anger and a tendency toward “biting” not “nipping” but actual BITING.

I worry about and I feel bad for both the puppy and his confused and saddened owner, who is doing all that he can to curb the behavior NOW. Read the rest of this entry »

Why Rescues Make One of the Best Resources When Looking for a New Furry Companion

I LOVE animal rescues, at least most of them!  Most animal rescues have the animal’s best interests in mind and are run effectively and by good and loving people.

I have spent a good portion of my career working with numerous animal rescues and getting to know just what is involved in the processes that they deal with daily!

When I hear people complain about adoption fees, my whole body cringes.  I wish that the average person or naysayer had to spend just a week watching the intricacies involved in animal rescue.

Did you know that some rescues, fully anesthetize spay or neuter, and clean teeth of older dogs that are in need?  Good rescues also make sure their animals are vaccinated, heartworm negative, and not in need of regular medication.   Thousands of dollars are spent on dogs that need surgeries, or heartworm treatment.   They don’t charge $1,500 for the 10 year old dog that went through treatment, so they have to make up some of the differences for their compassion in other places.

These rescue workers scour dog shelters to rescue dogs on the last days of their lives.  If not for these rescues, hundreds of thousands of dogs would be euthanized! Read the rest of this entry »

“How’s That Workin’ For Ya?” The Need for Change in Dog Training

I hate to even admit it now, but I use to watch Dr. Phil occasionally YEARS ago when his show was new.  Now I think he has joined the “smut patrol” with other seedy daytime talk shows but I use to think some of his advice was fairly useful.

Even back then, I use to see some of my clients (in my head) as he was counseling people.  He would ask a question, they would answer but then try to defend their behavior or their choices.

When given advice, they would often answer… “I tried, that doesn’t work, he won’t like it” and time after time they would try to defend their behavior or convince him to see the superiority in their thinking.

It was usually at about that time that he would interject… “So, how’s that workin’ for ya?”

This simple statement reiterates that the flawed behavior is NOT working and therefore there is a need for true and whole hearted change.

If something is working out efficiently, then there is no need for change.  But, when you are having tribulations you need to break down the actions and determine where things are flawed so that you can make a change.

The definition of insanity, as defined by Albert Einstein, is “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

As a dog trainer, I run into this psychology or “insanity” all of the time.  People want their dog to “change” but they don’t want to exert any effort and they certainly see no need to change their behavior!

I was always happy to realize that it wasn’t just my clients who behave this way; these people were on TV arguing with the renowned doctor and expert that they were seeking advice from!  When I look at it that way, my feathers get a little less ruffled.

I have to admit it is usually people that are dealing with aggression or other severe behavior problems that want to do the most arguing.  I guess because serious behavior problems require the most work and effort, and often take the longest to see suitable results. Read the rest of this entry »

The Working Man’s (or Woman’s) Conundrum in Today’s Dog Ownership

I recently worked with a client at my house.  She had a lovely Pit Bull mix who was full of energy and excitement!  He was 10 months old and she and her boyfriend were at their wits end trying to deal with him and his excessive energy.  As I watch dogs bounce and fly around during training, I often wish I had just a fraction of their vigor and zest for life!

This couple’s problem is probably one of the most common problems I encounter in dog training.

They work 10 hours a day.  Now I realize that most of you are probably hackling in anger at the thought of a dog being left alone for 10 hours a day, but the truth of the matter is that this is a very common scenario.

I wish that you had to get a license, pass an ethical, knowledge and skills test, and promise to be able to spend a certain amount of time with your dog in order to own a dog; but the truth is that there are too many dogs and not enough good homes to involve such sanctions.  If requirements to own animals were stricter there would be an even higher and more astronomical rate of euthanasia.

Not all people who work are unfit owners; even those that have to work crazy long hours can make sure their dogs live fulfilling lives if they are willing to make some sacrifices! Read the rest of this entry »

Success Story From A Client

I just got this video entry for this month’s dog training contest that I thought you’d enjoy.

If you didn’t already know, each month I award $100 petsmart giftcard to the client who sends me the best video of how their dog turns out AFTER using the techniques I teach in one of my programs.

If you’d like to compete against this video and try to win the $100 petsmart gift card here’s a hint… shoot a video of your dog ‘Misbehaving’ BEFORE you do any training with your dog, so I can see just how badly behaved they were.  Then shoot a second video of how much progress you’ve made AFTER you start to see results (it usually only takes a few days)!

Oh, and one more thing…

You do have to have purchased at least one of my programs to participate in the contest, like my Hands Off Dog Training program,  my Teaching Dogs House Manners program, or my program on calming down your dogs emotions.

So if you’d like to get a little reward for implementing a training technique you’ve learned from one of my programs… plus end up with a better behaved dog & $100 to spoil them with grab a camera and start training.

I’m looking forward to seeing your footage.

So You Want to Be a Dog Trainer

Whenever I am out dog training or I meet people in a social setting they say they have always wanted to be or would like to be a dog trainer like me!  Whereas this is flattering I often wonder if people really realize what it takes to truly be a professional dog trainer!

I do not lead a glamorous life!

Some days I wish I could dress up, have long nails and wear jewelry, but alas…clothes get stained and ripped, nails are torn off, and I have had jewelry ripped off my neck by boisterous dogs.  And I have been bitten more times than I would like to admit; some being my fault and others blocking more serious damage.

I have one dog trainer friend that was disemboweled by a dog and another whose arm was broken by a dog that ran to the end of his leash!  Dog training is not always full of walks, snuggles and roses!

And, unless you import and train personal protection dogs or police dogs, it can sometimes be difficult to find your niche and actually make money in this business.

BUT, this article is not to discourage.  I actually welcome fresh faces who are willing to learn and dedicate their lives to improving the lives of dogs and their families.  We need as many kind and compassionate dog trainers out there as possible! Read the rest of this entry »