The 7 Deadly Sins of Dog Ownership

There are some things I have seen in veterinary medicine and also as a professional dog trainer that are recipes for disaster and sometimes death.   Although none is a definite death sentence because some people experience extreme luck in very dangerous situations, I believe it is best to arm yourself with the knowledge to keep your dog safe!

#7: Living within the Bounds of a Safe Enclosure

Although some dogs chose and prefer to stay within the realms of their home territory, most dogs like to wander.  Wandering from home to home or across the street to chase cats and squirrels is tantalizing for most dogs.  If you add to this scenario an unneutered male, chances are almost nonexistent that your dog will choose to stay home when he gets a whiff on a female in heat.

Secure fencing is essential for good safe pet ownership.

Thousands of dogs are killed when hit by cars each year.  Several are killed by other dogs and wild animals when they leave the safety of their yard.

If you are on the side of luck and your dog doesn’t die from being hit by a car, or attacked by another dog the trauma of these experiences can affect them for a lifetime!

Make sure your fence is escape-proof.  If you use invisible fencing be sure to check it regularly to ensure it is working properly.

If you cannot provide a safe secure fenced area, walk your dog on a leash for his exercise and elimination requirements.

#6: Not Providing Preventative Medicine

Preventative medicine, means providing your dog with vaccinations, medications, and other veterinary tests in order to prevent disease and problems.  Regular quality veterinary care prevents diseases and tribulations as your dog ages.

Providing your dog with vaccinations and medications like Heartworm Prevention can keep your dog safe and alive!  Waiting to see the signs of disease for heartworm, or distemper may prove to be too late to save the life of your dog!

Recently I spent time with the friend of a friend who’s dog had NEVER been to a vet.  No puppy vaccines, no medications of any kind had ever been given.  The dog was 10 and only recently began suffering from obesity and arthritis.  I was amazed at her luck!

However, no matter how lucky she was…I would never risk my pet’s health.  I am happy to submit to annual and 3 year vaccines, yearly heartworm tests, monthly prevention pills, 2 or more exams per year with blood work and urinalysis as my dogs age.

My theory is if my vet recommends it, it makes sense, and it could potentially extend my dog’s life DO IT!  I will do whatever I can within my power to make sure I provide the best care available to me! Read the rest of this entry »

Off Leash Obedience Mysteries, Solved!

I have had several requests as of late to write an article on off leash dog obedience. Almost everyone that has a dog aspires to off leash dog obedience at some point in time.  But there are essential steps to getting there and ways to make sure it is effective and fun!

Off Leash Essentials

• The first thing to remember is that off leash obedience is ADVANCED obedience.  The rituals that you must follow in dog obedience are first basic obedience, then intermediate obedience and finally advanced obedience.
• Preparing for advanced obedience means your dog is listening to you at the end of a long line (a leash that is 25 or 50 feet long).  Long lines (not flexi leashes) are a great way to test your obedience skills and still give you the ability to be in control of his behavior and limit his ability to run.
• Off leash obedience is definitely an advanced stage of dog obedience, and in order to get there successfully your dog must be listening to you on leash both inside and out of the house at least 90% of the time.  I believe he must also listen to you off leash around the house over 90% of the time.
• If your dog is not at this level, go back and work on your basic and intermediate skills.  There is no shame in having to back up and revisit your obedience skills.  Even the most advanced trainers and dogs will have to regress in their training at different points.  My goal is always 90% before I take another step forward.
• Next you must find several safe places to train. Read the rest of this entry »

Training Your Dog in Drive

Once you and your dog have learned to play together and you have built your dogs play, prey and chase drive you can begin teaching your dog to work in “Drive”.

People ask me “Why is drive training important?  Why would you want to work your dog in drive rather than just rely on regular dog training methods?”

The answer to this is simple.  Drive training is more FUN for your dog.  And, hopefully if you are doing it right, drive training should be more fun for you too!

However, training and working your dog in drive is much more work than traditional “yank and pull” dog training, I think it is even more complicated than most clicker training.  It takes excitement and animation when you play, and it also takes superior timing.  Your praise and the release of the toy need to come in a timely fashion in order for your dog to understand what you want and to learn what your expectations are for his training.

It is more difficult for him to pay attention and have patience because you are playing his favorite game, with his favorite toy.  I liken it to taking a child to the zoo and expecting him to do math.  Although this would be a great reinforcer and would likely work well in the long run (he would learn to love math because of the reward he gets for doing it), it would be difficult for him to focus and be patient at first. Read the rest of this entry »

Pet Insurance, Should You Jump on the Bandwagon?

Did you know that hip replacement for a dog is upwards of $5,000?  A canine MRI can run $2,000.  ACL surgery can run from $2,000 to over $5,000.  And doggy cancer treatment and the possible surgery that goes with it could be around $10,000. Help yourself prepare for the worst case scenario, before you are in need.  I promise 10 years from now when you are faced with cancer treatment, your heart will want to make the investment, when your finances may not be capable!

I have a love hate relationship with the idea of insurance, both for pets, stuff (cars etc.) and human.  I like the security of knowing I am insured, but I hate the idea of gambling against myself.  And, it is nice when I am in need of insurance, but what happens to all that monthly money when I DON’T need it?  That is what makes insurance companies successful, the simple fact that most people don’t need to call in their insurance card very often.

There are nice things about pet insurance, although there is no $5 deductible to have your pet seen like in some human insurances; you also don’t have to deal with the bureaucracy of managed care and insurance companies choosing your veterinarian or denying your pet care.  There aren’t HMOs or PPOs in veterinary care and that can be a good thing because you can go to any emergency care, specialist or any veterinarian and still be reimbursed.

What is most important when looking into insurance for you and your dog is finding the right policy for both of you.  The right policy for me and the right policy for you might be different.  For me I want to consider and compare any and all out of pocket expenses compared with the insurance costs over all. Read the rest of this entry »

7 Alarming Dog Attack Stats

Sources of information:

Dog Bite Law Center
CDC – Dog Bite Prevention
DogsBite.Org

Dog car Sickness Cures (Video)

Links To Stuff I Mentioned In Video:
http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/carsick (Use keyword ‘Easy Travel Solution’)
http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/seatbelt

Help! My Dog is Too Protective

Let’s be honest, one of the reason people get and like dogs is because they feel more confident and protected by them.  It has been proven that even the bark of a Chihuahua will drive away a burglar.  For most criminals it simply isn’t worth getting involved with someone with a dog.

When I was 18, a requirement of marriage was getting a Rottweiler.  I got 2!  My female Rottie was around 100# and was the sweetest, kindest, doggie soul you could ever meet.  She almost never met a person she didn’t immediately adore.  I use to laugh because if you simply placed a finger on her she was thrilled by the affection.

As I walked her to the park one day, a man jumped out from around a van.  I had NEVER seen her hackle or her show her teeth to a person before that moment and a growl resonated from within her belly.   I was just an 18 year old kid and definitely not a dog trainer yet.

He hastily scurried around his van entered through the passenger side scooted over and his wheels screeched as he tore out of sight. Read the rest of this entry »

Traveling with Your Dog

As I write this, I should be packing!  We are taking a 17 hour drive tomorrow to the U.P. of Michigan!  So that got me to thinking, maybe I should include an article about traveling with your pet.  As you know, if you are familiar with my articles, I never travel without my dogs!

However, before you make plans, ask yourself if your dog will be happy and comfortable traveling with you!  Some dogs would prefer to stay home!  Not all dogs enjoy a car ride or an adventure far from home.  If your dog would rather stay home you can look into the options of leaving your dog with:

• Family
• Friends
• Or a Pet Sitter (some will come and stay at your home)

And, although it is not my favorite option, some dogs do fine in a clean, well run boarding kennel.  Just make sure you check out the kennel to ensure it is up to your standards.  My recommendation is that you stop in at their busiest time unannounced (don’t make an appointment) so that you can guarantee it is clean even when they are busy and not expecting a tour.  I prefer a busy Saturday morning.  If they won’t give you a tour when you stop by, I probably wouldn’t leave my pet there! Read the rest of this entry »

How Let Your Dog Know When it is Appropriate to Play

We have all lived with, or visited a dog that seems obsessive compulsive about playing.  You are sitting quietly watching TV or trying to get some work done when a sloppy, slimy tennis ball is thrust into your lap, leaving a stinky mark behind!

Whereas I believe it is crucial to your relationship with your dog to play together, it can also be vital to be able to get some work done or to let your dog know when it is and is not appropriate to play!

From Your Dog’s Point of View

In order to resolve any behavior problem, I believe it is critical to understand the behavior from your dog’s point of view.  Understanding is fundamental to change.

Boredom increases the likelihood of all kinds of naughty behaviors, least of all being an annoying invitation to play!  Some dogs chew drywall, shred carpet and get in all manner of trouble in order to entertain their minds and/or interact with you on some level.

Remember that ANY interaction from you, even negative is at least SOME kind of interaction.  Dogs are pack animals and need social interaction even if it comes in the form of yelling and screaming.

Dogs need exercise!  Mental stimulation keeps their minds strong, but they also need physical exercise.  Play helps them both mentally entertain themselves, it also helps them physically to burn off some steam and keep their bodies healthy.

Animals are more proficient trainers than we humans could ever be; their patience far surpasses our own when it comes to waiting for rewards.  This is a wonderful attribute, most of the time…BUT this is also why dogs are so incessant and willing to poke and prod you for hours on the chance that you will throw the ball just once!

As humans we are easily distracted and move on quickly if we are not rewarded rapidly.  We are very impatient mammals!

But, dogs have learned if they just stick it out long enough, they might finally be rewarded.

For example, if he barks LONG ENOUGH while in his crate you will let him out.  If he continues to thrust his ball in your lap, or bark at it on the ground you will eventually give up and toss it for him. This release or final toss, makes it even more rewarding when the moment comes to pass.  Imagine waiting weeks or months for a reward…when you finally get it; it is almost more exciting than you can stand!

These moments built on sustained patience and the eventual very high value reward means that your dog is even more willing to be MORE patient and incessant and wait you out the next time!

What You Can Do?

First and foremost is to understand that your dog needs exercise and interaction!

If you need to, schedule time for your dog!  Get up early and throw the ball with him, and make time to throw it after dinner and perhaps again before bedtime.

Be sure that you can tell yourself honestly that you have given him all of the attention and exercise he needs and deserves before you get angry that he is demanding your attention.

Make training and playing on your schedule and on your terms.  If you stick to a schedule your dog will get to know it and will be less demanding at other times during the day.

If your dog is getting enough exercise he should be too tired to be toooo demanding!  So,  if your dog normally comes to you at 2pm while you are trying to work, try taking him out at lunch time for a game of ball, or a walk, or a run so that he will be tired at his normal 2 o’clock play time.

Take his favorite toy away and only bring it out when YOU want to play!  Leaving him access to it all the time allows him to chew it and bring it to you in an attempt to get you to play with him!

Give him something else to do!  Keep him busy by teaching him to retrieve other items for you or having him lay by your feet or under your desk.

Working dogs like Service Dogs are so happy because they constantly feel like they have a job to do!  Even if that job is just laying quietly at their person’s feet, the dog feels needed and enjoys “working”.  Give your dog a job!

This one is important:  DO NOT GIVE IN

No matter how incessant he is, don’t give in to his demands!  This only reinforces his demanding behavior.

If he continually bugs you with barking, pawing, or the thrusting of toys get up and leave the room.  Or, you can put him outside or in another room for a bit until he calms down.

Once he realizes that demanding that you comply to his playtime ends with you or him leaving the room he will begin to stop showing the behavior.

But, remember that his patience and insistence has paid off in the past and so counter conditioning him will take longer than simply teaching him a new behavior.

Simply Put

• Give him the exercise and play he needs on your schedule and your terms!
• If he is bored and has pent up energy, he deserves to be played with!
• Put his favorite toys out of his reach so he can’t be so demanding!
• Give your dog a job!
• Be patient and don’t lose your cool!
• Whatever you do: Do Not give in to his demands or you will ruin your success for counter conditioning!

The Top 5 Most Important Dog Training Mistakes to Avoid

People always ask me how I, as a professional dog trainer, make dog training look so easy and how can they can improve their techniques?

I came up with what I believe to be the 5 most important reasons people have difficulty training their dog to work effectively for them.

These are the 5 Most Important Dog Training Mistakes to Avoid, in what I believe to be the most important order.

#5  Lack of Practice or Effort

I have said it before (sometimes I feel like I talk about the same things) but I say it again because it is soooo important!

Practice is crucial!  Your dog WILL NOT learn at obedience class once a week.  I use to tell all my dog obedience students this on the first night of class, and YES most were appalled that I would admit it

Your dog learns through repetition and training AT HOME!  If you are not making a point to work your dog daily or several times a day or week, you will not reap the benefits of a well trained dog!! Read the rest of this entry »