Growing Good Dogs

WHAT A GOOD DOG! : Build Your Puppy's Social Skills Now

2012-02-09T00:08:00.003-05:00

I attended a 3-day workshop last weekend with about 30 other trainers. Two of them brought their new 9-week-old puppies with them. Those pups got tons of attention from all sorts of humans. They also got the chance to be still and quiet in a room full of people talking, laughing and running demos with other adult dogs. Basically, they learned that that kind of noise and activity was no big deal. It was a golden opportunity for socialization, and their very wise “moms” took advantage of it. The puppies had fun and socked away 3 days of exposures to people, healthy adult dogs and lots of different environmental elements and surfaces – dirt, grass, concrete, carpet, linoleum and tile. What lucky pups! They’re getting off to a really good start.

If you don’t train your dog to perform a crisp, sharp Heel or to leap through a flaming hoop, no big deal. But ... of all the things we do for our dogs, the one BIG thing is socializing them – demystifying the world around them. We want them to live at ease in our human world. It’s the rare dog indeed who can do it without our help. Good, solid socialization is an important foundation for all good behavior that follows.

As soon as possible after your pup comes home, begin exposing him to as many types of people, other dogs and other animals as you can. The sooner, the better. Puppies’ critical socialization period is roughly the first four months of life. It is during those important weeks and months that their view of the world is shaped. Consult with your vet, of course, but start taking your puppy with you wherever you go, whenever you can. He’ll learn that going is a good thing and going in a car isn’t scary at all.

Here are a few other ideas:

Go shopping! Some retail outlets – pet supply stores or home-improvement warehouses, for instance – allow well-behaved dogs in their stores. (Tip: don’t put him on the floor just yet; he needs all his vaccinations for that)

Go out to eat! Some restaurants with patio seating will allow well-behaved dogs to sit with their people.
Get together with family and friends! Invite willing friends and acquaintances to your home and allow your pup to play with them.
Have puppy play time! Arrange play dates with the dogs of trusted neighbors and friends – making sure that they (the dogs, not your neighbors) are the appropriate size and play style.

Clean the house! Let your puppy hear the dishwasher or the vacuum while he’s hanging out in his crate, working on a yummy, stuffed Kong.

Go to school! Take your little tyke to a puppy class with a good positive trainer. Puppy kindergarten is all about puppies learning proper play, meeting new people and learning a few good manners along the way. It may be the most important class you and your dog ever take.

In short, expose your pup to as many different people, places, sights and sounds as you possibly can. The list could go on and on. Be creative. And here’s the big secret to successful socialization:

Make every effort to ensure that each new experience is fun and pleasant for your dog. During the first 100 days of his life with you, make it your job to give him at least one new, different and pleasant encounter each day. It’s like money in the bank. If you teach him that the world is full of different and interesting people, animals and places, he won’t fear them. In fact, he’ll be so “vaccinated” against the world that when a strange, new experience does come along, it won’t throw him for a loop.

This simple gift – the gift of self-assurance – will help him become a happy, well-adjusted adult dog for the rest of his life.

Posted by Jenny Schneider, CPDT-KA, PMCT, ANWI Camp Canine USA, LLC

2011-12-05T19:33:00.004-05:00

GIVING A PET FOR CHRISTMAS? DON'T DO IT!

Think of all the times you’ve received a gift you didn’t want or like. Now, imagine that the unwelcome gift is a pet -- a living, breathing creature who needs care, feeding and constant attention. Now what!? The choices are few: either the recipient returns the pet or reluctantly keeps her.

Because dogs are my specialty, I’ll discuss them specifically. Here are some reasons this is more of a problem than a simple inconvenience.

If the dog is returned:

The dog now has a history of being returned and is harder to re-home.
The dog was away from the adopting agency or breeder when potential adopters were looking and may have missed an opportunity for a good home.
If this puppy was between the ages of 7 and 16 weeks, part of her critical socialization period was missed or worse, damaged because the recipient probably didn’t want to spend any extra time with her.
Finally, and most importantly, this emotionally complex animal has just experienced rejection, and the stress of changing “homes” several times.

If the (unwanted) dog stays:

If the dog is a gift for a child, think about how long it takes a child to tire of her toys. (A dog is not a toy!)
Who will take care of the dog when the child loses interest?
Chances are pretty good that the recipient won’t bond well with this dog, because he wasn’t part of the selection.
The dog may not be the right match for the person; too active, too sedentary, too big, too much grooming required, etc.
The recipient may not have enough time to spend with the dog which would likely lead to problem behaviors.
Puppies require a LOT of work to raise them properly. You must:

Socialize extensively between 7 and 16 weeks of age
Housetrain
Crate-train
Train them for manners
Exercise them sufficiently
Teach them what they can and cannot chew on
Teach them to enjoy grooming
Give them adequate veterinary care

Adding a pet to one’s family is like adopting a child. This is a personal, time- and research-intensive choice made by an individual or family (everyone should be involved in choosing just the right dog or puppy for the family).

If you want to get something special for that pet-loving person in your life, here are some suggestions for giving:

Gift Certificates. Most shelters and probably breeders have gift certificates for their animals

Your loved one can pick out his own pet.

Felted Wool Husky from AmberRose Creations

The pets available during holidays may not be the right ones for your recipient.

Pet portrait. If the recipient recently lost a pet, check out the many excellent artists on-line (e.g. PerlillaPets) who produce beautiful reproductions from photographs in many price ranges
Felted wool pets. Amazingly realistic, just about any animal or breed you can think of can be reproduced in felted wool. (e.g. (AmberRoseCreations)
Life-like toys for children

“Breathing” dogs (http://www.breathingdog.com/)
Fur Real Friends (http://tinyurl.com/bwreyyq)
Webkinz (http://tinyurl.com/bvwg3ns)
Zhu zhu pets (http://tinyurl.com/8582mhz)

Breed-specific. Support their love for a particular breed with any of hundreds of breed-specific items from t-shirts to Lladro figurines.

Dalmation: www.breathingdog.com

Your intentions are the best. Make the most responsible choice possible for your loved one and for the animals involved.

Posted by Tracey Schowalter, Puppy Adept, Inc.

DIG THIS!

2011-11-21T18:17:00.017-05:00

(What to do when your dog is digging up your yard)

People frequently ask me how they can stop their dog from digging holes in the yard, or how to stop them from digging up newly planted flowers and shrubs. I’ve read some solutions that range from ridiculous to unreasonably difficult.

One thing to keep in mind is that dogs were originally bred to help humans achieve certain goals. Terriers, for example were bred specifically to dig and hunt vermin (Jack Russell Terriers, for one) and for these dogs, the behavior is what we call “hard-wired”.

My favorite solution for this problem is to let the dog be a dog and dig, but give him a place to dig that makes you and your dog happy.

Find an inconspicuous place in your yard where it would be acceptable for some digging to take place.
When your dog is inside, dig a hole in the place you have chosen that is slightly deeper and wider than the holes your dog has been digging in other places.
Fill the hole with a mixture of play sand and about 1/4 of the original dirt.
While you are filling the hole with this mixture throw in some of your dog’s favorite chew items and toys. Hooves work well (they are outside chew toys) as well as some other favorites that you know your dog enjoys.

Let your dog outside and watch him. When he starts digging, cheerfully go outside and guide him to the special hole you’ve prepared. If necessary, help him move the dirt/sand around a bit until he gets the idea, and when he discovers the first hidden treasure, praise him and play a quick game with him with the toy or treat he has found.

You may need to repeat this a few times, watching and redirecting him to the special digging place where the good things are buried. Soon, he will get the idea and go there first to dig. Keep it stocked with hidden treasures and before long, your yard will be back to normal and your little digger will dig only in his designated area.

Another thing to remember is that some dogs dig out of boredom. A well-exercised dog who spends some quality time with his human on a regular basis is much less likely to spend time digging up your yard. A daily game of fetch or a brisk walk will go a long way towards giving your dog something to look forward to and ending his boredom.

Susan Giordano, M.Ed., CPDT-KA, OSCT K9U Training and Behavior Modification

PLANTING SEEDS

2011-10-27T21:50:00.003-04:00

A lot of dog trainers are lured into the profession by a desire to solve a problem. Perhaps a much-loved dog doesn’t play well with others, or maybe he has severe, debilitating anxiety every time he’s left home alone. Instead of giving up, these dog owners become so full of knowledge in their quests to find a solution, the next natural step is to share that knowledge with others.

Not me. No, sir. I got into training, because it was fun and (I thought) pretty easy.

My husband Bill and I adopted a little Shih Tzu/Terrier mix named Boz.

He was practically perfect. He walked nicely on a leash, barked only occasionally, got along well with our 2 cats and was easily housetrained. Eventually, Boz and I took a couple of classes in clicker training for fun, and I was hooked. I was fascinated by the deep bond I had forged with this funny, feisty, gentle little guy. I also was blown away by his ability to learn and adapt. I simply wanted more.

I sought out a teacher and found über-trainer Pat Miller of Peaceable Paws fame. Back then, she was just up the road in Chattanooga, Tennessee. To be honest, I had no clue on that first day that I was on my way to meet one of the best positive trainers on the planet.

Fate was kind. Pat became my mentor. Today, I count her as a treasured friend.

It wasn’t until I began my apprenticeship with Pat that I learned the depth of understanding I would need to be a good enough trainer to guide other, more-challenged dogs through our crazy, demanding human world. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. Pat unquestionably gave me the best foundation possible to set out on my own and create Camp Canine USA.

Now, 10 years later, I have worked with countless dogs on every challenge you can name – from housetraining to serious aggression. I train, because I want to help others enjoy their dogs the way I enjoy mine, to have a better understanding of why dogs do what they do and to teach them (the dogs) some manners along the way.

Puppy Adept’s Tracey Schowalter and K9U Training's Susan Giordano have been special friends and colleagues since we met through Pat Miller a decade ago. I am honored and just plain tickled pink to join them in this venture. We’re proud to share our combined 30 years of experience and our passion for dogs and fun, effective, force-free methods of training them.

Let’s plant a few seeds and see how many happy, well-adjusted dogs will grow!

Posted by Jenny Schneider, CPDT-KA, PMCT, CAMP CANINE USA, LLC