When You Surrender A Dog

I came across the paperwork I had on my precious, little Melody.  As I worked with some timid dogs at the local shelter to help them be adoptable, I met a not-so-happy Yorkie who had been surrendered.  She had been a breeder at a puppy mill.  This is the statement of surrender the woman had to sign in order for this no-kill shelter to take responsibility for her.

STATEMENT OF SURRENDER

I, the undersigned, do hereby unconditionally donate to the Morongo Basin Humane Society, my animal to dispose of as it sees fit, relinquishing all my rights, title and interest in said animal.  I further represent that I am the owner thereof, or the agent for the animal.  I understand that any animal may be euthanized.

I read and re-read the above paragraph.  Knowing Melody as I do now, it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to sign such an agreement.  I am in no way faulting the shelter.  This is what they have to do and this shelter is great and does so much for so many.  I was fortunate enough to bring Melody home to help her trust human touch, and the rest is history.

If you or anyone you know, needs to re-home a dog, please do your best to find a home without surrendering to the already over-crowded shelters.  It is traumatic for a dog to go from a loving home environment to a shelter.  If I can be of assistance in any way, please let me know.

What’s In Your Collar?

There are so many options when it comes to purchasing a collar for your dog. Should you use a harness? What type of harness is best? If using a collar, is the flat nylon style adequate? Some trainers will only train using a prong/pinch (or power steering collar, as I call them). My personal
favorite is the Martingale-style training collar.

Let’s face it, dog training is dog training when it comes to basic commands. It’s what happens when the leash and collar come off that is the true test. A lot of dogs go into their training mode when a specific collar is used for training versus the one used for a walk. They quickly learn what is expected depending on their “jewelry.”  Much like a service or search and rescue dog knows it’s working when wearing a vest.  Dogs are smart!  We train them well (or they train us well).  =)

I make certain that any dog I work with knows their commands regardless of their collar or harness. The collar and leash are tools. The end result is not that your dog responds nicely during the 15 – 20 minutes of training, but rather they listen, respect, and want to please you when training is done. Training becomes a way of life. Aren’t we always teaching others how to treat us!

After the basics, I suggest switching to a 15 – 20 foot leash to perfect “stay.” It’s also beneficial for teaching them to “come” and for distance learning. Too often, after puppy class, the leash and training are set aside until the dog does something not so pleasing to the human. I can assure you, the dog is always great at being a dog and not so great at thinking like a human.  It takes (a lot) of time and consistency to create a mutually respectful relationship with your dog.

As a side note, I have seen too many dogs who were broken (for lack of a better word) by harsh training using a prong collar. Not every dog is the same, and it’s important to be willing to try different tools to see what works for your dog. If a trainer/behaviorist only does it one way, I’d find another trainer. No two dogs are the same any more than two humans.

I am happy to answer any questions you have, and if you live in the Palm Springs area, I would love the opportunity to work with you and your fur family.

Update on Courage

I posted previously about Courage, the German Shepherd left to starve to death in his human’s yard. Here is a link to his web site. What an inspirational story! He is also being adopted by his foster family.

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County Features Courage

Dog Versus Instinct

Usually when we think of a dog and its instincts, we don’t think in the context of us (dog) versus them (instinct).  A dog may never be truly separated from its instincts, however, it may have to grow into them.

While working with puppies, particularly male puppies, it is interesting to observe their response to their instincts particularly as it pertains to their developing hormones.   Until the hormones align with maturity, it is as if their instincts work against them.  Some males never lift their leg and others…well, could use a father figure saying something like, “son, never pee into the wind.” In the case of some male pups, it would be, “son, lift the other leg.”

I watched as a six-month-old ALL-MALE pup, sniffed a place where another dog had gone, and rather than lifting the leg next to the targeted rock, lifted the wrong leg. Too funny. I, of course, would never laugh at the dog.

I had him out for socialization, and as he focused on the scent where another dog had marked, he began to mark. What was so entertaining, is he doesn’t yet know to ration his urine so he went freely as he was walking away! Another time, he looked down as he was mid-stream and the urine hit his chin. He jumped with a startled expression as if to ask, “who just sprayed me and why?”

He will get his brain soon and his body will mature and the hormones will stabilize. Until then, I will enjoy the maturing process of this beautiful (when he is sleeping) boy.

How To Keep Your Dog In The Yard

The secret to keeping your dog safely in the yard is to build a fence!  I wish it were easier than that.  When we move into a home, it is very clear to us that this is our house and this is our yard.  Dogs don’t.  They learn where they live, but for the most part, a yard is a yard is a yard.

Some dog breeds have less of a prey drive and are more connected to the needs and wants of their human pack.  They may never even consider wandering off unless it is to follow you.  Others, appear to go deaf and experience a sudden loss of memory when instinct or wanderlust kicks in.  Dogs can be taught the boundary of a yard, but even the best trained dog may run after a foot-loose rabbit. (Can’t you just hear their, “woo-hoo – got me a wabbit!   Yard?  Boundary?  Give me a second!”)

It is very important to continually reinforce their recall (coming to you) because if, or should I say when they take off, they will respond to your call.   At that moment, their response to “come” is more important than the fact they left the yard.

Don’t ask me how I know this!  =)

Do Dogs Have Feelings?

The subject of dogs and what it is they feel will forever be a topic of interest to us dog advocates. I don’t think I would treat them any differently if I were to find out they had no “feelings” in the sense that we humans do.

A feeling can be like the weather in Seattle. If you don’t like it, wait an hour and it will be different! This is certainly true if our feelings are based on emotion alone. Living with humans, dogs are exposed to our fickle behaviors and moods whether or not they understand or join us in them.

I know when I have asked a client to confine (crate or kennel or keep a leash on their dog) they wonder if it will hurt their dog’s feelings. On behalf of all the dogs I love, NO! We don’t worry about hurting an infant’s feelings if we don’t let them run free and out of our sight before they are trustworthy.

I do believe dogs have feelings, and the rest is my life study.  For instance, I came home from a training session to find that my dogs were frantically going through the phone book looking for a florist so they could send me flowers for my upcoming birthday. You can see their disappointment in my walking in on the surprise. I’d say they have feelings…

I think Melody needs glasses!

Housetrain Your Dog The Easy Way!

If this doesn’t work for you, get a copy of my ebook “The Truth About Housebreaking.”  Maybe if your dog sees you reading the book, he will be more than willing to take this vow.

Dogs Don’t Have Accidents

I hear people refer to a dog’s behavior as an “accident.”  Dogs don’t have accidents.  Certainly not in the way humans do.

As I walked to my car today and noticed yet another they-had-to-know-they-did-this door ding, I said my characteristic “dog gone it!”  Whatever that means.  Having just said the word dog,  I couldn’t help but think about how different we humans are from  animals.

Dogs, like other animals, live in the moment.  They may be territorial, possessive, aggressive, and any or all of the characteristics that could make them excellent door-dingers; however, it’s not something they would do.  If a dog wants you to know they are feeling threatened, irritated, or any number of expressions, it will be in your presence and applicable to that moment.  They aren’t capable of being passive-aggressive.

Living in the moment may not be so great all of the time; however, it would help to lessen those “accidents” we humans may participate in on a daily basis; i.e., forgetting where we put something, hitting someone’s car because we weren’t paying attention, over-reacting to a situation because of something that happened earlier in the day, etc.

I am coining a new phrase – “WWMDD?”  That’s – “What Would My Dog Do?”  I don’t know that it will help me find the keys I can’t find because I was thinking of something else when I set them down; but, if asked often enough, it may help to keep me in the moment and maybe a little less serious.

Accidents do happen (as they say); however maybe if we asked ourselves WWMDD, they would happen a little less often.

If your dog has mentioned you need behavioral modification or you experience mis-placed aggression, send me an email.  I’m happy to help.  I’m better at understanding dogs, but I do fairly well with humans.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog?

It only takes seconds to train a dog.  Really.  Because your dog is constantly observing and responding to you, you are always training them.  What you are training them is the question.  If you provide little to no structure and are inconsistent with what you expect of them, you will receive little to no respect and inconsistent behavior from them.

Some clients admit to having in the past had dogs they never had to train.  The difference was in the dog.  Some dogs want to please us more than others, and it appears they need no training.  They do; however, they are just plain easy!  Unfortunately (or fortunately), not all dogs are created equal.  We make the mistake of labeling a dog that was easy “good” and a difficult dog as “bad.”  They are both good dogs – let’s just say one is more challenging than the other.

So, how long does it take to train your dog?  It could be a lifetime.  Sure, with consistent expectations from you, you will get into a good flow of life where there is peace in the kingdom.  However, and that is a big HOWEVER, they will always and forever be a dog going through cycles of development and may need you to “remind” them of what they know.  I am here to remind you.  =)

Dr. Phil’s Dog Training

In the words of another great dog behaviorist…most trainers train humans and rehabilitate dogs.  I work with a lot of dogs who are, fortunately for them, not so much in need of rehabilitation given their age and history as they are in need of consistency.  And, in much dismay to their humans, they are excellent at being puppies.

In my training of humans, I try to keep things light and also get the point across.  For instance, as I am leash training their dog, the human will get excited when the puppy attempts to chew the leash as they repeat, “see, look what he does, look what he does!” If, when I provide instruction, they don’t want to hear what I’m saying, I’ll ask what they have been doing when Pookie chews the leash.  After they respond, I hear myself asking, “how’s that workin’ for ya’?”

Another example is in the guidance I provide for house training a puppy.  It almost always involves my suggesting crate training and complete supervision when the puppy isn’t in the crate.  By now, they are exhausted from cleaning up poop and pee and not sleeping because of a destructive pup in the house.  They will assure me it would never work and every reason why.  I wait and listen because I do understand their frustration.  Then, if they continue to negate my suggestion, I may hear myself ask, “do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?”

So, you see, this really is about human behavior modification as much as it is canine behavior modification.  As I always say, dogs are great at being dogs.  While it may not be the same in every case, behaviorists have learned what works.  I’m sure there are a lot of other Dr. Phil-isms I could and do use.  If what you are doing, isn’t working or in the way you had hoped, please contact me!