I find dog names interesting. Some fit the dogs perfectly and some – not so much. Some are named after their appearance as in Scruffy. Some are named after their coloring as in Taffy or after their markings as in Spot.
Some have names that are always followed by an inquisitive “oh, that’s an interesting name. What does it mean?” It could mean “I needed something clever so that my dog would know it’s greatness.” Or, sometimes it is something of interest but certainly not to the dog. =)
Some are named based on their stature or physical size like Goliath. Some for the personality that their people hope they have as in Zorro or Zena. Some are given human names like Mikey or Sam. You’ll have to ask them about that.
I don’t think the name is all that important because let’s face it, we could call them anything and given enough repetition they’d respond. It often seems that the name isn’t as significant as the tone used when saying it. It’s important to remember that. (Tone will be a topic for another post.)
The truth is, I think we pick names for our dogs because we don’t think we can consistently spell or say mujulickylululoveypuppy. That’s their “real” name.
I am often asked what I think that dogs do when people are away from the home. That’s usually based on their sense of guilt in leaving their dog. I assure them that dogs do what dogs do. They run and play and rest. They don’t have the same awareness of time as we do.
I decided that in order to better answer this question, I would install a videocam to catch the dogs in action while I was away. I installed the camera in the living room and went to work.
I returned in the afternoon and the dogs greeted me outside as usual. I didn’t anticipate that the video would contain any new revelations into dog behavior.
If only. If only there was a leash or collar that I could bless or maybe have Cesar Milan bless that would train your dog effortlessly. I would then offer it to the public as the answer to their dog training problems.
This is it! Now, my career as a dog trainer and behaviorist will be over and the livelihood of all other trainers will be threatened. Read on. . .
I’m referring to the soon-to-be-released Magic Dog Training Leash. It is UNBELIEVABLE. I mean that literally in that it is not to be believed. Seriously, don’t believe any of this. . .
Imagine! With this leash, your dog will instantly heel, sit, stay, lie down, eat all his food, have no aggression issues and be completely housebroken. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! If you buy now, I’ll throw in the unadvertised special Subliminal Dog Training CD that is guaranteed to keep your dog off any and all furniture. It will also end the need for your dog to chew on expensive shoes! You just play the CD while your pup sleeps, and wait for the miracle of your dog’s behavior modification.
If only. . .
I guess you know that the only way to have a well-behaved dog is to consistently train them. If I can some day perfect the ideas above, you’ll be the first to know!
CONFINEMENT. Confine the dog in a small space – either a crate, play pen, or a very small area of a room. If your dog is not in this space, then the ONLY other option is that they are with you and in your sight (preferably on a leash). In most cases, dogs do not want to soil their living space. The size of the space will grow as they mature. It can also be helpful to feed them in this space.
CONSISTENCY. Consistency with water and feeding on a schedule and taking the dog outside on a regular basis. When you take the dog out, use a word that you will use every time they go outside. They are outside for a purpose. Stay with them until they “go” and reward with a treat and verbal praise. Come back inside and follow Step 1. If they didn’t “go,” it’s still back to Step 1 until you take them out again.
CARING. Caring that your dog will have every opportunity to succeed. That means that you will feel successful! Understand that you are not being cruel by providing either of the first two steps. It could mean the difference of housebreaking taking two weeks versus two months (or longer).
Look for additional housebreaking tips in future posts!
Some of the best rehabilitation for a dog happens in the presence of other dogs. They learn from each other and to us mere humans it appears to be in very subtle ways. This could be not-so-good if it’s like how some teenagers “help” other teenagers learn new behaviors! But, good behaviors can also be shared.
I live in the high desert on a fenced acre of property that is like an off-leash park. It is, however, dirt, gravel, and natural desert terrain and is slightly terraced. I recently had a Great Dane here that had lived in a neighborhood and was accustomed to walking on sand or grass. Walking up or down hills had not been his experience.
Here is this 120-pound dog afraid of stepping off of the patio because of his tender feet. He was like a little girl trying to gain stability while walking around in her mother’s high heels! As we’d walk around and climb the gentle slopes of the yard, it was apparent that what Schlappie lacked was more than toughened paw pads. He lacked confidence in his body and ability to control it as he maintained his balance.
I couldn’t help him with that but the other dogs could. He would do his best to keep up with them. It was obvious that he wanted to be like the other kids on the playground. I think I heard them call him Chief Tenderfoot. What was I to do? “Kids” can be cruel.
He would step from patio to dog bed to dirt to patio and then contemplate the best next step to get inside without ever leaving a cushion or the flat consistent surface.
I’d take all the dogs on a walk around the property every morning and evening and watch as Schlappie began to walk a little quicker but more than that, he was gaining confidence. THEN, one evening, it happened! Confidence shift for Schlappie! He took off galloping like a horse – around and around he went. It was a thing of beauty to watch his awareness of freedom and trust in his long legs to get him where he wanted to go.
Schlappie is now ready to help other dogs and to tell his story of how in just two weeks of rehab he lost his nickname and gained self-confidence.
Obedience training and positive structure will help to build confidence in your dog. The more confident and clear you are with your expectations – the more confidence you’ll bring to them. Watch how the dogs do it. . .it’s a beautiful thing!
Oh how I wish I could answer that. We observe, we study, we listen, we assume, and sometimes we cry or laugh until tears are running down our cheeks.
I was training a black lab, Maxi-B, who was having issues with being timid. She seemed to be hardwired this way. She was adopted as a pup and had no known traumas. She was in a very playful mood this particular day and heeling nicely but with a bit of a spring in her four-pawed step.
The visual I’d like you to get is that there was nothing smooth or simultaneous about her gait. I think that goofy is a good word for her enthusiasm.
I was thrilled because she seemed to be making progress with briefly letting go of her timid nature. If a dog can express being pleased with herself – she was pleased.
Labs in particular are good at maintaining a semblance of control and somehow staying in a perfect heel while their body wiggles with motion (and perhaps emotion).
I stopped and she sat but with a bit of an extra twist of the hips. Then, I said “down” and she looked up at me and began to move and wiggle like she was dying to let me in on some secret but wasn’t supposed to say anything!
Have you ever told a child to do something and they know they are supposed to do it and will do it but they say “okay, but I want to show you something first?” It’s an obvious diversion for a child.
Could that be the case for a dog? I think so. I think that she was feeling so good and so confident that the girl would rather just have danced a bit. So, I let her and then like a good trainer made sure that she followed through with the command.
She made me laugh, and I think that on this particular day, Maxi-B laughed too.
This post is to honor a breed of dogs that have been so misunderstood. I’m grateful that more and more healthy families are adopting Pit Bulls as family members .
I am, however, very frustrated with the legislation in some States, Cities, and Counties that punish the breed and potential homes by threatening to cancel homeowner’s insurance policies if there is an animal in the home that even remotely resembles a Pit Bull.
I realize there are other breeds that are discriminated against, but my love is for the Pit Bulls that I have had the pleasure of knowing.
It’s so easy to ignore any form of prejudice or personal discomfort when fear (false evidence appearing real) is allowed to dominate our thoughts. I used to watch as people crossed the street to avoid approaching me and my tail-waggin’, body-wigglin’, floppy-eared Pit. I don’t know that she cared. I did.
I used to say that her chest was so large because it was designed to house her loving heart. And, love she did. Every moment and always! She’s no longer here in the physical sense, but anyone who has experienced the passing of their beloved pet, knows they are never really gone.
Always take the time to experience the wonder of the beautiful (and not so beautiful) creatures we have the privilege of living with on this earth. We never know what we might learn from them.
Here’s to my girl. . .
From Chapin, a stray and badly abused Pit Bull with an unknown past I learned:
Anything large enough to lie on is a potential bed
When someone is reaching toward you, be sure of their intention
Love is simple and available every moment
Greet friends or a new experience with wild abandon (don’t be too shy to tuck your rear and run!)
When people don’t trust you because they don’t know you, love them anyway
Snoring is not nearly as annoying if you’re really cute
It’s OK to need someone in your life
Never be too lazy for a hug
It’s good to see things for the first time again and again
No matter how hurried those are around you, rise slowly and always take the time to stretch
Unconditional love is just that – unconditional¬
Shortly after bringing home a new dog, I often hear clients say that they tell their dog “no” and it doesn’t listen. I think this is more of a communication barrier than a lack of intelligence on the part of the dog.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if by raising our voice we could say anything to anyone whether they speak our language or not and they would instantly understand?! So, when you feel the need to yell “NO!” Ask yourself if the dog really knows what you’re expecting.
Once they do get it, try following the correction with something that is positive for the pup. None of us like to be yelled at all the time!
