As a behaviorist, I have my opinion on what to do when a dog jumps on guests at the door. However, my dog, Melody, asked if she could respond to this one. Here’s what she has to say:
Did you know that the word terrier is derived from the word terra, which means earth? Ever wonder why you can’t seem to get your terrier to get it’s nose off the ground? Here’s a fun, informative video regarding Earth Dogs. Grab your dog and watch. . .they are sure to enjoy it (and I can guess what they’ll be asking for at Christmas!)
How does he do it? How does Cesar walk into the room and gain the respect of dog and human? Does he have a special gift known only to him. So, what is it?
The “secret” – his presence and energy. It is what he knows. It’s a deeper knowing than the knowledge that is gained from studying but more of a real understanding combined with absolute confidence in a desired outcome. When you know that you know, you present yourself differently. You don’t second guess your actions.
Cesar walks into a room with the state of mind that he is is control. There’s no magic formula or special power in his trademark “sh” sound as he confidently corrects or diverts a dog’s attention. Most trainers/behaviorists have had the same or at least a very similar experience. He definitely has an understanding of dogs and almost more importantly, their relationship with humans.
I have been called to training appointments and walk in to see the human moving their hand in a claw shape toward the dog’s neck as they “sh.” The dog does nothing but look at them as if to say, “what the heck was that?” There’s only one Cesar, and I’m confident your dog will respond to you once you have placed yourself in the role of pack leader and provided consistent structure and guidance.
Using a human comparison, if you give someone the cold shoulder, they know it without you saying a word. It’s your energy they feel – they know not to mess with you. Dogs are no different and if anything, are even more in tune with our intentions and thoughts toward them.
I speak of this in a recent article, by asking the question, what travels down your leash?
Cesar is definitely gifted and his success with the dogs he chooses to work with comes from his knowing that the dog will respect and respond accordingly. If you can adopt and apply this thought to your training, you will see results. It’s a bit like the saying, “fake it until you make it.”
The sooner you know your dog will respond as expected, the sooner they will!
If you are visiting shelters in search of a new dog and are confused about which breed is best, I encourage you to do some research, but don’t eliminate a dog based on the stereotype alone. Different breeds definitely have their own unique qualities but these qualities are not exclusive.
As you consider which dog is best for your family, make an informed decision and one definitely based on the dog itself rather than the stereotype of their breed. Here’s an article on this subject:
If you have any questions or concerns about a dog you want to adopt, please contact me!
Get the answer to your dog training question from the one who knows – a dog!
This post is dedicated to Melody. She came up with the idea that I respond to questions from the humans and she respond to questions from the dogs. I guess she’s right. Dogs would have a different perspective on training and behavior modification than most humans.
Melody is a rescue dog from a puppy mill where she brought a lot of Yorkie’s into the world. If any dog deserves the right to speak, it’s her. So, if your dog has a question regarding you (their human), training and/or behavior modification, use the box to the right.
Melody does a fine introduction in the video. . .
When you are looking for a dog trainer or behaviorist, you are most likely interested in the end result. Let’s face it – training is training. Sit is sit, stay is stay regardless of the method used. I think it is important to give thought to the process used to get to that end result.
Think of it personally. If there is something you want to learn or you want to teach someone else, doesn’t it feel better to have them learn it out of respect and positive reinforcement than by fear or pain?
Why do some archaic technique if a more gentle approach works? A happy, respectful dog sits just as nicely as one who submits out of fear of feeling what’s coming next. There may be a lot of “but what about’s” in your mind right now. Like, what about if they are aggressive? What if the dog is extremely stubborn?
I have found that a lot of people run out of patience long before their dog is responding in the way they want. Anger and frustration are not success-guaranteed training tools. If you find yourself losing patience, end the session with the dog complying end on a positive note and begin again later.
If you are having difficulty with a specific behavior, please contact me using the box to the right. (Melody shares this space with me!)
Most dog people have heard that what affects them also affects their dog. Our energy does travel down the leash to our dog. What else does? As you take your Tylenol, are you also giving one to the dog? Has your dog started to share in some of your nervous or anxious behavior? Here’s an article about what else may be traveling down the leash.
Do all dogs need to have their teeth cleaned? Tooth decay is very common in dogs. Some breeds, much like some humans, are prone to plaque and issues with their teeth. Genetics and nutrition play a huge part in it. There aren’t any bones in the soft toys our dogs love to disembowel. Perhaps if there were, the dog would also get a teeth cleaning while they chewed.
Clients often look to me for advice and ask if I clean my dogs’ teeth. I have to say I don’t. Not that I wouldn’t if it were needed, but thus far, it hasn’t been an issue. I’ve been known to be the common sense trainer. So, here’s my advice, if you have a dog that needs preventative care or will face infection, clean their teeth. However, if your dog’s teeth look good and there’s no concern, don’t!
I was in the pet store and a woman was asking if she should buy the peppermint or chicken flavored toothpaste for her pup. I suggested she get the kitty litter flavor and her dog would welcome teeth cleaning.
It’s Saturday! In the event that your day with the dogs has been a little too serious, sing along with Melody – a singing Yorkie!
The first training session people have with their new dog is teaching it to sit. It’s a proud moment indeed. When teaching this basic command, the human is usually facing the dog. The dog begins to think in order to sit you must be facing them. The next step is standing with them at your side as you say, “sit.”
Once they know the command, it doesn’t matter where you are standing relative to them. When out on a walk, having your dog sit next to you as you stop is very important. If they are sitting, they aren’t going any where else! The desired response is for a dog to learn to sit immediately upon your stopping. Can or will they sit in an instant?
I encourage clients to walk slow, stop, and wait a couple of seconds before asking the dog to sit. Give the dog an opportunity to realize, “Oh, we’ve stopped (or at least one of us has) and this is when I sit.” Maybe they aren’t going through all of that, but it’s not necessary to halt quickly and correct your dog into a sit without first teaching them what’s expected and giving them the opportunity to do it. Walk, stop, give them a second to respond, then ask them to sit. Only ask once. Then you may “assist” them in sitting. Praise!
Some dogs will learn instantly to sit when you stop walking. Others, have to wait for the word to absorb into their brains while the information slowly travels down the spine to their hind quarters where the action takes place.
I’ll relate it this way. . .you walk into someone’s home and they tell you to sit down. As you are starting to sit, they sharply repeat, “SIT, SIT, SIT!” Wouldn’t you look at them and say, “give me a second.” I think I’ve heard a few dogs mumble something similar.
With a Great Dane, sitting is a process! Are they sitting quickly? Yes, for them. It takes a second for the entire body to get the message and respond. So, will your dog learn to sit in an instant? Maybe. If, however, they need a few seconds to engage, you don’t need to repeat the command. Say it, mean it, praise for the response and see if that’s not fast enough.
