Why do you do it Just because I can !

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What is owner compliance and why is it so important

As a professional dog trainer and dog behavior counselor, I can easily determine the best steps to take to get a desired behavior with a dog.  I quickly can visualize the best dog training program and the quickest route to longevity in a behavior.  I know how to utilize great management skills until the desired behavior is achieved and has become a reliable new habit for a dog.  I know what dog behavior is risky, unsafe or detrimental to the well-being of a dog.  I will ensure a dogs success to the best of my ability and will likely see good results quickly and continue the training and spot check throughout a dogs life to keep the behavior strong and reliable. 

In other words, I know how to successfully train dogs, change behavior problems, and have a safe dog. Why then arent all the dogs who have come through classes or private training with me as successful?

One reason is that I have many years under my belt training dogs.  Not just training owners and their dogs, but actual hands on experience working and training individual dogs.  Which means I have good timing. I can see in the future a potential behavior problem so I am pro-active in my training to prevent this problem.  I reinforce quickly and often. 

These are some of the skills that dog parents have to learn.  It takes time, patience, and consistency.  Dogs (and humans for that matter) are learning ALL the time.  There are not training times and non-training times.  Its all training time.  They are always learning.  I repeat, they are always learning.

But the biggest issue I see with the likeliness of a dogs success isnt the timing of their human, but owner compliance. I can train dogs.  But its the owner who is in the drivers seat when it comes to their dogs behavior.  There are many reasons (I can only imagine how many you can come up with) why a dog owner may not actively work with their dog.  But the bottom line is, if a behavior is going to change, the work has to get done. If an owner does not put the effort or time into training or a dog behavior modification program, there will not be change, for the better.  And in most cases, the behavior will actually get WORSE.

It can be very tough raising a puppy or adolescent dog.  It can even be tougher living with a dog with

anxiety or aggression issues.  But there is hope!  When clients are actively working with their dogs on the lessons I give them they are tickled with the results.  Positive training is effective with the right coach.......but you do have to do the work to get the results.  Believe me, if I could waive a magic wand, or show you a quicker route to long term success, I would!  I would be a very rich woman if I had those tools.  And if those tools existed, there would not be dogs in shelters.

So if you are ready to learn how to achieve success in dog training, contact me today.  I offer local services, travel to you across the US and offer phone/email dog training too.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Dog Stroller Why

I hear you.  Why would you put your dog in a dog stroller?  Shouldnt a dog be walking & getting exercise?  I too thought using a dog stroller was a big no-no.  It was in 2010 when I took my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dexter to a big outdoor dog festival that I saw one benefit of using a dog stroller.

On that day Dexter & I, we were having a great day participating in all the outdoor dog activities, shopping, walking, socializing....but it was a long day for us.  He was getting tired, hot but we still wanted to stay & enjoy the upcoming festival.  Then I started to notice some dogs being strolled in dog strollers.  Why yes!  This could be a solution to this dilemma we had.  I knew right then that was going to be our next purchase.

Going on therapy dog visits.

The dog stroller is a great solution when you & your dog are out and about especially when the pavement is hot.  After a lot of walking, a dogs pads can get quite sensitive, and the stroller can protect those feet when walking in grass is not an option.  When I take Dexter on long outings, I always push the stroller & when Dexter gets too tired, or hot, in he goes.  Sometimes it is just for a little rest & then he comes right back out to keep walking.

When I first purchased Dexters dog buggy, I thought I would only use it for our big outdoor adventures as a back up plan when he got tired.  But, I then realized there was another opportunity that we could use the stroller.... his dog therapy visits at the nursing home!  Dexter & I struggled at a way for people in wheel chairs to be able to pet Dexter since he was so short, but he was just too heavy to lug around, or place on laps.  The stroller filled this gap perfectly!  Now he is the perfect height for a wheel chair & we stroll right up.

As I continued to use our doggie buggy, I realized there are other situations that this will come in hand.  Medical issues such as heart conditions, leg injury, or patella problems come to mind.  Senior dogs are good candidates for a stroller.  Puppies who are not fully vaccinated, but need the socialization (read our post on puppy socialization), or dogs who are building their confidence.  These are just a few other possibilities for using a dog stroller.  And yes, they do have extra large dog strollers for your large breed dogs or multiple small dogs.  Or you can go with the double dog stroller.

Large dogs can ride too!

A few weeks ago Dexter & I went to that big dog festival (we go every year) and saw a new interesting idea....a collapsible wagon with a canopy!  I think this looks like a very interesting idea that we might look into as well.  It would be roomier, and has the cover over the top.  The downside would be that we would not be able to use it for therapy dog visits (but we have the stroller for that).  It also looks like it would be a bit bigger, so space in my small car might be an issue.  So I will report back!

Larger, Pet Gear NV

UPDATE: Our friend bought the collapsible wagon with a canopy and they are loving it!!
Read our review of Pet Gear Dog Stroller 
UPDATE #2: Ive upgraded to a little longer stroller for Dexter.  The Pet Gear NV Pet Stroller. I love it!

Need some extra help?  

I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!

Please feel free to contact me for details.

 

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Reminder Why do I ride

On the rare occasion, I manage to get down to the Brisbane River for the Monday night noodle ride.

Here is a quick description of the ride. Meet up, talk crap, ride off, spin a yarn, ride, laugh, attack the occasional hill, sprint, ride, stop, eat cheap noodles, talk more crap, ride home while burping.

Given the training I do, last night I was asked, "So Matt, what is this ride for you?"

I responded by saying that it is an awesome reminder of how much fun cycling is. The group is honest, fun & they are simply there to ride their bikes.

Before I met up with the guys I had a quick catch up with Hubcap Andrew Handyside. Smiling, riding & keen to smash out an awesome race this Sunday. Hubcap shared his goal for Sunday with me & I will be sure to call him on it.

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Why I dont like dog collars

Gag, choke, cough, tongue hanging out, eyes bulging, no control.....these are a few things that can happen when leashing your dog to a regular buckle dog collar, martingale dog collar, choke chain, prong/pinch collar.  You get the idea.  Dexter The Dog has been collarless since 2012 and I have not attached a leash to a collar to him since 2010.

Easy Walk Harness, easy to use with clothing.

As a professional dog behavior consultant, it was pretty easy to teach Dexter The Dog how to walk politely on a leash.  But that didnt change the fact that in the learning stages & even around some distractions, he may pull at the leash for a moment.  And each of those moments I felt sure was causing damage and pain to his body such as his neck, eyes & spine.  Obviously electric shock collars are not an option (click for reasons why).  I began to exclusively leash Dexter to a dog harness at a very early age.

Over the past few years, I have urged my dog training students to switch off of dog collars and transition to dog harnesses.  I have started to do some research and have found a variety of sources that confirm my suspicions of the harm a dog collar can do to a dog and the dogs anatomy. 

According to Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM, some of these issues can include Hypothyroidism, ear issues, eye issues, excessive paw licking, foreleg lameness & neck injuries including whiplash.  A study by Amy M. Pauli, DVM, Ellison Bentley, DVM, Diplomate ACVO, Kathryn A. Diehl, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO and Paul E. Miller, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVO confirm that "Intraocular pressure increased significantly from baseline when pressure was applied via a collar but not via a harness."  Animal chiropractors like Dr. Sherry Fries are against using collars and a leash combos.  “I implore people to use harnesses as opposed to any collar,” she says.

So what kind of options do I prefer?  Harnesses and headcollars are my personal preference.  More specifically I like front clipping harness to help teach a dog not to pull on his leash.  The Easy Walk Harness, Freedom No Pull Dog Harness and Ruffwear Front Rang are three that I have personally used and recommended.  The Walk In Sync Harness looks interesting too, but I have not tried this one yet.  For headcollars my go to is The Gentle Leader & runner-up Halti Headcollar.

That said, they need to be used as directed to keep your dog safe.  A headcollar that is tight & if you allow your dog to keep pulling & it keeps his head at an unusual angel is not safe.  A front clipping harness that is tight & again pulled to the side is not the correct way to use the tool.  So, please work with a qualified professional dog behavior consultant to learn how to correctly & safely use these dog training tools.

So, I hope you reconsider using your dogs collar as a way to control him.  There are much easier & safer ways to teach your dog how to walk nicely on a leash without pulling.

Check Dexter out here for a demo! 

Need some extra help?  I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!

Please feel free to contact me for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Why Im Not A Huge Fan Of Bait Bags

As you probably already know, Im a positive dog trainer, and I use a lot of rewards in dog training. Read this article on why.  These dog training rewards are anything (safe) that the dog finds valuable and willing to work for.  Healthy dog treats, his dog food, cooked meat, motivational dog toys, attention, petting, verbal praise, sniffing, access to something he wants.....you get the idea.  So why then, do I not love having a bait bag, or dog training treat pouch, fanny pack etc. on during dog training?

Because its "training."  Its a tip-off to your dog that you are "training."  It would be one more thing you would need to fade in order for your dog to be able to do a behavior "without seeing the treat" so to speak.  I prefer to teach my dog and to coach dog training students to incorporate dog training into their everyday life.  To make training a life lesson.  I do, however, believe a dog training reward needs to come immediately after a behavior, so rewards need to be easily, and quickly accessible. 

Life lesson caught on camera.  Dex as a pup.

I accomplish effective dog training by following a few guidelines.  First, a dog is always learning.  My job is to teach him what I want him to do, and prevent him from doing things I would rather he not.  I reward often for good behaviors and have a high management program to ensure he is more likely to be right than wrong.

Second, I love to teach dogs a reward marker.  This means, that I teach a dog a specific word, or noise is a promise that a reward will quickly follow.  In other words, it is like taking a picture of the behavior you want, and communicating to your dog that he did something that will earn him a paycheck.  Two common markers that are used in dog training is a dog training clicker or word such as YES!.  If  you use a word, remember, he will earn a reward every time you use it, so do NOT use good.  Too many people will tell your dog good, and it will unlikely be followed by a reward. I use both a YES and clicker, but not at the same time. 

To teach your dog a reward marker, think about Pavlov.  You remember him, from the 1900s.  Ring a bell, feed a dog.  Then pretty soon, the dog learned  the bell =food.  Which we call classical conditioning.  You are going to do the same thing with your reward marker.

First, say your word, such as Yes! then immediately treat your dog with a high-value reward like a piece of meat.  Repeat 10 times.  Do this at random times throughout the day.  Pretty soon your dog will anticipate the reward after you say your reward marker.  PAVLOV!  During training, your dog will start to learn that you say your reward marker because of something HE did, creating a learning opportunity.  Butt on the ground=YES=Food.  More butts on the ground.

Thirdly, I try to have rewards in my pocket at all times if Im actively trying to teach specific behaviors like not jumping, name game, come when called etc.  This allows training to be incorporated into every situation when needed, and again a life lesson, not a training lesson.  If I do not have pockets (not an option for me), you will want to make sure that rewards are very accessible, like within 5 seconds.  This is where your reward marker will really come in handy.

Putting it together will look a little something like this.  Your dog now understands that YES!=Food reward.  You have your dogs rewards in your pocket throughout the day.  As you are interacting with your dog, wait for a good behavior such as not jumping, butt on the ground, watching you, say "YES!" then immediately reward your dog.  Do this often throughout your dog on any and all life lessons you want to teach your dog.  The more often you reward these good behaviors, the more often your dog will offer them.

The beauty, no tip off like a bait bag.  Dont get me wrong, I dont hate dog treat bags, but they are just one more thing I need to get out of the training equation for my dog to "be good" just because.  And I do wear one when on occasion when Im teaching dog training classes, or on a private consultation.  Its a backup, in case my clients dont have valuable enough rewards, or run out.  But I take it out of our equation quickly.

IF you need a good dog training treat bag, here are a few I do like.  But remember, you do want to fade them as soon as possible.

Need extra help?  I offer in-person, phone consultations, weekend retreats and public seminars.  

Contact me for details.

 

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Why Do Dogs Mount or Hump

Why does my dog hump?  Why do dogs mount other dogs?  Why does my dog hump his bed?  As a professional dog trainer and author, I hear these questions at least once a week.  Yes, you read that correctly, weekly.  This dog blog post has been on my to-do list for quite some time.  So, today is the day when I will finally give you my two cents on why dogs hump.

As with most dog training and behavior questions, it is never the same answer or reason for each

Photo-Malingering

dog.  There are a lot of variables, and considerations when trying to figure out why your dog humps or mounts either you, another dog, the air or an object such as his bed or toys.  I will go over various reasons to this age-old question.  First, both male and female dogs mount.  Second, spayed/neutered and unaltered dogs all mount.  Third, all ages of dogs hump.

• Play-A dog will often mount during play, or even as an invitation to play. When dogs are aroused (not sexual, just excited), they often can be seen redirecting that excitement onto something else.  Puppies are often seen mounting or clasping during play.  I know from experience, this is one of the biggest times I see my own dog, Dexter humping.  Dexter is notorious for doing this in the middle of a big game of tug, chase, almost any game he finds really fun.  His favorites are the cat bed and a pillow.
• Anxiety or Stress-When a dog is stressed, anxious, or unsure, they often perform what we call displacement gestures.  A simple way to think of a displacement gesture is when a dog doesnt know what to do because of conflicting emotions, so they do something out of place.  Mounting, sniffing, walking away, lip licking, these are all common displacement gestures.  Once again, I can recall my golden retriever, Theo doing this in times of stress.  He had separation anxiety, and when he would see me getting my things together, he would often air hump. Like Dexter, he also did this when over aroused during play, except he air humped, and did not use an object.
• Dominance or Control-I think these two can be lumped together for this purpose.  There are those times when a dog may mount to control a situation.  This can be seen on both sides of a coin, to dominate, or just to get control, or stop a behavior.
• Sexual or Mating-Obviously this is one of the reasons a dog may mount, or attempt to hump. 

So what does all this mean to the dog parent?  Knowing why a dog is doing something is always key in determining a course of action if any.  Humping can become a compulsive behavior, so its always a good idea to stop it from continuing before it gets out of hand.  However, you want to be kind, gentle, and not make a huge deal out of it, or it can actually escalate. 

For play mounting, throwing in some obedience-type behaviors to settle a dog down can be helpful.  A sit, stay, down, stay are good ones to add.  For my monkey of a dog, Dexter, I toss the bed and pillow in the closet when I play, Dexter is a very obsessive boy!

All dog anxiety needs to be addressed for the welfare of the dog.  I worked with Theo on his separation anxiety, and also calmly had him do a down/stay to settle him down.

Dominance or control mounting is usually because a dog is put in a situation where he actually doesnt feel secure in. Slow introductions, and taking things easy are helpful.

There you have it.  Those are some of the most common reasons dogs hump and what you can do about it.  When its all said and done, its a very NORMAL dog behavior, so dont get too stressed about it.

Do you need extra dog training help?  I offer in-person,  phone consultations, weekend dog retreats and public seminars.  Contact me today for details.

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Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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