DON'T Do This For The Holidays

Let me implore you to NOT DO THIS!!

I love dogs, I've got two of them. And I love kids, I've got two of those also. But as much as I love kids I know that it is a rare one that can take on the responsibilities of a dog.

On numerous occasions I have had dog owners call me looking for dog training services saying that they want to make sure their 'kids are at the training appointments because we got the dog for them and it's their responsibility to take care of and train the dog.'

In my years of training dogs I don't believe that I've ever seen a child that is the one in the family who is actually taking on the lion's share of the care and training of the dog. It just doesn't happen. Kids are great but they are typically still learning about schedules and routines and those are critical for a dog. Not only that but training a dog requires a level of responsiveness and reaction time and reasoning that are still developing in kids. To ask a child to train a dog is just too much and isn't going to happen.

What I have seen happen too many times, though, is a parent who gets the dog for the child under the agreement that the child will be the one in charge. Inevitably the child can't take on all the responsibility and in many cases the dog is the one who suffers when he or she is sent off to a shelter.

So if your child wants a dog or if you want to get a dog to help your child learn responsibility please go into it with the attitude that you are getting a dog WITH your child and not FOR your child. Know right now that you will be sharing the responsibility with everyone in the family and that way you've got a winning proposition.

Happy Holidays!

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Training Your Dog vs. Responsible Dog Ownership

Something that is said by some dog owners, though, often gives me cause to reflect on dog behavior.

"Sometimes the kids leave the door open and he'll get out in the neighborhood. I don't want him to be aggressive when he gets out."

For starters, fixing dog aggression is largely related to the owner being present. You, as the owner, need to be the leader for your dog. Without leadership it is very unlikely that your dog is going to make right choices 100% of the time. In other words, if your dog is roaming the neighborhood without your leadership, it is a lot to expect, through training, that he is going to make right choices.

Secondly, though, this type of perspective isn't seen in any other aspect of life. I encourage all dog owners out there to realize what they are saying when they acknowledge that their dog has aggression issues yet they don't take every precaution to make sure the dog NEVER gets out and roams the neighborhood.

For example, if you own a gun would you ever say, "Thank goodness my gun has a safety mechanism. That way if my kids ever get a hold of the gun while I'm not around they are better protected." Of course you wouldn't say that! You would do everything humanly possible to make sure your gun never got into the hands of innocent kids.

When it comes to dogs with aggression it is important to train that dog until you have rid the dog of aggression but it is also important to never accept the fact that "Well, I can't watch my kids all the time. It is very likely the dog is going to get loose at some point."

Perhaps that means extra education for your kids, maybe it means special door locks so the kids can't open certain doors, maybe it means a different crate schedule for your dog so that he is safely contained. Whatever it is in your case it is critical that you take all necessary precautions to make sure your dog is always safely contained.

Can you fix an aggressive dog to the point where he can roam the neighborhood without showing aggression? Yes, and it's something I do all the time. But would I ever risk the safety and health of my dog, my kids, or my neighbors by not taking every measure to keep an aggressive dog contained? Absolutely not.

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A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Being a dog trainer, though, I noticed the number of dogs that were charging the door, trying to sneak out, barking up a storm, and generally causing a ruckus. The one constant I saw was the owners futile attempts to control these errant canines.

Typically they would be attempting to place candy in the bags of anxious trick or treaters all while using their feet, the door, and any other implements available to keep their dogs from rushing out.

It made me realize that there is a very simple solution to this: 1- Train Your Dog! Teach your dog how to act when someone comes to the door. If your dog has a great 'down stay' he can't be charging the door. 2- If your dog isn't yet trained use a leash so that you can have maximum control and maximum opportunities for teaching. Using your foot to push your dog back is not a way to train your dog.

So I know it is now a day late and a buck short, but come next Halloween have your dog trained or use a leash so that you can ensure Halloween success.

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Does Your Dog Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Does your dog have OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder? The above video shows a pretty extreme case where a dog's obsessive behavior is triggered by a passing car. Dogs can have all sorts of obsessions from chasing their tail to licking their feet to running circles in the yard.

Each case of obsession needs to be handled differently. In some cases a dog owner can work heavily on obedience training to fix a compulsion. Obedience comes from a very calming place in your dog's mind. Obedience gives your dog something to focus on rather than their obsession. And obedience is a great way to bond with your dog and give him more security that could help with his obsessiveness.

If your dog is suffering from a compulsion it is also important to make sure that your dog is being fulfilled by way of proper exercise, stimulating toys, and daily training. A compulsion can be caused or worsened by pent up energy. Expend that energy in a variety of ways and your dog will thank you.

When all else fails a dog owner may want to consider working with a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about behavior in order to prescribe a medication to help take the edge off. I always recommend that medication be one of your last resorts after you've done everything necessary from a training standpoint.

Does your dog resemble the dog in the video? If so, there is hope for fixing these issues.

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Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks?

With a young dog you can't ask too much. Young dogs have developing minds, short attention spans, and a low tolerance for stress. Learning by nature has a stress factor because your dog is attempting to overcome confusion. Stressing a young puppy would be dangerous and detrimental and should be avoided.

If you had a five year old child you wouldn't ask her to learn algebra, wouldn't expect her to coordinate your move into a new house, and wouldn't want her to put together a dinner party. That is just way too much to ask of a young kid.

Likewise, with a young puppy you can't expect your puppy to lie down and stay for two hours, come when called off leash with heavy distractions, and heel by your side off leash for a mile. These are things, though, that you can ask of an adult dog with the right training. An adult dog is capable of handling the burden of learning advanced obedience training such as this.

So, if you think your old dog can't learn new tricks, think again. He or she may very likely be able to learn them much better than a young dog.

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