That's Mine, Right?!

                                                

 

I suppose this isn't fair in any respect, never the less, Daisy knows the Ribeye isn't hers. Suppose I had really dropped it on the floor? I have to admit food has hit the floor many times. Does that mean it's "Fair Game" ? What's Murphy's Dog Law? If it is on the floor it must be mine? Well no.

Here is another thing I suppose....if you have a toddler or younger child, you may appreciate your dog's clean up ability.  But that can only lead to future begging and what happens if what you drop is dangerous, such as medicine?

Racing the dog for dropped food on the floor should not be a "Kitchen Sport" or issue. This needs to stop, especially if the dog is exuberantly aggressive with his mouth. You do not want to get bit or even have your dog think he can bite you over the dropped treasure.

So what to do?

Practice.
Set your dog up in a controlled situation to learn not to pounce on anything on the floor.

1. Keep a leash on your dog.
2.  Drop food.
3.  Step between the food and your dog.
4. Use the Marker word "No".
5. Pick up the food.

I suggest you always pick up the food and not let your dog eat it from the floor. That is what we are practicing, right?! Sure you may only be using dog food, popcorn or cheese but this way he knows what to expect. He doesn't get everything he wants.

This practice will help in real world situations. Every Spring, our town has The Maple Festival. After 4 days, the ground is covered in French fries and other Festival tidbits. It is quite a challenge to walk the dog but a simple No stops her wanting everything in sight.


Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

Rub My Belly?!

Why do dogs like Belly Rubs? Maybe the better question is "Does your dog like Belly Rubs?" How often does your dog rollover to have their belly rubbed? My dog, Daisy rarely rolls over for that reason. In fact to take her picture, I had to ask her to Roll Over. If we are going to talk about a dog's preference. Daisy would say" A little more to the right" at the top of her tail. For contact affection (AKA Petting), she prefers a Butt Rub for lack of better reference!

Here are a few scenarios I would like to mention.

1. You come home from work and upon greeting your dog, she flops down and rolls over. You think it is cute and you pet her belly. Then you both move on.  This behavioral situation is happening because you both enjoy it and now it is trained.

2. You come home from work worried about your dog peeing when you see her. Sure enough she does what you expect: She cowers, pees, then rolls on to her back. You think she wants her belly rubbed so you do it hoping that helps her stop peeing. It doesn't and another training situation occurred because" touching" is a reward.

3. You come home and to stop your dog from jumping on you, you start yelling sit, Sit, SIT! She is so excited that she does all her tricks; sit pretty, lay down, then finally rolling over. You never really got what you asked for (remember it was Sit) so you stop the madness by rubbing her belly.

Because of the belly rub (AKA Petting), these situations are approval for the state of the dog's mind. When dogs rollover to have their belly rub they may enjoy it but they may be saying "I Give". Exposing their belly is a vulnerable position. This is also a Trust Moment. While being in this position the dog is at your mercy.

Last scenario:

4. You come home, your dog rolls over acting timid, you start to reach to pet her belly then she growls and snaps at you.

What happened there? You thought she wanted to be rubbed. She thought you would back off. Now you both are unhappy.

Belly Rubs are great if you have a well balanced dog who enjoys them. Not so great if your dog is unstable, lacks trust and is fearful. Realize how important of a role touch plays. Watch out! What you pet is what you get.

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru therrian 440.286.9070

Stop Begging!

 

Those "puppy dog eyes" get me every time. Gosh darn it, if dogs aren't adorable when they are begging! Who can resist the sweet request of "Pretty Please, aren't I cute?"

So here you are at the table, in front of the TV or on the deck. Your pup is there too. Long strands of drool hang from the sides of her mouth. You look at her, knowing she wants some of what you are eating. You feel guilty and without any consideration, you give her a bite. Ooops! Now you are in trouble! You are falling down the long, spiraling, staircase to forever begging, because it doesn't end. Your dog has an "a HA!" moment and will try again because she was successful the first time.

So...Be Strong.......don't do it!! Don't feed your dog from the table! Don't just toss her the crust of your pizza and by all means don't let her lick the plate clean.

Pay Attention...this is HUGE....Every Moment of your dog's life is Practice in Training. If you want a World Class Beggar, then, by all means, toss that tasty morsel. Did you get that? What ever you are doing with your dog...intentional or Not is training for Life.

Dogs are creatures of habit and Love rituals. That is how they know your schedule and routine. They especially know when you are late feeding them! Because food is a Giant Motivator you have to be careful when and how you deliver it to your dog. Good, bad or indifferent....Daily Practice Makes Permanent.

What to do instead? Say No and make your dog go away from where you are eating. Preferably to lie down using a "Place" command. If that doesn't work you can tether or crate. Take way the access and opportunity to prevent an annoying behavior that could become a serious one.

If you just can't help yourself, at the very least, require your dog to do "Something":be it Sit, Down, Roll Over, make your dog earn whatever you want to give them.

Out of the doghouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

Why the Crate is Great!

 

Isn't it cruel to lock my dog in a crate or cage? That is the top question people ask when I say they should use a crate. Many people think this is true, as they certainly would not want to be locked in a crate for any length of time. Well, this is not the case for dogs because they are "Den" animals. Just look where they spend most of their sleep and relaxation time: under the table, the work desk or tucked in the corner of a room. In the wild, wolves and wild dogs are known to burrow holes to sleep in.

 

But why use a crate? A crate will help address Stress and Anxiety for both you and your dog. The crate serves a useful purpose and can rectify problems associated with destructive behavior, fear of strangers or visitors who are afraid of dogs. First and foremost, it helps with housetraining your puppy or new dog.

 

What do I look for when buying a crate? Most common crates are molded plastic with a wire door or completely wire. If your dog is Houdini you may need to invest in a heavy duty steel crate. Whichever type you get, it should be large enough for your dog to lay down or sit without bumping his head on the top. Keep in mind that a dog crate that is too large defeats the purpose of providing security and promoting bowel control. If you buy one for a your future adult dog, block off part of it so that your puppy feels snug and secure. I suggest you put in old, white, towels for comfort and to help you see any overnight accidents. Besides you wouldn't want your puppy or new dog chewing up the new bed you just bought! 

 

Next question: Now that I have a crate, where should I put it? I want  you to think of the crate as a doggie bedroom and not jail. The best places are in a corner of the room, away from too much heat or cold drafts. Dogs like to be near their pack (which is you) so put the crate where your dog can see or hear you.

 

Lastly, how do I use the crate? Just a side note, I name the crate "Kennel". It has a nice ring to it! When I want Daisy to go into it, I tell her by saying "Daisy, kennel". She knows exactly where I want her to go.

 

Here are some suggestions on using the crate:

• Put your dog in the crate at regular intervals. Put puppies on a nap schedule.
• Crate your dog when you are home as well as when you leave the house. Your dog will learn to be comfortable and not worry that you will not return or that he is left alone.
• Always give your dog a "Potty break" before going in and after coming out of the crate.
• Put a leash on your dog to walk him up to the crate. This prevents any unwillingness and definitely avoids "Chase Me" games.
• Wait for good behavior to let your dog out. If there is barking and scratching, wait 10 seconds.

Depending on your lifestyle, the size of your dog, your dog's behavioral habits, a crate may be part of your dog's entire life or not. I will choose to have a crate for Daisy until the end. This is her "Doggie Bedroom" where she feels safe. I can shut and lock the door in a moments notice and she knows " She will not Die!". I can travel with her. Last Fall, she flew on an airplane to California for my training week with Michael Ellis. It was a long flight and day. Daisy did great because she was comfortable in her portable bedroom.

 

Stop worrying and feeling guilty. Don't think of it as Jail. Your dog isn't a prisoner but a den animal. Make the crate "Home Sweet Home". 

 

Out of the DogHouse LLC website: www.ohiodogtrainer.net

Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070