When Socialization isn't Working.

You know it's coming because it happens every time you walk past the trash can, fire hydrant or near the storm drain. Your dog Freaks Out!! Or does this "Wig Out" your dog; that strange thing flapping around that turns out to be just a grocery bag caught in the bushes?!! 

To us, these situations are no big deal but to a timid or cautious dog, it's terrifying!  That's why it is critical to get your puppies out early in life to see the World. Great! So people take their pups out and about but still end up with Spooked dogs. 

This is because the problem just doesn't fix itself without completely getting your dog comfortable around the "Scary" event. Now you have an emotional problem that goes unresolved because people go through the motions, literally, by moving past quickly, thinking it's over....until the next time. Not overcoming fear can be problematic, meaning an unsafe dog. 

What does Socialization really mean? Everyone has different opinions, here's mine: Socialization is not just meeting and being petted by 300 people and kids. Socialization is exposing your dog to something or an event that may be scary at first but then the pup overcomes their fear by making a conscious effort to cope, accept and tolerate the experience. 

Help your dog learn to have coping skills. You can do this with food or play in those Scary moments. I call it the "Mind Shift". You are not rewarding being afraid, you are helping your dog think about something else. And remember every dog is different so it may take a while to help them.

Be prepared on your next outing or even in your home. Tell your dog or puppy what is scaring them. Let them look at it or check it out. Redirect your dog to focus on you; Use food  or a Toy. Turn being scared into a rewarding, positive, feeling. Doing this will make the World a little less Scary.

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Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net

Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

 dog want to "Hightail it Out of Dodge"? 

Big Dogs:Mighty Challenge

Yup! You did all the research and you understood how big your puppy was going to get but she got bigger before you knew it! Then you realized you had a problem. You tell me....."I can't get my dog into the car." 

And you want to know what that problem was? Not that your puppy grew up to be as enormous as a continent but that You never taught your puppy how to climb! You now have this extremely large dog that weighs a ton, takes up a huge amount of space but doesn't know how to lift her back legs because from puppyhood you did the lifting for her. Every time you wanted to go into the car, you picked your puppy up to put her in. So now you have......

It's important to go back to the drawing board and teach your 100 to 200lb dog how to climb. Maybe your dog can climb the stairs but that is different than climbing on the seat or getting into an SUV. It just isn't high enough for your dog to learn how to lift her legs. You may have to get creative and find large sturdy items for your dog to practice climbing. The whole process will be built on trust so help your dog not be afraid and use encouragement to motivate her. Food and praise will help but also not letting your dog quit; Backing out will be the biggest obstacle. 

If you have just gotten a large breed puppy get climbing now. If you missed that opportunity, it's not too late. Start helping your dog learn to step up and that they can do it themselves.

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

Does the Crate = Jail?

Now a days, it goes without saying that most dog owners are using crates to train their dogs. The crate is highly instrumental for all house training purposes and keeps both the puppy and your possessions safe from harm and destruction.

But one problem a lot of folks have is the thought that the crate means punishment. I hear this often " I don't want to put my puppy in the crate after being bad because I don't want my puppy to think they are being punished".  Well, help your puppy not be Bad, by You, being vigilant in watching your puppy and helping your puppy be Good.

Want a dog that loves their crate in the future? Then follow instructions: Crate your puppy at least 3 times a day while you are home. This way you can witness and address their behavior and help them be good in their crate.

Sure the puppy will moan and groan and I know you feel guilty; You just took away their playtime and freedom. But it is most critical for your puppy to learn to calm themselves so You can have peace of mind knowing all is safe and well; especially while you are away from home. Busy toys such as hard bones, and treat stuffed kongs may help but after the novelty wears off your puppy may still be discontent until they learn to accept their time in the crate.

So it comes down to how You really feel about the crate. Perspective is key here. If You think the crate means putting your puppy behind bars then Yes your puppy may not like going in. If you see the crate as part of managing your puppy's behavior then the crate is not mean or bad nor is it jail.

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

Car Sick or Something Else?

I always feel bad for both my dog owners and their pups when their dog arrives with a drool dripping or the people have to ask for a plastic bag and paper towel to clean up dog vomit. This is not fun for anyone! Some of you know the feeling of dread even when thinking about taking your dog in the car. You also find you are sad that you don't take your dog with you because the experience is so awful!

Maybe accompanied with drool or vomit is shaking and panting? Or let's back this up...Does your dog run and hide from you when you say "Wanna go for a Car ride?" Could this be something else? What if your dog doesn't have motion sickness but a fear of the car?  The symptoms can be identical. And if you have tried motion sickness medicine with no success perhaps the car ride problem is emotional.

How did this fear happen? Think about this....an 8 week old puppy's first car ride can occur during the fear imprinting period. This is not to say something bad happened, just that your puppy left what it knew for something different. Also the next car ride is usually to the Vet's for shots. Not happy occasions for the puppy.

Ruling out motion sickness leaves treatment for fear. This is no easy fix. But I have had a few dog owners' pups overcome this problem because they continued to get into the car. The people who had success did so knowing their dog may throw up, drool and pant but worked through it; never giving up.

So if fear is the problem you can start by being prepared for the worst.

• Lay down a thick towel or couple of layers of towels. 
• Let your pup ride in the front passenger seat; keep your dog tethered.
• Plan a car ride EVERYDAY for two weeks.

Go to places that result in fun such as the park or a round trip back to home. With Hope and Practice, during this period of time, your dog will overcome their fear. 

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net

Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070