Cultivating Your Canine

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the passing of Memorial Day has always been the indicator of the safe time to start planting your garden. Perhaps all winter long you have imagined your bountiful garden; luscious tomatoes, strong healthy beans, crisp, lettuce and crunchy cucumbers! You may have even drawn out plans, like an architect, of where you will put everything.

Spring arrives and uncovers a garden overgrown with weeds sprouting up this way and that. O Boy! Where do you start?!!

You know you can't sow a single seed until you pull out the weeds, right?


There is a lot of work to be done before you can even put in one tomato plant; the ground needs to be turned over, rocks cleared and unwanted roots dug up. The dirt needs feeding too, with good nutrients to support the new plants to help them grow strong and tall.

The same goes with dogs. If you want a well behaved dog you must roll up your sleeves and do some work. What you believe to be the worst problem may not be addressed until your dog has been cleared of the weeds, rocks and deep roots of unwanted behavior. That Beautiful Behaved Dog may be what you want to cultivate but it comes after much groundwork.

So let's get digging! Here's to Summer and Growing the best Dog ever!

My best,
Dru

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

Dancing with the Dogz!

It's Funday-Wednesday and time to get down and boogie! Dog Training's got Rhythm! (I like to think I do too! haha)  When you get in the groove with a dog, you can feel a certain beat or cadence. What I love about this idea is the Freedom and Engagement I have with Daisy. I love it when she is watching me (even if it is only for my Chicken rewards!) Just like The Ballet, moving with a dog is a beautiful thing. When I am dancing with Daisy, I feel like we are partners, and I love the connection of moving harmoniously together.

You need to try this! Start by using a motivating reward such as food or a toy. Have your dog follow you forwards, backwards and twirl your dog about! Besides this is a blast. Who cares if you feel foolish! Your dog won't be embarrassed even if you do step on her toes...Oops!!

Of course there really is such a thing as Canine Freestyle Dancing Competition but don't feel that you have to polish up your shoes or put on a Ball gown! Just take time to have fun! Play Pandora in your kitchen or living room. Kick off your shoes and kick up your heels!

My best,
Dru

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

Gold Star Work

Report card time for kids can bring about many emotions; Happiness for a job well done or fear that their grades aren't good enough. Even little kids in preschool get graded with colored Star stickers!

We tend to grade our dog's behavior and their skills too. Now the only species that cares about grades is the Human Species; not the Canine Species or any other species on this planet! "We" determine Good dogs or Bad dogs or how well a dog will follow commands. Dogs don't and they don't care. They can't comprehend the difference between "A+" or "A-" work or when they receive a bad mark or don't get a Gold Star.

We do know that dogs certainly learn and we teach them as if they are in school but if you want your dog to really learn and enjoy what they are learning,  "ALL" of their work needs to be seen as Gold Star Work.

Since dogs can't discriminate between the quality of their performance they need to be encouraged and rewarded each step of the way. A trained dog is the result from many, tiny increments of learning each receiving Gold Stars.

My best,

Dru

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net

Any Questions? Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

Fluency vs Proficiency

Many times, I reference that training dogs is like learning a new language. I would have to believe at some point in your life, you have had an encounter with another person who didn't understand what you were saying or asking; I know I have (especially with my own children when they were little!!). You now face that daily when you have a dog living with you. How well does your dog understand you and do you understand your dog?

When you get a puppy or dog, you both basically know nothing at the start. In fact, you probably don't know what you don't know! You go to puppy class and they teach you and your puppy some basic commands. Now you both know a bit more but you are not very good at it and it's a struggle. But you are conversing!! You keep at it.

You keep practicing and it takes an effort but you manage to communicate. Things get a little easier; You and your dog are making progress. Enough so that life together is pretty good. Good enough that you could be considered Fluent if you and your dog basically understand each other.
Here are a few definitions of Fluent:

a : capable of flowing ; fluid
b : capable of moving with ease and grace
c : capable of using a language easily and accurately

What is great is Fluency could happen in a short amount of time. That would be awesome! When you become Fluent, you and your dog can live happily together; You can "Go along to Get along".

But there is one more level higher in which you could achieve; Proficiency. This is a level of Mastery. A level that takes a lot of time; in fact, years of dedicated practice. This also means being measured against a Standard Achievement. In the World of Dogs, that could be competition whether in Obedience or Sport. In your home, it means you and your dog thoroughly understand each other; Not only commands but the nuances of your shared language.

For the record, I think Daisy and I have pretty good conversational skills.  Although, I do feel Daisy is highly Fluent to the point of being Proficient in English; more than I am in Dog. Over time, you can have this effortless relationship; a relationship that is deep, rich and fulfilling.  It will come without notice after you have spent time paying attention to what your dog has to say and being a good listener.

My best,
Dru

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