tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89316997341070667582024-03-13T11:03:05.508-07:00Teacher's Pet Training AcademyTeacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-28777554182314912512017-12-22T18:51:00.000-08:002017-12-22T18:51:16.304-08:00Wait! Your Paws are Muddy! <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This fall has been a bit extended, and with the constant freezing and thawing, there's been a lot of mud. Never fear, your furry pal can be taught to help you out by wiping his or her feet at the door before coming in!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This can often be taught quickly with some well-placed treats and a clicker (or marker word like “good” or “yes”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">S</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">teps:</span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Get out your towel or mat and have your dog sit-stay while he watches you place a few treats under the mat.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Release your dog to go get the treats.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many dogs will quickly start pawing at the mat to get at the treats.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As soon as your dog starts pawing, mark (click or say your marker word) and reward with another treat on top of the mat.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After a few trials, stop putting treats under the mat and see if your dog will still try to paw at the mat.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Start adding a verbal cue like “wipe” before your dog starts pawing.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Practice, practice, practice for many repetitions! Pretty soon you can ask your dog to wipe when coming in from outside! Not only do you get to let your dog do all the work, but it’s also a cool trick to show off to friends and family.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If your dog just won't paw at the mat or you don't have time to train this skill (it will take a lot of repetition so in the meantime you might need a way to clean his or her feet more thoroughly), consider helping your pup associate positive thoughts with getting their feet wiped if your dog doesn't particularly enjoy this event. After coming inside, wipe one paw at a time and feed a small treat before and after wiping your dog's foot. Soon your dog will learn to love to have his or her paws cleaned! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Happy Training!</span></span></span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-40078375764797552282017-12-22T18:39:00.000-08:002017-12-22T18:39:02.152-08:00Fear Free Veterinary Care<div id="E61" is="qowt-word-para" qowt-eid="E61" qowt-entry="undefined" qowt-lvl="undefined" style="font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.295; list-style-type: none; padding: 0px 0px 8pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span id="E62" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E62" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I worked for several years as a veterinary technician, and sometimes I would take my dogs to work with me. They were always very excited to go along and would race inside when we arrived, quite likely because they got lots of treats from my coworkers and </span><span id="E63" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E63" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">sometimes</span><span id="E64" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E64" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span id="E65" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E65" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the clinic c</span><span id="E66" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E66" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ats hadn’t finished their food </span><span id="E67" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E67" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- the dogs were very eager to help with that. But occasionally I brought them along because they needed medical attention. Finley was very wise to this game – the lobby was fun, the kennel area was okay, but if I asked her to come into the treatment area, that meant something bad was about to happen, and she would flatten her ears, tuck her tail and try to go back to the kennel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span id="E69" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E69" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many dogs are fearful at the vet’s office and often those fears a</span><span id="E70" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E70" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">re confirmed because we </span><span id="E71" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E71" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do some</span><span id="E72" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E72" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thing</span><span id="E73" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E73" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span id="E74" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E74" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">painful or uncomfortable </span><span id="E75" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E75" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like draw blood, trim nails or express anal glands (a major concern for Finley). At times, it can seem best to just get things done as fast as possible. Mult</span><span id="E76" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E76" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iple people may restrain the struggling dog to complete the necessary task, leaving the dog even more wary the next time. Luckily there are more and more resources available for veterinary staff to take a more fear free approach. </span><span id="E78" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E78" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, there</span><span id="E80" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E80" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a whole Fear Free Certification program that covers canine and feline body language, restraint techniques, desensitization and counter-conditioning (teaching pets to accept and even enjoy handling), and medications for fearful patients. Recently the Fear Free folks launched a new initiative – </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/" id="E81" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E81" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E82" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E82" style="color: #0563c1; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fear Free Happy Homes</span></a><span id="E83" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E83" style="background-color: #444444; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">. You can join for free and get access to helpful information and products to make your pet’s vet visit as stress free as possible. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span id="E85" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E85" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As our pets grow older we tend to make more frequent vet visits, and possibly need to provide extra care for certain ailments. For example, Finley recently developed some laryngeal paralysis, making her more susceptible to over-heating. I got her a cooling collar to help with this, and while she doesn’t mind it at all, some dogs may find having this put over their head aversive. </span><span id="E86" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E86" style="display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little bit of training can go a long way to making your older pet enjoy a new care routine – </span></span><a contenteditable="false" href="https://youtu.be/s0sWWCuLNlc" id="E87" is="qowt-hyperlink" qowt-eid="E87" target="_blank"><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E88" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E88" style="color: #0563c1; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">check o</span><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E91" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E91" style="color: #0563c1; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">u</span><span class="qowt-stl-Hyperlink" id="E92" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E92" style="color: #0563c1; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t Finley learning to put her collar on herself, and having fun doing it!</span></a><span id="E93" is="qowt-word-run" qowt-eid="E93" style="background-color: #444444; display: inline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-76944112061902891002017-05-29T17:35:00.002-07:002017-05-29T17:49:32.978-07:00Head Games<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Training tricks is a great way to provide mental exercise and enrichment for our dogs. In the rainy spring season, it can be hard to get outside as much as we (and our dogs) would like, so doing short training sessions on a new trick can be an outlet for some of your dog’s excess energy. But maybe you’ve already hit the classics – shake, roll over, speak – and need something new to work your dog’s brain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hyglc17DJxU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hyglc17DJxU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #ffd966; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Capturing different head movements can be the source of several new tricks. For your dog, turning his head left or right, moving it up or down or lowering it to the floor can all be put on different cues. It’s also an interesting challenge for you as the trainer. If you want to improve your timing of marking your dog (Yes! Good dog! Click!), watching for the initial tiny movements of your dog’s head can help. And of course, improving your timing and observation skills will help with any other training you’re doing with your dog - plus you can get some adorable tricks on cue to impress your friends! Check out Australian Shepherd Payton and Husky Mix Finley working on some head tricks! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you would be interested in a class to learn to train some of these fun skills, let us know! We'd love to set something up to offer some fun ideas to help you and your pup have more fun together. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-99214bf0-56c3-73eb-9aa8-052b0a740324"></span></span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-44709247037604264282017-02-01T18:11:00.000-08:002017-02-01T18:19:33.536-08:00Teacher's Pet - Parkour for Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parkour for dogs? Yes, it’s a thing! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />In human parkour, athletes run, climb, jump, swing and roll, using the features of the environment to get from point A to point B quickly and efficiently. While parkour for dogs is not exactly the same, it shares the idea of looking at the things in your environment differently and having your dog interact with them in new ways. <br /><br />There are several organizations that offer guidelines and titles in this new dog sport, such as the <a href="http://www.dogparkour.org/">International Dog Parkour Association</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/AllDogsParkour/">All Dogs Parkour </a>. You can find lists of different ways you can train your dog to interact with obstacles (and obstacles can be anything you can find in the space you’re working in), as well as safety guidelines. For example, dogs must be wearing a harness with leash attached when performing skills where they could potentially fall off an obstacle. There are also modifications to many exercises for senior dogs or dogs with physical challenges, so any dog can participate.<br /><br />Parkour can be a great way to make walks and hikes more interesting for you and your dog, and it can also help build confidence. If your dog is nervous about certain things, teaching your dog to interact with things in the environment can help them associate possibly scary things with a chance to earn some yummy treats instead. <br /><br />And even when you can’t get outside, working on parkour skills indoors with household items is a great place to start. You can work on teaching your dog fundamental skills, like put two paws up on something. Practice this inside on chairs, footstools, etc. Then when better weather hits, take it outside and ask for two paws up on a tree stump, a bench or a fire hydrant. Here are some examples of Level 1 All Dogs Parkour entries:<br /><br /><br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qSjDTQTXpvg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qSjDTQTXpvg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pepper, showing off her skills!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Payton's turn! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />If this interests you, visit the websites of the organizations previously listed, or contact us for tips on how to train fun tricks such as these! We're always happy to hear from you. Happy training!</span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-49591235672835906362016-11-05T12:55:00.001-07:002016-11-05T12:55:06.313-07:00Teacher's Pet - Crate Training Throughout Your Dog's Life<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crate
Training Throughout Your Dog’s Life<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">By Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For many puppies, crates are an excellent tool to help
set your puppy up for success with housetraining, prevent inappropriate chewing,
and avoid other undesirable behaviors when you cannot be supervising. Often
when our dogs get a bit older, are reliable in potty habits, and not destroying
all our shoes when left alone, we stop crating. If your dog is more comfortable
sleeping on the couch while you’re at work, there is nothing wrong with that –
but don’t throw out the crate entirely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There may come a time in your adult dog’s life when
crating is a necessity, and if they have not been crated for years, suddenly
finding themselves in there again may be stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently Payton, my nearly 11 years old
Australian Shepherd, had knee surgery. He is still on restricted activity, not
allowed to do stairs or jump up on furniture (although try telling that to
him!). So, while he has not been crated in years, he needs to be now while his
leg heals. Your adult dog could also need to be crated or kenneled at the
veterinarian, if you need to fly with your dog, or if your living arrangements
change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Luckily, Payton had only minor qualms about finding
himself crated again. He will hop right inside in the morning because he knows
that’s where his food bowl will be, and he also gets occasional bones and other
goodies in there. Making the crate the place where fantastic food happens
creates a strong positive association with crate time, and working on a frozen
Kong can keep your dog occupied (and quiet) in the crate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You can also play training games with the crate that
make going into and staying in the crate very rewarding for your dog. <a href="https://youtu.be/6ooHRE4lPFw" target="_blank">CHECK OUTTHIS VIDEO</a> for some examples. So, even if your dog doesn’t need to be crated routinely,
it might benefit you down the road to incorporate some occasional crate games
into your training, or just every now and then feed a meal or a bone in there,
just in case you need it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Happy training! </span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-83538223531750414672016-08-21T09:58:00.004-07:002016-08-21T09:58:35.233-07:00Product Review: The Fifth Paw
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Product Review: The Fifth Paw<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">By Emma Burton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Walks are an excellent time to work on skills with our pups.
They get exercise, and you can put skills that you have previously worked on in
less distracting environments to the test. This isn’t so easy, though, if you
have to juggle the leash, keys, treats, and of course, the inevitable doody
bag. I encountered this problem with my very active German Shorthaired Pointer.
I want to be a good neighbor and pick up after him, but the rest of the walk I
was either searching for a trash can, juggling a gross bag and trying to hang
onto his leash, or all of the above. In an effort to find anything that might
help me out, I was browsing online and came across something called “The Fifth
Paw.” After owning this product and using it every day for over a year now, I
can say that it is something I will never again be without. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWdcaVgNxHY/V7ndopjF9AI/AAAAAAAAAFU/IGhp0IGYchgN8OfNM_wl0aq1mofmTjdUgCLcB/s1600/TheFifthPaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWdcaVgNxHY/V7ndopjF9AI/AAAAAAAAAFU/IGhp0IGYchgN8OfNM_wl0aq1mofmTjdUgCLcB/s200/TheFifthPaw.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.thefifthpaw.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Fifth Paw</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> is a simple leash attachment
with three hooks that rotate freely around the center piece which slides over the
leash. After knotting a doody bag, you slide it through one of the hooks. The
knot keeps the bag from falling through the clip, so you don’t have to worry
about the bag again until your walk is over! The fact that the clips rotate on
a ring means that the bag doesn’t get tangled in the leash, and you can clip
more than one bag on it, which is useful if you have more than one pup or are
going on an extra-long adventure. I have found that this product helps me keep
more of my attention on training—sometimes, I even forget the bag is there! <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This product shows very few signs of wear after over a year
of use, and is also made in the USA. Though it is a little expensive for
something that carries bags of dog doo, I find it invaluable. As someone who
lives in downtown Madison where traffic is dense, having full control over the
leash is my number one priority, and The Fifth Paw lends such a big hand. If
you have noticed it’s difficult to juggle all you need on a walk, or simply are
tired of carrying bags in your hand for an entire walk, this product is here to
help. As you can see, Copper did a lot of market research before buying, and
gives it two paws up! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q5HdiS0CLs/V7ndkOxp9tI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/rnpqFm5o3WE99jLGXY0REYNtK1odBGh5gCLcB/s1600/Copper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q5HdiS0CLs/V7ndkOxp9tI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/rnpqFm5o3WE99jLGXY0REYNtK1odBGh5gCLcB/s200/Copper.jpg" width="120" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">*<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is an
unsolicited and honest review. I have no association with The Fifth Paw and was
not compensated in any way to write this review.*</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-68435850900995296092016-05-21T12:07:00.001-07:002016-05-21T12:07:42.058-07:00Teacher's Pet: Product Review of Lupine<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Anetsa Blesener</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Are you familiar with
the collars produced by Lupine? These collars and leashes are labeled as, “Guaranteed
for Life – Even if Chewed!” Perhaps you have wondered if that could really be
the case, thinking that “well, my dog would NEVER chew” or “it must be really
hard to get a replacement.” Based on my experience, I can confidently say that
this guarantee is solid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But, let me back up. As a
disclaimer, while I am a lead trainer for Teacher’s Pet, I have NO affiliation
with Lupine, nor do I work for a business that sells their products. I must
admit, I am a bit of an “impulse buyer.” When I first saw them, I was really
attracted to the many patterns available! There are several other reasons I
decided to grab a Lupine collar and leash for my bigger doggie, Naboo:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Padded
handle</b> – It fit comfortably in my hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Leash
clip</b> – Different than a “regular” leash. Easy for me to snap on & off,
but difficult for him to get out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Material </b>–
Sturdy, & the products come in several width options.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 38.25pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Other </b>–
There is a spot between the leash & the leash handle where a bag-dispenser
fits! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Since Naboo tended to
pull, especially if excited, I knew the the padded handle would not dig into my
hand. While the aforementioned leash & collar survived many years, it was
when I adopted Shelby that the guarantee came into play. When the pups & I
were riding in the car one day, my innocent Shelby began chewing on Naboo’s
leash, & by time we arrived at our destination, our wonderfully padded
handle was detached from the leash. On the bright side, though, I finally got
to try out Lupine’s guarantee! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Guaranteed Even if Chewed? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />When you arrive at the
Lupine website, there are a couple ways to fulfill the guarantee. Personally, I
utilized their mail-in option, as they did not have the new EZ-Return option.
For mail-in, I simply mailed the leash, along with my contact info, & they
would send a replacement a business day after receiving it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, I included an old address (I
had recently moved), & the package was returned to Lupine. I learned of
this because a VERY nice representative called me to verify my address. CAN YOU
BELIEVE IT!? I couldn’t imagine that they would call me to ensure that I
received my replacement. They could’ve dismissed it as my mistake, but no, we
got it all squared away & I received my replacement shortly after. There
was only one other time that I utilized the guarantee. This time, my
rambunctious pups damaged a collar. I included my correct address, & it was
even easier to receive a replacement! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I can’t say enough
about this company, & you can obtain a replacement no matter what has
happened to the collar &/or leash. As long as they can verify that it
really is one of their products, they will replace it! Because of my great
experience with Lupine, I recommend their products to all my friends &
students! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you are interested in more info on Lupine,
their website is </span><a href="https://www.lupinepet.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">https://www.lupinepet.com/</span></a></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-65788352414831311022016-01-31T14:51:00.001-08:002016-01-31T14:51:26.055-08:00Teacher's Pet Training - What is a Therapy Dog<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
What is a Therapy Dog?</div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">
By Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA </div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Dogs can be a great
source of happiness – think about the way your face lights up when you see your
dog at the end of a long work day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
can improve mood and reduce stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
therapy dog is a pet with a stable temperament that can provide affection,
comfort and stress reduction for people in settings such as hospitals, nursing
homes, schools and disaster areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
therapy dog needs to have basic obedience skills, and to become certified, the dog
must pass an evaluation along with his or her owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Hint, hint – dropping in to a beginner doggy
school or doggy high school week 4 class is a great way to brush up on the key
skills of leash walking and polite greetings!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Dogs are not the only
animals that can help people – there are therapy cats, bunnies and horses
too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I began volunteering my
time with a local organization, the “I Am Magic Foundation” (<a href="http://www.immagicfoundation.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "times new roman";">http://www.immagicfoundation.org/</span></a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the primary focus has been on horses
helping people, we have also started working on training several dogs to make
therapy visits (it’s a bit easier to travel with a dog than a horse).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nikki the lab mix made her first visit to a
long term care facility recently, and the residents (and Nikki!) were delighted
with the visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goal is to certify
several rescue dogs through the “Love on a Leash” organization (<a href="http://www.loveonaleash.org/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "times new roman";">http://www.loveonaleash.org/</span></a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually we hope to start a local chapter
of this organization to complement and help support the work with horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Do you think your dog
might make a good therapy dog?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would
like to build a group of therapy teams that can make visits to assisted living
facilities, schools, or any facilities that may benefit from a dog visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are interested, we can help support
your goal by providing training tips and helping with the certification
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
If your dog is not a
good fit for a therapy dog, but you are interested in helping out, we are also
looking for volunteers to help coordinate visits with facilities, work with the
rescue dogs living on the farm toward certification, or volunteer with the
horses as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information,
contact <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">brianne@teacherspettraing.com</a>
or <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">discoveryourmagic@immagicfoundation.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Happy Training!</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-10070631169204128222015-11-22T16:29:00.002-08:002015-11-22T16:29:31.738-08:00Teacher's Pet Training Academy - Pets for Vets
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Pets for Vets – Healing
Vets and Saving Pets<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Sarah Miller<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All across the world, dogs
are waiting to find their forever homes and our own nation’s veterans have
fought to protect us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the dogs and
our active duty just want to go home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many veterans come home
wounded but not all wounds are visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These invisible wounds are no less painful than the visible wounds and
can make it difficult for our veterans to transition back into life at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such invisible wounds can include post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, hypervigilance, panic disorders, and
depression.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only do the dogs need
the veterans, the veterans need their dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pets for Vets is a national program whose goal is to give back to those
who have served our country, thanking them for their service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do so, they aim to lessen the emotional
wounds of veterans by matching them with a shelter or rescue dog that has been
specifically selected to match their personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not intended to be service dogs, the
dogs help provide a sense of comfort for the veterans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before the trainers can
complete a match, they meet with the veteran multiple times to get a sense of
who they are, what they’re looking for, and if a dog would be a good fit for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, they evaluate dogs from
rescues or shelters to find the best match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These dogs are evaluated for their sociability, energy level, patience,
and tolerance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the trainer has
selected the dog, they train the dog for 6-8 weeks for rehabilitation and good
manners in order to fit their veteran’s lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the training is complete, the dogs are
placed with their veterans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The specific
dogs have been kept a secret from the veteran and, on this day, both the
veteran and the dog are introduced to their new best friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pets for Vets has many
chapters throughout the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Madison, WI has a local chapter that works to serve the veterans of
Wisconsin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I volunteer my time as a trainer
for Pets for Vets – Madison, WI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
local chapter is looking to place two dogs with two veterans before the holiday
season in the Madison area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep an eye
out for their story this coming December.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both the animals and the
veterans have been through traumatic events in their lives, and together they
can help each other heal. For more on how to get involved, please navigate to
the Pets for Vets website: </span></span><a href="http://www.petsforvets.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.petsforvets.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-50651968320203611032015-08-16T13:05:00.002-07:002015-08-16T13:05:10.296-07:00Teacher's Pet Training Academy: Creating a Visual or Tactile Marker
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creating a Visual or Tactile Marker</span></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’ve been in our classes, you probably know that the first thing
we talk about is teaching your dog a marker word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Good”, “Good dog”, “Yes” – you pick a word
and then repeat the sequence of word followed by treat. In your dog’s brain, this creates a
connection between the word and excited feelings of eating yummy treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, we use that marker word to communicate
to our dog when his behavior is going to result in a yummy treat, making those
good behaviors go up in frequency – yay!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, let’s say your dog can’t hear you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, dogs lose their hearing as they age, or sometimes, your dog is
at a distance or there is lots of other noise to interfere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog makes a really excellent behavior
choice in this situation, you still want to be able to provide feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s an example:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aussie Payton is looking out the picture
window while I’m outside mowing the front lawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His neighborhood nemesis Chocolate lab goes bounding by on a leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Payton watches calmly without barking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hooray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how do I communicate how much I loved his behavior when he can’t
hear me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A visual marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Teaching a visual marker is the same process as teaching a marker
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick a visual marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A thumbs up, a peace sign, an OK sign – it
can be whatever you want as long as it doesn’t look like a signal your dog
already knows (e.g. don’t use a flat palm if that’s what your stay signal looks
like).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show your dog the marker, then
feed a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat until, eventually,
you show your dog the marker and he starts to look excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In trainer speak, we call that a CER –
conditioned emotional response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basically your dog knows something good is on the way when he sees that
signal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might also want to consider teaching a tactile marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs can lose vision with age, or
some dogs are born with both visual and auditory impairments (“double merle”
dogs often have these issues).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
dogs might benefit from learning a specific touch as a marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose a touch that your dog doesn’t find
aversive (for example, many dogs dislike being patted on top of the head), and
follow it with a treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
touch the dog on the shoulder, then treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat until you get that CER (the “where’s my treat?” response), and
you’ve taught a tactile marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Now you
can communicate that you liked your dog’s behavior in any situation! </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy training!</span></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-1150952774963829542015-05-18T15:21:00.002-07:002015-05-18T15:21:26.858-07:00Teacher's Pet Training Academy - What's The Word?
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When I start teaching a new skill in class, a question I
often hear from clients is “What word do I say?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My answer is pretty much always “Whatever
word you want!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs do not come
preloaded with a dictionary, so we can teach them to associate whatever word we
choose with any particular behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, there are some general guidelines that might be helpful when building
your dog’s vocabulary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t use
the same word for more than one behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, if you want to say “down” when your dog is jumping up on
someone, use a different word such as “lay” when you want your dog to go into a
belly on the ground position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Your word should come out of your mouth
easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If “gentle” doesn’t roll off
your tongue, use “easy” or “nicely” to ask your dog to take treats politely
from fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Have a clear picture of what exactly your dog
should be doing when you say the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, for my dogs, “leave it” means move your head away from that
interesting thing, and “drop it” means open your jaws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are two separate muscle movements, so
they have different verbal cues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
ask your dog to “leave it” when he already has it in his mouth, it may be
confusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Have everyone in your family use the same
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While dogs can learn multiple
words for the same behavior, it’s better to stick to one word during the early
stages of learning a new behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other thing to keep in mind is that a verbal cue is not
always the best way to get your dog to do what you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs tend to learn visual cues more quickly
(and often more reliably) than verbal cues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So if your dog is struggling to respond to you saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Sit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit!”</i> help him out by
following the word cue with a hand signal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also often give our dog visual
signals without realizing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
say “sit”, we might lean forward slightly, or move our hands up slightly, and
while we think the dog is responding to the word, it’s actually the slight body
movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to give your dog’s
verbal cues a test, check out this video:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://youtu.be/pLHEf4wuDGI"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://youtu.be/pLHEf4wuDGI</span></a>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another wonderful way to get good behavior from your dog is
to not use any word cue at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Letting
the environment or situation be the cue is a great way to train!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, standing near the door to go
outside and just waiting for your dog to offer a sit (without saying the word
or giving the hand signal) will teach your dog to offer a sit to go outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or say your dog wants to pull to greet
another dog when on a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
certainly use a “leave it” cue, or a “watch me” cue, but wouldn’t it be nice if
your dog saw the other dog and looked back to you without even being asked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When your dog first sees another dog, offer
your dog a treat by your side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
time, when your dog sees another dog, he will immediately come to your side,
expecting a treat, instead of pulling forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other dog becomes the cue to go to your side, and you don’t have to
say a word!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Training!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-86322612438998992252015-02-21T10:04:00.001-08:002015-02-21T10:05:12.927-08:00Teacher's Pet Training: Building a Solid Recall<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever heard
someone say that the key to getting your dog to come when called is to be more
exciting than the rest of the environment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Um, that’s all well and good in theory, but I am sadly lacking the
squirrel skills of running vertically up trees and then back and forth across
the telephone lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty sure I
cannot match that level of excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The good news is that you can still teach your dog to come reliably when
called without being a ninja squirrel.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The real way
to get a solid recall is to build a strong “reinforcement history” for
responding to the recall cue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to
think of it as a bank account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calling
my dog away from something really exciting is like making a big withdrawal from
the account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to do that, I have
to have made enough small deposits (rewarded easier recalls) along the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great way to make those small
deposits is to incorporate them into your daily routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about your day from your dog’s
perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the things that
your dog gets most excited about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
are some examples from my household:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span>
<li style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Payton:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast, go outside to chase those
squirrels, a new bully stick, a yogurt container to lick, a visit from Grandma,
dinner</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></li>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span>
</span>
<li style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pepper:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast, go outside to chase Payton, a
squeaky toy, tug of war, dinner</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></li>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span>
</span>
<li style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Finley:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast, go for a walk, special snack
closet opening, dinner</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So even if
I’m feeling particularly lazy about training, I can still build up my
reinforcement history for the recall by simply inserting it in front of these
exciting things that are going to happen anyways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right before I open the snack closet, I can
call “Here!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finley was going to come anyways as soon as
she heard that door, but by calling her first, I make good use of classical conditioning
(learning through association) and make a small deposit in my recall bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I want to start a play session with
Pepper, I can call her first, then start squeaking the toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I’m conditioning her that “Here!”
means something really fun is about to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want “Here!” to mean start running to me right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I call “Here!” right before I set down
food bowls, I am pretty much guaranteed some very motivated (and fast!) dogs, and
it was not a lengthy training session – it actually required very little effort
from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about what gets your dog
excited, and then just find a way to stick your recall practice in front of
it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once
you have made lots of small deposits, try out your recall in a more distracting
setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog doesn’t come, you
need to build up your account more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the meantime, try not to use your special recall word in situations your dog
will fail in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either go get your dog, or
keep your dog on a leash or long line until he is ready for that big
withdrawal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one last hint –
sometimes the best reward is to send your dog back to the fun thing you called
him away from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out this </span><a href="http://youtu.be/dsQ7t6afHz8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">VIDEO </span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of
Payton and Finley practicing being called away from foraging for kibble in the
yard.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy
Training!</span></span></div>
<br />Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-12889826633769431552014-11-24T07:09:00.004-08:002014-11-24T07:09:47.801-08:00Teacher's Pet Training - Changing Unwanted Behavior<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cold temperatures and snow are here early this year
(nooooo!), and along with them comes a very unwanted canine behavior at my
household – poopsicle eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pepper the
Pomeranian mix has the lovely habit of snacking on other dogs’ frozen poo
(luckily she only tends to do this with frozen deposits, so I get a seasonal
reprieve).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I witnessed this behavior
in the yard today, it started me thinking on all the ways we can influence our
dogs’ behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to run through
some of the options for this particular behavior, but really, you can ask
yourself some of the same questions with any undesirable behavior:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is there potentially a medical concern?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there are many debates on the causes of
coprophagia (eating of stool), some involving dietary deficiencies, Pepper
seems to be in very good health otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Can I live with this behavior?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She does not eat poo to the point of making herself sick, so occasional
snacking is really not doing any harm, although I do find it unpleasant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like the behavior to stop, but if it
doesn’t, life will still go on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Can I manage the environment to prevent it
from happening?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could immediately pick up after the other
dogs (she is especially fond of husky poo).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I am unlikely to comply fully with this strategy, especially
when it is very cold outside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Can I remove the reinforcement?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could use one of several food additives on
the market designed to make the husky stool taste bad (ridiculous as it sounds
it must currently taste good to Pepper).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Can I reinforce an incompatible behavior?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Pepper does have a “leave it” cue, as
well as a good recall, so as long as I am supervising, I can reward her for
staying away from it (and I can supervise from inside the house, making my
compliance better in the cold).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
also give her better things to do outside, like chasing snowballs or searching
for bits of dog food.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For this particular behavior, I will likely combine a bit
from each strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will try to pick
up the yard as often as I can, and failing that, I will supervise Pepper when
she is out, and use her “leave it” cue or her recall to reinforce her for
resisting the poopsicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I
will try <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not </i>to do is yell her name
in an irritated manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bad habit
of mine (despite warning all my students in training classes about it), and
while it may work to get her to stop eating the poo, it may also make her more
likely to avoid me when I am calling her name to get her attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also doesn’t give her any direction as to
what to do next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I can use a
“leave it” cue, which tells her that she will be rewarded for backing away from
the snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Do you have a problem behavior you’re trying to
eliminate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excellent resources for
thinking through your options include “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor, and
“The Toolbox for Remodeling Your Problem Dog” by Terry Ryan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Happy Training!</span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-26749217172241956822014-09-24T05:49:00.000-07:002014-09-24T05:49:39.157-07:00Loose Leash Walking: The Agony & The Joyby Ana Grimh, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">SQUIRREL!! DOG!! RABBIT!!
GARBAGE!! Like most other dogs, this is what my Husky, Jisa, is pondering
during our walks. And MAN, can she PULL! When we first brought her home (and
even now, on a smaller scale), you would’ve thought she was trying out for a
sled team! In our classes and private work, we frequently hear pulling to be an
issue, and we do our best to teach you the best methods of managing and working
on this. We provide you as many tools as we can, and then you head out into
this world of distractions to practice! YOWZA! Here is a brief overview of how
one goes about developing walking nicely on leash / loose leash walking.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To
begin, you should start working on loose leash walking in an environment with
few distractions, such as inside your home (perhaps even a quiet room, no kids
or other pets present). To establish superb eye contact / attention and the
loose leash, we typically recommend a backwards walking method (most methods
are simply variations of each other), and eventually, we have you graduate to
more forwards walking.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Backwards”
means that you are walking backwards, and your dog is following you, eyes on
you and the leash slack. In case you are not sure what we mean, here is a video
showing the method in action: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfiNFtembDA"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfiNFtembDA</span></a>.
Note that, at first, we reinforce behavior we want to see as much as possible.
As your dog seems to be catching on (looking at you more frequently, leash
loose most of time, rarely gets distracted), you can start to fade out the food
– if you were feeding for every step, perhaps go to every other step…or,
preferably, a more randomized way, such as walk-walk-kibble-walk-kibble-walk-walk-walk-kibble
and so on. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While
in a less distracting environment, you should be able to get away with a
mixture of your dog’s regular kibble (maybe use part of his meal?) and yummier
treats! Make sure treats are appropriately sized for your dog – many of the
treats on the market can be broken down into 3-5 smaller sized portions. Much
better for your dog’s digestive system AND waistline! If you are doing a lot of
training, you should connect with your veterinarian – s/he might recommend
reducing your dog’s daily kibble intake.
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once
you and your dog are utilizing more forward walking than backwards inside, it
is time to venture into the backyard! Start at the beginning, and gradually
work up to walking forwards majority of the time. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Remember:
Just because you start walking forwards, it does not mean the reinforcement
stops! You want to reinforce desired behavior as much as possible! This enables
your dog to learn what you are looking for, or in other words, what behaviors
PAY! <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Finding
that your dog is more distracted, and thus, there is more tension on the leash?
Well, we have a video for that! See this example: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawGibMta54"><span style="color: #0563c1;">www.youtube.com/watch?v=QawGibMta54</span></a>.
Yes, in this video, tension on the leash does happen as the dog pulls towards
the desired item. As soon as the handler feels tension, though, she immediately
turns, calls the dog / gets the dog’s attention, and moves in the opposite
direction. We are teaching the dog that pulling will move him farther from what
he wants. They reset, and then try again. Eventually, the dog can walk all the
way to the distraction on a loose leash.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After
seeing progress in the backyard, it is time for the ever exciting WALK! Again,
start from the beginning, and slowly move through the steps. This is going to
take time, and it is so worth the effort! Note, if your dog gets very
distracted by this environment, you may need higher value reinforcers along –
such as kibble mixed with tiny pieces of hot dogs / chicken. Follow the
guidelines for using and fading out reinforcers above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We understand that walking
backwards on your regular walking routine could look silly, and we do not
expect you to do this every day (though, it would provide consistency and help
you reach your goal faster!). However, please be mindful of what you are
reinforcing on walks. If your dog is pulling, moving forward could be
reinforcing the behavior (UGH!). Instead of continuing to walk forward, you can
either (1) stop moving and wait for your dog to orient to you (and thus,
establish a loose lead), or (2) turn, call dog / get dog’s attention, and as
soon as you feel the leash is loose and dog is attentive, start walking
forwards again. This takes seconds, and will be helpful on your journey to a
nice walking experience! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here is a video of one of our
clients practicing loose leash walking in our classroom: <a href="http://youtu.be/W-E9acawbXE?list=UUBYRalYD2Erl5CcK9BCZKIg"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://youtu.be/W-E9acawbXE?list=UUBYRalYD2Erl5CcK9BCZKIg</span></a>.
Keep in mind, this client has been through numerous classes, so they are at the
point of walking forwards and starting to fade out food reinforcement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ultimately, be patient with this
process. The environment surrounding our dogs, especially outside, is VERY
distracting and stimulating, and this takes time to overcome. Impossible? No.
Difficult? Absolutely! Keep at it, and eventually, you and your dog will be
enjoying your time more outside. If you’d like more assistance with doing these
exercises, enroll in one of our Puppy or Beginner Schools (or Doggy High School
/ College, if you are more advanced) to get started! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Happy training!</span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-60073839446580035032014-07-08T16:27:00.001-07:002014-07-08T17:37:30.793-07:00Teacher's Pet Training Academy - Training Tips for Small Dogs<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A few years ago, I was surfing the Petfinder site, mainly
out of boredom. While I consider myself mainly a midsize-herding breed kind of
person (I have a few items around my house that declare “I love my Australian
Shepherd”), I’ve always had a soft spot for Pomeranians. Long story short, I
ended up adopting Pepper, a 10 pound “Pomeranian/Chihuahua/who knows what” from
the ARVSS rescue group, and, thus, having my first small dog to train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The wonderful thing about positive reinforcement-based
training is that it is safe and effective for any size dog (or cat, rodent,
bird, etc.!), so I knew that little Pepper could learn in the same way that my
larger dogs did. But I found there are some things to consider when working
specifically with a small dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First, if I am luring Pepper with a treat in my hand, I need
to bend over a lot farther. While this isn’t a huge deal for me, it can be
difficult when we’re on a walk, and for owners with difficulty bending, it could
be a significant problem. A nice way to combat this issue is to teach your small
dog to use a target stick. You can purchase a target stick made specifically
for dog training (that usually has a rounded ball at one end), or you can use a
wooden spoon or other long object that extends your reach. Teach your small dog
to touch her nose to the end of your target stick (by marking and rewarding her
for doing it), and then you can more easily lure your dog with the stick
instead of having to bend all the way over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Second, small dogs get underfoot a lot (small dog owners are
probably considering this an understatement right now). When I ask the dogs if
they want to go outside, I get two excited big dogs racing down the stairs to
the door. And I get one excited small dog racing down the stairs, then back up
the stairs, behind my feet, back down the stairs and weaving in between the big
dogs’ legs. Since this could one day lead to a very sprained ankle, I thought
perhaps I should train something safer. I worked with Pepper on staying behind
me as I walked down the stairs, and then taught her to jump up on a chair to
wait to go outside. Jumping up on an elevated surface is another great thing to
teach small dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the dog’s
perspective, humans spend a lot of time towering over her. When I want to put
on a harness or do some grooming, if I ask her to jump onto a higher surface
first, it’s less intimidating for her when I do lean over her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Third, think about the things that others may do to your
small dog that wouldn’t necessarily happen to your big dog. Nobody has ever
tried to pick up my husky mix. Just because small dogs are small and cute,
doesn’t mean they want to be picked up by a stranger any more than a big dog
does. So stand up for your small dog – if you see your dog is uncomfortable
when someone reaches for her, ask the person to stop, and call your dog to you
for safety. And, if your dog is uncomfortable being reached for, you can choose
to do some counter conditioning/desensitization work (person reaching for dog =
really yummy treats for dog), but always respect that your small dog sees
things from a different perspective than you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Want to see some of these tips in action? Check out the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnXce7y03Uk&feature=share&list=UUBYRalYD2Erl5CcK9BCZKIg" target="_blank">HERE</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy training!</span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-34482398143448552152014-04-23T10:35:00.001-07:002014-04-23T10:35:50.727-07:00What is Backyard Agility?<span style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">Agility is a sport in which dog & owner teams race through an
obstacle course against other teams. For many, competition is not as
appealing as just having fun playing around with your dog. If that sounds like
you, check out our Backyard Agility series! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">Some of our goals in our
Backyard Agility series are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Introduce your dog to
new obstacles in a safe and fun manner. Some obstacles can be scary for
some dogs at first, and learning new things safely can help build your dog’s
confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Help you communicate
better with your dog. Dogs are masters at reading our body language, and
agility is a great way for you to learn how to communicate with your dog by
simply changing how you move.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exercise! Agility
can obviously be physically tiring for your dog, but it’s also great mental
exercise. Weaving through poles is not a natural behavior to a dog, so
learning to do that can really work your dog’s brain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: white;">If you’re interested in learning a little about agility without
the more formal rules and regulations of competitive agility, this is the series
for you! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is a fun video of Backyard Agility: </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://youtu.be/scsYpSP-6iA" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/scsYpSP-6iA</a></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are hosting</b>
the Agility area at Mounds Pet Food Warehouse’s Dog Fest on Sun, June 8<sup>th</sup>
from 10a-4p at Angell Park in Sun Prairie. We’d love to see you there!</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: white;">Happy Training!</span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-67075758772016188942014-02-16T13:10:00.001-08:002014-02-16T13:10:59.878-08:00Teacher's Pet Training - Working with Multiple Dogs<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Working With Multiple Dogs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The great thing about training using positive reinforcement
is that my dogs love to train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am
training all three dogs at once, they will literally push each other out of the
way to be the one working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I
appreciate the enthusiasm, it can be a bit chaotic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some tips for working more than one
dog at once:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Teach new skills individually.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning will be easier for the dog in a
quieter environment, and teaching a new skill requires more focus from you too,
so don’t divide your attention between multiple dogs when working on something
new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Consider using different marker words.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my dogs, I use three words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes” means Payton has earned a reward,
“Ding” means Finley has earned a reward, and “Click” means Pepper has earned a
reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes things a bit more
clear for the dogs (but it can be a challenge for the trainer to keep things
straight).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Reinforce patience.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great way to train multiple dogs at once is
to ask one dog to do something while the others are in a stay, and then be sure
to reward the dogs during their stays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is hard for one dog to watch another dog have all the fun, so make
the watching and waiting patiently pay off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Be clear in your body language.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When treating one dog, you can do subtle (or
for some dogs less than subtle) things to convey which dog you are about to
reinforce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could be shifting one
foot forward to block one dog, or moving your hand farther out to the side to
treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can help cut down on the
dogs jostling each other for the goodies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Recognize body language in your dogs.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some dogs may find training in a group more
stressful, especially ones inclined to guard resources (I have two of
these!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know your dogs and be able to
tell when a training session is becoming tense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Finley is giving Pepper the whale eye (when the dog is not staring
directly, but looks off to the side so you can see a lot of the white of the
eye), then I am going to respect her signal by moving Pepper farther away from
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Working with multiple dogs at once can certainly be a
challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Get creative – use one dog as a hurdle for another dog to jump over or
run a circle around, have them play bow to each other, or do synchronized group
spins – the possibilities are endless!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">**Want to see this in video format? Check it out here: <a href="http://youtu.be/G5ldeeMaMZc">http://youtu.be/G5ldeeMaMZc</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<strong>Happy Training!</strong></span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-73522059519944022272013-10-14T08:35:00.001-07:002015-11-22T16:58:28.514-08:00Teacher's Pet Training - Impulse Control? What is that?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, what our dog wants to be doing and what we want
our dog to be doing is not exactly the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like when our dog wants to be running,
chasing, jumping, barking – all those fun doggy things – but we want our dog to
be sitting quietly at our side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
training, we call this “impulse control."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Basically, impulse control is teaching your dog that doing
something that doesn’t necessarily come naturally will have a big reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about some of your dog’s impulses that
might cause you some problems. Chasing
squirrels?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jumping up on visitors?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barking at other dogs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunging at food or toys in your hand?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two main components to impulse control
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, minimize the amount of
reinforcement your dog gets for engaging in the impulsive behaviors you don’t
like (hint – leashes are very helpful
for this).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In other words, do not pay attention (negative or positive) to your dog if s/he is jumping on you or others, barking at you or others, etc. </span>Second, reward your dog
frequently for choosing the behavior you do like!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For example, </span>whenever you have a visitor, feed your dog lots of kibble/treats for sitting
and staying. If you continue that, your dog will be much more likely to choose to sit and stay
than to jump up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Another example involves your dog seeing </span>a squirrel on a walk. If s/he gets a treat for looking at you and heeling/walking nice, then
the impulsive chasing will decrease.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, we do want our dogs to be dogs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The great thing about impulse control
training is that, once your dog is getting the hang of it, you can use the
opportunity to do the fun thing as the reward for the behavior you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You looked at me and got in heel position
when you saw that dog approaching us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great dog – let’s go say hi!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out our classes on self control and emergency skills for some
practice on impulse control skills like stay and leave it/off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a video of some impulse control
practice in action:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/VNCwTRs7k8g">http://youtu.be/VNCwTRs7k8g</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Happy Training!</span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-11724916478033305692013-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:002013-04-07T08:50:53.260-07:00Teacher's Pet: Nice Work! The Importance of FeedbackBy Ana Grimh, CPDT-KA<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
YES! GOOD! NICE! SWEET!
DING! CLICK! What do all of these words have in common? To at least one dog I
know, one of these words is a clue that s/he did something correct. We may use
the term, “marker word,” for these examples. In short, it is feedback. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Over my years of
teaching others and training my own dogs, I have noticed how much we talk to
our dogs, but how little the dogs actually take away from all that chatting.
Unfortunately, they do not arrive understanding our language, and likewise, we
do not meet them understanding THEIR language. As any teacher or supervisor
would do for you, we should add more feedback to help each other! </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Letting your dog know
s/he has done something you like is important to building a trusting
relationship and avoiding any “trouble” behavior(s). You can also use feedback
as your dog is continuing to perform a skill/behavior you like, such as Walking
Nicely on Leash and/or Recall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
You can provide
feedback with or without adding a “reward.” An example is working on Polite
Greetings: (1) You approach your dog; (2) S/he jumps up at you; (3) You turn
away and avoid contact. S/he learns that jumping does NOT get your attention,
and thus, it is not a strategy to continue. Now, say your dog has been working
on Polite Greetings for some time: (1) You approach your dog; (2) S/he sits
immediately; (3) You smile, say “Good!” + treat, and/or bend down to say HI.
S/he learns that sitting when human approaching is very rewarding, and
therefore, it is a strategy to continue. See how important feedback is?</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
In a recent graduating
Beginner class, I saw how adept the students had become at providing timely and
frequent feedback to their dogs. It was heavenly! Both the dogs and students
were enthusiastically and skillfully managing challenging set-ups for Off/Leave
It practice (including food bowls!), and a big part of their success was their
willingness to provide useful feedback to their dog. Kudos to the group!</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
As you continue
training, think about how to best communicate with your dog(s). I’m certain you
will not regret the results you will see when focusing on this important part
of the training process!</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px;">
Happy training!<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-89395798060666090302013-04-07T07:59:00.002-07:002013-04-07T07:59:40.479-07:00Teacher's Pet: Wait! Your Paws are Muddy!
by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s finally feeling like spring might be here to stay! A big YES +
treat to Mother Nature! Warmer weather and extended sunlight mean more time to
walk and play with the dogs outside. Our dog(s) are over-the-moon excited! However…all
that melted snow <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">also</i> means muddy
paws. How about teaching your dog to help you out and wipe his paws on a towel
or mat?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This can often be taught quickly with some well-placed treats and a
clicker (or marker word like “good” or “yes”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">S</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">teps:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Get out your towel or mat and have your dog sit-stay
while he watches you place a few treats under the mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Release your dog to go get the treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many dogs will quickly start pawing at
the mat to get at the treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As soon as your dog starts pawing, mark (click or
say your marker word) and reward with another treat on top of the
mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After a few trials, stop putting treats under the
mat and see if your dog will still try to paw at the mat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Start adding a verbal cue like “wipe” before your
dog starts pawing. </span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Practice, practice, practice for many repetitions! Pretty soon you can
ask your dog to wipe when coming in from outside! Not only do you get to let
your dog do all the work, but it’s also a cool trick to show off to friends and
family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Happy Training!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-91234834076734698062013-02-06T19:02:00.003-08:002013-02-06T19:02:54.339-08:00Training Cats & Dogs
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Training
Cats and Dogs<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As trainers at Teacher’s Pet, we strive to understand
the science behind training methods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
studying learning theory and operant & classical conditioning, we can
better understand how to train skills and modify behavior problems in
dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not all – the science
behind how we train dogs also applies to other animals, so we can help with
your cat, too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re interested in training your cat (or other
species of pet), first you need to figure out something motivating for your
pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food is motivating to all animals
(although some of us more than others), so that’s usually a good place to
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your cat is free fed (has
unlimited access to food), you may want to start providing more scheduled meals
so your cat is more interested in food at training time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can use tastier treats that your cat
enjoys, but just like with dogs, be aware of how many extra calories you’re
using in training and cut back meals, if needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toys and affection can also be used for
rewards if your cat enjoys those things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just like with your dog, start by teaching a “marker.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, we use a verbal marker like “good”
with dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cats might do better with a
more uniform marker, like a clicker (small plastic and metal device that makes
a “click” sound when you press it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Start by simply clicking followed by a tiny treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat until your cat looks excited to hear
that click.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once your cat has a marker,
you’re ready to start marking any behavior you like or think is cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behaviors that are marked and rewarded should
increase in frequency, and you’re on your way to a trained cat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep in mind that, while the learning principles are
the same, there are some differences in how cats and dogs work with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, you may notice that your cat
isn’t interested in training for as long as your dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some cats only want to train for 2-3 minute
sessions, and then napping in the sun is more important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may also need to do more “shaping” with
your cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your cat isn’t getting the
behavior you want, break it down into smaller steps, then mark and reward
anything that’s close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just like in dogs, mental stimulation can help cats
stay happy and healthy and avoid some behavior problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides that, cat tricks are cute!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out this clip of Joan the cat doing a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXJ_Ihxgp9g&feature=share&list=UUBYRalYD2Erl5CcK9BCZKIg"><span style="color: blue;">few
of her tricks</span></a>. While we don’t have group classes for cats, we do offer
private consultations for cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have a cat with a behavior problem and/or you want to learn more about cat
training, contact <a href="mailto:info@teacherspettraining.com"><span style="color: blue;">Ana Grimh,
CPDT-KA</span></a> (Program Director).<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-3107881856720210932013-02-06T18:45:00.003-08:002013-02-06T18:45:40.829-08:00Product Review: Freedom Harness
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Product
Review:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freedom No Pull Harness
(Wiggles, Wags and Whiskers, Inc)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Available
in the Madison area at Nutzy Mutz and Bad Dog Frida<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksnf4h5Bj0M/URMVF8kG1CI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/yyi0qElCJrQ/s1600/home-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ksnf4h5Bj0M/URMVF8kG1CI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/yyi0qElCJrQ/s200/home-pic.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a harness designed to decrease
pulling and give you more control over your dog while walking on leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also order a special leash designed to
attach to the harness in three different ways (a ring on the dog’s back, a ring
on the dog’s chest, or both rings at once).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It takes some time and patience to teach your
dog to walk politely on leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A special
harness like this can help you walk your dog more easily without thinking about
training, and without letting your dog be rewarded for pulling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Paws Up:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
harness definitely worked to control pulling in a 55 pound dog that is
typically a moderate puller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One nice
feature is the velvet lining on the chest strap, since the nylon of other
harnesses, such as the Easy Walk by Premier, can cause some chaffing under the
front legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also different options
for attaching the leash, which is great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For times when you need extra control, such as walking through a crowd
or if your dog has issues seeing other dogs or people while walking, attaching
to both the chest and the back gives the most control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you want to give your dog more freedom
to sniff and explore, attaching to either the back or the chest decreases
pulling enough to keep the walk enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Paws Down:</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unlike some of the other anti-pulling harnesses that can be fastened around
the dog’s chest/back, this harness does have to slip over the dog’s head, which
could be an issue for some dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, most dogs can be helped through this by using some tasty
treats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-66424238971632940632012-11-21T08:32:00.000-08:002012-11-21T08:32:01.619-08:00Article: Somehow I Manage<h4 style="text-align: center;">
Somehow I Manage<br />by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We spend
time in our classes working on a variety of different skills with our
dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit, down, stay, off, come, etc. –
the advantage to your dog having a solid set of skills is you can ask your dog
for the behavior that you want. Your dog completing the behavior you want means
you can avoid the behaviors you don’t want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, when my dog gets excited about going for a walk, he wants
to jump all over me and lick my face, making shoe-tying attempts challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking for a sit or down stay while I tie my
shoes is an easy solution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Training a
variety of behaviors that you can ask your dog for solves a lot of behaviors
you don’t like so much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes,
there are easy fixes to problem behaviors that don’t require training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In dog trainer speak, this is referred to as
“management.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Management means taking
steps to prevent the unwanted behavior from happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually management relies on tools, like a
crate, a baby gate, or a leash/harness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here are a few examples of behaviors that can benefit from management:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pulling
on leash – Using a front clip harness or head collar can prevent your dog from
pulling. This means you can go for a walk without having to spend much time
training your dog not to pull.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Destructiveness
when left alone – Crating your dog when you’re away prevents your dog from
being able to chew up your shoes, furniture, or garbage can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind that your dog should be
comfortable in the crate. If s/he is not, then this is not the best option for
you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most dogs don’t need to be crated
forever, but you especially don’t want young dogs or dogs new to your house
developing bad habits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jumping
up on visitors – Keeping your dog behind a baby gate when guests arrive can
manage jumping behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many dogs settle
down after the initial arrival, and then will have a better chance of sitting
politely for greetings once that excitement dies down a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember,
though: Management is not training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walking your dog on a head collar doesn’t train your dog to walk without
pulling, and having your dog behind a baby gate doesn’t teach your dog not to
jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, while you work on
training the behavior you do want, like sitting politely for greetings, it is
important to set your dog up for success by not letting your dog practice those
unwanted behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, next time you’re
faced with an unwanted behavior, first think about ways to manage the behavior.
From there, you can think of what to train your dog to do instead, so you
eventually won’t need that management anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy
Training,<br />
Teacher’s Pet<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-27804861701158083912012-11-21T08:30:00.002-08:002012-11-21T08:30:38.032-08:00Product Review: Tugzee<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Product Review: TUGZEE<br />by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This loooooong tug toy (6 feet) is made by A Cheerful Pet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s great for tugging because it’s so long
that the dog’s mouth can stay well away from your hands, and the handle makes
it easy for you to hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also great
fun for the dog to chase along the ground and pounce on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tugzee is made of boiled wool, and is
quite durable even for heavy duty dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Playing
with an exciting new toy is also a great time to train!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balancing the chasing and tugging with asking
your dog to drop, sit or down is a great way to exercise your dog’s
self-control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need help teaching
your dog some of these skills visit our drop in classes “Self Control” or “Fun
& Games”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out this example of
Payton the Aussie playing with his Tugzee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Link to Payton Video: <a href="http://youtu.be/Qb7UKXb1cKY"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://youtu.be/Qb7UKXb1cKY</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find Product Here: </span><a href="http://www.acheerfulpet.com/product3.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.acheerfulpet.com/product3.html</span></a>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8931699734107066758.post-74543639114801751662012-07-16T16:09:00.001-07:002012-07-16T16:09:11.180-07:00Product Review: Lickety Stik<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
by Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.petsafe.net/products/liquid-dog-treats/lickety-stik"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.petsafe.net/products/liquid-dog-treats/lickety-stik</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a lickable dog treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flavored liquid (“savory chicken”, “smoky
bacon” or “braised liver”) is dispensed from a plastic container with a rolling
ball top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You simply shake up the
container and let your dog lick the rolling ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the “paws up” column, all three of my dogs (and the cat)
seemed to like the taste (all preferred the chicken to the bacon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also easy to deliver and keeps your
fingers clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried it out for some
heeling practice and it is nice to be able to deliver reinforcement for a
longer stretch of time without having to stop and reload for more treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the “paws down” column, all my dogs periodically try to
just eat the whole bottle instead of licking the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also was not very high value for my most
easily distracted dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything else
interesting was going on outside he would quickly abandon the Lickety
Stik.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall I think the Lickety Stik could be useful for
exercises like heeling, where you want to reinforce a longer duration of
behavior, or for dogs who have trouble taking treats nicely (i.e. without
chomping on your fingers).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it
may not be the highest value reward for your dog, so if you’re training with
high distraction, you may still need to get your hands dirty with the hot dogs!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Training!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>Teacher's Pet Training Academyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847535802087624638noreply@blogger.com0