This past week I was able to take my first vacation in about... well 3 years. I have gone on plenty of weekends in state and to shows but, always was able to bring my fur kid along. This time was the first time since he came to me at 10 weeks old that we slept apart and for 3 nights, and 4 nights at that.
It got me to thinking I should have done it much sooner. It was hard to leave when he was a pup because of potty training and other training. Who would watch him etc. etc. Well plus him being so cute and growing inches while I was at work. It was hard to make myself miss any of that. That was afterall why I got a purebred puppy, so I could watch and see all the growth and development. Well the time had come and I felt like a limb had been lost or something. I tried to prepare him.
I took him to daycare at the boarding facility a few times. He is shy so he needed to warm up to them so he would eat. I brought his nighttime bed and a toy and a bone for him to have while he was there. The first day of daycare he stood shaking, gave one girl kisses and visited with the neighbor dog occassionally. The days passed and he adjusted to liking the place and its people. Then the first night without me at home he howled for me when my sister put him to bed. She caved and let him sleep on the top of the stairs "waiting for me" then my Dad took him to be boarded the next morning and he did fine. He adjusted fine, a little stress from sleeping in a weird place but, he did great.
Me on the otherhand. I could not enjoy my vacation because I wanted to be on a hike with him or thought how much he would like the pool at the hotel. I was cold at night without the dog butt near my feet (keeping them warm)
I have done so much research on how things should work, what you are supposed to do and how to act appropriately with this or that; I never realized it affects me too. I remember when I lost my last dog, the dog that was really mine. I was completely devastated. How I had loved that dog instantly and my new dog, he had to grow on me. Sure I thought he was cute but, I didn't really understand him and click instantly. I realize now after 2 years that I have that. Of course I knew I loved him before and all but, this vacation made it click in my brain "what if I lost him" I guess it is a question we never want to ask or face, we hope it holds off for a long time if not forever. I push the question away because the answer I know. It would be like the last dog, I would suffer and sob and then get stronger, the only thing that is ever the same in each relationship I am ever to have and different for each of us to feel as we do.
I came back to my door and after a few minutes of rubbing the stress off his head and torso, we were us again. He is not really my kid, he is not my husband, he is not a person but, he is my friend and he is a great dog. I never expect him to make up the gaps in my life but, he adds so much to it.
I guess my point is sometimes we know what we are supposed to do and while we do it we know we will survive even when it is a challenge. When we face those obstacles we realize something else unexpected. It isn't about collars or how to get him to want to respond to my wants or even what food to feed, there is a zen moment of an answer to a question we weren't even asking. It brings us closer to ourselves and eachother. That is what made my vacation worth it. Knowing I can do no wrong when I do my best and knowing I always have my dogs love to bring me through tough times (all my dogs' love past and present) It is nice to know.
I think I will bring him with me on the next few trips though.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The best in dog supplies
Well we know that retrievers love balls and greyhounds need jackets to keep warm but, if I were to sell dog supplies what would I just have to have?
I guess I can start with the top 10 that have changed my life with my dog. In random order.
1. Tag silencer. In this day and age we have license, rabies, id tag, microchip tag, akc tag, and voice sight (offleash) tag all jangling around on our dogs neck tangling in fur and making a racket when he runs around. Did you know that the tags can actually cause hearing damage? I decided on a tag pocket but, there are many to choose from. The pocket is soft and velcros around the jumble of tags adding minimal weight and can be found in several colors to match or stand out from the collar and coat.
2. Leather leash line. I have tried long leads, hand loops, retractable leashes, fabric show leads and what have you but, I got a 6 foot leather leash line when I got my newest dog and once it was broken in it was great. The leather is gentle on the hands and pliable enough to walk with ease. If my dog sees a bunny and bolts; it has the strength to hold up and a little give so as not to tear my rotator cuff or harm his neck. He can't chew threw it either which when he was a puppy, could have been a problem.
3.treat toy. Again there are countless shapes and mechinisms for these but, the ideas are the same: give the dog a way to eat through working for it like a game. They use their brains and noses and teeth to work the food out of the ball,bottle,etc. When my dog was young he would have the "blue ball" at lunchtime after his potty break which allowed my sister (who would rush over on her lunchbreak) time to eat her own lunch or do what she needed without being present watching him eat every kernel of food. now I use it after a long hike as a snack or on a day when I leave for work early for his breakfast. I use kibble mostly but you can use biscuits or soft food as well depending on the toys structure.
4. bones. I like to mix up my chew toys because my dog is super intelligent and will tire of one type of bone after a week or 2. My favorite is the simple double knotted rawhide about 6 inches is good for his breed and mouth spacing. He is quite systematic with it but, after a while he needs something else to keep him mouth busy. We typically will switch to bully sticks which if you don't know what they are, you don't want to. If these aren't around there are rawhide braids or twists and cattle knee caps. There is debate on if you should or should not use soup bones aka raw bones and some people fear bacteria or if you sterilize them the fear is the bone chips being brittle and harming the dogs digestive tract. I honestly have tried the raw and I see no problem as long as they are from a reputable source and are kept frozen. I let him chew it for an hour or so them I put it back in the freezer. They last a good week this way and run about 5 dollars each.
5.dietary supplements. I use a few of these. I really believe in a good strong diet and pay for it knowing the extra dollars spent will get me a longer life on my pets who will live happier and healthier with less injury and health issues ($ at vet). That said I switch my food around from about a half dozen quality foods being sure to mix the last few days of each bag with the new food, thus not upsetting the stomach and digestive system much. I keep my dog on a few supplements regularly but, never freak out if you skip a day or two. I give a broad spectrum probiotic which keeps stool firm and because 70% of immune function happens in the gut, it should be keeping him healthy. I also give this to my cat who has feline leukemia. For strong joints I give my very active dog a joint supplement called cosamine ds (this is a human supplement because it is cheaper than cosaquin and double strength) I open these caps and give about half at a time. My dog also takes a chewable multi but probably just a few times a week since his food is so high quality. My dog does not like fish or I would give fish oil. I give him flax powder mixed into his food bag and some brown rice or oatmeal mixed in with the food helps keep skin problems and stomach issues at bay. the last supplement has been a God's send. I use a homeopathic remedy called argentum nitricum diluted in his water. This remedy is designed to help with agitation and apprehension which manifests itself with alarm barking. be it the neighbor putting out the trash and rumbling the barrels or the neighbor dog walking by the front of the house. He has calmed considerably since going on it.I also noticed he is more social on walks and while out on the town.
6. treat bag. This keeps treats out of pockets while holding them in hand range for fast dispensing. I like this best because sometimes I dole out treats like roast beef or crilled chicken, which I obviously do not want on my clothes. I have one that has a draw string and a belt clip but there are others that are designed for center waist (both hand distribution) and ones that have a pocket for a tennis ball.
7. glow in the dark rubber ball. Don't get me wrong tennis balls are great they bounce and are soft enough to grip and durable but, in the winter I get home and it is dark out back. I like to turn on my back light and toss my dog his glowing ball a few times instead of walking in the dark. It is a good option to have. There are also ones which are made with flashing lights which go on when they bounce but,electricity and my dog... not a good mixture to introduce.
8. soft flight frisbee. I have seen cloth and soft rubber as well as ones with center holes for the dogs nose. I have a soft rubber one which we love. It is soft enough if he goes to catch it he won't lose teeth(hopefully) and the rubber is still thick enough if he chews on it, it won't be ruined. I am using this toy to teach the "away" command which should be useful in herding.
9. soft crate. This is easier to see as not a cage or some sort of prison for your dog and more like a den, a place to curl up out of the way and relax safely. I used this in the past for when I needed to run to the store but, the house wasn't puppy proof. We do a lot of construction at my house and it keeps him out from underfoot and away from dangers. I like that it is collapsible and I can bring it with me to friends and families homes and leave him in it while we go to dinner or at dog shows when I have to run to the car or let him rest from the active environment. The one I have is big enough he fits comfortably while standing, turning or laying down. It has a comfy and durable mat inside too!
10. treats. I have tried different methods of training and with or without treats and decided a while back that I do like to train with treats. I don't give a treat everytime and resolve to give randomly, however I do see the attention is better when a treat is given, not as a bribe but, a reward. Rewards can be a chest scratch or a bit of a meatball, a biscuit or an enthusiastic "good dog" but, having treats in the mix lets the dog know they have done well without any doubt. The treats I like are in levels. The level one is everyday use for those I use the traditional dog biscuit snapped into many pieces and given in ones or up to five or six as "parties." Then we have to better treats like soft treats or fancy treats these are level two and are given out for excellent work or doing something difficult such as running inside from the yard or leaving the squirrel to come to me. The best treats are those which are reserved for very difficult tasks. These treats include hotdogs,bacon, roastbeef, chicken, lamb lung and duck. I give these out in high distraction situations such as while doing agility or when the judge is examining at a show. My dog is shy so I also give these out when we are great with strangers. I try to keep the level one and two treats in my treat bag always but, the randomness is a guarantee that success will be attempted each time we go out.
Well that is the list of the top 10 items and other items are of course needed but, I won't go into so much detail.
Shampoo is a must have, be sure it is designed for dogs coats and that you use it somewhere between every 2 weeks and every month and a half. I do a double rinse to be sure it is all out.
Dog bed or mat is great to keep dogs in their own area while keeping them comfy.
hiking collapsible bowl is great to have in car just in case. Ideally paired with a bottle of water.
sound cd or dvd to help relax a lonesome dog is a nice thing to have.
Dog brush or brushes depending on coat and breed are needed to keep a great coat and skin condition. Try to brush on a schedule a little bit everyday. My dog can use a line brush weekly but, I keep him brushed 10 minutes a day with different body parts focusing in on areas daily.
nail trimmer, Well I just quicked my dog last cut and now I decided I must get that dremmel tool to grind down the nails easily.
Plush toys encourage self play. Find ones your dog likes, stretchy or puffy, materials or shapes.
for puppies: something to teeth on frozen toy or frozen facecloth
for storm scared dogs: humidifier or shock absorbing booties
Well those are my essentials for dog supplies. Many dogs have individual needs and that is why we have them.
I guess I can start with the top 10 that have changed my life with my dog. In random order.
1. Tag silencer. In this day and age we have license, rabies, id tag, microchip tag, akc tag, and voice sight (offleash) tag all jangling around on our dogs neck tangling in fur and making a racket when he runs around. Did you know that the tags can actually cause hearing damage? I decided on a tag pocket but, there are many to choose from. The pocket is soft and velcros around the jumble of tags adding minimal weight and can be found in several colors to match or stand out from the collar and coat.
2. Leather leash line. I have tried long leads, hand loops, retractable leashes, fabric show leads and what have you but, I got a 6 foot leather leash line when I got my newest dog and once it was broken in it was great. The leather is gentle on the hands and pliable enough to walk with ease. If my dog sees a bunny and bolts; it has the strength to hold up and a little give so as not to tear my rotator cuff or harm his neck. He can't chew threw it either which when he was a puppy, could have been a problem.
3.treat toy. Again there are countless shapes and mechinisms for these but, the ideas are the same: give the dog a way to eat through working for it like a game. They use their brains and noses and teeth to work the food out of the ball,bottle,etc. When my dog was young he would have the "blue ball" at lunchtime after his potty break which allowed my sister (who would rush over on her lunchbreak) time to eat her own lunch or do what she needed without being present watching him eat every kernel of food. now I use it after a long hike as a snack or on a day when I leave for work early for his breakfast. I use kibble mostly but you can use biscuits or soft food as well depending on the toys structure.
4. bones. I like to mix up my chew toys because my dog is super intelligent and will tire of one type of bone after a week or 2. My favorite is the simple double knotted rawhide about 6 inches is good for his breed and mouth spacing. He is quite systematic with it but, after a while he needs something else to keep him mouth busy. We typically will switch to bully sticks which if you don't know what they are, you don't want to. If these aren't around there are rawhide braids or twists and cattle knee caps. There is debate on if you should or should not use soup bones aka raw bones and some people fear bacteria or if you sterilize them the fear is the bone chips being brittle and harming the dogs digestive tract. I honestly have tried the raw and I see no problem as long as they are from a reputable source and are kept frozen. I let him chew it for an hour or so them I put it back in the freezer. They last a good week this way and run about 5 dollars each.
5.dietary supplements. I use a few of these. I really believe in a good strong diet and pay for it knowing the extra dollars spent will get me a longer life on my pets who will live happier and healthier with less injury and health issues ($ at vet). That said I switch my food around from about a half dozen quality foods being sure to mix the last few days of each bag with the new food, thus not upsetting the stomach and digestive system much. I keep my dog on a few supplements regularly but, never freak out if you skip a day or two. I give a broad spectrum probiotic which keeps stool firm and because 70% of immune function happens in the gut, it should be keeping him healthy. I also give this to my cat who has feline leukemia. For strong joints I give my very active dog a joint supplement called cosamine ds (this is a human supplement because it is cheaper than cosaquin and double strength) I open these caps and give about half at a time. My dog also takes a chewable multi but probably just a few times a week since his food is so high quality. My dog does not like fish or I would give fish oil. I give him flax powder mixed into his food bag and some brown rice or oatmeal mixed in with the food helps keep skin problems and stomach issues at bay. the last supplement has been a God's send. I use a homeopathic remedy called argentum nitricum diluted in his water. This remedy is designed to help with agitation and apprehension which manifests itself with alarm barking. be it the neighbor putting out the trash and rumbling the barrels or the neighbor dog walking by the front of the house. He has calmed considerably since going on it.I also noticed he is more social on walks and while out on the town.
6. treat bag. This keeps treats out of pockets while holding them in hand range for fast dispensing. I like this best because sometimes I dole out treats like roast beef or crilled chicken, which I obviously do not want on my clothes. I have one that has a draw string and a belt clip but there are others that are designed for center waist (both hand distribution) and ones that have a pocket for a tennis ball.
7. glow in the dark rubber ball. Don't get me wrong tennis balls are great they bounce and are soft enough to grip and durable but, in the winter I get home and it is dark out back. I like to turn on my back light and toss my dog his glowing ball a few times instead of walking in the dark. It is a good option to have. There are also ones which are made with flashing lights which go on when they bounce but,electricity and my dog... not a good mixture to introduce.
8. soft flight frisbee. I have seen cloth and soft rubber as well as ones with center holes for the dogs nose. I have a soft rubber one which we love. It is soft enough if he goes to catch it he won't lose teeth(hopefully) and the rubber is still thick enough if he chews on it, it won't be ruined. I am using this toy to teach the "away" command which should be useful in herding.
9. soft crate. This is easier to see as not a cage or some sort of prison for your dog and more like a den, a place to curl up out of the way and relax safely. I used this in the past for when I needed to run to the store but, the house wasn't puppy proof. We do a lot of construction at my house and it keeps him out from underfoot and away from dangers. I like that it is collapsible and I can bring it with me to friends and families homes and leave him in it while we go to dinner or at dog shows when I have to run to the car or let him rest from the active environment. The one I have is big enough he fits comfortably while standing, turning or laying down. It has a comfy and durable mat inside too!
10. treats. I have tried different methods of training and with or without treats and decided a while back that I do like to train with treats. I don't give a treat everytime and resolve to give randomly, however I do see the attention is better when a treat is given, not as a bribe but, a reward. Rewards can be a chest scratch or a bit of a meatball, a biscuit or an enthusiastic "good dog" but, having treats in the mix lets the dog know they have done well without any doubt. The treats I like are in levels. The level one is everyday use for those I use the traditional dog biscuit snapped into many pieces and given in ones or up to five or six as "parties." Then we have to better treats like soft treats or fancy treats these are level two and are given out for excellent work or doing something difficult such as running inside from the yard or leaving the squirrel to come to me. The best treats are those which are reserved for very difficult tasks. These treats include hotdogs,bacon, roastbeef, chicken, lamb lung and duck. I give these out in high distraction situations such as while doing agility or when the judge is examining at a show. My dog is shy so I also give these out when we are great with strangers. I try to keep the level one and two treats in my treat bag always but, the randomness is a guarantee that success will be attempted each time we go out.
Well that is the list of the top 10 items and other items are of course needed but, I won't go into so much detail.
Shampoo is a must have, be sure it is designed for dogs coats and that you use it somewhere between every 2 weeks and every month and a half. I do a double rinse to be sure it is all out.
Dog bed or mat is great to keep dogs in their own area while keeping them comfy.
hiking collapsible bowl is great to have in car just in case. Ideally paired with a bottle of water.
sound cd or dvd to help relax a lonesome dog is a nice thing to have.
Dog brush or brushes depending on coat and breed are needed to keep a great coat and skin condition. Try to brush on a schedule a little bit everyday. My dog can use a line brush weekly but, I keep him brushed 10 minutes a day with different body parts focusing in on areas daily.
nail trimmer, Well I just quicked my dog last cut and now I decided I must get that dremmel tool to grind down the nails easily.
Plush toys encourage self play. Find ones your dog likes, stretchy or puffy, materials or shapes.
for puppies: something to teeth on frozen toy or frozen facecloth
for storm scared dogs: humidifier or shock absorbing booties
Well those are my essentials for dog supplies. Many dogs have individual needs and that is why we have them.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Year
I am not one for resolutions. I believe if you would like to make a change you record your goal either mentally or literally and you seek to achieve it. I feel a lot of people feel let down by themselves when they make a unprepared spur of moment decision to do something without thought of what this goal will take.
I fear some people do this with pet ownership as well. I hate that phrase actually. "pet ownership" yes, we buy a living thing and promise to look after it but, to own a living thing is not respectful. Perhaps that is my native american nature speaking out. We are more rightfully the animals caretaker. My point here, and I should get to that directly, is that some people haven't a clue as to how to care for or what to do with a pet they bought because it was cute or they wanted it. They will end up resenting or thinking the pet is stupid or crazy or something because they take no time to prepare for what they undertake. much like those resolutions which end up coming back around the next year after hope was lost on about January 25th or so if they make it that long.
We should all plan a little better. here is how. Dogs need basics like us: food, water, shelter from the elements and their bodies demand physical and mental exercise but, a puppy has moving bones until (depending on size of breed) 14 months to 2 years of age and can not run (except in play) before then. They need to learn games and tricks learn good and bad behaviors and how to stay away from bad behaviors will get them good things. They need to learn from reponsible respectful leaders who value their worth and see the choice to accept leadership is always rewarded and understanding that dog brains work very differently from human brains is important. Dog brains will filter and get almost tunnel vision which once set is hard to break to focus on you, they can shut down the other senses almost to fully focus in on the one at hand. They need structure. They never need physical reprimands of any sort only refocus/distraction which guide them to appropriate behavior. Most of all they need patience almost exceeding their need for love.
I encountered a dog this weekend who reminded me of my own dog but, who had gone another way. My dog was very shy, he would hide and cower timidly sometimes barking and bouncing at strangers. He would shake his back, lift paw and yawn in his anxious state. I worked with him almost daily to face and work through his fears. I would push him a tiny bit beyond his comfort level but never so much he would ever need to lash out. He slowly got over crowds, started to be able to walk by people without much care and then we practiced him sitting not facing the strangers, lying down then sitting facing at distance etc. I gave treats most every time we encountered a stranger, encouraged him to sniff near them, I tried to engage in simple conversation, asked them to give treats while they didn't look at him etc. I took him all sorts of new places, eventually we walked around a school as kids were dropped off ( I needed high reward treats for that) After all this work I was able to see him begin to face fears on his own. I met another dog though who was receiving no encouragement and no value on her feelings as she was feeling them. No distraction was being given, no encoragement and she was very afraid. I felt badly that dogs continue to be afraid without any help. When I become a trainer that will be one of my main classes. body language communication and shy/reactive dogs how to help them. I actually went from my breeder asking to buy back my dog to her extendng great praise the following summer at how far we had come. Dogs need to know they matter or they can work through anything.
I fear some people do this with pet ownership as well. I hate that phrase actually. "pet ownership" yes, we buy a living thing and promise to look after it but, to own a living thing is not respectful. Perhaps that is my native american nature speaking out. We are more rightfully the animals caretaker. My point here, and I should get to that directly, is that some people haven't a clue as to how to care for or what to do with a pet they bought because it was cute or they wanted it. They will end up resenting or thinking the pet is stupid or crazy or something because they take no time to prepare for what they undertake. much like those resolutions which end up coming back around the next year after hope was lost on about January 25th or so if they make it that long.
We should all plan a little better. here is how. Dogs need basics like us: food, water, shelter from the elements and their bodies demand physical and mental exercise but, a puppy has moving bones until (depending on size of breed) 14 months to 2 years of age and can not run (except in play) before then. They need to learn games and tricks learn good and bad behaviors and how to stay away from bad behaviors will get them good things. They need to learn from reponsible respectful leaders who value their worth and see the choice to accept leadership is always rewarded and understanding that dog brains work very differently from human brains is important. Dog brains will filter and get almost tunnel vision which once set is hard to break to focus on you, they can shut down the other senses almost to fully focus in on the one at hand. They need structure. They never need physical reprimands of any sort only refocus/distraction which guide them to appropriate behavior. Most of all they need patience almost exceeding their need for love.
I encountered a dog this weekend who reminded me of my own dog but, who had gone another way. My dog was very shy, he would hide and cower timidly sometimes barking and bouncing at strangers. He would shake his back, lift paw and yawn in his anxious state. I worked with him almost daily to face and work through his fears. I would push him a tiny bit beyond his comfort level but never so much he would ever need to lash out. He slowly got over crowds, started to be able to walk by people without much care and then we practiced him sitting not facing the strangers, lying down then sitting facing at distance etc. I gave treats most every time we encountered a stranger, encouraged him to sniff near them, I tried to engage in simple conversation, asked them to give treats while they didn't look at him etc. I took him all sorts of new places, eventually we walked around a school as kids were dropped off ( I needed high reward treats for that) After all this work I was able to see him begin to face fears on his own. I met another dog though who was receiving no encouragement and no value on her feelings as she was feeling them. No distraction was being given, no encoragement and she was very afraid. I felt badly that dogs continue to be afraid without any help. When I become a trainer that will be one of my main classes. body language communication and shy/reactive dogs how to help them. I actually went from my breeder asking to buy back my dog to her extendng great praise the following summer at how far we had come. Dogs need to know they matter or they can work through anything.
what dogs are made for
I have a herding breed dog. This breed is meant to look like coyotes and be fast and nip at the sheep if needed to keep the flock together and going in the right direction, that which the shepherd is wanting. Recently, I took my dog to herd and it was like he was a different dog. He looks to me for clues typically and looks to me for guidance and I was watching him do his thing with the shepherd. The shepherd was looking for his tendancies, his instincts (which were great) and guiding him to use his self control. The next day my dog was so relaxed and listened the first time every time I asked of him.
I think these dogs were bred for these tasks. Some dogs for retreiving game, some for burrowing out rodents, or chasing fox,wolves,elk. They were bred to use their noses to sniff out things needing finding or protect carriages while they ran along side, to warn humans of dangers, blend into a flock of sheep to protect them from predators. Our dogs have purpose other than sitting in the backyard or begging at the dinner table. When we let them be who they were born to be, it makes them just be, it lets them find themselves in such a natural way that we may never understand. It is beautiful. I was so proud of him that day, so proud of myself for driving the hour and a half up to let him see himself. I drove home that day wondering when I could make it so again. It was another milestone in watching my dog develop. I have watched him since his birth on my breeders puppy cam and watched him figure out things, saw his little brain working out problems, watched it overload him so he would collapse for a nap and this day was a grown up moment. You see I will probably never have kids. Partly because I am getting older and partly because my dog is shy around kids, but I will always remember his steps because they have taught me so much about myself.
This was what he was made for in a way too, and I owe him to let him shine in his own glory.
I think these dogs were bred for these tasks. Some dogs for retreiving game, some for burrowing out rodents, or chasing fox,wolves,elk. They were bred to use their noses to sniff out things needing finding or protect carriages while they ran along side, to warn humans of dangers, blend into a flock of sheep to protect them from predators. Our dogs have purpose other than sitting in the backyard or begging at the dinner table. When we let them be who they were born to be, it makes them just be, it lets them find themselves in such a natural way that we may never understand. It is beautiful. I was so proud of him that day, so proud of myself for driving the hour and a half up to let him see himself. I drove home that day wondering when I could make it so again. It was another milestone in watching my dog develop. I have watched him since his birth on my breeders puppy cam and watched him figure out things, saw his little brain working out problems, watched it overload him so he would collapse for a nap and this day was a grown up moment. You see I will probably never have kids. Partly because I am getting older and partly because my dog is shy around kids, but I will always remember his steps because they have taught me so much about myself.
This was what he was made for in a way too, and I owe him to let him shine in his own glory.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
leading is not mean, at least it should not be
It is hard to explain what I have found but, basically, it is all about doing what your dogs need. This is not the easy way out. It is not a quick fix or diet pill to get you success, bonding and finding your leadership voice. To succeed you have to trust and believe in both yourself and your dog. I had heard of methods where trainers are to try to channel into their leader idols like oprah or whom ever they thought would help. This isn't realistic and long term is set up for failure. I get the idea that they use it as a tool to find their way short term and save a dangerous dog from a early end but, come on. This won't help the gentle person or timid person find how they can lead. It puts insult to their personality saying only people who are like oprah can lead. This isn't true. Not only that but, when you undermind the personality of someone saying they aren't good enough then it robs them of their own tools and makes them second guess.I believe if you don't use what you have then you won't be honest in earning your dogs trust. Some people will feel they have to be louder and stern and use aggression of their own to "control" their dogs. People think a small woman can't lead her rottweiller because he is too dominant or whatever. They think that if you talk sweetly to your dogs they will push you around.
Well... this is not so much true.
Dogs are very keen on reading you like an open book. If you are caring and gentle and know what makes your dog get motivated you can use it to your advantage. Follow the rules nothing is free. Which simply means whatever your dog loves most:play, treats, meal time, running in the yard, these must be earned by performing acts of respect such as waiting at the door until they are released, sitting and watching before the food is placed, working some commands inbetween fetching the ball etc. Whenever your dog is driving you crazy... My dog was just running amock in my room, digging the carpet, tapping my guitar strings with his nose, batting the cord to the blinds. When that craziness seeps into your world remember your patience. He probably is just bored and look for something which will appease him. I let it go a few minutes then he lay down on the rug and pawed at the under the bed looking for a bone that had gone out of reach. I told him to go to his bed(which he did) then I reached and retreived the bone scoring points of my own. (If you can ever know what your dog is saying in his communications, treat that with great respect and deliver on the request, it builds a tighter bond) If you respect your dogs requests then it will be returned to you as well. I am not saying spoil your dog. You don't have to be a vigilanty, you can loosen up and play sometimes.
I encourage my softer side. My dog is shy and it takes him a little bit to trust himself. I try to encourage him when he is doing well and if he is using poor judgement or is getting upset about something not so scary I try to diffuse the situation by distracting. He gets terribly worked up for some reason when the neighbor dog plays in the park behind our houses. I have found I can work him with treats in the kitchen and it distracts him enough but if we were outside he would be beyond his own control. We work in the kitchen every chance we get trying to allow him to see that I trust him and he can trust that we will have good things during that frustrating time. I believe that my compassion reaches him far better than any fear based training. I push him into his uncomfortable zones with encouragement and it helps. I also check him for burrs and debris after our walks which shows I look out for him. I don't coddle him, watching him like he is some superstar, I live my life and lead with strong, caring ways that are right for me.
That said I don't take any crap. I am very tough that way. I don't take it from anyone really. I accept my responsibilities and I call out those who do me wrong. You need to remember this, for an honest strong leadership relationship with your dog, you needn't go over the top, practice your look, incorporate the showing of teeth, low eyebrows, tense stance, and low growl if needed. If my dog doesn't follow my lead, I understand that my commands are requests and I must show them to be followed through my belief in their value. It sounds odd but, if you say something expecting it to be done it will be done far more than if you say something expecting to say it again. Try is, without yelling, just really mean it and expect it to be done. Give praise for the respect that was given to you. If I am having some trouble getting my dog to follow direction be it from distractions, my delivery, or having a bad day I give him my serious look and a little growl if I deem it mandated (like if he runs out of my closet with my sneaker and looks at me to play) then I do a few commands and then ask him to play. once he give respect he gets rewards. It is hard to be strict sometimes but, by being strict and gentle in nature your dog sees a straightforward leader who they don't have to fear because of harsh treatments or inconsistencies. They don't need to show up in your relationship with your dog. You do.
Find and work to include your strengths, such as patience, agility, calmness, sensitivity, ability to read signals, and let those shine true and earn respect from your dog and yourself.
Well... this is not so much true.
Dogs are very keen on reading you like an open book. If you are caring and gentle and know what makes your dog get motivated you can use it to your advantage. Follow the rules nothing is free. Which simply means whatever your dog loves most:play, treats, meal time, running in the yard, these must be earned by performing acts of respect such as waiting at the door until they are released, sitting and watching before the food is placed, working some commands inbetween fetching the ball etc. Whenever your dog is driving you crazy... My dog was just running amock in my room, digging the carpet, tapping my guitar strings with his nose, batting the cord to the blinds. When that craziness seeps into your world remember your patience. He probably is just bored and look for something which will appease him. I let it go a few minutes then he lay down on the rug and pawed at the under the bed looking for a bone that had gone out of reach. I told him to go to his bed(which he did) then I reached and retreived the bone scoring points of my own. (If you can ever know what your dog is saying in his communications, treat that with great respect and deliver on the request, it builds a tighter bond) If you respect your dogs requests then it will be returned to you as well. I am not saying spoil your dog. You don't have to be a vigilanty, you can loosen up and play sometimes.
I encourage my softer side. My dog is shy and it takes him a little bit to trust himself. I try to encourage him when he is doing well and if he is using poor judgement or is getting upset about something not so scary I try to diffuse the situation by distracting. He gets terribly worked up for some reason when the neighbor dog plays in the park behind our houses. I have found I can work him with treats in the kitchen and it distracts him enough but if we were outside he would be beyond his own control. We work in the kitchen every chance we get trying to allow him to see that I trust him and he can trust that we will have good things during that frustrating time. I believe that my compassion reaches him far better than any fear based training. I push him into his uncomfortable zones with encouragement and it helps. I also check him for burrs and debris after our walks which shows I look out for him. I don't coddle him, watching him like he is some superstar, I live my life and lead with strong, caring ways that are right for me.
That said I don't take any crap. I am very tough that way. I don't take it from anyone really. I accept my responsibilities and I call out those who do me wrong. You need to remember this, for an honest strong leadership relationship with your dog, you needn't go over the top, practice your look, incorporate the showing of teeth, low eyebrows, tense stance, and low growl if needed. If my dog doesn't follow my lead, I understand that my commands are requests and I must show them to be followed through my belief in their value. It sounds odd but, if you say something expecting it to be done it will be done far more than if you say something expecting to say it again. Try is, without yelling, just really mean it and expect it to be done. Give praise for the respect that was given to you. If I am having some trouble getting my dog to follow direction be it from distractions, my delivery, or having a bad day I give him my serious look and a little growl if I deem it mandated (like if he runs out of my closet with my sneaker and looks at me to play) then I do a few commands and then ask him to play. once he give respect he gets rewards. It is hard to be strict sometimes but, by being strict and gentle in nature your dog sees a straightforward leader who they don't have to fear because of harsh treatments or inconsistencies. They don't need to show up in your relationship with your dog. You do.
Find and work to include your strengths, such as patience, agility, calmness, sensitivity, ability to read signals, and let those shine true and earn respect from your dog and yourself.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
different techniques for different dogs
Some trainers push some cookie cutter approach for all dogs either negative or positive types of training for all their dogs. I wanted to use treat based training with my dog last year but, he was shy and too nervous to accept treats which made training in class difficult. I saw another trainer who encouraged flooding and making him deal with his anxiety head on but, he was too stern and forceful and my dog needed encouragement and a pleasing gentle tone to stay calm. To this day if I am gentle and calm with him he responds way better than if I nearly shout and sometimes he will get frustrated with what I expect and gives me frustration bark or even a nip. The second I turn off any aggressive type techniques he is back to happy go lucky. So what do you do when one size does not fit all? How do you balance training to tailor fit each of your dogs?
Well that is tricky. What do I do? I read a ton of books to find what fit my dog. I went to a bahaviorist for advice when he couldn't seem to shake the shyness at all. I saw many trainers more so he would see that people are there to help him. When I got him he was shy and got worse. He would hide behind me, cowar in stance and jump away or bark and growl at people who looked at him "too long" He remains shy. The first trainer I saw had me give him so many treats he didn't like even the best treats, he refused to take them from others and sometimes would be so nervous he didn't take them from me either. I couldn't move ahead on the shyness at all because of this, even with verbal praise baby talk voices or anything else. I switched to a much rougher trainer. I thought it was great at the time. He had me try a wedge pinch collar supposedly to encourage him like his mom would. I don't know why I fell for it probably part exhaustion part desparation. It was paired with flooding of walking in crowds, walking by people, sitting while others passed. We went to a conformation class to help with strangers touching him but, since it was the same instructor each week that lost its "stranger" quality fast. He is a smart dog and once he warms up he isn't really bothered much. We still have the problem with people leaning over and trying to pat the top of his head.... dogs see both of those actions as a threat and it is hard to explain to people in a way they actually listen. It comes down to doing what you think your dog can handle and trying to push the limits a little as tolerance grows. I liken it to lifting weights. You can't start with a heavy weight on your bicep, you start with a small amount and when you find you have little or no pain after lifting as usual you increase weight. Same thing, you have to get used to and tolerate the difficult emotions without going into overload or shock. I find encouraging him in a gentle tone helps greatly.
Some friends just got a puppy and I try to tag along when they take him out to socialize. He is a cute fuzzy golden retreiver and people rush to say hi to him. He wags and gets excited. Then my dog who is standing near looks to me, I tell him it is ok to "sniff" and he reaches out to the people more. He did bark at a little girl today who was looking at him while he was in a small spot but then some little boy was walking by and reached out and touched his back and he was fine. I know the support helps him out a great deal because he doesn't have someone at him staring at him and reaching out, he has time to sniff and reach out to them first which is way less pressure.
I did have apoint originally... Just as we humans are different from one to another, our dogs need help finding what works best for them individually as well. It can be a hard road to go if you don't really know your dog well but, with love respect and a bit of patience you can find what works for your dogs needs. oh an my dog no longer wears that collar he uses a gentle leader if he is in a situation with need for better control or he is on his buckle collar only. and now he takes most treats from people and will even do his sit when they ask. What strides... now if I can just get him used to people touching and staring at him so I could get his conformation title, then we would be just in great shape, he would be moments away from accepting all people then. I am patient enough to know he will get there eventually. He is improving and not getting worse and that is the best sign.
Well that is tricky. What do I do? I read a ton of books to find what fit my dog. I went to a bahaviorist for advice when he couldn't seem to shake the shyness at all. I saw many trainers more so he would see that people are there to help him. When I got him he was shy and got worse. He would hide behind me, cowar in stance and jump away or bark and growl at people who looked at him "too long" He remains shy. The first trainer I saw had me give him so many treats he didn't like even the best treats, he refused to take them from others and sometimes would be so nervous he didn't take them from me either. I couldn't move ahead on the shyness at all because of this, even with verbal praise baby talk voices or anything else. I switched to a much rougher trainer. I thought it was great at the time. He had me try a wedge pinch collar supposedly to encourage him like his mom would. I don't know why I fell for it probably part exhaustion part desparation. It was paired with flooding of walking in crowds, walking by people, sitting while others passed. We went to a conformation class to help with strangers touching him but, since it was the same instructor each week that lost its "stranger" quality fast. He is a smart dog and once he warms up he isn't really bothered much. We still have the problem with people leaning over and trying to pat the top of his head.... dogs see both of those actions as a threat and it is hard to explain to people in a way they actually listen. It comes down to doing what you think your dog can handle and trying to push the limits a little as tolerance grows. I liken it to lifting weights. You can't start with a heavy weight on your bicep, you start with a small amount and when you find you have little or no pain after lifting as usual you increase weight. Same thing, you have to get used to and tolerate the difficult emotions without going into overload or shock. I find encouraging him in a gentle tone helps greatly.
Some friends just got a puppy and I try to tag along when they take him out to socialize. He is a cute fuzzy golden retreiver and people rush to say hi to him. He wags and gets excited. Then my dog who is standing near looks to me, I tell him it is ok to "sniff" and he reaches out to the people more. He did bark at a little girl today who was looking at him while he was in a small spot but then some little boy was walking by and reached out and touched his back and he was fine. I know the support helps him out a great deal because he doesn't have someone at him staring at him and reaching out, he has time to sniff and reach out to them first which is way less pressure.
I did have apoint originally... Just as we humans are different from one to another, our dogs need help finding what works best for them individually as well. It can be a hard road to go if you don't really know your dog well but, with love respect and a bit of patience you can find what works for your dogs needs. oh an my dog no longer wears that collar he uses a gentle leader if he is in a situation with need for better control or he is on his buckle collar only. and now he takes most treats from people and will even do his sit when they ask. What strides... now if I can just get him used to people touching and staring at him so I could get his conformation title, then we would be just in great shape, he would be moments away from accepting all people then. I am patient enough to know he will get there eventually. He is improving and not getting worse and that is the best sign.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
bonding to better understanding
recently I read this incredible book which talks about the trusting bond that can be established and maintained between owner and dog. The book talks about how you need to connect with your dog not yank them to and frow. I had read about sending out energy to your dog and even sending mental praise when the dog does good but, it wasn't until I read this particular book that I connected the calm, peaceful energies with that of a deep bond with my dog.
In order to connect deeply you must understand and believe your dog wants to do as you instruct. Believing this leads you to signal better and communicate in ways which your dog understands. Afterall if the dogs intentions are good, we must see that our signals or their interpretation of those signals is confused.
This process involves a lot of watching and studying your dogs behaviors and their own signals. My dog will get frustrated when he does what he thinks I want but, the signal is too similar to another one. I experienced this one time and was like why are you doing this when I am asking for that.... then my brain clicked...oh that signal is a fist with one finger pointing up and the other signal it a fist which is open making a kind of o shape. It must be hard to see the difference outside in the sun. My answer was to change the pointed finger to a arm pointing up (which he very quickly picked up) I think sometimes we don't understand that dogs are not verbal beings and respond better to hand gestures but, we can teach our dogs many verbal words simply by making an effort to use a simple vocabulary with them. Always saying the same words for the same units will reveal tremendous learning potential. Example of these words other than everday commands like sit and stay etc. are ride,car,in, side, relax,neighbor,gate,slow,careful, eat, close, and stairs. My dog knows all these words and many more simply by my repeating them through daily life. By teaching these words he understands my directions better and is more willing to trust what I say because I try to communicate with him. it puts him at ease better and I think it helps our bond immensely.
Better bonds can be built through sitting. When you share a space you use some trusting tools. If you practice this (I would suggest when you are both relaxed,before bed) Call your dog over to an area he likes to sit and have him sit or lie down so he can lean on your legs while you sit. The exercise can be as little as 3 minutes but, help your relationship greatly. simply sit together. If your dog enjoys petting or brushing or massage you can try a little bit gently but, don't feel you must be doing anything other than sharing space. Use this time to try to read and understand your dog not reading the paper or watching tv. Tune out the world and tune in your dog. at first you may sit a few feet apart and gradually over days or weeks get closer together. Don't push, we tend to push as a rule and why? We have plenty of time to work on this with our dog and the slower we go the more ease it puts them at.
Another thing I do to exercise my bond sounds silly and simple. When my dog goes to bed each night. I tell him I love him and he was such a good boy today he made me very proud. I try to state an example of his good behavior. This is visualizing good qualities of my dog to myself and helps me believe in my dog. I also wait for his relaxing/release sigh before I turn in. All dogs will do this when they give in and relax ready for sleep. You know it when you hear it. It is a deep breath and long exhale. I tell him he is good boy when he does the relax sigh, then I can turn out my light. This sigh is also the "Igive up" sigh which is when they are annoyed, the tv is too loud and they want to sleep or the assigned task is boring them, they finally give up and accept what is around them. It is up to us when they do this to be sure they are indeed comfortable. It is the job of the leader to watch out for the charges.
I find that making a concentrated effort to connect or try to understand my dog is beneficial and helps you understand yourself more allowing you to work on your own challenges. To have a friend who relies on you so much and doesn't speak the same language can show you yourself in ways you never saw. It is so interesting to see what is really there, what we are made of. When we do it helps our dogs trust and want to please us. Patience is essential. As it seems to be in a large part of life.
In order to connect deeply you must understand and believe your dog wants to do as you instruct. Believing this leads you to signal better and communicate in ways which your dog understands. Afterall if the dogs intentions are good, we must see that our signals or their interpretation of those signals is confused.
This process involves a lot of watching and studying your dogs behaviors and their own signals. My dog will get frustrated when he does what he thinks I want but, the signal is too similar to another one. I experienced this one time and was like why are you doing this when I am asking for that.... then my brain clicked...oh that signal is a fist with one finger pointing up and the other signal it a fist which is open making a kind of o shape. It must be hard to see the difference outside in the sun. My answer was to change the pointed finger to a arm pointing up (which he very quickly picked up) I think sometimes we don't understand that dogs are not verbal beings and respond better to hand gestures but, we can teach our dogs many verbal words simply by making an effort to use a simple vocabulary with them. Always saying the same words for the same units will reveal tremendous learning potential. Example of these words other than everday commands like sit and stay etc. are ride,car,in, side, relax,neighbor,gate,slow,careful, eat, close, and stairs. My dog knows all these words and many more simply by my repeating them through daily life. By teaching these words he understands my directions better and is more willing to trust what I say because I try to communicate with him. it puts him at ease better and I think it helps our bond immensely.
Better bonds can be built through sitting. When you share a space you use some trusting tools. If you practice this (I would suggest when you are both relaxed,before bed) Call your dog over to an area he likes to sit and have him sit or lie down so he can lean on your legs while you sit. The exercise can be as little as 3 minutes but, help your relationship greatly. simply sit together. If your dog enjoys petting or brushing or massage you can try a little bit gently but, don't feel you must be doing anything other than sharing space. Use this time to try to read and understand your dog not reading the paper or watching tv. Tune out the world and tune in your dog. at first you may sit a few feet apart and gradually over days or weeks get closer together. Don't push, we tend to push as a rule and why? We have plenty of time to work on this with our dog and the slower we go the more ease it puts them at.
Another thing I do to exercise my bond sounds silly and simple. When my dog goes to bed each night. I tell him I love him and he was such a good boy today he made me very proud. I try to state an example of his good behavior. This is visualizing good qualities of my dog to myself and helps me believe in my dog. I also wait for his relaxing/release sigh before I turn in. All dogs will do this when they give in and relax ready for sleep. You know it when you hear it. It is a deep breath and long exhale. I tell him he is good boy when he does the relax sigh, then I can turn out my light. This sigh is also the "Igive up" sigh which is when they are annoyed, the tv is too loud and they want to sleep or the assigned task is boring them, they finally give up and accept what is around them. It is up to us when they do this to be sure they are indeed comfortable. It is the job of the leader to watch out for the charges.
I find that making a concentrated effort to connect or try to understand my dog is beneficial and helps you understand yourself more allowing you to work on your own challenges. To have a friend who relies on you so much and doesn't speak the same language can show you yourself in ways you never saw. It is so interesting to see what is really there, what we are made of. When we do it helps our dogs trust and want to please us. Patience is essential. As it seems to be in a large part of life.
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