Decide How You Want To Spend Your Time

I am working with a client who has three large dogs. We are practicing waiting at the door. He tells me that his newest addition to the family has escaped twice from the front yard. One of those times it was when he was taking the three dogs on leash to get in the car. He explains that the dog was able to pull away from him.

I tell him that I think it's best if he takes the “girls” who are older and have better doggie-manners to the car first and then return back for the third more rambunctious one. He gives me a funny look - as if I had suggested he gets rid of this naughty one at once. I explain to him that every time his pup is successful in making a beeline to the sidewalk it is one for the dog and as such the behavior is getting not only reinforced by the chance of taking in new sites and smells but it is in effect making new neuron connections most likely making the behavior more engrained and difficult to curtail.

I can see that he is still not convinced that making two trips to the car instead of one is worth it. Okay, I tell him: Decide how you want to spend your time… chasing your dog down the road or taking your dogs to the dog park which is the reason they are all in the car in the first place? This time I think that I am getting through to him.

I explain to him that we need to set up the dog for success as well.

Think about it. Every single time we cut corners – and we all do it at some point, we are most likely setting ourselves and our dog for failure. Protocols are there for a reason. They help us curtail pesky or dangerous behaviors such as my client’s dog routine of jumping the front yard fence.

I think part of the reason people cut corners and do not follow protocol as they should is in part because in most cases, it takes time to reach the level of success that we want with our dogs.

Now, allow me to give you a reality check… How long do you estimate it will take you – or anyone for that matter to learn to speak (fluently!) a new language? Six, 1 hr. sessions? Eight? You catch my drift right? Why then, do we expect our dogs to learn stuff fast? Frankly, not fair if you ask me.
Realizing that any learning takes time and repetition will hopefully remind us to exercise empathy towards our dogs when they are learning new stuff. Empathy will also help us in keeping our expectation in check.

I continue to be amazed as to how our dogs not only can point us to a more healthy lifestyle by having to exercise them, but they can also serve as vivid reminders - if we care to pay attention to our need to slow things down and to resist cutting corners. I don’t know about you, but in my life playing with my dogs and hanging out with them is the one event that truly (okay “trash” TV can also do the trick :)) helps me disconnect from a busy schedule, frustration and the everyday routine.

So my hopes for you and your pup are that you take the time to invest in your relationship with your pup on a regular basis. Not only when they are behaviors to modify or train, but just for the joy of it.

Oh, What Fun!

This past weekend we headed to Colorado with both dogs.  It is nice to take a break from all canine obligations so a lot of times we take vacations without our dogs - but this time was different.

I have to say that it was one of the most fun vacations I have had in a long time.  Yes, there is lots of management when traveling with pups:  constant door privileges to go pee, making sure dogs are not barking when in the hotel room, negotiating meals with temperatures in the car where the dogs remain while we dine, etc. But in spite of the extra work, it was well worth it.

We spent our first night in a hotel next to the Animas River and we took nice, easy strolls. We headed to this amazing dog park that was huge (a very important element in dog parks BTW). In addition the park was boarded by the river on one side, massive tall cliffs on the other, which prevents even the most audacious dog from taking a run out of the park. On our first visit to the park we got soaked- totally soaked but that was also fun.

Vacations are not only crucial for the two legged, but if planned carefully, with the well-being of the dogs in mind there are also excellent opportunities to broaden their horizons. 

Case in point:  I am meeting up with John and we take a flight of stairs that are metal and graded. Rio barely noticed that these stairs were not “typical” stairs as she rushed to get to the top.  Deuce, on the other hand, looked “suspicious”… What???  We are going up on these stairs???  I gently coaxed him as he placed each paw down carefully.  When he and I made it to the top of the stairs, we had a mini-celebration for a job well done.

Next, comes the bike-with-your-pooch adventure.  I was not 100 % on board with this… Yes, I am the cautious one in the family, but John assured me that we would take it slow and make sure the dogs were having fun and not exuding themselves too much - especially because we want to make sure that Deuce’s knee is not giving him any troubles.

Off we went in a tandem bike!  It took us a couple of minutes to teach the dogs to stay on our right side and to pace themselves.

We practiced left turns and right turns as well as walking and cantering.

Throughout our vacation Rio was unstoppable. Ready to go every single time after a moments rest. Then again they both learned that being in the hotel room meant that they needed to use "their inside voices” - as our friends Robin & Lisa have taught their own dog. 

I guess traveling with dogs is in many ways similar to the joy parents of kids experience when their child engages with joy in something new.  Seeing Deuce and Rio enjoying the views out the car window, rolling on the hotel bed in glee (mud or no mud on their paws - good thing I brought a blanket that we could spread on the bed in hopes of being invited again).  To top it all, seeing Rio jumping in the river after a hot walk in the park just about made my day.

Deuce also surprised us by wading in the water after seeing oh how much fun Rio was having while trying to catch the small rocks I was throwing for her in the water.

The vacation is over now…  but we have begun planning our next one. This one too, with dogs on board.

 

Rocket Speed

One of the most sought after behaviors from dog guardians is the recall (come when called) and this, of course, makes perfect sense. It is soooo annoying when you are calling your dog to come in from the backyard for dinner, or away from your neighbor’s cat only to find your dog so focused on that much more fun activity than whatever you happened to have in mind. There are certainly other very valid reasons why we want and need our dogs to come to us when called: safety. In their wild past, dogs did not have cars zipping by in their environment, and before domestication they didn’t have a guardian to return to for an all prepared meal.

As much as our request is valid there are also misplaced expectations and lack of know-how when it comes to having a pup respond with the same enthusiasm of the chance of a second date with just the right person!

People expect their dogs to come to them just because they have a particular need at that time. The need to move inside, leave the dog park or to keep the pet safe. Dogs, on the other hand, would  almost always much rather do their thing: chasing aanyything that moves, follow a scent (so that they can find it and chase it…) investigate a noise or a potential pal or just plain lay in the sun. So the bottom line is this: you must find whatever motivates your dog so that when you want him/her to come to you they will. No motivation to come -from their point of view, remember? No recall- it's that simple!

Trainers, like guardians, also need to have their pets come to them. And as you probably guessed it, we also need to practice and practice with our pups if we want to stand any chance of a recall. Once a dog is not a puppy any longer (and a very young puppy) the natural tendency of coming when called goes by the waist side.

I practice recall with Deuce every day. We have a new “game” as part of our recall repertoire. Yeah, make it a game for your dog and you will see better results - you will see rocket-speed recalls.

What I love about this form of recall is that it incorporates some very powerful reinforces for dogs: predation and anticipation.

Predation –  A food acquisition behavior which is one of the strongest motivations in dogs. Every dog has it. Period. Learning to work with predation is not only a lot of fun but very smart because when it comes to “natural” behaviors (the pre-wiring in dogs brains) it is wiser to acknowledge it and work with it rather than to "attempt” to extinguish it. No luck here.

Expectation. Ahh… I can relate… I don’t know about you, but so many times in my life the expectation (thinking about, imaging it and the planning aspect) of a desired upcoming event has been much more satisfying than the actual event.

I use expectation a lot in my training with my own dogs and my client's dogs. I can create a pins & needles scenario by the use of my voice (changing the pitch to a high pitch is one way of doing it) by my movement here -- direction and a random pattern are helpful. I love to watch the dog waiting, waiting for your next move, the next throw or release cue.

If you too would like to have a super reliable recall while you have fun working with your dog, follow the plan below. A couple words of caution though: be mindful that once your dog is coming at ya with rocket speed to get to the toy/ball it might be wise to let go of the object otherwise your arm holding the toy might be bent backwards causing discomfort or pain. In my case, I need to hold on to the toy instead of releasing because Deuce still loves to keep the toy for himself. If I hold on to the tug toy, then we can engage in a quick game of tug before resetting once again.

Secondly, please use common sense when practicing this game or any other activity with your off-leash dog. Be realistic about what your dog can handle and the potential dangers of your pup not coming back to you and getting into real trouble.

The Rocket Speed Recall:

See video link below.

• Hold your dog’s favorite toy or ball. Show the item to your dog and move it around to grab your dog’s attention. Do not use your recall cue just get the dog interested in playing with the toy.

• When he is focused on the toy and close to you, open your legs and hold the toy behind your open legs so that your dog goes thru as well.

• Repeat over and over to get the dog going through the legs.

• When the dog is going thru your legs with no hesitation, put the dog on a sit/stay about 10 ft. away.

• Call the dog with whatever verbal cue you are using in a happy tone (high pitch tone of voice).
• When saying the verbal cue send the dog through

• Delay the throwing until you're sure that the dog will go through your legs. If the dog attempts to go around, delay the throw.

• Only throw when the dog has gone thru the legs.

• Throw the object behind you (and thru legs) as horizontally as possible (instead of upward) to maximize on the chase aspect of it.

• Take it on the road by asking your dog when he/she less expectant to come to you, as you produce the toy/ball and open your legs.

• Practice where you want the dog to perform. And do practice often!