Canine Craze Performance Center

The Messy Side of Dog Training

Renee Jetter — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:35:00 +0000

We spend a lot of time teaching our students, and using the practices of positive reinforcement training. For some people this means that you can’t tell a dog “no”. This is NOT the case. It is important while training and in everyday living; you establish rules and boundaries with your dog. As Susan Garrett would say, “positive is not permissive”. Sometimes our dog’s need to learn what “no” means. There is no one answer as to how to teach dog’s the meaning of “no”, because all dogs are so different.

Some boundaries of teaching a dog “no”

Make it a priority to keep a healthy relationship
Saying “no” to your dog doesn’t mean you have to physically reprimand them
Your dog must understand and think you’re being fair
You need to keep your dog’s emotional well-being a priority
Never try to set a boundary while you are upset, leave emotions out of it

Susan Garrett has this wonderful game she plays with her dogs called, “It’s Yer Choice”, it’s a game of setting boundaries and teaching impulse control. This is a wonderful place to start when it comes to teaching your dog what “no” means.

Ruff Love, is a book by Susan Garrett that is a great program for the tougher dogs that don’t seem to catch on as quickly.

How to be the Leader of the Pack, by Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. is another wonderful reference as a place to start when molding your dog into a respectable family member.

Setting boundaries and rules is one of the hardest aspects of dog training and one of the hardest things as a dog trainer to teach our students. Use the references above to learn where to start and then make sure to use the knowledge of a professional trainer you trust to work with.

Stubborn or Unsafe?

Renee Jetter — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:58:00 +0000

Is your dog just being stubborn or is their lack of compliance due to a feeling the environment is unsafe or are they confused? For success training your dog their needs to be an open line of communication. This communication must flow BOTH ways. Many times I find that there is little to no communication and a confused dog. On another note, if there isn’t communication then there is no way to let your dog know that they are safe in new environments. I am going to discuss how to open communication between you and your dog and how to help them feel safe so you can acquire better compliance when in new environments.

Just like anything in life there are certain rules of thumb that must be followed or you won’t acquire the results you want. Below is a list of MUST HAVES in order to gain successful communication and better compliance in new environments.

WATCH – understanding dog body language and listening to your dog through their body language is a must for success. Many people don’t know how to read dogs or have misconceptions about what different body language means. Find a reliable source or trainer who understands dog body language to jump start a new beginning to your communication skills.
CONSISTENCY – No matter the system of training you use. Be consistent. If you jump around from one system to another it is unlikely you’ll ever achieve reliable results from your training. Find a trainer or facility you enjoy and stick with it.
MICRO-PIECES – when training, break behaviors into micro-pieces. When you think you have broken it down into the littlest pieces possible break it down some more. People and dogs do not speak the same language so the easier you can make it for your dog the more engaged they’ll stay in the game of training.
EXPOSURE – the first time you take your dog to a new environment use it as an opportunity to expose your dog to this environment. Work on easy skills such as “check-ins”, keep it short and sweet and don’t expect a lot the first time you are in this environment. By doing this you will set your dog up to trust you and feel safer when entering new environments.

These categories are just the icing on the cake. There are many more components to the training process and understanding dog body language. Make sure to find a reputable professional to learn more about this subject.

Head Collars: Proactive or Reactive?

Renee Jetter — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:53:10 +0000

Head collars prove to be a very helpful tool in what seems to be impossible situations. The stigma that goes along with head collars can create problems for some owners. Some false views include:

They are muzzles
They are only used for dogs that pull on leash uncontrollably
They are only used with aggressive or reactive dogs.

Unfortunately this stigma closes people’s minds to the endless uses of a head collar. I am going to discuss circumstances where I use head collars and how I use them as a proactive tool.

Why do I use a head collar? In many cases when I am working with clients I recommend the use of a head collar if one or both of the following occur:

The dog is or will be stronger than their handler
The dog lunges or jumps at people, other dogs, or during high arousal times

In the above scenarios a head collar allows the owner to gain physical control of their dog and then reasonable solutions can be put into place through training and/or behavior modification. A head collar allows for a solution that aids an owner in gaining control without the unnecessary side effects of other aversive training aids such as choke collar, pinch collars, or electronic collars.

My favorite way to use head collars is as a proactive training aid. The use of head collars with young dogs or puppies can be helpful in preventing rewards for unwanted behaviors such as:

Lunging at people, other dogs
Jumping on people
Stealing food and other items from the ground when walking
Pulling on leash

The head collar alone doesn’t prevent the unwanted behaviors, it is only one piece of the puzzle. The person handling the dog or owner must keep control of them and prevent rewards for unwanted behavior and reward their puppy or young dog for good choices.

Proper conditioning of a training aid is very important before using that aid during training or at other times. This process can vary depending on what the aid is and what it is being used for. I would recommend working with a trained professional before using ANY training aid.

The process to condition a dog to a head collar varies depending on the puppy/dog and handler. It’s important before you use it for training that your dog is NOT trying to paw it off of their nose or fighting it. They need to be comfortable wearing it and following any guidance if they feel pressure on the head collar pulling one direction or another.

Expectations

Renee Jetter — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:50:43 +0000

Are you setting reasonable expectations for your dog? Expectations come in many forms. At times if expectations aren’t met the outcome of your efforts can differ considerably from what the expected outcome may have been. End result, frustration and a feeling of hopelessness. I will discuss 5 key components of setting reasonable expectations and achieving them.

Creating Definitions before training your dog any new behavior is essential to your success. By outlining what your definition of each behavior is it allows you to problem solve on the fly and ensure you’re are going down the right path. At any point you see the behavior going down the wrong path you can go back to the drawing board and create a new plan; but without a definition you may not even know you’re going down the wrong path.

Setting Goals is key to success. You will need to have many different goals. You will have mini goals and you will have large goals. Mini goals would be achieving one step of a complex behavior or increments of a larger goal. Large goals are either difficult goals to achieve or completing a behavior that took many mini goals to achieve. Goals are important as it gives you direction in your training plan.

Celebrate success, whether it be mini goals or large goals all of them are important and need to be celebrated. Sticking with something creates drive, focus, and apart from others. Never forget to enjoy your achievements.

Reevaluating your training plan is a must to achieving your goals. Sometimes things don’t work out the way we planned. Having the ability to reevaluate your original plan is an important component to you and your dog’s success.

Looking into your dog is important to keeping your relationship strong. Sometimes we get caught up in what we want and instead should take a hard look at what our dog wants. Enjoying things together is an important part of your relationship with your dog.

Clicker Training – not just for dogs & dolphins!

Renee Jetter — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:22:29 +0000

I am so excited to be able to share how one of our clients took clicker training to the next level and her and her son clicker trained their horse!

See how Rawley (8 years old) and his mom Nikki Collins teach their horse Kruzer to perform some helpful chores and tricks - using the same clicker training principles they learned with their dogs at Canine Craze!

Nikki & her family also breed Bull Mastiffs; here is a link to their website which includes clicker training videos with litters of puppies. http://www.iowabullmastiffs.com/

Future, What Future?

Renee Jetter — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:51:48 +0000

All to often I see people make choices during training based upon NOW and not upon the FUTURE! In most cases this only sets us up for a longer road ahead. For example I recently worked with someone that wanted there dog to stop barking. I suggested what we normally suggest at our facility; remove any possible rewards that your dog has for barking and make sure to reward your dog for being quite and set your dog up for success. I was asked, “can’t a use a shock collar or spray collar to get him to STOP barking?” I responded, “You may use these tools but what most people find is it may STOP barking but you usually get other uninteded side effects.” I have worked with far too many cases that are just heartbreaking for me becuase I look at the pain and suffering that both the people and the dogs are going through and all I can think is; “this could all have been avoided.” If only they would have taken a little bit more time and effort to teach their dogs what they “wanted” them to do; this could have all been avoided. Next time you want to “stop” a behavior that your dog is doing; stop and ask yourself: “What do I want my dog to do instead?” This questions alone can prevent a lot of pain and suffering for both you and your dog.

Reading Dogs

Renee Jetter — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:37:22 +0000

I have recently been listening to the book For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell, Ph. D. This is just an amazing book. It really defines what we so regularly miss about our dogs. Because our dog’s don’t speak to us in words it’s important that we are able to read our dog’s expressions and feelings. This book discusses how we so often misread our dogs, push our feelings onto our dogs, or we just plain don’t pay attention in the first place. It’s important not only to observe your dog’s expressions and feelings but to acknowledge them in a way that allows you to control the enviroment or change what you are doing if you see your dog is stressed, confused or sad or how to continue on with what you are doing if your dog is happy, relaxed, and enjoying themselves. Knowing how to read your dog is a very important part of having a healthy relationship.

In dog training this is a very important part and plays a key role in how your dog will repond to you in trianing. If your dog is not having a good time then you will get a lot of avoidance. With avoidance comes many of the superstitions that people have about their dogs such as “they are just being stubborn”, “they are trying to control me”, or “they are just distracted”. I have yet to have a dog that enjoys training with me be distracted to the point that we can’t work together. I have at times made training or learning not fun for my dog and by this caused a really distracted dog. Don’t get me wrong their are some personalities that are harder to work with than others when it comes to dog training, but a majority of trianing issues always can be led back to the handler or trainer. If you are having a hard time training your dog I highly recommend this book and before you continue trianing your dog learn how to read your dog’s expressions and feelings.

This book is an awesome book for anyone that wants to learn about dogs emotions and feelings. Not only learn about them but learn how to read them so you can see if your dog enjoys the activities that you are involved in. Once you can read your dog and see that they are having a good time and you use rewards that your dog truely enjoy you will be amazed at how easy training can be.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Renee Jetter — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:43:23 +0000

I was training Czar the other day and it was so rewarding to finally have the work I’ve been doing pay off. The behavior I have been working on is focused heel. For Schutzhund the judge likes to see the heeling pattern happen with your dog focused on you and this is something I have been bouncing around trying to teach for two years. During the past two years I was not disciplined to stick to the little steps and would take giant steps while training that would diminish the entire behavior until I was back at the beginning; I had successfully untrained him multiple times…very well I might add.

I have finally stayed disciplined over the past fifteen days to develop a beautiful focused heel. I was able to walk through a crowd, heel the length of the agility space and have distractions and he worked through it with me like a pro. I couldn’t believe only fifteen days previous I was taking one step at a time and rewarding and now we are well beyond one step with distractions.

The progress that is made when you slow down and take everything at a steady pace is irreplaceable. It is the old story of the tortoise and the hare, the tortoise always wins!

Patience

Renee Jetter — Thu, 05 May 2011 01:08:09 +0000

For those of you who are not aware I have recently adopted a five month of Australian Kelpie and her name is Audacious. She is an awesome dog…but boy does she try my patience. Her mind and body move 100 miles a minute and after training service labs that move at about 5 miles a minute its a change. I think with any puppy or dog the very first thing you have to do is establish rules and boundaries. For example you can’t chew on my hand; but you can chew on this toy. You can’t jump onto the counter; but you can lay on the rug. All too often people get stuck in the rut of constantly punishing the dog for what they don’t want but never take the time to teach their dog or puppy an alternative behavior. The key to stopping unwanted behaviors is teaching them something else to do. It’s not frequent I encounter a situation where an unwanted behavior is unpredictable; almost always the owners can say my dog always jumps when they greet people…or…my dog always barks at me when I am cooking dinner…or…my dog steals my families shoes every night while we are watching television. With statements like this it is immediately clear to me that the behavior is predictable and in order to change it you need to prevent it and teach them something else to do.

Audacious is what I call a 50 time dog. She is constantly pushing her boundaries to see what I will allow and it is common that I will remove her mouth from my arm and give her a different toy or take her by her collar to escort her back to her place mat that is where she is suppose to be staying 50 times before she actually starts to understand what the boundaries are. The key to teaching clear boundaries and rules to any dog or puppy is patience, consistency and discipline. As soon as your dog or puppy sees a weakness in your discipline your doomed to create a monster.

My last words of wisdom are: Even though it’s excruciatingly painful now, patience, consistency, and discipline will pay off in the years to come. I think we owe it to our dogs to at least give them a fighting chance in this dog eat dog world.

It’s Just a Lifestyle…

Renee Jetter — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:14:54 +0000

Most people come to us to help them learn how to live with their dog; although when they first call they don’t know that’s what they want. It’s not about obedience. It’s great if the dog knows how to sit, drop, and heel. But to me that’s a bonus. The very first thing that needs to happen is learning how to live with your dog and creating a positive relationship. You need to teach your dog or puppy the rules of the house. Your dog doesn’t need to know behaviors on cue to learn rules of the house. It’s a funny concept when you think about it, but it’s so very true. I teach all my puppies when I get them at eight weeks old how to walk nicely on leash, wait at a door, sit to be let out 0f the crate, and sit when they want to be petted within days of bringing them home with the only cue being the environment and what they want at that moment. I am successful with this because I control the dogs environment to ensure they don’t self reward or steal reinforcement on their own. Or as retired Police Office Bob Eden would say, “Letting the dog train themselves.” This doesn’t mean that within days the puppy is trained to fluency or even understands the behaviors they are doing. That is where consistency and discipline come into the picture; that would be consistency and discipline of the handlers or pet owners. But within our household the puppy knows and understands the rules and how to earn what they want in that moment. It’s important that you hold strong in your expectations even when the environment changes this helps the dogs learn that the same rules apply even if the picture is different. If you want your dog to walk nicely on leash with you then don’t move until your dog has let slack in the leash. If you want your dog to go to a place and lay down when someone comes to the door, you need to operantly teach the go to a place exercise and in the meantime don’t let the dog rehearse charging people or jumping on people at the door and crate them when someone comes over. The number one rule in our house is “If you don’t have time to train the dog, crate the dog.” The worst thing you can do is allow rehearsals of unwanted behaviors.

Don’t mistake this for getting lazy and just always crating your dog, you should behind the scenes be working on a behavior you would like your dog to do instead. Then when people come over it’s your opportunity to proof the behavior so you are that much closer to fluency. It’s important that you expose your dog or puppy to as many situations as possible and expect appropriate behavior at the same time. It is okay to restrict a dogs opportunities such as stepping on a leash to discourage jumping that way you are setting your dog up for success instead of waiting until they fail and correcting them or using adversives. This allows for many more appropriate and reward-able behaviors that helps you along your path to a good relationship with your dog and training your dogs responses to fluency.

All to often people teach a dog a sit or a drop but never take the time to teach their dog these same behaviors in more places than one; they just expect that their dog should perform them because they taught them once. But, unfortunately that is not how dogs learn. They need to be taught over and over and over again until they can rehearse the same behavior in 100 different places 100 different times within three seconds of you asking for the behavior. Next time you get frustrated with your dog for not performing a behavior or as some people state “being stubborn”, take a moment and really ask yourself; “Does my dog really know this behavior?” If they don’t, stop, take a moment, and teach them.