Tough Decisions

Tough Decisions

This past week, I had the most joyous occasion you can imagine!  I temperament tested a purpose bred  litter of puppies in Pocatello so the puppies could be placed in homes appropriate for their personalities.  The parents were both health tested and passed with OFA Good hips and Normal elbows.  They were also tested for Degenerative Myelopathy which is a devastating spinal disease that can cripple a dog in their older years.  Neither parent carried the gene. The dogs had working titles to prove breed worthiness, and ability to learn and work with superior personality.  Both parents had an extensive, proven healthy, long line of ancestry behind them.  

Too Much Freedom?

Too Much Freedom?

We live in a simply amazing area where we can take our dogs to unheard of beauty and let them enjoy the smells, exercise and swimming until their hearts are content!  We live where dogs belong to almost every family, every family lives here to enjoy the outdoors, and dogs participate with our family outings all the time. As a trainer, one of the biggest concerns I hear from everyone is that their dog will come extremely well, EXCEPT when there is a distraction.

Through the Eyes of a Dog – I’m SCARED!

Through the Eyes of a Dog – I’m SCARED!

(Stretching and yawning) “It’s time to get up!  BREAKFAST!  I LOVE breakfast!  But, wait! The humans are hitting that darn noisy thing again!  I hate when they hit that!  Are they mad at me?  I will hide in the closet until it stops that noise! “Now they are heading downstairs! It must mean that breakfast is coming!  But, the tall human is putting on their jacket and has my leash! We must be going for a walk first!

Through the Eyes of a Dog

Through the Eyes of a Dog

“Ut oh.  I have to go out.  Everyone is asleep.  My insides hurt.  Maybe if I drink some water I will feel better.   “OH NO!!!!  I couldn’t hold it any longer!  And, again!!!!  Geez, I am really going to get in trouble when they wake up.   “Now something is happening in my mouth!  It tastes horrible!  Now it’s on the floor! “I wish someone would get up and help me, but then I don’t want them to get up because they will be mad. “Here my mom comes!  I’d better hide.  But, OH NO!  I have to go again!  Oh good, she opened the back door.  I am trying to hurry to the weeds, but didn’t make it.

The Lassie Pill

The Lassie Pill

Teaching self control to a dog is much like having a child and teaching him/her not to pound their silverware on the table while waiting for dinner or run up and down the aisle at a restaurant disturbing the other patrons.  It can be very difficult to teach, but in the end, it is very influential in the success of your child in society and gaining friends.  Teaching self control could even mean whether your child finishes school and gets a job!  It is exactly the same for dogs in their success with other dogs, with friends of ours and his ability to not become the stray in the shelter.

The Gift of Love

The Gift of Love

With the holidays coming up very quickly, many of us are looking for that special gift that is meaningful and very special to let our loved ones know how much they mean to us.  Giving the gift of a puppy or dog is something that crosses everyone’s mind, especially with all the ads in the paper urging you to give a puppy.  There are adorable photos and incredibly sweet descriptions that just tempt us beyond belief!  

The Finicky Eater

The Finicky Eater

Food is an incredibly important thing to dogs - usually.  A dog that eats well and is “food motivated” is much easier to live with for many reasons.  In training, food becomes a very good pay check for doing a good job. (Yes, dogs need a pay check just like we do when we do a good job!) Food is not a bribe if the dog works for that tasty morsel. What makes training harder is a dog that doesn’t care much about food.  When we train, a dog’s “pay check” must be something he values and he does not have easy access to.

Territorial Dog Behavior

Territorial Dog Behavior

A dog that defends his territory or home is not uncommon for any dog.  This is a behavior inherited from the wolf that defends his territory from another pack.  It is intended to secure hunting grounds, food and survival of the pack. Territorial behavior is not acceptable in dogs that are now domesticated and expected to live peacefully in our human society.

Submissive verses Fearful Dog Behavior

Submissive verses Fearful Dog Behavior

Many people confuse submissive behavior and fearful behavior.  While fearful behavior can present itself as submissive behavior, submissive behavior does not have to mean a dog is fearful.  Submissive behavior is actually a very healthy and proper dog behavior intended for dogs to communicate to higher ranking dogs that they honor and respect the higher ranking dog and pose no threat.   

The Stress of Purely Positive Training

The Stress of Purely Positive Training

Right now, the internet is full of “science based,” “stress free,” “force free,” and “purely positive” training programs and ideas. Dog training is not a science as much as it is an art, and a skill that is honed by experiences with hundreds or thousands of dogs and knowledge that is acquired through sharing skills with other professionals.