Why Wont My Dog Listen to Me

One of a dog owner’s greatest frustrations can be a dog that doesn’t listen to what they are told to do.  You may feel that you spend an endless amount of time calling your dog into the house, trying to keep them from jumping, or attempting to get their attention when you are out for a walk.  Or maybe there are simply times you feel your dog has very selective hearing.

All dogs can be good listeners, but they need the proper guidance and relationship with their owners to achieve this.  If your dog doesn’t listen to you, one of the following is probably the reason.

You aren’t as much fun as whatever your dog is doing.  Many of the occasions when our dogs tune us out are simply because there is something more interesting to do.  If you are trying to call your dog in from the backyard and aren’t getting any response, your dog has probably learned that there is a greater reward in ignoring you – more squirrels to chase, more time to smell the grass, etc.  Plenty of dogs listen well at home, but when they are taken out, to the park or into town, they quickly stop listening to even the simplest commands.  In any of these situations, getting upset or frustrated won’t make your dog any more likely to pay attention.  The only way to get your dog’s attention is to become more interesting than whatever they are currently doing.  Make yourself fun, make yourself interesting, and make yourself exciting!

Fear of punishment.  If you correct your dog for something, you should be confident that you are addressing a behavior that you do not want repeated, and that your dog will associate the correction with that exact behavior, not something else.  For example, if your dog gets out the front door and leads you on an hour long chase through the neighborhood, chances are by the time you catch up to him you will be quite frustrated, if not outright angry.  However, if you punish your dog for finally returning home (or merely allowing themselves to be caught), your dog will associate that correction with the last action they took – coming back.  Because dogs have relatively short attention spans, they cannot make the connection between what you are frustrated with (the bolt out the door that happened an hour ago) and the punishment they are receiving now.  That means that if you correct him when he comes back, next time he won’t want to come when you call him.  Using positive methods instead of punishment based training will ensure you never make a mistake like this.

Your dog hasn’t been formally trained.  Many owners expect their dogs to respond to commands that haven’t ever been officially trained.  You may think your dog knows how to do something, but they may in fact have only gotten lucky in responding properly.  Or maybe they do have a little understanding of what you are asking, but don’t know well enough to be able to perform around distractions, when they are tired or bored or in a different situation.  Our dogs genuinely want to do the right thing, but we need to give them the tools.  If you feel your dog isn’t listening because she’s just being difficult or stubborn, consider that maybe she just doesn’t get it.  The easiest way to fix this problem is to do some formal training: go to a class, get a private lesson from a professional trainer or find a good book.  Educate yourself so you know the right way to teach your dog.

You’re speaking the wrong language – English!  Let’s face it; we are a very ego-centric species.  Without even knowing it we often expect our dogs to act the way we would.  It’s the only way most of us know how to behave.  But when we expect our dogs to understand us or act like us, we are usually asking too much.  If you’ve ever thought of your dog as your child, talked in complete sentences and sort of expected an answer, or felt like your dog was holding a grudge against you, you’re guilty.  Don’t worry – it happens to the best of us.  However, if your dog seems to be ignoring you, maybe it’s just a “language barrier” of sorts.  You speak English and she speaks canine.  And it’s not just about interpreting a bark.  Dogs are very tuned into body language.  They communicate mostly through posture, movement, eye contact…all without a single spoken word.  The next time your dog doesn’t listen to you, consider if she really understands the question.

If your dog is not listening, regardless of why, the best solution may be found through a professional dog trainer.  Good dog trainers don’t just know how to get a dog to sit, they can interpret relationships between dogs and owners and help you learn how to improve them.  That leads to a happy ending for both you and your dog, and lots more listening!

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Why does my buddy eat grass

Our newest addition to the pack, little Cody the Beagle, was eating grass earlier today. All of the reasons that dogs eat grass do not seem to be fully understood. A quick Google Search on "dogs eating grass" or something similar will yield many speculations however, I have found little in the way of empirical scientific fact.

All of our happy little pack here (pictured in their den at bedtime) do, from time to time, eat grass.  I am not a Veterinarian, Doctor, or Biologist (nor do I play one on T.V.) so my knowledge is a little limited but here is what I do understand:

Dogs are not strict carnivores. They are, like us, omnivores. This means they need meat and plant matter in their diets. Modern dog foods provide this pretty well. However, sometimes a dog will nibble on grass for the plant material (roughage, etc.). Grass is pretty plentiful outside and is easy for the dog to reach so, the dog may eat grass to provide needed plant material in his diet. However, I do not think this is why our pack eats grass from time to time.

Sometimes when dogs are bored outside, they will eat grass. This is generally more of a grazing than a nibbling. Our pack usually has plenty of interesting things to do when they are outside so this is not why they occasionally nibble on grass. I would certainly discourage this sort of grass eating. It would be much better to provide something else to occupy the dogs time and perhaps even exercise their mind. If you need help with this, please contact me and I will be happy to offer suggestions and work with you and your little guy or girl.

I really believe that the reason our pack members occasionally eat a little grass is to help them with upset stomach. There are usually other symptoms as well that lead me to this conclusion. Typically there will be other signs of stomach distress. Copper, for instance will sometimes loose interest in food or treats before he eats grass. This is a definite sign that his tummy hurts. He never turns down food unless his stomach is upset. Cody has been a little less active today and seems not to feel as good as normal. He also has vomited at least once today after eating grass. He is using the grass to help induce vomiting. I tend to think this is instinctual. However, I really have nothing scientific to back this up it is simply a hunch.

Again, I am no expert here. This is simply my opinion based upon many years of observing the members of my pack.

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore
William Moore Canine Training
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com
678-702-4791

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Dog Begging Why Begging For Food Should Never Be Allowed

The one thing you can count on with your dog is that he will absolutely insist on eating whatever it is that you and the rest of the family are having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! And without training to teach them otherwise, begging for food, while seemingly cute in the beginning, will become a complete and total annoyance to everyone in due time.

Why Is Begging A Bad Thing?

Once you decided to raise a dog, your family officially became a "pack". This means that your dog looks up to you and the rest of the household as a natural hierarchy, with a leader at the top. When you allow your dog to beg, even if it seems innocent, this behavior becomes a form of control that the animal is gaining from the pack.

In the beginning, begging for food, or begging for other stimulations such as a belly rub, is obviously adorable, but in time, the dogs actions become more and more demanding, thus becoming aggressive and unbearable as he grows into an adult.

How Aggressive Will Your Dog Become?

Many of you might be reading this and are thinking to yourself that your well-behaved doggie would never become aggressive while begging for food and nip at your hand. However, I beg to differ.

A perfect example would be recalling the experience that a friend of mine had with his dog. For several years he would hand-feed his puppy bits of food whenever he himself was eating. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks in between - all were shared with his dog.

Eventually, his dog grew into an adult and was a fairly large size. The mistake that my friend made was not realizing that he was actually programming the dog to be a dominant leader every time the animal expected to be fed, and my friend of course would share his food without thinking.

The begging became a big problem and when he decided to train the dog not to beg for food, the animal got extremely aggressive and literally jumped on the table to snatch up a plate of food, and while biting into my friends hand.

Proper Training To Eliminate Begging

Although the true story above was on the extreme side of dominant, aggressive behavior, as a result of begging, the problem is indeed real. And although your dog may not be so demanding right now, the key is to completely eliminate the possibility of begging by proper training early in your puppys life.

The process is simple. All you have to do is train your dog to be still and remain in a specific area of the house when the family is eating their meals. It may take a little time, but imagine your dog sitting quietly, remaining in the sit position, all the while you and your family are eating dinner, with him not moving until you allow him to do so.

Daniel Waser is a dog lover since his childhood. He owns 3 dogs of his own and has a lot of experiences with dogs. At his websites hes providing helpful information and tips about Dog Health Problems and Dog Training.

Dog Obedience
Dog Housebreaking
Dog Housebreaking
Dog Obedience
Puppy Housebreaking
Dog Training
Puppy Training
Puppy Housetraining
Dog Obedience
Dog Obedience

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Why Is Dog Training The very best Thing We Can Do For Our Pet dogs

Were always told how essential it is to train our dogs, however what exactly is dog training and why is it so essential anyhow?

The following list discusses why it is absolutely important that we provide proper socialization and training to our canine friends.

Please read these 5 undeniable reasons why we owe it to our canines to practice them:.

Dog training helps to develop and enhance a productive and healthy relationship with your canine.
Dog training opens up the lines of communication between you and your canine. A real type of two method communication is established through favorable non violent dog training. You and your canine will discover to interact with each other in an equally considerate manner, based on co-operation and understanding.
A well mingled and practiced dog will become a fantastic life-long buddy, work companion and friend. An untrained dog can rapidly become a burden and a limitless source of aggravation. Instead of having an uneven relationship where you are continuously chewing out or reprimanding your inexperienced canine, why not set your dog up to succeed by supplying some leadership and clear guidelines for him/her to follow?
A qualified dog is a well appreciated and trusted member of society who is welcomed virtually anywhere. This has to be a favorable thing for your relationship does not it?
Training avoids many usual "pet dog issues" from ever arising.
A whole array of typical dog behavior troubles can be avoided through some obedience training. Pet dogs are creatures of practice so why not utilize this to your advantage by helping your canine to establish etiquette routines from a very early age? If you are proactive and established some easy standards and regimens for your puppy to follow you may never ever need to deal with devastating behaviors such as digging, chewing, extreme barking as well as separation stress and anxiety.
You may even pick to get your canine to perform an alternate habits in location of the existing trouble. An example of this would be if your pet dog was up surfing your counter tops for food scraps you might get him/her to "go to your area" instead.
The substantial bulk of "bad pet dogs" or pet dogs with behavior problems eventuate because the dog has actually never been instructed any much better. Many probably if you offered a delicious chew toy and did some chew toy training then your dog would be even more than delighted to chew on the toy only.
An experienced pet dog is also a pleasure to consider a walk (no pulling!) and trips to your Veterinarian or Pet dog Groomer are never an issue.
Practicing your dog is a required safety measure for you, your canine and everything that comes into contact with your dog.
Having your pet dog under voice control in any scenario is an extremely comforting position to be in - it may even save your pet dogs life one day. If your canine is about to bolt out onto a hectic roadway or get something hazardous it is terrific to be able to instantly step in and alter their behavior with an obedience training command such as "no", "come" or "leave it".
An appropriately socialized and practiced canine is a much safer proposal around other dogs and animals. Dog training plays an important duty in informing your dog how to act appropriately around yourself, your youngsters and visitors to your home.
An experienced dog is confident, comfortable and safe and secure with his/her area in your home.
A well qualified canine appreciates the support, structure and boundaries you provide with training. Its far much better than having a worried, anxious and baffled dog who is continuously being chewed out for things he/she doesnt even comprehend. Practicing relieves much of the disappointment and tension that exists in between you and your dog.
Practicing sets up appropriate family rules for your dog to follow. It deals with such issues as bolting out the front door, chewing, jumping up on visitors and extreme barking.
Dog training offers a great release or outlet for all of your dogs pent up energy. This energy has to come out in one method or another so why not carry it into something efficient like obedience training?

A trained dogs life takes a far various course to that of an inexperienced dog.
The majority of dogs that end up in animal shelters arrive there due to the fact that they have at least one habits trouble - numerous of these problems can be quickly controlled with some basic obedience training. Behaviors such as jumping up, mouthing and cheeky barking which you thought about to be charming in your young puppy suddenly become an actual issue as the canine grows up.
When we bring a new pet dog into our lives we are bringing a various types into a world that is completely foreign to them - our human world. We owe it to our dogs to help them fit into our lifestyle by clearly revealing them exactly what is expected of them and what is appropriate behavior - this is what dog training offers.

So there they are, the 5 reasons I believe every pet dog should have a minimum of some fundamental training - for everyones advantage.

I would, since training your dog is one of the genuine joys of possessing a canine, it is fantastic thrill. Time invested training your pet dog is time well invested - for all included.

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Why Take Advanced Classes

We all know that our dogs need some obedience training. Most people agree that a beginning level class that is well-managed and well-taught will benefit you and your dog. However, many owners have unrealistic expectations of a beginning level class. A beginning, or basic obedience class, teaches you how to communicate with your dog and teaches your dog how to learn. It does not teach your dog, or you, all the obedience you will need for the rest of your dogs life. Think of it this way, if you stop training after a basic obedience class, it’s like sending your child to Kindergarten-Third Grade and then saying, you’re all done with school. Obviously, kids, and dogs for that matter, need more school!!

Unleashed Advanced offers the next level in training. Advanced Classes focus on applying what you’ve learned in your basic class, but adding distractions and adding distance. The sit stay and down stay don’t do you any good if your dog won’t do it with distractions! The come command is essential, but will your dog listen and respond when he’s playing with another dog at Folsom Dog Park, or following a scent on the Serrano Trails in El Dorado Hills? These are the challenges we face as dog owners. However, in saying that, it’s important to understand that dogs need to be taught these behaviors with distance, duration and distractions in mind. Just because a dog knows sit in your living room, doesn’t mean he knows it at your child’s soccer game. Dogs need to generalize behaviors before they become reliable. That’s the cornerstone of “Unleashed Advanced.”

For more information about Unleashed Dog Training & Behavior Center located in El Dorado Hills, check out some more posted blogs or email unleashmk@comcast.net for specific questions.

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Why I never recommend retractable leashes

Actual injury caused by a recent accident caused by a retractable leash.
In this particular case, the finger was saved. However, there have been reported cases of
accidental amputations of fingers by these leashes. 

This post may be somewhat less than palatable for some of my friends in the Pet Supply business. However, I think it prudent to explain why I have such a distaste for these popular retractable leash devices. So, to my friends at Petco, PetSmart, and even some of you smaller retailers, please understand that my opinions here are based solely upon my observations and experiences as a Dog Trainer.

Furthermore, it is my hope that you will consider the points that I make the next time you have an opportunity to recommend a leash for a customer in your fine establishments! Remember, I have no malice against you personally nor professionally, I just see some very real safety hazards for your customers and their dogs from the retractable leash products that are sold in your establishments.


First lets examine how the retractable leash works:

The drawing shown here is from the US Patent office. It is for US Patent US7896281 B2. I think this a pretty good representation of basically how most of the modern retractable leashes work. Take a look at the google patent link for more details.

I have heard people say that these leashes are similar in design to fishing reels. When looking at the patent , it reminds me more of the recoil assembly on a lawn mower rope start assembly. You know when you pull the string to start the mower and let go, the recoil mechanism pulls the rope back. That recoil action is very similar to the way the patent indicates that these leashes work.

The only remarkable difference that occurs to me is that the retractable leashes implement a braking mechanism to stop the retracting action. In other words there is a lock button that you can press to stop the recoil or retract action of the leash.


Okay, it sounds like a good idea. You can have a 20 or 30 ft. long leash in a small package and retract it when you want. On your walk, the dog is 30ft away, you lock the leash and let him roam then when he comes closer you retract it ,to make the leash shorter, then you go home. What a concept, huh? Well, in my experience there are multiple potentially extremely dangerous problems here.

There are several concerns and safety issues here:

• These cord on these leashes is usually mostly really thin line. If there is more than one dog in a close area, this is a potential disaster because the leashes very easily become entangled. This presents a risk of tripping and falling to the people and risk of extremely severe injury to the dogs. The potential for injury is due to the line being so thin and strong. It cuts very efficiently.
• Because this line cuts so efficiently, it is also a major risk for causing severe injury to people. There is a braking mechanism on these devices and you are suppose to use it to stop the recoil. However if the dog is suddenly alarmed a moves very quickly, usually a natural reaction is to grab the line and pull. This causes a lot of burns and cuts.
• It is very easy to accidentally get the small line wrapped around your fingers or other body parts causing sever injuries. If the dog suddenly pulls while the line is around your finger you could get an injury like the one in the picture at the top of this blog. You could also get a finger cut off. It has happened before!
• Because theses leashes are so long people are often tempted to give the dog more leash than they should and can not control the dog well enough when an aggressive dog approaches. Not to mention that dogs simply should not walk in public places on that long of a leash. It is dangerous to you and your dog!
• These leashes are much more difficult to handle (in my experience). There is no loop to put your wrist through. So if you are carrying anything or if you are mildly distracted, it is extremely easy to drop one of these things.The plastic case is  heavy and big .Sometimes the leash is not locked and retracts upon being dropped. This can rattle the nerves of even a polite and well trained dog!

Why, then are these dangerous devices so popular? Well, I think it may be because they are perceived as convenient. And, I suppose there is a certain convenience if you want the dog to have a very long leash.  But, that is not really the proper way to walk a dog (in my opinion). The dog should always be close beside you. If he has to relieve himself give him a little bit of leash but I really see no benefit to the dog being 30ft away from me on a leash walk. 

There are some training situation in which I use a very long (30 or 40 feet) rope or leash to teach recall. But I never use a retractable for this purpose. And sometimes people who have tracking dogs will use a long lead to let the dog follow the trail but never a retractable.

I think the real reason the Pet Stores and Retail Outlets sell these things it that there is a great deal of profit to be made. I have absolutely nothing against profit. I like to make profit myself! But, these are truly dangerous devices. 

Just to make my point a little more strongly, I  submit the following for your consideration. Petco carries Flexi retractable leashes. Unfortunately, when I worked there, these were big selling items. Flexi is the same organization that applied for the Patent that I referenced above. Take a look at there very lengthy retractable leash warnings on their own website. Even the people who make these things acknowledge that they are dangerous.  One of the things that they mention is: "Do not use this leash with a disobedient or uncontrollable dog, since they are more likely to wrap the cord/tape/belt around people or to run off at high speeds." Let me tell you from my experience, almost any dog has the potential to "run off at high speeds" under the proper circumstances.

 For instance: Copper Whopper, my demo Beagle, is a very polite and well behaved dog. He is great on leash. I use him frequently to demonstrate proper loose leash walking technique. However, sometimes his instinct briefly takes over and he will chase after a chipmunk, bear, etc. (well maybe not a bear :) ).

My point is that there is no way to predict when this may occur. I can get him under control easily but he does have the potential to bolt off. This could be very dangerous with a retractable leash.

My advice is use a 6 foot (maximum) fabric or leather leash. This is what people in the business call a "flat leash" (just to be cool).  You can even use a chain leash. I do not really like the chain leashes because they are heavy and harder for me to manage but they are many orders of magnitude safer than a retractable leash!

If you need assistance helping your dog to walk properly on leash, please contact me at anytime! Copper and I will be happy to show you the proper technique!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

678-702-4791

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What was your dog bred for and why does it matter

Why is it important to know what your dog is bred for? Breed specific behavior can help us reach our training goals faster and understand our dog better.

"Why is our Labrador so mouthy?"

"Why is our Border Collie chasing cars?"

"Why is our German Shepherd so territorial?"

"Why wont our Beagle come?"

These are all breed specific behaviors that are "hard wired" in these breeds. Can you stop these behaviors? In some cases, yes, in other cases, you manage the behavior but cant extinguish it. We shouldnt choose a dog only because they are the right size, or they have short hair, etc. Many Terriers, for example, are small and have short hair, but they are tenacious, smart, high energy dogs bred with a "big dog attitude." Many owners get in over their head with a specific breed. A little research can go a long way...

For more info on breed specific behaviors, check out http://www.anticruelty.org/site/epage/74487_576.htm

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Why are cops shooting pet dogs

Over the past few years I have noticed and commented on a trend that I find disturbing and alarming.
The trend is that of law enforcement officers in ever increasing numbers killing pet dogs with their service weapons.

If you have not noticed this trend or want to verify it, I suggest that you use google or your favorite search engine. Try the search phrase "cop kills dog". You will likely be sick to your stomach. I will warn you that if you do a search with that phrase on YouTube you will find videos that are truly disturbing and very graphic. There are several videos on YouTube that document disgusting graphic  scenes of law enforcement officers, paid by our tax dollars, shooting pets that obviously pose no immediate threat to them. In one video an officer restricts a dogs movement with a rigid tether and kills him with what appears to be the officers service weapon.

The problem has become such an epidemic that it has attracted the attention of documentary film makers Michael Ozias and Patrick Reasonover. The pair have recently completed work on a documentary film called "Of Dogs and Men". Infowars recently did a story about the issue and the documentary film.

The press kit for "Of Dogs and Men" provides some startling and vile facts such as the following:

• According to a Department of Justice estimate, police officers shoot and kill over 10,000 pet dogs in the US every year. 

From SWAT raids to simple calls and even visits to wrong addresses, we are seeing more and more incidents of officers using lethal force against a family pet, despite the fact that no officer has ever been killed in the line of duty by a dog.

Payton and Chase, two black labs, were shot by police raiding their Maryland home. Not only was their owner innocent of any charges, he is the towns mayor.

Seven-month-old General Patton watched as his owners were handcuffed on the side of a Tennessee highway, completely innocent of any charges. When he left the car, wagging his tail, he was killed at point blank range with a police shotgun.

Patches, a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier, was shot by a 250 pound police officer who claimed to be in fear for his life.

I often teach people the proper techniques to utilize in breaking up dog fights. I also teach people techniques to use with aggressive dogs to avoid dog bites.

My friends, I realize dog bites hurt like hell. I have been bitten a few times over the years. I did not find any of those experiences enjoyable in the least. However, I have never killed a dog to avoid a bite. I have never felt that my life or body was in danger to the extent that my only or best option was to end the life of the attacking dog.

In the example from the documentary film, I am at a loss to come up with any possible reason why a 250 pound law enforcement officer would "be in fear for his life" from a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier. You folks with Jack Russells know they can be frustrating at times. However, I have never met a reasonable and sane adult who was in fear for his life due to the threat of a 12 pound Jack Russell terrier. With all due respect, where the hell did they find this coward?

Am I the only one who is not frightened by the sight of
this big guy? 

My question to the law enforcement community is: Why are you so terrified of dogs that many times are wagging their tails and not presenting any signs of aggression at all? If this sort of thing really does freak you out to the point of requiring you to endanger the lives of the public by firing a deadly weapon to kill these poor animals, perhaps you should reconsider your chosen profession. For example, fast food service does not pay as much but you will never again have to face the "threat to your life" imposed by  a massive 12 pound Jack Russell terrier at work.

The techniques that I mention are not difficult to learn. They are not magic that only dog trainers can master. They are simply common sense techniques developed out of an understanding of dog behavior. I did not come up with these techniques. I learned them from other folks who also work with aggressive or scared dogs.

My friends and customers, this is not rocket science! I learned the techniques and can teach them to anyone in a relatively short amount of time. The more you use these techniques the easier they are to do but anyone can learn them. By "anyone" I mean even law enforcement officers.

As I have mentioned in blog posts before: I have broken up many dog fights. I have avoided being bitten by aggressive dogs. I have been bitten by aggressive dogs. Most of the time when I was bitten it was because I failed to follow simple techniques. In none, again I say no not one time, did I shoot a dog. I did not stab a dog. I did not kill a dog by any method. I did not even hurt a dog. I was not even tempted to hurt, injure or kill the aggressive dog.

If I can do it then, I do not think it is too much to ask that law enforcement in this country do the same. Yes, you brave law enforcement officers may get bit. It happens. But it is never justification for killing an animal who was most likely aggressive due to fear. A dog can also become aggressive to protect his handler or the handlers property. None of this warrants instant death.

Law enforcement officers, please understand, the dog is not going to kill you. Have any of your fellow officers ever been killed by a pet dog? (according to the statistics the answer to this question is a resounding NO!) Yes the dog may be scary. If you do not exercise proper caution the dog may bite you and it will hurt like hell. But, you will not die. Ask any professional dog trainer who has been in the business for a while. They will tell you that although suffering multiple bites they are all still alive with little or no permanent damage.

I realize that language of this post is a bit harsh in comparison to my standard blog posts. I am not against law enforcement here. I am simply in favor of not having government agents killing innocent pet dogs. Many times this killing occurs on private property even in the homes of law abiding citizens of the United States of America. Regardless of your emotional feelings here, do we really want this happening in our country?? Is this really what our founding fathers would have envisioned for the future of this nation? Do you thing Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Revere, Hancock or any of that bunch would have feared for their live due to a 12 pound Jack Russell Terrier? I find it difficult to envision Washington firing a musket at this little guy under any circumstances. Am I incorrect here?

If any of you folks would like to learn the proper technique to use in breaking up dog fights or how to avoid getting bitten, please contact me at anytime and leave the pistol in the holster.

Also, if you would like help in teaching your dogs to be polite little girls and boys please let us know!

Till Next Time

-William

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Why you may want to reconsider a dog as a Christmas gift

This little guy is cute but, he will
grow and he is a responsibility

Well, as Snoopy and Woodstock point out in the picture, Christmas is coming soon. It is already December. Seems like it comes sooner every year. Perhaps that is
because your Dog Training buddy is just getting older :).

There seems to be a lot of temptation for people to give dogs as Christmas gifts this time of year. Please consider that carefully. In almost all cases, it is really not a wonderful idea.

You all know that I love dogs. It is really a great joy to have a dog in your family. They are great companions and return your love many times over unconditionally.

As I have wrote in a recent post, dogs are also a responsibility.  While legally they may be considered property, they are living creatures. A dog will depend upon his/her people exclusively for care the rest of his/her life. With a puppy, this could be a two decade commitment.

Here are a few things to consider regarding dogs as gifts:

1. The financial commitment can be substantial. In my opinion, you have an obligation, as a dog owner, to provide for all of your dogs needs. This includes financial responsibility. This can be costly. See my previous post for additional information.
2. It is possible that you will have some difficulty with housebreaking (particularly with a puppy).
3. It is probable that a puppy will chew things in your house. It is absolutely your responsibility to puppy proof your home. You should make it safe for your puppy and puppy proofing can also minimize property damage. But, please be prepared, it is extremely likely that your new dog will damage or destroy something in your home (this is true even for adult, senior, and geriatric dogs).
4. Generally speaking a puppy is not a quite animal! He will bark. He will whimper. If he is a hound, he will howl and possibly bay. The hound bay is musical to my ears. That is the truth. But you and your neighbors may not appreciate the melodic bay or howl of your new  puppy.
5. Part of the commitment is training. As you know, I am a trainer and a substantial part of my livelihood is derived from the training of pet dogs.  But, even if you do not hire me or one of my esteemed colleagues. It is essential that you make a commitment to training. Even if you hire one of us, we simply work with you to teach you the techniques that you will use to train your dog. With enough work, I can get your dog to be a very well behaved and polite little guy or girl. But if I do the training without you being present or  you working personally with the dog, it is extremely likely that the results in your home will not come anywhere close to meeting your expectations or needs. No matter what, you must commit time to training! I realize that some of my colleagues provide dog training services that allow you to just drop the dog off for training then pick him up when the training is finished. While I respect these guys as dog trainers I do not agree with this approach. In order for training to be most effective you have to put work into it!
6. I strongly suggest that you maintain a fenced in area in your yard. I mean a real fence not one of these electronic shock collar devices. I realize this is not possible for everyone. If you do not have a fenced in area be prepared to walk your dog more often than you would with a fenced in area in the yard. If you need information on fencing in your yard or maintaining your fence, please contact me. If you are in the Atlanta area, remember that I also own a handyman business and I will be happy to work with you to repair your fence or put up a new one (depending upon the size of the job I may refer you to someone else).
7. Dogs absolutely require a significant investment of your time every day for the rest of his/her life. Please do not bring a dog into your home if the home is vacant of human occupants most of the day. Dogs are very social animals. They have been extremely domesticated and absolutely require human interaction to be happy and healthy.
8. You must make a commitment to walk and exercise your dog regularly even if you have a fenced in area of your yard. See my previous post regarding the importance of exercise.
9. Do your research. Various breeds of dogs have differing characteristics, needs, and temperaments. Some may not be right for your pack. Please keep this in mind.
10. Some folks are allergic to dogs. If you or someone in your family is allergic, please do proper research and stick with a breed that is less likely to aggravate your allergies. Remember a dog is a long term commitment and an allergy could make your life very uncomfortable. Remember this is not the dogs fault. It is your exclusive responsibility to exercise the proper precautions relating to your health.
11. Even if you get a breed whose general characteristics are compatible with your home environment, it is very possible that specific dog may not be as compatible. Like people, dogs temperaments vary widely from one dog to the next. Some dogs are shy and anxious. Some dogs are more aggressive and dominating. Some love to play, Some do not like to play as much. Some dogs are very high energy guys. Some are not nearly as hyperactive as others. When you buy a dog from a breeder as a Christmas gift, it is very difficult to determine the dogs temperament. Remember this is a very long term commitment. A dog who is wrong for your home could make life difficult for you. Training will also be more difficult in this situation. Most rescue groups allow a trial period. Each adoption BullyWag does has a two week trial. If the dog does not work out in your home within the two week period, BullyWag will take the dog back and refund your adoption fee. This is yet another reason that you should consider adoption!
12. If you are renting your home, please verify that the landlord is okay with a dog on the property. In most cases a fee is required and there are size, weight and possibly breed limitations. Please remember that this is a very long term commitment that will add difficulty and quite possibly expense to your next move.
13. Consider carefully bringing a puppy into a home with a very young child. A puppy requires a substantial time commitment. Also small children can unintentionally hurt a puppy. A puppy that is hurt or scared is much more likely to bite. This is not the dogs fault he is simply protecting himself. Dogs play with each other using their mouths. They also jump on each other. This is the way God made them. It is their inclination to try to play this way with people. There are training techniques to address this behavior with people. But, the new puppy will very likely jump on the child and may nip at him. Again, this is not the dogs fault he is simply doing what is instinctual to him. You must address this with training.
14. Because temperament varies from one dog to the next, if you have other dogs in the home, it is essential that you pick a new dog whose temperament is compatible with the rest of your pack. Again, this is very difficult to determine when you buy a dog from a breeder as Christmas gift.
15. During his lifetime, your dog is likely to become ill or get injured from time to time. It is essential that you be prepared to deal with this eventuality. It can require a substantial monetary outlay. But perhaps more importantly, your little buddy will be dependent upon you for care.  You may have to give him medication, tend to his wounds, etc. I have spent a few sleepless nights over the years caring for a sick or injured dog. I have also taken an occasional day off from work to care for one of my guys. You must be prepared to do the same.
16. Current vaccinations and flea/tick control is essential. Also regular heart worm tests and prevention is essential to your dogs health.



This is what happened when we did not adequately
secure the trash can. And these are my normally well
behaved beagles.

17. Long hair dogs require regular grooming. Please be prepared for this essential expense.

I realize the above points may seem negative and it may appear that I am trying to convince you not to get a dog. Please realize that is the polar opposite of my intent. I want you to have a dog as a life long companion. They are a joy. I get much more out of my relationship with my dogs than I ever put into them! But, in order to be successful, you must be aware of the responsibilities.

As you know, The Lovely Shane and I are active in dog rescue. We provide a foster home for one or two dogs at all times. We have both seen first hand the consequences of people bringing dogs into their homes without proper consideration of the responsibility. Many dogs die because they are turned over to shelters as a direct result of people not being prepared to care for them. So, for the dogs, this is literally a life or death matter. I will not sugar coat it, if you take your dog to a county shelter there is a high probability that he/she will be killed. The shelters do not have the resources to care for all the dogs they get and there are not enough rescue groups. This is reality.

Our fenced area at the dog training shack

I love my canine buddies and that is why I am writing this post.

If you are considering adding a new dog to your pack, please contact me at any time. I will be happy to help you find a local rescue group and answer any questions you may have. Phone calls and emails are free! I will also be more than happy to work with you to develop a training plan to make your new little girl or guy a polite dog. Because, as I tell you frequently, "Polite Dogs = Happy People". Let me help you to get happy toady!!

Till next time

These polite labs (Buck and Bailey) belong to my brother and my niece

-William-

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

William Moore Lawn and Handyman Services

678-702-4791

fayettelawnmoore@gmail.com

http://fayettelawnmoore.blogspot.com

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Why Wont My Dog Listen

Maybe youre better off than most.  Better off than me, Ill admit.  Maybe your dog listens to you all the time, the first time you ask for something.  No?  Alright, because its something you can work on.  Even on a holiday (its pretty easy to get started).  Take a quick break - halftime, a commercial break during the National Dog Show, or just a moment to let that turkey settle (honestly, are you really going to walk it off?!), and read this short article on why dogs dont listen to their owners.  Its written by your favorite trainer! (Thats me, right?)

Why Wont My Dog Listen? by Mary Majchrowski, CPDT-KA

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Why do hounds have floppy ears

 All the pictures that you see on this post are of hounds with floppy ears. If you are like me, you have often wondered why hounds have floppy ears.

Truthfully, on the surface, it seems like a detriment to the little guys. The floppy ears tend to trap bacteria and nasty stuff (that is not a medical term, I am not a veterinarian, nor do I play one on T.V. :) ) and this leads to infection. The floppy ears also tend to get caught on things. Our little Beagle, Cody, had to make an emergency trip to the veterinarian on Friday afternoon last week because he got a splinter caught in his ear. The splinter actually pierced through the ear and was very painful to him. We are still not sure how it happened. But the fact that Cody’s ears are floppy did not help here.

From an auditory perspective, you would not think that the floppy skin and cartilage hanging down would impair the hearing. So, I dont suppose the floppy ears have much to do with enhanced hearing.

They are really cute. I suppose that may be enough reason for most of us but, I dont think that is exactly it either.

It turns out that there is another possibility. Look at our friend the Bloodhound in the picture (he is the guy with the loose skin above to the left (with the tree behind him). 

The Bloodhound has really loose skin around the jowls and the head. His ears are really long and floppy.

The Bloodhound is also known for his acute sense of smell and his tracking ability.

It turns out that the floppy ears and loose skin around the mouth and near the nose contributes to his great sense of smell (not to mention his overall cuteness). 

The large "lips" and long ears help to stir up and perhaps even catch these little scent molecules. (For those of you who attended public schools within the last decade, you can not see molecules, they are microscopic. It is beyond the scope of this post to explain in greater details, just trust me here). This does aid in the Bloodhounds acute sense of smell.

I think that is probably the real reason that we have bred the hounds to have those floppy ears. 

From a historical perspective , until relatively recently, within the last century or so, we bred dogs more for functionality than for appearance.

The hounds were bred to hunt and track. When you think about this, it is very desirable to have the long floppy ears. Since it aids in the scent detection ability, it is quite an advantageous and desirable trait.

So, now you know :). I really do think this is why we have so many hound breeds with floppy ears. Even the sight hounds tend to have floppy ears even though they are generally smaller than those of the scent hounds. 

The sense of smell is very important to any hound, I suppose.

But remember, as I have written before, cleaning the ears of these floppy eared guys is really important. Check them regularly and clean them regularly!

As always, if you have any dog or dog training questions, please contact me at anytime!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore 

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Why I Have The Best Job In The World

10. My work is flexible.  I can be returning phone calls at 9 AM in my PJs, then off to the grocery store, then home again before a private lesson.  It allows me to work in doctors appointments, time with friends and preschool events.

9. I make a comfortable income.  Not long ago I applied to Petsmart for an open dog trainer position.  I thought it would be easier than starting my business over again in a whole new community.  They offered me the job, but for what they would have paid me Id need to work an entire day to make what I currently bring in for one hour-long private lesson.  I wont buy a luxury vacation home on my income, but it works for us.

8. I get to work with an endless variety of different dogs.  All different breeds, ages, personalities and problems and successes.

7. My dogs get to be part of my day, all the time.  Even better than "take your dog to work day," I get to involve my dogs in my work.

6. My work is varied.  I do marketing, customer service, accounting, continuing education, networking... theres always something different to do.

5. Puppy breath.  Need I say more?

4. I meet wonderful people.  I am welcomed into my clients homes and their lives.  Many of my clients have become close friends and have provided support for me when Ive needed it.  It wouldnt be the same without all the amazing clients.

3. I am my own boss.  Its just so cool to be in charge of yourself.

2. My job allows me to be, in some ways, both a stay-at-home mom and a working mom at the same time.  Its always a precarious balance, but I love the way my job lets me be close to my son and to be far more involved in his life than I would be if I spent 8 hours a day in a cubicle somewhere.

1. Dog training is my passion.  Id do it for free (but sorry guys, the utility companies, the grocery store and the landlord dont feel the same way!).  What more could you ask for in life?

Mary Majchrowski and her son, Ethan at Mount Hood, OR
February, 2012

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Why Yawns Are Contagious Calming Signals in Dogs and How We Can Use Them

We all know that dogs can’t talk (whether or not we care to admit it is another thing altogether).  What they do rely on is body language – lots and lots of body language.  While we might approach a stranger and say, “Hey, I’m new here. It’s nice to meet you,” a dog might walk up to another dog in an arc with a slow, circular wagging tail, its ears back and drop into a butt-up, front down stretch.  They are both ways to express “I’m friendly and mean no harm.”

Calming signals are just what they sound like.  They are behaviors offered by a dog in an attempt to keep a situation calm.  We aren’t completely sure if they are used by one dog solely to calm another dog, solely to calm themselves, or a combination of both.  My feeling is that the latter is true, especially since calming signals are often both offered and returned.  We can help our dogs feel comfortable by learning what their calming signals are and respecting them, and even by responding in kind, repeating their gesture as best we can (tail wagging obviously excluded).

Before getting into what calming signals can be, I want to emphasize that context is important.  Think of how a person telling another “you fool!” can be issued as an insult or an expression of teasing affection.  Context is important, regardless of species.  For example, ears held back on a dog’s head can be a calming signal, a sign of fear, or even just the physical nature of the breed. 

You may or may not notice calming signals with your own dog.  Unless you recently adopted your dog or have a new puppy, chances are your relationship is fairly established.  Your dog may not feel the need to offer these signals on a regular or frequent basis.  Unfortunately we can also extinguish calming signals in our pets, even without intention.  If a dog offers calming signals that are repeatedly ignored or corrected, eventually they will stop trying.  Think about people – if your partner brought you flowers after a fight and you always responded with snide comments about wasting money or stinking up the house, chances are your partner would stop buying flowers – at least for you!  Since we are frequently our dog’s entire world, our response (or lack thereof) to their behavior is critically important.

Calming signals may include:

·         “Look aways” (turning the head to the side, away from the other dog or person)

·         Yawning

·         Sniffing (becoming very interested in not much of anything)

·         Paw raises (raising one of the front paws off the ground)

·         Shake offs (can be a slight shake off or entire body, as if wet)

·         Scratching (like they are itchy – a sudden case of “fleas”)

·         Blinking

·         Lip licking (or nose licking)

·         Moving in an arc (approaching or leaving in a semi-circle, not a direct path)

·         Sitting or lying down

·         Stretching (particularly into a play bow position, though not quite the same behavior)

·         Making a “soft face” – ears back, soft eyes, etc.

There are a few signals that you may want to try, either with your dog or a dog you are just meeting.*  They can help a dog feel more comfortable, and may even be offered back to you.

Blinking is pretty universal between species – go for slow, deliberate blinks (not fast fluttering). Lip licking is also simple to duplicate.  Again, make it slow and obvious. You can actually lick your lips or even just stick your tongue out a few times.  “Look aways” involve turning your head to either side, away from the dog. You may then look back, without making eye contact, then look away again.  A paw lift is a little more difficult (largely since we don’t have paws and walk on two legs, not four).  But if you are feeling daring you can try it with one arm, holding it as if you were imitating a hurt paw. 

You may have figured out now how yawning can be contagious.  Offered as a calming signal between dogs, or even from dog to human (and human to dog), a yawn is much more than feeling sleepy.  It can be offered back and forth, and maybe thats why we feel the urge to yawn when someone near us yawns.

For additional information on calming signals, read On Talking Terms with Dogs by Turid Rugaas.  Rugaas is an internationally acclaimed dog trainer from Norway who has done extensive studies on calming signals in dogs.  You can visit her website at http://www.canis.no/rugaas/index.php .  A good visual example of using calming signals with dogs can be found in KikoPup’s collection of YouTube videos (http://youtu.be/MgnLgHFRJu4 ).  While you’re there check out her other videos – Emily has produced a goldmine of how-to videos on clicker training everything from cool tricks to problem behaviors.

 Video: KikoPups How To Communicate With Dogs in Their Own Language

* Offering calming signals doesn’t make it safe to approach an aggressive dog.  When in doubt, keep your distance.

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Dog Steps Why is there so little variety at the pet stores

As our dogs get older, many times they need a little extra help in jumping on and getting down from things. Also, some of our smaller canine friends also need a little help.

Some of us like to have a dog in the bed with us at night. I know some dog trainers get all bent around the axle on this matter, but, if the dog is well behaved and waits to be invited on the bed, I really do not have an issue with letting the little guys and girls sleep on the bed or get on the furniture.

Most of the pet stores (Petco, Petsmart, etc) carry a few types of dog steps and ramps but the quality. quantity and variety is very limited. And considering the quality of these products, they are generally very over-priced.

The Lovely Shane and I decided to begin making our own custom dog steps and ramps. We have been doing this for about a year now in our workshop where we build other wood craft items.

As many of you know, for years, we have been building and selling the best porch swings available anywhere.

We also build the best custom cabinets and shelving available anywhere.

We can build dog steps or a ramp to your specifications to fit your needs. We can make you new dog steps look like a piece of custom furniture and fit your decor.

So, if you are frustrated by the quality or selection of dog steps from other sources, please let us help you.

Click here for a form that you can use to tell us about your custom dog steps needs. For type of project, choose custom furniture.

We look forward to working with you soon!

Remember, Copper the Whopper Beagle says: "Dog steps make great gifts!"

Till Next Time-

William

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