Problem Dogs

Tip of the Day.

Tonight I want to remind everyone that the rehabilitation of a dog can take some time. Humans often think of dog training like dieting. Humans spend years putting on weight, and then all of a sudden they want to be skinny again. The problem starts when humans do not invest the time they need to solve the problem. Humans have trouble with being consistent. Dog training is the same. Humans have a dog for a couple of years and some of the bad behavior the dog has early on is not corrected, and as the dog gets older the problems get worse. They seek professional help, but do not understand that dog rehabilitation is a process not an event. Not only does the dog have to learn new rules, but the humans have to be retrained as well. No dog can lead a well balanced life until owners take responsibility for the shape there dog is in now, vow to change, let go of the past, meet the physical and emotional needs of the dog, and finally take back control of our house by stepping into the pack leader role. Remember, the longest journey begins with the first step!

Guard Dogs

Tip of the Day.

Tonight I got to spend some time with a terrific family and their dog Chloe. She is a champion German Sheppard, and she was a bit naughty. She goes after people who enter the house, or just come to close to the family. This is one drawback to protection type dogs. This type of behavior is a direct result of not establishing the proper pack leadership in the home. Chloe has taken that leadership role on for herself. Her instinct tells her to protect her pack at any cost. As pack leaders in our home, we must remember that is what happens when humans do not take the role on. Now they have a dog that is becoming harder to handle. Never fear I am here! We spent several hours reshaping her behavior, and I went from being attacked in the house to having her gently take treats from my hand. Chloe and her family will be a work in progress, and I am really looking forward to working with them in the future. I will keep everyone up to date on this story.

Dog Training

Tip of the Day

Tonight I am going talk about taking time and having patience when it comes to dog training. When you are training a dog, you must remember that they do not speak our language. You have to learn to communicate with them on a level that they can understand. Dogs want to please us, but they often do not understand what it is that we are asking of them. It is important to communicate with them through body language, and energy. I am able to train my dogs without saying very much at all. Next time you are working with your dog, take a second when you are not getting the response you want and think to yourself, does this dog understand me, and how can I improve the way I communicate. Dogs want to live a balanced life, but if they do not receive it all they have left is instinct. Dog training is a process not an event. Remember DOGS RULE! WOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pack Leadership

Tip of the Day

When you own large breed dogs, it is very important to establish leadership right from the start. A lot of people are not sure what that really means. It is pretty simple, the next time you go for a walk take a look to see where the dogs is. If he is out in front and pulling on the leash, then you are being taken for a walk, and the dog is leading you. This sets up the wrong image in your dogs mind. Only the pack leader is in front. Even going in and out of doors, it is very important that you go first, and all of the people living in the house treat the dog in the same way. The humans must be on the same page when it come to dog training. Take a look at the girl in this picture. That is what walking a dog should look like. She looks very comfortable, and she has the full attention of her dog!

Dog Behavior

Do you know what your dog is saying to you.? Make sure you are giving your dog the best chance to do what it is you expect them to do. Often, dogs want to please us, but they are not understanding what it is that we are asking of them. Remember that we are primates, and communicate primarily with our hands and mouth. Dogs communicate primarily through energy and body posture. Get your dogs attention before giving commands. Practice teaching eye contact. Train with positive reinforcement, and remember exercise, discipline, and then affection.

Dog training

Well since the story last night was such a big hit, it turns out that I have another one for tonight! I got to work with one of my favorite dogs today. His name is Lycan. When I first saw him a few months ago he was one of the most dangerous dogs I have ever seen! His owner, a small framed woman who weighs in at 100lbs, had been giving him lots of affection, without any discipline. As Lycan grew up, that lack of leadership started to show its ugly head, and Lycan became a vicious dog that would attack any person or dog that he came into contact with him. After his initial meeting with me where he tried to rip my head off, I was able to earn his trust, and we began the long journey of rehabilitation. After a couple of months, I got to go and visit him to check on his progress. Dog training is an process not an event. The owner has been working with Lycan and I was pleased to see that he was doing better. This is a credit to his owner. This is just another example of how well rehabilitation goes when the humans realize that the problem lies with them and not the dog. I am proud to report that Lycan is a completely different dog today. As you can see in the pictures, he is happy, and no longer trying to rip my head off! Please do not give up on your dogs, seek professional help, your dog is worth it, and it is your responsibility. The reward for helping a dog that would be put down to become a well balanced dog that is a productive loving member of your family is something you just cannot put a price on! If we could only fix our marriages, and our children so easily. I do that work as well, but the fee’s are out of this world! LOL! I have yet to meet a dog that could not be rehabilitated in the hands of the right person. Dogs are such a blessing to have, and they do not grow up to borrow your car or marry men that you do not approve of! After everybody has left, that dog you worked so hard to have will still be right there at your feet looking at you with those loving eyes.

Aggression

Instead of the tip of the day, I wanted to share my experience with Chico the aggressive pit bull I have been working with.
I am so proud of Chico's family! They have been able to follow through with everything I ask of them, and when I saw Chico tonight, it was plain to see that they had been working really hard to save this beautiful dog. Chico was one of the worst cases of fear aggression that... I have worked with. It was about as bad as it gets! This is one of those cases where if the owners had surrendered the dog, he would have been put down right away. That would have been a real shame! The owners were willing to listen, and accept that what they had been doing was not working. That is why they have had such success. Chico was a different dog tonight. Just look at him in the picture. He is still wearing a muzzle around strangers just as a precaution, but it is clear by the picture that he is well on his way. Keep in mind that this was a dog that had shown aggression towards his owners. Dogs depend on us, so if we make mistakes that lead to bad behavior, it is our responsibility to step up and help the dog. Dogs are not objects to throw away, but a gift from God! I am so proud to have been a part of this, and it goes to show you that dogs deserve a second chance, and when the humans get it right, the dogs fall right in line. I love this family, and I love Chico! WAY TO GO!!!!!!!

Communicating with your dogs

When we are trying to communicate with our dogs, it is important to remember that we must be communicating with them in a way that the dog will understand. People try to communicate with their animals as they relate to other people, and that is where the trouble begins. That is why it is so important to seek out a professional if you are not sure what to do. They can be helpful in helping you realize any mistakes you might be making, and at the same time show you how to communicate with your dog in a way the dog understands. Dogs only know what we teach them , and the rest is based on instinct. There is no such thing as a bad student, when they have a great teacher. Set some goals, understand the problem is always the human, get professional help, commit to fulfilling the physical, and emotional needs of your dogs. That is the way to have a well balanced dog.

Take a look at the dog and it's handler in the photo, can you tell what the dog is thinking?