It's important to take the time to make each interaction a learning experience for your pup. To keep polite behaviours top of mind, pair them with activities your dog enjoys!
My Aussie LOVES to race beside me when I ride my bike in the woods. I have taught him a cue to let him know where he needs to be as I get my bike out of the car and prepare for our fun out on the trails.
If it were up to him, he'd LOVE to bark and pace and bust out of the car in a frenzy being excited to start our adventure. It would be a nightmare and very unsafe to reward that behaviour.
Instead we worked on calm behaviour and targeting a place before he comes out of the car. Now as you can see, he understand that calm and targeting his place means he gets to join me as I bike on the trails!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
The Pink Elephant
Last week was a National Bite Prevention Week across North America.
I had a brainstorm and with the help of others trying to train their dogs, created a couple of videos to provide awareness.
Something so simple as WAITing for the OKAY from another person BEFORE greeting or having your dog greet another dog can make a huge impact on the progress that they make in their training efforts.
I'm hoping to spread awareness about the simple thing people can do about this PINK ELEPHANT running rampant on the streets and through out the trails of Squamish.
Please WAIT for the OKAY to greet.
If you'd like to learn more about Trail Etiquette, here's a link to one of my favourite articles.
http://thebark.com/content/proper-trail-etiquette-hiking-your-dog
If you'd like to brush up on the Dog Bylaws in Squamish, please contact Animal Control.
http://squamish.ca/residents/bylaw-enforcement-and-animal-control/animal-control
BTW...if your dog can't recall off another dog, bike, jogger, child...please feel free to join one of my classes!
cheers,
Kate
I had a brainstorm and with the help of others trying to train their dogs, created a couple of videos to provide awareness.
Something so simple as WAITing for the OKAY from another person BEFORE greeting or having your dog greet another dog can make a huge impact on the progress that they make in their training efforts.
I'm hoping to spread awareness about the simple thing people can do about this PINK ELEPHANT running rampant on the streets and through out the trails of Squamish.
Please WAIT for the OKAY to greet.
If you'd like to learn more about Trail Etiquette, here's a link to one of my favourite articles.
http://thebark.com/content/proper-trail-etiquette-hiking-your-dog
If you'd like to brush up on the Dog Bylaws in Squamish, please contact Animal Control.
http://squamish.ca/residents/bylaw-enforcement-and-animal-control/animal-control
BTW...if your dog can't recall off another dog, bike, jogger, child...please feel free to join one of my classes!
cheers,
Kate
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Laying a solid foundation
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE teaching people how to use positive means of capturing and reinforcing polite social behaviours in the name of "training' their puppies or dogs.
I'm very lucky to be part of Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital's Puppy Socialization Program where I cover the importance of appropriate play, puppy socialization and how to jump start foundation skills. Dr. Honey and Dr. Dattolico go over pertinent health, injury prevention, handling, toe nail trims, ear cleaning information.
Over the past year, I've witnessed some really inappropriate behaviour from people who had been misinformed about what 'training" their dogs should consist of.
Inappropriate use of food and toys, resulting in puppies and dogs only performing behaviours in presence of lures, or become obsessed w/toys and or food, so much so can't concentrate on what their owners were asking them to do.
On the flip side, I've watched some owners yell "no', or lean into their dogs faces grab them, leash jerk, pin their dogs, throw things at them... to intimidate the dogs into offering up a behaviour to diffuse their owners aggression.
People need to know there is an alternative, more peaceful, fun way to communicate your wishes.
Shaping behaviour is an art. Using positive reinforcement methods (not the kind where one "chooses" when to be positive) work especially well with "stubborn", "reactive", "aggressive", "hyper" dogs. I find they are most relieved to find out that their owners are capable of using positive means to get their message across rather than creating an adversarial relationship.
Each and every day I am thankful for my dogs enthusiasm to engage with me. From working on social skills like being patient before zipping off to "Say Hello" with four on the floor;
to interrupting play to sneak in a RECALL...
It did take a lot of thought, learning and effort on my part, but well worth it in the long run as we are set for years to come!
*Notice in none of these videos did you see me use food...although we did at first!
Being the gatekeeper to all they enjoy in life, means they keep a very close eye on me, to ensure they don't miss out.
It's that simple.
cheers,
Kate
I'm very lucky to be part of Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital's Puppy Socialization Program where I cover the importance of appropriate play, puppy socialization and how to jump start foundation skills. Dr. Honey and Dr. Dattolico go over pertinent health, injury prevention, handling, toe nail trims, ear cleaning information.
Over the past year, I've witnessed some really inappropriate behaviour from people who had been misinformed about what 'training" their dogs should consist of.
Inappropriate use of food and toys, resulting in puppies and dogs only performing behaviours in presence of lures, or become obsessed w/toys and or food, so much so can't concentrate on what their owners were asking them to do.
On the flip side, I've watched some owners yell "no', or lean into their dogs faces grab them, leash jerk, pin their dogs, throw things at them... to intimidate the dogs into offering up a behaviour to diffuse their owners aggression.
People need to know there is an alternative, more peaceful, fun way to communicate your wishes.
Shaping behaviour is an art. Using positive reinforcement methods (not the kind where one "chooses" when to be positive) work especially well with "stubborn", "reactive", "aggressive", "hyper" dogs. I find they are most relieved to find out that their owners are capable of using positive means to get their message across rather than creating an adversarial relationship.
Each and every day I am thankful for my dogs enthusiasm to engage with me. From working on social skills like being patient before zipping off to "Say Hello" with four on the floor;
to interrupting play to sneak in a RECALL...
It did take a lot of thought, learning and effort on my part, but well worth it in the long run as we are set for years to come!
*Notice in none of these videos did you see me use food...although we did at first!
Being the gatekeeper to all they enjoy in life, means they keep a very close eye on me, to ensure they don't miss out.
It's that simple.
cheers,
Kate
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Puppy class notes
Tonight Dr. Angela Dattolico talked about the importance of getting puppies accustomed to handling. Leaning over them to pick them up, handling their feet for nail trims, running your hands along their body and having them associate putting a muzzle on with something they LOVE!
Here's Michelle and Ruger with a muzzle.
Michelle and Ruger demo sit, touch, and eye contact. Notice no jumping up when Ruger approaches Michelle :)
We saw some really nice play tonight. I also talked about the importance of stop and start play. Checking in with their playmate to make sure both parties are having fun is a great way to prevent fights. Here's my older beagle Daizy 9 and Keegan who was 2 at the time. You'll notice he respects her initiating the stops and then waits for her signals to begin play once again
If your puppy's playmate doesn't initiate those check in points, then it's our job to interrupt so their bodies get used to start and stop play. Ramp up and calm down in short increments so they will learn to calm themselves BEFORE things get out of hand. Here's a great article by Dr. Sophia Yin on Dog Parks and how to identify problems before things get out of hand and how to set things up for success and learning to take place http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dog_park_etiquette
I like to teach a cue which will eventually mean to "calm" themselves. It's in no way shape or form a reprimand or warning. Just interrupting play when you start to see things ramping up ( 20sec - 2min into play) and neither puppy is giving any signals to tone things down, just simply using classical conditioning. This will help the pups learn through repetition that your approach into play, say "Calm" or whatever word you like in a happy, calm voice and pair it with one of their most favourite reinforcers (food for most dogs) then reward reward reward means just to take a breather before continuing to play.
Eventually they will hear the word and notice your approach and will disengage from play on their own. Their reward for disengaging and checking in with you, shaking off the stress, will be play starts back up again so you can fade the use of rewards. You'll know if they're ready for that stage once then automatically disengage when you say your "Calm' cue.
Lastly we touched on 'Take it" and "Give", the beginning of a retrieve and a sure fire way to prevent resource guarding behaviours when the pup learns that once they release something from their mouth, something better comes along. It's never a competition or adversarial challenge. At first you trade for something of equal value, or something that will trump whatever they have in their mouths. Play this game with socks, shoes, anything and everything so your puppy doesn't think twice of giving something up. **Notice that the game doesn't start until the puppy is in a sit and is calm, not mugging the toys or treats in your hand. This is an important step for the puppy to learn. When they calm themselves, something fun or tasty comes their way.
Here's Michelle and Ruger with a muzzle.
Michelle and Ruger demo sit, touch, and eye contact. Notice no jumping up when Ruger approaches Michelle :)
We saw some really nice play tonight. I also talked about the importance of stop and start play. Checking in with their playmate to make sure both parties are having fun is a great way to prevent fights. Here's my older beagle Daizy 9 and Keegan who was 2 at the time. You'll notice he respects her initiating the stops and then waits for her signals to begin play once again
If your puppy's playmate doesn't initiate those check in points, then it's our job to interrupt so their bodies get used to start and stop play. Ramp up and calm down in short increments so they will learn to calm themselves BEFORE things get out of hand. Here's a great article by Dr. Sophia Yin on Dog Parks and how to identify problems before things get out of hand and how to set things up for success and learning to take place http://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dog_park_etiquette
I like to teach a cue which will eventually mean to "calm" themselves. It's in no way shape or form a reprimand or warning. Just interrupting play when you start to see things ramping up ( 20sec - 2min into play) and neither puppy is giving any signals to tone things down, just simply using classical conditioning. This will help the pups learn through repetition that your approach into play, say "Calm" or whatever word you like in a happy, calm voice and pair it with one of their most favourite reinforcers (food for most dogs) then reward reward reward means just to take a breather before continuing to play.
Eventually they will hear the word and notice your approach and will disengage from play on their own. Their reward for disengaging and checking in with you, shaking off the stress, will be play starts back up again so you can fade the use of rewards. You'll know if they're ready for that stage once then automatically disengage when you say your "Calm' cue.
Lastly we touched on 'Take it" and "Give", the beginning of a retrieve and a sure fire way to prevent resource guarding behaviours when the pup learns that once they release something from their mouth, something better comes along. It's never a competition or adversarial challenge. At first you trade for something of equal value, or something that will trump whatever they have in their mouths. Play this game with socks, shoes, anything and everything so your puppy doesn't think twice of giving something up. **Notice that the game doesn't start until the puppy is in a sit and is calm, not mugging the toys or treats in your hand. This is an important step for the puppy to learn. When they calm themselves, something fun or tasty comes their way.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
I've got your back
I'm always on the look out for behaviours which are kind and respectful to reinforce. One important behaviour that I see all too many people overlook is the "look away".
The second I see one, I'm always checking to see what the other dog/person does in response to it. If there's any indication that they're not going to respect it, I intervene and try to time it so that the sender of this "look away" is reinforced for not following through with a more overt display. At the same time, the receiver also is reinforced for not pushing the interaction further.
The "look away" is one of the benevolent, cut off signals that should be respected. It can be as subtle as the eyes flicking away in the opposite direction or as overt as the complete head turning away.
So many dog fights and bites would never happen, if people would just reinforce the "look away" and teach the pushy dog or ask an unaware person to respect it.
Here's my own crew doing a great job....
Keegan my Aussie is so cheeky but from day one, I knew as a puppy that he'd grow to be 4times George's size so I have always been around to reward being respectful and it's paying off. Kee still has some growning up to do but atleast he's on the right track. I think it's sweet to see him give it his best shot...but even sweeter to respect another dog's request for space.
The second I see one, I'm always checking to see what the other dog/person does in response to it. If there's any indication that they're not going to respect it, I intervene and try to time it so that the sender of this "look away" is reinforced for not following through with a more overt display. At the same time, the receiver also is reinforced for not pushing the interaction further.
The "look away" is one of the benevolent, cut off signals that should be respected. It can be as subtle as the eyes flicking away in the opposite direction or as overt as the complete head turning away.
So many dog fights and bites would never happen, if people would just reinforce the "look away" and teach the pushy dog or ask an unaware person to respect it.
Here's my own crew doing a great job....
Keegan my Aussie is so cheeky but from day one, I knew as a puppy that he'd grow to be 4times George's size so I have always been around to reward being respectful and it's paying off. Kee still has some growning up to do but atleast he's on the right track. I think it's sweet to see him give it his best shot...but even sweeter to respect another dog's request for space.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Age doesn't matter
Age doesn't matter once you get the hang of using clicker, EM training. Freedom to think and NOT be afraid of the consequences I think is the biggest factor that keeps the stream of communication fresh and exciting.
I LOVE the fact that my oldest beagle Daizy who is 9, is still the first one to pick up a new cue or behaviour!
Here we are in a class at Dogsmart.ca recently. I often take my dogs through classes and workshops. No better way to hone your handling skills then to have someone let you know what needs tweaking.
She has the heart, intelligence and enthusiasm of a Border Collie and the impatience of a Terrier. Together that has made life interesting to say the least :P
Please don't ever think that it's too late to learn to communicate with an older dog. Some of my most heart warming stories come from working with adolescent or older dogs.
I LOVE the fact that my oldest beagle Daizy who is 9, is still the first one to pick up a new cue or behaviour!
Here we are in a class at Dogsmart.ca recently. I often take my dogs through classes and workshops. No better way to hone your handling skills then to have someone let you know what needs tweaking.
She has the heart, intelligence and enthusiasm of a Border Collie and the impatience of a Terrier. Together that has made life interesting to say the least :P
Please don't ever think that it's too late to learn to communicate with an older dog. Some of my most heart warming stories come from working with adolescent or older dogs.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
x-country pooch trail
Whistler Olympic Park has a trail you can enjoy with your pooch. My partner took Keegan out for a couple hours while I worked. When you take the time to teach your dog polite social skills, you can take them anywhere.
The more you enjoy doing with your dog, the deeper the bond you build, and the more they're eager to follow your lead...so they don't miss out on the fun. I'm so proud of Keegan, he did a great job meet n greeting other dogs, ignoring some and listening to my partner tell him it's time to get a move on, "Lets go".
Keegan is 2yrs old and still works for off leash privileges. He earns his off leash time, in short stints. I'm always testing his recalls and check in's with new distractions, to ensure we're connected intuitively. There's an art to building a solid recall.
We have fun with recalls and he gets jackpots for checking in with me all on his own. Building a solid foundation of us being aware of eachothers needs, means there's little possibility of him blowing me off.
The more you enjoy doing with your dog, the deeper the bond you build, and the more they're eager to follow your lead...so they don't miss out on the fun. I'm so proud of Keegan, he did a great job meet n greeting other dogs, ignoring some and listening to my partner tell him it's time to get a move on, "Lets go".
Keegan is 2yrs old and still works for off leash privileges. He earns his off leash time, in short stints. I'm always testing his recalls and check in's with new distractions, to ensure we're connected intuitively. There's an art to building a solid recall.
We have fun with recalls and he gets jackpots for checking in with me all on his own. Building a solid foundation of us being aware of eachothers needs, means there's little possibility of him blowing me off.
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