tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69916714118206068662024-03-13T21:23:15.413-07:00Carrie's Dog BlogCarrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-11524524306280673832017-04-20T07:28:00.001-07:002017-04-20T08:41:42.074-07:00Is it time for you to add a new member to the family?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is so exciting to bring a new puppy home. We get to go shopping.We take it everywhere with us and show everyone. It is exhausted by the end of each day and sleeps with us perfectly...</div>
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Then we go back to real life...</div>
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Now we have a little peeing, pooping, and sometimes chewing, nipping, and barking machine on our hands. đ At this point, we decide to take the puppy to a class where we can learn how to manage and train our little ball of fire. Class is so fun! We learn how to use our dog's brain and keep them busy so they don't eat our house....and the puppy sleeps like a rock afterwards!!!</div>
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Then real life again...</div>
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According to the ASPCA, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">animal</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.3 million are </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">dogs...</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"</span></div>
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<b>Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself before getting a puppy/dog:</b></div>
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-Do you have time to walk/exercise them at least 2x daily?</div>
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-Do you have a way for them to run their little legs off?</div>
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-Do you have 1-3 minutes 2x a day to train (at the least)?</div>
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-Who is going to help you with exercise and potty training while you are gone?</div>
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-Can you afford the food, supplies, and vet bills?</div>
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-Can you afford a trainer if there are behavioral issues?</div>
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-Where is your dog going to stay if you have to leave town?</div>
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-Are you going to crate train?</div>
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-Are you sure this is the best time in your life to have extra responsibilities?</div>
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-Do you have the time and patience to repeatedly gently remind your puppy the right ways to do things?</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Pet ownership can be a ton of fun and a great blessing. A new pet can also be just like having a toddler. Have a support system in place to help you throughout your pups life</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and to help ensure that your new furry family member will stay with you forever. Dogs are never too old to learn new things, so choose an age and temperament that fits your lifestyle. And most of all...do your research! </span></span></div>
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Carrie Galvan CPDT</div>
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Precious K9s</div>
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www.preciousk9s.com</div>
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-50391032594934970422017-03-15T14:32:00.000-07:002017-03-15T14:32:36.594-07:00When should you start training your new dog?<br />
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When should you start training your new dog?</h4>
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The long and short answer is...<span style="text-align: center;">" Immediately"!</span></div>
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First impressions are important with humans, but imagine what they are like for a dog... They are brought out of familiar surroundings and put into a whole new life. Sometimes they are changing from no dogs to multiple dogs. Sometimes they have to be a quick study on children and how they move and make loud noises. You never know what a dog has encountered in it's life so you want to slowly introduce it to all of it's new surroundings without causing some sort of emotional trauma.</div>
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As if this isn't enough pressure," You have to start teaching it how to act appropriate immediately???". Yep!</div>
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Starting at square one and teaching your new dog to be calm for things can be priceless. The fewer times they get to practice the wrong behavior, the fewer times they will need to practice the right one for it to become muscle memory. If we always sit for a food dish...then we ALWAYS sit for a food dish. There has just not been another way. It can also decrease any anxiety when you give them positive structure. I know I like knowing what is expected of me when I go somewhere new...</div>
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Now, realistically we are not going to get everything perfect the first day, or even the first week, but we can always try our best. Just picture the way you would prefer your new dog to act, in any given situation, and practice getting closer and closer to accomplishing that behavior. Maybe you want them to sit before getting their leash put on. You might start with a few seconds of standing still the first time, then a sit with a second of sitting the second attempt. Just gradually increase the criteria in increments and you will eventually reach your goal.</div>
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Helping your four-legged family members live in our two-legged world.</div>
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Carrie Galvan</div>
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Precious K9s</div>
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Springfield, Mo</div>
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-71602449577965290882017-02-02T07:59:00.002-08:002017-02-02T07:59:46.607-08:00Unwanted BehaviorsI often times start out a lesson listening to all of the things a dog does that the parents don't appreciate. "How can I get my dog to stop digging, barking, shredding my house, etc."? The long and short answer is...EXERCISE... Yep it's kind of that simple... Although, it's really not that simple in this day and age. We are all to often go, go, go in our lives and find ourselves too exhausted to throw a ball or go on a run. Dogs need mental and physical exercise to stay sane. They crave companionship and yes, get super excited to see us come back to them after a long day at work. So what can you do to keep you and your dog sane and happy? Find ways to keep them busy that fit your lifestyle... Here is a list of things you could possibly do to enrich the lives of your dogs:<br />
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Hire a dog walker</div>
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Teach them a trick</div>
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Give them safe bones to chew on</div>
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Leave work early just for your dog</div>
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Find interactive toys that dispense treats</div>
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Hide treats around the yard and/or house</div>
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Go home on lunch and take a walk with them</div>
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Take your dog to daycare on your longer days</div>
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Do a training session focusing on obedience and calm behavior</div>
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Teach your dog to fetch and play while on the computer or better yet outside</div>
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Take a training class with them for fun one-on-one time with no interruptions</div>
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This is just a small list of fun things to keep your dog happy and tired. It really is all about carving out a few minutes of your time daily to spend bonding with your dog. It should be a stress reliever to interact with one of the few animals in the world that will play for their entire life.</div>
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Some of my favorite sessions during the week are those where people want to teach their dog something new with me coaching them. I love to see the relationship between humans and dogs change for the better over time. So many times I look at them as a team six months or a year later and think, "I wish I would have had a camera crew to document our first session. There is such a difference in the teamwork. This has really developed into an amazing friendship and it could have so easily have been a colossal mess for both the two and four-legged animals involved". </div>
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My professional advice to you today is to set aside just a few minutes of your day to play with your four-legged family member and over time watch them become a loving and happy member of your family.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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Carrie Galvan CPDT</div>
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Precious K9s Training and Behavior</div>
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Springfield, Mo</div>
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A quick training session with Achilles.</div>
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Working on leaving treats while he lays down.</div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-17589845282562036372016-11-29T07:57:00.000-08:002016-11-29T08:26:43.004-08:00Can you fix every dog?As a professional I am asked difficult questions weekly if not daily. One of the hardest questions I have been asked over the years is, "Can you fix my dog"? Unfortunately, the answer is more complicated than just "yes" or "no". Over the years I have helped many people save their dogs with behavioral issues through training, management, and even medication protocols when teaming up with their veterinarian. The hardest cases I have had in my career have even prompted me to consult a behaviorist for more information. You can never get enough information as a positive dog trainer. Science and psychology are ever changing. If you don't learn and change with the times you can not continue to help canines as they evolve in our world. It has been disheartening when a behaviorist tells me I am doing everything that could be done; minus more costly and intensive medication and behavior modification that still will never take the dog out of the "<i>management case for the rest of his life</i>" category. Dogs are just like people....Not all of them CAN be "fixed". This is a harsh reality, but we can try every avenue to make the dog's quality of life better until the Rainbow Bridge becomes everyone's most humane choice.<br />
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Below are some of the steps I go through when counseling a family with two and four-legged members. I will focus on aggression as the behavioral issue in these steps, but there are many other psychological and neurological issues dog owners may be faced with. If you are torn in your family, please ask yourself some of these hard questions and then consult a professional to help you assess what is best for you and your dog.<br />
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The first thing I need to do is figure out what the issues are by getting all of the facts...<br />
<i>How big is the dog?</i><br />
<i>Are you this dog's owner or does he belong to a rescue?</i><br />
<i>What situations did the dog show aggression in?</i><br />
<i>How old was he the first time you saw the aggression?</i><br />
<i>How often do the aggressive situations happen?</i><br />
<i>Who is living with or could come in contact with the dog?</i><br />
<i>Are their kids around this animal?</i><br />
<i>Has anyone or another animal ever been bit. and if so, how bad?</i><br />
<i>etc....etc...</i><br />
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After you discuss the needed information with your professional they should help you assess your situation and discuss your options with you. These are most typically re-homing the dog, training and managing the dog, and euthanasia. <b>Each</b> situation is different for<b> each</b> household and <b>each</b> person in the household. There is no blanket right answer for everyone. Here are a few more of the topics your professional should touch on, if necessary, when guiding you through the process...<br />
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Re-homing as an option: What kind of home would be perfect
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Is it
safe to give your dog to another family?<o:p></o:p></div>
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with another family?<o:p></o:p></div>
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How
are you going to network your dog?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Training and management as an option: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you
have the time, money, and space it would take to <o:p></o:p></div>
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implement
the training plan laid out by your </div>
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professional trainer/ behaviorist?</div>
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Are
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management breaks down? (as it usually does).</div>
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What
is your dog's quality of life now and what will it be </div>
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after implementing
the new rules?</div>
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What
is the quality of life for the human(s) involved?<o:p></o:p></div>
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How
hard is it to interrupt your dog once his aggression is </div>
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triggered? <o:p></o:p></div>
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(All
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Euthanasia as an
option: Have you had a conversation with your </div>
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veterinarian about your decision?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Could my dog be a seriously potential danger
to himself, </div>
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or other dogs/
people that could come in contact </div>
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with
him?</div>
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What is the process when euthanizing an
animal?<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is so much that goes into situations as tough as these. The key thing to remember throughout this process is that this is the family's decision to make. Your professional is just there to answer questions and coach you through the decision you choose. They are not there to tell you what you should do. What is good for one family may not be the best thing for another.<br />
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The rare times that I have given a professional opinion have not been to sway a decision, but to give a realistic picture of the prognosis and/ or liability involved when you own a dangerous or special needs dog. The injuries they can potentially pose to themselves or others are not always common sense because of the emotions involved. These are not easy conversations, but as much as we love our furry pets we have to keep human safety and the quality of life for all involved on the forefront of our minds. <br />
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There are a lot of cases that can thankfully be managed by training and responsible pet ownership. The best way to avoid these tough issues is to start early with training and socialization. Undesirable behaviors may be genetic, from learned experiences, or from a traumatic event, but the bottom line is the same as with human beings...<b>The earlier we notice and diagnose, the better our prognosis can become.</b><br />
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<br />Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-85734742547800472112016-08-22T12:39:00.001-07:002016-08-23T14:05:24.370-07:00Resource Guarding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>How many of you have brought home a new dog...loved everything about it...</b></div>
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<i style="color: red;"><b>and then one day it growled or snapped at you over a toy, or it's food, or a piece of trash?!?! </b></i></div>
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This is a behavior called <b>Resource Guarding</b>. It is a behavior all animals do to some extent. When canines do this in our home the human's natural reaction is to be shocked, scared, or go on the defensive. Sometimes people yell that their dog "should respect them more than that", or they cry because their dog "should love them and trust them"... But in reality, all your dog was doing is giving you information about how they feel about loosing their item. When a dog is fearful in a situation it is natural for them to use aggressive displays to let dogs, people, and other animals know that they are uncomfortable. </div>
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So, after the initial shock how do we handle the situation?</div>
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Unless the dog continues to pursue you (In which case you would need to seek professional help immediately)...after the initial growl, snap, or bite... take a deep breath. I give dogs an empty hand signal and say, "Okay, okay...", then I walk to get them something that would be considered really good to them. You can give them the treat from an overly safe distance. This distance is different for each dog and each situation. It's called keeping them <b>under threshold. </b><i>If a dog is over threshold it is not learning anything, it is just in defense mode. </i>If they are willing to walk away from their item and get the treat, GREAT! Toss more and move toward the item they initially guarded. Keep this up as long as you don't see them race toward the item, stop and stare at your or the item, freeze in motion, or lunge toward you. If they are loose and happy and you can pick the item up you have been successful! Do not force it! If they let you have it, treat them and have a party! Then give them the item back!.....WHAT? Yes, as long as the item is not dangerous to them...GIVE IT BACK. See if they really care about it now. Trade them treats for it again. Then, GIVE IT BACK. At this point, your dog should be super happy about all of the treating and the item has turned into a happy thing and they like you playing with them and the item. What you have done here is take away the fear of potentially loosing something they value. Some of the training cues that could help in the future are "leave-it", "drop-it", "take-it", and "back up".</div>
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This is a pretty simple explanation of a potentially serious behavior. If at any time you get uncomfortable STOP. A professional that specializes in the issue of resource guarding can walk you through all of the little steps if more training is necessary. The goal is not to teach the dog who is boss or cause a bite. The goal is to get the dog to relax so that if it is ever in a situation that you cannot manage he will hopefully chose to relax instead of bite. Jean Donaldson has an incredible book called "MINE" that could help you understand what is going on in your dog's mind and how to handle raising a dog that has a tendency to guard things. </div>
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Can all dogs get better?</div>
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The simple answer is NO. Some dogs are wired wrong, just like humans. What we do is work on training and managing the issue for the rest of the dog's life. Different techniques work differently on each dog.<b> Keep it positive</b>. You can't make a dog positive by adding stress to the situation. Teach them to relax instead of giving them the need to be more fearful and escalate their aggression.</div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-9196820724705300582016-07-08T11:35:00.000-07:002016-07-08T13:41:58.133-07:00Walking with your dog should be like therapy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There aren't many things that are as relaxing as going on a long walk with your dog...right?! Okay, so some of you are laughing right now...but hang in here with me...Picture you and your dog on the perfect walk. Choose where you like to walk most...in the city, suburbs, in the country, or on a hiking trail. Your hand is not loosing circulation from the tight leash. Your dog looks super cool walking on your side, looking around, and not pulling with overexcited reactions to other dogs or people. When you talk to your dog he glances at you as if he is listening and understands how your day went. Remember he can tell how you feel through the leash. As much as we may not admit it, our dogs are the best person in the world to talk to. They listen and pass no judgement and they love us unconditionally. So how do we get to the point where we can take that perfect walk?<br />
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<b>Training Ideas: </b><br />
Start with super yummy rewards for looking at you. You can use a clicker or a verbal cue such as "yes" or "good" to mark them looking at your body. Whether you use the mechanical or verbal reward marker you must always treat! Think of yourself as the bulls-eye of a dart board. There are rings around you at 2 feet, 4 feet... We have to make it super cool for our dog to hang out within the distance we prefer!<br />
Next, I want you to pick the side you want your dog to walk on. They wont always have to walk next to you, but you want to start there so that it is their default position in any instance that you may need them close to you. Put their walking equipment on and don't do any lures or hand ques, just wait for them to check in with you, use your reward marker, and drop the treat on the side you want them to hang out on. You will need to start in an area where there are no distractions and with a treat the dog really enjoys. Slowly, over time, you will increase the distractions while still using the super yummy treats for paying attention to you. If your dog stops eating and/or wont check in with you...you have raised the distractions too quickly. Examples of slowly raising the distractions would be walking from room to room in the house, opening the front door, walking on the porch or down the yard or driveway toward the street.<b> If they pull, you stop! </b>...And wait for them to check in again. If it takes more than a few seconds back up toward where you came from, and spend time playing the "look at me" game where they can still pay attention. Sometimes just making it down the driveway can take days or weeks. I know that sounds like a lot of time, but if you think about it, they are moving back and forth, still getting the same amount of footsteps they would be getting on a walk, they're getting mental exercise, AND they are practicing the correct way to go on a walk, not self rewarding by pulling you toward their unknown destination.<br />
Once your have made one side and checking in with you default behaviors for your dog, you can start rewarding for other things...<br />
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Stopping or sitting when you stop moving</div>
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Coming back to you when they feel the leash pull taught</div>
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Walking in the position you chose as the default, with a loose leash</div>
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Looking at distractions without reacting, pulling, or stepping out of position</div>
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Laying down and doing nothing when you are sitting or talking to a neighbor</div>
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<b>Teamwork Ideas:</b><br />
Training classes such as agility, obedience, freestyle, and conditioning<br />
Interactive games such as fetch, Frisbee, and tricks<br />
Playdates<br />
Road trips<br />
Trips to get snacks at drive thrus<br />
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<b>Reactive Dogs: </b>Being reactive <b>does not </b>necessarily mean a dog is aggressive! Don't meet their reaction with aggression. Yelling or amping up the situation does not help the dog learn to relax...they just think mom or dad are reacting with them. Teach them to relax around the stimulus that they are fearful of. Give them the distance they need to be comfortable and reward them with treats, petting, or praise for just watching. Over time you will be able to get closer and closer to the stimulus. For the dog that "just wants to play"...find a doggie daycare that does small groups with appropriate play partners, so they can get that chance to be around dogs off-leash. It will help take the edge off of the need to play "RIGHT NOW". Proper socialization and training from a positive trainer will help your dog relax when under the restrictions of a leash. These are social skills that can be accomplished over time with a proper self-control and self-confidence training program.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>"So, I don't reprimand them for going out to the end of the leash!?" </b></span></div>
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No... If you are reprimanding them you are negatively reinforcing the "wrong" behavior...and <b>negative reinforcement is reinforcement. Focus on the right behaviors and your dog will WANT to repeat them. You don't have to be a pack leader to walk your dog. You just need to teach them what the right way is.</b> After they clearly understand what it is you are wanting, you can ad adversives...What! Yes, you can interrupt them and remind them where you want them to go...<i>once they understand the right way.</i> Adversives such as a quick loud noise, stopping forward motion, or ignoring your dog should be all you need if your dog truly knows what he is supposed to be doing. </div>
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<b>Experiment: </b></div>
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Go on a walk with your dog and focus on all of the wrong behaviors your dog does...How do you feel when you get home?</div>
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Now...</div>
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Go on a walk and focus on all of the right behaviors your dog does...How do you feel when you get home?</div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"> Keep it up and soon you will be the talk of the neighborhood!</b><br />
<b style="text-align: center;"> Happy Walking! </b></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"> Contact your local positive trainer for more information!</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"> -Pitgirl</b><br />
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<a href="mailto:417preciousk9s@gmail.com" target="_blank">417preciousk9s@gmail.com</a><br />
<a href="mailto:417preciousk9s@gmail.com" target="_blank">#417pk9s #417skdt</a></div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-28841632085676006382016-03-25T11:22:00.000-07:002016-04-07T20:46:09.855-07:00What is really happening when you punish a behavior out of your dog?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All to often I have people tell me things such as, "He used to growl at me, but I broke him of that really quickly" or "She used to jump on people, but now all I have to do is show her the newspaper and she will stand quietly". That's great, maybe, but what have you really taught your dog? Maybe he thinks growling isn't allowed, even though growling is a signal animals use instinctively to signal they are uncomfortable or want more space... So, how is he supposed to tell you he is uncomfortable with a situation if he's not allowed to growl? Showing teeth or snapping at you? Which one seems worse now?<br />
Maybe she thinks if she doesn't move at all mom wont smack her with the newspaper, and mom thought it meant stop jumping. Sometimes what we think the words "stop" or "no" mean, really mean something else to them. It can simply be all in your timing. You may have intended for the presentation of the newspaper to mean no jumping, but the dog could have thought that when they stood still mom stopped smacking them. Yes, it may have stopped the undesirable behavior, but what if someone where to approach the frozen dog and cause her to have to move? What if she thought she was going to get in trouble for moving and snapped at the person so as to say, "Hey! don't make me move. Mama gets mad when I move at the door". Now what kind of trouble is the dog in? And who's fault is it really?<br />
Most likely it is no one's fault. It was just a product of miscommunication. People watch trainers on TV, or remember how the dogs were treated years ago on the farm and think this is the way to train. <span style="color: purple;">"You have to be the Alpha". THIS IS NOT TRUE! TRAINING IS THE KEY TO A DOG THAT LISTENS TO YOU...THAT'S THE BIG SECRET.</span><br />
There have been many times that I have showed up somewhere in my truck, that clearly states that I am a dog trainer, and a person's demeanor changes immediately after they see me. They were enjoying the sled pull around the block, with minimal annoyance toward the fact that their hand was loosing circulation from the tight leash, and bam! The owner stops the dog and tells it to sit ten times, then gets embarrassed because the dog is clearly "not listening to them". Then comes some sort of punishment. It could be getting yelled at, being dragged back home, or I even had one lady smack the dog with her flexi-lead....That's a whole...nother...blog entry. Lol <br />
The bottom line is when we punish our dogs and don't let them know what they are doing that is good, they often focus on the timing of the punishment and don't understand what to do instead of the undesirable behavior. They just do nothing or avoid looking. That may make the behavior stop, but it often times causes fallout such as snapping, biting, or worse. This behavior of doing nothing to keep out of trouble is a term we call learned helplessness. They don't understand what they did wrong, so they just stand still and wait to see what someone is going to do next. If they aren't noticed, maybe dad wont get stressed out... The fallout that often occurs, is just their way of trying to communicate without the signal you did not like the first time they told you.<br />
<span style="color: purple;">So, if this isn't the most effective way of training, what is? What if we switched things around and made things a little less stressful? </span>Jumping at the door is annoying. What would you rather your dog do? Wait until it is okay to greet someone? Maybe keep their feet on the floor when they greet them? Okay, so let's teach them those behaviors get them goodies or praise from mom and dad. Many times it as simple as ignoring the bad behavior (being wild and jumping), waiting until they offer the good behavior (a sit or at least no vibrating), and then rewarding them for finding the right thing to do. "Yeah! If I sit and be calm, mom lets people come and say hi to me. If I jump and be wild she will just stand there boring and not let the person in the door". How cool is that? We just turned a stress filled situation into a relaxed situation with tons of treats and praise! And... think about the human body language in this picture. Wouldn't you rather be the person that is happy to introduce their dog to people instead of the person armed with the fly-swatter at the front door when the UPS guy shows up? Positive training is standing the test of time, and the days of using the training style of being the "Alpha" or "Pack Leader" are going by the way side. Be open to learning new ways, after all we are the ones that domesticated these animals...Shouldn't we be responsible for them enjoying their all to short stay with us?<br />
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<br />Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-7101290279210073582016-03-07T09:10:00.002-08:002016-03-07T09:10:48.460-08:00Is training really important for your foster dog?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes! Yes! and Yes!</h2>
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My Facebook page, and really my career, revolves around my behavioral modification training programs. I am fortunate that after almost 20 years of training, I have the ability to offer many different programs that can benefit many different dogs and people from many different walks of life. I had some questions brought to me this weekend that really stuck with me the past couple of days...</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>"Could you give me some advice on something going on with my foster dog?... So do you think she would benefit from some training?"</b></span></div>
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We spend so much time raising money to help dogs with medical conditions such as a broken leg, mange, physical therapy, etc... Why is society only beginning to see the value of training dogs in the system? </div>
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<b> Did you know that more dogs die of behavioral issues from lack of socialization and training in the US than any other reason? </b></div>
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This is why I do what I do. I started to notice, at 20, that the rescues I was volunteering for were giving me the "hard to deal with" dogs. I was always happy to step up to the challenge! Of course, I did not have any children back then and life seemed to be all rainbows and unicorns. Hehe These days I do as much as I can do to help these dogs. You will rarely see me with a foster dog with a "fluffy" attitude. We could desperately use more fosters that have the know how to foster these dogs with issues. Now, I'm not talking about putting dangerous dogs out on the street with the general public, but those dogs that have missed some vital steps to becoming that perfect dog. </div>
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Take for example, a dog that was raised on a chain. Sometimes these dogs have a hard time meeting new people, for reasons I could explain in a whole different blog entry. The simple explanation of a training plan for this dog is to teach them impulse control and how to (or not to) meet new people. When they have mastered the behavior that scares them, they are quite possibly ready to be the perfect dog for the perfect person that can follow directions and implement proper management. </div>
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How can you help as a foster? Discussing hiring a trainer that specializes in behavior modification is a great step. Some trainers are amazing, but when you have these cases you need a trainer that has advanced to the behavior modification level of expertise. Unfortunately, these can be in short demand, or cost money that people may not see as necessary. Investing in behavioral modification training can benefit your rescue in many ways! The simplest...If you put out the money to have a foster learn to help one dog in need, after he has been adopted, they could quite possibly help the next dog with the same issue. Not to mention, they can help other fosters with their dogs that may have similar issues. </div>
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<b>Just remember that positive training is a must! Shutting off those yucky behaviors just to get a dog adopted does not teach them how to live in the real world in the future!</b></div>
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<b> </b>So, at your next rescue board meeting, when you are discussing raising funds for the dogs that need medical attention, try mentioning raising funds for the dogs that need a little extra help from an expert so they can become happy members of society!</div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-1744443429151237912015-09-01T11:12:00.000-07:002016-07-16T10:40:09.609-07:00Doggie Daycare...Is it for you and your pup?<div style="text-align: center;">
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There are many factors that come into play when it comes to choosing whether or not daycare is for you and your furry family member. </div>
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1) <span style="color: red;">Location:</span> Is it convenient to drop off and pick up?</div>
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Is it close to your house or work?</div>
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Does location matter if you know your dog is well taken care of?</div>
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2) <span style="color: red;">Cost:</span> Is this something you can fit into your budget?</div>
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Will it even out because you are not having to buy new shoes or </div>
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furniture?</div>
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3) <span style="color: red;">Safety: </span>Can you trust someone else to take care of your "baby"?<br />
Do the employees running the daycare have the proper training to </div>
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handle such a large amount of dogs?<br />
Is the facility clean and using the proper human and animal safe<br />
cleaning supplies?</div>
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4) <span style="color: red;">Temperament: </span>Will your dog enjoy daycare?</div>
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Is your dog fearful or EXTREMELY outgoing?</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>So how and where do you start?</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: red;"> </b>I would start with word of mouth. Ask your friends and colleagues if they have ever used a doggie daycare and if they have heard good things about local facilities. Second, I would do a Google search, just to see if there are more than the ones you heard about. Third, I would visit multiple facilities to meet the staff, see where your dog would be hanging out, and ask about the daily routine.<br />
Most doggie daycares are free the first time you visit. It is a chance to see if your dog is somewhat comfortable being handled by people they don't know and if they like playing with other dogs in a large group. They will typically give you some sort of report card that tells you how your dog did, who they made friends with, and whether or not they are a good fit for their daycare scene. Beyond that, to my knowledge, most daycares have the group of dogs out to play for many hours. They eventually get a lunchtime nap, and then come back out to hang out in the group until mom and dad comes to pick them up. It's a lot like pre-school without the school part.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>What if my dog fails the "Daycare Test" or doesn't like other dogs?</b></span></div>
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This is a hard question for many dog owners. <b>Typical doggie daycares only take dogs that do okay in large groups for extended periods of time.</b> This is due to a few factors. I'm sure there are many more, but I will just list my top three.</div>
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1) You make more money with more dogs in one place.</div>
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2) The level of dog behavior training put in place for the staff, or the lack thereof.</div>
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3) The level of dog handling skills in the typical person applying to work in a daycare.</div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>So, what does an owner do if your dog is one that doesn't make the cut?</b></span> </div>
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By the way, I am one of those owners! <span style="text-align: center;"><b>You find the rare facility that has people that specialize in training and dog behavior. This can be difficult to find, but I'll tell you a bit about my facility to help those that don't live around here to find their perfect fit.</b></span></div>
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Springfield Side Kick Dog Training opened a multi-functioning facility in November of 2014! This new facility includes...</div>
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<b>Daycare and Boarding!</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">The Side Kick Difference</span></b></h2>
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<b style="color: red;">Where did Side Kick come from?</b><b> </b>Springfield Side Kick Dog Training was a vision that Carrie and Misti had in their little minds since childhood. When they met in 2009 they integrated training knowledge and ran Misti's baby, Springfield Side Kick Dog Training, out of local veterinarian offices, the SW MO Humane Society, their homes, and student's homes through classes and private lessons. After almost 6 years of that came Misti and Carrie's vision! <b>Springfield Side Kick Dog Training Daycare and Boarding Academy</b>!!! Yes, it is a mouthful, but we had to tell you how we were growing!<br />
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<b>Below are some common questions about doggie daycare and what has been found to be the best way for your pup to socialize...</b></div>
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<b style="color: red; text-align: center;">Why daycare for my dog? </b><span style="text-align: center;">Daycare can be a great place for puppies and dogs to get exercise and socialize!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">What is the appropriate way for my dog to socialize at Daycare?</b> Every dog is different. That's why is important to find a place that will tailor exercise and socialization to your dog and his needs.</span><br />
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<b style="color: red;">How big are the play groups supposed to be? </b>Studies show that the best kind of dog play is one-on-one play or small group play, for the appropriate amount of time for each individual dog.<br />
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<b style="color: red;">What does my dog do while he is at daycare? </b>SKDT lets the dogs choose how they would like to play. On a typical day at SKDT Daycare the dogs will enter the building and be handed to a Trainer or Kennel Technician specially trained by Carrie and Misti. They go to the appropriate size kennel or wire crate which depends on size, temperament, sociability, and training plan. We have rooms with only a few dogs for the dogs that get too over stimulated resting in the playroom watching the other dogs walk by. We typically give them 10 to 15 minutes to relax and check out their surroundings. When they can calm a bit we start playtime!<br />
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<b>It's all about self-control and fun!</b> We don't let the dogs run crazy from their kennel to the play areas because this can sometimes cause them to not look at their surroundings and in turn not read what another dog has to say. We slowly introduce each dog to one dog at a time to see who they want to make friends with, if they want to make friends at all. Some dogs do good playing and hanging out one-on-one and some dogs like to play in small groups of friends. When each dog starts to act tired or starts give distance increasing signals, he gets to go potty, if needed, and then go to his kennel to rest. The amount of play time and rest time is different for each dog. Some dogs never get tired! Those are typically our frequent flyers.<br />
If a dog does not want to play with other dogs due to fear or can not find an appropriate play partner due to lack of self control, then it's Trainer Time! They get to play tug, fetch, catch me if you can, wrestling match, cuddle time, hanging in the offices, or the recall game with one of the trainers. Some dogs simply do not have any interest in other dogs or playing with toys, so that's where the trainers get to take them on a walk. This rotation will go on with all of the dogs over and over again as many times as they need it. Again....it is all about what the dog finds rewarding. <b>If it's not rewarding then it is no fun for them to come back.</b><br />
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<b style="color: red;">How do I know if my dog likes daycare? </b>We always like to try it a few times so they can get familiar with their surroundings and learn the routine. (Your first visit is not free with us because you take you dog home with a plan for exercise, socialization, and sometimes training... no matter how the day went). The neat thing about SKDT is that Misti and Carrie can help you with dogs that are fearful, aggressive, or have anxiety, with a customized training plan. It is a very rare case that we can not find a way to make a dog comfortable with us, but if there is no possible way...we will tell you if your dog does not want to be here. That's the cool thing about having two Professional Dog Trainers Certified by the Council of Professional Dog Trainers, with combined 40 years experience, running the ship!<br />
The common misconception when trying to determine whether or not your dog likes going somewhere is..."He gets more excited than he does for anything else. It's the only time he ever jumps on me"! <span style="text-align: center;">Jumping can be a few things such as excitement, anxiety, the need to be listened to, or just plain rude behavior. Make sure you know which reason your dog is"soooo excited". Your furry family member will love you for listening to what they are trying to tell you!</span></div>
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The bottom line is... You should check out your local doggie daycares and see if one is right for you and your family. Come visit me too! Some dogs can handle big group play, some can't...Wouldn't you like your dog to have the choice? I would.<br />
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-Carrie Galvan CPDT</div>
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-36598849494936791592013-08-31T22:23:00.001-07:002015-09-01T07:30:41.821-07:00Do you really know Springfield's laws on dogs? <br />
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<b>I don't normally link my two blogs together, but I feel it is important I reach the largest audience possible. </b></div>
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Many of you don't know that Springfield, Mo has Breed Specific Legislation. But many of you do know of the legislation because you know someone who has to pay each year to own a dog with with no temperament issues. If you know me... you know someone who has to pay to own a dog with no temperament issues. Why? Because I own an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)... actually I own two... For those of you who know me well, you know that it's not my deaf, half paralyzed, 12 year old APBT you have be careful of... it's my smallest dog you should watch out for! Hehe</div>
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All joking aside, please read my most current blog entry on my </div>
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Dog Legislation Education (DLE) blog. </div>
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<a href="http://dlebypitgirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">DLE by PIT GIRL</span></a></div>
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Everyone needs to be informed. Feel free to comment and ask me questions. It helps me see how each person feels about power breeds and how I can help educate the public on both sides of the Breed Specific Legislation fence. You can also email me to ask questions anonymously. </div>
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<a href="mailto:carrie@carriessidekickdogtraining.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">carrie@springfieldsidekickdogtraining.com</span></a></div>
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-32651179842600434992013-06-30T22:05:00.001-07:002013-06-30T22:05:05.944-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">From Unpredictable Puppy to Distinguished Gentleman</span></b></div>
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<b>An email I received from a student...</b></div>
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When I first came to Sidekick with my baby Boxer, Julius Caesar, he was about nine weeks old. He was born June 4, 2012 and I got him when he was about 6 or 7 weeks old. This was my first experience with a puppy as an adult, as I rescued the other two dogs I have had, so I knew it was going to be a challenge! But he was such a sweet boy! Little did I knowâŚ<br />
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The first day of class in Positively Puppies we did semi okay, but we loved a little Weimeriner puppy, Hailey. Her mom was so great to Caesar and me! And we only tried to eat Carrie once (nice way to say hello, I know), but the negative behavior seemed to keep progressing and getting worse and worse. There were several nights that I even asked myself whether or not I should maybe turn him over to rescue or find him another home. He was starting to become very agitated when you tried to âcalm sitâ with him and restrain him and even when we were just sitting on the couch he would get an attitude. Poor Carrie had numerous phone calls and texts all hours of the day and night from me asking if I picked the wrong one. By about mid-session of puppy class, he started chewing on his ânubâ (his tail) and was chewing it raw and did this in just a day or two, so I knew something was wrong. His housebreaking just wasnât going successfully and the behavior was horrific, and the nub chewing was just the cherry on top. I broke down and took him to the vet about this.<br />
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After trying to eat the vet, and the vet tech, we found out that he had a pretty horrible urinary tract infection. I thought to myself, âGreat, one more thing to throw into the mix.â He was prescribed antibiotics and I was told to bring him back at the end of the medication to retest his urine and whatnot. Apparently he had had this UTI for a while, but all the âpottyâ problems were seemingly as normal puppies do. <br />
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When his round of antibiotics was over, his urine rechecked and clean, Carrie was able to really help me get Caesar more focused so I could hopefully break all the poor behaviors that were present. We passed Positively Puppies at the end of the session (I think it was more of a no puppy left behind thing!) and moved on to Absolutely Adolescence that ended shortly before Christmas. In these seven or eight weeks, I worked with Caesar at home and in class with the help of Carrie and her assistants. Carrie began to think that the poor behavior that Caesar was exhibiting was in direct relation to having the UTI as a little puppy. Over the course of this session, I asked Carrie several times if Caesar would ever pass his Star Puppy and she kept telling me she wasnât sure at that point, but he had until he was one year old to do it. She also reminded me that it was okay if you puppy doesnât pass, that she even had ones that never passed it for one reason or another. I felt a little disappointed he might never get to that point, but I settled with the idea that it didnât mean he was a horrible puppy and would become a horrible adult.<br />
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After passing the Absolutely Adolescence class, I decided after the first of the year I would run him through his class again to reiterate the behaviors taught. I spent a lot of time at home working on stays and other things that I felt like he was a little behind on and he was seemingly doing really well in class and listening better and so forth. Never the less, he was starting to come out of the bad behaviors and into more positive ones and being friendly to Carrie and my veterinariansâno more eating of the trainer or the vets! I still, to this day, have to have the vet cut his toenails though, but thatâs not so bad as compared to before.<br />
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At the end of our last session in February, on Graduation day, Carrie was handing out the diplomas as usual. She gave everyone their papers and Caesar was the last. Carrie stopped when she got to Caesar and started with, âI have to tell everyone a little story about CaesarâŚâ and she told everyone where he was when he started and where he was at on that day. At the end of her story about Caesar, she handed me his diploma and his paperwork saying he passed his Star Puppy. I couldnât have been more elated at that point! I just couldnât believe that he actually was able to pass! That was such a huge milestone for Caesar and me and it made all the frustrated days and nights and all the questioning myself about him seem to disappear. I know he will never be perfect, but he is growing into such a great companion for me and for my senior Boxer, Claireese. <br />
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I continue to keep him in training classes and continue working with him at home and he continues to grow into his individuality as a dog. At nine months old he is a different dog than he was at nine weeks old when we started with Sidekick. Without the help of Carrie and the others at SKDT and their support I donât know what my future with Caesar would have been like. However, I know now that he might never be âperfectâ but he is my little boy and he is a joy to have around at home. And I know that as long as I continue to work with him, he will continue to grow and will continue to become the dog I know he can be instead of the dog we all thought he might be. I canât thank everyone at Sidekick Dog Training enough for all the help and support they have given me over the past several months and I know that they will continue to lend my way!<br />
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~Piper Lee<br />
Mom to Julius Caesar and Claireese Lee<br />
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<b>Caesar is now a year old and has passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen.</b></div>
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<b>It is so rewarding to see what hard work and dedication can do for each of the furry Side Kicks that train through our company.</b></div>
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<b> Thank you all for trusting Side Kick Dog Training!!! </b></div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-86524548319651219702013-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:002013-06-19T14:27:14.158-07:00Giving medication to an alligator?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Is giving medication to your dog like giving medication to an alligator?</b></div>
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Medication may sometimes be a necessity, but no one wants to walk around with scars from giving medication to your pet. Even if your dog doesn't agree he needs the meds, we can teach him to think taking them is just another thing you do together as a team. You can do this by using positive reinforcement and taking your time the first few doses. This will help you through your dog's whole life. Believe it or not you can actually turn medication time into no big deal.<br />
Clicker training is a great way to desensitize your dog to the body handling necessary for vetting. Taking your time is the key. You start way below your dog's threshold and make it a game before "pushing the envelope". Maybe your dog can only handle your hand over their head with no contact... Make it a game. I put my hand near you, you get a click and a treat. Your nose bumps the medicine bottle, you get a click and a treat. Don't get frustrated with slow progress. Body handling will get better with time. You're dog knows when you are upset, and that slows down and possibly moves progress backwards. Ever hear "one step forward, two steps back"? Slow yourself down and give yourself at least 15 minutes the first session. Eventually your dog will be happy to take their medications... Just don't forget the treat for being a good puppy when they are taking their medications like a pro!<br />
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-47782862676973930722013-04-16T14:55:00.000-07:002013-04-16T14:55:27.912-07:00How do you even begin to leave the house with your scared or reactive dog?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having a scared or reactive dog can be hard to live with. It's somewhat like a catch 22... They are going nuts in the house because they need exercise, but you don't even want to take him out the front door where people can see him act like a nutcase. So how do you take the edge off so that you can get him out the front door? The answer sounds easy, but teaching your dog to handle life better takes dedication. </div>
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<b>Nutrition, exercise, and a training plan are the keys to helping your furry friend learn to deal with life in the outside world.</b></div>
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Nutrition is important because sugar and hormone levels have to be right to make the dog's brain capable of absorbing what you are going to teach him. A dog typically needs to eat a meat based diet twice a day. This will keep your dog from the emotional roller coaster ride foods high in corn can cause. </div>
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Exercise is important for the same reason it is important for humans. It helps lessen anxiety and slows their body down so they are more receptive to the world around them. If they can slow down enough to pay attention to you, you can teach them how to deal with different situations. At this point your dog will be getting mental and physical exercise.</div>
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Training is what brings all the components together. A good positive trainer can teach you how to work with your dog in a low distraction area like your house. When your dog understands the games, your trainer will help you to take the behaviors outside. It often relaxes you to know you have a Certified Professional standing next to you. If it doesn't relax you, then the trainer should remind you to breath and help you to learn how to relax again. If both ends of the leash know what to do, then both ends will learn to go out the door as a team and enjoy life. </div>
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Here is a good article from <a href="http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/16_4/features/across-a-threshold_20726-1.html?ET=wholedogjournal:p80468:50214598a:&st=pmail&s=weekendtip041313&t=tl" target="_blank">Whole Dog Journal</a> if you want to read further about reactivity. </div>
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You can also contact <a href="mailto:carrie@carriessidekickdogtraining.com" target="_blank">Springfield Side Kick Dog Training</a> for further information!</div>
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-83142068527788383282013-03-06T08:29:00.002-08:002013-04-16T17:19:49.293-07:00Breed Specific Legislation vs. Dangerous/Vicious Dog Laws <br />
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I know there are a lot of people that don't even know what Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is, so I'll start with that. BSL is legislation is usually put in place, in a panic, when a dog viciously bites or attacks an adult, child, or another dog. This law or ordinance puts restrictions on certain breeds. Restrictions such as... the breed of dog specified has to wear a muzzle at all times off it's property; it has to have a microchip and be registered to the local Animal Control; the owner has to pay a yearly fee to own such dog; the dog has to be on a leash at all times and can never be allowed to run free in it's own back yard; if the dog is outside off leash, it has to be in an 8ft tall kennel with a top on it; ... The list goes on and on. Some of the rules are no big deal, but some get as bad as an entire breed of dog is not allowed in a city, and anyone who owns one will have a short amount of time to re home their family pet in another city or Animal Control will come over and confiscate their dog and have it euthanized.<br />
Yes, shocking to those of you who own Maltese or Dachshunds... By the way those two breeds are banned in some countries. The most typical breeds that are discriminated against are Pit Bull Types, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Chow Chows, Great Danes, St Bernards, and a whole list of dogs you have probably never heard of.<br />
Could you imagine... A dog, the same breed as the one you have at home, bites a child in the face. People are understandably upset. Who wouldn't want something done? The city has to hold and isolate the dog for about 10 days before anyone can start to make decisions on the dog's fate. Now during this 10 days the people in the neighborhood continue to get more and more upset about the dog. Then it starts to spread throughout the media. The whole city starts to get upset. City officials decide this dog is dangerous, so then all of the breed must me dangerous. That's where the panic legislation comes in play.<br />
Enter the police report... It starts off with the dog attacked the neighbors child in it's own yard. Oh..., well how did the boy get in the yard? The dog owner states that the child has been found in their yard multiple times. They even went as far as to lock the gates. The police were finally called when the child started using his yard toys as a ladder to get in the dog's yard. The parents of the boy seemed to blow off the police warning and think it was cool that the dog and boy wanted to be together so much. But did the dog really enjoy the visits? The owner of the dog stated that the dog is a retired Search and Rescue dog, a Therapy Dog, and had many titles in agility. This dog had obviously has a ton of training and was friendly. What happened then?<br />
It is found, after further investigation, that a quiet neighbor saw the whole thing. "I saw the boy climb the fence and start petting the dog. They really look like they enjoy each other's company. It's just a shame the accident happened. I called the owner of the dog and told her about the boy in the yard again. When she came out to tell the boy he needed to go home, it startled him and he fell off of the table he was on. Landed right on the 14 year old arthritic dog. It yelped and turned it's head around puncturing the child's face. Instantly the dog moved and tried to tend to the child. The owner made it to the boy, and I called the ambulance".<br />
So, who's fault was it? The dog? The dog owner? The parents?<br />
This is why I do not like breed specific legislation. It punishes the dog and not the responsible party. It was later found that the parents have a criminal history of child neglect and domestic abuse. There was probably some alcohol or drug abuse in there too.<br />
Due to the panic in the city, the owner had her baby of 14 years, who had saved many people over the years, put to sleep. It was later found to be the parents fault and the child was removed from his home to one where people actually cared. The parents got 2 months in jail and a fine... What? I know, huh!<br />
This is how it goes in some places. No, this is not a real story, but it is parts of many stories I know all to well. We all know it is wrong, but until enough people get educated about Breed Specific Legislation this discrimination will continue to divide us. It is scary to decide about wanting or not wanting a law when you don't know enough to have an educated opinion. So do some research, all dog people should at least know a little about BSL. Even people who love chihuahuas... We all know how friendly they always are. Hehe. Don't get upset! I own one! I also own two American Pit Bull Terriers and a Pug. And yes, as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer I have to pay to own my dogs here in my city.<br />
Now, remember the dog in this back yard was the same breed as the one in your house. We have a big deal coming up soon here in Springfield, Mo. We are trying to go from BSL to a vicious/dangerous dog ordinance. Please, start asking questions, don't always believe the media, fight for the responsible owners of the "Power Breeds"! For more information please check out these materials:<br />
AKC.org<br />
The movie "Beyond the Myth"<br />
The book "Wallace"<br />
And meet a few Pit Bulls that have been raised right.<br />
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PUNISH THE DEED, NOT THE BREED</h2>
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<br />Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-20127892794712125822012-03-07T21:05:00.001-08:002012-03-07T21:13:35.503-08:00Why does my dog have these issues and how do I "fix" it? Many people start their private lessons by telling us what issues their dog has. Some dogs are scared of people, some of other dogs, and some dogs are just plain scared. The owners usually follow this conversation with where they got the dog from and then they tell the story of what they think might have happened to their dog in the past. Truth is, you'll never know what really happened to your dog before it met you. Unfortunately, we can't sit our dogs on a couch and ask them. So, the question we, as trainers, are left with is, "how can I help this dog?". The answer is... It doesn't matter whether a behavior is learned, genetic, or from a traumatic event, we train them with the same positive psychological approach.<br />
Contrary to popular belief, their have been great strides made in canine behavior modification. We no longer have to force a dog to get over scary things by forcing them to deal with it. That approach usually causes a dog to shut down and look like he is handling the situation better. What happens a lot of times in this situation is backlash later in life.<br />
Say the dog is afraid of people. You go to a trainer and they tell you the dog just needs to meet more people. Well, obviously that is true, but the way in which the trainer teaches you to introduce the dog to people is critical. Most will tell you to put some kind of equipment on the dog so that if it tries to bite you can stop it. Then the trainer will force the dog to greet him and maybe someone else. By the end of the session the dog may have had it's neck jerked a few times for snapping at them, but the dog is letting these few new people hang around it. The owner is ecstatic, "The trainer fixed my dog in an hour!" The trainer leaves the client with that thought, and sometimes the trainer really believes he fixed the dog. The sad truth is that all the trainer taught the dog is what is called "Learned Helplessness". With learned helplessness the dog shuts down because all of its attempts to tell the people around him to leave aren't working. To the untrained eye it looks as if the dog has just gotten over his issue. (Keep in mind, not all trainers are trained to read a dog, a lot of times they are just trained to train a dog). To the trained eye the dog is miserable and exhausted.<br />
The problem with this training technique is that somewhere, sometime on down the line, the owner is going to have more confidence than they should and force the dog to meet another new person... Bam!!! There's a bite! This leaves the owner wondering what they did wrong or if they have a vicious dog, when all they have really done is unknowingly pushed the dog to protect itself. After being terrified over and over, they finally decided to warn someone in a way that would make them listen.<br />
Here is how you use positive behavior modification to help your canine friend. First you teach them some basic things like paying attention to their handler, walking on a loose leash, hand targeting, and self control exercises. Sounds more fun already, right? Once they have these behaviors down you can start slowly adding the scary distractions. Let's use the example from the earlier paragraph. The dog is scared of people... We start a new person from a comfortable distance. One technique we can use is the Cookie Bar approach. When a person is there treats fall from the sky, when they go away the treats go away. With this approach we are slowly modifying how the dog feels in the presence of new people. <b>This is not something that happens overnight or in one lesson!</b> It takes a lot of work to change a dog's perception of something scary. What we are going for here is a positive response from the dog before we add anymore pressure like less distance or more people.With these behavior modification tools we are teaching the dog and handler how to handle a tense situation. Therefore, when done properly, we will eventually lessen the fear and anxiety. Unfortunately, we cannot always fix a dog completely. (Any trainer that says he can completely fix every dog is fooling himself and his clients). However, with a good well informed owner that is willing to do the training and instill proper management, we can prevent a dog from ever thinking it needs to use it's teeth.<br />
For those people who disagree with these methods, that's fine. I have used both of these techniques in my home. I have been training dogs since 1998, and there is a very good reason I believe in positive behavior modification over just making the dog get over it... I live behavior mod in my house every day, and have spent the last three years as a positive trainer. Even as a trainer there is one thing I over looked... In my past training facility we "tapped" our dogs in the haunches with our heels if they started to react. It worked, my obedient girl stopped reacting to other dogs. In fact she shut down and it turned into anxiety. I had to find a new way to work with her.. enter positive behavior modification. Three years later, she is a happy agility and obedience dog. One night recently, I put my heel on her haunches and she proceeded to put my heel in her mouth. While holding my heel ever so softly in her mouth, I realized she was telling me that if I meant to "tap" her, this would be the last time I did it without further action. That's the backlash that comes from forcing a dog to do something because you want it to. Fortunately, I have a very good relationship with my dog and she was able to tell me what was up. Dogs are experts with their teeth. However hard a dog may bite, is how hard the dog meant to bite. So, please listen to your dog. If you don't understand what they want, call a trainer who does. Also, remember dogs with serious fear issues cannot be "fixed in an hour".<br />
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-67492737591980461982011-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:002011-11-21T09:21:33.799-08:00Did my dog really eat that?!How do you handle it when your puppy, or adult, picks up a sock and runs around the house with it. This is a very fun game for the dog, but not so much for you. There are a few basic behaviors you can teach your dog to remedy this situation. First, here's a small list of commands you can teach your dog. "Drop It", "Sit", "Leave It", "Come", "Down". We teach these with the clicker in our classes because it will make the behaviors an automatic response, if you practice it enough.<br />
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Example of "Drop It": My parents Beagle likes to steal pillows and run them outside. We have trained her that if she opens her mouth and drops the item she gets a click and a treat. On a dead run to the back door, we say "drop it" and she opens her mouth dropping the pillow, but she will stay in her run and continue to the back yard. <br />
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Example of "Leave It": My rescue pug likes to eat poop... yummy right... With this I don't even want him to get it in his mouth. He has been trained that if he looks away from an object when I say "leave it", he gets a click and a treat. So in the instance he looks at the poop, I can get him to "Leave It" before he touches it. <br />
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Example of "Sit" and "Down": If they are in a sit or a down.... they're not running from you!!!<br />
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Coming When Called: This command is harder to train. We teach this over a 6 week class, in steps. You will also continue to set up situations to practice throughout your dog's life. Just remember, "come here" doesn't always mean fun time is over. Let them go back out and play sometimes. Keeps life more random for the dog. <br />
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In closing... don't chase your dog around the house with your underware. That's just plain fun for your dog!!!<br />
Take control of the situation, and have fun training your dog.Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-49339314085607377352011-10-22T17:06:00.000-07:002011-10-22T17:06:43.686-07:00Do you and your dog really want to do the same things?This is in continuation of a blog post a friend of mine just posted. "Are you really having fun with your dog?" She talked about how hard she was working toward different goals and how if she pushed herself and the dog too hard Beanie would shut down.<br />
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See, dogs put off these things called calming signals. (Sniffing the ground, yawning, sneezing, looking away from you, dropping their ears back, suddenly having a horrible itch, shaking off, pretending to forget their name; aka avoidance, and many others.) Some people know nothing about these. Some people know enough to notice when their dogs aren't comfortable with a situation. Then there are those of us that train our dogs in obedience, tracking, agility, and other dog sports. At the competition level you would think that we would recognize how stressed our dogs are when the do something that, "isn't like them". But no, we just keep pushing, trying to get that title because we know our dog can do it, and for some reason we want a piece of paper and some ribbons to prove it to others. <br />
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I am, for the first time, guilty of this; and I'm a professional dog trainer studying to become a "BEHAVIORIST". Ya, bad huh?!<br />
Achilles and I were in a drill team dance last weekend and I have a three day Rally trial this weekend. Both of us have never done this before. I've been teaching dogs and people for years, but never felt the need to compete. Over the last few years my curiosity over competing has continued to grow. Athena did great this year in Nadac Agility trials, so what's different about me and Achilles? I'M PUSHING US TOO HARD!!! Duh. Yesterday we were spot on as a team and we did great. Except that I felt like going home and getting into the fetal position afterward because I worked myself up so much. What's fun about that? Then today...Achilles sniffed the ground through 40% of the course, suddenly needed to scratch his neck in a front, and sneezed at me when I told him to sit in heel position. About halfway through the course he looked at me like "Oh! I'm supposed to be watching you!" So, tomorrow we are going to go into the trial for fun. Yes, Achilles really wants a title, but I'd rather, "Have fun with my dog..." Check out Erica's blog too... <a href="http://atraineradogandtheworld.blogspot.com/">http://atraineradogandtheworld.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Also check out my link to Turrid Rugaas, an internationally respected trainer who has videos and books on "Calming Signals".Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-59909399682516190642011-09-20T08:05:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:05:05.666-07:00Fears and Phobias<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unfortunately a large number of our four-legged friends are terrified of things in everyday life. How are we supposed to help them? First, you have to notice the dog is having a hard time. Then you have to determine whether it is a fear or a phobia. A fear is when a dog startles and worries about the stimuli, and a phobia is when a dog shuts down and worries to the point of exhaustion. Some dogs with a phobia will do anything find way out of the situation, causing them to get loose or run out into traffic and get hurt or worse; some dogs will bite; other dogs will check out. When checking out happens they can either be in a panic or standing completely still and look like they are fainting. Dogs can also have dilated eyes, dry panting, and many other symptoms. .No matter what symptoms your dog has, you have to find things that can help them cope. <br />
One thing that is highly recommended is Dog Appeasing Pheromones (DAP). This comes in the form of a collar, spray, or diffuser. The pheromone is a synthetic version of the pheromone a mama dog would put off in her milk to relax her puppies. Itâs works just like we would use aromatherapy in our homes to relax ourselves. <br />
Another thing to try is the Thundershirt. It works just the same as swaddling a baby. When you put it on the dog it makes them feel secure and in turn can relax them. I have had a lot of luck using this shirt with phobias. Every dog is different, so it will depend on how severe the phobia is as to what the results will be. Dogs with extreme reactions may only slow down movement or trembling. Although, dogs with less severe reactions may stop shaking or come out from under the bed. Dogs with minimal reactions to the stimulus may just go about life normally. I have found that the shirt doesnât always work the first time. Sometimes they have to wear it 4 or 5 times to start relaxing when it goes on. <br />
Of course, to help the dog with any fear or phobia, it would be most beneficial to add training into the mix. This can teach the dog how to handle a scary situation, in turn making it less scary.<br />
I do want to say that sometimes we have to recommend you go to your vet to get started on medication because the symptoms are so severe. (We always recommend you try the non-medicinal things before you make that vet trip). After getting the dog on the right medication you want to add the training in. Our company works with the local Veterinarians; they prescribe the medications, we help the owner with the training. The medication just takes the edge off so we can start conditioning the dog to handle the anxiety in a different way. Many times the dog only has to take the meds temporarily.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In closing, when severely stressed, dogs can do amazing things. Make sure your dogs have collars with tags in case they bolt. A microchip will help get your dog home if the tag falls off. Good luck with your four-legged babies and call Side Kick Dog Training for further information about your dogs fear or phobia, so we can get you started in the right direction.ă</span>Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-15226358513051554092011-09-12T16:25:00.000-07:002011-09-12T16:25:33.065-07:00"My dog doesn't usually do that?'People who spend a lot of time with their dogs, know their dogs. (Or at least should) If you ever hear yourself say, "That's not something my dog usually does", STOP. What was the thing your dog did? Is it a dog (or any animal) you haven't had for very long? If so they could hopefully just be adapting to your home. If not, or if it's a dog you have had for years... you have to look a little more carefully. The behavior could be anything; sleeping more; sleeping less; eating more; eating less; pacing; whining; not wanting to go on a bike ride; less interest in toys; licking obsessively and the list goes on. Noticing something out of the ordinary can mean the difference between life and death. Unfortunately our furry friends can't tell us if something is wrong with them, so we have to listen to the subtleties. If you have any worries, talk to your vet. If you want a second opinion, don't worry about hurting your veterinarian's feelings. If anyone is a true professional they wont mind. I talk with my colleagues all the time to see if they have any different ideas to help with behavioral issues. I want all dogs to do well in life, even if it wasn't my idea that helped them. So love your four legged furry friends and take notice when they might be trying to tell you something important.Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-69721448128541302552011-09-02T11:56:00.000-07:002011-09-02T11:56:34.813-07:00Why do we scoop our dogs poop?!The long and the short of it is so that we don't spread diseases... Believe it or not, many people don't get their dogs the shots they need and fewer get them dewormed. If you're one of those people, please be extra careful with your dog's feces. Just take a few seconds to pick it up. You never know when you be causing someone else to have a sick dog and a huge vet bill. <br />
For those of us who do get our dog's shots and dewormings, pick it up anyway. If your dog isn't on a monthly preventative, they could still contract parasites....Therefore spreading them to others. I know some of these medications can be expensive, but they are still cheaper than a dying dog's vet bill. And not to mention, if the infestation is bad enough with certain parasites... you just might loose your best friend.<br />
For more information on parasites, the ways to contract them, and prevention, contact your local vet.<br />
Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-84989624423853683882011-08-26T21:18:00.000-07:002011-08-26T21:18:02.586-07:00Potty Training- Psycology 101 Think of potty training your pooch the same as a child learning to crawl. You don't just let the baby have immediate freedom to roam anywhere in the house. There are too many things they could get into, even if you think you baby-proofed your house. You keep them confined with you with baby gates and playpens, and you give them things to occupy their time. <br />
With a dog that has just entered your home, you want to do the same thing. Keep them in the room with you. If you can't watch them, put them in their crate or in an exercise pen with somethin to do. You can even leash them to your waist. If the dog has an accident in front of you; just interrupt them and take them outside. When they finish pottying in the grass treat them there. Go back in and clean up the mess with an enzyme killer (don't let your pooch watch you). If your dog goes potty and you find the mess later.... consider that your bad. <br />
Here's the psycology part most people don't know. When you find the mess and rub the dog's nose in it, scold them, clean up the mess in front of them and shun them; this is what your dog gets out of that, "Boy, humans really get upset around pee and poo, weird. Next time I'll just hide it in the back room in the corner".<br />
There's nothing like finding a dried pee spot behind your favorite plant in the dining room months after it has been used over and over. So the long story short is keep potty time fun, and take frequent trips to the yard. The more time you put in now, the better partner you'll have in the long run.<br />
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Happy Potty Training!!!<br />
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Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-61941775320457682492011-08-06T14:44:00.000-07:002011-08-06T14:44:17.276-07:00Why does my dog bark so much?!<b><span style="font-size: small;"> I come across many people weekly that want to know where they can get a bark collar. First thing I ask is, "When is your dog barking?" My favorite answer is, "All the time". Really? Your dog barks from morning to night without taking a breath? Boy am I glad I didnât get that dog....<br />
In all seriousness, this is a big reason dogs either get a shock collar slapped on them, are taken to the Humane Society, or are dropped on the side of the road. A lot of people really believe their dog is barking just to make them mad. So Iâm going to tell you a big secretâŚ.. Youâre dog is barking because it needs more exercise! It's bored!<br />
You wouldnât believe the amount of people who donât believe this at first. I show up at their house for a private lesson. I Give them some basic training tips, figure out what the dog might like to do in itâs spare time, and figure out some things for the owner to do cooperatively with the dog. All these things amount to mental or physical "exercise". The client usually says they canât believe these things will cut down on the barking, but they will try anyway. Two weeks later I show up at their house and the first thing they say is the dog hasnât been barking as much, and that they canât believe it! <br />
The one catch to this is the breed of your dog. If you donât like barking donât get a Beagle, Chihuahua, or Schnauzer. These are just three big barkers I get to go see regularly. Make sure you go to AKC.org or Google the breed you are thinking about getting. If you donât like barking, but want a Yorki⌠go to the Humane Society and find another breed youâll love that doesnât have such a tendency to bark.<br />
...And always remember, "A tired dog is a good dog".</span></b>Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991671411820606866.post-5922041837436802932011-07-29T23:35:00.000-07:002011-07-29T23:35:52.824-07:00My First BlogI finally decided to do my first blog on my favorite part of training dogs, behavior modification. It still amazing to me how many dogs could be kept in their home, or saved from being euthanized, just by teaching the owner how to handle the stressful or potentially dangerous situation. Think of it this way... If you are scared of snakes, are you more likely to calm down if someone is yelling at you and grabbing your face, or if someone is giving you some chocolate and talking calmly to you? Positive behavior modification can be a wonderful thing. I love how each day people become more interested in helping their pets cope with life rather than trying to find someone else to "deal" with the dog's problems.<br />
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I am so excited with my new website and blog page!!! I love doing new things in life.Carrie Galvan CBCC-KAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18082525638271322154noreply@blogger.com0