Good Dog Works!

08/26/2024

From Suzanne Clothier.
"Today's Dog Training Myth of the Day: "Only tell them once!"

What if you ask a dog (whatever age, breed, s*x, background, training level) to do something, but there is no response?

Set aside the myth of "only tell them once." Good rule of thumb: if it were a toddler, what would you do? Probably wait a few beats, be sure you had the kid's attention, then ask again.

Just like us, dogs may not be tuned in 100% because they are busy having their own experience of life which may or may not include you at any moment.

If you *do* have the pup's attention, and they did hear you, next step is to consider that they do not understand and/or don't see the point!

I've often asked clients to stand on a chair and sing happy birthday. I've done it while they were trying to take notes. Result: no compliance, and they say usually say, "Sorry - I was focused on taking notes. What did you say?"

If they are paying attention to me but look at me as if I'm crazy, I ask, "Did you understand what I asked? You did? So why aren't you doing it?" Inevitably the answer is, "I don't want to" or "Why would I do that?" It helped them understand how their dogs might be responding.

So give your dogs the courtesy of clear communication, engage attention first, be sure there is understanding, and make it worthwhile for the dog to work with you. Respect, courtesy and taking responsibility for what we are communicating and how we are communicating -- those are all supportive of healthy dog/human relationships.

This does not mean repeating, Sit-sit-sit-sit-sit-sit which is not good communication no matter who you're talking to! 😊

If you want and need response to just one request (and this has great value!), you first have to teach understanding, understand that connection and attention must come first always, then develop the skill, tighten the criteria and make it worthwhile. Then practice!!!"

08/09/2024

From Lorna Winter, "I’m extremely proud to announce that the World’s first diagnostic web app for separation anxiety is now launched!

This app is completely FREE for all to use - just click the link below to access it. No need to download anything from the App Store.

This app has been developed in collaboration with The University of Lincoln Daniel Mills and his team, alongside with Carolyn Menteith and myself, based on the latest research published in 2020 😊

If you are a dog parent and have a dog suffering with a separation related problem, you can use this app to help assess which category of separation related problem your dog has - which will help you and your vet or behaviourist to create a more focused plan to help.

If you are a trainer or behaviourist or vet - you can use this with your clients to help assess which type of separation related problem they have, helping you to build a more focused behaviour modification plan."

07/21/2024

2003 our first double graduates! He was such an amazing dog!

07/07/2024

06/28/2024

14 years ago Tanner completed Basic Good Manners with Alex and Penny, tonight Roscoe followed in his paws! Lulu Battist-Stewart

06/05/2024

Check out this resource for reducing dog bites in young children. "Family dogs are our best friends, but they can bite when provoked, feel threatened or afraid. By learning how a dog communicates and interprets our behaviour, we can detect early warning signs, alter our actions, and prevent bites before they happen." https://www.centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org/bebitesmart Check it out!

Be BiteSmart is an education initiative, creating age-appropriate multimedia teaching materials to help prevent dog bites to the most at-risk ages.

05/18/2024

Know before you go! As a pet owner, being prepared for travel is your responsibility. Additional requirements may apply depending on where the dog has been in the last 6 months and whether or not the dog was vaccinated in the United States. Use the CDC’s Q&A tool (the CDC “DogBot”) to determine what rules apply to your dog: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.htmlKnow before you go!

04/01/2024

To clarify the legal rights and privileges of different types of support dogs in Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Rz6GRRZwBz8YXJ4H/?mibextid=oFDknk

Different types of working support animals
There seems to be a lot of confusion and lack of knowledge about the different types of working support animals. We hope this infographic will help clarify the terms.

Please share this important information!

Service dogs
A service dog is a highly trained dog that helps a handler with a disabling condition that affects one or more major life activity. A service dog is task trained to help mitigate the handler’s disability, has many hours of public access training, and is trained in advanced obedience. A service dog cannot be aggressive (or protective) towards humans or other dogs.

Service dogs are allowed to accompany their handlers anywhere the public can go, including non-pet friendly places.

Therapy dogs
Therapy dogs have to have good obedience, and just like service dogs, cannot be aggressive towards humans or other dogs. Therapy dogs provide comfort and support to a variety of people (for example seniors at a seniors home, patients at a long-term care unit, victims of crime). Therapy dogs are not allowed in non-pet friendly places and can only go into facilities when they are invited in. Therapy dogs are usually certified by an organization, which also provides liability insurance.

Emotional support animals
Emotional support animals are pets that provide comfort and support to a person with a disability at home. They have no legal protection in Canada and have NO public access rights to non-pet friendly places. They require no special training and are not task trained (emotional support isn’t a task). ESAs may be allowed in non-pet friendly housing.

03/12/2024

When we know better we can do better for our dogs.
Puppy class coming soon!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/GkcvZyfGq3bpdWw7/?mibextid=oFDknk

https://www.facebook.com/seespotlearn/posts/809631541172873

03/11/2024

Not what we want to hear.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Ca6oH4EqSSaURhRY/?mibextid=oFDknk

02/23/2024

A heartwarming story by Wendy Battino

"The Howling.
I've been so busy between getting home and staying warm and skijoring and doctor's appointments...I forgot to tell you the story of our journey home.
Well, our original flight was to be early February but the Alaska Airlines flight with the blown door changed everything. Flights were canceled and then the weather came in and more flights were canceled and then there was so much backup that Alaska Air would not fly the dogs for fear of delayed flights and the dogs getting stuck somewhere. I do appreciate that Alaska Air keeps a good eye out for the animals on their flights.
So, I had three canceled flights and was getting to have more adventures in California, however, I was anxious to get home.
Finally, we were cleared to fly. I did all the things, vet checks, and a long hike the day before to balance the stress for Artie & Moon. All seemed well as I checked in and made my way to my gate. I watched the dog kennels loaded onto the plane through the tall plate glass windows as I waited to board. My habit is to board the plane last because I want to be cramped on a plane as little as possible. Finally it was time to take my seat, everyone had boarded. I walked through First class and I heard, unmistakably, Moon, howling her Siberian head off in the hold right beneath me. A few moments later Artie joined her chorus, "AWWWWOOOOOOOO, AWWWWWOOOOOOO!!" Passengers in first class could clearly hear them too. I stopped. I believed they were shouting their connection howl, sounding out to find out where I was. I really had no choice, so I got down on my knees and prepared to answer their call, I knew they would hear me. Just then a flight attendant came up behind me and asked if I had dropped something. I turned and told her what was happening, and I asked her if it would be ok for me to howl down to my family in the hold. She did not bat an eye, so quick was she to measure the situation. She said, "Wait one moment, people are really on edge and I do not want them to get disturbed, I will make an announcement and then you can howl. I was very impressed. She got on the microphone and told the plane that they might hear 2 dogs howling in the hold and that in a moment, their owner was going to howl to them so could we all be quiet one moment so that these dogs could get their message?". Wow, now I had to perform and everyone was straining to watch. Moon let out another pitiful and long howl and then I turned toward her and Artie down below, and ignored where I was, imagining I was calling to them from the boreal forest back home. I knelt down, cupped my mouth, and let out my best and loudest howl....And, Moon and Artie went silent, and the plane laughed. Then, the flight attendant got back on the microphone and said, "Would anyone else like to join in one more howl to let these dogs in the hold know that we care?". And I swear, most of that plane load of fabulous people, HOWLED.
After that, it was a pretty upbeat flight with lots of chatter and visiting and we all made it back to Alaska to pick up our lives and reunite with loved ones, and remember to communicate our love."

02/09/2024

No place to walk? Do a little training for enrichment! Lots of ways to train this. Happy to respond to questions :)

We've all been there—you're savoring a delicious meal and, suddenly, a tasty morsel slips from your grasp and lands on the floor. Before you can react, your furry friend is already there, ready to claim the prize. Teaching your dog to resist the temptation of dropped food can be a game-changer, bo...

02/06/2024

We are shoveling as fast as we can :)
and we looking for someone with a snow blower to secure our perimeters! Anyone??

01/10/2024

A really important article for anyone with a dog who has developed sound sensitivity.

If you plan to use desensitization/counterconditioning to help your dog who fears beeps, take your hand off the volume control for a minute and read this.

01/09/2024

Here's one way to train your dog to go to their mat.
Ask if you have any questions about it :)

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

12/24/2023

All the Best To You and Yours from All of Us!!

12/17/2023

I am posting this article by Martha Hoffman as I know some of you have really struggled with adopted dogs. Also it gets one thinking that we are not the only complex animal :)
"The rapid eruption of problem behavior in adopted rescue dogs is a frequent issue.

It’s often blamed on the new adoptor, the clueless person who seemingly transforms a perfect shelter rescue who passed all evaluations, into a territorial, resource guarding dog who is very bonded to the adoptor but also desplays separation anxiety and extreme fear or aggression to strangers.

I've seen this phenomenon hundreds of times in shelter situations.

Dogs that were previously tightly bonded to an original owner might grieve and ignore people for up to 3 weeks in a shelter. During this period, they might be evaluated as unsocialised, aloof, or fearful of people. This might not be accurate.

Then they recover, and become open to a new bond. Suddenly, they seem to love everyone, because they are ready to bond, but have not yet bonded with one person. This means the shelter interprets them as very social, and adoptable to most situations.

These dogs often don't show any territoriality that might be a part of their temperament, because they no longer have a territory.

They don't show any separation anxiety they might previously had, because they like everyone equally and get comfort from multiple people who they don't live with 24/7.

Some dogs like this are naturally social with strangers, but many are not. But their behavior in the shelter environment doesn't always show the difference. With no social group, all strangers are equally likable.

These unbonded dogs soon latch onto a volunteer or adoptor or foster person.

After as short a time as a few hours, but usually a week or more, the dog starts to fear or distrust or act aggressive to all other people.

Now bonded, it can perceive the difference between it's social group and outsiders.

Depending on its temperament, it may suddenly become fearful, territorial, or aggressive to strangers or to non-bonded family members.

Territoriality that was previously almost undetectable increases as the dog gets accustomed to its new home.

Now that the dog has resources, any previous resource-guarding issues it had, soon re-appear.

Breeds that are typically one-person dogs, such as Cattle Dogs, Chihuahuas and Malinois, often show this to extremes. They and many other breeds have been selected to only bond with a small social group.

Breeds selected to have a large flexible social group, with lifelong ability to bond or accept new people, don’t usually have as many issues when adopted from shelters. For instance, Goldens, Poodles, and Labradors.

Separation anxiety shows up as the dog bonds, and the new owner needs to immediately establish routines to help the dog feel secure when alone. But they don't. They are in love with the loving dog, and they don't see where the bonding behavior is leading to.

I have rescued many hundreds of amazing superstar dogs from shelters. I don’t want to discourage anyone from doing so. But in spite of this, I find it easier to evaluate dogs that are in foster homes. The dog often shows its temperament and past issues more clearly.

Evaluating about 20,000 shelter dogs over my career, I've been mistaken many times about temperament and suitability for Hearing Dog careers. My extensive evaluation protocols are designed to flush out and detect any unwanted traits or behaviors, but a test often only exposes the outer aspects of the dog in its present state of mind. It’s necessary to dig deeper.

The superstars in a shelter deserve adoption. And the adopters need intensive support for a good transition. Otherwise, the shelter is breaking hearts of loving people. When evaluating shelter dogs, even the slightest red flag needs to be taken seriously. Tests do not give answers: they can only stimulate asking more questions with further evaluations. "

Sharing is fine!
Photos of dogs and people in Bali.

12/09/2023

Shared from Andrew Hale;
Thank you to one of my local veterinary acupuncturist for sharing this.

Something to be mindful about.

Check out Fling-less Feb group for lots of great advice and ideas

https://www.facebook.com/groups/flinglessfeb/?ref=share

11/30/2023

Enjoy this lovely Bitey Face or My Teeth and Bigger than your Teeth. Also the self handicapping so that they are roughly the same size.

11/27/2023

An interesting research survey on why we choose the dogs we do.
https://unilincolnlifescienc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6EFjyCIcC0fVPEy?fbclid=IwAR3Hecnw_JtFBAVssUpszj7YHVlXHji4nA5c5JuNW8aVIT19OMEkY6M-oK8

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