Good Dog Training

08/29/2024

That equipment includes gentle leaders, prong collars, and of course shock collars (even if they just beep). Methods include right leashes, little tugs, forced sits etc.

Be the solution. Not the problem.

07/19/2024

Positive Only Training is the only way.

In August of 2021 the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a new position statement on their recommended training methods: “Based on current scientific evidence, the AVSAB recommends that only reward based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. Aversive training methods [shock collars, prong collars, punishment] have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human- animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. AVSAB therefore advises that aversive methods should not be used in animal training or for the treatment of behavior disorders.”

04/18/2024

Think about this if you ever consider using shock collars, punishment, force or intimidation on your dog:

Canny canines
Many dog owners swear their pooches understand them.
Now, a new groundbreaking study shows they actually might.
The research suggests that canines possess a more sophisticated understanding of human language than previously recognized, the Los Angeles Times reported.
To arrive at that conclusion, neuroscientist Marianna Boros and her team used electroencephalogram (EEG) technology to probe the minds of 18 pet dogs as they listened to familiar words uttered by their owners.
They placed electrodes on the dogs’ heads to measure brain activity as they listened to recordings of their owners using familiar words, followed by the appearance of corresponding or unrelated objects.
Through careful analysis of the dogs’ brain wave patterns, researchers observed a significant drop in neural activity when the spoken word matched with the subsequent appearance of a related object.
This response mirrored human brain reactions to unexpected words, indicating that dogs not only recognize specific verbal cues but also mentally anticipate corresponding objects.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions about the cognitive capabilities of animals, suggesting that canines possess a level of abstraction and comprehension previously attributed exclusively to humans.
Moreover, the experiment’s rigorous design ruled out the possibility of the pets simply associating words with objects based on simultaneous presence, reinforcing the notion that they possess a genuine understanding of the meaning of specific words.
The authors believe that further exploration into the linguistic abilities of dogs and other animals can reveal more about the evolution of language and cognition across species, including humans.

10/24/2023

Separation anxiety in dogs should be seen as a symptom of underlying frustrations rather than a diagnosis, and understanding these root causes could be key to effective treatment, new research by animal behavior specialists suggests.

01/13/2023

I have been telling my clients that the longer they can put off neutering their dogs the better, and once again the latest science proves me right.

The effects of neutering a dog too early changed the recommendation of when to neuter.

09/13/2022

‘On that fateful Tuesday, sales director Michael Hingson, blind since birth, arrived for work on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center’s Tower One. Hingson’s guide dog, Roselle, settled into her usual post beneath the desk.

At 8:45 a.m., a hijacked jetliner crashed into the tower 18 floors above Hingson. After calling his wife, Karen, and making sure his staff was evacuated, they began their hellish descent down 78 flights of stairs.

Roselle led the way for Hingson and 30 others, spiraling down the emergency stairs, working methodically through smoke, debris, and fleeing office workers, they made it to the lobby. By the time they reached the sidewalk, Tower Two had been struck and was collapsing. “It sounded like a metal and concrete waterfall,” Hingson said. They ran for shelter down a subway entrance.

They emerged from underground as Tower One fell, raining down ash and debris. Roselle led Hingson some 40 blocks to a friend’s apartment and safety.’

For her heroic behavior Roselle received the Canine Excellence Award (ACE) in the guide dog category in 2002. She died in June 2011, aged 14, with Michael and Karen Hingson at her side.

🇺🇸 We will never forget.

09/12/2022

RIP Chubbs. APA killed you 3 years ago today after mistreating you for even longer. You were a good boy. You are not forgotten. 💔

09/12/2022

Exposure to abuse, neglect, discrimination, violence, and other adverse experiences increase a dog’s lifelong potential for serious health problems and leading to aggressive behaviors.

Shelters, animal control, dog trainers, veterinarians and care providers need to become aware and recognize that exposure to traumatic events, especially as puppies, heighten dogs’ health risks long afterward.

Just like children [1,2,3] that are exposed to trauma, dogs as well can infer implicit information from human emotional expressions. [4]

We need to stop aversive handling and training - it hurts people, fills shelters, kills dogs.

Escalator Example:

Naturally dogs have fear of moving sidewalks, escalators, and elevators — and for good reason!
Dogs lose control of balance if their environment moves this proportional to their movement, they feel dizzy and disoriented. Similar to us sitting in the bus next to another bus, and the other bus starts moving and we get confused about our movement in relationship to the moving environment. 

The Risks
Escalators and elevators can injure and even kill dogs when accidents happen.
And client of mine almost choked a dog as he left that elevator while the door was closing. Fortunately She let go of the leash.
While they might be convenient and easy for us humans to navigate, it's best to avoid them altogether when with your furry friend, until we properly educate our dog about elevators and escalators.

All malls have alternative staircases and ramps.

If your dog consents and is not so heavy you can always pick her up before you get to the escalator. But be careful that you don’t lose your balance when stepping on or off the escalator. 

Escalators (If You Must) Cornell University

“Escalators should be avoided as far as possible since they pose a serious risk of injuring the dog. If you must use an escalator, here is the safe way to do it that Guiding-Eyes teaches its graduates in class.
Work the dog up to the plate of the escalator. Put your hand out to find the moving hand-rail and make sure that it is moving away from you. Drop the harness handle after doing a wait and praise the dog for having brought you to the escalator. After making sure that there is no one immediately ahead of you on the escalator, heel the dog on to the escalator, making sure that the dog does not get in front of you. Your left foot should be ideally on the same step --or even ahead of your dog. Keep your hand on the hand-rail and have the dog stay at your side; as you sense the hand-rail flattening out, start heeling your dog off the escalator. Make sure that both you and your dog are moving as you come to the end of the escalator, and continue to walk a few paces after you get off before praising the dog and picking up the harness handle.

Warnings

Do not get on an escalator that is not moving --since it is impossible to say which direction it will go if it starts up while you're on it.
Do not pull the dog backwards off the escalator --this will scare the dog and probably stop him from working.” [5]

1. V.J. Felitti, R.F. Anda, D. Nordenberg, D.F. Williamson, A.M. Spitz, V. Edwards, et al. “Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14, no. 4 (1998): 245-258.

2. J. P. Shonkoff, A. S. Garner, and the Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health; Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care; and Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. “The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress.” Pediatrics, 129, (2012b): 232–246.

3. Public Health Management Corporation (2013). Findings from the Philadelphia Urban ACE Survey. Available at: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2013/rwjf407836.

4. Research shows dogs can relate human emotions to subsequent actions https://phys.org/news/2021-09-dogs-human-emotions-subsequent-actions.html

5. https://www.cornell.edu/info/people/raman/hubbell-labrador/usage-faq.html

Photo: is a symbolic; Person drags his fearful dog to the escalator, later picks the dog up and carried the dog.

Note: Every mall has an elevator and the staircase.  Forcing the dog to compliance to get it your way, is forceful. It doesn’t serve the dog, but only the person. 

08/24/2022

Chief has stolen our 💙💚💛❤️ since the moment he arrived to AAC. We pled and pled for a foster for this sweetheart who is way too potty trained for kennel life. He would wait forever if he had to, for a walk break. He also would avoid using his Kuranda bed which was suspect and odd. Now we know why! He finally went to a foster home and upon closer look in a more natural environment an issue was reported with his right rear leg. His exam at AAC led to X-ray images and the review by a board certified surgeon indicated his right distal femur has a moth eaten appearance and the cortex has whispy appearance. A likely cause may be osteosarcoma (bone cancer) although there are more distant possibilities like a fungal condition or old trauma.

He’s now in Classics medical sponsorship and is being scheduled for an amputation of his right rear leg next month. It’s impossible to be certain of osteosarcoma without a bone biopsy so we are sponsoring both the amputation and the bone biopsy and all his sick/well care for his diagnosis. Thankfully Chief is fit and at a good weight and is expected to do well as a tripod. We’ll evaluate the findings afterward and determine the best way forward for Chief.

His exam, surgery care and biopsy totals $1874 without any other incidentals. If you would like to help offset Chief’s care costs we’ve turned on the donation button.

08/24/2022

05/17/2022

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/201805/lets-give-dogs-break-distinguishing-myths-facts

While we know quite a lot about dog behavior, numerous misconceptions exist.

02/28/2022

Just got a message from someone I did a zoom with about a week ago. Their foster dog wouldn’t come in from the yard, wouldn’t take treats from them, and they couldn’t even get a collar on her, let alone a leash.

“A week later and we have quite a different dog here. She has a collar on, goes in and out with no problems, and when Aaron gets back from his trip we will work on the leash…Thanks for all your help.”

It never ceases to amaze me how fast you can see change when you do it right.

12/26/2021

Let The ALPHA ROLLOVERS know

Do not Alpha Roll your puppy, it will NOT trust and respect you if manhandled and forcibly restrained on his back. It will become more suspicious and resistant. You'll soon have a puppy that doesn't even enjoy being cuddled because he perceives your hugs as forcible restraint. Be gentle and patient, teach your dog how respectful people are.

A veterinary study published in The Journal of Applied Animal Behavior (2009), if you’re aggressive to your dog, your dog will be aggressive, too.

Alpha rolls are a debunked and dangerous training technique, which do not accomplish any training goals and have been shown to increase a dog's aggressive behaviors.

The study demonstrated that many confrontational training methods, whether staring down dogs, striking them, or intimidating them with physical manipulation, do little to correct improper behavior and can elicit aggressive responses.

Some Techniques Triggered Aggression

The highest frequency of aggression occurred in response to aversive (or punishing) interventions, even when the intervention was indirect:

Note: many care givers used more than one punishing method

• Hitting or kicking the dog (41% of owners reported aggression)
• Growling at the dog (41%)
• Forcing the dog to release an item from its mouth (38%)
• “Alpha roll” (forcing the dog onto its back and holding it down) (31%)
• “Dominance down” (forcing the dog onto its side) (29%)
• Grabbing the jowls or scruff (26%)
• Staring the dog down (staring at the dog until it looks away) (30%)
• Spraying the dog with water pistol or spray bottle (20%)
• Yelling “no” (15%)
• Forced exposure (forcibly exposing the dog to a stimulus – such as tile floors, noise or people – that frightens the dog) (12%)

Puppy training should be a pleasant experience for all involved.
Learn how from home
Holisticdogtraining.org/events

Source

https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/new_study_finds_popular_alpha_dog_training_techniques_can_cause_more_harm_t/

-If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study-
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm

12/17/2021

There is no such thing as littermate syndrome. Here’s what’s really happening. https://www.facebook.com/holisticdogtraining/videos/645827686610336/

11/26/2021

Be a giver, not a taker.

11/15/2021

It’s well understood that loud noises can be scary for many dogs. It’s less well recognized that quieter sounds ( including the beep of a bark collar or e1collar or invisible fence collar) can also cause stress. For some dogs it’s extreme and noticeable; for others the signs may be more subtle. Think about your dog’s environment, especially if he avoids certain areas.

https://bit.ly/30pRu6t

Sudden, loud noises are one of the most common triggers for fearful behaviors in dogs, and many companion dogs suffer from noise sensitivity. Existing research focuses on dramatic infrequent sounds (e.g., thunderstorms, fireworks). Anecdotally, and based on reports of undesirable behaviors in respon...

11/03/2021

Holistic Training or Parenting does not believe in NILF!

Nothing in Life is Free (NILF) is a dog training protocol that requires your dog to obey a command or cue before he gets something he wants.

The idea is outdated and does not apply to any sort of relationship, including the one you have with your dog.

Imagine if we applied this same theory to our personal lives. How would that look?
1. Do you command your kids to obey you to receive every morsel of food they eat?
2. If someone you love asks you for a hug, do you ask them to do something in exchange, like a push-up, or to get you a glass of your water?
3. Do you offer basic needs like affection, water, and a safe place, for a price?

The idea of value exchange is excellent and helpful in training and daily routines.

However, the idea that dogs “know” what’s expected from them is not accurate based on what we know about dogs.
Dogs don’t have logic and can’t comprehend abstract ideas.
They have episodic memory and are concrete thinkers.

Where does the term come from?
It’s a financial term, not a relationship term.
“Nothing is free. Everything has to be paid for every profit in one thing, payment in some other thing. For every life, a death. Even your music, of which we have heard so much that had to be paid for. Your wife was the payment for your music. Hell is now satisfied.”
Ted Hughes, The Tiger's Bones

10/03/2021

The enduring appeal of showing your Chihuahua who is boss.

09/15/2021

Interactions with your dog should be a two-way street where the dog has some control. This video is a good example of getting consent when you're loving on your dog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xg6QNgwXTo

Do you love to pet your dog? Does she love it too? Are you sure? Don't be the guy who can't take a hint!Here's a way to ask your dog if he or she likes the w...

08/28/2021

I spend time with every client talking about food. It's such a huge element in dog behavior that it shocks me that most trainers seem unaware of it. I strongly advocate a raw diet, and here's why:

[Excerpted from Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet by Steve Brown]

"Most modern dog foods come up short in comparison to the canine ancestral diet in three major ways:

1. Not enough protein.
2. Unbalanced and incomplete fats.
3. Can’t be completely nutritionally balanced without some fresh foods.

Not enough protein – Protein provided 49% of the calories in the dog’s ancestral diet, our gold standard. Modern dogs eating typical dry foods get about half as much protein (25% of calories) and seven times the amount of carbohydrate (43% of calories) as their ancestral diet provided.

Unbalanced, incomplete, and, at times, rancid fats – The scientific evidence is overwhelming – dogs who eat the proper amounts of balanced fats, with a complete range of fatty acids, are healthier and happier. These dogs: learn faster; remember more; see and hear better; have fewer skin, coat and other inflammatory problems; are more coordinated; are less likely to be obese; and will probably live longer than dogs who do not consume a proper balance of fats.

Can’t be complete without some fresh foods – Dogs, like people, need some fresh whole foods. In the past ten years, many long-term studies have shown that vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from whole foods are more nutritious than the synthesized or refined forms found in most dog foods."

Most vets don't seem to know this, which is why the sell and recommend some of the worst foods you can feed your dog, like Royal Canin, Hills, Science Diet and Purina. Even dogs with "skin issues" and "gastrointestinal issues" do better on raw diets than the expensive prescription foods. If your dog has specific food-related issues, like allergies or a propensity to form crystals, consult a veterinary nutritionist who can tailor a diet to your dog's specific needs. But keeping to the way dogs were engineered to eat is always best.

08/26/2021

08/18/2021

You don't need shock collars, prong collars, gentle leaders, sq**rt bottles or other forms of force to train your dog, no matter what the behaviors.

We are thrilled to see this updated position statement on humane dog training from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

"Evidence supports the use of reward based methods for all canine training. AVSAB promotes interactions with animals based on compassion, respect, and scientific evidence. Based on these factors, reward-based learning offers the most advantages and least harm to the learner’s welfare. Research supports the efficacy of reward-based training to address unwanted and challenging behaviors. There is no evidence that aversive training is necessary for dog training or behavior modification."

We wholeheartedly agree. We recommend clicking below to read the statement in full.

https://avsab.ftlbcdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

08/11/2021

Shock collars have already been banned fir use in dogs in most European countries, Canada and Australia. They have also been condemned the the UN and most major veterinary professional associations. The US is behind the curve.

About Electrical Stimulation Devices
( these are the same as shock collars, Aka Stim-collar, e-collars)

Please share - the sales and use of shock devises needs to stop

, Petco, Tractor Supply Co. Coastal Farm & Ranch, Amazon.com, Chewy

The FDA said that the electrical stimulation devices ESD presented an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury” in a statement announcing the initial ban of the devices in March 2020.

If it’s dangerous to children than why is it’s ok for dogs?

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-rare-step-ban-electrical-stimulation-devices-self-injurious-or-aggressive-behavior

In addition there are several alternatives to behavior related treatments that are more effective long term than averse training methods.

Here a collection of 26 papers suggesting that they they are harmful : https://www.holisticdogtraining.org/blog/why-Not-using-shock

05/14/2021

Bella has been anxious and troubled for the past few months. Not her norm. She’s had multiple vet visits and tests but no one has been able to find a cause or a solution to her constant pacing and vocalizing. No one has been getting any sleep. Her mom asked for help so yesterday morning I did a reconnective healing on Bella. Today I got this message from her mom:

“I don't know what you did yesterday and I don't know what today will hold, but I wanted to let you know that Bella had one of her best days in a long time yesterday and slept through the night with no cbd. We both got rest. Whatever that glowing ball is, I'd love for us to keep working on it. I'm so grateful for our day of peace yesterday. I had my girl back.❤”

Makes me so happy.