Let's Speak Dog

10/31/2024

💜🕸️🎃👻🧡Happy Halloween! 🧡👻🎃🕸️💜
Show us your dog's costumes in the comments below! 📷👇

10/29/2024

New Puppy? Our AKC Star Puppy Socialization Class is the best in the Valley!! Join us for 6 one hour classes covering everything puppy!

Check class times and enroll via the link: https://loom.ly/XwKyxQQ

10/28/2024

Looking for something to do this fall? Join us for a Manners 1 class! Manners 1 is the prefect class for those looking to get started.

See available classes and sign up at this link: https://loom.ly/4jp7wCc

10/23/2024

I found this very interesting. We, in the dog care/training field, do not encounter many working/guarding breeds or mixes, on a casual level. I have met many in behavior consults and through my lifetime in dogs. (that's a lot of years, friends). It is has been interesting to observe our cultural changes, as more of us choose to own/live with dogs.

As a child, pet dogs were rare, maybe 5% of my town had pet dogs. Working farm dogs, rural properties with guard/protection dogs (not trained, natural guarding breeds) lap dogs, were more common. As children, in my family, we were taught to respect dogs and be mindful of any animal with teeth, which included: do not approach a dog chewing a bone or in possession of something, leave the dog alone when the dog is resting, let the dog eat in peace, don't touch the dog if the dog doesn't want to be touched, etc.

Denise Fenzi shared a post by Martha Hoffman, I'm cc'ing below. Her points are well made, and new to many, I'm sure, but part of the truths I learned as a child, good knowledge to be aware of when working with/playing with dogs of all mixes and breeds. In the kennel, I call these dogs 'dinner & a movie" dogs. Dogs with clear rules of engagement, not aggressive, not bad, just dogs with personal rules that deserve handling with respect to who they are, not what we assume they should be. Feel free to share thoughts.

Martha Hoffman
·
INVISIBLE TRIGGERS FOR BITING: TIME AND SPACE
Martha Hoffman @2024
TIME:
Timed-out tolerance: Some dogs act welcoming at first. They then build up an increasing time-intolerance to someone being close to them, over a period of minutes. Therefore, the bite happens very suddenly, when the dogs' tolerance "times out". The longer the person or other dog remains close to it, the the fearful dog builds more and more stress, and the confidently assertive dog builds more and more annoyance.
SPACE: TERRITORY
Portable sense of territory: Some dogs have a portable sense of territory around their body, that builds up over about 15 minutes or more, wherever it goes. When it first lies down in any new place, it feels neutral about others in that space. But once it starts to feel possessive of that space, it suddenly reacts by either defending it, or trying to drive the dog or person away from the space. These dogs usually give more warning than in the other situations in this list.
Why doesn’t the dog simply leave the person? It might not consider that an option unless trained to do so. It might be so confident that it feels that the person invaded their territory, so why would it decide to act submissive by leaving? It might be a breed in which retreat and escape behavior has been selected out, causing the dog to either stand its ground or go forward, even if fearful. Malinois have this temperament profile in well bred working lines: many almost cannot retreat.
SPACE: PERSONAL SPACE
Personal space violation: Some dogs have a portable personal space of only one or two inches, that is fiercely defended. A dog like this might never chase anyone, if there is not much chase/prey instinct. It is often a confident dog that is not fearful. Therefore it feels no reason to give any warning signs, since the dog is perfectly happy, UNLESS the two-inch-or-less “force-field” is breached. Once it is breached, the distance must be enforced with a snap or bite. Many Chows are like this. Groomers complain that they show no warning before biting. Actually, the groomer invaded the dog’s tiny personal space. Dogs with a larger personal distance are actually safer to encounter, since they show reactions at a distance that allows us to get to safety!
IGNORING IS A WARNING TO STAY AWAY
Ignoring the dog’s ignoring: When a dog ignores another dog or a person, that is a distancing signal, NOT a neutrality signal. The consequence for "ignoring the dog’s ignoring" might be a snap or bite. There WAS a signal: the absence of interactive behavior. For this reason, I never touch a dog that does not touch me first in a friendly way. When doing temperament evaluations, I constantly remind myself to note, “What is the dog NOT-DOING?” Quote from Peter Apps: “Animals never do nothing”.
NO-TOUCH ZONES
Touching the wrong place: A dog might snap or bite when touched anywhere except the head. The person might have previously petted the dog on the head with great results, and is then surprised at a bad reaction when they touch elsewhere. Dogs seem to have evolved to enjoy touch more on places they cannot groom themselves: their heads. Primitive breeds (Canaan Dogs for example) often groom each other's heads, removing ticks. Head touching is usually perceived by most dogs as more pleasurable than touch in other places.
Shoulders: A dog resting its chin or paws on a dog's shoulder is a way of testing whether mounting or wrestling or an attack will be permitted or not. Some dogs are abnormally triggered by a touch or pressure on their shoulders by a human, and some are tolerant.
KILL THE PREY
Prey instinct: If prey-killing instinct is triggered, the resulting sudden biting might be interpreted as happening with little warning.
ACCIDENTAL BITING TRAINING
Previous learning: Some dogs have previously learned to successfully punish unwanted behavior in humans by biting. This behavior is often inadvertently trained when humans attempt to punish, but when the dog then warns them to get away, the human draws back in fear. This retreat by the person constitutes a training session in defensive or retaliatory biting. If actual punishment had occurred, the behavior would lessen, according to the scientific definition of punishment. Since the behavior increases, the person did not punish, they instead reinforced the behavior. If a person then suddenly violates the dog’s previously established boundaries, it may react with equal rudeness, startled by the unexpected violation. It may skip some of the warning signals if a "previously trained" person breaks the established boundaries the dog has already set.
Yes, this paragraph states the opposite of the current “New Wive’s Tale”, in which we are told that punishing threatening behavior causes a dog to skip warning signals and go directly to biting. In my experience, the opposite is true. Retreating from threatening behavior such as growling, increases the escalation of threat. Protection trainers have trained dogs to bite people for thousands of years, by triggering the dog to threaten the trainer, and then the trainer retreats fearfully. This is done in order to build the dog’s confidence to go forward and bite immediately without using warning signals. When an owner accidentally triggers the dog to threaten, and they then retreat, they are using the exact same ancient and effective method.
Please share. DM or email for info on our online courses on Hearing Dog alerting! Join my private account for dog behavior in Bali.
Photo: a dog In Bali, resting and guarding its personal space, using a whale eye signal fo forbid approach."

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10/16/2024

THERE'S STILL TIME TO JOIN OUR TRICK DOG CLASS!!

Enroll with the link: https://loom.ly/sP8msG0

10/15/2024

Let's Speak Dog News

News & Updates

10/10/2024

Jon Deb Stone in her Sunday 3PM Rally Advanced Obedience class! New session begins this Sunday October 13!

Sign up: https://loom.ly/gGWBKoI

10/09/2024

Earn your AKC Trick dog titles with Deb Stone in our upcoming trick dog class! Class will be Thursday's at 7:15PM starting Thursday October 17!

Enroll with the link: https://loom.ly/sP8msG0

10/04/2024

Join us for a Manners 1 class! Manners 1 is the prefect class for those looking to get started. See available classes and sign up at this link: https://loom.ly/4jp7wCc

10/03/2024

Looking for somethign fun to do this fall? Join us for an AKC trick dog class and work towards your AKC trick dog titles!

Enroll with the link: https://loom.ly/sP8msG0

08/21/2024

This gallery hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

08/14/2024

08/11/2024

Rowan-powering off the ramp-thank you Lauren Gray
Lauren's Animal Photography photo credit

08/07/2024

Super thanks for Cheryl Corson and Jean Theman for coming out tonight to play rally! It was a miserable night with pouring rain but these teams splashed through the parking lot! Also thankful for my Manners 1 teams Nicole and Cherie for also making the trip.

07/31/2024

We did a thing! Our first hosted Seminar since 2020 in our new building! It was so wonderful to see so many people come out and learn about dog behavior with Amy Cook, who shared her fabulous method of using play to help dogs with fearful, anxious and over arousal issues. The Play Way seminar was fabulous, and for any one who has not had the opportunity to meet/work with Amy, you are missing a gem! Thank you so much Amy Cook for coming out to Easton PA and sharing your wonderful self with us!!!

07/27/2024

Let's Speak Dog instructors Diane, Lynn, and Sarah are over at Invertase Brewing Company for their Dog Days of summer event. Stop by and say hi!!!
We are also doing nose work try-outs in the air conditioned tasting room.

07/17/2024

This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

07/04/2024

https://loom.ly/M4Qi3z0 https://loom.ly/M4Qi3z0

07/01/2024

Deb Stone still has some spots available in her signature Engagement & Heeling Class Sunday's at 4:30PM. This class is rarely on a weekend so if you were hoping for a weekend time, now is your chance! Sign up via the link below.

Sign Up: https://loom.ly/nfbSN-E

06/30/2024

Hi All!
Things have been rolling along quickly this summer season!!! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 ( our dock diving club) is up and running with discount memberships for events and rentals! We have events happening all summer and our upgrades to our campus are moving along! Here are some updates:

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: installed separates the fun field from the pool area. This means no more trekking from the parking lot to the field! Please use the second drivway (follow the new signs) to the airlock for parking.

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲: The east driveway has been resurfaced and the driveway extension to the field will be completed next week! No more lumps & bumps! Our main parking lot is scheduled to be expanded and resurfaced in the fall.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: For Fun Field is not available inside the fence-please park to the left, leaving room for other cars to pass by to pool access.

𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Please open/close the gate and park inside the pool area fencing.

𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬: The new fence gives us freedom to offer more available rental times! Check out the calendars for pool & field for new access info.

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒:
We have lots of fun stuff happening this summer!
𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭is a try it/practice session for the dock pool.
𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: is a titling/fun day of day of Dock Jumping for those ready to go off the big dock!
𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫: Amy Cook, PhD is coming for a 2 day seminar on her technique The Play Way for helping over aroused, scared or reactive dogs.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Our summer CDSP Obedience Trial is Sat 8/3, if you have never seen competition obedience, stop by and get inspired to play!
𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. What about rally? You'll have to wait for Sept for our next rally event, but we'd love to see you in a class, getting ready to enter our WCRL RALLY event 9/21.
𝐍𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤. What about NACSW? The fall ORT is open for entries! Join Sarah & Lynn Sept 20!

That's all the news for now! We hope to see you all around campus soon!

Renée

06/29/2024