Mind Your Manners Dog Training of the Lakeshore

07/28/2024

Random thought of the day on navigating behaviors that are the result of personality traits: This dog is high-drive and persistent. And it drives me nuts sometimes. It's the reason she was rehomed to begin with. But is "training" her to act calmly constructive or beneficial (to her)? Or does it just mask her personality to make her more palatable to others?

Certainly, there's a threshold at which a behavior can become detrimental to the individual's quality of life (especially if crossing that threshold results in losing one's home), and in some cases, redirecting those traits into a more controlled or constructive behavioral output is necessary for safety...

But perhaps we humans can find ways to expand our definition of "acceptable" behavior. In my case, if I "train" Maggie to be "calm" (void of behaviors) and "entertain herself" (become asocial), she is no longer the amazingly connected, interactive, and athletic dog that she is naturally. And that is ultimately a disservice to both of us.

So, long story short, I need to meet her where she is. Embrace what makes her uniquely her. Even if that challenges me to expand my version of what I think a dog "should" be.

Just like I try to do with my children. 😉

02/28/2024

Kirk Park's Dog Beach is BACK! 🎉

The beach changed it's hours dramatically during the Covid-19 Pandemic

07/19/2023

Last call for Level 2 obedience at Byron Township Recreation! Dogs must have previously completed Level 1 and be able to maintain a 1-minute stay. Class begins Thursday, July 27th. Call 616-878-1998 to register.

07/18/2023

🎂 happy 3rd birthday to my pandemic pup, Holden! What a long way he's come ❤️

06/22/2023

Another obedience session ends with another graduation day! Congrats to all these amazing pups and their people!

05/21/2023

Soft items like cardboard or towels are great for starting to build confidence through enrichment.

Using enrichment activities to build confidence and resilience.

05/07/2023

Enrichment idea: fill a small pool with sand or plastic balls (or wadded up craft paper, for that matter), and let your pup "dig" for a favorite toy.
Baby pools are currently $7.99 at Aldi!

04/29/2023

Does your pup recall like THIS? If not, this 5-part blog series can help you identify why and how to fix it! https://www.mindyourmannersdogs.com/single-post/2016/04/02/total-recall-shifting-our-perceptions

04/25/2023

Graduation photos from the Chow Hound Pet Supplies obedience classes. Next session starts May 15th - register now at https://form.jotform.com/223315404472145

04/22/2023

Learning today from the incomparable Suzanne Clothier (among others)!

04/13/2023

Busy pups NEED enrichment!
(Non-busy pups too 😉)

Boston Terrier pup tries out a version of the box game: a shoebox filled with toilet paper tubes and a handful of treats.

04/11/2023

Dogs communicate primarily through body language. Keep your eyes peeled for these tell-tale signs of stress!

The Victoria Stilwell Academy has 10 subtle ways dogs say "nope" and "I need some space" for dog trainers to share with their clients.

04/07/2023

McFly has been working HARD at learning how to relax. For a busy guy, being still is no easy feat!

02/21/2023

Obedience class graduation and enrichment fun from last night!

01/25/2023

***Sound On!*** The littlest dog playing "viciously" with the teenager (don't worry, little dog has GREAT bite inhibition). Biggest dog wants to play along SO BADLY.

01/05/2023

307 dogs. How amazing is that?!
The end of the year means it's time for me to work through my numbers in preparation of tax season. As stressful as business taxes are to prepare, I'm grateful that it gives me a chance to see what I've accomplished each year. 2022 had me driving over 11,500 miles to work with more than 300 amazing dogs (and their owners) across West Michigan!

01/05/2023

Well... She's not wrong!

Wait-

12/23/2022

If you are looking for something to watch this weekend...

12/20/2022

It's so fun to get cards from MYM clients this time of year! I just love seeing what everyone is up to 😊

12/17/2022

Confession time: I am also guilty of inadvertently reinforcing attention-seeking behavior. Lucky for me, this particular behavior (gently pawing at me) is generally not detrimental. If I lived with someone who was taking blood thinners, it would be a different story. Behaviors like this one (or barking, or "stealing" things) evolve and stick around because they WORK. The behavior results in engagement. Even attempts to physically punish a behavior like this can be construed as attention -- any lovin' is good lovin'.

What to do instead? Negative punishment (removing your attention) over time will help extinguish the behavior because it no longer "works" for your dog. Even better? Head it off by proactively providing an appropriate outlet. By anticipating what your dog needs, you can avoid these kinds of behaviors from becoming entrenched.

Give your pup something else to think about -- maybe you ask for a "sit" when your dog approaches, and give attention to reinforce that behavior. Maybe you teach your dog to lay his head on your foot or lap to initiate interaction. Maybe you provide enrichment activities to give her something else to think about, and then offer attention when your pup is not actively performing the behavior you wish to extinguish.

Or, live with the "monster" you've created, and find the humor in your dog training you for once 😉

12/14/2022

I get it. Shelters gain attention for their cause by using puppies (rather than adult or senior dogs). And puppies with little Christmas bows and hats make great photos. But I really struggle with the "first-come, first-served, take it home tonight" approach to adoption.

These are not toys or stuffed animals. They are individual beings that will require YEARS of responsible ownership. Adopting (or purchasing) a dog should never be a spur-of-the-moment, impulse decision!

Fingers crossed that these pups get responsible, prepared, and committed homes for Christmas 🤞

11/29/2022

MYM clients Calen and Sebastian started working with me back in May to help Sebastian overcome a traumatic experience in a crate that resulted in some pretty severe separation anxiety and barrier frustration. With patience and building on success, they have gone from THAT to THIS!
"Hey! It has been a while but we are still training and doing good. We just moved and are getting more settled. He has been sleeping in and loving the crate since the move. "
Keep up the good work, Calen and Sebastian!

11/28/2022

Sometimes it can be really hard to tell!

contingency

11/01/2022

Story time! I don't often post about cats. While I've had plenty of experience with them in a veterinary setting and as an owner, they are not my specialty.
However, I do frequently work with clients who bring a new pup home to an established cat, and they are typically frustrated and worried by their cat's resistance to embracing their new dog. While there are lots of things we can do to help alleviate stress ( #1 in my book is offering vertical spaces for the cat), the biggest factor in success frequently is TIME.
Domestic cats tend to not be as "social" as humans and dogs, even with members of their own species. Take these two: established young adult female meets adolescent (punk) male. They couldn't stand each other. Fast forward 5 years. Now they can (begrudgingly) share the couch.
Moral of the story? Be patient and manage your expectations. Fast friends between felines (much less between a cat and dog) are few and far between. Safe spaces and TIME are important for successful habituation.

10/09/2022

Fall is a great time to expose dogs to "novel stimuli" (like Halloween decorations) during the daytime. However, dusk or nighttime walks may be more challenging for some pups. Choose your adventures wisely!

10/07/2022

Parallel walking is helping Juneau the mini-Aussie learn that other dogs are boring and not worthy of reaction 😉

10/03/2022

Crate time is important when you are home too, not just when you are gone! Here, the MYM crew is spending some time snoozing in their crates while I get caught up on voicemail and email messages. Did you know that adult dogs should spend about half their day sleeping? Even more for large breeds, elderly dogs, and growing pups!

09/18/2022

Ah, the teenage phase. Most of us realize (at least in the back of our minds) that a teenage phase happens. However, it lasts much longer than most of us realize. For many dogs, social maturity isn't until 2 years old! And while many of those challenging behaviors are not necessarily about intentionally challenging you, *some* of them may be. This article is a great reminder that this, too, shall pass.

As at so many times during early life with dogs, patience is due. It is just a phase.