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Monday 6pm - 7pm Saturday 9am - 2pm

Zippity Do Dog Training and Behavior Modification

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United States
Norton, MA
Zippity Do Dog Training and Behavior Modification

Specializing in Family Dog Mediation and Dog Centered Training Informed by Science

Lee Desmarais is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Professional Dog Trainer Program, a Certified Dog Trainer (CDT) through INTOdogs, a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator, Certified Level-1 Applied Behavior Analysis Accredited Practitioner (ABAP-1), and has also completed 60 hours in Dr. Susan Friedman's Learning and Living with Animals course. In addition she is a Licensed Family Dog Mediator thr

ough Kim Brophey's, L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Professional Course® and holds a certificate of completion in Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Master Course. (Scroll down to see certifications)
Lee is an organizational member of INTOdogs as well as, the Pet Professional Guild, International Initiative for Force-Free Dog Trainers and Progressive Reinforcement Training. Lee is a “positive based”, “force-free”, “aversive-free” trainer; Certified Fear-Free Professional, whose primary style of teaching is based in ethical and scientifically proven training approaches, according to the ethical guidelines and humane practices as defined by:
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Linda Michaels' Hierarchy of Dog Needs
The Pet Professional Guild

09/05/2024

My two sleepy heads all snuggled together beside me. Can’t beat these moments.

Check out zippitydodog’s video.

09/05/2024

I am still learning my way around TikTok but I would really love it if my followers here could connect with me over there!

221 Followers, 124 Following, 592 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by zippitydodog

09/05/2024

09/05/2024

Can't believe we still have to ask this!

09/05/2024

Golden Retrievers don't stop growing until they are around 12-24 months so, to keep the risk of hip disease low, don't make the switch to adult dog food too soon. Read our latest article on how to look after your Golden Retriever, as well our list of the best food for this breed at different life stages - https://buff.ly/3Age5B0

09/04/2024

I am still trying to figure out TT🤷‍♀️

Check out zippitydodog’s video.

09/04/2024

The PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report is the UK's largest annual assessment of pet wellbeing.

The 2024 (PAW) Report reveals worrying trends about dog training in the UK and how using aversive tools and techniques are harming, not helping our dogs.

The report tells us that using positive, reward-based training is much better for dogs, helping them feel safer and more secure. It also highlights the need for better education on effective and humane training methods.

The PDSA says;

'An issue that may be contributing to confrontational behaviour and poor welfare in dogs is the use of aversive training methods'

Full report here 👇
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report/paw-report-2024/dogs

08/30/2024

08/29/2024

Wish and Marty my two .

08/26/2024

I first met Sharon as a classmate in the Karen Pryor academy. Her mind-fullness when training dogs is not only to be admired but one to which we should aspire as trainers. As she so eloquently explains the nuances of fall out, and how the methods used can influence outcomes.
Kindness to dogs matters and anything less is a betrayal to the dog and dare I say to an entire industry.

08/26/2024

Another great piece and a worthy read from Eileen…
“I don’t call myself a force free trainer, but they are my people (if they’ll have me)! I check all the boxes, and then some, in terms of how I train and live with my dogs. I see no benefit and lots of problems attendant to sitting down with someone who is so willing to use unsavory debate tactics and speaks of my colleagues with disdain. It would be a betrayal. There is no bridge there.”
https://eileenanddogs.com/blog/2024/08/26/the-real-facts-about-science-based-dog-training-a-bad-faith-argument/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0eyKPT7sV3hP0j2kcZjNGni98impQq0FV3LhAWP1wBR09nmOusCueW4HE_aem_q11DGWuEZBv7dbpXVUsjOw

In February 2023, Ivan Balabanov gave a podcast called The Real Facts About Science Based Dog Training. There were problems. Let's learn about Gish Gallops.

08/24/2024

This is a real problem in our industry.

Learning and behavior change is a lifetime commitment and process.

But that's hard for clients to understand when we have TV entertainers that seemingly resolve complex behavior issues in a 30 minute show and profess that the ultimate goal is to have a "calm" dog. Dogs being shut down or scared because of aversive training methods or tools and then that being passed off as a "calm, relaxed state" is criminal, as far as I'm concerned.

Read more here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2021/07/19/calmdog/

08/24/2024

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

08/23/2024

Repost from our friends at 🌳

We have had a few cases of mycotoxin poisoning recently. Its not a poisoning that folks are generally familiar with, so we thought we’d share the information to raise awareness.-

Ingestion of mouldy food from the bin or a compost pile puts dogs, cats, horses, livestock, and even wildlife at risk for toxicity due to tremorgenic mycotoxins. These toxins may be found in MOULDY bread, pasta, cheese, nuts, or other decaying matter like compost. Clinical signs include vomiting, agitation, incoordination, tremors, seizures, and elevated body temperature. A specific mycotoxin called aflatoxin can even cause liver failure. Be sure to keep mouldy food and compost out of your pets reach!

08/23/2024

We worked with Mack and his family for the first time tonight helping him learn to go to “place” on his bed. Mack’s human brother was born nine months ago, babies change very quickly, from rolling over to sitting up to cruising and it has been very overwhelming for Mack. He has had a difficult time adjusting to the baby’s developmental milestones especially now that he is more mobile. We have some strategies in place to keep everyone safe, using gates and barriers and teaching Mack to go to “station in place” with an activity when things get too stressful for him. In the weeks ahead, we will be teaching his humans about canine body language and how to identify when Mack is stressed. We will also be addressing some of Mack’s fears such as strangers, and unfamiliar dogs, as well as a fear that he has recently developed of the dark and not wanting to go outside at night to potty at night. We look forward to working with this family.

08/21/2024

Us humans are a little obsessed with it, aren’t we.
It gives us some sense of security and control when our dog sits…
And don’t get me wrong, it can be a handy behaviour, but please don’t make it part of all the other behaviours you teach your dog (like a ‘wait’ and it’s not a wait until the dog sits as well).
You’ll thank me later 😉

08/21/2024

WATCH THIS PLEASE
🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

08/21/2024

My office for this evening😊⌨️📝📆📄

08/21/2024

Back chaining Recall
Gracie practiced hand targeting inside the home for a week. Her human added in distractions and distance. When we met last week she was ready to begin working outside. I always teach this behavior FIRST because it is the last part of my recall training plan, and I want the dog to 1. get used to coming all the way to their human and 2. normalize coming from far away. This is not all that we do. We condition the recall word, and capture with a clicker all of the approximations involved with coming from the first head turn, to the body turn, to the hand target. We spend four weeks working on recall. Four weeks. Not one session.

Many trainers will guarantee that they can teach your dog a reliable recall with an e-collar in one session. When that collar comes off, will the dog still come? Will they come because they are filled with joy to do so, or will they come to escape the annoyance or pain of the collar. Which would you rather have a dog who is afraid to NOT come to you, or a dog that is filled with joy to come to you?

08/20/2024

We met with Walter and his mom last week to discuss his progress and and where they keep getting stuck. Walter has mastered his greeting protocol but still becomes quite excitable on walks, although walks have improved significantly they could be better. Summer has presented many logistical and scheduling challenges which has impacted the ability to practice consistently. Walter’s mom is a school teacher and she will be returning to the classroom in two weeks. We will resume working together in September and be taking some field trips to busy places to help Walter walk in a distracted environment.

08/20/2024

As a trainer i have been following Donna Hill for years. Her videos are simple, clear and easy to digest. This is a great example of how to build a check in behavior by capturing. This what I have done with my own dogs and any dogs that I walked for clients.

This video is an unscripted training session with my dog Clover who is now almost 18 months old. After a long hot and dry spell of weather on the west coast,...

08/20/2024

This is a reminder that we will be closed from August 26th through September 2. We will still be responding to intake forms that are submitted and confirming appointments for the week of September 2.

Reactive dog class will resume on Saturday September 7th at 9:00a.m. As a reminder reactive dog class is only for those dogs who have previously completed private 1:1 work, or for those dogs who have progressed beyond the 1:1 sessions and reached a "ready" point for the group class setting.

08/18/2024

The Cattle Dog is one of my bucket list dogs. But I wouldn’t begin to consider one unless I could be home full time to meet their needs. Maybe when I retire. The biggest mistake people make when choosing a dog is basing their decision on how attracted they are physically to a breed, and not considering what a breed was originally bred to do. Certain dog breeds were selectively bred for traits that would assist humans to get jobs done; so when clients call me that are having problems with their herding breeds adjusting to apartment life we need to look at how we can start meeting the needs of the dog that are scripted in that dog’s DNA. You can’t obedience your way through it. You can’t correct it out of the dog. You need to meet the dog where they are and fill in those gaps. Research your breed or combinations (mixes) before you commit.

08/18/2024

Shay Kelly could not have been more clear in this post. Please…even if you don’t have a dog, share this post, and then ask your friends to share it. Aversive training is not only unnecessary but it doesn’t get to the heart of the matter.

Address

Norton, MA
02766

Opening Hours

Monday	6pm - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm

Telephone

+17744095065

Website

http://www.zippitydodog.net/

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Videos

Hand Targeting

Back chaining Recall Gracie practiced hand targeting inside the home for a week. Her human added in distractions and distance. When we met last week she was ready to begin working outside. I always teach this behavior FIRST because it is the last part of my recall training plan, and I want the dog to 1. get used to coming all the way to their human and 2. normalize coming from far away. This is not all that we do. We condition the recall word, and capture with a clicker all of the approximations involved with coming from the first head turn, to the body turn, to the hand target. We spend four weeks working on recall. Four weeks. Not one session. Many trainers will guarantee that they can teach your dog a reliable recall with an e-collar in one session. When that collar comes off, will the dog still come? Will they come because they are filled with joy to do so, or will they come to escape the annoyance or pain of the collar. Which would you rather have a dog who is afraid to NOT come to you, or a dog that is filled with joy to come to you? #compassionovercruelty #trainwithoutpain

We will be closed the last week in August. Intake can still be submitted and will be acknowledged, but there will be no appointments during this time.

Somewhere in the distance fireworks are being set off, I am so grateful that neither of my dogs is bothered by them (or thunder storms). 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 If you live with a dog who is frightened by fireworks 📌 YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR VET TOMORROW 7/1/24 FOR 💊 MEDICATION AND MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR PUPPER.

https://www.zippitydodog.net/coming-soon.html

Saturday we worked with Luke. Luke and his mom Amanda have been working on all of their foundational skills to get ready for working directly with his trigger (other dogs). This video is super boring. Next week we will be using a real dog!

Not my best video, I’m a bit rusty and if I’m being honest was supporting a new kid in class today. If you’re dog is in a group class for over-reactivity this is what it should look like. Lot’s of calm behavior and loose body language. (NOTE: there will be grumbles that is okay and we work through it) What you shouldn’t see: 🚫Dogs with stiff body language 🚫Dogs hitting the end of their leash lunging and barking. 🚫Dogs trying to escape. There are three dogs in this video. One was in class for the first time. She was stationed the furthest away (behind the tire) because in this work distance is your friend. And what is happening in this video you ask? We are playing parallel, pattern games, where “counterconditioning takes place in an operant base -Ken Ramirez” 🩵There are no corrections, and no punishment, the learner controls the game. 🩵The learner can take breaks. 🩵The learner can say yes or no. 🩵Everyone stays under threshold. 🩵Everyone goes home under threshold.

We worked with Maeve today on the “touch” cue and added distance. This will be helpful when it comes time to leash up, moving on and off furniture, it will be our finish for recall and we will also help this pup learn that hands are predictors of all things good.