In home rewards based positive reinforcement dog training focused on basic manners & behavior issues.
(2)
Beginning Tuesday, December 5th through Thursday December 7th I will be out of the office attending the LEGS in Motion Conference learning from some of the best in the field to bring new knowledge to my clients and the dogs I am honored to work with.
I will still be checking emails and the like but there will be a delayed reply during this time. I will be back to normal scheduling Friday, December 8th.
This!
šø Look at this post on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/GiSsSm44QBEPoBm2/?mibextid=xfxF2i
Why punishment āworksā
šø Look at this post on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/share/YDXLkKwFZMVC8JEQ/?mibextid=xfxF2i
TL:dr? Please don't put this in that category. For your dog's sake! ā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļø
It feels like I endlessly write either posts or articles about the lack of regulation in my industry. Unfortunately, that happens because it seems like every week and sometimes several times a week, I get texts or PM's linking me to some new hack company claiming to be the next big thing in dog training. The problem is that the majority of these newbies are inevitably using very outdated methods that include tools that literally are designed to intimidate/cause pain to your dog. Their claims of both education and knowledge of dog behavior are both invalid and inaccurate. Myself and my colleagues who utilize modern rewards based methodology care about your dogs. We care that your dogs may suffer trauma from your choice to use someone who should not have the privilege of "peddling their wares" . We desperately wish that our field was regulated so that the decision on who to use to get your dog's behavior issues addressed was not riddled with such "buyer beware" scenarios. It's not even remotely an issue of competition. Why? Because most of the time, we get to meet with you *after* your dog's issues have worsened to varying degrees when the ineffective and emotionally harmful methods that those who should not be permitted to practice have wreaked havoc. My own schedule is filled with such clients. I long for the opportunity to see these humans and their beloved dogs *before* the additional damage is done. But until regulation that should be happening, is a requisite in this industry, it will remain buyer beware. Until then, try and think of this in the same terms that you would if this were your human child. What would you permit to happen with such when wanting a behavior change? A lot could be solved if the field of dog behavior professionals were modeled after the human mental health professional field. So until then, ask questions and be vigilant. You ARE your dogās only voice. Keep the subject matters below in mind when choosing who you want to help you with your dog's issues.
ā ļøGuarantees: NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE THE FUTURE BEHAVIOR OF A SENTIENT BEING! No one! So steer clear of anyone offering a guarantee. The major dog behavior organizations forbid the use of such for that reason.
ā ļøInitials indicating some sort of certification: See one of the below links for more on that. Even initials from a quality organization are suspect if the person possessing them has any of the red flags in this list. Report them to that organization because their Code of Ethics forbids such.
ā ļøThe use of outdated tools that include: choke/check chains, prong collars, shock/stim/e-collars, shake cans, bonkers, etc. These are completely unnecessary to effect behavior change and will cause emotional and sometimes physical harm to your dog. And most are literally designed to cause pain as that is how they work.
ā ļøFranchises: there are no dog training franchises in the general Pittsburgh Metropolitan area that utilize modern rewards-based science supported dog friendly methods. None. Additionally, franchises looking to get a foothold in this market hire those with *marketing* skills/backgrounds, NOT a quality education in dog behavior. EDITED TO ADD in 2023: there are now 2 but their base offering is daycare/classes, not in-home offerings. And still quality of information is still a concern.
ā ļøOutdated terms such as alpha, pack, dominance. These are the sign of someone who hasn't kept up with modern science and is only looking for control, not cooperation.
ā ļøOutdated information such as forcing your dog to walk in a "heel" position, not allowing your dog to sniff on walks, not allowing your dog on furniture/beds, telling you to remove all toys, crating your dog without cause, forcing a "place" behavior for every situation. I could go on and on. See the pinned post on this page for more details on what trainers should never ask/tell you to do for/to your dog.
ā ļøBoard and train: there are NO LOCAL businesses that offer this service who use modern rewards-based methods (outside of already being your positive trainer). None. This is more common with those who offer guarantees and use electronic devices that do not train your dog. They "control" your dog. That is NOT training and again, the dog still has a choice and if they choose to object to such treatment, what happens is that the behavior issues will increase, NOT decrease. You must be involved with your dog's training or their behavior with *you* will never improve. Just like with children.
ā ļøFlashy videos are just that. True behavior change is like watching paint dry. B.O.R.I.N.G. don't fall for flashy videos/promos. The number of followers does not equate quality information.
Below are some links that touch on various things mentioned here. And also below is my dog Meridiana, learning to be comfortable with her environment with modern rewards-based science supported dog friendly methods.
Why certification is not enough in this field. And what do those initials mean exactly?
https://www.howmanydogs.com/2018/05/false-positive-certification-for-dog-trainers/
Why you should not hire anyone who uses most of these word in relation to dogs.
http://www.howmanydogs.com/2016/01/pack-them-up-leaving-old-fashioned-dog-world-words-behind/
Red flags in dog training.
https://www.fox26medford.com/red-flags-watch-out-for-these-claims-in-dog-training-ads/
and
https://www.fox28spokane.com/red-flags-in-ads-for-dog-training-services/
How to better choose a dog trainer.
http://www.howmanydogs.com/2020/04/the-bait-switch-how-to-better-choose-a-dog-trainerbehavior-consultant/
Making sure that even that modern methods trainer has the right skillset for *your* dog's issues.
https://www.howmanydogs.com/2020/01/proficiency-error-do-your-research-when-choosing-a-professional/
BE YOUR DOG'S VOICE PLEASE! And those of you who already understand the difference in methods and quality, help your dog parenting friends to do the same. Thank you to those who choose kindness over pain. Feel free to share to better educate!
Viktor E. Frankl was a human psychiatrist but I find this graphic and his quote very applicable to our canine companions. Consider this:
You do not like large crowds of people (stimulus) and while you are out shopping you come across a large gathering. In that moment (space) you have the choice to decide what you will do and execute this decision (response). You were presented with a trigger (stimulus) and you have full autonomy to respond by moving away or never putting yourself into that position to begin with.
Our dogs do not have that autonomy to make these choices when so much of their lives are dictated by us. We decide where they can go, typically leashed due to laws. We decide the environments that they find themselves in. We decide what triggers (stimulus) they come in contact withā¦and so on.
Since they cannot have full autonomy like humans, we must, at a minimum, learn and respect what our dogs like and dislike; what they can and cannot handle; and refrain from placing them into positions they are not equipped to handle.
We can and certainly should work with them to help them learn how to handle situations better and help them make positive associations with the world around them. However, to teach them how to handle the world requires us to listen to them and their needs thus accepting when they cannot handle something.
If they want to move away, help them move away; help them execute that choice. If they choose to stay where they are, do not force them upon a trigger. If they are reacting, then we did not listen to them and that is not on them, that is on us.
Threshold is a spectrum. At any given moment, our dogs fall somewhere on a spectrum to being at or over threshold. This same is true for us, their guardians. In reality, all living beings are somewhere on this spectrum. There are triggers everywhere in life, near (immediate antecedents) and distant (distance antecedents).
When it comes to our dogs, they may be dealing with distant triggers such as but not restricted to:
š¾new environment
š¾disruption in known environments
š¾poor or lack of quality sleep
š¾lacking mental stimulation
š¾poor nutrition
š¾yesterday's wind storm
š¾an overly exciting day at day care
š¾and so on
OR near triggers such as but not restricted to
š¾large diesel truck roaring down the road
š¾being in a new location
š¾a dog running their fence line across the road
š¾hunger/thirst
š¾birds flying overhead
š¾storms in the distance
š¾acute pain
š¾new or uncomfortable harness
š¾acute underlying pain, hunger, etc.
Similarly, in order to help our dogs through any given day, it is necessary to know where you dog may fall, on this spectrum. Just like us, our dogs struggle to learn and make good choices when they are over their threshold. Humans are no different, when we are stressed or anxious, we lose our ability to think logically and clearly let alone learn in that moment.
To get a gauge of where your dog may be on the spectrum, take stock of what they look like when they are under threshold, at threshold or over their emotional threshold. Dependent upon where they are, adjust your responses accordingly: manage the situation or teach.
How can you know? While becoming well versed in canine body language would be extremely helpful, you can also run a high level ādiagnosticā.
š¾Ask your dog for a well-known simple cue. Do they do what was asked, quickly, calmly and with ease? Your dog is likely under threshold so you can use this as a teaching moment.
š¾If your dog can do what you have asked but they are slow to respond, they are likely at threshold. In this such case, you can consider gaining some distance from the trigger and yourselves and then teach OR, use management to guide them through.
š¾If they are unable to respond to you, they are likely over threshold. While it is likely that a dog over threshold is reacting with more overt response (barking, lunging, pacing, etc), the inability to respond can too be an indicator. In such a case, help them through the moment using management.
Management can take many different forms depending upon the situation. But as a good rule of thumb, get distance from the situation/trigger that is causing your dog concern. Help them through the moment by guiding them to āsafetyā and then giving them back some agency when it is safe to do so.
Many of my clients are those with dogs who are reactive toward people, regardless the reason (low confidence, fearful, etc.).
One thing I often hear them ask is how to say no when people want to engage. I can appreciate that it is hard sometimes to be firm but advocating for your dog is paramount to them feeling safe and setting them up to make progress.
This post offers some simple and easy ways to decline engagement with strangers.
Dogs and children need the adults to advocate for the safety of them both.
No one would look at this picture and think it was cute. No one would look at this picture and say āomg look how much the baby loves the stove! Look how good the stove is being to the baby! Get a picture!!ā And if the baby got burned by the stove, no one would blame the stove. It was, after all, just being a stove.
Yet, this is what I see when I see pictures of babies or children crawling on or towards dogs, leaning on them, grabbing them, and invading their space. I donāt find it cute or charming, I find it dangerous. No matter how tolerant a dog appears to be, sometimes that tolerance runs out, or the child tries to do the same thing to another dog with less tolerance and the worst happens. Iām often on the receiving end of the panicked, distressed and terrified phone calls after these events, and itās heartbreaking to say the least.
As soon as babies start to get mobile we start talking to them about safety with things like hot stoves, outlets, busy roads, fireplaces. We use safety measures like gates or covers and always supervise. We need to be doing the exact same thing with our dogs.
Dogs only have their body language to tell us they are uncomfortable, and often times the beginning signs are incredibly subtle. Ignoring these, or worse punishing them, can lead to a dog feeling they have no other option than to bite or snap. Even worse, when we donāt teach our children respect and boundaries around dogs, we set them up to potentially get hurt. And when that happens, itās not because of bad parenting, itās truly because of a lack of education and understanding.
The other thing I hear often is āwell if he didnāt like it he would moveā and thatās not always true. Dogs sometimes donāt know they can or should move. We need to teach them that coping skill and reward and respect them for that choice.
Dogs and children living happily together is possible. Bonds can still be formed even if there are boundaries and your child can have an amazing relationship with your dog even without kissing them or hugging them. Management, active supervision and structure are all keys so success to everyone can live under the same roof happily, and more importantly, safely.
- Helen St. Pierre, No Monkey Business Dog Training
10/12/18
Too much too soon WILL cause issues.
It is a really common occurrence with newly adopted dogs.
Congratulations on your new dog.
I know you want to take them to the beach, the pet store and your cafƩ....however can I ask for a few minutes so I can explain just what your dog has gone through.....and why you need to take the next few weeks SLOW.
Your new dog has had it's whole world turned upside down.
They don't know you.
They don't know if they can trust you.
They don't know if they are with you for an hour or forever.
They may have been in various scary places.
Other houses, rescues, the pound and likely ALL of these in the past few days or weeks.
Your dog has stress hormones surging through their brain, they are STRESSED....they need to decompress, they need STABILITY in their environment and from you.
They need time with you and their new environment.
They need to know that the tree outside may rustle against the house and that's OK.
They need to know that those normal creaky noises in your house are OK and that at 3.45 the neighbours bang their door shut.
They need to know when it rains that tapping sound is OK.
They need to know that when the door opens they won't be moved somewhere else again.
They need to trust that YOU are safe even when you have had a bad day, you will still give them food and that they can close their eyes around you.
You know what your good intentions are with your new dog, your dog however has NO idea what is happening.....only that everything has changed and it is scary.
They do NOT need other new environments yet. Take it SLOW.
Dogs that have just been adopted need TIME. There is no need to rush out the next day and take them to all the places you want to go with them.....They need the opposite.
Let them decompress, let them inspect a new area of your house or yard every day or two. Walk them up and down outside your house for a few days (and only there), let them sniff, and sniff some more. Let them p*e freely.....it may be boring for you, but not for your dog. They need to know what is happening around them and they learn that through their nose, eyes and ears.
They NEED this.
They need to learn to TRUST you.
The long walks can wait, the cafƩ will still be there in a few weeks and you can visit the pet shop alone until they are ready.
Your bond together is the MOST important thing to concentrate on right now.
You will never regret taking it slow and it can save your dog and yourself from making the very same mistakes that can lead to people rehoming in the first place.
All the very best with your new dog.
Training does not have a linear trajectory but rather one that more so resembles the stock market with ups and downs. There will be set backs. There will be bad days. But there too is progress and good days. Do not let set backs or bad days define the progress.
While we may wish to see progress faster for our own personal gains, we must remember that dogs are not robots. And they will not perform in perfection at all times and for all the rest of their days. We do not. We have bad days. We have set backs. And it is unreasonable to hold our dogs to a standard that we ourselves cannot achieve.
So, on those bad days or when there are set backs, breath, forgive yourself and your pup and then try again. You are a team and you will get there but it takes both sides of the leash to get there together.
We must also remember that this is a life long commitment. If they don't use it they lose it, just like us. So maintaining skills is something that must occur even after your pup has mastered skills.
"An animal who has no agency to say 'no' cannot say 'yes'."
My goals in working with animals is never to have an animal who simply works for me. I am not interested in a dog, or a horse for that matter, who feels no sense of their own agency, who feels uncertain to voice their opinion. I want them to work WITH me. To trust me and follow my lead when necessary, but to understand that we are in a partnership.
An animal who has no agency to say 'no' cannot say 'yes'.
https://www.facebook.com/100050684100444/posts/876757244023738/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6
Support your pet in their time of need. They depend on you!
It's really important to know that if you walk a dog directly towards something that worries them, they are likely to react in a way that shows their concern.
https://www.facebook.com/100064758788358/posts/732776222224331/?mibextid=Nif5oz
Attention pet owners: There is currently a massive recall happening for Victor dry dog and cat foods manufactured with a "Best By" date of 10/31/24 or earlier.
Click on the link below to read more about the recall:
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-and-cdc-investigate-cases-salmonella-linked-pet-food-made-mid-america-pet-food-multiple-brands
Many of my clients are amazing guardians to pit and pit mixes. There is so much bad information out there, especially for those that have a past in dog fighting.
Want to better understand? Free webinar this weekend. Registration link in the original post comments and being put on by credible, knowledgeable experts in the field.
Most of you know that I was born on a dogfighter's yard. I'm lucky I was rescued as a youngster and never had to fight.
I occasionally see people posting things on my page (and around the internet) about pit bulls and dogfighting that are just not correct. For example, we were never "Nanny dogs". And people assume I was bred to be a "bait dog" since I have zero dog aggression, but did you know that this is not even a thing dogfighters do? Dogfighting is awful enough without making stuff up about it!
My momma runs Shelter Behavior Hub, which is an education platform for dog professionals, and we are super excited to let you guys know that animal cruelty expert, Chris Schindler, will be our guest on this Sunday's FREE live chat, to talk with momma about the many myths surrounding pit bulls in general, and dogs from fighting cases in particular.
We will put the link to register in the comments so that FB doesn't hide this post, please leave questions you'd like us to address in the comments as well! I may answer some in person!
Every bit of this
No one would look at this picture and think it was cute. No one would look at this picture and say āomg look how much the baby loves the stove! Look how good the stove is being to the baby! Get a picture!!ā And if the baby got burned by the stove, no one would blame the stove. It was, after all, just being a stove.
Yet, this is what I see when I see pictures of babies or children crawling on or towards dogs, leaning on them, grabbing them, and invading their space. I donāt find it cute or charming, I find it dangerous. No matter how tolerant a dog appears to be, sometimes that tolerance runs out, or the child tries to do the same thing to another dog with less tolerance and the worst happens. Iām often on the receiving end of the panicked, distressed and terrified phone calls after these events, and itās heartbreaking to say the least.
As soon as babies start to get mobile we start talking to them about safety with things like hot stoves, outlets, busy roads, fireplaces. We use safety measures like gates or covers and always supervise. We need to be doing the exact same thing with our dogs.
Dogs only have their body language to tell us they are uncomfortable, and often times the beginning signs are incredibly subtle. Ignoring these, or worse punishing them, can lead to a dog feeling they have no other option than to bite or snap. Even worse, when we donāt teach our children respect and boundaries around dogs, we set them up to potentially get hurt. And when that happens, itās not because of bad parenting, itās truly because of a lack of education and understanding.
The other thing I hear often is āwell if he didnāt like it he would moveā and thatās not always true. Dogs sometimes donāt know they can or should move. We need to teach them that coping skill and reward and respect them for that choice.
Dogs and children living happily together is possible. Bonds can still be formed even if there are boundaries and your child can have an amazing relationship with your dog even without kissing them or hugging them. Management, active supervision and structure are all keys so success to everyone can live under the same roof happily, and more importantly, safely.
- Helen St. Pierre, No Monkey Business Dog Training
Originally written - 10/12/18
This could not be more true! And more often than not, getting the dog ready for baby is never considered.
If you are preparing to bring a baby home, please consider looking for a trainer certified or experienced in how to accomplish integrating dog and baby successfully. A wonderful resource for this is Family Paws (https://www.familypaws.com/)
While this article is geared to seniors who are dog guardians or plan to be, having a plan of what to do with your dogs is very important. Preparedness is key to ensure they have the love and care needed in the event it is necessary.
https://www.facebook.com/100064558579162/posts/717471543748125/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6
The older we get, the more we need a backup plan for our dogs, in the event of our deaths. Here is some advice for seniors looking to adopt a dog.
As an owner of a dog that is not tactile and prefers not to be touched more often than not, it is important for us to understand this fact:
Not all dogs find touch/petting enjoyable - for some it is down right offensive and aversive.
This includes dogs we share our lives with and perhaps more so with dogs that we do not know. I do not know about you, but having a stranger human come up to me and touch without my consent would be alarming. For some dogs, a stranger touching them is just as unsettling.
We humans have a love of dogs that is like a magnet that just pulls us to them; we want to interact and touch them. But pause a moment the next time you see a dog and want to touch them...sometimes the best display of love you can offer them is to leave them alone and admire from afar.
Dogs are just like usātheir enjoyment of being petted depends on when itās offered, how itās done and where on the body itās directed.
Aggression is context driven...your dog may be fine in one situation and worried in another.
"Just a generation ago if you went near a dog when he was eating and the dog growled, somebody would say, 'Don't go near the dog when he's eating!, what are you crazy?' Now the dog gets euthanized. Back then, dogs were allowed to say, NO. Dogs are not allowed to say no anymore...They can't get freaked out, they can't be afraid, they can never signal 'I'd rather not.' We don't have any kind of nuance with regard to dogs expressing that they are uncomfortable, afraid, angry, or in pain, worried, or upset. If the dog is anything other than completely sunny and goofy every second, he goes from a nice dog to an 'AGGRESSIVE' dog."
- Jean Donaldson
We need to shift the narrative back to realistic expectations. No living creature should be held to a standard that we humans cannot even tolerate ourselves. Dogs are sentient...very much like humans.
When we seek help for our dog's behaviour we tend to focus on stopping something unwanted.
Our aim is to make that behaviour go away.
But there's much more to it than that.
Dogs act how they do based on their feelings and their motivations.
They canāt tell us what either of those things are unless we know their language.
Unless we identify what they need.
Then work out another way to meet that need for them.
Ethically, we can't dive in to make the dog stop doing something.
We must start by watching and listening.
Learning from the dog.
Asking the following questions.
Silencing a growl is like taking the batteries out of the smoke alarm. Sure, the annoying sound is gone, but the real danger is still present. Do you want to know the fire is coming, or not?
Of course none of us want a dog who is growling about things, so what can we do? If your dog is growing, it is important to address the issue that is causing the growl. Take these steps:
If your dog growls at another person or animal, quickly remove him or her from the situation. If your dog growls at you, move away from your dog. (This is a temporary solution to prevent an escalation.)
Take note of what was going on at the timeāwhat triggered your dog to growl? Was your dog:
-Scared or afraid?
-Protecting something like a bone?
-Annoyed (as in an older dog growling at a puppy who wonāt quit chewing on his ear)?
-Could your dog be in pain?
Ask yourself the following questions: Is there something we can do next time to prevent the dog from feeling uncomfortable enough that he needs to growl? Is this a growing concern and something that needs to be addressed with training or behavior modification?
If you need assistance answering these questions, look for a positive trainer (someone who does not use pain, fear or intimidation) to assist you and your dog.
Be proactive in teaching your pup to explore on cue. And should they decide not to then you know it's too much and you can simply turn and walk away.
https://fb.watch/nsvezHF3bg/?mibextid=6aamW6
https://www.facebook.com/100063747872926/posts/805627571572165/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6
Jeff Dentler, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, FFCP, CTDI
Yesterday, today (finishing up tomorrow), I've been attending the Aggression in Dogs Conference. I've attended this conference every year for the past 3 (this being the fourth). And this is one conference that I will attend every year.
Aggressive behaviors by our dogs, from the general population, are so misunderstood. When dogs display aggressive acts we tend to spend the energy looking at it as the dog is bad or has done something wrong. But have they?
I will let this video speak to how perhaps we need to change the narrative and look at this differently.
Come and join me and my colleague on Saturday, October 14th (10:00am to 11:30am) at Animal Friends for our:
Mythbusters: Facts and Fiction About Dogs.
Join us in an informal but informative "game" while debunking myths of behavior and the training of our canine companions. If you are interested, please click the link below to register.
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/anifri/event/878075/
Photo of my pups for tax - and because they are the best!
As someone else stated perfectly, there is training and then there is abuse!
Our dogās voice is their behaviour. So when we are met with challenging behaviours, we need to listen, not suppress.
When they put they breaks on, what are they avoiding and how can we make it better? When they vocalise what are they wanting to go away, come closer or faster? And how can we help them cope?
When we pause and think of the why. Then we are really listening to our dogs.
Please read the labels on items you give your pup. This ingredient is common in many human items, peanut butter is one of them. Checking labels can keep your pup safe
A simple approach to a commonly asked question...
Pittsburgh, PA
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