Val Stallings CPDT/Canine Coach and Behavior Consultant

05/22/2022

Meatball hasn’t made a post lately but it’s now time. He decided he wanted to ‘own’ the bedroom at around 3 am when Abbey the Basset wanted to make her way into the bedroom from the couch. He was rude and mildly tackled her. He will be sleeping in the crate for a while until this behavior becomes forgotten or extinct. Besides management tools, I will also be counterconditioning his behavior by conducting exercises and feeding him high value treats when I call Abbey into the room. This will help him realize that when Abbey enters, good things happen. This may take a few months and maybe up to a year.

01/19/2022

Timing when rewarding and punishing a dog is critical.
The first picture is when you would say “leave it!” The second picture is when you would say “Good Job!” And reward 👏🏻
Carry treats around with you and have them handy at all times during the learning phase.
My definition of punishment consists of a firm “ ah ah!!!!!”
Or a mini time out of 3 seconds to learn from. Nothing more….

11/16/2021

Love this!!!!😍

11/12/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
Will you just look at these recall skills. What’s the trick?
Start early
Practice often
Use high value treats and meat
Interrupt play and other important activities minimally
Be enthusiastic
Praise right when they look your way
Praise with food touch verbal praise
❤️🐾🐾

10/10/2021

Puppy Diaries:

And this! Is how you dress when you have a young puppy😊

Please pay special attention to the F***y packs 😉🐾🐾

10/02/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
This is a very nice play session amongst 2 pups that are about 16 weeks old. Nice all play sessions are this easy and gentle. Some normal
Play session amongst puppies can actually be very loud and appear viscous when it is just all about the noise. If you will notice the bigger beefier dog, meatball, often rolls over in a nice gesture to handicap himself and be more attractive to play. Nice play should flow in which each dog take a turn at being on the top
And on the bottom. Group play add more dynamics. 3 dogs is not the best play group number. And not all puppies enjoy playing with other puppies. One way to evaluate your pups play style personality is to participate in a reputable local puppy play group. If they seem shy or as if they don’t like it at first, don’t give up, try it a few more times you will often discover they come out of the shell and blossom as puppy socialites.
And never force your pup to play or socialize. If they shy away or hide, it’s ok to pick them up and or provide them with a barrier to merely observe play safely
❤️🐾🐾

10/02/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
You know those crazy bursts of energy in which your dog runs around full speed ahead, maybe jumping over furniture, appears to have super human powers?
Those behaviors have been labeled as the zoomies…
Open the door and let that happen. Stay out of the path of the Zumies. I like to open the back door and let him rip. The zoomies won’t happen for ever….Enjoy them while you can :-)

09/30/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
Co mingling your new puppy with the current animals in your home isn’t always as easy as the above photos appear. It can be challenging. Some of the challenges can be introducing them to different species such as cats, chickens, horses, goats and other pets as well as household dogs.
Other dogs in the home may be more submissive or more dominant then your new puppy. Helping to facilitate a healthy relationship while properly communicating and relaying good information to the animals can seem like a lot of work in the beginning. Sometimes for up to 3 months or more. Keep a constant eye on the new pup at all times to make sure all interactions are pleasant. Old and submissive dogs currently in the house will need their own space at times as well as putting the puppy up in a crate or a pen so the pre existing pet can have their out time as well. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is interfering too quickley with little scuttles as well as the dog parent trying to decide who is the top dog amongst the dogs. This needs to be an understanding amongst the dogs themselves. It will work itself out with minimal interference. If integrating your pup becomes a big challenge, you know who to call for help.
❤️🐾🐾

09/29/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
When introducing your pup to new friends, make sure you introduce them to other dogs and puppies that enjoy puppy energy. Some dogs are
Intolerant of puppies and may harshly scold your pup. This may be a learning experience for them, but there is no need for a young puppy to be physically or emotionally scarred from improper early introductions to other dogs. Expose them slowly to one new dog at a time and watch closely for their behavior around other dogs as well as how dogs respond to your pup. Meatball has very good confidant energy and is well received in this group of nice dogs. ❤️🐾🐾

09/26/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
Arms and Body parts and clothing are not chew toys. Mouthing is a process that your pup goes through when they are exploring and teething. Your pup should be taught never to put their teeth on skin.
Redirect
Redirect
Redirect
Give them something more tasty then you to chew on. A stuffed peanut butter kibble kong, a billy stick, a frozen rope toy dipped in diluted broth and a new one for me, the other day I lathered a rope toy with a hand full of wet dog food. Neat trick and it worked. Try redirecting first and if you have a die hard pup, we can discuss some behavior management techniques. I like to keep negative punishment available as a last resort secret weapon. (The term sounds really bad but this consists or short little 3 second time outs).

09/25/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
I just gave meatball another bully stick. A solidified bull unmentionable part, in the event you don’t know what a bully stick is. They are fairly pricey individually, but they are a Costco product which reduces the price when purchased in bulk. I said to myself “I am going to go broke on a $3 dollar a day bully stick habit.” Then I thought
“Wait a minute. This bully stick is preventing my teething puppy from chewing on my tables, my couches, and my kitchen cabinets!” The cost to replace those items doesn’t compare! Here Meatball!!!! Have another bully stick! Good boy! There are also rubber attachments you can purchase and attach to the bully stick to prevent your puppy from choking on the gooey part when it gets really small.
Bow Wow Labs Bully Buddy Safety Device - Bully Stick Holder for Dogs https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B082YJD41X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_43AK1EJG776MPB4VXBRZ
❤️😇🐾🐾

09/25/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
We made a pit stop at our local vet just to say hi and get a cookie. I am hoping this will help Meatball form positive associations with the vet office verses something unpleasant happening every time we go.

09/24/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
Take your pup for frequent short distance rides. Go to destination locations that are pleasant and offer treats upon arrival.
My pup will ride in the back floor of my truck but dog safety belts are recommended for regular vehicles. Seat belts may some day be required in CA. They are currently in some other states. Buckling your pup up also promotes a safe non distracted drive for you.❤️🐾🐾

09/24/2021

Puppy Diaries: Feeding your puppy from your plate and or the table will result in a dog that glares at you for food. Then it’s a losing battle. Never ever feed them from the table if you don’t want a dog that begs. My little guy is lying nicely at my feet while I eat, and he has not learned that there is one amazing pork chop on my fancy paper plate.😉
I would like to keep it this way. It only takes one time folks. One time. To create a monster 👿🐾🐾

09/23/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
The power of Pawsitivity! Reward your dog for good behaviors and those behaviors will become the dominant behaviors. Have easy to carry treats in your pocket and placed around the house so that you have quick access to reward your dog for good behavior right at that moment. Here I am rewarding Meatball for being calm on his bed in the living room. “Good Settle!” Since dogs learn through association and consequences, he should put two and two together that just lying there got him a goodie ❤️🐾🐾

09/22/2021

The Puppy Diaries:
Do not allow your pup to chew on things that resemble things that they shouldn’t chew on. They can’t differentiate old slippers from favorite slippers.
Put your shoes up people. Have things handy you can quickley access that are chew toy appropriate. Like this kong 👍👍

09/21/2021

The puppy diaries:
Crate training is a very important part of your puppy training program. Crates are not solitary confinement but should be used as a safe place for your pup to go and relax and be safe while you tend to your daily business. Think of it as a playpen for your toddler. Make your crate comfy with toys and chewable items. Feed your pup in the crate and have your crate in a social area of the house so that they can belong. Start early. It’s not just for potty training but this is an addendum to your potty training.
Crates have advantages. Your pup will possibly need to go in one at the vet or the groomer. Why not reduce the stress of being in a crate there starting now. Crate Trained dogs also have traveling privileges. Many dog Daycares use crates for naps and time outs. And a new article was just released about a fire evacuation shelter location that would not allow the dogs to stay there if they were not crate trained. So we need to add emergency scenarios for our valid reasons behind crate training. Some hints to encourage your pup to want to go in. Put his food inside and close the door with him on the outside 😉 and here is a poster for how to crate train your pup in 9 days.
Crate training poster in comments below 😉….

09/21/2021

The Puppy Diaries: During the critical social puppy phase you need to race to get your young puppy safely socialized with everything on your checklist before 12 weeks of age. Invite kids over, have a pizza party, stroll the pup around, check your list and check it twice. I was able to bribe some lovely little ladies with a yummy Macdonald smoothie in exchange for just being super nice kids and entertaining my puppies for a little bit. This was more appreciated then they know. Totally worth it. Thank you girls!!! Dogs that are afraid of children are a liability and no fun for anyone. They might be able to be counter conditioned later in life but should always be directly supervised when in the presence of of children. Why not try and do it right the first time around? Also, please teach your young ones good dog manners. No sitting on dogs, bouncing on dogs, no staring, or tugging at ears or tails or fur. Dogs should not be put in a position of extreme tolerance to determine their intolerance. Children can gently pet with permission, or play a friendly game or even some unsuspecting training games 😉❤️🐾🐾
Puppy social
Check list in photos 🐾🐾

09/20/2021

Potty training should be one of the first things on your to do list right when your pup gets home.
Do not let them have full roam of the house. Setup their crates, pens, and comfort items in areas they they can be with the family but also think about easy clean up. Hard wood floors, laminate, tile and everything non carpet is your best option for durability, ease in cleaning and least desirable to eliminate on. Carpet is the number one choice for an accident waiting to happen.
When your pup is lose in the house, keep him close to you and under your direct supervision at all times.
Take him out once an hour on a leash with a treat and come up with a training word for ‘potty’.
Rewards and treats speed up the learning process.
If he doesn’t do his business, try again in another hour. Watch for the body language that is an indicator for the need to go. Nose down, sniffing, circling, maybe whining, maybe heading for the exit door.
NEVER scold your pup for having an accident. You can roll up a newspaper and hit yourself in the head 3 times if you like 😆but YOU are in charge of a good potty training program. Scolding your pup can result in them actually looking for a place to hide to do their business in fear of your angry behavior. Did you know people will actually take their dogs to the shelter if they cannot potty train them? Yep!!! It is one of the top reasons for relinquishment😢
There will be accidents, clean them up and pay attention.
If you catch your pup in the act, quickley and in emotionally scoop him up and es**rt him out to the spot.
Let’s jump on the potty train right away.

09/20/2021

The puppy diaries. After losing my adventure partner Piper my little American Eskimo, and Rusty my foster failure, I felt like I had room in my home and my heart to take on another rescue adoption dog. It was time. I saw a post that Animal Regulations had seven adorable pit mix puppies that were found along the side of the road in a box at about 4 weeks of age. 🤬
They were keeping them healthy and free from disease and were now available for adoption. I thought a puppy would keep me too busy. I’m already busy, but I thought I could take one off their hands, train it, socialize it, and find a wonderful loving home. When I arrive, I meet the puppies and I thought they were super adorable and friendly. When I went to the counter to sign one out, they twisted my arm and begged me to take three stating that the shelter was full and that would be super helpful. They didn’t have to twist too hard and by the next morning they were neutered and vaccinated and packed up and ready to go. They were guesstimated it at just under 12 weeks of age which meant that I might have only had one more week to get them out and socialize them during their critical social window before it was too late. Bully breeds and certain breeds can be challenging if they’re not given the opportunity to be socialized before the critical window closes. It’s really important so that you have increased your chances of having a healthy, happy, well-adjusted confident adult dog that is desirable to live with and desirable to adopt, so I had to get busy. The next day we packed up and went to Safeway where we sat on a shopping cart for over an hour with people walking by, smiling, and they lit up over the puppies. This is one way to easily introduce your puppy to a wide variety of age groups, ethnicities, personalities, etc. Sitting in front of grocery store isn’t for everybody, but I don’t have time to waste. While we were there, one of my previous adoption applications saw the puppies and fell in love with a little Weimaraner puppy. This puppy was a good fit for them so day 3 it was one down two to go. This was a very important event to get out on this field trip with these pups. Not taking your pups anywhere until they are fully vaccinated will seriously interrupt their critical social phase. Take them everywhere but just don’t put them down on the ground. Cart them, carry them, stroll them, don’t put them down on dirt or sand or grass. The key point here is how to safely expose your puppy to many different types of people. There is also a check list of people and things you should be exposing your pup to during the first 12 weeks. If you Google early puppy social checklist and upload it as well as sounds on your smart phone or computer.
Next up is a very important age group of people to socialize with. Standby for the next day of the puppy diaries.❤️🐾🐾

09/19/2021

I have a new puppy!
1st time in 14 years.
Follow me for more of my puppy diaries as I start to upload them❤️🐾🐾

09/18/2021

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/fellow-creatures/202106/why-dogs-behavior-problems-deserve-compassion

When your dog has issues, use kind methods to help resolve them.

04/25/2021

Speaking for the DOGS



Dear Val,



I have a very embarrassing and disgusting problem that my dog does that I need to talk to you about.

He eats p**p. His own p**p. And the cats p**p!!!

I try to get it as quick as I can, but we have a doggie door that he can access to let himself out, so sometimes I miss a poo or two.



Dear P**p Eater Dog Mom,



Do you know that this is one of the leading reasons for people to relinquish their dogs? Please don’t give up on your dog yet. I do have some solutions for you.



First of all, I would like to advise not kissing your dog on the mouth until we can work on a resolution.



Why do dogs eat p**p anyway? Well, speaking for the dogs, they seem to like it. That appears to be the number one reason behind the doggie delicacy dilemma.

Number 2, no pun intended, they could have a nutritional deficit or a disease or disorder.

Number 3, they like the response they get from you and or others. It is attention-seeking behavior.

Number 4, poor early kenneling experiences.

Number 5, anxiety.

Number 6, they are hungry.

Now let’s discuss some solutions that may alleviate or eliminate this problem for you.



What can you do about it?



1) Make sure it is not nutritional or health related.

2) Vitamin supplements.

3) Taster aversion products. These are products you add to their food that changes the after flavor resulting in a less attractive treat.

4) Teaching the ‘leave it’ cue. Teaching your dog to ‘leave it’, before they ‘have it’.

5) Try not to freak out and chase them and make a fuss when they do.

6) Confirm they are getting enough food in their bowl.

7) Clean up all p**p on a regular basis.

😎 Es**rt them to their potty spot on a leash and get it while it’s hot.

9) Have them wear a non-basket type muzzle out in the yard when they can’t be supervised 100% (appropriate muzzle training would be recommended first before just strapping on a muzzle).

10) Try food scatter games in which you toss their kibble into the yard for them to search for hopefully resulting in them over looking the doggie doo for something new.



Did you know that according to the AKC, (American Kennel Club), 16% of dogs are number two eaters? But you will always be number one in your dogs’ eyes.



If you have a question about training or behavior, please email me @ [email protected]

Make it a Pawsitive Day!

Val S Elliott CPDT Behavior Coach