My certification as a Separation Anxiety Professional gives me the expertise to help clients whose dogs are suffering from owner absences.
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I am able to help clients that are desperate to get their lives back from dogs that cannot be left alone.
I am so excited to be working with Fritz and his humans. I can't wait to watch his behavior modification journey!
if your dog suffers from separation related behavior issues I would love to work with you! Book a free 15 minute consultation find out how I can help!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
My August newsletter is out! If you would like to get it straight to your inbox, there is a subscribe option within the newsletter itself.
Enjoy!
Canine Communication
Is your dog struggling to stay relaxed in your backyard? Does the sight of neighbors or people walking by get your dog wound up and agitated? Is your dog reactive or fence-fighting with the dog in the adjoining yard?
I have a suggestion that, while it may not completely resolve these issues, will likely reduce the intensity and frequency of your dog's barking and agitation.
Privacy fence screens are an easy solution to block your dog's view of activities on the other side of the fence.
I installed mine a year ago after new neighbors with dogs moved in, and Quinn was having a difficult time. He still barks at them, but many times he doesn't even know they're outside. When he does notice them, it's much easier to get him to come away from the fence, and there's been a significant reduction in his barking.
These mesh screens come in heights from 3 to 8 feet and lengths from 12 to 100 feet. They are easily attached to a chain link or wire fence with the included zip ties. If you can't afford a privacy fence, these screens are very affordable.
Try and let me know if it makes a difference!
My first Min Pin client! I am so happy that I will be helping Oso's family work towards resolving her separation anxiety!
If your dog suffers from separation related problems, I would love to help you! All of my separation consultations are done through zoom, so I can work with you no matter where in the United states you're located. Schedule a free 15 minute zoom call to find out how!
I am privileged to help Dolly's' family work through her separation anxiety. I can't wait to watch her progress as she learns to be comfortable alone and gains independence!
Trainer Tip
When I'm working with a dog that's learning something new, people are often amazed at how many treats I use in a training session. Frequent treats are crucial for keeping a dog motivated and focused, especially in the early stages of training a new behavior.
However, it's important to balance this with the dog's health to avoid overfeeding or causing obesity. I prefer using soft treats like string cheese because most dogs love it and are excited to work for it. Additionally, I can tear off tiny pieces with my fingernail, allowing me to give numerous treats without overfeeding. This way, the dog receives many treats, but the overall amount of food remains small.
I had the pleasure of assessing Ally for her family today. They thought this sweet dog possibly had separation anxiety, and I was happy to let them know that is not the case. The screen shot is from the assessment after the humans left the house!
She does have severe crate anxiety, and gets into mischief if left loose in the house. It's great to be able to deliver good news on occasion!
Do you suspect or know your dog suffers from separation anxiety? I would love to work with you and help your dog resolve any separation issues you may be experiencing! Schedule a free 15 minute consultation to find out how.
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation?referral=service_list_widget
Trainer Tip
A dog training foundation is teaching your dog to "check in" with you. This isn't fancy and isn't hard to teach, but it does require that you pay as much attention to your dog, or even more, as you expect your dog to pay attention to you.
This is different than the "watch" cue that some people train. A check in is used at times when you aren't asking your dog to do anything in particular. Maybe you're on a leash walk, or maybe you're someplace where your dog is off leash. Whenever your dog looks your way you will need to reinforce it in some way such as a treat, toy or brief interaction.
IF your reinforcer actually is reinforcing to your dog, you should start to see your dog checking in with you more frequently.
The benefit of check in is that when your dog regularly doing so, you know that part of their attention is on you and where you are. This is a foundation skill for recalls and loose leash walking, and it makes it more likely that the dog will respond when cued to do those things.
Many years ago when I was a fairly new dog owner I lost my dog for an hour (an eternity). I foolishly thought she was fairly good off leash in my unfenced yard. All it took was one bird to capture her attention and off she went.
I lived in a suburban area then, however there was a fairly busy street just down the road. As I walked up and down streets calling her name and increasingly becoming distraught, I heard the sound of brakes screeching and a horn blowing.
My heart flew up into my throat, and I ran home. I can't even tell you how relieved I was to see Belle sitting on the porch of the door to my apartment.
Now that I know more about behavior and training, and worked at an animal shelter that took in strays, I've learned some things to help keep my dogs from becoming lost.
July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month. Here are some things you can do to minimize the risk of your dog being separated from you.
🐾When in doubt, keep your dog leashed. There is no such thing as 100% reliable when we are talking about living beings.
🐾Teach a fantastic recall! It can be a difficult thing to do, but definitely has benefits in an emergency situation!
🐾Teach your dog to "wait at the door". Door dashing is a common way for dogs to get loose and lost.
🐾Set up management to prevent door dashing by creating an airlock in your house with some gates or exercise pens. This way you can enter an airlock area, close it up, and then open the door to leave your house, preventing your dog from sneaking out.
🐾Make sure your dog has ID. Either tags on their collar, and/or is microchipped. Be sure that your contact information is current.
🐾Check that there aren't any gaps that can create an escape route in fenced areas.
🐾Have current photos so that if needed you are able to post online about your lost dog with a photograph.
If your dog suddenly seems hesitant to eat or appears fearful of their food bowl, it might be due to the tags on their collar. These tags can sometimes make noise by hitting the sides of the dish, which can startle your dog, especially small and medium-sized breeds.
One telltale sign is if your dog stretches their feet as far away from the bowl as possible while leaning forward to eat.
In honor of All American Pet Photo Day I took a few minutes to get some shots of my dogs. Quinn hurt his leg, so I didn't want to pose them (it's not serious, the vet just thinks it's a strain and a mild bit of arthritis). I kind of like what I ended up with!
I would love to see photos of your pets!
I started working with Vera and Lacey, and their Mom, a little over a week ago. Both were adopted at the same time from the same rescue.
Vera was found in an abandoned building with her litter of puppies. Lacey was rescued from a Puppy Mill where she was a puppy making factory. Both dogs are nervous around strangers and lack confidence.
Thankfully, their mom understands that this is a marathon, not a Sprint. Neither one of these girls is going to be able to quickly learn new skills. Instead we're working on building confidence and working with their current capacities.
My first session with them neither dog would interact with me. I was able to get Vera to approach and sniff me, but if i moved at all she would startle and back up. Lacey was willing to get within three or four feet of me, which the owner reports was actually very good for her!
Yesterday I was able to work with Lacey and get her to engage with me. Vera is still wary about me, but she was willing to hang out in the same room with me for a very long time. It's baby steps with these girls, but their owner is extremely understanding and willing to go at their pace.
✅ Stuffed Kong
✅ Treats
✅ Anti-Anxiety Medication
✅ Microchipped
Whimsy is all ready for the holiday!
Happy July - Enjoy this month's newsletter!
Helping a New Dog or Puppy Be Home Alone
10 month old Hank is adorable but panics when there aren't any humans with him. I started working with Hank and his people today. The first step is helping Hank see his pen area as being a comfortable location, and once that happens we can start working on departures. Understandably, his owners don't want to leave a 10 month old puppy loose in the house when they leave!
If you need help with your dog in resolving separation anxiety I would love to talk to you!
Wisconsin, like other parts of the country, is currently suffering a heatwave. Summer's heat can be dangerous for our furry friends, just like it is for us. Soaring temperatures can lead to dehydration and heatstroke in dogs. But with a few precautions, your pup can stay cool and comfortable all season long.
Hydration is key. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh, cool water throughout the day. Replenish their water bowls frequently, and make sure they are washed daily to prevent bacteria growth.
Shade is essential. Create a shady escape in your yard for your dog, whether it's under a tree, a doggy cabana, or even an umbrella. This cool retreat will be a lifesaver on scorching days.
For some water-loving pups, a kiddie pool or splash pad can be a fun way to cool off. Just remember to supervise your dog during playtime and empty the pool afterwards to prevent mosquitos.
Be aware that certain breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs with shorter snouts, struggle more in hot weather. Keep a close eye on these breeds and take extra measures to keep them cool.
Finally, avoid exercising your dog during the hottest part of the day. Early morning or evening walks, when temperatures are cooler, are a much safer option.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure your dog has a safe and happy summer filled with cool adventures!
It's reviews like this that make me extremely happy!
I will miss sweet little Addie and her Mom, but it was wonderful working with them to help Addie with her separation anxiety!
If your dog has separation anxiety and you would like some help, sign up for a free 15 minute consultation find out how I can work with you!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation?referral=service_list_widget
Does your dog shut down or attempt to leave during training sessions? Most likely, because it's happened to all of us!
In my experience, it's trainer error and is most likely caused by one or several of the following reasons:
1) The training session is too long. Many dogs will do better with a training session that is only two or three minutes, rather than one long half-hour long training session. You can do several training sessions a day this way!
2) Too many repetitions of the same exercise. Many dogs don't like to be drilled in their training as it's boring and can be stressful. Try doing a few repetitions in a session, and do another few repetitions with different behaviors in the same session. Variety is the spice of life!
3) Asking for something your dog isn't able to give you. You might be ready to move on to the next level, but your dog might still be struggling with the previous one. Putting pressure on your dog to do something that they haven't been trained to do will cause a lot of anxiety and shut down dog.
4) Working in an environment that isn't conducive to learning. While your ultimate goal may be a dog who responds to your cues in any environment, it's something you have to work your way through. If your dog can't focus because there's too much going on, you may want to move to a less distracting environment.
5) Check your emotions. Are you frustrated? Distracted? Anxious? If you aren't able to enjoy spending time with your dog and have fun, your dog will know it, and it will impact their mood as well. That would be a good time to end the session and save it for a time when you are in a better place.
Who can resist that face? I certainly can't! I just met Penny for the first time yesterday, and I'm totally in love.
I am helping her people work on getting her to not bark at people on walks. While the barking is caused by excitement and sheer happiness, for some reason her Mom and Dad find it annoying! We also worked on recalls, down, and just for fun, weave through human legs.
I am so looking forward to working with Penny again!
Enjoy my June Newsletter with articles about puppies and keeping your hot dogs cool!
If you would like to subscribe follow the link and you will get my future newsletters sent to your inbox!
Socialize That Puppy!
Unfortunately, I see this issue frequently in the various Facebook groups I belong to. Someone will post about their dog destroying a crate in an attempt to escape or, even worse, injuring themselves in the process. The common advice is often to recommend manufacturers of indestructible crates.
However, if a dog is so frantic to get out of their crate, the issue goes beyond the crate's durability. This type of escape behavior indicates that the dog is panicking and distressed. It could be a sign of separation anxiety, confinement anxiety, or simply that the dog hasn’t been conditioned to feel relaxed in a crate. (Too often, owners place their dogs into a crate and shut the door without properly acclimating them to the space.)
A stronger crate might keep your house intact and prevent physical harm to your dog, but it won’t create an environment where your dog feels safe.
Before purchasing a more durable crate, try to understand why your dog is panicking and work on addressing that issue.
If you suspect it might be separation anxiety, I’d love to help!
This beautiful boy is Knox, and I was happy to work with him and his people earlier today!
Knox is a doordasher, so the first thing we worked on was wait at the door. He's also is excited to see people, and we worked on polite greetings, AKA no jumping. And, not surprisingly considering he is a herding breed, Knox tends to want to chase after cars, bicycles, and other moving things. He picked up on the Look at That game pretty quickly!
Many owners want a dog that will come when called in the face of distractions, or walk nicely on leash. A foundation for both of those are reinforcing your dog for checking in with you. While you shouldn't expect your dog to give you their 100% attention at all times, a dog who periodically looks to see where you are and what you're doing is a dog who is more likely to respond to cues.
Teaching your dog to check-in is fairly simple. The hardest part for most owners is focusing on their dog when out and about. Once you notice that your dog is looking at you, or if your dog is off leash coming back to you, you're just simply going to give a marker cue or praise, and then reinforce with something your dog likes. While I typically use food, it can also be a short chase game, a period of play, or a treasured toy. Remember that the reinforcer needs to be something your dog wants in the moment.
Note that this is not a cued behavior. Don't ask your dog to look at or come to you, just mark and reinforce when it happens naturally. The more you acknowledge your dog's check-ins, the more your dog will do it.
Exercising a dog that suffers from separation anxiety prior to the owner leaving is a common internet suggestion. While making sure a dog's exercise needs are met is definitely a something I can get behind, sadly it won't resolve separation anxiety.
The theory behind exercising the dog is to tire them out, with the idea being that a tired dog will be likely to relax. But separation anxiety is a phobia and panic disorder.
When animals have a panic attack, one of the hormones released is adrenaline, which causes the body to raise blood sugar levels to provide energy and makes the brain more alert. Adrenaline overrides any tiredness a dog may feel prior to the owner walking out the door.
I would love to work with you if your dog suffers from separation anxiety and you haven't had any success with trying other ways to resolve it. Sign up for a 15 minute consultation to learn how!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
This little cutie is Wonton, a 10 year old Yorkie adopted 5 months ago. Wonton panics when his people leave, even though he has his Bichon mix friend Benny, and Phoebe the bunny. Many dogs with separation anxiety live in multi-pet households, so getting a second dog or cat isn't going to necessarily resolve a dog's separation anxiety.
I am really excited to be working with Wonton and his family, and know they're going to do fantastic with resolving Wonton's separation anxiety. I'd love to work with you if your dog is distressed or panicky when you leave. Schedule a free 15 minute consultation to learn more!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
I'm very happy to have the opportunity to work with Puck and his humans, helping Puck become comfortable with being left home alone!
If your dog has separation related issues, I would love to work with you!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
My May newsletter is out! Learn how to reduce barking at the window now that the neighbors are out and about. Discover additional ways to play with and have fun with your dog!
Use the link below to sign up for my newsletter so that it goes straight to your inbox!
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Have you heard the common misconception that dogs shouldn't eat people food? I disagree with that because the reasoning behind that bit of advice is flawed. Want to find out why? Read my blog post on the subject!
https://www.khriserickson.com/post/dog-people-food
Jozie was so darn cute when we did the assessment yesterday. She carried a toy in her mouth and was wiggly with happiness! The only thing that made her unhappy was when her people walked out the door, but I have no doubt we'll be able to resolve her separation anxiety!
If you'd like my help in working through your dog's separation issues, I would love to work with you. Sign up for a free 15 minute Zoom call to find out how!
https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
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Trainer Tip A dog training foundation is teaching your dog to "check in" with you. This isn't fancy and isn't hard to teach, but it does require that you pay as much attention to your dog, or even more, as you expect your dog to pay attention to you. This is different than the "watch" cue that some people train. A check in is used at times when you aren't asking your dog to do anything in particular. Maybe you're on a leash walk, or maybe you're someplace where your dog is off leash. Whenever your dog looks your way you will need to reinforce it in some way such as a treat, toy or brief interaction. IF your reinforcer actually is reinforcing to your dog, you should start to see your dog checking in with you more frequently. The benefit of check in is that when your dog regularly doing so, you know that part of their attention is on you and where you are. This is a foundation skill for recalls and loose leash walking, and it makes it more likely that the dog will respond when cued to do those things.
It's so important to let our dogs sniff and explore their environment when taking them out on walks. It isn't all just about exercise, it's also about being mentally stimulated and enriched. Today's walk was a little bit more exciting than normal, with my dogs finding a turkey feather 🦃🪶 off the side of the road. We stopped for a good long time while they investigated it, and then Quinn decided it was important enough to bring home with us!
Just one of the many things I'm doing for the dogs since the weather has been so horrible in Wisconsin since Friday. I always find it so interesting how different my two dogs are, and how it shows up in their problem solving. What do you do to keep your dog's occupied in bad weather? #dogsinwinter #dogsinwintertime #dogchewing #dogenrichmentprogram #dogenrichmenttips #dogenrichmentideas #dogshavinfun #dogenrichmentactivities #relievingdogstress #dogproblemsolving #canineenrichment #canineenrichmentgames #canineenrichmentjoy #canineenrichmentideas #dogenrichmenthacks #khriserickson
Carnegie is currently at a 13 minute absence from her person in the training process. If you don't have a dog with separation anxiety this doesn't seem like much time. But it's a tremendous amount of progress for a dog with separation anxiety who formerly couldn't even be separated from her owner for even a second! Separation anxiety resolution is a slow process, but when done correctly is very effective. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety I can help with your dog's recovery process! Schedule a free 15 minute consultation to find out how! https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
I walk the dogs down this road almost every day, and frequently there is a dog on a fenced in porch that barks at us as we pass. Whimsy used to bark back and get all worked up, until I started working on reinforcing the absence of barking. In this video you can see the result of that training. As we approach the house Whimsy is walking ahead of me getting a good sniff in. Once the dog starts barking she lifts her head up, focuses on me and silently walks by side. If you'd like my help with loose leash walking, barking, or dog reactivity and live within 30 minutes of Ixonia I would be happy to work with you and your dog! https://www.khriserickson.com/in-person-training
It has been raining non-stop for the past 2 days, and I knew I had to come up with something for the dogs and I to do since a walk is out of the question. The video is just a fun activity/training session. My goal was for Whimsy to leave the table, go under the chair, over the bar and back to the table. Quinn's was to go around the chair instead because he's so much bigger than Whimsy. Notice the very different energy levels between the two dogs. Quinn is more cautious with training because he likes to think things through. Sometimes a training session can be something that won't ever be useful or even ever used again. Sometimes it's about preventing boredom and getting dogs to use their brains. And although I will most likely never use this pattern again, sessions like this teach dogs to problem solve, and help build confidence and resiliency.
A few days ago I worked with Captain and his owners on his leash reactivity towards other dogs. Captain is 5 months old and plays with other dogs in the neighborhood. His behavior is all about being frustrated at not being able to "say hi". I had the owners practice an Emergency U-turn, Treat Magnet, and Treat Scatter/Find It as management responses to prevent Captain from reacting if he inadvertantly got too close to anther dog. They also practive Look at That, which teaches the dog to check in with the person holding the leash when he sees another dog. The neighbors were nice enough to bring their dog out so Captain could practice in that scenario. Captain and his owners did a fantastic job! https://www.khriserickson.com/in-person-training
I've talked about ACE Free Work in the past, and I decided to expand on it in this week's blog post. And since it was too hot to walk the dog's today, I decided to do Free Work with the dog's today. The set up included: 2 Cavaletti poles with a rag containing horse scent, Exercise mat with peanut butter smear, scrap piece of plywood with tennis balls in the muffin tin cups covering kibble, jigsaw puzzle mat with egg carton containing soft treats, a scattering of kibble on and around the course, and a bowl of water. Whimsy spent 15 minutes exploring, scavaging, sniffing and playing with the tennis balls, Quinn spent 10 minutes on the set up - although he wasn't interested in playing with the tennis balls. ACE Free Work is such a great enrichment activity, and additionally can reduce stress, and let dogs have 100% choice in how they explore. Read the blog post to learn more! https://www.khriserickson.com/post/ace-freework
With the heat wave we’re experiencing in my area right now, many people are trying to figure out how to safely exercise their dogs. I can highly recommend a fun training game called the "Toss a Treat Recall" that will help improve your dog’s response to coming to you when called. Here’s how you do it: Step 1: Get some super yummy treats that your dog goes crazy for. These are like the secret weapons to get their attention. Step 2: Find a cozy spot indoors (or a safe space outdoors weather permitting) to play. Say “(your dog’s name) Come!” in an upbeat voice, and then give them a treat. toss a treat a short distance away. Step 3: After your dog eats the treat from your hand, show them a second treat and toss it away from you. Step 4: Chase Time: Your dog's inner athlete will kick in, and they'll chase after the treat. It's like a mini adventure for them. Step 5: As your dog is eating the treat that you’ve thrown, call your dog back to you, praise and give a treat from your hand. Step 6: Vary the distance and direction of the treats that are thrown to keep your dog guessing. The Toss a Treat Recall game isn't just about training – it's playtime too! Your dog learns a handy skill while having a blast. Plus, it's a fantastic way to build trust and a strong bond between you and your furry pal. So, go ahead, give it a try, and enjoy the fun!
I see advice from well-meaning dog owner posted on-line as to how to work on separation anxiety. Often one of the recommendations is to leave for a short time, like 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, etc. Actually the length of the departure needs to be adjusted to what the dog can handle. Part of my assessment is determining that, and different dogs will have different starting departure desensitization training. The goal is that during the training exercise the dog experiences zero anxiety. For some dogs that may initially involve just walking towards the door, but not actually going out. Some dogs can start at 15 or 20 seconds. The dog's behavior tells us where to begin. Here's what an early training exercise looks like. I've included 2 repetitions here, although there were 10 total. It doesn't look like much, but considering Kylo started out being anxious by just the owner touching the door, much less leaving, this is really great progress! If you'd like to discuss your dog's separation anxiety and learn how I can help, sign up for a free 15 minute Zoom consultation. I'd love to meet with you! https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
So this is the end of Whimsy's Dremel journey! This is a compilation of the last four sessions we did. As always I start each session with a review of something easy before I move on to more difficult, and I'm paying attention to her head and only proceeding if the head is down and not up. The key is to keep the sessions short, and not try to do too much. In the last video you'll see that I successfully Dremeled one back nail. I didn't get greedy, I ended the session there. Better to quit while we’re ahead, then to keep going and end up erasing all my hard work! If you'd like some help with grooming or other handling I can help! https://www.khriserickson.com/contact
Here are little snips of the next three sessions after the last time I posted about working with Whimsy and the Dremel Whimsy's keep going cue is to rest her head on the couch, so you'll notice that I withdraw my hands when I see that her head lifts up. And as usual I review easy steps, before I move on to more difficult steps. For example, in the first session I do a few repetitions where I'm touching her nail with the Dremel turned off, and I also touch her nails with the Dremel running but on the non grinding end. This first session is when I first started using the grinding tool against her nail. As you can tell she is very uncomfortable with it. Some of it might be the actual sensation of her nail being ground, and some of it might be the noise. Seeing her discomfort the first time I touched her nail to the grinder, I went back a few steps where I didn't touch her nail at all with the tool. I also lower the speed of the Dremel. In the second session I again review, bringing the Dremel towards her nail, but not actually touching it and giving her treats. When I actually do touch her nail with the running Dremel she is very uncomfortable with it. Notice I still give her treats even though she lifted her head up. This is about conditioning the dog to like having their nails Dremeled, not about teaching a behavior. So treats happen whatever the dogs response. The flinching and head lifting do give me valuable information, and tell me that I need to slow down a bit. The third session I again do some review. And I realized that in the second session the Dremel was on a higher speed, so this time around I turned it down. Whimsy is still doing a little bit of flinching, but not as much as the previous session. At this stage my objective with each session is not to actually file her nails. Right now I'm just trying to get her to feel comfortable with the process, and eventually when she does I'll be able to use that as a way to maintain her nails. Would you like s
This has been the best 4th of July my dogs and I have had for years! Normally during fireworks Whimsy would be clinging to me and trembling, even with medication. This year I got proactive and did some pre-holiday training to be ready for it. In the video she is medicated, but so much better than in previous years. Whimsy LOVES chasing after treats, so every time I heard fireworks I cued her with "party time", and tossed a few for her to run after. If you would like my help for next year, I would love to work with you and your dog! https://www.khriserickson.com/contact
The next step in Dremel conditioning involved getting Whimsy used to having her feet touched with the Dremel. But first I did a review with some foot handling, and turning the Dremel on and off so that she gets used to the nois, to get her used to that feeling for when we actually drummer her nails e. With the foot handling I've progressed to actually holding each individual toe, to get her used to that feeling for when I actually Dremel her nails. I'm paying attention to her body language, and don't proceed until she puts her head down, which is her signal that she's OK for me to do so. All of this includes food, of course! The next step then was to hold the feet while I touched each toe with the Dremel head while the tool was turned off. This helps Whimsy get used to the idea that the Dremel head will be touching her feet. That went really well so I turned the Dremel on to the lowest setting, and touched each toe nail with the backside of the Dremel so that she could get used to the vibration. Once we completed that and I saw how well she she was doing, I turned it up to the next setting. https://www.khriserickson.com/additional-online-training
This is the next step in conditioning Whimsy to having her nails filed with a Dremel. We've had several sessions between when I posted last week's video and today, just working on getting her more comfortable with toe handling. Today we introduce the Dremel! I did trim Whimsy’s back paw nails over the weekend. The mat that she's laying on is a signal that nothing scary is going to happen. When I trimmed her nails this weekend I did not use the mat. It was interesting to note that she was much more comfortable with having her feet handled when I was cutting her nails even with the clippers that she dislikes! I started the session with a review of feet handling. You can see that we've progressed to the point where I can actually handle her toes a bit firmly for a second or so. Then comes the introduction of the Dremel. As a reminder, when she puts her head down it's a signal that she's ready for me to proceed. If she lifts her head up it means that I need to stop. So I wait until she puts her head down before I present the dremel. Initially the Dremel is not running, I’m just showing the tool to her. When she seems comfortable with that I start to turn it on. It gets turned on, I mark the noise with the marker cue of “good”, and then give her a treat. I am not marking for her behavior, at this point I just want her to feel comfortable with the noise and so I’m marking the noise presentation. . You can see with every repetition she becomes more comfortable with the noise, and doesn't even lift her head when I turn it on. If you'd like help with getting your dog more comfortable with handling and grooming, I offer several virtual training packages! https://www.khriserickson.com/additional-online-training
For several years I've tried to implement cooperative care with my dogs when I do nail trims. Cooperative care is where the dog is a willing participant in their care activity, and has a way to signal when they are uncomfortable and need a break, and when they are willing for you to proceed. Quinn has always been A-okay with the nail clippers. Whimsy not so much, and increasingly she has needed more breaks during our session, and is just generally uncomfortable with the process. I've decided to train her on a dremel to file her nails, and this video is of our second session. The reason for placing a mat on the couch is that I want that to be a signal that we are going to be doing nails. I also want the mat to have a conditioned happy response. This will help when I'm actually dremeling her nails. You may notice that the Dremel does not make an appearance in this training session! The reason is that I wanted to get her comfortable with having her feet handled. Since I'm starting fresh with a new tool, I want to ensure that every step of the nail filing process is comfortable for her. Starting from scratch is the best way to do that! As you watch the video you'll notice that her signal for needing a break is head lifted up off the couch, and for her being willing for me to continue his head down on the couch. As the session goes on she is much more comfortable with having her feet handled. If you'd like some help with getting your dog comfortable with grooming, I can help! Check out my training packages! https://www.khriserickson.com/additional-online-training
Sometimes it looks like separation anxiety, but it isn't actually separation anxiety. I've assessed several dogs that turned out to be just fine when the owners left, as long as they weren't confined to a crate or exercise pen. Problem solved? Maybe, if it's a dog the owners can trust while loose in the house. But what about a puppy or adolescent dog that isn't ready for that kind of freedom? Sometimes giving them a bigger space can be really helpful. So instead of confining to a crate, confining to an exercise pen. But it's not just about changing to a larger space, there's training that needs to go along with it to help the dog be able to relax in that space. If your dog has separation anxiety or just anxious when crated I'd love to help you resolve it! Sign up for a FREE 15 minute consultation to find out how. https://www.khriserickson.com/booking-calendar/15-minute-free-consultation
My last blog post was about helping your dog develop confidence and resilience. One of the activities I described was the Forage Game. It's a great game that helps the dog feel comfortable with variety of materials and noises, and is a wonderful enrichment activity. Here's a video that shows how it's done. https://www.khriserickson.com/post/helping-dogs-develop-confidence
Here's an example of what can be accomplished with virtual dog training. By coaching through good verbal communication I was able to help Denny's owner fine tune her training skills and she made a lot of progress with stay! If you know somone in need of dog training please share this post; I'm currently available for a few more clients! https://www.khriserickson.com/additional-online-training
It's that time of year when families tend to bring new puppies home. The joys of puppy breath, watching them play and learn about their world, and, unfortunately, needle sharp teeth. So what do you do when the the puppy bites as you're trying to snuggle, and the kids are jumping on furniture to escape the velociraptor you brought into the family? Read this week's blog post for some tips! https://www.khriserickson.com/post/training-puppy-not-to-bite
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