Pam Graci's Wags and Woof: Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

01/10/2023

So much this!! I talk to clients about this a lot, as well as setting realistic expectations.

Can we please stop expecting that EVERY dog wants to go to dog parks, daycares, patio parties and have birthday parties with other dogs! Nobody loves dogs more than me, but I’m here to tell you that dogs aren’t human children. They don’t want to do everything a human child does. Breed can matter when deciding what is fun for your best friend. Your Husky may have the energy to run, your Retriever may want to retrieve and your terrier may want to chase and grab. So yes, raising them with kindness is paramount, but paying attention to their needs is too. I said it.

This mentality that every dog has to be “social” with other people and dogs is keeping my shelter full, my days long and my heart broken, because I see the best dogs passed over, because they wouldn’t do well at a dog park or daycare. Not every dog needs to like your friends. I keep my dog in his room when people come over, because he isn’t comfortable around everyone, and I don’t want to set him up for failure. Love your dog enough to respect her boundaries.

Your dog doesn’t want to meet every dog. The reality show you watched about dog training and dog adoption is fake, I’ve worked in television, it’s edited to create a good story, not necessarily a real story. Let’s stop these narratives on dog ownership that are SOLD to us and based on making money. Dogs aren’t a business they are our best friends. Remember that.

Your dog can be perfectly safe and happy without overstimulating daycare or doggy birthday parties. Those things are fun for some dogs, but not for all. I want to take my dog everywhere, I want to give my dog the things I would want, but for the love of dogs in shelters everywhere, let’s ask dogs what do they REALLY want?

Dogs want more sniffs, waterlogged sticks, a quiet place to decompress, a space to stretch their legs and you to respect their body language and boundaries. They are talking to you…listen.

15/09/2022

IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR DOGS TO “VISIT” DOGS IN OTHER HOMES

A frequent “complaint” I get from owners in why they want to seek out training is because their dog displays aggression when another dog visits their home or when they take their dog to visit in someone else’s home.

Guys, this is not normal for dogs.

Can we give up the idea of dogs visiting “dog friends” at other houses as a necessity? You’re taking an animal - a predator - and bringing it to another predator’s territory. Dogs are not human. Wild canids don’t visit other territories for an evening of appetizers and cocktails. That’s a human thing.

Yes, there are dogs who truly enjoy the company of others and are sociable and non territorial. Those dogs can accept visiting dogs or go to other dogs’ homes without issue. If your dog truly enjoys these activities, then by all means continue to enrich their lives! But know that this is the minority, and not “normal” behavior that should be expected of all dogs.

It tends to be a problem when the dog hits social maturity, when a honeymoon phase ends after rehoming, or when the owner expects the new dog to be ok with this because their last dog “loved it.”

If your dog doesn’t accept visiting dogs inside your home or doesn’t like going to other people’s houses, this is not a problem on your dog’s end. Your dog is normal. It’s a problem on your end in your realistic vs unrealistic expectations.

22/05/2022

Dear Mom and Dad" Let me stay home. It's not nice for me to walk and run next to you. But because I am a loyal dog, I often go beyond my limits. So I walk and run beside you, standing still if I have to. And feel my paws burn.
I'm looking at you for a moment, but you do not understand. Because in a little over 5 minutes we're at the cool puddle, right? But those little 5 minutes can be fatal to me. Because I sweat through my paws, and in this heat, I just can not get rid of the sweat. My whole body is boiling, but I keep going .....
And then I end up on the tarmac. In the heat and in the sun. With my tongue out of my mouth and my eyes flashing in the sun. My paws are burning, my tongue is dry and my head is pounding in the heat that my body cannot get rid of ...
Instead, let me stay at home where I can enjoy the sun, with a large bowl of water, somewhere in the shade. And best of all like in a cool area with grass.
Love
Your dog

16/01/2022

Good information.

With the pending weather, we just want to send a reminder out in case you
FIND A HYPOTHERMIC ANIMAL.

🛑 REMEMBER THESE RULES 🛑

❌DO NOT FEED
❌DO NOT SUBMERSE IN WATER
✅ GET OUT of the weather and inside
✅ DRY off the animal
✅ TALK to the animal
✅STOKE to stimulate blood flow

‼️GET TO A VET IMMEDIATELY‼️

FEEDING a kitten with a temp below 97, could result in it dying❗️

If you warm the animal up to fast, you can KILL it❗️

If you find an animal that is frozen to the ground,

DO NOT TRY TO PULL IT OFF!

Get LUKE WARM tap water and pour it around and under the animal. The water is warmer than the snow and air and is going to feel like FIRE to that animal's nerve endings. Again you DO NOT want to use hot water.

Then Immediately dry the animal off, wrap it in a towel, shirt etc. and get to the nearest vet office.

Steady and slow is rule of thumb. A vet can treat the animal for shock and hypothermia using a series of injections and warm IV fluids and an incubator.

Losing ears, tails, toes or a leg is workable. Damaging internal organs isn't.

23/12/2021

This made my heart smile. Enjoy!

18/12/2021

This! A very worthwhile read!

Can we, please, for the sake of dogs everywhere, and their people, normalize doing NOTHING with your dog?

No, I don’t mean leaving them alone all day or not training them or enriching their life at home. I mean not feeling like we have to DO something with them or have them BE something or a certain way. I’m not talking about neglecting dogs, I’m talking about taking pressure off them.

The majority of dogs are totally, 100% fine doing nothing. They truly don’t care about going with you to uncle Tim’s graduation bbq, or going to the dog park to make “friends” or any of the other stuff that WE, their people want for our own enjoyment and what the idea of having a dog has meant to us. Then, when we push these things on dogs, we are upset and disappointed that they don’t enjoy them, or behave a certain way, without looking at the big picture.

You have my full permission to do nothing with your dog. To train them for as much as you need, to enrich their lives as much as they desire, but if that means they stay home and snuggle on the couch with you instead of competing in a sport or going out in public, that is OKAY.

It’s also okay to teach your dog who does enjoy activities to DO NOTHING. And I can’t stress this enough. My dogs have days where they don’t get anything but some playtime in the yard and bones to chew. I don’t have them assume they get everything all day long. I see so many dogs that just don’t know how to do nothing because they are always doing SOMETHING.

The pressure dog people feel nowadays is directly correlated I believe to the increasing behavior issues dogs are having. The idea of dogs being able to do all these things we want them to and go all these places is just setting a standard and expectation that is completely unfair and setting both people and dogs up for failure.

Teach your dog to do nothing. Be okay doing nothing with your dog. Be okay leaving them home, not letting them say hi to everyone, not having to make friends with other dogs, not getting this or that title or certificate or whatever it is.

The four hooligans went on a walk, a long one this morning, and now will spend the rest of the day doing nothing, and that’s okay.

PLEASE IF YOU SHARE- GIVE CREDIT TO THE AUTHOR - Helen st. Pierre

23/04/2020

Yes!!! This!!!!

30/03/2020

"Thank you for participating in International Dog Parkour Association's program. You have met the requirements for your Dog Parkour Quarantine Level 2 Specialist titles.

Congratulations to you and KLEAS Leap of Faith on your Dog Parkour Specialist - Quarantine 2 titles! Nice work"

Here is another fun thing you can do with your dog at home during stay at home time. I love finding new things to do with my pups for enrichment...parkour is usually done outside, but due to the coronavirus, they have 3 titles you can now get via video submission done exclusively indside! www.dogparkour.com We just got our level 2 title and are working on level 3

I have included the links to Gimli's youtube video submissions for his title, so you can see how doable this is for anyone to enjoy with a little practice. It's all about enjoying your dog and building your relationship with them! If you need help, give me a shout

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbTyDa6yAv72jxgzHas8wJMs

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbQEg4zBkgW8REF_GhfDj8br

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbSuv4_fac2kh2pxjyRBUHim

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbR1UW6KQCWwT14SSlgZ8arA

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbRAEyvUz6DMYI-0DLt7KOpg

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbS3MBXyZr6L9LbMmDWr3QlW

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnAZD8YxRXbSjC9kwnRpssMQWzU59O1TR

17/03/2020

Fun for you, your dog and your kids if you have any...If you are looking for something fun to do that you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home, check out Do More With Your Dogs domorewithyourdog.com You can teach your dogs tricks and get titles by submitting videos on line. I did this with both my dogs, and am up to expert level so far :) Or, if the title doesn't float your boat, just learn the tricks! It's tons of fun and will give you some bonding time with your pups, or something fun to get your kids engaged with to wile away the hours. I have NO affiliation with this organization, just like that it is something you can do with your pups that does not require you to leave your home. If your dog is AKC registered, these titles transfer over to AKC as well. Will be happy to help any of my friends if you get stuck on the "how tos" of any trick. I have also discovered online parkour that I will be doing with my dogs over this quarantine period. www.dogparkour.org and will hopefully get our Quarantine specialist 1,2, and 3 titles along with our Training level Title. Off to do some videoing

08/03/2020

A very good read about courtesy and not letting your off leash (or on leash) dog get into another dog's space.

You are Not an Exception to the Rule: Please Share This Blog Post with ALL Your Dog Owning Friends Spring is coming! This means that we all want to get outdoors and enjoy more time in nature. I am oft

08/03/2020

I talk to my clients s a lot about enrichment for their dogs... keeping them mentally stimulated and allowing them to use their natural abilities in a constructive manner. My puppy loves to use his nose, so we play lots of scent work games. Here he is doing an interior search for the birch scent. He is really beginning to understand his job and is having a blast. Good boy, buddy!

01/03/2020

Zena and her family finished up their 5 week package today. An adolescent social butterfly, Zena needed some work on her meet and greet skills as well as passing by other dogs calmly. With some easy management strategies, guests to the home are now greeted with a much calmer pup and happier parents. Today Zena showed off her loose leash walking skills at Tudek park with kids, dogs and horses. Consistency and repetition go far. Keep up the good work! Good girl, Zena!!

24/02/2020

I talk to clients about this all the time. Don't punish the growl...it is their warning signal to you, and as their much more subtle signals have more than likely been overlooked or unheeded, this is their last recourse before they escalate even further.

Clients always appear a bit stunned at first when I tell them their dog's growl is a good thing. In fact, a growl is something to be greatly treasured. These are my aggression consultation clients, who are in my office in desperation, as a last resort, hoping to find some magic pill that will turn t...

24/02/2020

Congratulations to Artie and his family for finishing their 5 week puppy package. Not having a puppy in a very long time, they wanted to make sure they got off to a good start, and they certainly did. This social little snuggle bug was a super fast learner and loved to work. He very quickly mastered his basics and is ready to take on the world. Good boy, Artie!!

22/02/2020

Congratulations to Trippe and her family for completing their 5 week puppy package. Dealing with an extremely smart, high energy, adolescent can be a daunting task, but they rose to the occasion learning new skills, management tools, and lots of ways to give her plenty of constructive mental as well as physical outlets. Jumping up and barking at people and dogs are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Well done all of you! Keep up the good work!

18/02/2020

Kea and her family just finished their 5 week puppy package. I was tickled when they contacted me, as I had worked with her litter mate, and absolutely loved him. True to form, Kea was equally sweet and social as her brother. She needed help with her focus and walking skills as well as getting a solid foundation. She met every task with enthusiasm and everyone really stuck with the program. Well done! Good girl Kea!

12/02/2020

Big congratulations to Cain and his family for finishing up their puppy package. Cain was a bit worried about the toddler in the home as well as meeting new people. He and his 2 legged little brother are now best buds, and he's greeting new people with wiggles and wags rather than barks and growls. With proactive, positive parents and some good foundation skills, Cain is off to a great start. Good boy!!

07/02/2020

Fabulous read!! I can not tell you how many pictures I see day in, and day out on social media with dog and child draped all over it or face to face that make me absolutely cringe. I can also not tell you how many people have contacted me about dogs snapping/growling/biting at children "out of the blue". "The myth is that good dogs, family dogs, your dogs–don’t bite. The myth says that dogs who live with us, dogs who like our kids, dogs who have always been “tolerant”–will stay that way, no matter what we or the kids do to them. The myth also says that dogs are supposed to take whatever kids dish out."

Sharing that "cute" dog and baby picture contributes to a serious problem.

06/02/2020

Lots of truth in this!

VALID.

Credit Canine Insights, LLC

05/02/2020

Mo loves his momma....the rest of the world he is not so enamored with. We spent our sessions working on his stranger danger/ discomfort of visitors, dog reactivity, and relaxation. With lots of good management strategies in place and proactive parents, Mo made big strides with his walks, greetings and learning how to not be so hyper-vigilant 24/7. Good work team Mo!

25/01/2020

Have posted this before, but always worth posting again as a gentle reminder.

We expect dogs to live serenely & effortlessly in a world of human’s making without showing any signs of being dogs. We are surprised when they act like dogs.

19/01/2020

A good read about things you should think about and ask when adopting a dog from a shelter. I am all for rescue and all but one of my dogs has come from a shelter...but do your homework..ask a lot of questions. A lot of shelters are adopting out dogs that are not appropriate for a typical family home.

Choosing a rescue dog is challenging. Many dogs up for adoption have histories of behavioral issues such as aggression. Read our tips to pick a safe dog.

19/01/2020

Treated myself and commissioned this painting of my old girl, Jinx. My incredibly talented friend Donovan Scott Neal painted this portrait from an equally talented friend, Nicole Bailey's photo of my gorgeous pup. I am thrilled with how it turned out. I would highly recommend him if you are in the market.

10/01/2020

Well written, and one of many reasons I stopped offering group classes and focus on individual, one on one sessions with my clients.

GROUP CLASSES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER

As the New Year gets underway, we have many enquiries coming in for classes for adolescent and adult dogs. It's really great that people are looking for help and we want to be able to give that help - we really do - but the problem is that the expectation of how we should help and what we know is actually the best way to help, is often very different. Probably 90% of enquiries we get for dogs over the age of 5 months hints at mild to severe social problems and the expected solution is resolving this by sticking the dog into a group class. It really needs to be stated again:

*GROUP CLASSES ARE NOT THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR DOGS WITH SERIOUS SOCIAL LIMITATIONS*

Please understand that if a dog is anxious or stressed around other dogs (whether this manifests itself in shutting down or reactivity), being thrown into an environment with other dogs is really NOT the answer. It really is like throwing a person who has never learned to swim into a lake and expecting them not to drown. It is almost guaranteed to be a disaster.

There ARE plenty of things that we can do for reactive or socially anxious dogs:

1. We can try to establish the extent of the problem and what has been or is contributing to it.
2. We can find ways to reduce stress to generally improve quality of life and optimise learning potential
3. We can increase enrichment to fulfil needs, which again puts the dog in a better frame of mind for learning new behaviour
4. We can draw up a plan for gradually desensitizing triggers for anxiety and reactivity
5. We can teach more appropriate responses in situations, where appropriate.

However, all of this requires one-on-one assistance to get started. An in-depth consultation that ensures we understand the extent of the problem and all contributing factors is essential in order to prevent us from putting a bandaid on the "sore" and never addressing the underlying "infection". Follow-up one-on-one training sessions may also be required in some cases. For some dogs group classes may be appropriate AFTER initial one-on-one help, but this does not mean that they should be the goal for all dogs - some dogs will simply never cope with a group class environment and it will do them more harm than good.

We do have dogs that have started off with social problems, but who we have ultimately been able to accommodate successfully into groups. But we also have to keep in mind that the more dogs we take in with a higher risk of becoming reactive if they feel a little stressed, the more likely we are to end up with a domino effect (one dog sets off another, that sets off another etc. ) and we end up with serious logistical problems of where to put everyone so that each dog can remain in their comfort zone. I don't think most clients realise just how much thought and energy we put into organising classes from a spatial point of view and considering how to meet the emotional needs of EVERY SINGLE dog in class. Continually admitting dogs with "borderline" social issues eventually creates chaos and a stressful environment for all dogs and owners. This is the exact opposite of what we are aiming to achieve and we have a primary responsibility to the socially healthy dogs, who have been enrolled in classes to learn and have fun with their owners, not to do emotional harm to them in our desire to help a dog with an existing problem.

So, if you have a dog with social problems, please do come to us. We WANT to help. But please allow us to help in the way we know is best. Yes, it's likely to take more time than you thought. Yes, you'll have to pay more for our one-on-one services, but please trust that we have your dog's (and your) best interests at heart. Of course you will find a training school or club that won't hesitate to admit your dog, even if he's utterly miserable or trying to launch at every other dog in class. They'll probably show you how to "correct" the reactivity or force your dog to engage on some level in training and it will probably cost you a fraction of our consultation fee. But you will get what you paid for - very bad advice, a scrambled mess of behaviour problems (increasingly unpredictable swings from suppression to full-blown reactivity) and a dog with chronic stress. It's just not worth it.

06/01/2020

If you aren't competitive, and don't want to leave your warm, cozy home....there is still a lot of fun things you can do with your pup. Over Christmas break, my 10 month old pup, and my 13 year old lady had a blast with me submitting tricks via video submission to Do More With Your Dogs to earn their Novice, Intermediate and Advanced trick titles. We are working on their expert and trick dog champion submissions but still need to rustle up a few props. And for those with AKC registered dogs, these titles transfer over to AKC. Give it a try....it is seriously fun and helps that relationship building with your pup. Keep it upbeat and positive and you will be surprised what you can accomplish!

01/01/2020

My 9 month old puppy, Gimli, sporting his barn hunt bling from today's trial. He Q'ed in 3 of his 4 classes and got High in Class in his first Novice class, finding the rat in under 35 seconds. So proud of my little guy for only his second time exposed to rats. There are so many fun things you can do with your dogs...this is just one of many we will be pursuing! Make your new year's resolution be to do more with your dogs, try something different, step outside your comfort zone...you will be happy you did! Cheers to 2020...have a great one!

28/12/2019

This little firecracker, Rocket just finished up his puppy package. He was such a good student and loved to work as well as give lots of cuddles. What a fun boy he was to teach! His people have big plans for him and wanted to make sure they got the basics firmly in place early on and they are off to a great start! Looking forward to working with them in the future and seeing this boy continue to flourish at whatever they put their minds to.

24/12/2019

From our home to yours... wishing you peace, love and joy during this holiday season!

21/12/2019

Archie and his family finished their puppy package today. As first time dog parents, they wanted to make sure they were doing all the right things raising their boy. What a great team they are. They worked so hard, and Archie is one of the sweetest mooshes of a pup I have ever met. Well done all of you and have fun on your journey together!

18/12/2019

This is a fabulous blog that applies to dogs (any creature we interact with, really) as well. "Many of the problems that we see in the horse world today stem from riders demanding performance instead of appreciating effort" I see this in training every single day and it makes me terribly sad. Your dog engaging with you is a gift not a right. Reward your dog for making good choices and doing all the things you ask them to do...many of which they probably would rather not do, or couldn't care less about. Force is not the answer. Demanding things from them is not the answer. Show them, encourage them, reward them....and be in awe that these amazingly intelligent creatures choose to share our lives in a very meaningful manner over and over again.

Many riders don't enjoy the process of training or learning to ride dressage. Many problems come from riders demanding performance instead of appreciating effort. Learn how to enjoy learning and doing dressage by believing that it shouldn't work!