At Your Service Dog Training

30/08/2024

Informative email I just received from Valley Veterinary Hospital on canine respiratory illness in our area:

“We have seen a steady increase of respiratory cases in our area; owners can help ensure their pet’s health by recognizing symptoms early.

“Traditionally, dogs with a mild case of canine infectious respiratory disease can recover quickly after being prescribed cough suppressants or supportive care that focuses on relieving symptoms, which can include fever, coughing, nasal snuffling or discharge, discharge from the eyes, and sneezing.

“Dogs with more severe symptoms require more diagnostics, treatments and supportive care than has historically been the case for “garden variety” contagious cough. Some dogs have recently required additional antibiotics and follow up diagnostics.

“While contagious respiratory diseases can have devastating effects, most dogs are very likely to recover fully, especially with the guidance of their veterinarian.

“What owners should do to help keep their pets healthy:

● Regardless of requirements for boarding and daycare facilities, owners should ensure their dogs are fully vaccinated against the respiratory diseases that are preventable; these include Bordetella, parainfluenza and Canine influenza.

● If your dog attends daycare, boarding, dog parks, grooming, or other scenarios where they interact with dogs from outside of their household, monitor them for any symptoms listed above. It is not unreasonable to ask a facility if they have had any cases and, if so, what cleaning protocols they have in place.

● Currently, our boarding facility is not seeing any cases of respiratory issues. With the upcoming holidays and school travels, we understand owners may need to utilize multiple facilities. Please let Valley Inn know if this is the case so we can track any potential exposures or risks appropriately. If your pet attends a facility that does have confirmed cases, please keep them home for a 10-14 day observation and do not allow them to interact with other dogs not in your household. Please seek veterinary care if symptoms develop.

“What owners should do if they believe their pet has canine infectious respiratory disease:

● Contact your veterinarian: It’s important that if owners suspect their dog might have a cough or respiratory symptoms that they consult with their veterinarian, regardless of the severity of their symptoms, so that they can know what action to take.
○ If your pet is receiving veterinary care for respiratory disease please follow instructions from your veterinary health care team as they may examine your pet outside, or have you use a special entrance to reduce the risk of transmitting illness to their other patients.
● Do not take your dog around other dogs. This will prevent dogs from unknowingly spreading the illness to others, in case they are contagious.
● If your dog has recently been around other dogs or dog care facilities, contact them to let them know of a possible exposure.

Respiratory diseases can be troubling for dog owners and their furry friends alike. By prioritizing your dog’s respiratory health and remaining vigilant when your dog begins feeling unwell, owners can relax knowing that their pet is protected while also protecting other dogs.”

29/08/2024

Yes, this! Great post. I love the human examples.

In our classes, I admit that we DO teach, “only say it once,” BUT everything Suzanne says here is true! WHY do we say, “Only give the cue once?” Because there is a tendency among us humans, if the dog does not respond the first time you say “come,” to repeat it (Come! Fluffy, come! Come! COME! Etc.). So it is good training to practice saying the cue once and making sure the dog understands it and gets rewarded for it over and over.

BUT we also say “attention is the mother of all behaviors.” If you can’t get your dog’s attention, he’s not going to do what you ask, no matter how many times you ask it!

Today's Dog Training Myth of the Day: "Only tell them once!"

What if you ask a dog (whatever age, breed, s*x, background, training level) to do something, but there is no response?

Set aside the myth of "only tell them once." Good rule of thumb: if it were a toddler, what would you do? Probably wait a few beats, be sure you had the kid's attention, then ask again.

Just like us, dogs may not be tuned in 100% because they are busy having their own experience of life which may or may not include you at any moment.

If you *do* have the pup's attention, and they did hear you, next step is to consider that they do not understand and/or don't see the point!

I've often asked clients to stand on a chair and sing happy birthday. I've done it while they were trying to take notes. Result: no compliance, and they say usually say, "Sorry - I was focused on taking notes. What did you say?"

If they are paying attention to me but look at me as if I'm crazy, I ask, "Did you understand what I asked? You did? So why aren't you doing it?" Inevitably the answer is, "I don't want to" or "Why would I do that?" It helped them understand how their dogs might be responding.

So give your dogs the courtesy of clear communication, engage attention first, be sure there is understanding, and make it worthwhile for the dog to work with you. Respect, courtesy and taking responsibility for what we are communicating and how we are communicating -- those are all supportive of healthy dog/human relationships.

This does not mean repeating, Sit-sit-sit-sit-sit-sit which is not good communication no matter who you're talking to! 😊

If you want and need response to just one request (and this has great value!), you first have to teach understanding, understand that connection and attention must come first always, then develop the skill, tighten the criteria and make it worthwhile. Then practice!!!

27/08/2024

If you are or know of a trainer who would enjoy this retreat in southern VT, please share. Early bird pricing in effect for the next 4 days! CEUs expected for CCPDT, KPA, IAABC, and PPG. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/animal-trainers-retreat-tickets-926941034587

27/08/2024

I learned so much from this article! I always learn from Eileen Anderson. She is gifted and generous in doing her research and sharing it — in straightforward, easy-to-digest ways — with the rest of us. I mostly try to keep my head down and just focus on the needs of my clients and their dogs. I try to avoid the debates among high-profile trainers about methodology. But if you’ve seen confusing and conflicting “discussions” on this topic on social media, this might help to better understand some of the tactics of some of the speakers.

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

26/08/2024

Animal Trainer's Retreat - Oct. 4-6. Recreate, rejuvenate, practice, learn, connect! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/animal-trainers-retreat-tickets-926941034587 with Training Matters and Fearfuldogs.com .

25/08/2024

I’ve heard some reward-based trainers say that aversive training doesn’t work. This is not necessarily true. You can still train a goal behavior with punishment. It is that training — whether with corrections or with rewards — also brings along emotional components that affect behavior. When you use reward-based training, you get joy, enthusiasm, and energy. When you train with punishment, you get fear, inhibition, and nervousness. Some people may find the enthusiasm of rewards-based dogs confusing or worrying. However, it is possible to use reward-based training to teach your dog to be calm and relaxed! We do conditioned relaxation in our classes to teach dogs to really settle.

(You might hope that “balanced” training which uses both punishments and rewards could create the perfect middle ground of joy tempered with calm. But this doesn’t always happen because fear tends to generalize, so punishments overshadow rewards. This can lead to nervous behavior, including the dog being distrustful of treats, in case they lead to punishment.)

As we discussed in our recent blog post, when it comes to training a service dog, there are many additional reasons it’s important to use reward-based training.

23/08/2024

Very sweet article about how to forge positive relationships between dogs and grandkids. Note: The phenomenon she describes of the dog licking is what one dog-and-kid trainer expert refers to as "kiss to dismiss"! https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/grandkids-and-dogs/

There are few things as iconic, or as adorable, as kids and pets. Nancy Kerns reflects on how happy her grandchild's good manners with her dogs is.

23/08/2024

A podcast with two of the giants of the dog training industry discussing the practical and ethical questions when searching for a puppy class.
https://www.madcapradio.com/other-podcasts/interview-with-jean-donaldson-how-to-be-a-smart-dog-training-consumer 🐕‍

Jane Messineo Lindquist (Killion) is the director of "Puppy Culture the Powerful First Twelve Weeks That Can Shape Your Puppies' Future" as well as the author of "When Pigs Fly: Training Success With...

22/08/2024

The combination of a service dog with technology is often the best. Technology is often better for precision and reliability, but service dogs are better for situations that require a social, emotional, or "pestering" component. For example, many people "tune out" timers or alarms that remind them of important things (wake up, take medication, check blood glucose, turn off the stove. Training a dog to pester the handler when the alarm goes off can be a really useful backup system.

In a rapidly advancing world, smart technology can offer solutions for various challenges faced by people with disabilities. This raises some interesting questions: Could technology replace some tasks traditionally done by service dogs? How could service dogs and modern technology work together to o...

21/08/2024

Deeply moving story about a woman in prison who trains a dog and transforms her life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq-xmVaWBB4

Melissa McKee was in prison when she worked with Prison Pet Partnership to train Harper to work as a service dog. Harper did exceptionally well and she bonde...

21/08/2024

I agree with everything in this post. I generally recommend against an auto sit.But sometimes some handlers have already trained it or really want an auto sit. The size of the dog, the tasks needed and handler's disabilities, and the handler's lifestyle all factor into the decision. So I do leave it up to individual handlers.But explain the pros and cons versus an auto stand.

While training loose leash walking to a service dog may not seem to be different from training this behavior to a pet dog, there are some important distinctions. First, service dogs need to be able to walk on a loose leash through an extremely wide range of environments and situations, including whi...

20/08/2024

"As a hearing impaired person, I love being able to go back and rewatch the videos. I have already recommend At Your Service Dog Training to others. Alex is so patient and very knowledgeable." - N.S., Pearl Disc graduate

19/08/2024

Should you train your service dog with rewards only, or is it important to use corrections for reliability? What are the impacts on service dog owner-trainers who use "purely positive" methods? https://atyourservicedogtraining.com/benefits-of-positive-reinforcement-training/

If you are training your own service dog, or thinking of taking this journey, you should know how using exclusively positive reinforcement training can affect you and your dog.

18/08/2024

Should service dog owner-trainers use only reward-based training? Or is it better to combine rewards and corrections for greater reliability? What are the impacts on the handler/trainer of using only positive reinforcement training?

If you are training your own service dog, or thinking of taking this journey, you should know how using exclusively positive reinforcement training can affect you and your dog.

16/08/2024

This is an amazing story. These people are heroes.

“We were not leaving him; there was no way,” Deanna Suggitt said.

16/08/2024

Thoughtful article on the positive and negative aspects of small or large pet food companies. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-large-pet-food-companies/

From time to time why we don’t include foods from giant dog food companies such as Mars PetCare, Purina, or Hills.

15/08/2024

“There's nothing tiny about the love and bond between Amy and Neo, and Amy hopes that their story will encourage and educate others about real life with a service animal.”

Amy's journey has not been an easy one. But thanks to her powerful bond with service dog, Neo, her story is one of resilience, joy and unconditional love.

13/08/2024

Welcome to our newest trainer to enter our Trainer Mentorship Program! Dina Bevivino and her dog Bella previously took fun classes with Sharon in Hadley. Dina’s commitment to training and working with dogs and their families comes from her experience training her own rescue dog, Bella, over many years. She volunteers regularly at a local shelter and trains and fosters dogs from the south who are waiting for their forever homes. We're excited to have her aboard!

07/08/2024

A common issue for our dogs — and steps to prevent it are important, too. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/glucosamine-for-dogs/

Glucosamine for dogs is a joint supplement taken in combination with chondroitin sulfate to relieve the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.

06/08/2024

Alex Wise is our Senior Trainer. Here's what a recent student, LD, said about taking PEARL DISC with Alex:

"I wasn't sure Zoom would be a good format (but it was!!). esp. with a puppy. It means no distractions, and this is a great thing when training basic skills. It helps to learn in a familiar setting.

"I loved that there was lots of 1-on-1 time with Alex.

"Alex is very patient and had many suggestions for me as I
worked with Ellie. I had some health issues that began in the middle of the course, along with Ellie's rambunctious spirit, but Alex kept me from being discouraged, and my puppy definitely made good progress in the end. One of the biggest takeaways is the confidence that we will get better with time and practice."

Meet and ask Alex questions LIVE for FREE on Wed., Sep 11 at our Ask the Service Dog Trainer Q & A session! Register for free here: https://aysdtschedule.as.me/schedule/b1d35bd3

06/08/2024

It can come on surprisingly quickly. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/heat-exhaustion-in-dogs/

Heat exhaustion in dogs is a serious condition that can lead to heat stroke if untreated. This summer make sure your dog has shade and water.

05/08/2024

Just for fun. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/body-language/the-meanings-behind-different-dog-noises/

Barks, growls, howls, whines, whimpers, even dog purring - different dog sounds have different meanings. Here's how to decipher them.

02/08/2024

Do you have a feisty young dog who is pestering your older dog? Yes, separation helps (crates/gates/pens/tethers), and yes exercise helps, and yes, enrichment activities (nosework, stuffed Kongs, bully sticks) help. But what also can help a LOT is an intensive training session where you are exercising your dog’s MIND. My little white dog, Gromit, gets bored and tries to get my older dog, Kismet, to play. If Kismet says no, Gromit will bark at him and bite his tail to try to force him to engage. I did FIVE MINUTES of intensive clicker training with Gromit on getting into heel position next to a wheelchair. And then this happened…. BRAIN WORK WORKS!

26/07/2024

Check out our updated online class schedule for this summer and fall. We hope you can join us! There's only one spot left in our August PEARL class.

26/07/2024

THIS is why training by skilled, rewards-based trainers do NOT get made into popular television series. ;-) Watch the whole 5 minutes to see the joke in the captions. ;-)

Demonstration of a dog who is trained that when he performs a certain behavior (in this case, being on a Klimb platform), he will get handled (in this case, ...

23/07/2024

What to look for in a dog walker, sitter, or trainer — and in yourself!

23/07/2024

Important information about serious health consequences of dogs that drink too much water (such as while swimming). There are dangers from both saltwater and fresh water.

Water intoxication in dogs results from drinking too much water leading low sodium levels, or ingesting seawater leading to high sodium levels

23/07/2024

Just learning about this. The list of countries with high rabies risk is very long. It seems to be countries experiencing wars (including Russia, Ukraine, and other former USSR countries), as well as many of the countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. If you will be traveling outside the US with your dog to a country with high rabies risk, make sure to read the website to ensure your dog will be able to return with you.

Most of you with pets that travel often have heard about the new CDC requirements set to take effect August 1st regarding re-entry of your dog to the United States.

All dogs coming into the U.S., including those that originated here, must be 6 months of age, have a universal scanning microchip, and have a valid rabies vaccination. Note that if your puppy has just received their first rabies vaccination, you must wait 28 days after the vaccine to travel back into the United States.

As of July 22, the paperwork process has been simplified, and the CDC Import form is all you need to re-enter. This is something you fill out online then carry the receipt for upon re-entry, either printed or on your phone.

For those of you we’ve been actively working with to meet deadlines with the more intense requirements, we thank you for your patience. We are exasperated, but definitely relieved with the simplified process.

If you are planning travel and have questions, go to www.cdc.gov/dogtravel for the most up to date information. We’re happy to try to answer your questions too! Emphasis on *try!*

22/07/2024

Gromit is feeling better and is back to demo do***ng! Look what he just learned to do in one 7-minute session!

22/07/2024

Training a service dog takes a lot of organization... and stuff! Making a "training basket" can help you keep track of your training gear and remember to bring all of your supplies to a lesson, class, or outing.

Put the basket by the door where it will be easy to grab on your way out. You may want to make the "basket" your backpack (see below). Or you may want things in an actual basket so it's easy to see what's in there. In the basket, put the items you need for your dog's training sessions or outings. This often includes...

- Leash
- Harness (or halter other training gear)
- Vest
- Treat pouch
- "Backup treats" (bag of shelf-stable but as high-value as possible treats, plus lower-value shelf stable treats [e.g., kibble or biscuits, etc.]). It is usually best to have real high-value treats, such as fresh meat or cheese, but in case you aren't able to prepare those or forget them, at least you'll have an alternative that is reasonably high value in your kit.
- Clicker(s)
- Settle towel
- Checklist with what should be in your training kit/basket
- Training log/journal/notebook and pens (to note what you trained on in your session and any issues you want to work on next time)
- NOTE: A backpack is often a very useful training tool for human handlers/trainers. You can keep your dog's water, collapsible bowl, treats, clean-up kit, p**p bags, and all your training gear in them (see above). But still be hands-free!
(PHOTO ID: Woman wearing a backpack holds the leash of a black standard poodle. They are outdoors, with grass and a red barn in the background.)