Cold Nose Canine, LLC

28/05/2024

Does your dog like to dig? It can help to give them to a specific spot to accomplish their goal. R***r had a blast digging!

28/05/2024

Does your dog like to dig? Guide the digging to a spot you prefer. Your dog will be so 😊 happy!

03/05/2024

I've worked with Hannah a number of times and highly recommend her writing and webinars. This one hits particularly close to home for many of us.

All of my grief seminars are now donation based! If you know someone who could use this coping with pet loss seminar, please share this with them! https://hannahstonehouse.thrivecart.com/pet-loss/

15/04/2024

We have a new class offering!! Please join me for Advanced Skill Drop In classes!! Each week class will cover a specific skill. Sign up for as many as you'd like!! It's a great way to brush up on the skills you need!!

Does your dog need to brush up on a certain skill? Have you completed a foundation skills group class and want to focus on continuing to develop your dog's skills in a group setting? Our Advanced Skills Drop-in Classes are for you! Each week we'll focus on a specific skill including loose leash walk...

17/03/2024

R***r had his first swim today! The staff at Aquatherapups were patient and made it a great experience! He had so much fun!

11/03/2024

Looking for feedback. Are you more likely to sign up for a 4 week or 6 week training class??

06/03/2024

This! All day long!!! Herders are herders no matter where they live!

27/02/2024

Beautiful information on play and consent testing!!!

23/02/2024

I am so excited to have completed this extensive course all about aggression!!

Personalized, humane dog training to meet your needs

03/02/2024

Hey friends! I know some of you will be looking for me tomorrow at Pet Expo MKE! This is my 16th year being involved in running the show. That means I do not have an actual booth. I love supporting this event as a sponsor. I look forward to seeing you there!

15/01/2024

R***r usually loves the snow, but is unhappy about the freezing cold (just like the rest of us!) It's not surprising that some of our dogs do not want to go outside to do their business. What ideas have worked for you to assist in the terrible cold?

I've laid down straw or rugs. I've heard of laying down cardboard as well.

Quick trips outside are key right now.

04/01/2024

This is a really important piece of information. I specialize in behavior and I teach obedience. They are NOT the same thing. Most trainers can train, but not everyone studies behavior.

There is a common misconception that if we just drill concrete skills (aka Obedience Skills) hard enough, or often enough that it will prevent behavior problems. This is not how behavior works. At best drilling a dog through obedience skills might mask the problem, but it doesn't change their underlying emotional cause of the problem. A dog who is reactive and behaving aggressively in response to their fear, discomfort or perceived threat will not suddenly stop feeling those Big Feelings because he's been demanded to sit, or down through them. A dog who starts a conflict with another dog due to over arousal or frustration , or even redirection, will not suddenly stop feeling all those overwhelming feelings simply because they are drilled in a heel for ten minutes. Concrete skills can have their place, and their uses. But they are not skills for behavior change. They provide a mask for behavior that can cause a false sense of security in terms of whether or not the dog has truly experienced an emotional change towards the stimulus. That can be pose significant risk in terms of aggression presenting behaviors, as it will appear the dog's sudden snap came "out of no where."

When your dog is experiencing a behavior concern, it is because they are having an emotional problem in response to certain stimuli. This is not personal, and it is not a problem that can be resolved by simply drilling the dog to sit more frequently. Under going genuine behavior modification takes time and an effort to address the underlying emotional cause of any behavior disruptions your dog is experiencing.

20/12/2023

When we refer to aversive tools, we define aversive (per dictionary.com) as” causing avoidance of a thing, situation, or behavior by using an unpleasant or punishing stimulus, as in behavior modification.” Each dog differs in what they find aversive, but examples of tools commonly thought of as aversive are choke chains, prong collars, and e-collars (also called shock, stim or TENS).

Why not choose to train your dog in a way that has not only been scientifically proven to work, but also, is fun and makes them happy?

19/12/2023

Such a fabulous comparison!!!

When we refer to aversive tools, we define aversive (per dictionary.com) as” causing avoidance of a thing, situation, or behavior by using an unpleasant or punishing stimulus, as in behavior modification.” Each dog differs in what they find aversive, but examples of tools commonly thought of as aversive are choke chains, prong collars, and e-collars (also called shock, stim or TENS).

Why not choose to train your dog in a way that has not only been scientifically proven to work, but also, is fun and makes them happy?

07/12/2023

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!!

This Saturday!!! Stop on by :)

27/11/2023

Thank you to my friends at Aqua Therapups LLC and Brian Kramp for a fun segment this morning!! Cold Nose Canine, LLC is available for all your dog training needs!!!

Brian Kramp visits Aqua Therapups and Cold Nose Canine

09/11/2023

Please join us for this fun event!! Can't wait!!

Save the Date!!! Richfield's Grand Reopening :)

20/10/2023

This is so beautiful!! Perfection!!

What Larry learned today...

• The world is an interesting place
• My humans allow me to watch for as long as I need
• My humans understand what I am telling them and listen to me
• I can see other dogs without needing to say hi
• Saying hi to other dogs isn't scary
• Strange humans aren't something to worry about
• If strange humans get too close my humans will create space for me
• There are lots of different kinds of humans...big ones, little ones, some in funny uniforms, some that carry things, some with dogs and some without, some in big groups and some alone
• There are lots of different kinds of dogs...big ones, little ones, barky ones, quiet ones, some that want to say hi and some that don't
• When I am off lead sticking close to my humans is the best place to be
• Checking in with my humans always makes me feel good
• I can relax outside around lots of distractions

And all we did was walk around the park. No formal 'training'. Just seeing the world through his eyes to give him good learning opportunities, moving at his pace, reinforcing good choices, supporting him to be a little bit brave when he needed it and giving him space when he needed it.

The most important thing you can ever teach your puppy is how to be relaxed & confident in the world around them. This is what socialisation is. It's so much more important than sit or paw or down. Never underestimate the lifeskills they can learn from a simple walk around the park (if you do it right!).

17/10/2023

Thank you to the vet techs of the world! Often, you are my lifeline between the vet and the client. You do amazing work!! I am so grateful for you!!

Celebrating all Veterinary Technicians during

11/10/2023

Truth!!!

A wry joke among dog trainers is that our families and friends think we play with puppies all day. I bet this happens in other professions, too. I bet we also assume that the work of teachers, therapists, stay-at-home parents and veterinarians is way easier and more glamorous than reality.

But of course, our job has lows that match the highs. We help some of you maneuver gut-wrenching decisions about rehoming or euthanasia, mourn the loss of your dogs who go too early, and agonize over the state of our unregulated industry that too often uses casual cruelty when the job could have been done better with kindness.

But if you've ever been lucky enough to find a job that you care about profoundly, you're also living this cliche: it's a calling, and you mostly get out of bed happy to go to work.

I'm further blessed that every. single. person at Upward Hound shares this passion. We *love* your dogs. Probably not as much as you do, but more than you might know.

Image: Caleb the Super Puppy during one of those beatific moments, trying to make a liar out of me.

03/10/2023

Such great information about vet care! Options!!

You are likely reading this blog post because you have discovered the amazing world of cooperative care. Most of us end up here when we have a companion animal who needs physical care and that animal is highly resistant to necessary handling. Veterinary professionals may be telling you that your ani...

12/09/2023

My sweet Rottie buddies! Knox and Loki are so fun! Nothing like a 140 # lap dog! I've known Loki since he were puppies. Knox was so happy to see me he drooled with joy! :)

09/09/2023

Continuing education weekend!!

07/09/2023

Meet Nala (grey) and Jonah (brindle)! These cuties look like they are so serious, but really are quite playful and fun! Aren't they adorable!

07/09/2023

New classes offered Aqua Therapups LLC in Richfield on Sept 12 and Pooch Palace on Oct 18th!

Group classes are a great option for many dogs and their families. You and your dog will learn in a supportive environment with other people and dogs. All group classes are limited to six dog and human teams, and you'll be personalized attention unique to your needs!

22/08/2023

It will be too hot for much of anything tomorrow. A great day to stay inside and practice training or do brain games!! Stay cool!!

Hot weather is no joke for our dogs. Remember to keep your dog's needs in mind when planning exercise and outings.
Stay safe everyone!

18/08/2023

Living and working with hounds is a different thing. Hounds are bred to work VERY independently and far away from the person. This post is SPOT ON!

I'm not sure who wrote this, but it is spot on

If you are not a hound person, it may be hard to understand, but this says it all…
A basic understanding...Regarding your hound dog that I think most people miss.
Hounds do not believe that they need you. You are a convenience - like a favorite coffee cup or a favorite pair of shoes. If the cup is broken or the shoes are lost, we can get along just fine.
Let me explain:
Other dogs like Labs, Shepherds, herding breeds, and a host of others, are bred to work WITH man; neither can do their work without the other. Even the worst behaved Lab cares when mom and dad are annoyed. It is in their DNA to make man happy.
Hounds...not so much.
Hounds have been bred to be taken out to the edge of the woods or field and be let loose to go out and do what they do with NO INSTRUCTION from the hunter or handler. They go out and do their thing, all on their own. They make their own decisions and do their own work. And when that work is done and they have found their quarry, they command/call the hunter to come to them with those beautiful voices. (Who is working for whom in that scenario?)
Do you see how your hound thinks differently?
Life with a Hound is far more like having a spouse than a dog. It is far more of a "cooperative effort" with all the give and take that implies. Hounds are not going to do what you say just because you have said it. You are secondary to their desire. There has to be something in it for them. There has to be a trade off. If there is no reward or benefit for the Hound, the Hound cares little what you are asking him/her to do. People incorrectly refer to this as being stubborn - or worse, stupid. Hounds are actually neither of those things - they are just independent and cunning. They prioritize things differently than do other breeds. They prioritize differently and *you* are not always their priority.
This is EXACTLY AS THEY SHOULD BE.
They were bred to be this way.
It is all necessary to be a Houndy Dawg.
When working with a Hound you have to always be thinking:
How do I make myself the priority?
What do I have to give this dog to make me more important than what it smells - or wants? (and do not expect that anything will ever be 100% successful every time - always be looking for your Hound to act like a Hound.)
We humans always think we are in charge of things. We think that we are top of the chain, the head honchos ... and we naturally approach training our dogs and living with our dogs this way - as though we are in charge.
Your Hound doesn't see it that way.
Your Hound - at best - sees you as a family member or as a sibling (if you are very fortunate - as a parent). Do you walk into your sister or brother's house, start barking orders and they hop to?
Mostly your Hound sees you as a good friend. And what do we do with our friends? When a friend does something for us, we return those favors. There is give and take. When a friendship is out of balance - when one friend takes and takes but does not give - the friendship suffers. It is okay for one friend to be the strong friend - the dominant friend in the partnership -- -but it is *always* a partnership.
Hounds are happiest when their humans are humble.

18/07/2023

All about this post!! Dominance is a myth!!!

The 'pack leader' approach, also often referred to as dominance theory, stems from early studies on captive wolves which suggested that wolves in a pack constantly compete for dominance, with one alpha wolf coming out on top. The theory was then applied to domestic dogs, with the idea being that dogs view their human family as their pack and behave badly because they're trying to assert dominance over their human 'pack members'.

This concept has been widely popularised through various forms of media, including TV shows. However, the dominance or 'pack leader' approach to dog behaviour and training is not supported by current scientific research, and here's why:

Flawed Initial Study:

The initial study that gave rise to the dominance theory was conducted on a group of unrelated, captive wolves. Later studies on wolves in their natural habitat found that wolf packs don't operate on a dominance hierarchy, but are instead structured more like a human family, with parent wolves acting as leaders of their offspring. The original model, therefore, isn't applicable even to wolves, let alone to dogs.

Dogs Are Not Wolves:

Even if wolves did operate on a dominance hierarchy, applying these findings to dogs would be misguided. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, and while they are related to wolves, they are a separate species with different behaviours and social structures. The way dogs interact with humans is also fundamentally different from how wolves interact with each other.

Misinterpretation of Behaviours:

Many behaviours that are often attributed to 'dominance' or a desire to be a 'pack leader' are usually normal dog behaviours or responses to fear, anxiety, or confusion. For example, a dog that jumps up to greet people might be doing so out of excitement or because they've learned that jumping up gets attention, not because they're trying to assert dominance.

Ineffective and Potentially Harmful:

The 'pack leader' approach often advocates for the use of punishment or aversive techniques to 'show the dog who's boss'. Not only can these methods cause fear and anxiety, but they can also damage the relationship between the dog and their guardian. Positive reinforcement training methods are more effective and build a relationship based on trust and mutual respect, rather than fear.

Contradicts Modern Canine Science:

The overwhelming consensus among modern canine behavioural scientists and veterinarians is that the dominance theory is outdated and incorrect. Dogs, like all animals, are complex beings whose behaviours can't be explained by a simple desire for dominance. They have a wide range of motivations and emotions, and their behaviour is influenced by a variety of genetic, environmental, and situational factors.

In conclusion, the 'pack leader' approach is not a valid or ethical method for understanding or changing dog behaviour. Instead, positive reinforcement and force-free methods should be used to teach dogs desired behaviours, with an emphasis on understanding and meeting the dog's individual needs.

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