The Smart Dog U Blog

Whirlwind Trip to NYC

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to NYC. I caught the Acela at 6:20a on Thursday and returned 48 hours later. My two days in NYC were spent with the other Board members of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. The Certification Council sets industry standards for the profession of dog training. There are no federal or state mandates for dog trainers, so the Certification Council is the only way for trainers to receive independent verification of their experience and skill level.

I missed my dogs a lot, even though I was only gone for two days. I saw nary a dog in NYC this trip. I usually see at least a dog or even two out on the streets with their owners, but not this time. I want to go back up to actually sight see one of these days and get over to Central Park. I'm sure there are lots of dogs there, especially when everyone gets home from work.

Do you know of any particularly good spots for dog-watching in NYC? Or cool doggie shops? I hope to get back up during the Christmas season (and drag my husband along, as well!).

Don't Growl at Your Dog

I hear the craziest things being a dog trainer... Yesterday a client growled at his dog. I dismissed it the first time, thinking I'd misunderstood. No, sure enough, it happened again, so I asked about it.

This was his answer: We had a training company come in and they said to growl at the dog - that dogs understood growling because that's what dogs do, growl. (This is the same company I posted about earlier regarding their misinformed and dangerous dominance.)

Picture this: you have a 2-month old baby who is crying. So to communicate with him, you cry back at him. How effective will your communication be? Isn't that the craziest thing?

Best case scenario if you growl at your dog -- you'll get his attention because you've made a novel noise. Worst case scenario - you'll get bitten in the face.

I used another example to illustrate the fact that growling at your dog is not only silly, but dangerous advice. Let's say you're going to visit France. You don't know the language, but you can make up words that sound decidedly French. That should be enough - it sounds French, it should work, right?

Wrong, of course. You get to France and you start talking with words that might sound French but are really nonsense - or worse are offensive French words!

So what good does sounding French do? Just about as much as growling at your dog.

One last reason not to growl at your dog. Growls serve many purposes for dogs. Dogs growl during play, they growl during sleep, and they growl to display anxiety or threats. So when you growl at your dog, how do you know (and how does your dog know) what your growl means?

Lucky's Luck is Running Thin

Last September, we rushed Lucky to a cardiologist in Leesburg where he was diagnosed with all kinds of bad (fatal) heart ailments. Our goal at the time was just to stabilize him and make him comfortable. When he stabilized, the cardiologist mentioned a drug study that had just started and wanted to know if we'd let Lucky participate.

It sounded like a wonderful idea - he'd get a new drug, monthly veterinary care, and could be very closely monitored. It meant a three hour trip for us, round trip, but that was a small price to pay for all the veterinary care he'd be receiving compliments of the drug company.

The cardiologist wasn't particularly hopeful - Lucky's condition was quite bad. To everyone's surprise, he flourished! He'd come in with an irregular heartbeat (irregularly irregular, meaning that it was just way out of whack), but before long his heart had gone back into a regular sinus rhythm -- something that just doesn't happen according to the cardiologist. We didn't question it, we were just happy to hear the news.

Fast-forward to today - our six month follow-up appointment after completing the drug study. We're starting to see some deterioration in his heart: it's getting bigger again, there's now some fluid surrounding his heart, and his arrhythmia is back. Rats.

The fluid could be due to the congestive heart failure (not good news) or because his heart muscle is actually tearing (even worse news). Add to the mix that he's got severe arthritis in his spine and he's got some neurological damage to his hind end, and the picture is clear that his time is limited.

The clock is finally catching up with dog who has lived 14 years, reversed arrhythmia, and walked through severe arthritis. He's still very comfortable, energetic, and happy as a clam. As long as he can stay that way, I'll be happy, too.

We're hoping to get as many quality days for the old man as we can...

Success!

Lily performed perfectly at the workshop What Dog Trainers Know - That You Don't! today. I took her because she's an experienced dog in shaping, luring, capturing and targeting. She is a released service dog and has been clicker trained from seven weeks of age - and absolutely loves working with the clicker.

She was flawless today - conservatively greeting people (preferring men to women, no surprise), volunteering lots of behaviors during the shaping portion, and relaxing (and falling asleep!) during the lecture portion.

We had a lot of fun with all the participants - everyone was very interested in learning these techniques, and positive reinforcement training, to use with their own dogs. The workshop was sponsored by Your Dog's Friend, a non-profit organization in Montgomery County, Maryland. They have workshops all summer long - if you're in Maryland, or even Northern VA or DC, you should check them out!

We were honored to be invited and really enjoyed spreading the joys of clicker training.

Lily the Demo Dog

I just got a call from the workshop coordinator for today's seminar What Dog Trainers Know - That You Don't! She was in a bit of a panic because a lot more people had registered at the last minute. She was concerned that people might not be able to see and called to see if any of my dogs could work on a table top (an elevated dog would be easier to see).

I had already planned to take Lily with me to demonstrate targeting, luring, shaping, and capturing. And now that we needed a dog who was comfortable on a table, that sealed it -- Lily was definitely the right dog.

You can't tell it from this picture, but Lily's actually sitting on a wall around our patio - she loves to be on top of things. I'm not sure why - maybe it's because she's the only dog who will get up there, so she can "get away from it all" when she gets up there. Maybe she likes the expanded view from up there. Or maybe she just likes doing new things. She's also the only dog we can get to ride in the wheelbarrow. And she doesn't just ride in it, she loves riding in it! We sometimes have to kick her out because we're trying to load it with mulch or firewood. No matter, once it's loaded, she'll hop back in -- on top of all the firewood or mulch!

So I'm not at all worried  about the possibility of her demonstrating on the table top - she'll probably love it up there!

Vick Victim Spreads Cheer

If you're convinced that Pit Bulls are killers, take a look at this video update on a rescued Vick dog.

Can Pit Bulls kill? Of course. A chihuahua can kill, a Doberman can kill, a Labrador can kill. If it's got teeth, it can do damage. But the term "pit bull" doesn't automatically mean Killer. Just take a look at the video and accompanying story and you'll see the good will that Pits can bring -- with the right training and the right owner.

The picture of the Pittie above is one I took of a handsome clown I met at a Super Pet Expo in New Jersey two years ago. He was surrounded by other dogs, and was cool, calm, and collected, despite the chaos that can be a part of pet expos. There were thousands of people there, every other person had a dog, and when I took this picture, the dog and his owner were backed up against an area where a donkey and a burro were being displayed! I didn't phase him - with my camera in his face, nor did the braying of the equines behind him. He was a real trooper.

Free Workshop In Potomac

I'm excited to announce I've been invited to give a seminar for Your Dog's Friend in Potomac this Saturday entitled What Dog Trainers Know - That You Don't! I'll be talking about shaping, luring, targeting and capturing from 3:00p - 5:00p.

The talk is free, but you must register. Dogs aren't allowed - it's a people-only talk, so your four-legged friends can stay at home.

Shaping, luring, targeting and capturing are all techniques that trainers use to teach dogs (and anything else) many different behaviors.You'll learn what each of these are, how to use them, the pros and cons of each technique, how to use the techniques to solve problems, teach your dog manners, and do tricks.

Come on out and join us - it'll be fun and informative! And you can meet Lily, my little black Labrador (she's great at shaping, luring, capturing, and targeting - and loves to work, so she's the demo dog for the event.)

I've Been TAGGED!

I love reading dog photographer's blogs. Imagine my surprise when I received a comment on this blog letting me know I've been tagged. It goes like this:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others you like and tell why.
3. Tag 5 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

OK, I don't know if I'm actually embarrassed to admit these, but here they are anyway:

Step That Step by Sawyer Brown. I go waaaay back as a Sawyer Brown fan. I'm not necessarily embarrassed that I like that song, but I am definitely embarrassed of the pictures of me at the concerts dressed in different colored shoes (to match Mark Miller's - the lead singer). 

We Built This City by Jefferson Starship - I had an office mate once who banned me from playing this song, saying it's not real music. 

Wild Thing by Ton Loc - A college favorite, I always turn this one up!

I Want Your Sex by George Michael - Another college favorite, I love hearing this one on "80s Weekend" on the local radio station. (The link to the video above is listed as the "uncensored version." I don't know what that means exactly, as I didn't watch it all the way through. Consider yourself warned.)

Parents Just Don't Understand by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Corny, yes, but I still love it!

Alright nothing left now but to tag five people:

1. http://livefromthefort.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.kodasnap.typepad.com/
3. http://www.bigpawsonly.com/dog-blog/
4. http://www.dogguide.net/blog/
5. http://chocolatedogblog.com/

Ethics + Dog Training

Huh? Ethics and dog training? What the heck does ethics have to do with dog training, you ask. LOTS! A new book about Ethics for Dog Trainers has just been published. It's a must-read for any dog trainer!

The book delves into the ethics issues that dog trainers face, looks at case studies, and then looks at these specific ethical issues: 

• training techniques and equipment
• professionalism and professional boundaries and
• dogs and society

If you're hiring a trainer, this is another area to evaluate when making your decision on one trainer over another.

Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Positive Pet Trainers

I am very proud to announce the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Professional Positive Pet Trainers (MAAPPPT). I, along with four other local positive reinforcement pet trainers founded the organization on May 30.

The organization and it's members are dedicated to force-free training. They have all pledged against using shock collars and choke chains, and eschew aversive punishment methods.

I am committed to the science of behavior - and the science supports a humane training approach, and want to be able to network, brainstorm, and refer to other like-minded trainers. If my schedule or location can't accommodate a client, it's very important that I'm able to refer that client to a trusted trainer.

Almost every trainer in the newly formed organization has attained certification by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. While certification isn't required to be a member of the MAAPT, all trainers are dedicated to continuing education and humane training methods. 

Stay tuned, there will be more news about the MAAPPPT group in the near future!