HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO NOT COME WHEN CALLED
Call your dog to you, then give him a bath. Or clip his nails, your choice; just be sure to pick the one he really, really hates.
Take your dog someplace he loves to go, like the park, or to play with a friend’s dog. Wait until he’s really having fun, then call him to you. Immediately load him in the car and drive him home.
This one works especially well for small dogs: Call your dog to you, then swoop down on him with both arms, making sure to look as frightening as possible as you pick him up. Now, that might not stop him from coming to you altogether, but it pretty much guarantees that he’ll stop just out of arm’s reach.
Call your dog, then immediately put him away somewhere (crate, behind a gate) and leave, preferably for a full day. A great choice for dogs who hate to be left alone.
Call your dog and tell him it's time for his walk - then take a phone call. Call him back again, then forget your keys, call him back when you've found them... to put on your shoes...
If your dog somehow slips out the front door or maybe through your back gate, be sure to yell at him when he comes back home or when you catch him.
Call your dog to come and do nothing. No pet, no praise… nothing
Friday, August 21, 2009
Bizzy Pee'd right in front of me!
Hey Angi,
HELP! Bizzy (my female Schipperke) just pee'd right in front of me... not sure what to do. Juno, my other female Schipperke and Jolly, my male Chihuahua were on the floor. Juno was trying to get Jolly to play, but of course he wanted nothing to do with her and was getting pretty vocal about it, telling her to back off. Then all of a sudden Bizzy comes over and pee's right in front of us all! I jumped up and told her NO, and took her outside. She JUST had a medical work up last week including a urinalysis, so I know its not an infection. What the heck to do?
Deb, Juno, Bizzy and Jolly
Oh Deb... I told you to come to my Body Language Seminar last month!
What I suspect was going on was a calming signal, from Bizzzy directed towards Juno and Jolly. Juno was bugging Jolly so Bizzy (as the more assertive female in the group) offered a overt calming signal (urinating in their presence) to settle and calm the two of them. Remember dogs offer calming signals to not only calm themselves but to calm the others around them. By urinating she appeased the situation of Juno getting in Jolly's face. Your response of telling her NO, did not help the situation, but don't beat yourself up about it... it was a typical response. But do know that black dogs on average use more overt calming signals than other dogs. Black dogs realize certain body signals cannot be seen as easily by other dogs (by trial and error), so they use very obvious ones, more than other dogs.
Best thing to do next time is to anticipate a reaction from Bizzy if the other dogs were getting out of hand. Offer a calming signal yourself first, like body block and head turn to appease the situation before distracting the dogs to move onto other things. Bizzy will see you have taken care of the situation and will see no need for it to escalate making her need to address it.
Oh, and I am saving you a spot when we do the seminar again on 9/25!
HELP! Bizzy (my female Schipperke) just pee'd right in front of me... not sure what to do. Juno, my other female Schipperke and Jolly, my male Chihuahua were on the floor. Juno was trying to get Jolly to play, but of course he wanted nothing to do with her and was getting pretty vocal about it, telling her to back off. Then all of a sudden Bizzy comes over and pee's right in front of us all! I jumped up and told her NO, and took her outside. She JUST had a medical work up last week including a urinalysis, so I know its not an infection. What the heck to do?
Deb, Juno, Bizzy and Jolly
Oh Deb... I told you to come to my Body Language Seminar last month!
What I suspect was going on was a calming signal, from Bizzzy directed towards Juno and Jolly. Juno was bugging Jolly so Bizzy (as the more assertive female in the group) offered a overt calming signal (urinating in their presence) to settle and calm the two of them. Remember dogs offer calming signals to not only calm themselves but to calm the others around them. By urinating she appeased the situation of Juno getting in Jolly's face. Your response of telling her NO, did not help the situation, but don't beat yourself up about it... it was a typical response. But do know that black dogs on average use more overt calming signals than other dogs. Black dogs realize certain body signals cannot be seen as easily by other dogs (by trial and error), so they use very obvious ones, more than other dogs.
Best thing to do next time is to anticipate a reaction from Bizzy if the other dogs were getting out of hand. Offer a calming signal yourself first, like body block and head turn to appease the situation before distracting the dogs to move onto other things. Bizzy will see you have taken care of the situation and will see no need for it to escalate making her need to address it.
Oh, and I am saving you a spot when we do the seminar again on 9/25!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
New Dog Show on Animal Planet
Like many of you, I enjoy Animal Planet. This Discovery Channel Network has done some amazing work to help educate us all on animals.
Even though have been training dogs for over 20 years, I still love watching dog training shows. Any good trainer will tell you there are a ba-zillion ways to train a dog and we are all (hopefully) open to new ideas and enjoy trying new techniques. Like other dog trainers, I like to tivo the dog training shows so when first understanding the behavioral problem I can pause it to announce (to my dogs, watching with me) what I would do if I was training that dog... In shows like Its Me or The Dog, I love how similar we are, in our thoughts and methods.
I stumbled upon a new dog show called In the Dog House... just few minutes of this show and I was appalled! The trainer (I never caught his name) set dog training back about 40 years! Using all old school methods of intimidation and fear. Choke chains, pinch collars, alpha rolls... you name it, this punk was gonna show these dogs who was boss! Just like Cesar Millan... he had it all wrong.
I have said it before... if dog training was like pizza these guys are missing about 5 slices. Just not seeing the whole picture.
YES you must be a leader to your dog. YES you need to be calm and structured for your dog.
YES you need show you dog what behaviors are not acceptable... however you don't get there by using fear and intimidation!
I can MAKE a dog do anything I want... but what does that do for my relationship with that dog? I want the dog to do what I want him to do out of respect for the pack and trust in me! You cannot trust what you fear.
These old school trainers think being a leader or alpha to the dogs means they must dominate them, be assertive and hold a level of fear to the dog. If they truly understood pack behavior they would understand that the "in your face" running around and push everyone around dog is the middle of the road adolescent dog, NOT the alpha... she is sitting off to the side, overseeing. She is the keeper of the stuff, the maker of the rules. She uses her body to block and prevent rather than react to a situation. She rewards for the right behavior and redirects the wrong behavior. Old school training methods simply teach dogs that people are something to be feared and not something to be trusted. But don't get me wrong, no one every said these methods don't work, they do... but we now know AT WHAT COST!
These old school dog trainers are still using what was taught years and years ago. This is how any one who has been training dogs for over 10 years was taught. Yes, when I went to school to train dogs I too learned all the pop and jerk methods. I thought that was the way it was. Over 15 years ago, I opened my eyes to how it should be. To this day...I have NEVER met a trainer who used to teach with old school corrective training that now teaches with reward based dog training that has ever gone back. We see how much more relaxed the dogs are, how more open they are to learning. It improves the relationship with our dogs and makes us more reliable and predictable for our dogs. It teaches them in this crazy world, with lots of scary things we are the one they can trust above all others. It creates a bond that can't be broken.
So join me, in writing an email to Animal Planet, tell them to pull the show In the Dog House. Our dog deserve better.
Even though have been training dogs for over 20 years, I still love watching dog training shows. Any good trainer will tell you there are a ba-zillion ways to train a dog and we are all (hopefully) open to new ideas and enjoy trying new techniques. Like other dog trainers, I like to tivo the dog training shows so when first understanding the behavioral problem I can pause it to announce (to my dogs, watching with me) what I would do if I was training that dog... In shows like Its Me or The Dog, I love how similar we are, in our thoughts and methods.
I stumbled upon a new dog show called In the Dog House... just few minutes of this show and I was appalled! The trainer (I never caught his name) set dog training back about 40 years! Using all old school methods of intimidation and fear. Choke chains, pinch collars, alpha rolls... you name it, this punk was gonna show these dogs who was boss! Just like Cesar Millan... he had it all wrong.
I have said it before... if dog training was like pizza these guys are missing about 5 slices. Just not seeing the whole picture.
YES you must be a leader to your dog. YES you need to be calm and structured for your dog.
YES you need show you dog what behaviors are not acceptable... however you don't get there by using fear and intimidation!
I can MAKE a dog do anything I want... but what does that do for my relationship with that dog? I want the dog to do what I want him to do out of respect for the pack and trust in me! You cannot trust what you fear.
These old school trainers think being a leader or alpha to the dogs means they must dominate them, be assertive and hold a level of fear to the dog. If they truly understood pack behavior they would understand that the "in your face" running around and push everyone around dog is the middle of the road adolescent dog, NOT the alpha... she is sitting off to the side, overseeing. She is the keeper of the stuff, the maker of the rules. She uses her body to block and prevent rather than react to a situation. She rewards for the right behavior and redirects the wrong behavior. Old school training methods simply teach dogs that people are something to be feared and not something to be trusted. But don't get me wrong, no one every said these methods don't work, they do... but we now know AT WHAT COST!
These old school dog trainers are still using what was taught years and years ago. This is how any one who has been training dogs for over 10 years was taught. Yes, when I went to school to train dogs I too learned all the pop and jerk methods. I thought that was the way it was. Over 15 years ago, I opened my eyes to how it should be. To this day...I have NEVER met a trainer who used to teach with old school corrective training that now teaches with reward based dog training that has ever gone back. We see how much more relaxed the dogs are, how more open they are to learning. It improves the relationship with our dogs and makes us more reliable and predictable for our dogs. It teaches them in this crazy world, with lots of scary things we are the one they can trust above all others. It creates a bond that can't be broken.
So join me, in writing an email to Animal Planet, tell them to pull the show In the Dog House. Our dog deserve better.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Dear Tails,
Our new puppy is a blast, thanks for getting him into the Kindergarten Class... but we had a question. On our walks he was wanting to eat everything he could find! In class we are learning how to walk well on a leash so that is going fine now, but it made us wonder "what plants are bad for him to eat"? Any we should be real wary of?
Thanks
Barb and Rocket
Barb and Rocket,
Thanks for your post. Yes... in general there are lots of pants that are toxic to animals, so its best to keep Rocket from picking up anything by teaching him to heel. I am glad his walking politely on a leash is gong well, but here is a list of the most common toxic plants for pets.
Poisonous Plants
While plants add a touch of color and fragrance to our daily lives they also inject an element of danger into the lives of our pets. More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.
Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.
This may not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also, your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list, resulting in toxicity. Always contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant.
PLANT
TOXIC PARTS
PLANT TYPE
Aconite
roots, foliage, seeds
garden flower
Apple
seeds
cultivated tree
Arrowgrasses
leaves
marsh plants
Atropa belladonna
entire plant esp. seeds, roots
garden herb
Autumn Crocus
entire plant
garden flower
Azaleas
entire plant
cultivated & wild shrub
Baneberry
berries, roots
wildflower
Bird-of-Paradise
pods
garden flower
Black locust
entire plant esp. bark, shoots
tree
Bloodroot
entire plant esp. stem, roots
wildflower, herb
Box
entire plant esp. leaves
ornamental shrub
Buckeye
sprouts, nuts, seeds
tree
Buttercup
entire plant esp. leaves
wildflower, garden herb
Caladium
entire plant
house plant
Carolina jessamine
flowers, leaves
ornamental plant
Castor bean
entire plant esp. beans
house plant
Chinaberry tree
berries
tree
Chockcherries
leaves, cherries, pit
wild shrub
Christmas berry
leaves
shrub
Christmas Rose
rootstock, leaves
garden flower
Common privet
leaves, berries
ornamental shrub
Corn cockle
seeds
wildflower, weed
Cowbane
entire plant esp. roots
wildflower, herb
Cow cockle
seeds
wildflower, weed
Cowslip
entire plant esp. leaves, stem
wildflower, herb
Daffodil
bulbs
garden flower
Daphne
bark, berries, leaves
ornamental shrub
Day lily
entire plant is toxic to cats
garden & wildflower
Death Camas
leaves, stems, seeds, flowers
field herb
Delphinium (Larkspur)
entire plant esp. sprouts
wildflower
Dumbcane
entire plant
house plant
Dutchman's breeches
roots, foliage
wild & garden flower
Easter lily
entire plant is toxic to cats
flowering house plant
Elderberry
leaves, bark, roots, buds
tree
Elephant's ear
entire plant
house plant
English Ivy
entire plant esp. leaves, berries
ornamental vine
European Bittersweet
entire plant esp. berries
vine
False Flax
seeds
wild herb
False hellebore
roots, leaves, seeds
ornamental flower
Fan weed
seeds
wildflower, herb
Field peppergrass
seeds
wildflower, herb
Flax
seedpods
wildflower, herb
Foxglove
leaves
wild & garden flower
Holly
berries
shrub
Horsechestnut
nuts, sprouts
tree
Horse nettle
entire plant esp. berries
wildflower, herb
Hyacinth
bulbs
wild & house plant
Iris
leaves, roots
wild & garden flower
Jack-in-the-pulpit
entire plant esp. roots, leaves
wildflower
Jatropha
seeds
tree, shrub
Jerusalem Cherry
unripe fruit, foliage
ornamental plant
Jimsonweed
entire plant esp. seeds
field plant
Laburum
seeds, pods, flowers
ornamental plant
Lantana
foliage
house plant
Larkspur
young plants
wildflower
Laurels
leaves
shrub
Lily of the valley
leaves, flowers
garden & wildflower
Lupines
seeds, pods
shrub
Manchineel Tree
sap, fruit
tree
Matrimony vine
leaves, shoots
ornamental vine
Mayapple
unripe fruit, roots, foliage
wildflower
Milk vetch
entire plant
wildflower
Mistletoe
berries
house plant
Monkshood
entire plant esp. roots, seeds
wildflower
Moonseed
fruit, roots
vine
Morning glory
seeds, roots
wildflower
Mountain mahogany
leaves
shrub
Mustards
seeds
wildflower
Narcissus
bulbs
garden flower
Nicotiana
leaves
garden flower
Nightshade
leaves, berries
wildflower, vine
Oaks
shoots, leaves
tree
Oleander
leaves
ornamental shrub
Philodendrons
entire plant
house plant
Pokeweed
roots, seeds, berries
field plant
Poinsettia
leaves, stem, flowers
house plant
Poison hemlock
leaves, stem, fruit
field plant
Potato
shoots, sprouts
garden plant
Rattle box
entire plant
wildflower
Rhododendron
leaves
ornamental shrub
Rhubarb
leaves
garden plant
Rosary pea
seeds
house plant
Sago palm
entire plant esp seeds
ornamental plant
Skunk cabbage
entire plant esp roots, leaves
marsh plant
Smartweeds
sap
wildflower
Snow-on-the-mountain
sap
field plant
Sorghum
leaves
grass
Star of Bethlehem
entire plant
wildflower
Velvet grass
leaves
grass
Wild black cherry
leaves, pits
tree
Wild radish
seeds
wildflower
Wisteria
pods, seeds
ornamental plant
Woody aster
entire plant
wildflower
Yellow jessamine
entire plant
ornamental vine
Yellow oleander
entire plant esp. leaves
garden plant
Yellow pine flax
entire plant esp. seedpods
wildflower
Yew
bark, leaves, seeds
ornamental tree
Our new puppy is a blast, thanks for getting him into the Kindergarten Class... but we had a question. On our walks he was wanting to eat everything he could find! In class we are learning how to walk well on a leash so that is going fine now, but it made us wonder "what plants are bad for him to eat"? Any we should be real wary of?
Thanks
Barb and Rocket
Barb and Rocket,
Thanks for your post. Yes... in general there are lots of pants that are toxic to animals, so its best to keep Rocket from picking up anything by teaching him to heel. I am glad his walking politely on a leash is gong well, but here is a list of the most common toxic plants for pets.
Poisonous Plants
While plants add a touch of color and fragrance to our daily lives they also inject an element of danger into the lives of our pets. More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.
Below is a list of some of the common plants which may produce a toxic reaction in animals. This list is intended only as a guide to plants which are generally identified as having the capability for producing a toxic reaction.
This may not represent a complete list of all poisonous plants. Also, your pet may have a sensitivity or allergy to a plant that is not on the list, resulting in toxicity. Always contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a poisonous plant.
PLANT
TOXIC PARTS
PLANT TYPE
Aconite
roots, foliage, seeds
garden flower
Apple
seeds
cultivated tree
Arrowgrasses
leaves
marsh plants
Atropa belladonna
entire plant esp. seeds, roots
garden herb
Autumn Crocus
entire plant
garden flower
Azaleas
entire plant
cultivated & wild shrub
Baneberry
berries, roots
wildflower
Bird-of-Paradise
pods
garden flower
Black locust
entire plant esp. bark, shoots
tree
Bloodroot
entire plant esp. stem, roots
wildflower, herb
Box
entire plant esp. leaves
ornamental shrub
Buckeye
sprouts, nuts, seeds
tree
Buttercup
entire plant esp. leaves
wildflower, garden herb
Caladium
entire plant
house plant
Carolina jessamine
flowers, leaves
ornamental plant
Castor bean
entire plant esp. beans
house plant
Chinaberry tree
berries
tree
Chockcherries
leaves, cherries, pit
wild shrub
Christmas berry
leaves
shrub
Christmas Rose
rootstock, leaves
garden flower
Common privet
leaves, berries
ornamental shrub
Corn cockle
seeds
wildflower, weed
Cowbane
entire plant esp. roots
wildflower, herb
Cow cockle
seeds
wildflower, weed
Cowslip
entire plant esp. leaves, stem
wildflower, herb
Daffodil
bulbs
garden flower
Daphne
bark, berries, leaves
ornamental shrub
Day lily
entire plant is toxic to cats
garden & wildflower
Death Camas
leaves, stems, seeds, flowers
field herb
Delphinium (Larkspur)
entire plant esp. sprouts
wildflower
Dumbcane
entire plant
house plant
Dutchman's breeches
roots, foliage
wild & garden flower
Easter lily
entire plant is toxic to cats
flowering house plant
Elderberry
leaves, bark, roots, buds
tree
Elephant's ear
entire plant
house plant
English Ivy
entire plant esp. leaves, berries
ornamental vine
European Bittersweet
entire plant esp. berries
vine
False Flax
seeds
wild herb
False hellebore
roots, leaves, seeds
ornamental flower
Fan weed
seeds
wildflower, herb
Field peppergrass
seeds
wildflower, herb
Flax
seedpods
wildflower, herb
Foxglove
leaves
wild & garden flower
Holly
berries
shrub
Horsechestnut
nuts, sprouts
tree
Horse nettle
entire plant esp. berries
wildflower, herb
Hyacinth
bulbs
wild & house plant
Iris
leaves, roots
wild & garden flower
Jack-in-the-pulpit
entire plant esp. roots, leaves
wildflower
Jatropha
seeds
tree, shrub
Jerusalem Cherry
unripe fruit, foliage
ornamental plant
Jimsonweed
entire plant esp. seeds
field plant
Laburum
seeds, pods, flowers
ornamental plant
Lantana
foliage
house plant
Larkspur
young plants
wildflower
Laurels
leaves
shrub
Lily of the valley
leaves, flowers
garden & wildflower
Lupines
seeds, pods
shrub
Manchineel Tree
sap, fruit
tree
Matrimony vine
leaves, shoots
ornamental vine
Mayapple
unripe fruit, roots, foliage
wildflower
Milk vetch
entire plant
wildflower
Mistletoe
berries
house plant
Monkshood
entire plant esp. roots, seeds
wildflower
Moonseed
fruit, roots
vine
Morning glory
seeds, roots
wildflower
Mountain mahogany
leaves
shrub
Mustards
seeds
wildflower
Narcissus
bulbs
garden flower
Nicotiana
leaves
garden flower
Nightshade
leaves, berries
wildflower, vine
Oaks
shoots, leaves
tree
Oleander
leaves
ornamental shrub
Philodendrons
entire plant
house plant
Pokeweed
roots, seeds, berries
field plant
Poinsettia
leaves, stem, flowers
house plant
Poison hemlock
leaves, stem, fruit
field plant
Potato
shoots, sprouts
garden plant
Rattle box
entire plant
wildflower
Rhododendron
leaves
ornamental shrub
Rhubarb
leaves
garden plant
Rosary pea
seeds
house plant
Sago palm
entire plant esp seeds
ornamental plant
Skunk cabbage
entire plant esp roots, leaves
marsh plant
Smartweeds
sap
wildflower
Snow-on-the-mountain
sap
field plant
Sorghum
leaves
grass
Star of Bethlehem
entire plant
wildflower
Velvet grass
leaves
grass
Wild black cherry
leaves, pits
tree
Wild radish
seeds
wildflower
Wisteria
pods, seeds
ornamental plant
Woody aster
entire plant
wildflower
Yellow jessamine
entire plant
ornamental vine
Yellow oleander
entire plant esp. leaves
garden plant
Yellow pine flax
entire plant esp. seedpods
wildflower
Yew
bark, leaves, seeds
ornamental tree
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