spain Uncategorized

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

When your dog shies away from an obstacle

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

BALKING/SHYING/OBSTACLES:
Anyone would balk or become nervous when faced with an unusual or frightening obstacle.
One of the biggest problems we have when the dog on leash balks or shies away from something is that we, through our body language or behavior reinforce the dogs fear about the situation.
If you negotiate an obstacle calmly and smoothly, the dog will most likely follow your lead and continue through it with little difficulty.
Using proper handling techniques with the lead, and the subtle use of allellomimetic behavior, even long ingrained phobias can be overcome in just minutes.

The bonding and sense of security that can come with being properly on command can reassure and give confidence to even the most insecure animal.

EXAMPLE:
“My dog is afraid to get into the car, elevator, boat ramp, etc.”

SOLUTION:
This is very common, and a major problem if it is your dog that won’t go into the car or otherwise.
Usually the problem starts when he first balks, by the handler pulling on the leash and trying to force him inside.
REMEMBER… Any pushing or pulling on the dogs collar will trigger positive thigmotaxis, the opposition reflex, thus compelling exactly the behavior you wanted to avoid.
Handle the lead properly and ask him to go inside.
Face the direction you want him to go, and move forward.
Praise immediately. If he balks, repeat the command with sound and praise again. Usually it requires no wore than two repetitions.

SIBLING RIVALRY??? YES.
When you have more than one pet, or when you have children, this can be a big problem.
If you scold one sibling (children included) in front of the other(s), a natural resentment or jealousy is instigated. This is common with any peer group, adults as well, office workers, etc.
The others take this as an opportunity to follow your lead and use their authority to further humiliate or even attack the “trouble maker”.
Given that scolding is a poor example of proper discipline, it need not be mentioned at this point.

EXAMPLE
“My dogs fight if they have a bone, (or food, or a pat, etc.).

SOLUTION:
Set the example of proper leadership and don’t engage in verbal arguments, as it will only be copied.
Use all of these training techniques as a guide. When you see an argument beginning, resort to praise.
Praise? Yes.
This will always be your first response to solve a problem.
As always, avoid physical praise, as it will in this case create wore jealousy. If proper discipline and leadership are expressed, the dogs do not have an option to fight amongst themselves.

Changing dog behaviours

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

HOW CAN WE BREAK ANY OF THESE BEHAVIORS?
Four properly timed interruptions!
WITH PRAISE!
CHAINED DOG SYNDROME/BARRIER FRUSTRATION:

Often for convenience, but frequently because of lack of proper control, we must tie or otherwise restrict our pets.
The barrier or chain that is used causes a natural frustration, because everything is out of reach. This can cause stress, which can result in serious behavior problems, even extreme viciousness.
How can we restrain a dog on a chain or behind a barrier without risking difficulty?
Either remove the source of stimulation, such as by keeping him out of sight and/or hearing of children, guests, etc., or work to break the cycle of over-stimulation.

EXAMPLE:
“I crate my puppy during the day when I’m at work. He seems fine, but gets really upset when we’re home and have to put him inside.”

SOLUTION:
Use the distraction techniques contained herein to break the barrier frustration syndrome.

HOW CAN WE BREAK THE CYCLE OF OVER-STIMULATION?
Four Properly timed interruptions! WITH PRAISE!

This condition needs further mention… It is natural for most dogs to become very protective or territorial about the area of their confinement or tie out.

Never allow strangers to greet or pat a dog while tied out or confined in a run or crate.

MALINGER/SUBTERFUGE:

To pretend injury or illness in order to avoid responsibility or work; a scam or ploy to avoid doing something.
Dogs are great, even witty when it comes to thinking up ways to avoid or get out of doing what you want.

EXAMPLE:
“every time I try to train my dog, he becomes “lame,” like the old “war injury.”

SOLUTION;
Make sure there is nothing wrong, start to train, and when that old affliction appears, say “you poor baby, I hate to see you so lame.

Let’s quit this work stuff and we’ll take a ride and buy you an ice cream.”
As soon as ‘old sooner’ jumps for joy and heads for the car, you’ve caught him

“FLAGRANTE DELICTO”.
Point it right out to him and really rub it in.
Dogs don’t like to be made fun of… the embarrassment might cause a good laugh!

SEPARATION ANXIETY:
When you leave, your dog may become worried that you may not return. Or, because while you-are-gone, a visitor or disturbance of some sort may have come by— causing a tense disruption.

EXAMPLE:
“Every time I go out, my dog barks/whines, chews things, soils the house, etc. He’s vindictive. He does it on purpose! I can’t leave him alone!
I can tell he knows he’s done wrong just by the look on his face!”

SOLUTION;
There could be several factors involved.
If a dog is indiscriminately relieving himself in the house while you are gone, it could be caused by stress if you have been in the habit of scolding him for any mischief he had indulged in, in the past.
That could make him nervous enough to need to relieve himself every time you go out.
Or, it might be the result of barrier frustration, or just a negative attention getting device satisfied by your response upon return. Don’t fall victim to these tactics.

HOW CAN WE BREAK SOMATIC MEMORY?

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

FOUR PROPERLY TIMED INTERRUPTIONS!
WITH PRAISE!
SURVIVAL INSTINCT: The oral desire.

Your dog is programmed to do what it must to insure the survival of itself and its species.
That’s one powerful tool that is often overlooked as a training aid. Most trainers utilize this with food bribes.
To get results at any price is their motivation.
Other aspects of survival instinct can be more successfully employed. At some point bribery will cause trouble, as with each treat, survival instinct comes into play.
Soon your dogs appreciation level of you is lowered from a mind appreciation to the gut level. When your dog would rather go to his food than you, look out!

Pack mentality is one manifestation of survival instinct.
Your dog looks upon his family as his “pack”. We can manipulate this instinct, or be victimized by it.
“Checking back,” a familiar term with hunters, is a side ways glance to keep from straying too far from the hunter, or in our case, the pack or family.
Praise when you see your dog “checking back,” and he will move in closer.
If he forges on ahead, turn and he will “check back” on you.

If you keep moving away he will turn to follow. Praise him and he will continue.
Just don’t get caught checking back on him, or he will expect you to follow. This principle will be used effectively in our program latter.
Symptoms of behavior, good as well as bad, may be attributed to survival instinct.
These symptoms may be manifest outwardly or inwardly. Over protectiveness or cowering could be examples of very closely related but opposite ways of dealing with circumstances of the environment.
They are often interchangeable within the same individual. Other symptoms of a self-concerned rigid nature could be compulsive scratching, paw licking side or leg sucking, hiding, balking, withdrawal, cowering, and submissive urination.

EXAMPLE: Fear biters can be made to be aggressive biters. “My dog bites/shies out of fear when strangers try to pat him.”

SOLUTION:
Don’t try this without our professional guidance
(This graphic solution is just one of several possibilities.)
Teach the dog to bite on command, thus building confidence, overcoming shyness or fear.