BARKS from the Guild Winter 2014

Barks From The Guild (An environmentally force-free online magazine)

The Pet Professional Guild

Vol. 3, No. 1 Winter 2014

No Pain, Lots To Gain.

Relationship Relationship--Building Between Pets and People.

In this issue: Targeting in the Avian Trainer’s Toolbox Are Citronella Spray Collars Force-free?

What I’ve Learned from Shelter Dogs Henry Ford Did It—So Should You! Safe Games for Kids and Dogs Relationships with Shy Cats What Does Your Dog Know?

How Do I Choose a Trainer?

Upcoming PPG Seminars, book reviews, member interviews, product reviews and more!

Don’t Miss Out! There are member deals on products and training programs inside!

Message from the Founder Dear Members and Pet Lovers, Welcome to our first Barks from the Guild for 2014. As normal for this time of year, it is always fun to think back and reflect on the previous year while we plan our goals for the current one.

What a busy year 2013 turned out to be and we will all need seat-belts for 2014 — it is taking off at a fast pace already and we have not yet begun to roll out our goals.

In 2014 we will be working on the following key programs: 1. A professional level membership criteria

Articles & Columns Founder’s Message—N. Tudge Book Review—R. Ingram Business Bytes— N. Tudge What I’ve Learned from Shelter Dogs—A. Phenix Catty Corner—M. Krieger What Does Your Dog Know—D. Savoie Ask Leah—L. Roberts Lofty Learning—L. Joseph McMillan’s Musings—B. McMillan Citronella Spray Collars? - D. Lambert Member Profile—contributed Force Fallout—A. Steinker Doggone Safe— J. Orr Upcoming PPG Seminars Product Review—L. Clifton

The Guild Steering Committee

2. PPG area chapters 3. A PPG licensed product for members 4. Key advocacy goals 5. Specialized committees for our different divisions 6. The planning and organizing of our first PPG annual conference 7. Enhanced membership communication tools 8. More membership benefits and programs.

9. The roll out of “The International Day of Celebration for Force Free Training and Pet Care” (ICFF) on Feb. 17, sponsored by PPG. On that note I wanted to talk to you about our ICFF day.

PPG felt it was necessary each year to have a distinct day for us all to celebrate and advocate for our key mission. This was not an easy task given that we have members across the globe. Coordinating everyone on one day would have been impossible. Thus we came up with the idea of a virtual event on the honesty system. You can participate anywhere in the world, whenever (within the event dates) and wherever it is convenient for you! If you don’t have time to complete your chosen event at one time, then you can split it up over several days. There is also a fabulous and fun competition with some great prizes. Participants can submit photos to the PPG showing their participation in their chosen event.

These photos will be judged on originality and creativity with special emphasis on how much force-free fun the human and pet are having. There is more information on page 25 of this issue and, of course, on the PPG website. From the home page, click on ICFF Day to register and learn more.

(Continued on page 4)

Niki Tudge Catherine Zehner Diane Garrod Angelica Steinker Anne Springer Caryn Liles Mark Strauss Jan Casey Heidi Steinbeck Debra Millikan Louise Thompson

Contact The PPG Member Communication Admin@PetProfessionalGuild.com Publication Information Catherine@PetProfessionalGuild.com Advertisements Admin@PetProfessionalGuild.com International Communication Admin@PetProfessionalGuild.com Mailing Address 1922 Kenton Road Wesley Chapel FL 33545 Telephone 41 Dog-Train www.PetProfessionalGuild.com Newsletter Editor—C. Zehner

Our key business purpose is to initiate a serious effort for the education of pet care providers and the public coupled with an emphasis on building collaboration among force-free pet trainers and professional pet-care providers. We aim to publicize “our voice for the profession” that advocates for mutually-agreed guiding principles for the pet care industry.

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PPG Book Review Reviewed by Rick Ingram If you regularly travel with your pet or are planning to, this handy little guide is just what you need.

Printed on behalf of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) of the United Kingdom by Veloce publishing, Dogs on Wheels is an efficient little volume packed with much practical and useful advice. At $19.95, it is not cheap by U.S. standards, but the book clearly lives up to the publisher’s stated mission of “providing books of the highest quality in terms of content, accuracy, presentation and subject for the discerning automotive enthusiast.” Despite the book’s cost, I felt the photos alone made the price a bargain. Don’t let the fact that this is an RAC book dissuade you from reading it if you don’t live in the UK — the information covered by the author is directly applicable to life on the road with your canine in the US and anywhere else.

There were many features of the book I found refreshing compared to similar books I’ve read recently. For starters, the author keeps the history of canines brief in his short introduction. I’ve never understood why so many authors feel they need to comprehensively cover the “history of…” when the book is not about “the history of...” But in Dogs on Wheels, the author keeps the canine history short and what he does include is pertinent to travelling with dogs.

The book begins, in my opinion, where a book on dog travel should begin — with choosing the correct vehicle. Though this information could quickly

Book:

DOGS ON WHEELS Travelling with Your Canine Companion

Author:

Norm Mort

Pages:

96 (paperback)

Publisher:

Veloce Publishing, 2012

Suggested Retail Price:

$19.95 USD

become dated as new vehicle models join the market, the author provides general guidance and a handy checklist that can be applied to your vehicle search whenever you may choose to get your next “dog” car.

It was nice to see that Dogs on Wheels covered both the physical and mental considerations that are important when travelling by car with your dog.

The author also covers travel accessories for your dog very comprehensively, which is refreshing. I’ve seen too many articles and books giving advice on travel accessories that advocate equipment that is either far too expensive, impractical, ambiguous or unavailable.

I particularly enjoyed the “Dos and Don’ts” section where the author does an admirable job of balancing good information with a healthy dose of reality, reminding the reader of how dangerous it can be to you and your dog when you travel in your car with your dog unrestrained.

Two other strong chapters were on a dog’s psyche and veterinary advice – both topics are often given short shrift in comparable articles and books — and the book’s guidance is interspersed with appropriate and authoritative quotes and specific advice from experts.

I highly recommend this concise and handy volume to all dog owners, whether you regularly travel with your canine pal or not. It is very well-written, visually pleasing, and the photos are fantastic, especially those in the last chapter “Dogs on wheels in art and advertising,” and compliment the text perfectly. 

Rick Ingram is the owner of Critter Care Services in Wellesly Chapel, FL, US.

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(PRESIDENT, continued from page 2)

Members are now starting to chat about the ICFF Day in our official Facebook Group, if you have not yet joined us there then please do. There are some great conversations going and members are enjoying some wonderful networking opportunities. I am looking forward to sharing some great successes with you all in 2014.

On another Note...

In December of 2013 PPG rolled out a GPS zip code search locator tool on the website. I get several emails a day from people asking for help as “it is not working” for them.

 Niki Tudge is the founder of the PPG and The DogSmith, a national dog training and pet-care franchise. Her professional credentials include; CPDT-KA, NADOI – Certified, AABP- Professional Dog Trainer, AABP- Professional Dog Behavior Consultant, Diploma Animal Behavior Technology, and Diploma Canine Behavior Science & Technology. Niki has also published many articles on dog training and dog behavior and her pet dog training businesses have been featured in many publications including The New York Times.

The system works very well and I have had several emails from members who have been found by clients using this feature. To ensure you are coming up in this new search, please make sure you have your full address listed. GPS cannot locate you if components of your address are missing. Once you update your listing, it then takes several hours to reset.

-Niki Tudge

Editor’s Nook Welcome to the Winter 2014 edition of Barks from the Guild! This online publication is truly a labor of love that I so enjoy piecing together because it acquaints me with so many diverse, creative, kind, compassionate and knowledgeable PPG members. I hope you’ll find this issue better than ever!

In this and future issues, you will find a standing feline, avian and pet owner column in order to appeal to more than just dog owners and trainers. In upcoming issues, we also hope to have a standing equine column.

And because Barks from the Guild is a publication for, by, and about Pet Professional Guild members, we welcome member contributions about your experiences liv-

ing and working force-free with your favorite mammals!

Members are encouraged to submit scholarly articles, opinion editorials, letters to the editor, member achievements, and other information pertinent to the industry.

Articles submitted will be approved for publication by the Guild Steering Committee.

Because the PPG Steering Committee must review them, submissions will be accepted no later than four weeks prior to the publication deadline. Contributions to Barks from The Guild should be submitted to the Managing Editor at: Catherine@PetProfessionalGuild.com Happy New Year, and may the force-free be with you!

-Ed.

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Business Bytes … Henry Ford Did It, You Should too!

By Niki Tudge

long benefits for you and your company.

We all know that Henry Ford was one of the richest and most famous industrialists of all time. Though he didn't invent the automobile, he did, through innovation and cost control, make it affordable to just about anyone.

With no formal education in engineering, Henry Ford revolutionized the world.

To operate your business effectively, you need to know where your money is coming from and where it is going.

You also need to be able to fluently discuss your business decisions with your accountant, lawyers and other professionals that make up your support team. However, it would be a mistake in any small business to leave money decisions fully to your accountant. Certainly, take your accountant's advice on taxes, payroll and the like, but your accountant will never understand your business or your customers the way that you do.

You are the one who is ultimately responsible for your business. If you can't pay your bills or meet payroll, will your vendors and staff blame your accountant or are they going to blame you?

His success would have surprised his father, who assumed Henry would take over the family farm. However, Henry hated farming and was a natural tinkerer who spent hours taking machines apart and putting them back together. So rather than farming, Henry took an apprenticeship as a machinist.

Though his name is synonymous with automobile engineering and production, few people remember that Henry actually pursued a formal education in bookkeeping at Goldsmith, Bryant & Stratton Business College (now the Detroit Business Institute). So why would this natural-born engineer feel that he needed formal education in bookkeeping and what does that have to do with your pet industry business?

Henry realized early in his business life that keeping track of your finances is fundamental to all businesses, no matter how passionate you may be about your company and no matter how innovative your product or idea.

History gives us many examples of superior products and ideas that failed because of poor financial management (and the government isn't going to step in and bail you out). The proverbial “better mousetrap” benefits no one if the company making them can't stay open for business. According to the Small Business Administration, 71 percent of the firms that fail do so because of poor financial planning.

Henry also believed that, even when he had entire accounting departments keeping his books, a business owner must understand the fundamentals of finances in order to make sound business decisions and discuss company accounts intelligently. No one — not your lawyer, your doctor, your accountant, your mother, brother or sister — will ever care about your money they way that you do. Understanding your business finances is crucial to the success of ANY business and returns life-

There are many free and low-cost resources available to help you learn the basics of business finances including SCORE.org, SBA.gov (finances and accounting) and www.dwmbeancounter.com to name but a few. Learning to use financial management software is also a great way to build your financial management muscles. Even though you got into the pet industry because of your passion for animals, your financial expertise will directly contribute to making your business a success so you can keep your dream alive. Then, when your business is growing, hire bookkeepers like Henry Ford did. But because you now speak “finances” you will always be in the best position to manage your financial team and make the best decisions for your business. 

Niki Tudge is the founder of the PPG and The DogSmith, a national dog training and pet-care franchise. Her professional credentials include; CPDT-KA, NADOI – Certified, AABP- Professional Dog Trainer, AABP- Professional Dog Behavior Consultant, Diploma Animal Behavior Technology, and Diploma Canine Behavior Science & Technology. Niki has also published many articles on dog training and dog behavior and her pet dog training businesses have been featured in many publications including The New York Times.

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What I’ve Learned from Shelter Dogs...

By Annie Phenix I rescued my first dog from an Austin high-kill shelter in 1995. Back then, the shelter was so poorly staffed that anyone could walk into any kennel and introduce themselves to the caged and sometimes hyper or even aggressive dogs. Because I could enter unsupervised, I quickly learned to decipher body language from a distance and then up close and personal – I had to learn fast or risk a bite from some very stressed-out animals. In spite of their high level of agitation, no dog bit me or even tried. Most were simply terribly frightened.

Many cages housed pit bulls. Actually the order went like this: pit bull, pit bull, black lab, lab, pit bull, pit bull and then five cages in a row of pit bull + lab mixes. The pit bulls provided me something of a master’s degree in canine body language. I say that because some of them were easily excitable – going from zero to fully-aroused

faster than a Porsche. These dogs showed me how an overly-aroused canine can swiftly redirect.

One day I was alone in an open field with a pit bull that no one else wanted to walk because of his size and challenging demeanor, when I came up with the idea of running him in a large circle on-leash because there was no place where he could run off-leash. He was kenneled 24 hours a day except when he was with me. The dog enjoyed running fast in a big circle around me; he was so excited that he interrupted his run and flew through that air straight for me. With quick reflexes, I shoved the leash into his mouth before he made it to my face … he dropped the leash from his mouth and continued to climb up the remaining leash by his strong teeth. I became quiet and stopped moving, talking softly to him, waiting for the bite, praying he wouldn’t do it. He calmed down just in time and didn’t bite me, teaching me a valuable lesson. Had he bitten, it would have been my fault and not his. I would not have forgiven myself easily either because a bite would have ended his life that day. I thanked

him for his lesson and was more careful in the future, letting him run in short bursts, then some calming time, more short running and so on. It worked.

Dogs stuck in shelters taught me more than just canine body language however. I learned about perseverance, especially from dogs that had no true behavioral problems but were passed up every day because of human dislikes, such as being the wrong color, the wrong size or the wrong age. Most still wagged their tails as people walked past them. Most still made eye contact with humans every day they sat in their jail cells waiting for someone to notice them. Many (but certainly not all) dogs remained upbeat and interested in their sparse surroundings. Would humans in the same environment still be so optimistic? Doubtful.

I’ve observed dogs euthanized in shelters. I often pulled shelter dogs for the non-profit rescue I volunteered with from rural shelters. Often the euthanasia happened in

front of the other dogs still in cages waiting their turn for the needle. If you want to learn compassion from the most masterful animal on the planet, watch dog after dog being “put to sleep” and observe them trying to lick the hand of the person administering the death serum, most often through a small opening in the muzzle they were forced to wear. Yes, some dogs fought not to die. Many more of them, however, gave what looked like love to the person doing the killing. I’m not convinced at such times that we humans are completely deserving of a dog’s love.

We let them down again and again but still they love us unconditionally, even as we kill them every day, cover them in black, plastic bags and send them to the dump like trash.

One of my favorite ACOs (Animal Control Officer) worked in a tiny town outside of Austin where, as with many small towns, the animal shelter was under the direction of the police department. The local police chief walked through this particular kennel early one day and announced to the ACO that the room stunk. He told the ACO, who had purchased a washing machine and dryer with her own mea6

… A PPG Feature Opinion ger funds so she could wash the towels she brought to keep the animals warm, to kill every dog in the shelter.

All of them — even the 17 puppies. She had to do what she was told or be fired, and she did, weeping over each one. I came in that afternoon to pick up puppies not knowing what had transpired earlier that day. I was too late.

I quit fostering after that.

For a decade I had walked through crowded shelters willing to face the heartache of not being able to save all of the dogs. The heartache became too much for me to bear – I hit my compassion fatigue level.

That experience and countless ones like it taught me that there are two types of humans — those who have empathy for other living creatures and those who do not.

In rescue work, you see too many of the uncaring sort of human. In order to continue to help dogs where I could and not hate every person on the planet, I had to concentrate – hard – on the kind humans. I learned to avoid the unaffected humans like the police chief who could waltz through a shelter and order every dog to be killed – not even allowing a scheduled rescue pick up of several puppies. Did he lose sleep over it? Doubtful. I did, and the ACO was so heartbroken that she quit shortly thereafter. I opened my heart to the good people adopting the formally unwanted dogs. We successfully found a loving home for every dog through the non-profit rescue organization: even the blind ones, the old ones and the rowdy ones. The dogs needed time and a healthy place to live while waiting for a hero human to find them. That’s what rescue is about; Life and, in particular, valuing a dog’s life. We just never had enough time to save them all, or really do more than make a small dent in the massive number of “throw-away” dogs.

I switched my focus from being a rescuer to becoming a professional dog trainer as a way to stem the tide of incoming dogs. I attended a dog training “academy” and later learned about canine behavior from some of the best of the best in the industry in my quest to stop so many dogs from being dumped in shelters for infractions such as acting like a dog (chewing, barking and even something as ridiculous as “growing too large”).

With each dog I am given the privilege of training, I silently thank all of those shelters dogs for what they taught me. Perhaps becoming a dog trainer from this hardscrabble background is a bit unorthodox, but it turned me into a dog trainer who is highly-attuned to canine body language. And somewhere along the journey my rescuing these unlucky dogs became a mutual saving grace because the nearly 400 dogs I have fostered showed me things about life I could not have mas-

tered without them. They demonstrated kindness, compassion, mercy, hope and unconditional love. I often struggle with the lessons taught by the callous humans who think nothing of dumping a dog. There are huge numbers of people willing to do this. Yes, I understand sometimes life brings unexpected hardships; I am talking about the thousands upon thousands of humans who dump the dog when he is no longer a cute puppy or when he becomes inconvenient.

Because I am disturbed with how many careless humans there are regarding the fates of animals, I turn to Viktor Frankl often and think of his quote: “Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.” I try to focus on the people with the big hearts doing yeoman’s work through non-profit rescues. I concentrate on the kind ACOs who go out daily with the intention of helping dogs. I think about all of the lovely people I’ve met over the years that open their hearts and homes to the unwanted dogs and I train like crazy to help stop the rush of incoming dogs at my local shelters.

Some days, this is enough.

Some days, it will never be enough. 

Annie Phenix is a positive reinforcement dog trainer and a professional writer. She is a popular columnist for Dogster.com and is the Chief Writer for the dog training website MotivateYourDog.com. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post and other national publications.

She and her husband live in Colorado and share their lives with five dogs, six donkeys and two horses. Her website is www.phenixdogs.com 7

Catty Corner…Building Relationships with Shy Cats

By Marilyn Krieger, CCBC It is not unusual for shy cats to take up residence under sofas and beds when they are newly adopted. The only evidence their people have that they are there is the diminishing amount of food in the bowls and the daily deposits in the litter boxes. Typically, these little ones will not reveal themselves unless their people take steps to help them feel secure and safe.

Although it can take time and patience, cat parents can help change the way their shy cats perceive the environment and them. Every cat is unique — their histories and previous treatment influence both the degree of socialization and the amount of time it will take until the cat feels secure enough to hang out with people. Cat parents can help them to feel safe by encouraging the kitties to see them as the provider of everything good. It is also important that they do not set up situations where the shy ones feel cornered with no way to retreat or escape.

Encouraging shy cats to feel secure enough to socialize begins with the environment. Newly-adopted and shy cats should have their own sanctuary rooms that are fully equipped with the necessities. They also need high places to climb, toys and places to retreat, such as boxes and tunnels.

In addition to banning other resident animals from the sanctuary room, only one person — the designated “socialize” — should spend time with the cat. Later, when the cat is feeling secure and interacting with his or her person, other people can be quietly introduced.

Here are some other tips for helping cat parents encourage their shy cats to feel secure enough to start socializing: 

Stop free-feeding. Cat parents should feed their cats multiple meals throughout the day. They will associate delicious meals with the people who feed them.



Feed on a schedule. Cats will start anticipating visits accompanied by meals from their people.



Treats help too! Every time the cat parent enters the sanctuary room, they should place a treat near the cat’s hiding place.



Reinforce every step towards socializing. The smallest step is progress and needs to be reinforced with a treat.



In the sanctuary room, cat parents should sit either on the floor or in a chair and acclimate the cats to them by reading, talking and softly singing to them.



Fearful cats should never be cornered or chased.

They should always have the option of coming towards their people or retreating when afraid.



Avoid direct eye contact. Shy, fearful cats often perceive this as a threat.



Some cats are players and can be persuaded to socialize through playing.

Clicker training can be a useful tool for socializing. Because the click from a traditional clicker can frighten fearful cats, either muffle clickers or use another softer-sounding device as an event marker.

“Formally greeting” cats can also encourage them to come forward. Cat parents can sit a short distance away and extend one finger towards their cats. When cats want to interact, they will approach the outstretched finger, touch it with their noses and mouths and then turn their heads so their cheeks make contact with the outstretched finger. This is the go ahead signal for petting cats on their heads, necks and cheeks.

The socialization process should not be hurried. Cats have their own schedules, regardless of what ours is.

With time and consistency, the cat should eventually respond positively to the overtures of friendship. © September 24, 1913 by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC Marilyn Krieger, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and owner of The Cat Coach, LLC® www.thecatcoach.com solves cat behavior problems nationally and internationally through on-site, phone and Skype consultations.

Marilyn’s award-winning book, Naughty No More! focuses on changing unwanted cat behaviors through clicker training, environmental management and other force-free methods.



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What Does Your Dog Know—And How Do You Use It?

By Donna Savoie, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATI, ABCDT On this gorgeous day in August, it’s not hot or humid and there is a beautiful breeze. I’m sitting outside on the deck drinking my morning coffee while my dogs are happily chasing each other around the garden, when my next-door neighbor comes outside and says hello from across the yards. I smile and wave, recall my dogs so that they do not bark at my neighbor, ask them to lay down on the deck with me and then I say hello and have a lovely conversation with my neighbor.

What do my dogs know?

They know how to come when they’re called, under most distractions.

How did I use it?

I used it to prevent them from barking at someone I wanted to have a conversation with.

Later on this gorgeous day, as tumbleweeds of German Shepherd fur blow throughout my house because I have every door and window open, I decide that it’s high time I do my weekly vacuuming. As I wheel my canister vacuum around and vacuum my home, my dogs could be having a blast chasing it, barking at it, and herding it which could be really irritating to me and could make my vacuum time much longer than it needs to be on this beautiful August day. But instead one dog is laying nicely on her bed, and the other two are following behind me.

What do my dogs know?

They know how to “go to place and stay,” and they know how to “get behind.”

How did I use it?

I used both behaviors to prevent them from causing chaos while I was vacuuming my home.

So I ask you, what do you dogs know and how do you use it? So often we see folks spend lots of time and invest money in training useful behaviors but do not use those useful behaviors later on. In the two examples above I could have hollered “No, no bad dog” to my dogs as they barked at my neighbor for

saying “good morning,” but instead I was proactive and called them to me, told them what to do, and had a conversation without the distraction of barking dogs. In the second example above I could have been trying to vacuum around three dogs, while hollering “No, no bad dog” to my three dogs, I could have put them outside and closed my doors (my yard is fenced in), but instead I gave them a job to do.

Whether you have taken an obedience class or taught your dog a few things on your own without the help of a professional trainer, chances are your dog knows how to “sit” or “down” or “come.” So how do you use those behaviors, when do you ask for them, and do you as a normal human default to “No, no bad dog stop it?”

Teaching any dog a few polite obedience behaviors is the key to having a good relationship and harmony with your pet dog.

Teaching your dog what to do in any given situation is really quite simple. First, teach a nice behavior such as “sit.” Second, use that nice behavior, for example, while you are preparing dinner if your dog is staring at you, kicking you, pestering you and obnoxiously begging you can ask for “sit” and the dog will know what to do and, by default, not be doing those other unwanted behaviors.

Does your dog know how to come when he is called?

Does he know how to sit? And when you have company does he get all excited and jump on your company? Then think about what your dog does know, and use it. If you step away from your guest and you recall your dog, he will not be jumping on your guest because he will be several feet away from your guest. This gives you the opportunity to ask him to sit while your guest enters your home and gets settled.

So the next time you are about to say “No, no bad dog, stop it, cut it out,” instead use those seconds to think to yourself, “What DOES my dog know, and how can I use it?”

 Donna Savoie, aCDBC, CPDTKA, CBATI, ABCDT, is the owner and president of Pack of Paws Dog Training in Southbridge, MA, USA.

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10

Ask Leah … How Do I Choose a Good Trainer?

By Leah Roberts Anybody can hang out a shingle, call himself/herself a “dog trainer” or “behaviorist,” and take your money for doing things he saw on TV or she read in a Google post. Additionally, people who use harsh and punitive methods are getting savvy, taking the pictures of dogs in prong collars off their sites, and calling themselves “positive reinforcement” because they may use treats also. How do you know whether the dog trainer you are considering is experienced?

Be suspicious of “experienced” trainers.

Don't be fooled by the “I've been training for 20 years” (or whatever) that they may say. Training for a long time doesn't mean keeping up on the newest research on dog training.

Would you want a doctor who still used leeches to treat your appendicitis because he had “always done it that way?” Though experience may be helpful, experience without education can be dangerous.

You do want a trainer who has experience with your specific issue. For example, a class trainer who has little or no experience with aggression issues may not be the best choice for a dog who is reactive to other dogs. But beware of the “I've been doing this for years” as a declaration of competence.

flat out if he/she uses choke, prong, shock, or “dominant dog” collars.

There are now disguises for these collars that make them look like flat collars, and a lot of shock trainers use euphemisms like “tap” or “e-stim” for “shock,” so you will have to listen carefully. If the trainer ever uses these collars, for any reason, he/she is not the trainer you want.

Also be aware that to use force-free methods, one has to use something the dog likes!

Most of the time this is food, which is a fairly universal motivator. Many good trainers use clickers, which signal to the dog that they met criteria and a treat is on the way.

Some dogs work better for toys or other activities than they do food, but generally praise is a very weak reinforcer, especially for beginner dogs who are just learning new skills. If your trainer does not use food, you should also be very suspicious and go back to Question No. 2 – so what exactly DO you use?

Is my dog being dominant?

Trick question here! If your prospective dog trainer talks about alpha/dominance, or any other status-seeking type of parameters for dog training, it should be an inDogs should be as happy in their classes as Dixie is, at stant alarm bell. Status has Dog Willing Positive Training absolutely nothing whatever Solutions in the Orlando area. to do with dog training, and All dog training is motivano dog is trying to be a tion. leader or take over the world. Dogs do what works. It's as simple as that. Some may be pushy in temperament, Ask prospective trainers how they motivate a dog. You others soft and pliant, but all of them will do what motican either motivate by making the dog fearful of retribuvates them. If your dog trainer uses this kind of talk, he/ tion, or making him eager to earn a reward. One way he she has probably gotten most education off the TV or will perform the behavior to escape something unpleasfrom the followers of TV – not real, solid science. ant, and the other way he will perform the behavior to earn something he likes. There is really no other way. If The best and safest way to determine if your dog trainer your trainer can't answer this question without mystical is valid is to check if they are a member of PPG. The “energy” talk, or talks about all dogs being different and Pet Professional Guild does extensive research on so each technique depends on the dog, be suspicious. each and every trainer listed in their database, and will If they don't know how to intelligently create the re- not take on any who do not strictly fit the qualifications. sponse they want, do they force it?

The rest of the alphabet soup after their name may or may not have meaning. Just because your trainer may What equipment is used? have a trail of letters after his or her name is not an indi(Continued on page 12) This question is also about motivation. Ask the trainer 11

(ASK LEAH, continued from page 11)

cation of expertise. There are a lot of organizations that will take money from anybody who offers it, and have no standards of training whatsoever. However, being a member of PPG at least tells you that the trainer motivates without the use of pain or discomfort, and does not engage in the mythological belief of alpha/ dominance status in dog training.

ď Ł

Food is used in this puppy training class to reward dogs for responding to being called out of play.

Leah Roberts is the owner of Dog Willing, which teaches owners and dogs skills that allow better communication with one another. She is a PPG founding member, a mentor trainer for the Animal Behavior College and is currently participating in the Academy for Dog Trainers online program. A nationally-respected writer about dog issues, her online articles can be found at Orlando Dog Training and Behavior Examiner and Dog Star Daily. Leah is currently writing a book on how to teach Puppy Kindergarten classes.

Family Paws Discounted Licensed Products for PPG Members.

Contact Jennifer Shryock to receive a 20 percent discount of these licensed products and become a licensed presenter of:

Dogs & Storks Dog & Baby Connection

12

Lofty Learning ... Targeting in the Avian Trainer’s Toolbox

By Lara Joseph

the body language given right before the lunge occurred.

Targeting is getting the animal to touch a predetermined body part to an object. The object can be many things, such a stick, the palm of your hand, a syringe, etc. It can serve many purposes for the animal and the trainer and is often used on a daily basis. When we ask a bird to step on a scale, we are targeting their feet to a certain part of the scale. When we call a bird to the glove we are targeting their feet to a particular part of the glove.

It is not uncommon in the bird world for birds to have a history of reinforcement of lunging, biting, or flying away from people. This is why I begin shaping a touch with a target stick if I feel I can not accurately read the individual bird’s body language. If the bird slightly leans away from the target stick, I know I need to present the stick at a further distance or lower height, bridge, and reinforce from there. The bird will let me know if I can then advance to bringing the target stick closer. In my opinion, this is a great way to introduce myself to an unfamiliar bird by making my intentions clear that my association with them will always be a positive one, to the best of my ability.

Often when I begin training a bird I have no prior history with, I will begin shaping the behavior of touching their foot or beak to a stick on cue. I do this for several reasons. When shaping behaviors through small approximations, I can better learn to read their body language through pairing feather placement, how quick they move, pinning of the eyes, or vocalizations with the behavior I am requesting, the size of the behavior I am requesting, and the positive reinforcer I am delivering for the requested behavior. I need to learn what calm behavior looks like because this is the behavior I want to reinforce and this is the behavior I want from them on a consistent basis when being paired with me as their trainer.

Never do I want to instigate a bite from a bird, but I also learn through my mistakes.

If I inaccurately misread alerted body language and ask for the bird to touch its beak to the stick and the bird lunges and bites the stick, not only do I learn that I have misread behavior, I also have spared my fingers the trauma. At this point I also know I have some counterconditioning to do. I want to make sure not to make that mistake again, otherwise I could be pairing myself, my requests, and the target stick as an aversive to the bird. This is something I definitely do not want to do, especially if my end goal is to have this bird fly to my hand or glove on cue. If this happens, I will take a few steps back in my training approach and reshape the target stick being presented at a comfortable distance from the bird. Through my mistake I have learned what “uncomfortable” looks like through

Targeting is a great way to also get the bird to another area of its cage or aviary. If the bird already understands the cue to “touch” or “target” when it sees the target, it knows if it flies to an area to touch the target, the positive reinforcer(s) will be delivered. If I need to enter a cage and the bird is by the door, I don’t want to reinforce the behavior of the bird trying to get out the door when I enter. I will then go to the back side of the cage and ask the bird to target through the cage. I will then teach them to station (stay in that location until cued to do otherwise) as I then enter the front of the cage.

Often times carrying around a target stick is not convenient. In these instances, I also present my index finger and ask a bird to touch with its beak or foot. This comes in very handy when I need a bird to step off of me. I will raise my finger at a distance where the bird has to step off of me in order to touch my finger with its beak or foot. When they step off I bridge and reinforce. Often times with companion animals, the reinforcer isn’t always food. Many times with parrots I will deliver a head scratch for a requested behavior. The length of time that I deliver the head scratch is also a very valuable reinforcer.

I keep the request of targeting by saying the word “touch” very strongly. When I say the word paired with different objects such as a “dremel” or “syringe,” based on (Continued on page 19)

13

McMillan’s Musings … It’s Just A Dog, Right?

By Bob McMillan

places today, dogs are what’s for dinner. It’s just a dog, right?

It’s just a dog, right? If you’re a pet owner you’ve heard that one before, usually as a mild rebuke. Why all this fuss over how we treat a toothy mop of fur? Lose one, get another. The shaggy little things are running around everywhere these days.

Yet, the ancient way of seeing dogs still exists and still calls to us. Fortunately, some can still look at a dog today and see past the cultural misconceptions and see beyond the talking cartoon parodies of dogs and see the dog, the companion we chose to keep at our side through the millennia. You’ve joined the Pet Professional Guild because you’re in the business of teaching owners to respect their dogs while teaching them our rules. Or, you’ve turned to the Guild for the latest findings to help you understand your dog and help him fit graciously into today’s hectic households. Just a dog?

Bunk. You’ve looked into the eyes of a dog. And what looked back changed you forever.

Try running that notion past the ancient Natufians. When archaeologists looked into one of their graves in what is now Israel recently, they found an altogether different idea about dogs.

About 12,000 years ago, the hunter-gatherer group was on the verge of making the precarious switch to an agricultural lifestyle when they paused and held a funeral.

They buried an old woman. Obviously, they believed in some form of afterlife because they sent her into the great unknown with a companion to protect her and show her the way. Of all the animals they could have picked from their prehistoric world, which one filled the bill?

They buried her with a puppy cradled in her arms.

They expected the woman and the puppy to go on. The woman would protect the puppy and teach it. In turn, the puppy would grow, learn her ways, use its unique skills and watch over her. And they would take that bond into eternity.

Today we’d call the Natufians a primitive people. No wheels, no electricity, no computers. Questionable hygiene. A lot of silly ideas. They’re long gone now. But the dog is still with us in this, our advanced and enlightened world of the 21st Century. Nearly four million dogs in the United States alone are euthanized each year because no one wants them. Yet dogs are bred litter after litter for profit and sold in pet stores or out of cardboard boxes on the roadside. Many who have dogs keep them chained outside. Others are brought home on a whim and when they fail to guess our rules, they’re carted away to shelters or dumped on the roadside.

Many who do take the time to train dogs shock them with electric collars or jerk them around by their necks, shouting commands that the dogs are too traumatized and fearful to begin to comprehend. They live out their brief lives never sure what the crazy human is going to do to them next. Dogs are chattel, dogs are commodities, dogs are accessories, even “bling,” and in some

The dog who opened my eyes was named Cuchulain.

And, yes, I’m the one who stuck him with that name.

He’d have preferred The Dude. I went with Ireland’s version of Hercules after I realized what I was getting into. An old college friend set out to breed Irish wolfhounds and Scottish deerhounds. Separately, of course. But she was new at it and suddenly she had a mixed litter of gigantic puppies on her hands. Without a clue, I said, sure, I’ll take one. How much trouble could it be? Then I began to read. And then I began to batten down the hatches. Because here was a puppy who weighed 40 pounds at 12 weeks. Shortly, he’d be able to effortlessly hit 40 mph. In months, he’d be strong enough to take down a 300-pound stag. He’d be the stuff of legends, the original long-legged beastie. Living on my couch. The clock was ticking on my education.

I’d had other dogs — a boxer when I was a baby and a German Shepherd as a teen because dad was keen on Rin-Tin-Tin. They were yard dogs. Except I snuck my shepherd inside when dad wasn’t around because we were buddies. I put my buddy through a traditional snap and jerk obedience class, but this was the 1960s. It was all we knew. Mostly, King and I roamed the hills and woods together and he forgave me for the indignities of that class. We looked into one another’s eyes often.

And then I grew up and forgot what little I knew about dogs. Kids, they say, need a dog. So, my kids had a shepherd mix who grew up mostly alone in our backyard. Who had time? Riley had food and water and a doghouse. What else could he need? He was... just a dog.

Hurricane Cuchulain arrived at the McMillan household and I thought I was braced. I’d read books. Lots of books. He became an inside dog because one book told me wolfhounds and deerhounds bond especially (Continued on page 15)

14

(Continued from page 14)

tight with their human packs. They shouldn’t be left alone outside. Check. But, don’t let your dog sleep on your bed, they said. He’ll take over the house. Don’t let him exit a door before you. He’ll think he owns the place. The dog, they said, is like a wolf. You are his pack leader. Act like it or he’ll want the car keys next.

Be firm. Think like a wolf. Cuchulain read none of these books. The dominance theory meant doodly to Cuchulain. He knew darned good and well I was no wolf. I was He Who Has Thumbs, the Keeper of the Can Opener.

Mr. Goodtimes. He grew alarmingly fast and my bed was just too soft and tempting. All of it. His gangly puppy legs dangled off either side. When we went for walks, I was The Dead Weight on the End of the Leash.

Clearly, it was time for training.

Because that’d just be primitive.

Dog owners can evolve. They just need to see the dog.

To become aware that the dog is aware. To look into its eyes and be shocked with the recognition of another soul looking back at them through the shag.

The Natufian woman 12,00 years ago had looked. She was ready to spend eternity with the treasure that a dog is. Just a dog? I don’t think so.

 Bob McMillan is a newspaper editor and columnist who lives in the foothills of Middle Tennessee with his Irish wolfhound, several rescues and a remarkably tolerant cat.

I’ll never forget the yip and the look he gave me in puppy class the first time I snapped the leash and his choke chain went “zzzzzzzk.” It was a withering look of betrayal. Oh come on, said the trainer, it doesn’t really hurt them. It sure didn’t seem to improve his attitude.

She jerked again and my hulking black puppy yelped.

And so it went for four more weeks, and again later in obedience class when I failed to protect Cuchulain from the kindness of strangers.

He was the smartest dog I’ve ever known. He was one voice box away from human speech. What his eyes and body language told me was he didn’t like this being jerked about by his neck business at all. Since he’d reached the size of a Highland pony... he had my full attention. He was the first dog I’d ever lived with inside and the more he revealed about his inner life, the more I wanted to see. His behavior fascinated me. He didn’t act like a wolf. Proudly, he was all dog and he was family. And when I heard of clicker training, I jumped. Our bond survived. But he trusted strangers less and less.

First it was a lip curl, then a growl, then a lunge. Our long walks together became limited to my back yard. I failed my giant friend listening to the wrong “experts.”

Enter Finn, my wolfhound, my gentle giant, my fur child, my shaggy mentor. Finn began positive training at 9 weeks old. He was thoroughly socialized in his first 16 weeks. He goes wherever I go. He knows no fear. From a place of trust and self assurance he’s free to reach out to me and he does, over and over. I revel in daily contact with The Other, a separate species but one with remarkably similar feelings as mine. Finn knows I’m listening. He communicates across the gulf. The whole dog he is has made me a whole human.

Knowing Finn threw open the door to knowing the four rescues my daughter parked with us for nearly a year while she changed jobs and found a new place to live after the recession hit. Obviously, my house became a lunatic circus. But Sully, Bentley, Memphis, and Gilda spoke to me, I listened and we worked things out. Without shock collars, without coercion.

15

Do Citronella Spray Collars ...

By Dorthea Lambert

decrease the probability that the behaviour (barking) will occur in the future.

Citronella spray collars are advertised as harmless, easy-to-use and natural dog training aids and come as remote spray-collars or anti-bark collars. A citronella scented solution is released from a small reservoir attached to a collar beneath the dog’s muzzle. The spray can be remotely triggered on demand or, in the case of anti-bark collars, is activated by noise. These training aids have been described as having a preventive, interruptive, refocusing and calming effect.

What are they used for?

How do they work?

Citronella is a strong-smelling scent (similar to a lemon scent) and not that unpleasant to most humans but it is highly offensive for dogs. Taking into account the incredible sense of smell dogs have we can just try to imagine how unpleasant the smell is for canines.

In the case of anti-bark spray-collars, a microphone is built into the device and the release is automatically triggered by noise. This tool falls into the positive punishment category. The consequences (getting sprayed in the face with citronella solution) of a behavior (barking)

Citronella spray collars are mainly used as anti-bark collars, but are also used similar to electric shock collars as remote-training collars for corrections in obedience training and to stop other undesirable behaviors such as aggressive displays toward other dogs, animals and humans.

What are some of the consequences of using spraycollars?

The anti-bark collar contains a microphone which triggers the spray when it senses barking noise. That does not necessary always mean barking noise from the dog wearing the collar — it might be even just noises from the environment. So another dog could bark next to the dog wearing the citronella collar and trigger it — or even the television. The dog is then exposed to the citronella spray randomly without any connection to the undesired behavior, which makes it not punishment, but abuse, as the dog cannot avoid being sprayed by adjusting his behavior.

Dogs also can habituate (get used to) the citronella scent used in spray collars and continue with the unwanted behaviour, in which case trainers might look for a more severe aversive method such as electric shock collars.

Dogs can learn not to exhibit specific behaviors as long as they are wearing the spray-collar, but continue with the undesired behaviors when collars are removed or if the spray reservoir is empty.

This means spray collars do not work effectively when not worn constantly.

The worst cases to use spray-collars for are anxiety or fear-related behaviors and aggression,

Advertisements for spray collars use pictures such as this one to market their devices as a nonpunitive deterrent to barking.

(Continued on page 17)

16

… Have a Place in Force-free Dog Training?

(Continued from page 16)

cue from handler in the next session.

since spraying citronella into the dog’s face adds stress to an already highly-stressed animal.

In another instance, an owner whose fearful and dogreactive dog barks and lunges when too close to other In using a tool based on correction/positive punishment, dogs was subjected to training with a remote-controlled the underlying cause for the unwanted behaviour is not spray collar. The owner also used an anti-bark spray addressed. The symptoms are suppressed and that can collar to stop the dog's barking when left home alone. lead to other behavioral issues such as aggression, in- According to the owner, the spray-collar worked for a creased aggression, learned helplessness or shut-down couple of weeks — the dog stopped barking when being sprayed. Unfortunately on one occasion, after being exand/or other problematic behaviours. posed to the spray-collar for a while, the dog lunged and At the moment there is not sufficient snapped at a passing dog and research data available to detercaught/bit his owner in the process. mine long-term physical health risk This incident took the owner by surof prolonged use of citronella scent prise, as his dog did not growl or spray on dogs, especially with rebark before snapping at the other gards to the respiratory-system. dog. Rather than learning not to Nevertheless, the psychological “In using a tool based on bark and lunge at other dogs, the damage short and long-term dog had simply learned not to trigcorrection/positive should lead us to the conclusion ger the spray collar before lunging punishment, the underlying that citronella spray collars do not for other dogs. have a place in force-free training. cause for the unwanted Instead, positive reinforcement Another owner contacted me with a behavior is not addressed. The procedures should be used and barking dog issue in a household of promoted to help dogs become three dogs. Neighbors were comsymptoms are suppressed and well-adjusted and balanced and to plaining about noise when dogs that can lead to other help dogs enjoy, not fear training. were left alone in the house. The behavioral issues such as owners had purchased an anti-bark While I have personally never used collar for the oldest dog as they aggression, increased any kind of spray-collars including identified him as the culprit. The aggression, learned citronella spray collars on my own dog’s barking improved for the first dogs nor recommended, sold or helplessness or shut-down day using the spray-collar and then used on clients’ dogs, I have excontinued with high-pitched whining and/or other problematic perienced the fall-out of sprayand howling, plus the other two behaviors.” collars used in training and for bedogs were barking as well. The dog havior issues. wearing the collar had been sprayed even without barking himIn one case, a citronella sprayself. collar was used in pet obedience class for the purpose of reinforcing In all three cases the use of the a “leave” cue. A remote spray-collar citronella spray collar was absolutely unnecessary and was placed in a bag with food on the floor and handlers in the second and third example made the behavioral and dogs were encouraged to walk past the bag using a issue worse for dog and owner. Despite their marketing verbal “leave” cue if the dog showed any interest in the as a pain-free remedy for problematic behaviors experibag. If the dog did not listen to the verbal “leave” cue ence dictates that they cause more problems than they and approached the bag to investigate, the spray device solve. in the bag was activated. That had a deterrent effect on  the dog that had his nose in the bag as well as on all other dogs as the bag was now smelling of citronella. So Dorthea Lambert, a qualified and professional dog all following dogs looked well-behaved and seemed to trainer, owns the Dog Activity Spot in Yately, Hampshire have learned the meaning of “leave,” but actually they in the UK. Dorothea is a fully approved instructor with just avoided the citronella smell. They might have been ADTB (Academy of Dog Training and Behaviour) and a a little more suspicious of a bag on the floor in the same proud member of the Pet Professional Guild. training hall the following week, but would still approach toys or food in a different setting regardless of “leave” 17

PPG Member Profile ...

Name:

Diane Gardner

Business Name:

Premier Dog Training Services

Location:

Rochester, NY, USA

Email:

premierpets@rochester.rr.com

Telephone No.:

585-764-8187

Web Site:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Premier-Dog-TrainingServices/116459575032625

Tell us a little bit about your own pets:

I am a long-time Dalmatian owner and have trained and shown my Dalmatians in conformation and obedience competition, which really isn't important because I just love my dogs to pieces and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual and that’s all that matters.

What do you consider your area of expertise?

Training people to train their dogs.

What do you consider to be your area of expertise? Why did you become a dog trainer or pet care provider?

My first two dogs as well as working as a pet sitter/dog walker and training my clients' dogs brought me such joy and, seeming to have a knack for it, launched me on the journey that has made my life feel purposeful.

Are you a crossover trainer or have you always been a force-free trainer?

I am a crossover trainer.

What drives you to be a force-free professional and why is it important to you?

My first dog was trained “the old-fashioned way.” She suffered fallout that I didn't realize until she was elderly and started to experience cognitive dysfunction, probably from brain cancer. One thing she remembered very well was to be afraid of me and it taught me, in a very profound and haunting way, the power of fear.

I'm sure my dog was a one in a million, but no one, no one, had the right to tell me to train my dog in that manner because you never know the future. There are several dominance, force-based trainers out there who didn't know one of those onein-a-million dogs passed through their classes — that what they were doing was taking a risk with my dog and me and the end result was horrible. They didn't know any better and they still don't know and better.

What awards, competition placements, have you and your dog(s) achieved using Force Free methods?

AKC Champion; Rally Novice; Companion Dog.

Who has most influenced your career and how?

My dog Ashley, described above. That experience has grabbed a hold of my soul and driven me to never stop learning, from everyone I can (experts to students) how to be a better trainer and teacher to people and dogs 18

… Diane Gardner How has the PPG helped you to become a more complete trainer?

The PPG shares my commitment for force-free training without qualification. I think the handouts and other free materials are helpful to share with those on their own journey to a better relationship with their dog.

What are some of your favorite positive reinforcement techniques for most commonly encountered clientdog problems?

  

What is the reward you get out of a day's training with people and their dogs?

Seeing that I've made a difference.

What is the favorite part of your job?

Being able to say to people, who thank me after a session, that it is my pleasure. It is truly my pleasure.

What advice would you give to a new trainer starting out?

Remember that patience is a virtue. Be patient with yourself, your clients and dogs. And be patient with those who have yet to cross over. 

Go to and settle on mat.

Sit to greet people.

Using a clicker to shape/capture specific behaviors.

(LOFTY, continued from page 13)

previous training, the bird knows I am asking them to touch the object with their beak or foot. I will often touch a toe while I present the Dremel and ask the bird to touch its nail to the Dremel. I will present the syringe and ask the bird to touch its beak to the syringe tip. This allows husbandry behaviors and administering medication to happen with no use of force, coercion, or restraint.

In this way, if we always use and correctly identify the bird’s positive reinforcers, administering medication or

trimming nails is something the bird can now look forward to.

 Lara Joseph is the owner of The Animal Behavior Center, LLC in Ohio.

She is an animal trainer and behavior consultant focusing on positive reinforcement interactions and modifying behavior through applications in behavior analysis. She is also the Director of Avian Training for a wildlife rehabilitation center. Lara is a professional member of The Animal Behavior Management Alliance, The American Federation of Aviculture, a professional member of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators and the founder of The Parrot Society of NW Ohio.

19

Force Fallout — Tales from Crossover Trainers This column is dedicated to all the brave owners and trainers who are willing to share their stories of crossing over from older, punitive methods to force-free training.

Guest: Mauricio Rosas a Tampa, Fla. resident who works in dog rescue and has recently spearheaded a project to build Tampa's first handicap-friendly dog park.

Rosas envisions the park as the City of Tampa's first handicap-friendly dog park and will be dedicated to service animals, as well as first responder K9s who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Rosas, who lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, rescued his now-eightyear-old service dog named Roscoe.

Interviewer: Angelica Steinker AS: Would you be willing to do an interview regarding your past use of shock collars?

shock him again. When we rescued him his name at time was Lucifer but even the devil himself should never wear a shock collar.

AS: What happened to the shock collar?

MR: It took a couple of minutes to take it off which wasn't fast enough for us. The rest of the evening we cuddled him, loved more on him than usual and continued this for a few more days. We returned the shock collar to the store.

AS: Would you recommend shock collars to your friends or family?

MR: Excuse my delay but this is no easy subject. The day it happened is embedded in my mind and I will never forget his high-pitched yelp.

MR: NO! IF you are working with a professional trainer who understand classical conditioning and the power of positive reinforcement there should be no reason for using it.

AS: Please share with us why you purchased a shock collar.

AS: Any additional comments?

MR: Roscoe was not socialized as a puppy. He was kept outside in an open linked-chain kennel or tied to a tree. He barked at everything. He appeared angry. We were asked if we would take him because he was "out of control." We met — he was 13 months old — we bonded instantly and we rescued him.

AS: Was the brand and make of the shock collar reputable?

MR: Though I don't remember the brand (Roscoe is now eight years old) it was reputable according to Consumer Reports.

AS: What behavior problem did you use it for?

MR: His constant barking and lunging at everything that moved.

AS: What happened when you used the shock collar?

MR: We were at a public park where they have a huge area for running. Most dogs’ owners at the park do not interact with their dogs, which is okay because sometimes dogs need to play with dogs. So we arrived at the park. He was excited, I placed the shock collar on him before we went into the park. Once inside he sniffed around. A dog approached him and Roscoe barked and the collar activated. He squealed. He barked again, the unit activated again, and he squealed even louder. I could not run fast enough to take it off. I just cried.

AS: Did you have the desired behavioral result?

MR: The idea of shocking a domesticated dog does not make sense. My Roscoe today is my service dog he knows what to do — when I ask him, "close the door" he pushes the door. He picks things up and most importantly, he helps me maintain my balance. All this was trained using positive reinforcement. If Roscoe violates a rule, the most we ever do is tell him to go to his crate for a time out.

Thanks for giving me a chance to get this off my chest.

 Angelica Steinker is the president and founder of Courteous Canine. She has authored Agility Success: Training and Competing with Your Dog in the Winning Zone and Click and Play Agility and has been published in the Journal of Applied Companion Animal Behavior and the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. She is certified by the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals, and she serves on the Advisory Board and instructs at the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. Angelica is also certified as Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She has her CAP2 through Kay Laurence’s Learning About Dogs and a Master’s degree in Education, which has served as the foundation for her continued certifications in dog training and her extensive understanding of dog behavior and operant and classical conditioning, the science of how animals and people learn.

MR: Yes, it kept me from ever buying anything that will 20

Doggone Safe! Safe Games for Dogs and Kids.

By Joan Orr Upstairs, downstairs, under the table, behind the couch…Bella is a sixmonth-old bouncing bundle of fluff playing her favorite game of hideand-seek with her best friends, Austin and Jordan McIntyre. The McIntyre family has always had dogs, but now the boys are the perfect age to take a part in Bella’s care and training. “We love having Bella around,” says 11-yearold Jordan. “She’s always ready to play.”

Ten-year-old Austin agrees: “She will play as long as we want, and when we just want to hang out and read or watch a movie she lies quietly with us.”

Showing your children how to interact safely, playfully and positively with your puppy or dog not only strengthens the bond between them, but also enhances the training process by teaching the dog to respond to your cues. Here are some fun and simple training games your children and dog can enjoy together.

Hide and seek This activity is a hit with both two- and four-footed family members. Have one child distract the dog, while the other hides and calls for her. At first, instruct your kids to hide in easy places so the dog can’t go wrong. When the hider is found, he gives the dog a treat. Once the dog gets the hang of the game, the hider can make it more challenging by going out of sight or into another room while the other child encourages the dog to “go find Jordan!” This game exercises the dog and is also mentally stimulating Fetch This is another good game that gives the dog exercise and is fun for kids. It is important, however, that the dog is taught to give back the fetched object and to step

back and wait for the next throw. If the dog tries to engage in a game of tug of war, or refuses to give up the object, the kids should end the game and ignore the dog for awhile. “Any game that pits the strength or speed of the dog against those of the child could lead to over-excitement and even a biting accident,” says canine behavior consultant Teresa Lewin, co-founder of Doggone Safe. “Adult supervision and proper training are essential,” she adds.

Stay inside the rope Clicker training is the best way for kids to get involved with training, and this game gives them a good opportunity to try it. Place a circle of rope on the floor and give each child a clicker and some small dog treats (the kids can make a clicking sound with their tongues if no clickers are available).

Toss a treat into the center of the circle to get started.

When the dog has eaten the treat, click before she steps outside the rope and toss another treat into the circle. The goal is to click and reward as often as possible while the dog has all four paws inside the rope circle. Once the dog has the idea that the place to be is inside the rope, the children can start moving around the room, still clicking and tossing treats into the circle. Play this in various locations and eventually the dog will learn to go and lie within the rope. You can then take the rope into any situation where you need to establish a boundary for the dog. It’s easier and safer than using the rope to tie the dog up! Variations on this method can be used to teach the dog to prefer a certain room in the house, lie on a mat or in a crate, shake a paw, jump over a stick or just about anything else you and your kids can think up. Just remember to teach your kids never to scold or use physical force. The word “no” is never used during training, and there is no need to try to “dominate” the dog. If the dog does the wrong thing, the kids ignore her; if she responds correctly, she receives a treat reward.

Who says training isn’t fun?

 Joan Orr is the president of Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention education.

For more information, visit www.doggonesafe.com or www.doggonecrazy.ca.

21

The Pet Professional Guild membership offers a variety of benefits for the force-free dog training and pet care community and others interested in the behavior and care of pets. It is the Mercedes Benz of the Pet Industry. The Guild is not designed to attract the masses — we aim to attract the best. The only pet care providers and dog trainers that are listed on our pages abide by all our guiding principles and are proud members of the Guild.

Membership Levels        





Membership Benefits

 Full Member, Dog Training - A Professional Dog Training Business Owner.  Associate Member, Dog Training – An Employee of a Dog  Training Professional.

Cat Behavior Consultant - A Cat Behavior and/or Cat Train-  ing Professional.  Veterinarian Member - A State Licensed Veterinarian Professional.  Veterinarian Technician - A Licensed Veterinary Technician Professional.

Pet Care Professional - A Professional Pet Care Service Pro-  vider.  Pet Grooming Professional - A Professional Pet Groomer.

Provisional Member, Dog Training Student - A dog training  student or dog training apprentice or a professional dog trainer looking for support and education to make the transi tion to force free dog training methods.

Provisional Member, Pet Care Business - A pet care student   or individual looking to open his or her own pet care busi ness.  Equine Professional. A Professional who specializes in Equine training  

An electronic copy of our Proud to be a Member Badge.

The Guild membership certificate.

Group insurance policy pricing.

Access to a minimum of one FREE educational webcast each month.

Discounted educational programs via third party providers.

Discounted pricing on print materials, marketing collateral and sales aids through our online member print store.

A monthly newsletter.

A quarterly FREE online copy of our "Barks From The Guild" magazine publication.

Networking opportunities with fellow members.

Public relations and news releases.

Community outreach programs.

PPG branded client handouts.

Marketing Tools.

Multiple vendor discounts across pet industry partners.

Annual industry pet business survey.

PPG-licensed products and services.

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Member Educational Programs How to Effectively Counsel and Motivate Separation Anxiety Clients and Keep Them Committed - With Malena DeMartini-Price Join Malena DeMartini-Price for this webinar focusing on Separation Anxiety. This webinar is about understanding separation anxiety and the various facets of its treatment ‐ from client support to protocols, technology and a bit about medication. Separation Anxiety is a behavior disorder that for so long has plagued trainers, behaviorists, owners and veterinarians as being truly problematic in treatment and often unfixable.

DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 TIME: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (PST) LIVE MEMBER WEBINAR Non Member Registration - $30.00 (USD) PPG Member - $20.00 (USD) 1 CPDT CEU

Clicker Training for Small Pets - with Emily Cassell Working with small animals is a fun and challenging experience for any trainer! Working with members of another species can only enhance your ability to work with dogs (or whatever your species of choice is)! Small animals are cute and lovable, but can be difficult to work with due to their frequent, instinctual fear responses.

This webinar covers everything from how to properly house and feed your small pet to training advanced husbandry behaviors! While we all know the only way to change our dog's behavior is by changing our own, it is more difficult to determine how a small animal such as a rabbit is reading your body language and actions! Enjoy this learning experience and take lessons from a guinea pig to your next behavior consult with a fearful dog, cat, horse, or bird!

DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 TIME: 7-8 PM (EST) LIVE MEMBER WEBINAR Non Member Registration - $20.00 (USD) PPG Member - FREE 1 CEU CPDT 1 CEU CDBC

Over Threshold: The Changing Definition - With Eileen Anderson Something has happened to the word “threshold.” Surprisingly, the way the term is used in the force free dog training community is comparatively new. The general consensus is that the term “over threshold” refers to a dog that has been adversely affected by a stimulus and demonstrating that by overt behavior. However, this usage differs from the original definition of “threshold" as used in the discipline of psychology. The discrepancy between the usages contributes to some confusion in the training community. The webinar will cover several different usages of the word “threshold” as applied to the senses, emotions, and behavior of dogs, and how different methods of training and conditioning dogs with behavior problems fit with regard to these various tipping points.

DATE: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 TIME: 12-1:30 PM (EST) LIVE MEMBER WEBINAR Non Member Registration - $20.00 (USD) PPG Member - $10.00 (USD) 1 CEU CPDT

The Seductiveness of Shock - with Kathy Sdao Join Kathy Sdao for this webinar on the seduction of Shock. Though you may refuse to ever use shock as a dog-training tool, some of your potential clients have used it (especially in the United States). And some will want to continue using it, in lieu of your suggestions of positive-reinforcement alternatives or possibly in addition to them. Each of us dog-care professionals must decide how to respond to this dilemma. In doing so, it’s beneficial to understand the unique power that shock has to damage the psychological well-being of the animals in our care and also to deceive its users regarding its efficacy. We’ll examine a few of the complexities of this emotional and crucial issue.

DATE: Monday, May 19, 2014 TIME: 12-1:30 (PDT) LIVE MEMBER WEBINAR Non Member Registration - $35.00 (USD) PPG Member - $25.00 (USD) 1 CEU CPDT

Just because you missed one of PPG’s educational seminars doesn’t mean you missed out! Now PPG members can watch them any time! Log in to your PPG account to take advantage of this amazing member benefit!

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Our Vendor Partners — They Support You! Check out these participating businesses for special PPG benefits! Simply log into the PPG site using your member login, and click the “Member Discounts” tab.

Business Insurers of the Carolinas

Family Paws

Doggone Crazy!

LabraDoodlez

Doggone Safe

Positive Animal Solutions

Dog Kingdom Pet Supply

The Clicker Company

DogNostics Career College

Your Mannerly Mutt

DogWise

2013 PPG Membership Certificates Now available. You can download them here. Enter your name, print and display proudly.

You Can Advertise in Barks from the Guild!

FULL PAGE

$145

1/2 page Horizontal

$100

1/2 Page Vertical

$100

1/4 Page

$65

Business Card

$35

For more information, contact Niki Tudge Niki@PetProfessionalGuild.com 41-DOG-TRAIN ((413-648-7246) 24

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Product Review — Bumi Toy by West Paws

By Leslie McGavin Clifton How many times have you heard that “tugging makes my dog aggressive?” We all know that done properly the opposite is true: tugging enhances the dog-human relationship, provides an appropriate outlet, and improves impulse control.

Enter the flingy, stretchy, floaty Bumi toy by West Paws. It features an eco-friendly design with an eye towards powerhouse jaws. At the Clifton household, it is not unusual for two labs to be engaged in a friendly tug contest, without serious side effects to the Bumi.

Features: Durable Zogoflex material stretches, floats, bounces, 100% recyclable, BPA and phthalate-free, non-toxic and dishwasher safe.

Colors: Aqua, Granny Smith or Tangerine Size: large or small MSRP: From $12 USD Made in USA

All the resident board/train dogs are willingly enlisted as toy testers. Nell found the Bumi to be quite fascinating.

Nell & Bumi

I have had only one report of a staffy mix, tearing off an end chunk of the boomerang-shaped toy, which speaks to its durability. Our own Bumi has been in play for some time and is still going strong.

As with any toy, do not leave unsupervised with a determined chewer!

Ever versatile, whether for an awesome fetch or tug game, the Bumi, as do all the West Paws toys, floats! Imagine the fun with your water dog. Just make sure you toss within swimming distance should pooch become distracted! Take a quick peek at this fun video: Bridget Bumi Water Fetching Fun. Here at the Kingdom “where your dog rules” we give the Bumi our seal of approval. Eco-friendly of recycled materials and made in U.S is also very important to us. Bright colors, including seasonal pink, are visually appealing. Two sizes ensure a good fit for most breeds.

Argil and I would just like to add that we are so pleased in our progress with Niki Tudge via Dognostics eLearning & Business Coaching that we recommend it highly. Run, don`t walk to get a coaching session to build your own pet related business. In regards to progress, our Force Free Affiliate Program is rolled out and growing daily!

In closing, just get tugging!



Leslie McGavin Clifton, PMCT, CPDT-KA is the owner of Look What I Can Do dog training and Dog Kingdom Pet Supply in Earleville, MD.

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The Pet Professional Guild

stands alone as the only single point of access to a variety of information and tools provided by pet care professionals who adhere to a strict code of conduct.

The Pet Professional Guild affiliates & members offer a selection of force-free, learning theory-based dog training services and professional pet-sitting and dog-walking services.

Whether you’re a dog owner looking to solve a specific behavioral problem, a dog lover simply wanting to gain more control and clarity in your relationship with your dog, or a family burdened by the question of how to take care of your pets while you’re away from home, the Guild Members can help you.

Barks from The Guild

is the official Pet Professional Guild quarterly publication. The publication is circulated in March, June, September & December. © 2012 PPG. This journal may be printed once by the received, for personal use only and may not otherwise be copied or transmitted in any manner in part or in full without permission from the Managing Editor. Quotes of fewer than 200 words are allowed as long as the source is properly cited.

BFTG is produced by Guild members with contributions from industry experts and featuring a selection of informative articles, reviews and news stories supported by regular columns.

Members are encouraged to submit scholarly articles, opinion editorials, letters to the editor, member achievements, and other information pertinent to the industry.

Articles submitted will be approved for publication by the Guild Steering Committee.

Contributions to Barks from The Guild should be submitted to: Managing Editor Catherine@PetProfessionalGuild.com Submissions will be accepted no later than four weeks prior to the publication deadline.

Subscribe to the Barks from the Guild newsletter Follow us on Twitter Join us on Facebook Follow the PPG blog

The Pet Professional Guild is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photographs and other proffered material. Submissions will not be returned. Submissions constitute permission for PPG, at its sole discretion, to use the submitted materials, in whole or in part, without compensation to the submitter.

For reasons of space and editorial content, PPG reserves the right to delete or alter any solicited or unsolicited information or part thereof, that is submitted or reserved for inclusion in the publication.

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