Tips from the Pool Spring 2013

A quarterly training publication by

Phins with Fur Animal Training

Tips from the Pool Volume II, Issue II

Spring 2013

“He’s Only Like This On Leash!”

Special points of interest: Leash Reactivity Building Focus Benefits of Puppy Socialization Why Train?

Inside this issue:

Puppy Socialization

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It’s a common occurrenceyou are enjoying a walk with your dog and then you see it on the horizon: the silhouette of another dog/ human pair coming in your direction. You quickly change direction, only to notice the same sight approaching from the opposite direction. Feeling trapped, you gather up your leash and prepare to cross the road, attempting to flee. By now your dog has noticed, too, and begins to exhale loudly, blow out his cheeks, and face off with the other dogs. As you drag him across the road, he’s telling the other dogs off, barking and lunging and causing you to linger in the road longer than you care to. The other owners scoff as their dogs pass each other, stopping to wag tails and wiggle around each other. Your dog normally loves other dogs...it’s just something about the leash…

Leash reactivity is not an uncommon problem for

Small Animal Toys

many dog owners. Dogs that enjoy the company of other dogs at dog parks and play dates seem to lose control at the sight of other dogs when they are on a walk. There are many ways to address leash reactivity, and there can be more than one cause.

Leash reactivity is not uncommon.

Causes One of the primary causes of on-leash confrontations between dogs result from improper handling. When you pull your dog’s leash backwards, you are forcing her to assume a very unfriendly and confrontational body posture. Your dog is unwillingly forced into a head up, braced stance which communicates to the other dog that she is being confrontational. Her ears and tail are likely up, adding more insult to this already assertive posture. The other dog may assume the worst and be on the offensive. Too many of these encounters and your dog will come to expect the worst from approaching dogs herself. Tada-leash reactivity.

In polite doggy language, dogs approach each other in curves. On the sidewalk, they are forced to approach

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Trick Corner: Roll in a Blanket

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Why Train?

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Just Focus!

You may want to train your dog, but you can’t accomplish anything if you can’t hold his attention! Training your pet for attention is critically important, and pretty easy. There are many exercises you can use to practice attention with your dog!

Voluntary Attention You don’t want to have to constantly ask your dog for his attention, and this exercise teaches him that looking to you is a good way to get things he wants! Practice in a distraction-free environment first, such as an empty room. Simply click and treat your dog every time he makes eye contact! Your dog will catch on pretty quickly,

head-on. Many owners also use collar popping, when their dogs begin to approach other dogs, and aversive collars (choke, prong, shock) exacerbate the problem When the dogs begin to pull, get excited, or even raise their ears, the owner may use collar corrections to “snap him out of it” or calm the dog. In reality, what begins to happen is that dogs will develop an aversion to the approach of other dogs. You may view it in this way: My dog begins to get overexcited or aggressive, so I am correcting him. Your dog views it as this: “Every time I see another dog, I get corrected.” He comes to anticipate bad things when other dogs come! (continued on pg. 2)

so begin to add distractions! Work on your front stoop, your backyard, an empty parking lot, on a walk, anywhere! Increase the distractions slowly, and go back a step if your dog begins to have trouble!

Name Recognition Many people don’t realize that (continued on pg. 3)

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T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L

V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I I

Leash Reactivity Continued from front page

How do I tackle it?

Fortunately, there are many ways to help your dog when it comes to leash reactivity. First and foremost, you should seek help from a positively based trainer to help you.

There are some tips you can apply at home, however.

If you do use collar corrections or aversive collars, stop using them right away.

If you need help on leash, use a no-pull harness while you are training. The harness clips in the front, allowing you to easily maneuver

your dog. Stopping the collar corrections will begin to stop reinforcing the dog’s notion that other dogs bring unpleasant things.

When another dog is approaching, place your dog so that you are between the two dogs. Then, move your dog off of the sidewalk onto a grassy area, and allow him to sniff the ground if he wants to. In dog language, sniffing says “I’m not a threat-just minding my own business here!”

Do this as soon as YOU notice the other dog.

Yellow flags mean “needs space,” not “aggressive dog.”

Social Beings Puppy socialization is an absolutely crucial component of bringing up your newest family member. Puppy playgroups at puppy kindergarten classes are the best way to help your puppy learn how to properly interact with his own kind!

time your dog sees another dog. This will build up a positive association with the sight of other dogs! When your dog notices the other dog, click, then give him a yummy treat! This may take a while, but it will be worth it in the end!

You will notice your dog begin to look at other dogs, then to you for a reward!

The Yellow Dog Project Lastly, signify to other dog owners that your dog needs space. The Yellow Dog Project is an initiative to provide dogs who need space a way to let other people know. Tie a yellow ribbon on your dog’s neck or leash to tell other owners to steer clear!

Remember, reactivity is borne of fear.

Your dog is not aggressive, he is uncomfortable! You are your dog’s protector, Play the “Look at That! so do not allow anyone to rudely allow game.” Taken from Leslie their dog to approach yours even if they McDevitt’s Control Uninsist their dog is friendly! Your dog is leashed, this game innot comfortable-step in and protect him! volves you clicking every

lite.” Just like kids on a playground, puppies learn to stick up for themselves, listen when others say they’ve had enough, how hard is too hard when play biting (Ok, maybe kids don’t learn that), and how to engage in healthy play.

well-versed in doggy language. Sit in on a class before signing up (good trainers have no problem with this!) to make sure you are comfortable with the environment and practices of the instructor.

Puppies that participate in playgroups are much less likely to develop dogreactivity issues in the future. They learn proper social behaviors, but they While playtime may seem like a “nonmust be maintained into adulthood, so productive” portion of puppy school, it Of course, puppies socialization doesn’t stop when puppy actually is the most important part of can learn from bad class is over! There are also owner the training class! Puppies have not experiences, so be benefits to being in puppy class-stress sure the play is yet learned bad “dog manners” and seems to evaporate in the pressupervised by a Maintain your pup’s happy go-lucky ence of playful puppies! participating in playgroups allows attitude with other dogs by exposing positive trainer them to continue to learn to “be pohim while he’s still young!

Enrichment for Small Pets suitable for rodents and rabbits.

There are a multitude of products on the market for dogs and cats, but what about those of us with “critters?” Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and small rodents need enrichment! Here are some simple ideas: Kongs: Ferrets and hedgehogs can benefit from tiny Kong toys, but they are not

Makeshift Kongs: I use practice golf balls (tiny whiffle balls) and fill them with pellets.

Enrichment for small pets can be inexpensive and effective-it just takes a

“caps” on the ends. Or, leave the “caps” off and stuff it with hay! I also provide mounds of hay, rather than little bits, so my girls can burrow inside of it!

Rolly toys: Tennis balls, cat toys, or the whiffle balls provide fun for little rodents.

Beach balls are great for larger rabbits!

Rolls: You can also stuff pellets or treats in a paper towel roll and use Check out pet-rabbit-toys.com for the whiffle balls as more!

V O LU M E I I , I SS U E I I

T I P S FR O M T HE P O O L

Building Attention Continued from front page

they must actually teach their dog what their name means!

something!” (such as a cue!)

This exercise is very simple-begin by saying your dog’s name, clicking, Doggie Zen and giving him a treat. Practice this Many people don’t appreciate their several times. Gradually, wait for dog mugging their hand for treats or your dog to look solely focusing away, say his on their “treat name, and click hand” while when he turns his training. Take a attention back to treat, show it to you! Again, build your dog, then distractions slowly hold it at arm’s with this exercise. length out of You are teaching your dog’s reach. your dog that his He will likely try name means two to get it-hold things: “Name = steady and don’t good things!” and let him have it. (eventually) “I Once he looks at Lucy, an American Pitbull Terrier, is 100% focused! need to tell you you, click and

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give him the treat! You are teaching him to look to YOU for things he wants! You may choose to give him a better treat than what is in your hand! Mix it up for him! Gradually, move the treat closer and closer to him.

“Say Please” Many people want their dog to listen to them, but they don’t realize how little they actually interact with their dog during the day. Make a list of all the things your dog wants: his meals, to go outside, to come out of his crate, to get his leash put on, etc. Do not give him these things unless he “asks” for them by making eye contact with you, or, if you choose, by sitting and making eye contact. The more you and your dog interact through exchange of things he wants for things you want, the more he will pay attention to and communicate with you!

Training can’t work if your dog can’t focus on you, so these exercises are important to practice often!

Trick Corner: Roll in a Blanket Maddie, my Labrador Retriever, loves to learn new tricks. In the Trick Corner, we’ll discuss our recent trick-training adventures, and give you some tips on teaching them to your dog.

What You’ll Need: A large blanket (about 1.5x length of dog)

Prerequisites: “Take it” (take and hold an object) “Rollover”

This trick can take a bit to teach as it is a little complicated! We will be using the principle of adduction (adding together two known behaviors to form a new one) to build a behavior chain (a series of behaviors performed under one cue). After giving your dog the roll in a blanket cue, your dog should take her blanket, hold it, and rollover with it!

click and treat.

Practice with the dog holding the blanket for increasing amounts of time. Gradually, fade out the bunching of the blanket.

Maddie after successfully rolling herself in her blanket Maddie had a tough time learning to pick practice several times! Eventualup the “flat” blanket, so I would give her a ly, your dog will begin to anticifew toys, ask her to hold them, and take them pate rolling over after she grabs away one by one. Eventually, there were no the blanket. Don’t give her the toys, so she learned to grab the blanket. cue, let her do it on her own!

Once your dog has grabbed the blanket and will hold it, give your “rollover” cue. If your dog will complete a rollover while holding the object, great! Skip this step. Most dogs won’t, however. Start by clicking for even beginning Begin by laying out the blanket hor- to rollover while holding the object, and gradizontally and asking the dog to lay ually withhold the click until the entire sein the middle of it. Bunch up the quence is completed with the blanket. You blanket between the dog’s paws, or may have to practice rolling over with a light put a hairband around a bunch of toy at first. blanket to create a “handle” for the Once your dog has mastered these steps, dog. Ask the dog to “take it,” and

Now, begin to add the cue. Add whatever cue you’d like, such as “Blanket” or “Goodnight.” Say your cue before asking her to “take it.” Eventually, she will anticipate the “take it” just like she did the “rollover!” Fade out “take it” in a similar way, and you’ve got a complete “dog in a blanket!”

This publication is proudly brought to you by Phins with Fur Animal

PHINS WITH FUR ANIMAL TRAINING Serving the Tampa communitiy with positive, force-free, and effective methods and providing educational resources and consulting for pet owners around the globe!

Training. At Phins with Fur, we believe in humane, effective training. We rely on the science-based training that is used with dolphins. The best thing about these techniques is that it doesn’t matter what breed or species you are working with, because all animals learn the same way! We

Phone: (813) 917-2441 Website: sites.google.com/site/phinswithfurtraining E-mail: phinswithfur@yahoo.com Visit us on Facebook! facebook.com/phinswithfuranimaltraining

also focus on developing a positive relationship to ensure that you and your best friend have a happy life together.

We offer a variety of services including private and group classes in areas such as basic manners, puppy, trick training, problem solving, and more!

We also offer services for non-canine pets!

Call us today to start your fun, energetic journey to a well-trained dog!

It’s Dolphin Training...for Dogs!

Why Train?

carefully teaching them how fun vet visits, nail clipping, handling, and staying in place can be.

since fish were the only pets I could have in my dorm. My first fish, Pico, had a fiery enough personality to cope with Recently, I visited a young dog lamost stressors easily. Russell, my curbeled as “highly aggressive.” InThe Shedd Aquarium’s Ken Ramirez rent cichlid, benefitted (and continues to deed, I couldn’t get within 6 feet of says that a training program is as benefit!) from training. He has a much her at first. I began to click and toss important as a nutrition and veteri- more fearful disposition, and training, in treats, and she immediately became nary program for an animal. Train- the beginning, was very slow because it a different dog, showing me the being provides numerous benefits for took him to long to get used to novel sithaviors she knew-sit, down, shake! an animal in the form of stress relief, uations. Now, as a result of training, She became stuck to my side within problem solving, resilience, and, of Russ is no longer fearful of objects in or minutes. Sadly, because her owner course, a bond with you! outside of his tank. In fact, he rushes up was unable to handle her, she was to anything new, hoping it means we are euthanized.

Even if your dog does not “need” playing the training game! training, he can benefit from it!

Most people think of training as a Training is fun for your animal, and Training has also benefitted my guinea reactive tool. I applauded the parit can greatly decrease your stress, pigs. They are currently learning to ents of my recently graduated pupyour dog’s stress, weigh themselves on a scale, which repy class for being some of and the amount of duces their stress since I don’t have to the few who train proactime it takes you to catch them in order to weigh them! tively. Trainers have a deal with issues or saying: “train it before you fears that may deMaddie, my dog, has also benefitted from need it.” Students usually velop in the future. training. Training gives her an opporjust see the well-behaved tunity to practice things she knows, “teacher dog” at the front For example, few which benefits her in situations where of the class. What you people may find a she is nervous. The bond you form with don’t see are the tireless reason to train a your pets, however, is the greatest benehours spent in the commufish. I began trainfit you will reap. So get training today! nity, socializing the dog, ing fish in college, Russell, is much more resilient as a the time spent at home result of training!