Picking a dog’s brain

As it turns out, you might have more in common with your dog than you think. Jen sent me a link to an interesting article about intelligence in dogs that was posted on Time.com a few weeks ago.

Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can.

If you’re like me and always want to learn more about the way that your pup’s mind works, it’s certainly a worthwhile read.

Happy Friday! Who needs a dog to do agility training?

Training your dog can be a fun challenge for both owner and pet alike, but dogs aren’t the only animals that can learn behaviors that they wouldn’t normally do on their own! If you own a cat or small pet, don’t feel that you are left out of the fun of training and rewarding your companion.. with the proper motivation they might surprise you with how much they can do! Enjoy the video!

Back to School: How to Find the Right Trainer

The following article, “How to Find the Right Trainer” is being republished with permission from it’s author, Donna Fournier.

Your puppy is older now, and you are considering Basic Obedience classes, but when is the right age to start? How do you find a good, reputable trainer? What training method would work best for your dog?

These are all typical questions I receive everyday. There are many trainers out there, with many different theories on dog training the “right way”. My main theory is; there isn’t one perfect method fit for every dog. Not all dogs are created equally, and in your eyes, no other dog compares to your baby, so why would you settle for less for your special critter?

Finding a trainer is no different that looking for a babysitter for your child, so hold an interview of the trainer. You have the right to know their philosophy, methods, temperament before paying a dime or committing to a class.

Many considerations are involved in finding the “right” trainer. First, I recommend that you talk with your Veterinarian. Veterinarians are a great source of information, and they will know who is in the area. Get as much feedback from the Doctor as you can, have they worked with this person, has anyone on staff worked with this person, what method do they teach?

From there, your next step of to compile a list from the phone book, online sources, friends, and family. With this list you can call and effectively interview your dog’s potential trainer.

Here are a few questions to ask of your dog’s potential trainer:

Can I come by and see your facility and watch a class?
This is the most important question. If the Trainer says “No”, or asks that your first pay or sign a contract, then move down your list. As a trainer, I have nothing to hide; anyone, at anytime may come a watch one of my classes without having to commit to them. If the trainer is reluctant to have you sit in, then my question would be, what do they have to hide? You have to be sure that you mesh with the trainer, like the methods that are taught, like the training tool being used, and most importantly, see the method as something you can do independent of the class. You, after all, are the one that has to take the information home and work on it daily with you dog.

What method of training do you teach?
There are many training methods; Military, Correction, Clicker, Positive Reinforcement, and Negative Reinforcement, to name a few. You want to see all of these methods to find the one that suites you best.

How long is each of the classes, and for how many weeks?
Class times will vary, from 30 minute sessions up to 1 hour sessions, depending on the trainer, and most Basic Obedience classes run 6 to 7 weeks; with one class per week.

What happens if my dog doesn’t pass?
This area is where you will see the most diversity. In my classes, we offer life-time refresher classes. These are drop in classes used mainly for review and socialization. Most trainers do not offer this as a free service; once you pay for your 6 or 7 weeks, you are done.

What happens if my dog is aggressive?
Not all Dog Trainers are Behaviorists and vice versa. Some trainers will not work with a truly aggressive dog, but can usually refer you to a colleague for a Behavior Evaluation and Modification work. There are dangers to working with an aggressive dog: to fellow students, the trainer, the owner, and the other dogs in class. Some trainers don’t want the liability, so be honest with the trainer before signing up for class-No excuses!

Do you accept all breeds?
Believe it or not, I have gotten this question more than others. Not all trainers will work with all breeds; I am not one of those trainers, I will gladly work with any breed, size and temperament of dog. Some training companies impose the same breed bans that some cities do, and then there are some trainers that will specialize in a particular breed of dog.

Do you recommend dropping my dog off to your facility and I can pick him up fully trained?
While this sounds wonderful; drop you pet off for a week and get back this “fully trained”, perfectly behaved dog, this is not the reality. The downside to this type of training is that while your dog is in the facility, he knows his stuff, but once back at home, he seems to forget everything he was taught. Dogs don’t generalize; it is through repetition and consistency that they learn, so the rules that were created at the training facility don’t necessarily carry over to your home without consistent daily reinforcement. So, on the outside it would appear that sending your dog out to be trained would make your life easier, but the truth is you still have to do the work at home. I also look at training as opportunity to bond with your dog; going for walks every day to go over the stuff you learn in class, spending at least 15 minutes a day with your dog where your focus is entirely Fido, and reveling in the day that your dog finally understands you. Why deprive yourself of those great bonding moments?

There are many other questions you may have, but this will get you off to a great start. Most importantly, follow your own instincts; if you meet a trainer and there’s just “something about them” that you aren’t fully comfortable with, don’t work with that trainer. The dog training field has grown in leaps and bounds; there are many trainers to choose from, and with a little research on your part, you will find the right trainer for you and your dog.

Happy Training!

Keep an eye out for more articles on canine training, sports and other activities as part of our “Back to School” series this month.

DOGstar Training video: Housebreaking

DOGstar Training has released their first full-length training segment on YouTube. If you have recently brought a new puppy home and are looking for some guidance to get you started with housebreaking, this is a must-watch!

You can also subscribe to PetKey’s YouTube Channel to see more video clips as they are released.

Are we anthropomorphizing more than we should?

The follow article is being republished with permission from it’s author, Donna Fournier.

This past Mother’s Day, while visiting with my mom and sister, I was recounting an incident my youngest dog had. Right away, my mother, who doesn’t believe in crate training, jumped on me saying “He’s mad at you because he spends all day in the crate while you’re at work”. The typical argument ensued… “No,” I say, “Dogs don’t have the capacity to hold grudges or hurts. They live in the moment; dogs have no past to reflect on and no future to plan for or worry about; they only live in the now.” To think otherwise is Anthropomorphizing.

Anthropomorphizing is attributing human characteristics to non human things; most commonly, animals. Believe it or not, this harms the relationship between humans and animals. When humans believe that a dog or cat has human characteristics, we tend to expect more than the animal is capable of producing. By doing so, we find ourselves more easily upset and angered by the animal’s behavior, instead of understanding why the animal isn’t following the rules.