More On Early Intervention Training.

As mentioned in an earlier post, Early Intervention Training is intended to address your puppy’s age-specific development issues before working on any obedience training goals.  You have a limited window of opportunity to prep your pup for a lifetime of stable and healthy interactions with the world and its inhabitants. And don't forget the importance of socialization; Touch is an extension of that.

Instinctively, dogs don’t allow other animals to hold them against their will. However, your dog may need to be groomed, and all dogs need to visit the veterinarian. Being patient and still while a stranger pokes and prods him is not so easy for your dog. Use treats to gradually and gently teach your dog to be okay with mildly uncomfortable touch and make these experiences stress free for both you and your dog.

Teach your puppy to accept mild restraint and welcome any human touch by massaging and petting him daily.  Try to relax your hands and body, then take a deep breath to encourage your dog to chill. Use lots of treats to ensure this becomes a positive experience.

For small dogs, start by holding them your arms like an infant and periodically say “Relax” while you hold them. Play "Vet" with your dog by gently massaging your dog’s ears, head, temples, shoulders, chest, legs, paws, foot pads, toes, nails, tail, etc. If he struggles, say “Eh-eh!” and wait for him to calm down before continuing. Again, use LOTS of treats!
 

Once your dog is at ease with the first stage or if your dog is a bigger breed, gently place them on the floor, roll them over onto his side and massage in the same manner on the floor.  Make sure it's a good time to play this game with your pup.  A not so great time, for instance, is when he first wakes up and is full of energy!  

For more information on Early Intervention Training and Touch, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Why Should You Use an Exercise Pen?

A lot of the time, our clients already are using crates for housetraining their pups.  We also encourage people in the "Zen Dog Pack" to also put a exercise pen (or ex-pen) into play.

An ex-pen is a collapsible, portable pet enclosure made of wire, plastic or mesh panels that opens up into a rectangular, circular or oblong playpen for dogs.  It's a great tool to use for training, indoor containment — at home and while traveling — and makes housetraining easier.

Let's talk about using an ex-pen for housetraining first.  The portability of the ex-pen is something to really exploit here.  Let's say your puppy has fantastic bladder/bowel control in her crate; place her crate inside the ex-pen with the crate door open so she can move freely from her cozy crate to her ex-pen.  Now, under your watchful eye, you can teach her that her ex-pen is an extension of her crate and is another area to keep unsoiled.  Rather than leaving her crated for long periods of time, use the ex-pen to give your puppy more controlled, supervised freedom.

Ex-pens are also excellent for containment.  While you're teaching your puppy the rules of your home — don't gnaw on the coffee table, don't steal the dirty laundry, don't tug on the TV power cord — why not use an ex-pen to create a safe-puppy zone?  Instead of running from room to room after her, plop your pup into her ex-pen with some favorite toys, preferred chews and a comfy cushion.  

Stop bratty behaviors!  When your friends come over for a movie marathon, prevent your puppy from jumping up by teaching her to sit in her ex-pen before coming out to say hello.  If you're playing Tug-of-War in her ex-pen and she gets too amped up after a round or two, rather than getting frustrated, calmly leave your puppy alone in her ex-pen.  In both scenarios, she'll quickly learn what she needs to do in order to hang out with people.

Think about both your puppy's needs and your home layout before buying an ex-pen.  A lot of ex-pens can be reconfigured into large-scale room barriers, which are incredibly useful for open-plan homes.

For more information about Housetraining and Tools for Training, please visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Photo from Rover Pet.

What is Early-Intervention Training?

Early-intervention training addresses your puppy’s age-specific development issues before working on any obedience training goals.  Trainers use this to  determine whether or not your expectations of your puppy are realistic. We also want to prepare your dog for life with humans and to build their confidence, so they don't resort to more instinctual types of behaviors, such as biting or resource guarding.  

Remember, dogs do not operate with the same kind of "moral compass" that we humans use.  Dogs aren't able to manipulate or spite you... they simply do what works!! I know that many of us consider our dogs to be members of the family; it's important that we remember that our pets aren't people, and expecting them to behave as if they are is setting you and your pup up for disappointment or worse.  Behaviors like peeing on your new rug or nipping your hand as you hold food works for a puppy.  It's up to you to teach your dog that some of those behaviors just don't work for you.

The focus of training dogs 3-4 months old — and younger — should be socialization, not obedience. These are lessons that will stick with your dog for the rest of their life.  Teach your dog that even though the outside world can be loud and unpredictable, it’s a happy and fun place he shouldn’t fear.

This can be done by staying calm and using treats to help your puppy make positive associations with people of all sizes and ages, cars and bikes, other animals, and all things loud and noisy.  At this young age, puppies are very impressionable and easily accept new things, but this openness to new experiences doesn’t last forever! For socialization to be a success, it must occur before your puppy is six months old. The idea is to expose your puppy to new, nonthreatening, positive situations and people now, and to increase the likelihood that he will be a comfortable and confident adult!

Your top priority should be your puppy’s daily socialization. This process will take both time and effort, but is of critical importance — especially for puppies under 4 months!!! Take them with you to new places: friends’ homes, children’s school, the hardware store, the dry cleaners, the bank…  Expose them to a variety of people and environments as often as you can. Let your puppy meet men and women, the elderly and the young, children and babies, people in hats and men with beards. Don’t forget about cats, birds and other animals, or loud or strange noises like a door slamming or a bus rumbling by!  Take your dog to the vet, to your groomer or kennel. Once you get there, give him lots of treats for no reason other than getting him used to going to these places.

Helpful tips:

• Never force a situation to the point where your puppy becomes frightened.  If he appears unsure, reassure him calmly and matter-of-factly, and then go on.
• Always be sure your dog is safe and that he has a positive experience. Allow him to investigate and approach people, places and things at his own pace.
• A tasty treat can do wonders in changing a fearful situation or person into a great experience!
• Be proactive. Teach your dog to feel confident and safe with the noisy, busy, fast-paced world we live in!

When socializing your puppy with other dogs, use your discretion! Find out whether the dogs your puppy meets are fully vaccinated and properly socialized themselves. Make sure older dogs are friendly and accepting of your puppy’s uninhibited, frisky advances. An unexpected attack at a young age can cause future phobias.  If you’re unsure of a situation or another dog, it’s okay to pick up your dog and walk away.

Last but not least, try not to coddle your dog or pick him up all the time. Puppies are adorable and the most fun to snuggle with so this is understandable difficult but  whether you’re answering the doorbell, meeting other dogs, meeting new people… Whatever you’re doing, just let your dog experience the world on his own four feet!  

For more information on Early Intervention Training and Socialization, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Xena the Couch Surfing Standard Poodle.

Meet Xena!

Xena is one classy lady. She is intelligent and collected, but exuberant and friendly when warranted. All in all she is one rather well behaved poodle. We met with her owner for a general training session, rather than for something specific though, as with any dogs, Xena had her quirks... Turns out Ms. Xena is quite the couch hog! If her owners settled down for a nice evening, Xena would hop right up with them and take up exactly as much space as she wanted — which ended up leaving very little room for her owners. This is a behavior we see all the time, and told Xena’s owner that we had a simple, easy solution for it.  Xena's "mom" said:

“But I like it!”

This is also a behavior we see all the time. One of the most common questions we get from clients is “Should our dog be allowed on the furniture?” What is nice about this question is that there really isn’t a right or wrong answer! The better question would be: “Do you like to have your dog on the couch with you?” If you asked a group of dog trainers whether or not their dogs are allowed on the furniture a majority of them would likely answer “Yup!” (And not a small number would even admit to letting their dogs sleep on the bed!) Some people don’t want to have the dog on the couch, but other owners enjoy having the company — especially on a cold New England night.

We tell clients that it is perfectly acceptable to curl up on the couch with their dogs — but we have a set of rules we recommend. We don’t want your dog to jump up anytime they wish. Make it a privilege; your dog is only allowed on the couch when you give permission. This will not only prevent unwanted couch hogs, but also allow you to have company when you want to, and even use the sofa as a reward for good behavior! This is especially useful when playing Rewarding With Love.

By implementing a few simple rules you can reclaim your couch while keeping your furry heater by your side!

For more information on Rewarding with Love, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Bon Appétit, Let ME Eat!

This gorgeous gal is Layla, the friendliest yellow Lab you could ever meet.  Don't be suckered by her adorable-ness — this girl's a beggar... at the dinner table, that is.

Mealtimes can be challenging for dogs, especially those who've made a hobby of scooping up tidbits food they've found under the table.  Layla's "dad" just needed her to relax in her pen while he prepped and ate his dinner.

Our goal was to teach Layla that when her dad was eating, she not only had to behave, she had to entertain himself.  If your dog is a beggar, let him know that whining and pawing at you at the table isn’t the way to get attention!  Teach him that he's being rather rude. Show your dog that the only mealtime behavior you respect is politely waiting for you to finish eating.

With Layla, we first tried to outsmart her by using a tether.  A tether is an indoor leash that you clip to your dog’s collar with one end and attach the other to something solid and heavy that your dog can’t move, like your living room sofa.  At mealtimes, it’s best to tether your dog to something far from wherever you’re eating.  In other words, we weren't going to tether Layla to the coffee table when her owner's friends came over with a pizza to watch the game.

Another technique we discussed for Layla is using a crate to contain her or a baby gate to separate her from where her dad eats.  No matter what you works for you — crating, separating or tethering — give your dog something to do while you eat.  Bully sticks and other long-lasting chew toys are great things to give your dog.  Sweeten the deal by trying a few things out, identifying your dog’s favorite and using that exclusively at mealtimes.  This way, your dog will be excited when it’s time for you to eat!

Something else to consider is scheduling your dog’s mealtimes at the same time as yours.  If you do this, just remember 99% of dogs eat faster than most people do. Food acquisition devices (like the Busy Buddies made by Premier) are fantastic since your dog has to nose, paw and move these toys around in order for kibble and treats to fall out.  A huge extra bonus of using food acquisition devices is that playing with these toys is mentally stimulating to dogs — wouldn't it be incredible if your dog got tired just from eating dinner?

If your dog finds using a food acquisition device to be confusing, teach him how it works.  Get down on the floor together, bat the toy around and let your dog see (and lick up) all the delicious morsels that fly out of it.  He’ll get the hang of it, and soon you’ll have a dog who loves it when you eat!

For more information on dining around your dog, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Inclement Weather Activities Series: Hide and Seek

Back again for more Inclement Weather Activities! Who knew "Hot and Humid" would turn out to be inclement??  With that said, heat can be particularly oppressive especially for certain breeds of dogs!  Here is a a fun game you and your dog can play in the convenience of your comfortably air conditioned home. 

The Find It Game 

This extremely easy game is just how it sounds... "Find It”! Not too many things are as fun as sniffing out food as far as your dog is concerned. Start by showing your dog a piece of dry food or a tiny treat. Say “Find it!” and toss the food on the ground. Some dogs may need you to start by dropping the treat right in front of them. As they catch on you can toss the treat farther and farther away.  For really active dogs you can feed them their entire meal this way should you choose to.  If your dog already has a good handle on stay you can now teach your dog a more challenging version of this game.

Time to play!  

1. Ask your dog for a Sit or a Down before you begin the game.   
2. Put your dog in a Stay while you hide the treat behind or under something ( make sure not to hide the treat in or under things that you don't want your dog to normally play with, like your favorite shoes or bag).  
3. Come back, release your dog from the stay, and say "FIND IT"!

I like to give my dogs feedback, so whenever they find a treat successfully, I let them know I approve of what they're doing by saying, "Yes!"

Remember, always make rules to any game and if your dog doesn't want to play by the rules the game should end for a bit.  When your dog and you get really good at this game you can advance to making the hidden item in “Find It”  a person or a toy, this turns the game into "Hide-and-Seek". Enlist a family member or a friend to play — one to go hide, the other to stay with the dog and encourage them to find the one who’s hiding. Make a big deal over your dog's success and I promise you and your dog never had such fun.  Keep visiting the Zen Dog Training Blog for more Inclement Weather Activities!

For more information on dog training the Zen Dog way, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Help! My Dog Chews EVERYTHING!

It's a question we get all the time: "How do I make my dog stop chewing on X, Y, and Z??" The truth of the matter is that dogs are naturally inclined to chew. Dogs explore the world with their mouths the same way we explore and investigate with our hands. They also chew when left home alone because it's something they enjoy doing! The problem comes when your dog decides that it would be fun to chew up your nice new pair of shoes. So what can you do to solve the problem?

First of all, you can prevent our dogs from chewing non-dog items by keeping them all out of his reach. You can make sure to put our shoes away on a shelf when we get home. Or to put away all of your socks in the place he can't get to. If your dog likes paper, pick up a couple of trash cans with lids to keep him from getting at any Kleenex or napkins. If you need to, don't be afraid to use a crate for your dog while he is learning what he can, and can't, chew on — just put his favorite toys (such as a stuffed bone or Kong) in his crate when you leave. And remember: a tired dog is a well behaved dog! Before you leave in the morning, take your dog to the park, go for a jog, or even play fetch in the house — get him running and panting any way you can.

You also want to teach your dog what he's allowed to chew on by providing plenty of legal alternatives. Have a good variety of types and textures of toys for your dog to play with and chew on. He will be less likely to get bored with what he has and more likely to find a fun toy to play with. Also, notice what your dog likes to chew. If he tends to chew on socks or gloves, make sure he has a nice plush (but durable) toy that he loves. If he starts to devour the baseboards in your home, get him a nice hard stuffed bone or an antler to chew on. You can use they toys (especially the plush ones) to play games like fetch or Tug of War to get him interested in the new toys — and to tire him out!

To help him learn what he can, and cannot, chew on you will want to keep a sharp eye on him so you can interrupt him when he goes for something he shouldn't then refocus him on one of his toys. When you see him start to sniff or chew something other than his toy, simply tell him "uh-uh", stop him from chewing and offer him one of his own toys. If you take a minute to play with him with his toy, he'll turn his focus to his own toy more often. By using these three steps, you will be well on your way to teaching your dog what he can, and more importantly can't, chew on!

If you notice that your dog primarily chews while you are gone, or tends towards more destructive chewing, it might be a sign of a larger issue. If you have questions or are concerned please give us a call at (617) 233-5496!

To learn more about Solving Problem Behaviors, check out Zen Dog Training Online!

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/francapicc/

Puppy's First Night: What to Know About Bringing a New Puppy into Your Home for the First Time

I want to address some important questions that clients often ask me about bringing a new puppy home.  Firstly, why do we recommend using BOTH a crate AND long-term confinement area? In addition, do we recommend these tools even if they live in a small apartment or condo? 

The short answer is yes. Even with a small apartment, most clients should use both a confinement area and a crate.

The reason is crates and confinement areas help with house training and home alone training. It also reduces the amount of destruction a new puppy can do when you inevitably  leave them alone first time.  (Think showers, trips to the bathroom, short errands, work, etc).

By using a confinement area (restricting your puppy's access to only one room) you don’t have to “puppy-proof” the entire house and it's easier to supervise and interrupt unwanted behaviors.  People usually baby-gate a high-traffic area that is easy to clean up, like the kitchen.

Crates are important for differnent reasons. Getting a young puppy can feel a bit overwhelming, so having a place your dog can go where you don’t have to worry is a big relief. Think of it like a crib for a child, a safe place they can learn to “self-soothe” and nap.  Odds are you will need the break as much as your puppy will!   

Housetraining

The most important reason for to use a crate is that it makes housetraining SO much easier. Dogs have a natural tendency to not "soil the den," so using a crate takes advantage of those instincts. It also helps us predict when your dog needs to go so you can

1. Minimize accidents.
2. Teach your puppy where's a good place to go.
3. Reward your puppy when he does!

Independence

Finally, teaching your young pack-animal that he will have to be left alone for 3-4 hours (at least!) while we go to work, out to dinner, movies etc. is important!  So is quickly teaching him where to go to the bathroom.  Finding ways to reduce destructive behaviors with tools like confinement areas and crates makes training so much easier!

Remember, being alone doesn't come naturally to our dogs, so it's important to be proactive and teaching them right away how to be comfortable when left alone. 

For more information on Housetraining, Home Alone Training and raising a puppy, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Riding in Cars with Dogs: Basic Automobile Safety.

Ah, spring.  As the temperatures slowly rise, car windows slide down... and some dogs stick their noses, their faces and sometimes their entire upper bodies out into the breeze.  

Is this cute?  Of course!  But is it safe?  Of course not.

There are many ways to make road travel fun and safe for your pet, regardless of whether you're heading across town to your local dog park or across the country to another coast.  

Restraining your dog when he's in the car is essential.  A "loose" dog in the car can distract drivers; if that dog were in a car accident, he or she could easily run away and get lost, especially if in an unfamiliar neighborhood.  One of the first things we people do when we get into a car is buckle our seat belts; your dog should have the same routine.  If your dog is a backseat rider, a car harness with a seat belt attachment is a must.  If you own a smaller breed or young puppy, consider investing in a cozy travel carrier that can be belted in.  If a harness or crate isn't suitable, definitely install a pet barrier.

Check back for more in our Riding in Cars with Dogs series as the weather gets warmer.  In the meantime, contact Zen Dog Training to learn how to teach your dog to be your favorite road-trip buddy.

Happy travels!

Inclement Weather Activities Series: Tug of War.

Although the temperature these days has been pretty agreeable, bad weather will happen now and then. Be it rain, snow or a heat wave, these occurrences can make exercising your dog a challenge. Without adequate exercise, your dog may act out due to boredom and frustration but fear not!! With the right tools, a little ingenuity and strict rules you and your dog can have a blast playing all kinds of games.

Tug of War is just one of the many games that provide fun ways of training your dog and reinforcing the human-canine bond. Playing Tug of War will get your dog good and excited. Remember that it’s normal for your dogs to growl mildly when excited. Make sure you enforce all the rules to prevent the fun and excitement from crossing the line.

Before you begin playing Tug, choose a release command such as “Drop."  Also, get a toy that is only for playing Tug of War. This makes the toy extra special to your dog! Consider the toy's length, as it should be long enough to keep your hand from ending up in your dog’s mouth.  Make sure you play in a dog-proofed area in your home.  This is a roomy space without breakables or anything that may cause injury if bumped into.

Time to play!

1. Ask your dog for a Sit or a Down before you begin the game. Then start the game by saying “Tug” and continue to encourage your dog by saying that word a few times more.
2. Periodically tell your dog to stop the game by saying your release command and then ask for a Sit or a Down again. When your dog calms down for a few seconds resume the game by saying “TUG”.
3. ABSOLUTELY no contact with your dog’s teeth is allowed. Should your dog become overly excited and accidentally put his teeth on you, the game should end immediately. Let your dog know this hurts by saying “Ouch!” and put the toy away for a little bit. Avoid being angry and instead act disappointed. This lets your dog know that you want him to be more careful. If the same mistake continues to happen, then the game should end for the day. 

Letting your dog "win" is fine!  This builds confidence and is a nice way to say "Thank You!" to your dog for minding his manners.  The exception to this rule is if your dog misbehaves.  If he doesn't want to play by the rules, then you should be the one who ends up with the toy.

So next time you become stranded indoors give Tug of War a try. Keep visiting the Zen Dog Training Blog for more Inclement Weather Activities!

Red Light, Green Light.

Meet Jayden... again!

In our follow up session with Jayden, we were pleased to discover how much progress he and his owner had made. Jayden's owner was now armed with the knowledge of how to handle his dog's overzealousness and their walks were more enjoyable. Jayden's owner was planning a trip out of town and would be leaving Jayden in the care of a good friend. She wanted us to show her friend how to properly walk Jayden on the leash.

Jayden and his owner were in the habit of playing a little game we like to call Red Light, Green Light. This game involves halting the walk when the dog pulls on the leash and rewarding the dog for a loose leash by continuing the walk after the dog has ceased pulling.

Outside with all it's sights, sounds and smells is far more interesting then what ever commands we are blabbing at our dogs. In times like these you'll find that actions speak louder than words. With consistency and lots of practice Jayden came to realize that the only way he got to go for a long walk was to pay attention to the movements and pace of the person walking him. During the winter when sidewalks are good and icy, this can be especially important.

For more details on games like Red Light, Green Light, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Drama Diva Queen.

Meet Omar... again!

When we last visited Omar he was fresh out of Puppy Kindergarten and making the most of it. His owner was having a particularly hard time not giving Omar too much attention. We initially showed Omar's owner how to ignore obnoxious behavior and how to teach Omar bite inhibition. Over time, Omar decided to get a bit pushy on walks. Since our first visit, Omar picked up a bad habit of leash- and playbiting.

Remember it is a very natural tendency for a young dog to use their mouth! Therefore it is up to you to teach your dog that playbiting humans can really hurt. We initially showed Omar's owner the game Taking Treats Gently but now it seemed that Omar's owner needed help with a good clear way to let Omar know his behavior was unacceptable.

Creating a noise such as "Eh!" or "Ahh-ahh" can help identify to your dog what you don't like. Saying that word when the playbiting takes place and removing all attention will deter your dog from doing it again. We call this game Drama Diva Queen. Dogs over 5 months should be held to very high standards and absolutely no teeth on a human should be tolerated. If play bitting behavior is learned it is much more difficult to train out of the dog. You may need some help from a Zen Dog Trainer on some advanced playbiting solution.

For information on Drama Diva Queen and how to stop puppy playbiting visit Zen Dog Training Online.

One of the Many Uses of The Name Game.

Meet Karma!

Karma is a fluffy doe-eyed Havanese. He is absolutely adorable and as you can imagine a magnet for attention. Karma shares a home with five humans in a large high-rise. There's never a shortage of willing participants to lavish attention on him. At times there can be a lot of unpredictable activity in the home which can be very overwhelming for a dog like this. In the last month he's resorted to barking at even the slightest stirring, and in a multi-level apartment complex this is a disturbance which later can lead to serious consequences for his owners.

With a household this large and this busy, it can be an epic challenge to get everyone on the same page. Without a steady schedule, it can be difficult for Karma to feel safe and secure in his surroundings. When a dog feels insecure, there are many ways in which he might act out. Left uncorrected, this could lead to other more drastic behaviors. Before things got too out of control, Karma had to learn that barking was not the way to solve his problem.

We introduced many games to help not only build up Karma's confidence, but also to include every member of the family. It can get pretty confusing for a dog living in a busy environment, so we wanted to make sure that Karma get some clarity. One one the games we played with Karma was the Name Game. Name Game has multiple applications such as teaching Karma to come to us for the exchange of a treat. This game would prove very useful when strangers appeared at the door. Instead of barking Karma could play this game and he could play it with every member of the family.

For more information about the various applications of techniques like Name Game, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Jolly Talk.

Meet Bella!

Bella is a two-year-old Yorkie/Jack Russell cross who had lived with two other families before moving in with her current owners. In her newest home she was so fearful of strangers and loud noises that it had resulted in her owners completely abstaining from actual walks. Bella would panic and pull violently towards the house on a regular walk. She even began barking at the construction going on at the neighbors. She was simply terrified of the world outside of the house.

When dogs are subjected to a lot of inconsistency, they often lack a sense of security with their surroundings. Desensitizing a dog from things that seem scary is a way to help acclimate them to big changes. Bella's owners were asked to bring Bella outside to a section of the neighborhood that felt tolerable to her and just sit. As Bella began to get anxious and nervous her owner's were instructed to use what we call Jolly Talk.

Jolly Talk is basically using a calm but confident tone to say things to your dog like "It's fine, Buddy" or "Relax." Using Jolly Talk with random treats helped Bella to build a positive association with the outside world. When desensitizing a dog you must be very careful not to push the dog over threshold. This mean that you want to start out with something simple and work on that until your dog no longer shows signs of fear or nervousness rather than get your poor pooch in over their heads.

For more information on Jolly Talk, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

When Your Pooch Needs a Refresher Course.

Meet Lucy!

Lucy (or "Lady Whiskers," as her owners affectionately call her) has just reached the teenybopper stage of puppyhood! At nine months, even after a successful round of puppy classes, Lucy has decided to test the limits again. Lucy started barking at other dogs from the window, antagonizing the cats and walking on the coffee table. Her owners felt like someone had come in the night to replace their affectionate and well-mannered pup with a feisty and demanding dog. We heard their cries for help and rushed to the rescue.

After recapping some of the basics from puppy class, it became clear to us that Lucy's owners had a superb understanding of how dogs learn. It was very apparent that they had done a lot of the hard work to teach Lucy what they expected of her. This was great because once Lucy started to regress, her owners were able to refer to the basic methods that they learned in puppy class. However, these techniques weren't quite working for all of the new behaviors that she was exhibiting. Because Lucy had such a strong foundation it was easy for us to apply more advanced methods to her new behavior.

Most dog owners are excellent at delivering praise or positive reinforcement. What is all too often the case for most people is that they lack balance or the ability to show their disapproval properly. We adore our dogs so much that it can be somewhat unsettling to reprimand them. It's okay to feel upset about your dog's behavior from time to time but acting on your emotions often makes the problem worse. Instead, develope a line of communication with your dog. Having a noise such "EH-EH!" or words like "Hey!" to indicate that your pup is headed down the wrong road as well as gently interrupting your dogs behavior can help your dog understand your expectations. For Lucy's owners, it was just a matter of learning the right way to show their disapproval.

To learn more about addressing problematic behaviors, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Rhody the Portuguese Water Dog.

Meet Rhody!

Rhody is a thirteen-week-old Portuguese water dog who lives in a large home, in a quiet neighborhood. He's got all of the best doggie amenities: a huge fenced in yard, plenty of toys and treats, and another dog companion.

Most puppies at this age are ready to take on the world. They're excited, inquisitive and always looking for new adventures. Rhody, on the other hand, seemed more than content to stick to his own little world, which was safe and certain. That wasn't always the case outside the confines of his puppy palace!

New people and loud noises were scary to Rhody. He took to growling at or chasing strange people on bikes or joggers, and barking at loud trucks and the mailman. He also ran away from meeting new people. Rhody's lack of exposure to new experiences had made him extremely sensitive to changes in his usual routine.

Dogs tend to do one of two things when they feel threatened:

• They will flee from a scary situation, or
• They will stand their ground and put up a fight.

As a puppy, a dog has to have plenty of positive exposures to as many new people and situations as possible. This is know as socialization!

For Rhody, it was clear that he would need to be systematically desensitized from things that frightened him. One of the ways to do this is to Treat for Confidence. By giving Rhody treats for tolerating gradual exposure to something or someone new, we helped him make a positive association that took the place of a negative one.

It's important to pay attention to your dog's reaction when introducing him to new things. You do not want to introduce your dog to too many things at once or to something he's clearly not ready for yet. This of course can have the exact opposite effect. If things seem questionable or you are uncertain of the situation, don't risk it.

To learn more about socialization and Treating for Confidence, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Outsmarting Your Dog

Meet Roux!

This sixteen-week-old newly-adopted hound mix has a real lust for life! Bouncing, jumping, scratching and mouthing, anything to get your attention, and any attention will do. Roux's owner wanted help get control of these problematic behaviors before things got out of hand. It's easy to forget that even negative attention serves as a reward to a dog looking for consideration, especially when they are barking up a storm or chewing on your furniture.

Your first line of defense against unwanted behavior is to Outsmart your dog. This entails a whole arsenal of management strategies, like having the proper tools, such as indoor leashes and treats. These tools prevent your dog from making the wrong choice in the first place. Managing your dogs environment is another way to illustrate good decision making, by crating or setting up safe areas to confide your pup in while you cook dinner.

There are times when you may fail to get the drop on outsmarting your pooch and poor conduct will commence. Let's say your pup displays attention seeking habits such as play biting you, in times like that, outsmarting or managing the situation just isn't an option. The fastest way to ensure that the behavior stops, is to indicate disaproval and to remove your attention. This will teach your dog that the only way to GET your attention, is by acting the way you prefer them to.

For more information on the Zen Dog Training System, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Nothing For Free.

Meet Jayden!

This extremely affectionate and cute Yorkie-poo really wants nothing more than get tons of attention but due to his owner's busy schedule he hasn't received nearly as much exercise and training as he would prefer. With that said he has decided to speak up on the matter -- quite literally, I might add!

Jayden and his owner just moved from a quiet suburb to the big city. Unfortunately, when he was a puppy, he did not get enough time socializing with other dogs.With this setback and the long hours of studying that Jayden's owner regularly puts in, has added up to a bit of frustration on Jayden's end.

The main complaint is Jayden's behavior on leash walks, which is his main source of exercise and attention. When approached by other dogs, Jayden starts to bark very assertively and pull at the leash. Needless to say, this has resulted in shorter and fewer walks for Jayden and his owner! Upon observing this behavior it appeared that Jayden is more frustrated than anything. He is simply so excited to see other dogs and has so much energy that he over-expresses his excitement at seeing another dog.

Jayden needed to understand that acting obnoxious is not the way to receive attention. The first steps are simple: better tools and equipment on walks, having a plan for what to do when seeing (and hopefully meeting) another dog, and implementing a Nothing for Free attitude in the home.

For example, asking Jayden to sit calmly before walking out the door will help teach him to earn the walk. By withholding attention from Jayden when he acts out and giving him attention for desired behaviors we can communicate to him how we would like him to behave.

We'll be following up with Jaden soon to see how the training is going! Success in a case like this depends on how much time his owner has to exercise and train Jaden himself. Even with the right plan, working with an under socialized dog takes time!

For more information on socializing your dog visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Fear is Not The Time To Train.

Meet Daisy!

Daisy had a tendency to be fearful of men, especially when they come to her door, the mailman being the main culprit. Daisy takes her self appointed position of guard dog pretty seriously. Barking to drive the intruder away was her major line of defense but things got scarier for Daisy if the intruder actually ended up on the inside of her house. There all kinds of thing you can do to manage your dogs environment and to set things up to discourage barking but if fear is a factor, than you may have to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

If your dog is acting scared or uncertain towards something or someone it's very important to realize that what's happening is NOT a training moment . When fear is the emotion your dog experiences, an instinct known as Fight or Flight tends to kick in. Your dog is simply not able to apply your human logic to the situation and as a result, will most likely pay no attention to you or worse, escalate their behavior. Keeping your cool is a large component of successes at times like this. Stay calm, take a Yoga Breath or some Jolly Talk ( clam and reassuring comments to your dog ) and offering your pooch a treat for confidence can help to desensitize their fear. When your dog has calmed down then you can resume training.

For More information in Jolly Talk, Yoga Breath and Treating for Confidence visit Zen Dog Training Online.

Shunishment.

Meet Omar!

He's a super cute Shepard mix that has successfully completed our Zen Dog Puppy Classes. During our in-home visit with Omar and his family we discovered that Omar's owner had retained most of the material from puppy class and possessed a good understanding of those techniques. Omar's extreme curtness however, was particularly distracting and made it rather easy for Omar to regress back to old habits.

A brief review of motivators and a reminder about timing, helped pave the road to more advanced methods of training for Omar and his family. First off, Omar needed to learn how to become independent of constant attention and Omar's owner needed to practice averting her adoring gaze when his behavior became very demanding. When ignored, Omar would gently mouth or nudge his owner for attention. In these situations it's best to remove all forms of attention -- this includes dirty looks and scolding! Don't give in until your dog gives up. Your dog will come to understand the connection between his behavior and your lack of reaction.

If your dog is like Omar and is used to getting your attention when being demanding, then he may resort to more extreme behavior like mouthing. Even gentle mouthing cannot be ignored, so we taught Omar's owner how to play Out of the Pack. This is a way for Omar's owner to indicate that his behavior is unacceptable and that she won't tolerate it. Remember, when you suddenly change the rules, your dog will be confused at first and may act out of frustration. Be Patient and consistent; pretty soon you'll see the light bulb go on!

For more information on Shunishment and Zen Dog Games, visit Zen Dog Training Online.

How to Speak Dog.

Meet Cody!

Cody the cockapoo is handsome as they come. He loves to have company because he loves being the center of attention! In fact he is so accustomed to the limelight that he absolutely demands it.

When we visited Cody's home, he exhibited one attention-seeking behavior after another. When no one responded to his attempts, he quickly escalated to being extremely pushy and somewhat brash. While sitting on the couch he would throw himself into someone's lap and when they tried to remove him he would retaliate with a growl or a nip. This behavior was totally unacceptable especially since Cody's household includes two children.

It can be very nervewracking to have an extremely cute dog that is unpredictable. Everyone wants to interact with him, but you can't be certain of how he's going to behave. If your dog is protesting your directive with aggressive behavior, you may want to just give in to your dog's demands simply because you're unsure of the proper way to handle the situation. This will unfortunately give a dog the false impression that he's the one calling the shots. In short, there is a lack of balance between you and your pet, and it's unclear to your dog what exactly is acceptable and what is not.

Communicating to your dog can be difficult since they don't speak English! They do, however, understand some of our words. Using simple words like "YES!" or making noises like "EHH!" or "AHH!" can help establish clear positive and negative indicators for your dog. Words are fine and dandy, but they need to be accompanied by reinforcement in order for dogs to understand the words' meanings. Praise should be immediately followed with rewards like treats or attention, and reprimands should have consequences like being ignored or excluded from what's happening at that moment.

For more information about establishing clear means of communication with your dog, visit Zen Dog Training Online.