Spend the time to socialize!

Up until they are 8 weeks old, your dog is surrounded by other puppies and their mother--spending his days playing and learning with his littermates.  Then they we sold or adopted out, and they leave their social circle and are bought into a life that is totally different than litter life before this!

So often puppies are brought  into a zero dog household to be a friend for the kids or simply a companion for their owner--which is wonderful! Sometimes, it's even a household who has a cat and wants to add a dog to complete the circuit (you know I love kitties, so I love that type of family!)  Or maybe it's a household with a small dog, where they want to bring in a bigger dog to have a variety! Whatever the case may be, it is important that your dog socialize with others outside of your household.

A cat can be a fun friend for a dog, but it has different body language and social signals. Kids are great buddies for a dog, but have sensitive skin that will be bruised and scratched with rough play. Little dogs are definitely an important part of life to be exposed to, but a Great Dane can't play the same way with a Chihuahua that it would with with another larger dog.

Dogs are social creatures, and as much as we strive to be the best leaders and teachers for our dogs as we can, ultimately other dogs are truly the best teachers out there. If we keep socializing our young dogs with other well behaved, balanced dogs of all ages, they will grow up to continue to be well socialized adult dogs! That means they can read body language, greet other dogs appropriately, and know how to communicate through subtle signals with each other.

I encourage you to spend the extra money on doggie daycare a couple times a week, meet with your friend's well behaved dogs, or just get out and walk your dog in a busy neighborhood--and do it often. We do no favors keeping them cooped up behind our doors, or trapped to the patch of grass known as our back yard. Keep life exciting and keep it social--your dog will love it and through his blossoming social behavior, thank you for it :)

The Inside Scoop

I want you to know that I love and am so grateful that you are reading my blog.  Each post comes from my heart, and is full of the passion I have to see people and their dogs succeed.  I hope that it inspires, empowers you, and can give you some help on your journey.

I want to let you in on my new project, that is all fun for me, and aims to provide entertainment and (hopefully) educational insights into dog training.  If you follow Take the Lead on Facebook you already know that in addition to having 4 personal dogs, I also have a cat.  If you didn't know that, let me introduce you!

Meet Cenicero--my dog training cat!

#dogtrainingcat

www.dogtrainingcat.com

This blog will give you an inside scoop to the workings of a Take the Lead board and train from his "kitty point of view."  It's been fun putting it together, and I hope you enjoy it!  Believe it or not, he really is a very important part of my training process!  :)  If you want, keep an eye on his blog--it's pretty active, as he has a lot to say! :)  

Thanks again, my friends! 

The Discipline of Dog Raising

Many of my clients are familiar with Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) and the "fulfillment formula" for a balanced dog: Exercise, Discipline, and Affection!  I think it is so fantastic that they've been working on this!  They talk about how much exercise they give their dogs or admit that they may not be giving enough and that "that's the problem."  I love their honesty, but more than that I LOVE that they are trying to follow the fulfillment formula in the first place--because it truly is an excellent equation to having a dog whose needs are truly met.  They are trying to put it into practice, but many are still struggling with their dog--which can be frustrating when you are trying step by step to follow "by the book."

So I want to discuss the 3 parts to this equation a little bit.

Exercise: Of course!  Wolves naturally migrate miles daily, so it's only natural that our dogs would need that instinctual need met through exercise.  It's true that a dog with pent up energy that is not getting adequate exercise, will release that energy through bad behaviors.  There is no question that a tired dog is a happy dog!  I find that the type of exercise you share with your dog is also important in affecting your dogs state of mind, and ultimately fulfilling "balance."  Letting them chase squirrels around the yard, wrestle all day with another dog, swim, and play fetch are all excellent forms of energy burn, however do not have the same effect and importance as the structured walk.  The walk is an opportunity for you to practice 2 parts of the fulfillment formula at one time (exercise and discipline) which make it a very powerful relationship exercise.  All of those fast paced and exciting exercises have their place, but should not be a substitute for the exercise of a structured walk.

Discipline: Yep!  Many of my clients who follow this formula absolutely understand the importance of discipline and telling their dog if they are right or wrong.  They have no problem addressing a behavior and telling their dog that it is unacceptable.  That said, I find "discipline" is the most misrepresented part of the equation in many households.  Not because clients arn't trying to correct their dog, but because that is ALL they are doing.  They are putting out fires behind their dog and communicating that what its done is wrong.  Correcting a dog is not what discipline is all about (it's an important part, but there is so much more!)

The martial arts are called a "discipline" for a reason.  It is not because of the combat-- which is the most memorable part for most people, but because of the dedication it takes from an individual to practice it.  Martial arts are about concentration, control, practice, strategy, rules, boundaries, respect, and dedication.  Ask anyone who practices martial arts and they will tell you it is not about knee-jerk reactions in a fight--it is about the discipline that lead up to their first strategic choice.

THAT is what is meant by discipline when it comes to our dogs.  Being proactive and creating opportunities for our dog to practice control, following, boundaries, and respect.  When you are putting those things in place daily, you are taking the first initiative to guide your dog during times that he would make bad choices.  YOU are also practicing a new discipline of teaching and guiding your dog with daily structure and boundaries.  We're not waiting for our dog to make a mistake or bad choice to "apply" discipline through a correction.  We are now actively looking for ways to strengthen our bond and prepare our dog to behave in a more controlled and focus manner throughout life, through the daily practice of discipline.

Affection:  Our favorite!  Affection is the one part of the formula that never gets left out.  It is important, no doubt!  We LOVE to share affection with out dogs--it feels good and makes us happy (and is the easiest for people to do)!  Affection is also the LAST part of the formula, because it should be the LAST part given.  It doesn't mean it's not important, but our dogs need us to provide them with important dog-life skills (exercise and discipline) before we share our human-emotion-based stuff with them (affection).  Use your affection as a reward for a great state of mind and calm energy...that's how it is truly meant to fit into the formula (not just as permission to give a ton of treats and hugs because you are back from a walk!)

Make sure to take look at your formula and see how much affection you are giving compared to the other 2 practices.  These are supposed to be three equal parts:  how does yours look? Now that you see the real definition of discipline, is it the same percentage that you thought it was? Are they all still equal?

If you're getting some untoward behavior from your dog, feel like your dog is not listening to you, and that you do not have control or influence when it comes to your dog in certain situations...revisit the formula.  Work on your discipline--it's not just you, we all need to!  That's why it's called a discipline---it involves practice, dedication, and control!  We have to learn how to become a master :)

The Formula to a Calm and Happy Dog-Filled Life!

This is a super easy formula that I share with my clients and utilize daily, to create a calm and well balanced home. It works amazing for puppies and dogs of all ages, because all dogs (no matter how many you own) benefit from boundaries and guidelines to follow :)

Think of your life with dogs as they are students, and you are their teacher. You are looking out for their best interests and trying to help them learn to make good choices, so they will have the tools to succeed in life and be polite members of society.

Think of the inside of you home as the classroom. You teach your dogs to be calm, and polite. Work on obedience commands to set boundaries and give them things to focus on. The classroom is no place for running laps, screaming, wrestling, or cutting up. There are rules in the classroom--and they must learn to respect this space. Correct them for getting out of hand, and show them something more productive to do. I love place command and down/stays inside of the house, because it makes for a calm dog that is not getting into trouble. Give them a chew bone or toy, and let them be productive--not destructive :)

Think of your walk as P.E.--that's right physical education! Your structured walk is an opportunity to teach your dog how to behave outside of the home. This is a really important aspect to your relationship with your dog, and it is vital that your dog still sees your walk as a learning process, not a party. No pulling, barking, sniffing every blade of grass, or peeing on every mailbox--this is about moving together as a unit and your dog tuning into you. If you're struggling at it, keep working on it! However, if your dog is just pushing you out of the way to do whatever it wants, yet you don't mind--think about your student-teacher relationship. Who should be in charge, and help them make better choices? Your dog needs to be aware that you are just as important to being outside as all of those other things he can be distracted by. Being in control of your dog "out in the world" is one of the biggest challenges, but most rewarding accomplishments when you get there! 

Think of your backyard as recess! Yes, dogs can have fun, too! ;) Let them know when they can let their hair down and have a good time! They've earned it with all of the hard work and polite behavior they've been giving you!  However, there is always a teacher supervising recess--so no monkey business! (Like charging your fence and barking at dogs on the sidewalk, being rude to other dogs in your yard, jumping all over you or guests, playing too rough, etc.) Your dog will be able to differentiate where they play and where they stay calm, instead of turning your living room into a playground. 

When you set rules and boundaries for your dog, you'll be surprised at how much incredible behavior and focused attention you get from them! When we give them good information, they are happy to take it from us!  Let's set them up for success--teach them how to behave in their environment, be consistent about that message, and have a dog who has some great new habits! 

It's a Lifesyle

Dog training is not just about obedience commands. If it's good--it's about a lifestyle. It's about figuring out the best possible way to live with your dog. When you can feel connected to your dog, not because she is always on your lap, or he is always sitting at your feet, but because you can really have a conversation--that's when it's working. When your dog knows what is expected of him, does what you ask, and looks to you for guidance. When you see your dog seems uncomfortable or unsure, and you know what to do to help them feel differently, advocate for them, and help them focus their mind else where. When your dog is making a poor choice, crossing a boundary, or loosing focus and you step in, correct it, and they learn a lesson from you. When your dog is at its highest distraction and you have the ability to regain their focus on you, breakthrough the moment to make better choices, and not be so reactive to life. It's when you help them be the best dog they can be--not anxious, nervous, over-excited, over-stimulated, stressed, or agitated. When you know what it takes to help them be comfortable in their own skin and you apply it everyday to your lives, by changing your goal from the relationship your may WANT to have with your dog, to the relationship that you NEED to have. All of this is a constantly evolving, living and breathing process that never stops. But, that's when you are being a true leader, and your dog (and yourself!) will find true happiness and balance.

Trying to find the words to tell you...

I LOVE this job!  Working with families and their dogs is such a rewarding and never dull experience.  

I often come into the lives of families and start talking about things like "leadership, structure, setting boundaries, dog psychology, being the pack leader, respect, having a tuned in dog" and it can often seem like a bunch of great ideas, but hard things to implement.  I do my best to help my clients understand what I am picturing inside of my head for them, but there is a high possibility my words may not match up to the clarity or extent that they need to.  I'm trying, but until you've "lived" those things and can relate, I know it's hard to gather exactly from my words how to make it happen.

So, let me share with you the best dog training/psychology/general life improvement blog on the internet.  This is written by my mentor Sean O'Shea and it pretty much nails each of those topics so clearly and flawlessly that I am learning something new every time I read a post.  

http://thegooddoglifeblog.com/

I hope you love it!!!

Pack Walk with myself and Sean O'Shea!

Just give it a little clutch...

Dog handling has often been compared to horse handling--the way you must feel the animal through the lead.  I want to take a moment to compare it to something different--only because some people may have never ridden a horse, or like me, were not very good at it!

Most people have driven a stick shift before--you know, a car that you have to change the gears to get moving.  You definitely see more automatic transmissions on the road, and why wouldn't you?  They are WAY more convenient.  You don't have to pay attention to anything except for the cars around you and pushing the gas or break pedal.  You don't have to worry about giving too much or too little touchy clutch pressure as you change gears.  I was horrible at driving a stick shift and would stress big time about stalling out, which I did often!  It was a jolty, uncomfortable ride when I was driving--no fun for passengers or people driving around me!  Now, have you ever seen someone who knows how to drive a stick shift DRIVE that car?  It's so smooth--like they are one with the car!  They have a feel for when the car needs to shift, and they make the move.  Flawless.  It's pretty awesome!

SO!  What does this have to do with dogs, you ask?  The first time I ever saw Cesar Millan walking a pack of dogs on the Dog Whisperer I was blown away.  All of those dogs, beside or behind him, and he was in the front not even looking at them.  When I walked my dog I had to stare at him the whole time, drag him away from whatever nastiness he was trying to eat or roll in on the sidewalk, not to mention he pulled me all over the place.  How in the world could someone walk that many dogs and I was struggling with controlling my ONE dog?  Since walking my dog was something I did every day, much like driving a car, I knew I needed to figure it out!  I watched a ton of episodes and followed his advice of making the dog stay at your side by interrupting him from pulling ahead or away.  Soon I began to develop a feel for my dog.  Where before, when he was pulling ahead of me, walking him always felt the same--constant tension and pressure on the leash and my arm.  Now there was no tension on the leash, so I could FEEL when he was pulling ahead and I'd stop him.  I could FEEL when he was lagging behind or pulling to the side, and I would redirect him.  I could even tell if he picked up his pace to chase a squirrel, lizard, or react to an oncoming dog because I could FEEL the change in the leash.  It was incredible!  I felt like my dog and I were connected as one unit.  He also was more tuned in to me, looking up at me after I gave him some leash pressure for whatever it was that I interrupted him from.  I was able to bring his focus back to me, and our walk.   I felt AWESOME!!!  Then, as I brought more dogs into my home and started my training career, the "feel" continued as I walked packs of dogs.  Without looking, I can tell what's going on at the end of the leash.  I felt like one of those people who know how to drive a stick shift.  In gear and in the groove.

There are no "automatic transmissions" when it comes to dogs--they are all over the place, won't do what we want, or get into the right state of mind (gear!) that we need if we don't practice and develop that FEEL.  Once you have it, you know it, and you'll never feel the same way about walking your dog ever again :)

Does size really matter?

Little dogs are not accessories, stuffed animals, or pocket pets--they are dogs! Even though they are small and cute, they are still descendants of wolves like all other dogs, which means their needs of fulfillment are the same! The lack of "dog-like" treatment is why so many small dogs get titled with a "Napoleon complex" or "aggressive." These behavioral problems develop from a void of leadership (and probably too much spoiling) in their lives. Little dogs can (and should!) be trained--let's give them some credit! Cody here just walked 2 miles alongside a pitbull and greyhound: does size matter? I think not!