Canine Refine

14/11/2014

Thank you to all of our friends, new and old, who have supported Canine Refine lately. If you or anyone you know ever have a question about dogs or dog training, please feel free to refer to or post here.

14/11/2014

This is almost certain to make you smile. Have a happy weekend!

13/11/2014

In a dog training group I participate in, a professional trainer asked today about her personal dog, a 3 year-old female pit bull-type who has bitten 6 people and numerous dogs in a period of 2 years. She asked the group for behavioral advice. I thought I'd share with you what I told her:

I believe the first thing you MUST do immediately is address safety issues. With an unpredictable bite risk, you should get a proper-fitting muzzle that will really prevent bites and you should train your dog to happily wear it almost all the time, except when she's confined to a kennel or other isolation under your care.

Another important safety issue would be preventing her from experiencing her aggression which would counteract any training to the contrary and detract from your confidence in that training. One example of how to prevent her from aggressive behavior could be exclusively socializing her in training situations (with clicker or other high-value reward), keeping training sessions short at first. Start socializing again from step one and revert back to it if/when you encounter her unpredictable behavior.

Once you address and make a plan for your basic safety, you're able to think more rationally and accept your situation for what it is. That's when it's time for the next step. Take a few moments to consider what might be physically or behaviorally awry with your pup and take her to a vet and/or veterinary behaviorist for checkups. If you rush to the vet and behaviorist semi-frantic about safety, you may have difficulty processing the insight they share with you. Good luck! Let us know if you have more questions.

15/06/2014

27/04/2011

Do you know a dog that runs into the street to bark? Commonly misinterpreted by humans, this behavior is often blamed on defiance or excitement. The truth is to the contrary; dogs who bark and run out their front door believe they are performing a desirable behavior that their owners trained them to perform. Why? Because they enjoy the immediate result of getting out: playing a chasing game and hearing their name.

02/03/2011

Does your dog get minor scratches or cuts? Just like ours, your dog's wounds can get infected if not cleaned and treated properly. Always consult your vet if you're unsure. For minor wounds, initially washing with soap and water and regularly applying a topical antibiotic cream (like Tritop) could save you on the cost of pricey vet prescriptions.

01/03/2011

My friend Lisa was recently shaken when her rescue dog behaved uncontrollably off his leash and was injured as a result.

She asked for my thoughts and I told her that I believe dog owners should only allow a dog off its leash in environments where they can undoubtedly continue to maintain full control over their pet. With traffic and other risks, it's not worth losing a dog to poor training on our part.

06/02/2011

Are you watching the Superbowl today? Over half of the dog behavior problems I see regularly could be helped or solved by people properly administering exercise to their pets.

Canine Refine's tip today is to keep your animals (or kids) calm during the big game by wearing them out NOW. You'll thank yourself when the food coma starts setting in.

06/02/2011

Testing. Is this thing on?