Canine Training and Activity Center Christi McKeen

03/23/2025

To anyone who received an old email receipt from me yesterday, I am sorry. Was having my website worked on, and it was found that not all emails had gone through. Sorry for any confusion!!!

09/21/2024

I detest this guy, National Geographic, and to some extent, Oprah Winfrey (she made him and several other charlatans famous, including Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz) but the truth is that reality shows are orchestrated to be entertaining, not educational. A TV show about me would make most people fall asleep when dealing with fear, reactivity, or aggression. I work with dogs in tiny steps, under threshold (meaning as stress free as possible) and without the use of corrections such as fear, pain, or intimidation. Changing behavior requires brains, not brawn. My best tools are consistency, observation, environmental management (preventing unwanted behavior from continuing such as the use of a trash can with a lid vs. an open one) and time. The last one, time, is where most pet guardians struggle. Most people that call me are completely frustrated with their pet, in part because they are living with the unwanted behavior 24/7. But it's also, sometimes, because they have watched shows like from this clown, who seem to be able to cure serious behavioral issues in a half hour. I'm not a magician. In the same way that I can't get you in shape to run a 5K, or teach you a new language, in a single session, I can't help a dog, or their people, with serious behavioral concerns. We, as the supposed smartest species on the planet understand that for ourselves and our children, learning, and changing behavior takes time-when are we going to give that grace to our best friends?

BEYOND CESAR MILLAN

20 YEARS LATER.....The following review was submitted to National Geographic by Dr. Andrew Luescher, DVM, Ph.D, DACVB (board-certified veterinary behaviorist).

Dr. Luescher, former director of the Purdue University Veterinary Behavior Clinic was asked to provide feedback on "Dog Whisperer" tapes prior to the show's airing.

In this letter to National Geographic (date unknown), Dr. Luescher writes,

"I think this series, if aired, would be a major embarrassment for National Geographic. It is not stimulating or thought-provoking, since none of the presented techniques are new. They are outdated and have long been abandoned by most responsible trainers, let alone behaviorists, as inappropriate and cruel. I very much hope National Geographic will pull the plug on this program."

Please read the entire letter (It's not long.) and share: http://beyondcesarmillan.weebly.com/andrew-luescher.html

This program and trainers who have mimicked the behavior seen in this program have done so much damage to the dog training industry, dogs, and the human-animal bond.

I have met and spoken to Dr. Luescher personally, and I share his sentiments, as do all other trainers in the evidence-based, best practice camp. Meanwhile, much of the unsuspecting public still looks to National Geographic as an authority and has no idea it has thrown science to the wind, at least in terms of dog behavior and training.

Cindy Ludwig, MA, BS, RN, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA
Canine Connection LLC
Willard, MO

Image copyright Valder Beebe Show, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Cesar_Millan_Mar_2018.png

03/31/2023

This is so true, and so well written. I have suggested muzzles to more clients with dogs that pick up or eat indiscriminate items, than I have for fear/aggression. Removing a stick that impaled in the stomach is much more expensive than a muzzle. Every single time I see a dog in a muzzle, I think of responsible owners, and owners who can enjoy the walk more knowing their dog cannot practice a whole host of behaviors that muzzles help with. Please note that this was written by No Monkey Business Dog Training, and was not anonymous.

Repeat after me. Muzzled dogs are NOT BAD DOGS.

Muzzled dogs have good humans.

Muzzled dogs can have more experiences because they are managed. Their quality of life is INCREASED because of the muzzle.

Muzzled dogs can still have treats.

Muzzled dogs are not miserable.

Muzzled dogs are muzzled for ALL KINDS OF REASONS. Not just aggression. Maybe they eat too much stuff off the ground and get sick. Maybe they play too rough. Maybe they over react when startled. Maybe they want to eat squirrels. Maybe they need to learn better social skills. Not all dogs in a muzzle have a bite history, some have them on to prevent that in the first place. Sometimes the muzzle is more for the HUMAN than the DOG because it allows them to feel more confident. Big dogs, small dogs, and all breeds and sizes need muzzles sometimes. It is not a breed specific tool.

Muzzled dogs are GOOD DOGS WITH GREAT HUMANS who are setting their dog up to not fail. Judging a dog in a muzzle and their owner is the same as judging someone for wearing a helmet. They are choosing safety and being proactive and it takes WORK to get your dog to a level that they are happily working and walking around in a muzzle so kudos to the humans and dogs I work with who put that time in to better their dogs lives.

If you see a dog in a muzzle, don’t stare, don’t ask rude questions, just say “nice job, great looking dog!” And carry on. Believe me, you will have just made that humans day.
-author found thank you for this great information

Author is Helen St. Pierre of No Monkey Dog Training

03/09/2023

True story! I have never been bitten by any sort of Bully type breed, GSD, Rottie, or any other "scary" dog. I was bitten by a Lab, a rabbit, a gerbil, pony, and Anole.

A BBC investigation published today has revealed that dog bites reported to the police (in England & Wales) have risen by a third over the last 5 years. And, predictably, much of the media coverage has centred around these bites being caused by ‘out of control’ dogs of certain breeds. But is that accurate? What is the real story when it comes to dog bites?

⚠️ breed is a poor predictor of aggression
⚠️ the vast majority (80%) of dog bites happen in the home and come from family dogs
⚠️ the risk of bites may be increased in the presence of pain or disease in the dog
⚠️ the majority of dogs that bite are motivated by fear or anxiety, not ‘badness’
⚠️ the use of physical punishment or physical force is a risk factor in creating a fear response and aggression
⚠️ the majority of accidents to children occur when there is lack of active parental supervision

So, how do we reverse this trend? Rather than relying on governments to act (after all previous legislation like the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act is both profoundly flawed & ineffective) we can all play a role to improve safety around dogs.....

✅ educate yourself about canine body language & behaviour
✅ ensure your dog’s fundamental needs, including exercise, social contact & access to species specific activities, are being met
✅ understand that dogs are autonomous, sentient animals and not playthings here for our amusement or social media likes
✅ understand your dog doesn’t know how to live in a human world and that it’s your job to teach them when you can and manage them when you can't
✅ understand that your dog is allowed to proportionately express their discomfort or displeasure just as you are and that you should listen when they do
✅ take the time to find a responsible breeder / rescue. Poor breeding and irresponsible ‘rescue’ results in physically and temperamentally compromised dogs being placed in unsuspecting, ill equipped homes with potentially devastating results
✅ be realistic about your experience & skill levels when choosing a dog to join your family. Match your challenge to your skills. You don't learn to drive in a Ferrari for good reason. Dog ownership is no different...
✅ follow & learn from responsible, ethical trainers who understand the roots of behaviour & not simply how to suppress it
✅ actively supervise (or separate) children & dogs

Every dog has the capacity to bite regardless of breed or size. And the consequences of a bite can be devastating for the dog and for the humans. But we can mitigate that risk by understanding and accepting our dogs for the amazing species they are. By choosing wisely, meeting their needs and listening to what they tell us. As dog owners, we all have it in our power to make a positive change to these statistics. The buck stops with us.

©️Aileen Stevenson, The Perfect Puppy Company

03/01/2023

When Chantelle first met Mr. Magoo, he was in pretty rough physical shape. He had next to no hair, open sores everywhere, he stunk like death, and his body was infested with mange. His ears were noticeable only because of how poorly the crop was done.

Chantelle’s mom, already hesitant about adding this dog to her family, asked why his ears looked that way. The lady doing the meet and greet chimed in suggesting that it was because he was a possible "bait dog".

Chantelle knew what the word meant but her mom had no idea – imagine how awkward it was trying to explain to her already nervous mother why adopting a “bait dog” was a good idea.

“We bought into this for a little bit,” remembers Chantelle, “and I can say with certainty that these two misused words ‘bait dog’ influenced the way Magoo was treated and how we saw him. Eventually, through social media, we found the couple who removed him from the environment he was in and we spoke to the rescue who brought him here to Calgary. We found out that he was not a victim of dog fighting, but instead a victim of poverty, a lack of resources, and neglect. Over the years, I learned something even more important – his past is interesting to know, but it doesn’t matter or define who he is.”

We have previously discussed the propensity of rescues and shelters to speculate that scarred, injured, or dog-selective dogs are “bait dogs”. Before that we looked at the paucity of evidence showing that “bait dogs” are even a thing in professional dog fighting operations. Today we talk about how the label may actually harm the dog it’s trying to drum up empathy for.

By applying a “bait dog” label, we are marketing this dog as a victim, and encouraging an adoption out of pity rather than suitability to the home. Because of its imagined past, the owners may feel inclined to write off behaviour issues. Have you ever seen someone with a misbehaving dog try to explain the behaviour along the lines of, “It’s not his fault. He’s a RESCUE!!”? While we of course need to be compassionate and work within our dog’s limitations, it’s demeaning to them to assume that because they have a sad background (real or imagined) they have a free pass for misbehaviour for life – particularly if this translates to aggression or dangerous behaviour.

Another concern is that the more that abuse is sensationalized, the more that sick people will copy it. In rescue, the few “bait dogs” we’ve seen are the result of troubled young men from low income communities trying to train their dogs to fight by encouraging them to attack weaker animals. It’s very rare, but it happens – and it happens because they have heard so much chatter about “bait dogs” that they assume that’s how it’s done. Another example is the phenomenon of finding a dog with its muzzle taped shut. Five years ago this was unheard of, which made it so bizarre when the first case hit the news. However, as this was covered extensively in the news, more and more cases popped up.

We are not downplaying the tragedies that occur to some dogs, and the abuse that some dogs suffer. But the abuse shouldn’t define them. And speculation about abuse absolutely shouldn’t define them. Let’s encourage shelters and rescues to perform thorough assessments on the dogs that we see in front of us today, and match them with families that will love them, appreciate them, and work with them based on their potential, not based on what we believe to be their past.

03/01/2023

Having worked in shelters for many moons, it has been a real issue that folks assume that any bully breed, actually any dog, that has scars is/was a bait dog. The fact is dogs can end up with scars from all sorts of things including skin issues, running through brush, playing with dogs that have long nails, etc. This is especially true if a wound, or skin infection is itchy and the dog has access to scratching or nibbling on the area.

“Bait dog” is a term used to describe a dog that was used as "bait" in dog fighting rings. We hear about “bait animals” a lot in the news and in the rescue community, but there’s not much objective evidence that this is a common practice in organized dog fighting.

“Professional and amateur dog fighters do not use ‘bait dogs’. That is a term that has been used and sensationalized by the media. Fighters will “roll” their dogs (a term used to test a dog to see if he/she has game). They will have the dog fight an established fighter to see if the dog continues even after they are exhausted and/or getting beat; this is probably where the term ‘bait dog’ came from. If the dog does not fight, quits, or does not show promise, the poor dog would be killed since they are considered a disgrace and of no value to the fighter.” –Janette Reever, Manager of Animal Fighting Response with the Humane Society of the United States

Dog fighting is illegal in North America. A “bait dog” is evidence of illegal activity and to allow that dog to wander or end up in the shelter would be incredibly foolhardy. It’s certainly possible that wannabe dog fighters use and abandon “bait dogs”, but one has to ask if they do so based on hearing about the practice so often in the media. We don’t hear about “bait dogs” seized during dog fighting busts. The dogs from these seizures are typically fighting or breeding dogs (also victims of abuse, but rarely attract the same degree of attention).

So how are there so many “bait dogs” in rescue?

Dogs can end up in the shelter with cropped ears, injuries, scars, and wounds for many reasons. If they are stray or roaming, it’s highly possible they have had a scraps with dogs, cats, or wildlife. Dogs within a home can fight for any number of reasons. For some reason, certain rescuers are quick to jump to the most dramatic and ugly conclusions.

We don’t believe they are always doing it deliberately, but it’s certainly a fact that a “bait dog” story generates a lot more emotion, clicks, and attention than a profile of a regular old stray. One can argue that the end justifies the means, but we don’t agree. What do we really accomplish when we re-home a dog or raise awareness about a cause by exploiting emotions?

By applying a “bait dog” label, we are marketing this dog as a victim, and encouraging an adoption out of pity rather than suitability to the home. Because of its imagined past, the owners may feel inclined to write off behaviour issues. Have you ever seen someone with a misbehaving dog try to explain the behaviour along the lines of, “It’s not his fault. He’s a rescue!”? While we of course need to be compassionate and work within our dog’s limitations, it’s demeaning to assume that because they have a sad background (real or imagined) they don't need to meet a basic standard of conduct – particularly if this translates to aggression or dangerous behaviour. We are not downplaying the tragedies that occur to some dogs, and the abuse that some dogs suffer. But the abuse shouldn’t define them.

Imagined abuse should definitely not define them! To the rescues and advocates out there – let’s leave the past behind, especially when we don’t know anything about it. Let’s honour these dogs by seeing them as they are today, and working for a better tomorrow.

Photo from Canva

02/05/2023

Cough, cough...damn retrievers!

01/14/2023

Ask two dog trainers what they agree on, and it is that a third dog trainer is doing it wrong. It's supposed to be a joke, but the fact is, we are a very "catty" group.

I suspect that the increase in arguing has to do with the fact that several professional organizations are getting together to make dog trainers have a licence to train in every state. At a minimum, dog trainers will have to know rudimentary training, behavior, husbandry, and health issues.

It's going to be a bit of a mess in its infancy, but it is meant to prevent dog guardians from seeking training and behavior advice from folks that just hang a shingle and call themselves a dog trainer. Right now, anyone can call themselves a Professional Dog Trainer.

I truly hope that there is a requirement to obtain CEU's at each license renewals because there are plenty of folks STILL under the impression that Alpha Theory is viable despite being debunked in 1984.... that's right 1984!

As I have said in the past "I wouldn't hire an electrician if he was still using k**b and tube wiring. I want someone that is up to date, using the best products and skills they have currently." I feel this is more important when it comes to animals. We now have decades of scientific evidence on how dogs learn, which methods last longest, and which are the most humane. What I teach now, will likely be obsolete in a decade. And that's ok.

I struggle to understand why some of my local colleagues continue using antiquated, and sometimes harmful methods, when there's gobs of information, studies, and organizations based solely on animal behavior offering a nearly endless supply of classes, seminars, and offerings in our area of interest.

Just because something works, doesn't mean it is still the best way to approach an issue. The fact is....positive punishment (shock collars) does work. The issue is that there can be fallout, meaning that a dog's behavior can escalate, or redirect on an owner or bystander, or come out in a way the owner never anticipated. I used them in the past. I am a crossover trainer. This is not the case with positive reinforcement.

Locally, I am surrounded by "trainers" who think that every dog's problem is due to them being spoiled. Another who puts shock collars on 8 week old puppies, and still another who uses a shock collar to "clean up" their positive reinforcement work. That one, I don't get at all. There is no need to clean up positive reinforcement work, if you have done it right.

What I do know, is I am tired of debating these people. I'm talking about other dog trainers, not folks that come to me for training. I used to try to debate other trainers, but I have come to realize that the onus is on them to upgrade their skills in their chosen profession. This is what nurses, doctors, contractors, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, teachers, and a bazillion other professional people must do to continue working in their industry. It's high time dog trainers are required to as well. So I am thrilled that MA will be one of 3 states tested in licensing trainers. I have seen the test, it is honestly not difficult, but it will cull the worst of the worst unless they learn something new.

Today, I came across this dog trainer who summed up my sentiments nicely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=WYZXjGhmAww&fbclid=IwAR3mcAWUgvdg3AOcuRIT7LS6orZ0l2C3NUjQtWNg5CntXDXu9lOre2zdopU

Why doesn’t force free training work?Force-free is taking over the dog training industry. It’s easy to understand why! People love their dogs, dominance or a...

01/13/2023

Yep, I am a rat lover, and have trained rats for fun. See how positive reinforcement works in training rats.

This video is on getting started training rats! This video is not only an amazingly valuable resource for rat owners but a great resource for anyone interest...

12/10/2022

This is so true....

Yesterday I did these things ‘wrong’…

• I drove over the speed limit when I was running late
• I didn’t pick up a phone call because…well, I could make up a valid excuse but, honestly, I just couldn’t be bothered
• I had a Netflix binge instead of cracking on with my tax return

All less than desirable but all relatively normal human behaviour.

We are subject to the whims of motivation & emotion and so are our dogs. They’re not robots. They’re autonomous, sentient beings who are as subject to emotion & motivation as we are. So if we cut ourselves some slack when our behaviour is a little bit less than perfect then we should do the same for our dogs.

12/04/2022

Oye, I hear this regularly from compulsion based trainers...that somehow the only way to "cure" a difficult case is with pain, or that R+ trainers want to euthanize every difficult case. It is simply not true. I have seen some pretty heinous things done to animals through the years in the name of "helping" animals, and it truly blows my mind sometimes.

A year or two ago, there was a "trainer" who started a "rescue" and was proud to videotape himself slamming a crate door on a blind dog. I thank the Universe that he was not local, because I'd be in jail now. He mentioned that one of his mentors what a woman in the midwest, and I looked up her videos, where she had muzzles, pinch collars, AND shock collars on the dog...all at the same time. She made the guy look like a pacifist. The kicker was that when the dogs had had enough of pain, and couldn't fight back, they'd fall to the ground exhausted and having learned helplessness....she called it "calm." Guess who was her "mentor"?

While I don't think the government is always the best way to moderate all industries, I do think that if hair stylists have to have a license (even though hair grows back), and nail salons need licenses, those that cannot tell the difference between suppressing behavior and changing behavior should not be allowed to harm animals, especially for money.

MYTH BUSTING: 🤜 💥 💩 👄

🗣️ “Force free/positive reinforcement trainers always recommend euthanasia when they can’t fix a dog”

Is often said to justify the use of heavy punishment in dog training, such as corrections, prongs, e-collars etc.
I’m going to put it out there that this year, not one of my 95 cases were advised to be put to sleep. This isn't because I got 'soft' cases. As a clinical behaviourist, I get referred complex and dangerous cases all the time.

Only ONE previous client approached me (this year) to discuss euthanasia, based on THEIR personal reflection of THEIR ongoing situation, rather than me prompting it.
They are absolutely entitled to work through this reflection and should not be shamed for it. Part of my job is to support the client without emotion and bias, offering a professional opinion that focuses on owner and dog welfare, as well as safety.
From a clinical animal behaviour (CAB) perspective, we don’t TELL owners to PTS, we discuss options.

Sometimes options will occasionally will be very thin on the ground because….

A) The dog’s behaviour is so dangerous, or their quality of life is so compromised, that working through an inquiry, booking in and assessment process with another professional is totally unethical and/too risky and where rehoming is simply not an option.

B. ) There’s a medical differential involved that’s got a poor prognosis and this combined with the behaviour problem severely compromises welfare.
Or working through the process to narrow down potential diagnosis is too costly, lengthy, invasive and stressful for the dog and owner etc. The latter tends to follow the more routine testing.

More often than not, if we hit a wall after our own in depth problem solving- we recommend a second opinion with a fellow CAB, a veterinary behaviourist or diplomat. For non CABs, they likely have a similar process!
The notion that those who use gentle methods go...

🗣️ “This can’t be done nicely, therefor the dog must die!”
.....is just plain ludicrous. 🙄

I’ve met just as many cases who have had punishment based trainers recommend euthanasia as I have had cases from positive reinforcement based trainers. In fact, I haven't even met that many cases where it's been recommended at all, certainly not enough to warrant making inflammatory statements.

Euthanasia for behaviour problems is either DISCUSSED with a client for VERY good reason (welfare and safety reasons)

OR

It is advised by an individual who is too proud to refer on and admit they don’t have the skills and knowledge to deal with the case. Or they’re unaware they don’t have the skills and knowledge and genuinely believe if they don't get success, then no one else can (The Dunning Kruger Effect).

This effect is not exclusive to either groups of trainers.

This repeated notion I see- that balanced trainers “save” dogs who would otherwise be PTS by positive reinforcement based trainers- is somewhat demonstrative of a ‘god complex’.

Worryingly this ideology, that training alone fixes behaviour, fails to factor in the debilitating health issues that so often motivates complex and serious behaviour problems.
In these instances, the persuit of dodging euthanasia and the addition of punitive methods can prolong and even increase physical and emotional suffering, as well as increase the risk of serious incident.
No professional wants to see their cases be PTS and in my experience, this just doesn't happen any where near as often (under behaviourist advice) as it's made out on the internet!

In fact, ressearch has shown that many behaviour cases under the age of three were euthanised having never seen a behaviour professional (Boyd et al 2018).

Thankfully, in my part of the woods (Bristol, UK) our amazing community of vets now work as a team with behaviourists to ensure all options have been throughly explored first.

Excuse the doomy gloomy post, but I really tire of seeing these inflammatory comments being made and am keen to put a more accurate representation out there.

04/17/2021

Hilarious, but an excellent reminder to treat our best buddies with respect.

02/04/2021

Those with puppies or young dogs will understand....

12/24/2020

True Story!

If your dog's trainer uses any of the terms on the left, time to find a new trainer!

07/22/2020

Yep, it is just one small study, but it backs up dozens of others..... "Overall, the professional use of a reward-focused training regime, as demonstrated by Control Group 2, was superior to E-collar and Control Group 1 in every measure of efficacy where there was a significant difference. In addition, dogs in Control Group 1 showed no better learning outcomes than those in the E-collar group, indicating industry nominated trainers were as effective at modifying undesirable behavior, when they did not use e-collars as one of their training methods. Given the better target behavior response parameters associated with a reward-focused training programme, and the finding that the use of an E-collar did not create a greater deterrent for disobedience; we conclude that an E-collar is unnecessary for effective recall training. Given the additional potential risks to the animal's well-being associated with use of an E-collar (7, 25, 31, 38, 39), we conclude that dog training with these devices causes unnecessary suffering, due to the increased risk of a dog's well-being is compromised through their use, without good evidence of improved outcomes."

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00508/full?fbclid=IwAR0MfuTALmGodfYEciLIeINxL7g1N5TJon2a7fxI7uJwujHfM9qDrg9WUgQ

We assessed the efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars compared to training with positive reinforcement. A total of 63 dogs with known off-lead behavioral problems such as poor recall were allocated to one of three training groups (each n = 21), receiving up to 150 min o...

07/22/2020

I have been wanting to do a blog for awhile. What do you think? https://caninetrainingandactivitycenter.com/2020/07/11/recycled-enrichment/

If you are like me, you have hundreds of dollars invested in a wide variety of toys and enrichment for your best buddy. Sometimes, your pet seems bored anyway. Instead of spending money, take a look inside your recycling bin. Read more…

05/17/2020

Sometimes, all you have to do is let a fly in the house to keep your dog entertained.

03/24/2020

What is your emergency plan for your pet???

Everyone should have an emergency plan for their pets, so they are prepared for severe weather conditions, or the need to vacate your home abruptly, or in this case a pandemic looming on the horizon.

This is just a friendly reminder to make sure your pets are up to date on vaccines, and that you have copies of vaccine records, should you become ill and unable to care for your pets, during this pandemic.
If you don't have friends or family members that can watch your pets while you recover, or if your pet has special behavioral or health needs, your pet will likely have to be boarded or fostered.

Your emergency plan should include feeding instructions (what kind of food, how much given, frequency) if your pet has allergies or medication (How much/when). If your pet has behavioral issues, please write a detailed account of what to expect, how you manage, and what is helping. The more details you include, the more comfortable and calm your pets will be.

Have on hand a minimum of 3-5 days worth of food, water, and medication, in an easily accessed area, along with the following:

You should write a permission slip for your pet's caretaker to take your pet to your veterinarian/emergency veterinarian. Include how much you are willing to spend, and for what (medications, wellness visit, euthanasia, etc). Add any special instructions, and sign it. Attach your veterinarian's name, phone number, address. Include your information as well so a veterinarian can touch base with you if needed.

If you have a carrier or crate that you use to transport your pet, or for sleeping and house training, please make sure it is clean, and has fresh bedding. If you happen to have cage cups or water buckets, install them now. Label with your name, phone number, and address.

List a couple favorite toys, or bed, or blanket that your pet's caretaker might bring along that will help your pet relax while you recuperate.

Finally, add a couple of recent pictures, and insert all paperwork into a gallon sized ziplock bag.

P.S. here is a nice checklist to help you organize.https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-pet-emergency-checklist.pdf