Pawsitively Fabulous Dog Training

04/25/2019

Dog Owner Insights

As many of you know, I am an independently tested, Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) sent us an email asking us to share a survey with our network of consumers. The CCPDT is surveying consumers in order to gain insights into the decisions they make when hiring a dog trainer or dog behavior consultant. The results of the survey will direct the CCPDT consumer marketing plan during the next fiscal year.

Direct Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/dogconsumer

The questions should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and the survey will remain open until May 6, 2019.

This survey is completely anonymous, and the information will be kept strictly confidential. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Bradley Phifer, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Thank you!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

04/25/2019

The Academy for Dog Trainers

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆:
Dog training is an unregulated industry and there can be disagreement among professionals on the use of terms. This means that consumers must be proactive and ask questions when hiring a professional. Having an understanding of educational requirements in order to earn credentials and degrees (where applicable) is an important part of hiring the right person for the job.

Many behavior professionals work hand-in-hand to help owners achieve their goals and modify behavior where necessary. An approach that integrates types or levels of care needed can make the process go more smoothly. Having team members whose approaches dovetail and complement each other can make the difference between success and failure.

You can learn more about Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists here:
http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/applied-behavior-caab.php

And Veterinary Behaviorists here:
https://www.dacvb.org/page/About

04/08/2019

Xylitol Products | Preventive Vet

Pay attention to what you have in your home. Could be toxic to your dog.

This xylitol products list can help you identify the brands to keep out of reach of your dog. Xylitol toxicity can be fatal to dogs. Extreme caution!

03/31/2019

More Than Fancy Words

This is an excellent article. Everyone who has a dog, trains a dog or otherwise has anything to do with dogs needs to read this!
An excerpt: "Or imagine an unregulated legal profession, and you’ve found yourself in need of an attorney. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the practitioner who attended law school and passed the state bar exam. If not so lucky, you’ll get an avid viewer of Law & Order or Matlock. Sounds silly, but that’s the reality unique to dog training. You need a license to practice professionally as a plumber or a hairdresser and everything in between; but anyone can be a dog trainer and charge consumers real money to treat serious behavior issues, many using outdated methods known to actually increase fear and aggression in dogs. There is zero oversight and no qualifications necessary, and there are plenty of people in this industry hoping it stays that way."

As a dog trainer, I put a lot of effort into reframing key principles of animal learning for clients, avoiding the use of technical jargon. They’re looking for help with their dogs, not a lecture on applied behavior analysis or Pavlovian conditioning. Some are naturally curious, self-selecting to ...

03/26/2019

Always the Carrot!

In her article "Talk Softly and Carry a Carrot, Not a Stick", Academy founder Jean Donaldson reminds us that the move towards force free training is a marathon, not a sprint and that the experts are also on #teamcarrot:

"The force-free movement has been partly driven by improved communication from the top. Applied behaviorists, those with advanced degrees in behavior, and veterinary behaviorists, veterinarians who have completed residencies specializing in behavior problems are in greater abundance than in previous decades, and there is much more collaboration between these fields and trainers on the front lines. These two professions are quite unified on the point that the use of physical punishment or confrontation is unnecessary, often detrimental and, importantly, unsafe. And in 2015 the American Animal Hospital Association came out with detailed behavior management guidelines that unequivocally caution owners to employ only trainers that use force-free methods."

Learn more about what the veterinary behavior experts have to say here:
https://avsab.org/

03/19/2019

Look at the evidence. Educate yourself. Use of pain, fear and coercion (and calling it "training") is never necessary. Not ever.

The evidence grows every day. The use of pain, fear, intimidation and coercion in training is not only unnecessary, but unethical.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has a number of position statements related to training and behavior which are available as handouts. Included among these are handouts on dominance, the risks associated with punishment and how to find a trainer. You can find them here:
https://avsab.org/resources/position-statements/

03/15/2019

10 reasons I'm using a breeder for my next puppy

This!

We have committed. We found our breeder and we have put a deposit down on a puppy so there is no turning back now. We chose to get a puppy from a responsible breeder. I’ve already been asked...

02/23/2019

Another fun Tricks class at Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club graduated! Lots of titles earned! New classes, Trick Dog 1 and Trick Dog 2, start March 12 Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club. Registration now open!

02/11/2019

A myotherapists perspective on harnesses

Very good information here. Consider the collars or harnesses you are putting on your dog. You may innocently be doing lasting physical damage to your dog. And if you intentionally use collars as tools to "train" your dog, the damage goes beyond the emotional fallout of those methods. The physical damage is significant.

A myotherapist explains the impact damaging effects of poor equipment and important anatomical considerations.

02/11/2019

Veterinary Behavior Specialists

A choke (or prong and shock) collar is not needed to train a tiger so why do some people think one is needed to train a dog?

02/01/2019

Hill’s Prescription Diet and Science Diet Dog Food Recall

In case some of you are still feeding HIll's Science Diet....

January 31, 2019 — Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D, when consumed at very high levels, can lead to serious health issues in dogs including kidney dysfunction. What’s Recalled? The following...

01/18/2019

Susanne Hoshino on WBOC

Susanne Hoshino on WBOC

01/05/2019

The Pet Professional Guild

With all the evidence to the contrary, how does this dominance myth even still exist?

"I have started quizzing my clients who believe that their dog is dominant as to why they actually think that’s the case. Often they cannot really substantiate their belief, and when I provide an explanation as to what is actually the cause of a specific behavior, admit that they would never have thought fear, frustration, anxiety, arousal etc. would be implicated. I applaud them for being so open and honest..." - Anna Bradley wonders why the concept of dominance theory applied to pet dogs still exists, and what canine training and behavior professionals can do about it. Now in our January issue. https://issuu.com/petprofessionalguild/docs/bftg_january_2019_online_edition_op/28

01/04/2019

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

I'm back teaching Tricks at this awesome location starting Tuesday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. Only a couple spots left...hope to see you there!

Happy New Year! Tis the season to be signing up for your first 2019 training course! We have wide variety of classes for pet owners and competitors. Register now! Classes begin next week! https://salisburymarylandkennelclub.org/?page_id=2613

01/02/2019

Obedience Classes – Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

Give your dog the gift of class! Great variety of classes starting next week at the Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club!

Download The Full Schedule Class Venue Dates Rally Novice/Intermediate with Millie Wiltbank Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club Training Center 01/07/2019 10:00 am 01/14/2019 10:00 am 01/21/2019 10:00 am 01/28/2019 10:00 am 02/04/2019 10:00 am 02/11/2019 10:00 am 02/18/2019 10:00 am 02/25/2019 10:00 am R...

12/15/2018

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety? Then this is the place to contact to help your dog!

Congratulations to our newly graduated CSAT’s!!

It is with such excitement that I would like to proudly introduce our newest Certified Separation Anxiety Trainers! These wonderful trainers now have the skills to help clients dealing with separation anxiety in dogs. We’re so happy to be continually growing our team of caring, kind and brilliant trainers!

Please join in welcoming the new grads:

Fanna Easter
Emily Markham
Tracey Hagan
Ally Verba
Linda Brodzik
Tracy Martin
Jackie Johnston
Tonia Woods
Coline Canissence
Maria Karunungan
Maia Nahele
Tricia Del Sorbe Pape

For more information on CSATs, visit: https://malenademartini.com/about/why-hire-csat-trainer/.

11/28/2018

Dogkind LLC

Very good and informative video on how to read whether a dog wants to be petted or not.

We all love to pet dogs. But our best friend would appreciate it if we learned to ask for permission first!

Besides being the polite thing to do, petting a dog who doesn't want to be touched risks scaring the dog or even provoking a bite. Check out this video on how to ask a dog whether he's ok being touched.

Here is a link to the video on youtube: https://youtu.be/-hsOlJwMwps

11/24/2018

I've met many many doodles and poodles. Rarely have any of them had the stable temperaments that I have seen in the poodles. Get a poodle! They are awesome!

11/19/2018

But I Don’t Need a Show Dog

This is true across all breeds. Do your homework. Find a breeder who breeds for health and temperament.

But I Don’t Need a Show Dog! Written by: Terri Lewin Gilbert Why do people recommend choosing a breeder who shows and titles their dogs to folks who are just looking for a pet and have no interest in showing? Why should breeding to breed standard be an important to a pet home? Does it seem ...

11/09/2018

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

Attention: Parents & Grandparents of 5-9 year-old kids! Is your child interested in showing dogs? Bring them to the SMKC show at Noon on Saturday to watch kids their age show dogs for the very first time in Pee Wee Handling! If you have an AKC dog that your child can show, you can register on Saturday morning prior to 10am so your child can join in the fun, too! Adult supervision required.

11/05/2018

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

Hope to see you at the show!

Find out when your favorite breed is showing each day here! Click on the "Show Schedule" tab for more information.

http://easternshoreclassic.com/

10/31/2018

EXACTLY!

If fireworks bother your dog, be there for them

10/31/2018

The Academy for Dog Trainers

Stop using force, pain and labeling it as "training." It's not. It's abuse.

We've reached the end of Blogtober and we felt it important to share one last blog to serve as a reminder of the work still needing to be done in our industry.

Written in 2014 for Your Pit Bull and You, Academy founder, Jean Donaldson, hits the nail on the head when she says:

"The thinking about how insane this might be begins and ends with the means to an end argument. If we don’t shock and choke and hurt them, we’ll have to kill them.
Really? In 2014 you’re still trying that one?

These practices are elective.

They’re elective on easy dogs and they’re elective on dogs with behaviors we dislike, including dogs who lunge and pull on leash and growl and snap and bite. More sophisticated behavior modification and management technology that is without any violence has been widely disseminated. Thousands of trainers and I’d wager millions of owners train their dogs – easy dogs and challenging dogs – and manage their behavior without any of this stuff. They don’t hurt them at all to train them. Not once. In other words, the use of violence in dog training is not correlated with particular dogs or with particular behavior problems. It’s practitioner-correlated."

The times are changing, and change sometimes comes slowly, but the move towards force-free, evidenced-based practices can no longer be denied. It's happening. Students and grads of The Academy are committed to being part of that change, and we have Jean and her knowledge and skills to thank for that, as do many other trainers and countless dog owners.

We tip our hats to you, Jean. Thank you.

10/31/2018

The Academy for Dog Trainers

A simple truth about dog training, courtesy of Casey McGee.

“Bottom line: you can nag or scare your dog into doing the same behavior that you can simply pay him for. It's a matter of motivation. You just have to set aside your aversion to using food in training and make it worth his while.”

10/30/2018

The Academy for Dog Trainers

The Academy for Dog Trainers

Staffer Casey McGee of Upward Hound uses great analogies in the blog to help people understand the value of using positive reinforcement training.

You can nag, scold, and beg. Or you can reinforce and find out what your dog's brain is like on cheese.

10/22/2018

FDA Issues Warning about Flea and Tick Products

Buyer beware. You are your dog's advocate....

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on September 20, 2018 about the isoxazoline flea and tick products fluralaner for dogs and cats (Bravecto®), afoxalaner for dogs (Nexgard®),...

10/13/2018

What Does Citronella Really Do to a Dog?

We used to think Citronella was less aversive than shock. Think again. Um, NO!

My ‘Paws for Thoughts’ blogs are just what they say – thoughts. I don’t profess to be an expert on my subject matter or feel that we should believe everything we read, but i…

10/10/2018

The Academy for Dog Trainers

This is one of the best clarifications I have read in quite a while. Great stuff!!!!!

Academy founder, Jean Donaldson, unpacks "intensity" in dogs and why it's not such a bad thing after all.

10/05/2018

Shock-Free Coalition

Shock-Free Coalition

Nan Arthur:

I don’t think that this is a simple and quick answer – one sentence may be a little tough. I do believe that what we need to impart to the trainers that are using those types of tools, is that it limits their training and with those limits they are limited in not only their business models, but in how they are working with the dogs and their clients. So to me, using a single tool is a limiting endeavor and I would like to [impart] that information that there is such a big toolbox out there that we don’t have to use those kind of tools when we have all these main tools that are available, and the science that backs them all up.
https://www.shockfree.org/About/Professionals-Shock-Has-No-Place

09/30/2018

Reisner Veterinary Behavior Services, LLC

Reisner Veterinary Behavior Services, LLC

What the public sees:
Adorable baby, adorable dog, dog kisses baby and baby laughs. Life is good. But wait...

What we see:
There are several red flags in this interaction.

First, the dog and baby are on the dog's bed, which can be a "potent" location because of some dogs' discomfort when their resting place is encroached upon, ESPECIALLY when the dog is already in place and the baby approaches. If you want to encourage safe interaction, avoid the dog's bed, spaces under tables and desks, or furniture.

Second, dogs can suddenly change mood and bite even when they're initially looking silly, playful, and are wagging their tails. The interaction can transform in a split second from engaged play to threat and defense. These two should be redirected to a different kind of play which might also help the dog feel less stressed, like throwing a toy. By the way, that last face plunge by the baby results in the dog jumping away -- great choice, but she might choose differently next time.

Third, face to face interactions between children and dogs are provocative and potentially simply dangerous. That applies to unfamiliar children who want to pet your dog while you're walking, and to kids in the family. Avoid. It's not random that, when babies and young children are bitten by the family dog, it's most often in the face/head.

Fourth, just because the dog is identified as a doodle doesn't render her 100% safe with babies. Because no dog is. No breed should be burdened with a "nanny dog" stereotype, because any breed or mix can bite.

Finally, but also important, the wiggling, silliness, digging into the bed and the intense licking are all indicative of some stress and displacement behavior -- this is not a relaxed dog, and she might potentially switch from "displacement" (doing something else with her energy and ambivalence, as in Family Paws' "kiss to dismiss") to a more straightforward threat (snapping or biting).

In spite of uber cuteness, interactions like this can be unsafe. Err on the side of caution if you'd like your baby and dog to spend time together, hanging out quietly or going for a walk together. If they're being rowdy, some separate baby time and dog time would be good choices. And don't forget to give your dog the opportunity to choose a baby-free zone.

Source: https://www.sfgate.com/news/media/Baby-is-Amused-by-Dog-s-Playful-Behavior-1350330.php