Open Minded Dog Training

Last week I was lucky enough to be on vacation in the Dominican Republic, where I spent my days soaking up the sun and reading books on the beach. The first book on my list was Cesar’s Rules by Cesar Millan. For his latest book the Dog Whisperer invited a handful of trainers to meet with him and show him their techniques and methods for working with dogs. The really cool thing about this is that Cesar chose people who use very different training philosophies than himself, including some who have publicly criticized his methods.

When I first got into the profession of dog behavior and training I was very dismayed at how the industry is so adamantly divided between positive dog trainers and dog whisperers. I made it a point to learn from as many different trainers with widely varying approaches, enabling me to take bits and pieces from all of them and make my own unique style. I truly believe that it’s this open-minded, always willing to learn philosophy that has made me successful. I credit Cesar Millan and Ian Dunbar as my two biggest influences - and they are total opposites in training styles.

Dog Whisperers tend to look down on positive trainers as indiscriminant treat machines, while positive trainers scoff at the whisperers as uneducated goons. Early this year, posted a comment on my Facebook page after Cesar’s longtime dog Daddy passed away, which simply said, “No matter what you think of Cesar, you have to admit that Daddy was a pretty special dog.” Within minutes of me hitting the enter key, positive trainers left me long rants on how Cesar is horrible and they were disappointed in me for liking him. This, to me, is a prime example of how close-minded people can be. I never said anything about Cesar’s methods or techniques. I was just morning the loss of a dog – a dog that has done more to help the perception of pit bulls than all other trainers in the world combined. However, they just saw the “C-word” and the door to their mind slammed shut.

I’ve always felt that what the world of dog training needs is not mud-slinging and emotional tirades, but collaboration and support. Aren’t we all on the same team? The way some of these trainers talk about Cesar you would think he was Hitler. Even if you don’t agree with his techniques, I think we can agree that Cesar is not trying to intentionally harm dogs. At worst you might think he’s misguided and misinformed, but not malicious. And even the most purest of positive trainers has to admit that he does some things really well, so why not give him some credit for it, or just say nothing. (I single out positive trainers in this regard because historically they are the most vocal about their dislikes)

I think now is the time to stop all the bickering and come together as peers and work together to improve the dog training industry, and help more people and dogs live better lives together. In this new book, Cesar Millan has taken a big step toward this goal. He’s invited eleven different trainers to show him the best of what they do, so that the reader can decide what techniques might benefit them. Everyone person is different, every situation is different, and every dog is different, requiring a different approach to be successful.

Cesar’s Rules (which I find to be a strange title, given that he’s describing many techniques that he doesn’t use) gives each of the eleven trainers a chance to tell how they work with dogs and why it works for them. It gives the reader a great number of resources and perspectives to experiment with. The book is well written with Cesar’s usual charm and whit coming through each page. I think that all the trainers involved with the book can be proud of how they were depicted and I really hope it’s only a taste of the kind of collaboration to come in the future.

I really hope that Cesar’s Rules will not only help people with their dogs at home, but also begin to bridge the gap in the dog training community. As always, my mind remains open and I’m always looking for the next person or dog to teach me some new tricks.


Ian Dunbar with Cesar Millan

Giving Rewards the Right Way

The easiest and quickest way to teach your dog a new command, trick or behavior is with the use of rewards. Do something for me and I’ll do something for you. Dogs are very eager to please, and properly motivated, will do just about any silly thing you want them to do. Done right, rewarding your dog will make training easy and fun for both you and your pooch. Done wrong, it will lead to frustration and noncompliance.

Luring (with a treat) is the best way to shape a dog into an unknown behavior such as sit, down, or stand. Once your dogs knows the movement, you remove the lure and just use the verbal and/or hand signal, then reward him upon completion of the action. Then you transition to intermittent rewards – rewarding for the action every second, third, fifth, or tenth time. Intermittent rewarding is much more powerful than rewarding every single time. It’s much more motivating than simply getting a treat every single time. It’s like people at the slot machine: they win one out of a hundred times, but it keeps them enthusiastically pulling that one armed bandit the other ninety-nine times.

Rewards don’t always have to be food though. Although for most dogs food is what really puts the wag in their tails, many dogs are more motivated by toys. Actually, play time is a great time to sneak in some training. If you’re playing a rousing game of fetch or tug, stop play every so often and ask your dog to do something, then his reward is more play. I would always wait for him to go from an excited state of mind to calm before giving the reward. This will give you the ability to get him to go from excited to calm quickly and easily.

I love using “life rewards” in my day to day life and training with my dog. There is so much good stuff in a dog’s world in the average day that he’s getting for free, so why not take the opportunity to teach him some manners along the way. Getting his food is a reward; going outside is a reward; coming up on the bed (if you allow it) is a reward, etc. A dog’s life is jam packed with rewards, and all of these are opportunities for training for you.

At this point in my relationship with my dog, all I really want from her most of the time is simple eye contact. Before she goes out the door, all I ask is that she looks up at me and wait to be invited out. When she wants to come up on the bed she will walk over, look up at me, and wait for permission to come up. Most of the time she gets her reward, she just needs to say “please” first.

If you are using food to reward your dog make sure it is in fact a reward and not a bribe. Once your dog knows a command or behavior that you have taught, the food should be out of view. If your dog has to see the food to do what is asked, that’s a bribe. However, if you ask your dog to do something with no sign of the food, and then give it after he has complied, that’s a reward. This is a big distinction that too many people mess up. Consistently having to bribe your dog is the quickest way to an out of control do that doesn’t listen to a word you say.

All dogs are good most of the time, so don’t forget to tell them. Reward them as much as possible with verbal praise and affection to let them know they are doing a great job. Life in general is very rewarding – for us and our dogs. If you make sure you’re rewarding your dog often and in the right way, you’ll see how really good your pooch can be.

The Dog You Want vs. the Dog You Have

Most people call me because they want to change one, some or all of their dog’s behavior. Often it’s a problem that they in fact created (usually inadvertently) which can be corrected, or at least improved upon, with a little knowledge and time. Once they have gotten to the point to pick up the phone and make the call to me, they are eager for help and are mentally ready to do whatever it takes to solve the issue. And when my clients are motivated in this way it usually means that they will succeed to improve their situation.

To a dog trainer, there’s nothing better than a very motivated and compliant client. Sometimes though, that same motivation can be a hindrance.

When I first adopted my dog Hayley 9 years ago, I had great visions of hanging out with the local dog community, watching Hayley romp and play with other dogs. Upon bringing her home, my dreams came true as I found a bunch of locals who all met at a park every morning and let their dogs off leash to play (this was before there were any dog parks in the area).

For a few months it was great fun, but then Hayley hit adolescence and everything changed. She began asserting herself in play and soon I had to pull her off her doggie buddies before things got out of hand. I was always able to break things up before they got serious, but it was very concerning.

I had a big decision to make. Do I continue to put Hayley in that position just because I still wanted to enjoy the mornings with my dog friendly amigos? After a long conversation with myself I came to the conclusion that it would not be in Hayley’s best interest to continue to allow her to play off leash with other dogs. I was sad because I really had a blast hanging out with my new friends, watching the dogs have such a great time, but ultimately I had to do what was best for Hayley.

I find that many people have a hard time letting go of the dog they’ve created in their head. Before anyone gets a dog they play detailed movies in their mind of all the things they will do with their new dog, and it becomes a blunt shock when those movies don’t turn out exactly as imagined.

Just like people are different, with different likes and dislikes, so it is with dogs. You may want a dog that sits on your lap for hours a day and sleeps under the covers with you, but the reality is you may have a dog that prefers to sleep in his own bed and is not terribly affectionate. And that’s okay.

Just love your dog for who he is, without trying to force him into the mold of the dog in your head. Enjoy the things you can do with your dog instead of forcibly trying to make the dog into something he’s not. This is especially true of dogs that come with some behavior issues. Depending on the severity of the issue, you may not be able to completely solve the problem.

Don’t hesitate to try to train your dog, but be realistic and be willing to accept your dog for who he is. Every dog is special. Love your dog for the things that make him unique and try not to hold unrealistic expectations of him for things that are not in his personality.

Be a Good Parent to Your Dog

Today was the first day of school (ever) for my little twin girls. They are just about two and a half years old, and my wife and I were both excited and nervous to see how they would do. When we picked them up this afternoon we were very pleased to hear that they had a fun time and were very respectful and also showed good manners (as good as you can expect for two year olds). All the time and work my wife and I did teaching our girls rules and boundaries, going over what is and what isn’t appropriate, and detailing exactly what is in fact edible, seemed to really make a difference. They are good kids and I think it shows.

The behavior of our children is a direct result of our parent skills, and the same hold true of our dogs. Now that I have kids I realized how raising kids and dogs very similar. Go to any playground and find the one kid who is totally out of control. I’ll bet you cash money that if his parents also have a dog, he’s out of control too. Come on, think about people you know who have kids and dogs. Odds are the dogs and the kids share good or bad behavior.

The reason this is always true is because both children and dogs require a similar structure of rules and boundaries to grow up well. It’s all about leadership. Over the last few years the word leadership has gotten somewhat of a bad connotation because some people misunderstand what leadership really is and apply it incorrectly. Make no mistake, leadership is imperative to having a good relationship with your dog and is the foundation of helping your dog develop into a well-balanced adult dog. If you don’t like the work “leadership,” than use parenting - it’s all the same thing.

Unlike children, our dogs are a totally different species with completely different innate tendencies, which makes leadership even more crucial. Dogs crave structure and guidance to figure out just how to fit into our wacky human world. We need to be their teachers, showing them just what’s right and wrong, what’s appropriate behavior, and what is indeed edible for them. It takes time, patience and understanding, just has parenting does.

I’ve been lucky, in that working with dogs has always come easy to me. Kids, not so much. The first year with my twins was not that fun for me. I’m ashamed to say I did my share of screaming and losing my cool, which never had any positive effect on my kids. Then one day my wife told me something that changed my world. She sat me down one day when my kids were being particularly difficult and said, “Sweetie, please just pretend they’re dogs.”

I thought about that strange sentence for a moment, and then the epiphany hit me. What would I do if instead of two screaming (then) one year olds, I was with two barking, misbehaving dogs? I would remain in control and calmly address the situation. And that’s what I did from that day forward, and the change was instantaneous. My kids responded better and our relationship improved greatly. Many parents realize that yelling and screaming at their kids is counterproductive, but fail to see that the same holds true with their dogs.

So be a good leader and parent to your kids and your dogs. Give them the structure and boundaries they crave and they will all grow up to be healthy, well-balanced adults.

The Little Dog Syndrome

As a dog behavior consultant and trainer I’ve been around all kinds of dogs. I’ve also spent countless hours in dog parks and doggie daycares interacting with every variety of breed, size and shape the canine world has to offer. All this pooch exposure has led me to form some interesting conclusions. The most obvious thing that jumps out at me time and time again is that little dogs have many more behavioral issues than their larger counterparts.

I thought to myself, why is that? What is it about smaller dogs that lend them to a greater risk of developing behavior problems? The answer becomes incredibly obvious once I watch the way their human companions interact with them.

Small dogs aren’t born psychologically different than larger dogs. Although man has engineered the outside of dogs in different ways, they’re pretty much the same on the inside. The huge Irish Wolfhound and the teeny, tiny Chihuahua both start out more or less the same – as dogs. The reason that so many more of the little guys end up unstable is us.

We create those issues unintentionally (usually) by the way we treat them. Why we do it is obvious – little dogs are so darn cute. And it’s that cuteness that can be their biggest downfall. People tend to treat them more like their favorite stuffed animals, than like the dogs they are. They baby and coddle them, while neglecting to fulfill their most basic canine needs.

The biggest contributing factor here is that behaviors that you would quickly correct a Rottweiler for are overlooked or ignored in a Maltese. Something like jumping or begging for attention are seen as cute for the small dogs, but as obvious problems that must be corrected in the larger dogs. But so what? We can let the little pooch-a-roos get away with that. Who cares, right? Well, you should care because psychologically, the issues are the same to the dog.

If you have a small dog, it’s best to pretend that he’s huge. And whatever he does something think to yourself, “would this be cool if he was a 120 lb. Mastiff?” If the answer is no, then maybe you should start setting up some boundaries, instead of enabling him to become unstable.

Just today I was at a doggie daycare with a pack of small dogs and I noticed something interesting. Out of the twenty-four dogs that were hanging out there, five of them showed obvious signs of separation anxiety. Of that five 100% were cute little white dogs (Maltese, Bichons, Havanese, Cockapoos or a combo of these breeds). In my experience, cute little white dogs are the most likely to get “loved to death.” As you may remember from my previous blog of that title, that’s when the dog receives boat loads of affection, with little or no attention toward his real canine needs.

There’s nothing wrong with loving your little dog but you have to make sure that his canine needs are met first, each and every day. And for God’s sake, please treat him like the dog he is. First and foremost – put him down!!! Way too many small dog owners carry their little pooches around like handbags. The dog’s world is four on the floor. Let you dog experience the world as a dog – on his own four, furry little legs. He can be your little, wittle, bitty baby; but not before he’s a good old fashioned butt sniffing, tail wagging canine.

There’s Something Wrong with My Puppy!?

Over the last few years I’ve gotten more than a few calls from people that are having “big” problems with their new puppies. With a grave voice they tell me how they think that there must be something genetically wrong with the pup; or that he must have been taken away from its mother too early; or that he’s aggressive or dominant (at 8 weeks old); or that he is simply the “demon seed.”

I try not to laugh - I really do – as I tell them all the same thing: congrats, you have a healthy puppy. Too many people don’t really understand what comes with getting a puppy. Most just see that cute little puppy face and start daydreaming about cuddling on the couch as the pup rests motionless in their arms. Then they get the little guy home and reality sets in big time.

Puppies are a lot of work and a big responsibility. They don’t come from the dealer fully loaded and ready to go. They enter your home as a dog - a dog that has no idea how to live in a very human world with a bunch of furless bipeds. It’s up to us to teach our puppies exactly how to behave and get along with us.

Puppies are going to do things like a dog, no matter what. It’s our job to show them how to be a dog in the human environment. The good news is that puppies are more than happy to do things our way if we take the time to teach them. And it does take time. There’s no shortcut through the puppy period. You can’t get a well adjusted adult dog without the mouthing, whining and occasional accident. That comes standard with every puppy. I feel the puppy months are a rite of passage that every dog owner has to go through. If you survive, you can handle anything your dog will do in the future.

The first few months of a dog’s life are the most important and will be the most time consuming for you. I recommend stocking up on a lot of patience when you bring that puppy home. You have to expect them to be puppies. Don’t begrudge them for it, accept it and help them to learn. Every “bad” thing your puppy does is an opportunity to teach him the right thing to do. The worse he behaves, the more chances you have to set him on the right path.

The first day of my puppy kindergarten class is always the same. Everyone comes in with the same sleep deprived bags under their eyes, the same scratches on their hands and the same question on their minds: “is there something wrong with my puppy?” Once they look around and see that same look on the faces around them, and the same fresh blood on their fellow student’s hands, they are somewhat comforted, at least temporarily.

Puppies are a lot of work but they are also pure joy. Unfortunately you can’t have one without the other (although I’ve seen some really extraordinarily good pups). Once a day, you’ll want to throw you new puppy out the window (sometimes more), however, the smiles that your new dog will regularly deliver to you is well worth the trouble.

So, no, there’s nothing wrong with your new puppy. He’s actually a quite normal, healthy pup that will grow into a great adult dog if you just take the time to teach him how to live in your world. Be patient and enjoy every day with them.

Best Friends

Last weekend I had the great honor of helping out at the Best Friends Super Adoption Weekend in Livingston, NJ. It was a truly amazing experience that I will not soon forget. My job was to help people find the right dog for them, answer behavior questions and assist with introductions between dogs.

There were over 40 rescue groups there from all over the East Coast, over 500 hundred dogs and a tent full of more cats than I could count. There were also educational booths with information on everything from the horrors of puppy mills to the greatness of pit bulls. For those of you unfamiliar with Best Friends Animal Society, they are the ones on the National Geographic TV show “Dogtown” and the organization responsible for rehabilitating the Michael Vick dogs. Many of the Best Friends people working the event came all the way in from Utah and worked tirelessly to pull an event of this size off.

Once the doors opened the whole area was a buzz of activity. People and dogs everywhere you turned. It was exhilarating. There were so many great people working so hard to find every last animal a home. Everyone was united in the cause to find homeless animals the happily ever after they so deserved.

And then there were the dogs. Oh the dogs. There were rows and rows of kennels housing every size and breed of dog imaginable. I was lucky enough to be stationed right next to the Best Friends pit bull educational campaign booth, so spent my weekend with many fine representatives of my favorite breed.

I can’t tell you how hard it was not to take them all home. My wife, who was home watching my twins, kept texting me, cautioning me not to come home with anything that woofed. It was not easy. They were all so lovable and so very deserving of a better life. When the sun finally went down Saturday, 200 dogs and cats had found new homes.

Before I went home for the night I walked up and down the rows of kennels and smiled at all the empty cages. But on Sunday morning when I returned, the kennels were all full again. Just like that the empty spaces were filled with so many more homeless dogs. I didn’t have much time to dwell on that fact though – there was work to be done.

Sunday was another happily exhausting day. Even though the end of the day was punctuated with hard rain, the event went on and more dogs and cats got their homes. At the weekends close 310 dogs and cats had been adopted. Before I left on Sunday afternoon, I put my hood up to protect me from the heavy rains and walked the rows of kennels again, gazing upon the empty spaces. There was no smile on my face this time though. My eyes didn’t focus on the empty cages, but instead lingered on the dogs still left homeless. The event was over and there chance to finally get a home here was over.

So although the adoption event is over and was a huge success, there remains much work to be done. The empty cages are so quickly filled and the dogs and cats now occupying them are in dire need of a hero.

As I walked past the lonely faces behind the metal cage walls I made them all a promise. I promised them that I would do everything in my power to make sure that their day would come, when they could feel the warmth of a home and the love a family. I’m in the process of becoming a Best Friends Training Partner and hope to be a part of their amazing team, helping animals in need when they need it most. I strongly encourage you to do whatever you can to help out. There is no sum of money too small and no amount of time too short. Every single dollar and minute you can spare to help out these great homeless dogs and cats will go a long way.

Please help your local animal rescue groups and shelters and check out and support Best Friends Animal Society www.bestfriends.org.

Lots of Feedback

I have news for you; living with us humans is not that easy. Our dogs are tremendously patient with us and put up with all of our bizarre customs and wacky ways. They have abandoned their life in the wild to come into the human world and live with us. Although they don’t understand our language, can’t comprehend our lifestyle, and have absolutely no idea why we keep making them sit when they’re really not tired. In spite of all this, they still happily bound into our lives with endless unconditional love.

We on the other hand, are not so accommodating. We expect our dog’s to immediately understand a foreign language; to innately know that although we go to the bathroom indoors, they need to relieve themselves outside – no matter what the weather; and not put a tooth on any of our kid’s stuffed animals, even though they may look identical to their squeaky toys.

We simply don’t cut our dog’s enough slack. If you got relocated to Japan and had to stay with a Japanese family until you found a place to live, how long do you think it would take you to learn the customs and understand what everyone was saying to you? I’m thinking more than a few months.

We give your dog some realistic time to figure things out. And the process can move along so much quicker if we help him out along the way. Sure our dogs may learn how to live in the human world on their own, but it can be greatly expatiated if we just point them in the right direction. Too many dog owners concentrate on correcting the mistakes, and forget to praise the little victories. Constant feedback is always good and will really give your dog confidence, instead of being frustrated.

If you have a dog that jumps up on anyone and everyone, make sure you give him a “good boy” any time he’s got four paws on the ground. Learning is so much quicker with both positive and negative feedback (is he getting hot or cold?). As a general rule you should be praising your dog ten times for every correction you give. He needs to know when he’s doing well and when he’s on the right track. Just don’t be stingy with the praise. In my experience, even the worst behaved dog still does more things right than wrong. Remember, not doing anything wrong is right – so standing there, not jumping, is good and deserves praise.

Your pooch is not a mind reader. The more feedback you give him, the quicker he will get whatever it is you’re asking of him. Give it a try and you’ll quickly see how much quicker Fido will learn.

Love You to Death

Do you love your dog? I know, what kind of a stupid question is that – of course you do. Unfortunately, your love for your dog could, in fact, be killing him.

Sounds crazy, right? Crazy, but painfully true. The problem is not that we give our dogs so much love, the problem is when we only give them love, without taking care of their real needs. Let’s face it, cuddling up with your little fur baby, petting, hugging and kissing him is more about us then him. Sure your pooch likes the attention but he would much rather have some of his other, more important needs, taken care of. Dogs have basic canine needs that MUST be met each and every day, and affection from you is not high on that list.

I’m not at all suggesting that you stop giving your dog affection. On the contrary, you are more than welcome to give you four-legged buddy as much love as you can dish out, but not before his basic canine needs have been addressed. If you overlook those needs, you will find a number of behavior problems surfacing that could lead to you giving up your dog.

So, what are you dog’s basic canine needs? First and foremost is leadership. The dog world is filled with structure and rules, and your dog feels comforted having them in place. If you don’t like the word leadership, call it parenting – it’s the exact same thing: rules in place to shape a well-balanced adult. Dog’s that have a nice confident leader and that understand the rules of your pack will be more comfortable in this crazy human world. Dogs (and kids) crave that structure and are comforted knowing it’s in place.

Next on the list is exercise. Each dog has different exercise requirements depending on its age, breed and personality. One thing is certain though, three ten minute spins around the block is not exercise. All dogs wake up with energy and I got new s for you, it’s coming out one way or another – either constructively or destructively. So you better make sure Fido has some way to burn it off or else he will find a way (like barking, chewing, jumping, etc.) to get it out of his system.

I also believe that daily walks are a basic canine need. Try to get your pooch out there for at least one 30 minute walk a day, and a forty-five to an hour walk a week if possible. I know the human world comes with all kinds of responsibilities that may prevent this from happening, but try to do your best.

After leadership is in place, exercise has been handled and walks are in effect, then feel free to give your pup all the love and affection you want. Once his needs are satisfied, it’s totally cool to indulge in your own. But always remember that all that affection is not fulfilling your dogs needs, it’s taking care of your own. I highly recommend you check out Patricia McConnell’s book, The Other End of the Leash. In it there a bunch of pictures of people loving their dogs, and by looking at the faces of the dogs and humans, it’s immediately apparent who is enjoying themselves.

Giving your dog love, and love alone, is giving him an express ticket to the animal shelter. The best way to love your dog is to satisfy all of his basic doggie needs first, before you lay on the human love. With his needs met, he will happily enjoy all the affection you can give.

The “He’s a Rescue Dog” Syndrome

The first thing I say to anyone who is inquiring about my services as a dog behaviorist is, “tell me about your dog.” All too often the first sentence I get back is, “well, he’s a rescue dog . . . blah, blah, blah” They usually then go into this long, dramatic story explaining how he was found chained to tree outside in the cold; or they detail the abuse he received at his first home; or how he was found emaciated, wandering the streets until the rescue was finally able to catch him. The stories are all different, yet exactly the same. They tell of the great misfortunes the dog has suffered and the tales are usually told with a slight quarter head tilt and/or a slow nod of the head to show their deep empathy.

If you are one of these people with one of these dogs, I have a big piece of advice that will greatly help both you and your dog: lose the sob stories – pronto.

Now don’t get me wrong, I agree that all those things that happened to your “rescue dog” were sad and unfortunate, and you are doing a really great thing by choosing to adopt a dog with a less than peachy past. However, you are negatively affecting his present by not letting go of what happened to him previously.

Your dog does not need your pity or your sympathy. What he really needs is your stability. Constantly recounting your dog’s tales of woe only prevents him from moving on. The great thing about dogs is that they live in the moment and don’t really care what happened to them in the past – they only care about what’s happening right now. Yes, their behavior is affected by the past and their present behavior may have been shaped by past events, but they are ready to move forward. They may need our guidance to get over those issues created by their past, but you will never be able to help them if you are emotional about what may have happened to them before they made it to your house.

So I want you to pretend that you have no idea what happened to your dog before he came to you. His life began the day you picked him up. Give him your love and understanding but never your pity or sympathy. Work him through whatever issues he may have with an open mind and strong heart. Be the confident, stable leader he is craving. Being emotional only feeds your dog’s anxiety and uncertainty, when what he really needs and wants is someone to say “who cares what you went through, you’re in a rock-solid home now.” If you show your dog that you’re not stuck on his past, he will be more likely to take those brave steps toward a better future.

Getting Along

A few hours a week I work at a local NJ doggie daycare. A couple of weeks ago I was there hanging with a pack of about twenty-five dogs when a new dog was dropped off to join the fun. As soon as this dog entered the play area, one of the other dogs lunged, barked and “went at” this new dog. The five seconds or so it took me to separate the dogs sounded like they were tearing each other apart. Once I got control of the dog that was instigating it (the dog that was already there) and allowed him to get back to a calm state of mind, I let him go. He immediately went over to the new dog but instead of asserting himself, he sniffed him. Then once they finished their introductions they proceeded to play together for the rest of the day and are now best buds.

Over the last few weeks I’ve gotten three separate calls about dogs that “hate” each other and cannot be in each other’s presence without a fight breaking out. In every one of these cases it was not aggression which was the issue - in fact all dogs were far from aggressive. They just hadn’t established a working relationship yet.

Dogs that have never met each other need to learn about each other and figure out their relationship before they can become happy pack-mates. In two of the cases I just worked on, it was a younger dog meeting an older dog. The young pups just wanted to play, play, play, while the older dogs just wanted their space respected. These dogs can absolutely peacefully coexist but we need to control the situation while they learn how to relate to one another.

I used leashes to stop the puppies from jumping into the older dog’s space and gave them time to adjust to each other’s energy. The pups learn that not every dog wants to play and that they can have relationships with dogs that don’t include tackling and chasing, while the older dogs learn to put up with this high energy puppy and that the humans in the pack will make sure that their personal space is respected.

It can take some time, especially if the dogs have not been well socialized. One thing that always helps is walking the dogs together. Nothing unifies dogs then bringing them together as a pack on a nice long walk. This give them a positive association to each other doing something they both love. The walk should be structured with all eyes forward. I find if we get their bodies moving forward, their minds soon follow. The walks give them a positive association with one another and are a great stepping stone to building a non-confrontational relationship.

If we separate the dogs, and don’t help them get to know one another in a positive light, they will never get past their initial state of mind. Yes, there are some dogs that just will never get along but if we take the time to help them move past their high-energy first impressions, we may watch them become friends - or at least learn to coexist comfortably.

Your Dog is Worth It

Before I worked with dogs, I was a personal trainer and nutritionist for humans. Eating healthy and exercising has always been an important part of my life and I’ve learned that what you eat is the most important factor to overall health and well-being both inside and out. What you eat has a profound effect on your body, energy, intellect, concentration and behavior.

When I changed my focus from people to dogs, nutrition was something I knew was equally important to our canine friends. Most of us just assume that the food we are feeding are dogs is good because that’s what the package tells us, but that is not always the case. It’s important to remember that, just like with us, there is good and bad food out there and an uniformed person may have a hard time distinguishing between the two.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to make the wrong choices. It’s very cheap and convenient to go to Burger King and eat off the dollar menu, while it you have to go out of your way to go to Whole Foods and buy organic. The same holds true for dogs. Every supermarket and super pet store had shelves full of crap food for our dogs. It will take us an extra trip to go to a small, specialty pet shop and we’ll have to throw down a few more dollars to get a good, quality food.

Yes, it is more time consuming and it will cost you more money, but I’m here to tell you that your dog is worth it.

Another problem is that everyone with fur clinging to their clothing is all too happy to give you advice on what to feed your dog. Everyone will recommend something different and swear that it’s “the best!” The breeder will tell you have to use one food, while your vet will tell you another, you’re neighbor will recommend yet another, and on and on it goes . . .

The one thing that they all have in common is that none of them are trained in canine nutrition – no, not even (most) vets. The reason people came to me for nutrition and fitness advice was because that was what I was trained for -that was my area of expertise. Get ready for a news flash, but most vets are not trained on nutrition. They get a day or two of nutrition in school and that’s it. When I got my nutrition certification for humans I immediately realized that my father and brother – both well educated and successful medical doctors – know almost nothing about nutrition. Why? Because that’s not what they are trained for.

The reason why most traditional vets recommend Science Diet (a food I put very low on the nutritional scale for dogs) is because the company that makes it, Hills, markets almost exclusively to vets. If your dog is sick or injured your vet is the person to go to, but if you have nutrition or behavior questions go to someone trained in those areas. Some vets have educated themselves canine nutrition (and behavior) but not many, so beware.

Bottom line is that the pet food industry is changing very rapidly and I predict you will see better food for your dog become easier to find in the near future. I don’t have the space here to go into what food is better and why. All I hope to accomplish here is to make you think before you put that food bowl down and investigate on what the best choice is for you and your dog. Sure, dogs are great adapters and can survive by eating just about anything, but do you want your furry best friend to survive or thrive? I finally switched to a higher quality food because one simple fact hit me: if switching to a higher quality, more expensive food gives me one extra day with my dog, it’s worth it.

It's All Fun and Games

To your dog every single second is a chance to have some fun. For a dog, life in general, is really all about fun. That’s all your dog wants, and most of his daily agenda is geared around finding cool stuff to do. Once Rover wakes up in the morning and shakes off the night’s sleep, he’s ready and raring to do anything exciting. If he can’t find anything entertaining enough, he’ll make his own fun (often at the expense of your furniture).

The good news is that we humans are looking for some good times as well. Hey, who out there doesn’t want to have fun? So why not have some with your dog. Isn’t that the reason you got a dog in the first place? You wanted a companion to share some fun with. I doubt that anyone would go out and get a dog thinking it would be no fun. So, fun it is!

Let’s never forget that having a dog is fun. In spite of whatever issues or minor problems you dog may have, he’s still fun to be around. Let’s never forget that. I know that I often get caught up in life and lose sight of that simple fact. No matter what kind of day you’re having, fun in your grasp (literally). Reach down, pet your dog and guess what? You’ve got a big hunk of fun in your hands.

I think it’s important to take some time every day and have a moment of fun with your furry pal. Lighten your day, lift your spirits and make your dog very happy. Make up games with your dog, be silly, run around in circles, laugh and be merry with your dog. Be creative and come up with cool, little ways for you and your dog to have a fun moment each and every day. That’s what life is supposed be for a dog – fun. And it’s what life can be for us to . . . lots and lots of fun.

So go have some fun with your dogs right now!

Here is Hayley and I having fun playing one of her favorite games.

The Blame Game

I got a call this week from a woman who has a four month-old puppy that is showing signs of anxiety and fearfulness around people. I was shocked to hear that a few people had told her that it might be too late to do anything about it. A four month-old puppy? Too late? Then she told me one of the people that had told her this was a vet. I almost dropped the phone with that piece of information.

She went on to tell me she also has another dog (a year and a half old Australian Cattle Dog, I believe) that is also fearful of people. She was not interested in my services for this dog because that’s “just the way the breed is” and there is no way to change it. Her vet currently has the dog on medication for it, but with no improvements.

As I was asking questions about the younger puppy she told me that his behavior must also be because of the breed – a Sheltie. Although it sounds to me like this poor woman has been getting some pretty uninformed advice, it still surprises me how quickly she put the blame on the breed and was basically giving up on having two happy, well-balanced dogs.

To me, any behavior problem is a cry for help from the dog. They are telling us that they are not happy or fulfilled in some way and it’s our job to try to help them. And yes, breed and a dog’s genetics can have an impact on how a dog develops but I think there is always room for improvement on any issue.

Never give up on a dog no matter how old, what breed or what tragic life he had before you adopted him. Instead, educate yourself and try to improve your dog’s quality of life – even a little. It’s always best to address problems early on, but you can certainly help any behavior issue – it just may mean a little more time and resources on your part, but they will pay you back ten-fold in love.

Certainly these two young dogs can lead much better lives if the owner just gets the right info and takes the time, without putting the blame on the breed or age of the dogs. I’ve seen retrievers who won’t fetch, Dobermans that refuse to guard and lots of old dogs learn new tricks.

Happy Birthday Hayley

In my world, today is a very special day. It began pretty much like every day has for the past eight years: me and my dog going for our morning walk together. It was what I consider a perfect winter day. It was cold but not freezing, with light, fluffy snow falling from the brightening sky. The kind of snow that looks beautiful on the trees, is great for building snowmen but too wet to stick in the street. As Hayley and I doubled back and made our way back toward our house, I noticed our tracks in the snow. Two sets of prints, side by side. I couldn’t help but smile and think that’s how the last nine years have been for me - always someone at my side.


Today is the day (or so I believe) that my dog, Hayley, was born nine years ago. She adopted me when she was about ten months old and has shared every aspect of my life since. I sincerely have to credit her for everything that I treasure most in my life. My job, my wife, my kids . . . all thanks to a homeless pit bull.

Seven month before I got Hayley my life was a mess. I had a job I hated and my girlfriend had just broken up with me. It was probably the saddest time of my life. After a few months throwing myself pity parties I finally decided to do something productive and volunteered with a local rescue group, helping out on adoption days. After only a few weeks around the dogs, my attitude changed. I felt alive again - more so than ever before. Homeless dogs who had nothing gave me more than any human could.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I fell in love with a white pit bull named Casper, but by the time I convinced my landlord to let me have her, she got adopted. I was devastated but not deterred. I quickly went to Petfinder and found a few similar pooches and in two weeks Hayley joined my life.

Three months later, thanks to Hayley’s unconditional love, I finally felt that I might be able to have another human relationship and I met my wife. Hayley actually shared my first kiss with Michele, as she poked her head into the front of my Jeep as I was saying goodbye after a mid-day date in the park. Hayley also inspired me to write a novel – something I had started a few times but was never motivated to continue. She is the hero of my suspense thriller, Dog Spelled Backward, and the focal point of the book. Then, years later, she inspired my once again - this time, with my career (or lack of one). I’ve had a number of careers throughout my adult life, but nothing I felt that I wanted to do long term. But after seeing how much Hayley has improved my life, it became clear that I had to help other achieve this kind of relationship.

So here I am now: a dog trainer who is happily married with twin girls. I owe all this to Hayley. I feel really bad for anyone who isn’t a “dog person” because they will never have that unique relationship that only a dog can provide. Dog’s are the only creatures on this planet that are never judgmental and freely dole out unconditional love 24/7. People who don’t have a dog will never experience this special bond and understanding that only a dog can give you.

So, happy birthday Hayley. You have given me so much more than I can return to you. Thank you and I love you.

Is My Dog Aggressive?

Over the last few months I've gotten a few calls from people saying that their dogs are aggressive. This statement alone doesn't alarm me, as it can mean a great number of things. Everyone seems to have their own definition of aggression and I would say that the typical dog owner usually throws it around incorrectly. Dogs that are labeled aggressive are usually treated with trepidation and uncertainty. They automatically are seen as guilty of aggression no matter what they are doing at the time.

The truth is that very few of these calls are for, what I would consider, an aggressive dog. My definition of aggression is when a dog bites and then has to be physically removed from the person or dog he is biting. That's a committed bite. A dog that bites and then withdraws is not aggressive, he's just sending a message. Don't get me wrong, it's still a serious issue that needs to be addressed, but we're not dealing with a dog that is actively aggressive. By that I mean, he's not a dog seeking out a fight, he's a dog that has be forced (in his mind) into an aggressive action.

One such call I received was from a mother who had a small dog that had "snapped" at her two-year-old daughter. She was very upset because her dog had never done anything like that before. Now, I was being called as a last resort before they gave the dog up. This was not a new dog, this was a dog that they have had for years.

When I got to the home and asked some questions I discovered that the little girl was petting the dog roughly and pulled on his ear. That's when the dog "snapped" at her. My client didn't like it, but I told her that the dog wasn't to blame, she was. The dog simply told the little girl not to pull his ear. Supervision over the child, teaching her how to interact with the dog is all that is needed to stop this from happening ever again.

It's not always that simple. Especially when a dog bites because of fear or anxiety. Those bites are much more frequent than true aggression cases and requires us to recognize when our dogs are not feeling comfortable about a situation. This also is not the dog's fault.

Puppies almost never show any signs of aggression period. I just got two calls from people saying their young puppy was showing signs of aggression. I told them I would be happy to help them with their issues but that there is no way it's aggression. The only thing on a puppy's mind is play. 24/7.

Aggression in dogs does exist but it's actually fairly rare. All I can say to you is watch the signs your dogs is giving you. No dog ever does anything "out of the blue." Their bodies are always telling us exactly how they are feeling. So, if you see some signs that your dog is asserting himself or has made some unfriendly advances, work on it immediately so you can understand exactly why he's behaving like that and what you need to do to correct it.

Best of the Old FernBlogs

Every Day is a Gift
Jan. 27, 2010

A good friend of mine recently lost his beloved greyhound of twelve years. She was a gentle and kind dog and I know I am a better person for having known her (even as limited as my time with her was). Only a dog lover could really understand the heartache and loss that comes from no longer having your daily companion with you.
It seems so cruel that our dog’s lifespan is short in comparison with ours. Twelve years is much too short a time to spend with someone that you love so much. Next month my dog will be nine-years-old and it seems like only yesterday when I first brought her home to share my world. I can’t help to begin to wonder just how many more years will we have together. Will it be only a couple more or maybe I’ll be lucky and have her for five more years? Either way, it will be way to short a time for my liking.

There is no time for such thoughts. Instead we must enjoy every single second that our four-legged friends are beside us. Dogs live in the moment and think nothing of the future, and what might lie ahead. They only care about what they are doing right now. And they want to enjoy this very moment in time and get everything they possible can from it. We’ve got to take their lead and do the same.

Don’t take anything for granted, especially you dog. The daily responsibilities of the human world can sometime make it difficult to realize the value of having this day with your dog (or dogs). Take a moment each day to pause and be grateful for this day, for this time with your dog. Because before you know it, it will be gone – forever.

I once had a t-shirt that read, “Life is short. Play with your dog.” I wore it until it literally fell apart because it was a great reminder to treasure every single day with my dog. I urge you all to take a moment or two each day and do something with your dog. Go for a walk, play fetch or just quietly sit together enjoying each other’s company. No matter what the day throws at you always remember that every day with your dog is a good day.


Top 5 New Years Resolutions to Make to Your Dog
Dec. 29, 2009

1. Get up a half hour earlier
…and exercise your dog. Whether you go for a walk, run, play fetch or with a toy indoors, do something with your dog first thing in the morning to help he drain some energy.
BENAFIT FOR YOUR DOG: All dogs wake up with energy and they need to release it somehow.
BENAFIT FOR YOU: If he doesn’t have an opportunity to release that energy constructively, he will do so destructively. A tired dog is a good dog - always.

2. Stay calm
Getting angry or frustrated at your dog is never productive. He doesn’t understand your words, just your unstable energy. Instead, take a deep breath and address any issues calmly.
BENAFIT FOR YOUR DOG: Energy is contagious and your calm energy can greatly affect your dog’s behavior.
BENAFIT FOR YOU: Staying calm will open the lines of communication to your dog and allow you to have more effective and enjoyable interactions with him.

3. Treat him like a dog
Dog’s are not furry humans. They have canine needs that must be taken care of in order for them to comfortably live in a human world. Treating your dog like a child only satisfies your needs, not his. Once his needs are met, then go ahead and fulfill yours by pouring on the affection.
BENAFIT FOR YOUR DOG: Once your dog has had all his canine needs taken care of, he’ll be a happy and healthy member of your family.
BENAFIT FOR YOU: After you satisfy your dogs needs, he will behave better and adapt easier to you human lifestyle.

4. Help him through his issues
If your dog has behavior problems, address them. The issues will not just go away on their own, but only get worse. So, work with him to help him become a happy well-balanced dog and get more out of your relationship with your dog.
BENAFIT FOR YOUR DOG: Behavior problems are your dog’s way of telling you something not right in his life. Once you address them he’ll live a happier, more rewarding life.
BENAFIT FOR YOU: Behavior problems are the #1 reason people give up their dogs. If you help your dog through his issues, you will ensure that you will live happily ever after together.

5. Take him for more (longer) walks
Once around the block is just not enough. The ritual of walking is very therapeutic for dogs and they crave much more than we typically give them. Try to go for at least one thirty min. walk a day and one hour walk a week.
BENAFIT FOR YOUR DOG: In addition to some exercise, the walk will stimulate of all of his senses, enriching his day and his life. It’s truly one of every dog’s favorite things to do. BENAFIT FOR YOU: The walk is a great time to strengthen your bond with your dog and share a moment away from the human world of obligations and responsibilities


Dog Whispering vs. Positive Dog Training
Dec. 11, 2009

I often get asked if I'm a dog whisperer or a positive trainer, and I'm always a little hesitant about answering due to the implications that may come along with the distinction. The dog training world seems to be divided between these two styles and ideologies of working with dogs - and dog trainers everywhere are taking sides, and want to know if you're with them, or against them.

Some positive trainers will yell and scream at you if you dare utter the c-word (Cesar, that is), saying that the techniques are barbaric and inhumane. Meanwhile there are whisperers out there who will look down upon anyone who uses treats as the main tool for canine behavior modification, seeing it merely as a bribe. Both sides seem to be making a lot of noise trying so hard to discredit the other. It reminds me of two political parties running smear campaigns.

For me, I have a hard time answering the question of positive trainer or dog whisperer. If I say that I'm not a positive trainer, does that mean I'm a negative trainer? If I'm not a dog whisperer, can I only alter behavior and train a dog using treats alone?

The reality is, I don't really land on either side. I believe that there are good points and bad points to each methodology, and that no side is really absolutely correct. Why do we have to pick sides anyway? I am a firm believer of having an open mind and learning from everyone. Every dog and person is different and the more tools you have, the better.

So to answer the question of am I a dog whisperer or positive trainer, I would say I'm the best of both. Call me a hybrid . . . or a mutt.


Beware the Retractable Leash
Nov. 27, 2009

I recently was asked to attend an outdoor Halloween pet parade where I was seated at a table answering questions on dog behavior. During my few hours there I watched all kinds of dogs and people go by as they enjoyed the day. The one thing that made me cringe and laugh repeatedly was the use of the retractable flexi-leash that so many dog owners use. I watch in amusement as owners walked by with their dogs 10 to 15 feet ahead of them, zigzagging back in fourth and becoming entangled in all the other flexi-leashed pooches there.

There is no worse tool for leash walking than the retractable leash. The farther your dog is away from you, the less control you have and the worse your communication with your dog becomes. Once your dog is that far away from you, you are no longer even in the same pack and surely not on the same walk together. The walk can be a great bonding exercise for you in and your dog, but only if you are doing it together, as a team.

Next time you're out for a walk with a friend or family member, walk single file, 10 feet apart, and try to have a conversation. I think you'll soon realize how hampered your communication abilities are. So keep those leashes short and work on your leash walking skills to get the most out of the time you spend with your furry best friends when out on a walk


Don’t Be Stingy on Praise
Nov. 10, 2009

Nobody has the perfect dog and you will always be teaching your dog how to coexist with us humans for pretty much the life of your dog. In the day to day world of living with our dogs we sometimes get caught up on all the corrections and that we forget about all the good stuff our dogs do. We are all too quick to point out when our pooches make a mistake and sometimes lose sight of the fact that our dogs are good most of the time.

Try not to get so wrapped up in working on all your dog’s trouble areas that you forget to tell him when he's behaving good. Whether he's lying nicely at your feet or walking calmly beside you while you cruise the neighborhood, let him know. Your dog needs to know when he's making the right choices, just as much (if not more) than he needs to be told about his blunders.

If you think about it your dog is good most of the time. Even those of you who have a real terror can admit that in the grand scheme of things your poochy pal is good more than he's bad. So, tell him. During the course of your day, make sure you spit out "good boy" much more than you scream "bad dog!" Give Fido the credit he deserves and come to grips with the fact that despite what the neighbors say, you have a good dog.


Taking the Time
Oct. 27, 2009

I was recently working with a client who has a very dog aggressive pit bull. We started working with the dog at a distance away from other dogs where he showed interest, but was not lunging like crazy. We worked to get him into a calm state of mind, with a relaxed leash at that distance. Then we moved closer and did the same thing. Little by little we moved him closer and closer, always taking the time to get him into a calm state of mind, with a relaxed leash before we advanced. After about an hour we had him walking with a small pack of dogs.

Now, he's by no means ready for the dog park, but that's some real good progress in only 60 minutes. The thing to remember is that if you can't control your dog at a distance from whatever it is that triggers him, you will never be able to do it up close. Be patient and make sure you are changing your dog's state of mind before moving in. We need to show him another way to exist around what normally makes him act aggressively. This can only be done at the dog's pace, not ours, so allow the necessary time to show your dog a new state of mind and behavior.

I met my client with the pit bull about a month or so later to work on it again and this time it took about 5 minutes to have the dogs walking together. My client obviously did a lot of homework to get him to this point, but wow, what a difference. You have to resist the temptation to rush things or go too fast, too soon. As always, training takes time but great results are possible.