After my initial visit with the owner(s) of any dog that I'm working with, I usually have a pretty good idea of what I need to work on and a full check list in my head on how to get started. I will even tell the owners step by step details about my plan and why I approach it the way I do..until the dog enters the picture and can change even the most perfectly prepared plan.  You see, no matter what my goals might be for that day, I can only accomplish a progress if I work with the dog. And if he has decided to be a total goofball that day due to maybe being over aroused, or fearful of the new distractions in the environment or what else might trigger a reaction, my training plan might go straight out the window....and I am ok with that. I have to work with the dog that is right in front of me in that very second. Not the dog I might think I know based on owners description. Not the dog, that I've already worked with last week. Nor the dog that I saw when I came into the house. Nope. I have to work with the dog and his emotional state of mind in that very second. And that is what makes my job fun ..and sometimes very challenging. But there is never any cookie cutter solution for all dogs. So when I might tell you, that I will work on fetch today, but then realizes that your dog doesn't  know "drop it" or "stay", well then my plan changes to teach him these basic commands before I can get a successful fetch sessions. And if the fetch game gets him too excited, I might start working on attention exercises instead to calm him down so he can make better choices. All are decisions that I make in the moment, simply based on what your dog tells me. So yes, I do have a plan, but it might change quite hastily. And even though I try to explain the change in procedure to you,the owner, it might come out as alphabet soup, with no real head or tails. But  please know that I am not suffering for lack of focus. Quite frankly I am the most focused when I am working your dog, constantly checking body language, mental state and physical state. So just hang in there with me in the moment, watch , observe, while I make a plan that will help your dog progress within the limitation of his current state of mind :)
​

Today was my third meeting with a family whose young small dog had started to show fear aggression and biting people. Having four young children, this was of course not acceptable and made life a bit more stressful for everybody....people and dog!
The first time I meet them, the dog was barking and growling and would not settle down for the first 30 minutes and when she finally did, any movement from me would cause her to start right back up again. However after 1 1/2 hour, she was able to work for me and we ended on a good note.
Today was my third visit and yes she was barking when I came, but this time it was an excited "Ya, come on in and let's work". As a trainer , this is beautiful and almost music to my ears. Through training, this family has now established a trust and reconnection with their dog, helping her build up her confidence which now helps her deal better with new changes in her environment. By recognizing that this little dog's insecurities and lack of confidence was the trigger for her outburst, her family now understands what to do to help her.  They now understand what pressure is for a dog,  and the importance of making a dog make the decisions. Feeling in control makes a dog confident a lot faster. Through fun exercises, this little dog has learned nose touches, through legs, stepping up on books, playing fetch, drop it and a solid sit. She can now handle me going from sitting position, to stand up , to sit down on the floor again without feeling the need to bark. It might not sound like a lot or sound very difficult, but for this dog it means everything. She has regained confidence in herself and knows she now can make good decisions, which has helped spill over into other situations, which we didn't specifically train: Now the person at the coffee kiosk is not dangerous - instead this person might actually have a treat. Now the plumber coming in the house, might actually be kind a cool and wants to play with her.
Does this means, this little dog will accept all people? No, but her first initial reaction comes from a different emotional mind set and she is now able to make a decision without just reacting. She still has the right to say "no, I don't like you", and we need to respect that. But she is now using her brain to make a decision and that is our first HUGE step. We will still need to expose her to different situations, more people, new environments, and keep building and expanding her comfort zone, but this family is dedicated and I know this dog is a success story already. 

So next time I ask you to perform some tricks and exercises, that might have absolutely nothing to do with your dog's current issue, just trust me. I have a plan :) 

Thank you to all the dedicated pet parents out there. You help give your dogs a better life with less guesswork and less stress.

Words are amazing. They can be funny, harsh, soft, delicate, dishonest, deceptive. They can create clarity, doubt, uncertainty, trust, substance. Words are our main choice of communication. Words are powerful.  They can create a myth, a tradition that will go on for years, passed through generations as something that is true. Even if the original definition of those words have been long lost or proven inaccurate, we often hang on to them as a safety blanket, which we refuse to give up on. Which leads me to today's topic of teacher versus leader. 
In the dog training world we often hear the word "leader", often referring to how the handler must be in their relationship with their dog: "You need to be a firm pack leader", "You need to establish your leadership and dominance", " You need to be a kind, yet assertive leader" or referring to training exercises as "leadership exercises". I don't , or should I say, didn't use to have an issue with the word "leader". This simple word is by no means a bad word, but it is how some people justify their handling of their dogs based on their definition of the word "leader", that now makes me automatically cringe every time I hear it. When a book, an article or a person uses the word "leader", my red flag instantly rises up and hits me on the head, which is always my cue to dig deeper to find the actual definition of the training philosophy and training methods discussed, before I can either approve or disagree with how the word was used. Your perception of this simple, yet powerful word is what lays the ground for your relationship with your dog and often defines the type of training you will provide. 
You see, when we start labelling ourselves as leaders, we have to be careful what labels we then assign our dogs and the expectations that comes along with it. As a leader do you expect your dog to do whatever you say , just because you are the leader? As a leader, is there any room for errors in your household? If your dog is not listening, does that mean you need to be more firm in your leadership?
Your attitude and perception of just one word, will determine how you will approach your relationship with your dog and how you will overcome any issues down the road. That is how powerful one word can be.  
Another great example of why we need to be careful with our words, are peoples (and even trainers) tendency to label dogs, that are not listening to their owners, with words, such as "dominant, lazy, stubborn, independent". When I hear a dog referred to with a negative label as the ones just mentioned, my red flag rises once more and slaps me hard! First of all, the word gives me absolute no information about the dog and , more importantly, it implies that it is all THE DOGS FAULT!   These negative words indicates a conflict, owner versus dog, whereas if we were to label our dogs with words like "cautious, sensitive, exuberant, serious, intense, easily distracted", it gives me better  information on how to approach a training sessions on the dog's terms to help set the team up for success together. Again, just words, but take a second and think about which words help create an approach and attitude you think is more likely to succeed? 

So even though many might consider me a leader among my dogs, since I am the one setting the rules and they need to follow the rules,  I also understand the importance of actually teaching my dogs what the rules are and how to set them up for success by always keeping my expectations fair. This is why I have decided that I like the word "teacher" a lot better than "leader". The word "teacher" implies a person trying to teach their student a new skill through motivated interactions. If the teacher does not succeed, it is not by default the students fault! No,  Instead the teacher is willing to look for a different approach to help make the student successful. The teacher is taking the responsibility on his/her shoulders to try and find new ways teaching a specific behavior/skill/topic, taking into consideration the environment such as distractions , the amount of pressure applied, whether his student is tired, bored, engaged. Asking questions like "was my communication clear and easy to understand ?" , "how can I improve?", all with the goal to create strong communication skills that is helpful for the student.

As a trainer, it is never my ultimate goal to teach a dog to sit, lay down, stay on command. No, my goal is to make my students become teachers, whose first reaction when the dog "fails" , are to ask themselves, "How was my communication? Did something in the environment distract my dog? Where can I improve?".
When dog owners and handlers get this concept, there are no limits to what they can teach their dog(s), because they are building on the strongest foundation possible. A foundation where mistakes are allowed,  teamwork is focus, and trust and confidence are additional benefits.

Be the teacher you wanted to have in school. The teacher that would encourage and motivate you, even when you failed.  Be that teacher for your dog  and I bet you will be surprised, how much your dog will actually teach you!

​Happy Training! 

In my job as a dog trainer, I often meet dogs that has very little or close to none impulse control, which is what also often gets them in trouble: Jumping, counter surfer, darting out of open doors, pull on leash and just often being in an aroused and excited state, which is stressful to both the dog as well as its humans. When a dog is aroused and excited, they often become more reactive and is harder to connect with. Almost like a toddler having a tantrum: you cannot communicate with a toddler until he/she has calmed down. And just like with dogs, you can not communicate or train a dog unless it is in a calm state of mind. So I think we can all agree that we would like a calm dog. But even though dogs are born with different tempers and therefore some gets more easily excited than others,  many owners have unintendedly reinforced this excitement and therefore the part to blame for this.  You see, dogs do what works for them. When their behavior gets reinforced, and gets them what they want, they will continue. 
 As an example, where many dog owners unintendedly reinforces the excitement,  is when they are getting ready for a walk: When the leash comes out, the dog knows it means "go for a walk". He gets excited  by the anticipation and the leash comes on.  He gets even more excited, unable to control his excitement he might jump on his owner. The door opens and he gets out to do his favorite thing: walk, run and sniff. BAM, he just got rewarded for jumping around and being "crazy".  When  dogs are continually being reinforced for "bad" behavior, we the people are setting them up for failure by not teaching them the tools they need to have in order to live a less stressful life with us in our human world filled with our human rules. They are more likely to have negative encounters with other dogs and people, due to jumping, pulling on leash, and so on.  A calm dog will have a lot more positive encounters, will be allowed and able to go more places with its owners and is simply more enjoyable.
So how do we teach our dogs to be more calm? Simple - we only reward calm behavior!!! 
So next time the leash comes out, it will not get on the dog until he sits down calmly. The door will not open until he sits down calmly. No negative words are necessary, just patience. Wait until he gives you the wanted behavior, acknowledge it with calm verbal praise and proceed moving forward. There are many program and video available on the internet, to help you teach the dog how to stay calm. Google Sophia Yin and her "Learn to earn" program. She has many video available about sitting to say please and settle on/off. Google Susan Garrett and her "Its yer choice" training videos. Google Zak George and his many videos on YouTube helping dog owners with issues such as barking and jumping - all based on positive interactions between handler and dog. 

My point is, next time your dog acts in a way that causes you frustration, stop and think about  whether you might be the reason for it. 

Thank you

Lately I have seen an increase in the amount of call I get from people, who want to train their own service dogs. The majority of these calls are from people suffering from anxiety and depression who have heard or have been recommend to get a dog to take with them out in the public to help them overcome whatever internal obstacles , they may encounter.
First of all , let me say, I am all for having a job as a companion and many studies have shown the powerful effect dogs can have on our internal state and well being. They calm us, give us confidence and aid when needed. This is one of the many reasons to why we have service dogs (for people with epilepsy, Aspergers, Autism, Diabetes to just mention a few) and Comfort dogs (formerly know as Therapy dogs). Because we as humans responds to dogs in a very positive way, both mentally, as well as physically and the connection humans and dogs can have (two very different species ) is awesome and beautiful!
Knowing this, people might choose to adopt a dog hoping and expecting it to become their own personal service dog. But this is where my concern comes in and why this topic needs to be addressed.
Without getting into too many details about the difference, a service dog is a dog that has been specially chosen due to its temperament and will go to a certified school for a minimum of 2 years , where he still might be rejected for not living up to the standards  of temperament. There is a lot of time, money, training and commitment put into these dogs, so someday they can go to a home and make a difference for someone who needs them.
That is a service dog - and that is the service dog wearing the service dog vest and therefore allowed into every store!
 A Comfort dog (Therapy dog) is a privately owned dog who has taken the tests necessary to become a registered Comfort Dog. These are the dogs you see in school, nursing homes, hospitals and so on.  
The dog you have chosen to help you overcome your anxiety and depression is neither one of the two mentioned above. People tend to call them service dogs, which they are not. But truly it seems to be a bit of a gray area, so for now I will just call it a Personal Aid (PA) dog. 
When I get the call about the PA dog, I see failure from the get go. The people calling have often not done their research about temperament and about the commitment and training needed, but instead just adopted, rescued or bought a dog that looked cute or simply because a friend had one.  In their mind is going to be dog for themselves or a family member,  that can help detect a panic or anxiety attack and it needs to go with them everywhere. So when I get called out to a five or eight months old dog, that has no skills, never been socialized, live outside in a kennel because "he is too strong  and too much to handle" , and I  listen to  the expectations the family has for this dog, it is really hard for me to not get mad and frustrated. You are setting yourself and the dog up to failure! Having a dog means being a responsible dog owner, who is committed and ready to put in the hours needed to proper train and socialize the dog in order to give the dog the best skills and foundation needed in order to live in our world with the minimum amount of stress. That foundation in itself is hard work BUT if then you also want the dog to be able to handle stressful environments, such as grocery stores, farmers market, post office and more, you have to understand , that with these additional requirements, you need to put in the extra work. And still nothing is guaranteed. Your dog might have a temperament which will never allow it to go with you in public. 
Please know that this post comes from a place, where I just want to see dogs be successful. It is not lashing out but more a plea for you  to understand, that you cannot put all these expectations on your dog if you are not willing to put in the work yourself. 
If you are willing to put in the work, I will be more than happy to help you put a training plan together. As I said, dogs are amazing and the bond they allow us to have with them is beautiful and honest.  But be fair and choose a dog based on realistic expectations in regards to your level of commitment. And if you don't have the time, don't get the dog. 
 

We all know the importance of training our dogs. Training them at home as well as outside the home, helps make them more acquainted to our environment and our expectations while learning the behaviors needed to be successful in our everyday situations. 
But among all the training exercises and your work schedule, do you remember to sometimes just get on the floor and play and roll around? Or to just get on the floor to sit with your dog and just pet him or give a little massage? 
I feel, that whenever I remember to take the time to sit down or roll around on the floor with my dogs, I can get a better sense of their mental state and well being. Will Cedar let me mess with his sensitive paws today or does he instantly feel the need to mouth my hand? Is Jackson in the mood to play or is he too tired or too sore, and just need a belly rub. Getting on the floor, helps me feel connected with my dogs again - something which is often forgotten during the everyday routines of getting kids ready for day care, work, making dinner, getting kids ready for bed and so on. 

So my advice to you is, get on the floor and get connected with your dog. Believe me, you will both appreciate it......and be thankful you did, when some day you will no longer to able to do so. Because it is when we stop and connect with loved ones, being children, spouse, family, friends or in this case our dogs, we make the memories we will forever be thankful for.

Even though dogs have domesticated and living with us for thousands and thousands of years, many of us still don't know how to "listen" to what our dogs are telling us. Dogs "talk" a lot with their bodies but unfortunately we are often lacking the knowledge and tools to understand, which then again lead to escalated situations and behavioral issues, which otherwise could have been prevented. As a dog trainer, one of my essential goals is to help the communication getting more clear between dog and owner.  I truly believe that the more we educate ourselves in dog language , the easier our lives will be living with a dog, which will increase the quality of life -for both dog and owner. 
Doggone safe has a lot of helpful information about stress signals on their website. The information below is copied from their page Signs of Anxiety. Important information which should be part of any basic dog training class, so it can become more common knowledge. 

Signs of Anxiety
These signs indicate that your dog is uncomfortable with the current situation and there is a need for intervention to prevent pushing the dog to the point of biting, and to make sure your canine friend is happy and not feeling anxious.

Please remember: It is a GOOD THING that a dog shows you that he is anxious or uncomfortable, rather than going straight to a bite. Never punish a dog for showing that he wants to be left alone by growling, leaving the situation or demonstrating more subtle signs. If you punish a dog for growling or breaking a stay to get way from a child you might suppress the warning or avoidance behavior and he might just bite without warning first the next time. The dog still feels exactly the same way about the child bothering him, but now he has no way to show it and no way out of the situation. Be glad if your dog gives a warning and take steps to modify the behavior of the child, condition the dog to enjoy the child and create safe spaces for both dog and child. See the parent information page and the dog owner information page to find out how to do this.

One Paw Raised (see photo below)
This is very cute but the dog is not happy and does not want to be petted or bothered. 
She is worried.

Half Moon Eye (see photo below)
The dog just wants to be left alone. Watch for this one when kids are mauling the dog. This is a common expression in dogs that 
being hugged. If you see the half moon eye when the kids approach 
the dog or are interacting with the dog, it's time to intervene and 
give them all something else to do.

Displacement Behaviors (see photo below)
Displacement behaviors are normal behaviors displayed out of context. They indicate conflict and anxiety. The dog wants to do something, but he is suppressing the urge to do it. He displaces the suppressed behavior with something else such as a lick or a yawn. For example, you are getting ready to go out and the dog hopes to go too. He is not sure what will happen next. He wants to jump on you or run out the door, but instead he yawns. The uncertainty of the situation causes conflict for the dog and the displacement behaviors are a manifestation of that conflict. The dog may want to bite a child who takes his bone, but instead he bites furiously at his own foot. 

Some examples of displacement behaviors include

• yawning when not tired
• licking chops without the presence of food 
• sudden scratching when not itchy
• sudden biting at paws or other body part
• sudden sniffing the ground or other object
• wet dog shake when not wet or dirty

These are all things that dogs do anyway. It is important to look at the context to determine whether the dog is feeling anxious. For example: if it is bedtime and the dog gets up, stretches, yawns and goes to her bed, then that yawn was not a displacement behavior. If the kids are hugging the dog or lying on him and he yawns or starts licking at them over and over then this is displacement. He wants to get up and leave or even to bite, but he displaces that with yawning or licking them or himself. In this context the licking or yawning behavior tells you that the dog is uncomfortable with whatever the kids are doing and it is time for you to intervene. You must then either prevent the kids from doing this in the future or use positive training techniques to teach the dog to enjoy (not just tolerate) these actions from the kids. Visit the dog owner information page for advice on how to do this.

Avoidance Behaviors

Sometimes dogs are more overt when they feel anxious and want to remove themselves from a situation. Please don't force a dog to stay in situation in which he feels anxious, especially if children are the source of his anxiety. Here are some examples:

• the dog gets up and leaves an uncomfortable situation (he may bite rather than leaving one of these days)
• turning head away
• hiding behind person or object
• barking and retreating
• the dog rolls over on back in submissive way (please don't hurt me!)

Other Body Language Signs of Anxiety

• tail between legs
• tail low and only the end is wagging
• tail between legs and wagging
• tail down or straight for curly-tailed dog (husky, malamute, pug, chow chow, spitz-type dogs etc.)
• ears sideways for erect eared dog
• ears back and very rapid panting
• dog goes into another room away from you and urinates or defecates (Please find a professional behavior consultant for help with this - search our directory)

All dogs should have a safe place, such as a crate or mat that they can go to when they want to be left alone. All family members and guests should be taught not to bother the dog when he is in his safe place. We have recently heard of a mat product which gives the dog a shock if he tries to leave it, thus teaching him to stay on the mat. This is not what we would consider a safe place for the dog. This is a dangerous product and you should not have one of these.

After reading about how a dog shows he is anxious and stressed, please see video below. 
Thank God for a very patient and tolerant dog or this child would have been bitten and dog most likely euthanized even though it was sending A LOT of signs saying "Hey, I don't like this" and even tried to walk away. 
Education is important in order for us to coexist with a different specie so we can communicate and 'listen' to each other . This wil help promote a relationship based on trust and respect , which is ultimately my goal with any relationship, man or animal.

The AKC GoodDog!℠ Helpline team has shed some light on top questions from real dog owners and why finding a solution to these training troubles is key. Don’t delay! Tackle common training troubles with your pup today.

#5 – LEAVE IT
One of the most useful and versatile commands, Leave It can be used indoors and out. Whether you are on a walk with other dogs or just trying to get your shoe back, these two words will help you teach your dog what is and is not appropriate to put in his mouth.

#4 – WALKING WITH A LEASH
Does a walk with your dog resemble the Iditarod, or is it a stroll in the park? Walking on a Loose Leash makes outings more pleasurable for you and your dog.

#3 – COME
What do you do when your dog runs out of the door or gate and heads directly toward the road? Come is the first word out of your mouth. Does your dog listen and consistently return to you? Or could you illicit anEmergency Stay while you go get them?

#2 – JUMPING ON GUESTS
Since dogs are social animals, they often become overly excited when greeting humans. Jumping on People is one of the most common problem behaviors. Teaching a dog how to politely greet visitors increases the likelihood of social interaction and inclusion.

And in the number 1 slot…

#1 – POTTY TRAINING
Potty Training a new puppy is the number one question asked by Good Dog Helpline callers. What is a reasonable age to expect a puppy to be housebroken? How do you get your dog to let you know when he needs to go out?

If  you have any questions on how to teach your dog these 5 commands,  please don't hesitate to call me today at (406) 679-3826. 

With this blog , I hope to educate dog owners about  the science behind dog training by posting articles, which I find to be well documented, easy to understand and implement in your daily life with your dog and thereby hopefully take  out any "mystery" as some people like to portray in the media. There is no mystery or secrets and special "whisper" talents you need to posses when wanting to train a dog. What you need, is a open mind and a willingness to learn  from your furry companion and an understanding, that knowledge is your friend. Study, become familiar with the science behind behaviors and come from a place of respecting the individual specie, and you are on your way to learn more about life than just dog training !