Accept the dog you have, not the one you wish you had.” This quote, from a presentation entitled: Relationship: The heart of positive reinforcement training, by Leslie Nelson of Tails-U-Win! Canine Center in Manchester, CT, was for me, the highlight of 2005 Association of Pet Dog Trainers educational conference. In twelve words, Leslie summed up the essential ingredient to having a happy relationship with your dog.

Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) is a new program developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) based on input from both dog owners and non-dog owners, shelter workers, and professional dog trainers. C.L.A.S.S. has been designed in an effort to benefit not just pet owners and dogs, but the community as a whole!

C.L.A.S.S. has some similarities to the AKC Good Citizen Test or therapy dog testing, but in many ways it is also very different. It is a three-level evaluation in which dog guardians can demonstrate the real-life skills of their dogs, as well as demonstrate their own understanding of basic dog handling, training and care. There are three levels to C.L.A.S.S. (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.), each requiring a higher level of training

The objective of BITE INHIBITION is to teach your dog to have a gentle bite that does not hurt, if he ever makes mouth contact with you or any other person.

Punishing the dog for biting and teaching “No Bite” just suppresses behavior, while teaching bite inhibition teaches what we want. Suppressed behaviors often return in a violent manner.

No matter how much training you do and how gentle your dog is, under certain circumstances any dog can be provoked to bite. Biting is an act of defense for a dog; it is a very instinctual response. There are a variety of reasons that a dog may bite and contrary to popular belief, few bites are committed by “aggressive” dogs. Humans have really done a great disservice to dogs by expecting them to like absolutely everyone and every other dog they encounter in their lifetime. We also require that our dogs be the embodiment of peace and never get angry, afraid or aggress for either reason. How many of us can truly say that we have never disliked someone or responded to a situation with anger or fear?

Understanding Our Animals Needs

A significant cause of stress for an animal occurs when its most basic needs are not being met. One of the first and most comprehensive efforts to define an animal’s most basic welfare needs started in Great Britain in 1965 with the establishment of the Brambell Commission. This commission, created by Parliament, was charged with reviewing the treatment of farm animals and developing a minimum standard for meeting their needs. They created what is known as “The Five Freedoms,” which is an excellent starting point for evaluating the welfare of any animal, including pets. The five freedoms are:

The “Woof-Meow” show is on every Sunday at 8:30PM on WVOM, 103.9FM, the Voice of Maine. Hosted by Don Hanson of Green Acres Kennel Shop, the show focuses on educating dog and cat guardians about their dogs and cats.

AIR DATE: Sunday, March 12th and 19th, 2006

GUESTS: Kate Dutra and Becky Robinson

OBJECTIVE: To learn how to manage your dogs chewing behavior.

While a puppy may chew more during the teething stage, chewing is a very normal behavior for dogs of all ages. They do it out of pleasure; they do it to pass the time; they do it to relieve stress and they do it to exercise their jaws and teeth. We need to allow our puppies and dogs to have an outlet for natural behaviors such as chewing. It is our responsibility to provide them with things that they can chew on and to help them learn that they are only to chew on their specified chew toys.

I groaned in disgust when my mom came home and announced I would be attending an obedience class. Wasn't she aware that I already knew everything? Why was this insane woman putting me through these nonsensical commands all over again? She even seemed convinced that this "new style" of training was going to be fun! UGHHHHH…Oh well, I realized that mom was determined. At my age, I was going back to school.

How would you define “dog training?” This is a question we always ask our incoming students. People have many preconceived ideas about what it takes to train a dog. The old traditional approaches to dog training say you have to show the dog “who’s boss.” This is just not true and in fact, is counterproductive to training and the relationship you have with your dog.

At Green Acres we view you and your dog as a team and encourage you to do likewise. Training your dog is not about “you against your dog,” it is about "you with your dog." By working as a team you will both be more successful and have more fun.

Dominance: Reality or Myth

I have heard that some dogs like Poodles and Bichon Frises do not shed. Is this true?

While some dog breeds shed more heavily than others, all dogs, with the exception of hairless breeds, shed. Often people obtain Labrador Retrievers, believing that since their coats are short they will not shed very much. The fact is that Labs often shed quite a lot and have a tendency to do so year round. The northern breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes, while they shed year round, have a major coat blow in the Spring which usually lasts a couple of weeks to a month. Poodles and similar coated dogs do not tend to shed as much as the other breeds because they do not have a double coat. Poodle shedding is often deceptive; when they shed their hair it does not end up on the floor. Instead it remains in their coats and contributes to the creation of mats if not properly brushed.

While a dog’s growl can be upsetting and disheartening to us it also serves the very useful purpose of alerting us to the fact that the dog is feeling threatened or uncomfortable. It is the dog’s way of saying “If something in this situation does not change, I may feel threatened enough to bite.”

As a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC) I deal with a greater number of aggressive dogs than the average person, I love it when a client dog growls. When a dog growls at me it is giving me a warning and an opportunity to change my behavior, thus preventing a bite from occurring. For this reason, I advise all my clients and students that it is NEVER wise to punish a dog for growling, even by saying “No.” Dogs that are repeatedly punished for growling eventually may not give a warning and immediately escalate to biting. A dog that does not growl before biting is a dangerous dog.

I recently received the following email from a prospective client. Since the problem they are experiencing is often typical, I thought I’d share their questions and my response.

I knew of Marian and Bob Bailey but had never heard them speak until the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Conference in Valley Forge. After spending an hour with them and their chickens, I realized there was a great deal that the Bailey's could teach me. I knew they were having a 5-Day workshop in the summer, and like an eager retriever waiting for dinner, could not wait to signup.

Even though dogs do not 'talk' in the same way that we do, they do manage to communicate with other dogs’ quite well. Dogs use some forms of vocal communication (whine, bark, growl, howl, etc.) as well as a variety of body postures and movements to indicate their messages. Puppies learn these communication skills while with their litter and mother. Puppies separated from their litter before eight weeks of age run the risk of not having enough exposure to this process and may exhibit behavioral problems.

If you spend some time learning canine as a second language, you will be rewarded with a much better understanding of your pet and his behavior. With study and practice, you can learn to understand what your dog is trying to communicate.

OBJECTIVE: To learn how to stop your dog from inappropriately jumping up on people.

Jumping up to greet us is a very natural behavior for puppies and dogs, yet most people want to actively discourage this behavior. It is not a bad behavior to discourage, as a full-grown dog, at least the larger breeds, could inadvertently knock a child or elderly person to the ground.

The “Woof-Meow” show is on every Sunday at 8:30PM on WVOM, 103.9FM, the Voice of Maine. Hosted by Don Hanson of Green Acres Kennel Shop, the show focuses on educating dog and cat guardians about their dogs and cats.

AIR DATE: Sunday, February 11 & 18, 2007

GUEST: Colleen Pelar with Don Hanson & Kate Dutra

As humans, we often like to show our affection by hugging or kissing those we care about. While I am completely supportive of people showing affection towards their dogs, I try very hard to educate all of our clients and training students that dogs are not humans, and that they often find our need to hug and to kiss stressful and confrontational. While a very small number of dogs may learn to actually enjoy this type of contact, most merely tolerate it even though they find it objectionable; others choose to bite.

I often say that living with a puppy is a lesson in humility, patience and surrender.  What I never realized was just how true this would also be in the golden years.  Don’t get me wrong.  In no way would I trade these times for the world, but as I see my previously strong and vital dog aging, it is impossible not to notice the similarities to his first year.  Emotionally, I am still shocked by how suddenly this aging process seems to have occurred, however intellectually I know that it has been going on less dramatically for quite some time.  My best advice to frustrated puppy owners is to enjoy their young ones energy level and curiosity, as there will most definitely come a day that they long for that mischievous attitude, and then can’t help but smile when a glimmer of it returns.

Dogs grow old in various ways, both physically and mentally.  Many begin to lose their sight and hearing, and start to rely more often upon their sense of smell.  It never ceases to amaze me how I can be standing five feet away from my old pal calling to him at increasing decibels, and not until my voice has become quite loud does he respond to it with that look of surprise.  It saddens me that when I come home he is no longer even aware of my arrival until I seek him out.  Amazingly though, despite all this, he can still easily hear the light tinkle of the treat jar opening.  (In order to assuage my ego, I simply tell myself that his response is due to the high pitch of the glass and really not selective hearing.)

(A version of this article first appeared in Volume 11, Issue 2 of Green Acres Kennel Shop Paw Prints – June 2006, updated December 2006)

Green Acres opposes the use of shock collars because they; 1) cause pain and stress, 2) they can cause aggression and 3) because there are ample humane alternatives to training and containment. The use of shock amounts to abuse.

We first warned you of the danger of shock collars in our May 2004 Paw Prints. Since writing that article, we have obtained studies and information further supporting Green Acres position on this serious matter. Additionally, many canine behavior professionals have reached the same conclusions about the problems caused by the use of shock collars. Sadly, due to the continued popularity of electronic underground fence systems and the use of shock collars in training, we felt the need to address this topic again.

In my opinion it is NEVER appropriate to use electric shock to train a dog or any other living thing. There are far better ways to train, with far fewer serious side effects. However, since there are people advocating the use of shock collars, without fully understanding their dangerous side-effects, or perhaps not caring about the physical and emotional pain they inflict on dogs, I feel compelled to explain why shock collars should be relegated to the dust bins of history along with other instruments of torture, such as the rack and thumb screws. 

A Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) will assist you in resolving your dog’s problem behaviors. Typical behavior problems they deal with include aggression and biting, separation anxiety, inappropriate urination and defecation, obsessive compulsive behaviors, food or toy guarding, fears and phobias and other stress related behaviors.

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Why is training a dog so important?

Dogs are a separate species from people and as such have their own special needs and natural instincts. They communicate differently than we humans do, and many of their normal behaviors are counter to our own. When we bring a dog or puppy into our homes and our lives we are asking them to change much of what is natural about their existence. We not only need to teach them how to fit in but also teach ourselves about their needs so that we can learn to accommodate them and adjust our expectations to make the best possible situation for both species; dog and human. If we do not take the time to train our dogs and educate ourselves we will both be frustrated and not nearly as happy as we could be.

It is a well established fact that the "wrong kind" of stress or chronic stress can have a detrimental effect on our behavior, health and overall well-being. Whether "good" or "bad", physiologically, the manifestation of stress in dogs is similar as in humans, with the same negative and positive effects. Stress has the potential to make one ill, cause behaviors that damage relationships with others, and increase arousal, which frequently increases aggression. As a pet behavior counselor, I have observed that most behavior problems with pets, especially the more serious such as aggression and separation anxiety, are the result of stress. Therefore, as responsible guardians for our dogs, we have an obligation to understand stress and its impact so we can do what is necessary to minimize stress in the lives of our canine friends.

In an article written by Timothy Kim for the VIN News Services (5FEB09), an on-line resource for veterinarians, representatives of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) have expressed concern about dog training advice given by Cesar Millan, on his reality TV show, The Dog Whisperer. The AVSAB is so concerned that they have issued an official statement (Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals - http://tiny.cc/BoliX) to counter the unfortunate pervasive influence of Millan's show.

Merial, the drug company that manufacturers and markets Frontline® and Heartgard®, has announced a joint marketing campaign with controversial "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan which will involve cross-promoting Millan's equally controversial behavior video.

A therapy dog is in fact part of a therapy dog/handler team. In other words, a dog can only be a therapy dog when working with the handler with whom they have been evaluated and certified, which is also usually their guardian. A dog and their handler only become a therapy dog/handler team when they have been tested and registered by one of the therapy dog registries, such as Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (www.tdi-dog.org). This testing verifies that the dog has been trained to be mannerly and is comfortable around other people, other animals, and in a multitude of environments and is SAFE. Teams must maintain their annual registration with TDI in order to remain certified and covered by TDI's liability insurance.

'Dog Whisperer' Training Approach More Harmful Than Helpful