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Dog Trainer

Senior Dogs

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Every single day, countless dogs who have entered their golden years, sit in shelters, waiting for the chance to find their next home. They watch puppies and young dogs come in and leave with a swiftness that they probably will never know. After all, why get a older dog when there are young ones to adopt!

The truth is, senior dogs (age 6+, depending on the breed) have a lot of life and love left to give. In fact, if you’re looking for a laid-back, easy to manage, housebroken, and low maintenance dog, an older dog would be a perfect fit for you.

Most senior dogs aren’t found on the streets as strays. Younger ones, particularly between the ages of 1-3 years old, are much more likely to have entered shelters as strays, or for behavior problems, meaning that they will require a lot more time, energy, patience, and training to fit nicely into a family when compared to an older dog.

Senior dogs generally end up at the shelter due to an owner passing away, or an owner being unable to afford their dog any longer. They are usually housebroken and know at least the basic obedience commands. And please, don’t think that just because a dog is labeled “senior” means that he or she doesn’t have energy! I have met many incredibly energetic dogs who are 9+ years old. These dogs are perfectly content to snuggle with their owners on the couch during a rainy day, but are also thrilled when walk time comes around. Best of both worlds.

I’m sure, also, that you’ve heard the old adage, “You can’t teach and old dog new tricks,” but I’m here today to tell you that just isn’t true. One of my clients has a 9 year old, 10 year old, and 12 year old dog, all living together in the same house, who have all learned new skills during private lessons.

While older dogs are absolutely still capable of learning, there are a few things you’ll need to take into consideration when training an older dog.

For instance, sometimes medical conditions (hip displasia, etc.) can limit what these dogs are physically capable of. It is just fine to teach dogs with these conditions commands, but be patient and understanding if they are slow to follow, or if they can only repeat the command a few times before growing tired.

Older dogs also need more rest. Generally, training sessions with young dogs and puppies should last about 10-15 minutes. With older dogs, shoot for 5-10 minutes then take a break so they can rest up. Believe it or not, learning new things is mentally taxing (think back to math class in high school!) and can be a great way to tire out a dog of any age on a bad weather day.

Golden-aged dogs are at a special place in life. Much like our human senior citizens, these dogs deserve a chance to just enjoy life at their own pace. No dog should have to live out their golden years in the high stress of a shelter. For everything they have been through in life, they deserve a nice warm dog bed, human companionship, toys, and love.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

The Naptown Buzz November 2011

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The fourth issue of Naptown Buzz is now available for download and print copies will also be available this month at select locations, while supplies last.

Naptown Buzz October 2011: Download PDF

Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month

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In honor of October being “Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog” Month, I thought I’d share some hints and tips on adopting shelter dogs. All shelter dogs have had a rough go at life, whether they arrived at the shelter due to abuse or neglect, an owner’s death, financial hardship, “uncontrollable” behaviors, or any other reason. These dogs have been separated from everything they know and thrown into a high stress environment that can put even the calmest, most laid-back dog on edge.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when adopting a shelter dog:

The most common time for a dog to become a resident at a shelter is when they are between 6 months – 1.5 years old. The reason for this is generally because the cute little puppy suddenly became a big, active, playful dog. If you’re looking at a dog in the shelter who seems unruly, please know that he or she can be taught dog-manners! Unfortunately, some people just don’t want to take the time to teach  an energetic dog the rules of the house, and they end up in the shelter. These almost grown dogs have a lot of love to give and way too much youthful energy to be confined to a kennel!

If you already have a dog at home, or if you plan on frequenting the dog park with your soon-to-be-adopted dog, ask the shelter staff which dogs they use as “Intro Dogs.” These dogs are the ones who are used to test the social skills of new shelter dog residents.  Intro Dogs have highly developed canine social skills and will generally get along with any dog they meet – which means you can enjoy your multiple-dog household, and the dog park, with little worry.

Shelter dogs don’t usually show their true colors until about a month after arriving at their new home. They may be more subdued, or more wound up than they naturally are for the first month. For this reason, it is incredibly important to establish household doggy rules right off the bat. For instance, if you want to teach your dog to never run through an open door, start on day 1. If you don’t want your dog to jump on you as a greeting, start immediately teaching him or her not to.

Consider adopting a dog who is currently in a foster home, especially if you are a first time dog owner, or if you don’t have a lot of training experience. Foster parents have been living with these dogs in a home environment, and can tell you exactly what to expect from them. You will know for sure if the dog you’re considering is housebroken or paper trained, energetic or calm, knows any obedience commands, has health issues, etc. These dogs will also have a much easier time transitioning into your family since where they are right now is a home setting instead of a loud, chaotic shelter.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com

The Thundershirt – Will it Work for Your Dog?

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The Thundershirt (www.thundershirt.com) is marketed as “The Best Dog Anxiety Treatment,” but does that mean it really works?

The Thundershirt is relatively new and sells for around $40 at most pet retail stores. It came out marketed to pet owners whose dog shows signs of anxiety during thunderstorms. Made of a soft, stretchy material, the Thundershirt is designed to snugly wrap around your dog and to give him a sense of comfort when in stressful situations.

Recently, it began noting that it also works for separation anxiety, fearfulness, hyperactivity, barking, and more. Since this appears to be a pretty trendy dog accessory these days, I thought I’d pick one up and try it out on my fearful reactive dog. Here’s what I found for her, and a couple of clients’ dogs.

For my dog, Karma, I noticed a change as soon as I put the Thundershirt on her. She was much calmer. During walks, she barked less at people (some not at all!), and during car rides, people walking near the car didn’t seem to bother her as much either.

To really put it to the test, I took Karma to her least favorite place – the Vet. In this instance of extreme stress and anxiety, I didn’t see any change with her wearing the Thundershirt. She was still very anxious, barking, and incredibly uncomfortable with being there.

A Group Class student was next to try the Thundershirt out on his fearful dog. She ended up being calmer during walks as well – much easier to handle!

Another client who tried it on her dog, found that her dog was also easier to handle during walks, paid more attention to her while outside, and accepted treats while on a walk. Usually, her dog was very focused on the various outdoor scents and cared much more about them than about her or treats.

Perhaps the biggest breakthrough I saw, however, was on a client’s dog who is afraid of the stove. He runs out of the kitchen, all the way down to the basement, whenever the stove or burners are turned on. With the Thundershirt, and some positive reinforcement training, he was sitting calmly beside the stove with both the oven and burner turned on within 5 minutes of working with him!

So does the Thundershirt work? Yes and no. It seems to be a wonderful tool to help teach your dog how to remain clam during periods of low to moderate stress. High stress situations, with most dogs, there probably won’t be a noticeable change.

It is important to note that while the Thundershirt may produce a calming effect over your dog, very little research has been done. It is possible that dogs may become accustomed to the Thundershirt and its effects may wane over time, or that the dog may begin to associate the Thundershirt with stressful situations and begin to feel nervous just by wearing it. It is too soon to tell.

The Thundershirt is probably a worthwhile investment (especially since you can return it if you don’t notice a difference in your dog!) if you are willing to also put in the time to train your dog while he is wearing the Thundershirt, instead of relying solely on the shirt to do all of the work. That way, the transition between wearing it and not wearing it will become much easier and your dog will no longer be in need of this training tool!

Have you tried a Thundershirt on your dog? If so, what do you think about it?

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

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Adding Another Dog to your Family

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“I think she needs a friend.” This is a pretty common line of thinking with single-dog households. At some point, we start to wonder if our dog would be happier if she had another canine to run around with.  The answer varies from dog to dog – some dogs seem to adore other dogs and do wonderful with them, and other dogs seem to not really even notice the existence of other dogs. Then, of course, there are a few who make it known that, under no circumstances, do they ever want another dog around!

Even with the best trained, most dog-loving dog in the world, adding another dog to the household could cause problems. These problems can certainly be corrected, but it is important to know that, like humans who live under the same roof, dogs who share a house can find themselves in occasional disagreements.

The addition of another dog may even bring out sides of your dog that you have never seen before. This may show itself as toy or food guarding, attention hoarding, withdrawl, dominance, or aggression. Sometimes it is healthy and perfectly acceptable to let dogs work things out for themselves. For instance, the occasional growl or snap to signal that one does not wish to play at that moment, or that the other is much too close, is just fine. True fights, guarding of resources, or overt displays of dominance, however, will require some leader intervention.

My dog, Karma, and I recently took in a foster dog from the Southside Animal Shelter. Bandit is her name, and while she is a little shy around people, she loves other dogs. Karma is used to dogs coming and going in our home, but all of them have a tendency to bring out different sides of her.

Ivanna, our first foster dog, brought out Karma’s annoyed and “don’t mess with me” side. Jacob, the next foster dog, brought out her toy guarding side. Others have turned her into the annoying little sister who begs for play, or into the aloof big sister who doesn’t wish to play.  All of these issues can be, and were, solved pretty easily.

With all of that fixed in Karma, Bandit has shown me a side I never expected of Karma. You see, I spent about a week telling Karma that we were going to get a foster dog and that she would be Karma’s responsibility to entertain and to help me train. I guess it went to her head.

Karma started showing signs that she believed she owned Bandit. This includes dominant stares, prolonged holds during play, keeping other dogs away from Bandit, pushing in between Bandit and myself while I was petting Bandit, rushing to be first out the door once released from Stay, etc.

Bandit is not innocent in all of this. She never once stood up for herself. She let Karma walk all over her, which led Karma to believe what she did.

I am quite happy to report now, that the two dogs are perfectly at peace with one another. Bandit has learned to tell Karma, “No,” in an appropriate way, and I have managed to show Karma that she in no way, shape, or form owns Bandit. It is very clear that they care about one another and they have a fantastic relationship.

A few things to keep in mind when introducing a new dog to your household:

  • Introduce the dogs in a neutral territory – If neither dog recognizes where you are as “home,” they will much more readily accept one another as a playmate, instead of as a threat.
  • Make sure your current dog has rules – It is important to already have a leadership role with your current dog, and to have some rules that they must consistently follow. This could be waiting patiently for their food, not jumping on furniture, sitting to have the leash put on, or anything else.
  • Teach the rules to the new dog immediately – By showing the new dog the ropes, you will be teaching him or her that you are the leader. Your current dog will also be learning the same lesson, and will view you as fair, making it less likely that your current dog will lash out at your new dog.
  • If you notice any issues between your dogs, consult with a Certified Dog Trainer – Often times, my clients come to me with problems dealing with multiple dog households where the issues have been occurring for years. Catching problems early makes for easier fixes and a stable household for years to come.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

Group Dog Training Classes Didn’t Work For You?

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Methods of training our canine friends have evolved an incredible amount – even in just the last 15 years. Common methods of choke chains, harsh punishments, and forceful leadership that were prevalent, even in the 90’s, have now been replaced by methods that allow our dogs to learn to place trust in us, instead of to fear us. If group dog training classes didn’t work for you in the past, please consider trying them again.

Dog Trainers everywhere differ in their approach to running group classes. This is truly a wonderful thing since dogs are much like people in that they all learn different ways. Believe it or not, there are an astonishing number of ways to teach the same command or trick. What some dogs understand right off the bat may not work for other dogs, or may take a much longer time if the method goes against how your dog’s brain is wired.

Teaching your dog basic obedience commands such as Sit, Stay, Leave It, Come, etc. can be life saving. No matter the age of your dog, it is never too late for him to learn. The old adage of, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” just doesn’t apply.

For example, after learning Stay and Come, one of my students in group class said that his 1.5 year old dog escaped from the yard, and what would have been a 45 minute chase, was only a few minutes because he yelled for her to Stay, which got her attention, then called her to Come. No longer does he need to worry about his dog running into traffic, or having to chase her through the neighborhood!

When you’re thinking about signing your dog up for group classes, here are a few things to take into consideration:

  • Your dog does not need to be perfect – Many people are afraid to enroll their dog into group classes for fear that he will bark uncontrollably, that he won’t understand commands, or that he will be too afraid of the situation. Group classes are actually wonderful for dogs like this! By learning new commands in a setting full of other dogs and people, these skills are much more likely to be transferred over in to the “real world.”
  • Dogs learn in different ways – Before signing up for classes, make sure you have an understanding of the Trainer’s methods. Try to find a Trainer who not only understands basic obedience training, but who is also skilled in dog behavior and dog psychology. These Trainers can help you better understand your dog and will find the methods that are best suited to your dog’s learning style.
  • Class size matters – In order for you and your dog to get the individual attention necessary to make sure you have a firm understanding of the training methods, aim for smaller classes (3-6 dogs as opposed to 7-10). There will still be sufficient distractions in the class for your dog to learn around, but your Trainer will be able to focus more time on each student individually as well.

Your dog will be part of your life for years, whether you have a puppy or an adult. It is never too late for him to receive an education in basic obedience commands. Imagine the holiday season with a well-trained dog, instead of one who jumps on guests, steals food from the table, and runs through the door when people try to come inside! Start soon, and that could be your Christmas present to yourself and your dog this year.

And remember – every dog can learn. Every single one of them.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

 

 

Scaredy-Dogs

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We’ve all probably been called a Scaredy Cat at some point in our lives – maybe because we were too afraid to follow through on a dare, or because of an irrational fear of spiders , roller-coasters, etc. Fears are common among people and a part of life. We either learn to deal with them, or we learn to avoid fear-inducing situations.

What do you do, however, when you find that the dog you love dearly is a Scaredy Dog? It could be anything – fireworks, thunderstorms, strangers, children, even the vacuum cleaner – that sends them into a trembling bundle of fear. One of my client’s dogs happens to be afraid of the stove. Another client’s dog is afraid of dark places.

There are many different reasons why dogs develop phobias, but the reasons aren’t important. Once a dog has a phobia, “why” doesn’t matter – helping them to overcome it, does.

Dogs who are afraid need to know that they have a leader who is fair, consistent, and patient. It takes time to build the level of trust with a dog that is necessary to help him overcome his fear. But, trust me, it is well worth the effort.

The first step is to figure out exactly what your dog is afraid of, and you’ll know it because every single time that object enters his life, or that situation occurs, your dog will tuck his tail between his legs and run. He might give a bark or two, but you can distinguish fear from aggression by watching how close he gets to the object of his fear and by deciding whether there is an element of skittishness to his barking.

Next, check to find your dog’s “behavior threshold” – the point where your dog can still respond to obedience commands and will accept food treats. He may still be nervous, but he should be able to focus on you for the most part. This is where you will begin.

The tricky part with learning to be a leader, is learning to what “fair” means to a dog. Fair means that you understand their canine instinct, and that you allow them to express themselves while helping them learn new ways to cope, instead of finding new ways to avoid the situations.

What this means, in a real life situation, is that when the object of fear appears (and after you have established your dog’s behavior threshold), allow your dog to run away, but only to the point where you know for sure that they can reasonably focus on you, and will accept food treats. You may find yourself 10 ft. away, or 50 ft. This is your dog’s decision.

Next, it becomes your job to be upbeat and distracting. Ask your dog to to Sit, Shake, or any other favorite command your dog may have. Do not acknowledge your dog’s fear,and instead, reward with treats for completed commands. After a few times of listening to you and being rewarded, leave the fear-inducing situation completely. Your dog is learning that listening to you is much more fun than being afraid. He is also learning that looking to you for guidance when he is feeling a little unsure will be rewarding and positive for him, and that when he does, nothing bad happens.

The next time the object makes an appearance, try allowing your dog to run less far – even just 6 inches less. Remember – it is your dog’s decision on whether he is capable of listening to you and on whether or not he will accept food treats.

Stay consistent, fair, and very, very patient and in no time, your dog will forget why he was ever afraid in the first place.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

Toy-Guarding Dogs? There is a Solution!

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My dog, Rusty, has a problem of toy-guarding against my other dog, Rosie. Whenever Rusty has a toy and Rosie gets close, he growls and snaps at her until she leaves him alone. I want to keep giving my dogs toys, but I’m afraid they’ll start actually fighting one day. What can I do to stop Rusty from being so mean to Rosie?

The good news here is that there is a lot you can do to create doggy-harmony in a toy-guarding home! Before we begin, however, if Rusty also toy-guards with you and shows aggressive signs when you try to take a toy away from him, please consult a professional dog trainer and keep the toys out of your dogs’ reach for now.

Toy-Guarding comes from a natural canine instinct to guard resources. In a dog’s mind, if he loses that toy to another dog, he may never get it back. The goal will be to show Rusty that if he chooses to guard his toy, he will lose it (but will get it back after showing appropriate behavior). If the following protocol is followed with his toys 100% of the time, he will eventually learn that if he toy guards, he will lose his toy, and if he does not, he will keep it.

To begin, make sure Rusty has a strong understanding of the “Give” command. If he does not, work on that for at least one week until he will drop the toy every time you ask him to. To do this, wait until Rusty is involved in playing with his toy. Tell him “Give” and trade him a treat for the toy. Be sure to always give the toy back to him after he finishes the treat so that the “Give” command won’t mean, in his mind, that he loses the toy for good.

The next step is to wait for Rusty to display his toy-guarding behaviors around Rosie. A problem can’t be solved until it actually occurs.

When Rusty starts growling, approach both dogs and have Rosie move away from Rusty. Once Rosie is away, say “Give” to Rusty, take the toy place it near Rusty on the couch or floor. Do NOT allow Rusty or Rosie to get close to the toy, and do not hold the toy yourself. Rosie and Rusty will be learning to ignore the toy and will see that the other dog is not going to make a move or take it (Rusty’s biggest fear!).

The reason behind having Rosie back off is to advocate for Rusty, who becomes nervous due to her presence. Rusty will start to see that you understand that he is nervous and that you are willing to step in and help him. He is also learning, however, that toy-guarding is not the answer! Rosie is learning that you will advocate for her as well, which will decrease the possibility of a future fight.

Once both dogs have stopped fixating on the toy, give the toy back to Rusty. This part is crucial. In the dog world, a fair leader would not say “Since you can’t play nicely with this toy, your sister is going to get it.” If the toy were to go to Rosie after Rusty displays toy-guarding, Rusty’s mind would tell him that he was right to toy-guard! Afterall, Rosie would have just gotten the toy, which is what he feared in the first place would happen.

Be sure to keep another toy available to Rosie, and to advocate for Rosie in the same manner – by keeping Rusty away from her while she is playing with her toy. If the dogs can play nicely when Rosie controls the toy, no problem. If, however, Rusty has a habit of stealing her toy, or if Rosie becomes noticeably uncomfortable when Rusty approaches, you will need to step in for awhile and keep Rusty at a distance.

After a couple of weeks of advocating for each dog, and of following through with taking Rusty’s toy, keeping it near him, and giving it back to him when he calms down, both dogs should calm down considerably around toys. You will be showing them that there is no need to fight, because you now control who plays when, and you will have shown them what behaviors are and are not acceptable in your household.

I’m very glad that you see the importance of toys and that you wish to keep them around for your dogs to play with. Keeping the toys out reassures the dogs that they will indeed still be there and that toy-guarding is not necessary. Also, with dogs, it is important to face their issues head-on. Removing toys for good will do nothing but increase their frustration levels the next time a toy, or something resembling a toy, makes an appearance in their lives.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

 

Is Fostering a Dog Right for You?

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Animal shelters in Indianapolis, and across the nation, are overcrowded. Dogs and cats get turned away, or given slim chances of even making it to the adoption floor, due to the high number of animals already waiting to find their Forever Home.

Luckily, there is something that you can do to help that doesn’t involve opening up your already tightly-strapped pocketbook.

Fostering gives a dog the chance it needs to make it through one of the most difficult times in his or her life. And, not only are you helping the animal who resides in your home, you’re also opening up a kennel at the shelter to be used for another dog looking for a home.

Before you jump into fostering, there are a few things to consider.

How long can you keep this animal? Most foster programs ask for a minimum commitment of 2 weeks. This gives the dog a chance to de-stress from the shelter environment and to relearn what it means to live side by side with humans. Or, if you’re fostering a dog who is recovering from a surgery or other medical issue, it will give enough time to ensure that he or she is up to returning to the shelter.

Of course, if you are able and willing, I can’t think of a single foster program out there who wouldn’t love for you to keep the dog until he or she finds a permanent, loving home!

What kind of dog can you reasonably handle? There are all kinds of dogs waiting for a foster home. They could be mothers who come with a litter of just-born puppies, or an abandoned puppy who needs good socialization experiences during crucial development stages. It could be a dog recovering from heartworm or a necessary amputation. Maybe, it is a senior dog, or a dog who has been in the shelter for a very long time and needs a chance to take a vacation from it. Or, it could be a young, high energy dog with no foundation of obedience training who needs to learn cues and manners.

Be honest with an assessment of your lifestyle. If you can’t commit to daily walks, consider a senior dog who requires less activity. If you work long hours, a puppy may not be the best fit for you, since they require a great deal of attention. If you have a house full of kids, a shy or fearful dog may not work well. Rest assured, there is a dog in need to fit every lifestyle!

Can you let go when the time comes? The best, and most heartbreaking, experience of fostering is watching your foster dog go home with his or her new family. Make sure you are emotionally prepared for this experience, because you could be amazed at how quickly your foster dog starts to feel like your own. I combat this with continually reminding myself that, “This is my dog, and I will love and treat him as my dog until I can find his real home.”

Will you be tempted to adopt your foster dog? Yes, it happens to us all. Afterall, this dog becomes part of your daily life and a true bond of attachment is formed. While it is certainly a wonderful thing to adopt a dog in need, take account of your true motives before fostering. If you are fostering to find the right dog for you and you do, by all means – adopt! If, however, you are fostering with the intent of helping as many dogs as possible, and to move them along to their real Forever Homes, keep in mind that the best way to do that is to place your foster dog in the best, most loving home that you can find, and then, help out another canine in need, with the knowledge that the one you just placed will be safe and happy for the rest of her life.

If you are interested in fostering, here is a list of local organizations who are desperately seeking foster homes. Each of them has a slightly different process to become a foster home, but they are all well worth the time:

Love a certain breed? Try searching for a local chapter of a rescue organization specializing in that breed. Most breeds have Indiana-based chapters and all of them utilize foster homes to care for their adoptable dogs.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.

“The Dog Whisperer” – Do His Methods Work for You?

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For years now, we have been fascinated by “The Dog Whisperer,” Cesar Millan, and his amazing touch with dogs. If you haven’t seen the show, I would suggest checking it out.

Be forewarned, however, that the disclaimer that comes up at the beginning of every show stating that people shouldn’t try his techniques themselves and should seek a professional has great merit. If his methods are applied incorrectly, it can cause your dog to become aggressive, fearful, or even more unstable.

So why do his techniques work for him and not always for the average dog owner? Is it the magic of television? Simple editing tricks that only show what the director wants us to see? Or is it Cesar himself?

Unless you have spent decades studying dog psychology and behavior, working diligently day in and day out with every kind of dog that exists, and unless you are very similar in personality to Cesar himself, please know that most of his techniques probably won’t work for you.

Dogs are essentially human lie detectors. Stay with me here, I’ll get back to Cesar Millan, but first it is important to understand how dogs see the world. In a wild pack of dogs, communication does not take place mostly through words and sound as it does with humans. Dogs read each other perfectly, taking every act of body language into account. They don’t lie. Everything from the nose, mouth, eyes, ears, body stance and tail come together to form a complete emotion, intention, and communication.

Over the hundreds of years that dogs have been integrated into human life, they have become incredibly adept at reading us, often times knowing our true intentions before we do, or despite our efforts to hide it. For instance, when you feel under the weather, how often has your dog cuddled up to you, even though you try to go about cleaning, yard work, and other daily tasks?

This is the secret to gaining your dog’s respect – Always be exactly who you are and act according to how you are feeling.  They can spot a fake a mile away.

Now, this doesn’t mean that if you’re angry with your dog you should yell or physically punish them. We still need to speak to our dogs on their level. The best way to handle being angry with your dog is to turn on the silent treatment for a few minutes. This conveys to your dog that you will not associate with canines who act in the manner that he or she just did.

But, back to the point, the reason that Cesar’s techniques work for him, is because he is being no one but himself. He is a true, charismatic, diplomatic, fair, structured, and well studied in canine behavior, pack leader. That’s why he has his own show and why we tune in every week.

For those without his decades of knowledge, here are some techniques, taken from parts of Cesar’s methods that you can use to become a stronger pack leader while gaining your dog’s respect and keeping your integrity:

  • Mean what you say – Don’t want your dog jumping on your furniture? Make sure you give the “Off” command and follow through!
  • Be consistent – Don’t want your dog pulling on the leash? Never move forward when he pulls. Ever. Not even once.
  • Reward behavior you want – Is your dog calmly laying in her bed while you watch tv? Go to your dog and reward with praise or treats to show her that is a desired behavior.
  • Don’t over-correct – Upset with something your dog did, or for not listening? Be careful about yelling. If your dog dives to the floor, tail between his legs, and won’t make any kind of eye contact, your dog is afraid. Nothing can be learned in a state of fear.
  • Use body language – Happy about your dog’s actions? Smile and relax. Want more personal space from a clingy, jumping dog? Step with authority towards him. Want to discourage a begging dog at dinner time? Ignore completely.

Luckily, there are many different ways to train and help your dog. You don’t have to be The Dog Whisperer in order to become your dog’s pack leader, or to gain respect, you just have to find a method that works with your personality, and be consistent, fair, and most importantly, yourself.

If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.