Canine Behavior Blog

How to S.T.O.P. Problem Behavior...

10/3/2012

How to S.T.O.P. Problem Behavior...

Many dog owners have an easy time training their dog for basic behaviors using motivational methods- rewarding with treats, toys, praise, etc.
When you can positively motivate your dog, training is fun and teaching your dog new things is pretty straightforward. But what happens when you want your dog to STOP doing something? It is easy to get lost in the conflicting advice and frustration when it comes to behavior that you dislike and want to get rid of.

Depending on who you ask, what they had for breakfast and where the moon cycle is- you can get any number of different answers for getting rid of problem behaviors in dogs and puppies. Some common 'solutions' are specific to certain behaviors, while some people have a go-to solution for every possible issue. The problem with a lot of the advice that gets passed around regarding stopping problem behavior in dogs is that:

A) even if the advice starts off as sound and reliable, it is a lot like playing the 'telephone' game when it is passed from person to person

B) each dog is an individual, just as you and I, and will learn and react differently

C) a lot of the advice that is passed around is based on false, out-dated information about canine behavior

The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to any problem behavior.

Where to begin?

Regardless of the matter at hand- there has to be a starting point to getting rid of it. I hope these S.T.O.P. guidelines for addressing problem behavior help you find it!

S.T.O.P.

Start today! Whether starting, for you, entails admitting you have a problem on your hands, looking up resources, taking your dog for a vet check, talking to a trainer, or setting up a management plan- get to it! The longer a behavior is rehearsed, the stronger it becomes; practice makes perfect. Figure out your step one and go!

Take notes. While this may seem tedious, it will be really helpful when you start to address the problem with a training plan- and if you a hire a trainer, they will be grateful for the information! You can begin with identifying the behavior in the most basic way; for example, instead of "my dog pulls on leash because he wants to greet other dogs, sniff all of the things and pee on trees and I think it got this way because one time when he found a hot dog just out of reach and ate it before I could get it away from him and my friend-of-a-friend said it means he is dominant..." you could simply condense it to "my dog pulls on leash."
Next, figure out what is rewarding the behavior; why is it continuing or getting stronger? For the aforementioned puller, examples of reinforcement would be:

Greeting other dogs
Sniffing all of the things
Peeing on trees
Hot dogs/finding yummies

You may also want to keep track of surrounding details such as: if it happens at a certain time of day, only in the presence of certain people/dogs/objects, after eating or drinking, only on leash/only off leash, etc. The details that will be helpful depend on the behavior at hand so anything that you think might be relevant can end up being very helpful. If you are completely baffled- too much info is better than too little.

Options - consider them. They are there; don't give up if your first few attempts aren't entirely successful. Don't necessarily take the first suggestion or remedy you hear as gospel, either. Consider the source. Your best bet when getting help with your dog's problem behavior is to contact a trainer in your area- even between trainers with similar styles you will find different approaches to the same issue. Ask the trainer(s) you contact if they have multiple approaches to your dog's specific problem behavior. Good trainers are more than willing to work with you and problem-solve if what they have done in similar situations does not appear to be working with your dog; or they may even refer you to a colleague that has more experience with the problem at hand. This is not to say that you should jump from trainer to trainer; when you find a trainer you are comfortable with and who is willing to work with you and your dog as individuals, stick with them.
That being said, if the trainer's automatic response is to use a training tool of pain or discomfort, please look elsewhere, for their training "toolbox" is severely limited. The first option should not be one of fear, pain or intimidation. Do not skimp on finding something/someone you are comfortable with and don't let frustration get the better of you. If you have tried do-it-yourself advice to no avail, hire a trainer. If you have hired a trainer and they did not help you, shop more carefully- but still seek help. There is no single answer.

Planning is important (as is patience!) Bad habits are hard to break, especially with weeks, months and sometimes even years of practice and consistent reinforcement! Be patient- look for and acknowledge small accomplishments and build off of them. You may even want to take progress notes to compare with the ones you took before you started training. You may be surprised at the things you don't notice day-to-day that become apparent when reflecting on how things started.
Planning ahead entails management, structure, and knowing what to do if things go wrong. Planning can be time-consuming and often involves adjustments through trial-and-error (especially when you have other people, dogs, and other species sharing your household)- hiring a trainer will make this task a bit less daunting. Having a plan is not is not a step that can be skipped- it will help you keep your head and avoid frustration, which will lead to quicker training and continued success.

Additional words of advice

Now that you've got those four things in your head when you start to get upset or overwhelmed by your dog's behavior, consider just two more things:

1. You cannot train a non-behavior. We don't teach your dog to not jump; we teach them to sit when greeting. We don't teach them to not bark at the doorbell; we teach them to settle when they hear it instead. Figure out what behavior you DO want your dog to do in place of the one you dislike. You will have better immediate and long-term success if you replace the unwanted behavior with one you can accept.

2. I cannot stress enough the value of a good trainer to help you sort it all out and get started. This is our job. We have likely seen it before. We are there to answer your questions, bounce ideas off of and answer your panic-button phone calls and e-mails when you are at the end of your rope.

When you find yourself fed up with your dog's behavior - a good course of action is to S.T.O.P. - Start today, take notes, remember that you have options and plan ahead. Some issues will be less intensive than others in treatment- others will take extensive training to overcome, due to many possible contributing factors. Regardless of the problem you are facing, S.T.O.P. and get your plan together before reacting based on frustration or fear- it is all behavior, after all.

http://www.honestdogtraining.com/1/post/2012/10/how-to-stop-problem-behavior.html

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Easy Liver Treat Recipe

10/2/2012

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One of my old clients knows that I regard liver bread as the absolute best treat to give a dog as a ‘gold star’, and very kindly sent me the recipe below which she says she has tried and her dog loves. Please do read the whole recipe as too much liver is not good for dogs, and they give a lot of tips on purchasing etc. If your dog has ANY medical conditions, do check out with your vet first as to whether this would be advisable for your own dog, and remember ‘less is more’!)

Thank you so much to the person that supplied the source for us! Looking forward to investigating the site. www.dogtreatkitchen.com

Ingredients:

1 pound beef liver (organic calf liver is preferred)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 200° F
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Cut liver into strips about 1/4 inch thick.
Space pieces of liver on sheet pan so they are not touching (see note below regarding Spacing).

Bake for 2 hours, rotating the pan after one hour.
Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Lift the parchment paper off the sheet pan and place on the wire rack to allow the liver training treats to cool completely and dry out on the bottom.

Storing & Yield - These liver dog treats will last for two weeks in the refrigerator. You can freeze them for four months. For more information on storing homemade dog treats, be sure to review our tips and techniques.

The yield really depends on how small you make each training treat. It also depends on how often you have a training session. Just keep in mind that since liver has a unique smell for your dog, a small piece will pack a rewarding flavor punch.

Tips & Techniques

Cutting Liver - Cutting liver can get tricky as it is very soft. To make things easier, especially since this is an easy dog treat recipe, freeze the package of liver. Then let it thaw for a few minutes on the counter. Sharpen your knife and cut the liver into strips while it is still frozen. It will continue to thaw while you handle it and before it goes into the oven.
Spacing - Even though the liver will shrink, it spreads out a little before it gets thinner. So the more space you can allow between each piece the better. Actually this is one time that the picture above is a good example of what not to do. Although the treats came out great, I had to tear them apart. If possible, leave about a 1/4 inch between each piece.
Parchment Paper - It's not necessary, but it makes things easier after baking, if you cut the paper to fit your sheet pan. Then the paper will not be curling and getting in the way of the liver.
Oven Temperature - This recipe is a great time to use an oven thermometer. You can easily check for the accurate temperature and adjust accordingly.
Texture - You are looking for a jerky or flexible texture with these liver treats. They will be slightly spongy in the center, but with a firm outside.
Cooling - It's important to let the dog training treats cool off of the sheet pan. The liver will be slightly moist underneath, and it needs the opportunity to dry out.

Of all the dog training supplies you may need to purchase, this is by far the most exciting for your dog. Who knows, maybe you'll need less methods to prompt your dog to perform tricks and mind his manners, with this easy dog treat recipe.

Using Liver:

Vitamin A - Even though liver has a whole host of beneficial nutrients and vitamins, one of which is vitamin A, too much can do damage. If you dog ingests a large amount of liver at one time, in severe cases it could lead to vitamin A toxicity. So, how much is too much? That depends on the size and weight of your dog. Typically organ meat should not be more than 5-10% of your dogs total diet. However, we are talking about treats. A treat is an occasional indulgence, so there should not be a need for concern.
Organic - You may want to consider purchasing organic liver. Since the liver functions in removing toxins from the body, an organic liver will have fewer toxins. You should also consider purchasing calf liver or organic calf liver. Since the calf is young, it will have a minimal amount of build-up compared to an adult. Whatever type of liver you purchase, it should be hormone, steroid and antibiotic free, and preferably pasture raised.
Stinky - OK, so this isn't as important as nutrition. But you need to be warned that not everyone enjoys the smell of cooked liver. So, you may want to air out the kitchen during and after baking your liver dog biscuits to avoid the stinky fragrance.
Clean-Up - Some of the homemade liver dog treats require that you puree the liver in a food processor. Once liver is in a liquid state, it dries very quickly. It is then quite difficult to remove when it comes time to clean up. I recommend taking the time to immediately rinse any utensils used with liver. Once the treats are baking away in the oven, you can address the task of washing dishes (or in my case loading the dishwasher!).

If you are just getting into baking homemade dog treats, liver is a great place to start. Since almost all dogs love liver, you will have lots of positive reinforcement for your hard baking efforts. And with simple recipes, bake up a batch, and see what your dog will do for some liver dog cookies!

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Is it Safe to Let Dogs Lick Your Face?

10/1/2012

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( Here are two different points of view for you to consider)

Rare is the dog owner who’s pet has never given them a canine kiss.

Sloppy, wet dog kisses – it would seem – could hand in paw with the dog ownership experience. But can dogs pass on germs when they lick your face? One of the more commonly asked questions we get here at DogTips.co is whether dogs can pass on germs to humans, particularly by licking…

Why Do Dogs Lick Faces?

Dogs use their long tongues for mopping up lunch crumbs, removing mud from their feet, and cleaning their privates. And yet, when they give our faces sloppy licks, there’s something endearing about it. Apart from occasional attempts to retrieve bits of glazed doughnut from our chins, dogs lick us because they like us. It isn’t a kiss, but it’s close.

Almost as soon as they’re born, dogs experience the soft warmth of their mothers’ tongue, which bathes them with maternal affection. The licking never really stops after that. Mothers take advantage of their puppies’ relative immobility during nursing to lick them clean. They also lick their bottoms to jump-start their impulses to relieve themselves.

Is it OK to Let Puppies Lick Faces?

Puppies do their share of licking too. They lick older dogs’ chins and faces to greet them and show respect. And when they’re hungry – and puppies are perpetually in search of something to eat – licking their mother will sometimes stimulate her to regurgitate a meal, which the puppies regard as an appetizing lunch.

As dogs get older, they lick each other less often, but they never quit entirely. At the very least, in the absence of hands and hairbrushes, they do each other’s hair with their tongues.

A Show Of Respect

Dogs don’t lick people because they’re hoping for a hot meal. They lick because we’re their parents, or at least the head folks in the house. Even when dogs are old, gray, and grizzled, they see themselves in some ways as being our children, and a lick shows how much they respect us.

You can tell a little bit about your dog’s personality by how much licking she does. Dogs who are very bold or independent are restrained with their licking because they don’t feel as though there is anyone they have to win over. Outgoing, sociable dogs, on the other hand, lick everyone all the time.

We play a role in all this licking too. It doesn’t take dogs very long to learn that laying a wet one on the cheek is a great way to get cooed over and rubbed the right way. So in a way, the instinct to lick is both ancient and immediate; dogs do it naturally, and we en- courage them to do it more.

How To React to Dog Face Licking?

People are never sure how to react to licks. The first emotion is generally “Aw, that’s cute,” closely followed by “Yuck.” Imagine where that tongue has been! But it’s not as unhygienic as it seems. At worst, dog licks are like wiping your face with a slightly dirty washcloth. Not exactly cleansing, but hardly worth worrying about. In fact, there’s some evidence that it may be good for you.

So whilst a dog lick on the face might not be to everyone’s taste, judging by the millions and millions of dog owners who’ve received a dog lick to the chops, it’s not going to kill you (or your children!).

http://www.dognews.co.uk/safe-dogs-lick-face/

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Should You Let Your Dog Lick You

Do you like it when your dog licks your face or hands? Some pet owners find this disgusting. Others consider it a loving gesture that makes you even closer to them. If you are like the latter, then you may want to think again. It may seem affectionate and fun but, your dog's lick could give you more than you asked for.

To get an idea of why you may not want your dog licking you, all you have to do is think of the places a dog's tongue frequently visits. Most dogs spend a lot of time licking garbage, dirt, sticks and even their private areas and feces on the lawn. It's obvious that remnants of these things could still be on their tongue while they are licking you. Even if the garbage and feces are not in the dog's mouth, the bacteria from them probably is. This means that letting your dog lick your face may not be the cleanliest decision.

There are many health risks associated with letting your dog lick you. One of the biggest is roundworms. Roundworms are an intestinal parasite commonly found in puppies and can be passed to you through licking. If you get your pet tested regularly and give it de-worming medication every month, the risk is slim to none. Either way it's something to consider if you are going to let your dog lick you anytime they please. Some serious medical conditions can be caused by roundworms. Symptoms are cough, fever and headache.

Other illnesses and diseases can be transmitted in addition to roundworms. These include
Leptospirosis, Salmonella, and E. coli. These can all be passed through the saliva. Also, strep throat has been linked to dogs licking their owner's faces. Far less likely but, still something to think about is that Rabies is also transmitted through saliva, but if you keep your dog vaccinated this should not be an issue.

Some dog owners will say that a dog's saliva actually contains an enzyme that promotes healing and will encourage their dog to lick their cuts or wounds. This fact is true, but the enzyme only works on the wounds of dogs and does not help humans at all. Therefore, you should not encourage your dog to lick open wounds or cuts on you as this will only increase your chance of infection.

In closing, while your pet passing on and illness or parasite to you is unlikely if you keep them properly vaccinated and tested, it may still be a good idea to discourage licking in order to reduce the chances even more.

http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Should-You-Let-Your-Dog-Lick-You/1042180

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How to S.T.O.P. Problem Behavior...

Easy Liver Treat Recipe

Is it Safe to Let Dogs Lick Your Face?

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