Team Dog! Pet Safety Tips…Halloween Edition

by Brice Cavanaugh

Halloween can be an especially trying time for our furry friends, so Team Dog! has put together a list of 13 tips to help you and yours avoid the common problems associated with the most dangerous holiday for dogs!

1.       Make sure that your dog’s ID tag is up to date and secure on their collar…just in case!

2.      Keep candy away from your dog!  Many candies can be toxic to dogs as well as being a choking hazard!  Wrappers of eaten candies can be of concern as well!

3.      Supervise!  Children and dogs should always be supervised together, and this is especially true during this high energy holiday!

4.      Protect dogs from Jack-O-Lanterns, candles and the like.  Besides the obvious problems of getting into a flame, wagging tails can knock over items that can cause big trouble!

5.      Costumes.  Many can be chewing/choking hazards, and some dogs just don’t like the constricting nature that most costumes create.  It may be fun for us, but consider your dog!  Make sure that your dog has good peripheral vision to enable them to fully use their senses…

6.      The eyes have it!  Costumes worn by humans can take away a dog’s ability to see strangers as they are accustomed to meeting them (in addition to scent).  Hidden eyes can create insecurity in your dog, which can elicit defensive postures and actions.  Let your dog smell your costumes prior to your putting them on, and ease them into this new phenomena!

7.      Don’t take your dog out Trick or Treating with you!  Many dogs are balanced and comfortable with this, but many are not.  It is human nature on this holiday to play pranks and scare fellow holiday goers, but your dog may not understand, and therefore protect his family!  Be aware of this!  It is only one day, he will probably be just as content to sleep through it, which leads us to…

8.     Provide a safe and quiet place for your dog.  Many dogs look at their crates as a sanctuary (good training!), or a quiet room will serve the same purpose.  Allowing your dog to avoid the craziness of doorbells, strange costumes and the volume of visitors is an excellent way to help your dog through the evening.

9.      Practice your recall!  Dogs should come when called, and practicing this skill can be life-saving!  Door bolting is a huge concern when the door is answered and opened dozens of times within an evening.

10.  Holiday decorations, like Silly String™ are fun to play with, for both you and your pet…but they should only be playing with toys designed for them and under your supervision.

11.   Exercise your dog prior to the festivities kicking off!  Having them mentally and physically spent helps them to relax better!

12.  Help your dog through trying times.  Reassurance can be helpful, but make sure that you are not encouraging undesired behavior.  Optimally, refer to #8, but if you want your dog out and about, be aware of their state of mind and reward/discourage accordingly!

13.  Have fun!  Our pets can be a wonderful part of our celebration, but if they are overwhelmed, the opposite can be true!  There is no need to create a problem that could take weeks to fix just to have a good time for a couple of hours, but if your dog can handle it, then have a blast!

Team Dog! is a full service dog training company serving the Chicago and St Louis metropolitan areas.  Check out www.TeamDog.com or call us at 1(888)SIT-STAY for more information on how we can help your dog reach their full potential!

Let’s dig in to this and make sense of all that should be considered! As always, if you have any questions, or want to add something that can enhance this article or site, please email me at brice@teamdog.com! Here are my considerations, in no particular order:

Do you get along with the trainer? Regardless of how skilled the trainer may be, their people skills can keep you from getting the most out of the lessons. Training should be fun on all levels, for all participants! If your trainer is unapproachable in any way, look elsewhere. There are many complex considerations in dog training and behavior modification, and if you can’t talk to the person in “the know”, then how are you going to learn it?

How does the trainer’s dog look? Is their dog obedient? There are many trainers that do not have a dog, which has always made me wonder, but I am sure that there are certain circumstances that would trump this. It is easier to see the relationship between the trainer and their dog, but it is not imperative. Sort of like the mechanic that has a car that always breaks down…I would not use them, even though there may be a good reason for it.

Avoid trainers caught up in “Only”. Those that limit themselves will always find an audience or following, but your dog needs neither of those. A person that “Only” teaches Clicker, “Only” teaches remote training collar, “Only” teaches with positive reinforcement, etc., usually do not fully understand how dogs learn. A balanced approach is necessary, as balance is seen throughout all of nature, from ecosystems to behavior. Quick fact: there is no such thing as positive reinforcement only, and the trainer that claims that is unaware of how Operant Conditioning works…there is an opposite for everything. When the treat is used to lure Fido is withheld because he jumps, this is actually Negative Punishment (taking the existing food away to decrease the likelihood of Fido jumping), though many trainers will never admit to using “Negative Punishment” due to the pictures that the term conjures up.

Are you having fun? Classes or individual lessons should be fun, overall. Sure, there are times of confusion for both you and your dog, but the trainer should be skilled in helping you to navigate your way through the confusion and on to the “good stuff”! There are always cases where we should be serious in life, but in general, we should be enjoying it…the same is true of your canine companion and their training.

Obedience vs. Behavior Modification. Why choose? They go hand in hand many times, BUT, obedience is not always the solution to modifying behavior. Just because a dog has a wonderful recall, sit, down, stay, etc. does not guarantee that your Prada boots won’t replace their Kong ball, or that Thanksgiving dinner is safe up on the counter while it cools. Training should involve not only an action, but a behavior. Behavior is more of a state of mind, rather than a specific action. Unfortunately, even within the science community, the word behavior is used interchangeably, causing confusion. As an example, “the dog offered a sitting behavior” tells me more that the dog sat, rather than why or what his state of mind was. Yes, he offered it, but was it offered out of guesswork, fear, conditioning, etc. I want a calm state of mind, one that is clear. A frantic dog is less likely to learn. A frantic dog is typically more reactive. A frantic dog needs behavior modification more than learning how to sit. A good trainer can incorporate both into their training, and they should!

Does your trainer impress upon you the responsibility that you now have? Dogs are always learning, so we need to be sure to consider our ongoing influence upon them. Are you prepared for that? I make sure that my clients are fully aware that this animal is not disposable, lives, breathes and can be one heckuva companion, providing that they take the time to shape the dog’s experiences and behaviors. They are not furry little children, however, like children, they are in need of direction on a continual basis.

Does your trainer belong to any associations, and if so, what does it mean? Staying current on training techniques, ideas issues, etc. is the sign of an open mind (usually) and a continuing effort to bring the best information and help to the table. Most of us talk about having as many “tools in our toolbox” as possible, as no two dogs are the same, and we need to have as many different ways to get from point A to point B as possible, as you never know when you will run across “That Dog”! A good trainer also needs to know how long to pursue a particular approach before changing gears and trying something else, as changing too soon can cause confusion, and never gives the dog a chance to figure out the desired result. Do they continue their education?

What experience does your trainer have? While it is not necessary, if they have competed in any organized titling or competitions, you know that they are more likely to have a strong work/preparation ethic, know how to handle stress (things are different in training then when you have everything on the line!), and are usually pretty good at problem solving. The experienced trainer also understands the importance of mindset for the handler/trainer, which is definitely an important in all aspects of the dogworld. What training certifications do they have. How did they learn about dog training? An apprenticeship is ideal, but there are some quality schools out there as well. Nothing takes the place of experience. Experience takes years to get, though years does not mean experience. A person could have been training for 20 years, but never stepped outside of their own little world to see what was out there!

Does your trainer encourage the whole family to be involved? They should…keep the training as close to the real world as possible. I have seen many dogs that were awesome in the show ring, but at home, they were incorrigible. Once again, training should be about a state of mind, not the mechanics of sit!

Is your trainer helping you to build a relationship based on trust? Fear based training is usually a short term fix, and has long term psychological effects on your dog, some of which may not rear their ugly head until years down the road. Trust – without it, you do not have a companion.

Does your trainer look to help you work through a problem…or are they quick to move on or separate you from the rest of the class? In my group classes, we fix things in front of everyone, as we can all learn from what we see! In one-on-one lessons, I do not leave until we have reached some sort of progress on an issue, and the client has a clear plan on what to work on until the next lesson, and they have my contact information in case they run in to a problem that cannot wait.

Does you trainer have respect for people, and for dogs? That tells you a lot. What does your gut tell you when you interact with your trainer, or when you watch your trainer interact with others? Most of the time, we should follow our gut. If you differ in opinion with a technique, do you feel comfortable asking the trainer?

This is the minimum for what I would expect a person to look for in selecting a trainer. While I do not prescribe to dogs being furry little children, they are parts of our families, and as such, need to be given every opportunity to be successful in their learning and living with us. Finding a trainer should be fun as well, not a chore…have fun…have fun!

For dogs, a growing body of research indicates they bark less and suffer fewer anxiety attacks when listening to Bach, Schubert and Chopin.

In the Inland area, piped-in chamber music, concertos and sonatas waft through county animal shelters 24 hours a day in Riverside and Thousand Palms.

Senior animal behaviorist Teryn Hartnett sees happier, better-adjusted, easier-to-adopt dogs as she strolls among the kennels for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

“A shelter dog’s world is pretty stressful,” she says. “Their owners are gone, the only environment they’ve probably ever known — their home — is gone. “They don’t understand why they were left here or why an animal control officer picked them up off the street and put them in the back of a truck.”

Familiar with the research on dogs’ reactions to music, Hartnett won approval for canine classical. The piped-in music began last summer, and the cost at each facility is about $100 a month.

Anecdotal evidence from shelter employees and visitors shows that the animals are calmer and spend more time at the front of the cage — boosting their adoption chances, she said.

Read more!

Most domesticated dogs are far enough removed from their wild ancestors that they are not psychologically fit enough to lead their own species, yet we often find these same dogs clearly in charge of their human counterparts. Our goal at Team Dog!is to help those that we work with understand just how dangerous it can be to allow the dog to take control of the “pack”. While that danger may not necessarily become physically harmful, balance and happiness can be lost to an unruly pack leader.

There are three distinct areas that we recommend the pack leader shows true leadership, and they are first being a fit leader, second, managing eating schedules and finally having the dog earn their keep. We outline those in our training programs.

We have also pioneered the Canine Leadership System, in which we really dive into what makes a dog think and react as they do, the principles of behavior conditioning and how to maintain a balance in the relationship with your dog…invariably, those that complete the program not only see a difference in the relationship with their dog, but also in the other relationships that they have, maintain and strive for!

Below is a link to the Fox 12 Special Report detailing their investigation and their findings. This link is used with permission from Fox News in Chicago.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=5056125

For those that cannot view the link, here are the highlights of the story:

-Significant levels of lead have been found in several toys designed for dogs.
-Despite the stories, unsafe lead paint levels are not restricted to one country of origin.
-Dogs chew their toys (as designed) more so then children, heightening their risk.
-A particular tennis ball had the highest levels of lead, over 30,000 parts per million (3%)!
-If the toy is painted, refrain from use until safety guidelines are put in place identifying culprits.
-Solid rubber toys are generally safer from lead paint.

Team Dog! wants to help all dogs and their owners to play safe! No toys should be left with an unattended dog, as they can become choking hazards. The lead paint issue only exasperates this thinking. If you have any questions on this, please contact a Team Dog! team member!

Happy training! Brice

Brice Cavanaugh
Training Director
Team Dog! ][ Chicago
www.TeamDog.com
(888)SIT-STAY

On November 11th (Veteran’s Day!), I traveled to Hagerstown, MD to visit Pat Nolan at his Ponderosa Kennels to pick up the puppy to later be named Piper. I took Monk with me, so that I could maximize my time to train with one of the nation’s top gun dog trainers. As usual, Monk did extremely well, and impressed the other trainers and handlers assembled at the training grounds!

Back to Piper…part of what is separating Pat from a lot of other trainers are his puppy development beliefs. Pat is training all of his puppies, from about 6 weeks on, pieces of the very difficult and intricate tasks that will later be called upon to work effectively as a companion, Field Trial Champion, Detector Dog, SAR Dog or whatever task you foresee with your dog. By breaking the tasks down into smaller pieces, luring with food, maximizing motivation and being as clear as possible the objective of each “training session”, the pups are exposed to a whole wealth of experiences that stimulate them visually, physically, audibly, olifactorily (scent) and of course, through their taste! During this 6-12 week age period, many trainers will call this a “fear period”, is when these pups are seeing and experiencing everything they can to build confidence. Some trainers say keep the dog away from anything that can hurt them, startle them, scare them, etc., but this is when the training should be taking place!

Many trainers and behaviorists are acknowledging that the pups’ “neuro net” is developing and is solidified. Not to say a dog can’t learn after that, of course, BUT so much can be imprinted right from the beginning that can influence life experiences later on. Socialization during this period is important, and the lack of it has been one of the greatest causes of the dog problems we have seen over the last decade. While many want to protect their dog from the dangers of the world during this formative time frame, they can also be robbing the pup from some of the greatest lessons that can be learned.

There is a HUGE difference in dog psychology and human psychology, but there are many similarities as well. Developing social skills, dexterity (both cognitive and physical), allowing/shaping experiences and just having fun in a structured learning environment shows us that the capabilities, work ethic and overall attitude in those that are “stretched” are exponentially more evolved. Many say “It is just a puppy, I will start training when they are about a year old” or “it is just a baby, we’ll teach the ABC’s when he/she starts talking”. The boat is being missed!

Piper is going through a series of drills each day designed to teach on many different levels. Difficult tasks, including visual, scent and physical obstacles to negotiate, as well as social skills are being considered and experienced by pup and owners alike! This is fun, as she is, at ten weeks, sitting at her crate door prior to being let out, sitting at the doors leading out of the house, going out to a target about 50 feet away, coming when called from almost 100 feet away, going to a place board, following directional hand signals, running in to her crate and more! All fun, and each training opportunity is maximized…when she is sent to her crate, she negotiates obstacles to do this, and the obstacles get harder each time!

We are taking an approach in her training that is greatly influenced by both Pat Nolan and Wendy Volhard. For more on this topic, drop us an email! We will keep you posted on Piper’s progress, and will be publishing her daily training blog starting next week! Check back for details! Happy training! Brice

Here is an introductory video to Team Dog!, our dog training business that serves the greater Chicago area, with dog training, behavior modification, puppy preschool and more! From our website, http://www.teamdog.com/:

Welcome to Team Dog!, a full service dog training company that operates throughout the Chicago and St. Louis areas, specializing in building balanced relationships through clear communication! Read further to see why we are considered the Premier Dog Training Service in both Chicago and St. Louis!

Dog behavior is often misunderstood, as most owners tend to put human psychology in to their furry friends, and then wonder why the dogs develop naughty behaviors. We have worked with several dog behaviorists to develop a training system based on the needs of the dog, so that we can build a strong relationship that leaves the dog and owner fulfilled. We are so confident in our training that we back our board and train program up with a lifetime guarantee! Our owner, Brice Cavanaugh has put together a staff of trainers that truly care about the well being of the dogs that we train; so that you have a well behaved, tail wagging dog that you can proudly tell others is a part of Team Dog!

Have you ever watched dog professionals like Cesar Millan, wondering how he can make those incorrigible dogs listen and heed his command? Do you want to find an approach that will give you optimum results in a fraction of the time of conventional training? Often we are called a “dog whisperer”, and while flattering, the bottom line is that we can help, as we have the experience and knowledge to help you get the most out of your dog, unleashing their potential!