Furthering the training with our Service Dogs

Our two current Service Dog in training puppies have completed their second round of obedience training and are doing VERY well. They both passed their Canine Good Citizen tests and have ordered their Service Dog vest and badges. Both Jade and Lexi are off to be spayed now, but when they have healed and are ready to rejoin us, we will be out hitting the stores malls and restaurants with them, furthering their training. When we work together you will be once again seeing Lugnut, Sophie 1 and Sophie 2 leading the way, with Lexi and Jade working hard to catch up to their skill levels. Soon we will also have Jake, an American Pit Bull joining us, along wth Aster the Airedale. Both Jake and Aster have a long way to go though, as they are  involved in just their first training class.

Most often you will see our class working at the Castleton mall on Thursday evenings, but during the week the owners train and practice with their dogs all over town. Please keep in mind when you see us out and about working (either as a group or individually) that these are Service Dogs in training. When you see their vests you will know who we are!

This means; please try not to disturb them and please DO NOT PET! They are working hard to learn how to be model canine workers in a busy environment. Their ultimate goals are in being able to help their owners in whatever Service Dog tasks they are needed for. They do need to learn to concentrate and not go seeking attention from others. This is hard to teach our dogs when we have others coming up and petting without thinking.

We all know how hard it can be for true dog lovers to pass them by, if you ask ahead and not just reach out to pet, many times we will give the dogs permission to be petted. Then it is ok, but please try not to just reach out to them first. Give us a chance to give the dogs the release for it first. We thank you for your co-operation in this!

Seperation Anxiety

As a trainer, one of the most common issues I am asked by owners is how to deal with Seperation Anxiety. I hear of dogs doing everything from whining and barking the entire time the owner is gone, to eating electronics, baseboards and walls.
The first thing you need to keep in mind in dealing with this is that it is NOT your pets fault! It is all part of a panic response and they just can't help their reactions. For that reason alone, punishment will simply never work.

Seperation Anxiety can be caused by several things but the most common are: when a dog is used to constant human companionship are suddenly left alone, when a change in the routine or family structure occurs, or a traumatic event. Identifying the root cause for your pets Anxiety will help to determine the best course of action in helping them learn being alone is Ok.
Short term solutions would be placing your pet with a neighbor or family member, or if your pet likes to play with other dogs, enroll them in a Doggie Daycamp program. Another temporary measure is putting them on an anti-anxiety medication. Talk to your Veterinarian about this!
Working your pet through their anxieties in being left alone is not a short quick fix. It does take time but if you are willing to invest in that time and effort you will both be a lot happier and more relaxed!

If your pets anxiety is on the more mild side you can try leaving a t-shirt or small towel with the pet, that has the owners scent on it. Sometimes this is enough for your pet to be happy with until you return. Leaving a radio on for background noise can work in some of the more milder cases as well. I have even recommended to clients that if you have a dog that does pay at least some attention to the TV, video tape yourself in your normal home routine for a good 8 hour play time. Then when you leave put this to play on the TV your pet will be near. Sometimes the sound of our voices, being able to see our images on the screen can be a calming influence on our pets, even in our absense!

You can also work on their anxieties by utilizing the sit-stay and down-stay, with positive reinforcement. This will slowly reinforce to your pet that he or she can remain calm in one place while you are out of sight. You will want to use this command, then briefly move out of your dogs line of sight, gradually increasing the amount of time you remain out of sight, and the distance between you and your pet. On your return use positive reinforcement by praising him quietly or giving him a small treat. You can practice on this one each time you leave to go to a different room.
One of the most important things is to keep your arrivals and departures low key. Don't make leaving or coming home a big deal. When you return, try to ignore your pet for 5 minutes. When that time has passed greet him quietly for a brief time, then go about your normal routine. Build on a key phrase for short absenses, like *be right back*. You can offer them a favorite chew toy before leaving. Then stay out only for a few seconds, building up to several minutes. Don't use this when you know you will be gone for an extended period of time.

You can also practice leaving to slowly build your pet up to a true departure. Do this by putting on your coat, getting your car keys and then just go sit down. Wait for a few minutes then take the coat off and go about your business. You do this without any real intention of ever leaving! Do this a few times a day and as your pet becomes more and more relaxed with it you can extend the amount of time you leave your coat on or hold your keys in your hand. From here you can actually work on going to the door, opening it and stepping through, closing the door behind you. In the beginning stay out only for a few seconds before returning inside with your pet. When you do go back in, ignore them for the 5 minutes rule. Work on this, gradually increasing the length of time you stay outside the door until your pet is more comfortable with you being gone. Your goal should be to leave your pet for one hour without coming home to any issues.

This does all take time to work on, but the end result is a much happer, more *sane* pet when you are gone. This leads the owners to a peace of mind as well. It's not a quick fix but it is one that, once you've succeeded, will last a life time. As they say, any thing good takes time!

If you try these things and find it still doesn't help or if your pet has a really severe case of seperation anxiety, please contact your local Best Friend's and ask to speak to their trainer. Don't wait until they eat your house out from under you. They are not made of gingerbread!

Service Dog puppies

Thursday night (Feb 18, 2010) we started a new puppy class. This isn't just one of our usual Puppy Kindergarten classes. There are only two puppies in this class. Both of them were in a past Puppy K class and did well. They are back now in another class, working toward becoming a Service Dog for their owners. We have a LOT of work to do and a long road to travel still. I hope you will stick with us for this ride, to watch how they grow and develop into full fledged working Service Dogs. I will update on them from time to time, keeping up with their progress. All the ups and the downs. And there WILL be some downs to work through before they complete their training in a year or two!

First we have Jade. She is a 6 month old Giant Schnauzer. Jade is doing very well with her obedience work, her focus on her owner/trainer has improved a lot since the last class, showing mom and dads determination to work with her and have her do well. Jades mom has some mobility issues that she needs a large breed dog (like Jade) to assist her with in her daily life.

We also have Lexi. Lexi is a 5 month old Springer Spaniel. Lexi's mom is a retired Veteran from our Armed Services and has specific needs she wants and needs Lexi to help her with.

Lexi has slipped back a little in her training, but she's still a youngster and some times this happens. Mom is ready to step up and do some good hard work with Lexi to get her to where she needs to be. Lexi's biggest issue right now is her focus. She is still pretty easily distracted but with some good honest work over the next several months, this is an issue we will conquer together!

Stay tuned for progress on our Service Puppies!

Dog Scout Testing day!

We held our monthly Dog Scout meeting on Saturday Feb 13, 2010. After the business portion of our meeting concluded, we started testing several dogs for different badges. The first badge we worked on was for Basic Manners.

To earn their Basic Manners badge the Scouts need to pass certain tests. Heeling with us as they follow (and TOUCH) our hand is one. In this they need to walk several steps at our side and make a full turn, following the direction of our hand and touching when told to. They also need to be able to *go to bed* when told. Which means they have their own blanket, rug etc and when the owner gives them the command to go to bed (from at least 10 feet away) they must go right to their blanket and lay down on it. We are only allowed to give them one cue to do this! It's NOT as easy as it sounds either! Here Bailey is doing his best to impress Gayle!

The dogs also have to walk up to a *stranger* when given permission to go *say hi* and then they are to sit and wait quietly while being petted.  Sophie is doing her best to pass this one!

The dogs aren't the only ones who have top pass a test. Each owner must demonstrate that we know and understand the use of *Operant Conditioning* with our dogs (using a *reward marker* in their training). An oral test is then given to each of the owenrs, and we too must pass our portion of the exam for the dog to quallify for their badge! Dog Scouts is a team effort!

One of the more difficult tests for the dogs to pass is waiting inside a door when the owner walks out. By command they are to sit and wait in place until the owner calls them through the open door with them and they the dog is to get back into a controlled position. Sara and Saba are showing their expertise in this step.

They also need to stand and wait while someone else runs a hand down over their back etc. The dog needs to hold their stand position. A down command using one command is also a must, as well as from the down position the dog needs to be able to move when given the command so that they get up out of our way as we walk in a direct line to where they are laying down. We also have to show our dogs will get down off of a person or an object when told too.

We are proud to announce the Scouts who passed their Basic Manners Saturday!

Please congratulate Sophie Dudley, Bailey Burger, Lugnut Day, and  Saba Barefoot.

We also tested for our First Aid Badges Saturday. A big Thank You WOOF to Gayle Sprinkle who taught the First Aid class to the rest of us and tested owners/dogs for their badges. All owners had to demonstrate on their own dogs, how to take a pusle and count respirations and take the temperature of each of our dogs (giving Gayle their correct numbers). We also had to apply an emergency muzzle and a regular *hard* muzzle on our own dogs. The dogs then had to show they could walk several steps and sit with the muzzle on. We had to show capillary refill and the mucus condition of our own pets. Along with all of this we also had to decide on an *injury* to our pet and bandage accordingly, and then show two methods of emergency transport on our pets. Lugnut being the biggest of the bunch was the most difficult to move but Gayle and I persevered and moved him, albeit not very far! Here Sophie is practicing being the *injured* pet.

Following are the hard working Scouts who each passed their First Aid badge as well.

We have Sophie, Halle, Bailey, Lugnut, Noche, Saba and Jacque as our newest First Aid badge Scouts

Below are all of our Scouts who are now First Aid Scouts.

Charlie, Halle, Bailey, Sophie, Lugnut, Noche, Saba, Oslo, Ted and Jacques

Congratulations to all of our hard working Scouts!

How about winter sports for you and your dog?

It's easy to get into a couch potato way of life during the winter months.


Heck, even your dog would rather lie down in front of the fireplace or cuddle up to the wood stove than go outside when the temperatures start falling below zero!

Funny thing is... our furry companions are happy to follow our lead, no matter where we're headed!

So, why not bundle up and get outside into the fresh air? You might actually enjoy this type of exercise! Your dog will love it too.

A Cure For Cabin Fever

Winter brings all sorts of opportunities for outdoor activities. There are a couple of good fun winter activities you can share with your dogs too.

Some of the most beautiful scenery is waiting for you to explore and enjoy accompanied by bright blue skies and clean crisp snow.

Living in the Midwest, we know snow. We also know long winters. Which means if you want to go crazy real quick, try staying in the house all winter long wishing the snow would just go away.

This is often referred to as "cabin fever" -- that period of winter when you have nothing to do, and the walls of your house seem to be closing in on you.

Recreational dog sledding doesn't require a kennel of 50 dogs, as many professional teams keep. With as few as 3 dogs, an adult can hit the trail and comfortably travel. Even one dog is sufficient to pull young children on lightweight sleds for afternoon outings to enjoy the day outdoors.

No dog sledding events in your neck of the woods?...

You can still get into the spirit of dog sledding by taking your dog for a walk in the winter snow to the nearest park or sledding hill near you. Sometimes, watching others have fun in the snow is almost as much fun (if not more) than doing it yourself. And, as long as you walk to your destination, then you and your dog will be getting in some valuable exercise.

Another fun activity is Skijoring, an activity where all that is required is you, your dog and a pair of skis. Even small dogs will enjoy this outdoor activity.

Cross country skiing is a popular activity all throughout the snowbelt. Bring your dog along to enjoy the experience, and you'll find he's just as excited to help pull you along the trail. That's what Skijoring is all about!

With many organized skijoring events held throughout the winter months, you can choose to participate or simply be a spectator. Either way, the fresh air will do you good and help keep the winter blues at bay.

In the end, it's all about getting outdoors and getting some exercise -- with your dog. Once you get the blood moving, you'll feel better and the exercise will help to keep your body fit and and full of energy.

Skijoring takes a little training for the human and the dog, but there's no need for a specific breed. Skijorers recommend a dog weighing more than 40 pounds that can pull and get along with others.

If your dog likes to take you for a walk, that's probably a good skijoring dog.

You'll see people whose dogs are pretty well trained but can't very ski well. You'll see people that can ski and the dogs can pull. And then the pros you'll see they can ski and the dogs can pull.

In the sport of skijoring, it's hard to tell who likes to skijor more -- man or his best friend.

Look at it this way. You take your dog for a walk, you take your dog hunting. Seldom do you work so close together. Bundle up in layers, stay warm, and go out there and enjoy!

DISC DOGS

In our second installment of fun things to do with your dogs we are introducing information on the sport called DISC DOGS:

Disc dog is the more generic name for what is commonly called Frisbee dog. In disc dog competitions, dogs and their human disc throwers compete in events such as distance catching and somewhat choreographed freestyle catching. The sport celebrates the bond between handler and dog, by allowing them to work together. The term "disc" is preferred because "Frisbee" is a trademark (held by Wham-O) for a brand of flying disc.
Format
Teams of one person and one dog compete in the standard distance "toss and fetch" event. Points are awarded to the team for catches at varying distances. Competitions also often feature the dynamic freestyle event, which consists of short routines choregraphed to music with multiple discs in play. The less common long distance events have various formats, but generally the longest catch wins.

Divisions in frisbee dog events are usually based on the skill and experience of the handler. Men and women generally compete in the same divisions for all disciplines, although the long distance category is sometimes divided by gender.

Toss and fetch
Short distance events go by many names, including Toss and Fetch, MiniDistance, Throw and Catch, and Distance/Accuracy. The concept is generally the same. Contestants have 60 seconds to make as many throws as possible on a field marked with increasingly longer distances. The distances generally don't exceed 50 meters for the longest catches. Dogs are awarded points for catches based on the distance of the throw, with mid-air catches rating extra points (in most contests an extra half point when the dog is completely airborne for the catch). Only one disc is used for these events.

Freestyle
Freestyle is a subjectively judged event, similar to Freestyle events like skateboard and snowboard half-pipe, or Freestyle Footbag (Hacky Sack). The team consists of one person (handler) and his or her dog. Depending on the event, the length of a routine might be anywhere from one minute and 30 seconds all the way to three minutes. Teams are judged in categories that include Canine Athleticism, Degree of Difficulty, Showmanship, and so forth. Incredible flips, hyperfast multiple catches, and spectacular vaults make freestyle a popular event with spectators, and it is regarded as the highest level of competitive accomplishment.

Competitions
Today there are several organizations running disc dog tournaments. Most competitions take place in the summer on flat, grassy fields. Winter disc dog contests on soft snow are also popular in places.

Benefits
Dogs of all kinds can play Frisbee. Many World Champion disc dogs have been mixed breed and some were originally rescued from shelters. Dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups can excel at catching flying discs and may even find the activity helpful in overcoming past trauma. Problems that lead to a dog being abandoned, such as hyperactivity, aggression, and destructive or neurotic behavior, are often attributes that can be positively channeled into a sport like flying discs. Sometimes these dogs simply need a consistent job to keep them busy and give them purpose. Many Frisbee dogs also "cross-train" in other dog sports, including agility, flyball, sheepdog trials, and obedience.

Popularity
Part of the popularity of the sport is its accessibility. All that is necessary to enjoy it is a level playing area, a dog, and a flying disc. Also, a little imagination is an extra plus for Freestyle competition. It is estimated that over one million dogs play flying disc in the United States alone, though only a small percentage participate in organized competitions.

Disc dogs are also popular attractions at sporting events as half-time entertainment. Going clear back to Ashley and his 8th inning performance in 1974, Frisbee dogs have performed at countless football, basketball, baseball and soccer halftimes. They are many times found in amusement parks, county fairs and pet festivals of all kinds. There are a very small handful of trainers who even make a living doing these shows.

Disc dog clubs
Disc dog clubs organize and promote the sport on a local level, and work with national organizations to run events. They offer new-comers a way to learn more about the sport, and are a great place for the experienced competitors to give back. Disc dog clubs are usually active in local animal charities, helping to raise money and awareness for such groups. Disc dog clubs can be found all over the United States.. The first club was the Dallas Dog and Disc Club, founded in the mid-1980's by Ron Ellis.

Disc dog training
Not all dogs immediately understand the concept of the game. A dog may not instinctively know to turn and chase after a disc that is thrown over its head. To begin, the disc should be thrown straight to the dog at a short distance. Once a dog knows how to catch, it can learn the additional concept of running to catch the disc. The disc should be thrown at increasing heights, gradually throwing the disc higher, until it finally goes over the dog's head. At that point the dog instinctively follows the disc all the way around.

Information gathered from various sources including but not limited to Wikipedia

OCD in our dogs

Why they do the things they do ... over and over and over again.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in dogs, also called OCD, is a behavior that seems out of context, odd, and directed towards objects, be it the dog himself, or an inanimate object such as a food dish, or wheeled things like cars, bikes, or strollers.
OCD often manifests itself in dogs who are stressed, anxious, or bored, and can be a very maddening experience for the owner. These behaviors can often result in destruction of items, yards, angry neighbours, and seemingly uncontrollable aggression. Obsessive digging, continuous biting at their own feet, barking at nothing, attacking inanimate objects, all are symptoms of OCD.

When OCD is caused by stress, it is important to get help from your veterinarian. A stressed dog is also a potentially dangerous dog. There are medicated therapies available to help your dog deal with stress.

In boredom cases (digging, barking, tail chasing) it is time to step up your dog's activity level. A tired dog is a content dog, and not a compulsive pet. Get out and play more! Take long walks, look into Doggy Daycare, play fetch .. you get the idea. By expending your dog's energy on a safe, fun outlet, you not only ensure that your dog is happy, but you also increase your own bond with your pet, and reduce certain health risks, like accidental ingestion of poison (if your dog is a destruction machine in the house) and obesity.

Seperation Anxiety is often a cause of OCD. How many owners have come home to total destruction?

Compulsive Disorders can also be part of your dog's genetic make-up. Certain breeds are pre-disposed to these behaviors, such as Dobermans, who suck on their skin, German Shepherds, who who chase their own tails, and English Bull Terriers, who have the odd habit of sticking their heads underneath objects and freezing in place. Strange, yes?

From Krista Mifflin, former About.com Guide