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Dog Thoughts

Love Me, Love My Dog

1/12/2018

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Years ago, I was at a family event. One family and their dog, let's call the dog Fluffy, were there at the same time. It was summer and we were spending time at the lake. Of course, there was a barbecue involved, with rib-eye steaks. When the steaks were resting off the grill, Fluffy causally walked by them and snatched one from the platter. Yes, there were one or two extra steaks, so no one was losing out. Yes, this was not putting someone out financially. I would have been horrified if that had been my dog, but Fluffy's owners laughed and said, "Well, that's just Fluffy. Love me, Love my dog."
***Disclaimer, should any of my family read this post, the person described is in no way related to me. Please don't get hurt feelings, because there is nothing personal. 
​I have said, "Love me, love my dog" lots of times. I have it emblazoned on a coffee mug and a t-shirt. However, especially in the last few years, I have been thinking and rethinking what this phrase really means. These are my thoughts and interpretations on the subject. I may not reflect everyone's opinions, and that is fine. Being able to agree to disagree without name-calling is what grown ups do. Here goes.
I love my dog. That is not a surprise coming from a dog trainer and anyone who knows me knows how much this is true. I think my dog is one of the sweetest, smartest, most well-behaved and fun dogs around. If someone wants to be my friend, most likely, they will have to accept that I'm going to talk about my dog. There are certain activities that I want to be sure he is included in, like hiking. If they visit my house, the dog will most likely be included in the party, unless someone has a legitimate fear of or allergy to dogs. My parents are happy to have Dakota come with me when I get home to visit them, and wouldn't think me leaving him behind. My friends even know that they don't want to ask me to choose between them or my dog. The fastest way to my heart is to be nice to or compliment my dog. He is a part of the equation, and is non-negotiable. 
However, I've taught Dakota some basic manners that help him to be more welcomed anywhere we might go. He doesn't get on furniture unless invited up. Or, he shouldn't at least. He knows he is only supposed to jump up on me and only when cued. He is content hanging out in a crate if that is what is required of him. He might beg while people are eating, but he has a solid cue that means to leave the area right now. He isn't to be trusted left alone to guard food, but he is not a counter surfer when people are around. He is housebroken pretty much everywhere, and is quickly reminded if he thinks about marking. If he gets uncomfortable or over threshold in a situation, I can redirect him and contain him, to keep him and everyone safe. He doesn't chase cats or livestock, and he is pretty easy to get along with.  This is all pretty much common sense, right? I think so too. A dog who follows all of these rules is definitely more lovable!
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So, what does "Love me, love my dog" not mean? It doesn't mean that my dog gets to go everywhere with me. If I were invited to a dinner party at a friend's house, he most likely would be left at home, unless expressly invited. If someone doesn't find him as cute as I do, I know it's nothing personal. In fact, I don't want other people to love him like I do! It doesn't mean that I should be allowed to take him into restaurants and stores that aren't pet friendly, just because I can't handle being without him. If someone feels that he is underfoot, they are welcome to tell me that.  If someone wants to redirect the conversation from dog talk, I can even accept that. I have this blog to talk dogs all day long. 
Mostly, it doesn't mean that I can excuse all of Dakota's quirks, faults and naughty behavior. Yes, he is cute, and yes, he is well trained, but that doesn't mean that he is above naughty behavior. I need to take my rose colored glasses off and try to see him objectively. If he does something he shouldn't, I need to apologize, try to make it right, possibly contain him and work on prevention for the future. While I don't want someone else disciplining my dog, I also don't want them to excuse his behavior. If I were to get defensive, it is only because I know that he messed up, and I know they are right to be upset. 
Love me, love my dog. It sounds so innocent, but too many dog owners take the idea too far. I recently saw a dog in a local store, and when the dog owner was confronted, she stated this little saying. She said that if the store wanted her business, they had to accept that her dog shops with her. The dog was riding in a cart and barking at strangers. This dog could actually impact the job of a real service dog or could bite someone. The dog was uncomfortable and didn't want to be there. 
Let's remember that loving our dogs means teaching them boundaries. Loving them means being their advocate and not putting them into situations that they shouldn't be in. It means that we learn to read their body cues, and know what is uncomfortable to them. It means sometimes putting their needs above our own. It means knowing when to bring your dog along and when to leave them home or stay home with them. If we could all do this, we would all have dogs who are as lovable as you are!
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Dog Trainer Red Flags

1/11/2018

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 My previous post was about choosing a dog trainer. This time, I'm sharing some of the things that may take a trainer out of the running. Some of these are what turns me off from calling a trainer, some are things that others have mentioned are turn-offs and some should be red flags to anyone with a dog. 
***Please know, I have not met every local dog trainer in the Billings area. I have a casual relationship with a couple, would call a couple my friends, and have nothing against the ones I haven't utilized. There may some training styles I don't agree with (nor does, you know, science), but I am speaking in general terms and am not blasting a single business here. 
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  1. The trainer says they are certified, but can't provide anything to back that up: as stated before, dog trainers are not required, in this country at least, to have any credentials to train. They can call themselves whatever they want. There are certifications that are held to high standards in the industry though, and a trainer who has one will happily share it multiple places. I contacted a trainer one time who said he/she was certified, so I asked about it and was told to mind my own business. 
  2. It is difficult to tell about their training style or services from their website: this one here is a personal turn-off to me. Hopefully, I have succeeded with this and it is immediately clear. If I were to go and look for a trainer for my own dog, I want to know that their style aligns with my own and I want to know that they offer a service that I need right now. This might not be as much of a red flag as it is a poor marketing choice, but I know from experience, if I can't find these two answers, I'm not going to waste time contacting them. 
  3. They use a training style you don't agree with: scientifically, positive reinforcement paired with an event marker (such as clicker! or verbal marker) is the most effective way to get behavior you want from your dog. This is why they use these methods in zoos and with marine mammals. Aversive methods might work fast in some cases, but there is a lot of fallout from using them. This is not the time for that argument, but know what you are willing to put your dog through and what you can follow through with. Especially when working with puppies or dogs who haven't been in training before and when doing activities for fun with your dog. I recently read about the first ever e-collar agility club and was appalled. 
  4. They don't appear to like your dog or are too familiar with your dog: Now, this one here would really hurt! I know my dog is awesome and everyone else should too. He has actually growled at others during a training class, but since he was under control, it was something we worked through and no one ever disliked him.  I know there are a lot of dog people, from Facebook groups, who don't actually like most dogs outside of their own. Or, I met a trainer in a certain chain store who threw her arms around my dog and squeezed him.  You are going to a trainer with a member of your family. Your trainer might not think all of the behavior issues are cute, but they should definitely try and like your dog in a way that your dog feels safe. 
  5. They are abrasive, judgmental or narrow minded: Here's the deal, training dogs is hard work. It is physically and emotionally tough at times. That means, most people who go into dog training are passionate about it. Sometimes passion translates into less than kind words. But they also know that every dog comes attached to a person, so being kind and tactful is important. It is emotionally wearing when advice isn't followed and dogs get hurt. However, by calling a trainer, you've made a step in the right direction. You obviously care about your dog. Yes, you might not be feeding them the best food choice or have the best equipment. As long as you are open to learning, your trainer should be open to realizing that you are doing the best you can. They will probably give you advice that you didn't that you needed, but understand that it is coming from a place of wanting what is best for your dog. 
  6. They use language and methods that are outdated; The scientist who coined alpha theory is on record saying that he made a mistake, and that even in a wolf pack, leadership is fluid. He said that he was wrong. Yet, so many trainers still talk about a dog being alpha or dominant. Some dogs are more strong willed than others, some are more inclined to take the lead and some want to be followers, but among dogs, this is also super fluid. Dogs have never confused us with dogs, so we don't have to be the alpha over them! Practices like alpha rolling are harmful to the dogs and are likely to result in someone getting hurt. If a trainer uses any of these words on their home page, run. This is a trainer who either hasn't bothered to keep up with the trends and science or is too stubborn to change. 
  7. They are egotistical: I have to remind myself weekly that there is no ego in dog training. I don't think of myself as very egotistical, but I did a demo with my dog a while back and he sat on a spin, rolled over when I asked for a down and burped when I asked him to bow.  He knows all of those behaviors, but was having an off day, and I know this was no reflection of me. It was embarrassing, but I didn't get frustrated. Dogs are allowed to have off days, just like we are. Trainers should know this. Also, just because they have found success in something in the past, ultimately, you know your dog the best. Don't let a trainer push your dog more than they can handle. 
  8. It is apparent they take on a case that is outside of their comfort zone: for a trainer to be really good at handling tough cases like severe separation anxiety, reactivity or human aggression, they have to have put a lot of time and effort into learning the processes. They might not know everything, but should be comfortable with the case. It is apparent if the trainer isn't comfortable. They may not be able to help your dog or may make the case even worse. This kind of goes back to ego. If a trainer doesn't feel they are a good fit, they should be able to refer you to another trainer. They may lose the income, but it is in the best interest of the dog, which is where a trainer should always be. 
  9. They put down or gossip about other local trainers: Especially in an area like Billings, the dog community is fairly small and word gets back. Trainers' jobs are tough so they should be lifting each other up, supporting each other and allowing a place to vent rather than talking down their "competition." Truly, one trainer might not mesh with a dog owner, but if they are looking out for the dog, will want that dog to be helped somewhere. It's great if your trainer can give you some other resources to look into. 
  10.  They are so confident, they guarantee training for the life of the dog: This one might be controversial, but I know I hate when someone says that their dog is fully trained. I guarantee you that mine is not. He knows his basics, usually very well, is almost always successful in his higher level training, but he still has things to learn. And just like us, if I weren't to do something with him for a long time, he would lose some or all of those skills. Training is not a concrete, destination. It is fluid, the journey. Trained skills are muscles-use them or lose them. A trainer can offer follow up support, and should, but guaranteed forever results set people and dogs up to fail. 
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How to Choose a Dog Trainer

1/9/2018

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Perhaps the best analogy for choosing a dog trainer is that choosing a dog trainer is very much like choosing a therapist. I can say this, because I work in mental health and know therapists well. Just like a therapist, it is really hard to lie to a dog trainer! "Did you do your homework?" "Yep." Dog runs around, ignores, does anything but what they should have practiced. "Did you really do your homework?" Head hung in shame, "no." They see how frustrated you may be by your dog's behavior, and how vulnerable and embarrassed. This is a person you are trusting to work with a valued member of the family! You may get called out for mistakes you've made. You may feel defensive, but the thing about being defensive is we usually know the other person is right. We don't want to admit it, but usually they are. You may leave a training session feeling drained, physically and emotionally. Your dog trainer is someone who you feel you are willing to take their advice, celebrate successes with and trust that they are helping you, no matter how you are feeling in the moment. That is why, it is a good idea to find a trainer you mesh with. 
So, here's what you do: Google dog trainers in your area and check out some websites. Have an idea of what you want, whether it be group classes, one to one sessions or board and train. Do you know what training method you would like to use? A trainer should be clear about what their method is. The ones that you like, call them or send an email, see if they are willing to take you and your dog on. Be honest about what you need. Meet them, see if you can observe a class or a consultation. If you like this person, hopefully you have met your trainer! 
If a trainer says they are unable to work with you, it probably is nothing personal. My insurance, for example, doesn't cover wolf/dog crosses in any way and I am not to train dogs in protection sports, bite work or for police and military. Maybe the trainer only does a specialized training service, such as training for sport or task. The trainer might not be comfortable in working with aggression, and this is actually to your advantage. You want your trainer to be confident in what they are doing, and a trainer who admits they don't know it all are less likely to mess up by taking on something they can't do. 
The trainer will probably recommend a training package, if you are going with one to one sessions. This is because no dog is going to suddenly learn to walk at an obedience ring heel out and about after one session. Plus, even if they did, are you going to remember all of the skills next week? Multiple sessions are for yours and the dog's benefit. Plus, this gives the trainer time to add in other things to teach you if needed. 
Please don't choose a trainer based solely on cost. Trainers put a lot of time (and money) into getting their education and experience. They may have done an online program or an in-person internship and perhaps have taken tests to prove they know what they are doing. They attend workshops and seminars, read all they can, participate in live webinars and groups. For some certifications, trainers are required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU's) just like school teachers! None of this is free. The trainers I know, myself included, have gone into this industry because they want to help dogs and their people. That is it. But, they have to make a living as well. However, no one says, "Hmm, dog trainers have an easy job and are often on the Forbes 500 list. I'll be a dog trainer." 
So, how important are those certifications that trainers are earning? A little background: dog training in the US is largely unregulated as an industry. Any person can call themselves a certified dog trainer, just because they had a dog at one point. No, even if not, they still can. Outside of veterinary medicine, this is how the animal industry is. However, there are trainers who take the field seriously and are getting certifications that are to a high standard! If a trainer can't tell you where that certification is from or you can't find it multiple places on their website, good chance they are pulling one over on you. Are there good trainers who have no certification? Absolutely, yes. It does come down to experience, but those learning opportunities help trainers be more efficient and understand what is happening during sessions. There are probably also some not so great trainers who passed tests with flying colors. 
How do you pick a trainer? You pick someone you connect with. You pick someone who can help your dog. If they see you and and your dog at your worst, they are going to celebrate with you when you are at your best!
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Being Your dog's Advocate

12/28/2017

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    Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm crazy about dogs and want to see all of them living the best life possible. Most of my free time is taken up by dogs, but when I am not working with my own or others, I also enjoy cooking, volunteer work, reading and Netflix in my pajamas. 

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