tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096431539417355282019-05-23T02:36:02.828-07:00Canine Behavior Trainingpositive and practical solutions to canine behavior issuesCanine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-29522299765907967232018-09-24T09:48:00.003-07:002018-09-24T09:48:31.353-07:00Puppy Survival Workshop<h2>October 1st, 2nd and 3rd at 7pm.<br /> October 15th, 16th and 17th at 7pm<br /> and<br /> November 5th, 6th and 7th at 7pm</h2>A puppy is an alien!!! They have no clue that what they are doing is "wrong" or "bad", they only do what nature tells them is right based on eons of evolution. It's up to the human to steer them in the right direction of living calmly in a human constructed world.<br /><br /> This 3 day, 6 hour, workshop is for those who either have already gotten their puppy and are struggling or are thinking of getting a puppy in the near future and want to know what to expect and how to be prepared. Raising a puppy can be a wonderful experience. It can also be really frustrating. Raising a puppy is not exactly the joy you were expecting? If any of the following apply, you need this workshop.<br /><br />• You haven't brought your puppy home yet but are already overwhelmed by advice and things to buy, shots and training and socialization<br />• This is the first puppy you have raised on your own, and you want to make sure you get it right<br />• You already have a puppy. You are slowly going crazy trying to stop the biting, the chewing, the peeing and the crying.<br />• You suddenly feel like you don't have enough information on how to raise a great puppy and need help<br />• You are wondering if adopting a puppy was a big mistake and you might have even considered an ad on Craig's List<br />• Why isn't this new dog just like my old dog?<br />• I feel guilty for hating the puppy half the time<br />• I had dogs growing up but apparently I am not prepared for this!<br /><br /> This workshop is for you, the human. We will take you through all the stages of your puppy's first 4 months with you, what to expect at each turn and how to handle it. We will focus on the critical first week, how to manage shots and socialization at the same time, what training does a puppy need, how to get enough sleep those first few days, and how not to have your floors ruined by pee or your hands, furniture and shoes chewed up by razor sharp puppy teeth.<br /><br /> In addition we will cover how to effectively communicate with your puppy, how to elicit those behaviors you want and not always be shouting NO!, how to prevent separation anxiety and how to introduce a collar and leash and what to do with them once they are on your puppy. <br /><br /> Day 1 is about getting a puppy and living through that first week with enough sleep and effective potty training methods. We will also cover how to get your puppy socialized without risking injury or illness during the critical first 6 weeks of having your puppy. (2 hours) <br /><br /> Day 2 is for all those sharp teeth and how to prevent them slashing your hands, arms, face, furniture, shoes, and baseboards. We will also cover what to do once your puppy starts landscaping, jumping up on people, begging at the dinner table and introducing "alone time" to prevent separation anxiety. (2 hours)<br /><br /> Day 3 is the day you can bring your puppy to the workshop and learn all about the leash and how to exercise your puppy effectively and joyfully. (2 hours) <br /><br /> The workshop is $75 for the 6 hours and well worth the reduction in stress both for you and for your puppy. <br /><br /><h3>Sign up at <a href="http://playyourwayobedience.com/tickets.html">http://playyourwayobedience.com/tickets.html</a></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-63723043235648733632018-08-24T09:31:00.001-07:002018-08-24T14:24:29.644-07:002018 Fall and Winter Schedule of Classes at Access To Service<br /><div style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Here is the schedule of classes for Play Your Way Obedience and Access To Service Corp for Sept 2018 through Feb 2019. Following the schedule is a explanation of most of the classes.</div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 829px;"> <colgroup><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 4534; mso-width-source: userset; width: 93pt;" width="124"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 4754; mso-width-source: userset; width: 98pt;" width="130"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 3437; mso-width-source: userset; width: 71pt;" width="94"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 3803; mso-width-source: userset; width: 78pt;" width="104"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 4717; mso-width-source: userset; width: 97pt;" width="129"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 4388; mso-width-source: userset; width: 90pt;" width="120"></col> <col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col> <tbody><tr height="38" style="height: 28.5pt;"> <td class="xl66" colspan="7" height="38" style="background-color: #fde9d9; border: 0px rgb(22, 54, 92); height: 28.5pt; mso-ignore: colspan; width: 575pt;" width="765"><span style="color: #16365c; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;">Access To Service - Schedule of Classes Fall and Winter 2018/2019</span></td> <td class="xl66" style="background-color: #fde9d9; border: 0px rgb(22, 54, 92); width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="color: #16365c; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"> </span></td> </tr><tr height="28" style="height: 21pt;"> <td class="xl67" height="28" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40); height: 21pt;"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"> </span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Saturday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Sunday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Monday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Tuesday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Wednesday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Thursday</span></strong></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: #e4dfec; border: 0px rgb(79, 98, 40);"><strong><span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Friday</span></strong></td> </tr><tr height="37" style="height: 27.75pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="37" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 27.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7:00</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour</span></td> </tr><tr height="38" style="height: 28.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="38" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 28.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">8:00</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Foundation Skills</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hearing & Mobility</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr><tr height="39" style="height: 29.25pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="39" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 29.25pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">10:30</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Public Access</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fitness</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr><tr height="42" style="height: 31.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="42" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 31.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3:00</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Snake Avoidance</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Scent</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr><tr height="43" style="height: 32.25pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="43" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 32.25pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4:30</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">CGC</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Empowerment</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Puppy</span></span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;">CGC</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr><tr height="42" style="height: 31.5pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="42" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 31.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6:00</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Puppy</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Service Dog</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sports</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">SD Tasks</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr><tr height="43" style="height: 32.25pt; mso-height-source: userset;"> <td align="right" class="xl65" height="43" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black; height: 32.25pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7:30</span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px black;"></td> </tr></tbody></colgroup></table><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Urban Agility Canine Parkour<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Parkour = "Combining the core elements of running, jumping, and climbing with the discipline of the martial artist, the grace of the gymnast, and the virtuosity of the skateboarder, parkour—or free-running—is more than simply an elegant noncompetitive sport. It's an art form, a philosophy promoting fitness, imagination, community spirit, and ethical, healthy living. " Canine Parkour is the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Urban Agility (also known as Canine Parkour) is an outdoor sport using natures obstacles and park additions as a human and dog gym.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This class is agility with a twist. The agility is done over, under and through some of the most challenging and environmentally distracting objects we can muster up. This is a safe confidence builder for any dog. This fun and exciting class is a practical alternative to conventional agility and a great way to prep your competitive agility dog. You won’t believe what your dog is capable of until you try! All breeds and all ages welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Everyone and every dog deserves to be fit and healthy without risk of injury. You can achieve your agility and obedience training goals and increase the bond with your dog at the same time. Go beyond the hamster wheels of typical agility or obedience training. Train your dog to climb stairs, ladders, and ropes; go up and down slides, walls and tables; be fearless and confident in the face of any obstacle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Urban Agility is a fun way to exercise your dog using everyday objects, structural components and park furniture for agility and sport. Mental stimulation is so important for every dog, so you will learn how to use items you come across every day to make walks more fun for both you and your dog. You don’t need access to expensive agility equipment for you and your dog to have fun! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Think of urban agility as a gym membership for you and your dog. Tons of fun and a great bunch of people. it is a non-competitive physical activity in which you and your dog are expected to overcome obstacles by adapting movements to the environment in the most efficient way possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Traffic, people, other dogs, loud noises, dog parks, these are every day occurrences in the life of urban canines and should be a source of confidence and positive stimulation. This class engages dogs and their owners in a positive manner and gives them the tools to tackle these challenges head on. Obedience training and urban agility exercises are combined to create a class that is as exciting as it is productive.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is a lifestyle change for both you and your dog. Urban Agility will equip you with the tools you need to achieve your training goals with your dog. Whether you are working with your dog for your and his health, or training for a big challenge, Urban Agility will help motivate and inspire you to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Are you up for the challenge?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Foundation Skills<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">According to a new study, both domesticated dogs and one species of wild dog do a better job than human beings and chimpanzees of ignoring bad instructions and eliminating unnecessary steps when trying to solve a problem. It’s a difference that says a lot about the social order of all of the species. <br /><br />Foundational skills are the fundamental, portable skills that are essential to conveying and receiving information that is critical to training and real world success. These skills are fundamental in that they serve as a basis—the foundation—for supporting additional behaviors/tasks and learning. They are portable because, rather than being task specific, they can be applied at some level across a wide variety of behaviors. <br /><br />Dogs who develop these skills have enhanced understanding of and are more responsive to the human world. Navigating the often confusing and inconsistent rules that humans create, knowing how to adapt instinctive and evolutionary behaviors to living with humans compatibly and working as a team with other animals in the home and the humans are all examples of using foundational skills.<br /><br />Foundational skills are also necessary to learn more task-specific knowledge and skills. This is true across sports, social encounters, service and even protection. For example, both service dogs and protection dogs must understand when waiting is more appropriate then moving. Agility dogs have much less chance of injury and their speed through the course is increased from knowledge of their body parts and how they move.<br /><br />Dog training is a lifelong process, but some skills have more effectiveness than others in living life with humans. Helping your dog master these skills lays the foundation and prepares your dog for a lifetime of good behavior and companionship. Whether you just brought home a puppy, adopted a shelter dog, or want to ensure your older dog maintains his sociability throughout life, these are the absolute most important skills to teach your dog (and yourself).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Scent Detective Beginning Nose Work Skills<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Scent is to dogs what sight and hearing is to humans. We need sight and hearing to feel secure about the world and the environments we find ourselves in. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dogs use scent instead of sight and hearing to establish how they feel about any particular environment. Dogs use scent to determine any change in the environment. This is why dogs are so good at finding prey, bugs, bombs, drugs and even people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dogs use scent for associative identification and interpretation of the environment and individually what comprises that environment and how it might differ from memory. All information about scent is processed for neutral, safe or not safe, sort of a stress test. Due to lack of scent history, there will always be things that will appear to be unsafe to a dog. This is where allowing the dog to gather information using scent is vital.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dogs remember ALL scents they encounter and because dogs are contextual (see the entire environment as one thing), they also associate their own emotions about that scent in that context. Any particular scent may have many contexts and emotions attached or just one. Not a whole lot different than humans - consider having to stare down the barrel of a gun. Everything in the environment at that moment is stored with the memory of that gun and later any part of that memory could create worry and concern, especially if another piece of that memory is added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Scent is the number one way that dogs are associating with and orienting to the environment. There is no way to exclude scent or the dogs amazing ability to detect scent in any aspect of our relationship with dogs. You must always take into account that the dog will be detecting scents and determining how they relate to their environment. Most times we will not be able to detect the scents that they do. Be sensitive to this and you will really start to be on your dog's team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Fitness Fundamentals<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fitness is a dog's ability to perform physical activities both static and dynamic. These activities generally require endurance, strength, flexibility, balance and coordination as well as a general awareness of the environment those activities are being performed within.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fitness usually denotes engagement in a combination of regular exercise and inherited talent and ability. Fitness is also a measure of a dog's ability to carry out those tasks he is assigned whether in the sporting, working, service or companion arenas. That measure is one of vigor, fatigue and energy. Fitness generally measures one's capacity for directed movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fitness is often divided into following types:<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Flexibility</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: This usually means joint movement, it's range and fluidity. Some flexibility has a lot to do with body composition however, the more excess weight a dog might have will reduce the range of motion.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Endurance</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: Endurance is usually measured by aerobic capacity. This means how long a dog can run or chase or do quick movement exercises. However, in the last decade, humans have been reminded that mental challenge is just as exhausting as aerobic exercise. So endurance covers more then just aerobics. Endurance is the amount of time vs effort in any activity.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Strength</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: Weight training is a form of exercise for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles which can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Agility</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: Agility is the ability to change the body's direction quickly and efficiently. Agility requires a sense of balance, the knowledge of body parts and how they move, coordinating movements between the dog and its environment, speed, and strength.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Balance</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: This includes body awareness, environmental awareness and proprioception in order to maintain the natural positions of the canine body without dizziness, loss of equilibrium or injury.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Speed</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: Speed is a measure of how fast the dog moves in the activity being done. Speed is measured by how much time it takes to go from rest to the end of the activity. That activity could be as simple as a stand to a sit. To get speed, the dog needs to be able to hear the cue, understand the cue and the action the cue signals and instantly react upon hearing it.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Task-oriented activity</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: There are many tasks and groups of tasks that we can ask of our dogs. A sport, any sport, is just a specific set of tasks and movements that have the purpose of going from A to B. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h4 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: "cambria";">There are five things that I feel are the keys to fitness with any dog, no matter what their role in your life is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></h4><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Engagement.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Engagement basically means that your dog is actively involved in the activity you and s/he are doing together. Once the dog is actively participating, there is a point where the dog is actually pushing the handler. This intended outcome is what is desired during every interaction. Engagement cannot be achieved without a sound dog. Fitness is an important part of creating an engaged dog. Anything that is unsound will cause internal distractions and thus, no engagement.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aerobic Activity.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Some dogs love to run, others don't. Some dogs thrive on long straight walks and others need to stop at every tree and hydrant, chase a butterfly and roll in the grass. All of this for a dog, is aerobic activity. Anything that gets the dog moving, breathing, engaging with the environment and you can be considered aerobic. The heart pumps a bit harder, the lungs grab more air, the muscles work harder and endorphins abound.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rhythm and Flow.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Structure gives rhythm to our dogs lives. That structure also covers the composition and structure of your dog's body. When parts are out of alignment, there can be little flow to movement. All the exercises we do in the Fitness classes bring structure, rhythm and flow to our dogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Problem Solving.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> Canids are great problem solvers. A fact that is missing in most training endeavors. They really can figure out what you want them to do and be willing to do it on cue. There is really no need for moving the dogs body via your hands, a leash or some other tool. Even luring isn't necessary once your understand that dogs can think, can process the environment and due what seems necessary. But like engagement, the ability to problem solve is dependent on not having the distractions of an unfit or ill body.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Live Life</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">: Dogs should be allowed to be dogs, to live life according to their evolutionary functions and propensities. Obviously we don't want them digging up the garden, chewing on the furniture or reliving their ancestors daily activity of scavenging in the nice smelly garbage. But dogs should be allowed to use their noses, roll in "stuff", play with other dogs, socialize with other species, and chase and eat bugs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Puppy Learning Games<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are many way to train or condition a puppy. Science tells us about learning theories, reinforcers, punishers, schedules, timing, criteria and a host of different ways to use equipment in the training process. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are dozens of leashes, collars, harnesses and other devices touted as the new magic wand. We even have one of our own - Canine Game Theory. However, Game Theory and it's uses in education has been around for at least 100 years. Task training and reward based training has been around for 1000's of years and is how shepherds train their sheep puppies, carters train their mountain puppies and guardian breeds are taught self-control and discrimination. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Is your puppy digging, chewing, or destroying things? How about refusing to come to you, bolting out the door, or jumping up on you and your guests?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you answered yes to any of these, your puppy has a training problem not a behavior problem. These problems can usually be fixed simply by consistently training your puppy every day. Digging, chewing, and destroying things usually occur because the puppy is bored. However, they can also be signs of separation anxiety. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Training problems occur because the puppy simply doesn't know how to act in a human excepted way to any given situation. Therefore, the puppy acts out like it would with other puppies in a pack. Jumping up is caused because the puppy is trying to lick our lips. The only way for him to reach our lips is to jump. Believe it or not, this is actually a good thing in the puppy world, because it signifies that the puppy is accepting the guest on his property. When your puppy does this to you, he's trying to tell you, "Welcome back! Did you catch a good meal for us? Give me some!" In other words, he thinks you went out hunting, killed and ate some prey, and he wants you to throw some of it up for him to eat! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Empowerment and Engagement<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Empowerment training is about showing our dogs that the environment is something they can affect and control. Most training is about instilling control onto our dogs instead of showing them how to have self-control and understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In this class you will be establishing a history of reinforcement for choice, understanding, decisions and willingness to operate on the environment and the objects in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">According to James O'Heare, in order to empower a dog you must teach him industriousness, persistence and creativity. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Industriousness means that the dog is willing to work; industriousness is also the willingness and ability to engage with not only the human involved but the environment itself. Industriousness also means to work hard and steadily, mostly ignoring distractions or finding that the work itself is more rewarding. This is the basic behind engagement with the human handler and without it, engagement is improbable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Persistence is basically not giving up if the goal is attainable. Persistence is that quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by others. Persistence contains with it the ability to continue even though the motivators have disappeared. The goal and the rewards inherent in reaching the goal are important enough that there is no need for continued motivation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. Creativity for our dogs can best be expressed as problem solving. Namely, how your dog responds to problems and new situations. Response to problems usually takes on one of three ways: reaction, surrender, invent. React and your dog is basically shutting down and letting motor patterns take over. Your dog is literally turning off the range of possibilities and perception s/he would normally have. Surrendering to defeat is also a shut down. Surrendering disempowers your dog from her capacity to solve problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Creativity is nurtured by freedom and stifled by the continuous commands, labeling of behavior, the necessity for human direction, and pressure to conform to an ideal that has little to do with the reality that is a dog and that restrict most dogs lives whether they are working, sporting or just pet dogs. In the real world few questions have one right answer; few problems have one right solution; that's why creativity is crucial to helping our dogs live in our world with our rules. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like any other training, first we will ensure that your dog's basic needs are being met. Those needs are the physical ones of food, water, medical attention if necessary, exercise, play and mental challenge. During this phase of empowerment training there should be no punishment, no intimidation, no pain or discomfort and as little fear inducing experiences as possible. Whether your dog is a senior, an adult or a puppy, this phase is what socialization should have been and will reintroduce the dog to viewing all environments as pleasurable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Phase two is reintroducing already known behaviors like sit and down. In many cases this requires different cues and hugely different methods of teaching. As in the beginning phase there should be only positive experiences, lots of reinforcement, consistency, and making sure that the dog does not become overwhelmed with new behaviors or hours of training. Doing no more than 5 minute training sessions is hugely important in this phase. Each known behavior should be worked on for several days before asking for a different behavior. This is to ensure that your dog is comfortable learning new things and old things in new ways and starts understanding that s/he has a voice in this endeavor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Phase 3 is about persistence which according to James O'Heare is to inoculate the dog against and rehabilitate depressed responding and learn to tolerate and overcome frustration. Depressed responding is sometimes referred to as learned helplessness. Depressed response happens because of an inability to choose or being overwhelmed with choice. When one loses the power to choose they become subjugated to the control of others. Losing the power to choose, one becomes the slave of that which stops them from making choices of their own volition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Phase 4 is about industry. Because industriousness includes the work being as rewarding to the dog as any additional rewards we might offer, this phase teaches the dog that work is play and play is work. The dog must choose to work with us continuously and despite outside distractions. Having learned about choice in previous phases, choice is the most important concept of this phase. You will be giving your dog many situations where choice is necessary to achieve reinforcement and allowing your dog to solve the problems in these situations his way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Snake and Toad Avoidance Without Shock<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Living in Pima County comes with a slight risk that your dog may encounter a rattlesnake. About 20 percent to 25 percent of rattlesnake bites are nonvenomous bites, which means that the snake doesn't release venom. The reason for this is that rattlesnakes don't see dogs as a meal, merely as a predator. Venom is not fast-acting enough for the snake to strike and save his own skin, so to speak, so the release of any amount of venom is simply a deterrent to give the snake enough time to get away. Full releases of venom are normally saved for prey animals the snake will eat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">About 30 percent of rattlesnake bites cause local pain and swelling in the bite area with no general symptoms, and most dogs are likely to survive this type of bite.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Approximately 40 percent of bites are considered severe, but luckily have a fatality rate of only about 5 percent for dogs. The survival rate will depend on how fast the antivenin is administered, the health of the dog, its size and where it was bitten.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Approximately (no actual statistics - only those reported) 15,000 bites happen with dogs and cats in the US yearly out of 78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats. Of those bites, 80% happen at home. That means less than nine 10ths of one percent of dogs and cats actually get bit by a venomous snake every year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Each year, several companies come through town offering to "break" your dog from approaching rattlesnakes. The premise of "snake breaking" is to use a shock collar to punish the dog when he or she approaches snakes that are muzzled or de-fanged or milked of their venom. The theory is that the dog will associate the sight, sound and smell of a rattlesnake together with a very painful shock. These companies and trainers use YOUR fear to convince you the only way to snake proof your dog is to shock it. They fail to inform you that the statistics prove otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Game based avoidance training<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There is another method of prevention that does not involved costly vaccinations, anti-venom or unproven painful methods which use shock collars. It's very similar to the methods used to teach your dog to come back to you even if chasing a squirrel or rabbit. Self-control, distraction training, scent training and actually consulting your dog’s understanding of what to do when seeing, hearing or smelling a snake. Shock aversion training assumes your dog will run away because of the association with pain - but that doesn't always happen. What we teach the dog is to move away from snakes, to be aware of the environment, and often this training will teach a dog to ask permission first before heading off after lizards, squirrels, cats or rabbits. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Come join us in a three week class where we meet twice a week to teach not only snake aversion, but self-control, impulse control and how to ignore distractions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;">Service Dogs<o:p></o:p></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With the chaotic times we live in, many people are having difficulties both emotionally and mentally. When a person finds themselves in this situation, they may feel overwhelmed and even hopeless. When this happens, some doctors and mental health professionals are recommending the use of service dogs. However, the term "service dog" is becoming a "catch-all" term. </span><strong><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Real service dogs</span></strong><span style="font-family: "calibri";">are trained to perform a specific task for the physically or mentally challenged individual. This also includes psychiatric service dogs for folks that suffer from PTSD or bipolar disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The tasks performed by a service dog for the physically disabled, a dog for medically disabled and one for those with a mental illness are different but in some cases are very similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are common tasks learning by most service dogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Retrieving dropped items<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Opening doors<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Leading the person<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Being the person's ears to hear alarms, doorbells, ringing phones, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Contacting a person if the individual is in an emergency situation<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Physically aiding the patient if having a seizure or other health issue<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Alerting the individual to drops in blood sugars or of an oncoming seizure and other conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Help guide a person home after a dissociative episode<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Find a person or a place (like an exit) if the handler is having a panic attack and cannot call out for help.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do a room-to-room safety search for a person who suffers from PTSD and hypervigilance syndrome.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Signal for certain sounds like smoke alarms (this is for the person that may be heavily medicated)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring help in case the person is in hiding due to fright<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fetch medication in an emergency<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-64732923315745821752018-08-09T11:11:00.002-07:002018-08-09T11:11:34.306-07:00Foundation Skills (not obedience) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVKQxn2SHMA/W2yCyyfVNQI/AAAAAAAANi4/shqIN50Q80waQQlu6zTtpd253DAW41-ywCLcBGAs/s1600/0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVKQxn2SHMA/W2yCyyfVNQI/AAAAAAAANi4/shqIN50Q80waQQlu6zTtpd253DAW41-ywCLcBGAs/s320/0108.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to a new study, both domesticated dogs and one species of wild dog do a better job than human beings and chimpanzees of ignoring bad instructions and eliminating unnecessary steps when trying to solve a problem. It’s a difference that says a lot about the social order of all of the species. <br /><br />Dogs are more efficient learners than you think. In this seminar you will learn how dogs think, how to train them knowing this and what skills they actually need to live actively and easily in our human world.<br /><br />Foundational skills are the fundamental, portable skills that are essential to conveying and receiving information that is critical to training and real world success. These skills are fundamental in that they serve as a basis—the foundation—for supporting additional behaviors/tasks and learning. They are portable because, rather than being task specific, they can be applied at some level across a wide variety of behaviors. <br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k33bPvw0QY/W2yC82QoZYI/AAAAAAAANjI/8s8EvChzC0E8edo5wj3lYJdZV-h2CsCswCEwYBhgL/s1600/0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1k33bPvw0QY/W2yC82QoZYI/AAAAAAAANjI/8s8EvChzC0E8edo5wj3lYJdZV-h2CsCswCEwYBhgL/s320/0250.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Dogs who develop these skills have enhanced understanding of and are more responsive to the human world. Navigating the often confusing and inconsistent rules that humans create, knowing how to adapt instinctive and evolutionary behaviors to living with humans compatibly and working as a team with other animals in the home and the humans are all examples of using foundational skills.<br /><br />Foundational skills are also necessary to learn more task-specific knowledge and skills. This is true across sports, social encounters, service and even protection. For example, both service dogs and protection dogs must understand when waiting is more appropriate then moving. Agility dogs have much less chance of injury and their speed through the course is increased from knowledge of their body parts and how they move.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYU4p5zxWuM/W2yDLO9JX0I/AAAAAAAANjM/rnvj3N3tk4MfV26RSYhkffZ9-9ztIiCfwCEwYBhgL/s1600/0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NYU4p5zxWuM/W2yDLO9JX0I/AAAAAAAANjM/rnvj3N3tk4MfV26RSYhkffZ9-9ztIiCfwCEwYBhgL/s320/0462.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dog training is a lifelong process, but some skills have more effectiveness than others in living life with humans. Helping your dog master these skills lays the foundation and prepares your dog for a lifetime of good behavior and companionship. Whether you just brought home a puppy, adopted a shelter dog, or want to ensure your older dog maintains his sociability throughout life, these are the absolute most important skills to teach your dog (and yourself).<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Skills<br /><br />1. Self Control<br />2. Impulse Control<br />3. Similarities and Differences (those are all tables/chairs and those are not)<br />4. The Basics as applied to living in a human world<br />5. Loose Leash Walking<br />6. Come Here<br />7. Targeting (touch that and go right there)<br />8. Distance doesn’t matter, the human still rules<br />9. Door chores (don't dash out that door)<br />10. Handling Distractions (preventing reactivity and environmental fear)</span><br /> <div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-91706577837297422352016-07-25T11:52:00.001-07:002016-07-25T11:52:11.763-07:00Give Your Dog A REAL Job <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: all;">Hi, I have been training dogs for a long time and in the last 10 years I've been training medical alert dogs for seizures, diabetes, lupus, Parkinsons, and many other issues. I have a chance to get certified as a trainer of Cancer Detection Dogs - a field that may have started 16 years ago when the first dog indicated to cancer to now with a real technology that trains dogs to detect cancel.<br /><br />The certification class is in November 2016 and costs $4500 just for the class itself. The class is being delivered in California and I live in Arizona so would also need funds for living during the time of the class.<br /><br />I have friends and relatives that have cancer, have died from cancer and I would really love to be able to advance the field with nearly 100% early detection of cancer using those dogs I dearly love. You as a donor to this endeavor would also be able to take credit for advancing this field into the incredible field it will soon be.<br /><br />Thank you all so much in advance !</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Hi, I have been training dogs for a long time and in the last 10 years I've been training medical alert dogs for epilepsy, diabetes, lupus, Parkinson’s, and many other issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also train dogs to assist with PTSD, TBI, MST, mobility/stability, assistance including helping with the laundry, and other forms of assistance dogs. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1IpSibuAf0/V5Ze25D3N6I/AAAAAAAABio/xsmgpmA41O0nD25vqBYp0PrVD9bViVquACLcB/s1600/functionalagility%2B015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1IpSibuAf0/V5Ze25D3N6I/AAAAAAAABio/xsmgpmA41O0nD25vqBYp0PrVD9bViVquACLcB/s320/functionalagility%2B015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a chance to get certified as a trainer of Cancer Detection Dogs - a field that may have started 16 years ago when the first dog indicated to cancer to now with a real technology that trains dogs to detect cancel. The certification class is in November 2016 and costs $4500 just for the class itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class is being delivered in California and I live in Arizona so would also need funds for living during the time of the class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have friends and relatives that have cancer, have died from cancer and I would really love to be able to advance the field with nearly 100% early detection of cancer using those dogs I dearly love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to have many join me in this endeavor in advancing this incredible field of scent work for dogs. Also as part of this certification class I will be learning how to train for early detection of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both diseases are manageable with medication if caught early enough which is hit or miss with the current methods of detection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgL9cC60khg/V5ZfNpZl9dI/AAAAAAAABis/I5TNzXpfQuobHl-U9nn_Og8Tiefse7-dACLcB/s1600/empowerment%2B014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgL9cC60khg/V5ZfNpZl9dI/AAAAAAAABis/I5TNzXpfQuobHl-U9nn_Og8Tiefse7-dACLcB/s320/empowerment%2B014.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a special introductory method of raising the funds for this certification course, I would like to offer you a special program in scent detection. This class would be modeled on the work I do with medical alert dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an example of what I expect from a scent dog, the final test for scent detection work (diabetes, seizures, Lupus, etc.) is to blind fold the dog outside on a breezy day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner (target) of the alert walks away from the dog and walks around the 40’ X 40’ space with the scent articles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scent is presented 12 times and the dog must alert on at least 10 of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The programs are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nosework I – Odor targeting, recognition and detection basics<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nosework II – Odor targeting, recognition and detection advanced<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nosework III -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Odor detection in the service and medical world<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nosework Games and Troubleshooting – games to help with detection as well as introducing other ways to use that fabulous canine nose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These programs can either be done as a group class or privately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group is $250 for 6 weeks and Private sessions are $600 for 6 sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group classes will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings at 9am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Group classes are small at no more than 5 dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Private lessons will be done on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 6pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dogs will be part of these programs. My current service dog will be the demo dog for Nosework Games and Troubleshooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The service dog in training will be featured in Nosework I and II and the retired service dog will be teaching Nosework III.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_AQUmyQn-8/V5Zfxd-K_sI/AAAAAAAABiw/JiM0PjnyNWAcgkQglNzx8pCWcUTfM8-gACLcB/s1600/functionalagility%2B024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H_AQUmyQn-8/V5Zfxd-K_sI/AAAAAAAABiw/JiM0PjnyNWAcgkQglNzx8pCWcUTfM8-gACLcB/s320/functionalagility%2B024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All dogs that do the three Nosework programs will be considered first to become Cancer Detection Dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to join us, please email Jamie at coach @ playyourwayobedience.com for more information and/or forms for the programs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you would just like to donate to the cause and bring early Cancer Detection to Tucson, please feel free to donate at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/cancerdetectiondog">https://www.gofundme.com/cancerdetectiondog</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Thank you all so very much in advance !</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(249, 250, 245); margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: all;">Hi, I have been training dogs for a long time and in the last 10 years I've been training medical alert dogs for seizures, diabetes, lupus, Parkinsons, and many other issues. I have a chance to get certified as a trainer of Cancer Detection Dogs - a field that may have started 16 years ago when the first dog indicated to cancer to now with a real technology that trains dogs to detect cancel.<br /><br />The certification class is in November 2016 and costs $4500 just for the class itself. The class is being delivered in California and I live in Arizona so would also need funds for living during the time of the class.<br /><br />I have friends and relatives that have cancer, have died from cancer and I would really love to be able to advance the field with nearly 100% early detection of cancer using those dogs I dearly love. You as a donor to this endeavor would also be able to take credit for advancing this field into the incredible field it will soon be.<br /><br />Thank you all so much in advance ! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(249, 250, 245); margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: all;"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/cancerdetectiondog"><b><span style="color: blue;">+ Read More</span></b></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: Lato; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hide: all;">Hi, I have been training dogs for a long time and in the last 10 years I've been training medical alert dogs for seizures, diabetes, lupus, Parkinsons, and many other issues. I have a chance to get certified as a trainer of Cancer Detection Dogs - a field that may have started 16 years ago when the first dog indicated to cancer to now with a real technology that trains dogs to detect cancel.<br /><br />The certification class is in November 2016 and costs $4500 just for the class itself. The class is being delivered in California and I live in Arizona so would also need funds for living during the time of the class.<br /><br />I have friends and relatives that have cancer, have died from cancer and I would really love to be able to advance the field with nearly 100% early detection of cancer using those dogs I dearly love. You as a donor to this endeavor would also be able to take credit for advancing this field into the incredible field it will soon be.<br /><br />Thank you all so much in advance !</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-83794898769029967962016-01-28T07:30:00.003-07:002016-01-28T07:30:28.066-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </div><br /><br /><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.functionalagility.com%2Fimages%2FWP_20141130_08_13_18_Pro.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.functionalagility.com/images/WP_20141130_08_13_18_Pro.jpg" height="218" width="389" /></a>Welcome to the Functional Agility Trainer class ! In this class you will be learning the fundamentals of how to train functional agility and fitness and the 3 associated sports. Most of these fundamentals will translate to any sport you attempt. You will be learning about your dog's anatomy, behavior, how to teach speed and flexibility and what to do if things go wrong. <br /><br />Just like tools and equipment, there are at least a few dozen ways to teach a dog how to do those behaviors and tricks we'd like them to do. Because sports are so demanding of a dog, because precision and coordination is so important to preventing injury and obtaining speed, I highly recommend that only positive reinforcement type methods be used to train these sports.<br /><br />There should never be a need to force a dog to exercise or do behaviors via pain, fear, intimidation, compulsion or moving his body for him. I have no idea if there are any studies comparing methods vs injuries attained. The one thing that I have found is that proper conditioning is usually only a subject on the positive reinforcement based websites. Injury and rehabilitation on the non R+ websites are referred to a sports based Vet. In one PDF I found it suggested:<br /><br />"The sports in which dogs compete: It is particularly important that the sports re-trainer be actively competing in canine sports and be familiar with current training techniques since they can affect your dog’s return to competition or the potential for later re-injury. In addition, the sports re-trainer should be very familiar with the muscles that are used for different aspects of the various canine sports."<br /><br />There are hundreds of different ways to teach and a thousand ways that life is being lived. There is classical and operant conditioning; there is social and associative learning; trial and error and memorizing facts and figures. Each of us creates a pattern of actions that assist us in learning and in playing the game of life. But the one pattern, the one learning scenario that is gaining prominence and proof, the one that appears to deliver results in all arenas is Game Theory.<br /><br />The price for this 12 week class is $300. Please use this button to purchase this class.<br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top"><input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" /> <input name="hosted_button_id" type="hidden" value="MRADX2NG787QW" /> <input name="on1" type="hidden" value="Class_Purchased" /><input name="os1" type="hidden" value="Functional Agility Certification" /><input name="on2" type="hidden" value="MID" /><input name="os2" type="hidden" value="1" /><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" type="image" value="" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></form><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-1091199870143382972016-01-23T08:03:00.004-07:002016-01-23T08:03:33.888-07:00What Is Functional Training<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #594f18; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">Over the past few years, due to positive reinforcement based training having an effect on dog sports, there has been an awareness shift toward making that training more functional. Adding TTouch, Bowen Technique, massage, Reiki and other modalities led the way to using the same balance equipment that humans use to help our dogs develop the balance, coordination, body awareness and core strength they need to not only excel at their sport but to reduce injury.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7rPKlLKqbXQ/TbGwDOzM3sI/AAAAAAAAAL4/G5mnLYPocBI/s1600/urbanagility%2B042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7rPKlLKqbXQ/TbGwDOzM3sI/AAAAAAAAAL4/G5mnLYPocBI/s320/urbanagility%2B042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">Along with the manufacturers and marketers of tools for handling dog walking skills and reactivity are those who are building tools for use in canine fitness and training. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Peanuts, donuts, paw pads, exercise balls, balance pads, treadmills, and many more have entered the dog training arena over the past couple of years. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">Sports that are embracing functional training are agility, musical freestyle, and many others where positive reinforcement methods are making huge inroads in the way the winning dogs are being trained. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even the service and guide dog industries are embracing not only positive reinforcement based methodologies but also functional training. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Unlike the human field of functional training, in dog training there is no controversy. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Functional training started as a way to include balance and coordination and evolved to assist in handling reactivity, injuries, anxiety and much more.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">As one begins to explore the concept of functional training for sport, keep an open mind about how and this can also be used for our companion and pet dogs. Think of your training as a vehicle to improve life, not just to improve performance. Current training programs are mostly geared built around actions that occur in the designated sport. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But functional training can do the same job by working behaviors and fitness exercises do not occur in sport but do occur in the life a dog leads in the alien world we’ve created. The key is to design a training program that truly prepares a dog for living life easily, functionally and with minimal injury. This can be done only by using exercises that train the muscles the same way they are used in sport, in other words, functional training.</div><h3 style="color: #6d611d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Skill-Related Components of Functional Training</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHaoYvwFpkU/S1Rv_kd3ZYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/3JWIF6vRRNk/s1600/101_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHaoYvwFpkU/S1Rv_kd3ZYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/3JWIF6vRRNk/s320/101_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">When looking at human Functional Training, the following six areas are considered the important skills of Functional Training.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Speed</b> is the ability to move quickly. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Speed and reaction time are closely related but speed is more about continuous fast motion and doesn’t require the need to react to stimuli the way reaction speed does. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Speed is essential in many sports. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some sports, such as agility and fly ball, require speed in most components of the sport. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Other sports, such as IPO, musical freestyle, obedience and Rally, only need such speed as to get through the objectives within a time period but control and competence in the activities are graded higher.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.sports-training-adviser.com/reactiontime.html" style="color: #3a3e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Reaction time</span></a></b> is the time it takes for the dog to react to any particular stimulus. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reaction time always reminds me of the time when Micah wanted to work on top of the hot tub, which he loved, but didn’t realize the top had been blown off by the wind. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When he discovered there was no top to land on, it appeared that he actually levitated himself and went all the way over the hot tub instead. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Reaction time is about observation and being mindful of the environment. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It can be enhanced and increased.<br /><br /><b>Agility</b> is all about changing directions at speed. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Agility by necessity involves balance, body awareness, environmental awareness, reaction time, awareness of and engagement with the human for direction, coordination, and speed. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The training for agility should cover all that and instill in the dog the ability to change direction rapidly without a significant loss of speed, balance, or body control. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><b>Power</b> is many things including muscular strength and the ability to exert that strength both in a slow controlled manner and at speed. Power is about the speed at which work is performed. Strength, acceleration, and speed are essential for power.<br /><br /><b>Balance</b> means not falling down. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Balance means controlled movement and static behaviors that maintain equilibrium. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Balance generally comes from core strength, body awareness and muscle coordination.<br /><br /><b>Coordination</b> is the ability<span lang="EN"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to move and use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently</span>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3guQ_eIQ9w0/TbGwLXKDLnI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Wt247-F_vpw/s1600/urbanagility%2B143_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3guQ_eIQ9w0/TbGwLXKDLnI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Wt247-F_vpw/s320/urbanagility%2B143_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a>As mostly a pet dog trainer, I would change this list to:</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 2em; padding: 0px;"><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Balance</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Coordination</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Reaction time</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Body awareness</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Environmental awareness</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Core strength</li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">When dealing with those sports requiring agility I would add:</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 2em; padding: 0px;"><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Rear end awareness</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Confidence</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Movement in balance</li><li style="-ms-overflow-x: visible; -ms-overflow-y: hidden; background-image: url("http://www.artisteer-image.com/.webarchive/images/postbullets.png"); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1b1b09; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 3px 0px 0px -15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 13px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Engagement</li></ul><br /></div></div></span><br /></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-51579143367154019742016-01-23T05:55:00.004-07:002016-01-23T06:21:15.726-07:00Functional Training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8TdvSau-lQ/VqN09wJhXkI/AAAAAAAABiM/BZDN4Si0PGw/s1600/micah3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8TdvSau-lQ/VqN09wJhXkI/AAAAAAAABiM/BZDN4Si0PGw/s320/micah3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Functional Training has been around for a long time in the human fitness world, in and out of favor. I remember when I was on the swim team in the 60's and how it seemed that every year something would change in the fundamental exercises we would do to improve our speed, strength and stroke. Many times it would fall out of favor to what appeared to be the smoother paved roads that promised faster and easier results. This deviation from the functional and the fundamental almost always led to an increase in injuries and failures.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iwI_-KxfkM/VqN017DvMoI/AAAAAAAABiE/nEYK4jlT02M/s1600/acre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iwI_-KxfkM/VqN017DvMoI/AAAAAAAABiE/nEYK4jlT02M/s320/acre.JPG" width="295" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This same path has been followed in the dog world as well. It's a longer path however and spans centuries rather than years or decades. Originally dogs were merely there to assist with the hunt and little actual training was done. Then man discovered that dogs could be trained to assist in other areas like herding domestic food animals, marching with armies and guarding the home place. The training that went along with these activities was all functional. Each dog was paired with another dog who already knew the job. With mimicry and observation, the new dog learned the ropes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As a dogs role changed over the centuries, so did the manner of training. Man started taking a hand in teaching dogs the different jobs they were to perform. But dogs were still there to assist man for the most part. Eventually, most of those tasks were eliminated or changed and the dog became more a companion with no tasks at all. There were still groups of dogs that worked on farms, for the authorities, service and therapy, but for the rest, work became sport or in most cases there was no work at all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddOJECaoSaQ/VqN0QgUU2iI/AAAAAAAABh8/cKuwLD_sUHs/s1600/rayneface.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddOJECaoSaQ/VqN0QgUU2iI/AAAAAAAABh8/cKuwLD_sUHs/s320/rayneface.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With this major change in the role of a dog in our lives, strange behaviors and aggression started to explode. Companions dogs had little to no training; no purpose other than to just be there; and most humans did not take the time to educate themselves on what a dog is. Enter the training of police and military dogs into the general society. This training was rigid and rigorous and most dogs failed at this training because of the methods. Due to the nature of these training methods where quick results were necessary in times of way, the dog was treated much more as a machine then a thinking being.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn4KtI97EiE/VqN0DfVbabI/AAAAAAAABh0/ck-sirAP3g8/s1600/sports%2B007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn4KtI97EiE/VqN0DfVbabI/AAAAAAAABh0/ck-sirAP3g8/s320/sports%2B007.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But as history shows us over and over, things change and the circle comes around again. People are becoming aware that their dogs are more capable then they could dream of. Television and the Internet are creating a plethora of canine sports and the awareness of service dogs and the apparent freedom they have. But the quick and dirty methods are still there, the myth that the six major obedience commands are necessary for every dog, and the need for instant gratification which these methods appear to promise. The dogs know their jobs, but those jobs are done to avoid the rough handling of the training methods, and they have no clue how to live in a human world otherwise.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFBWhq8X7f4/VqNz38dj0DI/AAAAAAAABhs/Cx1ugt1ZGwM/s1600/surprise%2B005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KFBWhq8X7f4/VqNz38dj0DI/AAAAAAAABhs/Cx1ugt1ZGwM/s320/surprise%2B005.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Functional Training changes all this. Functional training takes us back to the roots of our association with canines and getting back to the basics of movement, body awareness, the flow that should be inherent in moving from space to space and when navigating obstacles, balance, coordination, flexibility and agility. Functional Agility helps provide your dog with the strength, stability, power, mobility, endurance and flexibility that s/he needs to thrive as s/he moves through life and sports. Using basic functional movement patterns like pushing, pulling, lunging, squatting, rotating, carrying and gait patterns, Functional Training utilizes exercises that improve movement proficiency, enhance performance and decrease injury.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In Germany there are two activities (Degility and Jagility) for dogs that encompass Functional Training. Using agility, flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, scent and cooperation with humans as the basis for these two activities, I call these activities collectively Function Agility. There is little need for speed in these two modalities, but speed can be built in at the higher levels and that adds a third activity that is rapidly becoming a sport in the US - Canine Parkour.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.functionalagility.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.functionalagility.com" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fV8b1_TWppo/VqNzz-VI3YI/AAAAAAAABhk/xKQjsIFVu2Y/s1600/header-object.png" title="http://www.functionalagility.com" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Life is unpredictable and unstable. So why would you develop your dog's training using stable and predictable routines and equipment? No matter your fitness goal with your dog is, treat variety and practical application as critical components of his training. You don't live in a vacuum; your dog doesn't live in a vacuum, so why would you train him in one?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-89643606413468721172015-12-30T12:45:00.001-07:002015-12-30T12:45:03.871-07:00Moving Towards Mastery: Seek Many Paths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FoE6sgC8iKk/VoQz5YBM6HI/AAAAAAAABg8/dI2EnpBFfLM/s1600/Halloween%2B049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FoE6sgC8iKk/VoQz5YBM6HI/AAAAAAAABg8/dI2EnpBFfLM/s320/Halloween%2B049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In sports, in particular agility, it's common to work at problem solving from the viewpoint of efficiency and progress. Working through a series of obstacles should be practiced from all angles and all paths, easy to hard and back and forth. Doing this pushes you and your dog out of your comfort zone and ensures that if things go wrong in the ring, you have alternatives that have already been practiced. Sometimes, taking another path ends up being the better, faster path then normal handling would anticipate. <br /><br />Moving through environments and moving through life are not dissimilar. Taking the known path, the path that looks the easiest, or the path that others seem to have taken, is not and never will be the best path. If you work through all the paths, finding the most profitable and most efficient over the long term, all paths become easier and your experience in practicing all possible path opens up additional possibilities.<br /><br />Mastery is built on the greatest knowledge and skill possible. If all you do is follow the known path, the path laid out by others or the path you planned based on minimal experience, mastery of the skills needed will never happen. Mastery means thinking outside the box, having courage to question and learn new things about your chosen skills and not hesitating because you've worked on all possible scenarios. Mastery means you can think with your subject and change in a split second based on the developing conditions that occur because you are moving forward.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-r7rF6Cesg/VoQ0MM-g3KI/AAAAAAAABhE/RCr-37XUbEw/s1600/anika%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-r7rF6Cesg/VoQ0MM-g3KI/AAAAAAAABhE/RCr-37XUbEw/s320/anika%2B008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Handling mastery is earned with this kind of knowledge and practice.<br /><br /><div>There are six keys to acheiving success in most endeavors:</div><ul><li>Passion</li><li>Education</li><li>Practice</li><li>Understanding Reality</li><li>Intent</li><li>Pushing the envelop</li></ul><div>Mastery is:</div><ul><li>A process of creating the ability to think with and manipulate the subject in new ways</li><li>Long-term dedication to the journey - not the bottom line</li><li>Gaining mental discipline to travel further on your journey</li><li>Having a plan and simple goals </li><li>Becoming the process and realizing the self reinforcing nature of it</li><li>Creating deep roots in knowledge and skill</li><li>Your commitment to hone your skills</li><li>Being willing to move from peak to peak and not getting bogged down in the vallys</li><li>Being willing to practice, even when you seem to be getting nowhere</li><li>Appreciating and even enjoying the plateau, as much as you do the progress</li><li>Practicing for the sake of practice</li><li>Winning graciously, and losing with equal grace</li><li>Placing practice, discipline, conditioning and character development before winning</li><li>Being courageous</li><li>Being fully in the present moment</li><li>Realizing that the ultimate goal is not the medal, or the ribbon, but the journey itself</li><li>Maintaining flexibility in your strategy, and in your actions</li><li>Determination</li></ul><br />Become a master in every part of your life remembering always that moving to a prize is momentary and fleeting and that the true rewards are the journey and the doing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-54955803677130373002015-05-12T04:10:00.001-07:002015-05-12T04:10:19.967-07:00Making Choices, Managing Prey DriveToday is the last day of Part II of Making Choices, Managing Prey Drive at the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Everyone is filling out their exit surveys, sending me their final videos and getting ready for two weeks off before the next semester of classes.<br /><br />The meat world class here in Clearwater, Florida starts this coming Saturday at 6 pm and I can't wait to see a whole new group of dogs learn that their humans are more exciting then the squirrel in the tree. If you wish to join us in this class, call me at 727-686-4246.<br /><br />Here are some of the success stories from this class:<br /><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHaoYvwFpkU/S1Rv_kd3ZYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/3JWIF6vRRNk/s1600/101_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHaoYvwFpkU/S1Rv_kd3ZYI/AAAAAAAAAAo/3JWIF6vRRNk/s320/101_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just wanted to say thank you for everything! You have made a huge difference in my little dog. We will continue to work hard and start taking our games on the road. Hopefully we will take the distractions class at bronze in June. I will miss your feedback but we are excited for the new games!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for a great class - got a lot out of it.. I will be taking the distractions class in June, not sure at what level yet. We still have work to do, but before these classes, we would not have stood a chance of being able to work in this situation</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LEXI RECALLED OFF A CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />Now it is a good thing the fence was there as she charged it , I called out Lexi!!!!! She whipped around and came back ...I nearly died. She came in and ate and turned away I said her name again and tossed a handful of treats in the air ...she stopped and proceeded to eat. Overall I am pleased -still a ways to go but very pleased. What I liked was she was relaxed and not on edge. I am looking at the distraction class ....thinking :)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie thanks ever so much for the great class.</span><span style="color: #444446; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="3qi9"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just completed your managing prey drive 2 class with my youngster Gus. He is a squirrel, bunny and deer happy boy. I participated in the bronze level and still got so so so much out your class. Thank you! I've only had this pup for 11 months. He's a shelter rescue but he is pure joy and I'm loving where this class is taking us. Looking forward to more of your fenzi classes in the future. Thank you again.</span></span></span><span class="3qi9"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you struggle with a dog who loses focus quickly, takes off with zoomies around the ring, distracted by smells and sounds, doesn’t listen, bolts out the door; Prey Drive class is for you! And besides building our relationship so those distractions aren't important we also got an awesome recall!</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blmAdM4F58g/THrs2gg7dFI/AAAAAAAAAJc/evFO79T-oO4/s1600/IMG_5060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-blmAdM4F58g/THrs2gg7dFI/AAAAAAAAAJc/evFO79T-oO4/s320/IMG_5060.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I liked this course , its format is out of the box thinking . For those of us who applied ourselves and tried the games we saw changes in our dogs.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My dog couldn't relax outside and was always obsessively searching for birds and squirrels. He was much more than a casual squirrel chaser, hunting prey was the only thing he could think about. He remained on a long line in his own back yard for several months because I was worried that he would jump the low part of our fence in pursuit of prey. We couldn't train off leash without him bolting into the bushes or charging the fence in hopes of finding prey. Prey did not even have to be visible for him to get over aroused, just their scent could send him over the top. In the past couple of weeks, he has ditched the long line. He thinks his mom is pretty cool now and he is so much more relaxed. His personal play and recalls have improved and we worked through so many fun games to improve his willingness to be with me. I also loved that Jamie provided us with ways to satisfy their prey drive, like games for scenting, shredding, etc. If you are committed to the training, it will be well worth your time.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks again for such an amazing class. We fell behind here and there but we will continue thru the break and hopefully snag a gold spot for the distractions class</span></span></span><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was an amazing class. I thought I knew what Prey Drive was...not even close! Thank you to the Gold and Silver students for asking the questions and putting yourselves out there. Looking forward to Distractions!</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/donna.hill.568?fref=ufi"><span lang="EN" style="color: #3b5998; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Donna Hill</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Jamie I love your classes! I've been spreading the work both locally and online. I think your class is hugely needed by many people!</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Loose dogs approaching us today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess which game we played? GO (on cue)!!! Bodhi had a blast, didn’t care about those other dogs </span></span><i><u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-text-raise: -2.5pt; position: relative; top: 2.5pt;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></u></i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CCsT-5J3bas/S9r1hn3SYqI/AAAAAAAAAG0/a97sGP6fbBA/s1600/IMG_1132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CCsT-5J3bas/S9r1hn3SYqI/AAAAAAAAAG0/a97sGP6fbBA/s320/IMG_1132.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the beginning of this course I had an unruly 21 month old whippet, Layla. Any time she would see a dog she was off over to it with not a glance back and turning deaf to my attempts to recall her. After completing the 2 part course I find myself on holiday with a 3 mile long beach and 1 mile wide with the tide out. Needless to say it's heaven for most dogs. I let Layla off the lead and there were a group of dogs 30 yards away she trotted 5 yards from me and then stopped and she turned round to look at me!!!! she actually turned round and asked if it was ok to go and play!! I said 'ok' and let her go play feeling triumphant! When I whistled her to call her back she 'whipped it' good and shot back over to my side with a huge smile on both our faces! I never thought this possible. Thank you so much Jamie Robinson for this amazing fun course, we have learnt so much and my gorgeous whippet has loads more self-control and even more love of life if that's possible.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A great sequel to Managing Prey Drive 1. It helped me realize what kind of predator my dog is (i.e., which part of the prey sequence is most pronounced/satisfying to her) and what games would satisfy that part of her prey drive. Would highly recommend this class even for dogs that aren't super prey driven -- the games have helped her to make better choices in general, and the concepts and games are useful in other contexts. Once again Jamie showed her dedication to her students, gave prompt and pointed feedback, answered questions, joked around, and I felt like we were all a team. Thanks again, Jamie!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-19613202123160505122015-05-08T03:58:00.002-07:002015-05-08T03:58:26.837-07:00Calm In the Chaos <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OXi794dohg/VUyVNxk6_fI/AAAAAAAABXQ/WvApMUp-kYQ/s1600/Easter%2B030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1OXi794dohg/VUyVNxk6_fI/AAAAAAAABXQ/WvApMUp-kYQ/s320/Easter%2B030.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are so many ways to help a dog live in a human world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My journey has been focused on giving the dog a choice, creating a thinking dog who understands the rules of our world and can live within those rules and yet remain true to being a dog. Recently I put into an actual curriculum many of those exercises and games that help a dog in just this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name of this class is Calm and Clarity in a Chaotic World – Handling Distractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short name: Calm In Chaos.<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a comparison of a few of the ways that are in use that help dogs live in our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not including flooding in this comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I personally don’t think flooding is actually helping the dog handle the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think all that flooding does is teach a dog to slog their way through life despite fear, anxiety or the normal caution any creature should have in regards to unknown or dangerous situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think flooding only creates learned helplessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29ddsZSg9go/VUyVN25G4XI/AAAAAAAABXI/WffI0Onwong/s1600/Easter%2B042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29ddsZSg9go/VUyVN25G4XI/AAAAAAAABXI/WffI0Onwong/s320/Easter%2B042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Focus is static.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It puts the dog in a position and just asks the dog to hold that position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I think it is to the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eye contact doesn’t mean that much to the dog in this instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know eye contact becomes important to them in other circumstances (like waking me up in the morning), but for focus work, I think it’s just a stay in position like any other stay in position for the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also under the control of the human; the dog just does as asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mk6ZrYEm7pI/VUyViz2iThI/AAAAAAAABXY/Ez0LDs3DRRE/s1600/Saturday%2B009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mk6ZrYEm7pI/VUyViz2iThI/AAAAAAAABXY/Ez0LDs3DRRE/s320/Saturday%2B009.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Engagement and play as it is used in most cases is mindless movement. There is no purpose to the movement as you and the dog make the transition from training to trial and from ringside in inside the ring other than just the dog staying with the human and not really noticing the surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a preplanned and trained series of movements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No thinking involved for the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With reactivity and with shy dogs, I do this all the time to get them from point A to point B without causing an emotional meltdown and eventually the dog learns that they don’t have to have that meltdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it doesn’t actually handle the environment as triggers to emotional states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just keep the dog moving on a known path because they can’t multi task and this too is human control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIRslBEbEEQ/VUyV7IjGylI/AAAAAAAABXs/rcAeOtzjt9E/s1600/Monday%2B028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIRslBEbEEQ/VUyV7IjGylI/AAAAAAAABXs/rcAeOtzjt9E/s320/Monday%2B028.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gathering information is a third method of working with nervous dogs, reactive dogs, anxious and fearful dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gathering of information is called many things: LAT (look at that), DS (desensitization), and a few others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this method does is allows the dog to makes choices based on how much information it can gather before it gets overwhelmed and must withdraw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With some methods of gathering information the human controls the reach and withdraw and in others, the dog is left to make those decisions. I actually like this way of handling triggers and emotional states in regards to circumstances and environments, but it takes many repetitions and in most cases, a lot of time; time which we don’t always have the luxury or energy to expend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3w4Mb2SOCU/VUyV7N0REnI/AAAAAAAABXo/rts10FjnQSk/s1600/Monday%2B017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3w4Mb2SOCU/VUyV7N0REnI/AAAAAAAABXo/rts10FjnQSk/s320/Monday%2B017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Calm in Chaos (and nearly every other program I've created) does is teach the dog how to defuse triggers, how to gain information in new and novel situations; we teach the dog how to think for itself. Based on the dog’s potential and applied abilities, the dog chooses how to move through environments with the least amount of stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The human can help, but isn’t ultimately in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the human and the dog arrive at their destination calmly and in control of their emotional states and energy level and comfortable with the environment in a short space of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-15591566479711299472015-04-25T09:09:00.003-07:002015-04-25T09:09:55.931-07:00Unexplored Territory <span style="font-family: Calibri;">I</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfWrIFmDpak/TjNZhC2E1hI/AAAAAAAAAP4/3oLGOP6eJLo/s1600/bryndaUA.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfWrIFmDpak/TjNZhC2E1hI/AAAAAAAAAP4/3oLGOP6eJLo/s1600/bryndaUA.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">t takes courage to step away from what you know or what you know has worked in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes courage to test out hypothesis and create theories in the face of what seems overwhelming group think to the contrary. </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was hard enough for me to abandon a methodology that used compulsion, force, fear and pain to control dogs and make them do what I wanted, not what they were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a long time to overcome that, especially as the trainer friends I had at that time didn’t understand my journey, the reasons for it and that I saw so much potential with a different body of knowledge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were all into “but what we do works” and “the other ways takes too long” and “you’ll have to have cookies in your pocket forever” as well as many other not quite so nice explanations about how wrong I was being.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L657VGzH40U/S-WNVLRn_EI/AAAAAAAAAHs/6VvItP7a3Yk/s1600/IMG_4195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L657VGzH40U/S-WNVLRn_EI/AAAAAAAAAHs/6VvItP7a3Yk/s1600/IMG_4195.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew that one day inevitably someone would commend me for that journey from force to reward, what I didn’t expect was that the journey didn’t stop there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was more to discover then just giving a dog a cookie for a job well done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than seeing the new skill you have taught, what I was searching for was a way to truly create a dog that thinks. It takes courage to seek out new methods and be okay with what others may think….be it the positives or the negatives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have the courage to step away from the accepted, the scientific, the traditional and customary;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have the courage to truly examine the basis for myths, old wives tales, rigid dogmatism and a need to control and try something new. If you have that courage, even when the end is unclear and even though you know what you have done in the past would work again and again, you will reap rewards so great it will blow you away.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1I5ZB0UWqo/Tp22h8H0wcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/JpAokLfbqvE/s1600/puppies%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1I5ZB0UWqo/Tp22h8H0wcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/JpAokLfbqvE/s1600/puppies%2B005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2011 I started exploring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve known for long that giving control back to a human gave that human a better handle on life, why could not the same be done for a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking for a way to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Susan Garrett’s Recallers class and all the information she presented about how to create teaching games, I finally found the solution and combined with the structured games used in Montessori, Summerhill, and other progressive human schools Canine Game Theory was born.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canine Game Theory is not just training a behavior in a new way but changing the entire training ethos in a world that only marginally supports it, and that support was in child education, not dogs. I knew in my heart it was the way forward and along the way I questioned myself if I'd made the right decision. As time goes on I get confirmation (from results) that I most definitely made the right choice. It still feels uncomfortable at times, especially those times when a potential client choses another trainer, but now I love creating new games, games that teach a dog how to solve problems; games that teach a dog and its human how to think, to reason, to explore and even be creative.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canine Game Theory is still evolving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It now covers not only basic obedience but foundation behaviors for dealing with a human world, behavior modification for shy dogs, aggressive and reactive dogs, snake avoidance, prey drive, and (my favorite) service, therapy and assistance dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dRKJhnal0HM/U5m5Xyw3P_I/AAAAAAAABLs/ZlotEgZxDBo/s1600/sundog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dRKJhnal0HM/U5m5Xyw3P_I/AAAAAAAABLs/ZlotEgZxDBo/s1600/sundog2.jpg" height="303" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canine Game Theory is easy to teach to new clients, both the furry and the skin type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The learning curve is nearly non-existent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just play games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the thing with teaching something new is that it takes COURAGE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes the same courage that astronauts have, top athletes, innovators in all walks of life and the person who starts a corner café in the middle of a war torn country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So come walk this journey with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come play with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And may you and your dog never be the same again!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-47324355564169904512015-04-17T14:06:00.000-07:002015-04-17T14:06:12.300-07:00Snake Avoidance Without Shock June 1st<div class="p1">Dogs instinctively react to sight, sound, and smell, but can also be conditioned or trained to react in a specific manner in specific situations. Training a dog to respond to the sight, sound, and smell of snakes is not a difficult process. What's more, snakes are not the only animals that a dog can learn to avoid. We’ve worked with rattle snakes, poisonous toads, centipedes, scorpions, and black widow spiders. If you can get the scent for an animal, you can train your dog what to do (move away) when encountering that scent by using the games in this class.</div><div class="p1"> </div><div class="p1">This class uses your dog’s intelligence, his fantastic nose, and his ability to navigate the environment via that nose. Your dog will learn self-control when investigating new or interesting things, impulse control when movement catches his attention and kicks in the need to chase, the understanding of what to do when encountering a specific scent, sight, and/or sound, and how to alert any humans to the presence of a dangerous animal.</div><div class="p1"> </div><div class="p1">Come join us for round 2 of the Snake Avoidance Without Shock class at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy on June 1st !!! <a href="http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/2844">http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/2844</a></div><div class="p1"> </div><div class="p1"> </div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ww96RY_UozQ" width="560"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-12314342935074298282015-04-15T15:12:00.001-07:002015-04-17T14:07:48.687-07:00Clarity and Calm In A Chaotic World, Handling Distractions<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp1jXhsD" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1429135959&f=jXhsDF0zXYh4U40RGdacnA&d=0&m=p&r=360p+720p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="432"></iframe><br /><br />How often are you distracted during the day? It's a question that's almost laughable, right? Most of us are distracted several times, if not dozens of times, every day. We get emergency emails and phone calls. We take breaks to browse the Internet. Co-workers walk into our office for a quick chat, or send us amusing instant messages. The washer starts making loud noises; the refrigerator is leaking; the dog pee’d on the carpet; it’s never ending the amount of “extra” things we deal with in daily life then we planned for. Now imagine living in a world that wasn’t designed for a human. How many distractions would there be? Everything is strange and noisy and smelly. This is what our dogs contend with while living with us. There are cars and trucks, bicycles and skateboards, noises from toaster and microwave, the a/c or heater clanking into gear – a million sounds, smells, sights and even emotions that nature never intended for canines to endure. What's more (and depending on the complexity of the environment), regaining concentration after a distraction can take quite a few minutes. If a dog is distracted 10 times a day, it's easy to see why our dogs might end up with anxiety, stress, and even aggressive behaviors. They also have to deal with our stress over things that are incomprehensible to them. It doesn’t matter if you are a dog trainer, a sport trainer or just a pet owner. More often than not, your actions may be the trigger to your dog’s stress. Rather than minimize the distractions, train in a distraction free zone and gradually build up tolerance to what is basically a foreign environment, this class is going to teach you how to immunize your dog before you even start thinking about “proofing” behaviors or getting “fluency”. Imagine that upon entering a new space your dog has the skills to investigate and familiarize himself with all that is there with minimal stress. Imagine that your dog after having done this investigation turns to you and says “Let’s work!!!”. This class will teach your dog and YOU how to stay relatively stress free no matter what life throws at you; how to see similarities and differences in a new environment versus environments you already know and understand; how to investigate a new object and decide that it’s not dangerous and might be fun; and most importantly, how to play no matter where you and your dog are so that learning is enhanced and stress minimized. <br />June 1st at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/4916">http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-27362082471644426612015-03-07T12:14:00.002-07:002015-03-07T12:14:59.201-07:00Puppy Learning Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqH4c4G1QuJEwYjuH1OdMDQwoNVn5DkuSdMs0Ai1ZIk_zWlhcBVjys_zQsxsK5zj6r_0ErTwZiJMbs1f3NLA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-50886424193802792452015-03-06T09:33:00.001-07:002015-03-06T09:33:17.081-07:00Making Choices, Managing Prey Drive<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp1wabsj" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1425659531&f=wabsjXslFO8ZZeGCLBfv9Q&d=0&m=p&r=360p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&ct=Sign%20Up%20Now%20!!&cu=http://www.playyourwayobedience.com&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="432"></iframe><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-54387833984517682402014-11-01T12:31:00.001-07:002014-11-01T12:31:14.702-07:00Cookie Slingers - Part Deux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ba0qNLTPUg/TeJPnS_ISVI/AAAAAAAAAMI/dQVGlpvZetY/s1600/tinyTyrants082510%2B049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ba0qNLTPUg/TeJPnS_ISVI/AAAAAAAAAMI/dQVGlpvZetY/s1600/tinyTyrants082510%2B049.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>Most modern dog trainers use food in training. Some use it to lure, some to reward, some as the occasional party and some as a distraction. Food is touted as the primary resource, the primary reinforcement (I disagree, but that isn't the point of this post). However food is used in training, it definitely gets the attention of your dog.<br /><br />The fact that probably 80% of modern dog trainers use food, no matter what other tools they are using (or not - remember, I train as naked as possible), doesn't seem to have filtered into 1) marketing materials that inform potential clients and 2) the general population. There are many people who still tell me they don't want to use food to train their dogs and they have just as many reasons why not.<br /><br />1) A dog trained with food won't do the behaviors without the food<br />2) The dog will get fat<br />3) My dog isn't food motivated<br />4) Behaviors trained with food are unreliable<br />5) My breed needs a heavy hand<br />6) My dog should do it just because I ask<br />7) Food won't keep my dog from biting another dog/person<br /><br />And many more reasons why food isn't good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1I5ZB0UWqo/Tp22h8H0wcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/JpAokLfbqvE/s1600/puppies%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r1I5ZB0UWqo/Tp22h8H0wcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/JpAokLfbqvE/s1600/puppies%2B005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>And yet, the type of trainers who used to say these exact same things to their clients and other trainer are now using food to train their dogs. Even if they also use the tools they are familiar with, they have added food at the end to make the dog feel better about the process.<br /><br />What I have seen with many who do use food in the training process is a total misunderstanding of the role of food in training and in life. <br />Food is used in many ways. <br /><br />1) It is used as a lure. I.E. to motivate a dog to want to follow the food in a special way so as to be able to eat the food when that movement is done.<br />2) It is used as a reward for a successful movement, movement that the trainer either is teaching or asking for with a cue/command. If the dog does the movement, and does it correctly, they get food. The food is usually visible or understood to come out of a specific pouch or pocket.<br /><br />These first two methods have been said to "bribe" the dog into acting as requested. <br /><br /><h4>What is a bribe?</h4>vb<br />1. to promise, offer, or give something, usually money, to (a person) to procure services or gain influence, esp. illegally<br />n<br />2. a reward, such as money or favor, given or offered for this purpose<br />3. any persuasion or lure<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaHQ81RtC_8/U58rBVK2vjI/AAAAAAAABME/GfF9hswpiTw/s1600/Sunday%2B013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaHQ81RtC_8/U58rBVK2vjI/AAAAAAAABME/GfF9hswpiTw/s1600/Sunday%2B013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>According to dictionary definitions, these two ways of using food to train a dog are definitely bribery. But is that actually a bad thing? Offering rewards/bribes/lures to any creature to entice them to move in a certain way can be a good thing. They do learn, and they learn pretty fast using bribes. The problem usually comes because the bribe isn't faded out. That process of fading the lure isn't communicated to clients very well or "bribery" wouldn't be an issue.<br /><br />3) As reinforcement which is different from a reward in that reinforcement is more of a consequence then a lure. <br /><br />Reinforcement is appropriate to the behavior as a consequence, not an added extra. It could still be argued that it is a bribe, that the anticipation of reinforcement is still a motivator for behavior. But I ask you, is there any consequence that doesn't motivate? Motivation isn't always on the "good" side, there are motivators that also prevent the "bad". The seeking of pleasure/reinforcement/survival is a part of life, it pushes evolution and change. The avoidance of pain/death/avoidance is just as powerful if not more so and often creates single instance learning. These are the ultimate reinforcers, the ultimate in motivation. <br /><br />Eating food is a consequence, but it is not where a creature gets it's pleasure, the final act is not where evolution has placed the most rewarding chemical changes in the body, nor where the spirit focuses. The pleasure is in the doing, the changing landscape of emotions and movement. All that stops once the goal is attained. <br />A true reinforcement is an event in itself, heightening the pleasure, prolonging it. A true reinforcer will cement the need to move and emote in that same way again and again. Food doesn't qualify.<br /><br />4) As a distraction<br /><br />Anything your dog desires is a distraction to her doing as asked or learning something new. Any conditioned or learned or instinctive antecedent is also a distraction to learning. An antecedent is a trigger for movement to happen in order to gain reinforcement. If that trigger is stronger then the reward/lure/bribe you are offering, it's a distraction. Or as well known sports training Michael Ellis calls "a competing motivator".<br /><br /><h4>The way things are</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3NhnpSMiUc/VFUfM3Ud7bI/AAAAAAAABUY/aR1atlg8EFU/s1600/Friday%2B077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3NhnpSMiUc/VFUfM3Ud7bI/AAAAAAAABUY/aR1atlg8EFU/s1600/Friday%2B077.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>No matter what methodology or tools you use to train your dog, the dog MUST be trained to accept your ways as motivating. Dogs need to learn how to work for food and they need to learn how to avoid punishment by working. Neither is part of the nature of a dog. Each method - rewards or punishment - must be continually refreshed from time to time or the effects wear off. You are asking your dog to do things that he either would not do naturally or you are asking him to do normal behaviors in unnatural ways. Either way these behaviors have no environmental consequences to sustain them. They are sustained purely by the motivators you have chosen to train them with.<br />Having said that, which would you rather do for the life of your dog? <br /><br />Punishing/creating avoidance from time to time? or using reinforcing methods? You can't expect a dog, anymore then a human could, to remember how to do things learned a year ago without actually maintaining them somehow. Obviously maintaining what they've learned is a whole lot easier then teaching them, but it still has to be done - for the life of the dog.<br /><br />So whether you are set on using food in it's various ways to train or have other tools in your arsenal, you must be prepared to use those tools at intervals or the training you did, the behavior that you modified or changed, will fade and eventually pass out of use. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-48479681054295470482014-06-17T08:26:00.003-07:002014-06-17T08:26:56.358-07:00Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_q0OifEYw8/U6Bd_Q4WHmI/AAAAAAAABMY/HgjbjqXoesA/s1600/kids+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_q0OifEYw8/U6Bd_Q4WHmI/AAAAAAAABMY/HgjbjqXoesA/s1600/kids+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="UIShareStage_Summary">"Our children spend their days being passively instructed, and made to sit still and take tests—often against their will. We call this imprisonment schooling, yet wonder why kids become bored and misbehave. Even outside of school children today seldom play and explore without adult supervision, and are afforded few opportunities to control their own lives. The result: anxious, unfocused children who see schooling—and life—as a series of hoops to struggle through."<br /><br /> "...free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient. This capacity to learn through play evolved long ago, in hunter-gatherer bands where children acquired the skills of the culture through their own initiatives. And these instincts still operate remarkably well today, as studies at alternative, democratically administered schools show. When children are in charge of their own education, they learn better—and at lower cost than the traditional model of coercive schooling."<br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8O0bdcMAh-M/U6BeMoe-mJI/AAAAAAAABMg/cuEXEBCOU9c/s1600/servicedogs+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8O0bdcMAh-M/U6BeMoe-mJI/AAAAAAAABMg/cuEXEBCOU9c/s1600/servicedogs+088.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>This is the model that I and the trainers and apprentices at <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=290781919201" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seize-The-Leash/290781919201">Seize The Leash</a> are following. That the lack of play, the lack of enrichment, creates a dog with no joy in life and no emotional attachment to their humans. That those methods that force and compel the dog to perform based on avoidance, where the joy of life is completely separate from any "schooling", and even those activities that should be joyful are still constrained with the need to avoid, create a ghost of a dog with no will, no self control and very little confidence.<br /><br /> We strive to give a dog many opportunities to control their own destinies and their everyday lives based on rules and boundaries that must be in place for safety and the needs of their living companions. Every lesson our dogs learn is based on choice; their choice to do or not to do, to seek reinforcement and enrichment by way of learning the rules, learning the jobs and behaviors we consider important for living in our world.<br /><br /> We do not seek errorless learning, but try hard to avoid creating frustration and shutdown behaviors in the dogs we teach and live with. We strive to create joy in living, joy in being with us, and joy in their own ability to think, to do, to play, to learn and to work.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-82657776908650274892014-06-16T10:41:00.003-07:002014-06-16T10:41:57.468-07:00Counting Threads <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #333333;">When a dog is experiencing high levels of stress and there is no escape route from that which is causing the stress the most effective method of calming the dog is movement. "Flight" as a response to stress and fear is the most common response in mammals. If you can get a dog moving away from that which he is adversely responding to, you end up with a calmer dog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do an experiment first before playing this game with your dog. Think of an incident that really stressed you or something that truly frightens you and feel which sets of muscles in your body respond. Generally it's your neck, shoulders, hands and mouth. For a dog it's the mouth, neck, shoulders, hips and spine. The mouth in case the dog needs to bite, the spine because it's the communication pathway to the legs and feet, and the rest to facilitate movement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">The game is all about movement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h3><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Step one: Designate something as the "thing" that is scary. Make sure at first it's not really something your dog is afraid of. A tree stump works great.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Step two: With your dog on a leash move away from the scary thing. Walk anywhere from 5 to 10 feet away from the "thing".<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Step three: Stop, but don't stop moving. Move in small circles and start pointing things out to your dog on the ground - leaves, rocks, dirt clumps, flowers - whatever is there, tiny to tall as long as it's on the ground. Babble at your dog while you're doing this "what's that", "look, a snail", anything, just keep talking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Step four: While pointing things out start moving back towards the "thing" very slowly watching your dog for any signs of recognition that it "sees" the "thing". When you see this recognition, repeat step one. The signs could be a head turn away, licking the lips, sneezing, the ears flatten, the brow wrinkles, and since the thing in this case isn't scary you're going to see interest instead of anxiousness - a tail wag, moving forward or just a glance and a look away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Step five: Continue the cycle of step one to four until there is no more response to the "thing".</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #333333;">This game also works when your dog starts "acting out" from boredom either on a walk, hiking or just hanging out while you are on your cell phone, reading your kindle or talking to your neighbor. Take two minutes to go "count some threads" and you'll have a happier dog who is more willing to hang out with you doing almost nothing.</span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-72117537739087922392014-06-16T10:36:00.005-07:002014-06-16T10:36:53.195-07:00Flip the Fish - Self Control Game <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aq-E1BMbALs/U58q6oHsTVI/AAAAAAAABL4/8n3VAuGGe8M/s1600/Sunday+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aq-E1BMbALs/U58q6oHsTVI/AAAAAAAABL4/8n3VAuGGe8M/s1600/Sunday+016.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In human psychology, impulse control refers to people's ability to delay gratification or resist their immediate desires, impulses or temptations. In short, impulse control means self-control or self-restraint. Babies have no impulse control, but they learn it from their parents and environment as they develop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="background: white;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dogs are similar to babies. They have no idea that they can't have things they want right when they want them and can't do everything they want right when they feel the urge. Most dogs need to learn to control or inhibit their behavior. With small puppies, it's relatively easy for us to prevent undesirable behaviors-like chewing furniture or running off in pursuit of a nice scent-simply by picking them up. But as they grow larger and become more independent, it's difficult to prevent their inappropriate behavior if they haven't been taught to control their impulses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back when I was a kid, there was a game called Flip the Fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involved a kiddie pool, buckets and plastic fish. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pretended we were bears and flipped the fish out of the pool trying to get them into the buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I grew up with dogs and cats all around, the dogs would always get into the game with us trying to catch the fish before they ended up in the bucket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dogs learned fast that once the fish was in the bucket it was “safe”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaHQ81RtC_8/U58rBVK2vjI/AAAAAAAABMA/3YfuEvziGik/s1600/Sunday+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaHQ81RtC_8/U58rBVK2vjI/AAAAAAAABMA/3YfuEvziGik/s1600/Sunday+013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the years, I’ve used this game (and many others) in many forms to teach self-control both to dogs and kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s much like Mouse In A Hole except the excitement level is very high. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A form of this game that I use now is with radio controlled cars and creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially with the snake avoidance class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get some cheap RC cars and you can get snakes as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of the game with the cars is to get the car from point A to point B without getting caught by the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog has to learn that points A & B are safety zones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be quick because you really don’t want the dog to actually capture the car/animal. The safe zones are always behind a bush or tree or rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The places where snakes are usually found.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LA1gdYfnb0w/U58rI-OOCVI/AAAAAAAABMI/HpXntW7DEVU/s1600/Sunday+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LA1gdYfnb0w/U58rI-OOCVI/AAAAAAAABMI/HpXntW7DEVU/s1600/Sunday+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change your safe zones often until you are sure your dog understands that anything hiding in a bush or rock is “safe”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #626262; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="color: #626262; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-6134840219850706702014-06-13T16:09:00.001-07:002014-06-13T16:09:55.705-07:00How to create games that teach a behavior<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(79, 129, 189); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4pt;"> <div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span><span style="color: #17365d;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">How to create games that teach a behavior. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div></div><h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Step 1: Thoroughly examine the behavior you want to teach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the last action the dog does; what is the first; determine all the different actions the dog would do from start to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">For example: teaching a dog to skateboard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m using a skateboard here mostly because it’s not an easy behavior to teach due to the movement of the board and because Micah taught it to himself with very little input from me. I had the pleasure of watching a dog who knows how to think and how to create and figure it out for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notice the skateboard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Examine the skate board (silly thing you say, but what I've noticed every time Micah gets on the skateboard he has to sniff it first. It may be a really quick drive by type sniff, but he does it every time)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put a paw on the board<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put another paw on the board.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put a third paw on the board<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put the fourth paw on the board (again, with Micah I notice he puts all four up, then takes one or two down to paddle)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change posture to face forward<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change posture to lean forward<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 21pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put one, maybe two feet down and push.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those are the major steps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Step 2: Examine the different actions involved in the behavior and look for differences and similarities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The reason for looking for differences and similarities is that you may be able to lump actions together into a single game, or you’ll need to create a game for each action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you may even need to break an action down into even smaller pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taking our example of teaching a dog to skateboard, what we see with 3, 4, 5 and 6 are what appear to be similar actions – put a paw on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if you look at it closer, what is actually happening is that you are “adding” paws, not just putting a single paw on the board in each step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s usually fairly straight forward for a dog to put the two front paws up on a platform with little difficulty, the problems start with the rear paws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many dogs do not understand that they can move their rear paws independently and some don’t even realize they have rear paws and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rear often just follows along and the dog often looks clumsy when maneuvering around obstacles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, we’ve examined our actions and realize that our dog may have difficulty with one or more steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could create more than one game for the difficult actions so that the dog learns about that action from different viewpoints or you could break those actions down farther and create two or three games to facilitate the dog’s learning curve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s better to have more games than less with the understanding that in many cases, the dog figures out the final game without having to do all the intermediate games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the games necessary for teaching a behavior may also not be necessary because the actions were learned as part of other behaviors and just need a refresher or associating a specific game with a new piece of equipment, obstacle or environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Micah learned to skateboard in less than 10 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He already understood about platforms, had decent rear end awareness, wasn’t afraid of moving objects and really, just had to realize that 1) at least one foot needed to be down to push, and 2) that this object could move while he was on it in a different manner then a teeter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Step 3: Look for already created and tested games that can teach any of the steps in your target behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many games already out there on the Internet, in books and on DVD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also many variations of the more well-known games like “go to place”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you are looking, keep in mind that even though a game seems to be specific for another behavior, games can have multiple uses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance in the classes I teach each has 48 games (8 weeks of 6 games each).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of those games are repeated in several classes. Crate Games, “It’s Yer Choice” and 1-2-3-Break from Susan Garrett’s Ruff Luv book are in every single class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three games teach self-control and the ability to think through arousal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1-2-3-Break and Crate Games also teach an awesome stay. “It’s Yer Choice” expanded can resolve counter surfing, eating poop and stealing popsicles from toddlers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So for our example of teaching a dog to skateboard we could use any version of targeting for steps 1 through 6 and 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several games from the agility world for teaching stopped contacts that we could use for getting the dog to put all four paws on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could utilize other forms of platforms to teach the fundamentals of “paws up”, what to do on a platform and how to use one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look At That” from Leslie McDevitt’s Control Unleashed could be used for step 1. My “What’s That” Game for step 2. My “Dig it” or “Tap Tap” games for step 9. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The most important part of looking for already created games is to make sure they can flow into the games that will follow them and from the games that precede them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look At That” flows right into “What’s That” and What’s That flows into any variation of “Touch That” (targeting) which then could potentially flow into “Tap Tap” for the paddling once all four feet have made contact with the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All five of those games are in reality just variations of targeting with eyes, nose, and toes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your dog already knows the games you select, and most of the steps for your new behavior have been covered with known games, as with Micah and his skateboard, teaching the new behavior is a breeze. But if you are new to training, or new to structured game training, you will have to teach each game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Step 4: Create a game<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h3><div class="MsoQuote" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">“Dog training should be a TWO way flow of information. We don’t lure dogs with treats or physically manipulate them to the place where we want them to be; We create challenges, in the form of games with obvious solutions, then we sit back and watch them make their choices.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4f81bd;">Susan Garrett<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is actually the easy part, but there are a couple of rules about structured games that should be followed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember that a game does not control the dog or the human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The human controls the environment so that the game is easily apparent to another human and the dog, and the dog makes choices based on that environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reinforcement is given for choices, choices that lead to the behavior the game is designed for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There should, ideally, be only two choices in any game a) do it and b) do something else. Reinforcement is only give when the dog chooses “a”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no correction, punishment, redirection or other “handling” by the human necessary to play the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve designed the game so that you are constantly feeling like you need to “help” your dog, then the games has a) too many choices and needs to be split into smaller games or b) you have not sufficiently set up the environment so that the “do it” choice and the “do something else” choices are clear or c) the proper foundation games have not been played.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each game should take no more than 3 minutes for the dog to become 80% proficient at playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original choice should not take more than a minute for your dog to figure out, any longer than that means you should probably split the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now comes the creation part.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pick one of the behaviors that doesn’t already have a game. In this case we’ll pick “face forward”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Decide where your starting point is and what the end point should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For “face forward” the starting point would be either looking down at the feet, at you or at one side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end point would be facing forward without the feet leaving the board.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Figure out what the environment would have to look like to encourage the dog to go from the starting point to the end point. With “face forward” it would have to be something to encourage the dog to face forward, but keep her in place on the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a couple of things that could be done here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog had some self-control and understood a release word, you could put a toy a foot or so in front of the board and wait for your dog to look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then release and reward with the toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your dog doesn’t have a lot of self-control or doesn’t understand a release word yet, you could ask for a hand target or just wait til your dog looks forward and then reward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember that you are only manipulating the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luring with a treat is manipulating the dog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The example I gave for “face forward” creates a static behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dog stands still and looks forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our final behavior is going to be a dog who is moving forward on a skateboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The static behavior would work, which is why I include “lean forward” as the next step, but you could also combine the two with a simple run up to the board, get on the board, briefly stop and then run off in a straight line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would encourage the dog to move with the skateboard once you’ve taken any anchors off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you can see, there are only three steps here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The game should never be complicated; it should be a simple start, end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Step 5: Discover what the reinforcers for this behavior could be. By definition, reinforcers both depend on behaviors and sustain them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember that all games must have a consequence and for our purposes because we are trying to teach new behaviors or increase already known behaviors, those consequences need to be positive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Things that seem like rewards sometimes aren’t: what matters is that the behavior is learned or increased, not the intention of the teacher. </span><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">If a “reward” has no effect on a behavior, then it’s not a reinforcer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even with these short games, you can run into boredom. “Boredom” indicates a lack of reinforcers, not a lack of stimulation.</span><span lang="EN"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boredom can happen even with high value reinforcement especially of the food variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satiation can occur and then your liver or cheese is no longer reinforcing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So always have more then one TYPE of reinforcement, not just more than one flavor of food.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You must also take into consideration the behavior you are teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your behavior is a moving behavior, your reinforcers should be of the same type – chasing toys, your hand or food. If a static behavior, then tug or leaping targets would make great reinforcement – anything that keeps the dog relatively still but doesn’t create satiation or boredom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When choosing things to be reinforcers, you best choice are those things and activities that your dog already enjoys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chasing squirrels may be a great choice as it is highly reinforcing, but it is impractical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, chasing a “squirrel” at the end of a flirt pole is highly rewarding and highly practical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So just as in the creationg of games, think outside the box with your rewards and reinforcement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-74372134128142299852014-06-12T07:30:00.002-07:002014-06-12T07:30:09.233-07:00More positive then positive.<br /><div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(79, 129, 189); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4pt;"><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66D2NzzJBYA/U5m4qafp30I/AAAAAAAABLQ/paPC6-ZgMMI/s1600/Friday+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66D2NzzJBYA/U5m4qafp30I/AAAAAAAABLQ/paPC6-ZgMMI/s1600/Friday+032.JPG" height="260" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talking to a potential client today and I realized that structured game training is actually more "positive" then positive reinforcement training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been saying for a while that I am a Human Hierarchy trainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Force free doesn’t really define what I do, or even what positive reinforcement based trainers to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Force is everywhere, force is a part of life, you can’t escape it. Per the humane hierarchy you strive to use the least invasive least aversive methods first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Per the human hierarchy, positive reinforcement is not the first choice because even can be stressful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So basically, I'm even more positive then R+ trainers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1UgQlwN0jM/U5m44a9pMVI/AAAAAAAABLY/4JKoMsWcGJw/s1600/Wednesday+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1UgQlwN0jM/U5m44a9pMVI/AAAAAAAABLY/4JKoMsWcGJw/s1600/Wednesday+009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With structured games, I'm manipulating the environment (#1 and 2 on the hierarchy), not the dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't make getting reinforcement contingent on the dog guessing on how to get a click which can be stressful and frustrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a game, the path to reinforcement is clear and defined so there is minimal stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a good analysis of the Humane Hierarchy. </span><a href="http://eileenanddogs.com/2013/05/21/the-humane-hierarchy-1/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://eileenanddogs.com/2013/05/21/the-humane-hierarchy-1/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I base my training on Dr Susan Friedman’s analysis here http://behaviorworks.org/files/articles/What's%20Wrong%20with%20this%20Picture.pdf<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which includes this:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The lack of a standard to help us select behavior reduction procedures is a crucial matter. Without </span></span></em></strong></span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">such a standard, we are likely to intervene on the basis of effectiveness alone, without due </span></span></em></strong></span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">consideration of humaneness. To be maximally humane, our interventions should be as unintrusive for </span></span></em></strong></span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">the learner as possible and still be effective. Carter and Wheeler define intrusiveness according to two important criteria: 1) the level of social acceptability of an intervention, and 2) the degree to which the learner maintains control while the intervention is in effect.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCXDGuVRP8U/U5m5D-1NKzI/AAAAAAAABLg/RvH8IWgLZ_k/s1600/Tuesday+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCXDGuVRP8U/U5m5D-1NKzI/AAAAAAAABLg/RvH8IWgLZ_k/s1600/Tuesday+005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In my original forays into positive reinforcement based training, the first thing I was introduced to was the clicker.</span></span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;"> </span><span style="color: black;">I got pretty good at training some intricate behaviors with it, but I didn’t like the franticness that it seemed to create in the dogs I worked with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was told over and over to “break it down”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“click the smallest movements”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I saw with the dogs was “I don’t know which movement it was, so I’ll just throw a bunch of movements out there and see which one gets a click”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see this quite often in the videos on YouTube, even from the more well-known clicker trainers that everyone refers you to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: black;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Then I found just plain marker training along with some antecedent manipulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this combination, the dogs were calmer, but seemed to learn just as fast and sometimes faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used marker training, without the need to break behaviors down into teeny tiny steps for years with success in basic obedience through reactive and aggressive dog rehab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: black;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRKJhnal0HM/U5m5Xyw3P_I/AAAAAAAABLo/FjgO8y_a7xY/s1600/sundog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRKJhnal0HM/U5m5Xyw3P_I/AAAAAAAABLo/FjgO8y_a7xY/s1600/sundog2.jpg" height="303" width="320" /></a></div><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">A few years back, Susan Garrett introduced the first Recaller Online Classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This opened up a whole new world of training method for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere along the way I figured out how to make my own games and the world expended exponentially. Structured games became our way of life and not a day goes by that each of the dogs plays a teaching game and takes one more step toward a final behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times they get the final behavior long before all the games are played in that series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: black;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">The main thing – there is no stress, no frantic guessing, and no hoping for the right movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dogs calmly, but enthusiastically, do as asked, move through our little corner of the world with ease and understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-68247179819521422582014-06-07T18:25:00.002-07:002014-06-07T18:25:55.560-07:00Merchants of Fear - Part I <br /><div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(79, 129, 189); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4pt;"> <div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt;"><span><span style="color: #17365d;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Merchants of Fear<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re all afraid of something. Spiders, snakes, fire, cockroaches, things that go bump in the night. Fear is an emotion that many times is vital to our survival. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear can also be brought to us and perpetuated by others and made to look as though THIS fear or THAT one is necessary so that something else won’t happen. Fear is used by many to mold public policy, induce you to spend money or agree that others should spend your money.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today, fear entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are moral crusaders who genuinely believe that the very fabric of society is threatened by evil forces or at least their corner of it. At the other end of the spectrum are the salespeople and manufacturers in the market of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are those who could be called “merchants of fear.” These are people who want a situation, circumstance, or environment to look very, very disturbing. These merchants of fear usually gain some sort of advantage if their area of expertise is made to look more threatening. Ideas of this kind are found in the society to a marked degree. It isn’t just the newspaper reporter or the politician; individuals here and there also engage upon this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Examples in the world of dog training are rampant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV celebrities, well known trainers and others say about dogs, “Look! It’s dangerous. Look! It’s out of control. Look! It has teeth. Look! It’s dominating you.” They not only report the most threatening behaviors of dogs, but also sensationalize them, making them worse than they are and villainizing the dogs for being dogs. The survival of these trainers are tied to the fear that your dogs are spiraling out of control, into the “red zone” where only some form of pain, fear or intimidation can turn that dog into your pet again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">These fear merchants have lots of allies among businesses with vested interests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, on Facebook, a video has been going viral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This video is about the type of marketing done with food products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a shocking video even when you know what actually happens in factory farms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The video is about how, even given the exact pictures of the environment your food animals are living in, the words used, the viewpoint from which the picture is taken and the emotions it all produces in you, helps them sell you on the idea that all is well and buy our product. </span><a href="http://www.upworthy.com/no-one-applauds-this-woman-because-theyre-too-creeped-out-at-themselves-to-put-their-hands-together"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Here is the video.</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The speaker in the video says “This is systemized cruelty on a massive scale, and we only get away with it because everyone is prepared to look the other way".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The speaker in this video is actually an actress named Kate Miles, but the facts about produce and its marketing are 100% real. The audience is also real, and thus the looks of disgust are totally real too.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The truth of the matter is that in the dog training world, this type of marketing is used daily as a counter to the fear merchants who induce you to think about how dangerous dogs are. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fear merchants tell you that if you don’t become the “pack leader” or the “alpha” and prove it every minute of the day in every circumstance with your dog that he will take over the leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The picture you are presented is of teeth and blood and chaos if you can’t be the leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The marketing of the devices and tools that these trainers use play on your sense of safety and the ability to enjoy your dog and live the dream of owning man’s best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is your dog controlling your life? Does it steal food from the counter, nuisance bark, pull you on walks, or ignore you when called at home or in the hunting field?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Remote <a href="http://www.dogtra.com/"><u><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">E collar</span></span></u></a> training is one of the most effective ways to get your dog to do what you want, whether that means corrective negative behavior or performing in complex roles like as a service dog or in dog shows.”</span><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is not to the advantage of those who get their income from the sale of fear to promote products that reduce that fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those teaching the use of the shock collar are aware of the degree of fear needed to sell their products and services. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Before I begin, let me say that if you decide to use one I recommend that you not refer to it as a "shock collar." The very name sends some people into paroxysms of fear. "How can you be soooooo cruel to shock your dog!!!" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call it instead a remote training collar or even an electronic collar. Yes, I know its a euphemism but it may also help you think about it another way. There's an old H. L. Mencken story about language influencing the way we think and act that's too long for here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another common remark about the severity of the shock collar is to equate it to getting a static shock. “BTW, before we get too deeply into this topic and everyone starts calling the Humane Society on me, let me explain what the stimulation is like. If you have ever dragged your shoes across a carpet and then reached for a doorknob and gotten a shock you have received the same sort of stimulation as comes from the Ecollars.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know about anyone else, but I go far out of my way to avoid static shocks! They hurt!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><h1 style="margin: 24pt 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Snake Avoidance<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of areas of dog training that is almost exclusively under the purview of those who use shock collars is in training your dog to avoid snakes and other dangerous critters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years ago I started researching snake bites in dogs, what alternatives there were to shock collars (none) and the history of the use of the shock collar in this training. What I found were Merchants Of Fear; especially here in Arizona.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They create an atmosphere of fear of your dog dying from snake bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tell you that there are 16 species of rattlesnake in Arizona to watch out for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They fight with tooth and nail against “cookie trainers” and “positive reinforcement” by showing pictures of dogs with swelled heads or IV’s of fluids designed to save a life saying that these incidents are caused because the owners of these dogs went to the “so called behaviorists”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These trainers claim to get 100% effective compliance from the dogs they shock while telling you that if you don’t bring your dog to them, they will die a horrible death or that you will have to spend 1000’s of dollars on anti-venom to save your dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never once do they tell you HOW they are going to do this, what the effect is on your dog at the time of the shock, what the fallout of using these methods can be, and that 100% is a far cry from the actual success rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never once do they site actual statistics of snake bites and their effects, where snake bites generally occur and what percentage of those bitten actually die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When presented with actual data, they return to trying to produce fear in their prospective clients and the public at large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The media goes right along with this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-15929514885699902402014-06-02T11:03:00.001-07:002014-06-02T11:03:32.783-07:00Must Be The Only Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbsl_8bz30A/U4y7CFs8OZI/AAAAAAAABKk/wgF4oTVzRn4/s1600/jackhenry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vbsl_8bz30A/U4y7CFs8OZI/AAAAAAAABKk/wgF4oTVzRn4/s1600/jackhenry.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>More and more lately I'm seeing posts on Facebook, ads on Craig's List and emails in my inbox about dogs who are in rescue, need a foster or adopter now for various reasons or they will either be in boarding or taken back to the pound or put to sleep. In 90% of these ads it is said that the dog has had training with trainers and loves humans, but just can't be with another dog. No cats are included in these ads as well and many times no children. <br /><br />It seems to me that there is something really wrong here. Shouldn't a dog who has gone through training - usually board and train - a specific type of socialization, and behavior modification, be ready to be a dog? To live with other dogs? I can see the no children because of size considerations in many of them, I can also see the point in no cats as it's usually the cat's fears that cause the issues. But shouldn't a dog who has been through this type of program be able to live with other dogs? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Llnu0bX_QPI/U4y7JtbwcOI/AAAAAAAABKs/_jZvxaOkwMs/s1600/dixie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Llnu0bX_QPI/U4y7JtbwcOI/AAAAAAAABKs/_jZvxaOkwMs/s1600/dixie2.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>I follow the posts about the various dogs that hit the E-List for behavior issues, agonizing over every one of them because I know that if I had the facilities, the energy and physical attributes I had 10 years ago, I could help these dogs. But alas, that isn't the case. So I resort to hoping that the behavior issues are only due to the stress of being in the shelter and not something carried over from a prior life.<br /><br />But, what I see are these dogs, who have issues with other dogs, put into a board and train situation for a month or two, sometimes more, and come out the other end still not able to live with other dogs. Why? Isn't that supposed to be what they are in training to fix? What are they learning?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylTtV94bMl4/U4y7UusVnuI/AAAAAAAABK0/rBAlXaQ2JaU/s1600/MemphisAFrame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylTtV94bMl4/U4y7UusVnuI/AAAAAAAABK0/rBAlXaQ2JaU/s1600/MemphisAFrame.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>It doesn't take that much time to bring a dog back to it's natural balance, it's social nature. One month of concentrated behavior training, and in the worst cases, two maybe three, and the dog should have let go of it's fears, learned how to communicate with it's own kind, and be able to be social in most circumstances. Even with a dedicated foster taking the same dog to group classes that deal in reactivity and aggression and actually doing the assigned homework can "cure" most of these dogs in 8 weeks. Why is this not happening?<br /><br />This is a lament more then a rant. I want so badly to be able to help these dogs. I know I can do it, I've done it way too many times in the past and am still doing it with dedicated owners and even some fosters in the allotted 8 week time period. The dogs I work with are just as fearful, just as dedicated to eating anything that scares it, just as "red zone" as the ones in these ads. I work with dogs with fight and bite histories that would curl your hair in seconds. I work with dogs who are so out of balance that they even want to kill the fake dogs I use to assist in their rehabilitation. They are so out of tune with reality due to their fear, they really do think the fake dogs are real.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMbljhfMZ9M/U4y7gs-9gAI/AAAAAAAABK8/XzrghOuSoiw/s1600/NWClass+162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMbljhfMZ9M/U4y7gs-9gAI/AAAAAAAABK8/XzrghOuSoiw/s1600/NWClass+162.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>But I've never been good with raising money for situations like this. And so I have to sit on the sidelines and hope that someone younger, someone with a similar education and understanding of ethics, biology, physiology, evolution, behavior analysis, ethology and compassion will come along and do what I no longer can. I am forced to sit on the sidelines and watch while someone with a prong collar, a shock collar and no true education can claim to fix behavior issues and fail. And listen to the people who think these trainers are wonderful because the dogs can now sit, down, stay, heel, come and walk around in circles ignoring other dogs for fear of getting whipped.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-80300488984599085162014-05-22T07:54:00.003-07:002014-05-22T07:54:49.908-07:00Cookie Slingers?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsECWc84gMY/U34PdtL53PI/AAAAAAAABKI/SRYyJDWOa00/s1600/saturdayclasses+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsECWc84gMY/U34PdtL53PI/AAAAAAAABKI/SRYyJDWOa00/s1600/saturdayclasses+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_537e0f3a0e8071684686627"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I did a survey last night of every FB dog training related page and it's website that I like and every FB dog training related page and it's website that another trainer likes who claims he/she is a balanced trainer. In 85% of the pages, food is a major ingredient for training. The most talked about concept in 90% of those pages is engagement/relationship. <br /><br /> You're probably asking why I did thi<span class="text_exposed_show">s and the amount of time that it probably took. As for the time, remember, I'm a computer programmer, I wrote a program to do the survey that took 30 minutes to write <i class="_4-k1 img sp_IAa2ktb_meE sx_7a4a9a"></i>. As for why, well, I take a lot of classes and seminars every year, I never stop learning. I also buy a lot of books and DVDs. My library includes everything from Karen Pryor to The Monks of New Skete. I have dog training books from the 1800's to present day.<br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFN6cpI1tAU/U34Pm-YeaII/AAAAAAAABKQ/H0VqDqTXDuQ/s1600/saturdayclasses+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RFN6cpI1tAU/U34Pm-YeaII/AAAAAAAABKQ/H0VqDqTXDuQ/s1600/saturdayclasses+007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>A few days ago I signed up for an online class on engagement with a group of trainers that have been around a long time, trainers who have trained thousands of dogs from pets to sports champions, and have produced many books, seminars and DVDs. These trainers would be considered "balanced" I suppose. <br /><br /> The basic premise? You want engagement? You want your dog to look to you and basically ignore the environment? Provide motivation in the form of food, toys, fun and movement that elicits the prey drive.<br /><br /> This theme was prevalent on the websites in the percentages I mentioned above on the "balanced" trainers and even some not so balanced. <br /><br /> So why are only those who try hard to maintain positive reinforcement methods of training called treat trainers and cookie slingers?</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-409643153941735528.post-7182317534326519082014-05-19T12:57:00.003-07:002014-05-19T13:07:26.877-07:00A Resource Guarding Testimonial<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59zDGX8CUjM/U3piDm48MiI/AAAAAAAABJ4/wxHwntD60b8/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-59zDGX8CUjM/U3piDm48MiI/AAAAAAAABJ4/wxHwntD60b8/s1600/IMG_4661.JPG" height="304" width="320" /></a></div><div>One of those epic dog training learning lessons happened last night. Being a trainer, I always feel embarrassed to admit when I have issues with my own dogs. Why? Who knows. No dog is perfect and I should be proud of their many accomplishments. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Roo (far right in photo) has begun resource guarding and last week got into a fight with Ava (far left of photo) because Ava walked past her bowl while Roo was eating. Ava and Roo are litter mates and really go for the gold when they tussle, similar to human siblings. There was blood and limping for a few days after. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">When Roo eats she takes her sweet time crunching every morsel. Lucky and Ava are gobblers. This is a recipe for disaster. Roo is always the last eating. I had always separated their bowls during meal time because Roo would always bear teeth at the other two dogs. But Roo's guarding has gotten progressively worse over time. Guarding toys, spaces, and people. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Last night I talked to my mentor, Jamie, about the escalating problem. I also signed up for an eight week class with Roo. Jamie said that I created the guarding by always having Ava and Roo's bowls at a 10' distance, and Lucky inside altogether. She said I should have their bowls directly next to each other. The thought of this spiked my anxiety. I asked her how to accomplish this, when if Ava just looks at Roo when close to the bowl, Roo goes for the throat and Ava doesn't turn down a fight. Jamie took the time to explain the process in detail, and fed her pack and a new puppy that is with her for board-and-train right then, to teach me the proper way. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Well, 6:30 this morning, I was scared. My husband asks, "Are you prepared, in case there is a fight?" I was. But I kept positive, determined that there was not going to be one (even though my mind was racing expecting it). I know that my body language has to tell my pack a different story. I had Roo on a leash just in case. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Jamie recommended Ava and Lucky "down, stay" after they eat and wait for Roo to finish. I thought it would be way easier just to let them gobble and wander off. Sigh. </div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">The photo is of me, so excited and proud. 10 minutes in, I realized we were in the clear! Everything went just as Jamie said it would (if I followed instruction exactly). WOW! Another huge round of applause to Jamie. I know that many other trainers would have recommended shocking the dogs to get them to stop. This is another testament to her unorthodox methods of training. That are not hard on the dog. </div><div></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Jamie Robinson is the owner/operator of Seize the Leash.
She is an eclectic dog trainer who uses the best
training and/or behavior techniques and practices
to assist you in teaching your dog. Jamie is a dedicated
dog trainer who continually improves her training
techniques so that Seize the Leash clients receive
the most updated training methods.
Contact Jamie at http://www.seizetheleash.com/index.cfm?page=whoweare</div>Canine Behavior Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05119576857169330154noreply@blogger.com0