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No Shock Collar Coalition
Alpha Dog/Dominance?
The truth revealed!
Click here
If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study
If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study
Trainers Academy, LLC supports
The Yellow Dog Project
Click on the ribbon above to learn more.
Beyond Cesar Milan
is the single most comprehensive compilation of information found on the topic- written by some of the world's foremost experts in canine behavior and training, all warning of the dangers associated with the techniques depicted. An excerpt of a letter written to National Geographic by our President Lisa (Laney) Patrona, before the pilot episode aired in the summer of 2004, appears.
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Woof's Training Tips & Behavior Resources
Note: This page is arranged by category, not alphabetically.
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WARNING: The use of electric shock as a dog training tool (including "invisible"/electronic fencing) is NOT a safe choice for your beloved companion. There are plenty of very good reasons that entire countries around the globe like Germany, Denmark, Australia, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Wales have adopted laws banning their use! Click Electronic Training Devices and http://www.banshockcollars.ca/ to learn more about the dangers, and why it's never a good idea!
If you're considering electronic shock/invisible fencing, read this article by the President of Trainers Academy, LLC first:
Do you need more convincing? Read this article from Dr. Jen Summerfield's Blog:
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Xylitol WARNING: Click http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/top-pet-toxins-2013 to visit the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center site, for a list of common household items that are very dangerous...even deadly to your dog. The ASPCA's site's information includes, but is not limited to warnings about Xylitol, a chemical that is routinely used in sugar-free human products, like sugar-free chewing gums. If your dog ingests a product containing Xylitol in any amount, it is a veterinary emergency. Seek emergency help for your dog immediately!
Click Grooming Tips for information on helping your dog learn to accept and enjoy grooming processes - even nail trims!
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Dominance and the alpha dog MYTH
That's right...we said myth! Click here
Beyond Cesar Milan
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Puppy Issues & Housetraining (for older dogs too!)
"Help! My puppy is "shy" and seems afraid of new people"
It's crucial to allow a shy puppy to become completely comfortable with a new person, on their own terms. Strangers/people she seems "shy" of, should completely ignore her so she can make her own choice, in her own time, to approach, or not. This will prevent her from becoming more "sensitive" and will make all the difference. See this article ; http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/how-to-socialize-your-puppy?page=all The whole article is good, but pay special attention and follow the advice under the section heading - "What to do if your puppy is shy". Read more on the subject of fear in dogs (and pups!) at our Fearful Dog Archive
My Dog is Scared of Everything Emphasizes the importance of an early (and properly executed!) socialization plan!
Next, click Checklist for Socialization by Dr. Sophia Yin, DVM, MS for a guide to follow that will help you to keep track of the socialization bases you've covered properly with your puppy, and which ones still need some work!
How to Find the Right Doggy Daycare Be careful when selecting a daycare program for your puppy. Daycare places are not all created equal!
Resource Guarding
This section provides information about the behavior known as resource guarding (characterized by a dog's defensive reaction i.e., stiffening,gobbling food/eating faster, growling, snarling, snapping) when in possession of a valued resource such as food, toys, chews, sleep/resting space, etc. It is a very common (and normal!) behavior in both adult dogs, and puppies.
Teaching your pup (or an adult dog) to drop objects (happily!) on cue:
The Q&A at the following link discusses growling from a dog when her human tries to pet her while she's eating. This Tip also discusses tension brewing between the dogs who live together in the home (also resource-related); http://woofology.info/troublebrewing.html
**For more information about dog/dog resource guarding (also a very common problem!) click Housemate Problems
If you're thinking about adopting siblings/2 pups at once, or have already done it! The article at the link below discusses adopting 2 pups at the same time and discusses how to do things properly, so both your puppies develop in a healthy way:
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This section of our site provides information on the most commonly reported fear-related problems in dogs. Generally speaking, social fears like the fear of certain humans (especially strangers) is the most common, but regardless of who (or what!) your dog is fearful of, you'll find the information here helpful. Information regarding other common canine fears, such as the fear of thunderstorms, fireworks and car rides can be found at the bottom of the page.
Living with a shy/fearful dog requires compassion, patience, and the right approach. The process begins with you. Please take your time as you read and absorb the information found here. As the guardian of a shy/fearful dog the best thing you can do is educate yourself, because the more you learn and understand, the better equipped you'll be to help your dog learn to cope more comfortably, and successfully.
Thank Your Dog for Growling - Growling is nothing more than a communication from your dog that s/he's uncomfortable with what's happening. Pay attention, and never punish your dog for letting you know!
Understanding your dogs fear, and helping him/her gain confidence:
Safe and appropriate "socialization" for your fearful dog (or pup!)
Please understand that most cases of dog bites to humans are the result of fear in the dog. The following links are excellent resources that can help stop a bite before it happens (or happens again!)
Can I pet your dog? Read this excellent article for more about why it's always ok (and best for your fearful dog) to say "no":
Bite Prevention: Understanding your dogs communication system This link includes excellent photos of dogs communicating that a bite is coming if forced to continue to 'tolerate' the situation they're in. If your dog is fearful or behaves aggressively toward humans (strangers for example) reading and understanding the information at this link is a must!
Know that some fearful dogs will choose to move themselves away, by hiding, cowering, or running away from the person/people/thing they're afraid of. On the other hand though, some dogs will learn (through repeated negative experiences) to choose more "offensive" behaviors such as charging, lunging, nipping in an attempt to make the person/people/other dog, or thing move away from them. Regardless of which set of behaviors your dog uses, the driving force behind the behavior is fear.
It's very common for people to want to interact with (and pet) shy/fearful dogs. As humans, it's hard for us to understand why a dog would be fearful of a human who "just wants to be friends" - but it's your dog who's afraid…and your dog's perspective is the only one that should count. If Rover is fearful of Uncle Ted, trying to "get him to like" Uncle Ted by forcing him to accept pets (or treats!) from him will very likely backfire. Rover could become even more scared of Uncle Ted, or worse...he could bite him. Shy dogs must be allowed to choose to approach/interact - or not - on their own terms. Respecting your dogs need for space when encountering a person they're frightened of by; 1) not forcing him to interact 2) not letting others force themselves onto him and 3) allowing your fearful/shy dog make the choice whether they want to approach/interact (or not!) in their own time, and on their own terms, will help prevent the fear from becoming worse, and most importantly will teach your dog or pup, that s/he can trust you to keep them safe around humans who are scary to them. Here's a great article with more information and tips: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/pets/dog-behavior/how-to-help-your-shy-or-nervous-dog?page=all
The following article will help you to understand the difference between helping your dog feel better (using desensitization/counter-conditioning), and making things much, much worse by forcing him/her through it (a.k.a., flooding):
What you need to understand as you set out to help improve your dog's fearful behavior:
The article below will help you to understand the difference between helping your dog feel better (using scientifically sound modification techniques like desensitization and counter-conditioning), and making it much, much worse for your dog by forcing things (a.k.a., flooding):
More on how to help your dog feel better through counter-conditioning:
Give your dog the power of choice! The links below contain videos that show the importance of giving your dog the power to choose what they're ready for, and when!
It's important to understand the concept of "thresholds". Thresholds can be thought of as your dogs 'limit' for what s/he can comfortably handle in circumstances that are frightening. Putting your dog into situations that force them beyond their threshold/limit causes greater levels of fear and stress...and s/he'll continue to be fearful (and even more so!) of whatever that scary thing is (person, place, object). Read the articles at the links below to learn more, including ideas for how to control your dogs exposure in a way that keeps him/her well below their limit, starting now!
After you've read the articles above on thresholds, click on this link http://www.successjustclicks.com/trigger-stacking-but-hes-normally-fine/ It's a terrific article from a human perspective about what happens to stress thresholds when multiple anxiety producing events occur at the same time. A concept within the realm of behavior modification known as "trigger stacking". This commonly happens to dogs too!
Stop Dog Aggression Before It Starts
Dr. Sophia Yin DVM, MS
How to properly greet a dog, and what can go wrong when done inappropriately!
More on canine fear of strangers, and how it develops:
Fear of Thunderstorms, Fireworks and Car rides:
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Other resources and support:
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Aggression & Fear
This section provides information
on aggressive behavior/s, including, but not
limited to, resource guarding toward humans, and dog/dog
problems. We've placed the archives on these topics near to one another
because they are so very
closely related; the motivation behind the use of aggressive behavior
in dogs (particularly toward humans) is almost always fear. If your dog
has used "aggressive" behavior already, read the information found here
in the Aggression Archive as well as the Fearful Dog
Archive
NOTE: See the On Leash Reactivity section, if you're having problems with your dog while out on walks.
Fearful Dog Archive - Click here for tips on fear in dogs. Note: If your dog is fearful, s/he's at risk to learn to use aggressive behavior. Be sure to read
the
information at the Aggression Archive as well.
Medication can be helpful to your dog as you work through a behavior
modification plan with
him. Click below to learn more:
http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/myth-anxiety-medication-should-only-be-used-as-a-last-resort/
Methods Matter. Click here to read about the dangers of attempting "quick fix" solutions, especially for fear-based behavior/s http://www.woofology.info/methodsmatter.htm
Join
this yahoo group if your dog is fearful. You'll find helpful
information from a community of people who also have shy/fearful dogs! http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/shy-k9s/info
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Dogs and Kids (of all ages!!)
Safety and dog bite prevention: Click here for everything you need to know about living with kids and dogs (and puppies!), and what you as parents (and grandparents!) can do to create a happy and safe household for everyone, including your canine family member!
The time to prepare your dog for the arrival of your baby is well before the baby has arrived. Get started now!
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Dog to Dog Communication and Interaction
Read this first: Understanding Dog to Dog Communications
Does your dog become agitated at the fence line when the neighbor's
dog/s are out? Watch this video for an example of a technique that can
help: http://www.video.clickertraining.com/canis/winners/2011/premack
Housemate Problems
The information at the links below relate to problems between dogs who live together. Please note: Even though the exact specifics of the problems written about are probably different than yours, we suggest you read the the information thoroughly anyway, you should find it helpful for your situation.
Dog Fights and Fear
Housemate Fights!
What to expect as your adult dog/s and your new puppy learn to live together:
Click http://tinyurl.com/jy3ml5e for an excellent article from Smart Dog University on helping your older dog live happily with a much younger housemate!
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Read the 2-part blog post by Dr. Jen Summerifeld for excellent information about on-leash reactivity, and a training plan!:
Barking at dogs behind fences on walks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n_fPKPLA2g&feature=related
Video of David the Dog Trainer teaching a dog to stay calm when cars pass, instead of lunging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y55fiFfMZ28&feature=player_detailpage
Thresholds! Keeping your dog below their limit when working through it! An important concept for you to understand when working with your leash-reactive dog is the concept of thresholds. Thresholds dictate where your dogs limits are, and how much he can effectively handle when exposed to something that triggers a reactive response. Putting your dog into situations that expose him to a "trigger" to an intensity that forces him beyond his threshold/limit (usually means you've gotten too close to the trigger!) will only serve to cause greater stress for your dog and for you! So for starters, be sure to only expose your dog to whatever it is that's causing the reaction, from a distance away that is well below your dogs reactivity threshold. Click the following links to learn more about thresholds and how to control your dogs environment more effectively:
Here is another link to a technique called Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT). BAT helps dogs learn to use calm behavior, rather than reactivity (lunging, barking, etc.) to satisfy the reason they use the reactive and or aggressive behavior in the first place, which in most cases, is to increase distance away from something they're worried about. This technique combines reinforcement and desensitization to help the dog learn to make better choices in behavior. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1lVAFHlhGA for a video and more information.
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Crate Training
Training your pup (or adult dog!) to be comfortable in a crate is one of the most important things you'll teach him for many reasons. Among the most important, crating provides protection, and prevents him from engaging in (or continuing to engage in) unwanted behaviors!
Some people perceive the use of crates as cruel, but the process done correctly is both fun and rewarding for your pup/dog! What's really cruel is the reality that dogs lose their homes and their lives everyday due to "behavior problems" that could have been easily prevented from developing (or from continuing!) through the proper use of a crate. There's no doubt that crate-training (done properly) plays a crucial part in healthy dog-human relationships. The resources below contain valuable suggestions for how to go about the process.
Note: If you decide to use an alternate confinement solution instead of a crate (like an ex-pen for example), follow the same steps outlined in the articles and videos below to teach your dog or pup to comfortably enjoy their confinement area.
Excellent videos showing the technique known as "shaping" to teach a dog or puppy to enter their crate happily:
Crate-training problems:
What to do if your dog (or puppy) is upset inside their crate:
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Barking
Methods Matter. Click here to read about the dangers of attempting "quick fix" solutions http://www.woofology.info/methodsmatter.htm
Citronella collars are also dangerous to your dogs physical health!
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Behavior at the Door - Help!
Transform your dog's behavior when guests arrive
Clicker training calm visitor-to-your-home greeting behavior. This video demonstrates how to use proper management to prevent unwanted behavior, and how to "capture" calmer, more appropriate behavior instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrbA7cyp6K4
A terrific article including a step by step training plan! http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1208?source=mnl_01_1113
A training tutorial from Kikopup to stop your dog barking at the door; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA
Manage your dog's environment, and don't take them for granted! Human Holiday hubbub is quite stressful for dogs, so commit to a plan for your dog/s now, and pass it on!
Halloween is a fun time for us humans, but all the costumes and mayhem at the door make it a really stressful time for a great many dogs. That's why it's important to have a smart management plan in place to keep your dog safe and comfortable on Halloween night (and beyond)!
During trick-or-treat time, your plan should include keeping your dog inside the house, behind a closed door in a room away from the front door, with a stuffed Kong or other favorite chew. Also consider playing some music, to drown out the noises from outside and help reduce stress.
Kids and costumes?! Parents and kids should watch these short videos together:
Next up is a video from the American Veterinary Medical Association's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ron DeHaven, with some very important health and safety information, including the risks and dangers that candy, decorations, and costumes pose. Also included are tips for keeping your dog safe around all the treats your kids bring home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=8JC8LDtCBYQ
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Digging
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Choosing a Training Professional and Training Methods
Choosing a dog trainer - Buyer Beware!
Beware Positive Reinforcement
By Lisa Patrona Dip. CBST, CPDT-KA, ACDBC
It's not just the American Veterinary Society who's advocating for Positive Reinforcement based dog training - click here to read what the Australian Veterinary Association has to say!
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WOOF's Favorite Things
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Training for the Special Needs Dog
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Dog Trainer Education
Companion Animal Sciences Institute
Karen
Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior
The
Academy for Dog Trainers
Pat Miller's Peacable Paws Apprenticeship Program
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
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Miscellaneous Tips and Information
Fourth of July and Fireworks safety tips
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