Q. How will you help me train my dog on-line? Don't you need to meet me and know my dog too?
- Filling out the questionaire I have designed will help me get to know you and your dog. Of course it would be great if we could meet face to face, but that's not always possible or practical.
Q. Wouldn't I get more out of an obedience class at the local dog school?
- That depends...many obedience classes are excellent but some are still teaching people to force their dogs to do things. Those traditional classes use choke collars and leash corrections as punishment for incorrect responses, instead of positive reinforcement for correct behaviors.
Q. Don't dogs need punishment in order to learn not to do things like jumping up when they meet people?
- I prefer setting dogs and people up to succeed. Dogs need to know what to do instead of jumping up when they greet people. If a dog starts to jump up to greet me, I turn away. If the dog sits when I approach, I'll use my clicker to let him know the exact moment his behavior was correct, and give him a treat to reinforce the behavior. Reinforcing the behavior in a positive way increases the probability that the behavior I want will occur again.
Q. If I start out training with food treats won't I be stuck giving treats forever? Isn't food really a bribe? Won't I always need to have food available to bribe my dog to do what I want?
- I train dogs using a clicker and food treats. I use food as a reward, not as a bribe. In the context of clicker training, you will learn how to use treats correctly, so neither you nor your dog become dependent on treats to get the behaviors you want.
Q. My elderly parents just adopted a rambunctious young dog at an animal shelter. I am afraid the dog is going to hurt them when he jumps up, or pulls hard on a leash. They don't drive much any more, and I don't think they could make a commitment to training classes across town. Can you help them?
- Yes, Dog Training at Home is a very appropriate service for elders. I can tailor a training program that is specific to their needs and abilities. I would prioritize helping them train skills that will keep them and their dog safe.
Q. Sometimes my two year old dog will urinate on the floor when he is very excited to see someone. Should I punish him?
- I would not punish him. I would need to know more about your dog to understand whether he is peeing as a submissive gesture, overly excited, or has a medical problem. Our careful assessment of the circumstances in which this problem occurs, will help use formulate a plan to eliminate the behavior.
Q. What if my dog has tried to bite someone?
- If your dog has already tried to bite a person, I strongly recommend that you find an animal behaviorist who can evaluate your dog in person. Some dogs are fear biters and others are truly aggressive. There are circumstances when helping a dog develop confidence in new situations or with new people might stop the fear biting behavior. If the dog is truly aggressive, you need to know that. You will need guidance to decide if it is safe for you to keep your dog.
Q. I just want my dog to behave when I have company, can you help me?
- Your dog can learn to settle down on his own mat for some quiet time while you visit with a friend. I can teach you the steps you will take to train your dog how to go to his mat for some quiet time.
Q. When my puppy was small, taking her for walks was easy and fun. Now that she weighs fifty pounds I feel like she is walking me and my arm hurts so much walks definitely are not fun any more. What can I do to stop her from pulling me around?
- Your dog needs to learn a skill called "loose lead walking", and I can definitely help you with that. There are lots of techniques for helping dogs learn to walk on a leash without pulling. One of my favorites methods is to teach you to become a "tree". When the dog hits the end of the leash and starts to pull, you stop. The dog wants to move forward. But if you are planted like a tree forward motion stops. Wait until the dog returns to a position by your side where there is slack in the leash, and immediately begin to walk again. The moment she starts to pull again, you stop and become a tree. The reward for a loose leash is forward motion. Many dogs quickly understand that the walk continues only when there is no tension on the leash.
Q. If my dog doesn't wear a choke collar won't he pull me around even more than he does now?
- Today, we have equipment to use in training that is safer and more humane than choke and pinch collars. There are several types of head collars for dogs. The most popular ones are Gentle Leaders and Halti. These head collars work on the same principle as a halter on a horse: where the head goes the body will follow.
Q. I get dizzy whenever I bend over. Are there ways my dog can help me, could she pick up things I drop?
- There are lots of ways your dog can help you! Even dogs who do not have a natural desire to retrieve toys, can be taught to pick things up and bring them to you. The clicker is a great tool for building the retrieve skill. My dogs pick up all kinds of things for me, including keys, pens, paper, and credit cards. Many dogs seem happiest with a job to do, and picking things up is a great job for dogs of all sizes.
