Thursday, February 4, 2016

Let's Play: Find It!

Find it! is Tank's favorite game in the.entire.world. It turns out that it is a great training exercise as well! In find it, dog's use their nose to locate a hidden toy or treat. It's an excellent way to begin nosework and can build confidence in dogs!  This is another great idea for a game to play with kids and dogs. Here's how to start:

Step 1: Which hand? Find it
Start with a treat in one fist, but not the other. Offer both fists to your dog and say "Find it".When he nudges the fist with the treat, reward him with another treat! Try practicing by switching hands. When your dog catches on, you're ready to play the next part of this game.

Used without permission. Unknown source.
Step 2: Basic Find it
With your dog nearby, "hide" a treat in plain sight. Say "Find it!" If your dog runs to you, show him your open hands. If you spent enough time on the first step, your dog should start looking for the treat right away! If not, go ahead and practice the first step again. Once you are confident that your dog understands the cue "find it", you can start to make the game more challenging. Try hiding a treat or toy in a single room. Let your dog watch you "hide" the item at first. Always try to set your dog up for success. If they are struggling to find the item after looking, help point them in the right direction!

Step 3: Advanced Find it
In advanced find it, I first tell my dog to "stay". If your dog doesn't know how to stay, try having a helper keep your dog busy or putting your dog in the kennel while you hide the item.  Experiment with hiding the item in different places. First try different rooms. You can also try hiding the item under a box or blanket or by hiding the item at different heights in my house.  I also vary the amount of time between hiding the object and saying "find it". We also love to play this game in the backyard!

Variations on Find It

  • Take a muffin tin and place one or more treats in the openings. Place tennis balls on top of all openings. Ask your dog to find it! Tank really struggles with this game because he thinks the tennis balls are more fun than the treat.
  • Take a number of empty boxes or bins and place them near each other. Hide the treat in one of these boxes and ask your dog to find it!
  • Have a friend or family hide and have your dog find the person!
Try find it today! It can be a quick game to play for a few seconds or the game can go on for as long as you like! It's a great way to keep your dog (and maybe your kids) busy on rainy days but is just as much fun outside in the back yard. If you've already tried this game, leave a comment and tell us what your dog thinks!




Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Kids & Dogs: Fun ways to keep it safe! - Part 2

In my previous post, Kids & Dogs: Keep It Safe! - Part 1, I discussed a number of things kids (and adults!) should never do for the happiness and safety of our entire families. It's time to take a positive spin and discuss fun activities that give kids an opportunity to safely play with pets. 

Training!
Kids constantly astound me with their brilliance, patience, and almost natural knack for dog training. I've seen it develop confidence in even the shyest of children. With adult supervision, kids can help teach their best friend basic obedience cues and even tricks! "Sit" is a great place to start, especially if your dog already knows how to sit.

From drsophiayin.com. Used without permission.
First, demonstrate these steps for your child. Children often learn best by doing!
If your dog doesn't know sit:
1) Put a treat in your right hand. Let your dog smell your hand.
2) Slowly move your hand upwards so that your dog's head follows. As your dog's head goes up, his bottom will go down! 
3) Do not worry about saying "sit". After your dog reliably responds to this hand signal, you can add the word "sit" but remember - only say "sit" once.

Tips to remember:
  • Make sure treats are held in closed fists held against the body to prevent treat snatching and remind children to give treats with flat, open hands. 
  • Show children that they need to practice with slow movements. 
  • Be patient with your child and dog and offer both lots of praise!


Kids and dogs know that training is really a game! Children in particular are amazed at their new found skills! Try other basic cues such as down or paw next!

Come
Kids can do an awesome job teaching dogs to come when called as long as they remember one rule: Never chase your dog.
Have your child call your dog while running the opposite direction for a few feet. Your dog will undoubtedly follow! Have your children deliver a treat (with a flat, open hand) as soon as the dog comes to them! Later, this can be used to help teach your dog to fetch!

Hide and Seek
In this game, your child is the "hider" and your dog is the "seeker". Instruct your child to find a hiding place. After a few seconds, let your child call the dog. They will giggle with delight when the dog finds them!

Fetch
Kids can easily toss a ball or frisbee and call their dog to bring it back. Remind kids not to be discouraged if your dog doesn't immediately return. If you are struggling with fetch, read my post HERE.

Find it
Find it is Tank's favorite game. We play by hiding a treat or toy and then telling Tank to "Find it!". I start by telling him to "stay" for this but you could easily keep your dog busy while the child hides the item. After your child has hidden the item, tell your dog Find it and off he will run in search of good things! If you need more help playing find it, check out my post here.

Kids & Dogs: Keep It Safe! - Part 1

It's 1987. My parents (who don't even like dogs) let me "play doggie" and share a drink with this big ol' dog! They tell me it happened so fast yet someone had the time to get out a camera... Fishy...
Cute photo? Sure looks cute. You can't help but assume it's where I started my career as a dog trainer. Except...


Playing "doggie", circa 1987. Apparently, I started young.
Dangerous isn't cute. And this is just dangerous with the friendliest of dogs. Our job as parents is to keep those we love safe. Once you learn the rules and how to tell if your dog is stressed, you can do everything in your power to prevent dog bites!

The first in my list of rules for child & dog safety starts here. It will be easy for you to implement and follow these new rules once you learn a few tips.

Never allow children to interrupt a dog while it is eating or drinking.
It's also never safe for a child to interrupt a dog while chewing on a bone, pig ear, or Stuffed Kong or grooming themselves.  Let sleeping dogs lie applies here, too.

Now that we have that covered, let's talk about a few more ways you can keep both your dog and child safe.

Don't let your kid ride your dog like a horse. Just because this lovely mastiff is the size of the horse, and probably has been professionally trained to accept this behavior from a child, it doesn't mean it's cute. Or safe. It's just dangerous.


Used without permission.
Shame on you Doritos.
When dogs (and people) don't like what is being done to them, they can only tolerate so much. The stress stacks. First, maybe it's mild annoyance but it can quickly build into full out defense. With dogs, that can easily escalate to a bite.

A kid riding a dog sounds awfully stressful to me.


Dog ears and tails are not tug toys for children. Never allow it. Teach your children that this is a rule and enforce it in your home. How would you feel if I came up to you and tugged on your ear? Did your mom do that to you as a child? How did it feel? I'm guessing pretty crappy. How would you feel if I ran up to you and pulled your hair? Again, crappy. We're better than this!

Teasing dogs is mean! My guess is that if you're old enough to read this, you're old enough to have been teased or bullied at some point in your life. Some children tease dogs by dangling toys in their face and refusing to give the dog a toy. Some kids may steal toys from dogs and some children may do the same with treats. It would be maddening to have this done to you! Don't let your kids do it to your dog. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Hugging is rude! As humans, we have been hugged since birth. We grow up associating hugs as a sign of warm affection. The problem is that your dog didn't have this same upbringing. It's unnatural for dogs to be hugged and very few dogs tolerate it. Read Part 2 to learn appropriate ways to show affection to your dog.

Next up, let's talk about how to tell if your dog is stressing out.
It's all about body language. Many people don't see the little signs our dogs give us when stressed. Sure, they may understand growling but most dogs communicate their feelings long before a growl. Bites don't come out of nowhere. Learn the warning signs and you'll be well on your way to keeping your family safe!


Here are some subtle signs your dog may be uncomfortable:


  • Whale eye (seeing more white than normal)
  • Lifting a front paw
  • Moving very slowly
  • Moving away
  • Furrowed brows
  • Stiff tail
  • Tail moving slowly lower and higher than normal
  • Tucked tail

  • Hair raised along the back of your dog
  • Cowering
  • Licking lips when no food is nearby
  • Panting when not hot or thirst
  • Ears to side or pinned back
  • Yawning when not tired
  • Hyper vigilant
  • Pacing
  • Suddenly won’t take treats
  • Stiff posture
Now that you know the signs. Can you take the pass the body language quiz? Identify the warning sign from each picture. Check your answers below. 

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5










Note: Pictures are by artist Lili Chin and are used without permission. Check out her awesome doggie drawings at her website. She is an invaluable force in educating pet parents about dog safety thanks to her drawings.

If you frequently see these behaviors from your dog in any context, contact a Certified Professional Dog Trainer ASAP!


Answers: 5. Licking lips 4. Panting 3. Head turn, paw lift 2. Cowering and ears tucked 1. Stiff, raised hair


How to Get the Most Out of Your Kong!

Tank's favorite past time
Kong toys are my favorite! They are the only toy that my lovely 5-year-old Pit, Tank, hasn't destroyed and can provide dogs with tons of mental stimulation. They can be stuffed in a thousand different ways and have an almost magical ability to keep my dog busy for hours! They can be given to dogs in a crate in a multiple dog home and offer the added benefit of making the crate a HAPPY! place. They can be given right next to your work desk to keep your furry child from saying "Mom! Mom! Mom!" all day long while you try to write a blog post (...or binge watch that TV show).

First, let's find the right toy for your dog. Kong makes a number of different stuffable food toys. I personally have had the most success with snow-man shaped Kong Extreme. These toys are designed for epic chewers and have stood the test of time in my house. The company recommends a size from small to XXL based on a dog's weight. I suggest going up at least one size for extra, anti-chew security. We actually have gone up 2 sizes (to the XXL Kong Extreme) in my house with great success. 


Kong Extreme XXL with freezer safe cup
Next, how can we stuff it? Let me count the ways!

Easy mode:
Ok, some days you're lazy. It's part of being human. On lazy days, I swipe a bit of peanut butter, wet dog food, pumpkin, sweet potato, or plain yogurt around the opening. Bonus points if you freeze overnight. (Freezing makes it more challenging for our dogs to get out the good stuff!)

Basic mode:
I tip my Kong upside down and place in a freezer-safe cup. This holds the Kong "open" so I can stuff easily and catch any drippings in the freezer. I layer dry food and some type of "glue". You can use pumpkin, wet dog food, sweet potato mashed, or yogurt (or a mix) to glue the layers of dry food together. I layer to the top, pack tightly, and freeze over night. I don't recommend peanut butter for this because it would be too many calories and may result in an upset tummy. Tip: If you use this method, give this Kong in lieu of a meal.

Extreme mode:
I'm a big fan of extreme fillings for our Extreme Kongs. It takes a bit of prep work but because I use multiple Kongs, I can fill them all at the same time. I pack tightly and then freeze. I always have one ready to go at a moment's notice. Here's how to do it.
I prepped all my ingredients before I even started filling.

1) Get your ingredients. 

Here are some suggestions:
  • Dry food (a must have as we want this to be the bulk of your stuffing)
  • Peanut butter
  • Plain yogurt
  • Sweet potato (mashed or unmashed)
  • Broccoli
  • Green Beans
  • Carrots
  • Pumpkin
  • Wet dog food
  • Unseasoned scrambled eggs
  • Treats
  • Cheese (use in moderation)
  • Boiled boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • Cooked ground beef, fat drained
  • Cooked beef liver (use moderation)
2) Layer, pack down, layer, pack down. Rinse and repeat.

3) Freeze overnight or until needed.

P.S. There are some foods I always avoid! Things I always skip:

  1. Berries - These squish on my carpet and stain.
  2. Foods that are not safe for dogs including the following list from the Humane Society of the United States:


  • Alcohol
  • Apple seeds 
  • Apricot pits 
  • Avocados
  • Cherry pits
  • Candy (particularly chocolate and products containing Xylitol)
  • Coffee in any form
  • Garlic
  • Grapes 
  • Gum (Xylitol)
  • Hops (used in home beer brewing) 
  • Macadamia nuts 
  • Moldy foods 

  • Mushroom plants 
  • Mustard seeds 
  • Onions and onion powder 
  • Peach pits 
  • Potato leaves and stems (green parts) 
  • Raisins 
  • Rhubarb leaves 
  • Salt 
  • Tea (contains caffeine) 
  • Tomato leaves and stems (green parts) 
  • Walnuts 
  • Xylitol
  • Yeast dough

Kong Extreme toys are available from your local pet speciality retailer as well as online at sites like Amazon.com, Chewy.com, or Drfosterandsmith.com!

If you purchase from Amazon, know they tend to have the best price plus be sure to use this link to sign up for Ebates to earn up to an additional 7% cash back! If you've never used Ebates and want to learn more, just ask!

What have you stuffed in your Kong? Have any tips I missed? Please share in the comments below!

Andrea Kutzko, CPDT-KA
andreakutzko.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, January 14, 2016

How to Choose a Dog Trainer

Choosing a dog trainer can seem like a daunting task! What’s with the alphabet soup after my name? How do I know which trainer is the right fit for me?
I’ve been there guys. I’ve been delighted to have met some wonderful trainers along the way. I’ve also been taken for a ride, with well known trainers, that definitely set back my dog’s progress. If I could do it all over again, here’s exactly what I’d do!

I’d start with some alphabet soup. You’ll notice I list CPDT-KA after my name. That means I have been awarded the Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed certificate by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Choosing an independently certified trainer like myself means you are choosing a trainer who was evaluated by an independent body – not a school that may profit from “certifying” students. 
           
Finding a certified trainer is easy! Click the CCPDT logo to the right to search in your area. Other independent certifications include Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) or Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA). Both are excellent choices.

The next part can be a little trickier. Ask a lot of questions! Here’s the first 3 questions you should ask a trainer. I’ll post my answers below for comparison.

1) What happens when my dog gets it right?
A positive reinforcement, science based trainer like me will reinforce good behavior. That may mean handing out yummy treats, playing with a favorite tug toy, or praise and petting. I have a number of positive reinforcers in my toolbox!

2) What happens when my dog gets it wrong?
Absolutely nothing! When our dogs make mistakes, it simply means we need to try again. Next time around, we may work harder to set our dogs up for success by reducing distractions in the environment or using better reinforcers like yummier treats! Again, my toolbox is full of ways to help your dog get it right the first time around!

A note: Some trainers may respond to this question by suggesting the use of punishment. If so, run for the hills. There is no need for punishment if you set your dog up for success.

3) Is there a less aversive method?
This would be a question to ask if you were speaking with a trainer that uses force and punishment to train. If a trainer uses these techniques, there is always a less aversive way! Be extra cautious if the trainer uses words like “alpha” or “dominant” in their answers. These terms and theories were debunked many years ago.

Dog training takes team work!
So you’ve done a little research and think you’ve found a great trainer. Wonderful! The trainer answered all the questions right. Does that mean that you’ve found “the one”? Hopefully so!  There’s still a few more things you should discuss. First, does the trainer offer a guarantee? That's a big no-no. There are too many variables to offer guarantees in dog training!  Consider if the trainer was patient and thorough when answering your questions. Make sure that they have availability that works with your schedule. You need to feel comfortable with this person and I would leave that last detail up to your gut!


Leave a comment! Tell us how this article helped you find the right dog trainer for you and your family!