BABY FOOD TRAINING DOTS

While we are on the subject of treats - here is a super simple recipe using only three ingredients to make a ton of healthy training treats...my guys give it 2 Paws Up!

HIGH VALUE TREAT MIX

Tired of buying expensive treats only to find your dog doesn't really like them?  Just want to make sure you know exactly what is in what you're giving them?

Training utilizes many rewards - toys, play, praise, access to resources - and of course food.  And just like you probably wouldn't wash someones car for 25¢ but might for $25 - dogs have a PAY SCALE as well.  I love Lili Chin's Boogie Pay Scale graphic - it explains it well!

I started making my guys high value mixes when I saw one of our local supermarkets had chicken quarters on sale for 49¢ / lb.  This is a great mix for them.

Don't want all the work?  My guys also love the NATURAL BALANCE and PURE BALANCE dog rolls cut into cubes!  At PETCO classes we called it our Puppy Crack!

COCONUT OIL QUICK TIP

Everybody is excited about using coconut oil these days and I have to say, for all of my reservations, it has made a big difference to my problem child, LUKA, in terms of his skin and ears.

LUKA - Giant Schnauzer x Standard Poodle - aka the Medical Misfit

He is allergic to the air itself it seems some days - and this year he lost most of his hair from his shoulder blades back and has constant problems with his ears. 

That is wrinkly skin not his ribs in the bottom picture - LOL

One day I found a large jar of Butcher Boys Coconut Oil at Big Lots (60oz for $7.50 or 1 gallon for $12.99) and thought it couldn't hurt.

But with the colder weather and my weak hands - fighting it out of the jar has not been fun. Then I saw a post a friend made about putting it into silicone molds or silicone bottomed ice cube trays - GENIUS.  I had a spare mold lying around so I thought I would give it a try.  I melted some oil in the microwave (just to the point of melting) and got my mold out.

The recommended daily dosage is 1 tablespoon/ 30lbs and I discovered the molds hold 1 tablespoon per indention - AWESOME - the boys would get 2 each a day.  Just pour the rewarmed liquid into the mold.

You can add oils if you like as coconut oil is a great carrier oil.  Since both of my boys are 70-75lbs, I use 2 drops in each indention.

PEPPERMINT or GINGER - good for tummy upset / car sickness
LAVENDER or VALERIAN - good for mild anxiety or sleep issues
SWEET ORANGE or  CEDARWOOD - good flea repellent support

I have recently found that Helichrysum and Niaouli are good for allergies and skin issues so that is my next to try for Luka.

Then just put it in the fridge to resolidify and you're done.  I can now add one to their meals with no problem!  In just over two weeks - his coat has improved dramatically!

SERVICE DOGS vs THERAPY DOGS vs EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOGS

Do you know the difference between Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), Therapy & Service Dogs?  There is a lot of misinformation and scams out there - be careful!

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL (ESA)

DEFINITION:  A companion animal that provides emotional support to a handler who has been diagnosed with a verifiable mental or psychological disability and has been prescribed an ESA, by their mental health professional, as being needed to assist with daily living.  Just knowing you are anxious or depressed DOES NOT mean you qualify for an ESA.

TRAINING REQUIRED:  No training is required

PUBLIC ACCESS PRIVILEGES:  NONE - they are not allowed in non-pet friendly places.
HOUSING:  You can apply for reasonable accommodation in no-pet housing under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, depending on which applies to your situation.  Having an animal declared an ESA DOES NOT guarantee they will be allowed in all housing.
TRAVEL:  ESAs may also travel with you on flights (no other form of transportation) if they meet the requirements as laid out in the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).

ADA law does NOT apply to housing or air travel. 

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THERAPY ANIMAL  

DEFINITION:  A working animal that provides emotional support to a number of people through therapeutic visitation, assisting in trauma counselling, providing support in courtrooms for victims (especially children) who need to give a statement or testify, encourage physical therapy activity and assist in confidence with reading skills .

TRAINING REQUIRED:  Extensive training in Obedience and Manners

PUBLIC ACCESS PRIVILEGES:  AS INVITED - Once a dog is certified through the organization they are going to work with (and therefore covered under their liability insurance), they are allowed in places such as hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes upon invitation of the business or group.

We train to the standards set out by Therapy Dogs International (TDI), Delta Society/Pet Partners and Love on a Leash. (see more about the PAWsitive Hearts Therapy Program here)

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SERVICE ANIMAL 

DEFINITION:  A working animal (dog or miniature horse) that has been individually trained to assist their handler with a legally diagnosed disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability.

TRAINING REQUIRED:  Extensive work in Obedience and Manners, Public Access and Task Training

PUBLIC ACCESS PRIVILEGES:  FULL - All handlers of a trained service animal are granted full access rights to have that animal accompany them.  (The animals themselves do not have rights - it is the handler).  Some states extend that to Service Dogs in Training as well but it does vary from state to state.

Handlers and their service animals must be allowed access to anywhere that the general public is allowed, that their presence would not fundamentally alter the course of the business.  There are still exceptions to where a dog must be allowed such as sterile medical environments/burn units, private homes, private clubs, food preparation areas the public has no access to, places like federal agencies and religious institutions that are exempt from ADA law.



And YES you can be asked to leave if your service animal is not housebroken and under control (including excessive barking/whining, aggressive actions, disrupting other patrons of the business etc).

"Under control also means that a service animal should not be allowed to bark repeatedly in a lecture hall, theater, library, or other quiet place. However, if a dog barks just once, or barks because someone has provoked it, this would not mean that the dog is out of control."

Regardless of all the sites advertising "Take your dog everywhere!" - only SERVICE DOGS trained to assist their legally DISABLED handler are allowed in non pet-friendly places.

In 2011, the laws changed to specifically state that assistance animals that provide comfort or a calming influence to their handlers by their mere presence - while helpful indeed - are NO LONGER GRANTED PUBLIC ACCESS PRIVILEGES.  

SCREENSHOT DIRECT FROM THE LATEST 2015 ADA FAQ

The only thing registering your pet as an Emotional Support Dog does is put you on that companies registry.  People have registered everything from paper clips to plastic dinosaur toys to prove that there is NO regulation behind this and it is just a money making business.

SCREENSHOT DIRECT FROM THE LATEST 2015 ADA FAQ

REGISTRATION HAS NO LEGAL STANDING whatsoever and using it to gain access to public places when your dog is not a service animal as defined by the ADA - can in an increasing number of states actually lead to fines or legal action for essentially claiming your pet is a service dog when they are not.

MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE

Make sure whatever source you are using for your information is based directly off of the applicable laws and not a source of opinion or a website trying to sell you anything.

DEPT OF JUSTICE - 2015 ADA REVISED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SERVICE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS - ADA NATIONAL NETWORK

CGC TEST VIDEO EXAMPLE

Here is a great short video showing exactly what the CGC test entails - if you are considering getting this certification with your dog - this should help clear up any concerns!

Remember - Walk In Testing is available on the first Thursday of every month and CGC classes run on a regular basis.  Just ask for more details!

NEW TRAINING SUPPLY PACKS HAVE ARRIVED!!!

During our sessions it is almost guaranteed I will mention something product or book wise that you will want to follow up on - no problem - they are all on my SHOP page. But this year I have also added training supply packs for your convenience - everything you need all in one place.

What size pack is right for you? 

That really depends on how far you are going with your training.  The Woof & Wag Pack covers all your basics but if you plan on doing more advanced work like Platform or Mat training, advanced targeting and more Distance & Distraction work - then the Totally PAWsome Pack is the answer.

TEACHING A DOG A SUSTAINED HAND TARGET

This are great follow ups to your TOUCH cue.

Why would I want to use a sustained hand target?  

Anything that helps you keep your dog still can be made useful with a sustained touch.  It can make grooming like ear and eye cleaning easier, medical treatment including vaccinations and the ever dreaded rectal temperature taking easier (your vet will LOVE you) and it teaches IMPULSE CONTROL which is important for so many behaviors...

Great!  So how do I start to getting them to extend the length of time they are touching my hand?

It just so happens we have 2 brilliant guest videos to share with you - have a look!

WHY MY DOGS DON'T KNOW "NO!"

Article Source: Four Feet & Food

A friend and I were recently walking out my front door while my dog, Kona, was close at our heels. She turned around and told him “no”. I told her that word means nothing to him and asked him to “back up” instead (a behavior he knows well). This sparked the conversation of “you’re a dog trainer, how does your dog not understand the word ‘no’?” My simple answer is “because he’s never been taught what that means”.

Dogs are not born with an inherent knowledge of the human language or culture. Can they learn a word by the context in which it is delivered? You bet! But it’s up to us to attach some useful information to that word to help them navigate our world where we expect them to live within our expectations. If I yelled “no!” at Kona in a stern tone would he immediately stop what he was doing? He might stop in that instant but what is he supposed to do after that? It’s not really fair for me to tell him to stop doing something without providing any follow up information.

How many of us have had this conversation with our significant other:

You: What do you want for dinner? 
SO: I don’t know. What do you want? 

You: How about Chinese food? 
SO: No. 

You: Ok, how about Mexican? 
SO: No. 
You: Then why don’t YOU pick something! 

It’s frustrating when someone tells you “no” without providing an alternative isn’t it? Without any additional information you don’t know what to do next. Is he/she saying “no” to Chinese food because they aren’t hungry or because they don’t like Chinese? Did they just eat Mexican for lunch and don’t want it again for dinner? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?? Without any additional information you have no idea what to do next! It’s the same for our dogs. “No” doesn’t hold any weight unless you’ve associated a meaning to it for a specific behavior.

It is very common for us humans to think “no” can be just a blanket term for “stop what you’re doing this instant” (and don’t do it again) but in reality, most dogs have no idea what that means and are just responding to the tone of our voices. I have taught my dogs many useful behaviors that are all on cue, meaning they have a word or signal attached to them. I have taught them to problem solve and to respond to my cues. I taught them all of this through positive reinforcement training based on mutual trust and respect.

I have never had the need to teach my dogs “no” because it has no use in our relationship. Do my dogs do things on occasion that I might not like? Of course! But that’s where the other behaviors they know come into play. I will discuss some alternate behaviors you can teach to prevent unwanted behaviors in a follow up post. In the meantime, if anyone has a solution to the ongoing “what do you want for dinner?” debate with your SO, please share in the comments!

JUST NO! - IMPORTANT WARNING FOR DOG/CHILD INTERACTIONS

PARENTS - SERIOUSLY - THIS IS HOW YOUR CHILD GETS BIT - THIS IS NOT FUNNY, CUTE, OR ACCEPTABLE IN ANY WAY!!!

Please do not let your child hit, pull, ride, bounce on or otherwise annoy the dog and then get mad when the dog reacts!  This is so very damaging to dogs hips and backs especially in dogs whose growth plates have not yet closed.



Lip licking, yawning, squinting eyes, closing their mouth when panting - they are all signs that the dog is stressed...and just because the dog has allowed it before doesn't mean it is okay...

SIMPLE RULE OF THUMB - If you wouldn't want someone to do it to you or your child - don't let your child do it to a pet!

BREAK THOSE WINTER BOREDOM BLUES WITH 33 GREAT GAMES FOR DOGS

With winter upon soon - it is time to start thinking about how best to entertain your furry friends out of the mud and slush. Here is a great article to give you plenty of ideas to get started!

33 Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy Indoors

THIS IS WHY I DON'T ALLOW FLEXI LEADS IN CLASS!

Why I Don’t Recommend Retractable Leashes

By Dr. Becker  (article source)

A retractable leash is not so much a leash as it is a length of thin cord wound around a spring-loaded device housed inside a plastic handle. The handles of most retractable leashes are designed to fit comfortably in a human hand. A button on the handle controls how much of the cord is extended.

Retractable leashes are popular primarily because they aren't as confining as regular leashes, allowing dogs more freedom to sniff and poke around on walks. But unfortunately, there are many downsides to this type of leash.

10 Reasons Not to Use a Retractable Leash

1. The length of retractable leashes, some of which can extend up to 26 feet, allows dogs to get far enough away from their humans that a situation can quickly turn dangerous. A dog on a retractable leash is often able to run into the middle of the street, for example, or make uninvited contact with other dogs or people.

2. In the above scenario, or one in which your pet is being approached by an aggressive dog, it is nearly impossible to get control of the situation if the need arises. It's much easier to regain control of – or protect -- a dog at the end of a six-foot standard flat leash than it is if he's 20 or so feet away at the end of what amounts to a thin string.

3. The thin cord of a retractable leash can break – especially when a powerful dog is on the other end of it. If a strong, good-sized dog takes off at full speed, the cord can snap. Not only can that put the dog and whatever he may be chasing in danger, but also the cord can snap back and injure the human at the other end.

4. If a dog walker gets tangled up in the cord of a retractable leash, or grabs it in an attempt to reel in their dog, it can result in burns, cuts, and even amputation. In addition, many people have been pulled right off their feet by a dog that reaches the end of the leash and keeps going. This can result in bruises, "road rash," broken bones, and worse.

5. Dogs have also received terrible injuries as a result of the sudden jerk on their neck that occurs when they run out the leash, including neck wounds, lacerated tracheas, and injuries to the spine.

6. Retractable leashes allow dogs more freedom to pull at the end of them, which can look like aggression to another dog who may decide to "fight back."

7. The handles of retractable leashes are bulky and can be easily pulled out of human hands, resulting in a runaway dog.

8. Along those same lines, many dogs – especially fearful ones – are terrorized by the sound of a dropped retractable leash handle and may take off running, which is dangerous enough. To make matters worse, the object of the poor dog's fear is then "chasing" her, and if the leash is retracting as she runs, the handle is gaining ground on her – she can't escape it. Even if this scenario ultimately ends without physical harm to the dog (or anyone else), it can create lingering fear in the dog not only of leashes, but also of being walked.

9. Retractable leashes, like most retractable devices, have a tendency to malfunction over time, either refusing to extend, refusing to retract, or unspooling at will.

10. Retractable leashes are an especially bad idea for dogs that haven't been trained to walk politely on a regular leash. By their very nature, retractables train dogs to pull while on leash, because they learn that pulling extends the lead.

If your dog is well trained, gentle mannered and smart enough to master a regular leash and a retractable leash without being confused, you could be one of the rare guardians that can walk your pooch on any kind of leash without increasing risks to either one of you.

SERVICE DOG TRAINING - WHERE TO START?

SERVICE DOGS need a great foundation of Obedience to handle the various situations they face daily. This series of 3 class levels - designed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers - is a perfect start to that.  
It is also a great place to start for Therapy Dogs or dogs that intend to do their CGC certification.

Each level (BA, MA & PHd) is taught over a 8 session period with an exam at the end. You can do this in Private Sessions, Group Classes or through our Online Classroom.

Student Handbooks will be provided and of course you can always reach us on the think PAWsitive FACEBOOK page if you have any additional questions!

PRIVATE SESSIONS - Taught at your place, at your pace!   $420
ONLINE CLASSROOM - Learn and home and connect with me Online   $199
GROUP CLASS - If you are local, I offer this class at TRACTOR SUPPLY in Bluefield, WV    $149

⭐⭐  FLASHCARDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS CLASS   $15 + shipping (if not local)  ⭐⭐ 

Bachelors (BA) Obedience Training

(The first level is recommended for dogs 9+ weeks old)
Here are some of the key commands and concepts you and your dog will learn in this fun and interactive class:

Warm Up -- Showing a dog how to investigate a new situation comfortably and potty on command.
Loose Leash Walking -- Most pet owners really appreciate a dog that walks nicely on a leash without pulling. Positive training and proper equipment is key.
Attention -- Teaches your dog to pay attention to you and not be bounding off after squirrels or cats.
Wait at the door -- The ability to maintain position at the door until invited to move through the door.
Meet and Greet -- The importance of having your dog wait comfortably at your side while you chat with a friend - with or without another dog present -shows the dog self-control and patience.
Leashing Up Manners -- Teaches your dog to sit quietly until released while you put on or take off his leash.
Leave it -- Refers to his muzzle; learn to put his attention back on you and away from something else that he is interested in.
Come -- Probably the most critical command to teach but can be started at an early age. This command provides a great opportunity to bond with your dog!
Wait for the food bowl -- Rather then grabbing for or rushing for the food bowl, this shows the dog's self control around a very valuable resource.
Stay -- Stay means don't move a muscle until I release you. This command can save a dog's life.
Settle -- A dog who can calm down on cue is more welcome in society and other's homes.
Give and Take -- A dog who will willingly give up valued toys or food to anyone is a dog you would trust around your children.