New Stuff is HARD!

When was the last time you learned something new?

I can remember years ago, learning how to snowboard. It took a few winter seasons and LOTS of falling (more falling down and bruises than I’d like to admit). There were moments when I sat on the mountain, tears streaming down my face (and freezing to my goggles), as I watched others so effortlessly glide down the mountain, that I wanted to give up – throw in the towel and be done with it. I was bruised all over and feeling like I was never going to “get it”.

 

 If I had given up in the beginning, I would have never felt the speed and wind whip by my face as I cruise down Colorado’s beautiful mountain peaks. Learning to snowboard was hard! But it got easier as I developed the muscle coordination, muscle memory, balance, and skills required.

Learning to snowboard required these things:

Determination

Persistence

Motivation

Patience

Consistency

Humility

Commitment

 

Now, at this point, you may be wondering, Meg – what the heck does snowboarding have to do with dog training? Rest assured; I am getting there!

 

Learning new skills is HARD. Dog training is no different. It is a brand-new skill for most people. My job is to teach you these new skills – communication, leash mechanics, etc. and I know it is NOT easy. I challenge you to think back on the last time you learned something new – a new hobby, new language, a skill for your job – why were your successfully able to master your new skill OR why were you not able to master it?

 

Training your dog requires determination, persistence, motivation, patience, consistency, humility & commitment.

 

Determination to stick with it, even when things are hard. Heel not going as well as you thought it was? Is your dog struggling to sit-stay with distractions. Keep at it! If you persevere, both you and your dog will develop the skills! Think about your goals for dog training – especially after a particularly tough walk or not so great training session – use that as motivation. Think about the dog you could have in the future – the dog that you can take out in public, the dog that behaves when guests come over, the dog that has great leash manners.  

Patience is HUGE – be patient with both yourself AND your dog as you are BOTH learners. It takes time to learn new things.

 

Commit to yourself, your dog, and your dog training goals and I PROMISE you will see results and the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

My partner picked up snowboarding much quicker than I did. He watched some YouTube videos and spent two days when he was in high school teaching himself how to ride. 

As with everything in life, humans (and dogs!) learn at different paces. Some will pick up dog training skills relatively easily; for others it will take constant practice and WORK to make progress. I remember feeling jealous of how quickly my partner was able to learn and of how easy he made it look while he was teaching me – the same feeling I would imagine many of you feel when Jordan, Jen or I demonstrate skills with one of our own dogs or work with your dog. Just remember, we too, were once new learners and it took time, patience, consistency, determination, and perseverance to get where we are today. 

And guess what? My learning is not yet over, and neither is yours!

 

You’ve got this! 

Now get out there and train your dog! 

Meghan Poinsett is a Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant at Front Range K9 Academy.  https://k9counselor.com

We need to DO BETTER!

Welp, it happened…what started as a great trip, full of fun, opportunities to learn more about Nose Work and grow together as a team, has hit a snag. A snag that could have easily been avoided.

Duke & I were walking downstairs and into the lobby of our lodge (where we will be staying for the next couple of days while at camp). He was next to my left side, in the heel position. 

We walked past a pillar and then suddenly, a bark, a growl & a dog was on him. Someone came over to offer assistance. As soon as she helped to get the one dog off, another dog was on him. Not one, but two dogs (breed is not important but they were Border Collies) had attacked him in the middle of a very public space.

Adrenaline does strange things to memories so actual details of the event are still a little hazy. After the other dogs were under control and taken back to their rooms, I checked Duke over. He was covered in other dog spit, but luckily no puncture wounds or visible injuries. I am extremely thankful for the person who came over to assist – she was more worked up than I was. I am also thankful that this attack did not happen to a smaller dog, a dog with thinner fur or an older dog, as I am not sure what the outcome would have been.

The owner of the dogs came back out and one of the first things she asked was NOT:  “Is your dog okay?” – if that is what you are thinking…  No, she asked first: “Is your dog intact?”

Like that was the excuse she had been hoping to hear as to why BOTH her dogs attacked another dog (who was minding his own damn business walking with his mama…). She also didn’t even realize that her second dog had entered the fray…c’mon…. Apparently, she had clipped her leash to the collar tag ring and when her dog lunged it snapped. Not sure how the second dog got loose…

This is also not just me and my dog. I’ve seen countless social media posts sharing similar stories. 

Just the other day someone on a AKC Rally Obedience group posted about dog-dog aggression during trials and competitions. How many dogs are attacked by other dogs at conformation shows, agility trials, obedience trials? Many responded to the post commenting about dogs attacking other dogs during obedience group stays and that the AKC needs to change this in competitions and do away with it. 

HOW ABOUT TRAIN YOUR DOG and have the expectation that your dog behaves in public if you are going to compete, trial, or take your dog outside of your home?!

Let me repeat that one more time – let’s train our dogs and have the expectation that the dog behaves out in public. 

If you are unwilling to, or simply cannot, consult with a trainer who will use a balanced approach, as you cannot toss cookies at aggression and expect it to go away. OR keep your dog at home. 

It is ridiculous that I cannot take my dogs out into public without fear that we will be attacked. This incident did not result in any lasting physical trauma, but the next one might. While there may not have been any physical trauma, mental and emotional trauma will be there. My generally happy-go-lucky guy has been nervous and jumpy around other dogs since the incident, so we will have to put in some work around other dogs, especially those resembling Border Collies.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER - somewhere we as a culture have completely lowered our standards and expectations of our dog’s behavior, however, at the same time, we have also increased our expectations of incorporating them into our everyday lives – taking them with us on errands, to the work place, hiking, etc. Those two things don’t mix well. 

We are more permissive and are allowing RUDE, PUSHY, DEMANDING, and AGGRESSIVE behaviors. We have also decided that tools (prong collars, chain collars, electronic collars) are the problem, when the real problem is the above thinking – I won’t even get into the thinking that aggressive behaviors (resource guarding, handler redirection, small dogs growling, barking & lunging at big dogs) are cute and we need to post them on social media trends (cue *eye roll*) in this post – allowing our dogs to behave like a$$holes in public because we are too scared to tell them no.

You betchya that both my dogs are behaved out in public and I hold very high expectations for their behavior. If I think my dog will be unable to handle an outing, I don’t bring them – “gasp!”

That is why my shepherd remained at home this week as I knew all the dogs, people, new environment and managing of both dogs would be too much for her and me to successfully handle. 

On our trip Duke is waiting for permission to enter and exit our room, exit the car, walking in heel through the hotel and up stairs, remaining calm and quiet in his kennel – and guess what, we are still having FUN and our relationship remains great, even if I must remind him of the expectations! He has furniture privileges, sharing of my meals, and all the snuggles he could want. He is also prancing around working for his meals like nobody’s business.

How about giving firm & FAIR consequences for behavior choices a try and see where it gets you? Who knows?  Opportunities just may open up for you and your dog in a way that they have not before. 

 

Meghan Poinsett is a Trainer and Canine Behavior Consultant at Front Range K9 Academy.  https://k9counselor.com

 

Who Cares About Titles?

 This week on "What goes on in the dog trainer's head..."

Who Cares About Titles?

Do you care if your dog has any 'dog sport' titles?  

Obedience?  Rally?  Conformation?  Lure Coursing?  Agility?  Scent Tracking?  Dock Diving?  Barn Hunting?  Field Trials?  Herding?  Earthdog?

How about an AKC Canine Good Citizen title?  (Which, by the way, is now available for training and testing for at Front Range K9, with trainer Meg Poinsett.)

In spite of all the possible dog sports and titles available to both mixed breed & purebred dogs, I've found that most dog owners have little interest in titling their dogs.  

And you know what?  That is OK!  

While we're always happy to help our clients who are interested in taking their dog ownership to the next level, we also know that the time and money (sometimes lots of time & money!) it takes to travel to dog shows and other events are not everyone's cup of tea. 

But What About Trainers with Titles on Their Dogs?

Ok, so maybe you don't care if your own dog wins any ribbons or trophies or titles...but do you care if your Dog Trainer has titles on his or her dogs?

You should.

Why? Well, for several reasons:

1.  Trainers who title their dogs have shown an ability to train a dog to a certain level of proficiency.  

Did you know?  There is no single certifying or governing body over the dog training industry.  Anyone can hang out a sign, and call themselves a professional dog trainer.

Because of this lack of industry metrics, its impossible to know if your trainer can train to a non-subjective, measurable standard.

Unless...

They can take their dogs through the necessary training to compete for - and earn - titles.  

Titles say that a trainer has put in the necessary hours, research, training time, and effort to reach a definable objective with their dog.

Titles say they have set a goal and reached it.

Wouldn't you want that person on your side in your dog training experience?

2.  Titles say your dog trainer really IS 'the crazy dog lady' or 'crazy dog guy'.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record - titling a dog in most sports takes a lot of time.  And effort.  And often a lot money - in the form of entry fees, travel expenses, and even training resources - like classes with other trainers and experts in various fields of canine behavior.

All of this time and effort and money adds up to one thing:  Dedication.  

People who compete in dog sports are used to getting up at the crack of dawn, schlepping crates and leashes and bowls and other equipment many miles to their destinations...spending hours waiting for their 30 seconds to 10 minutes or so of actual competition time, and then schlepping home - hopefully with a few ribbons and points earned towards their next goal.

They meet others who are just as dog-crazy as they are along the way, and develop friendships and relationships that span decades - often working with each other to hone specific training skills, or problem-solve through issues to get over hurdles on their own dogs' training journeys.

They spend countless hours in continuing education seminars, talking to other trainers online and in person, always seeking a better way to train - a way to better, happier, more balanced dogs.

Again, I ask:  Wouldn't you want THIS trainer on your side for your own dog training journey?

So, even if you're not necessarily into the whole 'competition' thing for your own pooch, I believe it is wise to consider carefully whether the trainer(s) you work with have some sort of titles to back up their own body of work with dogs.

All that 'alphabet soup' of letters before and after a dog's name actually means something!

Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy. She can be reached at k9counselor.com

Don't be a Doggy Nihilist

This week on ‘What goes on in the dog trainer’s head’: 

What is the best formula to create a really, really, REALLY bad dog?

What a strange question!

Why would any dog owner want to create a really, really, REALLY bad dog?

I’m being sarcastic, of course.  No owner wants a bad dog...but so many of you out there have absolutely perfected the formula to create one.

And when a dog trainer gives you the counter-formula to undo the damage you’ve done, you push back  - sputtering excuses, professing hurt feelings, saying you don't have time to put in the work, or questioning the very advice & answers that would help you and your dog…

...All because you don’t like what we're telling you.

Sound harsh?

Well, let’s take a look at reality.

Here are some actual quotes from Dog Trainers’ notes, after their first training session/evaluation with real owners - owners who report desperately wanting to improve their dogs' behavior:

“…this dog has not been given any boundaries, and walks all over his people - demanding attention, jumping up, counter surfing, etc.”
“This dog NEEDS more training, firm boundaries, and leadership… “
“This dog has WAY too much freedom.” 
“Very little boundaries or expectations for this pup.”
“This dog does not seem to have a whole lot of boundaries at home and owner seems to be very inconsistent.”
“[Dog] is very pushy and aggressive towards other dogs, especially on leash; has little to no boundaries right now…”
“He is a very smart cookie, but needs firm boundaries.”
“She needs some very clear boundaries…”
“…this dog needs clear leadership and boundaries…” 
“It is clear this boy has had no boundaries/rules for his 2 years of life.”

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  And I’m sure you notice the pattern.

The Perfect Formula for creating a neurotic, or reactive, or aggressive, or generally pushy, unruly & unbalanced (or all of the above) dog is…

An utter lack of consistent, clear rules, boundaries, and leadership from YOU.

Dear dog owners – you can’t have it both ways. 

You can’t have a dog with no boundaries or rules, who is ALSO well behaved.

You can’t have a dog who bolts through doors, steals food from the counters, snacks out of the litterbox, jumps on you and your guests, guards his bedding (or yours!), pulls on the leash, steals your socks, destroys your couches, or rugs, or other valuables, and completely ignores you and everything you say - and then expect that same dog to behave beautifully out in public, or when visitors arrive.

Dogs NEED rules and boundaries to be mentally sound and stable.  Even more, they need rules to fully enjoy their lives with us.

There seems to be a great deal of discomfort and denial for dog owners regarding this simple truth.

Time and time again, we have clients come to us seeking help, but when we tell them that they need to give their dogs boundaries, they resist mightily.

Don't believe me?  Here are a few more actual quotes from owners:

"I don't actually care if he's perfect on the leash.  I just want him to stop lunging at other dogs."  

"I can't live with my dog the way you trainers live with yours.  It seems so strict.  I actually like that he barks at people.  It means he'll protect me.  I just don't want him to bark at everyone." 

"But [biting dog's name] is our baby.  We can't kick him off the bed!" <~~~ from an owner whose husband is now sleeping on the couch because the dog won't allow him in the bed with her.  I can't make this stuff up.

"I don't see how teaching him to behave in the house is going to help him out on walks."

These are the same owners who don't see the connection between the dog who who jumps up on them, demanding attention whenever it wants (attention the owners then unfailingly deliver), and the dog who has such extreme separation anxiety it has to be heavily medicated when they leave the house for even a few minutes.

Or the connection between the dog who ignores them completely at home when they tell it to stop jumping up, barking, counter surfing, dumpster diving, and doing whatever else it pleases... and the same dog who also doesn't listen - pulling, barking, and lunging aggressively at everyone they see on a walk.

When did having and following consistent rules become such a bad thing?  Isn't your own life full of rules that keep things running smoothly?  

Think of how many times a day we all follow simple traffic rules - and imagine the chaos if we didn't!

The reality of life is that rules are a vital part of the game.  From driving, to getting in line and ordering your morning coffee at Starbuck's - you know the rules and you follow them, and for the most part, you don't even notice or think about them! 

But when it comes to giving their dogs similar, simple rules, too many owners seem to think it's the cruelest form of punishment.

If you have no basic rules...if you allow your dog to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants...then you cannot expect the same dog to know how to behave when things get interesting, exciting, scary, or new!

The dog who knows the rules also earns the privileges of being in our company more.  

The dog who doesn't know or have rules is the dog who has to be locked away when guests come to visit, never knows the joy of a safe off-leash romp, gets left behind when the family goes on a hike, or is simply being scolded all the time for just being a dog in a human world.

Quite frankly, you owe it to your dog to at least teach them the rules of how to play the game of life in our confusing, inconsistent world.  

Otherwise, you are setting yourself and your dog up for a lot of failure, confusion, and disappointment.

So, before you immediately protest when a dog trainer suggests you implement some simple rules like not allowing the dog to bolt through doors, or lead you on walks, or having some structure around affection, play and eating routines - think about why they are suggesting these rules, and what benefits you and your dog might reap if you tried them.

Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy. She can be reached at k9counselor.com

If You Change Nothing - Nothing Will Change!

 This week on ‘Inside the Dog Trainer’s Head’

IF YOU CHANGE NOTHING – NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

Many of you may recognize the above saying from the signs on the walls in the training rooms at Front Range K9 Academy.

Some of you may have even had one of the trainers at Front Range K9 level you with a fixed gaze and ask you to read & ponder those signs.

But what do those words really have to do with dog training?

As it turns out – a lot.

Owners come to us with many different issues with their dogs – from simple puppy shenanigans, to anxiety disorders, to severe aggression.

And yet, no matter how unique each case is, we have one message: If you change nothing, nothing will change.

But what kind of change are we talking about here?

Every dog owner in the world knows, having a dog in your life changes things. At the very minimum, your routine now must include caring for another thinking, feeling being. Food has to be budgeted for, bought, and fed. Poop has to be scooped. Vet visits have to be scheduled. The list of needs is long.

And above the basic husbandry of caring for a dog? Well! As a nation we spend billions on our pets each year (a recent report by the American Pet Products Association reported $95.7 billion in 2019)…we buy them oodles of toys, and comfy bedding, and yummy treats, and sweet smelling shampoos, and designer foods, and personalized collars and leashes and, and, and…

And yet, with so many of our clients’ relationships with their dogs - something is missing.

What’s missing is change.

True change. Not on the dog’s part…but on the OWNER’S part.

This is incredibly frustrating for us as trainers, but also somewhat mystifying.

When we begin to suggest training exercises and techniques that we’ve used successfully with thousands of dogs, many dog owners’ eyes cloud over.

Even when they practice said techniques, and their dog clearly understands – is even excited (or calmed down) at the prospect of finally getting clear communication from their humans, with wagging tails, or focused eye contact – the human owners resist change.

“I can’t possibly make him sleep in his own bed instead of mine.” (Or <gasp > God forbid, a crate!)

“I don’t care if he barges out the door in front of me.”

“My schedule doesn’t allow me to set a feeding schedule for her. I just leave the food down all the time.”

“I believe muzzle training [my dog who bites] is cruel.”

“But I just love her so much!”

“But he’s really such a sweet dog!”

Newsflash: You can’t buy or love a dog out of dangerous behavior. Or obnoxious behavior. Or fearful behavior.

It’s time for some brutal honesty.

If what you have been doing was working, you wouldn’t be sitting in front of a professional dog trainer.

If all the toys and treats and snuggles and kisses and more were what your dog NEEDED, at his most base level, I wouldn’t be writing this.

Those signs saying “If you change nothing – nothing will change.” wouldn’t be hanging on the walls at the training studio.

It’s a simple concept. But change is difficult for us as humans.

Changing how you look at and live with your dogs is challenging.

We know. We hear you.

But if you change nothing…nothing will change.

If you’ve come to a dog trainer to be told you’re doing everything right, or that your dog itself will change…well, then I have a few bridges to sell you.

YOU are the one with thumbs in this relationship...the one calling the shots, and the one with the mental capacity to change. Your dog is, forgive me...well - a DOG.

Having a dog that is mannerly and controlled and pleasant to be around takes work. It takes double the work, if the dog has behavior problems.

The first step is the hardest.

What can YOU change about how you live with your dog today that will make life better for you both?

Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy. She can be reached at k9counselor.com