Pick Your Perfect Trainer

Unless your little buddy Ben was born a model of perfect canine behavior, chances are you will need a dog trainer. It’s best not to simply point your finger at a listing in the phone book or choose the trainer at the top of your Google search. There are plenty of great trainers out there, but also plenty of bad ones. If you want the best for little Ben and you, take the time to make a proper choice.

When choosing a dog trainer, you will need to consider several things. Some of the aspects of a trainer that you will be looking at will be personalized for you and Ben. But, there are also some traits in a trainer that everyone should be looking out for.

Training Techniques
There are a lot of different techniques that dog trainers can use to work with dogs. Before you pick a trainer for your little guy, be sure you understand what those are. There is plenty of controversy, debate, and discussion to go along with all the different training methods. Education yourself so that you can choose a trainer whose style matches what you want for Ben.

Certifications
Dog trainers are often certified by a training or behavioral organization. There are many different such organizations that promote and use different certification requirements, instruction, and training techniques. You will have to do your homework here as well to decide if certification is important to you and if so, which organization best represents what you are looking for in a trainer.

References
Sometimes the best recommendation for a trainer is a set of good references. In fact, never hire a trainer unless they can provide some of these. A certification is not necessarily needed to be a great trainer. If you can talk to previous clients who sing the praises of the trainer you are considering, that bodes very well for you and Ben.

Trainer or Behaviorist?
A dog trainer and a dog behaviorist is not the same thing. But, beware. Many trainers use behaviorist or behavior specialist to describe themselves and it may not be true. A behaviorist is someone with specialized, advanced training, such as a graduate degree in animal behavior. A good trainer can correct a lot of bad behaviors, but only a specialist can really diagnose and treat serious behavior issues. You need to decide which Ben needs. Does he have a few annoying habits or does he have some deep-seated emotional issues?

Specialized Training
If you are just looking to get some basic manners for Ben, there are lots of trainers who will be able to help you. If you are thinking about challenging him a bit more and maybe seeing how talented he is, you will want to find a trainer who has experience with more specialized training. Perhaps Ben is destined to become an obedience expert, a star agility dog, or a caring service dog. Ask your potential trainer if they have experience with any of these specialties.

Will the Trainer Train You?
This may be the most important question you ask during your trainer interviews. Having a trainer teach Ben to sit, come, and stay is utterly useless if they don’t teach you how to command and instruct him as well. A good dog trainer trains owners as much as, if not more so than the dog. If a trainer insists on doing lessons without you, a big old red flag has been raised. Walk away.

Training Ben should be a positive experience for the both of you. You want a happy, well-behaved dog, and he wants nothing more than to please you. With the right trainer that works for and with the both of you, you will be able to achieve obedience bliss together.

When It’s Time

As medicine advances for humans, it does for our pets as well. They’re living longer and are more a part of our lives and our families than ever before. Chemotherapy, heart surgeries and even prosthetic limbs have been developed for them. Fifty years ago, that would not have been a likely thing to spend so much money on. Now, it’s not so unheard of. There are even health insurance options, as well as credit cards specifically with veterinary care in mind. As a result, pet parents and pet families want to give the best care possible even when they have to say goodbye.

There are many veterinarians’ offices that have a special “Rainbow Bridge” room where the family can sit with their pet before, during and after euthanasia. It is a separate room away from the rest of the office where they can peacefully spend their last moments together. Unfortunately, this can still be very stressful for your dog. Most of them don’t like going to the vet in the first place, but possibly even more-so when they’re sick.

Changes in a Senior Dog’s Health
It may start with a little gray hair along their muzzle, a change in their gait or just a loss of pep. Dogs, much like their human aging counterparts, begin to lose their hearing, lose some teeth or their sight is diminished. They can develop arthritis or other joint problems and pain, may become diabetic, develop cancer, heart problems or even have a stroke. Some may have trouble with incontinence, which sadly, is the last straw for some owners and they end up in shelters. More and more geriatric dogs are being abandoned when they need their people the most.

How Do You Know When it’s Time?
If you speak to anyone who’s had to put their dog to sleep, they’ll often say their dog “told them” it was time. Their dog obviously didn’t tell them anything verbally, but they absolutely did communicate that they were tired and that their quality of life was not what it should have been. Typically, small dogs live the longest 15-16 years, medium/large dogs live about 10-13 years and giant breeds, such as the Great Dane, only get about 7-8 years. While the old thought of seven dog years to one human year has been proven inaccurate due to developmental markers, there is not an agreed upon human equivalency. That’s not to say that you are guaranteed that many years with your loved one, but it also doesn’t mean you won’t be lucky enough to have more time.

One of the biggest signs is a lack of appetite. If your dog isn’t eating even when favorite foods or treats are offered, that’s a problem. Obvious signs of pain and weakness should be checked by a vet for any other underlying causes. If nothing else can be done for your dear family member, it no longer needs to be such a clinical-feeling goodbye.

Peacefully at Home
There are now several veterinarians who will make house calls to euthanize your dear dog in their favorite place, where they (and you) can be comfortable and spend their last moments with those they love the most. While the cost of an at-home euthanasia is more than double the price of one done in an office, being able to express your grief at home and being able to take as much time as needed without feeling rushed is well worth any cost to most pet parents.

After the procedure is completed, if you choose, there are services available to have your pet cremated and have their remains either returned to you or scattered at sea. Memorial paw prints can be cast in plaster as a physical reminder of your loving canine as well.

How To Handle a Fearful Dog

Brutus, a Labrador retriever, is considered a large dog. He’s a handsome creature, young and vital, but you notice whenever a thunderstorm coasts into town that Brutus is nowhere to be seen, and when you do find him he is a huddled, trembling mass. Angie is a shelter rescue and suffered an abusive past in a puppy mill. She is terrified of absolutely everything including her new owners, the outdoors and other dogs. She bolts when she sees another dog or a person approaches her; she barks at anyone outside the house. These two examples of fearful dogs are not terribly uncommon but they can be frustrating and even daunting to inexperienced owners. Fortunately, they are fixable conditions requiring patience, a calm demeanor and a pocket full of tasty treats.

What You Absolutely Must Not Do
Your friend is about to deliver her first child and she is terrified. The epidural is on its way but as with many aspects of childbirth there are risks in having the spinal injection. You lovingly take her hand, hold it tight and proceed to tell her she is right to be afraid, that the epidural that can take away her pain can also cause her paralysis if she moves while they administer it. Then, you gently tell her, she can look forward to never being able to hold or hug her baby. Yes, she should be scared; she should be very, very scared. You smile at her in comfort. While these fears are true and founded, is this the right time to encourage her terror? Absolutely not. So it is with coddling and comforting Brutus when he is trembling in fear at a loud thunderstorm.

Fear is natural in all animals but debilitating fear is not something we prize as human beings and it is not something we tend to encourage. In fact, we do quite a bit to get over our fears and say inspiring things to others to help them get over theirs. We act strong and fearless for the sake of the fearful that they might have a role model, someone to draw strength from: we puff out our chests, raise our chins, square our shoulders and make light of the danger or the source of terror. We do these things to help others but we rarely perform this way for a frightened dog that really needs to see it. They look to their humans for an example on how to behave when they are scared and if they get a weak demonstration of baby talk and pawing, they will associate their fearful behavior with receiving attention and continue the cycle. What they need is assurance from your body language; they need to see you are not afraid. Many people call this calm energy but whatever you like to label it, show it to your dog when things like storms, firecrackers and other loud noises frighten him. Brutus will draw his strength from yours and try to follow his leader’s example.

What You Can Do
With dogs a cool head is the main thing. Do not punish fear but do not encourage it. Many dogs will not take treats or eat when they are trembling in horror, so do not force it or yell at them when they refuse to eat. If Brutus has a safe place, let him go there and ride out the storm. It can very difficult for a concerned human parent not to comfort his dog so if you must do something, simply sit near him and show that you are not bothered by what is bothering him. If Brutus allows it you can take his mind off the storm or source of agitation by distracting him with games or commands. He may not be attentive during these moments so don’t take it personally if he does not play along.

In extreme cases like Angie where everything is a fear, you may need to engage in what is call cognitive therapy among humans and desensitization with dogs. Essentially they are the same thing, which is a psychological therapy method that introduces the source of the fear repeatedly until the impact of the source diminishes. With a canine who cannot associate the act specifically with something that is trying to help them, it may take a good deal of time and patience. Each trigger object or situation will have to be dealt with separately and it is started by showing the object to the dog at a distance, praising her for staying calm and giving her a treat, then bringing the object just a little bit closer and repeating the praise. If she does not respond to the treat and praise but shows only fear, then you have pushed her too far and you will have to start over again.

Distraction works well in these cases too, where a command to sit (or teaching sit) with the trigger object in the background helps the dog to associate the fear item with positive praise and treats until they expect something good whenever they are exposed to the trigger object. This is not as easy as it sounds and will require vast patience, endless praise and a lot of treats. It also demands that the human be calm, show no anger at having to start over and can keep a firm tone without shouting. If you cannot perform these functions, you may consider working with a dog behaviorist. Also, do not be afraid to administer some medication to help calm the dog down in the form of acepromazine tranquilizer, which can be dispensed by your veterinarian. This is a good idea for severe cases of terror such as before a thunderstorm.

Do not give up on your dog, she can be taught to rethink her fears and associate such negative experiences with positive attributes. Animals have self-confidence issues too and may need to have their confidence rebuilt or strengthened. Either way, dogs look to their humans for guidance and as examples of how to react to a situation. Every correction takes time; commit yourself to that and Angie will respond in kind… eventually.

Smushed Faced Dogs

Sometimes described as having a face only a mother could love, English bulldogs, are lovable, tenacious, stubborn, affectionate, and loyal dogs. If you love bulldogs, most likely, you also love that sweet, smushed in face. But have you ever noticed how hard the poor thing works just to breathe? Or maybe you’ve been suddenly awakened by his heavy snoring, and surely you’ve felt horrible for him on hot days because he just can’t cool down. That sweet face, selectively bred for, results in numerous health problems.

Brachycephalic Dogs
The official term for the smushed in face, or short snout, is brachycephalic. It is a trait that has been bred into several types of dogs including boxers, pugs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, shih tzus, some mastiffs, and French and English bulldogs. Bulldogs are the classic example of brachycephalic dogs. They were bred originally for traits such as strength and tenacity for the purpose of fighting and bullbaiting. Over time, breeders also selected for the unique appearance of bulldogs, including his short and stocky stature, short legs with turned out elbows, and of course, the smushed in face. The gene that creates this appearance in bulldogs and some other breeds is similar to the gene that causes dwarfism in humans. While selecting for appearance, breeders have created abnormal dogs with health issues to go with their unusual looks.

Respiratory Problems
The most obvious health concern for brachycephalic dogs is the struggle to breathe. In fact, they have what is called brachycephalic respiratory syndrome. Several aspects characterize the syndrome. Individual dogs may have one or more of these: Narrow nostrils and windpipes restrict air flow. The soft palate is too large to fit in the shortened snout. This means it dangles down into the throat, which results in snorting and snoring, although not usually difficulty breathing. After prolonged breathing difficulties, the ventricles inside a brachycephalic dog’s larynx can turn inside out, requiring surgery to fix. Even just having one of these issues can be very serious.

Heat Intolerance
Bulldogs and other like-snouted dogs do not tolerate heat very well. The respiratory problems described above result in inefficient panting. Dogs pant in order to cool themselves in the heat. Where humans sweat, dogs pant. If they can’t pant the right way, they can’t cool themselves down properly. Brachycephalics should not be allowed to stay out very long in hot conditions. They should have plenty of water in the summer and can be cooled with a wet cloth on the belly.

Eye Sockets
Because the nasal bones are compacted to such an extent, brachycephalic dogs’ eyes tend to sit improperly and bulge out of their sockets. Again, while some may consider this a cute trait, it can cause serious problems. Blows to the head or even being strained pulling against a leash can cause an eye to pop out of the socket. For this reason, these dogs should always be in a harness rather than a leash.

Skin Infections
Because the upper jaw of a smushed-in dog is so unnaturally compressed, the dog’s skin scrunches up into numerous folds. These wrinkles can harbor grime and bacteria and need to be cleaned out on a regular basis. Dirt and oil that is allowed to build up in the wrinkles can cause irritating and uncomfortable infections. If not treated early, an infection like this may require antibiotics to heal.

Giving Birth
The large cranial cavity associated with the dwarfism gene gives brachycephalic dogs adorably large heads. Yet again, this desirable physical trait results in a problem. In some breeds, this is so extreme, that mothers cannot give birth naturally and require Cesarean sections. Both French and English bulldogs are among those breeds that must have C-sections to have puppies.

Responsible Breeding
While some people believe that creating brachycephalic dogs is completely wrong and should not be done, others think that there is a responsible way to do it. For example, a responsible bulldog breeder would not breed a dog that exhibits the more serious health problems, like a restricted airway or soft palate that is severe enough to warrant corrective surgery. Some breeders have gotten together in recent years to create new breeds that retain the desired look of a brachycephalic dog while eliminating some of the health problems. These breeds, such as the Olde English bulldogge, are not perfectly healthy, but are more so than their predecessors.

If you are considering getting a brachycephalic dog, you need to be informed of the health issues that he is likely to suffer from. You should be prepared to treat and deal with a dog that has many needs.

Dog insurance: why it’s worth the investment

As a member of your family, you don’t want anything bad to happen to your dog. With rising veterinary bills, it’s only right that you go out of your way to safeguard your beloved pooch from whatever life throws at it. That’s why many people compare cheap dog insurance and buy a policy to make sure nothing unexpected will take them and their dog by surprise.

Vet bills are increasing in the UK on a year-to-year basis and getting hold of pet insurance for your dog, or any other pet, will cover them in the face of these costs when they are faced with ill health or are affected by an accident. Dog owners must make sure they find the type of insurance best-suited to their situation, as these animals in particular are subject to more health problems and accidental injuries than other pets.

There are a number of different kinds of insurance available for your furry friend. The simplest and most affordable policy offers cover for single injuries and has a relatively small limit on what can be paid out. Owners can claim this on a one-year policy if such an injury occurs. Alternatively, people can get life cover from their dog insurance, covering any kind of injury or illness. This is a much higher limit paid per year, though gives absolute peace of mind. Providing it is renewed every year, it can be claimed regularly and if a pet has a chronic condition, it can be claimed repeatedly.

While many organizations offering dog insurance will cover vet fees, accidental damage and other benefits should the pet pass away, others give extras. These can include advertising and reward costs as well as boarding kennel fees or holiday cancellation costs. While many people will want these added extras, pet owners should ensure that the additions are necessary as it will raise how much you spend on a policy.

Third-party damages ought to be a consideration for dog insurance buyers, too. This will cover damage that a dog might do to someone else’s property, or other people in general. Just remember that claims often have an excess that needs to be paid, so owners must consider extras that may need to be paid in a number of situations. With peace of mind as the most important thing that dog insurance gives, be sure your dog’s health is covered in the best way possible.

How To Deal With a Fearful or Timid Dog

Does Gracie avoid stepping on sewer grates? Does Raquel jump out of her own skin when you rattle a plastic bag? Is a car backfiring down the block enough to transform Charlie into a glazed and drooling mess? Certain sights, sounds, and even smells may terrify the fearful dog, creating real suffering for dog and owner. While fear of thunder and fireworks are among the more common sound phobias, many different experiences can scare the fur off a scaredy-dog. Are you lost, at your wit’s end and in need of solutions? Read on!

Training Suggestions
Accentuate the positives. To train your dog into being brave and confident, be prepared to praise, praise, praise! Use an exposure-desensitization method in which you expose the dog to a very small dose of the fearful item and then praise and offer treats. For example, walk your dog on her leash near the sewer grate, but far away enough so that the dog is mildly uncomfortable but not panicked. If she manages to pass the grate without showing fear (no stopping, backing up, whining or barking), then offer big praise. Use both verbal praise and give her an enthusiastic head scratch. Repeat the exposure, walking her past again without trying to go any closer and again, if she doesn’t react, offer big praise. If she does react, you are too close. Allow her to have more space between the scary item and her feet. Over a week or two of repeated successful exposures, slowly move closer to the scary object. Always praise the lack of a reaction. If the dog reacts with fear – in other words, shows signs of regression - back up your training until the dog is only mildly uncomfortable. Do a few more repeats at that level before trying to inch closer again.

Believe it or not, many dogs are frightened of plastic bags. They can blow in the wind, moving in erratic or unpredictable ways, and they make crinkly noises. For some dogs, that’s enough! Begin your training out of this fear slowly, by petting and praising Porter while you slowly pull a plastic bag out of a coat pocket or from up your sleeve. That’s it, just minimal exposure with maximum praise. After a few successes at this level of challenge, crinkle the bag a little as you set it down. Again, offer the dog big praise for tolerating this without freaking out. Once some small success has been achieved, you can start to do things like hiding a treat in the bag, or slip the bag over your hand and pet Porter with it. Always back off if your dog seems stressed. For most dogs, the scariest thing you can do with a plastic bag is to shake it out to open it up. Save that for last, and take your time, making sure that just plain being near the bag is tolerated before you start swinging it around or snapping it open.

Some dogs get frightened in situations where there is a lot of noise, stimulation and people (a crowded farmer’s market, for example). In these cases, you want Percy to focus on you, since you are his person and if you are calm and happy, he will eventually trust that he can be too. Again, walk him in the general area, and praise him like crazy when he doesn’t react to the other people. If this is too difficult either logistically or emotionally, then set up a training exercise with friends or acquaintances where just a few people loiter and mill around in your backyard or driveway, ignoring the dog but scaring him simply by being there. Then walk the dog near the people, praising like crazy for any lack of reactions on his part.

Choices in Training Methods
Some people prefer to use clickers or food treats when praising their brave dogs. These methods work well too. In fact, some dogs are less motivated by verbal praise or a pat on the head, but will do anything for a tasty morsel. Use high value treats, such as cheese, chicken, or other strongly flavored rich items that you can hold easily and dole out quickly. Then use the treats to keep Patches focusing on you and distracted from the scary situation. Use verbal praise along with the treats, and see how it goes. You may be able to wean her off the treats after a few exposures.

Lifestyling Your Training
Integrate your confidence training into an all-around lifestyle approach. Be ready to turn any moment into a training opportunity. For example, when cooking dinner, let your dog smell the handle of the blender if she seems worried about the noise it made. Don’t shut the dogs in the bathroom while you vacuum, but let them try being nearby. Whenever you see that cocked head or tucked tail, offer your dog the opportunity to grow through their fear into brave and confident dogs.

A Few Don’ts
Don’t hit or in any other way punish a fearful dog for refusing to cooperate out of fear. It definitely won’t help and it might make matters worse.

Don’t laugh when your dog seems frightened, no matter how cute or funny it might appear to be. This could be misinterpreted as praise.

Don’t force the dog to do anything he or she is terrified of doing. Don’t drag a frightened dog over the sewer grate or shove a plastic bag in her face. Don’t throw the water-phobic dog into the pool.

Don’t get discouraged if the training goes slowly. Be patient and be positive, and your dog will respond eventually.

Adopting the unadoptable

What makes a dog “unadoptable?” When does a dog “need” to be euthanized due to its behavior? Under what circumstances do owners, shelter workers or veterinarians decide that a dog is unable to be rehabilitated?

The term “red zone dogs” was coined by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. A red zone dog is a dog that is dangerously aggressive, unpredictable and thought to be a lost cause. Often these dogs have bitten humans and sometimes they have hurt of killed other dogs.

Think of the expression “seeing red” when we talk about a person seeing red, we mean that they are so angry, they can’t see clearly or think rationally. Getting into the red zone indicates that a dog has crossed over or “snapped” and is no longer him or her self. Sometimes these dogs end up in shelter situations because owners can no longer manage them or are fearful of them; sometimes these dogs are euthanized.

Unadoptable?
One problem with a dog that has been labeled aggressive or “red zone,” is that dogs are notoriously difficult to evaluate when they are in the shelter environment. The shelter environment may exacerbate any tendencies toward fear-based aggression, or may have an opposite effect. Even in a safe and supportive foster home, it can take months before a dog shows its true colors. During a settling in period, dogs may be more reserved, and more wary; they may also be more food or toy aggressive while they attempt to stake out their claim and boundaries.

Once labeled “red zone,” aggressive, dog-aggressive, or not recommended for families with young children or other pets, the potential pool of adopters shrinks. In a busy, overcrowded shelter, this is a real problem. In addition, in crowded conditions, one “red zone” dog can traumatize other dogs, creating a ripple effect throughout the shelter of anxious or poorly behaved dogs.

Some shelters manage this problem by creating a separate room or area for dogs that have been labeled aggressive or red zone. Some shelters give these dogs a shorter amount of time in which to be adopted before they are euthanized. Other shelters manage by determining in advance through various types of assessment techniques which dogs are deemed “behaviorally adoptable.” Those that are not behaviorally adoptable are euthanized.

Is There an Alternative?
According to some experts, once a red zone dog, always a red zone dog. The dangers and risks of an attack, bite, or worse, outweigh the possible good to come from being rehabilitated. Others stress that becoming a red zone dog is a process: owners, through ignorance or cruelty, create red zone dogs and that training and proper care can heal them. What all experts seem to agree upon is that the level of expertise involved in healing a red zone dog is far beyond what most dog owners and most trainers can address.

The first step in determining whether or not to proceed is always to assess. Aggression can be complex and easily misunderstood. For example, a young male shepherd mix was pulled from a shelter having been labeled “dog aggressive.” He did well in foster care, with no aggression issues detected at any time, neither toward people nor dogs. He was adopted by a family with young children, and after two months in the new environment, the family contacted the rescue organization indicating that he was “aggressive, frightening and had ‘gone after’ the baby.” After a visit by a seasoned trainer familiar with herding dogs, the verdict was that the dog had engaged in some very typical herding behaviors: nudging and “hip checking” and had done some “rude barking.” One man’s aggression is another’s man’s boredom.

Some breeds are notorious for being “nippy.” A firm and confident owner can easily work with these dogs do develop a safe and pleasant environment for both the dog and anyone who might interact with the dog – from neighborhood children to the parcel delivery guy – but an owner who is not ready, able or knowledgeable regarding managing such behaviors could end up with a real problem and a dog unfairly labeled “aggressive.”

Safety First!
Any owner, any dog, any situation that involves biting warrants thorough professional assessment. And any dog that has been considered unadoptable, red zone, aggressive or dangerous needs a level of professional intervention beyond the expertise of most owners or trainers. Truly understanding what you are dealing with is always the first step. What comes next could well be years of work, and years of stress, as you keep both dogs and humans safe.

Implementing the Nothing in Life is Free Training Approach

A well-behaved dog is a joy be around. Confident and calm, quiet and capable, when sweet little Rover knows what’s expected of him and understands that you call the shots. You can readily expect to enjoy his company without a constant battle over unwanted behaviors. Does this sound too good to be true? It might be time to try the “Nothing in Life is Free” (NILIF) approach.

What is the NILIF approach?
More of a life philosophy than a specific training technique or set of techniques, NILIF works from the perspective that helps your dog accept you as the leader and feel secure and confident in his or her position as pack member. Not unlike what some parents refer to as “Grandma’s Rule,” NILIF predicates all positive rewards on you, the pack leader, getting what you want first. In Spike’s case, Spikey-boy wants what you have: attention, food, treats or toys. You provide these things for Spike after he does what you want (e.g. sits before you place his food bowl down, or backs up before the door is opened).

Some more examples of how this philosophy looks in practice would include insisting that Spot sit still before his leash is put on to go outside, or that he lie down before receiving a belly rub. You as the pack leader are frequently giving commands, and Spot executes the command before receiving any “goodies” (praise, treats or even going outside).

How Do You Get Started?
First, teach Zoe a few basic commands such a sit, come and lie down. Use positive reinforcement (big praise, and/or small food treat) to reinforce the correct behavior. Second, stop giving away things your dog wants “for free.” What does that mean? Stop petting your dog “just because” or when he shoves his head under your hand. Don’t give treats “just because” or “for dessert.” Start to think in terms of these treats (praise, food treats or attention/affection) in terms of exchanges: Zoe gives me correct and appropriate behavior, and I give her something positive in return.

Soon, every interaction with your dog will offer opportunities for this kind of exchange. You want to play ball? Give me your paw first. You want a treat? Speak to me. You want to go outside? Sit still before I put your leash on. Lance will start to get it that you, the human in charge, receive what you want from him before he gets any goodies at all.

Remember, Rascal needs to understand the basic commands and be able to obey them before you initiate the NILIF approach. What is the key to making this work? Be consistent.

Special Circumstances:
Sometimes, situations develop where Jasper needs extra help getting his behavior together. Maybe he’s brand new to you and your household and has come from a very unstructured environment. Or maybe he’s just young, strong, full of himself and going through adolescent growing pains. Whatever the situation, a “pushy” dog can develop truly bad habits that can end up being annoying at best and dangerous at worst.

The NILIF approach in this circumstance gets a little more elaborate. Combining crate training with “tethering” can help rewire Jasper’s behavior. Crate training involves using a dog crate as a safe “time out:” a den-like refuge for Jasper where he stays when he is not tied to you. Yes, using this technique you actually tie ol’ Jasper to your waist using a fairly short leash, and insist that he go where you go, at your speed, on your whim. Tethering in this way helps convey to Jasper that you are in charge in a very intense and powerful way. Tethering is sometimes suggested for growling or biting behaviors, and in such cases is also combined with all the NILIF concepts outlined above.

These techniques are extensions of establishing the human owner as the alpha, but are best used with the help and guidance of a professional trainer to ensure that all discipline is just that: teaching, training, shaping and supporting positive behaviors without ever, even inadvertently, punishing with cruelty or harsh responses.

A well-trained dog does so much more than offer robotic correct responses to commands. A well-trained dog has the potential to bond with his or her owner in a profound and deeply satisfying way. For both dog and owner, there is no question: the investment in training is well worth it!

RedCloud’s Journey: From Abandoned to Beloved

Every rescue dog’s story is different, but the theme is the same: it takes a village, sometimes a global village, to come together to save those in need. Just how does that happen, and what are all the steps along the way? If you have ever wondered, read on and RedCloud’s story will give you a pretty good idea of a typical rescue.

RedCloud showed up in the Miami-Dade animal shelter in October 2010, skin and bones and all smiles. The 16-month old male Belgian Malinois was a stray, found running the streets, riddled with hookworms and weighing under 50 pounds. He looked like an anatomical model of a dog with some fur glued on. His head was several times too big for his body, and his stature left you wondering if he were part Shetland pony. But his spirit was totally unbroken: by all accounts he was a goofball, through and through.

At the Shelter
Preliminary veterinary care included identifying the intestinal parasites as hookworms and getting Red neutered. Terribly overcrowded, Red was placed in a cage with a terrier who, despite being about one quarter RedCloud’s size, bossed him around something fierce. Mr. Terrier jumped up placing his paws on Red’s shoulders and growled, bullying him into the back of the cage.

A volunteer from the Malinois rescue organization met with Red and checked him out. Young, mouthy, and ill, but sweet and goofy with lots of potential was how she characterized him. Within a day or so his photo was listed on the “Needs Foster” page of the organization’s website, which has worldwide visibility.

On the Web:
A middle-aged writer and owner of two Belgian Malinois shepherd dogs living in the Catskill region of New York saw Red’s picture and sent out some emails, “just checking” to see if anyone local had stepped up to help out the poor skinny dog with the big doofy grin. We can call her Maya. No one had. Florida is inundated with strays, the shelters are struggling to manage with overcrowding and meager budgets, and the problems just seem to pile up: dogs seized in drug raids, dogs turned in by owners unable to afford their care, owners forced to relinquish dogs due to illness or death… The shelter and rescue worlds in Florida are the front lines for this battle and Red was caught in the cross fire.

Emails ensued. Red was ready to roll once transport could be arranged, but he needed to be moved 1500 miles. A transport coordinator stepped in, calling upon her cadre of volunteers up and down the East Coast, seeking folks who could give Red a ride for about 100 miles or so, until the next volunteer could be found. A few key legs of the journey were established this way, when Maya got on Facebook. Posting a request for help, people came out of the woodwork. A college buddy, a hiking companion, a friend’s older sister’s college roommate… soon every leg was filled from Miami to the Catskills, and Red was on his way.

Into the Woods
Maya cried when she first saw him: he looked like it must hurt to exist. His ribs, hips, chest, legs… all bones and fur. No muscles, no flesh anywhere. He had wicked diarrhea: he was quickly nicknamed “Firehose Butt.” The writer’s own dogs avoided him, giving him only polite, cursory sniffs and then a wide berth.

Days of tiny meals of mashed yams with white rice and boiled chicken, fed every two hours, and then four hours, and then adding a sprinkling of dry dog food slowly yielded some weight. Those first few days were a blur of frequent short walks and lots of rest. Fear, lack of familiarity or just plain weakness rendered him unable to climb stairs.

The turning point came sometime during the second week when Iske, one of the writer’s other Malinois, approached Red and groomed him. She washed his face carefully, bathing his entire muzzle with strong, motherly licks. She was accepting him into the pack, and letting him know that she would take him on as her charge. After that, hiking with his foster mom and her dogs on Catskills trails helped him develop muscles and balance, strength and self-confidence. Going for lengthy runs with her daughter, who is on her high school track team, helped him gather his wits and get his “ya-yas” out. He was still a goofy boy, but over about six weeks or so, he started to learn about settling down and following the household rules.

Back to the City:
The canine equivalent of online dating, many rescue sites maintain a profile and photo database of the dogs available for adoption. RedCloud was listed and applications were received by his coordinator in Florida. One family stood out: they had owned a Malinois before, and understood the breed. They had no other pets and were ready to adopt. They were looking for a young dog with a happy-go-lucky personality. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a match!

His foster mom walked him alone that last morning before his forever family came to pick him up. On their solo walk, she remembered his first few days with her; emaciated and ill, weak and needy. She looked at the fine young dog before her and threw the stick for him one last time. Her job was done and now he was ready to live with his forever family. On some level, Maya was ready to have him leave but it is difficult to forget a special dog like RedCloud. He hopped into the back of his forever family’s station wagon as if he knew where he was headed. Weekly correspondence gives Maya confidence that RedCloud is doing extremely well in his new home and continues to gain weight and more self confidence.

From shelter to forever home in less than three months: good boy, Red!

Similar in both temperament and looks to German Shepherds, Malinois make excellent dogs for homes with or without children. They are protective, loyal, sweet, extremely intelligent, attentive and respond well to training. Although not as well known as their cousins the GSDs, it is difficult not to fall in love with them.

Why It is a Bad Idea to Turn Your Dog Into an Accessory

Thumbing through a copy of your latest celebrity magazine, you come across a photo of hotel heiress Paris Hilton strolling through Beverly Hills that catches your eye. Clad in Gucci sunglasses, an Hermès scarf, which prevents her hair from being too tussled by the gentle Santa Ana winds and Ferragamo strappy sandals that make her feet look oh so much smaller than they really are. For all her chicness, there is really one thing that you can’t stop staring at. In fact, it transfixes you. You bring the magazine to your boyfriend to show him. His reaction annoys you. You slump down in the chair and ask yourself, “How can he not fawn over the contents of her $1500 Dolce & Gabbana “hold everything” bag? Paris, you think to yourself, is hot, but, Tinkerbell, her teacup Chihuahua in all her adorableness is the most incredible being you have ever seen. “I want one!” You declare to your boyfriend. Listening to you with only half an ear, he utters, “Okay.”

What Kind of Dog Goes Best With Your Style?
Although you want to emulate the celebutante, you decide it is best to get another breed. You start scouring the Internet for photos of dogs. You come across a Maltipoo. You have no idea what this dog is, but he looks cute. You show him to your boyfriend, he agrees that this little guy is cute, although he is perhaps a little too cute for a man who owns a pick up truck and does construction for a living. Surely his buddies will make fun of him. But this doesn’t concern you.

When Luciano comes home with you, you can hardly stop and catch your breath. You rush to your local mall and buy him a baby stroller, his very own bed, which is a replica of Paris’s “Chewy Vuitton” and although you can’t afford a $1500 D&G purse, the one from Target is just as large and elegant as the one Tinkerbell is often seen toted around in.

Showing Your New Accessory Off to Friends and Family
Unable to contain your excitement, you decide that you must throw a party for Luciano’s arrival. You call it his coming out party and you invite all your friends and family.

The doorbell rings, Luciano runs from the sofa in his bedroom to see who is here to see him. As you open the door and your mother steps in to greet her new grandson, Luciano greets her by jumping on her. “Oh he’s so adorable!” your mother exclaims. Before you can close the door, your sister arrives. She, too is anxious to meet her new nephew. She bends down to greet him. Luciano has hardly finished jumping all over your mom and shows his irritation with your sister by biting her hand. She snaps her hand back and looks sternly at Luciano and says in a baby voice, “Now, Luciano, no biting, that’s not polite.”

Luciano saunters back to his sofa unamused by your guests, but on the way he lifts his leg and pees on your favorite sofa.

“I bet you Paris doesn’t have to deal with this!” You whine, “Luciano, why are you treating me this way?”

What Went Wrong and And How Can You Fix it, NOW?
The first mistake you made is in assuming Luciano is a small human. Dogs are pack animals and have no understanding of being fawned over. It is their job to fawn all over you, protect you and do some kind of job for you. Each breed performs different work, but going out for strolls in a baby stroller, being carried around in a purse, for all its cuteness is confusing for your dog. In fact, confusion can bring about agression.

New dog owners are rarely prepared for the amount of training that goes into raising a dog and oftentimes those with toy dogs are the least aware of the necessity. The sooner you start understanding that you have a dog and not an accessory, the sooner you can train Luciano and be thrilled to live with him again.

While you can hire a trainer to assist you in remove the aggressive little Napolean out of Luciano, a cheaper way is to avail yourself of the myriad free information on the Internet. But training Luciano is a must.

Some Examples of Good Training
First and foremost, in this new pack, you are the alpha. Luciano is a member but he is not the leader. But if you let him run roughshod all over you, he will never let up. Some dogs respond to clicker training, others to hand signs in combination with verbal cues. Some do very well with positive reinforcements in the form of treats. When your dog does well, praise him and reset. Dogs learn by repetition, and it may take upwards of 30 times for him or her to figure out that your command, for example, ’sit’, means for him to do so. If, when you tell him to sit, and he does so, praise him, maybe give him a treat. Whichever method you decide to use, you must remain consistent in order to see both short term and long term results.

Furniture
Dogs, especially those who have shown signs of agression, do not need their own sofas. In fact, most trained dog owners don’t even allow their dogs on furniture. If the sofa you have gotten Lucian is small enough, give it to your sister who can put in her daughter’s room. In its place buy a crate and begin crate training. Luciano will do much better in his program if crate training is added to the regimine.

As for de-accessorizing your pet, there’s nothing wrong with dressing him or her for the weather. Small dogs have a heck of a time moderating their body temperature in the winter, so it is good to keep them toasty. But do you need to treat them like your personal quadrupedal Barbie? Certainly not.