So called "balanced trainers" will often say that trainers must have more than one tool in their toolbox when justifying the use of aversives (prong collars, choke chains, e-collars, squirt bottles...)  Science based positive trainers have many tools in their tool box but NONE of these tools hurt or scare. Balanced trainers often jump to the aversive because they think a treat isn't working or "it's faster" but they don't step back and look at the big picture.  How does a science based trainer approach differ? We look at the big picture and then break it down and then focus on changing the dog's behavior. Let's take that common unwanted behavior of jumping on people.
 
1.  What is the unwanted behavior: Jumping
2.  When does it occur: People coming in the door 
3.  What is the motivator: Attention
4.  What is the wanted behavior: Sit

What do we need to do:  Manage the environment to prevent the behavior from continuing, teach and motivate the new behavior, teach the human how not ro reinforce the unwanted behavior when reintroducing the dog to the environment.

For the jumper we manage the environment by preventing Fido from being in the environment where the jumping occurs.  When someone is coming in the door have Fido outside or in another room. Next, we teach the new wanted behavior, sit, until sit is generalized to many situations, locations and with distractions.  Before we bring Fido back in we must teach the human that  any attention is good attention to a dog and rewards the unwanted behavior.  Yelling, waving your arms, pushing Fido away can be a favorite game.  Take all of this attention away by turning sideways with your arms crossed and no eye contact.   Say "sit" once and then wait for it. It's hard not to repeat the cue but it is important that the dog makes the choice to provide that behavior and it will get faster as they connect the reward to the behavior. 

​In the beginning  this takes time so don't try to do this part while you are in a hurry.  Jumping has given Fido a lot of attention in the past so he's going to have to work thru it in his brain that jumping no longer nets him any attention.  He may even do the sit a few times and then suddenly you may have what is called an "extinction burst".  This is when Fido, after doing well, reverts back to that unwanted jumping with a little more gusto in a last ditch attempt to get that jump to reward him with the attention.  He is thinking "it worked for a long time, surely it will work again".  Now is the time to stand firm.  Practice this every day with family members first, then ask friends to work with you.  Have treats by the door and tell visitors what you are working on and what you want them to do so that Fido has the best chance at being successful in learning to make the right choices.
 
This is how reward based training works.  We identify the challenge, identify the motivator (or reward). We identify the wanted behavior. We manage the unwanted behavior by preventing the situation. We teach the wanted behavior.  We ask for the wanted behavior while ignoring the unwanted behavior. This way we avoid punishments that the dog does not understand and, according to repeated studies, reward based training helps set up solid foundations that can prevent long term problems.  It allows the dog to learn to make right choices and build self control, creating a life long family member that you enjoy spending time with rather than a dog who is submitting out of fear of the next punishment. 
 

Does your dog like to dig or tear things up? These behaviors can be frustrating and very hard to stop. There is a simple solution, tho, that reduces the frustration for the dog and the  human.

Destruction Use enrichments that allow the dog to tear something up. Toss a couple of treats into a cardboard box, a paper towel insert or a paper bag that you then roll up. Yes they will make a mess but iti's an easy one to clean up and may save your furniture.

Digging set up a digging area where it is allowed. Motivate the dog to use this area by partially burying some favorite toys and then redirect  this area. They will learn to dig there rather than in your garden, along the fence or other areas.

Remember, the more mental stimulation they get the less you will see these types of unwanted behaviors.

Make a new toy out of an old toy and get rid of one of those old t-shirts stuffed in the back of your drawer at the same time.

​The holiday season is almost upon us. Wait, Leave It and Place can keep your dog  from getting into trouble.  Spending time now teaching, proofing or fine tuning these behaviors can help keep your dog safe as well as a welcome part of the celebrations. 

Wait.  Wait tells the dog to wait a moment, be patient and something else is going to happen.  Wait while you hook their leash up, wait while your food is prepared, wait before going out the door, wait before getting in or out of the car.  This gives you time to do something safely and without mishap from a dog jumping, darting, even knocking things out of your hands. 
 
Leave It.  This cue prevents a dog from snatching or eating something they shouldn’t have.  With all the food , breakable decorations and even extra medications due to seasonal illnesses that are around knowing your dog has a rock solid leave it can save their life.
 
Drop It.  Teaching a dog to drop an item that they’ve already picked up, such as the random sock, wrapped gift, shoe, will end those unwanted games of chase.  With a solid Drop It cue the dog will drop the item instead.
 
Place.    A dog who knows to go to their safe spot while you answer the door, carry packages thru the room, clean up a mess, can alleviate a lot of tension.  This is a great way to prevent them from darting out the door when holiday visitors or deliveries arrive.
 
If your dog already knows these cues start practicing now.   Just a few minutes per day, adding them in here and there, will help the dog be ready to deliver the requested behavior when you ask for it.  If your dog doesn’t know these cues or they aren’t working like they should, then reach out for help. It can eliminate some of the stress of the season.

​Remember that cute little puppy you brought home a few months ago?  Where did he go?

The dog between 6 and 18 months of age is not quite an adult but no longer a young puppy.   Just because they are ‘full size’ doesn’t mean their brain is fully developed.  It may even seem all the work that you have put into his training has gone up in smoke.  No worry, tho, your sweet puppy is still in there, he is just growing up and going thru that ‘awkward phase’ that many trainers refer to as the Brat Zone, the adolescent.   Here are a few tips to get thru this time.

1. Don’t stop training.  Get out the treats, toys, games and train.  Keep the sessions short but fun.
2. Work for food.  Incorporate food puzzles, snuffle mats, kongs, find it games.  Mental exercises (brain games) will help your dog’s brain form the right connections and learn to make positive choices.  It lowers anxiety levels and lessens the chances for destructive behaviors developing.
3. Physical exercise is important and when incorporated with mental exercise you get more bang for your buck.  Take the dog for a walk in a new area, allow the dog to sniff and explore the area but also practice a few basics on the walk as well.   Focus less on heel and more on what your dog is getting out of the walk.
4. Socialize.  Many dogs that went thru puppy classes no longer have opportunities to socialize.  Arrange play dates with compatible dogs, attend classes just for the social, get involved in rally or Fit Dog clubs. 
5. Be prepared for ups and downs.  One day your dog may be spot on, the next day not so much.  This is normal.  And temporary.  Patience is the key. 
6. If you let the dog get away with something once he will expect it again. And again.  And again.  Example, if you let the dog jump on you now you will be setting up it up for the future.  Make sure you continue enforcing the rules you’ve already set in place. 

 
I promise this is temporary.   Talk to a trainer who is experienced and uses reward based training to help if you need to get a handle on wayward behaviors before they become a real problem. 
​©29k9  

Responsible dog owners do their best to prepare their fur babies for the new human baby coming.  Getting them used to the new gadgets, noises, smells and even carrying things  in your arms.  Reinforcing those old standby behaviors of sits, downs, stays... Sometimes bringing in a trainer to help or going the self-help route, trying to cover everything we can think of.

Recently, tho, I read an article in Whole Dog Journal by Tiffany Lovell, CPDT-KA, called When A Baby Changes Everything.  It addressed Postpartum Depression and the consequences for the family dog. 
This got me to thinking about how often I see the "Must Rehome My Dog" ads that mention new babies and no time for the dog.  With the stigma we see about PPD and how a new baby is supposed to be a blessing, a happy time, a wonderful experience, I am now wondering how many of these "must rehome" ads are really a reflection of PPD. 

One symptom of PPD can be a hair trigger temper.  Everything can set you off, including any noise.  Dogs are noisy.  Not just their barking but the crunching, squeaking, slurping, thumping noises that we may not even notice under normal circumstances.  Add PPD and a finally sleeping baby and these noises might just set you over the edge.  Then there is that moment you finally get to yourself only to have the dog right there, in your face and in your space.

Maybe the only thing they can think of doing is rehoming the dog.  This might not be 'just because they don't have time' but because they are trying to reduce their triggers.  Trying to find that quiet, not just environmentally but emotionally, to focus on themselves and the baby and getting thru a very tough journey.  And they don't want to tell the entire world, especially strangers, what is really going on.
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There is help out there.  Address the Postpartum Depressing by talking to the doctor.  Think about doggy daycare or asking a friend to foster for a few weeks.  Talk to a trainer to help address environmental and behavior issues.