September 2007 Archives

In many ways, you are the source of your dog's energy, so motivating him really begins with you. Motivation doesn't necessarily mean saying "good boy;" it's an energy. And you can't fool a dog - in other words, if you don't believe it, neither will he. As long as you are positive and see no limits, you can accomplish anything with your furry friend and you can also have a lot of fun!

Dog aggression doesn't have a gender, but it's true that un-neutered males can be more aggressive with other males around a female dog in heat. And an un-spayed female dog can show defensive behavior when surrounded by males dogs who have picked up her scent. With un-neutered male dogs, that female scent is an invitation to mate and when there is competition, they can go into a fighting mode. Remember, aggression is not just a physical state; it's also mental. There are fights because there's only room for one at the top. This is why it is very important not to bring un-neutered dogs to a dog park. When someone goes to neuter an aggressive dog, it's helpful to create a calm-submissive state of mind before handing over to the vet. Neutering prevents signals from this part of his body and will ease aggression around other dogs.

I've worked with a number of feral dogs over the years and have learned that these dogs don't respond to people the way domesticated dogs do and because of that, they initially don't trust us. So they way I deal with them is more instinctual, meaning I have to think on more of a primal level and study the way they survive outside--where they live, how they move from place to place, and where they rest. In Friday's segment, because I knew this feral dog would probably not come to me, I needed to be able to trap her--both physically and psychologically--in order to help her. Remember, animals who think they're cornered will instinctively go into a "fight or flight" mode. So in order to catch her, I chose a time when she would be unaware I was coming - during rest. I made sure my human helpers were staged to create a sort of psychological fence. Once she knew she couldn't run from us, she surrendered psychologically.

Your dog's bad behavior is not funny. If your dog is aggressive or fearful with people or other dogs, it's definitely no laughing matter. In fact, if you laugh off a bad behavior, you may be reinforcing her actions. Remember, your energy is a trigger for your dog. If you're projecting a type of fun, positive energy while she's misbehaving, she's going to think it's okay.

When you deal with animals, you can't expect them to rationalize your good intentions. And when it comes to training, clients often expect results too soon. Because of this, both the dog and the owner can become very frustrated. This can also create a fight-or-flight instinct within the dog, which can make it extremely difficult for him to achieve calm-submission. To get the results you're looking for, you first need to gain the dog's trust and respect. And above all, you need patience.

When I want to introduce a dog to a new tool, such as a dog "wheelchair," I first visualize the dog with the tool, the way I would see using it. I want him to be successful and have a positive experience. You can't have a negative attitude or energy when you're introducing something new to your dog - especially if he doesn't get it the first time.

Dogs are born with pack instinct, but there can be big trouble and destructive consequences when the pack decides to act out independent of their human owner. That’s why it’s so vital that your dogs not question your leadership.

My clients John and Jeri Wehrle, were able to create a strategy where they both walked together and switched dogs halfway though the walk. Since John was the stronger partner, he could take the strongest dog during the first 10-15 minutes, then pass him to his wife. Once the dog had reached a more submissive state of mind, it made it easier for Jeri to become established in the dog’s mind as the same kind of authority figure.

Remember, dogs aren’t born aggressive; it often stems from pent-up frustration, usually due to a lack of exercise and discipline.

When dogs first became domesticated, humans admired their protective instincts. They felt safer knowing that their dogs’ barks and growls would warn them against predators. Today, we still sometimes think of our dogs as our protectors, but when that instinct goes awry, there can be trouble.

When one dog becomes overly protective of another, the one being protected becomes the “property” of the other. But as always, if you are seen as the pack leader, any new dog you bring in to the household will automatically know where their place is in the pack. If your leadership is questionable, your dog may take it on herself to assume responsibility for the weaker members of the pack.

For busy, dog-owning families, maintaining a consistent morning routine is very important. Like many of us, your mornings are often chaotic and rushed and your dog will pick up on that energy. If the dog is denied some type of exercise after a good night's sleep, his frustration from a lack of physical activity, along with the whirlwind of the morning’s circus can really create an unbalanced state of mind.

Luckily, there’s a remedy. Now what’s the first rule of a balanced dog? Exercise! You need to exercise your dog first thing in the morning. And if you have kids, then yes, you may have to wake up earlier. That’s the tradeoff when you decide to adopt a furry friend into your family.

But trust me, once you get out there and the blood starts flowing, you too will be ready to start your day with a clearer, calmer, more balanced mind! Plus, it will help to cut the chaos and create a different energy for everybody in the family. Don't believe me? Look to your pooch to see if you’re making positive headway – his behavior will be a direct reflection of your lifestyle and energy.

Your dog doesn’t care whether you’re a CEO or a typist, a movie star or a maid, a homemaker or a homeless person. What matters most is energy you project.

When you’re around dogs, it’s very important to be aware that they are always monitoring your energy and based on that, they’ll see you as a leader or a follower.

Now you all know that dogs respond to a leader projecting calm-assertive energy, but here’s something that’s even more interesting. Once I’ve helped clients become more self-aware of the energy they’re projecting with their own dogs, they use it to their benefit in their everyday lives. They become better bosses, better workers, and even better spouses!

Learn to recognize and control the energy you project and remember, everyone benefits from calm-assertive energy!

All animals, humans included, are sensitive to the “vibes” of other animals.

So when you have a group of dogs living in an apartment complex with their people, they share an innate ability to recognize the energy of the others.

And when they’re a group of unstable dogs that don’t see their owners as pack leaders, they will try and create balance among each other. But the problem is if they are unstable to begin with, their attempts to balance the other dogs can make a bad situation worse.