April 2008 Archives

I sometimes come across people who seem to overlook the simplest solutions to overcoming their dog’s issues. Now when you're watching the show, it’s easy to judge someone else, but when I arrive at a client’s home, I never judge them or make them feel wrong. I simply believe these people are lacking information.

Most people aren’t used to seeing the subtle behaviors that can easily escalate into major behavioral problems. But everything in the animal world counts: the way they move, the way they breathe, the energy they project and their body language.

I sometimes come across people who seem to overlook the simplest solutions to overcoming their dog’s issues. Now when you're watching the show, it’s easy to judge someone else, but when I arrive at a client’s home, I never judge them or make them feel wrong. I simply believe these people are lacking in information.

A lot of people aren’t used to seeing the subtle behaviors that can escalate into major behavioral problems. But everything in the animal world counts: the way they move, the way they breathe, the energy they project and their body language.

There are several ways to help a dog who is fearful of an object or place. You can use positive reinforcement, exposure--some people call it “flooding” --or a combination of the two. But any strategy should be based on professional advice, what you know about your own dog, and your intuition.

This is how I rehabilitate dogs, but I'm also open to new ideas. If one way isn’t working, I don’t grit my teeth and say, “You’re gonna do it, dang it!”, I am open to adapting or changing strategies. With Sadie, I was able to use a combination of exposure and positive reinforcement, because she seemed to be telling me two things: “My fear is not that intense,” and “I expect to be rewarded for my courage.”

We should always be open to different ideas when helping dogs, but it's most important to remember to always be in a calm assertive state. If your energy is negative, angry, frustrated, fearful, desperate, pitying, you can have the best intentions, but you will be doing more harm than good.

Often, there are warning signs that a dog gives before her behavior escalates into full-blown aggression. But if an owner fails to calmly and assertively stop the escalation at the early warning stage, it's often too late because the dog now sees the owner coming at her with a weaker state of mind, becoming more powerful at each encounter. This results in a cycle of aggression.

If you are uncomfortable or unsure about how to correct during the early warning signals your dog gives you, or if you are already in such a cycle, contact a professional for help.

Jackie Walker bought the chocolate Lab Angler as a mate for her other Lab Summer. But after about a month, Jackie noticed that Angler was blind, a condition which the vet seemed to think occurred during birth. Even though he is blind, Angler is able navigate around the house without any problems. Everything seems picture perfect, but Angler exhibits strange behavior around food. He tries to bite his hindquarters and attack his tail, sending him into a cyclonic pattern. This always happens in the middle and at the end of his meals. Jackie suspects it's because Angler thinks something is after his food. Angler hasn't bitten anyone yet, but it is a concern that he might miss his tail and get Jackie's hand instead. Cesar arrives with a plan to end this food driven tantrum, but can he show Angler the way?

Leasa and Craig Eisele had very different upbringings when it came to dogs. Leasa never had a dog, but always wanted one of her own and Craig grew up with dogs, but was never really crazy about them. Two years ago, they picked up Sasha from the pound. Though he is willing to support Leasa, Craig feels that Sasha is Leasa's responsibility. Sasha, a German shepherd/Corgi mix was given rules, boundaries, and limitations from the very beginning. She is perfect in the house, but outside she began showing aggression towards other dogs. She doesn't seem to understand how to interact with them and snarls and tries to bite the other dog's neck or face without warning. The Eiseles are at a loss of what to do now. Craig and Leasa would like Cesar to show them what they have done right and where they have gone wrong. But first, Cesar must convince Craig that in order to have a successful pack, both owners must be on board as pack leaders.

When a dog barks or charges another dog, a lot of people immediately think, "My dog is red zone aggressive." That's not always the case. There is a difference between aggression and dominance. Dominance involves physical touch, such as a bite on the neck, but not to the point of puncturing the skin. A dominant state of mind has a limit. It's easier for me to stop a dog when he is in a dominant state or to break up an escalation fueled by dominance. When a dog is in an aggressive state, they're going for the kill. It's a state of mind that is blind; they can't hear or feel. The dog is so focused on injuring the other dog that everything else just goes away. The only way to stop that behavior is to get their attention at the same intensity as their aggression.

People are always asking me for help, so I know that if I give them a piece of my knowledge, they're going to use it. As a dog walker, dog whisperer, dog trainer, or any kind of dog professional, you can give your client the tools to understand the importance of following through so they can see why it's best to follow my mantra of exercise, discipline and affection. My goal is to make sure that the owner understands that it's not the dog -- it's them. Once they take responsibility for what's around them, they'll start to see results. But I don't always do the talking. I like to listen to people, hear their story, and get a feel for where they are coming from. From there, we can find a common ground. When I leave a client, I have to trust that I was able to get them as far as I could. With humans you can only help them get to a certain state. They have to find the motivation to follow through.