Ask the Trainer with Brenda Lowry

Got a question for Brenda Lowry?

Email Brenda at sitdownstay@rogers.com or visit her website at www.brendagroupdogwalking.com

Training Tips

Digging:

Is Rover digging up the grass and making a mess of the gardens ? Digging’s root cause is usually boredom and anxiety. Generally speaking our dogs should only be left alone outside for 10 – 15 minutes.They are a part of the family and need to be where we are and so if we are outside our dogs can be happy outside much longer but when we go inside they very much need to be inside with us. If your dog is digging and he is only outside 10 minutes or so , then you can put his poop in the hole he digs and he won’t want to dig there anymore. After a few holes are filled with poop the habit will be broken. You can also give them there own area to dig in. Pick a corner of the yard that you can assign as a digging pit and fill it with treats and toys and refill it as often as needed.

Excessive Barking:

Barking is our dog’s way of communicating with each other and with us. Just like we learn the differences in our baby’s cry, we can also learn the differences in our dog’s barking. Sometimes they bark to alert us to perceived danger, sometimes they bark out of excitement, and so on. We want them to let us know if an intruder is at the door but we also want them to stop barking when we say “enough” or “leave it “. The most effective way to do this is to teach our dogs to speak on command. Wait until your dog is ready to bark and immediately say “speak” and reward them for doing so. It doesn’t have to be with food, it can be praise, or scratch of the ears etc. Eventually your dog will only bark on “cue” (command).

Pulling on the Leash:

There are many types of collars and leads to aid in having control of our dogs as we walk, eg gentle leaders, no pull harnesses , haltis etc. When our dogs are pulling, we should stop and wait until the dog has stopped pulling before we continue. Another way to work on this is to stop and go the other way when they pull. This causes the dog to pay attention to what the handler is doing and where they are going. Tugging or pulling our dogs back only encourages them to pull even more.

Canine Behaviour and Communication

• Understand canine communication. Dogs that enjoy rough and tumble play may growl and snap as part of that play. Dogs may also snarl and/or snap to "set their limits" with other dogs for example, to let the other dog know they are being too rough or too pushy.
• Dogs have various ways by which they communicate their dominance to other dogs. This may include a stiff-legged posture with the head held up and back; raising the hackles on the back; raising the tail; or laying the head across another dog's shoulders or back.
• It's also important to be sensitive to the other dogs with whom your dog is playing. You should always watch your dog carefully and be prepared to intervene if the interaction seems to be going down the wrong road.
• If your dog seems to be pestering or annoying another dog, divert his/her attention immediately. This means moving to another part of the park.
• Utilize the park during non-peak hours to work with dogs that exhibit shyness, fear or aggressive behaviour when they are in a larger dog group.
• Don't be discouraged or disappointed if your dog doesn't jump right in and begin playing. Dogs that are not socialized at an early age sometimes are uneasy or just shy around other dogs. It may take a couple of tries, or even a few weeks of visits, before your dog comes out of his/her shell. Give your dog a little time and you will have a healthier, friendlier and more playful dog.

Questions & Answers

I really like taking my dog to the offleash park but sometimes she gets so excited when she sees the other dogs that she runs towards them and it scares some of the other dogs. Once she reaches them, all she wants to do is play but the more timid dogs don't know that. I just don't know how to fix this.
Yvette Miller

Hi Yvette,
This is a not unusual for some dogs to get over excited once they reach the park. It would be good to teach her to say "hello" to the other dogs while on leash and then ask her to sit and then release her to play. She will eventually get the idea that she must stay calm to have the reward of being taken off her leash and playing with the other dogs.

How do I stop my dog from barking and lunging on the leash?

Many dogs pull, lunge and bark while on lead.  Generally this is considered a fear reaction. As owners, our first instinct is to tighten up on the lead and this tension goes down the leash to the dog. When we do that we give the dog a message that there is something to be concerned about and so they feel the need to protect themselves and us. The dog also does not have the choice of fight or flight when held on a tight leash. Most dogs prefer to flee when given the choice. There are things you can do to diminish this behaviour. Socialize your pup as much as possible. Try to find other puppies in your neighbourhood and have playdates or go for walks together. The more you socialize your pup the less likely it is that your pup will be a problem on a leash. Be sure you have good walking equipment, my personal faves being the Easy Walk no pull harness made by Gentle Leader and the Gentle Leader nose halter. This gives you a lot of control without having to hold a tight leash. All dogs benefit from at least one session of positive method group classes of which there are several to choose from in Durham Region.

Every time the door bell rings my dog goes berserk.  He starts barking and running and when I finally answer the door to let my guest in, my dog barks and jumps all over the person.  Even though I give him the sit command he just can't help himself.  He gets so excited he almost doesn't know what to do with himself.  What would you suggest I do in this situation?  Thanks so much for your help.

This is a great question! Many dog owners struggle with the same problem. The first step is to pick up some Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. You can find this at most Health Food Stores and the Loblaws Superstores. Its also available online. Rescue Remedy will help to relax your dog and will take the edge off your dog's nervousness/reactiveness. After your dog has been on the Rescue Remedy drops for a week, you can begin to desensitize your dog to the ringing of the doorbell and guests arriving. You will need to ask friends and neighbours to help you, explain your game plan and set aside an entire weekend to work with your dog. Have your dog on his leash, training halter or harness and begin by having a friend ring the doorbell. Have treats ready for your friend /neighbour/family member to give to your dog when they enter your home. Ask your dog to sit and then they can give your pet dog a tiny morsel of treat. Do this every five minutes for as long as it takes for your dog to ignore the doorbell. Once this happens begin having someone ring the doorbell every 10 minutes, and so on. This is called desensitizing your pet dog to the ringing of the bell and to guests entering your home. Let me know how this goes and please feel free to ask another question.