Since 1999 I have been the Training and Behavior Manager for the Upper Valley Humane Society in Enfield NH. "Teaching Dog's Self control skills" working with Staff, volunteers and the public.

I have learned much through the years and totally believe that "Teaching Self Control Skills" is the way to work with our Four Footed Friends. Dog or Horse.

I also have extensive Equine back ground too. Use to do some 3 day evening yrs ago. Have reconditioned at least a dozen horses over the yrs and then resold or placed as great pleasure horses with "no" issues.

"Skeeter"

I have competed in the sports of Schutzhund, AKC OB, now doing some herding, agility and freestyle with my current Four Footed Friends. I also do the evals for the Paws to Read program (modeled after R.E.A.D) that we have developed in our area so dogs and their handlers go into the schools / library's and children read to the dogs. It's a huge success for all involved.

Have had an extensive back ground in teaching personal protection and working with many Police and SAR, Service Dog handlers. ( haven't done the personal protection stuff for 18+ yrs now). But still work and coach SAR Refind and relationship skills & Police dog handlers for competition type events on dog handler relationship and skill training (NO physical Corrections). But definitely time outs. The last team I worked with won the 2003 OB,scent and obstacle course events and was # one all around in Canada. With a K/9 that was very "sharp". Even had the hair on my back "Standing up" on occasion but who in the end trusting me too. But was hair raising to start with;-)

I am one of those "kind" of people who find joy and solace being with dogs. I am happiest in their company and proud to have earned their trust. I have experienced the deeply civilized "conversations" that happen between well trained dogs and their handlers. I know that I am a better person - more just, more open-minded, much kinder and certainly happier - because of the friendship of my "Four Footed Friends".

Most people acquire dogs hoping to create the kind of relationship that I have both a gift for and training in. I know that "loving" our dogs doesn't create trustworthy companions. Commitment by a dog to his human family is the result of humane training and diligent management. It happens when we wholly accept the responsibility to lead, but not to dominate. Humane leadership allows more of the dog's capacity to be used for learning rather than defense and avoidance.

Agility Classes

Doing Evaluations

In the recent history of animal training the science of operant conditioning has been applied to dog training by some visionary folks - Karen Pryor, Gary Wilkes, Ted Turner, the Baileys and their many students. They have shown all of us that we can foster the best in dog and handler by using positive reinforcement, good management and time outs. Having the science to support our "feeling" that training shouldn't include compulsion has opened up wonderful new worlds of learning.

So the training and behavioral work I do with the public and shelter community is entirely about how to achieve the two goals of all training - getting behavior we want when we ask for it or just expect to happen and getting rid of behavior we don't want without having to ask - humanely and while having fun! In addition to teaching through positive reinforcement, I place a very strong emphasis on managing a dog's environment for safety.

Kim with "Winston" and "Skeeter"

Our use of reinforcement and time outs to teach self-control in every part of the shelter dogs life with us is central to our success. To learn the dog must be able to think and to think requires self-control.

What is the opposite of self-control? OUT-OF-CONTROL!!! Being out-of-control is what sends almost all our shelter dogs to us. Obedience behavior by itself doesn't teach self-control. We start with the absolute basics. We use what the dog wants to badly and show him how to "manipulate" us to get it. To leave the kennel, the door won't open unless I back up. To get attention and treats at the kennel then I have to put my butt on the ground. To go for a walk I have to wear a gentle leader or sensation-harness and not pull. These aren't obedience behaviors, they are self-control behaviors - but they are what 99% of the pet owning public desperately wants from their pets.

AT UVHS we have trained everyone to positively reinforce for calm, thoughtful behavior. We have learned how not to reinforce out-of-control behavior. We know "Dogs do what works" and we have found ways to make self-control work big time. I'm really proud of all at UVHS !

The classes we/I offer the public are based on the same principles: a dog with self-control will make good choices. Just cause a dog knows how to sit doesn't make him thoughtful - only self-control can do that.

Just a few stats:

I'm now going back 5 yrs and going over the 4000+ shelter dogs I've worked with at UVHS and putting them together. Since I'm not a scientist I never realized their value till just the other day. (Thanks Kelley).

When I started back in 1999 with UVHS our Euthanasia rate was around 43%. By implementing our self-control through positive reinforcement and management, by 2001 we dropped it to about 23%

And more than that our adoption returns are less than 1% for the last 5 yrs.

I'm going to go back with a survey and find out if these dogs are still in the original homes and if any have bite history yrs later. We do follow up's 3month 6 months and then a yr but that's it. Some of the more difficult dogs we have placed I still am in touch with.

For me our simple yearly stats show we are doing a lot of good work. And it certainly makes us an example of what is possible for other shelters. This type of programming is not Cheap it's time and resources which many shelter won't ever have any extra. I've been fortunate to work at a shelter who wanted to change and who had a large endowment to try it.

The philosophy behind our protocols for "relaxed down, quiet entrance and exit, loose leash walking, sit calmly for greeting" - all teach the dogs that self-control is the only way to get what he wants. A dog with self-control is a free dog! When reinforced positively for self-control or given time outs, the dog/puppy learns that he can be with you by being quiet & calm. That watching and waiting is the only way to get reinforced. He learns that he doesn't always have to act to get what he wants. It is the only way to teach your dog that he can comfortably and safely wait next to you while exciting things go on around him. Without self-control - calm, watchfulness- a dog can't learn and can't exercise judgment. Neither can we.

I watched a person recently work with a dog who was jumping up grabbing her behind the arms and even her breasts & taking her arm or others in her mouth roughly, an adolescent at its worst.

This person had been working with this dog for 2+ yrs with no significant change in behavior, although the dog had great OB skills SIT, Down, drop it & complied right away but had No Self control and I thought - if only she (the handler) would just limit the dogs possibilities (step on the lead would be a good place to start) and then reinforce the dog for the quiet times (which the dog did finally after after 20 minutes of them doing sit down grab the leash or handler shoving the lead into the dogs mouth) then this dog would learn quickly that Lying calmly will eventually get it what it wants, Self-control works and the human/dog will learn what behavior really needs to be reinforced and what kind of reinforcers work best and how to use time outs effectively. It took me a while to realize that the dog simply had NO self control skills and only OB skills. The power of timely placed reinforcement would have changed who this dog is.

I'm now back in private practice doing what I love helping others with their Four Footed Friends. Doing 10 hours at UVHS plus some classes and a day of privates. But mostly going to folks home and helping them with their four footed friends!

I don't have all the answers for sure, but I've had great teachers along the way and can't wait for tomorrow to see what challenges it bring to my door step.

My jointly written training manual, the classes I teach, the handlers and dogs I work with are small thanks for the joy I have been given by my dog friends past, present and future. Though I will never be completely worthy of their devotion I can perhaps give them immortality by sharing what they have taught me.

Two of my frequent motto's

"Teaching and Learning through Cooperation and Kindness"

"Every Interaction is a Teaching/Learning Opportunity"

My work is dedicated to all the dogs I have worked with-forever in my heart showing us all - if we can listen - how to live joyfully in the moment.

No introduction about me would be complete without special mention of my friend co author and colleague, Nancy Lyon. Please take a minute to meet Nancy on her own page! Thanks.