HINTS AND GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING YOUR DOG

Question of the Month Q: How do I stop my dog from jumping up on everyone? A: You have two goals if you want to change the jumping up behavior: Manage the situation so she can’t jump up Teach her a new behavior that is incompatible with jumping that you can reward so she will choose the new behavior instead of jumping up Read more ...

TRAINING MANUALS AVAILABLE for SALE:

Changing People Changing Dogs NEW!! Creating a Happy Eager and Fun Relationship with your Dog! From Fearful and Shy to Joyful and Happy Teaching Self Control Skills for Shelter Dogs for Volunteers and Staff! Barrier Aggression Panels for Dogs and or Cats -- Contact Paula Harper for more information. More information and ordering!

Training Articles

NEW! Wait for Permission to Move
NEW! Resource Guarding and the Food Bowl Game

Retraining a Dog that is Marking
Lowering Arousal: How to Train Impulse Control
The "Three Hundred Peck Pigeon" Post - Clicker Center News
Don't risk punishing!
How to Create Harmony Between Your Family and Your Dog
I'd Rather Be Dancing with my Dog...
When Do I Start Training?
No Free Lunch!!!
Hey, Let’s Play!
Inappropriate Play with Other Dogs or Humans
Cat to Dog Introductions
Small Dog, Big Attitude
How Does Your Pet Speak to You?

Clicker Training

Does the click end the behavior? By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., CCBC, CAP2, NADOI endorsed

• Angelica is also the author of  “Click & Play Agility”   a must have for your library. To purchase, visit www.CourteousCanine.com, go to the store (cover to the right)

Clicker Training? by Dee Ganley  ( her personal Journey )

For Puppies

NEW! Puppy Weekly Socialization Chart
Ten Rules for Buying a Pet
The Puppy’s Rule of Twelve
Puppy/Dog Socialization
Approximate Annual Pet Care Cost -- more info on the cost of pets

Preparing dog/puppy for the Vet:

Nail Trimming for Sensitve Dogs
The Veterinary Olympics
Preparing for the Vet
Doggie Nail File

Behavior Counseling

Teaching the “Leave It” Command
Teaching the “Relax Down” Command
Animal Husbandry at Home
Teaching Bite Inhibition - Relief from puppy mouthing
"Bite Inhibition" is a Fuzzy Term © Kellie Snider, 2006

Crate Training

Crate Training
House Training Your Puppy
Ringing the Bell to Go Outside (Visit www.poochiebells.com)

Walking/Leash

Walking Your Dog with a Head Halter
Strolling on Lead
What To Do If Your Dog Pulls on the Leash (Loose Leash Diagramed)
Reliable Recall
NEW! Let’s Go For A Walk-Together! No pulling please!

Working with Shy dogs:

Helping Shy Dog Blossom Using Targeting
More on Targeting For Fear issues

Special Circumstances

Working with a Deaf Dog
Disaster Planning for Pets

Shelter dog training:

Multiple Dogs at Kennel Doors
Reducing Barrier Aggression In Your Kennel
Simple Evaluation For Potential Transport Dogs

Visit Dee's Shelter Evaluations section.

Leaving Pet Home Alone

Separation Anxiety
Teaching Your Dog to Stay Home Alone

Children & Pets

*All children should be taught to respect other living beings, be they animal or human. From birth, children need to learn that some things are just not allowed, and "be gentle" should be a common household command. Even if your household does not contain animals, your children should still be taught the basics. One day they will encounter an animal, whether it is somebody else's pet in a controlled environment, or a meeting on the street with a strange dog.

Creating a Safe Zone  (with permission, from Barbara Shumannfang, book is title  Happy Kids Happy Dogs)
Children and Dogs: Important Information for Parents
Preparing Your Pet For Baby’s Arrival
Dogs & Babies
Teaching a Child to Be Gentle
Why Dogs Bite: A Guideline For Children
Working with children in the Family Dog Class: The Yes/No/Yes Game:
Explaining Pet Death to Children
NEW! The ABC's of Dog Safety

For books aimed at young readers, Dee recommends:

"Puppy Training for Kids," by Sarah Whitehead
Designed for ages 4-12 (the younger kids will obviously need help with the reading, but the explanations and oodles of photos are first rate). It's great even if the dog is older than a puppy. It's incredibly comprehensive while being a manageable length, and there's a whole section on how to behave around the family dog.

"Meeting Milo" by Yvette Van Veen and David Perks.
It's a picture book on dog safety for younger kids, and there is even a companion workbook to it.

Nutrition, Food & Feeding

SO what should I feed my dog? And why? -- 10 Secrets Pet Food Companies Don't Want You to Know
NEW! Homemade Treats for Your Pooch
Nutrition for Companion Carnivores (can apply to cats as well)
When Choosing A Commercial Dog Food
FOR INFORMATION AND SUPPLIERS OF HUMAN GRADE DOG FOOD AND TREATS -- VISIT OUR LINKS SECTION

Loss of a Pet / Euthanasia

Grieving the Loss of a Pet
Euthanasia

Web Sites

Pet Place -- Behavior and training information for all pets

Articles for Andover Beacon
Four Footed Forum

Four-Footed Forum
Counter Surfing (Is your dog stealing from the counters?)
Who’s the Boss?
House Training Your Puppy
My Name is NO NO BAD DOG!
Managing Your Dog Outdoors Without a Leash

For even more Training information and articles, visit Upper Valley Humane Society and click on Training Center.

Articles Translated into German

Don’t risk punishing
I’d rather dance with my dog than be it’s drill sergeant!
Cat to dog introductions
Lowering arousal
Inappropriate play with other dogs or humans
The puppy’s rule of twelve
Keeping the piece between dogs and small critters

Articles Translated into Spanish

Introducing Dogs to Cats NEW!

Studies & Research NEW!

Alarming facts from a recent survey :

The study concludes that leash corrections, the dog forging ahead or a tethered pet hitting the end of a solid line may  inflict spinal injury.


Excerpts from the above mentioned survey:
“During 1992 several Chiropractors, my students and I conducted a study of 400 dogs from different dog clubs in Sweden. Dog owners were offered a free examination of their dog by a chiropractor in return for their voluntary participation. Those who volunteered to participate in the study had mostly ordinary dogs, in that owners presented them to us without any suspicion of spinal anomalies…Canine back problems are common. The result of our study showed that the chiropractors found back anomalies in 63% of the 400 dogs…dogs that “acted out” in other words, that exhibited over activity and aggression, 78% had spinal anomalies. Spinal anomalies seem to constitute an irritation that often results in stress reactions, aggression or fear. This is also in accordance with my own and my students’ experience with problematic dogs... In our study there were some factors that correlated with spinal anomalies. These were:

 Pulling on leash:
Of those dogs that had cervical (neck) anomalies, 91% (!) had been exposed to harsh jerks on the leash, or they had a long history of pulling or straining at the end of a leash. There is a risk of "whip-lash" from jerking the leash that probably increases if the dog wears a choke chain. Choke chains are constructed such that pulling it results in pressure distributed around the dog's neck, but the muscles that absorb the pressure are situated mostly at the sides of the neck. The neck and throat are almost unprotected.
Choke chains can be dangerous. For many years I and others have criticized the use of choke chains and training methods that use jerking and pulling on a leash as a means of controlling behavior. Unfortunately, most dog trainers use just this technique. There is probably a relationship between the force of the jerk and the risk of injury. I believe dog owners should be warned that chaining a dog to anything firm, that isn't elastic, without surveillance may increase the risk of a spinal injury. A dog can easily forget the boundaries of the chain or rope, accelerate, and suddenly come to a halt, with all the stopping power concentrated around the dog's neck.

Hallgren , “Animal Behavior Consultants Newsletter” July, 1992, V.9 No.2.