Make No Mistake, Learn From Mine!

In this moment, Jack is Jack.

Jack Bear

I often reflect on my life with Jack and my heart cracks open with love and gratefulness for how far we’ve come. I didn’t always feel this connection with him, nor did I know this type of friendship was possible.

You see, I didn’t always know what I now know about dogs. I had a void of knowledge and understanding for what having a companion animal felt like or looked like and both Jack and I lost ground.

At the time, I had some basic level of understanding of what it was going to be like bringing a Jack Russell into the home. I was definitely not prepared for his behavioral challenges. Most of all, all of the BARKING!

I know, I know, Jack Russell’s are vocal. They were bred to let their human know when foxes or other small vermin were afoot. But, Jack’s barking was incessant and was out of frustration and anxiety. This was at a level I never expected and didn’t know how to address.

I lived in this space of feeling inept and sad for not knowing how to help him. Pangs of guilt kept me paralyzed in my own fears and anxiety because I was embarrassed for not knowing what to do or how to do it. So I asked a professional.

The disconnect between Jack and I was prevalent during our first training appointment. I remember standing a football field away and Jack was barking uncontrollably and I didn’t know what to do. I felt defeated.

The professional gave instructions of working in weave poles and passes up and down the A frame, but didn’t share the importance of these activities with the rewards of successful completion of passes through the course. This was the reinforcement side of training which I came to understand. It was also enriching.

On the flip side, there were instructions and guidance of using tools like a pinch collar and shaker can to stop the barking. This was the other side of the training coin and where my own disempowerment led to clouded judgement. I lost sight of my own values and chose to follow someone else’s lead.

I trusted someone and gave my power over because I believed this professional knew better than me. Saying no to a pinch collar and shaker can would have saved Jack and I frustration and breakdown of our relationship was the result. A relationship that was just blossoming started off rocky.

What was missing during my earlier experiences going through dog training as a client, was a deep understanding of what building a relationship with Jack looks and feels like. I was disconnected from him and he from me. The total opposite of what you need in changing behavior. Adding pain, force and fear only interferes further.

Training is not just teaching the basics and rote learning and doing.

Training is relationship building.

Training is building trust.

Training is forming a friendship with another living being.

Training is understanding what the dog is feeling, expressing and understanding.

I want you to know, you are the best advocate for your dog. Keeping your voice and using your voice to speak for the voiceless, is using your power for keeping your pet safe.

Not all pet professionals are molded or cut from the same cloth nor do they all give approaches the same way. Make sure to choose wisely. I urge you to choose pet professionals that are force free, fear free and always do no harm in dog training.

The Pet Professional Guild is an organization committed to no force, no fear, no shock, no prong-essentially do no harm in training. If you’re looking to hire a pet professional, bookmark this site and use it as a reference tool of finding a pet professional who is committed to keeping your dog safe from harm. Yes, Four Paws & You Dog Training is most definitely a member. I’m proud of our commitment in helping change the face of the dog training culture.

Skipper’s Success Story

I love when clients share their wins!

Sometimes the wins happen swiftly while other times, it takes lots of practice and set ups for succes.

But man, when that 💡 goes off it shines brilliantly!

Kaymie reached out to Four Paws & You Dog Training when she was in the process of adopting Skipper (the little guy). She was proactive of getting started with making sure it was a smooth transition with her resident dog, young child and their busy lifestyle.

We discussed all things 🐶! From positive reinforcement training to dog body language to establishing a holistic plan for success!

You see, Gretchen was a bit unsure of Skipper in the beginning. She was over-the-top excited 😆 for food where she was a little (ahem) pushy 😅. Gretchen was also a bit tense around Skipper, so we had to find ways of helping Gretchen accept Skipper as a new member of the family!

Together with Kaymie, I developed a workable plan of action that was easy to put into practice 😉

✅ Built the plan into their work and family schedule

✅ Provide insight into what Gretchen was communicating when she was communicating it (prevention of any escalating tension)

✅ Answered questions in between sessions, so Kaymie had the affirmation she was on the right track.

Now, what you see is Gretchen is waiting PATIENTLY for her turn while Skipper is practicing his cues. WHAT??

How cool is that?!

What’s also exciting for me to see, is Kaymie’s relaxed enjoyment while spending time with Skipper and Gretchen.

Kaymie works hard as healthcare professional in our community. Even more so now, the goal for her downtime is unwinding from the stress of the day and long hours she spends caring for others. #thankyoutoallhealthcareworkers

I’m so happy she is basking in the success of Skipper’s transition into her family and the time spent with Gretchen and Skipper is rewarding for them as a family 💕💕💕💕.

If any of these fit how you’re feeling when your dog is acting out of control:
😤 🤬😞 😢 🥴🤯😩. Know it doesn’t have to stay that way 🤗🤗🤗🤗.

Let’s chat!

https://fourpawsandyoudogtraining.as.me/

Turn Don’t Leave into Please Go!

Does your dog become more alert once your alarm goes off? Does your dog shadow you around while you’re doing your morning weekday ritual of getting ready for work or school? Once you leave, can you hear your dog barking or whining? Do your neighbors complain?

Has this happened to you? Does your anxious dog HATE it when you leave? This is for you!

Well, if you answered yes, your dog feels some sort of a way about you leaving. Dogs are sentient beings and they are here in this world to be with us. They definitely don’t want us to go, but there are times when its necessary and its your responsibility to get them to be more settled when you and your furry friend are separated.

How to help your dog feel more settled when you’re away? Well, first, I want to set you up for success. I will tell you will need some time and some patience and these will be the first things in your bag of tricks. Time and patience is necessary for the sheer purposed of creating a calm and less hurried departure. If you are usually rushing around during your work week and leaving abruptly, your dog learned your routine and you will need time desensitizing him to your pre-work day rituals.

Calm and Quiet Behaviors: Take notice of your dog when he’s comfortably laying around in his designated area or in area away from you. You don’t think your dog is doing “anything” when he’s calm and quiet? Think again. Your dog is doing EXACTLY what you’re wanting from him. Now is the time to pour your energy into praising and loving on him when he’s chilling on his own.

Help Your Dog Settle: Making the time alone, the best time. We are now moving into getting the behaviors you want when you’re not home. Create your dog’s down time even when you’re home. The void of your attention being gone is less when you’re in the vicinity. We must build up your dog’s endurance for your being away. First, give your dog his own space and giving attention for calm, quiet behaviors like laying in his own den area can help him know being alone is OK. Also, leaving good stuff to do when he’s in his own space like long lasting chews, kongs with wonderful treats stuffed in it, toys-all of his favorites-will lead him wanting his own space to settle. He will make the mental connection, “when I don’t have my human’s attention, I get all these wonderful things to do. Maybe I WANT my human to leave!”

Goodbyes and Hellos: Other pieces you will want incorporated as part of your dog’s “getting comfortable” plan is making your arrival and departure non-emotional. Amping up the energy when you arrive home while greeting your dog can be perceived by your dog as overwhelming. If your dogs has a history of being destructive, you can arrive home anticipating your favorite shoe being eaten or the garbage tipped over and rummaged through and this most likely has you feeling frustrated and upset even before coming through the door. Our body language changes and our verbal expression may indicate more hostility even when we greet our dogs without anything happening. Your dogs perceive this negatively and become more distressed.

On the flip side, your overly excited or interactive departures can also send the message to your dog “don’t leave, don’t leave”. Giving an abundance of affection and attention is something most dogs crave and love and then for you to leave for any length of time, highlights the void of you not being there. This is also quite distressing for your dog. One moment you’re there giving him all the wonderful things and then the next minute you’re gone and he has nothing to do. Help your dog feel comfortable being alone without feeling lonely.

Time and Patience: Get started now even if you are not sure of the exact day of when you return to work or school. Go slow. Practice leaving your dog with wonderful things to do and leave the room for a few seconds at a time. Return back before your dog realized you left the room. Slowly increase the time of being away. This is not exciting training, but so necessary. Have patience with yourself and your dog will be key