Monthly Archives: April 2010

Mikkel comes highly recommended by Karen from A Family Dog.

Mikkel has been teaching classes and helping individuals with great success. She is a proponent of positive training and uses clicker training to bring about the best results. There is a rumor that she might have the first class in Coeur d’Alene that focuses on mothers, children and dogs!

Here is PetConnection.com’s biography on Mikkel:

“Mikkel Becker Shannon is a professonal dog trainer and author, and host with her father of “The Pet Doctor With Dr. Marty Becker” for ABC News.

A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in international communications, Mikkel completed with honors the rigorous program of the Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA. (more…)

I’ve just found out that Glenna Hendrix of The Family Dog in Ponderay will be teaching flyball classes this summer! Anyone interested in participating should contact her to reserve their spot in the class. Call Glenna at (208) 255-7687 or (208) 255-7041.

(more…)

I just found this and had to share

The Quest for The (Un)Natural Punishment

Some misguided folks’ interest in dog body language is limited to their quest to devise socalled “natural” ways to punish a dog. For example, to employ stare downs, scruff shakes, and alpha rollovers in an attempt to punish a dog in the same manner a top dog might reprimand a lower-ranking individual, or a she-wolf might chastise a cub. This approach is really too silly for words and an insult to the dog’s intelligence. Nonetheless, such tabloid, pseudo-science obvious appeals to some types, even though it may be a little thin on logic and scientific backing, and often, next to ineffective. And all of this rigmarole takes place under the guise of training. If it were not so abusive, it would be laughable. (more…)

This message was forwarded to me this morning.

A DOG’S TEN COMMANDMENTS…

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

I saw this bumper sticker while driving home after a great session of sheep herding with Ellie. It really made me think and it hit home with me – how am I training Ellie? Am I using love rather than fear; building on her trust for me or building on her fear of me? When training Ellie to move away from discomfort am I really just playing on her fears of experiencing more discomfort and fear?

Looking at this ideal I have to say I believe that its true even though it isn’t very evident in our world today. I wont deny that I want it to be true or that I feel that this is how we were created to be. I wish our political leaders would take a look at it. But with positive dog training and new teaching methods in our schools I think we all know that its easier and more enjoyable to learn in a safe environment without the distractions and effects of fear. This doesn’t mean that we all apply this to the way we train our dogs or even with how we interact with other humans. Why is this? Because its easier to use fear? Because we enjoy the feeling of power when we use fear? Because we don’t want to take the time? Because we don’t know any other way? Because this is how we are used to doing things?

Is this true for you?
Is this evident in how you interact with your dog?
How do you motivate your dog to do what you ask?