BCDog Listener Dog Training

DOG MYTHS BUSTED This one has to die. Harnesses do not cause pulling. ... They also do not let dogs "get away" with pulling because as anyone knows who has EVER walked a dog in a collar (flat, choke or otherwise) they would have seen a dog continue to pull until their breath is raspy and they gag, choke or wretch (they aren't called CHOKE chains for nothing people!) I have even had clients tell me about their dogs actually passing out when being walked on slip leads or choke chains because they pulled so much regardless of the discomfort or corrections given. Yes, sled dogs pull sleds in harnesses, but these are not same harnesses we use for domestic pet dog training. The construction is completely different. Those harnesses are designed for pulling, but even when you put a dog in one you still have to TEACH them how to pull. The fact of the matter is this: harnesses provide comfortable gear for your dog to learn in. Not all harnesses are great either, so you need to be choosey. I use, recommend and fit Perfect Fit Harness as they tick all the boxes of a gold standard harness. What should you look for in a great harness: Forelimbs exposed for free movement Modular, 5 Point adjustment for a personalised fit No pressure on the neck Comfortable fleece lining (which also can prevent sliding) 2 D rings at front and back Doesn't need to go over the head to be put on Quick on and off, minimal fuss. Machine washable Escape proof Get in touch if you are in my local area and would like a personalised fitting (Isle of Wight) otherwise you can find your local stocklist here: www.dog-games-shop.co.uk/stockists

When I had my first dog And truthfully, when I began my career, studying under my first mentor I believed dog training was about control. ... I wanted to control my dog’s behavior. I wanted to control our walks. I wanted to feel in control. And I very clearly remember the day when that changed. I was sitting in a large yard with my dog. He was running around Sniffing and peeing on things And I was waiting for him to remember I existed. And you know what? He didn’t. I mean, I could have called him - he would have come in an instant And I could have gotten up and walked out of the yard At which point he’d probably follow. But I wanted to see what he’d choose if I didn’t intervene or coax. I sat for what felt like an eternity. Hoping he’d at least check in. And he never came over to see what I was doing. In fact, he didn’t even think to. Because our entire relationship was about me giving him instructions Our entire relationship was about me telling him what to doand telling him what not to do. And when I didn’t do that When I gave him his choice back He didn’t choose me. I mean, why would he? And that was a painful, but necessary realization for me. Because regardless of how you choose to train your dog Dog training is about cooperation It’s not about control And if you focus your energy on control On being in, and feeling in control If you constantly tell your dog what to do, and what not to do You’re dog will be dependent on you to make good choices for them And they won’t know how to do it on their own.

Saturday’s Pet Peeve: The fallacy that attention-seeking in dogs is a form of dominance. This, from a trainer’s website: Dogs that constantly lean on you, put... their paws on you, use their nose to make you pet them, and always feel the need to be touching you in some way is not your dog loving you. It is your dog displaying [dominant] behaviors. Dogs that lean, paw, nudge, bark, and jump are soliciting attention. This is usually a learned behavior, meaning that it’s been reinforced in the past. Of course, dogs are very social animals and do these things spontaneously, but if their efforts solicit the right response, they’ll just do it again. In the world of fear-free, progressive dog training, these behaviors are simply what they seem to be: attention-seeking. Why do dogs ask for attention? Sometimes because they’re in the mood to interact and play, or take a walk in other words, they’re looking for something more interesting and fun to do than lying under your computer desk all day. At other times, they’re seeking contact because they’re afraid of something or anxious. (Don’t worry - petting and reassuring a fearful dog will not make him worse.) For some baffling reason, though, responding to these solicitations is frowned-upon by some trainers. The problem, it seems, is that such interactions humanize the dog. As an example, the above website includes a video of a family petting a trembling, panting Keeshond during a thunderstorm. (Shudder.) There is no canine agenda, no ulterior motive, no covert compulsion to control you. Attention-seeking is a normal behavior in dogs that’s why we choose to have them rather than, say, plants. If you prefer a different type of attention-solicitation, such as sitting quietly and staring at you, you can ignore the other behaviors and simply teach and reinforce the ones you like. Please wrap up the concept of your dog dominating you, put it in a box, and carry it out to the curb for trash pickup. #dogtraining #vetbehavior #vetbehaviordogs