Videos
Bringing out the best in a cat or dog is a hands-on task. Seeing it in a video is often better than reading it. My goal with these videos is to make behavior management easier to understand and implement.
Some dogs hate to be groomed. But a hungry dog can earn tasty treats while lying still for gentle brushing. Sitting on the floor, rather than leaning over, will help reduce nervousness. Start out slow, keep sessions short, and maintain the food flow. With young Mick we wait until he’s sleepy. If he gets antsy the dog biscuits stop and the brush gets stowed. There’s no point in struggling.
Our dogs should always come when called, whether they’re sitting and looking at us or when they’re heading off in another direction. Don’t get frustrated when ignored; train in baby steps that your pupster can understand. Mick has gotten pretty good at the recall command – when he’s already paying attention. But when he’s away from home, well, other priorities can get in the way. That isn’t OK but let’s not lose our patience. While allowing him to forge ahead on-leash he knows he can sniff and investigate at his leisure. But when I say, “Mick, Come!” I can enforce…
Mick is only a kid. He’s not ready to be trusted to behave if we leave him loose in the house at night. A dog is a denning creature but a puppy needs to go there when his folks tell him to. So that he isn’t forced (he’d quickly learn to hate it) he gets to choose. I made it easy for Mick by rewarding each baby step with a tiny treat. As he walked into the crate I “captured” the behavior by saying, “Mick, Crate!” You’ll see later how he follows the command without argument.
Digging dogs can damage a great yard. Don’t punish; it’s normal behavior. Instead, give that dirt dog their very own wonderful digging box. Make it attractive by loosening the dirt, misting with water, and burying tasty, challenging food-dispensing toys. Everybody wins.
Dogs Need a Job – Gainful Employment. Confucius said, “A man (woman) who enjoys what they do never works a day in their life.” Our dogs can have that life. They naturally work to survive, an activity they appear to enjoy. Food-dispensing toys and puzzles are not prey and they’re not really rotting carcasses found in the wild but they require manipulation so bits of sustenance can be extracted. Check out Lulu here. This girl had a history of separation anxiety. Other dogs, like the Nichol family Border collie, Mick, need work to stay occupied. The downside for him is…
This fledgling hawk looks big enough to fly solo and catch rodents on the run but she’s still just a youngster. Mom was nearby, communicating freely. We think words of encouragement. We encountered this refreshing wildlife in Albuquerque’s Open Space. Nobody seemed concerned about Mick Nichol, the silly Border collie puppy.
Out-of-control behavior in a dog of any age can drive you crazy. Reprimands and physical corrections teach nothing, except more intense agitation. Instead, you can “redirect” your kid to earn an immediate reinforcer (a click) and a food reward. She’d much work for you than annoy you anyway. Here is step 1 of target and clicker training.
While hiking a jungle in Panama I stopped and watched quietly. Along came an agouti, a gentle rodent, who completely ignored me while foraging for nuts and fruit. Similar to capybara, the biggest rodents, agouti can get as chunky as 11#. I would estimate this one at about 8#. He did not regard me as a threat but if monkeys or crocodiles had been nearby, he might have been their lunch.
There are so many things to see and sniff outside the home territory. It’s more than just natural for dogs to investigate everything; reading the bulletin boards and posting messages is essential to who they are. But for part of a leash walk they can work for us. They can earn reinforcers, like treats, just for doing the right thing – like watching their leader. Dogs should check with their leader for opportunities to earn resources like food. As Carolyn walks with Mick next to her, she hands him a tid bit every now and then because she sees him…
Young Mick Nichol enjoys his daily jaunts along the irrigation ditches because, well, because he’s a dog. Leaving the home territory to sniff, investigate, read the bulletin boards, and post messages is essential to our dogs’ canine genetic programming. They’ll be less prone to bust through the fence if they get this basic need met without having to break the rules.