Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Christmas Puppy? Maybe Not.

A Christmas Puppy? Maybe Not.

So you are thinking of getting a puppy for Christmas? Think twice. The idea of giving a puppy to a child for the holiday comes from the right place. You imagine the child’s reaction: an excited shriek, followed by cooing and exclamations of joy and appreciation.
Unfortunately, the scene you envision is exactly the reason that I do not recommend giving a puppy as a gift.
There is a lot involved in pet ownership that not everybody thinks of when they have intentions on getting a pet for Christmas. Who will be taking care of this pet? Are they willing to exercise their pet daily (walks)? How much time are they going to be spending with it? Where are they going to keep it when they are at work or school? Are they planning on taking the time or expense grooming their pet? Are they going to have them spayed or neutered? Are they going to have them properly vaccinated? Finally, what would they do if the pet had behavior problems? What are they planning to do if there was a medical situation that involved major, expensive medical treatment? If you can answer that you are dedicated in caring and being financially responsible for that dog, than by all means, get one.
But there is a lot of responsibility involved in caring for one that should never be taken lightly. I see so many people that have dogs that pay absolutely no attention to them. I have a client with I believe, five dogs. Two are very aggressive dogs that she cannot handle. And she is thinking about getting a Golden Retriever for her son for Christmas because he is afraid of the aggressive dogs.
I have three dogs myself. I take the time to be with them through most of the day and love them all. I have taught my ten year old daughter responsibility from the time she was a toddler and still would never consider giving her a pet at Christmas. Our animals are part of the family, but in no way can she ever be trusted to be responsible or accountable for them alone. A child cannot take all mentioned above and decide, Yes, I really want a pet. Most kids cannot be responsible for themselves, much less a pet. Do they make enough money to feed and care for them? No, you will. Buying a pet for our kids for Christmas without proper consideration is a gift that might well turn into a nightmare. Realistically and sadly, Christmas puppies tend to be older puppies at the pound a few months later, or that nearly year old dog getting euthanized because someone bought a dog as a "toy" for a child that has no legitimate responsibility for that animal and loses interest. Also some people have no clue that dogs grow and get bigger also will require training and they bring them to me at arm’s length saying, “Fix my dog!”
Still have your heart set on the idea? Consider gift wrapping an I.O.U. in the form of a book on dog care, a greeting card picturing a puppy, a photo of the dog you're considering, or even an ID tag.
Then, after the excitement of the offer has passed, you can discuss logistics. Is this really what they want? Is he or she really willing to make lifetime commitment to the dog?
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works. He specializes in canine aggression and behavior problems. He can be reached via his website at www.DenverDogWorks.com

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Holiday Pet Safety

Holiday Pet Safety
By Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I am asked all the time about holiday dos and don’ts from pet owners. While I always offer an article right around Christmas about training Christmas puppies I thought it would be wise to offer some tips to pet owners on holiday safety before the season’s festivities reaches a crescendo. While most of this is common sense, it is the little things that we overlook during this busy time of the year that can turn a joyous season into a nightmare for your pet if you do not take some steps to ensure their safety.

The holiday season can get pretty hectic, and with the decorations and extra goodies around the house, there is a lot your pet can find to get into. Here are a few safety tips to help keep your pets safe and happy during the festivities:

Christmas trees
Firmly secure the tree in its stand and consider wire or twine ties attached to the wall to help secure the tree. You’ll want to make sure the tree doesn’t topple over if, or more likely when, kitty tries to climb the tree.

Dogs and cats will often try to drink water from the reservoir in the stand. The sap from the tree itself may irritate your pet's stomach, and preservatives added to the water may be toxic. Devise a cover to fit around the base of the tree—even a towel wrapped around the trunk covering the stand will do.

Research also shows that the chemicals used in producing artificial trees contain chemicals that can be harmful or even fatal if ingested by your pet. While there are many pros and cons to having a natural versus an artificial Christmas tree, this fact alone should make the decision a little easier.

Ornamentation is very attractive, especially to kittens, cats and puppies, but may be deadly. The tinsel, ribbon and glitter can cause intestinal blockages. Protect your pet by placing these items high enough to be out of reach. Packages under the tree may offer the same threat—the ribbons are just too hard to resist, and your pet may end up chewing on them while playing.

Those wonderful goodies
Holidays are the time for lots of baking, and receiving of baked gifts. These items smell just wonderful to your pet. Your dog may help himself to the candy, cookies, or part of the holiday meal if you are not looking. Eating people food may lead to indigestion, diarrhea, or worse. Remember, items containing chocolate and/or raisins can poison a dog, even if it is a small amount.

Remains of the holiday meal left on countertops, tables, and even in the garbage will entice your pets. If there is a way to get to it, be assured your dog will certainly try. Bones from turkey, a roast, or ham may splinter if eaten. Older garbage may even contain enough bacteria to poison a pet. Be careful where the trash is held while waiting to be disposed of.

And of course I don’t need to remind you that begging at that table can cause major behavior problems in the future…

Other Decorations
Plants, especially poinsettias, are often used for decoration in November and December. Some of these plants contain toxins that can irritate your pet’s gastrointestinal tract if chewed on or eaten. Eating enough of some plants may poison your dog or cat. In some cases it may be the leaves, in others the stem, berries, or roots. Your veterinarian or behaviorist can help guide you, or you can do a bit of research at the library or online to see if any of your holiday plants may be harmful to your pets.

Toys
On Christmas morning when all of those toys are being played with (and soon forgotten, I might add) they contain many hazards for pets. Small toys, balls, marbles, board game pieces, BB’s from the Red Rider BB gun with the compass in the stock, and electric cords are all dangerous to your cat or dog.

Taking a few minutes to set some family guidelines and spot potential safety hazards could keep this holiday season from having serious consequences for your four-footed family member.

In the coming weeks Dr. Forto will be publishing and article on training Christmas puppies. His position is that you should never give a puppy for a Christmas present but thousands are given as gifts each year. In this article Dr. Forto will discuss when to train your dog, how to properly care for him and who should be in charge. Just remember that shelters are full of dogs that were once bundles of Christmas morning joy that grew up too fast and were not trained. Dr. Forto and his certified trainers at Denver Dog Works are here to help.

This article is provided as a general overview of the topic. Always consult your veterinarian or behaviorist for specific information related to diseases or medical care for pets.
________________________Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Canine C.P.R.

Canine C.P.R.
By Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. We specialize in canine sports and working dogs. Our training school is not like any other in the Denver area. We train your dog after he already has manners (well, we train for that too) and provide you and your dog fun and challenging avenues to build the human-canine bond. It is my opinion that every dog needs a job to do. Whether that job is competing in agility, working as a service dog, hiking in the mountains with you, just being a couch potato, or just fetching the morning paper, they need something to occupy their time. With that, dogs can get themselves into trouble, sometimes life-threatening, and you should know what to do in case of an emergency. Denver Dog Works is one of the only schools in Colorado that teaches a canine first aid and C.P.R. course. It not only teaches you how to respond in an emergency, but certifies you too!

In this article I am going to talk about canine cardio-pulmonary-resuscitation. Knowing this procedure could mean life or death for your best (furry) friend and I will attest I have used it several times on dogs over the years and it does work. I am sure that many of you have been certified from time to time in human C.P.R. at your local Red Cross chapter if you were a life-guard, a boy/girl scout, a babysitter, and myriad other jobs, but did you ever think that your dog may need this life saving procedure too? The steps in canine C.P.R. are very similar to the human counter-part but I do not advise you to expect that the techniques you learned when you were a scout will just magically come back to mind when your dog is in dire distress.
I urge all of you to read this article and sign up for our course in canine first aid and C.P.R. it could be the best decision you ever make for your dog. For more information on upcoming classes check us out at www.denverdogworks.com or give us a call at 303-522-1727 anytime.

As I said before, providing C.P.R. to a pet is very much like giving C.P.R. to a human. The same steps are followed:

A. Airway
Is there an open airway from the mouth to the lungs? Can you feel any breath passing in/out of the nose or mouth? Check the mouth by opening the jaws and pulling the tongue forward, and look for any blockages or foreign objects. Remove any foreign objects and check again for breath. If the airway is still blocked, and the mucous membranes (gums) are blue, then you may need to perform a Heimlich-like action to loosen any object that may be farther back in the throat.

B. Is the animal breathing on its own?
If no objects, food or mucus are obstructing the airway, you may begin artificial respiration. Lay the animal on its side, and gently tilt the head back. Pull the tongue forward. Close your hands around the muzzle to form as airtight a seal as possible, and place your mouth over the nostrils of the pet̢۪s nose. Blow 4-5 breaths rapidly, then check to see if the pet begins to breathe on its own. Smaller pets will need more breaths per minute (20-30) than a large dog that requires only 15-20 breaths per minute.

C. Circulation
Can you feel a heartbeat or pulse? An animal that is alert and responsive, even if it can't get up, will not require compressions. If there is no heartbeat, then you may begin chest compressions. Lay the pet on its right side, find the point of the pet̢۪s elbow and place it against the ribs. This is where your hands need to go. Compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch (slightly more for a giant breed or really large dog), and provide a breath every 5-6 compressions (have a second person do the breathing if available). Check for a pulse. Repeat the process if no pulse or heartbeat is detected. Transport the pet to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible; if after twenty minutes your efforts are not producing results, then you have done your best under difficult circumstances.

This article is provided as a general overview of the topic and not meant to be used as instructions at the time of an emergency for your dog. If you would like more information on our canine first aid and C.P.R. classes please give us a call. Always consult your veterinarian for specific information related to diseases or medical care for pets.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He can be reached by phone at 303-522-1727 and through his website at www.denverdogworks.com

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Dog aggression and Biting

Dog Aggression and Biting
by Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I specialize in canine aggression and have worked with violent dogs for most of my career. In this article I would like to explain to the average pet owner that dog aggression is serious business and most likely your trainer that you worked with in basic obedience does not have the experience to deal with this very serious problem that is often a life and death situation for your dog. If your dog is aggressive or if you know of one, I encourage you to give me a call and we can develop a treatment plan that will allow you to manage the situation in a scientific way not by bribery, treats, or yank and crank methods that so many inexperienced or under-educated trainers attempt to use.
Statistics
There are approximately 65 Million dogs in the US. 1
Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households (or 40.6 million) own at least one dog.1
Of the approximately human 25 deaths by dogs per year, half are to children. 3
Injury from bites are highest in boy children from ages 5-9. 3
In 2001 an estimated 368,000 dog bite injuries were treated in emergency departments. 3
Dog bites rank second (after baseball/softball) in annual emergency room incidents for children. 3
The majority (80%) of dog bites incurred by persons aged 18 and younger are inflicted by a family dog (30%) or a neighbor's dog (50%) 4
Why are dogs aggressive?Dogs are predators. Aggression is a survival skill required by all canines. The difference is dogs who can justify aggression and those who misjudge it.
What counts as a "bite"?The courts have held that a dictionary definition of a "bite" shall be used. A typical definition of "bite" is "to seize with the teeth so that they enter, grip or wound."2
To quantify the degree of severity, Dr. Ian Dunbar, has created the following chart/guide on bite "levels". Each of the six levels are bites and all, even number one, are an indication you and your dog need qualified, professional help quickly. Dr. Ian Dunbar's Six Levels (degrees) of Bites:Level 1: This bite does not touch the skin. The dog is air biting or snapping. Level 2: This bite makes contact with the skin, but doesn't break the skin. Pain and bruising may result, but no abrasions will be visible. Level 3: This bite ranges from a one to three punctures in a single bite with on puncture less than ½ the depth of the eye-tooth (fang) with or without some tearing. Level 4: The dog is putting great pressure into the bite. 1 to 4 puncture wounds with or without tearing, more than ½ the depth of the eye tooth. This is usually accompanied with bruising and likely to require medical attention. These injuries suggest the dog grabbed and shook what was in it's mouth. Level 5: Multiple level 4 bites. This dog is usually beyond the ability to reason and may feel his/her life is threatened. Level 6: The dog has killed.
Why do dogs bite?
Dogs bite for many reasons. Over the past two decades it has become "trendy" amongst dog trainers and behaviorists to attempt to resolve and eliminate dog aggression. However, scientific data on a cure still eludes the profession. Too many variables exist and too many trainers are not well versed canine ethology to remedy the problems which develop.
Do all dogs bite?
All dogs react differently to stimulus (very exciting or scary situations). The four most common stress responses in dogs are: fight, flight, freeze and fool around (if you've ever owned a Golden Retriever, you've experienced fooling around!) Typically most dogs will simply leave when the stress gets to be too much.
This may be why some dog's appear obstinate. Imagine telling your off leash dog to lay down while he's at the dog park in the mist of many bold dogs at play. This may seem very threatening to him and he may disobey you not to be "bad" but rather to avoid use his "flight" instinct to avoid confrontation with the other dogs. If he doesn't lay down and you attempt to physically force him, he will be forced to make another decision of how to deal with his stress because you didn't let him "flee" (flight) instinct. Instead, he may move into "fight" mode and defend himself by snapping at you as you force him to lay.
Biting can also result when the dog is highly aroused/excited when chasing people along a fence line or from a tie out/chain. When the dog is restrained his natural "prey drive" or instinct to chase can occur. Problems can result when the dog is restricted from chasing. This is called "barrier frustration" and it can (and does) occur commonly though most dogs don't bite. Bites usually occur when the dog's owner/handler attempts to physically control the dog. The dog is so aroused, he indiscriminately bites the person. This is called "displacement aggression" and is quite common.
Which breeds are most likely to bite?
According to the CDC, Rottweilers and Pit Bulls were involved in 60% of the 27 dog bite fatalities that occurred in 1997 and 1998. Rottweilers were involved in ten deaths, and Pit Bulls were involved in six.5 This certainly doesn't mean other dogs produce fatal bites, but it is a reminder to be aware that most large powerful breeds can cause more severe injuries than small dogs. Keep in mind that it is mixed breeds and not pure bred dogs are the type of dog most often involved in inflicting bites to people. The pure-bred dogs most often involved in bites are German shepherds and Chow chows. 6
In a study reported by a retired professor from California State University at Chino, Robert Plum, it was found that one dog in 55 will bite someone seriously during the course of a year. With respect to breed differences in the tendency to inflict serious injury, Plumb estimates that when a pit bull bites a human, one in 16 (e.g. 1/16) will inflict serious injury; this contrasts with a ratio of 1/296 Dobermans, and 1/156 German shepherds. Certainly more studies and research is needed.
Warning signs of aggression and biting may be possible:
Any health change or long term health problem (especially dysplasia) Anxious or hyper behavior (fear of new or certain people or places) Biting or a history of biting (past behavior is a predictor or future behavior) Growling (growls are warnings take them as such) Guarding (things or people) New behavioral changes Obsessive fence/kennel running/chasing Severe separation issues Uncontrollable lunging at people or dogs while on leash Is my dog likely to bite? The list of breeds most involved in both bite injuries and fatalities changes from year to year and from one area of the country to another, depending on the popularity of the breed. However, if your dog is obedience trained, maintains a social life (regularly gets out of the house & yard), is neutered or spayed, healthy and is female, your dog is less statistically likely to bite. BUT, that doesn't mean he won't. After all, anything with teeth can bite!
I'm thinking of keeping my biting dog. What should I know?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bites accounted for about one-quarter of all claims on homeowner's insurance, costing more than $321 million in 2003. In 2002, the latest year for which numbers are available, the average claim for a dog bite was $16,600. You should consult your insurance company for any restrictions they may have against future claims.
Sources: 1. American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2003-2004 National Pet Owners Survey cited by the HSUS. 2. Webster's Third New International Dictionary (1993) at p. 222. 3. CDC MMWR Weekly 6/4/03 Nonfatal Dog Bite--Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments --- United States, 2001 4. Beck AM, Jones BA. Unreported dog bites in children. Public Health Rep 1985;100:315--21. 5. CDC; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Dog-Bite-related Fatalities - United States, 1995-1996 (MMWR, Vol. 46/No. 21, May 30, 1997).
_______________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at www.DenverDogWorks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

References Available Upon Request...?

References Available Upon Request….?
By Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the training director for Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I specialize in canine aggression and I have been qualified as an expert in this field. I also fully understand that my training school and I are only as good as our reputation with our clients, past and present, our referral sources such as veterinarians, other canine trainers, groomers and other pet professionals.
In the news I hear that a suit has been filed against Democratic presidential candidate Barrack Obama because he fails to divulge is place of birth. To many, this makes him less credible. To others they think he is trying to cover something up and his trust may be suspect. And to the legal, scholarly type they think it is a constitutional issue in that we cannot have a president that does not meet three basic requirements: 1. 35 years of age, which Obama is; 2. Has lived in the United States for the past 14 years, which Obama meets, and; 3. A natural born citizen, which is what is in question. This is because he cannot, or will not, produce his birth certificate. In fact you do not even have to show a driver’s license to campaign for the most powerful job in the world? But let me digress.
In the day to day operation of a dog training business I am constantly asked if I have references and if I am certified and if my credentials are legit. This is the purpose of this article. I urge you to do your homework before you vote on November 4th and before you sign up for a training program for your dog because the process is very similar. You have to work with someone you trust, you have to trust their advice and you have to trust that they have the knowledge to see the plan through. Because, in my opinion, with dog training you just cannot wait for another four years of bad policy and decision making from a trainer that is just like the other guy.
Of course, throughout the years Denver Dog Works has had many satisfied clients and several that were not. It is difficult to please everyone, especially when it involves their beloved dogs. If you were to look on any canine trainer’s website almost inevitably you will find a “testimonials” page that list comments from clients past and present about how good a job the trainer did with their dog. What you will often find on this page is a joyful rendition of just how good the trainer was and the results they see. Then you will find at the bottom of the posting a first or last name and an initial (ie. John. D.) Just who exactly is John D.? Could it just so happen to be the infamous John Doe? That is what this article is all about. I am here to warn you that if a training school refuses to give you a reference, walk away.
Be on the lookout of trainers who just REFUSE to give you any references. You can bet your dog's life on it that this is a red flag. Think about it, if they are truly proud of their training method, delivered what they promised, and have the right work ethics with their clients, then they should have no problem giving you a few names. This is even more important if they DO NOT have any classes for you to observe.
At Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project we offer a highly specialized training service for dogs. While most of our classes are by appointment and we do not have a schedule of weekly classes like the big-box corporate pet store chains with trainers in uniforms and a dry-erase board full of class times, I urge anyone observe any of our training programs to give us a call and we can let you know what is on the schedule that day. Saturdays are by far our busiest day and the best chance for you to catch a class if you just “drop in”; I always encourage you to call first.
Get at least five references, three recent and two from six months to a year ago. At Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project we train about 300 dogs a year. That is 300 clients that we should be comfortable in using as a reference for future clients. Do not fall for "client confidentiality bologna." I urge you to push again and say, "Look. I am not asking for their last names, addresses or social security number for crying out loud. I just want the very best for my dog!" I also urge potential clients to ask if a training school is registered with the State and if they are members of the local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau or similar agency.
Check to see whether they are, and importantly, ARE NOT allowed to train or board dogs. In Colorado the Department of Agriculture overseas all canine training schools and boarding facilities. This also includes private trainers offering in-home classes only. If a school is operating without a license from the Department of Agriculture they can be fined and possible shut down. I urge all potential clients call the State to see if the training school and/or trainer is registered. Wouldn't you want to do business with someone who is professional and legal and legit? Your wallet, your dog, and your precious time is depending on it. No matter how impressive their web sites seem or how convincing they may sound on the phone, do not skip this. You won't regret it. If someone's happy with you, then they won't mind bragging about you. Don't you already do this when it comes to good movies, good books and good restaurants?
There is a saying in business called the Rule of 250. It goes something like this: everyone has a circle of friends. The average person has about 250 people he sees regularly during his life and there is a lot more people that he sees in a week during the ordinary course of his business. I know that I cannot afford to have just one person come to see me and have them leave sore or unsatisfied. Not if that person influences 250 others in the course of his life. And that is a lot of references!
As you know, people talk a lot to other people about what they buy and what they plan to buy whether that is a product, a service, or anything in between. Others are always offering advice about where to buy and how much to pay. That is a big part of the everyday life of ordinary people. I know I can not jeopardize that relationship with any of these people. I know how much my reputation and my business comes from people telling other people about me, my trainers and my training school. It is a powerful force in my professional life and it should be in yours too.
We say at Denver Dog Works that we try to build relationships with our clients and just not offer dog training. We do this for a reason. We know that your dog is an important part of your life and you are coming to us for basic manners to make the bond between you and your dog more satisfying or in many cases to rehabilitate a problem that has gotten out of control and sometimes is even dangerous. We would love to have all of our clients talk with joy and admiration, and have their dogs “walking billboards” for our training prowess but is that truly what we are after? No. We want to be on your side when your dog has a problem and we would love to have a referral if we did our job well.If you do get a reference from a training school or a trainer and they say, "Well. I could give you my best friend or my brother’s number as a reference to trick you." Just say, you will take it. Let's see what your own family and friends say about you first. Do you see where I'm going with this? Once you get a few references, this is where you ask what you like and didn't like about them, their trainers, and whether the dog listens off-leash, without treats, from far away. How about around other dogs, cats, kids and your guests.
While it is true in dog training as well as when you are looking for a job, most references that a person will give you will only be “good ones” I mean would you give a reference of an ex-girlfriend to a potential date if you ended on a sour note? I doubt it. But if they do give you a name, and more importantly a number that is a start. Do a little detective work on your own ask questions. Remember that the only dumb question is a questioned not asked. Do you homework and ask the questions you want answered. At Denver Dog Works we want to earn your trust and we want to help you in our time of need with your dog.
Check us out anytime and if us a call. We will give you the references that you desire and we will gladly answer any questions that you may have.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto, PhD, is the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He can be reached though his website www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Dog Training and the Social Fabric of America

Dog Training and the Social Fabric of America
By Robert Forto, PhD

My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am a canine behaviorist and the owner of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. I specialize in canine aggression and violent dogs and I will admit that people’s political leanings do influence how they care for and train their dogs. I am researching this topic for an upcoming paper and I hope to have the results out before this year’s election. In the days of Big Government and Big Brother everybody has an opinion on how a person should own, handle, train, restrict and allow various forms of behavior of their dogs in public and in private.
In the news recently a big-time NFL star has gone to prison for animal cruelty and others have had their dog’s party to the judicial process for everything from instinctual behaviors of an Australian Shepherd to irate home-owners at a Home Owners Association meeting fueled by the fact that dog’s do bark.
I spent a great deal of time in my practice educating the public about the nuances of canine behavior and my professional opinion on everything from banned breeds, violent dogs, canine aggression, dogs-at-large and many more. I am a firm believer that the way that people handle their dog’s is a gauge of their political, financial, societal, environmental and religious beliefs. All of these leanings give the canine trainer or behaviorist valuable insight on how we can help our clients in their quest for having a well behaved dog and the ability to cope with a litigious society so bent on making our furry friends social outcasts while these people stand on their soap boxes and complain about dogs when their underlying fear is far something greater.
For those of you who read this blog I'm sure you've figured out that I don’t usually write all nice and sweet and fluffy things about dogs. This is one of those articles that is not sweet and fluffy. It's what is happening in our society in the world of dogs. The politics of owning a dog nowadays is not cute or fluffy by any stretch of the imagination. In this article I am going to address just one area: Breed Specific Legislation. In coming articles I will delve into other topics that conger up our societal ills relating to dogs. I thought that dog’s were supposed to be regarded as our best friends. It is a shame that the actions of a few have given so many a bad rap.


The Band Aid
I remember growing up when people took responsibility for their actions but apparently the government feels they need to mandate everything today rather than hold people accountable. The fight for animal welfare started as a noble fight but has degenerated into opposing sides of animal rights versus animal welfare and it is appearing more and more like it isn't about animals at all. Dogs seem to be at the top of the hit list with Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) leading the way. By banning breeds as many European countries do, we're only falling into the trap of thinking by putting this band-aid on things our problems will go away. Banning a breed does nothing more than drive the criminals who abuse and use these breeds to choose yet another, and another and another until eventually we have no more breeds left. Therein lays the crux of the problem I think.
The Problem
The problem is a human one not a dog one although it is always the animals who pay the price for human actions. One faction of the animal fight thinks the solution to world peace and harmony is to free all animals and that freedom means killing them because then they are truly free. That sounds rather harsh and violent to me, so how does more violence end violence? It doesn't and that is just stupid.
Another faction has sat by and watched and now are scrambling to try and catch up and fix things but aren't sure how or where to start. The problem is, the politicians care about votes so they are readily grasping at the straws of Breed Specific Legislation to control so-called "vicious" dogs. Dangerous dog laws really address the owners as they should so focusing on those makes far more sense but since when do politicians care about making sense?
The factions wanting all domestic animal ownership ended are in control and are doing a great job of "educating" our children and our college students into believing their rhetoric. We have a lot of propaganda and financing to fight to end all this nonsense. Maybe it's just using plain common sense again.
The Solution
I think a first step is to educate. Educate people about what it means to own a dog. Educate at the family level first. This is where we can make the most impact.
Secondly, that we need to take responsibility for our own actions. When we decide to own and bring home a dog it is our responsibility to know how to take care of a dog, the nature of a dog, and how train our dog to be a good canine citizen. If we would all do that we would have no need for stupid laws that want to mandate away our rights as US citizens such as mandatory spaying or neutering and micro chipping and training.
We would have no need for politicians wanting to band aid a human social problem with Breed Specific Legislation. We would have no need for factions wanting to destroy animals to "free" them. But I must be thinking of Utopia or maybe heaven, because everyone would rather have the government doing their thinking for them these days it seems. Maybe I am just living in the wrong era.
__________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a canine behaviorist and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. He can be reached though his website at www.denverdogworks.com

Dog Training and the Social Fabric of America

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

How to Chose a Dog Trainer

How to Chose a Dog Trainer
By Robert Forto, PhD
My name is Dr. Robert Forto and I am the owner and training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and my team of trainers and I have built our reputation on the fact that we know our stuff and we are able to provide you and your dog with the most complete up-to-date training methodology. We are not like the other guys that can guarantee a quick fix in a matter of weeks or lessons but our tried, true and systematic approach to canine training and behavior sets us apart bar-none. We are the only school in the Denver area that specializes in canine sports and working dogs and I am an expert in canine aggression, but we will also come to you, nationwide, and work with your dogs when others have tried and failed.
This article is to help you chose a canine trainer. We are not all created equal. There are myriad training styles and methods and sometimes one method will work well for your dog but it might not for another. We guarantee our results because we live our life around working dogs. If it takes fifteen lessons for basic obedience then so be it, it takes fifteen lessons. I encourage you to do your homework and chose your trainer wisely. It is a relationship that should last a long time. After reading this article if you are still having trouble finding the right trainer or if you would like to see us in action give us a call anytime and we will point you in the right direction. Our methodology is about adaption. We have learned through the years that you need to have a flexible approach to canine training or behavior because other methods just do not work.
Dog trainers come in all shapes and sizes and choosing the one that you feel most comfortable with is a matter of individual training method preferences, integrity, honesty, standards, time, distance and money. You should also observe in your research of choosing a trainer that there are as many advertising tactics and philosophies as there are trainers and there-in can lay the dilemma of choosing one that is right for you and your dog.
Once you have clearly defined issues and goals for you and your dog, you can easily reach information overload the deeper you dive into finding that “right for the dog and you” trainer. Be LEARY of trainers who use guilt tactics or that try and convince you that their ways are the only way or it’s the highway. It is only a matter of common sense that not all dogs respond to similar methods equally and in some cases a dog may need a special approach to solve an issue. Some dogs will require more or less effort with a particular method or management style and again you will ultimately set the standard and make that decision in the learning/training journey.
Some things that might influence your decision to choose a particular trainer are listed below and it is up to you to assign the priority which you find most appealing, important or influential. GOOD LUCK!
1. What methods does the trainer use and why? Ask the questions. The trainer may try to dazzle you with scientific jargon such as positive reinforcement or traditional training or say they are an R+ trainer and have used clickers exclusively for twenty years. Just like those late night TV product miracles that promise to make your hair grow back and your shower stay clean for weeks, most often these gimmicks are just that, gimmicks. A competent trainer will have tested and retested the methods he teaches and continually learns new skills that he can offer his clients. Just like the old commercial used to say, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile”, this shouldn’t be your father’s dog training method either.
2. Can the trainer's method be easily explained? Some methods literally take a degree in psychology to fully understand. Our training methods at Denver Dog Works are based on the behavior of your dog and not lure and reward training often taught at big-box pet stores that just happen to offer training in the middle of an aisle. Dr. Robert Forto wrote is doctorate dissertation on human-canine communication and he is an expert in his field. He personally oversees all of the training programs at Denver Dog Works and is constantly learning. His methods are up-to-date and easy to follow.
3. Can the trainer's method be easily understood by you and your dog? One of the best books out there is: How Dog’s Learn by Burch and Bailey. It clearly explains how a dog learns and why methods work for one dog breed and not another. Any competent trainer has a clear understanding of these principles and can apply them to your dog and his learning capabilities.
4. Can/will the trainer provide you with an honest explanation of the pros and cons of methods he or she will use if asked? (keeping in mind that any method can have an adverse outcome depending on application) This is a most important consideration. The dog trainers of the past learned from their mentors on the methods that they found the most useful. Many of these techniques are still widely used today but may not be politically correct. Every training method has its pros and cons and each one must be weighed accordingly before you commence a training program. Dr. Forto always tells his clients that clicker training might not work for the 70-year old grandma with an uncontrollable Rottweiler but might work well for a dog learning tricks.
In his research for his doctorate dissertation on human-canine communication, Dr. Forto read about, tried and tested many of the principles offered throughout the history of dog training. Everything from Pavlov’s salivating dogs (classical conditioning) to pack and dominance theory, to clicker training, to Skinnerian or operant conditioning and many in between. By doing so, and with his 19 years experience in working with dogs of all different temperaments and personalities, Dr. Forto provides an educated approach to the best method of training for you and your dog.
5. How dependable/reliable is the training method and how often must you proof the training? Proofing is the process of training in different scenarios at different times and situations. This is a key component of any good training program. Canine training is an ongoing process and needs to be exercised throughout your dog’s life. That does not mean that you need to attend classes when the dog is 10-years old or practice twice a day, every day but every once in a while to keep the training sharp. Just like playing the piano, you may have learned as a child but I bet you couldn’t play twinkle-twinkle little star now if you haven’t practiced in 20 years.
6. Does the trainer provide any guarantees, include follow-up support, and at what cost? Any trainer that “graduates” you and your dog after six weeks of group class is just plain wrong. A dog’s mind is moldable just like a child’s and they have learning cycles that are very similar. So to guarantee that a puppy class will fix all of your problems just wait until that adorable pup is a 70-pound drooling, couch eating, trash grabbing beast. Follow-up support is a key component of any good training program and should be built into the cost of it. Any training class that promises basic obedience for $99.00 is not a good deal. Just like that juicy quarter pounder that looks so delicious on TV and when you buy it at the fast food chain it is the size of a child’s palm.
Be mindful that there is no 100% guarantee in dog training. A good dog training program takes a considerable amount of time and effort on the client’s part. There are often misunderstandings and sometimes legal suits are filed. In your research you may find that there are negative comments posted on the web by anonymous patrons or a suit/complaint has been filed because a client wants a refund. It is often based on the client’s misunderstanding of what is required from them in their training program. Continue your research with an open mind and ask for references and ask questions. The proof is in the pudding as the old saying goes. An experienced trainer is willing to be open and honest about his past client troubles and how he/she dealt with them and the outcome that was reached.
7. Does the trainer require that you buy training equipment, what kind, from whom, and at what cost. Every trainer should be knowledgeable and able to use any equipment that is on the market. Some equipment works well witIts h one breed of dog but not the other. Trust your trainers’ advice on what he recommends and let him show the pros and cons of each. While many trainers have a favorite piece of equipment such as a training collar or a head halter, these pieces of equipment are often used incorrectly by the dog owner. I doubt that the trainer is just trying to make a few extra bucks off of a client by selling them a leash but what is often the case he/she will offer advice on which equipment will work best for you and your dog and help you achieve your goals.
8. Does a trainer offer multiple options, i.e. private consultation, in home, group training, board and train etc? Can/do they provide advice as to which would be best based on your particular situation or does the trainer recommend a "one size fits all" approach? The best trainers will offer a free or low cost initial evaluation to meet with you and your dog and discuss your training goals, time lines, budget, availability, etc. While there is nothing wrong with a trainer that only does in-home classes or group classes they just might not offer what you and your dog need. You should be leary of “cookie cutter” training in which a trainer teaches the same methods to all dogs in a class. A Labrador learns sit differently than a Border Collie than a Boxer and so on. At Denver Dog Works we tailor all of our training programs to the individual dog and the client’s needs. This is why we do not offer group classes by themselves. All dogs must be under complete control before a client can move to group classes and they are designed to test or “proof” a dog with distractions. This sound principle is what Dr. Forto and his team have found works the best and provides the best results.
9. What experience information does the trainer have or provide. Most training schools have a page on their website or the literature that explains their training philosophy and training style. A good dog training school offers trainers profiles and lists their experience in working with dogs of many breeds and behavioral problems. This is the first thing you should research in your quest for finding a good trainer.
10. Does the trainer train/have ADVANCED titles in handling dogs and in what disciplines? Obedience, agility, search and rescue, therapy, hunting, herding, fly ball etc.? A trainer should only teach what he has learned or completed him/herself. A trainer should never teach conformation (dog shows) training or competition obedience if he/she has not completed a dog AND earned a title in that discipline. I mean would you hire a plumber that is a roofer, or a doctor who is a dentist?
11. Does/can the trainer provide written documents as to their philosophies and are they clearly understood verses, ones that require great time and effort to fully understand and perform? The trainer’s philosophy is a set of principles by which he/she teaches. The most common you will hear is: positive reinforcement (or R+), traditional, balanced, pack leader, clicker, and lure and reward, and shaping. While all of these methods are effective given the right circumstances, it is important that the trainer convey their philosophy in clear and understandable principles that they can teach.
12. Does the trainer give demos or clinics for the public? A good trainer is only as good as his “demo dog” It’s true you would not buy a new car without a test drive or buy a suit without trying it on. A demo dog and his trainer are constantly working together trying new techniques and skills so that he can further his education as a leader in the industry.
A good trainer also attends local expos and events to promote his training business and to get his name out to the public. Dr. Forto and Denver Dog Works make it a practice to attend as many of these events each year. This year they attended: The Colorado Pet Expo, The Furry Scurry, The Donor Dash, The Lucky Mutt Strut, just to name a few. These events allow the public to meet a trainer not just call someone from the phone book or the internet because they have the biggest ad or the flashiest web site.
13. Is the trainer a member of particular organizations that you find influential? Some of the big ones are The Association for Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), Canine Good Citizen Evaluator (CGC Evaluator), American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA) and of course the better business bureau and the chamber of commerce are just a few. All of these organizations offer networking opportunities for trainers and qualification specifics for trainers who are members. Most trainers are members of at least one of these organizations and this shows that they are dedicated to their job and their education is continual.
14. Does the trainer offer feedback forms to be filled out by each client that you may view? This is the best way for a trainer to fix his faults. Critique is the life-blood of dog training and if your trainer asks how they are doing the best answer is an honest one. You will never hurt their feelings if you are honest and by giving feedback will enhance the training experience for clients in the future.
15. Does the trainer offer special training for aggressive dogs, therapy dogs, assistance dogs, protection, tracking, herding, search and rescue etc..? Be leary of a trainer that says that they can do every kind of class known in the canine world. Most trainers have a specialty and they strive to offer programs built around that specialty. Dr. Forto’s advice is: if the trainer hasn’t lived it, they shouldn’t be teaching it. Be mindful however that many trainers have a strong trainer referral base and often “share” clients that have complementing interests. For example an obedience trainer that works with German Shepherds might have a referral to a good protection trainer. Also, many trainers are constantly learning so they might offer “fun” classes in agility and other sports while they hone their own skills. While these classes will teach you the basics in these types of classes they are not meant to replace classes geared toward competition.
16. Is the trainer easily accessible and will the trainer provided prompt responses to your questions and concerns? This is one of the biggest complaints from most of Dr. Forto’s clients and most trainers will attest. It is hard for a trainer to be available at a moment’s notice to answer a clients question. Please be mindful that the trainer has a business to run and you are not his only client as you might think so. Please be understanding he if does not call you right away. Most trainers will as soon as they get a chance. Dr. Forto’s policy is he listens to messages and returns phone calls after 4:00 pm each day. This is when his training day is winding down and he can spend adequate time with the client and their concerns. Of course the best way to communicate is by email where you can state a question and concern and your trainer can answer in a thoughtful and logical manner.
17. What experience in health issues/health care does the trainer have? A competent trainer should know the basics of canine form and function of all the breeds that he trains on a regular basis as well as canine health, medications and vaccinations, canine first aid and CPR, canine nutrition and psychology. Dr. Forto tells his aspiring dog training career students that it is easy to buy a book on canine training and become a trainer overnight. It takes years of practice and a solid education to understand how a dog learns and why.
18. Does the trainer provide information on the vet he/or she uses/recommends and are policies clear and to your satisfaction? A veterinarian is a trainer’s best friend and resource. Not only is the vet/trainer relationship an excellent source of referrals but the relationship also exists if there is a medical element to your dog’s behavior problem. As a canine behaviorist, Dr. Forto is in near-constant communication to his veterinary referral network for medication requests, medical screenings and tests. These are important components to his training protocol.
19. Does the trainer check the dog for structural problems, hearing, sight, and other health issues that affect training upon receiving your dog for training? As stated above, Dr. Forto routinely works with his veterinary referral network or the client’s own vet to rule out any medical problems before training commences.
20. Does the trainer require dogs to be up to date on all required vaccinations and are dogs inspected for fleas and other parasites while on premise? Almost all trainers will ask for an up-to-date vaccination record. This is not only a requirement of most states but it is to protect your dog from sickness and disease while attending classes or staying at a training center.
21. Does the trainer clearly explain all policies, to include rules, regulations, and any refund policies? Every trainer should have a clearly defined contract and a policy guideline of his classes and procedures. A competent trainer does not teach on a whim and make up the rules as he/she goes. Be advised that most trainers do not offer refunds. This is normal in this business. Dog training is an on-going process, similar to learning how to play the piano. Results cannot be achieved without practice and more practice. If an owner does not see results quick enough they often ask for a refund. But, if I dare be so bold: would you ask for a refund at a fine restaurant if you already ate the meal?
22. Is the trainer licensed as a business and meet all city, county, state and federal regulations? It has been said that in order to become a dog trainer all you need is three things: a business card, a leash and a smile. Over the past few years more and more trainers have found that this is just not enough and they are seeking certification in dog training. While this certificate implies that they have taken a course in dog training it does not regulate how a trainer conducts his business. A reputable trainer is always learning and attending seminars and other gatherings on the latest methods and equipment. If your trainer has a training center he should be licensed by the state and have all the required insurance and other documentation. But please understand that most trainers work out of their home and they are considered small home-based businesses. This does not make them ineffective however. Dr. Forto started this way in 1990 in Duluth, Minnesota teaching group classes in local parks. Now he owns two kennels and is looking to opening a third in the Twin Cities of Minnesota called Twin Cities Dog Works in the near future.
23. Does the trainer make you feel comfortable and at ease to include handling your dog? Dr. Forto’s advice on this is very clear: If a trainer is afraid or uncomfortable working with your dog leave right away. There is a saying in the canine training field that some people are dog people, some people are people people and a few are dog and people people. A dog person who is a trainer does excellent in training dogs in a board and train situation where he/she works with your dog while they stay with them at their kennel but when it comes time to teaching the human part of the team they lack the communication skills to do a good job. The people people are good at working with the human part of the dog/owner team but stumble when it comes to working with the dog. That does not make them bad dog trainers but does make them very good coaches, in which they give the human the directions and they train the dog at home.
It is rare to find a dog and people person. This type of trainer can work with any dog and any person and excel at it. They know how to read the dog’s behavior and react to it as well as educate the owner on what the dog is doing and why. If you find a trainer like this hold on to them because they are one in a handful and they will be an investment for the life of your dog.
24. Does the trainer have experience breeding dogs or whelping litters? While this is not a necessity by any means it is good to know if your trainer specializes in a breed of dogs. The rule of thumb is, and always has been that a trainer should not teach a class unless he has completed it him/herself. A breeder/trainer can do wonders for a new pet owner in offering puppy classes and breed referrals.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NONE OF THESE ATTRIBUTES GUARANTEE OR MAKE A GOOD TRAINER IN THEMSELVES!
If you are still struggling to find a canine trainer or the one that you have been working with just is not the right fit for you and your dog I encourage you to call Dr. Robert Forto at 303-752-2818 to schedule an evaluation. The trainers of Denver Dog Works will come to you wherever you live and we will show you why we have the best and train the rest.
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He specializes in canine aggression. Dr. Forto also teaches students how to become dog trainers. He can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-752-2818 anytime.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Treatment of Fear in Dogs

Treatment of Fear in Dogs
by Robert Forto, PhD

In an article a few weeks back I discussed the causes of fear in dogs and why it manifests. This week I will discuss the treatments of fear and how to prevent your dog from becoming fear/anxiety-induced aggressive.
Fear is more common than most people think in dogs. Almost weekly someone will come into Denver Dog Works and state that their dog is fearful of this or that and that he is aggressive. I start off by evaluating their dog and begin to explain that fear is an emotional state of dread triggered by perceived danger. Anxiety, a fear based state of uneasiness and irritability, is the state of annoyed stimulation.
All three are unpleasant emotions that cause defensiveness in living things, often resulting in defense aggression, Therese states of emotion are usually fed by a number of contributing factors instead of just one, and just like us, dogs have a limit to what they can endure before feeling the need to defend themselves. Although some dogs have a lower threshold than others, if the stimulus persists and the emotion grows in intensity, sooner or later most of us will defend ourselves. Everything that creates a feeling of unease is a potential bite and every dog has the potential for defensive aggression.

Treatment for fear/irritability/anxiety induced aggression

DO NOT punish the dog; the only way to eliminate fear is to raise confidence.
All necessary reprimands must be verbal, and only severe enough to stop the unwanted behavior. The moment the dog acknowledges the verbal reprimand, the reprimand must stop.
Interrupt and re-direct unwanted behaviors to teach the dog “don’t do this, do that.”
Teach relaxation exercises.
Carefully play games such as wrestling and tug-o-war to raise the dog’s confidence, being careful to follow the rules for games and to never overwhelm or frighten the dog.
Have the dog sleep in the same room as the owner to strengthen the trust and bond.
List all the fear triggers.
Systematically desensitize the dog to each fear trigger.
Pair up food and games with what previously caused a fear reaction.
Work at a pace that avoids putting the dog in a fearful situation, instead create a low level of arousal.
Defuse a fearful reaction by using the jolly routine, reciting poetry or signing, to change the mood.
Ignore fearful behaviors and reward non-fearful behavior.
Start an obedience training program including positive reinforcement techniques to help raise the dog’s confidence.
Always reward correct responses, confidence and good behavior.
Eliminate stress from your dog’s life.
Provide chew toys to eliminate stress and boredom.
Never leave the dog unsupervised in the presence of anyone who is not a trained part of the rehabilitation program, especially children.
Avoid close contact with strangers and especially children when not actively training the dog.
Please understand that this article is used as a guide in the treatment of fear in dogs and should in no means replace a behavior modification program under the direction of a canine behaviorist. Remember that most dog trainers do not understand the underlying causes of fear and the behavior behind it. While these trainers will be very good at teaching loose leash walking, sit, and other basic manners, I advise you to consult with a canine behaviorist if you suspect fear in your dog.
Denver Dog Works offers behavioral consultations to deal with a wide variety of behaviors including fear and aggression. All behavioral consultation are under the direction and supervision of Dr. Robert Forto, a certified canine behaviorist. If you would like to schedule an evaluation, Dr. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.

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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and is a certified canine behaviorist. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Stress and Compulsion in Dogs

Stress and Compulsion in Dogs
By Robert Forto, PhD
Is your otherwise good dog driving you to distraction repeatedly snapping at shadows or chasing his tail for hours? Robert Forto, PhD, certified canine behaviorist and training director of Denver Dog Works recalls a case from a few years ago:
A client’s bull terrier would spend much of the day staring at reflections and pouncing on shadows, he said. “He’d stare at his water bowl and refuse to drink, apparently because of the reflection. Eventually we resorted to using a rabbit sized water dispenser wrapped in a towel to get him to drink.”
Dogs exhibiting such compulsive behaviors may end up in a animal shelter or worse. “Seriously affected dogs may be euthanized if owners or veterinarians are not aware of treatments available,” Said Dr. Forto.
Chasing and other predatory pursuits and grooming are all normal dog behaviors that were once essential in the wild. Today, some dog owners unknowingly reward behaviors like tail chasing or retrieving objects, believing they are “cute.”
“But normal behaviors become problematic when performed to the excess,” Dr. Forto said. “A dog with a compulsive disorder is often unable to terminate the repetitious behavior. His normal patterns may be disrupted to the point where he would rather perform the behavior than go for a walk, come to you when you call him or even eat or drink. Understandably, this is frustrating for both the dog and owner.”
Obsessive-compulsive disorders, whether in humans or animals are repetitive, relatively unvaried behavior patterns that re exaggerated in intensity, frequency and duration. In dogs, they include pacing, spinning, tail chasing, shadow chasing, flank or fabric sucking and over-grooming. People suffering from OCD may wash their hands excessively or return home repeatedly to make sure they turned off the stove.
In young dogs, compulsive behaviors often appear before they reach sexual maturity and are exacerbated by a stressful situation. In some cases, the behaviors have a high threshold of expression—they need exposure to strong stimuli before being activates.
Frequently, the trigger or cause of the behavior is likely to be the interaction of genes and environment. For example, behavioral observations suggest compulsive tail chasing is derived from a predatory instinct gone awry. “Today, I suspect there is a genetic basis for most compulsive behaviors,” Dr. Forto said.
One reason: Some breeds are prone to certain types of compulsive behaviors. For example, Doberman Pinschers tend to exhibit flank sucking and fabric or blanket sucking disorders, while tail chasing or spinning tends to occur in Bull Terriers and German Shepherd Dogs. Large breeds, such as Golden’s and Labradors more frequently than other breeds persistently groom the lower extremities of the limbs, resulting in lesions.
Simply diverting a dog from the behavior isn’t ineffective. Once a behavior has reached compulsive proportions, the dog has no ability to terminate the behavior.
Arousal Levels
Because compulsive behaviors tend to progress if untreated the sooner the owner recognizes it, the sooner they can deal with it. Dr. Forto first suggests a veterinary visit to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Next, he advises owners to examine the dog’s environment an his management, looking at any aspect that would trigger or increase arousal levels for compulsive behaviors.
For example, dogs are social animals, and leaving then tied outside can make them feel ostracized—in addition to being vulnerable to predators and theft. Dogs who live indoors tend to feel more included and secure. However compulsive behaviors goes well beyond being lonely or bored, Dr. Forto said. “it’s a medical disorder of as yet unknown neurological origins. Although many neglected dogs do not develop compulsive disorders, the stress of insufficient social interaction can certainly be a trigger for a dog predisposed to developing compulsive behavior.”
Dogs also need more mental stimulation than the living room sofa provides. Whenever possible, owners should take their dog to work with them, on errands and especially outside to hike or retrieve balls. Obedience classes serve a double purpose. They allow owners to spend time with their dog, while giving the dog a job to do. These approaches can help avoid separation anxiety, boredom, loneliness and frustration—and compulsive behaviors they trigger.
For compulsive behaviors that cannot be interrupted, that interfere with normal functioning or resulting in physical injury medications like Prozac and other serotonin re-uptake blockers can help. They stabilize the dog’s mood so he can respond more readily to behavior modification techniques. Medications are especially effective with dogs when they have a regular schedule, lots of mental stimulation, exercise and social contact.
“Most compulsive dogs person well to a combination f behavior modification and anti-anxiety medications.” Dr. Forto said. “So far we have had good success rates, but we are not yet at 100 percent. If we can identify the genes for compulsive behaviors, we might be able to develop more effective treatments.
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado and specializes in canine aggression and violent dogs. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

What a Dump!



By Robert Forto, PhD


On Sunday the team from Denver Dog Works went white water rafting in Buena Vista, Colorado with an outfitter called Highside Adventure Tours. It was a blast and I am glad that we got to live to tell about it. This was one the best things that we have ever done as a team and it was a memory that will last a lifetime.
Early Risers
We awoke at 4:30 am for the two-hour drive to Buena Vista early Sunday morning. It was a clear day and very cold in Denver. The temperature read 37 degrees. We met Derrick at a King Soopers parking lot and hoped he wouldn’t get his car towed while we were on our trip. We drove down U.S. 285 through the Turkey Creek turns over the mountains and through the woods through Bailey and over Kenosha Pass and into the wide expanse of South Park. It is an awesome site to see in the middle of a mountain Valley just how flat and desolate it really is. I have been told millions of years ago this area was a huge lake. We stopped at a gas station in Fairplay, now famous because of the South Park cartoon, and marveled at the $4.13 a gallon gas prices, thirty-five cents higher than in Denver. We grabbed a coffee and headed back on the road. The temperature now read 43 degrees. Boy that water is going to be cold!
Our guide--Jay
We arrived at Highside Adventure Tour’s Buena Vista office at about 8:30 and signed all of the necessary forms and waivers, pretty much saying that we are doing this at our own risk and that it was a dangerous activity. No problem. The guy at the counter told us that our trip that we had signed up for, known as the Narrows, was washed out and we would be going through Browns Canyon instead. He informed us that the water levels were at their peak and the highest it had been in almost a decade. No problem.
We waited for about thirty minutes while the guides were busy loading up the rafts and gear and we psyched ourselves up for the day. We had planned this trip over a month ago and we were all ready to get on the river. At 9:00 am the guides called us over and fitted us with life vests and splash jackets. I said no to the splash jacket. I didn’t think I would need one. That is for sissies. The guides told us not to unbuckle the lifejacket and it was meant to be tight so that it can do its job—save our life!
We met our guide for the day. His name was Jay, a college student from Illinois and an experienced rafter. He seemed like a nice enough guy and we were looking forward to “working” with him on the river. Little did we know that we would get to know Jay really well and if it had not been for him we would probably not live to tell this tale.
Drop in
That day three boats were going out through Highside Adventure Tours—two full day trips and a half-day. We all loaded up onto an old school bus and signed more waivers while Beardsley, another guide, gave us the “speech” about self rescue, the importance of our life jackets, listening to commands from our guide, highsiding the boat, wrapping the boat and more. Of course most of it went in one ear and out the other because we were excited to get on the river. Hey, we would worry about the particulars later right?
When we arrived at the drop-in there were literally hundreds of people and many rafting companies preparing to launch into the Arkansas River. I made a quick calculation of just how much money this activity was bringing in and was totally in awe! From the top of the hill all the “rafters” looked like little ants in their blue splash jackets and life vests. Many had on helmets. We didn’t need no stinking helmets! We were told later that helmets were totally optional on this river through Highside Adventure Tours.
We unloaded the boats and got a quick two-minute paddling course from Jay and we picked up the boats and headed to the river. It was an absolute gorgeous day and it had warmed up now and it felt like 70 degrees. The water was freezing however and we were going to get wet real quick. Hey that’s what we signed up for right?
We picked our positions in the boat. Derrick was front left. Jay had said that is the most important position in paddling because we would follow his lead. I picked right front. Kyle was directly behind me, Tyler and Michele were behind Derrick. Jay was in the back and his job was to steer us out of danger, give us directions on when to paddle—or otherwise keep us alive!
We hit our first rapid relatively soon—a small bump with a little bit of waves. Jay had warned us not to cheer until we were out of the rapid so that he could give us proper directions. But hey, we couldn’t help ourselves-we were shooting the rapids.
Pinball
Pinball was just that. Our raft was bouncing from one side of the river to the other and back again. We felt just like the ball in the arcade game. We were in this section of rapids for what seemed like hours, but really it was probably just a minute or two. We nearly got dumped on the last section and we all fell into the boat. Jay had told us to use our oars to stabilize us and keep us in the boat when the river got rough. I guess we didn’t listen. At the end of the rapid I saw several people with cameras taking pictures. I told Derrick to smile because you will see these pictures when we get back to the outfitters.
Widow-maker
They don’t call this section the widow-maker for nothing. It was a heaving swirling mass of water, rocks, overhung trees and waves. Legend has it that many a man didn’t make it through this pass and we lived to talk about it. It was quick but not without some hard paddling on Jay’s command and it brought our attention to the forefront on what is to come during the rest of the trip.


The 7 stairs
The rapids known as the seven stairs were totally cool. The first ones were a bit washed out. Washed out means that the water is too high to make for a nice rapid and a nice ride. You see rapids are really just huge boulders in the river that re-direct the water and cause froth and waves and of course fast moving water. The rest of the seven stairs lived up to their name and we shot out the other side with huge smiles on our faces and a feeling of real accomplishment as a team.
Lunch
At about 11:30 we stopped at a campground and warmed up and rested while our guide made us a hot lunch of top sirloin, beans, potato salad, cookies and lemonade. As Highside’s website says they believe that you should get a hot lunch on the river not just a soggy sandwich. We were all pleased with the food and the exceptional cooking skills of Jay and Beardsley.
The Hike
Not ten minutes down river from our lunch site we pulled the boat over to shore and went on a hike up river to look at the next rapid that we planned to maneuver. With me being an experienced kayaker I knew what to look for but the rest of the team had no idea. Jay explained the route we should take and told us what to watch out for. It was intimidating to say the least a swirling cacophony of spitting rapids and froth. On our hike back Michele jokingly said, “Should I Velcro my Teva to the side of the boat in case we flip?” Jay said he wouldn’t recommend it and we got back into the boat to tackle the monster that laid ahead.
The Dump
We all climbed back into the raft, a bit worried but gung-ho to get it over with. As we began paddling toward “the Hole”, Derrick began singing “The Final Countdown”. As we approached, Jay began to take on a more serious tone in his voice. He set us up to hit the rapid after two other companies went through ahead of our other team guided by Beardsley. Sort of a safety net. Little did we know that we would actually need them. As we began to traverse “the Hole” we tried with all our might to stay to the right as Jay had told us to do.
“Forward-Hard” was an understatement! As we went over the ten foot drop paddling our arms off, Michele looked back at Jay as she realized the top of the raft was so high that Derrick and I weren’t able to grab any water in our strokes. Jay was in the water up to his chest and he yelled one more Forward before our demise. When she turned back around I began falling off of the boat, so I jumped to safety. I went under the water and I heard Bob Dylan fainting singing: “Knocking on Heaven Door”. As I did that the boat tipped end-over-end sinking Jay and Michele first. All of us were in the water while the people scouting out the rapid are on the cliff navigating their own way through the Hole. What a sight we must’ve been!
We dumped the raft! The cardinal rule in all of rafting: STAY IN THE BOAT! Everything that the guides told us during all those important rules, regulations and procedure talks will actually come to play at this very moment. Man, we should have paid attention!
Derrick, I mean, Iceman, made it to shore first. Followed by Tyler, I mean Maverick. I was right on their heels. Once out of the water I began counting heads. Kyle and Michele were still in the water. Michele’s foot got stuck under the grill that was in our boat, but she had been turned over before kayaking so she knew how to pop out. She hit several boulders before coming up for air. When she did she was about 50 yards from where we got dumped. She was gasping for breath and having trouble swimming. Kyle popped up close to her and later said that he had come up under the boat first. As Michele and Kyle floated quickly down river Michele was trying to follow the directions and keep to the right (hey, she did listen to the guides after all)– this had her bouncing all over the river. Kyle wasn’t swimming. Then came the rescue.
The Rescue
The other three teams that were ahead of us about 200 yards were giving Michele and Kyle directions, or should I say screaming directions, as Derrick, Tyler and I, walked down the tracks to try to meet them. As we were walking I picked up two of our oars and almost managed to rescue my sunglasses! My two hundred dollar sunglasses floated by right before my eyes. Hey, the told us to leave everything behind that we did not want to lose. I have never been one to follow all the rules I guess. In the meantime, Michele somersaulted over the largest boulder in this part of the river. The guides told her it was the best somersault they’ve seen! Kyle and Michele swam over to the closest boat and were pulled in by their secure life jackets! A few bumps, a scrape, and a mild concussion for Michele. A few bumps and disorientation for Kyle but everyone was fine! Our guide Jay, managed to turn the boat over which he is required to do – stay with the boat. Michele and Kyle met up with him on the other side of the river while Iceman, Maverick and I caught a ride with Beardsley’s team and traversed across the raging river to them. After catching our breath and realizing that we were all okay. We got back into our boat and realized what had actually happened. We survived “the hole” and lived to tell tall tales about.
The rest of the day
The rest of the day was really just us reeling in from what we just had survived. Yeah, people flip rafts all the time but this was OUR raft. The rest of the rapids were fun but nothing like what we had just went through. We even named that section of river Stijder. Stijder was a dog that we had at Denver Dog Works a few months ago. He was a male Dutch Shepherd that was a bit psycho to say the least. We had all survived Stijder and he was known to bite and otherwise just go crazy when you tried to get him out of his kennel. Stijder means “warrior” in Dutch and Stijder, the dog, required respect. Just like this river. Because just like the dog, if you put your guard down it will come up and bite you when you least expect it.


Pick-up
We reached the end of our trip and pulled over to the side of the river. Jay had told us that this would be a technical exit because the river was so fast and to be sure to follow his directions so that it can be a smooth retreat. We exited the raft and headed up river a way to “catch” Jay and Beardsley as they came in “hot” towards the bank. We had to hold onto Derrick’s life jacket so that he wouldn’t fall in as he caught the raft and pulled it towards shore. Who would have thought this was a “working” trip? We worked, paddled, swam, and held on for the better part of six hours. Boy, are we going to be sore in the morning!
The Pictures!
As you can see by the pictures we had a great time. They definitely do not do the river justice and of course the camera always adds ten pounds (at least). Check out my grimace on the fourth picture and you will see how intense the day was. All of these pictures were taken in the ‘Pinball’
The drive home
On the way home we decided to see the sights and drive up through Leadville. The whole trip was story after story of events of the day and how we all felt they unfolded. We went over the dump 100’s of times with each version getting wackier and wackier. Kinda like those fishing stories where you catch a minnow and by the end of the day turns out to be a fish the size of Mobey Dick! Leadville is steeped in history. About 8 years ago Robert ran one of his first Colorado dog sledding races at Camp Hale. Kyle ran his first race and lost his team and Michele ran her first race and lost her team as well
Back to the trip… the drive down I-70 was uneventful except for the fact it was made abundantly clear that Michele’s 1995 explorer is ready for the auction block. That old truck has given her all she has. It was difficult to maintain speeds of 40 miles per hour and we were passed by one of those new smart cars!
Tommy Knockers
We stopped and ate at Tommy Knockers brewpub in picturesque Idaho Springs and scouted out or next white water trip along Clear Creek Canyon. Our guide, Jay had told us that this is a trip worth pursuing as it is all Class-III rapids similar to Pinball on Brown’s Canyon. We’ll do that next year!
We all filled up on burgers, garlic fries and beer (for the adults of course) and headed down the mountain. Great food for a great day.
Home!
We made it home by six. Sunburned and sore from our trip and lucky to be alive. It was an adventure that I would do again in a second and was well worth it just for the experience alone. I thought it brought us together as a team and as a company. I have been told that corporate trips, retreats and activities build up company morale and the motivation can be exemplary in relation to employee retention. That being said, we can now say that we did this together and it will be an activity that we will share for the rest of our lives.
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director for Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/ or by phone at 303-522-1727.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Dog Training in a Bad Economy

Dog Training in a Bad Economy
By Robert Forto, PhD
I am not an economist but I do not think it takes one to notice the skinnier pocketbook after bills are paid and purchases are made. It does not take an economist to notice the news about increasing foreclosures or the pets that are dropped off at shelters by owners claiming they "cannot afford him anymore" or the news of possible recession. I have even heard of a few people who have had an ingenious change of plans for the summer vacation this year. Maybe they will decide against driving to Walley World in the Family Truckster and visit Aunt Edna instead. The following article is meant to be satirical but has a severe element of truth attached. I encourage you to read my ramblings and comment on what you think.
I still feel the bite in grocery, gasoline, and utility prices. It is hard to say what one would do in another's situation but I do know that I regard my dogs as family and that not many things in this world would separate me from them. In that vein, I have a few, hopefully helpful, tips for homeowners who have lost their homes to foreclosure and are faced with landlords who are not friendly to the idea of pets on their property. There are also ways to ease the cost of keeping a dog by learning how to do some things yourself and by discussing alternatives with your veterinarian or local shelter or low cost community clinic. Most of them are sympathetic and want to help you find ways to keep your pet. But that is not the topic of this article. I would be happy to speak with you about these tips and alternatives, just give me a call.
To introduce myself: My name is Robert Forto and I am a certified canine behaviorist and the training director for Denver Dog Works in Colorado. I have been in business for eighteen years and the status of our economy is said to be the worst in my lifetime. I remember the gas shortages in the seventies and having to ration food until my parents got paid again but I also remember that our little mixed breed, Sugar, always had what she needed.
Dog training is not a luxury item for most people, like an evening on the town or a weekend vacation to Vail. Dog training is a necessity. With 77.1 million dogs in this country that equals a lot of bad mannered pooches. Dogs need basic manners. If they don’t have these it leads to bigger problems and often lands them in a shelter.
The way I look at the economy is that the glass is either half full or half empty. I tend to err on the side of realist, but that is just my point of view. It appears to me that people are in a near panic because gas prices have gone up a couple dollars in the past few months, the stock market is in a deep slide and people are losing their homes because they were greedy and materialistic, and bought a house with nothing down and then decided to blow their equity on boats, plasma TV’s and ATV’s. Now they are forced to move out of their homes because of foreclosure and they are leaving their beloved pet behind to starve to death. How is that for going from bad to worse?
But really what has changed? True, when President Bush came into office gas was $1.60 a gallon, we were not at war based on false pretenses, and the stock market was in the middle of an Internet explosion. We still had dogs, just not as many dog parks with dog owners on cell-phones and yelling “leave it”. We didn’t have much in the way of big-box, corporate America—pet store-six dollar an hour earning cashiers/shelf stocker/can-I-help-you-find-something please…/dog trainers. It was a different world then. Now we have a presidential candidate pushing “change that we can believe in” rhetoric, and we still have dogs and they still need training right? They are still pulling on the leash, tearing up our couches that we got on a loan that we could not afford from a big furniture warehouse. They still need grooming and vet care and they still require our attention. Rightly so, we should be devoting this attention to our family and kids (and dogs) instead of working two, or maybe three, jobs because we are so worried about the price of gas. I vaguely remember when I was a kid some obscure quote about the price of tea in China. What was it?
Now China is the second largest economy in the World and we are hardly a threat to them anymore. Hey, they do have the Olympics starting on 08/08/08. Do you remember what was supposed to happen on 01/01/00? What a dud that turned out to be. I am a huge fan of the Olympics and will probably stay up all night watching ambiguous sporting events that don’t exist except in the Olympics. True, I could just log on to the Internet and find out who won--but why? I won’t be able to sleep because I will be too worried about the status of the Dow Jones Industrial Average that really doesn’t mean anything to anybody anyway. Maybe I will work on the long-down exercise with my dog.
When I was writing my dissertation for my doctorate I had grand plans of researching getting the sport of dog sledding into the Winter Olympics. Maybe I need to rethink that idea and concentrate my research to using a dog team as a mode of transportation. When I lived in Duluth, Minnesota I did just that. I would hook up my 12-dog team in the middle of a blizzard and mush to the local convenience store for “staples”, or at least what I thought were staples, for a recent 20-something college grad. But even a dog team is not cheap and I would venture to guess, more expensive than gas if all is tallied right—it averages about three dollars a day to keep a dog for a dog team. That is a lot more than four dollars for a gallon of gas. I digress.
Yes, dog training is a necessity. Maybe not for the dog. They do not read the Journal, even though they think in black and white. I admit I read the Journal, not for those cool stipulated (and pixilated) pictures but for the articles of course. Dog training is for us. Dog training is a necessity to save our sanity, to save us from our self-destructive selves. The thought dog training brings me to paraphrase a line from a movie, A Christmas Story: to make “all is right in the world”. Dog training brings us back in line with a simpler time. Even if that was just the 1990’s when ‘Generation X’ was making millions on the Internet and Homeward Bound, Air Bud, Iron Will, Fluke, and the cute little dog, “Eddie”, from Fraiser won our hearts and we aspired to have our dogs trained just like them. When a Doberman named “Raisin” won the Westminster dog show and we found out that he flew on a private jet. We all had grandiose dreams and inspirations for our four-legged mans-best-friend. This is when I chose to became a dog trainer and why I still love what I do. True it is trying at times. Dog training is difficult work. It is the ultimate customer service job. I have been criticized countless times for standing up for my training philosophies, my staff, why I would want to offer an agility class outside in the middle of winter, and of course people having unrealistic expectations. I learn from every client and I am passionate about what I do. I realized a long time ago I don’t just train dogs, I change lives.
Training your dog can change your life too. It will bring you closer to humanity and to your dog. It will allow you to think outside the box and stop the incessant worrying about the economy. Orthodoxy is not the norm in dog training. It is not mundane and relentless. Like the agility class in the middle of winter that people were so critical of at Denver Dog Works. Sure it was cold and there was snow on the ground but no other dog training school would even think of such a thing. People thought Sir Edmund Hillary was crazy for climbing Mt. Everest and why people still try to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. People thought they were avant-garde, but didn’t they change people’s perception? Dog training will bring you a new perspective on life and the simplest of experiences that we love so much about our dogs. Such as: why we can sit and wonder why they turn their head a certain way when we talk to them, or why even old dogs, like my 11-year old Siberian Husky, Ineka, can still run and frolic and wake me up every morning with those intense ice-blue eyes. Dog training can bring you happiness, joy, and understanding to an otherwise out-of-control world. Now that is change we can believe in.
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. He welcomes your comments, both positive and negative. Dr. Forto encourages you to give Denver Dog works a call so we can see this through together. Dr. Forto can be contacted through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727 anytime.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Fear in Dogs

By Robert Forto, PhD

As a canine behaviorist and the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado, I am often treating cases of fear in the family pet. In some cases it is relatively mild, say thunder or a car backfire, but far more common is fear related aggression and generalized anxiety with a fear component. The anxiety coupled with fear is usually a result of lack of improper socialization in the dog’s early environment. I will see this very common in rescued dogs. At least once a week a pet owner will come in for an evaluation and say that they just rescued Max, from the local shelter and their primary complaint is that he is scared to death of everything. I counsel the new owners about fear and how it develops in dogs and my opinion of why so many dogs end up in shelters in the first place. Fear is a central catalyst for this occurrence and dogs in shelters.
Every dog or animal with a reasonably developed central nervous system has fear. Fear is one of the basic drives, along with hunger, thirst, sleep, sex and sociality. Out-of-control fear is as much of a problem as any other drive that is out of control. But fear in normal amounts is essential, as is hunger and thirst in normal amounts. Fear is what keeps us from having a pick-up game of football on the freeway in the middle of rush-hour, and keeps us from walking on thin ice literally and figuratively. Fear helps us avoid certain disaster and keeps us alive longer. It does the same in dogs. However, we and dogs are not born with fear. Humans and dogs have an apparent fear of, snakes, it takes time to develop, about two years in humans, and several months in dogs.
Uncontrollable fear is a delicate training protocol. It is not teaching a simple sit or walking on a loose leash. You cannot treat fear by attending a group class or a puppy kindergarten, while these programs are good for the basic commands, they should not be used after a dog exhibits extreme examples of fear. Treating fear involves a program of desensitization and counter-conditioning. While these are the building blocks for canine training and behavior modification, they are principles that are unfortunately not learned by most dog trainers these days. If you suspect fear, or any other severe behavioral issue, my advice is to speak to a canine behaviorist. The difference between a behaviorist, and a trainer per say, is that the behaviorist is educated in the sciences and nuances of canine behavior and its origins. They do not practice lure based training or intimidation in behavior modification like so many of the dog trainers do today.

In the dog, fear begins between six and eight weeks of age. As an average figure, fear becomes noticeable in a pup and rapidly escalates in the seventh week, plus or minus one week. By three weeks after the onset of fear responses, fear plateaus out at a level for pups and for the specific genetic complement that have. In humans, fear begins at about two years and is not fully developed until about 20 years later. Ever see a teenage boy who did not think he was indestructible?
So, fear develops sometimes early in the life of a dog, but does not develop at the same rate in all dogs, and obviously occurs at different levels in each individual. There are three factors which alone or in combination act to determine the level of fear any given dog shows.
The first is genetic. The dog inherits a predisposition of fear. If the genetic potential is for a high level of fear, or put another away, if the dog has a low threshold for fear-inducing stimuli, it will overreact to a fearful stimulus, or what is more often the case, to a whole gamut of stimuli. What would cause a mild startle effect response in a dog with a normal fear level will drive the over-reactor ballistic.
A second factor that causes uncontrollable fear is early environment, usually from improper or even total lack of primary and secondary socialization during the critical sensitive period from 3 to 12 weeks of age. Under the influence of this fear-inducing factor, the dog might be genetically solid as the famous rock, but it missed exposure to people, various sounds, short periods of separation from Mom and the siblings when the socialization window is wide open. Therefore, the dog has never formed the association between people, sounds and objects, and low anxiety prior to the development of the fear, the only time the association can be formed. The dog will forever fear these things that will normally occur every day of its life.
The third factor is learned fear. It comes about by the chance association formed between some arbitrary neutral stimulus—say the ringing of the phone—and a negative reinforcement, something painful—like stepping on a thumbtack. If the ring happens coincidentally with or milliseconds before the pain of the tack in the foot, the dog associates the ring with the pain and will show a fear reaction to the phone ringing. Learned fear is always specific to the stimulus in the same class. So any ring similar to the phone will cause the fear response in the dog. If the fear is only to the ring of the phone and very similar ring sounds, we can live with it, but if it is something that seriously interferes with the dog’s hunting performance like fear of a loud noise (translation, a gunshot), it must be fixed and can be.
In an upcoming article I will discuss the treatment options available for the different factors of fear. Please note that these articles are for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for treatment of fear, or any other severe behavior problems, in your dog. This treatment should only be done under the guidance of a canine behaviorist or on a recommendation of your local veterinarian.
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Dr. Robert Forto, PhD is the training director for Denver Dog Works in Colorado and routinely treats fear in dogs. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Forto, he can be reached through his website at www.denverdogworks.com or by phone at 303-522-1727 anytime.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

I Don't Have Time to Train My Dog!

I Don’t Have Time to Train My Dog!
By Robert Forto, PhD

How many times have you said to yourself: "Gee, I need to practice with my dog, but I just don't have time to train today." A client recently said this very thing to me. Of course, having dogs most of my life, being a certified canine behaviorist and believing in practical training, I readily had an answer: "Do you have time to eat? Do you have time to watch television...even the news? Do you have time to get your mail? Do you have time to surf the Internet?"
Well, then you have time to train. Isn't the purpose of training your dog to improve communications with your pet and increase the harmony between all the 2-legged and 4-legged members of your family?
Training does not always have to mean going to a dog-friendly park. Training does not have to take place on a large field. Training does not always include special equipment and time spent setting it up. Training does not have to involve a 30-minute block of time. And, training should never be tedious or boring.
Training opportunities are all around you. There is no better place to begin than in the home and there is no better time than RIGHT NOW!
Note: Adjust each training suggestion to the appropriate level for you and your pup, increasing the difficulty as training progresses. If you have questions, please check with your trainer. Dr. Robert Forto of Denver Dog Works in Colorado offers many specialized training program for you and your dog. At Denver Dog Works most of our clients sign up for basic manners classes. These classes are designed to make your canine companion a welcomed member of your home.

TIPS - Training In Practical Situations
Watching Television:
Place the dog on a down/stay during each commercial break. If the pup is housetrained, allow it freedom during the program.
When your dog is easily holding a 5-minute down/stay, reverse the procedure. Have the dog do a down/stay during the program and practice a more active command, such as heel, during the commercial break.
As training progresses, place your dog on a down/stay and leave the immediate area during each commercial break. Remember to enforce the command before leaving the room and upon re-entering.
If crate training is an issue, place the dog into the crate during each commercial and allow the dog to come out during the program. Then flip the times in the crate and the times outside. The randomness of your actions will lessen anxiety associated with crate training, i.e. owner leaving home.
If your dog becomes nervous and anxious during thunderstorms rent a movie that features them, i.e. The Perfect Storm. With your dog on a down/stay by your side, start the movie and play it very softly. Play and replay the weather scenes - - very softly. As your dog becomes accustomed to the noise, g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y increase the volume. Do this several times over a period of days, or even weeks, until you have solved the problem. This method also works for gunfire. Remember: go slowly. There are also CDs available with specific sounds. Denver Dog Works can also tailor a training program that deals with noise phobias.


Getting the Mail:
Our mail is not delivered to our door; I must walk to the end of the drive. While it is not far I take the dog along and use this time for a lesson in heel, walking sits or walking downs. Have your pet sit/stay while you reach into the box. Leave your dog on a stay and walk away; then, recall the dog to heel while you are in motion.
Is your pup learning to carry or to retrieve? Getting the mail is the perfect opportunity to let your pup practice by retrieving a piece of purposefully dropped junk mail and carry it back inside.
If you often meet up with neighbors at the cluster mailbox, this is a perfect time to practice socialization skills with your pup. Be sure you have treats to pass out to neighborhood children so that your dog can be petted by a variety of people. You may wish to introduce a command such "make friends," to insure that socialization is done only with your permission in appropriate circumstances.


Working in the Yard:
Place your dog on a down/stay as you move about the yard. Randomly, turn and face your dog, reinforcing the stay command. Periodically, break that pattern by either returning to your dog and releasing it or calling the dog to come to you.
Yard time is great for walking sits, walking downs, recall in motion, figure-8 heeling patterns - around two trees, two lawn chairs, etc.
Prior to taking the dog into the yard, place "forbidden" food items. Take your dog into the yard, on leash, and practice the "leave it" command. Be certain to have appropriate dog treats (food/ball/toy) for a reward.
"Leave it" can also involve chasing a rake or a broom. (Note: be certain never to practice this command when using power tools or equipment such as an edger or weed-whacker. Keep your pet, and yourself, safe.)
Teach your pet to be a good citizen by retrieving pop cans and placing them in the garbage. This "trick" is very impressive in the park and sets a great example for children.
Introduce your dog to water play after yard work. Whether running in the sprinklers or chasing ice cubes, remember to have fun.

Mealtime:
If allowed by your house rules, station your dog in a quiet, out of the way corner of your kitchen or dining room. If your rules say "no dogs in the kitchen," station the pup where he can still see you moving about. This is a great place to practice down/stay. There are lots of distractions: noise, odors, people coming and going, etc.
Use kitchen time to practice the "leave it" command, if your pup shows interest in food dropped on the floor.
If your dog is in front of a cabinet or pantry door, make it an opportunity to teach the command "move", by pointing to another place and encouraging the dog to relocate.
During dinner, place the dog on a down/stay under the table. No eye contact; no whining; no begging. Soon your pup will be ready to join you at a dog-friendly outdoor cafe and will be welcome on family camping trips. (Note: no people food should ever be given to the dog while you are eating. If you wish to offer table scraps, do so after you have finished and make certain they are placed in the dog's dish.)

Be Creative:
Chairs make wonderful obstacles for practicing heeling, right turns, left turns, about turns and figure-8 patterns. On a rainy day, train in the family room or dining room.
Teach your dog the command "under" using a coffee table, a child's desk or a hall bench. Make certain the item is appropriate for your pet's size. This command is great when hiking or visiting that outdoor cafe.
A ladder placed flat on the ground can help growing puppies learn to manipulate their hindquarters and become more sure-footed. Use lots of patience, praise and rewards to encourage your pup, on leash, to walk the length of the ladder, stepping over the rungs.
To encourage your pup to chew their toys/bones and not your furniture or clothing, establish a toy basket just for the pet. Place a variety of toys of variable textures and sizes in the basket--including plush toys, rawhide chews and a ball. To keep your pet interested, hide a few special treats in the basket before encouraging your pet to get a toy. You can eventually move the basket with you, to entertain a pup while working in your home office.

Times NOT To Train:
When you are not feeling well.
When you are angry, negative or upset.
When you are low on patience or out of energy.
When there are too many distractions for you in the training area.
When there are too many distractions for your dog's level of ability to concentrate on learning a new command. (Instead, try proofing your dog on commands that are already well understood).
When you are unclear how to perform or teach an exercise to your dog. Clarify what you should be doing, with your trainer, before working your dog.
In Summary:
Training is really all the little things you do each and every day, showing your dog what you expect from their behavior. Training should be a special time for you and your pet to enjoy being together. End each session with something your dog is good at doing--and praise, praise, praise.

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Dr. Robert Forto, PhD is the training director of Denver Dog Works in Colorado. Denver Dog Works is an all-breed training school that specializes in canine sports and working dogs. If you would like to find out more about our programs visit our website at www.DenverDogWorks.com or give us a call at 303-752-2818 anytime.