photo of happy dog
Lucky Dog Sports Club in Jupiter
Positive, rewards-based
dog training
 
April 2009
Greetings!
Special Event-- don't miss it
We want to remind you of upcoming classes before they fill, and also tell you about a special event coming up-- Pet CPR/First Aid class taught by Dr. David Cox (see below).
 
Looking for Seminar Topics
I am planning some exciting one day (or several hour) seminars on different training and behavior topics. They will be taught by board-certified veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Lisa Radosta. Are there topics you have a special interest in? We are looking for suggestions. It could be anything like aggression, dog body language, introducing your dog to a new baby, resource guarding, counter surfing, barking, housebreaking, etc. Please email me what topics you're most interested in. Thanks!

Register before you miss the class you want!
Don't know how to sign up for that fun class you want to take? Drop on over to the schedule page, find the class you want and click on the "Sign Up" button. 
Be sure to get your registration form in before the class fills so you will be guaranteed a spot.  
Pet CPR/First Aid class
Dr. David CoxPet CPR/First Aid class

In this exciting class taught by respected veterinarian Dr. David Cox, you will learn and practice CPR on a realistic rescusi-dog, and learn many emergency first aid techniques. Besides learning how to do CPR, here are a few of the many topics that will be covered in class:
 
* Safely handle and assess your injured or ill pet;
* Recognize an emergency;
* Clear an airway obstruction;
* Control bleeding;
* Handle breathing emergencies;
* Safely provide restraint and transportation;
* Initially treat poisoning;
* Recognize shock;
* Splint broken bones;
* Respond to drowning
 
Next class: Friday, May 15, 2009 from 6:30-8:30 pm
Cost: $35 ($30 for members of Lucky Dog). Auditing only: $30 (25 for members). Auditors will not get to practice pet CPR on the realistic rescusi-dog. There are 15 working spots and 10 auditing spots. Sign up soon to save your spot.

To sign up or get more info click here
In This Issue
Pet CPR/First Aid workshop
Reactive Dog class
Agility Class & Events Schedule
Obedience Classes
Puppy Socialization & Training
News and Special Events
Article: Your Dog Can Learn to Earn
BRAGS! Congratulations.
Quick Links
Directions
Articles- Training and Behavior
Membership Info- Join the Club and use Lucky Dog on your schedule
Rent Lucky Dog for your dog event 
Register for Class (print the forms)
Contact Information:
 
Mindy Cox, Training Director
Phone:
561-427-6700
Email: [email protected] Web: www.luckydogsportsclub.com
Address: 300 S. Central Blvd., Suite B, Jupiter, FL 33458
 
Any suggestions or comments? Please email. I value your feedback.
 
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Reactive Dog Class 
Stressed, reactive dogReactive dogs aren't hard to spot. Outdoors, such canines will lunge at people or dogs that get too close. They usually also bark loudly, and/or growl forebodingly and may even try to bite anyone foolish enough to get close. In the home, the reactive dog can appear threatening to visitors as it jumps, barks and stares. Reactive dogs tend to stress out their embarrassed owners as these owners try to keep visitors and passersby safe from their intimidating or noisy best friend. On the other end of the reactive spectrum is the dog that's too afraid to go anywhere and will hide, tremble, or whine. Most of these examples are fear based and this behavior is appropriately called reactivity.
 
In class, the dogs will be separated from each other by the use of visual barriers. The counter-conditioning and desensitization training and handling is personalized for each dog's emotional readiness and needs. Learn the management skills and tools you need to help your dog overcome or improve these emotional trigger points. Become empowered to deal with your dog's reactive issues.
 
Two classes are scheduled and both begin on Wednesday, April 15th.  You have your choice of time. The first class is from 6 pm to 7 pm and the second class is from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. (The first night is at 7 pm for everyone and is without dogs.) These are 6-week classes. There are limited spots and the classes usually fill up quickly so please submit your registration form soon.
 
We are fortunate to have Dr. Lisa Radosta, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, teaching this class.
 
Agility Class & Events Schedule
MACH BeauFor complete descriptions, fees and registration form click on the class name.

Puppy Agility Fun! The next class begins Tuesday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m. Ends May 18th. For puppies between the ages of 6 to 12 months. In this class you will begin to work on agility skills to give your puppy better balance and confidence, while you also improve your obedience and handling skills and your relationship with your full-of-energy adolescent. This class is held indoors in our training room. It's perfect for graduates of Ideal Puppy class!

Intro to Agility The next class begins Thursday, April 16th at 7:30 p.m. Ends May 28th (no class April 30th). Come out and learn the fun sport of agility with your dog! 

Novice Agility (formerly Agility Level II) Next class begins Thursday, April 16th at 6 p.m. Ends May 21st. This is the next class after Beginning Agility.

Masters/Advanced Agility Handling & Skills Next classes:
Monday, April 20th at 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Ends May 18th.
This is an ongoing Monday class (when one session ends another begins). A new session begins today. If you can't make the 6-week session but would like to drop in with your dog from time to time, you are welcome to do that if there's room Please email to find out.
 
What the heck is agility anyway?
Don't know what agility is but would like to find out. There's a video that I think explains it well. Check it out.
 
Thinking about competing soon?
Check out this great link which offers the Agility Addicts Guide to Your First Agility Show. 
Obedience Schedule
For complete description, fees and registration form click on the class name or 
click here to go to our website.
 
Focus Foundation is one of our most popular classes. This class teaches or improves obedience skills such as sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking, leave it, and no jumping. It photo- reactingalso improves attention, focus and impulse control.
 
 This is also a great class if you want to move on the fun sport of agility.

New classes scheduled (6-week sessions):
-Begins Tuesday, April 14th at 6:00 p.m. and ends on May 26th.
-Begins Monday, May 11th at 6:15 p.m. and ends June 22nd (no class on May 25th).
 
This class fills fast, so sign up now to assure a place in class.
Puppy Classes
Adorable!For complete descriptions, fees and registration form click here to go to our website.

Ideal Puppy I is your puppy's first class, almost like Kindergarten. Your puppy must be between 9 and 19 weeks at the start of class.

Why should all puppies go to school? By five months of age much of your puppy's personality has been determined, so it is very important to begin a class prior to this age. Early puppyhood is a critical time for socialization and learning. This time will set the stage for the rest of your puppy's life. You will train and socialize your growing puppy. It is never too early to start them off on the right paw.

Next 4-week sessions (choose one):
Thursday, April 9th at 6 p.m. Ends April 30th.
Thursday, May 7th at 7:15 p.m. Ends May 28th.

Ideal Puppy II Choose one 4-week session (immediately following corresponding Ideal Puppy I, above):
Thursday, May 7th at 6 p.m. Ends May 28th.
Thursday, June 4th at 7:15. Ends June 25th.
 
Most people sign up for both Ideal Puppy I and II for 8 weeks of great training and socialization, and $50 in savings.

Puppy Agility Fun!
 Just graduated from Ideal Puppy class and want more fun, leaning, and bonding time with your growing, energetic bundle of fur? Puppy agility teaches confidence and helps build your partnership with your dog. You will continue to work on obedience as your pup begins to learn the skills and balance required for agility. You'll love this fun class!
This indoor class begins Tuesday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m. and ends May 19th.
This wonderful agility class is for your dog 6-12 months of age. Please go to our website for
more information.
Special Events and News You Can Use
Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure & Massage:
Level I Certification Program
April 6, 7, 8 and 9 at Lucky Dog. To sign up or get more information, contact them.
 
Agility Fun Run at Humane Society of the Treasure Coast in Stuart 
Sunday, April 12th. Gates open at 7:15 a.m. and the first run is at 8 a.m. To sign up contact Kathy and provide your name, contact information, dog's call name, Excellent or Novice, jump height, and breed or what your dog looks most like.
 
Toxicity Warning
I have received several emails recently, including one from the Palm Beach Veterinary Society, regarding the toxicity of cocoa mulch. Recently the loving owner of two labs bought some from Target. One of the dogs devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, the dog had a seizure and died instantly. Cocoa Mulch contains a lethal ingredient called theobromine which is also found in chocolate. It can be deadly to dogs and cats. Let's be careful out there. Check out what Snopes has to say, though they did not have the information about the tragic event concerning local dog, Calypso. 
 
Class & Events Calendar
Our class calendar is now better than ever. If you are a Lucky Dog member organizing your practice times, you can now tell if a class is inside or outside. It is color coded by type of class (such as agility, obedience, puppy). The first class will have START to indicate the beginning.
Featured Article
 
LEARN TO EARN PROGRAM (aka Say Please and Nothing In Life Is Free)

Want a happier dog and a better relationship? Keep reading.
 
What is learn to earn?

Over the years, a number of useful "catch phrases" have been used to help describe to pet owners the importance of taking control of their pet and the environment, such as Learn to Earn, Say Please, and Nothing In Life is Free.  One of the best ways to do this is by control of rewards so that they are used exclusively to reinforce desirable behaviors.  For example, food and treats, affection and attention, access to the outdoors, play and walks can be powerful reinforcers as long as the owner stops using these rewards for all behaviors except those that are the focus of training.  Learn to earn, which was introduced as a dog training concept by William Campbell in the early 70's, is a simple catch phrase which perhaps best captures the concept that when something positive is given to the pet, he can learn that the behavior is desirable to repeat.  Therefore it is essential that the rewards are given for the behaviors we want and not those that we do not want.  In addition, by withholding rewards at all other times, it can be insured that the motivational value of the rewards remains high and that undesirable behaviors are not reinforced. 
 
Dr. Karen Overall uses the term "deference training" to focus on the idea that the goal is to photo- cute facehave the pet learn to defer to the owner for each reward.  Deference can be sitting and waiting quietly until the item is given.  Not only does the pet become more settled and relaxed, but it becomes clear to the pet which behaviors will earn rewards (predictability) An alternative catch phrase that similarly reminds the owner that each reward should only be given for learning and training what is desired is Nothing in life is free, a term coined by Dr. Victoria Voith.  Reinforcing what we want in our pets rather than punishing what we don't want is the focus of an excellent guide to reward based training "Don't Shoot the Dog", by Karen Pryor.  
 
How to teach your dog to Say Please
First, teach your dog some behaviors that he can do on cue. Use positive reinforcement methods to teach him some cues. At first, SIT is quite sufficient. This will be your dog's default way of asking you for something. DOWN and STAY are also useful behaviors. "Bow," "Speak," "Sit Pretty", and "Roll over" are fun tricks to teach your dog.
Once your dog has mastered one or more cues, you can begin to ask him to Say Please. Before you give your dog the things that it likes most in life, (food, a treat, a walk, a pat on the head) he must first respond to one of the cues he has learned. 
  
Can learn to earn be used to correct behavior problems?     
This program is a very useful way to restructure your relationship.  It is important that dogs should be taught the social boundaries of their environment and the fact that you are in control at all times.  Control should be benign and non-confrontational.  It is done by controlling what the dog has and what the dog gets.  Equally important is that the pet understands what behaviors are desirable and what behaviors earn rewards. By providing rewards only for those behaviors that are desired, increasingly more accurate responses can be reinforced, and reinforcement of inappropriate behavior (e.g. attention seeking, play biting, jumping up) will cease.  Rewards can be affection, attention, praise, food, treats, play, toys, etc.  Choose the behaviors that you wish to reinforce and make it clear to your pet that these rewards have to be earned.   In fact, the first step in resolving many behavior problems will be to cease all casual interactions with the pet.  In this way each and every one of the pets rewards can be given to reinforce the desirable behavior, and to improve response to commands.    
 
What happens if a problem arises?
Establishing a routine from the outset is important for dogs, so they know what is required of them and where the boundaries are. Without this they can become anxious and develop a range of problems.  If the dog becomes disobedient, withdraw any reward normally given on completion of the exercise; this places you, the owner, in control.  Ensure that the dog learns that the reward will only be reinstated once the task is completed satisfactorily.  The dog must be learn what behavior is needed to get the reward.   
 
Rewards must be appropriate.  For example food treats are often used as training rewards and are clearly less effective if used immediately after a meal.  Similarly playing with toys will not be effective if the dog is continuously surrounded with toys.  Therefore it is important if any form of behavior modification or re-training program has to be put in place that rewards are chosen with care and then withdrawn until the particular task is successfully completed.  This will soon make it clear that the dog is not in control of these resources and will provide you with an opportunity to teach the dog what behaviors will be reinforced.  Rewards can also be access to things the dog desires such as going outdoors or coming inside.  Prior to receiving these items, the dog is asked to perform a simple task such as "sit" and the reward is only given if the dog complies. 
 
How do we start?
This obviously depends on the problem behavior.  Start in a safe and non-distracting environment and the chosen reward is given for compliance. For example the dog is always asked to sit before he is petted, but if he does not sit, no attention is given.  Once a reliable response is established from the dog practice the commands in a variety of environments and with all family members, or even strangers if appropriate for the particular problem.
 
Staying in control
It is paramount that you are in control at all times.  Do this via the chosen reward for which the dog craves.  Ensure that the reward is always earned.  With a simple training procedure this usually means that before the reward is given the dog is asked to come, sit, stay, etc.  Ensure the task has been successfully accomplished.  Then reward!
 
Any training procedure should be broken down into simple components.  For example, if you are training your dog to come to you and sit at your side, start by recalling your dog and rewarding as soon as he comes to you.  Once this component has been reliably established get him to come but put him into the sit position before the reward is offered.  With these exercises the dog soon learns that you are in charge.
 
What happens if my dog learns to anticipate the routine?
Change it!  Some dogs rapidly learn to anticipate your routine.  If that occurs, change the procedure.  For example many owners ask their dog to sit before being fed.  If your dog starts to sit before the command has been given, change the routine.  Request the dog to either lie, or to stand.  With repetition of these exercises your dog will soon learn that you are in charge and will look to you for instruction when uncertain rather than to take control in these situations. This is important since many dogs become anxious when uncertain and may attempt to use aggressive behaviors to take control.  This is something that should not be tolerated, but should not be confronted with force.
 
What happens if my dog refuses to obey my commands?
Avoid confrontation or a situation that might lead to aggression or where you may not be able to maintain control.  Terminate the exercise. Remember every time your dog fails to comply it reinforces his control, not yours.  In other words, if you ask the dog to sit prior to opening the door, but the dog does not comply the door is not opened and you walk away. Always remain calm and patient. You are building trust and every time you get angry at your dog, you erode the trust and it hurts the relationship. Control is about leadership not coercion.
 
How do I regain control?
Once you've given the cue, don't give Fido what he wants until he does what you want. If he barks at you or knowingly refuses to perform the behavior (unlikely - he probably just doesn't understand), walk away, come back a few minutes later, and start again. Keep in mind that he may not actually know the cue in the context you are asking, and may need extra help at first. Or he may be so excited about the toy/treat/leash that he temporarily forgets everything he knows. "Extra help" includes a visual signal or even a lure. If you think the dog knows the cue and you end up using a lure, don't feed the dog the treat that you used for the lure at that time (we don't want to reward non-compliance!).

Depending upon the problem you will often find that continuous reinforcement with the reward is needed.  Once the desired response is achieved switch to a program of variable and intermittent reinforcement, only giving the reward sometimes, especially on the best responses by your dog.  Occasionally the dog slips back and you may find you have to use more frequent reinforcement.    

This article is based on material written by Debra Horwitz, DVM, Diplomate ACVB & Gary Landsberg, DVM, Diplomate ACVB
� Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc. Used with permission under license. March 25, 2009 
Want to watch some behavior videos or read more articles?  There are other great resources on our website, including Jean Donaldson and Turid Rugaas videos, and more. Click here to check them out.
 
Go to the Article index for training information, including an all-about-agility video.
BRAGS!
We are proud of our students, past and present, and want to share some of their happy moments. Congratulations to all of them for their accomplishments. Feel free to send your brags!
 Maggie Becker
Oops! We made a boo boo on the age of this
cutie last newsletter. Maggie Mae Becker is
only 3 1/2years old! Maggie's not only cute,
she's talented too!
 
 
  
Louie, a wonderful yellow Lab owned by Eva Arnold, has taken several classes at Lucky photo- reactingDog. This is what Eva has to say: "He is already much more focused and calm than when we started the first class a few months ago. I am very thankful to you and your school. Now we have a much bigger chance for him to became a therapy dog and later a service dog. We take him to dog shows to make him more socialized. I am his handler and we have fun. We tried to complete the CGC [Canine Good Citizen] test. He did well on everything except the last, which was to stay out of sight of me for 3 minutes. He was patient for 1 1/2 minutes but then he started barking. Not a problem, we will try it later again." I know they will accomplish everything they set out to do. They are a great team.

MaisieShirley Black and her beautiful and sassy husky, Maisie, recently received their RN and I don't mean nursing degree! Shirley has good reason to be happy to have achieved their novice rally title.  "I'm very proud to tell you that Maisie got her RN title in just 3 trials.  We started at the Everglades Club on Friday, which was a first time for both of us in that venue.  Maisie was distracted and I committed a handler error , but we still qualified.Then on to IRDTC on Saturday with an AM and PM run. We did better each time, with a 3rd place in the later run, so I'm very proud of her." Nice job and congratulations to both!
 
Want to be in our next issue? Let us know what you are doing with your dog. We will print your story and photo of your Lucky Dog.