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Lucky Dog Sports Club in Jupiter
Positive, rewards-based
dog training
April 2010 |
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| Oh, My Aching Arm! | A Better Way To Walk Your Dog
Taken from an article by Daniel Estep, Ph.D.
Taking your dog for a walk can be an enjoyable experience for both of you. But if your dog drags you down the street, choking and gagging himself on a choke chain or you have to repeatedly yell at him to stop pulling as you jerk his leash, the walk quickly becomes unpleasant. In most obedience classes, dogs are taught to heel using choke chains, also known as training collars or slip collars. A veterinarian friend of ours is fond of pointing out that the only domestic animal we attempt to train by choking is man's best friend. We suggest using a head collar instead.
Dogs can easily pant, play, and take treats while wearing the Gentle Leader.
 | Head collars are sometimes mistaken for a muzzle, which they are not. Your dog will be able to take treats and pant wearing a head collar. The Gentle Leader is an effective and humane way to train a dog to walk on a loose leash without pulling by making use of a knowledge of dog behavior.
Putting pressure over the bridge of the nose and the top of the neck mimics postures that dogs use with each other to establish dominance and control. The head collar encourages the dog not to pull without the use of physical force or discomfort. It is not uncommon for a dog to resist the sensation of having something on top of her muzzle.
The first time the head collar is on, the dog may rub her head on the ground or paw at the collar. The most dominant dogs often resist the most because they do not want to be controlled. The Gentle Leader is therefore particularly effective on large, physically strong dogs who are also strong-willed. The dog adapts to the collar much more quickly if it is first put on before engaging in an enjoyable activity such as going for a walk or playing fetch. Once the dog's attention is focused elsewhere, she quickly forgets about the collar.
We advocate the use of a head collar because it works - from both the dog's and the owner's perspective. It allows owners to gain control quickly so they can enjoy their dogs, and the dogs are not painfully jerked around on choke chains. It is difficult to misuse a Gentle Leader - it is relatively easy to misuse a choke chain [or a prong collar].
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Want to take back control of walks with your dog? Want them to be fun and safe again? We can help. A 20 minute consultation will include:
- Sizing and fitting a Gentle Leader or Halti for your dog;
- A short lesson to teach you the proper use;
- Acclimating your dog in a happy and positive way.
Please contact us at Lucky Dog for an appointment. We carry both products in our retail area (class participants and members receive 10% off all products).
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Contact Information:
Mindy Cox, Training Director
Phone: 561-427-6700
Fax: 561-748-3699
Any suggestions or comments? Please email. I value your feedback.
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| Doorbell! | |
Chaos at the Door
Daniel Estep, Ph.D. and Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D.
While having lunch with a friend recently, we got to laughing about how foolish our dogs can make us appear during greetings at the door. The doorbell is often the starting gun for the 'who can get to the door fastest' sprint competition. Of course the dogs usually win, with their owners finishing a distant second. Our friend was describing how sorry she sometimes felt for visitors waiting at her door, as they listened to her dogs' frenzied barking, her husband yelling at the dogs to SHUT UP and her screaming at her husband to keep quiet.
From the dog's point of view, the doorbell is just about the perfect conditioning stimulus. It's
Teach "Go To Your Mat" | virtually 100% predictive - every time it rings, something happens. Mom and dad get up, and a new person enters the territory, to either be welcomed or threatened. Because the sound is so meaningful, it is easy for dogs to generalize their response to noises that sound similar. Many dogs, including our own, will sometimes bark at doorbell sounds from the television. We can even induce barking by saying 'Come In!!", without the doorbell preceding this greeting.
Problems at the door are varied. Some dogs are just overly friendly, exuberantly jump on people, lick them, and just generally want to be the center of attention. Others like to door dash, while still others have more serious reactions and are threatening or aggressive. Regardless of the behavior, it's not realistic to expect success by working with your dog just when the doorbell rings. At those times, your focus is on the visitor, not on training your dog. You will have to set up training sessions separate from the spontaneous arrival of visitors.
One approach is to teach your dog to go to a specific spot whenever you approach the door. Pick a spot near the door, but out of the way, because it will be harder to teach your dog not to follow you to the door. Give your dog a visible target, such as a small rug, to mark the spot. Once your dog is reliably responding to this cue, then add the doorbell, but not the visitor. Recruit a family member to ring the bell, or use a remote controlled device. Your goal is to have the doorbell be the cue for the 'go to your place' behavior.
The final step is to teach your dog to expect that when visitors do enter, he will receive treats and attention if he stays on his spot. Enlist the help of friends, family and neighbors who are willing to follow your instructions and be consistent with your dog. If your dog is grumpy and unfriendly, additional procedures are necessary, and you may need the help of a certified behaviorist to help you devise and implement them.
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Want help teaching this or other impulse control and good manners exercises to your dog? Please call and schedule an appointment. We can help you achieve the behavior you want using only dog-friendly methods. |
Does Your Dog Bark, Lunge and Growl?
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Reactive Dog Class
Do you feel lost when your dog barks, growls or lunges at other dogs or people? This very special class is for all dogs that overreact in new situations or with new people or other dogs. They often become over excited and aggressive. This aggression is usually fear based and this behavior is appropriately called reactivity.
Learn how to have a calmer dog around other dogs and people.
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The next set of classes begins Wednesday, June 2nd. There is a class from 6 to 7 pm and one from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Each series runs for 6 weeks.
We are fortunate to have these classes taught by veterinarian Dr. Lisa Radosta, who is board certified in animal behavior.
**If you are interested in this class you may want to think about signing up now. The price will go up on May 1st.
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Pulling? Jumping? Bad Manners? No Focus? We Can Help!
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A closer look at the
Focus Foundation class
Dog taking you for a walk? Does his jumping on friends and family get you down? When you call does your dog ignore you and run the other way? We can help with all of these issues!
Learn the basic obedience and communication skills needed to build
a better relationship with Is walking your dog becoming a challenge?
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sports. This 6-week class is the foundation for all future training
and is perfect for improving the manners of your favorite pooch.
It will increase communication and awareness between you and your
dog. We will train or improve basic obedience skills such as sit,
down, stay, loose leash walking, come and no jumping. Some of the
skills we will cover include attention, ability to work around other
dogs as well as people and distractions, drive and motivation. The focus of the class is on improving manners, gaining
skills, and increasing confidence to build a more enjoyable relationship.
This is for dogs 5 months of age and up.
Upcoming Classes (6 weeks long):
-Monday, May 17th at 6:15. Ends June 28th. (No class May 31st)
-Tuesday, June 15th at 6:15 p.m. Ends July 20th.
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Class Schedule - Obedience, Puppy, and Agility Classes
| SUMMARY OF UPCOMING CLASSES: Obedience, Agility, and Puppy Classes
For detailed info, descriptions, fees, instructors, and to register, click on the More Info link or go to our Schedule Page. Interested in a class you do not see listed? Please let us know. If there is enough interest we will organize one.
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Focus Foundation
Obedience, Attention, Focus, and Impulse Control-- everything you've
always wanted for your dog! (see more info above.)
Focus Foundation is also the prerequisite for Intro to Agility.
This popular class fills quickly so sign up today!
UPCOMING CLASSES (6 weeks long):
-Monday, May 17th at 6:15. Ends June 28th. (No class May 31st)
-Tuesday, June 15th at 6:15 p.m. Ends July 20th.
Sign UpMore Info...............................................................................................
Ideal Puppy I & Ideal Puppy II
This is an important socialization and training class for puppies 9 to 20 weeks of age. Don't miss out on these important behavioral milestones that will help your pup grow into a more confident, well-adjusted dog. Your dog will only be a puppy once!
Ideal Puppy I and II are each 4 weeks long for a full and wonderful
8 weeks of learning and play. 
UPCOMING CLASSES: Session B from 7:15 to 8:15 pm
Ideal Puppy I begins Thursday, May 6th. Ends May 27th.
Ideal Puppy II begins Thursday, June 3th. Ends June 24th.
Session C from 6 pm to 7 pm
Ideal Puppy I begins Thursday, June 3rd. Ends June 24th
Ideal Puppy II begins Thursday, July 1st. Ends July 22nd.
Sign Up
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 Puppy Agility Fun
You will have lots of fun with your puppy in this class! For puppies who have graduated from Puppy Agility Fun (or similar). Participants will continue to work on obedience skills for agility. Agility obstacles such as the A-frame, dogwalk, and teeter at low heights will be taught to give the pups confidence and with safety in mind. Handler skills will also be emphasized so that communication and understanding between the handler and dog are improved.
UPCOMING:
Wednesday, May 5th from 6 to 7 pm. Ends June 9th.
Sign Up Now
More info
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Puppy Agility 2
Keep the good time rollin' with the next in the series of puppy agility classes. Increase you and
your puppy's skills and confidence.
UPCOMING:
Wednesday, May 5th from 7:15 to 8:15 pm. Ends June 9th.
Sign Up Now
More Info
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Novice Agility
We will continue to develop teamwork and increase handling skills. We will build upon the skills
learned in Beginning Agility (or similar from another agility
club). More work will be done off leash including longer
sequences of obstacles. Handling and agility skills such as front
and rear crosses, serpentines, 270s, and more will be worked on
to gain comfort and confidence. We will work on the skills of
walking a course and using handling strategies to best get
around the course with our dog.
This is a small class so sign up now to reserve a spot.
UPCOMING:
Tuesday, May 18th at 7:30. Ends June 22nd.
More Info
Sign Up
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This class is designed to advance you and your dog's agility skills and to prepare you and your
dog for competition, if desired. The class will build on jumping skills, obstacle discrimination,
 and distance handling skills. Dog/handler teamwork is
emphasized, not on just getting through a sequence but in the
way in which it is accomplished. The class will teach the handler
and the dog how to gain confidence, accuracy, and speed.
Performance on all equipment will be fine-tuned. UPCOMING:
Sunday, May 9th at 5:30 p.m. No class May 16th or May 23rd (the 23rd is a Fun Run). Ends May 27th
............................................................................................... For advanced agility dogs that are competing or skilled enough to do so and have graduated
 from Intermediate Agility or similar class. Must be
proficient with all of the equipment.
UPCOMING CLASSES
Monday, May 3rd. There is a class from
6:00 pm to 7:00 and another class from
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Drop ins are accepted when there is room. Please call
or email the instructorif you are interested in dropping in to participate in class.
Sign Up
More Info ...............................................................................................
THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS DATES AND TIMES. |
| Play Agility With Us! |  This is a great opportunity to practice your agility in a different atmosphere and have some FUN with your dog. There will be two courses to challenge all levels. Do all or part of the course and practice important handling skills whether you are at the novice level or higher.
Get in on the action and have some fun! Sign up now. Send your name, your dog's name,
jump height and breed.
2010 DATES
~Friday, April 23rd (running little to big)
TIME for April 23rd: Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the first dog will be ready to run by 6:30 p.m.
~Sunday, May 23rd Fun Run and BBQ! (running big to little)
TIME for May 23rd: Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first dog will be ready to run by 6 p.m. (and everyone will be ready to eat by then too!) (These dates subject to change.)
BARBECUE: The May Fun Run is the last one of the season. We are going to have a cook out to express our thanks for attending during the year. We are limiting this Fun Run to the first 20 who sign up to run (more can attend if you are not running a dog). There is no charge for this event. If you would like to share an appetizer or dessert, please let me know!
CRATING: is indoors in climate-controlled comfort (or outdoors if you prefer).
EXPERIENCE: All levels (novice level class students and up) are welcome to practice the nested course (novice/open and excellent). After everyone runs the first course we will reverse it and run again after walking the new course. The lighting and footing are great. Toys and treats are welcome and encouraged to reward your dog. Please only flat buckle collars. REGISTRATION: To sign up, email us your name, and your pet's name, breed, jump height, and level (novice or excellent). You must sign up in advance.
More infoAre you on the monthly Fun Run email list? If you are not receiving the additional reminders of upcoming Fun Runs, please let me know and I will add you to the list. |
Ouch! It Hurts.
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How to Tell if Your Dog is in Pain
Dogs feel pain for many of the same reasons as humans: infections, dental problems, arthritis, bone disease and cancer. They also feel discomfort following surgical procedures.
I don't feel so good. |
Unfortunately, unlike humans, they are unable to speak to us about when and where they hurt.
You are in the best position to look for the subtle changes in behavior that may indicate your pet is suffering. It's important to stay alert to these signs, because the sooner your dog's pain is diagnosed and treated, the sooner he or she can heal and resume a normal, happy life.
If your dog shows one or more of these behaviors and you suspect it may be due to pain, notify your veterinarian immediately.
VOCALIZING:
� Whining
� Howling
� Whimpering
� Yelping
� Groaning
� Grunting
ACTIVITY LEVEL:
� Restless
� Reluctant to move
� Difficulty getting up from a laying position
� Repetitively gets up and lies down
� Trembling, circling or lying very still
� Seeks more affection than usual
SELF-PROTECTION:
� Protects a body part
� Doesn't put weight on a limb
� Limps
� Doesn't want to be held or picked up
� Hides
DAILY HABITS:
� Decreased appetite
� Withdraws from social interaction
� Changes in sleeping or drinking
� Lapses in housetraining
� Sleeps more
FACIAL EXPRESSION:
� Grimaces, vacant stare
� Glazed, wide-eyed or looks sleepy
� Enlarged pupils
� Flattened ears
� Pants excessively when at rest
AGGRESSIVE:
especially a previously friendly dog
� Acts out of character
� Growls, hisses, bites
� Pins ears back
� A normally aggressive dog may act quiet, docile
SELF-MUTILATION:
� Licking
� Biting
� Scratching a particular part of its body
POSTURE:
� Hunched, with hindquarters raised and front end down on the ground
� Lays on its side
GROOMING:
� Coat lacks normal shine
� Hair stands up in places |
| Brags | Here are a couple of hard working Lucky Dog students who did super great at their first agility trial this past weekend. Congratulations!!
This is the story of Tamara Aull and her wonderful dog Angel.
 Angel my 8 � year old Aussie and I have been attending agility classes at Lucky Dog. Initially we signed up for class mostly for something fun to do and meet new people with the same interest. After participating in many classes, we signed up for fun
runs, and after several of our agility pals started going to competition
we decided to get serious and sign up for our first AKC Agility Trial. I was excited and a little nervous but my strategy was to just go out and have fun.
My first event was FAST; not really knowing what I
was doing we did ok but ware disqualified. The next event was JWW (Jumpers with Weaves) and we
scored 100 and our first Blue Ribbon! We were pumped after that and took another blue on the Novice Standard class. With one day of experience behind us we ran FAST and JWW on Saturday and won a blue ribbon in both events. Angel and I ended up with 4 blue ribbons in our first trial and it was fantastic! All
the practice, great teachers, encouraging friends and believing in your
dog, makes for a winning combination and a great weekend! I enjoy every
day with my Angel and look forward to our next trial.
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| Get Well Soon | |
Our Best Wishes For a Speedy Recovery, Kota!
Cindy, You Are Both in Our Thoughts.
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| A Special Dog | 
Our Hearts Go Out to Loretta on the Loss of Her Wonderful Companion and Friend, Sammy. Loretta, he was a blessed dog to have had you in his life for so long.
"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan." |
News You Can Use
| Freestyle workshop
May 14-17 at Dog Days in Palm Beach Gardens,
FL.
Brigitte van Gestel, a European Freestyle champion and instructor is coming
to South Florida to give a few workshops. Workshops are open to
all dogs and their owners who want to learn more about this fun and fascinating
dog sport. For more information call Dog Days at: 561-694-7970
Humane Society of the Treasure Coast
Please join us at our Dog Wash Event hosted by Leader Cheer to be held
at Chase Bank, 1701 NW St. Lucie Blvd in PSL this Sunday from 11:00 -
2:30 p.m. Leader Cheer is a group of local cheerleaders who help
support different organizations throughout our community.
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FAQs |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you have an at-a-glance way to see classes and events?
A: You betcha! Our class calendar will give you the schedule at a glance. 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.
Q: How do I register for a class or event?
A: Find the class you want on the Schedule page. For events, go to the Events page.
Click the Sign Up button beneath the class description and fill out the registration form. Or you can call 561-427-6700 and I will sign you up over the phone.
Payment can be cash, check, or credit card.
You can mail your form, email it, drop it off in our secure drop box to the left of our front door, fax it, or you can sign up by phone. Go to our Contact page to find all this info (or find the info in this newsletter in the above right column.
Q: What training philosophy do you use?
A: We only use positive, reward-based, dog-friendly training methods at Lucky Dog. No jerking, pulling, ear pinching or other aversive methods are used. We introduce the training clicker into many of the classes so your dog has a quicker and clearer understanding of what you are teaching.
Q: Do I need a club membership to take a class?
A: No. Becoming a club member and taking a class are two separate things. But as a member you have access to Lucky Dog and can practice whenever you want (when there is no class scheduled).
Q: What are Lucky Dog's hours?
A: At this time there are no regular hours when you can drop by, but if you'd like a tour just give us a call and we are happy to accommodate you. Someone is always there when a class or event is scheduled.
Q: Do you only do group classes or can I schedule a private lesson?
A: We are happy to schedule a private lesson at Lucky Dog. We offer obedience and agility private lessons. |
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My goal is to make this monthly newsletter as useful and interesting to you as possible. Which sections do you like the best? Articles? Class info? News of local events? Human interest information? What else would you like to see covered? And if you like it, please pass it along to a friend.
Sincerely,
Mindy | |
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