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Lucky Dog Sports Club in Jupiter
Positive, rewards-based
dog training
November 2010 |
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| | It's a Good Start! |
Big Wins for Animals!Prop B passes in Missouri.
The state of Missouri is home to 1,462 licensed commercial dog breeders. Between them, they breed about 1m puppies a year. About 40% of all the dogs that end up in pet shops across America are born in Missouri's smaller country towns.
Some breeding places hardly bear inspection. Cori Menkin, senior director of legislative initiatives for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has seen "horrific" conditions there, with up to 1,000 breeding bitches under one roof. The worst of these "puppy mills" are filthy with urine and piled-up faeces. The animals have such matted coats that they cannot defecate properly. Some bitches freeze to death; others spend their whole lives on wire-floored cages, unable to walk on solid ground.
Animal-rights supporters claim that the laws governing these breeding sheds are vague, unenforceable and insufficient to maintain even the most rudimentary care. This is why they gathered more than 190,000 signatures in support of the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act-an exercise in direct democracy that was passed on November 2nd to improve conditions in the state's breeding facilities.
The new amendment will provide clearer, enforceable standards. It allows no more than 50 breeding bitches in any one facility. Breeders with more than ten will have to provide sufficient food and clean water, veterinary care, regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The amendment also regulates the size of kennels, so that the animals have room to stretch. Any violation of this law will count as a class C misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 15 days in jail and a fine of up to $300, still rather low.
Click here for the complete article.
Ban on shock collars
In related news, a ban on the use of electric shock collars to train cats and dogs in Wales has been upheld by the High Court. The legislation was passed in March but challenged by Petsafe Ltd, which makes pet products, and the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association. Sitting at the High Court in London, the judge dismissed the challenge and ruled the ban lawful. The legislation prohibits the use on cats or dogs of any electronic collar designed to administer an electric shock. Says Elin Jones Rural Affairs Minister, "In Wales, reward-based training and control of animals is acceptable... the use of collars which deliver an electric shock to a dog or cat is not".
Interested in training articles and videos? Check them out on our website. |
| Some simple goals | |
A Dog That is a Joy to Live With
You want a dog that is a joy to live with. That's a pretty personal and subjective concern. But here are some of my thoughts on the matter.
The most important thing you can have is attention from your dog when you request it. You should have an instant head turn when you say his name, and regular attention that he offers whenever you are together. Reward attention highly. If you don't have attention before you ask him to do something then you probably won't get compliance.
A critical skill is a good recall. Does he immediately come 9 out of 10 times when you call him? Are you rewarding him adequately when he does instantly listen? You should never use the "come" command to ask a dog to do something he does not like. It's critical to figure out what he likes and does not like from your dog's point of view, not your's. Try to view the world through his eyes.
Good manners are vital to living happily with a dog. You do not want a dog that is pushy for attention: barking, pawing, whining. That type of behavior needs to be ignored or he needs to be given correctly implemented, non-aversive and not scary punishment like time outs. An ignored behavior (i.e., one that is not reinforced) will eventually extinguish if you stay consistent. If not, it will get worse.
Impulse control is an important component of good manners. Can he wait for things when asked? Will he sit politely while you put down his dinner, put on his leash, wait to go out the door? He should sit and wait for every resource at your disposal including before petting, before eating, before getting into the car, before playing, etc. Most of these things can be practiced all through the day whenever you are with your dog. You do not necessarily need to set aside long periods of "training time" to make training effective.
You can also practice impulse control by your dog knowing how to stay when asked. You start easy and increase the duration and distractions. An easy start is to reward every second that your dog does not move out of position. Slowly that duration increases. Over time you can build up to your dog being able to stay when you throw a ball and waiting to be released to get it. Rewarding appropriately so that you are keeping your dog successful at each step is the key.
"Leave it" is also an impulse control exercise and can eventually be applied to yucky dead things found on walks, other dogs, cats, and any object he is not allowed to have.
Ask for and expect good behavior and reward successes appropriately. Don't use aversive punishment. Be consistent. Set standards and maintain them. Build trust.
All of these things add to your leadership role in your dog's eyes. When he understands his role, and the rules and boundaries you set for him, he will be a more confident and calm dog, and certainly a complete joy to have in your home. |
| Keeping children safe |
Understanding Dogs: Why Dogs Bite Dr. Kendal Shepherd's whimsically illustrated but scientifically spot-on children's book, The Canine Commandments is a 33-page hardcover book designed to be read together by child and parent though children over the age of 12 would certainly be able to read it on their own. The goal of the book is reduce dog bites to children but many adults also could benefit from the simple and straightforward recommendations included in this book.
At the end of the book, a "Ladder of Aggression" is presented, with artist Victor Ambrus's charming and educational rendition of canine body language. The ladder starts with signs of discomfort (yawning, blinking, nose, licking, and turning head away) and illustrates the progression of anxiety up through biting. A better name for the Ladder of Aggression might have been the "Ladder of Worry." Most of the canine body language on the lower 2/3 of the ladder are appeasing signals or avoidance mechanisms, designed to avoid aggressive encounters. But Dr. Shepherd's excellent point is that if people recognize the dog's early signals of discomfort and take measures to relieve the dog's distress (usually simply backing off), the ultimate biting behavior can be avoided. 
More about the Ladder of Aggression No dog wants to be forced to become aggressive. They therefore utilize calming body language to avoid the necessity for such behavior. In dog society, this calming language is used to put others at their ease. It may be equated with human polite social gestures, such as smiling, saying hello and, shaking hands. It is also used to express anxiety in worrying situations and a desire that things should calm down straight away. Although appeasing gestures are often described as 'submissive', it is very dangerous to make this assumption. All dogs use their full range of gestures when needed, regardless of social expectations, and all dogs may bite if a situation becomes extreme enough from their point of view. The 'Ladder of Aggression' is an illustrated summary of the gestures dogs use  | | Classical gestures of discomfort: ears back, raised paw, hunched appearance. |
when they are feeling stressed or threatened. These gestures are designed to avert threat and so avoid escalation towards aggression. The gestures shown on the lower rungs of the ladder, such as yawning, putting ears back and raising a paw, mean "I'm feeling worried - don't threaten me; please calm down". However, those on the higher rungs of the ladder, such as growling, snapping and biting, mean: " No! Stop that! Leave me alone right now!!" Understanding the meaning of these gestures and encouraging children to be more aware of them, will help avoid the last resort of aggression. The correct choice for safe interaction avoids conflict, decreases threat, and allows a dog to remain on the lower rungs of his particular ladder. The incorrect and dangerous choice, on the other hand, increases conflict and threat and inevitably results in aggression. If a gesture does not immediately reduce or deflect a threat, a dog's behavior will escalate from the lower rungs of the ladder toward the higher ones. A dog may also learn over time that more subtle gestures do not have the desired effect and so dispenses with them altogether in favour of immediate growling or snapping. Such a dog may appear to be 'unpredictably aggressive' when in reality he has simply been routinely misunderstood. A first option for a dog may be to simply walk away from a worrying situation and many children are bitten simply as the result of following and pestering a dog that would clearly prefer to be left alone. If walking away from a threat, such as a child with outstretched arms, has simply resulted in the dog being followed and trapped and petted he may be forced to growl. If growling is not an effective warning, and it is ignored or punished, then a snap or bite becomes very likely.  | | "Please leave me alone!" What signs of stress do you see the dog communicating? Ears back, lip/nose licking, head turned. |
The misinterpretation of threat-averting behavior, shown in the Ladder of Aggression, has a very damaging effect upon the relationship between dogs and their human companions. A dog running away from a vacuum cleaner is recognized as frightened whereas another showing identical behavior when an owner is angry with him will be called 'naughty' or 'disobedient'. He may subsequently be caught and punished, and will inevitably "look guilty" such that the owner may perceive 'he knows he's done wrong'. But both the 'frightened' dog and the 'bad' dog are equally saying 'Please calm down and leave me alone!' If the owner responds by further punishing the dog, the increase in threat level will serve to "devalue" the dog's threat averting language. This will tend to stimulate mistrust in humans and will increase the risk of forcing an aggressive response in the future. If people recognize their dog's early signals of discomfort and take measures to relieve the dog's distress (usually by simply backing off), the ultimate biting behavior can be avoided. So by simply observing and respecting the dog's point of view we can learn to live more harmoniously with our canine companions. |
Jumping for Joy! Sign Up Today.
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Agility Fun Runs
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. Toys and treats are allowed. NO harsh methods will be accepted. Bring your chairs, crates and water bowl for your dog (we have a hose and water fountain). Please only flat buckle collars.
2010/2011 DATES & TIME
--Friday, December 3rd. First run at 5:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.) Running little to big dogs.
--Friday, January 14, 2011. First run at 5:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.) Running big to little.
--Friday, February 4th. First run at 5:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.) Running little to big.
--Friday, March 18th. First run at 6:00 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.) Running big to little.
--Friday, April 15th. First run at 6:00 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.) Running little to big.
(These dates subject to change.)
CRATING: Indoors in climate-controlled comfort (or outdoors if you prefer).
EXPERIENCE: All levels (Novice class students and up if training at Lucky Dog) are welcome to practice this 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.
FEE: $10 per dog (2nd dog $8). Please try to bring exact change or a check made payable to Lucky Dog Sports Club. Credit cards are also welcome. There is a 10% discount for members of Lucky Dog. Please try to bring exact change. You can also pay by check or credit card.
REGISTRATION: To sign up, click here and email us your name, and your pet's name, breed, jump height, and level (novice/open or excellent). You must sign up in advance. |
Class Schedule - Obedience, Puppy, Reactive, and Agility Classes.
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SUMMARY OF UPCOMING CLASSES:
Obedience, Agility, Reactive, 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. Know you want to take a class? Sign up early before your are closed out of a filled class!
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Reactive Dog Class: Help for Your Feisty Fido
Begins Wednesday, February 9, 2010
Got a feisty Fido when it comes to certain interactions? Do you feel lost or embarrassed when your dog barks, growls, lunges or generally becomes difficult to control around other dogs or people? This class is about your dog learning relaxation and trust and overcoming fear and anxiety. We understand your problems and we are here to help! Find out more.
This class is taught by expert Dr. Lisa Radosta, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
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Focus Foundation
Obedience, Attention, Focus, and Impulse Control-- everything you've
always wanted for your dog!
Focus Foundation is also the prerequisite for Intro to Agility and it's a great class before Rally.
This popular 6-week class fills quickly so sign up today! Taught by Mindy Cox, B.S., CPDT-KA
Next Class: Tuesday, November 30th at 6 p.m.
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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. Sign up for 8 weeks and save.
UPCOMING CLASS:
Session D from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Ideal Puppy I begins Thursday, December 2nd.
Ideal Puppy II begins Thursday, December 30th.
Instructor: Stacey Perry
Sign Up............................................................................................... Intermediate AgilityBegins January 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.. Ends March 3rd. (No class Jan. 20 or 27th) 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. Sign Up ...............................................................................................
Advanced/Masters Agility
The class will include complex sequences found in Excellent and/or World Team level courses  designed to build the skills necessary to successfully compete at the highest levels. In the class you will continue to perfect skills that are needed to be successful and get the most out of a performance. This class is ideal for anyone who wants to improve their communication with their dog and increase speed and reliability.
Some spots are still available. Sign up soon if you want one.
Monday, November 29th at 6:00 p.m.
Instructor: Cynthia Kean, AKC agility judge and top agility handler More Info Sign Up ...............................................................................................
Private Instruction and Consultations
We are available to do private agility and obedience training as well as behavior consultations on a variety of issues.
Please contact us for more information.
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More classes are being scheduled. If you don't see the one you want,
THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS DATES AND TIMES. |
| Upcoming Events and Other Fun Stuff | |
News You Can Use
Doggie Play Group
The Abacoa (Jupiter) Doggie Play Group is being relaunched. It will take place on December 11th from 11-12pm at Woof Gang Bakery in Abacoa. According to Lindsey janosky, Activities Coordinator for the Abacoa POA, "We were feeling a little festive, so to help ring in the holidays and have a little fun, we welcome anybody to join us for a cookie exchange! If you bring in a batch of your favorite, festive, homemade holiday treats, your pooch will get a free cookie from Woof Gang Bakery! It will be a great way to gather together, ring in the holidays, and meet new friends!" For more information go to www.abacoa.com.
Ann Braue and Karen Holik
January 20th to January 25, 2011
Email Annette at ltdbcs@gmail.com for camp specifics and costs.
Agility Workshop by Marcus Topps
December 4 and 5, 2010
Information: www.ipoclakeland.org or contact Jean Rodoski at 863-602-0577 or jmarshep@gmail.com.
Just for Fun
Whether or not you watch and enjoy the Big Bang Theory on television, this YouTube video on training and using positive reinforcement applied to humans to get what you want is very amusing. Check it out!
Create Agility Skills Sequences
One of the toughest parts of enhancing you and your dog's agility skills during practice is having the right sequences to set up! Steve at AgilityNerd.com figured it out for us. He has devised an automatic sequence generator. Plug in the handling maneuvers you want to practice and it will automatically give you a jump sequence. Try it. |
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FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS....
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Have a very safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
 With gratitude and thanks for your support and friendship throughout the year. |
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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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FAQs | |
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 Register button or link and fill out the secure online 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.
The fastest way to sign up, especially if you want to secure your spot in a popular class is to use the secure online registration form. You can also mail your form (very slow!), drop it off in our secure drop box to the left of our front door, fax it to 561-748-3699, 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.
Q: Is there certification for dog trainers?
A: Thanks for asking. Yes, trainers can be certified through the CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) which is an organization respected throughout the world for maintaining high standards for certification, knowledge base, and continuing education requirements for dog trainers. Mindy Cox, Training Director at Lucky Dog is certified (CPDT-KA). Click here for more information.
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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 Cox, B.S., CPDT-KA
Training Director
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