Playful Pooches and Parents dog training Newsletter

Not all trainers are positive.

I didn't coin that phrase. Dr Ian Dunbar, veterinarian, animal behaviorist and writer did. He wrote tons of books, He has been lecturing to veterinarians and dog clubs for over thirty years. In fact, since 1986 he has conducted over 800 days of seminar and workshop for trainers and veterinarians around the world. There are very few educated trainers who have not been strongly influenced by Dr. Dunbar's fun & games, from-the-animal's-point-of-view, dog friendly dog training.

He refers to trainers who use harsh, abusive, yank and jerk methods, negative training as trainers from the dark side. They cause so much more damage than help. So if you are looking for help for canine problems, check very carefully into who helps you train your dog or trains your dog. If you are a client of mine, previous client or new potential client, please, please, please do not use negative, harsh, abusive type training. If you need additional help, please call me, there are many options and alternatives if current training methods aren't working. If nothing else, I can recommend a different trainer that will really help you and your dog, not one who will turn your dog into a robot dog.(They do that, I kid you not)

Sometimes we need to look at our behavior when training isn't working. We have to model it for our dogs first. What makes a great dog? A great dog owner. What makes a great dog owner? One who is informed, consistent, fair, positive and calm. Sometimes we need to be assertive but that is not harsh, mean or physical. Pack leaders rule by body posture, tone and consistency.

I know I'm on my soapbox on this one but it is near and dear to my heart. I gave up a 30 year job at a good company to follow my passion. I have learned a lot in my journey both from experts such as Dr Ian Dunbar and from the many dogs I've trained and helped train. And I still continue to learn and hope I always will. But the one thing I know absolutely is that harsh, mean, abusive, yelling, jerking, negative methods do not work and actually harm your dog and your relationship sometimes beyond repair. A lot of these dogs get turned into shelters if they're lucky. But a lot of times we can't turn them around. It breaks my heart.

Here's one tip I'll give you then I'll get off my soapbox and we can enjoy our holiday. THINK POSITIVE! What do I mean by that? Instead of saying (and thinking) my dog is so......stubborn, dumb, adhd, distracted, stupid, fill in the blank-I've heard it all. Think my dog is so.....smart, great, handsome, clever, beautiful, quick to learn, fill in the blank-I've said it all. What you think they are, they will be. What you think they will do or won't do, that is what will happen. You have to believe in your dog. He loves you, he won't let you down if you believe in him.