Positive Training Doesn’t Mean Permissive Training

Earlier today I was talking to a friend who thought it wasn’t possible to train a dog using only positive methods. What do you do if the dog won’t listen besides just withholding the reward? She thought there had to be something more to fall back on to motivate the dog.

She was picturing a wild, out-of-control dog, and me just standing there not giving him a cookie, as if the dog even cared about a cookie at that point. She was specifically thinking of my own dog Scooter, who barks like it is his job (he’s a hound, so technically barking is his job, but you know what I mean) and who used to go completely wild on walks when he saw a squirrel.

I could write pages and pages about why aversive training doesn’t work - stress hormones impede learning, it damages the relationship with the dog, etc., but it’s also really important to focus on why positive training does work.

Anyway, she’s half right. If I had waited until he was at the end of his leash spinning in circles and barking at a squirrel, and then asked him to sit with a cookie in my hand, I would not have been successful. That would be unfair and frustrating for both me and Scooter. By that point, barking at a squirrel is so much more rewarding than any cookie I could possibly have, and he’s lost all self-control and focus.

That’s not where we started training, though. We started in a quiet room in the house, and if he looked at me, I would give a treat. I put him on his leash and let him walk around the living room, and if he was anywhere except putting pressure on the leash, I would give a treat. That taught him that it pays not to pull on his leash.

Dogs do what works for them. If a certain behavior gets them something they like, or meets a need such as attention, they will keep doing it.  When Scooter and I first started training, standing in the living room and frequently checking in with me, and not pulling on the leash, got him treats. After a couple sessions, I didn’t have to use a food-treat every time. I could pet him or tell him what a good boy he is or offer a toy.

Once he was reliably doing that, we moved to the dining room and did the same thing. Then upstairs. Then the front porch once I had scouted it out and made sure there weren’t any squirrels around.

I laid a lot of groundwork showing him that walking nicely on his leash and paying attention to me PAYS, before we ever got anywhere near a squirrel. That way, the first time we were walking and he saw a squirrel, he had a lot of experience to draw on telling him that barking at a squirrel sounds pretty fun, but paying attention to mom has a big history of earning him cookies and cuddles and tennis balls.

It was also important for me to keep in mind that when a dog is choosing between doing two different things, I have to make the one I want him to choose more rewarding than the other one. And truly, barking at a squirrel is super fun and exciting. So I have to be better than that. Teaching this kind of thing is when you get out the hotdogs or cheese or tennis ball, or whatever your dog loves best in the world. It would not be fair to Scooter to expect him to choose against his instincts and fun, and then only give him a dried up old biscuit. The dry biscuits have a place - just not when you’re first teaching your dog something really difficult.

It was an ongoing process. He’s five years old now, and when we’re walking and he sees a squirrel, he looks at me and we turn and go the other way. He doesn’t bark or growl or flip out.

All I used to teach him was practice, patience, and treats. I did not have to use any methods that relied on fear, intimidation, or force.

Incidentally, if I had used aversive methods, that probably would have made it worse. If I did a “leash correction” when he starting going wild about a squirrel, Scooter wouldn’t know why I did it - what he would know is, each time he saw a squirrel, mom popped him on the neck and it hurt. For whatever reason, squirrels make mom do the hurting thing. So logically, he should probably be even more alert and aggressive to run those nasty old squirrels out of town so mom would stop hurting him.

Positive training has somehow gotten a reputation of being permissive, but I actually think I’m more strict than a lot of pet-parents who use punishments. Because there are a lot of positive things in the world, and I can control access to almost all of them. It sounds tyrannical when I put it like that, but it’s really not. What I mean is, laying on the couch, toys, treats, attention, dinner, walks - these are all things Scooter likes and I can use them to reward good behavior.

The other side of that coin is, if Scooter makes the choice to bark out the window, he can’t lay in his favorite chair. Sorry pal, that’s the rule. I’m not stern or harsh or mean about it. When he barks inappropriately, I calmly walk over to him and tell him ”off.” When he’s quiet again, he’s welcome to lay in the chair. (The scientific term for this is “negative punishment.” Negative meaning I’m removing something - access to the chair - and a punishment meaning it decreases a behavior. It doesn’t rely on fear or pain, and Scooter can still choose to bark if he really wants to. He just can’t bark in the comfy chair. He has to choose which one he wants more - and having that choice is actually very empowering to a dog.)

If Scooter chases the cat, he can’t be in the living room with the family. He has to go behind the baby gate in the hallway for a whole minute. Then I let him rejoin us and he can try again. On the other hand, when he glances at the kitty and makes the choice not to chase, he can have a piece of cheese. It’s a pretty sweet deal for Scooter.

He gets dinner when he sits politely. He gets to go for a walk when he waits politely at the door. And if he dashes out the door and pulls on the leash, we go back inside and wait 5 or 10 seconds, then try again. Dogs figure out pretty quickly what they need to do to get what they want.

One final note, you can use the very thing your dog wants that is causing him to misbehave, as a reward for behaving. I’m going to go back to the example of pulling on his leash during walks - let’s say he was being rude and wild on his leash, pulling because there was one certain patch of grass he was just dying to go sniff. I’m not going to take him over there is he pulls. I am the one who holds the leash; I control access to that patch of grass. When he walks nicely, I tell him “ok, go sniff,” and he can get exactly what he wanted, just by being polite. I get a polite dog, wonderful companion, and work partner - and he gets almost everything he wants as long as he minds his manners about it.

For further reading on why positive training doesn’t mean permissive:

http://thehappypuppysite.com/positive-dog-training-methods-are-we-spoiling-our-puppies/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-reusche/myth-positive-training-is_b_6796250.html

WHY SOCIALIZE YOUNG PUPPIES

For most animals, their default reaction to the unknown is fear. With puppies, we can easily turn this fear of the unknown into cautious curiosity as an adult. Cautious curiosity is the default strategy of a well socialized dog when confronted by new people and things.

Dogs are not born friendly to humans, but they are born to become friendly to people.

This happens only if they meet friendly people while they are very young puppies.

Exposure to both people and man-made environments must happen in a gentle, positive and gradual way in order for a dog to cope with living in our human world. A dog’s most critical period for learning these coping strategies -- and forming a positive attitude to people and the world -- is from 3 to 12 weeks of age.

Preferences regarding who to approach and who to avoid are set early. Adult dogs prefer people who look like people they knew to be friendly when they were very young puppies. That is why it is so important to gently and kindly introduce puppies to a wide selection of people. At 12 weeks, puppies start avoiding types of people and objects they haven’t met before.

 

It seems that dogs who fail to develop both the knowledge of a lot of things and people, and the coping strategies to respond to new things and people are very susceptible to developing anxieties and fears. They tend to avoid new things and people and can become aggressive when confronted by them. They simply cannot cope.

Based on this scientific research, breeders and new puppy owners are now encouraged to expose their puppies to an environment rich in new people and experiences before they are 12 weeks old.

Delightful Dog’s Nursery Day Program is specifically designed to provide a socialization and enrichment curriculum that will encourage the development of a well balanced and well socialized dog. A dog who will respond to new people and things with confidence and a cautious curiosity.

Please give us a call or check out our website for more information.

678-273-3700

http://delightful-dog.com

Some Easy Recipes to Make For Your Dog

Last week we wrote about people food your dog can eat; thanks for making it our most viewed and shared blog post yet! This week I thought we would take it a step further and talk about two recipes for snacks and treats you can make for your dog!

I’m going to be mainly focusing on treats and snacks, but if you want to make your dog’s food from scratch, you certainly can. A veterinary nutritionist will be happy to help you determine your dog’s exact needs and come up with a recipe. A dog eating a home-made meal should also get a daily supplement. We love NuVet, which we carry here at Delightful Dog. Several of our staff members use it for their own dogs too.

What got me thinking about this was the sulfite-free dried mango. It’s actually pretty hard to find. Sulfites are a type of salt that preserve dried fruit. Fortunately, dried mango is super easy to make and will make your house smell like a tropical vacation.  You can follow the same steps for any fruit or veggie you want to dry. 

1. Preheat the oven to 175, or whatever the lowest setting your oven has. Anything under 200 will work fine. 

2. Slice your fruit about ¼ inch thick (Noticing a trend? Preheat the oven to "about" this temperature; slice the fruit "about" this thick? The good news is, dogs aren’t exactly food critics. They’re going to like whatever you make for them, so experiment and have fun! These are just some guidelines)

3. If you have a roasting pan with vents in the bottom, that’s ideal for drying fruit. Arrange your fruit so it’s close together but not quite touching. No roasting pan? No problem! You can also use a cookie sheet. Crinkle up some foil then partially smooth it out and use this on top of the cookie sheet. If you put your mango on a totally flat surface, it will stick, and air being able to get under it will make it dry quicker. So you just want some ridges in your foil.

4. Put the mango in the oven. It will take about 3 hours, then need turning over, then about 2 more hours on the other side. If you feel like it’s starting to cook instead of dehydrating, you can keep the oven door cracked.Different ovens dry at different speeds; I recommend checking it hourly. When it’s done, it will feel leathery.

You can dry lots of things: sweet potatoes, bananas, berries, or pumpkin.

The second recipe is for more of a traditional biscuit type treat.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour (If your dog is sensitive to wheat, oat flour is even better!)

1/3 cup peanut butter

1 large egg

3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth (you don’t have to use chicken broth! The purpose of this ingredient is to add moisture and flavor. If you boil some veggies or pasta for your human family to eat, you can save the water and use it here. I especially recommend carrot-water)

3 tablespoons oil - the very best is virgin coconut oil, but olive is great for dogs too

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Combine peanut butter, egg, broth and oil in a separate bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour and stir with a spoon or rubber spatula until a rough dough forms. Knead the dough in the bowl 5-6 times until it comes together.

3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll to a 1/4-inch thickness. With a 3-inch dog bone shaped cookie cutter, cut out treats and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Press all the scraps together, kneading once or twice, then roll out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out more treats; repeat if necessary. (Note: I’m a super lazy chef and Scooter is easy to please; don’t worry too much about the shape of the treats. Your dog will like blob-shapes just as much as bone-shapes)

4. Bake treats until lightly browned, about 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely; biscuits will harden as they cool. Store in an airtight container. They last a week or so at room temperature and 2 - 3 weeks in the fridge.

There are some good opportunities to get creative here; I like to add a mashed carrot or mashed banana. You can add a bunch of chopped parsley to help with stinky breath.

For additional recipes, Pinterest is a wealth of information. My only words of caution are to avoid sugar and salt as much as possible, and when you can limit wheat.

Of course the easiest recipe of all is buying treats that somebody else made! We carry an assortment of healthy treats here at Delightful Dog, and our friends over at Dog City Bakery make healthy bakery-style treats in house and we highly recommend them.

Safe and Yummy People Food

In the past, we’ve shared what human foods to avoid with dogs. But what do we eat that’s great for them? Although most dogs eat the same food every day for their meals, just like people they appreciate variety, so try mixing it up with these yummy “people foods” as treats.

In the nursery, puppies experience new tastes and sensations by getting to try blueberries, peas, and apples, frozen in a little bit of water. Arthur, pictured, loves playing with his ice cubes and then eating the fruit inside.

Veggies!

Veggies are great for dogs for the same reasons they are great for people - they are full of vitamins and antioxidants and relatively low in calories.

• Peas - peas are starchy and have a sweet taste that dogs enjoy. Especially frozen, they make a great treat. Try them in a puzzle toy for extra fun.
• Carrots - my own dog, Scooter, actually goes to the freezer to request the frozen peas and carrots medley we all remember from childhood. Some dogs also like raw carrots or boiled mashed carrots stuffed in a Kong. For teething puppies, you can freeze a whole full size carrot and let them chew it like a chew-bone. It tastes great and feels soothing on their gums.
• Pumpkin - pumpkin is a wonderful food for dogs. It will get things moving for a constipated dog, and help firm things up for a dog with soft stool. Try mixing with their kibble and then freezing in a Kong.
• Green beans - although not his favorite, Scooter likes green beans pretty well, and they are low calorie and filling - a good snack for those days when your dog has had all their food for the day but swears up and down that they are starving.
• Greens - Kale, cabbage, and broccoli are all popular with some dogs. Be careful with these though - just like in humans, too much will cause gas - ick!

Dairy

• Speaking of gas, yogurt is great for a dog’s digestion. Scooter is partial to unflavored low fat yogurt. Greek yogurt is too tart for his liking. You can try different kinds until you find one your dog loves, just be cautious of too much sugar and avoid any artificial sweeteners. About a spoonful with a meal is the right amount. You don’t want to go overboard with dairy.
• Cheese - Lowfat cheese makes a great training treat! Too much can upset the tummy, but in moderation, it’s delicious and healthy. Lowfat cottage cheese or ricotta freezes really well in a Kong.

Grain - strictly speaking, dogs don’t “need” grain in their diets, which is why grain-free dog food is so popular, but grain does have some vitamins in it that are great for their kidneys and coats, so a little bit here and there is a good, safe treat. We are especially fond of:

• Oatmeal! Scooter goes absolutely bonkers when we make oatmeal, especially with bananas.
• White rice - this seems counterintuitive, since brown rice is healthier for humans, but with their shorter digestive tracts, dogs digest white rice much more easily. White rice makes an awesome treat or it can help settle an upset tummy.
• Quinoa - be careful with this one though, because the itty bitty grains go everywhere so you will probably have to sweep or vacuum when your dog is done. Perhaps a good outside treat.

Fruit - It bears repeating, never ever feed grapes or raisins to a dog or cat. However:

• Mango is perfectly safe and very popular with dogs. Dried mango makes a great training treat. Look for dried mango without sulfites or feed very sparingly, or try making your own in the oven or food dehydrator.
• Bananas - Scooter is bananas for bananas. Mashed bananas, frozen whole bananas as chew-bones, banana chips - you name it, he loves it.
• Berries - just the right size to be a fun training treat, fresh or frozen.
• Apples - Dried apple especially is a good treat because it can be easily carried in a treat pouch or pocket. If you decide to give fresh apples, make sure your dog doesn’t eat the seeds or core.

In short, be safe but have fun! Like humans, different dogs have different tastes - Scooter thinks cucumber is for the birds, but your dog may love it. Try different things, and if you’re ever in doubt about the safety of a food, a staff member at Delightful Dog would be happy to assist you.

For further reading:

http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-people-foods-your-dog-can-eat

http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_multi_healthy_snacks

Spring Delights

As the weather warms and you and your pup venture outside, there's no shortage of of fun -- and a few things to watch for -- in order to make your journey successful and safe.

The Grass is Always Greener

Eating grass isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Grass-gobbling can mean a few things -- your dog has an upset tummy, is bored, or just may like the taste.

Many health food stores sell wheatgrass, which is a tasty option for pets who like the green stuff. Munching grass could also mean your dog may be craving veggies -- peas & green beans are healthy options for them -- and you!

Figure it out

Puzzles are a great way to keep your furry friend entertained when it’s raining outside. Nina Ottosson makes some of the best. Puzzles games exercise your dog’s body and mind, can prevent behavior problems and strengthen your bond. If puzzle games are new to your dog, start out on the easy level and work your way up.  

Muddy Buddies

Venturing out after an impromptu rain shower can be one of the best refreshers there is. The birds are happily chirping, gathering up worms, the ground is soft and the air has the unmistakable scent of spring. As you walk, take a deep breath and revel in the beauty that is springtime in Georgia. Resist the urge to let your dog slurp any puddles, though. Bacteria, parasites and chemicals may be swimming in any runoff, so it’s best to err on the side of caution by bringing a container of water for them.

Hit the trails

Hiking is a great way to exercise healthy, active dogs and enjoy nature at the same time. The Atlanta-area has some of the best trails around, just hop online to find some in your area. Make sure dogs are allowed, pack poop bags, water, snacks and a small first aid kit -- and you’re on your way! One of our favorites is Sweetwater Creek -- there are four dog-friendly trails and a lake for cooling off afterward. If your dog is a water-lover, “dog beach” is sure to please, located in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood. Two miles of pup-friendly hikes make for a wonderful in-town excursion.

All About Kongs

Look at this cutie chillin' on his bed with his toys.

The other day, Melony called me “The Queen of Kongs,” which I really liked because it recognized my obsessive kong-stuffing in a positive light, and also I felt it was a nod to King Kong, which is the second best ape-run-amok movie ever made ("Dunston Checks In" is the first)(It’s about an orangutan staying at a fancy hotel!!).

My dog in particular, but really all dogs, tend to act out or get wild when they're bored. He can’t just say “Hey, excuse me human mother, I’m bored. I would like an activity please.” So they try to get your attention in ways that they know work - such as barking - or they find things to do to occupy themselves - such as chewing things up.

Instead of letting him get bored and frustrated, I take the Kong and fill it with yummies, and then give it to him to get the yummies out of.  It keeps dogs busy and quiet, the dog is happy to be eating treats, and it makes them think and works their brain, which makes them tired, which means you get BONUS peace and quiet when they rest after they finish.  

And it’s not just fun for me; Scooter loves them. They are seriously his favorite thing. He loves the treats and he loves thinking and solving puzzles.

Our current favorite kong-stuffing is dehydrated lamb lung - just a couple pieces, and make sure they’re bigger than the opening so your dog will really have to work to get them out. You can squeeze the Kong to make the opening oblong and put bigger pieces in that way.

Slightly more difficult than that, is putting in big pieces of lamb lung, then filling the remaining spaces with peas and carrots, which Scooter loves for some unknown reason.  I tried to tell him carrots are not delicious but he won’t hear it; he loves them. I then plug the opening with a small blob of peanut butter.

You can really fill the Kongs with anything. For beginner dogs, you can just put their kibble in there, so when they roll it around, kibble comes out. You can feed all meals from a kong if you want to. Dogs love it when their mealtime is a game.

In summer, we like to make cooling Kongsicles by mixing kibble with something soft and moist like canned food, or canned pumpkin, or yogurt, then freezing it. It takes quite a while to get all the food out. You can also just coat the inside with peanut butter and freeze it.

It’s important not to start too difficult or your dog will give up. At first, they need to get rewarded early and often. That’s why kibble is such a good starting point. It just falls right out, and it teaches them that it’s worth the effort to work on their Kongs. 

Once he gets it all figured out, though, you can make it as difficult as you want. I have no idea how Scooter gets some of the stuff out of the kongs. I swear some of the ones I make him are actually impossible. But he does it (teleportation?).

You can also boil chicken and rice and put in the kongs and freeze them. The sky is the limit. Anything that is safe for a dog to eat can be crammed into a kong.

When I tell people all this, I feel like I lose them right around “boil chicken and rice.” That sounds like a lot of time and effort, right? And if you’re going to freeze them, you have to plan and prepare them in advance.

Well, it is a time investment, but how much time do you spend wishing your dog would settle down in the evenings? Is it a non-negligible amount of time? I know it is for me. If so, just allot that time to preparing Kongs. Give the kong to your dog before they start acting up from boredom. You’ll be spending the same amount of time, just using it to prep kongs instead of trying to get a riled up dog to settle. I just really think you’ll both be glad you tried it. 

Let me know in comments what your favorite Kong stuffing is!

Be My Valentine

Valentine’s Day is a time to show our love to friends and family -- and this includes our furry friends as well. Extra snuggles and biscuits are a great way to show Fido your love, but there are a few dangers to be aware of while celebrating.

Flowers - While roses can cause tummy troubles, thorns pose the biggest problems to tiny paws, leaving cuts and scratches. And while lilies may look beautiful in bouquets, they can leave your pup with an upset stomach. It’s worth noting for those of you who have cats that lilies can be deadly to our feline friends.

Chocolate - The sweet treat contains theobromine, a chemical that’s highly toxic to your pet. Chocolate-covered raisins can cause kidney failure. Grapes and currants are included in this category.

Macadamia nuts - The toxin in macadamia nuts can lethargy, vomiting and weakness. It’s best to keep this tree nut out of pup’s reach.

Xylitol - Chewing gum, breath mints and sugar-free baked goods most often contain this sugar substitute. It can cause liver damage and a drop in blood sugar that could be life-threatening to your dog.