Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog - Mannerly Mutts Certified #1157 CEC NADOI Dog Trainer in York Maine

Common Question: Will My Dog Grow Out of "IT"?

8/28/2024

The short answer is that it is very unlikely for your dog to simply outgrow unwanted behaviors. Sure your dog will get older, and as age has a way of making us all slow down. However, if there is a behavior that is working for the dog, then that will be unlikely to extinct itself without owner guidance.

Dogs want your attention. If they jump on you and they get attention, negative or positive attention is their goal. Dogs like food, so if snatching something off the counter always results in a treat, then that behavior will also most likely continue. Your dog is not going to know how you would prefer them to act unless you teach and guide them.

LaLa's Training Journal Week 9: A study in how movement and leashes can affect behavioral differences and frustration in dogs while dog training

7/6/2024

At the beginning of Week 9, I made sure to do a lot of videos. I hope to string these together someday, to show the progress that is made over time. Alas, I am a much better dog trainer than "digital creator'. Perhaps some more practice will make perfect. We were mostly inside this week, as I had a lot of client dogs over needing to be trained, and I was pooped by 6 pm. This weekend, we are going to do a lot of "on the road training"m as I have am even busier week coming up next week. LaLa does help out on occasion by being the distraction in a crate for private lessons. In day training, she is a moving distraction.

Week 7 LaLa Training Log and Critter Obsession

6/22/2024

LaLa trying to get at critters under our penned in area deck.

LaLa and I have just about completed our 7th week training. She is remarkably well behaved on leash.

Off leash, she is more than just a little critter obsessed as you can see by the photo to your left. After that photo, I had to work on getting her back into the house by luring with food and having her work for a bit on obedience. LaLa clearly has the terrier gene hard wired in her. I know where critters are in the walls of my house (or were maybe). The critters under the deck clearly don't have the good sense to move their home. Our previous girl, Shana, was prey driven too, but not as much as LaLa, but then again she had at least 9 years of training under her belt and being diverted to other activities.

I am working with LaLa on making other activities as interesting as hunting critters. I am also trying to find a way to make that a motivating factor. We got 5 minute games of interactive play this week with poor Lamby toy (the only toy she will play a little tug with me with some prolonged enthusiasm.

Week 6 LaLa Training Blog:

6/14/2024

Mannerly Mutts Certified Maine Dog Trainer

Lala and I have been working on what I am calling Week 6 of our training. (technically, it is week 7, but I wasn't feeling too well on Week 6, so that was sub par in my efforts.

We have done some out and about light training (as you can see per the picture). LaLa loves to be out and about and on adventure. Dogs charging at us make us both uneasy, but LaLa does well anyway. I do wish people would obey the after 6 pm leash laws on the beach (and on the roads to the beach) so it could be more enjoyable for everyone. A friendly dog rushing up to your dog, is still a dog you and your dog don't know. I really wish people would be more considerate.

Anyway, LaLa and I have been working, and here are some videos that show some of our progress below:

Laurel Week 1 Training Journal

4/27/2024

Training my own new dog, Laurel/LaLa, comes with it's own doubts. This is especially true when you have not had a new dog for 11 years. Luckily though, I am a dog trainer and do this with client dog's that I am getting to know all the time. I do have a basic format for my training, although it can change with individual dogs. On our first week, I did have some time (as I was on vacation for some of it) to do two hour days. So that is never training two hours in a row (except maybe in the future on walks, as the dog does not really know they are training and are jazzed up to be out). The longest times are behavioral or calming exercises which generally last for 15-30 minutes plus. Then obedience exercises may be sprinkled through the day from 5-15 minute sessions, depending on what we are working on. I include play training as obedience sessions as that is what I am working towards, even if we are not at the obedience part at first. Although, while LaLa likes to play, she is not really interested in balls, frisbees, or flirt poles towards that purpose at the moment. Maybe she will grow into that.

Laurel (aka LaLa) our new dog!

4/20/2024

LaLa not exactly enthused about long place practice, but being a trooper anyway!

It has been 11 years since I selected a dog (a puppy then) for myself. Also, all the dogs we intentionally sought out, have been Dobermans to date. Any other breeds that we did have were all client surrenders. Going into the search, we really were not sure what dog breed we would get. In my mind, I was more clear on longevity and certain characteristics it would be nice for our dog to have. We went to Emma's Angels to check out a couple of (possibly) Chihuahua mixes. Both of them were nice dogs, but they did not have a liking for big dogs. Being a training facility, we do have big dogs come in, and I thought that kind of disruption might be a little too intense for us at this particular moment in our lives. In 2021, we lost three beloved dogs all to old age and in different months (Tommy, Boris, and Ziggy). With Shana, they were a great pack of friends and family mates. Then in 2023, even though Shana was 10.5 years old, she did die unexpectedly from something I have already forgotten the name of. It was basically an unexpected death sentence. In my mind, Shana still had years to go according to her health and activity level before this.

What may have caused fear in your new dog or puppy? (1 of 2 in series)

2/5/2024

Chewy came in as a very fearful puppy. He grew into a social butterfly. This is not always the result, but it can be for some.

At Mannerly Mutts, a pretty common behavioral problem is fear in dogs and puppies. This is a problem for the dog or puppy, as it can limit their enjoyment of life and all it has to offer. This can also be a problem for the owner when trying to do the things you need to do to take care of your dog or puppy. Vets visits and so on can end up being a very traumatic experience for both the owner and the dog.

Fear can present in many ways.

1) Seeking to hide or run away
2) Biting (not the more common mouthing) or aggressive behaviors
3) Shaking
4) Freezing in place
5) Submissive peeing

What things may have caused this?

Should you let your new puppy (or dog) just be a "puppy"?

1/23/2024

This really depends on what "being a puppy" means to you. If this means playing, enjoying, snuggling and affection as PART of the puppy's experiences, well then yes. If this means, you do not expect perfection or for a puppy to act like an adult dog, that is an absolutely correct mindset. If that means you are aware that your new puppy (or dog) needs to be protected from things in our domestic environment that they don't understand, then that is also a yes. Your puppy is now learning about an domestic environment and how to treat humans (and other animals as well).

Common Mistakes Dog Owners Can Make with Their New Shelter or Well Bred Adult Dog

11/13/2023

Your family (maybe just you) has hopefully planned this day for awhile. Important decisions were made on where to get your new adult dog from. Breed generalities may have been studied. Family members have been consulted on what kind of dog they wish to have. Puppies have been decided against for many valid reasons. The day has arrived to pick up your new canine companion and future best friend. I want you to be aware of some common mistakes that may make your lives harder than they need to be.

The Place Command is Excellent Obedience and Behavioral Exercise (Part 1 of The Command Series)

9/13/2023

Puppy Duke learning the place command.

The place command is one of the first things I start to teach with many dogs. This command combines a send away, a stay, a stay within a barrier, impulse control and calming exercise all in one. Additionally, this can be the very start on walking on leash with a puppy or dog. Some dog owners and trainers may only utilize the stay portion, but I feel the send away portion is very valuable as time goes on. Let me explain a little bit about this very useful exercise.