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

How to Use Steps to Build Up to Your Ultimate Training Goals

12/28/2020

Izzie is our model for this blog.

The ability to teach dog training commands that are later on reliable and functional depends upon how the ability to break them up into steps and then layer onto them different environments and distractions. This is also true when you are modifying your dog's behavior or changing your dog's perception of things that might make them defensive or scared. Many dog owners are not aware that going slower and methodically is going to give them a much better chance of reaching their dog training or behavior modification goals with their dogs.

Dogs neither understand English nor read minds. It is the dog owner's and trainer's job to break commands down into parts which can be taught well, and then advance the command by increasing things like the three Ds (duration, distance and distraction), which was discussed in our previous blog post.

Patterns and Structure, How Do They Help with Dog Training and Behavior?

10/19/2020

Patterns, as I define them in dog training and behavior modification, are manufactured predictable events. That is they are a sequence of steps that become predictable with repetition and consistency. Remember, canines do not share our human language. We can not tell them what is coming up, but our actions to create patterns and structure can place them on more predictable ground.

As humans we take this for granted for ourselves, but if you think about it, our every day patterns and structure lend to the feeling of safety and security for human children and adults alike. Of course we can talk to each other should an unanticipated event comes up. Can you imagine how scary some events are to dogs who do not have that sort of heads up? We can make everything smooth sailing (or smoother sailing anyway) by adding a little pattern and structure to certain parts of our canine's day.

What is your dog's bliss? How can finding their bliss help?

10/13/2020

Leon loved fetching as a wee young thing. We both learned about this skill together, and had a lot of fun doing it.

What do I mean by your dog's "bliss"?

The activity or item that eventually or immediately drives your dog to do it more or want to engage with you more.
This is something the dog is going to eventually be clear about. You can experiment with to find it and start the process, but ultimately you need to pay attention to whether it is truly motivating your dog OR do you just expect it would motivate your dog.

Engagement and Motivation

10/5/2020

Engagement in dog training is the ability to create a relationship with your dog where you are the reward. Engagement done well will have your dog insisting on continuing the activity with their owner. In other methods of training, there are some elements of this as well, but the engagement that I am talking about is much more. Engagement in dog training is more about play with their owner or handler to create that very strong bond and work ethic. As with anything, it can have it's pluses and minuses. I really enjoy this method, because I get to play with my dog and train. The thing that motivates me in this method, is seeing my dog have fun while we are doing it. Why do I also use other methods other than Engagement and Motivational methods? One reason is this is a bit slower process than some other methods in the shorter term. Sometimes if you really need to stop your dog from jumping on your elderly relatives, while including them in your family activities, you might want to take a faster course of action. Of course there are ways to control what you dog does by confining them more, but I like my dogs to have certain freedoms during the day, where this perhaps might not happen if I was only using this method. It takes longer not in time per day, but the progress to build to a goal in general will take more time. There are reasons to want to spend a longer period if time in training your dog. I will go over that at a later date.

Crate Training Tips

5/8/2020

Objectives: Using a crate is important for many reasons. House training, boarding, possible veterinarian visits where they are staying hours or overnight, safety in the house (puppies will try and chew wires and all sorts of things left to their own devices), just having a shower without worrying about what puppy is getting into, and separating out from company that may be afraid of dogs, in general. The objective is to create a peaceful place where your puppy or dog knows they are safe and comfortable to rest and relax.

Equipment: Crate, flat collar on dog (so you have some hold on him putting him in or out), toys placed in the crate already, and a lot of patience. You don't want your puppy to see you getting frustrated. This is all a learning experience for them.

So you have a new puppy what training to start with right away-Pandemic Series Day 28 of Social Distancing

4/7/2020

Sally Wally Woo as she is known here.

Puppies can do more than human babies can do, but do remember that these are babies. Everything is new to them. In this article, I am going to attach some basic puppy links of the things that you might not know about puppies, how they develop and how they mature. The real purpose of this article is how you go about training a puppy the right way, and with the knowledge that these are babies.

Growth Stages in Puppies (Many people consider a dog mature at 2 years, but with our breed, the Doberman, it seems like three years in when they get there)
Critical Periods in Puppy Development
Incomplete listing of things that are poison to your puppy
House Training Tips
Crate Training (be sure to scroll all the way down, they have specific instructions on this article)
A listing of all sorts of link in regards to puppies
Socialization strategies
Tips about your new puppy

House Training Tips

3/9/2020

Our Shana was once an 8 week old baby, as pictured.

I get a fair number of calls a year for house training advice. I give out a lot of tips for free.

Here are a list of tips that I give to owners that are seeking to housebreak their dog:

Puppies NEED to go out more often than adults. Some can sleep through the night, and others can't. Some will need to go out about every two hours at first.
When first bringing home a puppy, crate training and tethering when your attention can not be on them are great solutions. Let puppy or dog inside for loose play only after they have done number one and two as expected when first entering your home (and in their outside area obviously).

Write down the times of any "accidents" and add those times to your schedule of when you let your dog or puppy out, until a reliable pattern develops.
After an accident, immediately bring your puppy or dog outside.

Poison to your dogs but not necessarily you

7/23/2018

Talking about things that can harm your dogs, here is some more information.

Chocolate
Raisins or Grapes
Castor Beans
Anti Freeze (and other products you may use to de-ice in winter that contain anti freeze)
Caffeine
Garlic
Onion
Mushroom
Plants on the attached link http://www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.htm
Moth Balls
Broccoli
Raw Salmon
Too much Asprin & Asprin subsitutes (Tylenol) are always toxic http://www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm
Below are some helpful links regarding this:
Poison Help Site
Various Toxins
Even More Toxins

Human medications toxic or deadly to dogs

New Puppies!

12/20/2017

Adding a new family member in the form of a puppy is an exciting time and filled with joy. Many people will be acquiring their new family member this winter. There are some things new puppy owners need to get up to speed on quickly.

Taking your eyes off puppies can be quite a mistake, that may threaten the life of your new family member. Please be sure to supervise your young and learning puppy, to keep them out of trouble and accidental harm to themselves.
Here are some puppy info links, notes and advice:

Socialization strategies for pet dogs and puppies

7/11/2017

Puppies (and some adult or adolescent dogs) are in need of much learning and guidance. One of the most important things to do is to socialize your puppy well in the critical early weeks and months.

The first thing that you want to check is that your vaccinations are up to date, and that it is safe to take puppy out to areas with other dogs and puppies. Take a moment to have a discussion with your vet about the best plan.