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Dear Miss Behavin’: What is “Clicker Training”? I heard about it from a friend and wasn’t quite sure how the it works. I have been using verbal cues to teach my dog, Tyler, new commands. However, he’s inconsistent. How does a “click” teach Tyler to perform behaviors I want?

Tyler’s Mom

A: “Clicker Training” is the term for training or teaching method that entails marking a desired behavior with the sound of a “click,” followed by a reward. The reward can be whatever the animal may desire at that time — a toy, treats, or affection. Research has shown that many creatures, from dogs, cats, dolphins and parrots, to humans, even, will more likely learn and repeat behaviors that result in positive experiences.

The “click” tells the dog exactly what behavior was desired. It’s a distinct and unique sound followed immediately with a reward. The trainer marks the action with a “click,” as the dog performs an action. This allows the dog to know that what he is doing leads to the desired reward.

The “click” is more powerful than verbal cues because it’s a sound that your dog doesn’t often hear. It’s instantly produced at the exact moment the action occurs. When we give our dogs verbal praise, we can say the same word in various ways, holding the word longer, shorter or changing its tone. Compared to the “click,” we are a bit inconsistent. Clicker training makes the learning process

more consistent because the sharp sound is the same every time and a reward occurs each time.

It’s clear communication from you to your canine. Since your dog knows that performing a certain action leads to a reward, clicker training can help develop confidence and learning enthusiasm.

If you’re interested in learning more about Clicker Training, PHS/SPCA is offering a seminar on June 6, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Center for Compassion, 1450 Rollins Road, Burlingame. The seminar will detail how to train your dog with a clicker. Cost is $20, and you can reserve seat(s) by calling 650-340-7022, ext 317.

Training excitement is just a “click” away!

Terri Wong is the behavior and training assistant at the Peninsula Humane Society SPCA. For more information, visit WWW.PHS-SPCA.ORG or call 650-340-7022, ext. 317.

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Article source: http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_20661718/critter-corner-dog-behavior-can-click-into-place

A headline about a dog injuring a baby or toddler brings heartache to everyone it reaches. Often this leads to reflexive fear or uncertainty about dogs around children. In honor of dog bite prevention week, Family Paws Parent Education Founder, Jennifer Shryock is offering a free webinar titled “The Inclusion of Family Dogs for Success: Building Dog-Child Bonds” available through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) May 18, 2012

Family Paws Parent Education (FPPE) offers new and expecting families information about dog behavior and communication BEFORE there is a concern or problem. One way FPPE is reaching families is through webinars like “The Inclusion of Family Dogs for Success: Building Dog-Child Bonds” being offered for free for dog bite prevention week.

The challenge of dog bite prevention education is reaching families that believe that their dog would never bite their child. Their dog is a “good” dog and “good” dogs don’t bite…right? Not necessarily. “Good” dogs “communicate” like dogs. They are masters at using many parts of their bodies for subtle communication. Communication that is present, but often missed in a household busy with a baby or toddler.

Babies and toddlers do not come with a parent guide or manual, but when they are stressed, tired or fearful they do communicate in ways that parents can naturally understand. Dogs can’t ask for space or use words to communicate fear, anxiety, stress or pain but dogs do communicate using their body language. Many people are not familiar with and do not naturally understand this type of canine communication. These important topics are covered in the FPPE programs and online webinars. Most bites are a result of a combination of incorrect expectations and lack of awareness about the many subtle signals dogs do offer to indicate stress, conflict, discomfort or a need for space.

Parents are encouraged to be open to learning about their dog’s communication. The more education parents receive about the body language of canine communication, the easier it will be for them to keep both their dogs and their children safe and happy.

These differences between dog communication and human communication are a main cause of conflict and stress in homes where dogs and newly mobile babies live together. Through Family Paws Parent Education classes in communities and webinars online, FPPE is making a difference in the lives of families and dogs worldwide!

The creator of the programs, certified dog behavior consultant Jennifer Shryock, has been involved with dogs since a very young age. She has a Bachelors Degree in Special Education and is the mother of four children. Shryock is also the U.S. VP for Doggone Safe a non-profit dedicated to dog bite prevention and victim support. Along with her private dog behavior consulting business, Family Paws, the Shryock family has fostered over 70 dogs and many cats over the years providing ample hands-on learning opportunities. It was through fostering and becoming active in dog rescue that Jennifer saw the need for dog education specific to new and expecting families.

Frequently dogs are abandoned or re-homed due to lack of knowledge of available resources and support. Education and preparation make all the difference in the world when it comes to safe interactions between babies and dogs. Dogs Storks® and The Dog and Baby Connection™ provides consistent and current information through qualified, licensed presenters. By addressing concerns or behavioral challenges up front, families can set proper expectations and practice new routines both well before and after baby arrives. Providing this resource is what motivated Jennifer Shryock to create the programs Dogs Storks® and The Dog and Baby Connection™ “I want to make education available even before they know they need it!” FPPE offers ongoing support for new and expecting families with dogs! Jennifer believes by offering Dogs Storks® and The Dog and Baby Connection™, this type of education will become as common as other parenting and childbirth classes. That is tail wagging news for dogs everywhere!

Jennifer Shryock B.A. CDBC
Family Paws Parent Education
(919) 961-1608
Email Information

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Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/dog-baby-expert-offers-parents-free-webinar-dog-071137976.html

The Ankeny Dog Park is working with Canine Craze Performance Center to offer a new three-part behavior education series in a continuing effort to ensure a safe and positive dog park experience. The program consists of two-hour classes on Saturday, May 19, June 16 and July 14. They are designed to help park visitors understand canine communication, recognize body language and signals, and learn appropriate behaviors and responses.

Session 1 – Reading Dog Behavior will be from 10 a.m. to noon May 19 at Canine Craze, 3101 104th St. Suite 3 in Urbandale. This session is required for subsequent sessions and strongly recommended for new Dog Park users or those with no prior dog training experience. Do not bring your dog to this class.

Session 2 – Indentifying Dog Signals will be from 10 a.m. to noon June 16 at the Ankeny Dog Park. It is an observation session to review, discuss and test what was learned in the first class. Do not bring your dog to this class.

Session 3 – Dog-Dog Introductions will be from 10 a.m. to noon July 14 at the Ankeny Dog Park. Bring your dog to this interactive session. There will be a professional trainer facilitating canine introductions and play groups with participants’ dogs.

The cost is $30 per class or $75 for the whole series. Classes may be taken individually, but only in sequential order. The program is beneficial for anyone with or without dogs who want to learn more about dog behavior.

Email Info@CanineCraze.com with questions or to reserve a spot or call or 222-1112. Reference Dog Park series in the subject line of emails. Visit www.AnkenyDogPark.org for more information, subscribe to the Dog Park’s email list, like on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Tags: Ankeny Dog Park, Canine Craze Performance Center

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Article source: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/05/14/sign-up-for-ankeny-dog-park-behavior-classes/

Tucson resident, Dog Behavioral Therapist Master Trainer Gerard Raneri, has released a new summer guide for dog owners intended to ensure Southern Arizona residents and their canines remain happy and healthy during Sonoran desert summer heat.

Tucson, AZ (PRWEB) May 14, 2012

The Sonoran desert climate can be tough on dogs, especially during summer, but Tucson dog training specialist Gerard Raneri has released a new guide to help ensure dogs and puppies remain safe and healthy during the summer months.

The desert heat can be very hard on dogs, and Southern Arizona residents may not realize the various risks to their beloved family pets this summer.

The heat can cause dehydration, the sun can burn exposed skin, and hot pavement can burn dog paws. All these risks can lead to unnecessary pain, discomfort and even death.

“The summer can be brutal on our dogs, and it is absolutely vital we remember a few tips to help our furry friends cope with the desert heat,” said the dog behavior specialist.

A number of breeds were never intended for desert life, according to the site, and its an owners responsibility to take measures to ensure their pets are hydrated properly and comfortable this summer.

“Remember your dog is wearing a fur coat, proper shade and cool, clean water, are essential. Heat stroke or death can happen incredibly fast in this climate if precautions aren’t taken,” added Mr. Raneri.

Visitors to the site can review the revealed dog care and training tips for free and are encouraged to call direct to speak with the dog behavior specialist regarding any concerns or behavior issues owners are encountering.

Mr. Raneri specializes in helping owners stop aggressive dog behavior, puppy training, basic obedience and stopping problem behavior. Mr. Raneri offers a lifetime guarantee and comes to your home where your dog learns quickest.

Contact:

Gerard Raneri, Bark Busters Tucson Dog Training.

(520) 440-8848

http://www.dogtrainingtucsonaz.com

Gerard Raneri
DogTrainingTucsonAZ.com/
(520) 440-8848
Email Information

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Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/dog-care-guide-tucson-dog-owners-released-070324660.html

The park ranger discovered the duck in the pond near 59th Street, at the southern edge of the park, and took it to Animal General, a veterinary hospital on the Upper West Side. The duck also had bite marks on the back of its neck. “There was no treating it,” said Karen Heidgerd, the hospital administrator, who determined that the wounds were consistent with a dog bite. “There was nothing else it could have been, based on the injuries.”

The duck’s injuries were first reported (warning: graphic photo) on DNAinfo.com.

In many areas of Central Park, as well as in parks across the city, dogs are allowed off-leash from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., a privilege dog owners had sought for years. But in Central Park, dogs are prohibited from all water bodies, as well as playgrounds, ball fields and some meadows and woodlands.

Supporters of off-leash privileges expressed dismay about the incident and said dog owners had to control their animals. “Off-leash does not mean that you just let the dog wander,” said Bob Marino, president of New York Council of Dog Owner Groups, an umbrella organization. “Dogs have to be in sight and be able to come back on voice command.”

It is unclear how often such attacks occur. Ms. Heidgerd said that a year ago another mallard from Central Park was brought in with similar wounds and also had to be euthanized. Sometimes, wild animals are the aggressors: in 2000 a swan in Central Park killed a terrier.

“This doesn’t happen frequently because people typically abide by the rules regarding dog behavior and control,” said Dena Libner, a spokeswoman for the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit group that manages the park. “When it does happen, it’s a very sad thing.”

Ms. Heidgerd, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said that in the spring ducks are more territorial as they sit on eggs or care for young. “Even dogs on a leash can be a problem,” she said. “There are a lot of babies in the park.”

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Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/nyregion/duck-is-mauled-in-central-park-apparently-by-a-dog.html

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Article source: http://www.cleveland.com/macedonia/index.ssf/2012/05/well-behaved_dogs_are_the_obje.html

Backyard Dogs Part 3A: Outdoor Risks, Solving Indoor Problems

 Why Dogs Should Be Indoor Pets

I began this series wondering why people get a dog only to condemn them to a lonely, isolated life, confined to the backyard. As you most likely have observed in the reading of this series, I advocate that when you have a dog, he/she should be part of the family. This means that your dog should enjoy the sense of belonging, security and love, in part, by being allowed inside your home. This gives them their much needed sense of belonging to your family- their “pack.” Dogs like living indoors with their family. They are by nature pack animals; keeping dogs outside denies them a place in the family pack. This installment will offer additional arguments in support of that point of view.

The fact that May 6 -12 holds two national pet awareness obsevances, Be Kind to Animals Week  hosted  by the American Humane Association and the National Pet Week of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  makes this installment feel even more relevant. Althought this information is hightly relavent any day of the year for dog companionss

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The following guidance is gleaned from ‘The Great, Awful Outdoors’ by canine behavior expert and author Pat Miller who also wrote, “The Power of Positive Dog Training. “Miller suggests that the reasons most often given for keeping dogs outdoors fall into two categories:

o      Inappropriate dog behavior. In other words, the dog is untrained and therefore unruly, i.e.: “Duke’s not  housetrained and he knocks things over.”

o      Preconceived notion of what is ‘right for a dog’. “Animals belong in the outdoors = Dogs should be outside in the fresh air, After  all, Duke’s an animal, right?            

DawgHugger response: Proper pet behavior rests solely on the responsibility of you – the pet owner/ guardian/ companion. If you want an obedient, well-behaved pet, take the time to learn how to relate to him by taking courses in pet training and relationships.

As for your attitude regarding your pet – well, please read on.

Yes, dogs are animals, and as such enjoy and benefit from spending some time outside. But his time in the yard should consist of play sessions in the yard and walks around the neighborhood, not outdoors solitary confinement .

Problems that result from constant isolation of a Backyard Dog

Backyard dogs are deprived of human companionship and have more trouble bonding with human family members and even other dogs. They have more trouble learning to interact properly with humans. And without adequate supervision and guidance from their owners, dogs can and will develop undesirable behaviors such as tail chasing, fly snapping and self-mutilation as a result of boredom and frustration. And when the owners graciously do decide to pay some attention to their dog they become confounded by their dog’s often out of control, starved of human companionship, frantic and uncontrollable response to their arrival.

Backyard dogs are bored dogs and they find very inventive, annoying, and potentially dangerous ways to occupy themselves; barking at every sound or movement to … dig holes … fence-fight with neighboring dogs and other animals … chew and damage fencing, siding, decks and outdoor furnishings—electrical wiring! — dig under fencing … and climb or jump over fences. As I menioned, the stimulus to this series was listening to the puppy of my San Jose neighbors, barking, whining and howling at their backdoor, day and night. because he had been  adopted, only to be confined to the backyard (More on that later in the series.).

Need more?  Your outside dogs also faces these risks:

• Escape from the yard or accidental release by a passerby, meter reader or service technician. Lose dogs risk being hit by a car, lost in the woods, hurt by people. Also: they can frighten and even bite people out of confusion or  attacked by other stray dog packs.
• Taunting and cruelty from kids or thoughtless adults outside side of the fence
• Theft, or worse, Poisoning
• Neighbor complaints and threats; visits from animal control officers.
• Barrier aggression. Frustration from wanting to visit with passing dogs and humans fuels aggression towards other dogs and humans.
• Illness and chronic health problems from being out in hot, cold or wet weather, possible sunburn or heatstroke

Again, DawgHugger doesn’t want to leave you with just the negative. Check back for “Creative solutions to inside-out problems” as Part 3A of Backyard Dogs: Outdoor Risks, Solving Indoor Problems – coming soon!

If you missed any of this series, please go to:

DawgHugger to bark out for the lonely backyard dog

In Defense of the backyard dog: Part 1

In Defense of the backyard dog: Part 2

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Article source: http://www.examiner.com/article/backyard-dogs-part-3-outdoor-risks-solving-indoor-problems

By CLARK MASON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Construction problems with the unfinished Healdsburg Animal Shelter building may be so bad that the building would have to be torn down.

The Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

The head of the board of directors said Thursday the cracked foundation of the empty $3.5 million facility may be impossible to repair, although he also cautioned that is “a worst case scenario.”

If so, “the building would have to come down,” William Anderson told a community forum of about two dozen people inside the building.

Anderson tapped his heel on the floor to demonstrate the hollow sound in some places.

“You can feel a gap between the prepared surface and the slab,” he said, adding that consultants say it may have been a result of poor compaction work.

Anderson said the best outcome would be repairing the concrete floor and sealing the cracks with epoxy. A second scenario would mean reinforcing the foundation with steel under the building.

But if those repairs prove impossible, he said, the building may have to be demolished.

“It is a possibility? Sure. Is it a probability? No, I hope not,” he said after his public comments.

The stalled, unfinished shelter opposite the organization’s cramped existing facility on Westside Road is the most tangible example of the problems the 52-year- old, nonprofit agency has experienced.

The shelter’s volunteer board of directors has been subject to chronic turnover, a series of salaried executive directors have departed, fundraising shortfalls and controversy over animal adoptions.

The board of directors held its first public forum a month ago at the unfinished building, and it was marked by testy exchanges between shelter officials, their critics and defenders of the shelter.

Thursday’s meeting was much calmer.

“There was nobody with pitchforks today,” shelter volunteer Jack Anderson noted at the close of the meeting.

The City of Healdsburg has a $115,000 annual contract with the shelter to provide animal control services. City Council members last month in a public meeting summoned shelter directors to respond to questions about the organization and its ability to complete the new building.

The new shelter was funded almost entirely with a bequest from the estate of the late vintner Rodney Strong and his wife Charlotte.

It was supposed to be finished last year, but fell short of money and had a general contractor who went bankrupt.

The organization has filed lawsuit to recover funds to finish the building and resolve the cracked foundation issue, according to Anderson, who said insurance companies may cover the costs.

“Clearly, there’s a recourse through insurance,” he said. “We won’t go back and ask the community for more money.”

While the building is rife with construction and design problems, shelter directors say the organization is solid.

“So much has been said about this shelter,” Anderson said, adding that it has a high quality dedicated staff that does an extraordinary job.

“This organization is extremely sound. That shelter across the street runs extremely well,” he said to applause from the audience.

Ryan Pelleriti, the animal control field supervisor who just returned from a month-long leave of absence, said he is pleased with the new leaders on the board of directors.

“I think we’re moving forward. It feels good,” he said.

Even though the existing shelter is cramped and the roof leaks, he said, the animals are “unbelievably well treated,” despite what some critics have said.

“The staff goes above and beyond for every animal in there,” Pelleriti said.

Anderson on Thursday also announced the names of a number of people who have been named to an advisory board to the shelter’s board of directors.

They include dog behavior specialists, financial and fundraising experts and veterinarians, including Richard Bachman, who was named 1999 “Shelter Vet of the Year” by the American Humane Society.

Construction experts also will be added.

“These people bring tremendous depth of experience,” Anderson said.

Shelter directors are reconstructing a timeline of key decisions for the unfinished building, as well as conducting a financial audit.

“The last big hurdle is for everyone in the community to understand what went wrong with the new building and get past it,” Anderson said.

Related Posts

1. Animal shelter presents update to Healdsburg Council tonight
2. Happy 50th to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter
3. Healdsburg Animal Shelter critics, operators clash at forum

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Article source: http://healdsburg.towns.pressdemocrat.com/2012/05/news/new-healdsburg-animal-shelter-might-have-to-come-down/

Did you know that April 26th was National Kids Pets Day?

As a training company, K-9 Coach is committed to educating as many people as we can about dog behavior and the important role that training plays in the lives of dogs, and the people that care for them. We of course care deeply about the welfare of dogs and strongly believe that teaching children how to properly and safely behave around them is of utmost importance. Just as with dogs themselves, creating positive dog experiences early in a child’s life benefits them in many short and long-term ways. Caring for any animal helps teach children about responsibility, they have a “friend” who will never judge them and they tend to be more confident, empathetic individuals.

For this month’s K-9 Book Club, we are excited to introduce you to a very special book, which has turned into a really fabulous project, involving a great group of kids!

Good Dog! Kids Teach Kids about Dog Behavior Training was written BY kids, FOR kids. It is designed to teach kids about dog body language and to use this knowledge to be kind, respectful and safe around dogs in their home and in their community. It also teaches kids how to train dogs using clickers and positive reinforcement training techniques. An award-winning book, Good Dog is aimed at kids 8 to 14 years of age.

Not only did our trainer Vicki Tate read the book herself, on National Kids Pets Day she visited a group of wonderful students at Riverbend Advanced Scholars Academy in Gainesville, GA. Fourth grade teacher, Robin Fair, has been working through the book with her students, as part of the 21st Century Skills program.

Here’s what Robin had to say about the book and the children’s’ reaction…

“We took the book and divided it into chapters, so the students could gather information about dog behavior and training. Then the students took each chapter and taught the class the information they learned from reading. “Good Dog” was very kid friendly, and my students learned many details about dog behavior.”

Reading Intervention Teacher Kadi Epps filled us in on how much fun the kids are having…

“I just walked in to Robin’s class and 3 kids were rolling around on the floor! They were acting out the cue’s you get from dogs and others were guessing!! Robin says she loves the book and it IS a great book for kids.”

Vicki had a fantastic time with the children and we are eagerly awaiting their very own blog posts about what they’ve been doing!

I am VERY impressed with this book. So much so, that I wish every child could read it with his or her family.

Most kids have no idea that dogs have their own language and so many dogs end up in shelters because they are misunderstood. They bite a child because the child did something inappropriate to the dog – who was giving signals that no one understood.

“Good Dog!” explains dog behavior in a way that children and adults can understand and the kids in the book accurately explain that language in their own terms.

The education of children with their dogs will make for long happy lives for the dogs and owners that are happy with their dog. The children at Riverbend Advanced Scholars Academy are learning from each other, utilizing 21st Century technologies and will eventually teach kids at other schools!

I recommend this book wholeheartedly – stay tuned for a follow up blog about my day with the children!

Want to see the book for yourself?  You will find a link to it in the Books Publications section of our K-9U Library.

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Article source: http://smyrna.patch.com/blog_posts/k-9-coach-teaches-dogs-and-kids

The 1-year-old Henderson boy who died after being bitten by his family’s dog while celebrating his birthday Friday sustained blunt-force injuries to his head and neck during an accidental dog attack, the Clark County coroner’s office said Monday.

Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan was killed by his family’s beloved dog, a mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix named Onion.

Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said Monday the baby’s death remains under investigation.

“We do not anticipate any criminal charges,” Paul said.

Jeremiah spent Friday celebrating his first birthday with his father, grandmother and other family members in his home.

He got a roomful of toys, including a battery-powered car and a floating frog for the bath. Onion got squeaky toys. They played together all day Friday.

After the long, joyful day, Jeremiah was exhausted.

“We were just about to put him to bed,” about 10 p.m., when it happened, said his father, 29-year-old Christopher Shahan. He shares custody of Jeremiah with the boy’s mother. The two aren’t married.

Jeremiah’s grandmother gave him a bottle and laid him down in the living room. The baby crawled over to Onion and – as he had done many times before – grabbed onto the 120-pound dog to help himself stand up.

Just then, Jeremiah’s grandmother leaned over to pick him up. Onion suddenly attacked.

He latched around the boy’s head and began shaking him. Jeremiah’s grandmother wasn’t strong enough to pull the boy away. Shahan heard the commotion from upstairs and raced to rescue his son.

“I got the dog off the baby,” he said. “I tried to save my baby.”

The ordeal lasted about 30 seconds.

Medical personnel rushed to the home on Navarre Lane, near Arroyo Grande Boulevard. They took Jeremiah to St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus. He was then flown to the trauma unit at University Medical Center, where he died early Saturday morning.

Onion had been with the family since he was a puppy. He helped Jeremiah’s grandmother keep her spirits up when she was suffering from lung cancer, Shahan said.

Onion “was the only thing that … kept her strong,” he said.

The dog had never been aggressive toward anyone and loved Jeremiah, Shahan said.

The dog “licks his face. He never growls, never snaps at him. I never thought that dog would do anything to my baby.”

Dog behavior experts said this sort of sudden attack is rare and unusual but could be explained.

Richard Polsky, a Los Angeles-based animal behavior expert, said Onion might have been spooked by the child.

Even tame, docile family dogs can react aggressively to unexpected changes in their environments. In this case, Polsky said, it appeared the dog was startled by the newly crawling child.

“It was almost an innate reaction to something unusual,” Polsky said. “The best I can hypothesize is the dog was startled.”

Ron Berman, an expert witness in dog behavior for two decades, said this sort of serious attack usually follows other aggressive behavior, such as growling, snarling and even biting.

“Very serious attacks don’t happen with nice, sweet dogs,” Berman said. “Your sweetheart dog doesn’t go from warm and cuddly dog to this sort of serious attack. … Some people love their dog so much they just don’t want to see it.”

Dog owners who see signs of aggression, such as growling and snarling, should hire a professional to evaluate the dog’s demeanor and determine whether it’s dangerous, Berman said.

Both Polsky and Berman said the dog’s breed is not a good indicator of aggressiveness. However, larger breeds can cause more damage in an attack if they are aggressive, they said.

They said dog owners can help prevent attacks on their children by allowing them to interact early and often so the dog gets used to the child being around.

“It’s a terrible, terrible tragedy, and I think, hopefully, a lot of parents will learn from it,” Polsky said.

Animal control officials will quarantine Onion for 10 days of observation to determine whether he has rabies, Henderson police said. He then will be euthanized.

The family plans to hold a funeral for Jeremiah next week.

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Article source: http://www.lvrj.com/news/death-of-baby-attacked-by-dog-ruled-accidental-149573465.html