…and eyes, and ears, and tail…

Dogs don’t communicate with words or crying like we do. Their whining, barking, and growling is used in limited, and usually extreme, situations. To “hear” what your dog is saying, you really need to watch their body language.

Use these signals to assess your dog during training, agility, or other dog competitions. If you see signs of stress, try something easier for the dog to build up his confidence. Find games you can play to take his (and your) mind off of the surroundings at sporting events such as Touch Nose to Hand or other dog tricks.

A calm dog is relaxed – especially his eyes, mouth, ears, and tail. Take for example Rankine when his baby is walking all over him. Notice how his ears, lips, and eyes are relaxed. This is a calm dog who doesn’t mind the baby’s antics.

Had Rankine been asking baby to stop, you may have seen one of the following cues:

• Lip licking
• Yawning
• Ear flicking
• Flinching
• A “crescent” shaped whites of his eyes
• Intentional turning away from the baby
• “Freezing.” This is different from stillness in that you can almost see the tension in the body. If you ever see a dog “freeze,” beware. This is often a precursor to snapping.

You can learn more about a dog’s body language at Living with Kids and Dogs by Colleen Pelar. Watch her videos to see how dogs show their stress.

aggression, agility, babies, behavior, body language, children, communication, competition, dog sports, dogs, safety, stress Hide

Cesar admits to being a dog psychologist, not a dog trainer. In one episode he tells his clients that using “good dog” is for training, not what he was doing with their dog. Not to say training isn’t an answer for psychological problems. I have seen Victoria Stilwell solve similar issues with her training methods many times.

I agree with these aspects of Cesar’s philosophy:

dogs need “discipline, exercise, and affection”

“high-energy working dogs . . . can develop issues when the basic needs of their breed are not addressed.”  –Harley, Annabelle, and Memphis” episode of Dog Whisperer

treat your dog like a dog, not a human

Cesar has a place with some dogs, few and far between. I do not think his methods should be used casually or regularly in any home. Use positive dog training methods and consult a trainer if you need help (make sure to interview the trainer about their methods).

I believe in the following:

• dogs need leadership
• dogs need jobs
• dogs are dogs, not humans
• dogs need communication they understand (more…)

behavior, behavior problems, Cesar Milan, Dog Training Tips, intelligence, positive reinforcement Hide

Huggies Adventure Zone was at this year’s Boo at the Zoo to see who has the fastest crawler in the Denver area.  Of course being married to “Mr. Competitive”, our baby had to win!  So on Saturday morning, we were off to Zoo not to trick-or-treat or to see the animals, but to win a baby crawling race. 

We got to the Zoo and immediately checked out the course.  Being good dog trainers we knew to bring a high value reward (stuffed puppy dog), to aclimate our little guy to his environment and make sure he had a little obstacle familiarization.  After scoping out the surroundings, we had  a relaxing lunch in preparation for the 1 o’clock show down. 

We arrived a few minutes early as Dad wanted to check out the competition – eleven other babies varying in age from 7 months to 12 months.  Our guy was one of the younger babies, but not to be overlooked because he has got speed. 

The Huggies representative had the babies line-up, gave a run down of the rules, and said “Go”.  Moms and Dads were yelling excitedly to get their babes going.  One of the older babies pulled out into the lead and stopped about half way.  In the meantime, my guy wasn’t quite sure what the fuss was about.  FINALLY, he locked in on his favorite toy and took off down the stretch winning the 1st prize of six months of diapers by a couple feet.

babies, Dog Training Tips, dogs Hide

I love this article!

Carl Zimmer takes a close look at the social intelligence of dogs in “The Secrets Inside Your Dog’s Mind,” and what science has to say about it. He explains a simple experiment that demonstrates how a dog can understand the gesture of a pointing hand, and how this is an indication of a strong cross-species bond between human and canine.

If you live near universities such as Duke or Harvard, your dog may have the opportunity to participate in intelligence tests to explore the abilities of the canine mind. Additionally, scientists are exploring the meaning of canine behavior, like kisses and guilty behaviors.

This article explains the close bond dogs have with humans, and why they respond so well to our positive training techniques. It is a fun glimpse into the mind, and the evolution, of our best friend.

Here are a few links to some related web sites: (more…)

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If you’re thinking of getting a puppy there a few important things that help your puppy be a good family member. A puppy that has been secluded and not exposed to other environments could end up being scared and timid. You want your new puppy to accept people, other dogs and new situations.

One way you can do this is to join a group puppy class. Puppy classes are a combination of training and social play time.

If you don’t have access to a class you can take your puppy to places that allow dogs. Some communities have dog parks where dogs are allowed off leash to romp with each other. If your puppy is younger than six months you might want to reconsider being in the company of older dogs as a safety precaution. Some older dogs do not want a rambunctious puppy jumping on them, or being in their space. Some older dogs have no hesitation in biting or attacking a puppy. Make sure you ask the dog’s owner if it’s safe to approach.

Socialize your new puppy at other places that allow them to enter. Stores that allow dogs are Home Depot (some do not), Lowes, PetSmart, PetCo, pet supply stores, and strip shopping centers on the sidewalks. Ask people to give your dog a treat and pet him. When friends and family come to your house, ask them to do the same.

Puppies have just left their litter mates where their social skills got started. They need to develop those skills to help them co-exist in the world with dogs and people. When you take them home, they don’t have other buddies to learn their boundaries when it comes to being with other dogs. Get them out as much as you can. You will want a friendly, confident dog.

aggression, Dog Training Tips, dogs, fear, Puppies Hide