Wag Reflex

What Treat Is That?

People watching me train frequently ask, ”What treat are you using”?

Want to know the secret? There is no secret. I just use what works at that moment for that dog.

That’s it.

There is absolutely nothing magical about the treats. I give everything from dry dog food to plain broiled meat, but if you’re curious about some of the prepackaged treats I like and why, here are a few:

Simon & Huey's Kickin' Chicken
These little nuggets have a delightfully short and recognizable ingredient list. A nice sized training treat for most dogs.

Jones Natural Chews All Natural Lamb Lung Puffs
Oh, many dogs adore this! Break into small pieces for training. A good choice for dogs on a limited diet.

Liver Biscotti Original Flavor
Small treats that dog’s love. Like Simon and Huey products, one bag of these contains hundreds of treats--what a deal!

If you have a picky dog but are not too picky yourself, two completely stinky but apparently dog irresistible options are Dr. Harvey's Power Patties Dog Treats (tripe) and Alaskan Bear Treats Wild-Alaskan Salmon Dog-Treat Nuggets. Don’t complain to me when you open the bag, you’ve been warned.

Here are two treat tips to keep in mind:

Keep Things Simple
If your dog likes his dry dog food, then use that. He doesn’t know the difference and he’s just as happy! Measure out his food for the day; then use a handful from that as treats. That way he can have his yummy without risk of excess tummy.

Keep Things Small
A few weeks back, I watched an obviously devoted man give his obviously obese Border Collie one huge whole big dog cookie after another for good behavior! Eek! Stop! For that size dog, a “treat” is about the size of a dime, or smaller! For a toy breed dog, it might be the size of pencil eraser or smaller.

Now that you are armed with excellent quality treats, look for my next blog: Common Quagmires of the Cookie Rookie (or Tricks of Training with Treats).

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out October 28th!

Why Train?

Today, Pip rode with me over to a friend's property where our horses, Nick and Stoney, are happily grazing until the weather turns colder.  Once she and I had rattled up the long gravel driveway and I had parked at the very top, where the view over the distant hills is particularly nice, we hopped on out. Calling “hello,” we walked into the house. Pip went ahead and, in moments, I could hear my friend speaking warmly to her. They were in the basement where both the cat box and the enormous bowl of cat kibble resided, but a calm “Pip, leave it, come,” averted a near certain digestive disaster and brought her back to me at Pip speed: Mach 2.

Greetings over, I grabbed the halters and headed to the field. Pip raced before me, running figure eights in the tall, wet grass. A quiet “Wait,” halted her - mouth open, eyes bright - while I turned off the electric fence charger. “Okay,” released her to more exploration. As we walked to the horses, she came up a little fast. “Pip, back,” turned her away. She stood patiently while I "dressed" the boys.

And so it went. “Come,” called her away from shards of broken glass in the kitchen; “Leave it,” stopped her from raiding a tomato vine; “Down,” settled her at my feet as we humans enjoyed our breakfast.

And that is why training is worth it. It allows me to include Pip in what I do. And my friend? I’m pretty sure she would send me right back home if I dared to arrive without my tri-colored sprite.

Incorporating self-control games into your daily life adds only a few seconds to each interaction, but adds immeasurably to your dog's understanding. Increasing your dog’s safety in seconds? What a great deal. Once you start seeing how much fun your dog can have, training will become something you do with, not to, your dog.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

The Dark Room

Bracken became seriously ill just after writing that last blog. What Brian and I thought was an age-related limp and then maybe an injury turned out to be rapidly growing cancer with an excruciating autoimmune component.

Through large amounts steroids and pain medication, she worsened. Then, when her pain moved beyond both control and hope, I did what no one wants to do, I kept her loving company as my veterinarian helped her gently leave this world. Knowing it is the right thing and being grateful I could spare her what was to come, doesn’t make the loss of my companion any easier.

You know when the power goes out in your house? You were there when the lights went out and you are fully aware that there is no power but you still flip the switch when you enter a dark room?

That’s where I am.

I pull out five food bowls instead of four, I look toward her bed as I climb into my own, I start to speak her name as I head out for a walk--until I catch myself. It’s that daily jarring of hard reality against more than a decade of tender habit that defines these first few days.

Having walked this road before, I know what to expect. I know I won’t be able to concentrate, that my usually creative mind will paddle in lazy circles, that deadlines will have none of their usual power to focus or motivate me until grief has run its course.

As I move through my day I find myself waiting for Bracken. Expecting her to be there - ball in her mouth, tail in the air. And the tears come again because I will have entered the dark room and flipped the switch, expecting her light to come on - even though I was there when it went out, even though intellectually, I know better. Intellect has nothing to do with this.

Bracken, my fine dog, I thank you, I miss you. Go in peace.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Mornings Are The Best

Quiet mornings are the best, the ones where no schedule pops into my brain upon waking, where I can loll in bed remembering my sleeping dreams and planning my waking ones.

They are made more delicious by our dogs. Before I open my eyes, I feel a nose rest on the bed. So polite, this has to be Bracken, my nearly eleven-year-old German Shepherd. I reach a lazy hand out. The skull, becoming bonier with age, the long, slightly arched nose, the short coat on her head that runs to plush on her neck--yup, that’s my girl.

If I drop my hand a few inches, I’ll find Pip’s broad who-knows-what-breed-exactly skull, muscular from design and from youth, her small, tipped ears, her sleek coat. She presses into my touch, greeting me back.

They guarantee that the first thing I do on such days is smile. And I keep smiling as I pad around the room, trying not to wake my husband. Inevitably Pip gives big long stretch with a wide-mouthed, tongue-curling, shockingly loud yawn while Bracken walks behind me, nudging her nose lightly into my hand, urging me to stop and stroke her. When I do (and I almost always do) her ears go back, her eyes narrow and her tail waves in blissful delight.

Once dressed, I head for the door, past PJ, our shaggy terrier mix, who is always curled into a tight ball often with one paw over her eyes.  The very tip of her tail wags as I whisper her good morning – she is a late riser. She’ll be out when she’s ready.

Wyatt, another of our Shepherd, lies next to Brian’s side of the bed. He greets me with a single tight tail thump, which I know means “Good Morning, I’d like to stay right here if that’s okay with you.” And it is. I’ll know Brian is coming out for his first cup of coffee when Wyatt appears at the arm of my chair, singing his true morning greetings. (He’s a “talker”.)

Such are some of the joys of dogs. Those millions of shared moments where their joy in our company and our joy in theirs adds to our lives in ways no one and nothing else does or even can.

What are some of your favorite morning moments?

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Multi-dog Question: Brats on the Run!

"Am very interested to also learn how to stop my Chihuahuas from RUNNING up/down the stairs. I have tried to walk up the stairs first, blocking them on every third step or so. Sometimes it works, other times, the three little brats run past me. And believe it or not, these brats do not respond to treats."

It’s great that you are asking for new ideas when what you are doing isn’t getting you the results you want. Having lived with three or more dogs at a time for the last twenty years so I know the situation well. Try this:

One by One
Put two pups away safely and work one at a time. When each understands what you want, then work two at a time in all combinations. When that is working well, go for all three. It’s hard to teach new things to multiple dogs, so stack the deck for success and give each one special time with you.

Find a Treat They Like
Are you free feeding? If so, I’d stop that (unless this goes against your veterinarian’s advice) and go to meals. Giving measured amounts and saving a bit for training treats generally works well. If they need an extra incentive, tiny bits of plain chicken or pork (half the size of an average pencil eraser for your little ones) should get your Chihuahuas’ attention.

Go Slow
Leave a lead on your dog, tell her to wait and block her, go up one step and right back down – smile, praise, give a treat. Repeat. If she follows you, bring her back down calmly and try again.  As things progress, either return and treat or go up a few steps and call her up (no treats and minimal praise for that one, release is the reward.) Play the same game in hallways and doorways around the house.

Dogs frequently race forward because we forget to reward them for staying. Make staying special by rewarding them for it and you’ll soon have three tiny statues waiting patiently for your return or for your permission to come on up! And then you’ll have created fabulous “brats” (Brilliant, Responsive, Attentive, Toy-breed Smarties).

If you have any questions, come ask at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free).

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Beyond Words--The Gifts of Connection

This week, Pip and I indulged in some serious backyard blackberry picking. I plucked huge ripe ones at my height and she delicately deberried at hers. Every so often I would rest a hand on her sun-warmed back and she would pause, glancing up with an open-mouthed canine grin, saying in every way I could understand, “Yeah, this is great, isn’t it.” Then, with a quick wag from her and smile from me, we’d both go back to our happy task in quiet communion.

Dog lovers know all about such moments, though the details change from pair to pair. What many people haven’t witnessed is just how much a dog can offer, when they have the education that allows them to do so. Dogs routinely go beyond their training to do what is needed be it on a sheep farm, in the rubble of a disaster, next to a hospice bed or, in the video below, in the life of a child.

This piece from Canine Companions for Independence shows a dog named Ilia who goes beyond any “command”, and in so doing, frees his friend, Cole, in a way no human ever could.

For me, training a dog is a gift we give our dogs. It is about giving freedom to our companions, a freedom they cannot achieve without us. But this video reminds me how much freedom this relationship can give to us, whether it is freedom in our hearts or, for young people like Cole, a long list of freedoms he could not achieve without his dog. Enjoy this video but, fair warning, you may want to get a tissue first:

Here are lists of books about Service Dogs and The Human/Animal Bond.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Where's The "No"?

Here’s a good question that arrived in my inbox this week:

"I am getting a puppy this weekend and I have read your My Smart Puppy book and watched the video, but I am not clear on how to teach the 'No' command. Please help!"

First, bravo to you for doing your homework before your pup comes home. Smart of you! I wish everyone was as proactive as you.

Now, think of dog training as a process where your job is to “Get to Good” as quickly as possible. The word “No” isn’t as clear as it could be because it can mean many things: Don’t jump up, don’t chase the cat, don’t go through the open gate, etc. And who rewards “No”?  Since dogs learn best what is rewarded best, “No” can be a slow and frustrating go of things for both ends of the lead.

What I find works best, many thousands of dogs later, is to focus on what you want and not on what you don’t want.

Jumping up: Off, Sit, Good!
Chasing the cat: Leave It, Come, Good!
Going through the gate: Wait, Good!

With this, what you want is clear to your dog. This success-focused approach also gives you tasks you can practice, and practice makes better, every time!

To see progress: Learn what to do (read, surf the ‘Net, go to class, you have many choices), practice with your dog on lead (so you can create success when things don’t go quite as planned), hunt for those “good” moments like a bloodhound on a trail, then leave no doubt in your pup’s mind when he gets it right. Use rewards abundantly--praise, petting, treats, toys--whatever makes that tail wag!

You’ll be amazed how quickly any age dog can learn, and what fun you both will have, when you approach his education as a hunt for “Good!”

Happy training!

If you have any questions, come ask me at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free).

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Help! My Dog is Spiteful!

This is part three of three common pet owner complaints: "My dog is stubborn"; "My dog is stupid"; and "My dog is spiteful". All three can be translated as, "I have done everything I know how to do, my dog still isn’t behaving, I am soooo frustrated! PS: It’s all his fault!"

Now I--the Amazing Psychic Dog Trainer ;) , Sarah Wilson--will tell you what is going on in your home if you are thinking those words. Drum roll please….

Part III: My Dog is Spiteful
When you leave your dog alone, he destroys things – your favorite things! He has got to be doing that to get back at you for leaving him! He is soooo spiteful!

Right?

What’s Happening? Your dog knows you best through his nose. His world is a complex mix of scents, which we cannot even imagine. So when he misses you or is anxious, he doesn’t find a photo of you to gaze at, he cuddles up with a favorite shoe (smells of you) or your remote control (smells of you and of food, double winner there!) or curls up on your favorite chair. And then, as his anxiety builds, he may start to lick a bit, nibble and then rip. If, when you come home , you get upset (understandable but sadly makes matters worse) this only causes more worry next time you leave, more stress, more chewing and…. Around we go in a miserable cycle of correction.

Quick Fix: Try prevention rather than correction. Assume destruction is frustration and/or anxiety and try to limit both. Increasing exercise, giving your dog more structure and direction so he feels more secure, and confining him to someplace safe (safe not scary, no locking the dog in the basement please!) can all help. But if this has been going on for a while, speak to your veterinarian or a qualified training professional, because you both may need some help getting off this unhappy merry-go-round.

Hint: Education – yours – is the place to start. Try I'll be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell, and give my “You’re Grounded” article a quick read.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Help! My Dog is Stupid!

This is part two of three common pet owner complaints: "My dog is stubborn"; "My dog is stupid"; and "My dog is spiteful". All three can be translated as, "I have done everything I know how to do, my dog still isn’t behaving, I am soooo frustrated! PS: It’s all his fault!"

Now I--the Amazing Psychic Dog Trainer ;) , Sarah Wilson--will tell you what is going on in your home if you are thinking those words. Drum roll please….

Part II: My Dog is Stupid
You tell your dog something and he stands there and stares at you. You stare back at him. Simultaneously you both think, “ ???, ” and walk away. Or you’ve shown him a million times what to do and he still doesn’t get it. Obviously he can’t be too bright.

Sound familiar?

What’s Happening? You may have shown him many times, but if you made no sense to him, he could not learn. I recently saw a lovely family with a jumping dog. Every time their dog jumped up, they gently guided her to the floor and stroked her. They thought they were showing her how to stop; she thought jumping was a nice, praise-filled activity. Uh-oh! Confusion central!

Quick Fix: If your dog isn’t learning, assume what you’re doing isn’t making sense. Either you need to tweak your technique, or you need to try something else. The great news is there are more training approaches available today than ever before. You’ll find one that fits you and your dog!

The good news? In my twenty plus years as a professional dog trainer, I have met one dog who was not bright. One. Probably brain damaged during birth, he was a sweet animal just could not put things together. Every other “stupid” dog I have met were dogs with plenty of brain power, they just had a communication problem with their human.

Hint: Review your behavior to change his. Is your voice calm and clear? Are you using simple words consistently? Do you follow through right away? Is your praise warm and genuine? Does your dog seem relaxed and happy? Your dog can change his behavior, but you have to change yours first.

Want some more ideas? Read my article Six Steps to a Better Behaved Dog--training doesn’t have to be complicated to work, and you don’t have to be “mean” to work it. I want you and your dog to have fun!

Next, dealing with that “spiteful” dog.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Pre-order Sarah's new book, "Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You", out this fall.

Help! My Dog is Stubborn!

This is part one of three common pet owner complaints: "My dog is stubborn"; "My dog is stupid"; and "My dog is spiteful". All three can be translated as, "I have done everything I know how to do, my dog still isn’t behaving, I am soooo frustrated! PS: It’s all his fault!"

Now I--the Amazing Psychic Dog Trainer ;) , Sarah Wilson--will tell you what is going on in your home if you are thinking those words. Drum roll please….

Part I: My Dog is Stubborn
You tell your dog what to do but he doesn’t listen. You repeat it and repeat but still, he “refuses” to obey!

Could this be you?

What’s Happening? Everything your dog knows about commands he learned from you (or some other human). So if you are willing to repeat, he learned to ignore the first or second or nineteenth “command”.

Quick Fix: Say it, do it. Simple as that. By “say it” I mean give the command calmly - without anger or doubt. "Sit". Don’t blast out "SIT!!!" Or doubtfully ask, "Sit?"

By “do it” I mean help your dog get it right – there are many ways to accomplish this. I use a lot of gentle guiding placement, which I teach the dog separately so we both understand what is expected. This makes things clear and simple for both of you.

Hint: Be patient. Your dog hasn’t read this blog, so he doesn’t know you’ve decided to do something completely new. Give him a chance to catch up with you! Use plenty of praise and treats to reward his best efforts, then watch him bloom!

If you’d like help learning how to do that, the info is in My Smart Puppy (Book/DVD combination) or stop by our Message Boards for coaching from experienced, friendly dog people who will help. We don’t judge, we teach.

Next installment, we’ll answer that burning question: "Is my dog stupid or what?"

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Too Darn Hot: Fun, Easy Indoor Activities for All Dogs, Part III

Food Dispensing Toys
Get up, go out, come in, sleep, get up, go out, come in, sleep – that can be the rhythm of many a summer dog. And this can, let’s face it, be a pretty boring rhythm. But what can you do? It can be too hot to take them out for a long walk, and a ride in the car is a hazard this time of year.

How about adding some challenge into their home life? Instead of meals being a minute or two at a bowl (or if you have a dog like my mixed breed, Pip, 30 seconds or less at a bowl) why not change things up? The two toys below are sturdy, safe ways to help your dog linger over their meals adding some interest and problem solving to their day.

Twist and Treat (Medium)
This is a favorite because I can just twist it open and wash it out. Easy! Too many other food toys are simple to load but impossible to clean out, and if the food inside gets wet (slurpy dog or rain outside), good luck getting it truly clean. And while I am hardly someone anyone would deem “fastidious,” the idea of my dog playing with some moldy old icky food-filled toy is not my idea of recreation, so I celebrated when Premier brought out this goodie. Comes in a range of sizes, the link above happens to be to a “medium”.

Hint: Use kibble. If you use peanut butter or such, the dog can lick at it and learn to unscrew it.

Large Kong Classic
The Kong remains one of the classic food dispensing toys that can be used in a variety of ways. Try stuffing it with a kibble/yogurt (or wet food) mixture then freezing that for meal-replacing, long-lasting pup-sicles or smearing the inside with a little peanut butter or cream cheese for lickable fun.

This toy comes in a range of sizes and toughness (all of which are available on Amazon – just search: Kong Dog Toy). The sizes are puppy (blue and white/pink and white swirls), classic (red) and extra durable (black). Red is a good place to start with adult dogs unless you have a dog who you know is a serious chewer. And, as with any toy, supervise your dog at first to see if the one you selected holds up.

Kongs are also easy to clean; rinse well or pop in the dishwasher when you’re doing the dog bowls,

Hint: Kibble drops right out of these so best for wetter treats or for soaking kibble and then freezing. If you do that, treat it like a Thanksgiving turkey, don’t pack the stuffing in as things expand when they freeze.

And there you have it - safe, indoor summer fun. If you have any questions, come ask me at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free). Enjoy!

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Too Darn Hot: Fun, Easy Indoor Activities for All Dogs, Part II

Tricks: Limited by Your Imagination
Once you and your dog have got the basics worked out (or your working on them), why not add in a few extras just for the fun of it? Laughter and joy are key to a good life and it is easy to find both when trick training your dog! Tricks are a blast for both you and your dog, so why not share some grins and wags learning a new one or two?

Food for thought: When people teach tricks they are generally success-focused. They laugh and cheer every small attempt the dog makes, and the dogs stay relaxed and happy and LEARN. When people teach “commands” we, all too often, become fault-focused. We get intense and concerned that the dog isn’t doing it “right,” and the dog picks up on that, losing confidence and slowing down.

Take home message? Teach everything as if it were a trick! Seek out the best efforts to reward then have fun, and keep at it. Be success-focused to be successful!

Popular Dogs: Tricks & Games by Roger Snipe (editor)
At $9.99, this “magabook” brought to you by the editors of Dog Fancy is packed with ideas: 65 tricks and a range of activities and sports to learn about and consider. A fun picture filled read for you and plenty of tricks for any age or size of dog to try.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dog Tricks by Liz Palika
This is a straightforward, easy-to-understand book that covers many tricks among other things. Not a “one-size fits all” training approach so many teams will find something that works for them here. Give it a try!

Trick training can happen anywhere, any time so it is an ideal game for hot summer afternoons when you and your dog are stuck inside.

The last topic we are going to discuss is adding interest to your dog’s life with food dispensing toys – learn which ones are sturdy, work well and are easy to clean in my next blog!

If you have any questions, come ask me at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free). Enjoy!

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Too Darn Hot: Fun, Easy Indoor Activities for All Dogs, Part I

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us, which for those of us who have dogs, is a rather unlikely phrase. These can be the Non-dog Days--days where your dog should be cool and comfortable inside.

However, all this physical rest can lead to mental unrest, so keeping your buddy entertained while indoors is the goal. What to do, what to do? There are several inexpensive ideas that will pay major dividends to you and your pooch; here is the first of three blogs on this topic:

Relationship Building: Foundation for Everything
We all know people who have never formally “trained” their dogs but have wonderfully behaved companions who don’t jump up and seem to listen to every whispered word. And we know other pairs who try their hardest, have probably gone to training class, and yet the dogs are still pushy, jumpy, mouthy and hard to manage.

If you fall into that frustrated second category (or you want to avoid being there) try relationship games like the ones taught in My Smart Puppy (book and DVD), Kilcommons and Wilson, Warner Books, 2006. Full disclosure: I’m the “Wilson” part of this team.

We wrote this as a series of games/simple exercises. They are quick and, especially when you play the Space Games with your dog, you’ll see big changes right away. See videos clips of various games at MySmartPuppy.com Library.

We know the title says “Puppy” but since the exercises work just fine with all age humans (who are doing the teaching), all age dogs respond quickly.

Next installment we will discuss tricks!

If you have any questions, come ask me at the My Smart Puppy message board (friendly, moderated and flame-free). Enjoy!

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.