It is possible to earn 6 figures wherever you are right now. Achieving this milestone is not just a matter of what you do, but more so on how you do it. Check out the assumptions I encountered and how you can shift from them in order to become a successful dog trainer.
Assumption: You need a facility before you can earn 6 figures
People think they need to be something or somewhere specific to hit that 6-figure mark. They wait until they can have a facility, then they think that’s when they can gain 6 figures. It is a common misconception that you can’t hit 6 figures without having a facility to hold classes, do boarding training, and all that fun stuff. In reality, there are many trainers out there that don’t have a facility with all of that overhead. They are making 6 figures mainly because of how they structured their services or identified who their ideal clients are.
You have to give yourself permission to believe that you can do what you want right where you are now, through the skills that you have now. You can absolutely make it happen.
Assumption: You have to work a ton in order to make 6 figures as a dog trainer
I think a lot of trainers believe that they have to work as much as 60 hours a week between handling clients and doing all the administrative work. You feel like you need a 60-hour weekly workload in order to make a really great income, and that is absolutely not true. This train of thought is common in this industry and there are ways out of it.
It goes without saying that a greater income will allow you to hire out some of the tasks you have and bring people in to work for you so you can have more time in your day. But you don’t have to work with a ton of people. You don’t have to burn so many hours to hit 6 figures. This kind of thinking will overwhelm you, and make you think that having 6 figures is a very long shot because you will need a ton of clients; or work a ton of hours either walking dogs, day training, private lessons, or running classes. Yes, you enjoy what you do but you will soon feel exhausted.
Assumption: You need to have a huge referral network to become a 6-figure dog trainer
It is super convenient to have referrals. But you don’t have to wait until all the vets refer to you, or all your clients refer to you. You can achieve this milestone without waiting on these referrals, because your bills won’t wait with you. Sure, it’s awesome to build a referral system as you go but do not make it your sole source of business. You do not need a huge referral network in order to be a 6-figure dog trainer, so be careful if this is something you have been hanging on to.
Personally, I don’t like waiting around. I like to be in control of my business, making sure that things happen and move forward. Outside of referrals, there are other things you can be doing to grow your business such as social media marketing, organic strategies that don’t rely on ads, or don’t rely on referrals will be really, really important so that you can grow your business how you want and when you want, right? You don’t have to wait 6 months to see those numbers.
Assumption: You have to work during weekends or evenings
A lot of people are coming to my programs saying “My clients only ever take classes on Saturday” or “They are only available in the evenings for lessons”. You assume that’s the only way it’s going to be, or that is the way it has to be. In reality, there’s a lot of things or services you can offer during the day that will reduce your hours in the evenings and weekends.
Just think about your doctor or your attorney. People will take time off to accommodate these professionals’ schedules. Take yourself as seriously as you would an attorney or a doctor. Make your hours what you want them to be instead of what you think they have to be.
Assumption: You have to offer boarding and training to become a 6-figure dog trainer
There’s no doubt that boarding and training make a lot of money. It’s one of the ways that allow people to hit 6 figures, but it is not necessary to hit 6 figures. I personally have done a few board and trains over the years and it’s a lot of work unless you have a separate facility already. If you have them in your home it is a ton of work. It’s basically like training for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 14 or 21 days in a row because there’s a new dog in the house and your own family has to accommodate them, too.
The dogs may also be displaying other types of behaviors that you did not expect to work on. It is a lot of work and commitment. So if you don’t like it, don’t offer it. You can absolutely hit 6 figures in other ways, it’s just completely up to you and your business. I don’t ever want you to work you don’t enjoy doing because that is going to burn you out. If you don’t like classes, don’t offer classes. If you don’t like board and trains, then don’t offer board and trains. If you don’t like day training, don’t offer day training. I’m all about making sure that you are building a business that you enjoy being in and operating because that matters.
The longer you are happy in your business, the longer you’ll be able to do it. Then, the more people and dogs you are able to help because of it. Be careful of the assumptions that you are making about how your training business is supposed to be done or run based off of what other people are doing with theirs. Think about what you can do to hit those financial goals, those income goals by doing what you like doing.
Guest post graciously submitted by Megan Wallace B.S., CPDT-KA, CNWI, owner of Dogs Deciphered LLC.
Dog training is a people-centric business, which can be a bit of a shock for new trainers who got interested in the field because they prefer dogs to people. I’ve yet to meet a dog with a checkbook, which means that our clients are the people, and we are providing them with a service, which is educating them in how to train their dog. I am totally obsessed with dogs, and think they are the most amazing creatures ever, however I got into dog training for the people. The way I see it, if my goal is to help as many dogs as possible, I will never achieve that goal on my own. I can’t keep enough dogs in my own home to make any significant change to the dog population as a whole. So, I have to connect with the guardians of my favorite beings on the planet, people. In helping them to find understanding with their dogs, I have helped more dogs, because their current and future dogs will benefit from that information. If they cannot process the information, or aren’t successful with it, I haven’t accomplished my goal.
I wanted to take my goal a step further and help other trainers be more successful, thus helping even more dogs. I came to recognize that other trainers are not always successful in connecting with clients. This leaves them feeling frustrated with their jobs, as they are unable to help the dog. Sometimes, this leads to blaming the client – they aren’t compliant, they don’t practice, they don’t listen, and so on. I believe it is up to us as trainers to discover why they are struggling, and take on the challenge of helping them to succeed. People are complicated beings with a variety of circumstances, experiences, and motivations. Your job is to help with one aspect of their lives, their dog’s behavior.
What Can You Gain?
There are several benefits to improving your feelings toward your clients, starting with greater job satisfaction. The more you like your clients, the more you want them to succeed, which makes you work harder at your job. You will improve your client communication, because you are working toward gaining empathy with your clients. Again, the better you communicate, the more success your clients will have. This is a positive feedback loop that benefits everyone, you, the client, and the dog(s). All of this will result in better results, and increased word of mouth. People don’t tell their friends and neighbors about services that were just satisfactory, they tell them about services that shined in client communication while providing results. Being able to work with, and succeed with “difficult” people, whom others might struggle with reaching, gives you a competitive edge in your market. By using the framework described in this article, you can become comfortable with conflict, which is a special skill set in working directly with people.
Understanding Your Clients
There is a reason a prospective client contacts you, and these reasons vary greatly. The clients we all tend to love are the proactive sort. “I just adopted this dog, I’d like to start training right away” sounds so much more inviting than “If you can’t help us, we will have to get rid of the dog!”. It’s important to remember that many people have more reasons not to call than to call. People wait to reach out for help for a number of reasons, finances being the top of the list. Other reasons that might delay first contact include:
Scheduling restrictions
Embarrassment
Unsuccessful attempts to contact a different trainer
Have tried training before and felt unsuccessful
Lack of resources (no one to ask who to call for help)
Disagreement within the family regarding the dog
Health issues
Belief they can solve the problem through internet advice
Clearly there are a lot of reasons people may choose to delay seeking professional advice in helping their dog. Very rarely is the reason “doesn’t care about the dog”, yet that seems to be how some trainers perceive this delay. The information given to you at first contact can shape your attitude toward that client, but you should be cautious to let it do so, because it often doesn’t tell the whole story. Remember that upon first contact, your client may be under a good deal of stress. Be forgiving of any information they give you, including actions they might have taken against their dog. They are currently operating with a lack of knowledge, and you are just the person they need.
Depending on whether you do in-home training, or facility based training, you may be able to tell more or less about your client’s life circumstances. I have found this to be absolutely no indication of how dedicated a client will be, so this information is to be taken in without judgement. However, having a feel for whether a client has a limited income vs. money to spare can help you to communicate in a way that is empathetic toward their situation. Suggesting cost effective options for some of the equipment and enrichment items they might need will go a long way to helping someone who saved up for your training package feel like they can accomplish their goals. Other clients may be more than willing and able to buy anything that might help them, and will appreciate you suggesting the top products on the market.
Other questions that will help you to understand why a client might be frustrated, angry, or disengaged from the training process include:
How long have they been dealing with this situation?
What is their lifestyle, and how does the dog fit into it?
What is their previous dog experience? What about training experience?
How is the behavior affecting the client’s everyday life?
I find it is important when you meet a client for the first time to get a sense for how much time and energy they are able and willing to put into trying to change their dog’s behavior. Try to formulate an answer for this question without judgement. Remember, the reasons that limit people from committing more time or money to their dog rarely include “I don’t care about the dog”. If you can tailor your own expectations, and the client’s expectations to fit the amount of work that can be done, you will both be happier in the end. Be creative in thinking of options for those who can’t afford to buy a large training package, or have difficulty finding the time to train. Often, if you can get them started and they see results, they will continue to make training a priority.
Developing Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s experience by imagining yourself into that experience. This is a skill that most of us started developing as a child, gaining more understanding as we experienced more of the world. Some people hold the false belief that “you are who you are” when it comes to your ability to empathize with others, but we know that dogs can change strongly ingrained behaviors, and so can we! Learning to empathize takes a willingness to change, and think past your own experience.
The most important thing about using an empathetic approach is listening to what your client has to say. Listening is also a skill that needs to be developed, and active listening is important to empathizing. Acknowledging what your client has told you, “It sounds like you are feeling very frustrated about Fluffy’s behavior” helps them to feel heard. If you don’t understand what your client is saying, ask them to clarify. The easiest way to understand someone else’s experience is to ask them about it! Watch their body language to see if they feel comfortable or concerned, so that you can respond appropriately.
If you find yourself disagreeing with a client, consider their perspective, and evaluate your own attitude. It may be that they don’t have enough information to make an informed opinion, or their personal experience is clouding their ability to understand the bigger picture. However, it could also be that you are overly focused on being “right”, and that by opening your mind to other possibilities you could reach some understanding. An important part of empathy is recognizing and accepting that your perspective is not shared with every other person.
Our clients are not purposefully doing things wrong. There is a ton of information, and misinformation, out there about changing dog behavior. We can’t expect our clients to be masters of wading through this information to find only the best sources. Often people’s choices are influenced by friends or family member’s recommendations, or the top results brought up by a search engine. What they have done in the past should not influence our feelings about them as people, because they didn’t know they were following bad advice.
Developing empathy with our clients includes active listening, considering the other person’s perspective, keeping your self open to new ideas, and recognizing that people’s behavior is based on the information they have, which may be incorrect or limited. Your goal is to help the client feel heard, and to approach any disagreement from an understand place.
People Are Fascinating!
The human race is incredibly diverse in culture, experience, and attitudes, and as dog trainers we get to see a decent cross-section of our communities. There are so many different stories of how people have come to live with dogs, and despite their struggles, they are really trying to do so successfully. Allow yourself to be fascinated by the people you meet. These people have invited us into their lives, their homes, and their struggles. We can honor that by being interested in their lives, and helping to improve things as they relate to the dog.
Many trainers love to solve difficult problems with dogs, and why should more difficult clients be any different? Our job is to change behavior, and the same principles apply to people learning as to dogs. We are quick to break things down for a dog who is struggling to learn a new task, so we should do the same for a struggling client. You will get the same feeling of accomplishment when your client performs a difficult skill as when their dog does the same. Give your clients achievable goals, and don’t make them goals that you could achieve, they aren’t dog trainers! With clients who are struggling to make training a consistent habit, here’s an achievable goal – ask them to count out 5 treats before each meal (it could even be pieces of kibble) and practice one of the exercises 5 times. Learn about habit making and make it your goal to help your clients start new habits.
Lastly, people are very complex, which often means our first assumptions can be way off. This is especially true with email or text contact, because meanings can easily be misconstrued, and inflection is lost. Give people the benefit of the doubt, and allow yourself to get to know the person over time. Sometimes we get stuck in the idea that a client is going to be difficult because of something they said in their first contact call or email, but there are so many reasons that could be a poor representation of them as a person. Often people don’t reach out until something bad has happened, and they are likely processing that event. Other people are just not great at communicating by phone or email, but do much better face-to-face. Don’t hold on to your preconceived notions, there is a lot at play here, most of which doesn’t relate to you.
In Conclusion
Dog trainers are also people trainers, and we need to take that part of our job seriously. You should be spending time learning about interacting with people and developing your own skills. Your communications will improve when you understand your client’s circumstances, what they have been dealing with, and how it is affecting their lives. You aren’t going to agree with everything a client says or does, but you have to accept that you aren’t going to change their views on everything. Giving them as much information as they can digest gives them the tools they need to do better. An empathetic approach helps you to navigate these waters of changing or influencing human behavior. By considering your client’s perspective, you can work through conflict, and more effectively recommend solutions to their problems. Finally, take a moment to appreciate how fascinating people are! Just think about some of the stories you’ve heard in your time as a dog trainer, it’s likely you have some doozies. Find delight in the differences between people, and in finding creative solutions to helping them. You will find yourself more satisfied with your job, less stressed, and more successful by finding the joy in your clients.
About the Author
Megan Wallace, B.S., CPDT-KA, CNWI, owner of Dogs Deciphered LLC, has been training dogs since age 11 when she attempted to certify her family dogs as therapy dogs. While the family dogs were a bit old to pursue new careers, being 11 and 13, Megan was at the start of a lifelong passion for dogs which eventually became her career. This passion led her into the world of dog behavior and training, and started a quest for knowledge that has been never ending. With a gift for relating to people as well as their pets, Megan strives to find solutions to behavior problems that work as well for the owners as they do for dogs. She stays up-to-date with the most progressive dog training methods by attending seminars, reading training books, and taking classes with her own dogs. Megan believes that training should be fun for the dogs and the owners, and strives to help every person find the joy in dog training. She does this by teaching straight-forward, dog-friendly methods that cater to the needs of all dog owners. Megan is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, and is a Certified K9 Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) through the National Association of Canine Nose Work. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Colorado State University. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the National Association of Canine Scent Work.
In her free time Megan enjoys spending time with her husband James, and their four dogs, training and competing with them in a variety of dog sports, and enjoying the wonderful local Colorado music scene. She also enjoys volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center, where she is learning to handle the educational ambassadors. She continues her love of education by teaching the public about raptors, and how humans impact their lives. Her goal in life is to help humans and dogs (and all animals!) understand each other just a little better.
This is a guest article by Molly Sumner CDBC, CPDT-KSA, CFE. Molly is a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant as well as a certified compassion fatigue educator. Her passion for dog training doesn’t stop at clients and their dogs but also extends to her fellow colleagues. Molly sees the personal drain that caring so deeply for animals can have on professionals so she’s graciously agreed to share some helpful tips to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.
2017 is less than a month away. December is usually quite hectic with the holidays, up and down schedules, commitments and gatherings, and the cold or flu trying to take over the minute we feel worn out. It is easy for the month to blow through and next thing you know it’s January, the year is over and you’re left with the new year stretched out in front of you with little to no guidance on what to make of it.
Don’t let December consume you. And don’t miss out on creating a plan for the new year that will set you up for major success and happiness in the new year. Even if you read this after the new year, it’s not too late to set yourself up to have one of the best years of your life both personally and professionally. I write and speak a lot on compassion fatigue and burnout, and truth be told, most of the professionals I meet are struggling in some way or another. But making a few changes in our lives we can significantly change how we feel and in response, can propel us to some very exciting and successful outcomes.
Here are 10 (YES 10!) tips to make 2017 your best year while staving off burnout and compassion fatigue.
1. Goal Setting
New Year’s Resolutions statistically speaking – FAIL. But actual attainable goal setting can be successful if you do it right. Goal setting using the SMART system can be very effective. Make sure any changes you want to make to your life are: S – specific, M – measurable, A – assignable, R – realistic, T – time-bound. There are many goal setting systems. Pick one that resonates with you, dedicate a week to work on the process and then commit to seeing it through with weekly, monthly, and quarterly check ins.
2. Contact Boundaries
The hard truth is, your business will not fail if you don’t reply to that message immediately. In fact, the opposite is true. The more you are accessible to your clients, the more likely you are to give bad advice, create scheduling errors, and become burned out or compassion fatigued. Spend a week or two designing a contact schedule where people can reach you or you will respond to their messages. This should include email, phone, text messages and any other communication portal your clients use to reach you. Have designated “no contact” times where you will not check your email or messages and will not answer. Consider leaving your device in a space away from you during that time so you can be completely focused on yourself, a task or your loved ones. You’ll be happier and healthier for it.
3. Conquer the Email Monster
How many emails are sitting in your inbox? 20, 50, 300? Clean it out and create a system for filing messages. An even better solution is a program like Boomerang that can move emails in and out of your inbox based on your availability and remind you when someone has failed to reply to a message. For more on beating the email blues, check out my blog on the topic.
4. Express Gratitude
Positive Psychology studies have shown that practicing gratitude changes how your brain filters the world. By focusing on the good things we have, our brain finds new opportunities for us. The opposite applies too. If we focus on the negative, our brain only filters in more problems. So turn the dial to success. On a piece of paper, list 5 things you’re grateful for. Do this daily. After a week or so, the information your brain picks up will start to change.
5. Talk to Yourself
Now I don’t mean out loud, in a crowded space, without at least some kind of Bluetooth in your ear. This that case it’s fine. But really what I mean is taking a moment and asking yourself how you’re feeling. After that, asking yourself what is causing those feelings. And from there asking yourself what might help encourage or discourage those feelings. Cognitive-behavioral psychology teaches us that we have much more control over how we feel than we think we do. This is also the basis for beginning a mindfulness practice. It really is that simple.
6. Celebrate – YOU!
It is likely you will spend some part of the end of the year celebrating a birthday, at a holiday party, or some other social celebration, but how often do you celebrate you? I don’t just mean on your birthday either. Celebrating yourself meaning taking stock of your accomplishments, big or small, whatever matters to you – and only you – and honoring them. The celebration could take many forms. It could be as simple as writing them down to acknowledge them. Or it could be as big as having a get-together or a meal to celebrate. The size of the act does not matter. It is the acknowledgment that matters. Ignoring our accomplishments defeats us and leaves us feeling resentful of our world. It inevitably will hold you back. Don’t feel guilty celebrating yourself – you deserve it!
7. Pay it Forward
Expressing gratitude to another is powerful for the giver and the receiver. Generally, our best clients come from personal referrals. 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. So share the love. Leave positive reviews on people’s business websites or offer to write a testimonial. Leave positive feedback on receipts. This feedback releases happy chemicals in both the receiver and the giver – it’s a win for all!
8. Get Moving
Agility doesn’t count. Seriously, though, with the long hours you put into your business I’m guessing you don’t get out much, but moving is some important to physical and mental health. Try something simple if you don’t move around much, such as a short walk around the block, or even just 2-3 extra trips of the stairs or back and forth to the car. For you over achievers (you know who you are), try a yoga class, crossfit, a morning bootcamp, or a class at the YMCA. Anything to get your heart going just a little faster once a day will change your life.
9. Get Out of Your Box
If you’re like me, your life revolves around people and dogs with little room for anything non-animal related. Any activity that is out of this realm can feel weird or uncomfortable. But it is so important to escape once in awhile. Try a group class in something you know little about. Go to a lecture, concert, or play. Driven to make a difference? Volunteer to help at a food pantry, meals on wheels, habit for humanity etc. You don’t have pick something you feel a connection to either. It is about getting out of the norm and trying something new. It is good for the brain, opens up your social circles, and breathes fresh air into your life. It might even connect you with future opportunities you’ve never even dreamt of.
10. Take 10
I get it, you’re busy. I am too. After writing this I have a webinar to attend and a client to go see. But I am also “Taking 10”. I am taking 10 minutes to do something that heals and helps me. It could be meditation, reading a book, journaling, being spiritual, coloring, cooking a meal or just breathing. What it won’t be is time on social media, answering emails, or interacting with anyone or anything. It is 10 minutes of solitude. If you think that’s too much, or too hard – you need 20! But start with 10.
If you only do one thing on this list let it be the last one. Then work on the rest. Your industry needs you. The world needs you. Take care of yourself in a meaningful way so that you can be there for all those who need you. Self-care isn’t selfish. Let’s make 2017 an awesome year, by focusing inward and then letting our light sign. For more help and suggestions, visit: http://www.mollysumridge.com/
Molly Sumner CDBC, CPDT-KSA, CFE, is a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant as well as a certified compassion fatigue educator. Her passion for dog training doesn’t stop at clients and their dogs but also extends to her fellow colleagues. Molly sees the personal drain that caring so deeply for animals can have on professionals. She has dedicated a significant part of her career to learning about how to help her colleagues better their business and themselves. In addition to her dog training education, she is also a QPR Gatekeeper and Online Suicide Prevention Specialist.
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This post is written and provided by Lisa Gunter, MA. Lisa is a PhD student at Arizona State University in the Department of Psychology and conducts her research under the mentorship of Clive Wynne in the Canine Science Collaboratory. She has presented her research at numerous conferences including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior, the Veterinary Behavior Symposium and the International Society of Anthrozoology.
What Breed is That Doggy in the Shelter Window?
Chihuahua. Chow Chow. Pointer. Irish Wolfhound. When thinking about unique breeds and the range of physical differences that exist with man’s best friend, it’s hard to believe that a tiny toy lap dog and another that’s as tall as a human are of the same species [1].
For centuries, we’ve bred dogs for the purpose of aiding us in our work, such as in hunting (Labradors), herding (German Shepherd), and livestock protection (Great Pyrenees) [2]. Our influence on how dogs look and act brings along with it expectations about different dog breeds. When I say “Golden Retriever,” you likely think of a fluffy blonde dog that enjoys playing with children. When I mention a Border Collie, you probably imagine a wickedly smart black & white dog that plays fetch for hours.
In the United States, there are a little over 80 million dogs living with us with 20% of those dogs adopted from shelters [3]. As many of you have experienced firsthand, the way animal shelters operate today has changed from what homeless animals experienced just fifteen years ago. Before 2000, dogs usually stayed on average for about 10 days at the shelter. Then, over half were euthanized, and the others were either adopted or redeemed [4]. Today, the situation is better. While almost 4 million dogs are entering animal shelters each year, only 30% are euthanized [5]. While we’re pleased with these improvements, one of our main foci of research in the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University is to further increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia rates for pet dogs.
Given the importance placed on appearance in our culture, it should come as no surprise that looks matter in canine adoption, too! Researchers from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) [6] found that appearance was the single most important reason people gave for why they adopted the dog they did. In our own lab we found that when potential adopters were presented with photographs of dogs that had been either adopted or euthanized they were able to distinguish which dogs had met which fate solely because the adopted dogs were more attractive than those that had ended up euthanized [7].
The Pit Bull Label
If you work in animal sheltering, you’ve likely heard of the term “pit bull.” While there is a specific breed of dog known as the American Pit Bull Terrier, more conventionally this label has been applied to many breeds that are short-haired, muscular and blocky-headed such as American and English bulldogs, Staffordshire bull terriers and American Staffordshire terriers as well as mixes of these types of dogs [8].
Recent studies into dog adoption [11, 7, 12-13] have found breed to be associated with different outcomes, including but not limited to increased euthanasia and length of stay. With the big role that physical appearance plays in dog selection, our lab was interested in understanding how breed labels could influence how attractive a dog seemed to be.
So what is the basis for the negative perceptions about pit bulls? The pit bull terrier does have a past that includes bullbaiting and dogfighting (which still occurs illegally in some areas of the US), and reports of aggression towards humans, specifically dog bite injuries and even deaths, have likely contributed to the unfavorable public opinion of these dogs as well [14-18]. Yet while an association may exist between certain types of dogs and aggression towards people, the reliability of breed characterizations in positively identifying dogs involved in these types of incidents is hotly debated [8, 19].
Labels vs. DNA Analysis
Photo by Erin Bessey
Which leads us to wonder what breeds of dogs are there shelters? It’s a more complicated question than it may appear, because breed assignment is usually based on the way the dog looks. Yet, researchers from Western University of Health Sciences [20-21] have found discrepancies between breed identification and the results of DNA analysis, and researchers in Florida found at one shelter that 50% of dogs that were labeled as belonging to a pit-bull-type breed lacked the DNA breed signature [22].
In our own lab, we’re wrapping up a multi-shelter study using the MARS Wisdom Panel. While it’s too early to talk about our specific findings, what we can say is that these shelter dogs show a range of breed diversity (over 150 breeds were identified at each shelter!), there are much fewer purebreds than we anticipated, most dogs have more than two breeds in their breed heritage and correctly identifying the breeds of a mixed breed dog via visual identification alone is an extremely difficult task.
Canine Science Symposium
Research questions like the ones I’ve mentioned here are just some of the questions we attempt to answer in the Canine Science Collboratory. If you enjoy learning about the latest research in canine science, you may want to consider attending our Canine Science Symposium. Now in its fourth year, the Symposium will be taking place at the San Francisco SPCA on April 16 & 17.
While most of the speakers at the Canine Science Symposium are former or current students of Clive Wynne (the director of the Canine Science Collboratory), our research interests are diverse as evidenced by this year’s Symposium topics. Our presentations include decoding dominance in dogs; canine sociability and attachment; using advanced behavioral principles in dog training; applying cognitive, behavioral and physiological measures to improve shelter dog welfare; using play as training and enrichment; understanding visitor behavior in shelters to increase adoptions; exploring canine olfaction and interpreting canine body language. We want those that come out to learn with us to be able to walk away with new techniques and approaches to try in their interactions with shelter dogs, dogs that they train and the dogs they live with.
For more information on the research studies I mentioned above, check out the journal articles references below. If you’re interested in attending the Canine Science Symposium, head on over to the SFSPCA website for all the details including speaker bios, presentation descriptions and online registration (at the bottom of the page). Our early-bird registration ends March 2nd, so those that want to attend should sign up now!
References
1. Coile DC. The dog breed bible. Hauppauge: Barron’s Educational Series; 2007.
2. Serpell J. The domestic dog. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1995.
3. American Pet Products Association. U.S. pet-ownership estimates from the APPA for 2012. Available: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/facts/ pet_ownership_statistics.html#.U0oh8uZdW_A. Accessed 30 January 2014.
4. Wenstrup J, Dowidchuk A. Pet overpopulation: Data and measurement issues in shelters. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 1999;2(4): 303-19.
5. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. FAQ, Pet statistics, 2012. Available: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq. Accessed 19 September 2014.
6. Weiss E, Miller K, Mohan-Gibbons H, Vela, C. Why did you choose this pet?: Adopters and pet selection preferences in five animal shelters in the United
States. Animals. 2012;2(2): 144-59.
7. Protopopova, A, Gilmour, AJ, Weiss, RH, Shen, JY, & Wynne, CDL. The effects of social training and other factors on adoption success of shelter dogs. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2012;142(1): 61-8.
8. Lockwood, R, Rindy, K. Are “pit bulls” different? An analysis of the pit bull terrier controversy. Anthrozoos. 1997;1: 2-8.
9. Posage, JM, Bartlett, PC, Thomas, DK. Determining factors for successful adoption of dogs from an animal shelter. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;213(4): 478-82.
10. Lepper, M, Kass, PH, Hart, LA. Prediction of adoption versus euthanasia among dogs and cats in a California animal shelter. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2002;5(1): 29-42.
11. Brown, WP, Davidson, JP, Zuefle, ME. Effects of phenotypic characteristics on the length of stay of dogs at two no kill animal shelters. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2013;16(1): 2-18.
12. DeLeeuw, JL. Animal shelter dogs: Factors predicting adoption versus euthanasia. Doctoral dissertation, Wichita State University. 2010. Available: http://soar.wichita. edu/bitstream/handle/10057/3647/d10022_DeLeeuw.pdf?
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13. Clevenger, J, Kass, PH. Determinants of adoption and euthanasia of shelter dogs spayed or neutered in the University of California veterinary student surgery program compared to other shelter dogs. J Vet Med Educ. 2003;30(4): 372-378.
14. Sacks, JJ, Sattin, RW, Bonzo, SE. Dog bite-related fatalities from 1979 through 1988. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989;262(11): 1489-1492.
15. Sacks, JJ, Lockwood, R, Hornreicht, J, Sattin, RW. Fatal dog attacks, 1989-1994. Pediatrics. 1996;97(6): 891-895.
16. Sacks, JJ, Sinclair, L, Gilchrist, J, Golab, GC, Lockwood, R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000;217(6): 836-840.
17. Kaye, AE, Belz, JM, Kirschner, RE. Pediatric dog bite injuries: A 5 year review of the experience at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;124(2): 551-558.
18. O’Brien, DC, Andre, TB, Robinson, AD, Squires, LD, Tollefson, TT. Dog bites of the head and neck: an evaluation of a common pediatric trauma and associated treatment. Am J Otolaryngol. 2015;36(1): 32-38.
19. Patronek, GJ, Sacks, JJ, Delise, KM, Cleary, DV, Marder, AR. Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite–related fatalities in The United States (2000-2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013;243(12): 1726-1736.
20. Voith, V, Ingram, E, Mitsouras, K, Irizarry, K. Comparison of adoption agency breed identification and DNA breed identification of dogs. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2009;12(3): 253-262.
21. Voith, VL, Trevejo, R, Dowling-Guyer, S, Chadik, C, Marder, A, Johnson, V et al. Comparison of visual and DNA breed identification of dogs and inter-observer reliability. Am J Sociol Res, 2013;3(2): 1729.
22. Olson, KR, Levy, JK, Norby, B, Crandall, MM, Broadhurst, JE, Jacks, S et al. Inconsistent identification of pit bull-type dogs by shelter staff. Vet J , 2015.
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24. Salman, MD, New, Jr, JG, Scarlett, JM, Kass, PH, Ruch-Gallie, R, Hetts, S. Human and animal factors related to relinquishment of dogs and cats in 12 selected animal shelters in the United States. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 1998;1(3): 207-226.
This is a guest post by professional dog trainer, Molly Sumner, CDBC, CPDT-KSA, CBATI. She is an expert when it comes to training primitive dogs and is generously sharing her top 5 tips with us today. She now runs a website for primitive dogs and their owners: https://www.couchwolves.com/
Each night I fall asleep never having to remember to set an alarm clock. As dawn breaks so does the silence. A dull “woooo” sound begins from the crates on the first floor. It slowly gets louder and more punctuated. Then a few more voices join in until my canine alarm clock is going full blast. They are trying to tell me, as they do every morning, that they are awake and would like to go out. The only time I get a vacation from this routine is when I am away at an obedience trial. This is not due to any lack of attendance on their part, because I’m the crazy trainer showing primitive dogs in obedience. In reality it is because the orchestra ring leader is snuggling in bed with me, and when he has bed privileges he doesn’t want to get up till around noon. Lazy bones.
My husband and I share our home with 5 Shiba Inus, a Cattle Dog mix, a Tibetan Mastiff, and a New Guinea Singing Dog. This seems like quite the mix of dogs, but they have one very strong thing in common and that is their primitive nature. To be clear, what I mean when I say “primitive dog” is a breed of dog who’s ancestral primitive nature is still intact. These dogs weave through the traditional breed groups making a pretty tapestry of shapes, sizes, and histories. But when you break them all down, a similar independent, sensitive, wise old soul is back there, ready to tell you that they know better. Some examples of primitive dogs are Africanis, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Armenian Gampr, Basenji, Canaan Dog, Carolina Dog, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, Norwegian Elkhound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Samoyed, Shar-pei, Swedish Lapphund and this is just a few. This short list (A longer list is available at the end of this article) gives you an idea of the variety of shapes, sizes, and jobs these dogs have, and their close resemblance to their canine ancestors, and/or selective breeding that has maintained behavioral and physiological traits going back 1000-5000+ years.
Life with primitive dogs is a little different than life with other breeds. I mean sure, they are all dogs. But life with primitive dogs isn’t an owner/pet relationship. It’s more like a roommate agreement. They have their particular wants and needs and if you fail to understand them and find a way to manage them, you will end up with a huge problem on your hands. As my husband likes to say, “You don’t train a primitive dog, you come to an understanding”, and he is absolutely right. Many times trainers label these dogs “untrainable”, “willfull”, “stubborn”, or “dominant”. These labels only come out when a trainer or owner is butting heads with these dogs and their truly honest temperaments. I call it an honest temperament because they are utterly consistent and expect the same from you. They are strong communicators who will use a wide range of calming signals to express themselves. Trainers and owners who ignore them, many times end up on the frustrated end of the leash, or worse, bitten and bloodied.
In no way am I suggesting that primitive dogs are a greater bite risk or more aggressive than other breeds. However, I do believe that their tolerance for rude handling, compulsive training, and rude interactions with other dogs, is significantly less than breeds bred to be more tolerant. We created these breeds prior to the great Victorian genetic manipulation period and were never expected to be the center of attention in a family setting. Instead these dogs had a purpose to either hunt and kills other animals, guard property, pull, or herd. When not in use, these dogs were left to their own devices. They have an innate knowledge of what they want to be happy and usually a good chunk of that is to be left alone. They are also highly sensitive dogs and become intolerant of discomfort quickly. Enough repetitions of this and they will become unwilling to cooperate and eventually aggressive.
Today there is a growing population that enjoys breeds with these independent natures and it is becoming more and more important that trainers become familiar with how to be successful working with these kinds of dogs. I have clients come to me all the time telling me that their previous trainers hated primitive dogs, that they all are highly aggressive, or if it didn’t respond to compulsion based training, it couldn’t be trained. This is heartbreaking for an owner to hear and leads to many of these dogs getting dumped in shelters or left to an existence locked in a laundry room or outside kennel. It is the responsibility of modern progressive dog trainers to embrace the growing interest in these dogs and better understand their behavioral workings, motivations, and needs. Once these are met, owning, managing, and training these dogs is a breeze.
5 Tips for Training Primitive Dogs
1. If The Dog Is Failing – It’s Not Them, It’s You
Sorry but primitive dogs are very honest dogs. This means that if you’re rate of reinforcement is poor or you’re either too challenging or not challenging enough, a primitive dog will blow you off. The more this happens, the less they will want to interact with you and their relationship will continue to diminish until they actively avoid you. Keep training light, short and be ready to jump 2 steps ahead at any point. More than 5 or 6 repetitions is enough to bore most of these dogs and if they make a learning leap go with it. Don’t push them backwards or they will think your “game” is stupid and walk away.
2. You Can’t MAKE a Primitive Breed Do Anything
Molding a primitive dog just teaches the dog to avoid contact with you. Luring teaches the dog to sniff out treats before they are willing to work with you. Shaping and capturing tend to be the most powerful ways to train a primitive dog. They are very intelligent and when given the opportunity to work out operant tasks they will usually rise to the occasion very quickly. But this works both ways. If they know growling and biting is the only way to make you stop doing something they don’t like, they will stop communicating with calming signals and move to lunging whenever they perceive discomfort. If lunging doesn’t stop the discomfort they will escalate to biting. This is why knowing body language and teaching advocacy for what the dog is saying, is essential to a happy primitive dog household.
3. They Know You Better Than You Do
Primitive dogs are always watching and always working out the system. Every move you make and every gesture has been worked out in their heads. They know the difference between a recall that is for reward and a recall that is for the end of play because it is time to go to work. They know when you have a treat and when you don’t. These can lead to frustration for the owner when training “only works when a cookie is present” as well as Separation Anxiety, Resource Guarding, aggression while being handled, and leash reactivity. When called in to deal with behavior problems it is essential that a trainer see all the details prior to a problem situation to see what the dog is actually being cued by. It may be leagues away from where the owner thinks the cause is.
4. Self Interest is Your Guide
In my home I use very colorful terms of endearment with my dogs. It is an affectionate joke. But for many owners it is no joke. It is hard for many owners to get over the sense of self interest these dogs possess. Like I mentioned earlier, these dogs are more your roommate than your pet. These dogs, while they love you, are still out to get whatever it is they want, at whatever means necessary. But this is a powerful tool for trainers. Following methods like Karen Overall’s Deference Protocol, and other styles of, you get what you want, when I get what I want can create very harmonious households. I like to think Premack was channeling a primitive dog when we wrote his Principle because that will get you farther than anything else in your training.
5. Keep Your Heart Open
You can’t get mad at these dogs. They will simply walk away, go pee on something, and take a nap. You have to roll with the punches, appreciate their independent nature, and laugh at your mistakes. Otherwise these dogs will get inside your head and drive you insane. You will need multiple ways to train a behavior and don’t be afraid to start with classical conditioning. Most of the time the reason these dogs are challenging is because they are uncomfortable emotionally, not because they are dumb, wild or stubborn.
About the Author: Molly Sumner CDBC, CPDT-KSA, CBATI
Molly Sumner is a professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant. She lives in Frenchtown, New Jersey with her husband and house filled with primitive dogs, including Journey the worlds first competition titled New Guinea Singing Dog. Molly is the author of multiple articles for Barkpost, as well her blogs and loves giving voice to both her canine and human clients. She is currently working on book about primitive dog training and ownership. You can visit her blog at www.kindredcompanions.com or find her on Facebook.
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This post is a guest post by Miranda K. Workman, MS, CABC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA. We are honored to share with you a situation that proved that modern dog trainers can in fact come together to bring awareness into the community.
At a recent TEDxBuffalo presentation about building community one speaker said, “Community begins where there is conflict.” Those words came to life for me on October 17, 2015. As a certified behavior specialist, I meet many people in my professional career. One of those individuals is Melissa Henchen, the president of Going to the Dogs rescue based in Perry, NY. A newspaper in her local area had printed a story about a local trainer who presented outdated information about canine behavior. The article was filled with references to humans as alpha wolves who give direction (never affection). It was an article that was completely void of current scientific understanding about learning theory, canine behavior and ripe with anthropomorphic explanation about cross-species social relationships.
After reading this article it was clear that allowing this outdated information to go without comment was a disservice to the pet owning public who are part of the readership for this paper. The rescue president and I knew this was an opportunity to educate the public. We just needed to decide how to do it. We decided a direct response to the paper would be the best course of action. 24 hours later I had finished the first draft of a letter to the editor of the paper. After sharing the draft with the rescue president, we talked about who would sign the letter…then it hit me. This should be a community response. Not a response from one, two, or three individuals. We needed to “rally the troops.”
Over the last few years there have been a few opportunities when training and behavior professionals, leadership from various rescues, groomers, daycare operators and others have come together. Most of those meetings were informal social gatherings as we all started to get to know one another. Although our philosophies were aligned, there had been little formal effort to communicate with the general public about science-based training focused on positive reinforcement. This opportunity gave me a reason to get everyone together with a specific and formal goal. Oh…and with a deadline.
I worked on reaching out to my colleagues and other contacts in the Buffalo, NY area. Melissa reached out to those in the Rochester, NY area. Once several people agreed to participate, we used social media to collect everyone in one virtual location to discuss the letter. Realizing that media is like capturing lightening in a bottle, we knew we had to act quickly. A quick response would maximize the effect as the previous article would still be in the readership’s consciousness.
Although there was some debate and we ended up with a third, final version of the letter, after 24 hours of bringing the group together we had twenty-two individuals who were willing to stand together as a group to educate the general public. The letter was published – in its entirety including references – seven days after the original article aired. We posted the letter on social media and found supporters across the nation who joined with us by adding their signatures in the comments of the online version of our letter. By networking with others, even members in our online communities pledged their support of the efforts of this new community in WNY.
Through this conflict, I am confident and hopeful that a new community has been forged. I have already reached out to those twenty-two signers to create a regional education organization. No doubt more will join us. The sum of all the parts of this new community will no doubt become very a prominent whole in the larger community of Western New York. I am already preparing to plan the first meeting where this new community will begin to determine our mission, vision, guiding principles and goals. As a group we will work to coordinate action plans to fulfill those goals.
Ultimately, it was by being both diverse and inclusive that we met this time-sensitive goal. I hope that we will continue to be diverse in this new community’s membership while including all those who share our desire collaboration for the sake of education about current, science-based behavior and training information in our larger community.
Miranda K. Workman, MS, CABC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA has been President and CEO of Purrfect Paws Animal Behavior Center since its inception in 2006. A voracious reader and tireless researcher, she strives to understand and apply the most “up to date” developments in training and behavior.
She has over 14 years experience in applied animal behavior and training. She is an experienced behavior specialist with a well-respected reputation including being listed as a WNY expert by the Buffalo News. While she works to rehabilitate many different behavior concerns of pet owners, she especially enjoys working with multi-pet households, aggression and feline behavior problems.
She also served from 2007-2011 on the Board of Directors of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. (CCPDT); three of those years she was President of the Board and was responsible for the creation and implementation of the Certified Behavior Consultant – Canine certification exam. Currently she serves as the Chair of the Cat Division for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Inc. (IAABC).
Gone are the days of mailers, a back page newspaper brief, university class, or waiting for the monthly journal to arrive a-la-mailbox for the latest training buzz from the top world instructor. Access to millions of bits of intellectual property float incessantly around every social media platform that exists and much of it without a footnote or resource listed. Social media is now how we get our information out to people and often educate ourselves. These platforms can certainly be invaluable avenues for teaching, demonstrating and exposing wonderful new articles and sharing training tips and advice quickly and with wonderful accessibility. What comes along with digital accessibility, however, is anonymity and interaction.
Platform Or Soap Box?
When accessibility and anonymity meet online, the interactions can become, at best, thought-provoking or educating. At worst, attacking, bullying, ugly, demeaning or misinforming. Even dangerous. The purpose of this blog is to bring these conditions to light, and for us as educators and professionals to really use social media carefully and expertly. Regardless of what your method of delivering information is, use caution when opening a can of worms….
Each person is an individual. When our online ideas are attacked some of us will tend toward standing up to our aggressors and others of us may just sit reading the thread, seething (yours truly). Let me be clear about what I’m suggesting: It’s not our difference of opinion that’s no good; it’s how we share it.
Cognitive Dissonance
Copernicus, Columbus, Newton and Einstein were all brilliant men that had to prove to the masses something that was outside of a current belief system, even beyond opinion. Wait, isn’t science always right? Why would we challenge science? Well, to move forward and ask, “is there a better way?” Questioning science is the best part of science. If we can remember that science isn’t static we can be better at keeping our mind open to new theories and practices in the world of training and behavior.
Things change when discoveries are made. Just this month, six female anthropologists found a new type of human! As we know, new information added to current knowledge is how we advance. When we as individuals are so rooted in “the one way” that something works, we are closing off the possibility of becoming more skilled and effective.
“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are
presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new
evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is
extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it
is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize,
ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.”
― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a strong intellectual scientific conversation online, but I have a set of criteria that must be followed for an intelligent conversation.
• Facts – back up thoughts with credited articles and/or journals.
• Politeness – comment and ask respectfully, ask for clarification first (yes, this goes for me, too!).
• Topic Focused – as we respond, are we discussing facts or are we taking things personally?
• Reputability – spend your time in groups that have a great code of conduct and that monitors their threads.
Here’s an excerpt I like from Lisa White of Positive Pet Advice:
CODE OF CONDUCT
• Treat people with respect. Even if you disagree with them, they, like you, are entitled to feel free to express their opinions.
• Do not bash, put down or insult anyone, no negative personal attacks/comments. You may argue the idea, the method or the opinion, but do not attack the people.
• There is a difference between being passionate about something and being aggressive. Aggression will not be tolerated.
• Rudeness of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Name-calling will absolutely not be tolerated.
• You will avoid criticizing others for their choices. By refraining from criticizing, you are opening up an audience to listen to your message instead of making them defensive.
• Follow your own training advice: Ignore what you don’t like and acknowledge and reward what you do like. Also, give alternative options.
• Positive reinforcement is also expected to be used for people too.
Choose Your Camp
The sheer magnitude of people online is amazing, and the beauty of life is having choice. Even with choice, some people will choose to believe in dominance theories and the use of force and coercion. Rather than feeling it my job to change their mind, I chose a long time ago to know that it’s not my job to sway people that are happy shocking dogs and popping collars, but to focus my energy on those who want my knowledge. Otherwise I sometimes feel like I’m spitting at the rain. By focusing my energy on people that are craving knowledge and want to do what’s right (in my opinion) for their dogs, I can be most effective. This way my energy spent can be most effective if I work in the forums where the people and advice is congruent to whom I am. In other forums, I have found sometimes it’s best to just walk (or click) away.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
“Never argue with a fool or a drunk; people standing by won’t know who the fool or the drunk is.”
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Let’s face it. In the market place there are countless gadgets for trainers and dog-owners alike. However, over the years, I’ve found some of the best tools hiding away are in arms reach right at home. A skilled trainer has the ability to resource from the environment they are in; utilizing in-the-moment props if you will. Here are a few of my favorites to get you, the trainer to think on the spot.
Peanut Butter Club
Regardless of the high value treat, sometimes when our pups are small and our humans are tall it equals fumbling and tripping in attempt to “work at the same level”. For example if the small pup has to jump to reach the treat, without knowing, we’d be rewarding the jump itself. Much of the time especially with small dogs in the beginning, there can be fumbling with the treat pouch, working with the leash, and lowering down; that all of these moving parts end up leaving us delayed in the delivery of the treat, and can be confusing to the pup. My solution? The PBC, or the Peanut Butter Club. Fancy for a long wooden spoon laden with gooey delicious peanut buttery goodness. Find your longest wooden spoon, (or keep an eye out at your next yard sale) and coat the magic wand with your favorite peanut butter and send it to the freezer so it’s ready for rewarding the pup for polite leash walking. Remember to allow the pup to lick using the same arm as the side he’s on so they’re not being rewarded for crossing in front of the human! PBC is also a great tool when working with a fearful dog because the PBC is longer and will allow a shy dog to come closer. I often find that after a few trials I can shorten the spoon causing the fearful pup to come closer.
Say Cheese
In the Wild West the cowboys kept their pistols right on their side for quick access and total readiness. We as dog trainers need a fast treat delivery system if we want to pair our reward with the behavior. For this one, I’ve got good ol’ cheddar spray cheese in my holster. Although it’s not the healthiest of treats, dogs love it! You can grab the can along with other treats and hit the road. My favorite use for it is during the winter months because it keeps my hands covered and warm and so I can train the pups without getting frostbitten.
Let the Light In
Sometimes visual barriers are all that’s required for pups that struggle with perimeter barking and sensitivity to movement near or around the house. But, who wants to live in the dark; keeping curtains and front doors always closed? Not me! Encourage your client to consider a great product originally intended for bathrooms and privacy: Frosted clings for windows! I love to use them at front windows and the like, to take away the visual stimulation or trigger without causing the house to feel like a dungeon.
This step can be critical for dogs that don’t need to be crated but struggle with barking.
Not Intended for a Rainy Day
Maybe the most unassuming tool I keep in my training bag is an umbrella. But not just any umbrella: it’s got to be one that pops open at the touch of a button and is dark color to create an instant barrier. A while back I received a call from an elderly woman who had been out for a walk when an off leash dog ran up and attacked her little Maltese. Although the altercation was minor, it left the woman and her pup quite shaken. I suggested to her that she could consider carrying an umbrella, a mobile shield of sorts that would be available at the touch of a button to both shield her pup and keep him invisible on the other side. If a dog is approaching and there is concern, an umbrella can be dispatched and buy the human precious moments to get a hold of the situation on the street, or even in an elevator! Let’s face it: training takes place on every terrain, and I know that when working in urban environments triggers can lurk around every corner, which can really set back any good training protocol. With the umbrella you can limit the time the dog is reacting and get to a safer spot on your walk or step between cars and block the small space between cars with the open umbrella.
Since necessity is the mother of invention, what are some of your cool household tools?
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What does art, the written word, Martial Arts, yoga, or music have in common? The “D” word. A word that so often in the world we generally use in terms of punishment; but not today. Today I’m going to speak about practice, or rather: Discipline. Anything anyone practices with devotion is a discipline. To become skilled at anything requires dedication and discipline. The discipline to get up in the morning to get to the gym, the discipline to pick up an instrument and practice for a while consistently, or the discipline required for training a dog.
Getting to Know Ya…
Whether training your own dog or helping the client to achieve the goals they desire, discipline in this case is the practice and devotion of helping dogs. Owner compliance is something that often will get in the way of progress. As a trainer it is not only important to show your clients techniques that will help their dogs along, but also to show them techniques on how to practice and implement said techniques in day to day life. Asking about your clients and getting to know them a little will help you better understand how to help them stay disciplined and dedicated to working the behaviors. Find out about their hobbies, what they do for work, what excites them—and especially about their dogs.
Discipline isn’t Necessarily a Consequence
After working on a stay or a go to your place cue, order a pizza and show clients how to work a stay or a go to your place cue while there is actually food around! This might sound crazy but it’s amazing how much better people feel when they see how to handle some failures and are working in a real-life setting. Clients are often tired after their workday and sometimes will just kennel their pup versus staying disciplined and on track by practicing what you have taught. Look for ways to give them confidence and not feel overwhelmed at the end of the day.
Set an Example
Being a disciplined dedicated coach to your clients will also do wonders for progress. Because one of the biggest roadblocks to progress is often owner compliance due to the demands of their schedules, I look for times that I can tag along to offer support. I find that going with them to events– be it a kids soccer game, or to a BBQ, for example are great ways to demonstrate how to work and train the family dog so they can see that it’s not only possible to succeed but that it’s really less daunting than they think.
Down the Rabbit Hole
How far would you like to go? Everyone has different levels of discipline. I for one love riding my bike and going to the rock gym to rock climb; but you will not find me climbing El Capitan in Yosemite or doing the Tour de France. This doesn’t mean I’m not disciplined; rather I have a different level of discipline that fits my lifestyle and my goals. When meeting with clients at their first consult I flat out ask them, “How much would you like to know? Would you like all the juicy scientific terms or would you like a base model that is simpler?” This simple question helps to set my clients up for success and it allows me to give them exactly what they want.
So let’s use the “D” word to ignite passion and dedication! What are your plans to have a more disciplined dog-training practice?
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As you become a better trainer and further your knowledge and chops in the training world you may want to start seeing behavioral cases. The one thing I learned to do very early on is to rule out anything medical first. There are so many illnesses that can masquerade as behavioral issues.
Take a moment and think about how you behave when you’re under the weather, have an ache, or pain in a bad knee. Are you fun to be around when you’re experiencing pain of any kind?
Photo by Erin Bessey
Medical Causes For Aggression In Dogs
Our dogs and our clients dogs can be incredibly stoic and muscle through certain aches and pains and feelings of malaise. But there are occasions when unwanted behavior appears because of not feeling well.
Thyroid Abnormality Based Aggression
Part of the endocrine system, the thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck, just below the larynx and partially wrapped around the trachea. It secretes two major hormones, thyroxine (T4) and, to a lesser degree, triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones play an important role in controlling metabolism, affect the heart, regulate cholesterol synthesis and degradation, and stimulate the development of red blood cells (erythropoiesis). Thyroid hormones are also essential for the normal growth and development of neurologic and skeletal systems, in addition to other roles.
Most dogs that suffer from hypothyroidism have what’s called autoimmune thyroiditis which can be hereditary. Sometimes the hypothyroid patients will have increased cortisol levels which can chemically mimic a constant state of stress. In this case, no amount of training will help! Typically, thyroid issues will fall into one of the following categories, aggression, extreme shyness, and seizure like activity.
Arthritis and Joint Pain & Aggression
We forget how quickly our beloved pups age and as the age they can develop aches and pains and arthritis, it’s important to get a proper arthritis diagnosis.
How does this present? A lot of times our dogs and client dogs will show disinterest in activities they used to enjoy such as running and jumping. Some dogs may start nipping or behaving more grumpy when touched or pet. Thank goodness that here are a lot of wonderful treatments available to provide relief to dogs. But stay informed and ask about the long-term and side effects of certain pain and anti-inflammatory medicines. The medicines available can provide great long-term comfort so they can get back into the swing of things.
Ear Infections & Aggression
Certain breeds have a predisposition but any dog can get an ear infection. This is generally painful for the pup when the infection gets out of hand, starting by a lot of itching and followed closely by inflammation and swelling. Some tell signs that your dealing with an ear infection can be head and face rubbing on walls and carpets and a “funky” yeasty smell coming from the ears.
Eliminate Medical Issues Before Treating The Dog’s Behavior
These are just a few of the many illnesses that can masquerade as a behavioral issue, by ruling out anything medical you can then formulate a behavior program for your clients dog.
For all of these “behavioral” issues a vet is needed. I will always offer to continue to work with the family to counter condition the pup to handling. Teaching families to do the handling and practice with mock vet visits will make vet visits more tolerable for the family and their dog.
I would love to hear of your experiences ruling out medical issues for behavior problems! What are some medical issues that you have found can trigger aggression in dogs?
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I wanted to take my goal a step further and help other trainers be more successful, thus helping even more dogs. I came to recognize that other trainers are not always successful in connecting with clients. This leaves them feeling frustrated with their jobs, as they are unable to help the dog. Sometimes, this leads to blaming the client – they aren’t compliant, they don’t practice, they don’t listen, and so on. I believe it is up to us as trainers to discover why they are struggling, and take on the challenge of helping them to succeed. People are complicated beings with a variety of circumstances, experiences, and motivations. Your job is to help with one aspect of their lives, their dog’s behavior.
Depending on whether you do in-home training, or facility based training, you may be able to tell more or less about your client’s life circumstances. I have found this to be absolutely no indication of how dedicated a client will be, so this information is to be taken in without judgement. However, having a feel for whether a client has a limited income vs. money to spare can help you to communicate in a way that is empathetic toward their situation. Suggesting cost effective options for some of the equipment and enrichment items they might need will go a long way to helping someone who saved up for your training package feel like they can accomplish their goals. Other clients may be more than willing and able to buy anything that might help them, and will appreciate you suggesting the top products on the market. 
While most of the speakers at the Canine Science Symposium are former or current students of Clive Wynne (the director of the Canine Science Collboratory), our research interests are diverse as evidenced by this year’s Symposium topics. Our presentations include decoding dominance in dogs; canine sociability and attachment; using advanced behavioral principles in dog training; applying cognitive, behavioral and physiological measures to improve shelter dog welfare; using play as training and enrichment; understanding visitor behavior in shelters to increase adoptions; exploring canine olfaction and interpreting canine body language. We want those that come out to learn with us to be able to walk away with new techniques and approaches to try in their interactions with shelter dogs, dogs that they train and the dogs they live with.
My husband and I share our home with 5 Shiba Inus, a Cattle Dog mix, a Tibetan Mastiff, and a New Guinea Singing Dog. This seems like quite the mix of dogs, but they have one very strong thing in common and that is their primitive nature. To be clear, what I mean when I say “primitive dog” is a breed of dog who’s ancestral primitive nature is still intact. These dogs weave through the traditional breed groups making a pretty tapestry of shapes, sizes, and histories. But when you break them all down, a similar independent, sensitive, wise old soul is back there, ready to tell you that they know better. Some examples of primitive dogs are Africanis, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Armenian Gampr, Basenji, Canaan Dog, Carolina Dog, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, Norwegian Elkhound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Samoyed, Shar-pei, Swedish Lapphund and this is just a few. This short list (A longer list is available at the end of this article) gives you an idea of the variety of shapes, sizes, and jobs these dogs have, and their close resemblance to their canine ancestors, and/or selective breeding that has maintained behavioral and physiological traits going back 1000-5000+ years.
