Improve your dog by first improving yourself.

Improve your dog by first improving yourself.

 

By Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training.

Jeff specializes in dog training in RI, as well as anywhere else in the US.

 

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds, cannot change anything.”

-George Bernard Shaw

 

The first step in changing the world is changing the way we see and understand the world. From the moment you wake each morning, every single cell in your body is listening closely to your brain. It is an inseparable connection, as the body and mind are always working as one. For example, if you tell yourself as you roll out of bed that you’re far too tired to go to the gym, your mind will talk you into feeling too tired, you’ll hit the snooze button, and go back to sleep. If instead, you tell yourself that you’re strong, capable, and going to have a great workout, then even if you don’t really feel that way, you will feel strong and have a great workout. When you learn how to use your thoughts to influence your body’s responses, it can be both healing and empowering in everything you do.

 

Positive thinking impacts us, but also impacts our dogs because dogs, just like your body, are listening closely to our thoughts and mind through energy. We are profoundly connected to our dogs and they mirror us unmistakable ways, because dogs are naturally in tune with group energy due to their deeply ingrained pack mentality. You are part of your dog’s group or pack, so he will be constantly reading you, loud and clear. If you aren’t certain how you’re feeling one day, just take a look at your dog and pay attention to what he tells you through his body language and eyes. If you increase your sensitivity and awareness, you’ll see your reflection through your dog’s behavior, because your instability can become his instability. Your dog is essentially your mirror, because he will continually and truthfully reveal to you your own strengths, weaknesses, and reality. 

 

“The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us. The madness of this planet is largely a result of the human being’s difficulty in coming to virtuous balance with himself.”

-Elizabeth Gilbert

 

When we see our reflection through dogs, it can inspire us to change any negative patterns or toxic thoughts, such as fear, anxiety or anger. When we change our thoughts, we can transform ourselves and regain the balance we need in order to be healthy and fulfilled. One of the most important realizations people come to while training is that before they can have balanced dogs, they must become balanced themselves. Ninety percent of the time, in the world of dog training, it is actually the humans that need the training. The simplest rule of thumb for anyone training a dog is that they must remain calm, assertive and consistent. These ingredients are essential in order to succeed, because all social animals including humans, respond to this type of leadership. If you feel confident in what you are doing and train yourself to be a calm, assertive, and consistent pack leader, your dog will sense it, and naturally begin to trust and feel secure in your strong, steady guidance. Small changes produce dramatic results.

 

As your dog’s leader, the “Place” command is the most powerful command you can teach him. “Place” means go settle down on a defined area, whether it be a dog bed, small mat, or rug. “Place” allows you to include your dog while keeping him under control. When we are putting a dog into “Place”, it lowers the dog’s adrenaline and allows him to focus on staying in the “Place” command, and work through any issues, rather than excessively barking, jumping on guests, begging for food, or acting destructive. We are redirecting the dog’s energy from a negative, problematic state to a positive, calm state, which will allow him to make better choices.

 

See the full gallery on Posterous

 

Just as in humans, there are robust, self-confident dogs that appear resilient to stress and remain calm in most situations. There are also highly sensitive dogs that react quickly to any subtle stimulation such as a motionless statue, a bouncing basketball, a lawnmower or even a garbage can on the street corner. The calm, confident dog and the sensitive, timid dog are both capable of the opposite state of mind. The issue is that they are seeing two different things when they are put into a situation. The calm dog is seeing the positive, and the nervous one is seeing the negative. When you calmly put a nervous dog into “place”, he will be relieved you are telling him exactly what to do and how to feel, so his anxiety will diminish, and you will be able to continue to do what you were doing while still including your dog. “Place” is a win/win for you both.

 

You are fully responsible for the well being of your dog, and when you are training your dog, you must first train yourself to leave behind the emotional static. When you are clear and balanced as your dog’s guide and alpha, he will blossom into his full potential, and your relationship with him will deepen into one based on mutual respect, trust, and understanding. Dogs teach us to become better human beings each and every moment due to their honesty, insight, and loyalty. We should be grateful for their wisdom, and continually strive to be the best leaders we can be, not only for not only them, but also ourselves.

 

 

 

If you have any questions and want to speak to professional dog trainers in Rhode Island, please contact Jeff Gellman at 401.527. 6354.

 

Jeff Gellman

 

Solid K9 Training

 

401-527-6354

 

The Word "NO"

The word “no.”

By Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training.
Jeff specializes in dog training in RI, as well as anywhere else in the US.

“Yes”, and “no”: two simple, yet incredibly powerful words. These are the two words needed to achieve balanced training. What is balanced training? It is when the dog is in
a steady mental state with calm behavior and good judgment. In order to achieve a well- behaved, balanced dog, we praise the dog for good choices and we discipline the dog for bad choices. We say “yes” enthusiastically, and we firmly say “no.” Yes, I am here to tell you that you can say “no” to your dog. Saying “no” is actually necessary.

What would happen if people were never told no? If discipline didn’t exist for us as human beings and we were never told “no,” then we’d never move forward, never become better people, and have no manners, character, stability, inner strength or control. Discipline is a wonderful thing to have, because it is the very thing that keeps us working toward our goals, dreams and self -growth. If we never said “no” to our children, would we be doing them any real favors? We as parents have to say “no” to keep them safe, polite, and healthy so they can grow into responsible, respectful adults.

Just as people need the word “no”, dogs need it to thrive and grow as well, and it would actually be unfair to withhold it. In dog training, this has almost turned into a subject that many folks are afraid to discuss, and many dogs are then misunderstood and killed as a result. Discipline is not punishment or abuse, but actually humane, natural, and has the dog’s best interest at heart. From oceans to forests, discipline holds a crucial presence in nature, as all creatures great and small must instinctively learn and recognize boundaries and limits without question, and dogs are certainly no exception. Dogs will never learn to respect us as their leaders if discipline is non-existent in our training. Saying “no” to an undesirable behavior sets up the rules dogs crave to realize in order to make the correct choices, because dogs ultimately need to exist in a balanced state where everything is clearly understood and structured. Discipline helps us to succeed with dogs, just as it does in every aspect of our own lives.

I know from years of experience that balanced training rehabilitates dogs of all different breeds and backgrounds so it is naturally quite discomforting to me that many trainers don’t believe in saying “no” to a dog. In a hypothetical case that a little girl is swimming in the family pool and their ninety-pound Rottweiler jumps into the water and swims toward the child in a powerful, aggressive manner, how would a trainer that doesn’t believe in saying “no” handle the situation? Training dogs to sit for cookies in a room

is not going to prevent potential danger from happening in the real world, where many things are not in our control as they would be in a quiet room with no distractions.

Before hiring a dog trainer, make sure you ask the correct questions. I find that the two questions that seem to be the most common are:

“How much time does your training take?”

And,

“How much does your training cost?”

Everyone wants the quickest results at cheapest cost, but should those things really be their first concern when training their dog, who is will be a very strong presence and close companion in their life for the next ten to fifteen years?

Questions you should be asking:

1. 1)  Do you come to the house?

   The personalized and undivided attention you and your dog will receive is well worth it, as well as working with you in real life and overcoming the challenges you deal with at home in your actual environment.

2. 2)  Have you worked with dogs that bite, and/or show aggression? If yes, than how many, and how successful were you at eliminating the biting and aggression? Biting dogs need to be corrected and taught instead of avoided, discarded and killed. It’s plain and simple.

3. 3)  What tools do you use as a trainer?

   Trainers should always be very upfront about what they use. I for instance, will tell a potential client that I use regular collars, slip leads, prong collars, remote collars, affection, my voice, a light touch, and my energy as tools. Remember that if someone only uses food and praise to train a dog, think hard about whether or not food and praise is going to work if the dog is lunging at a child or chasing a rabbit full speed toward a busy street.

4. 4)  Do you specialize in agility or rally training?

   If trainers specialize in agility or rally training, they will not be training your dog for the real world. These sports require a dog to remain in a highly adrenalized, energized state while they are working. In the real world we want a calm dog that when focused on our leadership, can remain calm in a chaotic world. Going to an agility trainer when you need balanced training is the same as going to a foot doctor to take a look at your heart condition. Make sure you know exactly the type of training you would like for your dog because there are many different levels.

5. 5)  Do you do balanced training?
   Of course, balanced training is a balance of praise and discipline. Do not be afraid to say “no” to a trainer that will not say “no” to a dog, or more often than not, you will be wasting your time and money. It is better to know you are getting the results you need.

Investing in a dog trainer that is there to help serve the relationship you have with your dog for the rest of its lifetime is an incredibly important decision because the results should be life altering, for not only your dog, but also you, as the leader. The relationship you build with your dog should be respectful, ever evolving, harmonious, peaceful and solid, which requires clear communication, awareness, patience, time and dedication.

It should never be about credentials, the amount of time it takes or the rate. It’s about how well your trainer can integrate your dog smoothly into your life, using a balanced approach. How much would that be worth to you? If your trainer is not able to give you the right answer to at least five of the above questions, then it may be time to look elsewhere.

If you have any questions, and want to speak to professional dog trainers in Rhode Island, please contact Jeff Gellman at 401.527.6354. 

Jeff Gellman 

Solid K9 Training

401-527-6354

 

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Whats Love got to do with it?

What’s love got to do with it?

Shelter dogs and love.

 

By Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training.  Jeff specializes in dog training in RI, as well as anywhere in the US.

 

There’s a dog in a shelter with a rough past.  The shelter or rescue pushes to get this dog adopted.  Their words read, “He is running out of time and all he needs is a safe place and a family to love him.”  A well- meaning family sees the dog’s photo, inquires, and ends up adopting him.  The dog has some unresolved behavioral issues due to his previous life but they are patient.  They want to give the dog time to heal and recover.  They want to go easy on him because they simply feel so sorry for him.  They dwell on his past instead of moving forward.

 

 Soon enough, this family finds that they can’t properly walk the dog on a leash.  They hardly have company over anymore because the dog won’t stay calm.  They have a difficult time leaving their home because of the dog’s intense separation anxiety.  They don’t even trust this energetic and seemingly out of control dog around their kids alone.  So they begin to train using only positive reinforcement.  They ignore bad behavior, toss the dog treats to distract him, and spoil him with endless hugs and kisses to convince, and even plead with him that he just doesn’t need to be so unruly.  They never introduce boundaries, rules, or consequences, because all they want to do with this dog with a difficult past is show him love. 

 

 After trying for months to desperately fit the dog into their household, this well-meaning, yet frustrated family finally surrenders the dog.  “We tried to give him a good home but he was disrupting our lives so much he probably would be better suited to someone else.”  Their positive and “loving” training approach ultimately failed them, and even worse, failed the dog.  The dog goes back to the shelter.  He may be adopted again, and the next owner will run into the same issues.  Once again, the dog isn’t taught the correct way to do things.  Or maybe he isn’t adopted, stays in the shelter, and still isn’t taught the correct way to do things. 

 

Murphy, the brown labradoodle was scheduled to be killed at a shelter and is with us for dog/dog aggression and reaction issues.Putting the dog with a stable pack

 

At the shelter, the dog gets one small walk around a parking lot per day, maybe two if he is lucky. Some never get to leave their kennels, and live their lives with no access to a world other than the four walls holding them in a small space. The dog that does get to walk pulls on the volunteer’s lead, building more and more adrenaline until the person has to bring him back inside.  His energy remains high inside his kennel as he eagerly strains to have some human interaction while people walk past day after day.   He jumps and barks frantically, wanting to be touched, talked to, and given a job.  Soon, he becomes agitated.  No one adopts him because he is believed to be too rambunctious, unmanageable and unstable due to an unhealthy environment.  He eventually runs out of time, and is deemed unadoptable.  Then, like so many others with the same sad story, he is executed.

 

There are of course, other stories that lead dogs into shelters- millions of stories, actually. In fact, every year, over five million dogs are surrendered.  There could be a variety of reasons for relinquishment- lack of time, divorce, allergies and moving.  The most common reason dogs are abandoned however, is due to behavior problems, and the reason behind that is because they were never properly trained.  No dog is inherently problematic- they quite simply were never taught rules.  It blows my mind that so many people would rather kill a dog then actually use a balanced approach to training.  Dogs simply need to be trained for the real world.

 

The real world isn’t a controlled environment.  It’s not having your dog sit and stay for a cookie in a room.  It’s about controlling your dog in uncontrolled scenarios.  Scenarios in every day life may involve a busy street or pool, or a lot of loud kids.  It’s about your consistent leadership no matter what the situation. One of the most fundamental problems we have in the shelters is that dogs need to be prepared for the real world before they leave the shelter, and instead, they are becoming increasingly frustrated. 

 

We cannot spend all of our time “loving” shelter dogs and never actually training them, or the majority will end up dead.  This is not my being dramatic- it is the hard facts that people need to realize and accept.  We need to become proactive and bring balanced training and behavior rehabilitation into our shelters by using the correct tools and techniques.  So how do we do this?  Introduce programs that will train the volunteers to be able to efficiently work with these dogs.  Daily walks with a change of scenery, interactions with other dogs, and contact with people that are not just walking past.  Implementing effective programs that suit a dogs’ mental and physical needs will greatly improve adoption rates in shelters.

 

With that being said, I think that the moment the shelter worker takes in a surrendered dog and walks him into a room with a clipboard, they should recognize the limitless potential in him.  They must begin training him for a new life, where he will be in a permanent new family, because he knows the correct way to behave in the real world.  Every dog deserves a chance, because every dog has the ability to learn. The right to life is fundamental, and the killing of animals due to convenience and overpopulation beliefs is not the practical, compassionate or humane thing to do.  The killing needs to end.

 

It’s not about love.  It’s about training.  It’s about educating.  It’s about leading. Yes, rehabilitating a dog requires work.  It requires effort.  It requires time and there are no quick fixes.  Doesn’t everything worth doing require work, effort and time?  Isn’t saving lives worth it?

 

If you have any questions, and want to speak to professional dog trainers in Rhode Island, please call Jeff Gellman at 401.527.6354.

 

Small changes produce dramatic results

By Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training, Jeff specializes in dog training in RI as well as anywhere in the US. 

 

Solomon’s story.

 

Meet Solomon.  

 

Solomon on Friday, July 20^th, 2012

 

Above photo is when I brought him into the kennel off of the ferry the day he was saved from being killed at his owners request.

12 hours later after getting him out of his crate and a nice structured walk

 

working on his sit/stay with kid distractions, he has a bite record of biting many children

 

Solomon today, Thursday, July 26^th. 2012

 

 

 

Solomon was given up on.  His owner was supposed to teach him, protect him, and love him but instead decided to schedule for Solomon to be killed on Friday, July 20^th, 2012 at 12:30 pm in Long Island, NY.    Last Chance Animal rescue heard of the news and called me at the last minute, desperate to save this young, healthy dog just two hours before he was to be euthanized, which, in my opinion is not the right term.  Solomon was to be executed.  He would be disposed of like an item tossed in the garbage and forgotten about.  

 

 I told Last Chance Animal Rescue to make sure that vet appointment was kept, but instead of killing the dog, have the vet check him over and update his shots.  Then I found myself in New London wondering what kind of person would rather kill a dog than actually teach a dog as I awaited the 5:40 ferry to greet Solomon, who arrived both terrified of his surroundings and frightened for his life.

 

So what do you do with a dog that has extremely bad habits such as biting children (eight, to be exact), initiating dog many fights, and generally acting out due to extreme stress and improper socialization?  Many people and trainers would try and coddle a frightened dog.  They’d attempt to gently coax him out of the crate, toss treats in, use clickers and sweet talk the dog. Well guess what?  This tactic will not work because this won’t actually comfort a dog.  Little do these folks realize that by baby talking and tossing treats to the dog in an attempt to dissolve the fear and defensiveness displayed by the dog, they would actually be reinforcing the dog’s current state of mind. Then to make matters worse, more often than not, when the dog remains miserable after days, weeks or even months, they will give up on the dog, assuming that the dog will never change.  Then they execute the dog.  It’s unfair, unjustified and horrific, yet it remains a truth every day.  Millions of dogs are given up on when each one of these dogs deserved a chance.

 

A dog should never, ever be given up on.

 

If your dog is having behavior problems and your training approach is not working, then you need to try a different approach.  You can dramatically change the behavior of a dog if you choose to also dramatically change how you interact with the dog.  Instead of reinforcing the dog’s bad habits, be proactive and lead the fearful dog by immediately bringing new structure and new ways of training into the dog’s life. Change his world, break the old patterns, and teach him new, healthy habits that will be long lasting and life saving using balanced training.  

 

Always remember that when you want to modify a behavior that small changes produce dramatic results.

 

When you have a dog with a history of biting kids and fighting other dogs, the last thing you should do is avoid kids and other dogs.  Instead, you should take the dog out of the kennel, be the leader, and teach the dog to be around other dogs and kids in a peaceful and structured manner, showing him there is a better way to cope with his fear and stress in any uncomfortable situation.  Rather than keeping Soloman completely confined and separate from everyone and everything, we had to immediately immerse him into real world situations here at Solid K9 Training.  Here, he has been spending twenty- four hours a day with other balanced dogs and eighteen hours a day around balanced humans, including kids.  Each and every one of us on my property is rooting for him, with positive, mental attitudes, and Soloman can pick up on this state of mind.  

 

We introduced the structured walk.

 

 

We taught him the “place” command, which is important to bring down a dog’s adrenaline levels.  When a dog’s adrenaline levels remain high, it usually will lead to undesirable behavior.

 

 

One of the most therapeutic training techniques we do here is teach a dog to swim.  I introduce every dog to the water, and Soloman was no different.

 

Over the course of just five days we have made small and consistent changes, because as we all should know by now, there is not one instant solution to any problem with a dog.  It takes patience, confidence in the dog and diligence.  Small adjustments.  Soloman went from being fearful and withdrawn to smiling and interacting with myself, other dogs, and even my daughters.  There is still work to do, but in just five days, Soloman has made incredible progress, and will make someone a wonderful companion when he is ready to be adopted.  Remember- this was a dog that was to be executed last Friday afternoon at the hands of his owner.

 

Once again, remember that small changes over time produce dramatic results.

 

There is a superstar in every dog.  Every dog deserves to live out the life they were meant to live, and to never be given up on.  Soloman represents the millions of dogs that are killed or in other words executed every day because they didn’t have the chance to be lead, to be taught, and ultimately to be loved.

 

 

 

If you have any questions and want to speak to professional dog trainers in Rhode Island please call Jeff Gellman at 401.527.6354.

 

Solid K9 Training

Providence, RI 02908 

401.527.6354

 

 

Swimming, mental and physical training

One of the most powerful training tools in my training program is the pool.  I teach dogs of many different breeds and ages how to swim and be comfortable in the water.  It’s really an incredible sight to see: having up to fifteen dogs from varying backgrounds effortlessly and enthusiastically diving in and out of the water, tails wagging, muscles working, and faces filled with joy.   This may be surprising to some of you, but not all dogs instinctively know how to swim, and it’s important that we teach them.  I will always use a pool as a training tool whether it’s at my home, or the dog sanctuary we’ll soon have, and there are so many reasons why. 

Safety.
Knowing how to swim is a very important survival skill and if you live near the water, or have a pool, you likely don’t want to spend ten years or more worrying about your dog falling in or drowning due to their natural curiosity and need to be included.  Since not all dogs are natural swimmers, sometimes they’ll need swimming and pool safety lessons the same way kids would need them.  They need to be taught where the shallow end is, where the stairs are, and yes, even how to “doggie paddle.”

swimming2.m4v Watch on Posterous

Exercise.
Just as swimming is an excellent way for humans to get fit, it is also an incredible aerobic workout for dogs, keeping them lean, toned and flexible.  The resistance of the water gets your dog’s entire body working which burns calories in far less time than a walk can, and the low impact aspect of swimming keeps their joints healthy. If you live in a really hot and humid area particularly during the summer, swimming not only will cool your dog off, but is also an excellent alternative to walking in the hot sun. It’s vigorous exercise that takes concentration, which will of course always improve your dog’s attitude and behavior.

Physical rehabilitation.
Water therapy helps dogs suffering from so many different health issues whether it be weight problems, chronic conditions, age related issues or injuries, and is particularly great to rehabilitate a dog pre or post surgery.  I actually had one client that needed me to train his dog to stay calm for a few weeks before his leg surgery so I swam that dog every day for exercise.  On the day of surgery, the vet actually told my client that his dog didn’t need to have the surgery after all because the leg was healing on its own all because of the swimming.

Socialization.
Swimming is like the office water cooler for dogs without the gossip. They love to play in the water together, and will often mimic each other, which allows them to really bond with and learn from the other dogs.  It also builds their confidence and trust in you, has a calming effect on their minds and teaches them boundaries and rules quickly. In the pool area they have excellent exposure to all kinds of new distractions and encounters which will help them to become accustomed to the noise and commotion around them such as the high pitched squeals and sudden splashes of kids having fun in the water.

swimming`.m4v Watch on Posterous

It’s simply awesome to see a dog enjoying any body of water in such a primal way, and seeing your dog as the animal he truly is will help him blossom into the best dog possible, intensifying your bond.  With a little patience and enthusiasm, your dog will learn to love the water if he doesn’t already, and helping your dog achieve this is one of the best things you can do for his mind, body and spirit.

Teaching a dog to swim video is at this LINK

 

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Showing your dog love

Showing your dog love.

I recently received a dog publication in the mail that was titled at the top: “How much do you love your dog?” Underneath that line, there was a list of things that you could buy to “show your dog how you feel” about them. They were the following:

-Treats
-Toys
-Clothes
-More treats.
Let me tell you what I think is the best way to show your dog love: -An open field

- The beach.
-Trails in the woods.
- Structure and leadership

The publication was indicating that we should “humanize” our dogs”, meaning that we should assume that the things we would love and appreciate are the things that they would love and appreciate. We are so bonded with our dogs that so many of
us forget that they are dogs. The reality is that dogs are NOT people. Dogs are dogs, which means they have a very different thought process than us. Dogs are pack animals that have strong instincts to know their order within that pack, and to listen to a single pack leader, which is why they continuously crave and need rules, limits, and boundaries to keep them balanced, secure and happy.

I will tell you here and now that spoiling your dog with treats, toys and designer outfits is NOT going to make your dog happy, but real world dog training is going to make both your dog and you happier than you can imagine. Real world dog training is allowing your dog to run freely in those open fields, beaches and hiking trails under your guidance as your dog’s pack leader, without the restrictions of
a leash. Real world dog training is about being able to take your dog anywhere with you with absolute confidence that your dog will make good choices because
it actually understands the correct way to behave. Real world dog training will unleash the animal’s true spirit, that we as humans, should be obligated to do. If you truly care about your dog, it is your responsibility as your dog’s companion and leader to be aware of what it instinctually needs as the animal it is, which is the very best way to show your dog love.

Training methods coming from a highly emotional standpoint using only positive rewards such as treats, unlimited affection and toys are not going to work for real world dog training. These reward-based techniques may work extremely well for agility training, service dog training, or having your dog sit for you in a room, but are they going to help you integrate your dog seamlessly into your life? No.

If someone tells me that their dog is well trained, and I ask them if they can go anywhere without a leash, more often than not, they look at me with horror and say they’d never trust their dog to have a perfect recall in unfamiliar and/or distracting areas. Let me tell you something. It’s not about trust. It’s about control. If you
are not in control as the alpha pack leader, then your dog is not well trained and not living its best life possible. So how do we accomplish having complete control? Communication. When I train dogs, I establish communication.

To achieve the leadership you must have in order for your dog to be happy and balanced, you need be able to communicate with your dog in its own language, which means putting the human emotions aside. A mother dog is strict with
her puppies, giving them limits from the moment they were born. Dogs don’t communicate by verbal reasoning. They communicate by using quick corrections and moving on.

When did we as humans begin to accept bad behavior just because we feel guilty correcting the dog? It is a disservice to the dog and everyone else when you are not asking for good manners by simply ignoring the bad behavior and letting it continue. At what point did we accept that it’s better for us and the dog to isolate the dog when we know it will make bad choices, rather than changing our approach to training so the dog can be involved?

It is okay to feel a little discomfort when you change the way you think and react to bad behavior. Change is never comfortable. The key is to realize that it is far more uncomfortable to continue to allow the bad behavior for the rest of the dog’s life. If you simply step outside of your comfort zone and change your training technique, you will be able to derive pleasure from a well-behaved dog that will not only make your life easier, but your dog’s as well.

Sometimes in life we need to accept temporary discomfort for the long-term benefits. If you give the dog a bit of discomfort with a quick correction it will instantly learn that the behavior will not be tolerated because dogs will not do anything that is uncomfortable to them. This does not mean that the dog will stop the behavior because it’s frightened of you or pain! It’s the dog’s natural tendency to learn and understand that an undesirable behavior equals discomfort, and therefore is not worth doing. Humans learn this as well, but dogs are lucky because they figure it out much quicker than we do. So when will we, as logical, rational humans realize that the pain of isolation due to bad manners is far greater to a dog

than a split second correction, which is a natural form of communication to a dog? Remember that by making small, consistent changes each day we will bring about massive change in the long term.

A real world example: Lets say a dog is running around a doggy daycare mounting the other dogs. To stop this behavior, the employee walks up to that dogs, puts a leash on the rude dog, and puts the dog into “time out. “ The time out first of all isn’t teaching the dog; it is humanizing the dog. Dogs don’t understand time outs, because they can’t connect what happened sixty seconds ago to the time out that is happening now. Secondly, if you are pulling one dog on a leash out of a group of dogs off leash, you are inviting a fight. Time outs simply confuse and punish the dog, avoid the issue at hand, and can easily lead to a dangerous situation. Now lets say that doggy daycare employee is holding a lunge whip, and the instant that undesirable behavior begins, the employee gently touches the dog with a tap and a “knock it off.” The dog quickly learns that the mounting behavior won’t be tolerated, and then gets to stay in the play area and actually learn. The same results can also be achieved if that offending dog had on a remote collar and was given a "gentle" reminder to stop the unwanted behavior.

Can you imagine if all dog owners used their logic, learned about their dog’s actual needs and gave their dog exactly that? Happy and balanced dogs are absolute pleasures to own, and would not be given up on easily. Imagine your dog being able to accompany you anywhere, respect and respond to you in any situation, and always be welcomed, because they were so well behaved?

If there were more balanced and therefore happier dogs in this world, the pet overpopulation would drop. Dogs would be far less likely to be given up on,
and killed. To me, POSITIVE training means that the dog gets to live its best life possible, and in order to do that, we need to stop humanizing our dogs, and instead, learn about the options and skills necessary in order to communicate in a way they understand, which in turn, allows our connection with them to grow into perfect harmony.

Prong collars are lifesaving and humane trainig tools

Demystifying prong collars.

As your dog’s protector and pack leader, it is your duty to keep your dog balanced and happy.  When a dog isn’t getting the structure it needs, it will become emotionally and physically frustrated, which will then lead to behavior problems.  This of course frustrates owners who give up too easily, sadly causing millions of dogs to be turned into animal shelters every single day.  The walk, rules and boundaries all must be mastered if you want a harmonious, peaceful relationship with your dog.

The difference between responsible dog ownership and a potential accident is the way we use tools.  Tools are there to empower you as the handler and help to be the leader and completely in control of the dog, whether it’s inside or outside your home.  Every dog has the potential to be incredible if you use the correct tool.  I’ve trained many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes, and I am here to tell you with absolute certainty that the prong collar is by far the best tool to use to train a dog. Why?  Because it works. 

A lot of people have been told to never use a prong collar because it’s cruel.  Well guess what?  The very people that speak poorly of prongs are the people that have never actually used them.  Isn’t that amazing that they’re so unwilling to leave their comfort zone they’d rather sentence the dog to death by labeling it “aggressive” than try something that actually works? That is crueler than anything I can imagine.

So why haven’t they tried it?

 I hear these myths often:

It looks barbaric so it must be barbaric. 
Haven’t we learned by now that you can never judge anything based on its appearance?  The prong collar is made of interlocking blunt links so when you give a swift correction, mimicking the correction a mother dog gives to her puppies.  It doesn’t hurt.  Dogs mouth each other in play constantly.  YOU are the pack leader, just as the mother is to her pups.  We need to realize it’s OK to correct a dog. The prong collar works.

I don’t want to make my dog uncomfortable or unhappy.
This one is always amazing to hear because to me, a split second of discomfort when corrected for bad behavior is FAR more comfortable for a dog than to be put away into another room and isolated from its owners due to misbehavior all because the dog didn’t know its boundaries.  Isn’t a quick pop of the leash and temporary discomfort worth a day, a week, a month, or even a lifetime of good behavior and living in harmony with you, your dog’s leader?  A pop of the leash is a correction, while a lifetime of being separated from people due to bad behavior is punishment.

The prong collar will make my dog become more aggressive/anxious/shy.
I’ve trained thousands of dogs and have never seen a dog become more aggressive, anxious or fearful from a prong collar.  I’ve seen them become more balanced and confident because there are no more mixed signals.  A dog is happiest when they clearly know their boundaries., and are included in the family because they have consistently great behavior.

Prong collars are just as bad as choke chains.
False.  Prong collars are not at all similar to choke chains.  Choke chains have unlimited pulling capacity which in careless, abusive hands, can cut off a dog’s air supply entirely and cause severe injury and even death.  A prong collar distributes even pressure and a quick pinch.  That’s it. Again, this is a correction, not punishment.  The dog will respond with a rapid and positive behavior change.

Head collars are the most humane collars.
Head collars are the worst type of training collars I’ve ever seen.  Have you noticed dogs walking around with these? They look uncomfortable, right?  It’s because they are uncomfortable.  The leash is attached to the jaw, which is a highly sensitive area, and a strong pull practically guarantees a cervical injury.  Not to mention the fact that these collars must be fitted so tight you cannot even get a finger under them.  Have you also noticed that their heads are kept cruelly tilted, and that the narrow noseband turns the poor dog like a wrench?

It’s normal, and even cute to see the dog on a flat buckled collar, taking its owner for a walk.
Leash pulling has unfortunately become a widely accepted behavior in our society where a shocking number of people think it’s cute seeing a dog “taking the owner for a walk.”  How do people cringe when they see a photo of a dog with a prong collar on, yet laugh if they see a video of a dog dragging its owner down the street, straining and panting?  Do not assume because the dog is making the choice to lunge ahead that it’s not abusive to the dog.  A dog pulling you down the street is abusive to you both, and this should never be allowed.

7) My dog yelps when I correct him/her with the prong collar, which makes me feel guilty for hurting him/her.
Your dog is not hurt, they are simply objecting to the correction.   You should also note that if you’re dog needs a correction in the first place, they are in a high, agitated energy state, and when a dog is in that state of mind, sometimes a even clap of your hands can startle them, causing a surprised yelp.  Dogs also object when they are left alone, crated, are begging for the food on the table, etc.  They need firm, consistent leadership so they can make good decisions. Giving a correction is not hurting the dog.  Allowing the dog to misbehave every day of its life is hurting the dog.

Think about this:

Let’s say I walk into your house and your dog lunges toward me to bite my leg.  If the dog has a prong collar and leash on, and I give it a quick pop, the dog learns instantly that it is not ok to lunge and bite.  Again, just because you were willing to leave your comfort zone and try a different training method, a split second of discomfort for the dog could save you years of frustration and maybe even the death of your dog because other trainers said that your dog was too aggressive to handle. It’s devastating to see so many dogs on death row that wouldn’t be if their trainers had just used a tool that works.  I’ll say it again, the prong collar works, and if you say you’ve tried everything to train your dog, yet still haven’t tried the prong collar then you haven’t tried everything.

A lunging and biting dog will not stop lunging and biting if you give the dog treats.  A lunging and biting dog all too often gets kicked out of obedience classes.  A lunging and biting dog often gets killed.

With a prong collar, the lunging and biting dog learns that there are consequences to bad behavior, such as jeopardizing a person’s safety.
 They get another chance.
No dog should ever be given up on and killed.

The prong collar works.

The public needs to be educated that the prong collar is the kindest tool out there, and if you are accused of being cruel to your dog for using one, try and take the time to inform them of the benefits, rather than responding defensively. I know that if we can bring the properly introduced and well handled prong collar into our nation’s shelters, the dogs will have more structured walks, more effective training, and naturally better behavior, making them more adoptable to the public. An effective training tool can literally save millions of lives if people can be educated and in turn, receptive to a different method, that is exactly what our shelters need.

 

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