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ABCs of Dog Life

Your canine care, connection, and training resource

PET CARE LIBRARY


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Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprot organization building no-kill

programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are NoMore Homeless Pets. The societys leading initiatives in animal care and

community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquar-

ters, the countrys largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible

by the personal and nancial support of a grassroots network of members

and community partners across the nation. In 2009, Best Friends cel-

ebrated its 25th anniversary.

Best Friends Animal Society5001 Angel Canyon Road

Kanab, UT 84741Phone: 435-644-2001

Website: www.bestfriends.org

About This ManualThe resources in this manual are mostly derived from Best Friends petcare library, located online at www.bestfriends.org/theanimals, wherethey can be downloaded as individual handouts. The manual is intendedto be a guide for all dog lovers who want to know more about the BestFriends way to care for and train dogs.

Disclaimer: Best Friends Animal Society is not responsible for any inju-ries to anyone using the techniques described in this manual. Any personusing the techniques described here does so at his/her own risk.


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Best Friends ABCs of Dog Life


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Table o Contents

About This Manual ............................................................................................1About Sherry Woodard ......................................................................................7

Section 1: Training Philosophy .............................................................. 1-1

Why We Use Relationship-Based Training ................................................... 1-2

Human Expectations for Dogs ....................................................................... 1-5

A Dogs Place in a Human Family................................................................. 1-6

Dog Training: A Glossary of Terms ............................................................... 1-7

How to Find a Good Trainer........................................................................ 1-10

Recommended Dog Training and Care Resources ...................................... 1-12

Section 2: Getting Started ..................................................................... 2-1

How to Choose a Dog, Part 1......................................................................... 2-2

How to Choose a Dog, Part 2......................................................................... 2-4

Promises to My Dog ...................................................................................... 2-6

Preventing Problems from Day One .............................................................. 2-7

What Dogs Need to Be Happy....................................................................... 2-9

Whats in a Name? ....................................................................................... 2-11

Dog Body Language .................................................................................... 2-12

How to Educate Your Dog ........................................................................... 2-15

Daily Activities for You and Your Dog ........................................................ 2-16

Crate Training: The Benets for You and Your Dog.................................... 2-20

House-Training Your Dog............................................................................ 2-22

Finding a Good Veterinarian ........................................................................ 2-24

Staying Safe Around Dogs........................................................................... 2-25

Preventing Dog Bites on Children ............................................................... 2-27

Pets and a New Baby ................................................................................... 2-28Small Dogs, Big Dogs: Whats Safe? .......................................................... 2-30

Introducing Dogs to Each Other.................................................................. 2-31

Introducing a Cat and a Dog ........................................................................ 2-33

Preventing Your Dog from Chasing Your Cat.............................................. 2-34

Managing a Dog with Behavior Challenges ................................................ 2-36


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Clicker Training for You and Your Pets ......................................................... 4-9

Teaching Come.......................................................................................... 4-11

Teaching Down and Stay......................................................................... 4-12

Teaching Leave It ...................................................................................... 4-14Teaching Speak and Quiet....................................................................... 4-15

Teaching Your Dog to Enjoy Touch ............................................................. 4-17

Helping Your Dog to Enjoy Car Rides ........................................................ 4-19

Dogs and Aggression ................................................................................... 4-21

The Look of Fear in Dogs ............................................................................ 4-23

Fun Things to Do with Your Dog................................................................. 4-24

Dog Toys ...................................................................................................... 4-26

So Your Dog Has Drive? ........................................................................... 4-28Section 5: Puppy Care and Training ...................................................... 5-1

Neonatal Care for Orphaned Puppies ............................................................ 5-2

Puppy Development....................................................................................... 5-5

Socializing Your Puppy.................................................................................. 5-7

Section 6: Common Behavior Challenges ............................................. 6-1

Chewing and Mouthing.................................................................................. 6-2

Excessive Barking.......................................................................................... 6-3

Digging .......................................................................................................... 6-5

Preventing Jumping Up.................................................................................. 6-6

Pulling on the Leash....................................................................................... 6-7

Head Halters for Dogs ................................................................................... 6-8

Urine Marking in Dogs .................................................................................. 6-9

Submissive and Excitement Urination ........................................................ 6-10

Fear of Thunder and Other Loud Noises ..................................................... 6-11

Separation Anxiety in Dogs ......................................................................... 6-12

Section 7: More Complex Behavior Challenges ................................... 7-1

Eliminating Barrier Aggression ..................................................................... 7-2

Eliminating Collar Sensitivity........................................................................ 7-3

Meeting Fearful Dogs Safely ......................................................................... 7-4

Object Guarding and Food Aggression in Dogs ............................................ 7-5


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Using Visual Barriers with Dogs ................................................................... 7-7

Muzzles: A Tool to Keep Everyone Safe ....................................................... 7-9

When the Helpline Cant Help..................................................................... 7-13

Section 8: Rescue and Emergency......................................................... 8-1

Feral Dogs...................................................................................................... 8-2

How to Trap Animals for Rescue ................................................................... 8-4

After the Rescue: What Next? ....................................................................... 8-6

How to Muzzle a Dog in an Emergency ..................................................... 8-10

Finding Your Lost Dog ............................................................................... 8-11

What to Do When Your Pet Is Hurt ............................................................ 8-14

Disaster Readiness ....................................................................................... 8-16

Disaster, Safety, and First-Aid Websites ...................................................... 8-18

Section 9: Miscellaneous Resources ...................................................... 9-1

Finding Pet-Friendly Housing........................................................................ 9-2

Giving Pets as Gifts ....................................................................................... 9-4

Finding a New Home for a Pet ...................................................................... 9-5

Coping with Return-to-Run Resistance ......................................................... 9-7

Helping Shelter Dogs to Meet Each Other Successfully ............................... 9-8

Helping Shelter Dogs Develop Life Skills ................................................. 9-10

Health and Behavior Prole......................................................................... 9-12


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About Sherry Woodard

Most of the resources in this manual were writ-ten by Sherry Woodard, Best Friends AnimalSocietys resident animal behavior consultant.As an expert in animal training, behavior andcare, she develops resources, provides consult-ing services, leads workshops and speaks na-tionwide to promote animal welfare.

Before coming to Best Friends, Sherry, a nation-ally certied professional dog trainer, workedwith dogs, cats, horses and a variety of otheranimals. She also worked in veterinary clinics,where she gained valuable experience in com-panion-animal medical care and dog dentistry.

Sherry came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuaryin 1996 as a dog caretaker. Her understandingof animals and insights into their behavior werequickly recognized and, in 1997, she was askedto manage Dogtown, where she oversaw thedaily care and medical needs of 600 dogs. Asmanager, Sherry was responsible for the intakeof new dogs to the sanctuary, the placement ofdogs in appropriate social groups, dog adoptionprograms, student and volunteer group visits,

the foster care program, supply orders, and allmatters relating to personnel. She participated inthe design of new buildings and exercise areasin Dogtown that have provided stimulating andcomfortable environments for thousands of dogsover the years. Early in 2003, Sherry joined BestFriends No More Homeless Pets national team.

Today, representatives from humane organiza-tions and shelters across the country seek outSherry for advice. Sherry assists individuals andshelter and rescue personnel with animal be-

havior, management and enrichment. She givesworkshop presentations on animal care, animalbehavior, training and adoptions at national con-ferences as well as local shelters.

Sherry has been certied by the CerticationCouncil for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT)as a certied professional dog trainer knowl-edge assessed (CPDT-KA). In March 2008,

Sherrys Dog Behavior and Handling Workshopwas approved for continuing education credit byCPDT.

Sherry has written over 50 animal care, behav-ior, and training documents for Best FriendsAnimal Society that are used across the U.S. andby groups in Canada, Romania, China, Indiaand Tbilisi, Georgia. She has created two train-ing CDs with video, a basic and an advancedversion. Sherry has also been featured in the

National Geographic Channels TV series calledDogTown, which chronicles the physical andemotional rehabilitation of dogs living at BestFriends Animal Sanctuary.

Sherry developed a canine behavior assessmentmethod to help people learn what dogs need sothat they can be placed safely in new homes.Sherry also created a cat assessment program


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for shelter adoption staff and cat rescuers to helpthem read cats body language and assess theirneeds.

Widely regarded as an expert on animal behav-

ior, Sherry has consulted on and assisted withthe investigation of animal cases in litigation,testied in cases of cruelty and breed discrimi-nation, and worked with law enforcement on afatal dog attack case.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sherrygained on-the-ground leadership experience indisaster response and management of ongoingemergency relief projects when she spent eightmonths in Tylertown, Mississippi, helping withrescue, assessment and socialization of dogs; su-

pervising staff and volunteers; and working withall types of animals, including exotics.

She has completed 12 FEMA Emergency Man-agement Institute courses. Sherry is a certiedrst-aid rst-responder and an EMT. She hasbeen a whitewater raft guide licensed in theGrand Canyon and has experience as a back-

country guide and with rock climbing and swift-water rescue. She volunteers with local animalcontrol and is a member of the local search andrescue team.

In 2007, Sherry spent six months working withBest Friends Great Kitty Rescue in Pahrump,Nevada, where 800 cats were discovered livingin horrible conditions. To prepare these trau-matized kitties for new lives as house cats, sheand several colleagues developed a process forsocializing fearful cats. As a result, hundreds ofcats from the Pahrump compound were adoptedinto good homes.

Sherrys latest project is Best Friends Canineswith Careers, a training program that is part

of Best Friends Community Training Partnersprogram. Sherry is helping rescue groups andshelters that want to start training and placingqualied shelter dogs in loving homes as work-ing dogs. The dog careers will vary and couldinclude therapy, assistance, different types ofservice and detection.



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Best Friends ABCs of Dog Life 1-1

Section 1:Training Philosophy


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Section 1: Training Philosophy

1-2 Best Friends ABCs of Dog Life

Why We Use Relationship-Based TrainingBy Sherry Woodard

The trainers at Best Friends have found thatdog training built on a positive relationship isthe most kind and also the most effective method of training. When you have a positiverelationship with the dog, you have the animalstrust, and he/she wants to spend time with youand work with you. Training based on punish-ment or dominance negates any sort of positiverelationship you might develop with the animal.

By reinforcing behaviors that you like and want

to continue seeing, you set the dog up for suc-cess. Positive relationship-based training is ef-fective for teaching new behaviors or changingcurrent behavior for any physically and mentallyhealthy animal. Regardless of an animals ageand past experiences, positive training methodsgive an animal the best chance for success atliving happily and comfortably in our hectic hu-man world.

What is relationship-based training? It is amethod of training that uses the positive re-

lationship between the trainer and the dog toachieve results that benet both the dog and thetrainer, while at the same time enhancing andstrengthening their relationship. Here are someof the basic principles:

The animals immediate needs come rst.Is the animal injured, ill, fearful, frustrated,hungry, thirsty, needing to eliminate? Put offtraining until the animals needs have beenmet and he/she can concentrate on the trainingexercise.

Learn to interpret animals body language.There are telltale signs that let you know howthe animal is feeling whether its joy, anger,fear, frustration or some other emotion. Under-standing body language improves communica-tion between people and animals, and helpskeep both animals and people safe.

Find out what motivates the animal (affec-tion, treats) and use it to your advantage.

Use positive reinforcement to encouragebehavior you like. You can elicit and rein-force desired behavior through the techniquesof capturing, luring and prompting. Captur-ing behavior means using praise and otherrewards to encourage recurrence of a behaviorthat occurred spontaneously. Luring in-volves getting the dog to focus on a treat orother desirable object and using it like a mag-net to move the dogs head or entire body ina desired direction to produce a behavior orposture we want to reinforce. Prompting is atechnique that uses a sign or signal to encour-age a behavior we want to reinforce. Examplesof prompts are holding your hand in front ofa dogs face when you want to encourage a

stay or patting the seat of the car when youwant the dog to jump in.

Punishment is not necessary for eliminatingundesirable behaviors. Instead, ignore thebehavior and/or teach incompatible behaviors.For example, teach the dog to sit for a greetingrather than jumping up its difcult for himto do both. To reinforce the desired behavior,reward with praise or treats. In contrast to pun-


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ishment-based training, this approach supportsthe positive relationship between you and thedog.

Prevent the animals ability to continue

practicing unwanted behaviors by control-ling the environment and controlling thedogs exposure. For example, distract the dogor limit access to a window, door or fence lineif there are inappropriate behaviors happeningthere.

Supervise the animal carefully to set herup for success. You can avoid or prevent un-wanted behaviors by simply being aware ofwhat your dog is doing. For example, if a newdog or puppy is not house-trained, dont allowher the full run of the house until she has beenhouse-trained. Giving a dog too much freedomcan set her up for failure.

Practice, practice, practice! Dont wait forthe occasional chance to work on modifyingthe animals behavior. Instead, create behaviormodication opportunities so you can help thedog become more comfortable.

Use distraction to take the dogs attentionoff an anxiety-provoking situation. For ex-ample, if your dog is afraid of children andyou see a child walking toward your dog, you

can distract the dog with praise or treats beforethe child approaches and as the child is pass-ing. If you use this technique routinely, meet-ing children will become less and less stressfulfor the dog. In some cases, it may even be-come enjoyable.

Positive trainers also have realistic expectations.When training animals, they use patience theyunderstand that animals are not born knowinghow to t into our human lives. Most adult dogsI meet have not been properly taught how to be

part of a loving human family. Even if they havebeen in a loving home, they may still lack thesocial skills to be comfortable around strangersand in new situations. Expecting an animal toknow everything is unrealistic and punishing ananimal for not knowing something is unfair. Inrelationship-based training, every animal is seenas an individual and the trainer works with theanimal on that basis.

Over the years, as Ive worked in this eld,Ive become aware of many other training tech-niques. Ive worked with other trainers andveterinarians, attended conferences, read books,and watched training videos. My exposure toother training methods only conrms my beliefin positive training techniques based on a mutu-ally benecial relationship with the individualanimal.

Best Friends trainers have chosen not to usecertain training methods, after seeing their det-rimental effects on animals. These methods cancause confusion in the animal, lack of trust,breakdown of the relationship, physical injury,fear and so-called unpredictable behavior. Ex-amples include:

Dominance and physical force:

Pushing a dog into a sit or down position

Alpha rolls

Physical punishment (hitting, kicking, slap-ping, hanging, nger jabs)

Leash corrections

Harsh tones, verbal reprimands

Methods that rely on inicting pain, such aspinch/prong collars and choke chains

Besides the negative effect on the animals, andthe fact that these techniques dont work overthe long-term, these methods have resulted ininjury to people and death to dogs. How? Peoplewho use these techniques are injured when thedogs ght back by biting. I have talked withpeople in these situations who have euthanizedtheir dogs after deciding they could no longertrust them.

Ive trained many types of animals not justdogs and positive, relationship-based train-

ing works for all of them. The success rate forpositive, relationship-based training greatly ex-ceeds that of punishment- or dominance-basedtraining. Many, many research studies datingback to Pavlovs famous experiments with dogs have conrmed that positive reinforcementtechniques deliver the most effective and reli-able training results.


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Helpul Resources

If you want to know more about positive, rela-tionship-based training, here are some resourcesthat I recommend:

Before You Get Your Puppy andAfter You GetYour Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar

Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist,covers what he calls the developmental dead-lines to meet before and after you get yourpuppy.

Dont Shoot the Dog! The New Art of Teachingand Trainingby Karen Pryor

Pryor clearly explains the underlying princi-ples of behavioral training and uses numerousexamples to show how to achieve your train-ing objectives through positive reinforcement.She also has a website on clicker training:www.clickertraining.com.

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson

Donaldson presents a revolutionary new wayof understanding the relationship between hu-mans and dogs.

Outwitting Dogs: Revolutionary Techniques forDog Training That Workby Terry Ryan

Ryan draws on her 25 years of hands-on ex-perience to help people understand dogs, traindogs, and solve dog behavior problems usingkinder, gentler methods.

Dog-Friendly Dog Trainingby Andrea Arden

This is a great book for beginners.

Also, check out the many resources listed underBehavior and Training in the section of theBest Friends website called You and Your Pets:

www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare/

dogs.cfm

Helpul Articles

Using punishment:

Ill Teach You a Thing or Two! The Unwanted

Teachings of Punishmentwww.behaviorlogic.com/id97.html

Let Me Teach You a Thing or Two! The Un-wanted Teachings of Negative Reinforcement

www.behaviorlogic.com/id105.html

The American Veterinary Society of AnimalBehavior has several position statements thatreect the societys opinion on topics such asdominance and the use of punishment:

www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline

(click on Position Statements)

Using shock collars:

Letter from Dr. Karen Overall

joelwalton.com/shockcollars.html

The Problem with Shock

www.dogsportmagazine.com/?p=436

Vets on Behavior Proclaim, Never Use ShockCollar

www.goodnewsforpets.com/articles.asp?ID=147

Studies:

Dog Training Methods: Their Use, Effective-ness and Interaction with Behavior and Welfare

www.antrozoologisenteret.no/artikler/art_training_methods.pdf

You Can Cross Over, But You Cant Cross Back

www.thepryorfoundation.org/dufford.html

If Youre Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too,Says Veterinary Study

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm


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Human Expectations or DogsBy Sherry Woodard

What are some expectations we have of dogs?

We expect dogs to be:

Well-socialized: comfortable with all types ofpeople, places, and things

Comfortable with all types of handling by alltypes of people

Friendly with all other dogs and all otheranimals

Other: ________________________________

It should be ne to:

Have anyone run toward a dog

Ride a bike past a dog

Throw a stick near a dog

Have children playing yelling, wrestling,play ghting near a dog

Leave a dog tied outside a store while you areshopping

Other: _______________________________

But, not all dogs can meet these expectations.Why not?

Shy dogs can become more comfortable insome situations, but they may not becomecomfortable in all types of situations.

Some dogs are born genetically unstable.

Shy dogs need our help to live in society. Youcan help these dogs to:

Have more relaxed relationships with people

Become more comfortable with handling

Improve their social skills and manners

Special homes can be found for most dogs wholack good social skills. You can help by:

Screening potential homes carefully to nd theright match

Counseling the adopters on management andtraining of their dog, so the dog will have ahome for life

Doing follow-up to create and maintain a rela-tionship with the adopters

Remember: You can make a difference!


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A Dogs Place in a Human FamilyBy Sherry Woodard

What does your dog expect from you? Mostdogs need and want a leader. Dogs are socialanimals and like being part of a group, but everygroup must have a leader to prevent chaos. Foryour dog to feel relaxed, he needs to know thatsomeone is in charge. If you dont take on therole of leader, your dog may feel that he has toll the position. But, your dog may not be thebest leader he may not make the best decisionsfor your family!

As your dogs leader, then, you are responsiblefor managing the following aspects of yourdogs life:

Safety. You should make sure that your dog iscontained that she doesnt run loose and sheson lead when necessary. You provide her withI.D. on her collar and a registered microchip.You make sure that your home environment issafe for her.

Social skills. You must manage his behavior atall times. If your dog has behavior issues such

as aggressive tendencies toward other dogs orirritability around small children, work with himand manage his behavior so that he doesnt getinto trouble. Well-socialized dogs are able to gomany places; they are comfortable in most situ-ations.

Manners. Training is among your leadershipduties. You must teach your dog basic cues andbasic manners. Well-mannered dogs are muchmore welcome by other humans than badlymannered dogs.

Medical concerns. You are responsible formanaging your dogs health. He cannot tell youif he is due for vaccines or if he needs to haveblood work done because he is getting older.

Keeping order. In your home, it is your job tokeep your dog from being destructive. If she isgetting into the trash when youre not home,

move the trash can or put a lid on it. If she ischewing the childrens toys and shoes, teachthem to pick things up and put them away, andgive the dog some of her own things to chew.

As a kind leader, you will gently teach your dogthe things she needs to know to be comfortablein our human world. Dont expect her to some-how magically know how to live in a humanfamily. (She is a dog, after all!) She will lovebeing a valued family member, but she will stillbe a dog and will look to you for guidance.


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Dog Training: A Glossary o Terms

The Four Stages o Learning

Acquisition: The dog understands that the cueis a request for a behavior, understands whatthat behavior is, and is able to produce the be-havior.

Fluency: The dog produces the cued behav-ior regularly and quickly. He no longer has tostruggle to think through what to do when he isasked.

Generalization: The dog learns that the cueand the behavior remain the same in a varietyof locations, for a variety of people, and in spiteof a variety of imprecise cues (for example, thehandler may wear different clothes, give thecue from a sitting instead of a standing position,speak the cue loudly or softly).

Maintenance: The behavior is practiced fre-quently enough to prevent a decrease in pro-ciency or potential extinction. (If the cue isntpracticed, the dog will forget what behavior is

expected from the cue.)

Operant conditioning/learning: The processby which behavior changes occur related to theoutcome of chosen behaviors. Behaviors thatresult in positive outcomes are likely to increaseor remain the same. Behaviors that producenegative or unproductive outcomes are likely todecrease. There are four categories of outcomesthat can affect learning: positive reinforcement,negative reinforcement, positive punishment,and negative punishment. Positive and negative

reinforcement support or strengthen the behav-ior. Positive and negative punishment discour-age or weaken the behavior.

Classical conditioning: Associations formedbetween paired events that are not dependentupon choice. In Pavlovs famous example, thenatural salivation that occurs when dogs arepresented with food became associated with the

sound of a bell that was rung when food wasbeing served. The result of this pairing was thatthe sound of the bell produced salivation evenwhen no food was present.

Reinorcement

Reinforcement: In training, reinforcement canbe positive or negative. Reinforcement alwayssupports or strengthens a behavior and increasesthe likelihood of it occurring.

Positive reinforcement: In training, positivemeans added to. If you give a dog a treatwhen he sits, you have added something rein-forcing (the treat) to the outcome of the behav-ior.

Negative reinforcement: In training, nega-tive means removed from or taken away.A human example would be if you discoveredthat pushing a button on your phone stoppedthe Muzak when you were on hold. Pushing thebutton would be negative reinforcement becausesomething unpleasant was removed from thesituation.

Premack Principle: In behavioral psychology,the Premack Principle states that a desirable be-havior can be used to reinforce a less desirableone. This is commonly referred to as Grandmasrule: After you eat your vegetables, you canhave ice cream.

Unconditioned reinforcer: Also called a pri-mary or natural reinforcer, these are things that

are valuable or desired in themselves (e.g., food,water, play, affection). These are not the samefor all individuals or even the same individualat all times. Examples: A shy dog may experi-ence an affectionate pat as punishment. After aThanksgiving meal, we may nd the thought ofmore food unpleasant.


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Conditioned reinforcer: A neutral stimulus thathas become reinforcing by pairing it with a nat-ural or existing reinforcer. The bell in Pavlovsexperiment or a whistle in dolphin training are

neutral until they become associated with thedogs food and sh, respectively.

Punishment

Punishment, which can also be positive ornegative (meaning that something is added orsomething is taken away), is a consequence thatcauses a behavior to be less likely to occur inthe future. For punishment to be effective, itmust be precisely timed, immediately and con-sistently presented, and of sufcient intensity

relative to the appeal of the behavior and its nor-mal outcome.

Positive punishment: The introduction of anunpleasant element as a consequence of an un-wanted behavior. Examples: A dog is pullingon the leash and a leash correction (sharp jerkof the leash) is given. A dog nears the edge ofthe yard and an invisible fence causes a shockthrough his collar.

Negative punishment: The removal of a desir-able element as a consequence of an unwanted

behavior. An example is leaving the area whena dog is being jumpy or mouthy. The desirableelement that you are removing is your attentionand interaction with the dog.

Conditioned punisher: A neutral stimulus thattakes on an unpleasant connotation. For exam-ple, if you say time out right before you puta dog in a time-out (a crate or spare room), thesound of the words alone can become associatedin the dogs mind with the consequence and maydecrease the behavior.

Remote punisher: An unpleasant consequencethat can be employed without your presence.Automatic bark collars, appers on a countertop, and bitter-tasting substances applied to dis-courage chewing are examples of remote pun-ishers.

Other Useul Denitions

Capturing: Rewarding a behavior that occursspontaneously. Most training involves behav-iors that occur naturally, and we reinforce themto suit our own purposes. Dogs already sit, liedown, wag their tails and raise their paws beforewe begin to work with them.

Chaining: Teaching multiple simple behaviorsin sequence to produce a more complicated be-havior. One simple example is teaching a dog toask for a walk by teaching him to hold his leash,then to carry the leash, and then to carry it tothe door and sit. A more complicated examplewould be teaching a dog to run an agility course.

Counter-conditioning: A method of changinga response to a trigger or stimuli, usually byintroducing a positive element into the situation.For example, a dog who lunges at a strangeracross a fence can be conditioned to like the ap-proach of a stranger by setting up training ses-sions in which the stranger tosses a high-valuetreat to the dog each time he approaches.

Counter-cueing: Cueing a well-establishedbehavior that is incompatible with an unwantedbehavior. An example is cueing a sit when a

dog is jumping up. If the sit produces a morepositive outcome, it can replace the jumping be-havior.

Cue: Anything that serves as a signal to requesta specic behavior. A cue is a way of asking fora response from a dog. (The terms commandand order are misleading because they do notcompel a behavior to occur. The dog still has thepower to choose his response.)

Desensitization: The process of presenting a

weak version of a problem stimulus at a leveland duration that does not produce a negativereaction and gradually increasing the intensityas the dogs comfort level grows. An exampleis playing recordings of the sounds of thunder-storms at low volume, to begin desensitizing adog to thunderstorms.


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Displacement behaviors: Behaviors that areperformed out of their normal context. An anx-ious dog may yawn, stretch or drink water, eventhough she is neither tired nor thirsty.

Ethology: The study of animal behavior, whichincludes human behavior. It is often used whenreferring to natural behaviors in an evolutionarycontext.

Extinction: In operant conditioning, extinc-tion refers to the elimination of a behavior thatfails to produce desirable results. Ignoring abehavior such as pawing or jumping can lead toextinction of that behavior. Unlike the biologicalextinction of a species, however, an extinctbehavior can reappear if it once again produces

successful results.

Flooding: In contrast to desensitization, ood-ing is a behavioral technique that involves expo-sure to an aversive stimulus at full intensity untilhabituation occurs (i.e., the animal no longerreacts to the stimulus). There is debate about theuse of this technique, but it is not operant con-ditioning. The subject must endure the aversivestimulus until it is removed; there is no behaviorthe dog can choose that will make it go away.

Head halter: Inspired by the lessons learnedwith larger, more powerful animals like horses.A head halter can reduce the amount of physi-cal effort required to manage a strong dog. Headhalters are sometimes mistaken for muzzles, butthey arent muzzles. Head halters do not restricta dogs ability to bite.

Jackpot: Giving a large reward lots of treats,tons of praise when there is a breakthrough intraining.

Lure training: Using a high-value lure, suchas treats or toys, to produce a behavior that canthen be rewarded.

Physical prompts: An outmoded technique that

involves using physical force to produce a be-havior. Examples are pushing a dog down into asit or reeling in a dog to make him come.

Shaping: Similar to chaining, except the sim-ple behaviors are small steps toward what isoften considered a single behavior. For example,getting a dog to respond to a down cue maybe shaped by luring and rewarding head lower-ing, then elbow bending, then body on theoor.


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How to Find a Good TrainerBy Sherry Woodard

A dog trainer can help you discourage unwantedbehavior in your pet and encourage desirablebehavior. They teach the basics: house-training,crate training, and correcting behaviors like dig-ging, barking, chewing, jumping up on peopleand pulling on lead. Trainers generally donthave medical knowledge or enough expertise todeal with serious behavior problems, but theyare the least expensive option among the behav-ior professionals.

The trainers at Best Friends have found that dogtraining built on a positive relationship is thekindest and also the most effective methodof training. Positive training methods have last-ing benecial effects. When you have a positiverelationship with the dog, you have the animalstrust, and he/she wants to spend time with you

and work with you. Training based on punish-ment or dominance negates any sort of positiverelationship you might develop with the animal.For more details, see Why We Use Relation-ship-Based Training in this section.

Anyone can claim to be a trainer, so ask ques-tions like the following if youre thinking abouthiring someone:

How were you trained?

Look for someone who has had life experience,someone who has been around animals, not justtaken classes. Ask about formal training, butkeep in mind that many good trainers are self-taught through experience. Also, the best train-ers keep themselves well-informed about newtraining methods and theories.

What training methods do you use?

You want to nd a trainer who uses humanetraining methods someone who will give youand your pet a positive experience. You dont

want a trainer who uses punishment or compul-sion training (in which the dog is compelled toperform a behavior and physically corrected fornoncompliance).

How much experience do you have?

The trainer should have at least six months ofexperience. Anything less and the person maynot know how to work with problem behavior ina calm, condent manner. Animals can sense alack of condence, and the training will be lesssuccessful as a result.

What types o animals have you trained?

Some trainers work with a variety of animalsand some only work with one type. Its mostdesirable for the trainer to have had experienceworking with a wide variety of animals, sinceyou learn something different from training eachtype of animal.


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Are you certiied by the CertiicationCouncil or Proessional Dog Trainers?

This is the only national certication for pet dogtrainers.

Can I contact a ew o your customers?

Often the most helpful information comes fromthose who have used the services of the traineryou are interested in.

While youre talking to the trainer, take note ofwhether the trainer is patient and clear when ex-plaining the training process and answering yourquestions. After all, your dog isnt the only onewho will be in training. You will be, too, andyoull need to have good communication with

the trainer.

We recommend that you visit during one of thetrainers sessions to see the style, techniques andtools being used. If the trainer does anythingthat you are uncomfortable with, keep looking.

You can nd a certied dog trainer through www.ccpdt.org, the website for the Certication Coun-cil for Professional Dog Trainers. You can alsond a trainer through the Association of Pet DogTrainers (www.apdt.com); choose a trainer whois a professional member of APDT. If there are notrainers in your area, contact one of the trainerslisted and ask him/her to recommend someone. Ifyou are told by a trainer that he or she is not qual-ied for your case, ask for a referral to a behaviorcounselor or animal behaviorist.


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Recommended Dog Training and Care ResourcesBy Sherry Woodard

Books

Before You Get Your Puppy by Dr. Ian Dunbar

Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist,covers what he calls the three developmentaldeadlines to meet before you get your puppy:completing your education about puppies,knowing how to assess your prospective pup-pys progress and instituting errorless house-training.

After You Get Your Puppy by Dr. Ian DunbarIn this book, Dunbar covers the three de-velopmental deadlines to meet after you getyour puppy: socializing your puppy to people,teaching bite inhibition and continuing social-ization in the world at large.

Pet Behavior Protocols by Suzanne Hetts

This book is for veterinary professionals, shel-ter staff, breeders, trainers, and animal controlagents who want to help people nd sensiblesolutions to their pet behavior problems.

Dont Shoot the Dog! The New Art of Teachingand Trainingby Karen Pryor

Pryor clearly explains the underlying princi-ples of behavioral training and uses numerousexamples to show how to achieve your train-ing objectives through positive reinforcement.She also has a website on clicker training:www.clickertraining.com.

Dogs Are from Neptune by Jean Donaldson

Donaldson draws from real cases to provide

clear, step-by-step advice for troubleshootingdog behavior problems ranging from obedi-ence stumpers like pulling on lead to seriousissues like biting and ghting.

The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson

Donaldson presents a revolutionary new wayof understanding the relationship between hu-mans and dogs.

Outwitting Dogs: Revolutionary Techniques forDog Training That Workby Terry Ryan

Ryan draws on her 25 years of hands-on ex-perience to help people understand dogs, traindogs, and solve dog behavior problems usingkinder, gentler methods.

Dog-Friendly Dog Trainingby Andrea Arden

This is a great book for beginners.

Excel-Erated Learning: Explaining How DogsLearn and How Best to Teach Them by PamelaReid

Using a relaxed writing style and numerousexamples, psychologist Pamela Reid intro-duces cutting-edge scientic techniques to usein dog training.

Periodicals

The Whole Dog Journal. This is a monthlyguide to natural dog care and training. You cansubscribe (and get a free 14-day trial subscrip-tion) at www.whole-dog-journal.com or call800-829-9165.

Your Dog. This is a monthly 24-page newsletterfor dog enthusiasts published by Tufts Univer-sity School of Veterinary Medicine. You cansubscribe by calling 800-829-5116. For more

information, go to www.tuftsyourdog.com.


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Videos

Unleash Your Dogs Potential: Getting inTTouch with Your Canine Friend

The TTouch method helps you achieve a rela-tionship with your pet based on appreciationand friendship, rather than on dominance andsubmission. There are several videos for dogpeople. Call 800-797-PETS or visit www.animalambassadors.com (click on Store).

Puppy Love: Raise Your Dog the Clicker Waywith Karen Pryor

This video shows you how to use a clicker totrain your dog. (See alsoDont Shoot the Dog!by Karen Pryor in the book section.) Available

at www.amazon.com.Clicker Fun Series with Deborah Jones

This series of three videos shows you howto use clicker-based methods to change yourdogs behavior. Each video comes with aclicker. Available on the Canine Training Sys-tems website: www.caninetrainingsystems.com/products.php.

Products

Controlling Your DogThe Halti head halter is an effective alternativeto the choke collar, enforcing the simple princi-ple that a dogs body will follow where his headleads him. Available at pet supply stores.

The Gentle Leader Headcollar is another prod-uct that helps you to control your dog humanely.For details, visit www.gentleleader.com .

A martingale or limited-slip collar offers greatercontrol without the danger of choking. Available

at pet supply stores or at www.premier.com orwww.sitstay.com.

A front-clip harness is another option. Checkout these harnesses: the Halti from the Companyof Animals (www.companyofanimals.us), Pre-miers Easy Walk harness (www.premier.com)and the SENSE-ation harness from SofttouchConcepts (www.softouchconcepts.com).

DirectStop citronella spray is a humane way toprevent or stop dog ghts. Available at pet sup-ply stores or at www.premier.com.

Pet Corrector training spray (pro-duced by the Company of Animals)emits a blast of compressed air,which interrupts undesirable behav-iors. Reward the dog immediatelyafter the behavior has stopped. Avail-able at pet supply stores.

Soothing Your Dog

Dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) is a spray/plug-in that provides an effective way to controland manage unwanted canine behavior associ-ated with fear and/or stress. Available at DoctorsFoster and Smith: www.drsfostersmith.com.

Bach Flower Remedies (www.bachower.com)and BlackWing Farms ower essences (www.blackwingfarms.com) can soothe your dog dur-ing times of stress.

Kongs come in various sizes and designs. Great

fun for both you and your dog!


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Food

Canine Caviar is the all-natural dog food that weuse at Best Friends. For more information, visitwww.caninecaviar.com.

Toys

All of the following are available at pet supplystores.

Kongs are durable rubber enrichment toys thatcan provide you and your dog with hours offun. For more information, visit their website atwww.kongcompany.com .

Nylabone makes a variety of chew toys and in-teractive toys for dogs. Check out their productsat www.nylabone.com.

Dispensing toys are great for mental stimula-tion. You hide treats in the toy and the dog hasto gure out how to get the treats out. Try a

Treat Stik (www.treatstik.com), Busy Dog Ball(www.busydogball.com) or Buster Cube (www.bustercube.com).

Cleaning Products

Natures Miracle and Simple Solution are twoproducts containing natural enzymes that tackletough stains and odors and remove them perma-nently. Available at pet supply stores.

OdoBan is an odor eliminator that cleans, disin-fects, sanitizes and deodorizes. For more infor-

mation, go to www.odoban.com.

Treat-dispensing toys can engage the dogs mind

as well as his body. Be sure to use a size appro-

priate to the dog.


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Section 2: Getting Started

Section 2:Getting Started


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How to Choose a Dog, Part 1By Sherry Woodard

If youre thinking about getting a dog andyouve never had one, please do some researchrst. Learn about whats involved in having adog basic dog care, medical needs, trainingand behavior. In particular, ask yourself thefollowing:

Do I have the time to give a dog the love andattention she deserves?

Can I offer her daily exercise and interactionwith people and other dog friends?

Can I afford the costs of having a dog (food,routine vet care, daycare, boarding, grooming,dog walker, possible additional medical costs,such as medication)?

Are my emotional expectations realistic?(A dog is not a furry little person.)

Will she be living in the house as a valuedfamily member? (Dogs should not live out-side.)

Should I get a puppy?

One of the rst questions that people ask them-selves is whether to get a puppy. Lots of peopledont realize that puppies need almost constantattention. Do you have the time or the inclina-tion to raise a puppy? If youre gone for longperiods of time, are you willing to pay for day-care or a sitter? Do you have the time to prop-erly train your puppy? All puppies and dogsneed to learn how to be well-behaved familymembers.

To grow into emotionally balanced and safedogs, puppies must also be socialized. Theymust be trained to act appropriately in differentsettings around children and other animals, onbusy city streets, in parks, around people whoare strangers.

Other considerations when getting a puppy:Think about how big hell be and how active

hell be when he grows up. If youre a couchpotato, you may want an older or more seden-tary dog.

Should I get a purebred dog?

The next question people usually ask is whetherthey should get a purebred dog. If you decidethat you want a purebred, please investigate thedifferent breeds carefully before choosing a dog.Dog breeds vary quite a bit in their tempera-

ment, the amount of exercise they require, andthe amount of care (e.g., grooming) they mightneed.

Almost every dog breed was created for a spe-cic purpose hunting, herding, and guardingare examples. Knowing the characteristics ofthe breed can help you decide whether a dogof a particular breed will t into your familyslifestyle. But, keep in mind that some purebreddogs dont have the breed characteristics that areexpected in their breed.

Your plain old mutt is actually a much moreadaptable dog for the way that most people livetoday, since most people dont need a dog whoexcels at hunting or herding! Also, mutts are of-ten healthier animals, because of hybrid vigor;many purebred dogs have breed-specic healthproblems. For example, Labradors often sufferfrom hip and elbow dysplasia, and Chihuahascan have heart problems and hypoglycemia.

Where should I get my dog?

There are many wonderful dogs (including pure-breds) at your local shelter. Statistics show that25 percent of dogs in shelters are purebred ani-mals. When you choose one of these dogs, youoften get the added bonus of knowing that youhave saved a life.

Please dont buy an animal from a pet store or


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from a website. If you do, you will most likelybe supporting puppy mills (factory farms fordogs). Most pet stores buy from puppy mills andbackyard breeders people who are just init for the money and often dont care about thehealth or well-being of the dogs. Many puppymill breeders sell their dogs over the Internet.

If you decide to purchase a purebred dog froma breeder, do some research and choose a repu-table breeder. All dog breeders are not alike the top-quality breeders work hard to produce

genetically healthy, emotionally sound puppies.They have an interest in ensuring that each pup-py has a happy life. Good breeders have a returnpolicy if the puppy turns out to be unhealthy;they offer support if you have questions or con-cerns. Some spay or neuter all their puppies (orco-own them until they are neutered) to ensurethat careless breeding will not occur.

Some questions to ask to determine if you aredealing with a responsible breeder:

Can you visit their facility and see all theirdogs? (If so, is the facility clean and airy? Do

the dogs seem healthy and happy? Are thedogs very social with you even though yourea stranger?)

Are they knowledgeable about the breed theyare selling?

Have they tested their breeding dogs for ge-netic problems?

Do they show their dogs? (The best breed-ers are serious about their breed and want toshow quality dogs who exhibit the best of thebreeds standards, and who are healthy and

well cared for.) Do they belong to breed clubs? (Belonging

to breed clubs also shows commitment to thequality of the dogs.)

Do they breed more than one breed of dog? (Ifso, breeding for prot may be their main moti-vation.)

Getting a dog from a breed rescue group is an-other option to consider if you have decidedupon a particular breed. These groups rescuepurebred dogs that have been given up, for onereason or another, and nd new homes for them.Some breeders also do rescue for their breed. Tond a rescue group for the breed youre interest-ed in, do a search on the Internet (for example,search for dachshund rescue).

If you feel that you are ready for a lifetime com-mitment to a dog, do your homework and asklots of questions. If you ever have problemswith your dogs health, training or behavior, getprofessional help from a veterinarian, trainer orbehaviorist.


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How to Choose a Dog, Part 2By Sherry Woodard

So, youve decided that youre going to get adog. How do you choose a dog who will be agood t for you and your lifestyle? First, con-sider what you will want this dog to be doing indaily life. Will the dog be:

Playing with children?

Living with cats?

Living with or playing with other dogs?

Going to dog parks or doggie daycare?

Learning to compete in dog sports such asagility or yball?

Going running or hiking with you?

Not every dog can or will be appropriate for allof these things. Choose a dog whom you will beready to learn and grow with.

Before going to meet a potential canine candi-date, read Dog Body Language (in this sec-tion) to help you recognize the dogs comfortlevel. When you go to meet the dog, take somesmall, soft chicken treats (not dry biscuits) and

a couple of toys. See if the dog takes the treatsgently and wants to play with a toy. If the dogdoesnt want the treats, he/she may be ill orfearful. Dont be alarmed if the dog doesntwant to play with the toy. It can take a little timefor a dog to warm up to the idea of playing, orthe dog may not be feeling well.

To nd out the dogs comfort level with han-dling, give a quick little exam. Touch his ears,look at his teeth, lift a paw or two, give him ahug, lift the dog. If the dog is small, you may

want to see if he is comfortable being carried.Even large dogs will be lifted if you are help-ing the dog onto a grooming table or into a tallvehicle. Every dog will need grooming and vetcare in the future, and handling by strangers of-ten happens in any public setting.

When youre doing the exam, use caution:Many dogs are fearful about being handled by

strangers. Dont be shy in asking for help. Thedogs caregiver or the adoption staff shouldknow something about each dogs behavior. Ifthey cant help you with introductions or withhandling the dogs, ask if anyone else can helpyou. If not, I recommend that you go elsewhereto adopt.

If possible, take your potential new family

member out to meet dogs, cats, children andother adults. See how the dog acts on leash.Watching the dogs comfort level overall inpublic will help you know if this dog is goingto enjoy and be safe doing the things you planto share together. One caveat, though, about thedogs behavior: It may change some once he ishome and more comfortable.


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Many rescued dogs come with a few challenges behavioral or physical that can be easilyovercome. Some dogs in need of new homeshave disabilities, such as blindness or deafness,

or chronic medical conditions, such as diabetesor thyroid issues. Caring for a special-needs petis often not as daunting as it seems. Dogs withdisabilities often surprise their people with howresilient and adaptable they are. Special-needspets can teach us a lot about compassion, accep-tance and perseverance.

If you choose a dog who lacks social skills (andmany do), please plan to help this dog becomemore comfortable in our human world. Manyof the resources in this manual describe simple,positive ways to do this. It is important to teachand reward wanted behavior so your dog devel-ops good manners.

In fact, socialization is a lifelong process. Alldogs should be socialized throughout their life-times to become and stay relaxed and comfort-able in different situations. Even if you are nota very social person, you should help your dogto trust some other people, since the more socialthe dog is, the safer the dog will be in our hu-man world. Most bites happen when a dog isfearful.

Having a great relationship with your dog isbased on building a foundation of trust. If youread through the rest of this manual, you canhelp to set a dog up for great success as a mem-ber of your family for life.

Remember, you will be responsible for this

dogs behavior wherever he goes and withwhomever he meets. Keep him happy, healthyand safe.


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Promises to My DogBy Sherry Woodard

Bringing a dog into your family causes great joyall around. But, making a commitment to a dogis much like making a commitment to a humanbeing: Both relationships require daily care andnurturing in order to ourish. So, as you embark(no pun intended!) on this new commitment,here are a dozen promises to consider making toyour dog:

1. I promise to have realistic expectations ofthe role my dog will play in my life. I will

remember that she is a dog, not a furry littlehuman; she cannot satisfy all my emotionalneeds.

2. I promise to protect my dog from dangers,such as trafc and other creatures whomight want to hurt her.

3. I promise to keep her well dressed with acollar containing up-to-date I.D.

4. I promise to learn kind and gentle trainingmethods so that she can understand what Iam trying to say.

5. I promise to be consistent with my training,since dogs feel secure when daily life ispredictable, with fair rules and structure.

6. I promise to match her loyalty and patiencewith my own.

7. I promise that my dog will be part of myfamily. I will make a commitment to sched-ule time every day to interact with her sothat she will feel loved and will not developbehavior problems from a lack of stimula-tion and socialization.

8. I promise to seek professional help if mydog develops behavior problems that be-come unmanageable.

9. I promise that my dog will have opportuni-ties to exercise and honor some of her in-stincts. Shell have walks and runs outsideof her daily territory, so she can sniff andexplore.

10. I promise to provide veterinary care for her

entire life. I will keep her healthy and watchher weight.

11. I promise that if I move, marry, have a baby,or get divorced, she will continue to sharemy life, since she is a beloved family mem-ber.

12. I promise that if I absolutely must give herup, I will nd an appropriate home for herthat is as good as or better than my home.


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Preventing Problems rom Day OneBy Sherry Woodard

Before you bring your new dog home, there area number of ways that you can prepare for thenew addition to your family. First, get the dogan ID tag with your information on it (name,phone number, address).

Before leaving the adoption site, check thatyour new dogs collar is not too loose. Manydogs in new situations pull out of their collarsand run. If your dog pulls out of her collar, shewill be loose in a strange area with no contact

information. To be extra safe, you might wantto purchase a martingale collar (a no-slip collaravailable at pet supply stores) or a harness touse, in addition to the regular collar, until shehas demonstrated that she can handle all the newand startling experiences of a new environment,such as other dogs, city noise, and trafc.

Keep your new dog on lead except in a fenced-in yard or an approved, fenced off-lead area. Al-ways use a leash or lead near trafc, since yourdog can be distracted or fearful for just a second

and run into the street.

What does my new dog need?

To be happy and healthy, your dog will need thefollowing:

Constant access to a bowl of fresh, cleandrinking water

A nutritionally balanced diet

A safe place to eliminate outside (if shes notbeing litter-trained)

Some daily exercise

If she hasnt had any yet, your new dog will alsoneed some training. Investigate the dog trainersin your area and pick out one who uses humanemethods. Humane trainers do not use chain orprong collars, nor do they advocate yanking onor lifting the dog by the collar. If you haventhad any experience with the role of leader (i.e.,

this is your rst dog), you will also benet fromthe training classes. Your dog needs you to bethe leader. If you dont function as the leader,your dog will start making decisions on herown, some of which may be inappropriate ordangerous.

Your dog also needs daily, loving interactionwith you and a social life. Socialize your dog bybringing him on car rides, letting him be aroundchildren and other dogs, taking him to the

groomer, shopping with him at pet food stores(some of them let you bring your dog in), andwalking him in public places.

Strive for structure and consistency in yourdogs daily routine to give him a healthy feel-ing of stability as a member of the family. Therelationship between your family and your new


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family member can be great if you are patientand positive.

You should also select a veterinarian with whomyou are comfortable, since youll need to bring

your dog in for regular checkups. Finally, ndout what the local dog laws are (such as leashlaws) and what the licensing requirements arefor dogs in your area.

Do I need to dog-proo my house?

Before your new dog arrives, you should dog-proof your home in much the same way thatyou would child-proof your home for a toddler.Look at your home from a dogs eye level. Whatcan he reach? If you dont want him drinking

out of the toilet, tell everyone in the householdto make sure they put the cover down. If anyonein the house smokes, put ashtrays out of reach,since cigarette butts, if eaten, can lead to nico-tine poisoning.

Will his wagging tail inadvertently wreak havocon your prize possessions? Dog tails have beenknown to sweep the contents off the top ofa coffee table. If you like to keep lit candlesaround, make sure they are above the dogsreach. Is there anything he can trip on or be-

come tangled in (such as electrical cords)?

How can I prevent my new dogrom chewing up my stu?

If your new dog has her own toys, she may notbe as interested in chewing up human things(though leather shoes are hard to resist). Buy du-rable rubber or nylon toys that satisfy the dogsurge to chew. Toys that you can stuff treats into(like Kongs and Buster Cubes) should keep heroccupied for a good long while. If she starts

chewing one of your personal items, immedi-ately get her interested in a dog toy instead.

What should I know about making

my yard sae?Do a walkabout of your yard. Is your yardcompletely fenced in? Are there any spaces orgaps that your new dog or puppy can squeezethrough? Is there anything that he can climb onthat would allow him to escape over the fence(e.g., a wood pile, a fountain, latticework)?Some dogs know how to ip open gate latches,so latches should be clipped or locked if yourdog can reach them.

What sort of plants do you have in your yard?Snail bait and some plants (such as oleander,azaleas and rhododendrons) are poisonous todogs. Antifreeze is another hazard for dogs itis toxic and can be fatal. Dogs are attracted toits sweet taste, so dont allow your dog to drinkfrom standing water near where cars have beenparked.

Do you have an uncovered pond or pool inyour yard? Dogs have been known to drownin backyard pools when they jumped or fell inand couldnt get out. You should also make sureyour trashcans have tight lids to avoid dump-ster diving by your dog. Besides the smellymess that an overturned trashcan creates, someof the items in your trash (like chicken bones)may be dangerous for your dog to ingest.

Ideally, you should check your yard for safetybefore your new dog comes home. If youhavent done this prior to the dogs arrival, su-pervise the time that your pet spends outside.Even a childs toy can be trouble if it is chewedup and swallowed.


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What Dogs Need to Be HappyBy Sherry Woodard

Most dogs are loving, intelligent, and loyal.They want nothing more than to be members ofa family. They give unconditional love, but theyneed love, attention, and kindness in return. Inthis fast-paced world, we all have so much to dothat a dogs needs can be easily forgotten. Somedog owners may not even realize how much at-tention a dog needs for him or her to live a hap-py life. This story illustrates how this benignneglect can happen:

Cowboys Story

Cowboy is a border collie mix. When he wasbrought home as a puppy from a local shelter,his adoptive family thought the world of him.The boys spent hours playing in the yard withCowboy, and every night he climbed into bedwith one of the kids. In the beginning, it seemedlike there wasnt enough of Cowboy to goaround he was very much a part of the family.

Slowly, however, things began to change. As

Cowboy grew into an adult dog, he started los-ing his puppy charm. The family started feel-ing that he required too much attention. He hadnever had training, and the antics that were cutewhen he was a puppy were now annoying. Hehad never been taught the difference betweenappropriate and rough play, so the boys avoidedplaying with him. His uncontrolled exuberancein the house caused him to break things. Whenhe scratched a visiting child, he was exiled tothe backyard from that day on.

The family bought Cowboy a nice doghouseand new, bigger bowls for food and water. Theboys were assigned the job of feeding Cowboyand keeping his water bowl lled. As the dayspassed, however, the boys stopped giving Cow-boy daily meals. They just lled his big bowlevery two days; his water was often dirty andwarm.

One day, the family camehome and Cowboy wasgone. They found a holethat Cowboy had dug un-der the fence. His familywalked the streets neartheir home, calling hisname. They found him atthe park the boys usedto play with him therewhen he was small. Cow-

boy ran to them when hesaw them; they were soglad to see him that theyhugged him and walkedhim home.

But then, after a few days, Cowboy escapedagain. This time, the family decided that forCowboys safety, they should tie him on a chainso that he could not dig out again. As the weekspassed, Cowboy waited in vain for the boys tocome out and play with him. He started bark-

ing, sometimes for hours, trying to relieve hisboredom and loneliness. When the boys cameout to feed and water him, Cowboy naturally be-came very excited. He would leap and jump atthe end of his chain. The boys didnt let him offhis chain very much, since he was hard to catchwhen it was time to put the chain back on.

----------------------------

Unfortunately, this story is true for many dogs.In most communities, there are dogs living

through each day alone in a backyard, some onchains. Now, all people would agree that in-tentional physical abuse of animals is a terriblething. Yet, the isolation and neglect that Cowboysuffered, however unintentionally, is also a formof abuse.

Dogs are social animals one of their most ba-sic needs is to spend time with other creatures.


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Dogs who are left alone most of the time arebeing asked to go against their basic nature, andthats too much to ask of a dog.

Because there are no laws that require love and

attention be given to animals, no one can de-mand that dogs like Cowboy be treated differ-ently. Often, the dogs distress gets worse overtime. The neighbors start complaining about theincessant barking. The family starts yelling atthe dog to get him to stop. Whenever anyonedoes spend time with him, the dog is unruly andoverexcited, so they avoid him even more.

Chaining a dog as a form of long-term contain-ment is often damaging to his health and dispo-sition. Out of sheer frustration, many dogs run

for hours every day in the circle allowed by thechain. They run through their own waste, andies are attracted by the smell and may begin toeat away at the dogs ear tips until they are rawand sore.

If a chained dog is released by his family forexercise, he often will refuse to come when

called, since hes so reluctant to be chained upagain. The family may see this as disobedience,so the dog is put back on the chain and is let offless and less. Some chained dogs will begin toexhibit aggression, and some lose the ability tointeract with other dogs.

What happened to Cowboy? Cowboy was oneof the fortunate ones. He came here to BestFriends because his family thought he was toomuch of a nuisance. At rst, he only walkedand ran in circles he had been on his chain foralmost a year. He loved people but could notfocus. He would stop for a toy or treat and thenbegin to circle again. As the months passed,however, his circles became bigger and big-ger. Eventually, he was adopted into a goodnew home. We have kept in touch with his newfamily and they say, He is the worlds greatestdog!

We hope Cowboys story can help to change thelives of other dogs like him.


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Whats in a Name?By Sherry Woodard

Teaching name recognition is a great way tostart a personal relationship with a dog. WhenI work with a dog, I teach her to respond en-thusiastically to me by calling her by name ina happy tone of voice. A dogs name should bea good thing for her to hear. Even shelter dogsshould be given names and be taught to respondto them.

What is the hidden value in a dog loving hername?

Your dog will run not walk to you whenshe hears her name.

You can use her name to interrupt and distracther from any behavior (e.g., barking, chewinginappropriate items) that you want to stop. Re-member to keep your tone happy you dontwant the dog to associate her name with a rep-rimand.

You can use her name and the positive associa-tions she has with it to help her become morecomfortable in scary situations. For example,

you can say her name and consequently haveher focus on you when walking by somethingthat makes her fearful or anxious. If she is re-laxed and distracted until you pass the scarysituation, she will realize that it wasnt asfrightening as in the past.

If your dog knows her name and has good re-call, you can call her away from a potentiallydangerous situation.

To teach name recognition, pack a treat pouchwith about a hundred pea-sized soft treats. Take

the dog somewhere with few distractions. I teth-er the dog to me, a doorknob or a chair leg soshe wont wander off. Have a treat in your handready and when she looks away from you, sayher name and give her the treat. Interact with her

briey, then wait for her to look away again andrepeat. Do this over and over; to keep it fun, al-ways use a happy tone.

Once you have practiced in locations with fewdistractions, start practicing in locations withmore distractions. Then, add other people to thegame of learning. Start with the exercise de-scribed above: Have a friend stand near the dogand instruct him/her to wait until the dog is notlooking and then have your friend call the dogs

name and give her a treat. Next, stand a shortdistance from your friend and alternate callingthe dogs name and giving treats. You and yourfriend can start moving farther away from eachother and have the dog on a long leash so shecan run between you for fun and treats. This cangrow into a long-distance game of recall. Its agreat way for your dog to interact, exercise andlearn to enjoy more people.

What should you name your dog? Most peopletry a variety of names before settling on one;

some dogs have rst, middle and last names.I knew a dog with a long Russian name. Mostlong names chosen are eventually shortened orreplaced by nicknames. I think the importantpart of choosing a name is that the dog learnsthat it is his name.

Some people worry about changing a dogsname after adoption: Will the dog be confused?Will it be difcult to teach him a new name? Ihavent found it to be a problem. Dogs generallyrespond just ne to name changes or nicknames

if the names are properly taught and maintainedas positive associations. Every socialized dogwill want to come when called, looking forwardto spending time with humans because humanscan be best friends to dogs.


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Dog Body LanguageBy Sherry Woodard

Just like people, dogs communicate using bodylanguage. Your dog is communicating with hisentire body, not just his tail or his voice. Youllneed to learn to read your particular dogs bodylanguage if you want to know how your dog isfeeling. To get a sense of what your dog is try-ing to tell you, spend as much time as you canobserving your dog and his body posture.

Because each dog is an individual and will ex-press fear, aggression, stress or joy slightly dif-

ferently, there are no hard and fast rules for in-terpreting dog body language. Tail-wagging, forinstance, can indicate several emotions. The im-portant thing is to look at the entire body of thedog. With that said, here are some examples ofdog body language and what they might mean.

Play bow. Therear end of the dogis up, while thefront end is down.The play bow gen-

erally means Iwant to play.

Tail wagging.Contrary to popu-lar belief, tailwagging can meanmany things:

A low-hung wag-ging tail couldmean I amscared or unsure.

A high, stiff wag can mean I am agitated, un-sure or scared, but not submissive. I might biteyou or your dog. If the dogs body is stiff,he is staring, and his ears are up, use caution.Keep the dog out of trouble he may be aboutto make a bad decision.

A loose wag not really high or really low normally means I am comfortable and friend-

ly. But, you should keep watching the dogsentire body: Some dogs have a large personal-space requirement. They will tell you if youget too close.

Freeze. A dog freezes if she is scared or guard-ing, or feels cornered. She may bite, so pleaseslow down.

Rolling over. Rolling over generally means thedog is being submissive, but look at the whole

dog. If the tail and mouth are loose, the dog isprobably comfortable and asking for a belly rub.If the tail is tucked and the lips are stiff, the dogmay be scared. Some dogs will solicit attentionand then become fearful and bite, so observe thewhole dog, looking for comfortable, loose bodylanguage.

Ears perked up. When a dogs ears are for-ward, he is alert, interested in something.

Tail between the legs. If the dogs tail is tuckedbetween her legs and her ears are back againsther head, she is afraid, uncomfortable withsomething.

Signs o Stress

When a dog is stressed, he often shows dis-placement behavior any of a variety of activi-ties that seem inappropriate in the situation theyare seen in. These behaviors occur most oftenduring times of emotional conict. For example,a dog starts self-grooming when hes afraid andfaces the decision to ght or run away; groom-ing is an odd response to a ight or ght situ-ation. Displacement behavior can be the dogsattempt to calm himself.

Here are some typical displacement behaviors:

Yawning in new or emotional situations

Panting when its not hot

Scratching himself when hes not itchy


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Far left: If the tail andmouth are loose, the

dog is probably com-fortable and asking fora belly rub.

Left: Tail tucked, bodystiff, looking away:indicates fear anddiscomfort.

Lifting a front paw as someone walks towardthe dog

Licking his lips, even though the dog hasntbeen eating or drinking

Looking away as a person or another animalwalks toward the dog

Shaking off after someone handles the dog oranother dog plays too roughly

Stretching out as though doing a play bow,but not asking for play (sometimes a greetingwhen a dog is stressed)

Making a puff (exhale) of breath, sometimeswhining at the same time, and looking away orturning away

Lying down and trying to make whatever ishappening stop by not taking part in it

There is stress along with fear when a dog:

Starts to drool when she normally doesnt

Paces or circles

Tucks his tail and moves away fromsomething

Starts to whine

Sweats through her feet Puts his hackles up, his tail is low or high, and

his body is still

Starts to growl, and may start to move away,though not all dogs move away from thingsthey fear (Many people punish dogs for growl-ing, which takes away a valuable form of com-munication)

Starts to curl her lips (Sometimes this is all thewarning a dog will give before biting)

Starts to show his teeth (Again, the warningbefore biting can be brief, so try to rememberevery detail of what triggered the behavior soyou can work on improving or at least manag-ing it)

Diusing the Stress-InducingSituation

If you notice that a dog appears stressed, stopwhatever you are doing and try to determinewhat the dog is reacting to. You want to help the

dog become more comfortable or manage thebehavior in the future so that a bite to a personor animal doesnt happen.

Often, if we slow down whatever situationcaused the fear and start exposing the dog insmall amounts at a distance, we can help him tocompletely overcome his fear. We can also helpdogs to become more comfortable in general,in order to keep them safe and to keep us safe.For more details, see Managing a Dog withBehavior Challenges, in this section, and the

resources in Section 4 of this manual.


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Left: Yawning may be displacement behavior. Middle: Ears back and whites of eyes showing indicate that thisdog is unsure or fearful. Right: Running with teeth showing could mean several things. If you dont know thedog, you will learn more shortly.

Above: Bunny shows fear by looking away and low-ering her body to appear smaller.

Above left: Bunnys body language indicates thatshe is uncomfortable with being touched while sheseating.

Left: Bunny learns to practice trades with pig ears.She is more comfortable now.


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How to Educate Your DogBy Sherry Woodard

Dogs need guidance and consistent trainingfrom their people if they are going to live inharmony with humans. All dogs must be taughtacceptable behavior, and one way to do that is totrain your dog or pay a trainer to do it. Dogs arehappiest when they know whos in charge andwhats expected of them.

When you are looking for an obedience class ora trainer, shop around and ask questions. Youwill want to nd a trainer who uses humane

methods, someone who uses positive reinforce-ment rather than punishment. Ask if you canwatch the trainer give a class and speak withpeople who are currently taking a class. If thetrainer says or does anything that you are un-comfortable with, you may want to look else-where.

With positive reinforcement treats, rewardslike ball-playing, and praise training can befun for all involved. If you develop a loving, funrelationship with your dog, she will enjoy the

time spent learning.

You should be integrally involved in your dogstraining. The trainer should also be training you,so that you understand how to practice withyour dog what she has learned. Training yourdog doesnt end after the class is over; you willneed to practice cues with your dog throughouther life.

Your dog should be taught helpful cues such ascome, sit, wait, down, stay, leave it, and drop

it. Consistent training can produce a dog whowill walk nicely on lead, which makes outingsa lot more enjoyable. Your dog can learn to givegreetings by politely sitting (instead of jumpingup) when meeting new people.

Though training is a good thing, keep in mindthat dogs still need to behave like dogs. Theyneed to play, run, dig, and chew. These are

natural behaviors that can happen in appropriateways and places:

Make sure your dog gets plenty of running andplaying outside the house; that way, she willbe less inclined to be rambunctious inside thehouse.

Provide a dirt box out in the backyard for yourdog to dig in. You can bury a variety of toys inthe box to encourage him to dig there (insteadof in your ower beds).

Supply your dog with a variety of appropriatethings to chew on some examples are frozencarrots, Kongs stuffed with peanut butter ortreats, Red Barn bullies, rawhide chips, andNylabones.

You also need to socialize your dog to get himaccustomed to behaving acceptably in public,and comfortable with meeting new people andother dogs. If your dog is properly socialized,he will enjoy meeting other animals and will beable to safely interact with them. A socialized,

emotionally healthy dog allows handling of ev-ery part of his body, not only by you, but also bythe veterinarian and the groomer.

If at any point, your dogs training doesnt seemto be working or his behavior is problematic,please seek help before becoming frustratedwith him. Try to remember that he needs con-tinuing education throughout his life. Someproblems are easy to x by going back to basictraining and practicing cues consistently. Formore complex issues, you may want to consult

your veterinarian. If the cause is not medical,your veterinarian may recommend a behaviorist,who can do an in-depth assessment and developa plan for behavior modication and long-termmanagement of the problem.


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Daily Activities or You and Your DogBy Sherry Woodard

If you want a well-trained, well-mannered, well-socialized dog, interact multiple times everyday with your dog, with the goal of building afoundation of trust and a healthy relationshipwith your dog. (See Why We Use Relationship-Based Training, Section 1.)

All dogs benet from learning and practicingskills daily. Keep all interaction fun; if you arestressed on a particular day and will not playnicely with your dog, skip spending time with

your dog that day. Dogs are sensitive to youremotional state and will pick up on your stress.

Things to Teach and Practice Daily

House-training. I add the words Go pottyright away. I set each dog up for success bywalking him or her outside about every 45 min-utes on lead to allow the dog many opportuni-ties to get it right. I supervise the dog inside thehouse because its much easier and faster to helpher learn where to go potty before she starts

having accidents in the house.

Name recognition. Use the dogs name oftenwhen youre praising and playing with her, andalways with a happy tone. Dogs should haveonly positive associations with their names andnicknames.

Recall. Call the dog to you often again, al-ways using a happy tone. Add treats sometimesto pleasantly surprise her and keep her comingto you fast. Remember to practice recall fre-

quently, not just when something fun is aboutto end. People often lose great recall becausethey only call the dog for negative reasons oruse a negative tone. Why would any dog want tocome running to you if you seem angry or if thefun almost always ends when she runs to you?

The joy of touch. Teach your dog to enjoy be-ing touched on all body parts. Start with getting

your dog to enjoy your touch and work towardthe goal of getting him comfortable with beingtouched by people he doesnt know. It is impor-tant that dogs allow us to touch them becausethey may need to be handled by various people:strangers, rescuers after an emergency, the vet,the groomer. They may need to be picked upoff the ground or oor for grooming or medicalreasons. If you can lift the dogs body up off theoor, practice this to help him relax and realizethat nothing bad happens when he is lifted.

Can you trim your dogs nails? Is he comfort-able having his feet touched? Grooming hasmany benets for dogs, so teach your dog toenjoy grooming. Make sure that anyone whogrooms your dog is kind and gentle to help en-sure that you have a dog who is safe for othersto handle. You can help him to feel more relaxedby adding positive experiences to his groomingmemories.

When I have a new dog in my home, I massage

the dog every day, touching his entire body andcontinuing to touch him until he relaxes. Manydogs are so excited and reactive to our touchthat this is a challenge. To help the dog learn to


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relax and enjoy touch, I do the massage in a qui-et room without a lot of human or non-humantrafc. If your dog does not allow touch, pleaseread Teaching Your Dog to Enjoy Touch.

Rest and relaxation. Dogs dont know how tocontrol their own energy and the result can bedestructive, nuisance or rough behaviors. Thereare dogs who bark incessantly, chew up every-thing within reach, dogs who mount, pull hu-mans around by the limbs or hair, knock downchildren, and decapitate Barbie! People mustteach their dogs to have an off switch. Manydogs are dropped off at shelters because theirpeople became frustrate

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