<![CDATA[My Site - Training Blog!]]>

<![CDATA[My Site - Training Blog!]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:29:56 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Ten things your dog wants For christmas]]>Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:20:18 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/ten-things-your-dog-wants-for-christmasA big part of pet ownership is figuring out what IS important to spend money on for your pet, and what is NOT important to spend money on. Rarely is this more evident than at Christmas time. The pet stores are all full of Christmas chew bones and stuffed toys to go in your dog's new stocking... but is he going to enjoy his gifts?

No companies sponsored this blog (yet?), but I want to pass along some experience I've gained after twenty years of working with tens of thousands of dogs.

Forget all the marketing and fancy packaging. Here are ten things that dogs ACTUALLY want at Christmas:

$15.99 at www.chewy.com

1. KONG Bamboo Feeder Ball
You really can't go wrong with the KONG brand. Their toys are incredibly well-designed and well-made, and they also donate a lot to local dog charities. Most dog owners are familiar with the little round pyramid rubber toys, but this feeder ball is the one that's most popular around my house. I put dogs' full meal inside the ball and they get to do what comes most naturally to dogs - kick the ball and sniff to find all the food that comes out. It's also dishwasher safe.

$6.49 at Hollywood Feed

2. Beef Knuckle Bone
It may not look appetizing to humans, but to dogs it's irresistable! Beef knuckle bones are cooked but safe from splintering. They are very long-lasting and even small dogs love gnawing on bones the size of their head. Be sure you're getting beef knuckle bones; pork bones, chicken bones, shin bones, rib bones, kneecaps, etc. are likely to splinter and are more dangerous.

$6.29-$24.49 at www.happyhowies.com

3. Happy Howie's Meat Rolls
These have been the dog trainer's secret go-to treat for years, but they're not sold in many stores, so most dog owners have never heard of them. Personally, literally every dog I've offered Happy Howie's to LOVES them and I can't say that about any other treat. They're grain free and come in three different varieties so they're good for dogs with allergies too. Pro tip: buy a large roll, invest 15 minutes to dice the whole thing and bag it in a freezer bag, and then store it in the freezer, grabbing a handful or two whenever you need it.

$18-$68 at www.boldleaddesigns.com

4. Leather Leash
Professional trainers collect leashes, and if you ask any of us we probably have at least half a dozen that we like. But the go-to leash for everyday use is almost always a high-quality leather (or vegan leather) leash. A good leather leash will last through several dogs' lifetimes. Most importantly, though, leather is easy to grip and hold. The quality of leather and brahma leashes at Bold Lead Designs is the best in the industry. I recommend no thicker than 1/2" even for large dogs, as thinner leather leashes are easier to grip. Get leather conditioner too to help it soften up faster.

4-pack $24.99-$37.18 at Amazon

5. Benebone Chews
Dogs love variety in their chews, and Benebone delivers that plus a great taste and texture for chewing. They may look and feel like other chews on the market, but there's something special about Benebones that dogs love. Be sure to rotate chews for your dog so that they seem special and new every time you give him one.

Boar Bristle Brush, Shedding Blade, and Undercoat Rake.

6. The Right Brush for Your Dog's Coat
It can be difficult to figure out what brush is best for your dog, but here's one clue: it's probably not a slicker brush. If you can, take your dog to the pet store and try out a few different brushes to figure out what works best. If your dog is a heavy shedder with short hair, try a round shedding blade. If your dog has long hair that sheds or tangles, try an undercoat rake. If your dog has a very smooth short coat, try a boar bristle brush.

$49.99-$119.99 at Amazon

7. Calming Dog Bed
Usually in dog products, the word "calming" is a gimmick. But in this case, "calming" is unusually accurate. If your dog likes curling up in a cozy blanket, she'll love this bed. Sizes run from 23" to 45" long, but it does seem to be designed mainly with small dogs in mind.

$69.95-$274.95 at Amazon

8. Orthopedic Dog Bed
If the Calming Dog Bed is designed for small dogs, the Orthopedic Dog Bed is designed for the large dogs. This is perfect for older dogs who might be starting to get stiff joints and need a supportive place to lay. The PetFusion bed also features a waterproof liner and cool fabric for the dogs who love the cold weather. My 60-pound collie used this bed every day for his last six years, and in the end it still showed barely any wear.

Find on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts

9. Dog Training Podcasts
Anybody can call themselves a Dog Trainer, and anybody can produce a dog training podcast. These are my favorite ones to listen to on my way to and from lessons:

Madcap Radio
Drinking From the Toilet
The Bitey End of the Dog
Shaped By Dog

10. Dog Training Lessons
When training is done right, there's nothing that makes a dog happier, healthier, and more joyful to be around. Training not only teaches dogs a vocabulary of behaviors that make life with humans easier, but it enhances the relationship you have with your dog as well. While you're here on my website, please check out the training that I offer as well as the other blog posts. If you're interested in training but looking for something I don't offer, please read this blog to learn how to identify a reputable trainer for you and your dog:
www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/may-11th-2022

]]><![CDATA[Don’t teach leave it]]>Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:00:41 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/dont-teach-leave-itMost dog owners - even ones who have never trained their own dogs - have in mind a list of behaviors that they think all dogs should know. Sit, lay down, stay, and come when called are usually at the top of that list. Leave It is another core behavior that many trainers teach; it seems important, especially for the service dogs that I train, but it’s one that I almost never teach. And for good reason.

Dogs are inherently curious, and enjoy investigating everything, by touching it or grabbing it in their mouthes. But the human world is covered in things that are dangerous for dogs to touch or mouthe, or that are simply valuable to us. Leave It is often seen as a solution: trainers tell you that you should be able to say Leave It and your dog will stop doing whatever it is he was about to do.

But here’s the trouble with Leave It: it doesn’t tell the dog what *to* do. “Don’t touch that” doesn’t give the dog information about what you want him to do. And it doesn’t give you a specific behavior to reward when he does successfully Leave It.

This is the essence of training: We give the dog a cue. He then does the one specific behavior that cue is asking him to do. When we see him do the behavior, we can reward him with a treat, or even just with petting and praise

Cue -> Behavior -> Consequence

Say “Sit” - the dog puts his tushie on the ground - we tell him “good boy”

You and your dog will be most successful with training when you follow this formula, as you and the dog both communicate clearly about what you want and what he can do to make you happy. But if we apply this formula to Leave It:

Say “Leave It” - the dog *stops* - is that good enough?

Leave It expects the absence of a behavior. And the absence of a behavior can’t easily be rewarded.

And here’s another thing:

Let’s say you’ve trained Leave It and your dog knows what to do when you say Leave It. He knows that if he does the right behavior he will get a reward: attention from you, praise, petting, maybe even a treat. Well, dogs are smart and can figure out that if they want a reward, all they have to do is make you say Leave It. And how do they make you say Leave It? By doing the thing you don’t want them to do in the first place.

If he wants more “good boys,” he will jump on the counter again to make you say Leave It.

Jump on counter -> “Leave It” ->
get off counter and get attention
Who’s training who?

What’s the alternative? Don’t reward when he obeys your Leave It cue? Guess how long he’ll continue obeying your Leave It cue if you stop praising him for doing so?

Instead of training Leave It, there are a couple of better options:

Redirect away from behaviors you don’t want the dog to do, and toward behaviors that are better options. For example, if he’s jumping on the counter, instead of saying “no” or “leave it,” call your dog over to you and reward him when he comes to you. This solves the immediate problem of the dog on the counter, but you’re not done yet: now give him something else to do so that he stops thinking about the counter. You can take him outside, give him a chew bone, put him in the crate or on a tether, etc. Then praise him again when he chooses to do that good behavior.

This little guy has learned to stay on his bed in the play room, so that he doesn’t chew the kids’ toys!

Train Incompatable Behaviors: think ahead to behaviors you want your dog to do that will make it difficult for him to go after a distraction. I like to teach dogs to do a down-stay when I’m in the kitchen, so that I don’t have to worry about them jumping on the counter. I encourage and reward service dogs in public to walk very close to me so that distractions are farther away and less tempting. Eventually the incompatable behaviors become second-nature and the dogs will forget about trying to get the distractions.

Click here for a demonstration of using the treat as a cue for eye contact!

Use the distraction as a cue for eye contact: This is my favorite way of handling distractions but it does take the most training ahead of time. To start, show your dog a treat in your hand but don’t let him steal it out of your hand. Hold the treat and don’t say anything, just be still and wait and eventually he should look at you in the eyes. As soon as he does, hand him the treat out of your hand and praise him. He will learn that ignoring the treat and looking at you is the best way to get the treat. With practice, dogs can learn to give you eye contact whenever all sorts of distractions are around, which is especially important for service dogs in public!

Leave It can work for some dogs in some situations. But if you’ve been frustrated about your dog not obeying when you say “Leave It,” maybe it’s time to look at other training options.

As always, feel free to contact Elizabeth at any of Alabama Dog Academy’s social media platforms, or click the Contact button below!

Contact Alabama Dog Academy

]]><![CDATA[Harper, the canine Advocate]]>Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:48:47 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/harper-the-canine-advocateImagine you’re a child, and a grownup has done something very bad to you. You’re hurt, you’re confused, you’re scared. Then you’re taken to an office where you know you’re going to have to bring up the awful memories again. The grownups at the office are all nice, but you still don’t want to be there.

Harper brings a tissue.

Then all of a sudden you look down and see a little fuzzy grey dog trot into the room and light up when she sees you. She jumps up on the couch and licks your hand as you scratch her ears. While you’re waiting for your appointment, she picks a book for you to read. You sniffle as you start thinking about the bad things again and she brings you a tissue.

When it’s time for you to go you ask her if she’ll be here next time you come. She presses the button that enthusiastically says “YES YES YES,” and then hands you a trading card with her picture on it so you’ll remember her.

This is just another day in the life of Harper, the Canine Advocate at the Limestone Child Advocacy Center (LCAC) in Athens, AL, who I have had the privilege of training and handling for the past two years.

Harper and Becky representing the LCAC during the Earth Day Festival at Athens State University.

Harper has many jobs at the LCAC, but her official position is Facility Dog. Facility Dogs are a category of working dogs who provide comfort and support to individuals in one specific organization. Facility Dogs generally live with a staff member where they work (Harper is owned by Becky Bentley, the Executive Director of the LCAC). Facility Dogs are not service dogs or therapy dogs; they may only go to public places when they’re invited. Harper has attended events at Athens High School, Athens State University, and the Limestone County Courthouse, to name a few, as a representative of the LCAC.

The LCAC functions as a safe place for children who have been abused to tell their stories to accomplish justice and healing. Kids come to the LCAC for Forensic Interviews where they can tell their story of the abuse; for trauma therapy where they learn how to deal with the aftermath of the abuse. The LCAC even gives support for the rest of their family who is also traumatized by the abuse. All of these services are free of cost, so the LCAC is funded by grants, fundraisers, and private donations.

As the Canine Advocate, Harper’s job duties are varied, but most kids first meet her when she snuggles up to them and lets them pet her in the waiting room. But her job duties go much further than just getting petted. Harper does Animal Assisted Therapy, which means that she has been trained to perform behaviors specifically to help the kids in trauma therapy.

“Do you miss your mom sometimes?” the shy boy asks Harper.
“Yes” she answers by choosing to paw the YES button.
”I do too,” he quietly responds, as she curls up in his lap for petting.

When kids need extra encouragement, Harper gives them a fist bump when they share a story. Some kids need help sitting still and focusing, so Harper plays a game of Pick Up Sticks with them to get them warmed up before their session. Sometimes kids have a hard time verbalizing what they’re feeling, so Harper breaks the ice by pawing a Feelings Card to show how she feels.

Animal Assisted Therapy is a growing field, and dogs like Harper are on the forefront when it comes to Animal Assisted Therapy in the field of Mental Health.

For Harper, though, the road to becoming the Canine Advocate was not easy. Harper grew up during the Covid Pandemic when the LCAC was conducting therapy sessions virtually.

But since that time, with regular training sessions, she’s received titles and is now a Canine Good Citizen and Certified Trick Dog. Her social media pages bring attention, and much-welcomed donations, to the LCAC, and with that the LCAC has been able to greatly expand the quantity and effectiveness of the work they’ve done with her.

Are you interested in training a Facility Dog to do Animal Assisted Therapy in your workplace? Contact me to get started! With degrees in Psychology and Social Work and over 15 years’ experience training service dogs, I’m uniquely qualified to do the creative training required for this kind of work. If you’re in the field of child advocacy or on your county’s Multidisciplinary Team, you can also check out Harper, Becky, and Me as we present our work with Animal Assisted Therapy at the Connecting for Children’s Justice conference in Nashville, TN in November.

]]><![CDATA[Vacation, or boot camp?]]>Wed, 25 May 2022 16:10:54 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/may-25th-2022

Click here to see more information about my Board and Train programs

Board and Train: Hand your misbehaving dog off to a trainer for a few weeks, and get him back all trained!

In the last year or two, the number of inquiries trainers get about doing Board and Train have skyrocketed. Board and Train is certainly not a new idea; service dogs and police dogs have been trained this way since their inception nearly a hundred years ago.

But for a lot of dog owners, it’s difficult to think about your dog being away from you for any period of time. Board and Train is definitely worth it for certain dogs, to improve their quality of life and the quality of their families’ lives; but is it right for YOUR dog?

Training Goals
Board and Train programs work best with teaching dogs TO DO behaviors: sit when I say “sit,” lay down when I say “down,” etc. So think about what behaviors you want your dog to do. Do you want your pet dog to learn obedience cues? Board and Train can help with that that. Do you want your service dog prospect to learn tasks like retrieving dropped items? Board and Train is great for that, too.

Do you want your dog to stop jumping on the counters? This is a DON’T DO behavior, and these *don’t* work well in Board and Train. Stop pottying in the house? Stop barking at the neighbor dogs in the backyard? Stop jumping on guests? These are all DON’T DO behaviors. A good trainer would easily prevent these behaviors from happening during the Board and Train period, but that doesn’t mean your dog won’t go right back to doing them again when he comes back home. The best option for these behaviors is to do lessons with a trainer to learn how to prevent them from happening at your house, too.

Examples of
TO DO Behaviors:
- Sit, lay down, go to your bed
- Come when called
- Walk on leash at my side
- Sit to greet strangers

Examples of
DON’T DO Behaviors:
- Ignore cues
- Run away when off leash
- Pull me down the street
- Jump on strangers

Your Dog’s Temperament
In Board and Train, the trainer has a relatively very short amount of time to teach your dog many potentially complicated behaviors and concepts. Your dog will get the most out of his Board and Train time if he’s comfortable in the new facility and happy to be around the new people and other dogs.

This guy is super comfortable at Board and Train

If, however, your dog does not like other dogs or new people, dropping him off at a facility full of dogs and strangers will cause him to be very stressed; stressed dogs have a hard time learning. You can mitigate this stress by making sure that the facility holds a very small number of other dogs, with a very small number of human staff as well, but ultimately if it takes your dog several days to feel comfortable in that place, that’s several days of training time you’ve lost.

Board and Train is an especially bad idea for dogs with separation anxiety; dogs who cannot be left home alone. Dogs with separation anxiety are insecure about their owners leaving, so dropping them off at Board and Train will just add to that insecurity. Moreover, all Board and Train facilities will have to eventually put your dog in a crate or kennel while the trainer(s) leaves, so your dog will need to be comfortable with confinement before Board and Train.

Your continuing education
Dogs don’t generalize well. Just because he learns “sit” at the Board and Train facility, doesn’t mean he will automatically do “sit” when you take him back home. You need to learn how he was trained to do the behaviors so that you will understand how to get him to do the behaviors for you. Follow up lessons with the trainer will be very important too, so make sure those are included in the Board and Train.

Even after the lessons are over, you will still need to continue training with your dog to help him remember the skills. Board and Train teaches dogs behaviors, but it will still be up to you to maintain those behaviors.

Trainer Qualifications
Board and Train programs have traditionally had bad reputations because dog owners can’t trust the trainer with their dogs. Trainers can get very quick results by relying on punishment methods for training: using training collars, withholding meals, yelling at or hitting dogs, etc. The majority of Board and Train facilities still use these methods. But those quick results don’t last long-term; plus, they cause dogs to have more anxiety, and potentially aggression and other serious behavior issues, in the future.

Click here to read my previous blog post about finding a reputable dog trainer.

Insider Business Info:
Training with Electronic Collars is more expensive than training without these aversive tools. The collar itself costs hundreds of dollars, which is of course transferred to you whether you want to use the collar long-term or not.

A professional trainer should treat your dog even better than you do; they should have years of formal dog training and continuing education. And they should never rely on training tools or methods that cause pain or discomfort to dogs in their care.

Health
Dog health issues can actually cause a surprising number of behavior problems. Plus, any amount of stress will exacerbate underlying health problems. It’s a good idea to mention problem behaviors with your vet before starting a training program.

Along with health, also consider your dog’s age. Board and Train is not appropriate for young puppies. Building a good relationship with your dog is the first, most important, step in having a wonderful life with him, so the best thing for young puppies is to stay at home and get to know his new family. Most reputable Board and Train programs will not take puppies less than 6-12 months old.

Soapbox Time
Vets are very good at diagnosing and treating health problems. They have had years of schooling and training in animal medicine.

Vets are not good at treating behavior problems. Except in rare occasions, they have not had any schooling or formal training about animal behavior.

Puppies aren’t for everyone, so if you can’t care for a puppy, consider paying the breeder to keep the puppy with his dog family for a few extra weeks or months until you’re ready for him. Or, consider getting an adult dog instead of a young puppy.

First/Last Resort
Board and Train can be an excellent option for owners who don’t have the time to learn HOW to train behaviors, and simply want their dog to know them. I personally have spent hours on seemingly simple behaviors, like “lay down,” because sometimes dogs just have a hard time understanding. The best part of Board and Train is that your trainer can take the time necessary to teach these behaviors, fast tracking the training for you.

Many dog owners go into a Board and Train program with the idea that if it doesn’t “fix” their dog, then it’s time to rehome the dog. But Board and Train will not change your dog’s personality, his exercise needs, his likes and dislikes, etc., AND you will still need to keep up training to maintain the skills he’s learned. It would be a good idea to seriously analyze exactly why you don’t want to keep your dog, before deciding whether or not Board and Train will make you change your mind.

Still not sure if Board and Train is a good option for you and your dog? Contact me with any questions and we’ll figure it out!

]]><![CDATA[Is that a good dog trainer?]]>Wed, 11 May 2022 21:31:05 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/may-11th-2022No doubt you’ve seen drama on social media about disreputable dog trainers. These posts beg the question: How do you find a good dog trainer? How do you know that the trainer has your and your dogs’ best interests in mind and will give you the best training advice?

The fact is, dog training is a completely unregulated business. Literally anyone can print out business cards and make an Instagram page and call themselves a professional dog trainer. There is no required licensing, certifications, or accreditations; there are stricter requirements for dog boarding kennels and breeders than there are for dog trainers. The industry is completely dependent on the “Buyer Beware” philosophy.

Here are some traits that are important in a good dog trainer:

Experience.
Whenever I hear of a trainer, the first thing I do is go to their website. It’s very easy, and sometimes even free, to make a website, so a trainer who doesn’t have a website is probably not experienced enough to be considered.

The first page I look for on a website is the About the Trainer page. Keep in mind when you need help with your dog, you hire a trainer, so you need to know who that trainer is. Many websites don’t have any information about the trainer, and in those cases I generally would not do business with the company.

When I do find the About the Trainer page, I’m looking for professional training experience. I’m not very interested in reading about the trainer’s own dogs, I want to hear how this trainer has trained other people’s dogs. Researchers say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill; that’s five years of full-time dog training. Sure, there are talented and skilled trainers with less than five years’ experience, but if you want the best, you have to find a trainer with years of professional experience.

Education.
There aren’t college degrees for dog training, but there are certainly lots of educational opportunities for trainers. Just like in any field of study, what we know about dogs and training changes constantly, so trainers must have a solid theoretical foundation, and continuing education as well. On the trainer’s About page they should list how they learned to be a dog trainer. Apprenticeships are common and good, but a good trainer needs to learn about dog training from as many of the best trainers they can find. Do a quick Google search of the education listed on the About page and find out if the programs are nationally/internationally recognized, and see if you can get an idea of the value of the education this trainer has.

Specializations.
Trainers generally specialize in certain fields; some trainers only work with dogs who have separation anxiety, others only work with aggressive dogs, others only work with therapy or service dogs. If you need help with your dog’s separation anxiety, wouldn’t it be better to work with the trainer who does nothing but separation anxiety? Many trainers boast that they will work with every dog with every training challenge you have; but the saying “Jack of all trades, Master of none” applies in dog training. If you need to teach your puppy house manners, don’t hire the trainer who specializes in gun dog training; if you need a service dog for your PTSD, don’t hire the trainer who specializes in training guard dogs.

Honesty.
Often times you can tell how honest a trainer will be just by looking at their website. There are rarely absolutes in dog training, so ideally you should not read phrases like “All dogs will,” “Dogs always,” or my favorite, “Training is guaranteed.” The more experience a trainer has, the more they will understand that there are exceptions to every rule. No trainer should ever guarantee that the dog “will be trained,” any more than you can guarantee your own human family members will do exactly what you ask every single time. Training guarantees are either dishonest, or naive.

You can also find out if a trainer is honest when you look at the training methods they use. They should give some information about their training philosophy on their website, and you might have to check out photos and video on their social media pages to verify. One very common dishonest statement, is that a remote training collar doesn’t cause pain to your dog; the fact is, it MUST cause some sort of discomfort for it to work.

If the trainer tries to convince you to use a remote collar, feel it yourself first. Then, ask your trainer to hold the collar while YOU hit the button on the remote; if it doesn’t hurt, he should be willing to continue holding it for the rest of the consultation, even though you “accidentally” hit the button once or twice without warning. Even if the collar doesn’t hurt per se, it’s quite surprising and uncomfortable when you don’t expect it, and that’s truly how dogs experience it.

Honesty applies in following laws as well. If a trainer supports your use of a service dog in public without informing you of the laws and your legal rights - and limits to those rights - this is dishonest. If a trainer practices or encourages you to practice training your dog off leash in public, or in a business open to the public, this is illegal and dishonest. If a trainer gives medical advice about your dog without a degree in veterinary medicine, this too is illegal and dishonest.

Other pet peeves that can add up:

Offering free in-person consultations (indicates the trainer is desperate)
Boasting about reviews (anybody can get their friends to write reviews)
Referring to a dog as a “K9” (generally means they use harsh training methods)
Using outdated language about dogs such as “Alpha,” “Pack,” “House breaking,” “Giving corrections the way a mama dog would.”
Saying training is “Balanced” (all the research shows this is ineffective)
Calling themselves an expert in “Dog Psychology” (there’s no such thing)

You may find, after reading this post and researching dog trainers, that most fall outside of what would be considered a “reputable” dog trainer. Unfortunately, you would be right. Remember that dog training is a completely unregulated industry. Literally anyone can be a “dog trainer.” And the dog training business is booming: every month I find one or two new dog training businesses popping up in my area, and we certainly do all have enough customers to be successful. With all of this new growth comes a LOT of new trainers who frankly should never be taking people’s money for the advice they dispense.

On the other hand, there are also wonderful trainers in this area. Please do some research before hiring a trainer and make sure you understand that you’re supporting trainers who deserve to be supported.

Questions? Comments? Let me know what you think!

Happy training!

]]><![CDATA[Off leash dogs: Good Idea/Bad Idea?]]>Tue, 11 Jan 2022 20:43:04 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/off-leash-dogs-good-ideabad-idea

If you know me, you probably know by now that my favorite thing to do with my own dogs is to go on a walk. I love the fresh air, sunshine, and exercise; and I love watching my dogs explore the world in their own ways. My dogs walk on leashes, but how tempting it is to unclip the leash and let them run like I know they want to; or to teach them to heel off-leash at my side while we walk down the street. Dog trainers love control, and there’s no better way to feel in control than to train a dog off leash.

So what’s the problem with off leash dog training?

My favorite walking buddy, Keegan.

First of all, it’s illegal.

Alabama has a statewide law forbidding dogs to be off leash outside of their own property. There are few exceptions to this, such as allowances for service dogs for people with disabilities and for search and rescue dogs, but for the vast majority of our pet dogs, the leash law will pretty much always apply.

But, some may argue, what if he’s under my control, through lots of training or with a remote collar? Doesn’t matter; the law requires the dog be physically contained at all times.

Second, it’s dangerous.

Even the most mature dogs with extensive training experience, still have the reasoning capabilities equal to a human 3 or 4 year old child.

Did you know:
Dogs can sprint, on average, 15-20 miles per hour, while average adult humans only sprint 8-12 miles per hour.

Anyone who’s walked with a toddler in public knows how important it is to teach kids to hold our hands when we cross the street or walk across the parking lot, to stay on the sidewalk, to not run ahead in the grocery store. Even then, how often do kids forget the rules and have to be reminded?

When your child starts to wander into the street, what can you do? Run to them, and grab their hand, or their shirt, to stop them. What do you do if your full-grown german shepherd decides to bolt? Even dogs that are out of shape can almost always run much faster, and way farther than humans can. If your dog decides to run away, there’s virtually nothing you can do to physically catch him.

Whether you see yourself as a dog owner, guardian, or parent, your first and most important responsibility to your dog is to keep him safe.

Third, the training IS going to fail.

Still want to train your dog to walk off leash? Even the best-trained dogs make mistakes, and any professional trainer that tells you otherwise is either fooling you, or fooling himself.

Whether you see yourself as a dog owner, guardian, or parent, your first and most important responsibility to your dog is to keep him safe. An animal, with the reasoning capabilities of a child, is sooner or later going to make a mistake, and in our hectic human communities, those mistakes could be catastrophic.

Humans, as smart as we are, are also going to make mistakes. I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I’ve inadvertently asked a dog to do a behavior or task that’s outside of his capabilities. Truly, in many ways, testing the capabilities of a dog is a critical part of training. But when the dog is off leash, even a momentary lapse of judgement or concentration on the part of the handler can cause immense problems.

All that said, I do encourage you to explore opportunities for training and working with your dog off-leash. Many dog sports, such as dog agility, obedience, and flyball, require the dog to be off leash, and these are fantastically fun - and practiced with the dog’s safety in mind first and foremost. If you live in an apartment or have only a small yard, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member to borrow their backyard to let your dog have a good off-leash romp.

In many places you can also use long (20’-50’) drag lines - leashes that the dog can drag as he runs around, while you hold the end and keep him from going into danger - or retractable leashes to give your dog the feel of being off-leash in a safe and legal way. And, for those inevitable times when your dog may escape the yard or slip off of his leash, mimicking the feel of being off-leash will help you get him back in the scary event that ever happens.

Want more information about leash walking, dog sports, or any other topics in this blog? Contact Elizabeth by clicking here!

]]><![CDATA[my food or yours?]]>Mon, 18 Nov 2019 17:10:19 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/my-food-or-yours

Turkey, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, rice, blueberries, cranberries. Sounds like a great start to Thanksgiving dinner!

Would you believe that this is dog food?

I Can't Feed my dog People Food!

As a trainer who encourages using treats to train dogs, I often hear that dog owners think they shouldn’t feed “people food” to their dogs. Let’s talk about some of the common misconceptions:

“It will teach my dog to beg at the table while I’m eating.” Feeding a dog while he’s bothering you - whether giving human food or dog treats - will teach your dog to bother you some more. Don’t give him any attention or food (and make sure the kids don’t drop food to him either!) while he’s being annoying. When he gives up and lays down across the room, THEN you can give him attention and, yes, even food treats!

We use treats to train service dogs to ignore food at restaurants.

Cooper practices his down-stay while I prepare treats on the counter!

“It will teach my dog to steal food off the counter.” When there’s food on the counter, dogs can smell it, and they will investigate it further – with their mouths! Be sure to keep dogs out of the kitchen whenever anything edible is on the counters. Or better yet, train them to stay out of trouble!

“Human food isn’t healthy for dogs.” Actually, lots of fresh foods are better for dogs even than processed dog food. Plain chicken, eggs, carrots, and apples can be very nutritious snacks for dogs. The human food that isn’t good for dogs isn’t good for humans either: namely sugar, artificial sweetener, salt, and fat. A quick google search will tell you if an ingredient is ok for dogs; be sure to talk to your vet about it too if your dog has any underlying health conditions.

Click on the picture for more information.

The ingredient list of this dog food indicates several concerning and unhealthy ingredients.

“Dog food is more nutritious than human food.” Not all dog foods are equal; many brands use sub-par ingredients and unhealthy fillers. Check the ingredients on your dog food bag: you want to see named meat sources at the top of the ingredients list, and very few carbohydrates. To further investigate the ingredients in your dog’s food, a helpful resource is www.DogFoodAdvisor.com.

“Human food will make my dog fat.” Too often dog owners mistakenly think that even one bite of food outside of mealtime will cause their dog to gain weight. If your dog is overweight, the best thing to do (after a vet checkup) is to decrease his overall diet – meals, treats, AND snacks – and increase exercise to burn fat.

Pro-Tip: Trick training is a fun and efficient way to get dogs to exercise and loose weight!

Remember that just like us, dogs get bored of the same treats every day. A special little treat once in a while will help them stay motivated to train, and allow them to celebrate the holidays along with us!

]]><![CDATA[whose reality is this?]]>Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:11:26 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/october-16th-2019Every few years...

...a new reality show about dog training pops up on TV. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with these shows. On one hand, watching a show about training helps people think more about working with their own dogs; but on the other hand, training can look very different on TV than it is in real life, and people end up with unrealistic expectations of what it’s like to train their dog.

After watching at least one episode of probably every dog training reality show that’s been aired, here are a few take-aways I hope you keep in mind as you’re watching these shows:

Don't try this at home.

This is the one bit of advice you should take!

There’s a good-looking guy or girl right there on national TV showing how to train a dog. Why not do the same thing the TV trainer did with your dog? Because the TV trainer said not to. There are warnings at the beginning of every show – and often in the middle and end as well – saying not to try these techniques and to contact a professional in these situations!

Which brings us to the next take-away:

Ratings, not education, is the objective

Every TV show is produced with one main objective: get ratings. “Reality TV” is about the reality of filming what people will tune in to watch. “Survivor” is not an educational show about how to outlast on a deserted island; “The Real Housewives” is not intended to teach people how to be wives. Reality shows are made so that people will tune in to watch interesting people doing exciting things, and dog training shows are no exception.

Don't take dating advice from reality TV

So let’s get into how TV cameras capture these amazing transformations:

Dramatic training looks good on camera

Flooding is not a good way to train humans, dogs, or snakes.

The most popular TV trainers primarily rely on the training technique called Flooding. Flooding means a person or animal is exposed to their worst fear for an extended period of time. For example, a person who is afraid of snakes would stand in a snake pit for hours on end letting the animals crawl all over them. On dog TV shows, examples include forcing three leashes on a dog who is afraid of wearing anything around his neck, putting an aggressive dog in a yard with other dogs and people so that he can’t get away or attack, physically restraining dogs and forcing them to do things, are all examples of flooding. Flooding is dramatic – the dog snarls and flails at the end of the leash like a hooked fish – and “works” very quickly: the body can’t sustain living with that level of panic for very long before it simply becomes tired and, in most cases on TV, the dog lays down and rests. Far from being in a “calm state,” these dogs are literally scared to the point of exhaustion.

But it sure looks like the training works, right?

Editing works

The most powerful tool of any director is the cutting tool. While it looks like it only took a few hours or maybe a few days for the dog to get trained, industry insiders do know that these shows usually employ other trainers (who sign strict confidentiality agreements) to work with the dogs between filming days. The question remains: what sort of training happened when the cameras were turned off, and how long did that training take?

How can we ever know what might have happened when the camera was turned off?

Dog training is a science

How do we know that flooding usually makes fear and anxiety worse, and rarely actually “cures” the fear? There have been countless scientific studies on the use of flooding in humans and other animals which consistently come to that same conclusion. How do we know that several other training methods offer better, more long-lasting results? They’ve been studied scientifically, too. How do we know that putting a dog through this level of stress and anxiety is unhealthy? Doctors and veterinarians have studied the effects of stress on dogs’ bodies (human bodies as well!) and the resounding consensus is that this is needlessly harmful.

Surely the guy on TV knows what he’s doing.

Get educated about dog training education

"I'm a natural. Bridges love me."

Dog training (at least at the time this article is published) is an unregulated industry. There is no licensing, certification, accreditation, or education required for a person to advertise and get paid as a dog trainer. It is one of the very few “buyer beware” service industries… which means that before taking the advice of a dog trainer, we have to ask where that person got the information he’s using to train the dog. Trainers who have legitimate education in the field will tell the world about it (just read my blog post about continuing ed). Trainers who do not have education will lean heavily on their experiences training their own personal dogs, will boast about using “unique methods,” and will rely on vague constructs like “positive energy,” “balance,” “dominance,” “submission,” etc. Sure TV trainers, like pretty much all dog trainers, have natural talent. Pretty much every engineer has a natural talent for figuring out how things work, but that doesn’t mean I’d want a “self-taught” engineer building me a bridge!

What he’s doing may be uncomfortable, but ultimately he’s saving lives! That’s a welcome tradeoff!

All legitimate dog trainers save lives.

Shows get better ratings if there is a “danger” element. Many dogs on these shows are actually in no real danger of being rehomed or euthanized regardless of what the cast says on camera.

But regardless, there are thousands of credentialed dog trainers, behavior consultants, and vet behaviorists - including myself! - who work day in and day out with dogs who show the same dangerous “red zone” behaviors that the TV trainers work with. We get excellent results, without causing pain, without causing fear, and without causing undue stress or anxiety in the dogs. We do it because we have the knowledge, experience, and continuing education to stay on the cutting edge of what the best trainers in the industry are doing.

Does your dog have a behavior problem that you need to fix?

Learn how to find the right trainer for you. Reputable dog trainers have:

Formal education in dog training. This information should be on the trainer’s biography on their website, but if you can’t find it, don’t be afraid to ask.
Professional affiliations, such as memberships in professional organizations, especially APDT, CPDT, IAABC, and PPG. If a trainer says they’re a member of an organization, check out that organization to make sure that it supports the type of trainer you want to hire.
Professional Certifications. There are several legitimate certifications, and each will have different requirements. If a trainer calls herself a “Certified Trainer,” your next question should be “Certified through whom?” There is no one single certification for trainers and some are more relevant than others. For example, a trainer certified to train narcotics detection dogs is not necessarily qualified to train your dog to be a therapy dog.
Continuing education, such as dog training courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, etc. Most certifications require continuing education, so feel free to ask the trainer what their most recent continuing education was about.

Watching dog training on TV is fun, exciting, and so often heartwarming. But ultimately I don't think these shows were intended for more than simple entertainment. If you really want to know how to train a dog, contact me or comment here for recommendations of books, videos, and other resources to help you get started the right way!

]]><![CDATA[school's In For Summer!]]>Tue, 19 Mar 2019 02:05:08 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/schools-in-for-summer

For kids and teachers, the end of the year is quickly approaching! Soon enough they will get out of school and a much-needed summer break from learning.

But for me, the school year is just beginning! It’s time for Continuing Education!

Continuing education is important in so many professional fields, and dog training is no different. I have a library of books and DVDs to learn more about dog training, not to mention video streaming services and podcasts to keep up with the latest training techniques. But when it comes to continuing education, nothing is as valuable as attending in-person conferences and seminars.

I try to attend at least one conference every year (see the About Me page for a list of some of the conferences and seminars I’ve attended). Last October was the fantastic Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Annual Conference in Memphis, TN, and next month I’m very excited to be attending the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Animal Behavior Conference in Houston, TX. Then starting in May I’ll be participating in the 12-week long IAABC Animal Behavior Consulting course.

So why does a dog trainer need to worry about continuing education?

Cognition - understanding how dogs think and perceive their world - is one of the newest fields of dog training

1. To stay on the cutting edge of training dogs.
Science is always changing and teaching us new things about the world, and the same is true in the science of dog training. The basic principles all trainers use come from the field of learning psychology from the 1950s; but a lot has changed over the years when it comes to applying those principles with dogs and other animal species. Most of the training methods I used when I first started my own career are not methods that I usually use today. Through continuing education I can learn new ways of teaching behaviors. This way, if a dog does not respond to one method, or an owner has already tried methods she learned from a previous training class and they’re not working, we have plenty of other new techniques to try.

A slide from one of the advanced learning topics at the APDT conference

2. To stay on the cutting edge of the science of dogs
Researchers work with dogs every day, to learn more about how their brains and bodies work. It’s through continuing education that I learned, for example, about the brain chemistry involved in anxiety or aggression and how to treat a dog using that knowledge. I learned about the physical structure of a dog, and how, for example, his legs and back affect how long he can do a sit-stay. I learned about developmental stages of dogs and, for example, the problems associated with bringing a dog home at 5 weeks old vs. 8 weeks old vs. 6 months old. And most importantly, I’m learning all these things directly from the scientists and researchers who spend their professional careers studying them.

3. To geek out with other professionals
In a way, dog training can be a lonely job: we could go weeks without meeting up with another professional dog trainer in person. But at professional conferences we can meet up with hundreds of other trainers and talk endlessly about how we handle the unique challenges we have in our jobs. Taking those networking opportunities is not only an important way to help our own clients and dogs, but it gives us contacts to use in the future. As a client, wouldn’t you want your trainer to be consulting with other trainers to give you the best information and advice?

Swag bags from conferences can include new leashes, treats, clickers, and other fun equipment!

4. To learn about new products
Most of the products I use every day and recommend to clients – including everything from the tote bag I use, to the best treats; to leashes, collars, and harnesses; to even future continuing education opportunities – come from other trainers and professionals I have conversations with at conferences and workshops. Many conferences have vendors showing the latest gadgets and dog equipment, and trainers bring their latest discoveries to show off to their friends.

Social media is an important part of any business model these days!

5. To learn about running a business
Yes, I’m sure most of my clients don’t think of me as a business person, and believe me, I’d rather be working with dogs than filing taxes! The business end of dog training does not come easy for us dog trainers, but without good business practices we wouldn’t be helping very many clients!

Remember - literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer!

The professional field of dog training is not regulated, meaning that literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer and start charging clients to train their dogs. The first thing I tell anyone looking for a dog trainer to hire, is to ask that person where they learned dog training. A reputable trainer should be able to give you a list of different experiences, courses, internships, and continuing education opportunities that they have participated in. Beware of the trainer who took only one class, or had only one mentor, or worst of all, have only trained their own dog; you wouldn’t hire a teacher just because she taught one child, so don’t hire a dog trainer who doesn’t have experience either!

]]><![CDATA[What do fish have to do with dogs?]]>Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:15:58 GMThttp://www.alabamadogacademy.com/training-blog/what-do-fish-have-to-do-with-dogs

My tank setup

For me, this New Year brings… a new pet!

I recently bought myself a fish tank for a new little betta fish!

As it happens, getting an actual FISH is more complicated than it seems.

I decided on a sturdy surface in a quiet location to place the tank. I installed the light and filter, and I filled the tank with water, gravel, and plants. It has been running for a week now, but it’s missing one very important element:

Where’s the fish?!?

I’ve had fish before – in college I had several betta fish in little fish bowls, and later I had a small tank with schooling fish – but it has been many years since I've had the experience of setting up a tank.

A typical betta fish setup

In these years, I’ve learned a lot through my career training dogs about how, as animal trainers and pet owners alike, the health of an animal must be our number one priority. I appreciate maintaining working relationships with local vets, and often the first question I ask my new dog training clients is, “When was the last time your dog has been to the vet?”

With our pet dogs and cats it’s often easy to see when they are sick, but with smaller pets and exotic animals it’s much more difficult. I have been to animal training conferences and seminars in zoos and aquariums, and have come to understand the importance of making sure an animal’s habitat – his home – is safe, clean, and healthy for him to live in.

In college my betta fish survived just fine in their little bowls; but now I have to ask myself, were they really ok, or was their habitat actually as comfortable and healthy for the fish as it could be?

A betta fish's native habitat... doesn't look like a fish bowl.

Our animals – domestic, yes, but especially the more exotic pets – didn’t ask to be pets. The little betta fishes would probably rather be out in their native Asia swimming through rice paddies, than stuck in a tank with people gawking at them all day. It is our responsibility, then, as pet owners, to respect their lives and help them be as happy and healthy as possible in the time we have them.

Now, instead of just putting some water in a bowl and dropping the fish in, I’m making sure my fish tank is truely ready for the fish. That means making sure the lighting and temperature are appropriate for the fish to not just survive, but to live comfortably and thrive. And most importantly – and most frustratingly – checking the water quality to make sure that the water will be free of toxins which the fish may or may not be able to tolerate.

Still too much harmful Ammonia for a betta fish to be comfortable

The tank has been set up now for a week; when will it be ready for a fish? Unfortunately, all I know is, it will be ready when it’s ready. It takes time for water conditioners to work, and I'm trying to practice patience.

Without even realizing it, we so often tend to rush into getting a pet and make irrational decisions about when is the right time. It may not be the right time to get a little puppy when your life is already busy with other family activities and priorities. It may not be the right time to take in a cat when you’re not sure how your dog will behave around a cat. And it may not be the right time to get a pet bird if you have neighbors or roommates who will be bothered by the noise birds make.

None of us like to see an animal suffering (who among us DOESN’T change the channel when we hear that Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercial start??), but often we don’t even realize that we could be doing better for our animals.

Oh NO! Where's the remote??

So I will be patient, and wait until the time is right to bring home my new betta fish!

Do you have a fish tank? How long did it take until your tank was ready for fish? Comment below - I'd love to hear your stories and see pictures of your setups!

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