The Calm Dog

Jeanne Perciaccanto

www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com

Dogs seek calm, but, what actually is calm and where does it come from?

Calm is information that allows the dog to relax; be patient; wait for direction; is a selected series of directional tools that let the dog know what and how to behave in any given circumstance.

Informational calm changes from setting to setting because the circumstances change from moment to moment.

Calm is an ongoing and continual resource every dog seeks determined by the immediate.

What happens when you change the walk from the routine neighborhood outing to a stroll around the park.  The dogs' information has changed as to what and how they are to interact with both you and the environment.  A calm dog follows you no matter where or what is happening around them.

Teach your dog the action of a behavior will cause them to only respond to a limited learning parameter such as: to only follow direction in the house, but, be prepared to see a completely different dog at the Vets office as the dog next to them whines and lunges.

Calm must go every where with your dog.  Calm must be available and present to assist your dog no matter where they are or what they encounter.

Calm comes from you!

Being in your presence should create calm.

Calm means your dog has learned to defer to you no matter what is going on around them.

So you must exude calm in all things.

How do you know if you create calm?

While watching TV does your dog come and lay quietly next to you on the floor or do they demand you constant attention?  Bump you with their nose, toss toys into your lap, bark in your face, these thing indicate there is no calm leadership.

Out for a walk, does your dog get invested in following their nose, not you?

Can you call you dog away from or off any distraction?

A calm leader causes their dog to follow them without telling them to do so.  The dog choose to follow the leader because dogs seek calm!

The Brilliant Dog

Jeanne Perciaccanto

Ultimate Dog Training

www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com

Every day, as a dog trainer, I have the privilege of helping dog owners unlock the beauty and brilliance inherent in their dog.

This brilliance is found in them as part of the nature of their species.  We as humans are gifted in possession of the only animal in nature that can live with us as companions and choose to work with us in service.

Unfortunately, in recent years, we have begun to cheat our dogs, preventing that brilliance from shining through as intended in nature.

When they hunt for food in our homes, we correct them.

Seeking activity and action outside the confined boundaries of a limited space of existence, we stop them.

Pragmatic endeavors to satisfy natural drives cause them to be crated and confined.

We have created a very confusing dichotomy within our dogs.  We love them, but, we hate for them to be dogs.

Dogs were much better off as working farm dogs.  In shared service with us as guardians, hunters and caretakers over livestock, food stores and family, they were able to utilize their own personal brilliance daily.  They thought and problem solved and made choices that impacted their livelihood and safety as well as those in their charge.

As partners and working companions our need of their help fulfilled their lives with us.

Our companions were once an artist creating a brilliant canvass of nature and nurture towards and with those they shared life.

The suburban dog of today is bored, confused and confined from the very life in which they need to participate.

There are certainly things we should never allow our dogs to do unless they are trained with the proper know how for safety.  Are we however, teaching those skills or finding it easier to never address what our dogs truly need for a complete life as a dog and companion?

Barking, biting, digging in garbage and the yard is a cry from your dog that they are bored with the life you offer.  Trying very hard to please you but unable to satisfy their own basic needs and drives cause conflict in many of our homes.

My goal is to find ways to unlock that brilliance with many different tools.

I train dogs to off leash control and safety so owners can hike and allow them off leash to think freely in nature but still maintain that connection that keeps them safe.

Bringing thought provoking games into routine training programs to enhance their learning beyond the typical basic training keep dog mentally active.  Games designed as training for hunting and scent work so dogs can use those scent drives in and around their homes.  There are many ways to teach adaptable skills but by doing so will keep them thinking and utilizing that brilliant brain and preventing boredom.

Teaching owners how to see their dogs think and learn enable them to keep building difficulty levels forward and keeping them mentally active.

This type of thought training is incorporated into the basic skills learning but it changes how our dogs learn their skills.

I don’t train dogs, I teach them to think and learn how to make the right choices.

What have you done to see your dogs’ brilliance today?

Firework Phobia

If you have a sound sensitive dog, the 4th can be a stressful day.  

The towns fireworks will come to an end in about a half hour but neighbors might be celebrating long before or after.

Most dogs have their favorite safe hiding spot whether a crate or under the desk, some the bathtub, just let them be, they know best what makes them feel safe.

Play the TV or music a little louder.

Give them some good exercise earlier in the day to tire them out a bit more, don’t forget mental games.

If they are nervous but not frantic, play some games or use some of those tricks you have already taught to keep their mind occupied and active on something else.  Those extra tasty treats are good to use at this time.

For those needy dogs that shadow and can’t be out of your sight, use this to your best advantage.  Put commands into your movements.  Tell them to come if you leave the room, sit/down when you get to where you are going and come to go back.  This gives you the opportunity to praise or treat your dog for doing commands, not for being afraid.

Frantic lap climbers should be put onto a leash and use a step down to keep them off you.  Their nails can rake and hurt very badly, causing you to push the dog away, creating more panic.

Panic runners may try to get away from the sound by running.  Be sure when putting out, they are leashed, connected to you and securely attached in a non head slip collar.  

In the house, keep screened doors unavailable to access, the same with windows.  Watch now to see if they can easily get to the windows.  Because they never have not done something does mean they never will!

Don’t pet or fondle for fear, it creates more.  Feeling badly for or babying your dog when frightened is not helping them move past or learn to deal with the fear.

Dogs seek calm.  Your calm state will help their confidence in you and find comfort for them!

A dog that is truly unable to self placate, speak to your Vet about medications to help them through this time.

Jeanne Perciaccanto

www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com

Dog Games

Jeanne Perciaccanto

Ultimate Dog Training

I like using games and tricks in conjunction with sound training.

A dogs brain is not static, only engaged to follow commands: come; sit; down or stay.

The come from a fluid history of adaptability for survival.  They worked hard to ensure continuation of the species.  Hunting and protection of territory to maintain food supply was primary.  It was a simple fact of life, no food = no life!

Reproduction and care to enable pups to reach adulthood kept the pack vital.

Safety for the pups from weather and other larger/ stronger predators kept them in search for appropriate dens/ safe areas in which to raise the pups.

Basic necessities also required these areas also have suitable water supply.

They worked hard and seven days a week!

When not working, they played.  

When I watch large off leash groups interact, they play games similar to what our kids play.  Games such as: tag; chase me; hide and seek, king of the mountain; protect the fort; tug of war; fetch and keep away.

The games are based on natural drives and needed skills for survival such as:  digging, chewing, hiding precious items; climbing and challenging self-confidence or another willingness to follow suit.

These games are based on life and social interaction.  Dogs will be vocal and physically interact with each other.  Communication of growling, bumping, snapping are similar to "Mom he's touching my toys!" They learn how to play well with others by being taught by those they play with and learning to assess their interaction.

When we play games with our dogs, we need to play the games they will like.  Some dogs love fetch, others can't be bothered.  "You threw the ball, you go get it!"  Some like hide and seek, others have an "out of sight out of mind" mentality.  "You got lost, you find your way back!"

While all dogs can like all types of games, there are games more suited for certain breeds.

Hunting, field, working, sight dogs breeds like action games such as fetch because it involves sight and movement.

Terriers, designed to borrow for vermin like hide and seek and chasing moving things such as flirt toys.

Find what your dog likes and use that to build games.  Treats work nicely with most dogs, for others a ball or bumper gets their heart racing.

You can also teach close tricks like roll over, shake hands, speak or spin.

Always teach in steps and pieces.  If your goal is to turn/spin, start first with getting the dog to turn their head in the direction you want.  Then turn their head back equal to center of body.  Next build to a turn all the way towards their tail.  Follow that pattern until the dog does a complete circle.

Always be sure what you ask they can do safely and have no physical impediments such as poor hips/joints or are not so big you can't safely handle having to prevent a fall!

Dog games connect you and your dog.  Anything that creates thought and focus is a good thing!

www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com