Look What I Can Do! Blog

Look What I Can Do! October Happenings Newsletter

OCTOBER NEWS AND HAPPENINGS CLASS PAGEGREETINGS TO FRIENDS OF LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!  October is an important month for those in rescue;Adopt A Shelter Dog Month My mission is to reach as many pet owners as possible, to help improve the human-canine relationship, with a wide variety of ongoing classes. Training significantly improves the chances of a dog remaining with family, and serves to strengthen the bond between two species. In keeping with this special month, I am beginning classes geared towards those who foster dogs, and would like to do something extra for that dog, to improve chances of being adopted. I am beginning a Foster Dog class, for those dogs actively being fostered, prior to adoption, at what I believe is a reasonable rate. To help me reach the many many dogs out there needing to be adopted, please forward, tweet or facebook! I appreciate your efforts to send my newsletter onwards. Class details will be outlined in a separate block. As always, I continue to educate clients about puppy mills; this is an excellent and informative link. Help Stop Puppy Mills  Feel free to send this link onwards. As always, you can find me hereand here for lots of dog training tips, discussions and articles. Hope you enjoy this article on my puppy mill rescue lab Doobie, written for Dog Star Daily  Reading is knowledge! My intent is to provide many useful sites, links and articles in each newsletter, as well as keep you posted on upcoming classes. Read on! UPCOMING CLASSES: Good Manners for the Family Pet: Tuesday October 12th, 6:30 PM Foster Dogs Clicker Course: Tuesday October 19th 8 PM Good Manners for Family Pets: Wednesday October 20th 6:30 PM Nose Games and Other Fun Stuff: Wednesday October 20th 8 PM Advanced Obedience/CGC Class: Thursday October 21st, 8 PM CGC Testing Day: Saturday October 30th 11 AM See full details here on my CLASS PAGE COOPERATION VS COERCION: WHOSE WALK IS IT ANYWAYS? COOPERATION VS COERCION Written by colleague and friend Casey Matthews-Lomonaco, talented dog trainer, writer and owner of Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training in New York. Be sure to follow her blog for great training information. www.dogstardaily.com www.lab-rescue.com www.wholedogjournal.com Quicklink 1 Quicklink 2 Quicklink 3 Look What I Can Do! Dog Training 21 Sarah Court Earleville, Maryland 21919 443-350-6820 lookwhaticando@zoominternet.net Please feel free to forward newsletter to anyone in rescue, or any dog owner who may be interested. There will be a new sign up button directly on my website. Happy reading! CANINE GOOD CITIZEN GRAD MARLEY and Upcoming CGC Testing Event Very happy owners, big grins all around! NEXT CGC TESTING EVENT Working towards the goal of Canine Good Citizen is just another rewarding form of dog-canine interaction. The more we do with our pals, the closer and more rewarding the dog-human relationship. Advanced classes work towards CGC skills. Read on for class updates in the next section. SATURDAY OCTOBER 30TH at 11 AM, RAINWOOD KENNELS, ELKTON MD, will be the next test date. Dogs will be tested in order of arrival. Advance notice is required by calling 443-350-6820 or email lookwhaticando@zoominternet.net.  Let me know if I can help you towards achieving this exciting goal.   PET HEALTH CARE GAZETTE  is one of my favorite sources for the latest in pet health care issues and information, written by facebook and Twitter friend Lorie Huston. One of the most recent articles was on pet CPR, something we all need to know about. Being prepared for an emergency is the best defense! In keeping with the NEVER SHOCK A PUPPY CAMPAIGN a tip on use of shock collars, which I never recommend. When a dog experiences the pain of being shocked, there is immediate aversive and negative association to whatever is in the environment when the shock takes place. This could be: dogs, people, kids walking past the property, delivery people, visitors coming into the home. Use of shock begets fear, lack of trust, confusion for the dog (unpredictable environment and not feeling safe) as well as aggression. Get involved and join the campaign. Spread the word! I hope you are getting the chance to get out and enjoy the brilliant fall foliage with your furry friends! Keep in mind that learning is a life long process, and that ongoing mental and cognitive stimulation is beneficial to your pal. Also, knowledge is power! I hope you have found the articles and links useful; my intent is to make this a very informative and educational newsletter for everyone. Hope to see you soon! Never dull moment with the labs. The latest adventure has been to conquer the scary evil dishwasher monster for Talley, sure to be the subject of a blog. Until next time, Leslie and the labbies

$10 discount for rescued dogs in Good Manners Classes. Special rate for Foster Dog Parents class.

Follow Friends Friday Newsflash: The Dog Trainer`s Dogs

Although worldwide, the face book and twitter communities offer the possibility of real friendships. Diane Garrod, of face book and Langley Washington, is a fellow dog trainer whom I have come to admire, respect and look to for advice. Always there with an encouraging word and an unfailingly positive outlook, Diane is a professional in her field worth following. As such, I began the Follow Friends Friday Newsflash, to share with anyone who cares to read, those who have made an impact upon me.

Well learned and immensely experienced, Diane holds a B.S. in Communication and Journalism, is a Certified Tellington Touch Practitioner, and owner of Canine Transformations Learning Center. As well, she is a steward for the Helium Channel, and blogs at this location herself. I have come to value her opinions and input to some of my more thorny issues, and hope you will take the time to learn more about Diane at her website: CANINE TRANSFORMATIONS  Often I find the most talented people are also the most unassuming; this is certainly the case with Diane. Read her ARTICLES from the attached link. Now, if I spent less time on twitter, perhaps I could have a few more credentials to my name as well! My colleague is perhaps the wiser for limiting her activities to face book. Happy reading, and I`ll be back to you next week with another Follow Friday Newsflash. 

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA  Licensed Professional Dog Trainer

Ready For That Puppy Mill Rescue? The Dog Trainer`s Dogs

Was I ready for Doobie? Not really. As we say in the business, Doobie, a 5 year old American Lab rescued from a puppy mill, was a failed foster. One look at his beaten down by life demeanor was all it took. I knew that first night his journey was over and that he had come home. The apple fell close to the tree; my life long rescuer mother would have been proud of me. Ready for what, you might ask? A dog existing all his sad life in puppy mill purgatory comes equipped with his own special needs. I really gave it no thought at all before committing to the adoption. I suppose I thought I would deal with the issues as they presented themselves. As a dog trainer working with many fearful dogs, at least I had experience on my side.

A year later, Doobie has made wonderful progress. New challenges arise and they are dealt with. Is Doobie normal? No. Will he ever be entirely well adjusted? Probably not. Was it difficult to find the time when already owned by two other young energetic labs? You betcha. However, to observe Doobie blossom, learn trust  confidence and develop his own distinct personality, has been one of the greatest joys of my life. This dog has taught me about resiliency, coping, trusting and adapting.  However it has not been easy, no two bones about it. These dogs really do need special care, time and commitment. I want folks going into this to have their eyes wide open.  Without a doubt, any such adult puppy mill rescue will:

• have generalized fear. (lack of socialization is a given)
• not be house trained. (Doobie was not)
• be afraid to go in a crate. (they spent their life in a cage)
• have no training and no skills.
• cope poorly in a new environment (literally learning to live in an alien world)
• never have even been in a house.
• be afraid of common household noises.
• very likely will view children as aliens.

While that list is a pretty fair start, by no means is it complete. Wait, you`re saying. Do you mean we should not adopt these dogs? Not at all. What I want is for people to know what to expect, and be prepared for the remedial house training, gentle and gradual socialization required, and basic understanding of fearful dogs.  Sadly, I have had overwhelmed clients. Happily, I have also had clients whose dogs were able to progress, when needed support was obtained. There is the crux of the matter: having a support system in place.  You may want to consult with a licensed positive trainer and do some reading before you even bring your rescue home. Make inquiries of your rescue organization of the support system they offer. Here are a few resources, some of the best in my opinion.

Go to www.fearfuldogs.com and read read read. A book I refer clients to frequently is Help For Your Fearful Dog: Nicole Wilde, available at www.dogwise.com  Certainly it cannot hurt to review house training and crate training methods, of the gentlest nature possible. A great overall reference is Positive Perspectives 2: Pat Miller, available from the same source.  Expect that there will be fear to some degree, and make the environment as stress free as possible. Give these dogs time to adjust and take things very slowly. Under no circumstances should these timid souls be corrected for behaviors in which they are communicating fear. Constant reinforcement is what will turn these dogs around, as well as having basic understanding of their behavior, and being able to adjust to their needs.

I can only hope you experience the joy I have, in watching a dog learn to be a dog, in watching a dog beaten down by life learn to play and romp.  Every effort I have made has been returned tenfold by a loving soul. Do some preparation, and please, call for help sooner rather than later, if needed. This will be one of the most rewarding journeys you will embark upon. Feel free to contact me and send some of your own rescue stories; I would love to hear them. Best of luck to you with your puppy mill rescue. Cheers to www.lab-rescue.com for the wonderful work they do.

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA

To Bite Or Not To Bite: The Dog Trainer`s Dogs Blog for National Dog Bite Prevention

With many blogs and tweets this week addressing the subject of dog bites, thought I might as well hop on the bandwagon for National Dog Bite Prevention Week. You might imagine, per the title, a dog processing the environment, deciding just that, to bite or not to bite. Having said that, bites mainly occur when a dog is pushed beyond a level of stress they can not tolerate, and are no longer particularly cognitive. By the time a dog bites, the process is instinctive and occurring in a non-cognitive frame of mind.  Consider the following, if you will, from a doggy point of view:

•  I`m so upset from that fight, I`m just going to chomp on this arm grabbing at me.
• Defense....defense....defense...., incoming human wants to take my bone.
• Oh geez, can`t anyone see this kid is really aggravating me?
• Oh my dawg, that is one huge scary stranger and I`m stuck in the corner.

REDIRECTED AGGRESSION (first point)

Dogs engaging in scuffles are highly aroused, and operating beyond normal stress thresholds. Reaching in to grab a collar is one really great way to get bitten, by a dog whirling around to latch onto the first thing crossing its` jaws. Do you own multiple dogs or frequent the dog park? Have a plan for breaking up a dog fight that does not involve reaching in with hands. More on redirected aggression here: http://www.sspca.org/Dogs/AggressiveBehavior.html

RESOURCE GUARDING (second point)

The above describes a dog with a valuable resource (bone) that they will strive to hang on to, even if it means sinking teeth into human flesh. All dogs should be taught to Give/Drop/Release, whichever cue you chose to attach to the behavior of willingly trading an object for reinforcement. Humans should also recognize signs of resource guarding as having a high risk for bites. More tips on this subject here: http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/RG.html

KIDS ARE ALIENS

Some dogs have not been well socialized with children, and new encounters have potential to go badly. Even well socialized dogs can be pushed beyond maximum stress thresholds when humans fail to recognize signs of stress. For obvious reasons, no child should be left unattended with any dog, no matter how "child proof" they are considered to be. I have had the pleasure of seeing author Colleen Pelar present, and here is a link to one of her wonderful articles: http://www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com/article08.html

FEAR AGGRESSION

A fearful dog that is presented with a visual threat, especially one that feels cornered, will opt to bite if there is not another way out. (retreat) Humans need to advocate for their fearful dogs and teach others to use non-threatening body language. As well, owners of fearful dogs need to recognize signs of stress and manage the environment accordingly. Visit www.fearfuldogs.com for a wealth of information on the latter subject and all things fearful, according to canines.

Please do not unwittingly place yourself in harms way and become a dog bite statistic. With proper education, dog bites can be prevented. With proper education of humans, more dogs will opt not to bite, having not been placed in untenable (for them) situations. Happy and safe Dog Bite Prevention Week!

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA

 

 

Why Would You Do That? Pinning Down Puppies and Reactivity. The Dog Trainer`s Dogs Blog

Why would you do that? Forcibly pin puppies down into submission that is? Thanks to Twitter pal Rod Burket of GO PET FRIENDLY for providing me with a title, commenting on one of my "tweets." Getting back to my question, professionals in the field of dog training lamentably continue to recommend the use of forceful outdated and dangerous methods, that can and do increase reactivity in dogs. In the last week, I have regrettably fielded inquiries from concerned dog owners, whose own puppies were progressively deteriorating with behaviors. The commonality? Professionals had recommended the puppies be pinned down for perceived transgressions. The shame? Major professional organizations decry these methods with public statements, such as the AVSAB Dominance Position Statement. Download Dominance statement[1] Read on, and if nothing else, question the advice to use forceful methods on your own dog.

Here is what your puppy can learn by being forcibly pinned down:

• humans are scary and unpredictable
• their world is not safe
• approaching hands are not predictable and safe
• the best offense can be good defense
• a negative association to what is in the environment, at the time of the punishment.
• not to trust you
• to react with increasing aggression

Consider being pinned down from a puppy point of view, an horrific restraint from which there is no escape, with the option of flight in the face of danger abruptly removed. Even worse, does your puppy understand the association of their undesired behavior to the punishment? No. As the puppy grows, does it require an increasing amount of force to pin him down? Well yes, of course. Which brings me to a salient point from the PAT MILLER handout:The Pitfalls of Positive Punishment. From a Level 1 Internship, this statement resonates with the blog subject. "Violence begets violence." Plain and simple.

Certain dogs stand out in my mind: the handsome adolescent lab returned to rescue, the spitz mix that became human aggressive, and the pit mix that became increasingly dog-aggressive. Well meaning owners were following professional advice to pin down their dogs and dogs were responding with increased aggression. Before following the outdated advice to pin down your own puppy ponder the following points.

• Is this in any way teaching your puppy the desired behavior?
• Could this damage your relationship with your puppy?
• Do you want your puppy to trust, not fear you?
• Do you wish to deal with the consequences of an adolescent dog and deteriorating behaviors?
• Do you wish to have a well adjusted family pet for the long term?

I really hope that the people who called recently get back to me, so we can begin the process of getting their puppies on the path to recovery, instead of down the road to being re-homed, or worse.I urge you, if anything in this article raises a red flag, contact a certified positive professional trainer, with a strong background in behavior. Why would you do that? Pin your puppy down into submission?

Leslie Fisher PMCT, CPDT-KA

My Dog Won`t Play! The Dog Trainer`s Dogs Blog

Random comments can provide focus for a blog; today I find myself writing on the topic of canine play, due to a comment seen on twitter. Certainly I had something in common with this person, who was lamenting over a dog that would not play. When Doobie joined my household in May 2009, this 5 year old lab knew only fear. Play? A totally foreign concept to this frightened creature, whose immediate concerns were how to cope in a new and frightening environment. The latter is really what I wish to communicate, to all those who have rescued dogs. Canines will not play until they feel safe and secure in their environments. Fear suppresses play behaviors. Does your recently rescued dog seem completely disinterested in play? Give them time to adapt to the new environment, and learn trust in new owners.

Another important consideration: play is a learned behavior. Doobie had spent all five years of his life on a puppy mill, and beyond a doubt, had enjoyed no playful interactions with any human. Most dog owners love to play with their dogs as a highly reinforcing behavior for both species, and young puppies soon learn to engage in play. Likewise, the youngsters learn appropriate play interactions by time spent with their own kind, with playmates they feel comfortable with. Doobie had none of that. Can an older rescued dog from an atrocious background learn to play? Yes, absolutely!!

The initial tendency of Doobie was to sit back and observe my play with Talley and Bridget, in a hunkered down posture that broke my heart. He wanted to trust me, but also wanted to be able to flee if necessary.

Consider your own body language when introducing these dogs to play. What do our arms do when throwing? Yup, raise up in the air. To Doobie, that body language was a major visual threat. I learned, when trying to engage him, to be as non-threatening as possible with my arms, to keep arms at sides, doing minute little tosses with toys. It devastated me when i forgot and caused Doobie to slink away.  Nudging a rolling toy a few inches with a foot is also far less threatening than an arm raised overhead to fling.

Considering the rolling motion of toys, it can be helpful to initiate interaction with a rolling type treat toy, such as a Tricky Treat Ball. The latter is easily gripped, manipulated and dispenses kibble rather easily. Show your dog how it works by giving it a nudge to dispense kibble for them the first few times. Doobie now manipulates a Buster Cube like a pro, which gives me great joy. Try toys that squeak! While many dogs are initially afraid of movement,the squeaky noise can be quite intriguing, as can be letting it then drop gently to the ground. The squeaky bouncy combination can be quite irresistible. And yes, Doobie now runs about the yard squeaking a Bad Cuz in his mouth.

Likewise Doobie now runs holding the handle of a Jolly Ball. Many dogs seem to enjoy carrying something, so give them an opportunity with that kind of toy as well. And no, to date I have not been able to get a picture of him running with the Jolly Ball; the scoundrel runs to a spot with it, wanting to engage Talley in a wrestling match over the prize. Which leads us to socially facilitated learning. Dogs can learn play from other dogs. If you have no other dogs, here is a great article by Pat Miller on how to introduce dogs.   Download Introductions When Doobie became comfortable with his new friends, he began to follow them after them as they fetched, barking along the way.  It was then only a matter of time before he decided to investigate and pick something up in his mouth. A that point, I began to purposely toss/bounce toys towards him from a very short distance, and it was not long before he began to leap at them very much like a cat.  He has progressed to the point where he will catch a Bad Cuz in his mouth. Watching these evolving play behaviors has given me the greatest joy, observing the enrichment that has come to his life. The progression time frame will be different for each dog, but by August (3 months) Doobie had run to a toy and picked it up. The rest has continued to evolve.

Take time, be patient and explore all the options. Your dog can learn how to play. Remember that where fear exists, play will not happen. You may want to attain the services of a licensed positive dog trainer to help you with your rescued dog, with a plan to help them feel safe in their environment. Once this happens, the play begins. Good luck, and enjoy every little progression. I know I certainly have!

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA

Let Them Run That Fenceline, or...Creating Reactive Dogs:The Dog Trainers Dogs Blog

When your own dog is racing constantly up and down the fence-line, nose to nose with the  dog next door, hair standing up, barking and growling,  do you see a problem, or do you love the fact that Rover is getting some exercise? If the latter resonated with you, I worry about your dog becoming reactive, and quite possibly even aggressive. Unfortunately, I see far too many dogs that traveled the path to reactivity with fence running behavior as a component. As you read, I hope you will understand how fence running contributes to canine reactivity.

Certainly there are different levels of fence running; I am concerned for the dog ceaselessly pursuing this activity, to the exclusion of other doggy behaviors. Dogs that casually trot to the fence to greet their canine neighbor, then off to explore their own yards,  do not fall within the scope of my concern. Confused? Consider that stress is accumulative in canines as well. Just as we can have a horrible week at work and be stressed out by Friday, Rover, having spent the entire day in the frustrating pursuit of his neighbor, will be negatively impacted.

With canines, we talk about stress thresholds, and becoming non-cognitive when over stress threshold. In other words, when Rover is in the midst of the intense fence running, do you have a shot at gaining his attention when you call him? I doubt it. In fact, I have worked with dogs that, so aroused, have re-directed aggressively at owners reaching in to physically pull them away from the fence. This is the behavior of a dog completely over stress threshold, no longer cognitive, and purely reacting. The Rover`s of this world even end up not liking their neighbors so much, as they can never access them to play, and become constantly frustrated. As time goes on, unless interrupted, Rover can be at risk for developing aggressive behaviors as well.An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

How does this happen? Many well meaning folks leave Rover outside unattended for the day, believing that the fresh air and exercise will be just great. However, as described above,  you can end up with a reactive dog triggered by movement, any movement, along their fence-line. For many dogs, triggering stimuli can be:joggers, Mothers pushing strollers, bicycles, cars, other dogs on leash and children walking by. Once the behavior is learned, it continues to evolve. Quite chilling to myself are the dogs so overly aroused that they run right through the ineffective barrier of an electric fence, despite the shock, to attack something on the other side. Yes, this does occur, and has more than enough scope for another entire blog.  I surely pray that this will not become your own canine friend.

The best types of fences, not to mention more humane, are the solid panels, thus eliminating the visual trigger component. My own American Lab Doobie, from a puppy mill rescue background and noise reactive, now plays behind a fence of 6 X 6 vinyl panels, and is much better off not being able to target stimuli visually. Bottom line though, is the factor of unattended dog left in the back yard. I cannot even begin (well, yes I can) to imagine how Doobie would have deteriorated, if left to react to all stimuli aversive to him. If anything at all has raised a red flag, consider hiring a certified positive dog trainer to help you and Rover. And please please please do not leave your dogs outside unattended, to develop these potentially dangerous behaviors.

Stay tuned for further blogs on how we unwittingly create reactive dogs, and training tips on how to manage environments to enhance recovery. Is Rover barking? Go on out, call him, and reinforce for paying attention. Begin interrupting that behavior. Best of all though, manage so Rover cannot constantly rehearse a behavior that can and does lead to reactivity.

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA

Affiliate of Peaceable Paws, AKC CGC Evaluator, ABC Student Mentor

Management Tips For Noise Reactive Dogs: The Dog Trainer`s Dogs Blog

Yes, I have learned lots about management of the environment, to make life easier for my noise reactive Lab Doobie. The poor fellow grew up and lived the first four years of his life on a puppy mill, and so, was ill equipped to handle,to him, the horribly aversive noises of the real world. Even a car driving down the street was an ordeal at first. My intent is to give you some management tools with which you can hang on to your sanity while training new behaviors, and to make life easier for your noise reactive dog! In a future blog, I intend to write in detail about the wonderful Tellington Touch seminar Doobie and myself recently attended. For now, try some of these management tools.

1. Classical music played to mask environmental noises can work well. Investigate www.throughadogsear CD, designed specifically for anxious and noise reactive dogs.
2. Some dogs are afraid of the sound of kitchen appliances. Play music while they are in use, take your dog for a walk, or engage in a game in another part of the house.
3. Choose the quietest part of the home to crate your dog while away. Make use of baby gates to confine to a quiet area, and/or to prevent hyper-vigilant patrolling at windows. This latter behavior only serves to steadily increase arousal levels.
4. Construction going on in the neighborhood, or at your own home? Consider making use of a doggy day care during these times. I have worked with dogs whose behavior deteriorated during home renovations, due to the stress.
5. For dogs with storm phobia, try the new thundershirt: www.thundershirts.com  The compression provided by the garment provides sensory input to the nervous system and has a calming effect.
6. Close window blinds to also prevent hyper-vigilant patrolling behaviors.
7. Do some training or structured activity while the aversive noise is present, to keep your dog in a cognitive frame of mind. Giving your dog a job to do will allow less focus on the environment.
8. Make use of interactive treat toys to also keep your dog in a cognitive frame of mind. (tricky treat ball, buster cube, kibble nibble, treat stik, food pyramid, tug-a-jug, to name a few)
9. Avoid walking around the block at a busy time of day for traffic. In fact, do your  hiking at the quietest place you can find  while gradually teaching new behaviors.
10. Learn some basic Ttouch body work by going to a workshop, or from a certified practitioner. This novel sensory input can be invaluable in achieving a state of relaxation.

These are but a few management solutions for your noise reactive dog. Using common sense and removing dogs from situations that cause stress can help your dog cope, and better learn new behaviors. Remain calm yourself; your dog is already stressed and negative input from humans is the last thing these reactive dogs need! Hugs to your furry friends.

Leslie Fisher PMCT, CPDT-KA

Reactive Dogs Need to Focus On You: The Dog Trainer`s Dogs Blog

Many pet owners are unaware of dog body language and fail to recognize situations in which reactive dogs are rehearsing behaviors leading to increased tension and reactivity. A wonderful first step in helping your reactive dog is realizing that a stiff posture accompanied by staring towards a trigger( noisy car, dog, child etc) is a precursor to escalating reactivity. Stress and tension are accumulative, and this cycle needs to be interrupted. Your reactive dog can learn to be more secure and confident by  teaching him to focus on you instead of stimuli in the environment. You, in effect, become the activity director of your dog.

Reactive dogs do poorly unless they have behavioral guidelines. These dogs really do need effective benevolent leadership, helping them to break the cycle of reactivity. In the absence of direction, dogs are dogs, and the resulting behaviors are often undesirable. Our job is to teach our dogs desirable behaviors. In terms of reactivity, begin by simply teaching your dog to focus on you. Begin practicing in a low distraction environment, by reinforcing with a tasty treat, every time your dog responds to his name, and looks at you. The more you practice this, the more attention your dog will naturally direct your way.

When all is going well, take the behavior outdoors, and begin reinforcing the response to name with more distractions around. Eventually, you will want your dog to be able to look away from a stimuli that has previously triggered a reactive response. In terms of treats, be thinking the best stuff here: real chicken, hot dogs, string cheese, to name a few. With noise reactive Doobie, my adult puppy mill rescue, I am constantly reinforcing attention as we move about the yard. Left to his own devices, Doobie constantly  looks for  stimuli to focus on and react to. However, his responses have improved greatly and he is now able to look away from and ignore stimuli that previously caused him to go ballistic,such as lawn mowers and delivery trucks. We continue to work on dirt bikes, which unfortunately frequent this neighborhood.

There are many many interventions for our reactive dogs, and this blog is but one drop in the bucket, so to speak. Look for more to come on this subject, when the author has more time and does not need to go out  and work with  her own reactive dogs. Good luck as you begin the simple step of reinforcing attention to name; this is one of the best basic foundation behaviors you can condition.

Leslie Fisher PMCT CPDT-KA