Dog Listening – a different approach to training your dog

Jase, Cooper and I have just completed a four week Dog Listener training course so I thought I would share our experience with you all and hopefully inspire you to take on this concept yourselves.

Jase, Coop, Hayley, Tony and myself at training

Cooper has become such a good boy when we are at home. He is calm and obedient and comes when called. But when we go out, that is when things change. His biggest issue is pulling on the lead and his overexcitement at times. I can walk him in a quiet street with a slack lose lead if there are no dogs around, no problem. But bring dogs or young kids in the mix or any other big distractions, and he is strong, persistent and hard work to control. There is no doubt Cooper is a boisterous dog. He is also still young (almost 16 months) so with age, he will calm down, as long as we give him the correct information to do so.

Cooper and his girlfriend Abby. Abby has also done this course and they get to practise together a few times a week. Once they have calmed down, they get to play with each other and they love it!

Jase and I both read Jan Fennell’s book ‘The Dog Listener’ and we just loved the idea behind her approach. We had tried chock chains, gentle leaders and the harness and were not seeing great results. We then saw Tony Knight (Jan Fennell’s son) speak a couple of months ago. And after taking on some of the ideas behind this concept, we decided that we needed to see it in practice. Hayley Wright from Taking the Lead (https://www.facebook.com/takingtheleadtraining) and Tony Knight ran the course and they were fantastic.

The idea behind Dog Listening is that good leadership needs no force, gadgets or dependence on exercise to change a dog's mind. Good communication at critical times is what’s required. Every pack needs a leader and if you do not show those leadership skills, your dog will take on this responsibility and this can become quite stressful for your dog. Dog Listening looks at it from a dogs point of view. Dogs descended from wolves and are pack animals; so all the ideas behind this approach are focused on how a dog establishes its leadership in a pack. Amichien Bonding is the approach we use to get there. “'Amichien Bonding’ gives you a full understanding of why a dog does what it does and a simple way to shape desired behaviour and quietly corrects undesirable behaviours without the use of force, fear, frustration, drugs or gadgets.” (source: http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com)

Cooper and his cousins - Roxy and Harley. We did a lot of Stop Start Change Direction with Cooper before letting him off the lead to play with them - and he was so much calmer because of it.

Amichien Bonding uses the language that all dogs already understand and all humans can learn.

There are four key elements that are the prime motivators in your dog’s life:

(1) Status - Do you fuss your dog when it comes to you for attention, without its first being asked or invited?

(2) Food -Are you deciding when and where your dog eats?

(3) The Hunt -Does your dog pull on the lead when or walk calmly by your side?

(4) Perceived Danger - Does your dog trust you to take care of anything it perceives as danger or does it over react and try to take control of the situation?

I actually posted a couple of months ago, when I first heard Tony speak, about how you can establish yourself as the leader of the pack using these ideas so feel free to have a read of this too - http://mydogjourney.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/are-you-leader-of-your-pack.html.

After completion of the course, we have learnt that we need to be patient and really see this as a lifestyle change. Plan ahead, get to places earlier so you have the time to calm your dog. When he pulls you, go the other way. If he wants to say hi to another dog, he can, but as long as you get there first. Stop Start Change Direction has changed the way we do things. Everywhere we go, if Cooper pulls on the lead, we turn around and go the other way. It needs to be your decision. You need to show your dog that you are in charge of all aspects in life for your dog to understand that you are in charge. You need to decide when to feed your dog, when to play with your dog, where you are going, if something is dangerous, when the walk starts and finishes, etc.. This approach also teaches you to appreciate your dog for who they are and why they do the things they do – they are dogs after all and dogs bark, dig, roll in mud and pick up dead animals.

 

Cooper interacting with another Golden during the course. The lead is slack and we have walked him over to the dog, not the other way around.

Through the course, we have really been able to see the behaviours that Cooper uses to try and establish himself as the leader. He pulls on the lead, he always tries to get that first bit of eye contact when we walk in the room, he brings us the ball when he wants to play, when we call him to us – he sometimes stops a meter in front so we have to go to him, when we call him over to put the lead on him he ducks his head, the list goes on.  But Jase and I now feel that we are equipped with the right knowledge and skills to stop these behaviours and make Cooper believe that we are the leaders of the pack.

Cooper nudging me with a ball to play with him. I need to initiate play, not the other way around, so i just ignored him.

Another one of Cooper trying to initiate play. It is hard to say no to that face - but you really need to be tough for them to get it. Wait till he has left you alone and then you can initiate the play.

From our experience with Cooper, I can tell you now that Amichien Bonding is not an easy quick fix. It is more of a life style change. You need to be patient and persistent and you really will see a change for the better. Just remember, your dog is always testing you and asking you for answers to establish who is in charge, so you really need to know how to read these signals and give your dog the right answers all the time. Once your dog knows that you are the leader of the pack and can protect and provide for your pack, they will be a much happier and relaxed dog. And you will form an even more beautiful relationship with mans best friend then you ever imagined.

Cooper calm and relaxed, taking a dip in his doggy pool after a walk in the hot Melbourne weather.

It is a fact that caring for a dog can actually make you happier and healthier

When I was at university, as apart of my psychology major, I studied a subject called positive psychology. For my major assessment, my group did a study looking into the correlation between happiness and dog ownership. At the time, there wasn’t much information on this. But I found the topic so interesting that I have recently been looking into it again.

Obviously from personal experience, I know that my life is much more complete with a dog. But recent studies have actually shown that there are physical and mental health benefits that actually come with playing with or snuggling up to our pooches.  

 

Here are a few reasons of my favourite reasons why dogs make people happier, healthier and even thinner:

 

They provide the best companionship.  The unconditional love we get is just the best thing. They make us so happy and are always there to keep us company. When we come home, they are always happy to see us, even if we have just been out for five minutes. When we are sick or sad, they just know and will stay by our side. Studies have actually found that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.  I work from home some days and having Cooper’s company is just the best. There are times when I think I would be a bit lonely and unhappy without him.

They take the focus off us and make us take care for them. Dogs require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter what mood we are in; depressed, anxious, or stressed, we still always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for our pets. Caring for a living animal can help make us feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from our problems. Owning a dog can help teach your children about responsibility, spread the chores around and make them get involved. Plus, studies have found pet owners over the age of 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets. I just love that fact!

They encourage us to exercise more. People with dogs are forced to get out of the house and go for a walk more often than people without dogs. According to the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine" the average duration of walk per week for dog owners in the study was close to 300 minutes while those without dogs only walked for 168 minutes per week. That large difference is especially beneficial for those of us who walk to lose weight!  Cooper is a high-energy dog so we try to take him for two walks a day. There are some days where I know I wouldn’t have gotten up and exercised if it wasn’t for Cooper.

They help us meet new people. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks, in dog parks, in pet stores and in training classes. In fact, a study found that a person walking with a dog had three times as many social interactions than when they walked alone. Through Cooper I have made some amazing friends and now actually have some regular doggie play dates with some of them. We love it!

They can actually help to reduce anxiety. The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world.

Patting and walking your dog can provide sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. Studies have found that lying with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. Even just patting your dog can lower your blood pressure, according to a study done at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, and dog owners have been shown to have lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels as well. But this could also be from all that walking since exercise is the best way to lower cholesterol.

They are great at cheering up the sick and the elderly. Therapy dogs are used to visit old aged facilities, many hospitals and sick children. They help to calm them down, lower blood pressure and help to put a smile of their faces. We hope to one day get Cooper trained up to be a therapy dog. I am sure the smile on his face would help make others smile.

So all in all dogs really are just the best (can you tell I am slightly biased). They make us happier and healthier and just provide the best companionship.

In saying all of this, owning a dog is not for everyone. Please do your research. Do not rush the decision. They can be costly and take up a lot of your time. If you are thinking about getting a dog, please make sure you choose the right dog for you and your lifestyle.

 

Sources: 

http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm 

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-owning-dog-happier-healthier-and-11460828.html?cat=53

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Cooper turns 1 today!!!!

I cannot believe that this time last year I was at the vet with Cooper’s breeders, watching his mum, Lara, give birth to 7 beautiful pups – one of which is now such a big part of our family. Wow how time flies!

We only took Cooper home at 8 weeks of age, which means we have only actually had him for 10 months. It honestly feels like he has been apart of the family forever. Plus I think I have about 10,000 photos of him already!

I thought I should take this big milestone as an opportunity to look back on the last year and take you through a few key thoughts:

What’s been the easiest part?

·      Toilet training. It took Cooper about 2-3 days to be almost fully toilet trained. It was all about not letting him make a mistake and taking him out after each time he slept, ate and played. Plus he learnt to use the doggie door on day 2! I was a proud mum!

What’s been the hardest part?

·      He is a naturally boisterous pup and at 32kg he knows he is stronger than me!

·      He still slightly pulls on the lead, but the improvement has been amazing, it is now mainly when passing other high-energy dogs or when he enters new environments that he still pulls.

·      The recall. Again he is great at this in quiet environments but bring other dogs into the picture and it’s a bit tricky but we are working on this every day.

Favourite thing about Coop

·      The unconditional love we get from him every day. He makes us so happy and is just the best company.

·      He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body!! The worst thing he would do is lick you to death.

·      He loves to play fetch - something I always wished my old dog would do.

·      He is very content being left alone to play with a toy or take a nap.

·      He gets stopped on the street all the time because he is just so good looking.

Most frustrating thing he does?

·      He is the only dog who always manages to find that one little puddle of mud wherever we are.

·      Choosing to be disobedient when wanting to play with other dogs. I love that he loves dogs so much but it can get frustrating at times!

What’s been the most rewarding?

·      Seeing him grow and mature.

·      Seeing the improvement through our commitment to training. He has been to puppy school, basic obedience and is half way through intermediate obedience training.

·      Seeing his huge smile when we let him off the lead in the park.

What’s been my greatest learning?

·      There is no one correct way of doing things – you need to find what works for you and your dog.

·      Be patient and persistent. Golden Retrievers do not come pre-trained. They take time, patience and persistence and they mature a lot older than others dogs. We have put a lot of time and effort into training Cooper and we will continue to do this everyday.

What makes Cooper, Cooper?

·      He is an independent sole who doesn’t really need cuddles and human affection.

·      He loves putting things in his mouth.

·      He smiles a lot.

·      He loves playing with other dogs more than anything.

·      He is obsessed with water and will jump into a swimming pool at any opportunity. And if he doesn’t have a swimming pool – a big enough water bowl will do.

The past 10 months have been filled with big sloppy puppy kisses, endless walks, malting hair, muddy paws, drooling, digging, pulling, doggy play dates and heaps of cooper snuggles (my favourite). It’s been exciting and challenging, rewarding and love filled – and it’s only his first birthday!

HAPPY 1^ST BIRTHDAY MR COOPER HENDRIX RITTERMAN!!!

The Big Topic Of Food!! What Should You Feed Your Dog?

I am going to start out by saying that I think a lot of us will have to agree to disagree on this topic. But for the sake of my blog – I thought I should let my followers know what we feed Cooper and why.  This is one of those topics like I mentioned in my previous blog post that can really spark a debate/argument amongst dog lovers. But like everything else, there is more than one way of doing things. Plus, there has been a lot of discussions and debates lately about raw diets, premium dog foods and home cooked meals for dogs so I thought this could be a good time to give my thoughts.

It was actually this article that sparked me to really want to post about this topic, because it really angered me. Check out the link http://holisticandorganixpetshoppe.com/top-7-worst-dog-food-brands.html.  The article pretty much says that all premium dog foods are rubbish and are harming our dogs. And it goes on to list all the harmful ingredients in dog foods. Personally, I think this article is rubbish.

We feed Cooper premium dog food. The dry kibble. For chewing and cleaning his teeth we give him carrots, broccoli stems and ice cubes. I have never given Cooper a bone. And for obedience training, we use the dried out liver treats. And when he gets a lot of treats in one day, we will slightly reduce his kibble that night, making sure not to over feed him. Because there are so many mixed opinions out there, and so much information I decided it was time to get to the bottom of it and make sure I am doing what it best for my gorgeous boy. I wanted a more scientific answer on all of this, I wanted information from people who know the proven facts and understand the biology of a dog and how its body works and functions from what it consumes.

I decided to use some resources that I am very lucky to have. I have three friends who are vets and who have all commented on the big fun topic of food. I showed them the above article about how bad premium dog foods are and I asked them about raw diets and what they feed their own dogs. I also mentioned to them that a lot of people suggest that vets push premium dog foods because they make money off it – again another statement I have never agreed with so I wanted some answers. These were the responses I received:

VET NUMBER ONE

I started reading the article and stopped half way - what a load of BS!

Raw diets can cause gastro and dietary deficiencies. Bones can cause obstructions, constipation and gastro. Super premium dry dog food is absolutely the best you can feed - obviously there are some dry foods that aren't great. Re vets making money - there is very little mark up on pet food! Even in pet stores - we don't make money off food.

 VET NUMBER TWO

Firstly a lot of the information contained in the linked article is rubbish. Yes dogs are carnivores and need a protein based diet but a lot of the stuff they have highlighted in red is not actually bad and I don't think they have a lot of evidence to prove it. A lot of these diets (i.e Hills, Purina etc) are scientifically tested and balanced diets providing complete nutrition. I personally prefer using home cooked diets as I feel they are more organic/raw/unprocessed (however you want to describe it) and hence healthier however they can be time consuming to make and difficult to balance particularly for a young growing dog. I am not the biggest fan of commercial raw diets like BARF as they contain a risk of carrying bacteria and can cause issues like salmonellosis. And I cannot speak for all vets but those that I know certainly do not make money off the food. Well, to be more accurate they get no incentives for selling the food. Like any item in a shop, if you buy food from a vet shop it will be marked up so there is a profit margin but that is a sale and the vets are not paid per bag sold, the money would go to the clinic owner. I feed my dog a home cooked diet of mince meat, vegies, pasta/rice and raw chicken necks/wings. However as young pup he was on hills puppy large breed food.

 

VET NUMBER THREE

Food is a big topic! People are too narrow minded about food in my opinion. Look at all the people around the world and the huge variety of food they eat, it is not like you can't be healthy eating authentic cuisine of every nationality (within reason)! Most dogs can survive on just about anything you feed them once they have reached maturity, however higher quality foods tend to agree better with them by firming up their stools, reducing wind and giving better quality coat. Some dogs are very sensitive and can only eat special diets. I like feeding premium brand dog food because you have to feed less (as there are less fillers in them and the protein and fibre is of higher quality) and you know there has been some research behind the brand. It is certainly not killing them! I think people like to feel like they are doing something for their dog and so cooking and putting time and effort into it makes them feel as though it must be better. The science behind the bones and raw food diets is non-existent, it is based on anecdotal evidence and the premice that dogs are still wild animals. Dogs are domesticated, and the only thing raw food ads to the table is more potential for your dog contracting food poisoning. Yes bones cause tooth fractures and constipation. I also give my dogs carrot and broccoli! I also like rawhide bones, however they can also cause a risk of causing problems if the dog swallows the big knot on the end whole (my dog does not do this). In my opinion raw bones can be ok in most dogs but not all, the problem is you don't know which category your dog falls into until there is a problem! Tooth brushing is the gold standard of dental care. If you have to feed a bone I recommend a large fresh raw marrow bone, and supervising your dog while they eat it, and only leaving it out for about 30-60 minutes a day - back in the fridge after. If they are chewing it into pieces and swalloning them then it must be confiscated! If and when I get my own dog it will be on premium quality food.

After all that I have read, heard and researched my conclusion is that there is nothing wrong with a premium dog food as it will give them an all round balanced diet with quality produce.  So if you do choose to feed your dog, dog food – please make sure it is a premium brand, reputable and comes highly recommended by your vet. There is also nothing wrong  (if you have the time) with a home cooked well balanced diet as this doesn't contain any processed ingredients and you know exactly what is going in it. But if you do choose to make home cooked meals for your dog, please make sure to do your research and include the necessary and correct quantities of each food group they require.

In the end what and how you feed your dog is totally up to you however always be mindful that a dog's diet can have a great impact on their behaviour, health, coat, lifespan and the list goes on, so it is important to get the balance right. 

A balanced diet it key.

Raising your dog, your way. Finding what is right for you and your dog…

Just over a month ago I started a facebook group called Dog Lovers Melbourne!! Now with almost 470 members there is constant activity and discussions about everything and anything to do with your dog. Along with this group, and my desire to read and research, it has confirmed how many different ways there are of doing everything when it comes to raising your dog. 

Everywhere you read there is advice about the best and worst foods, treats, training methods, grooming requirements, sleeping areas, dental treatment, etc. And honestly, it is all very overwhelming and confusing. But from all of this I have learnt to just step back, do your research and test things out for yourself. Because in the end owning a dog is just like having a child. It is all about finding what is right for you, your dog and your family.

Training Cooper has been an amazing learning curve for me with all of this. I think back to some of my earlier blog posts, for example, Training your Pup to Walk on the Lead was about teaching puppies the basics and getting them used to the lead.  A Great Method to Stop Your Dog Pulling on the Lead was all about using the Gentle Leader and how great a tool it is. And my latest blog post Are you the Leader of Your Pack was all about not needing gadgets at all and more about the importance of being the pack leader. All of these blog posts explain different techniques and training methods you can use when training your dog to walk nicely on the lead. Reflecting back on these, I don’t think that one method is right or wrong. In our instance we know that Cooper is still not 100% there yet with walking perfectly on the lead. He does walk really nicely around the quiet streets without any distractions. But around other dogs and small children, he is still very excitable. So we are building him up to get better at this but it is a slow process and we need to be patient and persistent. We will just keep testing different methods until we find the best method that works for us. And when we find that method, it doesn’t mean that it is the best and only method, it just means that it works for us. 

If you’re ever unsure of what you are doing, with anything, not just training please make sure to do your research. Ask your dog trainer or your vet or friends and family who have had healthy, long living dogs. Personally, I trust the opinions of both my trainer and my vet. Our vet has a golden retriever who he adores and brings into work with him so I really do value his opinion. If I am unsure on something I will ask him and see what he does for his girl, because I know that he would only do the best for her. The nurses at our vet are also amazing and just love animals and will help us with anything we need. I really think it is about finding someone you trust, like I have my vet, the nurses and our dog trainer. Every time I see any of them, we always get stuck into long conversations about all the different ways you can do things with your dogs – I love picking their brains because I really value their knowledge and opinions. 
     

The idea behind this blog post is just to remind you all that it really is all about finding what's right for you and not getting too overwhelmed and confused by everyone else. There doesn’t need to be a right and wrong but rather about finding what works for you 
and your dog.

Good luck on your journey and as always, I am more than happy to help if anyone has any questions…