Sarah Hodgson, Teaching Dogs, Training People

The Stay-Home Dog

mo — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:04:21 +0000

Summer Travel Dog Care Options

If you plan to leave your dog at home, there are several options. Consider your dog’s personality and needs when making your choice. Here are some tips to determine which is right for your dog.

Boarding Kennel
For social dogs, this is like summer camp. If your dog is the life of the local dog park, a kennel is just one more place to meet and greet. Kennels are not great, however, for protective, solitary or clingy types. Visit the location in person beforehand.

Pet Sitter or Dog Walker
If your dog is adapted to periods of solitude and welcomes the attention of people outside your immediate family, a dog walker or pet sitter is an option. A live-in sitter is a good choice for younger pups but a drop-in caregiver is fine for many older dogs, provided they stick to a strict schedule and include play and exercise time if your dog needs it. If your dog is not used to being alone, he may show signs of anxiety including destructive chewing, house soiling or excessive barking.

Another Home
Placing your dog with a friend, family member or home-based kennel is great if your dog is mature, reasonably well-trained, adaptable and socialized. The same is true for the person watching your dog. Please consider this option from both ends of the leash. Choose a professional home-based kennel if you’re not sure Cousin Charley is up for the task.

The Importance of Training
Sometimes, there is no choice but to leave your dog behind when you travel. If your dog is socialized and well-trained, it will make the separation easier for both of you.

Summer Safety Tips

mo — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:02:40 +0000

Everyone knows the number one dog safety tip: do not leave your dog in a hot car…not even for a few minutes. Here are some other tips to keep your dog safe and comfortable.

Water, water, water. Place dishes of fresh, clean water indoors and out, upstairs and down. On walks, hikes or other trips, Take along a collapsible bowl or dog water bottle to keep your pal hydrated.

Extra set of keys. Put an extra set of car keys in the glove compartment of your car. If you need to leave your dog in the car, leave it running. Grab the extra keys and your dog can wait in air-conditioned comfort.

Shade. When leaving your dog, a cool, indoor location is best. If you must leave your dog outside, provide adequate shade, plenty of water and a small pool for quick cool-offs.

Don’t worry if your dog seems to be eating less or her interest in play or walks dwindles. Hot weather causes her metabolism to slow, especially during the hottest part of the day.

And speaking of walks, pay attention to the pavement. Feel it with your hand before setting out. Hot pavement can burn your dog’s sensitive paw pads. Keep to the shady side of the street.

Pool safety. Most fatal pool accidents happen because a dog doesn’t know how to get out of the pool. Instinctively, he will try to get out where he got in and if he can’t, he may exhaust himself and drown.

To prevent this horror, lead or gently carry your dog into the pool. As you release him to swim, repeat “Out of the pool!” as you guide him to the stairs. Next, attach a long line or flexi-leash and lure him into the pool. You may need to give him a a little push—but this is a lifesaving lesson, so don’t feel guilty—and repeat “Out of the pool” as you coach him to the stairs.

Praise him generously as he climbs out. Don’t repeat this exercise more than once per day and stop once he is confident of the exit route.

Teach Your Dog To Share

mo — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:00:47 +0000

Does this sound familiar? Your dog is holding a sock. You grab for it. Your dog makes a move. You make a move. Chaos ensues.

One of the most important lessons you can teach your dog this summer is to share: to spit out whatever is in his mouth. I like to use the word “Give.” Here’s how to play this new game!

Put some treats in a cup. Shake the cup and reward your dog when he begins to recognize the sound. If your dog isn’t nuts about treats, substitute a desirable toy and purchase several duplicates. Distribute several cups or toys around your home. Each time your dog has anything in his mouth — from a rawhide chew to a priceless family heirloom — shake the cup or toy and say “Give” as you approach.

If you and your dog are old hands at the ‘grab and go’ game, leave a short drag line on his collar when you’re supervising him. Step on the leash before he makes his move.

If the object in his mouth belongs to him, do not remove it. Simply reward him warmly and walk away. Approach your dog while he is eating and say “Give” as you add food to the bowl. Continue this routine until your dog cooperates eagerly then reward him as you praise graciously.

Stop! If your dog growls at you, stop immediately and call a professional such as myself. Aggression is a serious issue.

Interested in Dog Agility Training?

Sarah — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:58:09 +0000

If you’ve never seen dogs performing an agility course, prepare to be blown away. It’s part crazy playground game, part circus act and part synchronized equestrian show jumping. It’s fun, it’s fast and it’s a little bit daunting.

Dogs and handlers compete for time and accuracy on a pre-designed obstacle course. The dogs run free and are guided only by the handler’s voice, movements and body gestures. Courses are designed with standard obstacles and competitors must run through, jump over, teeter on and wiggle under all of them in a set order.

Wow, you’re thinking. My dog could probably do that. She runs, jumps, teeters and wiggles all over the place! Where do I sign up?

- Before you enter the nearest competition, understand that agility requires a lot of off- leash control. And I mean a lot of off leash control.

- If you’re sure your dog is ready for agility training, be further warned: agility is addicting. Dogs love it and people get pumped…it’s an athletic, competitive activity that can quickly become your obsession.

- Agility reinforces the connection between you and your dog as you work together towards a common goal.

- So where can you learn more about agility? Agility enthusiasts are always willing to welcome new members and share their love of the sport. Attend an event, view online, observe a class. Watch carefully, ask questions and if your curiosity is peaked, consider participating in a beginner’s program. There are several levels available to encourage participation on a less competitive, family-friendly format.

My most recent book, Dog Tricks and Agility for Dummies, will give you a good working knowledge of the ins and outs (no pun intended) of the dog agility world.

Agility is an amazing way to be with a dog. No matter the level at which you choose to participate, you will be teaching and your dog will be learning and looking to you for direction. Together, you’ll build skills and master obstacles, collecting those magical “Ah-ha!” moments when you and your dog just flow.

Agility practice takes full advantage all of the basic training skills you know—off leash. You’ll meet other people and dog teams who love their dogs, just like you. So how about it?

Training a Dog to Love their Bath

alex — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:29:02 +0000

As Seen in The Patch April 10, 2011
Hint: Use whatever makes their tails wag..

The kitchen door slammed and there they were: my two children. Soaking wet and covered with mud. In April. I was wearing a fleece vest and Ugg boots, they were half-dressed, squirting each other with the hose. I’m so mid-life.

Setting my coffee cup aside, I hoisted my wet, wriggly toddler in one arm and took my daughter’s hand. It was time for an early afternoon bath.

The sound of the bathtub faucet alerted Whoopsie that there was water happening. Crowding into the upstairs bathroom, she looked longingly into the tub: water and kids. The perfect combination. “Not today, girl,” I apologized, patting her head. Whoops lingered for a few minutes, making sure I was sure sure, then retired to her dog bed to contemplate this decision. “Look in the photo albums, lady!” she was probably thinking. “I’m in 90 percent of the bathtub pictures!”

And it’s true. For the first two years of her life, my daughter wouldn’t get in the tub without her. She’d scream and cry until we brought in a stack of dog towels and directed Whoosie “On In!” From 2004 to 2006, you could eat off my dog, she was so clean.

As a dog trainer, I can tell the change of season by the questions I get. Is salt safe for a dog’s paws? How long can a dog sit in a hot car? And the surest sign of spring and its many muddy joys: how can I make my dog like bathing?

This morning I met Stacy Geisinger, the voice behind the blog StacyKnows and sure enough, she hit me with water-based question about Sophie, her Wheaten Terrier. Why does Sophie love the pool but hate the bath? Dogs can be so unknowable! So mysterious! But it took me just a minute to figure out Sophie’s conundrum. It wasn’t so much a water issue as it was a…mood issue. At the pool, everyone is relaxed. Happy. Drinking iced tea and clapping when Sophie performs her best dog-dive. Standing in the tub, her feet trying grip porcelain while water cascades over her head and her mom demands that she Just Stand Still, Sophie is not feeling the love. There’s no clapping. No happy. Sophie is having way less fun.

The solution? Lighten up. Make bathtime a bit more fun. Lay a towel on the bottom of the tub—yes, it will get soaked but your dog will deeply appreciate it) and rub a little peanut butter inside the tub, just about nose level. I know—sopping towels and peanut butter! The horror! But remember: you’re trying to lighten up. Lead your dog into the bathroom and get your enthusiasm on: “On In!” Secure footing, a happy tone and an unexpected blob of peanut butter will go a long way to reducing bathtime anxiety. You might be surprised to discover you’ve created a new dilemma: how to keep your dog out of the tub.

Post your questions on any dog-training-related topic here! Tell us in the comments.

The Dog Trainer’s Dark Side

alex — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:51:02 +0000

By Sarah Hodgson

As Seen In The Patch March 27, 2011

The hardest thing to control in life, is not a dog…it’s your temper.

I’m proud to admit that I have a reputation for patience. Whether presiding over the first chaotic moments of a new group dog training class, sitting in a client’s kitchen listening to a long list of canine misbehaviors or guiding my daughter through the complex and sometimes volatile social strata of first grade, I manage to keep my cool. Often, clients call me for a quick “talk through” when dog training frustrations crop up. I help them see the world from the dog’s perspective so their dog’s behavior makes sense. “Don’t yell at your dog,” I counsel. “Understand your dog.”

But I have a dark side. There is a member of my household who tests my patience and regularly brings me to the boiling point. In frustration, I blame. I curse. I say unforgivable things and imagine myself landing a good, firm slap. It’s true and I’ll admit it here: sometimes I hate my computer.

Most days, my Mac and I are the best of friends. I love its colorful screen saver, its gently glowing status light. I turn it on, it chimes in a reassuring way and we start to work. We hum right along, tweeting, updating, submitting. I love you, MacBook Pro! We’re a team! And then it happens. I can’t find an important file. Another is slow to open…so slow that I start pressing random keys. Why? Why are you doing this to me? I hate you, MacBook Pro! You’re an unfathomable hunk of junk!

The good news is, I have sought professional help for my issues. Under the tutelage of Michael Schechter of Computer Experts Group, Ltd., I’m learning to have more patience with technology. He is teaching me that computers cannot be bad but they can become overwhelmed, especially when the caregiver starts pressing random keys, tossing important files into the trash and yelling.

Michael knows computers like I know dogs and he is helping me see the world from my computer’s perspective. “Relax,” he tells me. “Envision the problem and use your common sense to work through the occasional snag.” Pretty much exactly what I tell my clients about their dogs. Huh.

Oh Michael. You are so wise.

By admitting to my technological shortcomings and seeking professional help, I feel calmer and more empathetic towards this once-unknowable and stress-inducing part of my life. For many dog owners, their pet’s mysterious behavior leaves them feeling similarly out of control. Some dog owners seek help to build a better relationship but others just keep hitting the random keys…and the problems persist or worsen.

The key to improving any relationship – with your dog, your children, your spouse or your computer – is knowledge and patience.

My advice? Read some books, hire a professional — learn all about the emotional life of dogs. And be glad — a dog is not nearly as complicated as a computer…and a computer will never ever rest his head in your lap.

When a Well-Trained Dog Ignores a Command

alex — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:59:01 +0000

By Sarah Hodgson

As Seen In the Patch March 20, 2011

Exercise control or offer compassion?

Yesterday I saw Red the cardinal, our unimaginatively named but nevertheless reliable harbinger of spring, sitting expectantly in our leafless dogwood tree. Red’s feathers looked a little tattered, but he bounced excitedly on his perch. No snow! Longer days! Yippee!

Following Red’s lead, I bounced excitedly, too. Today, I, Sarah Hodgson, well-known dog trainer, would bring her perfectly-trained dogs to the park for the first mad romp of the season. No worries about ice cuts or hidden dangers, just good old terra firma. I left my two-legged family at home, loaded Balderdash and Whoopsie into the van and headed off, filled with optimism.

And shortly thereafter, I was filled with the opposite of optimism.

Both dogs leapt out of the car, sniffing the soft, damp ground. Whoopsie, a devoted retriever, instantly discovered dozens of storm-damaged tree branches that needed fetching. Balderdash, still new to the joys of freedom, was nearly undone by his options. He raced. He leaped. He tumbled and wrestled with Maggie, an enthusiastic neighborhood puppy. It was exhilarating to watch — I wanted to share his delight!

“Balderdash!” I called. “Come!”

And that’s when the unthinkable happened: He ignored me. Totally. Me. His mamma. The dog trainer!

“Down!” I shouted in my emergency tone.

Nothing. I cast not a blip on his radar screen. I stared in utter dismay. This was my Balderdash – top of his advanced dog training class. Star of countless how-to videos. A dog with a talent agent for heaven’s sake.

"And what about me?" I thought plaintively. How does this make me, a dog trainer, look? But then I paused for a minute and watched him. He wasn’t a robot. He was prioritizing joy over my intrusive and somewhat idiotic commands. He didn’t really have to come, I just wanted him to.

And so I stood there with my empty leash, thankful that I had come to my senses. Yes, Balder and I needed a little polishing. He’s a young dog, not even 2 years old. There was no audience today. It was an unstructured, unseasonably warm day after a long, snowy winter. Come? Come on is more like it.

A well-trained dog is a thinking dog, much like a developing 2-year old child. Sensible training helps a dog understand dangers (traffic, crowds) and the reasons for commands. “Stay” grounds them when they are unsettled, “down” cues them to relax and “come” brings them back to your side.

That morning, we were enjoying our lives unleashed, running safe and free in an open field. None of the commands I issued pertained to the situation. I counsel my clients to avoid overusing commands just to show off control of their dogs, but here I was, trying to do just that. And there was Balder, clinging to freedom and fun.

So what did the dog trainer do with this epiphany? I stood for a moment, listening to the birds and watching the dogs. I let them have a few more minutes of play then I knelt down and threw open my arms. Balder, always up for a hug, ran over. Not a prize-winning recall by any stretch of the imagination, but it was good enough.

It’s been a long winter. In hindsight, I wish I had let Balder have a little fun before my pesky inner dog trainer started issuing commands that were unnecessary and of little consequence.

That being said, I dug out my 50-foot long line and attached it to his tag collar to remind him of our priorities. In our quiet backyard and under the watchful eye of Red, we’re practicing the distance “stay,” honing up on our “down” command and rediscovering the prize-winning “come.” And just like that, Balderdash, star pupil and budding YouTube sensation, is ready for his closeup.

The Many Ways to Train a Dog

alex — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:19:01 +0000

As Seen In The Patch March 13, 2011

By Sarah Hodgson

Choosing an approach that's right for your dog…

When my daughter Lindsay was 3, we made a sticker chart. Crafted out of poster board and bright magic markers, the sticker chart was supposed to encourage positive behavior. Every time Lindsay hung up her coat or brushed her teeth without a fight, we’d put a sticker on the chart. My friend Melanie swore by the sticker chart.

Apparently, her kids woke every morning, brushed, flossed, put the dishes in the dishwasher and lined up like the von Trapp children in an ongoing effort to accumulate stickers on the sticker chart.

I spent the better part of one Friday afternoon making the chart, hanging the chart and hunting for just the right overpriced motivational stickers. Unicorns? Daisies? Ladybugs? Saturday dawned and the sticker chart experiment commenced. Before the first pancake hit the plate, Lindsay had located the sticker stash, proactively filled the entire week’s squares with unicorns, daisies and ladybugs, dumped the sugar bowl into the juice pitcher and suggested that I needed to go get more stickers. Preferably dinosaurs. With glitter. What worked so well for Melanie did not work so well for me.

Last week, I wrote an article about choosing a dog trainer. I heard from other trainers who shared their training principles and from dog owners who had had good experiences and some who did not. The variety of responses confirmed one of my primary philosophies: there are many effective and humane ways to train a dog.

Dogs are as varied as snowflakes, thumbprints and children; no two are alike and what works for one, will not work for another. As long as the goal kept in sight—to have a happy, well-adjusted and reliable pet—one who is more like a beloved family member than a crazy relative—then it’s all good in the end.

Most of the emails concerned technique: Is it cruel to use a chain collar? What is the best approach to dog training? How is training a puppy different from training an older dog? To provide useful information for the widest possible audience, in today’s column, I will offer some insight into my Big Three, the first things I consider when designing a training program for my clients.

History? Where did this dog or puppy come from? A young puppy that was born into the warm of loving home had a very different start than a puppy born behind a dumpster or raised in a puppy mill. A responsibly rehomed older dog may have different issues than an abandoned dog. Any training approach should take the dog’s past into consideration. Life experiences have a tremendous impact on a dog’s behavior and receptiveness to learning.

Breed Clues. Much information is packed into a dog’s genetic code so a dog’s breed should shape a training approach. A young, submissive Bichon Frise requires a reassuring, reward-based approach (think unicorn stickers)- one that a self assured, dominant German Shepherd dog would mock. Breeds developed to follow human direction (like the herding breeds and retrieving dogs) are more focused and receptive to encouragement. Dogs bred to follow their instinct (such as hounds and terriers) need more animation and encouragement to keep focused. A good trainer will vary the training approach according to a dog’s breed drive and personality. Dogs learn differently, but the long-term goal is exactly the same: to encourage a well-connected, respectful, happy pet.

Stress. Like people, different dogs respond to stress in different ways. Stress can come before a dog enters a new home (from abandonment or a puppy mill environment) or it can reflect the current home environment. What can stress a dog? Again, it depends on the dog. Isolation may unnerve a people-pleasing Golden Retriever but barely ripple a more aloof breed. A gaggle of noisy, active children is balm to some dogs but a redline stressor to others. How a dog responds to various stressors will affect the approach used to train the dog and the dog’s receptiveness to it.

In short, there is no holy grail of dog training…no universal, magic sticker board that will work for everyone. I salute my fellow dog trainers and clients everywhere who are working to communicate with and train dogs.

And to all those dogs out there who try so hard to understand us – who reward us with their patience, loyalty and love – big, shiny, glitter-covered stickers to all of you.

alex — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:43:01 +0000

Pile up! Trying to maintain sense of fun in house preped for sale. Thank gosh for the couch! Know anyone who wants a lovely village home in Katonah NY?

alex — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Class 5 Field Trip. Practicing run-bys to teach the puppies good containment skills. Can you see Sam the kid? Racing by in a flash. "Stay" pups "Stay!"

Sarah Hodgson, Teaching Dogs, Training People

The Stay-Home Dog

Summer Safety Tips

Teach Your Dog To Share

Interested in Dog Agility Training?

Training a Dog to Love their Bath

The Dog Trainer’s Dark Side

When a Well-Trained Dog Ignores a Command

The Many Ways to Train a Dog

The Dog Trainer’s Dark Side