Leadership basics

http://suzanneclothier.com/the-articles/leadership-basics

(Suzanne Clothier – Relationship Centered Training)

A simple guide to regaining your dog’s respect in pleasant, non-confrontational ways.

by Suzanne Clothier

There are three basic aspects to leadership:
– Control of or undisputed access to resources
– Proactive intervention
– Ability to control, direct or inhibit the behavior of others

Behaving like a leader means that you must demonstrate ‘to the dog’s satisfaction!’ that your behavior is that of a higher status animal. Each dog will have different criteria for what constitutes adequate leadership skills on your part. And his expectations may change considerably as he grows & matures, requiring that you also make shifts in your approach.

Directing, Controlling & Inhibiting Behavior

From the dog’s perspective, only someone they respect has the right to control, direct or inhibit another dog’s behavior. Turned around the other way, this means that if you can’t control, direct or inhibit your dog’s behavior (especially at critical or highly exciting times), your dog is making it quite clear that he does not consider you higher status, in other words, he doesn’t respect you, a clear sign that your leadership is inadequate for that dog (though it may be quite adequate for another dog with a different personality.)

Your dog will grant you precisely the respect you have earned. No more, no less. And he will adjust that constantly. If you begin to act in sloppy ways, he’ll downgrade the respect. Clean up your act, and he’ll respond accordingly. You are not voted leader for life in the world of dogs, you earn the dog’s respect daily. The more intelligent, confident and ambitious the dog, the more likely he is to quickly notice tiny shifts in your behavior on any given day, and to test you and the rules regularly. This is why when changes occur in our lives, which result in changes in our behavior (as simple as being rushed for time to moving, changing jobs, or other bigger life shifts) prompt new behavior from the dog – he’s testing to see what the changes mean for him.

Basic training is important to help the dog understand that you can control and direct his behavior, something you will also be teaching him through your resource control actions. But you must earn the respect and the right to control the dog’s behavior. If you do not have control of the dog in non-stressful times – like meals or playing ball or even walking (pulling?) down the street – I guarantee you he’s not going to listen to you when something he thinks important happens (like a cat dashing across your path or a jogger going by or another dog appearing on the street, the person at the door, etc.)

Practice self-control with your dog frequently, as well as basic obedience in every place you can think of, and with you in every possible position. Act like a leader, earn the respect!

Proactive Intervention

Good leaders are watchful, protective and quick to act to defend. When you are with your dog, really be with him, and watching his responses to the world around him. Plan ahead how you will handle situations you know may be troublesome. Be someone he can rely on no matter what. If it helps, think of him as a guest at a party or family gathering who is unsure of what may be the polite or appropriate thing to say or do. If you were helping such a guest, how would you do this? By paying close attention, anticipating situations where help may be needed, and avoiding those situations that he couldn’t handle.

How do you know if your leadership is adequate for any given dog?

If you can control or have access to ANY resource without the dog challenging your right to it AND
The dog allows you to control, direct or inhibit his behavior in highly exciting or critical moments (quiet times with just you & the dog do NOT count; controlling the dog when a cat dashes past or someone knocks on the door or when guests comes DO count) AND
Your dog trusts that you will step in if necessary to protect him from other dogs or people, and is willing to defer to you on these occasions.

If there are weak points in any of these areas, you may need to make some changes in your leadership style. One easy, non-confrontationnal way to gain your dog’s respect is through resource control.

Regaining Resource Control

What Matters To Your Dog? Make a written list of the top 5-10 resources for your dog. This may be food, treats, toys, attention, play, special resting places, walks, car rides, etc. Hopefully you are on the list! Don’t waste your time or the dog’s by trying to control resources that don’t mean much to the dog.

What Can You Ask From Your Dog? Make a list of EVERY behavior your dog knows – whether formal commands or tricks. From this list, you will draw your ‘request’ of one or more behaviors which must be completed promptly, on one quiet command and executed exactly before you will provide the resource. For access to any resource, insist that your dog ‘give’ you something before you provide the resource.

A sit or down is a basic starting point; however, as the dog’s skills allow, make the dog work harder. Put 2 or 3 behaviors together; do not be predictable! Too many folks stay with a simple sit or down, never progressing to much more demanding requests as the dog’s skills allow. Remember how your mom got all excited when you were finally able to write your name? Well, it’s good to remember that these days folks take that for granted and expect much more from you. Asking a truly intelligent dog to merely sit is like asking Bill Gates for $100 – it’s not exactly requiring him to give something meaningful.

Making the request meaningful relative to the dog’s skills will sharpen him up – he must really concentrate and pay attention to you. Ask for any and all skills the dog has, and all the tricks he knows, and mix them up in an unexpected order.

The goal is the dog’s complete attentive cooperation, not a habituated response that requires no thought from the dog.

No Grading on the Curve. Set your baseline for acceptable responses and hold tight. If you want the dog to sit within 2 seconds, then accept NO responses that are slower. Being consistent is an important part of leadership. Smart dogs will push you hard to see if you’ll accept less or slower responses – that’s what got you both into this situation in the first place!

Consistency Counts! Be relentless. Your dog views you as his leader 24 hours a day. He cannot and will not understand your annoying boss, your in-law problems or your IRS woes as the reasons for your inconsistency. He believes what you say – every time!

Too Bad. If the dog offers a wrong or slow response, you can repeat the command, try again,or even gently remind/help him, you can offer verbal praise & encouragement BUT do not provide the desired resource till he gets it absolutely right. If the dog blows you off, quietly turn away and make the resource unavailable. This may mean putting the food bowl in the refrigerator and walking away for a few minutes before nicely asking again. It may mean walking away from the door you would have opened if the dog had played by the rules. It may mean ending the game of fetch. Try again in a few minutes to see if the dog is more willing to cooperate, but be sure YOU are the one who chooses to start again, not the dog pushing you to it.

Stay Cool. No need to be harsh, angry or confrontational. Simply draw a direct line from the dog’s behavior to the consequence. If you do this, this happens. For example, you ask the dog to lie down before throwing his ball, and he refuses. Oh well – game is over; you pocket the ball and walk away for a bit (maybe just 5-15 seconds; maybe much longer; all depends on the situation and the dog’s behavior.) Take home message for the dog: If you do not cooperate, I don’t play.

Earn Your Oscar! When necessary, be dramatic in your responses – acting shocked or deeply disappointed with the wrong response from the dog, sweetly encouraging if he’s almost right, and dramatic in your withdrawal should he really blow it. Often, handlers offer such “mushy” information that the dog has a hard time telling the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong. Harsh or angry is not necessary; but clearly delighted or disappointed can help the dog figure things out.

Educate The Dog The more your dog knows, the more ways he has to cooperate with you. Polish up his current skills, and keep adding new ones; more & more tricks, for example, gives your dog more ways to be right and earn what he wants. Training is communication, and communication is critical to healthy relationships. Besides, it’s just plain fun!

Child/dog safety guide

http://positively.com/animal-advocacy/dog-bite-prevention/child-dog-safety-guide/

(Victoria Stilwell – Positively)

Dogs make wonderful companions and need to be treated with care and respect. Most dogs are very friendly and won’t bite. However, some dogs bite because they’re fearful, angry, frustrated or are protecting something that is valuable to them. It’s vital that you recognize not just the signs that a dog is uncomfortable, but also the situations you could be in where the chance of a bite is more likely.

Dogs don’t bite without giving some kind of warning, but while some dogs might growl, tense up or bark aggressively at you, others will give warnings that are so subtle, they are easy to miss.

Here are a few guidelines you can follow when you are around dogs to keep yourself K-9 Safe and Smart!

• Never touch a dog that is unknown to you.
• Even if you know the dog, always ask permission from an adult you know to see if it’s ok to ask the handler if you can pet their dog.
• Even when you have permission, try not to invade the dog’s body space. Allow the dog to come up and sniff your closed fist (palm down, knuckles facing the dog). If the dog doesn’t want to come and greet you, respect that decision and leave him alone.
• Approaching a dog from behind or petting him directly on the top of his head can be threatening and uncomfortable for him. The dog’s back or chest is the best place to pet.
• If a dog moves away while being stroked he’s telling you that he’s had enough, so allow him to have space and don’t follow him.
• Never stare at a dog, kiss or put your face close to a dog’s face. Look at the dog briefly and then look away, look and look away. These are calming signals, which tell the dog you’re no threat.
• Dogs don’t like being teased.
• Avoid touching a dog that has been tied up or left at the end of a chain in a yard, outside a store or behind a fence
• Tell an adult immediately if you see a dog that is loose in your neighborhood. Don’t touch it.
• What would you feel like if a dog came up to you while you were eating and tried to take your food away?       I expect it would make you angry and you would try and prevent the dog from getting your food. Dogs are the same as humans in that they don’t like people coming up to them and touching them while they’re eating their dinner or chewing a juicy bone. Let eating dogs eat alone!
• Dogs can startle easily if they are awoken suddenly by being touched and they sometimes react without thinking and snap when startled, so let sleeping dogs sleep!
• Avoid taking a bone or toy away from a dog if she is playing with it.
• If you want to sit on a sofa or chair that a dog is sitting on, try not to pull him off. Always get an adult to remove the dog for you.
• If a dog scares you avoid screaming and running away. Put your hands together, stand still, look away and completely ignore him until he loses interest in you and goes away instead. The more boring you are, the less the dog will want to interact with you. When the dog has finished sniffing and walks away from you, walk slowly away and tell an adult.
• If you are at someone’s house with a rambunctious dog don’t feel embarrassed about asking an adult to put the dog away in a different room if he makes you feel uncomfortable
• If the dog tries to bite you, put a bag or coat between you and the dog and back away to a safe place.
• In the unlikely event a dog bites and you are on the floor, roll up into a ball on your knees, with your arms clasped around the back of your neck and stay as still as you can until help arrives.
• Remember that a dog is an animal and not a cuddly toy. Most dogs don’t like being hugged or kissed. Hugging in dog language can mean fighting and that is definitely not an expression of affection like it’s in human language. Be gentle with any dog and try not to engage in rough play.

– See more at: http://positively.com/animal-advocacy/dog-bite-prevention/child-dog-safety-guide/#sthash.oaKJtYGt.dpuf

Introducing dog to new baby

http://positively.com/dog-behavior/new-dogs/introducing-a-new-dog/introducing-dog-to-new-baby/

(Victoria Stilwell – Positively)

Bringing home a new baby to a household with an existing dog (or dogs) should be done with great care and a good amount of foresight. Too often, new parents are so consumed with the needs and exhilaration of the new baby that they overlook the impact that this new tiny, loud, smelly creature may have on their dogs.

To get a better sense of how your dog will cope with the new arrival, it is important to understand how your dog perceives the world around her. Dogs are extremely sensitive to environmental change both physically and mentally. Things like people walking in and out of a room, strangers coming to the front door and raised voices during an argument will naturally illicit an emotional and physical response. How your dog deals with the new family member may vary greatly.

It is impossible for humans to understand exactly how sensory output can affect dog behavior, but years of scientific and observational study have presented us with a clearer picture. You can avoid potential problems by using this knowledge to help your dog become more comfortable when your baby arrives.

The Baby’s Smell
A dog’s sense of smell is immeasurably superior to ours. Your baby is going to smell fascinating to your dog, so introduce her to baby smells well ahead of baby’s actual arrival.

• Allow your dog to explore the sweet smelling baby products that you will be using and when your baby is born
• Have a friend or family member bring home a blanket that your baby has been wrapped in at the hospital.
• Allow the dog to smell the blanket and praise her as she is sniffing it.
• Give her a delicious treat and allow her to smell again.
• Repeat this a number of times until baby comes home.

The Baby’s Cries
If you consider how the cry of a newborn makes a new mom anxious, you can be sure it has the same affect on the animals around you so it is important that you work now to desensitize your dog to baby sounds.

• Try buying a CD of a crying baby, which you can play a few times a day for a few weeks at a low setting so that the dog can hardly hear it.
• Good things such as play, petting and treats happen while the CD is playing.
• If your dog seems comfortable and shows no adverse reactions the volume is increased.
• If she becomes stressed at any time, the volume must be decreased to the previous comfort level for a couple of days until she is relaxed.
• This process can be repeated until she is comfortable with louder levels. The recording will not be the unique cry of your baby, but over a period of weeks your dog will become accustomed to the sound of a baby’s cries even before your baby is born.

The Touch of the New Baby
The special sensory hairs that grow around your dog’s muzzle, under her jaw and above her eyes are called vibrissae and they help her gather information from her environment through touch. You can use this to your advantage.

• Purchase a life sized baby doll and allow your dog to touch the doll’s feet with her nose.
• Praise and treat.
• Walk around with the doll in your arms wrapped in a blanket.
• Get used to sitting with your doll in one arm as if you are feeding it while stroking the dog with the other hand.

Your dog will begin to associate that the close presence of your baby means good things happen to her.

Know Your Dog
Some dogs have never seen a baby, let alone live with one in the house. How does your dog react around other babies that cry loudly or a child that runs past? Does she get over excited or remain calm? Is her body tensing when a child comes too near or is she eager to greet them? Observing your dog’s reactions around other children will give you an indication of what you can expect when your baby arrives.

Use the Power Positive Reinforcement
Most dogs are motivated by food. Using treats as a reward for calm behavior when the baby is crying or when you are holding the baby in your arms provides a positive association, because your dog is getting delicious food when the baby is around. If your dog is not food motivated then rewarding good behavior with her favorite toy or game is just as powerful.

Get Your Dog Used to the Equipment
Walking with your dog is a great bonding experience and helps you stay fit throughout your pregnancy. However, it is important that your dog now learns how to walk with a stroller. If your dog is a leash puller, have another person walk her while you push the stroller. Hire a private trainer or take your dog to a training class so that she can be taught to walk appropriately alongside the stroller. The more you can practice now the easier it will be.

Brush Up On Training Before Baby’s Arrival
If you have poor communication with your dog, now is the time to enroll her in a training class or hire a private in-home trainer to work with you. A dog that responds well to cues and who understands that jumping up on you when you have a baby in your arms is unacceptable, for example, will be much easier to live with when the baby arrives. Compliance teaching is great for bonding and good communication promotes confidence.

Plan Ahead
Have a plan ready a few months before delivery so that your dog has somewhere to go when you go into hospital. And when you finally come home allow a family member to carry your baby into the house while you spend time greeting the dog. After the greeting is over, sit down on the sofa with the baby in your arms and introduce your dog to the new family member. Keep your body relaxed throughout the introductions and praise your dog for remaining calm.

Baby proofing your dog is all about making that dog feel comfortable and safe with the new changes your baby will bring to your life. Never forget that as a parent you are responsible for those who do not have the ability to think or reason like you do. You need to protect your baby and your dog.

Bottom Line
No infant or child should ever be left unsupervised even for a short time with a dog, no matter how well mannered and well trained that dog might be.

– See more at: http://positively.com/dog-behavior/new-dogs/introducing-a-new-dog/introducing-dog-to-new-baby/#sthash.KfXTHGmG.dpuf