Aggression

[kirama]

The link I gave for CPDT trainers is worldwide, I'm pretty sure you can find one in the UK. As far as petsmart or petco classes- I would observe a class before I paid for it and ask the trainer what kind of experience and training they have. I know for a fact that dog trainers for those stores are not usually well trained, most have been cashiers in the store. They do 'train them' but I observed one trainer teaching a new instructor in petsmart some really 'off the wall' stuff, like if you dog won't walk on the lead with you, you just drag the dog around..ugh... Please understand, this is not an indictment of ALL Petco/Petsmart classes, I know of one local CPDT trainer who actually worked for petsmart for awhile, I am just asking you to check out the trainer before you sign your dog up.

Petsmart & Petco puppy classes where I live are around $110. Classes run by a CPDT trainer range in cost from $100-$150. The CPDT trainers usually restrict the size of their classes to 4 or 6 dogs, I have seen 10 or more dogs in the petco classes. If money is a big consideration, you might try the local humane society or SPCA, when those organizations offer training classes the classes are usually first rate and either free or very inexpensive.

As far as the muzzle, I would not use one on a puppy. If you are worried about the puppy eating something off the ground, then do some work on getting him to keep his head up and focused on you when you are walking. One way to do this is with a target stick, you can use any stick for this, they make them specifically for dog training but no need to go buy one, even an old short curtain rod (with no sharp edges) would work. You put peanut butter or spreadable cheese on the end of the stick, when you are walking the dog and he looks down and starts sniffing or eating junk, you use the target stick to get him to hold his head up, as you continue to walk with him, he should follow the stick trying to get the treat from it. (some people choose to just use their hand and hold a treat in it and lure your dog with it) Then, when you and puppy take a break, you can examine the ground to make sure that there is nothing harmful for him and tell him 'ok' and give him plenty of slack on his lead so that he can sniff around.

For every possible behavior issue, or training problem- there is ALWAYS a positive way to deal with it,

Positive training 'extinguishes' bad behavior and replaces it with something acceptable, an added benefit is that through positive training your dog learns to trust you.

Negative (punishment based) training suppresses behavior and only teaches the dog that all that matters is that you don't catch him doing something wrong- and it can also teach the dog that people are simply NOT to be trusted

[CindynEarl]

great advice with the stick, Kirama. Ok, ya all -- consider the muzzle gone. I will get rid of it, I promise. Thanks for the great advice. Good to know about Petco/petsmart. I've got a print out of people in my area who are certified. I will call around.

[CindynEarl]

Okay so my zip code is 98005. If any of you experts know how to tell a person who claims to be a certified trainer, can you help me find one with good credentials? I am hoping they would also have a way to expose Cruiser to other pups so they learn pup inhibition. I know Petco or Petsmart offers a pup drop off day care where you drop your pup off and they play all day with other pups, but I only want to do that for him for one hour. I don't need him there all day. So to summarize: I am hoping to find someone to help me with the nipping and also hope to get Cruiser around other pups his size or age so they teach each other bite inhibition like ya all suggested.

[kirama]

From this site: http://www.ccpdt.org/index.php?option=com_linkssearch I put in your zipcode and indicated a distance of 10 miles, if you narrow it to 5 miles you still get 3 certified trainers. Call them and discuss your issues, I'm pretty sure you will be able to find one that you are comfortable with that is currently holding classes. I always recommend starting out with classes as opposed to individual training just because of the cost. A reputable trainer will evaluate your puppy during the first class and if she/he thinks you need private training they will tell you. Every CPDT trainer I have ever met loves dogs more than they do money and all of them have been willing to stay after class, or work with me on the phone or via email on any issues that I am having at no extra charge. they want to see you and your dog succeed and really go the distance to make that happen. Good luck & let us know how it goes

Cheri Yates
Location: Medina WA USA 98039
Phone Number: 4255036965
Certified Since: 2009-03-21

Mireille Baumoel
Location: Kirkland WA USA 98034
Phone Number: 4256983205
Certified Since: 2006-03-11

Claudia Celano
Location: Sammamish WA USA 98074
Phone Number: 4255224224
Certified Since: 2007-11-17

Angie Turcott
Location: Sammamish WA USA 98074
Phone Number: 4259228575
Certified Since: 2003-11-08

Susan Eastman
Location: Renton WA USA 98056
Phone Number: 8053901572
Certified Since: 2008-09-27

Emily Keegans
Location: Seattle WA USA 98108
Phone Number: 2067819161
Certified Since: 2008-03-22

Ruth Larocque
Location: Seattle WA USA 98103
Phone Number: 2067181526
Certified Since: 2009-03-21

Denise Stringfellow
Location: Issaquah WA USA 98027
Phone Number: 4254275958
Certified Since: 2003-11-08

Christine Hibbard
Location: Seattle WA USA 98125
Phone Number: 2062958921
Certified Since: 2007-10-23

Judith Anderson-Wright
Location: Seattle WA USA 98125
Phone Number: 2065261101
Certified Since: 2007-03-10

Julie Sharp
Location: Seattle WA USA 98125
Phone Number: 2064097867
Certified Since: 2008-09-27

Rachel Agent
Location: Seattle WA USA 98125
Phone Number: 2064842515
Certified Since: 2008-09-27

Akasha Lewis
Location: Renton WA USA 98059
Phone Number: 2066831587
Certified Since: 2006-03-11

Joey Iversen
Location: Woodinville WA USA 98072
Phone Number: 4257803339
Certified Since: 2007-03-10

[CindynEarl]

Yes this is what I already have, but thank you. I am just wondering how I can tell who is the best. Well, I will just start with the one closest to me who seems to have at least 3-5 years or more. Thank you.

[CindynEarl]

I didn't see any from the UK on this site to help Ladybird find one????

[kirama]

Try this link: APDT is another good organization that advocates +R training

http://www.apdt.co.uk/local_dog_trainers.asp

[CindynEarl]

Kirama, you are so resourceful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. By the way, just to let anyone know, I was told by my breeder to not crate a pup/dog for more than 3-4 hours at a time unless it is overnight (sleepytime); hence, they could get resentful and act up. Just fyi and sharing what was taught me. The holding food in my hand or fist and not allowing Cruiser to have it unless he uses only lips and tongue is improving quite well. I LOVE THIS FORUM! (Now should I give the humane society my muzzle since I won't be using it anymore? or will that be encouraging them to use something that we should not on our canines?)

[kirama]

Originally Posted by CindynEarl

Kirama, you are so resourceful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. By the way, just to let anyone know, I was told by my breeder to not crate a pup/dog for more than 3-4 hours at a time unless it is overnight (sleepytime); hence, they could get resentful and act up. Just fyi and sharing what was taught me. The holding food in my hand or fist and not allowing Cruiser to have it unless he uses only lips and tongue is improving quite well. I LOVE THIS FORUM! (Now should I give the humane society my muzzle since I won't be using it anymore? or will that be encouraging them to use something that we should not on our canines?)

I don't think it's a good idea to crate a puppy for long periods during the day. It is sort of like keeping your toddler in a crib all day..how can they explore and learn if they are constantly confined. I am an advocate of tethering a puppy until it is old enough that it won't chew furniture or pee all over the floor, but a pup on a tether in an area where he is around people, noises, and all the activity of daily life is quite different than being confined in a crate all day.
I keep a muzzle on hand, but it is for 'emergencies' only. If your dog is ever seriously injured, they might well bite at anyone who comes near him no matter how well trained or how much he loves you, so a muzzle is really a safe, humane tool when used to handle an injured dog. I had a chesapeke bay retriever rescue that had open sores from diabetes and would lay still while I dressed his wounds- and the pain had to be excruciating, but on the other hand, I had a golden retriever who was a very sweet gentle soul, but once she got a fish hook stuck in her paw while I was walking her and I had to muzzle her before I could remove it.

[CindynEarl]

I wanted to update you on Cruiser's biting. It has really calmed down. You can cut and paste this and send to others if you like. The holding food in your hand and not releasing until he only uses tongue and lips really helped as well as turning away when he acts too aggressively. He is maturing and what a sweet family pet he is turning out to be. No more muzzle, no more owies. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! It jusrt took a lot of patience and a lot of consistency.
CindynEarl

[kirama]

Originally Posted by CindynEarl

I wanted to update you on Cruiser's biting. It has really calmed down. You can cut and paste this and send to others if you like. The holding food in your hand and not releasing until he only uses tongue and lips really helped as well as turning away when he acts too aggressively. He is maturing and what a sweet family pet he is turning out to be. No more muzzle, no more owies. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! It jusrt took a lot of patience and a lot of consistency.
CindynEarl

That is wonderful news! And you get a ton of credit for being so receptive to suggestions.

[Jac]

Cindy...congratulations! You really do deserve the credit! If not for your patience and you love for Crusier, your willingness to try the suggestions made, he might have had a real problem...but you were patient and waited for him to mature and you kept trying the good suggestions. I am so happy that you posted this. Cruiser is a lucky boy to have you!

[jgoaring]

Just reading along about Cruiser's progress... great to hear it Cindy. I wish you lived just a tad closer... we have a WONDERFUL puppy trainer -- she is in Battleground, WA -- so a bit of a drive for you! She was just rated #1 in Clark County in the paper's "Best of Clark County" voting which really impressed me because there are much fancier training operations around and she is 100% R+ (positive/reinforcement) trainer. In fact my dad, who used a more old school trainer watched the class and you could tell he was sort of looking at me like "eh?? so this works for you??" because you don't lay a hand on the dog, you don't push them down into a sit or down, you use food treat lures only... no muzzle holding, no yanking the lead... just wait for the behavior to happen and then reward when it does. Works wonders!

I have been lucky in that Sammy isn't at all a nippy dog. He is so easy going. Even when the 2 year old is trying to sit on him! We do the loud "yip" sound if he mouths at anyone... just to remind him to keep his mouth shut and we have let all the kids give him treats and he has to using lips and tongue only -- no teeth. Hand feeding works well to get them to be gentle.

I also really liked the book "Puppy Perfect" -- she uses positive techniques and I felt like it gave me lots of ideas for fun games and tricks to teach the pup when training at home. We have now just recently graduated from puppy class and we passed the STAR puppy training course. So it means Sammy was able to do all 20 behaviors (though you are allowed to use a food lure and we did because with lots of people and dogs in the room watching, he wouldn't be able to do it all without treats!) so that was exciting. Sammy will be 6 months old on the 14th of this month... hey -- next week! So our next step will be the juniors class... I plan on doing classes on an ongoing basis... we may end up doing agility or companion training or some other advanced training down the line as we see what Sammy is really good at as he matures.

I wanted to let you all know I have been less active on this site because I have discovered another Doodle forum online and I LOVE that site... it is really fun. I think I have seen some familiar faces on that site that are one here as well... Jac? Aren't you on there?

Send me a PM if you want the link and more information!

Jen G.

[Jac]

Hi Jen...thank you so much for this wonderful information! I am going to look into the books you mentioned and the program. I wish that your trainer was nearby...maybe you wouldn't mind contacting me privately for a discussion about the trainer?
Yes I am on the site you mention. I belong to many of the Doodle sites, as most members do. Some of them move too quickly for me and it is difficult to keep up, so I enjoy this Doodle forum because of the pace and the ability to really connect with each member.
Plus, the maturity level of this forum is a nice benefit.
I am going to send you a PM, so please watch the menu at the top of the page and click on the link when it says that you have a message.
Thanks again for the great input!

[CindynEarl]

Another forum???????? Where do you guys find the time? Battleground, WA, Huh? Do you know how far away that is to Seattle? I am willing to try her out if I could get there in an hour or a bit more, but not two or more hours. I don't know what else Cruiser needs as far as lessons, though. Maybe not jumping up. I would like to meet her. Cindy