THE FAMILY DOG HELPLINE
Bakers Acres Dog Blog
TRAINING VIDEO: How To Teach Your Dog Self Control
Your dog is capable of more than you give them credit for. Raise the bar and hold them accountable to be better, well-mannered, contributing members of society. If your dog's impulse control has slackened, here's some homework to follow up on.
In this one video you'll see how we teach these dogs:
self-control,
patience,
good table manners,
and to wait their turn.
If your dog's impulse control has slackened, here's some homework:
Step 1: Get some treats or your dog's daily food.
Step 2: Wait for your dog to show proper etiquette: quiet, calm, soft but direct eye-contact.
Step 3: Offer the food, but be ready to refuse it if your dog breaks etiquette, i.e.: barks or whines, jumps up or grabs at the food in your hand, gets distracted or demanding.
Step 4: If they maintain good manners, let them eat the treat in peace and skip to Step 6.
Step 5: If they break etiquette, take back the treat and say "eh eh" and start back at Step 1. Repeat as necessary until your dog shows good manners.
Step 6: Apply these steps to every aspect of your life with your dog, i.e.: getting the leash on to go for a walk, heading out the door, making dinner, greeting you when you get home from work or school, walking around the block.
Your dog is capable of more than what you give them credit for. Raise the bar and hold them accountable to be better, well-mannered, contributing members of society.
If you have more questions or curiosities about training, please, book a free consultation!
Comment below with what you've done to help your dog with self control or share with a friend who needs help.
The Traffic Light Principle
As you pull up to the traffic light, it switches from green to yellow.
What do you do?
Keep going and hope you make it through the intersection before it turns red, taking a chance that you won’t hit someone or someone else won’t hit you?
Or do you stop and wait for the light to turn back to green?
As you pull up to the traffic light, it switches from green to yellow.
What do you do?
Keep going and hope you make it through the intersection before it turns red, taking a chance that you won’t hit someone or someone else won’t hit you?
Or do you stop and wait for the light to turn back to green?
As long as the light is green, you know you can keep going with little to no consequences other than getting to where you want to go within the timeframe you planned. But when the light changes from green to yellow, now you must make a choice. If you stop, you might be late. If you speed through, you might get pulled over if you’re caught or you might cause a fatal accident. It is in that moment of choice that true teaching happens.
Training your dog is like a traffic light
Green light means “you’re doing great, keep doing what you’re doing.” This is the positive side of dog training, the 90% when we reward our dogs for good behavior, usually in the form of treats, toys, affection, and “good boy”.
Yellow light means “caution, you might want to stop and think about what you are doing.” This is the negative side of dog training, the 9% when we teach our dogs to think before they act and give them constructive, informative, and corrective feedback to change their behavior before they do something they or we will regret.
Red light means “STOP NOW or you will face the consequences.” This is the non-negotiable side of dog training, the 1% when we must stop bad behavior that will harm our dogs or others.
When your dog pulls up to the traffic light and it switches from green to yellow or yellow to red, keep this mantra in mind: “Be as fair as you can be, but as firm as you need to be.”
Will my dog listen without the e-collar?
Hey Sara, do you know if there’s a way to have a dog not be e-collar savvy? My dogs do behave better when they know their e-collars are on, but is there ever a time when they don’t need it anymore or is there a way to get them to listen without it?
QUESTION
Hi Sara! I hope you’re having a beautiful day today. I have a question that I’d like to hear your perspective.
Do you know if there’s a way to have a dog not be e-collar savvy? My dogs do behave better when they know their e-collars are on, but is there ever a time when they don’t need it anymore or is there a way to get them to listen without it?
ANSWER
Hey […]! Let me see if I understand your question.
Can a dog eventually be reliable and trustworthy without the e-collar on? Or, can you ever prevent dogs from becoming e-collar savvy?
The answer to the first question is yes. Humans have been teaching dogs for eons without e-collars. However, for the best results you should start early during the imprinting stage, and it typically takes 10 times as long and even then there is always a slight 1% chance your dog will decide it's worth it to give you the middle finger.
The answer to the second question is “maybe”, but most likely “no”. Take our own behavior for example. Why do we drive 5-20 mph over the speed limit when we all know it's against the law, but drive 5-10 mph under the speed limit when there's a highway patrolman in sight?
Just let that sink in. And I'll leave the decision to use or keep using the ecollar up to you.
Free Feeding or Scheduled Feeding?
These are a few reasons why scheduled feeding is far better than free feeding that I have personally seen with my dog owners and my own dogs…
This is a hot and sometimes divisive topic that typically comes up during discussions with my dog owners at the first or second lesson.
Some are adamant that their dog be allowed to eat whenever and whatever he wants just like their children or grandchildren. If that's your cup of tea, then great! Continue doing what you're doing. But these people generally contact me because their dog has a bad habit or behavior that annoys or severely inhibits their home and lifestyle.
So, I help them take back control over what they can control as quickly as possible. Managing meal times is the first and easiest thing you can do to make immediate changes in your home without too much effort.
These are a few reasons why scheduled feeding is far better than free feeding that I have personally seen with my dog owners and my own dogs:
it makes potty training easier, if you can regulate when it goes in, you regulate when it comes out and how often!
dogs digestive tracks are not meant to have food constantly going through them. They are predators and scavengers, only eating when given the opportunity. Therefore their systems are built for scarcity not abundance. They have a predator's (think gorging) gut, not a prey's (think grazers) gut.
it's easier and quicker to tell if your dog has a medical or dental issue. If my dogs don't immediately eat all of their food, I know something is wrong.
sanitation, while most dogs don't have adverse reactions to dirty dishes and food that's been left out for most of the day, there is always a risk of spreading illness and attracting pests. Feeding on a schedule automatically gives you the opportunity to remove the dog dishes and clean them between feedings.
eliminates picky eaters. Why should the dog eat his food right away when he can nibble at it anytime he wants or beg for much better and more delicious food from the dining room table or countertop?
"dogs won't bite the hands that feed them." Whether you believe this old adage or not, there is a great tasting benefit to scheduling feedings. If your dog recognizes you as the source of their food and water, they are more likely to listen to you. If food is always available, what role do you play on your dog's life? Nothing more than entertainment and the mode of going out for a walk.
A note about puppies, tiny teacup dogs, and dogs with medical issues, use your best judgement. If your dog has a serious illness or diabetes or difficult time keeping weight on, then obviously feed your dog according to your vet's recommendations. These ideas have helped most of my clients solve every day, nagging behavioral issues and conquered the potty training dilemma.
My hope with this post is that you will gain some perspective and make a better informed decision whether you should continue free feeding or switch to scheduled feedings.
6 Steps to Better Communication With Your Dog
When communicating with someone who speaks a different language, it’s helpful to learn their language to help them understand you!
- Article Written by Bakers Acres Founder: Sara Baker, owner of Bakers Acres K9 Academy
Why our dogs don’t listen
“Buddy, come!” “Come...” “Come! Come here!” “Buddy!!! COME!!!”
We have all found ourselves in this situation or one similar to it. It is so frustrating and sometimes terrifying! And oftentimes gets our dogs into a lot of trouble or danger if they don’t listen.
But why does this happen so often?
The problem lies in the fact that our dogs are dogs...not humans. Let me say that again. Dogs aren’t human!!! Dogs are a different species and as such they speak a different language. When communicating with someone who speaks a different language, it’s helpful to learn their language to help them understand you!
What can we do to help our dogs understand us?
As with all relationships, communication is the key! Learning HOW an individual communicates is even more crucial.
Dogs rarely communicate verbally, or vocally. For instance, they only make noise when they’re demanding attention, hyper, anxious, afraid, or aggressive. Other than that, they’re quiet. Or they should be. A happy, healthy dog, is a quiet dog. They speak more with their bodies than their voices. So, if you want your dog to understand “human” you need to first speak “dog”.
STEP 1: Be calm
Take a deep breath. Relax. Are you ready? If you’re frustrated, angry, upset, or scared, pause a second to gather your wits. In the event of an emergency, just don’t say anything. Loud, scared, emotional voices often create or add to the problem. It’s better to remain silent.
STEP 2: Get your dog’s attention
Say their name in a friendly, yet assertive voice. Think of your Grandma and the respect she deserves. Be Grandma.
STEP 3: Speak clearly
Use one word for a specific command and only use that word for that command or context. For example, sometimes we slip up and say “down” when we really want our dog to get “down” off the couch. Differentiate the two commands by choosing a word that means “to lay down” (we like the word “DOWN”) and a correction that means “to get off” (we use the word "OFF").
STEP 4: Give one command and wait
Allow your dog time to hear, understand, and comply with the command. Silence and patience are golden. Repeating the command or saying anything at all can actually cause confusion and your dog will probably just walk away or join in the “barking!” Avoid repeating the command unless it will add clarity.
STEP 5: Follow through until your dog complies
If they turn away to avoid doing what you’ve asked, or something else grabs their attention, say “nope” and bring them back to start over at Step 1.
STEP 6: Throw a party!!!!
When your dog understand and listens, throw a party! Give them a treat! Sing their praises! Show them what a good dog they’ve been.
BONUS MATERIAL
We recommend commands with 1 word, 1 syllable, and a strong vowel sound.
SIT (instead of sit down),
DOWN (instead of lay or lay down),
COME (instead of here or come here),
PLACE (instead of bed or get on your place),
OFF (instead of down when commanding to get off of or down from something),
OUT (instead of drop it or release),
CRATE (instead of kennel or bed)
GET IN (load up in the car)
We love using marker words while actively training or interacting with our dogs.
"Good" means keep doing what you're doing.
"Yes" means good you completed that task, take a brief break before starting a new one.
"Break" means we're all done, go have some fun.
"Nope" means that's not what I wanted. Try again.
"No" means NO! Don't ever do that again.
The Result of Remote Collar Training
Responsible, humane, remote collar training can save lives and bring fulfillment.
The Results of Responsible Remote Collar Training Are Boundless
Because of responsible remote collar training, we can take our dogs anywhere! One of their favorite places is the playground. If you have a high energy dog, get them trained on an ecollar so you can enjoy off leash excursions like this!
Starring: Bandit (Australian Shepherd) and Chico (Chiweenie)
Rules & Boundaries = Respect & Freedom
Dogs thrive on structure and boundaries. When rules are absent, dominant dogs naturally become the leader and take over while submissive dogs become anxious and overwhelmed with the responsibility of leadership...
Dogs thrive on structure and boundaries. When rules are absent, dominant dogs naturally become the leader and take over while submissive dogs become anxious and overwhelmed with the responsibility of leadership. Both scenarios create annoying and many times destructive behaviors. What many dog owners perceive as stubbornness or hyperactivity is really dominance and/or anxiety overblown! Establishing rules, boundaries and limitations in the home and in public will resolve or prevent these bad behaviors.
Puppy Playdates for Aggressive or Fearful Dogs
Don't take your aggressive or fearful dog to the dog park! Just don't!
I WANT TO MY DOG TO HAVE DOGGY FRIENDS, BUT...
If your dog shows aggression or fear around other dogs, STOP. Re-evaluate the goal. Are you wanting your dog to stop going after every dog? Or is your dog selective? If he's selective then he just needs a few, close, trusted friends that bring out the best in him. Set up playdates with some friends or neighbors with dogs of similar age, temperaments, and play styles. Avoid dog parks at all cost!!!
Your dog doesn't need to be friends with everyone. Now this doesn't mean that you allow your dog to be antisocial in a social setting. What it does mean is that you advocate for them and show them that they don't have to be in that type of a social setting in the first place.
What Is Balanced Training?
Balanced training - clearly communicate with a dog what is wanted and what is not wanted.
“Your dog is only as balanced as your household.”
Balanced Training
Balanced training uses a combination of positive reinforcement such as food, clickers, praise, and touch, and negative reinforcement such as spatial, verbal, and physical pressure to clearly communicate with a dog what is wanted and what is undesirable.
To be successful, all teams must work together to achieve the same goal. If owner, trainer and dog are on separate pages, then nothing is accomplished. Our goal is to teach you how to train your own dog to eliminate existing problems and prevent future bad behaviors from starting. We accomplish this through regular, structured exercise, rules and boundaries, and addressing nutritional and emotional needs, plus a wide variety of tools, praise and consequences. Each dog and owner are different and need a specific program tailored just for them.
We believe in correctly, safely, and humanely using any tool in the toolbox that the dog responds best to. Some of the tools we use are: tone of voice, body language, flat buckle collar, prong collar, verbal markers, food, dressage whip, "bonker", e-collar/remote training collar, slip lead, pet convincer, muzzle, dominant dog collar, and martingale collar.
If you have any issue with these tools, please feel free to ask why. We'd love to show you and educate you on how to properly and humanely use each of them and see the benefits. But if you feel these tools and methods aren't what you're looking for, then we can refer you to other trainers in the area that might be more suited to your style.
Teaching kids to resect dogs and dogs to respect kids
…All the supervising in the world won't stop the inevitable if you are just watching it happen.
When kids and dogs are in the same space, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE. But all the supervising in the world won't stop the inevitable if you are just watching it happen. Step in BEFORE anything happens, even if you believe your dog and your child would never do anything to each other. Don't be dumb! Stop what COULD happen from becoming what WILL happen. Don't put all the responsibility to be good on your dog. Teach your kids to be respectful of the dog and teach your dog to give space to your kids. If you're too far away to remove the baby, call your dog away. If your dog is cornered, don't allow the baby or child to go anywhere near the dog.
Above all, be wise!!!