Monday, November 16, 2015

What is Force Free Training

Hello,
I wanted to touch base on force free training, I hear a lot of people talking about it now a days. What is training my dog force free? Well we have all kinds of trainers out there in the world and there are great ones and there are bad ones. I'm not saying that the ones using shock collars, prong collars are bad but there are trainers that do not know how to use them in a safe manner. I've seen choke chains that were imbedded in a dogs neck cause they thought by chaining it up was ok using a choke chain and a chain, I've also seen dogs hang  themselves with choke chains and prong collars, these are a tool to be used for training only by a professional that knows how to use them, a shock collar can be used as a good tool as well but can also injury the dog. I own these training aids but in my classes I use force free methods. What's that you ask. It's by using body language and I communicate with the dog using body language. Not by using verbal cues dogs are more visual than verbal. And teaching dogs without force makes a happier dog and a happy home. We never make a dog do something we do let the dog correct him/her self we never hit a dog or yell at a dog. So when choosing a trainer ask yourself this.
1. What type of methods do they use?
2. Do they make the dog go into sits and downs?
3. What type of training equipment do they use?
And always check them out

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Crate Training

Hello,
Wanted to share our notes from today's semanir that we had at tractor supply on crate training, potty training tips leash manners,



Crate Training:

When making the first introduction, it is best done in steps. The last thing you want to do is frighten your puppy to the point that he is reluctant or unwilling to get into his crate . Ideally, you want your puppy to get into the crate at your command. But why? Safety is number 1 a puppy that is keep in a crate is a safe puppy.
Myth: A Crate will make my puppy mean.
Truth : A crate is your pups time out place/ yes even our pups and dogs like to have space.

MAKING CRATE TRAINING A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE With out using force or fear:
To avoid making crate training a traumatic experience for the puppy, make sure that he feels at ease throughout the entire process. By doing this you want a puppy that is tired and relaxed both mentally and physically before you start crate training. First tempt the puppy to enter the crate by placing some kibble, high value treat , or favorite toy inside. Be generous with your praises, as he enters the crate to eat the kibble or get the toy. Once the puppy is inside the crate Praise him with a simple “ Yes or good” do not pull the pup out of the crate let him come out on his own. But remember do don't line the bottom of the crate with any blankets till the pup is fully house trained. After practicing going in and out of the crate willingly several times, once the puppy appears to be at ease inside the crate and does not show any signs of fright, then you can close the door slowly do not latch it in case the pup wants to come out. Keep it closed for one minute, as long as he remains calm all throughout. After that, open the door and invite him out while generously praising him. Increase the time only after the pup is calm and relaxed once he is latch the door repeat the above steps. Once the pup is calm and relaxed with being in the crate and the door latched for up to five mins you can try to leave the room for a min.

WHAT IF HE WHINES?
Do not yell nor kick the crate come back in wait till the pup calms down no barking, pawing at the door, once he stops open the door do not fuss over the pup just open the door walk out of the room go sit down when the pups comes over give some love but again do not make it a big deal the pup will soon learn that the crate is a nice place to go hang out and relax.



Potty Training Tips:

When you have your new puppy house training is not the best thing to do finding piles in the house?
Myth: put newspaper down in a small area than slowly remove them the pup teaches themselves to go potty outside.
Truth: if you use bells on your door and use the same door to take the pup out of and ring the bells they learn to ring the bells to go outside ( some dogs take longer to train others learn to sit at the door)

When house training a pup keep a leash handy by the backdoor along with some puppy food or small high value treats. Put the leash on the pup take him out to an area that you want him to use and give a cue word like potty watch the pup as soon as the pup starts go potty yes yes or good potty and reward with a treat. Young pups need to go out after they eat,drink, play, wake up, and even during the night.

Puppy pads work with some dogs they have a smell That attracts them to the pad but again you need to train the pup to use them.

If the pup Potties in the house clean it up using natures miracle.


Leash Manners:

Have you ever been walked by your dog? You want your dog to heel next to you?  You don't need to buy a fancy harness for dogs that pull. We will show you methods we use on dogs that at one time were fearful, dominate dogs but now heel right next to their owners not by using force or free but by having confidence in the owner and how your energy effects


Thank you
K9 Paws Behavior Dog Training



Friday, October 31, 2014

Selection of a service dog

Hello,
wanted to talk about service dogs and how we pick ours, some trainers get their dogs from breeders, some get from shelters and there is always a debate about it that some say only service dogs should come from breeders that breed for the traits  and i say yes on that if you are a big name training center. we for one are not we do live to help save dogs from the shelter if we can save a dog from death row and he/she shows the traits that we are looking for if it be for mobility, ptsd, hearing alert dogs. we assess the dogs on many different behaviors using the safer method, plus taking them out away from the shelter to see how they act in public, than we bring them home to test with our animals if they pass all these tests than they are welcome into our pack and start there training. and we spend 1-2 months just on basic training why so much on basic its to make sure the dog is really solid in all their basic behaviors and while we do this they are also doing public access training. the next 2-4 months is getting the dog out more and getting him/her out on as many different types of settings. in different types of weather. by this time we know for sure if the dog is going to make it as a service dog he/she has been though a thunder storms, high winds, other animals etc by that time we start working on task training this is where the dog learns to pick up items, turn lights on, brace , help their human with living life. and when the year - two years is up and hading the leash over is the best thing in the world sure its sad to see that dog leave but you know part of you is in the dog your heart and soul. so the next time you see a service dog in the store know the owner may have trained it or a professional did.and know that dog was /is loved. yes it does cost thousands of dollars to train one service  dog. thank you
k9 paws behavior dog training

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Dog training 101

Hello,
I want to write about dog training 101 what is that you ask? Well to any professional trainer it is many different things, different methods. You have your all positive trainers who only use treats and praise yes that will work on some dogs but not all dogs. Then you have your trainers that are force trainers they don't use treats they force the dog into a sit by forcing them into it. Some say that is outdated some say it's the only way to train. I use my own methods I do what's best for the dog and the owners. I feel that a dog will learn from treats and praise and sometimes you need to tell them where they need to be not by forcing them but by showing them dogs will learn by watching others they only follow a strong leader how would you like it if you were at work and your boss was all over the place acting. Crazy you would want to get away from them right that's how your dog is they don't speak English you can tell a dog red and that could be a cue to sit or down. But if you treat that dog with respect it will show you the respect. I will say if you want to use different types of training equipment and the trainer says they only use this or that I would say find a new trainer. A trainer that knows how to use a wide range of equipment. I for one love to help both human and dog bond and become a good working team.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

My Journey to Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training

My Journey to Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training 1 Course

Jillian Dunn
Early February, I received an email from Jillian Dunn, who is the executive director of the Cesar Millan Foundation for the Dog Psychology Center in Southern California. For over a year and half, Jillian has been a supporter of the North Central Unit Paws in Prison Program.  The foundation has donated books, DVDs, and training aids. She asked me to call her. When I called, I was offered the new Cesar Millan Foundation “Train to Rescue Scholarship” that was created for deserving rescue organizations. Creating balance between people and dogs is at the core of everything Cesar teaches and an essential part of the mission of the Cesar Millan Foundation. The Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training I course is a major, hands-on way in which Cesar can help people learn how to achieve that balance. Lynn and I were in total shock. A Go Fund Me web page was created to help with travel and hotel expenses for the week-long class. We are very thankful for all the support from family and friends, we just love them all.
Cesar & Marsha

We drove 3,232 total miles over a three-day drive to California and back again. The dog I brought for training is Jasper, a black lab mix that was trained in our Paws in Prison Program to be a mobility service dog. We are currently working with Jasper on some PTSD commands for a veteran.  Lynn went with me to California and he met Jillian and Cesar on graduation night.

Our Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training 1 started on Monday, February 20th, and lasted four full days from 9:30 am 5 PM. The shorter fifth day was sad for us as we said our goodbyes. We covered so many different training topics. Each student had the opportunity to walk Cesar's pack during a one-mile pack walk every day and received one on one time with Cesar as we walked. Cesar Milan is awesome in person, a very sweet, caring man. As an instructor, he is extraordinary; he will cover each topic until everyone understands it completely.

I made so many new friends at the center, other dog trainers, veterinarians, and some were dog owners wanting to learn how to better themselves and their dogs through training. We are all Facebook Friends and are keeping in touch.

I had brought back many new concepts and skills to our Paws in Prison program, “to be calm - have calm energy” is by far the most important.

Marsha Tonkinson
K9 Paws Dog Behavior Training
North Central Unit Paws in Prison Program

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Does a Therapy Dog Have Public Access Rights?

Hi All,
Wanted to talk about therapy dogs as pets, that are trained as a therapy dog to go visit schools, hospice houses etc, do these dogs have the same public access rights as a service dog? The answer is no they don't if they are your pet and have passed the CGC and passed the therapy test with pet partners or TDI you can't slap a service dog vest on him/her and take them shopping with you or out to eat on,y if you ask the store if you can bring the TDIT (therapy dog in training) into there business would say some will say yes some will say no. Cause these dogs are not a service dog and under ADA law they cannot and do not have the same rights as a service dog. People are putting service dogs at risk by slapping a vest on there pet or TDIT just to bring them with, we foresee it coming down the line that all service dogs will have to soon carry paperwork from the group/school or trainer who trained that dog and in what type of tasks it was trained to do.
Thank you

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hank paws in prison

Hello,
Wanted to write a blog about a special dog in our paws in prison program, his name is hank a 1 year old mix breed that was homeless and left to run free on the streets in mountain home ar in the middle of winter, he was under weight running on the bypass trying not to get hit by passing cars going 50-55 mph. When a lady saw him stopped her truck got out and stopped traffic and tried to get this dog to jump into the back of the truck but he wouldn't she then went to get a rope once the door was open he jump in and sat there looking at her like he was saying I'm ready lets go. She then took him to a local vets office where they took this cold wet skinny dog in and checked him over making sure he was ok once given food and a dry blanket he was happy to be safe for now but his faith was still not sure he stayed at the office for three weeks where another lady Dena Sparks came to visit him and he would chatter at her as if he was saying please help me as I know I have a job to do I need to help someone . The vet told her if she couldn't find a place they wouldn't have a choice but to put him down. She then contacted ark paws in prison where we went to look at this dog as we were looking for a dog to train as a service dog for a United States veteran with PTSD who was also in a wheelchair hank had passed every test he was going to become a pip dog. Hank is now in his 7th week of training he has learned how to walk next to a wheelchair, back up, go under tables, paws up, plus many more commands. So the next time you see a dog trying not to get hit by a car, in the middle of winter remember hank that dog you see and didn't try to help could/ have been a service dog for someone.
Thank you