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by Daniel McElroy Jr


As spring approaches, lots of people will start thinking about getting their new puppy. House training and obedience training is much more enjoyable in spring and a new pup gives us just that much more reason to get outside.

The first question to ask is this. Should I buy a dog from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? While we know that some people will want to buy a certain type of dog from a breeder, we strongly support rescuing a homeless dog.

The very first thing I advise people to do is avoid the pet stores. Period. There is not a single pet store I know of that operates responsibly. I dare say that pretty much every dog in every pet store came from a puppy mill; even if they say they don’t. The basis for this claim is that no responsible breeder would ever sell it’s puppies to a broker who in turn sells them to pet stores. There are responsible breeders out there, and they will want to know where their puppies end up. With pet stores, anyone who walks in with the money can buy a puppy.

You may be asking, “Is there a dog in rescue that is suitable for me?” The short answer is yes. There are probably thousands of dogs in rescues in your immediate area. We are located in Chicago, but we regularly get posts from around the country for great dogs in rescue situations. No matter if you want a purebred dog, a fluffy mutt, a big or small dog, high energy runner or low key couch potato, they are all available in rescue. If you do decide to adopt a homeless pet, there are a few things that you should consider.

The first thing I would want to know is the dog’s age. While young puppies are generally seen as very desirable, I often advise people to look for a dog over a year old. A very young puppy, while extra cute, will present a whole set of challenges that you could avoid with an older dog. Chewing, house training and play biting are pretty normal issues with young puppies. A dog about a year old may have been house trained already, making the integration process easier. Play biting may cause discomfort for a human child. A slightly older dog might be pass this stage. Destructive behavior can happen at any age, but it’s much more common with young puppies.

The most important issue related to age is temperament. A very young puppy can be friendly and outgoing, but develop into an anxious adult. If I am taking on a very young puppy, I prefer to meet it’s parents. This may not be possible in a rescue situation. A dog that’s about a year old has pretty much developed it’s adult personality. The importance of this cannot be overstated. A dog’s temperament is guided more by genetics than upbringing. I’ll explain this shortly.

Some folks have the mistaken idea that a pound puppy must be defective; that a dog from a breeder will be somehow superior. While there are some dogs in rescues that have been through horrible abuse situations, the vast majority of them were just puppies that were bought by people who didn’t know what they were getting into. They got the puppy not realizing the requirements of raising it and decided to give it up to the rescue. Also, we have gotten beautiful pure breed dogs from rescue situations. I have seen German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and just about any other breed you can imagine in shelters. If you care to own a particular breed of dog, a quick Google search will likely turn up a rescue dedicated to that breed. Of course you may not get the dog’s actual registration papers with it, but those papers won’t make your dog a better companion.

Even if a dog in a rescue does come from an abusive background, this isn’t an automatic disqualifier. I have seen many severely abused dogs recover. We have all seen recent cases of rescued fighting dogs in the media that prove this. These dogs, many of them horribly abused have developed into therapy dogs, service dogs and great companion dogs. I’ve also seen puppies that were bought from breeders and raised responsibly, become fear biters as adults. These dogs invariable came from fearful parents and the temperament was passed to the pups. While an experienced trainer can spot signs of temperament issues in a puppy, to many these signs go un-noticed. If you adopt a dog that’s about year old, things like fear or aggression should be evident.

Some folks have specific concerns regarding allergies. I recently spoke to a young lady who was allergic to dogs, but had no symptoms with Schnauzers. Right now 1,580 available dogs come up on Petfinder when you search Schnauzer.

The point I’m trying to make is that no matter what your needs are, there is a rescue dog out there for you. Please consider adopting a homeless dog. You’ll never know the difference, but you’ll make a difference.

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— February 14, 2012 —

In light of the recent public dog bite on national TV, when a Denver news anchor went in to smooch a stressed, scared Dogo on the air and consequentially was bitten in the face, this Tuesday’s Tail will discuss dog contentment, behavior and how it is affected by the human projection of affection. Humans are an expressive and affectionate species that crave intimacy with fellow people and, of course, pets. That’s why we have them right? Well…the answer is really more complex than obvious.

There is something to be said about the way some dog owners project their desire to derive and provide affection in regards to their pets and all of the not-so-obvious negative implications that result because of it. Dogs are pack animals, we’ve heard this time and time again, but to really understand what that means we have to look into instinct, rationale, pack mentality, and the human infliction of emotion, affection and comfort unto a dog, and the unfortunate consequences.

What does this all mean? Can’t we just love our dogs? They’re family after all…

“Dog society” operates on a constant drive for power. In the ‘pack’, whether it be amongst humans, other dogs or intermixed, dogs instinctively test the authority above them in the pecking order of the pack. Meanwhile, they are being tested by the member of the pack behind them in the chain of command. The instinctual ‘pack mentality’ driven power struggle serves to ensure the strength and survival of the pack. Don’t forget that dogs are animals, and even though we may not realize it, their life priorities are based on life, death and survival… even if they’re sleeping on plush beds and chew on the most expensive antlers on the market.

What does this mean for the average dog owner? Our dogs test us, with their behavior, to ensure our ability to lead the others (the family and household), and if they find that we’re not in fact strong enough, then the whole pack’s safety is compromised and the second in order of succession should take over as leader- which is when problems with your dog’s behavior may arise.

When the pack leader, which should be the dog owner, isn’t providing their dog with the rules, orders and limits the dog craves, an undesirable imbalance occurs and the dog becomes confused and troubled in understanding who the boss is and what he/she expects of them. Once we notice these issues, we further emphasize and inflame the insecurities of our dogs in these tricky imbalanced situations by doing what we do best- trying to fix the problem with our ultra-soothing human ways of providing support.

How did we get here?

So many dog owners give their dogs excessive love and affection it creates further disproportion and confusion in the dog’s psyche. This is especially true of a dog whose behavior is erratic and out of control. People need to understand that affection is a human desired trait, not canine. Dogs desire fulfilling their instincts- that makes them ‘happy’- not the human implication or understanding of affection. This doesn’t mean you should be harsh or unaffectionate towards your dog, but it does mean that affection should be given at the right times and that it’s important to effectively balance expressing love, from a human perspective, with also giving dogs work, rules and order (the way dogs understand love) so the devotion to your dog is not counterproductive.

It’s almost second nature for humans to console others and especially our dogs in time of distress, illness or when we just plain feel like it. They’re our babies right? Providing solace to our dog at a time we, as humans, would most want to be comforted, can be the single most detrimental behavior in dog ownership. We think showing kindness, understanding and support is a way to alleviate the stress of someone that’s grieving, troubled, or in pain. Dogs, on the other hand, see the human expression of comfort as weakness. You know the saying ‘you’re my rock during hard times’? Think about what that phrase is really a testament to. When your dog is sick, injured or scared, comforting them in a human sense, is showing them ‘hey, I’m weak with you, too’; that’s not going to help your dog feel better, less scared or bounce back from a traumatic experience. You need to be your dog’s ‘rock’ when they’re insecure, as any natural leader should. Don’t make your dog worry about who is going to carry on the strength for the pack when they’re too weak and you’re weak along with them. You need to assure your dog that you’ve got it all under control with another positive effect being that your strength is going to also ‘snap’ the dog out of the current negative state of mind and help them overcome their troubles.

Going back, quickly, to the news anchor that absolutely felt the need to handle the Dogo’s head with both of her hands and guide his terrified, stiff face into hers so she could kiss him hello on the mouth. Her human desire to show affection towards a dog that she had never met was a perfect recipe for disaster. The dog was, understandably, completely petrified on the news set with lights, tons of cameras, crew and his owner (who was also probably nervous about discussing a rather uncomfortable incident involving his dog on national television), all setting the tone for his dog’s dismal state of mind and ultimate reaction. Although she meant well, the anchor’s human terms of endearment towards the Dogo set him off and he reacted instinctively. How would you feel if a complete stranger went into kiss you on the mouth in public? In all seriousness, this was a perfect example of human affection- and the reality that dogs do not process emotions with the human rationale, but instead, feed their actions from their primal instincts and understanding.

The most important mistake dog owners can collectively avoiding making is turning their pets into ‘dog babies’ or ‘little dog humans’ that they coddle and dote after constantly. No matter how deep the level of communication you feel you have with your dog is, it’s important to remember that dogs do not possess the same level of reasoning and rationality as humans. If we really want to do right by them, we need to understand that dogs live in the moment and are driven by instinct. They don’t plan ahead, or reflect on the past in either a positive or negative way. They are simple creatures that only ask us, as dog owners, to allow them to balance their drive and instincts while being under our lead as a member of the household. Express your love in a way that will satisfy your personal needs for affection but, at the same time, won’t be detrimental to your dog. Being realistic with yourself and your expectations of what you can derive from dog ownership can really strengthen the bond and understanding you have with your dog, and further solidifying that thing we call LOVE in a way our dogs can understand!

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— February 7, 2012 —

by Daniel McElroy Jr.

Spring is my favorite time of year. The snow melts, the trees start to bloom and we can take our dogs for long walks without bundling up. Spring, however, comes with a few seasonal concerns. The main concern with spring is the poop. The poop I’m referring to is the stuff left over from winter walks. I make it a point to pick up ALL of my dogs’ poop, every time I walk them…year round. I even dig it out if it happens to sink into fluffy snow. Some folks, however, seem to think that snow on the ground creates some kind of magic portal that transports poop into another dimension. Like it actually disappears. Like through a poop wormhole…

Well, that ain’t the case. Poop freezes solid just like everything else. It sits there like a little germ time capsule and waits for the weather to warm up. As soon as the melt water hits the poop-sicle, it breaks down and voila, you have poop soup.

There is a good chance that the puddles you and your dog will walk through this spring may contain giardia…a parasite that could get your dog very sick. This parasite lives in feces of infected animals and can live in water for a very long time. So when the poop soup joins with the mud puddles of spring, it can give a whole new meaning to the term “Spring Fever”. If your dog drinks from puddles, or licks their paws after walking through them, they could get infected. Giardia is extremely contagious. Humans can catch it too, either from direct contact with the contaminated water or from your dog. If you happen to touch your dog’s paw while it is still wet and touch your food or mouth, it can be transmitted to you. The symptoms of giardia can include loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, bloody or pale-colored or strong-smelling stools. I’ve never had it, but I hear it’s no fun.

The vet may have a difficult time making a diagnosis because the cyst is only shed during part of the life cycle. If the test comes up negative, the vet may diagnose gastroenteritis and treat with antibiotics. Metronidazole (Flagyl) is often prescribed for gastroenteritis and for giardia.

Another serious concern about poop not being picked up…is RATS! Nobody wants those nasty critters crossing their path. They come out when nobody is looking and feast on the poop left behind. Yep, rats eat poop. It’s like a picnic for them. Dog droppings are mostly undigested dog food and rats thrive on it. Wherever rats go, they leave behind their droppings…which carry lots of diseases. Then next time you walk your dog along your usual route, you and your dog will come into contact with the rat droppings. Basically, leaving poop attracts rats to spread diseases that can kill dogs. Rats are an “intermediate host” or “reservoir hosts” for some germs. In other words rats can carry things that would kill a dog (or in some cases a person), but the rat is immune to harmful effects. Leptospirosis is just one example. Rats can carry lepto, rabies, distemper, giardia and the list goes on. Remember, most of these diseases are zoonotic. Zoonotic diseases are diseases carried mainly animals, but are transmittable to humans.

Some people may be lulled into a false sense of security that they can ignore the warnings and picking up is un-necsssary. Their dogs are vaccinated against all these diseases. The last point I HAVE to make is that vaccinated dogs can still get sick! No vaccine is 100% effective and if your dog does catch lepto, parvo or rabies it will very likely be fatal. Dogs that do survive require very expensive treatments. The cost of treating a dog for parvo can run into the thousands of dollars.

This is all too easy to avoid. Please educate your neighbors and fellow dog owners on the importance of picking up after their dogs. Let’s not have another year of rat picnics and poop soup.

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— January 31, 2012 —

by Polly Dake-Jones

You may have volunteered your time and services in the past – giving back in one way or another, but you may have a resource that you had not thought about before. Did you ever have a bad day at work or have a stressful encounter with someone? When you came home were you still bothered by whatever it was the turned your good day into a bad one? Then, your dog met you at the door, wagging its tail, happy that you are home. Did this greeting relieve some of the stress of your day? Did you forget about all the unpleasant events and just enjoy the moment?

What if you could share the feeling of that moment with others?

Having a “special” dog that just wants to make you feel better is a privilege that can be shared with others by turning this wonderful creature into a Therapy Dog. You don’t need to have perfect obedience skills with your dog. What you need is a well-mannered dog who loves to make people smile.

There are many ways you can volunteer with your Therapy Dog to make a difference in people’s lives. You and your Therapy Dog can visit a friend in the hospital or a relative who is rehabbing after surgery. Many residents of our local nursing homes and assisted living facilities had to leave their faithful companion with someone else when they moved. What a delight for them to see the happy face of a Therapy Dog. Some other folks might not have had a dog for quite a while, even since their childhood, and a Therapy Dog may bring back happy memories.

Therapy dogs can also be used with children. Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ dogs) and their handlers have special training in how to help children read. This interaction with a dog can have other positive results as well. The child can have their confidence boosted, and they can learn tolerance and trust. These are skills that will help them throughout their life.

If you think your dog is a good candidate for this work and you would like to be involved in these programs, you should contact one of the Therapy Dog registries such as Therapy Dogs Inc., Delta Society or Therapy Dogs International. Each registry has its own type of testing; check to see what the best fit is for our and your dog. There are local evaluators that will help you through the steps of testing. These evaluators are trained not only to evaluate your dog, but also to assist with areas where your dog may need a little help. These professionals really understand dogs and have a good idea how they will react in different situations. This is important for the main concern of safety for all involved in this work.

After you and your dog are tested and pass, you can join a Therapy Dog group and go on visits that are scheduled by the group or you can go off on your own and visit places that aren’t lucky enough to have a scheduled visit. If you go on your own, please be sure to contact the Activity Director of the facility before your first visit as some places have their own resident therapy animals.

If READ is what you are interested in, there is further training for the handler; however, you do need to be a Therapy Dog team before you can be certified as a READ team. READ is a program that was started by the Intermountain Therapy Animal group and the dogs and handlers are certified through the ITA. Training includes a manual to read and a DVD to watch followed by a written test that the handlers need to take. The test is mostly on the procedure the READ team needs to follow, but the test also touches on how to start a READ team at local schools and libraries.

Overall, dogs can elicit a positive response in so many ways and in many situations, whether it’s a child reaching out to a dog looking for interaction and acceptance or an older person reliving a happy moment from their past.


Polly Dake-Jones is a Therapy Dog Evaluator through Therapy Dogs Inc. Polly and her partner Lisa have an active Therapy Dog group in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Three years ago they started a READ dog program in the Beaver Dam School District. They also own a training facility, Canine Solutions, in Beaver Dam. Please contact them if you want more information, you can reach them at 262-490-3736 or e-mail them at canine_solutions_llc@yahoo.com



For information on local volunteer opportunities with your dog, please contact Canine Therapy Corps. Bark Avenue’s entire training staff, Daniel McElroy, Emily Stoddard and Callie Cozzolino work with Canine Therapy Corps.

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— January 24, 2012 —

by Daniel McElroy Jr.

Well, this Tuesday’s Tail is really only about one dumb idea, the title is just to add a little humor to a very serious subject.

I’ll admit it, I am a Pit Bull lover. I think they are some of the best dogs ever created. I choose the term “created” intentionally. Remember that. I’ll explain why later.

First I want to dispel a few rumors about the “Pit Bull.”

Myth 1: There is a breed known as a Pit Bull.
Truth: The breed “Pit Bull” doesn’t exist. There IS a breed known as the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). There are similar breeds like the American Staffordshire Terrier and the diminutive Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but they are not “Pit Bulls.” What the media identifies as a “Pit Bull” is any short haired muscular dog that does something bad. Recently a friend in Georgia told me that someone accused her of having “Pit Bulls.” Her dogs are Italian Mastiffs (not even close). This indicates just how easy it is for the public to be mislead about what a “Pit Bull” is.

Myth 2: “Pit Bulls” are aggressive/dangerous/baby killers, you name it.
Truth: The APBT, which the media blames for everything from baby killing to jogger attacks, has little resemblance to the mongrels that do these terrible things. There’s a saying, “Dog bites are not news. Pit Bull bites are news.”

Myth 3: Locking jaws....really? Do I even have to go there?

This is just a little example of the intentional misinformation that happens to get people excited about “Pit Bulls” and by extension the actual breeds associated with muscular type dogs. Stereotypes and mistaken identity are not what this article is about. How many nice Pit Bulls I‘ve met is not what this article is about.

(I will continue to use the term “Pit Bull” in this article strictly for illustration. I will try to draw a line, where necessary between “Pit Bulls” and the actual breeds that get lumped together. For an interesting exercise, try to pick the actual American Pit Bull Terrier out of this lineup.)

This article is about using breed bans to eliminate dog attacks v/s addressing the real problem.

When I was a kid, my mom taught me a few things about dogs. She taught me not to tease dogs, to treat them the with respect and to ask before I approached a strange dog. Those were good rules and they probably saved me from many dog bites. Today, however, I read of bite after bite that could have been prevented if only the person bitten had followed those simply rules of doggie etiquette.

We also made it a point to keep our dogs on our property. Dogs running at large always present a danger to the public or themselves. I remember one sad day where my family’s car accidentally struck a dog on the highway. It was an accident and we couldn’t have avoided it. It also made me very aware that it’s my responsibility to keep my dogs safe and under control. Coincidentally, while your dog is properly secured at home, there is absolutely no chance he’ll be out with friends attacking joggers on the lakefront.

If only everyone followed those two simple lessons, we would see significantly less dog attacks.

Banning Pit Bulls, however, will have ZERO impact on the problem of dog bites for a few reasons. The main reason is that not all bites are committed by Pit Bulls. While the media is busy demonizing muscular dogs, there are hundreds of cute fluffy dogs out there biting people.

A more important fact is this. We humans created every single pure breed dog in existence. Two hundred years ago, there were no Puggles, Teacup Yorkies or Shia Lhassa Fluffler Doodles. Remember where I said I’d get back to that earlier point? Here it is. We created these breeds and we’re still making new breeds.

Breeding and genetics are easily manipulated. Even if it were possible to eliminate a particular breed, the plasticity of genetics means that another, more dangerous breed could be created to replace it. Within the last few decades there have been a few of these new breeds (Canis Panther, Dino Dog, Donovan Pinscher) that have come along. While there are great dogs from these programs, some of these breeding experiments have produced truly dangerous dogs.

This raises the following questions. Where do we draw the line? Do we ban only registered pure breeds? Do we ban all 50% Pit Bulls? Do we ban any dog that looks like a Pit Bull? How can we do a breed ban that actually works?

Glad you asked. It’s been tried before.

In September of 2003, Italy placed into effect laws that banned or restricted 92 breeds including not just controversial breeds such as the Rottweiler and Pit Bull, but breeds such as the Corgi and Border Collie. In April 2009 Italy dropped the deemed dangerous list to 17 breeds and later removed the restrictions all together. In light of the the ban being lifted, Italian Health Undersecretary, Francesca Martini said “This is a historic day because we have established for the first time the responsibility of the owner or the person who is momentarily in charge of the animal.” (Source: Charlotte Enos Dog Rescue Examiner June 30, 2009)

I only hope that we learn from Italy’s mistake. If not, thousands of great dogs will die for our ignorance. Today countless Pit Bulls, both American Pit Bull Terriers and look-alike mix breeds are working as therapy dogs, guide dogs, Police dogs and family companion dogs. There are literally millions of Pit Bulls out there that have never hurt anyone.

There are many other examples of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) being lifted because it has proven to be completely ineffective. I truly believe that education is more effective than legislation. Education is the solution. Owners need to be educated on what it takes to properly train their dogs and keep them secure. Owners who refuse to responsibly secure their dogs should face real penalties versus a slap on the wrist. Children should be taught the same simple rules I learned as a child and dogs should go through training to help them relate properly to humans. These are things will apply to all breeds, not just Pit Bulls. Right now Pit Bulls are the breed of choice, but the next popular breed will benefit from this as well.

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— January 17, 2012 —

by Daniel McElroy Jr.

So, old man winter has finally descended upon us. With the recent snowfall, you may be tempted to go out and let your dogs run and play. If you’re dogs are anything like mine, they’re ready to go as well.

As much as this is a great time for everyone, there are a few things that we have to keep in mind before we head out.

First, consider that our dogs are usually barefoot. In the winter, as in summer, dogs vent body heat through their feet. This is necessary to prevent overheating in the summer. In the winter, however, the cold ground draws heat out of the dog very quickly. This can lead to dangerous cold weather injuries.

Dogs can suffer hypothermia and frostbite just like we can. The problem is that they are able to ignore their discomfort for longer than we can. Because of their stoicism, our dogs can be in real trouble before we notice it. A mildly hypothermic dog may at first seem tired or shiver. More severe cases may show dilated pupils, lack of coordination or collapse.

You can bring a mildly hypothermic dog in and warm him up. Use dry blankets or warm water bottles that are no more than warm to the touch. This should be done slowly. Don’t risk burning him with overly hot items. The more severe cases are veterinary emergencies and are immediately life threatening.

Frostbite is the freezing of tissue. It is just as dangerous as severe hypothermia. When your dog’s tissue freezes, it looses blood supply. This may lead to tissue death and can be recognized by a pale very cold skin surface. It may be difficult to see this, since most of our dogs are covered with fur, we have to check them regularly if we stay out for any period of time. Like severe hypothermia, frostbitten dogs should be taken to the vet immediately.

I’ve been asked how long before we need to worry about our dogs. I hesitate to give anyone any specific time frame since each dog/breed is different and the actual temperature plays a huge role in the level of risk. A Husky can practically live in the snow, while a Pointer will not tolerate it nearly as well. Of course, even the Husky can get into trouble if he gets wet. I usually check my dogs every few minutes or any time they show signs of discomfort, like lifting a paw.

The toes are often the first area to show frostbite. Other areas of concern are the ears and tails. These areas have less blood flow therefore are more prone to the effects of freezing temperatures. Remember, if your dog has ever had a cold weather injury, they are much more likely to have another one. Owners of these dogs must be doubly vigilant.

The thing my dogs most hate about winter is road salt. I find that my dogs are usually pretty comfortable walking in the snow until AFTER they have walked through a heavily salted area. In the winter, a dog’s pads can crack much like dry skin. The road salt gets into the these cracks and causes painful burning. If your dog’s paws are burning, they may lick them and ingest road salt. While road salt comes from the same places that table salt comes from, it is not nearly as “clean” as table salt. There are also chemicals added to road salt that make it unsafe to consume. As much as they hate it, I have my dogs wear Pawz paw protectors when we have to walk through salted areas. If we happen to stumble upon salted areas without the paw protectors, I make sure to rinse each dog’s paws when I return home. I have found the easiest way to do this is to use a large bowl of lukewarm water. Also, there are paw creams that help heal the dry pads. These can be used in winter too.

So, while winter can be a fun time for everyone, there are risks. Fortunately, it just takes a few simple steps to help protect your dogs.

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— January 10, 2012 —

A brief explanation of dominance.
by Daniel McElroy Jr.

I tend to do a lot of training with “difficult” dogs. I deal with dogs that have been kicked out of classes, or that wouldn’t let trainers in the house. What you hear about dogs like this is usually, “You have to show them who’s boss. You gotta be DOMINANT.”

In recent years, there has been a mountain of paper used defending and debunking the concept of dominance. Old school trainers cling stubbornly to the concept that “dominance” is critical in dog training, while modern “behaviorists” say that it’s all hogwash.

One exercise which was used to support the old school dominance theory was this. Give your dog a command, which he knows, like “down.” If you stand over your dog and tell him “down” he’ll do it. Now, lay on your back, under your dog’s nose. Tell him down. He’ll more than likely look at you like you’re crazy. Some trainers point to this and as evidence that you must be in a “dominant position” to get your dog to comply.

What we now understand is that dogs are hyper-specific. If you taught your dog to do the down position while standing over him, he will be confused by you laying under him. It’s not your submission that causes him to disobey, it’s that he’s confused.

Does this mean that we can throw everything related to dominance out the window? Not so fast. There is still a need for dominance, it’s just not what you may think.

Imagine you’re a passenger in an airplane. You’re enjoying your flight and anticipating your arrival. The pilot is in charge and you accept it. Suddenly a flight attendant runs into the cabin and says to you, “We need someone to fly the plane. You have to do it!” Now imagine you are sitting at the controls trying to fly the plane. I imagine you’d be pretty stress and uncomfortable, right (unless you happen to be a pilot). Being shoved into that situation might just cause you to act in ways that you wouldn’t normally act, right?

This sounds ridiculous, I know. But we do it to our dogs every day.

When trainers use words like dominance, it sometimes conjures up the image of harsh, forceful treatment of dogs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dominance simply means that we are in control of our dogs everywhere we take them. It also means that we control the resources that we give our dogs. It means that we don’t allow our dogs to demand that we do things for them or give things to them (like petting or treats). Dominance means that we expect our dogs to sit before running up to meet someone on the street.

A big mistake new handlers make with their dog is this. They wait to see how their dog will handle a situation versus instruct the dog on what is expected. One of the things I stress in my training program is to tell your dog how to handle any given situation. Obedience commands, when applied properly, can help eliminate a majority of bad behavior.

What happens when we allow our dogs to demand resources or control situations is that we give up our seat at the controls. Our dogs are then forced by their pack nature to assume leadership. This is not a good position for a dog, because they are not equipped to handle the responsibility. They often begin to exhibit any of a number of problem behaviors. A strong confident dog may become over-protective and a timid dog may become a fear biter.

By teaching our dogs certain behaviors like sit, down and so-on we begin the process of teaching our dogs to follow us through situations rather than lead us through them. The way this works is this. If your dog wants a treat he has to down. If he wants to get petting from a stranger, he has to sit. This will help you in two ways. It gives you ample chances to show your dog that you are in control and it helps with the whole consistency and repetition thing. Also, it helps you keep your dog from approaching people you don’t think he should approach. (Remember, Fido may be adorable to you, but some people are going to be afraid of him.)

Another benefit of all this instruction throughout the day is that it causes your dog to work his brain. When he has stuff to do, he has to expend mental energy. Draining this energy off may help reduce other problem behaviors like separation anxiety and destructive behaviors.

The last point I will make is this. It’s the little things that matter most. Alpha rolling your dog does nothing to teach him that you are good leader and it might just get you bit. (Yes, I know there are trainers that still tell people to do it. Please don’t listen to this little piece of outdated advice.) It’s what you do from morning to night that trains your dog. Make no mistake about it: for better or worse, you are your dog’s most important trainer.

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