A Lesson Learned in "Doglish"!!

As a young teenager I just loved dogs, “No” correct that I adored dogs! I had my own dog “Whiskey” who was a Collie x Lab, my first dog who looking back taught me a great deal! This boy was my best friend and early on was conditioned to my hugs and kisses - my strange human ways!

A neighbour and friend owned a Chow, beautiful orange boy who always welcomed me when I was round to visit. One day I was there, sitting in the dining room attempting some Maths homework with my friend, who was in the kitchen sneaking biscuits or something in the vain hope it may help me understand Maths! The rest of the family were in the lounge, apart from the Chow, who came over to see me. I bent down over him looking him straight in the eye, starting talking to him and went to give him a hug - “OUCH” - he bit me on the face, pulling apart my lip. So after a trip to A&E, stitched up, I insisted nothing bad should happen to the dog, did not know why but had some vague notion it had been my fault!

A few weeks on I was hauled into the Head’s room at school. Worried about me and asking “why had I been seen hugging a dog while walking out in the country” - after such an incident they couldn’t believe I would do such a thing! My answer - very simple this had been my dog Whiskey - totally conditioned to my behaviour I knew he would not attack my actions!

So many years later, I now understand why this Chow attacked me, I was rudely approaching him, making direct eye contact, blowing air onto his face by talking, then went on to hug - so all meaning “unfriendly challenge” ! He had not been conditioned to hugs from me, he warned me and I ignored him so he followed-through and bit me!

My initial instincts to approach all dogs this way were wrong, my instinct that I was the trigger was correct! I learned a painful lesson and still have the scar to prove it, thankfully this did not have to be a sad and unnecessary end for the Chow.

What have my dogs taught me? Ignorance is not bliss, an explanation maybe but not an excuse, once we realise we don’t understand something we owe ourselves and others we share this planet with to find out - ask for help, do research WATCH "THE DOG WHISPERER"…whatever it takes!.

To Hug or Not To Hug - Now that is the question!

What we humans see as affection can be seen by dogs as quite the opposite! Take Max the Dobey, if I go up to him, stand over him and give him a big hug you can almost see and definitely feel him tense up. This is a rude approach from Max’s viewpoint, if another dog were to be so rude this would be a challenge - paws on back definitely not welcomed which Max would make clear! This is not because Max is a Dobey, little cuddly looking Jack would feel/react the same!

True that my dogs seem to enjoy hugs, this is because they have become conditioned to hugs from us, their human family, meaning affection - some tolerate while others love the fuss. Were another human to approach in the same way as I do the reaction may be different as the context is changed - new person so unconditioned response = dog’s normal response may change in the moment, hence if such a situation is not managed by Human Pack Leader = unpredicatbe response! Best then to save hugs for my own dogs and humans!

Keep the picture of how one dog would react to a kiss and hug from another - not a positive image hey?! The “hug thing” can get us into all sorts of trouble, many a bite is a result of humans sharing such affection with dogs who do not understand this human ritual, and human then says “but I was only being nice and their tail was wagging too” - actually in “doglish” this means rude/challenging behaviour and their tail probably was wagging but this is a warning wag not a friendly wag! I'll tell you about a mistake I made just like this many years ago next post!

Peter has just reminded me of how I can see their approaches as rude too, he came over all calm and submissive, I invited him for a stroke and he burped in my face! That’s my charming boy!

What have my dogs taught me? Dogs will be dogs, humans will be humans, neither species acts right or wrong just different! We need to understand each other to interact appropriately and safely.

Dog Pack Sound "Alert" At night

Now some of you may recall I said I would always respond by “checking it out” to discover what the “it” is when my dogs bark at night!

OK so the night before last they set about alerting me at 4:20am and no surprise my reaction was “Quiet” in my not so polite English! Then I thought “hang on a minute this is not just the Setters being daft, the Terriers are barking too” - now with the Terriers being so lazy and once settled appear fixed in place, I thought best check this out after all.

It was not yet dawn - so true that we learn something new everyday! The Chickens were making much noise so I went out to check why they were awake so early. Mr Fox had clearly been very brave and tried to get an early breakfast! I let the hens out and checked about, no more sign of Fox, guess he ran away very quickly upon hearing a pack of dogs after him….wonder if they inherit instinct to avoid hounds learned from the Fox Hunting days, now of course officially banned in the UK countryside! Of course I couldn’t actually let my dogs chase off the fox as they would have to pass by the hens - defeating the object as they would too eat the hens!

Anyway good news, all hens safe and sound following much time spent by me trying to fix the pen making it fox-proof, this now looks a bit like a scrap merchants yard as I cobbled together bits and pieces from around the house/garden as defences! The fence itself was ripped apart - cheek of this Fox that’s my fence! Will be getting in extra supplies of chicken wire at weekend to mend the pen properly!

And guess who didn’t get out of bed to see-off Mr Fox - Yep that’ll be Peter the Fox Terrier! Oh well Peter we do call you “Lazy Boy”!

Neutral Dogs In Pack!

Hi all, I've been asked if the pack are neutered and spayed as is the practice in the States. Well it is the pretty much the same here in terms of advice to do so, particularly for neutering. Is it common practice? - No I don't think it is yet, I still meet many full dogs out walking.

All my boys are neutered, this helps to prevent hormone-induced behaviour problems such as inter-male aggression - fuelled by raging hormone levels! I say "helps" as this does not work alone, I need to have them all as "equal followers" to prevent outbursts of "inter-male" aggression over alpha status, only since practising Cesar's philosophy of being the "Pack Leader" have fights between 3 of the male Terriers stopped! - Timmy, Mickey and Peter all similar in age and social climbers would have fights then naturally re-bond and relax together! So all the boys are now neutral :-)

As for the females, the older ones are spayed, the younger ones not yet! This is due in part to not experiencing problems between females due to hormones. The other part is financial - it costs so much more to have a female spayed. Add to that the greater risks of the surgical procedure we decided to neuter all males instead for now!

Problems keeping females together usually arise when there are too many in an environment. This is not a behaviour problem which can be helped through spaying so as such this is partly why I think it is not carried out as often as neutering. Also this does not relate to physical size of space, it means the number in the pack - even 2 females as only dogs may fight to rank as alpha female and not re-bond. Within our pack the ratio is 8 males to 5 females, as such we have had no problems. With Cesar's way of humans being Pack Leaders and taking the "alpha" rank then even if there are "too many females within the dogs environment" fights should not break-out or can at least be rehabilitated - the bond carefully re-established. I have read accounts of success with such problems from those who follow Cesar's ways. Unlike with males it is all about status and not hormone driven.

Though neutered my males would still perform the "mating ritual", now I don't allow this behaviour and they will ignore the female in season following an interruption from me the Pack Leader - I "Claim" the female as mine and they must leave her alone - WOW....it truly works!

With rescue centres over here they neuter and spay before re-homing. It is all too common in the UK for owners not to neuter/spay and not be in control of their dogs behaviour, which can lead to inter-breeding (genetic problems), roaming and an increase is stray dogs. The other reason, apart from deliberatey breeding of course, is that to own a "show" dog means no fixing allowed - they must be entire in order to qualify for the show ring unless there are proven medical grounds.

I have no plans to breed from my full females, so I employ strict control measures when they are in season! Wish I could say the same for my rabbits...I can now but that's after the accident of not correctly identifying their sex and 9 babies!

Exercise...walkies has a new meaning!

Exercise as part of the routine “exercise, discipline affection”, deserves an explanation so I’ll use my example!
I used to believe it was enough to get my dogs, out then off-lead for a charge around and the back, all as quickly as possible, more of a chore that had to be completed! Chaotic is understating it, leads tangled everywhere, dogs way out in front of me straining the leads to get free and run off, little control simply praying I did not meet other dogs! With my energy fast approaching intolerant and frustrated this was all... Wrong! Exercise in this context is about how we leave the house, how we conduct the walk and how we return.

To leave is always “human first” once my dog is “calm submissive” - quite a challenge with 5 eager Terriers who think they are going out to hunt! Then we walk, into migration mode we go - this is dog in “follower position” at my side or behind me. Lead loose only “poping” (tighten and release) to correct pulling or lagging behind. If continuing to pull, we stop and re-focus by getting my dog calm and off we go again!

We walk this way at the beginning, middle and end of the walk, with free-time in the middle - translates to running fast chasing sea birds for Dobey Max! We return again with my dog behind me into the house. Natural migration speeds for dogs vary, Peter’s is cycle pace - darn quick, so on a walk as I’m no runner he has to work hard to slow down, after about ten minutes he begins to move forward at my pace!!

This is how to create the Pack Leader/follower bond outside of the home, helps of course if your dog sees you as alpha inside the home first so if your having problems with the walk this way - check out how your dog truly views your status in the home! Picture the walk how you want it to be - if I were to dread it now or see as a chore my dogs will surely play up! I look forward to them, geting in the “enjoy it” mindset even if it’s a sea storm out there! Other forms of exercise are good but should not replace the walk, as they do not achieve the same thing.

Exercise in this routine is about establishing your relationship with you dog, draining energy before attempting discipline which is particularly important with rehabilitation, yet great for teaching all dogs.
So guess what - affection isn’t human style only either! Yes- next post!

So what have my dogs taught me? To stay calm even when faced with the frustration of over-excited, pulling dogs, it works when I work it!

Hey Dog here - I'm telling you something!

A way to tell if we have accidentally used punishment instead of correction is check out your dog - they will tell you we just have to read it! Courtesy of a fellow Cesar follower from Canada, I wanted to share this with all of you - all credit to Lori for this brilliant description.

Wrong energy - When you use anger, physical domination with frustration you will see:
The dog will become confused and start to give you fearful or confused body signals. (pawing at the air, tail between the legs, melting body position, going low to the ground with head, ears pinned back, eyes wide and fixed)
The dog will run away from you, be wary of you, tip toe around you and stand a few feet away watching you for more signs of unpredictable violent behaviour.

Right energy - When you use calm assertive corrections
Your dog will understand the correction and change his energy and actions immediately. He will stop doing the "bad" behaviour and his body language will change to show a calmer and submissive mindset. (ears slightly held back, licking, soft eyes, body low, head up, tail wagging, body up, head lowered). After the display of submission the dog will return to a normal body posture and show NO negative effects from the correction.
Your dog will WANT to be near you afterwards. The dog will give you its full attention and eye contact (waiting for more instructions) and willingly follow you around.
The truth about how your dog is receiving your corrections is completely obvious in the dogs REACTION to your correction. I don't have to be close enough to see or hear a human correct their dog. I only need to look at the dogs reaction to the human and I know right away if that correction enhanced or did damage to their relationship with their dog.

Me again - How we react to the dog afterwards in important too. If we inadvertently punish do not go for the “human making up” - lots of attention (sweet talking) and petting, which actually reinforces the dog’s unbalanced mindset and rewards the wrong response! They just don't understand us this way. So accept you’ve made a mistake and move on …after all we’re only human! Your dog will soon move on too as the event becomes past and dogs don‘t bear grudges. Of course if one was to continue to punish, there’ll be no respect only fear as dogs do have good memories too. There’s no need to make-up with discipline, just reward correct responses as in positive reinforcement training!

What have our dogs taught us? Mistakes made through ignorance are part of life as we learn and grow, but once we have the knowledge there’s no justification!

The motto at Crystal Dogs is correct never punish! So that's all on the subject of discipline for now!

That's my name - don't add "No"!

To correct my dogs the first most important issue is his name - do not use this with a correction! Ok but this is easier said than done! Us humans are hard-wried to use a name to get attention even if we’re about to dis-agree with what someone is doing! So it becomes second nature to use name first, but this is not how it is with dogs!

As Cesar says, dogs are Animal then Breed then Name- last for the very reason that this is a human adage - dogs do not use names to address each other!

So we need to reserve using their names to get attention to follow a command, such as come to us, to distinguish one dog from another. Not to add a correction e.g.Max No! This is a sure way to confuse a dog, make them fearful of responding to their name as they begin to make the association between name and correction, so it follows that recall becomes a nightmare!

To correct my dogs for carrying out unwanted behaviour is to add something they don’t like, with all crucial timing. The timing must be within seconds of the action, otherwise the association will not be made and worse still be made to something else. Ever had a human have a go at you after an event , when something has happened in-between - been confused as to what they are talking about?!

The key is to interrupt and stop my dog, I add a vocal correction “pssshhht”. If not respected try something else, don’t keep on with the same thing else you’ll be teaching your dog to ignore you!

If the vocal interruption doesn’t work, attach a short lead and leave it on when you are around to supervise. When say the dog goes to jump up, pop the lead, move away using the lead to guide the dog. Then add in a command say “sit” and reward. This distracts the dog from the unwanted behaviour, stopping the acting out, then teaches something new to do instead, thereby releasing any pent up energy! Repeat this process each time, when the dog happily goes away with you, next time add the vocal sound, soon you will be able to use the sound alone as your dog knows you will follow-through!

How to know if you’ve used the right energy to correct and not punish …coming up!

So what have my dogs taught me? Always remember to connect the problem with the correction, even when disagreeing with people, focus in on the problem clearly to avoid mis-understandings!

Correct not Punish!

To “correct” is simply discipline…to "punish" is to cause harm, with intent on getting your way and born out of anger or frustration.

Imagine if a person was shouting angrily at you, even if you knew you were wrong, you would probably be very defensive and escalate back at the other person - an argument. Now change that for a calm, firm, confident person, telling you that what you are doing is the wrong way….you may still feel defensive at first, but on reflection you see that the person is trying to help you do it the right way - no argument just change!

Same is true for dogs, never ask them, always “tell them” what you want them to do, simply put and with calm assertive energy. You will have their respect, not their fear and aggression! Correct with love and help in the forefront your minds, they will change their ways as if they respect you they will want to please their Pack Leader…it’s their job and they’re proud of being a dog!

Don’t negotiate - you can have this treat if you stop that! Dogs don’t negotiate between each other, they simply claim what they want, follow through if one dog doesn’t do what the alpha intends. They don’t respect such human ways, prefer to keep it simple they correct each other and reward with praise through touch and energy alone!

So What have my dogs taught me? Never give up on trying to remain calm - practice makes permanent!

To Correct is not mean!

At Crystal Dogs - Correct is to change and control with care! Punish is to penalize!

OK so some may think only positive techniques should be used when working with dogs, but how do they go about discipline, without which even us humans can run riot! Reward wanted behaviours of course being sure to get your timing right - else may inadvertantly reward the wrong response and have a very confused dog. We must step-in and correct those we don’t want - unless we wish to live with a “bully dog” who may use aggression at any time to back-up their demands or a dog who gets their way through being fearful or possessive or territorial!!

I caught an episode of “Dog Borstal”on TV this last week….supposedly a school for unmanageable dogs. Unfortunately it really did seem to have the negative feeling about it that the name suggests!

All the show did for me was to make it so clear that there is a world of difference between "correcting a dog" - with calm assertive energy and “punishing” a dog - with angry forceful energy! The former is how Cesar does it and how I’ve had excellent results working with my pack, Peter in particular. The latter is how the trainer on this programme put a dog into a submissive roll, it made me cringe even I backed away! I had to see it to believe it…“bad” human energy is no way to handle a dog and may well provoke an aggressive response, so I beg that we all see the difference. This show made it so obvious - when I actually saw it done with wrong energy then watch Cesar at work. Clearly demonstrates that Cesar does rehab dogs with the right emotional energy, even with very aggressive dogs his energy is always the same - Calm Assertive.

I shall not be watching such a programme again - I don’t want to pick up any bad habits! I always have to check my emotional energy…as I’m not naturally calm, but with all this practice I can get calm pretty damn quick now :-)

Calm assertive energy will get you respect and achieve goals …angry forceful energy will only get you …..aggression….fight…induce fear…..a forced reaction , so without the use of force the response will not be repeated…..no respect!

When I'm talking "assertiive", I do not mean in any way aggressive - even if some dictionaries would have us believe it means aggressive! Assertive in this context is an emotional energy meaning firm, fair, confident, in control of our environment - owning our space and dog!

Coming up I'll describe corrections I use and "how your dog can tell you if you have used "correct" or "punish"!!

So what have my dogs taught me? To apply this positive emotional energy when dealing with human confrontations as well!!!

ps. Monty still hasn't caught up with time moving forward an hour - he's about half hour out!!

Balanced Dogs - Discipline Begins here!

Some say there's no such thing as naughty dogs - only bad owners. Not quite true...dogs can learn to do things we don't want them to do, our reactions may inadvertently encourage them to continue sure. They also have instinctual reactions, which though hard wired (genetics) can be controlled. Without teaching and discipline from humans, how can they know what is acceptable and what isn't.

Here comes a few posts on this topic! Also, remember what is acceptable behaviour from our dogs is largely individual choice, what one may allow another may not...that's fine! Or what one owner may put up with another may not!!!I believe we must always remember to be considerate to other humans and our dogs when setting rules, boundaries and limitations.

Always remember "dogs want to be and love to be dogs...they don't want and cannot be humans"!! So "human psychology" simply won't work with them - you need to think "dog psychology" - which is where the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Milan comes in! Later I'll explore with you how dogs use "human psychology" on us through manipulation! So sure we can and should only use their psychology to change "naughty dogs" and enhance "good dogs" then we all live with happy balanced dogs!

Introducing Dogs!

Dogs have only 4 choices of reaction when faced with any situation/confrontation, they can fight (use aggression) flight (run away or leave) avoid (give space) submit (acknowledge another is superior)

If you have a "happy go lucky" dog then there is probably less need for any rehabilitation, but there is still a need for discipline. Following Cesar's rule of exercise then discipline then affection they will remain balanced dogs with you as their Pack Leader. This too is one of the keys to freeing a dog from problem behaviour, rehabilitating a dog!

As Pack Leader we teach our dogs which of the above options to choose in different situations (never fight of course), they learn through reinforcement, to carry out our commands and follow us no matter what - they will trust our judgement even though we're only human!

Affection is any positive dog/human interaction experience, or if you like your human attention e.g. talking (to dog in any voice), touching, feeding, playing and if they "walk you" then going out applies too!

So if you consider you're dog to be naughty, are you being consistent with your rules? Do you follow-through? = make it happen if they ignore you, if not they will not take you seriously hence the expression "play me up"!!

So read on as I explore the meaning of exercise! Look at the difference between discipline and punishment - applies to the human species too!!

ps. 5:30pm and Monty is asking for food...getting better at telling that time has moved forward by an hour then!!

Welcome - it is now!

We had some human visitors, My mum and Dad visited from the West Coast (OK Wales), with their old car for us to use with the dogs (Simon getting edgy about his “posh” company car being used to ferry around Terriers!) Actually the car’s for me….but I have to learn to drive first…Can I be Pack Leader of a car?! So it is now called the “Terrier Mobile” and we went for a drive with 3 Jack Russells sitting on the back parcel shelf…true nodding dogs!

So how can we have visitors now? - by using the “No Touch No Talk No Eye Contact” rule. On arrival I dealt with any barking first and put the dogs outside to wait. Humans can understand they need to wait while I mange the dogs. Then it’s their turn to wait while I manage the humans! Mum and Dad entered…sat down….chatted…..without being hassled by 13 dogs! I let them back in gradually, blocked their attempts to gain attention by nudging them away or “psshting” them - Mickey being the most insistent with his sit and wave paws act! Once calm and submissive, they could stroke and greet the dogs…Max during this time, who knows the routine so well, had fallen asleep on the daybed!

So if the door bell rings, and your dog is barking and charging the door, take control of your dog first - do not open the door with your dog excitedly in front of you. Calm yet in control ”thank the dog” for the alert, as Pack Leader you must go see to take over. Then claim the door - create a boundary away from the door, behind you and make sure your dog is calm. Just let the person on the other side of the door know to simply wait a while! The dog must not cross the boundary - invisible line as you open the door, I use a walking stick to help me identify the boundary to my pack, I use it as an arm extension! Then in come the guests, keep on blocking any dog approach until you invite your dog to join you ensuring the greeting is “dog being calm and respectful” (no jumping, pawing, submissive body language)

If you let the dog go in front of you to greet visitors - it’s as if you are saying “it’s OK - the dog’s in charge here“, with the dog believing “you just have to follow“, he’s saying to your guests “look how these humans follow me you must do same”!! So hey - who owns your house?!

Other dogs and humans are welcomed now by the pack politely- I imagine how I want it to be, then we live it that way. What a very different story from this time a year ago…the power of Cesar’s Way….“Dog Whispering” in all its glory…I must say “Hail Cesar”!!

What have my dogs taught me? That they need to work for me, not the other way round, I used to think I was only here to serve them, so that is how it was. Redraw the picture, “look how my dogs follow Human Pack Leader“!

We Move On..from Winter to Spring too!

With the Easter Holidays now over, the weather turns from Winterwonderland to Spring with a calm blue sea - typical as we see lovely sunshine on today….Monday! After 5 months of beach-side winter living, I am gratefully reminded of why we live on the East Coast today - truly beautiful on the beach!

Tia has now gone home, she fitted well into the pack though their were a few of mine who did not bond with her - Monty the Gt Dane just couldn’t understand all her energy and excitement when there was not even a wild seal in-sight! Bob being my only Collie mix, clearly likes it that way, as he seemed “put-out“ having another collie around! The great news is there were no in-pack fights, or even lesser squabbles, and no boys attempting to mate her either! So by being the Pack Leader and claiming Tia as one of my followers made the dogs all equals, with no need to challenge each other or need to pair off with Tia. Absolutely amazing - a first - never had my boys ignore a female in season before!

Tia adjusted really well to all the rules that my pack follow, we did not make exceptions, although I always had an eye out for her - in case she went up to another as she was without their "pack sensitive instinct" to approaching a snoozing dog (OK so I mean she'd charge up to them to lick their muzzles if not stopped, which is not something my Dobey appreciates - he symbolises "let sleeping dogs lie" and my pack know that - they figured it out the hard way!)

So good-bye for now Tia, was lovely to have you stay and hope you‘ve learned only good behaviours from Crystal Dogs…hey Terriers?!. Now re-settled into their routine as my home-pack, I can get back to adding a new rule each day, keeps them “on their paws”!!

We have lost an hour as the clocks move forward...but gained more daylight! Monty on Sunday - it may be 6pm but you believe it is 5pm and feed time! Wonder how long it will take before he asks for his food at the now real 5pm! It's fast approaching 6pm and he hasn't asked yet!...Maybe tomorrow?!

What have my dogs taught me? When adjusting to and making changes - to take it slowly and keep it simple, one day at a time!

ps. Easter Sausage Hunt postponed due to rain until sunny May Bank Holiday - now that is being hopeful!