Part of being a responsible pet parent implies that we manage our pups to keep them out of trouble. Trouble could mean a dog running amok into traffic via the front door, a fearful dog finding himself too close to a “scary” stimulus, dogs chasing the family cat and, yes, destroying our precious property. Management…
Author: Almudena Ortiz Cue
Anti-pull gear
As a continuation from last week’s post I want to review some of the most popular gear to help minimize (or not) dog-pulling on leash. When deciding what kind of equipment to use, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. 1. Efficacy of the equipment 2. Comfort level for the dog 3. Ability of the person(s)…
Stop Choking the Dog!
I am sitting at a local restaurant just watching the world go by as we wait for the food to arrive. I spot an older man with a youngish Golden Retriever. It appears they are both going for a walk. The dog is in close proximity of the owner and occasionally moves away from the…
Arousal
Have you ever seen a dog with “raised-hackles”? I bet you have. The technical term is piloerection and it means just that – the hair standing up. What you probably don’t know is that piloerection is NOT aggression, as many folks believe. It is actually arousal. The best way for me to describe arousal is…
Some Thoughts on Training with Positive Reinforcement
In a world full of buzz-words and marketing messages, it sure pays off to put on the breaks every now and then to reassess what we mean behind marketing messages such as training with “positive” techniques and even our own philosophies. The term “positive reinforcement” is one of those terms that needs clarification. In essence,…
Give them what they want
I am taking one of our usual hikes with Deuce and Rio with a friend who is visiting from out of town. It is normally John who takes this walk with them, but it is my turn to walk them with him being away. We exit our property and before I have time to think…
When to Intervene?
For some unknown reason Deuce’s guarding of certain objects, such as his precious ball, has gone up in frequency. I noticed just the other night that he began to vocalize in his typical high-pitched tone when he was lying on the couch next to me as Rio was cruising by. For the most part when…
Owner Resource Guarding
This morning I am hanging out with the dogs. Deuce comes over to me and wants my attention. I began by gently stroking his ears, which he enjoys. Rio, whom is close by, pushes her body onto Deuce hoping to stop my interaction with him and getting some of the affection. Deuce turns towards her…
Dog Training Classes Starting July 2015
We’re excited to inform you that C.H.A.C.O. Dog Training & Behavior Consulting, LLC., which is located in Tesuque – 15 min. North from Santa Fe, NM, has some wonderful upcoming dog training classes starting in July! Here are some of the details for the upcoming classes: Kinder Pup 1: Your puppy’s proper socialization should start pronto!…
Behavior Chains
Deuce is almost flying as he’s catching the Frisbee that I throw for him while Rio takes the ‘Hound’ approach. She is strolling around the area where we are just sniffing the ground in high hopes of finding a forgotten treat from a past session. I decide to ignore her and just concentrate on Deuce…