dog training

Is a Belgian Malinois Right For You?

December 5, 2024December 11, 2024by Shaina

BELGIAN MALINOIS ARE RISING IN POPULARITY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE BREED AND WELL MEANING DOG OWNERS? A collaboration post between Shaina of Up N Atom Dog Training, and Lisa of Dog Dynamix.

Due to the rising popularity of the Belgian Malinois, dog trainers are receiving more and more inquiries asking us to help “fix” these dogs as they mature into adults. They’re biting house guests, chasing the children, and getting into bar fights at the dog park…. and their families are feeling hopeless and frustrated, realizing they bit off more than they could chew.

We understand the appeal. They’re beautiful, athletic dogs with hilarious personalities and they’re smart as can be. Videos of their impressive training and abilities regularly go viral on the internet. Done correctly, you’d be hard pressed to find a more loyal breed. But these dogs are not without extreme challenges that can make them completely unsuitable for the average home.

A little background, for good measure.

For those of you that know us, you know that we are incredibly passionate about the breed. For those of you that don’t, a little background on us.

Shaina Zimmerman won the MR1 Nationals in 2019 with her first Malinois and took 3rd place at MR3 in 2021, 2nd place in 2022, and 2nd place overall at FR2 in 2022. In addition, she recently competed for Team USA Mondioring at FMBB in Italy in 2024 with her second Malinois, Flinke. She currently has six consecutive years of experience actively competing with Malinois, and has acheived MR3 with both of her competition dogs. Shaina has owned Belgian Malinois, and has raised, trained, and fostered many others.

Lisa Lucero, of Denver Dog Dynamix and Shaina’s training mentor, won the USA Mondioring Nationals in 2021 and 2022 with her Malinois, Hero; and competed in Romania in the International competition with him in Oct. 2021 – placing in the top 15 in the world. She has been in the Malinois breed for thirteen years, and is currently with her third competition dog of the breed, two of which achieved MR3.

Both of us have also been involved in rescue and placement of the breed, as well as puppy selection and rearing for some of the top breeders in the country. Prior to Malinois, Lisa and Shaina both competed with working line German Shepherds. We have titled in AKC and ASCA Obedience and Rally, in addition to protection sports. We have trained with the best of the best in the country, and in the world. The point is, we have extensive breeding and training experience with Belgian Malinois.

We care about the breed. A lot.

We aren’t going to sugarcoat what it takes to be successful with a young Malinois in a pet home. One of our well-respected colleagues, that we refer to for private lessons and group classes (since we do not offer those services) has decided to refer out all Malinois inquiries that come in as she has had almost no success helping people with these dogs as pets. The breed has gained exponentially in popularity since the rise of the public’s exposure to them. Unfortunately, this has led to many more of them being bred and put out into the world – from those in shelter situations, to those being purchased from working line breeders, to those being bred by less scrupulous breeders looking to cash in on their popularity. It’s easy to find breeders regularly mixing Malinois with Dutch Shepherds and German Shepherds, touting them as the perfect family protector and companion, selling them to ill-prepared families. They are a truly singular breed in their needs, and in how their brains work. Even those from the very best breeders require a completely different type of life and training than most trainers offer, or most homes are willing to provide. While we do not subscribe to the theory that Malinois need hours of intensive training and exercise every day, we do know that they need more structure and understanding of training theories and genetic behaviors than most homes are willing to learn and implement.

What makes a good malinois?

Malinois are purposefully bred to be a bit neurotic, with a lot of drive, suspicion, and aggression. This can be a hard balance to get right, as genetics have a huge influence on behavior and despite the most thoughtful of breeding, the result can be undesirable. Some Malinois like dogs. Some like people. If you’re lucky, you end up with a dog that likes both (we call this a UNICORN)… but most often, they dislike both. And that doesn’t make them a bad Malinois.

What makes a malinois a good working dog, generally makes them a bad pet. Most dog owners are not looking to get a dog that cannot be handled carelessly by strangers. But, with Malinois, that is not just a risk; it should almost be an expectation. When we travel and cannot bring our dogs with us, the HARDEST task on the list is finding competent pet care… and we are fortunate to have pretty social, easy-to-handle (for the breed) Malinois! Belgian Malinois are impulsive, and they can get themselves into trouble quick. They are athletic, fast, and driven. Even if they are friendly, they are often way too much for the average family member or friend to take care of. Shaina’s own mother is known for saying “I’m not afraid of him, but I respect him” in regards to one of her Malinois, who is not aggressive but certainly has a presence. If you choose a Malinois, you’ll want to have a Malinois-savvy support system as well.

Malinois are not dog park dogs.

No matter how social a Malinois is (or appears to be), dog parks and daycare are not appropriate outlets for their energy. These dogs are obsessive — of their toys, their interactions, and their environments. Putting them in situations where they are able to obsess over dogs, people, and items will inevitably result in behaviors such as barking and lunging on walks, aggression due to possession of their toys, running off after dogs while off leash, etc.

Any interactions our own dogs have with other dogs and strangers are well thought out, and for the benefit of the dog. This is not a breed to hang out at a backyard BBQ with intoxicated houseguests who don’t understand high drive dogs. Even sober overzealous greeters can get into trouble with a Malinois. (HIIII PUPPPY!)

You should have a goal for getting a malinois.

Buying a malinois puppy because you like the way they look, have met a trained one, were in the military, or saw one on TikTok is not setting you or a puppy up to succeed. Impulse buying a working breed dog without doing the proper research almost always ends poorly. What makes a Belgian Malinois right for you? Just wanting an active dog isn’t enough; there are plenty of other active breeds that don’t enjoy jumping out of helicopters to find “the bad guy” in their spare time. If you aren’t interested in genetically fulfilling the breed, please consider a different choice. Rescues are overflowing with abandoned Malinois.

If you DO like the lifestyle choice of a Belgian Malinois, we recommend finding a training club/dog trainer BEFORE you get a puppy. What?! Yes, you heard us right. This is a whole blog post by itself, but here is the short of the long:

There are a lot of shady Belgian Malinois breeders out there, and when you’re interested in a working breed that excels in biting, you want to make sure the dog bites for the right reasons. A BYB Belgian Malinois can be a ticking time bomb of bad nerves and inappropriate aggression.
If you visit various training clubs, you’ll notice a trend of club members often getting dogs from particular breeders. In protection sports, for example, some “decoys” (the men in the suits that work dogs in protection training) have very specific types of dogs they prefer in their training programs, so asking for their advice on where to get a dog can save you a lot of problems later on.
You can learn a lot by observing training. There is no way to better prepare yourself for a Malinois than to immerse yourself in them, and that means observing them in person, watching training sessions, visiting different clubs, asking breeders questions, and continuing to show up with an open mind.
Many training clubs are often full, and you might have to visit multiple before finding one that has the space that you jive with. Most clubs will allow spectators (we call them “auditors”, usually) to visit the club and watch their training in action. You’d be surprised to know that sometimes an unexpected spot will open for a helpful person that shows up every week, without a dog, with snacks in hand.
You might just come to find that you aren’t as interested in the time-commitment fulfilling a Malinois’ needs take, after all. Better to find that out before you get a puppy! On the flipside, if you show up to club each week and feel like you’ve found “your people”, it might be time to start your puppy hunt.

Malinois can be challenging, but we love them for a reason.

While we are not saying owning a Malinois is akin to a tiger that needs to be kept in a cage, we are telling you that they require a much higher level of obedience control, and coaching other people how to interact (management) than other dogs in order to be mentally well adjusted, happy dogs, to prevent dog fights, and bites to people. Even an accidental bite can have devastating consequences for a dog and it is our job to respect this breed for what it is, and for what it isn’t, and to avoid and/or intervene in bad situations. While we can help our clients get rock-solid obedience training, direct them to appropriate training outlets, and help them live the best life together, we cannot, and will not, help them make a Malinois what they are not (a Golden Retriever, by example). It is not possible, and it would be unprofessional and unethical for us to take a clients money promising to do so.

If you’re considering this breed, feel free to reach out. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and whether or not this is the dog for you.

Dog Training

Dog Training Concepts for Dog Owners

December 4, 2024by Shaina

Training your new dog or puppy is an important part of dog ownership! Dog training helps your dog learn good habits and live a more fulfilled life. A dog that you can trust to make good decisions is a dog that is easy and enjoyable to live with. This guide is a great place to start on your training journey, but for more in depth basic obedience training or advanced off leash dog training, local dog trainers near you can help guide your pup on the path to becoming a well-behaved companion. Up N Atom Dog Training Cleveland would be happy to help you if you are in the Northeast Ohio area.

Use a Positive Reinforcement-Based Training System.

Understanding and appropriately applying all four quadrants of learning is key when trying to teach advanced dog training cues. Positive reinforcement should be the building blocks set when it comes to successfully training your dog. Experienced dog trainers know how to use all quadrants of learning properly, but should always teach using positive reinforcement, only layering over positive punishment to skills that your dog knows and understands. Our dog trainers at Up N Atom Dog Training are well-versed in (and very passionate about) balanced dog training, which begins by using a liberal foundation of positive reinforcement, then uses negative reinforcement, negative punishment, and positive punishment as your dog progresses in their training.

Learn How To Play With Your Dog.

It sounds simple, but properly playing with a dog is an art-form in itself. Dogs who want to tug, chase, and fetch NEED those outlets to be happy, confident dogs. Many dog owners lack the skillset to really encourage their dogs chase and tug the way nature does; learning how to properly play will give your dog a great outlet, encourage bonding with you, and allows you to use a variety of rewards in your training. If you have a dog who wants to play tug, you need this DVD in your doggy education toolbox: The Power of Playing Tug With Your Dog

Start With the Basics.

The very first thing we work on with new dogs is engagement. Engagement training encourages a dog to CHOOSE to pay attention, rather than us begging for it. Dog training is much more difficult when you’re starting with a dog who doesn’t want to look at you! Once you have some focus, but before you move on to more complex skills, take time to really focus on the basics: name recognition, wait at the door, sit and down. Then, you can start more advanced skills such as walking on a loose leash, coming when called, and bed-stay. Skipping out on important basics will make things much harder when your dog has developed bad habits!

Create Realistic Goals for Your Dog’s Training Progress

Creating realistic goals will help you and your pup progress in a timely manner. It is important to remember that teaching your dog or puppy new commands can take time, so don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than expected. Overloading your dog with more tasks when they are not ready for them has the potential to make them confused or frustrated, and can cause them to give up all together. So, start off with simple commands, master them in areas of low distraction, and then gradually increase the distance, distraction, and duration of the tasks as they get better.

Practice Your Training During Walks and Other Activities.

Walks, playtime and other day-to-day activities are major opportunities for practicing your dog’s training. For example, instead of just letting your pup run free at the park, try asking them to “sit” or “down” for their favorite toy, and then throw the toy when they do so. If you’re taking a hike, practice “place” on tree stumps, and work on coming when called (on a long line, of course!). Inserting training drills in your every day life not only keeps things interesting but helps your do anticipate their obedience commands anywhere and anytime.

Training for Reactive Dogs

May 26, 2024December 5, 2024by Shaina

Troubleshooting behavioral problems in dogs can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Despite all of our best efforts, there will be dogs that have a hard time adapting to the world in the way we’d like them to. This is especially true with reactivity cases where the reactive behavior stems from fear and insecurity — no matter how much training, structure, and consistency we provide for them. While these issues can be difficult, there are things we can do to make it easier on ourselves and our dogs.

Reactive behavior is often an emotional response that becomes deep-rooted in our dogs personality over time. There are many cases where by the time professional help is involved, the dog has lost trust in their handler, strangers, other dogs, and the environment to the point that they are essentially living with a form of PTSD. In these situations, just the thought of a trigger appearing can send them into a full-blown panic. The response they have is not rational, but it can be nearly impossible for them to control themselves. When we are dealing with these types of cases it is CRITICAL to look at the entire picture of the dog. We need to make sure the dog understands what we are asking of them, and that we have properly prepared them to handle that environment. If the reactive dog cannot maintain heel position when nobody is around (with minimal interference), for example, they will likely fail around triggers. Taking it slow and steady and making sure all of the skills are muscle memory BEFORE taking the show on the road helps set the dog for success. They should also be well-exercised BEFORE any public training outings (treadmill training can be a great tool for this), so they are of clearer mind and body before training begins.

Reactivity Dog Training Chart — Our goal is to train our reactive dogs in a state where they are emotionally capable of learning.

Many dog trainers preach about “relationship” and how it influences reactivity. Perhaps your dog does fantastic when your spouse, or dog trainer, or dog walker takes them out, but is extremely reactive when you are holding the leash. Relationship is a big part of dog training, and we obviously need to address any holes there as a part of our training plan. Too much affection without enough structure, an unwillingness to reward good behavior and correct bad behavior, or allowing pushy/inappropriate behavior day-to-day can all absolutely fuel reactive behavior. Dogs like working with clear, consistent handlers who they know will keep them safe. Being a leader for your dog is being a role model who will advocate for them, not for someone who is unpredictable, nervous, and unclear. As your dogs handler, you should be 100% confident in your handling skills and expectations. You should ALSO be focusing on making yourself the most interesting thing in the room via engagement skills, long-line training (where your dog is able to make the correct decision — in a safe space — without constant leash tension and tugging), and you should be giving lots of rewards for good behavior. Some dogs, however, are just more reactive by nature. We see it often in herding breeds, and in dogs who are shy/nervous/anxious. These dogs would likely always exhibit reactivity to some degree due to their genetics, no matter how early we began training. Those cases likely won’t be immediately cured by a good relationship and obedience training alone, but they should show major improvements over time if we stick to a productive, well-thought-out training plan.

Sometimes, physical and emotional maturity can help decrease reactive behavior (if maturity happens in conjunction with solid obedience, confidence building, and engagement with the handler). “Picking the scab” by repeatedly putting the dog in situations where they feel overwhelmed and reactive in the name of exposure can easily push a dog to the point of no return. With a young, maturing dog, sometimes the best thing we can do is take a step back from training in busy spaces all together, and focus on slow-and-steady confidence building in environments we know the dog will be successful. This doesn’t mean hiding behind trees and only taking the dog out at 3AM, but it does mean they should only go places they feel confident and safe (large open spaces away from other dogs and people, their dog training center where they feel secure and have fun, Day Training programs where they can be around other dogs under the guidance of a trainer, and the like) while avoiding places such as parks with no easy escape route, dog-friendly stores, patios, and, yes, neighborhood walks where they have had repeated bad experiences, until they are older. This may mean loading your dog up to a quiet neighborhood to do your training walk so they don’t encounter “that house with a dog who always charges them from behind the fence/front door/etc” for the foreseeable future, as those types of repeated encounters cause some dogs to go on the defensive well before the trigger appears.

Mental Maturity in Dogs — Some dogs may begin to decrease reactive behavior when they are mentally mature, if we take the proper steps through adolescence.

Reactivity is tough. It can be frustrating, and hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have to go into these cases understanding that while training can massively improve our lives with our dogs, each dog is an individual who will move at a different pace. Every dog with advanced training and dedicated owners should eventually be able to calmly navigate situations where there are other dogs/people/bikes/etc, IF we commit to taking it slow and being realistic about the dog in front of us. If you’re struggling with reactivity, you are absolutely not alone. Find help (we’d love to help you if you live in Northeast Ohio), and get your dog the training they need to begin to see the world as a less threatening place to be.

“Dog training is a journey, not a destination.”

Dog Trainer Woes: Over-Socialization in Dogs

December 4, 2023December 4, 2024by Shaina

We want to briefly revisit our regular dog trainer TED talk… Reactivity in daycare dogs. We see daycare offered as a management tool for separation anxiety and other trouble behaviors, as well as “socialization”, but at Up N Atom Dog Training, we almost never recommend it to our clients. A vast majority of our leash reactive (see: lunging and barking at other dogs on leash) cases attend dog parks and daycare, regularly.

The Woes Of Over-Socialization

A young dog attends dog daycare and either enjoys it initially, or doesn’t. Either way, the dog slowly becomes overstimulated by the sight of other dogs, and begins to expect every dog it sees is a potential playmate (or threat, if they do not enjoy the group setting). Out in public, the dog owner may let them meet other dogs on leash (please don’t), but maybe not. We then tend to start to see a decrease in neutrality, being able to ignore other dogs, on walks via whining, barking, going towards, or otherwise acknowledging the other dog in an obsessive way… All of which is not polite behavior for a dog out in public. As the months go by, that same dog begins to get frustrated whenever they see another dog — it expects to meet it as it does when it is at daycare or dog parks, or expects it to run over and greet them — and frustrated dogs eventually tend to exhibit aggressive displays or behaviors. So, the sweet labrador retriever who “loves other dogs” and “just wants to say hi”, bites another dog it meets on leash in public. Weird, he’s never done that before…

Well-Meaning Dog Owners Don’t Know The Dangers.

The most unfortunate part about the whole scenario is that these are well-meaning dog owners who truly feel like they are doing the right things by “socializing” their dogs. Our brain tells us that if our dog just meets a bunch of dogs and people, he will not see them as a threat and therefore can go anywhere and do anything with us. The reality is, most daycare and dog park dogs are a mess in public, can’t be trusted off leash if another dog shows up, and certainly can’t settle at our feet at a dog-friendly brewery.

The issue is that most people have the definition of how to socialize a dog wrong. Much of our puppy socialization should not include physical interaction with the other dog, person, or thing of interest. It is equally, if not even more so, important for a puppy to learn to ignore dogs and people as it is for them to learn to interact appropriately. The problem is, most daycares, and certainly most dog owners at dog parks, do not know what appropriate interaction looks like. As a result, we accidentally — and very unintentionally — ruin our dogs’ impulse control and ability to maintain composure under distraction, and often get frustrated with their behavior when distractions exist.

At the end of the day, we all have to make our own decisions on what we think is best for our dogs. Most people, when explained how the cycle happens, are relieved to find out this is a common issue and that their dog isn’t a vicious animal. Others, however, feel such a need to make excuses for their dogs behavior, and aren’t willing to give up the daily off leash mosh pits… and in that case, we sometimes can’t help them or their dog. It is simply too overstimulating of an environment for their dog to make the progress needed while attending.

How Else Can We Mentally Stimulate Our Dogs During Workdays?

Dog owners who need dog care during the day should do their research and choose a dog care professional wisely. Here is a great article on how to choose an appropriate dog daycare or day training center for your dog. There are also great alternatives to dog daycare out there, including dog jogging and hiking companies, pet sitters that will do mid-day breaks, and dog daycare with training, run by dog training professionals.

If you’re dealing with the downfalls of dog daycare and now have a reactive dog, contact us for reactive dog training in the Cleveland area. We are happy to help you get your dog back on track.

Five dogs sit next to each other in a field.

Socialization

How to Properly Socialize a Dog

May 17, 2023May 26, 2024by Shaina

As someone who has dedicated their entire life to dogs, dog training, and what makes a dog tick, I have deep empathy for dog owners who don’t understand their dogs behavior the way that I do. Naturally, there are days that I wish people researched how to best raise a canine the way they would a snake, ferret, or turtle, but I also acknowledge that dogs are unique in the role they play in our lives. I could ramble on and on about plenty of overlooked elements involved in inviting a predatory animal into our homes, but by far I think one of the most misunderstood aspects of raising dogs is “socialization”.

I remind myself that the order of operations is most commonly:

1. Find a puppy

2. Try to train the puppy the best known way

3. Look for a dog trainer if issues emerge

And that most people are trying their absolute best with the information that they have. There is so much bad information out there, it makes sense people are confused.

Almost every single phone consult I do, whether it be for a 12 week old puppy or a 6-year-old adult dog exhibiting aggression, well-meaning dog owners tell me about their dogs socialization experiences, or lack thereof. Some dog owners shamefully admit to me that they “have not socialized their dog enough” and that’s why they believe their dog is exhibiting x, y, z behavioral problems. Or, they exclaim that they have made sure to do lots of socialization but are still seeing some issues. The thing is, the things they believe they are doing to benefit their dog is often the exact reason they are struggling with them.

Why are these “well socialized” dogs reactive, anxious, aggressive, suffering from separation issues, crate phobic, not food motivated?…

For one, society — and society’s expectations of dogs — has changed. What once was “a dog will be a dog” is now “my dog is bad, because it doesn’t accept strangers touching them, children climbing on top of them during mealtime, they are not behaving at the brewery at 8 months old, they protect the property from people I know, and they are pulling me towards dogs/bikes/rabbits on leash”.

If you take the word “socialization” and trade it for “neutral exposure”, we can usually see things a bit clearer. Socialization today has become a poisoned word in dog ownership. Is your dog afraid of new people? Socialize them. Are they aggressive towards other dogs? They need more socialization. Is your dog too excited when greeting guests? You guessed it, socialization. The word is regurgitated from pet owners, dog trainers, veterinarians, and doggy daycare workers without much explanation on how to accomplish it. It’s a seemingly straightforward word that is interpreted to mean “if your dog has more interactions with stuff, they’ll get used to said stuff and get over it”. But that’s -not- how behavior works. A shy dog will not become less shy if they are flooded with interactions with strangers. A dog-aggressive dog will not become dog social if you take it to the dog park. There are limits to what physical interaction, exposure, training, and counter-conditioning can do for a dog. While there are absolutely things we can do to help dogs make better choices, we cannot change our dogs personality and social spectrum. Most dogs become less social with age, and that doesn’t make them a bad dog. But we can certainly create major behavioral problems through inappropriate socialization.

Socialization for Puppies — Socialization is much more than interaction with dogs and people.

Nowadays, I find “under socialized” dogs are the rarity. Most dogs are either enrolled in training at a young age, brought to dog parks or daycares from puppyhood on, or are allowed to interact with random dogs and people on a regular basis without practicing -ignoring- an equal ratio of them. Most do all of the above. In such a dog-friendly world, it makes sense. Most puppies are not being shut off in one house for their critical socialization period, because people know now that early socialization is important when raising a puppy. What they don’t know is that allowing too much interaction is also a major no-no, and so they enroll in puppy class, take their puppy to daycare and dog parks, allow on leash greetings, ask their friends and family members to come over (with their dogs)… all the while, not focusing on calm, neutral behavior around dogs and people. Additionally, we are currently living in a world that is depending heavily on dog parks, dog daycare, and Rover sitters to care for and entertain our dogs, and our emphasis on good behavior has, unfortunately, not kept up.

To pinpoint on the focus of this post, here is what I guide puppy owners to do:

1. Focus on engagement skills, name recognition, and capturing good leash walking on a long-line in low-distraction environments.

2. Teach your puppy to enjoy working with you for food rewards

3. Only allow your puppy to physically interact with other people and dogs who will be a long-term part of their lives; groomers and veterinary staff, friends, family members, and their dogs, neighbors, and dog training staff/clients.

4. Utilize your crate at home throughout the day, and when you have guests over.

5. Don’t allow out of control play with dogs/people in the house.

6. Take your puppy to new areas to train, where the goal is having a great time with YOU, while ignoring dogs and people.

7. Do not allow strangers or strange dogs to come up to your puppy on leash.

8. Avoid dog parks and daycare (unless you are enrolled in a Day Train program, where a dog trainer is overseeing all interaction).

9. Enroll in puppy classes where playtime is not the focus.

10. Make sure your puppy is confident, calm, and focused during all outings for at least the first year of their life.

And even when you do everything right, at the end of the day genetics are going to play a major role on your dogs level of sociability. Which leaves many thinking.. so what is the point of socialization?

Dogs are Individuals with Genetic and Environmental Behavioral Impacts — Dogs have individual personalities that are heavily influenced by their genetic makeup.

Proper socialization is about building as much confidence as possible, without creating a demanding monster who cannot focus in the world around them. It is about trying to set our dog up to be the best dog they can be, with or without a solid genetic backing. A well-socialized puppy who is genetically nervous will probably still be a nervous dog, but they hopefully will not turn into a reactive or outright aggressive dog. A well-socialized, social dog will likely avoid obsession-based reactive behaviors if we do things right. We are just trying to stack the odds in our favor, by not under-doing it, but also not overdoing it. We will not change the dog inside, but we may avoid problematic fallout if we do things correctly.

Next time you think about the word “socialization”, think about what you want to see in your dog long-term. Focus on teaching your dog how to cope around strangers, other dogs, and other distractions such as bicycles, squirrels, and strollers, and train for that picture, instead. Allow interactions with people and dogs that you know and trust, and create an environment that harbors structure and trust over excitement and franticness. While your dog may become more selective with age, setting a good foundation for neutrality early on may help prevent some serious concerns later. Socialization is important, indeed.. but only if we know what it is we’re actually talking about.

Dog Training

Best Practices: Training A Dog With Food

February 26, 2022May 26, 2024by Shaina

Training with high value food can be a strangely controversial topic. Many puppy owners want to avoid training with food as they don’t want a dog that only responds when they have snacks on hand — but is this a real concern, or a lack of understanding? Let’s talk about it.

Food is a powerful motivator. Dogs, just like people, like to eat. Eating something tasty FEELS good. It creates a dopamine response, and all of us want more of that. We can use food to create positive associations with things that worry our dog, and we can use it to reward good behavior. We can also use it to teach our dog that paying attention to us is highly beneficial, or to physically manipulate them into the right position (luring).

Bil Jac Frozen Dog Food — Bil-Jac is one of my favorite high value rewards to use in training sessions.

Where food training goes wrong, is when food is used as a BRIBE rather than as a reward. “He only comes inside from the backyard when I shake a bag of cookies!” is a great example of a dog who is not being trained with food effectively. If you are shaking a treat in your dogs face to try to get them to ignore a dog or person, or to come to you when asked, you are not using rewards in a powerful way. You’re essentially teaching your dog that if they ignore you, you will produce a snack — not an ideal thing for them to learn!

So, how DO we teach them to work well for food? First, before taking our dogs to an environment full of distractions, we should teach them HOW to train for food. This is such a commonly skipped step, and it results in a lot of problems later on. Think about your training sessions; do you open your treat pouch and get your treats ready when you’re “ready to begin” training? You may want to rethink the order of operations here! Dogs are always learning, whether we are in an active training session or not. The first step in using food for training is teaching dog that their behavior *produces* the reward! Take your dog (or puppy) out on a long line in a low distraction area. Ignore them, with your hands at your side and treat-free. Once your dog CHOOSES to look at you, mark that behavior with “YES!” and then reach into your treat pouch and begin giving them a few pieces of food in a row, rapid fire style. In a few short sessions, you’ll notice that your dog actively chooses to pay attention to you in anticipation of creating a food reward event, rather than a dog that ignores you until you open your pouch.

Luring — meaning, keeping a piece of food attached to our dogs face so we can control their body movements — is an awesome technique for teaching the mechanics of a new skill. But, if you are constantly luring your dog from Point A to Point B, or to sit, or down, or to go to their bed, are they really learning the skill or just following your snack? Luring alone does not train a dog. Luring should be done in conjunction with other training exercises that make the dog think, problem solve, and learn the skills.

Once a skill is well-known, well-rehearsed, and well-rewarded, you may begin layering over an element of “have to” on those skills. For example, teaching “sit” with leash pressure. I ask my doggie for a sit, and if they don’t sit I will apply consistent upwards leash pressure until their butt hits the ground, at which point the pressure is released. Now I have a way to enforce my skills. But that doesn’t mean we don’t stop rewarding the right behaviors! When I am teaching a dog what leash pressure means (because you DO need to teach a dog how to work through any sort of negative reinforcement or positive punishment in order for it to be fair and effective), I may reward the sit even if I have to help with the leash. Soon, though, I am only rewarding the repetitions where my dog sits without any help with the leash. Voila, now my dog is starting to understand that what I am asking for pays well, but is also not a request.

Keep your dog guessing. Once they’re working well for food, you can move them to a “random reinforcement schedule”. This means that not every behavior produces a reward, but sometimes it does! Dogs trained under a random reinforcement schedule should be checked in with you, anticipating that at some point a reward may come. This is a GOOD thing!

Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule — Random/Intermittent Reinforcement is an important tool in our dog training toolbox.

Have a dog with low food drive? Practice your engagement training and foundation skills with their meals, rather than feeding them from a bowl. Most dogs can learn to happily take food in training if we are smart about how and when we are offering them their meals. Once a dog is excited about taking food in training, you can resume bowl feeding.

Does your dog ignore the food when other dogs/people/bikes go by? You’re likely pushing your dog too quickly, too fast. Your dog should be an expert in their training skills and working for food around low to medium level distractions before going to highly distracting environments. Rather than trying to take your dog into a busy public space to train and feeling defeated because they ignored you, try going somewhere quieter where you both can be successful. Choose a location where distractions will be present far enough away that your dog is not fixated on them, and let them learn that even around distractions YOU are the keeper of all good things. If you’ve worked on building your dogs food drive/excitement for training and they aren’t taking your food, you need to go back a few steps and work on basics.

When do we stop rewarding behaviors? Well, never. Dogs should always be rewarded for good behavior… BUT, the frequency will decrease as the good behavior becomes habit. In the beginning of heeling for example, I might reward my dog every 2-3 steps. Once the skills are well known, I may save the rewards for when we pass high distractions, or when they’ve gone a solid duration without any rewards or corrections. Your dog should always be chasing the dream of reward. That’s what makes a happy, obedient parter who works WITH you. And isn’t that what we all want?!

Dogs

Choosing The Perfect Dog Breed

October 5, 2021December 5, 2024by Shaina

Looking to add a new dog to your household? Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle is an important task! Each breed has its unique traits, characteristics, and temperament, and selecting a breed that aligns with your lifestyle, preferences, and expectations is essential to prevent behavioral problems and frustration. One incredibly valuable tool in making this choice is understanding and considering a breed’s standard. In this blog, we will explore how to choose a dog breed based on their breed standard for a pet.

Understanding Breed Standards

Breed standards are established guidelines that describe the ideal physical and behavioral traits of a particular dog breed. These standards are developed and maintained by kennel clubs and breed-specific organizations to preserve and promote the unique qualities of each breed. While breed standards may seem to primarily serve as a reference for breeders and judges in dog shows, they also provide valuable insights for prospective pet owners.

Here are some key aspects of breed standards to consider when choosing a dog breed:

Size and Appearance: Breed standards outline the typical size, coat color, texture, and overall appearance of a breed. Consider whether you prefer a small, medium, or large dog, as well as the specific coat type and color that appeals to you.
Temperament and Behavior: Breed standards often describe the typical temperament and behavior of a breed. Some breeds are known for their friendliness and sociability (think: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, King Charles Cavalier, Pekingese) while others are more reserved or protective (Akita, Rottweiler, German Shepherd). Think about the kind of temperament that would fit well with your lifestyle and family dynamics. If you are a social butterfly with a lot of new people in and out of your house, a guarding breed probably won’t mesh well with your lifestyle!
Exercise Needs: Breed standards may mention a breed’s activity level and exercise requirements. Active breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds need plenty of physical and mental stimulation, while some toy breeds may be content with shorter walks and play sessions. But don’t count the little ones out if you’re looking for an active pal; consider a Papillon, Whippet, or Jack Russel Terrier if you wan’t a small dog with some “go”.
Grooming Requirements: The coat type described in a breed’s standard can provide insights into their grooming needs. Breeds with long, silky coats may require regular brushing and grooming, while short-haired breeds are generally lower-maintenance in this regard. Poodle (and poodle mix) coats will require daily brushing and monthly grooming, which is a huge time and financial commitment.
Health Considerations: Some breed standards may highlight specific health concerns or genetic predispositions associated with a breed. Research these issues to understand potential health challenges your chosen breed might face. Make sure your chosen breeder tests for all breed-relevant health concerns common to your chosen breed.

Matching Breed Standards to Your Lifestyle

Now that you have a basic understanding of breed standards, it’s time to assess how well they align with your lifestyle and preferences:

Activity Level: Consider your own activity level. Are you an active person who enjoys hiking, running, or playing fetch in the park? Or do you prefer a more relaxed lifestyle? Do you like to train your dog to do advanced obedience exercises, or do you want to play in a dog sport? Choose a breed that matches your energy levels and ideal doggy activities.
Living Space: Your living situation matters. If you live in a small apartment, a breed that requires a large yard to run in might not be the best fit if you are stuck at work most of the day. Some smaller breeds or those with lower exercise needs may be more suitable for apartment living.
Allergies: If you or a family member has allergies, look for breeds that are hypoallergenic or have minimal shedding, as indicated in their breed standards.
Family Dynamics: Consider your family composition and any existing pets. Some breeds are excellent with children and other animals, while others may require more supervision and training. A herding breed generally is not the best fit for a household with small, active children running around.
Time Commitment: Think about the time you can dedicate to training, grooming, and exercise. High-maintenance breeds may require more time and attention.

Conclusion

Choosing a dog breed based on their breed standard is an excellent way to ensure that your new furry companion aligns with your lifestyle, preferences, and expectations. By understanding the typical traits and characteristics outlined in a breed’s standard, you can make an informed decision that leads to a happy and fulfilling relationship between you and your pet. Remember that while breed standards provide valuable guidance, individual dogs may vary, so always spend time getting to know what a potential dog breeder tends to produce before making your final decision. Ultimately, the right dog breed will bring joy and companionship into your life for years to come.