Unleashed Unlimited
THE Dog Training Blog

At one time or another, most of us think that our dog must be the smartest dog in the world.  At the same time I know some of us have thought that our dog can’t be all that bright!  But have you ever wondered what types of dogs are actually smarter than others?  A few years ago scientists developed and implemented an IQ test for dogs, and here are the Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds!

10.  Australian Cattle Dog

9.  Rottweiler

8.  Papillon

7.  Labrador Retriever

6.  Shetland Sheepdog

5.  Doberman Pinscher

4.  Golden Retriever

3.  German Shepherd

2. Poodle

1.  Border Collie

So what does this mean?  Does it mean that just because you own a dog on this list, they are born knowing how to behave or they don’t need training?  Of course not, owning an intelligent dog can have its drawbacks; the smart ones are usually the dogs that give us the most problems as they are constantly finding new ways to get into trouble.  Does this mean that all dogs not on this list are dumb or cannot be trained?  Once again, the answer is no.

All dogs, just like people, learn differently than others.  Due to the numerous dog breeds, personality differences within the same breed, unknown social histories, aggression, fear, or other phobias, there is no one way to train a dog.  Training always has to be approached from a variety of different angles; it is up to the trainer to use an approach that works best for each particular dog.  The end result may be the same, but the path taken to get there may be completely different from one dog to another.

If you are looking for dog training in Austin, give Unleashed Unlimited a call and set up a FREE Demo and Evaluation.  Dog training is about communication, not only with us and our dog, but between people as well.  We will gladly discuss your issues and concerns relating to your dog, your problem areas, training goals, and everything else that is important to you and your family.

Every person has their own definition or image of an aggressive dog, a lot of people may think that all Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Dobermans are aggressive.  I have seen many fantastically mannered Pit Bulls who are great around other dogs, children and people; of course the dogs were not born that way, no dog is, regardless of breed.  I firmly believe that breed characteristics are somewhat important in selecting a dog, but training, education, and socialization are more important factors.  This article is not about breed specific issues or legislation, it isn’t even so much about dog training in the traditional sense, it is about educating people on how to prevent dog bites.

Each year in America, dogs bite over 4 million people, and almost 25% of those bites require medical attention; half of these are children.  About 386,000 cases require treatment in an emergency department, and about 12 people die each year.  These are some alarming stats, and as long as dogs have teeth, they will bite.  At the same time there are some things we can do to prevent dog bites to our children and ourselves.

• Never approach a dog you don’t know. Yes, this still remains true in a dog park.  Remember, these are tips on how to AVOID being bit by a dog; always ask the dog’s owner if you can pet their dog.
• Do not scream and run away from a dog. Fast movement and high pitch sounds can evoke prey drive in some dogs.  Prey drive is a natural instinct in dogs that involves chase and the capture of prey.  All dogs have prey drive to some degree, do yourself and your children a favor and never scream and run away from a dog.
• Don’t pet a dog without letting him see you first. When dogs are sleeping or looking in another direction, a pet on the head or side from us can startle them.  Even if YOUR dog is “friendly”, you can still surprise the dog and you may get nipped; he didn’t do it to be mean, he was just surprised.
• Treat all dogs with respect. If you are petting another person’s dog, don’t pull their tail, put your fingers in their ears, touch their feet, or try to take a ball or toy out of their mouth.  Owners should make sure that their dogs are comfortable with this type of touch, but don’t just assume that they are.
• Recognize when a dog does not want to be bothered. Does the dog in the picture above look like he wants to interact with you?  Don’t chase a dog all over the house or yard in order to pet him.
• Never leave a child alone with a dog. Children and dogs are great matches, but they have to be supervised.  I have seen many children easily annoy very friendly and outgoing dogs, please monitor your kids and dogs.

These are just a few important tips on how to prevent a dog bite.  Yes, I am in total favor of promoting responsible pet ownership, but at the end of the day it is up to you to ensure the safety of yourself and your family.

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A few weeks ago I looking for a picture to include in a post called Gastric Torsion & Your Dog and I came across some interesting x-ray photos of objects dogs have swallowed.  Being around a lot of dogs and their owners, we are constantly hearing about strange things that dogs have managed to find and eat; take a look at a few of these.

This picture shows a video game controller that has been swallowed by a dog.  These things are relatively large, and I hope it was a bigger dog.  After the owner had noticed that his dog was acting lethargic and wasn’t moving his bowels, the dog finally made a visit to the vet and the x-ray was taken.  This particular dog went on to have the remote surgically removed and fully recovered, but only after a very hefty emergency vet bill.

Here are some more x-ray pictures.  Some are more obvious then others, but feel free to post your guesses as to what object appears in each of the numbered pictures.  I will post the answers at a later date.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

These pictures may make you re-think leaving your dog outside in the yard while you are at work all day and consider crating the dog when you are out of the home or unable to keep your eye on them.  We always recommend crating dogs when you are not home; not only does it help prevent the dog from practicing unwanted behaviors, but it also prevents them from getting into, well…. you name it!  However you approach monitoring your dog, please do yourself and your dog a favor and keep your eye on your pet.

Don’t forget to leave your guesses in the comment box - the first person to get all 5 correct will get a FREE Unleashed Unlimited T-shirt!

The contest will run until October 5, 2008.

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Does your dog jump on your guest every time they enter your house?  Teaching your dog not to jump on people is a training goal for most dog owners and can sometimes be a bit frustrating, but it is easy to prevent.  Here are some tips that may help you:

• Teach your dog a reliable sit/stay with distraction present
• Recognize that the sound of the doorbell or turning the knob may be a trigger for your dog
• Start cuing your dog to sit before he gets to the door so he has processing time
• Set your dog up for success in a situation you are prepared to handle and follow through
• Take every opportunity to practice with your family as they come home from work or school
• Use a leash to prevent jumping before it happens so your dog does not get the chance to practice the behavior

Teaching your dog not to jump on people is an exercise that takes repetition and follow through.  It is helpful if your guests are cooperative and refrain from greeting your dog until he is in a sitting position. Life happens, people come to the door so embrace these things as an opportunity to train your dog, life is full of them!!

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This entry comes from Chris Colt of Cove Mountain Kennels. Cove Mountain Kennels, located in the rural town of Annabella, Utah at the base of Cove Mountain, is a small gun dog training kennel whose purpose is to help people build good relationships with their dogs.  Their philosophy is that a combination of socialization, companionship, behavior and lots of experience on wild birds makes for a quality hunting dog and wonderful full time companion.

There are times when you should not give attention or affection to your dog. It may seem counter intuitive, but when a dog is scared, in pain, or their mind is somehow unstable, you should not give them attention. Turn and move away, or go on with what you were doing like you didn’t know they were there. If you give them attention at this time, it feeds their instability and worst case, can even give the dog an irrational superstition or fear of something associated with the incident.

I learned this principle many years ago from David Bowman, a very knowledgeable VDD dog fancier. A cute young Drahthaar pup he had tried to jump into the back of his truck, it missed and whacked its face on the tailgate and landed on the ground like a sack of flour. I immediately raced over with an, “Aaaaawwwww, poor puppy.” David sharply stopped me with a command like he would give to an errant pup. He pulled me back and we just watched the pup. The pup got up, shook it off and trotted over to us. David explained to me that there were times when you shouldn’t give affection to a dog, or they would develop and unreasonable fear of some object, action, place or other thing they associated with the event. The more anxiety you show in the situation, the more it will feed the instability.

In such a situation you should move on like nothing ever happened. Keep the dogs mind moving forward. Come back later and retry the action. David and I walked over to the other side of the yard for a minute, the pup trotting along. We gave him a few minutes to check out that part of the world and let his mind move on to other things, and then David then circled back to the truck and loaded the pup up without problems.

There are lots of times when you should praise your dog, but also times when you should withhold attention. When the dog’s mind is unstable or fearful, turn and move on like you don’t even know they are there. It is my belief that as a social pack animal, they surrender their fears to you, the pack leader. If you are not afraid of something, they feel that there is no need for them to fear it and they move on.

If you enjoyed this entry, please visit the website of Cove Mountain Kennels for a lot more great dog training articles.

One of the first questions people ask when seeking a dog trainer is, “How much does it cost?” Cost is important when purchasing anything and is a fair question, however it does not give you any valuable information as to what you are purchasing, and it should not be your deciding factor. There are other important factors that should be involved in the decision process, these are some examples:

• Does the dog training program meet YOUR NEEDS and goals you have in mind for you and your dog?
• Will the training classes be held at times and locations that you can actually attend?
• Are they able to show you their dog work so you can see for yourself the achievable results?
• What training tools are implemented and how?
• Do they offer private lesson or group lessons?
• What is the trainer to student ratio?
• Do they have proven and reliable results?
• How many lessons are included in their training packages and what do you need to do to advance your dog further?
• What is the curriculum that they teach, and how does it compare to other training programs?
• Are you able to witness one of their classes in session?
• Is the trainer willing to meet with you, in person, to discuss your issues and goals?  Do they charge a fee for that appointment?

Gathering as much information as possible is extremely important; as you gather more information you are able to make an educated decision as to what you are actually purchasing.  It is only then that you are able to see value in what you are purchasing, that is what justifies the price.

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