Reading your dog will always be a vital part of training and communicating with our dogs.  The information that our dogs show us lets us know what the dog is thinking and what they are about to do, and it is then up to us to respond accordingly.  However, in order to respond correctly in each situation we have to know what the dog is showing us.  This article will deal with a very small part of reading our dogs and will concentrate on the differences between distraction and confusion.

When referring to distraction, I am talking about everyday things that will quickly cause a dog to loose their minds.  Some signs of distraction may include:

• Offering no attempt to obey the given command (continuing to chase after a squirrel when given the recall command).
• Breaking a given command when something catches the dog’s eye (heeling down the street and pulling on the leash at the first sight of an approaching dog).

If your dog is distracted, you must first regain their attention before the desired task can be executed.  Ways of regaining your dog’s attention are something that will differ from one training method to another and should be accomplished in a manner that is appropriate for your training approach.

When mentioning confusion, I am referring to the dog’s intellectual ability to perform a desired task.  Some signs of confusion may include:

• Offering a series of behaviors that are unrelated to the behavior that is being asked (offering a down, sit, or paw when asked to come into a standing heel position).
• Executing a command but in a manner that is different from the intended task (running to another person who is not giving a recall command).

If your dog is confused, we need to add clarity to the dog in order to help them accomplish a desired task.  There are numerous ways of adding clarity and are going to widely differ from dog to dog and situation to situation.

So what’s the point?  The point is, we cannot expect our dog to respond to anything without first having their attention, and even with your dog’s attention, we cannot expect them to respond when confusion exists.  Knowing the differences and recognizing what your dog is offering is a crucial step in properly communicating with your dog.

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Last week Tracey and I met with a representative from Planet Dog, a company that puts out some fantastic dog toys and accessories.  The rep showed us some of their new products they have coming out, and you will be able to find many of them in our online store in the next week or so.

We will let everyone know when the new products are available in our store, but in the meantime, enjoy this video kicking off our new relationship with Planet Dog.

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I know that we always stress consistency in dog training, and we have even blogged about it several times before.  Bottom line – it is worth mentioning again!  The reason that I am writing about consistency right now is in thanks to a client who absolutely surprised me in class tonight.

This client has had only three lessons with us; two at their home, and one in a group setting.  8 weeks had gone by since the last time we worked with this particular client and his dog, and I expected the dog’s behavior to directly reflect that long gap in training.

As soon as we put the dog through her paces I was immediately surprised.  Things that had been introduced to the dog 8 weeks ago had improved dramatically; the dog was recalling off-leash in heavy distraction, she was staying on her placeboard, and she was walking nicely with her owner (off-leash) on a hike and bike trail.

As I was talking to the owner, he told me that family, friends, and work had been really busy and he had just not gotten the time to bring her out to training classes.  BUT, he walks or jogs with his dog everyday (heel) and he enforces basic manners in the house (come, sit, and place).  Not only did his dog not back slide during his break from training classes, but dramatically improved due to his consistency in his daily life.

Dog trainers can teach your dog how to behave and show you how to improve communication with your dog, but ultimately that will only take you and your dog so far.  On a good week for a group training program, a trainer will maybe see a dog for 2 hours of formal training; that leaves 166 additional hours in the week that you are interacting with your dogs.  This is where consistency is needed.

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When choosing a dog training program it is important to make sure that the structure, curriculum, and style is a good fit for you and your dog.  One training option that is offered by a lot of dog trainers is a board and train program.  As we all know, a typical board and train program consists of your dog staying with a trainer for a scheduled period of time.  During this time, the trainer does all of your dog’s training with your dog, and then returns the dog to you and your family.  Sounds great, right?

In theory, a board and train program sounds like the perfect solution for those of us with busy and hectic lifestyles, but in reality there is much more to this type of training program.  You should understand that your dog will respond and listen great for the trainer, but in the end, it is your dog!  You must first realize that when your dog is returned to you, he or she should not be considered “finished”.

• After your dog is returned to you, YOUR training begins.  You must understand that the work that you do on the back end of the training program is going to determine the success or failure of the board and train program.
• At the time your dog is returned back to you, his newly learned skills may not be totally “permanent” just yet.  You and your family have to continue to practice with your dog and make his training part of his daily life.
• Timing is critical in dog training.  If your timing is off, you will not get the best out of your dog.  You will have to learn to read your dog and know how and when to respond based the actions of your dog.
• Upon return to your home, your dog may resort back to familiar surroundings and expect that he can act the same as he did before leaving for training.  It is up to you and your family to remain consistent and follow through with the training.
• Dogs feed off of body language before verbal commands, and of course things you do with your body will be different from that of your trainer.  Your dog will need an adjustment period before fully matching up to your style and working fluently for you.

In order to account for all of these factors, make sure your trainer has a sufficient “human training” program that accompanies your dog’s board and train program; and there should NOT be an extra cost for this!  Make sure your trainer will work with you, and make sure that you understand as much as your dog understands.  Make sure they answer your questions and fully explain what you have to do in order for your dog to respond to the commands of you and your family.

When deciding if an Austin board and train program is right for your dog, make sure your expectations are realistic and your realize that you will have to do some work upon your dog coming back into your home.  If the proper structure and support are present on the back end of a board and train program, this may be a very desirable option for you and your family.  Now you have to ask yourself if you can bear to be away from your dog for that many days…..

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The Capital of Texas Triathlon is coming to Austin again this month.  As part of the weekend of events, Texas’ first dog duathalon allows your dog to participate in the event with you!  The Doggie Du Dash is composed of a 375 meter open water swim and a 1 mile run, both with your dog!

Before entering the event, please make sure that your dog is accustom to swimming in a natural body of water and running beside you in an urban setting.  Also, you want to definitely make sure that your dog has the stamina to handle to the physical demands that an event like this require.

To learn more about registration information, including the required doggie physical, please visit the CapTexTri website.

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Tara and her dog Beau were selected for Unleashed Unlimited’s Student of the Month for May 2009.  Enjoy the video.

Some of the reasons that we chose Tara and Beau for our student of the month are because Tara follows through with every task, practices and remains consistent at home, takes instruction well, and isn’t afraid to try new things with her dog.  As smart as her dog is, Beau would not be performing well if Tara had not put the time and effort into her dog; and as a result, her dog is amazing!  Great job Tara, keep up the good work!

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