Trainer’s Spotlight: Casey Ray of DogSmarts

Q:  Can you provide a brief overview of yourself and your business and services?

A:  My name is Casey Ray and I am the training director at DogSmarts, a St. Louis based company offering training services to the greater St. Louis and Southwestern Illinois areas.  My staff takes pride in being able to offer services to meet the needs of each individual dog.  We feel strongly that every dog is different and better yet, that every dog & owner combination is different!  We set up a strategy for success after evaluating each dog and their environment.  We offer a wide variety of training programs and use a variety of training tools. In the summer of 2010, we’ll introduce our new facility, which will be home to our training, boarding, daycare & grooming services.

Q:  What advice can you give a potential dog owner who is looking to adopt from a dog/puppy from a shelter?

A:  Do your homework!  Not so much about the breed or mixed breed you’re thinking of adopting, but that particular dog’s energy level.  There are several energy levels within every breed and it’s crucial for you to place the proper one in your home depending on your lifestyle.  Focus on learning what that dog ‘will need’ daily to be fulfilled and not on  ‘what he is supposed to be’ because of the breed. Far too often I hear clients tell me about how they’ve owned this breed their whole life and this is the first they can’t manage.  Most likely they’ve gotten lucky and owned more low energy, submissive type personalities.  All of the sudden their 4th dog is the same breed but high energy and much more dominant.  Circumstances such as this, usually leaves the client feeling like something is wrong, when in reality, nothing is wrong at all.  Sure, certain breeds are better at certain tasks and vary in trainability, but a dog is an animal and canine before it is any breed type.   Be true to yourself and get a dog that matches your energy level, regardless of breed!

Q:  From your experience and in your opinion, what are some of the most common mistakes dog owners make?

A:  My top three would have to be:
1) Your everyday dog owner doesn’t understand the timing needed to correctly send a message, either positive or negative, to the dog. I see a lot of punishing or correcting a dog long after the association is gone.
2) An overall lack of knowledge when it comes to how to walk their dog and how important it is.  Many replace a good, structured walk with a romp in a large fenced back yard which only creates an aquarium effect.  Better than nothing, sure, but shouldn’t replace a good walk.
3) They tend to coddle and show affection when their dogs are in an unstable state of mind.  Telling a dog “it’s okay” and petting it while it is fearful or anxious is only reinforcing THAT state of mind.  Doing so is a perfect example of practicing human psychology on a canine.

Q:  What is the most remarkable thing you have seen a dog do?

A:  Years ago, we owned a Boxer named Hank, a dog that I will never forget. My wife was pregnant at the time but apparently was going through a tubal pregnancy that we were obviously unaware of.  One night she had gotten out of bed to use the restroom and didn’t return.  She was in our bathroom, on the floor, in dire pain.  Because it was in the middle of the night, I was sound asleep.  Hank came into the bedroom and barked at me until I awoke.  I woke up to Hank’s steady barks and to find her in agony.  As you ‘just know’ when something is serious, I drove her to the closest hospital at what seemed like 100 mph!  The doctors informed us after her emergency surgery, that due to a rupture, a longer period of time could’ve cost her life.  Hank stepped up, awoke me from a dead sleep and possibly saved a life!  I hope he’s waiting for us both to reunite someday. You’re forever missed, Hank!

Q:  In your opinion, what is the single most important command you can teach a dog and why?

A:  We can only pick one?  Hmmm…I’d have to go with a ‘heel’ command.  I think it’s vital to a dog’s psyche to learn to walk in such a matter that they are NOT in charge.  Dogs that pull their owners down the sidewalk on their retractable leashes are undoubtedly, running the show.  A dog that is walked properly and regularly also has decreased chances of frustration, which leads to many behavioral disorders, including aggression. A proper ‘heel’ enables an owner to walk through doorways and/or enter dog parks in charge while keeping the dog in a calm state of mind.  The ‘place’ and ‘down’ commands would be next on my list.

Q:  Can you provide any useful information, advice, or tips for dog owners who frequent off leash dog parks?

A:  Don’t!  All kidding aside, all you can do is control your own dog.  I personally don’t care for dog parks due to the fact of under educated owners.  This is another reason for our ‘Unlimited Group’ classes.  Many of our classes resemble a dog park with tons of playing.  However, in our classes, all the dogs have been through some type of formal training, bringing the number of unstable dogs way down!
If I must go to a dog park, I’d do a couple things:

1) Enter the park through the gates with your dog in a controlled ‘heel’ and in a calm state of mind.  Don’t ever let your dog go in highly excited, anxious and blowing through the gates.  Let your dog know that this is YOUR park.
2) Do a little obedience with them first thing.  Associate executing commands with this particular dog park, and reinforce properly.  Make it fun and incorporate a toy as a reward.  I want my dog to know I run even this show, but he can still have a ton of fun!
Anytime you take your dogs to a dog park, your dog is at the mercy of the others and its owners.  In my opinion, dog parks are often breeding grounds for unstable dogs!

Q:  What skills/concepts do you find dog owners have the most trouble with, and what advice do you give them?

A:  Usually dog owners who have well behaved kids have pretty decent dogs.  For the most part, there are a lot of similarities.  If I go into a home and notice the parents can’t stop their young child from doing a certain action, I know I have my work cut out for me.  Be consistent, be assertive, set boundaries and stick to them.  Keep your emotions in check.  As Cesar Millan says “We’re the only species that follows unstable leaders!” Your dog will respect you more when you have calm, firm rules in place.  Set up a strategy for success and do your best to stick to it!

Q:  Do you have an product, event, video, organization, or something else to promote that you feel our readers can benefit from?

A:  I’m not sure about if anyone can benefit from them, but I’d love to share a couple videos with the readers!  Meet DogSmarts Dog Training and DogSmarts Dog Training

Q:  Is there anything else you would like to add or share with our readers?

A:  Enjoy every minute with your dog.  It doesn’t seem fair to have such a noble and selfless species receive such a short life span.  We are their world, and yet some of us abuse that.  I want to give my dog everything he needs, everyday so when I look back at our time together, there are no regrets!

To learn more about Casey Ray and the entire DogSmarts family check out their website. Thanks Casey!

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