Rewards

As a dog trainer, I talk a LOT about rewards.

In short, a reward is in the eye of the recipient. I think of Ron Weasley from Harry Potter and the hand knit sweater. He REALLY didn't want the sweater his mom made him for Christmas - he got one every year and was embarrassed by them. Harry, never having a sweater, really was touched by the gift Mrs. Weasley made him.

Last night, we had a good lesson in "rewards."

Aislyn, my three year old daughter, is trying a full night without her bedroom light. I told her she had to pick her binky or the light (she picked binky) AND she gets a reward of whatever she wants for breakfast tomorrow morning if she can make it through the night.

"I want a Nutella and orange cheese stick sandwich."

"Can I just make you a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich?"

"No. Nutella and cheese stick."

"Ok, Nutella and cheese."

"NO, Mom. Cheese STICK."

So, a reward I never .... never would have thought of - a Nutella and Cheese STICK sandwich.

Now, I could have given her a new toy. I could have given her a peanut butter sandwich. I could have had a dance party with her. Those things would not have been as rewarding as a Nutella and cheese stick sandwich.

Dog help us if we were out of Nutella. Or cheese sticks.

Luckily, she decided at the last minute to have the cheese stick on the side so it didn't get messy.

This is a real reward.

Think about that the next time your dog won't come when called. Was he expecting a game with you and you just pet him on the top of his head? Is that head rub rewarding at all to your dog? We know you think it is but does your dog perceive that as a reward?

Does the behavior of "come" increase or decrease with a head rub instead of a game of tug or a piece of cheese?

It's OUTSIDE SEASON!

The temperature is up to a balmy 45, which means only one thing in New England- it's OUTSIDE SEASON! Activities can include hiking, running, or going to the dog park. Here are 5 easy things that you can do right now to make sure your dog is happy, healthy, and behaviorally set for the season to come!

5. Don't Keep Fido on a Leash in the Dog Park.

If you or someone you know is taking your dog to the dog park only to keep him leashed to "socialize" him, you might be doing more harm than good. Barrier Reactivity is a real thing that is quite common in the city. If you have a dog in a fenced in dog park who is leashed, chances are with every interaction that dog is having, there is tension on the leash, adding to the frustration in the leashed dog. In a matter of time (minutes, or weeks) that dog is likely going to develop frustration linked to being held back. If you are going to the dog park, and your dog is friendly, take him off leash. If you are not sure if your dog is a candidate for the dog park, read this article from the ASPCA to help you figure out how to introduce your dog to the dog park, or IF you should.

4. If Your Dog Is Off Leash, Have A Reliable Recall On Your Dog. 

I've written several times about the importance of having a reliable recall on your dog. When you say "COME!", your dog should come to you and be able to get leashed if need be without blowing you off, or introducing a game of "come chase me!" to the command. For starters, your dog might be super friendly, but the dog who he's running up to might have an issue with a charging dog bounding up to say hi. I don't like strangers tearing off across a field to embrace me in a hug, and I know for certain that my dog doesn't like it, either. If your dog can't handle off leash time (legality aside of being off leash in most parks!), you need to work on recall. Off leash time is earned, not a right for your dog. It's a matter of safety. 

3. Check These Etiquette Rules From Dr. Sophia Yin

Does your dog jump on people at the park? Do you let it slide? Read this quick blog post article and see what you can do to avoid being "that guy" at the dog park. There are great illustrations to show what to do, and what not to do, from the one and only, Dr. Sophia Yin. 

2. Watch the Temperature

In New England, the temperatures can go from 45 to 85 in a period of a few weeks, and then back down to 60. It's important to know what your dog can, and should, handle as it pertains to heat. Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with pushed-in-faces, like pug, bulldogs, and Boston terriers) have a harder time regulating their temperatures. Puppies don't know when to quit no matter what the weather. Older dogs might not be able to handle warm weather, either. It's also important to note the temperature of the sidewalks: if it's 85 degrees in the blistering sun at noon, it's best to not have dogs walking on the hot concrete. They can burn the delicate pads as they are the only body part that is not protected by fur. Time your walks appropriately, and be mindful of your pup. They might be stubborn, but if it's hot outside your bulldog is better for you not pushing it. 

1. If Your Dog Doesn't Like The Park Anymore, It's Totally OK!

When I was a kid, I loved the little kid park. Now that I'm older, I like a cocktail party. My needs and desires have changed greatly with my adult personality, and our dogs have changing preferences, too. Dogs who used to like playing with puppies, might not appreciate those "young whippersnappers" rudely lapping under their chins now that they are adult dogs. They might not like sharing their ball, or your affections with other dogs. Besides, at the dog park, there are a lot of dogs there, and not all are behaviorally sound, or give off good social cues. If your dog has been going to the park long enough, statistically it's bound to happen that time will toll on your dog and all the years of bad body language from a few dogs will make your dog think twice about bounding with other playmates. As your dog ages, they might really enjoy the company of 1-2 other dogs, or a play group with the same cast of characters instead of the who-knows-who-will-be-there at the local park.

If your dog is reactive in the presence of toys near other dogs, it's not fair for your dog to feel stressed out. It's best to find another outlet for your pup, where they can play without worrying that some young dog is going to take their prized ball (or worse - your attention!) Take your dog at a time when no one is at the park, or find another area to platy fetch with your dog, and make sure you have a reliable recall on your pup so you can call Fido over to you in the event another dog arrives at your secret spot. (See #4 for videos pertaining to this). It's worse to force your dog to go to the park to play around other dogs if they aren't enjoying the game anymore. Find another outlet. It's totally OK. I promise!

There is no shame in not going to the park anymore. Just think of it as the highest honor your dog can give you: they prefer you to the other dogs, which might be harder for you, but in the end, is pretty cool. 

In the interim, it's also important to work with your dog to safely instill confidence (not every dog will take your toy!) so if you would like to work with a certified professional on this, use positive techniques as aversive training can add more stress to your already stressed out pup. If your dog thinks that another dog means a collar pop or an alpha roll, they are likely to become more stressed out over time, which is the opposite of confidence training. You want your dog to look forward to other dogs, but also trust that you will provide adequate space. It's a dance and an important one, so find someone suited for this work by searching the APDT, CCPDT or KPA websites for more information. 

Recall Redux

A student sent me this video yesterday, and I snorted seltzer out of my nose. I'm pretty sure the dog is named Jesus Christ.....

 

Humorous as the video is, it really illustrates why it's critical to have a reliable recall on your dog before letting them off leash. Dogs have 4 legs, we have 2. Guess who's going to win in a foot race every time? More importantly consider the following scenario: Your incredibly friendly, social dog is racing across a field to say hi to another dog - but that dog might not be too keen on your dogs exuberant greeting behavior, and may react with a growl, lunge, or bite.

Rule #1 of dog training: Your dog might be friendly, but that doesn't mean every other dog wants to be it's friend. Rule #2 of dog training: Have a solid recall on your dog.



How to Get A Reliable Recall: 
Here is a quick video on theory:

and how to use a long line to start recall training:

You can also take formal classes to work on recall, or join a club. Every basic manners class should have dedicate time to recall basics while working on other basic skills (sit, down, stay, don't eat that), and some classes are even designed specifically for working on one thing only- getting your dog to come when called.

And then, there is my favorite way to work recall and off leash skills with a dog: Sports. In most dog sports, (Obedience, Rally, Agility, Frisbee, etc), the dog has to be able to execute skills, such as "go this way", "do this thing", "come" and "stay" while off leash...and it looks REALLY cool!

The reason this works? It's fun for the handler, and for the dog. Mark demonstrates the basic principle of come when called while competing with his dog - YOU HAVE TO BE MORE EXCITING THAN ALL THOSE OTHER EXCITING THINGS, which isn't always easy to do, and he never yells at the dog for coming to him. "Fido, come here NOW" and getting a whack on the nose, or getting his nails clipped is a surefire way to insure your dog never comes when you call.

So in short: 
- Never let your dog off leash until you have a reliable recall on your dog.
- Use a long line to work longer distances.
- Find a way to be more exciting than a squirrel (highly motivating treats, frisbee, ball, whatever your dog likes)
 - If your dog doesn't come, make it easier for your dog to be successful (shorter distance/fewer distractions)
 - Keep practicing, join a club, take a class, or start dabbling in sports to make things interesting and fun!

Leash Your Dog. No Really, Leash Your Dog.

Consider this:

A leashed dog is walking in a park with his owner. An off-leash dog sees the leashed dog, and starts happily bounding towards them. The owner of the off-leash dog goes bounding after his dog - "Nelly, COME!" but Nelly ignores her owner. She is so excited about the new dog, that she runs up. Nelly's owner changes tactics - "It's OK - she's friendly".  The leashed dog might be excited to say hi to a rapidly approaching happy dog - or, the other dog could growl, bite, or show other displays of being uncomfortable with an oncoming strange dog.

The leashed dog might be on leash because it's illegal to be off-leash in most parks and the owner might be a law abiding citizen. The leashed dog might be on leash because he's not friendly and doesn't appreciate other dogs in his face. The leashed dog might be on leash because his recall isn't so great. The leashed dog may do much better with other dogs off leash, but it wouldn't be a problem if Nelly was also leashed, or had a decent recall.

Why NOT leash a dog? Leash sets can be STYLIN'! Not to mention it's illegal in most urban places to have your dog without a leash...and dangerous if you don't have a reliable recall.

There are several sightings on the streets of Somerville, a particularly busy city for those not familiar with it, where people walk their unleashed dogs on the sidewalk. One woman has a very sweet Cocker Spaniel that she "walks" - the dog is 15' ahead of her, she's trailing behind chatting on her cell phone. Her dog is sweet, and she'll say so when her dog is running full tilt across the busy street to say hi to other dogs. I've told her twice that not all dogs are friendly with unfamiliar dogs jumping in their faces, mine is one of those dogs. Not to mention it's dangerous that her dog is crossing city streets, not only for her dog, but for drivers that might swerve to miss her darting pooch and hit a pedestrian or another car. The second time this happened, I told her I'd call animal control the next time I saw her unleashed dog. I saw her a week later. Her dog was leashed, but as soon as we passed her, I turned around, only to see her unhook her dog, and the dog run down the sidewalk.

I knew a guy when I first moved to Somerville that would take his happy dog, Shred, to the unofficial dog play group at Foss Park. Shred was never more than a couple feet behind his owner, and he never used a leash. He didn't have to because Shred was right there, all the time. One day, they were crossing McGrath highway on their way home from the dog park. They had the crossing light, but the minivan that ran the red light didn't care.  The owner ran forward to avoid the car, Shred didn't move and got hit. Had he been leashed, the owners forward motion to get away would have at least pulled Shred enough to maybe miss the oncoming van.

I'm all for allowing a dog to run, to play, to be a dog. However, like most things, this has to have rules. Your dog should be allowed to be off leash in the city where all the conditions are met:
 -Your dog is friendly to people and dogs
 -Your dog is under voice control. One command, one action, example: "Sadie, Come!". The following is not a recall: "Please, Sadie, Come! I said Come - no, COME! SADIE - &#!$? Come here NOW!"
 - If your dog is not under vocal control, use a 30' long line to work recall with your dog. Get into a recall class or attend a free recall clinic (we offer them several times a year in Somerville through City Dog Training).  Get into a sport like Frisbee or Agility where your dog is allowed to run, jump, play, and go full tilt - but you can stop it with your voice, and your dog learns attention in a fun way.
 - You are in a dog appropriate place - NOT the sidewalks of your city. Too many things can go wrong. Off leash hours at local parks, play groups, hiking trails that dogs are permitted off leash, dog friendly beaches, fenced in dog parks, etc. are appropriate off leash outlets for your dog, if your dog can handle those situations.
 - Some dogs, like sight hounds, should never be let off leash in an unfenced area. Seek out safe, fenced in  places for your FRIENDLY dog to run. Note: not all dogs will do ok in a dog park, so if your dog is sometimes ok and not others, don't take your dog to a dog park. Work with a trainer to figure out where your dog can get appropriate exercise without putting other dogs at risk.
 -You are paying attention to your dog's behavior and your surroundings. If your dog is off playing with other dogs, you should not be on your cell phone, doing a crossword puzzle, chatting with other people without noticing where your dog is. You might want to pay attention to what he's rolling in, if he's chasing a bike, chasing a dog, chasing a squirrel, or where he is pooping. In the city, it's still your responsibility to clean up after your dog, even if your excuse is your NYT puzzle, E-Reader, or phone conversation was too distracting.  Off leash time is not the time for you to check out, no matter how long of a day you had. Wait until your dog is exercised, then go home, have a glass of wine, and tune out the world or talk to your friend on the phone.


Where to exercise your dogs off leash in our area?

 Nunziatio
 0 New Washington
 Ed Leathers Park
 Danahy Park

Summary:
For all the people who have friendly dogs in the city - please, keep your dog on leash. For those who have unfriendly dogs in the city, please keep your dog on a leash. If your dog is off leash in a park, any park, your dog needs a 100% reliable recall. Your dog needs to be on a leash in the city on walks, end of story. It's not just for your dog, it's for the safety and comfort of all the dogs around you, not to mention not having your dog on leash on the sidewalks is illegal for all the reasons I expressed and more.

Lastly:
As my dad said every New Years Eve: "Be careful. I'm not worried that you would drive under the influence- it's the other people that are driving drunk that I'm worried about". Your dog might be excited to say hi to every dog and person he meets, but the other dog might be aggressive, shy, or reactive. Other people might not enjoy your dogs enthusiastic jumps, might be allergic, or have been attacked by dogs in the past. If your dog is friendly, find appropriate places to unleash your hound, but ONLY if you have reliable recall. If your dog isn't friendly and needs to run, get a trainer, and get into a dog sport like Frisbee, Agility, and other sports so you can learn how to control your dogs impulses while still getting exercise.