Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA is a Boston dog trainer with 15 years experience in sports, manners & behavior. She wrote Considerations for the City Dog and contributes to NPR's Car Talk FIDO blog and Maine Dog Magazine. She's the co-Training Director of NEDTC, the oldest AKC obedience club in the US.
In today's Q/A, we have a terrier puppy who loves to escape, but also won't come back for food if she does get out. So, we break this down into two different topics and address them both!
1. How to keep a dog from escaping
2. How to find what is reinforcing to a non-food hound
The lesson is here:
Also, in this video, Melissa is still crisis parenting in a pandemic while working from home:
We talk about how to search for Flirt Pole without stumbling down an unintended sex dungeon rabbit hole:
and we talk about how hunters bathe who in doe urine for hunting season actually might be onto something with dog training...
Ew.
I know, but maybe it'll help you get your dog to come back to you if he or she escapes - not bathing in doe urine.
I'm not a monster.
I'm thinking just reasonable amount of doe urine ...maybe on a tug toy....if your dog is into it.
Let's find out how all these string together, shall we? Because, I don't think dog training should just be fun. I think it should be funny.
*****
If you have questions about living life with dogs, feel free to add them in the comments section here or feel free to contact me! Until next time!
We're on day 50 of quarantine in our city and I'm not going to lie. It's hard. Impossibly hard. But, I have had a bit of time to do some things I was hoping to do long ago that I never got around to.
One of those things was recording something relevant to my book,Considerations for the City Dog, how to find a pet ethically using the Internet. Which, it turns out, is harder than one would think. I've always wanted to show people how to navigate Petfinder and similar sites because there are some concerning trends that have been going on for years. And I'm saying this as a rescue advocate, someone who rescues and works for a rescue organization. Click-and-ship culture's effect on the acquisition of pets has pros and cons.
In watching the video above, start at around the 9-minute mark where we take a look at the first page of Petfinder. I have a search on for within 100 miles so I could see the dogs before making a decision - seems reasonable. The first page has 48 dogs, all are promoted on being within 2 miles of my zip code.
Only two, the first two dogs featured on the site, are actually here.
Where are the local dogs? They start showing up with a higher frequency after page four, which seems really unfair to the dogs who are here, who you can meet. But where are all these other dogs from? They say they are here...
The rest of the dogs on the site claim to be within two miles of your zip code, but in the demonstration, these dogs are all in the American South. After someone commits to a dog because the description sounds perfect and the face is so photogenic, the rescue group will then ask you to drive to Connecticut or other neighboring states to get your new pet.
Have you ever thought about why that is? They are trying to duck a legal loophole, which leaves you unprotected if this dog isn't a good fit, isn't healthy, or isn't as promoted.
This video takes some clips from a longer presentation I've given a few times, most easily accessed through the Pet Professional Guild. (Though, if you are a dog training professional or work with animals in a professional capacity, you can find a professionally targeted version here through Raising Canine).
Responsible breeders or shelters will not lie to you, nor would they ask you to drive across state lines to a parking lot to pick up a pet just to get around Massachusetts State Law. Good breeders and rescues will ask you to meet the dog on site - and if they aren't asking you to do that, I'd say walk away. The rules are still the same.
If a rescue (or breeder!) feels they need to misrepresent where the dog lives to get clicks, that's really unfortunate and I question their ability to be ethical in the sale, the transport, and to take any financial responsibility if something isn't going right. For example, if someone were to get a dog shipped directly from Texas, a dog who is described to "love kids," but this dog doesn't like your kids, or the dog isn't handling the new environment well, what are you supposed to do? The dog who was supposed to "get along with cats" kills your cat? What if the dog is really lovely, but hates the city and can't go outside - she's shivering in a corner for days?
The rescue will not come to pick the dog back up from Texas.
What if the dog arrives with a highly contagious disease that could do harm to existing animals in your home? What if the "house-trained dog who wants to be your best friend" is actually a former puppy mill stud dog who has never left a crate and he pees everywhere - including on the other dog in your home, and he barks non-stop?
As imaginative as all of these possibilities are, they are all taken straight from my case files in the last few years. They all have one thing in common: They were all picked up over state lines, and there was no recourse for the family. They were on the hook for thousands of dollars in behavior work, medical work (one had to go straight to the ER from the transport for a lung infection - $2,000 later, the family could bring him home, and the rescue wouldn't help. "He was healthy when he got on the truck. Not our responsibility.")
No. Not all dogs who come up via transport like this end up as a tragic tale. Truthfully, most do not. My current dog, Captain, came from North Carolina, but, we met him locally and were able to make a decision if he was the dog for us (he absolutely was). This was after meeting other dogs, some even made it into our home for a short period of time, before realizing we were not a good match for those dogs. One was so sound phobic - and we live near two highways - it would have been torture for that dog to live her life here. One loved our daughter at the shelter but after we got home the dog developed severe separation distress, and that wasn't something we could handle with a 3-year-old in the home with an active schedule. That wonderful little dog went on to live with a woman in a wheelchair who never left home. They were a perfect match!
Many of my students acquired dogs by driving out of state and it was fine. Many of these dogs are great learners, fantastic friends, and perfect companions.
But when it DOES go wrong, it tends to be because dog and family weren't appropriately matched and there is no support after the dog is homed.
So please, exercise some caution. Do your homework and reach out if you have questions.
For the record: I will always rescue my pets, but there is a way to do it responsibly. Going through groups like the MSPCA, Animal Rescue League, New England Brittany Rescue, Northeast Animal Shelter and others who have dogs locally who you can visit, whether through an established foster network or a brick-and-mortar facility is the way to go for rescue. Many even import dogs from other states get a reliable profile and ensure their health before sending them into a home. Just like I would always advise clients who want a purebred dog to do their homework and always meet the puppy at the breeder's home first, I always advise meeting a rescue or shelter dog first from a place who has a reputation of helping people after the dog goes home.
Saved shouldn't be defined as "No longer in a shelter". I can't tell you the number of dogs who are not saved because they went to a home - they are more stressed because they weren't put in the right home or environment despite everyone in the home doing everything they can for the dog.
Saved should be qualified as thriving behaviorally and physically.
If you're going to do this, I beg you to do it right because when this is all over, my colleagues and I would love nothing more than to come to your home and work with you on sit, down, stay, and stop jumping - all the things many of our clients expect to work on when they bring a new canine companion into their home. The risk of going in without support or bringing a dog in sight unseen might mean we'll have to have bigger, harder, more challenging conversations at the end of this quarantine, which is more stress on you, and ultimately more stress on your new dog.
A few weeks ago, I wrapped up my 5 part series with @2DogsTreats where we covered the elements in dog training necessary for living in an urban setting. Here they are in full with some funnies to get you in the mood for a little pup training!
1. Name recognition (it sounds totally basic, but what do you want your dog to DO when you say his name? If "ignore me completely" isn't your answer, then check this out.)
2. Leave it(or affectionately called The Chicken Bone Command)
I'd like to think that when dogs are just wandering around, or reacting to things we can't see, they are really playing an intricate imaginary game of Super Mario Bros.
We are dog sitting my friend Ollie for the weekend. It's the first time we've had a dog in the home since the passing of Sadie in August. It's actually really nice, but there are a few things to adjust to.
You may remember seeing Ollie before. We demo disc in the area. She's the only flying Boston terrier I've ever met. She's a Border collie in a Boston terrier body. If you don't believe me, she was even highlighted as my teammate in PBS's Design Squad a few months ago.
Pro: All of our dishes have been pre-rinsed before the dishwasher.
Con: We haven't seen our cats in 26 hours.
Oh, wait. There they are. If you look carefully, there are two up there.
Pro: Super warm feet at night. She's a snuggler - she crawls under all the blankets, and lays on my feet. Plus, if she farts, we can't smell it. Double bonus!
Con: She's so cold. Poor thing. It was -20 degrees the last few days in good ol' Boston. She was cold because as a Boston terrier, she has ZERO insulation.
I wanted to help.
I found our greyhounds old snood.
It was a little large.
I'm not sure if Ollie is really pissed off, or if that's just her face.
It made me think of this gem, which we can all relate to.
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!
I frequently mention the Kyjen Tail Teaser (please, don't google "Tail Teaser" - lots of interesting things come up on image search.) I love this toy, and better yet, so does my high energy dog.
Here is a short video on how to use the toy in a small space, still work on great skills (such as Take It, Drop It and Tug), and exercise your dog! (Thanks to Peter at Riverdog in Union Square for introducing us to this wonderful toy!)
For more information on how to keep your dog tired, click here.
For more information on teaching your dog Drop it and Leave it, click here.
And for more information on Tug of War (is it good, is it bad, how to play, does it cause aggression?) click here.
If you are familiar with Dan Savage, you know he is raunchy, honest, and hilarious. This is totally not work safe, but a pretty funny story about how a gay man (who doesn't want to be "That Gay Guy"), who hates dogs, ends up with a toy poodle...and the horrific things that can happen in dog ownership.
The 47 surviving Pits that were rescued from Michael Vicks compound are being highlighted all over the place! Many are now certified pet therapy dogs, and others are spreading the good word about Pit Bulls.
Tomorrow there is a show called "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" on WGBH. It's a documentary on the breed specific ailments, diseases and neurological disorders that have been bred (and inbred!) into dogs. It's on tomorrow at 4:30 on PBS. I watched it last week, and though there are times where I wanted to turn it off due to the pain / suffering some dogs were going through, I sat through it. I'm really glad I did. It makes you look at dogs in a whole new way.
If you can't watch it on tv, or record it for later viewing, this is the link to the documentary in it's entirety.
My opinion on the matter if form follows function, then we are breeding a good, sound dog that is going to be structurally sound for its job. However, when we start selecting for a physical trait, and exaggerating it, we are no longer breeding for a function, but for a mutant gene. As that continues through generations, the structural soundness of our dogs is compromised, and they suffer.
Breeders that breed for personality and for function instead of the show ring are doing our dogs a great service. Breeders that are inbreeding dogs to get a more desirable trait are literally breeding disease, unsound structure, neurological disorders, and dogs that look very different from the dogs of last century. One of the more eye opening discussion points in this documentary is when a photo of a Bull Terrier is displayed, and compared to a Bull Terrier from 100 years ago. They did the same for the pug (which didn't have such an exaggerated brachycephalic face), the Dachshund (which wasn't as long) and the Basset Hound.
A quick note on the pug. Those big eyes that they are now known for was not nearly as exaggerated in the pug a century ago. Their eyes are still the same size they always have been - but what is different is the depth of the eye socket. By breeding for a "pushed in face", and also for shallower eye sockets, the eyes appear much bigger. Not only can the dog not breathe (many pugs have to have surgery to correct congenital breathing issues), but many also have eyes that bulge out of the sockets, or stick out so far that they run into things eye-first. There is no shortage on 1-eyed pugs out there because of this "desirable" trait that is being selected for.
If you can't stomach the first chunk of the documentary (it is graphic), then fast forward to the part where they show the different skulls, and the photos of dogs then and now. It's absolutely eye opening.
A great interview with Cognitive Psychologist, Alexandra Horowitz regarding the differences between humans and dogs. Part 1 of the ABC interview is here.
She talks about the differences in eyes, vision, long/short nosed breeds, hearing, and smells.
It's a great 8 minute interview that covers a lot of scientific ground, in a digestible manner. Enjoy!
Here are a few news stories and videos (2 from this week) regarding the undying loyalty of dogs.
A German Shepherd in Alaska was sent to find help after his owners house started to burn. The cops in the area could not see the smoke due to the tree line, and the GPS failed. The cop turned around per the directions from dispatch when he caught the dog in the headlights. The GSD led the police through the woods down back roads to the burning house.
A Golden Retriever stays by his deceased owner for a week. An 81 year old man with dementia left his house and in pursuit, was his faithful dog. After several days of searching, there was a sighting - but family/police could not locate the pair. When family checked by the creek, they found the dog, standing vigilant over her deceased owners body, protecting it from predators.
Lesson 1: Use well socialized adult dogs to help teach young whippersnappers when enough is enough, by using a technique called "avoidance".
Lesson 2: When Puppy doesn't get the hint and continues to use those sharp puppy teeth on sensitive ankle skin, try alternate methods to get your point across without resorting to eating the puppy.
Here is a perspective on Veterans day that most people don't consider: the dogs greeting their owners who have been on duty for months. A couple of these greetings made me tear up - especially the last one with the children being surprised at their schools by their returning fathers.
There may come a time when a dog nearby loses consciousness, stops breathing, and his heart stops beating. There is a way to resuscitate our canine companions in a similar way to human resuscitation.
Here is a quick video on how to perform CPR on your canine friend.
Keep in mind, just like in human CPR, NEVER practice on a live dog. Use a dummy dog, or look for a CPR/Canine First Aid class in your area to get professional instruction for any emergency techniques.
I was invited last Wednesday to showcase some glow-in-the-dark products for dog owners. Click Here for Segment. We went over glowing leashes, collars, light ball collar piece, Frisbee and light up rubber ball. All products are safe, but should always be used with supervision. Also, the ball fits nicely in a Chuck-it.
It's always a pleasure to go out to work with the crew at The Secret Life Of Animals - they are so much fun and are dedicated to showing the more interesting sides of animal life. Watch The Secret Life of Animals, Sundays at 11:30 am & 6:30 pm on NECN.
In all seriousness, if your dog is exhibiting behaviors such as tipping over, weaving, vomiting, glossed eyes, take your dog to the nearest emergency animal hospital immediately. These signs can show up by ingesting other materials more dangerous than pot, or may indicate neurological issues as well. Only your trusted veterinarian should handle a case such as this.
