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In this issue: 
Barrier frustration can occur if a dog is behind a window, fence, or on a leash and is not allowed to interact with the environment. After a while, the dog may get frustrated and aggressive. Some dogs can just play in a park full of dogs and be happy-go-lucky; but when a leash is put on them, they turn into Cujo. This behavior is called “leash aggression”, and many dogs have it. One reason for this behavior is that the human is holding the leash so tight the dog thinks something is going to attack and it must defend itself. Other dogs and people can become incredibly interesting to dogs that are isolated for long periods. For example, long-term confinement to a backyard with a view of passers-by will often produce aggressive displays in what would otherwise be a friendly dog. Barrier frustration, and the attendant aggressive reactivity it causes, has three components:
We’ve all experienced frustration and it's suite of emotions and behaviors. A car that suddenly won’t start, a photocopier that jams when you’re in a rush and a spouse who changes the channel in the middle of a critical moment in your favorite TV show all might elicit acute aggression in us. Research on a wide variety of animals has shown again and again that frustration can elicit aggression. Aggression towards dogs in the same fenced in area is common when a dog is frustrated and agitated; the dogs have no way to release the stress caused by barrier frustration, so they take it out on the nearest thing - which could be another dog or even a human nearby.
You can find our Facebook Page HERE Check out Suzanne Morrison's blog also. Suzanne is a photographer supreme :) and owns three rescued greyhounds who are learning about other breeds of dogs and how to intereact with them. 
Ask The Trainer at Tucson Cold Wet Noses Rescue Do All Dogs Know Dog Language? Canine body language is learned, not instinctive. There are numerous reasons a dog might not know how to use social signals properly. Even instinctive calming signals can be unlearned or shown to be ineffective. Being calm and balanced is a very dominant instinct in dogs. Puppies learn valuable lessons from their environment, mom and the other pups in the litter. Once a pup has left the litter, you must be very careful about the company a puppy keeps or the pup might learn that social and calming signals are of no use. If a pup, while displaying calming signals, encounters a dog lacking respect for appropriate body language and is attacked, the pup may learn that the signals he was using are ineffective. It's a good idea to protect young dogs from interacting with unnatural, angry dogs. Safe, friendly dogs with good signals are the best teachers a young dog can have. Puppy classes are helpful in teaching these lessons, but can do more harm than good if inappropriate dogs are allowed to interact. Some owners hamper a dog's attempt to communicate with other dogs or humans by inhibiting them with leashes. Dogs should be on leash - mostly because it's the law - but it is not safe to turn your dog loose to communicate freely with an unknown dog. By putting your dog on a leash, you must be aware that you could be preventing appropriate body language in your dog. You are not a dog, and no matter how many hours you spend studying canine body language, there are going to be numerous signals that you will miss or will misinterpret. My hard and fast rule these days is no greeting another dog when on a leash. Whether on purpose or unintentionally, some dogs have been taught to ignore signals. Even some trainers make mistakes - especially when teaching obedience in a group situation. A typical obedience class exercise: Owners command their dogs to Sit and Stay. Dogs happily comply. The instructor now asks owners and dogs to take turns weaving among the sitting dogs. This is fine in a class where all the dogs know each other, like each other and there is enough room that personal boundaries are not crossed. In most situations however, the owners have not yet been taught these important facts about dogs and could miss the signaling and insist that their dog continue moving toward and around another dog despite discomfort or fear. |
Seize The Leash - Newsletter Vol. 2 Issue 11
Boundaries Boundaries; we all have them, as adults and children and dogs. A boundary can be anywhere; you just have to choose it. Teaching a dog boundaries is fairly easy. There is no command for setting boundaries.. If you put this on command, the dog will cross the boundary when you aren't there or aren't reinforcing it with a command. Setting boundaries should be done in complete silence. Your dog needs to fully understand that it is absolutely not an option to cross a boundary without permission. The first thing you need to establish is a boundary somewhere. This is commonly done the first time with the front door of your house. Draw an imaginary line 10 to 15 feet from your front door. Put a leash on your dog so that if she crosses the boundary you have some control over your dog until she understands. Start out with your dog behind you and behind the boundary. Walk towards the boundary. If your dog tries to follow you over the boundary, turn and walk into her. Use your body to move her back behind the boundary. Body blocking is the only thing you need for this exercise. You need say nothing, in fact it works better if you don't say anything at all. Just use your body and your attitude to get your dog to understand the she is not to cross that boundary. Once back over the boundary you turn and try again. If your dog does not attempt to follow you quickly throw a treat back behind her. You want the treats behind her so that she turns away from the boundary to get the treat. This teaches her that the good things are farther away from the door. Throwing the treat keeps the dog from coming to you to get it, thus ruining the exercise. Continue walking to the door until the dog stays behind the boundary with no problems. Then add successively: touching the door handle, opening the door slightly, then wider and wider until you can actually move through the door and your dog stays behind that boundary. One important thing to remember in this exercise is that you have to do this naturally. You must completely turn your back on your dog and walk at a normal pace to the door. Activate the eyes in the back of your head to keep track of what your dog is doing. All this should be done as though you were actually doing it - actually going out the door or answering the door bell and greeting someone. If you don't act naturally, you aren't teaching your dog the correct exercise. Always be ready to body block your dog back behind the boundary at each step. You must act immediately turning and walking into them. Do not use words, you can use sounds.. But you are not going to tell the dog to stay or wait or back up or anything, the dog is in a "stay", he is just not to come over the boundary.
Most people tend to think of their dog's behavior in terms of what they don't want the dog to do; not jump, not pull, not run away. Instead, we should define what we WANTour dogs to do Because people "don't want...." they tend to resort to punishment. If a dog doesn't know what you want it to do, then how is punishment going to teach it? The first area to consider when doing behavior training is your environment and how it is managed. If the environment is not under your control, it is very important that you bring it under control. The second area is your relationship with the dog, and the third is training new behaviors. Environmental Management Tools Relationship Tools Though it may seem strange to talk about tools to adjust the relationship between dog and human, the items listed below really are just that. Behavior Training Exercises Group Behavior Training Tiny Tyrants Behavior Class Puppy Basics Advanced Behavior Training
Please feel free to contact us at any time for more information, class schedules or just questions about your dog. We can be reached via email at packleader@seizetheeleash.com or by phone at 727-686-4246 or 520-751-7772 (message only).
We've all seen the way our dogs act the first time they enter a new area, whether it's a friend's house or a park. The dog's nose hits the ground, and they start to explore. They will examine unfamiliar structures, sounds, smells, people and animals. It's instinctual! They will do this until they reach a level of comfort and security with their new surroundings. For some dogs, this process will only take a few minutes. Some may take several hours and sometimes even days. With this in mind, how can we expect a dog that is already having "issues," to be placed in a situation where they have not been able to establish a comfort level? How will he stay focused on the task of training? This is contradictory to the natural, instinctual learning process of the dog. One step forward, two steps back. Seize the Leash offers an intensive and highly customized training plan to relieve your frustration with your dog's behavior and restore the balance to your relationship - while you are at work, school or the spa, going on vacation, going out of town for business or just don't have the time to train your dog. I will come to your home and teach your dog self control, impulse control and how to live in the human world. Each visit is 30 minutes long. This is a three or four week program with a guarantee in basic manners and any behvioral issues such as jumping, housebreaking, door manners, etc. At the end of each week we can have a private lesson or we can meet on the last lesson so I can teach you the skills your dog has learned and how you can maintain them. You will be amazed and delighted at your dog's improvement. We can teach in several sessions what it might take you months to learn in group classes. Your dog benefits by learning from a skilled and experienced dog trainer. You are spared the pitfalls of learning to be a dog trainer while at the same time trying to teach your dog. Busy Bee Training programs include unlimited email support and a follow-up visit within 6 months of training. Each Training plan is different, designed to fit your unique situation. All exercises are designed for the success of your dog. Training exercises are divided into a variety of categories to help you build a strong relationship with your dog while helping your pet develop a broad base of life skills and the ability to cope with their old fears and easily handle new things and new environments.
Impulse Control: Confidence Building:
Play Training:
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Controlled Freedom:
Leadership: