“For me, a house or an apartment becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love that we call a dog.”
~ Roger Caras, president emeritus, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
the training editor for Whole Dog Jour- nal, has trained dogs, cats, horses and a pot-bellied pig.
She’s particularly pleased to have transformed a terrier, previously deemed unadoptable by a shelter because of his biting, into a happy, stable patron of New York’s Central Park. Positive dog training literally saved his life.
Retraining/Renaming Bad Behaviors
With patience and know-how, jumping up on people can turn into dancing the conga. Grumbly growling noises can turn into “Whisper,” or “Tell me a secret.” Excessive barking can be interpret- ed as bored whining: “There’s nothing to do!” Or, your pet could be answer- ing another dog that you can’t hear. Changes in weather also can make a dog anxious and vocal. Of course, he may just want attention. If you find the reason, it’s easier to find the cure. Is a dog shy or fearful? “Don’t put him in a situation beyond his comfort
zone,” counsels Cara Shannon, an expert in curbing aggressive dog behav- ior in Austin, Texas. “Let him observe from a safe distance, but not interact, perhaps watching his surroundings with you from inside the car.”
She also relates the story of a fear- ful foster dog that learned nose work (scent discrimination) and can find a small vial of essential oil hidden in a room. “The praise she receives gives her confidence to try other new things,” observes Shannon.
Stilwell remarks, “Learning to cope with newness is a huge benefit for any animal.”
Sandra Murphy is a freelance writer at
StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.
Connect with positive trainers: Victoria Stilwell,
Positively.com; Linda Michaels,
WholisticDogTraining.com; Pat Miller,
PeaceablePaws.com; M. Shirley Chong,
ShirleyChong.com; Patricia McConnell,
PatriciaMcConnell.com; Cara Shannon,
BuddysChance.com/Caravacchiano.html.
natural awakenings November 2011
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