This video segment stars Jesse, a Jack Russell Terrier and his brilliant and talented handler Heather. Heather was able to really see Jesse for what he is, what he can do, and what he was able to learn. For pet parents, it’s the ideal way to capitalize on behaviors that you like and put them to good use – for both you and your dog. Or, it can be the perfect opportunity to replace unwanted behaviors with ones you want.

If you focus on the behaviors you’ll see Jesse using the follow canine skills:

• Retrieving to bring the remote and laundry
• Targeting, with his nose and paws to close doors and cabinets.
• Jumping up to bring things to Heather
• Digging – allow she used this motion to massage her back and clean the sliding door
• Tug – helping her get undressed and tuck himself in for bed.

Normally, many of these behaviors would make some owners nuts, right? But not when you put them to use in ways that are fun for your dog and helpful (and fun) for the humans.

So I ask you this, inquisitive pet parent: What can your dog do? What is he or she good at? What behaviors does he or she like to do that you could use differently? Comment to let us know because we’re inquisitive too!

My dog barks enthusiastically, very loudly, over and over. He does it at many different times, including the morning when I’m taking him outside, when I come home from being away, or when we arrive home together from a car ride. He barks in the car, out of the car, and everywhere between!

I don’t know how to stop him. I tell him “No,” but then he usually barks at least two to four more times!

Do you have any suggestions?
Tj’s owner

Dear inquisitive canine parent of TJ,

Your dog barks, you give him attention by saying “no”, he barks again. Hmm, sounds to me you’ve done a great job at teaching him to “speak” – nice work! I have a feeling that wasn’t your intention though.

TJ sounds like one happy enthusiastic pal. But I totally understand about it being annoying when another living being can’t seem to appreciate the sound of silence. Believe it or not, you’re barking up the right tree. I myself am one inquisitive canine who enjoys his own voice now and again, and I’d be happy to share some of the training tips my own mom uses with me.

Here are the four tenets of my Mutt Model:

Know Your Animal!
Guess what? TJ is a dog! And guess what else? Dogs bark. Yep, that’s what we do. Well, at least most of us. Some more than others of course. And similar to humans talking for a variety of reasons, dogs will bark for a variety of reasons. For instance I’ll bark when:

• Someones knocks at the front door
• I’m excited
• Patrolling the yard
• I’m wanting attention
• Annoying diesel trucks drive by (I’m a hybrid fan myself)

And the list goes on….Please remember that barking is a main form of communication for us canines. If you didn’t want to live with an animal that barks…well, then you might want to find a roommate of another species. But you’d probably end up with having to deal with other irritating habits and noises. Plus, I’m sure the love you have for TJ outweighs the annoying barking so we won’t discuss that option.

Whaddya Want?
It’s time to hunker down and figure out exactly what it is you want from TJ. Do you want him to bark only at certain times, such as when someone is at your front door? Do you want TJ to be quiet when he’s in the car, when you come home, and when you take him outside?

Once you have your list compiled, you’ll need to take the time to teach him when and where you want him to be silent. Start small and work your way up. Having realistic expectations will make the process easier on you both.

Reward. Reward. Reward.
Now it’s time to begin acknowledging TJ when he makes the choices you want him to make. For you this means any time he is quiet – especially during the more exciting times. Suppressing enthusiasm can be very difficult for us pooches, so using a reward that is more motivating than the reasons he wants to bark is key.

A few ideas that might work for you specifically are:

• Practice coming and going in and out of the house and car, with TJ in tow, as well as on your own, rewarding with chin scratches, yummy treats and a “good boy” at those moments when he is quiet. Even if it’s just a brief second while he’s coming up for air is better than nothing. Take what you can get when you can get it.
• Hang out with TJ in your car while it’s parked at your home. Read a book – or the latest Edhat edition. Then while TJ is just chillaxing, reward him for being quiet. This way he learns that being quiet in the car gets him the attention he wants. If he barks, send him inside and take off in the car on your own.
• If and when TJ barks for attention – that doesn’t involve having to go outside to potty or a stranger is on the property – ignore it! Walk away if you have to.

Know Yourself:
If you’re having one of those days where you don’t feel like dealing with TJ and his being a chatty-Kathy in the car, then leave him at home. If you’re at your wits end and you don’t feel like training him, then redirect his energy to a different outlet. A scavenger hunt in the yard, play-date with another doggy friend, an outing at the local doggy daycare or date with a dog walker can help give him the attention he wants while expending energy, leaving him relaxed and wanting to rest.

Paws and Reflect
Keep in mind that any type of attention is still attention – even if it’s negative attention. So if you’ve been interacting with TJ whenever he barks, even saying something like “no” will increase the risk of his barking more often.

So instead of focusing in on the negative, concentrate on the behaviors that you want, teach TJ in a way he understands, and reward him heavily for making the better choice.

*****

Poncho Mayer is a 10-pound inquisitive canine who knows a lot about human and canine behavior. He and his mom work together running the family business that services other inquisitive canines. For additional dog training and behavior tips, subscribe to their blog. You can also follow Poncho on Twitter and head over to his Inquisitive Canine Facebook page, “like us” and upload pics of your own inquisitive canine. You can also ask us about dog behavior, just email us directly.

April is the month most often associated with taxes, rain showers and pranks, but I’m not foolin’ when I say it also happens to be the time of year when volunteerism is acknowledged wholeheartedly. National Volunteer Week is scheduled to begin April 15. Since Poncho and I both have firsthand — and paw — experience with animal shelters and rescues, he and I thought it’d be the perfect time to help spread the word about this special week of recognition.

With more than 13,000 animal welfare organizations listed on Petfinder.com it’s easy to see where volunteers are in high demand. You can also check local shelters and rescues, or explore an organization you’ve always wanted to support (even breed-specific ones). Volunteering can be as simple as going for walks, socializing in and out of the facility, cuddling or just providing belly rubs for shelter pups. Even reading the daily paper together can help enrich a dog’s life. Many kitties and other animals enjoy playtime too!

Boost Your Mental Health by Sharing Your Skills

According to the National Institute on Aging, volunteering is good for you! As a certified professional dog trainer  who has volunteered her time and services over the years, I can report that it also benefits you mentally and emotionally. In running my business, I know the importance of quality accountants, legal representatives, graphic designers, marketing and PR teams, photographers, copy editors, office assistants and those who are good with the public.

If you’re in need of a mental-health boost and you have a specific talent that benefits others or have knowledge you wish to share, you can put those talents to work for a shelter near you — sometimes without even having to take your slippers off! Some of the following needed skills can be done from home:

• Admin and Professionals: Bookkeeping and accounting, legal eagles, HR, office staff and assistants, photographers, marketing and PR professionals, and public educators
• Writers: Website content, marketing and PR copy, fliers, newsletters, blog posts and let’s not forget grant writing to help bring in additional funding!
• Techie-Types: Website developers, computer programmers and social media experts
• Graphic Designers: Websites, fliers, logos and branding, stationery, banners, advertising components
• Animal Care Specialists: Veterinarians and vet techs to provide medical treatment and dental care as well as administer vaccinations and medications; spa professionals to provide bathing, grooming and nail trimming; and dog walkers and pet-sitters
• Trainers and Behaviorists: According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, 96 percent of dogs entering shelters had not received obedience training. This is where you can make a difference. Some shelters offer dog training classes for teaching canine good manners similar to my course, while others allow you to attend classes elsewhere, often at a discounted rate.
• Foster Parents: Perhaps your biggest talent is being a loving pet parent! Bringing an animal into your loving, enriching home and becoming a foster parent helps lift that animal’s spirits while he or she waits to find a forever home.

Paws and Reflect

We know how important volunteering is — Poncho spent time in a rescue organization, and he knows if it weren’t for those who helped him, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

Whether it’s a local shelter you want to spend time in, or educating the public on pet responsibility, opportunities abound that benefit humans and non-humans alike. Your time and effort will always be appreciated.

Our dog Tessa is a wonderful addition to our family. She’s smart, lovable, and very obedient. Our only problem is leaving her alone. She cries, barks, and shreds her bed in the crate. If we leave her in the backyard, she chews at our fences, although eventually she settles down. She has also destroyed my car’s door panels when I’ve left her in there for even short periods of time (with open windows, in the shade, and with water, of course).

We don’t know what to do about her complete agitation when she is away from us, and I don’t have time for long and intense training. Please help!

Thank you,
Cara

Dear Miss Cara,

Sounds like your assessment of Tessa’s behavior is right on track: she’s agitated when left alone, as opposed to being bored or angry. I can totally empathize, because I used to dread spending time alone. Now though, after my folks helped me out, I have the confidence to do so, and actually look forward to it. Sure, it’s great being a mama’s (and daddy’s) boy, but frankly I need a break now and then. Allow me to provide my pooch’s perspective.

Here are the four tenets of my Mutt Model:

Know your animal!

Here’s a little insight into dog behavior: we’re social animals. We enjoy being with our family and friends, and don’t do well when left alone unless we’ve been taught to do so. Whether it’s one person, another dog, or a whole crowd, we like the comfort that others bring. Forget the “pack” stuff; by nature, we’re just social–at least that’s true for most of us, though I can’t speak for all dogs.

If Tessa isn’t eating while you’re away and continues to chew at doorways, windows and other escape routes, then I highly recommend that you consult with a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist who has experience with your situation. A vet can provide advice as far as medicines that might be helpful, but that topic is outside my scope of practice, so ask them. FYI, this type of behavior can often get much worse over time, so it’s best to deal with it before it escalates.

Whaddya want?

Sounds like you want Tessa to enjoy being alone, in various locations, at various times of the day. And, you’ve also confirmed you aren’t able to put a lot of time and effort into changing her behavior. Fortunately, you do have some options that focus more on management than on active training on your part. So it’s up to you to choose your course of action.

Reward, reward, reward

You’ll want to teach Tessa to be comfortable when alone at home or in the car, to the point that she actually enjoys your leaving. Here are a few quick tips:

• Be really boring when coming and going! Ignore her before leaving, be really low key when you do leave, and ignore her for a little while when you get home – otherwise she’ll want to cling to you even more, especially if you’re the only action she’s getting.

• Practice! Perform a lot of dress rehearsals of coming and going. Right now, Tessa can probably read all of the signals that she is going to be left alone, which triggers her anxiety. You’ll need to break up that routine. Try different days and times, just to mix it up.

• Baby steps! Try not push it too far, too fast. If she is still stressed, you’re moving too quickly.

• Provide high-value enrichment activities! Give her interactive food toys, chew bones she can’t choke on, and scavenger hunts that she gets only when you’re gone!

• Get her tired out! Physical and mental stimulation help for a nice long nap.

• Crate training. It’s great that you’ve already trained Tessa to sleep comfortably in a crate, but if you want her to enjoy being in her crate any other time, you’ll need to mix it up. Have Tessa chill-out in her crate while you’re playing on Facebook or watching a movie. You can even give her a stuffed food toy or bone to chew on while she’s in there.

Please be aware that if you want her to feel at ease in other locations, including another type of enclosure such as the yard, an entire home, or a car, you’ll have to teach her confidence-building skills in those locations as well.

Know Yourself & Your Resources

I respect that you’re able to accept your own limitations when it comes to working with Tessa. All I can say is, do what you can with what you have and be humble enough to ask for assistance when you need it. Look for available resources in your community, such as professional pet sitters, dog walkers, and doggy daycare centers. Doggy play-dates with friends and their dogs might help Tessa feel less anxious, too. Some folks may suggest you bring a second dog into the home to keep Tessa entertained. However, there are no guarantees that this would work, and you could end up with two dogs that have the same issues – talk about double-trouble!

Paws and Reflect

Decide what you’re willing to do to help Tessa. With training, take small steps to reach your final goal, and don’t push too hard. Look for outside options in your community, and talk with a trainer or vet if necessary. Finally, keep in mind that this behavior comes from a more fear-related, emotional place – so be patient, kind, and understanding.

Poncho Mayer is a 10-pound inquisitive canine who knows a lot about human and canine behavior. He and his mom work together running the family business, providing dog-training services to other inquisitive canines and their humans. For additional training and behavior tips, subscribe to their blog.

Let’s connect!
www.inquisitivecanine.com
www.twitter.com/joanthedogcoach
www.facebook.com/inquisitivecanine
Got a question about behavior, training or daily pup life? Email Poncho directly.

P R E S S    R E L E A S E
K-9 Placement & Assistance League, Inc.

Contact:  Janelle Ward
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telephone:  805-570-0415
March 9, 2012
March is the time to Adopt a Dog and to Celebrate!

You don’t need a four-leaf clover to get the “luck” of the Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and to celebrate K-9 PALS’ 12th Anniversary of serving Santa Barbara County Shelter dogs.  You can get “lucky” when you adopt a dog from the Santa Barbara County Shelter.  Lots of adoptable “lucky charm” dogs are waiting to fill your life with love and laughter.  And as part of the celebrations this month, K-9 PALS will be sponsoring the following Santa Barbara County Shelter dog adoption promotion.

Whether a rainbow appears or not, a lucky “pot of gold” will be waiting at Santa Barbara County Shelter for adopters who want to test their luck, courtesy of K-9 PALS.  Everyone who adopts a dog from the Santa Barbara County Shelter between Saturday, March 17th and Friday, March 23rd, will get to reach into the “pot of gold” for a K-9 PALS lucky coin and receive a discount ($10, $15, or $20) off the regular adoption fee.

Your adopted “lucky charm” dog will be spayed or neutered with age-appropriate vaccinations, and dogs over 4 months old include a rabies vaccination certificate.  In addition, 4 free group training sessions are offered by K-9 PALS to help the adopters of shelter dogs.  The Santa Barbara County Animal Services Shelter, 5473 Overpass Road, is open weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 3:45 pm.

Whether you are ready to adopt a dog right now or not, you can join in the celebrations by giving a monetary gift in honor of the 12th Anniversary of K-9 PALS helping the dogs of the Santa Barbara County Shelter.  Financial donations may be given in the following ways:  Go to www.K-9PALS.org  and click on “donate” to give through our PayPal account, or send donations to K-9 PALS, P.O. Box 60755, Santa Barbara, CA  93160-0755.

K-9 PALS is the all-volunteer,  non- profit 501(c) 3 organization working on behalf of the homeless dogs of Santa Barbara County.  K-9 PALS is dedicated to providing medical care, support, behavior training, advocacy, and adoption promotions for the homeless dogs of our community.  Thank you to the Santa Barbara community for your continuing support and generosity to K-9 PALS!