Behavior is Always Changing

Dog groups are an ever changing process of behaviors that I find fascinating to observe.  Each dog below is learning from each other what works, what is appropriate and that older dogs have boundaries.

Pepper, Annie, Coco, Sophie, & Pablo

Pepper the adult Kerry Terrier on the left is quite fearful of new dogs and is learning to feel safe with my three dogs and the young puppy.  Annie my 12 year old terrier simply goes about her business with an occasional growl at the adorable pup, Coco next to her.  Coco has learned to leave Annie alone when she has a bone, not to put her paws on Sophie the scottie's back and that a gentle paw at Pablo gets him to play every time. Sophie, my scottie in the back at age 7 avoids conflict and goes about her way.  While she lets the puppy share her bed, that is the extent of her relationship with the puppy.

Studying dog behavior helps us realize that puppies often need to learn boundaries.  Adolescent dogs are like teenagers and often need to have extra confidence in many different situations.  Adult dogs may be playful, or may be quite happy having a quiet routine that is safe and predictable.  Older dogs are great for teaching younger dogs emotional control and good boundaries.

So, be aware that a dogs life changes with age much like a humans does.  Each phase brings challenges from potty training, to having good social skills, learning boundaries and rules.  When a dog reaches adulthood, they become less active, calmer and often less social.

Depending on your age as you read this depends on your association to it.  Being a mother of 3 teenagers I understand adolescents all too well:)

Rescue - Small Male Scottish Terrier

This handsome boy is a character, as he loves all dogs!  He adjusted to my home very quickly showing no fear about the new environment.  He is very friendly with all my dogs, is crate trained, comes when called and rubs on you like a cat.

He is sleeping in his crate and is happiest if he can see one of my dogs.  He has met 9 new dogs since I have had him and loves them all!  Walks well with a harness, did great with his bath and really loved the towel rubbing.

He needs to be reminded where to potty, but other than that he is a joy!

Let me know if you are interested in meeting this handsome little boy!

Separation Anxiety or Distress....which is it?

Because not all dogs that are left alone experience  

anxiety, animal behaviorists are beginning to use other terms  
including separation behaviors.

Separation Distress
Distress is simply an animal's inability to adapt to stress (or the  conditions that are causing stress). In humans or animals, the result  of distress is often demonstrated by poor coping skills that include inappropriate  
urinating or defecating (toilet-trained children who are experiencing  distress might wet the bed or wet their pants), making noise (dogs bark and whine while distressed children might cry), and destruction  or aggression.

In many situations, separation distress is a more accurate term than  
separation anxiety.  Some owners have even called their pups behavior Separation Fun. They can learn that when their owner is gone, they can counter surf, sleep on their owners bed, lounge on the couch, dig in the trash, relieve their bladder without anyone yelling at them.

Separation Behaviors
Some owners return home to discover toilet paper has been dragged from  
the bathroom all through the house and underwear is now strewn about  
the living room. A tornado went through the house? No, the dog was at  
it again. 
The idea that some dogs get bored and start a party when their owners  
are gone is controversial. What we do know is that something happens, as  
toilet paper is all around the house, shoes are chewed, and perhaps the  
dog urinated on the bed. These occurrences can all be accurately  
referred to as separation behaviors.


So before you implement a major training program, perhaps you should
determine if your dog is truly anxious or simply bored.  What we do know is that
punishment often creates more bad behaviors.


Helping dogs cope while being left alone is a process, but one that will save your
furniture and earn you freedom for the life of your dog!

Forming Habits

Did you notice your dog chose to potty on the deck, patio, or step with this latest snow storm or rainy day?  Many dog owners feel this setback in behavior with potty habits even in older dogs.  Rain is simply a negative reinforcer to some dogs, in other words, they want to avoid it, hence they potty as close to the door as possible.

What can you do?  Give your dog continued feedback so he will chose to make the right choice.  Is it that simple?  Often it is, because we know that those who have a support system to help change their behavior are far more likely to succeed.  So be your dog's support system and remind them when they go out the door to go to the designated area to potty, especially if it is raining.

Following with verbal praise for making the right choice is a great way to support your dog and increase the behavior you want.  Positive Reinforcers such as food and praise are essential to modify behavior and form new habits.

Clicker Training Basics

For those of us who are enduring a blizzard in the New England area today and need a fun activity for your dog, try some clicker training!  New to the Clicker?  The clicker is a small handheld device that makes a distinct "click" sound when you press it.  Repeated pairing of the clicker sound with a reinforcer such as a treat makes the sound become what is called a conditioned reinforcer.  This simply means you have taught your dog that the sound of the click means food or some other reward is coming.  The clicker is a wonderful way of letting your dog know that what she did at the exact moment the click was heard is what earned her the reward.

You may also say a verbal marker like "yes", which like the click is paired with a reinforcer to help your dog know what she did at the exact moment she heard "yes" earned her a reward.

While both markers are used, most professional trainers, will agree that the clicker most accurately pinpoints behaviors.

Some Clicker Tips:

• Prepare yourself with a handful of small soft treats.
• Practice the click on your child or friend as timing is key!
• Click during the desired behavior, not after it is completed.  The timing of the click is crucial.  Your pet will most likely stop the behavior when she hears the click, reward with a treat!
• Click when your dog does anything you like.  Begin with something easy like a sit, down, paw raise.
• If your dog performs the behavior perfectly then follow with a Jackpot, which is several treats at once!  Be enthusiastic!
• Keep your training sessions short, several 5 minute sessions are better than 30 minutes of repetition.
• Fix bad behaviors by clicking each good behavior, like when your pup potties in the correct place!

Have fun and reward good behavior often which will increase these behaviors.

For helpful Clicker Training seek articles by:

Gail Fischer

Karen Pryor

Pat Miller

Andrea Arden

This is a great indoor activity for you and your dog on rainy or snowy days!

House Training

Puppies will want to pee and poop wherever they have done so before. Your job is to make sure your puppy learns to prefer the outdoors as a toilet – not your carpets!

I recommend you keep your puppy close to you or in a crate and show him where he should potty every 2 hours to start. Then gradually increase the time between trips out doors. If your puppy does have an accident, don't react. Any punishment will be unproductive and could even encourage your puppy to eliminate more often as a submissive gesture to your reaction. You can take away your puppies water about 7 PM and replace it with a few ice cubes.

Approximate Overnight Holding Limit = 1½ times the Daytime Holding Limit
Example: 3 month puppy can hold for 1½ x 4 = 6 hours overnight

Whenever you are unable to supervise your puppy with 100% attention, you need to place her in either a short-term or long-term confinement area.
Your puppy can be placed in a short-term confinement area such as a crate if she will be there for less than her holding limit. The purpose of the crate is to keep her out of trouble while you are unable to supervise her, and to help you house train her. The crate should be just big enough for her to be able to lie down on her side with outstretched limbs, stand up, and turn around easily. It should not be so big that she thinks there is enough space for a bedroom and for a toilet area! When you let her out of her crate you can bring her straight outdoors and reward her for doing her business in the right place.

For longer confinement periods a bigger area, with non-absorbent flooring, such as a bathroom, kitchen, or utility room, is needed. The long-term confinement area should have a bed or open crate at one end, and a pile of newspaper, a puppy pad or a strip of sod at the opposite end. Your puppy will naturally want to eliminate as far as possible from her bed. If the space you use for long-term confinement happens to have a door that leads to the outdoors, then place the toilet area near that door. This way, your puppy’s toilet area is as close as possible to where she should ultimately be heading to do her business. Fresh water and stuffed chew toys should also be plentiful, and should be placed near her bed.

Your Puppy will naturally have the urge to eliminate after a nap, a meal, a drink, exercise, excitement, or time spent in confinement. Give your puppy the opportunity to do her business outdoors at these times. When your puppy does her business in the right place offer her a treat, plenty of praise, a game or a walk. This will speed up her house training habits.
Punishing a puppy for house soiling after it has happened is abuse, not training. If you wait more than a few seconds after your puppy has eliminated before expressing your disapproval, your puppy will not know why she is being punished. If you catch your puppy about to pee or poop in the wrong place you can clap your hands and say “Ah-ah”, and swiftly scoop her up to the outdoors to continue. Punishing her after the fact just makes her anxious for you to return the next time as she will assume you will be aggressive every time you come home.

If you would like your dog to poop promptly when you take her out, then teach your puppy that a prompt poop is her ticket to a walk around the block. This will encourage her to poop as soon as you let her out – and will allow you to leave the stinky poop bag at the house, rather than having to carry it around for much of the walk. If you do the opposite, take her for a walk, and ending her walk as soon as she does do her business, she will learn to delay pooping!

Also, you must be consistent! If you train your puppy to poop while on a leash M-F, then you cannot expect her to poop on Sat. in the back yard off the leash. Our puppies do not generalize information that well, so if she is having accidents, you must consider her schedule and what you have taught her.

House Training Options:
Considering the use of Puppy Pads?

• Advantage - Portable and indoors
  • Disadvantage – Dog may view any paper lying on the floor as fair game. This process can eventually lead to training outside, but adds an extra step.

How about a Litter Box?

• Advantage – Portable, indoors, doesn’t require going outside and dog doesn’t have to wait for someone to let her outside.
  • Disadvantage – Daily cleaning of litter box, not a good choice for medium or large dogs. 

Advantages of Crate Training

• Keeps puppy safe when you can not watch your puppy.
  • Teaches puppy to keep his area clean.
  • Should never be used as punishment but
  • Should be used as a safe haven for your pet.
  • Begin when you first bring your puppy home. Start with just a short time and increase the time as your puppy feels comfortable.
  • Do lure your puppy in and out with treats so he enters on his own. Do not shove your puppy in and shut the door right away.
  • Keep the crate in a place where your puppy can hear you talk to him.