Rescue & Rehabilitation 2

[Pat Muller]

Hi

I have just a few minutes and I thought I would share some of my
observations and thoughts with you.

I spend lots of time watching lots of people handle and work with lots
of dogs.

Every year, many people come to me for training. Sometimes they end
up with dogs that are polite, respectful and compliant; sometimes they
don't. In my classes, I say the same words, give out the same
information, work the same exercises, use the same equipment and in
many cases, they learn the same lessons at the same time. I always
wonder why there are such varied results.

This year one of my resolutions was to try to identify ways for me to
acheive my desired results. I began with my presentation. I
identified some realistic goals for beginners, intermediate and
advanced dogs. Then I have done my best to cover exactly that same
information, commands and exercises depending on the goals of that
owner.

I like the results I am getting from the dogs but there continues to
be failures in many of the people. So I have played with some new
games and continued to tweak some of the exercises to make them less
demanding and more user friendly.

The results were; the people doing good got even better and there are
those people who just don't. They can recite my words, they have
memorized the information and they practice the exercises..but there
are some who continue to struggle and get very different results.

Ok you dog trainers; tell me WHY?

[Sara Peterka]

The dogs reflect the personality of their handler. If the handler is not honest and consistent with the dog, the dog will show that.

People who talk out of both sides of their face (where their dog is concerned) have confused and unhappy dogs.

Sara

[Holly Tulin]

I agree with Sara, but also think that these folks are not living what they
learn in class when they go home.

If you don't live it, it never truly becomes a part of you, and the dog is
going to be a perfect reflection of the life it lives outside of class (just
like Pat says).

Holly

[Pat Rock]

Timing?
As in, "the dog may not always do what you want, but he always does what
you tell him to." Failure to praise promptly, innappropriately praising
unwanted behavior.

[Pat Muller]

Hi

Yes to all of you and thanks for your thoughts.

To some of us, good manners is THE lifestyle. Entertainment, freedom,
begging, tricks, jumping, crazy fun and performance are simple
"events."

To others, the crazy fun, "entertainment," freedom, begging, tricks,
jumping and crazy fun IS the lifestyle. That automatically means that
calmness becomes a rare event.

The more I do this the less I can figure out why people choose to have
a dog that is only calm with commands and corrections. It all boils
down to priorities, consistency and honesty; because what ever is
established as normal WILL determine the dog's behaviors when he is
given a choice.

Later

Pat

[shel]

I was very upset yesterday after talking with a man who has been
having trouble with their Lakeland. They live here but had contacted
rescue and were referred here to me.

All of the things they chose to live with became Normal. If the dog
snarled or bit or was aggressive he was still a wonderful dog to
them. It wasn't his fault if he bit someone. It was the persons
fault.

I darn could not imagine living with a dog who snarled and snapped and
saying it's no big deal. I could not imagine being that
complacent.

The dog is old now and changes in their home have upset what they
considered normal before. Now they are worried because the dog is
hiding and retreating from their child who beats on him.

It just broke my heart. I know that this is more common than not and
people just live their entire lives in complacency.

shel

[not a terrier]

Pat, you can only help the people that are living the livestyle. if
they dont want to live it, you cant help them. just think of all the
dogs and their people that you have helped. you know how i feel out
you, and what you have done for me and my family (people and dogs).
some of us, are hard headed and take a little longer to live the
livestyle.Stop beating your self up, over people that willnt let you
help them. just reminder all the ones the you have helped. Did you
tell me to stop putting so much pressure on myself, maybe you should
do the same. Tammy

[Pat Muller]

Hi Tammy and all

Believe me, I am not in any way beating myself up over anything, I
just feel frustrated for the dogs who are owned by those people.

Today in the veterans' class, I worked with a very shy female German
Shepherd. Her behavior (as always) was the perfect reflection of her
owners', who btw was a teacher.

The dog was overly protective and yet fearful. There was a whole room
full of veterans, volunteers and social workers & interns. It was a
great session and there were many lessons learned. Toward the end of
the session, Chris, the Iraqi veteran walked through the door. He was
wearing sun glasses and did not say a word.

I had been talking about how the owner must first be trustworthy
before the dog will ever agree to trust. At that point, I handed the
Shepherd's lead to Chris and instructed him to use only three
commands: C'mon, Easy, Wait.

Because he has been paying attention and he cares, Chris gave the
commands and began walking with direction and purpose, just like I
do. The dog did exactly as I had taught her to with no struggle or
worry.

The woman was shocked that her dog, (that two hours eariler, had been
fearful bordering on aggressive) walked off with a perfect stranger.
I explained that because:

1- The dog trusted me

2- Chris used the same commands and expectations that I used

3- I handed the lead to Chris, thus giving him value

.... that big 3 year old dog walked off with Chris just as if she had
known him her whole life.

It was a very impressive session if I do say so myself.

later

Pat