When dogs are fighting, it’s always scary and frightening.

Following are some things that you can do to control the fight.

Remember, yelling at the dogs will not work in a “real” dogfight, because the dogs are in survival mode. In their mind they’re fighting for their survival. All else is secondary

There’s a significant chance that you’ll be injured if you reach in and grab either of the fighting dogs. You need to take your own safety into consideration. Be careful so you don’t get hurt.

Remain calm. Do not yell at the dogs that are fighting. This will only raises their energy level.

Approach the fight projecting calm, assertive energy. Remain in charge like a Paramedic arriving at the scene of a bad car accident- Last thing injured people want to see is panicked paramedic.

It’s best if you have 2 people (or more if there are more than 2 dogs)

Get behind the dogs and grab the rear legs and raise the rear quarters and move backwards and circle. This way the dog needs to balance on its front feet.  This will help in change the dog from the grip/bite to balance.

Alternatively, you can slip a leash around the dog’s lower belly and attempt the same thing. You can also grab the dog’s tail and do the same.

Be aware, while doing this, there is a good chance the dog will want to turn and snap at you.  KEEP WALKING BACKWARDS AND CIRCLE to avoid this.

Once the dog lets go of the other dog, slowly back away and remove the dog from the scene. If you release the dogs will likely to go back and fight.
This is  quite a scary situation. Only try any one of these techniques if you’re completely confident in handling aggressive dogs and you have another person available to help with the opposing dog.

When you make your attempt, do it quickly and decisively. Create as much distance as possible. If possible remove the dogs from the scene completely.

Keep yourself and your dogs safe by observing your dogs in the dog park rather than tune them out.

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Our typical dog training clients are active people who are on the go and want their dogs with them wherever they go: running, biking, camping, or running errands around Charlotte.

Because of the improvements in electronics (just compare the cell phones of 3-4 years ago to today’s iPhone, Droid etc) not being limited to only cell phones today’s remote collars are not like the old school shock collars. But I still talk to people who are hesitant about the usefulness of remote collars in dog training.

However the tipping point is reached. Cesar Milan uses them, Monks of New Skete use them, but don’t take my word for it.

Here is an article I found on the internet from Larry Cross. I don’t know him, and he didn’t know me until I asked him to use his article on this post. I’m only saying this to emphasize the fact he’s an independent third party to us.

Here is the article re-posted with permission from the author:

There are so many myths and misconceptions about remote training collars that a lot of people are hesitant to use them, robbing themselves of a valuable training tool, according to Keith Benson, general manager of Triple Crown Dog Academy, America’s premier dog training, boarding and event center in Hutto, Texas.

Safe Training Devices
“Probably the most prevalent myth about remote training collars is that they are not a safe training device; that they are cruel and inhumane, and that simply is not true,” Benson said. “They, as well as most types of training equipment, are very safe and very effective when used in the right manner.

“With a good training program and understanding of proper use, the collars become very easy to use and very effective.”

And the electric stimulation applied by the collar is not the jarring, painful charge of electricity that some people imagine. Nor is it physically harmful to the dog. “It’s not like a shot from electro-convulsive therapy or a wall outlet like some people think,” Benson said. “In fact, the levels of stimulation we use when training dogs is like the static charge you get when you rub your feet on the carpet and then touch something,” he said.

The idea is not to make the stimulation painful, but just enough to communicate with the dog, he said. “We just want it to be uncomfortable for the dog, like when you bump your elbow on a table.”

You should always work your dog with the collar set at the lowest stimulation, just enough so the dog can feel it. The key, Benson said, is to set it so the stimulation produces only a curious look from the dog as though the dog is saying ‘Hey, what was that?’

Of course, if distractions increase, then the stimulation level may have to increase. For instance, if a rabbit runs across the road, the dog is not likely to be paying as much attention to the trainer, Benson said. But still the stimulation level should be nudged up just enough to get the dog’s attention.

The Importance of a Snug Fit
Myth No. 2: Remote training collars can burn a dog’s neck. “Not true,” Benson said. “The stimulation that a collar can output from the battery that’s housed inside is not high enough to physically burn even if it is set on a high level for long period of time,” he said.

The collar must fit snug so that it does not rub back and forth, which could wear away hair on the dog’s neck. If the collar is not clean and is rubbing into the neck then hot spots could develop and create a sore that could be mistaken for a burn, he said. Or maybe the collar was left on too long or it was too loose and an infection began to appear.

The Dog Learns How to Listen
Myth No. 3: Using a remote training collar is more stressful on the dog; that it is not as humane a training method as traditional methods of a leash and choke chain.

Again, not necessarily so, Benson said. Typically, dogs at Triple Crown are trained with collars set in a low-level continuous stimulation mode, meaning that the stimulation is being sent until the dog performs the correct behavior. “The faster he responds to the command the quicker the stimulation stops,” Benson said. “Then we give the dog plenty of praise and reward.”

Therefore, the stimulation level has to be low so the dog is able to think and learn. “I’m teaching the dog to problem-solve, how to listen to my command and shut off the stimulation,” he said.

But back to the stress myth. “I’m using an escape conditioning technique where I teach the dog to shut the collar off. Therefore, the dog is in control and goes through less stress. And he learns much faster,” Benson said. “This is based on sound learning principles.”

No, They Are Actually Easy To Use
Myth No. 4: Remote training collars are difficult to use; that only professional trainers should use them.

With today’s advanced collars that is certainly not the case, Benson said. Improved technology has made them much easier to use and understand. Almost any dog owner can understand the operation and use and will be able to communicate with his dog with 15 or 20 minutes of instruction, he said.

“It is however important to understand how to use them before you put it on your dog,” Benson said. “If you do not fully understand, then seek help from a experienced professional.”

The Collar Is One of Many Training Tools
Myth No. 5: When you use a remote training collar you can’t use traditional training aids, such as clickers or cookies or other rewards.

“We use them all,” Benson said. “In fact, we use more reward and praise than anything else. Praise is very important. You have to let them know when they do something right. You can’t just let them know when they did something wrong.”

Joe Arterburn and Keith Benson
Article courtesy of Innotek Pet Products

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To see the original article click here

Puppies that receive early socialization, obedience, and temperament training are far less likely to end up being destroyed by the time they turn three years of age than those that do not receive this early training?

I’m a dog person. I love having 3 dogs, and I wish I had been good all year so Santa would bring me another dog, but I can only start being good around November and often get a piece of coal for the big night. C’est lavie.

If you’ve been good all year and expecting Santa to bring a dog for Christmas, (or the holiday season for the politically correct readers) the following are pointers you may want to remind Santa to consider when he’s selecting a dog for you.

But first!

Before putting dog on your wish list, remember having a dog is like having a 2 year old child. Unlike cats, dogs are not able to be left alone for prolonged times with just water & food. They need to be walked, peed, and pooped. But this is also a great excuse to leave a boring situation. ” Yeaaah I wish I could stay longer, but I have to take my dog in/out/ feed etc, etc.”

I don’t intend to guide your(err Santa’s) decision, but give some non-emotional input to help you decide on the right choice for your family.

Puppy vs Adult dog

Puppies are cute, they smell great, they look like little angels (while sleeping), but they also pee & poop in your house, chew on everything and everyone they see, they will increase your stress level like no other for about 6-8 weeks. When I had my first puppy, I consistently volunteered to work over time so I didn’t have to deal with cleaning up pee & poop. So if you’re getting a puppy, right off the bat clear your serenity calendar for the next 6-8 weeks. Last but not least with puppies just like 2 year old kids, you never know how they’ll turn out.

On the other hand, with adult dogs (1+ years) you know what they’re like, so you’ll see if she likes kids, other dogs, is she dominant, submissive, etc. But they may have picked up bad some habits that needs un-training and retraining to adjust to your family. Let me answer one of the most asked questions about “teaching old dogs new tricks….” YES, we do teach new tricks to old dogs all the time.

With an adult dog you do miss out on all the gaga gugu over the new puppy and on all the corky things puppies do, like falling off the couch or barking at their reflection on the mirror. The choice is yours…

Pure breed vs Heinz 57

I have 3 dogs: 1 bought pure breed, 1 Heinz 57 and 1 rescued pure breed

Although the breed of a dog is not the most important element, it does play a crucial part of the dogs temperament so it must be considered. Not every Dachshund has a Napoleon complex and most Pitbulls truly are sweet. But it’s equally true Beagles will howl like Beagles, Siberian Huskies will want to roam, and a strong German Shepard will not respect a weak owner. When considering a hybrid breed like the Labradoodle or Cock-a-Poo, you must consider all breeds in the mix.

NOTE: Often shelters will mis-identify a dog’s breed. Pitbull mixes will be marked as Boxer mixes, and all non-white dogs are usually lab mixes. This is neither good nor bad, just part of the system.

Dog Breed Info

Buy vs Rescue

With all the Pure breed Rescue organizations, now you can rescue and have a pure breed too.

When selecting a rescue organization please consider there are Privately funded No-Kill Shelters (Project Halo) and there are publicly funded Kill Shelters (Charlotte Humane Society, Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control) Full Disclosure: We support/donate to local No-Kill Shelters including Project Halo.

Now let’s look at where You fit in all this.

Lifestyle

Even if you’re getting a dog for your kids, unless they’re teenagers (sometimes even if they are teenagers) you will be responsible for the well being of this dog. If this reality doesn’t fit well with you, please do not rationalize and get a dog anyway.

Here is a list of lifestyle considerations put in question format to help you trigger things you need to remember before you fall in love with the dog you always wanted.

Are you a runner? Or is your form of exercise limited to 12oz. curls in front of the TV? Do you entertain at home? Do you go camping? Do you live in a condo on 17th floor?

What do you do for money? Do you work in downtown Charlotte 8am-8pm ? Do you travel out of town? How much time during the day you can devote to your dog? (10min/day, 2hrs/day)

Can you handle the additional responsibility for the next 10 years?

What’s your energy level? Do you like lots of fast activities or do you like slow walks? Are you cranky @ 0530am on a rainy day?

Do you have kids? Planning to have kids? How about other pets like dogs, cats, birds, reptiles?

I know this is a tall order of things to consider. Believe me as slow as I type, I wish the list was limited to 2 items, but that’s not the reality.

The reality is dogs are living beings with their own needs, and ways to deal with the world. And although we call ourselves “owners” we are not. My dogs who are laying by my feet as I type these words not for one second think I own them. We are simply 2 different species choosing to co-exist together. And from this co-existence we the humans always gain far more than what we give. We offer walks, food, water, heart worm pills, flea medicine, and toys. We get unconditional love, protection, a non-judgemental friend, years of joy, lessons in how the universe works, excuse to go out and play. We learn about the importance of being in the now, have a great chick magnet, a great social mediator, kid protector…. the list can go on forever.

So, am I saying it’s good to have a dog? Absolutely YES! Am I saying it’s a great idea for you to have a dog? No! No one can answer that question for you but you. Having a dog is a personal journey and that decision should be made after careful consideration of the many things I outlined above. No doubt there’s even more I could add but this is a good start.

Have a safe holiday season and I hope Santa will bring you everything on your list.

When it’s time to train your new dog, please contact us for a free demo.

As the seasons change we’re adjusting our Group Lesson Schedule.

We have added an evening group lesson, a small dogs group lesson also.

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For me the point of dog training is not so we can show off our dogs like they’re trained seals at the Seaworld, but they’re fully integrated members of our families and as the result our lives are improved (theirs & ours)

We want our dogs to listen to us when the distractions are at their peak levels.  That’s why it’s so important to work on “focus” under severe distractions.

As a pack leader your responsibility is to keep your dog safe. If your dog second guesses you or ignores your commands because the distractions are too much,  you simply can not keep your dog safe, and fail as a leader.

As you can see in this picture by focusing on the handler the dog on the left remains uninvolved and safe.

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Quincy basically ran our house, ate when she wanted, did whatever she felt like doing, and most of the time we were unknowingly “rewarding” her bad behavior.

After Quincy bit someone for the first time, we didn’t know what to do.  We called Off Leash Dog Training/Sit Means Sit because we had met Turk at Smelly Cat one day with his VERY well behaved dog.  (you know the kind that you never think you could have…complete ENVY)  Well now we do!!  Quincy just finished her 3rd lesson and we could not be happier with the results.  She is now a behaved, confident dog.  She understands that we will protect her, and she does not need to protect us.  the best part is we can bring her to group functions with no worries, AND walk her around highland creek with NO leash!  Not even a squirrel phases her!

I had doubts, lots of them, and the first day was the hardest, but Greg (our trainer) knew what he was doing and made my husband and I fell completely at ease. I would recommend Greg to anyone that wants a well behaved dog.  Quincy went from wanting to bite his head off the first day, to sitting beside me quietly when he came through the door yesterday.  AMAZING!  Now people can be envious of OUR dog!!

We could not have asked for better service.  Thank you so much to Off Leash Dog Training / Sit Means Sit and Greg for helping us get that dog that we never thought was possible.

Sincerely,

Jay & Lindsey Tryon

Charlotte, NC

trained dogs in Charlotte, NC

Find more photos like this on UnLeashed

The best thing about having a trained dogs is I can take my dogs with me wherever I go.

7  comes with me everywhere. I’m sitting at Smelly Cat coffee shop as I type these words, and looking at him laying calmly by my feet.

Someone much wiser than me once said ” It takes long hard work to have an overnight success.” Dog training is no exception. To get to the level obedience we get with our dogs (ask any professional dog trainer) we train our dogs often. I can’t ever imagine Michael Jordan ever telling his coach ” You know Phil, I am Michael Jordan. I don’t need to practice any more.”

We do the same thing successful professionals do, Practice.

The cornerstone of our success in dog training is our ability to have our dogs actually enjoy the training process, so they are actively seeking training from us the handlers.  One of the things I love about Charlotte is how many great places we have to keep dog training exciting.

I think the best way to take your dog to the next level is to integrate training/playing with your dog to your daily life. So instead of putting aside dog training until 8pm or when you have more time in your day, take your dog on a car ride with you when you run to Trader Joe’s, and when there don’t just leave your dog in the car, but take her with you and practice “place” or “sit” for 2 minutes while people are walking around.

This may add about 10 minutes to your run to the store, but will add immeasurable love to your bond and will take your dog’s obedience to the real world. Not to mention you will get to brag about how awesome your dog is.

If you can not take your dog with you while running errands, feel free to contact us.