I moved the welcoming committee away from the shower and over to the treat box. Many good trainers don’t use food or treats; they want the dogs to do things out of love.
I’m not that good.
I like treats as a training tool. I use small, healthy, sugar-free, digestible dental sticks and rawhide chunks (not the fat kind, Bud could choke on them.
Sometimes I use bits of their kibble or thin rawhide sticks. They are inexpensive, don’t stick in the mouth, and are easy to chew and swallow.
I never give a dog anything for free. In this case, I make the welcoming committee sit for up to three minutes and won’t offer a treat until they are all calm and still.
Sometimes Fate will lose it and try to grab a treat from Bud or Zinnia. She gets a swat or kick (lightly) and has her treat taken away.
She doesn’t get one for the next day or so. And I feed her last to make sure she gets still. This has calmed down. Sometimes, you need to be the leader.
I also make all three sit, wait, and make eye contact. This has worked well with my dogs. I don’t want “push” dogs. I go out the door first, coming and going. Nobody gets to rush in the past me.
My dogs are excellent; they know how to be calm and still and wait their term, although Bud, the newest addition to the crew, still has some of his old survival habits.
We’re getting there.
P.S. I’m thinking about offering dog and animal advice and training thoughts on a new site that enables people to purchase some advice for a small amount. Details to come; I’m also willing to consult about blogging and how to make it work.
I’d also be willing to talk about writing.
A tentative thought for a new industry and revenue source for bloggers and writers who choose to blog. The blog will always be free, but this could be interesting and help deal with the rising costs.
You wouldn’t be offering me any animal training if your training comes with any type of SWATS or KICKS.
Not being mean or rude – just my my style of treating any animal or human.
Well, you ought to talk to someone else, Teri. I rarely kick or swat a dog, but I’m also human, and it has happened. It is not something I ever recommend in training (I can’t) but I remind people they can’t all be perfect in training; we will sometimes lose it. Don’t lose heart.
But you should talk to someone you are comfortable with; your style is yours and deserves respect; there is nothing rude or mean about it. I do understand how you feel.
Your ideas about blog and dogs is interesting.
Thanks, Dawnmarie, I’m not sure I want to do it, but it has appeal..I’m asked all the time about blogging, dogs and writing, I offer many of my ideas on the blog for free and will continue to do that. But it might be smart to offer some paid consulting so people can get some real time to work with me on these things. I’m asking people about it and thinking about it, thanks for the message.
I’m confused. Haven’t you written about a hundred times that no one should be buying books about dog training, or paying for it because it’s all common sense?
And what are your credentials and educational background in dog training that makes you believe that you can charge for this service?
Well, Anne, thanks for this opportunity to answer a question like that, although you obviously weren’t trying to be helpful. This has been a healthy and helpful exercise for me; writing about my time and life with dogs has affirmed my idea about giving people time to talk to me and writing about it and getting paid a small amount.
I was wobbling back and forth, but I’m clear now.
I’ve written about 20 books on dogs and hundreds of blog posts and have been interviewed all over the country about them. I’ve done a dog show of my own on NPR, written for Slate (a dog column) and Rolling Stone, and Wired. I’ve worked with many good trainers and paid them for their expertise.
I’ve trained three certified therapy dogs and four sheepherding dogs. I’ve won three ribbons in herding trials.
I have written thousands of blog posts about my training ideas along with photos and real life videos; if you don’t like them, don’t read them.
I’ve also written one or two training books (one is called “Katz And Dogs,” which was not expensive and had no videos), and I did a wonderful extensive book tour for that one. I’ve written about grieving for dogs, living with dogs, interviewing scores of vets and trainers, writing about border collies, and life on a farm with dogs. I’ve even written about spending a year on a mountain with two dogs. Makes me smile to think of it.
I am pretty proud of my books; most are listed on Amazon if you can bear to do a bit of research, which you obviously didn’t. They did well, and most are still in print.
I don’t need to defend my credentials to you, blessedly, but despite your snarky tone, it’s a fair question you’re asking, so I’ve chosen to answer it. I’ve written maybe five or six times that people don’t need to buy expensive videos and books on dog trains, and I believe that very strongly and teach it; that’s why I’m not making or selling any. (I’ve hosted two radio shows of my own.)
I’m not sure what the licensing credentials you want to see are. I didn’t go to a four-year college to learn about training dogs, and I didn’t go to college at all to be a writer, and I’ve written 26 books in all. And I don’t honestly see where it is your business. My work and writing speaks for itself, I don’t owe you a bloody thing.
I don’t believe Cesar has any training or “credentials” at all, but he’s pretty popular and bright, charges much more than I would, and makes much more money. He deserves it, too; I would never write him a snotty message like yours, although he writes that many people do. This is America in 2022.
There are no colleges for dog training, no formal degrees, just as there aren’t any for writing or being an artist. I don’t have any degrees, and I’ve been writing books for most of my life (and working with dogs and writing about them.) If you don’t want to hear what I have to say or only get it for free or need some counseling, just don’t bother to hire me. Get someone with “credentials.”
Do I urge people not to spend much money on expensive training books and videos? That’s the first thing I will tell people who ask. I do a lot of common sense training and teaching, which has been both rewarding and successful. I post thos on my blog almost daily so people can see for themselves what I do.
I don’t have time to do it one on one for free. And people ask me every day.
And yes, I need to make a living.
Unlike you, there are people who know something about me. I also like to teach (and have) writing and blogs, and I’m studying photography, which will kill you, and I’ll also talk about those things for people who need help or what to know what I think. I’m thinking $10 for four sessions: I don’t have degrees for any of these things.
I’m a warrior for common sense. I don’t need other people to tell me what to think.
Many people want somebody to talk about these things with, and as for dogs, the training books and videos are not helping them. Dog training is a disaster in America, very few dogs even know their name. Maybe I can help somebody start a blog. Maybe I can help somebody to write a book.
Sometimes I have. I know I can help people train a dog; I’ve done that a hundred times. It’s a very good feeling.
And I like sharing what I learn. This would give my life additional meaning. Maria thinks it’s a fine idea, she’s thinking about it herself.
If you would kick or swat a dog, you should not, under any circumstances, be allowed to work with children or the fragile elderly. You’ve demonstrated your anger more than once on the blog by name-calling and using vulgarity. Youve gotten upset when you’ve been called out for your disrespect of other people’s boundaries regarding photographs. Who knows what might trigger an incident with you. Your temper is unstable.
Susanna, I don’t post stupid and/or ignorant posts anymore from strangers with no lives; I just wanted to let you know…Your post is nastier than anything I could dream up. I’m retiring from hate. That chapter is over.
You are no one to be lecturing anybody on being nice or respectful. What kind of heartless person sends vicious messages to someone they know is unstable? (Sometimes, I am) Good luck to you, goodbye and good riddance.
Hurray, I am totally ready to sign up Jon!
Getting Izzy, a 3 year old Yellow English Lab end of October, inspired by Zinnia, and happy to hire your professional expertise. Planning to work with Pet Partners for therapy dog training. Not sure if I will be able to get her to sing along while I am Uke’n ?
Your 3 wonderful buddies are proof for me that you have a successful ‘formula’.
Keep up your good works!
Wendy from NorCal.
Thanks Wendy, look forward to it..
Here is a great trainer. http://www.elissaclinedogtraining.com/
So glad that you’re doing some paid
stuff. It’s about time. Would love to
do a writing class, with someone whose
writing I enjoy…and if Maria decides to
do the same, would enjoy sharing some
art! Think it’s all great!
Thanks Sandra, if I do it, it will be cheap and fun