How could you do that to your dog?

Below is a horrendous story from an associate of mine.

This really happened. Very sad.

The Story...

I just need to vent about what I witnessed last night. I think what was
more shocking (literally) to me was the fact that the owners truly felt
nothing was wrong. They just said "huh, that's weird" but weren't willing
to do anything about it.

So, I went to the home of a family with three young kids and an 8th month
old Pembroke corgi. (obviously they didn't get my input into which breed of
dog to pick!) their complaints were typical of young kids and herding dogs
- he was nipping at them and was jumping, etc.

When I pulled up everyone was outside in the front yard. They use a shock
fence in the front yard and have a huge nicely fenced back yard. They use
the shock fence because they have three young kids and don't want the dog to
run away or run after people/other dogs. They bought a Petsafe fence from
Petsmart - it's the kind that is movable and sends out a signal in a
circular area. Anyway, when I got out of the car the dog came running over
to me and then fell down on the ground writhing like he was having a
seizure. I asked the mother what was going on and she said "I think he's
getting shocked." I asked her why it didn't beep and she said she didn't
know. Anyway, the poor dog was getting shocked and didn't know how to avoid
it....The mother said that it had happened before - she looked outside and
he was just sitting there looking like he was having a seizure. They had
the boundaries all "f'd" up. They didn't even know where the shock line
was. And, the battery in the collar was probably too low to give a decent
audible beep. I took the collar off the dog immediately and threw it on the
ground saying it was junk and they should get their money back. I made the
mother walk around the perimeter to find the line and she couldn't find it
and it didn't always beep. I said "if you can't figure out where the line
is, how the heck can the dog?" And, then I asked how they trained him and
they put him on leash, walked him up to the flags (they only kept the flags
up for one week) and yanked him back. So, I took her arm and yanked her and
said "what did you just learn?" And, she said "nothing." Then, the collar
they had on him was too big so, he'd just run right through the shock
line...Ugh.. ..I explained to them that they didn't train the dog
appropriately on the fence and that if this continued they'd be euthanizing
him for aggression to strangers. As it was this was the nicest and smartest
corgi (with the exception of my parent's corgi) that I had ever met. I
could not believe that these people did not realize what they were doing to
their dog was just wrong...They saw nothing wrong with him laying there
getting continually shocked. I'd be surprised if he didn't have serious
brain damage by this time.

Unbelieveable. ..

__._,_.___

What is Positive Reinforcement?

What exactly is Positive Reinforcement Dog Training?

It's simply rewarding your dog for doing the right thing rather than punishing them for doing the wrong thing. In which case, she probably doesn't even know that she's doing the wrong thing. It's up to us to teach him this. Through rewards and praise.

Think of it like this....would you punish an 8 year old for not knowing how to do Geometry? Of course not, he hasn't learned it. So that would be cruel wouldn't it?

Unfortunately I see this cruelty inflicted upon dogs every single day. Humans get frustrated with their dogs for not sitting or coming to them or not walking nicely on leash, but it's the HUMANS fault. They haven't taught the dogs how to carry out these tasks. Or they've taught them, but the relationship is not intact because the dog learned these things through coercion (punishment), so the dog has no positive motivation to listen to their human...who is now somewhat of an enemy to him.

I have learned through my work with hundreds (maybe even thousands now) of dogs that they are most responsive...and the happiest, when they are rewarded for what they've done. You can see it in their bright eyes, wagging tails and proud stances....and sometimes even their smiles.

What's Not Positive?

If any one of the tools or technique below are used, your training/trainer is not positive.

Rather than helping your dog, you are hurting them and destroying the bond between you and your Best Friend...

1) Prong collars are not positive.
2) Choke collars are not positive.
3) Shock collars are not positive.
4) Citronella Spray is not positive.
5) Leash corrections - when the handler yanks up on the collar to "correct" the dog.
6) Alpha Rolls - when the handler forces the dog into a down position...usually on the dogs back until the dog "submits."
7) Shaking the dog at the scruff of the neck is not positive.
8) Hitting, kicking, slamming doors on the dog, throwing shoes, yelling. All of these are not positive.

A Truly Positive Trainer will only use praise and treats, will never yell, lose their temper or use physical force to train the dog.

To find a Truly Positive Trainer in your area, click on TrulyDogFriendly.com.

Remember, training is not an excuse to abuse!

Happy Father's Day from Toby Mandell

Happy Father's Day!

Hi Fellow Human- Lovers,

Here's five things you can do today to let your dad know you love him on his special day.

1) Take him on an extra long walk.
2) Retrieve the ball for him when he accidentally drops it 20 feet away.
3) Humor him and sit when he asks you to.
4) Take him to a park and sit with him while he reads his favorite book.
5) Give him lots of wet, sloppy kisses.

Have a pawfect day!

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