Following are some basic guidelines that should be taken into consideration when bringing your dog to a dog park. An ideal park will have all the desirable items and none of the undesirable items. However, just because a park doesn’t have everything or does have an undesirable item doesn’t mean it is not a good dog park.  These guidelines are for dog park patrons to use as a guide – different items will be important to different people.

Be sure to take your dog’s temperament into consideration and don’t assume s/he’s having a good time – watch your dog’s demeanor and make an informed judgment about how happy s/he is to be there.  Some dogs will have no desire to play, yet will love to sniff all the bushes and trees; other dogs will be thrilled to race another dog from one end of the park to the other.  Both of these dogs can benefit from the dog park – they just enjoy it in different ways.

If you take the time to be an informed dog owner, you will be able to judge for yourself if the situation you and your dog are in is a good situation – so, have fun at the dog park and get yourself a pooper scooper!

Don’t

ever bring a dog that is under 4 months of age
take sensitive dogs to an enclosed dog park where there are more than 2 dogs per every 20 square yards of space
take your dog to a dog park if s/he is uncomfortable –  take your dog to a place that s/he enjoys
bring or use treats and toys when other dogs are nearby
allow dogs to form loose packs
allow a dog to bully another
ever let your dog off-leash in an un-fenced dog park if he/she is not responsive to your verbal commands
worry if some dogs don’t play with other dogs in a dog park
bring intact males or females in estrus to a dog park
Do
consult your veterinarian about your dog’s overall health before going to a dog park
make sure your dog is up-to-date on his/her vaccinations
observe the dogs in the dog park to see if there are any potential health or behavior problems
clean up after your dog
supervise dogs when they are playing and interrupt any rough play
be willing to leave a dog park if you feel that your dog is either being a bully, the play is getting too rough or your dog is just not having fun
check to be sure there aren’t a large number of intact males at the park
make sure your young dog is not being bullied or learning bad manners from the other dogs
be cautious about taking advice from other park patrons who are not dog professionals
check to see if there is a knowledgeable human on staff to supervise the park – most parks will not have this, but if there is someone, it is a bonus

Does a “remote trainer” or e-collar have any place in a dog trainers toolbox? Are there any new techniques, that can be used with this tool, that enable a trainer to work more effectively and efficiently with a dog? These were just a couple questions I hoped to get answers to when early in April of this year I took the opportunity to attend a three day “No Limitations,” seminar on “remote collar training.” Two of my students (one with many years training experience and one with very little training experience) came with me to observe and learn. The featured speakers were Fred Hassen and Behesha Grist.

As the participants arrived, I noticed it was a very typical group of dogs and their owners. A few dogs had some training already and were well behaved while some were clearly not trained at all. Some dogs were lunging at other dogs and were needing to be restrained by their struggling owners. Some dogs were wearing remote trainers, some regular collars and some had head-halters on. There were at least two dogs present that had very serious aggression issues and both were muzzled and crated.

Before collering any of the dogs all participants were given the experience of feeling the collar. It was set at the lowest setting and the levels were gradually increased until the participant first noticed it and then increased a couple levels above that. Everyone agreed that the “stim” (stimulation) was not untoward and felt rather like the “TENS” unit one might experience at a chiropractors or physiotherapists office.

Any dogs started on the collar were put through a similar process. The collar was set at the lowest level and gradually increased until the dog first noticed it (usually evidenced by an ear twitch or sideways glance in the direction of the collar). The lowest level noticed by the dog became that dog’s working level.

What was most fascinating was the application of the “stim” and the role it played. It was not used, as some might suppose, as an aversive (though, as was explained, it could be if necessary). The approach was not corrective or punishing but rather motivational and the first thing the dog learned was “the language of the collar.” The dog (guided by a long line) learned to move toward the handler at the “touch” of the collar (in much the same manner that a dog on invisible fencing learns to move toward the house). Once the dog learned to move with the touch, the commands were given at the same time as the stim. The command/stim combination could be repeated, if the behavior was not performed, until it was performed. Sometimes the stim was applied in the midst of the performance in a prodding or encouraging manner (similar to “motivational leash pops”) that seemed to increase alertness and desire. At this point there was no evidence of any distress noted, indeed the dogs seemed quite relaxed.What blew everyone away was when Fred worked with the aggressive dogs that I referred to earlier. The first aggressive dog was a mature GSD male. I had talked to the owner who confirmed this dog was very aggressive toward people as well as other dogs. Even with the muzzle on, the fiery temperament of the dog was evident. Fred couldn’t get close enough to the dog to put on the collar and therefore had the owner put it on the dog. In addition to the long line, he had a second leash dragging from the collar in case the owner had to assist.

Fred got the dog moving with him using the collar (as described above) and praised the dog when ever he was in close. Within two minutes he had the dog walking calmly with him and after another five minutes or so, everyone was shocked to see Fred reach down and remove the muzzle. The dog performed perfectly and acted like Fred was his best friend. The dog was worked in this way for quite some time and then remuzzled and worked closely around the other dogs and people. He performed flawlessly and by the second day he no longer required a muzzle and worked all the exercises in the group along side everyone else. The second aggressive dog made similar progress, though the initial stages took a few minutes longer.

Both Fred and Behesha have worked literally hundreds of dogs just like them. The results are a matter of public record - both work with all kinds of dogs in the local pounds and shelters. Both have ample references from these places of the results they have achieved. Aside from the astonishing results that everyone saw was the fact that even the pure novice trainers were able to quickly catch on to the technique and work confidently and well with their own dogs.

I corresponded with another participant after the seminar. He told me that before the seminar, his dog had been to puppy class and basic obedience class but that the family had had little success in controlling his energy and strength. He was spending increasing time in the crate and got fewer and fewer walks. In his exuberance, he had injured a child who required emergency dental surgery. The participant wrote to me that, “This was not a dog that was neglected or left unsocialized as a puppy. He DID do obedience training, he DID get A LOT of practice using the leash and cookie method.”

Since the seminar, this owner reported that in just three days of work, the dog had rejoined the household. The weaker family members are now able to walk the dog, and he’s getting much more time out of the crate and with the family. My correspondent wrote, “The e-collar puts control BACK in our hands.” And he also wrote, “I shudder thinking the many people who have purchased these off-shelf, without training, to use as a strictly punishment device.”

I got the answers to my questions at this seminar. This piece of equipment, like any tool, must be used properly, but when it is, the results are very impressive. Is there a place for it in a dog trainers toolbox? That’s for each trainer to decide. I know I have a place for it in mine.

Regards,
Roger Hild

~~~
Originally published in the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers Newsletter. Roger Hild is the owner of Tsuro Dog Training, A Personalized Approach to Training Your Dog. Visit his web site at www.tsurodogtraining.com

Fred Hassen provides some excellent insight to the questions all clients ask in this article which is also posted on the Sit Means Sit website:

When people first encounter electronic dog training collars they are amazed at how effective they are as a training tool. You can see results almost instantly in your training! People ask me, “Does the collar have to always be on the dog?”; “Doesn’t the dog become collar wise?” or “Shouldn’t I just use it when a problem arises that cannot be fixed by other methods?” The most important fact about dog training is that reinforcement never ends. This fact, above all others is what will help you become the best possible dog owner. Does the collar have to always be on the dog?
As a trainer, my dogs never leave the house without an ecollar on. Is it because they will not perform without it? Certainly not. Dogs trained with electronic collars are able to learn and follow commands on a regular basis without the need of electronic stimulus. It is similar to the way that a trained dog walks down the street with its owner and the dog is wearing a choke chain, you certainly do not see the owner tugging at the leash every second. With an ecollar, it does not mean that you are pushing buttons every second either. Most of the time you will not need to reinforce your commands, but when your dog loses focus you are able quickly correct the behaviour with the electronic stimulus and get back on track. Doesn’t the dog become collar wise?
What does ‘collar wise’ mean? The idea of a ‘collar wise’ dog means that after the initial training just wearing the remote electronic collar would make the dog behave. This is not true, although the dog might associate wearing the collar with going outside, to the park or for a walk; they will not become ‘collar wise’. The remote electronic dog collar must be used consistently so that your dog knows what you want and can strive to behave accordingly. The idea that reinforcement never ends is no different than how much of our ‘real lives’ work. In the work force, people who have been at their jobs for any length of time obviously know their job pretty well-whether it is cooking french fries at McDonalds or working for an accounting firm, you would know your job pretty well after a while. Even in those instances, they do not just fire all of the managers, and let you pick up your check under the door every Friday. Someone is still there to constantly oversee the operation to ensure that it’s functioning properly. Without that, the organization would fall apart quickly. Dog training is no different. I’m sure your dog was trained how to “sit” a long time ago. Now, whether he always does it when asked — well, that’s another matter. That is why it is important to consistently use the electronic dog training collar. With the knowledge that reinforcement never ends, we can handle any situation. Anytime we take our dogs outdoors there are distractions that can pull their focus away from our ability to command them. Factors that we can’t control such as; loose dogs, cats, kids on bikes, trucks driving by with dogs in the back, and people playing frisbee are just a few of the things that challenge us when we walk our dogs. If your dog is off-leash without a remote dog training collar and misbehaves it is difficult to correct them. By the time you have caught up to your dog, correcting their behaviour is often delayed and ineffective. Also, it is very hard to not get emotional and perhaps overreact to the disobedience because you want it to cease immediately. In moments like these we can fall into a bad habit of yelling at the dog. While using an ecollar, these problems can be dealt with immediately, and unemotionally. If the level needs to be moved up or down to suit the correction, it can be without any elevation in the voice. It’s as if you are right there correcting him, without the yelling. Shouldn’t I just use it when a problem arises that cannot be fixed by other methods? Electronic dog training collars are very effective in tough training situations, but that is not their only use. Dogs of all temperaments benefit from this amazing training tool. People have asked me if the electronic collars will change the personality of their dog, making them timid, nervous or scared. Quite the opposite, electronic dog training collars are able to bring out the best in your dog, the confidence, obedience and calm nature that has been hidden by poor training methods and their natural exuberance. Hunters who use dogs such as pointers, retrievers, or even packs are big fans of the ecollar. Hunters may want their dog to lie down at 200 yards away because a deer is running by, or to come back to them in that instance. Hunters rely on the remote electronic collar to convey their commands because yelling in that situation is simply not an option. It is no different than you or I wanting our dogs to lie down at a distance because a cat, dog, child or even a mailman is passing. With the electronic dog training collar, we can give the command and then, if necessary, reinforce immediately so that the dog is obedient, safe and getting their job done! If electronic collars made a hunting dog too scared to do its task, or diminish its hunting instincts in any way, hunters would not use them. Instead, hunters and field trial trainers are some of the biggest fans of remote electronic collar training. Many field trial specialists have integrated ecollars into their training programs with terrific results. The Las Vegas K-9 unit adopted the remote electronic dog training collar and have seen excellent results. The Las Vegas K-9 Unit competed at the Western States Canine Trails and took “top dog” and “top agency”. Although the dogs are not allowed to compete while wearing the electronic collars they train with them and the results speak for themselves! With ecollar training recalls become quicker, smoother, and very happily performed because the dog knows exactly what is expected.

This photo was taken at the Pouch Promenade in Burlington on May 27, 2007.  Lindsay Parrish does a wonderful job! In addition to this one, we have numerous pics of Spencer at full speed.

http://www.oakville.ca/leash-freezones.htm

The Sit Means Sit method combines remote collar training and classic training techniques to allow you to effectively communicate with your dog. You will be amazed how quickly your dog learns and how happy he is! We know that every owner would like a pet who is dependable in any situation- no matter how many distractions there are.

Now this internationally recognized program is available in your backyard! We work with both adult dogs and puppies to train them to be confident, happy and well-mannered members of the family. When looking for dog training, Oakville pet owners know that Sit Means Sit will bring results that the whole family will love.

Call today for a free demonstration …..we’ll show you how to have a well behaved dog in no time!

289-888-2377