Training

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Samson is rewarded as people approach
Exercise Goal: to create positive assocations between Samson and approaching people.
Samson, a 5 yr old neutered male Rottie mix, is uneasy, and sometimes even startled, when people approach, even those he knows. And, if that person is approaching a person he really depends upon, such as his seated foster mom Shannnon in this video, he is even more troubled.
Since Rotties were orginally bred to guard, they guard, when they have not been taught a different behavior response. We wanted to teach Samson the correct response to approaching folks.
In this exercise, Shannon says "Mom" in a cheery voice as her mother approaches. Samson already knows and likes Susan very much, so the exercise goes well. Because Samson remains calm and welcoming, he gets a treat from Shannon and then also from Susan.
Right away, he begins to anticipate Susan's approach and moves toward her for a treat. He still hears Shannon saying 'Mom" and can get a treat from her as well.
This exercise should always begin with people the dog likes and trusts the best, and then can slowly include people they know less, until finally it can be done with strangers with the dog on a leash.
If the dog ever shows signs of discomfort or stress, you have gone too fast and should go back to the beginning. You really can't go too slow, but moving too fast will not teach the dog what you want.

Samson guards his food #1 - It's raining kibble!
Exercise Goal: To teach Samson to relax while eating and not feel threatened, because people are the source of his food.
Samson, a 5 year old neutered male Rottie mix, has shown discomfort with folks being around his food dish. When very uncomfortable, he will growl softly. It seems that he believes, perhaps because of a past experience, that people around his food are threatening. Maybe they will take it away.
In this first of a series of three exercises, we are teaching Samson that people moving around his food can only mean good things. Lorraine tosses kibble into Samson's bowl while he is eating, and he continues to eat without being disturbed. She helps him make the connection that she is the source of his food by waiting for him to look at her and see that she is indeed tossing the kibble.
Because he did very well in the first exercise, we proceeded to the others. If he had shown any discomfort, we would have stopped immediately, asked him to do something at which he could be successful like a 'find it' (we throw the treat on the ground for him to find), and then begun fresh the next day.
As with all of our dog training, we are lowering the anxiety, building trust,and creating an environment for learning with precise goals. We also create a safe environment for the people, thus Samson was tethered just in case he became aroused or overstimulated.
The Misha May Foundation offers a 6 week behavior class called Understanding Dogs. There is also an Apprentice Dog Trainer Program. www.mishamayfoundation.org for more information.

Samson guards his food #2 - It's okay if people move around.
Exercise Goal: To teach Samson that people moving around his food bowl pose no threat.
Samson begins with an empty bowl into which Lorraine tosses kibble. Samson sits and looks at Lorraine, understanding that she is the source of his food. He is more relaxed than in the first exercise; his tail is not tucked.
Then Lorraine switches to small pieces of turkey preparing Samson for a bigger challenge. She moves away and toward the food bowl, each time tossing turkey to Samson. Samson enjoys the food and is undisturbed by the movement.

Samson guards his food #3 - what about the bowl? what about puppies?
Exercise Goal: To teach Samson that hands picking up his bowl are safe and also bring a treat.
Samson sits and looks at Lorraine anticipating treats. Lorraine tosses cheese this time. Lorraine demonstrates how to throw a piece of cheese away from the bowl enabling her to pick it up without direct confrontation.
Some dogs are sensitive about their empty food bowl or even the water bowl. There are many variations of these exercises to choose from dependent upon the dog, his issues and his level of aggression.
Puppy Exercise Goal: To teach puppies right from the beginning that people around the food is a great thing.
Lorraine has raised quite a few litters of rescued puppies for Misha May. She keeps feeding time fun and light by serenading them, and having more bowls of food than there are puppies.
Puppies will naturally migrate from bowl to bowl and usually littermates are fine with the give and take, making space as needed.
If growling or struggling occurs, Lorraine rains kibble into the bowl in question right in front of these puppies and sings-songs 'there's always enough' or something like that! The puppies relax and realize that everything is okay. It is a beautiful lesson for the rest of their lives.

Training Videos: K

Crate Training at Misha May #1: K gets breakfast
K, rescued from Afghanistan and in training with Misha May, has learned to like a crate filled with his bed and toys and snacks.

He had previously been too anxious and worried to even go in one. He associated being in a crate with being trapped or restricted, perhaps even in danger. We started very slowly but he is now willing to go right in to eat his breakfast or play or hang out. He is calm when the door closes and can spend up to 30 minutes with no problem.

I am able to leave the room and he doesn't panic.

Crate Training at Misha May #2: K relaxes after breakfast
After eating breakfast, K relaxes. I drop treats into his crate when I walk by - not every time, but randomly. Instead of getting over excited expecting a treat each time, he remains calm, certain that I will return and some kind of good thing will happen! I greet him quietly or not at all - again to help him stay relaxed and low-key.

Anxiety is all about allowing the damaged nervous system to avoid panicked arousal, with the energy focused on healing. He is able to learn new behaviors because he is calm. He learns to relax because we have been building his 'being alone' and 'liking my crate' muscles according to what he can handle.

Crate Training at Misha May #3: destruction, house training, anxiety, dog intros
K is being crate trained because he is destructive when left alone. He is destructive because he is an anxious puppy with no previous experience living in a home, having been free and wild in Afghanistan.

I have to help him resolve and heal his anxiety as he learns that a crate is safe. We began slowly at his speed allowing him free choice to enter and relax, and exit as needed. Dogs with severe anxiety should not be crated and left alone, because they can hurt themselves in their desperation to escape and find their people.

I use a large size crate for any size dog because it can give a sense of a home rather than a cage. The dog inside may or may not want the wire crate covered with a sheet for some privacy, warmth or rest. Other friendly dogs can walk by and they all have a chance to meet. This is helpful if you are alone and aren't absolutely certain of the reaction. I move the dogs by quickly at first and then let them linger if no reactions occur.

If I am using a crate for housetraining, however, it needs to be a smaller size to avoid encouraging the dog to relieve himself, and then having enough space to avoid it. We want the crate to discourage the dog from soiling his space with his belongings and food inside. No matter what we might be using a crate for, there should always be a positive association created so that the dog will willingly enter and relax, having a safe haven or behavior management tool when needed.

Philosophy

• Training Philosophies: Learning Theory vs Dominance Theory. Click here to read this article.
  
  
• CALMING SIGNALS – The Art of Survival by Turid Rugaas
  
  
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Tips

• Dog-friendly training methods. Click on this link to read this article: www.optimumchoices.com
  
  

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Trainers Who Help Misha May

• Lorraine May; 303-239-0382


• Mindful Dog Training with Barrie Finger
  720-984-6777. BarrieFinger@yahoo.com. Professional dog ttraining and behavior counseling, Serving the Denver Metro area.


• You n' I Animal Wellness with Yukari Bianchi
  303-751-6587, animalwellness@younianimalwellness.com
  The goal at You n' I Animal Wellness is to eliminate pet owners surrendering their pets to an animal shelter due to behavior problems, to create harmony with mutual understanding, and for you to have a new journey with your furry kids every day. Aurora.

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