DHR

Gain instant control over any dog

2012-02-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

The next time you are lucky enough to be in the presence of a dog try a new perspective.
Imagine what it would be like to be surrounded by humans that do not speak your language or understand your basic needs.
This would be very frustrating and it actually causes the dog to become fearful for their survival.
Unwanted behaviours such as shaking, wiggling and moving around out of control, barking and jumping will be the result.
Unfortunately people perceive this behavior as happiness but it is actually the dog acting out of frustration and anxiety.
I will give you a few pointers of how you can help a dog to become calm and ready to take direction, something that they are craving.
The first thing you must learn to do is control your urge to become emotional about the dog.
Animals do not have the capacity to understand or have emotions because their brains are very different then humans.
Therefore when humans become emotional they perceive this as weakness and will become afraid or dominant and will not respect you.
It is also important to be able to be present.
Become aware of your surroundings and what your body is doing.
This tells the dog that you are in control of yourself and the situation.
The best reference I can give is the calming affect that a fireman brings when he arrives to the emergency.
This is best achieved by remaining tall and owning your space, taking a deep breath and relaxing your muscles but also be prepared to take action if required.
Do not zero in all of your attention on the dog, you almost want to ignore the dog completely. Only give the dog attention if it is required.
If you are in control of your emotions - any dog will immediately understand your place in his hierarchy - which will be at the top.
Avoid eye contact, talking to or touching the dog because all of these are human ways of greeting.
Try this out the next time you are around a dog, with some practice you will be able to amaze your friends by your magic ability to cause out of control dogs to become calm and pleasant to be around.

Feeding your dog

2012-01-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

One of the most common questions my clients have for me is how do I feed my dog?
There are very important items to keep in mind when you are rewarding with food.
It is very important to remember what I just said, in that last sentence.
You are REWARDING your dog when you feed them.
So be careful what you are rewarding them for!
They deserve to eat after they have worked for you and are in accepting of your leadership.
Following the patterns of nature, as a responsible dog owner does, remember that wild canines work hard for their food.
They travel for miles and days tracking and hunting to feed their pack under the strict rules of their alpha male.
Think of feeding your dog as a very primal way to encourage him to continue listening and working for you.
Also keep in mind that food is a form of affection and if you give a dog food when they are in a hyper dominant or fearful state of mind, you are reinforcing that behaviour.
If your dog goes into a hyper dominant state during the feeding process you must learn to correct this behaviour.
Especially if in the past you have just given them the food while they are out of control and demanding it.
This can lead to the mind frame of possession putting you, your family and other animals in your household at risk of getting bitten.
Thinking back to nature - After hunting and when they bring the food back to their pack, the alpha male and female will eat first, then the next in the ranks to the canines at the bottom of the hierarchy.
So who ever is in charge, is in control of the food and ALLOWS the pack members below them to eat.
This is opportunity to really enforce who is the alpha in your household.
Make sure that your dog is waiting patiently and not expecting you to serve them.
You do this by waiting until your dog is in a calm accepting state of mind.
They can only get there if you have exercised them properly and provided them with the proper structure in your home.
There are also a range of corrections that you can utilize at the proper time to help teach your dog to become in a more balanced, calm, accepting state of mind.
Education on how to properly teach and care from your dog starts with an open mind to learn dogspeak and to discover the amazing communication that you can share with them.
If you have any questions regarding your dog’s behaviour and would like to learn more about the techniques described in this article and how they can help you and your dog, please feel free to contact Sarah Pay, dog behaviourist and educator at sarahdoghelp@gmail.com.

Big dog, little education

2012-01-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

One of the most common misconceptions about dog ownership is that you need to have a big yard or live on an acreage to own a dog. This is not true because dogs do not benefit alone in an open space.

Horses and cows need open spaces to roam because they require large pastures to graze. A dog's nature is to be within a pack following the leader.

As a dog educator and a large dog owner it has been frustrating coming across rental properties that only allow small dogs into their facilities. It does not make sense.

A dog is a dog no matter what size they are. They all require minimum, an hour-long walk twice per day, rules and boundaries in the home and to be kenneled when left alone.

A large yard IS NOT the best living space for your dog. Whenever you put a dog outside unattended the first thing they will do is sniff the perimeter of the yard, a territorial instinct, and bark obnoxious at everything that moves outside the fence. Neighbors sure don't appreciate this.

It is hard to believe that people think that this is the only exercise their dog needs.

If this is the case. Please consider getting a cat instead of a dog.

Canines are physically designed for hunting, tracking and migrating. If you do not allow them to carry out these urges they will become very unbalanced and bad behavior will result. All of these activities can be channeled into the basic walk. If you do not walk your dog this would be like someone not allowing you to do the things you enjoy as a human being.

If you have an acreage or farm, this is another bad situation because left unattended outside with no boundaries, your dog is likely to get into trouble. They may wander, chase cattle, cars, wildlife all of these activities putting their life and safety in jeopardy.

Dogs are never to be left unattended because their strong instincts to survive will take over - which is perceived as bad behavior. People will often blame the dog which is completely unfair.

Before you get a dog it is essential to educate yourself in the art of Dogmanship and learn the nature of the animal you are taking on and learn how to communicate effectively with them.

It neither matters the size of the dog or your home. You could have a Great Dane or a German Sheppard in a downtown city apartment as long as you give the dog a proper walk twice a day and provide them with the structure they need in all aspects of their life - they can live anywhere.

A responsible dog owner understands that balance can only be reached in a canines world if all of the fundamental elements are in place. A large running space is not one of these.

If you have any questions regarding your dog’s behavior and would like to learn more about the techniques described in this article and how they can help you and your dog, feel free to contact Sarah Pay, dog behaviorist and educator at sarahdoghelp@gmail.com.

Small dog syndrome

2011-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

Whetherit is a Great Dane or a teacup Chihuahua, dogs all speak the same language.Working with hundreds of canines over the past few years, from experience, I cansay this with confidence.
I teach every client, no matter the breed of dog, Dogmanship – where they aretaught to interpret and learn to communicate with their dogs effectively.
Just like people, dogs come in all shapes and sizes. We teach our children totreat all people as equals no matter what they look like. Why are dogs anydifferent?
Many people dislike small dogs, much like my pipefitter friend and co-workerShawn Carter, and are under the impression that small dogs are geneticallypredisposed to this bad behavior.
“I don’t like them because they are yappy. They always jump up on your lap,”said Carter during a debate in which I argued that small dogs are no different thenlarge.
“This is true. But it is unfair to not like the dog, when their behavior is theowners fault,” I said.
“Yes, I don’t think it is right for girls to carry them around in purses andtreat them like babies,” he agreed.
Small dogs are perceived as small and weak and are often treated this way.
Never carry a dog around, no matter how small they are, because this fostersthe mindset that they own you.
They need to exercise and work for a leader the same way a large dog does, inorder for them to be content, calm and accepting of leadership.
If they have no opportunity to be a dog – they will be very unhappy.
Unpleasant behavioral issues, such as barking, aggression and destruction ofproperty, display this unhappiness.
Dogs need to learn to respect space and in the animal kingdom when a dog is inyour space they will often interpret this as ownership of the person carryingthem. You are also giving them a lot of affection and reward that they simplyhave not earned from you, and therefore they will not respect you either.
When other people try to interact with you, like loved ones, they will bemet with possessive aggression, which can be a problem especially with your family,and friends.
Large dogs can also become this way if allowed to.
Small dogs become yappy and territorial because they have no boundaries.
When they jump on people, the owner may not think it is a big deal. But if a150 lb Alaskan Malamute jumped on you, that would be a different story.
We see them as different sized dogs, but in the animal kingdom they are equal.
If you are experiencing undesirable behavior from your small dog, it is time tostart providing them with leadership!
It is high time small dogs got the reputation they deserve – as good, wellmannered and rewarding to have around.
A dog that is unstable and misbehaving is very stressful and not all peoplethink it is cute. If you have any questions regarding your dog’s behavior and would liketo learn more about the techniques described in this article and how they canhelp you and your dog, feel free to contact Sarah Pay, dog behaviorist andeducator at sarahdoghelp@gmail.com.

What your dog would love for Christmas!

2011-12-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

What yourdog needs and wants from you cannot be bought in a pet store so save your moneyon treats and toys.

Invest ineducating yourself and developing a very instinctual bond that is so rewardingthat words cannot describe the fulfillment you can experience.

As a dogbehaviorist, I work with many people that have fallen into the wide spreadculture that dogs are in our lives for entertainment purposes.

Some peopleare seeking companionship to fulfill an emotional hole left by loved ones.

Not fair toask of your dog, who is simply seeking leadership and needs to work for you.

When humansand canines (gray wolf) first teamed up 15,000 years ago, until the age ofmodern technology today, they worked towards a common goal – survival.

Dogs helpedpeople hunt and protect their families in exchange for food and shelter.

A verybasic expectation shared between them and over time dogs were domesticated tofulfill even more specific roles.

In modernday society our human ancestors would be quite astonished by how easy it is toprovide for our families. Technology has put dogs out of business and we nolonger need their services.

This hascreated unrealistic expectation and unfortunately not a very fair world for thedog.

Televisionand the media were invented and advertising companies discovered that humanbeings are quite entertained by animals portrayed as human beings.
Americans now spend $41billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64countries in the world, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer researchcompany based in Rockville, Md.
Animals are just likehuman beings– people believe that dogs are driven by emotions and higherthinking.

But this isfar from the truth. A dog simply wants to survive.

Survival inthe dog kingdom is working for the pack leader for reward.

Dogs have avery basic language that is not difficult to learn but the first step ischanging your perspective.

Dogmanshipis a way of life where you respect dogs for what they are and appreciate them.A skill set that people can learn to understand the nature and language toeliminate behavioral issues.

Evenbetter, educating yourself before bringing home a puppy or rescue, to make sureyour lifestyle is compatible to fulfill all of their needs.

Essentiallyyou are committing too, an unspoken contract that you will become theirleader in order for them to exist in a relaxed and accepting state of mind

You arepromising to provide the basic opportunity for them to migrate with their packdaily (walk), give basic and simple rules of what you expect in your home andrewarding their balanced state of mind with food.

If your dogis behaving badly it is a sign that you are not living up to this agreement.

If you have any questions regarding yourdog’s behavior and would like to learn more about the techniques described inthis article and how they can help you and your dog, feel free to contact SarahPay, dog behaviorist and educator at sarahdoghelp@gmail.com.

Peace and Harmony for Bernie and the Rankin family

2011-12-01T00:31:00.000-08:00

Tracy Rankin and Bernie.

Bernie the Barking Barbarian was a ruthless tyrant, taking orders from no one. Tracy and Dean Rankin didn’t know what to expect when they brought into their Fort Saskatchewan home this handsome 8 lb Chihuahua.

They soon discovered that even the tiniest of beings can cause a lot of problems, such as barking and peeing in the house.

Knocking on their front door I heard the little claws scrambling and frantic barking telling me to stay away.

This was typical of many homes I visit and it was time to teach the Rankin’s to take back their rightful position as the true owners of their household.

Tracy let me in and the first thing I did was completely ignore him and he immediately became quiet.

Dogs communicate predominantly through scent and he could tell that I was a more qualified leader by my confident and relaxed presence.

The number one thing to keep in mind, when working with dogs, is to be calm.

After removing my coat I continued to ignore the tiny fellow making small talk and amazement was shared by all that Bernie was quiet and listening.

Bernie was very insecure he was shaking. His eyes looked worried and afraid and he cowered when any pressure was put on him.

I did not give Bernie any sympathy - instead I gave him the option to feel relaxed, calm and safe by giving him quiet and direct leadership.

It is important to tell dogs what they need to do.

The key is to do it in their language.

Never allow your dog to do as they please and roam free in your home. This is how to eliminate barking and peeing.

I began giving Bernie instruction and asked him to work for me which took his mind off of his insecurities. (Trust me your dog will thank you for it.)

I taught all of these things to Bernie without looking at him, talking to or touching him. I spoke to him in dog language.

Dogs respond to a leader giving them direction with herding techniques and a follow-the-leader method. Body language is also very important.

After a brisk walk, migrating with his pack and a few new house rules in place, Bernie transformed.

He was no longer afraid, but content and relaxed. Listening very attentively and when someone knocked at the door he perked up with curiosity but he did not bark.

Bernie the Barbarian was no longer, he was the pleasant calming energy that most dogs should be and can be with the proper leadership.

How was it possible to cause such a drastic change for a dog in less than 3 hours?

Some people think it is magic, but it is no illusion or spell. I call it Dogmanship.

Every dog and person is different, but it is possible to achieve peace and harmony in your home.

In the Edmonton Journal

2009-12-29T10:06:00.001-08:00

Stony Plain woman targets canine-human relations

Sarah Pay's passion for pooches turns into a full-time career to help misbehaving pets

By Brent Wittmeier, Edmonton Journal December 29, 2009 7:19 AM

Sarah Pay with Winston, a four-month-old Boston Terrier Photograph by: Brent Wittmeier, edmontonjournal.com

Whenever a dog-food commercial flickers across her television screen, Sarah Pay sees dollar signs.
The Stony Plain dog behaviourist teaches her human clients the importance of boundaries as well as calm, assertive leadership over pets. Those aren't exactly the qualities celebrated in canine advertising, which capitalizes on human tendencies to treat dogs as fuzzy, cute babies or cuddly best friends.
"I think, 'Oh yea, more clients for me,' " laughs Pay, owner of The Dog House Rules, a Stony Plainbased home business specializing in canine-human relations. "If we approach it like that, we're going to have to deal with behavioural problems."
Dogs aren't little people in fur coats, says Pay, they're animals. Forgetting this basic distinction means unfair expectations and results in trouble. By the time clients give Pay a call, they are often on the verge of giving up on their misbehaving pets.
To correct these problems, Pay teaches what she calls "dogmanship." It's a relational approach to training which emphasizes a dog's role within a pack structure, the importance of body language, and above all else, exercise. For a fee of $120, Pay will visit a home for two to three hours, interpreting the signals dog owners inadvertently send to their pets. She then spends time alone with the dog to correct behaviours.
Pay developed her techniques by researching pack behaviour as popularized by trainers like Cesar Millan. His books and television show, Dog Whisperer, demonstrate how even the most aggressive dogs respond to structure.
"I can take a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, and they speak the same language," Pay says. "They communicate through body language and energy."
If an owner's vocabulary is chaotic, the dog will naturally respond by acting out. Pay says part of her job is to show her clients that pets who misbehave are often trying to assert control in a situation that lacks structure.
If owners then react in anger or with affection, dogs perceive that emotion as instability and their behaviour worsens.
The first step in gaining control is for people to ignore the dog and project confidence when entering the room. They must also keep the dog in check during walks.
Pay teaches her clients how to manage without resorting to intimidation, bribery, or even the tug of a leash. She shows them to show affection only after the dog is under control.
As the oldest of seven children, she fosters leadership in others, encouraging even the softest personalities to assert themselves with their pets.
"Everything a dog does is a dominance battle," Pay says. "Unwanted behaviour often stems from lack of leadership and lack of proper exercise."
Pay's hard-nosed tactics occasionally rub some people the wrong way. But her clients rarely argue when she returns for a complimentary followup and finds improvements in dog behaviour. She's gradually building her business by word of mouth.
Last spring, Spruce Grove resident Louise Baxter hired Pay to deal with Bella, a one-year-old Pomeranian-American Eskimo Dog-cross.

Previous owners had left Bella largely on her own, creating bad habits that took several sessions to overcome.
"We were having an alpha dog problem," Baxter says.
"Sarah had our out-of-control demon dog sitting at her feet within five minutes."
While Baxter is still working at remaining consistent with her little "Napoleon," friends who have their own dog troubles remark how far Bella has come.
"People are totally amazed at the change in her," Baxter says.
Since Pay mostly works with small dogs like Bella, she selected a diminutive pup as her latest canine companion.
Winston, her four-month-old Boston terrier, is a model of behaviour. Within four days of coming home, he was housebroken.
And while Boston Terriers are known for barking at strangers, when Winston ambles out of his kennel into a room, he calmly sniffs the feet of strangers as long as they ignore him and remain calm.
"Dogs mirror the energy in their environment." Pay says. "It's just a matter of looking at yourself and going from there."
That's a maxim Pay has internalized since starting her business last March. After being laid off as a sports reporter in Leduc, friends suggested the 25-year-old turn her passion for dogs into a full-time career. Working with dogs has helped Pay remain positive while starting a business in a sluggish economy.
"I honestly have to give credit to the dogs," says Pay, who still writes weekly advice columns for dog owners that appear in the Stony Plain and Spruce Grove newspapers.
"You've got to leave your troubles behind and live in the moment with the dog."
bwittmeier@thejournal.canwest.com

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