FOR LOVE OF DOGS

This is not about training, bullying, managing, frightening, tricking or clicking your animal into doing things. It is about teaching you're animal friends the jobs they are expected to do in your household to have a harmonious life with you.

It's not about whispering it IS about having actual conversations with your animals. Instead of Karen's way or, Patricia's way or Cesar's way how about your own way???

Instead of confusing or frustrating your animals with Gestapo "Do it now!!", methods how about just enlisting their cooperation?? Now there's a concept. Dogs, especially, are one of the most cooperative species on earth; cooperate with the pack or perish. Yet we rarely tap into this innate desire. Most of us hate being bullied, pushed, forced or coerced to do things (especially if we are not told why) yet we treat our animals scandalously in these very same respects. I'm not talking about discipline here, animals love discipline. It makes them feel safe. Discipline is; if you do as I ask And incidentally, I will completely explain everything to you ahead of time, chances for good things in return are a given. I promise I will not push you past what you think you can do. But if you do not wish to do as I ask, then there will be no reward for your actions or lack of cooperation. And the possible consequences may be known to you or they may not. It may be that if you do not wish to cooperate with me I will stop working with you and work with someone else. And that someone will get your treats and accolades and rewards. So there is a huge difference between being asked to do a thing you do understand with certain benefits and consequences if you don't: And being forced or coerced through fear, confusion, bribery or worse still, physical punishment, to do a thing you may or may not understand. You don't have to be a guru or a monk to have a fabulous relationship with your animal friends.

There are a few things to keep in mind while working with your animal. One is to watch the animal very closely. Animals can perceive motion much faster that we and they work quickly and subtly. Animals who are uncomfortable with making mistakes will sometimes offer a motion in the sparest fashion possible. So initially when you are explaining an exercise, say for instance, "Can you please show me your right foot", they may just barely brush your hand with the expected foot to see if that's what you meant them to do. Because animals are subtle, they try not to treat you like an idiot by exaggerating their movements. This would be like someone speaking to another person who does not understand their language? Then inadvertently insulting the person to whom they are speaking by yelling as if that will solve the problem. It is not that the person who does not understand can't HEAR they just DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

But as animals become more confident with the cooperative communication you have established they will work quickly and cleanly and pick up new information at lightening speed.

EDUCATIONAL AND BENEFITS OVERVIEW
For Love of Dogs offers a comprehensive education and benefits plan designed to meet the needs of all our Canine and Human Students:

A simple yet powerful way to communicate with your dog
Immediate Results
Owners Who Are Prepared To Handle Any Circumstance
Dogs Who Understand What Is Expected of them
A Well Mannered Child Safe Dog
Ongoing Year Round Classes
24 Hour Phone Support
Cheerful, Clean Facilities
Nutritional, Grooming and Veterinary Common Sense
Behavior Management Through SATS
A Safe Learning Environment for Deaf and Blind Dogs
A Lifetime of Living in Harmony with Your Best Friend
Peace of Mind

DEAF DOG CLASSES
Our deaf dog classes deal with unilaterally and profoundly deaf dogs. We use the SATS method to teach responses to American Sign Language. We discuss the problems related to having a "challenged" canine companion and how to deal with these. We also teach a failsafe recall with the implementation of SATS and a vibrating collar. We cover diet, exercise, veterinary health, first aid, grooming, bite proofing and socialization as well as basic obedience. Our classes are small, only 5 dogs per 8 class session so they are personal and highly effective. If you would like more information please contact us at www.ForLoveofDogs.PK <http://www.ForLoveofDogs.PK>

BLIND DOG CLASSES
Our classes for partially or profoundly blind dogs use the SATS method to teach responses directional language. We discuss the problems related to having a "challenged" canine companion and how to deal with these while still providing your canine friend with a myriad of tools to help them live an interesting and enriched life with you and your family. We also cover diet, exercise, veterinary health, first aid, grooming, bite proofing and socialization as well as basic obedience. Our classes are small, only 5 dogs per 8 class session so they are personal and highly effective.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & ADULT DOG CLASSES
Our middle school and adult dog classes cover the "whole" dog. You will learn about the life stages of your developing dog. You will learn how he thinks and what he is and is not capable of doing. With this knowledge you will learn to reshape undesirable, canine conduct into pleasant, social behaviors. You will also learn about diet, exercise, veterinary health, grooming, bite proofing and socialization as well as basic obedience. Our classes are small, only 5 dogs per 8 class session so they are personal and highly effective.

PUPPY CLASSES
Our puppy classes cover the "whole" dog. You will learn how your puppy thinks and why she does the things she does. You will learn what your puppy is and is not capable of doing and this knowledge will help you shape the behaviors of a well mannered dog. We also cover diet, exercise, veterinary health, first aid, grooming, bite proofing, and socialization as well as basic obedience. Our classes are small, no more that 5 dogs per 8 class session so they are personal and highly effective. Classes are ongoing and year round.

IN HOME CLASSES
For "In Home Consultations", private classes, aggressive dog problems, other questions or if you are considering sending your best friend to Camp Jack Russell, please contact us via email or by Phone 262-248-0620.

Fostering Good Bite Inhibition in Your Puppy
Anyone who has had the, privilege of watching their dog stalk, pounce upon and grab some hapless bug in their mouth; chew furiously throwing their head around, only to spit it out a minute or two later a bit slobbery but none the worse for wear; has been privy to the awesome power and dexterity of a dog's mouth. Puppies experience the world through mouths. They must learn to inhibit and control their mouths. To deny a pup the use of his mouth is like denying a baby the use of his hands.

So how do pups learn this skill? Simple, when playing with their littermates, if a pup bites too hard, their littermate shrieks or yelps and THE GAME IS OVER! So a pup learns to control his bite or ends up alone. No fun.

Unfortunately, just about the time they are honing this skill they are taken from their litters and placed with us. So how do we teach them to be confident yet gentle with their mouths? Simple; when playing with your pup don't play roughly with your hands. There is a fine line where your
strength in play goes from fun to frightening. Your pup goes into frenzy and play ends in a misunderstanding. When your pup gets a little rough you should YELP for all you're worth,
get up abruptly and walk away. Be calm and do not interact with your pup for about a minute or so to give him time to process the lesson then try again. If he is gentle you may teach him a cue such as "gentle" or "easy", etc. while gently praising him. If he grabs your clothes give him a decisive "no" to stop the behavior and then say something like "That's grabbing my pants and I don't like that. Where's your toy? Let's find your toy and you can grab and tug on that!"
Then find a toy or chewie for him to mouth. Tug of war is a great game as long as you win in a balanced way and you don't let it escalate into frenzied fervor. When the game is over, trade a little piece of meat for the toy and give a request such as "leave it, please" etc. After s/he has surrendered the toy, toss it back to him/her and walk away. This elevates you as a leader and insures your pup's esteem.

If you snap or pop or strike your pup on the muzzle or nose and say "no bite", s/he doesn't learn to be gentle; s/he just learns that you are untrustworthy and possibly dangerous in play. I wish I had a dollar for every adult dog who finally took a snap at that finger out of frustration and confusion over the meaning. Just because your pup stops does not mean s/he "gets it". Does this excuse the bite? No. Does this explain the bite? Yes.

A dog's passion for living can be profoundly contagious. And lighting the mind and spirit of youngsters enriches both the guides and their charges. It is perhaps one of the best definitions of love." Hastings/Rouse