Dr. Ian Dunbar's Training Tips

Morris K9 Campus was proud to welcome Dr. Ian Dunbar, celebrated Veterinarian, Animal Behaviorist and Author, to our facility on June 15 and 16. Dr. Ian Dunbar’s workshop and Q&A were fun for both dogs and humans alike. Not only was the event enjoyable, it was also very educational. Dr. Dunbar discussed some crucial information about training your dog. Training is meant to be fun for both of you. It not only can strengthen the bond between dog and owner, it also can be beneficial for your dog to know commands for everyday situations.

One of the major points that Dr. Dunbar mentioned was, “it is okay to give your dogs treats, but you can’t have your dog’s behavior contingent on you having food in your hand.” Essentially, you want your dog to listen to your command the second you tell them to do something, regardless of whether or not you have a treat in your hand. Keep in mind that in order to get to that point in your dogs training, you will need to do a lot of training using treats first. You cannot expect your dog to do exactly what you want without them during your very first training session. 

Another point that Dr. Dunbar made was about dogs that do not eat food when they are being trained. If your dog has issues eating during training and doesn’t seem to be very treat motivated, there are things that you can do in order to get your pooch to eat. Dr. Dunbar’s first advice is to no longer let your dog eat out of a bowl; instead, every time they eat, they should eat out of your hand. He also recommended that you stop using high value treats, such as chicken, and only use kibble when working on training with your dog. If you only train your dog using kibble, the kibble will become a driving force for your dog and commands won’t be reliant on having a high value treat in your hand.  

Training should be fun and beneficial for you and your dog. When done correctly, it can help you in any situation. Training takes time and practice. If you are consistent and work hard, you and your pooch will both see the benefits. For training assistance at your pace, sign up for one of our Levels Training Orientation classes to learn more about how Morris K9 Campus can help you and your pet put Dr. Dunbar's training tips into action. Our training methods follow Dr. Dunbar's philosophies, and we agree, training should be fun! Call us at 973-212-5100 today!

Happy Dog or Stressed Dog: Do You Know the Difference?

It’s no secret that dogs don’t speak English. So how do we communicate with our pets? Understanding your dog’s body language is key to a good pet-owner relationship. Reading the signals that your dog gives off is important to determine what they are trying to tell you, whether it’s that they are happy, stressed or annoyed.

Dog signals can be complex, but they can be generally broken down into a few categories; “enjoyment,” “stress” and “enough already.” If your dog is exhibiting 3 or 4 behaviors from a category, chances are they are feeling that specific way. Analyzing your dog’s behavior can help you determine whether or not your dog is enjoying a situation or should be removed from it.

German Shorthaired Pointer Jezzabelle is displaying happy &
enjoyment features, including soft eyes and relaxed mouth.

Enjoyment

Your dog is having fun and seems comfortable with the situation.

• Soft eyes 
• Relaxed mouth
• Side to side movement (wiggle)
• Loose body posture  
• Engaging

Stress

Slow down, your dog is uncomfortable with something. Be prepared to remove them from the situation.

•   Lip licking 
• Yawning 
•  Ear Flick   
• Shaking off 
• Blinking  
• Avoidance
• Panting

Border Collie Gabriel is shown here displaying stress signals. 

Which signals can you pick out?

Enough already

Your dog has had enough. Stop the interaction and remove the dog or give them space.

• Freeze  
• Whale eyes or half moon eyes
• Ears pulled back 
• Trembling  
• Drooling    
• Teeth Flash  
•  Lunge  
• Pacing
• Tail Tuck

Dogs speak with their bodies, and it’s the owner’s job to interpret that language accordingly. Remember that if your dog is showing 3 or 4 signals from a given stress level, chances are that is how they are currently feeling. Also keep in mind that all dogs will display different signals, so look out for a broad range; one dog might lip lick when they are stressed and another might shake off.

Once you begin to understand what different dog body signals mean, you will be able to comprehend what your dog is trying to tell you. It is your job to step in and speak up for your dog by responding in the appropriate way.