Here's the scoop. My rescued doberman Tazer has always had high prey drive. Yep. Lots of fun, but can be channeled positively also. One way I found to 'entertain' his overly active high energy was to use those small little pet 'laser flashlights' for him to chase and get into that 'zone' for fun. He absolutely loves chasing it. He would even randomly...

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I have a variety of dogs. I have sloth like Rupert, my Basset, who is a delight to live with. And then I have uninhibited Harry, who is powerful, fast and strong, and live with the motto “When in doubt, throttle out”. He is not delightful to live with. However, I am so grateful to have my Harry.

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One of the most exhausting parts of being a professional dog trainer - someone who feeds and clothes their children through their work with dogs - is the number of people who come out of the woodwork to call themselves dog trainers without doing the work to gain legitimate knowledge and experience.

Many of the clients who choose those inexperienced trainers will end up spending money again with someone like myself, who actually has been putting her blood, sweat, and tears...

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What, exactly, is certification and why does it matter?

The term “certification” has begun to appear frequently in various forms that impact the dog training profession. There are a variety of organizations that offer certifications to dog trainers, but what, exactly, does that mean?

The most important thing to remember is that not all certifications are created equal. The organization offering certification determines the criterion used to measure the ability of any given applicant. The value of the certification is reflected in the strength of the community in which it was developed.

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As dog trainers, we are usually approached by the folks that experience problems with their dogs. The dogs’ behavior has become disruptive to their lifestyle and has created a rift in their household (Husband/Wife dyads are the worst). They know they need to do something to restore harmony but are often confused as to what that might look like.

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Christmas is almost here! Have you decided what your family can give your furry friend as a seasonal gift?

Before addressing individual items that could bring a happy gleam to your pet’s eyes, let’s discuss basic safety around the Christmas tree and table:

Many dogs lose their housetraining when an evergreen tree suddenly appears in the home. What is the dog thinking, we ponder … the human has spent weeks, even months, teaching the pup to use the Great Outdoors as a bathroom facility, and here comes that very same human and brings into the living room – of all things! – an aromatic, living tree!

To avoid holiday confusion and stress on your dog, it is even more important to take your dog outside to toilet on a regular schedule, especially if you have friends and family visiting or you are busy with cooking and gift-wrapping. A stressed dog is more likely to have a tummy upset. Being aware of your dog’s need to go outside will enable you, too, to take short and relaxing breaks from seasonal activities.

When wrapping gifts please remember to leave all food-related items in a place inaccessible to your pet’s paws and teeth. This includes Aunt Agatha’s Fruitcake! In addition, ribbons, foil wrap, and sticky-tape are all dangerous items for your dog to chew upon or swallow. The Christmas tree should be firmly anchored to heavy furniture or walls so that it cannot be pulled over by an enthusiastic dog pulling on branches or ornaments. Using plastic ornaments sprayed with an unpleasant-tasting agent such as Bitter Apple (available at pet supply stores) on the lower branches will discourage your dog from using the tree as a chew item.

When cooking holiday goodies, please consider adhering closely to your dog’s regular diet. Items such as chocolate, onions, raisins, and macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. If you wish to reward your dog for good behavior around the Christmas tree, add a little lean turkey meat to your dog’s food dish or use some lean chopped ham as training treats! Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is lethal to dogs, so keep that in mind when doing holiday baking.

Animals are often lost during the holidays due to visitors opening doors without concern of escaping pets. To make sure your pets are free from harm, tape a note to the door to notify visitors of dogs in the home. Keep all animals (cats, too!) safely crated or contained behind locked doors. Bring your pets out one at a time on-leash so that you have control over your pet’s activities. Jumping up on Grandma or tripping up little Tommy will not foster the holiday spirit, and your dog or one of your visitors could be injured.

There are wonderful interactive toys you can let your pup joyfully unwrap on Christmas Eve. For example, consider the Kong Wobbler, or slow feeder bowls. Simply fill these with your dog's dry food, and let your furry friend do all the work! As your dog moves the toy around, pieces of kibble fall out and reward your dog for moving the toy ... your dog gets physical and mental exercise just by eating its meal!

If deciding on a chew bone, it is advisable to get one that is bigger than your dog's mouth can hold. This ensures that your dog will use its back teeth to chew and thus scrape its rear teeth clean. Real bones specifically for dogs are generally better tolerated than rawhides. Rawhides are hazardous because the swallowed chunks can expand within the dog's intestines and cause blockages.

Dressing your pet up in fun, fashionable clothes can have an unexpected benefit. When people meeting your pet say "Aw! How cute your dog looks!" Your dog will get effective socialization by having strangers be delighted to meet your pet. Be sure to check that the doggy duds are comfortable and do not restrict your dog’s breathing, sight, or movement.

The very best holiday gift you can give to your pet is your time. Training sessions of two to three minutes daily as a New Year’s resolution will reap years of benefit to your dog as well as to you and your family!

The change in language was long overdue to prevent the abuse of the right given to persons with a disability to be accompanied by their Service Dog. The increase of badly behaved animals from peacocks to ferrets have forced airlines to petition for this latest change. The ACAA ‘s definition of Service Animal as dog now matches the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The new regulations now eliminates Emotional Support Animals and categories them as pets.

The information below is from the Department of Transportation’s website.

https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-12/Service%20Animal%20Final%20Rule.pdf

This final rule defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

It allows airlines to recognize emotional support animals as pets, rather than service animals, and permits airlines to limit the number of service animals that one passenger can bring onboard an aircraft to two service animals. The final rule also allows airlines to require passengers with a disability traveling with a service animal to complete and submit to the airline a form, developed by DOT, attesting to the animal’s training and good behavior, and certifying the animal’s good health.

For flight segments of eight hours or more, the rule allows airlines to require passengers to complete and submit a DOT form attesting that the animal has the ability either not to relieve itself on a long flight or to relieve itself in a sanitary manner.

In addition, this final rule allows airlines to require a service animal user to provide these forms up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time. As an alternative, airlines may require a passenger with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal in the cabin to provide the forms at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel.

However, the final rule prohibits airlines from requiring that a passenger physically check-in at the airport solely on the basis that the individual is traveling with a service animal, thus ensuring that service animal users are not prevented from enjoying the same convenience-related benefits provided to other passengers, such as online and curbside check-in. Service animal users may use the online check-in process available to the general public.

This final rule also better ensures the safety of passengers and crew members by allowing carriers to require that service animals are harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered onboard an aircraft and includes requirements that would address the safe transport of large service animals in the aircraft cabin. Further, it specifies the circumstances under which the user of a service animal may be charged for damage caused by the service animal and addresses the responsibilities of code-share partners.

The statute requires airlines to provide accommodations that are reasonable given the realities and limitations of air service and the onboard environment of commercial airplanes. Animals on aircraft may pose a risk to the safety, health, and well-being of passengers and crew, and may disturb the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. Any requirement for the accommodation of passengers traveling with service animals onboard aircraft necessarily must be balanced against the health, safety, and mental and physical well-being of the other passengers and crew, and must not interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft.

Final Rule Summary

• Definition of Service Animal: A service animal is as a dog, regardless of breed or type that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
• Emotional Support Animals: Carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets.
• Treatment of Psychiatric Service Animals: Psychiatric service animals are treated the same as other service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform a task for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability.
• Species: Carriers are permitted to limit service animals to dogs.
• Health, Behavior and Training Form: Carriers are permitted to require passengers to remit a completed hardcopy or electronic version of the Department’s “U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form” as a condition of transportation. Relief Attestation Carriers are permitted to require individuals traveling with a service animal on flights eight hours or longer to remit a completed hardcopy or electronic version the Department’s “U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation” as a condition of transportation.
• Number of Service Animals per Passenger: Carriers are permitted to limit the number of service animals traveling with a single passenger with a disability to two service animals.
• Large Service Animals: Carriers are permitted to require a service animal to fit on their handler’s lap or within its handler’s foot space on the aircraft.
• Control of Service Animals: Carriers are permitted to require a service animal to be harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered in areas of the airport that they own, lease, or control, and on the aircraft.
• Service Animal Breed or Type: Carriers are prohibited from refusing to transport a service animal based solely on breed or generalized physical type, as distinct from an individualized assessment of the animal’s behavior and health.
• Check-In Requirements: Carriers are not permitted to require a passenger with a disability to physically check-in at the airport, rather than using the online check-in process, on the basis that the individual is traveling with a service animal. Airlines may require a passenger with a disability seeking to travel with a service animal to provide the service animal form(s) at the passenger’s departure gate on the date of travel.
• Advance Notice Requirements: Carriers may require individuals traveling with a service animal to provide a U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form and, if applicable, a U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation up to 48 hours in advance of the date of travel if the passenger’s reservation was made prior to that time.

Jeanne Hampl
© 2021

Jeanne Hampl is the Chairman of our Handlers with Disabilities Committee
Please visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Hampls-Dog-Obedience-141987085827318

Many of my students train their adult dogs, or dogs older than 6 months. Many had serious behavior issues, dogs out-of-control, or reactive or volatile dogs. I also have had many puppy students, who came to me with puppies that completed my Mannerly Puppy Course and went onward to become Graduates of my FOUNDATION Course, my Retrieve Course, and other courses. These students are a joy to work with, to train, and to help them shape their puppy into a great dog.

I always ask, “How did you choose that puppy?” The answers vary from, “It choose me,” to “It was the shy quiet one in the corner, “to “It was the last puppy left,” to “It was sooo cute! I liked the color of the puppy.”  But none of these reasons tell the new owner anything about how that puppy will react naturally. What if there is a better way to choose a puppy? There is a standardized test that will pinpoint and identify which puppy will have a natural aptitude for a specific purpose – a test that shows which puppy will fit into a family and their environment. This goal can be achieved by having a trained Evaluator test a litter for natural aptitudes and temperaments. I am a PATT (Puppy Aptitude Temperament Test) Evaluator and believe strongly in the results these tests provide.

When students or breeders hire me to test a specific litter of pups, I can help match the right puppy with the right owner.  Once I have tested those puppies, mind you I only handle them for 11-15 minutes, I am imprinted in that puppy’s mind, forever.  And THEN WHEN I AM THE TRAINER FOR THAT STUDENT AND THEIR PUPPY, ah, the joy for me as a Nationally Certified Obedience Instructor is substantial.  Why? Because I already know the strengths of that puppy, I know where it is lacking, and I know how to train that puppy to strengthen that gap.  I understand that puppy’s overall compatibility with people, I know that puppy’s stability, intelligence, and willingness to work for a person.  And that puppy remembers me, so as a trainer I have a unique advantage.

Personally, as a Nationally Certified Obedience Instructor, I will not purchase a puppy without first testing the litter and getting the puppy I need. I research breeders and pedigrees (part of my business is providing that service for my potential new puppy owners), so I know what I am looking for with genetics.  I usually end up educating the breeder on what I want to do and once the breeder has seen their litter tested, reviewed the videos and I does a debrief on what they are seeing, then the breeder supports Temperament Testing for their future litters.

I’ve had interested people inquire, “But what happens if you put down a deposit on a specific litter, go do the testing, and none of the puppies test well for your obedience business? What then?”

I tell them the truth, “Then, I walk away from that litter and leave my deposit.”

They look puzzled and often reply,” Really? You would walk away? The testing is THAT important?”

I smile and say, “It is THAT important. I base my business on my personal dogs working in my obedience classes with a variety of dogs. I must have balanced dogs that are stable in constantly shifting situations, including working near volatile, reactive, and sometimes dangerous dogs. And personally, I love the field work, so my dogs must also be able to work in the field.

I believe it is important to educate people to go beyond, “But I just want a dog!” to choosing the right breed, from a reputable breeder, and then getting that exact right puppy from a specific litter. Everyone always just wants ‘a great dog’.  These ‘great dogs’ can be found using a logical, standardized, test approach to choosing EXACTLY what is the best fit for your family and your lifestyle.

Genetics DO matter, that is the beginning of a good dog. BUT, when you marry good genetics together with known natural aptitudes and temperaments, that is the beginning of a terrific dog. And the final piece? Excellent training takes genetics plus + known aptitude and temperament to owning that ‘great dog.’ I am a professional dog trainer and have trained multitudes of dogs. But I have found it far, far easier to pick the right puppy based on temperament testing and then the training journey is so, so much easier.

The truth is people will LOVE any puppy that comes home. So why not invest choosing that right puppy as that puppy is a living creature which will be with you for more than ten years? Ten plus years is a long time to live with a dog that does not fit your family or lifestyle well. Or to live with the disappointment of a dog purchased for a specific purpose and to have that dog fail to perform well. The ultimate heartbreak is to purchase a dog and if it becomes unsuitable or unstable, it is given away or dumped into a shelter or in some cases, euthanized.

To me, life is far, Far, FAR easier with a dog chosen to suit its new home, to fit in with its owners and to be a joy to all that know it.

THAT dog is a ‘great dog’.

And that great dog begins with choosing the exact right puppy.

“Puppy, puppy, puppy, here puppy!”

 Let the testing begin.

What makes my classes unique?

1. At the first class meeting, “congratulate” the owners for enrolling in your class. This is the first step for owners in building a relationship with their dogs; trainers need to nourish that relationship with the owners/dogs they teach.
2. Learn the names of dogs as quickly as possible (in my case, I “meet and greet” each dog by name beginning on week 2, and throughout all subsequent classes). Owners like to hear their dog’s name.
3. Establish a protocol (routine) used at the beginning of each class that sets the stage for learning (e.g., warm-up exercise to get dog’s attention; “watch me;” “R & R,” repetition and review from previous week; equipment check, “doggie roll call,” etc.)
4. Say something positive to each owner about his/her dog at least once during each class period. Ideally, this should be positive feedback about an exercise; the reality is sometimes, ‘I like your dog’s expression,’ may be the best you can muster.  Remember this:  when you praise the dog, you are praising the owner, too!
5. Each owner has a different learning style preference (or combination of styles): auditory, visual, kinesthetic.  Use all three learning styles in every exercise you teach.
6. Maintain a calm, relaxed, controlled “energy” in your classes. This will rapidly spread to owners and dogs, setting the stage for learning.  And, know and respond when the energy in the room is becoming negative.  Smile!
7. Be open and always check for understanding. Embrace problem solving.  Invite owners to ask questions within your classes.  Oftentimes, an individual’s question is shared by other owners in the class.  If this gets to be too much, invite the owner to consult with you individually. 
8. Encourage owners to figure out their dog’s learning threshold. What is the absolute maximum number of repetitions your dog can handle before ‘folding?’  Each dog’s threshold number is different and once the threshold is determined, owners need to honor that number.
9. Teach owners to always end each exercise on a positive. As I often say in class, “finish on a good one.”
10. At the end of each class, praise your students AND “thank” them for coming.

Ellen Drewes-Stoen, NADOI #920, SPOT#7345, CGC 100059

Ellen spent 40 years as a college professor in education methods and student teacher supervision in the public schools, and is always excited to implement educational research into teaching dog classes. She is an Instructor at Good Dog Center in Decorah, Iowa.