Nervous, insecure, and anxious dogs are on the rise? What gives?
Since the lockdowns of the pandemic, our way of living with our dogs has changed so much so quickly, and with a change of lifestyle comes a huge change in behavior. Not only was their a change in lifestyle, but let’s face it, life really sucked for a brief period of time for most of us with a ridiculous amount of stress and pressure, whether it be from our change in life, or just the all around suckiness of the situation. With that being said, it is very common for humans to use their dog’s for an emotional crutch, but most pets aren’t able to cope with all of our stress, on top of all of their stress too. What changed, and what needs to change in order to get out of this mess? First off understand you own a dog, and they aren’t made of glass. They are capable of so much more than we give them credit for, and we hold our dog’s back from reaching their true potential. Instead of telling your dog it’s okay, show your dog what they are capable of. Often times insecurity is a result of the brain telling the body that they can’t achieve a certain goal, and if you lead your dog through these insecure moments you will open a whole new set of courage for your dog. However, if we coddle and remove our dogs from all stressful events, how will that ever give them the opportunity to grow. From going to work 48 hours a week, to staying at home almost the entire day, we immediately changed the dynamic of human/dog ownership. Here is the thing, as much as we like spending this extra time with your dog, you become a resource that your dog becomes addicted too. Addiction can mean one of two things, separation anxiety or resource guarding (making your dog mor protective of you). Good news, it gave us a lot of practice perfecting our training routine for these issues, but bad news for the average dog owner. We need to create healthy distance and boundaries with our dogs, no matter their age! Lastly, we need to focus on jobs. Most dogs that come to a training program are some sort of working breed, but they are all UNEMPLOYED working dogs haha. They don’t have a job, and aren’t fulfilled mentally or physically. Because of this, more problematic behaviors arise. This is something that we put a huge focus on at Say It Once Dog Training. Audit your own behaviors in the house, and take very close look at your dog’s behaviors as well. Whether you’ve never had us for a session, or you used us in the past, sign up today if you feel like you need help! There is no shame in hiring professional help, there is only better behaved dogs because we are not here to judge you, we are here to help you. For our amazing following over the world, if you need help, sign up for a virtual lesson today!
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What is the Dog Derby you ask? Let me Tell you!
The Dog Derby is an all day family-friendly event like no other in Pittsburgh! The Dog Derby itself is a 5k that you can walk or run with your best friends (the dogs) and your family! There will be exciting obstacles along the way for you to complete with your dog, and provide a fun challenge for your four legged best friend! We've all seen the tough mudder, this is the canine version of that! (But not as strenuous or stressful, and a heck of a lot more fun, we can call it the Pup Mudder!) Down below we have a video describing the event, as well as a FAQ Sheet to answer any and all Questions that you may have! Is the Derby just an amazing 5k event, or is there more? Great Question, and there is so much more! We have awesome pittsburgh vendors at the Dog Derby for you to enjoy. Food Trucks, Beer Trucks, Ice Cream, Donuts, as well as pittsburgh businesses offering up great deals under their pop up tents. It's the atmosphere you want to be in if you are a dog owner, dog lover, or fun seeker! Q: Do I have to run at the Dog Derby? A: Absolutely not! For the brave souls that would like to run with their dog throughout the obstacles, more power to you. However, I will be briskly walking my pack and I’ll have just as much fun as the runners! Q: Will there be dogs off-leash at this event? A: No. All dogs must be on leash. Q: How many people can come if we buy a one dog ticket? A: As many people can join in on the fun as you’d like with 1 ticket. We are selling tickets per dog, not per human, so we hope to see your whole family there! Q: Can I bring my dog, or my family without participating in the event? A: Of course, we would love you to come. The Derby itself is going to be one of the coolest things you’ll ever do with your dog, but if you’re not ready for it, you will still have a great time with your dog checking out local vendors, watching dogs and people complete, and enjoying the atmosphere! Q: Do I have to be a client of Say It Once Dog Training to come to this event? A: Nope, we are open for everyone. Every single dog owner can come to this event, as long as they come on leash of course! Q: Am I going to be extremely close to other dogs throughout the whole event? A: This is a great concern for many owners of mildly reactive dogs, nervous dogs, and for those who aren’t comfortable in close spaces with many dogs. That is the beauty of this location, there is so much space that you and your dog can take all the time in the world, and space that you need in order to complete the Derby and still feel comfortable and in control. Q: How many dogs are going per each heat? A: We will have small heats of only 20-29 dogs. This ensures that every dog will have enough space to safely complete this course. Q: Where are all the proceeds from this event going? A: Every single profit dollar will go to our new Say It Once Rescue League. The SIORL is a non profit that provides training to troubled and let down rescue dogs throughout the Pittsburgh Area, and beyond. Vinnie has also pledged to match up to $10,000 of all donations made prior to the Derby as well. You're training your dog, which means you're either trying to teach good habits, or unteach all the bad habits your dog has learned. When we get wrapped up into the daily lives with our dogs, it can be common to not acknowledge any achievements you have made for yourself and for your dog. The reason being is we set the goalpost at the hundred yard line and we started at the other end of the field on the goal line.
Dogs and humans alike love achieving tasks, and reaching goals. When you achieve a task, there is nothing better than checking that box off your list, or adding that new achievement to your repertoire. I want you to set a realistic one week goal for you and your dog, and write it down below. If you don’t write it, you won’t do it because there is no one to hold you accountable. In a week, let’s check back in with ourselves and see how we did. My goal with my pack is a simple one, and will only take a few hours to complete. The problem that I have, like most, is making sure that I set the designated time aside to achieve my goals, and I will because I have you all to keep me accountable. My goal this week is to get my dog’s around my horses and work on three separate commands with them. First place, and have my dogs hold place while I mess around with the horses and goats. Second heel, and test my dogs ability to heel while I walk the horse, something we have never done before. Lastly, their free command while the horses are out. Remember, even though we put our dog’s in “free”, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any rules. I need to make sure my dogs maintain a calm state of mind around the horse, and be respectful of space. Let’s hear yours below ⬇️ Feeding your dog should be more than just filling up their bowl in an identical fashion every day. Depending on what you’re training goals are, you can accomplish multiple goals in different fashions simply by adjusting the way you feed your dog. Let me explain to you what is possible by changing breakfast today.
Firstly, I am a huge advocate for scheduled meals versus free feeding. FF comes with a few big problems such as obesity, lacking motivation, and removes all ability for impulse control to be applied. There is also a health concern of bloat, we will talk about that later. If you do a scheduled breakfast and dinner, don’t go through the motions and put food in their dish and walk away. You’re wasting a very important opportunity for them to learn. At a minimum, I want you to practice having your dog stay on their dog bed throughout the preparation and placing down of the food. When you pick up their food scooper, they get excited, and that excitement is something they do not know how to control, because we have never practiced it. Let’s try Option 1 first. Put your dog on leash (so you have control) and put them on their dog bed. Whatever command you are using for stay (stay, wait, place etc) give it, and walk to go get their dog dish. Throughout the process of preparing and giving, if your dog breaks, stay calm and pick up their leash, and restart the process. While it may take 10 minutes on the first day, that’s okay! It gets quicker quickly. Release your dog verbally to eat. Option 2. When you have a dog who loves eating their food and gets excited around meal time, this can turn into an amazing training session. Instead of putting your dog’s food in the dish, put it in your pocket and go outside for a quick training session. Remember, your dog is hungry, and they know it’s feeding time, you are guaranteed to have their attention. Go outside and practice anything you want, preferably some eye contact, leash walking and following, and some recall games! By putting their food in your pocket or fanny pack, you have taken the power away from the dish and giving it to yourself. Option 3, Scatter game. This is one simple, and super rewarding. Take your dog’s dish full of food, and scatter the food in the grass in the front/backyard. If your yard is fenced in let them go, if not, use a long line and sit and hang out. Scavenging for food is more than just feeding them, it’s fulfilling a need to search and find food. Your last option is to use a feeding toy. There is multiple options for the “right toy”, all you have to do is find something that your dog enjoys, and use this as a mixup every now and again. This also makes for a great babysitter if you need 10 minutes. If you guys enjoyed this, or any of the content that we have up, please follow this link and vote for Say It Once Dog Training. Thank you! Go In The Room.
When it comes time, you need to walk calm into that room with your dog, and if you need someone to help come with you, call me. My entire life has been shaped by one single dog. He saved me, showed me how to love and gave me a purpose to my life. He was with me for every single one of my successes, and even more important he was with me for every single one of my failures, always right beside me. That is the way he went up to Heaven too, with me right by his side. Trigger was 10.5 yers old when his time came up, and I had to make the hardest and easiest decisions entire life in the same day. Trigger was old, and his body just couldn’t keep up, and I was not going to let him suffer out of my selfishness. Making the decision to put your old dog down is heartbreaking. Even when you know it’s time, when you know it’s the right thing to do, it tears your soul apart. When it came time for his final day, guess where he was? Right by my side, doing the things we love one last time. Trigger and I went for a car ride to visit my farm, and see my dad. The old bear couldn’t walk, but you bet your ass he tried jumping out of the car to see my dad and run on the farm. We got to hang out, peacefully. Remanence about the decade that I was so lucky to have spent with him, and then head to McDonalds. I had to go through the line twice, boy was all about those sausage patties. This time one thing was different. I’m older now, and while death still affects me the same, I waited to get emotional. He has been there for me, as a steady rock my entire life, I could do the same for him today. I wanted him to know that everything is okay, that dad is okay, and it’s a great day. When we finally arrived at the vet hospital, that’s when I got to make the easiest decision of my life. “Do you want to go in the room with him?” Your dog is there for you, every single day. On this day, be there for them. Hold their paw, kiss their cheek, and pat their heads. Go in the room with your dog, and be with them the same way you are on day 1. Dog’s are not just pets, and by God they never will be. Trigger was the greatest thing that has every happened to me, and I have so many lessons learned from our experiences that still resonate with me to this day. Training dogs for a living is one of the greatest jobs in the world, and offers more emotional fulfillment, challenges, and excitement than most jobs could ever dream. I believe that to my core. For someone to be lucky enough to have the skill, been taught the knowledge, and have the feel for training dogs (and that feel is something that you are born with) they need to count their lucky stars because it is a great gig. If you are a dog trainer, or thinking about getting into this industry, here are some things I would think about and reflect on below.
This job can get hard, and it is not for everyone. The first time a dog bites you, attempts to bites you, or bites someone in front of you, it’s a shock to the system. I think it’s important for everyone to see what a dog is capable of, and the power that these animals have. It will give you a great respect for how powerful they truly are. That being said, not everyone has to work with dog’s that are struggling with deep behavioral issues, and no where near everyone should. It’s an art, that takes a very long time to develop and nurture. In addition, all dogs do have the potential to bite, don’t ever forget that. The potential to get bit, and get seriously hurt is not the hardest part of this job, it’s not even close. For me, the hardest part is the emotional toll dog training can take on you. If you really care about your job, and about helping people and dogs, you pour your entire being into every single dog you see, every single day of the week. The amount of passion, and the amount of compassion that you need to have and put into your work can become at times overwhelming. This gets amplified because people love their dogs so much. Think about, that during the last recession the pet industry was one of the only industries that continued to grow, not fall. Our dogs, cats, and other pets are so much more than just a pet, they are a huge portion of our family. In some cases, they are the only family that people may have. Owners have such an emotional attachment to our pets, that sometimes what may be necessary, is clouded by what we feel. Sometimes being a dog trainer, also means being a great salesperson. You really have to sell and get the point across why what you are doing is necessary, and the importance it has to helping their dog’s life. I know some trainers who will simply tell it, and if owners don’t want to do it that’s on them. I get it, I understand it, especially because I’ve been in this game for a decade, but here is the thing. If you do a great job at selling what you know will help the owners dog, the dog’s life will improve! That is what keeps me going, and what is so damn important about this job, and why I try to be a wordsmith. Remember, the goal of our job is to improve the quality of life for the dog, improve the relationship of the dog and their human, and ease the stress for the human imposed by their dog. Simply telling a human to do this, do that, don’t do this, isn’t enough. They need to understand why, how, and what this will do, and the benefits of the work you want them to follow through with. There are such limited numbers of great dog trainers, and such large numbers for dogs that need trained, that it causes a very big demand issue. The last two years have exasperated this as well. I want to help everyone in the entire world, but there is only 24 hours in a day, and you aren’t Superman. While you will help thousands of people in your life, you are going to run into a few people in your life that demand help immediately. Remember, if no one takes care of you, you won’t be able to take care of others. Make sure you give yourself necessary breaks and time for you. Whether it’s hiking, lifting, or painting, find outlets for you to decompress. To add more into the mix, as a dog trainer you are going to find out that every other dog trainer on the planet hates you, and thinks you are a moron. Okay, that might be slightly exaggerated, but it’s a tough world. You are going to need a group of people to bounce ideas off of, discuss difficult cases, and add in new insights to your training program. I am blessed by being surrounded by a tremendous team, and without them I would fail. A quick shout out to my staff, Anthony, Michelle, Rachel, Erin, Travis, Donna, Bree, Josh, Jake, Cassidy, Emma, R2, and Joyce for being a part of the best training team on the planet. Also, Jenilee, Jenny, Andy, and Megan for everything that you all do too. I continue to appreciate and respect how amazing you all are at the work you do. I would also urge you to connect with dog trainers who may not do everything the same as you. It will give you inspiration and creativity, as well as new tools in your toolbox. Another large issue that you also run into when training dogs is, believe it or not, owners don’t let you steal their dog when you think they are cute. It’s extremely rude. Dog trainers, and future dog trainers, continue to help people help dogs. Continue to educate and be educated. Continue to love what you do. Sincerely, Vinnie Owner - Say It Once Dog Training Happy Easter!
With family visiting, or with you leaving town to visit family, your dog will pick up on the added stress and act accordingly. A few tips that will come in handy during this Easter weekend. If you plan on having family over, set your dog up for success. Make it easier on yourself and take a 30 minute walk the morning that your family is due to arrive. Remember, the goal of this walk is for your dog to check in with you, to focus and engage with you. Walk with a purpose, don’t let your dog walk aimlessly or they will carry that same mentality into the house. After your walk, give your dog a good 10-15 minute play session, but make it rigorous. You want to end with their tongue out and panting! When you are wrapping up your play, put your dog into the “place command” which will give them time to cool down and chill out. During this time, keep your leash on, which I highly recommend that you keep on during the days activities. When your guests arrive, reiterate to them that your dog is in training, and it would be best if no one talked or pet them for the first while. This will give your dog a chance to sniff them, and stay relatively calm. If you have a jumper keep that leash in your hand. Remember, a dropped leash is off-leash! You also want to remember that it’s one hundred percent okay to put your dog in the crate if they, you, or your guests are going to be overwhelmed. Meet your dog’s needs in the morning, and allow yourself to take a break from training your dog. Have the crate in an upstairs bedroom so you are not to disturb your dog, and even have a TV on in that room if necessary. I hope you have the best Easter weekend, and get to spend quality time with your family. Give your dog some extra play and love during this time, but don’t forget to follow all the rules 😜 Have you had that dog that changed your life? Don’t get me wrong, I love each and everyone of my dogs, but there is something about that special one that can connect with you on a level that no one can understand. My 10 1/2 year-old mastiff trigger, he’s that one. Tell me about your dog that was “the one”, because I want tell you about this amazing dog, Trigger, too. I hope this story can resonate with you, and show how and why I got into dog training, and how the bond between man and dog can be so important.
When I was 18 I moved out to Chicago to follow my dreams of playing hockey. I was actually a pretty good athlete back in the day (when I used to be in shape believe it or not) and I thought that was my life path. College athletics, and who knows after that. Unfortunately at the time, God had a different plan. I suffered some pretty bad brain injuries when I was in Chicago that ended any chance of playing hockey again, and suffered severe symptoms for a few years. These symptoms led me down a terrible path of crippling anxiety, binge eating, depression, 22 different prescription medications, and a very lost kid. After a year, and trying everything under the sun, my parents thought it would be helpful we got a puppy, with the stipulation that I learn how to train dog’s from my Uncle Andy, who trained dog’s earlier in his life. It took me all one day to become fascinated with the world of dog training, I was hooked. I would have daily, hour long conversations with my Uncle, (still do to this day) and watch my idol at the time Cesar Milan about 5 hours a day. After doing my homework on what breed I felt would be best, having a mentor to guide me, and ready to fully commit to a puppy, I picked up my boy Trigger. This saved my fucking life. You want to know what happens when you give a human purpose? The same thing that happens when you give a dog a purpose. They thrive, they become more confident, less stressed, and that 19 year old boy started to smile again, started to make jokes again, started to enjoy life again, all because of the love of his dog. I hate writing about him sometimes, because every time I do I cry my eyes out, and now this is embarrassing because I’m crying on a plane to Miami. Trigger taught me so much about life, giving 2nd chances, what it means to truly love someone, the importance of patience and calm teaching, I could go on for weeks. What he really taught me, is that a dog is so much more than a dog. Trigger has been with me every step of my life, and watching him grow old has been an absolutely blessing. He’s the coolest old dog in the world, (I can’t stop crying again Jesus). That is what I mean when I say “the one”. A connection that cannot be explained, cannot be understood by those who have never experienced it. I’m so blessed in this life, and thankful for Trigger and everything he has helped me achieve. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you baby boy. Tell me about the dog that changed your life. Side note: If you ever get the chance to catch my videos from 10 years ago of me training Trigger on my facebook page, you should watch them. When you hear the word socialization, the first thought that comes up in peoples head is dogs playing together. Because there is such a huge weight of importance placed on socialization, it’s common for the average dog owner to take their dog to play with as many dogs as possible. Whether that means taking our dog to the dog park, or over socializing our dogs with other dogs on the leash during the walk. This is something we need to chang our mindset on, and I’ll explain why. When you take your dog on a walk and allow them to greet all of their dog friends on leash, we make two mistakes. First, we give all of the excitement and we allocate it to other dogs on the walk, instead of allowing ourselves to be the distributor of excitement. If you want your dog to focus on you more, don’t allow competing motivators to interact with your dog during the walk. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have doggy friends, this just means that the more dogs that you allow your pup to meet during your walk, the less attention your dog will pay to you. One step further, the moment that you try to hold your dog back from greeting other dogs during the walk, is the moment that they get frustrated. The more frustration youre dog has because they are not allowed to greet another dog (especially now that they believe they should be able to) is where most friendly dogs turn reactive. Their excitement turns frustration, which gets taken out in barking, whining, and eventually lunging. Remember, you want your dog to see you as the greatest thing on the planet, especially at a time when you take them on a walk. Don’t give that power away. The other scenario we think about when we hear the word socialization is taking our dog to the dog park, which quite frankly it’s just a mistake waiting to happen. I wish I could tell you the number of times I work with an insecure or nervous dog, that had one single traumatic incident happen at the dog park that set their dog in a downward spiral of behavior. It only takes one bad incident to mess with our dogs psyche. The hardest part about the dog park, it’s not only that people dot not pay attention to their own dogs, nor do they correct them for mistakes they may be making, but it’s like a box of chocolates. You really never know what you’re going to get. You put your dog in with a group of dogs with all different energies, play style, comfort level, and the dynamic of the pack of dogs can influence your dog in a negative fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I love allowing my dogs to play together, as well as playing with friends dogs that they know really well. But that’s the difference, they know each other so well, and they’re so comfortable together that they can read each other tremendously well. In these smaller group play sessions, I can also stop it at the drop of a hat if I feel like the play is escalating to a level I would deem too much. The issue is, once again, if all I do is allow my dog to play with other dogs, and I never teach them to just exist in a neutral way with dogs/people/different environments, they will always be overexcited around those specific triggers. Your ultimate goal should be to socialize your dog with the intention of teaching neutrality, teaching calmness, and putting your dog In a position where they would rather be with you, than those specific triggers. For me, I see socialization as a way of taking my dog to a local café, sitting outside with him while I drinking a coffee, and allowing my dog to lay down next to me and watch the world go by. It doesn’t matter if people are rushing to their table, or if other dogs come in or out of the café. I want my dog to be completely comfortable hanging out. If you can get your dog to do that, you’re going to go extremely far. That is the entire point of our group classes. When you bring 30 dogs together, and you work them on specific drills on how to get close to one another, walk away from one another, and turn and walk right back towards each other, it will teach your dog that just because we see other dogs on our walk, does not mean that we have to play with them, lunge at them, bark at them. The point of class is to teach a neutral setting. If you have friends that have dogs, You can re-create the same atmosphere by going on a walk with each other, and trying to capture as much of your dogs attention as you can, What the end goal to go sit at a picnic bench and have a conversation with our dogs in a down. Existing, calmly and content. That is happiness.
Our Group Classes run all year long, and as long as you have had an initial session, you are welcome to sign up and bring your dog. They are a great way to “socialize”, as well as to keep you honest and test your skills. For your dogs benefit, I hope to see you soon! A Christmas Puppy: Thoughts by a Dog Trainer
Here are some things to think about.
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Vinnie SommaI Train dogs well. Spelling is questionable Archives
July 2022
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