How Not To Greet A Dog - Dog training in Milton, ON

I have found, for the most part, a good number of children will ask before petting a dog. I credit the parents for this and give them a gold star. Not all dogs are friendly, and not all dogs want to be mauled and handled by strangers and every parent should warn their child of this. Even the most friendly of dogs will not feel comfortable when over whelmed by a "friendly" child, so it is best to ask for permission before introduction.

Once past the permission step is where I see a lot people fail in their attempt at making friends with a dog, and I'm not just talking about children. For what ever reason, adults and children alike, feel the need to get "into the face" of a dog, especially smaller dogs because of the cute factor. This is absolutely the most dangerous position you can put yourself in when greeting a strange dog. The face houses the mouth, and a dogs mouth holds, well, a mouth full of teeth, if the dog is uncomfortable, those teeth can be used to let someone know how the dog is feeling.

Face to face greetings are rude, not only in the dog world, but in the human world as well. Think about how uncomfortable you feel when someone invades your personal space. Then imagine someone you don't know, running up to you, sticking their nose right against yours without your permission, out in public, telling you how adorable you are and not to worry, they are good with people. My guess is that your first reaction would be a bit of a startle reflex and then possibly some hostility. Remember, this is a stranger whom you've never met that's invading your personal space. At the least, you'll feel uncomfortable, at the most, you'll lash out. And this is exactly how dogs feel when their space is invaded, but their lash out won't be a fist, rather a bite.

Hugs and kisses are also dangeous things when it comes to strange dogs, as is overwhleming rough housing, over stimulating petting, chasing and picking up. All of these things can cause the dog to become anxious, which can trigger a bite.

The best way to approach a dog is to first ask the owner for permission, I don't care if you are an adult or a child, ask if the dog is friendly, and then relax, don't invade space, let them come to you if they want to greet. A sniff of the hand, a small strach on the chest, and if they are little, get down on their level so as not to be intimidating or overwhelming. Don't force it, and never chase a dog who doesn't want to be petted. Keep an eye out for a dog stiffening up, or otherwise showing body language that means they are anxious. Keep the greeting short, calm and non-threatening, then move along.

So think before you pet, and don't invade personal space if the dog is uncomfortable, even if the owner says they are friendly. And NEVER EVER put your face into the face of a strange dog.

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Dog Training Classes in Milton & Kitchener

There is a few spots left in our upcoming classes:

Smart Dogs Basic - Friday September 7th 7-8pm - 1 Spot left

Smart Dogs Basic - Sunday September 9th 10-11am - 4 Spots left

Next Bootcamp Session September TBA - 5 Spots left

We also have 3 spots left in our upcoming Fun Agility Class in Kitchener (Breslau) at Beast Master Farms. A great intro to the sport - get connected with your dog and have fun!! Introduction to agility in a positive environment with safety first. Learn basic handling skills, equipment and how to connect with your dog. Only 45 minutes from Milton!

Contact us if you are interested in signing up at dogtraining101@hotmail.com.

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State of (an owners) Mind. Dog Training in Milton Ontario

State of mind plays a large role in the behaviours of our house-hold canine companions. It can be said that dogs are a mirror to our inner emotions, and this is something that needs to be kept in mind when dealing with behavioural issues.

A nervous and apprehensive dog will have a much harder time changing his or her behaviour, even with training, if the owner is also nervous and apprehensive when handling the dog. Emotion and state of mind travel down the leash causing certain inappropriate or unwanted behaviours to escalate.

For example, if a dog is leash reactive and the owner is nervous or tense handling the dog on leash around what ever the dog is reactive to (ie. other dogs, kids etc.), the dog is likely to keep reacting negatively, regardless of training involved, unless the owner is willing to change or work on their own state of mind.

Easier said than done, right? Yes, it is. It often times means changing the whole demenour of an owner when they are handling and interacting with their dog. Using a positive, "I know I can" state of mind when dealing with behavioural issues is the best course of action to take by the owner. But to erase all those thoughts of "but when she sees fluffy white dogs, she'll go crazy", or the anticipation of the negative reaction is not easy. However, if it can be accomplished, along side proper training, it will garner a positive change and result for both owner and dog.

Can trainers read minds? No, but we can certainly read how you feel when you're holding the other end of your dogs leash.

If you have any questions about how to go about dealing with behaviour issues, and possibly changing the way you interact with your dog, feel free to email us at dogtraining101@hotmail.com.

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Vote for Us!! Smart Dogs Canine Training

We've been nominated again! Thanks to all of our clients, family and friends who support us.
Vote for Smart Dogs Canine Training as your favorite dog trainer in the Reader's Choice Awards from the link below.

http://survey.metroland.com/TakeSurvey.aspx?PageNumber=1&SurveyID=94KK65l

Thanks for your support Milton!!

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Dog Obedience Classes in Milton Ontario

We have the following group classes starting in Aug/Sept 2012 in Milton:

Smart Dogs Basics Sunday Morning - ages 5 months plus
teach your dog to sit, down, stand, stay, come and walk nice on leash - learn in the real world that makes training relevant to you and your dog

10:00am-11:00pm Milton

Starting September 2nd - Cost - $180.00

Smart Dogs Basics Friday Evenings - ages 5 months plus
teach your dog to sit, down, stand, stay, come and walk nice on leash - learn in the real world that makes training relevant to you and your dog

7:00-8:00pm Milton

Starting August 31st - Cost - $180.00

Smart Dogs Bootcamp Saturday Mornings - ages 7 months plus

enhance your dogs obedience under heavier distraction and gain more control, some "off leash" work by the end of class (must have a minimum of sit, down, stay and come - this is our next level after Basics). Emphasis on recalls, attention, stays and walking. Different location each week.

10:00-11:00am Milton (Outdoor)

Starting September 1st - Cost - $180.00

Please note, our classes do run on a per interest basis. If you are interested in signing up, please feel free to contact us any time at dogtraining101@hotmail.com.

As always, we offer private training that can start any time and fits your schedule. Puppy classes are now only offered in private sessions in order to benefit your pup the most. We occasionally have open puppy group seminars for socialization with people and dogs, as well as gaining pertinent information on how to raise/train your new pup.

Check out the website for full details on all of our classes and private training:

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Why Balanced Dog Training? Dog Trainer in Milton and Burlington

There are many different methods from many different dog trainers in this world and many conflicting ideas of what is best for our canine companions when it comes to training. Everything from purely positive to complusion only training, and the mix left inbetween.

As a general rule, dogs will respond differently to different people, to different objects, to different training methods, in different situations. Dogs are not robots, dogs are not pre-programed and dogs are not idiots.

It is best not to be close minded about training our dogs, as it reduces training to a "this or nothing" type of approach that, in training, and life in general, is not ideal.

Balanced training offers the best of both worlds - positive motivation paired with corrective training, that usually garners the most reliable results.

I've included a few links below for those interested in looking deeper into the world of balanced training, why it works, and why we shouldn't be close minded to our dogs intellectual needs.

Plan B - Kill the Dog - by Roger Hild

Calm and Assertive Clicker Training - by Terrierman - Patrick Burns

A Silent Killer - by Tyler Muto

Real Training vs Operant Conditioning - by Roger Hild

Most people live real lives, with jobs, children, households and other activities to take care of. They don't have the time to spend 40 hours a week conterconditioning their dog to garner the results of postive only training, nor do they want to punish their dogs into oblivian with complusion only training. A balance is needed in order to get results that are more reliable and speedier than either of the above mentioned methods.

Life carries with it both positive and negative consequences. Consequences teach us rights and wrongs, we learn from consequences daily and they will drive us to change our behaviour the next time around. Shouldn't we allow our dogs to learn at their full potential, in a natural way that has been working for millions of years?

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Motivators and Training - Dog Trainer in Burlington and Milton

There are a number of different motivators that we can use when training our dogs. Motivators are the driving force that makes the dog want to work for us. In sport dog training, a dog with high drive for food, play or prey, makes treats, toys and tugs excellent motivators for performance. These motivators tend to keep these dogs "in drive" meaning that you are going to get a quick, intense, upbeat, flashy performance utilizing these tools. Corrections, voice, touch, play and social interaction are also motivators, but on a bit of a different level. Pairing different motivators together is what gives us reliable results both in the performance arena, at home, or where ever you and your dog may be.

Sometimes though, the motivator is too much for the dog to handle, and you're left with a sloppy, excited mess at the end of the leash. And it is not just the use of food that entices this intense behaviour. There are many dogs who are extremely motivated by touch and social interaction, that fall apart completely when their owners give them a rousing "good boy!!! oh such a good boy!!!". Timing and self control also become an issue when the motivator is so highly coveted that the dog becomes giddy thinking about it.

The key to utilizing the motivator is feel out the intensity used by the owner to deliver that reward, be it treats, praise, tugs etc. It is also our job as trainers to determine what works best for each individual dog. If you have a dog that is nuts for balls, but will work for a treat reward or praise, use the treat or voice instead of the ball to tone down the energy level until the dog has built up enough self control to work for the toy that drives them to the edge.

Self control is a whole topic unto it's own, but it is something that is extremely important for dogs to learn, and until your dog learns self control, don't use over-the-top rewards or techniques that cause the dog to "loose their mind". If you get to that point with your dog, he or she is no longer learning because they are so ensconced with the reward that nothing else really matters.

There is also another side to the motivators that causes dogs to lack drive, lack interest and lack the joy of wanting to work for their owners. Usually this comes with the sole use of punishment based training, the incorrect use of voice/petting for reward when training (too much or too little) or the incorrect steps to wean the dog off of the food/toy lure. All of these can reduce the performance in your dog and create unreliable, lackluster results.

Do we really need motivators that put the dog in "drive" for pet dog training? The average dog owner doesn't need a flashy, high energy performance when asking their dog for a down stay on the front lawn. They don't need the dog "in drive" to perform basic obedience commands at home. They don't need to have a dog that displays controlled insanity when asked to sit. They don't want to have to try and control the energy level that comes with certain motivators. Most owners just want reliability, without the intense energy level that can be brought on by certain motivators. This is where we need to take another look at the motivator currently being used and adjust strategies accordingly if your dogs drive for the reward it too high.


Pairing motivators such as treats, voice and corrections together, once the dog understands what is beinig asked, tends to offer a very reliable result, with just enough drive to get quick response, but not enough drive to bring the dog over the edge. Pairing motivators in this way allows trainers to fade the food reward and replace it with voice/praise/petting, so food no loner is relied upon for commands.  As well, pairing guiding corrections can help tone down any incorrect or high intensity responses, let the dog know that he or she needs to comply and give the dog a clearer picture of what is being asked, creating a calmer thought process for the dog.  (There are steps to be taken when utilizing the corrections for obedience training, and the dog needs to understand what we are asking of them before corrections are added in order to be fair to the dog during the learning process.)

Experient with your dog - find out what works by testing different motivators in non-distracting settings to see how your dog responds. If you want to advance your dogs training, are interested in sport training or just want a reliable response from your pet, feel free to contact Smart Dogs Canine Training to help guide you along the way dogtraining101@hotmail.com.