Clients often ask me if I’m the dog whisperer.  I am not.  Am I a witch of some sort, then?  Not a witch.  Well, there must be something special or supernatural about you… Nope.  I’m just your average C student.

I am calm.

I am confident.

I am consistent.

Your dog craves these things.  I promise if you strive to be an average C student, too, your dog will listen as well to you as he does to me.

Calm.  When you are calm it is so much easier for your dog to calm down.  He will always respond more to your blood pressure than anything else.  He can sense if you’re anxious or upset.  He doesn’t always know why but when he feels that heightened energy in you he will respond in kind.  This is why when you are sad and weepy he may come to snuggle or maybe even lick your tears.  We humans like to think they have developed some higher level of consciousness.  To be honest, when you’re crying on the couch over some man who’s broken your heart the thought that your dog understands you better and loves you more anyway is a huge comfort.  Go ahead and run with that delusion. 

Any other time you are not calm he will be seeking to match your emotions, not necessarily resolve them.  If you’re excited about a package that has just arrived he doesn’t realize you’re not terrified of the UPS guy.  You may be thinking, “Why are you barking at him?  That’s the Amazon I primed last night!”  Nope, he just feels your heightened excitement and assumes he should get excited with you.  Seeing the dude in brown racing up to the door leads him to further assume that stranger danger is here to kill us all so best he handle that for you.  After all, it’s his job to protect you, right?

The solution is simple.  I know you’re eager to remember what you one-clicked on last night after you were deep into the second bottle of Pinot but have a little perspective and bring it down a notch.  If you calmly thank your dog for alerting you and send him to his place so you can greet the UPS guy with a sincere thank you and a kind smile you will not lessen your joy in the least.  You will help your dog learn that the UPS, FedEx and US Mail trucks are not the devil’s minions.

Confident.  I’m the first to admit that I am stupidly confident.  I find myself in situations that my ego put me in but my thinking self is overwhelmed by.  Don’t be like me to that extent but, please, believe in yourself.  Your dog needs so desperately to believe in you, too.  He needs to know that you are a strong, capable leader who will not lead him astray.  He needs to know that you’ve got his back; when you tell him to relax or to come back or to stop doing something that you are prepared for anything.  If he can’t trust you to lead then why should he follow?  Worse yet, if you’re not leading then Oh.My.God.  Who’s in charge around here?!

In the absence of a clear leader your dog will step up to make decisions even if he’s not equipped for them.  Think of it as driving.  Imagine your dog looking at you hesitating to merge on the highway so he pushes you out of the driver’s seat to take the wheel.  Nothing good will come of that.  If you won’t let your dog drive your car then why would you let him drive anything else?  Be a confident leader, your dog really wants to be proud to follow you.  If you don’t have it in you by nature then fake it.  You may not have been ready for that responsibility but this is what you signed up for when you took in that life curled up in a ball over there.  It is an honor; give it the dignity it deserves and step up to the challenge.

Consistent.  This is the big one.  I’d like to quote my 8^th grade English teacher, Mr. Gearhart:

Say what you mean.  Mean what you say.  Don’t do it any other way.

It’s been way longer than I care to admit since I was in Mr. Gearhart’s class, God rest him, but I still remember that phrase so well!  He truly helped to shape not only the teacher that I became but the woman that I am.  Say what you mean.  When you say, “Come,” mean it.  Insist that your dog stop what he’s doing, come to you and sit down.  Mean what you say.  Don’t say, “Come,” and then walk over to him anyway.  If he needs a reminder go get him and bring him to where you want him to be.  YOU are the boss.  YOU are the parent.  YOU are the pack leader.  When your dog starts paying the bills around your house maybe you can share power but until then YOU must be in charge.  Go back and read Animal Farm if you think you can happily share power among species. 

Don’t do it any other way.  You must establish the boundaries, rules and consequences and stick to them.  It’s heinously unfair to declare no dogs on the couch on Monday but by Friday be too tired to care and let him on the couch to snuggle.  When Sunday rolls around and you’ve gotten some sleep do you really think he knows that he’s suddenly not allowed on the couch anymore?  Nope.  If you don’t want him up there don’t let him up there ever. 

Whatever the rules you establish are back them up and stick to them.  Your dog will learn very quickly if there is a change.  Perfect example, I have good friends who do not allow their dogs on the furniture.  Sure, no problem, their choice.  When my dogs go to their house they are not allowed on the furniture- even when they sleep over because I’m away.  They relax on the dog beds on the floor.  Also, when their dogs come to my house they gleefully run into the living room and right up on the Ottoman because they’ve been taught that in this house they are permitted to be there.  They can understand that rules are different at different places because they are consistently enforced in each.  You may often see pictures of dogs placing on picnic tables at public parks.  This does not mean my dogs hang out on my dining room table.  They understand that the rules at the park and the rules at home are different.  Let’s keep Mr. Gearhart’s legacy alive in our consistency to say it and mean it every time.

Your home does not need a dog whisperer in order to be peaceful; clear communication from a consistently calm and confident leader is all you need.  Your dog is craving it. 

By the way, I was an “A” student in Mr. Gearhart’s class and went on to become an English teacher myself.  I believe he had a lot to do with that.  I wish he was still of this earth so I could buy him a cup of coffee and say thank you.  Better yet, a strong cocktail.  The man taught 8^th grade; he was the true superhero.

My uncle owns a garage, Semuta’s Service Center. He fixes and inspects cars.  I often stop in with dogs I am working with to expose them to the sounds, strangers and smells of the shop.  It’s an environment completely out of their comfort zone and the perfect place to help them learn to trust their pack leader and mind their manners no matter what. 

He’s also a dog lover himself and enjoys offering a treat or some affection to the visitors I bring.  He commented once how I always have the tough cases.  Well, sure, I told him.  Nobody brings you a car that runs perfectly fine.  They wait until something is broken. 

It would be so much easier- and cheaper- if they didn’t wait, he told me.

Ditto, Uncle Dave.  Ditto.

Preventative maintenance on your car helps you avoid serious, painful and expensive repairs down the line.  It’s the same with your dogs.

• Keep the oil changed so that it’s running clean; maintain a healthy and regular diet for your dog.
• Rotate and maintain your tires so that your car has good balance; keep your dog’s nails trimmed for the same reason.
• Check the fluids and keep an eye on everyday systems so you can catch problems early; regular vet care and cleaning up your dog’s poop daily helps keep you on top of things.
• Keep the salt and grime off of your car to avoid rust and body damage; brush and care for your dog’s coat to avoid unhealthy, preventable issues such as painful matting and tick-born illnesses.
• As belts and brake pads wear from daily use, replace them before they break; ditto collars and leashes.
• Know how to change a tire or manage acute emergencies while on the road; learn basic first aid and have a plan for medical emergencies.

These analogies practically write themselves.

Maintaining your car can be very simple, so can raising a happy, healthy dog.  If you have your eye on a new puppy or rescue and you’re wondering when you should begin thinking about training let me be the first to tell you: NOW.  Reaching out for help from the beginning not only helps you avoid major problems down the line but it also helps you build a healthy relationship from the start.  It’s so much easier and enjoyable for all parties involved to teach well from day one instead of cleaning up messes later on.

It’s cheaper, too. 

How much is the deductible for your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance?  I guarantee that making an investment in quality training is going to be a delightful piece of chocolate compared to the jagged little pill of needing to file a claim when your dog bites a neighbor. 

Many veterinarians speak of wishing they could just install a zipper in dogs who routinely get into things they shouldn’t requiring surgery.  Wouldn’t it have been less stressful to just teach your dog to stay off the counters and out of the trash?

Let’s not even get started on the medical bills and emotional toll of a dog getting hit by a car.  If he survives it’s not likely going to be cheap.  Do you really want to have to decide between the $3,000 surgery you will have to put on a credit card or a $50 euthanasia shot you can pay cash for?  So much more rewarding to teach him not to run off into the street.

Think your dog’s bad manners won’t put you in medical crisis?  Think again.  Torn rotator cuffs, broken bones, bite wounds- I’ve seen it all as a result of a dog who didn’t know how to behave properly.

Nip all that in the bud before your dog nips you in the butt, (ha ha ha- see what I did there?)

When is the best time to look for and begin training?  Now.

I’ve had clients contact me before they brought their new rescue home to help make the transition with their existing dog.  It’s been effortless.  Other clients have begun with their puppy before he’s even old enough for formal training.  We get things off to such a great starts that the puppies are ready for graduation before they’re even a year old.

Don’t wait until problems become painfully clear to ask for help.  Head them off at the pass and enjoy that much more joyful, respectful, peaceful time with your pup.  You will all be better for it.

Love & Belly Rubs, Zia

The conversation went like this…

New Client: The behaviorist told me that there are behavioral trends among dogs from Alabama that are different from Texan dogs.

Me: Next time just call Miss Cleo if you want to throw away your money.

New Client: Really?

Me: uh-huh.  What medication did she recommend?

New Client: Zoloft

Me:   Fuck that

New Client: Okay, so cognitive behavior therapy?

Me: Yeah, let’s lay the smack down and if he really needs something I’ll just give him a pot cookie.

Friends, there is a time and a place for a good behaviorist.  It is NOT before you’ve tried real, balanced training.  The trend toward positive-only and force-free training and the medical community so quick to medicate dogs instead of correcting behavior is a disaster. 

Yes, some dogs need meds just like some people need meds.  However, MOST dogs do not. ALL dogs need manners, boundaries and purpose.  If you commit to being your dog’s leader and providing those things chances are better than not that you will not need to use drugs to bring peace into your home.

Willie was fitted with a muzzle and a prong collar.  He went for a walk with my dogs, Pony & Gigi, and pack graduate, Ozzie.  He resisted at first since the collar was new and the concept of being held accountable was new.  Don’t get me wrong, his family is doing their best.  They didn’t know that their choices- made out of compassion and in an effort to be helpful- were the opposite of what he needed.  But now that they know better they are going to do better.  Within the first half-mile he was walking calmly and posing for pictures with the pack.  Another quarter-mile and he sat still as strange dogs passed us.  Before the last quarter-mile the muzzle was off and he was obeying his dad, looking up to him for guidance and sitting on command. 

All this in the first hour.  Without drugs.

Please, don’t reach for the pill bottle before you reach for the can of whoop ass.  Respect your dog enough to give him boundaries, structure, consequences and discipline.  Willie’s dad headed back to New Jersey shortly thereafter and the little dog settled down in his crate for a snooze.  Look for an update in a week or so.  I predict it’s going to be amazing.

Love & Belly Rubs,

Zia

That’s our motto here at Zia’s Pups.  Training doesn’t happen for 30-minutes at a time, once or twice a week.  Training is a 24/7 endeavor.  That doesn’t mean that teaching your dog to be a valuable member of your household has to take over your life, it just means that you are always aware of how your choices are affecting your dog.  Much like parenting a child, your dog will learn best by living within a solid structure and defined boundaries.  Consistency is the key to success.  Once created, you only have to maintain it and this, my friends, is how to always be training. 

I take this concept and apply it to my own life, as well.  In March I attended a seminar with Master Trainer Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training.  He once specialized in rehabbing aggressive dogs but has now evolved into training others on how to train.  It was a weekend well-spent and I know I am a better dog parent and trainer for it.  I believe so much in continuing my own education and in reaching out to varied resources to offer the best to my students and clients that I’ve arranged for Jeff to attend our group class on May 1, 2019.

For a select few clients he will offer one-on-one sessions to address specific issues with their dogs.  Jeff will then attend group class with us where I fully expect him to critique my teaching and help me see where I can improve my instruction.  Finally, he will be available for Q&A from the gathered attendees and work individually with their dogs.  There is no charge for pack members to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.  I’m hopeful we will have a nice, full class- I have made arrangements in case of rain. Human guests are always welcome at our group classes, including this one, but for this special event a registration fee of $50 from each guest is required. If you should choose to join our pack I will deduct that payment from your tuition. The only dogs permitted to attend are graduates or current-approved students of Zia’s Pups.

An Evening with Jeff Gellman

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

6:00 PM

New Cumberland Borough Park

Large Pavillion

To register as a guest, please complete the Contact form and send your $50 fee via PayPal, [email protected] or Venmo, @MiaSemuta.

These wise words were spoken by my dear friend, T, who is an awesome Mom to three teens.  She’s guest blogging today about the crazy similarities of raising kids and dogs.

I don’t have any animals despite the constant begging of all of my kiddos, “Please, please, please can we have a dog?” I love animals and am not against having a dog, but I am not ready to deal with all that comes with owning a dog, or cat, especially the hair and the accidental pee/poop issues in my house.  Been there done that 3 times… I do want my kids to be comfortable and familiar around dogs, so… cue Mia stage right. I started by just hanging out with Mia and her dogs while my kids were in school. I picked up how she was training her dogs and how dogs need to listen to verbal commands when I had an ah-ha moment: wow, I just told Josh last night to go to his place until the kitchen floor dried.  I guess I picked up some dog training lingo without even realizing it. I gradually began bringing the kids, one at a time, over to Mia’s to hang out with the dogs to dog sit, learn how to appropriately interact with the dogs, and then eventually take them for walks. My youngest LOVES dogs yet is still terrified when a dog is around. We recently joined a pack walk and Josh got to walk with Pony. He learned the proper way to handle a dog.  He was gently corrected and told that he is the boss and needs to tell the dog what behavior is expected. Josh learned this by doing what he thought was right, realized it was wrong, and then corrected to achieve the desired outcome. Hmmm… this sounds very much like how I raised my kiddos, especially the oldest.  I did what I thought was right as a new mom, realized I was waaaay off base, corrected and then moved on.  Raising kids is sooooo much like raising dogs. You really don’t know what you’re doing until you screw something up. It takes time, consistency and consistency… and… consistency. It doesn’t hurt at all to have a great mentor coach or, dare I say, trainer?

Mealtime is a big deal in my house- especially breakfast.  Breakfast is when all the good stuff gets added to the base kibble.  The dogs, both mine and any staying with me, know this and really look forward to breakfast.  I used to be the dog mom who proudly said, “Oh, Peyton just eats what she wants, she never overeats!”  I did not understand then that I just had that rare unicorn of an awesome dog who accepted that I was the boss and did as I asked.  She’s the one who made me think I knew how to train dogs.  Ha! My silly mid-90’s self was such a fool.

Once Pony came into my life and I had to learn how to actually train a dog I came to understand the importance of mealtime.  It was actually during a visit to the Wolf Sanctuary in Lititz, PA that gave me my greatest a-ha moment. 

Side Note, if you’ve never been there, go!  It’s an incredible experience.  I went for a full moon tour.  Loved it!  https://wolfsanctuarypa.org/

In a wolf pack, when there is a fresh kill, the alpha wolf eats first.  He eats until he’s satiated and then the Beta eats and then so on and so forth.  What this means is that the wolf who gets to eat what he wants, when he wants, is in charge.  While I’m aware that dogs are not wolves, they are descendants and still follow the same social structure. 

But what does this have to do with your domesticated, household pet?   Whomever controls the food source is the alpha.  It’s just that simple.  If your dog gets to eat what he wants, when he wants then he is the alpha.  I control the food.  I feed them twice a day.  I am the alpha.   I don’t do so because I have some twisted control freak streak.  No, I do it because that is what they understand. 

If you really want to communicate with your dog you must learn to speak to them in the language they already know.  The language most easily understood by dogs is dog.  They can learn to understand English but they will never be fluent.  I make them understand that I am their alpha by employing the simplest method available and it makes it that much easier to train them.  When clients send their dogs to stay with me they fall into the same pattern. 

Often when I send a dog back home their parents are blown away by the change and progress they’ve made in only a short time.  When I explain the mealtime rules it’s not always met with enthusiasm.  It does take a bit more effort to establish and maintain mealtime instead of just allowing your dog to free eat.  Trust me, it’s worth it.  I also set the bar a tad higher by adding fresh food to my dog’s bowls but, again, it’s worth it.

At breakfast they get about a 1/3 cup of broccoli, carrots and cheese, 1/8 cup of dried cranberries, a fish oil pill, a little bit of wet food- just enough to mix it all together- and a hard-boiled egg.  They love it!  As soon as they see me getting the components out to put it together then run to their places.  Apollo, who has been with me for 8 days, has also begun to do the same.  The conditioning happens very quickly!  Breakfast is served and eaten very quickly.  I know immediately if someone is not feeling well if they turn their nose up at breakfast.  Dinner is not so exciting- just plain kibble and maybe a little leftover meat if I have it.  But it’s the same routine, they go to their place to be called because I control the food source. 

As for what you should put in your bowl please consult your veterinarian.  I’d be lost without Dana Walck of Harrisburg Area Animal Hospital.  At Villa Mia we are going to continue with what works and keep those pups healthy and happy.

Love and Belly Rubs, Zia