Cookie Cutters are for Making Cookies Only, Not for Dog Training!

I spoke with a very frustrated new puppy owner yesterday.  She's read all the books on puppy training and felt confident that she had the tools she needed to get her 10-week old pup off to a great start! She didn't understand why almost nothing she'd read about crate training (her puppy hates the crate), feeding schedules (her puppy likes to graze), mouthing (her puppy grabs a hold of her arms and legs and won't let go), and socialization (her pup is terrified of the other puppies in her neighborhood), seemed to apply to the dog she had gotten.  She wanted to know if there was something wrong with her new puppy, or perhaps wrong with her? I assuaged her doubts by reminding her that all new pet parents, just like new human parents, experience feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and failure. In our effort to do everything right, we often forget that each pup (or child, for that matter) is an individual, with their own personality, learning style, and motivations. Dog training is not "one size fits all," hence my cookie-cutter reference in this blog's title; your training style needs to be tailored to the dog in front of you, not the one you saw in a picture or video, or the one described in a book. Let me give you an example.

Most of you are familiar with Ozzie, my now 5.5-year-old male collie who is a descendant of the original Lassie of film fame. As a Lassie descendant dog, Ozzie's intelligence is undisputed.  He is,  however, a creative thinker; my solutions to his problems are often not the ones he'd choose, or has ever chosen for himself.  Ozzie hated crates from the get-go, preferring to be tethered to me or near me, even at night.  Ozzie never liked to heel, preferring to walk from side to side either in front of me or behind me, as if I were a sheep, but he never wanders off.  Ozzie is quick to learn commands but will refuse those he simply doesn't feel like doing.  He often refuses those I want to videotape or demonstrate for observers...go figure. He will comply with requests such as "Be quiet!" but always has to get in the last bark first.  If I would have tried to rigidly adhere to Ian Dunbar's guidelines for raising a puppy, for example, Ozzie and I would have been epic failures.  Instead, I embraced Ozzie's quirks, found the humor in his obstinance, and found my own creative ways to teach Ozzie what he needed to know to survive and thrive in my household.  Being flexible is the key.

So, back to my client and her puppy.  This puppy was a singleton, so he didn't get a lot of experience with other puppies, though he did stay with his dam until coming to live with my client.  He had never been crated until he was crated and then driven more than 8 hours to my client's home. The breeder put a bowl of food in the pen with the dam and the puppy twice daily and they were allowed to eat, sleep, poop, and pee whenever and wherever they wanted in that pen. I suggested we start fresh with this puppy and tailor our training plan to him specifically.  Instead of using a crate, we reintroduced the pen.  We set up a schedule where food was offered four times daily for 20 minutes at a time. In between feedings, the food could be used as a reward during training.  Walks were done on leash in her yard to build confidence before we introduced one similarly aged puppy for a 10-minute play date there.  Once we got this puppy onto a set nap schedule, a lot of the biting subsided.  We used redirection and time outs for the residual biting.  I watched this puppy go from frustrated to fabulous once he figured out the rules and saw that his behavior had consequences that he could understand.  He's still a bit on the timid and shy side, but we can work on that more now that we've got the basics taken care of.  Even his house training has improved since we introduced some artificial turf into his pen area. My client is relieved and she's now using those dog training books for decorative purposes only in her home! LOL.

If you are frustrated with your puppy or feel like you are failing with your dog's training, please don't despair.  Ask for help.  That's what I'm here for.

Ozzie was a hardcore chewer as a puppy.  Puppy chew toys did nothing to satisfy his chewing desires and he would often try to chew on furniture instead.  I'd been told that giving real bones to puppies wasn't a good idea, however, when I introduced real bones anyway (with supervision, of course), he was the happiest puppy ever, choosing them over my chairs and limbs of family members!  He'd chew on a bone and then wear himself out and be ready for a nap.  Bliss!

Trick Training is for Everyone!

On Monday, I had the pleasure of evaluating a rescue Saint Bernard for her AKC Novice Trick title.  The owner, a retiree, had been working hard ever since she rescued this sweet, eager-to-please dog.  They'd been working on obedience and confidence building and had earned their CD (a title designating that this dog had completed the first level in obedience), but wanted to take their training in a different direction, hence the trick training.  While the AKC suggests certain tricks for each title, there is also room for a good deal of creativity.  Advanced titles can be set to music and choreographed, for example!

While the AKC does allow for dog owners seeking tricks titles to submit videos to evaluators for review, this owner asked if we could do the evaluation in person.  I told her that we could comfortably do this evaluation in person, if she had a large backyard where we could easily practice social distancing and wear our masks.  Her dog executed each of 10 trick behaviors two times, including tricks that involved fun props like a table, a balance beam, and even a jump! Watching a young Saint Bernard having so much fun working with her owner made my whole day, and reminded me, once again, how much dogs love tricks.  To them, tricks are just other behaviors that we ask them to do BUT they recognize that, for whatever reason, we find more joy in these behaviors than in others we might ask of them.  I know Ozzie sure loves his "flying touch," behavior where he is invited to jump as high as he can to reach my hand much more than practicing sits and downs, for example.  I know I enjoy his flying touch too.

You certainly don't need to work toward earning a tricks title for your dog unless you want to do so.  You can, however, teach your dogs tricks as a way to keep their minds engaged and challenged, particularly when we are all still spending a lot of time at home alone with them.  And don't forget about your senior dogs! While jumps may be too much, there are plenty of other tricks they can do which will help keep their aging brains active and stimulated.  It's never too late to earn a fun title!  If you are interested in getting one of those trick titles for your dog, visit www.akc.org and click on the link for trick dogs under the AKC Family Dog Program tab.  Don't forget I'm happy to evaluate your dogs for these trick dog titles virtually via video or Zoom, or in person, if you are in the area and willing to socially distance and mask up to do so.  It's always nice to see you, even if I can't hug you or stand closer than 10 feet away :)

As always, if you have questions about your dog's behavior, you know where to find me.

Ozzie and I practicing his flying touch!

Quick Fixes & Happy Clients!

Susan made my day.  Actually, I think Susan made my whole month, and it's only the beginning of July! We met last Saturday to work with one of her dogs, a sweet adult Terrier mix, Marty, who has become quite "short fused" with other dogs, particularly puppies who get in his face.   This behavior was concerning to the owner as Marty has always been quite easy going and good with other dogs.  When I explained to her that many adult dogs become intolerant of the antics of puppies, feeling the need to correct those puppies before they get too wound up, she did feel a bit relieved, but still wanted to work on improving his behavior.  You see, they have a new neighbor with a puppy and Susan wants them to all be able to walk in the neighborhood, and eventually do neighborhood activities together, and have the dogs all get along. This is why I adore Susan; she's ready to work on the issue before it becomes a real problem.  Susan is a creative soul, so she sent this to me like a story.  Best story ever!

A funny thing happened on the way to the pandemic… my sweet, gentle 23 lb. therapy dog terrier mix, Marty McFly, decided a few months ago – as the COVID shelter in place began – that he wanted to act aggressively toward neighborhood dogs. It wasn’t pretty, as he stood on his hind legs, pawing frantically in the air in the general direction of the dog as it passed. It was difficult to control him and impossible to calm him down. Then came a new puppy arrival a few houses down – Audrey the shepherd mix, who couldn’t be more docile and friendly. Marty wasn’t having any of Audrey, and Audrey wanted to be Marty’s best pal. So his frantic air pawing transitioned into snapping at Audrey, when all she wanted was a backyard play date.
 
I reached out to Julie, because I just knew she would have answers, tools and suggestions. Just like every other time I have needed Julie, she did not disappoint. One hour-long visit with Julie, Marty, Audrey and Audrey’s parents was a game-changer. I gained tools for redirecting Marty when Audrey got too close and rewarding him for making the right choice to turn away, and Audrey’s owners got tools for distracting her from wanting to be too close to Marty and rewarding her for ignoring him. Julie also gave me a game plan for calming Marty by holding him in a specific way, with my back to the dog or whatever is stimulating Marty’s aggression, until he relaxes. Miraculous.
 
Thank you, Julie!

It isn't always the case that an issue can be solved in one hour or one visit, but honestly, it does happen, particularly when you have a motivated dog owner who is ready and willing to help their pet move through this issue and away from the anxiety that led to the behavior in the first place. Some people wait to long to address problems, hoping, I suppose, that they will resolve on their own.  When it comes to anxiety-based behavior problems, they won't resolve on their own and they can get much worse.  By teaching Marty alternate behaviors to do when he feels anxious and showing him that we understand his frustration with puppies was the first step.  Teaching Audrey the puppy that the best way to get Marty's attention wasn't jumping on him, but just hanging out near him sniffing and rolling around was also part of the solution.  Both of these dogs are well-socialized and responsive to treats, praise and redirection.  I couldn't be happier with how this all worked out and I was thrilled to see Marty back to his usual happy self.  

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Marty McFly is back to enjoying his walks and the other dogs who share his neighborhood!

Safety First on the 4th of July

I always knew that Shadow was a special dog.  She just got me.  She loved going everywhere I went and was so unobtrusive, people often didn't even know she was there. She even seemed to enjoy big public gatherings with music and fireworks.  When we lived in Davis, CA, the firefighters would stage a lovely fireworks show for the entire community on the 4th of July and Shadow and I would always attend together.  I know this is not something that most dogs would enjoy doing. In fact, I know many people for whom events like this are anxiety-provoking. For many people, and for the majority of pets, the festivities associated with the 4th of July, particularly the fireworks which often begin several days before the 4th, are cause for vigilance and alarm.  The county I now live in allows fireworks and usually there is a big celebration at the county fairgrounds.  Because of COVID-19, there will be no big fireworks show this year, but people can still buy fireworks for their own use.  In the neighboring county, however, fireworks are illegal, but that doesn't seem to stop people from setting them off in their neighborhoods anyway.  I have one friend who actually books a hotel room out in the middle of nowhere with her dogs for a week right around the 4th of July because her anxiety, and her dogs', requires that she do so.  If your dog suffers around the 4th of July as well, there are a few things you can do to help ease their discomfort, even if you can't escape completely.

1.  Don't get angry or frustrated.  If your dog gets anxious, you frustration will just reinforce their anxiety.  Be kind, supportive, and proactive--get them out of the situation as gracefully and confidently as possible.  They need to see that you aren't anxious or upset as well; you will get them to safety without panicking.

2.  If you know your dog is noise sensitive, just assume that fireworks displays, even in the distance, will be too much for them.  Keep him indoors and use fans, TVs, stereos, white noise machines, etc. to help blot out the booming sounds.  Close drapes and windows as well.  Your dog will likely still be able to hear the fireworks, but they will be greatly muted by these actions that you can take.

3.  If your dog is really panicky, get them into a bathroom.  Bathrooms tend to be very well-insulated from sounds.  Turn on the bathroom fan and sit with your dog if you like. Bring a book and just hang out.

4.  Don't let your dog outside to go to the bathroom without wearing their collar, ID tags, and a leash.  If they panic and get away from you, you want that collar and tags on them so that you will be quickly contacted when they are found.  I've known more than one dog to panic and escape from their yard without ID on the 4th of July.

5.  While we only have a few days left until the 4th, you can also try some desensitization exercises with your dog to prepare them. This is particularly useful for new dog owners who have not gone through a holiday like the 4th of July with their pet previously.  Bring up the sound of fireworks on your computer, phone, or on the TV.  Start at a very low volume and gradually increase the volume, helping your dog to see that this is no big deal.  Keep in mind that real fireworks are about sound AND lights, so these exercises really only work on the sound component unless you are using your TV and your dog actually pays attention to it!

6.  You can certainly try a Thunder Shirt for your dog, although most people find that they have limited success with just using a Thunder Shirt by itself. You may need to speak with your veterinarian about an anti-anxiety medication just to get your dog through this holiday.  You will, however, want to stay away from any medication that makes your dog woozy as that will just increase their anxiety; you will want to work with your vet to pick a drug that actually makes them tired so that they will sleep peacefully through the holiday.  Keep in mind that you will need to contact your veterinarian today as most take a few days to fill prescriptions.

7.  Probably the most important thing you can do is talk to your neighbors.  Let them know that you have an anxious dog and enlist their help.  If your immediate neighbors can resist the urge to set off firecrackers, that will help your dog immensely.

8.  And finally, many people have had success giving their pets CBD based treats to reduce anxiety and promote calmness.  If you'd like to learn more about this holistic alternative, visit www.treatibles.com.

I am very fortunate that Desi and Ozzie are not particularly noise sensitive.  In fact, we've recently had someone in our neighborhood setting off firecrackers several times in  the middle of the night, and I'm the only one who woke up!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

While Westley is not a fan of garbage trucks and the sounds they make, he isn't particularly concerned about fireworks.  Good thing too as fireworks are allowed in several Orange County cities, though not in Irvine, where he lives with my daughter.

Headed Back to Work: Are You Worried Your Dog Will Miss You?

Well, for better or for worse, shelter in place restrictions are being lifted and folks are headed out in public again.  As businesses begin reopening, many people will be heading back to work.  For those dog owners who had their canine companions before the pandemic hit, you already know if your dog has issues with you being gone to work.  For anyone who picked up a puppy or dog during quarantine, however, you may not have any idea how your dog will be when you go back to work full-time. I know a lot of folks are really worried about this, but the truth of the matter is, there is no need to panic AND you can begin training your dog to be okay with your absence now, before you head back to work.

First off, I'm just going to say it.  Yes, your dog will miss you and you will miss him.  And that's awesome!  It means you are bonded and invested in the relationship you have with each other.  But just because you miss one another does not mean that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety in your absence.  Even if your dog whines a bit or barks a few times when you leave for work, that doesn't necessarily mean he's suffering from separation anxiety.  He may simply be frustrated that he didn't get to go too!  And just because your dog loves to follow you around all the time when you are home does not necessarily mean he's predisposed to separation anxiety.  It may simply be he likes your company. So, how can you figure out the difference? 

Set up a camera to observe your dog in your absence.  You can go high tech with a nanny cam or home monitoring system, or you can simply set up a computer, tablet, or old phone with a camera function so that you can observe your dog.  Set up the camera and leave your dog for short periods of time.  I mean very short periods of time such as for a trip to your mailbox, a walk around the block, bringing in or taking out the trash cans, etc.  If your dog is alert to your absence but not in distress, great. Move on to leaving your house for a longer walk.  No problem? Get in your car and go for a short drive or run errands.  Observe your dog while you are out so you know if he's in distress.  So what does distress look like?

If your dog is profusely panting, pacing, drooling, barking, whining, scratching at the door, or being destructive, he's in distress. If you crate your dog when you are gone, then look for vocalizations, panting, drooling, digging at the crate, gnawing on the door, scratching to get out, or tearing up bedding. Again, if your dog whines a bit when you leave, but then trots off to nap on the couch or watch birds out the window, he's fine.  Keep an eye on him while you are gone and see if he goes to sleep or remains awake and vigilant the whole time you are gone.  Dogs spend the great majority of their day resting, so they should be doing that whether you are home or not. If your dog shows any of the signs of distress noted above, then he may have separation anxiety.  If he doesn't show any of these signs, he's fine, BUT you still need to think about what you'd like your dog to be doing all day when you are gone.  By pairing your departures with fun activities like interactive, food-based toys, you not only make your departures less of a big deal for your dog, but you make your dog actually look forward to you being gone as they get something special then! Plus, a dog who has spent a half hour working on a frozen Kong toy, for example, is tired and ready for a nap.  Your dog should have a few things to do while you are gone, but spend the majority of that time resting and patrolling their home turf to keep it safe.  It's what dogs do.

It's best to prepare your pets now for your ultimate return to your job outside your home.  Get your pet onto the schedule that you will be following on your work days.  Set an alarm, get dressed and get ready for work even if you aren't going off to work quite yet.  When you are working from home, make those work hours count; spend your time working and not focusing on your dog.  You can pay attention to them on your breaks!  That way, they won't be expecting attention and interaction all day long when you aren't there to do so. When you do leave your house for brief periods of time, don't make a big deal of it; leave the house with zero fanfare and don't go over the top when you get back home.  Reinforce your dog for being calm, not jumping up, spinning, barking, etc.  While you are both excited to see one another, it shouldn't be a three ring circus when you get home!

Separation anxiety is a completely treatable problem, so if you need help, let me know.  As always, you know where to find me.

I'm sure Westley is sad that my daughter has gone back to work this summer and isn't taking remote classes at home as she did for the last couple of months.  I'm sure my daughter is sad to leave him home as well!  Westley is, however, happy to chew on his interactive toys and nap all day until she returns. No separation anxiety here.

Pandemic Problems: Is My Dog Afraid of Strangers Now?

I've received about a dozen calls in the last few days from owners concerned about their dogs' reactions to strangers.  Now that shelter in place restrictions are relaxing here in the San Francisco Bay Area, dogs are seeing more people on their walks.  People are starting to have friends and family over to their homes and in their yards to visit. Dogs are noticing all of this.  Even dogs that were well-socialized before the pandemic had us all housebound seem to be a bit more vigilant when meeting new people both at home and out in public.  And for dogs acquired during the shelter in place restrictions all of these new people getting close to them is a potential cause for concern. And the pandemic puppies?  They seem to fall into two groups, those that are timid with these new people and those that are so desperate for attention from the new people they see that they are jumping up, barking, spinning, and pulling on leash to get to them! Whether your dog is excited to meet all of these new people or wary about it, both are issues you will want to address right away as neither problem will go away on its own.

For the dogs who are super-excited to be meeting new people, you will want to embrace their joy (I mean, really, isn't it nice to see people again?!) but make sure it isn't infringing on other people's rights not to be jumped up on or mouthed by your dog.  While I agree it would be nice if every dog sat down when they wanted to meet someone new, this just isn't always possible.  It IS reasonable, however, to expect that even if they aren't sitting, they are doing something that makes greeting them a positive experience for everyone involved. If you are out on a walk, acknowledge to your dog how nice it would be to meet that new person.  Stand on your dog's leash so that all he can do is sit or stand in place for greeting.  Encourage people to pet your dog under his chin and along the front of his chest rather than ruffling his ears, patting his head, rubbing his back, or worse yet leaning in for a kiss or hug.  That under chin stroke or chest rub is perceived as non-threatening by your dog and is less likely to result in your dog trying to jump up to reach that outstretched hand; the hand is already low and aimed at a neutral spot on your dog's body.  If you know your dog will still try to lick that approaching hand, simply warn the new person that they might get their hand licked. That allows them to decide what they want to do rather than have them behave in a way that leaves your dog wondering what they did wrong!  Licking someone's hand is not bad, it's just not for everyone.  And if your dog mouths people's hands in greeting, be ready to have your dog's mouth busy doing something else; you can have treats to reward your dog or carry a toy for them to hold in their mouth during greetings. The last thing you want is someone to misinterpret your dog using its mouth to  hold their hand as something aggressive.

For visitors to your home, remember you can still use your leash!  Have your dog leashed for arrivals of guests so that they continue to display good behavior and get reinforced for being calm.  You can coach your guests to ignore the dog until he is calm and then reward him for it.  Tossing a toy, or even tossing treats for a dog to chase as they move away from guests works well. For outdoor parties, be ready to have your dog engaged in an activity that will keep them busy for a while.  As long as your dog isn't a resource guarder, you can give them a bone or a chew to work on while people visit with each other.  If you have a puppy or adolescent dog, it might be time for a nap in their crate after the first rush of greetings is over.  And if your guests include children, you must supervise.  Children who run will get chased, so you want to be right there to make sure that doesn't happen.  Let children work with your dog on their basic behaviors and give your dog treats, all while being supervised. This will help your dog view kids in a more favorable light.

For dogs who are wary or timid about meeting new people, don't force them.  Rather, try to make those experiences as positive as possible.  Make sure that you aren't making it worse by panicking and racing across the street away from approaching humans!  Don't death grip your leash or ball it up so that your dog is struggling to walk on the shortest leash ever.  Instead, keep your leash firmly in your grasp, but left loose and drapey so that you're not cuing your dog to react.  Happily acknowledge the people you see.  Keep your dog at a distance that you know keeps them alert and comfortable.  You can use treats to reinforce calm behavior, but don't use treats to distract them or bribe them to look at you.  Rather, give them treats when they see new people and stop giving treats when those people are out of view. If your dog is too anxious to take treats on walks, that's okay too.  Use your voice and your attention to reward them for calm behavior until they relax to the point where they are able to take treats on your walks. Adjust your walking route or the time of day you walk to help deal with the number of new people your dog will be seeing.  As they get better with seeing  a few new people, you can again alter your walking time or route so that you see a few more new people and so on.  You can also take a lawn chair to the park and sit with your dog there, handing out treats and/or attention for calm behavior when they see strangers in and around the park. For visitors to your home, remind folks to ignore your dog. Let your dog decide when and if they want to interact with that new person. It's perfectly fine if your dog chooses not to interact with your guests at all.  It isn't a requirement that dogs like everyone that you like; they just can't behave aggressively!  If your dog just can't settle down in the presence of guests in your home, even when he is being ignored, try redirection.  Offer your dog the opportunity to go in another room or into their crate to chew on a bone.  A lot of timid dogs are relieved to know that they don't have to stay and hang out with people they don't know.  If your dog knows he has a safe haven, he can choose that himself when overwhelmed.  And if your dog always gets something fun to chew on in his safe place when guests are in your home visiting, he will start viewing them a bit more positively.

The bottom line is this:  we don't like everyone we meet, and there is no reason to expect our dogs to do something we can't even do ourselves. It is reasonable, however, to expect our dogs to behave properly around new people.  No jumping. No mouthing.  No lunging. No incessant barking.  Observe your dogs.  Are there particular people who trigger their anxiety? Is it kids?  Elderly people with walkers or canes?  Teenagers on skateboards?  People in sunhats?  If you can narrow down your dogs' triggers, you will be better able to help them to see those things as not threatening in the future.

I know that a lot of dog owners think of stranger anxiety or over-exuberance with strangers as being the result of a lack of socialization or training.  While that may sometimes be true, it isn't always the case.  Some dogs are just wired to be timid; it's their personality, it's in their DNA.  Much as with shy or introverted people, this isn't a bad thing, it's just a personality thing.  We all make accommodations for our introverted friends and family.  Let's do the same for less than social dogs.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

These three all approach strangers differently.  Ozzie is aloof.  He doesn't really want to meet new people; sometimes he doesn't even want to engage people he knows!  He is allowed to be an introvert.  Westley is extremely social.  He treats everyone like they are his best friend in the whole world.  He jumps and practically turns himself inside out showing strangers just how happy he is to meet them.  We stand on his leash and encourage controlled greetings.  Desi is a social butterfly too, but he is gentle, although still persistent. He, too, assumes everyone is his friend and wants to meet him (and he's usually right!). He will nuzzle your hand, lean in for love and be completely forgiving if someone forgets good dog etiquette and ruffles his ears or pats his head hard.  That's why he's perfect for pet assisted therapy.  I appreciate each of these dogs, introvert or extrovert,  as they all have something to teach me and a lot of love to give.

Keeping Your Kids & Your Dogs Busy!

School's out for summer!  Did you just sing that line? I know I did!  This summer will likely be unlike any other given that social distancing is still in place, masks are recommended in public, and many of the summer activities we all normally look forward to (county fairs and state fairs, public swimming pools, summer school classes, etc.) have been canceled. Every summer, I teach at least one, if not two, sessions of my Kids & Dogs class.  This class is a blast to teach and I've had kids return to take it multiple times with their siblings and their friends from school. I will miss not teaching this summer class, but I have had fun modifying some of the games so that my clients' children can do them at home as part of their training.  So, for those of you with kids (or grandkids!) home this summer with the dogs, here are some games and activities they can do together:

1. Teach a new trick every week:  In class, I teach the kids to group tricks together by the body part the dog uses.  So, for example, shake, wave, and high five all use a dog's paws.  Start with the most basic trick, shake, and build up to the more difficult tricks like high 5 and high 10. If we were working with a dog that didn't even know shake yet, we'd have a month's worth of activities to build on to get all of those paw-based behaviors!

2.  Agility for kids and dogs:  Have your kids set up an obstacle course with things they already have. Gather hula hoops, soccer cones, crawl through tubes, baby slides, kiddie pools, bike tires, etc. for your course.  Parents can help with cement blocks and 2 x 4 boards to create harder obstacles as well. Set up your course so that you child and the dog can weave between the cones, crawl through the tubes, slide down the slides, jump over the pools, dodge the bike tires, and crawl under and jump over the 2 x 4 boards.  Set the hula hoops at the beginning and end of the course and have the dog sit and stay to start the course and end the course.  Have the kids work as a team with the dog on leash and take turns seeing who can help the dog to do the course the best with the fewest mistakes. They can time themselves with a stopwatch.  Junior agility kids can teach their dogs to run the course without a leash and running alongside the dog!  Just remember to keep any jumps at the dog's shoulder height or lower for safety.

3.Red light, green light:  This is a game for homes with multiple kids and even multiple dogs.  When someone says "red light" all dogs and kids must stop, and the dogs must sit.  "Green light" means moving together as quickly as possible, and "yellow light" means slowing down.  The dog and kid who gets to the person calling out the signals first, wins!

4.  Tic-tac-toe:  Another game for home with multiple kids and more that one dog.  Have the kids use chalk to draw a large tic-tac-toe board on the ground.  The kids divide into teams with one to two kids on each team and one dog on each team.  If you only have one dog, that's fine too, then one team is kids only! The rules of tic-tac-toe apply and the dog must sit or lay down and stay in the square where assigned.  If the dog moves out of the square, then that team loses the game. If there aren't enough kids or dogs to fill a team's squares for every move on the tic-tac-toe board, then each team can use small bean bags to toss into the squares on their moves.  Once again, if the dog moves from its square to chase a tossed bean bag, then that team loses.  This game is fun to watch as kids will often get so focused on keeping their dogs in the stay that they forget how to play tic-tac-toe!

5.  Limbo:  Have two kids hold a pool noodle, broom, or large wooden dowel at shoulder height as other kids and their leashed dogs move under the pole, limbo style.  As the pole gets lower, kids will have to crawl under the pole and coax their dogs under too. No touching the pole!

6.  Set it all to music:  Have the kids add music to their training.  All of the tricks and behaviors they've taught the dog can be timed with music, and extra credit for matching costumes IF the dog doesn't mind playing dress-up.

Encourage your kids to be involved in the day-to-day needs of the family dog.  They can fill water bowls, help with feeding, and learn how to brush teeth, groom, etc. Dogs show more respect for kids who take an active role in their care and training.  Supervise your kids as they build lasting relationships with the family dog.  And always remember the importance of "down time" for everyone.  Family dogs need a quiet place to rest and recharge and everyone should respect that to ensure the safety and sanity of all family members.

I hope everyone has a terrific summer!  If you want my help to work together, outdoors and with social distancing, on any of these games with your family, please let me know.  As always, you know where to find me.

Flying touch is one of Ozzie's favorite tricks!  Any game or trick that allows him to jump up is on his personal list of favorites!