WECLOME TO HEX DOG TRAINING!
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • FAQs
    • Affiliations
    • Directions
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Rates
  • Menu
  • Puppy Classes
  • Private Training
  • HANG 'N' TRAIN
  • Day Train
  • Canine Good Citizen
  • Electronic Collar
  • What You Need for Class
  • Calendar
  • Register
    • Private Registration
    • Group Class Registration
    • Day School Registration
  • Payment
  • Facebook Group
  • Blog
  • Photo Gallery
  • Apparel
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • FAQs
    • Affiliations
    • Directions
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Rates
  • Menu
  • Puppy Classes
  • Private Training
  • HANG 'N' TRAIN
  • Day Train
  • Canine Good Citizen
  • Electronic Collar
  • What You Need for Class
  • Calendar
  • Register
    • Private Registration
    • Group Class Registration
    • Day School Registration
  • Payment
  • Facebook Group
  • Blog
  • Photo Gallery
  • Apparel
WECLOME TO HEX DOG TRAINING!

Give Me My Damn Crate Back!!!!!!

6/24/2015

5 Comments

 
After working in the homes of countless dogs and families – one simple thing that is always taken away from a dog is the CRATE!  At first it makes sense since most of us relate crate training to puppy training.  Then at some point in the dog’s life, most people think it is time to get rid of the crate and “trust” their dog…Why? I don’t think they know why – it just seems like the right thing to do when the dog matures out of puppy stages.  Here are my thoughts from a trainer’s perspective…

What exactly does the crate represent? Safety, security, off-duty time, comfort, relaxation, calm, sleep, rest…so why are we stripping that away from our dogs? Why is the goal to have a free roaming dog? Why do we feel so emotionally connected to the idea of the word crate?  Why do we internally feel bad about even putting a dog or puppy into a crate?  These are all questions I ask my in-home clients when I hear the repeated story & have pretty much the same conversation…

CLIENT: “Everything was going great with our dog up until a few months ago…and we aren’t sure what happened or changed.”  
ME: “When did you remove the crate?”  
CLIENT: “Oh, about when the puppy was about 14 months old when we thought we could trust him/her.”  
ME: “Why?”  
CLIENT typical responses:  “Just thought it was time.”  “Felt we could trust the dog.”  “Felt bad about the long hours in the crate.” “Honestly, I don’t know why.”  “Didn’t see the use of it anymore.”  
ME: “Did the dog seem to like the crate?”  
Always from such clients: “YES.”   
ME: “hmmmmmmm…” 

Then about ½ my new clients have the “ah-ha light bulb moment”.

This is a prime example of what I call “humanizing” a dog.  Dogs are not people.  Period.  They are DOGS.  Are they a part of the family? Absofreakinlutely…so don’t go there.  However, in such circumstances, we are feeling bad for our dogs, feel the need to make them “happy”, feel the need to ensure they don’t miss us, want to give them the best life possible.  OK then – so why are we stripping away something where they find the ultimate comfort when they ARE alone?

In simple terms, I look at it this way.  You have a 5 yr old child.  Prime age where they are testing the waters of independence, trying new things, figuring out life and learning to be on their own in a classroom setting such as kindergarten.  The classroom and the kick-ass kindergarten teacher you want to hire as your own personally nanny IS THE DOGS CRATE.  The 5 yr old child feels safe, they are surrounded by love, friends, guidance, leadership and everything the child needs.  They spend upwards of 6 hours in this environment away from the only thing the child knows…his/her mom, dad, siblings, their home, a trusted guardian or daycare.  Kindergarten and school in general becoming a place of comfort, security, calm, trust…  So – what would happen if you left this child out on the playground at recess time for 8 hours ALONE?  We all know that answer…

Fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, tension, stranger danger, scared, stress, impending doom, every noise is terrifying…you get the point.  So why are we leaving our dogs to feel that same way?  Why are we telling our dogs… >>> “ok – have a nice day, have fun being scared shit-less in your own home, have fun barking and guarding every little thing you can imagine, have fun tearing up anything you can get to and end up with an intestinal block, have fun with this large bowl of water and having to take a leak on the kitchen floor and I promise to scold you when I get home from work, have fun staring out the window waiting hours on end waiting for my return, have fun not being able to rest bc you are constantly pacing around worrying about something…HAVE A GREAT FREAKIN' DAY!”

These are examples and food for thought for a single dog…multi-dog family households watch out!  For most families with multi-dog households, it is irresponsible as a dog owner to leave 2 or more dogs out loose around the house for a work day and expect them to “work it out”.  It does not matter that they are in love, or best friends, or you think your dog needs company. Again, dogs are dogs.  In situations like this – you are asking for major trouble and guiding the dogs to have a passive aggressive relationship with one another. I have personally known people who have come home to a dead dog, and believe me – I don’t wish that upon my biggest enemy.  Having multiple dogs is a wonderful thing – and they do appreciate the company, however, they don’t need to be loose with one another for 8 hours to have that social aspect and to feel comfort by their friend/s in the home with them.  Whether it's crates in the same room, a dog in a crate in a room with a free roaming dog, whatever works – but SAFETY first always.  And please....do not have the two crates positioned so they are staring at one another...this can create some serious dominance and guarding issues.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Here are some of my go-to tips that I share with all my clients:

1.  NEVER put the dog in the crate when you are mad at the dog…even if you ARE mad at the dog….do it nicely and calmly and do not shove the dog in.

2.  Cute and funny pic to the left - but NEVER 2 dogs in the same crate! 

3.  Teach a verbal command for the dog to crate-up.  I use “time for bed” with my dogs after getting a cookie from the cookie jar.  They run into their respected positions and get their reward after they go in on their own.  

4.  Use the crate for a “time-out” spot when the dog is over stimulated, getting into trouble, acting naughty, etc.  Think of it as a nap time and a place to calm.  It works… Perfect spot for busy families with kids during the time at night that can often be hectic when getting the kids ready for bed.  

5.  To start off re-introducing the crate, use it for naps when you ARE home – and continue with naps in the crate on the weekends when you aren’t at work.  This will dissociate the crate with you leaving and then it won’t mean that you necessarily aren’t home.  

6. My Rocco still NEEDS at least 3 naps a day in the crate when we ARE home.  If we didn't do this - I can NOT imagine the a$$ he would be on a daily basis.  He sometimes even needs a few minutes in there before we allow him to sleep in our bed...which is his reward for having a good day.  He knows that at around 10 PM, Greg and I decide if he is allowed in the bed based on his actions.  Sometimes he is just too wired for words and can't settle his mind.  So...he sleeps in the crate.  We honestly say to him at this time of night when he can start acting up... "ROCCO - MAKE A GOOD CHOICE."  Sometimes he does and grabs a bone and lays down nicely on our bed....and sometimes he just can't...and he lowers his head and will go in his crate.  HAHA - it is quite hysterical to see him contemplate "how bad" he wants to be naughty...and by naughty I am speaking of "zoomies" and just chaotic play that he can't settle down from.  
I need to video tape it one of these nights for you all to see.

7.  When you get home from work, or errands, NEVER acknowledge the dog/s until they are calm/quiet and then wait 3 minutes.  You are then eliminating the over-excited state of mind for the dog for each time you come home.  Your dog knows it is you – not an intruder.  So don’t make a fuss when you get home – this will help to alleviate separation anxiety.  If you want calm – GIVE CALM.  

8.   Have a special high reward item that is for crate time only.  Perhaps a Kong with frozen peanut butter or sweet potatoes inside.  Special safe toy.  

9.  Position the crate either towards the back of your house or in a quiet room - NOT at the front of the house under your big bay window so he/she can look outside and stress about every thing that happens in your neighborhood.  This will lessen the tenancies of over-the-top guarding.  

10.  Every couple of weeks - move the crate - even if it is just across the room a few feet.  Changes things up for the dog and will lessen the chance of them claiming a part of your house. Remember - YOUR crate, YOUR house, YOUR kids, YOUR food, YOUR toys...your dog is just welcomed to use them.  Until they get a job & move out with their friends - all of those things are YOURS. 

Good luck and give back the crate to your dog!!!!!!! They will love you for it… 
xoxo Kim 

5 Comments

A Dog Called Spark Plug: The Beginning

6/9/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
More than dog.  The King.  Beyond dog.  That’s what my mama calls him.  And my mama ain’t just any mama (not that any of them are.)  My mum, to me, is the most remarkable person in the world.  She was a single mom for all of our (me and my sister’s) formative years, a paralegal without a college education (yes), and a breast cancer survivor.  Her opinion is as good as fact to me.  (Did this article just become about my mom?)

When I first adopted SP six years and ten months ago, it was in September.  In fact, it was September 11th.  I’ll never forget it.  He was a 7.7 pound, football-sized ball of confidence, and I loved him from the get-go (obviously).  He was at the Lincoln Rhode Island Animal Shelter and he was five weeks old.

This is how I got him.


OK, every dog trainer has a start.  Mine was conventional(?)  I started working at a big box store when I was twenty.  I remember seeing a sign by the punch clock when I was already working there that said “Dog Trainers Wanted” with a few other details.  I distinctly remember thinking, “I would NEVER do that.”  Too much pressure.  You’re responsible not only for everyone’s safety (human and canine), but also for sales, promoting, customer service, money management… and not to mention, DOG TRAINING.  

I was all set.

Picture
It was an extraordinary man named Fred – last I heard, still works for the same company in Canada - who changed my world.  When I made the executive decision to move back home (from ol’ Cape Cod to Hopkinton, Massachusetts) - due to the fact that I was spinning my tires – I ended up at the big box store location in Bellingham.  FRED approached me – while effecting the transfer to Bellingham – and said (I’ll never forget it) “The Bellingham location is looking for a part time trainer, and we think you’d be perfect for it” to which I replied, “Fred, I don’t have a DOG, does that matter?”  He, in perfect protocol big box store sales style, says, “Cassie, we love your personality.  We’ll train you the rest.”  Sold.  (In retrospect... such a Big Box Store thing to say, but regardless, it worked, and off I went from ol' Cape Cod to Bellingham, Mass.)
Picture
Picture
Spark's story truly starts here...

I’ll never forget my first Puppy class.  I was shaking so bad I had to hide my hands.  We got through it in rapid fire with a phenomenal turnover rate.   Six out of seven went on to Intermediate, and that same crew enrolled in Advanced.  I didn’t tell them until graduation that they were my first class ever.  They were – and are – extremely special to me.  That was eight years ago.

In that class was the most amazing dog.  She influenced my entire training career and totally rocked my world...  I’m not even kidding.  Her name was beautiful Bailey and she was a pit bull/boxer cross.  (She was also blessed with the most wonderful family ever and I could write a whole other article about that.)  From the moment I met her FAMILY, nevermind the dog – they were buying a Bully Breed magazine and I was cashing them out at the register – I fell in love with the dog.  They were the first Puppy class I ever sold, and more than any other, they together defined my training career.  I wonder if they even know how much they meant to me.  
Bailey was a little teeny brindle mix with a helluva personality.  She was so damn smart, so “willing to please” (I hate that term generally speaking but that’s for another article), affectionate but independent, goofy, funny, confident… and owned by a prepubescent boy named Jake who was a STAR.  I had never witnessed the type of relationship that Jake & Bailey shared, and I wanted it. 

Previous to becoming a professional dog trainer, I didn’t have any pre-existing opinions about “pit bulls.”  There were just like any other dog, albeit an extremely beautiful variety.  (Who could deny that?)  I wasn’t intimidated.  I wasn’t scared.  I wasn’t a fan.  I wasn’t anything.  Bailey changed all that and after her, I wanted my own.

Enter Spark Plug.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Okay… the trainer who trained me had a very big influence on my career and life.  After (her) fostering this little puppy (SP), for one day, I received the following text message: I think you’d be perfect for him.  Sold.  Again.  When you said, “I’ll look,” you basically signed on the dotted line. 

So I went to pick him up.

He SCREAMED in the crate the whole way home. 

I also didn’t tell my sweetheart I was getting a puppy.  What do they say?  Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission? 
Picture
Hence, the name.  People ask me all the time… “Where did you get Spark Plug from?”  Well… because I’m about to marry an electrician.  I brought home an unexpected puppy and get this – this is what he says (because he’s the most wonderful man on the planet) – “I love you so much you can do anything you want.”  To which I said (whilst holding up said 7.7 pound puppy like an offering) “You can name him.”  He thought about it for a second, and – ridiculously talented electrician that he is – said “Spark!”  I agreed.  (You wanna know a really freaky thing about that??  A few years earlier I had a dream that I had an unexpected child and named it Sparks M‘Gee.  Go figure.)

I took just about every class you can take with a puppy.  (Yes, dog trainers take classes.)  He excelled at every single thing that he did.  He was enthusiastic… and so was I. 

Spark is everything I ever wanted in a dog.  He is vastly intelligent, independent, funny, and has eyes that can bore into your soul (and have been extremely effective in getting me to shut the lap top, get off the couch, and remember the value of play).  My mom calls him “more than dog” for good reason.  He is so much smarter than me.  

Picture
Picture
Spark knows everything.  He knows EVERYTHING.   I can literally be having a bad dream, and he’ll wake me up by licking my face, and then lay right up alongside me until I fall back to sleep.  He’s amazing. 

If I'm on the computer in the office, and he's sleeping on the couch on the other side of the house, and I start to get frustrated - I won't even be moving or saying anything or huffing & puffing - he'll come in and put his head under  my hand to get it off of the laptop while making this  adorable rrarrrarrrrrrrarrrrr sound.  He'll be so adorable and so funny that inevitably I laugh and he won't leave me alone until I'm not frustrated anymore.  Then I continue working and he goes back to his thrown and lays down.  Amazing.

Spark also has a long & extensive training career; not only as a pupil, but as an assistant.  He can be depended on in any situation – and any former client would attest to this.  He has helped in the rehabilitation of countless dogs with his ability to make good decisions.  He can be trusted off leash in basically any situation and, although he’s a “pit bull,” not to engage an aggressor in a fight.  (This comes from his being a balanced dog, genetically & psychologically.)  Spark has been bit once or twice in his life.  (Okay, twice, and the events are very explicitly documented in my mind).  One was by a foster dog (Tug Boat) when Spark was six months old and I knew a lot less than I know now, and one was by a friend’s Australian shepherd, who gave him a nice little “drive-by.”  (We’d been excusing the targeting behavior for too long.)  Spark would rather walk away than engage.  I feel the same way.  When people say our dogs are mirrors of ourselves… there’s truth to that, I think.

Spark changes minds all the time… everywhere he goes.  He may not be world’s most affectionate dog, but that is one of the things I love about him.  You gotta earn it with Spark Plug.  He’ll never be mean to you, but he won’t automatically run up and kiss you either.  Once he knows you, he’ll go bat***t when he sees you – just ask my mom or sister.

We’ve had umpteen foster dogs, and adopted more than five.  (I honestly think SP would rather be an Only Dog.  He can’t be bothered.)  However, despite his own misgivings, he’s helped those dogs become the dogs they were meant to be… he helped bring them to balance.  He’ll always have that legacy.

Spark will be turning seven in August.  I am desperately trying to convince myself that he isn’t “middle-aged” (contrary to popular belief and countless brands of dog food).   I repeatedly state that I will have to be scraped off the ground when he goes.
Picture
If there 
was ever 
any doubt 
in my mind 
as to 
whether 
or not 
dogs have 
souls, 

Spark 
disproved
that myth 
in 
rapid 
succession...

Picture
Picture
Picture
... To Be Continued ...

Most of the photography in this article by extraordinary RaeJane Photography.
4 Comments

Patches' Story: Life of "the Black Dog"

6/4/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Patches... was an asshole.  No other way to say the way a typical layperson would describe him.  When I first met him, he introduced himself by standing back on his haunches and barking defensively.  As an experienced "dog person" (trainer being a better word), I gave him my side, ignored his barking, chatted with his [amazing] foster parents, and tossed treats in his general direction.  (While this was an effective way to meet Mr. Patches in his highly aroused state, the typical "Don't do this at home" waiver applies.)  Within minutes, we were fast friends.  (This had way more to do with my energy than my dog treats.)

Something clicked with Patches & I in the very beginning... something that hasn't changed in the intervening years since we've been together.  That moment at the Hopkinton State Park changed quickly from making fast progress, to Patch showing me what was up when a less dog-savvy friend of mine pulled up late in his vehicle.  Jimmy walked casually to where I was standing (while I was winning over "Kujo") to hand me a collar.  I calmly said, "Don't stare at him; just hand me the collar."  Human nature frequently takes over.  And it did in this situation - and Jimmy was pretty lucky he didn't get within bite range.  I grabbed the collar and dismissed Jimmy boy.


Picture
Ya'see, Patches was blessed by having some seeeeeeeeriously wonderful foster parents who were unwilling to accept his "un-adoptable" status as the be-all, end-all, and they were pulling out all the stops and reaching out to give him options.  THAT, my friends, is how we met.  I received the longest email I have ever received from a foster parent, got intrigued, and responded.

I am the fortunate owner & founder of HEX Dog Training & Behavior Modification, blah blah blah - let's spare you my credentials - but suffice is to say, I live my life in bully breed dogs, and that is the capacity in which Patch's foster parents reached out.

Let me reiterate: Patches' foster parents were incredible, especially Kelly.  She is an amazing budding trainer who had Patches very familiar with the clicker, as well as countless other skills positively reinforced, & Patch had some "mad skills" because of her.  (Clicker training is AMAZING I'll cover that happily in a future article).  Patches did not come to me a wild animal with no skills - he had skills.  He just had some major obstacles to overcome, and my situation was better equipped to deal with those, and my techniques able to take him farther.  After we proved that with a "meet 'n greet" with our three dog household crew, the rest may be history... (Who's writing this article?  I adopted him.)


Picture
On top of the fact that Patch had "Stranger Danger" issues, he also displayed early symptoms of dog-aggression and had been previously returned to his original shelter after proving more than his lovely (no sarcasm) first foster family could handle.

I am proud to say that Patches went on to gain his... ta-dah!.. Canine Good Citizen certification, and has assisted countless foster dogs in their own rehabilitation.  Imagine that?

Alas...  His many successes were not without difficulty and there are many factors that contribute to a dog's developing personality, in particular, what I love to call the "M" Factor ("M" for Maturity).  (Did I mention Patches was around eight months old when I unexpectedly[?] adopted him?)  The "M" Factor is clearly evident in our case study here, Mr. Patch-Tastic.  While true dog aggression is extremely rare, there are dogs that display it - I'd say less than 1%.  It [true dog aggression] is largely genetic, and while someone (qualified) can certainly do a lot to modify behavior, it [the trait of dog aggression] is something that will always be present to more or less degree and have to be managed.  No prob'm.  (That's a New England accent in type.)


Picture
So what's he doing here with three other dogs, you say?  Most (even dog-aggressive) dogs can become acclimated to life with their specific pack (under very strong, calm & benevolent leadership).  It is commonly acknowledged that dogs are pack animals, and animals, of any species, "want" to be balanced.  You can cater to that deep-seeded nature with proper exercise, (YES, folks, LOTS of physical exercise - there ain't no substitute), training & management.  (Management is an under-discussed term in the training world, and here we will touch on it.  I'll blog about that specificity later.)


Picture
SO, less about the logistics of controversial canine philosophies and more about Patches...

Patches is my third dog.  By third dog, I mean the third dog that I adopted as, myself, an adult (as opposed to participating in the adoption of my family dogs growing up).  (Caruso, a Chow mix, was my first, who passed away to cancer after two short years and spent most of his time with my roommate Emily* - with whom I adopted him.  Spark Plug, APBT, was my second dog, and he is turning seven this August [2015].)

Patches bounded into my life completely unexpectedly after my angel of a [different] roommate set up that first meeting (partially chronicled above) after which Patch came home with us "to try an overnight."  Ya'all know how that ends up.  Regardless of all these facts seemingly to the contrary, Patches is one of the greatest things to ever happen to me.  

Patch-Tastic has taught me so much about love, patience, sensitivity, handling, management, training, and perhaps most important of all - the difference between training & rehabilitation.  I say this all the time, but Training and Rehabilitation are not the same thing.  They go hand in hand, for sure, but are they the same thing?  I say neigh.  Patches taught me that.  Training is easier.  Rehab means months, years, of work and consistency, and training is merely a component of rehabilitation.

Patches is a GOOF ball - and anyone who knows him will attest to that.  (Right Kelly, Mikaela, Randle,  Mum, Ryan, Jame...?).  He is one of the most affectionate dogs I have ever come across, and extremely intelligent.  He does obedience & tricks with the gusto of a fifteen year old girl at a carnival.  He is so intuitive - it's almost creepy sometimes - and he does this crazy thing when you're upset where he comes up to you all slow and gentle and grabs your hand ever-so-sweetly with his paw.  All he wants to do is hold hands, nothing more.  He'll sit like that for two episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.  (Can't help but insert the very linguistic "lol" right here.)


Picture
Just recently, a client-turned-friend came by the house. (We'll call her "Jill" for this article.)  She has a freaky and deep-seeded fear of strange dogs.  (It's reasonably understandable if you know her story.)  I made the executive decision that it was time (in her own? rehabilitation) to meet the dreaded Patches.   

***Side Note*** Ya see, Patches doesn't often come to work with me at HEX, nor does he participate in every dog-friendly event that occasionally the rest of my crew does.  It stresses him out and he isn't into it, nor is it safe beyond a shadow of a dog, for the rest of the K9 participants.  Let's clear it up by saying this: I walk him in my public neighborhood wearing a muzzle because, while we could walk by you and your dog - and you'd have NO idea anything was "wrong" with  him, if he was nozzle-less ("nozzle" is the favored term for "muzzle" around here) and Fluffy ran up on him off leash and jumped him, Fluffy wouldn't make out so well.  My neighborhood is a normal neighborhood and while they're all sweet and generally under control, there is the occasional loose dog.  Can't do anything about THAT so I choose to nozzle my non-dog-loving dog while walking the neighborhood because I am aware of what his reaction can be to the unexpected (and well-intentioned) miscellaneous "friendly" dog.  I've gotten over the "oh my gosh, what will the neighbors think!" bullsh*t with regard to the nozzle.  It doesn't matter.  I am protecting my dog.  I'm being responsible.  They [the neighbors] appreciate that.  Whether they know it or not.

So Jill's in my kitchen.

I walk Patch out of his crate by his collar, and lead him through a quick obedience routine as Jill's color drains from her face... and then returns three shades redder.  I keep Patch busy and - I admit - showed off a bit.  (Did I mention how effing smart Patches is?)  You'll never guess what happened next...


Picture
Patches goes up to Jill very gently, circles her - no petting him; she was too scared - and lifts his paws ever so slightly to jump up (which I haven't vehemently put time into correcting over the last several years because it took long enough to get him to want to approach anyone) - which freaks her out.  He recognizes his jump (however gentle.. still a jump) isn't welcome.  So... instead... 

Picture
Patches drops to the floor. On Jill's feet. And then he rolls onto his back with his paws folded in the air!  (You know the move??)

It was right there in that moment that he made it impossible for Jill to be afraid of him.  She started laughing, reached down and scratched his belly (just like he wanted!) and we all laughed.  It was simply amazing to see Patch's intuitiveness really show.

Ya see, this is the dog that Patches was always meant to be.  He has that beautiful intuitive nature, desirable of therapy dogs.  In Jill's moment, they both had a chance to shine.  He felt her anxiety, and reacted to it in a way that even I couldn't have predicted.  

Given, let's be clear - I am a professional dog trainer & instructor (have been for almost eight years at 30 years old), and I regulated this entire situation.  I would NEVER put anyone in harm's way, and this wasn't a "Let's see how it goes" situation. I was aware of every moment and I orchestrated the interaction... like a conductor.  The rest was up to Jill & Patches.  And it was totally beautiful.


Picture
So here, folks, is my tribute to Patches.  He is an my angel, my "cuddle-buddy," my protector, my sweetheart, my teacher... and it means a lot to me to unveil this great guy.  Because he doesn't frequently come to work with me doesn't mean he doesn't do his job to change perceptions (to the positive).  Just ask Jill. 
1 Comment

What's the Deal with Dog Backpacks?  ***2nd Edition with NEW LINKS & COMMENTARY***

6/1/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
It is my pleasure to release the second (revised) edition of this article about dog backpacks. IMO, dog backpacks are one of the training world's (strangely) best-kept secrets, so here we are to bring some more awareness to a super cool tool that can help you and your K9 in ways you probably never imagined.

A dog backpack, for those of you who aren't familiar with it, is a piece of equipment that looks like saddlebags.  (See pic above of Spark Plug modeling his.)  The dog wears it - (as opposed to is carried in it!) - and the bags, which come in many different styles, can be used to carry everything from actual weights, to cell phones, leashes and poop bags!

Dog backpacks can work wonders in a training program, as there are psychological reasons to use one, not just physical.  The psychological benefits of this tool far outweigh the physical benefits.  Here is what I mean by that: 

Picture you're the dog for a paragraph. 

A weighted backpack is sized to you.  (Sometimes one takes the step of acclimating the dog to wearing the pack with NO weight in it first, but not always... it depends on the sensitivities of a particular dog).  You're aware of the pack on your back.  You have to compensate for it in your movement.  You have to adjust your balance a little bit.  It can shift the focus from panicky & scattered to more stream-lined and focused.  

Often, and sometimes immediately, you see the dog relax.  Less "scattered," I call it (scanning ahead or around them with their eyes, looking back 'n forth, setting themselves up to over-react to whatever is on the horizon, that kind of thing).  The backpack helps channel their focus & helps them "settle" or feel more grounded.  

(I found out recently they do similar things with child behavior modification programs... using weighted vests to help with that "scattered" feeling of anxiety.  I am in no way, shape or form an expert on child behavior modification, but countless clients that work in those fields have a light bulb go off in their heads when we are having the "doggie backpack" conversation, and repeatedly, that is the feedback that I get.)  

Worth a thought: many many MANY people own working breed dogs and don't even realize it. When I say "working" I am referring more to a personality type than a specific breed.  A working dog wants a job to do, and for lack of education, a large percentage of owners don't give their working breed dogs that respect.  Carrying both of your parcels via the backpack on a structured walk can be a form of a job, and once acclimated, so many dogs flourish with this change in their routines.

The backpack also has obvious physical advantages - it's like you running with weights.  Tires ya out more because you are working harder, and I definitely feel that any amount of anxious energy one can alleviate is a good thing!  (They apparently make similar things - vests - for working out as well, which I learned from a client that is very into physical fitness & the gym & that kind of thing.. who knew! Makes total sense.) 

I am not saying that getting the backpack and weighing it down will solve every (or any) behavior (or weight!) problem, but this is a safe product with safe advice that I can safely give over the internet. Sometimes, the change in a dog is remarkable and immediate in just adding the backpack alone to a well-planned training/rehabilitation program - no guarantees, of course.  Dogs are individual and independent-minded.  No matter what any trainer tells you, you cannot guarantee the behavior of a living creature any more than someone can guarantee your behavior.  The backpack, however, can be a very valuable tool in a well thought-out rehabilitation, behavior-modification, or simple exercise program.  Almost every HEX client has one and many will tell you what a life-changer it can be.

As far as adding weight goes, you generally start with minimal weight (like cans of tuna fish or soup, depending on the size of the dog), and get to about 10-12% of the dog's body weight; hardcore "backpackers" approach 20% of the pet's weight.   (Some packs - or vests - like the LaGuard fitness vest, actually don't have "saddlebags," per se, but allow long thin weights to be slid in to compartments. This makes it possible to adjust the weight in small, consistent increments without the bulk of a traditional doggie backpack.)

The backpack can be a huge asset to part of an overall rehabilitation/training program: no more, no less.  Any tool sitting on the dining room table is just that: an inanimate object that has no power behind it on its own.  I am a huge fan of the backpack for what it is, and just like anything else, it isn't for every dog, every situation, every time.  Check with the vet first if there is any reason the physical weight could be a problem.

Here are links to some of my favorite models and searches:
   http://www.laguardvest.com/
   http://www.petsmart.com/dog/backpacks/outward-hound-dog-backpack-zid36-7323/cat-36-catid-100303
   http://www.ruffwear.com/Products/dog_packs
   http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Pet-Supplies-Dog-Backpacks/zgbs/pet-supplies/2975314011
   (In my opinion, the version they carry at popular PetCo isn't worth getting... there is a reason it's so cheap; our fell apart rapidly.)

Please visit HEX Dog Training on facebook at www.facebook.com/hexdogs and check out our actual website www.hexdogs.com!  Contact us at hexdogs@gmail.com or here.  Thank you for reading, and HAPPY TRAINING!

Cassie-Leigh Stock, ABCDT, CTDI, AKC-CGC, CDT, TPU, All-Star TC
Owner & Founder, Higher Expectations Dog Training & Behavior Modification
Picture
3 Comments
    Search archives for specific topics:

    the Authors

    Cassie & Kim own HEX Dog Training and bring their experience to you in this entertaining collection of articles on all things dog training.

    Archives

    October 2018
    April 2017
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Dogs
    Dog Trainers
    Dog Training
    Hex
    Hexdogs
    Pitbulls
    Pit Bulls

    RSS Feed


The material contained on this site is digitally tagged for copy write and trademark protection.  All information, to include but not limited to: photos, text, logos and images are the sole possession of Higher Expectations Dog Training and Behavior Modification, its' owners and subsidiaries.  It may not be used without the express written consent of the organization.

Photos used under Creative Commons from Todd Money, Mary Anne Morgan, Todd Money, Todd Money, Todd Money, docoverachiever