Episode 46 - All About Day Care & Off Leash Dog Play
The pet service industry is growing in leaps and bounds each day, especially with the economic changes and people out of work.  Americans shell out over $40 billion each year to care for their pets. 

While the benefits of dog care and off leash dog play can be wonderful, it might not be the right business for you or the right place for your dog.  Caring for people’s beloved pets at your facility requires business skills, animal skills, people skills and money.  There are joys and risks to owning a day care and dropping your dog off for what you think will be a day of play and fun.  Robin Bennett has been in the business for over 12 years and she’ll tell it all!

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 45 - TRAINING SESSION #13 – “Stand Still!” – Teaching Your Dog to Stand Stay
Being able to send your dog to a mat, dog bed or crate from a distance will come in handy more than you know. It can be used to get your dog away from the front door, relax during mealtime, avoid being stepped on and much more. There are several methods to teaching this behavior so we will go over a few in this session.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 44 - The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog with Dr. Doug Knueven
More and more pet owners are seeking holistic care for many reasons.  The world of holistic care for dogs can be quite mysterious and confusing at the same time.  The term holistic has become quite a buzzword and can easily be confused as to exactly what people mean when they call something holistic.

“Dr. Doug” will talk to us about the most common holistic treatment methods, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy.  In addition, we will learn how conventional veterinary practices can be integrated into a holistic care program, including safe vaccination protocols.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 43 - TRAINING SESSION #12 – “Go To Place” – There’s Nothing Better Than Teaching Your Dog To Go Chill Out!
Being able to send your dog to a mat, dog bed or crate from a distance will come in handy more than you know. It can be used to get your dog away from the front door, relax during mealtime, avoid being stepped on and much more. There are several methods to teaching this behavior so we will go over a few in this session.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 42 - Clicker Basics for Dogs and Puppies
What is clicker training and why is it so popular?  A clicker is simply a tool, just like your dog’s leash and collar that helps you train your dog.  It’s a small plastic box with a mechanism that, when pressed, makes a clicking sound. Clicker training is a special form of positive reinforcement training that emphasizes the use of two types of reward: a primary reward and a secondary reward. 

Once your dog becomes “clicker savvy”, meaning that he really understands the meaning of the click, he may start to “offer” all his favorite tricks. A dog that offers behaviors has caught on to the game of training and is trying to figure out what it takes to get you to click! This is great mental stimulation for your dog and makes training an interesting and creative process for you. It’s a win-win situation!

Carolyn Barney will review the basics of clicker training and go over ways to “turn your dog” onto another way to train!

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 41 - TRAINING SESSION #11 – “Get Back!” – Teaching Your Dog to Back Away from Doors and Other Areas
Teaching your dog to move away from doorways, hot ovens, the refrigerator and more can come in very handy when you are carrying something or want your dog to avoid getting hurt.  This is especially necessary for small dogs since they can easily be stepped on. 

Once your dog has learned to move back, we will work on getting him to sit or lie down away from you.  This can come in handy if your dog is at a distance and you need him to be still or when he is riding in a car and blocking your view.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 40 - Barking Dogs
Do you come home to find complaints from your neighbors taped to your door about your barking dog? Do you have to put your dog outside when guests come to the door because he barks uncontrollably? Does your dog seem to be constantly “on patrol”, barking at every person, animal or sound that he sees or hears? If so, you have a barking dog problem. In this interview, we talk to certified animal behaviorist Dr. Daniel Estep about why dogs bark excessively and what can be done to reduce or stop problem barking. Dr. Estep is internationally recognized as a teacher, researcher and educator in animal behavior. For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 39 - TRAINING SESSION #10 – “Teaching Good Leash Manners” – Walk With Me – I am Not a Sled!
Many of you are probably experiencing the problem of your puppy or pulling on leash. As with most behavior problems, this does not simply go away with age. In fact, the older and larger your puppy gets, the worse it can become. To allow your puppy or dog to pull actually tells your him that pulling is acceptable because the more you reward a behavior, even ones you do not like, the stronger the behavior becomes. Many owners inadvertently teach their dogs the fine art of mushing by yanking and pulling them back while continuing to walk. Instead of teaching them not to pull, you teach them to pull harder. When a dog pulls forward and you pull back and continue to walk, the dog’s reaction is to pull forward again, only harder. He is being inadvertently rewarded since the walk continues; he gets to sniff and his obedient owner (you) follows behind him. For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 38 - The Use of Psychoactive Medication in Pets with Behavioral Problems
There are many contributing factors that cause behavioral problems in pets. Some of these factors include poor training techniques, lack of understanding on how pets communicate, environmental factors, and medical issues. In addition an animal’s genetic predisposition and underlying neurochemistry are also factors that can lead to behavioral problems such as aggression, anxiety, panic, house-soiling, feather picking etc…..If the behavioral problems stems in part or solely due to underlying neurophysiological reasons, medication may be a necessary and valuable part of an overall treatment program.  The assessment of whether the behavior problem is based in underlying physiology should be seen by a qualified individual such as a veterinary behaviorist (www.dacvb.org) or a veterinarian with a special interest in behavior (www.avsab.org).

The medications that can be used in pets with behavior problems are similar to medications used in people with various behavioral issues. The medications are similar as the underlying neuroanatomy and neurochemistry in people and pets is similar. Medications are not without risk and each patient needs to be evaluated on an individual basis to identify which medication would be best for that pet and realistic expectation of that medication. 

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 37 - TRAINING SESSION#9 – “GET OFF ME!” – Teaching Your Dog to Properly Greet People Without Jumping Up
A very common behavior problem that people deal with is jumping up on people to greet. Most puppies and dogs jump on people out of excitement, friendliness, and as a means to seek attention. Inadvertently, people pay attention to a jumping puppy by pushing her off, by making eye contact, and/or by petting her. Most of your houseguests are being polite by telling you they do not mind, when, in fact, they really do. You must teach your dog that jumping is not a way to greet humans or get attention. This is important regardless of the size of your dog – 4 muddy paws are still 4 muddy paws!

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 36 - Dogology! What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals About You!
Throughout the past several thousand years, we have tried to understand and organize personality types using the stars, skull shapes, tea leaves, and the human mind. Finally, there is a more reliable - if often higher-shedding - system for understanding yourself and the other two-legged creatures around you: dogology. Yes dogs. Dogs can talk. Vicki Croke and Sarah Wilson, the world's first practicing dogologists, have been jotting it all down, forming this fool-proof personality-analyzing system.

Sarah will talk to us about what they have found out and how it can help with your relationship with your dog.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 35 - TRAINING SESSION #8 – “HERE” - Getting a Really Reliable Recall! – Part 2
Too much emphasis has been placed on comparing the similarities of domestic dogs and wolves and not enough on recognizing the significant differences between these 2 species. This unilateral and misguided focus has perpetuated myths about dominance and the “need” for owners to be “alpha”, which has had a significant negative impact on dog training and handling philosophies. The result has been a communication breakdown between owners and their dogs resulting in conflict for both parties.

We will discuss behavioral, lifestyle and genetic differences between domestic dogs and wolves and how this impacts dog-owner interactions. We will consider challenges in working with owner-directed aggression, behavior modification strategies that work, those that don’t work, and management options.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 34 - Much Ado About Dominance Part 2
Too much emphasis has been placed on comparing the similarities of domestic dogs and wolves and not enough on recognizing the significant differences between these 2 species. This unilateral and misguided focus has perpetuated myths about dominance and the “need” for owners to be “alpha”, which has had a significant negative impact on dog training and handling philosophies. The result has been a communication breakdown between owners and their dogs resulting in conflict for both parties.

We will discuss behavioral, lifestyle and genetic differences between domestic dogs and wolves and how this impacts dog-owner interactions. We will consider challenges in working with owner-directed aggression, behavior modification strategies that work, those that don’t work, and management options.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 33 - Much Ado About Dominance Part 1
Too much emphasis has been placed on comparing the similarities of domestic dogs and wolves and not enough on recognizing the significant differences between these 2 species. This unilateral and misguided focus has perpetuated myths about dominance and the “need” for owners to be “alpha”, which has had a significant negative impact on dog training and handling philosophies. The result has been a communication breakdown between owners and their dogs resulting in conflict for both parties.

We will discuss behavioral, lifestyle and genetic differences between domestic dogs and wolves and how this impacts dog-owner interactions. We will consider challenges in working with owner-directed aggression, behavior modification strategies that work, those that don’t work, and management options.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 32 - TRAINING SESSION #7 – “HERE” - Getting a Really Reliable Recall! – Part 1
Before you begin to teach a behavior, make sure you have a clear definition of the behavior in your head.  Imagine what it should look like and do not deviate from that picture. 

I like to use the word “HERE” as my emergency recall word as opposed to the word “COME.”  Most people use the word “come” in everyday life and tend to overuse it.  For example, we might say “come on” to our dogs when we want them to move along with us.  Some say “come on, you know this” when they are becoming frustrated with the dog.  Others may have used the word “come” to mean move to me but the dog only has a 50/50 success rate.  If you want a really reliable recall, you need to ensure that the dog moves to you 100% of the time.  You are conditioning a behavior.  If you are sloppy, the dog will be sloppy.  In Part 1, we will start off with the basics of getting that really reliable recall.

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org for an order form.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 31 - Helping Fido Be Happy Home Alone
One of the most common complaints that dog owners have is that their dogs cause problems when they are left alone. They bark, destroy things, house soil or escape from the property and cause headaches for the owners and their neighbors. These problems can be caused by a variety of different causes, from boredom to separation anxiety. The causes are often very different from what owners think they are, because they are NOT due to spite, revenge or just “acting out.” In addition, Many dogs are labeled as having “separation anxiety” when in fact they do not.

Discover how to tell what’s motivating your dog’s home alone problems, and what actions you can take to solve them. Even if your dog doesn’t have any home alone “issues”, you’ll find out ways to enrich his home alone time so he can be happier by himself.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 30 - TRAINING SESSION #6 – Stay – “Wait!” - Adding Distractions
Now that your dog is becoming proficient at waiting for permission to go through doorways by making eye contact, it is time for you to add distance between the two of you as well as distractions. If you have not taught your dog to “Wait”, please refer back to Training Session #5 for the teaching steps.

In this session, we will work on getting your dog to look away from distractions that he might want to run to and look for permission before he moves forward. It is nice to have a polite dog that waits at the backdoor but will he wait if there are animals running around?

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 29 - Bullies? – The Bully Breeds
There is a type of dog called a bully. They consist of several breeds having a predisposition to be bullies (Pitbulls, Bull Terriers, Boxers), but the behaviors are not confined to one type of dog. They require “different” raising skills than many other dogs, including more work on impulse control and on appropriate body language. Having owned many different breeds, as well as a bully breed, Trish will give us some insight into what we need to do if we own a “bully” breed.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 28 - TRAINING SESSION #5 – “Wait!” Stop Moving Forward!
It is extremely important to teach your dog to “WAIT” - both for your convenience and for his safety.  “WAIT” puts your dog on hold - it tells him to proceed no further.  Whereas your release words grant permission to do something, “WAIT” denies permission. 

The most important use of “WAIT” is at doors - the doors of your home or other buildings and the doors of cars.  When you use your release word (“OK!”) and open a door, the dog is permitted to go through.  When you say “WAIT,” he is not permitted to go through.  In order for your dog to be released, he must make eye contact with you.  When your dog makes eye contact with you, he is asking for permission.  If you are consistent, your dog will always look to you for permission before he heads out the door. Teaching “WAIT” makes going in and out of doors convenient and safe. 

For more information and written training manuals, please visit www.sthuberts.org or email thofer@sthuberts.org for an order form.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 27 - Emotions In You and Your Dog

What’s the same, and what’s different? Recent advances in biology have underscored how much of our emotional lives are shared by our four-legged best friends, although it’s also important to be aware of the differences. However, we all experience emotions, but don’t always understand them. What are emotions? Do people and dogs share facial expressions when communicating their emotions and if so, how? Fear, anger, happiness, love, grief, jealousy and sympathy are all human emotions. Do dogs have these as well? We’ll talk about how an understanding of emotions in people and dogs can enrich the lives of both of you.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 26 - TRAINING SESSION #4 – Stay – Adding Distractions and Distance

The purpose of adding distractions when you say “Stay” is to teach your dog that it is worth responding to your cues, despite the fact that the environment around your dog might be more interesting. Your dog should obey you anywhere, anytime, and under any circumstance. This is called reliability. You want to be able to rely on your dog to obey, no matter what.

To get a high level of reliability, you must practice with your dog in new and different environments where distractions occur naturally. Pia will help you learn to get your dog to be reliable when told to Stay, regardless of what is going on around your dog as well as beginning to add distance between the two of you.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 25 - Is My Dog Grieving?

Do dogs grieve the loss of a canine companion? Many owners wonder what the signs of grief in dogs are, and what they can do to help their beloved friend during difficult times. We will review the signs of grieving and what can be mistaken as grieving may have another cause. A list of things to do and not to do will also be discussed.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 24 - TRAINING SESSION #3 - Step 1 to Teaching Stay

It’s important that you effectively communicate what you want from your dog. Remember, dogs do not understand English. They do not understand when you talk to them in sentences, paragraphs, or lectures. They are not born knowing what sit, down, stay or come mean. Dogs can learn quite a large vocabulary of words and short phrases. However, for each word or phrase you want him to respond to, you must carefully teach him what it means by communicating with him in a way he will understand. We communicate with dogs by a process of demonstration and reward. We help the dog learn what our English word means by helping him carry out the action as we say the word. As soon as he does it, we reinforce him for cooperating.

Today’s lesson will focus on teaching your dog to hold a reliable Stay. Pia will work with you and your dog on the first steps of getting a reliable Sit and Down Stay. Teaching your dog to exhibit self-control will make your life much easier, especially when you have company over or are out and about.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 23 - Selecting the Right Dog from a Shelter

Our interview will focus on adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. I will be detailing specifically what behaviors to look for when meeting a dog or puppy, as well as what adopters can expect from the shelter system.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 22 - TRAINING SESSION #2 – Eye Contact – When, How and Why?

To teach anything, you must first have your dog’s eye contact and attention. Everything you will do with your dog builds on this exercise. This is your foundation for getting reliable behaviors. When you say your dog’s name, your dog should look into your eyes. He should not continue doing what he was doing nor should you have to repeat his name over and over. You should get a good solid look into your eyes, not a glance, not a look at your treat pouch, your hand or elsewhere. Pia will go over techniques to get your dog to “want” to look at you, even when you don’t ask.

What happens when you take the leash off your dog? Does he run away? How insulting! Pia will teach you an exercise that will help keep your dog near you and wait for permission to leave your side, regardless of whether the leash is on or off. Putting the leash back on a loose dog should not be a punisher for the dog. You will practice this exercise as Pia talks you through each step.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 21 - Summer Noise Phobias

Summer can be a difficult time for noise phobic dogs as fireworks and thunderstorms occur throughout the summer. In severe cases, a dog’s fearful reactions can literally be life threatening as some dogs will engage in extreme measures attempting to get away from what to them are terrifying sounds.

We’ll discuss the challenges in working with noise phobias, what’s helpful and what’s not, myths about “rewarding fear”, management options, and why winter is the best time to work with these problems.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 20 - TRAINING SESSION #1 – Getting Off to a Good Start

Training should be fun for both you and your dog. Positive reinforcement training to shape your dog's behavior encourages upbeat, enthusiastic responses and ensures that your dog will enjoy learning.

First of all, we will talk about rewards. Getting the right reward will motivate your dog to perform that behavior again in hopes of getting another reward. You will find your dog’s motivational triggers, learn how to rate your rewards and when and how to use them. Now you need a signal to tell your dog what he just did was right. Learn about marker words and how to use them correctly.

Teaching “take it” and “give” are critical in developing a respectful relationship with your dog. Dogs that will not willingly give up objects when asked can end up sick, require surgery or bite. The best way to teach this is by playing Tug! Once your dog learns the rules and plays fairly and politely, this will probably end up on the top of your list to use as a reward. Pia will carefully go over the rules to effectively play tug with your dog.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 19 - Play and Behavior Problems

Play is an entire category of behavior that is underutilized in treating behavior problems. Play can be incorporated into treatment plans for many types of dog behavioral issues. Because so many types of behavior problems are arousal-based, at least in part, the energetic nature of play can be an effective way to redirect dogs’ behavior into more appropriate channels. Another reason that play can often be so effective at treating behavior problems is that play does more than change a dog’s behavior. Play can actually change dogs’ emotions. Many behavior problems have an emotional component, so changing the dogs’ emotions through play treats the cause of the issue, not just the effects of it. When play is part of a treatment plan, client compliance is generally better, with the result that better progress is made in improving the problem behavior. Using play to treat behavior problems makes it fun for both people and dogs, and that is a large part of why it is so effective.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 18 - Parenting Your Dog

How many parents use their parenting skills to raise dogs? Trish King conducts privates on a regular basis, many of them with successful parents. As a result her book “Parenting Your Dog” published by TFH Publications focuses just on that. It seems logical that people could use their good parenting skills to raise their dogs, including setting limits and using natural consequences for actions. Trish will give us some great tips in using the skills that we are already good at!

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com

Episode 17 - Can You Hear Me Now? Training a Deaf Dog

Owning a deaf dog may not be as difficult as one thinks. As humans, we rely heavily on sound, but the deaf dog can force you to be more creative in your methods and more conservative with your communication. Most inexperienced handlers talk and use sound way too much as part of the training process. As a result, dogs become overloaded with stimuli and begin to tune out. They are quickly labeled distracted and inattentive.

This interview will explore how training the deaf dog will help you focus on non-verbal communication skills and teach you to "edit" what you "say" so that your meaning is clear to deaf and hearing dogs alike.

Have questions? E-mail Pia at pia@petliferadio.com