Mental "Switches" for Dog Training

In a recent dog class, I was attempting to help an athletic male teenager raise the pitch of his voice and interact with his dog with more enthusiasm.  Doing so is so important to convincing your dog to come to you rather than leaving you for other tempting environmental distractions.  However, this seems to be a more difficult thing for men to do than women:  1), our voices are usually deeper and 2), we have been culturally trained not to act silly in front of others; so goes the saying, "act like a man" (whatever that means, LOL).  He was unable to raise the pitch of his voice despite several attempts on my part to model the behavior for him which gave him permission to act silly with his dog.  Fortunately, I remembered an excellent neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) training program I recently attended regarding "switches".

In February 2010, I attend an excellent NLP seminar (described in an earlier post) in Orlando, Florida put on by Larry Sonntag of Salty Dog Farms and hosted by Robin MacFarlane of That's My Dog, both of Wisconsin.  Part of the training talked about "switches" which are mental images to form new experiences with events that occur in our lives.  As a very simplistic explanation, a "switch" means you switch or change an internal thinking error into the desired mental image which then changes your experience, mental and body responses and consequently your thinking and performance.

So I asked the young man, what was the most fun thing he enjoyed doing.  Without hesitation and with a sparkle in his eye, he exclaimed, "jumping on the trampoline!"  I then told him to see himself jumping on the trampoline and calling his dog over to him.  Immediately, he became care free, his pitch increased, and his dog came running to him with enthusiasm.  It was a true delight to see this young man "get it".  All it took was for him to blend, in his mind's eye, the fun experience of jumping on the trampoline with the training of his dog.

With another client, I helped her to refocus and build her confidence of walking her dog amongst other dogs at parks using NLP.  Through training sessions, she learned better dog handling skills and she taught her dog better manners but she just needed to match that with believing in herself.  Her confidence and dog handling skills have improved considerably.

Dog training requires not only knowledge, skills and good timing but also a belief in yourself that you can improve the relationship and working performance with your canine companion.  Sometimes it takes a moment to calm the spirit and see yourself being successful with your dog or other times it could be as simple as visualizing yourself on a trampoline.  Contact Michael Burkey , a professional dog trainer in Michigan to experience a similar positive coaching experience.  He will will help you solve your dog training problems and help you build the relationship you desire to have with your dog.


http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com
info@MichiganDogTrainer.com
734-634-4152

Exercising your dog

Spring is finally here and I'm excited for the new opportunities it presents!  After having braved the winter cold days, it's now a joy instead of a chore to get out and walk my dogs.  For a dog to truly get the exercise they need; they need to run.  So what does one do if you're not a runner yourself?  Don't despair, it can be as simple as biking your dog.

On Youtube, there is a video of a New Zealand Bikjoring group that bike their dogs through the woods.  Even if you're not an extreme biker, take a look at the video as it almost appears as if it is in 3D.  They barely miss the trees in the woods.  It's a rush just to watch them.  They are using x back harnesses on their dogs which reduces the stress to their dogs' bodies as they pull the bikers through the woods.  An x back harness is different than a walking harness (leash attaches on the dog's back as opposed to an Easy Walk Harness that attaches to the chest to prevent pulling) in that it is longer and distributes the pull over the dog's entire back including his powerful hips.  Bikjoring is an excellent non-winter activity for a dog that is taught to skijor or to pull a sled.

For a dog that won't be doing skijoring or pulling a sled, than you will probably want to consider using a "Walky Dog" instead of an x back harness as it places the dog on your side instead of out in front of the bike.  A "Walky Dog" prevents the dog from being able to run in front of or behind your bike.  He/she runs comfortably out to the side of your bike ensuring there are no entanglements.  It is recommended that you use the Walky Dog in combination with a regular walking harness (leash attaches on top of his/her back) so as to take the pressure off from the neck area that a regular neck collar would do.  There are also step scooters on the market which look like skateboards with a handlebar but they tend to be a rather expensive investment.  One can purchase a Walky Dog for only $37.95.

For those who don't bike but have a social "green light" dog, taking your dog to a dog park or doggie day care such as Lil Nell's Pet Salon in Walled Lake, Michigan; a few times per week, is also an excellent option so that your dog can get regular exercise running and playing with other dogs off leash.  Or if your dog loves to chase balls, find an isolated area in which you can practice your dog's retrieving skills.  Doing this at a dog park though is not recommended as it may be too stimulating for other dogs which could cause a dog fight over the ball.

Another option is to walk your dog.  It's not running but it's still good exercise for your dog and for yourself.  There are many interesting and fun places to walk your dog such as Maybury State Park nature trails, Cherry Hill Nature Preserve, Gallup Park in Ann Arbor, Rotary Park nature trails in Livonia, Kenningston Metro Park and many more.  To experience these places with a group of fellow dog lovers, join the MichiganDogTrainer "meet up group" who meet up at these and more locations as a group.

If your dog still needs a little help with learning to walk on a loose leash then contact Michael Burkey, a professional dog trainer in southeast Michigan.  He offers private dog training as well as group classes such as Basic Dog Manners, Outdoor Adventures and many others.  And, if you've got the desire to become a runner with your canine companion, contact Jt Clough, a professional dog trainer and nine time Ironman competitor who also happens to be an excellent fitness dog training coach.

No matter your venue, the important thing is to get outdoors and enjoy fresh air and exercise with your dogs.  Your dog will love you for it and you'll be healthier for it too.




 Important:  As with any exercise program, please consult with your medical doctor and veterinarian before embarking on a new exercise program for you and your dog.

New Canine Good Citizens

On March 15, 2010, Jennifer Rutkiewicz of Ann Arbor earned a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate with her second dog, Milo, a Beagle.  A couple of months ago, Jennifer earned her first CGC certificate with her other dog, Hailey, an all American mix breed.

The CGC program tests dogs and their owners via ten different exercises to determine if they are good citizens in the dog community.  Some of those exercises include:  coming when called, sit stay or a down stay, walking on a loose leash, reacting appropriately to distractions, walking amongst a crowd without jumping on people, and more.  To learn how your dog can become a good citizen, contact Michael Burkey, a professional dog trainer in south east Michigan.  Group classes are held at the Humane Society of Huron Valley, Ann Arbor Michigan and at Lil Nell's Pet Salon in Walled Lake, Michigan.  Michael also provides in home training and board and train programs for clients.

Congrats to Jennifer and Milo!  They have earned it!

What to do on a Rainy & Dreary Day?

After a long winter, spring is almost here.  Michigan recently experienced a couple of sunny 65 degree days.  But true to Michigan weather (wait a moment and it will change), the temperature dropped 20 degrees today and it rained or misted all day.  So what to do on such a rainy and dreary day?

My first inclination was to stay indoors to train the dogs where I would remain warm and dry.   But the dogs needed to get outdoors.  My second thought was to at least take them to local pet stores where I could socialize and train them amongst distractions.  However,  I recently started a new fitness program with Jt McClough, a professional fitness coach, nine time IronMan finisher as well as a professional dog trainer.  And, neither option would offer them nor I any benefit.  So off we ventured into the cold wet misty air.  (I'll save the trips to the pet stores for really windy and stormy days.)

It's interesting how much perception is a big part of our days.  It wasn't that long ago that I was putting on a ski jacket, gloves and a hat to enjoy snowy walks with the dogs in freezing temperatures.  Now that the snow has melted and the air has warmed, I almost choose not to go for walks today because of a little rain.

Well a little clarification, the morning walk was to help a client with her dog so that wasn't an option to go or not.  However, the afternoon walk was up for grabs until I asked the dogs what we should do.  As you can guess, they voted for the walk in the mist.  Because, we didn't see many others outdoors, it was an awesome peaceful and quiet day.  We had loads of fun walking together and it always delights me to see the joy on their faces that a little walk can give them.   It was during this walk that I realized "life and the choices we make are all about perception."

As we walked past the Canton Summit Recreational facility, the dogs and I looked at the humans exercising indoors on the treadmills and stationary bicycles.  It was a funny sight to look through the zoo like glass cage and see the humans running in place.  I wondered if the dogs were curious as to why the other humans weren't enjoying the outdoors or were they feeling sorry for the humans.   I'd like to think it was a little both and could imagine them thinking, "silly humans, won't you come out and play?".

Today was a rainy and dreary day and yet it was a wonderful happy day.  If you're tempted to stay indoors because of a little rain, just ask your dog what you should do and you'll have your answer.  Your dreary day will turn into a bright sunny day.




If you would like to venture out into the great outdoors for walks with your dog but need help with training your dog to walk nicely on a loose leash, contact Michael Burkey a professional dog trainer.  He has a new fun class entitled, "Outdoor Adventures" which is held in southeast Michigan.

New Class - Outdoor Adventures

Spring is fast approaching!  To get ready for wonderful spring and summer walks with your dog, register for Michael Burkey's new dog training class called, Outdoor Adventures.  The class is designed for dogs and their owners who want a transitional class after completing a Basic Manners dog class or personal training before going out in the world on their own.

Loose leash walking and obedience commands will be proofed amongst real world distractions at recreational parks, city parks and downtown areas in Western Wayne and Eastern Washtenaw Counties.  Some of the locations will include Canton Recreational Trails, Livonia Parks, Gallup Park, and downtown Plymouth.

The 4 week course is limited to six dog teams and is only $90.00.  It is led by professional dog trainer and behaviorist Michael Burkey.  To learn more, visit Outdoor Adventures or sign up now at the registration page.