New Blog format

All future blog posts will be transferred to wordpress instead of blogger.  Wordpress offers more searchable functions enabling readers to find past blog entries that interest them and I am able to enter the blog onto my website as well.

So please visit me at my new blog site, http://www.michigandogtraining/wordpress.com


Thanks,

Michael



For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Remote Training Collar - Effective Communication Tool for your Dog

The secret to training dogs is to develop a trusting relationship with your dog.  That is the big picture to success, however, training tools can be extremely helpful to help get you there.  One misunderstood tool, is the remote training collar or as some people refer to it as a “shock collar.”  In truth, it really is not a shock collar when it is used appropriately at a low setting or as Robin MacFarlane of That’s My Dog, Inc. of Dubuque, Wisconsin coins as the “just right setting”.  When used in this manner, it is a very effective and humane communication tool to teach your dog not only “what not to do” but more importantly, “what to do”.

When considering using a remote training collar, people commonly make three mistakes:  1.  They buy an inferior collar that does not offer a wide range of stimulation so you can truly use the lowest setting that gets your dog’s attention, 2.  They do not know how to lay the foundation work so the dog understands how to make the low level stimulation cease, and 3. They purchase the inferior collar unit without professional instruction.

Inferior collars are those that typically have low number of stimulation levels (7-15).  Whereas, the Dogtra remote collars have 100-127 levels.  This doesn’t mean that they are more powerful but instead offer much smaller steps between the levels so you can use the “just right setting” instead of having to go to a higher level too quickly.  With the aid of a  professional dog trainer who is a remote collar specialist; you can quickly learn how to teach your dog the foundation work necessary for your dog to understand the collar system.  Board and Train or  Personal in home instruction is the best way to learn but there are other options too:  Remote Adventures Class in Garden City or at Walled Lake, Michigan or follow along Robin MacFarlane’s excellent “Just Right!” DVD instruction of training.

So if you want your dog to be all that he or she can be, build a trusting relationship with your dog and consider adding a remote training collar to your toolbox of training tools. 

   

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

New Year Resolutions for You and Your Dog, Part 3

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this training article series, mention was made of resolutions being made for your dog(s) as well as for yourself.  Family pets are very much a part of the family and their needs should be considered as well as how they fit into the family’s lifestyle.  For example, if an active puppy or dog has not been taught good family dog manners, it is likely that he or she will repeatedly jump on guests and counter tops, barge out doorways, pull while on a leash, etc.  Whereas, if a resolution was made to train the family dog to exhibit impulse control and good manners in the home, it would be so much easier to enjoy living with your dog.  And, thus your dog would be able to enjoy more family activities.

The action steps necessary to accomplish this might look like this:  1.  Enroll Fido in a board and train program, hire a professional dog trainer for in-home visits, or participate in a group training class, 2.  Make time to train Fido twice a day for 15 minutes duration, five days per week, and 3.  Adopt an everyday training philosophy of Prevent (don’t put fido in situations he/she is not ready to handle), Manage (fido’s environment), and Teach (alternative behaviors that don’t allow bad manners to be rehearsed and rewarded, e.g. a solid sit stay instead of allowing Fido to jump on people upon greeting them).

Planning and carrying out actions steps are crucial for accomplishing goals.  However, the most important concept the public should understand is that "dogs are living breathing creatures that deserve to be treated with respect" according to Professional Dog Trainer Scott Williams of Beyond the Leash in north eastern Massachusetts.  He elaborates by saying, "Train with kindness and choose your battles. It is infinitely more useful to have your dog do one thing well than  many things without reliability. For example a solid down and stay will solve a thousand perceived problems".

Similarly, Professional Dog Trainer Robin MacFarlane of That's My Dog, Inc., in Dubque, Wisconsin reminds us that "dogs are not humans." She further states, "They don't think or rationalize anything like us. I believe it is a disservice for people to treat them or train them with those thoughts in mind. Dog's have their own motivations and ways of interpreting the world. They are intelligent creatures and amazing to work with, but it is sad when humans don't take the time to really understand more. Too often a dog's only purpose becomes to to fill a void in our own emotional needs.  And when the "treating like human" doesn't yield the ease of relationship the person was expecting...they give up, get rid of the dog or relegate the dog to a very managed, boring lifestyle. The more we actually learn about canine instincts and abilities, the more we can then appreciate them for what they are and the easier it is to train them.  Once people experience this trained relationship, it changes everything for the better."



For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

New Year Resolutions for You and Your Dog, Part 2

Part 1 of this article discussed how New Years resolutions need to be concrete visions accompanied by actions steps instead of wishful thinking.  So what goals do you have for your dog(s)?  To gather ideas, listen to what two professional dog trainers have in store for their personal dogs this year.  

Robin MacFarlane, Owner and Training Director for That’s My Dog! Inc. in Dubuque, Iowa says:  “My resolution with my personal dogs is to go to more new places for our walks. Getting out to new areas for hikes and exploring makes it more fun for me and it motivates me to go more often.  For the dogs, the benefits are more exercise and more mental stimulation with new things to see and explore.  I also will put a trained retrieve on the newest pup, plus continue to teach her at least 2 new behaviors per month.”  

Scott Williams, Owner and Training Director for Beyond the Leash in Boxford, Massachusetts related the following goals for himself and his dogs:  “There is a French Ring Trial in Montreal Canada in May 2011 that I have put in my calendar and plan to compete with my dog at that trial. I have also just signed up for Flyball classes! I'm excited to learn more about this activity and possibly teach it in the later part of 2011. I will make a point of taking off leash hikes with my dog and just enjoy him for the wonderful creature that he is.”  

Not everyone is interested in entering competitions with their dogs. However, it’s interesting to note that both trainers plan to hike with their dogs at more exciting locations which will provide their dog with physical exercise and mental stimulation.  These are wonderful resolutions that would benefit every dog.  

There are wonderful opportunities in the state of Michigan for you to explore new places with your dog.   The MichiganDogTrainer meet up group is a fun socialization and dog walking group that is free to it’s members.  They meet at various parks and trails to hike with each other throughout the whole year.  It’s free, good exercise and fun times.  If your pooch isn’t ready for group hikes, Michael Burkey’s Canine Behavioral Training offers board and train programs, in-home training, and group classes including a hiking class entitled Outdoor Adventures.  Part 3 of this series, will focus on how to develop the action steps for accomplishing your dog’s New Years resolutions.

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

New Year Resolutions for You and Your Dog, Part 1

Another year has come and gone.  It’s hard to believe that 2010 went by so quickly.  Did you accomplish all that you wanted to during the past year?  If not, make a resolution that you will start afresh and plan out your 2011 activities and goals, not only for yourself but also for your dog(s).  

Some folks are apprehensive about making resolutions because they failed to keep them in the past.  Did you make resolutions for 2011 but already found it hard to keep them. This is because the resolutions were wishful thoughts instead of concrete visions accompanied by the necessary action steps to stay on task and accomplish the goals. 

When one can create, experience and believe in a vision or goal; it becomes reality rather than wishful thinking.  To make it a reality, one needs to apply the action steps as if they were bricks placed on top of each other until a solid foundation is built.  The wall will not be solid much less take the proper form if the bricks are heaped on top of each other.  Instead, they must be properly laid with the correct mortar ingredients.  And, from time to time, measurements must be taken to be sure the walls are being built at the correct angles much like taking inventory as to whether or not one is still on track with their action steps.

The first step though is to focus on your passions and decide what you want to change or improve in your life.  There are the common lofty resolutions such as losing weight, improving family relationships, earning more money, saving more money, etc.  However, these are not detailed enough by themselves.  If one wants to lose weight, one needs to decide how much weight to lose, by what time period, and how they will accomplish it.  For example, instead of resolving to simply lose weight, a person wanting to lose 50 lbs. overall might state their goal as, “My goal is to lose 50 lbs. within 52 weeks by doing A, B, and C.  Another option would be to break down the goal of losing 50 lbs and determine what needs to be done to lose 25 lbs within six months.  One would also set up checks and balances to ensure the action steps are being completed and to determine if different actions steps need to be put in place dependent upon the current situation.  The same process can be done with developing resolutions and training goals for your pets.  

Professional dog trainers are adept at setting new training goals and opportunities for their students and their dogs.  Listen to what two renowned professional dog trainers have in store for their students this year:  Robin MacFarlane, Owner and Training Director for That’s My Dog! Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa states, “For my students I intend to keep offering new classes. We are offering a scent class now and will be adding a problem solving class and more outings. The more I can offer varying opportunities, the more I can address the various interests that people have. This creates a win/win solution to getting people to do more with their dogs and truly discover how amazing the relationship can become.”  And, Scott Williams, Owner and Training Director of Beyond the Leash in Boxford, Massachusetts plans the following, “As for my students, I plan on offering more exciting activities that keep them coming back and having fun. I would like to offer more entertaining activities for dogs and their owners. I will offer Nosework, Flyball and a new class that I am presently developing. My goal for my present and future students is to help them laugh at themselves a little more and enjoy the spirit of the dog”.  Sounds like their students will have lots of fun in the new year.  To locate similar fun classes in the state of Michigan, look for group dog training classes in Ann Arbor and Walled Lake.  Part 2 of this article series will address the goals you have for your personal dog.

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

3 New Canine Good Citizens

On December 16, 2010  three new Canine Good Citizens and their parents earned the  American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certificate at the Humane Society of Huron Valley.  Two of the new citizens, STELLA ARTOLIS, a Plott Hound mix, handled by Alison Chester of Ann Arbor, Michigan and SOPHIE, a German Shorthair Pointer, handled by Cathy Pianelli also of Ann Arbor, Michigan earned their certificates after completing Michael Burkey's Canine Behavioral Training's CGC/Intermediate Manners group class.  The third new citizen was a walk in registrant, TURBO CHARGER, a Lab/Shepherd mix handled by Katelin Thomas of Plymouth, Michigan.  Congratulations to all three new citizens!

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Easy Walk Harness May Now Be used in CGC Testing

Previously, the American Kennel Club (AKC) did not allow dog teams taking the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test to use a body harness such as the Easy Walk Harness The EW s a body harness in which the leash attaches to a clasp on the dog's chest instead of on top of his back.  Doing so, the strap across his chest tightens slightly if he pulls forward.  This redirects his attention back to you or places him slightly off balance making it easy for the handler to step in front of their dog and walk in the opposite direction.  It will not pinch him nor totally restrict  his movement but he is less likely to continue pulling forward with his shoulders turned sideways.  The EW is sold for a nominal price at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan).

I always found it puzzling as to why the EW was not previously allowed in the tests but yet a martingale style neck collar, also known as a premier collar, was allowed (also sold at HSHV).  A martingale collar does not restrict forward movement but it does clasp tighter around the dog's neck when he pulls forward without choking him (note, a martingale collar is a very effective tool to ensure a dog does not slip out of a traditional snap together or buckle style collar and is more humane than a chain or sometimes referred to as a choke collar.)  I attributed the reason why the EW was not allowed previously was probably because it was not yet developed or widely used when the test rules were developed.  And, it appears I was correct.

As of November 4, 2010, the AKC changed the CGC test rules to allow the use of a harness such as the EW.  Per the AKC website, "As of November 4, 2010, body harnesses may be used in the CGC test. The evaluator should check to make sure the harness is not of a type that completely restricts the dog's movement such that it could not pull or jump up if it tried."  Thanks go to the AKC for updating their test rules as many owners find the EW to be a wonderful training tool.  It helps manages the dog's pulling behavior (to reduce excessive pulling but it is not  a replacement for professional dog training)  while the owner teaches the dog to walk with them on a loose leash.  It's also a great strength equalizer for many students with large dogs.

If you're interested in training your dog to pass the CGC evaluation, register for the "Canine Good Citizen / Intermediate Manners" group dog class held at the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Evaluations are held upon the conclusion of each six week period class.  If you want to see what a CGC test looks like, come observe the next testing scheduled for December 16, 2010 at 6:45pm.








For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152

Dog Meet and Greets, Who to Watch?

The other day, a group of dog lovers and their dogs, the MichiganDogTrainer meet up group, met at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan to participate in a group walk together.  The dogs in the group are considered "green light" dogs, meaning they are friendly with other dogs and people.  The group's intent is to provide ongoing socialization and exercise for their dogs.

During the walk, the group commonly pass other dog owners and their dogs that are unknown to them.  A common exchange occurs such as asking if the dogs are friendly and if so can they meet each other.  If the answer is yes, the dogs are allowed to meet and greet each other while on leash (due to park leash laws and the lack of a fenced in area).  Many of the MichiganDogTrainer group members have previously participated in group dog classes or private dog training at Michael Burkey's Canine Behavioral Training program so they are well versed in recognizing stress behaviors in their dogs.  If they see their dog exhibit stress behaviors such as muscles tensing, body posturing toward or away from other dogs, ear carriage going from normal relaxed carry to forward or back, breathing changing from normal to paused, etc., they know how to safely move their dog away from the other dogs to create a safety distance between them.

In this instance, the group member dogs were not stressed and they were enthusiastically and appropriately greeting an unknown dog.  It was the unknown dog that was exhibiting the stress behaviors.  However, it initially went unnoticed because the group members were focusing on watching only their own dogs' reactions.  The group leader was present and requested the members to pull their dogs away from the unknown dog.

The greater distance between the dogs lowered the unknown dog's stress level and therefore, prevented the situation from escalating.  And, it was an excellent learning opportunity for the group members.  They took a moment to discuss the situation before completing their walk.  They realized they didn't see the unknown dog's behavior change because they were looking at their own dogs.  The moral of the story is that even if your dog is the most polite and outgoing dog there is, you must watch for behavior changes not only in your own dog but also of the unknown dog to keep every one safe and stress free.  Not every dog is ready to go nose to nose with other friendly dogs.  The unknown dog's needs should also be considered as to when it is safe for dogs to meet and greet each other.




For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.  Click here, if you want to join the meet up group to participate in fun walks with other dog lovers in Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties particularly in the Ann Arbor and Canton areas.

Dog Behavior Photos

Do You Have an Old or Current Behavior Photo of Your Dog, in Your Mind’s Eye?

Recently, I was working with two of my clients who have come so far with their reactive dogs (in these cases, dogs who show dog to dog aggression or toward other stimuli such as cars).  The first dog, is a Border Terrier who would go from being calm and sweet in an instant to wanting to lunge, bark and bite at other dogs and passing cars who were at quite a distance from him.  He is now able to attend dog seminars and be in the midst of 30+ dogs without being reactive, take loose leash walks with other dogs, and look to his owner when a car passes by instead of trying to apprehend the speeding vehicle.  His training consisted of a board and train program as well as in home training sessions.

The second dog is an All American Shepherd mix, who enrolled in a Feisty Fido dog training class which is for dogs who are considered “yellow lights” and show aggression or reactivity toward other dogs.  At the start of the class series, their dog had to be worked at the most remote corner of the training room to lessen his stress level and consequently his desire to bark non stop.  A few weeks later, their dog was able to walk toward other dogs and be worked in close proximity to other dogs; while focusing on his owners rather than barking at the other dogs.  He will soon be ready to participate in other group classes which will build his confidence and desire to work with his owners such as a new K9 Scent Detection Game class.

The owners of both dogs recognize the progress their dogs have made.  However, they still had an old picture of their dog in their mind as to how their dog use to behave when challenging triggers presented themselves.  For example, when a car passes the first dog, he now looks to his owner in a calm manner instead of reacting toward the passing car.  However, the owner is still operating in the past with an old picture of her dog in her mind.  The dog is no longer reactive toward the oncoming car but the owner still is.  Her muscles stiffened, she forgot to breathe, and she yanked her dog to the side of the road instead of calmly walking with her dog, creating more distance between her dog and the car.

To bring the owner into the current moment, she used neuro-linguistic programing and visualized that old photo of her dog’s behavior and threw it in the virtual trash.  She then looked at a digital camera and visualized taking a current picture of her dog’s calm behavior in above situation.  The car was coming toward them and instead of voicing, “oh my gosh”, the new inner voice said, “oh good here comes a training opportunity”; snap goes the picture.  So now when a car approaches, she will instantly look to that new photo in her mind’s eye of her dog’s calm behavior.  Thus, she will remain calm and be able to take charge instead of panic in new situations.  And, her dog will continue to make progress by leaps and bounds.  So the question is, do you have an old or current behavior photo of your dog in your mind’s eye?

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Potty Training - Please Help!

Nancy K.G. wrote:  

Don't know if this consists of a behavioral issue, but here goes....I have a 10 week old Beagle mix puppy. I take her out to go potty then she comes back into the house and a few minutes later, goes again. Why is that and what am I doing wrong? Please, anyone who can help, please do!! Thanks in advance....

Hi Nancy,  

Ohhhh, the delightful and frustrating perils of having a puppy.  A puppy isn't able to reliably control their bladder and bowel until they are about 20 weeks of age, although you should see their control improve from 10-20 weeks of age.  So in other words, it will probably get better with time.

Here are some quick tips regarding housbreaking:

1. Make sure your puppy has had enough time to do their business outdoors before brining her back in as maybe she just wasn’t yet done.
2. When you take her outdoors, make pottying the first order of business and then verbally praise her after she eliminates.
3. Take her on leash to the same spot for her to eliminate as the smell of where she has gone before will stimulate her to eliminate.
4. As she eliminates, name the behavior by saying “potty”, “break”, or another term.
5. When she comes back inside, keep a close watch of her in case she needs to go back outside again.
6. Keep a close watch of her by closing the door of the room you are in with her, attaching her to a leash which then is attached to your waist and by teaching her to rest comfortably on a dog bed, “place” command.
7. “Crate train” her so that when you can’t closely supervise her activities she can rest comfortably in the crate that is only large enough for her to lay down, stand up and turn around.  
8. Take her outdoors often, much more often than you may think one should have to.  This may mean hourly outings and certainly every time after a play session, upon waking up, and after eating or drinking.
9. Feed your puppy a high quality dog food, such as Life Abundance, that doesn’t contain by-products, corn and dyes.
10. Consult with a professional dog trainer for more advice as training questions are a challenge to answer within the confines of an email or blog entry.  A trainer can help you make sure your puppy starts off on the “right paw.”
11. And if the situation doesn’t improve despite the above tips, take your puppy to your veterinarian for a wellness check.

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

E-Palozza - Continuing Education for Professional Dog Trainers

It's crucial for professional dog trainers to commit and be responsible for their own on-going personal development.  As such, this week I'm attending the annual E-Palozza dog training program at "That's My Dog" training center in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.  

E-Palooza is a gathering place for professional dog trainers who use remote training collars as part of their overall training program.  "That's My Dog's" owner and Training Director, Robin MacFarlane states:  "....As all things, the event (E-Palozza) has evolved over the years and the E in palooza represents much more than just the electronic collar. It is about, education, entertainment, enthusiasm, ethics…all the things that the people that gather here represent. It is about creating a higher standard for professional trainers."  That program kickstarts starts tomorrow with an exciting group of featured speakers representing the medical field, dog training, business building and personal development specialities.

However, for the purpose of today's blog, I want to talk about the awesome opportunity I and two other business owners had by spending the day with MacFarlane.  It was a personable focused introspection of our businesses and the steps we can implement to take our businesses to the next level, whatever that meant for each of us.  Through discussion, questions and challenges; MacFarlane helped each of us develop a business plan that was highly personal and realistic to our individual needs and passions.  

As with any goal setting program, there must be action steps that are developed and implemented in order to accomplish the goal.  MacFarlane recommends limiting the core goals to just three at a time that can receive focused attention.  Otherwise, it is too tempting to become distracted by other events and projects that result in our energy being applied elsewhere rather than on our core goals.  Along with actions steps, she recommended that time frames be established for completion of the goals and action steps.  It is also helpful for them to be shared with a partner or mentor to ensure accountability to the program.  

Having been a social worker in a former career, goal setting comes second nature for me.  And this is what we do with dog training clients every day; help them develop training plans that are effective, realistic, personalized and broken down into doable action steps for the client and their dog.  And yet, today's session was extremely helpful for me.  


With the guidance of a trusted and knowledgable professional, it provided me with clarification of what is important to me and what makes me happy.  This in turn will enable me to become even more effective when servicing my clients and their dogs.  Additionally, MacFarlane was an excellent sounding board to bounce our ideas of from.  Drawn from her vast experience, she provided constructive feedback, imparted new knowledge and suggested ways to keep learning fun.

As I experienced with MacFarlane today, I  recommend that you take some time for yourself and visualize the type of relationship you desire to have with your dog.  With the help of a trusted and professional dog trainer, you can develop a personalized and realistic training plan for your dog (three goals at a time) that includes actions steps to be accomplished within agreed upon time frames.  And, by consulting with an experienced dog trainer, you will learn new skills and build accountability into your program to ensure success of your core training goals.  Now go have some fun training time with your dog! 

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Dogs that Go Missing in Action

Recently, my neighbor called me to help her return a dog that was sitting outside her fence gate.  The unknown terrier mix , later identified, as Rudy, was attracted to her property because her dogs were in their back yard.  Not knowing the history of the dog, she was afraid to approach Rudy.  Fortunately, he turned out to be extremely friendly toward people and other dogs.

Rudy had a city registration tag on his collar but it was unreadable due to it’s age, 2002.  A spot check of nearby homes did not result in finding anyone who knew to whom Rudy belonged.  There wasn’t time to take Rudy to the humane society the same day, so I took a picture of him and uploaded it onto the shelter’s website.  I  hoped his owner would find the picture and know that Rudy was being well cared for during his absence.

The following day, I took Rudy to the Michigan Humane Society to have him scanned for a microchip.  Hopefully, one would be found and I would be able to return Rudy to his owner without him having to spend any time in the shelter.  Sadly though, he did not have a microchip.  Therefore, I checked him into the shelter knowing that they would place a hold on him for four days, to give his owner time to find him before placing him up for adoption, provided he successfully passed the temperament evaluation.  After having spent the night with Rudy and being a dog behavior expert myself, I knew he would pass such an evaluation with flying colors.

Fortunately, Rudy’s story has a very happy ending.  As I waited for Rudy to be checked into the shelter, his owner entered the shelter lobby joyfully exclaiming, “you found my dog!”  As it turned out, Rudy had travelled approximately ten blocks during his neighborhood exploration.

Early this morning, I saw two adult Rottweilers running loose on Wayne Road in Westland, Michigan.  At first they would not come to me but with some encouragement, they jumped into my truck for a ride and some pet massages.  Fortunately, they had stayed together during their outdoor adventure as one of them didn’t have any tags on his collar.  The female Rottweiler had a city registration tag but no further identifying information.  Therefore, I took them to the Michigan Humane Society in Westland, Michigan.  

Due to it being a Sunday, the shelter was closed.  However, have no fear, a Westland Police Officer saved the day.  He appeared on scene and assisted me with placing the dogs in kennels and giving them food and water at the shelter.  Due to the female having a city tag, I am sure they will be home with their owners tomorrow.  It’s just unfortunate that they didn’t have a phone number on their collar.  If so, I would’ve been able to return them to the owner on the same day.

These recent events point out how crucial it is to have identification on your dog so your loved one can be returned to you as soon as possible.  

To protect your pet:  

• Register your dog with your city hall and place the tag on your dog’s collar,

• Place your cellular telephone number on your dog’s collar, 

• Ask your veterinarian to microchip your dog,

• Ensure your dog’s outdoor play area is secure preventing your dog from jumping over or digging under the fence,

• Spend more time with your dog when he/she is outdoors to prevent your dog from becoming bored and seeking an escape route, and

• Train your dog to come, stay, and not to bolt out doorways by joining a dog training class or by hiring a professional dog trainer for in home training.  

If you follow these tips, hopefully your dog will never become one of the missing.  But if the unfortunate happens and your dog goes missing in action, you will have peace of mind that you took the steps necessary to aid your dog’s safe return.

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Zeke, from highly excitable to a calm state of mind

I recently had the distinct pleasure of working with Zeke, an English Bull Terrier and his loving parents, Dr. Glen and Mrs. McClure and their staff at Strong Veterinary Hospital, Livonia, Michigan.  Zeke had the problem of becoming overly aroused when meeting people which resulted in him mouthing their hands, jumping on their legs and nipping their pant legs.  Some people misinterpreted his behavior as being aggressive but it was not.  Instead, it was pent up energy and a lack of appropriate meeting behaviors.

To modify Zeke's behavior, he participated in my board and train program.  His behavior plan focused on preventing situations he wasn't ready for, managing his environment, and teaching him new alternative desired behaviors.  Regular exercise was also introduced to Zeke via individual and group dog walks at local parks via my Outdoor Adventure and Remote Adventure classes.  This exposed Zeke to new challenging environments with the distraction of other dogs being present.

Because of Zeke's high energy, the use of a remote training collar, used at a low setting was crucial to his training program.  Zeke quickly learned how to self compose himself and offer appropriate greeting behaviors.  The remote training collar (also known as a "shock collar") does not hurt the dog but instead is like a tap on the shoulder to get his attention.  Through follow up sessions with the McClure's, the technical knowledge of how to utilize the remote collar correctly and humanely was easily transferred so that Zeke would also listen to his parents.

During a recent follow up session, Dr. McClure advised he is now able to relax and enjoy his evenings with Zeke, Zeke is much calmer in their home, and he now greets his veterinary staff with a much calmer demeanor.





For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.

Train your Dog in No Time

by Michael Burkey, Professional Dog Trainer

All Rights Reserved, July 2010.

When acquiring a dog from a dog shelter or rescue organization, a lot of thought has gone into the adoption process such as:  “Is the family at home enough for a dog?”; “What breed of dog would be best?”; “What age of dog?”;  “Are the children mature enough to interact with a dog?”; “Will the new dog get along well with other household pets and vice versa?”; and “What kind of wholesome dog food should be provided?, etc.” 

However, new owners often times forget that their dog will need to learn good household manners.  They assumed their dog would naturally behave until it becomes apparent at about five to six months of age that that is not necessarily the case.  Hence, the scramble to find a dog class or dog trainer to help them break their dog of bad habits and learn new manners.  If this is you, no problem that is what professional dog trainers are there to help you do.  If you’re lucky though, you preplanned the need for professional instruction and contacted a trainer before or soon after you obtained your new family member.  Much like a child, it is far easier to train a puppy the “right way, the first time” rather than allowing the puppy to practice misbehaving.

A frequently asked question of dog trainers is, “how often should I train my dog?”  The answer is:  training is occurring all the time.  Your dog learns during formal periods of training as well as during down times throughout the day.  Learning, either “good or bad” is non ending.  Dogs have short attention spans, even shorter than children.  So they learn best by short and frequent training sessions.  Short sessions keep the learning process fun for both you and your dog.

In the beginning (first four weeks), it is recommended that owners set up training appointments with their dogs for approximately 15 minutes, 2-3 times per day, 4-5 days per week.  Scheduled appointments between you and your dog are necessary because “life happens.”  Much like the plan to go to your local gym to work out, you are much more likely to make it there if you have it scheduled into your day.

After your dog has learned basic obedience skills, then one can replace the scheduled appointments with committing to practicing those skills throughout the day.  It’s easy to make training a part of your daily activities:

1. While brushing your teeth, place your dog on a down stay.
2. While having dinner, practice having your dog go to his mat for a place command.
3. Invite friends over for a pizza party and practice your dog’s front door greetings.
4. While gardening or washing the car, practice your dog’s down stay.
5. While taking the kids to the park, practice your dog’s come command.
6. While washing clothes at the laundry mat, take your dog with you and practice obedience skills during the was/dry periods.

These are just some ideas to inspire you to train your dog in new places and times that make training simple to do.  For example, just the other day, Bella, a German Shepherd Dog doing a board and train program, accompanied me to the laundry mat called the Laundry Stop in Westland, Michigan.  During the wash and dry times, Bella had fun practicing her obedience skills outside in the nearby grass lawn.  It also removed the boredom I experience waiting for clothes to wash and dry.  An additional plus was that she met some very friendly strangers which greatly added to her training and socialization process.  She practiced greeting strangers in the real world by being calm and sitting for attention.

For owners who had the fore thought of training their dog from the beginning but then found it difficult to find the time to follow through; a board and train program can be the perfect solution.  At Michael Burkey’s Canine Behavioral Training, your dog learns good manners and obedience skills in a home environment away from home.  Upon conclusion of the program, you learn how to continue your dog’s new learned skills.  And, because time is a valued commodity, you are able to skip the formal scheduled training sessions.

By following the above dog training tips, you can train your dog in no time.  For professional dog training, contact Michael Burkey of Michael Burkey’s Canine Behavioral Training at 734-634-4152.

***Side note, if you are in need of a clean, helpful, and friendly laundry mat; visit Ralph and his workers at the Laundry Stop.  You’ll be amazed by their customer service!  Additionally, they have free wi-fi, a nice television and a play area for children.  So if you’re not training a dog during your wait, there are other activities to keep you entertained.  

Laundry Stop maps.google.com 725 South Wayne Road Westland, MI 48186 (734) 728-2646

How to Prevent Heat Exhaustion in Dogs

Dog Training Tips by Michael Burkey, Professional Dog Trainer

734-634-4152

All Rights Reserved, July 7, 2010.

Heat exhaustion in dogs is a very serious medical condition.  It can happen suddenly making medical treatment necessary to save your dog’s life.  What does it look like?  A dog experiencing heat exhaustion will appear lethargic, listless, and almost drunk like.  It’s tongue may be hanging out and he/she may not be able to stand.  According to Dr. Richards, DVM of VetInfo.com, "Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased salivation early then dry gums as the heat prostration progresses, weakness, confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea and sometimes bleeding. "

Read more: Heat Stroke in Dogs 

A dog experiencing heat exhaustion needs to be cooled down immediately.  It is commonly thought to do this one can simply place cool water on a dog’s back or belly.  However, a dog cools itself down by releasing heat via their tongue during panting and via the pads of their feet.  The dog’s coat is likely to insulate or prevent the absorption of the cool water.   Dr. Richards suggests placing cold packs on your dog in areas where circulation is very good such as under the "armpits",  in the inquinal region, and on the neck.  If your dog’s condition doesn’t immediately improve, transport your dog to your veterinarian or a 24 hour veterinary clinic for emergency medical care. 

To prevent heat exhaustion:

1. Always provide your dog with fresh cool water to drink.
2. Supervise your dog’s outdoor activities (note it is possible for a dog to experience heat exhaustion even during moderate temperatures such as 70 degrees).
3. Provide your dog with a kiddie pool filled with fresh cool water in which he/she can step in to cool down their feet.
4. On heat advisory days, keep your dog in an air conditioned home as much as possible.
5. Never leave your dog in a car, even for a few minutes during a hot day.  Having the windows rolled down a few inches will not provide your dog the needed ventilation.  Your dog can die within minutes of being confined to a hot enclosed car.
6. Do not leave your dog in a vehicle with the air conditioner running.  The car may stall or catch on fire due to the excessive heat.

By following the above tips, you can prevent your dog from experiencing heat exhaustion and thus save your dog’s life.

For professional dog training in Michigan, contact Michael Burkey at http://www.MichiganDogTrainer.com, info@MichiganDogTrainer.com, 734-634-4152.