Steve K9Pro

K9: If I have never worked the dog thats fine too, I just like to do a fast demo on just how quick I can trigger pack drive in a dog & have it walking on a loose leash for example. When I demo this people cant believe I havent done some work with the dog before the demo as sometimes it happens so fast people cant even learn from it, as was in the case with the first info nite where one of the Monster Pulling Dobes was walking on a loose leash in under 1 minute, I had to slow up a little on the second one..

K9: just a thought on "punishment" as a training tool. I dont like to punish a dog at all ever, when you punish a dog you are chaining or pairing yourself into the sequence of events. For example, dog pulls washing off the line, even if you catch the dog in the act & punish the dog, when the complete sequence is not present, in other words, you are not there, the dog will still pull washing from the line. I use "consequences", these are actions that are brought about by the dogs actions. Dog pulls washing off the line & finds a water balloon that bursts all over him.. Nothing to do with the hanlder, yet effective.

K9: Merry Christmas! lol..

K9: I might run one at home one nite in Jan, the evening weather here is excellent, just thinking about it at this stage. Shoot me an email & it will probably be ok for either early Feb, late Feb or early March.. Excited? fofl..

K9: I can lol, its really pretty easy...

K9: I'll be there! easy done....

K9: for the info nites, all you need is a suburban house with backyard or similar, usually the host knows someone who can provide 1 or 2 demo dogs (just so people can see I can do more than talk lol)... Thats about it, they are mostly discussion...

K9: I have only 3 workshops planned at this stage for 2006, 1 is the handlers workshop here which sold out in 2 hours, the other two are private workshops organised by 2 companies also sold out. I intend running the hanlders one in Vic & maybe again later 06 in NSW. Also, will be running probably 6 Info nites & 6 - 8 other seminars the topics not yet decided. The host position for the info nites not yet decided so if anyone in a location not yet covered is interested let me know...

K9: rest assured I am not offended in any way, must try much harder lol... No one did any thing wrong at all...

K9: The program in "note form" relies on the fact that I have some confidence in the person & that they understand some of the terminology in the instructions... These notes generally back up what I have taught them in the theory section of their lesson or workshop. It would also be unfair to the many DOL people that have paid for these very same instructions. Anyone who has attended a workshop or lesson & wanted a copy, that would be no problem. The person with the lab will do best seeking pro help, either someone in their area or make a booking with me. The guarantee I have is that in 15 minutes MAX, the dog will walk on a loose leash. The owner can benefit from the demo I show also..

K9: whilst I do like to subject a pup to as many new things as I can, (then I neutralise the pup) & make sure I teach the puppy how to deal with new things along the way.. You wont cover everything a dog will encouter in its life, but what you can do is teach the dog how to react, which in my programs is to seek advice from the leader. Many dogs flight at new things when they become frightened, I dont like dogs doing that, so I teach them to check in with me. In later stages, dog see's something new, looks at me, I then give the dog a recall to come away or reassure its ok...

W: K9: well your in good hands, the picture has become more clear now. thanks..

K9: your current dog is only six months old, your dogs temperament is not yet solid & much can be done to correct this problem. My advice would be not to get another dog, not because I dont think they can get along, but because you need to put work into your current dog. Dont for a second rest with the excuse "it cant be helped", this isnt true. Take a look here here.

K9: thanks for the response everyone, the idea of these workshops is to help people become better handlers/trainers. You learn how the dog thinks & why they do what they do, I run demos on simple problems like leash pulling, recalls, handling etc & anything people ask for. You dont need to have experience nor if you have experience is the day unsuitable, you dont need to bring your dog but your welcome to also... The open workshops are guided by the questions put forward, so you ask, I will cover it, as in depth or basic as you like...

K9: as requested Alison, here are my thoughts. As you dont have time on your side & separate accomodation, your starting behind the 8 ball, its it either all goes well or? I wouldnt start as you mentionedm though Im also not the one who designed whatever program your working on, but having said that, you said three adults are being met one dog, I would have 2 adults being met & as soon as the dog gets to them, they "take their attention on the road". Meaning, the dog gets to them & they walk along rewarding your dog verbally, eye contact etc. Your dog will probably be in high pack drive, excitred to see people etc, at this point the other adult should walk up & join ranks at the far right of every one, this means, its your dog, you, 3 adults then other dog. Keep the attention of your dog on the people, if your dog goes out of pack drive, into defence, the other dog should be walked off keeping your dog near the pack drive triggers (the people). Then keep walking all the time, if your dog wont go back into pack drive (big attention on people) you slow down & they speed up calling your dog.. Keep walking until you have re added other dog to ranks with no aggression from yours. Then & then only attempt a meet by making the other dog sit down & weaving your way in (loose leash) closer to the other dog keeping the dog calm, allow your dog to sniff the other & then separate, you control all aspects, another short walk & another sniff, then separate, your looking for your dog to "want to" be with the other dog. Its then a little more time can be spent... Fear aggression "usually" occurs only during the "handshake period", once your dog feels ok around the other, most times things will be fine.. This is only a general guide without knowing, your dog, your skills or the decoy dog, or much else lol...

K9: just seen the thread & thought I would throw my 2 cents in. People that feel that $610 is a lot of money to train their dog are the lucky people that havent had a dog ruined by the wrong trainer/instructor, & I hope they are lucky enough to remain that way. As the dog training industry is largely un regulated, anyone with the hide to call themselves a trainer can start up & charge whatever they like. As ADT only have trainers that have (imo) supierior qualifications, I think $600 is a deal! Sure $1.50 is cheap, but not if your doing more harm than good. I would rather spend $600 wisely than waste $1.50. None of this is saying that other clubs are always bad nor a waste of time & money, however much of my work comes from fixing mistakes others have made. The Behaviour consult package I do will get 90+ % of people with real problem dogs well on their way to 1. understanding the dog, 2. managing the fault & 3 curing the fault. What I call a real problem dog is what most people will call a dog thats uncureable. For that I charge $195.00, 2 visits, span approx 3 hours, just me, client & dog (family members are allowed / encouraged also). When I take someone on, I make it my goal to solve the problem, my commitment doesnt stop until we get results. The 5 lesson pack gets you about 10 hours with me, in which we will get your dog as far as genetically possible in that amount of time. I would hate to add up what I have spent on education, but its well over $100 000 in the past 20 with trips to USA & Europe. Good trainers keep attending seminars, & learning all the time, this costs money, & to make the world go round, they need to get at least some of it back. Last time I was in Vic, there were quite a few ADT & NDTF people there, gaining more knowledge to help them do a better job for their clients, I also did a private seminar for Four Paws K9 Training in which they had their trainers attend & some council officers. There were some there that had attended the other workshop too, thought they would have been sick of me by then lol.. This commitment is what makes these type of people surge ahead of the others. I would rather pay for results, not time.

KK: K9: there are many ways fr this to happen, but as we would be talking how to restructire a pack, it's a little dangerous to give out advice on this topic witholut first evaluating the dog. The right advice on the wrong dog can get you bit. MM: K9: socialisation is great, but taking him to a park & him getting into fights isnt socialisation. Socialisation is introducing your dog to something new teaching it has a positive or zero value, maintenance is when the dog is socialised & you keep reinforceing the positiv or zero value, not add negative experiences... MM: K9: you should avoid every other dog until your dog is evaluated & on a program or your travelling further away from a cure. Your dog has a learned experience that he can fight other dogs successfully, that will need to be dealt with.

MM: K9: the reason for this is that you are putting her in placxes where fights can occur, the #1 job of the Alpha is to protect the pack, not let her fight it out, or even have the chance to. MM: K9: There are no cicumstances in which you should ever place the dog in a situation where anther dog or your dog may initiate a fight, this is the reason the problem is escalating. MM: K9: these meetings need to be 100% controlled by you, not "watch & see what she does".. MM: K9: You should as the Alpha, or someone who doesnt want their dogs declared dangerous, not allow this to happen... MM: K9: she shouldnt be able to get on in the first place... It would be very easy for another dog owner to report you & its all downhill from there... MM: K9: your not your dogs leader, this is another reason for the aggression... If this was another breed you would probably be reporting the dog biting you or the BF, you have serious issues there & it will take big changes to sort this...

R: K9: many people feel that their dog has been abused as it shows a lot of avoidance, but sometimes the dog is just weak nerved genetically. R: K9: Its not an easy thing to get results with, but certainly worth trying. We have a lot of dedicated programs that have proved a high degree of success, but whilst the dog is making the recovery, you must be dedicated & consistent or it will all fall over...

LL: K9: In addition to what SARDOG has said, he was self rewarding in the old training program to date, it wasnt hard to change him, one rep with the bird wont make a lot of difference. The bird wont be a constant thing either... LL": K9: I 100% guarantee it will work 100%. Eg: my 2 year old will do anything for a sip of coke, as we hardly let him have any. He isnt speaking much but I can send him to give his mum a kiss when I have a glass of coke in my hand, he will seek her kiss her & run back for his sip. Thats him leaving the reward, going elsewhere & then coming back... LL: K9: lol, no but most arent trained this way, I can tell you that dogs I have trained will, every time, as they have been taught that releasing intermitantly brings bigger more fun fight straight after... I would not have tried to take the bird from him, but made big fun with the bumper by yourself so he would see fun has gon out of bird & is still available from you...

K9: people can bring their dogs, we can & will demo what to do with aggression, & explain why it happens, evaluate your dogs etc. It would most likely be on a weekend.

K9: I did mention my bicth is a leg biter, didnt I? Bullet proof vest ? lol....

K9: wow, balaclava? that will really make them go that extra mile lol...

K9: so far they have eaten from many cuisines.. they really arent fussy... You may know where I live, but that wont get you in the gate...

K9: you always have the dogs fav prey item, just look in mirror... That (you) is their most treasured item...