Dog Training in Arizona
Call: 602-992-8743
E-mail: tdrugmand@gmail.com
Certified remote collar trainer specializing in problem behaviors, basic obedience and competition. Serving the following cities in Arizona: Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Cave Creek and Carefree.
Dogs are animals and we can never know for sure what they are thinking, or how they might act.
The dog could be walking on a leash with its owner or it could be a friend’s dog or family dog in its home environment.
Approach calmly. Rapid movements toward the dog may frighten or excite him.
Look downward at the dog’s paws while you greet him. Dogs don’t like to be stared at and they may think you are challenging them. They might growl or bite if you look them in the eyes.
Be sure the dog sees you before coming too close. A dog surprised by suddenly being touched might bite
Stand sideways. Standing with your side or shoulder facing the dog is less threatening to the dog and you avoid leaning over him which can cause the dog to be uncomfortable.
Keep hands in close and in a fist. Allow the dog to sniff on his own initiative. Dogs are more likely to bite fingers if the hand is stretching out to him because he might think it is a threat.
Move sideways calmly and slowly away from the dog.
Crouch down sideways to greet small dogs or dogs that are lying down. This is less intimidating to the dog.
Let the dog come to you.
Pet the dog on the side of the neck or chest.
Move your hands calmly and slowly as you pet the dog.
Respect the dog’s resting place. Dogs might bite to protect their things and space.
Respect the dog’s feeding place, food and water dishes, treats etc.
Ask an adult to get something the dog may have stolen (a toy etc.).
Stand still like a tree if the dog gets too excited or aggressive.
Things NOT to do around a dog:
Do Notrun. Dogs chase things that run!
Do Notscream. Dogs don’t understand screaming and crying, it may frighten them, or cause them to bite because they think you are dangerous and a threat.
Do Nothug or kiss a dog. Dogs don’t like hugs and kisses and can feel threatened and might bite.
Do Notsit on a dog’s back.
Do Not put your face in the dog’s face.
Do Not play tug of war or chase games with a dog.
Do Not put your hand in a car, crate, pen or any place the dog is confined.
Do Not approach a dog that is tied up.
Do Not approach a dog while he’s eating, drinking, chewing or lying on his bed or beside an object.
Do Not go into the dog’s yard to get a toy.
Do Not pull your hand away if a dog tries to sniff.
Do Not run away screaming or crying no matter how scary the dog seems.
Do Not back away from a dog that is barking or growling. Movement is the action that triggers the dog.
Do Not interact with any dog unless there is an adult supervising.
These signs indicate that your dog is uncomfortable with the current situation and there is a need for intervention to prevent pushing the dog to the point of biting, and to make sure your canine friend is happy and not feeling anxious.
Please remember: It is a GOOD THING that a dog shows you that he is anxious or uncomfortable, rather than going straight to a bite. Never punish a dog for showing that he wants to be left alone by growling, leaving the situation or demonstrating more subtle signs. If you punish a dog for growling or breaking a stay to get way from a child you might suppress the warning or avoidance behavior and he might just bite without warning first the next time. The dog still feels exactly the same way about the child bothering him, but now he has no way to show it and no way out of the situation. Be glad if your dog gives a warning and take steps to modify the behavior of the child, condition the dog to enjoy the child and create safe spaces for both dog and child.
One Paw Raised
This is very cute but the dog is not happy and does not want to be petted or bothered. She is worried.
Anxious Dog with One Paw Raised
Half Moon Eye
The dog just wants to be left alone. Watch for this one when kids are mauling the dog.
Dog with a worried half-moon eye
This is a common expression in dogs that are being hugged. If you see the half moon eye when the kids approach the dog or are interacting with the dog, it’s time to intervene and give them all something else to do.
Displacement Behaviors
Displacement behaviors are normal behaviors displayed out of context. They indicate conflict and anxiety. The dog wants to do something, but he is suppressing the urge to do it. He displaces the suppressed behavior with something else such as a lick or a yawn. For example, you are getting ready to go out and the dog hopes to go too. He is not sure what will happen next. He wants to jump on you or run out the door, but instead he yawns. The uncertainty of the situation causes conflict for the dog and the displacement behaviors are a manifestation of that conflict. The dog may want to bite a child who takes his bone, but instead he bites furiously at his own foot.
Some examples of displacement behaviors include:
Yawning when not tired
Licking chops without the presence of food – watch the video below to see why this is important
Sudden scratching when not itchy
Sudden biting at paws or other body parts
Sudden sniffing at the ground or objects
Wet-dog shake when not wet or dirty
These are all things that dogs do anyway. It is important to look at the context to determine whether the dog is feeling anxious. For example: if it is bedtime and the dog gets up, stretches, yawns and goes to her bed, then that yawn was not a displacement behavior. If the kids are hugging the dog or lying on him and he yawns or starts licking at them over and over then this is displacement. He wants to get up and leave or even to bite, but he displaces that with yawning or licking them or himself. In this context the licking or yawning behavior tells you that the dog is uncomfortable with whatever the kids are doing and it is time for you to intervene. You must then either prevent the kids from doing this in the future or use positive training techniques to teach the dog to enjoy (not just tolerate) these actions from the kids.
AvoidanceBehaviors
Sometimes dogs are more overt when they feel anxious and want to remove themselves from a situation. Please don’t force a dog to stay in situation in which he feels anxious, especially if children are the source of his anxiety. Here are some examples:
The dog gets up and leaves an uncomfortable situation (one day, he may bite rather than leave the situation)
Turning head away
Hiding behind person or object
Barking and retreating
The dog rolls over on his back in a submissive way (please don’t hurt me!)
Other Body Language Signs of Anxiety
Tail between the legs
Tail low and only the end is wagging
Tail down or straight for curly-tailed dog (husky, chow-chow, malamute, pug, etc.)
Ears sideways for erect-eared dog
Ears back and rapid panting
Dog goes into another room away from you and urinates or defecates (please find a professional behavior consultant to help with this)
All dogs should have a safe place, such as a crate or mat that they can go to when they want to be left alone. All family members and guests should be taught not to bother the dog when he is in his safe place. We have recently heard of a mat product which gives the dog a shock if he tries to leave it, thus teaching him to stay on the mat. This is not what we would consider a safe place for the dog. This is a dangerous product and you should not have one of these.
Watch this video and see if you can spot the warning sign (hint – it happens at about 2 sec into the video). You will likely need to watch it twice. Warning – graphic video. May not be suitable for children. Again this shows us how fast a dog can move. Even with the handler right there he couldn’t stop it. The slow motion shows just how slow the human reaction is. Neither the handler nor the reporter saw the warning sign.
This is a classic example of inter-species miscommunication. The reporter was showing affection for the dog by leaning in and putting both hands on the dog’s neck. The dog did not interpret this as a friendly gesture, but rather saw it as a threat and acted accordingly.
Lesson: keep your face out of the face of a strange dog – emphasize this with your kids!
Signs of an Imminent Bite
If these signs occur, cease all interaction with dog, look away and give dog the opportunity to leave, do not approach, do not make eye contact, do not talk to the dog. If you are touching the dog, stop and move your hands slowly away. If you are taking something from the dog, let go of it. It is better for him to keep it than for you or a child to get bitten. If you are bending over the dog, slowly straighten up and look away.
Dog freezes – becomes suddenly stiff
Dog stands with front legs splayed, head low, looking at you
Dog curls lip to show teeth
Dog Snarling and Showing Teeth
A good guide for children is that if the dog is all soft and wiggly, then he is not likely to bite. If a dog is stiff like a statue then he is dangerous.
Teach children never to take from a dog and if a dog steals from them to let the dog have it. They should ask an adult to get the item back. Trade the dog for a treat to get the item back, or just let him keep it. Hire a professional to help you teach the dog that it is good to give things back.
Signs of Arousal
These signs indicate that your dog is interested in something or trying to decide on a course of action and is not receptive to attention (such as petting from a child) and include:
Ears forward
Mouth closed
Eyes intense
Body rolled forward
Body tense
Tail high (may or may not be wagging)
Slow deliberate wag
This is the type of posture we see in a dog who wants to chase a squirrel, confront an intruder or is getting ready to chase a ball. He is intensely focused and ready for action. He does not want to be hugged or petted at this time. Teach children to leave a dog along who is tense and focused like this.
Alert and Focused Dog
Signs of a Happy Dog
Signs that indicate that the dog is receptive to attention or wants to play:
Panting, relaxed, happy expression
Body position relaxed
Lying with one paw tucked under
Enthusiastic tail wag
Tail thumping on floor
Play bow (front end down; rear end up; tail wagging)
The holidays are especially stressful for dogs due to changes in routine and the comings and goings of visitors. Many dog bites happen at this time of year. When visiting a house with a dog, children should be taught not to approach the dog (even if the dog has been friendly on other occasions). If the dog comes to them they should stand still like a tree and let the dog sniff. Only if the dog is wagging and panting and coming to them for attention and parent and dog owners are supervising and have given permission, should a child touch the dog. Dog owners should gauge their dog’s reaction to visitors. If the dog is overly excited, barking or growling, cowering away, trying to hide or otherwise showing signs of anxiety or aggression, the dog should be kept separate from visiting children for the ENTIRE DURATION of the child’s visit. The dog should have its own place in a crate or another room with toys, a bone to chew on and its special bed or blanket so that it can be happy and comfortable and away from guests. Even dogs that seem happy with visitors should never be alone in the room with visiting children. No preschooler, toddler or baby should be allowed to be near your dog unless you personally also have your hands on the dog and can prevent face to face contact between child and dog and can prevent the child from hugging or otherwise bothering the dog.
Dogs should not be allowed to greet visitors at the door. This is for the safety of the dog and the visitors. Keep the dogs in separate room or crate until the visitors are settled and then allow the dog to say hello if appropriate. If you are not sure about your dog, then leave him confined or keep him on a leash. Make sure that the dog associates visitors with something good for the dog,such as special treats or a stuffed bone.
If you do perceive a problem between your dog and visiting children – THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO WORK ON IT. It is not reasonable to use visiting children to help train your dog. Take preventative measures to ensure that your dog does not have the opportunity to bite and once the holiday season is over seek the help of a dog behavior specialist to solve the dog’s problem.
Tips for a Safe Family Gathering
Family gatherings at a relative’s house are the source of fond memories for many. The relative’s dog may not enjoy these events as much as the rest of the family. Noise, confusion and changes in routine are stressful for dogs. Even a normally calm and docile pet may become agitated enough to bite under the extreme circumstances of a boisterous family celebration. Supervision may be lax if each adult thinks that another is watching the children. Children are the most likely victims of dog bites in this situation.
Put the dog in his crate with a bone or favorite chew toy, at least during the most hectic times – guests arriving and leaving as well as dinner preparation and serving.
Assign one adult to be in charge of the dog, to watch for signs of stress and protect from unwanted attention from children.
Assign one adult to supervise each baby or toddler with no other tasks expected.
If you have multiple dogs, consider kenneling them, crating them or keeping them in another room during large gatherings.
Supervise at all times.
For a video with more tips on dog safety, click here.
Halloween is “fright night” for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened.
Halloween costumes are fun and are meant to disguise our normal appearance. Dogs do not understand this change in appearance and may become frightened. Costumes that change the way a person walks, stands, or their general appearance may cause a dog to react differently than usual even with those they know.
Keep in mind that children on Halloween night are excited and doing their best to be scary. This is not a fair or safe situation to put even the best of dogs in. Even the normally terrific tolerant family dog can find this night hard to handle.
Along with costumes being frightening to a dog there are some that may become interesting too. Swords, tails and dangling things may be fun for an excited dog to chase and toddlers certainly won’t appreciate that. Here is a photo of a costume with very enticing antennae.
Every child and every costume is a new opportunity for different reactions from the same dog.
I recommend setting up your dog with their own private Halloween bash in a safe quiet spot with a yummy treat of their own. Here are some tips to help make this safe haven most comfortable.
1. Stuff a food dispensing toy with yummy mush and freeze it until it is “Halloween” time.
2. Use a fan or radio for white noise. Something consistent is best.
3. Be sure the blinds are down or the dog is not watching kids coming and going by the window. This will only frustrate him and allow him to practice barking and carrying on at the window.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Put candy in a safe spot.
Sometimes dogs are stolen, poisoned or injured by Halloween pranks. Keep your dog safe and sound inside your home.
Halloween is lots of fun for kids, but many dogs will be confused or upset by kids in strange costumes and by lots of people coming to the door, but never being invited in. Doggone Safe offers the following tips for dog owners, kids and parents:
Dog owners:
Secure your dog behind a closed door or in a crate in a room away from the front door or the party if children are meeting at your house.
Give him a juicy bone from the butcher, a sterilized bone or Kong stuffed with hotdog, Rollover or other soft dog treats or a pre-stuffed bone from the pet store.
Play music or leave a TV or radio playing in the dog’s room to help mask the sounds of the activity at the front door.
Close drapes so that the dog does not see people coming and going through the window.
If you have a dog that barks at the sound of the doorbell, disconnect it or watch for trick-or-treaters so that they do not have to ring or knock.
Puppies and dogs that like to chase can get overly excited by costumes with dangly bits or streaming material. Supervise very carefully if you have a dog that may try to play with your children’s costumes while they are wearing them. Teach kids to Be a Tree and stand still if the dog does start nipping at their costume since the more they move, the more exited the dog will get.
Keep your dogs (and cats) indoors around Halloween time. Pets have been stolen, injured or poisoned as part of Halloween pranks or other rituals.
Kids and Parents:
Avoid houses if you can hear a dog barking behind the door, you can see a dog behind a screen door or you see a dog tied up in the yard or barking behind a fence.
Never approach any dog, even if you know him. He may not recognize you in your costume.
If an owner opens the door and there is a dog there, just stay still and wait for the dog owner to put the dog away. You can tell them you do not want to come near the dog. Do not move toward the person and dog. Wait for them to come to you to give you your candy. Wait for them to close the door before you turn and leave.
If a dog escapes just stand still and Be a Tree (hands folded in front, watching your feet). He will just sniff you and then move on. Wait for the owner to come and get the dog before you turn away.
If you meet a loose dog, Be a Tree and wait until it goes away.
It is best to ignore other people’s dogs on Halloween if you meet them out walking. The dog may be worried about all the strange creatures that are out and about. Even if you know the dog, he may not recognize you in your costume.
Doggone Safe wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween!
Dogs are a beloved and accepted part of our society; there are more than 74 million dogs living in the United States. Unfortunately, in recent times dog bites have become a fast growing litigation opportunity. The stories, like that of a postal working being bitten or a child receiving serious injuries involving dog bites, hold horrifying images for every dog lover. Below are some statistics on dog bites occurring in the U.S. and prevention tips that can help minimize the chance of being bitten by a dog.
4 million dog bites occur annually in the U.S.
1 out of 6 dog bites requires medical attention
The 5th most frequent cause of emergency room visits is dog bites
The majority of dog bites will happen to children under age 12, the elderly and home service people (i.e., Cox workers, postal worker, etc…)
Children under the age of 12 receive more than 50% of reported dog bites
Children under the age of 4 receive the majority of their dog bite injuries to the head and neck
Boys are bitten more frequently than girls
The family pet or a known pet has the highest incident rate of dogs that bite
Dog bites occurring from ages 16 and up are generally work related and happen to service workers such as mail carriers, meter readers, cable TV technicians, etc…
Things to Avoid When Away From Home:
A dog in his own yard without his owner
The pack. Two or more dogs together. The larger the number in a pack the higher the risk of attack.
Restrained dog (chained or tethered)
A loose dog without its owner present
Male dogs especially not neutered
Signals & Body Language Cues the Dog Uses to Say He’s Not Comfortable:
A dog with his ears forward
A closed mouth
Eyes in a hard stare
Intense look with forward weight shift, ears forward, eyes hard stare, mouth closed , high tail
Half moon eye where the whites of the eye show like a sliver of moon
Wide eyed look
Weight shift backwards
Tucked tail
Shrunken or lowered down body posture
Lifting of a paw and weight shift backward
Licking the lips
Sniffing the ground
Yawning
A high stiff tail that appears to be slowly wagging
Parents Should Avoid the Following with the Family Dog or Dog of a Friend:
Interaction without supervision of the child and dog
Running and screaming!
Disturbing the dog’s resting place
Taking a bone, or food or toy from the dog
Disturbing a mother dog with puppies
Staring at the dog
Face to face contact
Hugging and kissing the dog
Going into the dog’s den, crate, (includes dog lying on bed, or furniture etc)
Playing tug-o-war games
Dogs that have a Higher Incident Rate of Being Aggressive are the Following:
An untrained dog
Injured dog
Dogs that don’t receive adequate socialization prior to age 14 weeks
Dogs from a pet store and so called “puppy mills”
Dogs kept on stake, chain, restrained or tethered
A new dog in the house (after 60 days incident rate goes down)
Male unaltered dogs
What to do if a Dog is Threatening or Attacks You:
Do not scream and run away
Remain calm
Hands at your sides with fingers pulled into a fist
Avoid eye contact
Remain stationary until the dog loses interest, then slowly back away
What to do if a Dog Attacks:
Feed the dog anything he will take, your jacket, purse, brief case, a hat, etc…
Try to put anything between you and the dog; a trash can, the lid, a bike etc…
If knocked to ground, roll up into a ball and with your hands cover your ears and remain motionless
What does all this mean?
Is there really a dog bite epidemic? Dog bites are a fast growing litigation opportunity in our society.
Animal Control considers an incident to be a dog’s tooth or nail that breaks the skin; this would include nips from playful puppies, scratches from a dog nail, scrapes from a tooth and accidental bites by dogs.
Most dog bites are preventable
A heightened awareness and education of dog body language and behaviors can decrease many of the incidents, and lesson the degree of injury to the bite victim.
The reality is that about 2% of the dog population will bite
Children, the elderly and service workers receive most of the dog bites reported, with children receiving more than half of all dog bites occurring. Boys are bitten more frequently than girls. The family dog, except in the case of the service worker incident holds the highest number of incidents.
Absence of supervision and education make a stand for a high priority for clearer rules and boundaries for children and the family pet.
For starters: TRAIN THE DOG
Give the dog good clear boundaries and education. Spend the time to teach him what is and is not allowable in your household and from his behavior. Dogs, like children, crave and need direction and boundaries to help them feel safe and fit in well.
Easy obedience exercises to do with your dog:
*Teach the dog to wait before going out the door, *to sit before his meals, *to stop barking on command, *to get off the furniture and *not to possess his food, toys, yard, car or anything likely to be a guarded possession to him. *Don’t allow the dog to growl or bark at other dogs while on a walk, *to pull on the leash or to act out in any way. These are easily accomplished with a good obedience program. Seek professional training if necessary.
Good manners and clear obedience control go a long way to help the dog feel more secure in his world, which can help decrease the chance of a biting dog.
Parents train your children! Seek out animal and dog safety programs like the Be a Tree, Be Safe Around Dogs program. These are FREE educational presentations that use pictures and activities to demonstrate to your children what to do and look for to be safe around a dog.
Don’t leave the dog and child unsupervised even for a few minutes. Treat the dog just as you would a swimming pool. You wouldn’t leave your child unattended by the pool even for the moment. Even if you ran to answer the telephone, that’s how fast an accident can happen.
Teach your children to respect the dog’s space. Dogs will feel trapped or cornered when a child approaches if there is no easy way for your dog to escape an uncomfortable situation. A trapped feeling to a dog will increase the potential for a bite.
Dogs don’t like hugs, kisses, or close face to face contact. Eye contact is a challenge and threat to them. Don’t allow the dog to be disturbed during resting time. The dog could become territorial over his nap spot, feeding place or get startled and snap.
Often by the time the dog actually bites he has been giving warning signals for some time. Be aware of signals the dog is giving that show he is uncomfortable.
Other important things to consider with dogs and children; dogs perceive a child bending over them like another dog standing in a dominant pose over their shoulders; as a possible threat. Eye contact to a dog is a challenge or a threat. Hugs and kisses for a child seem to be appropriate affection for the child, but to the dog can be misinterpreted. His natural God given instinct is the ability to warn or protect himself by growling and then using his teeth, AFTER he has given many of the other warning signals outlined above.
Most dogs really don’t want to bite, but have been either made uncomfortable long enough without an escape route, or they have had enough.
Avoid Confrontation
Do not walk up to a dog that is loose or restrained and try to make friends with it. You are better to ignore the dog completely. If you panic the situation will generally excite and or confuse the dog and makes potentially getting bitten more likely. Do not run, do not scream, do not panic or flail arms or legs. All these things show the dog a weakness, confuse him, and can cause him to chase you. Extremities like hands and feet moving and flailing look to him like threats and become targets for him to bite in defense or excitement. Observe a dog in defense of attack and he will stop and circle immediately when the movement stops. He circles because he doesn’t want to put his back to the threat and become vulnerable. If the movement starts again the dog will likely re-engage and bite again.
Companies with employees with a high exposure to dogs should offer bite and safety prevention courses
Advice to companies with high exposure to their employees on the job is to budget and provide for adequate bite safety prevention and education programs. Companies that provide such programming show a drastic reduction in the number of dog/worker incidents and liability on the part of the company.
In a service household route of 500 the average dog encounter is approximately 300. Most of the dogs will display some level of possessive guarding and aggression over their territory.
Some general guidelines for workers :
Have a plan with your employer how to handle a possible conflict with a loose and unsupervised dog. Have a personal course of action outlined if there becomes a conflict with a dog. Ask the dog owner, if present, to put away the dog while the work is being done, or to control the dog with a down-stay or other trained controlled behavior.
Multiple dogs present higher risks. If possible, do not approach the home if the dog is present without the owner. Avoid eye contact and act calmly, present yourself in a sideways position as if to walk by without a direct approach towards the dog. This will decrease any concerns of threat to the dog, which is increased if he is advanced upon. If a dog does advance towards you as if to bite, try to put any kind of barrier between you if possible. If the bite is inevitable, try to carry something with you that you can feed to the dog. Don’t hit the dog with it, but use it between you and the dog. A clip board, purse, briefcase, jacket, hat; give him anything to bite other than you. Even a jacket will lessen the severity of the bite if it is between you and the dog. Try to be calm or the aggression will likely escalate.
The general rule is if the dog has teeth, in the right circumstance he could bite.
Written by Toni Drugmand
Sit Means Sit Phoenix
Contact us for the Be A Tree, a Free safety educational program for Children to learn how to be safe around dogs. Or to schedule a Corporate Bite and Safety Prevention course for your Employees
Tips for a Safe Family Gathering
