Stage 1: A Basic Study of Canines
American Kennel Club
● It is a nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of purebred dogs. The
AKC maintains a registry of recognized breeds, adopts and enforces rules
governing dog shows, obedience trials and field trials, and fosters interest in the
health and welfare of purebred dogs.
PURE BREEDDogs whose mother and father belong to the same breed, and are themselves of unmixed
descent since recognition of the breed.
FICTION
Dog obedience training is counterproductive to dogs being shown in dog shows for
conformation.
● First of all, conformation refers to a dog’s physical features, partnered with the
absence of extreme shyness or aggression.
● Part of the reason behind this myth is that some of the obedience commands
commonly taught might cause dogs problems in the show ring.
Breeds
● Name 7 canine breed groups
1. Sporting
2. Working
3. Herding
4. Terrier
5. Non-Sporting
6. Hound
7. Toy
MIXED BREEDS ● Dogs born from parents who are not of the same breed and at least one of the
parent’s breeds is known.
ALL-AMERICAN BREED ● Dogs born from parents whose breeds are unknown.
Sporting
● List all the various sporting dogs (1-26)
1. American Water Spaniel
2. Clumber Spaniel
3. English Setter
4. Field Spaniel
5. German Wirehaired Pointer
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6. Irish Setter
7. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
8. Sussex Spaniel
9. Welsh Springer Spaniel
10. Welsh Springer Spaniel
11. Brittany
12. Cocker Spaniel
13. English Cocker Spaniel
14. Flat-Coated Retriever
15. Irish Water Spaniel
16. Pointer
17. Vizsla
18. Wirehaired Griffon
19. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
20. Curly-Coated Retriever
21. English Springer Spaniel
22. German Shorthaired Pointer
23. Gordon Setter
24. Labrador Retriever
25. Spinone Italiano
26. Weimaraner
Common characteristics of the Sporting Breed Group.
HIGH DISTRACTIBILITY - (4)
1. Find birds and other game.
2. It difficult for them to achieve focused attention during exercise like Sit-Stay and
Down-Stay.
3. Trouble completing the Come cue in distracting situations.
4. Tendency to become distracted by other dogs and people in group class.
SENSITIVE ● The Spaniels and Setters in this group may be overly sensitive.
● This may make them easy to correct, but they may not always be suitable to live
with small children.
INSENSITIVE ● The Retrievers in this group may be over insensitive.
● This may make make difficult to correct but better suited to live with small
children.
HIGH NEED FOR DAILY EXERCISE - (4)
2
1.
2.
3.
4.
Hyper.
Been bred to notice and react to everything require.
Vigorous daily exercise such as running.
Problem behaviors like barking, digging, destructiveness, pacing or fence
running.
5. Need to run and exercise.
Working
● List all the various working dogs (1-25)
1. Akita
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
3. Bullmastiff
4. Giant Schnauzer
5. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
6. Mastiff
7. Portuguese Water Dog
8. Samoyed
9. Tibetan Mastiff
10. Alaskan Malamute
11. Black Russian Terrier
12. Doberman Pinscher
13. Great Dane
14. Komondor
15. Neapolitan Mastiff
16. Rottweiler
17. Siberian Husky
18. Anatolian Shepherd
19. Boxer
20. German Pinscher
21. Great Pyrenees
22. Kuvasz
23. Newfoundland
24. Saint Bernard
25. Standard Schnauzer
Common characteristics of the working breed group:
DOMINANT - (3)
1. Bred to be dominant.
2. Guarding and protecting people and property.
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3. Some of these dogs may try to dominate their owners if the owners don’t show
strong, fair, consistent leadership.
TERRITORIAL AND POSSESSIVE - (3)
1. Overly territorial or possessive.
2. Toys, their owners, or even their favorite areas of the house and yard.
3. This may make them difficult for inexperienced owners to handle.
INDEPENDENT NATURE - (3)
1. Stubbornness during training.
2. Focus on positive reinforcement techniques withholds everything the dog likes
(food, petting, toys, etc.)
3. As rewards for obedience, the dog will be more willing to obey.
NO FREE LUNCH POLICY ● This means that the dog will be given nothing she likes for free.
● She must obey an obedience cue before receiving anything.
INSENSITIVE - (5)
1. Very insensitive and difficult to correct.
2. They may react to corrections by becoming aggressive or shutting down.
3. Focus on positive reinforcement training.
4. Establish an appropriate rank and relationship with their dog.
5. These dogs must view their owners as strong, fair, consistent leaders.
Herding
● List the various herding dogs (1-18)
1. Australian Cattle Dog
2. Belgian Malinois
3. Border Collie
4. Canaan Dog
5. German Shepherd Dog
6. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
7. Australian Shepherd
8. Belgian Sheepdog
9. Bouvier des Flanders
10. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
11. Old English Sheepdog
12. Swedish Vallhund
13. Bearded Collie
14. Belgian Tervuren
15. Briard
16. Collie
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17. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
18. Shetland Sheepdog
Common characteristics of the herding breed group:
HIGH PREY/ CHASE DRIVE 1. Difficult for these dogs to become desensitized to the activities of small children
and moving objects like bicycles and skates.
HERDING BEHAVIOR - (2)
1. Difficult for these dogs to become desensitized to the activities of small children.
2. These dogs are likely to bark and nip when excited.
HIGH NEED FOR MENTAL ACTIVITY - (2)
1. May develop undesirable behaviors like barking, tail chasing, animal chasing,
child chasing, pacing, fence running, digging or aggression.
2. Need acceptable activities such as Fetch, obedience and tricks.
HIGH NEED FOR DAILY EXERCISE Without sufficient exercise, these dogs may develop excessive barking, tail chasing,
animal chasing, child chasing, pacing, fence running, digging or aggression.
EASILY TRAINED - (2)
1. Typically easier to train since they were bred specifically to work closely with
humans.
2. Herding requires an attentive, closely bonded dog who is very sensitive to her
master’s every movement and command.
OVERLY ATTACHED - (4)
1. Tend to have a high drive and desire to please.
2. Overly attached to their owners.
3. Prone to developing separation anxiety if not taught to accept being apart from
their owners at an early age.
4. Crate training is highly recommended.
Terrier
● List the various terrier dogs (1-26)
1. Airedale Terrier
2. Bedlington Terrier
3. Cairn Terrier
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4. Irish Terrier
5. Standard Manchester Terrier
6. Norfolk Terrier
7. Sealyham Terrier
8. Smooth Fox Terrier
9. West Highland White Terrier
10. American Staffordshire Terrier
11. Border Terrier
12. Dandie Dinmont Terrier
13. Kerry Blue Terrier
14. Miniature Terrier
15. Norwich Terrier
16. Skye Terrier
17. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
18. Wire Fox Terrier
19. Australian Terrier
20. Bull Terrier
21. Glen of Imaal Terrier
22. Lakeland Terrier
23. Miniature Schnauzer
24. Scottish Terrier
25. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
26. Welsh Terrier
Common characteristics of the terrier breed group:
BRED TO BE ACTIVE AND TENACIOUS - (3)
1. Hunt vermin and not back down if attacked.
2. Difficult for inexperienced dog owners to handle.
3. Respond aggressively to common corrections that most dogs would back down
from.
HIGH NEED FOR DAILY EXERCISE ● Terriers may be seen as destructive and hyper when not given enough exercise or
acceptable work to do like Fetch, obedience and tricks.
ALERT AND AGILE 1. Fast.
2. Difficult for their owners to keep up with.
3. Inexperienced owners may feel left behind by these dogs, both mentally and
physically.
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DIGGING AND HUNTING INSTINCTS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS These dogs may become destructive if their energy is not properly channeled.
CAN BE DOG / ANIMAL AGGRESSIVE - (3)
1. Bred to hunt and kill vermin.
2. Try to kill small animals they encounter.
3. Some terriers have been bred to fight other dogs.
Non-Sporting
● List the various non sporting dogs (1-17)
1. American Eskimo Dog
2. Bulldog
3. Dalmatian
4. Keeshond
5. Poodle
6. Tibetan Spaniel
7. Bichon Frise
8. Chinese Shar-Pei
9. Finnish Spitz
10. Lhasa Apso
11. Schipperke
12. Tibetan Terrier
13. Boston Terrier
14. Chow Chow
15. French Bulldog
16. Lowchen
17. Shiba Inu
Common characteristics of the non-sporting breed group.
MIXED GROUP - (5)
1. Less in common than other breeds.
2. Characteristics of the working.
3. Characteristics of the sporting group.
4. Bred specifically to guard.
5. Bred to be companion animals.
DIFFICULT TO MOTIVATE - (3)
1. Not bred for labor-intensive purposes.
2. May be difficult to motivate for training.
3. No Free Lunch Policy can help increase motivation to obey obedience cues.
MAKE BETTER PETS - (2)
1. The fact that many breeds in this group were not bred to work can make them
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more suitable as pets.
2. Less drive to hunt and chase can render these dogs easier for inexperienced dog
owners to handle.
Hound
● List the various hound dogs (1-22)
1. Afghan
2. Basset Hound
3. Bloodhound
4. English Foxhound
5. Ibizan Hound
6. Otterhound
7. Plott
8. Whippet
9. American Foxhound
10. Beagle
11. Borzoi
12. Greyhound
13. Irish Wolfhound
14. Petite Basset Griffon
15. Rhodesian Ridgeback
16. Basenji
17. Black and Tan Coonhound
18. Dachshund
19. Harrier
20. Norwegian Elkhound
21. Pharaoh Hound
22. Saluki
Common characteristics of the hound breed group.
EASILY DISTRACTED - (3)
1. Scent and sometimes movement can easily distract these dogs.
2. Owners should be prepared to increase their dog’s motivation to focus on them
by placing the dog on the No Free Lunch Policy.
3. Being allowed to sniff around may actually be used as a reward for obedience.
INDEPENDENT NATURE - (4)
1. Hounds are bred to work independently of humans because of this these dogs
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may have less pack drive to please their owners.
2. Sometimes comes off as stubbornness and stupidity.
3. Owner should be prepared to decrease the number of repetitions they use when
practicing obedience as these dogs will quickly become bored.
4. No Free Lunch Policy rewards for obedience must be considered valuable by the
dog and should be the highlight of her day.
Toy
● List the various toy dogs (1-21)
1. Affenpinscher
2. Chihuahua
3. Havanese
4. Maltese
5. Papillon
6. Poodle
7. Silky Terrier
8. Brussels Griffon
9. Chinese Crested
10. Italian Greyhound
11. Toy Manchester Terrier
12. Pekingese
13. Pug
14. Toy Fox Terrier
15. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
16. English Toy Spaniel
17. Japanese Chin
18. Miniature Pinscher
19. Pomeranian
20. Shih Tzu
21. Yorkshire Terrier
Common Characteristics of the Toy Breed Group
SIZE - RELATED LENIENCE - (4)
1. A small dog’s misbehavior is dismissed due to her size.
2. Dog owners view small dogs as surrogate children or “toys” and not the true dogs
they are.
3. Owners that treat their small dogs like this can inadvertently send the wrong
message to their dog about their relationship, increasing the difficulty of
obedience training.
4. This skewed relationship often creates behavioral problems that would never be
tolerated in a larger dog.
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TRAINING SMALL STATUTE DOGS - (4)
1. Training may be more difficult in the beginning because of the dog’s stature.
2. Owners will find it frustrating to bend over repetitively to reward their dog.
3. The Owner can place his dog on a table to train or train while he is seated on the
floor or in a chair.
4. Using a target stick or teaching the dog to catch tossed food treats can alleviate
the need for the owner to bend down.
SMALL DOG, BIG ATTITUDE - (3)
1. Do not realize that they are small.
2. Behave as though they are larger dogs.
3. Much bigger dog to play with or fight.
DELICATE PHYSIOLOGY ● Owners of toy breed dogs should be aware of their dog’s delicate physiology.
● It is possible for a toy breed to break a leg just by jumping off a sofa or bed.
● Care should be taken to not overdo any physical methods of training or
correction.
Canine Developmental Periods
● List 3 relevant developmental period seen in canines:
1. First Fear Imprint Period: 6-10 weeks
2. Optimum Bonding Period: Begins at 7 weeks
3. General Socialization Period: 7-16 weeks
Fear Imprint Period: 6-10 weeks:
1. Extremely Impressionable
2. Sensitive to both positive and negative environmental experiences.
3. Avoid any training that involves yelling, choke chain corrections, noise makers,
squirt bottles, shock collars, or any other strong corrections.
COMPULSION TRAINING1. ABC defines compulsion training as a training style that involves the use to force
as a means to teach a new behavior or cue, thus creating a foundation for the new
behavior based on negative motivation.
2. ABC believes all new behaviors and cues should be learned through shaping and
positive reinforcement, thus creating a foundation for the new behavior based on
positive motivation.
FICTION
Obedience training should not begin until a dog is at least six months old.
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●
Using positive-based training methods, obedience training can begin at ages
much younger than six months.
COUNTER CONDITIONING - (2)
1. The Owner should be encouraged to break down whatever the puppy has the
aversion to into manageable pieces.
2. Instruct the owner to pair any and all experience between the puppy and the
things she fears with all the things she likes.
Optimum Bonding Period: Begins at 7 weeks:
● The optimum bonding period is the time during which a puppy is most
impressionable and open to bonding with other dogs and/or people.
● Focus on proper socialization during this period.
● Proper socialization consists of avoiding stressful or overwhelming situations.
● Interactive experiences with humans should be positive be positive, mild and
gentle.
● Avoid forcing the puppy to explore new things.
● Instead, expose her to new things and let her explore them at her own pace.
General Socialization Period: 7-16 weeks:
● Dogs who are not properly socialized have a much greater chance of biting
someone.
● During the general socialization period, owners should take every opportunity to
socialize their puppies to as many new and varied situations as possible.
● Avoiding areas where other dogs go and only exposing the puppy to dogs that are
known to be healthy and current on vaccinations.
Socialization
● Socialization is critical to reducing dog bites.
PROPER SOCIALIZATION The act of teaching a dog not to react by desensitizing her to those things she will
encounter in daily life.
DESENSITIZATION Desensitization is done by exposing the dog to the environment in small increments and
by helping the dog make positive associations to the things we are desensitizing her to.
Improper Socialization
1. Dogs who have not been properly socialized will tend to be shy and over-reactive.
They may flinch, freeze or withdraw when petted.
2. Startle.
3. Become fearfully aggressive.
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Special Socialization Programs
1. Many dog owners feel that just getting their dogs out in public occasionally
constitutes proper socialization.
2. Many dogs, because of their breed, genetics or upbringing, need a special
socialization program.
3. Dogs who are bred to be naturally suspicious, such as the guarding breeds or
breeds that have been developed to work independently of people rather than in
conjunction with them usually need more work on socialization.
Rescued Dogs
● While every new dog or puppy owner should begin proper socialization it is even
more important for people who adopt from shelters or find a dog on the street.
● The new owner is unaware of the genetic make-up or personal history of the dog
or puppy.
● It is much more important to give these rescued dogs every advantage by
properly socializing them.
Optimum Socialization Period
● The optimum time to socialize a dog is before she is five months old. After five
months of age, socialization occurs at a slower rate.
● Socialization can start as soon as a puppy is born.
● Even puppies that are still nursing from their mother can benefit from brief, gentle
handling from a variety of humans.
● Socialization should always start as soon as possible, as long as the puppy or
dog being socialized is healthy and the socialization is done correctly.
Reading a Puppy’s Body Language
● It is very important for dog owners to learn how to read their dog’s body language
so they will know if they are properly socializing or overwhelming her.
● An owner must not force any socialization experience on his puppy, such as
dragging the puppy into a noisy area or shoving her into the arms of someone
she’s frightened of.
● Owners should be taught to look for any cringing, shaking, or freezing up in the
puppy is trying the hide or run away.
● Choosing socialization experiences that are appropriate for the puppy, the owner
encourages a proper response from her.
● They also make sure the puppy is hungry during training, food treats will be more
effective for distracting or redirecting her attention, should she become
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concerned or startled by something.
Handing Nervous or Fearful Reactions
● A dog or puppy becomes tense, nervous or frightened, her owner must not soothe
her.
● He must learn to redirect the puppy’s attention onto a food treat or toy.
● Make sure he is properly using the food treats and ensure that the puppy is
hungry enough in those circumstances to be brave to get the treat.
Safe socialization for Puppies
● It is important for dog owners to be educated about the importance of proper
socialization.
● A trainer, you must also inform owners how they can safely socialize their
puppies while protecting them from Parvo.
● Parvo is something to be concerned about with a new puppy, it does not claim
nearly as many lives as behavioral problems do.
General Canine Vaccination
● Name 7 diseases / virus a dog can get.
1. Distemper
2. Hepatitis
3. Leptospirosis
4. Parainfluenza
5. Parvo
6. Enteric Parvo
7. Myocardial Parvo
● All dogs should receive the following 3 vaccinations
1. DHLPP
2. Bordatella
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3. Corona
Common Canine Health Problems
● The Following is a short list of other common health problems seen in canines
which all Professional Trainers should become familiar with.
CYSTIS - (2)
1. Cystic relates to an infection in the bladder. An infection common in both male
and female dogs. Infected individuals urinate frequently and there may be blood in
the urine.
2. Urination may appear difficult or painful to the dog. Females sometimes have a
vaginal discharge and lick their vulva often. Cystitis is treatable with antibiotics.
OTHER URINARY PROBLEMS - (2)
1. Cystis is not the only type of canine urinary problem.
2. Common symptoms of urinary problems include excessive drinking and urination,
straining to urinate, frequent urination in small amounts, inability to urinate,
uncontrollable urination, blood or pus in the urine, vomiting, hunch-up posture,
and weight and appetite loss.
TUMORS - (2)
1. Tumors usually occur in older dogs over five years of age, and are commonly
benign.
2. Dog owners should ask their veterinarians to check any unusual lumps or
growths on their dogs immediately.
Common Canine Parasites
● Two categories: External and Internal.
External Parasites: Name 4 external parasites
1. Fleas
2. Ticks
3. Mites
4. Scabies
FLEAS - (2)
1. Fleas are the most common external parasite and can be more than just a
nuisance. Dogs can suffer from blood loss, itchy skin and can contract tapeworms
if left untreated.
2. Fleas may also victimize humans, and allergic reactions in both dogs and humans
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are not uncommon. Fleas can be treated with over-the-counter products, but
caution is recommended.
TICKS - (2)
1. Ticks are a form of external parasite and can cause paralysis, anemia, and serious
diseases such as Lyme disease.
2. You are training in area where ticks are prevalent, instruct your client to inspect
their dog daily for these parasites. Owners with this problem speak to a
veterinarian for proper tick control remedies.
MITES - (2)
1. There are many different types of mites - tiny insects that are considered to be
external parasites. Dogs infested with these pests are sometimes referred to as
having “mange.”
2. Ear mites live in the dog’s ear canals. Ear mites are visible to the naked eye and
they appear as tiny white specks. Despite the microscopic size of mites, they are
insects. Infected dogs should be referred to a veterinarian.
SCABIES - (2)
1. Scabies is a condition caused by a microscopic mite burrowing beneath the skin
and is considered to be an external parasites. This condition is spread rapidly
between dogs and can also affect humans.
2. Untreated the dog’s entire body can become infected. Dogs who are suspected of
having scabies should be referred to a veterinarian.
Internal Parasites: Name 4 internal parasites
1. Heartworms
2. Hookworms
3. Roundworms
4. Tapeworms
Canine Musculoskeletal System
● The canine musculoskeletal system, protects, and moves the dog’s body.
● The bones that comprise this also provide a site for mineral and fat storage, and
for the production of red blood cells.
Hip Dysplasia
● Canine hip dysplasia is a congential defect, meaning it can be passed on through
genes from parents to their young. A common source of lameness, especially in
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large dogs. A dysplasia dog has an abnormal hip joint.
ORTHOPEDIC FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS (OFA) The OFA will not certify dogs younger than two years of age, so reputable large dog
breeders will not consider allowing a female to have puppies before both she and the
stud have been x-rayed, evaluated, and OFA certified.
Canine Breeding
● Large breeds tend to mature slower than small breeds. In general, male puppies
usually become fertile after six months of age and reach mature fertility by twelve
to fifteen months.
● Females however have specific periods during which they will accept a male and
are fertile. Females that are in these certain periods are considered to be in heat.
Relaxed Body Posture
1. Tail down
2. Ears up, but not forward
3. Head high
4. Corners of mouth relaxed
RELAXED BODY POSTURE The dog is relaxed and comfortable with her surroundings, such as when at home, or at
class once accustomed to the environment.
Alert Body Posture
1. Tail straight out
2. Ears forward
3. Mouth closed
4. Stands tall on toes
ALERT BODY POSTURE This posture is usually a prelude to another behavior. Being able to notice alert body
posture is important for effective training. Alert body posture occurs when the dog is
aware of something, but has not decided what to do about it.
Offensive Threat Posture
1. Tail up and stiff
2. Hackles u
3. Ears forward
4. Nose forward
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5. Corners of mouth forward
6. Stands tall and forward on toes
OFFENSIVE THREAT POSTURE She will more than likely attack at the slightest provocation. A growl often accompanies
this posture.
Avoid Physical Corrections
● A dog is barking and/or growling and showing signs of offensive threat posture,
you should not instruct the owner to give a physical correction to the dog to stop
the barking.
● Physical correction may cause the dog to redirect her aggression onto the owner
or cause her to become even more aggressive in general.
● Have the owner move the dog away from the threatening object or situation to a
point that will allow her to relax.
Avoid Collars that Constrict or Cause Pain
● Owners should not use pinch collars on their dogs.
● If you are working with an aggressive dog and she is wearing a pinch collar, it
should be removed as soon as possible.
● The pain of the pinch collar can reinforce the negative feelings the dog has about
whatever she is behaving aggressively toward.
Use Food Rewards to Regain Focus
1. Owners work with food treats.
2. Food treats are important because they can make it easier for the owners to get
their dogs to look at them.
3. Owners should also get in the habit of moving in the opposite direction of any
distractions since movement generally attracts dogs’ attention.
4. Teaching dog owners to move in the opposite direction away from distraction will
help attract the dog’s attention onto the owner.
Defensive Threat Posture
1. Tail tucked
2. Hackles up
3. Ears back
4. Pupils dilated
5. Nose wrinkled
6. Corners of mouth back
7. Body lowered
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DEFENSIVE THREAT POSTURE ● Dog is being self-protective.
● This is seen in a dog who is showing fear and would prefer to run away from the
situation, but may bite if provoked or cornered.
Avoid Physical Correction
● Dog is barking and showing signs of defensive threat posture, do not physically
correct her barking.
● You may suggest to the owner that he influence the dog to turn toward him to look
up and take a food treat.
Avoid Collars that Constrict or Cause Pain
● Choke chains and pinch collars should not be used on dogs exhibiting the
defensive threat posture.
● Recommend that the owner consider using a head collar as the training collar.
Use Food Rewards to Regain Focus
● Have the owner work with food treats.
● Food treats can assist the owner in getting the dog to look at him.
● Encouraging the dog to look at her owner to take food treats can help her ignore
the things she is fearful of and help her make more positive associations.
No Free Lunch Policy
● The dog must obey an obedience cue or move toward something she is fearful of
in order to receive anything she likes.
● This approach frequently helps a fearful dog become more confident because she
will quickly realize that she gets good things like food treats, praise, petting and
toys by overcoming her fears without being forced to do so.
Passive Submission
1. Tail tucked
2. Eyes looking away
3. Rolls onto back
PASSIVE SUBMISSION A dog showing passive submission has chosen to submit to the dominant dog or human.
Active Submission
1. Tail down
2. Ears back
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Forehead smooth
Licks at mouth of superior dog/human
Corners of mouth back
Groveling movements with forepaws
Body lowered
ACTIVE SUBMISSION
Submissive body posture may be seen during training when the dog is confused about
what the trainer or owner wants, has received too strong a correction, or senses that the
trainer or owner is angry or tense.
Take a Break
● Once a dog displays submissive behavior, training should stop.
● Have the dog take a break and return after she and her owner are relaxed.
● Have the owner practice easier exercises that are comfortable for the dog.
Play Bow
1. Tail up and wagging
2. Ears up
3. Mouth is open with tongue visible
4. Front and lowered
PLAY BOW ● Indicating that she would like to play.
● This posture often can be imitated by humans to elicit similar responses from
their dogs
Stress
1. Tail down
2. Ears back
3. Pupils dilated
4. Rapid panting with corners of mouth back
5. Body lowered
6. Sweating through pads
STRESS It is important to recognize signs of stress in a dog because learning stops during this
time.
Take a Break
● If you see signs of stress in a dog during training, you should stop and give the
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●
dog time to rest.
This may entail moving her away from a particular dog or situation like a group
class.
Use Food Rewards to Regain Focus
● Give the dog a better reward for any correct behavior.
● The owner may have to reward the dog for just looking up at him.
● We would highly recommend using food treats for a dog who gets stressed in
group classes as a way to get her mind off whatever stressed her.
Pain Response
● Sometimes pain stresses a dog.
● If an owner corrects a dog and the correction causes pain, it can not only stress
the dog, it can also cause an otherwise gentle dog to react aggressively.
● Any aggressive reaction to a correction should be addressed calmly and pain
should be ruled out as a cause.
● If the cause of the aggression is not readily apparent, the owner should be
encouraged to call his veterinarian and describe his dog’s behavior so the doctor
can decide what to do next.
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