It Should Be Fun, but For More Than One

Differing views on a post regarding a dog that went into an agility training venue.
http://www.underdogged.net/?p=182 (entitled what I need in a trainer who went to an agility class with her bully breed dog---breeds that I love by the way)

http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2008/10/people-skills-in-dog-training.html (and one on people skills in dog training, and it should be fun at all costs to the PERSON)

First of all, if I was running an agility center, I would need people to come in with their dogs with basic obedience. They would have been screened before hand. It might not be fun to find out your dog needs a prerequisite course before coming in.

Two, while the dog may not have been acting aggressively, it is the trainer's responsibility to not only keep the class fun but safe. A dog that may be sending out stressed and out of control signals is a dog that could trigger something in another dog. Dogs do not need to be out of control fools to have fun or compete in agility.

So I wasn't there, and neither was the competing trainer that contributed to her blog about it, but I think it's horribly unfair to put down a dog trainer because the class may not have been "fun" for the individual. Though I do think the one thing that might be improved upon in the future is advance screening of the clientele coming in. Unless you work with many dogs in one environment, then you have no idea how sloppy control on the trainer in charge's actions can affect the atmosphere.

Here's the thing though. These activities are being pushed as so much more "fun" than obedience. But what happens, is you start taking the fun away from everyone else in public and in private settings. You also start legislation in the long term being enacted that end up affecting dogs that are not so dangerous by an overreacting public (to that individual dog based on what is happening to dog training multitudes of dogs).

I am sure that my client's don't find it fun for them (the humans) when I dismiss them from a lesson. Actually, they take it pretty well as they know the reason is that they did not do their homework, and I would rather they not confuse the dog by doing continuing on when the humans haven't done the work that we are building onto. However, if they want to practice the homework they didn't do in front of me that is fine. Or to do exercises coming up sans dog, that is fine too.

I am pretty sure my client's don't think it's a blast when I tell them their dog will continue to be a dangerous dog unless they do the work. Some client's don't find it fun needing to think about different ways to up the distraction level in their training. There are responsibilities that make life not always fun for humans.

Teaching someone, and I don't know whether the trainer in question set you aside and explained "why and what you can do" is not always equated with fun. For instance if they don't do their homework and they have made no progress, you need to be direct. How you are direct can vary according to individual and dog in question, but you need to make humans understand their responsibility and duties to their dogs. This is not always the fun part of my job:) However, when you convince someone to take their responsibility to their dog seriously, that is the fun part.

I do sympathize. I remember going to group "obedience-hahah" classes with an aggressive dog before I was a trainer. All I got for help was shoulder shrugs.

Review of DogStarDaily.com

Recently an online site created by the Dunbar family (Dr Ian Dunbar) was brought to my attention. It was brought to my attention in the same thread that compared traditional dog training to "war dog training", which I found a concerning phrase. Now, as far as I know, The Monks of New Skete did not specialize or perhaps even deal in the training of "war dogs". Not that I even know what that statement could mean. I believe the poster may have been trying to say working dogs. Dogs in the military have all sorts of jobs that do not require "aggression" or a "hard dog nature" as implied. However, I found this "war dog" idea as a pretty standard thread of DogStarDaily.com. I should disclose that I am not an actual fan of The Monks of New Skete, at least how their older manual existed.

Bill Koehler, while having been in the military, became famous due to a series of training books aimed at group lessons for pet dogs (through the AKC obedience tests that were out there) , tracking dogs, and hunting dogs. While they may not be heavy on the treats, they are all about praise and partnership with the appropriate tools. In fact, before going to Margot Wood's seminar on her Bedrock Training Method which is an offshoot of what she learned on her own and from Bill Koehler, the metal training collar (also known as the choke collar) was not my tool of choice at all. Seeing it in this method, I realized how easily it was applied to train a dog to be on no equipment at all, and not with "heavy handed" corrections. It was a huge part of accomplishing a successful goal this year of getting Jack his Companion Dog title. Mr Koehler was very well known in the movie and commercial side of dog training as well. In his books, I don't see methods talked about that advocate the breaking down of a dog so the "stronger rise and the weaker fail".

That being said, are there some parts of his book that I don't use? Yes, some of the suggestions that are separate from the methods of dealing with "real hoods", I don't use. First of all some of the "real hoods" are probably dogs that don't belong in your average dog owners home. I say this having worked with dogs that have or are capable of biting a human or animal. I say this also having rehabbed them from wanting to do this as any sort of common occurrence. So I am not saying that dogs can not be rehabbed, especially from behavioral problems that have cropped up due to misunderstanding the needs of their dog for direction, leadership, and discipline (remember a time out in a crate can be discipline, and saying no can be discipline, as can restraint by leash and collar).

Second of all, I have never met a dog with a housebreaking or barking issue that wasn't fairly easily solved with regular old training or medical attention. 95% of his books, however, I do use. I see no reason for throwing out a perfectly extraordinary way of training my dogs for a couple of items that I have never seen fit to use with a dog and aren't even part of the "method". It was a different time, and he was the grandfather of an amazing dog training method. I would love to ask Mr Koehler about some of his recommendations, but he has been dead for sometime. There are a handful of people that trained with him or took his classes that may be able to answer some questions or speculate on what he would change now, if anything.

There are always things in dog training that we can take or leave as we see fit. However, the sect of people calling this "war dog" training has just found another argument that is too general to possibly be disputed. Some techniques that are used with dogs, are used with humans in these arguments. When relevant points, written evidence, and facts are logically discussed, what happens is the use of "extinction" (common purely positive technique in if you ignore it, it will go away) comes into play. If we ignore them long enough, they will go away. It's somewhat insulting when these are used on the human parties involved, especially since it's gloated so much about in certain circles. "War Dog training" was a new excuse to me as to why not use "traditional training", as "science" was the old one. It's a general term used to be way more important than it actually is. Science, as it turns out, is the observation that dogs like food as payment. It is also the more important facial expressions on dogs and body language. However, the thing it is not, is a total dog training program for every temperament of dog!! Canines still remain individuals regardless about what are theories are of "how things should run".

The other tactic that is used is to suppress information and make sure everyone allowed in spews the same lines. Look up "traditional training" on the Dogstardaily.com site. Go on, find out if I am lying there, and be sure to read beyond the first paragraph. I have let the Dunbar family know of my disdain for calling traditional training the "darkside". Kelly Gorman Dunbar offered the following in her e-mail "I am going to change any old verbiage that is negative or inflammatory. That is not where I want to take the site." The unfortunate thing, is that's going to be well over fifty percent of the articles that are on there, and the site has already been taken in that direction. Also, the question of how this recently developed site, allowed all these old and negative articles to get on there? There are plenty of new blog postings with the same mantra going on. You need to be an approved author to blog, though not comment. Your comments are however monitored, and this has been a frequent theme in the more fanatical movement that strove to take over the APDT.

When I expressed my concern over new dog owners finding this site with very simplistic information, Kelly Gorman Dunbar offered the following "Ian's big focus is the prevention of behavior problems and early puppy training. That is how he thinks dog behavior problems can be resolved, by teaching people to prevent them". Well that would be all very well and good, if this was disclosed or promoted anywhere on this site in any way. As she disclosed to me in her e-mail "This is a starter resource and we" (believe she meant do not here) "promote working with trainers for anything other than the basics." Which is a good thing, as the accomplishments or graduating class photos of some of the esteemed bloggers there are not too impressive.

It's as likely that an adopter of a rescued adult or someone that did not bring puppy up exactly right in the first place, may very well be the visitor to this site. It's promoted as being the best minds in the industry, and there is no doubt that it's all advice slanted towards one direction and in one discipline. This is why I am so careful as to point people interested in this field towards the open minded trainers. Such organizations are able to speak on the strengths and weaknesses of any method, and through the actual experience of dog training. They also have alliances with people in the biology and behavioral science arena, that may be able to understand that there are limitations to a persons' knowledge, even if they are possessed with a Phd.

Now that being said, I have always maintained that someone who was a merger of the two (training in a measurable way, and not just beginning Novice type stuff) would really be top notch. However organizations and people that instill shame and fear, instead of references and help for dog problems that may be easily solved using another method or tactic.

I could say a lot more here about touching a dog and dog training, and how important touch is to dog training. No I did not say smack or even correct. Touching, shaping, and molding are not domination exercises, but socialization exercises and letting the dog know they can trust you. There is nothing wrong with correctly handling your dog. Nor is there anything wrong with saying the word "No". Dog is about to get into the face of an older dog trying to sleep "No", may distract the dog an avoid an incident. Or perhaps you let the older dog do that, as he is likely too, if you can trust that no over reaction will occur. There is nothing wrong with saying no. This is where this movement becomes so darned dangerous. Now something simple is considered "dominance", "extreme war dog training", and words like tradition that meant practices of a long time are re-termed to indicate "smacking", "helicoptering", or "violence". Excuses are made later that "oh, we weren't talking about you, we were talking about the general "them".

Additionally, if your dog works happily without treats, why would you want to train him to work only for treats? If you don't need to bribe your dog to want to be with you, I don't see why this would be a requirement in dog training. The "Food Critic" article on DogStarDaily.com seems to be suggesting (beyond that traditional is the dark side") to treat your dog at any cost.

At a later time, I will talk about the movement of "pet dog trainer" vs "dog trainer". You can see it in the professional titles of two professional organizations "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and "International Association of Canine Professionals". How did this come about, and what was the disconnect here? It will be a very interesting article on how the dog training profession views dog owners, and how this effects the philosophies involved!!

Dr Ian Dunbar has a long history with the "Association of Pet Dog Trainers" and it is believed that his business model is part of what started the disconnect amongst philosophies. I believe there are a couple of articles out there or videos in which he may express his regret at this. He has become an professional member of the "International Association of Canine Professionals" which is home to many traditional dog trainers. In my opinion, he is a shining example of someone trying to get it both ways, and hurting animals, people, and organizations in a perhaps unexpected way in the process.

Dog training is a method that improves the relationship, and does not only address a symptom. If you do this the right way, your dog will "wag more and bark less":)

Got a behaviorally challenged pup or adult dog. Call Mannerly Mutts at 207-361-4395 or e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

The Construction of a Training Manual

The training manual is coming along at a snail's pace at the moment. I am hoping writing about it might open up the flood gates.

One thing is that I don't offer mix and match training sessions (in other words "let's just go over this in three sessions"). You get the full picture or no picture at all if you are taking a private lesson training plan here. There is no "manners class". I didn't think this was great business at first. What happens when I loose all those people that only want to come to one or two classes? A scary thought in these times where the economy is tightening everyone's financial belt. And a reason why a training manual should really cover the cost of not training your dog to be reliable. Loss of your companion for one, veterinary bills, law suits for injuries intended or just due to good natured fun. Those are all short term consequences by the way, the long term consequences are the anti dog owner and dog laws that are cropping up, well around the world, and most recently all over the United States!! While this should be able to be transferred to the competitive obedience ring, the real passion at Mannerly Mutts if for real life training.

Non of the following classes can be found here:
Reactive Rover
Bully Obedience
Heeling Class
Rapid Recall

Instead what we offer is Basic Obedience, Advanced and Intermediate Obedience. In that order by the way, you could "CLEP" out but you need to pass graduation for the previous level in order to advance. There also needs to be graduates of private lessons in any group to have practice group classes.

So what did happen when I started selling only six lesson packages? More customers and more hours training dogs. Effectively, an output of a better product in better and more reliable training per dogs coming in and out. Did some people say no thanks? Sure. I even sent them to other places. Some people I told no thanks to. In the end though, the result was better than I imagined. I might be pushing it, but this year I am trying to sell the whole 12 week package. About seventy percent of my students this year did go onto the training beyond the positions that comes along in the last six weeks. I also only charge 35.00 per session, well below the average 60-75 charged for private lessons in the area. So cost can not be a reason to do a reasonable amount of training preparation with your dog. But is that for my training package, or just my sales spiel LOL?

On the other hand, why you train, how you train, what you train, and how that all helps you in the end is not readily apparent to students. "I just want my dog to stop jumping on me" is a frequent complaint. Plus they really don't mean they just want their dog to stop jumping on them, they mean they don't want Mr Dog to be jumping on grandma either. Or running to the edge of the road when the dump truck comes or stealing the pot roast off the counter right next to them. Additionally, if Mr Dog could actually come when called, that would be nice. Assuming we do teach just a few commands to do this, you still need to build up realiability during distractions. This does not happen in a day, and you don't just go to the end of the exercise. There are successive steps that make this happen. You can't just hammer this home, especially if you are teaching the dog and the human, and creating this language/communication between them.

So okay, the hows and whys of training need to be explained. Additionally how commands are used in order to affect change in behavior (wildly hyper out of control dog to calm and content dog) and how they are used to make life a bit easier for everyone involved.

Next, why is equipment and equipment handling important? Now that I know more, sloppy equipment handling makes me more crazy than I ever thought it would. There is a reason for proper leash position when working a dog. Traction is very important in the six foot leashes, and this is why I always insist on a good quality leather lead. Then there should be a training collar (not harness unless the dog has back or neck problems). I don't use Gentle Leaders or Haltis, as they are more management equipment than training equipment. My goal is to get the dog to be able to be off equipment a fair amount of time, by the training we do. There needs to be an explanation of equipment however, and also an explanation of some of the more controversial equipment. I wouldn't be too excited about training loose leash walking to a six month old active Great Dane puppy on their flat collar, for instance. Not saying there aren't some that it might be completely possible to do, just saying I have had a bit of experience with the Great Dane puppies LOL.

Either you need to have two manuals for Basic Obedience puppy vs adult OR you need to have places where the two may diverge. Puppies in general while lacking the maturity of an adult, often very easily comply with what you want. There comes a time later where you will want to remember your training, and will need to revisit it as this maturing pup becomes a bit more bold and adventurous. All in all, it's a very good idea to train while young, because even if you need to revisit it later, it's going to be so much easier for you than starting from scratch at a year or a year and a half. Plus, you will already have done much of the work already, and just need to do a bit of maintenance on the problem areas.

When we begin, I don't mind questions. I do mind the insistance of not cocentrating from the beginning on the basics of the exercise. Why not do it right from the beginning? The only thing you do by not holding the leash right, not having hand position, is create an atmosphere in which training does not flourish from the beginning. It's not only the dog, and how well do I know that after my first year competing!! My scores are saying "you can do better" right now, and that is my goal next year. I am working toward that now, and what I want to do is have my clients do it right the first time.

My husband recently asked me, "do you think our training (13 years ago) Ken would have graduated us (if he had graduations)?" "God I'd hope not" I said. Yet I see dogs graduationg that I wouldn't consider for having completed the first lesson, never mind the six or twelve week course. Much of the problem is the handling being exhibited by the owner. They have trained the exercise wrong, and are giving the dogs conflicting signals. "Are you starting or stopping" the dog is thinking or "what the heck was that?" Or in my newest client's case, "ouch!! I am down here you know.". This isn't just so the exercise looks pretty, but the waltz together makes for training magic that forms a partnership.

Still even before I get to exercises, discussions on rewards, corrections, dog rules, consistency et all need to be gone over. Frequency of homework and the consequences for not doing homework also need to be discussed. After all the session is to update the owner on the techniques of the homework required, and allow for PRACTICE of the exercises while you are there to guide the owner to the correct execution.

So there is all that documentation, and THEN the exercises. Daunting. Plus all those misc dog questions that come up. How do I stop my dog from barking? How do I get my dog to stop chewing? Housebreaking, a specialty for the pup training manual, by the way (which means a crate training session that is inclusive of the adult dogs). That has to be included as well as the way to train an alert that pup or dog needs to go out.

Well, I guess there is my start right there.

2009 Doberman Rescue Calendar

Mannerly Mutts very own Jack CD will be in the Doberman Rescue Calendar for 2009!! From dog that "won't kennel well" and having gone through several homes (and three obstruction surgeries prior to coming here), to Mannerly Mutts' own demo, competition dog, and beloved family member. I am not sure which photo will be used, I am keeping it a surprise for myself!

Not What I Was Expecting!!

Youtube is a very helpful tool in looking up almost anything or anyone that you want to see. Jean Donaldson is a well known dog trainer everywhere, but especially popular in circles that want to ban certain training tools. I went to see how she looks when training a dog, and was totally unprepared for this when the title started out saying, we can train your dog to do anything...



Um, puts a whole nother understanding on the word "reward".

Need your dog to be trained to perform useful commands? Call Mannerly Mutts's Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, at 207-361-4395. Or e-mail mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Time Management and Projects During Lulls

One thing about being self employed as a full time dog trainer, is you need to drive yourself forward. I am not saying I miss the world of Corporate America, God no. I am saying putting the skills in place to drive yourself forward can be challenging. In corporate America, there is a fire to put out every minute. Or in my job of Financial Controller, there were mergers, acquisitions, system change overs, audits, sales goals, ET to all drive forward every day. Sometimes a chemical spill in the plant just to make life a bit more interesting than it needed to be.


Being self employed, you can be the head of the operation and every job in between to the cleaning person all in one. When those times of lull come on, it's hard not to just luxuriate in the free time that has been afforded to you. When it's busy, you barely have time to clean and disinfect before the next client comes through your door. So when it let's up, you better be doing your admin and training items, or it's never going to happen.


During the lulls this year, I trained two dogs to compete during for Novice AKC A and B classes. I should have spent more time than I did, but I completed the Companion Dog for my dog, Jack, which was my goal this year. Bri's first two legs towards her Companion Dog title have been the gravy. Next spring we will finish that up for her, and start both on Open competitions. Devon, my neighbors other dog, is being groomed for Novice competition next Spring. Now is an excellent time to do that, as normally these are boarding months (due to the cold, and we train in all environments) and cases that can not wait for spring (IE the behaviorally challenged or aggressive students' dogs). Otherwise it will be a slow winter months for lessons, though I have two more signed up than I did last year at this time LOL.


Another goal for this year has been to finally put together my updated training manual complete with video tapes. This is such a daunting project, that I don't know it will be done at the end of this year, BUT I do know that I better start having tasks to do towards it each day. It's easy to get bogged down in the details, so you need to pick one and move forward. That's where I am today. Do I video something, do I write something, do I video then write something, do I narrate during or after the video....


Do I show the raw or finished product? The beginning steps with an untrained dog or trained dog? Or try all of the above. Headache ensues. I am good at projects too. I came up with a way to document and store my videos today to go along with my project. Now I just have to, er, make them. Or write up the scripts for them or something other than talk about them .



I also have two applications to do that tie into this whole project while I am at it. I am nothing if not for multi tasking. Something that I try to do less of when I am actually training dogs, as if you are truly doing something else other than pretending to do something else, you may miss a moment of critical timing. That will set you back. When there is a lull, and you are doing a lot of documenting and writing type of stuff, it's easier to go to my older ways of multi tasking, so I get more than one thing done in the same space and time.



It's amazing how much time in a dog training business is not taken up by actually training the dog. However, it's all just as important to make the process as understandable and seamless as possible.

Happy Birthday Mr Wee!!

Wee or Wee Wee is the nickname for our dog, Leon. Not because he pees, but wee as in little. Something he once was, probably no more so than on October 18th of 2004. Yes, believe it or not, today is Leon's fourth birthday.



It's hard to believe it's been four years since Leon was shipped from Georgia to Boston MA. We met the plane there to meet the puppy I had picked out from the Georgia kennel, Pamelot. Leon was the easiest puppy, and has a remarkable temperment as an adult.

I remember us picking up the cutest puppy at the airport. He was unphased by the flight, but a little unsure about the strange people picking him up. We were stopped for slight speeding on the way home, but the officer took one look at the puppy and my signage saying I was a dog trainer, and gave us a break that day. I knew then that Leon could work miracles with a sweet look and his wrinkly brow.

I had adult rescues beforehand, and never a puppy before. People, that were aquainted with me, gave me dire warnings about the bringing up of a puppy. You know, how horrible it supposedly was. Leon was a very easy puppy. I actually took about six months off to concentrate on him, something I know a lot of people would not have the luxury to do. I was just starting my dog training business, and he came in January, which is not a terribly busy dog training time. When the lessons started, Leon would go with me to appointments, and that is why to this day, the Nissan puts Leon to sleep quite readily. This way I could stop between his appointments and take care of his bathroom or exercise needs in between. Of course there were training times as well.

We have had many adventures together. On his birthday today, I believe we will go to the Harvest fest in town. That is assuming they are allowing dogs in this year!!



Need dog training help? Call Mannerly Mutts' Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin, for customized Maine dog training help. 207-361-4395 or mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com

What Frightens a Doberman?

Well if you are my quirk infested dog, Jack, sneezes send him right out of the room!! Sneezes from me or my dog, Leon. Since we got Jack, about two and a half years ago, this has been evident in him, and has not gone away. I always worry that a judge might sneeze or something in a trial LOL. I can just picture Jack racing out of the ring from the terrifying sound of a sneeze.

I have had a cold for a week now, that keeps Jack dashing for safety many times a day. Last night Leon, my other Dobe boy, sneezed and Jack reacted the same way. Poor Jackie.

I want to train him not to be afraid of sneezes, but every time I am well my fake "sneezes" must just not be as realistic. I will probably have to look for some recordings available on the Internet or something.

Does your dog need training? Call Robin Rubin, Maine Dog Trainer, at Mannerly Mutts Maine Dog Training facility at 207-361-4395 or e-mail, mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.

Logan and Leon After a Hard Days Work

Here are the best buds winding down after a long day of play (on their Feet):



Want a well mannered and trained dog. Call Mannerly Mutt's Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin at 207-361-4395 or mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com.