First weeks as a Therapy dog

Doctor Dog blogging here! My first week as a professional therapy dog I took it pretty slow. Mom had clients come to the office, and then they were impressed by how cute I am. One eleven year old girl was afraid of me, as well as a sixty year old man, so I had to sit in the corner and let them get used to me just by being still. No danger in these paws! I realized pretty quickly that some people want my affection while they're talking, so I go and sit next to them, or even lay my head in their lap. Some people really want me to perform my tricks for them. Mom says this helps kids build confidence, self-efficacy, communication skills, and build the therapeutic rapport. I think they just like seeing me roll over.

As weeks went by, I noticed a pattern developing. When most people come in to the office, I'm the first thing they look for! They smile, pet me, ask me how I'm doing, and some people let me lick them (mom says this is a no-no, but how can I resist their delicious faces!?). People come to therapy to talk about difficult stuff, sometimes it makes their hearts beat faster, salty tears come out of their eyes, their faces turn a different shade of grey, and they talk louder than normal. I've noticed when this happens, they look at me or touch to help calm their bodies down. If they aren't calming down, mom starts petting me and says, "Doctor gets scared of loud voices, let's do some deep breathing together," and then they start pulling the air in through their noses. I must have some zen effect on them. I'm starting to feel like a human-mesmerizer! 

Doctor's Therapy Dog Journal!

Nearly exactly one year since my last post, I believe it's time to provide some updates!
I, Doctor, am currently a certified therapy dog through Pet Partners. I've already helped hundreds of people get in touch with their softer side. Let me backtrack, though...

February 2013 I took these great classes with Mom through the New England Dog Training Club. It was some advanced obedience work. Sure didn't feel like a puppy anymore! I learned I should be walking right next to mom, giving her eye contact, ignoring other dogs unless she tells me to, sit when she stops, and listen for what she's going to say. It was a lot of work to learn that! Especially in a room full of other dogs.

April 2013 I took the Canine good Citizen Test. Not to toot my own horn, but WOOF WOOF, I passed with flying tennis balls. Mmmm, balls. Anyway, now I have a pretty blue patch that can be sewn onto my therapy dog vest when I get it.

May 2013 I was best dog in Mom and Dad's wedding. Let's face it, I looked GOOD. it was on a farm, and the cows smelled awesome. I got to have a dance with mom and partied all night! I hung out by the cheese table most of the night. Then I fell asleep under their table.

June 2013 mom got really serious with my therapy dog training! I learned that even when little kids are excited and jumping and screaming, I have to lay down and wait for them. All I want to do is lick their dirty little faces clean. It's my biggest struggle, honestly, just not licking their faces until they shine. So we ended up driving far away to New Hampshire for the test. It was in this awesome room with a doggy playground, a greyhound , a weird stuffed animal I wasn't allowed to tear up, wheelchairs, and nice ladies. Everyone just kept running around and acting like goons, but I knew I had to do my best listening. At the end I aced the test and we got our therapy dog team! Mom took me to a forest to run around afterwards and celebrate my victory.

October 2013 I started my first job! Mom is a counselor, and she meets with a lot of different people every day. I may sure I stare at my ball and whine in the morning so she doesn't forget to throw it for her exercise. I always bring it right back. I think that's part of my therapy dog duties, to help her with her throwing. All I do is go to the office, sniff around a bit, then sack out on the ground. Mom sees little kids, couples, and adults. I can tell when someone needs my help. They just seem so sad or mad sometimes, and I gently lean up against them and they pet me. The kids are a lot of work! I teach them tricks by shaking their hands, showing them how to roll over, spin in circles, and take a nice bow. They giggle when I try to lick them and talk to me about how "I'm" feeling.

February 2013 I got my certification to travel on planes with Mom. Since I'm so good at telling people's feelings and following rules, I get to sit under her seat. We are going to Texas for some fun! Let me tell you, I do NOT like planes! Mom gave me a Benadryl after about an hour of me panting under all this fur and then I blissfully slept.

PAY ATTENTION TO ME!

Does your pup prefer to look at anything other than you when there are distractions? Read on...

Doctor has begun a new chapter of his training. He's moving on to more advanced skills, such as paying attention in distracting environments. One way to improve this skill is with "prompted and unprompted attention" exercises, also known as auto-focus.

The idea is that you reward your pup for every time he brings his focus to you through eye contact. This is different from "look" because you are either using his name, or waiting for him to focus on you on his own.

"Prompted attention"
Begin in a low-distraction environment.
1. Call his name
2. As soon as he makes eye contact, mark "good boy" and reward with treats.
3. Give 3-10 treats in a row as long as he continues to make eye contact.

Now try on a leash-
1. Facing the pup, say his name
2. When he gives eye contact, mark and reward while backing up and feeding treats
3. Continue to back up and give treats as long as he maintains eye contact

"Unprompted Attention"
 This will reinforce his attention in high-distraction environments
1. Begin just outside your home- wait until your dog gives you eye contact (with no noises, movements, or commands)
2. Mark and reward the eye contact, then continue to treat as long as he's looking
3. Walk him up the street and mark and reward all eye contact, continue to treat as he maintains eye contact

Constantly reinforce his attention
-Throughout the day, reward your pup's attention with praise and petting.

These exercises will improve your puppy's desire to focus on you! Eventually your dog will "auto-focus" on you throughout the day and in high-distraction environments, making his commands easier to give and follow.

Thank you New England Dog Training Club for sharing this skill!

This is the sort of eye contact you want.

Graduation was a Grand Success!

The families of Puppy Kindergarten have matriculated! The graduation ceremony was grand, complete with scones, orange juice, strawberries, homemade puppy cookies, and lots of puppies showing off!

The puppies had a moment to play, then they had to take their final exam. Here was the grading system:

1. No bark, no jump, no bite (-1 point each)
2. Come (+1 point hand signal, +2 point verbal)
3. Sit (+1 point hand signal, +2 point verbal)
4. Down (+1 point hand signal, +2 point verbal)
5. Look (+1 point hand signal, +2 point verbal)
6. Give it (+2 point verbal)
7. Leave it (+1 point hand signal, +2 point verbal)
8. Stay (+1 point for each second of stay, max 3 points)
9. Loose-leash walking (pass or fail)
10.    Accepting handling (+1 point for friendliness)

It was a close call, but the winner was Luna, a shih-tzu! Her mom Beatriz had worked hard to teach her the commands.

Luna with her diploma and graduation tassles

Liz and Mahal, enjoying the moment!

Luna being evaluated during her final exam by her mom

Why you should work on "Stay" right now

This can save you so many headaches...
Imagine your doorbell rings. Instead of a barking puppy running in circles around your feet, you see a calm dog laying down on his bed. Imagine your puppy waiting at every crosswalk until you tell him there are no cars coming. Imagine him waiting patiently for you outside CVS while you have your prescriptions filled. 
Okay, first let's work on getting him to sit still for a few seconds!

1. Have a BUNCH of different, small treats in your treat pouch.  
2. Ask puppy to sit.
3. Wait one extra second before you give him a treat (don't say your positive marker). 
4. If he gets up after you give him the treat, say "eh-eh" and put him back in a sit. 
5. Give him a treat while he's still in the sitting position, followed by another treat a few seconds later. 
6. Continue to give treats until puppy can continue sitting ten seconds between each treat without getting up. 
7. Now start giving puppy the "stay" hand signal immediately after you treat. (Palm facing puppy, all fingers spread)
8. If puppy lays down, don't make him sit up again. It's easier to start with a "stay in place" than "stay in position."
9. Once puppy stays ten-fifteen seconds at a time with just the hand signal, say "stay" then immediately give the hand signal.
10. Start taking one step back after giving your cue, then come forward and give puppy the treat. 
11. Slowly add distance from puppy. 
12. Always come back to puppy to give him the treat- don't call him to you (this makes him think it's okay to leave before you get to him). 
13. Release puppy with his positive marker when you are done. Always give him breaks to wiggle (HE IS A PUPPY, AFTER ALL!)
14. Slowly add in duration and distraction to stay. 

 

Maybe the most important trick to teach your pup!

Preventing resource guarding~
    Please do this. Please? 

1. Prepare your dog's breakfast, or get a meaty bone.
2. Give the dog the food, and allow them a few seconds to eat. Walk away from the puppy!
3. Return while puppy is still eating with a piece of hot dog, cooked chicken breast, or something else delicious, and hold it out to the puppy.
4. As puppy takes the treat, put your hand in the food bowl, move it away from the puppy, and pick up the bowl. 
5. Put the bowl/bone back down and let them finish their food.
6. Repeat every day!
7. Practice this with a cat bringing the treat, a baby, and different people. 

 

Some of the most useful puppy training lessons you will ever learn...

Doctor is fifteen weeks, and has discovered the world of delicacies strewn about the sidewalks of Boston.
I'd love to hear what he's thinking as I stand five feet away from a half-eaten burrito holding his four-foot leash. I'm sure it involves the thought, "man, humans are dumb!"
From a biological standpoint, our dogs think we are really stupid to pass by free food on the ground. Your puppy may never fully understand why we don't want to eat the pile of used tissues on the ground, but we can train him that we provide better and more consistent food options than what he can scavenge. 


"Leave it!"

1. Place the treat on the ground, and cover it with your hand.
2. Your puppy will sniff, lick, bite (ouch!), scratch, and chew on your hand. Wait until he pulls his head away from your hand, then say "good boy!"
3. Give the puppy a different treat, and pick up the treat that was on the ground.
4. Repeat.
5. Now just cover the treat briefly with your hand then uncover it. As soon as puppy stops trying to get the treat, say "good boy" and give him a different treat.
6. Add in the verbal command "leave it," then place a treat on the ground and repeat the process.
7. The final stage is saying "leave it" then tossing a treat on the floor. Use your foot to cover the treat.
8. Now practice with puppy outside when he sees a juicy piece of trash. As soon as he stops pulling toward the trash, say "good boy!" and give him a treat, then immediately start walking.
9. Anticipate the things he will go for and repeat the "leave it" process.
10. Practice with dropping food from the kitchen counter, baby pacifiers, and other things. 

"Give it!"
 1. While puppy has a toy in his mouth, approach him with a nice treat.
2. As puppy releases the toy to eat the treat, pick up the toy with the other hand (say "good boy" when he releases the toy). 
3. Repeat!
4. Begin saying "give it" right before you hold out the treat. 

If your puppy is not dropping the toy, use a better treat, like hot dog or cheese!