Men With Hats

A friend of a friend recently asked: "How does a dog or a puppy understand a young boy with Autism? I wish i was not scared of dogs or puppies. Snoopy is cool." My response was that not all dogs understood autism, you had to find a special one - but maybe I am incorrect as well. Any thoughts?"

What a great question! 

Before I was a dog trainer, I, too believed that dogs "understood" exceptional people in a special way. I especially believed this to be true of service dogs. After all, why else would a dog help a person with limited sight cross a busy street or walk next to a wheelchair, never stopping to chase birds or sniff a fire hydrant?


Just What Is A Service Dog, Anyway? 
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, a Service Animal is a dog (or, in some rare cases, a miniature horse) that performs a specific task or tasks that an individual with a disability cannot perform. Here is the exact quote, taken from the US Department of Justice Americans With Disabilities Act Home Page: 
Service Animals. The rule defines "service animal" as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The rule states that other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Dogs that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that are used purely for emotional support, are not service animals. The final rule also clarifies that individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals that are trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA. The rule permits the use of trained miniature horses as alternatives to dogs, subject to certain limitations. To allow flexibility in situations where using a horse would not be appropriate, the final rule does not include miniature horses in the definition of "service animal." 


Service Animals (we will use the term "service dogs" since the vast majority are dogs) are allowed access anywhere a person would normally be allowed to go. If a business establishment has a "No Pets Allowed" sign on the door, this does not prohibit a service dog from entering, as a service dog is not a "pet". This also applies to taxi cabs, restaurants, public restrooms, etc. This is because a service animal performs tasks that the disabled individual cannot perform themselves. 


How Are Service Dogs Selected?
Most of the time, the answer is "by temperament". Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Standard Poodles are some of the more common breeds used because of their biddability. A trend I have noticed recently is the Golden Retriever crossed with Labrador Retriever. How do you know if a puppy is a good candidate as a future service dog? There are several tests that purport to determine a dog's future temperament, none of which, as far as I know, have any data to confirm their accuracy.


Size is also a consideration, depending on the task/s the service dog will be expected to perform. Think of the the brace-dog, a dog meant to help individuals with poor balance. These dogs typically are the giant breeds (Great Dane is an example). And then there are the diabetic alert dogs, seizure alert dogs, and dogs that help persons suffering from emotional trauma, in which size may not be so important.


How Are Service Dogs Trained?
This can run the gamut from correction based training to clicker training. Interestingly, more service dogs are being trained using clickers over corrections these days. Why? Results! In one organization alone, the washout rate has gone from a whopping 65% down to 35% (not official numbers, but likely very close)! 


Let's take an imaginary service dog from puppy hood to graduation. This dog's experience will be a composite of the many dogs and puppies I personally have known that went on to be a full time service dog.

We will name our composite dog "Jake".
Jake was one of six puppies born to a breeder who breeds her Labrador Retrievers for their nice, easy temperament. This breeder shows her dogs in the conformation ring and takes great pride in producing small, quality litters. She takes care to have her dogs screened for potential health problems. The breeder has heard of clicker training and has introduced the clicker to the pups as early as three weeks of age. She has decided to donate a puppy to one of her favorite causes, Mobility Dogs R Us, a not for profit organization that trains dogs to live with and assist individuals in wheelchairs.

Somewhere between eight and twelve weeks of age, the puppy goes to live with a puppy raiser who volunteers for Mobility Dogs R Us. The puppy raiser understands the principles of clicker training, but her main job is to teach the puppy the rules of living with humans (where to go potty, what objects are okay to chew on, where to sleep, that sort of thing)

At between six and eight months of age the puppy goes to the main facility of MDRU for his real training. In addition to learning to perform specific tasks (retrieve items, carry objects, walk beside a wheelchair, push elevator buttons, and the like) Jake is also exposed to real-world sounds and sensations. Traffic noise, beeping sounds, children, other dogs, pigeons, thunder storms; all of these must be trained and proofed for. Once Jake has sufficient control over his impulses (and that is the key element of a service dog-a dog that can control his natural impulses) he is then taken into the public for more training and proofing.


It takes about two years (two very full years) to turn out a service dog capable of performing his assigned tasks reliably. Not every dog can make the cut.  Service dogs are conditioned to complete their tasks even when surrounded by things they may find alarming. It is easy for humans to generalize that learned skill to all dogs, and to then think that dogs "recognize" an individual's special needs. 

So this brings us around to the original question: "How does a dog or a puppy understand a young boy with Autism?"


The short answer: They don't.


At least, not in the way that we do. Dogs are a social species, like us. They share so many similarities with us that we sometimes view them as almost human. Given a choice, most dogs raised among humans choose to spend their time in close proximity to us, even sharing our beds, and with our full cooperation even after they crowd us to the very edge of the bed!  As much as dogs share our lives and beds and homes, they are not "us". A dog may choose to spend more time around a particular individual, but correlation does not prove causation-in other words, there may be reasons other than ones we assume that the dog may choose to sleep next to us, or spend time with a particular person.


The reality is that some dogs are more tolerant of novel things (including meeting new people) than others. Dogs, like people, have different personalities. Some dogs are happy to meet new people (autistic or not). Some dogs, not so much!

Men With Hats 
On a beautiful, sunny California day I learned that my dog Mishka was not as tolerant of the unknown as my dog Stoli is. We were walking in the park, Stoli and Mishka ahead of me, when Mishka stopped in his tracks and began to softly growl. Stoli stood beside him, panting happily, tail wagging, seemingly unconcerned. I scanned the environment to see what had caused Mishka's alarm. Nothing. Oh...wait...what is that up ahead? Looks like two men carrying a table of some sort between them..? Yes! That's exactly what it is! The men were so far away that their silhouette appeared to be one very strange creature with an awkward loopy walk. Scary! (Scary, that is, to Mishka!) Some dogs are quite frightened by men wearing hats. Having no understanding of the concept of "hat" they only know what is before them: a strange creature with a pointy triangular thing where a head should be!


What worried Mishka did not bother Stoli in the least!
Such as it is for both dogs and people. So the answer to your question, Dear Reader, is that one dog may become alarmed by things that another dog barely takes notice of;  things like small children, thunderstorms, or even a plastic bag caught on a fencepost, flapping in the wind. Or a boy or girl wishing to make friends.

How will I know which dogs want to be friendly?

By learning to speak dog!  Dogs communicate with their body. Here is an excellent website with tips on how to speak dog-don't miss the quiz!  http://www.doggonesafe.com/


If the dog sits nicely and the handler gives permission to greet, stand or crouch with your body to the side and allow the dog to approach you.  Give the dog time to sniff and feel comfortable in your presence. Rather than reaching over the dog's head, stroke his chest, if the dog's handler says it's okay. Keep your movements smooth and your voice quiet. 


Remember-service dogs are not pets-they are working! Best to not to ask to pet them unless their handler invites you to.


Happy Training (and thank you for your question!)
Chris


Resources:


http://doggonecrazy.ca/articles/bad_rules.pdf
http://www.dogsandbabieslearning.com/videos/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wl1XONU-xI

Some Random Thoughts From A Trainer’s Perspective About Dogs, Clickers, And Life Rewards

The most unfortunate thing about clicker training is the name

The word "clicker"conjures up a gimmicky toy, a fad, something cheap and temporary. Actually, clicker training employs the laws of behavior and relies upon the science of learning. It is both simple and complex. It is therefore also ironic.

Clicker training ROCKS

Once your dog understands the game “I do something and you tell me if I am on the right track and then reward me for it” only the sky is  the limit.  

Must I always use food as a reward?

No. You must, however, use something your learner finds rewarding. Food happens to be a. necessary for survival b. universally enjoyed c. easy to obtain and use

How can I tell the difference between a clicker trainer and a trainer with a clicker?

The most telling indication is that clicker trainers do not intentionally add corrections into the training process. There is no need, as the “no” is built in to the click. No click means “try again, dog”.  Leash pops, “Eh-eh’s” and the like are not only irritating and unnecessary, more importantly, they can weaken the cue. A cue is an opportunity-it is never an implied threat. 

A cue is an opportunity for good things to come

A command says  “Do it NOW or else.” 

Good training is fair to the learner

Tasks are sliced into tiny steps and then taught one step at a time. If you get to a sticking point, simply go back to the last step and then work your way back up. 

This ensures a fast-paced, fun, and effective learning environment. 

A clicker is a marker, not a remote control. 

It doesn’t make the dog do something. It does tells the dog something “Yes, this is exactly what I want”

Can anyone can call himself or herself a dog trainer?

Yes, anyone. Even the guy in the yellow suit standing next to us who looks like he should be getting back to selling used cars. Just because an individual has a lot of dogs does not mean that person understands dog behavior. The guy in the yellow suit may work around lots of cars, (get it? LOTS of cars?!) but that is no guarantee he has the skills to repair one.

So, what questions should I ask a potential trainer?

Where did you learn to become a dog trainer?

Do you hold any certifications and from what organizations?

Do you belong to any professional groups? Which?

What was the last seminar you attended or book you read about dogs or dog training? What tools do you use? 

But I don’t want to use treats!

Somehow the notion that a dog should work for us motivated only by the sheer joy of being in our presence became accepted as truth. 

Treats are not a "bribe" and they will not result in a dog that "only works for food" (oddly enough, I never hear "My dog only works to avoid a correction") or one that is "spoiled", nor will it result in a dog that "begs for food". Can all of those things occur around food? Yes. But that is not what clicker training is.

My dog "knows he is not supposed to ----------"

Dogs have a far different culture than we do. In our culture it would be considered the height of impropriety to sniff the genitals of someone you were just introduced to, especially at a business meeting (if you try this at your next company gathering, do let me know how it turns out) If you are a dog, however, this is a perfectly acceptable greeting. It is not “right” or “wrong”, it is simply a cultural difference. Teaching your dog to abide by the rules of your culture is the fair thing to do-do not expect that he already knows the customs of your country. In Greece, holding your hand outstretched, palm showing, is the equivalent to giving someone the middle finger in the United States. If no one teaches you this before you visit Crete, you might receive a punch in the nose from a parent while innocently asking their child to "halt" as a car approaches.

Routine and practice are your friends

If you give a dog too much room for invention, his ideas of fun and amusement will likely not be ones you would suggest for him (unless you also enjoy digging holes, barking, and shredding things- I do not judge)

Will I have to carry a clicker and treats with me forever?

No. We use clickers to teach a specific behavior. The click marks the behavior, the food (or reinforcer) creates the association (good or bad) and what is reinforced will likely be repeated. In other words, given enough practice the behavior itself becomes the reward.

To gain control, you must give up control

I know, it sounds very new-age and annoying, but bear with me here. Push someone and they lean towards you to keep from falling over (the opposition reflex). Remember the old black light posters from the 1970's with the butterfly or a bird in flight that said "If you love something let it go, if it comes back to you its yours..." (Stay with me! I promise I am going somewhere with this) Set the environment up in such a way that the learner does what you want him to do of his own volition and you hold all the cards. 

B.F. Skinner (Walden Pond) says it like this:  “They are doing what they want to do, not what they are forced to do. That's the source of the tremendous power of positive reinforcement-- there's no restraint and no revolt. By careful cultural design, we control not the final behavior, but the inclination to behave-- the motives, desires, the wishes.” 

In other words, make it their idea. Come on-it's a dog. It's not that hard! Here's the thing-we constantly struggle with what we think the dog should be doing-in other words, we are fighting ourselves. The dog is simply being a dog. Manage his environment and set him up to behave in ways which you approve.

1970's Flashbacks? Why am I reading this blog, again?

Because you love your dog! 

Peace Out.

Clicker tips for beginners

Practice makes perfect!

The science of choice

A Personal Lesson In Behavior

I wrote the following after reading about a controversial method (shock) to stop severely disabled persons from hurting themselves. The individuals behind the button administering the shocks had the best of intentions. Despite this, the system was abused, according to court documents. Some of the parents of these students reported success when nothing else had worked. Using force to control behavior often works. But at what cost? Because it does come with a price, not only to the recipient but to the giver. I have replaced the word "shock" with the word "force" in this article, as undoubtably shock will one day be replaced with some new instrument serving the same purpose.

How it started

I have (reluctantly if I may be truthful) somehow always found myself involved in causes related to mental retardation. My stepmother was a change maker in the field of mental retardation. She was the founder of a group that took mentally retarded young adults (back when they were called mentally retarded and not mentally disabled) on vacations to places like Disney World. This was before the integration of mentally disabled persons was common and many of them had never been on a vacation before.
She also fought, and I do mean fought (there were organized protests against the idea) to establish group homes for mentally retarded individuals in local residential neighborhoods. At the time, I didn't realize how brave my stepmother was. I would go to work with her and help as a teaching assistant in classes for mentally retarded children. I would go home at night thinking, "How do the parents do it?"

And then it was me

Before autism was so commonly diagnosed my son visited pediatric neurologists, MD's, pediatric opthamologists and other professionals in hopes of explaining his strange behavior. All scratched their heads in puzzlement, as my son could speak a bit and he obviously enjoyed being held and spoken to,  contrary to the image of autism the doctors held at the time-that of an unreachable child incapable of forming bonds with caretakers. My son's behavior history was complicated and chaotic. He had completed certain milestones right on schedule, and others were skipped completely. He went from never crawling to walking. He went from never speaking to a three-word phrase ("It's all gone") All the while screaming, biting, pinching and having tantrums not daily, but hourly. He never spent a complete night sleeping, but would wake at odd hours and go into the kitchen to methodically pull the labels off of cans or spread flour onto floors or countertops. My home was toddler-proofed and child-locked and yet he still managed to leave the room looking like a family of raccoons had broken in. The pressure never ended and I am not sure how I lived through it.

A chance encounter with a book provides clues

It wasn't until I picked up a book at my local library just to read, nothing more, that the mystery was solved.  I began reading the first page. Then slowly sat down and read the entire book over the course of some hours, crying at times because finally someone else described my son and what it was like to live with an autistic child. At the time, my arms were always scratched and bruised as my son lashed out in frustration of not being able to tolerate sensations too raw for him to bear-temperature change, sounds, and most of all, changes in routine. In the back of the book was an 800-number for a national autism group (this was before the World Wide Web), which I called first thing the next morning, trying to speak to the kind woman who answered through a throat strangled with tears of both relief and also great grief. The woman asked where I lived and suggested I seek a true diagnosis so I could get my son into an appropriate learning environment.

The diagnosis

Off to (a university near my home) for an evaluation we went, but only after a long drawn-out battle (the first of many battles with red tape) with DenialCare Insurance Company. The battle ended with a personal call to my home from the president of the company, reluctantly agreeing to foot the cost of the evaluation. I didn't win them all, but that one felt good and I learned how to negotiate and win against large entities with way more money and education than I possessed.

After a ten-day on site evaluation the diagnosis was clear and I was called to meet with the staff to discuss the findings.

Autism 

He tested appropriate to his age level in some areas and some at the level of a toddler (he was seven) We sat in chairs placed in a circle as each expert read her bit of bad news. A social worker was required to be there. She cocked her head in sympathy and said "Mom, how do you feel about what you are hearing?" I just turned away from her, and continued asking questions of the rest of the panel.

But she would not drop her efforts to justify her presence in the group, asking again "How does this news make you feel?"

"How do you think hearing that your child that you brought into this world will never live on his own, will never marry, will never drive a car, will never hold a job, and will never have a child of his own, feels?" I still burn at the simplicity of her question in the face of such a dire and complicated diagnosis. This would not be my last encounter with people like this social worker, who rely on rote to avoid painful truths. I am not sure what she expected with her question.

In any case, after the meeting, I had some decisions to make. Medication for my son was suggested. I was warned that if I did not get these harmful behaviors under control now, my son would be "chemically straight-jacketed" as an adult. I became a reluctant student of behavior and sought help immediately from behavior specialists. I was very very lucky to live in a state where such options were available. My son now lives in a house with other autistic adults, supervised three to one (some homes require one to one supervision so I take this as progress) and holds a simple job in a place that uses respect and kindness in all of their interactions with my son and the others like him. No force was ever used to change my son's behavior. I chose to not use medication as none existed that showed true change, but rather worked by blanketing impulses.

"(insert some dire outcome) will happen if we don't use (insert some force based method)"

I look at it another way. The behavior of the learner may indeed be stopped more quickly (not changed, mind you, but stopped) if I would use force, but I would also be changed. And I am not willing to undergo that transformation. Management, reinforcing behavior, setting up the environment for success-all may take more time than using force but I will consider that time well spent.

I have heard that everything happens for a reason.
I have done things I am not proud of; I have not been perfect. But I hold one thing close to my heart, as evidence of good:
There are people willing to work to change behavior using kindness and respect and that makes the world a better place.
"If we hit hard enough, we clear a little place in the wilderness of civilization, but we make the rest of the wilderness still more terrible" ~ BF Skinner

Related Reading:

http://www.prisonexp.org/

http://www.tagteach.com/

"Don't Shoot The Dog" Karen Pryor

Why Should I Bribe My Dog?

"My dog should do what I ask because I said so-no bribes here"
"Of course he's listening to you! You have treats!"
"Giving treats creates a dog that is sure to beg at the table"
If I had a dime for every time I have heard one of these statements, I would be banging this out on my keyboard made of gold.
Like most conventional wisdom, all of these statements are born of a toe dipped in the deep pool of truth. You certainly can teach your dog to only perform some of the time, even when you have a treat in your hand and you most certainly can create a dog who begs at the table. I have provided a step by step training plan at the end of this article to teach those very things (not that you'd want to!) But first, I want to talk about some of the reasons we may struggle with the idea of training with food. 
"My dog should do as I say. I should not have to use treats at all"
There is a pervasive belief that dogs live to please us. At the same time, we are told that dogs are out to take over ("dominate us" is the way this is usually described) given half a chance. I am not sure how these two beliefs can exist at the same time, but they do and I believe this dichotomy, along with childhood memories of strict instructions to never feed our dog from the table is largely responsible for the angst we feel when we consider training with food.
"Of course he's paying attention to you! You have treats!"
Here's what I say to this: yes, exactly! Food is a very powerful reinforcer. Why wouldn't he pay attention to me when there is the possibility of earning a treat? After all, what do we do when we plan a party, a get-together, or a celebration? We include FOOD. We make special food for special occasions, share our favorite food in casual gatherings, prepare meals by hand for those we love, in fact, we rarely do anything socially with others without food being present in some way.  Yet we are appalled when a dog is also happy to see and eat food. Why? Is it that we think of it as a bribe and not a reward?
"Okay, Chris, you tell me why training with food isn't a flat out bribe"
Bribe: Something serving to influence or persuade.
Reward: Something given or received in recompense for worthy behavior
Common denominator? Both involve the giving of something desired in return for an action. 

The difference? One happens before the action, which is  usually an unsavory act (bribe) and the other after the action, usually a worthy act (reward) 
Let's not forget biology
A dog will work for his food, just as dogs have done from the beginning of time. 
Dogs that must find their own food do not lie around waiting for it to be delivered. Even dogs in the poorest countries that live off of trash heaps must work for their meals, dodging competitors in an attempt to get the best food first. It is not a life of leisure.
Clicker (or marker)Training
There are many good books and articles written about clicker training, making it unnecessary for me to explain the concept here. I have included some excellent resources at the bottom of this page so I will only make the following points:
Clicker training is not about the food. It is about reinforcement and creating a positive association between the cue (command) and the behavior (the "sit" or "stay" or whatever you are teaching). Think Pavlov and the power of association. 
Teaching in small steps and rewarding each successful step while gradually increasing the difficulty of the steps allows you to teach a dog anything he is physically and mentally capable of performing. As a bonus, properly rewarding those achievements creates a dog that enthusiastically participates in the training process; a dog unafraid to try different behaviors because if he is on the wrong track, he knows it instantly by virtue of not hearing the click. The click=yes=reward (usually, but not always, food) Why food? As we have already discussed, food is a very powerful reinforcer. It is also convenient and necessary (all living things must eat)
People new to clicker training are often surprised at the small size of the treats used-most often they are between the size of a pea or a very small playing dice and training sessions are kept short, so the actual food consumed is fairly small. You can always reduce regular feedings by the amount you give in training sessions, if weight gain is a concern.
Now, as promised, here is a step by step plan to teach your dog to beg at the table and to only perform "sometimes" when food is used.
Begging at the table: Feed your dog at the table for breathing; he shows up, he gets food. Just toss your little fluffball bits of steak and other goodies as you eat dinner and I guarantee he will be back the next time around! Oh, wait...what? You only meant to do that once and he should know when not to beg? Sorry, your dog learns fast and remember, food is a powerful reinforcer. Toss him treats while you are eating and you will have a dinner companion forever. Bonus: you can easily teach him to also whine by tossing him a treat when he does to "make him stop"
Teaching your dog to only work "when he feels like it": Start this behavior by holding the food out in an obvious manner (you may try waving it near his nose) as you ask him to do something over and over again. Confusing him is the goal here so it really helps if you talk to him throughout. Just assume that even if he does not understand every word, he surely understands what you mean. Here is an example:
Hold food out as you say "Sit!" As the dog moves towards the food, jerkily move it around, like a mosquito in flight, always keeping it in the dog's view as you provide a running commentary; "Nooooo, sit. Did I say come and get the food? No, I said "sit" SIT, sit, sit, SIT, sit sit. Noooooo, SIT, Fluffy. Fluffy...Fluffy...Fluffy... SIT. Oh, here. Here is your cookie. Next time sit when I ask you to." 
Better yet, you could just consider that you hold all the cards and make the power of food work for YOU!

Happy Training!
Chris
To learn more about clicker training:
Websites:
www.clickertraining.com
www.dogwise.com
www.tawzerdog.com
Books:
"Don't Shoot The Dog" Karen Pryor
"Reaching The Animal Mind" Karen Pryor
"Chill Out, Fido!" Nan Arthur
"Positive Perspectives" Pat Miller

What Is A "Dexter"?

When we bring our dog Dexter out in public, at least one person is sure to ask, "What kind of dog is he?" Dexter is strikingly handsome, if I may say so, and I am certain it is his looks that spark their curiosity and not his antics at the end of his leash.

"Well...we think he is part Great Dane," we would respond, "but we don't know...blah blah blah...he could be a blah blah blah" and then the person might begin to speculate as well and soon we all ran out of speculations and everyone drifted apart, feeling vaguely unsatisfied.

One day, after the breed question was asked yet again, I laughingly replied, "He's a Dexter." To my surprise, the person nodded thoughtfully, and then shrugged, saying "Well! He's a big boy, isn't he! Have a nice day!" This then became our standard response. It was just easier to say "He's a Dexter!" and leave it at that and everyone is happy.

"Dexter" is also the name my husband and I give the breeds we come across that look like Dexter. You have seen a Dexter before, I am sure. We have all seen a Dexter. Big, black lab-ish dogs, usually with a blaze of white on their chest. You may even have a Dexter or know someone who does.

Truth is, we had no idea, nor did we especially care what our Dexter's breed make-up was. The only explanation to be found in the shelter documents that summed up Dexter's short past was the sad scrawl on the surrender form. It read, simply: "He is too much dog."

I had briefly considered investigating Dexter's heritage but what I had heard about canine DNA testing was not encouraging.

Completely inaccurate results!
A waste of money!
My chihuahua sized dog came back with St. Bernard in her profile-impossible!


I resigned myself to never knowing what  Dexter was made of, and truthfully it did not matter to me. I loved him for being what he was... a Dexter.

Along came Arlo

Arlo, for those of you new to my blog, was rescued from a caravan of trucks stacked with crates which were in turn stacked with dogs all headed for the meat trade in Asia. Now this dog's genetic soup interested me! Arlo looks like a puppy, but he is an adult dog. Anyone asked to speculate on his breed invariably tosses in a terrier or two. He is a medium sized dog, but on the smaller side of medium. His hair length ranges from short to shaggy to wispy. He is mostly reddish, but also blond, gray, and tan. In short, he is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It was time to rethink my views on canine DNA testing.

As a naturally skeptical gal, I began to read and ask questions of people I trust. Here is the heart of what I found: The test is only as good as the number of breeds the testing company has in its database. I chose to go with the Wisdom Insight Panel at around $49. With over 185 breeds in their database, I felt I could get a pretty fair idea of what makes an Arlo, and if I was going to test Arlo, I might as well test Dexter at the same time. The test itself could not have been simpler. Two test sticks swabbed inside of each dog's mouth cheek, pop them into the prepaid addressed envelope, done.

"But my dog looks nothing like a -----!"

Phenotype-anything that is part of the observable structure, function or behavior of a living organism.
Genotype- the "internally coded, inheritable information" carried by all living organisms. 

My Great Grandmother
 had lovely Mediterranean skin
and dark hair and eyes

My blue-eyed daughter
 freckles, but also tans

Your tiny mutt may look nothing like a St Bernard, but that does not mean he does not carry the genes of one. Some phenotypes such as the typical flat face of a Bulldog may vanish after just one crossed generation. Take a look at the differences between generations in my own family. My great grandmother was a very tiny woman (maybe 5 feet tall?) who likely weighed a scant 95 pounds. Dark hair, dark eyes with lovely Mediterranean skin. Me, I am 5'7" and let's just say I am over 95 pounds and leave it at that. My green-eyed black haired father could not tan. I have dark hair and eyes and tan easily (after burning first if I am not careful). My daughter, on the other hand, is blue eyed with reddish hair. She freckles in the sun but also tans, her father and paternal grandmother do not tan at all. She is also 5'7". My point? You just never know what cards you will be dealt in the gene shuffle.  

I tan easily but may burn first
I kept the dark hair and eyes

So...(drum roll) the results!


Dexter
Dexter was found to be mostly lab. No surprise there. Despite my strong suspicion that he was part grasshopper, he is actually part... Rhodesian Ridgeback!? Wow.

The real Dexter is: (besides Devastatingly Handsome)

Mostly Labrador Retriever

With a good chunk of Rhodesian Ridgeback 

The other breeds that came up were:

Wire Haired Pointing Griffon (19%)

Welsh Terrier (12%)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (1%)

Keeshond (2%)

Beagle (less than 1%)

   Arlo's results

Turns out,  there is no terrier in Arlo's genetic recipe at all!
Here is the ingredient list for an "Arlo"

To make an Arlo: 

Take mostly Shiba Inu 

And Chow 

Add a smattering of:

Samoyed (12%)

German Shepherd Dog (8%)

Australian Kelpie (2%) and

Tibetan Spaniel (2%)

Have these results changed anything in our lives? Not really. I still treat the boys exactly as I did before.
Except now, if anyone asks "What's a Dexter?" I can tell them he is a "LabraRidgePointingWelshCavaBeagle!"

Happy Training!
Chris

On Old Books And Ghost Dogs

I could spend an entire day browsing old bookstores, turning soft pages scented with the passage of time and the whispers of cigarettes past.
Most of the time I come away empty handed, blinking in surprise as I walk back into the 21st century.
But last summer I found a jewel. My daughter and I stopped to window shop on a quaint old downtown street as we were driving from Seattle. The day rainy, summer air smelling of wet stones and steamy sidewalks-the perfect day for browsing.
“Do you have any old books on dogs or dog training?” The tiny crumpled proprietor led me deep into the high stacks to a section where I might find something of interest. And there it was.

Kennel Secrets
By "Ashmont"
Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. 1904
Copyright, 1893 By J. Loring Thayer Pub. Co.

I opened the book and drew in a sharp breath of pleasure and surprise at what I found within-not only detailed care and feeding instructions from the past, but also two notes carefully placed between the pages by some long ago dog owner with notes about a long ago dog.  I do not shop for pristine First Editions, carefully wrapped in plastic, pages white and clean. I look for the dog-eared, loved, scribbled-in book, as curious about the readers as I am the contents of the book.

The first note read, simply, "Scotch Terriers Page 255-270-271". Not much to go on there. The second note written in spidery cursive on pale pink onion skin held more promise. It contained  a list of potential dog names. The note was nestled against glossy photos of Irish Terriers that bore little resemblance to our Irish Terriers of today. The names Bonser, Dundee, Stormer, and inexplicably, Earl, were carefully copied for consideration. Was there an Irish Terrier puppy already chosen before the reader bought the book?  Did he live a good life? Did he freeze and turn on a dime when he heard the faraway call of "Eeeeaaarlll!"? I would love to know these things, but they are forever lost to the past. All that remains is a pale note pressed into a book, where it will stay, forever frozen in time.

Who was "Ashmont"?

I spent the better part of an afternoon finding out. "Ashmont" was actually one Dr. Joseph Frank Perry. "Who's Who in America, 1899 Volume 1 p. 563" had this to say about him:

Perry, J. Frank, MD; b Biddeford. Me., July 11, 1846; studied in public schools there and at Williston Sem., Easthampton, Mass.; ran away, 1862 and entered US Navy, serving until near close of Civil War; grad. Harvard, MD., 1873; practiced medicine, Boston, 1873-1876; special writer on Boston Herald, 1886-9; became editorial mgr., Boston Journal of Health, also entered insurance business as medical director. Writer on health subjects under pen name "Dr. Frank" and on dogs under "Ashmont". Unmarried. 

A little more digging uncovered the pen name "Ashmont" as the kennel name chosen by Dr. Frank. His breed of choice? The Mastiff. Noteworthy considering Dr. Frank's training philosophy, as you will see.

Dr. Frank, begins this 350 page book on caring for dogs with a warning- one that is strangely familiar to us, today. He urges us to take heed before accepting anecdotal advice about dogs rather than relying upon observable facts:

“Not a few popular beliefs have been antagonized, but seldom other than those which owe their force to antiquity and repetition.
Mystical speculations and ungrounded theories, calculated to invite confusion, have been excluded in so far as possible; and the measures advocated are such only as rest on bases proved sound by observation and experience.”

He has this to say about such strange advice as to drag a dog's nose in his "mistake" when house training:

"A custom of many people who attempt to teach puppies neatness is to bedabble their noses with filth and toss them out of doors. It ought not to be necessary to urge that this is as stupid as it is nasty…”

I think I am falling in love with Dr. Frank.

Then and now


 2009-- In a new, year-long University of Pennsylvania ¹ survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.


1893--  "While his brain is comparatively inert, he is accessible to influences, whether kindly or unkindly, and these impress him more and more forcibly as he grows older. Therefore, in efforts to teach him and regulate his conduct, as with the child, there should be habitually exhibited those qualities which the educator desires him to possess. In other words, that he may be kind, gentle, affectionate, intelligent and courageous, he must grow up under a master or mistress who is naturally all this, or whose conflicting humors are under wholesome restraint."

You Mean...Toothsome morsel...as in "Treats?!"

"When each required act has been performed show your approval by a few pats on the head or some toothsome morsel. Above all, avoid nagging, expect nothing unreasonable, and let your lessons and orders be as few and far between as possible at first, otherwise your puppies may regard you in the light of an infliction."

I don't know about you, but I go out of my way to not be considered an infliction on ANYONE.


How About Using Force?

"A few words here regarding corporal punishment. Undeniably in some instances it is salutary, but as a rule it is absolutely pernicious; moreover, the infinite majority of dogs can be governed by kindness purely.

The writer has never found occasion to resort to the whip, for suation has always proved potent with him, yet he has noted some instances where had he been the owner of the dogs, he would have applied it, perhaps vigorously. In all of these, however, manifestly there had been a woeful lack of proper management during early life.

It ought not be necessary to urge that this nor the use of the broom handle or like instrument is ever pardonable, nor will they suggest themselves to other than brutes."

Brutes, indeed. A wise observation, Dr. Frank...a wise observation.



You Mean It Is The Trainer Who Is Responsible?

"There are times when puppies, no matter how obedient usually are, are likely to prove intractable, and at such the easiest way out of the difficulty is the best. For instance, if a puppy, brimful of vitality and play, is on a romp with an acquaintance of his kind he is scarcely likely to respond to a call uttered several hundred yards away; consequently his master, if intelligent, would naturally withhold it until he had gone near enough to be able to enforce obedience. Here, again, many beginners stumble badly by severely whipping their puppies when they fail to respond; in consequence of which treatment for a long time afterwards they very generally run from them on like occasions…”The author then describes, “ In a word, let the first treatment which is administered to a puppy be the same as that which reason tells us is right and proper for a child between one and two years of age”

So...if you would not do it to a child, then do not do it to your dog?  Hard to argue with that advice!

St. Bernard-rough coat 1893

Happy Training!
Chris

¹ ScienceDaily (Feb. 17, 2009) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217141540.htm

Life With A Thai Street Dog-Week One (Or Do You REALLY Want A Smart Dog?)

One full week has passed since our little Thai street dog came to live with us.

Things I have learned:

  

Street dogs have obviously read the puppy socialization manuals regarding early exposure to all surface types. Wobbly, solid, slick, rough, icy-no problem. 

My little hipster (come on-Oregon is COLD!)

Street dogs have a strong working knowledge of how latches operate

Street dogs understand that garbage lids not only close, but more importantly, OPEN 

Street dogs understand that ex-pens, even ones that are five feet feet tall, have a giant exit point

Street dogs consider fences as a suggestion only

1^st night:

I had hardly slept the night before, excitedly anticipating Arlo's arrival. Had I only known how important uninterrupted sleep would soon become!

His plane got in at six PM, so by the time we got home, gave him food and water and walked around the inside of the house a bit, it was time for bed. Because my husband must wake at the insane hour of  4 AM (a work thing), Arlo and I spent the night in the guest room. I had no idea how Arlo would react to being crated, given his past history and the fact that he had just spent the last 18 hours or so traveling here, most of it spent IN A CRATE. Nevertheless, sleep we must and so I placed him in a brand new crate, pulled right next to my bed. 

We then proceeded to spend one very long sleepless night -me placing my fingers in the crate and saying, "Shhhhh...shhhhhhh" as Arlo woke again and again, crying out through the night.  At around 1 AM,  in a sleep-deprived fog, I put him in bed with me, tethered to my waist with a leash (I had brought one up, just in case). I periodically heard Mark snoring peacefully in our room and was comforted by the knowledge that he, at least, could get a good night's sleep.

Day 2-

Introduced Dexter and Arlo through a baby gate. Dex has been through this drill many times and performed his job (sit and collect treats) perfectly. I watched Arlo closely for signs of fear and saw only curiosity and so I let them meet face to face. Both did a lot of polite sniffing and then Arlo stood on his hind legs, stiffly, growling as he tried to hook a paw over Dex’s neck. One quick squabble and it was back to circling and sniffing, then all was well. I had picked up all toys and closed doors to all rooms except the one we were in so that no one could abruptly meet in a small space. Took lots of small walks on leash. Too soon for off-leash. Tried the crate again and this time Arlo completely panicked-drooling, panting, scratching to get out. Back in bed with me. Heard Mark turning and yawning comfortably in our bed. Hmmm...interesting that he can sleep through this.

Day 3-

First on-leash walk with both Dexter and Arlo. 3.3 miles on the river trail. Everything was going as smooth as silk until a young couple approached on the trail, their collie mix straining at the end of her leash, head down and coming straight on at us. I pointedly moved OFF the trail to let them pass; the couple happily letting their dog follow; assuring me with a cheery, "Don't worry, she loves dogs!" at the exact moment I desperately called out: 

"PLEASE don't let your dog..." 

Too late. 

Dexter exploded as Arlo gamely jumped in to help by hopping up and down and releasing a volley of high-pitched dog curses in Thai. As I pulled my beasties away, I caught the retreating shocked expressions of the couple, each muttering and shaking their heads at my dog's "bad" behavior. I imagine this is a common event in their lives. They probably blissfully stroke their dog's head at night while thinking, "How did we get so lucky?" Oy. And okay, snarkiness notwithstanding, I "know" that they don't "know" and that's just the way it is right now with dogs and leashes and saying "hi". 

Night 4

Big night-let Arlo run off leash with Dex. We are on almost seven fenced acres, so the boys could really stretch their legs. Dex runs like a cheetah-body stretched full out as he glides through the air on impossibly long legs; Arlo churning the earth as he tries to keep up. Brought ex-pen into guest room (five feet tall). Took Arlo less than three minutes to climb out like a monkey. Tethered again. Guest room again.  Heard Mark laughing as he watched a sitcom in bed in our room just next door. Gritted my teeth and suppressed a strong urge to smother him with a pillow as he slept.   

Present Time

Dexter's crate on the left, Arlo's on the right

Last night was Arlo's eighth night here. I put a lid (okay-it's chicken wire that I attached, myself) on the ex-pen and moved Dexter's crate  next to him. We are still in the guest room, but I actually slept through an entire night!

Tonight...my own bed? A girl can always dream...!

Videos:

First walk, first snow, first training

Happy boy in his new home!  

My boys

The Long Journey Home

This story begins in the northeast of Thailand in a place called Nakhon Phanom. On August 13, 2011 Thai police infiltrated a group of dog smugglers carrying over a thousand dogs-some stolen, some strays, some taken in trade for cheap goods. The dogs had been crammed into small wire crates which were then stacked and loaded onto four trucks. Many of the dogs died during the transport and of those that survived the suffocating journey thus far, some of the unluckiest would die only moments before safety arrived as the smugglers desperately tossed crates from the truck bed in an effort to gain speed and avoid being captured.

Rescued

While better off now than with the smugglers, the danger was not yet over. The remaining dogs, many unhealthy to begin with, now faced fast-spreading illnesses in the overcrowded conditions.

August 13, 2011
Excerpt from the Soi Dogs- Facebook :

"But although they have been saved from dog-trader gangs, no one can guarantee they will be safe and survive in their crowded cages while a shortage of food threatens their lives.
Some of the animals were reported dead or injured. The rest are at Nakhon Phanom Animal Quarantine Station.
They looked exhausted after they were moved from the small cages to be put in the station's only big cage. But that cage, which has a maximum capacity of 500 dogs, now has to house 1,800. They have inadequate food and water, as the station does not have the budget to feed such a huge crowd of dogs.
"Police believe all the dogs would have been transferred to a ship waiting in Ban Phaeng district of Nakhon Phanom before going across the Mekong River to be sold in Vietnam"

September 18, 2011
Soi Dogs-Facebook
"URGENT DOG FROM NATHON PATHOM RAID NEEDING ADOPTION

John Dalley, Bee and others visited Nakon Pathom this weekend where the dogs seized from the dog meat smugglers are being held.
The dogs in this photo album are up for urgent adoption. There are around 800+ dogs there and it is critical that the most needing cases are adopted as soon as possible.
If you have ever considered adopting a dog the time is now to step up.
Logistics re: export etc. will be handled by Soi Dog Foundation as required.
Contact Bee her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/beeproduceror leonard@soidog.org
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST FAR AND WIDE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS TO DO SO AS WELL"
=================
September 18, 2011
From: Jenn-Soi Dogs Volunteer
To: Chris Waggoner
Would the one sitting on the right be of interest?”
==================




To: Jenn—Soi Dogs Volunteer
From: Chris Waggoner

YES
========================
10/18/2011
To: Cindy-Soi Dogs
From: Chris Waggoner
Hi Guys,
Just wondering where things stand with the little pup. He was one of the dogs from up north.
=========================
Subject: Re: Dog
From: John-Soi Dogs
Date: Tue, October 18, 2011 10:12 pm
Doing well and desexed on Monday. Lovely dog.

The planning to get him to the US begins...
============================
Date: Wed, October 19, 2011 7:59 pm
Subject: Re: Dog
From: Cindy-Soi Dogs
Hi Chris,
Are you definitely interested in adopting his little guy? Can you let me know, J-- is on his way to the UK at present. Whereabouts are you?
=============================
On 20 October 2011 10:41, <chris@bendlovesdogs.com> wrote:
YES.  I am in Bend, Oregon. 900 miles from Los Angeles.
=============================
Subject: Re: Dog
From: Cindy-Soi Dogs
Date: Wed, October 19, 2011 10:28 pm
To: chris@bendlovesdogs.com
Hi again Chris
Have heard back from shelter. The little dog's name is Benji (male), he was sterilised on Tuesday.At this stage they think it may be too soon to transport him next week s he's still on treatment. However we will double check with our  vets this afternoon. I will let you know.
=============================
On 20 October 2011 11:43, Cindy-Soi Dogs wrote:
Chris-Flight volunteer has confirmed is wiling to take. Have just heard back.
Am still checking with shelter whether it will be possible. Cheers
==============================
On 21 October 2011 11:31, Cindy-Soi Dogs wrote:
It looks like we can get Benji on the same flight with our flight volunteer (Jacqui) who departs on October 26th. Her flight arrives in LAX at 6.55pm on 26th.
===============================
And yet another journey begins...this time home

HKT Airport, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand-loading into plane

Staying at the Sheraton-nice!

Jacqui (my flight volunteer angel) after a VERY long flight. Sophie is not sure what to make of Benji!

The final leg of Benji's journey is less than two hours away. At that time I will pick him up at the airport near my home and will give him his brand new name.

He will live with me, forever.

I hope you will follow his story as I continue to write about our days together. After all, we are all on a never ending journey. Who knows where life will take us next?

Happy Training,

Chris

For more information about Soi Dogs, please watch this documentary Soi Dogs, The Movie
To read about the rescue of Arlo and the other thousand dogs, click this link. Warning-graphic content.