Hi!

our best teachers for the dogs. She instills lessons of self-control. She makes no excuses for the puppies or dogs either. Her lessons are clear and to the point. When teaching self-control, she is always careful to make the lessons appropriate for the puppy’s age. We have witnessed this time and again.

At 19 weeks Charlie is approaching 40 pounds, so when he greets Annie with his increased size and bulk she makes sure he minds his manners. A slip on his part and her corrections are much more forceful than when he was smaller. Charlie is a quick learner though and approaches with respect by sitting, allowing Annie to make the first move toward him. Self-control is important in training dogs. People often forget and overindulge their puppies, which eventually can lead to behavior problems.

I am THE CAT, don't forget that.

Charlie showed much self-control in the midst of many temptations at the Canine Good Citizen test he participated in this past weekend. For a young pup, his focus was very good even if some of his turns were a little wide. He watched me and kept up with me as he was supposed to. What I’m very pleased to see in this puppy is his willingness to please. He really tries hard to do the right thing; not all dogs do. That trait sure makes training easier—and I think more fun for puppy and handler alike. It’s a trait we choose when doing breedings, and we try very hard to keep the trait in the lines. When this trait is coupled with a strong sense of devotion and a good measure of intelligence, you have a hard combination to beat for a top service dog.

I think it’s his good genetic start that gives Charlie the edge when it comes to learning his tasks as a working service dog. Far too often I read or hear about programs that get dogs from good kennels or breedings but those kennels are not selectively breeding dogs that excel at this type of work. I’m reminded of something that Doug Lipp, former head of training at Disney’s Corporate Headquarters, taught me at aseminar I attended. He called it “three rights that equal success.” He pointed out that to be successful, you need:

ahhh...

1. The right person for the job.
2. To give that person the right training.
3. To be sure that person gets the right treatment.

How true is that is for dog training, too? I follow this example for all the service and special task dogs I train, and I believe it’s key to the success I’ve achieved. It’s a simple idea that Disney used, and in my mind simple is always the best approach.

I’m sitting here looking at Annie and Charlie interacting again. I think if Annie could talk she would agree.

Debby

Handsome isn’t good enough though for service dogs. They have to demonstrate through their training that they know and understand the tasks they are being trained for. Their obedience must be impeccable under all circumstances. They must live up to a higher standard. As if that is not enough for any dog to master, we go one step further and ask a service dog under certain circumstances to make a decision which goes against their training, which says, always obey the person’s commands. This is known as “intelligent disobedience.”

A graphic example of this concept is a dog guide leading a blind person down a street. The dog is taught to go in a straight line when given the command “forward.” The dog is not supposed to deviate from that straight line. But what if the straight line down the street would cause the person the guide dog is leading to walk into an open manhole? The blind person can’t see that hole, so what’s a dog to do? This is where intelligent disobedience comes in. An intelligent dog determines he has to disobey the command to go forward in order to keep his person safe; so he goes around the danger in spite of anything the person does or says.

Charlie has shown me this intelligent disobedience already at the tender age of 17 weeks. He is very devoted to me and realizes that when the odor of low blood glucose is present, his alerting takes precedence over anything else he is told to do. I’m very impressed with his persistence, too. I cannot ignore him; he will not let me.

“Good Boy, Charlie!” As his trainer, this is very satisfying. I know he will never let his future handler down.

One of the Canine Good Citizen tests is to be able to examine the dog by touching his feet.

I train dogs all the time and you should, too, if you have a dog. I know you’re thinking, “But you’re a professional.” It doesn’t matter whether you’re a pro or not. Dogs need attention and reminders about their manners and what is expected from them just like people do.

Training doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. What you do however, should be meaningful and clear. Keep things simple, and be consistent in what you do. Charlie and I thought you might find these tips and exercises useful.

• Every time you approach someone while out walking who wants to pet your dog, tell them it’s okay to pet the dog but please make him sit first. I also hand the person atreat so they can reward the dog when he does sit. Charlie loves meeting people, and instead of jumping on them he now runs up and sits when meeting them.
• If your dog is a pest at dinnertime, put a 6-foot leash on his collar, put the end on your chair and sit on it during dinner. Ignore you dog’s fussing and eventually he will lie down since the leash restricts where he can go. When your dog is quiet and being good, remember to praise him  quietly. Charlie has been sleeping under the table when we eat since he was a very young puppy, and now just goes to sleep.
  

  Another CGC test is for the dog to sit patiently while being examined.

• A lot of dogs associate a person grabbing their collar as a bad thing. To avoid that, make a game of touching your dog’s collar during a lot of different circumstances, ratherthan just when you want to grab him to put him in his crate. For example, as you’re playing with a toy and the dog is close to you, quietly grab his collar and gently hold it for a few seconds, then let go. The same thing can be done while you’re walking. It’s a small thing but it teaches your puppy that it’s not a bad thing for you to grab his collar. When you want him to move from one area to the next, try luring with a toy instead of pulling his collar.

Charlie is preparing for his Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test next month so he is getting extra training as we close out the month of January. One of the harder tests for a lot of the dogs taking the CGC test is to walk with a loose lead through a crowd of people. In order to pass this part of the test, I have found that I just need to practice often with my dog. Charlie and I go to places where there are lots of people, and we practice until he understands not to pull on his leash. We’ll practice this exercise dozens of times in many different areas before the test. I can’t stress enough that practice makes the difference between whether you and your dog will pass the test or fail.

Charlie is nearly 35 pounds now—and growing. I don’t even want to imagine what it would be like walking a large male Labrador that pulls on his leash. It’s far better that Charlie learn to behave now while he’s small enough for me to control.

Practice often. Happy training everyone.

Debby & Charlie

Hi, there!

Charlie had no idea why I was rushing around like a mad woman, packing a suitcase, stuffing his carry bag with his toys, chew things, food, dishes, water, leashes and the dozens of other things necessary for an overnight trip. He knew it was fun though to follow me as I dashed around the house. Several times he took opportunity to steal a toy from his packed bag to play with. Soon enough, we would be off on his biggest adventure yet. This trip would start with a visit and overnight stay at his cousin’s house. The next day, he would meet his new family for the first time.

Charlie’s “cousin” is a lithe 9-month old chocolate Labrador beauty who is sired by his half-brother Ranger. It was love at first sight for Charlie. Piper is sleek and coy with the darkest of coats, and typical of all Lab puppies—always ready for a good play session. She didn’t have to do much to engage Charlie in a game of chase. He quickly figured out his bulky build could not keep up with her as she zoomed around the yard so nimbly and skillfully at lightning speed. But Charlie is a thinker, and he developed his strategy to even the playing field. He found places along her circuit through the yard where he could crouch down nearly flat on the ground and lie in wait until she rocketed by, when he would pounce on her like a great lion attacking its prey. It took him a few attempts to perfect the technique, all the while offering great entertainment for Piper’s owner and me.

Charlie meets his new family.

Later inside, the pups contrived games involving a pile of toys and a very large open-door crate in the room where all the people sat talking. I am always fascinated by dog games. They are so creative, and the rules are pretty clear even to those of us not participating. I suspect they would have played all night if we had not put an end to it and gone to bed. Once tucked in with his favorite blanket, Charlie fell into a sound sleep. Good! I wanted him to be fresh for the big meeting in the morning.

After an hour drive the next morning, we arrived at the home of Charlie’s new family—and were greeted by a very excited young lady who would be his new partner. This is always the most anxious time for me, even though I’ve gone through it a thousand times before. Will the dog and person I am trying to match up be the right fit? It took only a few moments to realize that Charlie was indeed home. He walked in confidently, looked around, then glanced at me as if to say, “Yes, this will do just fine.”

Hmmm....

Charlie got the full tour of the house. He was a little taken aback by the largest stuffed toy he had ever seen in front of a television, something else he had not seen since we don’t have one at home. I imagined him calculating, in typical Charlie style, just how he was going to play with this thing and move it to where he thought it should be. I’ve accused him of being a decorator at heart, as he constantly moves his bed from one spot in my office to another for reasons only he knows.

The best part of his first visit to his new home was meeting all the friends and family anxious to see him. He handled his near celebrity status with composure and cool you could only admire. Everyone had cameras and videos pointed at him, everyone clamored to get in a photo with him, and he patiently complied with all requests.

It was difficult to leave, but I could see Charlie was getting tired, and we had a long trip home. He still has much to learn before he returns here ready to take on his duties as a diabetic alert service dog.

Debby

We arrived in the parking garage of the building just as the sun was peaking over the far horizon. The city was just beginning to wake, so the streets were relatively quiet. “Perfect,” I thought, as Charlie and I walked out of the garage toward the only two 2 x 4-foot grassy patches in that area of town. As we approached the sidewalk, Charlie stopped and craned his neck upward as if in awe at the enormity of the skyscrapers all around him. He kept looking at the shapes—some smooth stone, many with repeating color patterns, some reflective, all very tall. In his world, our ancient oaks at 80 feet are the giants on the farm. Here he was in a strange land were the trees were barely 12 feet tall and dwarfed by buildings so gigantic he couldn’t bend his head up enough to see the tops.

A garbage truck rumbled by and broke his stare. He looked at it, appearing amazed by its size. This was certainly the largest vehicle he had ever seen. He turned to look at me and his expression clearly said, “Mom, what kind of strange Land of Giants did you bring me to?”

Charlie "at work."

As the streets began to fill with people, he was so fascinated he stopped sniffing the grass and just sat and watched. I wish I could have read his mind as he saw his first bicycle rider with a strange pointed head (helmet) and a woman jogging behind a tented tricycle pram. He cocked his head from side to side. So many new things to experience and it was all happening rapidly! Behind him a bus chortled by, and more people of all sizes and shapes crowded the walk. All the while, Charlie sat calmly, taking it all in and contemplating what it all meant.

Finally, I had to remind him to “get busy” so we could go inside. Entering the building my office is in, he negotiated his first obstacle—a revolving door—then turnstiles, guards and two elevator rides. After what must have seemed like a tremendous journey for a little pup, we arrived at my office. I had already placed his crate under my desk and had his favorite toys spread out. He jumped with glee at them, relieved I am sure to see something familiar. He seemed very content to lie at my feet and play with his toys. Few people in the office even realized a puppy was in their midst.

Charlie makes friends wherever he goes.

Later, as we roamed about the office complex on our way to my many meetings, he got much practice with the elevators and revolving doors, handling and adapting to them like a good student. By lunchtime, however, this little guy was tuckered out. On our return to my office, he headed straight for his crate, grabbed a corner of his blanket, rolled over and snuggled down on his back half covered for a long nap. I ate lunch at my desk and finished up the last of my work while he continued to nap. It had been a very stimulating day, and I’m sure he was in sensory overload trying to assimilate all the new things he had experienced.

When he finally woke up, we made our way back to the parking garage for the journey home. By now, he handled the elevators and doors with the aplomb of a veteran. I couldn’t help but be impressed. There was no pulling on the leash, no barking and no jumping on people, just calm self-assuredness of a tiny puppy in the Land of Giants.

Debby

Charlie at Younger Toyota in Hagerstown, Md, today.

Every now and again, an opportunity of a lifetime comes along. Such was the case when I was asked recently to judge a dog show on December 11 in mainland China, a country I have always wanted to visit. I knew the trip would be a long one—two days, including layovers and the journey from the airport to Shenzhen, a very modern city in the southern region of China, west of Hong Kong. Along with judging an all-breed dog show there, I would judge a special obedience competition by the 22-dog police K9 unit from the region. The most difficult part of the trip? Leaving behind my young puppy Bart for the 6 days I would be overseas.

Puppies grow and develop quickly! Every week of Bart’s young life is very important in shaping his attitude and building his skill set toward the day when he will become a full-fledged diabetic alert dog. I am blessed to have a very capable and talented puppy-raising partner in my husband, Sam, who stayed home and cared for Bart, the farm, and all the other dogs and critters. A lot did happen while I was in China—the pup grew by almost 4 pounds!

Charlie makes a new friend at the dealership.

Sam takes the pups we raise out daily for a car ride. Some days they visit stores or places where they get to meet new people or experience new sights and sounds. One day while I was in China, the pups went to the local feed store and met the resident fat cat, who has seen it all and was not impressed with them. But for the pups, it was an opportunity to learn how to respect this finicky species. They also met rabbits and saw songbirds fluttering in cages, both new experiences that help them build confidence when encountering new things in the world. Bart is getting much more proficient at climbing stairs, walking on a loose leash and waiting at doors. He is a natural ham for attention, so sitting to be petted comes easily for him. Sam also got the pups out for long walks in the fields at our farm—great exercise for growing bones, and a good education in new smells, sights and sounds.

Charlie and his new friends.

Perhaps the biggest change that occurred while I was gone is that Bart has a new name. We found a family who will welcome this furry bundle of joy into their home after his training is completed. So far this family and I have been communicating remotely, but come January we will journey to visit them in person. In the meantime, they have asked that I change Bart’s name to Charlie. He is responding well to his new name.

I’m thankful pups are so flexible. They remind me that maybe we put too much stock in things that really don’t matter that much. Not a bad thought as we approach the holiday season. In the words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Debby

Bart, future diabetic alert dog

Meet Bart. He is an eight-week-old chocolate Labrador puppy who is being raised and trained as a diabetic alert dog.

Of all the scent detection training I do with my Labradors, the medical detection work is some of the most satisfying. Dogs take each day at a time. They live for the moment, and they rarely fret about things that haven’t happened. When you pair a dog like Bart with a person—or especially a family—where a medical issue has created an atmosphere of uncertainty, worry and unrest, such a special trained dog can do so much just by his presence to ground people and bring about a sense of peace and tranquility.  I’m not sure of all the psychology going on here, but I have seen how a dog’s presence impacts the lives of the people he lives with.

Bart is not aware of his mission in this life yet. He is playing happily at my feet for now. I talk to my dogs all the time. I tell Bart his role in life is an important one. A person’s life will depend on his keen sense of smell. He sits up now and cocks his head to one side to listen better. Maybe he understands. He seems exceptionally wise as I return his gaze and peer into those soulful brown eyes.

I don’t know how much of what I say he understands, but I can tell you for sure he is one smart boy. He is picking up on his lessons quickly and already walks nicely without pulling on a loose lead in public. He has figured out to wait for doors to open, sits to be petted when he meets someone and is getting into the routine of riding in his crate in the car when we go out for training sessions. He even has the general idea of housebreaking now—he still cannot “hold it” though for too long after he signals he needs to go outside.

Bart is special, there is no doubt in my mind, but he is, after all is said and done, a puppy.  You can’t forget that puppies need to do puppy things. Like all puppies, he goes about with great enthusiasm playing with all the other puppies for just so long before he crashes, takes a nap, gets up to eat, then starts the process all over again. What new toys will they find this time? What new area of the house will they explore? Life is full of wonderment in all the small things. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea to be more like my puppy. Enjoy the things around you, have fun with your friends, eat hearty, nap often. Life is good.