The Art & Science of Dog Training--My Training Approach(02)

a) My training approach.

When someone calls me to do a behavior consult, I tell them that my approach to any dog training problem is three-tiered:

i) Nutrition and medical and structural issues

First I look at the dog's own body--for nutritional, medical, and structural issues that may be influencing a dog's behavior. The older I get, the more I have to (and still hate to) agree with my own sainted mother: you are what you eat. This is a separate blog in itself but for now, know that if you have a behavior or training problem of any kind, the easiest place to start to solve the problem is with the dog's food.

Most problems arise out of some response to stress--and poor nutrition is stressful. Shockingly, most of the foods available in grocery stores and big box pet stores are slaughter and grainhouse refuse, all scientifically "enhanced" to be tasty and a holding place for added vitamins and nutrients.

With respect to medical and structural issues, many times a dog acts in ways we don't like, simply because he feels crappy or she simply can't do the behavior we want her to. Recently, I saw a young pup who's owner was upset because the little guy was tugging on his leash as they went on their daily mile and a half walk. Looking at the pup's weak hocks, and sway back--it was clear to me that walking that far on pavement on a daily basis was physically way too much for this little guy. Short play sessions with his owner on grass or carpet would go a long way towards getting the right kind of exercise, building up the right muscles, AND be a lot more interesting than doing a walk.

A much overlooked problem in many dogs with fear and aggression issues is a thyroid that's out of kilter. And, while a top-notch thyroid test is easily available from Dr. Jean Dodds of Hemopet for less than 100 bucks, many veterinarians will use their own less extensive and more expensive tests and then dismiss a "slightly low T4" as nothing.

I like to think of life as a three-legged stool. If one of those legs, is even just a little bit out of whack...the whole thing wobbles.

This is a quick overview--nutritional, medical, and structural issues will be dealt with in greater detail in separate blogs.

Copyright (c) 2010 ~ Peg Dawson Harrington ~ All Rights Reserved