Send us Fan Mail

We are talking about the physical feedback necessary to actually maintain the control end of the leash. We see folks relinquish control to the dog all the time for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes we tend to treat certain moments like they are unimportant because they are brief in nature (like walking to the car) but the fact is ALL moments are important, and all moments are learning moments.

But at the core, I think it's really unnatural for people to communicate physically because as humans we primarily communicate verbally. Your dog will absolutely take control if you aren't in control and you can only accomplish that if you physically communicate and enforce standards. If you have an intensely excitable dog you may need to work harder and communicate more. If you have a softer or calmer dog, it may be less. But all dogs need that feedback coming in.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Okay. This is the most common question, at least after "when can we take the e-collar off?" Neither question has a straight answer, either. But I think the most succinct response is you can take it off when you can take it off (might be never) and the right level is the one that works (in most cases).

Most people don't realize that we can use our e-collars (aka big, scary shock collars) in a variety of ways. We have 100 levels, and I cannot feel it until it's on a level 12. I can tap it quickly, or I can apply constant stimulation. This means I can be very gentle with an e-collar, but I can also make it very uncomfortable.

But then you also have to consider that what is uncomfortable to one dog might not be to another. Every dog is unique, and genetics play a major role in what dogs perceive and how they respond. As if that isn't enough to consider, you need to break it down even more because even the same dog will have varying degrees of sensitivity depending on the state of mind at the time (usually impacted by environmental factors).

Using the most appropriate level is a skill to be built by the human. If you try to set it and forget it you fail. The number on your e-collar usually gets far more attention than it deserves, and you might be getting in your own way by putting too much emphasis on it.

I'm going to break down the various functions of an e-collar and how we select a level at any given time. We also cover what it means (or doesn't mean) when your dog does the dreaded vocalization and makes you cry yourself to sleep after.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Here is a list of 5 rather random things that I hear people say they are doing VERY frequently. And they are things I wouldn't recommend. These things are usually not helpful and often even make things much worse.

5- Tethering your puppy or dog to you all day

This is supposed to strengthen your bond and "reduce freedom" but really it helps create a needy dog with potential separation issues. It also allows you to actually mentally check out.

4-Letting dogs sort things out themselves

You won't like the way dogs sort things out. There is no doggy jail and they don't have the ability to think about the gravity of their actions. Dogs that "love" each other may very well enjoy the company of another dog one minute and be willing to fight to the death the next. Advocate for the dogs before you have a problem.

3-Using redirection to stop mouthing or reactivity

Redirection is essentially a reward and you're creating a vicious cycle. Don't avoid having the real conversation with a correction or at the very least setting firm boundaries. This doesn't happen with redirection.

2-Using pee pads during housebreaking

This is a real common strategy for folks during the house breaking period, especially with small dogs or folks that live on the third or fourth floor. But you might be setting yourself up for more work later as you are normalizing peeing in your house!

1-Putting your hand in the dog's food

This is annoying to most dogs. And whether it is or not, it really doesn't do anything to prevent resource guarding. Instead you can employ other strategies like feeding in the kennel and leaving the dog the hell alone. Also get your relationship in order. Have rules. Have expectations. That is what really prevents resource guarding. It might not hurt to create some positive associations, but I don't do that by annoying the dog while they are eating.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Puppies! We've been talking about them a lot lately. One thing I hear over and over again is people justifying behavior as "puppy" behavior. And although there might be some truth to that in a way, the dangerous part of that is attached to that statement, logically, would be that once the puppy isn't a puppy anymore the behavior goes away naturally. And THAT couldn't be farther from the truth in most cases.

Puppies exhibit everything that comes naturally (as will adult dogs except they usually have some learning under their belt already). But unless you actually DO something to change the behavior there really is no reason for it to change. Most behaviors will continue to intensify as pups move through adolescence into maturity.

Unfortunately this means a lot of the time that your relationship will suffer. Especially if you adopt a very drivey working type dog or a dog that is just wired to be more intense more forward more escalated and more easily stimulated. These things are genetic and don't shut off when your puppy grows up. Starting now to learn how to set rules and boundaries and get rehearsal at inhibiting behaviors is sooooo important.

Unfortunately most people find correcting puppy behavior to be really uncomfortable and many people just choose not to do it. Especially if they see the puppy temporarily "shaken" (and they should be—they will recover—that is half the benefit is building resilience and building an understanding that corrections are part of life and I still want to be your friend and connect afterward).

We will be restructuring our programs and offering less stand alone puppy training. I talk about this some, but this episode mainly is to point out what we do attack when it comes to puppy behavior and why we do and what the risks are if you don't.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Food! Most dogs love it. But some dogs couldn't care less about it. Some dogs are too reactive or too nervous to take it. So what do we do to motivate our dogs with food if they aren't the most food motivated?

There are ways to make food more desirable. One of which is to use it when the dog is hungry. This might mean training before a meal or it might mean skipping a meal or reducing meal size for a few days. It might mean using higher value food and just cutting it up very small to avoid filling the dog up.

But you NEVER NEED food. Just to be clear. We get dogs all the time that won't take food when training, and it doesn't have to be an issue. But food can really be your friend when it comes to increasing behaviors, so we highly recommend using a food item that motivates your dog during obedience lessons. In fairly short order, you should be able to move to an intermittent feeding schedule instead of every rep.

This might be every 3 or 4 reps and then every 5-7 reps and then eventually basically none. As feeding is decreasing, accountability is increasing (negative consequences ranging from annoying to very uncomfortable) is gradually increasing. Ultimately in the end, there is no payment for executing a simple command, but there is accountability for not executing.

Behavioral stuff can be trickier. I would argue that the majority of aggressive and reactive behavior is largely the product of a dog's genetics combined with positive reinforcement. In many behavioral situations I believe dogs and owners are best served to refrain from using food unless they are very well versed in what to do and when and what to watch for. This can be a challenge, even for seasoned dog trainers. You risk increasing things you don't want to.

In behavioral situations I generally recommend sticking to clear instruction, exuding confidence, giving guidance, and using a calm assertive energy. Maybe some neutral praise is fine, but reducing overall arousal (food creates arousal) is usually more productive.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

I hear it all—the—time! You should never punish a growl because that's how dogs communicate they are uncomfortable. This argument is complete nonsense, and in this episode I break down why and what we have seen with the hundreds of dogs we have addressed growling with.

By putting more emphasis on why something is happening than on how to change what is happening, people stay stuck. The whole 'root cause' argument is generally not helpful and sends people down a rabbit hole that goes nowhere.

Dogs do lots of things that communicate discomfort. That doesn't mean we should allow it. Allowing your dog to do such things will generally just continue to strengthen the intensity and frequency of the behavior, often resulting in eventual escalation.

That being said, there are lots of things to consider when it comes to addressing growling, and I'm going to break them down in this episode. Things like the general personality type of your dog and the nature of your relationship, etc. Most of the time dogs are growling at dogs or noises or strangers, but if your dog is growling at you, you need to build something new, my friend. Just attacking the growl is probably not the best plan of action.

But that being said, we never give the advice "ignore it" or "respect it". Those are the words of fools who don't know how to fix it.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...

Send us Fan Mail

Everybody wants results, naturally. Does this training really get results? I'm talking with Joyce today about her journey through training her own dogs. We met when she needed help with her reactive labs. And now that she works here she gets to help clients through all of the trials and tribulations on the way to the finish line. And she's living proof that it's worth it!

We also chat about some of the hardest parts of the training ranging from changing habits to overcoming emotional obstacles. This might be learning not to manage the leash or things like seeing your dog looking stressed in some situations.

Joyce did not follow all the instructions initially (because she's human), and I think you'll enjoy hearing from someone who can candidly talk about before and after training.

Support the show

Love the show? Sign up to access our new exciting Xtra content! This content is unique and is ONLY available to our paid subscribers.

Subscriptions are only $3/month! You can also just sign up to make a small donation monthly if you want to support the podcast. Or, if you can't do that right now, just hit subscribe in your favorite app and tell a friend about the show!

Any support in any form from our listeners is sooo appreciated! We count on listeners like you to help us keep putting out content. Visit the link below to subscribe or donate.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2124912/support

I want to hear from you! Email me directly to ask your questions and suggest topics for the podcast.

Kati@diamondcanine.com

Visit our website where you can purchase our online course for only $99 and get started with e-collar training today! Work at your own pace. This is a very beginner friendly course. You can also sign up for training with Kati and Joyce, visit our shop for our branded merchandise and purchase E-collar Technologies collars.

https://www.diamondcanine.com

Visit our social media for free training videos and to connect with us!

https://www.facebook.com/diamondk9dogtraining

...