Dog Portrait

Last week I posted the winner of the dog portrait sponsored by Training Collar Source. All that was required for one's name to be entered in the drawing was to click on "like" at the business page of Training Collar Source on Facebook. You can still do that and who knows what exciting things may happen.....

The dogs are Wire-hair Pointing Griffons, and Mother(Frost) and Daughter(Bailey).

Frost
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

Bailey
12" X 12" water-based oil
Joanne Osband

CONGRATULATIONS SHELLEY!

Winner

This summer all dog lovers had the opportunity to win an oil painting portrait of their favorite dog.

How? All that you needed to do was to click on "like" on the Facebook page of Training Collar Source and your name was entered in the drawing to win a portrait of your dog painted by me.

Shelley was the winner and she has two Wirehair Pointing Griffons;
Mother and Daughter.

Bailey and Frost by the waterfront in Olympia

The paintings are in process and will soon be posted, so watch for them. You can still visit and "like" Training Collar Source and learn of future happenings.

When Barking Violates Nuisance Laws

How do you know if your dog is disturbing neighbors?

Although your dog may be on your property, if her barking disturbs others in your general vicinity, you may be in violation of either a general nuisance, noise, or a specific dog disturbance ordinance.

If a neighbor complains about your dog barking, an animal control officer may issue a warning. Fines may be imposed for repeat violations.

The conflict arises when neighbors' definitions of "loud or persistent" vary.An owner may think his dog's occasional barking is tolerable, or even beneficial as a warning, but a neighbor may contend the continued noise disturbs his comfort or sleep.

Typically, a reasonableness standard is applied. Some municipalities attempt to define "persistent." Tulsa, Oklahoma, defines barking repetitively for over 10 minutes as a nuisance.

What is the standard where you live?

Have you thought about a No-Bark Collar?

Another Idea on Dog Training

Here is another dog training idea to correct unwanted behavior:

NOISE

Noise can be a powerful deterrent. Snakes and geese use hissing sounds to scare predators away. Other animals (including domestic pets) have an instinctive sensitivity to this hissing sound – when they hear it, they stop dead in their tracks.

The Corrector™ is a favorite behavioral product in Europe, and now it is available for American dog owners. It uses that natural hissing sound as a training tool that can stop problem behaviors

The Pet Corrector is an aerosol can that emits a blast of compressed air – and like a snake’s hiss, that unwelcome “hiss” of air will interrupt your dog’s undesirable behavior.

It is really easy to use. Just spray the Pet Corrector near your dog when it does an undesirable behavior. It will automatically disrupt the cycle if used repeatedly and consistently while it sends a message to your dog that his actions are not acceptable. Once your dog complies, reward him by saying “Good dog” and you might also give him a treat in the beginning.

Here it is in action....



It is inexpensive and might be something to try first in dog training for unwanted behaviors.

If this training tool is not effective, try one of these collars at Training Collar Source that are proven safe, and highly effective.

Unusual Application of Dog Shock Collar

As proprietor of Training Collar Source, I receive interesting e-mails. I get to learn about unusual behaviors of dogs and their masters.

When I received this e-mail, I thought this guy was joking.

"Hi - I'm in need of an alert system for my wife to call me around the place. She is temporarily an invalid and I don't hear well at all. Wondering if a small dog shock collar converted to a bracelet for me would work. Of course she'd be punished for using the thing frivolously! Ever hear of this application? Thanks."

I suggested the Lap Dog Collar because it was our smallest collar.

His next e-mail read......

"I'd like to do this. At least we'll set a precedent and see how it works. My daughters are threatening to arrange something sane and reasonable we can always fall back on.

So, I'd like to order: a small dog collar I can adapt to my wrist as a bracelet; range minimum of 150'; a bit of an instruction booklet; non-lethal; would like to have it asap; cost - I won't say money is no object, but anything reasonable under $100 will be ok.

Can you fix me up? Should I send you a check or ...?

What a story you will be able to tell your website!

Cheers."

We corresponded several times.
I really thought this guy was pulling my leg.
A few days later, he placed an order for the Lap Dog Collar.

Visualize this on a wrist

Follow up e-mail:

"Hi - Collar received all in order. Thanks. I fit it as a bracelet and programmed it for bad "stimulus" only and tried it out on all levels. Boy, that # 4 button is a real kick in the, ummm, wrist. I think this is gonna work."

I am looking forward to hearing how his training is going!

Barking Problems

What do you do about a dog that barks too much?

The first step in quieting your pooch is to understand why he is raising such a ruckus in the first place. Dogs, after all, bark for all kinds of reasons. They bark when they're anxious or when they are lonely. They bark to draw attention to themselves or to warn someone encroaching on the property. Sometimes, they bark just because it feels good.

The Alarm Barker

If the dog barks only when you are home, he is probably barking for one of two reasons: Either he wants attention or he is trying to warn you about something. Most dog owners feel safer knowing that their dog will alert them to intruders, so they usually reward alarm barkers. Because you are likely to want your dog to continue his warnings, you do not want to discourage barking entirely, but the trick is to teach him to stop barking when you tell him to.

When trying to curtail a dog's barking, as with any other training program, be consistent and clear about just what you want your dog to do. If you tell him to be quiet, you must then enforce what you have instructed. It does not work to yell "quiet" from three rooms away and then continue to talk on the telephone as your dog rants and raves at the window.

Instead, consider keeping your dog on an indoor lead and having him by your side at potentially problematic times. When you see he is about to bark, pick up on the lead and tell him to sit. Better yet, pair the lead with a head halter – which gently pulls the dog's head up, closing his mouth. When he stops barking, release the tension on the lead and praise him. An extra reward will emphasize your appreciation.

If your dog constantly demands your undivided attention, consider ignoring his demands - consistently - for a week. Try standing up and walking away whenever he starts to bark. This form of training, resulting in gradual "extinction" of barking, is very effective because it removes all rewards that, until now, were reinforcing the behavior. Keeping in mind that even scolding or brief eye contact can be interpreted by your dog as a reward, try to show no response at all. You can take this training a step further by giving your dog attention, such as petting, only when he is quiet. With patience, you can change many kinds of learned behavior through the process of extinction.

More Ways to Abate Barking

Sometimes, you can cut down on barking by using an anti-bark collar. These collars are most useful for dogs that bark when their owners are away and cannot correct them with voice commands. However, do not use one with a dog that shows signs of anxiety; it will only make the problem worse. When left on their own, for example, some dogs become extremely stressed, and act out that behavior by barking non-stop. In that case, the dog should be treated for the underlying cause of the problem – separation anxiety – not just his barking.

Anti-bark collars utilize ultrasound, electric shock, and vibrating devices – they work by punishing the dog when he barks. Electric shock may be effective, but is viewed by many as inhumane: Other types of collars that do not rely on inflicting pain contain citronella oil, its spray triggered by barking, has become available and can be an effective tool for distracting the dog from barking.

Luckily, most dogs will respond to some intervention to curtail their barking. Whether you simply bring an outdoor dog inside (which should calm the neighbors) or take the time to apply behavior-modification techniques, you can cause a dog to be less of a nuisance and to be more socially acceptable.