The Only Good Dog Is A Tired Dog
Two forms of exercise every dog needs.  
Do these two things and reduce up to 75% 
of your dog’s behavior problems.

“Well, now that we understand management of behavior and how to use confinement to get good results we need to move on to step two.  This is an extremely important topic, exercise.

“Now, the second step in my Reverse Dog Training Method is to give your dog enough exercise.  Obedience training can not overcome pent up energy.  Many dogs suffer from not receiving enough stimulation.”  Eric went on to add, “There are two forms of exercise that every dog needs.  Your dog needs a good dose of both physical and mental stimulation.  Let’s talk about physical exercise first.

“When you physically exercise your dog you need to think aerobic exercise.  We need to get Peanut’s heart rate up and keep it up.  This does two things.  First it will keep him in good physical shape.  Obesity in dogs is becoming a problem in the United States.  Second, by giving Peanuts sustained aerobic exercise, you allow him to burn off the energy that he’s been building up all day.”

“What about taking him for a walk?” I asked, even though walking him wasn’t a very pleasant experience, it’s what I had heard you were supposed do with your dog for exercise.

“Yes, of course walking your dog is important, but at least four to five times a week you need to let your dog stretch his legs and run,” Eric answered.

“Now some other ways to physically exercise Peanuts are to play retrieving games, tug-o-war, hiking, swimming and jogging.  One of the very best ways to exercise your dog is to let him play with other dogs.  If you have a friend that has a dog and Peanuts gets along with him, set up some time so they can play together.

Dog daycare is also becoming very popular.  Most dog daycares are set up to let a number of dogs play in controlled and supervised play sessions,” Eric added.

He continued, “Everyone knows that taking your dog for a walk is a good thing, but taking your dog for a run is even better.  When you exercise Peanuts, focus on increasing his heart rate.  You really want to get the blood pumping.  You want your dog to go aerobic.”

At the look on my face he quickly added, “This doesn’t require you to become an athlete.  If you are, great, but if you are like me, I try to make things as easy as possible.  Retrieving games are my favorite way to exercise my dogs.   I can stand in one spot and have my dogs do all the work.

“Here’s a funny little story for you.  My Shetland sheepdog, Sammi, does not like to retrieve but she loves to herd and chase.  I can still exercise her with retrieving games though, because she will chase the other dogs when I am throwing the ball for them.

“When it comes to mental activities for Peanuts, there are a number of ways to accomplish this.  Doing obedience and teaching him how to do tricks is a great way for you to interact, and at the same time give him a mental workout.  There are also some toys that you can leave for Peanuts that will keep him occupied when no one is home.

As I said earlier, Kong toys are a great toy to leave behind.  Stuff three or four Kong toys and leave them in the crate.  Once Peanuts is out of the crate and allowed some freedom in the house, you can leave the stuffed Kong toys hidden all around.

“Remember, your dog needs both physical and mental exercise.  If you do both forms of exercise, you can eliminate sixty to seventy five percent of your problem behaviors.  Dogs were bred to perform certain tasks.  Many of those activities required the dog to use a lot of physical energy.

Herding, hunting, and chasing were common activities for the dog to perform.  As we moved from the agriculture age into the industrial age, the role of working dogs was greatly reduced.  One hundred years ago, a dog was required to work.  Today, most dogs will never do the tasks or activities that they were bred for.

“Like I said before, I have a Shetland sheepdog.  She was bred to herd sheep and livestock.  Right now she is about fifteen years old.  She has never herded a single sheep, and I doubt that she ever will.  It is my job to make sure that she gets enough exercise.

If she receives enough stimulation, she will be able to live in the house with me.  If she doesn’t get enough stimulation, then there is a good chance that she will find activities to do on her own like chewing on the furniture, digging holes, ripping the shingles off the house, you get the picture.

“If your dog gets enough physical and mental stimulation you will see many of the behavior problems disappear.  Usually, when I have to go to someone’s home to help them with their dog, I can tell within three minutes that the dog doesn’t have a behavior problem, he has an exercise problem.”

“Those all sound like a great ideas,” I said, relieved that walking Peanuts wasn’t the only way to exercise him.

“The other toy that I like to use is a buster cube.  A buster cube can be found at most pet stores.  If they don’t have them in stock, they can usually order one for you.  A buster cube is a square cube that has a hollow center with some compartments on the inside.

You can pour Peanut’s food into the cube and shake it up.  The food becomes trapped inside.  When you put it on the ground, Peanuts will smell his food in the cube. As he starts to paw at it, some of the food will fall out.  This will motivate him to push it some more.  It will also keep him occupied and give him a mental workout.”

“Do you know where I can get one of those?” I asked.  I definitely would be heading to the pet store today.

“Any pet store should carry them or you can even check on-line,” Eric answered.  He added, “Always remember that it is your responsibility to provide Peanuts with enough physical and mental stimulation.  If he is bouncing off the walls, there is a good chance that you need to exercise him.”

“I understand,” I replied.  I realized that Peanuts had not been getting enough exercise before and made a silent promise to myself to do everything possible, even bring Peanuts to…what was it called…a dog daycare…or whatever Eric had said to solve this problem.

“Okay,” said Eric, eager to get onto the next step, but needing to be sure that I had understood everything so far. “Let’s do a quick recap.  So far we have talked about two of the steps that you need to know in order to become a good dog owner.  You need to effectively manage Peanut’s behavior and you need to give him enough exercise.   Got it?” Eric asked.

“Yes” I answered.

Chapter 4 is the last chapter I am sharing on my blog. To get the other 11 dog training, information packed chapters go to Amazing Dog Training Man Book.

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M.O.B. Rules – How to use M.O.B. Rules to eliminate 
housetraining issues, stop chewing, and possibly save your dog’s life.

“Any questions,” Eric asked after going through the five myths with me.

“No.  So far, so good,” I replied, anxious to hear more.

“So becoming a good dog owner is easy.  All you have to do is follow four simple steps.  Here they are,” and Eric listed them.

1.    Good management skills
2.    Exercise
3.    Structure
4.    Influencing behavior

“This is the first part of the Reverse Dog Training Method.  Once you understand, follow, and apply the four steps you will be on your way to becoming that good dog owner.  So, for today’s lesson, I’ll give you a detailed explanation of each one.  Let’s start with good management skills.

“Good management skills are crucial when you first bring a dog into your home. Your dog does not understand the rules of the house yet.  It is your job to teach them to him.  However, in order to successfully teach him the rules of the house, you need to be with him every second.

Think of the dog as if he was a small child.  You can’t let a small child out of your sight for a moment.  The same holds true for dogs.  They must constantly be watched over.  I know this sounds like a big job, and it is, but in order for Peanuts to learn, you must be right there the second he decides to pee on the carpet or chew the sides of you coffee table.”

“I can’t be with him every second of the day,” I said, concerned that maybe there was no solution for Peanuts.

“I never said you had to be,” Eric replied, as he smiled at the look on my face.

“How am I going to keep an eye on him every second?” I asked.
Eric went on to explain.  “A lot of dogs get into trouble when the owner is not home.  We leave the house and come home to find a deposit on the rug or our favorite pair of shoes torn up.  That is when we feel like punishing the dog.  If we punish him long after the behavior has occurred, we only confuse him.

In fact, we can sometimes make behavior problems worse by punishing after the fact.

“Here is a typical example:  Say you leave the house for an hour.  While you are gone Peanuts decides to destroy the TV changer.  You come home and find the TV changer in a hundred pieces.  At this point you are angry and you know he did it.  You call him over, show him the TV changer, and scold him.  Maybe he’s made you so angry that you grab him by the scruff of the neck and physically scold him.

“What you have to realize is that Peanuts does not understand why he is being punished.  He only knows that you are upset.”

“Wait a minute,” I interrupted.  “My dog knows he did something wrong, he always acts like he is sorry after I yell at him.”

Eric responded to this calmly, as if he had heard it a thousand times before.  “Peanuts knows that you are upset, what he doesn’t know is why you are upset.  I could go over your house right now and yell at him, chances are he will act like he has done something wrong.

In fact, let me ask you a question.  What if you were to walk into your house and yell at Peanuts and he really had done nothing wrong?  How would he act?”

“I don’t know,” I answered, thinking about what Eric had just said.

“Peanuts would act the same way.”

“You’re right, he probably would,” I agreed.  I had never thought about it before.

“Then how does he know why is being yelled at?” Eric asked patiently.

I thought about this for a second, and then slowly answered, “I guess he wouldn’t know.”

“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” Eric said.  “Peanuts doesn’t understand why he is getting scolded.  Because of that, there is a strong chance that he would associate the punishment with your arrival home.  You walk in the door and he gets scolded.  Now, whenever you leave the house, what is he probably going to think?”

A little unsure of the answer, I ventured a guess, “That when I come back home he is going to be punished?”

“Correct!  Peanuts will think that when you walk back through the door he is going to get punished.  If that is what he is thinking, he will probably become anxious. Do you know what a dog does when he is stressed or anxious?” Eric asked.

“Chews!” I exclaimed.

“Right!” Eric said.  “The other problem is that Peanut’s nervous system speeds up.  When the nervous system speeds up, guess what happens?”

I thought for a moment, but I couldn’t come up with the answer.  “I don’t know,” I said.  I had never been very good in biology.

“The digestive system also speeds up, which means your dog will have to relieve himself.”

A grin spread across my face.  “I get it,” I said.

“So let’s go over this again, just to make sure you are clear.  Punishment after the fact only confuses the dog, and in some cases can make the behavior problem worse.  The only time you can punish Peanuts and not confuse him is when you catch him doing the behavior that you want to stop.” Eric looked at me pretty intently.  It seemed clear that this was a very important point.

“OK,” I said.  “I understand that I can’t come home and yell at him.  It makes sense that I would just confuse him and make matters worse, but how do I stop him from doing all those bad things when I’m not there?”  I still didn’t know how to solve the problem of him chewing, and stealing, and going to the bathroom all over the house when we weren’t home.

“Simple,” Eric replied.  “You just need to learn how to effectively mange Peanut’s behavior.  Like a small child, you need to be there to watch his every move.  I know that sounds like a lot of work,” he stopped for a moment when he saw my expression, but then he continued, “It is at first, but it gets better.

And, there are some tools that you can use to make life easier on you.  Let me explain to you how to effectively manage Peanut’s behavior.  In fact, you can eliminate many of the problems that you are experiencing once you learn good management skills.”

“I can?” I asked, not entirely convinced.

“Yes,” he said, sounding very sure.  “One of the best management tools is a crate.  When Peanuts is in the crate you are managing his behavior when you are not there.  The great thing about a crate is that you can speed up the housetraining process and you don’t have to worry about coming home to find your valuables destroyed.”

“Wait a minute,” I interrupted.  This was the same advice the shelter had given me and it hadn’t worked.  “My dog hates the crate!  I have tried and tried but Peanuts will not go in it.  I have to wrestle him in there.  I finally gave up and don’t even try anymore.

I have been keeping him in the bathroom… but he ripped up the linoleum and destroyed the door…” my voice just kind of trailed off.  I was embarrassed by Peanut’s behavior and my poor management skills.

Eric seemed to be very understanding about this and continued on, “Most people don’t properly crate train their dogs.  We have to make a positive association with the crate.  Only after Peanuts has had many positive associations will he willingly go into the crate.”

“How do we make positive associations with the crate?” I asked.  I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get Peanuts to accept it.

“It’s easy,” he said.  “The first step is to feed all of Peanut’s meals in the crate.  We are going to put the food bowl in the back of the crate.  The only way Peanuts is going to get his breakfast or dinner is by going into the crate.  The next step is to put Peanut’s toys and treats in there.

Anytime we are going to give Peanuts a treat or toy he is going to have to go into the crate to get it.”  Eric paused for a second to make sure that I understood all of that and then he added an important point. “At this time we do not want to shut the door.  Let Peanuts come out of the crate anytime that he wants to.”

“Okay” I answered.  That seemed pretty easy advice to follow.

“Now it gets fun,” Eric said with a smile.  “You are going to go to the local pet store and buy some Kong toys.  A Kong toy is a beehive shaped hard rubber toy with a hollow center.  The great thing about the Kong toy is that the hollow center can be stuffed with all kinds of goodies.  You are going to call Peanuts over to the crate and in front of it you are going to stuff that Kong toy with some awesome treats.

“Take the Kong toy, and with Peanuts watching you, put some cheese into the Kong.  Let him sniff it first but don’t let him have any.  Put the cheese in, then wave some other tasty treats in front of Peanuts.  Put the treats in, then let him watch as you stuff some more cheese into the Kong.

At this point Peanuts should be very excited.  While he is watching you, throw the Kong into the crate and close the door before he can get in.”

I looked a little puzzled at this last remark.  Why would I want to put this toy in the crate and not Peanuts?  Didn’t I want to be able to put Peanuts in the crate?

Eric just kept on with his instructions.  “Now Peanuts is on the outside of the crate and he desperately wants to get in.  You’re starting to change his mind about the crate.  You are now starting to build a desire to go into the crate.”

Wow!  Could it really be that easy to change Peanut’s entire opinion?  Could I really make Peanuts want to go into his crate?

“After a few minutes open the door and let him go in to grab the Kong, the whole time telling him what a good boy he is.  After you have done this a couple of times you are going to tie a piece of string around the Kong toy and tie it to the back of the crate.

Now when Peanuts goes into the crate he has to stay in the crate to enjoy the goodies in the Kong.”
I couldn’t believe how much sense this all made.  How come the people at the pet store, and especially that last trainer didn’t know this.

Eric continued explaining, “As he develops a tolerance for being in the crate, start to close and latch the crate door for short periods.  Over a few days time, keep it closed longer and longer.”

“Wow, that is a great idea,” I said.  I was completely in awe.  Eric then explained the steps a dog owner needs to know in order to apply good management skills.

Here are the steps that I have from the notes that I took.

Management of behavior is a crucial part of owning a dog.  The dog has to earn his freedom over a period of time.  Dogs do not have any idea of what is right and what is wrong.  We have to teach them.  The crate is a great tool to use when we can not watch the dog.

There are many different ways to manage a dog’s behavior.  We can use crates, leave a leash on the dog when he is in the house, baby gates, a fenced in area, etc.

As the waitress came by to check on us and give us a refill, Eric reassured me.  “As Peanuts gets older the management gets easier.  Okay, that’s the first step, good management skills.”

“This all sounds great to me,” I said, but I knew there was still something (or someone) that might throw a monkey wrench into this great plan that Eric was developing for me.  A little sheepishly I told him my concerns.  “My wife is not a big fan of crates, in fact she thinks it’s cruel and refuses to use one.”

Eric just laughed and shook his head.  “I hear that all the time, so let me give you three really good reasons to give your wife why you and every dog owner should use a crate.  First, most dogs like a place of their own.  It is common to see dogs sleep behind a couch, under a coffee table, or in the corner of the room.  Once a dog makes a positive association with a crate, he will often go there all on his own to rest.

“Second, at some point in your dog’s life there is a good chance that he will have to go to the groomers, the vet’s office, or travel.  This will require Peanuts to go into a crate.  Trust me, it is better to get him used to a crate in the comfort of your own home and in a positive way than it is to wait until he is two years old and forced into a crate by some vet techs or grooming assistants.  That would be very stressful to him.

“Third, most young dogs love to chew on anything, including electrical wires.  A young dog left out to chew on anything he can get his mouth around has the potential to get harmed.  There are plenty of incidents of puppies getting injured or killed by chewing on the wrong things.

So, when someone thinks it’s cruel to put a pup in the crate, I think it’s cruel to leave the dog with too much freedom.  You’re just asking for trouble.”

“Well, I never thought of it that way” I said.  I’ll be sure to share those points with my wife.

“No problem,” Eric said.  “That’s why they call me The Amazing Dog Training Man.  Do you have any questions about management of behavior, or anything else that we’ve covered this morning?”

I thought back to everything that he had told me so far.  There was so much new information.  “Let me just make sure that I have this right,” I answered back.  “It is my responsibility to know what my dog is doing at all times.  If I can’t watch Peanuts, I should put him in a crate.”

“Great summary,” Eric said, seeming pleased with me.  “And don’t forget, you should also leave a leash on him in the house.  This way if he steals anything, you don’t have to chase him around.  All you have to do is step on the leash.  Basically, good management gives your dog some boundaries,” finished Eric.

“Okay, I think I’ve got it.  What’s next?”

Stay tuned for chapter 4 or get the whole story by clicking here: “The Amazing Dog Training Man Book”

Chapter 4 is the last chapter I am sharing on my blog. To get the other 11 dog training, information packed chapters go to: Amazing Dog Training Man Book

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Chapter Two

How It Changed Everything

You can learn how to train your dog using a simple, easy, and
effective training system.

You’ll discover how to use The Amazing Dog Training Man’s very unique
Reverse Dog Training Method.

Now, I must admit, I was starting to have some serious doubts.  When I called the number on the card I got an answering machine saying someone would get back to me shortly.  A few hours later I received a phone call.  It was a pleasant sounding lady, letting me know that Eric would meet me at The Barn restaurant in Adamsville, RI for our first lesson.  She said to just tell any of the waitresses that I was there to see Eric.  They would point him out for me.

After I hung up the phone I could not help the weird feeling I had about all of this.  Why would a dog trainer meet me at a restaurant for our first lesson?  Don’t get me wrong, The Barn is one of my all time favorite restaurants.  I discovered it shortly after moving to Westport.  It’s a quaint little place, tucked away in a remote corner of Rhode Island.  The staff is friendly and the food is fantastic.

In fact, if you ever find yourself in this part of the world, I highly recommend stopping in.  They only serve breakfast though, so make sure you get there early.  But back to my story, I still couldn’t understand why I was meeting a dog trainer in a restaurant.

When I arrived at The Barn at the designated time, I asked the waitress if she knew of a dog trainer named Eric?  She pointed him out and I walked towards his table.  I have to be honest here, I was not too impressed by what I saw.  He looked kind of young to be some kind of dog training guru.  And, dressed in baggy shorts and sandals, he looked more like he was heading to the beach than a dog training lesson.

After shaking his hand I sat down and ordered some coffee and toast.

“So, I’m a little curious,” I began after the waitress had taken our order. “Why are we meeting in a restaurant?  I’m not quite sure how is this going to help train my dog?  How we can we possibly train Peanuts without him being here?”

“Would you like to know the secret to having a well-behaved dog?” Eric asked.

I nodded my head.

“It’s very simple,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “But the simple things in life, for some reason, always seem the most difficult to do.  Let me give you some examples.  Losing weight really is simple, don’t eat as much.  If you want to feel better mentally and physically, it’s easy, exercise.

What do you do if you want to have more money in your bank account?  Don’t spend as much, right?  Anyways, I’m getting off topic here.”  He paused again, letting some of this sink in. “Basically, what I’m trying to say is that the simple things aren’t always easy.  But, before I digress again, here is the ultimate success secret for a well behaved dog.”

My eyes were now wide, waiting for some great truth to come from his lips.

“If you want a good dog, you have to learn how to become a good dog owner.” He sat back, taking another sip of coffee, waiting for my reaction.

“That’s it?” I asked him.  I was waiting for something more; more complicated, more profound.  It couldn’t be as easy as that.

“Yes.  That really is all there is to it.  You see, I know that my card says The Amazing Dog Training Man, but what it should really say is The Amazing People Training Man.  Most dog trainers are really good at instructing the dog, but it is really the owners that need the training.  What I am going to do over the next few weeks is show you how to get great results with your dog.  I’m not going to train your dog, you are.  I am going to train you to train your dog. Understand?”

“I think so,” I replied, not really sure, but willing to give it a try.

“A successful relationship with your dog requires you, the owner, to take some steps,” Eric began to explain.  “If these steps are followed, they should help you and Peanuts have a great relationship.  Any dog training program that you take part in with your dog should be fun, safe and easy.”

I completely agreed, especially after that disastrous first training class Peanuts and I had been through.  I continued to listen.

“Let’s face it, we all lead busy lives.  Any kind of routine that is difficult or hard to do probably won’t be followed.  That is why I have developed a dog training program designed to give you all of the above; a fun, safe, easy, and effective way to train your dog.  It is also a program that will help you learn how to deal with behavior problems.  Does all this sound OK so far?” Eric asked.

I nodded my head.

“Good.  Before we start I want to make it clear that I put most of the attention on you.  I call it the Reverse Dog Training Method for a reason.  Most dog training programs focus on the dog.  I focus on the owner.  That is one of the reasons that I use the word Reverse.”  He paused to take a few bites of his breakfast.  “I developed the Reverse Dog Training Method after studying many dog owners and trainers,” he continued, “and it is a completely different approach to dog training.”

Here is an explanation of what the Reverse Dog Training Method stands for:

R= Responsibility: Taking responsibility for your dog’s behavior and training

E=Easy:  Having a dog should be fun.  A training program should be easy and fun.

V=Viewpoint:  An effective training program is established by looking at training through the dog’s P.O.V.  (Point Of View)

E=Effective:  The training program needs to be effective

R=Reward:  Reward training based on the principles of behavior.

S=Safe:  Safe training method that does not harm the dog.

E=Efficient:  Training must accomplish the desired results efficiently (in just ten minute sessions)

“So, once you understand the Reverse Dog Training Method you will begin to look at the whole training process differently.”

“Alright, when do we start?”

He smiled at my enthusiasm.  “We’ll start training soon enough, but I still need to explain a few other important things.”

“Okay,” I said, sitting back in my chair, ready for more.

Then Eric took out a piece of paper and a pen.  He drew a line down the middle of the paper and put plus signs on one side and minus signs on the other.  I wasn’t sure exactly what I was supposed to be looking at. 
He began to explain his drawing.

“Positive and negative experiences have a lasting effect on the dog.  One theory of mine is what I like to call the chalk board theory.   Imagine that there is a large chalk board in front of you with a line drawn down the middle.  Label one side positive, and draw little plus signs next to it.  Label the other side of the chalk board negative with little minus signs next to it.”  Now his drawing made a little more sense.

He continued, “Every experience and interaction that you have with Peanuts will place either a plus or minus sign on the board.   So, every time you do something positive with him…you give him a treat…a pat on the head…throw a ball, that is a plus sign on the chalk board.  Every time you do something negative to Peanuts like scold him…slap him on the butt…give a leash correction, you will put a minus sign on the board.  Do you understand so far?”

“Yes, I think so,” I replied.  “When we do something good with Peanuts, he gets pluses, for everything bad we do, he gets minuses.  Is that right?”

“You’ve got it!” said Eric.  “If your chalk board has more minuses than pluses you have big problems.  You want a chalk board filled with pluses, so that when you do have to do something negative, it will not have a detrimental effect on your dog.”

+++   +++ ++++  ++ +++++  ++ +++++++

- –             - -      - -  -

“Here’s another way to look at it.  This is an excellent way that I heard it explained to me once:  Think of the relationship between you and your dog as a checking account.  In this case we’ll call it Peanut’s social account.  Imagine all the different interactions between you and Peanuts.  Every positive experience between you and Peanuts is a deposit in his social account.  Every negative experience is a withdrawal from Peanut’s social account.”

I nodded my head.

“What happens if there are more withdrawals than deposits from your checking account at home?” Eric asked.

“I bounce a check,” I answered.

“Right,” Eric said with a smile.  “Is you bank very happy when this happens?”

“No,” I responded quickly.

“Right, and what happens if you keep doing it?” Eric kept pressing on.  Before I could even answer he said, “If you keep doing it, you will ruin the relationship you have with your bank.”

“Wow!” I was amazed.   “This would work with my wife and daughter too.”

“Yes, the best way to fix any relationship is to focus on deposits and minimize withdrawals.”

“I think I’m going to go buy my wife some flowers,” I said with a grin on my face.

“Great idea, but for now let’s get back to Peanuts.”  He continued, “Your bank becomes aggressive.  First it’s minor, but if it happens again and again, the bank eventually becomes more and more aggressive, until finally the relationship between you and your bank comes to an end.  With your dog we want to make sure that when you do need to make a withdrawal, you have made enough deposits that the relationship doesn’t bounce like a bad check.” Eric said, sitting back and taking a sip of his coffee.

“Alright, I’ve got it.  I will focus on making deposits.”

“Great!  Now, do you know why so many new dog owners have problems with their dogs?” Eric asked when he put his coffee cup down.

“Well, I guess I have idea,” I began, a little hesitantly.

“Let me explain one of the biggest problems,” said Eric, and he started to go into more detail.

“Confusion is probably the biggest problem faced by new dog owners.  I see the look of frustration on the faces of dog owners coming through my doors very often when they decide to bring their little terror in for training.  The sad fact is that confusion and frustration often lead to anger.  Anger often leads to punishment.  Punishment often leads to problems between the dog and owner.  Once the relationship between the dog and owner goes sour, things quickly disintegrate.”

I could tell that he was genuinely troubled when this happened.

“Over the next few weeks,” he went on, “I’ll show you how to develop a great relationship with your dog.  I am not a guy that is going to regurgitate the same old theories and methods that you read in most dog training books.  Instead, I am going to explain the reasoning behind why I train the way I do, and why you should apply the same methods.

I am a trainer in the trenches week after week working with real dog owners that have real behavior problems.  I spend a great deal of time working in animal shelters.  All the time that I have spent working with shelter dogs has taught me to condense training and deliver it with as little fluff as possible.  Working in a shelter you have to become efficient and effective.  You don’t have a lot of time.

“Many dog owners simply do not understand why their dogs behave a certain way.  They become confused and it is my job to clear up the confusion and help them to train and understand their dog.”
I took all of this in.  After a moment, eager to get started, I asked, “What are we going to do today?”

“Today you are going to learn The Reverse Dog Training Method.  Like I mentioned before, it is a training program that I developed with the typical dog owner in mind.  Believe me, when you learn The Reverse Dog Training Method, you’ll look at dog training very differently.”

“Sounds great.  Let’s get started,” I said.
As I sat there with my toast getting cold, Eric asked me another question.  “Do you know what the biggest mistake dog owners make with their dogs?”

I shook my head.

“The biggest mistake dog owners make is that they expect dogs to think like humans.  The definition of anthropomorphism is when we humans attribute human characteristics to plants, animals, or objects, and unfortunately, most dog owners are guilty of this.  Instead, we have to learn to think like our dogs, because they truly are not capable of thinking like us.

It’s not fair to put all the blame on our dogs when they don’t respond the way we want them to.  The blame has to be put squarely on our shoulders.  Once you take that responsibility, once you decide that it is your job to think like a dog, then and only then, will you get a trained dog.  If you keep blaming the dog, you’re guaranteed to continue having problems.”

“Wait a minute,” I exclaimed.  “I didn’t teach my dog to bite or jump.”

“I’m sure you didn’t intentionally teach your dog,” said Eric, “but we are getting ahead of ourselves.  I promise I will make things very clear to you in the next few minutes.  Before we go on though, remember what I said about success in dog training.  In order to have a good dog, you have to learn how to become a good dog owner.  Very simple, but very true.”

After the waitress came by to refill our coffee cups he continued.  “Alright, let me explain a little further.  As dog owners, we need to set our dogs up for success. Unfortunately, we usually set them up for failure.  For example, giving a young pup too much freedom is setting him up for failure.

The puppy is going to chew on anything and everything, he is going to pee and poop anywhere and everywhere, he is going to knock things over, steal items off the coffee table, and in general make us mad.  By taking some simple steps we can make a few changes and always try to set the pup up for success.  Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I answered, thinking about what he just said.  “By making a few changes around the house, I can probably alleviate a lot of the problems we are having with Peanuts.”

“Before we get into the four steps of the Reverse Dog Training Method, I want to go over what I think are the five biggest myths about dog training.

“You see,” said Eric, “New dog owners become confused about what is the best way to train their dog because there are so many dog training myths out there.”

This came straight from my notes:

Here are the top five:

The 5 biggest myths about dog training

There are many myths surrounding dogs and dog training.  
The five biggest myths regarding training are:

1. Never train a dog until six months of age.  
2.  Never use food to train a dog.  
3. Always train a dog using a choke chain. 
4. Never play tug-o-war with your dog.
5. Dogs will calm down after they are neutered.

These myths have been floating around for so long they are considered dog training laws in some circles.  Eric explained each one in detail to me, and why I would want to ignore much of what I had heard about training.  One myth that he did leave out was housetraining.  He said he would cover that one later, but just for the record; no, never push your dog’s nose in his own mess if he has gone on your floor.

Myth #1

Age has always been a big concern for traditional dog trainers.  Conventional wisdom said that a dog could not start their training until six months of age because the methods being used were too harsh for a young puppy.  A new dog owner would be told that they had to wait until the dog was six months old.  This is a huge, huge mistake.  Waiting until your dog is six months old only allows your dog to develop behaviors that could have been prevented, not to mention the fact that early socialization is crucial for a dog’s development.

What is the poor dog owner supposed to do?  Sit there and watch as their dog destroys the house?  At six months old, does the dog magically start to learn?  No.  Here is some of the best advice you can take.  As soon as you get your dog, start training, preferably in a good puppy class.  If you go to Eric’s website, www.AmazingDogTrainingMan.com, you can read his special report, “The Consumer’s Guide To Choosing A Dog Trainer”.  A good puppy class will show you how to housetrain your puppy, they will let your puppy socialize with other puppies, and they will help you with obedience training.

Myth #2

Food should never be used in training.  That is the second biggest myth.  Dog trainers have told dog owners that their dog should perform the command because the owner is “alpha”.  Don’t listen to it.  The absolute best way to train a dog is to use reward-based methods.  In the long run, your dog will be a better dog because of it.

The whole alpha theory has been blown out of proportion.  A dog is like every other creature on the face of this earth.  Dogs either work to get something or they work to avoid something.  Your dog is working to get a reward or your dog is working to avoid a correction, period.   When used properly, food can be a great way to train your dog.  It speeds up the training process.  Food helps you motivate your dog.  Without some type of positive motivation, you need to resort to negative motivation.  Negative motivation always has side effects.

Myth #3

Choke chains are not only a big myth but they are a sad myth.  Choke chains are a very bad training tool.   Trainers have collapsed dog’s tracheas by using choke chains.  Dogs have been strangled by their trainers for not performing a command.

A much better piece of equipment is the gentle leader head collar.  Gentle leaders have been called power steering for dogs.  In fact, the great thing about gentle leaders is that they work as soon as you put them on.  They work by controlling your dog’s head, not your dog’s body, much the same way as a horse bridle.

Another problem with choke chains is that they trigger your dog’s opposition reflex.  Anytime you apply pressure, whether it is mental or physical, you are triggering your dog’s opposition reflex.  Here is a little experiment for you to try.  Call your dog over and push down on his shoulders.  Most dogs will resist and lock up.  The harder you push, the more the dog resists.  This is opposition reflex.  It happens every time you put the choke chain on and pull back.

Myth #4

“Never Play Tug-O-War” has always been a huge myth dog owners have been ordered to follow.  How many times have you been told to never, under any circumstance, play tug-o-war?  Tug-o-war is one of the best games that you can play with your dog.  It is a great way for you to structure the relationship, and it is a great reinforcer.  You can use it to reward for obedience.

The most important point to remember when you are playing tug is this: always, always win the tug game.  We will go into detail a little later, but remember to always get the tug toy back from your dog at the end of the game.  One of the big reasons that tug is such a great game is that it gives the owner control over the most dangerous part of the dog; his teeth and jaws.  By playing tug on a daily basis, your dog will learn to have a soft mouth and to drop anything that he is holding onto.

It is not a matter of never doing certain activities with your dog, it is a matter of controlling what you do with him.  If you cannot control the game when you are playing, don’t play the game.

Myth #5

Dog owners have always been told that neutering a dog will calm him down.  Many dog owners have been very disappointed to find that after the surgery, they did not get the expected results; the dog was not any calmer.  Spaying and neutering your dog is a good thing to do, but in most cases it will do nothing to calm him down.

When a dog is out of control, it usually has more to do with not getting sufficient exercise and/or it has more to do with little or no training.  The neutering theory probably became popular to entice more dog owners to have their dogs neutered, but in most cases, you will not see a dramatic change in your dog’s behavior.

Please let’s make one point very, very clear:  Unless you are a professional breeder, you should have your dog spayed or neutered.  Breeding in the United States is awful.  Not because of the professionals, but because of the back yard breeders.  All too often dogs are bred with no forethought put into it.  This leads to all sorts of problems.

Eric took a sip of coffee.  “If you are going to successfully train Peanuts using the Reverse Dog Training Method, then you have to eliminate these myths from your thinking.  Confusion over the topic of dog training has led these myths to become truths with some dog owners and dog trainers.

“In order for you to get maximum results from your training, it would be best to take a fresh look at what I share with you over the next few weeks.  The only goal I have when helping a dog owner is to get results.  There is no reason to hang on to old theories and opinions about dog training.  Many times, when we start to believe in a certain way of doing things, it can be difficult to see from a different perspective.

“The training methods I am going to share with you are not old, worn out opinions.  They are tried and tested methods that will help you get maximum results in a lot less time.  The other great thing is that none of this training relies on hurting Peanuts.  Negative reinforcement and punishment always, always have side effects.  These side effects will have a long term impact on the dog and on your relationship with him.”

Stay tuned for chapter 3 or get the whole story by clicking here: “The Amazing Dog Training Man Book”

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Guy walks into the vet’s office with a cross eyed

Rottweiler…

The vet picks up the rottweiler and looks into the

dog’s eyes. After looking into the dog’s eyes, the

vet looks at the guy and says: “I’m going to have

to put the dog down.”

Shocked, the man says: “Put my dog down? Just because

his eyes are crossed? I can’t believe this. Why?”

The vet replies: “I have to put your dog down because

he’s heavy.”

Okay, bad joke, but you can never accuse me of sending

boring emails.

Whenever I am offering advice on dog training or any

other topic, I always try to deliever it in an entertaining

and fun way.

Sometimes I fall short but at least I always try to deliver.

I was thinking about this yesterday when someone asked

me about my book “The Amazing Dog Training Man.”

The person I was talking to told me that she had read

volumes of dog training books and wanted to know what

made my book different.

Like her, I have a huge library of books on dog training

and behavior.

Some good, some bad, some real bad.

When I decided to sit down and write a book on dog training,

I decided that I was going to deliver the information in an

entertaining way.

I wanted the book to be packed with information but I did

not want it to be like every other dog training book, so I came

up with the idea to write the book in story form.

I came up with the idea to write a story about a guy that

adopts a dog and everything goes wrong. He is at the point

where he is about to bring the dog back to the shelter.

Instead, he finds a trainer that can help him and learns the

secrets to dog behavior and training.

He discovers that the first step is to learn how to become

a good dog owner by looking at the world through the eyes

of his dog.

He learns that in order to have a good dog he has to become

a good dog owner.

Guy walks into the vet’s office with a cross eyed Rottweiler…

The vet picks up the rottweiler and looks into the dogs’s eye. After looking into the dog’s eyes, the vet looks at the guy and says: “I’m going to have to put the dog down.”

Shocked, the man says: “Put my dog down? Just because his eyes are crossed? I can’t believe this. Why?”

The vet replies: “I have to put your dog down because he’s heavy.”

Okay, bad joke, but you can never accuse me of sending boring emails.

Whenever I am offering advice on dog training or any other topic, I always try to deliever it in an entertaining and fun way.

Sometimes I fall short but at least I always try to deliver. I was thinking about this yesterday when someone asked me about my book “The Amazing Dog Training Man.”

The person I was talking to told me that she had read volumes of dog training books and wanted to know what made my book different.

Like her, I have a huge library of books on dog training and behavior.

Some good, some bad, some real bad.

When I decided to sit down and write a book on dog training, I decided that I was going to deliver the information in an entertaining way.

I wanted the book to be packed with information but I did not want it to be like every other dog training book, so I came up with the idea to write the book in story form.

I came up with the idea to write a story about a guy that adopts a dog and everything goes wrong. He is at the point where he is about to bring the dog back to the shelter.

Instead, he finds a trainer that can help him and learns the secrets to dog behavior and training.

He discovers that the first step is to learn how to become a good dog owner by looking at the world through the eyes of his dog.

He learns that in order to have a good dog he has to become a good dog owner.

Anyway, over the next few days I am going to share some chapters from the book. Here is chapter one:

Chapter One

My First Dog…How It Almost Turned Into A Disaster
I felt confused, frustrated, and embarrasses to bring 
my dog to an obedience class

I moved to Westport, MA about three years ago.  I was living in Tolland, CT working for a large insurance company in Hartford when I got a transfer to Providence.  I was lucky enough to find Westport, located about twenty miles south of Providence.  Westport is a quaint, beautiful, little seaside town tucked right between New Bedford and Fall River.

When we moved out here, my wife and I agreed to get our daughter a dog once everything was settled.  Three years had passed and my daughter had patiently waited for her dog.  I have to admit, I was looking forward to getting a dog, but I was just a little concerned about my abilities.  I had never had a dog and wanted to make sure that we had enough time to spend with him.

One Sunday afternoon my little family loaded into the car and drove off to the local shelter.  When we arrived, the shelter employees showed us around.  After spending about thirty minutes looking at dogs of all sizes and shapes my daughter decided on a unique mid sized dog of about thirty five pounds.

The shelter employee told us that the dog was a beagle/chow/shepherd mix.  After spending a few minutes with the dog, my daughter had her heart set on him.  We filled out the necessary paperwork, gave the shelter a donation, and we were on our way.

The ride home was exciting.  My daughter was smiling from ear to ear and my wife even looked happy about the new addition.  We spent most of Sunday walking with our new dog on the beach and trying to decide on a name for him.  My daughter suggested every name that she had ever heard in a Disney movie.

She wanted to call him Simba, Mickey, Goofy, and on and on.  My wife added that when she was a little girl, her dog’s name was Peanuts.  Everyone seemed to like that name, so we agreed that our new dog would be Peanuts.  Everything seemed so easy that first day, everyone was happy.  As you will discover in the next few minutes, it didn’t stay that way.  What started out as a happy beginning went quickly downhill.

The first signs of trouble cropped up that evening.  We decided that we would let Peanuts sleep in the kitchen, but as soon as the lights went out, Peanuts started to howl and bark.  We figured that he would stop after a few minutes, but no such luck.  Peanuts went on for about forty five minutes until my wife and I couldn’t take it anymore.

We let him into our room where he quickly made himself at home on our bed.  My wife said she thought she had heard somewhere that you were not supposed to let the dog on the bed.  I told her that anything that kept him quiet was fine with me.  Our daughter had school in the morning and we could not let him keep us up all night.

What happened over the next few weeks is a blur.  I don’t know how to describe it.  What started off so good was quickly becoming a nightmare.  Peanuts was wrecking our lives.  He was causing so much trouble that my wife and I were starting to argue with each other.

We quickly learned that Peanuts loved to steal anything off the counters or coffee table.  He would steal tissues, pens, eye glass cases, the TV changer, anything that was left there.  He also had a terrible habit of chewing everything that he could get his mouth around.

The corners of our tables and chairs were ruined, creating a lot of tension between my wife and me.  Taking him for a walk was almost impossible.  He would pull me in every direction and there was no way that my daughter would be able to handle him.  I could not believe that a little thirty five pound dog could pull so hard.  Our backyard had holes all over it, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Peanuts was not housebroken.  He would go anytime and any place he chose.

The tough part was that he could be a great little pet at times.  He was very lovable and my daughter was crazy about him.  Before things got too out of control, I decided to call the shelter and ask for some advice.  They must know how to handle these dogs.

When I called the shelter the people that I spoke to were very helpful and tried to give me as much information as they could.  They told me that I should get a crate and use it; they also said that maybe a choke chain would help.  After speaking to them, I headed right off to the local pet store to purchase the necessary equipment.

When I put the choke chain on Peanuts it did not seem to do very much good. When we walked, he pulled so hard on the choke chain that I could hear him struggling to breathe.  The crate was an even bigger disaster.  Whenever I tried to put him in the crate, he would fight and resist me.

Once I finally got him in it, he would not stop barking, howling, and scratching at the door.  Everything we tried seemed to backfire on us.  It was starting to feel hopeless.

But I did not want to give up.

I figured my next step would be to enroll Peanuts in an obedience class.  Looking through the phone book, I found a dog training school that was not too far away.  I called and signed up for a class that was starting in a few days.

The class didn’t exactly go as I thought it would.  On the first day, the instructor rudely informed me that my dog was unruly and badly behaved.  I didn’t need her to tell me that.  After all, that’s why we had signed up for the class in the first place.  After I had been told that my dog was not well-behaved, the instructor said that she was going to put a choke chain on my dog.

When I told her that we had already tried that, she informed that I was not using it correctly.  The class started and needless to say, I was thoroughly embarrassed by the end of it.  Peanuts was awful, he would not stop pulling and barking.  I was yelled at by the instructor more than once to control my dog.

I didn’t understand what she thought I was doing.  Of course I was trying to control my dog, that’s why I was there.  But instead of giving me advice, I was berated in front of everyone.  At the end of class I waited patiently so I could ask the instructor a few questions.

When she saw me waiting I got the feeling that I was facing the principal, just like  when I was a kid.  The look on her face was not pleasant.  I quickly asked her about some behavior problems that I was experiencing.  The instructor informed me that whenever Peanuts was doing something I didn’t like, I had to show him that I was the boss, or as she referred to it, the

“Alpha”.

“How do I do that,” I asked?

“It’s simple,” she replied.  “Grab your dog by the scruff of the neck and shake him while loudly saying NO.”  If that didn’t work she advised me to do what is called an “Alpha rollover”.

She decided to demonstrate on Peanuts.  She grabbed him with both hands on either side of the neck.  She lifted his front paws off the ground and flipped him onto his back.  It happened so fast that the poor little guy didn’t know what hit him.  As she was demonstrating she told me that this is what the alpha dog does to subordinates in the wild.

Then something strange happened.  Peanuts began to fight her and tried biting her hands while she held him down.  The more he fought the harder she fought back to keep him under control.  The situation continued to escalate until Peanuts and the trainer were in what looked like mortal combat.  The trainer finally let go, but not before getting bit.  I was horrified as I stood there looking at what had just happened.

I was at a complete loss for words.  I asked the trainer what she would like me to do.  She said that Peanuts was highly dominant and dangerous.  She then told me that I would have to come in for some private lessons; just Peanuts, the instructor, and me.

I left the training class feeling crushed.  Peanuts did a lot of things that we did not like, but we never felt that he was dangerous or a threat.  There was no way I would have a dangerous dog around my family.  I thought the training class was the solution, but now, in just an hour’s time, I felt like things had gone from bad to worse.

A week later I showed up for the private lesson.  The instructor told me that we needed to teach Peanuts who the boss was.  She said we would accomplish this by using a prong collar.  She showed me what it looked like and I was more than a little uncomfortable.  It was like some kind of torture device.  It was a steel collar with spikes coming out every few inches.  She put the prong collar on Peanuts and I was apprehensive about what might happen next.

Peanuts was a mischievous dog that had definitely thrown a monkey wrench into my quiet life, but overall he was a good little guy.  The instructor took the leash from me and commanded Peanuts to sit.  Before I knew what was happening she had yanked on the leash and Peanuts yelped from the correction.  When Peanuts still refused to sit, she yanked again.  I could see that Peanuts was stressed.

He was starting to pant and his eyes were wide open.  He had a scared and confused look on his face.  When Peanuts continued to refuse to sit, she yanked on the leash a third time.  Peanuts now started his revolt.  He grabbed the leash with his mouth and started pulling back.  This really made the instructor livid; she grabbed the leash with both hands and lifted Peanuts off the ground.

I could only watch in horror as Peanuts was just hanging there, and I knew that this could not be right.  I immediately told her to put Peanuts down and give him back to me.

What happened next is still a blur.  When Peanuts regained his footing he attempted to bite the instructor.  She lifted him off the ground until he almost passed out. When she finally put him down, he was too disoriented to put up a fight.  I quickly took Peanuts from her and made for the door.

As I was leaving the instructor told me that I had a dangerous and dominant dog.  She added that I should have him put down.  As I drove home I could not bear the thought of bringing him back to her for more training.  At the same time, things needed to change.  I could not put my family at risk.  I didn’t know what to do.  Di

I just drive right to the vet’s office, or continue to try and train him?

On the way home, I made a quick detour to the town beach.  I thought maybe a walk would help and I could think things over.  I took Peanuts out of the car and we started off toward the dunes.  I had thought for sure that obedience school would be the answer to my problems.  Instead, it seemed to only make matters worse.  While walking, I noticed a women and her dog about a quarter of a mile down the beach.

As I watched, I could see that her dog was off leash, running in the water, chasing sticks that she was throwing.  At one point, I even saw her dog do some commands before she released the stick.  She gave her dog a command to lie down and the dog dove into the position.

Then she told the dog to sit and the dog popped up so fast I thought he was going to launch straight up at least three feet.  I think she then told her dog to stay because when she threw the stick her dog didn’t budge.  A few seconds later she made some kind of gesture and her dog raced off after the stick.

I watched in envy, wishing that I could let Peanuts run and play in the water like that.  At one point her dog noticed Peanuts and started to run straight for him.  Peanuts was only too happy to greet the other dog, but then the most amazing thing happened.  The strange dog was within twenty feet of us when the women yelled out the dog’s name and commanded him to come.

I watched in awe as the dog came to a full stop, turned, and trotted back to his owner.

If only I had that kind of control over Peanuts, if he would just listen to me a little I know that things would get better.  Maybe she was a dog trainer.  Maybe she could show me how to control my dog like she does hers.  Even a little help would be better than the disaster of a training class that I went through.  I decided that I was going to approach her and ask for some help.

“Hello,” I called out, a little tentatively.

“Hi,” she responded, friendly enough it seemed.

“Can I ask you a few questions?” I was feeling more comfortable now.

“Sure you can,” she replied.

I then introduced Peanuts and myself.  I told her how impressed I was with her dog.  I added that I really thought it was incredible how she could let her dog off leash and call him back to her.  When I asked if she trained dogs, she said no, she didn’t.  She also added that her dog had been out of control as a puppy.

“But he’s so well behaved,” I said, amazed.  How could an out of control puppy turn into such an obedient dog? 
Then she told me about a man that she had met when her dog was just a few months old, and she added, he was an amazing dog trainer.

He showed her all the little known secrets of dog training.  After just five lessons with this man she had all the information she needed to train her dog, and just a few weeks later she and her dog had a great relationship.
Excitedly, I asked if she could tell me how to contact this guy.  She said that she had his card in her car.  As we walked back towards her car I asked if she thought this guy could help me with my dog.

“His training is different,” she said.  “The training program that he developed is something he calls The Reverse Dog Training Method.”

“Reverse dog training method,” I asked, a little confused.

“Yes,” she replied.  “The success of any training is not dependent on the dog it’s really dependent on the owner.  You’ll see once you start to work with him, he makes things very clear and easy to understand.”

“Can I ask you one more question,” still not completely sure I was getting it.

“Sure,” she said.

“Will this guy also help me with all the other problems that I am having?  My dog is chewing, digging, peeing in the house, you name it and my dog is doing it.”

“Yes, absolutely.  He has a unique way of showing dog owners how to deal with all those problems.  He will show you what he likes to call the M.U.T.T. Method for dealing with behavior problems.”
When we arrived at her car she handed me his card.  When I looked at it I was surprised.  Here’s all the card said, his phone number was on the back:

The Amazing  Dog Training Man www.AmazingDogTrainingMan.com

I thanked her and started back for my car.  As I walked I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this guy can help me.  Maybe we will be able to keep Peanuts.  At the same time, I felt confused.  Reverse training method?  Fix behavior problems using a mutt method? What did it all mean?  Either way, I was going to call this guy as soon as I got home.

Stay tuned for chapter two…

…or get the whole story by clicking here: “The Amazing Dog Training Book”

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Each week I work hard to write interesting, entertaining
and informative dog training and behavior tips.

This week I want to ask a favor.

This is a very easy favor. Really, it will only take about
ten seconds.

There is an animal shelter in Zambia called the Kitwe Animal
Welfare Society.

Take just a few seconds and check them out on Facebook and
join their group. The people at Kitwe are working hard to
help sick and abused animals.

They are looking for ideas and they would like to hear from
you.

Go ahead and join their group today. Here is their Facebook
page:

Kitwe Animal Welfare Society Facebook Group

Thank you!

Eric

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