Getting a Jump on Dog Greeting Behavior

With the holidays approaching yours truly will be given more opportunities to greet lots of humans. Since mom and I recently received a question through our Dear Inquisitive Canine dog behavior advice column, I thought I'd tackle the blog post while my ventura dog trainer mom handles the column. (We make a good team that way!)

Being a dog, I know that jumping up to greet is normal amongst our canine culture - that's just how it is and just how we are. Similar to you humans grabbing each others paws, putting arms around each other, or kissing, us dogs also have an inherent greeting style - and it includes jumping up!

Whether it's family like my nana Mae, long time friends that come over, or new friends that I meet at our inquisitive canine dog training studio in Ventura, I have learned that sitting or having all of my paws on the floor will get me lots of loving attention! (Sometimes a yummy treat too).

I'm still unsure why many of you haven't figured that one out yet, after all, your species has been known to be pretty clever with observing and deciphering information. It seems that there are some myths out there, including we're trying to be "dominant" or "aggressive" or take over the world! HA! That's a good one. Nope. Sorry, but what we're really trying to do is say hello in the loving way we know how.

You can make life simple for yourself and your dog too - while still getting to say hello! How can we all make a polite greeting compromise? Simple:

• Determine what it is you want from us: Sitting? Four (paws) on the floor?
• Tell us what you want in a way we understand: Reward us with petting, praise, treats, play. Yelling, pushing us down or kneeing us in the chest is either mean or time for play. Plus, if we are still jumping up then duh, it's not working! Change your behavior!
• Reward us for those behaviors: We'll do more of what you want if we're rewarded for it!
• Ignore us completely if we're jumping up: Yikes! Ignoring us when we want attention is quite punishing! Which means we'll do less of what we're punished for.

Mom wrote another post on dogs jumping up to greet - you can read that here on her Ventura dog trainer blog.

Hmm, I wonder how many people I'm going to get to meet today? Something for this inquisitive canine to ponder?

Dog Training Steps For First Dog: SOCIALIZATION!

Congratulations to Bo Obama! From what my mom the dog trainer said, he found his way into the First Family via Senator Edward Kennedy - got him from a family that was having trouble caring for him... that's questionable, but I won't comment - mom did that for me.

Okay, remember what happened with Barney Bush and nipping the (lack of common sense) reporter? Boy, Barney was called all sorts of names: dominant-aggressive, evil, annoyed - just to name a few, from many folks. The reported said Barney "wasn't in the mood to be pet." Well I've never met Barney, but from what I saw on the Barney Youtube video, it seems like he was behaving more like a dog, and the reporter was behaving more like a human - and unfortunately, the greeting skills of each species just didn't mix well. Oh, and yes, maybe he just wasn't in the mood to be touched by a stranger!

As for me, Poncho the dog, I don't appreciate someone I don't know just coming up to me, reaching over me, and touching my head! You humans don't like people just coming up to you and touching you, do you? Or strangers approaching your human kids and touching them? Even if you know the person, sometimes it isn't appropriate or acceptable - why the heck do you think us dogs enjoy it?

Remember, you all have your own weird way of greeting. That hugging and shaking hands stuff is kinda strange to us. We dogs never said we liked being hovered over and touched on top of the head. That is your silly interpretation. Sure, we get used to it, especially if you follow it up with something wonderful, like a treat, or that goofy baby-talk, or a belly rub - but it takes awhile for us to get to know you and make these associations. Please don't assume just because we're dogs that we like everything and everyone - you don't, do you?

Okay, so what's my point in all of this? Let's hope that the Obama's take the time to socialize Bo to all of the people that they'll want him to like, all the places they'll want him to enjoy going to. They need to help Bo create those pleasant associations with all of those things. Maybe a field-trip or two to different places - the girls schools with all of those kids. Mr. Obama's office? Or to a press conference to get used to those pesky reporters...

Mom teaches her students about the importance of socializing their dogs...she says "Anything you want your dog to like or do as an adult, it's best to get them used to it when they're young." She says not to force them to like something, but to "pair" the person or place or situation with something that the dog loves, then they'll begin to love that person, place, or situation, because they associate one thing with something good. The following is a partial list of what mom recommends for good socialization:

• People: different ages, races, sizes, shapes.
• Places: cars, outside to potty in the rain, vet's office (just a drop-in to say hi), outdoor cafe, walk the perimeter of a shopping mall - cars, people, sounds and smells.
• Sounds: loud noises, cars, trucks, buses, sirens, thunder and lightening, fireworks, wind. 

Hopefully the First Family will take the right steps in taking Bo to a dog training class, or working with a private dog trainer, to help them properly socialize him - especially to being handled by reporters. 

Us dogs are a pretty good judge of character. I wonder if Barney was actually dialed in on this reporter and his true personality? Hmm, something for this intuitive, and inquisitive canine to ponder. 

Counter Surfing: a great sport for dogs

I've received lots of questions from owners of inquisitive canines about "stealing" stuff off of counters and table tops... Hello? We're dogs! These are some of our normal traits, and what makes us dogs in the first place...If you wanted a pet that didn't do this, you should have considered getting a turtle or a fish... But, I'm glad to hear you adopted a dog...and I'm more than happy to provide some help. 

I've posted the full answer to my friend Baraboo's question on the advice column my mom and I write for Noozhawk, but I thought I'd provide a little info here too... You know, as my web marketing therapist girlfriend Lorrie says: "tell them once, tell them again, then tell them again"... so, here's a few tips on dealing with us inquisitive canines and the sport of counter-surfing: 

• What dogs are: our doggy DNA says for us to scavenge, hunt, sniff, explore ... That’s what we were born to do! Please remember this. The saying is "Release the hounds!" not "release the humans"!
• Management: “Lead us not into temptation.” If you don’t want us to get to something, then put it away! After all, if it’s within reach, and appears interesting, we’re going to investigate! Us canines have been known to be impulsive and lack self-control. Please refrain from leaving things out, especially if you’re not going to keep an eye on us. And if you do, kindly have the integrity to take responsibility for it! (Maybe mom will blog about her latest visit to the Sees candy shop in Santa Barbara).
• Play the exchange game, not the chase game: if we have something "illegal", exchange it for something better - this way we'll be happy to give it up, and not develop that other doggy hard-wired behavior of guarding our stuff! You don't really like that one either... And for goodness sake, does chasing us really help matters? Or just turn it into a different game? A game most inquisitive canines love. 
• Provide Legal Outlets: make sure they're items we like, not ones you think we should like. (Have you ever wanted to return a gift someone gave you?) As a bonus, reward us for making the right choice, this way, we’ll want to do that more often.
• Teach us a special behavior: "Drop” comes in handy. You say “drop”, your dog lets go of the item, and you give them a treat ... pretty simple. It's just the reverse action of picking things up with our mouth...instead of retrieving we're dropping something. 

I used to counter-surf too...but mom and dad quickly figured out how to solve their problem. Bummer for me...I guess I trained them to pay attention. I wonder if the surf will ever be up for me again? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

It's a brand new year!!!

Wow, where does the time go??? I guess it doesn't really matter since I don't really have to be anywhere at any specific time...All I know is it's New Year's Day 2009! A brand new year!

This smart dog decided to start 2009 off the right way and slept in while mom and dad headed to Santa Barbara for some race...Yep, I changed my behavior...did something different. Instead of getting up with them, and practically begging to head out the door with them, I decided to stay home all tucked in nice and comfy burrowed deep in the bed - talk about "positively rewarding"... what fools they are! It was freezing outside! Mom said it was 35 degree's! Yikes! No thanks! "Have fun" I said... wake me with snacks when you get home...which they didn't do...bummer... instead we hit the road for another fun-filled day! 

Yep, all safe and sound strapped into my car-seat, with my kitty toy and bully stick. But this time we headed south! Mom and dad were wearing the type of clothing they use for when they go running... Hmm, I wonder what was up? Well, talk about something different, this time we went for a hike! That's right, this lucky dog got to go back to his "roots"! I could just feel my doggy dna oozing with delight! Back into the wild, smelling all of those wonderful aromas only found in nature: dirt, earth, foliage of every kind, excrement everywhere, leftover aromas of dead animals (they had been snacks for other animals no doubt)...ahhh, heaven on earth for this canine! 

Can you believe it? This was probably the first time mom and dad have ever taken me on a real trail for a real hike! You could tell mom was kinda nervous...she decided it would be best to keep me on leash :-( I know I know...but she wanted me to be safe. She knows I have a pretty intense predatory drive (my nemesis and favorite prey animals are E.J. Harrison, FedEx, UPS, and mail trucks), so mom didn't want to take a chance that I'd go after something, even if it was something small like a mountain lion... Trust me, although mom can run, and she's in pretty good shape, compared to me she's not that fast... 

Although I was on leash I still had a great time... Turns out we were 

meeting lots of our friends... a few of them brought along their dogs too...so it was a great time to be had. Mom tried to hold the leash but I was bolting up the trails...she couldn't believe I could scale the rocks so quickly, with such great ease and elegance. Hello???? I'm a freakin' dog! That's what dogs were meant to do... plus, I'm vertically challenged (short) and have "four paw drive"....makes hiking really easy. Anyway, because dad was clipping along at a nice pace, she handed me off to him... it was great!!! Geez, and she calls herself a runner...

Anyway, once we got to the top of the mountain we all took a little water break... Mom and dad brought some pieces of cucumber for me (I'm not a big drinker unlike the Labra"dorks" that were with us), and wanted to make sure I was hydrated, so I ate some cucumber - great snacks and quenched my thirst. Then we headed back down the mountain and home...They couldn't believe I was out there for almost two hours! Yep, me, the dog who doesn't like to take many walks in the neighborhood was going full force the entire time on the trails. Well, it was different, much better surroundings - plus I saw friends I hadn't seen in awhile... maybe I could go with moms ultra-runner friends...they could probably keep up with me. 

I was pretty tired once we got home... I had to have another stupid bath :-( I was smelling so good too! I rolled in some stuff that I thoroughly enjoyed, but mom didn't agree. Anyway, once bath time was over I just hung out on my mat in the kitchen until dinner was ready... I was hungry, but I was pretty tired too - nothing like a good round of exercise to help me relax...I didn't even care about barking at anyone walking by - so you know I was tired... My mom the dog trainer always says "A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happier owner." Check out the photo...mom kept giggling at me - couldn't keep my eyes open, barely kept my head up! But never too tired to skip a meal!

What a great way to begin the new year! I hope that 2009 brings you and your families lots of yummy snacks, enjoyable walks, fun stuff to roll in, and lots of positive reinforcement throughout the entire year! 

I wonder when we're going hiking again? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder... 

Happy Birthday to MOM!

Wow, what another fun day it was today! Not only is it dia de los muertos, but it's Mom's birthday today too! She decided to take time off from her studio and teaching today, so she could spend it with me and dad just celebrating all day. Fine with me! We get her all to ourselves - which means "road trips for Poncho!" 

First mom decided to go run and exercise with her friend Hilary. (It was way too early for me to go...I'd rather sleep in)... Then, after she got all cleaned up, mom, dad, and I loaded into

the car and heading north! The first stop was at one of our favorite coffee joints for beverages and snacks... You can see me here trying to figure out how to drink out of that long green thingy...that's going to be a challenge for me... 

Anyway, after we rewarded ourselves with yummy treats (just like dog training classes isn't it?) we hit the road again...this time we walked around some lovely areas - I was the only one who was sniffing around, but mom and dad were enjoying themselves too - I could tell by their body language - relaxed, smiles on their faces, laughing...

Then mom and dad stopped at one fabulous place just for me: the beach!!! Wahoo! I thought it was moms birthday, but this was a great present for little ol' me! As you can see, I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Once again mom used "real life" rewards to reinforce the behaviors she likes... I walked nicely on leash, and to reward me she let me go and roll in everything I wanted to roll in! Mom was even giving me the "thumbs up" for rolling as well as I was... She giggles a lot when I'm gettin' the stink on. Interesting how me getting my stink on is rewarding, or shall I say positively reinforcing for mom!

Dad played the same sort of game. We'd practice me running to him when he called, and in turn he'd throw the ball for me! How much fun is that?! 

After we wrapped up our time at the beach, we headed back home... Unfortunately, post-beach time means only one thing: yep, bath-time! But hey, it's always worth it... not only do I get to roll in stinky stuff, but mom and dad make bathing fun - lots of treats during the bath, followed by throwing the ball around while I have the zoomies! I'd say that's lots of positive reinforcement! 

Now I'm all clean, and according to mom, smelling fresh, I wonder what else we're doing to celebrate? I wonder, is she is going to wear a birthday hat just like she makes me? Hmm, something for this inquisitive canine to ponder...