Affordable Dog Walking, Accredited Dog trainer, Vancouver, BC.

"Turn Up the Volume

Before you begin to look at your dog's problems and before you decide on your dog's goals and your goals, it would be good be sure you understand your dog.

At Custom Canine we understand that dogs have been systematically altered for thousands of years to be dependant on humans and on our good will. They cannot leave us and find a new life. Yet dogs do not share our language or our world-view. They are trapped in our world and trapped by how we chose to view them and define them. They are totally different, yet totally under our control. You can do whatever you want to your dog. Your dog can only hope that you will hear him asking for guidance and that you will help him.

At Custom Canine we believe you have a responsibility to provide this guidance and help. This will assure your dog a life that is both healthy and fulfilling. Your job is to teach your dog his job so that he has a useful, valuable place with the family.

You need to learn enough about dogs in order to do this. As a steward of your dog you have a responsibility to understand your dog and his world so that you can develop a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship.

Listen, as we "Turn up the Volume'.

The Dog/Human Relationship

The two main root causes of behavior problems (excluding medical problems) are: the human is not communicating with the dog and the dog does not know how to communicate with the human.

Imagine if you can, being a dog. Your world is profoundly different than the human one. You do not understand human language. Could you, as this dog, make any sense of humans?

A dog tries to 'talk' with humans in the only language he knows - dog - the language of physical actions and physical space. Your dog is trying to understand you and to learn his role. If you don't 'hear' him you will not answer him with appropriate actions. How will he be able to get accurate information?

Yet your dog sees your actions and interactions as your 'answers' to his questions. The dog interprets the owner's 'answers' through his dog world-view. That is all he can do. Your dog is bound to reach some wrong conclusions and to make some wrong decisions. Couldn't you see that happening if you were in his paws?

If a dog's understanding and decisions clash with their owner's needs or the needs of the public in general then there will be a problems. If the owner does not understand that the dog does not understand 'human' there will be problems.

We at Custom Canine don't see problems. We see a dog' struggle to make sense of his world, doing the best he can to cope and survive.

Our task at Custom Canine is to help you understand enough about your dog to end your frustration and the conflict that inevitably arises from frustration. Since your dog shares an equal lack of understanding and frustration, Custom Canine will also teach you how to give your dog the tools he needs. With the tools we provide, your dog will be able to learn from you what his role is in your family and in his human world.

If we can teach you to 'hear' your dog and if we can get you to 'listen' to what you 'hear'; we can help you to build a strong and healthy relationship with your dog. Your dog will be delighted with your newfound interest in his world. You will be delighted with a wonderful friend.

At Custom Canine we "Turn Up the Volume' for both of you.

Developing a Balanced Relationship

By 'hearing' your dog you will be able to develop a balanced relationship. By understanding what your dog is saying, needing and wanting you will be able to problem solve and help your dog become stress free, happy and reliable. By 'hearing' your dog you will learn the best way to achieve your own personal goals for the relationship. Everyone wins.

These are the main steps:

1. Understanding your dog's breed, personality, learning style and questioning style. 2. Learning what is important to your dog - trust and safety. 3. Learning your dog's language - 'hearing', 'listening' and 'speaking' to your dog. 4. Learning that your dog is doing things for his own needs and reasons. Learning to understand his behavior and to build better behavior from his perspective. 5. Learning not to react to inappropriate or unwanted behavior. Instead learn to organize your dog's environment so that you can prevent or ignore this behavior. 6. Understanding the need to help your dog be safe by preventing unwanted behavior while building your dog's abilities. 7. Accepting that some things that are causing no harm are better left ignored while you focus on building skills. 8. Responding to your dog's good behavior, making it the most significant event in his life. 9. Helping him learn what you need from him - teaching. 10. Learning how to teach - describing and analyzing the problem; the steps to ignore, prevent and praise and lastly building a teaching programme that will help your dog learn step by step how to gain appropriate and needed skills for his relationship with you and with the public in general."

Like the famous Cesar Millan says over and over again: "Dogs need to be fulfilled. And the fulfillment is based on exercise, discipline and affection."

Notice how exercise comes first. That is because it is the most important element of a dog's happiness and well being.

A big back yard is not a substitute for exercise.

A walk around the block is not exercise.

Because we took dogs out of nature and placed them into our homes, we need to be fare and make sure that we meet there needs and requierments.

All dogs require exercise to lead balanced, healthy lives

Just because a dog is small doesn’t mean he needs less exercise and although breed can give an indication of the dog’s energy level, the final judgment must be made on the individual dog’s needs. The average minimum is an uninterupted hour and a half hike per day. Plus a few pee breaks throughout the rest of the day.

Remember that dogs are animals, and animals need to travel and discover the world. So take you dog back to the wild or hire a dog walker to do it for you.

Your dog will be thankfull in every way !

Walk your dog, do not let your dog walk you!

HOW - Be sure to have your dog start the walk in a calm state of mind, from the moment your put his collar or leash on and for the first 15 minutes of your daily walk. Your dog should walk by your side or slightly behind you and ideally sit when you come to a complete stop. You are the one who decides on the speed and the direction.

WHY -  This will help your dog calm down mentally and focus better, by instinctively following your lead. It will allow for a more enjoyable walk for both you and your dog. Your dog will then receive the proper type of exercise.

The walk is all about trust and respect.

For a dog to be mentally stable, you as an owner must take your dog for daily walks to release mental and physical energy. A lack of exercise, allows the build up of mental energy, hyper activity, neurotic, and/or obsessive compulsive behaviors, which are signs of a dog who is not mentally stable. An unstable dog is not a happy dog. Excitement in a dog is NOT a sign of happiness.

I have compiled some advice that I have learned by reading Paul Owen, a nationally recognized dog trainer.

Owen promotes kindness, respect and compassion to shape a dog's behavior

A good diet

Plenty of socialization

 Lots and lots of exercise

Make your dog work for her food (such as: sit and wait for a few seconds)

Facilitate a good night's sleep
 

Enhance boundaries and discipline

Take care of her health

Give affection when your dog is calm

Remember that dogs are not robots