BEHAVIORAL ISSUES

Shelters and rescues are inundated every single day with requests to help dogs and it is difficult enough for us to help dogs without behavioral issues, let alone dogs with them.

Any animal that poses a significant and real threat to the life or safety of any human or animal is a liability.

Typically people do not address a behavioral issue at the very onset of it. What needs to happen with any undesirable behavior is the moment that you see it you address it immediately with a professional trainer or by doing copious amounts of research and doing the work.

People tend to be complacent about behavioral issues and allow them to build over time and wait until they are so frustrated and exacerbated that they are wanting someone else to take on the problem that was created and allowed in their home.

Something people must come to understand is that there is no miracle "sanctuary for a dog to run and live out their life" There is COST if a rescue/shelter commits to taking just ONE aggressive/behavioral/reactive dog who potentially can never be safely placed in an adoptive home that one behavioral dog literally comes at the cost of the lives of countless dogs who do not have behavioral issues who can be safely placed in homes and desperately need help.

If your dog has the potential to injure, hurt, or kill an animal or human YOU have 3 choices:

Intensive behavioral modification training with a trusted trainer. The only local behavior modification trainer that we recommend is MethodK9.
Read all of the information below about how to truly train and work with your dog. Put in the daily work and effort and learn how to effectively manage your dog, and take all proper precautions necessary to keep everyone safe.
Compassionate euthanasia to ensure everyone’s safety.

Below, we have taken the time to include more information and multiple resources if you are having behavioral difficulties and how to address and manage a dog with behavioral problems because many times people say they have “tried everything” when, in fact, they have only tried what they are comfortable with.

The most practical option we can offer is educating people on the proper precautions to take to manage a dog to keep everyone safe and options for training (free and paid) that are available.

Most humans associate freedom with love and that can be extremely problematic.

Making people aware and holding themselves accountable for their part in the current state of their dog is paramount. This isn’t solely the dog's fault.

The best way to teach a dog is with consistent and clear training, structure, boundaries, and supervision.

Risk Management is necessary by preemptively thinking in every situation what the worst case scenario is and then taking every necessary precaution to avoid it.

PRECAUTIONS FOR DOGS WITH A BITE HISTORY &/OR FOOD AGGRESSION

️Any dog who has a known bite history or aggression should ALWAYS be wearing a basket muzzle AT ALL TIMES when they are out of the crate. When they go in the crate the muzzle is off. When they come out it immediately goes on the dog.

️ All dogs in the home should ALWAYS be crated individually when you are not able to directly supervise them.

️ All dog(s) in the them home should ALWAYS be fed individually in their crate(s) with the door shut and locked.

Any dog who has shown to not be able to make good choices or doesn’t have the training or skill set to be able to know what good choices are should be muzzled AND be tethered to an adult or put securely in a crate with the door closed.

MUZZLE INFORMATION

Here are videos on muzzle conditioning:

Part 1: https://m.facebook.com/methodk9/videos/2445471269034980/

Part 2: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3lejS5KNppU

Here is one we use and recommend:

Baskerville Ultra Basket Dog Muzzle which you can purchase locally at The Urban Canine. You can also purchase it at most pet stores.

You order it on Chewy.com:

https://app.chewy.com/tGepPBTFVxb

Make sure you measure your dog and we recommend getting one up from what you think will fit the dog.

___________________________

Questions we ask people with dogs who are exhibiting issues

___________________________

What steps are you CONSISTENTLY (meaning 100% of the time) taking to set the dog(s) up for success to ensure/prevent the behavior/Incidents do not happen?

How much obedience and impulse control training are you doing consistently on a daily basis?

Is the dog getting DAILY outside of the yard STRUCTURED on leash engaged in activity? This is a JOB for them where they are fully engaged with you, they are not pulling on the leash, they are not sniffing the ground, you are WORKING ON OBEDIENCE, interacting with them, and wearing them out physically and mentally.

Here is more about structured walks:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcImNuauKo0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

More about structure in general & giving the dog a job: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdQz8w-uhuj/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

___________________________

TRAINING COLLARS

___________________________

Please watch this video by MethodK9 which talks about training collars: https://youtu.be/Fg7sHePLbWU

How to properly size a training collar:

https://youtu.be/PbXmoU7zNgc

We only use the BEST prong collar which is a “HERM SPRENGER” and we purchase the SMALL 2.25mm prong collar (small collar) it is the one we use for the vast majority of our dogs regardless of the dogs size. If your dog is a med-large dog order two collars **it’s less expensive than buying supplemental prongs to get it to fit.

Do NOT buy any other brand or on Amazon.

You can buy it locally at The Urban Canine North and Mountain Paw in Post Falls OR order from these distributors:

https://www.original-herm-sprenger-dog-collars.com/prong-collars-c-51/training-profy-stainless-steel-pinch-collar-with-swivel-225-mm-x-16-inches-p-532.html

http://leerburg.com/hermsprenger_chrome_prongcollars.htm

___________________________

TRAINING & WORKING FOR MEALS USING A TREAT POUCH

___________________________

The dog should be WORKING for ALL their meals. Meaning you put their meals in a treat pouch and they are rewarded with their food during this time for training.

Here is a short video about working for meals: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmH1KGntamg/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

This is the treat pouch I use and love, I buy the large size:

https://www.google.com/search?q=petsafe%20treat%20pouch%20sport%20stores&tbm=

You can find it on Chewy.com, Amazon, and local pet food stores.

___________________________

CRATE INFORMATION

___________________________

Here is a great post about separation anxiety from MethodK9 on the subject: https://m.facebook.com/methodk9/posts/386646955340322

Here are basics on crating: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTpPrFJOO7/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=

How to crate train:

https://youtu.be/mn5HTiryZN8

https://youtu.be/30W9bRNt8qU

https://youtu.be/oHJZ3rS1_3U

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChVfDPYFEZ5/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Crate tips:

When the dog is in the crate the door is closed and secured.

If the dog is not in the crate you can leave it open and they can go in it as they wish.

If the dog is not working for their meals by hand from you, the dog should be fed their meals in the crate with the door closed.

Do not leave water or food in the crate. Remove food when they are done with meals give them 15/20 minutes to eat and then remove the bowl, don’t just let it sit in there.

No toys that are going to create excitement that means no stuffy toys, no balls, etc.

Only things to chew on like a bone, antler, water buffalo horn, bully stick, marrow bone, etc.

Crates for dogs are the equivalent to our bedroom so it is a place of being quiet and calm.

Also make sure to crate the dog intermittently when you are home as well so that you don’t unintentionally create crate anxiety. By only crating them when you leave and at night the dog can associate only going in the crate when you’re leaving.

This is the standard wire crate we use: Frisco Heavy Duty Fold & Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate:

https://app.chewy.com/huK20dTTtwb

Here are Heavy Duty alternatives to wire crates:

LEMBERI 48/38 inch Heavy Duty Indestructible Dog Crate, Escape Proof Dog cage Kennel with Lockable Wheels,high Anxiety Double Door Dog Crate,Extra Large Crate Indoor for Large Dog with Removable Tray https://a.co/d/cyipPfj

KELIXU Heavy Duty Dog Crate Large Dog cage Dog Kennels and Crates for Large Dogs Indoor Outdoor with Double Doors, Locks and Lockable Wheels（38 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PFTJSF7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_5Rnhhb6ycWjk4

Impact Dog Crates:

https://www.impactdogcrates.com

___________________________

TRAINING RESOURCES

___________________________

Below are recommended books to read, videos to watch, and trainers to follow and learn from:

**Method K9 has awesome Online Training courses on their website for purchase:

Basic foundations:

https://methodk9.thinkific.com/courses/basic-foundation-1

The leash reactivity course:

https://methodk9.thinkific.com/courses/leash-reactivity-101

___________________________

DOG BEHAVIOR BOOKS

___________________________

The Good Dog Way, The Good Dog Way Vol. 2, & Closing The Gap by Sean O’Shea : https://www.thegooddogway.com/product-category/books/

Inside of a Dog: https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Dog-What-Dogs-Smell/dp/1416583432

___________________________

LOCAL TRAINERS WE TRUST

___________________________

There is ONLY 1 experienced behavioral rehabilitation trainer who we know, trust, use and recommend because they understand dog behavior, aggression, reactivity & specialize in balanced training methodology:

MethodK9

Stephanie Vichinsky

Website: www.methodk9.com

We also recommend and trust:

Nine Realms Canine Training

Karin Wageman

Website: www.ninerealmsk9.com

Stay FAR AWAY from:

Nick Lungu and his companies K9 Country Club & I-Guard

Brittnee Katterfield, Kassandra “Kass” Mayfield, TJ Lenhartzen & Tobias “Toby” Fossati who operate under Accurate K9 Training and 365 K9 Detection.

Monique Smith who operates under Smith Pak & Pawsitive Canine Academy

All of those places &/or individuals have complaints/reports/open investigations for dogs being abused, injured, starved, and even dying.