What to do when your dog is actually a monster.

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Ahsoka in the middle of dog park shenanigans. Collar attachment is a gps/fitness tracker, not a shock collar.

If you look up the word “monster” in the dictionary, you’ll see a photo of my two dogs, Ahsoka and Ezra. They’ll appear sweet and well-behaved in said photo but monsters are good at hiding their true colors. Ok, fine, I made that up because I’m dramatic and haven’t slept through the night in a long time. Living with young monsters dogs will do that to a person.

Ezra barking at me during a photoshoot. He is wearing a gps/fitness tracker, not a shock collar.

It may feel like we live with monsters when we share our home with dogs. They put everything in their mouths, chew through cords and shoes, urinate and defecate on our pile of clothes that we leave on the bathroom floor, and zoom around the house during their monster hour(s), catapulting themselves off furniture and sliding across the floor. So how do we survive? What can we do to make our dogs a little less like…monsters? 


Block Access

Using things like baby gates and exercise pens can help to prevent undesirable behaviors from occurring. In our house we have baby gates up to block our dogs from going into spaces that aren’t puppy-proofed. Our garbage can is kept in a cupboard with a cupboard lock to prevent garbage parties. We have cord hiders up to prevent cords from being accessed. My many houseplants are kept out of reach so that they don’t become victims of our house monsters. Our windows have window frost on them to prevent watchdog barking.

Keep it Tidy

I used to be a messy person but having young dogs has changed that. I often remind myself that anything I leave in reach of the dogs is fair game to them. They don’t understand right from wrong and they are quite opportunistic. So now shoes get put away, Laundry is out of reach, cardboard gets taken out immediately or kept on the counter and I refrain from blaming the dogs for getting into things that I left out. Think of it as a team effort. If you don’t leave your shoes in reach, your dog won’t chew them up.  

Enrichment

When our dogs are behaving like monsters, it likely means they are bored. We don’t use boring bowls to feed the dogs at our house. Food is delivered via mentally enriching activities, like scavenging, puzzle toys and training sessions. If they still have energy we have an impromptu play date with doggie friends or go for a hike. Dogs often need more enrichment than we provide. Either we can fill their enrichment needs or they will do it themselves, probably in a way that we don’t prefer them to.

Scan and Reinforce

It is easy to be upset with our dogs for chewing our shoes or tugging on our clothes but I would guess that most dogs are behaving in a desirable way more than not. If we put more of our focus on reinforcing the behaviors we want to see more of, our dogs will continue to perform those behaviors. So next time they approach you silently, toss them a cookie or scratch that sweet spot on their neck before they bark or jump up on you.

Ahsoka sitting on the rug instead of trying to eat our food off the counter. This took time to train and we managed by restricting her access to the kitchen until she was able to resist the temptation.

Train

While you will likely need to start out of context, training your dogs to perform alternative behaviors can relieve stress. For example, if your dog attempts to steal food off your plate you can teach them to stay on a bed during meals. Start out by teaching a “stay” without the distraction of your meal. Then you can add in distractions like empty plates and bowls, eventually building up their stay behavior when you are eating a meal. This won’t be an instant fix as it takes time and effort to train behaviors. In the meantime, utilize some of the other ideas for more immediate relief.


Legal Outlets

Our instinct as humans is to eliminate behaviors we don’t like but that can be more harmful than it is helpful. It may seem backwards to allow dogs to dig or rip things up but it can be life changing for both you and your dog. Here are some legal outlets for commonly undesired, yet normal, behaviors.

Ahsoka playing rough with her bff, Arrow, instead of body slamming me.

  • Allow your dog to dig in a designated digging area. This could be a sandbox, small section of the yard, etc. 

  • Play tug with very specific tug toys and teach tug rules to prevent more of your clothing from being ripped to pieces. 

  • Let your dog rip apart their toys or tear up the junk mail so they don’t target your pillows and shoes.

  • Use a flirt pole to satisfy your dog’s desire to chase things that move. 

Have Fun

Our dogs are going to act like monsters sometimes. Instead of fighting it, I embrace their naughtiness by jokingly mocking them, taking video of their antics, calling them names with my happy voice and sometimes joining in on the fun. 

We love our dogs and we want them to be happy members of our family. I hope these tips help you find some peace while living with your own monster of a dog.

My Academy Family

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On May 22, 2014, I received an email that changed my life. It was an acceptance letter from Jean Donaldson to study in The Academy for Dog Trainers. At the time, I didn’t realize how impactful that moment would be. I was 23 years old, working three jobs, volunteering full-time, performing in a band and in my prime socially. While I was certain that I wanted to pursue a career in dog training, school wasn’t at the top of my priority list. That changed rather quickly once I started my studies. 

It is broadly known that The Academy for Dog Trainers is one of the highest quality programs for someone studying dog behavior. That’s not what I will be focusing on today. While I had a feeling I was going to be getting a top-notch education, I never expected to find myself in such a supportive environment with people who I now love dearly. As a freshman, I was intimidated by students and staff members. My own insecurities kept telling me that I wasn’t as good as others and that I’ll never be as good as them. I worried about failing and making a fool of myself but Jean and her staff were most supportive and uplifting. They were skilled at providing constructive feedback in a way that didn’t tear me down or belittle me. Not only did that give me the courage and confidence to keep going, it helped me to learn how to interact with clients of mine. I constantly reflect on the compassion and inclusiveness of The Academy for Dog Trainers. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of spending time and interacting with Jean Donaldson in different settings. Whether it was through my studies, out to dinner with other Academy students and grads, going to the dog beach, or reaching out to her for support when I was in unpleasant circumstances, I’ll always cherish the memories I have with her and will never forget the ways in which she has supported me both professionally and personally. She truly changed my life. Because of Jean, I am in a profession that I love and I’m able to help people and their dogs. I’ve also been able to apply what I learned to settings unrelated to dogs.

Even more impactful than my personal relationship with Jean is the community that she has created for students and grads. When I head over to one of the many private Facebook groups, I see posts from students who are reaching out for help, grads looking for collaboration on a case, staff highlighting how amazing a student’s assignment was or announcing a new graduate and people bringing attention to someone who deserves a gold star. I also see people working together to make everyone’s jobs a little bit easier, even if they’re feeling overwhelmed themselves. When the coronavirus hit and dog trainers had to move services online, Academy grads came together to create a list of videos to use for demonstrations as we found our own dogs were becoming too skilled at the behaviors we were attempting to teach. I saw people sharing posts on their own business pages to promote someone’s online class, even if it would impact their own class enrollment. These people are some of the most generous and kind people I’ve ever met. There’s rarely an argument because the students and grads are so good at carrying on productive conversations and are skilled at reinforcing and empathizing. I’ve never felt so grateful to be a part of something and I’ve never experienced a group of people with so much grace and compassion. While nothing can be perfect when it comes to large groups of people, it sure comes close to what I define as perfection. 

While most of what I’m referring to is found in private groups not accessible by the general public, the compassion does not end there. When my dog passed away about 7 months ago, I received countless private messages, cards and gifts from people who wanted to show their support. It made the grieving process a little less painful, which I never thought was possible. I’ve posted fundraisers for things that are important to me, like dog training scholarships for foster dogs and farm animal sanctuaries, to which my colleagues have generously shared and donated to. But they’re not just supportive when it comes to dogs.

I’m a proud supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and have been forever changed by the killing of George Floyd. While I’ve always supported the movement, this time feels different. I realized that my previous silence was unhelpful and causing more harm than good. I am aware that there are things I don’t know and will never understand because of my privilege. I could go on about my personal feelings on the topic but I’d like to highlight some amazing things I’ve seen. My colleagues and alma mater have been inspiring me from all over. The Academy for Dog Trainers recently posted a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. They donated to the cause and are offering a scholarship to a person of color. Knowing the people who run the program, this was not a political move but a supportive gesture. An attempt to raise awareness and make changes to the current culture. The dog training industry is overwhelmingly white and I applaud their recognition and response. I’ve seen other colleagues who are donating proceeds to Black Lives Matter and calling for membership organizations to show their support. They’re putting their money where their mouths are and are standing up for what they believe in- all this in a time when they’re experiencing a decline in sales and income. The never-ending compassion and generosity will forever leave me speechless.

It is easy to get buried by all the things that weigh us down, and there’s a lot of heavy stuff in the world right now. It can be helpful to take a momentary pause to reflect on what lifts you up. The Academy for Dog Trainers is what lifts me up. I’m proud to be an Academy grad and I’m forever grateful for the impact the culture has had on me. I’m a better person because of it and I continue to be inspired by thoughtful, brilliant and compassionate people on a daily basis. My hope is that everyone can be fortunate enough to find a group of people who lift them up. I hope that the group challenges one another to be the best they can be and can set aside personal grudges and biases to be productive and kind. I hope that you can feel as supported and comfortable as I do with my Academy family.

That Pit Bull Has a Name

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There’s something really special about dogs classified as “Pit Bulls”. Maybe it’s their blocky heads or classic smiles that won my heart over. It may have something to do with the lovable, handsome Pit Bull I adopted many years ago. No matter the reason, there’s not a Pit Bull out there that I don’t love. I’ve always been aware of the discrimination against these beautiful dogs but it becomes more and more apparent as I continue to work with people and their dogs.

As a Professional Dog Trainer, I offer a variety of services to help people enjoy the dog they love. This includes group training classes for dogs of all ages. One of the classes I offer is a Puppy Kindergarten class, for puppies between ages 8-18 weeks old. I remember one group of puppies that was made up of a variety of breeds, including an American Staffordshire Terrier. This puppy was a happy guy and so excited to be around other dogs and people, as every puppy should be (proper socialization is quite important!). Another class attendee decided to stop coming to class. They were uncomfortable with their puppy around this dog simply because of his breed. I know this because they offered me that information. These clients came to more than half of the classes and knew this puppy’s name, but consistently referred to him as “the Pit Bull”. They called every other dog by their name, except this one. To this day my heart breaks, not only for the discrimination the dog received as an innocent little guy but for all of the people out there who view Pit Bull-type dogs as dangerous and scary. So what can we do to change how Pit Bulls are viewed? I have some ideas and I encourage you to brainstorm, as well.

For starters, promoting socialization during a puppy’s sensitive period is of utmost importance. This period begins at 3 weeks of age and ends somewhere around 16 weeks of age (the end of this period may vary depending on the breed of dog). Socializing a puppy means they’re exposed to as many stimuli as possible, including locations, sounds, people, animals, etc., during the sensitive period. In addition to exposure, pairing the stimulus with something the dog loves is crucial in helping puppies build positive associations. For example, when a dog meets a new person they get boiled chicken and a belly rub (if they consent to being touched). To learn more about how to properly socialize a dog and why it is so important, read this blog by Dr. Zazie Todd.

Another way we can promote Pit Bulls in a positive light is by training them with humane methods. Learning is not breed-specific. The research shows us that the same learning theory applies to all species, let alone dog breeds. This means that a Pit Bull-type dog can be trained in the same way as a Border Collie or a Golden Retriever. I love this piece, written by Kelly Duggan for Your Pit Bull and You, about why learning does not differ from breed to breed. Teaching behaviors using positive reinforcement is not only effective, it makes for happier dogs. We don’t need to exploit fear and pain in the name of training and doing so comes with the risk of a dog developing fearful and aggressive behaviors.

Finally, we can promote the things we love about these dogs and we can call them by their name. Unless someone asks, my dog is “Valentino” and not “my Pit Bull, named Valentino”. As far as I know, I’m not referred to as “a white girl, named Allison” and my other dog is not “a terrier-type dog, named Auggie”. That Pit Bull has a name, let’s use it.

Here are some amazing Pit Bull-type dogs and the names they can be called. To view the next photo in the slideshow, click anywhere on the right side of the current photo.

Do All Dogs Learn Differently?

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All animals learn the same way. And by extension, all dogs learn the same way. There, I’ve said it.

Sure, some dogs learn more quickly than others but the only “customizing” a dog trainer should be doing is figuring out what behaviors the dog’s owners want. From a dog’s perspective, the learning is all the same.

The question we must ask is this: is the dog behaving in a certain because he is upset or is the dog simply lacking some manners? The answer to this question will guide us in the right direction. If a dog is upset about the mailman leaving scary items in the mailbox, we must change his association of the mailman. If a dog doesn’t know how to sit instead of jump when greeting someone, we must manipulate consequences to teach him this behavior.

Dogs learn one of two ways: by association and by the immediate consequences of their behavior.

Remember Pavlov? He taught dogs to associate food with the sound of a bell. He accomplished this by ringing a bell before feeding the dogs over and over, until the dogs salivated when they heard the bell ring. This happened because the dogs started to associate the bell ringing with food, and look forward to the sound. This is the same as when your doorbell rings­—your dog knows that doorbells equal visitors and that is either really exciting or very stressful for your dog. When we are trying to change your dog’s emotional response to a situation, we change his associations.

We can also train by changing the consequences of a dog’s behavior. When I teach dogs, I use food reinforcements. Why? Because all dogs are food motivated (they need to eat, after all). So, when teaching a dog to stay on a mat while I prepare dinner, I reinforce the behavior I am looking for at the current place of my training plan. If I continuously reinforce a desired behavior, the dog will continue to perform that behavior. If the dog doesn’t follow through with his end of the bargain, I am going to withhold the reinforcement. He will remember the lack of chicken, which will get him thinking about what he can do to change the outcome. It really is as simple as that.

By the way, this is why prong, shock and choke collars work so well. The dog gets punished (tightening of the collar or shocking sensation, which does hurt or cause discomfort no matter what anyone tells you) for pulling on his leash. The dog learns that pulling results in pain and discomfort, so he walks slower. ***I am in no way promoting the use of these collars, just illustrating how animals learn***

Flash back to my first sentence here: All animals learn the same way. When I say “all animals” what I’m really saying is that learning is not breed-specific OR species-specific. Take a look at the videos at the end of this blog for proof. These people are training cats, stingrays, cheetahs and orangutans the same exact way as I train dogs. If learning is the same across species – heck, across mammals, birds and fish - then why do some dog trainers claim that all dogs learn differently? Is it because they were once taught this? Do they really mean they weren’t successful with the methods I am referring to? I don’t know. All I know is that you should run fast and far away from someone who makes this claim.

When looking for a dog trainer, ask how they train- they should be able to tell you exactly what will happen if the dog gets it right and what will happen when the dog gets it wrong. If the trainer cannot give you a straight answer or if the answer is really complicated, it is time to move on to someone else. The fate of your dog is oftentimes in the hand of your trainer so I recommend choosing one who truly understands the science behind animal learning.

Let Dogs be Dogs!

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I can’t help but wonder why we set expectations so high for our dogs. They’re not allowed bark, bite, growl, jump, chew on certain objects – the list goes on. The focus of many people has been to eliminate these undesired behaviors. I have two problems with this.

First off, we are talking about dogs here. Dogs chew on things. They jump on us when we arrive home because they want to greet us. It’s what they do. If we don’t like the behaviors that come with a dog, then why do we love dogs so much? Sure, some behaviors need to be modified for the safety of other dogs and people but I can’t imagine demanding my dogs go their whole lives without barking once.

Dogs like to be comfortable, too.

Dogs like to be comfortable, too.

Secondly, this approach is so negative! It really bums me out when I focus on all the things I don’t want my own dogs to be doing. I don’t know about you but I get excited when I think about new behaviors to teach my dogs- even simple manners and impulse control. Changing our viewpoints can positively impact our own state of mind when it comes to training our dogs. Don’t want your dog barking at the mailman? Teach him to lay on his mat in the mudroom when the mailman comes. Is your yard torn up from a dog who loves to dig? Build him a sandbox to dig in. It really isn’t fair to constantly say “no” if we haven’t taught our dogs what the correct behavior is.

Auggie, here, is demonstrating his impulse control while I lay pieces of roast beef on the floor.

Auggie, here, is demonstrating his impulse control while I lay pieces of roast beef on the floor.

My dogs are not what's considered to be “perfect.” They bark at people who walk by our house, jump with excitement when we come home, argue with each other - but they’re dogs. I don’t have kids or many house guests so it doesn’t bother me when they jump. There are several dogs in our neighborhood so barking is commonly heard whether from my house or another house. Sure, my boys know some great behaviors but as long as they are happy and healthy, I don’t expect them to be angels. Now, things may be different if they were eating household objects or aggressive to people- but they’re not. Does this mean dogs don’t need training? Far from it. But instead of saying “no,” teach them what you would like them to do instead.

No matter the age, every dog can benefit from learning some great life skills. Not only will it allow them to be a dog but it will give us some relief from those behaviors we don’t want them to be doing. We all want our dogs to behave in a certain way so my challenge to you is to list the behaviors you would like to eliminate and come up with alternative behaviors you can teach them. Then, begin training! You and your dog may even have some fun learning these new behaviors. 

Dogs will be dogs. 

Dogs will be dogs.