ASK THE DOG TRAINER, with Mike Shamp, Painfully Playful Water Dogs, Part II

by Mike Shamp
Master Dog Behavior Therapist and Trainer

(c) Carrie Boyko
Stay, Tanner. Good Boy, Tanner.

Responding to an All Things Dog Blog reader, Carol, our trainer, Mike Shamp started Carol with some tips for preparing her Lab to accept watching her family swim without her in Part I of this topic, Painfully Playful Water Dogs. If you missed Mike's first installment, you may wish to return to read it at Part I. Now we'll move on with Mike's continuing assistance for Carol and India:


Another critical skill is India’s ability to come to you no matter what distraction is present. The goal is to be able to get her attention from a distance and call her back to you. A basic Come When Called command is a crucial skill. As in any training situation, you must have control of the exercise and demonstrate to India that you are in charge. She needs to respond to you every time you issue a command. Begin by calling India from a short distance of just 4 to 5 feet away. Assume a crouched, playful position to get her attention. Use a happy, playful voice to call her, praising her as soon as she turns her head to look at you, and each step along the way. If you use a firm voice, shout the command or lose your patience, she will avoid going to an “angry boss.”  The come when called command is a happy command and must be executed no matter what she has done or has in her mouth. Gradually increase the distance until she responds and comes from at least 30 feet.

Be a Happy, Cheerful boss to encourage her to come. Positive reinforcement and reward in the form of praise using light-hearted, happy voice tones is the most effective way to keep India focused on you and be willing to please you. Training Dogs the Aussie Way  by Danny and Sylvia Wilson is a great resource for teaching these skills, and lists other games you can teach India.

Combine the come when called command with the sit/stay exercise to develop self control. This can be a fun, playful exercise for everyone. Use a ball or toy to begin playing. After two or three tosses and returns begin giving a sit/stay command, toss the ball or toy but keep India at your side until you release her to fetch the toy. Alternate fetch and stay commands to make the exercise unpredictable and fun.

Stop the exercise before India becomes tired. You must retain control and end the game on your terms, not because India has lost interest. The advanced stages of this game include allowing India to chase the toy and calling her back before she reaches the toy. Good distance control will allow you to call her out of the pool despite the good time she is having with the children.

By the time summer rolls around India will be more focused on you and be more willing to respond to your commands. Begin the swimming season with slow quiet activity in the pool. If India becomes excited or jumps on the children call her out of the pool to sit and watch the children from your side. Release her to go back in the pool and monitor her behavior. Each time she gets excited repeat the exercise. Gradually increase the intensity of the play in the pool until she accepts all levels of play without the explosive energy and enthusiasm she has shown this past summer.


Mike

(c) courtesy M.S.

Our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Column can be reached at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com

For more information on Mike Shamp and his training, you may find him at Bark Busters of Central Florida. You can also visit Bark Busters' Training Tips Page for help.

A personal appointment with a trainer will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

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ASK THE DOG TRAINER, with Mike Shamp: Painfully Playful Water Dogs, Part I

by Mike Shamp
Master Dog Behavior Therapist and Trainer

© Carrie Boyko

Retrievers are Eager to 
Swim with their Pack

Dear Mike:  

Summer is over and my children have a few new scars. Our Lab loves to swim with my kids and their friends. She gets too excited in the pool with other children who are being active. I do not want her to hurt a child. 

She mostly uses her front paws to try to put them on the kids shoulders or at least that is what it looks like. I really do not understand but I need some advice on how to teach her to swim nicely when the kids are in the pool. Can you help me with some ideas that I can work on between now and next summer when there will be friends here again alot? 

I can get in the pool with India and work with her but I don't know what to do. 

Thanks, Carol and India

---------------------------------------------------------

G’day Carol,

India sounds like a very enthusiastic Lab. In her passion to either play with or protect your children, it sounds like she is unable to exercise self control. This is not an unusual behavior for dogs, especially breeds bred to swim or protect. Labs and Golden Retrievers have boundless energy and enthusiasm that is amplified by children, play and their favorite activities like taking walks or in India’s case, swimming with her pack.

Since it may be some time before your children go back in the water you have plenty of time to help India learn self restraint and be a gentler playmate for your children and their friends. There are several causes of excited behavior in and around pools. The first step in finding a solution is to identify the reason that India plays roughly.

Some dogs have a fear of water and attempt to keep their pack mates safe by barking, whining or herding family members away from the water. Certain herding breeds may nip at ankles to deter children and adults from going into the water. Some dogs stand at the side of the pool and bark until the people come out of the water. Of course this is a successful maneuver because the people do eventually come out. Unfortunately, the dog believes coming out of the water is a result of his efforts to call the people out by barking. The behavior is reinforced each time someone gets out of the pool.

Other dogs enjoy the water and become over stimulated to the point that playful behavior becomes painful for the humans that are in the water. Depending on the age of your children and the type of play taking place, India may become more and more excited. Laughter and screaming may result in a highly energized and excited state for India. Rough play may indicate that your children are in danger and India may jump on them to get their attention and stop the “dangerous” situation in the water.

The solution to India’s behavior in the pool depends on her reasons for jumping on the children. Begin by practicing exercises that help you get India to focus on you when she becomes excited. Basic obedience exercises such as sit/stay; come when called and walking at heel are a good starting point. To begin, practice these skills in a quiet environment that has few distractions. As India learns these skills, gradually add distractions. For example, once you can execute a sit/stay position for a minute or more in a quiet environment you can ask one of your children to run past India with a toy or a ball. A successful completion of this exercise ends with India in the stay position. India has learned that she needs to focus on you and that you are in charge. Once she understands that you are the leader, you can increase the distraction level until she is able to sit peacefully at the poolside while the children play in the pool.


Join me next week when I will offer you more tips on how to help India become a safe swimming companion, with a bit of practice and diligence on your part. Good luck!

Mike

(c) courtesy M.S.

Our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Column can be reached at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com

For more information on Mike Shamp and his training, you may find him at Bark Busters of Central Florida. you can also visit Bark Busters' Training Tips Page for help.

A personal appointment with a trainer will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

Visit Adopt a Dog Park

Help protect our precious dog parks

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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Dogs and Swimming: Even Non-Swimmers Need to Know How to Get Out

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Toni Boyko

Time for Swim Practice, Oliver

Oliver is not a natural lover of the water like his housemates. Tanner and Xena have always enjoyed water, probably a part of their Retriever heritage. Even so, Oliver had to learn how to swim, and more importantly, how to get out of the pool safely.

In our pool, there is only one shallow step. It's a long, lap pool, so if the little guy were to fall in on the opposite end, he'd have a long swim. But he has proven that he can do it time and again.

(c) Toni Boyko

First, A Relaxing 'Boat' Ride

Next comes a little solo performance, just to show him he's capable. Good boy, Oliver. You're a trooper:

(c) Toni Boyko

No "Hang Ten" for Oliver

Okay, Oliver. Time to swim to the step. Which way is it? Do you remember?

(c) Toni Boyko

Good Boy, Oliver

You Did It!

The shallow step is just to the left. He's headed in the right direction. Practice makes perfect. 

We'll keep at it. When you live with two Retrievers, it's imperative that you know what to do if you ever fall, or get bumped, into the pool. We all hope that your dogs are drown-proofed too. If you need help, check in at Swimming Isn't Just for Lab Lovers for a step by step procedure. You might also get a little motivation from the 1 minute video over at 5 Minutes for Fido.

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Fido Fun: More Exercise Options for Your Dog

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Christy Moser, all rights reserved

Kota is a Rescue, 

Turned Disc Dog

Does your dog love to run, jump, and catch things that fly? Maybe he's got a 'disc dog' trying to get out. My friend Chris Engel, a national disc dog competitor, has written a series of guest posts for All Things Dog Blog, to help get you started:


Frisbee Dog 101: Part I in a Series of V
Frisbee Dog 101: Dog Selection for Frisbee Dog Enthusiasts
Frisbee Dog 101: Getting Your Dog Ready to be a Disc Dog
Frisbee Dog 101: Frisbee Training Begins
Frisbee Dog 101: Frisbee Choices for Your Dog

(c) Carrie Boyko

Tanner Enjoys Catching

his Ring the Most

Okay, so you're not a Frisbee thrower. I can empathize. Tanner says my tosses are not up to speed either, but we try. Another way we make sure that Tanner gets plenty of exercise is by giving him a backpack to carry.

(c) Alan Boyko

Tanner Walks Like a Gentleman

With his Backpack on

Carrying a backpack is not just about weight, although I do put a few pounds of beans, rice or water bottles inside. What's really cool about this exercise mode is that Tanner has to concentrate harder on his 'job.' The backpack will swing and sway if he doesn't walk smoothly, or if he swings his hips by walking too fast. The result of walking with a backpack is a dog that walks smoothly and straight ahead beside me, just the way I like.

(c) Carrie Boyko

Tanner Loves Swimming

Almost as Much as Playing Fetch

On a hot summer day (or even a cold day, as far as Tanner is concerned), there is nothing better than a good swim. You're missing the boat if you dog doesn't know how to swim. Every dog can learn to swim, and should, even just for safety's sake. Here's some tips to make it go smoothly. Even a kiddie pool is an enjoyable, cooling game for a pup outdoors in the heat.


Afterwards, Tanner is a tired and relaxed boy that is ready for a nap. Swimming provides him with lots of problem-solving activities. I make games up as we go, like how to get a toy off the steps below him, or retrieving a toy from the ledge while he's in the water. He also tries hard to use his front and back legs to hoist himself up the side of the pool.


Swimming is definitely in second place to his all-time favorite activity--playing Fetch! Nothing can compare to this activity, and I suppose that is because he is a Retriever. That's what he was bred for, and he is true to his heritage.

(c) Carrie Boyko

Great Fetching Form

If you'd like some help teaching your dog to play Fetch, here's a post with some training instructions: Teaching Your Dog to Fetch.


Keeping your dog busy with a variety of activities will help to assure he doesn't eat your couch or your neighbor's purse, or even your shoes. A tired dog is a napping dog. Now, go get your pup busy doing something that will use his mind and his body to wear him out. You'll be glad you did.


Before you sign off, you might enjoy Xena's point of view. Coming from a senior dog who can't always run, jump and swim all day, she makes a good point in her post at 5 Minutes for Fido.


Finally, be sure to join me Monday night after 6 p.m. when our new ASK THE VET column, with Dr. Pat, debuts; don't miss it! 

© Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved

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