K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) Dog Blog

Check out a great new website!

2013-05-24T22:54:00.001-05:00

I am employed by Petocracy as a Resident Pet Expert and to be honest it has been a blast!!! Please take a look and sign up and friend me, we can talk dog :-)

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How Many Breeds of Dogs Are There in the World? | Psychology Today

2013-05-24T09:39:00.001-05:00

Interesting article and great blog to follow!!!! Love this guy.

How Many Breeds of Dogs Are There in the World? | Psychology Today

Books By KISS Dog Training....

2013-05-24T08:58:00.002-05:00

OK so the new book is out and well I wanted you all to get a chance to check it out! I have also included a link to our other book as well... I really loved writing them and hope you all enjoy reading them... Please share the links with all of your doggy friends and remember next to training people and their dogs my next favorite thing is talking to groups about dog and dog training!!! If you know of anyone looking for this kind of speaker introductions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Tag Archives: largest dog breed

2013-05-23T15:56:00.001-05:00

All the breeds I love so..... and several who have shared their worlds with me! Love them big dogs....

Tag Archives: largest dog breed

Fourth grade class starts petition to get Chicago puppy mills banned - Lansing Pets | Examiner.com

2013-05-16T15:43:00.001-05:00

Now there is a class activity I can support....Way to go kids!!!!!

Fourth grade class starts petition to get Chicago puppy mills banned - Lansing Pets | Examiner.com

Doggie Day Care and Relearning to Speak Dog

2013-05-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

This article is about why using a doggy day care can be useful, not whether it is better or worse than a dog park… I know there are some out there love dog parks and take their dogs regularly, but let’s face it, dog parks are only great for certain dogs! Not to mention they are only great when the owner actually pays attention to their dogs and as we have all probably seen, many owners are the problems in dog parks! That all being said this article concerns my thoughts on doggy day cares and why they can become a big part of your dog’s education… So off my soapbox and on to the article J

When I was in college I took Spanish each semester, in fact I even tried a conversational class my senior year. Let’s just say that by that time I had a pretty good grasp on the language… However as life continued and I got a job, got married, had kids and so on, my skills in Spanish began to fade away! The fact is I did not use those skills and over time forgot them… What does my lack of remembering how to conjugate a past present form of an “AR” verb in Spanish have to do with dogs? Well honestly a lot.

In many ways dogs are the same; way we bring them into our home and their socialization stops we don’t take them out into the wonderful world of distraction and allow them to meet new and unfamiliar dogs and slowly they forget how to speak dog! They forget what a play bow means or what it means when another dog yawns or licks its lips (stress signal). Dogs have a very distinctive way to let other dogs know they are uncomfortable and unless they stay in practice they will forget how to relate to other dogs…

This is where a good doggy daycare comes in!

You need to find a place that will

1. Allow you to tour the facility

2. Has ample staff for the playgroups

3. Limits both size, temperament and number of dogs per play group

4. Has an educated staff (or even better a trainer on staff)

What you don’t want is

1. A room full of dogs (more than 10) allowed to just mingle

2. Groups of dogs that are allowed to interact without temperament/energy level evaluations

3. A place which expects one person to observe huge groups of dogs by themselves

4. A place where the daycare area is a small piece of concrete where to many dogs are expected to interact in tight proximity

If you don’t do your due diligence in picking out the doggy daycare you alone could be making your dog worse, but if you choose wisely after a short period of time you are going to have a more tired (in most cases better behaved, tired dog is a good dog) and a dog that speaks his native language quite well and enjoys time spent with his own kind…

(Another aspect of a great doggy daycare is one that will tell you, your dog is not cutout for daycare without thought of their bottom line)

A final word on wearing out your dog… I had a really nice client recently who was an elementary school teacher enlighten me on Gym and Recess in schools…

What she said really stuck with me, “Gym and recess are not there specifically for the kids, in fact they are also there to burn off energy and make the kids more focused” With that being said ask yourself what you are doing to keep your dog more focused?

Mike

The New Book is Done!!!!!

2013-05-15T08:56:00.004-05:00

The Book is finally done... I can finally take a breath (at least for a minute, already have the outline for the next one done) but today is gonna be a very happy day!!!!!

I need volunteers for reading the new book and giving me a reviews on Amazon, iTunes and Barnes and Noble??????

Baby on the way??? What do you do Next???

2013-05-10T07:05:00.000-05:00

Does your dog listen to your voice commands? If you haven't taught your dog this, now is the time. Obedience training is critical to having your dog stay well-behaved around your new baby. At a minimum he needs to know "sit", "stay", "off" (or "down"), touch, lie down and "leave it" - these are all going to come in handy as you juggle both the baby and the dog. If you will be walking your dog as your push your baby's stroller, we also suggest you learn Loose Leash walking and walking at heel. This is going to be useful.

Does your dog play bite or get mouthy? If so, make it stop. Your dog must learn to be careful with his mouth!

This might sound mean, but it's necessary: start reducing the amount of attention you give your dog every day. This does not mean to ignore him or stop loving him, but you are going to be very busy with your new little one, and the dog is not going to be able to get as much attention as he is used to. So by starting ahead of time you can get it better prepared.

Start introducing your dog to other babies. Do this safely, and pull out all the stops when it comes to rewarding good dog behavior around babies, infants, and toddlers. Give him his favorite treats and love. Let your dog know that these little human beings, while looking different, are not something to fear.

Have you ever watched a child interact with a new object? They Chew Lick, Smack, Mouth, Poke, Prod and even fall on it. One day your little one is going to do that to your dog. Start getting your dog used to having it poked, prodded, nudged, and "messed with. This is what we call cradle and message; get the dog used to being touched in all those areas dogs commonly don’t like being touched…

Some dogs can get snarky around the food bowl. This is where resource controls (hand feeding the food and moving to bowl feeding) comes in... We can even get into the habit of surprising the dog with treats being dropped in the bowl as he is eating which will make him happy to have folks around while he is eating! Get Fido used to being around him while eating in all forms now is the time to teach not when the baby comes home…

Get the dog used to being in the nursery and get him a blanket or bed that is located in that room. Now teach the dog a park it command! That way they are used to the room and used to being in their space and good with the command stay!

Smells are important to dogs. They are how dogs identify other animals and people. So before your baby comes home, bring home a blanket from the hospital that has the baby's scent all over it. Get him used to it and only reward calm behavior…

Keep the dog's routine as normal as possible. Remember dogs with rules and routines will think of how to make the owner happy vs. thinking like a dog!

Do not mix dog toys and baby toys, or let the dog play with the baby's things. Again this starts now not when you bring the baby home…

Go get a cabbage patch doll or other doll that is the correct size and look of a real baby! Start carrying it around. Your dog will notice the difference immediately, you will walk different, stand different, and move different when carrying a baby. You will also have way less use of your hands (remember you are now holding a baby) the use of a doll will give the dog a chance to get used to these changes.

Next start putting the doll on the ground on a blanket and teach the dog to be calm and used to having the doll on the ground… Use the baby carrier, Johnny jumper, slings and all other contraptions that will hold the baby with the doll now don’t wait till the baby comes home! If you see behaviors that make you feel uncomfortable we want to know now not when the baby comes home. Now is the time to call trainers, practice and make sure everything is good!

Smells are critical also make sure to use baby lotion, baby oil, diaper cream and powders now around the dog! Pair all of these smell with feeding time or treats so that the dog becomes accustomed them now not when the baby comes home…

Lastly sounds get a cd of baby noises and start the desensitization process now! Once again pair with food or treats and spend time each day getting the dog used to these sounds. I have even been known to wrap a doll in a receiving blanket with a portable cd player in the blanket so I am carrying a crying baby… Remember you are only going to get one chance to prep for the little ones arrival take it seriously and work now not later…

Lastly if you see anything that makes you uncomfortable please call a trainer now don’t wait till the baby comes home. I have seen this go horribly wrong for baby and dog… Just get help if you need it!

Below are links to two places where you can get these cd’s

http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=dtb865

http://www.babysoundsforpets.com/

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

2013-05-09T07:09:00.000-05:00

Well that all depends on what kind of dog is trying to change the light bulb... But we did interview many different dogs and these were just some of the responses...

Afghan: Light bulb? What light bulb?

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Dachshund: I can't reach the stupid lamp!

Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the border collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Rottweiler: Make Me!

Shi-tzu: Puh-leeze, dahling. I have servants for that sort of thing.

Lab: Oh, me, me!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh?

Malemute: Let the border collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.

Springer Spaniel: Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I'm just as cuddly in the dark.

Collie: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.

Problem Behaviors and Punishment

2013-05-08T08:13:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder whether you should employ punishments with your dog, in training? Well that depends on your definition of punishment and just what you plan on doing... Want my opinion here is a video of me during a seminar on just that topic, enjoy!!!!

Click here to see the video.....

Top 5 Things To Consider When Potty Training A Dog

2013-05-07T22:52:00.003-05:00

1. Don’t get a dog if you don’t have time to potty train the dog…

This is especially important to consider when you are thinking of buying a dog as a gift especially around the holidays! Dogs are a serious investment of time and responsibility… After all, we have enough dogs in shelters right now. We don’t want to add another once you decide potty training is too much work!

2. Use a crate….

No one ever thought using a play-pen on your kids was cruel… If you cannot actively watch them or pay attention to them they belong in their crate. Dogs do not and will not (unless they physically cannot hold it) poop or pee where they sleep. Crate training is the first and most important step in potty training your new furry four legged friend!

3. Don’t rub a dog’s nose in an accident….

Most current research suggests that dogs have a similar intelligence level as that of a pre verbal toddler… In other words a two to three year old. So if you think it is Ok to rub a dogs nose in their accident, ask yourself if you would pull a dirty diaper off a three year old and rub the diaper in the child’s face saying “See what you did, you bad child”???

4. Use Potty/Poochie Bells….

These are simply bells that you hang on your back door to train Fido to ring when he needs to go outside and “relieve” himself! One of the most common mistakes in potty training is to miss or simply ignore Fido’s signals that he has to go outside. All dogs give signals, period! Unfortunately some dogs don’t send us very clear signals, so why not teach him to ring an obnoxious bell to let you know (while you are watching American Idol and not paying attention) that he has to go to the bathroom???

5. Don’t give your dog freedom in the house until he earns it….

Another common mistake is giving Fido too much freedom too soon! After a week or so we decide to let Fido roam the house with all the freedom of a 2-3 year old dog because we are tired of training and managing Fido’s potty training habits. Human learning theory says we have to do something 21 times before we can consider ourselves having a new habit. Why on earth would we think after 10-12 days Fido is done with his “potty training”? I tell people that it will take at least 30 days of Fido going in the right spot without a mistake before correct potty training can be considered done… While you might think 30 days sounds like a long time the average dog lives about 10-11 years, so ask yourself which sounds better 30 days of training on the front end or 10 years of potty training mistakes on back end…

One Big Kitty....

2013-05-01T18:29:00.001-05:00

Now this is a dog lovers cat....

http://www.pawnation.com/2013/05/01/guinness-world-records-certifies-nevada-feline-as-longest-domest/?ncid=edlinkuspaw00000005

2013-04-25T07:35:00.001-05:00

Dog Training does not take place till we can make all these pictures and sayings live in the same space... It is not about teaching or training dogs, rather its about learning to live with them...

When your dog is more interested in what you want than what he wants your training is done....

Mike Deathe, Owner Kiss Dog Training

Brand New MRU T Shirt... Too Cute!

2013-04-24T14:42:00.001-05:00

Our sister company Muttz "R" Us.com just released their newest shirt.... (not even on the website yet) But wanted to share with you all, cause it just too damn cute! $15.00 each M L XL and $2 additional for XXL!!!

If you just love it let us know and we will get it to you.... And please share this with all your friends and family!!!

Looking for Grain Free Treats....

2013-04-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

Many of you have asked about the treats that we use in our class... Well here they are they come in a variety of flavors and are 100% Grain Free! We have them at the kennel and you can order them at the link below as well!!!

Great Opportunity for Dog Owners and Trainers!!!!

2013-04-23T11:16:00.002-05:00

Great Opportunity for Dog Owners and Trainers!!!!

Did your dog eat the couch? Is he jumping on everyone who comes through the door? If you're wondering why your dog is doing all those bad things, then this live & free session will help you.

Resident Expert & Certified Dog Trainer Fernando Camacho will explain simple tips that you can do to help your dog learn to better live in your world. He'll discuss common behavior problems & work on your dog’s individual issues. You’ll learn why your dog is doing all those bad things and get advice on how to help correct the behaviors.

If you have a question, all you have to do is type it to Fern and he'll do his best to answer it live during the session. You can also just sit there and listen in. Are you excited? We are!

Be sure to share the invitation with your friends & register as soon as you can, space is limited. (By registering for the live session, you will be registered for Petocracy). Hope to "see" you there!

Click Here to Register For The Event

2013-04-23T09:46:00.002-05:00

Cool new interactive feeding toy by Kong check it out.... It is made out of hard plastic so I would think a carpeted room would be best! I could see my lab breaking it on hard floors like tile or hard wood but it looks really cool!!!!!

The Problem with People and Dog Training Classes....

2013-04-23T07:54:00.000-05:00

OK let’s look at dog training a little differently… As many of you know I have two sons… A nine year old and 13 year old, and I am gonna use them as a way to describe a huge problem concerning the perception of dog training. The boys are respectively in the 4^th and 7^th grade and while their Mom and I are constantly on them about grades and homework we realize that neither of them is gonna be taken off for college for several years… So why get all bent out of shape over a C or D here and there or a late homework assignment? Well simple we are working hard to create habits that our boys will take on into not only college but life as well. Not to mention we as parents understand that this is a marathon and not a race… We have 12 years to prep a child for college and for life after the school system, right? (Some might even argue it takes a lot longer than that)

Ok so what does all of this have to do with dog training? Simple I am trying to show the difference between 12 years of education and a six to eight week dog training class… Not to mention the difference in patience levels that we seem to have in dealing with kids and dogs. In my group classes I am quite the stickler that folks invest 30 days for both hand feeding techniques and field trips to meet new people. Beyond those two things I pretty much let the dogs and owners work and learn at their own pace, but I constantly hear “ I don’t have time to hand feed” or “there is no way I can make time to go to Petsmart to practice how to greet strangers”… Heck, I know many of you won’t believe this but there are a ton of folks who pay good money for the class only to show up for a couple of weeks and never show up again???? The reason… People have a really skewed idea of just how long it will take to train a dog…

If your dog lives on average 10-12 years and humans live on average 78 years, that means that people will spend over 15% of their life in school (not including college) If we use the approximate same ratio a dog should spend somewhere between 1.5 and 2 years in “school” to get the same education…. But for some crazy reason people expect the miracle of a 6 – 8 week dog training course to solve all their problems…

Look this article is not meant to beat anyone up, instead to help you understand just exactly what you have gotten yourself into with the purchase or adoption of your furry four legged friend! Let’s face it, it won’t be you that suffers when you decide to give up and admit it was just too much work… So be realistic, put in the time and train your dog the right way with patience and time! The love and friendship you get back will be well worth it…..

NO NO Bucket

2013-04-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

OK many of you have taken my classes and loved learning the command “Leave it” but in class we use treats to teach the command… Many have asked, what about if the dog is great at leaving treats alone but still wanting to grab, destroy or play keep away with items like socks, tissues, underwear, shoes or TV remote controls? Well an idea came to me last week… Why not practice with those items and create a No, No Bucket! What you ask is a No, No Bucket? Well it is a practice bucket with items Fido likes to chew up, like old shoes, socks with holes in them or broken glasses or remote controls…

I have always made it clear that if you don’t practice something with a dog, well don’t be shocked if it doesn’t work… So once you have learned the command “Leave it” Using treats why not use your newly created No, No Bucket as a way to practice your leave it commands with the items your pooch likes to steal or grab? Let’s face it, dogs do not easily translate or generalize skills from one situation to another so while learning “Leave it” with treats is a great way to practice and start the learning process adding real life items to practice with will not only create a stronger “Leave it” command but will help teach Fido what is and what is not appropriate have…

If you are interested in what the “Leave it” command is and how it works then check out my previous article on “Leave it vs. Wait”, but a couple of quick comments on dogs and how to deal with stealing…

· Dogs love the game of chase and many times will grab stuff only to see if you will chase them to get it back! It is there way of saying “tag, your it, now come and get me” Don’t fall for it…

· If your dog does grab something, then don’t fall into that “you have to give me that cause I say so” technique that you have seen on TV…

· Teach your dog a reliable drop or item exchange command… For example if Fido has a sock trade him for a chew toy or some other appropriate toy. Now you both have what you want and all is the good in the world!

The idea is simple, create your “No, No Bucket” and you should already have a “Yes, Yes Bucket” (another word for the dogs toy bucket) Now all you need to do is start teaching your dog the difference between right and wrong… You don’t need that, but you may have this… With a little practice the next thing you know you will have a dog that is only taking what is his, not yours!

Music to calm you dog....

2013-04-11T09:52:00.002-05:00

OK many of you have heard the music I play in class that helps calm the dog's and well some of you obviously have not cause you are not local or have not needed help (which is great) but many of you have asked just what the slow tempo classical music is??? Well here it is and yep I think it works! Its called "Through a Dogs Ear" and it is designed to help with anxiety, barking and just simple calming. Many of my clients even claim it works on their kids and spouses :-) Here is the link Check it our...

SPRING IS HERE AND SO ARE THE PROBLEM BEHAVIORS....

2013-04-11T07:40:00.000-05:00

OK so the Easter bunny is gone and the dog you have affectionately begun refer to as the Hell Hound has arrived. Not to be melodramatic but spring time seems to bring out the worst in some dogs… For example,

· Pulling on the leash

· Running for the hills every time they get loose

· Jumping all over everyone including you

· Not paying one ounce of attention

· The onset of humidity (brining full frontal the smell of all those accidents you never noticed from over the winter)

Don’t despair, there is hope but it ain’t gonna be fast and it ain’t gonna be easy but if you can be persistent and consistent in a matter of weeks you can begin to bring things back into the realm of sanity…

I basically cover 5 topics with my clients whenever I begin training a new client and they help create (if you are consistent) a dog that actually pays attention, has impulse control, understands house rules and is actually mentally and physically worn out. In other words a good dog!

These basic ideas are,

· Hand Feeding Techniques

· Sit Say Please Protocols

· Installing Non Negotiable Rules

· Dealing with Problem Behaviors Utilizing The “15 Minute Ignore”

· Using a Hydraulic Model to Explain Energy Levels and Problem Behavior in Dogs

Now for the good news, while this “little” list seems quite daunting… These are ideas and techniques I can teach anyone in usually just one session! Don’t misunderstand me it will take you around a month of practice to see the fruits of your labor but you will only be paying me to teach you once. I then leave it up to you to teach your dog… Remember here at Kiss Dog Training we Keep it Simple Stupid, by training the people and not their dogs…

I can’t wait to teach you how to speak dog!

Mike

Expectations

2013-04-09T08:04:00.003-05:00

OK kids, today's word is expectations... When ever dealing with dogs, kids, bosses or even your "better" half you need to keep in mind what is it you really expect and then ask you self is it based in reality or just what you want? There are times in all of our lives that what we expect is really not well lets say completely thought through... I hope this pic not only makes you smile but think a little....

Puppy Pie :-)

2013-04-05T06:58:00.001-05:00

Neat little recipe I found a while ago... Wish I new who to give credit to, wish I had written it but I didn't :-(

How to Make a Puppy Pie

Take one puppy, roll and play until lightly pampered, then add the following ingredients:

· 1 cup patience

· 1 cup understanding

· 1 pinch correction

· 1 cup hard work

· 2 cups praise

· 1 1/2 cups fun

Blend well.

Heat with warmth of your heart until raised or until puppy has doubled in size.

Mix with owner until consistency is such that owner and puppy are one.

What Pet Products Would You Like Us To Review....

2013-04-03T07:43:00.000-05:00

Are there any products you would like info, opinions or reviews done on?

When too much love becomes bad

2013-04-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

OK so I see this all the time a person who end up with 8-10 dogs and then the problems begin... They bring these animals into their home out of love but then end up having interpersonal relationship problems (fights) or the dogs begin to tear up their house (destruction or potty issues) They in essence begin to loose control, and in reality the dogs end up in situations that are worse that the ones they were in, in the first place.

We all want to help save all the dogs but we need to be realistic about what we can handle... There is a simple rule that I try to impress on all my clients, it goes something like this:

One dog is a lot of work
Two dogs is three times as much work
Three dogs is nine times as much work
And Four dogs is thirty six times as much work....

Don't get me wrong I too want to help as many dogs as I can (trust me I own four dogs) but lets face it folks I am a professional dog trainer and it is at times it is almost more than I can handle... So how is or a single mom or dad gonna handle 6, 8 or god forbid 10 dogs? The answer is simple you can't, not well anyways...

So instead of bringing in every stray or hard case you come across into your home, why not just start volunteering with a shelter or rescue organization? Help find homes vs. bringing the dogs into your home? Think hard about what is best for the animal... This simple question is the difference between hoarding and helping!

I challenge everyone reading this article to not only to think about and share this information but look at what you can accomplish with your dogs. Focus on not what you might want but what it is that is best for dog or cat! After all we owe them not only our love but also our care! Very few if any people can truly care for 10 dogs or cats... All I ask is that we stop and ask our self a simple question...might we and the pets be better served by volunteering rather than by brining another pet into our life!

Sorry it has been so long.... and to be the buzz kill, but its my job :-(

Mike