• Hi In 2017, I acquired my current dog Cole. He was then a 9yr old Affenpinscher and Maltese cross. He was living with Ellyn prior, and Ellyn hired me to train him. She called him Colby then.  But tough little Cole, needed a more “manly” name in my opinion! 

Ellyn wanted help resolving Coles excessive barking, and threatening lunges at passers-by, while she walked him on leash. He lunged at both strangers, and strangers with leashed dogs. 

We had come to lesson #3, of her pre-purchased lessons at her home. It became apparent that doing at-home weekly lessons, with owners assigned homework between lessons, wasn’t conducive in Ellyn’s schedule. Boarding training wasn’t something Ellyn wanted either. At lesson #3, euthanizing Cole was brought up in conversation, as the solution they leaned towards. 

I was rather dismayed, as training was not even partially utilized first, let alone completed. My unwritten job description, is always geared towards keeping dogs IN their homes. I’d also recently euthanized the 3rd of 3 dogs, I’d owned prior. The last of the (3), was my beloved Annabelle, a Chow-Chow and Yellow Lab cross. She was old, and had health issues that became more complicated, for the last 6mo of her life. It was a hard ending. 

It’s my M.O. to be like a soldier at war, and throwing much of my wellness “arsenal” at my pets health issues. I’m used to winning those battles. So for me, coming to the decision to euthanize is always painstaking, with a drawn out internal struggle. However, I’m adamant,  that no healthy dogs be euthanized…ever. 

Before even considering so, I heard the words as they came out of my mouth, “ I’ll take the dog…” As someone that once had 38 of my own animals at one time (don’t worry, I lived on my  29acre farm at the time…) I’m cautious regarding acquiring new ones. After Annabelle’s euthanasia, I was only down to one beautiful long haired cat, Tony. So, having too many critters, for now suburban life, wasn’t an issue. 

Cole came home with me from lesson #3, complete with his bag of belongings and vet records. I was actually interested in obtaining a second cat at that time, as a companion for Tony, vs getting another dog. My last two dogs, Annabelle and Maxwell, of the set of (3), had both suffered some, and had difficulty for 1yr each, prior to euthanasia. They were also euthanized a year apart. My house is always filled with clients dogs, so getting started with another dog of my own, wasn’t where I was at. 

But here’s Cole, now entering my home, on an usual day of no clients dogs awaiting. Tony and I had just enjoyed some one-on-one kitty-time for 1 day. Unbeknownst to Tony (and myself) that would be the last dog-free day in the home! 

Tony had been raised, first with the menagerie of 38, and then after moving to suburbia, with strange dogs constantly in his home. Some of these dogs were staying for Boarding Training, to resolve aggression. These aggressions, included aggressiveness towards cats. Tony though, has always been my kitty ambassador, and could forgive aggressive dogs, as training shifted them day-by-day. What an ally! 

Now remember, Cole was re-homed with me, due to “aggressive tendencies.” And because my home was typically full of dogs of challenging sorts, I was of the mindset, to get Tony another FELINE brother… and NOT a small aggressive dog! Poor Tony …

But aside from the helpfulness Tony offered with aggressive training dogs, he would befriend those dogs, that were innately social. So, minute 1 of brining Cole into my home, I went immediately to my master bedroom, with thoughts of facilitating some ground rules, upon an introduction between Tony and Cole. 

To my delight and surprise, Cole comfortably laid down in the middle of the queen-sized bed. Tony came promptly out of his “closet-palace,” and joined us on the bed… “Here we go,” I thought. But Tony sniffed Coles little back foot, and promptly lay beside Cole, extending his own little back foot, to touch Cole’s! Cole too, had the same propensity for affection, towards Tony. WOW!!

“Delight” is an understatement, in regards to how magical that was. Though Tony was friendly with dogs, this type of closeness and instant connectedness, had never occurred, outside of felines. That sealed the deal. My angst was resolved, that I experienced during the drive home; would I be training, and re-homing Cole? Or dare I consider keeping this already senior dog, after recently loosing Max and Annie.…?

But seeing my two charcoal grey boys, foot-to-foot, so absolutely contented in each other’s company, gave all hesitations the boot! Cole would stay, I was sure. 

Cole pretty much stooped most of his negative behaviors immediately, and without much training effort. It was as if the change in leadership, and environment, was enough to bring him around to my expectations. So we had a win:win:win situation, for Cole,Tony and myself. 

Two years later, my little Cole and my little Tony, still have nothing but brotherly-love. I too, am madly in love with my newest canine charge. I’m convinced everyday, that this was our destiny. I feel both thrilled and lucky, that Cole came into our lives. 

All of my prior dogs that I’d raised from puppies, had always contributed their “gift-untold” to my lifestyle. By this I mean, that all dogs in a healthy and balanced pack, find a way to contribute a unique function to the pack’s agenda. A well balanced pack starts with quality leadership. The subordinate pack members, want to be “indispensable” to the leader, and hone and offer, a unique skill/talent to satisfy that. 

For example, my Rottweiler x German Shepard, Jacob, offered help with my small domestic and wild animal rescue. His first contribution at age 6mo, was in bringing home baby bunnies that had definitely been abandoned. I would never even have been able to see this rabbit nest. Great contribution. Very cool. 

My Chow-Chow x Pit Bull, Maxwell, offered assistance with my rehabbing of aggressive horses. While I could not traverse the 29 acre farm fast enough to stop an altercation, Max could. In his predatory sensibility though, he sided with my aggressor vs my victim horse! So, though I typically don’t formally train my personal dogs (I get ‘em and go…) I had to teach him to hold my aggressor, vs victim horse. The decade + the Max worked my pastures, my aggressive horse rehabilitation training program, was never better! Thanks Max! 

Well, to my surprise, within 3mo of having my tiny 9yr old adopted dog Cole home, he showed me his contribution gift. Every day I return from training on the road, I immediately take my hot training shoes off inside the door. My feet would have been wanting flip-flops for hours! One day, Cole greeted me, toting a single flip-flop, in his mouth! He was giddy with excitement, and proud of his own initiation, of his contribution gift! I was proud too! I clamored with excitement and praise, thankfully recognizing this as his conceived contribution, finally executed. 

While I’ll never know, what the other options he considered for contribution were, I’d ALWAYS wanted that iconic “dog bringing the slippers.” Could you imagine that I finally had that, in my new precious little Cole?! My pint-sized dog, while not capable of the phenomenal contributions of my large breed dogs (of which they each had multiple contributions), had found his pint-sized (but profound) contribution! The old black and white TV programs, typically featured an Irish Setter retrieving slippers, and a delivering to a man at his fireplace. This flip-flop delivery, upon my entering the home, was much better suited to me, in the hot state of Florida. 

The video clip below depicts Cole’s version of bringing me “my slippers”

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The 8mo old Yorkshire Terrier, Mucha, recently came to me for Boarding Training and Housebreaking Training. Her unwanted behaviors included aggressive behaviors towards dogs and humans, excessive barking, biting and fear while being groomed, and inappropriate indoor elimination of feces and urine. So Mucha entered the program as a Boarding, Training, and Grooming Client. She unexpectedly became a Wellness Client.…and that could have saved her life.

While simultaneously rehabbing Mucha’s excessive barking and aggressive tendencies, I was Housebreaking training her, throughout the day. Despite Mucha already being an 8mo old pup, I began her at the Housebreaking protocol of a younger 2mo old. I was planning to likely breeze her through the  protocol, that changes slightly, with every monthly increase of age, up until age 6mo. Physiology of a dog’s bladder, dictates this marker, as time to stop adjusting protocol. This becomes the adult elimination protocol.

The housebreaking protocol utilizes my scientific formula for water and food “in” (consumption) and urine and feces “out” (elimination.) Mucha had high anxiety upon arrival. This led to lack of consumption of food and water. While she still urinated over the first day, and every day, she did not dedicate for (2) days. This alone, could be expected. No food “in”…no feces “out.” On day (3) she finally defecated. As I’m also a behaviorist and wellness expert, outside of being an animal trainer, I immediately noticed unusual behaviors, associated with how she defecated. I promptly took video, of this first defecation, and forwarded video to her owner. I asked the owner if the “tap-dancing” and traveling forward while defecating, had been occurring at home, and prior to her coming to me.

53C80CF3-82A5-4596-B3CB-142EE69CE348 (Above: short video clip of Mucha’s “tap dancing” and traveling behaviors)

My first thought was that Mucha may have become dehydrated, then constipated, due to lack of drinking water at my home. But the owner had explained that this occurred every defecation. When I pointed out that these are signs of discomfort while defecating, their reply was that she’s only uncomfortable every 10th defecation, not recognizing these behaviors, as signs of discomfort as well. I asked, “What happens on the every 10th defecation?” The answer was’, “She verbally squeals.” This squealing, was likely due to tearing of her rectum, from a particularly hardened stool. The poor little girl, had to pass difficult stools, with an already sore rectum, each and every time she defecated, … Heartbreaking to me.

Being that Mucha arrived on a Premium kibble food, I immediately went first to the foods lable. I’m a savvy consumer, and not duped by terms like “Premium,” particularly knowing the hazards associated with feeding all kibble. The first lines of the food ingredients lable, were quite alarming.

Passed the only meat ingredient, lamb, we want to see next, (2) other meat ingredients. Ideally these are whole meat ingredients, or meat meal, and NEVER meat by-products. Instead, Mucha’s  Premium kibble contained next, brown rice, oatmeal, and beet pulp. These are cheaper substitutions for the preferred meat proteins. They “count” though, in the food analysts, towards protein content. It’s unfortunate, to say the least.

But worse than being inappropriate protein for a dog, these (3) ingredients soak up TONS of fluid, Any one of these ingredients could be used to aid diarrhea successfully. But for a dog without diarrhea, these ingredients will pull healthy fluid from the dogs body. This kibble is highly dangerous to feed, in my opinion, containing particularly, ALL (3) products, and in such high quantities, that they appeared in the first line of ingredients lable. In the very least, I could have accepted only (1) of these (3) ingredients, but lower in the ingredients lable.

*Note: these products are fillers, with no real benefit to the dog. They’re great for grazing herbivores, but not your dog. They can be harmful to your dog. *

This tiny dog, having a tiny digestive tract, was already in jeopardy, and faced REAL RISKS, of rupturing her intestines. Her jeopardy was dehydration, and constipation. It took (6) daily defecations to eliminate (2) meals, vs the normal (2) expected  daily defecatiins. She was in pain defecating. She was experiencing mechanical damage, in the form of tears to her rectum. But, she’d also conditioned herself to stop drinking enough water…only lapping two to three tiny laps, from a water dish. Dehydration posed even greater, and numerous health risks, throughout her entire body.

She likely conditioned herself to stop drinking enough water, because adding water to her kibble-filled gut, expanded the kibble to roughly 3-4 times its original size. This expansion of food inside the gut, at least would have given her VERY PAINFUL “stomach aches.” Beyond a stomach ache though, Mucha’s very life was at risk. This kibble could have expanded beyond the capacity of her tiny intestinal tract. When this occurs, the tract will perforate. A perforated tract requires immediate emergency surgery, or death will occur.

Aside from making a recommendation to change her diet, I began immediately remedying the problem, utilizing the existing kibble provided. I first and foremost, pre-soaked Mucha’s ration in filtered water. Through experimenting, learned a minimum of 4hrs was required to fully expand the kibble. Slightly more than 1/4 cup was required to fully expand kibble. I added additional water, passed the amount to expand kibble. This was to begin to rehydrate her entire body, and force water in, to compensate for lack of free-will drinking. Other methods were employed by me, to increase water consumption throughout the day.

Next I added oil to the pre-soaked food. It was at this step, that she began to stop the observed behaviors of “tap dancing” and traveling forward. I saw 50% reduction of these behaviors. As well, we went down from (6) daily defecations, to (4) daily defecations. I witnessed a glossy shine to the fecal matter, where it had been visibly dry prior. The texture was also soft, vs hard. Great news. At least her stools were no longer difficult to pass.

Next was repairing any internal damage to her digestive tract and rectum. With the owners permission, I added an herbal blend. The blend would repair GI tract lining, help eliminate fecal matter stuck to the lining, and help the muscles in the lining undulate better, further assisting complete elimination, at each defecation. After a few days in the concoction, Mucha went down to (3) more complete bowel movements, with perfect texture. The remaining unwanted behaviors all ceased.

So in (10) days of “routine” Boarding Training, Mucha went home, with an almost life-long health rise eliminated. The precious little girl experienced comfortable feces elimination, for the first time since starting a kibble diet. She is still working on the required reconditioning, to increase water intake throughout the day, but ingests more water.  She has been switched to food with nutritive benefits. Her owner now has a vast education regarding food choices, and can provide for her better than ever.

The rest of her training was a swimming success as well. Though the defecation behavior impacted  housebreaking, she left at the 3mo old housebreaking protocol, and remains on a positive trajectory towards adult behaviors. I’ll add here, that my housebreaking protocol yields “no indoor accidents,” as soon as it’s started. So, she went home not eliminating indoors any longer.

Through her successful grooming re-training, I was able to provide owners with the “cut of their choice,” for the very first time. Below are pictures of her before and after groom. Their “cut of choice,” is depicted in the cute puppy picture of Mucha, heading this article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dod-training to alleviate aggressive behaviors in Spicey-Dog:

Working w dogs (and other animals)  that have aggressive behaviors are both my specialty and passion.

I recently trained an 11yr old aggressive Dachshund, Spicey, whom I affectionately refer to as “Spicey-Dog.” He’d  had 7 trainers through his lifetime, with no results. He had aggression issues with both people and other dogs. Sadly, he had no dog friends, and had to be locked away when the owner had company. He missed all of the parties.

Elaina, Spicey-Dog’s owner, had given up completely.

Elaina and I met, at a “yoga with horses” program. We both were yoga participants. After yoga on a beautiful horse farm, the participants were invited in the covered riding arena, with (3) loose horses.

During this portion of the hands-on program, one of the horses had become aggressive with another newer horse. Since he was loose w folks likely having a false sense of security, when he attempted to charge through the crowd of people to go after this newer horse again, I intervened.

First, I blocked the horse from charging into the crowd of people. But that wasn’t enough. I could see that this animal had so much anger and resulting angst. He was not “happy in his own skin.”

I wasn’t sure if I was overstepping my boundary as a participant of yoga, and not there in a horse training capacity. But we were given “freedom to interact,” so I proceeded to provide this giant of a horse, some much needed therapy. By the end of a 30min session, he’d become a “gentle giant.”

While I didn’t have enough time to foster a friendship between he and the newer horse, I was able to give “Gentle Giant” peace, and the ability to relax vs react, around “New Horse.” “Gentle Giant” finally had a second option in his skill set.…

Well, Elaina was sold on me after that! Lol!

She was so blown away that I could meet this animal for the first time, instantly get a sense of his needs, and compassionately provide this horse with relief. She was also more surprised, that instead of gravitating to the “victim horse” as the other participants had (and decidedly began not liking “Gentle Giant” ) that I gravitated to the aggressor.

I knew resolving the angst in “Gentle Giant” would inevitably help every other horse on the farm, including “New Horse.” But my motivation was always pure, in wanting  relief for”Gentle Giant.” My heart broke for him, vs “New Horse.” “New Horse” appeared emotionally balanced, and was just a temporary & circumstantial victim.”Victim-Role,” was not his M.O. He recovered instantly from every aggressive charge from “Gentle Giant.” He was fine. 

Back on point, Spicey, Elaina and myself began reforming Spicey’s behavior patterns, and underlying emotional imbalance, through dog-training. Today Spicey goes to the dog park 3x’s weekly. He peruses both human and dog contact. Elaina was so surprised to learn, the Spicey was actually a very social animal, loving the company of other dogs, and seeking human strangers for affection.

Spiceys testimonial is in the “Tail Wags” section of my website.

JillsWholePetSolutions.com/tailwags

Please call me directly at : 561-313-2803

We can discuss your dogs issues and needs. I’ve never failed an animal, and never will. I’ll always find a solution.

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Molly poodle on left and Luna Shih Tzu on right

Molly is lowering 1/2 of her body into DOWN on her own and at today’s very first training session of the day. We only began training DOWN yesterday. This shows that she is thinking about the work on her “off time” and comes back stronger than I left her at last session. She’s “putting it together” on her own. It’s FABULOUS.

This also means she has turned on her “following brain” and is allowing my leadership in her life. What comes by default once submissive obedience is achieved is the innate will to please the leader. That doesn’t need to be trained in and again comes by default once we authentically outrank our dogs.

You’d think it would be totally easy to gain submissive obedience from such young animals. That is true of the window between 2-4mo, and the age we typically train our puppies. But by 5-6mo pups are vying for rank as it’s an integral part of all things from 6mo forward. It dictates their place at the carcass or Pack’s kills for feeding. If your low ranking you may not eat from a small kill. There’s no hunt again until the upper ranking dogs are hungry. It’s of critical importance then to learn how to navigate your rank.

Outranking our dogs is the #1 goal in all training and even in emotional re-balancing, resolving aggression/ fear/ anxiety etc. DOWN work is a great place to see where our dogs are at regarding their thoughts on outranking us. It’s also the first great place to outrank our dogs. Once we have a good DOWN from our dogs, training the rest is fast and easy.

** SIT does not have this impact. Dogs heads never get lower than at STAND for a SIT and so it’s a benign request. DOWN is a loaded request as it’s the very conversation of submission.**

However, we want to ride a fine-line between outranking our pups as well as not squashing spirit so that they have enthusiasm for training. Again this is easiest between the ages of 2-4 mo. They’re so mailable at that age. But this age is like teenage rebellion age and it’s easy to turn them off and alter their course… particularly gaining that innate desire to please you and will to work for you.

I’m thrilled to see Molly is exactly where we want her. Now to Molly’s credit she’s also a poodle breed. Poodles are the highest ranking dog in the AKC for intelligence. So if we compare Molly to Luna where comparing apples to oranges. There is something good about an apple as much as there is something good about an orange! Lol

We recognize lunas greatness too… heck she outranks Molly and that’s a huge achievement that earns 5 gold stars. Rank equates to your value in a pack. Luna has higher value for this achievement. Luna is also very “go with the flow” and is supper quiet in her crate, and is satisfied with the 2 bone resources I allow her and below ample bedding in her crate (for HB purposes). She excels on leash and over Molly and In household etiquette like behaving around the dinner table. So she has many great qualities. Molly conversely complains about much despite having 5 bone options in her crate and a comfy quilt! She is constantly getting tangled in the leash as her emotions make her super bouncy and wiggly. Luna is more straightforward on the leash. She’s often the unintended victim of Molly’s leash entanglement! lol See what I mean…” apples and oranges.” Nether is better than the other. They are just different.

So Luna still needs my 2 hands to help her into a DOWN and so we’re not at the place where I can video her progress. She’s also the dominant puppy and lately is really showing Molly that she far exceeds Molly’s rank. It’s just that time of her life to be involved w this rank-developing task. So I’d expect both more resistance to lower her body in submission when everything in this dominant puppies body tells her to stay high-ranking. I’d also expect a lower learning curve from any breed that’s not a poodle. Don’t worry. She’ll get there! I’m preserving her right to outrank Molly while instilling in her she cannot outrank me.

On that note, I’ve begun tempering luma’s “play” with molly since she’s becoming overly pushy in exerting her dominance. Since I outrank both puppies I only have a small say, but I do have some say, in how she expresses her dominance. That’s also a fine line to walk. If I interfere too much, the top ranking pup can come back even stronger against a lower ranking member when the alpha isn’t watching. So I allow her to express dominance still, I just insert what I call “volume control” when Molly is being “abused” by Luna taking it over the top. Then I comfort Luna vs Molly. It lets Luna know I recognize and respect that she outranks Molly.

This is my favorite part of training and I revel in the work around micro-details of behavior, particularly in pack dynamics. I just LOVE doing this part the most! Lots of “demons” can also show themselves during DOWN work and I enjoy “slaying the demons” so we can bring out the best of each pup while keeping spirit intact. Great time in Trainihg Indeed!