Classes & Training

• Monday’s at Laconia –
  New Hampshire Humane Society
  Sign up at www.nhhumane.org  
  Meredith center road starting March 3, 2008
  (Leave dogs home for the first week)
  
  
• Thursdays  Warner  –
  Woodlawn kennels  open registration  start any time  www.woodlawnkennels.com  
  746-4201 – More info!
  
  
• Saturdays Lebanon –
  on-going drop-in, open registration  www.rompattheranch.com
  – More info!
  
  
• Sunday’s at Dee's Home – STARTS MAY 25, 2008
  More information coming soon!

New Workshop!

 New! Foundation Clicker trainers course          (2 hour workshops)

 Level 1 Clicker Trainers Course

This course is held over  four days, covering the basic skills of reward management, timing of the click, adding a cue, shaping and targeting; includes assessment for CAP 1 on the fourth day. The three workshops are approx 3-4 weeks apart and must be attended in order. You will be expected to complete training at home between workshops. Includes assessment for CAP 1.

Location and Date TBD. Contact Dee today!

Private Consultations

Contact Dee directly to find out her availability for a Private Consultations

Get started today! Fill out Dee's online Canine Aggression Research Interview.
Simply tab through the form and enter your information. Once complete, Submit the form online or print and mail to Dee!

Phone Consultations -- $60.00/hour or $45.00/half hour

Sometimes it’s not possible for people to get to a dog behaviorist or trainer. When a person is in that situation, what options are available? A book or a video? It’s Dee Ganley Training Services! We now offer another option -- Order phone consult now!

Fees for Training Services

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NEW! Join a list where students in Dee's dog classes. or who have worked with Dee individually, may stay in touch with each other and discuss reading/training assignments.

If you have a dodgy dog you might also want to join– dodgydogs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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STUDY SUGGESTS POSITIVE METHODS MORE EFFECTIVE

A recent study[1] published by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare found that reward-based methods were significantly more successful for training certain tasks, and for no task was punishment-based training most effective. Dogs trained using only reward-based methods were reported significantly more obedient than those trained by other means, identifying reward-based methods to be the most effective overall training method.

Another noteworthy finding was the link between punishment-based techniques and problem behaviors, suggesting that punishment may result in the dog experiencing anxiety or conflict, a leading cause in behaviors such as aggression, separation anxiety and phobias.

[1] Hibey, E.F., Rooney, N.J. and Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2004), Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare, Animal Welfare , 13:1, 63-69

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“I’ve always had labs and never had so much trouble before. . .this one is so unmanageable and keeps disobeying me.. running away.. jumping up and biting my arms. I’m so frustrated.. what can I do?”

“Any time I give my dog a rawhide to chew on, my dog growls and protects it.. is he going to bite me? . . .”

“I want to find a dog for my family situation, what type of dog would be best since I have small children under the age of 4? Please help us!”

What problems can a behavior consultant help you solve?

• Destructiveness
• Biting
• Failure to house train
• Separation anxiety
• Aggression (toward dogs or people)
• Fear
• Hyperactivity
• Leash pulling
• Unable to settle / over stimulation
• Introducing new children or animals into your household

What training skills will you learn how to teach your dog?

• Sit for greeting (not jumping up)
• Waiting at doors (not bolting out the door)
• Attention & focus on you (known as distraction training)
• Reliable Recalls (Being able to call your dog off any stimulus)
• Veterinary manners (husbandry exercises)
• Relax Down (self control, being able to lie quietly while things are happening around you both)
• Leave It (self control to see it, smell it, and not take it without your permission)

WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL A CERTIFIED DOG BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT?

The time to call is when you notice that your dog has a behavior problem. You may also call a Dog Behavior Consultant any time to learn how to prevent behavior problems. Identifying the causes of a behavior problem early on can make the difference between a happy, enjoyable relationship with your dog and a stressful, constant battle with your canine companion.

Dog Behavior Consultants provide help if your dog is showing:

• Aggression toward people
• Aggression toward dogs or other animals
• Household behavior problems, such as excessive barking or digging
• Destructive behaviors
• Undesirable behaviors, such as jumping or nipping
• Attachment or separation anxiety and related problems
• Shy or fearful behaviors
• Abnormal behaviors, such as excessive licking, air snapping or obsessive tail chasing
• Hyperactivity
• Appetite or house training problems

Competency Assessment Program -- complete information. The CAP really is pretty straightforward and is assessing your training *skills* (vs. accomplishments as in most competitive sports). Kay created this program to provide the direct feedback about their training skills that so many trainers need but don't necessarily receive at workshops, competitions, etc.

Note that some behaviors may have an underlying medical cause.for more info go to www.iadbc.org

Dee is doing private in-home consultations at your home or hers. Email her today at dee@deesdogs.com.

Upper Valley Humane Society: Dee is available for private consultations at UVHS on Fridays and teaches classes on Wednesday evenings. View the class schedule at www.uvhs.org or email Robin at training@uvhs.org.

What some professionals in the dog training community say about Dee:

“Dee is a skilled listener and a thoughtful person who takes in all that is around her but does not force her views. She has clear opinions and is secure about them but also open minded and appropriate about sharing with others….. I feel her assets include: a strong and varied background in all phases of dog care, ownership, behavior and training; established connections and acceptance as a leader in the sheltering and dog communities; …. her thirst for new knowledge and willingness to evolve professionally; her calm and clear leadership skills; and emotional stability. “ Dana Crevling, Instructors Training Course, Dogs Of Course

“Dee Ganley is an inspiration. During the week I was there, I got to observe Dee’s teaching, which was professional, organized, compassionate, creative, and fun.” Donna Duford, Director, The PET Project, San Francisco Animal Care and Control

For private consultations in the Andover area, email Dee at dee@deesdogs.com or the Enfield area dee@uvhs.org or in the Newport area, email Meredith Lunn at bluestockings96@yahoo.com

Success Stories

Hi Dee,

Thank you SO much. Our lives are different already.  I knew I was “creating a monster”……..and I love having these tools. Our long morning walk this morning was so pleasurable –  I am loving her being responsive to me, and she seems to be enjoying it too. We are both calmer and happier!

Thank you again for your clear and calm understanding and teaching,

Robin

Dee Help!

Sarah had called me and was concerned about her dog Fig who had lost his ability to settle and was just constantly up and moving around. They had brought a new puppy into his life and now believed he needed keep entertain and watch over his extended family. Life was getting unsettled for the humans now too.

SO the simple solution of separating the dogs when getting out OF control and simply limiting their options since neither dog was crate trained tethering them was the best solution.

Three days after the phone consult Sarah writes J

Customer Response:

Hey dee

Thanks so much for the phone consultation the other night. let me say how much BETTER life is with my little Fig dog! i simply did not recognized that he was slowly getting the upper hand by having too much freedom - in fact i was doing the opposite of what needed to get done. now i keep a leash handy in each room and if he and Leon (the little guy) get out of hand at all I leash the two of them, tie them to the coffee table (or just step on the lead) and wait until both have settled and relaxed before praising and letting them loose again! WOW - it has taken only two days for Fig to get the idea. as a matter of fact, i think he likes it when i take control of the situation and help him settle down. THANK YOU!

Also, i took your advice on the 50 foot tag line when we go walking. this is basically fixing his "leave it" (which was quite good to start but became a bit lax when i could not reinforce it) and he is getting the idea of "not to far" to mean slow down you are reaching the end of your lead and need to stay close to me. (i had to chose a different word because i have been using "easy" to mean - don't bite too hard when we play, don't chew on the cat too hard, etc) I have also started using the long line when ever we are out in the yard for bathroom time. Fig has a terrible habit of eating his own feces??? but this way i can say leave it and reinforce when he cooperates and leave it alone.

OK - thanks again Dee - you know in several months i may have to call for kid training advice!!!

Take care,
Sarah

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Shirley has been emailing back and forth to me for about 6 months with sever issues with her BC Sky lunging and barking and twirling at cars passing by. Shirley has had dog for a while and Sky is her second BC . She recently emailed me with this happy greeting

Have just walked Sky 800 yds down high street, there and back with oncoming traffic NO SPINS, NO LUNGES THANK YOU DEE, What would I have done without your patience.

I won't get too cocky, and will definitely not push it too far, don't want to go back in that boring car park.

Click here for more info about Sky and Shirley

Shirley Writes:

“Although my Collie was really well socialized and habituated right from puppy hood. She had always chased cars and was very reactive to dogs. I had consulted several behaviorists but nothing seemed to work. After a major operation her reaction to other dogs worsened and she was still "chasing cars".

Then I was fortunate enough to meet Dee. She gave me easy to understand advice; I began to understand what my collie was telling me. I stopped giving her worrying body language and stopped reinforcing her fear related behavior and we started to really communicate with each other. Dee simply said to start looking closely at Sky’s body too see what she was telling me.

Then to start reinforcing for quiet calm behavior.

Working at a distance where she could give me these behaviors.

We have some way to go but she no longer spins like a top when she sees traffic and I never put her into a position that is too scary for her to cope with. We trust each other and I will always be grateful to Dee for showing me how to understand and work WITH my lovely intelligent collie.

Shirley”