This 1½ hour workshop will be offered on two dates:
Sunday April 7th from 10:00 to 11:30 am
Sunday April 21st from 10:00 to 11:30am
At Animal Haven 403-407 Broome Street. Each workshop is $75.
Date: 2013-04-21
Start Time: 10:00am
End Time: 11:30am

This 1½ hour workshop will be offered on two dates:
Sunday April 7th from 10:00 to 11:30 am
Sunday April 20th from 10:00 to 11:30am
At Animal Haven 403-407 Broome Street. Each workshop is $75.
Date: 2013-04-07
Start Time: 10:00am
End Time: 11:30am

This is a 2-session class that meets on Sunday, April 7th and 21st (you get two weeks to practice between the classes to maximize benefit) from 12:00 to 1:30pm, at Animal Haven 251 Centre Street, NYC. The fee for both sessions is $150.
Date: 2013-04-21
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 13:30

This is a 2-session class that meets on Sunday, April 7th and 21st (you get two weeks to practice between the classes to maximize benefit) from 12:00 to 1:30pm, at Animal Haven 251 Centre Street, NYC. The fee for both sessions is $150. Register for Class
Date: 2013-04-07
Start Time: 12:00
End Time: 21:30

Elements of agility, tricks, and obedience training will be incorporated, including:
Jumping (through hoops, poles, your leg, your arms, grids)
Targeting and distance work
Weaving (poles, between objects, between your legs)
Sprinting (to come to you, to retrieve a toy)
Tug and release
Heel work (at a walk and jog)
Core-building and balance work on discs.
This is a 6 Week Course that begins Thursday, April 4th at 8:15pm at Animal Haven (403-407 Broome Street). The course fee is $350 (returning class clients receive a $25 discount)
Date: 2013-04-04
Start Time: 8:15pm
End Time: 9:15pm

Elements of agility, tricks, and obedience training will be incorporated, including:
Jumping (through hoops, poles, your leg, your arms, grids)
Targeting and distance work
Weaving (poles, between objects, between your legs)
Sprinting (to come to you, to retrieve a toy)
Tug and release
Heel work (at a walk and jog)
Core-building and balance work on discs.
This is a 6 Week Course that begins Thursday, April 4th at 8:15pm at Animal Haven (403-407 Broome Street). The course fee is $350 (returning class clients receive a $25 discount)
Date: 2013-04-04
Start Time: 8:15pm
End Time: 9:15pm

Yet, for as grateful as so many of us are for the mutually rewarding relationship we have with our dogs, there are many who suffer from an extreme fear of dogs, which is called cynophobia and is often caused by a traumatic encounter with a dog or because of a lack of early, positive exposure to them. For those suffering from cynophobia, the mere sight of a dog at a distance, or even the prospect of it, can cause serious distress. This kind of fear can be powerful and have an intensely negative effect on a person’s overall quality of life for the simple fact that there are so many dogs out there and therefore so many opportunities for encounters with them.

Phobias can be maintained and escalate by the internal triggers a person falls back on, such as believing the encounter will result in an attack and repeating to oneself how terrifying the situation may be. Essentially, practicing the fear response pattern creates a stronger, more deeply ingrained habit with each repetition. This sort of conditioning, even if made inadvertently, creates a deeply ingrained pattern of emotion and response. The response to this pattern may escalate and evolve into shaking, crying and running away.

Unfortunately, this response may actually encourage a dog to investigate and even chase the person. Which, of course, will further cement and probably escalate the phobia. Running away from a dog may trigger the dog’s predatory response. So, as difficult as it may be, it is usually advisable to try to remain still, to avoid eye contact, and then to move slowly away.

When the team and I on Animal Planet’s Underdog to Wonderdog was contacted by Kathy who was suffering from cynophobia, we knew we had a daunting challenge. But, it sounded like one of the most important ingredients for the recipe for success was on our side. Kathy was truly committed to facing and overcoming her phobia.

Kathy’s mission to overcome her fear was driven by a number of factors; To relieve the stress it was causing herinternally, but also because she felt that her fear was having a negative impact on her family. Her husband and children do not suffer from a fear of dogs. In fact, all three of them desperately wanted a dog as part of their family. For years, Kathy had been trying to hide her fear from her children by telling them she was allergic to dogs. But, as her children were maturing, Kathy realized the truth was coming to the surface. Her children started realizing that there mother was terrified when she saw a dog and Kathy was regretting not telling them the full truth. She was dedicated to overcoming this problem for herself and her family.

We started by taking some time to assess how severe Kathy’s fear was. A walk in the park where we passed dogs lying quietly by their people and walking politely on leash at a distance caused Kathy to grab onto my arm for security. It was heartbreaking to see her shake and well up with tears knowing that this was something she experienced on a regular basis. We passed a dog run, and took a moment to watch the dogs play in the safely fenced in area. For dog lovers, most of the normal and natural behavior of dogs is part of why we hold them so dear. But, for others, like Kathy, the natural behavior of dogs was overwhelmingly frightenting. Kathy panicked when the dogs ran around romping and playing with each other. When one barked to solicit play from another, it was clear it was time for us to head back to headquarters at

During our walk, Kathy had mentioned to me that one type of dog she thought she wouldn’t be afraid of was a tiny puppy. So, I decided to arrange some time for Kathy to bond with a little pup as a starting point for our work together. I introduced her to a 6 week-old puppy of about 3 pounds. When I walked into the lounge area Kathy seemed very tense. So, I sat on the couch and allowed her to take her time to approach. Even after seeing how severe her fear was on our walk, I was a little surprised to see her reaction to this sleepy, tiny canine whom she had told me she thought she would feel comfortable with. Kathy not only didn’t want to touch the pup, nor sit near him, she ran out of the room crying. I was heartbroken for Kathy seeing how difficult facing this fear was for her and for realizing how tough the road ahead would be as we worked together to overcome it.

Kathy and I chatted for a bit. In addition to being afraid, she was ashamed of her reaction. I assured her that she had nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, quite the opposite. She should be proud of herself for what she was trying to do. We all have fears, but not all of us choose to take steps to overcome those which have a negative impact on our lives. Kathy mustered the courage to come back into the lounge and after talking about the age of the pup and the fact that he was so young that in reality it was impossible for him to pose any physical threat to anyone, Kathy reached out to tentatively touch him. It was the frist time she had ever touched a puppy.

This was a wonderful first step for Kathy. But, after our day together I got the team together to discuss the possibility of enlisting the help of a therapist to work with Kathy as well. In our first meeting with her she explained to Kathy how common phobias are, especially cynophobia. She said that in addition to repetitive exposure to friendly, well-mannered dogs, Kathy should choose a mantra to focus on during these encounters. This way, she could focus on what she would hopefully feel automatically in the future (that she is safe) when encountering dogs rather than practicing her internal monologue about how scared she was and how potentially dangerous the situation was. She also suggested some ways for Kathy to calm herself physcally. Deep breathing and relaxing her shoulders were part of the plan. This would hopefully help to relieve Kathy’s sense of tightness in her chest, her heart pounding and her shaking.

Kathy and I continued to work on exposure to other dogs and on her developing a better understanding of general dog body language and behavior. I felt that this would help to relieve her feeling that dogs were so foreign to her and that everything they do (even a soft tail wag) is a potential threat. Part of this process involved a visit to a dog training school with my dog Nora. It was amazing enough that Kathy was able to enter the facility. Especially after she saw there were a number of dogs inside when we arrived. She was so focused on keeping her eye on those dogs, that she seemed to barely recognize that she was standing right next to my dog. It was the closest encounter she had with an adult dog since we started working together. When Kathy felt ready, we stepped into the enclosed training area. We talked through her mantra, did some deep breathing exercises and then I asked Kathy if she could hold Nora’s leash. I thought this would be a good moment to hand over the reins to her because she seemed so focused on her mission to remain calm. And it worked! Kathy not only held Nora’s leash, but progressed to participating with her in the class.

After this wonderful day together, we all felt much more confident that Kathy would be able to overcome her fear and know the joy of having a dog as part of her family. So, we thought it was time for her to meet her new dog Bo who we had been working with to teach him to respond promptly when asked to sit. We thought this simple behavior would be a wonderful starting point for Kathy to feel confident that she could effectively communicate with Bo. It was a wonderful moment seeing Kathy’s face as she entered the room and saw Bo for the first time. She seemed calm and proud that this little guy was her family’s new dog. Kathy touched Bo, hugged him, asked him to sit and with the help of Ali McLennan even learned some valuable tips for grooming Bo in the future.

One of our next steps with Kathy was a big one…Ali and I took her and Bo to a pet parade where she would walk Bo herself and be exposed to other dogs. It was a beautiful day on the pier, with loads of dogs in adorable outfits. Kathy was all smiles as she walked Bo down the red carpet as they competed for ‘Best in Show’ at the event. They didn’t win the official prize, but the three of us knew that Kathy had won something much more valuable.

When we brought Bo to live with his new family, we all felt it would be the icing on the cake if Kathy was the one to introduce him to her family. The joy and surprise on their faces to see their new, handsome pup escorted by his new Mom as he walked up the drive to his new home was an amazing reward for us all. Most especially Kathy.

Some breeds are particularly prone to obesity. These include Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus and Dachshunds. Unfortunately, some of these breeds are already susceptible to serious health problems such as hip displaysia, back problems, breathing and heart problems, so you need to be especially carefully to keep them fit and trim.

Overweight pets are more prone to injury, have more stress on their heart and other vital organs, can suffer more severely from osteoarthritis, have respiratory issues, and are at a greater risk for diabetes.

It’s important to consult with your Veterinarian to determine if your pet is at a good weight. As with people, every pet will carry their weight differently depending on their structure. But, as a general rule, the ideal condition is that in which you can feel your pet’s ribs by gently rubbing on their sides and they should have at least a minor tuck up in their waste (the belly area between their ribcage and rear).

In order to control your pet’s weight it’s important to realize that food is not a substitute for love and attention. Being strict about helping your pet achieve an ideal weight is one of the kindest things you can do for them. Overindulging your pets to the point that they become unhealthy is actually killing with kindness. To achieve and maintain your pet’s ideal weight your veterinarian will help you make a plan which may include some or all of the following:

Gradually cut back on the amount of food you give your pet and consider offering healthy snack alternatives such as apple slices, green beans, carrots and other low-calorie vegetables. If you offer a special treat, like some healthy leftovers from your dinner, then cut back on his/her normal meal.

Provide adequate exercise every day such as walks, play and training sessions. You can even encourage your pet to exercise when you aren’t home by getting rid of their food bowls and feeding them from food stuffable toys which they have to push about to make release the food. However, diving into a vigorous exercise program can cause injuries and stress so start slowly and visit your veterinarian before you begin. As with people, the safest way for your pet to lose weight is to do so slowly under the care of a medical professional.

Consult your veterinarian about possibly using a diet food. If your pet is severely overweight your Veterinarian may prescribe a diet which is more severely calorie restricted and is meant for short term use to aid in losing weight, not as a long term diet. Some contain a lot of fiber to help your pet feel full. This should only be used when supervised by your veterinarian. In addition, there is a relatively new drug on the market called Slentrol which works in two ways, by sending a message to the brain to say I’m full and locally in the intestines by blocking the fat from being absorbed. However as soon as you stop the drug those benefits go away. So, it can be used for targeted weight loss, but only under the supervision of your veterinarian and in conjunction with a weight loss plan which includes an overall healthier lifestyle for your pet.

This is a very good thing and due in great part to the efforts of people like Dr. Ian Dunbar and Dr. R.K. Anderson who have focused much effort on helping people understand the importance of early, preventative teaching to best ensure a long and happy life for a dog in one loving home (as opposed to a dog being surrendered to a shelter due to easily preventable behavior issues).

Raising a puppy can be a truly wonderful experience filled with all the fun one could expect from a baby animal who is programmed to be an investigative, playful, social creature. However, most puppy parents will attest to the fact that for all the joys of being there for the first few months of your pup’s life, there are also some moments of serious frustration (and lack of sleep). For some more than others.

I got a call today from a very nice fellow who recently adopted a 10 week-old pup. We had already had one session together where we discussed the basics of being a good doggie time manager so as to set his little pup up for success in regards to housetraining, learning to spend time alone, and preventing destructive chewing. On leash supervision, feeding meals in the crate and using it for very short periods of rest, a long term confinement area, and a food, water and potty schedule were all part of the plan we set together. As with many puppy parents, he was receptive to some suggestions, and not so much to others. But, I was confident that in the coming weeks he would start to see how his job was to help his puppy learn to be the dog he wanted her to be and the easiest way to do that is with the aid of management tools to set her up for success.

One of the many great things about teaching people to teach their dogs is seeing the pride and enthusiasm in their eyes when they bring their pup in for the first lesson. One of the tough parts of this profession is watching people go through the very typical cycle of puppy parenting, the next stage of which has a lot to do with being frustrated when a pup makes housetraining mistakes, chews inappropriate items, and barks and whines at all hours of the day and night. While even the best doggie time management won’t prevent mistakes 100% of the time, it will certainly help keep things under control and keep their pup on the path to ultimate success.

Likewise, a lack of this management is surely going to put a strain on the canine/human relationship. Puppy parents play a huge part in their dog’s lifelong behavior. In addition, each dog is an individual whose genetics also play a part in their behavior. But, I always try to encourage people to go into raising a pup under the assumption that their pup may suffer from any number of behavior issues. It is better to err on the side of caution, to do everything you can to prevent potential issues, rather than to have a wait and see attitude.

From what this puppy parent told me on our call today, it seemed he had been giving his pup opportunities to make mistakes and thereby inadvertantly opportunites to practice behaviors he didn’t like. He explained that the reason for this was that for the first week he had her, she seemed to have a very mellow personailty. She didn’t make any mistakes in the house for the first few days, and spent a good bit of her time sleeping happily. However, after the first week, he said it seemed she had loads more energy, was much pushier and investigative and less tolerant of being left alone. I suspected he had fallen prey to the Puppy Honeymoon Period!

Many dogs are somewhat inhibited when they first come to their new home. But, once they start to feel more comfortable, their puppy parents find themselves saying “She never did that before!” many times throughout the day. There is a first time for everything, and most young pups start displaying behaviors that may seem new, but are usually just more exaggerated and frequent after the first week or two in their home, once they feel more comfortable and come out of their shell.

He seemed very understanding of this, and was very honest about the effect this stage was having on him. He was tired from having slept very little the last few nights, upset at having to clean up housetraining mistakes, and worried that his pup had separation issues. I focused on helping him to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In this case, that his staying, calm, cool and collected, and focusing on helping to set his pup up for success using the tools we had discussed would in fact result in a dog who would develop housetraining skills, a great chew toy habit and the ability to rest calmly when left alone.

When people think of getting a pup, it is hard not to focus solely on the cuteness factor, and the unconditional love. But, it also important to know that it can be a challenging endeavor. As with any relationship, there are ups and downs. I am confident that this puppy parent will be successful and rewarded with a wonderful canine companion, because he seems committed to his pup and to seeking out assistance. But, for many puppy parents going through this sort of frustration stage with a puppy it can be hard not to feel that you are failing, or that something is wrong with your pup. It would be wonderful if there were a place where puppy parents could go to share these sorts of stories, a support group of sorts. Actually, there is a place like this, and it’s called Puppy Class!

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A similar, albeit usually much shorter, honeymoon period is often experienced by new pet parents. Although, unlike people in a new relationship, I don’t think the dog or puppy is on it’s best behavior with the understanding that they are about to start a new, hopefully long term relationship. Instead, many dogs are in a state of severe adjustment to what is a whole new world. A new environment, sights, sounds, people and possibly other animals can result in a dog sort of shutting down a bit (or a lot!) as they absorb all of this new information and try to figure out their place in the world. This is analagous to a person being plopped down in a new country. It would seem understandable that they might take a few days or weeks to quietly observe and figure things out.

Many people end up calling a dog trainer for help only after weeks or months have passed with their new dog in their home. At first they put off calling because there doesn’t seem to be a need. Their new dog is fairly calm, passive, and quiet. But, as the dog becomes adjusted and more comfortable their true personality shines through. With it often comes a list of what, to their new family anyway, seem to be new behaviors (this could be excessive barking, inappropriate chewing, growling when food or toys are taken away).

The behaviors aren’t really new to the dog, they are just new to the dog in it’s new home. When these behaviors start to show themselves, people are often caught off guard. As a result, they may at first assume that these things are just one or two time mistakes and the dog will go back to his or her ‘normal’ behavior soon without intervention on their part.

But, as the dog begins to engage in what their new family considers to be inappropriate behaviors on a more frequent basis, frustration rears it’s ugly head. The dog is surely frustrated, since he or she clearly doesn’t understand what is expected and is probably getting reprimanded, and the dog’s new family is frustrated as they may not be equipped to manage the situation and help their dog learn what is expected.

In a perfect world, everyone who is about to bring a dog into their family would read one or two great, positive training books prior to their dogs arrival. Options are my Barron’s Bible of Dog Training or Dog-Friendly Dog Training, and just about every book by Dr. Ian Dunbar, Teoti Anderson, and Karen Pryor. They would also find a great trainer to work with in person.

If they do luck out and find the dog they have adopted is not in need of intense training, a lesson or group class will still be beneficial. For most people, having an expert on hand just prior to or immediately following their new dog’s arrival home is a superb way to help prevent or quickly manage and control any potential problems. Doing so means the real honeymoon period, that is a lifelong relationship with a dog who is as calm, confident, happy and well-mannered as possible (due to being taught what is expected rather than being allowed to develop inappropriate habits) can begin asap.