Newsletter
Shady Mountain Howl 

Issue #6, March 2025

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Pet of the Month

Boo is a first-time visitor. She spent a week with us. Though badly in need of some formal training work, she went on daily adventure hikes. She did learn some skills along the way, but does need a bit more.

​Hopefully, we'll see her again in the future and be able to achieve more.
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To follow her activities, view our Current Guest page or check out our Facebook page.

Howling On This Month

March brings crazy weather so we're sometimes working indoors and sometimes outdoors. We love being able to hike on the mountain with our K9 guests.

This has a been a slightly busier month, with more K9 guests. Next month is guaranteed to be even more so. 

Brie is working out very well and seems to enjoy hiking the dogs. The dogs like her, too.

At the end of this month, Hazel has her first show of the year. She's entering the Rally Intermediate ring. Practice is going well.

     

I wanted to make a point of this to other pet parents of reactive dogs. It takes time, consistency and hard work to overcome such behavior issues, but it also creates a stronger bond for having done it.

The year is almost over, as of tomorrow. I'm sure there will be many new challenges in the coming year. I hope you all meet them successfully and remember, I'm always available if you need help or have questions, or just need a great place for your dog to visit when you travel.

List of features in this month's Shady Mountain Howl:

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Training Tips

Stop Jumping Up

List of Local Pet Rescue Organizations

Are you looking for a new pet? Are you needing help with an animal that you found? There are several local organizations that can help.

Retraining Traumatized Dogs

Most dogs do not fare well when trained with aversive methods. There's a distinct difference in overall personality.

Pet Product Review

Double Clip Leash

Training Tips
​Stop Jumping Up!
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Stop your dog from jumping on you! 4 Easy Steps You Can Do Today.

Introduction: Did you know that jumping on people is the biggest behavior complaint of pet parents? Jumping up is the most common behavior problem but has the fastest means of being cured, too. While prevention is always worth a pound of cure, you can easily stop your dog from jumping on you and others by using an aversive sound or merely by changing a few habits.

Four on the FloorFour legs on the floor are always better than two, as the other two might be on you.

As a professional pet trainer I see that the most common behavior problem are dogs who jump up on people. While it can be endearing to the pet parent, i.e. “he’s just welcoming me home” (as the dog jumps up and licks their face), it can be catastrophic for others. Elderly parents or young children can be knocked down. People can get their legs and arms scratched from long toenails. Sometimes, if the aim is just right, a wet nose or tongue can go right into someone’s mouth! And here’s one that I have experienced on more than one occasion – I am putting on the dog’s harness and they jump up, the top of their head connecting with my chin!

Here’s What We'll Discuss:

• How to recognize if your dog has a jumping up problem.
• Why does your dog jump up?
• Actions you can take to prevent your dog from jumping up on you and others.
• Turning the inappropriate behavior into a welcome sit and smile.
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Does My Dog Have a Jumping Up Problem?

If your dog is airborne more than being grounded that’s an obvious sign that your dog has a jumping up problem. But not all dogs are as blatant as the dog that’s constantly popping upward. Some may only jump up in greeting, while others do so to get attention. Basically, if your dog jumps up on you at all, it’s a problem. Maybe not always, as you may enjoy energetic greetings or having your dog jump into your lap as you sit on the couch, but dogs don’t understand gray areas very well. They understand always or never.

Why Does My Dog Jump Up?

Jumping up is a learned behavior. This means that your dog has learned that they get attention from you when they jump on you. Should a dog be starved for attention, any attention (even if you are using cross words, or contorting your body to get away from your dog as they jump around you), is still attention. When their feet touch you, they win!

If you’re conversing with a neighbor and your dog gets bored waiting, a simple jump up will return your attention to the fact that there’s an impatient dog at your feet. Your conversation abruptly ends and off you go, wherever your dog takes you. Your dog won! And, they’ll do it again.

Actions You Can Begin Today

For such an annoying problem there’s some easy solutions. Here’s a list:
1.Place a can of condensed air near every door or carry a small can with you for on-the-go use. When your dog begins to jump up, press the trigger. The hissing noise is aversive so your dog will stop jumping up. Note: Do not spray in their face. It’s the noise that counts, not the air movement.
2.Place 15 pennies in a small tin can. Put them near any doors and carry one with you. When your dog jumps up, shake the can. The jingling sound is aversive, and your dog will stop jumping up. Note: No need to shake the can in your dog’s face, though. It’s the sound that counts.
3.If you are being observant of your dog in a situation when they’re likely to jump up, step away before your dog can land on you. The point to jumping up is for those front feet to land on you. If they don’t your dog will gradually diminish this behavior as it was not successful. While this technique will work well for you, your family and houseguests will not be as on-board with it, so use one of the above techniques for those situations.
4.Have your dog wear a harness and leash when indoors. Note: Don’t do this one if your dog tends to chew their harness or leash. When you go to the door to greet someone, step on the leash so your dog cannot jump up.

Turning the bad into good

To learn what not to do, your dog needs to also learn what they should do.

First, never give your dog any attention unless they first sit. And be consistent with this. Don’t just expect it sometimes, but also when you return home after work or school. Expect this prior to giving your dog a meal or allowing them to go through a door. This should become a default behavior – automatic.

Second, if your dog already has a jumping up issue, redirect their attention to a sit after you use the aversive noise or step away to prevent them from landing on you. This helps them learn what they should do to attain your attention.

Third, when you see your dog sit and smile, be sure to give them lots of attention! Your dog will repeat this behavior when there’s a positive outcome.

Do you have any suggestions for keep a dog from jumping up on people? Please let us know. If it has produced a positive result, we’d like to hear about it. Also, if you have any other subjects you'd like to read about, let me know.


 

Training a Dog Who Was Previously Trained with an Electronic Collar

                There are many ways to train dogs. You can count on them learning something along the way. The difference being will they learn to fear training or be motivated to perform as cued. In other words, when your dog sees their leash, will they come closer to you or head for the hills?
                Not every dog is super sensitive. Some can withstand the use of aversive training methods and come out the other end well trained, albeit not feeling secure or enthusiastic about training sessions. Others will panic, shut down, or perform out of fear.
                There’s a reason that trainers who use electronic collars stay in business. They deliver results for their customers. The dog will sit, heel, lie down and come on cue. It will work off leash like a robot – stiff, stoic emotionless. But inside, that dog is drowning. They fear the result if they’re wrong. They fear the anger of their handler if they don’t perform perfectly.
                Fear has a way of turning into aggression or complete melting down. Dogs who tend to have assertive personalities may turn to aggression, whereas dogs who tend to be less assertive will shut down. This is why some dog breeds, such as working dogs, can handle the use of assertive training tools and methods. These breeds include German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Belgian Malinois. These breeds are often used in the line of duty for military and police departments. It can take a lot of force to break the will of these breeds. Many enjoy the work so much that it overshadows the methods used to attain it. Then again, some of that work includes bringing down humans. Is that their psychological release after all?
                Those who train military and police dogs have used these methods for hundreds of years. Sporting dog trainers the same. They believe that through inflicting pain and discomfort they achieve the perfect robot working dog.
                Sadly, those trainers who use aversive tools and methods also use them on other breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Poodles, Border Collies, Doodles, and other typical pet breeds. These dogs do not handle this type of training approach well. And what happens when they’re sent off to a “Balanced Trainer?” They return as dog robots and it works for a short while, but inside they are disturbed. Their pet parents don’t realize this. All they see is their robot dog. Later, the disturbance shows itself.
                Each dog varies in how they handle this psychological damage. Some lose trust altogether. Some try to escape anything that appears to be a training session. Some learn that their pet parent is not as assertive as the trainer. They gradually gain the upper hand and control them through growling. It can be subtle, or it can be sudden, but it will happen.
                If the dog trained through abuse is worked with positive reinforcement, they can overcome some of the psychological damage. The Balanced Trainer, who claims to be “balanced” because they’ll use any training tool, plus positive reinforcement, will dampen some of the damage done as they move from discomfort and pain to praise and rewards. Yet, the damage is still present, just not as obvious to the oblivious Balanced Trainer, or the pet parent who cannot recognize their dog’s psychological pain.
                Positive reinforcement trainers are also well educated in canine psychology. It’s the only way they can be effective trainers using scientific behavior methods. This education also teaches them to recognize a dog’s inner psychological pain. They have the ability to “read” the dog and create a training approach that enhances their behavior.
                There’s still a lot of deep psychological pain to undo when working with a dog who has been abused by another trainer. In fact, all the damage may never be undone. A positive trainer understands this and accepts their canine students’ insecurities and shortcomings; never forcing them to a place they aren’t ready to go.
                Here’s a few examples of behavior in dogs who have experienced aversive methods:

1. They run away from you when seeing their collar, harness or leash.
2. They growl when they see the training equipment.
3. They crouch down in fear when they see the training equipment.
4. Their tails go between their legs when they see their training equipment.
5. They hold their heads low and avert their eyes when they see their training equipment.
6. Their ears droop as they look at you.
7. They sit and turn their heads away from you.
8. They tremble.
9. They back up and growl.
10. They jump on you and attempt to push away as they do so.

Here’s the difference with dogs who are receiving positive reinforcement training methods:

1. They wiggle with excitement.
2. They whine excitedly.
3. Their ears perk forward and eyes watch you.
4. When they hear their name they focus on you awaiting a cue.
5. Out of the blue they perform something they’ve learned.
6. They are watching and always ready to perform.
7. They prance and wag their tails. Many dogs grin with happiness.
8. They put their own heads into the harness.
9. They grab their leash and bring it to you.
10. They are happy, relaxed and non-aggressive.

It can be challenging to turn those frowns upside down, but over time a positive trainer can teach a dog to enjoy learning. It’s a matter of first understanding why the dog is fearful or distrustful, then earning their trust through positive association exercises.
              

 

List of Local Pet Rescue Organizations

If you have decided to adopt a pet please check out the below links. To the left is Layla, who was rescued by one of these organizations and adopted by Stephanie Carter. Layla spent a lot of time at SMPR and enjoyed her training hikes. She also enjoyed socializing with some of our other guests. She passed away this past May and we'll miss her terribly. But, she is proof that you can find a forever companion at a humane society or rescue organization.

Almost Home Animal Rescue
Amherst Humane Society
Lynchburg Humane Society
Pet Finder
Alpha Paw
Rescue Me

Are you looking for the perfect indoor/outdoor bed for your pet? Try a Kuranda bed! These beds withstand the most rugged dogs. They come in a large variety of sizes and neutral colors.
Click link below to order one for your dog.

Kuranda Dog Beds

Pet Product Review

Double Clip Leash

The Double Clip Leash was specifically designed to use with a head halter and front connecting harness. The light-weight clips do not weigh down the nose strap of the head halter, which would cause the dog to feel constant pressure on their muzzle. Their sturdy nickel-plated steel hardware is very strong. The 6-foot length makes it easy to use with basic training routines. If you need to use only one side, the other side will turn into a hand loop.

There are no other double clipped leashes on the market that can be used with a head halter and harness or collar, as their clips are too heavy.

Furthermore, this leash can be used with any other training tool as well, such as collars, and harnesses. The light cotton material is machine washable and durable for years of heavy use.
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Directions:

1. Clip one end to the chin ring of the Head Halter.
2. Clip the other end to the front D-ring of a Harness, or the D-ring of a flat neck collar.
3. Hold the leash in the middle, allowing it to remain loose on either side.
4. If your dog moves ahead, hold your leash hand down, as you turn quickly in the opposite direction.
5. The moment your dog is back at your side, praise and reward.

If you are using only one training tool, such as a harness or Head Halter, place one clip on the D-ring of the harness, or chin O-ring of the Head Halter. Fold over the other end into a handle.