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DESTRUCTIVE DOGS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS SEPARATION ANXIETY

December 8, 2020 By Sara Bryanton Leave a Comment

DESTRUCTIVE DOGS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS SEPARATION ANXIETY CASES

Boston terrier chewed door

 

By Sara Bryanton, CPDT

Head trainer

Unleashed Potential, PEI

 

I get a lot of emails and phone calls to help people who say their dog has separation anxiety. Some have been prescribed anxiety meds. This is why we do 45-60 minute free consultations and assessments. I will spend more time with you then most experts asking many questions about your dog’s history, breeding, development, their habits, their responses to stimuli, your habits, your routines, environmental changes, food being fed, physical and mental stimulation, your work schedule, travel life etc. 

 

After finding all of that out, quite often it is not a case of separation anxiety but a case of destructive behaviour due to boredom and lack of stimulation. That is why your anxiety meds aren’t working. 😉

 

If your dog lacks mental and physical stimulation they tend to seek out their own “tasks.”  They need an outlet for their energy and if no outlet is provided they engage in destructive behaviour to vent out the energy. 

 

In this instance, I will likely not recommend meds for your dog but here is what I will recommend:

 

🐶 MENTAL & PHYSICAL ENERGY BURN. Engage with your dog with fun and challenging interactions doing obedience training games everyday. Make their new daily “tasks” fun and engaging.  Sit, down, heel, place, come, stand, stay in position and other fun tricks that they can problem solve and be active in are important.  Challenge them to learn how to do it without relying on lures or bribes, instead create a thinking dog who can problem solve, find their advantage and think they are in control. 

 

🐶 No more leaving them alone to exercise themselves mindlessly on your property. YOU exercise them. YOU engage them daily with fun activities such as fetch, tug, flirt pole use, walks, runs, bike rides, swimming and nose work.  YOU supervising and engaging with your dog. They will love it and you at a deeper level.  Why doesn’t a dog listen to its owner? Because often the owner is boring, not present, not engaged, not reliable and the most common word spoken is “no!” Be the cool kid in school that your dog wants to hang out with. 

 

🐶 Teach your dog to have an off switch. Many owners focus on constantly stimulating their dogs with play, enrichment and exercise. This is great and please don’t stop! But the problem with that alone is, it can create adrenaline junkies who can not sit still and always need to be doing something. Teach down-stays on ‘place’ and reward calm behaviour. Make sure they are getting proper sleep. Adult dogs need 12-14 hours a day of sleep. Like kids, your dog might choose not to rest. Make them rest by using a kennel or teaching place command after their Energy Burn needs have been met. Destructive behaviours increase with lack of sleep.

 

🐶 Feed them nutritious healthy food. Not all food is created equal and just because your bag costs $100 doesn’t guarantee it’s good for them. Dog food companies are masters of marketing and masters of making you think their food is natural and healthy when it is not. It’s our job as pet parents to know exactly what we are buying and feeding our dogs. Poor food choices can hinder brain function and contribute to aggression and destructive behaviours. Links below for websites you should study. 

 

🐶 And lastly, take action. Mike Hawkins from Planet of Success says-

 

“ You don’t get results by focusing on the results, you get results by focusing on the actions that produce results.” 

 

Dog training is a lifestyle. Set intentions to work with your dog every day and teach them what you expect with fun, food and engagement. Those intentions will turn into habits and those habits will then become second nature. Your dog is only on this earth for a short while. Don’t waste the opportunity. ❤️

 

Love, 

Coach Sara

 

LINKS

 

www.unleashedpotential.ca Find out more about dog training services.

Unleashed Potential K9 Academy® is a registered private training school under the Private Training Schools Act of the Province of Prince Edward Island.

Sign up for free dog training videos, see what food and supplies we carry in our webstore and book your free consult with a certified trainer. 

 

www.truthaboutpetfood.com Non-profit pet food advocacy group. 

 

www.planetpaws.com Nova Scotian, Rodney Habib, has become the worlds leading dog food nutritionist and currently has over 3.5 million followers. Find out the latest news on all things food, Science-based info on increasing your pet’s life span, DIY tips and ideas of things you can do at home to enrich your dog’s life and more. 

 

Sara with Kyro and Hurtta

 

Filed Under: Sara Bryanton, Uncategorized, UPK9 Main Blog

One Way to Teach Your Dog the Heel Position

July 2, 2019 By Duke Ferguson 2 Comments

There are many ways to teach your dog to come into the heel position. This one is easy to do and you do not need any other tools to help you. Just food and a leash!

If your dog does not understand this position it will be harder to get the dog to heel properly while walking.

Motion is the next step but far too many people skip this first step.

Enjoy this video featuring  Unleashed Potential New Jersey

 

Would you like  FREE dog training advice? OR to just learn more about Duke’s philosophy on dog training?  GET ACCESS HERE to his Exclusive, FREE Mini video series  Click Here!! This mini-series is not found on Youtube… Get Access Now… You will love it and you can share it with your friends and family.

Find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your  FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can purchase one of Duke’s  Dog Training Genesis video training programs and become a private member  CLICK on the photo below of Duke and his dogs.

ARE YOU A TRAINER LOOKING TO BETTER YOUR SKILLS  OR SOMEONE WANTING TO LEARN TO BECOME A DOG TRAINER,  JOIN THE UPK9 TEAM OR NEED COACHING? CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN  TRAIN WITH DUKE FERGUSON

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Learn More About Dog Training Genesis CLICK HERE!

Be sure to follow us on FACEBOOK  and subscribe to us on YouTube

 

 

 

Filed Under: Kristen Tedesco

Bear and Gunner Together Successfully! UPK9 Dog Training Success Story!

June 14, 2019 By Duke Ferguson 2 Comments

Bear and Gunner

Bear and Gunner trained with Unleashed Potential K9 because they would fight with each other in the same home, with no known trigger. Their owners were living a stressed out life with a baby on the way, managing two dogs that they were too afraid to have out together. Once we determined that their trigger was resources, we were able to start rehabbing their relationship. Apart from that, Gunner used to act extremely fearful when people would come to the house, refusing to socialize. After 4 private lessons and 3 weeks of Boarding and Training, here is what their owner, Jasmine, had to say.

“Major breakthrough, have to share.

We have people over for a regular poker night. Normally Bear would be downstairs with the guys and Gunner would be in the bedroom before anyone even showed up because he would lose it and bark out of major fear. That’s where he’d spend the night. I’d tried to bring him downstairs before but there was too many people, he’d bark and run away.

Tonight…..

I left Bear in the kennel and put Gunner on Place. Our first friend arrived and Gunner didn’t bark, he was happy. Eventually we broke him and he smelled our friend and didn’t seem too bothered. People arrived one by one which worked great, it gave Gunner time to see them and they all knew better than to try to approach him because that was the closest they’d ever gotten to him!

To make a long story short (sorry but I’m flabbergasted)… he didn’t bark once at anyone and didn’t run away. He even wagged his tail when a few people petted him carefully and gave him treats.

We got Bear out and placed them both. I went even a step further and brought him down to the poker room and this is where I was mind blown…He came in and walked around the table wagging his tail! Being normal. First time he ever went in the basement during a poker night, and he was comfortable and not sketched out. Some of these guys had never even seen Gunner because he was always hiding, and Bear did amazing too! He let Gunner do his thing and didn’t bother him, he was calm and obedient and respectful. Bear is getting some bed time with the guys and I’m with gunner upstairs on bed so they can each relax. ”

Ahhhhhh success!

 

Are you at your wits end with your dog’s behavior and would like to have control, sanity, and above all else, safety? No matter the age or breed, please contact me now,  I assure you, I can help!

Book your FREE consultation and demonstration today!
Send an email to camellias@upk9.ca  Like us on Facebook
!

Not in my area? Find a trainer near you! 

For more information on how you can  purchase Duke’s Dog Training Genesis and become a member  CLICK  HERE 

Filed Under: Camellia Saunderson, Testimonials

Overly Excited, Pushy Dog? How to Calm Your Dog Down in Minutes

April 29, 2019 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

1 Simple Trick to Calm the Overly Excited Dog and Get Attention Fast

Some dog trainers and dog owners believe that using food in dog training causes overexcitement, over-arousal, and creates a dog that is too pushy so they stop using the food or never begin with it.  They don’t believe an overly excited, pushy dog can learn to calm and pay attention with food alone.

This is a false belief.

In this video, I’ll show you how easy it can be to get a pushy dog, who really wants the food that I have, to calm down, pay attention by giving me eye contact and think, in order to get the food.

It’s so easy it could be considered lazy dog training!

If you enjoyed this video, please Subscribe to our YouTube channel (P.S. Click the bell icon to get notifications when we post a new video)

SUMMARY

  • The overly excited pushy dogs need to learn to calm down to eat and the weak dog needs to become pushier to eat.
  • Trainers and pet owners sometimes believe that food will make a dog too pushy and too jumpy.
  • People say, stand still and the dog will stop jumping. They will eventually but why not use food and create a thinking dog?
  • When a dog starts thinking, when they actually start using their brain, they stop the jumping and other unwanted behaviours.

dog not paying attention

  • Pay attention and look in my eyes to get the food reward.

Calm dog paying attention

  • Think of this:  if the dog charges at the bush (being overly excited), there will be no rabbits (food) in that bush.  When the dog figures out that if she looks into my eyes (calms down, and pays attention) it will make rabbits (food!) come from the bush and she eats.

 

The Liver Bites I use and train with every day.  Freeze-dried, all-natural liver bites with no preservatives.

Liver Bites - Dog Treats

 

 

treat pouch to hold high value food to calm the pushy dog
Unleashed Potential Training Pouch

Would you like FREE  puppy training or dog training advice? OR to just learn more about Duke’s philosophy on dog training?  GET ACCESS HERE to his exclusive, FREE mini-video series.  This mini-series is not found on YouTube… Get Access Now… You will love it!

Contact us HERE

 

Want to book a workshop with Duke Ferguson? CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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Full Transcript-

Overly Excited Dog? How to Calm Your Dog Down and Get Attention in Minutes

[The following is the full transcript of this YouTube video. Please note that this video, features Duke speaking extemporaneously–he is unscripted and unedited. Filmed in one take].

 

Hey there, it’s Duke Ferguson, the owner CEO and master trainer of Unleashed Potential K9 and creator of Dog Training Genesis.

In this video, I want to address the myth that too many trainers and too many pet owners tell me about and that is food making dogs too amped, too pushy, too crazy and they can’t train them because they’re too hungry. That’s further from the truth. So in this video, I want to show you an actual example of how you can get a dog to use his brain, and to calm down and think, in order to get the food while you don’t have to do anything. The dog is the one that’s actually putting out, trying, and you’re barely doing anything at all. It’s just that easy. Here’s a clip from my Monroe, Washington seminar and it shows exactly that. I hope you enjoy it! Before you start the video, be sure to subscribe to see future videos, just like this one.

I want to address the myth that too many trainers and too many pet owners tell me about and that is food making dogs too amped, too pushy, too crazy and they can’t train them because they’re too hungry. That’s further from the truth.

So the pushy dog, remember I said, I’ll get her all amped. The pushy dog needs to learn to calm down to eat,  and the weak dog needs to put out to eat. So, let her push. I’m looking for anything.  Notice the pushiness just kinda stopped. I don’t care what she does I’ll either go…If I’m looking for eye contact she jumps on this board, I’ll mark that. I’m just getting her brain to work. I’m talking to you guys. This is a dog doing reactive stuff,  just what they know, what they can get away with. And she’ll learn to start using her brain and she’ll look into my eyes. I can sit on a chair. Do you want to see the look on her face? Just hang tight.

The overly excited, pushy dog needs to learn to calm down to eat,  and the weak dog needs to put out to eat.

The dog’s a bit nervous. When they are really hungry, touch. okay. We will go this way to see. There’s the food, I want eye contact. When a dog starts thinking, when actually start using their brain, they stop all this sh** and they think, huh, charging the bush… there are no rabbits in that bush. Ah,  See? Simple.

So in theory, people could say, stand still and the dog will stop jumping. They want you. They will eventually, but you’ll get all scratched to crap. If they want food, all they’re doing is licking and pushing on my hand. And I can discourage that pushiness, by taking it away. So, I can make it faster. So let’s say they’re really pushy when she goes to it, I pull away. You can play catch to build a little dopamine. So you can actually use your food as prey as well. Now I’m going to make it more distracting.  She learns, to get distracted by this you starve! Sit down and think, how do I get that? She doesn’t understand, right, so I make it easy. So notice I pull away. See the brain working?

So you can actually use your food as prey as well.

Put your camera right on her face, the look, she’s like. Come see it, just her head, this dog her brain, you can smell the wheels turning in there and there’s smoke coming out of her ears, every so often, it’s great! Okay. I can do this, all day, and she’ll learn to stare in my eyes. . So fast, “Chip” And it happens faster, faster, faster See it? See the eyes? She’s thinking. You want a thinking dog. No GPS help. I’m not doing this: Look, look, oh good girl! Don’t do that. Don’t do that. That drives me crazy. So now, you’re not paying her, and that’s okay? because she’s looking at you. Right, because she’s putting out and I can talk to you and she’s still thinking. Now I’m talking to you guys and look at the dog. She’s putting out. Yeah. So I don’t need to do the cheerleading and it’s less effort. That’s called lazy dog training. Look, here’s the pouch man, holy cow! Look at her thinking. “Chip” Look in the guy’s eyes, make rabbits come from the bush and eat it. She learns. Hey, pretty quick. That’s an easy thing I know what to do. I’m already waving around.  Notice how people are like “Don’t distract the dog.” “Don’t distract, In training, don’t distract my dog.”

I’m talking to you guys and look at the dog; she’s putting out.  So I don’t need to do the cheerleading and it’s less effort

 

 

Filed Under: Duke Ferguson, UPK9 Main Blog

Duke Ferguson: Teaching a Submissive Dog Self Control While Building Hope and Desire

February 27, 2019 By Duke Ferguson Leave a Comment

Duke Ferguson Coaching New UPK9 NJ Trainers How to Teach a Submissive Dog Self Control While Building Hope and Desire Using E-Collar and Positive Rewards.

Despite what some people may say about using food in dog training, It does not have to amp the dog up. Food used with the right method can calm a dog OR amp up a dog…It’s all on how you use the food and what your goals is!  Food is just a tool used in a  process!

Despite what some people may say about  E-Collars being inhumane and ruining dogs or making them scared and submissive, E-Collars can be used with the right method on submissive and fearful dogs to help them focus and be calm as well as motivate and encourage the dog to go, go, go.  Its all on how you use the e collar and what your goal is!   E-Collar is just a tool used in a process.

It is also false statements and beliefs that people who use e collars do not use positive reinforcement.

Tools Are Not Methods and Methods are Not Tools!!

Would you like  FREE dog training advice?  GET ACCES HERE to his Exclusive, FREE Mini video series!

To find a UPK9 Trainer near you or to Book your  FREE Demonstration and Consult Click Here

For more information on how you can  purchase Dog Training Genesis and become a member  CLICK  HERE or on the photo below of Duke and his dogs.

ARE YOU A TRAINER LOOKING TO BETTER YOUR SKILLS OR SOMEONE WANTING TO LEARN TO BECOME A DOG TRAINER or JOIN THE UPK9 TEAM ? CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN COME AND TRAIN WITH DUKE FERGUSON OR BECOME A COACHING CLIENT

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Learn More About Dog Training Genesis CLICK HERE !

Follow us on FACEBOOK  and subscribe to  us on YouTube

 

 

Filed Under: Duke Ferguson, UPK9 Main Blog

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RSS The Weekly Recall with Duke Ferguson

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    What if the thing costing you the most in your life isn’t your dog, your circumstances, or the people around you — but a lack of self-control in the moments that matter most? In this episode of The Weekly Recall, Uncle Duke goes deep on the skill that changes everything: self-control. He breaks down why […]

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