Canine Play Styles

CPT Trainers often get asked, “Is my dog playing or fighting?” Similarly, our Head Trainers conduct behavioral analyses of dogs removed from dog day care because the day care operator and dog owner are uncertain regarding the intent of a dog’s behavior or because the operator says that a dog plays “too rough.”

Therefore, the natural segue leads to several questions:

How can I tell if my dog is playing or fighting?
How rough is too rough?
What criteria should I evaluate when selecting playmates for my dog?
When and how should I intervene when my dog plays with another dog?

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CPT Training a Deaf Dog

CPT Training a Deaf Dog

To compound the difficulty in designing his lesson plan, T-Bone is deaf. Therefore, due to a busy work schedule and the complexity of his training, our client opted for CPT’s board training program.

To compensate for T-Bone’s hearing impairment it is essential that we start the board training process with relationship building. Before we commence intense training, we need T-Bone to trust the trainer, to feel secure amidst the trainer, and to receive indisputable enjoyment from playtime and sustenance activities with the trainer.

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Teaching Weave Poles

Becca and Inny- Weave Poles

When teaching weave poles:

1) Start by using spread weaves to build speed, where your dog runs through the interior of the wide poles. Have a spotter hold your dog by the leash or collar while you walk through the middle of the weaves, turn, face your dog, and call your dog through the spread poles. Your dog should run to you with enthusiasm.

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Understanding Veterinary Lingo

Pet's Health- Veterinary

Do you ever visit your veterinarian or view a veterinary report and wonder: “What does this mean?” Do you sometimes feel intimidated by your veterinarian or the responsibility of making a medical decision for your dog?

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Loose Leash Walking

Kathleen with Lily and Ferghus- Rick with Loki- CPT-Loose Leash Walking

No need to worry, CPT has the solutions. With CPT’s leash walking protocols you will soon be able to walk multiple family dogs simultaneously on a loose leash.

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The CPT Doorway Behavior Drill

The CPT Doorway Behavior Drill- Dog Training- Dog Behavior Modification

The following video demonstrates the CPT Doorway Behavior Drill. The goals of the drill are: 1) to provide a replacement behavior (sitting) in lieu of jumping or lunging, 2) to allow the calm owner to take control of the doorway greeting process from the dogs, 3) to provide the dogs a specific protocol to perform at the door, 4) to calm the dogs and institute impulse control, and 5) to countercondition the dogs so that they feel more secure and trusting of visitors invited into the house.

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Training Tip: Multi-Dog Households

Dog Training Tip- Multi-Dog Household

TRAINING TIP: If you have a multi-dog household, to foster superior communication, bonding, attentiveness, and obedience, periodically separate the dogs to spend one-on-one time, especially during “quality” activities, such as walks, play, and training.

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Addressing On-Leash Dog-Dog Reactivity- Part 2- CPT Surround Dog Drills

Dog Reactivity- CPT Surround Dog Drills- Dog in Front and Behind

The videos in this post show the CPT Surround Dog Drills. The Surround Dog Drills literally surround the subject dog with two or more volunteer dogs. Therefore, the amount of stimulation is multiplied from the initial set of CPT Dog Reactivity Drills. The Surround Dog Drills are very similar to the Reactivity Drills that incorporate one volunteer, except for the Walking in Pack Drills we will place a volunteer simultaneously in front and in back of the subject dog or on each side of the subject dog. In the Dual Approach Drills volunteer dogs will approach on each side. Consequently, the Surround Dog drills are vastly more difficult.

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Addressing On-Leash Dog-Dog Reactivity

Lola-German Shepherd- Addressing On-Leash Reactivity- Behavior Modification- CPt- Comprehensive Pet Therapy

Lola was mostly neglected by her initial owner, who agreed to re-home Lola to someone who would provide Lola more quality time. When Maureen rescued Lola at l-year of age, Lola exhibited reactive behavior on-leash when meeting unfamiliar people or dogs. Maureen had difficulty walking or socializing Lola, due to Lola’s vigorous pulling, barking, and lunging.

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Practicing Down-Stays While Board Training with CPT

Board Training- Joe the Cockapoo

Joe the Cockapoo practicing down-stays while board training with CPT Trainer Megan Sinteff Jefferson. The down-stay exercise is important for keeping a dog safe outdoors and under control indoors. Therefore, upon graduation from board training we expect Joe to be a safe, controlled Cockapoo!

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The Benefits of Dog Training

the benefits of dog training

Pets can bring great joy, comfort, and love to our lives.  Nevertheless, a well-behaved pet is certainly more pleasant company than is an ill-mannered, obstreperous, or rambunctious pet. Fortunately, training can help maximize the joy we receive from our pet.  Just like we educate our children, where the process benefits both parent and child, dog […]

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Reducing Compulsive On-Leash Nonaggressive Vocal Reactivity Amidst Unfamiliar Dogs

Scruffy-Toy Poodle- On-Leash Reactivity- Behavior Modificiation

Michelle brought Scruffy, her Toy Poodle, to CPT after he failed 2 Happy Tails evaluations due to compulsive nonaggressive vocal reactivity (barking and whining) amidst unfamiliar dogs. To address the problem, in a pristine environment we began employing a variety of impulse control protocols that encouraged Scruffy to remain calm, quiet, and attentive. We then introduced a volunteer dog to the environment. Using a clicker, intermittent food rewards, and several systematic desensitization drills that encompassed multiple spatial and motion perspectives in which Scruffy may encounter a dog, we gradually taught Scruffy vocal inhibitory control. In simple terms, Scruffy learned that “slow is fast- and fast is slow.” We educated Scruffy that quiet behavior is more fortuitous than barking or whining and that he will more quickly achieve contact with the other animal if he remains composed, rather than exhibits excitable or demanding vocal behavior.

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MRI Practice: Truffles Practicing for the “Danny Faces” fMRI Experiment

fMRI- MRI-The Dog Project- Canine Neuroscience- CPT

This video shows Truffles, owned by Diana Delatour, practicing for the upcoming “Danny-Faces” Experiment. To prepare for a live fMRI scan Truffles must first practice on the floor at home. Then, Truffles will complete a real life dress-rehearsal in the CPT MRI simulator. Once graduating from the dress rehearsal, Truffles will participate in a live fMRI scan at Emory University, which Truffles will complete cooperatively without sedation or restraints.

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