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No Monkey Business Blog
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Helen Nicholls CPDT-KSA, CDBC, OSCT: Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2012 6:43 PM
 With "Sandy" approaching the Northeast quickly, I wanted to write a quick reminder to all dog owners and offer some tips to help you and your pets stay safe. - Make sure you are fully stocked up on pet food and bottled water and that you have accurate information on your dogs collar. You should also have all your pets medications in an easily accessible place so if you lose power you don't have to root around. Flashlights, batteries, etc can be kept in this area too. I suggest a large tupperwear container in an easy to find spot.
- Prepare a place in your home for your pet to go should the storm become worrying for them. A crate, covered by blankets hidden under the stairs or in a closet may be helpful. You should have it near or at the place that you and your family may have to move to should things get rough. You can sit with your dog if that is more comforting to them.
- If you have interactive toys handy, like Kongs, or even some empty bones, have some peanut butter and other non perishable goodies (squirt cheese, yummy biscuits, baby food, etc) put aside or near their hiding spot so you can continue to keep the storm a positive experience for them but loading up the toys and giving them something fun to do. I suggest doing this for dogs that even dont display anxiety, that way you are hopefully preventing anxiety from developing.
- If you can, play classical music for them if the wind, rain and noise is worrying. "Through a Dog's Ear" is fabulous, but if you dont have access to that, try single instrument classical music like Bach or Chopin.
- Always keep your dog leashed during storms, should they spook suddenly and try to run off. If the weather is really bad, it may not be safe to take your dog out for a walk or let them out to go to the bathroom. I always have a supply of pee pads for my dogs that I can set up in a corner of the basement just in case.
- Thundershirts, calming aids, etc should be ready for you to use just in case. Speak with your veterinarian if you are concerned.
- DON'T take your dog out to watch the storm!!! Even if you think it's cool, they don't! Stay inside.
- DON'T punish your dog for being worried or for displaying anxious behavior. If you dog wants to be near you, or needs physical contact to help him stay calm, allow it. He will appreciate it.
- Have a list of pet friendly hotels, or places with generators that can board your dog should you lose power. NEVER leave your dog or other pets behind.
 Stay safe! |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KSA, CDBC, OSCT: Posted on Friday, May 18, 2012 9:20 PM
I have been writing this post in my head for a long time now. Years, even. And some of you may think you are going to read something very different by what the title suggests, but this blog is about two subjects that are very near and dear to my heart, and it is my hope that by reading this, some people come away with a new perspective.  This past week (May 13th - 19th) is National Police Week, and next week (May 20th - 26th) is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. It seemed only appropriate for me to FINALLY write this blog post now seeing as these two weeks are very important to me both personally and professionally. I am a dog trainer married to a cop. This means I am bombarded daily with the stereotyping that is done by the media and the public on both pit bulls and police officers. Both parties suffer because of stereotyping and media portrayal and I wanted to take a moment to show the similarities between the two. Pit bulls are constantly in the media for "attacking" or "mauling" people and police officers nowadays can do nothing right, their every move is video taped, analyzed and publicized by the media in sometimes a very dirty and unfair way. Both parties get little to any real justice when the truth is finally fully revealed, and people are left viewing or perceiving that pit bulls are unpredictable, dangerous creatures, and police officers are brutal, racist, and not to be trusted.  The result of all this misinformation being thrown around is a love-hate relationship with both parties. People either love pit bulls, or run away screaming at the sight of one, and the same goes for cops. Most people who love pit bulls do so because they own one, they've worked with one, or they just like standing up against ignorance and intolerance. People who love cops are usually related to one, know one personally, or are in a similar profession. The people who hate or dislike pit bulls and/or cops, usually have had a negative experience with one, or had a friend who had one, OR are gathering most of their information from what they see on T.V. Am I saying that all pit bulls are wonderful and every cop is an angel? No. Of course not. But viewing one video of a dog or cop in a certain situation and then turning that into a stereotype that encompasses an entire BREED or PROFESSION is ignorant and cruel. The result is dogs dying and a war on the police profession. It gets us nowhere and ends tragically. What I AM saying is that we need to educate ourselves and those around us. When we see those news stories, or those videos on social media, take a step back and forget the drama of it and the "band wagon" we all want to jump on. Keep an open mind, ask critical questions and look at the situation as a whole, not as one incident that has been cleverly edited to appear as something else. Police officers risk their lives everyday protecting us. They miss holidays, birthdays and time with their loved ones to serve their community and keep us all safe. Tomorrow ends police week, and I ask that you take a moment to thank a local officer for his/her service. Trust me, it means more to them than you know. Pit bulls are an absolutely wonderful, loving breed and they die every day because of our ignorance. So for dog bite prevention week, I ask that instead of continuing to attempt to ban breeds, we ask how we can prevent bites by educating ourselves on dog body language, communication and factual information to prevent tragedies from happening. |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KSA, CDBC: Posted on Friday, September 23, 2011 8:24 AM
It has been forever since I have been able to sit down and write a post for you all! I am so sorry, summer was very busy and there were lots of events and workshops I needed to attend. I am still here though, and excited for what NMBDT will have to offer in the next couple of months. Holiday manners and tricks classes will soon be getting up and running. Holiday manners will begin October 8th at 12pm - 1pm and will be a mix of refresher work, as well as building up the distance and distractions needed for keeping you and your pet sane through the holiday season. We will also do some tricks training (to entertain your guests) and discuss holiday safety rules. Please call or email me to register for this exclusive class. Puppy socials are going to be running as usual every Sunday, and please bring with you some halloween decor and costumes if you can to help get your puppy used to being around those sights and sounds early.  Lastly, get ready for a fun day at NMBDT! We will be holding the first Happy Howl-0-Ween [party on October 30th from 12pm-2pm. Lots of fun, games and prizes and all proceeds go to the SPCA and Granite State Dog Recovery! Keep your eyes on the website and on facebook for more news and events happening, and as always, thank you for choosing NMBDT for your dog training needs! |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2011 9:05 PM
 Almost always in classes or in private consultations, I get asked a question that begins with "How do I stop him from ......." The behavior can be nipping, barking, jumping, etc etc. My answer varies from case to case, but I always insist that people take a look at what their dog is doing and ask themselves, "How do I PREVENT him from ......." or "What can I teach him to do INSTEAD of or BEFORE the ......." By preventing and working with your dog before the bad behavior occurs, you are not only teaching better habits that will stick, but you are not allowing bad habits to grow and become a problem later. By being a proactive dog owner rather than reactive, you are setting your dog up for a lifetime of success. Being PROACTIVE with your dog is much more helpful than being REACTIVE. There is a big difference between the two and can make a huge impact on your dogs behavior and the training process. This goes for puppy raising, working with fearful dogs, aggression general dog ownership. So what is the difference and how does that help me in training my dog? Here's a brief example of proactive as opposed to reactive; Person approaches you on the street to greet your very social and excited 3 month old puppy. - PROACTIVE owner tells person to please stop and not pet the puppy if it jumps, then gets their puppy in a sit and has the person approach as they reward or treat the puppy for sitting. (For puppies or dogs that are not able to sit with this level of distraction yet, this can also work with just dropping treats at the owners feet so the puppy just stands and is more interested in food on the ground than the initial approach)The person is told to kneel down and pet the puppy before the pup can leap off the ground, and to remove attention if puppy jumps up. Result? Puppy learns to sit or stand for petting instead of jumping all over for it.
- REACTIVE owner lets person walk right up to puppy, as puppy pulls ahead on leash and jumps all over person. Person starts to pet puppy, telling the owner he doesn't mind, but owner (frustrated after saying "off" six times) yanks puppy down and pushes on puppy's wiggly excited rear end to get him in a sit. Result? Puppy learns to pull ahead and jump all over people for attention, and then is rewarded by owner for this behavior also.
 Being a proactive dog owner takes WORK, constant work. It is a lifestyle in the way you work with your dog and the relationship you build. You are constantly one step ahead, not just waiting for your dog to fail so then you can train. It takes more effort at first, but because you are teaching good habits it means you will need to do less work later on. Reactive owners and their dogs tend to get frustrated because many times the training is inconsistent, so clear messages arent always being made to the dog and the bad habits continue or worsen. This message doesn't just work in raising a puppy, but in working with aggression, fear, and so much more! Proactive dog owners need to do lots of "set-ups" as they train. They don't just take their dog somewhere and hope for the best. They enlist friends, relatives, nerdy trainers like myself, to help them teach their puppies and dogs good habits and set them up for success, rather than failure. It takes work, but it is worth it! |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 6:00 PM
 The fourth of July is here, hooray! I do many workshops and help lots of dogs that have thunderstorm, firework and other sound phobias, so I thought I would write something for all you new puppy and dog owners out there on some ways to help prevent your puppy from developing these fears. Here are a few tips and ideas; 1. DON'T take your puppy or dog out to watch the fireworks with you!! If you have a new puppy, this is often a very exciting time and many families are tempted to bring Fido out to enjoy all the fun on the night of the 4th of July. Although this may seem like a great idea, families are often too distracted by children, the fireworks, and so much going on to actually be training their puppy, and often miss signs that the pup may feel overwhelmed or begin to get anxious after a few minutes of the noises. The puppy is flooded with loud, unpredictable noises and may become very stressed, and this can often set the stage for more sound phobia later in life. 2. DO give your puppy something wonderful to do and a place to go during the fireworks when or if you have to leave him. A Kong stuffed to the brim with yummy treats and frozen so it takes longer is a great treat to help keep your puppy happy during the noise and also teach him that fireworks = a fabulous treat! 3. DO give your puppy a safe place to go and let him go there if he wishes. A crate with the door open in a room where the noise is drowned out the most (a basement or bathroom), some soft classical music (www.throughadogsear.com) playing and their Kong will again help calm and also show puppies it really isnt that scary, it's a good thing! If your puppy isnt worried, do obedience training, play some scent games or just cuddle! All of those things will again help puppy learn that fireworks = fun. 4. DON'T forget the power of noisy toys! The kong wobbler, the nina ottosson pyramid and the premier magic mushroom make a TON of noise on tile and hardwood flooring. This can be a great way to drown out the fireworks, while using food to make your puppy feel wonderful about the whole ordeal! 5. DON'T leave your puppy alone with nothing to do, locked in a crate. Doing this can cause them to feel like the world is ending outside and they are all alone. It can panic them. Instead, plan on staying home with your puppy or designating someone in the household to stay and do the above steps with pup. If you must leave your puppy, make sure you give him plenty to do and in an area where the sounds will not be as severe with the music playing (www.throughadogsear.com) and if you can, check on him frequently to make sure he is coping well or to refill treat toys!  Finally - DON'T wait until it is too late to get help! Please contact a professional trainer to help you or answer questions if you have concerns either before or after the 4th. By helping your puppy have a fabulous time during fireworks, you are helping prevent him from fearing them in the future. It may mean you miss this years show, but it will be worth it! Plus, who wouldn't miss the fireworks for some puppy breath and a cuddle?? |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Friday, June 24, 2011 8:13 PM
Just wanted to share these pictures of me working one of my dogs, Atlas while dancing around the room with my teething 11 month old daughter. This is a beautiful way to include the dog and baby in an activity together and help keep Atlas stimulated and my daughter occupied! It doesn't have to be weaving through legs or rollover either, if your dog will just do a simple sit or down, doing that around the room in different areas, to music, while holding your baby is a lot of fun! Keep in mind that it is helpful to TOSS the treat to your dog when doing this so they don't jump up for the food, and the name of the game is fun, so put on your favorite songs, get your dogs favorite goodies out and have a blast! Younger babies that are still in Moby Wraps or Bjorns may not be fully aware, but the rocking of your body to the music is soothing and your dog will be making some really wonderful associations with baby during this time. Just practicing the basic obedience is especially important with the added distraction of the music, the baby and your movements! |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Friday, May 13, 2011 7:52 PM
Get ready, because I'm about to get really deep here! :)  Something many of my clients don't know about me is that I also have a degree in fine arts. On top of training dogs, I am a painter and artist and got into the crazy world of dog training through painting pet portraits in high school. People that find this out often are puzzled at how different dog training is to painting, but are always surprised when I tell them that in fact the two are very similar. Training a dog is very much like creating art, and critiquing a piece of art is very similar to working one on one with a client and their dog.   When I am creating a painting, there is a lot of planning, patience, brilliant moments and difficult mistakes that I have to work through in order to create a piece of work I am proud of. I work on the whole painting at once, layering colors, techniques and using different tools to help shape the art in the direction I want to go in. I am not afraid of mistakes, because they help me learn and move forward, but I am also careful not to get stuck on one area for too long because then the whole piece suffers. Training a dog is exactly the same thing. Only when working with a living, breathing creature, there is an even more delicate balance because they respond back with their own emotions and personality. Patience, consistency, a variety of tools, techniques and moments of brilliance and mistakes are all a part of the fantastic process. And in the end, the result is a breathtakingly beautiful bond between human and dog.  When critiquing someone's art, you are critiquing a part of who they are, and the same goes for working with a client and their dog. A dog is a family member, a friend. In college, I learned the very important process of critiquing someone else's art to help them not only feel confident in their creation, but also to help them see where they could improve without destroying their morale. Working with a client with a dog that has a problem behavior - whether it be jumping, or serious aggression - is not a time to be judgmental or critical. It is a time to educate, support and guide. Their dog is their family, and my job is to help steer them, and the dog, onto a road that is going to set them both up for success in the future, and right now.  So, in my opinion, there is a great similarity in painting and creating art, to that of training a dog, or any animal for that matter. The skills I learn from training dogs I apply to my art, and the skills I learn in painting I often apply to training dogs. Both are fields that I never stop learning in, and am constantly learning something new from, which makes the journey that much more exciting and fun! All images are owned and created by Helen Elizabeth Katherine Nicholls. Use of these images without permission or written consent may result in legal action. |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 6:58 PM
I got a great follow-up email from a client and wanted to share the results with you. Mainly because Samson (a young neutered male boxer) is a wonderful dog and his owners are dedicated, fantastic dog parents. They have kept up with all the training he has needed and it is really paying off! Samson had been in puppy classes from a young age, and is a typical boxer; goofy, loves his food, and lacks impulse control. He did very well in classes and when he hit adolscence, his owners continued to work with him through the ups and downs. Their concerns came when Samson began growling at them when they approached his food bowl and he was eating. They had played the "exchange game" with him and he did fine, but this seemed to be getting worse, and with a young child in the house, this couldn't continue. We scheduled a home visit to see what could be going on. When I arrived Samson greeted me with his usual goofy self, and after discussing some other areas that Samson still needed work on, including pushy behavior when the family watched T.V. at night, we began talking about the food bowl problem. I asked the family to show me where Samson was fed, with what bowl, and also asked them to get me out his food bag so I could show them the "food bowl game." I placed Samson's dish on the ground - a ceramic dish, about 6 inches wide - and left it there empty. Samson looked at me like I was nuts. He was obviously very interested in when the food was going to arrive. I took a small handful of his dinner, that was measured out in a cup, walked over to the dish and dropped a few bits of kibble in. It was then I noticed an immediate problem. Samson's dish was FAR too small for him. Because of his short, wide, and flat muzzle, getting any piece of food out of his small dish was torture, and he became extremely wound up trying to get the kibble out. It was fine when he was a puppy, but now as an adult it was too small, which also matched why the problem had seemingly suddenly appeared. Once he had finished the food, he looked at me with the "that's ALL I get" look, and I repeated the same exercise as before, going over and dropping a few bits of food in. I continued this game until he had eaten his whole meal. By the time I was on the last bit of food, when I walked over to his dish he was so pleased to see me you would have thought I was covered in peanut butter. His family was shocked. Usually when they placed all his kibble in at once he was tense and desperately trying to gulp down every morsel in one bite, and even if they walked by he got worried. This had slowed the process down for him and made me coming over to his dish a GOOD thing, not something to worry about. Me = more food! YEY! I told them to continue this exercise for the next week and then move onto the next steps of the game as he got better and we continued to work together. I also advised they up his meals a little to make him not as ravenous when he ate. My biggest advice to them that day however was the CHANGE the food dish. Samson's muzzle and the dish's size was making eating very difficult, and so he was very stressed and tense about eating. This is also a great example of how a HOME visit can make a huge difference in working on solving a dog's behavior problems. Being able to see the "dish" was very helpful. I got an email from Samson's family only a few days later regarding his improvements already, and I am thrilled with his progress so far. We still have work to do, but with patience, consistency, and a bigger dish, I think we are on the right track! :) "Helen, Just wanted to touch base with you. Wow, what a difference a game and dog dish makes. We upped his intake a bit and we play the dish game every time we feed him. It is to the point now where he stops eating altogether and follows us if we leave the room. Or, when we approach him he looks up at us and actually goes into a sit position as we put the food in his bowl. So weird. He is like a docile kitten. He even leaves food in his dish now and he used to gobble it all up so fast. We will always continue to play this game as it makes me feel good that he is actually docile, and also because I want to be sure he doesnt forget where the food comes from. " *PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR DOG IS DISPLAYING ANY FORM OF RESOURCE GUARDING YOU SHOULD CONTACT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER FOR HELP. EVERY DOG AND EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT AND THERE ARE MANY METHODS TO HELP MODIFY BEHAVIOR* |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2011 7:55 AM
I get asked whether it is better to rescue a puppy or an adult dog from a rescue several times a month, and since there is no easy answer to that question, I decided to write out a few things to remember when making this decision.  The biggest piece of the puzzle when rescuing or adopting a dog, is what's the rescue itself is like and what their behavior evaluation system is. Some shelters and rescues have behavior evaluation protocols in place so that they can tell you what your prospective new pooch's pluses and minuses are when it comes to his behavior. Others do not, but they may have the dogs in foster homes and the foster parents will be able to give you detailed information on the dogs behavior around children, other dogs, cats, etc. There are shelters and rescues that have none of these protocols in place, but may have dedicated staff that take the time to get to know the dog and can give you an outline of the dogs skill level and any issues they may see. Puppies and adults can be evaluated, but some shelters only do adults. However, my point is, before you decide on a puppy or adult from a rescue, assess your rescue and decide if they have an evaluation policy that is to your liking. Something that is important to consider if you decide to adopt an adult dog, is to settle on what kind of behavior problems you can live with, and those that you can't. It is not fair to assume that every dog in a shelter has a behavior issue, but there are some that do. Make sure that when you adopt your adult dog you are willing to put the time and effort into doing some training to help them merge into your family and situation successfully. If you like the look of one adult dog, but his behavior problems (like chasing cats when you already own four) would make the transition for you and him difficult, try to find a dog that would best fit your lifestyle - even if he isn't as cute as the other one. That way, both you and the dog end up happy and well adjusted, rather than frustrated and upset.  Adopting a puppy can be a lot of fun, but keep in mind that every puppy is different and unlike adult dogs, you may not be able to know what size they will be when they grow up. If you have your heart set on a particular size, color and look of dog, an adult dog may be best. Puppies also are a lot of work in general, and some shelter or rescue puppies may have been taken from bad circumstances, which could mean that potty training or socializing them may take a little extra effort. Take some time at the shelter to meet each puppy individually and see if there is one whose temperament speaks to you over the others. Although a puppy will be easier to mold to your lifestyle and household than perhaps an adult dog, puppies are still a lot of work and require a lot of training as they grow up - something that an adult dogs may have already had!  There is no specific right or wrong way to rescue a dog, because if you go to your local shelter you will see how many faces need homes. Rescuing an adult dog or a puppy is giving an animal a new lease on life and will help enrich your life in ways you didn't know possible. However, it is very important you do your research to decide what best fits your lifestyle. If you need help, contact your local trainer to see if they can accompany you to look at a few dogs you like and see what their opinion is. Some trainers even do behavior evaluations for potential owners with the shelters permission to ensure a positive adoption outcome. Take your time and you will find that once you find the dog that is best for you, both you and he will never look back! Thinking of adopting? Did you know that Helen will help you find the right dog for your home?? Contact us to learn more! |
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Helen Nicholls, CPDT-KA, CDBC: Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2011 8:30 PM
 We have all seen the images by Norman Rockwell of a boy and his dog playing happily together, and many of us have wonderful childhood memories of playing with our family dog. Kids and dogs living happily together is one of the sweetest sights to see, but there are a few things you must remember as a parent when letting your child interact with the family dog (or any dog) safely. Firstly, supervision is vital. Dogs have a tolerance level just like we do, and kids sometimes don't always recognize when they are pushing a dog too much or making them uncomfortable. Some dogs have a very high tolerance level, and others do not. It is your job as a parent, and as a dog owner, to monitor and supervise your dog and young child all the time. I have seen the consequences of this rule being broken far too many times to ever say that it is flexible. The bottom line is to never leave them unattended together. If you have to leave the room, have your dog follow you, or put him in his crate or a gated off room where he will be safe. You cannot be too careful, and although it seems tedious at first, it will soon become a habit that you, your dog, and your child will be happy with. Educate yourself and your kids on dog body language and signs that your dog may be uncomfortable. A great resource is doggonesafe.com, which has pictures you can download and show your kids! You can even put them on the fridge as a reminder. Talk to them about why it is so important to know these signs not only with the family dog, but with dogs at their friends houses, who may not tolerate some situations the way their own dog does. The more you know what to look for, the more you can prevent circumstances that could end badly. Also, teach your kids to play safe when they do interact with the dog. Show them fun games like fetch, or hide and seek (supervised of course) that both they and your dog with love! If you feel you need help learning canine body  language, or other tips, call your local trainer and have them visit the house for a mini class with the kids. Surprisingly, kids love to learn about what to look for and even start telling you what you are doing wrong! Knowing your dogs limits is also crucial. Once you have learned about dog body language, and have started seeing signals that your dog may be uncomfortable when your child grabs their paws for example, you must take action and intervene. The more a dog realizes that his signals are not being heard, the more likely it is he will move to other clearer signals, like growling, snapping, or biting. He is doing his job by trying to communicate, and you must do yours and listen to what he is saying. Kids that are very young don't always understand, so helping your dog by removing them from the situation and providing relief will make him feel much happier and more confident that you have everything under control. Understand that just because your dog doesn't want to be a furry climbing frame, it doesn't mean he is a bad dog! Finally, get help when you need it. If you are concerned about your dogs behavior around your child, do not wait until there is an incident before contacting a professional for help. There are many steps you can take to help increase your dogs tolerance with kids and it is imperative you start the work before your dog crosses a line that many parents cannot forgive. Talk with your vet or consult a qualified local trainer to get tips, resources and help. When your dog and child live happily together with mutual respect for each other, you are creating a relationship and memories that will last a lifetime. |
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