Utah Animal Adoption Center

Weekly Dog Training Tip

The Adrenaline Rush (Oct 23rd)

There are so many aspects to dog training that just don’t pertain to technique. This week I want to focus on the “drama triangle” and when we are on the drama triangle with our dogs behavioral issues seem to lock in place rather than shift.

Many of you may not be familiar with the drama triangle.  There are three positions on this triangle “victim,” “villain,” and “hero.”  Whenever we are in conflict with money, relationships (including with our dogs), our business, etc. we are on the drama triangle.  The benefits of being on the triangle is an adrenaline rush similar to riding a roller coaster ride.  It actually can be fun for most of us (an addiction)!

When you are training your dog if you are being a hero then your dog has to be a victim or villain.  If you are a victim when training your dog then your dog has to be a hero or a villan.  If you are a villain than your dog has to be victim or a hero.

What does this mean?  A victim generally says  ”poor me!”  You could be whining “My dog won’t listen to me!”  or ” I just can’t get my dog to behave!”.  A villain is attacking and might say “What is your problem?”.  You could say to your dog “You need to listen to me!”  or “You are listening to me because you want to misbehave on purpose!”.  A hero generally says “I will save you!”.  This could be done when you see your dog reacting “Oh you are scared!  Let me calm you down” or “Let me reassure you so you know all is okay”.

All of these methods are away from essence.  When you are training your dog I invite you to check in and notice if you are on the drama triangle.  When you notice you are on the drama triangle you can do one of the following to get back into open space / essence:

• Breath through your belly and choose to shift to love and wonder.
• Breath and move your body (run, dance, or just move any body part easefully).
• Take a training break and play with your dog.

When adrenaline is high constriction in the body is high.  As a result, energy and emotions have a hard time flowing through the body.  You then have a harder time creating the results you want.  By being in open space you are able to manifest solutions much faster

Notice if you have an extremely tough or rough behavior problem.  Are you on the drama triangle?  Remember you don’t have to stay there.  Choose love, essence, and wonder instead.

I have seen this process work time and time again with my clients.  Even still, I would love to hear experiences as people shift off the drama triangle and move into essence!  Please submit your personal experiences.

Happy Training!
via Four Legged Scholars LLC – Dog Training.

Spunky Dachshund/Miniature Pinscher mix

My name is Pony, I am an adorable one year old Dachshund/Miniature Pinscher mix. I like to listen intently, you will find me with my right ear straight up when I am interested in what you are saying.

Weekly Pet Tip – Gratitude

I have a dream.  My dream is a ranch that I own where disabled come to experience love through dance, hypnosis, life coaching, etc.  There are also rescue dogs on this ranch that are yearning for love as well.  The children coming to the ranch experience unconditional love through obedience training and bonding with the dogs.

My life coach, Megan Sillito with Lifeworks Strategies, lead me through an amazing experience last week.  I am in the process of manifesting this ranch.  What I have learned is gratitude for what is now.  As I carry the vibration of love and light that I feel when I am on the ranch right now then the ranch comes easefully.

I want to walk you through a process where you can do the same with your dogs. It is very powerful in creating the behavior you want and desire.

1.) Think of what you want to create with your dog: walking on a loose leash, sit stay, calm behavior, quiet behavior, relaxed behavior, etc.  whatever it may be.  

2.) Pick an object in your house that resembles this goal.  For me I used a mirror which resembled the ranch.

3.) Place the object on the floor.  Walk away from the object so that you are creating a path toward the object.

4.) Take one step forward focusing on your goal and check into your body.  Notice what you feel and what thoughts come up.  Remain at this step until you are feeling in the moment and present with this step.

5.) Repeat step 4 over and over again until you reach your goal.  Remember to fully settle into each step so that you are not rushing.  Checking in with your body to discover what you might be learning from your body.

6.) Once you reach your goal pick up the object.  Check in with your body and notice what you feel.  Take the feeling into your body fully.

7.) Go back to the beginning of the path and take this body feeling with you.

Remember whatever you are training your dog to do it is learning journey that you have the chose to love or not.  Loving is the fastest way to shift into open space and leaves room for the behavior you want to train to develop faster. 

Also notice a feeling of longing, hope and desperation while you are training your dog training creates the process to be hard.  Carry the vibration in your body as if you have reached the dog training goal now:)  This shows much gratitude and appreciation for what you have now.  How fun!

I hope you find this exercise very helpful.  The more I shift into love the more I manifest and create.  I hope you find the same with your dog training.

Best Training Wishes!via Four Legged Scholars LLC – Dog Training.

Weekly Dog Training Tip!

Teaching Drop – Oct. 9th

Many times it is easy to just grab something out of your dog’s mouth.  This can encourage your dog to bite you and even play keep away.  A much better option is to train your dog to spit things out of his mouth on command with a “drop” command.

• Your dog has a toy show him a treat in your open hand.  As your dog drops the toy say, “drop.”  Then C/T (click and treat).
• Open your hand as if presenting a treat and say “drop.” When your dog drops the toy C/T.
• When your dog has a toy just try saying, “drop.”  If your dog drops the toy then C/T.  If your dog does not drop the toy then present your open hand (just as you did when you had a treat in it) but this time do not have a treat in it.  C/T when your dog drops the toy.
• Eventually your dog should “drop” the object with just the command.

If your dog aggressively guards objects from you please consult Four Legged Scholars.

Happy Training!

via Four Legged Scholars LLC – Dog Training.

Establishing great rapport with your dog.

I am in the process of becoming a certified NLP Practitioner (NeuroLinguistic Patterning). The process below is used to create open space and to allow solutions to arise when you notice a conflict between you and your dog.

Think of a specific conflict or struggle you are having with your dog. It could be pulling on the leash or not performing some command.

Go back in time so that you are remembering this specific conflict / struggle.

Notice where you would be standing and where your dog would be standing if the conflict were real again. Step into the spot where you would be standing. Take on the emotions and the body posture you were feeling during the time of the conflict.

Shake to move these emotions out of your body.

Step into the space where your dog would be standing. Be your dog. Take on the emotions and the body posture your dog was feeling during the time of the conflict. Notice any communication that may going on inside your dog’s body and mind.

Shake to move these emotions out of your body.

Step into a neutral space. A space where you are the observer. Observe the conflict with no judgment. Notice any information you gather as the observer.

Step back into your space where you were standing during the conflict. Take all of the above information you have gathered and come from a new point of view that is more open and curious. What new information have you learned? How can you apply this new information when you are training your dog again? Use this information to create the result you want in a more fluid manner.

As I am learning more and more with NLP you will see shifts in my training techniques as I create an even greater rapport with my clients and help them establish the same with their dogs.

Happy Training!

via Four Legged Scholars LLC – Dog Training.