The Raw Dog

The "Raw Dog" is a term I use when testing to find out how a dogs' true temperament is when things don't go their way. In other words, if they don't get to call the shots about everything in their world, how would they react? You may seem to have a very pleasant and happy dog that exists in your home.....until you take the bone away, limit his access to the couch, kennel him, don't let him greet your guests, sit on your lap, etc. If your dog will not accept these limitations, it means your dog is the boss, head honcho, king

of the house, and ruler of YOU.

Some dogs will accept exchanging the alpha role with you, while others will protest the change in authority with a grumpy growl or even a dominating nip!  This is a sign that you know you have a spoiled or dominant dog. We laugh about spoiling our dogs, until it creates chaos and especially injury. Imagine spoiling a teenager for 16 years and then on a Saturday night, impose a curfew, a diet plan, restriction to cell phone and car usage. Uh oh....trouble starts to erupt!  The easy going teenager now shows a new undesirable side, and so does a dog in this situation...hence the label....the "Raw Dog".

Do you really know your dog?

Old Dogs Rule

The old dogs are wise. They have stopped barking and are happy exactly where they are in life. My 49th birthday is coming up and I have found my own bark is beginning to quiet. I am learning to choose my battles and to enjoy the process, of everything.  I look forward to this second half of my life. Yes, I plan on living to at least 100. Why not? There is so much to do in this life, in this world.

The dogs keep me young. Even the old ones beckon me to get out and walk with them. We smell the flowers (well, they pee on them...) but we breathe and move and explore.

Reports say that having a dog is good for your health and can even lower your blood pressure. That is better than any medication or trip to the gym!

If your dog is causing frustration or stress in your life, maybe it is time to take a closer look at balancing out the dog, and yourself, to help both of you move forward to better health and a better life together.

 A dog ages 7 years to our 1 year. If I knew I was to age 7 years in the next 365 days...I think I might be more serious about playing fetch too!

Coffee Rocks!

   I have a daily coffee that is my rock....literally! It is a rock with the inscription, "One Day At A Time" that sits on top of my coffee pot that I pick up in my hands every morning to fill my coffee machine. My rock reminds me every day of why I am here, that I am STILL here, and that TODAY is the most important day of my life!

   Everyone's life has ups and downs, that's just "life". But  when we focus on today as our life's goal, we catch a lot of things before they go sour, and soak up the good stuff more intensely. Living one day at a time is how we make it through the bad days, and how we look forward to the next day. Worrying about tomorrow will not let you enjoy today.

   I always say dogs live in a 4 second world. If you have a bad 4 seconds with your dog, start over with a new attitude and the next 4 seconds could be better. Then repeat, over and over. Nothing seems too bad this way, and you can feel very successful quickly.

   My husband and I are married for today. By being married one day at a time, we have learned our good behavior should not be taken for granted, and to control our bad behavior before it causes an explosion.  Because for today....this is all the time we have together, and I want to cherish every moment with this man.

 Trust me...there are days where we call "quiet time" in order to make it through the day! We firmly respect this boundary and our result is we watch a good TV show together with no interruptions. or take some personal time for ourselves that makes us miss each other, creating a whole new feeling.

   Evaluating your dog's behavior one day at a time will also prevent major problems from occurring, and improve behavior each day. I love when someone calls me to explain their dog's behavior that changed today! I can solve that over the phone! One day at a time is a perfect way to keep on track whether it be our relationships, our budget, our diet, or our dogs.

   Do I plan for the future? Absolutely.  I budget, make goals, and dream of my future adventures. But my main focus is enjoying this moment; every breath, every loved one, every flower, and every dog.....One Day At A Time!

Today, God has blessed me again.

Your Dog is Your #1 Fan!

  A dog never judges, always forgives, and is attentive to our emotions; always willing to pop both ears up for exactly the conversation we are needing.  Your dog is a safe place to lean on that you know won't let you down. This cheerleader that follows you around all day chanting, "Yeah Cindy! Go Cindy! Your'e the best Cindy!" is what makes a dog your number one fan!

   Many people tell me their dog is their best friend, and explain how much they love their dog, sometimes so much that their unconditional love accepts naughty dog behavior that can jolt the entire household. They justify the naughtiness as "puppy behavior" or  being a "rescue".

   In Joel Olsteins book, "I Declare" he speaks how everyone of us should be someone else's number one fan. "We should be encouraging them, lifting them when they've fallen, celebrating when they succeed, praying when they're struggling, urging them forward." Joel calls this being a people builder, and I immediately related this to dogs (like I do with everything).

   In all my years of training I have been witness to the strength of a dog and their people building skills. There are many decorative signs that read, "be the person your dog thinks you are", and we should look deeper into meaning...

Perhaps we have different rules, boundaries, and expectations of who WE BECOME when we are with our dogs as opposed to who we become around humans. Fear of judgement can create a different attitude in you, and lack of boundaries can create an intrusive behavior in who you spend time with.

   Don't be too quick to cross off your human friends, but rather look closer at the relationship you are creating with your dog. Your number one fan wants to be a well disciplined cheerleader. In a human relationship, we easily apply boundaries in order to not be taken advantage of, avoid being hurt, or simply to establish our own self respect.

 If a person knocked at your door you would open it. But if they (without permission to enter) pushed the door open, wiped their dirty feet on your pants, and thrashed your home on it's journey to grab your breakfast off your table to settle down on your couch..........well, I am pretty certain you would throw them out of your house and not accept that behavior!  Creating boundaries with your dog is simple and will change your cheerleader into a people builder within your home.

To create a balanced dog in your home, just remember..... the best cheerleaders never cross the sidelines, never tackle, and never intercept the ball.

How to Fill Your Dog's Stocking Safely.

I believe the Christmas holiday was intended to be a simple, humble, and incredibly joyful celebration of Jesus's birth. However, if you view "Christmas" from the local mall....it tends to scream an overload of food and gifts, sprinkled with anxiety and frustration.  The hustling urgency and bustling anxiety of a crammed and stressful schedule can bring chaos, rather than cheer, to your holidays, and also to your dog.

Creating a calm dog for the holidays is not impossible. Rather than overloading your dog's stocking with treats and toys, try offering your time sharing a structured and dedicated walk through your neighborhood.  Not only will you bring  calm to your dog, but to you as well. Christmas, especially in the evening, is a great time to walk. The decorations are great socialization!

Don't be surprised if your dog is afraid of certain decorations and even the lights. Realize dogs don't like when things are out of place and an inflatable Santa on the front lawn fits exactly into that category.  Tread forward with your own zen-like assurance and your dog will trust your lead.
If your dog is dramatically scared of the decor, then you can still achieve a calming walk in your own driveway or close to home.

Remember the key to a successful walk is not the physical distance, but the form and the duration. In other words, a crazed walk for two miles to a beautiful park is not better than 20 minutes of walk with structure and calm near home.

Although a structured walk can be boring to us humans, it can be enlightening, calming, and beneficial to both of you if you take a deep breath and enjoy the process of being calm together.

You Can Lead a Dog to Water

Just because you lead the dog to the water bowl, does not mean he will drink. Taking him 14 times still does not improve the amount of water he will drink. Your dog has 4 legs. When he is thirsty, he will search relentlessly to find the water.

When people dress me up it does not make me happy, it makes me uncomfortable. When I buy a car on impulse, I have buyers remorse. When I choose to change something for myself....I harvest that desire, and stretch until I reach that goal.

At California Dog University, we answer every call, but we never stalk you. We don't cram your inbox, yet we offer tons of information on this blog and webinars. When someone is ready to train, willing to try, and seeking success...we are here 100%.

We consider ourselves your partner in training; a coach that will guide, motivate, and encourage to each team member that shows up on our field.

My Dog is My Safe Spot

    Over the years, I have found people reserve their dog in a separate space; reserved for unconditional love.

   Our lives are full of expectations, rules, CC&R's, speed limits, contracts, and responsibilities. A dog has zero rules on us, with no judgment of our failures, our looks, or our financial status. Your dog will never fire you or divorce you, and despite their size, will protect you vigilantly from harm. So, our initial human response is to reward this amazingly loving, forgiving, understanding and tolerant behavior with unconditional love in return; meaning extra treats, no rules, and complete free will of all our space. After all, no one else in our life is so accepting as our dog!

    However, although our dogs don't show signs of judgement (in our human psychological terms) they do mirror our lacking postures by displaying imbalance in their behavior. Whining, chewing, barking, growling, pulling on a leash, jumping, licking....not all necessarily normal dog behavior as much as reactions to unbalanced human behavior lacking boundaries and guidelines for your dog.

    You do not need to become the most patient and tolerant person in the world to get dogs to react calmly. In my webinars, I share 5 simple tips that can immediately improve your dogs behavior, and the benefits reflect on you as well.

    In training dogs, I see success in the clients that truly want to have their dogs behave better, or differently, and are ready to realize they may need to reorganize some of their own techniques to reap the benefits of a calm dog.

 Sometimes I have even met the client that enjoys the anxiety or over excitability in their dog because they relate it to affection and love for themselves. Although I explain a calm dog still shares the same amount of love and that anxiety and excitement mixed together will usually lead to the behavior that they do not like...(jumping, growling, barking, etc.) they still opt for nurturing this antic because they can't bare to lose that overly expressed affection from the dog.

It always feel good to have a dog love you. Love always feels good. However, when the love is right, or stable, or balanced...it flows easily, and calmly... even for a dog.