Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Help finding a qualified dog trainer in Tallahassee, FL?

We are having aggression issues with our shelter dog. We desperately need to find a qualified, trustworthy dog trainer that will work with us to solve his increased aggression towards other dogs and children. Can anybody in the Tallahassee area recommend a trainer that is qualified to work with us on these issues? Thanks.Help finding a qualified dog trainer in Tallahassee, FL?
wow, you have my deep empathy, my rescue was ppl aggressive (is cured, is now a therapy dog for nursing homes) and also dog-aggressive. Still IS dog aggressive, but, is much better, but, he'll never ever be "right" about other dogs.

I know nothing of FL trainers, but, i do know some GREAT books to send you to:

"Calming signals" by Turgid Rugass, is the best.

Also, look at "Bringing Light to Shadow", "the other end of the leash" and "Click to calm".



I've tried evvvvvvverything. I gotta admit, having all "nice" dogs before, i never ever HAD TO learn the things i've learned since i fell in love with my lil gangsta. It is an ongoing process, and i experience such a thrill when i can get him to pass by other dogs while being calm. My heart wants to pop, looks like ordinary moment to anyone else, but to me, is like we just climbed a mountain.



The thing that has helped my dog MOST, is learning and using calming signals, and following Kikopup's youtube videos.



I taught Buddy the cue "look at me" and when he does, i yawn at hm, and slowly blink. He understands, and often (not always, but often) calms down. what a thrill, then is hard for ME to stay calm, ha ha.

I must must must do this in earliest stages of his reaction, it is pretty useless once he is in full blown imitation of a breeching whale...



but, that has helped my gangsta more than anything else i've tried.

oF course, each dog is different, but, i wasted an entire YEAR on trying this "distraction/focus on me" routine that is wildly popular to try on D.A.ds. (dog-aggressive dogs). Yes, my dog will be calm, looking at me while ignoring other dog---but, it is way more exhausting to keep his attn' on me, than it looks, and it does NOTHING to change his inner attitude.



but THIS does: watch the part at 2:28, THAT helped my dog, no, he is not perfect, but way way better, obviously, you must start practicing that at your dog's comfort level, gradually working up to being able to handle closer dogs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY7JrteQB鈥?/a>

o





that, and doing THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n_fPKPLA鈥?/a>



Below is Kikopup on people-aggressive dogs----sort of.

is *not* how i did it, not exactly,(but i won't have room to tell you what i did to get Buddy to stop hating kids and now loves kids. Rehabbing a ppl-aggresive dog is not that hard, but the dog thing, IS. but hang inthere, it gets better, and i don't even get frustrated at all anymore, i'm way calm, even if i can't always get Buddy calm, i am.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXCELHDT2鈥?/a>



Here are displays of calming signals, which, like i said, has helped Buddy more than anything else, i've got a few assorted miracles to report.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgnLgHFRJ鈥?/a>



you are probably overwhelmed now, but, DO save those videos in your 'favorites' and give them a look over, of alllllllll the trainers, books, lectures, online resources, more trainers, seminars, and every thing else i've studied and tried, and tried, those calming signals, and rewarding Buddy with "a party in his mouth" for looking AT enemy dog, helped the most.



good luck. You will learn more in next year about dogs, and wonder, how you ever had dogs before without ever knowing all this stuff?!!



My dog might be a gangsta, he does often holler, "Ey! YOu wanna piece of me??!!" but, he is MY lil gangsta, and i would not trade him for all the nonreactive dogs in the world...it's been a real journey, helping him heal, and i do wish i had journalled it all, woulda made a good book.
Our dogs sound VERY similar. Our guy can also be people aggressive if very stressed. Only on one occasion has he "snapped" giving a warning bite (no broken skin) to my nephew who is three years old. We are now with a CPDT in Tallahassee, but do you have videos on people aggression to suggest?

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Help finding a qualified dog trainer in Tallahassee, FL?
Here, an Association of Canine Professionals, they have a search nationwide, canineprofessionals.com/
Look on the IAABC and the APDT sites for listed trainers.

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