Last week Max and I attended a 3-day training by National Animal Assisted Crisis Response (NAACR) in Kentucky to attempt to qualify for their program. NAACR is made up of therapy dog teams that are dispatched to national disasters and other crisis response incidents through FEMA and the Red Cross. It was a very long and intense training that exposed Max to just about every environment you can imagine. I have to brag a little and say he was one of the most solid dogs in the class of 13.
Max was phenomenal during every stage of the training! I had a wonderfully responsive dog that lacked fear and demonstrated little to no stress during all of our training exercises that included a trip through security at the airport; a visit to the local fire station, and a visit to an indoor restaurant with the entire class of 13 dogs and handlers...literally sleeping under the chairs so he would fit under the table. We finished with a full mock disaster with local actors portraying victims.
Max and I received some of the highest evaluations from the "victims" in helping them handle their emotions and respond to their immediate needs.
Today I received our final evaluation and learned we have been rated at a Level Two, which is the highest rating any team can receive before being actually deployed to a national crisis incident where we will receive our final evaluation before being recommended to a Level One rating.
I want to thank both of you for all of your expert training to help me move Max from "No No Bad Dog" to a well mannered, obedient and loving therapy dog. He still can be a handful to manage but at least I have been well trained by both of you to better understand how to handle these training issues.
Two years ago I never would have considered, let alone believe, we could pass a therapy dog training course on a national level. I am so very grateful to both of you for helping me realize this dream. I am very excited and very proud of my work with Max but it was your training foundation that made the difference!
I just wanted to share this accomplishment with you...and acknowledge my gratitude for all your help!
Barb Geno and Max
I share my home w/three Rotties and I'm a single gal, 71 yrs old. Your book was purchaed online, by "accident" and I couldn't be happier. I have spent thousands of $ for a Dog Psychologist and never received the helpful, valuable information you gave me. For the first time in almost 5 yrs., I can see what they are saying to each other, what they are contemplating doing to each other and what they are saying to me.
WOW! What a difference. We've been to many Obedience Schools and never received this information.
You have made a big difference in the lives of this little family, Brenda. I watch them more closely, now and can interrupt what might become aggression. I realize some of actions that I told the Dr. about were not "your imagination". My aggressive boy was transferring his annoyance of not being able to "get" the postman, to his rescued brother and attacking him.
I could go on and on Brenda and it would bore you, but I will not be putting your book on the bookshelf anytime soon. It will be an arm's length away for easy reference and a re-read. I can't believe how helpful this book is. I wish I were near enough to attend your sessions. I'm in Delaware and if you're ever in this area, I hope you will let me know. Thank you Brenda!!!!!
Rochelle
There was a time when training a dog required forcing them to your will with no regard for the psychological implications on the dog. We've come a long way and today most trainers are much more in tune with building a relationship with your dog.
Brenda Aloff had been working with dogs most of her life. She has published two previous books on training and produced accompanying DVD's. Throughout her long career, Aloff has been fascinated by dog behavior. Her studies of dog body language and their social interaction helped develop her approach to effective communication with dogs and how to modify their behavior. In this incredibly detailed book, Aloff takes you through a step-by-step explanation of how to connect with your dog and guide him to the behavior you would like to see.
Showing the same patience she uses with her canine students, she builds upon each lesson to help you understand not just the how the training, but also the why of it. As she explains how to work with your dog, Aloff tells what you should be doing and also what signals you should be seeing from your dog and to respond to those signals. With positive reinforcement and patience, these lessons will become easier for both of you.
Throughout this book, black and white photographs illustrate the lessons being discussed and a DVD is also included with the book... There is so much information here that it is likely to become a handy reference book to return to again and again.
Terry Peters, North Shore News
This is really one of the best books out there for dealing with aggression. It really clears up what it is all about and what to do about it in very practical terms. It helped me see what the real issues where and gave me a number of suggestions for training against the agression.
Very practical where others are not. She doesn't waste time with too much philosphy but gets straight to the issues and the training. But the true measure is in the results and I am very happy about that.
We had one very confused 6 yr old boy and he's coming along terrifically–I was really worried that he would spend his days angry, confused and mean. It's a turn around–so yes, things can be done to work with aggression. Thanks, Brenda Aloff.
Deb
Hi Brenda! When I was at the IAABC Conference I purchased a copy of your book, "Get Connected with Your Dog." I've been studying the DVD as well, especially the work you did with the hound-mix named Wilson.
Today I worked with an adolescent Chocolate Lab who can't settle down and responds by jumping and mouthing anytime someone pets her. I used the "Be Still Cue" for the first time and had jaw-dropping results! She actually calmed down within a minute, kept all 4 feet still, and licked her lips quickly. After giving her her first break, and then resuming the exercise, she never moved her feet again, and it took much longer to see a lip lick or other displacement behavior. The owners are amazed, and I'm just ecstatic to have a new tool to use on dogs just like her.
I just wanted to let you know how helpful your DVD is because I'm a visual learner and need to see it (maybe several times) before trying out something new.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Renee
Anyone looking for a comprehensive how-to guide to raising a mentally sound, confident dog who can handle any life situation should consider buying Brenda Aloff's new book.
The title is Aggression in Dogs: Practical Management, Prevention & Behaviour Modification. I think she could have sold a lot more books if she'd left the "A" word out of the title. Truth is, the book has so much more than aggression management. It's a training manual for life with a dog.
You don't need to be the owner of an aggressive dog to love this book. Aloff's protocols help owners of normal dogs coach them through challenging life situations. The dogs benefit by becoming confident and knowledgeable in basic communication skills they'll need their entire lives. Owners benefit by having a dog that is solid in public and at home.
As an obedience instructor I frequently meet people who have aggressive dogs, but who deny the problem. But avoiding this book because it is up-front about aggression would be a mistake. Aloff provides step-by-step instructions for protocols that will solve a variety of behavior problems, including aggression. I bought the book to use with people and dogs taking my classes, but I am happily using it myself with my very sound adolescent puppy to make her even better.
Aloff tells it like it is. One of my favorite chapters is on "Canine Social Systems" where she explains that many owners often either make mistakes interpreting dog language, or worse yet, don't understand that the dog is communicating something to them. She uses an example of pet owners who think it's cute when their puppy guards her dinner dish, but realize they have a problem when the dog grows large and still guards her food, her toys, her bed I or maybe even the owner's bed, which she has decided is her own.
Aloff says the book is devoted to teaching owner and dog how to operate as a team. It's all about educating the dog to communicate and thereby reducing the dog's perceived need to react aggressively.
I've long felt that most dogs need a lot more coaching on how to live their lives than most people provide. While living with a dog-aggressive sheltie for eight years, I learned how to modify the dog's behavior and manage him so that only those who had known him in his early years knew that he was aggressive.
Preventive coaching would have been so much easier on the dog and me. And that's what Aloff's book provides to the owners of "normal" dogs.
Aloff encourages extensive socialization and exposure to a variety of people and dogs beginning as soon as you get your puppy, and continuing through 24 months. She suggests that if you have a good place to take the puppy for classes, where the methods are humane and use positive reinforcement, that you take a puppy kindergarten class and then plan on repeating some sort of class every two to three months until the dog is two years old. This is especially easy for agility enthusiasts, who often are constantly taking classes anyway.
Using positive reinforcement and management, Aloff leads the reader in small steps toward solving problems -- even serious ones.
Enlightened trainers have known for a long time that aggression can't be fixed with harsh methods, but this is the most comprehensive resource I've seen so far that tells us what to do, how, and when.
The book's $49.95 price tag will turn off a lot of potential readers, but it is one of the best bargains I've purchased. It is worth every cent. This hefty book -- at over 400 pages -- is worth its hefty price -- the quantity and quality of information are simply incredible.
She needs to clone herself so she can sit her butt down and write more books while also doing more seminars, 'cause if you liked her book, you'd LOVE getting to meet her in person and watch her working with dogs! She is AWESOME!!!
Cheryl May
Hi Brenda! When I was at the IAABC Conference I purchased a copy of your book, "Get Connected with Your Dog." I've been studying the DVD as well, especially the work you did with the hound-mix named Wilson.
Today I worked with an adolescent Chocolate Lab who can't settle down and responds by jumping and mouthing anytime someone pets her. I used the "Be Still Cue" for the first time and had jaw-dropping results! She actually calmed down within a minute, kept all 4 feet still, and licked her lips quickly. After giving her her first break, and then resuming the exercise, she never moved her feet again, and it took much longer to see a lip lick or other displacement behavior. The owners are amazed, and I'm just ecstatic to have a new tool to use on dogs just like her.
I just wanted to let you know how helpful your DVD is because I'm a visual learner and need to see it (maybe several times) before trying out something new.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Renee