Fear Free and Low Stress Handling clinics

[Boxergirl]

I wanted to share this information because I don't think many people know that this is actually a thing. Fear free and low stress handling clinics are becoming more widely available. Restraint is as minimal as it can be and the entire visit is designed to cause as little stress to your dogs (and you) as possible. My vet is fear free certified, as is my daughter, so I'm pretty lucky. If anyone is interested, here are some links to see if you have a certified clinic or individual in your area. I believe these lists are mostly for the US, but I've found a few by putting in a different country. A very few.

https://fearfreepets.com/resources/directory/

https://drsophiayin.com/lsh/search/

 

[Jarena]

This probably doesn’t need to be said but.... of coarse make sure you do your own research on any vet or trainer. I used the link above and searched my area. I found a trainer on the list that is “fear free certified” but she doesn’t actually practice being fear free. I know because I went to her and had an AWFUL experience. She scared my dog then threatened to “get the spray bottle” when my dog wouldn’t stop barking at her. So just make sure you investigate before you trust anyone on any list.

 

[Boxergirl]

*That* trainer was listed? Ugh. Yes, please everyone do your own research and remember that YOU are paying THEM which means you control how they handle, or don't handle, your dog.

Jarena, did you end up confronting that trainer? I hope you left reviews.

 

[Jarena]

*That* trainer was listed? Ugh. Yes, please everyone do your own research and remember that YOU are paying THEM which means you control how they handle, or don't handle, your dog.

Jarena, did you end up confronting that trainer? I hope you left reviews.

Yup, *that* trainer was on there. Just yesterday I saw a Facebook post that she is holding a dog training seminar March 24th near me. The Facebook post also advertises that she is “fear free certified” .

 

[Sheila Braund]

I wanted to share this information because I don't think many people know that this is actually a thing. Fear free and low stress handling clinics are becoming more widely available. Restraint is as minimal as it can be and the entire visit is designed to cause as little stress to your dogs (and you) as possible. My vet is fear free certified, as is my daughter, so I'm pretty lucky. If anyone is interested, here are some links to see if you have a certified clinic or individual in your area. I believe these lists are mostly for the US, but I've found a few by putting in a different country. A very few.

https://fearfreepets.com/resources/directory/

https://drsophiayin.com/lsh/search/

Thanks Boxergirl!

 

[Pastor Dave]

Don't you just hate that "spray bottle" that some folks grab to give the dog a shot in the face for something like barking !!! Chev does more of a "woof woof", and when there is something outside the car that he feels like "woofing" at, it is very hard on the ears. Coal, in the pic with the Frisbee (which I no longer allow him the hip-jarring athletics), makes piggy noises, especially when he somehow know it is meal time or time for the morning outing...anyway...I don't like the spray bottles, either. I never used a trainer, and hopefully, I won't have to. Chev the Mastiff is even getting the idea that I don't want that "paw flop" on me.....is that ok, to encourage the mastiff to stop with the pawing??? Let me know.

 

[Pastor Dave]

Hey Boxer-Girl...I like the way you are a "well-known" member. Wow...that's special.

 

[Jarena]

I’m interested in *how* to get dogs to stop with the paws! We have been saying “no paws” with our girl and TRYING to ignor her and redirect her. But it’s really REALLY hard to ignor a paw that huge and painful!!

 

[Boxergirl]

Hey Boxer-Girl...I like the way you are a "well-known" member. Wow...that's special.

Hahaha, it probably just means I'm really opinionated and talk too much.

I’m interested in *how* to get dogs to stop with the paws! We have been saying “no paws” with our girl and TRYING to ignor her and redirect her. But it’s really REALLY hard to ignor a paw that huge and painful!!

I live with boxers. I'm well acquainted with pawing, lol. When does she paw you? For attention? While playing? When greeting?

 

[Sheila Braund]

@ boxergirl hahaha.

My Bella doesn’t paw. I think it maybe because I don’t teach my dogs to “ shake a paw. That or I’m darn lucky.

 

[Jarena]

It’s for attention. She does it mostly when she wants to play. She paws and grabs clothes. I have been telling her “no paws” then “get your toy”. Then I reward her by playing with her for a few minutes. We also say “no paws” when she starts digging in the yard. I’m not sure if it’s ok to use the same command for both though? But saying “get your toy” when she paws inside, works about 90% of the time. She knows what “get your toy” means. I just don’t know if we are confusing her with using “no paws” for multiple things?

 

[Boxergirl]

I don't know if this would be at all helpful for you, but I try to teach them to give paw on command and when they're proficient at it I only reward them pawing when I ask for it. That means that if they paw at any other time they are completely ignored because even negative attention is still attention.

My boxers' tendencies to box made it really easy to teach them to ring bells to go out. Ella thinks she's a boxer (she's the baby) and uses her paws like they do, but she has terrible paw-eye coordination. She misses the bells every time and rings the side of the door. I tell her she did a good job anyway.

 

[Jarena]

I don't know if this would be at all helpful for you, but I try to teach them to give paw on command and when they're proficient at it I only reward them pawing when I ask for it. That means that if they paw at any other time they are completely ignored because even negative attention is still attention.

My boxers' tendencies to box made it really easy to teach them to ring bells to go out. Ella thinks she's a boxer (she's the baby) and uses her paws like they do, but she has terrible paw-eye coordination. She misses the bells every time and rings the side of the door. I tell her she did a good job anyway.

She didn’t start pawing us for attention until about 2 months ago. It just started suddenly and after about a week of her pawing us we decided to stop asking her her to “shake” at all. We taught her to “shake” when she was probably 10-12 weeks old. We just kinda added it to our list of commands. We like having a lot of commands for her because it’s good mental excercise of coarse, and when she is being bad, commands are a good way to redirect her. So we would just ask her “shake” and go through other commands (sit, down, place, crate) when she needed to be distracted and to earn her meals.

Do you think we should continue asking her to shake in a way that teaches her? If so, any advice? Or do you think we should just not have her shake until she can learn humans don’t like paws?

Also, you say you completely ignore them when they paw you.... HOW?! Her paws are almost the size of my hand and they HURT!

 

[Boxergirl]

Hahahah, sorry. It was much harder to ignore Ella when she pawed than it was the boxer boys. It would seem that somehow or other, in her mind, Lettie got rewarded for the pawing for attention so she keeps doing it. I suppose if the alternate behavior of shake isn't working then I would remove myself from her when she paws without invitation - i.e. without being asked for paw. No words because negative attention is still attention. Just remove myself and when a behavior that I like happened like sitting I would come back. I've never had to go beyond an alternate behavior or ignoring with my guys. I'd ask your trainer. See what his suggestions are. And then come back and share!

 

[Boxergirl]

So I was thinking about this a lot last night and trying to remember other things I did with my most persistent pawer. I did the other things, but I also watched very closely and knew that look that meant he was thinking of pawing me. So I asked him to do something *before* he lifted his paw - while all four were on the floor. Sometimes it was to give paw and sometimes it was something else like going to his place or sitting. Anything that prevented him from practicing the behavior unasked. Timing is really important because it needs to be before the action starts. And that's really all I ever did. Maybe something will work for you.

I have one dog that my daughter taught to rest his paw on your leg or arm to ask for something. He doesn't paw for attention, just rests the paw. It's not a thing we wanted him to learn, but it stuck. I'll get her back someday.

 

[Jarena]

I think you’re right about why she continues to paw. I’m thinking the first couple times she did it, we were probably surprised so we removed her paw with our hand (attention), then gave her the attention she wanted. Sometimes she out-smarts us .

Duh, I don’t really know why I didn’t think of just getting up and leaving the area. That’s what we do when she jumps on the couch. She’s smart. She knows she had us trained to remove her from the couch. We sometimes accidentally reward her bad behavior, then we learn how to better deal with it.

It’s taking FOREVER but the “catch-and-distract-before-it-happens” technique, is what we are using to teach her “quiet”. I can always tell when she is about to bark. So I tell her “look” before she barks, then she get a reward and it throws off her focus on whatever she was about to bark at. Doesn’t always work. But it’s something. I will look for signs of impending paw. I’m sure I’ll pick up on something. She’s good at telling me what she’s thinking with her many facial expressions.

 

[Sheila Braund]

Ok I know I did it to myself..... I posted that my girl doesn't paw us.... Then last night what was she doing to get my husband to play with her.... Pawing him!
(Hanging my head and laughing at myself)

 

[Pastor Dave]

Chev the Mastiff puts his paw on my arm when I am petting him...and I just tell him, "No, we don't need the paw--I see you" (of course I see him). After a few days of this, the paw-on-the-arm trick is substantially less, fewer times do I need to say "No". I think Mr. Chev is getting the idea. He does like to lie upside down by my recliner in the living room where I often watch a few TV shows, and he extends a paw so we can "hold hands" sort of...anyway, he is getting the idea that the paw is unnecessary to throw up on my arm. Have a great day, everyone. I'll try to put a picture here...let me dig....