My Daily Dogs

Asha, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, completed a three-week regimen to help her ... well, not hate kids. She is not ready to let kids snuggle with her yet, but after a lot of B.A.T. work, desensitization, and treats from children, she readily approached about a half dozen children today with her tail a'waggin. She particularly enjoyed a group of three treat-laden kids that surrounded her and fed her treats.

Asha's person, Heather, learned a lot about advocating for her dog and the responsible use of other people's kids as decoys. :-)




Sarah logged in some work with her Golden Retriever, Lola. Today, we focused on weaning Lola from the long lead, long-distance stays, and teaching Lola to sit after the recall. Lola is also an enthusiastic retriever, so we worked on some drills to continue nurturing her retrieving instinct.

Haddie (a 16-week old Golden Doodle) -- no pics available -- began working on recall and leash manners. She is a sweet, smart, CRAZY little pup. I love working with puppies. They make me feel like a kid again.

 Desie (being held by Lindsey) had a great session today. Desi is a bit fearful of men, but she warmed up fairly quickly to me today. We were able to make a little progress on "down," and she got started on leash walking. Desi is as smart as a whip. I think we are going to make good progress with her.

 Thomas Aaron is the owner of FetchMasters, LLC, a Denver, Colorado, dog training company.

Does Your Dog Stink on a Leash?

I took this with my phone, and it isn't a great video, but the leash walking is excellent. I was proud enough of the progress that I had to share.

 Rex (Yellow Labrador Retriever) was god-awful on the leash three days ago. Now, he is doing much better. Notice his reaction when a dog barks in the background. He glances and then returns his attention back to me.

He is actually in my Positive Retriever Training program. So, I hope to have some videos of that work soon (taken with something better than my phone).


Thomas Aaron is the owner of FetchMasters, LLC in Denver, Colorado.

My Daily Dogs

How was my day? Glad you asked! Pull up a chair.

I started the day out videotaping a session of Behavior Adjustment Training for a leash reactive Anatolian Shepherd. My kids graciously rushed their morning school preparations to assist me. We staged encounters with four other dogs and made some good progress.

Then I set a rabbit trap. My goal for the week is to teach two half-crazed cattle dogs to come when called, even when they are engaged in hunting their "achilles heel."

I got a break mid-morning, so I did some maintenance training with my own three dogs -- mostly obedience stuff. I need to start warming Alie up for pheasant season.

Did a session with Rex, a Labrador that is going through my retriever training program. We are working on his conditioned retrieve, and he is coming along nicely.

I finished a Level One Obedience program with a Golden Doodle in Stapleton. Very smart dog. Great personality too. She picks up new skills in about two tries and then gets bored.

I now am on my way to do a follow-up session for Coda, the Bernese Mountain Dog who recently graduated from my Level One Obedience board-and-train program.

Thomas Aaron is the owner of FetchMasters, LLC and trains dogs in Denver, Colorado.

FetchMasters Pics of the Litter - 8/28/2012

Dad, can we PLEEEEEZE go home now?

I am pretty. Oh so pretty. I am pretty and witty and ...

The FetchMasters dogs worked very hard today. They ran coordinated distractions for off-leash dogs, were bait dogs for leash reactive dogs, and did demos (an area in which Roscoe is starting to pull his weight). All in the 98-degree conditions. Our only reprieve was a 30-minute break in a shady spot near a church parking lot. They are simply the best. I could not do my job without them.

Farewell to Romeo

Today is a bittersweet day. Romeo, the standard poodle is going home, and I will miss him.

When he came to me for a one-month board-and-train, he was an impatient, pushy dog. He would barge through any open door; throw mamby-pamby barking fits whenever he saw another dog, car, or human; refuse to obey known obedience commands; rip up the inside of a car while riding down the road; become extremely stressed every time he did not get what he wanted; and nearly drag his owner into traffic to chase passing cars.

He is going home a changed dog. Romeo now loves car rides; walks politely on leash in the highest distraction environments; follows humans through doorways; has not only mastered his obedience work but is for all intents and purposes off-leash reliable.

Romeo was no walk in the park, but he has gone from being a menace to being a friend. I'll miss you, buddy.

Thomas Aaron is a dog trainer in Denver, CO, and owns FetchMasters, LLC.

The End of the Week Pic

This is what a FetchMasters dog looks like at the end of a busy week. I am thinking she won't move again until about 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Alie is a bird dog, demo dog, police interceptor and tow truck for runaway client dogs, show-off, and occasional pain in the butt for FetchMasters, LLC.

When the Leash is not a Ball and Chain

I spent an hour this morning working with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Asha, who does not like children. If Asha is off leash, she does not mind being in the presence of kids; if a child approaches too closely, she simply will turn and walk away. But when she is on a leash, she recoils in fear at the approach of a child, and she will lash out if the child approaches too closely or too quickly.

Dogs have a fight_
-or-flight instinct, and Asha definitely prefers flight. But when she is on leash, she cannot run away. So, she attempts an aggressive display to drive children away (and it works).

We have been taking a multifaceted approach to helping Asha. Last week, we did some counter-conditioning work in front of a grocery store to teach Asha that children are the harbinger of good things (namely treats). Today, we implemented a functional reward (turning and walking away from children), when Asha offers a calming signal (i.e. looking away from the child). It is basically B.A.T. work with a few minor technical alterations to make it more feasible in a bustling, and sometimes unpredictable, city park.

Asha is catching on very quickly. In fact, now that she is comprehending that the leash is not a ball and chain anchoring her in a compromising situation, she is voluntarily approaching kids to investigate.

Thomas Aaron is a dog trainer in Denver, Colorado, and is the owner of FetchMasters, LLC.