robertforto

By Robert Forto

It is always something that most dog owners have in the back of their minds – the horror of finding out, either first or secondhand, that your dog has bitten someone.  In some cases you know that it is a possibility, in other cases you are completely stunned that your dog could do something like this. While you are reading from the information, trying to decide what to do, here are some things to consider.

How bad was the bite? Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and respected dog trainer, grades bites on a level of 1-6:

Did the bite leave no evidence of damage?

Teeth made contact, but no pressure was used.

One to three punctures in a single bite, none deeper than ½ the length of a canine tooth.

One to four punctures, with at least one puncture deeper than ½ the length of a canine tooth.  This means that the dog grabbed and shook what was in its mouth.

Multiple level 4 bites.

Death.

Know that dogs do not “accidentally” bite. Puppies spend so much of their time playing, chewing, and putting things in their mouth so that they can learn the extent of their jaw’s capabilities and strengths. If a dog puts teeth on you, but did not actually bite down, it is exactly what he meant to do. If a dog leaves a puncture wound, it was not an accident, he put as much pressure into the bite as he thought he needed to.

A dog that issues a level 1-3 bite is usually considered a good candidate for rehabilitation. Dogs with a history of bites that are level 4 and higher are considered to be a much greater risk and not as likely to be safely rehabilitated.

What provoked the bite? If you know your dog is tense or fearful or protective in certain situations, and the dog was in one of the situations when he bit, you know what probably provoked him. Not all bites are obviously provoked, but many dogs give clear warnings before they bite that we humans never bother to see.

What was the dog’s reaction after the bite? Did the dog bite and go back to sleep, did she bite and then run away, did she bite once and prepare to bite again?

Is this a dog that you will want in your home? If you no longer want the dog in your home, what reason would someone else have for taking this dog into their home?

In many states, a dog must be quarantined for ten days after issuing a bite that is recorded. During that time, the dog cannot be sold, given, returned or otherwise be placed into someone else’s ownership.  If proof of current rabies vaccination can be proved, the dog will need to be kenneled at a humane society, shelter, vet’s office, or other place as determined by local laws. Any kenneling fees are the responsibility of the dog owners.

It is becoming increasingly common for dogs with bite histories to cause companies to cancel insurance policies. Some municipalities will register dogs with bite histories as “dangerous dogs” and will impose restrictions on the dog’s owner.

Also keep in mind that some state laws may hold you liable for any further bites that the dog may issue if you re-home the dog, either before or after the required ten day holding period is up. If it can be proved that you knew the dog is a bite risk, even if you chose not to disclose the fact to a new owner, you can still be held accountable.

If you would like to keep your dog in your family, you need to take measures to make sure that the dog is unlikely to bite again. Identify what provoked the bite and what can be done to manage it. This might include crating otherwise confining the dog in a room away from guests, employing muzzles, keeping the dog in the yard unsupervised, working closely with a behaviorist or experienced trainer, or other management techniques that are deemed appropriate for the situation. You and your family must carefully consider whether these management techniques are possible and if so, will they be in place 100% of the time. Working with a trainer is a must in dog bite cases. A canine behaviorist should be the first type of person that you look for.  If a qualified canine behaviorist is not available your next person to look for would be a trainer who is not only experienced in dealing with aggressive dogs, but is also comfortable meeting and working out training protocols for aggressive dogs. My suggestion is to find someone who uses positives techniques can be issued by anyone, as opposed to compulsion techniques that use physical corrections, which are only effective if someone is big enough to correct the dog. Also, since many times dogs bite out of fear or stress, physical corrections can do more to worsen a problem than to help resolve it. Regardless of the training methods used, it is imperative that YOU work with the dog and trainer!!! Sending your dog away to be trained by someone else is teaching the dog respond to the trainer and not to you. As the responsibility of this dog will be upon you, you need to be learning training and management techniques with your dog.

A dog that bites is not automatically a bad dog. However, it is a dog that is in need of immediate behavior modification and a full physical and blood work up at the vet’s office. There are many, many reasons that a dog might bite, some obvious, and some not so obvious. Some dogs bite because they are afraid and feel the need to protect themselves.  Other dogs bite because they feel that they are in charge and need to keep people in line.  Still other dogs bite to protect themselves or what they perceive is theirs. Dogs may bite because of physical pain and it is possible for dogs to bite because of physical problems, like a tumor, or chemical imbalances in the brain.

In some cases the kindest or most responsible thing to do for the dog is to have it humanely euthanized. Dogs in physical pain that cannot be relived are clearly miserable if they are at the point that they bite. Dogs with mental illness or chemical imbalances can be as sick as a dog with cancer or heart disease. As in the case with physical illness, sometimes mental illness cannot be treated and the pain is overwhelming enough that death is the kindest treatment. Some dogs that bite out of fear or protection have this learning, whether self-taught or human trained, and even well-meaning humans can unknowingly teach their dogs that biting is the best option, so well ingrained in their minds that it cannot be trained out. Rather than sending a dog to a shelter or putting it into a home where it might once again make the choice to bite (and bite more severely than before), contacting the vet yourself so that the dog is euthanized in familiar surroundings can be very, very difficult for you, but by far the most loving thing you can do for your dog.

Obviously, the best thing you can do for your dog is to train it to accept all situations. Your dog does not have to love all the situations you put it in, but it does have to be tolerant. Rational, sound people don’t turn on friends and loved ones with knives or fists and inflict damage just because they are asked to do something they don’t care to do. We can and should expect the same courtesy from our canine family and friends. Teaching your dog to accept handling, new and unusual people, and to deal with frustration, as well as picking up some self control skills, is the first step to preventing a dog bite before it can even happen.

Tags: Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Denver Dog Works | Mushing Radio | Animal law | Dog Law

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Robert Forto is the host of The Dog Works Radio Show and is the training director of Alaska Dog Works. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.alaskadogworks.com

Forget Me (Not)

Canine Dementia and CBS4 Denver

By Robert Forto

Starting Friday (May 7, 2010) on the 10 PM newscast on the CBS affiliate (http://www.cbs4denver.com)  in Denver, CO they are starting something new. They are airing a story, specifically a dog story about the little known, and very frightening illness: canine dementia and utilizing the power of social media to not only garner interest but to educate the public as well. I was honored to be the first person to write about the story before it aired and then blog, tweet and Facebook about it to let people know what it is all about.  It was honor and a great pleasure!

Not a lot is known about canine dementia. Think about it, Alzheimer’s in humans is a relatively new phenomena. Commonly known as “old dog disease” and more specifically as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) it causes disorientation, memory loss, confusion and personality changes, all very similar to the human disease as well.

Unfortunately I know all too well the symptoms of CDS. Our veterinarian Dr. Holly Cogswell of Aurora Animal Hospital, just recently diagnosed my best friend and confidant, Ineka with this debilitating disease. Many of you who read my blog know all about Ineka. He was once my lead dog and who we affectionately called “the Sargent” in the way he would boss the younger dogs around in our sled dog kennel. Now it saddens me everyday to see my pal nearing the end and soon to cross the Rainbow Bridge. My family and I decided that as long as Ineka has a good quality of life we will let him live out his days comfortable and we wont let him suffer.

As the story tells on CBS4 there are drugs, such as Anipryl, you can give dogs with CDS and diet can help too, but often it is only after you recognize the symptoms do you realize what this disease is all about. What should you watch out for in your aging pet:

Stops responding to his name

Forgets familiar tricks or simple commands like sit and down

May no longer remember routines

Gets stuck in corners, under furniture or behind furniture

Engages in repetitive and compulsive disorders

Pace or wanders aimlessly

Compulsively walks in circles around a table or from room to room

Appears lost or confused

Sleep less at night and wander around instead of sleeping

Dogs with CDS sometimes forget house training and they may have “accidents” indoors even soon after being outside. They may stop “asking” to go outside and they may seem to forget the reason for going outdoors.

In severe cases your dog may become aggressive and may bite or bark for no apparent reason. They way wander out of the yard that they have known the boundaries of for years, often becoming lost and confused.

Sadly, as I research and write this article I am made painfully aware that my buddy, Ineka has almost all of these symptoms. It is heartbreaking to see the dog you love become confused and disoriented. I am calling my veterinarian today and starting Ineka on a treatment plan. Let’s at least make him comfortable during his last days.

For more information please visit:http://www.bellaonline.org/articles/art25417.asp

If you have any further questions please contact your veterinarian or even share your stories with us at train@alaskadogworks.com and in the coming weeks we will air an episode on the Radio Show about this disease, no pet owner is ready to face.

I also encourage you to watch the CBS4 story and tell your friends as well. I would like to thank Suzanne McCarroll the reporter on the CBS4 story and my colleague Misty Montano as well.

Tags:  CBS4 Denver | Canine Dementia | Human Interest | Canine Health |Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Mushing Radio

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Robert Forto is the host of The Dog Works Radio Show and is the training director of Alaska Dog Works. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.alaskadogworks.com

References Available Upon Request….?

By Robert Forto

My name is Robert Forto and I am the training director for Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. I specialize in canine aggression and I have been qualified as an expert in this field. I also fully understand that my training school and I are only as good as our reputation with our clients, past and present, our referral sources such as veterinarians, other canine trainers, groomers and other pet professionals.

Of course, throughout the years Denver Dog Works has had many satisfied clients and several that were not. It is difficult to please everyone, especially when it involves their beloved dogs. If you were to look on any canine trainer’s website almost inevitably you will find a “testimonials” page that list comments from clients past and present about how good a job the trainer did with their dog. What you will often find on this page is a joyful rendition of just how good the trainer was and the results they see. Then you will find at the bottom of the posting a first or last name and an initial (ie. John. D.) Just who exactly is John D.? Could it just so happen to be the infamous John Doe? That is what this article is all about. I am here to warn you that if a training school refuses to give you a reference, walk away.

Be on the lookout of trainers who just REFUSE to give you any references. You can bet your dog’s life on it that this is a red flag. Think about it, if they are truly proud of their training method, delivered what they promised, and have the right work ethics with their clients, then they should have no problem giving you a few names. This is even more important if they DO NOT have any classes for you to observe.

At Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project we offer a highly specialized training service for dogs. While most of our classes are by appointment and we do not have a schedule of weekly classes like the big-box corporate pet store chains with trainers in uniforms and a dry-erase board full of class times, I urge anyone that would like to observe any of our training programs to give us a call and we can let you know what is on the schedule that day. Saturdays are by far our busiest day and the best chance for you to catch a class if you just “drop in”; I always encourage you to call first.

Get at least five references, three recent and two from six months to a year ago. At Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project we train about 300 dogs a year. That is 300 clients that we should be comfortable in using as a reference for future clients. Do not fall for “client confidentiality bologna.” I urge you to push again and say, “Look. I am not asking for their last names, addresses or social security number for crying out loud. I just want the very best for my dog!” I also urge potential clients to ask if a training school is registered with the State and if they are members of the local Chamber of Commerce or the Better Business Bureau or similar agency. Check to see whether they are, and importantly, ARE NOT allowed to train or board dogs. In Colorado the Department of Agriculture overseas all canine training schools and boarding facilities. This also includes private trainers offering in-home classes only. If a school is operating without a license from the Department of Agriculture they can be fined and possibly be shut down. I urge all potential clients to call the State to see if the training school and/or trainer is registered. Wouldn’t you want to do business with someone who is professional and legal and legit? Your wallet, your dog, and your precious time are depending on it. No matter how impressive their web sites seem or how convincing they may sound on the phone, do not skip this. You won’t regret it. If someone’s happy with you, then they won’t mind bragging about you. Don’t you already do this when it comes to good movies, good books and good restaurants?

There is a saying in business called the Rule of 250. It goes something like this: Everyone has a circle of friends. The average person has about 250 people he sees regularly during his life and there is a lot more people that he sees in a week during the ordinary course of his business. I know that I cannot afford to have just one person come to see me and have them leave sore or unsatisfied. Not if that person influences 250 others in the course of his life.  And that is a lot of references!

As you know, people talk a lot to other people about what they buy and what they plan to buy whether that is a product, a service, or anything in between. Others are always offering advice about where to buy and how much to pay. That is a big part of the everyday life of ordinary people. I know I can not jeopardize that relationship with any of these people. I know how much my reputation and my business comes from people telling other people about me, my trainers and my training school. It is a powerful force in my professional life and it should be in yours too.

We say at Denver Dog Works that we try to build relationships with our clients, not just one time dog training courses. We do this for a reason. We know that your dog is an important part of your life and you are coming to us for basic manners to make the bond between you and your dog more satisfying or in many cases to rehabilitate a problem that has gotten out of control and sometimes is even dangerous. We would love to have all of our clients talk with joy and admiration, and have their dogs “walking billboards” for our training prowess but is that truly what we are after? No. We want to be on your side when your dog has a problem and we would love to have a referral if we did our job well.

If you do get a reference from a training school or a trainer and they say, “Well. I could give you my best friend or my brother’s number as a reference to trick you.” Just say, you will take it. Let’s see what your own family and friends say about you first. Do you see where I’m going with this? Once you get a few references, this is where you ask what you like and didn’t like about them, their trainers, and whether the dog listens off-leash, without treats, from far away. How about around other dogs, cats, kids and your guests?

While it is true in dog training as well as when you are looking for a job, most references that a person will give you will only be “good ones” I mean would you give a reference of an ex-girlfriend to a potential date if you ended on a sour note? I doubt it. But, if they do give you a name, and more importantly a number that is a start. Do a little detective work on your own and ask questions. Remember that the only dumb question is a questioned not asked. Do your homework and ask the questions you want answered. At Denver Dog Works we want to earn your trust and we want to help you in our time of need with your dog.

Check us out anytime and give us a call. We will give you the references that you desire and we will gladly answer any questions that you may have.

Tags: Denver Dog Training Examiner | Robert Forto | Michele Forto | Iditarod | Team Ineka | Mushing Radio |

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Robert Forto is the host of The Dog Works Radio Show and is the training director of Alaska Dog Works. Robert Forto can be reached through his website at www.alaskadogworks.com