Reversing Problem Behaviors!

Perfect behavior is no accident!  Providing your Cairns with understanding and good, positive training, along with love and good leadership, will always make a welcome difference in your day-to-day family harmony.

How to Reverse Problem Behaviors

There are many tips to help you deal with problem behaviors, and all of these methods require patience and consistency, as well as a solid understanding of your dog's patterns.

Mary Hirt of Teacher’s Pet K9 in West Los Angeles, California, gives a great demonstration of the "Back Chaining" method of turning a bad behavior into a positive one, with a clear explanation of why her method works.  The dogs in the video are not Cairn, but you can easily visualize your Cairns as you watch this step-by-step instruction.

Learn to make behavior modifications so being with your dog can be fun!

Equipment to Improve Walking Your Cairn
http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2015/04/equipment-to-improve-your-walk-with.html


Freedom No-Pull Harness
http://freedomnopullharness.com/5-8-Wide-Freedom-No-Pull-Harness_c2.htm

Tellington Touch Walk Right Harness
http://www.ttouch.com/shop/index.php?productID=299

Reviews of Best Easy Walk Harness
http://www.easywalkdogharnesses.com/

Sitting Pretty!

Teaching your Cairn a few simple tricks will put a smile on their face and it will also help to strengthen your relationship!

Teaching your Cairn to do a few tricks will strengthen your relationship and help keep your dog happy!  This fun video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to "Sit Pretty", using very gentle, positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to any Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can be fun!

Positive Puppy Training!

Puppies require a lot of time and consistency!

This is a great video by Zak George which demonstrates how to work with a new puppy, stopping biting, introducing a crate, using a drag lead, etc., all using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn and we recommend only using a lead attached to a secure harness, not a lead attached to a collar, but everything he demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.

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Training a puppy can be fun!

Stay with Distractions

Simple basic training combined with a good, positive relationship will help keep your dogs safe.  Clear communications make all the difference in any training program, coupled with the personal connection you have with your dog.

In the following brief training video, Robert Cabral, founder of Bound Angels, discusses the reasons it is important to teach your dog “Stay” with distractions.  Robert and Goofy, his Belgian Malinois, demonstrate how using distractions to proof a “Stay” will strengthen your relationship with your dog and help keep your dog safe.

Robert CabralTraining Intro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbPU7_M4xo

Robert Cabral Making Training Fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJoLoSsaMK0

Robert CabralTraining Using Rewards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8JJZZ4NArE

Robert CabralTraining Demo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVTV0FegQYE

Robert CabralTraining the Binary Dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkG1UlXGQtA

Robert CabralTraining The Most Important Things toTeach Your Dog  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s1xWsNsPx4 

Robert Cabral TeachingStay with Distractions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhZ_ZqDgkaM&feature=em-subs_digest

In this thought provoking video, Robert Cabral speaks at a Symposium at UCLA, giving a clear and insightful explanation of Kennel Syndrome, Barrier Aggression, and the simple but important positive training he is implementing via Bound Angels to help shelters help the dogs in their care, enabling them to find homes when they might otherwise fail in the shelter system.  Great lessons for all who are dedicated to Rescue.

Robert Cabral, Founder and Executive Director of Bound Angels, is an authority on canine behavior and shelter dogs.  His first hand knowledge of shelter behavior, aggression, and dog training is a lifesaver to dogs that have no one to speak for them - Robert speaks for them, sometimes eloquently, oftentimes candidly - but always honestly and always with the intent to make the world a better place for them.  Bound Angels helps animal shelters save more lives through information and knowledge.

More About Bound Angels:
https://boundangels.org/

More About Robert Cabral:

https://robertcabral.com/




 

Drop It!

Playtime can be lots of fun once your Cairn understands the benefits of responding to your "Drop it!" or "Let it Go!"

This is another great video by Zak George which demonstrates how to teach "Drop it!" or "Let it Go!" using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything he demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.

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Training your Cairn can be fun!

Come and Stay!

"Come!" is a great tool - one you can use anywhere - that will help your Cairn burn off energy and quite possibly keep both of you safe and happy!

Teaching your Cairn to "Come" and "Stay" can be lots of fun, but it can also provide an extra measure of safety in an emergency situation.  This excellent video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to "Come" and "Stay", using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can be Lots of Fun!

Teaching Your Cairn to Play Fetch!

"Fetch!" is a great game - one you can play inside and out - that will help your Cairn burn off lots of energy and keep both of you happy!

Is your Cairn restless or anxious when you're busy elsewhere?  Many Cairns find themselves in Rescue, shelters, or worse, simply because they have too much energy and not enough structured activity to burn it all off.  This excellent video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to play fetch, using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can change your life!

Introducing Your Cairn to Loud Noises!

Loud appliances can be in the house or out in the yard, so know how to introduce them to your Cairns in both environments, and how to avoid unnecessary stress.

Teaching your Cairn to remain calm in the presence of vacuum cleaners or other loud appliances can be challenging, especially if they are fearful.  This excellent video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to accept loud appliances, using very gentle, positive training methods.  These methods will work with a more confident but reactive dog as well as a fearful dog, and it is another great way to give your fearful Cairn a basic sense of confidence.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a reactive or fearful Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can be rewarding!

Walk a Reactive Dog - Video

Yes!  Even a reactive little Cairn boy can learn to be calm and attentive on a walk!

This is a wonderful video by Zak George which demonstrates how to work with a highly reactive dog, using the "Look at me!" and "Get out of Dodge!" positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it it worth waiting the minute to see this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn and we recommend only using a lead attached to a secure harness, not a lead attached to a collar, but everything else he demonstrates applies perfectly.

Walking your dog can be fun!

Car Safety Harness Video

Always think Safety First when traveling with your Cairns and other dogs!  In addition to suffering serious injury from a sudden impact accident, any loose dog in the car can accidentally open windows, lock doors, activate wipers, and even put a car in gear – it just takes a few seconds of human distraction for any one of these things to occur, triggering a range of consequences!

Restraining our Cairns and other canine loved ones in the car is always a matter of concern, whether we put them in crates or car seats or other type of harness restraint.  There is much evidence that many of these devices are not, in fact, safe when put to the test, so the answer to how to best keep our dogs safe in the car is not all that simple. 

One key safety factor, whatever method you choose, is to make sure you install and use the restraint absolutely properly.  In this very informative video, Robert Cabral of Bound Angels, explains why proper restraints are so important and he demonstrates the harness that he now uses (AllSafe) for his dogs.  He is not selling the harness, and does not even mention the name, but he gives a thorough explanation of elements you should consider when choosing restraint equipment for your dog, as well as proper placement of your dog in the car.  Excellent food for thought…

Here is a link to the Small AllSafe Harness:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-AllSafe-Harness-Small/dp/B0007RD94K/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1452097138&sr=1-1&keywords=allsafe+dog+harness+small

Amazon Review of Small AllSafe Harness:

I have a Westie who is 17 pounds and this is a little loose in the shoulders, but it works fine. She seems to be comfortable in it, and I feel it would protect her in the event of a crash. Nothing is 100% sure, but I feel this harness is fairly well thought out, and uses crash tested materials, so its way better than most all thats out there. It takes less than a minute to get on - I just unbuckle ONE of the buckles around her belly, and pull the other leg through the hole, and slip it over her head. No big deal. The problem I have, is getting it on. Since I had to cut the long straps shorter to keep them out of the way (which they tell you is ok to do), the end that I cut is UNRAVELING terribly, and its hard to get it through the buckle on that "reverse" move where you thread it back through the buckle a second time. Really? After all that testing, and thoughtful design, you don't use a webbing that won't unravel???  NOTE: The video by Robert Cabral shows exactly how to prevent this problem.

More about Bound Angels:
https://boundangels.org/barc/






 

Thresholds & Doing Nothing Calmly – Video

"…At any given moment in time, we may just pause and do nothing… it’s just, ‘Can you learn how to be, calmly?’..."    Suzanne Clothier

We all work hard to train our Cairn Terriers, but sometimes the best thing we can do is Nothing - as long as we do it Calmly.  No commands.  Just calming body postures and maybe calm words of no consequence (something like "How about that Tom Brady?").  This brief video is part of a training by Suzanne Clothier Thresholds, Thresholds, and Doing Nothing.  She illustrates how passive positive training methods work very well when teaching a dog to feel safe in different situations.  The single most important thing any dog needs is to feel safe, and it is incumbent on us to understand what that means from the dog’s perspective.

"Copyright © 2013 by Suzanne Clothier. Used by permission of Suzanne Clothier. All rights reserved. For more information about Suzanne please visit SuzanneClothier.com"

Understanding Arousal, Anxiety, and Fear:
http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2015/08/understanding-arousal-anxiety-and-fear.html

Relationship Centered Dog Training Tips by Suzanne Clothier:

http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2014/06/relationship-centered-dog-training.html

Read More Training Tips from Suzanne Clothier:

http://suzanneclothier.com/articles

Easy Housetraining - Video

Teaching proper potty habits takes time, consistency, and patience, but is well worth the effort, and this is true for puppies as well as older Rescued Cairns!

Teaching your Cairn to potty where you want the "business" taken care of can be frustrating, as a puppy or an older Rescued dog.  This excellent video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to be comfortable in a crate and where the potty spot is located, using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to control your dog's environment, go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can be Rewarding!

Door Safety - Video

"Look at me!" is a key element in teaching your Cairn not to rush out an open door - but there's so much more!

This is another really great video by Zak George which demonstrates how to teach your Cairn not to rush out the door with "Sit/Stay" "Leave it" and "Look at me" commands, using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take precautions, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can be rewarding!

Mini Fetch: A Tonic for Cairn Deafness!

"Fetch!" is a great game - one you can play inside and out - that will help your Cairn burn off lots of energy, improve communications, and keep both of you happy!

Is your Cairn prone to bouts of "Cairn deafness" more often than you'd like?  We know that "Fetch" is a wonderful activity to help your dog burn of energy when they simply have too much to settle down, but did you know it is also a great way to easily improve your relationship with your dog and sharpen his focus on you when you are trying to communicate something?  This excellent video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your Cairn to play fetch, in the house, in a small space, using positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to a Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can improve communications and make you Both Happy!

Counter Conditioning & Safety

"[Counter Conditioning] can, however, be an extremely slow and ineffective process if the dog doesn’t feel safe."    Suzanne Clothier

Because the Cairn Terrier is genetically inclined to be aware of and react to any change in their environment or routine, we are all familiar with the need to desensitize our Cairns to certain things in our efforts to eliminate unwanted behavior.  This takes a lot of consistent effort on our parts, especially when the dog is reacting to a fear of something.  It is important to understand the need to make the dog feel safe and before we can help the dog work through his fears.  This brief video is part of a lecture by Suzanne Clothier about Counter Conditioning and Safety.  She illustrates how positive training methods work very well when a dog feels safe, but not otherwise.  The single most important thing a fearful dog needs is to feel safe, and it is incumbent on us to understand what that means from the dog’s perspective.

"Copyright © 2013 by Suzanne Clothier. Used by permission of Suzanne Clothier. All rights reserved. For more information about Suzanne please visit SuzanneClothier.com"

Understanding Arousal, Anxiety, and Fear:
http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2015/08/understanding-arousal-anxiety-and-fear.html

Relationship Centered Dog Training Tips by Suzanne Clothier:

http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2014/06/relationship-centered-dog-training.html

Read More Training Tips from Suzanne Clothier:

http://suzanneclothier.com/articles

Understanding Arousal, Anxiety, and Fear

"No matter how well fed your dog is, if he doesn’t feel safe…his behavior will be devoted to trying to feel safe."    Suzanne Clothier

One of the key elements of Relationship Centered Dog Training is understanding the dog’s behavior from the dog’s perspective because “…in any given situation, the dog's behavior tells you what his best guess is as to how to handle the situation…”  This brief video is an introduction to a lecture by Suzanne Clothier about Arousal, Anxiety, and Fear.  There will be other videos which offer specific training tips, but this one provides a simple illustration to help you understand the fundamental needs of the dog and how these needs drive behavior.  Many Rescued Cairns are labeled aggressive, for example, when all they are trying to do is survive and/or feel safe.  The single most important thing a fearful dog needs is to feel safe, and it is incumbent on us to understand what that means from the dog’s perspective.

"Copyright © 2013 by Suzanne Clothier. Used by permission of Suzanne Clothier. All rights reserved. For more information about Suzanne please visit SuzanneClothier.com"

Relationship Centered Dog Training Tips by Suzanne Clothier:

http://cairnrescue.blogspot.com/2014/06/relationship-centered-dog-training.html

Read More Training Tips from Suzanne Clothier:

http://suzanneclothier.com/articles

Tips to Deal With Separation Anxiety!

Their anxious expressions pull at your heartstrings, but if you can remain calm and set aside the time to step-by-step condition your Cairn to trust that you will come back, you can eliminate the stress of Separation Anxiety.

Leaving your Cairn at home for any amount of time can be terribly frustraiting if your dog is insecure and suffers from Separation Anxiety, as many Rescued Cairns do.  This training video by Zak George demonstrates how to teach your anxious Cairn to relax and learn to trust that you are going to come back, using very gentle, positive training methods.  There is a spot of advertising by his sponsor, but it does not detract from this really helpful video.  Obviously, the dog is not a Cairn, but everything Zak demonstrates applies perfectly to an anxious Rescued Cairn.  Note his admonitions to go slowly, take small steps which you can build on, and set your dog up for success!

Training your Cairn can give you freedom to come and go without stress!