| When she walked into my office I tried to keep the | | | | much better control over the dog on leash. |
| surprised look off my face. Her eyes were black and | | | | U=Underlying - Whenever you are dealing with a |
| blue and her nose was swollen beyond belief. As she | | | | behavior problem you have to understand that there is |
| sat down she started to cry and had a difficult time | | | | an underlying problem. For instance, if a dog is digging |
| talking. I got her a glass of water and let her know to | | | | there could be many different underlying reasons for |
| take her time. Once she gained control, she informed | | | | the digging. It could be that the dog is bored, frustrated, |
| me that her dog was responsible for her broken nose | | | | hot, or it could be breed specific. Terriers love to dig. |
| and black eyes. | | | | In this situation, we figured that one of the big |
| She went on to tell me that her dog had injured her | | | | underlying reasons was lack of exercise. Her dog was |
| arm and wrist and her leg. She said that she loved her | | | | loaded with energy. We came up with a plan to have |
| dog. She also added that her dog was a large black | | | | her son bring the dog to the park three times a week |
| lab and in no way aggressive. Her dog had injured her | | | | on a long leash. He would spend about 45 minutes |
| by jumping, pulling, and in general not listening to her | | | | throwing a ball for her dog. In addition to the ball playing, |
| commands. She said that the latest incident had | | | | she brought her dog to a dog daycare three times a |
| happened a few days before. She told me that she | | | | week. By giving her dog some intensive, aerobic |
| was getting ready to walk her dog. She had put her | | | | exercise her dog started to calm down. |
| dog on leash and was about to go out the door. Just | | | | T=Train - We put her dog on a training program that |
| as she was about to exit the house through the front | | | | consisted of the basics (sit, down, stay, walk, and |
| door, her dog saw a cat across the street and took | | | | come). She or her son had to spend at least ten |
| off at full speed. | | | | minutes each day doing a training session. We focused |
| She hung on to the leash and tripped trying to go out | | | | on teaching her dog to greet politely at the door and |
| the door. She went face first into the door and broke | | | | stop pulling. By using the gentle leader she was able to |
| her nose. At this point she teared up again and said | | | | walk her dog past very distracting situations. She even |
| that she loved her dog but didn't know if she could | | | | expressed her amazement when she crossed other |
| keep him. She had no control. I told her not to worry, | | | | dogs and animals during their walks and was able to |
| and that we would get her dog under control. | | | | control him. |
| I taught her my system for dealing with behavior | | | | In addition to the obedience training she also learned |
| problems, what I call my M.U.T.T. Method. The M | | | | how to teach her dog that she was the leader. She |
| stands for Manage, U for Underlying, T for Training, | | | | had her dog work for attention, food, and playing. By |
| and the last T is for Time. | | | | establishing some leadership she gained much better |
| M=Management - A big part of dog ownership is | | | | control. |
| effectively managing your dog's behavior. Crates, | | | | T=Time - Any behavior program is going to require |
| kennels, baby gates, and leashes are some tools to | | | | time. By following the steps that we outlined she |
| help you manage your dog's behavior. In this case, we | | | | started to see changes within a short period of time. |
| put a gentle leader head collar on her dog to help | | | | By following the program for 21 days, those changes |
| manage her dog's pulling problem. | | | | would become stronger and stronger. |
| A gentle leader works by controlling the dog's head. In | | | | Any time you're faced with a behavior problem, |
| principle, it works a lot like a horse bridle. It makes it | | | | remember the acronym M.U.T.T. and apply each step. |
| much more difficult for the dog to pull, and it gives you | | | | You'll be happy with the results. |