Willow Glen Resident

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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Shake On It: John Bishop holds on to his Tibetan spaniel, Harry, as he shakes hands with John's wife, Tracy. The couple has a better relationship with their dog after working with trainer Dawna Caldwell.

Dogs with poor socializing skills learn better behavior after training

By Shannon Barry

Gidget needed training. She was sweet and mild mannered when she ran after the neighbor's dog. But if the dog got too close, she became instantly defensive. In dog-friendly Willow Glen, Gidget, an Australian cattle dog mix, needed to learn how to fit in.

"I want to feel like it's safe to have my dog around other dogs," Gidget's owner, Cristi Toro, says.

Toro worked with four different dog trainers and said she was particularly impressed with Dawna Caldwell's techniques.

Toro says she believes Caldwell went above and beyond the basic dog training by continuing to train the dog, at times for free, until both dog and dog owner saw the results.

Caldwell has helped 50 clients combat behavioral problems. Her business, Happy Tails to You Dog Training, provides basic obedience classes and private training; it specializes in aggression cases to provide a happy, healthy relationship between the dog and owner.

"If I have a child, I have no problem understanding that he is going to school for at least 12 years to learn how to get on in the world," Caldwell says. "People think a puppy is going to automatically know what it should do without any form of teaching, and that is so unfair."

Caldwell teaches pet owners their pets behavior in certain ways.

Willow Glen resident John Bishop and his Tibetan spaniel, Harry, have a better relationship since working with Caldwell.

"We're totally comfortable with him and understand him better through the classes," Bishop says. "We know what he's going to do before he does it."

While there are many reasons for improving a dog's behavior, whether it is social interaction or basic obedience, Lu Shoberg, a behaviorist and dog trainer for Baymont Dog Training, admits correcting behavioral problems is very satisfying.

"I really like it when I get a client with a dog who has euthanasia hanging over its head," Shoberg says. "The dog's behavior is so bad it's to the point where the owner is thinking of giving it up. But that dog can be turned around so the dog and owner are happy with each other."

With more clients calling to fix aggression problems, Caldwell says, she found it helpful to call upon Shoberg's expertise as a consultant, particularly when cases are challenging. The two decided to team up for a new group class this month.

"Rehab for Raging Rovers" will be offered to clients who have previously completed private aggression work with either Shoberg or Caldwell.

While the class will start with dogs that are aggressive to other dogs, once they iron out the wrinkles, it will also address dogs that are aggressive toward humans.

Two people are needed to run the aggression class, since the animals are difficult to work with in the beginning.

Many people don't realize dogs need to be socialized as puppies, Shoberg says. Bad habits in dogs are much like human habits, she says. For example, the longer a person has been smoking, the harder it is to quit.

Carla Turner of Campbell knows it will take time and effort before Ralph, her bichon frise, and Toby, her Havanese, have proper manners.

"People have to realize that when you're going to do something like this, they'll have an important role to play," Turner says. "If you don't play that role and follow the advice that is given, you won't have that success."

As a dog trainer, Caldwell knows aggression in dogs stems primarily from fear or frustration. The first step in dog training, Caldwell says, is identifying which one it is. In either case, they start by working on the dog/owner relationship, in particular making sure the owner is a good pack leader.

If it is a fearful dog, she will work on confidence-building exercises. If the dog is already confident, they work on ways to appropriately channel its natural protective instincts.

In both cases, Caldwell and Shoberg teach the dogs alternative coping behaviors.

Once the dog is socialized and the owner has learned a few tricks, it becomes easier.

"I like to think that my human clients, because they've been through a training class, will have learned some things not to do with their next dogs," Shoberg says. "It's valuable information to know here's what you did that contributed to the problem, so the next time they get a dog, they're not going to do that."

For more information about Happy Tails to You Dog Training or Canine Corral Dog Daycare, call 408.267.7606 or e-mail Dawna at info@happytailstoyoudogtraining.com.