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Q and A with Dog Trainer, Lon L. Flewelling

By Lon L. Flewelling For The Dog Files

Q and A with Lead Dog, Lon L. Flewelling of Lead Dog Services in Denver;
This month I address, 1.) Chewing woodwork 2.) Alpha dogs 3.) Dog attacking lawn mower and weed trimmer 4.) Introducing new puppy to household

1. Ashley asked:

Do you know how to get a dog to stop chewing on a door frame? My boy won’t stop, I need help. He is constantly chewing on things even though he has chew toys.

Lon L. Flewelling:

I have had success with a couple of methods/tools…One is a product called Grannick’s Bitter Apple, a few drops has the sour of about 10 Granny Smith Apples…VERY bitter. Some dogs, however have no problem with bitter, those often respond to hot, I steep some cayenne pepper powder and strain the liquid through cheesecloth. Either can be applied the spots where he chewed without staining, and should work. If and when you catch him doing it a stern, “AH! Leave it” will reprogram his thinking. Leave it can be used for anything, remotes, other dogs or cats, books, anything you don’t want him to get into. I also have a few squirt bottles around to get the attention before “Leave it!” When he stops reward with a “Good Leave It” and offer him one of his toys. Also reprograms his switches.

The result of this suggestion was that the hot wasn’t successful however the bitter did make Ashley’s dog avoid the woodwork, and her follow-up with the suggested commands improved the situation considerably.

2. Gina contacted me with the following:

Sherri of The Dog Examiner posted this. I was curious as to your thoughts about it.
　
“If you watch a pack of wolves move around in the wild; it is the Alpha who says where they are going. The top wolves decide which direction to go in but they don’t have to be out front; that is a fallacy. The members of the pack watch the Alpha and go where he goes but the lower members are all about, even out in front. When I take my… dogs for a walk in the woods and everyone is off leash they are following me; there is no doubt about it but they are like a pack of wolves, all around.

In my opinion having your dogs walk behind you is just not fun for me or my dogs. But keeping them back there to show them who’s boss defeats the purpose of why we are out for a walk.”

Lon L. Flewelling:

Having observed wolf and dog packs, I agree that the alpha wolves do guide the pack but not necessarily need to be physically in front of the pack. The members constantly check on the body posture and language of the leaders for their cues as to where to go. In fact, when they are relatively stationary or in a ‘camp’ so to speak, the alpha male often takes a high ground spot to watch for potential dangers, while the alpha female if in the middle of the pack and if all is calm and controlled she does nothing to interfere.

I have always felt that if there is a ‘problem child’ dog strong guidance like being in front, going through doors first, etc. will reset their mental switches but when they are truly following the alpha, and respond to commands they can go out front. Mine will listen when I call them back to me with a ‘check in’ so they are still in compliance with alpha leadership and the reward is being allowed to go ahead where I can watch and enjoy them, and use their protective nature to watch for possible problems. They trust me and I trust them.
　
　
3. Jeannine asked:

Why do dogs attack the mower? Buffy attacked my mower and her mom wants to eat my weed wacker.

Lon answered:

I’m certain it’s two things, one they only see/hear them after months of not having them present and two they are VERY irritating noise to dog’s sensitive ears. I have had a number of behavior clients contact me about just those things. I generally consult them to have the pups on lead at the very least, and away from the machines if at all possible.

4. Marni asked:

We’re getting a second dog to make our little Havanese happy as his companion just moved to Florida. Do you think we should lean towards a male or a female? (Our doggie is male, but seems to get along with almost all dogs we have around here). Also, any special tips on training a new puppy that has to be confined for housetraining, etc. when there’s already a grown dog in the house?

Lon responded:

Is your boy fixed? Often it doesn’t make too much difference which you get…some do better with opposite sex, but not too much of an issue. More important issue would be introducing them in a neutral place that is not his territory, like home. I have always had success meeting at a park, or green belt. I have started a ways away from each other and walking them on lead towards each other, making a few passes and making certain that they go to a calm and submissive mode before they actually meet nose to butt. They can then go home together and will likely just go into the home together without problems.

As far as the house training, very often the older dog will help train the newbie by the signals he puts off, i.e. whining, scratching at the door to go outside. He may have moments when he has accidents inside thinking he can get away with it also. I usually recommend two avenues, using a crate for any extended periods as they most often do not relieve themselves where they sleep. First action when allowing them out is to use the command “go pee outside!” and take or let them out and reward with a “good pee outside!” when they do. I teach to reward the action not the dog, i.e. “good pee outside” not “good boy!” Also utilized puppy pads as they have infused ammonia odor to attract them to go on a spot that already smells like a ‘used’ spot. You can use a few leading up to a door that you use to have them go out to relive and remove the pads one at a time until there is one in front of the door.

Lon L. Flewelling was born the middle and most charming of three boys in rural Minnesota where he spent many formative hours on family farms directly interacting with animals nearly from day one. Since his youth he enjoyed the gift and magic of close communication abilities particularly with dogs. Lon followed his gift into the world of wolf studies to further develop my passion and abilities to understand canines and their communications with each other and humans. He is a perpetual student of canines and sees no end to the absorption of canine knowledge.

“Lon L. Flewelling is the human owner’s manual on how to operate your dog in Denver!”
-Shasta Michaels-