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When it comes to reactivity, training is not always the answer. Below is my answer to this question someone posted in a dog forum. 'Can I train my dog more so he listens? I have done so much training. My dogs are fighting and they do not seem to listen... what to do?' Hello there, your question is if you can do more 'training' to help your dog, the answer is no. I will explain why after. You can do other things to reduce stress in your household first and stop the high cortisol cycle that evidently is perpetuating dog fights. Your dogs have 2 very important parts in their brain, one in the back called the amygdala, which regulates emotion (this is when they do not listen) and a frontal part call prefrontal cortex which is what the dog uses to make rational decisions. WHEN ONE IS ON, THE OTHER ONE IS OFF. Remember that. If the amygdala is on, you see the fear reactions and zero control, the dog cannot learn. When the cortex is on, the dog can LEARN, is relaxed, and is able to make better decisions. So- you need to lower the stress immediately. You do. If your fence has visibility, get a privacy fence or cover the view. Frost stickers on windows. Ensure you have them on harnesses to pull them apart. Avoid fear-inducing things like shock collars, prongs and such, all stress inducing and terrible for the dogs. Make sure each dog has a safe haven they can retreat to once they have had enough of each other, or the kids. Low traffic. You need sniffy walks individually with each dog. Each dog needs individual time every day, they are individuals and they need this. Once the stress is lowered, you can expect them to learn again, but not now. They need more management, less stress and more time on their own 1 on 1. Chronic stress has severe long term consequences, illness primarily. Do not underestimate it. Laura Becker, CBCC-KA www.kaiserpetcare.com

Let's talk about PUPPY GROOMING! Before you grab the scissors or send Fido to a commercial groomer, read this. You welcomed your puppy and you are eager to get him/her groomed. It is important to recognize your puppy's emotional state in all this. Dogs (especially impressionable puppies) require some time to get used to new things. They are getting used to your home, you, each member of your home, and to come to terms with the loss of safety they felt with their mother and litter. This process takes anywhere from weeks to months. Some puppies are so scared in the beginning that they hide behind couches to avoid human contact. Some others allow cautious contact yet their hormones are still at work. These hormones, along with the massive changes the puppy brain experiences and the presence of fear periods (specific times when puppies are more scared or cautious) also come into play when a puppy faces grooming. Grooming is a very invasive process for a dog of any age, but especially puppies. Here is why: The puppy does not understand what our motivation is. What are we trying to do? When he is placed in the bathtub... there is water all the sudden...   ' are we trying to drown someone? Are we playing? What is this exactly, and what for? ' These are the questions in the puppy's mind for every single aspect of grooming.  'Scissors! Is that fluffy? Is that sweet? Is that warm, cold? Is that safe? Or should I be afraid of stabbing? Will I get hurt? Or can I play? Can I taste this thing? ' So many valid questions for an innocent puppy. They are just experiencing the world. They need to feel safe. ' What is this noisy thing? Is it a toy? Never seen a clipper before, will I get hurt by it? What does this thing smell like? Is it safe to paw it?' Safety with grooming and the habituation process for the puppy become important. Puppies also have short attention spans. Shorter than adult dogs that can stand on the grooming table for two hours. Puppies can hardly tolerate more than 10 minutes of focus at a time. So they move. They wag. They do things puppies do. So we give them breaks. We talk to them in a calm voice. We reassure them. And we do not expect them to behave in any other way than what a puppy will. This is one of the most critical times in their life, the time when they learn what is safe, who can be trusted. One single frightening, traumatic experience will condition them for the rest of their life. And we do not want them to associate grooming with that. One fine example of scary elements of grooming is cage dryers.  Cage dryers are common in commercial groomers. Cage dryers are very noisy and it is not hard to imagine the terror a small puppy can feel when placed in one, without the possibility to escape and without any training. The combination of the noise, the air, the vulnerability of no one being around to help or comfort, or a way to escape are all factors why so many adult dogs hate commercial grooming. Manual drying is more time consuming, but it is less traumatic for the dog. When we habituate a puppy to a dryer (or any other element) we do it over a period of several weeks, building positive associations and utilizing distance to defuse fear. We work with the puppy by reading the body language, by comforting him in every stage, and by knowing when to stop. When to stop is critical. In order to stop, we need to be in tune with the puppy's body language and fear thresholds. Some groomers are great at creating wonderful haircuts, at the expense of the puppy being shut down during grooming and s lifetime of fear of grooming. These are the puppies that refuse to get close to water, or to enter the grooming store. They are terrified. In reality it is nobody's fault. Grooming programs focus on technique, the beauty of breed cuts, and cooperating with dogs that are eager. There is no formal preparation for puppy grooming. A lot of groomers do a wonderful job at being nice to dogs and not pushing them , and you want to find and retain this type of groomer. Although they may not have specific behavior academic background they have developed a special sensitivity over the years: They are patient, they are dog focused and they will take their time with your puppy to feel comfortable. They will not keep your puppy for 4 hours. This is too long for a puppy. They will love your puppy and respect it. Here is a tip: When you interview groomers, ask what their policy is if your puppy is too scared. Also: ask if they groom senior dogs and special needs dogs too. Senior grooming/SN grooming is complex, and this will tell you a lot about their commitment to dogs.  You can also look for a certified Fear-free groomer (US) or cooperative care /Holistic groomer (UK). These are all extra certifications a groomer can do to be more sensible to your puppy's developmental and emotional needs. And remember: No haircut or bath is worth traumatizing a young puppy for life. Patience is necessary for both the groomer and the guardian . Laura Becker, CBCC-KA www.kaiserpetcare.com