K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet behavior/training?
Marilyn: I started studying training in earnest when we adopted Tommy at about two months of age. When I saw that little brown face and yellow eyes — that puppy was going to be mine. Tommy was never a cuddly pup. He was always curious, always interested in his environment. Before he was a year old, he had decided his job in life was to be our Sheriff. He took his job very seriously. My fat, round puppy grew into a 90-pound dog that was solid muscle.
I wanted to be as good a partner to my dog as I could be. I learned different techniques, training, behavior analysis, more body language specific to dogs, and environmental management. I became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT). I used every tool I could find to help my dog.
A more complete story is on my website on the page entitled, “Tommy.”
K9 Cuisine:What is the secret to your success with your business-how have you gotten to where you are today?
Marilyn: When training for other organizations, I was always asked to do something with which I was uncomfortable. Even if it was something as minor as putting on a Gentle Leader when I didn’t think the dog needed it, I didn’t want to have to do it. So I started my own company, Korrect Kritters, LLC. Now I can help the dogs in any way I think is appropriate. And I do.
About that same time, my husband and I decided to foster dogs. We were lucky enough to meet the District Director with Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida (LRRoF). We have fostered several dogs over the years. Once she found I was a professional trainer, I started fostering the dogs with problems. I also do in-person or phone consults for behavior problems on any dogs owned by the rescue. I’ve made amazing progress with a couple of dogs and improvements with all of them.
K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?
Marilyn: I use skills such as analysis, team building, and managing multiple projects in manufacturing (in the Midwest) and the Federal government (in the Northeast). Decades of being a “hobby trainer” preceded becoming a professional trainer. As a parent, stepparent, and grandparent who has lived with dogs of all sizes, ages, and temperaments over the years, I have insight to many family situations.
I am willing to meet people and dogs “where they are” when I do an in-home consult. In the beginning, I do a lot of listening and watching to get an idea of household dynamics. I am usually calm and quiet around the dogs, sometimes whispering to get their attention. I am usually calm and quiet around the people, sometimes teaching them relaxation techniques. Timing and technique in both scenarios is key.
K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?
Marilyn: Their almost constant communication. The way they live in the moment. In even bad circumstances, their efforts to make the best of any situation. Their talent for reading people.
K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?
Marilyn: I get paid to play with puppies!!! How great is my job!!
I use reward-based training and teach people how to ignore what they want to go away and reward what they want repeated. For some dog owners, this is a new way of thinking about the interaction with their dog. I like seeing the way it improves the relationship. More broadly, a change in the behavior of my clients and their dogs has a ripple effect within the community. Their friends, families, and neighbors often begin to use my techniques, too, because the dog is behaving and having fun doing it.
K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet training/behavior industry going?
Marilyn: Dog trainers are becoming professionals, not just people doing a job. Different organizations are developing standards of operation and methodology. More of us have college degrees and/or specialized education. Most of this is going without the attention of the dog owning public currently.
K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?
Marilyn: I’m a member of several professional dog training organizations. I’m on the Board of Directors of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. I also work behind the scenes in many ways.
K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and your organization?
Marilyn: My website http://www.korrectkritters.com, or my blog http://korrectkritters.blogspot.com , or at Lab Rescue of Florida http://www.labradorrescue.net .
K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!
Marilyn: My parents had dogs before they had me. I’ve lived with dogs most of my life and consider myself lucky to have been able to do so.
———————-
K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Having the confidence that your dog will come immediately each and every time you call him can be one of the greatest gifts your dog can give you. It’s remarkably easy to train a dependable Come When Called if you adhere to these training practices: reward the desired behavior and be consistent with your training.
Before you begin training, decide what verbal cue you will use. It’s very important that you not use a cue that your dog has already learned to ignore. I recommend that you use your dog’s name and a cue such as “here”. Now that you have decided on a verbal cue, let’s get started. Grab 10 very small dog treats and go to a quiet area with your dog. With Fluffy right in front of you, give your cue, “Fluffy, here!” immediately followed by a treat. Repeat until your treats are gone. What does Fluffy have to do to earn these treats? Nothing. Just by being with you, Fluffy gets her treats. Repeat this exercise several times each day for a week.
Your next training step will be to repeat the exercise with Fluffy loose in a room in your home. When Fluffy is distracted, give your cue, “Fluffy, here!” Don’t repeat your cue. Fluffy should turn and come to you. Immediately give Fluffy 10 very small treats, one at a time, before sending Fluffy to go off and play again. Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times each day. Remember, Fluffy gets 10 very small treats each time!
Once Fluffy understands this game, begin practicing in different rooms of your home. Add distractions such as toys, bones, or playing with the children to the game. Vary the treats that you use. For more distractions that are more difficult to leave, use the very best treats.
When you are comfortable that Fluffy will come every time you call, take your training outside. Make sure that Fluffy is on lead when you take her outside. She’s not ready for off lead training yet. Begin working in a quiet area as free of distractions as possible. Remember this is a new location with many new distractions. Begin with the simple exercises and build on the difficulty each week.
Continue to practice with Fluffy in different locations. Add distance slowly. It’s not fair to expect her to leave her friends and come running to you from across the dog park after just a few weeks of training. If you are consistent with your training and you reward Fluffy lavishly when she comes to you, you will have a dependable Come When Called before you know it.
Beth Willingham, CPDT is the canine behavior specialist member of the Agile K9 Path team. She began training and competing in performance dog sports in 1982. She currently competes with her Golden Retriever, Frost. Beth offers a holistic approach to solving behavior or performance issues based on the individual needs of each dog. Contact Visit the Agile K9 website at www.agilek9path.com or contact Beth directly at beth@agilek9path.com.
