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4TH GENERATION, CELEBRITY DOG TRAINER RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES TO USE WOLF RESEARCH TO SOLVE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC DOGS

Posted by jennifer on January 20, 2012 in .

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4TH GENERATION, CELEBRITY DOG TRAINER RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES TO USE WOLF RESEARCH TO SOLVE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES IN DOMESTIC DOGS

Wolf Psychology Allows Jennifer McCarthy to Better Understand the Motivations of Dogs

LOS ANGELES (January 20th, 2012) -- After initiating a six-year study into wolf behavior, fourth generation dog trainer Jennifer McCarthy has unveiled a new training philosophy, designed to teach people how to relate to their dogs as wolves. By treating domestic dogs more like the animals they originated from, McCarthy has found that she has been able to solve and prevent severe behavioral issues from occurring.

McCarthy's wolf research has taken her to both Mission: Wolf, a remote wolf sanctuary in Westcliffe, Colorado, as well as Yellowstone National Park where she has gained an in-depth understanding of wolf behavior. McCarthy, known as "The Wolf Woman" co-starred with Cesar Milan in a 1 hr. special on National Geographic's Emmy nominated series, The Dog Whisperer regarding her work with wolf-dogs.

McCarthy notes that while wolves are extremely dangerous animals, they also have a number of parallels with common domestic dogs and can provide important lessons on how to interact with animals facing severe behavioral issues or those that have previously been branded as uncontrollable by their owners.

McCarthy has already begun to instill her research learnings into a partnership with local pet store chain- Healthy Spot (www.healthyspotonline.com) in their Santa Monica & West Hollywood stores. Two courses- Survival Of the Pack (for puppies under 6 months) & Spirit of the Wolf (for dogs over 6 months) are being offered and slated to start on February 11th & 12th, 2012. The six week courses base her knowledge and research with wolves into teaching human dog owners how to better understand their pets.

"As I study wolves in the wild and get more and more into my research, I have been able to apply their communication style to domestic dogs, thus giving me unbelievable success and knowledge into who these creatures truly are," said Jennifer McCarthy. "This research not only helps us solve severe behavioral issues in dogs, but has the potential to lead to new training techniques for other general behavior issues as well."

A sample of Jennifer's training tips for dog owners which are based on her wolf research include:

Hunt, Kill, Chase: Always exercise your dog prior to feeding them. Do not allow "free feeding" and feed your dogs within rank of pecking order if you have multiple dogs. Always eat first (or pretend you are eating something) and never leave the smell of food on the ground even if you have cleaned out the bowl. The bowl is a resource to your dog just as much as food is.

Stress: Eliminate it. The dominant pair in a wolf pack take on more stress then any other members of the pack, but maintain a calm disposition. Owners should replicate this behavior by showing fearlessness, control, attitude, leadership and direction. By doing this, your dogs will lead more relaxed and content lives. If dogs feel stressed, they can become defensive, aggressive, nervous, anxious or even run.

Teach your dog to accept potential new members: Be in control of your social position. You should be the only one acting aggressive to potential new pack members - not your dog. If you ignore other dogs at the dog park or while on a walk, you show leadership to your canines. If you maintain a leadership position in these instances and decide when they should meet another dog and when not to, your dog will feel more secure.

Don't talk to your dog like a human. If you want to make a point, growl. If you feel silly, watch a video on wolves and mimic the way they talk to one another. Dogs and wolves second form of communication is through their body. If you communicate through your body language and learn theirs, this will give you a direct link into actually speaking their language.

Control: A true leader controls everything, including space. If your dog bothers you in the kitchen, claim the space as your own and teach them to stay out. If your dog runs away when you take them in the front yard, correct this by teaching them the importance of staying with the pack.

On the Leash: It is important for the owner to lead the pack while on walks, as they are in the dominant position simply by providing food, shelter, water and decision making skills. However, dominant wolves only lead 78% of the time, so it's ok to give your dog a break every now and then.

Territorial marking: The more your dog marks (or uses the bathroom) around your neighborhood, the higher his confidence goes, so you may or may not want to encourage it depending on your dog's temperament.

McCarthy has found that by teaching her clients wolf behavior, it has truly bridged the gap into solving behavior problems with remarkable results. "These domestic animals sitting in our living rooms want nothing more than to be part of a family, work and hunt for food, play and have leadership just like their ancestors did," added McCarthy. "When this takes place, I have seen dogs in their happiest moments and that's why I do the work I do, to see the light in their eyes and freedom in their soul."

 About Jennifer McCarthy  

Jennifer McCarthy, "Wolf Woman" (www.jmdogtraining.com) is a fourth generation dog trainer who has trained the canine companions of exclusive television, film, and music celebrities and influential business executives for more than sixteen years. McCarthy is skilled in a wide variety of fields including: obedience, behavior, protection, training for television and print, trick training, Schutzhund and American Kennel Club (AKC) handling. She has appeared on the National Geographic Channel, Bravo, E! Entertainment Television, ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox. McCarthy is currently writing a book about her time in the Rockies living with two wolves and three dogs. She is constantly doing an on-going study of wolf behavior, which she applies back to domestic dogs. Her work with wildlife and nature is the foundation in which inspires her to use knowledge from different animals to think "out of the box" and invent new techniques.

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PLEASE NOTE: Interview opportunities and demonstrations available upon request

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You & Your Dog's Relationship With One Another...

Posted by jennifer on November 7, 2011 in Nature / Colorado,Training & Behavior Tips.

There are two things that both humans and dogs share at a very primitive level. These two things are at the core source of our relationship to our best friends since time began. Where and how you eat and where and how you sleep is a building block from which we have formed a close partnership (originating in wolves) for many years.

In order to understand four legged animals better, a human must break him or herself down to simplicity. We must all be conscious of where our food comes from (the earth) and our need to attain territory (a house, a ranch or a condo. on 5th Ave.) We also must realize that in order to keep warm, we used animal's fur to create clothes, assemble tools, etc.

Dog's still remain connected to these primary instincts in a way that has become quite foreign to people. If it's not foreign, people don't really think too much about it. They still go about their day, on their cell phones at the gym, on Facebook, at their job or driving around in a car.  Dogs still go out and sniff the ground, chase the cat or bark at the dog passing by their house. They eat each other's poop, mark their territory and growl when they have something that they don't want you to take away.

When they eat food, they see the food coming from the bowl (no longer from a hand or thrown a few extra pieces of meat). They don't have to hunt for this food because we didn't hunt for it (unless you consider going to Whole Foods or Safeway a form of hunting). So in truth, there's no point behind it other than they (and we) are hungry and it tastes good. Food has essentially lost it's meaning to both humans and dogs.

Let's suppose you and your dog had to survive. Dog's have a much better sense of smell- some dogs are even bred to hunt wild boar and the like. Even if you have a Chihuahua, you may be able to catch a lizard or two with a more powerful nose. If you had to rely on your dog to find food, you both would have to assert some form of exercise and travel.

There is something about this primitive excursion which makes the dog more satisfied. Exercise away from the home where both dog and owner travel by foot before meals is key to tapping into getting back to being an animal yourself and understanding your dog on a more profound level.

After spending weeks hunting in the rockies with two wolves and three dogs to find kill sites, I know what this feels like. The satisfaction of working for food is something so bonding and yet so primitive. If you truly want to become close with your dog, exercising before meals and allowing the dog to see you eat first while they cool off is key. Once you hand the bowl over or feed from your hand, the dog realizes the job was well done.

Sleep is another form of becoming closer to our dog's on a ground level and understanding how our best friends view the world. Where you lay your head at night is a key statement of your status as well as your independence. A good leader in a dog pack asserts independence by sleeping alone (within proximity to other dogs) and prefers to sleep inside warmth or on top of something to look out. Your bed is your high point from which to see in case the pack needs protection. Your role as leader (you are the leader simply by giving food) is to protect your pack. This means, dogs sleep on their beds in your room on the floor and you sleep in your bed at the highest point.

It is time we understand animals from their viewpoint instead of assuming they should understand us from ours. It is also time we understand that we are all animals and not to forget that just because we have made advancements in technology, growth and discoveries such as oil doesn't mean we still can't be connected to other creatures and the earth in a more authentic and grounded way.

"What is a man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die form great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man." -- Chief Seattle

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Hello From The Wilderness...

Posted by jennifer on November 4, 2011 in Arizona,At Home,Dog & Wolf News / Issues,Las Vegas Base,Los Angeles Base,Mission Wolf,Nature / Colorado.

Hello Everyone-
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write a new blog. I have been working with a ghost writter in Los Angeles on a book that I think will make up for all my off-line time and I think it will be well worth the wait!

In the mean time, there has been so much to report from the year 2011- so many things that I don't even know where to begin. For starters, I moved from high up in the Rockies to a horse barn outside of Prescott, Az. Quite literally- I lived in the barn and if I opened up one of the windows, a horse could stick his head inside and eat hay in my living room!

What was so fascinating about this experience was that I was actually able to document a pack of coyotes on the ranch and the resident dogs communicating to one another. It was one of the most amazing things to hear- coyotes that learned to bark like dogs and dogs who learned how to yip!

I worked on the ranch with the horses, dogs and cats and from there, I was able to get a 5 acre property to run the K-9 Ranch Training Center in Prescott. This has given my clients amazing access who live in California and Nevada and I've had a lot of customers wanting to make the drive out here.

I have also had the opportunity to live side by side some of the world's most venomous creatures- scorpions, rattlesnakes and tarantualas which has given me a lot of appreciation for these other species in the high desert.

I have been actively following the Mexican Grey Wolf program, attending meetings and staying in touch with what's happening on the front lines.
In my spare time, I've done more natural hosemanship and have gone riding quite a bit in both Az. & Co.

This past year has certainly brought a lot of opportuniites for my on-going education
as well as taught me more about living in a new environment.

As we enter 2012 I think it's important for me to talk a little about our relationship with the natural world. I know that times are tough for a lot of people out there and although I've seen both sides of the coin, I have also chosen to live a life closer to mother nature- whether in a tent, in a tee-pee or in a house at 9,000 ft.

I often talk a lot about the human species dllema as it relates to people's pets but I think now it's time to broaden that message to engulf many of our friends in forest, ocean, etc.

The one disadvantage our species has is our need for self fullfillment, growth and expansion. We seem to have a hard time with simplicity. It's really hard for us all to slow down, make compassionate choices on a daily basis that really will be affecting the very lives that walk this earth in the future.

Non-human animals have this advatage. For example, the wolf who has done it's job so well, that it was able to survive the ice age. Other animals are more intellegent than the human species in ways in which we cannot understand. For example, meet the dog who can sniff out a seizure well before it happens, meet the horse who can see the slightest movement in a tree or the shark who can smell 10,000 times more than we can ever comprehend!

If there's one thing I have learned, is to view various creatures using these different senses at higher levels to actually learn from them. My brain may not be able to process a smell like a dog's brain can, but I have figured out exactly what they are doing through their nose just by merely spending time watching them. I took this knowledge and used it to smell plants & trees in a way I had never thought of before which helps me understand the way they think to assit them in tracking, scent and search work at a higher level.

I believe that by allowing oneself to step into this role as an equal and sometimes a student, not as a superior, can bring more appreciation for the natural world. Animals do things for a reason- humans do things for a need and that need is no longer survival it's consumption, growth and expansion. All resources are finite. They will not last forever and if there comes a time when you have to feed your family, step into the backyard and create a vegtable garden, it's a step towards getting back in touch with the natural world.
Change can be terrifying but also at the same time an opportunity for a new beginning.

It is my hope that through everything that is going on in our economic climate, we can all get back to the simple things in life because that's what helps species survive in the long haul. I believe we are on the verge of something great that has already started to be more concious of our environment, the choices we make and why having other animals around such as wolves, mountain lions, sharks, coyotes, etc. is so important. I encourage all who wish for adventure to embrace each circumstance, look for the good in everything and take great appreciation for our mammal and non-mamal friends as we can certainly learn a lot from them!

Best to you and your dog (or wolf/wolf-dog!) from Prescott, Az.
Jennifer

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"Bad" Dogs Deserve Good Owners...

Posted by jennifer on March 23, 2011 in Training & Behavior Tips.

It was a bright and beautiful day in Prescott and another start to a series of free dog training classes at the Yavapai Humane Society. Everyone was moving right along with the heel command. As I turned to around, I witnessed a powerful lab pulling his owner out of the receiving building. I heard a large "thump" and in one swift motion, a hand was raised up and came across the dog's head again- hard.

The class came to a halt. Shocking as it was to see, this was the second time in a week I witnessed someone hitting their dog. The man had explained that his dog ran away and that was the reason why he felt it was necessary to hit his lab. I asked if he built a fence and he said that he just did. Still however, he was not understanding that his dog having spent 24 hrs. in the receiving building, had no idea what he did wrong.

The week before at the dog park, another man hit his dog twice for trying to run through the gate. I believe it's not to deem these folks as being bad but they just have not received the proper understanding about dog psychology and behavior and an insight into how their own behavior effects animals in these circumstances. Hitting a dog or any living, breathing thing, does not constitute to them that they did something wrong. The association with physical harm comes out in fear, anxiety, depression and even sometimes severe aggression.

Unfortunately, I see a lot of dogs that have been abused. One dog that I have worked with, was hit so badly she lost her hearing and ended up biting 4 people, deaf and taking complete control over a house. She was so reactive towards hands, brooms and other things that merely saying hi to someone could trigger an attack. This was not her fault, yet the fault of someone who thought perhaps that by physically harming her, this would teach her a lesson. Obviously, all it did was teach her to bite- including people who fed and took care of her.

We, as human beings have a responsibility to treat all creatures with the dignity and respect they deserve. It is out of good faith that we take the pleasure in having these animals in our lives whether to assist us with our work, to comfort us when we have a bad day or to be happy to see us when we get home. I should hope that most people feel the same way.

There are many free resources out there to help people deal with anger and learn better skills as parents. Animal abuse as well as child and spousal abuse has been shown in research studies to be linked together.

If, for any reason you are having a hard time with your dog and feel the need to psychically punish them, first seek out a local dog training class. There are many professional dog trainers willing and qualified to teach you new skills that will be far more effective. Secondly, many communities provide free anger management courses and even talking to a local counselor or therapist can provide you with effective tools to relinquish anger in healthy forms so that you can live a much more peaceful and productive life.

If you or someone you know witnesses an act of animal abuse, please contact the local authorities. You could not only be saving the life of a dog, cat, horse, etc. but also preventing further abuse to a child or spouse.

For some people hitting their dog is a knee-jerk reaction but it doesn't have to be. Some of the people I respect the most are those that are willing to look at certain patterns in their life and are willing to change them. We need these people in our communites to lead by example. If they can do it, the inspiration can lead to a friend or co-worker who has a similar approach to these problems.

Remember that every bad dog deserves a good owner. Through a new set of skills, (one being physical exercise that is appropriate for your pet) you can make your dog into a super dog. Thanks for reading...

Sincerely yours,

Jennifer

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Evaluating Aggression In The Shelter Dog...

Posted by jennifer on February 16, 2011 in Dog & Wolf News / Issues,Training & Behavior Tips.

Run after run, I slowly walk down the aisle. Some tails wag, other bodies shake, some mouths growl and others have a warning sign on their run that says: "Do not touch" on the gate. Those are the runs that I find where a dog is in need of significant help.

After spending a long time working with extremely severe cases of dog aggression and aggression in captive wolves, it takes a lot for me to label a dog "aggressive" even though there are a lot of dogs that are deemed so.

Because dogs originated from wolves, in stressful situations, they still hold more fear than aggression towards humans and although something may look aggressive on the surface, most often it's not. With that said, it's important to work with the dogs that are shaking in their runs that everyone is afraid to touch. I should know as I own one of those dogs. Believe it or not, she is the sweetest dog I've probably ever owned once I got her out of the environment.

Some people are quick to determine a dog's state of mind when not looking at all the underlining issues. It's hard to say that a canine that is growling and barking is actually going to retain that when adopted. In most cases of shelter dogs, it is fear that is the ruling factor not dominance.

I always tell people that if you have an intelligent animal, expect that you may experience aggression in times of high stress. I know that if my dogs were in that environment as two German Shepherds for a prolonged period of time, they would start becoming aggressive. All people and all animals can be aggressive given fight or flight or the right circumstance to push them over the edge. It would be hard for a person to sit in a run day after day with all the noise and stress let alone a dog.

Certain tests that are done on shelter dogs to determine their thresh hold of tolerance should be done away from the kennel environment and not on any dog displaying aggression or fear. First you must build trust to get them completely over that hurdle before presenting something that could back fire that on that trust.

I don't believe in testing dogs inside shelter environments because it's not fair and not accurate. If you want to take the dog out for a walk first, that's one thing but doing anything along the lines of testing in a shelter run is like teasing a lion locked behind a cage. You have to remember that all things must be looked at from the dog's perspective.

The stress of a shelter can wear thin on not only the dogs but the people trying to save their lives. It's important to recognize that without these dedicated souls, most dogs in these environments would not make it out alive.

Hopefully, we can continue working on protocols while still establishing the need for individuality as truly, no dog is the same :-)

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