Fur The Heart Dog Training

Let’s Welcome Sam and Major!
Major is a very happy and handsome rescued Pit-bull who is training to become a multipurpose service dog for his owner. Majors owner, Sam has previously worked on training and has done an excellent job, but he is looking to expand his abilities and knowledge with the help of Fur The Heart!

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Did You Know,
Dogs can be trained to detect cancer, and other diseases in humans. Cancerous cells release different metabolic waste products than healthy cells in the human body. Dogs may even be able to sniff out cancer cells simply through smelling someone’s breath

Follow us for more Dog Facts to celebrate learning all September long!

Within hours after the attacks of Sept. 11, thousands of rescue workers from across America deployed to ground zero to help in the search and rescue efforts. Joining the endeavor were dogs specially trained in search and rescue, police work, therapy and comfort. It is estimated that more than 300 dogs took part in the search, rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero.
Search and rescue dogs (SAR) certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) specialize in disaster response skills. Trained to search and detect living human scent, their mission was to find survivors buried in the rubble. The last living person rescued from ground zero 27 hours after the collapse was found by one of these search and rescue dogs.
As the days went on, rescue and recovery workers soon realized the chance of finding survivors was slim. With rescue operations pivoted to a recovery mission, and cadaver dogs, trained to find human remains, were brought onto the scene.
Working alongside their handlers, the four-legged heroes worked tirelessly climbing huge piles of debris while fires still smoldered. The search for signs of life or human remains was mentally and physically taxing on the dogs, as the SAR dogs began to get discouraged and lose their search drive. Aware of the importance of morale in these dogs and to keep their motivation high, their handlers would stage a “mock find” so the dogs could feel successful.
Veterinarians were stationed at the site to help care for these dogs. Working 12-hour shifts on the pile, the dogs needed to have their paw pads, eyes and noses cleaned often.
In addition to search and rescue dogs at ground zero, therapy dogs provided comfort to the firemen and rescue workers who continued to work countless of hours on the pile. They represented a respite from the surrounding destruction and debris, even if it was only for a minute.

Just like us, a service dog may get startled by a sudden loud sound, and that is okay. Service dogs are not robots, and we shouldn’t expect them to act perfect all the time. Instead we should expect our dogs to be able to quickly settle, while remaining under our control.

So how do we teach this?
 The first and most important step begins with you, the owner! Take the time to learn about your dogs, body language, and stress signals. Learning this will help you identify what your dog is trying to communicate with you. Many dogs may show very subtle signs when they are stressed, anxious, fearful, or frustrated and unfortunately many owners miss these early warnings simply due to lack of awareness. It is important to recognize these feelings before they spiral into an unfavorable behavior or reaction.
As a responsible dog owner, you should also make sure that you are socializing and desensitizing your dog to various sounds, animals, people, places, and things in a safe manner from an early age. Desensitization training, is a behavioral modification technique that gradually exposes a dog to a trigger in order to reduce, or eliminate that response. The goal is to teach the dog that the trigger is not something to be feared, but rather something unimportant or ordinary. For example, if your dog is scared of a vacuum cleaner, you can first try encouraging them to be in the same room as the vacuum while it is off. Don’t force them, but let your dog choose when they want to interact with the vacuum. You will then reward your dog when they offer any kind of interaction or curiosity towards the vacuum (sniffing, touching, or being in close proximity). After a while, your dog will be confident around your vacuum cleaner while it is still off, but what about when it is turned on? For desensitizing your dog to a sound we recommend using YouTube, or a recording of the triggers sound to help your dog adjust to the noise. For many dogs, it’s the sudden loud sound that is more startling than the visual appearance of a trigger itself. Using the recording, you will play the sound of the trigger (or in this example a vacuum cleaner) at a very low volume that is comfortable for your dog. While the recording is playing give your dog rewards randomly, or play the sound while your dog eats their dinner. Over time you can slowly increase the volume until it is about the same level as your trigger, or vacuum in real life. By using this technique you’re helping your dog build confidence, and create a positive association with the sound of the trigger. The key to this technique is going slow, at your dogs own pace, while providing consistency, and positive reinforcement. Never punish your dog for being afraid, or force them to interact with their trigger. Forcing your dog to interact with their trigger too soon may actually increase your dog’s fear and anxiety.

[ Gullveig, a German Shepherd service dog in training showed his owner that he was feeling a little uncomfortable with the noises inside of this new environment (a gymnasium) by holding his ears in a slightly backwards position. Tasha, his owner quickly recognized, and provided reassurance along with positive reinforcement (in this case delicious high valued treats and praise!) For Gullveig, this was all he needed to feel more confident and they both were able to enjoy the orientation with no issues! For Tasha, she was able to identify a trigger for her dog and is now able to practice with him on that trigger specifically ]

We hope everyone had a smooth and successful transition back to school!
To celebrate to learning; We will be sharing a new fact about dogs each week until October.

Did you know?
German Shepherd Dogs Are Excellent Herders!
A member of the herding group; German shepherds were initially bred to tend to large flocks of sheep by acting as a “moving fence”. German shepherds will run along an invisible line and instinctively know how to keep the flock in a defined area away from danger.

Happy Independence Day!

During July 4 activities:
•Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and keep them inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
• If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets, and don’t let them get near your barbecue grill while it is in use or still hot.
• Too much sun, heat and humidity can be dangerous to pets. Keep them inside; make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water when outdoors; don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather; and know the signs that a pet may be overheating.
• If you’re travelling out of town, consider leaving them at home with a pet sitter or boarding them in a kennel. If you need to bring them with you, be sure you know how to keep them safe.

After the celebration:
• Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
• If you hosted guests, check both your yard and home for food scraps or other debris that might be dangerous to pets, such as food skewers.

Did you know that you should be protecting your dogs paws all year round, Especially in the summer?

The Air outside might only feel warm but the asphalt will be hotter than the air and can cause serious burns! An egg can fry in 5 minutes at 131°F and at 125°F skin destruction can occur within 60 seconds! 
“If it is too hot for you to walk barefoot, don’t make your dog walk on it!”

📍To prevent pad burns, follow these tips:

•Walk your dog on dirt or grass paths
•Walk your dog in the early morning or evening before temperatures climb
•Avoid black asphalt, which can burn the pads instantly
•Plan trips ahead and be responsible so you don’t take your dog on hotter days.
•Try shoes or booties for your dog, They come in many different sizes and colors! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND them!

Did you know it’s easy as 1, 2, 3 to set up a consultation and initial evaluation of your dog?..

1.) Contact us
2.) Schedule your appointment
3.) Show up!

Today Timber had an initial evaluation including a temperament test to determine if she would be a good service dog prospect for her owner. She did extremely well and has now started her training journey. We can’t wait to watch this loving pup prosper!

Dog Training Is Not Linear.
When we talk about progress in training, it is very rarely, if ever, strictly linear. This is especially true when we talk about behavior modification. There will always be forward and backwards steps in the process. Some days will look incredibly promising while others will be less encouraging. Most people, when they start out training, expect the motion to always be advancing and always be forward moving but learning (in general, not just with canines) is a process of forward and backwards movement. There are successes and failures and that’s part of learning–there are days where, for whatever reason, new skills are easier to do than on other days. I think of it like a child learning to ride a bike. There are lots of failures at the beginning but the more they practice, the more their movements start to propel the bike forwards. You’ll encourage them to get back up when they fall, and not give up. Then, one magical day they start to ride the bike on their own. Just because they did it perfectly once does not mean that from that point on they will ALWAYS ride a bike perfectly without falling. It’s more likely that after that one perfect ride comes a bunch of less than perfect bike rides. As they keep practicing, they will have more good rides and fewer falls.

Service dogs will always have opportunities to learn something new! While on vacation Gullveig got to see a small alligator from a distance. He was very well behaved and remained calm dispite his curiosity. Gullveigs owner gave him pleanty of positive praise and pats for his great behavior!

Hello People and Pets!
Last year we started an Annual Enrichment Toy Drive to donate to Randolph County Animal Services. As many of you know we love working with animals and making their lives more enjoyable through training and care Especially our beloved Assistant Abriel Nitz who passed away at age 23 in 2021 after a long battle with Covid.
Toys wear out, fall apart, and need replacement after a while so we created this toy drive to donate plenty of toys (preferably for active chewers), puzzles and other enriching things to the Shelter in her honor. Enrichment gives animals a creative outlet for physical activity and mental exercise, as well as choice and control over how they spend their time. Examples of enrichment include puzzle feeders that encourage animals to forage for food, Toys that stimulate their senses from texture, temperature or chewing, and training opportunities to encourage learning! The shelter environment can be stressful for dogs and cats, but shelter staff and volunteers can help ease that stress by providing enrichment opportunities and activities. Many of these enrichment activities can also help these animals become more adoptable!
If you'd like to donate Enrichment toys please let us know by message, or emailing us directly at [email protected]
We plan on taking all donations to Randolph County Animal Services at the end of March!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25MGOEU50IDX6?ref_=wl_share
The link above is a link to an Amazon wishlist of toys for our RCAS Enrichment Toy Drive.

Abriel's obituary can be found here https:// www.loflinfuneralservice.com/obituary/Abriel-Nitz

The second photo is posted is of last years Enrichment Toy Drive turn out!

Happy Leap Day from Gillis!

Photo credit: H.A South Photography
Instagram: gallivants.of.gillis

Did you know that pet stores can be especially challenging places for you to train your dog at?
These stores are generally pet friendly which would make you think it’s a easy place to start, but many owners don’t take into consideration the large amount of distractions that a pet store can have. Pet stores are full of smells! Just about everywhere you go in the store another animal has probably been there leaving their scent behind (no matter how well the owner has cleaned up). There’s bags upon bags of stacked up food and treats, with the occasional loose piece of kibble laying on the floor and your dog is fighting the temptation to eat it. Walls of exciting squeaky or crinkly toys all just within reach. And we can’t forget about other pets who may bark or people running up to such a cute pup! Thankfully Buttercup has been practicing her skills at home and in less distracting environments. This made it easier for her to show off her great focus skills and practice her loose leash walking passed all of the temptations. To reinforce her wonderful behavior she got plenty of positive touch, praise and of course delicious treats! Great work Buttercup, we can’t wait to see what new skills you learn next!

Gullveig has never had to ride on any kind of public transportation vehicle, but Thursday he rode his first tram on his way to his owners appointment. Gullveig did extremely well and laid calmly by his owners feet for the entire ride. We reinforced his great behavior with plenty of treats and praise!

When the temperature dips below freezing, limit your dog’s outdoor activity to 10 to 15 minutes. Watch closely for signs of distress like shivering, lethargy, disorientation, or whining. Just like you, your dog can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite.
Coats can help them maintain body heat and booties can help protect their paws from the cold or other irritants used to melt ice.

IMD: Roxy a Golden Retriever plays outside in the snow with a toy. She is wearing a red coat and red boots. In the first photo she is sitting looking towards the camera. In the second photo she is running to the left with the toy in her mouth. In the third photo she is walking proudly towards the camera holding the toy in her mouth in anticipation to give it back to her handler.

Why Rewards Should Be As Unique As Your Dog!

When training most people assume that their dog will be motivated by training treats alone, but what if treats aren’t enough?
Dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarding for them. For example, if you reward your dog for laying down they will be more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. However if you use a type of reward that isn’t very motivating for your dog then they might not want to repeat the behaviors as much or even avoid them if they heavily dislike the reward you used. An example of this would be if you asked your dog to sit and then gave them a pat on their head, but they don’t find it as rewarding as a treat would be, thus leading to them not wanting to listen the next time you ask them to sit. Think of it like a job, you want to earn money so you can pay for things you want or need. When you get your paycheck you will probably be excited to cash it. Your paycheck is your reward for the work you did, and because you enjoy getting paid it motivates you to continue working. Now imagine if instead of money you got head pats or someone says “Good job”. You most likely wouldn’t want to continue working. Some people might enjoy that kind of reward, but not all. The same goes for your dog.

There is a variety of different things that can be used as a reward for your dog. Most of the things can be put into one of four categories:

•Food, (treats, biscuits, or kibble)
•Toys, (tug or fetch)
•Touch, (head pats, scratches)
•Praise (verbally rewarding your dog: “good boy/girl”)

The best way to choose what reward to use for your dog is by making a list of different things your dog enjoys or finds motivating then rank them from most exciting to least exciting. For example: if your dog absolutely loves to play tug put it at top, but you dog only likes kibble a little put it at the bottom. Now you have your dog’s hierarchy of rewards! The tougher the training challenge, such as learning a new behavior or facing a distracting environment, the higher-ranked the reward should be. In other words, use the kibble when you can get away with it and save that tug for the more difficult tasks.
In summary you should find what reward or combination of rewards motivates your dog. Every dog is different, so you shouldn’t try to use only one specific reward type.

Is it illegal to fake a service dog?

Currently, it is illegal to falsely claim pets as service animals in nineteen states. These states currently have laws concerning service animal fraud: California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Other states like Massachusetts are working on updating their service animal laws. Faking a service dog in one of these states could lead to heavy fines, or even jail time!

We will be closed for the Holidays from December 24th to January 5th. We sincerely hope everyone enjoys their winter festivities and celebrations!

Photo credit: Picture is of Gillis (Service dog) and the photographer is Hannah at H.A South Photography

“Oh Christmas treat, oh Christmas treat.”…
Gillis and his owner enjoyed the festive decorations in downtown Asheboro the other day while running errands.

We love our four legged family members, but did you know that most accidental pet poisonings happens around thanksgiving and other holidays? This usually happens from an owner sharing food with their dog without knowing that the food is actually toxic to them. Although the food may smell delicious, and sweet eyes are begging you for a treat it’s better to learn what foods are safe for your pets before giving them a bite. Since the holidays are quickly approaching we created this quick guide to help owners learn what food their dogs can and cannot have! 

Buttercup had a wonderful afternoon, reviewing her basic obedience skills and using her amazing brain to learn a few new skills. Bicentennial park was a little busy this afternoon which meant there was plenty of distractions. Between the Fire truck sirens, Cars, and people with pets walking by; There was no doubt that at some point Buttercup would get distracted. It is okay for her to look at a distraction occasionally as long as she is able to respond when asked to perform a command or cue. Despite all the potential distractions, Buttercup was able to stay focused for most of the lesson. It is  unethical to expect a puppy of this age to be able to maintain focus the whole time, and many of these moments can be used for Desensitization, building patience, or simply taking a short break. 
Buttercup, especially enjoyed being introduced to a new cue called “touch”. This cue can be turned into a task, such as gently closing a low cabinet door, or nudging a handler to alert them to a medical episode.

The winter holiday season is upon us - are you and your dog ready? The holidays can be overwhelming for our canine companions, but they don't have to be! There are many tips that you can utilize to support your dog during the holiday season and make the holidays more enjoyable for you and your dog!

1.) Prep Before Travel
-If your holiday festivities involve traveling to the houses of friends or family, be sure to talk with your hosts about what their holiday plans look like and how your dog can and/or can't be incorporated. Knowing your host's rules and expectations for dogs ahead of time - for example, if dogs are allowed on furniture

2.) Create a Private Space
-Whether at home or traveling, holiday gatherings can be stressful and overwhelming for dogs and things like platters of holiday food can be tempting and distracting for dogs and puppies. It's always a good idea to give your dog some private space to retreat to. Be proactive and give your dog intentional breaks from the festivities to allow them to relax, recharge and then come back to the gathering and continue to be successful.

3.) Keep Routines Intact
-Dogs thrive on routines, and the bustle of holiday activities at home or when traveling can disrupt that. As much as possible, try to keep your dog's routines intact.
If you are traveling, make sure to pack your dog's supplies: food, bowls, toys, and of course a crate and bed. Watch how many special treats and snacks you or your guests are giving to your dog and be sure to keep any hazardous treats away. Remember that many of the foods that we love over the holidays can actually be very dangerous for your dog including chocolate and alcohol as well as turkey bones. You'll also want to avoid food like fruit cake or recipes that involve garlic, onions, and raisins. even the best-behaved dog can be tempted by the aroma of holiday treats and might be inspired to counter surf or raid a trashcan. It's best that holiday dinner trash is immediately brought outside or kept in a secure trashcan.

4.) Find Dog-Centric Activities
-Holidays don't have to just be stressful for your dog, and there are fun ways you can incorporate your pup into the festivities. Finding ways to keep your dog occupied during the holidays can be a great way to spend time with everyone you love. Invite your friends and family to join in your dog's favorite games or walk with you and your dog in the neighborhood or to a local park. Not only will this give you the opportunity to spend quality time with your dog, but keeping your dog physically and mentally exercised is a stress reliever. You can also find fun ways to involve your dog in your traditions by making or buying festive holiday treats or snacks as well as seasonal gifts. (We Do Not Recommend Raw-hide treats or bones)

Happy Howl-O-Ween from Gillis!

Photo credit: H.A South Photography

Follow Gillis .of.gillis on instagram

TIPS-N-TREATS
Dogs are not born understanding English or other languages. The new puppy you brought home two days ago has no idea what the word “No” means. Instead of expecting them to drop whatever it is they are doing, show your dog what you want them to do instead!

🎃 Halloween is Right around the corner!
Here are some tips to keep your pup safe:

•The candy bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not Scruffy or Fluffy. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets.

•While a carved jack-o-lantern certainly is festive, pets can easily knock over a lit pumpkin and start a fire. Curious kittens are especially at risk of getting burned or singed by candle flame. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered relatively nontoxic, but can produce stomach discomfort in pets who nibble on them.

•For some pets, wearing a costume may cause undue stress. The ASPCA recommends that you don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

•Halloween brings a flurry of activity with visitors arriving at the door, and too many strangers can often be scary and stressful for pets. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. While opening the door for guests, be sure that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside. And always make sure your pet it wearing proper identification—if for any reason he or she does escape, a collar with ID tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver for a lost pet.

We love seeing our dogs at work!
When you look at this photo, you may see just a service dog laying next to his owner. You might assume that because he is laying down he is not actively working, but the truth is, he is working. Gullveig may be laying down, but he is constantly checking for cues and is ready to act if his owner faints or has an episode. This is why it is very important not to distract service dogs, even if they appear like they are not working. Distracting a service dog could cause the dog to miss an important alert or cue, which could lead to their handler being injured or worse.

Lucas and Gullveig practiced their tucking skills and took the opportunity to build confidence with the Halloween displays at Lowes Hardware.