tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.comments2014-11-14T07:09:14.536-06:00The Vanya ProjectNancy Langstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11970067690038342512noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-88401609255642867922013-12-10T20:56:57.940-06:002013-12-10T20:56:57.940-06:00An excellent post about a much-maligned tool in th...An excellent post about a much-maligned tool in the positive training circles. I'm surprised to see it, actually. The vitriol and abject hatred directed by so many so-called "positive" trainers (who have never seen it used correctly) at this incredibly flexible tool (and those of us who have it in our toolboxes) is legion.<br /><br />You used it exactly the way hundreds of trainers do. And what you said about stress is true, as well. The stim can be stressful, but if taught properly, the dog benefits from this stress because he learns that he can avoid it completely.<br /><br />The benefits of having a dog that can run and play off-leash--truly, a dog's greatest joy besides being with his humans--is immeasurable. That so many dogs will never have this freedom, even in their owners own yards, because so many people think e-collars should never, ever be used makes me sad.<br /><br />R+ is a great tool for teaching behaviors. But it has limits. R- is also a great tool, and should not be maligned the way that it is. All 4 quadrants have value. Every dog is different!<br /><br />Low-level e-collar work can truly save dogs' lives. No tool is right for every dog, of course, but this tool does not deserve the hate it receives--especially since most of that hate comes from people who have no idea how the tool is used properly. If they aren't willing to learn, I wish they'd just take a "no comment" stance and stop poisoning dog owners' minds.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-58551628083472880642011-09-28T17:33:52.810-05:002011-09-28T17:33:52.810-05:00Wow, just today I asked for advice for my Pittie b...Wow, just today I asked for advice for my Pittie because for some reason, just out of the blue, he wants to use the neighbors cats for snacks. We do not have a fenced yard but Harley is always supervised except when he escapes the house. he literally has learned to open the doors. So I took new precautions with that today but i'm stumped on the sudden change of heart regarding the cats. he loved them last week! Anyway, I really don't want to go the route of an e-collar but the more I read about Vanya, the more I realize how much my Harley is like him. We are going to work on things in other ways first, but i'm so glad to see a process I can use if i have to resort to other measures. Thank you soooooo much for sharing this awesome information.Nessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14397855623120393371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-77164184749195531252011-08-15T11:07:55.202-05:002011-08-15T11:07:55.202-05:00I loooove how well you've broken this process ...I loooove how well you've broken this process down! I only wish that I had had access to this protocol when I owned my first dog - a dedicated critterer who ended up being restricted to leash walks only for the last 4 years of her life because no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get a reliable recall off of prey. <br /><br />*This* sort of e-collar work is the kind that I have struggled with my feelings on in the past - it's not a magic wand but it's also not a tool of torture if used correctly, and as elegantly, as this protocol explains.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469762117959814350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-49249170864995697172011-08-13T17:02:44.930-05:002011-08-13T17:02:44.930-05:00Thank you for this post, I'm here from CS-List...Thank you for this post, I'm here from CS-List.. very interesting, gave me a different perspective about using the e-collar...I can see how you'd use them in this situation. Don't think I'll ever "like" them for general dog behavior problems, but yeah. :)<br /><br />Erin, Rob, Bubbles & TexasErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06193391675658982926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-51852282672990317442010-10-31T16:59:57.971-05:002010-10-31T16:59:57.971-05:00Hilarious! Nice work. Super cute dog mittens, too...Hilarious! Nice work. Super cute dog mittens, too.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660102718135381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-24851509937071619212010-10-29T18:57:56.418-05:002010-10-29T18:57:56.418-05:00Nancy, I really love it. Great job!Nancy, I really love it. Great job!Sightlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03538720022211433419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-75476465553544131092010-10-24T13:47:50.069-05:002010-10-24T13:47:50.069-05:00Thanks, Cynthia! The log I kept when I put Vanya o...Thanks, Cynthia! The log I kept when I put Vanya on prozac may be helpful for you and Gustaf (Gustaf's triggers are probably quite different than Vanya's, but the principle is similar): https://sites.google.com/site/thevanyaproject/training-logs/vanya-up-northNancy Langstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970067690038342512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-11683986184314450812010-10-24T13:40:45.340-05:002010-10-24T13:40:45.340-05:00I think Vanya is making lots of progress too. I&#...I think Vanya is making lots of progress too. I'm so glad we're able to work together, it makes a big difference for both my dogs. Gustav started on prozac this week, so I'm curious to see how it works out. I'll bring him this week. He's had a rough week with several bark/lunges per walk and seems very tense when outside. Dottie, on the other hand, has been really good-maybe the BAT practice? <br /><br />And if you ever find that bomb-proof dog, let me know! :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660102718135381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-41319941467453589052010-10-15T13:02:45.136-05:002010-10-15T13:02:45.136-05:00Thanks for shedding light on this misunderstood br...Thanks for shedding light on this misunderstood breed! Fozzie the foster pittie lover-man concurs. <br />www.peacefuldog.blogspot.comKirsten (peacefuldog)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17157607807509631485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-58068843623636053502010-10-13T12:03:34.696-05:002010-10-13T12:03:34.696-05:00Vanya is gorgeous :) I just heard about your blog ...Vanya is gorgeous :) I just heard about your blog via "The Dog Trainer." <br /><br />If you are interested, I would love for you guys to join the ROAR Squad- it stands for Rescue Owners Are Rockin' and it's all about making adopting rescues THE coolest thing around. Current members: http://fidoandwino.com/category/r-o-a-r-squad/<br /><br />I am trying to find members from every state in the US and province in Canada by April 2011. Let me know if you're interested!Shauna (Fido and Wino)http://fidoandwino.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-43413761354123937842010-09-26T14:01:26.753-05:002010-09-26T14:01:26.753-05:00I was so impressed at how close you and Vanya were...I was so impressed at how close you and Vanya were able to get to me and Dottie! Too bad about that lady and her crazy dogs. Hope the ankle heals quickly.<br /><br />Thanks for working with us, it's great for my dogs as well.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660102718135381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-66122904641455484442010-09-14T15:05:12.754-05:002010-09-14T15:05:12.754-05:00BRILLIANT.BRILLIANT.Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292627497020455990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-80425486859761462522010-09-02T19:21:28.463-05:002010-09-02T19:21:28.463-05:00Vanya is who he is. You've done far more with ...Vanya is who he is. You've done far more with him than most would have. Whatever you decide to do, whichever direction you decide to go, will be best for Vanya, I'm sure.Liza Lundellhttp://lizalundell.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-40385564578361237962010-07-20T15:06:01.018-05:002010-07-20T15:06:01.018-05:00Yep, Tiva is one tough cookie. She doesn't let...Yep, Tiva is one tough cookie. She doesn't let the little punk get away with anything, even though she's almost 15 years old.Nancy Langstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970067690038342512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-60119855885491563582010-07-18T19:07:31.633-05:002010-07-18T19:07:31.633-05:00Nancy, have the pharmaceuticals been helping at al...Nancy, have the pharmaceuticals been helping at all? <br /><br />I so wish we lived closer - I would love to meet handsome Mr. Vanya!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-2443996736850483972010-07-18T19:06:09.649-05:002010-07-18T19:06:09.649-05:00Those pictures are a riot! Vanya appears to be ge...Those pictures are a riot! Vanya appears to be getting his hiney whupped by Tiva! LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-42001717232734552462010-07-08T20:24:09.368-05:002010-07-08T20:24:09.368-05:00I'm so sorry for your loss. But I'm not su...I'm so sorry for your loss. But I'm not sure it's a bad way to go. My mother lingered (with dementia) in a nursing home for three years. At the end, she really didn't have much quality of life at all. But it's always hard for the folks left behind.Liza Lundellhttp://lizalundell.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-75100728581028642492010-06-21T15:13:14.800-05:002010-06-21T15:13:14.800-05:00Yippie!Yippie!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-40690104907619544352010-06-19T13:48:08.366-05:002010-06-19T13:48:08.366-05:00Great! I love up north, I just got back from camp...Great! I love up north, I just got back from camping in the Wabeno area and sometimes go up near Hayward to use a friend's cabin. You're lucky to get to spend the summer up there.<br /><br />Both my dogs are reactive to dogs, so that would be wonderful, thanks for the offer. It's hard to find training partners who are committed. I'd also love to chat about the training options here in S. WI, sounds like we've used some of the same people.<br /><br />Have a great summer.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660102718135381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-9042069584932100732010-06-18T21:33:34.953-05:002010-06-18T21:33:34.953-05:00Hi Cynthia,
When we get back to Madison in the fal...Hi Cynthia,<br />When we get back to Madison in the fall, I'd be happy to meet and practice BAT or another technique with our dogs. We have one calm, elderly female dog who can be a decoy, and 3 plush dogs which make great decoys too. And if we keep enough distance, we can each work with a reactive dog. I have a training partner up here in northern WI for the summer, and it's really helpful.Nancy Langstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970067690038342512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-9417378472761028812010-06-17T19:37:24.630-05:002010-06-17T19:37:24.630-05:00Hi! I just found your blog from the functionalrew...Hi! I just found your blog from the functionalrewards list. I happen to live in Madison WI so I was excited to read about your experiences with Vanya right here in Southern WI! I have a reactive, dog-aggressive dog named Dottie and, my bigger project, a boxer/GSD mix who is both dog and people aggressive named Gustav. His blog is: operationgustav.blogspot.com (I seriously considered projectgustav, btw!). I'm a grad student at UW-Madison where I study young children. Anyway, just wanted to drop in and introduce myself, as we're not so far in space and situation.<br />-CynthiaCynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09660102718135381793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-41143879246333711252010-06-10T12:16:14.275-05:002010-06-10T12:16:14.275-05:00Thanks for a informative post! Well said!Thanks for a informative post! Well said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-6970226593857576982010-06-02T23:44:58.215-05:002010-06-02T23:44:58.215-05:00Thanks, Liza! He's much calmer today. I know t...Thanks, Liza! He's much calmer today. I know that's not the meds yet. The holiday is over, so the lake is quiet and he gets to snooze, chase squirrels, leap around the rocks, and lick the UPS man who comes every day with dog treats, thanks to the wonders of amazon.Nancy Langstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970067690038342512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-58226534341608143302010-06-02T21:29:54.197-05:002010-06-02T21:29:54.197-05:00Vanya has come a long long way. Your patience is a...Vanya has come a long long way. Your patience is amazing. Hope the meds help him work with you, instead of against you.Liza Lundellhttp://lizalundell.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346913847456741393.post-10148563489529364692010-06-01T14:47:34.990-05:002010-06-01T14:47:34.990-05:00I just discovered your blog -- wow, you could be w...I just discovered your blog -- wow, you could be writing about my dog Cooper, a 15-month-old pit bull mix. We've had him for about six months. He's the best dog in the world, except when he's bucking and flailing on his leash and screaming and looking to all the world like he wants to kill every dog that he comes across (even though he'd just run up to them and greet them if given the chance).<br /><br />I look forward to reading all your posts.Jamienoreply@blogger.com