Good dog, better dog

Cola, my “adopted” one year-old Schnauzer-Poodle mix,loves car rides.

She is the doggie of my friend and is an “all-the-time” border in our home.

Whenever I get the chance, I take Cola out for a spin and she just loves to sit on my lap as she feels the wind on her face.

Earlier this week I had an appointment and I was told that I could take a doggie with me. Of course, Cola was the first doggie that came to mind.

“You have to sit in the back,” I told Cola as she entered the car.

Cola gave me that “you gotta be kidding” look and proceeded to sit on my lap.

She controls me, sort of, I guess.

“We are here to help owners enrich their dogs’ lives,” says Jojo Isorena, owner of BetterDog Canine Behavior Center, dog trainer and dog behavior specialist. “If you are interested in getting the most out of your dog we are here to help.”

Jojo told me that doggies are allowed anywhere at BetterDog Canine Center. So, as an obedient human, I took Cola off her leash and let her roam freely.

Jojo, a US certified dog-trainer, specializes in dog behavior.

“Cola is a good dog,” said Jojo. “If a dog is able to adjust to its surroundings within five to 10 minutes — that is, it will eat and play — then it is easy to train.”

Thank dogness that Cola was beginning to sniff around freely, even taking a few treats being given to her by assistant trainer Elsie Araneta.

I must say that I was impressed with how clean BetterDog was. Believe me, I have been to other dog schools and none of them come close to what BetterDog is.

The facility is fully air-conditioned. The first floor has a video which humans can watch while they wait for their fellow humans who attend behavior classes with their doggies. There is an area that will soon become a grooming center as Jojo’s wife is completing her dog-grooming course in New York. Another room will house the pet store, which will sell items that can only be found at BetterDog. There will also be a small café where humans can grab a bite. And that’s just the first floor.

On the second floor there is a large room which has seven divisions where doggies can be left for boarding, just for the day, or even for a few days.

“It’s our pet hotel,” says Jojo. “There have been some expats who have left their doggies with us since we opened a few months back.”

And the best room in the center, as far as the dog owner in me is concerned, is the one that overlooks the agility center. Here, humans can watch as their doggies go through their agility exercises.

The agility training area looks much like a school gym. You know: high roof, large industrial fans and many obstacle courses that a dog can learn to go through if that is what the human wants.

We Are Better

“BetterDog is totally different from other dog schools,” quipped Jojo. “We don’t get your dogs for boarding while they are being trained. What we do is encourage humans to train their own dogs. We are the first dog-training school that does that. Nobody here teaches people to train their own dogs.”

I had to agree with Jojo as I have had my own experience with dog schools. I had a Mini Schnauzer — his name was Yuri. A very nice trainer trained him — only thing is that he followed commands only if the trainer gave them.

Yuri won several best in breed titles, but I remember how stressed he would be after the shows. He would sleep for the next two days.

Jojo explained to me that dogs are very specific animals. So, when you teach a dog to sit in a given picture or setting, that is how the dog will remember to sit. They see all the fine details and if one of the details is missing then it upsets their learning.

This is why Jojo insists that the only one who can really train their dogs is the owner himself or herself.

“After all, we are the ones who live with our dogs,” he says. 

Class Time

Humans, who are the owners of their dogs (or the “head of the pack” in dog parlance), are the ones who accompany their dogs to doggie training. The human has to set aside time to train his dog. Actual training really only takes 10 to 15 minutes a day — every day.

And what about behavior issues? I ask. 

“The socialization period of a dog happens from the time the puppy is weaned from its litter, which is at about six weeks, until the time the puppy steps into four months,” says Jojo. “That is your only window of opportunity to socialize your dog. Beyond that it is going to be harder because you are going to have to actively teach your dog that life is okay and that there is nothing to fear.”

During the socialization period dogs should be allowed to explore their surroundings and they should be exposed to as many new things as possible. This way they grow to be well adjusted.

Good Dog

“A good dog is one that has a good relationship with its human,” says Jojo. “It takes all its cues from its human, making it dependent on its human for everything. He doesn’t make decisions on his own.”

As an analogy it would be the complete opposite of the way humans raise their kids. Kids are brought up to learn to do things for themselves because eventually they will be on their own.

Not so with dogs. The older they become, the more dependent they should be on their humans. Dogs depend on their humans for food, fun and everything else. That is why it is very important that dogs have responsible and loving humans.  

“The dog is happier when he has to depend on his human,” adds Jojo. “If the dog feels that he is in charge, he will not rest. And it is dogs like these that engage in inappropriate behavior.”

And yes, training dogs — whether purebred, mixed breed or Aspin — is the same for everyone. It really depends on the issues they bring with them when they go for training.

Are we ready?

“When a dog does stuff like chew the furniture, is scared of other dogs or people or when you can’t take your dog outside, then it might be time to take your dog to BetterDog,” says Jojo. “When you have a dog that keeps you from going out, or if your dog can’t sit still or is constantly barking at other dogs, or if it can’t even be patted by other people, these are issues that BetterDog can help you find answers to.”

Patience is one of Jojo’s best traits. Matter of fact, he admits that he is more patient with dogs then he is with people. Understandable.

Yet Jojo adds that he does not offer guarantees. What he promises is that there will be an improvement in the dog’s behavior after taking a course at BetterDog. 

“I make sure that you can do the command here, and then you go home and practice with your dog for a week,” says Jojo. “You come back after that, and I see if you have done your homework. The way your dog responds will tell me if you have. If everything is working well I give the human another two exercises to practice at home.”

A person who enrolls in a course has to sign up for six sessions — that is the minimum. The basic obedience course is actually a 12-session course that is divided into two blocks of six. The first six sessions are the foundation sessions — “Sit,” “Down” and “Come.” A lot of people are happy with just these three commands. But there are other people who want their dogs to be really good, to show them off, and these people continue with the next six sessions.

“I can’t guarantee what will happen because the owner is the one teaching the dog,” adds Jojo. “Dogs are very black and white; if you allow them to run and make fools of themselves at home and then expect them to behave when they are outdoors, that is not going to happen. Your dog will only be a better dog if he is taught consistently how to be one.”