Obedience begins at home

No bones about it, Jennie Kang has a keen insight into the canine mind. And as a full-time dog trainer, Kang routinely shares her expertise with clients at Anderson Animal Shelter, where she works.

But, in a new service offered by Anderson, she also brings that dog-sense into a venue that may be a first for Fox Valley shelters -- the dog's own home.

Obedience training for man's best friend is covered in a variety of group classes and private lessons at the South Elgin animal shelter, currently home to dozens of adoptable dogs and cats. But pets often act differently in the shelter setting than they do at home.

"In-home, the dog is his true self," Kang said. "People are more themselves, and the dogs are not stressed about the car ride and coming in to the shelter. Sometimes dogs only go on a car ride once or twice a year to go to the vet."

So Kang makes house calls. Observing problem pooches in their natural habitats allows her to see them as they really are and diagnose underlying causes for bad behavior.

Some obedience-challenged dogs just need better training in basic manners. They need to learn not to pounce on people, dig in the yard or do their duty in the guest bedroom. Others have issues that go much deeper.

Kang's not a psychologist, and dogs don't have to jump on the couch to tell her their troubles. All it takes is a little observation.

If a dog rushes forward, barking, then retreats or hides, it may indicate he is fearful, Kang said. Pacing, stress licking, panting and shaking all point to anxiety.

Aggression is not difficult to identify, but Kang said it is important to determine what kind it is -- fear aggression, control/conflict aggression, stranger aggression or others -- and what triggers it in each dog.

To find out, she begins in-home behavior assessments by asking the owner questions about the dog's known history and daily routine. Kang searches for clues about what might be triggering the uncooperative conduct.

For example, "they might say, 'my dog growls at the children, he growls at my son,'" Kang said, speaking hypothetically. "They think that's really weird. But finally, they come out and say, 'Oh, my son did drop (the dog) a couple of times down the stairs.' I can understand why the dog might not want the children to hold him."

Kang also needs to know the owner isn't barking up the wrong tree in his intentions. "I like to assess the person's goals for their dog," she said. "What outcome do they want? We need to make sure that the goals are realistic."

Then Kang draws up a customized plan using positive reinforcement to help owner and dog reach those goals. If the issue turns out to be separation anxiety, for example, she'll recommend "leadership" exercises and other tools to desensitize and counter-condition the stressed-out pup.

One of the best leadership principles, Kang said, is the "nothing in life is free" rule. Treats should be given only as a reward for good behavior, not as freebies. This applies even to petting, Kang said.

"If the dog wants to be petted, tell him to sit and then you'll pet him," she said. "The response to your command will earn him what he wants. It is effective for most all dogs, but it is particularly important when you're dealing with aggression, anxiety and fear-based issues."

So can you really teach an old dog new tricks?

"Yes. Absolutely," Kang said. "Behavior is never a set thing."

The Hanover Park resident became certified as a dog trainer after earning an animal sciences degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also studied in Denmark with Roger Abrantes, a widely known scientist and prolific author on canine and human behavior. Before working at Anderson Animal Shelter, Kang offered in-home lessons on her own.

"I came to the shelter because I wanted to help a lot more dogs in a shorter period of time," she said. "I initially started with just shelter dogs because we needed to deal with their emotional health and behavioral health, as well as their physical well-being."

With an on-site veterinary clinic and full-time dog trainer on staff, Anderson is among a rare breed of shelters that do more than simply rescue homeless pets. Classes are offered for puppies, highly sensitive dogs and canines whose families are expecting babies. Obedience training is at a variety of levels -- basic, intermediate, advanced and Ph.D.

But when she's not training at the shelter, Kang travels far and wide to meet her doggy clients in their comfort zones. She has worked with families in Cary and Naperville, Schaumburg and Hampshire, but the distances don't really bother her.

"We really want to grow and strengthen the bond between the owner and the dog," Kang said. "It reduces issues that might lose a dog his home. If we can address the specific issues that class may not cover, then that dog can stay in the home."

Dog training tips

Here are some ideas from Jennie Kang of the Anderson Animal Shelter.

1. Exercise your dog! Most basic problem behaviors originate from boredom and too much energy.

2. Establish fair and consistent rules in your household. If your dog is allowed to jump up on people and furniture, don't get upset if he jumps up when he's covered in mud.

3. Nothing in life is free: Don't lavish praise/attention/toys/treats on your dog whenever he wants. Exchange his good behavior for things your dog desires.

4. Set your dog up for success. It's much faster to teach your dog proper behavior than to punish your dog for bad behavior.

5. Remember that behavior is constantly changing. Continue to practice your dog's training commands. Just because he learned the command at 6 months of age does not mean he'll remember it when he's 6 years old.

6. Train positively and be happy. Positive reinforcement causes less stress and makes learning fun. Dogs respond well to positive, happy energy.