40 - North Shore News - Sunday, October 1, 2000 Consistency the key to training From page 36 Ifthe dog thought it was going to wet hurt, then it was believed that it would no longer do the unwanted behaviour. We now know that pain does not result in learning, . it results in fear. And just _ like humans, when we are afraid, the adrenaline rush- ing through our bodies pre- vents our brains from think- ing rationally and fearning. The ’80s style of parent- ing, where the child is left to make the right choice with- out any guidance does aot work with dogs cither. Dogs _ are opportunists and when : ~ they lack proper guidance they have a difficult time ~ + making rational, logical decisions on their own (sorta like some teenagers I. know}. For example: if a dog that has not had any guid- ance smells a box of left over fried chicken on the other side of the read, itis not likely going to think to itself, “No, E can’t cross the road because I might get hit by a car.” {ts lust for human trash is going to take over and it will go and get that chicken. But if the dog had been taught that it is nor allowed to cross the street, and that trash is off-limits, it may make the choice to forgo the chicken because of its training. Teaching a dog “No” means catching the dog as it intends to do the unwanted behaviour and sternly expressing your displeasure with body postures and tone of voice: that is what a dog ‘beginning of. a New Year.in nthe Jewish °calendar.: ‘Make it special, make it sweet. Be part of our ~ timeless _ traditions. Attend | a Synagogue of your — choice. Hear the call of the “Shofar. Make ita weekend that ‘willlast a whole year, maybe a lifetime! Jo DAISM, without VU ‘its not the same understands, it dogs not understand physical pain. It also understands boundaries and rules and is very happy and content to live within them. Dogs are creatures that live by the rules of social order and hierarchy. The pack leader is always in con- trol and makes decisions for the pack. A pack leader is in that position because they are capable of being consis- tent with their decisions and make rational choices based on learned experience, meaning they don’t make decisions that could jeopar- dize the pack. In a home, a dog that does not have consistent guidance may feel that they must be in charge of the pack. This is where prob- lems begin. Discipline has litde to do with physical force and much to do with setting boundaries, limits and struc- ture to a dog's life and the owner of that dog consis- tently following them. This means that what was off- limits yesterday will be off limits taday and tomorrow, Iz also means that when a dog does something right, we consistently reward them tor making the cight choi {f the dog does do some- thing wrong, instead of get- ting angry at the dog, we should ask ourselves, “What did I do wrong to allow this to happen?” — Joan is the owner of Sierra K9 Training. For advice or training tips, e- mail her at . Comments in the form of a Robert Boelens Contributing Writer SOME of the world’s greatest travellers have begun their autumn journeys from the Wildlife Rescue Association’s care cen- tre. Others will be leaving - from your gardens. _- The season of flight has begun and millions of wings are currently, or soon to be, en route along the Pacific Flyway, one. of North America’s four main migra- tion paths. The Pacitic Flyway runs from the Arctic to Central America and - beyond, encompassing not only the cvast, islands and shorelines it follows but the majority of: the province. : ‘The Lower Mainland is.’ already full of departures and arrivals. Those. leaving will)’ be doing se with little nostal- gia for the chill in. our evenings, heading south for warmer skies. © The incoming will actual- ly take pleasure in our winter - “temperature, arriving from the north of. the province, * the: Yukon, Alaska and the - waters above. The Wildlife: Rescue - Association of B.C. released hundreds. of migrators this summer, most of them arriv- : ing at its care centre prior to : their first flight feathers. The young birds were fed up to fifty times daily during their development . as’ they. : grew and moved from incu-. vator to larger housing and finally to outdoor aviaries: ° -Now,. the: hummingbirds are bound for the “southern U.LS., - the © swallows. — for Mexico and many others for between and . beyond. The four-gram (weight of a cred-’ ’ it card) - hummingbirds’ and: 16-gram (two loonie: coins) swallows . will. return _ next spring, ‘with. an easy 5,000 kilometers logged per pai “of. wings. ; The fall arrivals to the: Lower Mainland will : com monly ‘be* thi lengthy journey. -- . Many : admitted ™: to!’ the Wildlife Rescue Association’. Burnaby: Lake - Care. . Centre . ~ will have collided with. “ing “a: boulder and an their ‘flight.’ The : accidents” ‘are easily prevented however, f by. partially closing’ cur or blinds or applying silhou- ettes, (available at. WRA community relations coo: “nator for. the Wildlife R. : “Association: of 3.C5 which orphaned and. injur animals this string and mer If you. find. wildlife. thi needs help call 526-7275, oP “seven days per week. we information, che . 4