Ashland’s dog (and chicken) whisperer
Training your pet can ease behavior issues while strengthening your relationship
By Vickie Aldous, Ashland Daily Tidings
“Max. Achoo!” dog trainer Colleen Shanahan instructed Max, a fluffy white Maltese.
The little dog gave an enthusiastic sneeze, which prompted Simon, a papillon-chihuahua mix, to pull a Kleenex from a box.
Shanahan praised the dogs and doled out little treats, part of her training technique that emphasizes positive reinforcement.
The owner of Ashland-based Dog Gone Fun! said she wants dog training to be fun for both pets and owners.
Teaching dogs tricks isn’t just cute, it can have a positive effect on their behavior, she said.
“It’s challenging them intellectually and focusing their energy so you have a relaxed dog. A lot of little dogs, especially, have barking and anxiety issues because they’re under-challenged,” Shanahan said. “It also helps build your relationship with your dog.”
She brought out a plastic toy piano and put it on the floor of The Grove in Ashland, where she was teaching Simon, Max and Ledo, a chihuahua-terrier mix, a medley of tricks.
“Simon, want to play the piano? Yahoo!” Shanahan said enthusiastically.
Simon swiped the piano keys with his paws, earning more treats. Soon he tried to turn the tables on his trainer and earn a bonanza of treats by keeping both paws on the keys, but Shanahan wasn’t fooled.
She has plenty of experience teaching animals to play the piano — including a chicken.
In 2007, Shanahan attended a camp in which trainers learned clicker-training skills by practicing on chickens. She said the chickens all had different personalities and learned surprisingly quickly.