Cindy Bruckart

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Cindy Bruckart is a dog trainer in the Portland, OR metro area.  

She runs Regarding Rover, LLC offering private training and board & train programs.  

She is also the Play Group Coordinator and Trainer at Multnomah County Animal Shelter, which is an open-admission, Open Paw, county shelter.  

She specializes in puppy and adolescent dog training with a focus on training during off-leash play.

Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a Certified C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator, blogger, podcast host and public speaker.  She is also a proud, professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Cindy is currently traveling the country to speak about shelter play groups in her seminar Beyond Socialization - Using Shelter Play Groups for Training & Assessment.

Blog posts by Cindy Bruckart

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Cindy Bruckart  |  Fri, 10/10/2008 - 07:43

Since childhood, I have loved this time of the year. Growing up in Nebraska, the fall season meant an end to tornado worries, glorious fall colors, dressing up for Halloween, my birthday in November…then Thanksgiving and Christmas! The chill in the air signified the coming of all my favorite things.

Today I have even more to look forward to as summer takes its yearly vacation. This is the time of year that the Association of Pet Dog Trainers holds its annual conference. I have been to a lot of different conferences and there simply isn’t anything like this one.

So, what’s so great about the APDT conference? Well, it’s like a pilgrimage of all the world’s greatest minds in the world of dog training and behavior. A huge number of amazing presenters are available in one venue. Hour upon hour, day upon day you are immersed in education, networking and the special comfort of being with like-minded individuals.

 

Teaching Dogs to Pull on Leash

Cindy Bruckart  |  Sat, 10/04/2008 - 19:58

Trainers tell me that there is a high percentage of dog owners who will never accomplish the task of teaching their dogs to walk nicely on leash. Although the protocol is incredibly simple, the time and patience required is more than the average dog owner is willing to commit...or so I'm told.

I find this fascinating since so many dog owners are so successful at teaching dogs to pull on leash in the first place. The training of either behavior is just as simple.

Think you didn't teach your dog to pull you like a sled in the Iditarod? I would beg to differ, but let's explore.

 

The Heros of Project POOCH

Cindy Bruckart  |  Thu, 10/02/2008 - 18:19

I've shared before my wonderful experiences at Project POOCH, a program that pairs incarcerated youth with homeless dogs at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility here in Oregon. I was ecstatic to see the program, and its founder Joan Dalton, featured on our local morning show AM Northwest.

I hope that you'll all take a moment to watch the broadcast and get to know this amazing program on a personal level. After watching the video, visit the Project POOCH website for information on getting a program like this started in your area.

 

Dangerous Doggy Fairy Tales

Cindy Bruckart  |  Thu, 10/02/2008 - 17:50

Trainers often spend a lot of time "discussing" various methods and techniques when it comes to working with dogs and their owners. Sometimes these discussions get heated, and sometimes they bring new understanding.

While these discussions are fine among trainers, a huge concern for many professionals is how half-truths, misinformation and down right myths leak into the general public and become accepted as fact. Even more annoying is when so-called professionals repeat this information as fact.

 

Super Cool Website for Kids of All Ages!

Cindy Bruckart  |  Tue, 08/26/2008 - 08:57

I found one of the best websites for kids (even big kids like me) who want to learn more about caring for and training their dog. It's got everything!

My favorite part is the extensive trick training section that includes easy to follow videos.

I could go on and on describing the website so as to appear to be writing a longer, more meaningful blog. But, I really want everyone to go take a look!

So, grab your dog and head over to http://loveyourdog.com/index.html

 

Owner vs Guardian

Cindy Bruckart  |  Fri, 08/22/2008 - 10:48

I was recently asked where I stand on the “owner” vs “guardian” issue. If you’re unfamiliar with this debate, let me fill you in. The animal rights group, In Defense of Animals has been pushing a campaign to change the legal terminology of various cities and states from pet owner to pet guardian. They say that this change would elevate pets from the status of property to that of companion and beings with rights, like humans.

They further suggest that by changing our legal definition there would be a decrease in animal abuse and abandonment along with reduced numbers of puppies being born in puppy mills.

 

Lucky, Lucky Wilson

Cindy Bruckart  |  Sat, 08/16/2008 - 05:34

Trainers often complain about owner non-compliance and lament the inability to inspire a sense of urgency in new puppy owners. It’s not that trainers don’t like people (for the most part), but it is that trainers often see the sad results of an under-socialized, shy, untrained dog when adolescence comes storming through the door. We know that every puppy, no matter how cute, is at risk of losing its home if certain things don’t happen within a certain timeframe.

Wilson came to my Adolescent Manners class when he was on the brink of his 16th week. He was painfully shy. He was interested in the other dogs, but far too nervous to play. He wasn’t entirely keen on being handled by new people either.

 

Poor, Poor Pie Boy

Cindy Bruckart  |  Wed, 07/09/2008 - 20:33

I recently read about a woman who was on the Dr. Phil show discussing her relationship with her little dog, Pie Boy, whom she seriously considers her son, not her dog (seriously!). My jaw dropped as I read the description of a dog whose feet have never touched the ground outside, who wears desinger clothes, who sleeps in the bed while his owner sleeps on the floor, who is sheltered from violent TV shows and even has his dog treats chewed for him by his “mom”.

The woman’s ex-roommate was also on the show to explain that he finally got fed up with Pie Boy’s aggression toward him and had to move out. Everyone involved used the word spoiled, even the owner who defended her right to spoil the dog.

 

Summer Puppy Preventatives

Cindy Bruckart  |  Mon, 06/09/2008 - 08:38

My puppy classes are filling up this time of year. Everyone is excited about getting their pups out into the world and teaching them what they need to know to be good canine citizens. I wonder if they think I'm nutty when they come to class to find Halloween and Christmas paraphernalia?

I celebrate summer puppies by introducing them to things they otherwise aren't going to see until well after their early socialization window has closed. These pups will be well into the more cautious or reactive adolescent mindset when they see their first jack-o-latern, Halloween mask, bulky winter coat, Christmas tree, or truly scary dancing Santa table decoration.

This is also the time to start playing movies with gun shots (war movies?) or a CD with fireworks noises. By playing these at a low volume and slowly increasing the volume, your puppy will get used to the noise and it will be no big deal.

 

Adoption recession?

Cindy Bruckart  |  Wed, 05/21/2008 - 08:25

Those of you who read me regularly know that I volunteer at Project POOCH, a program that pairs incarcerated youth with homeless dogs who are trained and hopefully adopted to loving homes.

During my last visit to MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility where Project POOCH is located, there was a bit of heaviness in the air. I thought perhaps it had to do with unusual delay in warmer weather, as it's rained and remained cold here in Oregon longer than it should have. I soon found that like everything else at POOCH, the feeling of sadness had nothing to do with the weather, but everything to do with the dogs.

Apparently, visits by potential adopters and actual adoptions have come to a screeching halt. No one is calling, no one is coming to see the dogs and no one is happily taking their new companion to a forever home.

 

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