Know your dog’s personality, animal trainer says
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Aug. 26, 2009

One might not think dolphins and dogs would have much in common. But Hollywood animal trainer Joel Silverman, who hosted Animal Planet’s “Good Dog U,” said behaviorally and emotionally many similarities exist.

“Much of my techniques come from working with marine animals,” Silverman told an audience of more than two dozen dog owners Saturday morning at Westlake’s Camp Bow Wow, a doggy day and overnight camp that opened in March. The animals lovers came to attend Silverman’s free seminar on dog training.

“Killer whales were my specialty,” said Silverman, who spent several years as a trainer at Sea World. Silverman said he left “Good Dog U” after 13 episodes in 1999 in a contract dispute. The program has been one of the highest rated on the cable network, he said.

Hollywood animal trainer Joel Silverman demonstrates dog training techniques with his companion, Foster, Saturday at Camp Bow Wow in Westlake. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

What’s common to both killer whales and dogs, Silverman said, is the importance of developing a bond and relationship between the animal and the trainer. As a trainer, Silverman said it was absolutely necessary for the killer whales to trust him.

“The one thing you learn real early is not to tick off a killer whale,” Silverman said.

What went unseen by Sea World visitors was the reaction the marine animals displayed when the trainers arrived each morning. The dolphins and whales would leap in the tanks because they were so glad to see their trainers, he said.

The same relationship needs to be established between dogs and their owners, Silverman said.

When one acquires a dog, Silverman said, the first step is to build a positive relationship with the animal.

“Just become your dog’s best friend,” said Silverman, who trained Dreyfuss the dog from 1988-1992 on the TV situation comedy “Empty Nest.”

The second step is to get to know the dog’s personality and use those training techniques that work best with the dog’s personality, he said.

That philosophy is the basis of Silverman’s new book, entitled “What Color is Your Dog?” In it, Silverman describes a spectrum of canine personalities.

The dog that’s easiest to work with Silverman describes as a calm “mellow yellow.” At one end of the spectrum are “red” dogs, whom Silverman describes as “off the wall crazy.” “Orange” dogs are those that tend to be a bit high strung, he said.

A “blue” dog, on the other hand, is terrified of everything, while a “green” dog is somewhat apprehensive and unsure, according to Silverman’s categorization.

Blue and green dogs need to be motivated, Silverman said, while red and orange dogs need to be calmed down, he said.

Silverman stressed getting to know the dog early on in the relationship instead of trying to prove that one is the pack “leader.”

One mistake many owners and even trainers make, Silverman said, is that they successfully manage to teach a dog a command and offer a reward, but fail to formally release the dog from the command.

When dogs do something wrong, Silverman said, it’s because they are either confused or testing their human owners.

“If animals are confused, it’s because of us,” Silverman said. When a dog is testing its owner, the owner should simply make the dog repeat the behavior.

Owners of truly aggressive dogs should consult with a trainer who specializes in aggression issues, Silverman said. Special training collars such as those that emit small electrical shocks may be appropriate in special cases but are generally not needed, Silverman told West Life.

Silverman, who is based in Southern California, said he has eight other new books due to be published in the near future. He wrote all of them while at Starbucks, he said.

Silverman’s Web site is www.companionsforlife.net.

On the Web:

• Joel Silverman's Web site