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Once you learn some simple dog body language basics, you can easily tell when your Boxer is stressed, afraid or anxious about something. But what then? How you react to your dog’s distress will have a major impact on how she deals with the situation. If you want your Boxer to relax, you need to help her. Here are four things to do when your Boxer is stressed. #1 – Find The Trigger First and foremost, you must figure out … Read more
No matter the size of your Schnauzer, they can be a handful if they decide they want to go somewhere while on leash. Fairly strong, even the Miniature Schnauzer can pull your arm and shoulder in a way you probably never thought possible. Luckily, with a bit of training and consistency, your Schnauzer can learn wonderful leash manners so you can enjoy your walks again. If you are struggling, try these five tips to prevent your Schnauzer from pulling on … Read more
Dachshunds are energetic hunters that love a good chase, whether it’s vermin or a ball. Fetch can be a great game to keep your Doxie trim, and if played correctly, is fairly easy on their back and joints. The secret is to throw easy tosses on a level surface that is not too slick or hard. Also, be sure you don’t toss it such a way that your Doxie has to change direction quickly, as that can cause the spine to … Read more
Fetch is the quintessential game to play with your dog. It seems as if it’s been around for as long as dogs and people have cohabited… and with good reason! Fetch strengthens your bond, gives your dog exercise, and teaches him to bring things to you (instead of running away). Pugs have lots of energy and fetch is a great way to expend some of that. While they may not be natural retrievers, they can definitely learn the game. The … Read more
There’s nothing like a rousing game of fetch with an energetic, bouncy Boxer to help him burn off energy. It can be a great way to start your training sessions because after she has burned off some energy, she will be more focused for work. But sometimes getting your Boxer to retrieve instead of playing “keep away” can be a challenge. The following three tips will help you teach your Boxer to play fetch. #1 – Start With The End … Read more
Fetch is a great way to give your Boston Terrier some exercise even if you cannot physically run around. It’s also a useful “trick” that can be transferred to other things such as fetching the mail, your slippers, or even finding the remote you misplaced, again. Since they are not natural retrievers, it’s common to run into problems once your Boston has caught the ball – most prefer to run after it and then play with it by themselves. The … Read more
Pit Bulls have a lot of energy and love a good game. Tugging with a dog as big as a Pit Bull can be hard on the body – my little Sheltie has pulled out my ribs so imagine what a bigger dog can do to those of us with joint issues! Fetch is great for those who are not strong enough for more physical games. Not good at throwing? Trying using a Chuckit or hitting the ball with a racket … Read more
Fetch is a great game for Huskies because it allows them to run to their heart’s content without you getting exhausted. Even if you have had a long day at work, throwing a ball isn’t that hard. But since Huskies are mischievous and love to play, it can be hard to get them to bring the ball back – they enjoy running around with the ball in their mouth or playing “keep away” from you instead. Or, maybe they bring it … Read more
Although Labrador Retrievers were bred for retrieving – a form of fetch – this does not mean they are all born doing it. You may be embarrassed that you seem to have the only Lab that doesn’t fetch, but the truth is, many of them do not do this naturally. Some will chase the ball but not bring it back. Others will bring it to you but instead of having a nice soft mouth (which is trained, by the way), … Read more
Rottweilers are intelligent dogs that have a wide range of skills, since originally they were used as all-around farm dogs. However, just because your Rottie might be a great herder, vermin catcher, protector and/or obedience dog, it doesn’t mean he will naturally bring a toy when you throw it for him. Chasing a toy is fun – just like herding a sheep or trying to get that rat – but picking it up and bringing it back is something different … Read more
German Shepherd Dogs are known for being very intelligent. However, this does not mean they come trained! As a herding dog, fetching a ball on their owner is not necessarily a natural thing. Chasing the ball, maybe, but bringing it back instead of just playing with it themselves can be a hard thing to teach them. If you are struggling, don’t give up! No matter how old your Shepherd is, he can learn to fetch a ball back to you … Read more
We all know that Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve so it may seem that fetch would be something they would just naturally do without a lot of training. However, just because it is what they were orginally bred for, does not mean all Goldens are natural fetchers. You will find ones that like to chase the ball but not bring it back, or will come to you but then not drop it for you to throw again. If you … Read more
Have a Great Dane that just won’t play fetch? Maybe he doesn’t like to chase a ball, or maybe he chases it but has no intention of bring it back to you – it’s much more fun to play keep away! For many dogs, regardless of breed, fetch is not a natural thing, but a game we teach them. The following three tips will help you teach your Great Dane to play fetch. #1 – Start With The End In … Read more
What you teach your French Bulldog is really up to you and what you are planning on doing together. If you just got her for a friend and companion, you’re training goals might be minimal. On the other hand, if you plan on competing in performance events such as obedience, your goals will be much higher. But regardless of what you plan on doing with your Frenchie, there are a few simple behaviors that may even save your dog’s life, … Read more
The Golden Retriever is adored by many for his wonderfully friendly personality. But sometimes that eagerness for human attention comes in the form of jumping, and that’s not pleasant. Or maybe your Golden is ball-crazy and jumps on you to get his favorite toy. And of course food can be a reason your Golden bounces all over you, too. Whatever the cause, jumping up is not something any Golden Retriever owner wants. Luckily, it is fairly easy to fix once … Read more
Just because Golden Retrievers are bred to bring things back to you doesn’t mean they come pre-wired with a fail-safe recall. In fact, their desire to run and explore can make them one of the worst at coming when you want them. It’s not that they don’t like you or mean to disobey, but there is just so much to see and do! Many Goldens love to follow scents, greet dogs or people, and of course, chase birds. If you … Read more
Many English Bulldogs have a problem with jumping up. And when your dog is as solid as they are, this can cause injury, even if they aren’t very tall! Most likely, it started out when your Bully was a puppy and he couldn’t knock you over by putting his paws on your shin, which you rewarded with attention or a treat. Unfortunately, he got big and now it’s a problem. The following is how to teach your English Bulldog to … Read more
English Bulldogs are powerhouses. Their low center of gravity and solid build make them easily as strong as a big dog, if not stronger. I’ve had to experience walking a Bully that was not leash trained – it’s a great way to pull a rib out of place, mess up your shoulder, or even end up falling. It is not a great a way to have fun. If you have an English Bulldog that does not have nice leash manners, … Read more
Every Golden Retriever owner knows about dogs chewing things. They are one of the top breeds when it comes to vet bills for ingesting items that they should not. Of course, being a retriever, it should be expected that they will stick things in their mouths – but it doesn’t mean they have to destroy all your stuff! Whether it’s an adult or puppy, Goldens can definitely have a chewing problem. The following is how to teach your Golden Retriever … Read more
We all know Pit Bulls have strong jaws. And those strong jaws are excellent for destroying pretty much anything you may possess, from your shoes to your couch. Chewing is a behavior often seen in Pitties and can be devastating to your home. I’ve seen chewed carpets and floor molding. I knew a Pittie mix that chewed through drywall. It’s not only expensive to replace damaged items, but the vet bills can be astronomical. And, ingesting non-edibles is dangerous for … Read more
Labrador Retrievers are known for putting things in their mouths – maybe more than any other breed (they were bred to retrieve, after all!). But they don’t just put things in their mouths, they destroy them. Lab puppy owners are often shocked and dismayed at the things their puppy has found a way to eat. Not only does it cost them to replace the items, but many times they end up at the vet with a hefty bill for removing … Read more
Boston Terriers are happy dogs that love life, which can make them a bit over-zealous when it comes to asking for things they want. This can equate to jumping on you for things like attention, food, toys, etc. And chances are, when they were puppies, you thought nothing about bending over and picking them up or petting them when they put those front paws on you. But every time you did that, you reinforced the behavior. Luckily, there is a way … Read more
Happy and outgoing, Pomeranians can be quite tenacious when they want something from you, whether it’s food, a toy, or just to be picked up and held. When they are tiny puppies, it’s easy to respond without thinking when you feel those teeny paws on your leg. But that act soon becomes a reinforced habit and as your Pom gets older, she may end up not only putting her legs on you, but jumping in the air in front of … Read more
As you may already know, Dachshunds were bred to get vermin out of underground holes. They would go in, grab the animal, and then the farmer would pull their Doxie, along with his prey, out of the hole. It’s why they have a long, low body and huge claws. Those big nails of theirs are made for digging through the dirt, so you shouldn’t be surprised if your Doxie just loves to make holes in your backyard. Of course, this … Read more
If you have a bouncy Boxer that spends time alone in a backyard, then you most likely have a digging problem. Boxers, like many other breeds, find digging to be very satisfying, which makes it a hard habit to curb. But no one wants to have a minefield as a backyard and it can be dangerous if they have learned how to dig under the fence to get out. But before you give up, try the following four tips to get your … Read more
While Labrador Retrievers are known for being great family and house dogs for many reasons, one drawback is their affinity for digging. Many Lab owners know the woes of a backyard that looks like a minefield, thanks to their busy Lab. There are many reasons why dogs dig, but luckily there is a solution regardless of why your Lab is doing it. The following are four tips to get your Lab to stop digging. #1 – Management While you are … Read more
Siberian Huskies are known for digging holes. Part of this is because they have a lot of energy, and if they aren’t running it off, they are going to do something with it. Another part is that it’s natural for them – in cold areas, dogs dig holes in the snow and/or ground to create a warm place to sleep. But neither of these reasons makes it easier to live with a Husky that’s addicted to digging. Luckily, there are … Read more
One of the most irritating behaviors your Pit Bull can engage in is digging. It can be costly if he is ruining landscape, it makes a mess of your yard, and can even lead to your dog escaping. Pitties dig for a few reasons: it’s self-rewarding, they have excess energy, and they are bored. Knowing why your Pit Bull is digging is the first step. Next is solving it. Try the following four tips to getting your Pit Bull to … Read more
Although small, Boston Terriers are very strong. That deep chest and those big shoulders are perfect for pulling. Many Bostons use this to their advantage on walks, much to the chagrin of their owners. Your Boston is certainly not meaning to cause you pain or frustration, they just want to greet everyone and explore everything. But as you know, this can cause injury to you. If you are struggling with this, here are five tips to prevent your Boston Terrier … Read more
We all love our Pugs dearly, but sometimes our love comes with too many cookies and cuddles and not enough exercise. While you don’t want your Pug to overextend on exercise because they can overheat and have trouble breathing, you also want to make sure you are giving them enough activity – both physical and mental. Not sure if your Pug is getting enough? Here are 3 signs your Pug needs more exercise. #1 – Overweight Pugs are definitely prone … Read more
One of the most frustrating things on Earth is a Great Dane that won’t come when called. As puppies, they follow us around and a solid “come” cue seems like the easiest thing in the world to teach. But as they get older, suddenly everything else is more interesting than you and your Dane is less inclined to listen to you when you call. And, sometimes, things we accidentally do as owners actually ruin the cue. If you are having … Read more
Labrador Retrievers are known for being fairly easy to train, which makes the work enjoyable on both ends of the leash. However, a solid recall can be hard for any dog to master – especially a lively Lab that’s interested in the world. And it doesn’t help that we often poison our own training when it comes to the recall. Not intentionally, of course, but our mistakes can cause us frustration and confuse our Labs. If you are struggling, try … Read more
Rottweilers are big dogs and can cause serious injury when they jump on people, especially children and seniors. Not only that, but it can be a nuisance if you are trying to get in the door with your hands full or are all dressed up for a job interview. Having a Rottie that has nice manners when greeting will make everyone happy, but it can be tricky to teach. The following is an easy three-step method to teaching your Rottweiler … Read more
Often little dogs don’t get the training larger dogs do because people feel they don’t “need” it. But training is good for your Yorkshire Terrier’s brain and will help tire them out just as much as exercising does. More than that, some training can even save your dog’s life. A solid recall is important for every Yorkie to have – it can prevent from running toward traffic or too close to a swimming pool. It can also save you a lot … Read more
Pugs are tenacious, independent dogs that have minds of their own. That is to say, if they want to wander next door to see what your neighbor is having for breakfast – they will! This independent streak makes for some pretty entertaining doggy moments, but it can also be dangerous. Having a solid recall can save your Pug’s life. Struggling with this seemingly easy behavior? Don’t worry, it’s one of the most troublesome cues for dog owners. The following are … Read more
Pit Bulls are smart dogs that love to please, which usually makes training easy. But teaching your Pitty to come when called has unique challenges that can make it frustrating. Often, we inadvertently poison our own training efforts when it comes to this behavior. Your Pitty may not come to you simply because the behavior hasn’t been taught correctly. If you’re struggling, try these 3 secrets to getting your Pit Bull to come when called. #1 – Don’t Call Your … Read more
Dachshunds can be hard to teach a solid recall to because they have an independent streak. Many owners get frustrated by what seems to be a complete lack of concern on their Doxie’s part when they hear their owner calling. In reality, most Doxies don’t come simply because the cue hasn’t been reinforced enough or they don’t understand what it means. If you are having trouble, try these 3 secrets to getting your Doxie to come when called. #1 – … Read more
A solid recall is every dog owner’s dream, but getting one can feel like a nightmare. This can be especially true with a lively Boxer that would rather keep playing then come see what you want. Unfortunately, a lot of the times we accidentally sabotage our training by making simple mistakes, like calling our Boxer to us only when we are getting ready to leave the dog park. Chances are, your Boxer has figured out that coming to you means … Read more
Coming when called is something all dog owners want their dog to do and German Shepherd owners are definitely no exception. It’s not only convenient, but can be important for safety reasons. Unfortunately, come is a cue that is easily poisoned and hard to get right. Just because Shepherds are known for being intelligent and very trainable, this does not mean this will always come easily. If you are having trouble, try these 3 secrets to getting your German Shepherd … Read more
Getting your Siberian Husky to come when called can be a challenge for Husky owners. It’s an important behavior, for obvious reasons, but it’s also a difficult one that many dog owners accidentally mess up. Chances are, you have actually done things that have caused your Husky to not want to come to you without realizing it (like scolding them for doing something wrong after coming to you). If your Husky doesn’t respond to your Come cue, try these 3 … Read more
Golden Retrievers are the quintessential family dog. While fairly easy to train, their friendliness with other people and dogs can make them big pullers when it comes to walking on the leash – they just want to greet everyone! As nice as it is to have a dog that is friendly, being overly friendly can make walking a giant chore. And it can even lead to injury if you’re not careful. Luckily, there are some things you can do to work on … Read more
Not surprisingly, teaching your Dachshund a sit-stay is not easy. First, it may have been a challenge to teach your Doxie to sit. Now, you’re asking him to stay in that position for a long period of time. Do you like to sit still without moving your limbs? Probably not. But since a “stay” can be useful and even save your Dachshund’s from running into danger, it’s a good behavior for them to know. The following method breaks “stay” up … Read more
While German Shepherd Dogs are known for being intelligent and very willing, this does not mean that training them is a breeze. For any dog, “stay” is a difficult behavior to do. Would you want to sit still without moving your limbs for long periods of time? Neither does your Shepherd. They can have a particularly hard time with it if they want to chase things that move – staying in a “sit” while a bike or a cat goes … Read more
If you live with a Great Dane, chances are you wish he knew the “stay” cue. His large size means he can easily get in the way when you are trying to bring in the groceries. They also are known for being a bit forward when greeting people – something a sit-stay can help with. “Stay” is one of the hardest behaviors for any dog to learn. After all, you are asking your dog to basically not move for a long … Read more
Pit Bulls can be fairly energetic, making a sit-stay hard to train. Have you tried sitting in the same place without moving your limbs for a long period of time? It’s no fun and your Pittie agrees. It can be especially hard to train a young Pit Bull, who wants nothing more than to be near you or on you all the time. Luckily, there is an easy method to train “stay” that produces a solid behavior. Duration & Distance … Read more
Regardless of whether you plan on doing a performance sport with your Labrador Retriever or if he is just the family pet, a sit-stay is a behavior almost every dog owner wants from their dog at some point. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy cue to teach because it takes a lot of self-control and is frankly boring. You try sitting without moving your limbs for any length of time – difficult, right? Your Lab thinks so too. Luckily, there is … Read more
“Stay” is one of the most useful behaviors we can teach our Chihuahuas. It can even save them from getting hit by a car or running away when you open the front door. But teaching “stay” is not easy. It shouldn’t be surprising when you think about what we are asking of our dogs – to sit for a long period of time without moving any of limbs. In order to make them successful, we need to break it up … Read more
Boxers have a hard time learning “stay.” It involves not moving for a long period of time and this is difficult for their bouncy selves. In reality, it’s hard for any dog. Have you tried sitting almost stock still for any length of time? It’s hard for us too. The following method will make teaching “stay” to your Boxer easier. It will also produce a more reliable “stay” that your Boxer does not break, no matter the distractions that come … Read more
“Stay” is one of the hardest behaviors for dogs to learn. It takes a lot of self-control and is, quite frankly, boring. After all, the way we teach “stay” basically inhibits your dog from moving anything but their tail, head and ears. So, be patient. Especially for young Siberian Huskies, this is a hard behavior to learn. Luckily, there is a method that not only makes it easier for your Husky to learn, it also produces a more reliable “stay.” … Read more
Rottweilers are a big, strong breed that can easily pull their owner around the block. Nice leash manners are not just a luxury, they are really a necessity for safety reasons. A Rottie can pull you into traffic, trip other people, or even get loose and lost if they are constantly pulling on the leash. If you haven’t had luck with leash training in the past, try these easy training tips to help make sure that your Rottweiler doesn’t pull … Read more
Most Dachshund owners would like their dog to sit on cue. It’s a basic behavior that has a lot of uses, including being the first step to teaching a sit-stay. With Doxies, there are a few special considerations to think about when teaching a sit due to their size and proportions. The following is a simple and effective way to teach your Dachshund to respond to “sit” on the first time, every time. Capturing The Behavior You are going to … Read more
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