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Training your dog is one of the most important things you can do as a pet parent, but it can also be one of the most time consuming and expensive. The following ten dog training tips will help you get the most out of your dog’s training so both dog and owner are happy with the results. In addition to the tips below, be sure to check out our 7 Best Online Dog Training Courses we recently reviewed. #1 – … Read more
When I was young, there was pretty much two types of dogs: purebred, registered dogs that were sold by breeders for high prices, or the “mutt,” who was sold in the paper for $50, or even given away for free. And it wasn’t a big deal. Your dog was purebred or just a good ‘ol mutt. Mutts, of course, were looked down upon by breeders of “purebred dogs,” but it certainly wasn’t anything people would actually stand around to argue about. … Read more
For most dogs, mealtime is the best part of their day – Charles Shultz got it right when he depicted Snoopy dancing in glee at “suppertime.” Of course, not all dogs like mealtime, for some dog owners, getting their pup to eat can be a very big chore. Others may take it a little too seriously and guard their food from humans and/or other dogs. The following 10 dog feeding tips can help you at mealtime regardless of the type … Read more
Puppies are one of life’s greatest joys. They are also one of the cutest things on the planet. There is a reason for this – if they weren’t, no one would put in the immense amount of work it takes to train a puppy. Luckily, you don’t have to go at it alone. There are many professionals out there to help you with whatever your training goals are and you should plan before you even bring your puppy home. To … Read more
The holidays are approaching quickly and that means guests! You’ve thought of everything – scheduled the carpet cleaners, planned the meal, filled the freezer with everyone’s favorite desserts. You even changed out that painting that your Aunt Millie always says is ugly…even though you love it. Your entire house is ready – but what the dog? Suddenly, you are in a panic! Maybe he’s a new addition that hasn’t learned all his manners, or maybe you are having flashbacks about … Read more
Having a nervous or scared dog can be challenging for a dog owner. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. Whether your dog was born with a shy personality (the type that would rather hide than greet a new person) or had some bad experiences that made them fearful, you (understandably) would like them to be able to function in the world. The following are 8 tips that you can use to help your nervous dog to relax, which … Read more
It may not be something you are thinking about when you first bring your furry little bundle of joy home. After all, puppies don’t (usually) need a bath or nail trim right away, or even their teeth brushed. However, if you start young, grooming can become a quick, painless activity, that some dogs even come to enjoy. But, you need to work on it often (every day for just a minute or two is best!) and you have to be … Read more
Many dog training classes are full of what you should let your dog do and what you should not let your dog do. You tell your dog where and when he can’t go to the bathroom, when to eat, when to sleep (and usually where), when he gets exercise and when he has to be quiet. We pretty much run our dogs’ lives. But should we? Dogs are thinking animals – with a brain they should be using. They also … Read more
Do you own one of those dogs that greets someone by immediately turning their back to them, often pushing their rump toward the person’s legs? It’s a strange behavior, no doubt, and fairly common. We have had many people ask why dogs do this on our forum, so we went to an animal behavior expert to get the answer. Sherry Woodard CPDT-KA is Best Friends Animal Society’s resident animal behavior consultant. As an expert in animal training, behavior and care, … Read more
Does any (or all!) of this sound familiar: Barks for food Barks to go out Barks for attention Barks for you to throw the toy If so, than you probably dealing with a demand barker! Demand barkers are simply pups that don’t have a lot of self-control AND have learned from you that all they have to do to get your attention is to bark at you. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed we all do it. Usually it happens … Read more
This just might be the most debated topic among dog trainers. Even those who are positive-reinforcement or “force-free” trainers, will debate whether food should be used and, if so, to what extent. And of course, those who do not use positive reinforcement have all sorts of reasons they believe you shouldn’t train your dog with food. I am here to tell you IT’S OKAY TO TRAIN WITH FOOD! And, I am not just going to tell you that, but I … Read more
For some of you it may be hard to understand, but there are dog owners who do not want their dog licking them constantly. It may be because of allergies or they just don’t like it. For others, it has to do with their goals for the dog as a working partner – for example therapy dogs are not allowed to lick the people they visit in hospitals or retirement homes for health reasons. Regardless of why you may not … Read more
If you have ever witnessed a dog fight, you know they are scary. Even if no dogs are hurt, it sounds like they are killing each other – and sometimes they do. While many people have been told what to do if there is a dog fight, it’s best to know how to avoid a dog fight altogether. The following tips can help you stop dog fights before they happen. #1 – Know Your Dog The first and most important thing … Read more
A lot of dog trainers and vets recommend people use activity toys and with good reason. They are great for boredom, mild separation anxiety, slowing down fast eaters, increasing problem solving skills and even tiring your dog out (thinking is hard work!). However, activity toys can be pretty expensive and if you don’t know anything about them, you might spend a ton of money on toys that never work for your dog. So, before rushing out and buying a bunch … Read more
Many dogs get what owners affectionately call “the zoomies” after a bath. Something about it gets them riled up and they speed through the house, often stopping to rub all over a bed, couch, blanket, etc. But the question is, why? Tonya Wilhelm, owner of Global Dog Training, has been a dog training specialist for almost two decades and was just named one of the top ten dog trainers in the United States. She focuses on treating dogs holistically, from … Read more
It’s #BackToSchool time and why shouldn’t that include your dog? It’s okay if you got a little lazy over the summer and forgot to work on Sam’s stay or Laura’s leave it, but now that the kid’s are in school, it’s time your dog brushed up on his skills as well. And, just like with your kids, having the right supplies can make learning easier. RELATED:The Best Online Dog Training Classes #1 – PetSafe Train n’ Praise Potty Training System … Read more
To a lot of people, fetch is THE game to play with your dog. In fact, some people have a dog so they can go outside, get some fresh air and play fetch. Others like it because it can tire the dog out without costing you too much energy. However, not all dogs naturally fetch. In fact, many dogs, of all breeds, are not “into the fetch.” Or maybe your dog likes to chase the ball, but never brings it … Read more
You may not want the next AKC Obedience Champion. You may not care if your dog Sits or Downs on command. Of if he jumps on you every time you come in the door. How much (or little) training you do with your dog is your choice. BUT There is one cue that every single dog without exception should know. COME! Why? Because it’s the one cue that can keep them from running away or getting lost, allows them to be … Read more
It seems like a cute trick – you tell your dog to “go to bed” and he runs to his bed (mat, kennel, whatever) and lays down. But actually, a “mat” or “bed” behavior is an extremely useful training technique and one that I recommend every dog owner teach their dog. Here are just a few reasons why every dog needs a “bed” behavior. #1 – Teaches self-control The basis of the mat behavior is a prolonged stay. No matter what’s … Read more
Dogs do some things that seem pretty weird to us humans…and sometimes it’s things we find downright disgusting or annoying. But why do they do them? Canine behaviorists spend their lives trying to answer that very question. While we may never know for sure about some of these, thanks to research, we definitely know more than we used to about these strange behaviors. #1 – The “Guilty” Face Does your dog look just downright pitiful when you come home and … Read more
Clicker training can seem overwhelming at first: juggling a dog, treats, leash and clicker. Knowing when to click and when not to, remembering all the “rules” – all while trying to pay attention to what your dog is doing so you can successfully teach him something new. Don’t fret! We all struggle at first! The following are a few tips to help you improve your clicker skills to make training easier and faster. Have your own tips that help you? … Read more
The idea of this article actually came from an ex-client of mine (ex because I moved states) who begged me to write an article on a topic that causes her a lot of frustration as the owner of two reactive dogs. She is not alone, either. Anyone that owns a reactive dog deals with this anytime they go out. And the main reason is because many dog owners don’t realize that they shouldn’t let their dog stare. What do I … Read more
Do you have that dog that acts like like a busy bee? Crazy, spun-out of control and just can’t listen for longer than a second? Or maybe you have the dog that just sits there, half asleep, and responds so slowly to your cue that everyone else in class has done 5 repetitions to your one. A new study by the animal experts at Duke Canine Cognition Center has proven what many dog trainers already knew – your training technique … Read more
This is one of my favorite tricks – it is super simple to learn but it looks impressive and can be a “gateway” to all sorts of fun tricks. In fact, the first time I taught it was quite by accident. I wanted a straight back and was using my legs to guide him, I ended up with what I call “the shuffle” instead. The Shuffle I have no idea what others call this, it may not even have a … Read more
When something goes wrong, it’s easy to blame the dog – after all, he can’t speak to defend himself! However, many times we humans inadvertently cause the very things we are trying to stop our dogs from doing. If you’ve made some of the mistakes listed below, don’t worry–we all have! The good news is that you can make some changes, but first, you have to be informed! Here are some ways you may be accidentally encouraging your dog’s most annoying habits: #1 … Read more
This question is a BIG one. It can be a reason a dog is taken to the shelter or debarked by a frustrated pet parent. It’s also one I get asked a LOT as a dog trainer. Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as we’d like it to be. There can be a varying range of reasons why dogs bark at other dogs. What we will do today is try to provide more insight into that question so that … Read more
If you own more than one dog, you may have noticed some behaviors that make you think of two siblings fighting over things. For example, maybe you are petting one dog and the other runs up for attention too. I knew someone who used this as a way to train her dogs. If she called the dogs to her and only one came, she would loudly tell the dog that came that he was a good boy and was “getting a … Read more
Summer is upon us, which means time for fun in the sun and water. Whether you live near the sea, a lake, river, stream or your own swimming pool, chances are your dog will come in contact with water this season. But, did you know dogs are not natural swimmers? “Most dogs do not just jump in and start ‘doggy paddling’ with ease,” says Jennifer Fish Office Manager and swim coach at Dogs Gone Swimming in Portland, Oregon. My husband … Read more
Some dogs love going on a car ride. Others do not. If you happen to have a dog that doesn’t like the car, or doesn’t like to jump into it on their own, going anywhere can suddenly become a big hassle. Before you start training your dog to load on cue, you need to ask yourself the following questions: Is My Dog Not Willing to Jump in the Car out of Fear? If your dog is afraid of the car … Read more
While cats have the reputation for hating water, most dogs do not just run and jump into a body of water either, regardless of their breed. In some cases, it could be because their only experience with water up to that point has been a bath; if your dog doesn’t like a bath, he may not be eager to get into the water. Others it just might be a fear of something new or a timid nature that just takes awhile … Read more
There are a lot of beliefs out there when it comes to the “best” way to train a dog. And, being a dog trainer, I’ve seen how heated these discussions can get. While there may be more than one way to successfully train a dog, the following are 15 myths about dog training that are (almost) universally accepted to be false. Related: Best Dog Training Schools #1 – You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks We all know this isn’t … Read more
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