Pet Training Tips & More

I prefer to use different words for specific commands. An example is I use the command "Down" for lie down, and "Off" for getting off the couch or if my dog jumps on me. I also prefer distinct 1-syllable words whenever possible so my dog does not get confused when words may sound similar. I use the command "Heel" but not "Here" as they are too similar in sound. So I stick with heel and "Come". First let me differentiate between stay and wait. Stay means to freeze and remain i

Many people come to me with a long list of all the problems they need help with regarding their dog. Sometimes they have had the dog more than a year and it is still not housebroken. Most of it boils down to one thing: the owner is too busy for a dog. I hate to say it, but if a person can't commit to training a few minutes every day and the dog is getting neglected, they would be better off with a "pet rock". I realize this sounds harsh. My husband and I both worked full time

Puppies have little to no emotional self-regulation. They seem to be going full out until they finally fall to sleep. Let me say that most puppies seem hyper and we must remain the steadfast calm if we expect them to learn that behavior. If we bring any intensity into the situation, the pup will feed off of that and get more ramped up. First, make sure that your pup is wearing a snugly fitted flat buckle collar that he can't pull out of. For teaching this, I like to use the c

Nipping and biting is normal behavior for a young dog that is teething, but the dog needs to know that teeth on skin is never okay. There are several ways to deal with this, but I always start with the least correction to effect the change. First, I make sure my dog's needs are met. Many very intelligent breeds that have a working drive, tend to be chewers even well past the teething s tage. Make sure your dog has ample safe chewing toys such as a stuffed kong toy. Observe yo

I have competed in AKC obedience trials since the 1980s. Obedience trials have a set order of exercises to complete that include off-leash even at the novice level. Rally (or sometimes it is called rally obedience) has a large variety of stations and exercises that follow the judge's course map. Rally became an event in 2005 and has amassed a large number of participants. The novice and intermediate levels are all on leash. Handlers may clap their hands, praise and encourage

Often people tell me that their dog behaves great at home or in the house, but outside of that environment the dog doesn't pay attention. To start, dogs have a hard time paying attention in various environments, as they may become over-stimulated. When over-stimulated, a dog may show fear or be very excited. Either way, they cannot seem to process the commands you just gave him. First, I like to observe what triggers my dog. Once I know what those triggers are, I try to keep

I lived in Wyoming for 20 years and often had a puppy to house break when it was bitter cold and snowy outside. Dogs, much like cats, prefer to use a designated place away from the area where they play, sleep, and eat. Our current litter of Rottweilers are litter box trained. I buy bags of very fine pine shavings like what may be used in a horse stall. My puppies are in a large pen with carpet, and with the litter box at the back. The pups go 100% of the time in that box. I h

Dogs are pack animals and establish leadership and a pack hierarchy. As the owner, you should be the leader of the pack. Many dogs will gladly take on the role if you do not. And who wants to have the dog in charge? Establishing the role of leader can be done gently and humanely. I want to have a dog that feels safe with me and trusts me, therefore I do not do "Alpha Rolls". With a puppy or smaller dog, I start out by holding the dog in my lap on it's back like a baby, while

I like to make things simple but easy to maintain the dog's success. That is why are start training using food lures to encourage the pup into the correct position without physically guiding him. As soon as the pup hits the correct position following the food lure, I mark the good behavior with a "Yes!" and immediately giving the treat from that hand. Once my dog reliably will come and sit, then I will ask for a couple or more behaviors before giving him the treat. Still, I

Naturally when we get that new puppy we are anxious to take him out and about and show him off, but also to socialize him. The key is how to do that safely. If you purchased a puppy from a reputable breeder (perhaps a breeder awarded "Breeder of Merit" status by the AKC) the puppy will have received some good experiences already. Socialization is more about gentle exposure to different sights, sounds, smells, floor textures than meeting a bunch of people and dogs. I do not re

I have had several people ask me about dealing with their dogs that tend to fight at meal time. While I know trainers and others who can successfully train their dogs to only eat from their own bowl, I find it easier to avoid the hassle in the first place. You don't want to have to try to separate dogs fighting over the food. Over the decades I have usually kept around 6 to 7 dogs. This group may include up to three different breeds, various ages, and dietary needs. I am not

Has your dog ever counter surfed or grabbed your sandwich off your plate? Leave it can be used for a variety of situations, such as medicine dropped on the floor, a food wrapped in the McDonald's parking, or your child's shoe or toy. I teach my dogs to leave it unless I direct them otherwise to take it as this might save their life or an emergency vet visit. First, you dog should know the "watch me" command where you have rewarded eye contact from your dog. I start with some

I like to set my dogs up for success. I pay close attention to not rush them into situations that I know will lead to undesirable behaviors. I set strong foundations and build slowly before asking for more than my dog can manage. One tool I often use in the house is a leash. If I get an adult dog that is not housebroken or that counter surfs, I do not trust him to be loose in the house. I let him drag a long line that is light weight, so I can grab it at a moments notice to p

For many years through much of the 1900s and even early 2000s, the tradition dog training required some level of force. Some examples are pushing on the dog's butt to get him to sit, pulling down on his leash while pushing down on his shoulders to get him to lie down, hard jerks on the leash to reduce pulling, etc. Personally, I feel this is in direct opposition to the relationship I want with my dogs: loving companions with a deep bond and willingness to do what I ask. In fa

Unfortunately, the shelters have many small dogs surrendered due to behavior problems. These problems include biting, jumping up, incessant barking, and hyper behavior. Some of this stems from three main reasons: 1. an owner who does not want to correct bad behavior, 2. owner thinks that is was cute as a puppy and will outgrow it, and 3. believes you can't really train a small dog without hurting them. First, it is important to set the boundaries and expectations as soon as p

Let me start by saying that dogs are great at understanding body language much more so than the spoken command. I will discuss the three primary forms of getting the dog to know it is doing the correct behavior: luring; capturing; and shaping. Luring: I generally start out a new dog or pup with luring. Luring is when I use a favorite toy or treat to encourage my dog to do something like sit or put paws up on a low bench. I show the dog the treat close to his nose and then mov

You may have heard of positive reinforcement. It may also be called classical conditioning. When used with people, we call it behavior modification. Under classical conditioning/behavior mod, there are four types of reinforcement: positive reward, negative reward, positive punishment, and negative punishment. In this sense positive means adding and negative means taking away. So negative reward simply means taking away something undesirable. Positive punishment means giving s

On a regular basis I run into people who are frustrated with their dog's bad behavior. They tell me the problems they are having and I give them a business card and tell them to call me when they are ready to set up private training or enroll in a class. The key is that an owner MUST be willing and ready to step up and commit to changing what they are doing. The typical problems are jumping up, not coming when called, nipping, pulling on the leash, and barking. Shaping behavi

E collars is a softer way of saying shock collars. Most trainers that offer board and train use these tool. Some will have you buy the "training collar" from them for use in a class. There are two primary dog trainer certifications: APDT (Association for Professional Dog Trainers), and CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers). These organizations offer a strict code of ethics, training and testing certification program for dog trainers. Both REQUIRE the tra

Does your dog lunge and bark at people or other dogs when you are out for a walk? Perhaps he pulls frantically trying to chase a child passing on a bicycle. This behavior is embarrassing at best, and dangerous at worst. Usually this behavior is a result of lack of socialization and the dog is over stimulated. Punishment (shock collar, yelling, hitting, or jerking your dog) only makes matters worse. Dogs can sense your fear, frustration, or lack of confidence. Gather up your s