Pet Training Tips & More

I was recently asked if I just teach my dogs some basic commands or do I actually train it to heel formally and follow commands out in public. My reply that I do both! Most people contact me about trying to fix a bad habit and manners at home. Even my competition dogs are pets first! Therefore, I would start with training home manners, then proceed to manners in public. I would encourage most people to strive to train their dogs to reach two goals: Pass and earn the AKC title

Many people are unaware that it is illegal in most states to sell or give away a puppy before 8 weeks of age. If the breeder or other person tells you that the puppy is weaned and ready to go younger than that, refuse to take the puppy, and report them to the authorities. Reputable breeders will not release a puppy prior to 8 weeks and many not until 10+ weeks of age. The puppy needs to remain with it's mom and litter mates to learn bite inhibition and manners. In addition, m

I have owned a variety of breeds from various groups. Some breeds may often be labeled as "stubborn". Many hounds may fall into that category, and so do Rottweilers, etc. So really? Dogs are sentient beings and have feelings, but they do not have the same set of complex emotions as humans. When it appears that my dog won't listen or just plain ignores me, I need to re-think the why behind that behavior. Breeds that get the stubborn label are often independent dogs. They were

A dog that rushes the door (or gate) is not only exhibiting bad manners, it can turn harmful. In earning a Virtual Home Manners title through AKC, door manners is part of the test. Since 1986, I have always owned several dogs at a time. Whether I am opening the door from the house to the yard, out front, or the gate, I teach my dogs to only come through when I call their name. I can tell you that it is dangerous to have a big dog knock you over in their rush through the openi

Recently I have seen where some counties or states are trying to pass a dangerous dog law. In reviewing these proposed laws, a dog could be labeled as dangerous if it threatens to bite (or actually does bite) "unprovoked". The underlying problem is that people do not understand dog body language or how to properly approach a dog. The American Kennel Club has a program called Canine Ambassadors. The ambassador with their dog will teach any group about safety around dogs or res

I know this might not sound like a dog training issue. Unfortunately, children under age ten make up the majority of dog bite victims, and often by the family dog. Parental supervision does not always work because the parents do not understand dog body language sufficiently to know when a dog is fearful or uncomfortable. Most dog bites are out of fear rather than aggression. Here are some tips to guide child interactions, and tips for recognizing dog fear. Have a crate set up

During the pandemic when most people had to stay at home, many dogs developed separation anxiety. Here is a list of things the owner does that can create this problem: •Pet your dog, all the time •Talk to your dog, all the time •Allow your dog to follow you, all the time •Allow your dog to be on your lap or laying on your feet, all the time •Pet, soothe, comfort your dog when it whines or barks for attention...or is simply anxious •Allow your dog to demand affection/interacti

There are several reasons why a dog becomes food aggressive. If he was in a shelter, or was a stray, or there were issues with food scarcity or bigger dogs taking his food, we may have a dog that growls or snaps at anyone or any dog that approaches him while eating. Another problem is the dog that jumps and knocks the food from your hand in his rush to get it. Here are some tips to help your dog get over this problem. Be sure to feed your dog in a quiet secure place away from

Recently a client asked if her 4 month old pup would grow out of the bad behavior of jumping up and biting. The short answer is that behavior that is "rewarded" will continue. Let's talk about rewards. Dogs are like young children and will engage in all sorts of naughty behavior to get your attention. My question to people is "What did you do about it?" If you scolded your dog, looked at your dog, touched your dog, yelled at him to sit, pushed him away- you just rewarded that

This is a common problem with young dogs. Many dogs have an instinct to tug and play with things that are close to their face. It is always easier to train a dog when we first make sure their needs are met. These needs may include plenty of attention, exercise, and mental stimulation, sniffing, along with games of chase or tug. Now that my dog has had his fun, it is time to focus. Make sure that you gather up some of the excess leash in your hand so that it is not flopping ar

The leave it command can be one of the most useful in preventing a dog from touching or eating something potentially toxic. On the other hand, it tends to be over-used. One of the first things I teach a dog is to focus and "watch me". If I see a food wrapper with some remnants of a hamburger in it as we are walking, I can instead get my dog to keep eyes on me as we walk on by it, then a big reward afterwards for the focus. Generally speaking, I much prefer to use a positive c

Dogs' communication relies heavily on body language. We can better understand our dog when we look at clusters of body language and that paired with any vocalization the dog makes. My Rottweilers have at least four different vocalizations: a playful bark, the alerting bark, the Rottie "rumble" happy greeting growl, and the warning growl. When a dog growls it is usually a warning that the dog is uncomfortable (fearful or anxious) about the approaching person or dog. Most dog b

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