Today we taught Sydney how to Leave It. She is such a quick learner and we were able to bring out slippers and shoes - things that she really likes - and she completely ignored them! We concluded Clarke's training by teaching him how to Come When Called. We started out by playing recall games in the backyard, then progressed to an open field, where we were able to call him back from a squirrel and a dog that was passing by. Good boy, Clarke! TIP #1: MOM, I'M BORED Dogs are a lot like children. If you don’t give them something fun to do, they will make their own fun - and often not in ways you approve of. Give your dog plenty of physical and mental exercise, and you get a happier, healthier, better-behaved dog. Well-exercised dogs bark less, chew less, sleep more, and rest easier if left home alone. They are also much less likely to rummage through the trash or attack the couch cushions. What about leash walks? Leash walks are great brainteasers because of all the sensory information dogs get from them, but they don’t count as aerobic exercise. Your dog needs to run, swim, or do something else that gets his heart pumping for at least 30 minutes every day. TIP #2: BUY THE BEST DOG FOOD YOU CAN AFFORD Good dog food generally costs more than low-quality dog food because good dog food is made with better-quality ingredients, which cost more than low-quality ingredients. That said, the most expensive food is not necessarily the best, nor does the price always correlate precisely with a food’s quality. There are lots of low-quality foods that are sold for good-food prices, because some companies spend a ton on marketing and advertising! There are bad, better, good, and best foods at every price level. You should have an idea of how much you are willing to spend; look for the best foods you can find at the level you can afford. How can you determine which foods are the good and bad ones at your price point? Check out our Twosday Training Tip over the next few weeks! - Whole Dog Journal Say hi to our newest client, Rocky. We will be teaching this 13-week old Border Collie his basic manners.
Josie is a Bernese Mountain Dog, a dog bred for pulling, which she does well when on leash.
But with a proper front clip harness and the right techniques we taught her how to walk with a loose leash. As part of his basic manners training we taught Dozer how to Leave It. He is very motivated by food, which initially made the training a little difficult. But once he had that "light bulb moment" he did fantastic! Georgia had already been taught how to Sit, so today we taught her how to do it via a hand signal, since dogs respond very well to body language. We also taught her how to Down with a verbal and hand cue. Such a cute, and smart, girl. TIP #1: HOW TO HANDLE HOUSE TRAINING MISTAKES 1. Interrupt mistakes as they are happening: Don’t be harsh or your puppy will be afraid to go in front of you (even outside). After interrupting your puppy, hustle him outside to the potty area. Praise if he finishes there. Clean up the indoor mess with an enzymatic cleaner (e.g. Nature's Miracle) to remove protein residue that might attract him to the same place again. 2. Punishment: If your puppy potties in the house, take a newspaper, roll it up, and hit......yourself over the head - because you weren't paying enough attention to your dog! TIP #2: TRANSLATION, PLEASE Growls are most often a warning that serious aggression may ensue if you persist in whatever you're doing, or whatever is going on around him. Rather than taking offense at your dog's growl, heed his warning, and figure out how to make him more comfortable with the situation. Dogs also growl in play. It's common for a dog to growl while playing tug - and that's perfectly appropriate as long as the rest of his body language says he's playing. If there's any doubt in your mind, take a break from play to let him calm down. Some dogs also growl in pleasure. Rottweilers are notorious for "grumbling" when being petted and playing, and absent any signs of stress, this is interpreted as a "feels good" happy sound. - Whole Dog Journal |
AuthorJeff Dentler, CPDT-KA, IAABC-ADT, FFCP, CTDI Archives
April 2024
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