Twosday Training Tip

TIP #1: FINDING TIME TO TRAIN YOUR DOG
You don't have the time to train your dog? Whether you realize it or not, you already are spending a lot of time training your dog. Every minute you are with your dog you are training him. Your everyday interactions with him are the most powerful training tools you have.

Remember these two concepts:
1. If you do things for your dog without asking him to do something for you, you have trained him to not work to get what he wants. You have trained him that he is free to ignore you until you signal that you will be gratifying one of his desires.
2. If you ask him for a behavior in exchange for doing things for him, you have trained him to work for you to get what he wants. You have trained him that he had better pay attention to you because you never know when a reinforcement opportunity might arise.

Once you have taught the basic foundation behaviors, you never need to have a formal training session with your dog again; just being with your dog will shape him into a model citizen.
-excerpted from the book "When Pigs Fly" by Jane Killon


​TIP #2: PET FOOD MARKETING
Living in today's world, it is inevitable that our choices are influenced by marketing tricks and ploys. This influence is especially insidious when it pertains to things that are important to us, such as our dogs' health and welfare. We tell ourselves that we pay attention to ads and promotions for dog foods because we want to learn more about the nutrition and health benefits of the food and to determine if it meets the criteria that we determine to be essential for our dog's activity level and life stage. And pet food companies make it easy for us because advertisements are, well, everywhere. While you may need to work a bit to find a book or nutrition research article or an article in a dog magazine, you don't have to do anything at all except turn on your computer and open a browser to be inundated with advertisements for dog foods. Walking through your local pet supply store includes multiple display panels and sales campaigns promoting different (and new) brands and product lines. We read, we digest and we often act.

Shop with your head, not your heart. If you need help deciphering the marketing mumbo jumbo please visit www.dogfoodadvisor.com for unbiased and informed opinions about dog foods and treats.
- excerpted from Dog Food Logic, by Linda P. Case, M.S.

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