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Now is NOT the Time to Train!

Cindy Bruckart | Fri, 06/26/2009 - 17:49

You’ve got two picnic tables full of food, six kids running around the yard with popsicles, drumsticks and squealing laughter, grandma with her walker, your nephew with his skateboard and your brother in law with sunglasses, a beard, a hat and a few too many drinks in him. This is not the time to attempt to teach your dog, for the first time, about table manners, children, walkers, skateboards and drunk people with sunglasses, hats and beards!

The time to train is BEFORE the desired behavior is critical. It’s no different with recall, sitting, staying or walking nicely on leash. If you wait until it’s absolutely crucial that your dog behaves correctly without error, you and your dog will both be frustrated.

Does Your Dog Have A Job?

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Fri, 06/26/2009 - 08:36

Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day and lots of people who don’t normally take their dog along with them to their workplace will do so today. Hopefully it will go well. A dog’s got to be well trained, socialized, and have a solid temperament in order to both enjoy the experience and serve as a model canine ambassador to help persuade more businesses to become dog-friendly year round. So please only take your dog to work with you if he or she is ready for it.

There are many benefits to dog ownership, such as mood elevation and stress reduction, most of which could also benefit people in the workplace.

Wolfdogs Don’t Need Whispering!

Nicole Wilde | Wed, 06/24/2009 - 18:24

The producers of the Dog Whisperer television program are now searching for new dogs to be rehabilitated by Cesar Millan—not just any dogs, but wolfdogs (a.k.a. wolf hybrids). Here is a link to the story… http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_12675189?source=rss

"But I Don't Want to Use Treats to Train!"

Nicole Wilde | Tue, 06/23/2009 - 07:59

For those of us who use food treats to train, that phrase is not unfamiliar. Trainers hear it regularly from owners who believe they will end up with a dog who is dependent on treats in order to comply. If done properly, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I always explain to prospective clients that I use food to train behaviors, sure—it’s fast, easy, and fun. But once the dog understands and is performing a particular behavior well, he’s weaned off the treats by progressing to a schedule of random reinforcement (which really isn’t a schedule at all, but a fancy way of saying he gets rewarded every now and then—the slot machine effect), as well as substituting real life rewards such as the door opening for a walk, or a bowl being placed on the floor to allow him to eat.

Dog-Friendly Summer Tips With A Twist

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Mon, 06/22/2009 - 09:44

Summer is here and animal lovers are being inundated with important safety tips such as how to keep your dog cool, symptoms of heat stroke, and reminders not to leave dogs in parked cars – especially with the window up! This information is terribly important and I implore you to read all of the tips you come across on the topic even if they seem redundant because it’s info that could save a life.

Angels and Expectations

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Sat, 06/20/2009 - 12:39

I just finished reading Nicole Wilde’s blog post musing about how we humans are often surprised and disappointed when our dog doesn’t like another dog. There are probably a few reasons why we react the way we do. One may be embarrassment. Generally when a dog doesn’t “like” another dog it is communicated by growls or snaps, occasionally by pinning or biting too.

There can be harsh social consequences for owners of dogs that dare to vocalize or act like a dog in public (butt sniffing? …And Dog forbid if they hump!); it makes us owners a bit squirmy and overly-apologetic, not to mention overbearing, interfering, busybodies in our dogs social lives.

Must a Dog Like Every Dog He Meets?

Nicole Wilde | Sat, 06/20/2009 - 03:35

As a trainer, I’ve received calls like this more than once: “Buddy’s a great dog, he’s sweet, he loves people, and he likes most other dogs. He even plays with them at the park. But there’s this one neighborhood dog he just doesn’t like. Can you help?”

Sure, that one dog can present a problem if the dogs have to pass each other every day on walks or if, for example, the dogs are in the same group class. And yes, a trainer can help the owner to manage the situation so the dogs can co-exist. But the deeper issue is the belief so many people hold that their dogs must like every dog they meet. Do you like every person you meet? I doubt it, and I doubt there’s a person on the planet who does.

If Dogs Could Rehome Their Owners!

Tara Choules | Tue, 06/16/2009 - 12:38

I often wonder if dogs could rehome their owners would they?

Veronica a light haired female human loves attention, pulls on the lead and needs training in this area, sleeps all night, house trained but can get a little stressed around other humans. Needs a lap dog.

Harrold, an entire male human. Black hair, has a bad habit of popping at the collar, doesn't like other human company. Needs an independent large confident dog to help him meet other humans and socialise.

Can Twitter Benefit Dogs?

Nicole Wilde | Tue, 06/16/2009 - 08:19

I’ll admit it. My attitude toward the new “social media” has been less than enthusiastic. At this time I don’t have a Facebook page, I don’t have a personal blog, and until yesterday, I wasn’t on Twitter. My view of Twitter, where you post up-to-140-character “tweets” about what you’re doing, was that I really didn’t need to know that you just did your laundry or were going out for a bite to eat. Then I read an article in Time magazine about Twitter, and all of its potential uses. And it got me to thinking. Then it got me to investigating. Then… yep, I joined. Yes, I’m now “tweeting” along with thousands of others.

Walking a Fine Line

Gillian Ridgeway | Tue, 06/16/2009 - 07:54

Balance is becoming a main focus in the dog training community. Striving for the perfect combination of rules and leniency that will ensure our dogs have self-confidence and manners, yet still have joy inside, is a worthwhile ideal.

This said, the shift in the pendulum from never saying no, all the way over to the other side to encompass harsh treatment is not what balance is all about.
Striking a balance means to choose a moderate course or compromise. Picture a teeter-totter, nicely perched on the fulcrum, the plank straight and neither end touching the floor. That is balance.

In all areas of our lives we are starting to consider alternatives to keep us level, feeling calm and stress free. Yoga is rapidly on the rise and more and more people are considering the art of Feung Sheui as they decorate their homes. Yes, all in the name of balance.