Meme Mondays!

Well, no one ever said dogs were known for their refined palate. lol!

So what kind of food are your dogs eating?

Waggin Wednesdays- Pet Parade Dog Bark Repeller!

As a dog trainer I get asked a lot of questions when it comes to barking dogs. For every scenario, whether it be a dog that barks when its left alone all day, a dog that barks when company comes over, a dog that only barks at men, etc, there's a plethora of tools and methods available to handle each situation. I tend to prefer more humane tools and methods (yay positive reinforcement!), but there are some cases in which you have no access to the nuisance dog in question. Take my situation for example.

I used to live in an apartment with my angelic dog Cindy, who never ever barked. However, our neighbors had two dogs that were cooped up all day and received no corrections, training or exercise, so they took out all of their angst and frustrations out by barking. All. Day. Long. Even if someone was home, they still barked. From sun up to sun down, barking barking barking. And to make matters worse, one had a high pitched super yappy bark, and the other was a deep, full bark. It seemed my life was doomed to an existence riddled with noise pollution.

Enter the Pet Parade Dog Repeller! 

This sound deterrent packs a serious punch and is loud enough to interrupt a barking dog's behavior, even if its just for a moment. This small moment of silence is still good enough to reward for, which encourages the dog to be quiet more often and for longer periods of time. Here is how I used it with my neighbors dogs:

- Point device at barking dog (in this case it was through my neighbor's wall)
- say the word "QUIET" and hold the button down until the dog stops barking, even if the dog stops for just for a split second, release the button.
- Praise and/or reward the moment the dog stops barking. (in my case, stopping the dog repeller was the reward).
- Repeat, repeat, repeat.

The dogs soon connected the word "quiet" to the noise and understood that the noise would come soon after the word unless they stopped barking. In a few days time, my neighbors dogs would stop barking if I yelled "quiet!" through the wall, but when my lazy neighbors yelled "SHUT UP!" their dogs would ignore them. Ahh sweet, sweet victory. If only my neighbors had one of these too maybe their dogs would have listened to them.. or better yet, if they had invested time into training them! But I digress..

So as with all dog training tools, this will only work if your timing is quick. You only have a 1-2 second window to let go of the button when your dog stops barking for the dog to connect the cessation of the noise with the cessation of his barking. example: If the dog stops and you are still holding the button down, the dog learns nothing. Be fast, and be consistent and this tool will work great for you!

Also, every dog is different, so this may not work with every dog. But it is definitely worth a try. If you are expecting your dog to shun the sound and back away terrified when it goes off, you may be disappointed. Some dogs react to it with curiosity and a head tilt, but hey, as long as they stopped barking for a moment to check it out, use that moment to reinforce the silence and achieve victory! 

By the way.. the noise is mostly inaudible to people, but it does work. You would only hear it if you put your ear right up to the speaker, which I wouldn't recommend (but did anyway to a friend.... he had it coming. LOL).

Find it at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8O4UA/

Meme Mondays!

Oh come on, you know its true! ;-)

Should I Get a Dog?

Getting a new dog is never what you expect it to be, but will always be better than you can imagine. When you first decide that getting a new dog is right for you, please take into consideration a few things first:

- Can I afford it? Bringing home a new dog is a lot like bringing home a baby. The initial set up cost can run you a pretty good chunk of change. You will need items like a good quality dog food (that will be a topic for another time), a bed, food and water bowls, treats, shampoo, a crate, toys, etc, then you will need to pay for vaccines, spaying/neutering and dog training (always worth the investment!). I would even recommend putting aside $10 a month for emergency care. People are often shocked when they find out how much an emergency x-ray, blood work, dental cleaning or a sugery can cost, so don't take on the responsibility of caring for another living thing unless you can pay for their care too if something should go wrong. Pet insurance companies are also springing up like weeds and may be worth looking into. Just be sure they cover preventative care as well such as vaccines.

- Do I have time for a dog? If you think you can get a dog and keep it in the backyard and get by with just bringing it food and water every day, you are 100% WRONG! Dogs are pack animals and they crave human companionship. Dogs that are left in yards by themselves almost always develop behavior problems such as social anxiety, separation anxiety, dog/people/animal aggression, fear of change and new situations, chewing, barking, escaping, etc. The most frequent problems I encounter in my training program develop from dogs that are under-socialized. Do yourself and your dog a big favor and bring your dog inside and make them a part of your family pack. You will significantly cut down on the number of behavior problems your dog could be at risk for. Trust me, its MUCH easier training your dog to live in your world and to behave properly inside the house than it is to out-train behavior problems that have been learned from living alone and neglected. I would also HIGHLY recommend taking it one step further by taking your dog out into the world. Take them to as many places and have them meet as many people and animals as you possibly can. When you broaden their horizons and show them what life has to offer, you will find yourself with a dog that is secure, emotionally stable and able to go through life with confidence. 

- Do I have enough space for a dog? If you live in a one-bedroom apartment, getting a great dane might not be the best idea for you. You want to make sure your dog will have enough space to play and not be a nuisance. However, as it goes with zoos, its not the amount of space that matters, its what you do with it. You can have acres and acres of land for your dog to run on, but if your dog spends all day outside and away from the family, he won't be as happy as a dog with no yard at all who gets to spend all of his time with his owners, sleeping in his own bedroom (aka. a crate), playing with toys and going for walks. Also, if you will be a single-dog household, space isn't that big of a consideration, but if you have more than one dog or another pet such as a cat, ask yourself if your current pet will tolerate another dog on their turf. Territory disputes are amplified when there is not enough space to go around, so know your limits for yourself and for your current pets. 

- Is my family/roommate/significant other okay with getting a dog? Raising a dog is a group effort. If every member of the household is not willing to adhere to the training regimen, your dog will receive mixed messages and have a harder time learning their role in the pack and what is expected of them. Be sure to make a decision this big a family decision.

- What breed is right for my personality and my lifestyle? 

This is HUGE! Before you get a dog you should always research the breeds that interest you first! If you don't, you could be setting yourself up for failure before you even get your dog. Common scenarios I see include: 1) when very meek people get breeds that are known to be strong-willed or bully breeds who prove to be a challenge for them to train, 2) when strong/boisterous alpha personalities get very shy dogs who may potentially develop fear or socialization problems, 3) when smaller framed people get dogs that are too big or strong for them to handle, or 4) when mellower individuals get breeds that are too energetic to suit their lifestyle. Do yourself a favor and thoroughly know the breed that you are getting yourself into and ask yourself if you can meet all of their energy, temperament, grooming, training and socialization requirements.

Getting a new dog is a fun and exciting time in a new pet owners life, but always be prepared. If you aren't, well don't worry, I'm always here to help! :-) 

Adopt! Don't Shop!

Waggin Wednesdays- Rogz Grinz Smile Ball

It's that time again! Time for me to share my new discoveries into the fun world of pet products!

Today I present to you the Rogz Grinz Dog Ball! This ball is not only a great idea, but it is HILARIOUS!! I give it 3 paws up. I knocked it down 1 paw because my dog pretty much annihilated it, so for serious chewers you might have to buy a bunch of them. This makes a great gift for dog parties, so grab your camera and prepare to laugh your tail off!

Sniff it at: www.amazon.com

Meme Mondays!

Uh oh! Separation anxiety much? Does anyone else's dog do this?

*Note: How to tell if your dog has separation anxiety or not:

Q. Does your dog destroy things when you are home?
A. If yes- your dog does not have separation anxiety, he either bored or has too much energy. Solution: Take him for a walk or play fetch and take care of two birds with one stone! If your dog only destroys things when you leave him alone, there is a chance he may have separation anxiety. If you think this may be the case, consult your vet first to make sure there isn't something medically causing your dog's anxiety, then consult me or a trainer near you.

Happy Monday!

Training Thursday: Loose Leash Walking

This is a topic I get asked about a LOT. So much that I often hold one hour Loose Leash Walking seminars. If I can't get your dog walking nicely in an hour, I'm not doing by job! There are several ways you can leash train your dog, each of which I will cover in future posts, but to start off I will use the gentlest method, positive reinforcement! 

This video was filmed with Cindy, who doesn't pull much, Karma, who has never been leash trained, and MoMo, a strong puller. I'll probably end up re-doing this video at a later date, but the info is still good. Enjoy!

Waggin Wednesdays- Smart Bags!

Welcome to my second post in the Waggin Wednesdays series, where I talk about new pet products, treats and food!

Today I'm here to talk to you about a product that really wowed me. They're called Smart Bags, and they are by far the coolest poop bags I have ever seen. That's right people, I was impressed by POOP BAGS!! And they are truly amazing. They are 100% biodegradable, they eliminate odors, they have a twist tie built in, they have a padded layer so you don't have to feel all that squishy poo in your hand, and after you flip them inside out they have a detachable antibacterial wipe you can tear off. SO FREAKIN COOL!! I don't know about you, but after having to pick up my dog's BM every single day, it's the little things in life that make me happy, and I can see these bags making a pretty unpleasant daily experience less traumatizing. I give it 4 paws up!

Sniff: www.GetSmartBags.com

Meme Mondays!

Cause you know how much I love Huskies! <3