Boring but necessary! Its on all my blogs today just so that it gets through!

OK, you are interested in dogs I know [otherwise you wouldnt be here] but can you spare a few moments for all the other animals?

Do animals MATTER to you?

If so just take a moment to sign this... Campaign petition.

It is extremely simple and quick to fill out, and applies to YOU, no matter where in the world you live.

Make your government take notice. Its about time governments took at least SOME notice of the indigenous peoples who they claim to represent in their respective countries. Politicians worldwide should, in theory, do what the majority want them to do... isnt that what democracy claims to support?

All my doggy blogs are getting the same post today! WHY

Because I believe this is vitally important!

If you are interested and/or concerned about animal issues, such as the one which I have quoted below [from an email I had via the Defenders Organisation], then please click on the link to them and check out their informative website.

Check out the current issues, sign petitions, do what you can to help various animals... keep informed! You could even sign up for their newsletter.

The following quote is in regard to our dogs big brothers... their forebears!

"Now, as Alaska’s voters are less than a year away from a vote to restrict deadly aerial gunning, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is using state funds for a misinformation campaign to continue the slaughter.

It’s simply outrageous. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has signed off on a $400,000 state-funded propaganda campaign to justify the state’s barbaric wolf slaughter from the skies.

Why? Because Governor Palin and her political cronies in the state legislature are afraid that Alaskans will vote to end the brutal, unfair and unnecessary aerial gunning program."

MY LEARN DOG TRAINING CATEGORIES

MY LEARN DOG TRAINING CATEGORIES

Leash-Training Equipment		Dog Food		Dog Treats
Dog Toys		Training Toys		Dog Bones
House Training Equipment		Crate Training		Training Products
Bitter Apple Spray		Dog Medication		Herbs
Petsitting				Calling a Vet

MY DOG-TRAINING CATEGORIES

BITTER APPLE SPRAY

One of the ways a dog owner can prevent a dog from licking themselves excessively or chewing on valuable objects is by applying a topical deterrent, such as Bitter Apple spray for dogs. Read the full story

CALLING A VET

The more bells & whistles a business has to offer; the more they need to charge to cover costs of doing business. Typically city vets are more expensive than country vets because they usually pay more for floor space and taxes. What kinds of services do they offer? Who is on staff? What hours are [...] Read the full story

CLICKER TRAINING PRODUCTS

Clicker Training is a positive enforcement training system that was developed and based on operant conditioning. It is a small noise making device that began it’s life originally as a childs toy! Clicker training is very exciting and the principle is successfully used for training police dogs, competition obedience, agility, flyball, the possibilities for the [...] Read the full story

CRATE-TRAINING

The best time to start crate training any dog is when he is a puppy, or if that is not an option when you bring him home for the first time. If you decide that crate training is something you want to do then you should be prepared to continue it for the life of [...] Read the full story

DOG BONES

Since brushing dogs’ teeth is not always the easiest of tasks, conscientious owners give their dogs bones to help keep their teeth clean. The chewing helps to clean off debris and tartar from their teeth. Not only do they provide your dog some good activity, but dogs love all the different varieties. Read the full story

DOG CARE

Dogs are man’s best friend. Like children, dogs are to be taken cared for just like people are. It takes a lot of responsibility to take care of your pooch. The proper dog care must be applied to your pet so he or she remains to be healthy and free of any diseases. Dogs are [...] Read the full story

DOG FOOD

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance [...] Read the full story

DOG CARE BOOKS

Dog grooming books are a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Moreover, to people who want to make a career out of pet caring, dog grooming books may become a good course support and a step closer to getting a [...] Read the full story

DOG HEALTH

The master is who takes care of the health problems in your dog is a must in order to obtain a good health of your friendly pet, it could have you paying lots of money and this is another reason why it’s important to remember the responsibilities of taking care of a dog. When you [...] Read the full story

DOG PRODUCTS

When you have a dog, you need to find the right dog products for them so that they can be safe, happy and well trained. Dog products range from dog collars, leads, cages, toys and dog beds, to name a few. You can shop for dog products online and get a big selection as well [...] Read the full story

DOG TOYS

Interactive dog toys are a good source of entertainment and are becoming increasingly popular with dog owners. Dogs spend more time playing with them because they are engaged and entertained for longer periods of time. Unlike the traditional pet supplies that we’ve all become accustomed to, these are meant to challenge your dog’s ability. This [...] Read the full story

DOG TREATS

Just like some dog owners like to go through tons of dog names to find the one that suits their dog the best, similarly, dog treats should be only selected after careful consideration of their nutritional and quality values. Read the full story

My Dog Is A Decision Maker

My Dog Is A Decision Maker

Dogs make decisions.

Your dog thinks and makes choices every day.    Im watching mine now as one sleeps in his favorite chair.  I dont know what makes it his favorite spot, but it is.  Another is watching birds from the back steps.   Hes choosing to do this, at this time.  He could be sleeping, chewing a bone, or playing with one of the other dogs, but right now hes just watching the birds.  He seems to be content enjoying the afternoon.   Another is laying in the sun.  Its hot.   Why she has chosen to lay in the sun rather than the shade is entirely her decision.   She wont stay long, and I know in a few minutes shell get up and come to the shade with the rest of us.   They have all made choices about how to spend their afternoon.

Dogs Problem Solve

When I give my doxies a new food puzzle the literally work it out in their little minds how to get the food out.  Its trial and error.  It might take a while, they might even get frustrated the first time or two, but they solve the issue and get the reward. 

When Vinnie is out and I make him "place" on some new object -- like a rock or park bench -- or walk across a little bridge on the walking trails he has to figure out how to get there.   He knows what "Place" means, he has learned to trust me, and he works it out with motivation and encouragement from me.

A Lesson from The Stray Dogs

Dogs who have been stray have mastered their skills of finding food and water.  They make the decision about where to sleep, when to sleep and how to get access to food and water.  When food and water are present, they will figure out how to survive.    We know they are capable of learning.

When they move into our social world, the skills they need to have to succeed in our homes and environment may be radically different that the skills they learned instinctively or under abusive conditions.

The point is dogs make choices, decisions, and they learn.



When we teach them new skills, like how to focus on their handler under distractions, they can learn to make the decision to "watch" you when it matters and to hold simple commands.   They can make the decision do something other than bark and lunge at other dogs on their walk.   They can make a decision to walk away from a bone or not be growly at strangers.

They can only make these better decisions if they have alternative skills in their toolbox.

When we teach new skills during training classes, we teach them what to do, how to do it and when to do it.    We teach you timing techniques and learning to read your dogs body language.

As the learn, we have to give the dog a few seconds to think and make a decision to perform that skill before we apply any tension or navigation to their leash.   Avoid using your leash as a brake or a tug to get started on your walk.   Just give the command/signal.  We can show you the proper time to apply gentle tension to the leash, but its not for the command itself.

We want them to learn to make these choices even when there is no leash at all.

Through guided learning, let your dog solve problems and think.

Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com

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Help! My Dog Wont Sleeping Through the Night

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Puppies and newly adopted or rescue dogs often have difficulty being separated from their loved ones overnight.   They will try any antics to convince you to release them; including making you think they need to go outside.  At times, we have to stand strong and let them work out their disappointment in being crated.

Before trying anything we want to be sure we’re treating the right problem. 

• For this article, we are assuming you are not seeing any other signs of anxiety when you leave the home (example tearing up bedding, pools of drool, bent crate bars, etc).  If this is true, I dare say what you’re seeing is not separation anxiety.  If there are other symptoms or issues of stress during your absences from the home, it’s important to address them.  Misdiagnosis of the problem could make matters worse.
• Verify with your vet if necessary that there are no medical issues (example UTI) or something would prevent him from holding his bladder overnight. 
• You also want to be sure that he is old enough and has been through house training such that he should be capable of holding it overnight. 
• Assuming overall health, that he is well fed, has been out to potty before bedtime, you may simply need to let him whine, cry or bark to teach himself to self-soothe and calm.  With some dogs it can be brief, as in a few minutes upon being crated.  With other dogs, it may take a night or three.   If your new family member is one of the more difficult cases don’t despair.  There are a number of things you can to do ease the transition and train for better behavior.

Calming Methods:

• Consider having the crate in your room.

• Play calming music outside his crate on a low volume overnight.  (I once found that singing to my foster puppy put her out like a light within 5 minutes).  A ticking clock often works as well with very young puppies.

• Add some lavender oil to his collar and/or bedding
• Add a little chamomile tea to his evening water.
• Remember no water or food within 2 hours of bedtime.
• Once you put them in bed for the night -- dont take them out until their scheduled potty break (see House Training Guide for Puppies)

Waking Up Too Early:

If your dog has become an alarm clock that sounds off before your real alarm clock goes off, you will need to teach him that he only gets out of the crate when the alarm goes off or you decide it’s time.   It’s possible that something is waking him up that you don’t hear – a school bus, the newspaper, a barking dog, etc.   He will need to learn to cope with that if that’s what it is, but training him to wait for the alarm can help that.  You may lose a little sleep in this training method, but chances are you’re losing sleep anyway.

• If he’s whining at 5 am and you want to sleep until 7 set the alarm to sound before he would normally wake up. Start tomorrow by setting the alarm at 4:45 am.  Get up, take him out, tell him to go potty, and then put him back in the crate with no other interaction.

• You can give him a toy, a treat ball, KONG®, chew-toy, etc with a little bit of his kibble in it when you put him back in the crate, or even have a non-food toy in there to start.   Puzzle toys may keep him entertained longer.  Just prepare it the night before, have it ready on the counter, and grab it on your way back in.

• Do that for a day or two, then day 3 set the alarm for 5:00,  day 5 set it 5:20, etc.   You don’t get up and go in there until the alarm goes off.  Period.  You will be conditioning him to listen for the alarm.   Eventually you should be able to work your way up to normal time to get up.    He will also learn that he may have to go back to his crate and wait quietly.  Keep in mind he might not be so quiet the first few days.  

Going “hard core” and just making him wait it out from 5-7 if he is not fully potty trained may incorrectly teach him that when he’s sick his call for help is going to do no good. You want him to alert you when he really needs to go out! 

Hang in there – ideally it is a few controlled nights of training that will help him learn to sleep through the night.

Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com

Follow us On

Facebook,  Youtube, Twitter, Pinterest , Instagram  & Google+

The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.

My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.

My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.

Begin training with a consult with a professional trainer to be sure youre solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.

**************************************************************************

Help! My Dog Is Jumping The Fence

My first question to you is -- why is the dog jumping the fence?   Whats on the other side of the fence that is so much more exciting than you?   Is he left outside unsupervised? 

Typical reasons dogs jump the fence is because of raging hormones, boredom, and lack of supervision.     At the most basic of solutions -- get your dog spayed/neutered, go outside and play or train them to burn of physical energy, and dont leave them unsupervised.

You can create perimeter boundaries by working on a very reliable recall, and working with your dog on leash for several weeks to teach them that every time they approach the fence, they will be called to Come to you for a positive reward.    Remember in Come! (especially if something is exciting on the other side of the fence) you have to be the best thing ever for your dog to want to engage with you and to show-up when you call them.   Have something yummy as a reward for coming when called for the next few weeks.

If they do escape, dont punish them when you go get them, otherwise they will be even more reluctant to come to you the next time.  

Need help teaching a reliable off-leash recall?   Call us for an appointment or check out one of our training classes.   

Fences should not be considered a fail-safe protection for your dog. They can give you peace of mind to let them go outside and play and do their business.   But its my opinion, humble as it may be, that dogs should not be left outside in a fenced area when the owner is not home and not available for frequent supervision.   

My own little weenie dog is small enough to fit through the rails of my mothers fence so we had to take extra precautions when visiting.   And as you can see in the picture above -- my foster dog even tried to squeeze through.   Be sure when you visit friends and family you check the status of their fence too!

Fence safety- check the perimeter often for holes that may have developed in the wire mesh, spaces/gaps that small dogs can crawl under, securely latching gates, and for objects or terrain in your yard that gives your dog a place tall enough to allow him to jump over.   Also, be sure to check your fence after big storms to ensure that limbs have not fallen and damaged the fencing allowing for an escape route.  

Dont even get me started about invisible fencing ... thats a topic for another day. 

The K9 Coach

Dana Brigman, CDT, IACP, APDT

980-339-8064
Email:  info@thek9-coach.com

Website:  www.thek9-coach.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thek9coachcharlotte
Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/thek9coach
Youtube:  www.youtube.com/thek9coachcharlotte

The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.

Ask us about a photo shoot with your dog !   Weenie Dog Photography   
All K9 Coach clients are eligible for a discount! 

 

My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.

My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.

Begin all training with a consultation with a professional trainer to be sure youre solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.

Help! My Dog Is Digging Up My Yard

Im afraid in this training tip, my rescuer side might come out a little bit more than usual. 

Dogs are not meant to be outside unsupervised.   If you are out there playing with them, teaching them new skills or otherwise just relaxing, there typically will be no digging.  In all my years, I have never had a dog with a digging problem.   So there must be something to notion of play, supervision and training.

Digging is often a sign of boredom.   Dogs that are under-exercised or not getting enough mental stimulation and human interaction will find ways to occupy themselves.   On hot summer days, when left outside alone, they want to find a cool spot to lay so they churn up some dirt.

So, supervise and interrupt/correct the behavior.   Better yet, play with your dog in some structured games that incorporate impulse control, obedience skills, or even tricks.   Go for a walk!  Engage your dog!  Include him in your life.  

We really only have ourselves to blame if a dog is digging. 

Now that I have that off my chest,  I have reviewed a number of alternative solutions to digging that you might want to consider -- IF and ONLY IF supervision, play and training are not options for your dog.

Some folks have suggested putting a chicken wire mesh under the soil & mulch to make it unpleasant for your dog to dig.   Id be super cautious about this as if that wire is damaged, it could easily lead to a severe injury for your dog, that is now filled with dirt, bacteria, etc.   Id just say no to this option.


Take a look at what The Whole Dog Journal has to say about giving your dog a specific place to dig:

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_8/features/Destructive-Digging-Behavior-Solutions_16052-1.html





Dana Brigman
The K9 Coach
Dog Training - Matthews, NC
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
info@thek9-coach.com

Follow us On

Facebook,  Youtube, Twitter, Pinterest , Instagram  & Google+

The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrounding areas.

My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.

My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.

Begin all training with a consultation with a professional trainer to be sure youre solving the right problem. Misdiagnosis can make the matters worse. Be sure that there are no medical issues at play and that your dog is not in pain, as pain can be a contributor to a new display of aggression. If you have any fear or uncertainty -- do not attempt the techniques without professional supervision.

My blogs are about dog and puppy training

Have you got your own blog?

If you have... does it make you a profit?

If you dont have a blog of your own, would you fancy having one... one that made you some money?

Check out this link Blogging For Profit. It will take you to an extremely informative FREE article on the subject... you cant lose anything by reading it... well only a few moments of time! And it is really extremely interesting - do check it out.

How do I Mountain Bike With My Dog

How do I Mountain Bike With My Dog?

Professional Dog Training

One of the best way to give your pooch some exercise is a short mountain bike riding. Here are some tips when you are mountain bike riding with your pooch.

• Make sure that trail allowing for your dogs
• Start out, ride 3 or 4 miles to  Acclimate to your dog to running distance gradually. Run up slowly to run longer distances. Start short, then progress until youre riding 8 or 9 miles at a time.Slow your pace while riding with your dog, especially on the downhills.
• Give your pooch water to drink from your hand or straight from the water bottle, and make sure to bring some extra water.
• Shout "yeow" to warn your dog on the side of the trail and out of harms way. Use a whistle or shout to use when your dog gets too close to your front tire

Also check out our other guide on:

• Dog no pull harness
• Becoming dog agility traininers
• ExPetdition Bicycle Control Lead
• Lets Go Pet Walker, Hands Free Bicycle Dog Leash for Medium / Large dog. 4 colors, Gold, Purple, Blue, Red. Color may vary.

My BEST training advice

Do you watch Dog Borstal on the TV?

It isnt really my favourite dog orientated programme [try the Dog Whisperer programme for an alternative] as Id like to strangle some of the owners for the way they treat their dogs. Some owners just dont deserve such clever dogs who have the potential to learn and enjoy so much more than the owners are willing to teach and give to them.

Dogs need your time and attention. And they love to learn, can learn extremely quickly, and SO enjoy the attention and praise.

Why not grab one of the free lessons available in our left-hand margin and enhance your relationship with YOUR pet today?

Look in our Links section... Dove Cresswell offers a wonderful free lesson - it really works, Ive tried it - and Sit Stay Fetch will offer free information and newsletters too.
..................................................................................

P.S.

If you ARE looking for secrets of dog training I have two recommendations...

1] Try the freebies from BOTH the above courses. See which one suits you AND your dog best!
2] Go back to our earliest posts (and the next earliest) youll find lots of advice there.

How do I stop my Dog from Chewing Problem

How do I stop my Dog from Chewing Problem?

Dog Trainer Schools

Training Your Dog to
be Home Alone

Chewing is another natural instinct that needs to be controlled. When dogs are young, usually less than a year old, it’s fairly normal for them to engage in significant dog chewing. Dog need to chew and they will chew almost constantly in the early months. Your dog should be given plenty of chew toys and know the difference between his toys and forbidden things. This an important behavior to teach for the safety of any items in home people hold dear, and also for the sake of the dog, who could accidentally chew or choke on dangerous items.

Dog chewing may continue well after the first year for a variety of reasons, and one of these is usually boredom, while another is lack of exercise. It is not always necessary to completely stop dog chewing, but to direct it to items that are healthy for him to chew. Like for children, provide a large box or basket for the toys to be placed in. Objects that the dog can get them out of by themselves are the best option. It is preferable to stop dogs chewing on the furniture. With some dog training, perhaps they will learn to pick up the toys.

How To End Bad Dog Habits
Forever-Stop The Whining
-Chewing and Other Pet Destructive Behavior

Dog chewing problems are a combination of natural doggie behavior and habits it develops to deal with, teething, territory defending, and jaw strengthening and human interactions.

Keep in mind, it is not wise to stop dog chewing all the time because it is good for the dog in order to keep their teeth clean and healthy. Remember too that they want nothing more than to love and please their owner.

Boing has written extensively on puppies obedience training. You may want to check out his other guide on dog obedience school tips and dog training collars guide!

My Dogs Barking Is Annoying Me And My Neighbors How Can I Stop Excessive Barking

We have all heard it whether it is your dog or your neighbors dog a dog that barks too much; that it becomes so annoying. If it is your dog you are most likely asking yourself "how can I stop excessive barking?" It may feel at that present moment that you can not control your dogs barking however with the proper training you can learn how to stop your dogs excessive barking.

So now that you understand why your dog barks you are asking yourself "how can I stop excessive barking?" You can try the following to teach your dog to quit barking:

• bark collar
• exercising them more so that they become tired
• getting them a companion so they do not become bored while you are away
• let them know that you will not tolerate that behavior consistently whenever they do it

The dogs bark can be frustrating and annoying but remember it is a way of your "best friend" attempting to communicate with you. It can mean different things like "hello" or "good bye." They get excited especially when you have just come home after being away and they are happy to see you. If someone they do not know and does not belong there they become very protective and they will bark.

You have to learn why your dog is barking and what they are attempting to tell you. If they are constantly barking and it seems to you as if there is no apparent reason; there are ways to stop excessive barking.

Some breeds are going to bark more than others and you should be aware of this before you go out and get a dog to bring home for the family. You must first decide do you want a quiet dog or do you want one that is a little more boisterous than most? listed below are the breeds that tend to bark more than others take a look at them and realize that if you currently own one or you are thinking about getting a family pet; they are going to bark more than any other dog:

• Beagle
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Miniature Schnauzer
• West Highland White Terrier
• Fox Terrier

Another thing we must carefully look at is ourselves; did we somehow encourage this unwanted behavior? Many times we encourage this behavior without realizing it. Maybe in the past you have rewarded your dog for barking and they have taken it as a sign as something to do. You may have attempted to scold them, however they took it as a sign of attention. Many people will pet their dog or talk to them in a cooing tone right after they do something they do not approve of and your dog will take it as a reward for positive things and will continue to do the unwanted behavior.

You can get your dog to quit barking excessively with the proper training done consistently; if you would like more free tips on how to properly train your dog then feel free to visit the website below.

Did you find these tips on How Do I Train My Dog helpful? Get your FREE 6-part mini-course that will teach you little-known Dog Obedience Training Secrets to correcting dog behavior problems using REAL-LIFE scenarios.

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