Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant
I’ve found so many stray dogs over the years! Just the other day, I found another - the little guy in this photo. I would say 50% of the time the dogs I find have no collar and 60% no microchip either. It’s frustrating because it could be very simple. Taking a stray dog to the shelter is traumatizing for them. PLEASE BE SURE YOUR PET HAS ID – Microchipping is best. I’d also like to provide information on what to do if you find a stray and also a bit of discussion regarding whether or not to have your dog microchipped or wear a collar with id tags. If you find a stray:
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Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant If your dog suddenly starts having accidents in the home, it’s important to FIRST rule out any underlying medical issue. Please seek the advice of your veterinarian before considering these tips.
Below are the top five reasons a once house trained dog may soil in the house: 1. They aren’t getting enough access to outdoors. Ask yourself: Have I been taking my pet outdoors as often as I used to? For adult dogs, every very few hours, or every 2 for young pups (even less for very young puppies) PLUS 10-20 minutes after meal times? (If they are getting enough access to outdoors, your timing may be off or it may be something else). Be sure you provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to succeed in going outdoors if you want them to reverse this new behavior. It’s important to reverse it as soon as possible! 2. They are stressed or upset. Have there been recent changes to their environment? Pets are very sensitive to change and sometimes we may not realize how much a small change can affect them. Some things may include: Adding a new pet to your home, having a baby, someone moving in or out, starting a new job that requires you to be away for longer periods of time, a rainy or snowy day, etc. These changes can create stress in pets and they may start doing things that are “out of the norm” in response – which can include soiling in the house. They need extra support during these times (see “3” next). Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant When training your dog it's vital to keep in mind that TIMING IS EVERYTHING! Dogs live in the moment so whatever moment you are rewarding the dog will associate that behavior with. If you are training with treats (which is one of the best ways to train a dog), be sure you practice your timing before working with your dog. You can do this by using a coffee cup an learning to quickly place the treats in the cup (set a timer if you want to add some pressure).
If you reward your dog too long after they have completed the desired behavior, they very well may end up learning something completely different than you had intended. I've seen people reward their dog for: coming out of a sit, pulling at the end of the leash, breaking a stay and many other things - due to slow rewarding. We all make mistakes, but try to keep this in mind when training and, if you make a mistake, repeat correctly several times over to ensure your dog knows what you really want! Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant Every time we interact with our pets we can come from a place of understanding (love) or from impatience/anger (fear). In return, we instill the same in them. Do you want your dog to stop jumping on people by using force (knee to the chest) or, by teaching them to sit when asked instead? I can tell you that the knee to the chest might work temporarily by stunning or scaring them (although it will confuse the dog) but it may also create a fear of knees, legs, feet and people. In contrast, asking for a sit teaches your dog impulse control and manners. The choices you make in how you train your dog can have long lasting implications so I urge you to choose carefully. My motto is “Reward the good, ignore the bad”. You will get more of what you reward and less of what you don’t want if you ignore it. If it’s something you can’t ignore, teach your dog what to do instead.
Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant
There are differing opinions around the subject of crate training for dogs. Some feel that putting a dog in a "cage" is cruel, while others value the benefits of crate training. I've had dogs that were crate trained and others that were not, and there is no denying that having a crate trained dog is helpful for many reasons, including safety and training. Using a crate for a puppy or dog can be compared to the use of a crib or playpen for a child. They are used to keep them safe when we can't watch their every move. It's also a great place for some quiet time, a safe sleeping spot and a place of comfort. Here are some true/false examples to help you to understand the benefits of using crates with dogs:
Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant
There are many products and/or methods that claim to "train" dogs. In reality, the best way to change any dog's behavior is by teaching them what we would like them to do instead. This can be done without using force, intimidation or fear. Our top 10 training tips are: 1. Consistency - This is vital to the success of training. Your dog needs repetition and consistency from you in order to change a behavior. It's not enough for a dog to "learn" a new behavior. It must be repeated in order for it to truly become ingrained in their brain. Many dogs are happy to repeat behaviors and when the reward is something they love, they will be willing to follow a consistent schedule. A good rule of thumb is to practice a new behavior for 5-10 minutes a session at least 4-5 days per week. Once your dog truly understands it, you can taper down to less (1 x per week), to be sure they remember. 2. Patience - You must have patience when training your dog. Dogs are smart, but each has their own way of learning and needs time to understand and practice a new behavior. If you are getting frustrated with your dog, it's time for a break. A dog will not learn from a frustrated trainer as the signals are too confusing. Focus on enjoying your time with your dog and celebrate each accomplishment (no matter how small). 3. Rewards - It's important to choose rewards that YOUR dog loves for a few reasons:
Guest Blog written by Lindsay Penvy. Lindsay Pevny is a pet industry copywriter and dog blogger at LittleDogTips.com, where you can find more dog nutrition tips, raw feeding guides and healthy treat recipes. Reward-based dog training requires lots of motivation - which can mean lots of weight gain if your treats of choice aren’t healthy.
According to the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention’s 2017 clinical survey, an estimated 53 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, possibly because most pet foods are very high in starchy fillers like corn, wheat and legumes, and because many owners simply feed their dogs too much. Our modern, sedentary lifestyles are also to blame for the pet obesity epidemic. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise to keep them in shape, especially when you give them lots of treats - even if they are healthy. Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant
I am a big believer in hands-free dog walking and training. The hands-free method is very convenient and there are many different styles on the market (including ours) that have wonderful reviews and experiences behind them. I have walked and trained dogs this way for years, and find it very beneficial. In this blog I will discuss the pros and cons of using a hands-free belt when training, walking, hiking, or jogging with your dog(s). I will also address some safety concerns. Written by Christine Durrant, Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Care Consultant
Some dogs are more apprehensive than others. This goes for noise, random objects, other animals, etc. It's important to allow your pup to explore new things in their own time, at their own pace. It builds confidence and trust, which are vital for a dog to feel safe in the world. Dogs have different triggers and it's important that we honor and respect them as we would our own. I met a dog named Orion (pictured) at a local shelter. He was not socialized to the outside world and had been living in a kennel environment for half of his life. I volunteered to help him and began taking him out a few times a week. Cat and Dog Room Ideas
Cited from Furniture.com Some pets can share your whole house without leaving much of a trace, other pets are accidents waiting to happen no matter where they roam. Investing in a pet-friendly space keeps your furry friend happy and maintains the look of your decor. With a few simple changes to any spare room, you can create a clean, functional and fun area for cats or dogs that will help contain their chaos. Use these pet room ideas to kick off the decorating process. Move Decor Away from the Floor To prevent accidents from boisterous tail wags or play sessions, keep pet room decor high on the wall. Closed shelving is an excellent place to store opened bags of dog food or cleaning products away from a curious pet. Hanging wall units provide a place to store leashes and treats out of reach as well. |