29K9.NET
  • Home
  • Services
  • Client Reviews
  • More Info and Helpful Links
  • About Us

Tis the Season

10/16/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
​The holiday season is almost upon us. Wait, Leave It and Place can keep your dog  from getting into trouble.  Spending time now teaching, proofing or fine tuning these behaviors can help keep your dog safe as well as a welcome part of the celebrations. 

Wait.  Wait tells the dog to wait a moment, be patient and something else is going to happen.  Wait while you hook their leash up, wait while your food is prepared, wait before going out the door, wait before getting in or out of the car.  This gives you time to do something safely and without mishap from a dog jumping, darting, even knocking things out of your hands. 
 
Leave It.  This cue prevents a dog from snatching or eating something they shouldn’t have.  With all the food , breakable decorations and even extra medications due to seasonal illnesses that are around knowing your dog has a rock solid leave it can save their life.
 
Drop It.  Teaching a dog to drop an item that they’ve already picked up, such as the random sock, wrapped gift, shoe, will end those unwanted games of chase.  With a solid Drop It cue the dog will drop the item instead.
 
Place.    A dog who knows to go to their safe spot while you answer the door, carry packages thru the room, clean up a mess, can alleviate a lot of tension.  This is a great way to prevent them from darting out the door when holiday visitors or deliveries arrive.
 
If your dog already knows these cues start practicing now.   Just a few minutes per day, adding them in here and there, will help the dog be ready to deliver the requested behavior when you ask for it.  If your dog doesn’t know these cues or they aren’t working like they should, then reach out for help. It can eliminate some of the stress of the season.

1 Comment

The Adolescent Dog

10/5/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture

​Remember that cute little puppy you brought home a few months ago?  Where did he go?

The dog between 6 and 18 months of age is not quite an adult but no longer a young puppy.   Just because they are ‘full size’ doesn’t mean their brain is fully developed.  It may even seem all the work that you have put into his training has gone up in smoke.  No worry, tho, your sweet puppy is still in there, he is just growing up and going thru that ‘awkward phase’ that many trainers refer to as the Brat Zone, the adolescent.   Here are a few tips to get thru this time.

  1. Don’t stop training.  Get out the treats, toys, games and train.  Keep the sessions short but fun.
  2. Work for food.  Incorporate food puzzles, snuffle mats, kongs, find it games.  Mental exercises (brain games) will help your dog’s brain form the right connections and learn to make positive choices.  It lowers anxiety levels and lessens the chances for destructive behaviors developing.
  3. Physical exercise is important and when incorporated with mental exercise you get more bang for your buck.  Take the dog for a walk in a new area, allow the dog to sniff and explore the area but also practice a few basics on the walk as well.   Focus less on heel and more on what your dog is getting out of the walk.
  4. Socialize.  Many dogs that went thru puppy classes no longer have opportunities to socialize.  Arrange play dates with compatible dogs, attend classes just for the social, get involved in rally or Fit Dog clubs. 
  5. Be prepared for ups and downs.  One day your dog may be spot on, the next day not so much.  This is normal.  And temporary.  Patience is the key. 
  6. If you let the dog get away with something once he will expect it again. And again.  And again.  Example, if you let the dog jump on you now you will be setting up it up for the future.  Make sure you continue enforcing the rules you’ve already set in place. 
 
I promise this is temporary.   Talk to a trainer who is experienced and uses reward based training to help if you need to get a handle on wayward behaviors before they become a real problem. 
​©29k9  

Picture
1 Comment

    Ronda Warywoda

    CPDT-KA, UW-AAB

    Categories

    All
    Basic Life Skills
    Basic Obedience
    DIY
    Dogs And Children
    Enrichment Suggestions
    Family LIfe
    Fear Free
    Force Free
    FYI: General Info
    House Training
    Learning
    Links
    New Dog
    Problem Solving
    Relationship Based
    Service Dogs
    Storms

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    July 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

We Would Love to Hear  From You!


Telephone

760.221.3272

Email

ronda@29k9.net  ​                                   
  • Home
  • Services
  • Client Reviews
  • More Info and Helpful Links
  • About Us