I hear it all the time, “I have the best dog, he/she is very protective of me and my family”. Or, we want to buy a dog to protect our family, but we don’t want a trained protection dog. Typically, these people are talking about German Shepherds or those types of dogs known for protection, …
Treat bags are wonderful things. They make it easy to grab a treat during training. They keep dog treats and crumbs out of the washing machine from the pockets where you last had the treats. They are convenient and people love them for training. So what could be wrong? As a trainer, I recognize the …
Roasted turkey, fresh baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh baked pies; these are the many delights that await the coming holiday season. This time of year brings lots of entertaining with lots of food. It is also the time of year where disaster can strike a festive holiday meal as the lovable family dog …
Have you seen it? Have you noticed? All over Minnesota people are bustling with the long-awaited coming of spring. It took long enough to get here (as usual) but now that it has begun to look like the long winter is over, we are all preparing and becoming more active. Animals are no exception to …
Leadership does not mean dominance. A leader has more to do with respect than dominance. Leadership is an understanding (a communication, if you will) about who is greater in the hierarchical stricter than others in a given social group. Being the provider of your dog’s food is the primary way to communicate with your dog …
One important thing that dogs must learn is how to take treats from people gently. When taking a treat, there should be very minimal or no sensation of teeth on the person’s hand, much less any type of pinch or bite. To combat this, I have heard many people give treats to their dog while …
When you attend a training class, most, if not all, trainers will tell you that you must practice frequently with your dog. Some will even get specific and tell you that you need to practice at least 10 times a day for a period of 2 to 5 minutes each time. This is where the …
Many clients want to train their dogs using treats but are worried about the quality of treat they give their dog. I’ll let you in on a little trick I use. Take some of your dog’s daily kibble ration and place it in a resealable bag. Add in something super stinky and scentfully alluring to …
It always amazes me when people get a new puppy or dog, one of the first things they do it take it home and tell it to “sit”. Inevitably, they are amazed when the dog doesn’t perform accordingly. Isn’t that a normal part of being a dog? We, as humans, have to remember that these …
By Marie Neve, Associate Trainer In the last 100 years, The American Pit Bull Terrier gone from America’s sweetheart to one of America’s most feared and misunderstood dog breeds. It has gone from showing up as the poster child for both world wars and even being referred to as “nanny dogs” throughout the United States, …